Manila Standard - 2026 April 25 - Saturday

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SWS:FIVE 50%LOCAL of Pinoy HOLIDAYS IN OCT. ‘losers’ say quality of livesNEWS got/ A3worse ISRAEL CONTINUES HALF of Filipino HEZBOLLAH adults (50 percent) TO POUND said their quality of life worsened over

INSIDE MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS

THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

By Katrina Manubay

the past year, describing themselves as WORLD / A6 reported “losers,” while 26 percent

AI, EVs, and the Gear that Thinks for You

VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • VOL. XL • NO. 66 • 5 SECTIONS 24 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 •

PNP resurrecting probe ‘DPWH responsible for flood into PCSOcontrol official'sworks’ slay Next page

PBBM remiss inClass seeking accountability—Palace Speakernot grateful for PMA '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm

By Charles Dantes

By Rio N. Araja ALACAÑANG HEonPhilippine Friday pointed National Police to the Department of Public Worksisand High(PNP) reopening ways as being responsible its investigation into for implementing floodof control the 2020 murder projects.

Philippine Charity

M T

A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug trade and extrajudicial killings.

EXTENDING AYUDA. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. hands over a bag of rice to a barangay resident during his

Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry visit yesterday to Batangas City. He was joined by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto who accompanied him in a series of activities aimed at strengthening government support for communities amid the impact of the Middle East crisis. PCO

THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions about his client’s supposedly sketchy past and his alleged ties with Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun said the Prague questioned the authorities House merely Quad “intervened” in the processandwhich Committee’s impartiality its was difference from annational earlier Yang stateability to pin Chinese ment made President Ferdinand down for aybywrongdoing in a real Marcos Jr. criminal court.

A am DOJ-led delegation,inheaded by “I very interested how they Justice Secretary Frederick Vida, has [Quad Comm members] can prove traveled to Prague to meet Czech this criminal network inwith court.

In counterparts for formal discussions on Congress, lawmakers act as both Co’s return.and judge,” he said. prosecutor “An arrest that the operaYang, whoimplies already admitted tion is carried out byPhilippine the countrybirth with having a fake jurisdiction.

In the Czech Republic, certificate, is the brother of Michael you cannot arrest economic Zaldy Co Yang, a lawfully presidential because he has no outstanding warrant there,” Martinez said.

Palace, DOJ say Zaldy Co not arrested but still held in Prague DOTr’ s Bautista Next page

By Rolando Ng III, Charles says news Dantes,online and Maricel V. Cruz report‘unfounded'

THE action taken by Czech authorities against fugitive former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co should not be considered an arrest, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). (See related story on A2) For its part, Malacañang asserted that there was no contradiction between the statements of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Justice over Co’s status at the Czech Republic.

DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez

BAUTISTA

By Darwin Amojelar

SECTIONS C, D & E Gov’t readies P1.48b as OFF PALACEaid HANDS 'JIMPEACHMENT ulian' strengthens CASE THE government readied P1.48 NEWShas/ A3 billion worth of aid for communities that may be hit hard by typhoon ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says could turn into a supertyphoon.

As of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands.NEWS / A3 “’Julian’ is forecast to continue intensifying over the next 24-36 hours as it moves towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the current trend in its intensification, the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out,” PAGASA said in its advisory.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and ManageBy Cruz said that mentMaricel Council V. (NDRRMC) a total of 1.9 million family food FORMER Speaker packs worth P1.48Ferdinand billion, Martin other G. Romualdez has asked the Officeand of food items worth P276 million, the Ombudsman to inhibit from invesnon-food items (NFIs) worth P919 tigating overalready the alleged flood conmillion him were prepared by trol controversy, warning that probe the Department of Social the Welfare is tainted by a “pattern of prejudgment” and Development (DSWD). thatSome could violate due process.

P171 million in standby In is a four-page letter dated April 22, fund also available for utilization 2026, his lawyers from Villaraza Anby the DSWD, including P123&milgangco argued that public statements lion which can be allotted as Quick by Ombudsman Crispin Remulla Response FundJesus (QRF) in the cenand other officials indicate that a pluntral office of the DSWD. derIncase had effectively been decided Batanes, the Provincial Dieven before a formal complaint or presaster Risk Reduction and Manageliminary investigation. ment Office (PDRRMO) advised “There is asecure reasonable residents to their impression roofs and that the Ombudsman hasasalready reinstall window shutters Typhoon solved to prosecute our client,” the Julian is expected to make landfall lawyers said.

Nextbias pageto The letter traced the alleged November 2025, when Remulla disclosed that his office had been studying the case and discussing possible plunder charges.

By April 2026, these statements had escalated into public remarks that a plunder case was being “seriously prepared,” potentially involving conspiracy and multiple individuals, the Next page lawyers added.

THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the country’s strong record and dedication to upholding the rule of law.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in a speech delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York said the Philippines continues to emphasize the “importance of upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the multilateral system in the face of today’s global challenges.”

Quoted by reports, Manalo also said: “The Philippines has consistently pursued peace, the sovereign equality of states, the rights and dignity of all persons.”

He added that the country is also recognized as the “first Asian Re-

PBBM OFF TO JAPAN FOR STATE VISIT

Ombudsman must inhibit from probing Romualdez—lawyers

Sweepstakes Office Presidential Communications Office (PCO)board Undersecretary Claire (PCSO) secretary Castro made the statement after forWesley Barayuga. mer Speaker Martin Romualdez said

the Executive Branch bears command On Sunday, Chief Police responsibility overPNP the budget.

General Francisco MarCastroRommel said the executive branch’s bil he national ordered budget the reopening rolesaid in the is clearlyof the cold bycase whistleblower defined law,after dismissing any Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendozaintold question over its participation the the House process.Quad Committee that he helped killing at the "Of carry course,out thethe NEP (National behest of ex-PCSO general manager Expenditure Program) comes from Royina Garma.And that’s what’s in the the executive.

Mendoza beforethere," conlaw.

So, therenarrated is no question gressmen how Garma allegedly faCastro said. cilitated PCSO official’s roadside "(But)thethe implementation of assassination on July 30, 2020 flood control projects really comesby providing the necessary from the DPWH. They’reinformation the ones about his schedule, details who have the mandate to do about so," thehis vehicle and the funding necessary to Palace official added. carry it out.

She said President Ferdinand Marwhistleblower also implicated cosThe Jr. has acted on suspected irreguincumbent National Police Comlarities by ordering investigations as missioner Leonardo in the part of hisEdilberto duty to ensure accountplanning of the ability within themurder. administration.

Barayuga a retired Addressingwas criticism that police Mr. general lawyer Marcos and should not who have supposedly signed the threatened to expose corruption withnational budget if irregularities were in the PCSO shortly beforeNext he page was shot dead in Mandaluyong City.

Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in-

PAGASA

Next page

adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

FUEL Fortun, a lawyer who often finds SUBSIDY. himself at the center high-profile Dozens of taxi cases, apparently sought to mock drivers line up calling their probe congressmen, yesterday at the “unacceptable.”

Land Transportation However, House members argued Franchising and they did notBoard come by their suspicions Regulatory about Yang recklessly.

(LTFRB) Central On in Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker Office Quezon Aurelio Gonzales City, to claim their Jr. of Pampanga fuel subsidy and Deputyamid Speaker David Suarez of rising fuelpresented costs Quezon a matrix showing driven by first war in appearance the Yang’s and his Middle East. Under subsequent activities at the Quad the government’s Comm hearing. fuel subsidy “We saw a pattern, and we tracked program, all eligible itdrivers to the of these corporations... aretop set to we stripped receive P5,000itinof its layers , to get to the and through it all, we have cashtop assistance to discovered help cushionand the identified at least two impactactors of increasing main or players in the issue oil prices.

Manny Palmero

of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English.

The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of illegal POGOs. Among the companies implicated are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., which are being linked to alleged kidnapping.

The two firms supposedly have connections with the Baofu Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which, in turn, can be directly traced to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. During Friday’s Quad Comm hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners.

Next page

PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat

Next page

Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Eala Scarborough shoal Diesel price rollback seen at P10/l, loses match

By Rex Espiritu with Mertens, gasoline expected to remain steady 2-6, 1-6 in Madrid By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announceTRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime ment by China that it conducted Bautista denied an online news report military exercises off Bajo de claiming that Malacañang was angry Masinloc, also known as Scarborwith the increase in airport fees without ough Shoal, in the West Philipthe approval of the Cabinet members. pine Sea (WPS).

“The Bilyonaryo article is maliChina reportedly made the ancious and unfounded,” Bautista said nouncement coinciding with the in a Viber message, referring to the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cowebsite that published the said story. operative Activity between the “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added.

Philippines, Australia, Japan, Bilyonaryo reported online that New Zealand, and the United “Bautista and his long-time protege in States within Manila’s exclusive Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for economic zone (EEZ) in the reAviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are waters overOpen the weekend.

Philippines' Alexandra competinggional in the Mutua Madrid 2026 in Spain at theThe center of the storm afterEala it was Alex Eala Instagram Philippine Navy Spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy VinNext page

cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only for its internal audience.

“Our troops did not observe any exercise, we have to underBy Jeremiah Sevilla stand that sometimes, China is doing this for their audiALEXANDRA Eala internal bowed out of ence, right?

For them look the Mutua Madrid Open not 2026tosingles weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad event after losing to Elise Mertens of said.

Belgium, 2-6, 1-6, in the Round of 64 TwoCaja Chinese were at the Magica inwarships Spain on Friday monitored a distance ranging night (Manilaattime). from Theeight worldtoNo.1444nautical Eala was miles. simply One of these went upexperienced to 1,000 outmatched by the more yards thetop-ranked MMCA site but evenNo. 21atand doubles player tually “Itnetter wasfailed not Mertenswent as theaway.

Filipina threatening, just normal,” Next accordpage Next page

CONSUMERS can expect another oil price rollback for diesel this week, the third consecutive week of price cuts of as much as P10 per liter for

diesel. (See related story on A2) An industry source said diesel is expected to have a rollback of about P8 to P10 per liter, while gasoline prices may not move or increase by P1 per liter.

Next page

AWARD. Mayor Leni closes gap with VP Sara—OCTA

Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. left to right): PRA Director and Director surged of SM Retail T. Mendiola, PRA narto 21Jorge percent, significantly By(From Katrina Vice PresidentManubay and President and COO of Golden, ABC,their Inc. (The rowing gap,Penshoppe based on aGroup) survey by Alice President T. Liu, SM Prime Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, VICE Sara Holdings Duterte remains OCTA Research.

President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto thePRAleading presidential preference In the latest Tugon Inc. ng and Masa surS. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, with 33 percent despite a 5-point drop, Robredo rose to 21 percent from proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Marsvey, C. Chua Next page while Naga Mayor Leni Robredo

A2

NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Diesel...

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present, the PCO official said anomalies typically surface only during project implementation, not at the time of approval.

"An anomaly in the budget can’t be immediately seen. You can see it if the

funds weren’t used properly," Castro said, adding that investigations were launched once issues such as “ghost projects" were detected.

Romualdez, who said he will not be a scapegoat in the flood control controversy, on Tuesday said he had no role in the corruption related to the 2025 national budget.

“If corruption were to occur on the

scale alleged in recent months, it is clear that it would not happen at the level of general legislative approval alone. It happens at the level of execution of the General Appropriations Act,” he said.

Romualdez added he had no part in the bicameral conference committee and the small committee budget deliberations, where insertions were alleg-

edly made.

"With respect to how the budget was deliberated in Congress, let me say this categorically: I was not a part of the bicam and the small committee budget deliberations," he said.

"However, two people were instrumental in making those budget decisions: Chiz Escudero and Zaldy Co," Romualdez added.

Ombudsman...

SWS:...

from mediocre to very low, dropping 19 points from -12 to -31. In Balance Luzon, it declined from fair to low, down 16 points from -7 to -23.

The Visayas also slipped from mediocre to low, decreasing 11 points from -14 to -25. Mindanao posted the steepest drop, falling from high to very low, down 33 points from +2 to -31.

The survey noted that the -26 net gainers score is the lowest in over four years, since the extreme -44 recorded in September 2021, and is 18 points below the -8 (“fair”) registered in 2025.

In urban areas, net gainers dropped from mediocre to very low, declining 22 points from -10 to -32 compared to November 2025. In rural areas, it fell from fair to mediocre, down 15 points from -3 to -18.

By sex, the score among men de-

clined from fair to low, dropping 20 points from -8 in November 2025 to -28 in March 2026. Among women, it also fell from fair to low, decreasing 19 points from -6 to -25.

SWS also found that net gainers tended to decline with age.

As of March 2026, it was highest among those aged 18 to 24 at -4 (“fair”), followed by those aged 25 to 34 at -21 (“low”). It dropped further among older groups: -31 (“very low”) for ages 35 to 44, -38 (“very low”) for ages 45 to 54, and -39 (“very low”) for those 55 and above.

The First Quarter 2026 SWS faceto-face survey was conducted from March 24 to 31, 2026, among 1,500 respondents aged 18 and above, with a margin of error of ±3 percent for national estimates.

The survey further revealed that Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso places third with 10 percent (from 8 percent), Sen. Raffy Tulfo registers 9 percent (from 12 percent), and Sen. Bam Aquino remains at 4 percent (unchanged from the previous quarter).

A small proportion of respondents said they are undecided (2 percent) or refused (1 percent), while other personalities account for 20 percent, indicating that preferences beyond the top five remain widely distributed and fragmented.

OCTA explained that the minor movements among other candidates, including Moreno’s slight rise and Tulfo’s decrease, are within or near the

±3% margin of error, indicating stability rather than clear shifts.

It further clarified that these are early-stage, hypothetical preferences meant to provide a snapshot of current public sentiment, which could change with evolving political conditions, candidate strategies, alliances, and issues.

The face-to-face survey was conducted from March 19 to 25, with 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above.

It has a ±3% margin of error at a 95-percent confidence level. Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following margins of error at a 95-percent confidence level: ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

‘DPWH...

From A1

From A1

Romualdez’s camp said these statements went beyond neutral updates and instead revealed an early prosecution theory.

The lawyers also cited remarks from within the Ombudsman’s ranks, including a press briefing where Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano reportedly referred to Romualdez as a “master plunderer.”

They added that while Remulla acknowledged the difficulty of proving plunder under current jurisprudence, he continued to publicly discuss filing such charges—suggesting, they argued, that the outcome had already been predetermined.

Taken together, these statements create the impression that any investigation would be a “mere formality” to justify a pre-set conclusion, the defense said, warning that even subordinate officials might feel pressured to align with their chief’s public position.

Citing Supreme Court doctrine on the appearance of impartiality, the lawyers asked the Ombudsman to inhibit from the case and allow any complaint to be handled by a neutral, independent body.

“This is not about questioning integrity, but about safeguarding due process and maintaining public confidence in the justice system,” the letter said.

Romualdez’s camp emphasized that the issue goes beyond the allegations themselves, focusing on whether the country’s top anti-graft body can conduct investigations that are not only fair, but also perceived to be fair.

From A1

no change and 23 percent said it improved, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The latest poll showed net gainers at -26, a 19-point drop from -7 (rated “fair”) in November 2025. This follows earlier figures of +12 (“very high”) in June 2025 and -2 (“fair”) in September 2025.

By region, net gainers were lowest in Mindanao and Metro Manila, both at a very low -31, followed by the Visayas at -25 and Balance Luzon at -23.

SWS said the 19-point nationwide decline from November 2025 to March 2026 was driven by sharp drops across all areas.

In Metro Manila, Net Gainers fell

Mayor...

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8 percent in Q4 2025, representing a 13-point increase, the largest gain among all candidates.

OCTA noted that these shifts have greatly narrowed the gap between Duterte and Robredo from 30 percentage points in Q4 2025 (38 percent vs 8 percent) to 12 points in Q1 2026 (33 percent vs 21 percent).

The group also stated that while Robredo’s increase largely drives the narrowing, Duterte’s 5-point decline, which is close to the survey’s ±3% margin of error, should be viewed with caution.

Palace...

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He explained that an arrest can only be carried out by a country that has issued a warrant against the individual concerned.

Martinez also noted that an Interpol red notice has yet to be issued against Co, who has been out of the country since July last year.

He added that Philippine authorities can only coordinate with Czech officials to facilitate Co’s possible return.

“Different countries have different laws and processes. It would not be prudent for the Philippines to impose its laws on another sovereign state,” he said.

Co was declared a fugitive of justice as he was tagged as the subject of three warrants of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan in November for graft and malversation charges in connection with anomalous flood control projects.

In a message to reporters, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified that Mr. Marcos reported Co's detention in Prague over immigration issues.

"The statements of the President and Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida are clear. There was no contradiction. The word “arrested” did not come from the President,” Castro said.

"The President said that Zaldy Co is in the custody of the Czech Republic due to a lack of proper documentation. Zaldy Co was arrested due to immigration concerns,” Castro explained.

Castro also echoed Martinez's earlier statement regarding Co's status.

"To clarify, Zaldy Co's liberty was indeed restrained due to a lack of proper documentation. By analogy, it’s similar to a situation at the airport where a person arrives and immigration denies entry or excludes them. There is a deprivation of liberty to a certain degree," Castro said.

State witness earns ire of Sandigan justice over flood control testimony FORMER state witness Gerald Opulencia earned the ire of Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda over claim that he had no knowledge of “commitments” for contractors and proponents.

“Are you kidding us? You were given immunity from suit. It means you can't be sued, but on the condition that you tell all to the court, not just parts of the truth but the whole truth. You ordered the commitment, don't you know how to do that?” an obviously irate Miranda told the witness.

Opulencia, a former Department of Public Works and Highways regional chief for Metro Manila, appeared at the anti-graft court for the bail hearing of former senator Ramon Revilla Jr.’s malversation case over an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Opulencia said he took instructions from ex-DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo to coordinate with district engineers pertaining the matter of submitting project lists for funding, providing project status re-

ports, securing commitments or a percentage of the project funds, and arranging their delivery schedules.

“I call them (district engineers) when the commitments are ready.

Bernardo mentions an amount in the commitments then I will call the DEs who need commitments for this particular amount. Then I will set a date and time to deliver the commitments to Niño [Garcia],” he said.

Opulencia's credibility as state witness was questioned by the anti-graft court when he claimed he had no knowledge of the process on how the engineers obtained the commitments.

“I cannot believe you… you don't know how they will do what you ordered… that's why you were given immunity because you were expected to tell everything including what you did wrong… if you are here to shield yourself from any responsibility, the court will not allow that,” the magistrate said.

Opulencia testified that he began receiving instructions on “commitments” from Bernardo in 2024. “I owe him a lot for obeying his orders...

I can't help it.”

This is based on this week’s first four days Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), the benchmark for oil importers, and the foreign exchange average.

The source said the rollback was due to the further unwinding of the war premium on prices.

"But with the renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, both diesel and gasoline prices rebounded, and MOPS may continue its uptrend in the next two trading days. On gasoline, minimal market correction vis-àvis diesel and perceived tight supply has kept the price level higher," the source said.

Meanwhile, Shell Pilipinas Corp. said it is implementing a P5-per-liter discount on all fuels from April 24 to 30.

It said the discount is available at participating Shell stations nationwide, and motorists may avail of the price off with a minimum purchase of P1,500 for four-wheel vehicles and P200 for two-wheel vehicles, with a maximum discount of P200 per transaction.

For the public transport sector, Shell participates in the diesel subsidy program of the Department of Energy (DOE), providing a P10-per-liter discount for public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Additional discounts for PUV and TNVS drivers are available in approximately 450 Shell stations nationwide Meanwhile, Petron Corp. announced a P33-per-kilo discount for its 11-kilo LPG products effective April 23. This is on top of the P3.30per-kilo reduction previously announced in line with the suspension of the excise tax on LPG. The Energy Department on Friday issued an advisory to prescribe allowable price adjustments for petroleum and petroleum products due to the energy crisis.

It said that in the event of price increases, all covered entities must not exceed the maximum allowable price increase as may be determined and issued by the DOE. In the event of price decreases, all covered entities will implement at least the minimum required price decrease as may be determined and issued by the said department.

The DOE said it will, based on prevailing international market conditions, supply dynamics, and public interest considerations, periodically prescribe and publish the applicable maximum increase and minimum decrease in prices through official issuances.

The department, in coordination with concerned government agencies and deputized entities, will monitor compliance with the advisory. It said any violation, including the imposition of price increases beyond the prescribed maximum or failure to implement the required minimum decrease, will be subject to appropriate sanctions under existing laws, rules, and regulations.

PH hardest hit but can weather oil price shock — CB Governor BUS FIRE AT EDSA. A passenger bus burns at EDSA-Ortigas Flyover

southbound last night, temporarily closing two lanes to traffic, according to a report by the Metro Manila Development Authority. The fire was put out by MMDA enforcers and firefighters. MMDA

Eala...

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to break past the second round for the third straight time in the clay court swing.

The deflating result followed Eala's early exits in the Linz Open in Austria and Stuttgart Open in Germany earlier this month.

It was also her third second-round exit in the WTA 1000 Madrid Open, and second loss at the hands of Mertens following a defeat back in the Jasmin Open Monastir 2023.

Despite the setback, the 20-year-old Eala bagged €31,585 or P2.2 million in prize money after her 6-3, 6-3 romp over Russian veteran and former No. 11 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the opening round.

Eala kept it a close affair with Mertens in the early goings, but the 19th seed Belgian forced multiple errors from her younger foe to pick up three straight games and end the open-

ing set in 32 minutes.

The Filipina pulled one back after a rough 0-4 start in the second set.

Mertens, however, stayed calm and collected to earn the straight-set win.

Eala is still not out of the Madrid Open entirely as she remains in contention in the doubles event with partner Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey.

Eala (world No. 101 in doubles) and Sonmez (No. 498), who are playing for the fourth time together as a wildcard pair in Madrid, will battle the second-seeded Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic (No. 2) and Taylor Townsend (No. 5) in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

The Filipina-Turkish duo swept the higher-ranked Fanny Stollar (No. 27) of Hungary and Chan Hao-ching (No. 38) of Taiwan, 6-2, 6-2, in their opening match last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Mertens barged into the Round of 32 to battle No. 197 and former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic, who earlier beat No. 37 Maria Sakkari of Greece, 6-4, 8-6.

