Former President Rodrigo Duterte will face trial at the International Criminal Court after judges on Thursday confirmed charges of crimes against humanity over his so-called "war on drugs."
Duterte would be the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the world's worst crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ICC will now set up a trial panel but it will likely be several months before proceedings begin.
“Next steps: Upon the transfer of the case to a Trial Chamber, the Trial Chamber will decide on the next steps. Trials at the ICC are fair and impartial, and the Defense will have sufficient time to prepare its case, while respecting the rights of victims,” the ICC said.
Trial may start end-2026 or early 2027
ICC Listed Counsel Gilbert Andres said the trial could start by the year or in early 2027 as there will still be a series of status conferences where all parties will discuss technicalities of the trial, including dates, schedules, and procedural issues.
ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti said some 539 kin of drug war victims are recognized as “participating victims” in the case.
By Charles Dantes
FOOD SECURITY.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. checks out the farm produce at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo store in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija where the President also witnesses the rollout of 10-kilogram sacks of rice distributed to 100 ambulant vendors in the city. Revoli Cortez
By Jeremiah Sevilla
Rody...
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“But this number can still increase. We are just waiting for the go signal but we are already preparing because the application for participating victims will open again," she said.
Also named in the 50-page public redacted version of the ICC decision as co-perpetrators were Senators Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa and Christopher "Bong" Go, together with other former police officials such as Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, and Isidro Lapeña, among others.
Former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran and former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre were also named in the document.
ICC pre-trial judges "unanimously confirmed all the charges... against Rodrigo Roa Duterte and committed him to trial," the court said in a statement.
However, it is unlikely the 81-yearold Duterte would actually appear in the dock in The Hague.
His defense team said he is too frail mentally to follow proceedings. The only time he has been seen since his arrest was an initial appearance via video, where he seemed confused and tired, his speech barely audible.
According to the pre-trial judges,
VP...
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to 2026, nothing in his narrative has changed,” the Vice President said in a statement.
“What has changed, however, is the machinery now backing him. Today, he is backed by a sitting President who must be compelled to submit to a simple drug test; ‘law-bender’ members of the House of Representatives that have received ‘maletas’ and have repeatedly disregarded constitutional limits,” she added.
Trillanes, who read his affidavit during Wednesday’s hearing of the impeachment complaints against the Vice President, claimed members of the Duterte family received or cashed P181.6 million in checks supposedly connected to Samuel Uy, whom Trillanes described as an alleged drug lord.
Duterte also questioned the timing and motives of the Commission on
Romualdez...
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Meanwhile, Malacañang expressed hopes that Romualdez would cooperate with government’s investigation into alleged corruption and budget anomalies tied to “ghost” flood control projects.
In a statement, Romualdez’s lawyer-spokesman Abe Fajardo said they would challenge the court order through proper legal channels.
“We will avail of all appropriate legal remedies to question the issuance of this order before the proper forum,” Fajardo said. He also denied allegations that Romualdez had left the country.
“At the outset, we categorically clarify: Rep. Romualdez is in the Philippines and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,” Fajardo said. He added that Romualdez complied with all government requirements before the planned trip abroad.
“Rep. Romualdez followed the proper process. He sought and secured the necessary travel authority, and coordinated in good faith with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration for a brief, long-overdue
Eala,...
From A1 for the fourth time in their young careers, banked on familiarity as they booted the higher-ranked Stollar (No. 27) and Chan (No. 38), who teamed up for the first time in this WTA 1000 tournament.
The straight-set victory pushed the close pals to the Round of 16 and assured them of at least €31,220 or P2.2 million in prize money along with 90 ranking points.
After a slow 0-2 start to the game, Eala and Sonmez took six games in a row highlighted by a perfect three-ofthree break points to win the first set.
The Filipina-Turkish duo sustained their fiery momentum in the second set, cruising to a 4-0 advantage before closing out the match within an hour and a minute.
Eala and Sonmez will next lock horns with the winning pair between No. 2 seed Katerina Siniakova of
there are "substantial grounds to believe that Duterte is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder."
Milestone for EJK victims but complete fiction for defense
ICC prosecutors welcomed the ruling, describing it as a "significant milestone" in their efforts to seek justice for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings.
Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network convenor Jojo Lacanilao described the decision as “very good news.”
“This is very good news – two days in a row. Justice moves on. We wait for the day that justice is served and the former president is convicted,” he said.
Duterte's defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman said the idea that people were killed as a "state policy" would be proved a "complete fiction" during trial.
"The Defense will also show that the evidence of... criminal witnesses, so gleefully peddled by the former president's many detractors, has zero weight," Kaufman said in a statement.
In Manila, Malacañang said it respects the decision of the ICC to proceed with the trial, emphasizing the need for justice for both the accused and alleged victims.
“Both parties will benefit here. Justice for the accused if found innocent,
Audit and officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council who appeared before the House panel.
“The timing of all these is also undeniable. The series of allegations and cases against me began after I left the Cabinet, when I refused to sign a national budget that I could not defend to the people,” the Vice President added.
Duterte’s legal representatives also explained that transactions flagged as suspicious by the AMLC do not indicate illegality.
Lawyers Michael Poa and Sheila Sison said the flagged transactions only trigger a review by AMLC and do not constitute proof of wrongdoing.
“We want to establish that a suspicious transaction does not necessarily mean or does not automatically equate to any wrongdoing or any unlawful activity. So, in the AMLC report presented, it is the aggregate of all inflows and outflows, as they call it,” Poa said.
He said the flagged amount of P6.77 billion likely reflects cumulative deposits and withdrawals over time.
four-day medical check-up with his attending physician in Singapore,” the lawyer said. He said his client’s actions reflected cooperation and respect for legal processes.
“This is fully consistent with his conduct from the very beginning— one of cooperation, transparency, and respect for legal processes. Unfortunately, this legitimate act has been twisted to create a prejudicial narrative that he intended to flee,” Fajardo added.
Romualdez, he said, remains ready to address the allegations against him.
“Rep. Romualdez remains committed to facing these allegations squarely,” Fajardo said.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration prefers Romualdez’s participation in the probe over claims that he is being made a scapegoat.
“Whatever former Speaker Martin Romualdez is feeling is not something we can control. If the former Speaker can help with the investigation, that is what the government, what the President, would prefer, so that those who should be held accountable will be held accountable,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
Czech Republic and Taylor Townsend of USA against unseeded Lyudmyla Viktorivna Kichenok of Ukraine and Desirae Marie Krawczyk of USA, who are battling at press time.
The sweep should boost the morale of Eala as she continues her singles campaign with a long-awaited rematch versus Elise Mertens of Belgium in the Round of 64 on Friday at a still to be determined time.
Eala, ranked No. 44 in singles, is eyeing to settle the score with No. 21 and top-ranked doubles player Mertens, who beat the Filipina, 7-5, 6-0, during their first encounter in the Jasmin Open in Tunisia back in 2023 before eventually taking home the title.
The 20-year-old Eala is coming off a dominant 6-3, 6-3 victory over Russian veteran and Olympic mixed doubles gold medalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round.
Mertens, on the other hand, is making her debut after receiving a first-round bye as the 19th seed in the tourney.
or justice for the victims if their rights were abused,” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro.
Senator Imee Marcos, for his part, described the ICC decision affirming jurisdiction over Duterte as deeply concerning and disappointing.
"This determination disregards the Philippines' sovereign withdrawal from the Rome Statute and undermines the fundamental principle that domestic institutions must be given primacy where they are able and willing to act," she said in a statement.
Habeas corpus petition still pending
Meanwhile, the consolidated petitions for habeas corpus filed by Duterte’s children are still pending with the Supreme Court.
"We will have to wait and see how the SC decides," SC spokesperson Camille Ting said.
The Duterte siblings sought to compel the government to bring back the former president to the Philippines, insisting the ICC has no jurisdiction in the case.
During the February "confirmation of charges" hearings, the prosecution alleged Duterte killed thousands of suspected drug pushers and users, first as mayor of Davao City, then as president.
"Decades of murdering his own people, murdering the children of the
“And that is why we're saying we have to be very cautious on how we look at it. Again, I'm not saying the AMLC report is wrong, but we're saying we have to be cautious on how to take those figures that were being given out (Tuesday),” Poa added.
AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura earlier told members of the House Committee on Justice that the council has repeatedly flagged bank accounts tied to the Vice President and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, for suspicious and covered transactions from 2006 to 2025.
He said AMLC identified 313 covered transactions and 17 suspicious transactions in Duterte’s accounts, and 317 covered transactions and 16 suspicious transactions in those of her husband.
The flagged transactions totaled P3.77 billion linked to Duterte’s accounts, and P2.99 billion linked to Carpio’s.
“Yes, there are suspicious transactions and covered transactions in our
Iran...
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As the clock ticked for a return to the war that has engulfed the region, US President Donald Trump had said Tuesday he would maintain the truce to allow more time for Pakistani-brokered peace talks.
Iran said it welcomed the efforts by Pakistan but made no other comment on Trump's announcement.
"A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated through a naval blockade," said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation in the first round of talks in Islamabad.
"Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire."
Oil prices jumped four percent before easing Thursday after Iran vowed not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so long as a US blockade remained in place.
At around 0025 GMT, the benchmark US oil contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 4.06 percent to $96.73 per barrel. International oil benchmark Brent North Sea crude rose 3.62 percent to $105.63.
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“It was the President’s mandate that P5 million of that fund would go to rice, so that for daily needs—especially now that expenses are high—at least Filipinos will have food to eat,” Cuevas said.
Cuevas also commended the administration for streamlining LGSF processes, noting that this has improved procurement by reducing red tape and bureaucracy, making project implementation more efficient.
“To our President, thank you very much, especially for trusting LGUs to implement this program, which is a significant and important initiative for the people of Palayan,” she said.
“It’s already making a big difference in how quickly we can carry out programs—we no longer have to wait,” she added.
Cuevas also cited plans to expand the rice program, which is expected to benefit around 11,000 Filipinos.
Following the distribution, the President inspected Kadiwa stores,
Philippines, and he claims that he did it all for his country. He doesn't deny it," said Julian Nicholls, summing up for the prosecution after the hearings.
"He ran a death squad in Davao (city) that he created. He ran it for over 20 years before he became president. His promise was to kill thousands and he did."
Judges heard dozens of Duterte speeches from the time, in which he vowed to kill drug dealers, as part of a drive to lower crime rates.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018.
The prosecution has selected these alleged murders as "emblematic," with rights groups and ICC prosecutors putting the total number of dead in the thousands.
The first count against him concerns his alleged involvement as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders between 2013 and 2016 when he was Davao mayor. The second relates to 14 murders of so-called "High Value Targets" in 2016 and 2017 when he was president.
The third charge covers 43 murders committed during "clearance" operations of lower-level alleged drug users or pushers across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018. With AFP
system, database, or record,” Buenaventura said.
Buenaventura said the records showed an inflow of P1.83 billion into Duterte’s accounts and P2.59 billion into Carpio’s, for a total of P4.43 billion in deposits.
On the outflow side, he said, P1.21 billion was withdrawn from Duterte’s accounts and P343.32 million from Carpio’s accounts. The AMLC also identified P791.1 million in transactions that could not be clearly determined based on available records. Poa also refuted Trillanes’ claims, noting that the amounts cited in the report were described as manager’s checks allegedly issued by Uy.
He said the report only names the supposed recipients without providing proof that they actually received the funds.
“We don't want to get into the details but those checks, we're confident that we will be able to clarify everything,” he added. With Rolando Ng III
Both eased back in the following minutes.
Trump had said he wanted to give time for Iran's "fractured" leadership to come up with a proposal, in what many observers saw as a face-saving way to avoid renewed war.
Trump told the New York Post that talks could resume in Pakistan within two to three days, even though Iran has not confirmed participation and Vice President JD Vance put his travel to Islamabad on hold Tuesday.
Trump also claimed that Iran at his request had halted alleged plans to execute eight women arrested over massive anti-government protests in the weeks before the attack.
But Iran's judiciary described his remarks as "false news", saying the women had never faced the death penalty.
Ships seized Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said they forced two ships to the Iranian shore from the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for about onefifth of the world's oil.
"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force this morning identified and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz two violating ships," the Guards said in a statement. AFP
which offer affordable agricultural produce and other basic commodities, particularly for senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The President also met with the 19 barangay captains of Palayan City, each of whom will receive P200,000 from the Office of the President under socio-civic project funds to support students in need and address community concerns. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has begun implementing toll-free access for trucks carrying agricultural products to ensure an unhampered food supply and help keep prices stable.
