Manila Standard - 2026 February 17 - Tuesday

Kung Hei Fat Choi

AS MALACAÑANG on Monday again rejected calls to declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona

Palace: Don’t hide, face

By Joyce Babe Pañares

By Charles Dantes and Ram Superable

MALACAÑANG on Monday urged current and former officials named in the crimes against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court to face any legal process and avoid going into hiding if they believe they are innocent.

“First of all, if you are hiding, what does that mean? Are you guilty of something? Are you hiding so you can escape or evade the liability of what you have done?” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

“There is no need to hide if they know they have done nothing wrong. Face it and be brave in the possible process,” she added.

Two sitting senators—Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go—have been identified as among the eight "coperpetrators" in Duterte’s case, ICC documents released by prosecutors showed.

Other former officials tagged in the

Vito Barcelo,

By Peter Atencio

WIMBLEDON finalist Jasmine Paolini expects an electric atmosphere when she faces rising Filipina star Alexandra Eala in the second round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Currently ranked world No. 8, Paolini has taken note

Jr., in delivering eulogies for De Venecia, whose decades-long career helped shape modern parliamentary leadership in the country.

By Charles Dantes

By Maricel Cruz

By Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu, and Pot Chavez

AND RIDING. Malabon

Feng Shui expert, ride on a carriage pulled by a dolled-up horse to welcome the start of the Year of the Fiery Horse at the Malabon Zoo, Aquarium & Botanical Garden. Bottom right photo shows shoppers celebrating a maxed-out Year of the Fire Horse

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026

Japan troops to join US-PH Salaknib war games

By Rex Espiritu

JAPANESE troops are set to participate in the Salaknib exercise for the first time with the Philippine Army and the United States Army Pacific in April this year.

"Salaknib is basically a United States-Philippines bilateral exercise. For the coming Salaknib...300 troops from the Japan Ground Self-

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document are former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who served as lawyer for Duterte in cases involving the so-called Davao Death Squad; former Philippine National Police officials Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan (deceased), Oscar Albayalde, and Isidro Lapeña; and former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran.

Castro said the government would cooperate with Interpol in the same manner it had in previous cases.

“If this is a legal process coming

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non grata, a local think tank and a maritime law expert refuted Beijing’s claim that escalating political rhetoric against its top diplomat could jeopardize millions of Filipino jobs, saying official data do not support it.

At a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already dismissed proposals to replace the Chinese envoy.

“Unang-una, binanggit na po ng Pangulo noong tinanong tayo mismo ang isyu tungkol sa pagde-declare ng persona non grata. Ang sabi po ng Pangulo diyan, ‘No, hindi po kinakailangang palitan,’” Castro said, referring to the President’s earlier remarks.

(First of all, the President already mentioned the issue of declaring [someone] persona non grata when we ourselves were asked about it. The President said, ‘No, there is no need to change that.’)

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milestone event marking the seventh anniversary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Marcos said the government is intensifying construction while easing access to housing finance.

The President cited reforms at the Pag-IBIG Fund that lowered housing loan interest rates, allowing more families to qualify for loans, alongside state subsidies that expanded access to socialized housing.

“I hope you take care of your homes and fill them with many beautiful memories with your loved ones.,” he said.

“These successes are part of our diligent implementation of the housing program,” he added.

From July 2022 to January 2026, the government completed or financed more than 423,000 units, Marcos said, adding that the pace will continue to pick up in the coming years to meet

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“We gather as one House to honor a life that shaped this institution and influenced the course of our democracy,” Dy said, repeatedly referring to De Venecia as “Tito Joe.”

Dy said De Venecia showed “what it means to wield the gavel with purpose,” noting that his five elections as Speaker were proof of a level of competence and

from the ICC, we cannot interfere with it…If there is already an arrest warrant issued, it has to be implemented,” Castro said when asked if the government will be monitoring the movement of the incumbent and former officials named as Duterte’s co-perpetrators.

“So as to whether they will be monitored, there is no reason for us to monitor them because we have not yet received any warrants of arrest,” she said.

Although the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, the tribunal maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member, Castro noted. As this developed, Senate President

Castro said tensions between Manila and Beijing should not be driven by one side alone and stressed the need for mutual effort in maintaining stable relations.

“Ang pag-i-escalate ng tensyon sa pagitan po ng China at Pilipinas, hindi po ito dapat na nagmumula sa isang bansa (The escalation of tension between China and the Philippines should not originate from just one country),” she said.

Friendly discussion and healthy dialogue must come from both countries and that mutual respect is essential in addressing bilateral concerns, Castro added.

The Stratbase Institute also disputed the Chinese Embassy’s assertion that strained ties would “cost millions of jobs,” citing figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The think tank said foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from China from January to November 2025 totaled $3.10 million, down 52.43 percent from $6.52 million in the same period in 2024.

Chinese inflows accounted for just

remaining targets.

During the event at the Megawide Pre-Cast Plant in Taytay, beneficiaries received symbolic keys for vertical and horizontal housing projects under the Expanded 4PH Program.

Certificates of Lot Award and financial assistance were also handed out to families under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program, while longdelayed Certificates of Entitlement were awarded to beneficiaries covered by presidential proclamations.

President Marcos also underscored the role of modern construction methods, pointing to precast technology as a way to speed up housing construction without sacrificing safety and quality.

He said the government aims to expand similar facilities nationwide to further accelerate delivery.

The pre-cast facility, operated by Megawide Construction Corp., will produce precast housing components for the government’s Expanded 4PH) financed by Pag-IBIG Fund, enabling faster construction of quality socialized housing units within reach of many Filipino families.

leadership difficult to match.

He credited De Venecia with setting “a standard of dignity in conduct, discipline in stewardship and fidelity to the nation above all else.”

For his part, Romualdez remembered De Venecia as a “founder, builder and unifier” whose leadership reshaped the House and elevated consensus as the highest form of democratic strength.

“Former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. has taken his final bow. But the ideals

Defense Force will take part in these various trainings," Philippine Army Commanding Officer Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete said in the latest press briefing.

"They will join us. It is more on infantry combined arms operations, and there will also be [humanitarian assistance and disaster relief] operations," he added.

Pro Tempore Ping Lacson and Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros said Monday the upper chamber will discuss possible courses of action as they navigate the complex situation of grappling with the ICC.

In separate statements, Lacson and Hontiveros said this uncharted territory would not be easy as the Senate risks the possibility of losing two of its members—Dela Rosa and Go.

Hontiveros said the situation of Dela Rosa and Go with the ICC remains at the indictment stage, with no documents yet issued that would formally trigger specific legal processes.

"By tradition, while the Senate is in session, no member is arrested

0.27 percent of total FDI received by the Philippines during the first 11 months of 2025, it added.

Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal likewise criticized the embassy’s warning, describing it as a threat and a sign of failed diplomacy.

“Now that is a threat. And a failure of (their) diplomacy,” Batongbacal said in a Facebook post.

He also disputed the claim that “millions” of jobs were at stake, citing Department of Migrant Workers data showing there are about 165,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong, 28,800 in Macau, and 12,250 in mainland China.

“These are not insignificant, but they are not ‘millions,’” he said.

The director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs & Law of the Sea, Batongbacal added that while the possibility of job losses should not be taken lightly, the impact would not be one-sided.

“If they are forced to go back home, they will leave tens of thousands of upper-income Chinese families without minders, caregivers, teachers,

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ago, including two additional submissions.

‘‘I do not want to pre-empt our discussions with the Ombudsman, as it will be their office that will announce it,’’ Dizon said, adding that the new submissions involve high-profile individuals linked to cases in Bulacan and Davao Occidental.

He also disclosed that another manifestation will be filed this week in connection with a separate case in Cebu.

In a related development, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 ordered the Bureau of Immigration to hold the departure of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and three other former DPWH officials.

Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said the court issued a precautionary hold departure order on February 10 after finding probable cause to believe the respondents might leave the

he lived for—unity, peace, dialogue, reform—remain,” Romualdez said.

He also highlighted De Venecia’s role as a founding force behind the ruling party Lakas-CMD and as architect of the Rainbow Coalition, describing it not merely as a political strategy but “a philosophy of governance” rooted in inclusion and consensus.

“He did not silence dissent; he harmonized it. He did not diminish differences; he reconciled them,” Romualdez said, adding that De Venecia

Nafarrete emphasized the importance of Japan's participation in the exercise: "It is more on knowing our interoperability with the Japanese army (JGSDF). This is the first time. Knowing your friend."

Salaknib will be conducted in two phases: the first scheduled from April to May, and the second to be

within its premises. If there are further developments that arise, I am sure the Senate leadership will take the lead in discussing them with all of us," she said.

Lacson said the Senate majority will discuss on Wednesday possible measures in the event the ICC moves to issue warrants of arrest against Go and Dela Rosa, who are aligned with the minority.

Duterte is facing a four-day "confirmation of charges" hearing starting February 23, where ICC judges decide whether the prosecution's allegations are strong enough to proceed to trial.

Judges have rejected arguments that the 80-year-old, who was arrested

cooks, and other domestic help, as well as debilitate thousands of businesses and institutions with professional and highly-skilled mid-level management personnel,” he said.

Batongbacal characterized the Chinese message as: “Be friendly, or else!”

The Chinese Embassy had cautioned that heightened rhetoric and calls for Jing’s removal could affect economic ties and employment linked to Philippine-China relations.

But Stratbase, citing BSP data, said that in 2024, China made up only 0.55 percent of total net FDI inflows, continuing what it described as a “steady decline” from 12.04 percent in 2019 to just over 1 percent in 2023 before falling further in 2024.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Chinese investment pledges in 2025 reached P10.25 billion, equivalent to 3.76 percent of the P272.58 billion in total approved investment commitments.

Chinese pledges surged during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, rising from P2.33

country to evade arrest.

Martinez clarified that this does not mean the pending plunder case before the Department of Justice has been resolved. ‘‘By the term precautionary, this means that before the case was formally filed in court, the judge issued the order anticipating that the respondents may evade arrest,’’ he said, stressing that no formal charges have yet been filed in court.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed it received a DPWH manifestation linking contractor Curlee Discaya to the alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said affidavits indicate that Discaya appears to have beneficial ownership or exercises control over the companies involved.

‘‘When you say beneficial ownership, that includes those who sign on behalf of corporations even if they are not on paper, those who give instructions and exercise dominion over the company,†Clavano said.

proved “unity is not weakness. It is strength disciplined by wisdom.”

Arroyo, who worked with De Venecia as both senator and President, eulogized him as “a statesman, a colleague and a man whose imprint on Philippine political life will endure for generations.”

Arroyo, currently representative of Pampanga’s second district, said she remembered most his “unwavering belief in the power of dialogue over division.”

held after the annual Balikatan exercises in June.

Around 4,000 to 5,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia are expected to participate in this year's Salaknib.

Training activities will primarily take place in Northern Luzon, particularly at Fort Magsaysay.

in March last year and transferred to the Netherlands the same day, was unfit to stand trial.

The first of three counts against Duterte concerns his alleged involvement as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders carried out between 2013 and 2016 while he was mayor of Davao City. The second relates to 14 murders of so-called "High Value Targets" in 2016 and 2017 when Duterte was president. The third charge covers 43 murders committed during "clearance" operations of lower-level alleged drug users or pushers.

These took place across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018, the prosecution alleged. With AFP

billion in 2017 to P50.69 billion in 2018 and peaking at P88.67 billion, or 22.7 percent of total pledges, in 2019. They dropped to P15.59 billion in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained relatively low since, the institute said.

Stratbase also cited structural trade imbalances, noting that while China remains one of the Philippines’ top trading partners, the relationship is heavily skewed toward imports. It said the imbalance, particularly following Duterte’s 2019 pivot toward Beijing, heightened dependence on foreign goods, increased exposure to supply chain disruptions, and put pressure on the country’s balance of payments. “Taken together, official government data show that China’s contribution to Philippine investment inflows is limited, while trade relations remain structurally imbalanced. Claims that diplomatic strain would automatically lead to catastrophic job losses are therefore exaggerated and not supported by empirical evidence,” the institute said.

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As for industries, Chau said the tourism, trading, logistics and transportation sectors will face many challenges and must be flexible to weather these.

“Banks should also be careful in handling their investments to avoid rising bad debts or falling into money traps,” he added.

Fernandez added that regardless of the year one was born in, one should learn to hold your horses, so to speak, to avoid conflict.

"It will be a year of quick, impulses. People will just say things and do things out of impulse. Especially for the leaders of the country, this is something that they should be mindful of,” he said. When it comes to good fortune and luck, those born in the Years of the Rabbit, Horse, Pig and Rooster will fare better than average, Fernandez said.