THE Philippines is one of the countries hardest hit by the oil price shock caused by the war in Iran, but the country can weather this, the head of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said.

"I would say we're indeed one of the hardest hit by this oil price shock," said BSP Governor Eli Remolona. "Some of our neighbors have their own oil, they export oil, whereas we import all our oil."

"So we're hard-hit, but this is a region that's one of the fastest growing regions in the world, so this is a region that can weather this kind of shock," he said.

Remolona made the remarks after the Bangko Sentral on Thursday raised interest rates for the first time since October 2023 amid quickening inflation following the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran.

The official also said he thinks the government is responding well to the situation.

"I think the response will be more than adequate. I expect the fiscal side will start to provide stimulus so that we can get closer to our potential in terms of growth," Remolona said.

"I think the fiscal side slowed down in 2025 in an effort to discipline spending. But I see that controls are now in place, and I think the fiscal side is ready to resume spending," he added.

NEWS

A3

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘PBBM to keep hands off impeach trial’ IN BRIEF Army urges NPA rebels to cease armed struggle THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has renewed its call for insurgents to abandon their armed struggle following an armed encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental that left 19 suspected rebels dead.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the operation over the weekend in barangay Salamanca resulted in the deaths of 19 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas and the recovery of 24 firearms.

“Lay down your arms, return to your families, and take part in building your communities as productive members of society,” Padilla said as she called on the NPA holdouts to surrender, emphasizing the importance of choosing peace over continued conflict.

“The AFP remains steadfast in its mandate to protect the Filipino people and support lasting peace and development in partnership with all stakeholders,” she added. Rex Esplritu

By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz

P

RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects the independence of Congress in handling the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Malacañang said Friday, emphasizing that accountability remains the administration’s priority.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V asserted that Duterte’s refusal to attend the impeachment hearing and instead issue statements outside the proceedings, failed to address the most critical issue raised— the billions of pesos in transactions

flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President recognizes the constitutional principle of separation of powers and is not interfering in the proceedings at the

House of Representatives.

“The President knows the role of Congress and understands the separation of powers. What the administration wants is for those who should be held accountable to answer for their actions,” Castro said in a televised interview with Balitanghali.

She noted that the administration’s position on accountability extends beyond the impeachment complaint, covering alleged irregularities in various government programs, including flood control projects and other transactions flagged for possible anomalies.

Castro also dismissed Duterte’s allegation that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV is being backed by the Marcos’

political machinery, calling the claim baseless.

“That is an accusation,” Castro said, adding that the Vice President has consistently blamed the President for various issues.

She further argued that financial transactions involving Duterte that were reportedly flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) occurred before Marcos assumed the presidency, making it illogical to link him to those activities.

“These transactions happened when she was still a local official. The president was not part of those transactions, so how can he be blamed?”

Castro said.

Manila Summer Pride Parade unfolds today THE Manila city government’s Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila (DTCAM), will stage today (Saturday) an event aimed at promoting inclusivity, equality, and respect for gender diversity.

Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso said the affair dubbed Manila Summer Pride Parade 2026 will begin at 4 p.m. along South Road in Ermita district.

He described the occasion as “a declaration that Manila stands for dignity, equality, and safe spaces for all.”

The parade will proceed to the Quirino Grandstand and culminate at Remedios Circle, bringing together members of the LGBTQIA+ community, allies, families, and various groups across the city. Pot Chavez

PNP tightens drive vs. gas-and-run incidents THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its nationwide monitoring of gas-and-run incidents as coordination with local units and business establishments is ramped up to prevent possible escalation of similar crimes.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said they are treating recent incidents, including those reported in Metro Manila, as isolated cases for the moment, but is closely studying patterns to prevent repetition across the country.

“While we treat these as isolated cases for now, we are not letting our guard down. We are analyzing the patterns to ensure this doesn’t evolve into a common modus operandi. Let us not allow this to become the norm. Every crime reported will be met with a swift investigation and arrest,” he said. Vince Lopez

OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. greets a Filipino veteran of the Korean War during the 75th commemoration of the Battle of Yuldong held Thursday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City . DND on Facebook

Marcos, FL Liza flying to Japan May 26 for state visit

By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos will visit Japan on May 26 to 29 at the invitation of the Japanese government, Malacañang announced Friday.

During the trip, the First Couple will be formally received at the Imperial Palace, where they will attend a welcome ceremony and make a state call.

The Japanese Imperial Couple will also host a state banquet in honor of the Marcoses.

Mr. Marcos is scheduled to hold a one-on-one with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss the future direction of the Philippines-Japan Strengthened Strategic Partnership.

The two leaders are expected to tackle key regional and global issues, including energy and food security, as well as maritime security, building on

previous discussions between Manila and Tokyo.

Apart from official meetings, President Marcos will also engage with Japanese business groups and meet members of the Filipino community in Japan.

This will be President Marcos’ first state visit to Japan as president. His previous trip to Tokyo was an official visit in February 2023, where he met thenPrime Minister Fumio Kishida and secured agreements on infrastructure,

defense cooperation, and economic partnerships.

He also visited Japan in December of that year for the ASEAN-Japan Summit.

The visit comes as the Philippines and Japan mark the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations this year.

The last state visit by a Philippine president to Japan was in June 2015 during the watch of the late President Benigno Aquino III.

NBI files trafficking, drug raps against Defensor’s wife, son

MARGINAL FARMING.

A farmer in San Mateo, Rizal rises at the break of dawn to water his plants to make sure they don’t wither under the scorching summer sun.

Edd Castro

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday disclosed that it has filed criminal charges against the wife and son of former congressman Michael Defensor.

The NBI tagged Defensor’s wife Julie, chairman of Zerrin Development Corp., and son Miguel as managers of Bleu Hotel in Pasig City, as respondents in the suits.

However, Defensor dismissed the charges as baseless and “politically motivated.”

“We have absolutely no connection to the targeted establishment or its operations,” she said.

She described attempts to link her family to the raid as “a deliberate, dangerous and desperate lie.”

NBI director Melvin Matibag advised the respondents to defend themselves in court, adding that the evidence against them were strong.

Matibag said the cases stemmed from

a raid by NBI agents on the Chicago Nightclub were 54 women believed victims of human trafficking and illegal drugs were apprehended.

Matibag claimed that apart from owning the hotel, Defensor was also a shareholder in a KTV bar inside the hotel.

“If you look in the documents, (there are) interlocking owners, interlocking directors, and officers. So, it’s clear that there’s only one of them,” Matibag said, adding that there was an “interlocking” of management between the establishment and the area concerned.

Bleu Hotel, allegedly managed by Defensor, occupied a portion of a government property in Pasig City which once hosted the “Payanig” attraction.

Matibag said that he will also look into the business permits of Cliff Point Square, owner of the lot being rented by Bleu Hotel. Rolando Ng III

DND bares plan to make film on epic Yuldong battle

By Rex Espiritu DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the heroism of Filipino and Korean troops in the Battle of Yuldong during the Korean War remains underrecognized, calling the lack of public awareness a disservice to Philippine history.

To address this, Teodoro announced plans to co-produce a film highlighting the historic event and the bravery of Filipino and Korean soldiers fighting side by side against a common enemy.

Speaking at the 75th commemoration of the Yuldong battle held Thursday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City,

Teodoro noted that even key figures such as Capt. Conrado Yap and Lt. Jose Artiaga are not widely known among Filipinos.

He said traditional forms of remembrance have not been enough to convey the scale of their sacrifice.

“This is a big tragedy. The exploits of the 10th Battalion Combat Team are known only to a few of us, and this is a disservice to the Republic,” he said.

He said the project aims to bring these stories to a wider audience, particularly younger generations.

“We will co-produce a movie—whether directed by a Korean or a Filipino—to commemorate the Battle of Yuldong and

the lives of Capt. Conrado Yap and Lt. Jose Artiaga,” he said.

“This is one way to teach the youth about the sacrifice of these underappreciated heroes.”

Teodoro also called for broader efforts to correct gaps in historical understanding and to reinforce national values rooted in courage and dignity.

“We need to do something to correct this travesty in our national development and history,” he said.

He urged Filipinos to draw inspiration from the courage of Yap and Artiaga, stressing the importance of standing up for the country’s dignity despite chal-

NO SUCH THING AS UGLY DUCKLING. If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, it is probably not a chicken. Photo was taken at the Malasakit by-pass road in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. Revoli Cortez

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DENR readies 660 titles for public schools

By Rio N. Araja

PUSH FOR SALARY HIKE. Hundreds of teachers from public schools in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon and other regions march from the Department of Budget and Management office to Mendiola Bridge in Manila on Friday, April 24, 2026, to demand immediate action on a pending bill that will provide a P15,000 increase in teachers’ salaries. Norman Cruz

Pax Silica not war-driven—Gibo

By Rex Espiritu

D

EFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissed claims that the proposed United Statesbacked “Pax Silica” hub in the Philippines is driven by military objectives.

In an ambush interview, Teodoro said the initiative intends to strengthen the country’s resilience and support longterm industrialization.

“It is definitely not a war-driven impo-

sition. It is a resilience initiative. If you study Pax Silica, it is a manufacturing and high-technology endeavor,” he said.

“So, the idea that it is war-driven is nonsense,” he added.

On April 17, the US State Department announced that Manila and Washington are planning to establish an industrial hub within the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), to be designated as an Economic Security Zone aimed at strengthening supply chains for critical materials.

Teodoro said the project seeks to ensure stable access to critical resources and position the Philippines within the global manufacturing value chain—an effort long discussed but not fully realized.

He noted that the country has abundant raw materials, particularly critical

minerals, that could support such an initiative, though mining projects have faced opposition.

The Department of National Defense chief added that the hub could generate economic benefits, including job creation and increased government revenue, while reducing reliance on imported goods.

“As far as I know, there are no firm documents yet. This is still an expression of interest, and the details are still being worked out,” Teodoro said.

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources is set to roll out 660 legal titles for public school sites in 2026, giving these schools permanent ownership of the land they occupy.

“The most important thing we can give our children is a secure place to learn,” DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.

“When a school has a clear title, it is no longer at risk of being taken or disputed. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive is to provide this foundation that lets school leaders improve classrooms, build stronger facilities, and focus on teaching — and that helps families plan for a better future,” he added.

The undertaking is a joint project with the Department of Education providing DENR with the list of school sites and helps identify which schools need titling.

DENR regional and field offices will handle the survey process, measuring and mapping each site, verifying boundaries on the ground with school and community representatives, and preparing the legal documents necessary for the issuance of special patents or presidential proclamations.

The DepEd list of school sites was recently updated to March 6, with a total number of 44,178 school sites.

In the process of confirming boundaries and gathering local information, the DENR regional offices invites school principals, barangay officials, and community representatives to participate in the field validation so that maps and legal descriptions reflect what is actually on the ground.

IN BRIEF 108 beneficiaries get housing unit in Manila SOME 108 beneficiaries in the city of Manila have been officially awarded housing units from San Lazaro Residences, an in-city vertical housing project of the city government.

The distribution of keys and certificate of unit award was led by Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Vice Mayor Chi Atienza.

“You are just one of the few thousands who benefitted from our in-city vertical and horizontal housing program... May sarili pa kayong swimming pool,” Domagoso said in his message.

“Rest assured that your city government will not stop achieving our goals, dreams, and vision for our people,” he added.

Domagoso reminded the beneficiaries to take good care of the units, noting that they cannot sell the units funded by the capital city’s taxpayers. Pot Chavez

PNP chief welcomes SOP on POGO ban THE Philippine National Police hailed the signing of the interagency standard operating procedures (SOP) to enforce the executive order prohibiting the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said they stand firmly behind the new framework as part of the government’s continuing crackdown on illegal POGO activities.

He said the SOP strengthens coordination among law enforcement and partner agencies in carrying out the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banning POGOs. “This new measure adds more teeth in our ongoing campaign to finally put an end to the remaining guerrilla-type operations of POGOs in the country. The success of this effort lies in the proper coordination and strong cooperation among agencies and stakeholders. We welcome this development,” said Nartatez.

Several government agencies signed on Wednesday the unified interagency SOP to fully implement Executive Order No. 74 banning POGOs. Vince Lopez

SWEET PRODUCE.

Farmers harvest sugarcanes in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

Robert Gines

Labor Day fair to offer over 100,000 job opportunities

By Vito Barcelo MORE than 115,000 job opportunities will be made available to Filipino job seekers as the Department of Labor and Employment rolls out nationwide job fairs in celebration of Labor Day on May 1, 2026.

The initiative aims to expand access to employment and income-generating opportunities, particularly for individuals who remain unemployed, by bringing employers and applicants together in a single venue.

As of April 23, DOLE regional offices have

identified 88 job fair sites across the country, most of which are strategically located in shopping malls to ensure convenience, accessibility, and broader public reach.

Some 1,280 local employers are expected to participate in the simultaneous job fair activities, collectively offering 115,358 vacancies across various industries. Officials noted that the figures are preliminary and may increase in the coming days as more companies confirm participation.

Among the sectors with the highest number of openings are wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, construction, business process outsourcing

‘Cebu now 80% ready for ASEAN Summit’

Manila hazardous waste collection starts April 28 THE Manila city government, through its Department of Environment and Public Services (DEPS), will roll out a household hazardous waste collection program across the capital on Tuesday, April 28.

“Hazardous waste should not be disposed of carelessly, to avoid illness, pollution, and accidents,” DEPS said.

The program aims to prevent health and environmental risks, ensure proper disposal of hazardous materials, and maintain cleanliness and order in communities.

Items classified as hazardous waste include used or damaged batteries, leftover paint and chemicals, broken lights and fluorescent lamps, electronic waste such as defective gadgets, and contaminated containers. Pot Chavez

(BPO), and accommodation and food service.

In-demand positions include stock clerks and sales associates for retail operations; production operators and workers for manufacturing; carpenters, foremen, and steelmen for construction; customer service representatives for the BPO industry; and service crew, line cooks, and baristas for the hospitality sector.

The Labor Day job fairs form part of the government’s broader push to reduce poverty by expanding employment opportunities and accelerating the reintegration of unemployed Filipinos into productive sectors.

By Minerva Newman

RIVER REHAB. Workers of the ‘Sagip Ilog’ project remove garbage in Pulang Lupa, Las Piñas City as part of the ongoing rehabilitation program for the Las Piñas-Zapote River System to combat pollution and flooding. Avito Dalan

CEBU CITY- Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro declared that the province is 80 percent ready for the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu on May 7 to 8, 2026 to happen primarily in Lapu-lapu City.

“As head of the Cebu Organizing Committee, I should say that 80% ready now,” Baricuatro said during a press briefing of the Cebu Provincial Organizing Committee.

Baricuatro was joined by Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Mandaue City Mayor Jonkie Ouano, Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Nagiel Bañacia and Department of Public Works and Highways Region 7 Director Simon Arias, who also provided updates on preparations within their respective jurisdictions.

OPINION

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EDITORIAL

Honor Blanco Cabie

Revisiting regional languages WE ARE immensely buoyed while we doff our hat to Ilokano writers in Metro Manila who will be celebrating their diamond jubilee in December as they mark six decades as a modestly connected group whose roots are chiefly from northern Philippines.

What endorses this positive feeling is they will be launching two anthologies, their latest since the founding members grouped together in 1968 and crafted their literary vision and mission for the younger generations of Ilokano writers.

One is an anthology in Ilokano poetry, edited by three, and another in Ilokano fiction, edited by another set of three, expected for twin launching on Dec. 8.

We appreciate the efforts of the Ilokano writers, under the chapter name GUMIL – an acronym for association of Ilokano writers – Metro Manila, the group headed by academic Hermogenes Belen of La Union, then busy with his modules at the Philippine College of Arts and Trades which has since become the Technological University of the Philippines.

We see in GMM’s continuing efforts to publish its member’s observations, sentiments, aspirations, dreams and other thoughts as a way to stand up to the challenges faced by regional and marginalized literatures, with some elevating the possibility for translation.

We have seen how marginalized literatures are facing critical challenges – including language barriers, limited publication, and national-centric biases – that regional writers must immediately address by intensifying translation efforts, adopting digital publishing platforms, and fostering local readership.

We know the Ilokano writers are aware of these challenges and they shift from passive creation to active curation and promotion of their cultural narratives, endorsed by unceasing activities lined up every year.

We have seen major challenges requiring immediate action from regional writers. For instance, regional literature is often overshadowed by national or global languages, like English, restricting its audience.

Writers must actively translate their work into national/international languages while still producing work in the vernacular to preserve linguistic heritage.

On this, we have witnessed GMM publishing members’ essays, short stories and poems in English, after they thought doing it would give them a wider audience while displaying their skills at writing in their native Ilokano and their capacity to write in a borrowed lingo.

We are glad to note some previously active in the Ilokano magazine Bannawag but have since been detached have set up their own publishing houses to accommodate

the literary outbursts of Ilokano writers – they write in Ilokano, Filipino and English -- who could not have their coupons immediately attended to by non-Ilokano publishing houses.

There are those who have suggested, and we have been quietly studying reactions, for Ilokano writers to adopt self-publishing and use digital platforms like the social media to share works and bypass traditional publishing bottlenecks.

At the same time we have seen while navigating this literary space the importance and the need for excellent, if expert, literary translators.

—“—

Ahead are interesting times We note, following open exchanges with translation authorities, like Cles B. Rambaud who has on his template volumes of materials he is translating from English to Ilokano, that excellent literary translators require near-native proficiency in source/ target languages, deep cultural knowledge, and exceptional creative writing skills, Rambaud also expressed the wish for the government to establish a Department of Translation, an issue that invites arguments from both sides.

Those who agree with Rambaud say a government-established Department of Translation to handle regional languages could enhance public service access and foster inclusivity in a multilingual nation like the Philippines, where English is dominant but many citizens are non-native speakers.

Proponents argue it bridges communication gaps in legal, health, and education sectors, while critics raise concerns over cost, implementation challenges, and the potential dominance of English.

Translation ensures all citizens, regardless of language, can access government services, legal aid, and health information, strengthening democratic participation.

Others raise challenges for a Department of Translation, with the argument that establishing and maintaining a centralized translation department requires significant funding for staff, training, and operations, which might be viewed as less urgent than other infrastructure needs.

With rapid advancements in AI/Machine Translation, some argue that investing in AI is a more cost-effective approach than maintaining a large government bureaucracy, although AI struggles with nuanced legal or indigenous languages.

Ahead are interesting times.

Moving beyond rote learning

By Armenio Manuel THIS summer, thousands of students, including Mirko Sean Alexander, are getting ready for senior high school and the STEM education program.

We endorse experts’ thoughts that preparing today’s children to become the innovators and inventors of tomorrow begins with STEM education programs.

Experts say summer camps, after school programs and makerspaces provide opportunities to take traditional learning and pivot it to prioritize the hands-on experience and real-world application necessary for developing an innovative mind.

You may ask what a makerspace is.

This is a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools.

This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) strand, primarily offered in Senior High School (Grades 11–12) as an academic track to prepare students for college degrees in engineering, medicine, and technology, is designed to foster complex problem-solving, analytical thinking, and research skills through advanced science and mathematics subjects, like Calculus and Physics.

STEM is offered in Grades 11-12 under the academic track, focusing on preparation for university-level technical courses.

STEM, as an academic preparation, provides a strong foundation for STEMrelated college courses like Engineering, Architecture, Biology, and Computer Science, where students engage in research,

advanced mathematics (Calculus), and sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics).

The program develops critical thinking, innovation, and technological competence required in high-demand, science-based careers and often opens doors to scholarships and advanced training opportunities.

—“—

Jobs in STEM fields are growing at a faster rate than others, making this education vital for economic opportunity STEM education for children today, according to education experts, builds the critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity necessary to create future technologies, tackle global challenges, and drive economic growth.

It emphasizes that hands-on learning, rather than just memorization, transforms students from technology users into inventors.

At the same time, STEM programs empower kids to stop just using technology (like playing games) and start creating it (like coding, designing, and building robots).

Beyond academics, STEM teaches adaptability, resilience (learning from failure), and teamwork—skills needed for future jobs that don’t exist yet.

Rescue of trafficked Filipinos

M

YANMAR has released 78 trafficked Filipinos who were detained for alleged illegal entry and residency, the Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA) reported recently.

The Filipinos were recruited into scam hubs in Myanmar after being promised legitimate overseas employment. After their rescue from the scam centers, they were sentenced to one year in prison for illegal entry and overstaying.

The release of the trafficked Filipinos from detention in Myanmar is a development that highlights migration governance, transnational crime, and diplomatic engagement. While on the surface it appears as a humanitarian gesture by Myanmar authorities, the incident exposes structural vulnerabilities that continue to fuel human trafficking in the Philippines, particularly labor trafficking linked to online scam operations in Southeast Asia.

At the core of the case is a familiar trafficking pattern: Filipino nationals were lured abroad with promises of legitimate employment, only to be coerced into working in scam hubs in Myawaddy.

These hubs, widely reported across the Mekong subregion, operate as illicit enclaves where trafficked individuals are forced into cyber fraud under exploitative and often violent conditions.

The fact that the victims were subsequently detained and penalized for immigration violations highlights a persistent legal paradox—trafficked persons are sometimes treated as offenders rather than victims, complicating rescue and reintegration efforts.

The response of the Department of Foreign Affairs demonstrates the Philippine government’s continued reliance on dip-

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The release of the trafficked Filipinos from detention in Myanmar is a development that highlights migration governance, transnational crime, and diplomatic engagement However, the significance of this development goes beyond repatriation. It reflects the evolving geography of human trafficking affecting Filipinos.

Traditionally associated with domestic servitude or sex trafficking in the Middle East, trafficking routes have increasingly shifted toward Southeast Asia’s cybercrime corridors.

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – On the facade of an apartment block in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe, a giant mosaic depicting cosmonauts and engineers celebrates the scientific triumphs of the Soviet Union.

Like so many other relics of the Soviet past in Central Asia, it is doomed to vanish amid a distancing from Russia and a topdown drive to boost national culture.

“If we could only carefully remove it and put it on the building that will be built here.

That would be good,” said Rakhmon Satiev, who lives in the apartment.

His wish will not come true. The block is about to be demolished to make way for a gleaming new residential complex, and the mosaic is to be torn down.