Castro said the DA, led by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., has intensified the government’s Food Lane Program through the launch of the “Agri-Trucks Toll-Free Program.”
The initiative, which took effect on April 20, grants toll-free passage to DA-accredited agricultural transport vehicles to reduce logistics costs and speed up food distribution, especially amid rising fuel prices.
House... From A1
House Justice committee chairperson Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said Thursday that the next hearing, scheduled for April 29, will delve into the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe and documentary evidence on the alleged death threats Duterte made in November 2024.
“We are inclined to proceed to the presentation of evidence in support of the allegations of threat. As a matter of fact, yesterday (Wednesday), we have issued the subpoena to the NBI, as well as duces tecum to bring all digital and documentary evidence pertaining to the allegations of threat,” Luistro told ANC Headstart.
“That is because we are really intending to conduct a clarificatory hearing on the allegations of threat. This will be happening on April 29,” she added.
Unlike the first two hearings, the April 29 session will only have the NBI as its sole resource person, Luistro said. Since there would be a less packed agenda, she mentioned that the committee is likely to vote that same day on whether probable cause exists for each allegation in the two impeachment complaints.
“So we anticipate na at the end of the hearing on April 29, the justice members will proceed to vote on the determination of probable cause,” Luistro said.
Before suspending the April 22 hearing, the Justice committee granted a motion to issue subpoenas for the NBI to present its findings on the vice president's alleged threats.
She further stressed that the grave threats allegation is the last of the charges in the impeachment complaints to be examined, noting that no Justice committee member has so far requested additional hearing dates— which she believes suggests the panel is satisfied with the three sessions scheduled.
Before voting, however, Luistro also said that the committee will first need to decide whether to unseal the tax records of Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, as submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
“We need to vote whether or not we will open [the sealed box] because we cannot terminate the proceedings of the Justice committee with a matter left pending,” she said.
Should the committee vote to keep the BIR records sealed, Luistro said she would suggest transmitting them to the Senate as is, leaving it to the upper chamber to determine whether it has the jurisdiction and legal authority to open them as an impeachment court. This, she stressed, would only apply if the committee first votes in favor of probable cause.
The Committee on Justice deferred on Wednesday the disclosure of Duterte and Carpio’s income tax returns after encountering a legal obstacle where the tax code specifically limits the release of such records to Congress only upon request during inquiries in aid of legislation and in executive session.
VP Sara, spouse flagged in bank confidential reports
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has confirmed that the Vice President and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, were flagged in multiple confidential reports filed by banks, citing suspected links to drug trafficking, corruption and misuse of public funds.
Testifying at Wednesday’s impeachment hearing of the House Committee on Justice, AMLC executive director Ronel Buenaventura said the findings were contained in a 15-page confidential information-sharing document submitted to the panel, portions of which were read into the record during questioning by Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.
According to Buenaventura, the Vice President “was the subject of suspicion in 27 confidential reports submitted by covered persons on Aug. 2, 2024 to Jan. 29, 2026,” citing “suspected activities involving drug trafficking and related offenses, graft and corrupt practices, and malversation of public funds and property.”
He said the suspicions of drug trafficking and related offenses were “triggered in connection with the House Quad Committee hearing on former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s war on drugs, as well as by news reports alleging the involvement of VP Sara’s husband in the Php6.4 billion shabu importation in 2017.”
On the other hand, Buenaventura said the suspicions involving graft and corrupt practices and malversation of public funds were based on “news articles related to the impeachment case filed against VP Sara in 2025, as well as alleged misuse of confidential/intelligence funds.”
Asked by De Lima about the source of the information, Buenaventura made clear that the reports originated from regulated financial institutions required to flag suspicious activity.
Palace: VP filed travel request on April 14
By Charles Dantes and Katrina Manubay
ALACAÑANG
Mon Thursday said Vice President Sara Duterte applied for travel authority on April 14, pushing back against claims that approval for her trip was issued only hours before her departure.
Presidential Communications Office
Undersecretary Claire Castro said records show the vice president’s request was filed well in advance.
“In the report that we submitted, April 14 was the date of her application or request for travel authority,” Castro said in a press briefing.
Duterte earlier described the issuance of her travel authority as “last minute,” citing changes in her travel plans due to uncertainty over her departure.
In a statement, she called out the Office of the President (OP) for the alleged late issuance and said she would submit a new travel request soon.
“I regret to inform you that the plans have since changed due to uncertainty as to whether I will be permitted to depart,” she said, adding that future documents should be processed with enough lead time.
Malacañang earlier authorized Duterte to visit the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom from April 23 to May 15, 2026.
In a document signed by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Duterte was allowed to travel while on leave and at no cost to the government.
Castro disputed Duterte’s claim, saying the timing of the release was consistent with standard practice.
“According to records, she receives the travel authority document a day before her intended vacation. To say this is last-minute is not accurate. This is how it is usually done,” she said.
She added there is no record of the Office of the President denying Duterte’s previous personal travel requests.
Palace to comply with SC order on Marcos health
MALACAÑANG said Thursday it will comply with an order from the Supreme Court directing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to comment on a petition seeking disclosure of his medical examination report, including a hair follicle test.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the executive branch would submit the required comment in accordance with the directive.
“If the Supreme Court issues an order, it will be carried out and a comment will be prepared,” Castro said in a press briefing.
The directive requires the Office of the President to file a verified comment addressing the petition and to explain whether the requested records should be disclosed.
Such orders are part of the court’s preliminary process to determine whether the petition has sufficient legal basis.
The petition seeks to compel the release of the president’s medical records, raising questions on transparency and public disclosure of a sitting chief executive’s health condition. Charles Dantes
PAGASA: 15 Luzon provinces hit by drought
By Rio N. Araja
AT LEAST 15 provinces in Luzon have been experiencing drought since April 19, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
These include Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quirino, and Tarlac.
The Philippines remains highly vulnerable to drought, which can
severely affect crop productivity, water supply, and food security, the agency said.
Drought is declared when an area experiences more than a 60% reduction in rainfall for three consecutive months.
PAGASA said 32 provinces are under a dry spell, while 23 are experiencing dry conditions.
A dry spell refers to a 21% to 60% decrease in rainfall over three months, while dry conditions occur when below-normal rainfall persists for at least two months.
Meanwhile, 10 provinces in
the Visayas and Mindanao have not been affected by reduced rainfall.
These are Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental in the Visayas, and Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Camiguin in Mindanao.
Hot and dry conditions across the country are expected to persist through the first half of May.
PAGASA earlier issued an El Niño alert, citing an almost 80% probability of development from June to August.
UP student killed in Negros Occ. clash
By Rex Espiritu
A STUDENT leader from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman was among the 19 killed in what the military described as an encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Toboso, Negros Occidental on Sunday, the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) said.
In a statement Wednesday, the USC identified Alyssa Alano, its Education and Research councilor, as among those who died when the 79th Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division allegedly fired on a community in Barangay Salamanca.
“On April 19, the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines fired indiscriminately on Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, forcing about 168 families
or 653 individuals to evacuate,” the statement read.
“The UP Diliman University Student Council reports that one of those killed was our fellow Iskolar ng Bayan, USC Councilor Alyssa Alano, due to persistent attacks and military repression in Negros,” it added.
On Monday, the Philippine Army said 19 alleged NPA members were killed in an encounter with the same unit in the area.
“Nineteen NPAs were killed, dismantling the Northern Negros Front. One of our troops sustained a minor injury and is now in stable condition,” Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said.
The USC condemned Alano’s killing, describing her as an “innocent civilian.”
GAKIT FESTIVAL. A float sails along the Cagayan River in Isabela during the 21st Gakit Festival, highlighting Angadanan’s cultural heritage and unity. Jessica Bacud
ACG chief, 17 senior officers get promotions
SEVENTEEN senior officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP), including the chief of the Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), have been promoted by one rank, the PNP said Thursday. Based on an April 20 memorandum obtained by Manila Standard, PNPACG Director Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta was promoted to major general, earning his second star. Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad, director of the Aviation Security Group, was also promoted to major general. Police Colonels Madeline Cacao, Rodel Pastor, and Dominic Baccay were elevated to brigadier general. Meanwhile, 12 lieutenant colonels were promoted to full colonel. The donning of ranks ceremony will be held at Camp Crame, the PNP said. Vince Lopez
53 families in Cotabato City to receive MSSD aid THE Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) said Thursday that 53 families whose homes were damaged in recent incidents in Cotabato City will receive financial assistance. Vince LopezAid will be provided through the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) and Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) programs under the Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD).
“We have been providing financial assistance since April 21 and will continue until April 23,” said DRMD Social Welfare Officer II Rasul Tino, noting some payouts are still being processed.
Two beneficiaries in Barangay RH7 received ESA on April 21, with P30,000 granted for a heavily damaged home and P15,000 for minor damage. On April 22, 30 “sharer” families in Barangay Poblacion 7 received P5,800 each under MPCA, with more distributions set for April 23 in Bagua II, Mother Barangay Bagua, and RH10. Vince Lopez
Gakit Festival showcases Angadanan resilience ANGADANAN, Isabela—The historic Cagayan River came alive as the town celebrated the 21st Gakit Festival, highlighting its cultural heritage and unity. Now in its 21st year, the festival— envisioned by former congressman and now board member Jose “Bentot” Panganiban—has
‘PASALUBONG’ HUB. Malabon City Mayor Sandoval, City Administrator Alexander Rosete, and other officials lead the opening of the Malabon Pasalubong Center Trade Fair at Fisher Mall Malabon, marking the city’s 25th anniversary. Andrew Rabulan
HAZE AND HEAT. The morning sun struggles to break through thick haze as temperatures hit 28°C (feels like 31°C), with residents bracing for hotter conditions in Quezon City. Edd Castro
Solon seeks probe of non-use of teachers’ legal defense funds
IN BRIEF
service delivery.
“I think organizations like JCI are very important because these are our private sector leaders from all over the country. And I think it’s important for them to understand and know what the direction of the President and the government is,” Dizon said.
THE Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup) has arrested two foreigners in two separate incidents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for causing alarm and scandal, along with physical assault and theft. On Tuesday, April 21, a disruption took place at the departure lobby of NAIA Terminal 1, leading to the apprehension of a 27-year-old American for causing a ruckus that alarmed other passengers. The airport police arrested another foreign national the following day at the NAIA Terminal 3 following an alleged theft
By Maricel V. Cruz
HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader and ACT
Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Thursday filed House Resolution 921 seeking a congressional inquiry into the non-use of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) intended to protect public school teachers and education support personnel (ESP) who face administrative, civil, or criminal cases arising from performance of their official duties.
The General Appropriations Acts allocated P200 million for the Legal Defense Fund under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) to cover actual legal defense expenses such as bond premiums, transportation, photocopying, counsel fees, and appearance fees, subject to set limits and eligibility rules for teachers involved in litigation.
“What is scandalous is that the fund exists, the guidelines exist, and yet most teachers and education support personnel are still forced to shoulder legal costs out of pocket,” Tinio said.
“The LDF was created precisely to protect frontline workers, but it remains effectively inaccessible because many agencies failed to do the most basic requirements—create Claims Boards, is-
sue internal guidelines, and inform employees,” he added.
“The funds exist but the teachers are not benefiting from them. They are still being made to pay for lawyers, bail, and other expenses when they are sued or threatened with lawsuits because of their work,” Tinio noted.
He cited initial compliance checks showing that only a few agencies have established Claims Boards and issued internal guidelines to operationalize the LDF.
He said major agencies with the largest number of civilian personnel, particularly the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH), have lagged behind, leaving hundreds of thousands of public servants without practical access to legal assistance.
“DepEd itself admitted in a House hearing that it has yet to issue the necessary policy to implement the LDF for its employees,” Tinio said.
Davao raid nets 20 Chinese for illegal mining
By Rex Espiritu
arrest of 20 Chinese nationals for alleged violation of Immigration laws and illegal mining.
The operation, conducted on April 22 in Pantukan, Davao de Oro and Tagum City, Davao del Norte, was carried out by virtue of two mission orders against the foreigners suspected of violating the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. During the raid, the composite team discovered evidence of alleged illegal mining activities as the suspects failed to present valid permits and documents. Seized from the sites were mineral resources, heavy equipment, explosives, and uniforms resembling those of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), raising concerns over potential organized illicit operations.