But for Chau, those born in the Year of the Rabbit will be the luckiest, since the sign is considered the Romance Star for the Horse.

“Things will flow smoothly, and Rabbits can expect a more cheerful and positive atmosphere.

The center court of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium was packed with flag-waving fans who erupted in cheers as the 20-year-old Filipina advanced following the retirement of American Hailey Baptiste.

“I think it’s really important to have people from all around the world playing tennis. Somebody like Alexandra Eala is a huge thing for tennis,” Paolini

said in interviews posted online ahead of their yet-to-be-scheduled clash. “It’s great to see so many fans coming to tournaments where usually there are fewer people.” Baptiste retired due to an abdominal injury with Eala leading 6-4, 0-1. “I’m super happy to be in the next round. This tournament is giving me such amazing experiences, especially playing in front of the best crowd ever. Hello everyone, hello Kabayans! I’m very happy to advance,” Eala said in her post-match interview.

The crowd celebrated every point Eala captured in the opening set and even performed a human wave before the second set began. The Filipina wrapped up the injury-shortened contest in just 57 minutes and is hoping for another strong turnout when she takes on Paolini. Paolini, the tournament’s sixth seed, knows she will face not only a talented opponent, but also a passionate audience.

“In Abu Dhabi, the stands were full of people watching Eala. I remember in Doha, you could hear people cheer-

ing for her even outside the court. It’s great — also for the next generation coming up in tennis,” Paolini added. A three-time major finalist and singles runner-up at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, Paolini brings formidable credentials into the matchup. She owns three WTA Tour-level singles titles and ten doubles crowns, and is known for her explosive right-handed forehand and exceptional court coverage — qualities that make her a dangerous test for the surging Filipina.

Three lucky stars—Heavenly Virtue, Fortune Virtue, and Grace Star—enhance their sign this year, clearing away past obstacles and bringing renewed motivation. Money luck is also stronger this year,” Chau said. As for those born in the Year of the Rooster, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., they have a luck sign for love and relationships that need permanence.

“With the energies, hopefully, especially a lot of our leaders, will be able to use the good energy on their behalf for the country. I think our country now can use a little bit of love,” Fernandez said. Chau added: “Roosters should adopt the strategy of ‘observe carefully and act accordingly.’ Flexibility and adaptability will be key. If they can remain calm and adjust to unexpected changes, they may be able to turn setbacks into success.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

LTO penalizes three driving schools in Tarlac

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued resolutions on administrative cases against three driving schools accredited in Tarlac following investigations into alleged regulatory violations.

The cases involved breaches of Section 24(C)(11) and other provisions of Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2023-2460, or the Revised Omnibus Guidelines on the Accreditation, Supervision, and Control of Driving Institutions.

Allegations included irregular issuance of practical and theoretical driving course certificates, such as granting completion documents without required training hours, failing to conduct prescribed instruction, and providing answer keys for compliance.

Two schools, found liable for firstoffense violations involving irregular PDC certificate issuance, were fined P50,000 each and suspended for six months. Both cited internal lapses for issuing certificates despite incomplete training. Rio N. Araja

PNP to support families of cops in fatal crash

POLICE General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), on Monday assured full assistance to the families of four police officers who died in a road crash in Misamis Occidental.

Nartatez expressed condolences to the bereaved families. “On behalf of the men and women of the PNP, I express my sincerest condolences to the family of our personnel,” he said, assuring a strong support system for all police officers.

Initial investigation showed four police officers and one civilian died after their patrol vehicle fell off a cliff in Don Victoriano on February 13.

The vehicle was assigned to secure event organizers and was carrying seven personnel from the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company and three employees from the Provincial Tourism Office when the crash occurred. Vince Lopez

Youth group initiates assembly in Limay

LIMAY, Bataan—The Young Bataeños for Environmental Advocacy Network (YoungBEAN) held its Members’ Assembly on February 15 in Barangay Lamao, gathering 65 youth leaders from across the province. With the theme “Defend our Planet, Defend our Future: Strengthening Youth Solidarity for Climate Action,” the event aimed to strengthen unity and encourage proactive youth participation in addressing environmental challenges.

“We do not believe that the youth are weak. On the contrary, we are full of energy that, if tapped for positive activities and causes, can make us strong partners in defending our environment and creating positive social change,” said Secretary General Eric Beren. Butch Gunio

PANAGBENGA SHOWCASE. Cultural groups perform indigenous dances during ‘Rhythm of the Highlands: A Showcase of Culture and Dance’ at the Melvin Jones Grandstand on Feb. 15, as the Panagbenga Festival honors Cordilleran heritage in Baguio City. Conrado Rotor

‘Bribery very common in PH’

By Katrina Manubay

AMAJORITY, or 73%, of Filipino adults perceive bribery as the most common type of corruption nationwide, based on a survey by OCTA Research.

The latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey, conducted in early December 2025, found that aside from bribery (73%), respondents also identified irregularities in public funds (66%), vote buying (64%), and slow justice (54%) as prevalent corruption issues.

OCTA suggested that bribery’s visibility in routine government transactions makes it the most recognizable form, noting that many Filipinos

PEOPLE POWER MURAL. Artists begin creating a giant ‘Tayo Ang People Power’ mural for display at the EDSA Shrine during ‘PINTAHAN, KAPIHAN at KUMUSTAHAN,’ a quiet gathering ahead of the 40th EDSA People Power anniversary on Feb. 25. Manny Palmero

may have encountered or witnessed informal payments in frontline services.

The survey also found that while bribery ranked first overall, notable regional differences emerged. In the Visayas and Mindanao, vote buying was the second most commonly cited form of corruption, reflecting concerns about electoral integrity.

Differences also appeared across socioeconomic classes, with bribery ranking

Among Class ABC respondents, irregularities in public funds ranked second (67%), followed by slow justice (64%) and vote buying (57%). Among Class D respondents, vote buying (61%) ranked ahead of slow justice (53%). In Class E, vote buying and slow justice were more prominent after bribery, while irregularities in public funds were cited less frequently.

Regionally, bribery, public fund irregularities, vote buying, and justice delays were the most reported issues. Some areas, including Regions X and XIII (Northern Mindanao and Caraga), also highlighted procurement irregularities.

Bribery was most cited in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions III, IV-B, V,

CBCP urges faithful to practice ‘digital media fasting’ this Lent

By Vito Barcelo

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on the faithful to go beyond traditional food abstinence and practice “digital media fasting” this coming Lenten season. Catholics are urged to limit cellphone and social media use as a modern expression of repentance and renewal

starting Ash Wednesday, February 18.

In a pastoral appeal for Lent 2026, the CBCP reminded the Catholic community that fasting, as taught in the Gospel, is meant not for public display but as a sincere offering to God.

VI, the Negros Island Region, Region X, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

OCTA said the consistency of concerns about bribery and slow justice may reflect daily experiences with administrative delays and accountability gaps, while greater awareness of public fund irregularities among older and more educated respondents points to concerns over fiscal governance.

The face-to-face survey was conducted from December 3 to 11, 2025, among 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above. It has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates have a ±6% margin of error for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Palace: DepEd trimester plan still under study

By Charles Dantes

MALACAÑANG on Monday said a proposal by the Department of Education (DepEd) to shift to a trimester academic calendar next school year remains under study, emphasizing the need for further evaluation and broad consultation before any decision is made.

At a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the plan is still in the proposal stage, with education officials presenting possible advantages of adopting a three-term school year.

“It is still a proposal, and they are laying out the possible advantages of having a trimester system,” Castro said.

The bishops said that in today’s digital age, conversion must also address habits that consume time and attention, particularly constant engagement with mobile phones, social media, streaming platforms, gaming, and other online activities.

screen time can weaken prayer life, diminish silence and contemplation, and strain authentic human relationships.

“Fasting has traditionally meant abstaining from food as an act of repentance and spiritual focus,” the bishops said. “Yet fasting also means detaching from whatever distracts our hearts from God.” They emphasized that excessive

‘Clear

The CBCP said that while technology is a blessing when used responsibly, constant connectivity can lead to distraction, mental fatigue, shortened attention spans, and reduced spiritual awareness.

The bishops stressed that digital fast-

“It would be better to conduct an early and thorough study on whether this should be implemented,” she added.

The proposal has prompted calls from teachers’ groups for wider public consultations. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers urged the government to ensure that stakeholders, including educators and parents, are consulted before any changes are finalized.

messaging on land lease needed’

By Ram Superable

THE national government should aggressively promote the new 99-year lease terms under Republic Act No. 12252 to anchor long-term jobs, capital, and development in the Philippines, Senator Francis Escudero said Monday.

Escudero made the appeal amid reports of 4.4% economic growth in 2025, below the government’s 5.5% to 6.5% target and lower than the 5.5% growth recorded in 2024.

“The law is already in place. What we need now is aggressive promotion and clear messaging to investors that the Philippines is ready for long-term partnerships,” he said.

The senator warned that weaker growth requires stronger investor confidence and accelerated structural reforms to sustain economic momentum.

He highlighted the land lease law’s potential to

signal long-term stability to investors, provided there is consistent promotion and messaging.

Foreign direct investment inflows continued to soften, with net FDI reaching about $7.1 billion from January to November 2025, down from $9.08 billion in the same period in 2024.

Escudero also pointed to labor market challenges, citing a 4.4% unemployment rate in December 2025, affecting about 2.26 million Filipinos, while youth unemployment remains in double digits. He said that without increased investment, especially in sectors requiring long-term capital, underemployment may persist and opportunities to absorb the growing young workforce could be missed.

“In times of slowdown, we must think in centuries, not quarters. RA 12252 ensures that those who invest here will stay for generations, creating stability that outlasts economic headwinds,” the senator said.

FOR MARY JANE. The family of trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso and migrant rights advocates hold a picket protest outside the Department of Justice on Feb. 16, urging the Marcos Jr. administration to release Veloso and pursue charges against her traffickers. Norman Cruz

ALL ROADS LEAD TO CHINATOWN. Binondo, Manila, also referred to as Chinatown, is fast developing into a convergence point ahead of Tuesday’s celebration of the Lunar New Year, described in the Chinese calendar as

BARMM polls raised to LEDAC

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms on Monday welcomed a move to elevate a bill resetting the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a priority measure of both the executive and legislative branches, calling it vital to safeguarding the region’s fragile democratic transition.

Committee chairman Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong made the statement after House Bill (HB) 7236 which he co-authored, was included in the

DFA, UNDP vow stronger climate, poverty initiatives

By Katrina Manubay

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Monday moved to strengthen their partnership, with discussions centered on expanding climate action initiatives and boosting national resilience through the strategic use of artificial intelligence.

In a post on X, DFA Secretary Theresa Lazaro thanked the newly appointed UNDP resident representative to the Philippines, Christophe Bahuet.

“Pleasure to meet with Mr. Christophe Bahuet, the @UNDP Resident Representative to the Philippines, to reinforce our enduring partnership,” she said.

“Our discussions focused on scaling climate action and enhancing national resilience through the strategic integration of Artificial Intelligence,” she added.

For his part, Bahuet affirmed the organization’s commitment to work with the DFA to contribute to national development.

“Deeply honored to present Credential Letter to H.E. @SecLazaro of Foreign Affairs and to hear her positive views on #UNDP’s work in the Philippines. As the new Representative, I expressed our full commitment to contribute further to national development working closely with DFA,” his post on X said.

common agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The inclusion of this measure in the LEDAC priority list reflects a shared commitment between the Executive and the Legislature to protect the integrity of the Bangsamoro democratic transition,” Adiong said.

Adiong thanked President Marcos, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Speaker Faustino Dy III, and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos for recognizing the urgency of the measure and for including it in the LEDAC agenda.

HB 7236, co-authored by Deputy Speaker and fellow Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, seeks

to amend Section 13, Article XVI of Republic Act (RA) No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, resetting to Sept. 28, 2026 as the date of the first regular parliamentary elections in the region.

Subsequent elections would be synchronized with the 2028 national and local polls being held every three year.

The reset follows a string of legal and political developments, including a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Bangsamoro redistricting law after Sulu was excluded from the region, effectively removing the legal basis for holding the parliamentary vote under the previous framework.

IN BRIEF

PNP arrests rape suspect in Quezon

THE long arm of the law finally caught up with a 62-year-old fugitive long wanted for multiple cases of sexual abuse.

Intelligence operatives of the Manila police headed by Maj. Kevin Rey Bautista cornered the suspect, a resident of Zapanta street in Malate, Manila at his hideout in barangay San Vicente, Macalelon, Quezon province last Feb. 26.