Over the past decade, Central Asia has shown little interest in preserving its Soviet heritage. Architectural landmarks and art, including mosaics, frescoes and sculptures, have been rapidly demolished.

“If a building is old and does not fit into the new city plan, it is torn down. The city is being rebuilt and renovated, and the past is vanishing,” Dzhamshed Dzhuraev, a mosaic artist in Tajikistan, told AFP. Hidden from view in the courtyard behind his studio stands a monument to Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the USSR -- an awkward reminder of an era that no longer fits with the times.

‘No longer necessary’ The five Central Asian former Soviet republics -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan -- became independent with the collapse of the Soviet Union 35 years ago.

Their urban landscapes have since turned into a chaotic mix of new high-rises, Stalinera neoclassicism, dilapidated shacks and stalled construction sites.

Altynai Kudaibergenova, a co-founder of

Artkana, a rare initiative group working to preserve Kyrgyzstan’s architectural heritage, said the number of lost monuments was “striking”.

She fears for the visual future of the capital Bishkek, which still has “magnificent examples of socialist-modernist architecture”.

The style is popular on social media, particularly among tourists.

This architectural overhaul is being driven by ideology, which leaves no space for Soviet remnants.

The region’s largely unchallenged leaders brand themselves as the founders of a new era and are cementing their own legacies with fresh symbols of power.

Few say outright that is what’s going on.

Still economically dependent on Russia -- even as China muscles into the region -officials frame the demolition drive as costefficient.

They say renovating crumbling Sovietera buildings is more expensive than starting from scratch, and that the region urgently needs more housing for its rapidly growing population of some 80 million.

In the Tajik capital Dushanbe, the mayor -- the son of the president -- “is doing everything possible to make the buildings as beautiful and comfortable as he can,” prominent

Tajik sculptor Safarbek Kosimov told AFP. Soviet-era mosaics were “no longer necessary,” he added.

There are no such qualms about portraits of 73-year-old strongman leader Emomali Rakhmon -- which have replaced many of the torn-down facades.

Ideological art Critics lament the campaign.

“Most Soviet mosaics were designed to convey an ideological message, but their artistic value is also important,” activist Kudaibergenova said.

“Unfortunately, businesses are rarely receptive to such considerations. Their main priority is selling square meters at a high price.”

Real-estate deals in the region are often marked by corruption and collusion between officials and business interests, according to several nonprofits and international organisations.

In Bishkek, painter Erkinbek Bolzhurov is worried about the fate of the House of Artists, which stands next to the former national printing house -- of which now only the walls remain.

“We want the city to develop, of course, but not at the expense of our memory,” he told AFP. “Great artists worked inside these walls.

That is what makes the building unique -- it has a history.”

Freedom of expression is tightly controlled in Central Asia, and authorities rarely consult with the public.

Despite the current trend, Tajik mosaic artist Dzhuraev wants to believe that “the time will come” when mosaics will once again adorn buildings.

“Architects and urban planners should pay them more attention,” he said -- a “revival” of mosaics is still possible. AFP

Instead of studying subjects in isolation, STEM links science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve real-world problems (for instance, environmental issues, healthcare advancements).

Jobs in STEM fields, say experts, are growing at a faster rate than others, making this education vital for economic opportunity.

Early exposure to STEM concepts fosters curiosity and confidence, ensuring the next generation can address complex global challenges – like AI development, renewable energy, and medical breakthroughs – with an innovative mindset.

Essentially, it is a call to action to move beyond traditional rote learning and focus on experiential, project-based education

that equips children to invent a better future These spaces are open to kids, adults, and entrepreneurs and have several maker equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, cnc machines, soldering irons and even sewing machines.

According to pundits and resource persons, these spaces are also helping to prepare those who need the critical 21st century skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

They provide hands on learning, help with critical thinking skills and even boost self-confidence. Some of the skills that are learned in a makerspace pertain to electronics, 3d printing, 3D modeling, coding, robotics and even woodworking.

Makerspaces are also fostering entrepreneurship and are being used as incubators and accelerators for business startups Do we get any benefits from STEM education?

But of course. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy and enables the next generation of innovators. Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy.

This innovation and science literacy depends on a solid knowledge base in the STEM areas.

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

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Over the past decade, Central Asia has shown little interest in preserving its Soviet heritage

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

—“—

Soviet architecture vanishes as Central Asia drifts from Moscow

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno ManilaStandard

lomatic channels as a frontline tool against trafficking.

The coordination between the Philippine Embassy in Yangon and Myanmar authorities underscores the importance of bilateral cooperation in resolving cases involving trafficked nationals.

This requires a recalibration of Philippine anti-trafficking strategies, not just in terms of destination countries, but also in understanding the nature of exploitation, which now includes digital fraud and forced criminality.

The case also underscores gaps in predeparture safeguards.

Despite existing mechanisms such as exit clearances and overseas employment verification, traffickers continue to circumvent regulations through informal recruitment channels and deceptive contracts.

This points to the need for stronger inter-agency coordination among the Department of Migrant Workers, Bureau of Immigration, and law enforcement bodies. Intelligence-sharing, stricter monitoring of high-risk travel patterns, and enhanced public awareness campaigns are critical to intercept potential victims before departure.

Equally important is the reintegration phase. Repatriated individuals often return with psychological trauma, financial distress, and in some cases, criminal records from foreign jurisdictions.

The Philippine government must ensure that these individuals are treated unequivocally as victims under the AntiTrafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and provided with comprehensive support, including legal assistance, psychosocial services, and livelihood programs.

While the release of the 78 Filipinos is a positive humanitarian outcome, it is also a reminder that the Philippine government’s anti-trafficking efforts must evolve.

Diplomatic intervention remains essential, but it must be complemented by preventive, protective, and prosecutorial measures that address the full lifecycle of trafficking, from recruitment to reintegration.

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Head - Ad Solutions

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Opinion Editor

Head - Suppplements

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US confirms Peru purchase of 12 jets L

IMA – US defense group Lockheed Martin on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) confirmed the purchase

by Peru of 12 F-16 fighter jets in a deal that sparked fierce divisions within Peru’s government.

Meta plans 10% layoffs as AI spending soars NEW YORK – Meta plans to cut a tenth of its workforce, looking for productivity gains from its remaining workers as it invests heavily in artificial intelligence.

Meta will lay off about 8,000 employees and leave thousands of other positions unfilled next month, a source told AFP. The move comes as co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg makes a priority of delivering “superintelligence” in a costly AI race against rivals including Amazon, Google, Microsoft and OpenAI. Reports on Thursday also indicated that Microsoft is looking to trim its ranks with voluntary buyouts of some US employees in an unprecedented move by the tech stalwart founded in 1975.

About seven percent of US employees at Microsoft were reported to be eligible for an offer aimed at workers who are senior director level or lower, whose years of employment and age add up to 70 or more, according to a CNBC report.

Microsoft, which has also been pouring billions of dollars into AI, declined to comment.

Meta and Microsoft are both set to report quarterly earnings next week. AFP

IN BRIEF US soldier allegedly bet on Maduro op WASHINGTON, DC – A US soldier faces charges for using classified information to bet on online prediction markets related to the US operation to capture former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, the Department of Justice said Thursday.

US Army soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, allegedly made over $400,000 by using the online platform Polymarket to bet on outcomes related to US forces arriving in Venezuela’s capital Caracas and deposing Maduro -- an operation he helped plan and execute, according to justice officials.

The US military launched strikes on Caracas on Jan. 3, arresting Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and whisking them to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

“Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission...and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain,” Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. AFP

MILESTONE DEAL. An F-16 fighter jet flies during an exhibition over Las Palmas air base in Lima on Friday, Manila time. US defense group Lockheed Martin confirmed the purchase by Peru of 12 F-16 fighter jets in a deal that sparked fierce divisions within Peru’s government. Peru’s foreign and defense ministers quit on Wednesday after the country’s interim president announced he was putting the deal on hold until after presidential elections in June. AFP

Bill legalizing euthanasia in England set to fail LONDON – A contentious bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales was set to fail Friday after running out of parliamentary time, having been stuck in the UK’s unelected upper house.

In a historic vote last June, the lower House of Commons backed legalising euthanasia for adults who have been given less than six months to live and can clearly express a wish to die.

But more than 1,200 amendments to the bill have been introduced in the second chamber, the House of Lords, meaning it will not pass before the end of the current parliamentary session.

Under the proposed change in the law, Britain would emulate several other

countries in Europe and elsewhere that allow some form of assisted dying, including Belgium and the Netherlands.

But both chambers of parliament must approve the legislation for it to become law, and bills that are still in progress when a session ends usually fail.

Supporters of the bill claim opponents in the Lords deliberately blocked the law by introducing over 1,000 amendments.

A debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is scheduled for Friday, with the end of this parliamentary session expected to be announced imminently.

More than 200 peers signed a letter late on Thursday saying the bill “will fall

as a result of deliberate delaying tactics pursued by a minority of peers opposed to its passage”.

Kim Leadbeater, the MP who introduced the draft bill in late 2024, vowed to try again at the next session.

She insisted she will “keep pushing for a safer, more compassionate law until parliament reaches a final decision”.

“This delay, this lack of a vote, this lack of choice has a real human cost,” said campaigner Rebecca Wilcox outside parliament on Wednesday.

Wilcox is the daughter of popular British broadcaster Esther Rantzen who is terminally ill and has spearheaded the campaign for a law change. AFP

US invites Putin to G20 summit but Trump doubts

Chinese EVs geared up to dominate auto show BEIJING – The world’s biggest car show opened Friday in Beijing, with hundreds of thousands of auto fans expected to descend on the Chinese capital to size up the latest sleek, teched-out models on the market.

Legacy overseas brands such as Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW once dominated in China, but have lost market share in past years to domestic firms that beat them to the electric vehicle revolution and undercut them on price.

Chinese manufacturers including BYD, Xiaomi and Xpeng are now also at the forefront of integrating AI software and autonomous driving technology into their EVs. The Auto China exhibition, hosted at two side-by-side venues in the capital, will span 380,000 square metres (four million square feet), according to organisers -sprawling more than 50 football pitches.

More than 1,400 vehicles from hundreds of foreign and domestic companies will be on show from Friday, when the show opens to industry professionals and the media, and later to the public from April 28 until May 3. AFP

India raps Trump post against immigrants

WASHINGTON, DC – India on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) criticized as inappropriate a post by US President Donald Trump that called the South Asian country a “hellhole.”

The comments come ahead of a planned visit next month to India by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who would seek to turn the page on recent tensions between the normally friendly powers.

Trump late Wednesday posted on social media a screed apparently written by someone else denouncing the US constitutional right to citizenship of everyone born in the country.

The post accused Indian immigrants in the tech industry of not hiring white native-born Americans and inaccurately alleged that Indian immigrants lack English proficiency. AFP

“We are proud that the most advanced F-16 ever produced will help protect Peru’s national sovereignty while strengthening the enduring partnership between our nations,” Lockheed Martin’s vice president said in a statement.

Peru’s foreign and defense ministers quit on Wednesday after the country’s interim president announced he was putting the deal on hold until after presidential elections in June.

The two ministers said the decision by interim president Jose Maria Balcazar undermined Peru’s reputation, insisting that the contracts with Lockheed Martin had already been signed.

The total value of the deal has not been made public.

Peru’s economy minister said Wednesday evening he had made a first payment of $462 million to Lockheed Martin.

The US ambassador to Peru, Bernardo Navarro, told Radio Exitosa that Lima had purchased a first squadron of 12 jets, due for delivery from 2029, and that “another 12 will arrive later.”

In a statement on X, he confirmed that a “technical signing” of the deal took place on Monday, “with the full knowledge of the highest level of the Peruvian government” after an earlier signing ceremony was called off at the last minute.

“Today marks a milestone in our 200year history” of US-Peruvian relations, Navarro said.

In October 2024, Peru said that it would renew its ageing air defense fleet with the purchase of 24 state-ofthe-art fighter jets for an estimated $3.5 billion.

The South American country currently has 12 Mirage 2000 aircraft, according to defense publications, as well as Russian MiG-29s and Belarusian Sukhoi Su27s, most of which are inoperative or in reserve. AFP

AMONG LOST TRIBES? Members of the Bnei Menashe (Sons of Manasseh) community from India wave Israeli flags as they arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, on Thursday. More than 250 Indians immigrants claiming descent from the Bnei Menashe community, a biblical tribe which considers itself one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel residing in India, landed at Ben Gurion airport as part of a government operation to relocate them to Israel. AFP

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States will invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to a G20 summit in Miami, a US official said Thursday, but President Donald Trump said he doubted his counterpart would come.

The invitation would mark a major easing of international pressure on Putin, who has been shunned by most of the West but not Trump since ordering the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The United States is this year’s host of the Group of 20 major economies and Trump has promised a grandiose summit in December in his adopted home state of Florida.

“All G20 members will be invited to attend ministerial meetings and the leaders’ summit,” a senior Trump administration official said in a statement.

Trump, questioned later by a reporter, seemed unaware of any invitation.

“I don’t know that he’s coming. I doubt he’d come, to be honest with you,” Trump said.

But Trump said he supported including Putin, explaining, “If he came, it would be probably very helpful.”

He renewed criticism of former president Barack Obama for booting Russia out of the then G8 -- meant as a club for wealthy democracies -- in response to an earlier, more limited invasion of Ukraine in 2014. AFP

Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Iran peace talks remain stalled WASHINGTON, DC – Israel and Lebanon extended a shaky ceasefire by three weeks, President Donald Trump said Thursday (Friday in Manila), as the United States remained at a standstill in negotiations with Iran to end the Middle East war.

Trump announced the truce extension as he met with ambassadors of the two countries and despite recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon and fresh rocket fire from Iran-backed Hezbollah, which was not part of the talks in Washington.

“I think there’s a very good chance of having peace. I think it should be an easy one,” Trump told reporters on Thursday.

The initial truce had been set to expire on Sunday.

Still, the US president said earlier he was in no rush to end the war with Iran, adding that “the clock is ticking” for the Islamic republic as a third American aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East.

Iranian media reported blasts over the capital Tehran, a first since the ceasefire

in the Middle East war came into effect two weeks ago.

It was not clear what caused the explosions, though an Israeli security source told AFP that their country was not currently striking Iran.

Prospective peace talks in Pakistan were hanging in the balance, meanwhile, with no sign of a return to diplomacy to end a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the ceasefire, the United States and Iran have shifted their focus to the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports ordinarily flow.

Iran has effectively closed it in retaliation for the war.

“I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t -- The clock is ticking!”

Trump said on social media.

Trump, who on Thursday ruled out the use of a nuclear weapon against Iran, had earlier ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boat caught laying mines in Hormuz. AFP

VETTING ENVOYS. A man takes a photo of a display of giant underwear reading ‘Mandy Pants, I love UK vetting,’ in reference to the vetting process for former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, on a wall next to the residence of former permanent under-secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Olly Robbins, in London the other day. Downing Street applied constant pressure on civil servants to approve the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK envoy to Washington and seemed to brush off security concerns, Robbins told MPs on April 21. AFP

SPORTS

A7

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

UST, FEU clash for stepladder survival Games Saturday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 1 p.m. - NU vs UST (Men’s Playoff for Second Seed) 3 p.m. - UST vs FEU (Women’s Stepladder Stage 1)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas, despite having defeated Far Eastern University twice in the eliminations, is not taking its traditional rivals lightly as the two storied programs look to advance in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball step-ladder today (Saturday) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The winner of the 3 p.m. match will face resurgent No. 3 Adamson University in the stepladder quarterfinals—a do-or-die clash set on Wednesday.

Defending two-time champion National University earned a bye and will face the first step-ladder winner in another win-or-go-home match on May 2 to determine the other finalist.

Unbeaten De La Salle secured an outright berth in the best-of-three championship series after completing a 14-game sweep of the doubleround eliminations. The Lady Spikers, who defeated the Lady Bulldogs 27-25, 15-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13 last Sunday, will return to action on May 6 after a two-week break.

The Tigresses last Wednesday missed the chance to secure the No. 4 seed outright and earn crucial rest heading into the step-ladder round, allowing the Lady Tamaraws to stay alive and force a tie at 8-6.

UST squandered a two-set lead against NU and fell 25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 18-25, 13-15 last Wednesday, on the same day FEU kept its season alive with a 22-25, 23-25, 25-12, 2521, 15-10 reverse sweep of Ateneo.

For coach Shaq delos Santos, a quick recovery is what the Tigresses need most, especially with FEU coming in with renewed confidence after its reprieve.

“Good thing ay meron kaming one day tomorrow (Friday) kasi nagrecover talaga kami today (Thursday). Aaralin namin ulit yung FEU and siyempre, kami mismo, kung paano kami magpalakas. Reset lang ulit sa pagkatalo namin yesterday (Wednesday), but good experience para sa amin ’yon. Hopefully, madala namin ‘yon going into sa knockout game namin,” Delos Santos said.

FEU-Diliman’s Kleon Baquial in action

Run FEU–Diliman nails historic Garmin Marathon Series st 1 boys’ taekwondo crown slated Oct. 25

H

ISTORY was made on the final day of the UAAP Season 88 High School Taekwondo Championships as Far Eastern University– Diliman finally clinched its first-ever title in the boys’ division on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.

After several seasons of near-misses and what-ifs, the Baby Tamaraws broke through at last, securing the longawaited championship in taekwondo to go along with their titles in 19U Boys’ Basketball, Boys’ Football, and Boys’ Blitz Chess.

“Very happy; hindi ko ma-explain ‘yung feeling ko kasi nag-prepare talaga kami for this competition. Talagang ‘yung sacrifices ng mga bata, ng mga coaches, talagang very, very worth it,” said head coach Paul Romero, reflecting on the breakthrough.

The decisive moment came from Kleon Baquial in the over-70 kg final against University of Santo Tomas’ Jin Raphael Gaupo.

The graduating Baquial had to rally after dropping the opening round, but he shifted gears in dominant fashion to complete the comeback, 2–1 (3–4, 9–1, 10–1), sealing the historic crown for FEU-D after both teams were tied

at two golds apiece heading into the final match.

UST drew first blood in the morning session after a 1–2 finish in the under-70 kg category, with Khadryck Costina edging out sparring partner Von Ryan Romantico in three rounds, 6–3, 0–5, 7–2.

FEU-D, however, responded strongly with back-to-back golds in the under-48 kg and under-55 kg divisions through Josh Pinatacan and Jayar Cruza, respectively, to swing the momentum.

Pinatacan needed just two rounds to dispatch Ateneo’s Jonathan Chupungco, 10–6, 14–2, while Cruza held off NUNS’ Ethan Chavez in a tight contest, 4–1, 3–2.

UST answered back when Akira Malonzo outlasted NUNS’ Chuck Alariao in a thrilling three-round battle, 11–10, 11–14, 13–12, setting up the all-or-nothing clash between Baquial and Gaupo.

Baquial, Pinatacan, and Cruza had

already known their medal scenarios since the preliminaries last Tuesday, and used the past days to prepare for their respective gold medal bouts.

“I explained the scenario to them, ‘yung scenario na kung anong mangyayari sa ‘min. Pero ang sabi ko rin, ‘No pressure. Just do your game, and just do your best.” This is their last.

Lagi ko lang silang ni-reremind na, ng coaches, na this is their last; lahat ng sacrifices nila, ibuhos na nila dito. Pero ambait talaga ni Lord, prinepare talaga sila para dito,” Romero shared.

FEU-D also added three bronze medals from Tuesday’s action to finish with a 3–0–3 tally, enough to secure the overall boys’ championship ahead of UST’s 2–2–1 record.

Defending champions National University–Nazareth School Bullpups, who collected two silvers on the final day, placed third overall with a 0–2–3 finish.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Bullpups swept all their finals assignments, capturing four gold medals to dominate the inaugural High School Girls’ competition.

Rian Akela Ramos clinched one of those titles after a commanding second-round performance against UST’s Rhiyanne Cadileña, 2–0 (2–2, 14–2), in the under-49 kg category.

FEU, Beach Hut lead women’s play; ADC lords it over in men’s division TAIF Salama led the charge with a five-goal performance that propelled University of Makati (UMak) to a resounding 12-1 victory over Forza FC as the race for semifinal berths reached fever pitch in the PFF Futsaliga presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The Herons displayed relentless attacking form in the women’s division at the House of Futsal, installing them into the equation for a Final Four spot with Salama earning her third Bootcamp Player of the Match award on Matchday 6 at the Philsports Arena.

In a highly anticipated showdown, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws and Beach Hut FC played to a 0–0 draw, showcasing defensive discipline and tactical awareness from both sides.

Tenelyn Otom stood out as an impenetrable force at the back for Beach Hut, earning Player of the Match honors after neutralizing FEU’s potent attacks. Despite the stalemate, both teams have secured their places in the Cup semifinals,

maintaining their unbeaten records.

The Azkals Development Club, meanwhile, reaffirmed their dominance in the men’s division with a hard-fought 3–2 win over the previously unbeaten Philippine Women’s University (PWU).

Kenzo Chua keyed a strong performance to secure player of the match honors as ADC capitalized on a strong first-half performance, solidifying their status as the only undefeated team in the division.

MJ Libre continued his remarkable scoring form, delivering a hat trick that carried Tondo FC to a masterful 7-3 victory over the PUP Radicals in their Manila derby. Tondo FC secured a second straight win to keep the team in contention heading into the final matchday.

ADC remains the lone unbeaten team, asserting its Cup bid despite a fierce challenge from PWU. UA&P’s clutch victory over Enderun elevates them into a crucial position in the standings, while Tondo FC’s resurgence ensures a dramatic fight for the final semis slots.

Former Filipinas national team defender Dai Dolino of ADC (left) and current Filipina5 standout Vrendelle Nuera of Enderun (right) fight for Cup semis survival in the PFF Futsaliga Women’s Division.

Sweetest redemption: Cool Smashers’ grit-forged return to the throne

The Cool Smashers celebrate their title romp.

FOR a team once defined by dominance, this was a season that demanded reinvention.

And yet, in the end, it became a story of resilience anchored on belief – belief in a system, in experience, and most importantly, in each other.

“Sobrang saya. Sobrang saya talaga (I’m just so happy. Truly happy),” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses, his voice carrying both relief and pride.