Initial investigation revealed that the apprehended Chinese were holders of tourist visas who had overstayed, making them liable for violations related to undesirability under immigration laws. Authorities are also preparing charges for possible violations of Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. Further investigation disclosed that the Chinese nationals have been engaged in small-scale illegal mining operations in the area for an extended period, involving the extraction of gold and other mineral ores reportedly intended for smuggling outside the country.
Maj. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, emphasized the significance of the operation, underscoring the importance of inter-agency coordination in addressing both Immigration violations and threats to national security and natural resources.
By Rolando Ng III
FOURTEEN provinces across the coun-
try will start procurement for construction works on new classrooms, the Department of Education announced on Wednesday.
Local government units such as in Ifugao, Biliran, and Dinagat Islands have signed a memorandum of agreement with DepEd as part of the agency’s Classroom Building Program.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has approved the start of the bidding process to help expedite these activities that would help address the 165,000 classroom backlog nationwide.
“Sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng lokal na kapasidad at kaalaman, mas mabilis nating magagawa ang mga silid-aralan na kailangang-kailangan ng ating mga guro at mag-aaral (By tapping indigenous ca-
pability and expertise, we can speed up the construction of classrooms needed by our teachers and learners)” the DepEd chief said in a statement.
DepEd noted that this LGU-based bidding activities are in line with its goal of decentralizing the procurement process.
It also said the concerned provinces have been apprised of key issues including the architectural designs and systematized engineering for their respective projects..
Nevertheless, the agency will continue to guide local governments units in implementing these projects, including conducting inspections to ensure that standards are being met.
“This unified commitment between the national government and local leaders seeks to provide safer, more conducive environments for millions of Filipino learners,” the DepEd said.
THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has endorsed key policy measures aimed at ensuring more responsive governance at both the national and local levels.
The endorsements were made during the body’s 9th executive committee meeting on Wednesday, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang.
The committee recommended the proposed extension of the Amnesty Program, prioritization of critical legislation, expansion of development funding, and the enhancement of the task force mechanisms to guarantee a more responsive governance at the national and local levels.
“As the administration moves forward, the NTF-ELCAC calls on all stakeholders, government agencies, local government units, civil society, and the Filipino people to remain united in advancing a shared vision of a peaceful, secure, and progressive Philippines,” NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr.,, said in a press statement.
“Through unity, we overcome division. Through development, we eliminate the roots of conflict. And through collective action, we secure lasting peace for every Filipino,’’ he added.
Torres further said that while significant progress has been achieved, the task force recognizes that sustaining peace requires continuity, adaptation, and strengthened coordination.
The President sits as the chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC, which comprises 12 clusters and partner agencies that address security, governance, infrastructure, and social services under a whole-of-nation approach to defeat local communist groups.
The NTF-ELCAC mechanism remains significant in sustaining development gains in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities, preventing radicalization, strengthening inter-agency coordination, ensuring accountability and rule of law, and promoting inclusive peacebuilding, reconciliation, and reintegration, Torres said. Rex Espiritu
TEACHERS IN PROTEST ACTION. Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers stage a protest in front of the Department of Budget and Management Office in Manila, demanding a pay hike to P50,000 a month. Norman Cruz
OPINION
Unjust wars
THE Middle East is at war again. So is the Philippines. Both conflicts raise the same urgent question: when, if ever, is war just?
On February 28, the United States and Israel struck Iran. Iran retaliated against Israel and Gulf-based American forces. Thousands have been killed in the weeks since. Millions more have been displaced from their homes and communities.
President Trump defends the strikes as necessary deterrence. He warns that Iranian nuclear weapons are unacceptable to the West. Yet Iran denies pursuing nuclear arms, while the U.S. and Israel already possess them.
Pope Leo XIV has condemned these wars with unmistakable clarity. He warns against ‘majoritarian tyranny’ overriding fundamental human rights. Political power, he insists, must answer to moral principle. Leaders must be held accountable for the suffering their decisions cause.
Catholic just war doctrine sets strict conditions for the use of armed force. War must be a last resort, protect civilians, and remain proportionate to the threat. Pope Benedict XVI warned that modern warfare rarely meets any of these tests. Pope Francis was even more direct in his moral assessment. War is a failure of dialogue, he wrote. It is not a solution but a catastrophe with no winners. His encyclical Fratelli Tutti unequivocally rejects war as a legitimate tool of politics.
In Negros, injustice
The same moral test applies to what is happening in the Philippines. On April 19, soldiers fired on Barangay Salamanca in Toboso, Negros Occidental. Nineteen people were killed, and the military called them NPA combatants.
Among the dead was RJ Nichole Ledesma, a journalist. He had been reporting on farmers displaced by energy development projects. He was not at the initial clash site. He was killed in a separate community during pursuit operations.
Also killed was Alyssa Alano, a UP Diliman student leader. She was on a community immersion visit to Toboso. She went to learn firsthand about militarization and land dispossession in the area. Both were doing what a free and just society must protect. Ledesma bore witness to the voices of the marginalized. Alano served the communities she was learning alongside. Their killings were not accidents. They were consequences of systematic red-tagging and unchecked state violence.
Militarization has not brought peace to Negros, or to Mindanao. It has deepened poverty and silenced dissent. The voices most needed for lasting peace are being
killed.
That is not counterinsurgency. It is terror. And it must be named as such, clearly and without qualification.
A call for peace History teaches the same lesson across all of these conflicts. Military force does not resolve root causes. Territorial disputes and sectarian wounds outlast every armed campaign. Violence only feeds the next cycle of grief and retaliation.
Pope Leo XIV has condemned these wars with unmistakable clarity
Pope Leo XIV calls for moral realism, not naivety. Lasting peace requires justice and genuine, sustained dialogue. Leaders must answer for the long-term costs their wars impose on the innocent.
I echo Bishop Gerry Alminaza, calling on the government and those in armed struggle to come together. He speaks of a just peace in his recent pastoral letter. His words carry the weight of prophetic witness. They deserve to be heard by everyone with power over life and death.
“For generations, societies have tried to justify violence under certain conditions. Today, the scale and persistence of suffering demand a more urgent question: what would it mean to build a just peace? A just peace is not merely the absence of gunfire. It is the presence of justice in land, labor, and livelihood, participation in governance, truth-telling and accountability, the healing of historical wounds, and the restoration of human dignity. It demands more courage than war, because it requires transformation, not domination.”
The wars in the Middle East and the Philippines share one verdict. They do not meet the conditions of just war. They fail the tests of last resort, civilian protection, and proportionality.
These are unjust wars, and the price is being paid in human lives. The victims are not abstractions. They are journalists, students, farmers, and families. Their names must not be forgotten.
Moral clarity demands that we say what these wars are. They are failures of leadership and failures of imagination. Peace is not weakness. It is the only path that has ever worked.
Are food prices stable despite higher input costs?
THE Department of Agriculture said recently that retail food prices remain relatively stable despite higher farm input costs caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. There were price increases in imported rice as well as local beef and pork, but monitoring by the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service showed that most alternative protein sources, including chicken, eggs, fish, and vegetables, have either held steady or declined as of mid-April.
“Based on our latest data, prevailing retail prices remain generally stable and are still fair and justifiable relative to farmgate prices, despite rising fuel costs,” the DA said last week. Despite minor retail price adjustments, the DA reported, it would continue to monitor key agricultural products to ensure stable retail prices of basic necessities and prime commodities across markets nationwide.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to sign an executive order imposing a price ceiling of P50 per kilogram by end-April as current prices are deemed unreasonable, with some bordering on profiteering.
This development is moderately important but may not offer immediate relief for Filipinos navigating rising prices linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis. Its significance lies less in eliminating inflationary pressure and more in containing it before it worsens into a broader food security issue.
First, the context matters. The Philippines is highly sensitive to global shocks,
especially those tied to energy.
The Middle East crisis pushes up oil prices, which in turn raises transport, fertilizer, and production costs across the agricultural value chain. Under normal circumstances, this would quickly translate into sharp retail food inflation.
We can see that short-term mitigation measures are holding, but long-term resilience remains uncertain
The DA report that most food prices remain stable or even declining suggests that domestic supply-side management is working. At least for now.
This stability is particularly important for low- and middle-income households, where food comprises a large share of expenditures. Even small increases in staples like rice, pork, and beef can significantly erode purchasing power. While the report notes increases in imported rice and some meats, these are partly offset by lower or stable prices in substitute goods like chicken, eggs, fish, and vegetables. In economic terms, this reflects a functioning substitution effect, helping households adjust consumption without a drastic decline in overall nutrition. However, the situation is not entirely
Scapegoating weakens our democracy
OF LATE, the name of former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez has been repeatedly invoked in connection with the flood control scandal.
Allegations have been hurled and insinuations made to paint him as the central figure in a controversy that is still under investigation. But he has firmly rejected attempts to use him as a scapegoat for issues that demand sober, evidence-based scrutiny rather than political theater.
Flood control is not a trivial matter. Rather, it is a life-and-death issue formillions of Filipinos who live in vulnerable communities. The public deserves clarity, accountability, and solutions, not fingerpointing designed to score political points.
What is dangerous is that when accusations are weaponized, the focus shifts from facts to personalities, from evidence to speculation. This undermines not only the integrity of the process but also the trust of the people in our democratic institutions.
Romualdez has always maintained that accountability must be pursued through the proper channels.
If there are legitimate questions about contracts, disbursements, or implementation, these must be addressed by the appropriate agencies: the Commission on Audit, the Ombudsman, and the courts.
These institutions exist precisely to ensure that justice is served impartially. To bypass them in favor of trial by publicity is to erode the very foundations of our democracy. It is deeply disturbing that some voices have chosen to politicize this issue. Such maneuvering does not serve the public interest.
When accusations are weaponized, the focus shifts from facts to personalities, from evidence to speculation
This distracts from the urgent need to strengthen flood control systems, improve transparency in procurement, and ensure that every peso of public funds is spent wisely. The former Speaker is not claiming immunity from scrutiny. Far from it. On the contrary, he welcomes a thorough, impartial investigation. If evidence exists, let it be presented. If
wrongdoing is proven, let accountability follow. But let us not confuse accusation with proof, nor political rivalry with justice.
The rule of law demands more than headlines and soundbites. It demands fairness, patience, and respect for due process.
Scapegoating may be expedient, but it is corrosive as it weakens our democracy by reducing complex issues to simplistic blame games. It silences constructive debate. And it risks punishing individuals not for what they have done, but for what they represent in the shifting sands of politics.
Romualdez is a public servant with a proven commitment to the Filipino people.
He continues to support measures that strengthen oversight, enhance transparency, and deliver real solutions to the challenges the nation faces.
But he will staunchly resist efforts to turn legitimate governance issues into political weapons. The flood control scandal must be resolved through evidence, not expediency. In the end, accountability must be about truth, not scapegoats.
We must allow the legal process to run its course.
All stakeholders, that is, government, political leaders and civil society, must work together in ensuring that this issue is resolved fairly, constructively, and with the nation’s best interests at heart.
Trump looks for way out on war, but Iran may not oblige
WASHINGTON, DC – By extending a ceasefire indefinitely with Iran, President Donald Trump appears to be searching for a way out of a costly war, but Tehran may be unwilling to give him a win.
Trump has insisted on maintaining a naval blockade, which Iran is demanding must end before it can consider any agreement to end the conflict launched on February 28 by Israel and the United States.
For Trump, who boasts of his prowess to secure big deals quickly through his team of business buddies, negotiating with Iran’s Islamic republic presents an ultimate contrast -- methodical, unyielding diplomats ready to fight for the long haul against what they see as a deceitful enemy.
Trump had raised hopes of progress at a second round of talks in Pakistan, with Vice President JD Vance designated to fly out, but Iran refused to confirm its attendance and Vance stayed home.
With a two-week ceasefire set to end, and Gulf Arab allies of the United States bracing for potential new Iranian strikes, Trump said he was extending the ceasefire because Iran’s leadership, decimated by the war, was “fractured” and needed time to come up with a proposal.
“He really could have doubled down and engaged in more reckless military action. But so far he has stopped digging himself into a deeper hole,” said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute who studies Iran.
For Trump, who campaigned on promises to shun military interventionism, the war has proven politically disastrous, facing opposition from even his Republican base.
Iran responded to being attacked by exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz,
reassuring.
The increase in imported rice prices (up to P65/kg) is a red flag. Rice is a politically and socially sensitive commodity in the Philippines, and any sustained increase can trigger broader inflation expectations.