The suspect, identified only as Jun, was brought back to Manila to face prosecution proceedings at the Metropolitan Trial Court. No bail was recommended for his provisional liberty.

Case records showed that Jun was facing at least four rape cases. Itchie Cabayan

Airport cops nab alien with stolen materials

THE Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup) is looking at the possible recruitment of foreigners by a crime group known as “Salisi Gang” notorious for robbery and theft.

The probe came following the arrest of a 38-year-old foreigner at Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 3 last Saturday, Feb. 14.

The suspect was found in possession of several stolen items Salisi Gang operates in public places such as malls, restaurants, airports, fast food joints, and computer shops, waiting for opportunities to pounce on distracted victims. They employ diversionary tactics to distract their victims, then pull off the theft. Joel E. Zurbano

Agents seize unclaimed parcels with marijuana

GOVERNMENT agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have seized four unclaimed packages found to contain hybrid cannabis valued at P5.6 million.

They are now tracking down the shippers and the consignees of the parcels believed linked to drug trafficking organizations. The contrabands came from Thailand and Canada and were falsely declared as snacks, clothing, and books, deemed a clear case of technical smuggling. The packages were found to contain 3,776 grams of kush.

The banned substances were first detected by Customs personnel through cargo X-ray screening and subsequent manual inspection. Joel E. Zurbano

PCG finds 3 more bodies, death toll in Kerstin sinking now at 57

By Rex Espiritu

THE death toll in the sinking of M/V Tri-

sha Kerstin 3 off Basilan Island has risen to 57 after Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel recovered three more bodies during ongoing search operations.

The PCG said the human remains were found near the site of the incident on Sunday.

“With this development, the total number of fatalities has increased to 57, with 293 survivors and 22 individuals remain missing,” the PCG said in a statement.

According to the PCG, technical divers continue underwater searches to locate the missing individuals.

The agency also pledged support for the families of the victims.

The search operations were launched after the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank on

January 26, shortly after departing Zamboanga City for Jolo, Sulu. Over 300 passengers and crew were aboard the vessel. The ferry was operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, whose permits have since been suspended by the Department of Transportation.

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated its warning against individuals posing as Secretary Rex Gatchalian and soliciting money supposedly as donations to foundations.

In a social media post on Feb. 14, Gatchalian clarified that he has not authorized anybody to conduct any form of monetary solicitation on his behalf.

“I would like to clarify that I am not and I have never asked or solicited any amount for the alleged donation to any foundation. Be careful of those pretending to be Rex Gatchalian, especially on Signal and WhatsApp where they use my photo, name, and even contact number to cheat,” the post stated.

The DSWD said scammers have been sending out messages through platforms such as Signal and WhatsApp, sometimes posing as the Secretary’s aide. In

some cases, the impostor introduces himself as “Emman,” claiming to be a staff member of Gatchalian.

According to reports received by the department, the fraudsters ask for large sums of money, claiming their accounts have reached transfer limits.

One message read: “Maxed out na my account’s limit and my staff’s account for the fund transfers sa Foundation, perhaps you can do me a favor, will send it back na lang to your account later (midnight) transferred 950k na for them. Just send me the details.”

DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao stressed that neither the department nor Gatchalian solicits funds for any foundation or authorizes representatives to request money through private messaging applications. Maricel V. Cruz

FOILED KIDNAPFORRANSOM. National Bureau of Investigation acting director Angelito Magno presents to the media two Chinese nationals caught in a dragnet, leading to the rescue of the female victim. Norman Cruz

IN MEMORIAM. National Historical Commission of the Philippines

Commissioner Ma.Eloisa P. de Castro and Manila Vice Mayor Chi Atienza lead the wreath-laying at the Gomburza shrine at the Rizal Park in Manila in commemoration of the 154th year of the execution of Filipino Catholic priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora during the Spanish regime. Norman Cruz

OPINION

The trouble with Gen Z

I WAS not at all surprised to read in a news article that studies have shown that today’s Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is the first generation to ever be considered less intelligent than their parents since scientists began tracking cognitive skills.

The generation refers to the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha, often called “Zoomers” or ‘‘digital natives” because they are the first generation to grow up fully in the internet age.

Maybe it’s because they rely too much on their cellphones and tablets for learning, instead of reading.

In my generation, we asked questions on anything, the whys and hows, and sought the answers in books and libraries.

Research shows that reading boosts intelligence by strengthening brain connectivity, increasing vocabulary and enhancing empathy. Gen Z relies on scrolling the internet for their information. Santa Banana, this is alarming!

This is not an affront or an accusation against the current generation, but it is true.

There are studies that show a significant decline in traditional, long-form book reading, driven by the rise of short form digital content and social media.

Gen Z no longer reads and no longer asks questions. I am not saying this to accuse the current generation of anything. It is just that that is now how things are developing.

My Friend JDV

It saddened me to read that my good friend Joe de Venecia died several days ago on Feb. 10, at the age of 89. JDV, as he was fondly called, was fun to be with. There were many times when I used to visit him at his Dasmarinas Village

residence where he used to tell me what will happen next at the House of Representatives.

JDV was one of a kind politician. He was a friend to everybody, even to his political enemies.

One time JDV visited me and asked me to help him talk to then vice president Erap Estrada because at that point JDV was challenging Erap for the presidency.

Research shows that reading boosts intelligence by strengthening brain connectivity

JDV asked me if it was possible for me to invite Erap to a closed-door meeting.

When I asked him what was the reason for the closed-door meeting, he told me he wanted to know if it was possible for Erap not to run for president anymore and to give way for him because he was also running for president.

I got them together in one of the suites at the Manila Peninsula. The reason for this was that surveys had shown that Erap Estrada would be a sure winner against JDV.

However, in that meeting, which I arranged, Erap refused to give way to JDV, even though JDV offered Erap a lot of things in return.

Whatever they discussed, I cannot divulge, and the rest is history.

That is how close I was to Joe de Venecia. With his demise, I will miss him very much.

Beyond the Fiesta Pavilion stage

ON MARH 1, at the Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion, we join 49 other alumni of San Beda University, the institution of learning founded on June 17, 1901 by Spanish Benedictine monks, who are recognized in their fields of discipline. Beyond the alphabet, we feel honored, even as we raise the institutional loyalty and feel awed by the contributions of other alumni not only on that date but in the years before when such distinctions were given.

We are privy to the school gaining distinction in producing leaders in politics, sports, media and other fields while operating under the Benedictine principle of Ora et Labora (Prayer and Work).

San Beda’s major areas of merit include its flagship department college of law, recognized for producing topnotchers and nearly always 100 percent bar passing rate, including, but not limited to, prominent politicians and legal professionals.

The school has also strong reputation for excellence in commerce, having produced CPA board topnotchers, and its arts and sciences college is known for high-quality education which has achieved Level III accreditation, driving the university’s academic reputation.

The College of Medicine and College of Nursing, established in 2002 and 2003 respectively, are key pylons in the university’s health science offerings.

Throughout its history, San Beda has consistently blended academic excellence with Benedictine values of faith, knowledge, and virtue.

We are aware of the narratives achieved and lived by the alumni in different years, which enable us to reflect on the accomplishments of our alma mater and the alumni’s “distinguished contributions.”

The Red and White Ball event at the Manila Hotel, only three weeks after the alumni homecoming at the

Mendiola campus, allows us to feel the honor and the weight of responsibility to continue to serve, our modest circumstances notwithstanding, our different publics.

The Little Drummer Boy trophy for Distinguished Bedan Award in Media/ Communications is not for us alone.

We are incredibly grateful to our professors – those from botany to argumentation and debate, theology, epistemology and journalism, among other required curriculum subjects then –who believed in us, our news sources who trusted us with their “not for attribution” backgrounders who kept the faith while we were chasing the deadline clock, the many people we interviewed, among others.

We are deeply aware of the narratives achieved and lived by the alumni in the different years

We acknowledge as well our researchers, photographers, VTR editors. teletype operators busy on perforator tapes, layout artists, coffee mates, often the newsroom’s unsung heroes.

The personal milestone also belongs to our readers in news agency, print, and listeners in broadcast for whom we carry a mix of gratitude and institutional celebration.

On stage we will be haunted again by the challenge we unfurled before thousands of our students who enrolled in our courses to remember, particularly in this digital age where fake news is abundant, journalism’s purpose where we learned lessons from shared field failures.

Having seen them as passionate learners, we know they will be working with well-meaning team members for the uplift of their informed stakeholders.

Crushing the culture of corruption

WE HEARD Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon ordering the immediate repair of defective, substandard, or “ghost” flood control projects, chased by a “one-strike” policy leading to lifetime blacklisting for erring contractors.

The directive to the Philippine Contractors Association Board, following inspections of 421 infrastructure projects in Bulacan, Pampanga and Mindanao found deficient, is aimed at fixing infrastructure in the inspected areas before the rainy season in midyear.

The three-member PCAB, composed of a chairman and two other members, is an agency under the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, whose mandate is to issue licenses to local and foreign contractors in the country.

Immediately after being appointed as the new Department of Public Works and Highways head on Aug. 31, 2025 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following the resignation of Manuel Bonoan amid the flood control projects controversy, Dizon ordered PCAB’s “sweeping revamp.”

This was part of a larger cleanup directive following reports of “ghost” flood control projects, with Dizon stating he would work with the Department of Trade and Industry to overhaul

the agency responsible for licensing contractors.

A significant part of Dizon’s order, based on the marching orders of the President, was the lifetime blacklisting or automatic lifetime bans for any contractor found guilty of implementing “ghost” or substandard projects.

Dizon’s directive has sparked hope for greater accountability and transparency in public infrastructure

Dizon’s actions were aimed at cleaning up the agency after it was revealed that an initial 15 out of 1,600 validated flood control projects were non-existent. Dizon has said erring contractors who fail to comply with his orders regarding project completion, quality, or

THE Supreme Court should come to its senses and stop wasting the valuable time of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Recently, fugitive ex-Congressman Zaldy Co filed a petition in the Supreme Court which questions a resolution of the Ombudsman which found probable cause to file criminal charges against him and his cohorts before the Sandiganbayan.

The charges arose from Co’s alleged involvement in ghost infrastructure projects which translates to billions of pesos in stolen public funds.

Co argues the resolution is tainted by grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Ombudsman.

It appears, however, that the evidence obtained by the Ombudsman are more than enough to secure a conviction, assuming the Sandiganbayan judiciously resolves the case.

Jurisprudence states that a fugitive from justice is not allowed to pursue judicial remedies as long as he remains at large.

To avail oneself of the reliefs allowed by the judicial system, one must first surrender to the jurisdiction of the courts of law. Co remains a fugitive.

Likewise, jurisprudence provides that the accused cannot enjoin his criminal prosecution unless there are compelling reasons to do so. Other than his selfserving allegations, Co has not shown any ground to merit exceptional treatment.

The foregoing legal principles are so fundamental that studious law students are aware of them.

Surprisingly, instead of dismissing Co’s petition outright, the Supreme Court directed the Ombudsman to file its comment.

It also belongs to members of our family – our ancestors, parents and parents-in-law – who held fast to their persuasions with us, including the youngest in the clan, now 10, who, when with only two summers earlier, waited for his lilo for the latter’s dinner in the company of his grandma, our essential whole, while his parents were on the graveyard shift and his two brothers Hail and Mikoy then in slumberland. And to the oldest of the Saluyot Boys, Aaron, now a journalism sophomore in the UofT, the Little Drummer Boy is also his, as much as it belongs to his parents, his auntie Army and uncle Chris.

Personally the reward endorses the opportunity to have impacted lives, shine a light on truth, and serve the public despite our circumstances, a

integrity face immediate, severe, and automatic sanctions.

No investigation will be needed for clear-cut cases of illegal practices or substandard work, Dizon ssaid, adding there will be “no more process, no more investigation” before implementing a lifetime ban.

Dizon vowed to overhaul the PCAB to strengthen its role in policing contractors, underscoring that a “one-strike” policy is in effect, where contractors and officials linked to immediate corruption or negligence –such as in the case of the Arayat dike collapse – are penalized immediately. These actions are part of a broader “clean house” initiative ordered by President Marcos Jr. to tackle corruption, with reports indicating that up to 60 contractors were being reviewed for blacklisting in early 2026. Dizon’s directive has sparked hope for greater accountability and transparency in public infrastructure which, along with a planned revamp, is seen as a crucial step in removing substandard work and improving project delivery. We have seen the DPWH is moving away from discretionary “allocables” or “pork barrel” funds in favor of a needs-based budgeting formula., the people guardedly high in hope this approach will break the culture of corruption.