That joy came from overcoming everything that stood in their way.

The Cool Smashers didn’t just win the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino crown – they clawed their way back to it. Through injuries that disrupted their rhythm, a rollercoaster elimination round, and a gauntlet of knockout matches just to reach their 15th Fi-

nals appearance, Creamline’s path was anything but smooth.

“This conference was really difficult. We had so many struggles as a team, and all our effort and sacrifices turned out to be worth it,” said Bernadette Pons in Filipino, who delivered a herculean performance in the clincher with 22 points, 25 excellent digs and 15 receptions.

Setter Jia de Guzman echoed the sentiment after orchestrating yet another championship run upon her return.

“We really worked for this,” she said. “It went to five sets. Cignal made it very difficult for us, but we stayed patient and pushed through until the end.”

This title – Creamline’s eighth All-Filipino crown and 11th overall – meant more

MANILA officially joins the Garmin Run Marathon Series, the f lagship global marathon circuit of Garmin.

Happening all over the world and built on international race standards, the series brings a more elevated, world class race experience with a chance to be part of achieving a milestone.

Bringing together elite athletes and passionate young runners, the Garmin Run Marathon Series spans major running communities in Asia, including Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan, while also expanding to three cities in the United States this 2026. The mechanic is simple: runners who complete any 10 races across these key participating cities that are a part of the Garmin Run Marathon Series by 2027 will qualify for an exclusive, limited-edition 18K gold-plated medal – a reward that reflects commitment across multiple finish lines.

Designed by runners for runners, the Garmin Run Marathon Series welcomes participants of all levels, from first-time 5K runners to experienced athletes pursuing new personal bests. Guided by Garmin’s belief that running isn’t a competition but an opportunity to celebrate wellness, progress, and community.

The Manila leg of the Garmin Run Marathon Series will take place at Garmin Run Philippines on October 25, 2026, at the SM MOA Complex in Pasay City. The annual run once again invites all types of runners – those new to the sport, those taking on new distances, and those who simply run for the love of it.

Gun starts at 2AM to ensure optimal race conditions. Runners can choose from three categories: 21K (P2,550), 10K (P1,850), and 5K (P1,550). Finishers who complete their respective race category within a required time will receive an electronic certificate of achievement, a completion medal, and special gifts from Garmin and its partners. Runners’ times and performance will be managed by MYLAPS to provide accurate, professional-grade tracking. because of what came before it.

A year removed from a historic Grand Slam, the Cool Smashers stumbled into unfamiliar territory – a title-less season, missed Finals appearances, and whispers that their core was aging, perhaps even fading.

“For one year, we really didn’t make the Finals,” Meneses reflected. “That’s why this feels different – the excitement, especially in Game 2, which went to five sets. It was intense, full of pressure. So this – this is pure joy. Creamline is back in the championship.”

But the return wasn’t powered by nostalgia.

It was built on evolution.

Meneses downplayed any notion of coaching magic, instead pointing to something more fundamental: collective accountability.

“We just held on to our system and pushed ourselves to improve on what we lacked last year,” he said. “But what really made the difference was the team effort.”

SPORTS

A8

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

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

Quiambao headlines Camiguin 5150

Leonard Grospe is joined by PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio.

Leonard Grospe delivers the Philippines’ second gold medal in the 6th Asian Beach Games.

Grospe’s leap allows PH to match 2016 gold haul S

ANYA, China — A soaring performance from Leonard Grospe propelled Team Philippines to an early surge in the medal standings as the country matched its gold medal output from a decade ago on just the second day of the 6th Asian Beach Games here.

The 24-year-old high jumper delivered the Philippines’ second gold medal after ruling the men’s high jump event on a cold and rainy Friday at Phoenix Island, even as other Filipino athletes began their own quests for podium finishes across various beach disciplines.

At press time, the 45-nation medal table showed the Philippines running third with a 2-0-1 gold-silverbronze tally.

Host China led the standings with 4-2-1, followed by the United Arab

Emirates at 2-1-1, with five days of competition still left in the Games’ return after a 10-year hiatus.

Grospe sealed the victory with a decisive first-attempt clearance of 2.05 meters, a leap that proved enough to outlast a strong international field in the outdoor setup of the artificial island venue.

Hailing from Dilasag, Aurora, Grospe’s triumph handed Team Philippines another golden breakthrough in a campaign backed by the Philippine

Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, boosting confidence for the days ahead.

With momentum now on its side, the Philippine delegation looks to build on the early success as more events unfold in Sanya, aiming to turn a promising start into one of its most productive Asian Beach Games performances yet.

The Philippines won two gold, four silver, and 15 bronze medals in the Da Nang, Vietnam edition in 2016.

On Thursday, Jiu-jitsu’s Alexandra Luz Enriquez broke the ice for the Pinoys’ bid in this resort city by clinching the gold in the women’s 63-kilogram competition while Kaila Napolis took home a bronze in the -52kg division.

Over at the Tianya Haijiang Venue Cluster, Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara of the Philippines scored a

21-7, 21-3 demolition of Uzbekistan’s Sabina Muzaffarova and Milana Kurbanova to go 2-0 in women’s beach volleyball play.

Pinay spikers Sunnie Kalani Villapando and Gryzelle Joanice Matibag also improved to 2-0 in pool action, defeating Mongolia’s Gantogtokh Khandsuren and Munkhbayar Oyuntuya, 2110, 21-11.

Macau’s Leong On Leng and Law Weng Sam, who bowed to Progella and Pagara in the opener, bounced back with a 21-9, 21-14 victory over Kazakhastan’s Laura Kabulbekova and Nadezhda Ivanchenko.

Grospe prevailed via countback over Chinese Taipei’s Po-Ting Yeh and Hao Zhang of China, who settled for the silver and bronze, respectively, after falling short of matching the winning mark.

Nailga returns, Lago eyes 3-leg sweep in JPGT Del Monte AFTER skipping a leg, Bukidnon’s junior standout Alexis Nailga is back in action – and back on familiar ground – determined to resume his winning ways in the ICTSI Junior Philippine Golf Tour.

Nailga headlines a deep and competitive field in the JPGT Del Monte Championship as the Visayas-Mindanao series resumes at Del Monte Golf Club from April 29 to May 1, with the 17-year-old aiming to replicate the dominant form that made him the early frontrunner in the regional swing.

The Bukidnon native opened his campaign in style, crushing the field with a commanding 15-stroke victory over Roman Tiongko in the Mactan leg. He, however, skipped the Alta Vista stop due to prior commitments, momentarily halting his momentum.

Now back on home turf, Nailga is not only eyeing another title but also looking to strengthen his push for a coveted spot in the Elite Junior Finals

representing the Vis-Min squad.

But the path to another victory won’t come easy.

Davao’s Matthew Reyes leads the challengers, along with fellow Bukidnon bet Clement Ordeneza with several others expected to spice up the title chase in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc..

The Del Monte stop marks the third leg of the six-stage Visayas-Mindanao series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., following Mactan and Alta Vista, with upcoming tournaments set at Pueblo de Oro, Bacolod and Negros Occidental.

While Nailga’s return provides a major storyline, another compelling narrative is unfolding in the younger division.

Ethan Lago is on the brink of another victory.

The rising Davaoeño star goes for his third straight win after ruling the first two legs, both times besting fel-

Alexis Nailga

low Davao bet Lucas Revilleza. A win at Del Monte would complete a dominant opening stretch in the boys’ 7-10 category set over 36 holes.

Lago, however, faces a determined field that includes Cebu’s Anthony Avila, Cagayan de Oro’s Thiago Sajulga and Bukidnon’s Lenard Sale.

Meanwhile, competition is just as fierce across other divisions.

In the girls’ 7-10 category, local bets Faith Frayco and Maxine Cabang take on Soleil Molde of Davao and Cebu’s Millah Avila, while Bukidnon’s Claren Quino leads the girls’ 11-14 division, joined by Snoe Dalisay, Francesca Geroy of Cagayan de Oro and Eliana Dumalaog.

The boys’ 11-14 side, also to be disputed over 36 holes, features former 7-10 standouts Shaqeeq Tanog and James Rolida, along with Mico Woo, Rafael Yap, Luke Habagat and Almario Sia.

UST-B sweeps Division 2 group stage in Shakey’s volley UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas-B crushed guest squad Diverse Auckland Cubs, 25-11, 25-15, to complete a dominating sweep in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 2 pool play Friday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym. Khurztein Asumbra starred in the Junior Golden Tigresses’ fifth win in as many outings in Pool F of 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. Asumbra had 10 points built on six kills, three aces and a kill block while Taj Teves and Ava Cinco added eight and six markers, respectively, for UST-B as it primed up for the knockout quarterfinals.

The top-seeded Junior Golden Tigresses, who kept the Cubs winless in two starts, will face the No. 2 seed in Pool H in the quarters starting Wednesday.

In the other Pool F result, St. Theresa’s College-QC blanked Poveda College, 26-24, 25-22, for its first win in three games and a tie in the standings with its victim.

Corpus Christi School debuted with back-to-back wins in Pool E, beating San Beda University, 25-15,

UST’s Arkhea Teves keeps the ball in play.

Roman Prospero

25-13, in the morning match before taking down MGC-New Life Christian Academy, 25-21, 25-23, to build a strong case for a quarters stint in the tournament backed by Smart Sports, PusoP.com, Solar Sports Free TV, Mikasa, Asics, Eurotel, Team Rebel Sports and Rigour Technology as technical partners.

Miriam College opened its Pool E campaign with a 25-17, 25-14 victory over winless The Beacon Academy.

Bacolod Tay Tung-B improved to a 3-1 win-loss record in Pool H after outplaying St. John’s Institute-B, 25-11, 25-22, to stay in the hunt for the last quarters seat in the group.

The Thunderbolts will try to claim a ticket to the next round with a win over De La Salle Zobel-B on Sunday and join unbeaten University of Batangas (40) in the quarters.

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu bested St. Paul College-Pasig, 25-17, 25-19, for a 3-2 card in Pool H. In Pool G, National University-Nazareth School-B remained unscathed in three outings after escaping gritty Immaculate Conception Academy, 25-14, 2527, while St. Jude Parish School improved to 3-1 with a 25-19, 25-17, victory over Assumption Antipolo.

FRESH from a commanding performance at the IRONMAN 70.3 Davao, Bea Quiambao returns to action with momentum firmly on her side as she headlines the inaugural IRONMAN Camiguin 5150 on May 3 in Camiguin Island.

While the Olympic-distance 5150 – featuring a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, and 10 km run – is shorter than the grueling 70.3 she recently dominated, it is by no means easier. In fact, its faster pace and demand for sustained intensity could play directly into Quiambao’s strengths.

Her recent victory showcased not just endurance but efficiency, race control and the ability to surge when it matters – qualities that make her a formidable favorite in a race where margins are tighter and every second counts.

More than chasing another title, Quiambao is eyeing a historic milestone as Camiguin hosts its first event of this scale. Over 300 athletes from 13 countries are expected to compete in the premier endurance race organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., turning the island into a global stage for triathlon.

The course itself promises to be as breathtaking as it is challenging. The swim begins at the iconic Sunken Cemetery, followed by a bike leg along the island’s scenic coastal circumferential road, before concluding with a run at the provincial sports complex. It’s a layout that blends speed with scenery – rewarding those who can balance aggression with control.

“The 5150 triathlon is a testament to human endurance, discipline and the relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo. “But beyond the race, athletes will experience the unique spirit of Camiguin – where natural beauty and community come together.”

Bea Quiambao

Bataan, GenSan share SportsPlus MPBL leadership BATAAN and GenSan cruised to victories on Thursday and shared top spot in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.

The Bataan Risers led throughout and trounced the Bulacan Kuyas, 102-68, in the nightcap to keep in step with the GenSan Warriors, who banked on a scoring binge to batter the Marikina Shoemasters, 81-64, in the opener.

The Risers and the Warriors posted their third straight win, matching the record of the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.

Egged on by the hometown crowd, the Risers pulled away, 73-45, after three quarters and padded the lead as far as 102-64 in the homestretch.

Homegrown Yves Sazon posted 19 points and 4 rebounds, Mitchelle Maynes 11 points and 4rebounds, Alex Ramos 9 points and 2 rebounds, and Dante Paguio and Chris Javier 8 points each. Dinalupihan Councilor Gary David, Alfred Roces and Edrian Ramirez joined the offensive onslaught with 7 points each.

Yves Sazon of Bataan

BUSINESS

B1

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

PH1 World gets P2-b DBP loan to build homes

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) president and chief executive Michael de Jesus (fourth from left) shakes hands with PH1 World Landscapes chairman Edgar Saavedra (fourth from right) during the signing ceremony for a P2-billion loan. With them are DBP senior vice president Daniel Gonzales (third from left) and PH1 World Landscapes president Ma. Gilda Alcantara (third from right) along with other DBP and PH1 executives.

BDO Unibank’s income rose 2% to P20.1b in Q1 P19.7 billion B P20.1 billion

BDO’s profit in Q1 2026

By Thony Rose Lesaca

BDO’s profit in Q1 2025

1.68% BDO’s NPL ratio

DO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender, booked a net income of P20.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 2 percent from P19.7 billion a year earlier, as higher net interest income offset market volatility and increased provisions.

The growth rate slowed from the 6.5-percent recorded in the same period last year. The bank attributed the performance to loan expansion and improved asset quality, but it opted to set aside larger reserves due to global instability.

“Net income was tempered by higher provisions, as the Bank is building strong reserves, primarily a pre-emptive measure undertaken in response to evolving geo-political risk conditions,” the lender said in a statement.

Net interest income rose 11 percent to P53.0 billion from P47.8 billion, fueled by a 16-percent jump in gross

customer loans. Non-interest income also climbed 6 percent to P19.8 billion. While fee income saw a moderate 4 percent gain, trading and other income surged 11 percent and 19 percent, respectively.

BDO president and chief executive Nestor Tan said during a media briefing Friday that capital markets and investment banking fees nearly dried up because of regional conflicts, stifling large transactions.

He said trading and operational income remained robust despite being “tempered by market-to-market losses” linked to tensions in the

SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT.

Ant International, International Finance Corp. (IFC) and GCash are developing a Sustainability Impact Scorecard that will make it easier for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to track their environmental and social impact, easily adopt sustainability practices in business operations, and align with global standards.

Shown are (from left) IFC East Asia and the Pacific regional advisory manager for financial institutions group Christina Ongoma, GCash group head for new businesses Winsley Bangit and Ant International vice president and head of global affairs and strategic development Carrie Suen.

Pag-IBIG Fund expands housing fairs to attract South Luzon, Visayas families PAG-IBIG Fund is extending its series of housing fairs to South Luzon and the Visayas to increase access to homeownership under the government’s expanded national housing program.

The South Luzon fair will take place on April 27 to 28 at the Jose Rizal Coliseum in Calamba City, Laguna. The Visayas leg will follow on April 30 and May 1 at the IEC Convention Center Cebu. Each event will feature more than 20,000 housing units from partner developers and the agency’s acquired assets.

The initiative supports the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Marcos administration’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (4PH).

The program aims to streamline the path to homeownership by consolidating housing supply, financing, and government subsidies in a single location.

DHSUD Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees chairperson Jose Ramon P. Aliling said the agency continues to heed the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to make decent housing accessible.

“By continuing these housing fairs in South Luzon and the Visayas, Pag-IBIG Fund is bringing together leading private developers, Pag-IBIG Fund’s affordable

financing programs, and government assistance in one accessible venue, so that more workers can move from simply hoping for a home to actually taking concrete steps toward owning one,” Aliling said.

Featured properties include socialized housing units such as Pasinaya Heights in Laguna. A unit there priced at P1.404 million can be purchased with monthly amortizations as low as P2,257.91 in the first year.

In Bacolod, a 24-square-meter unit at Asenso Yuhum Residences priced at P1.059 million carries a first-year monthly amortization of P1,703.08.

These rates are supported by a subsidized 3 percent interest rate for the first 5 years of the loan term. Pag-IBIG Fund also introduced an Early Bird Promo where the first 30,000 qualified borrowers can lock in the 3 percent rate for 10 years.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Marilene Acosta said these loans allow low-income members and overseas Filipino workers to access housing at costs often lower than local rent.

“Through Pag-IBIG Fund’s affordable housing loan programs, many families may now find that what they would otherwise spend on rent can already be used to start paying for a home they will eventually own,” Acosta said.

Middle East.

The bank reported a 16-percent increase in pre-provision operating profit to P31.5 billion. While operating expenses grew by only 6 percent during the quarter, Tan described the figure as a timing issue.

“A lot of them will come in the second and third quarter of this year. So, by the end of the year, it will be closer to about 9, 10 percent,” Tan said.

Asset quality improved as the nonperforming loan ratio fell to 1.68 percent. The bank’s return on average common equity stood at 12.8 percent for the quarter.

Tan said the bank remains wellpositioned for growth, noting that the insurance business compensated for the slowdown in key income areas.

“In summary, [there is] good business growth across the board, reflecting the strength of the BDO franchise. The balance sheet is healthy, so well-positioned for growth,” Tan said.

DBP provides P2-billion loan to PH1 World Landscapes for housing drive State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines signed a P2billion loan agreement with PH1 World Landscapes Inc. to fund the construction of thousands of homes, supporting the national shelter program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. DBP president and chief executive Michael de Jesus said the bank will provide bridge financing for 8,360 housing units under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program. The initiative targets low-cost and mid-tier markets to address the country’s housing backlog.

“This collaboration is seen to contribute to the fulfillment of the National Government’s goals of constructing affordable housing units that would unite families, strengthen communities and generate livelihood opportunities for our countrymen,” de Jesus said.

The loan will accelerate the completion of projects in Caloocan City and the Cavite cities of Imus and Bacoor. The bank expects the developments to create jobs for more than 1,000 people.

Established in 2022 as a real estate arm of the Megawide Group, PH1 World Landscapes maintains ongoing projects in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Cavite. The company is a partner of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the agency leading the 4PH program.

DBP is the ninth largest bank in the Philippines with total assets of P1.041 trillion. It prioritizes credit support for infrastructure, logistics, small businesses, the environment and social services.

As of Jan. 31, 2026, the bank approved P1.31 billion in assistance to two local government units and one developer under its BAHAY4PH Program. The facility funds local governments, developers and contractors acting as project proponents for the national housing drive.

BUSINESS

B2

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH shares fall for 3rd day; peso dips to 60.70 a dollar PHILIPPINE shares dropped for a third straight trading day Friday due to renewed risk-off sentiment following a 25-basis-point rate hike by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The peso likewise depreciated further to 60.70 against the U.S. dollar, down from Thursday’s close of 60.48.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index closed the week at 5,943.49, down 40.32 points, or 0.67 percent. The broader all shares index ended at 3,352.22, lower by 17.50 points, or 0.52 percent.

“Uncertainty around the trajectory of the Iran conflict and persistently elevated oil prices continue to weigh on investor confidence,” AB Capital Securities said.

Brent crude prices returned to more than $100 per barrel amid continued geopolitical tensions, which AB Capital Securities said reinforced concerns and kept risk appetite subdued.

Most sectors ended in the red, led by financials and property, which are sensitive to higher interest rates. Financials dropped 1.63 percent and property fell 1.15 percent. Industrials was the lone sector to end in the green, rising 0.10 percent.

Value turnover reached P5.23 billion as foreign investors were net sellers, with outflows at P628.1 million.

Monde Nissin Corp. was the day’s top index gainer, rising 1.21 percent to P6.68, while Bank of the Philippine Islands was the main laggard, falling 3.46 percent to P92.10.

Oil prices extended gains Friday and stocks struggled as investors worried about a lack of progress in ending the Middle East crisis, with Tehran keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed and the US maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports.

Jenniffer B. Austria with AFP

Ayala trims 2026 spending to P180b amid headwinds

By Jenniffer B. Austria

A

YALA Corp. is trimming its planned capital expenditures for 2026 to around P180 billion as it adopts a more cautious stance in response to rising inflation, elevated interest rates, and global geopolitical tensions.

The revised spending plan is lower than the earlier target of P220 billion to P230 billion. The group is focusing on preserving liquidity and maintaining flexibility amid a volatile operating environment.

“When we were entering this year, we said P220 billion to P230 billion because we were thinking of ramping up. However, we’re reviewing that number again because we might have to calibrate that down,” Ayala presi-

dent Cezar Consing told reporters in a briefing following the company’s annual stockholders meeting.

Consing said this year’s capital spending will likely be similar to last year’s, which stood at P180 billion.

Among its businesses, Consing said real estate is expected to be the most affected segment. Higher borrowing costs following recent rate hikes by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas are expected to weigh on property demand, particularly residential sales.

Leasing operations, however, are expected to help cushion the impact.

Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) earlier announced

it has halted sales of two newly launched projects, Laurean Residences and One Katipunan, due to market conditions.

Consing said he believes all core businesses of Ayala Corp. will be resilient, even as some units may see weaker profits or losses. He noted the group is placing greater emphasis on cash flow, earnings, and balance sheet strength, alongside more disciplined capital allocation.

He said conflict in the Middle East has altered the group’s near- and medium-term outlook for the economy, as higher inflation and negative growth could cause serious damage.

LRMC opens aircon lounge at LRT-1 Baclaran

By Darwin G. Amojelar

LIGHT Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) has opened a new air-conditioned passenger lounge at the LRT-1 Baclaran Station northbound platform to provide commuters relief from the intense summer heat.

The project is part of LRMC’s broader commitment to enhancing the passenger experience, offering a climate-controlled space where riders can wait comfortably during the peak of the dry season.

“Our goal is to constantly find ways to make the daily journey better for our passengers. This new air-conditioned space is a simple yet significant way to provide additional comfort, especially during these hot summer months,” said Enrico Benipayo, MARKETING SUMMIT. The Mindanao Youth Marketing Summit (MYMarkS) returns for its third year April 14-15 at the Limketkai Atrium Center, bringing together leading names in Philippine marketing for a two-day gathering centered on the theme, LRMC president and chief executive.

“Excellence Lives Here.” Organized by Brandev Insights and Consulting and the Xavier University Junior Marketing Association, with “We remain dedicated to enhancing advocacy partners Mansmith and Fielders Inc. and GIGIL, MYMarkS 2026 features speakers from branding, business, hospitality, our station facilities and ensuring that entrepreneurship, and creative communications to engage the next generation of Mindanaoan business leaders. our passengers feel valued and cared CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK for while they travel with LRT-1,” he Manila added.