The proposed P50/kg price ceiling under the upcoming executive order signals that the government sees potential market distortions, including profiteering. While price ceilings can provide short-term relief, they are economically risky if not backed by sufficient supply and may lead to shortages or discourage imports.
The relative stability of pork and the decline in chicken and vegetable prices indicate improved domestic production
the gateway for one-fifth of the world’s oil, making American consumers pay more at the pump months before congressional elections.
Seeking to exhaust all options
Despite suffering losses, Iran’s clerical state is not on the verge of collapsing and will not surrender, said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence expert on Iran now at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies and the Washington-based Atlantic Council.
Trump “does not want escalation. I am not saying there is not going to be one, but he is trying to really exhaust any political option,” he said.
Both Trump and Iran’s ruling clerics are sensitive to any suggestion of backing down
“I think Trump is fed up with this war and more than that he understands, despite what he is saying, that the price is only going to intensify. It’s not going to decrease,” Citrinowicz said.
But Iranian leaders are deeply suspicious of Trump, whose negotiators were discussing a deal with them days before the United States and Israel attacked -- a pattern also seen last June, with the two sides talking just before an Israeli bombing campaign then.
Both Trump and Iran’s ruling clerics
and supply chain efficiency, possibly reflecting lessons learned from past crises like African swine fever and pandemic disruptions.
The government’s move to directly procure and distribute vegetables from Benguet also shows a more interventionist approach, aiming to both support farmers and stabilize urban food supply. This dual-purpose strategy is significant because it addresses both producer and consumer welfare, which is often difficult to balance. Still, there are structural concerns.
The Philippines remains dependent on food imports, especially rice, making it vulnerable to global price volatility. The Middle East crisis could persist or escalate, keeping fuel prices elevated.
are sensitive to any suggestion of backing down.
In declaring the naval blockade during the ceasefire, Trump had forced Iran to respond, undermining his own diplomacy “for the sake of optics and looking strong,” Vatanka said.
In one potential off-ramp, Vatanka said that the United States could maintain the blockade but not enforce it rigorously. “The Iranians would know if it’s not being enforced because that is easy to measure,” Vatanka said.
Iran could call it a win but if they insist on a full opening, “that tells me they’re more interested in the optics than actually getting a deal. It would be a mistake on their part,” Vatanka said. How big a blockade?
Trump has not indicated any let-up on the blockade so far. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who long advocated for striking Iran, indicated the blockade could now serve as the key US means of pressure.
Graham wrote on X that he had concluded after speaking with Trump on Wednesday that “the blockade will be growing and that it could become global soon.”
Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the progressive Center for International Policy, said Trump had a choice on the blockade -- lifting it, which would reinforce to Iran how much leverage it had gained, or keeping it and risking ending the ceasefire.
“The prevailing view in Tehran is that time is on its side and that a prolonged conflict would impose mounting costs on the US and the global economy,” he said. AFP
If that happens, current stability may prove temporary. Moreover, “stable” prices at relatively high levels are not necessarily good news, as many Filipino households are already operating under constrained budgets due to cumulative inflation in recent years.
We can see that short-term mitigation measures are holding, but long-term resilience remains uncertain.
The government’s monitoring, potential price controls, and direct market interventions are buying time.
However, without deeper reforms, such as boosting agricultural productivity, reducing logistics costs, and diversifying import sources, the Philippines will continue to be exposed to external shocks. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
Tears, smiles at tribute concert
LUSANNE, Switzerland – A benefit concert was held Wednesday in tribute to the victims of a fire on New Year’s Day that killed 41 people in an upscale Swiss ski resort, nearly four months on from the tragedy.
The concert brought together the families of victims and some of those who survived the fire, which erupted at a bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana in the early hours of January 1. Most of those killed in the disaster at Le Constellation bar were teenagers, while 115 people were injured -- 38 of whom are still in hospitals and rehabilitation clinics. At the Salle Metropole theatre in
Lausanne, the performing artists came onto the stage to a song written about the tragedy called “Etoile de nos coeurs”
(“Star of our Hearts”), and lined up holding white roses. Beforehand, the families of the victims gathered in the foyer. There were hugs, smiles and some tears.
“It’s about solidarity. To all the victims, up there or here on Earth, it means one thing: we haven’t forgotten you,” Laeti-
tia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son Arthur was among those killed, told AFP.
“We’re in survival mode. Half of our hearts have been ripped away,” she added.
“It keeps alive the memory of all those who were hurt, both physically and emotionally.”
Vincianne Stucky, the mother of Trystan Pidoux, who died aged 17, told AFP:
“I truly don’t want the children to be forgotten; that’s my greatest fear.
“I find tonight’s concert magnificent because it will help, in particular, the burns victims.”
At the event, one of those badly burned was out in public for the first time since the fire.
Tickets cost from 90 Swiss francs ($115), with the proceeds going towards
Swisshearts -- an association founded by parents affected by the disaster.
The participating artists -- performing for free -- included Gjon’s Tears, who finished third for Switzerland at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
“These were young people who just wanted to party and have fun,” the singer told AFP.
“Being close in age to the majority of the victims... I think we can relate to it,” the 27-year-old said.
Also on the bill was the veteran French-Italian singer Richard Cocciante.
“We need to think about the people who are no longer here,” the 80-year-old told AFP, adding that music “certainly helps; I don’t know if it can heal, but it helps”. AFP
PERFORMANCE FOR FREE. Italian and French singer and songwriter Riccardo Cocciante (center), also known as Richard Cocciante, performs during a tribute concert titled ‘Au cœur de Crans’ for the victims of the New Year’s Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, at the Salle Métropole in Lausanne Wednesday. The fire that broke out in the bar ‘Le Constellation’ during New Year celebrations, claimed 41 lives, most of them teenagers, and injured 115 others. AFP
Pope Leo ends Africa visit with open air mass
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea – Pope Leo XIV will hold an open air mass in Equatorial Guinea on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) to end a landmark 11-day trip across Africa that has been the US pontiff’s first big international trip. The tour mixing political and pastoral messages, took Leo to four countries, traveling 18,000 kilometers and involved eight masses.
Whilst embroiled in a diplomatic battle with US President Donald Trump, Leo has repeatedly called for social justice, peace and respect for human dignity, while denouncing inequality, corruption and the unjust exploitation of natural resources by “tyrants”.
On Wednesday, the pope went to Equatorial Guinea’s notorious Bata prison where he was greeted by hundreds of shaven-headed inmates and made comments criticising living conditions.
On Thursday, the head of the Catholic Church will celebrate a mass at 10:00 am (0900 GMT) at a stadium in Malabo, the former capital of the former Spanish colony of two million inhabitants. He will then depart for Rome and will hold a traditional press conference on the plane for the journalists accompanying him, which will be closely watched given Trump’s harsh criticism against him.
Leo has denied that some of his pointed comments in Africa about war, human dignity, and economic injustice were aimed at Trump, saying they had been written before Trump called him “weak” and “incompetent in foreign policy” -- remarks that overshadowed the beginning of his trip.
The pope arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday after stops in Algeria, Cameroon and Angola. Leaders of those countries have all been criticised -- in varying degrees -- for authoritarian tendencies.
Leo throughout the trip has taken strong stands, as when he denounced those who “in the name of profit, continue to lay their hands on the African continent to exploit and plunder it.” AFP
Peru ministers quit over jet deal
LIMA, Peru – Peru’s foreign and defense ministers resigned on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) in protest over the interim president’s decision to stall a $3.5 billion deal for the purchase of 24 US F-16 fighter jets. The ministers said the deal had already been signed and that to cast doubt on it now jeopardized Peru’s reputation as a trading partner.
Their surprise resignations deepen instability gripping the South American country, after a recent election to choose the country’s ninth president in a decade descended into chaos.
No candidate emerged with an outright majority, meaning a runoff election will be held June 7.
Interim president Jose Maria Balcazar said Tuesday he would leave it up to the victor to finalize the jets deal.
The US ambassador to Peru, businessman Bernardo Navarro, on Friday issued a warning widely believed to relate to the agreement.
“If you deal with the US in bad faith and undermine US interests, rest assured, I, on behalf of @POTUS Trump and his administration, will use every available tool to protect and promote the prosperity and security of the United States and our region,” Navarro wrote on X.
On Wednesday, Balcazar went on state TV to assure Peruvians that he was “not seeking confrontation with the United States.” AFP
Myanmar ‘considering good things’ for detained Suu Kyi
BANGKOK – Myanmar’s leader is “considering good things” for detained Aung San Suu Kyi, Thailand’s top diplomat said, after meeting the country’s coup leader for the first time since he took over as civilian president.
Tropical Myanmar has been led by Min Aung Hlaing since 2021, who as armed forces chief deposed Suu Kyi’s elected government, detained the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and sparked civil war.
This month he took over the role of civilian president after an election democracy watchdogs dismissed as a choreographed affair designed to rebrand military rule.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said he raised the issue of Suu Kyi when he met Myanmar’s leader in the capital Naypyidaw on Wednesday.
“The president said that she is being well taken care of and the
Myanmar government is considering good things, without giving any further details,” Sihasak said in a video message before returning to Thailand Wednesday night.
“This should be a good sign,” he added.
Min Aung Hlaing last week pardoned Suu Kyi’s top aide Win Myint, who served as the ceremonial president of her administration and was also swept into custody in the coup.
Some analysts have dismissed the clemency measure as part of a rebranding effort for Min Aung Hlaing’s new administration as it grasps for legitimacy. The announcement of Win Myint’s pardon has nonetheless renewed diplomatic calls for Suu Kyi’s release. The 80-year-old has now been detained for a half-decade -- with even her close family saying they have been permitted scant communication with her. AFP
Cebu squeaks past Batangas in MPBL; Basilan Steel wins
CEBU won a “lost” game against Batangas on Wednesday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) at the Pasay Astrodome. Paul Desiderio’s desperation heave at the buzzer from way out got counted by the referees following a goaltending violation by Batangas’ Rhinwill Yambing, gifting the Cebu Greats a come-from-behind 84-83 victory over the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics.
With barely 3.7 seconds left, Ced Ablaza made his first free throw to give Batangas an 83-82 lead, but missed the second, allowing Cebu’s Simon Camacho to snare the rebound and throw the ball to Desiderio, who dribbled and let fly the ball just to beat time. Yambing, a known high-flyer, unexpectedly soared and touched the ball for a clear violation that reversed the game’s outcome. Cebu thus improved its record to 2-1, tying Batangas.
Desiderio finished with 21 points and 3 rebounds to clinch the SportsPlus best player award over Jun Manzo, with 18 points, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds, and Mark Meneses, with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Batangas drew 18 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds from Jhan Nermal, 15 points, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds from Ino Comboy, and 12 points plus 4
rebounds from Yambing. Basilan Steel bested Pasay, 82-76, in the nightcap, while Quezon City leaned on MJ Joson and Kobe Monje to stun Meycauayan Marilao, 78-69, in the opener.
Veteran John Wilson knocked in a triple and canned two charities as Basilan swung the balance with an 8-2 run in the last 1 minute and 49 seconds of the extension period to improve to 2-1.
Wilson, the 2021 Season MVP, notched 20 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Miles Canal with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, and Bobby Balucanag with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
With the count tied at 70, the Pasay Voyagers had the opportunity to prevail outright. Steve Nash Enriquez, however, opted for an unnecessary triple, rather than drive in as the Steel were already in penalty, and missed.
Pasay tumbled to 1-2 despite Christian Fajarito’s 20 points and 5 rebounds, Cyril Gonzales’ 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals, and Brian Hilario’s 13 points and 3 rebounds.
Joson, a prized find from Manila Central University, and Monje, a former track and field jumper turned basketball player in Letran, combined for 19 points in the fourth quarter, surpassing Meycauayan’s total of 14 in the period and completing Quezon City’s rally from a 24-37 deficit.
World-class Olympic coaching bolsters
PH archery program
CAUAYAN CITY, ISABELA—The crack of arrows slicing through the air reverberated across the Benjamin Dy Sports Complex during the 2026 WAP-PSC Philippine National Archery Championship Qualifier Leg 1.
Among the 450 young archers who converged from every corner of the country, one name soared above the rest: Juliana Vernice Garcia, a 17-year-old recurve specialist from Pasig City who is fast emerging as the face of Philippine archery.
“I’ve been shooting since I was eight. My dream right now is to qualify and do well in the Asian Games. If I can pull it off, the Olympics won’t be that far,” said Garcia, her voice steady yet brimming with determination.