Supreme Court wasting valuable time in Zaldy Co petition

Although I am confident the Ombudsman can easily do that, people are wondering why the Justices of the Court do not seem to be aware of basic jurisprudence.

Due process may be the unstated reason of the tribunal, but that is a flimsy excuse.

The tribunal has, on many occasions, dismissed petitions outright for being patently devoid of merit.

—“—

Jurisprudence states that a fugitive from justice is not allowed to pursue judicial remedies as long as he remains at large

In my recent petition questioning the Constitutionality of Executive Order 94 which created the Independent Commission on Infrastructure, the Supreme Court en banc dismissed my petition outright for lack of merit, but without stating the reasons why the petition lacked merit. That dismissal is in violation of the Constitutional mandate that decisions of a court must state the facts and the law on which it is based.

What the Supreme Court did in my petition is a culpable violation of the Constitution -- a ground for impeachment -- but that is the subject of another essay.

Although the Supreme Court has decided to direct the Ombudsman to comment on Co’s petition, what the tribunal

byproduct of chasing stories – largely from the editor’s desk – and not a prize for being the best.

We acknowledge other awardees and the broader Bedan community fighting for the same causes – the award belonging to everyone who fights for truth.

In the digital age, the purpose, meaning, and significance of journalism have shifted from being the exclusive gatekeeper of information to becoming an important curator, verifier, and truth contextualizer within a drenched, often chaotic, information ecosystem.

While the medium has transitioned from print and broadcast to instantaneous, multimedia-driven digital platforms, the core mission of informing, educating, and empowering citizens remains essential.

Journalism symbolizes a necessary,

did should be subjected to public scrutiny and criticism.

Critics ought to dissect the questionable ruling of Justice Marvic Leonen in the impeachment cases filed against Vice President Sara Duterte. That pronouncement is Constitutionally untenable because the Court applied its groundbreaking ruling retroactively, which is a no-no in Constitutional Law unless it is favorable to an accused in a criminal case.

The Leonen decision also relies on two nonexistent television news reports, an irregularity the Supreme Court has not satisfactorily explained.

That decision likewise created rules of procedure for a co-equal branch of the government. The self-serving ruling also made the impeachment of Justices of the Supreme Court virtually impossible. When the Supreme Court is wrong, it is the duty of lawyers and the citizenry to call public attention to the errors. That is not undermining the independence of the judiciary or showing disrespect toward it. On the contrary, it is a hallmark of a vibrant democracy.

The Justices of the Supreme Court have become too entitled to expect docile obedience to their rulings with no tolerance for constructive criticism.

They seem to relish the reference to them as “the gods of Padre Faura.”

As columnist Antonio Contreras succinctly puts it, “there are no gods in Padre Faura,” and they are not infallible. Contreras’ landmark essay There are no gods in Padre Faura was published on the front page of the Feb. 3, 2026 issue of The Manila Times. I strongly recommend that the public read it.

objective, and ethical force in a world often dominated by algorithms and partisan noise. We see it often acting like the “Superhero” against planet Krypton-born Clark Kent in filtering, editing and checking facts, and an antibody to misinformation, given the rapid spread of deception.

Journalism has become a “Trusted Voice” in a disjointed digital scenery, a strong, established brand symbolizing a reliable, verified source, reducing the uncertainty and noise for the audience. Essentially, while the tools and speed of journalism have changed, the basic need for a trusted, ethical, and professional check on information remains as important as ever.

Beyond the Fiesta Pavilion bestowal stage, ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus.

Honor Blanco Cabie

WASHINGTON, DC – US

President Donald Trump’s top envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law

Jared Kushner will head to Geneva this week for talks with Iranian negotiators over Tehran’s nuclear program, the White House confirmed on Sunday.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to AFP that the two men, who have been Trump’s lead Iran negotiators, would represent Washington for the talks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will represent Tehran in the negotiations, his ministry reported earlier. He will also meet with his Swiss and Omani counterparts and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Tehran and Washington restarted negotiations in Muscat on February 6, months after previous talks collapsed when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last June that started a 12-day war.

The United States joined that war, carrying out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran said the Geneva talks would be “indirect,” as the previous round in Oman had been.

The latest talks came with Washington having threatened Tehran with military action and deploying an aircraft carrier group to the region following Iran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests last month.

After the Iran talks, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to participate in US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva.

In Paris, meanwhile, some residents of Tehran chanted slogans during the

A demonstrator chants slogans while holding an Iranian flag dating from before the 1979 Islamic revolution during a march in support of the people of Iran by members of the

community in Washington, DC, on Sunday, Manila time. The demonstration comes after the

crackdown on protesters last month, while US President Donald Trump has been massing warships in the Middle East and declared Friday that a change of government in Iran would be the ‘best thing that could happen.’ AFP

Witkoff, Kushner to act for US in Iran nuclear talks

weekend against the clerical leadership from balconies and windows, reports said, a day after Iranians abroad staged giant opposition rallies in Europe and North America. The Islamic republic under supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was shaken by a protest movement that peaked in January and which accord-

ing to rights groups was repressed by security forces in a crackdown that left thousands dead.

While the street protests have petered out in the face of the crackdown, last week residents of Tehran and other cities began shouting slogans against the leadership from the relative safety of their own homes inside

Japan

protests China comments on reviving ‘militarism’

TOKYO – Tokyo said it had lodged a “stern demarche” to China through diplomatic channels after Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi accused “far-right forces” in Japan of seeking to revive militarism.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Wang weighed in on Beijing’s current relationship with Tokyo, which has been under heavy strain since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments about Taiwan in November.

Wang said that “Japanese people should no longer allow themselves to be manipulated or deceived by those far-right forces, or by those who seek to revive militarism”.

“All peace-loving countries should send a clear warning to Japan: if it chooses to walk back on this path, it will only be heading toward self-destruction.”

Japan’s ministry of foreign affairs dismissed the claims in a post on X Sunday as “factually incorrect and ungrounded”.

“Japan’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities are in response to an increasingly severe security environment and are not directed against any specific third country,” the statement said.

It said there were “countries in the international community that have been rapidly increasing their military capabilities in a non-transparent manner” but added that “Japan opposes such moves and distances itself from them”. AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO – A colossal metallic robot depicting Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva towered over Rio de Janeiro’s famed Sambadrome avenue on Sunday night, in a Carnival parade that has drawn fire for its tribute to a sitting president in an election year.

Samba school Academicos de Niteroi kicked off three days of dazzling parades with the homage to Lula, tracing his life as a boy growing up in poverty in the arid northeast, to a metalworker, union leader and then president.

The opposition has slammed the parade as veiled early campaigning ahead of October polls in which the 80-yearold Lula is seeking a fourth term.

Lula and his wife Rosangela “Janja” da Silva watched the parade from one

vast apartment blocks. In a new night of chants, residents of the eastern Tehran district of Ekbatan on Sunday shouted “death to Khamenei”, “death to the Islamic republic” and “long live the shah”, according to the Shahrak Ekbatan social media account which monitors the area. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the shah

Rubio visits Trump’s ‘friend’ Orban ahead of Hungary polls

BUDAPEST, Hungary – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Hungary for talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orban Monday, ahead of elections where the nationalist leader faces a significant challenge from the opposition.

Rubio’s visit is the final stage of a whirlwind trip to Europe that also saw him address the Munich Security Conference and visit another right-wing ally, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.

US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his high regard for Orban, saying in a social media post on Friday that the prime minister had produced

“phenomenal” results in Hungary. But Orban, 62, has a fight on his hands for the April 12 legislative elections in Hungary. Polls suggest his Fidesz party is trailing opposition leader Peter Magyar’s TISZA. In a speech on Saturday, Orban insisted he would keep up his fight against “pseudo-civil organisations, bought journalists, judges, politicians” -- a tirade not unlike those favoured by Trump. He also took aim at the “oppressive machinery of Brussels”, another jibe at the European Union’s leadership, with whom he has long been at loggerheads on a host of issues. AFP

with divisive ode to Lula

of the many VIP boxes lining the avenue.

There were striking workers, dancers draped in giant lightbulbs to represent access to electricity and those depicting the poor getting benefits in what was also an ode to a raft of leftist concerns.

The crowd seated along the 700-meter avenue sang along to the theme song chosen by Academicos de Niteroi, which included the catchy refrain often used by the president’s supporters: “Ole, ole, ole, ola; Lula, Lula!”

Luena Holliday, 51, an events organizer, said she was a fan of the veteran leftist, but she was torn about the choice of theme.

“I find it confusing. I support Lula...

but we’re in a very divided moment in the country, and I don’t know how appropriate it is to associate Carnival with Lula,” she told AFP.

The parades of the city’s top 12 samba schools -- a ferocious competition featuring massive, animated floats, thundering drum sections and scantilyclad samba queens -- are the showpiece of Rio’s Carnival.

Behind the pomp and glitter, each school chooses an annual theme, often linked to Afro-Brazilian heritage, social or political commentary, mythology or environmental issues.

The parade -- the first to honor a serving president -- made no mention of the election, but did not shy away from politics. AFP

‘Ultra-left’ blamed for youth’s killing that shocked France

LYON, France – France’s government has said the “ultraleft” was behind the fatal beating of a French youth aligned with the far right, after the killing inflamed political tension ahead of March local elections.

The victim, 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, died of his wounds after being attacked Thursday at a protest against a left-wing politician in the southeastern city of Lyon.

Supporters said Deranque had been providing security at a protest against an appearance by Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament for hard-left party France Unbowed, when he was assaulted by a gang of rival activists.

Deranque was hospitalized after the attack and placed into a coma, but prosecutors on Saturday told AFP he had died of his wounds.

“It was clearly the ultra-left that killed him,” said Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, accusing hard-left politicians -- including from LFI, the largest left-wing faction in the French parliament -- of fuelling “unbridled violence” with their language.

“Words can kill,” Darmanin added, accusing Hassan and LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon of “not having a word to say for the family of the young man”. AFP

ousted by the Islamic revolution, had urged people inside the country to stage such actions in parallel with protests abroad over the weekend. Police in the southern German city of Munich said 250,000 people attended a rally there Saturday which in an unusual move was personally addressed by Pahlavi. AFP

IN BRIEF

SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un touted a newly built street of flats for families of soldiers killed supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, state media reported Monday, with photos showing him accompanied by his daughter.

North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to fight for Russia, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, and Seoul has estimated that around 2,000 have been killed. Analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology and food and energy supplies from Russia in return.

“The new street has been built thanks to the ardent desire of our motherland that wishes that... its excellent sons, who defended the most sacred things by sacrificing their most valuable things, will live forever,” Kim said in a speech released by the official Korean Central News Agency. AFP

Housing block for families of slain NK troops built India hosts AI summit as safety concerns grow

NEW DELHI – A global artificial intelligence summit kicks off in New Delhi on Monday with big issues on the agenda, from job disruption to child safety, but some attendees warn the broad focus could diminish the chance of concrete commitments from world leaders.

While frenzied demand for generative AI has turbocharged profits and share prices for many technology companies, anxiety is growing over the risks that it poses to society and the environment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Monday afternoon inaugurate the fiveday AI Impact Summit, which aims to declare a “shared roadmap for global AI governance and collaboration”. AFP

Accused Bondi killer Akram in court via video link

SYDNEY – Accused Bondi Beach killer Naveed

in

edly

in

in

and his father, Sajid,

a Hanukkah

Sajid was shot and killed by police during the attack. Akram has been charged with terrorism, 15 counts of murder, dozens of counts of causing wounds to a person with intent to kill and planting explosions. He appeared in a Sydney court for about five minutes via video link from prison, according

Rio Carnival parades kick off

SHAKEN BY PROTESTS.

AmericanIranian

bloody

SPORTS

UST’s Dadang, Del Mar

sweep way to semifinals

Karatedo now part of Palaro as demo sport

By Peter Atencio

THE martial art of karatedo will now be part of the Palarong Pambansa as a demonstration sport, making its debut in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa in late May in Agusan del Sur.

Karatedo Pilipinas Sports Federation president Richard Lim hailed this development as a milestone for the karate community.

“Finally, magiging parte na kami ng Palarong Pambansa. Iyung mga guro ng Department of Education na nagka-karatedo, at mga sensei na nagtuturo, they will now be able to show their passion for the sport,” said Lim.

Other demo sports in the Palaro slated from May 20 to 31 are cheerdancing, esports, weightlifting, obstacles sports and traditional indigenous games.

“It is a victory for the entire Philippine karate community, for our athletes, coaches, teachers, officials, and families who have long believed that karate deserves its place in Philippine school sports,” said Lim, adding that bringing the competition to the school level, will popularize karatedo more.