StandardONE COOPERATIVE BANK (One CB) 045346 (Bank Code) TODAY The project was made possible IDC Centre Zapote Street cor Kalayaan Avenue, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Makati City through a partnership with Mitsubishi BALANCE SHEET Heavy Industries–Mahajak Air ConAs of MARCH 31, 2026 ditioners Co. Ltd. (MACO), a leader BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSETS AMOUNT CURRENT QUARTER PREVIOUS QUARTER in Thailand’s air conditioning indusCash and Cash Items 19,672,111.25 74,950,049.09 FR. ANTONIO CECILIO T. PASCUAL Due from Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas 279,564,630.19 172,710,229.98 try.

Due from Other Central Banks and Banks - Net 1,007,662,365.85 1,018,857,795.51 Chairman Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit of Loss (FVPL) 1/ 0.00 0.00 By installing high-quality cooling Financial Assets at Fair Value Through Other Comprehensive Income (FVOCI)-Net 91,000.00 91,000.00 ISAGANI B. DABA

By Alena Mae S. Flores Debt Securities at Amortized Cost - Net 10,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 systems, the partnership aims to proVice-Chairman Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 0.00 0.00 Interbank Loans Receivable 0.00 0.00 vide immediate relief to commuters Loans and Receivables- Others 4,139,613,628.81 4,255,941,496.52 RUTH O. AGRIPO THE board of Repower Energy Development Corp. (REDC) has apLoans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB at one of the line’s busiest stations, SALVADOR S. COLLANTES, JR. Total Loan Portfolio (TLP)-Gross 4,139,613,628.81 4,255,941,496.52 proved the incorporation of a new wholly owned subsidiary, Kitaotao Allowance for Credit Losses 2/ 498,737,313.18 430,370,893.33 ZENAIDA A. ALCANTARA ensuring the daily commute is more Total Loan Portfolio-Net 3,640,876,315.63 3,825,570,603.19 CORAZON C. ANTONIO Hydropower Corp., to develop hydro projects in Bukidnon.

Equity Investment in Subsidiaries,Associates and Joint Ventures-Net 0.00 0.00 SEGUNDO R. LANUZA, JR. bearable despite high outdoor temBank Premises, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment-Net 91,923,180.88 94,159,348.81 ATTY. MICKEL M. BORIGAS The board also approved REDC’s subscription to 12.5 million shares peratures.

Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net 299,112,341.86 291,116,025.07 BENIGNO P. ANDRES Sales Contract Receivables - Net 96,655,107.98 93,620,926.87 with a par value of P1 per share, totaling P12.5 million.

The air-conditioned room is open to Non-Current Assets Held for Sale 116,696,337.81 115,190,740.04 ABITO E. SALCEDO III Other Assets-Net 123,661,083.50 121,898,235.25 MILBERT P. DIALOGO Kitaotao Hydropower all LRT-1 passengers. To promote an Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) 0.00 0.00 Corp. will operate hyinclusive environment, priority will TOTAL ASSETS 5,685,914,474.95 5,818,164,953.81 BOARD SECRETARY dropower projects in be given to those who need it most, ATTY. SIMEON T. ASIA, JR. LIABILITIES line with REDC’s existincluding senior citizens, pregnant Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 0.00 0.00 EXECUTIVE OFFICER ing business. The new Deposit Liabilities 4,307,458,792.38 4,193,046,152.63 women, and persons with disabilities.

JORGE G. LUMASAG, JR. Due to Other Banks 0.00 0.00 subsidiary joins REDC’s Bills Payable 0.00 150,000,000.00 President & CEO To ensure everyone has a fair BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) 0.00 0.00 group of units likewise Interbank Loans Payable 150,000,000.00 150,000,000.00 chance to enjoy the new amenity, Others Borrowings, including Deposit Substitutes 0.00 0.00 engaged in the developBonds Payable-Net 0.00 0.00 passengers are advised to stay in the Unsecured Subordinated Debt-Net 0.00 0.00 ment and operation of Redeemable Preferred Shares 3,992,000.00 3,992,000.00 waiting room only during train interOther Liabilities 109,193,119.49 164,700,501.27 hydropower facilities.

Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies/(Philippine branch vals. By moving to the boarding area of a foreign bank) 0.00 0.00 The expansion comes as their train arrives, passengers can TOTAL LIABILITIES 4,420,643,911.87 4,511,738,653.90 as REDC announced its help clear the space for others.

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 2025 net income nearly This improvement is a key part of Capital Stock 1,137,799,742.77 1,131,582,113.11 tripled to P330 million, driven by higher electricity generation and a LRMC’s mission to modernize the Additional Paid-In Capital 1,665,636.41 1,665,636.41 Undivided Profits -46,951,296.07 broader revenue base. transit experience. By focusing on Retained Earnings 172,368,862.14 172,790,932.56 Other Capital Accounts 387,617.83 387,617.83 The company reported a significant jump from its 2024 net income impactful changes, the company conAssigned Capital 0.00 0.00 tinues to prioritize the comfort of the of P119 million. Total revenues climbed to P775.8 million in 2025 from TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 1,265,270,563.08 1,306,426,299.91 thousands of Filipinos who rely on P533.4 million the previous year, fueled by increased electricity sales TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 5,685,914,474.95 5,818,164,953.81 LRT-1 every day. and favorable feed-in-tariff adjustments.

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

Repower to develop Bukidnon hydro projects via new unit

Guarantees Issued Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Securiites Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper Trust Department Accounts Derivatives Others

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,744,401.75

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,744,610.75

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

2,744,401.75

2,744,610.75

15.76 5.42 76.46 65.70 14.27 -

14.20 5.77 71.23 59.68 11.91 -

30.30

27.42

-14.57 -6.53 -8.09

9.14 2.05 2.59

20.32 21.62 22.54 -

20.59 21.84 22.76 -

FINANCIAL INDICATORS (in %) ASSET QUALITY Gross Non-Performing Loans (NPL) Ratio Net NPL Ratio Gross NPL Coverage Ratio Net NPL Coverage Ratio RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Ratio of Loans to Related Parties to gross TLP Ratio of Non-Performing Loans to Related Parties to Total Loans to Related Parties Ratio of DOSRl Loans to gross TLP Ratio of Non-Performing DOSRI Loans to Total Loans to DOSRI LIQUIDITY Liquidity Coverage Ratio 4/ Net Stable Funding Ratio 4/ Minimum Liquidity Ratio 5/ PROFITABILITY Return on Equity (ROE) Return on Assets Net Interest Margin CAPITAL ADEQUACY Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio Tier 1 Capital Ratio CAR LEVERAGE Basel III Leverage Ratio 4/ Deferred Charges not yet Written Down Republic of the Philippines ) Makati City ) s.s.

We, SILVERIO S. PEREGRINO II and JORGE G. LUMASAG, JR. of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

SHAKEY’S-LARK PARTNERSHIP.

Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. and Lark, an all-in-one productivity platform, announce a partnership to enhance operational efficiency.

Pictured from left are Mark Dembitz, general manager for Lark APAC, and Vicente Gregorio, president and CEO of Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc.

CYAN CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

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Manila Manila Manila Manila

Standard Standard Standard Standard TODAY TODAY TODAY TODAY

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Aboitiz begins phased upgrades at Bohol airport

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABOITIZ InfraCapital Airports started reconfiguration activities at Bohol-Panglao International Airport to

Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports begins a phased reconfiguration of Bohol-Panglao International Airport to enhance efficiency and the passenger experience at the Philippines’ ‘Green Gateway.

DA prepares for strong ‘El Nino’ T

improve passenger comfort and operational efficiency at the gateway.

The infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group said it initiated the phased enhancements to support current travel demand and future growth at the facility. The airport ranks as the 10th-busiest gateway in the Philippines.

The Department of Transportation and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines approved the reconfiguration work plans in March 2026.

The approval includes a new layout, a revised security plan and additional equip- Career Career Career Opportunity Opportunity Opportunity ininin PMFTC PMFTC in PMFTC Inc. Inc.Inc. Career Opportunity PMFTC Inc. ment authorized by the Office of TransporPosition Position Title: Title: MANAGER Title: MANAGER MANAGER S&PD S&PD S&PD •• • Drive •Drive consequent Drive consequent consequent global global global strategic strategic strategic insights insights insights with with impact with impact impact totothe tothethe to business the business business Position Title: MANAGER S&PD Drive consequent global strategic insights with impact business tation Security. The start of these works Position Analyzing Analyzing Analyzing and andmanaging and managing managing medium medium medium and andlong-term and long-term long-term capital capital capital expenditure expenditure expenditure Analyzing and managing medium and long-term capital expenditure Job Description: Job Description: Description: and and project and project project approval approval approval decisions. decisions. decisions. comes as AIC approaches its first anniver- Job Job Description: and project approval decisions. sary of managing the airport operations and •• • Business •Business Business Strategy Strategy Strategy work workiswork focused is focused onononfacilitating facilitating on facilitating and andandQualification Qualification Qualification (Education, (Education, (Education, Experience, Experience, Experience, Professional Professional Professional License, License, License, Skills Skills Skills Business Strategy work is isfocused focused facilitating and Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills developing developing developing the organization's the organization's organization's strategic strategic strategic plans: plans: plans: Certification, Certification, Certification, Specialized Specialized Specialized Training): Training): Training): developing thethe organization's strategic plans: Certification, Specialized Training): maintenance in June 2026.

•• • Develop •Develop Develop Corporate Corporate Corporate Strategy Strategy Strategy cycle, cycle, cycle, align align&align &orchestrate orchestrate & orchestrate Develop Corporate Strategy cycle, align &orchestrate Aboitiz InfraCapital vice-president and •• • AtAt•At least least At55least years 5years years 5 ofyears ofmeaningful meaningful of meaningful experience experience experience doing doing strategy doing strategy strategy and and analytical and analytical analytical least ofmeaningful experience doing strategy and analytical strategy strategy strategy foundation foundation foundation into into execution. into execution. execution. strategy foundation into execution. roles, roles, ideally ideally ideally gained gained gained inininthe inconsumer the consumer consumer products products products and/or and/or and/or electronic electronic electronic roles, ideally gained thethe consumer products and/or electronic •Inspire Inspire and andinfluence and influence influence strategy strategy strategy building building building Key KeyStrategic Key Strategic Strategic roles, Inspire and influence strategy building Key Strategic head of airports Rafael Aboitiz said the •• • Inspire devices devices devices industries, industries, industries, ororor ininstrategy instrategy orstrategy in strategy consulting consulting consulting environments environments environments devices industries, consulting environments Questions Questions Questions (KSQs).

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INVITATION INVITATION INVITATION TO TO TO BID BID BID INVITATION TO BID ORIENTAL ORIENTAL ORIENTAL MINDORO MINDORO MINDORO ELECTRIC ELECTRIC ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, COOPERATIVE, COOPERATIVE, INC. INC. INC. (ORMECO, (ORMECO, (ORMECO, INC.), INC.), INC.), through through through its its BID BID AND AND AND ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, INC.), through itsitsBID BID AND AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE (BAC), (BAC), (BAC), hereby hereby hereby intends intends intends to to apply apply the thesum the sum sum of of Fifty Fifty Three Three Three Million Million Million Seven Seven Seven AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC), hereby intends totoapply apply the sum ofofFifty Fifty Three Million Seven Hundred Hundred Hundred Thirty-Four Thirty-Four Thirty-Four Thousand Thousand Thousand Eight Eight Eight Hundred Hundred Hundred Ten Ten Ten Pesos Pesos Pesos (₱53,734,810.00) (₱53,734,810.00) (₱53,734,810.00) funded funded funded by by 5% by 5% Hundred Thirty-Four Thousand Eight Hundred Ten Pesos (₱53,734,810.00) funded by 5% 5% Reinvestment Reinvestment Reinvestment Fund Fund Fund and and and Sixteen Sixteen Sixteen Million Million Million Five Five Five Hundred Hundred Hundred Forty-Six Forty-Six Forty-Six Thousand Thousand Thousand Eight Eight Eight Hundred Hundred Hundred Sixty Sixty Sixty Four Four Four Reinvestment Fund and Sixteen Million Five Hundred Forty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty Four Pesos Pesos Pesos (₱16,546,864.00) (₱16,546,864.00) (₱16,546,864.00) funded funded funded by byGeneral by General General Fund Fund Fund inclusive inclusive inclusive of of allapplicable all applicable applicable taxes taxes taxes and and and fees, fees, fees, being being being Pesos (₱16,546,864.00) funded by General Fund inclusive ofofall all applicable taxes and fees, being the the Approved the Approved Approved Budget Budget Budget for for the for the Contract the Contract Contract (ABC), (ABC), (ABC), for for the for the procurement, the procurement, procurement, supply, supply, supply, and and and delivery delivery delivery of of materials/ materials/ of materials/ the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the procurement, supply, and delivery of materials/ supplies/equipment. supplies/equipment. supplies/equipment. supplies/equipment.

1.

ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. INC. INC. now now now calls calls calls for forthe for thesubmission the submission submission of aLetter Letter a Letter of of Intent Intent by bythe by theinterested the interested interested bidders bidders bidders 1.1. 1. ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. now calls for the submission ofofaaof Letter ofofIntent Intent by the interested bidders thru thru thru email email email at at ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com. ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com.

The The The list listof list of theORMECO, the ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. INC. INC. Eligibility Eligibility Eligibility thru email atatormeco.bac.official@gmail.com. ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com.

The list ofofthe the ORMECO, INC. Eligibility Requirements Requirements Requirements may may may be be be viewed viewed viewed at at www.ormeco-inc.com, at www.ormeco-inc.com, www.ormeco-inc.com, https://www.facebook.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ Requirements may be viewed at www.ormeco-inc.com, https://www.facebook.com/ OrientalMindoroElectricCooperativeInc, OrientalMindoroElectricCooperativeInc, OrientalMindoroElectricCooperativeInc, and and and can cancan be berequested be requested requested through through through email email email ormeco_ ormeco_ ormeco_ OrientalMindoroElectricCooperativeInc, and can be requested through email ormeco_ coop@yahoo.com, coop@yahoo.com, coop@yahoo.com, or or callthe call thecontact the contact contact numbers numbers numbers listed listed listed above. above. above.

An Anamount An amount amount of of One One Thousand Thousand Thousand coop@yahoo.com, ororcall call the contact numbers listed above.

An amount ofofOne One Thousand Pesos Pesos Pesos (₱1,000.00) (₱1,000.00) (₱1,000.00) is is required required is required as as Accreditation as Accreditation Accreditation Fee; Fee; Fee; Pesos (₱1,000.00) is required as Accreditation Fee; 2.

ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. INC. INC. now now now invites invites invites suppliers suppliers suppliers for for the for the following: the following: following: 2.2. 2. ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. now invites suppliers for the following:

By Othel V. Campos

LOT LOTLOT LOT

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up preparations for a looming El Niño episode, warning that a moderate to strong event later this year could hit farm output, erode farmers’ income, and Manila Manila Manila Manila dampen economic activity.

Standard Standard Standard Standard

II I I

ITEM ITEM ITEM DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION ITEM DESCRIPTION

ABC ABC ABC ABC (INCLUSIVE (INCLUSIVE (INCLUSIVE OF OFOF (INCLUSIVE OF VAT) VAT) VAT) VAT)

Supply Supply Supply ofofof Conductor Conductor of Conductor and and Pole and Pole Line Pole LineLine ₱ 3,861,560.00 Supply Conductor and Pole Line 3,861,560.00 ₱ 3,861,560.00 ₱₱3,861,560.00 Hardware Hardware Hardware Materials Materials Materials Hardware Materials

COST COST COST OF OF BID OF BIDBID COST OF BID DOCUMENTS DOCUMENTS DOCUMENTS DOCUMENTS (NON(NON(NON(NONREFUNDABLE) REFUNDABLE) REFUNDABLE) REFUNDABLE) ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00

II-A II-AII-A Supply Supply Supply ofofof Pole Pole of Type Pole Type Type Transformer Transformer Transformer II-A Supply Pole Type Transformer

₱16,200,000.00 ₱16,200,000.00 ₱16,200,000.00 ₱16,200,000.00

₱25,000.00 ₱25,000.00 ₱25,000.00 ₱25,000.00

Supply Supply Supply ofofof Fuse Fuse of Fuse Cut Cut out Cut out and out andand Supply Fuse Cut out and Arrester, Arrester, Transformer Transformer Transformer Pole PolePole Arrester, Transformer Pole II-B II-BII-B Arrester, II-B Mounting Mounting Mounting bracket bracket bracket and and Grounding and Grounding Grounding Mounting bracket and Grounding rod rodrod rod

₱2,990,000.00 ₱2,990,000.00 ₱2,990,000.00 ₱2,990,000.00

₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00

Supply Supply Supply ofofof Electronic Electronic of Electronic Kilowatt Kilowatt Kilowatt hour hourhour Supply Electronic Kilowatt hour meter meter meter 33phase 3phase phase 3 phase Class Class Class 20 Form Form 20 Form 12S, 12S, 12S, meter Class 2020 Form 12S, Electronic Electronic Kilowatt Kilowatt hour meter hour meter Electronic Kilowatt hour meter Electronic Kilowatt hour meter ₱1,471,750.00 ₱1,471,750.00 III-A III-A III-A ₱1,471,750.00 ₱1,471,750.00 III-A 33phase 3 phase Class Class 20 Form 20 Form 9S and 9S 3phase phase Class Form andand Class 2020 Form 9S9S and Electronic Electronic Kilowatt Kilowatt hour meter hour meter 11 1 1 Electronic Kilowatt hour meter Electronic Kilowatt hour meter phase phase Class Class 20 Form 20 Form 3s phase Class Form phase Class 2020 Form 3s3s 3s

FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE

Questions (KSQs).

•• • Deliver •Deliver Deliver the thestrategic strategic plans plansplans through through through the theOGSM OGSM Deliver thethestrategic strategic plans through thetheOGSM OGSM framework. framework. framework. framework.

• • AA•Astrong strong A strong understanding understanding understanding ofofofstrategy strategy of strategy development development development toolkits toolkits toolkits (industry (industry (industry strong understanding strategy development toolkits (industry •• • Identifying •Identifying Identifying growth growth growth opportunities, opportunities, opportunities, business business business model model model • analytics, Identifying growth opportunities, business model analytics, analytics, consumer consumer consumer insights, insights, insights, strategy strategy strategy development, development, development, etc) etc)etc) analytics, consumer insights, strategy development, etc) innovation, innovation, innovation, and andand facilitating facilitating facilitating cross-business cross-business cross-business unit unit unit innovation, and facilitating cross-business unit initiatives. initiatives. initiatives. initiatives.

•Anoutstanding An outstanding outstanding track tracktrack record record record inininleading leading in leading strategic strategic strategic projects projects projects from fromfrom •• • Researching •Researching Researching and andanalyzing and analyzing analyzing industry industry industry and andcompetitive and competitive competitive•• • An An outstanding track record leading strategic projects from Researching and analyzing industry and competitive conceptualization conceptualization totodelivery todelivery delivery to delivery and and results and results results trends trends trends tototoidentify identify to identify emerging emerging emerging market market market opportunities opportunities opportunities and andand conceptualization conceptualization and results trends identify emerging market opportunities and strategic strategic strategic areas areas of areas interest. of interest. of interest. strategic areas of interest.

•• • Evaluating •Evaluating Evaluating and andfinancial and financial financial modeling modeling modeling ofofofpotential potential of potential merger, merger, merger, Evaluating and financial modeling potential merger, •Excellent Excellent communication communication communication and andcollaboration and collaboration collaboration skills, skills, skills, with withthe with theability the ability ability Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability acquisition, acquisition, acquisition, divestment, divestment, divestment, partnership partnership partnership and andjoint and jointventure joint venture venture•• • Excellent acquisition, divestment, partnership and joint venture tototoeffectively effectively to effectively manage manage manage senior senior senior stakeholders stakeholders stakeholders and anddeliver and deliver deliver engaging engaging engaging effectively manage senior stakeholders and deliver engaging opportunities. opportunities. opportunities. opportunities. presentations presentations presentations presentations •• • Monitoring •Monitoring Monitoring medium medium medium tototolong-term to long-term long-term business business business trends/ trends/ trends/ Monitoring medium long-term business trends/ outlooks, outlooks, outlooks, gathering gathering gathering competitive competitive competitive intelligence intelligence intelligence tototo toApplications outlooks, gathering competitive intelligence Acob Acob Marjorie.Acob@pmi.com Acob Marjorie.Acob@pmi.com Marjorie.Acob@pmi.com Applications Applications maymay bemay be sentsent beto:sent to: Marjorie Marjorie to: Marjorie contribute contribute contribute tototostrategic strategic to strategic business business business planning planning planning discussions discussions discussions Applications may be sent to: Marjorie Acob Marjorie.Acob@pmi.com contribute strategic business planning discussions with with leadership. with leadership. leadership. with leadership.

Company/ Company/ Company/ Employer Employer Employer Company/ Employer

Name Name Name ofofof foreign foreign of foreign national national national intending intending intending tototo apply apply to apply for the for the position the position position Name foreign national intending apply forfor the position

Company Company Company Name: Name: Name: PMFTC PMFTC PMFTC Inc. Inc.Inc. Name: Name: Name: Nabeel Nabeel Nabeel Anwar Anwar Anwar Waraich Waraich Waraich Company Name: PMFTC Inc. Name: Nabeel Anwar Waraich Complete Complete Complete Address: Address: Address: Plant Plant Plant CCC &&& DDCD Champaca &Champaca D Champaca Street, Street, Street,Address: Address: Address: Taguig Taguig Taguig City CityCity Complete Address: Plant Champaca Street, Address: Taguig City Barangay Barangay Barangay Fortune, Fortune, Fortune, Parang, Parang, Parang, Marikina Marikina Marikina City City City Nationality: Nationality: Nationality: Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan Barangay Fortune, Parang, Marikina City Nationality: Pakistan Nature Nature Nature Of Business: Of Business: Wholesale Wholesale Wholesale And AndRetail And Retail Retail Trade; Trade; Trade;Intended Intended Intended Period Period Period ofofof Employment: Employment: of Employment: Three Three Three (3) Years Years (3) Years Nature OfOfBusiness: Business: Wholesale And Retail Trade; Intended Period Employment: Three (3)(3) Years Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing hereby hereby hereby declares declares declares that that the that the above-named the above-named above-named foreign foreign foreign national national national isisable, isable, able, is willing, able, willing, willing, and and qualified and qualified qualified tototo perform perform to perform the the services the services services and andand Company Company Company hereby declares that the above-named foreign national willing, and qualified perform the services and Company job description job description description for this for this position. this position. position.