Garcia was a standout in the Cauayan kickoff qualifier hosted by Mayor JC Dy and witnessed by Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio, who was visibly moved by the turnout.
“Sometimes I ask myself Sunday is a time to rest. But when you meet 450 young archers from all over the Philippines, full of aspirations and dreams, you immediately know sulit ang pagod ko,” said Gregorio.
With World Archery Philippines president Jonathan “Bing” Reaport at the helm, the national team has tapped two Olympic coaches from South Korea with world-class credentials—Ryu Su Jeng and Hong
Sun Chil—whose methods are already producing remarkable results.
“Before Coach Ryu came, our recurve archers never hit scores in the 660s or 670s. Now it happens more often. Even our under-18 youth can score 700 in 72 arrows at 50 meters,” said Reaport.
Archery at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will put six gold medals on the line—men’s and women’s individual, men’s and women’s team, mixed team recurve, and the newly
introduced mixed team compound event.
“We’ve identified solid talents in the under-15 and under-18 groups who will be our next generation,” said Reaport.
One of Korea’s most decorated Olympic coaches, coach Ryu steered her nation to five gold medals—two in Rio 2016 and three in Tokyo 2021—and is now at the helm of the Philippine archery program. She is widely regarded as a “gift to Philippine archery,” instilling discipline, stamina, and technical mastery.
Hong, a World Cup champion also from South Korea, previously molded the Iranian and Chinese squads to international success. The South Koreans dominate Olympic archery because of an extraordinarily rigorous training system. Since 1972, they have won 28 of the 40 Olympic gold medals in the sport, making them the undisputed powerhouse.
Gregorio also announced PSC’s plan to establish a Regional Training Center for archery and ball sports at the Benjamin Dy Sports Complex, and a rowing center at the Cagayan River.
“Mabuhay ang World Archery Philippines and its president Bing Reaport. Take care of our Korean Olympic coaches. They will unlock the way to the podium for the hearts of all these young athletes,” said Gregorio.
Junior PGT chase heats up at John Hay, Del Monte
LEG 3 of the Luzon and Visayas-Mindanao series of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) resumes next week at John Hay in Baguio and Del Monte in Bukidnon, bringing together early standouts and emerging talents in a pivotal race for top honors and valuable Elite Junior Finals points.
A marquee matchup is brewing in the boys’ 7-10 division of the Luzon swing, where early leg winners Kenzo Tan and Zach Guico are set to square off. Tan ruled the opener at Mount Malarayat, while Guico delivered a dominant performance at Summit Point. Although Tan skipped the second leg due to prior commitments, his return for the third stop of the six-leg regional series sets the stage for a compelling duel, with Guico eager to sustain his winning form following a convincing victory over Zoji Edoc. Edoc, however, remains a strong contender and is out to disrupt the anticipated Tan-Guico clash. Also in the mix are Alexian Ching, Joaquin Magtalas, Matteo Muyot and Baguio standouts Gabrial A-Ayo and Michael Lim. The ICTSI John Hay JPGT Junior Championship
off on April 28, while the ICTSI Del Monte JPGT
Championship will start on
for the North vs South Elite Junior Finals, players must compete in at least three events, with the top four in each division from both series advancing to the Ryder Cup-style championship at The Country Club in September. In the girls’ 7-10 division, Winter Serapio is seeking redemption after winning at Mount Malarayat but falling to Andrea Dee at Summit Point. With Dee skipping the John Hay leg, Serapio enters as the player to beat. Still, she is expected
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
The Cebu Greats jubilate after Paul Desiderio’s buzzer-beater got counted following a goaltending violation by Batangas’ Rhinwill Yambing.
Juliana Garcia
Zach Guico
Arana’s hard work against Bol pays off
By Jeremiah Sevilla
CONVERGE center Justin Arana
was elated with how he fared against TNT’s towering import Bol Bol in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
The 6-foot-7 Arana went all out to fulfill his task of guarding the 7-foot3 Bol, and his hard work paid off as he lifted the FiberXers to a crucial 97-92 win over the Tropang 5G on Wednesday night.
“Tinatagan ko ‘yong sarili ko kasi para sa’min do-or-die na ‘to. Hindi ako puwedeng matakot kay Bol Bol kasi super kailangan talaga namin ‘tong laro na ‘to,” said Arana after Converge clinched its third win against six losses to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Arana drilled in a huge doubledouble of 21 points and 10 rebounds while matching up against Bol, who was held to 32 markers on a 12-of24 shooting clip following his PBA career-high 50-point eruption versus Titan Ultra.
The 2023 Rookie of the Year’s spirited effort was best typified by his dagger putback over the outstretched arm of Bol that put the FiberXers ahead for good, 96-90, with 20.9 seconds left in the game.
“Kahit anong mangyari talagang
ginagawan ko lang ng paraan kasi sobrang hirap talagang maka-score sa kanya,” said Arana, who led his squad in scoring while trying to make it difficult for Bol to earn his points.
“Sa practice namin, siya (Bol) talaga binigay sa’kin. ‘Di ko talaga siya na-stop dahil foul trouble din ako. Pero at least, nakuha namin ‘yong panalo,” he added.
Arana was also glad to get his groove in manning the center position amid a frontline adjustment involving Converge import Kylor Kelly.
“In the middle of the games naman namin nag-a-adjust kami, especially the coaches, na ‘pag magkasabay kami ni Kylor, ginagawa na siyang 4 tapos ako na ‘yong 5. Kasi ‘yong 5 talaga ang main position ko so mas sanay akong maglaro as a 5. ‘Yun ang big adjustment para sa’min pero worth it naman.”
With three games left in the eliminations, Arana and the FiberXers are in a win-now mode as they aim to make their fourth straight playoff appearance.
“One game at a time lang kasi may last three games pa kami. Isa-isahin muna namin kasi ‘yon nga every game sa’min do-or-die e. ‘Di lang kami puwede magmadali and kailangan lagi maglaro as a team,” said Arana.
Top jrs clash as Bagong Pilipinas net meet unfolds
THE four-leg Visayas swing of the Palawan Pawnshop National Tennis Circuit concludes with the Bagong Pilipinas Juniors Age-Group Championships Thursday, featuring another strong field vying for top honors and valuable ranking points at the Villareal Stadium courts in Roxas City, Capiz.
The week-long Group 2 tournament, sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Ranking, also caps a two-week celebration of the Capiztahan Festival, highlighted by intense competition and standout performances. Leading the charge is La Carlota’s Kathlyn Bugna, who enters the tournament as the player to beat following her dominant sweep of the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under titles in both Bacolod and last week’s Capiztahan event.
On the boys’ side, Andrian Rodriguez is out for redemption after falling short in his previous title bids. A runner-up in both the 16- and 18-and-under divisions in the Verde Aces and Capiztahan legs, Rodriguez is determined to finally break through. However, he faces a tough field that includes Rafael Martin, Marku Zapatos and other hungry contenders.
Rizzjun Labindao also looks to sustain his momentum after capturing a title last week, as he joins the chase in the 16- and 18-and-under categories. The divisions are stacked with talent, including Anthony Castigador, Anthony Cosca, Cristiano Calingasan, Ciara Alipo-on, Juan Thomas Calingasan and Roxas City leg winner Francisco De Juan III. Bugna, brimming with confidence, aims for yet another double-title sweep, but faces stiff opposition from Tori Deocampo, Aleeva Suace, Princess Obaniana, Besper Zapatos and Isabel Calingasan.
A standout from Batang Onay, Bugna is eyeing another dominant run in the circuit, which forms part of a nationwide talent search spearheaded by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro. Competition in the lower age groups is expected to be just as fierce. In the boys’ 14-and-U division, Cristiano Calingasan, De Juan, Alexander Calingasan, and Liam Harrow are tipped to contend for the crown. Harrow and Alexander Calingasan also headline the 12-and-U category, along with Caleb Ausan and Mathieu Flores.
PH cue artist Biado back as world No. 1
By Randy M. Caluag
FILIPINO cue artist Carlo Biado has regained the top spot in the latest rankings released by the World Pool Association (WPA), marking the third time the Filipino cue artist has been ranked No. 1 in the world.
Biado, a Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame inductee, amassed 35,316 points to climb two places from No. 3 in last month’s standings. His rise was driven by recent performances on the professional circuit, earning 5,400 points
from a quarterfinal finish at the World 8-Ball Championship and a Last 16 showing at the Las Vegas Open. Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk is at second, just 340 points behind Biado, highlighting the tight race at the top of the rankings.
Enriquez delivers 1st Sanya gold for PH
SANYA, China—Team Philippines glittered like gold on the first day of jiu-jitsu action with Alexandria Enriquez clinching the country’s first gold medal of the 6th Asian Beach Games with a 5-0 win over South Korea’s Yeonji Lee in the women’s 63kg final Thursday at the Sanya Bay Yuhai Club here.
Enriquez, a US-based Filipina, flexed her might against her foe with a dominant victory that capped off a stellar run in her first appearance in a multi-sport event for the Philippines.
She started her campaign on a high in this resort city with back-to-back submission wins against host country China and Thailand. She then won via advantage in the semifinal against Shamma Alkalbani to nab her spot in the gold medal match.
Enriquez gushed on capturing the first mint for the country in the return of the Games after a 10year hiatus.
“I feel so much pride and joy I mean first of all all glory to God and and I grew I was born in the Philippines we immigrated to the states when I was a very young child six years old and to be able to come back you know and experience it as an adult and to be able to be a part of something much larger than I am is such a great
honor,” she said. Earlier in the day, Kaila Napolis put the Philippines on the board as she claimed the country’s first medal of the meet with a win against Kazakhstan’s Zhibek Kulumbetova in overtime in the battle for bronze.
Drama wrapped Napolis’ quest for a medal after the match went into overtime, when both athletes were still level at the end of five minutes. Though practicing caution, the Filipina was able to get an advantage in the sudden death period to repeat her feat from 2016, where she first finished on the podium in the Asian Beach Games.
For Napolis, it was a tough win that made the result worth it.
“Sobrang nakakakaba. Kasi bawal magkamali. With overtime, the first to have an advantage na yung mananalo. So, super tight talaga ng laban,” said Napolis. The other Filipina in the medal rounds, Andrea Lois Lao, failed to make it a three-medal haul on the opening day of hostilities after losing her bronze medal match against Thailand’s Orapa Senatham, 3-0.
At third is Russian-American Fedor Gorst, followed by Greece’s Alexis Kazakis and Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp to complete the top five.
Fellow Filipino Jeffrey de Luna is ranked 26th, the second-highest Filipino in the list.
In the women’s rankings, Chezka Centeno is sixth, while Rubilen Amit is 21st. Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan remains world No. 1. Biado’s return to the top underscores the Philippines’ continued strength in cue sports, with the 41-year-old expected to feature prominently in upcoming international tournaments.
On the other hand, other competitors My-
Adamson, King’s Montessori boost quarters bids
ADAMSON University banked on Ellane Gonzalvo’s crisp spiking to subdue De La Salle Zobel, 25-20, 25-17, and draw closer to a quarterfinals seat in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars
Cup Division 1 on Thursday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym. Gonzalvo uncorked 12 attacks and two kill blocks for a game-high 14 points as the Lady Baby Falcons scooped back-to-back wins for a share of the Pool D top spot with idle University of Santo Tomas. The Season 2 champion needed only 50 minutes to bring down the Junior Lady Spikers, who slipped to a 1-2 win-loss record in the country’s biggest grassroots volleyball league, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea. On the other hand, King’s Montessori downed Bethel Academy, 25-20, 25-16, for a 2-1 record in Pool A. Kriska Gindap and Sharina Lleses fired 12 markers each for King’s Montessori. Far Eastern University-Diliman opened its campaign in Pool C with a sweep of winless De La Salle-Lipa, 25-16, 25-15. Meanwhile, University of Batangas
High School and UST-B booked their tickets to the Division 2 quarterfinals after collecting four straight victories in their respective pools. The Batangas-based squad defeated St. John’s Institute, 25-22, 26-24, in Pool H behind Andrea Gabrinao and Scarlett Escalante, who scored 10 points each.
UST-B swept Poveda College, 25-13, 25-8, in Pool F to enter the knockout quarters of the tournament backed by Smart Sports, PusoP.com, Solar Sports Free TV, Mikasa, Asics, Eurotel, Team Rebel Sports and Rigour Technology as technical partners. Reigning Division 2 champion Domuschola International School boosted its chances of advancing into the next round by racking up a third straight win at the expense of MGCNew Life Christian Academy, 25-22, 23-25, 15-11, in Pool E. Micaela Pingris and last year’s MVP Naihma Banal scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Badgers.