Karatedo has been in the Batang Pinoy for some time and its entry into the Palarong Pambansa is expected to make it thrive better at the grassroots’ level.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas made a strong statement in its bid to reclaim the girls’ crown as in the UAAP Season 88 High School Beach Volleyball Tournament at Sands SM By The Bay.

Dadang and Del Mar overpowered Ateneo’s Louise Atienza and Jelena Dait, 21-9, 21-6, in the morning session, then returned in the afternoon to rout University of the East’s Janella Mangahis and Nicole Agustin, 21-6, 21-3, finishing with a flawless 5-0 record.

Defending champion National University Nazareth School also edged closer to the Final Four with a 4-1 record.

Faith Mangyao and Alaiza Candelario

defeated De La Salle-Zobel’s Aislinn Alemaña and Tessa Bonafe, 21-10, 21-16, before taking down Ateneo’s Atienza and Ainsly Santiago, 21-7, 21-10. Adamson University’s Maegan Pineda and Ella Gonzalvo remained in third

place at 3-1 after a convincing 21-7, 21-5 win over UE’s Mangahis and Agustin.

Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Franz Premaylon and Alexa Amana survived a thrilling three-set battle against UP Integrated School’s Anya Capus and Niña Abad, 19-21, 21-17, 15-13, resulting in a three-way tie for fourth place.

The Baby Tamaraws are now tied with the Fighting Maroons and the Junior Lady Spikers at 2-2, keeping their Final Four hopes alive. Meanwhile, UST and NUNS secured the first two Final Four tickets after winning two more matches each to maintain perfect 5-0 records.

UST’s Mark Bihag and JP Apidian de-

LeBron still unclear on NBA future: ‘I have no idea’

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has no clue if he will play beyond this season, his record 23rd in the NBA, but the superstar has some projects in mind for his retirement days.

The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward spoke Sunday ahead of the NBA All-Star Game, saying his playing future beyond this season remains uncertain.

“Yeah, I want to live,” James said of his post-season plans. “When I know, you guys know. I don’t know. I have no idea. I just want to live, that’s all.”

James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, said the uncertainty about his future will not impact his efforts to spark the Lakers to the NBA title, which would be a fifth for “King James” in his landmark career.

“This is beginning towards the postseason so it has nothing to do with that,” James said. “Same motivation, same

mind factor. We’ve got past the marathon and now the sprint is about to start.

I think everybody understands that.”

James has averaged 22.0 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals a game this season for the Lakers, who rank fifth in the Western Conference at 33-21.

After battling sciatica at the start of the campaign, James says health will be a crucial factor for the Lakers in the remainder of a campaign that has seen star Luka Doncic and other battling injuries.

“Our success is going to come down to obviously I think our health, our coach staff putting us in the right position,” James said.

“I think they’re going to give us the game plan every night. But when it comes to what we have to work with, we have to actually go out and see it. We haven’t been able to have an opportunity much this year.” AFP

feated UPIS’ Marco Bamba and Prince Jimenez, 21-12, 21-11, and then UE’s Mharl Dullete and Cedie Camposano, 21-8, 21-12.

NUNS’ Kian Tan and Ethan Jadraque overcame a tough second set from UE’s Dullete and Emman Marcelino, 21-16, 24-22, before closing the day with a 212, 21-8 dismantling of Ateneo’s Antonio Castillo and Ymanuel Cervantes. The Junior Warriors dropped to 3-2 after going undefeated in the first two days. Adamson’s Brice Malinao and James Bernabe defeated De La Salle-Zobel’s John Kooper Arguelles and Brett Urriquia, 21-16, 21-14, to bring their record to an even 2-2.

FEU-Diliman finally had a breakthrough as Sam Coronel and Kenneth Maliwanag subdued Ateneo’s Xavier Castillo and Cervantes, 21-14, 21-10. The Baby Tamaraws are now level with the Fighting Maroons and the Junior Green Spikers at 1-3.

Ateneo’s

Lagac

lives up to favorite tag in tennis

Ateneo’s Miguel

lived up to his billing as one of the tournament favorites, cruising to a dominant 6–1, 6–1 victory over De La Salle Zobel’s Zeppelin Flores in the Round of 16 of the singles event in the inaugural UAAP High School Boys’ Tennis Tournament, Sunday at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Court here.

Fresh off a two-title sweep in the Palawan Pawnshop juniors circuit just days prior, Lagac was in complete control from start to finish, dictating the pace and showcasing command of the court to secure a quarterfinal berth. He will next face University of the East’s Aser Delos Santos.

“It didn’t really boost my confidence po; rather, it made me feel more humble because anybody can beat me,” said Lagac, a 15-year-old upstart who recently returned to the Philippines after spending several years in Kagawa, Japan. Now residing in Quezon City near his new school, the Grade 9 standout expressed pride in competing in a historic first for the UAAP.

“I feel honored to be playing in this first UAAP tournament, and I’m proud of myself for making it to the UAAP,” he shared. “I think I played okay po. I feel like I can do better, but at least I was able to get the win early.”

The inaugural UAAP high school tennis tournament features three events— singles, doubles, and a team competition—all contributing to the overall championship tally. For Lagac, representing Ateneo brings a different level of responsibility.

“It feels different because I can let my team down. It’s a lot more pressure than playing singles just by myself. I feel pressured, but yeah, it’s okay.”

In the same half of the draw, National University Nazareth School’s Jeremiah Labasano staged a stunning comeback against University of Santo Tomas’ Rastan Baje, 0–6, 6–0, 6–3, to advance to the quarterfinals. Awaiting Labasano is PAREF Southridge School’s Samuel Salazar, who received an opening-day bye.

Despite Flores’ exit, DLSZ will still have a representative in the last eight after Raphael Wong overpowered another Thomasian, Nicolo Olalia, 6–1, 6–3, to take care of his side of the bracket. Wong is set to face Southridge’s Marco Montinola for a spot in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Ariel Cabaral of NUNS defeated Ateneo’s Jaime Reyes, 6–1, 6–3, to arrange a quarterfinal showdown with UE’s Al Tristan Licayan.

Morikawa wins at Pebble Beach despite Scheffler heroics

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) -- Collin

Morikawa claimed a tense victory at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California on Sunday, fending off a final-day charge by top-ranked Scottie Scheffler that included three eagles.

Double major-winner Morikawa had not triumphed on the PGA Tour since 2023, but started the day in joint-second and birdied the final hole in blustery conditions to win by a stroke on 22 under par.

“It’s special for a lot of reasons,” said Morikawa, who used his win to announce that he and his wife are expecting their first child.

“We just started telling people this week, and we said, ‘what better way... to just announce it to the world, if I was able to come out and win,’” he said.

Back in the state where he was born and raised, Morikawa had pulled clear of a crowded leaderboard down the stretch with a superb 30-foot putt for birdie on

the 15th, and another birdie on 16. With benign conditions turning gusty in the final hour, Morikawa hooked his tee shot on 17 and could only manage a bogey from the oceanside rough. He faced an agonizing 20-minute wait on the 18th fairway as Jacob Bridgeman, in the preceding group, played a shot from the beach that cracked off a cliff and back into the ocean.

But a birdie on 18 was enough to seal a single-stroke win over Australia’s Min Woo Lee and Austria’s Sepp Straka, with Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood a further shot back.

“I tried to look out in the ocean as many times as I can. I love being out here,” said Morikawa, of the delay. “Pebble Beach... not many places can beat this place in the world.” Lee — chasing his second PGA Tour win, after a debut victory last March in Houston — shot 65, finishing with bird-

ies on the final two holes. It was in stark contrast to Lee’s finish Saturday, when the 27-year-old had bogeyed the final two holes and dramatically tossed his ball into the Pacific Ocean in frustration. But the day’s best round came from world number one Scheffler, who started Sunday eight shots off the lead in joint 22nd, and made a remarkable charge up the leaderboard. He began in blistering form with two eagles and three birdies in his first seven holes.

Pushing hard for the finish line, Scheffler missed long on four consecutive holes, picking up two bogeys in that stretch. Still, Scheffler finished with another eagle for a round of 63 and the joint lead at 20 under par, just as winds picked up for the remaining players on the course. It was not quite enough for a famous win. AFP

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan —

Lagac

Collin Morikawa

LA’s LeBron James dunks the ball in front of Miami’s Norman Powell. AFP

UST’s Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar secured the first semifinal spot with dominant performances.

TUESDAY, FEBUARY 17, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Tabuena places 44th in LIV golf, but earns nearly P5.2M

Cool Smashers seek edge vs. resurgent Thunderbelles

Games Tuesday (FilOil Centre)

4 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Capital1

6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs ZUS Coffee

CREAMLINE and ZUS Coffee seek to sustain their resurgence at each other’s expense as they clash in Week 3 of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan today (Tuesday).

The Cool Smashers regained momentum after absorbing a tough loss to the PLDT High Speed Hitters, bouncing back with a four-set victory over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans to reignite their redemption campaign following a rare title-less season after completing a record Grand Slam.

Standing in their way in the 6:30 p.m. showdown are the Thunderbelles, who also appear to have rediscovered their rhythm. After dropping their first two matches, including a shock defeat to the Galeries Tower Highrisers, they rallied from a 1-2 set deficit to overcome the Akari Chargers last Thursday, signaling a return to form. With the tournament shaping up as a wide-open race, both squads are eager to secure another win to stay in strong contention for a semifinal berth.

On paper, however, Creamline holds the advantage. The 10-time champions are healthy and stacked with talent, needing only to regain the cohesion that eluded them in their loss to the High Speed Hitters.

Jia de Guzman orchestrates the offense, while Bernadette Pons bolsters a potent frontline bannered by Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, Alyssa Valdez and Michele Gumabao. The middle rotation remains among the league’s strongest with Pangs Panaga, Sheena Toring and Bea De Leon, while newcomer Jen Nierva adds stability to the defense. With Mich Gamit, Kyle Negrito and Den-den Revilla providing depth, Creamline appears primed for another championship push.

THE road to golfing greatness in the Philippines will once again pass through the manicured fairways of The Manila Golf & Country Club as the 2026 Philippine Ladies Open (PLO) takes center stage from February 24 to 26, 2026, with the backing of the Philippine Sports Commission. Organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP), the prestigious annual tournament is set to draw up to 100 of the country’s top amateur talents alongside international standouts, reinforcing its reputation as the premier proving ground for the next generation of champions.

PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio praised the impact of women’s golf in the country, noting its proven ability to produce global winners.

“The success of Bianca Pagdanganan and Yuka Saso shows that Filipino women can compete and win against the very best in the world. The Philippine Ladies Open is where those journeys begin,” Gregorio said.

The Philippine Ladies Open has long been a springboard to global success with Pagdanganan and Saso among its distinguished alumnae.

Pagdanganan ruled the 2017 edition and was an Asian Games dual medalist who now competes on the LPGA Tour.

Back-to-back champion in 2018 and 2019, Saso went on to become a twotime U.S. Women’s Open titlist and an Asian Games dual gold medalist, cementing her status as one of Asia’s brightest stars.

PH skier Proulx finishes 52nd in Winter Olympics

BORMIO, Italy – Tallulah Proulx, at 17 one of the youngest in the field, proudly stayed on her feet at the close of Alpine skiing’s Giant Slalom event in the 25th Winter Olympics Sunday.

Proulx was listed as one of only four 17-year-olds among the 76 female competitors but managed to finish her two runs when others failed.

“I finished,” the skier, who was born in the United States but whose father, James, hails from Eastern Samar, said with a happy tone.

Proulx had a time of 1:17.15 in the first run at the iconic Tofane Alpine Skiing Center, site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Then she clocked 1:24.47 in the second run.

With an aggregate time of 2:41.62, the charming Fil-American wound up 52nd overall. A total of 22 skiers did not finish the race (DNF), including another 17-year-old, Neringa Stepanauskaite of Lithuania.

The youngest in the field, 16-year-old Pia Vucinic of Croatia, also did not finish the race. In Alpine skiing, an entry who fails to finish one run is out of the competition.

“It was so fun and it was actually scary. But I finished it. It was honestly unbelievable,” said Proulx, the first Filipina ever to compete in the Winter Olympics.

Her parents and brother travelled all the way from Utah to witness her feat.

“It was really cool,” said Proulx, who has one more event, the women’s Slalom, slated Wednesday to close out the Philippine participation that is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Patrick Gregorio.

Francis Ceccarelli was wrapping up his campaign in the men’s Slalom as of presstime following a memorable 54th place in the Giant Slalom last Saturday.

Proulx admitted that she could have done better, but for her age, it was a proud moment. AFP

NEW year, new season, and for the PLDT High Speed Hitters, a massive new chance to prove they belong at the very top.