The The company The company company has has the has the intention the intention intention tototo employ employ to employ the the said the said foreign said foreign foreign national national national and and apply and apply apply for an an Alien Alien an Alien jobjob description forfor this position.

The company has the intention employ the said foreign national and apply forfor anfor Alien Employment Employment Employment Permit Permit Permit with with the with the Department the Department Department of of Labor Labor of Labor and and Employment and Employment Employment National National National Capital Capital Capital Region Region Region located located located at at 967 967 at Maligaya 967 Maligaya Maligaya Employment Permit with the Department of Labor and Employment - National Capital Region located at 967 Maligaya Street, Street, Street, Malate, Malate, Malate, Manila.

Manila.

Manila.

Street, Malate, Manila.

Career Career Career Opportunity Opportunity Opportunity ininCIMB inCIMB CIMB in CIMB Bank Bank Bank Philippines Philippines Philippines Inc. Inc.Inc. Career Opportunity Bank Philippines Inc. Position Position Position Title: Title: Head, Title: Head, Strategy Head, Strategy Strategy and Business and Business Business Planning Planning Planning Analysis Analysis Analysis Position Title: Head, Strategy andand Business Planning Analysis

••• Build •Build teams Build teams with teams with aashared with a shared a purpose shared purpose purpose - -attracting, - attracting, - attracting, developing, developing, developing, engaging engaging engaging and retaining retaining and retaining Build teams with shared purpose attracting, developing, engaging andand retaining employees employees employees allowing allowing allowing them them totothem realize torealize realize to their realize fullfulltheir full potential potential full potential and thethethe and organization organization the organization totomeet tomeet meet to meet employees allowing them theirtheir potential andand organization itsitscurrent itscurrent current its business current business business needs needs and needs and prepare prepare and prepare for for future future for needs. future needs. needs. business needs and prepare for future needs.

Job Description: Job Description: Description: JobJob Description: 5% 5%5% 5%

₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 Reinvestment Reinvestment Reinvestment Reinvestment TODAY TODAY TODAY TODAY Fund Fund Fund Fund “It is no longer a question whether we will experience another III-B Supply ofofof Current of Current Transformer Transformer ₱911,500.00 ₱911,500.00 ₱1,000.00 ₱1,000.00 III-BIII-B Supply Supply Current Transformer ₱911,500.00 ₱1,000.00 III-B Supply Current Transformer ₱911,500.00 ₱1,000.00 El Niño after the 2024 episode that undermined rice harvests. The Supply Supply of Maintenance of Maintenance Vehicle Vehicle for for Supply of Maintenance Vehicle for Supply of Maintenance Vehicle for IV ₱4,800,000.00 ₱4,800,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱4,800,000.00 ₱5,000.00 IVIV IV Lineman ₱4,800,000.00 ₱5,000.00 only question is its intensity,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Lineman (Brand (Brand new) new) Lineman (Brand new) Lineman (Brand new) Acquisition Acquisition of 2000 of 2000 sqm Lot sqm at Lot at Acquisition of 2000 sqm Lot at Laurel Jr. said Friday.

Acquisition of 2000 sqm Lot at VVV V Calapan ₱20,000,000.00 ₱20,000,000.00 ₱25,000.00 ₱25,000.00 ₱20,000,000.00 ₱25,000.00 ₱20,000,000.00 ₱25,000.00 Calapan City Proper City Proper Calapan City Proper Calapan City Proper The DA has ordered the Masagana Rice NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE OF OFAFFIDAVIT OF AFFIDAVIT AFFIDAVIT NOTICE OF AFFIDAVIT Acquisition Acquisition of 2000 of 2000 sqm Lot sqm at Lot at Acquisition of 2000 sqm Lot at Acquisition of 2000 sqm Lot at VI ₱3,500,000.00 ₱3,500,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱3,500,000.00 ₱5,000.00 OF OFLOSS OF LOSS LOSS VIVI VI Bulalacao ₱3,500,000.00 ₱5,000.00 OF LOSS Bulalacao Bulalacao Industry Development Program to pre- Notice Bulalacao Notice Notice isisis hereby hereby is hereby given given given that that LEA that LEA LEA Notice hereby given that LEA C. MACARAEG MACARAEG of ofSEALED SEALED C.C.MACARAEG MACARAEG ofofSEALED SEALED VII VII Supply Supply of Office of Office Supplies Supplies ₱4,036,464.00 ₱4,036,464.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 VII Supply of Office Supplies ₱4,036,464.00 ₱5,000.00 pare for worst-case scenarios, with sup- C. VII Supply of Office Supplies ₱4,036,464.00 ₱5,000.00 AIR AIRAIR (PHILIPPINES) (PHILIPPINES) (PHILIPPINES) INC. INC. INC. 2F 2F 2F AIR (PHILIPPINES) INC. 2F Universal Universal RE REBldg., RE Bldg., Bldg., Paseo Paseo Paseo de de de Universal RE Bldg., Paseo de port from the Philippine Rice Research Universal VIII Supply ofofof Thermal of Thermal Paper Paper ₱3,110,400.00 ₱3,110,400.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 VIIIVIII Supply Supply Thermal Paper ₱3,110,400.00 ₱5,000.00 VIII Supply Thermal Paper ₱3,110,400.00 ₱5,000.00 Roxas, Roxas, Roxas, Legaspi Legaspi Legaspi Village, Village, Village, San San San Roxas, Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, Lorenzo, Makati Makati Makati City CityCity 1223, 1223, 1223, Lorenzo, Makati City 1223, Institute (PhilRice) and other units. The Lorenzo, Metro Metro Metro Manila, Manila, Manila, Philippines, Philippines, Philippines, IX Supply ofofof Official of Official Receipt Receipt ₱₱2,800,000.00 ₱ 2,800,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 Supply Official Receipt ₱2,800,000.00 2,800,000.00 ₱5,000.00 Metro Manila, Philippines, IXIX IX Supply Supply Official Receipt ₱5,000.00 General General Fund Fund General Fund having having been been been sworn sworn sworn an anoath, an oath, oath, General Fund looming El Niño adds to a national energy having having been sworn an oath, declares declares declares that that the that the Original the Original Original Copy Copy Copy Supply Supply of Service of Service Vehicle Vehicle for for Supply of Service Vehicle for declares that the Original Copy Supply of Service Vehicle for X X ₱3,600,000.00 ₱3,600,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 X ₱3,600,000.00 ₱5,000.00 X ₱3,600,000.00 ₱5,000.00 emergency that has pushed up farm input ofofofMERALCO MERALCO of MERALCO Official Official Official Receipt Receipt Receipt Power Power Generation Generation Department Department Power Generation Department MERALCO Official Receipt Power Generation Department for for forBill BillBillDeposit-Electrical Deposit-Electrical Deposit-Electrical for Bill Deposit-Electrical MCOO MCOO Insurance Insurance Program Program MCOO Insurance Program costs, adding pressure on producers.

MCOO Insurance Program Upgrade Upgrade Upgrade with with with SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE ID# ID#ID# Upgrade with SERVICE ID# XI Group and Group Personal Personal Accident Accident ₱₱3,000,000.00 ₱ 3,000,000.00 ₱5,000.00 ₱5,000.00 and Group Personal Accident ₱3,000,000.00 3,000,000.00 ₱5,000.00 XIXI XI and and Group Personal Accident ₱5,000.00 100148700103 100148700103 amounting amounting amounting to 100148700103 amounting toto to Insurance Insurance Insurance PhilRice Executive Director John de 100148700103 Insurance Php Php Php 906,300.00 906,300.00 906,300.00 can canno can nolonger no longer longer Php 906,300.00 can no longer be be found be found found despite despite despite diligent diligent diligent efforts efforts efforts be found despite diligent efforts Leon said a presentation by the Philippine tototolocate 3.

Bidding Bidding will willwill be beconducted be conducted conducted through through through open open open competitive competitive competitive bidding bidding bidding procedures procedures procedures using using using nonnonnon3.3. 3. Bidding Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nonlocate to locate the the said the said said Receipt.

Receipt.

Receipt. locate the said Receipt. discretionary discretionary discretionary “pass/fail” “pass/fail” “pass/fail” criterion criterion criterion as as specified as specified specified in the the inNEA the NEA NEA Memorandum Memorandum Memorandum NO. NO. NO. 2017-019: 2017-019: 2017-019: Revised Revised Revised discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified inin the NEA Memorandum NO. 2017-019: Revised Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronom- This This This publication publication publication isisis now now is made now made made for for for This publication now made for Procurement Procurement Procurement Guidelines Guidelines Guidelines and and and Simplified Simplified Simplified Bidding Bidding Bidding Procedures Procedures Procedures for for Electric for Electric Electric Cooperatives, Cooperatives, Cooperatives, IRRIRRIRRProcurement Guidelines and Simplified Bidding Procedures for Electric Cooperatives, IRRrecord record purposes purposes purposes and andand to to notify notify record purposes and totonotify notify RA RA 10531 RA 10531 10531 (2017).

(2017).

(2017).

For For projects For projects projects funded funded funded by by subsidies, by subsidies, subsidies, the the process the process process shall shall shall follow follow follow the the provisions the provisions provisions of RA 10531 (2017).

For projects funded by subsidies, the process shall follow the provisions ofof of ical Services Administration (PAGASA) record the the public the public public and and relevant and relevant relevant authority authority authority the public and relevant authority Republic Republic Republic Act Act No. Act No. 9184, No. 9184, 9184, also also also known known known as as the as Government the Government Procurement Procurement Reform Reform Act; Act; the Government Procurement Reform Act; Republic Act No. 9184, also known as the Government Procurement Reform Act; concerned. concerned. concerned. concerned.

4.

4.

Specifications Specifications and and Technical Technical details details of the of project the project is included is included in the in Bid the Documents.

Bid Documents.

Proof Proof of 4.

Specifications and Technical details of the project is included in the Bid Documents.

Proof showed a 92% probability of a moderate 4.

Specifications and Technical details of the project is included in the Bid Documents. Proof ofof of payment/s payment/s of the ofBidding the Bidding Documents Documents shall shall be sent be sent to the toBAC the BAC via email via email (ormeco.bac.official@ (ormeco.bac.official@ payment/s the Bidding Documents shall be sent the BAC via email (ormeco.bac.official@ payment/s ofof the Bidding Documents shall be sent toto the BAC via email (ormeco.bac.official@ to strong El Niño gmail.com). gmail.com).

Upon Upon validation validation of of the payment/s, the the BAC shall shall email email the the scanned copy copy of of gmail.com).

Upon validation thepayment/s, payment/s, theBAC BAC shall email thescanned scanned copy thethe gmail.com).

Upon validation ofofthe the payment/s, the BAC shall email the scanned copy ofofthe the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents and and Official Official Receipts Receipts Bidding Documents and Official Receipts to the Bidders email address declared the Letter to the to Bidders the Bidders email email address address declared declared in in Letter the Letter Bidding Documents and Official Receipts to the Bidders email address declared ininthe the Letter Republic Republic Republic of of the the of Philippines the Philippines Philippines Republic of the Philippines based on the Intent. of Intent. of Intent.

First First First Judicial Judicial Judicial Region Region Region ofof Intent.

First Judicial Region The schedule bidding activities as follows: 5.

The schedule schedule of bidding of bidding activities activities isisis as isfollows: as follows: REGIONAL REGIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL TRIAL TRIAL COURT COURT COURT 5.5. 5. The The schedule ofof bidding activities as follows: REGIONAL TRIAL COURT ENSO outlook.

BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH 2-FC 2-FC 2-FC BRANCH 2-FC Family Family Family Court Court Court of of Baguio Baguio of Baguio City City City Family Court of Baguio City ENSO, or the ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE El Niño-Southern Publication Publication Publication of of Invitation Invitation of Invitation to to Bid Bid to Bid 25 25 April 25 April April 2026 2026 2026 (Saturday) (Saturday) (Saturday) Publication of Invitation to Bid 25 April 2026 (Saturday) FERNANDO FERNANDO FERNANDO RIMANDO RIMANDO RIMANDO DE DE VERA, DE VERA, VERA, Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner FERNANDO RIMANDO DE VERA, Petitioner -versus-versus-versusOscillation, is a -versusLast Last Last day dayofday Submission of Submission ofofof of Last day ofofSubmission Submission ELMA ELMA ELMA B. ABENES ABENES B. ABENES --DE -DE DE -VERA, DE VERA, VERA, Respondent Respondent Respondent ELMA B.B. ABENES VERA, Respondent Letter Letter Letter ofofofIntent Intent of Intent thru thruemail thru email email Before Before the the start ofofofthe ofscheduled the scheduled Opening Opening and and Evaluation ofofofBids of Bids thru Before thestart start the scheduled Opening andEvaluation Evaluation Bids thruthru Civil Civil Civil Case Case Case No. No. 2457-F No. 2457-F 2457-F Letter Intent thru email Before the start the scheduled Opening and Evaluation Bids thru Civil Case No. 2457-F recurring climate //Availability / Availability / Availability ofofofBidding Bidding of Bidding ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com orororhand-carry or hand-carry atatatORMECO, at ORMECO, INC. INC. ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com hand-carry ORMECO, INC. Availability Bidding ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com hand-carry ORMECO, INC. For: For: For: Declaration Declaration Declaration of Nullity of Nullity of Marriage of Marriage under under under Article Article Article 36 36of 36 ofthe the of Family the Family Family For: Declaration ofofNullity Nullity ofofMarriage Marriage under Article 36 of the Family pattern driven by Documents Documents Documents Code Code Code Documents Code changes in sea 10:00 10:00 am am for 10:00 amfor forLot LotIILot I I ACCORDINGLY, ACCORDINGLY, ACCORDINGLY, judgment judgment judgment isisis hereby hereby is hereby rendered rendered rendered declaring declaring declaring the the marriage the marriage marriage 10:00 am for Lot ACCORDINGLY, judgment hereby rendered declaring the marriage between between between petitioner petitioner petitioner FERNANDO FERNANDO FERNANDO RIMANDO RIMANDO RIMANDO DE DE VERA DE VERA VERA and and respondent and respondent respondent between petitioner FERNANDO RIMANDO DE VERA and respondent surface temperaELMA ELMA ELMA B. ABENES-DE ABENES-DE B. ABENES-DE VERA VERA VERA contracted contracted contracted on on June on June June 28, 28, 1990 28, 1990 1990 in Naguilian, Naguilian, in Naguilian, ELMA B.B. ABENES-DE VERA contracted on June 28, 1990 inin Naguilian, 11:00 11:00 am am for Lot 11:00 amfor forLot LotII-A II-AII-A 11:00 am for Lot II-A La La Union La Union Union as VOID as VOID VOID AB AB INITIO AB INITIO INITIO under under under Article Article Article 36 36 of of the the ofFamily the Family Family Code Code Code of the the of the La Union asas VOID AB INITIO under Article 36 of36 the Family Code ofof the tures and atmo05 05 May 2026 2026 (Tuesday) (Tuesday) atatatORMECO, at ORMECO, May 2026 (Tuesday) ORMECO, Philippines Philippines Philippines on on the on the ground the ground ground of the the ofrespondent’s the respondent’s respondent’s psychological psychological psychological incapacity incapacity incapacity 0505May May 2026 (Tuesday) ORMECO, Philippines on the ground ofof the respondent’s psychological incapacity 1:00 1:00 pm pm for Lot 1:00 pmfor forLot LotII-B II-BII-B 1:00 pm for Lot II-B to to comply comply with with with her heressential her essential essential marital marital marital obligations, obligations, obligations, with with with all all thelegal the legal legal totocomply comply with her essential marital obligations, with allallthe the legal INC. INC. Resolution Resolution Room Room INC. Resolution Room spheric pressure INC. Resolution Room consequences consequences consequences as provided as provided provided by law. by law.law. consequences asas provided byby law.

2:00 2:00 pm pm for Lot 2:00 pmfor forLot LotIII-B III-BIII-B 2:00 pm for Lot III-B in the Pacific.

Consequently, Consequently, Consequently, the theparties’ the parties’ parties’ property property property relation relation relation as as husband husband and andand wife wife wife isisis is Consequently, the parties’ property relation asashusband husband and wife hereby hereby hereby DISSOLVED, DISSOLVED, DISSOLVED, and andand their their their children: children: children: (1) (1)Peter (1) Peter Peter John John John Abenes Abenes Abenes De DeDe hereby DISSOLVED, and their children: (1) Peter John Abenes De 3:00 3:00 pm for pm Lot for VII Lot 3:00 pm for Lot VII VII De Leon said 3:00 pm for Lot VII Vera; Vera; Vera; (2) (2) Kaecee (2) Kaecee Kaecee Abenes Abenes Abenes De De Vera; De Vera; Vera; (3) (3) Paulo (3) Paulo Paulo Abenes Abenes Abenes De De Vera, De Vera, Vera, (4) (4) Karla (4) Karla Karla Vera; (2) Kaecee Abenes De Vera; (3) Paulo Abenes De Vera, (4) Karla Nicole Nicole Nicole Abenes Abenes Abenes De De Vera; De Vera; Vera; and and (5) and (5) Christian (5) Christian Christian Josh Josh Josh Abenes Abenes Abenes De De Vera, De Vera, Vera, shall shall shall Nicole Abenes De Vera; and (5) Christian Josh Abenes De Vera, shall the Philippines 9:00 9:00 am for am Lot for VIII Lot 9:00 am for Lot VIIIVIII 9:00 am for Lot VIII be be considered be considered considered legitimate legitimate legitimate pursuant pursuant pursuant to to Article Article to Article 54 54 of 54 of the the of Family the Family Family Code.

Code.

Code. be considered legitimate pursuant to Article 54 of the Family Code.

Pre-Bid Pre-Bid Conference Conference Pre-Bid Conference Pre-Bid Conference is prone to a poThe The parties’ The parties’ parties’ youngest youngest youngest and and only and only only remaining remaining remaining minor minor minor child, child, child, Christian Christian Christian Josh, Josh, Josh, 10:00 10:00 am am for Lot 10:00 amfor forLot LotIX IX IX The parties’ youngest and only remaining minor child, Christian Josh, 10:00 am for Lot IX shall shall shall remain remain remain under under under the thefull the fullcustody full custody custody of of thepetitioner, the petitioner, petitioner, subject subject subject to to thethe shall remain under the full custody ofofthe the petitioner, subject totothe the tential “super” respondent’s respondent’s respondent’s exercise exercise exercise of visitation visitation of visitation rights rights rights in accordance accordance in accordance with with terms with terms terms and andand respondent’s exercise ofof visitation rights inin accordance with terms and 11:00 11:00 am for am Lot for V Lot V 11:00 am for Lot V 11:00 am for Lot V 06 06 May 2026 2026 (Wednesday) (Wednesday) atatatORMECO, at ORMECO, May 2026 (Wednesday) ORMECO, 0606May May 2026 (Wednesday) ORMECO, conditions conditions conditions as as may may be bemutually be mutually mutually agreed agreed agreed upon upon upon by by theparties. the parties. parties.

He Heshall He shall shall conditions asasmay may be mutually agreed upon bybythe the parties.

He shall El Niño, with likewise likewise likewise be beentitled be entitled entitled to to financial financial support support support from from from both both both the thepetitioner the petitioner petitioner and andand INC. INC. Resolution Resolution Room Room INC. Resolution Room likewise be entitled totofinancial financial support from both the petitioner and INC. Resolution Room 1:00 1:00 pm for pm Lot for VI Lot VI 1:00 pm for Lot VI 1:00 pm for Lot VI the therespondent the respondent respondent in such in such amount amount amount as as may may be bemutually be mutually mutually agreed agreed agreed upon upon upon by the respondent ininsuch such amount asasmay may be mutually agreed upon byby by projected warmthe the parties. the parties. parties. the parties.

2:00 2:00 pm pm for Lot 2:00 pmfor forLot LotIII-A III-AIII-A 2:00 pm for Lot III-A ing of up to 2.2 Considering Considering Considering that thatthat the therespondent the respondent respondent in in thisthis case case case was was was summoned summoned summoned by Considering that the respondent ininthis this case was summoned byby by 3:00 3:00 pm for pm Lot for XI Lot 3:00 pm for Lot publication publication publication and and she and she falled she falled falled to to appear appear to appear in in the the in action, the action, action, let let the let the dispositive the dispositive dispositive 3:00 pm for Lot XIXI XI publication and she falled to appear in the action, let the dispositive degrees Celsius, part partpart of of thisDecision this Decision Decision be bepublished be published published once once once in in newspaper newspaper a newspaper of of general general part ofofthis this Decision be published once ininaaa newspaper ofofgeneral general circulation, circulation, circulation, at the the atexpense the expense expense of the the ofpetitioner. the petitioner. petitioner.

10:00 10:00 am am for Lot 10:00 amfor forLot LotIV IV IV circulation, atat the expense ofof the petitioner. am for Lot IV 07 07 May 2026 2026 (Thursday) (Thursday) atatatORMECO, at ORMECO, 10:00 May 2026 (Thursday) ORMECO, 0707May May 2026 (Thursday) ORMECO, which could INC. INC. Resolution Resolution Room Room INC. Resolution Room SO SO ORDERED. SO ORDERED. ORDERED. INC. Resolution Room SO ORDERED. 11:00 11:00 am for am Lot for X Lot 11:00 am for Lot X 11:00 am for Lot X X sharply reduce Deadline Deadline ofofof Acceptance of Acceptance for for Deadline Acceptance thethe DONE DONE DONE this this 14th this 14th 14th of November November of November 2025 2025 2025 at Baguio Baguio at Baguio City, City, City, Philippines.

Philippines.

Philippines.

Deadline Acceptance forforthe the DONE this 14th ofof November 2025 atat Baguio City, Philippines.