Adamson players celebrate. Roman Prospero
Carlo Biado is back at the top for the third time. Matchroom Multisport
The Philippines’ Alexandria Enriquez POC Media Pool ron Mangubat, Maria Ysabel Laureta, and Santino Luis Luzuriaga were eliminated in their first round matches.
BSP hikes rate to 4.5% to curb Middle East-fueled inflation
4.5% 4.0% 5.0%
By Thony Rose Lesaca
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points on Thursday to 4.50 percent, citing a deteriorating inflation outlook linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Oxford Economics, a research company, said the BSP’s rate hike marks a reversal to its easing cycle after a cumulative 225-basis-point cut since October 2023, reflecting concerns of higher-than-expected inflation passing into second round effects.
The BSP’s Monetary Board increased the target reverse repurchase rate to 4.5 percent, while adjusting the overnight deposit and lending facilities to 4.0 percent and 5.0 percent respectively. The BSP said it moved to stay ahead of rising costs as global oil and fertilizer prices begin to impact domestic food and fuel markets.
“The inflation outlook has
EXPROPRIATION CASES.
The Department of Transportation and Office of the Solicitor General finalize a record 345 expropriation cases to fast-track land acquisition for the North South Commuter Railway and Metro Manila Subway. The legal filings, produced during a three-day workshop in Clark Freeport, Pampanga, represent the largest single-batch processing of land seizure cases in the department’s history.
deteriorated amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” the BSP said in a statement.
“Higher global oil and fertilizer prices have begun feeding through to domestic fuel and food prices. At the same time, core inflation has continued to rise, pointing to a broadening of underlying price pressures,” it said.
Latest projections from the BSP suggest a higher inflation path that will likely breach the 4.0 percent tolerance ceiling in 2026 and 2027. The board said that rising inflation expectations have increased the risk of prices de-anchoring from official targets due to persistent pressures.
Monetary Board members deemed
the preemptive policy action necessary to safeguard price stability. The rate hike aims to anchor expectations and prevent second-round effects from embedding themselves in the economy. Despite the tightening, the BSP said it maintains that a measured increase will still allow for mediumterm economic recovery. The BSP confirmed it remains datadependent and prepared to act further if necessary. “The BSP stands ready to take all necessary monetary actions to ensure that inflation returns to the 3.0-percent target, consistent with its primary mandate of maintaining price stability,” the bank said.
“The BSP’s stance has shifted since its unscheduled meeting in March that resulted in a hold. Today, the BSP noted that ‘[at the same time] core inflation has continued to rise, pointing to a broadening of underlying price pressures’, implying that second round effects beyond energy and food have started to materialise. We view today’s pre-emptive hike as looking to anchor inflation expectations, reinforcing BSP’s aim of protecting price stability,” the research firm said.
IN BRIEF
Garment exporters cut workdays as costs soar
GARMENT exporters are scaling back production and shortening workweeks as rising operational costs and softening global demand strain the industry, according to a survey by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT).
The survey, conducted between March 30 and April 10, revealed that companies in the garments, food, handicrafts and furniture sectors are grappling with a downward trend in orders. PHILEXPORT president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said some international buyers have also requested shipment delays.
“These respondents reported that their orders have decreased slightly to significantly, with buyers requesting to postpone shipments,” Ortiz-Luis said. To manage the downturn, garment firms have reduced production schedules and trimmed workweeks from six days to as few as three. While companies have postponed new investments and adjusted pricing, most have found it impossible to pass higher costs on to their customers.
Exporters reported that costs have jumped between 10 percent and 30 percent, fueled primarily by surges in shipping, logistics, fuel and raw materials. In response, firms are increasing local sourcing and attempting to diversify their markets to mitigate the impact. Othel V. Campos
DOTr, OSG expedite rail land acquisition
THE Department of Transportation and the Office of the Solicitor General finalized 345 expropriation cases in a single batch to accelerate land acquisition for major rail projects.
The legal filings, produced during a three-day workshop in Clark Freeport, Pampanga, represent the largest singlebatch processing of land seizure cases in the department’s history.
It follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track transport infrastructure and clear rightof-way hurdles that have historically delayed construction.
Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said the mass drafting of pleadings will significantly expedite land acquisition along the Clark–Malolos corridor for the
North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and critical sites for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).
“Through this partnership with the OSG, we will further speed up right-ofway and site acquisition for DOTr’s bigticket projects,” Lopez said.
“We need to hasten this so that construction can proceed and passengers can finally benefit,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar
SM Group expands scholarship programs
THE SM Group is widening scholarship support for uniformed personnel and their families through its educational institutions, reinforcing a strategy to promote inclusive growth and accessible quality education.
Through National University (NU) and Asia Pacific College (APC), the group is increasing access to senior high school, undergraduate and graduate programs. The initiative specifically targets communities with limited access to higher education.
NU recently renewed partnerships with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to provide 2,250 scholarship slots. These opportunities are available across 15 campuses, including locations in Manila, Laguna, Pasay, Makati, Quezon City, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Pampanga, Bacolod, Pasig, Cebu, Las Pinas and an upcoming site in Davao.
Qualified dependents and active personnel receive a 20-percent discount on tuition and miscellaneous fees across all programs. The partnership also grants full scholarships to dependents of personnel killed in action. Beyond financial aid, the program includes internships and training development to improve employability.
“We honor the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers who gave their lives in service to the nation,” NU corporate and international relations senior vice president Rolando Averilla said.
“As part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Educational Benefit System Office community of schools, we are proud to help carry their legacy forward by supporting their families, especially their children, in pursuing quality education through scholarship opportunities,” said Averilla.
audit compliance. Thony Rose Lesaca
PSEi, peso slide as BSP raises rates to 4.5% to curb inflation
By Jenniffer B. Austria
LOCAL equities declined further Thursday after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas delivered a 25-basis-point rate hike to curb rising inflation.
The peso also depreciated Thursday, closing at 60.48 to the US dollar from 60.13 on Wednesday.
The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index dipped 5.75 points, or 0.10 percent, to close at 5,983.81. The broader all shares index also fell 6.40 points, or 0.19 percent, to 3,369.72.
“The Philippine market ended slightly lower as the central bank’s rate hike weighed on sentiment, keeping risk appetite for equities subdued,” said Luis Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp.
Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said rates could still rise from the current 4.5 percent depending on inflation trends in the coming months.
“If the inflation rate consistently breaches the 2 percent to 4 percent target in the com-ing months, the BSP could still raise rates in an effort to bring inflation back to the tar-get range and fulfill its mandate of price stability,” Ricafort said.
Sectoral indices closed mixed.
Mining and oil declined the most, falling 1.4 percent, while financials and industrials dropped 1.13 percent and 0.33 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, services rose 0.41 percent, followed by property and holding firms, which climbed 0.13 percent and 0.07 percent, respectively.
Peso bonds to join J.P. Morgan index in 2027
By Thony Rose Lesaca
PHILIPPINE peso-denominated government bonds will join the J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets series on Jan. 29, 2027, according to a joint announcement by the Department of Finance, the Bureau of the Treasury and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The inclusion marks the first time Philippine local currency debt will be part of the widely tracked index. Financial authorities said the milestone reflects international recognition of reforms aimed at improving bond liquidity, developing interest rate swap and repo markets, and simplifying tax treaty applications. The move is expected to broaden
the country’s investor base and support liquidity in the government securities market. Foreign interest in Philippine debt has already in-creased following recent fiscal reforms and robust macroeconomic growth.
Finance Secretary Frederick Go said the inclusion reflects a vote of confidence in the nation’s fiscal discipline.
“We welcome the Philippines’ first-ever inclusion in the J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets for our peso-denominated government bonds,” Go said. “It reflects a strong vote of confidence in our solid fundamentals and fiscal discipline.
This milestone will broaden our investor base, improve market liquidity and help lower bor-rowing costs.”
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said the development will as-sist the central bank in transmitting monetary policy.
“This is a major step in deepening the Philippine capital markets, with significant bene-fits to the government, to domestic and global investors, and to local banks and businesses,” Remolona said. “As bonds gain more liquidity, this will help the BSP transmit monetary policy, benefiting borrowers and investors across the economy.”
Ayala Land pulls back on spending as ME crisis weighs on property sector
The award recognizes the company as one of the country’s best employer brands and reflects its commitment to creating a workplace where employees can thrive, grow and feel a genuine sense of purpose.
AYALA Land Inc. is scaling back capital expenditure and managing residential project launches as it adopts a more cautious stance amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Ayala Land chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala told shareholders during the company’s annual meeting Thursday that the developer is prioritizing stability and liquidity over aggressive expansion in response to external risks.
“There’s no doubt that the Middle East crisis is a significant disruptor, especially for the property development industry. In times like these, our top priority is stability over aggressive growth,” Zobel said.
The firm originally planned to spend up to P80 billion in capital expenditures and launch P30 billion worth of projects at the start of the year. Zobel said the company is now recalibrating its development pipeline by managing the pace of new residential launches while working to reduce inventory levels.
“We’re focused on ensuring ample liquidity and maintaining the flexibility to act swiftly when the environment improves,” Zobel said.
To cushion the impact of potential disruptions, the company will continue its pivot toward expanding its leasing portfolio, including malls and hotels, to build more stable and recurring income streams. Zobel said the strategy is designed to help Ayala Land weather economic cycles and external shocks.
“We want to preserve our flexibility so that we have the resources available when this crisis ends or when new opportunities arise,” Zobel said. “ALI’s track record shows resilience through multiple cycles, and that’s thanks to our prudent management of both our balance sheet and our diverse portfolio.”
For 2026, the company will open a record 200,000 square meters of new retail space and 70,000 square meters of office space. It also plans to reopen the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the fourth quarter of the year. Jenniffer B. Austria
The Bureau of the Treasury and the central bank intend to continue coordinating with financial institutions and fund managers to align local trading practices with global standards. The Philippines continues to manage its debt portfolio amid a landscape where 10-year government bond yields often fluctuate. Officials expect the index inclusion to stabilize these yields over the long term. Under the new arrangement, the government aims to ensure that 1 trillion pesos or more in outstanding securities remain attractive to global fund managers.
ADB committed $6.8b in financing to PH for 2025
THE Asian Development Bank committed $6.81 billion in total financing to the Philippines in 2025, spanning loans, grants and cofinancing support for local projects. In its 2025 Annual Report, the Manila-based lender said it provided $4.25 billion in total loans and financing under its ordinary capital resources.
The public sector received $4.10 billion, which was injected into the second tranche of the Malolos-Clark Railway project and the second subprogram of the Business and Employment Recovery Program.
Portions of the funding also supported the Insurance Reform Program, the Second Disaster Resilience Improvement Program, and the Reducing Food Insecurity and Un-dernutrition with Electronic Vouchers project. Other beneficiaries included the Marine Ecosystems for Blue Economy Development Program and the Business Environment Strengthening with Technology Program.
Meanwhile, $143.3 million was infused into private sector operations. These include a $29.8 million loan to Fuse Enabling Financial Inclusion Through GCash’s Online Lending Platform and a $100 million equity investment into the initial public offering of Project Tulip, as well as $13.6 million under the Trade and Supply Finance Program.
The ADB also provided $10.2 million in technical assistance and $2.55 billion in co-financing to the country in 2025.
On a broader scale, the bank collectively committed $29.3 billion to the Asia and the Pacific region, with most funding funneled into finance, transport and public sector management.
“In 2025, ADB delivered unprecedented levels of support, with a 20 percent increase over 2024 and expected impacts of more than 3.3 million jobs and benefit to over 180 million people,” ADB President Masato Kanda said.
“This shows ADB’s ability to deliver at a scale and with the speed that matches the de-mands of Asia and the Pacific,” he added.
Thony
Rose Lesaca
MARKET COLLABORATION. Finance Secretary Frederick Go meets with senior officials of the New York Stock Exchange to explore ways to strengthen collaboration between Philippine and U.S. capital markets. The meeting focused on strengthening knowledge-sharing and capacity building between the two countries, particularly in areas such as market regulation, corporate governance and investor protection.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
BEST EMPLOYER. Alsons Power Group vice president for corporate services
Maria Jiji Lara (third from left), corporate communications manager Dustin Ibañez (second from right), senior HRA supervisor Winnie Simbulan (second from left) and corporate communications associate John Henry Pantilanan (rightmost) receive an award from LinkedIn Philippines.