After their fourth-place finish last conference, the High Speed Hitters aren’t just looking to participate in the upcoming Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference. They look to reclaim their identity as champions, starting with a winning sweep against multi-titlist Creamline Cool Smashers followed by a four-set victory over the Bella Belenbannered Capital1 Solar Spikers.

Fueling the fire

For the High Speed Hitters, coming so close to a podium finish last year wasn’t a setback; it was a wake-up call.

“Last season was very challenging,” said Coach Rald Ricafort. “Even though we didn’t reach our final goal, the team

By Randy M. Caluag

FILIPINO golfer

Miguel Tabuena pocketed close to $90,000 (about P5.2 million) in prize money after finishing tied for 44th at the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia.

Tabuena made his debut at LIV, where he earned full-time membership for the year 2026 following his victory in the International Series Philippines at Sta. Elena late last year.

Tabuena, 31, earned $88,500 from the $30 million purse in one of the LIV Golf League’s marquee stops, as the Australian leg drew a packed international field and record crowds over four days of competition.

The Filipino is competing on a wildcard card for the 2026 season, becoming the first player from the Philippines to hold full-time status on the Saudibacked circuit.

His Adelaide payout followed a solid opening appearance in Riyadh earlier this year, where he collected $50,000 in individual prize money.

Also gracing the PLO fairways in 2017 and 2018 was Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, fondly known as “Jeeno,” who has since risen to world No. 1.

“These champions sharpened their competitive edge here,” said WGAP Secretary Greely R. Oposa, underscoring the tournament’s role in nurturing young golfers for international competition.

Gregorio pointed out that the future remains bright with continued support for grassroots programs.

“We believe the next generation of Filipina golfers will not only follow in their footsteps but surpass them. With the right training, exposure, and opportunities, more Filipinas will stand on global podiums and bring pride to the nation,” Gregorio emphasized.

Tabuena finished the week at fourunder-par, placing at joint 44th place along with several established LIV regulars, Luis Masaveu, Harold Varner III, Ben Schmidt, Young-han Song and Tom McKibbin.

The Adelaide tournament was won by Anthony Kim, who claimed his first professional victory in 16 years with a closing-round surge to take the $4 million top prize. Spain’s Jon Rahm finished second, while American Bryson DeChambeau was among those tied for third.

In the team competition, Tabuena’s 4Aces GC posted a respectable finish, earning additional prize money to be shared among the squad.

The LIV Golf League moves to its next stop later this month, with Tabuena seeking to build on his early momentum and push for higher finishes.

learned a lot. We are working hard this pre-season to improve and hopefully reach our goal again this conference.”

Team captain Kath Arado echoes this sentiment, noting that the hunger to bounce back is palpable throughout the squad.

“Gustong makabawi ulit. Tingin ko, ito pa din yung mindset ng bawat isa samin especially naging maganda yung training namin sa Japan at maraming kaming bagong natutunan individually and as a team,” she shared. “Tinitignan namin na one game at a time dahil halos lahat ng team ay lumakas.”

The Japan connection

To prepare for the grind of the AllFilipino Conference, the High Speed Hitters took their training to Japan. The experience wasn’t just about physical conditioning; it was a masterclass in the

“Japanese way” – speed, discipline, and flawless fundamentals.

“Philippine volleyball still has a long way to go,” Coach Rald observed. “We saw kids from elementary to college having the same consistency and discipline that we aim to adopt. We want to play smart and be as mentally resilient as possible.”

For the players, the trip served as a reminder that winning isn’t always about power – it’s about patience.

“Lagi itong nagiging paalala,” added Arado. “Maraming pagkakataon na din kasi na sa kagustuhan namin matapos na yung game at makabawi agad, mas nahihirapan pa kami instead na mas makuha yung panalo. Ako as a captain, dapat sakin magsimula na wag madaliin ang paglalaro. Na dapat kami yung magset ng tempo na familiar kami at makakapag-execute ng maayos na play.”

The Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena finishes the week at four-under-par, placing at joint 44th place along with several established LIV regulars, Luis Masaveu, Harold Varner III, Ben Schmidt, Young-han Song and Tom McKibbin. (Asian Tour)

Tallulah Proulx

SM Prime spending P100b after income grew 7% in 2025

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) said Monday it earmarked P100 billion for 2026 capital expenditures as it expects its mall and commercial segments to drive steady growth following a period of economic cooling.

SM Prime Holdings Inc president and chief executive Jeffrey Lim said while the company is cautiously optimistic about the year ahead after the slowdown in 2025, it is maintaining its capital spending plan to bolster its portfolio.

“Looking ahead, we expect the property sector to continue improving. Although growth will likely be uneven across segments, we expect the same trend within our own portfolio,” Lim said.

ASEAN DELEGATES. Aboitiz

InfraCapital (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, hosts delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at its award-winning gateways, MactanCebu International Airport (MCIA) and Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA). The visit of the ASEAN delegates, who were meeting in Cebu and Bohol to kick off this year’s ASEAN meetings, highlighted AIC’s commitment to operational excellence and its role in reinforcing the Philippines’ position as a globally competitive destination within the region via MCIA and BPIA.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Philippines and the United are strengthening collaboration on regulatory frameworks and commercial partnerships to build a skilled nuclear workforce as Manila moves to integrate nuclear power into its energy mix by 2032.

The US government announced several initiatives on Monday to

The company plans to open three to four new malls this year in Zamboanga, General Trias, Tagum and Sta. Rosa

The 2026 outlook follows a 7-percent increase in net income for 2025, with the company reporting P48.8 billion compared to P45.6 billion the previous year. SMPH attributed the performance to stronger commercial revenues and disciplined cost management.

Consolidated revenues for 2025 reached P141.1 billion, up from P140.4 billion in 2024. The mall seg-

ment remained the primary driver, contributing P85.1 billion or 60 percent of total revenues. The residential segment followed with P42.5 billion, accounting for 30 percent.

Hotels and convention centers contributed 6 percent at P8.5 billion, while offices and warehouses made up 4 percent at P5.4 billion. Revenue from commercial properties, including rental establishments, grew by more than 6 percent to P98.6 billion.

“Operational efficiency played a critical role in our performance in 2025. It enabled us to protect margins and translate modest revenue growth into a solid bottom line,” Lim said.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, net income was flat at P11.6 billion. While revenues for the quarter declined 7 percent to P37.7 billion due to lower real estate sales, the impact was offset by a 12-percent reduction in costs and expenses.

advance the Trump administration’s goal of exporting American nuclear technologies to allies while deepening strategic partnerships through safe and safeguarded energy.

It said the initiatives are anchored on the “123 Agreement” signed last year, which serves as a legal framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation.

The programs aim to enhance energy security and meet tech goals such as

IN BRIEF

end of the period, reflecting what the lender described as efficient capital deployment and a clean balance sheet.

Despite the record earnings, AUB president Manuel Gomez said the bank remains cautiously optimistic about the industry.

Gomez cited rising competition from fintech firms, artificial intelligence adoption, growing cyber threats, cost pressures and continuing geopolitical instability as primary headwinds.

“However, growth opportunities abound for AUB, particularly in digital partnerships. It is through this that we can stay ahead of the curve by revolutionizing cross-border digital payment solutions through our HelloMoney, among others,” Gomez said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Coins.ph spot trading jumps 327% to $500m

COINS.ph reported a 327-percent increase in monthly spot trading volume, surpassing the $500-million mark in November 2025 as stablecoins become a primary tool for remittances and corporate payments in the Philippines.

The exchange said the November 2024 volume of $117 million grew nearly fourfold to reach about $500 million by the same month in 2025. The growth momentum continued into early 2026, with the platform hitting an all-time high of $50 million in daily spot trading volume last week.

It attributed the surge to the shift of stablecoins like USDT and USDC from speculative assets to essential financial infrastructure.

The digital assets, which are pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, serve as a bridge for the Philippine economy. Remittances in the country reached $38.3 billion at the end of 2024, and stablecoins are increasingly used for contractor payments, supplier disbursements and corporate payouts due to their speed compared to traditional banking.

“These spot trading milestones are a testament to the critical role stablecoins are playing in modernizing Philippine finance,” Coins.ph chief executive Wei Zhou said.

powering artificial intelligence.

US Department of State Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation Principal deputy assistant secretary Ann Ganzer said the government is pursuing opportunities to enhance financing and trade support for nations eager to develop civil nuclear programs.

“We want to work together to get Philippines to the finish line on

nuclear energy. Beyond acquiring the technology and establishing robust regulations to achieve that 2032 goal, the most vital elements will be assessing sites for commercial reactor, and developing the skilled workforce needed to design, construct, operate, regulate, and sustain advanced nuclear plants for generations to come,” Ganzer said.

IP ROADMAP. The Philippines, through the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), commits to spearheading initiatives to strengthen intellectual property (IP) administration, awareness, capacity building and commercialization under the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan for 2026–2030 (AIPRAP 2030) that is now in force. Approved by member states, the regional economic development agenda aims to enhance IP systems and advance an integrated, innovation-driven ASEAN community. It seeks to build an effective, enterprising and inclusive IP ecosystem by strengthening national IP regimes and reinforcing regional cooperation grounded in respect for IP rights.

Japan extends ¥1.7-b grant to build modern rice processing plant in Isabela

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a 1.7-billion yen grant agreement to establish a modern rice processing system in Cauayan City to support the National Food Authority’s (NFA) bufferstocking capacity.

The facility will be built in one of the top rice-producing areas in Isabela province and implemented by the Department of Agriculture through the NFA.

The project aims to address vulnerabilities in the rice supply chain where government data show roughly 16 percent of output is lost during post-harvest handling, with drying and milling accounting for the largest share.

DPWH to bid out Maharlika Highway rehab, nears EDSA phase 1 completion

By Darwin G. Amojelar

DEPARTMENT

of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary

Vince Dizon said Monday he is scheduled to meet with major contractors next month as the agency prepares to open bidding for the Maharlika Highway rehabilitation.

The agency plans to pivot away from small contractors, opting instead to hire well-known firms to renovate the 3,500-kilometer PanPhilippine Highway that serves as the nation’s primary logistical artery linking Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Dizon said the project has attracted interest from private sector contractors that have historically avoided government projects.

“Many have expressed interest in the Maharlika Highway. These contractors were used by private sectors that have never participated in government projects like the Maharlika. This is a testament to the trust and reforms that our agency is carrying out,” Dizon said in a news briefing.

To ensure the project meets international standards, the agency has tapped foreign consultants to oversee the upgrades. The rehabilitation focuses heavily on critical segments within Quezon and the Bicol Region to bolster regional connectivity and trade.

Regarding urban infrastructure, Dizon said the agency is on track to complete the first phase of the EDSA rehabilitation by July 2026. The initial phase covers the stretch from Roxas Boulevard to EDSAOrense and is 50-percent complete.

“We are currently close to 50 percent of Phase 1, so we want to compete all by July 2026 with the sidewalks but if there are no side walks we think we can complete it by May,” Dizon said.

Jollibee Foods sales hit record P122.3b in fourth quarter

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp. reported record systemwide sales of P122.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, fueled by aggressive global expansion and robust domestic demand.

The performance brought the group’s full-year systemwide sales growth to 16 percent, surpassing the company’s initial target of 8 percent to 12 percent.

Jollibee chief financial and risk officer and Jollibee Group International Business chief executive Richard Shin attributed the results to a surge in store openings and strong brand momentum.

“Our preliminary fourth-quarter results reflect a clear acceleration in topline momentum, with SWS reaching a new all-time high alongside the highest level of gross store openings in the company’s history,” Shin said.

“We are strengthening NFA’s capacity to handle larger volumes of palay, reduce postharvest losses, improve milling recovery and deliver higher-quality rice to our people,” Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said during the signing rites at the House of Representatives.

The project includes the procurement of high-capacity mechanical grain dryers, a multi-stage rice mill and grain silos designed to handle larger procurement volumes with greater efficiency. Upgrading these capabilities is expected to reduce losses, improve milling recovery rates and enhance the quality of rice distributed through disaster response operations and government food programs.

“This performance underscores broad-based demand across both our Philippines and International businesses, the strength of our brandfolio, and the scalability of our growth platforms,” Shin said. Systemwide sales represent the total consumer sales from both companyowned and franchised outlets. While the Philippine business posted a 9.7-percent increase in the fourth quarter, international operations grew faster at 15.4 percent. In the Philippines, the flagship Jollibee brand grew 9.8 percent, followed by Mang Inasal at 20.5 percent and Chowking at 5.4 percent. Same-store sales growth reached 5 percent domestically and 5.5 percent internationally during the period. The international segment was bolstered by a 27.7-percent jump in the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia region. Significant contributions also came from Compose Coffee at 24.2 percent,

at 23.1 percent and Jollibee

1)

address, and e-mail address;

2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3) A statement of the relief desired.

& SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable farming practices reduce climate risks, says CCC

CALAMBA, Laguna―The Climate Change Commission (CCC) played up the critical role of sustainable agriculture in strengthening the country’s food security and overall climate resilience.

The CCC in one of its recent learning site visits stressed how climatesmart and regenerative farming practices contribute to resilient food systems and support rural livelihoods.

The agriculture system is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change identified in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). “Under the National Adaptation Plan, the country’s strategic framework designed to

strengthen climate resilience, agriculture remains among the most at-risk sectors under a changing climate,” CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje said. He said agriculture was facing “increasing threats from extreme weather events, shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures.” He said addressing these risks requires the adoption and scaling of climate-

smart and regenerative agricultural practices that protect food systems while strengthening the adaptive capacity of farming communities. “Agriculture is not only a productivity concern but a core climate adaptation strategy under the NAP,” Borje said.

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has championed the adaptation theme “Securing Food Supply: Nurture Nature, Sustain Livelihoods,” which aims to achieve productive and resilient agriculture and fisheries, while ensuring food security, promoting sustainability and empowering small farmers and fisherfolk. A practical example of this approach was demonstrated during the learning site visit to the Filipinas Cacao Heritage Reserve Inc. (FCHRI),

a farm dedicated to conserving and propagating heritage Criollo cacao.

The CCC observed firsthand how science-based, organic and regenerative farming approaches can reduce climate risks while supporting rural livelihoods.

The visit highlighted the role of sustainable agriculture in safeguarding heritage crops, improving soil and water management, and enhancing resilience amid climate variability. As part of its organic and regenerative reforestation efforts, FCHRI employs modern and sustainable farming methods, including drip irrigation systems, Organic Integrated Pest Management (IPM), aerobic composting and the use of ecological indicators, while avoiding harmful synthetic chemicals.CCC News

THE SCIENCE OF GRAPES

A

Georgian woman brings her passion to winemaking

First of Three Parts

DESPITE growing up in Kakheti, a well-known wine region and the agricultural heart of Georgia, Sophio Khutitdze saw herself as a doctor.

She was always drawn to the sciences with chemistry and biology being her favorite classes in high school. She even applied to medical school and took the national exam, but she slowly started to realize that medicine wasn’t for her Looking for a new vision for her life, where she could combine her loves for science and nature, she decided to enrol at the Agricultural University. When it came time to choose a specialization―agronomy, winemaking, chemistry, or biology, she chose viticulture and winemaking.

Now at 25 years old, she works as a viticulturalist and winemaker for a private wine company in the vineyards of Kakheti, managing 40 hectares of grapevines. She saw that just like humans, wine is formed by biology and science. “Wine is a living product―shaped by yeast, biological processes and carefully coordinated vineyard management practices.”

And for her that meant starting at the beginning, the building blocks of wine: grapes.

“To make quality wine, you need quality grapes. That starts in the vineyard.”

She turned to winemaking with the same scientific approach that she had in school.

“I focus on learning every day and applying new approaches in both the vineyard and the cellar,” she adds. Her work depends on the season: monitoring growth and disease control in spring, managing pests in summer, overseeing harvest and fermentation in autumn and planning for winter vineyard care.

Six hectares of the vineyard she manages are already organic, and she plans to help convert the remaining 34 in three years. She emphasizes the link between viticulture and winemaking: “A winemaker must know their raw material. Highquality grapes are the foundation that lead to good wine.” (To be continued) FAO News

Taguig City leads way to resilience and sustainability

TAGUIG CITY―The Climate Change Commission (CCC) met with Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni “Lani” Lopez Cayetano to discuss the city’s climate initiatives, sustainable practices and potential areas of cooperation to strengthen local climate action and urban resilience.

The meeting noted Taguig City’s ongoing efforts in sustainability and climate governance, as well as opportunities to further enhance the implementation and mainstreaming of its local climate plans.

Discussions centered on naturebased and people-centered solutions that respond to the city’s unique context as a lakeside urban community. It also drew attention to protecting livelihoods dependent on Laguna Lake, following its trademark identity as a “Probinsyudad,” a portmanteau of probinsya (province) and siyudad (city). These are not merely projects for their own sake; they are initiatives designed to address the real needs of our people, ensuring that no one, including fisherfolk, is left behind,” said CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje.

“Taguig City’s Probinsyudad concept, which redefines progress and prosperity, offers a valuable policy lesson for other LGUs in Metro Manila to develop their own localized models of sustainable development,” he said.

“True progress is not measured only by infrastructure or economic growth, but by whether communities are safer, livelihoods are protected and future generations inherit a stable and healthy home,” Borje added.

Mayor Cayetano emphasized the city’s commitment to urgent climate action, fostering partnerships and advancing sustainability and community participation through initiatives, including youthfocused climate advocacy. CCC News

Gov’t promotes bamboo as part of nature-based solutions

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) recently launched a campaign to advance progressive bamboo development as a nature-based solution (NbS) that supports climate action, strengthens resilience and unlocks sustainable economic opportunities for communities.

The “Kawayan: Kabalikat ng Klima at Komunidad” campaign
features a series of informational materials released through the commission’s social meadia platforms.

It aims to raise public awareness on bamboo’s role in climate action and promote inclusive and sustainable development that places communities at the center of resilience building.
Bamboo offers multiple benefits to communities, as it absorbs carbon emissions that drive global warming, stores water and provides natural protection against climate impacts, such as strong winds and flooding.

The Philippines has an estimated 39,000 to 53,000 hectares of land suitable for bamboo cultivation. This vast potential highlights opportunities to strengthen community livelihoods

Bamboo, a type of grass, stands tall as a nature-based solution that advances climate action while supporting resilient and inclusive economic growth while contributing to a more resilient and progressive economy, particularly in rural and climate-vulnerable areas.

CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje cited bamboo’s strategic value as

both an ecological solution and an economic driver. He underscored the need to expand and diversify bamboo species as part of the country’s long-term climate and development agenda. CCC News

DENR opens modern Ilocos region hub to boost monitoring

By Anthony Ian H. Reyes

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union―The Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesEnvironmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 1 inaugurated its newly constructed Regional Environmental Laboratory Building.

Opened on February 5, 2026, the facility aims to improve environmental monitoring and safeguard public health across the Ilocos Region.

The four-storey building strengthens the bureau’s capacity to test air and water samples, verify compliance with standards and support data-driven regulatory actions.

Officials noted that the laboratory will enhance permitting, monitoring and enforcement to ensure development projects meet environmental laws.

EMB Ilocos director Nicanor C. Esteban said the facility makes the region one of the best-equipped in the country.

“We are now among the regions with the best environmental laboratories. We have officially received the turnover of the building, and we commit to using it properly in serving the public,” Esteban said.

EMB assistant director Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe said the project reflects agency coordination and a shared goal of environmental protection. She added the laboratory demonstrates how partnerships turn into concrete services.

“We will provide even better services to our partners. We will continue to go beyond what is expected and extend all the help we can,” Naz-Hipe said.

She thanked the provincial government of La Union for the site and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for funding the construction. PIA Region 1

Climate Change Commission vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje (fifth from left) shakes hands with Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano after discussing climate action, sustainability and collaboration.

With an academic background in chemistry and biology, Sophio decided to combine her love of science and nature and go into winemaking. FAO/Guram Saqvarelidze

CHINESE NEW YEAR The Year of the Fire Horse

The evolution of Binondo’s Lunar New Year Celebration

By Patricia Taculao-Deligero

BEFORE the fireworks crackle and the countdown echoes through loudspeakers, before the lion dancers leap toward red envelopes pinned above storefronts, Binondo begins its transformation quietly.

A few days before the Lunar New Year, red lanterns appear along Ongpin Street. Shopkeepers replace old decor with fresh couplets brushed in gold ink. Boxes of tikoy are stacked high beside glass counters. The air grows heavier—scented with incense smoke, roasted chestnuts and anticipation.

For centuries, this ritual of preparation has marked the turning of the year in Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, established by the Spaniards in 1594. But while the colors remain the same—red for luck, gold for prosperity—the way the district celebrates has changed dramatically over time.

What was once a quiet, family-centered observance has become one of Manila’s most anticipated public festivals.

When the Celebration Stayed Indoors

In the mid-20th century, Chinese New Year in Binondo unfolded mostly behind closed doors.

Families gathered in ancestral homes, where circular dining tables filled with symbolic dishes became the heart of the celebration. There were long noodles for longevity, whole fish for abundance and tikoy—sticky rice cake—for unity and harmony. Elders distributed red envelopes to children. Incense burned steadily in home altars and temples as prayers were offered to ancestors. Outside, the streets were calm.

The celebration was intimate, almost reverent. It was less spectacle and more sanctuary—a way for the Filipino-Chinese community to preserve its identity within a rapidly changing Manila. Binondo functioned not just as a commercial hub, but as a cultural refuge. Tradition thrived in private spaces.

When the Lions Took the Streets

By the 1970s, the celebration began to spill outward. Lion and dragon dancers—once performing mainly for private businesses—started moving through public streets. The rhythmic pounding of drums echoed between narrow buildings. Cymbals clashed. Children followed the performers, wide-eyed, as lions bobbed and blinked beneath bolts of fabric and fur. Business owners began hanging red envelopes above their doorways, daring the lions to leap and “pluck the greens,” a ritual believed to bring prosperity for the year ahead. The streets grew louder. Crowds grew thicker.

Chinese New Year was no longer something you had to be invited into a home to witness. It was unfolding openly, transforming Binondo into a shared stage where culture was performed, celebrated and, increasingly, observed by outsiders. The Festival Era

The turn of the millennium marked another turning point. Globalization, tourism and urban development reshaped Binondo’s place in Manila’s imagination. What had long been a neighborhood celebration evolved into a citywide attraction. The Manila local government began organizing grander parades, coordinated performances, fireworks displays and public countdown events. Ongpin Street—once navigated primarily by residents doing daily business—became a sea of camera phones and selfie sticks. Visitors arrived not only to pray or reunite with family, but to document the spectacle.

Concert stages rose at major intersections. Filipino-Chinese personalities and local celebrities performed as thousands waited for midnight. Firecrackers competed with amplified music. Social media feeds filled instantly with red-and-gold snapshots. Binondo had become both a heritage site and a headline event. Commerce, Culture and Conversation With visibility came commercialization.

Stalls selling zodiac charms, lucky bracelets and decorative trinkets multiplied. Tikoy evolved beyond its traditional sugar-andrice formula, now offered in ube, pandan and chocolate flavors—a nod to broader Filipino tastes. Malls such as Lucky Chinatown anchored festivities with air-conditioned events, themed installations and scheduled performances.

Yet modernization did not simply descend upon the district from outside forces.

Younger generations of FilipinoChinese entrepreneurs, now managing ancestral businesses, actively reshaped the celebration. They blended tradition with innovation, preserving symbolic rituals while adapting to contemporary consumer culture. Community leaders collaborated with local government units to organize safer, more structured street programs, ensuring that swelling crowds could celebrate without chaos overwhelming tradition.

Still, conversations persist within the community: How does one protect the spiritual core of a festival when it becomes a tourist attraction? How do you honor ancestors amid concert lights and commercial banners? The tension itself is part of the evolution.

A Living, Breathing Tradition And yet, beneath the fireworks and festival stages, the older rhythms remain.

Lucky Chinatown ushers in the Year of the Fire Horse with a vibrant showcase of culture and heritage in the heart of Binondo. As the center of luck, abundance, and prosperity this Lunar New Year, the mall invites visitors to experience traditional rituals, live performances, and festive feasts, fostering meaningful connections with enduring community

Inside temples, incense still burns. Families still gather around circular tables. Elders still press red envelopes into younger hands. Wishes for prosperity, longevity and harmony are whispered much the same way they were decades ago. What has changed is not the heart of the celebration, but its scale.

traditions. Norman Cruz

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

SHOWBIZ

Why mistakes and failures excite David Licauco

Shticks

ACTOR David Licauco isn’t afraid to stumble; in fact, he embraces every mistake and challenge that comes his way.

THE country’s leading media company has rebranded its official app as GMA Play, taking its digital entertainment offerings to the next level.

The network said the rebranding underscores its commitment to innovation and storytelling that resonates with audiences in the Philippines and around the world.