18 18 May 2026 2026 (Monday) (Monday) Office Office Hours, Hours, atatat at May 2026 (Monday) Office Hours, 1818May May 2026 (Monday) Office Hours, rainfall and strain Submission Submission ofofof Accreditation of Accreditation Until Until 5:00 5:00 pm Submission Accreditation Until 5:00 pmpm Submission Accreditation Until 5:00 pm ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. INC. Office Office ORMECO, INC. Office HON. HON. HON. MODESTO MODESTO MODESTO D. BAHUL, D. BAHUL, BAHUL, JR. JR.JR. ORMECO, INC. Office HON. MODESTO D.D. BAHUL, JR. (Hard (Hard Copy) Copy) (Hard Copy) (Hard Copy) Presiding Presiding Presiding Judge Judge Judge Presiding Judge water resources 9:00 9:00 am for am Lot for VII Lot 9:00 am for Lot VII VII 9:00 am for Lot VII in key agricul11:00 11:00 am for am Lot for VIII Lot 11:00 am for Lot VIIIVIII 11:00 am for Lot VIII tural areas. Of25 May 25 2026 May 2026 (Monday) (Monday) atatat ORMECO, at ORMECO, INC. INC. May 2026 (Monday) ORMECO, INC. 2525 May 2026 (Monday) ORMECO, INC. REPUBLIC REPUBLIC REPUBLIC OF OF THE OF THE THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 1:00 1:00 pm for pm IX for IX 1:00 pm for IX 1:00 pm for IX Resolution Resolution Room Room Resolution Room ficials are reResolution Room FOURTH FOURTH FOURTH JUDICIAL JUDICIAL JUDICIAL REGION REGION REGION FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION 2:30 2:30 pm for pm Lot for VVLot 2:30 pm for Lot V V BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH 2, FAMILY FAMILY 2, FAMILY COURT COURT COURT (FC) (FC) (FC) 2:30 pm for Lot BRANCH 2,2, FAMILY COURT (FC) viewing rainfall LIPA LIPA LIPA CITY CITY CITY LIPA CITY 4:00 4:00 pm for pm VI 4:00 pm for VI VI 4:00 pm for VIfor Mobile Mobile Mobile No.: No.: 09278216832 No.: 09278216832 09278216832 Landline Landline Landline No.: No.: (043) No.: (043) (043) 7565127 7565127 7565127 projections and Mobile No.: 09278216832 Landline No.: (043) 7565127 Email Email Email address: address: address: fc1lip0002@judiciary.gov.ph fc1lip0002@judiciary.gov.ph fc1lip0002@judiciary.gov.ph Email address: fc1lip0002@judiciary.gov.ph 9:00 9:00 am am for 9:00 amfor forLot LotIILot I I 9:00 am for Lot water availability Deadline Deadline ofofof Submission of Submission and Deadline Submission andand Deadline Submission and 11:00 11:00 am for am Lot for II-A Lot 11:00 am for Lot II-AII-A 11:00 am for Lot II-A RONALD RONALD RONALD S. GARCIA, S. GARCIA, GARCIA, 26 May 2026 2026 (Tuesday) (Tuesday) atatatORMECO, at ORMECO, May 2026 (Tuesday) ORMECO, Receipt Receipt ofofof Bids/ of Bids/ Bid Opening Bid Opening 26 Receipt Bids/ Bid Opening RONALD S.S. GARCIA, 2626May May 2026 (Tuesday) ORMECO, to adjust plantReceipt Bids/ Bid Opening Petitioner, Petitioner, Petitioner, CIVIL CIVIL CIVIL CASE CASE CASE NO. NO. NO. INC. INC. Resolution Resolution Room Room INC. Resolution Room Petitioner, CIVIL CASE NO. INC. Resolution Room 1:00 1:00 pm pm for 1:00 pmfor forII-B II-BII-B 1:00 pm for II-B ing strategies and 06-2024-0481 06-2024-0481 06-2024-0481 06-2024-0481 3:00 3:00 pm pm for Lot 3:00 pmfor forLot LotIII-B III-BIII-B -versus -versus -versus -for-for-for3:00 pm for Lot III-B -versus -formitigate risks.

Declaration Declaration Declaration of Nullity Nullity of Nullity Declaration ofof Nullity 9:00 9:00 am am for Lot 9:00 amfor forLot LotIII-A III-AIII-A 9:00 am for Lot III-A Measures may of Marriage Marriage of Marriage ofof Marriage 11:00 am am for Lot 11:00 amfor forLot LotXI XI XI 11:00 am for Lot XI 29 29 May 2026 2026 (Friday) (Friday) atatatORMECO, at ORMECO, INC. INC. 11:00 May 2026 (Friday) ORMECO, INC. 2929May May 2026 (Friday) ORMECO, INC. include shifting MICHELLE MICHELLE MICHELLE D. GONOON-GARCIA D. GONOON-GARCIA GONOON-GARCIA MICHELLE D.D. GONOON-GARCIA Resolution Resolution Room Room Resolution Room Resolution Room 1:00 1:00 pm for pm Lot for IV Lot IV 1:00 pm for Lot IV 1:00 pm for Lot IV Respondent.

Respondent.

Respondent. to less waterRespondent. x---------------------------------------------x x---------------------------------------------x x---------------------------------------------x 3:00 3:00 pm pm for 3:00 pmfor forLot LotXXLot X X x---------------------------------------------x 3:00 pm for Lot intensive crops SUMMONS SUMMONS SUMMONS BY BY PUBLICATION BY PUBLICATION PUBLICATION SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION Post-Qualification Post-Qualification 08 08 June tototo11 toJune 11 June 2026 2026 Post-Qualification June June 2026 Post-Qualification 0808June June 1111 June 2026 In averified verified a verified petition petition petition filed filed filed on onJune on June June 10, 10,2024, 10, 2024, 2024, the thepetitioner the petitioner petitioner InInaaIn verified petition filed on June 10, 2024, the petitioner such as mung Approval Approval through through Board Board Approval through Board Approval through Board prays prays prays that that that this thisCourt this Court Court declares declares declares his hismarriage his marriage marriage to respondent to respondent as asnull as nullnull prays that this Court declares his marriage totorespondent respondent as null beans, adjusting Resolution Resolution and and Issuance ofofof of Board Board Meeting Meeting for for the Month ofofofJune of June 2026 2026 Resolution andIssuance Issuance Board Meeting theMonth Month June 2026 and and and void void void on onthe on theground the ground ground that that that the therespondent the respondent respondent isisispsychologically is psychologically psychologically Resolution and Issuance Board Meeting forforthe the Month June 2026 and void on the ground that the respondent psychologically Notice Notice ofofof Award of Award Notice Award incapacitated incapacitated incapacitated to to perform perform her heressential her essential essential obligations, obligations, obligations, pursuant pursuant pursuant to Notice Award incapacitated totoperform perform her essential obligations, pursuant toto to planting calenArticle Article Article 36 36 of 36 of the the ofFamily the Family Family Code.

Code.

Code.

Signing Signing ofofofContract of Contract After After Issuance Issuance ofofofNotice of Notice ofofof Award of Award Signing Contract After Issuance Notice Award Article 36 of the Family Code.

Signing Contract After Issuance Notice Award dars, and accelUpon Upon Upon petitioner’s petitioner’s petitioner’s motion motion motion through through through his hishis counsel, counsel, counsel, the thethe Court Court Court Upon petitioner’s motion through his counsel, the Court Delivery Delivery Schedule Schedule To be announced during during the the Pre-Bid Conference Conference Delivery Schedule beannounced announced during thePre-Bid Pre-Bid Conference Delivery Schedule ToTobe beTo announced during the Pre-Bid Conference erating the rollout granted granted granted leave leave leave of of court court to to serve serve summons summons summons by bypublication by publication publication on onthe on thethe granted leave ofofcourt court totoserve serve summons by publication on the respondent respondent respondent MICHELLE MICHELLE MICHELLE D. D. GONOON-GARCIA. D. GONOON-GARCIA. GONOON-GARCIA. 6.

6. 6. Only Only Only those those those who who who have have have aaavalidated validated a validated payment/s payment/s payment/s of ofthe of theBidding the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents Documents shall shall shall be beallowed be allowed allowed to respondent MICHELLE D. GONOON-GARCIA. 6.

Only those who have validated payment/s of the Bidding Documents shall be allowed toto to of solar-powered attend attend attend or participate or participate participate during during during the the Pre-Bidding the Pre-Bidding Pre-Bidding Conference; Conference; Conference; attend oror participate during the Pre-Bidding Conference; NOW NOW NOW THEREFORE, THEREFORE, THEREFORE, respondent, respondent, respondent, whose whose whose last last known last known known address address address at at at 7.7. 7. Only NOW THEREFORE, respondent, whose last known address at Only Only those those those who who who have have have secured secured secured a a valid valid a valid Accreditation Accreditation Accreditation Certificate Certificate Certificate and and and validated validated validated payment/s payment/s payment/s of 7.

Only those who have secured a valid Accreditation Certificate and validated payment/s ofof of irrigation systems No. No.No. Brgy.

Brgy.

Brgy.

Sampiro, Sampiro, Sampiro, San San San Juan, Juan, Juan, Batangas Batangas Batangas isisishereby hereby is hereby summoned summoned summoned No. Brgy.

Sampiro, San Juan, Batangas hereby summoned the theBidding the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents Documents shall shall shall be beallowed be allowed allowed to to submit submit Bid BidProposals Bid Proposals Proposals and and and participate participate participate during during during the thethe the Bidding Documents shall be allowed totosubmit submit Bid Proposals and participate during the and and and required required required to to file to file with file with with Branch Branch Branch 2, 2, Family 2, Family Family Court Court Court (FC), (FC), (FC), Hall Hall Hall of of of Opening Opening Opening of of Bids.

Bids. of Bids. to offset rising and required to file with Branch 2, Family Court (FC), Hall of Opening of Bids.

Justice, Justice, Justice, Lipa Lipa Lipa City, City, City, Batangas Batangas Batangas her heranswer her answer answer to the to instant the instant instant petition petition petition for forfor Justice, Lipa City, Batangas her answer totothe the instant petition for fuel and electricAllbids All bids bids shall shall shall be beopened be opened opened and and and read read read in in thepresence the presence presence of of theAccredited the Accredited Accredited Bidders Bidders Bidders or or their their duly duly duly declaration declaration declaration of nullity nullity of nullity of marriage marriage of marriage within within within sixty sixty sixty (60) (60) (60) days days days from from from last lastlast 8.

8.8. 8. All All bids shall be opened and read ininthe the presence ofofthe the Accredited Bidders orortheir their duly declaration ofof nullity ofof marriage within sixty (60) days from last authorized authorized authorized representatives. representatives. representatives.

All All bids All bids bids shall shall shall be be accompanied be accompanied accompanied by by aaby a Bid Bid a Security Bid Security Security equivalent equivalent equivalent to 2% 2% to 2% authorized representatives.

All bids shall be accompanied by Bid Security equivalent toto 2% date date date of of publication publication of of thissummons. this summons. summons.

In In theevent the event event of of herfailure her failure failure date ofofpublication publication ofofthis this summons.

InInthe the event ofofher her failure ity costs. of of ABC. ABC. of ABC. of ABC. to to doso, do so,this so, thisCourt this Court Court shall shall shall direct direct direct the thepublic the public public prosecutor prosecutor prosecutor to to conduct conduct totodo do so, this Court shall direct the public prosecutor totoconduct conduct The DA is also an aninvestigation an investigation investigation of of anyany collusion collusion collusion between between between the theparties the parties parties and and and ifif ifthe the if the an investigation ofofany any collusion between the parties and the 9.9. 9. The The The winning winning winning bidder bidder bidder shall shall shall issue issue issue Performance Performance Performance Security Security Security in the in form the form form of of Cash, Cash, Cashier’s Cashier’s Cashier’s Check, Check, Check, The winning bidder shall issue Performance Security ininthe the form ofofCash, Cash, Cashier’s Check, Court Court Court is is convinced convinced is convinced that that that there there there is is no no is collusion, no collusion, collusion, the the petitioner the petitioner petitioner shall shall shall 9.

Court is convinced that there is no collusion, the petitioner shall coordinating with Manager’s Manager’s Manager’s Check, Check, Check, issued issued issued by by aaby a Universal Universal a Universal or Commercial or Commercial Bank, equivalent five percent (5%) Commercial Bank, Bank, equivalent equivalent to five to percent five percent (5%) (5%) Manager’s Check, issued by Universal oror Commercial Bank, equivalent toto five percent (5%) be be allowed be allowed allowed to present present to present his his evidence his evidence evidence in support support in support of the the ofpetition. the petition. petition. be allowed toto present his evidence inin support ofof the petition. for non-infrastructure and ten percent (10%) for infrastructure of the Contract Price. for non-infrastructure for non-infrastructure and and ten percent ten percent (10%) (10%) for infrastructure for infrastructure of the of Contract the Contract Price.

Price. for non-infrastructure and ten percent (10%) for infrastructure of the Contract Price. the National IrLet LetLet this thisthis Summons Summons Summons be bepublished be published published once once once aaaweek week a week for fortwo for twotwo (2) (2)(2) Let this Summons be published once week for two (2) 10.10.ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. reserves theright right accept reject anyany bids, declare failure bidding, 10.

ORMECO, INC. INC. reserves reserves the the right to to accept or or reject any bids, bids, declare declare aaafailure a failure of of bidding, ORMECO, INC. reserves the right totoaccept accept ororreject reject any bids, declare failure ofofbidding, bidding, rigation Adminconsecutive consecutive consecutive weeks weeks weeks in anewspaper newspaper a newspaper of of general general circulation circulation circulation in in thethe 10. consecutive weeks ininaain newspaper ofofgeneral general circulation ininthe the and notto award thecontract contract without thereby incurring and and not not to award the the contract without without thereby thereby incurring incurring any liability liability to to the affected bidder bidder or anyany liability theaffected affected bidder and not totoaward award the contract without thereby incurring any liability totothe the affected bidder oror or Philippines Philippines Philippines at at the at the expense the expense expense of of the of the petition the petition petition and and and all all its all its attachments its attachments attachments Philippines at the expense of the petition and all its attachments bidders. bidders.

ORMECO, ORMECO, INC. INC. also also has no no responsibility whatsoever whatsoever to to compensate or or indemnify bidders.

ORMECO, INC. also hashas noresponsibility responsibility whatsoever compensate indemnify bidders.

ORMECO, INC. also has no responsibility whatsoever totocompensate compensate ororindemnify indemnify istration (NIA) be besent be sent sent by byregistered by registered registered mail mail mail to to therespondent the respondent respondent at at hislast his lastlast known known known be sent by registered mail totothe the respondent atathis his last known bidders bidders for any for expenses any expenses incurred incurred in the inpreparation the preparation of their of their bids. bids. bidders for any expenses incurred the preparation their bids. bidders for any expenses incurred inin the preparation ofof their bids. address address address also also also at the the atexpense the expense expense of the the ofpetitioner. the petitioner. petitioner. to optimize water address also atat the expense ofof the petitioner. day dayday WITNESS WITNESS WITNESS my myhand my hand hand under under under the theseal the seal seal of of theCourt, the Court, Court, this this29 this 2929 allocation and day WITNESS my hand under the seal ofofthe the Court, this 29 Certified Certified by: Approved Approved by: Certified by:by: Approved by:by: Certified by: Approved by: of May May of May 2025.

2025.

2025. ofof May 2025. ensure irrigation (Sgd.) (Sgd.) (Sgd.) ATTY. ATTY. ATTY. PAULA PAULA PAULA MARGARETH MARGARETH MARGARETH R. KATIGBAK R. KATIGBAK KATIGBAK (SGD.) (SGD.) (SGD.) (SGD.) (SGD.) (SGD.) (Sgd.) ATTY. PAULA MARGARETH R.R. KATIGBAK systems are ready (SGD.) (SGD.) Clerk Clerk Clerk of Court Court of Court VVV V ENGR. ENGR. DONNA DONNA ANGELINE ANGELINE C. VALDEZ C. VALDEZ HUMPHREY HUMPHREY A. DOLOR, A. DOLOR, PECE, PECE, MBA MBA ENGR. DONNA ANGELINE VALDEZ HUMPHREY DOLOR, PECE, MBA Clerk ofof Court ENGR. DONNA ANGELINE C.C. VALDEZ HUMPHREY A.A. DOLOR, PECE, MBA for prolonged dry Chairperson, Chairperson, Bids Bids and Awards and Awards Committee Committee (BAC) (BAC) Head Head of Procuring of Procuring Entity Entity (HOPE) (HOPE) Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Head Procuring Entity (HOPE) Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Head ofof Procuring Entity (HOPE) (MStandard (MStandard (MStandard --Apr. -Apr. Apr. - Apr. 18 18 &&18 & 25, 25, &2026) 25, 2026) 2026) (MStandard 18 25, 2026) spells. th thth

project represents a significant move for the province.

“This reconfiguration marks an important step in our continuing efforts to enhance the passenger journey at Bohol-Panglao International Airport. We are grateful for the strong collaboration with our partners in the Bohol Provincial Government, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines [CAAP], whose tremendous support enables us to pursue improvements that benefit travelers and the wider community,” Aboitiz said.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines directorgeneral Raul Del Rosario said the improvements align with national efforts to strengthen aviation gateways.

Responsible Responsible Responsible forforfor the management for management the management and review and review ofreview offinancial financial of financial and business and business business Responsible thethe management andand review offinancial andand business drivers drivers drivers totoensure toensure ensure to ensure the achievement achievement the achievement ofofthe ofthethe organization’s oforganization’s organization’s the organization’s goals. goals.goals. drivers thethe achievement goals.

CYAN CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK BLACK ••• Role •CYAN Role models Role models models and drives drives and activities drives activities activities totoencourage toencourage encourage to encourage and build build andYELLOW the the desired desired the desired organizational organizational organizational MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Role models andand drives activities andand build thebuild desired organizational culture, culture, culture, values valuesand values and reputation reputation ininCIMB inCIMB CIMB inand CIMB andwith withallallwith allemployees, employees, all employees, customers customers customers and culture, values andandreputation reputation and withand employees, customers andand and regulatory/official regulatory/official regulatory/official agencies. agencies. agencies. regulatory/official agencies.

Qualification Qualification Qualification (Education, (Education, (Education, Experience, Experience, Experience, Professional Professional Professional License, License, License, Skills SkillsSkills Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Certification, Certification, Specialized Specialized Specialized Training): Training): Training): Certification, Specialized Training): ••• Responsible •Responsible Responsible forforfor reviewing reviewing for reviewing the balance balance the balance sheet sheet and sheet P&L and P&L drivers P&L drivers drivers Responsible reviewing thethe balance sheet andand P&L drivers ••• •Bachelor' Bachelor' Bachelor' ssdegree s degree s relevant degree relevant relevant totothe tothethe job, tojob, the MBA MBA job,aaplus MBA a plusa plus Bachelor' degree relevant job, MBA plus forforfor the bank forbank bank the bank thethe

Key Responsibilities: Key Responsibilities: Responsibilities: KeyKey Responsibilities:

Atleast least At55years least 5 years 5ofofyears experience ofexperience experience of experience ininthe inthethe banking in banking the banking ororfinancial orfinancial financial or financial services services services industry, industry, industry, with years banking services industry, withwith with ••• Responsible •Responsible Responsible forforfor P&L P&L forand P&L and balance and balance balance sheet sheet forecasting sheet forecasting forecasting activities, activities, activities,••• •AtAtleast Responsible P&L and balance sheet forecasting activities, technical positions positions positions such suchasassuch asFinance, Finance, as Finance, Risk, Risk,Analytics Risk, Analytics Analytics oror or or relevant relevant relevant experience experience experience inin technical intechnical in technical positions such Finance, Risk, Analytics relevant experience including including including monthly monthly monthly outlook outlook outlook projections projections projections and andtheannual theannual annual including monthly outlook projections andandthe the annual product product product management management management ininAsia, inAsia, Asia, inpreferably Asia, preferably preferably experience experience experience ininMalaysia inMalaysia Malaysia in Malaysia product management preferably experience budgeting budgeting budgeting budgeting Able totoAble communicate tocommunicate communicate to communicate financial financial financial performance performance performance and data and data inindata ainabusiness abusiness inbusiness a business context context context and Able financial performance andand data context andand and ••• Work •Workwith Work with business business tototoevaluate evaluate to evaluate the the effectiveness effectiveness ofofofthe of the••• •Able Work withwithbusiness business evaluate thetheeffectiveness effectiveness thethe make make information make information information easily easily available easily available available totoalltoallallto all make information easily available strategies strategies strategies totosupport tosupport support to support the business the business growth growth growth asasaswell asasaswell asfinalize finalize as finalize strategies thethebusiness business growth wellwell finalize the target target thesetting target setting setting forforfor business business for business initiatives. initiatives. initiatives. thethe target setting business initiatives.

Applications Applications Applications may bebesent may besentsent to: beto:Annie sent to:Annie Annie to:Caw Annie Caw ––CHRO Caw – CHRO –(annie.caw@cimb.com) CHRO (annie.caw@cimb.com) (annie.caw@cimb.com) Applications maymay Caw CHRO (annie.caw@cimb.com) ••• Supports •Supports Supports the CEO CEO theand CEO and senior and senior stakeholders senior stakeholders stakeholders totoachieve toachieve achieve to achieve CIMB’s CIMB’s CIMB’s Supports thethe CEO and senior stakeholders CIMB’s overall overall overall business business business and strategic and strategic strategic objectives. objectives. objectives. overall business andand strategic objectives.