TRANSPORT
Net service contracting eases EDSA commute
QUEUES at the EDSA Busway stations have decreased following the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) implementation of the Net Service Contracting Program (SCP).
The initiative was launched under the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to stabilize the income of bus operators and drivers while maintaining an adequate supply of public transport amid the Middle East oil crisis.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the program effectively eases the commute for passengers and provides a vital safety net for transport workers during the global energy surge.
Lopez said that the improved bus frequency means passengers no longer face long wait times, while operators benefit from a more sustainable revenue model.
To support this nationwide, the government has allocated P800 million for 823 land transport routes, paying drivers per kilometer— specifically P100 for buses, P40 for modern jeepneys and P30 for traditional jeepneys—for up to 100 kilometers daily.
Under the program, 434 bus units have been deployed, offering substantial savings to commuters through a 20-percent fare discount for regular passengers and a 40-percent discount for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
2GO secures double gold at Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards
2GO, the Philippines’ leading end-toend logistics solutions provider, made a landmark debut at the 13th Annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, securing two prestigious Gold wins. At the 13th annual awards, 2GO was honored with a Gold Stevie® for “How 2GO’s Management Engineered a Strategic Turnaround and Built a Modern, High-Performing Logistics Enterprise” under the Award for Innovative Management in Business Product & Service Industries category.
Will Howell, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of 2GO Group, Inc., was also recognized as Most Innovative Finance Executive of the Year, underscoring the leadership behind the company’s transformation and sustained operational performance. The recognition highlights 2GO’s strategic turnaround and its continued investment in strengthening end-toend logistics capabilities. The company has expanded its nationwide network, enhanced operational efficiency, and integrated its shipping and supply chain solutions to better serve businesses and communities across the Philippines.
To further assist the public, the government also continues to deploy its own vehicle assets to provide free rides alongside the Net SCP operations.
Modern Public Utility Jeepney (MPUJ) drivers and passengers have expressed strong support for the government’s Net Service Contracting Program (SCP), citing increased earnings for transport workers and significant fare savings for the public.
For Romeo, a modern PUJ driver, the program provides much-needed financial stability. Under the SCP, the government pays drivers and
operators per kilometer traveled, ensuring a steady income regardless of passenger volume.
“The service contracting launched by our government is a big deal for our drivers and our cooperatives. First of all, it is a clear additional income for our drivers and also for the passengers because they will have a 20 percent discount on the fare,” said driver Romeo.
According to Aling Maria Luz, many senior citizens like her will be happy, especially since they will save a lot on their fares because of the 40% discount.
“His idea is good for seniors. We
who commute will be happy because, of course, we are the ones with low salaries, those with no income; the fare is high, so we will save if there is now a 40 percent discount. Thank you very much to the President, if he does that, many seniors will be happy,” said Aling Maria Luz. Regular passenger John Paul hopes that the SCP will be expanded.
“It is a big help for passengers, especially during this crisis, because crude oil is expensive now, so it is a big help for those who ride and for drivers. I hope that programs like this will be extended,” said John Paul. Darwin G. Amojelar
PPA says over 20m trees planted under sustainability strategy
THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said that it has planted over 20 million trees under its Green Port Strategy. This initiative is a cornerstone of the Port Environmental Policy launched in 2020, designed to harmonize port development with environmental preservation and long-term sustainability.
From 2020 to 2025, a total of 20,297,821 trees and mangroves have been planted under PPA’s program, contributing to carbon absorption, coastal protection, and biodiversity conservation, alongside the development of carbon sink areas within port zones. Complementing these efforts, a total of 1.23 million kilograms of waste has been collected from port operations from 2016 to 2025, and with over 286,000 kilograms gathered through clean-up drives across various PPA ports.
As a result of these initiatives, PPA and several of its ports received recognition under the Green Port Award System (GPAS), an environmental recognition program of the APEC Port Services Network (APSN). Recognized ports include Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, and General Santos, as well as the Manila International Container Terminal and Manila South Harbor.
The agency also continues to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to enhance sustainability and disaster resilience. In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the agency supports the use of air-to-water systems in ports, an innovative solution that can generate potable water and be utilized during emergencies and disaster response.
This summer season, the agency is also advancing lowcarbon operations through the use of hybrid and electric equipment, energy-efficient lighting, and solar-powered
systems. Select ports have also adopted Shore-Based Power Supply (SBPS), allowing vessels to plug into onshore electricity to reduce emissions while docked.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago emphasized that sustainability remains a key pillar of port modernization.
“This Earth Day, we are reminded that every port we build and every operation we run has an impact on the environment. From planting over 20 million trees to advancing waste reduction and energy conservation, the PPA demonstrates that progress does not come at the expense of our environment,” he said.
Through sustained stakeholder engagement and active participation in global environmental campaigns such as Earth Hour and Earth Day, PPA reinforces its commitment to fostering a culture of sustainability among port users, personnel, and surrounding communities. These initiatives underscore PPA’s continuing push to integrate sustainability into port modernization, transforming Philippine ports into greener, more resilient gateways while strengthening environmental responsibility across its operations.
CIAC opens Clark picnic grounds
Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards on behalf of 2GO Group.
VISITORS to the Freeport have a fresh destination to explore following the official opening of the Clark Picnic Grounds last April 18, 2026. Jojit Alcazar, CIAC president and chief executive said that Phase 1 of the project covers an initial five hectares of the total nine-hectare property. The redevelopment is a key component of the agency’s Urban Renewal and Heritage Conservation Program, one of CIAC’s seven flagship initiatives. Located along Gil Puyat Avenue, the newly refur-
bished and reimagined Clark Picnic Grounds is a vibrant and inclusive public space. Designed as a modern park, it features jogging and walking paths, recreational and wellness facilities, an amphitheater, a playground, and a picnic grove. Opening day activities include a flea market envisioned as a lively weekend bazaar with a mix of food and
families relocate to modern DOTr housing sites
FAMILIES displaced by the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) are now settling into modern housing units provided by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The relocation efforts follow the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure that ProjectAffected Persons (PAPs) are moved to proper, sustainable resettlement sites.
“The President’s strict order is not to neglect our countrymen whose houses were affected by the project. Nine relocation sites have been funded by the DOTr in Pampanga, Bulacan and Laguna where the houses are decent and have adequate supply of electricity and water. We are also providing them with livelihood so they can earn a living,” according to Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Right-of-Way and Site Acquisition (ROWSA) IC Calaguas explained that the family beneficiaries have been awarded and have already moved to 312 houses or units in the San Fernando View Residences Phase 3 in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
“Each house provided by the DOTr already has a bedroom, bathroom, dining and living areas. They can even add a gate or a place if they want to set up a store,” Calaguas said.
One of the beneficiaries is 68-yearold Mang Nephtali from Barangay San Nicolas. Now he has been able to sell rice since moving to their new house in San Fernando View Residences Phase 3.
“Before, my house was just a small one on the railway. Now it’s beautiful, the house is beautiful and at least it has tiles. As for this house, I have nothing to say. It’s yours. Second, we probably won’t be flooded here and there (as before), just one rain, it’s flooded, it’s submerged. We are now at peace here,” Nephthali said.
Also collaborating with the DOTr in the relocation of the PAPs are the National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), the local government of San Fernando and the provincial government of Pampanga led by Governor Lilia Pineda.
Once the entire North South Commuter Railway is completed, the 147-kilometer NSCR will travel from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna and vice versa. The previously more than four-hour journey will be reduced to just two hours. It will bring 350,000 jobs during the construction of its 35-stations. Up to 800,000 passengers will be served. The ValenzuelaMalolos segment of the rail line is targeted for completion in 2027.
Will Howell, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of 2GO Group Inc., and Ethel Concepcion, head of corporate marketing and communications, accept two 2026
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026 lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
JM Dela Cerna, Marielle Montellano in concert at Skydome
STAR Magic artists Marielle Montellano and JM Dela Cerna , winners of Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 4, are set to take their performances to the stage in a concert at SM North Edsa Skydome on May 29.
The pair, known as the season’s “Birit Duo,” made the announcement during the Star Magic Spotlight press conference held April 20 at the Dolphy Theatre in ABSCBN.
Both artists said their experience on the competition became a turning point in their careers, pushing them to take creative risks and expand their performance range.
JM said the show challenged him to step outside his usual approach to singing.
“The greatest risk is not taking any risk at all, ‘ yun po
Kiko Estrada
By Angelica Villanueva
AS Totoy Bato entered its finale week, Kiko Estrada looks back on the series with gratitude, pride, and a sense of growth after taking on one of Philippine action drama’s most familiar roles.
Kiko, who played the title role, said stepping into the character came with weight, especially because Totoy Bato had long been associated with big-screen stars before him.
“It’s an honor for me to play a character like Totoy Bato, which was also played by our idols, Fernando Poe Jr. and, of course, Robin Padilla,” he said during the show’s press conference.
“I’m just blessed and honored. I hope I delivered,” Kiko continued. For him, the role was not defined by the fights alone, even if the series gave him plenty of bruising, demanding scenes. What stayed with him most was the people around him.
“The best part was being with these people. It was like being with family, and they pushed you to become a better actor, or the best you can be,” the actor shared.
He then gave credits to directors Albert Langitan, Zyro Radoc, and Ambo Gonzales, along with the rest of the cast and crew, for shaping both the show and his performance.
Kiko repeatedly described the project as a team effort, saying whatever viewers saw onscreen came from the support of the people behind him. That support, he said, also helped him improve in emotional scenes.
“Before, maybe I used to think too much about crying. Now, I think more about what the character is going through and what the right emotion is. Whether I cry or not, what matters is that it’s truthful,” Kiko explained.
Langitan said he saw clear progress in Estrada over the course of the series, not only as an action lead but as an actor overall.
“He already has the movement and the physical qualities of an action star. But beyond the action, he became a better actor,” the director said.
yung napulot ko talaga after Your Face Sounds Familiar ,” he said.
Montellano said the competition changed how she approaches performance, particularly in connecting with audiences beyond vocal technique.
“Being part of Your Face pushed me to become more intentional, not just with my music,” she said. “ Hindi lang siya basta-basta… dapat pala you put your heart into it, your soul, and how I connect with the audience as well.”
Their upcoming concert, Jmielle: Sings the Icons , will feature live performances inspired by their transformations during the show, continuing what they described as their evolution as artists beyond the competition stage.
Langitan added that Kiko benefited from working closely with veteran actors in the cast, saying their presence helped sharpen his instincts in dramatic scenes.
Seasoned actress Eula Valdez also gave a positive assessment of Kiko, describing him as serious about the craft and committed to lasting in the profession.
“He’s a serious actor. He really tries to put himself into his character. He wants to last in this profession, and I believe he will,” the actress shared.
Kiko also spoke about the physical demands of the series, particularly his fight scenes with Diego Loyzaga. He admitted the work was tough, but said the commitment of the cast pushed him to match their effort.
“When you see how much everyone is giving, you have no right to complain. Even when you’re in pain, you think, ‘I have to be the best I can be,’” Kiko said.
With “Totoy Bato” wrapping up, the actor said he now wants to take on even more challenging work. But for now, he is leaving the series with deep appreciation for the role that carried him through its final stretch.
“I owe it all to them. It’s all collaboration. I’m just grateful that people appreciated it,” he stated.
Marielle Montellano (left)
Diego Loyzaga (left) and Kiko Estrada promise viewers an intense and exciting finale of ‘Totoy Bato’
LIFE & SHOWBIZ
By Angelica Villanueva
IREMEMBER watching SB19 for the first time way back in 2020 at Bonifacio High Street, as one of the performers for a brand phone event. It was a week before the lockdown was implemented. I could remember watching the members singing their classic songs like “Go Up” and “Alab.”
Six years later, the setting is much bigger, the stakes clearer, and the sound more defined.
On April 18, P-pop powerhouse SB19 returned to the Manila stage for the LiveNation presented concert Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale at the SMDC Festival Grounds, which closed a chapter that began with “Pagsibol” and moved through “Pagtatag!” and “Simula at Wakas.” This time, the members weren’t introducing themselves but were taking ownership of the space they’ve built. The concert opened with a grand entrance—a big production on stage paired with a grand firework display—that was used as a distraction for fans by surprising them with where they would be coming from.