As GMA’s premier entertainment and news streaming platform, GMA Play allows viewers to watch current programs, catch up on past hits, and stay informed on the latest news developments anytime, anywhere. The app is designed for today’s fast-paced, mobile-centric lifestyle to provide a range of content tailored to evolving viewing habits.

GMA Play’s lineup includes drama, romance, comedy, fantasy, news, and documentaries, beloved Asianovelas, and a selection of local and foreign movies. The platform gives audiences the flexibility to enjoy Kapuso content across devices, whether on smartphones, Smart TVs with Google TV, or via www. gmanetwork.com/gmaplay.

Viewers can download GMA Play from the App Store or Google Play, while current users of the GMA Network app can access the platform by updating their existing app—no separate download is required.

In a recent TV interview, the actor revealed that making mistakes has been an essential part of his journey, both in showbiz and in business ventures.

“And this holds true whether it’s my showbiz career or businesses,” he admitted.

The Pambansang Ginoo recalled a childhood setback that would ultimately fuel his drive.

“When I was in fifth grade, I didn’t make the cut for the school’s basketball team. Admittedly, I wasn’t that good yet. But in the following months, I practiced nonstop. The next year, I made it — and became part of the mythical five!”

David considers failure as a stepping stone. “I try my very best to become the best at everything. I’m not afraid of blunders because they actually excite me. If you fail, you learn and apply the lessons next time. Perhaps you can’t perfect it, but you’re one step closer. Success starts from failure.”

Currently, David is channeling that same determination into a dream project: building a luxury villa in Siargao.

“I’m in the designing phase. Maybe after my current primetime show, Never Say Die, I’ll move on to construction. I’m very hands-on with things like that!”

But it’s not all construction and career moves. The former college basketball star is preparing to compete in a global indoor fitness competition, starting with a monthly race in Taiwan.

“Of course, my goal is to medal. I make time to work out even before tapings and before dinner. Some say they don’t have time, but if you really want something, you find a way,” he said.

On set, David has found camaraderie among his co-stars Jillian Ward, Kim Ji Soo, and Raheel Bhyria. “Jillian is so kind and genuine. She even gives me business advice sometimes. Kim and I share the same humor, and Raheel has big dreams and wants to

WUTHERING Heights Emerald Fennell’s steamy adaptation of the classic Emily Brontë novel, charmed moviegoers in North America over the four-day U.S. holiday weekend, raking in $40 million, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The film, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the doomed lovers Cathy and Heathcliff, features original songs from Charli XCX and has especially connected with women over the Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day holiday, experts said. Debuting in second place at $32 million in the United States was Sony’s family-friendly animated flick GOAT , produced by NBA superstar Stephen Curry , about an undersized goat who wants to join a basketball-like “roarball” team. Curry is part of the voice cast, which also includes Caleb McLaughlin and David Harbour ( Stranger Things ), Gabrielle

Union , and country star Jelly Roll Amazon MGM’s heist thriller Crime 101 starring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry , and Mark Ruffalo , landed in third place with $17.8 million, Exhibitor Relations reported.

In fourth place at $10.7 million was horror flick Send Help from 20th Century, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as a woman and her boss trying to survive on a deserted island after their plane crashes.

Fifth place went to Angel Studios’ rom-com Solo Mio , starring comedian Kevin James as a groom left at the altar in Italy. It earned $7.5 million.

Rounding out the top 10 are Zootopia 2 with $5 million, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die at $4.1 million, Iron Lung with $3.9 million, Avatar: Fire and Ash at $3.8 million, and Dracula earning $3.3 million. AFP

star Coco Martin expressed gratitude as his action series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo celebrated its third anniversary, drawing viewers nationwide who have followed the story of Tanggol every night.

In plugs released by Dreamscape Entertainment, fans shared messages thanking the show and its lead character for years of action, drama, and inspiration.

“Tatlong taon mo na kaming napapasaya, napapahanga, at napapaiyak sa bawat eksena,” one viewer said. Another added, “Maraming salamat sa patuloy na pagbibigay inspirasyon at saya sa aming lahat.” Since its debut on television and online, the series has followed Tanggol’s journey from a

street-smart friend to a hero, featuring deathdefying stunts and plotlines reflecting the lives of everyday Filipinos. To mark the anniversary, the series opens the week with an action-packed mission. Tanggol and his team face off against the police after a jewelry heist, only to be betrayed by a friend, Enteng ( Jojit Lorenzo ), who acts under duress to protect his mother from

in Manila, surpassing his rival Miguelito (Jake Cuenca), promising more suspenseful episodes. FPJ’s Batang Quiapo airs on Kapamilya

PRIMETIME

David Licauco says failures push him to work harder as he juggles showbiz, business goals, and a planned luxury villa project in Siargao

By Nickie Wang

AIntimate hideaway for slow nights and crafted cocktails

BV Bar in Scout Rallos, Quezon City, is quietly carving a niche as the go-to spot for low-key nights out. The speakeasy-style venue draws visitors with its intimate vibe and convenient location, providing a place where drinks are savored and evenings unfold at a relaxed pace. It’s a kind of place that reminds you what it means to slow down, sip well, and savor the night.

Located on the mezzanine of the Alphabase Building, finding it is easy. When you step inside the bar, you’re greeted by warm lighting and European-inspired interiors. The space strikes a balance between comfort and sophistication, making it ideal for date nights or small gatherings. Adding to the bar’s charm, the seating is cozy and can accommodate up to 40 guests.

During our visit last month, the first thing that caught our attention was the name. Asking coowner Samuel Ng Suy what ABV stands for, he replied with a smile, “Guess what… Alcohol By Volume,” a playful hint at the bar’s focus on carefully crafted drinks. The cocktail program builds on classic foundations, adding thoughtful twists that complement the cozy setting. Food also plays a

and

starring role, with dishes designed to elevate the overall experience.

The menu features approachable yet refined dishes with subtle Japanese influences, such as chicken karaage, soft-shell crab bao, wagyu sando, and prawn bisque with ebi tempura. Portions are generous and designed for sharing.

For this month, ABV & Co. presents a sixcourse Valentine’s Tasting Menu crafted by

Executive Chef Erick Toyama. Priced at P1,999 per person and available until the end of February, it allows diners to experience the bar’s elevated cuisine in a romantic, thoughtfully curated setting. ABV isn’t about drawing crowds—it’s about creating meaningful experiences. In a city often defined by nightlife spectacle, ABV Bar quietly reminds Quezon City what it means to slow

By Nickie Wang

POP Mart has planted another playful flag in Metro Manila. On Feb. 13, the global collectible sensation opened its third official Philippine store at SM North EDSA, giving fans north of the metro a charming new destination for meaningful gifts, whether for a sweetheart, a best friend, or a little self-indulgence. The 177-square-meter shop on Level 3 of The Block is the brand’s first permanent home in Quezon City. As it continues to weave its collectible culture into everyday shopping spaces, fans and enthusiasts on this side of the metro now have a closer and more convenient way to engage with the brand’s evolving lineup of designer toys

Bartenders prepare handcrafted cocktails that anchor ABV Bar’s classic-with-a-twist drink program

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026

CHINESE NEW YEAR The Year of the Fire Horse

How the Filipino-Chinese youth keep tradition alive in a changing world

By Patricia Taculao-Deligero

EVERY year, as January fades into February, streets fill with red lanterns, lion dances echo through city blocks and families gather around tables heavy with symbolic dishes. Chinese New Year—also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year—is more than a celebration; it is a living testament to centuries of history, faith and cultural continuity.

Unlike the Western New Year, which follows the fixed Gregorian calendar date of Jan. 1, the Lunar New Year is guided by the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Its 12 months alternate between 29 and 30 days, following the rhythms of both the moon and the sun. Because of this, the holiday shifts each year, usually landing between mid-January and late February.

Historical accounts trace the festival’s origins back more than 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty, when it was observed as a sacred time to honor ancestors and deities and to prepare for the agricultural season ahead. What began as a ritual rooted in survival and spirituality has since grown into one of the world’s most widely celebrated cultural events. Today, it is embraced not only in China but also in communities across the globe. Despite the passage of time, many traditions remain unchanged. Wearing red to attract good fortune, preparing dishes believed to invite prosperity, cleaning homes to sweep away bad luck and exchanging red envelopes or ang pao are rituals that connect

generations. At the heart of the celebration is the reunion dinner—a symbolic gathering that reinforces family bonds and continuity. These customs endure largely because they are passed down, year after year, within families determined to preserve their heritage.

A Shared History in the Philippines

The Chinese presence in the Philippines dates back long before Spanish colonization. Trade between early Chinese merchants and local communities laid the foundation for a relationship that would shape the nation’s economic and cultural landscape. Over time, the Chinese

community became deeply woven into Philippine society.

Today, Chinese New Year is celebrated not only in Binondo— the world’s oldest Chinatown— but across cities and provinces nationwide. The festivities reflect a blending of cultures that has evolved over centuries. At the forefront of sustaining and reimagining these traditions are Filipino-Chinese youth.

Education as Cultural Anchor

One of the strongest pillars of cultural preservation is education. Chinese schools in the Philippines continue to teach language, history and traditional arts, ensuring that younger generations remain

connected to their roots. At the same time, these institutions increasingly emphasize Philippine history and civic responsibility, fostering a dual identity among students.

This balance allows FilipinoChinese youth to navigate both worlds with confidence. They are raised not to choose between identities, but to embrace both—an experience that shapes how they understand their role in society.

Digital Generations,

Enduring Traditions

While past generations relied primarily on family storytelling, today’s youth turn to digital platforms to safeguard their heritage. Social media has become a powerful space for cultural preservation. Through short-form videos, podcasts, blogs and online archives, young creators explain the meaning behind traditions, share family recipes and document oral histories.

By translating customs into formats that resonate with their peers, they

ensure that cultural knowledge remains accessible and relevant. The digital age has not diluted tradition; rather, it has amplified it, allowing stories to travel beyond geographic and generational boundaries.

Youth Leadership and Cultural Bridges

Filipino-Chinese youth are also active in civic and community life. Growing up at the intersection of two cultures gives them a unique perspective. Many step into leadership roles within schools, universities and community organizations, using their platforms to promote inclusivity and mutual understanding.

Youth-led cultural associations have seen renewed energy in recent years. University groups host cultural nights, language workshops and historical seminars that go beyond performance and spectacle. These events create spaces for dialogue, encouraging young people to examine their heritage not just as inherited tradition, but as lived experience.

Language preservation remains a particular concern. While English and Filipino dominate daily communication, fluency in Hokkien—the dialect historically spoken in many Filipino-Chinese households—is gradually fading. In response, youth groups organize conversational workshops designed to make the language practical and approachable, strengthening intergenerational bonds.

Volunteerism further deepens cultural engagement. During major celebrations, young volunteers coordinate logistics, assist with lion and dragon dances, manage community outreach and organize charitable activities. In doing so, they gain leadership experience while actively sustaining tradition. Culture on the Plate and in Performance

Food perhaps best illustrates the seamless blending of Filipino and Chinese influences. Dishes such as pancit, siopao and lumpia have become staples of Filipino cuisine, present at both everyday meals and festive occasions. Today’s younger generation honors these culinary roots while introducing contemporary twists—launching fusion food ventures that combine traditional Chinese flavors with local Filipino ingredients.

Luxent Hotel welcomes Year of the Fire Horse with Chinese New Year buffet

LUXENT Hotel ushers in the Year of the Fire Horse with an indulgent celebration of abundance, tradition and togetherness through a specially curated Chinese New Year buffet at Garden Cafe.

From Feb. 16 to 19 (Monday to Thursday, lunch and dinner), guests are invited to gather family, friends and colleagues for a festive dining experience featuring fortune-filled dishes crafted to symbolize prosperity, longevity and good luck.

The buffet highlights an array of traditional Chinese New Year specialties prepared by the Luxent Hotel culinary team to honor heritage while delivering refined flavors. Set against an ambiance of auspicious red and gold accents, the celebration promises both a visual and

gastronomic feast.

Adding to the excitement, guests dining on Feb. 16 will witness a vibrant dragon and lion dance performance at 5:30 p.m., a cherished tradition believed to usher in prosperity, drive away negative energy and bless the year ahead with success.

The Chinese New Year dining rate is P1,888 per head or a promotional rate of P2,026 for two persons.

Strategically located along Timog Avenue in Quezon City, Luxent Hotel offers a venue for reunions and festive corporate gatherings this Lunar New Year season.

Celebrate fortune, elevate your feast and welcome prosperity—only at Luxent Hotel.

Faculty and students from the Chiang Kai Shek College in Tondo, Manila, watch a colorful dragon dance performance, on Feb. 13, 2026, five days ahead of the Chinese New Year celebration. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. Norman Cruz