TODAY’S digital lifestyle depends on a simple mix of gadgets, devices, and internet data working together. Phones, tablets, and wearables are now part of everyday life, used for work, entertainment, and communication. But their full use relies on steady internet access.
As apps become more central to daily routines, data has become something people rely on all the time, powering everything from messaging and streaming to online work and learning.
Smart Communications Inc. has introduced its All-New Plans+ (SIM-only) postpaid lineup, offering redesigned packages that center on app-based usage and data consumption habits.
The updated plans include what the company calls Unli App Bundles, which group selected applications under categories for social networking, productivity, and gaming.
The Connect Bundle includes access to TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The Create Bundle covers YouTube and Google services such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, Maps, and others. The Play Bundle includes mobile games Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty Mobile, and Honor of Kings.
Subscribers may choose one bundle depending on their plan tier, with varying periods of access. Plan 799 includes six months of access to the Connect Bundle,
SB19 delivers full-scale show at ‘Wakas at Simula’ concert
Wearing an all-white ensemble, the members appeared on the middle stage and began their set with hit tracks “DAM,” “What?” and “GENTO.” There was no slow buildup. The show moved like it already knew where it was going.
The set doesn’t stick to one mood for long. Songs like “Everblack” and “8TonBall” hit hard, then shift into something slower yet felt like sweet messages for fans with “Ilaw,” “Liham” and “Time.”
Midway, things got a little bit sexier as the group performed “Moonlight” and “I Want You,” leaving screams from A’Tin left and right.
SB19 then brought Japanese boy group BE:FIRST to perform “Toyfriend.” The group then sang its tracks “Boom Boom Back” and “BE:FIRST All Day.”
The stage also opened up to guests, including J2X performing “Akongapalasi” and XONARA, 1Z Entertainment’s first girl group.
When SB19 comes back in full, the energy builds again. “Mana,” “Dungka” and latest single “VISA”
pull the crowd right back, followed by “Bazinga,” “Crimzone,” and “Quit,” which land heavier live than expected.
Later on, “MAPA,” “SLMT” and “Freedom” shift the tone again, this time more reflective. By then, the scale of the night sinks in, especially when the crowd turns into a sea of blue during the fan project.
The ending didn’t feel rushed either. “Wakas” plays out alongside a “nebula” light display from fans. I left the venue earlier to avoid traffic congestion, and as I waited for my boyfriend to pick me up, SB19’s debut track “Go Up” came in—still familiar, but carrying a different weight now.
It sounded familiar that it brought me back to that time when I heard it for the first time. It brought nostalgia. Watching them now, it’s clear that the distance between that 2020 stage in Bonifacio High Street and this finale isn’t just about audience size. It’s about how they have become after six years. “Malayo na.”
Back then, SB19 members were still proving they belonged to the P-pop scene. Now, they have become the P-pop powerhouse and even P-pop Kings. SB19 moves like a group that knows exactly where they stand and where they’re headed next.
MISS Grand International All Stars 2026 (1st Edition) sets the stage for the battle of returning veteran international beauty queens from various global pageants, unfolding in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 18 to 30.
The Philippines now has five official delegates, with the addition of Noble Queen of the Universe 2025, Alexia Nuñez
Nuñez, a 27-year-old Brazilian-born, Manila-based model, was recently sashed and crowned Miss Grand All Stars Philippines by Josh Yugen, founder of House of Yugen.
Nuñez is an entrepreneur, public servant, and cultural advocate, married to a Filipino businessman, with whom she proudly supports and advocates for indigenous communities in the Philippines. She competed as Fil-Brazil 2025 at the Noble Queen of the Universe 2025 in Manila and won the title.
Núñez is the founder and creative director of Alexia Nuñez Designs, which redefines the fashion industry from the Philippines to the world, merging culture, sustainability, and storytelling through design. It received the EcoCultural Visionary Designer of the Year Award at the 6th Manila International Fashion Week (MIFW) 2025. Nuñez was also named among the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines 2025.
Nuñez, who had special appearances in the TV series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo and Loverboi, is also the founder of the Alexia Nuñez Podcast, a global platform for the Filipino spirit to amplify real stories from leaders, creatives, public figures, entrepreneurs, and changemakers whose journeys shape the nation in both visible and quiet ways.
“By uplifting and preserving indigenous voices, culture, and tradition, we contribute to a more just, diverse, and balanced world where every culture has the space to thrive. Through my own endeavors and platforms, I remain committed to supporting this mission, helping celebrate, safeguard and share these living traditions with the world,” said Nuñez.
P-pop powerhouse SB19 closes the last chapter of ita trilogy era with a large-scale concert that reflects their growth as performers
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
Writer
JASPER VALDEZ,
At the event, dermatologists point out the shift toward sciencebacked treatments that prioritize skin repair and sustained results
Everyday wear built on comfort and versatility
CLOTHING plays a central role in how people move through the day. In a climate that moves between heat and humidity, and in routines that stretch from early commutes to late errands, clothing is expected to keep pace without complication.
The focus has turned to pieces that are easy to wear, reliable over time, and adaptable across different settings. This is why Uniqlo is promoting its LifeWear line in the Philippines, positioning its clothing as everyday essentials designed for comfort, durability, and ease of use across different routines.
The LifeWear concept centers on adaptable pieces intended to work across work, leisure, and daily activities. T-shirts are designed for repeated use while maintaining shape and comfort and can be worn alone or layered depending on the occasion.
For women, bra tops combine support and outerwear in a single piece, reducing the need for additional layers while maintaining structure. Some items use AIRism fabric, which features moisture-wicking and quickdrying properties suited for warm and humid weather.
The company also offers a UV Protection range of lightweight clothing designed to reduce sun exposure without adding bulk. Seasonal staples include linen, polos, and shorts, which are positioned as options for warm-weather dressing and easy outfit combinations.
Uniqlo also carries workwear pieces that use clean tailoring, stretch fabrics, and breathable materials. These include blouses, skirts, dresses, and knitwear designed to maintain structure while allowing movement throughout the day. Its Summer Essentials collection uses lightweight fabrics intended to manage heat and humidity, with simple silhouettes designed for daily wear in tropical conditions.
Beyond clothing, the retailer is expanding services to improve accessibility. Customers can shop in stores or through the Uniqlo app, which offers features such as extended sizing, alterations, and app-exclusive promotions. The Click and Collect service allows online orders to be picked up in-store.
Uniqlo said it has partnered with Grab to offer discounted rides to selected stores until February 2027, aiming to improve convenience for shoppers in urban areas.
The company said its LifeWear approach focuses on practical, long-lasting clothing supported by services intended to simplify the overall shopping experience.
The fashion apparel’s LifeWear line is designed for comfort, durability, and ease of use across various routines
Discovering the Kei advantage
THERE is a noticeable shift in skincare today, one that prioritizes long-term skin health over quick, visible fixes. Treatments are becoming less about instant transformation and more about prevention, repair, maintenance, and working with the skin’s natural biology. I first encountered this shift in
In December last year, I noticed how unusually flawless a TV reporter friend’s skin looked. It was smooth and refined, almost glass-like. Curious, I asked what he had been using. “I actually just got it from Korea,” he said, before adding a specific tip, “Make sure the product you use contains PDRN.”
At the time, I just took a mental note. Still, it stayed with me. A better understanding of PDRN came on April 10, when I attended an event and listened to Dr. Kei George Rebolledo, chief executive officer and medical doctor of Kutis By Kei Dermatology and Skincare Corporation.
Dr. Kei is a board-certified dermatologist and, in fact, ranked third as a topnotcher of his dermatology board examination. This comes as no surprise because, aside from being a consistent dean’s lister, Rizal Honors Society awardee, and a Star Scholar, Dr. Kei also graduated magna cum laude from De La Salle University—Manila with a premedicine degree in Human Biology.
Known to many online as a doctor with glass skin and a strong presence on the short-form video streaming app TikTok, Dr. Kei has built a reputation not just for his clinical output, but also for how he communicates. Seeing him in person made it clear why.
Dr. Kei has a way of explaining medical concepts that seems effortless. He stood onstage with a kind of confidence that makes you trust him. What could easily become overwhelming
Random Talk
Kate Adajar
medical jargon is broken down into clear, digestible ideas. It is the kind of delivery that makes you think he could just as easily be teaching in a classroom.
And that ability, to make complex information accessible, has become one of his strongest assets.
“Unlike dermal fillers that add volume or neuromodulators that limit muscle movement, Rejuran works by encouraging the skin to heal itself. The approach has made it popular among patients seeking gradual, natural-looking results,” Dr. Kei explained during the Rejuran Infinite Awards Night. In a single statement, he reframed the idea of aesthetic treatments not as something that alters but as something that supports. Rejuran, as discussed during the event, is a South Korean injectable made with polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA. These are highly compatible with human skin and are used to support repair, improve elasticity, and strengthen the skin barrier.
Dr. Kei explained the long-term approach. “By stimulating collagen production and improving cell turnover, the treatment aims to enhance overall skin quality over time rather than deliver immediate changes,” he added. It was the missing link to that December conversation I had. PDRN, apparently, is part of a broader movement toward regenerative skincare.
Beyond understanding the science, the highlight of the evening was the recognition. The Rejuran Infinite Awards Night held in Makati gathered leaders in dermatology and aesthetics. Dr. Kei was one of the speakers and awardees during the night, as awards were given to clinics and aesthetic centers that have demonstrated unmatched commitment to skin science and patient care.
Dr. Kei’s clinic, Kutis By Kei, emerged as the most decorated dermatology and aesthetic clinic of the night, taking home six awards, including the Platinum Membership Award, Social Impact and Visibility Award, and Emerging Star Award.
“These awards inspire us to continue advancing our approach to skin health and to maintain high standards in treatments,” Dr. Kei stated. “It’s both humbling and motivating for our team.”
In a relatively short period, Dr. Kei has expanded from being a familiar online educator at the height of the pandemic to leading a multi-awarded brand with several clinics and a steadily growing following. His influence now extends beyond social media into real-world practice, where both his treatments and his messaging are relatable to a wider audience.
Perhaps that’s what makes the speed at which he’s achieving success worth noting. Because while many can build a following, not everyone can translate that into credibility and sustained impact the way Dr. Kei has done.
Dr. Kei’s strength lies not only in the treatments he offers, but in his ability to better understand people and make them understand the work he does. In a setting often bombarded by intimidating terms and concepts, Dr. Kei’s clarity becomes a form of authority. And in a highly competitive field, that is his key advantage.
Global pharma expands Philippine presence with primary care division
A GLOBAL pharmaceutical company has launched its Primary Care Division in the Philippines by introducing the CaRMeLin portfolio, a therapeutic line focused on cardiometabolic, renal, liver, and alimentary care as it enters one of the country’s largest healthcare segments.
The initiative by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries gathered key opinion leaders in internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, and primary care, with a keynote lecture delivered by a U.S.-based hypertension and chronic kidney disease specialist, underscoring its push into primary care treatments in the country.
A keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Raymond R. Townsend, a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a specialist in hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Gerry H. Tan, an endocrinologist trained at the Mayo Clinic who served as scientific chair, said the move could improve access to treatment.
“As the world’s fourth-largest specialty generic company, Sun Pharma’s launch in the Philippines sets a new benchmark in manufacturing excellence and strengthens the country’s supply security for affordable specialty generics,” he said. “In critical fields like mine—
diabetes and endocrinology—where precision and bioequivalence are non-negotiable, this is a true game-changer for Filipino patients.”
Sun Pharma operates in more than 100 countries and runs over 45 manufacturing facilities approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. Its portfolio spans cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, psychiatry, gastroenterology, and oncology.
The CaRMeLin portfolio includes generic medicines targeting conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, liver disease, and alimentary disorders. The company said the products meet international standards for quality, safety, and bioequivalence.
Sharon Pablo, country head of Sun Pharma
Philippines, said the company aims to expand access to treatment.
“It is our commitment to Filipino patients to provide affordable, reliable, and highquality branded generics—medicines built on global standards and proven scientific rigor,” she said. “Through our mission of Reaching People, Touching Lives, we aim to expand access, empower care, and make meaningful health outcomes possible for every Filipino we serve.”
Pablo shared the history and future of pharmaceutical company Sun Pharma
Dr. Kei with event host Agot Isidro
The collection features moisture-wicking fabrics, UV protection, and workwear options
The Summer Essentials collection showcases lightweight fabrics that manage heat and humidity, with
Dermatologist Kei George Rebolledo has established a reputation not only for his clinical expertise but also for his effective communication skills