••• Responsible •Responsible Responsible forforforcreating creating for creating the the department/unit/team’s department/unit/team’s vision, vision, vision, Responsible creating thethedepartment/unit/team’s department/unit/team’s vision, culture culture culture and performance and performance performance standards standards standards asasas well asasaswell as overseeing overseeing as overseeing itsitsits its culture andand performance standards wellwell overseeing adoption adoption adoption ininallinalllevels alllevels inlevels alloflevels ofthethe department/unit/team. ofdepartment/unit/team. department/unit/team. the department/unit/team. adoption ofthe Company/ Company/ Company/ Employer Employer Employer Company/ Employer

Name Name Name ofofof foreign foreign of foreign national national national intending intending intending tototo apply apply to apply for the forposition the position position Name foreign national intending apply forfor thethe position

Company Company Company Name: Name: Name: CIMB CIMB CIMB Bank Bank Bank Philippines Philippines Philippines Inc. Inc.Inc. Name: Name: Name: Chew Chew Chew Jien Jien Kit Jien Kit Kit Company Name: CIMB Bank Philippines Inc. Name: Chew Jien Kit ndnd nd nd Floor, Floor, Floor, Bonifacio Bonifacio Bonifacio Stop StopStop Over OverOverAddress: Complete Complete Complete Address: Address: Address: 222222 22 Address: Address: Taguig Taguig Taguig City CityCity Floor, Bonifacio Stop Over Complete Address: Address: Taguig City ndnd nd nd stst st st Avenue, cor. cor.

3131 cor.

31Street, 31 Street, Street, Bonifacio Bonifacio BonifacioNationality: Corporate Corporate Corporate Center, Center, Center, 22 2Avenue, 2 Avenue, Nationality: Nationality: Malaysian Malaysian Malaysian Avenue, cor.

Street, Bonifacio Corporate Center, Nationality: Malaysian Global Global Global City, City, Taguig City, Taguig Taguig City CityCity Six (6) (6) months months (6) months Intended Intended Intended Period Period Period ofofEmployment: ofEmployment: Employment: of Employment: Global City, Taguig City SixSix (6)Six months Intended Period Manila Manila Manila Manila Nature Nature Nature Of Of Business: Business: Of Business: Financial Financial Financial Intermediation Intermediation Intermediation Nature Of Business: Financial Intermediation TODAY TODAY TODAY Company Company Company hereby hereby hereby declares declares declares that thatthe that theabove-named the above-named above-named foreign foreign foreign national national national isisisable, able, is willing, able, willing, willing, and andqualified and qualified qualified tototoperform perform to perform the the services services and andjob and job job TODAY Company hereby declares that the above-named foreign national able, willing, and qualified perform thetheservices services and job description description description for this forposition. this position. position.

The Thecompany The company company has hasthe has theintention the intention intention tototoemploy employ to employ the the saidforeign said foreign foreign national national national and andapply and apply apply for for Alien Alien an Employment Alien Employment Employment description forforthis this position.

The company has the intention employ thethesaid said foreign national and apply forforananan Alien Employment Permit Permit Permit with with the with the Department the Department Department ofofof Labor Labor of Labor and and Employment and Employment Employment --National - National - National Capital Capital Capital Region Region Region located located located atatat 967 967 atMaligaya 967 Maligaya Maligaya Street, Street, Street, Malate, Malate, Malate, Manila.

Manila.

Manila.

Permit with the Department Labor and Employment National Capital Region located 967 Maligaya Street, Malate, Manila.

Standard Standard Standard Standard

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CYAN CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

B4

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

Sugar stocks stable despite lower output PHILIPPINE sugar supply remains stable and sufficient to meet consumer and industrial demand despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) said.

Data from an April 5 Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) report showed a solid buildup in stocks, with raw sugar inventories reaching 677,624 metric tons, up 9.59 percent from a year ago. Refined sugar stocks rose to 529,573 metric tons, providing a buffer against potential market volatility.

Raw sugar production fell 6.27 percent to 1.47 million metric tons from 1.56 million metric tons in the same period last year. However, higher carryover stocks offset the decline and kept the overall supply intact.

PSMA executive-director Jesus Barrera said the industry continues to hold strong inventory levels to support the domestic value chain.

“The latest SRA data shows inventories remain robust. We have enough supply to meet demand, and our focus is to maintain a stable and predictable market for both producers and users,” Barrera said.

The PSMA said it would continue working with government and industry stakeholders to manage market expectations and support the long-term viability of the sugar sector. Othel V. Campos

5 foreign firms keen on Tarlac AI hub

By Othel V. Campos

F

IVE investors from the United States and an East Asian country have sent feelers to negotiate planned investments within a proposed artificial intelligence hub in New Clark City in Tarlac province, state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority said Friday.

The AI Native Industrial Acceleration Hub, a joint project with Pax Silica, will cover about 1,600 hectares of BCDA property.

BCDA president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang told a press briefing the project is structured as a public-private partnership positioned as a manufacturing-driven ecosystem.

“This will be a magnet for other industries to come,” Bingcang said, noting the project aims to revive domestic manufacturing and allow the Philippines to catch up with regional peers.

Multiple high-level companies involved in renewable energy and data centers have expressed interest in the site. BCDA said follow-up

discussions are ongoing and the agency plans to tailor investment packages based on industry requirements once a master plan is finished.

The project will operate similarly to an economic zone by offering an integrated environment for industrial locators.

Bingcang said the BCDA is prepared to support investors and will deploy state funds for earlystage requirements like feasibility studies.

The agency is coordinating these early requirements with US partners under the Pax Silica agreement.

While several business models remain under consideration, specific equity-sharing arrangements are not

WATER SOURCE. Manila Water Company’s 80-million-literper day Calawis Water Treatment Plant supplies clean and potable water to Antipolo City customers and nearby towns.

The facility is a critical part of the company’s big push to diversify water sources and mitigate the effects of El Niño.

Paywatch aims to grow userbase to 1m in 12 months as EWA demand rises

By Thony Rose Lesaca FINANCIAL technology company Paywatch plans to grow its user base to nearly 1 million employees globally within the next 12 months as it expands access to its Earned Wage Access (EWA) services.

The company operates in six countries and uses a business-to-businessto-consumer model. It teams up with

employers to provide workers early access to earned wages, marketing the service as a debt-free alternative to traditional loans.

“I think globally, in the next 12 months, we’re targeting a base of like a million, a little less than a million employee base across the six countries,” Paywatch co-founder and president Alex Kim said during a media briefing on Thursday.

IN BRIEF ACMobility targets 12% market share ACMOBILITY expects its share of the Philippine automotive market to grow to 12 percent from 9 percent in 2026 as rising fuel prices drive faster adoption of electric vehicles (EV).

Ayala Corp. unit ACMobility chief executive Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said the group is accelerating its expansion into the EV segment and supporting infrastructure. The company now projects that new energy vehicles could account for up to 50 percent of new car sales in the Philippines by 2030, a sharp increase from previous estimates of 20 to 30 percent.

“We now project up to 50 percent of new cars sold could be new energy vehicles by 2030. It’s been a significant revision from the 20-30 percent we projected a few years ago,” Zobel said.

“Our goal at ACMobility is to have a significant share of that power train segment in the industry by that point,” he said.

The company anticipates turning profitable this year following a significant increase in its electrified vehicle offerings. ACMobility expanded its lineup from 5 models in 2023 to 21 models today, spanning battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid technologies.

This includes distribution for BYD and Kia and retail operations for Isuzu and Denza. Jenniffer B. Austria

PEZA, Schneider sign deal on sustainable ecozones THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Schneider Electric Philippines signed a strategic partnership on April 16, 2026 to develop sustainable and innovationdriven economic zones.

The memorandum of understanding establishes a framework for joint initiatives, knowledge sharing, and industrial automation across firms registered with the agency. The agreement aims to position the Philippines as a regional hub for smart manufacturing by advancing energy management and digitalization.

yet finalized.

Bingcang set a two-year grace period for due diligence and planning.

While projects of this scale typically require five to seven years before a full rollout, the BCDA intends to carry out development in phases.

“We are confident that within the first two years, we can at least break ground on the first phase,” Bingcang said.

He said that initial construction should begin within the current administration’s term.

The BCDA expects the hub to generate substantial job growth and investment inflows by drawing a wide range of industries focused on advanced manufacturing and AIdriven technologies.

In the Philippines, the company maintains a user base of 100,000 employees through partnerships with 70 large corporations.

Paywatch data show that 78 percent of these users reported better expense management, while 45 percent saw a reduction in household debt and 34 percent reported an increase in savings.

Paywatch Philippines president Rowell del Fierro said organizations now recognize that providing timely access to earnings impacts financial

security and talent retention.

“Organizations are already recognizing the importance to employees of providing debt-free and timely access to earnings and its impact to their financial security and overall wellbeing,” Del Fierro said.

The company is now shifting its focus toward small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and potential government partnerships. While the firm primarily handles large employers, it has begun servicing businesses with 200 to 300 staff members.

PEZA director-general Tereso Panga said the collaboration strengthens the country’s ability to attract high-value, future-proof investments.

“As we attract more investors, one key consideration is whether their investments are future-proof. This collaboration will help draw more innovation-driven investments and reinforce the Philippines’ position as a competitive destination in the region,” Panga said.

Under the agreement, Schneider Electric will help the agency promote best practices and introduce solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of ecozone locators. Othel V. Campos

Business group backs new customs rules THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) supported the Bureau of Customs issuance of Customs Administrative Order 01-2026, citing its potential to improve trade efficiency and provide greater regulatory predictability for importers.

The PCCI said the order introduces practical reforms that streamline accreditation procedures while strengthening accountability mechanisms. A key provision extends the validity of importer accreditation to 3 years, which the chamber said reduces administrative friction and allows businesses to focus on expansion.

The group also welcomed an automatic renewal system for qualified importers, specifically those with strong compliance records or those recognized under programs such as the Authorized Economic Operator and Super Green Lane. The chamber said the reform rewards compliance while improving turnaround times.

“CAO 01-2026 is a meaningful step toward a more efficient and predictable trade environment. By simplifying accreditation, enabling automatic renewals, and strengthening digital processes, we reduce friction in the supply chain while encouraging higher standards of compliance,” PCCI president Perry Ferrer said. Othel V. Campos

Executives of fintech startup Paywatch unveil plans to expand their Earned Wage Access (EWA) services to 1 million employees globally within a year, targeting SMEs and government sectors in the Philippines.

LRT-2 offers free Santolan parking for motorists to use public transit

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) offers free parking for Light Rail Transit Line-2 passengers at the Santolan Station parking area beginning April 27, 2024 to encourage motorists to shift to public transit.

This follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide relief to vehicle owners affected by the ongoing oil crisis in the Middle East.

Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the agency is seeking ways to help motorists reduce fuel expenditures and save travel time through train use.

“The President has ordered us to encourage vehicle owners to ride our trains. That is why we have thought of other ways to help not only commuters but also vehicle owners who travel

every day,” Lopez said.

The program includes a 50-percent discount on LRT-2 fares for passengers. Lopez said these measures provide significant savings compared to the high cost of gasoline and diesel while ensuring faster commutes.

Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) officials confirmed the complimentary parking will operate on a first-come, first-served basis from 4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily.

To avail of the service, passengers should obtain a parking stub from LRTA security personnel at the Santolan Station lot. The stub should be validated at the station passenger assistance office and presented to security before exiting the premises.

The government continues to monitor global oil prices as it implements these measures to stabilize domestic transport costs.

Meralco clarifies pass-through subsidy charges

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) said Friday subsidies included in consumer electricity bills are government-mandated pass-through costs, countering social media claims regarding “additional” charges.

The power distributor said it issued the clarification to address misleading statements, saying these charges are not retained by distribution utilities.

Meralco vice-president for corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said the electricity bills detail components and charges in a transparent manner.

“These charges include mandated cross subsidies including taxes, which are remitted to the government through the relevant agencies. In addition, these are implemented by all distribution utilities and electric cooperatives and are not unique to Meralco,” Zaldarriaga said.

The subsidies involve the senior citizens discount, the lifeline rate discount for 4Ps beneficiaries, the feed-in tariff allowance and the green energy auction allowance.

Zaldarriaga said these are not company-imposed fees but are designed to support vulnerable sectors and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy.

The company said it itemizes all bill components to provide customers a clear view of their payments.

Zaldarriaga also reiterated compliance with regulatory orders on refunds, which appear as separate line items according to approved timelines.

Meralco encouraged customers with questions to contact its customer service touchpoints for assistance.

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MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

advertise@manilastandard.net RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Speed, clarity, and the cost of convenience

By Marielle Reyes

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RTIFICIAL intelligence has quietly become the command center of modern storytelling, especially for journalists constantly on the move. From planning coverage to capturing and editing visuals in real time, AI-powered tools now shape how stories are produced and delivered.

As summer assignments ramp up, from outdoor events to fast-paced launches, the need for efficiency without compromising quality has never been more apparent.

In the field, the challenge is often less about access and more about speed. Covering an event means navigating crowds, shifting light conditions, and unpredictable moments, all while ensuring that both words and visuals meet publication standards.

This is where AI steps in, not as a replacement for skill, but as a tool that helps streamline the process.

Photography, in particular, has seen a significant shift.

Computational photography allows even compact devices to produce images that once

required heavier, more specialized equipment. Capturing a sunset at the perfect moment or freezing movement in low light no longer feels like a gamble. Instead, AI works in the background, adjusting settings in real time to ensure that the final image holds up for editorial use.

Editing has also become more immediate. What used to take several steps on a laptop can now be done within minutes on a handheld device. For journalists working on tight deadlines, this immediacy can make a difference

between filing on time and missing the window entirely. Minor adjustments, brightness, contrast, and framing, are now part of an almost instinctive workflow.

One of the more practical uses of AI, especially in event coverage, is background cleanup. Crowded venues rarely allow for perfectly composed shots. Stray figures, distractions, or visual clutter can take away from the subject. AIpowered tools that allow for the removal of these elements have become useful in refining images for publication, particularly when the goal is to highlight a specific

moment or individual without unnecessary noise.

In my own workflow, this is where devices like the OPPO Reno14 F 5G come into play, not as the centerpiece, but as a tool that reflects how far AI integration has come. Features like object removal and on-device editing allow me to make quick, practical adjustments before submitting photos for an article, especially when working against time.

However, the growing reliance on AI also comes with important considerations. In journalism, authenticity remains non-

negotiable.

While removing a distracting passerby might improve composition, altering an image beyond its original context risks misrepresentation.

The line between enhancement and distortion is one that must be approached with care.

For creatives, there is also an underlying tension. AI can accelerate workflows, but it can just as easily dull the creative instinct if overused.

Photography is not just about producing a clean image, it is about perspective, timing, Turn to C2

Moneymaxxing in this economy: Here’s How Maya Helps You Do It LATELY, more Filipinos are getting intentional about their money. Not by cutting everything out—but by making what they already do count for more.

That’s where moneymaxxing comes in. It’s about getting more out of your money, letting it grow, earn, and give something back while you go about your day.

And with everything in one place, Maya, the country’s #1 Digital Bank and leading all-in-one fintech platform, makes that shift feel easier to actually keep up with.

Start by putting your money to work If your money isn’t growing, it’s slowly losing value, especially now.

That’s why one of the easiest shifts is simply moving your money somewhere it actually does something. With Maya Savings, you can earn up to 15 percent interest per annum, credited daily, which means growth isn’t something abstract. You see it happen in real time.

And that matters more than it sounds. Because once you start seeing your money grow, even in small amounts, you’re more likely to keep going. It stops feeling like effort and starts feeling like progress.

If you’re open to exploring something new, Maya Crypto lets you start with a small amount, with offers that can earn you up to P500 on your buy transactions, making it easier to try without overcommitting.

Make your spending work both ways Spending is part of everyday life.

The real shift is making sure it gives something back.

Using your Maya debit card for fuel, for example, can get you up to P300

cashback1 for a minimum spend of P500.

If you’re spending more regularly, the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card gives you returns across categories you’re already spending on like groceries, dining, even fuel, with up to P7 per liter savings at Landers-Caltex branches with a minimum singlereceipt spend of P4,000.

And with the Maya Black Credit Card, your everyday purchases turn into Maya Miles, with up to 10x Miles at preferred merchants—which you can convert into things you’ll actually use, from travel to fuel vouchers.

And when you need extra, having a backup keeps you in control There are moments when your budget just doesn’t stretch far enough.

That doesn’t mean you did something wrong; It just means you need options

that don’t make things harder later.

For shorter gaps, Maya Easy Credit2 offers a revolving credit line of up to P50,000, designed for quick use and repayable within 30 days, so it doesn’t linger longer than it should.

For bigger needs, Maya Personal Loan 3 gives you up to P250,000, with structure that makes it easier to manage over time.

The goal isn’t to rely on credit. It’s to make sure that when you do use it, it doesn’t take control of your next month.

Moneymaxxing looks like letting your money grow daily without thinking about it, getting something back from the expenses yo u a l re a d y h a ve, a n d s e t t i n g things up so you don’t have to keep starting over.

To k now more, visit maya.ph or mayabank .ph, and follow @ mayaisever ything on Facebook , Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to stay updated. Approval and offer are subject to credit evaluation.

Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. www. bsp.gov.ph. For 24/7 assistance, visit the Help Center in the Maya app or call us from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at +632 8845-7788. __________

Promo runs until April 30, 2026.

For more details, visit maya.ph/ MayaFuelCashback2026.

2 Approval and offer are subject credit evaluation.

3 Approval and offer are subject to credit evaluation.

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MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS

THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

advertise@manilastandard.net

AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

Creators showcase vivo V70 FE’s flip card through #FunInEveryFlip TikTok content

FOLLOWING vivo Philippines’#FunInEveryFlip TikTok challenge, content creators are now showcasing how the vivo V70 FE’s Flip Card feature transforms everyday content into interactive lock screens.

From sports highlights to fashion and lifestyle moments, they are reimagining how their photos can live beyond social media, turning them into dynamic Flip Card wallpapers that bring movement, personality, and creativity to something as simple as unlocking a phone.

From content creation to everyday interaction Instead of remaining in galleries or feeds, these moments become part of their daily routine, seen and experienced each time they pick up their device.

Among those showcasing the feature is UAAP and NCAA men’s basketball champion Jacob Cortez, who transformed his on-court highlights into a Flip Card lock screen.

[Embed link: https://www.tiktok.com/@ atljacobbbbb/video/7630055749560913172 ] His content reflects how high-energy

moments can take on a new life beyond the game—allowing users to relive their passions through every flip.

Model and lifestyle creator Halla Elscher takes a more expressive approach, using a series of solo shots in a pink dress captured from different angles to create a mood-driven visual story.

“A mood for every angle with vivo V70 FE. Yes to an upgraded lockscreen, no more boring wallpaper,’’ she shared.

With each flip, her poses shift from one angle to another, showcasing how a single outfit and setting can be transformed into a dynamic, editorial-style visual that reflects her personal aesthetic.

[Embed link: https://www.tiktok.com/@ hallaelscher/video/7629914797332614408] Lifestyle and fashion creator Anduri Sia, on the other hand, highlights versatility through transformation, where each flip reveals a different look.

In his content, every transition features a change in outfit, turning the Flip Card into a style showcase that reflects different moods

and identities in one seamless sequence.

His take demonstrates how the feature can be used not just for moments, but for storytelling through fashion.

[Embed link: https://www.tiktok.com/@ andurisia/video/7629941717122157832 ] Built for how creators capture and create today Behind these creative expressions is a device built to keep up with how content is made today. The vivo V70 FE is equipped with a 200MP OIS Ultra-Clear Camera, allowing users to capture detailed, high-quality visuals that translate seamlessly into Flip Card displays.

Whether it’s fast-paced action or carefully curated lifestyle shots, the device ensures that every image remains sharp, vibrant, and expressive even when transformed into interactive lock screens.

Supporting this continuous creation is a 7000mAh BlueVolt battery with a 90W FlashCharge, designed for all-day use so creators can shoot, edit, and customize without missing a moment.

Make every flip count with vivo V70 FE With more creators showcasing their #FunInEver yFlip entries on TikTok, it highlights a larger shift in how users engage with their devices, where content creation and personalization come together in one experience.

The campaign runs until May 1, inviting users to explore what they can create using their vivo phones updated to Origin OS 6 with one creator set to win a vivo V70 FE based on the highest engagement in their TikTok post.

To experience the per fect content creator phone, pre - order it star ting at Php 25,999 until April 24 through vivo stores nationwide, with exclusive launch offers including Php 1,000 discount, a vivo VIP Card, vivo Buds Air3, and a Globe prepaid SIM with one year of unlimited 5G access.

You can also get it on Shopee for as low as Php 22,000 until April 25, 2026. Learn more about the vivo V70 FE by visiting the vivo website.

Powering the shift: How the energy crisis is accelerating EV adoption

By Lionell Go Macahilig

L

ike the COVID-19 pandemic, the current energy crisis stemming from the U.S.–Israel war on Iran is poised to drive another wave of transformation.

Just as the pandemic accelerated digital adoption across business and consumer sectors—boosting remote work and the use of apps for digital payments and e-commerce— the ongoing energy crunch is now hastening the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), driven by persistently rising petroleum prices that weigh on traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

This shift was on full display at the Manila International Auto Show 2026, where EVs from emerging new energy vehicle manufacturers, particularly from China, took center stage.

ACMobility CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala (middle) and Kia executives present the Kia EV5.

Lionell Go Macahilig

Among the highlights were the BYD Sealion 7, BYD Atto 2, Kia EV5, Jetour GAIA G700, Jaecoo J5 SHS-H, and BAIC B40e Trailmaster, underscoring the breadth of options entering the market.

Reinforcing this momentum, Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, CEO of ACMobility, reiterated his commitment to expanding EV infrastructure nationwide.

He emphasized that electric mobility is no longer a distant prospect but an emerging norm for Filipino consumers: “For modern Filipino consumers, the transition to electric mobility is no longer a future concept,

The BYD Sealion 7 at MIAS 2026.

Lionell Go Macahilig

but it is now the new standard.”

“To ensure that this journey is seamless for every EV owner, we continue to expand the Philippine EV spine charging network. We are building the backbone that connects our islands, replacing range anxiety with the freedom to explore our country’s beautiful and world-class locations,” he added.

As EV brands continue to enter the Philippine market and private sector support for infrastructure grows, the current crisis, despite its challenges, also presents a strategic opportunity to advance the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI) led by the Department of Energy.

Under CREVI, the DOE aims to accelerate EV adoption in line with Republic Act 11697 (EVIDA), targeting a 50 percent EV share by 2040.

In the roadmap’s initial phase (2023 to 2028), the DOE projects 2.45 million EVs on Philippine roads—including cars, motorcycles, tricycles, and buses—alongside the

rollout of 65,000 charging stations nationwide.

Recent data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association further reflects this momentum, with EV sales rising by 36.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.

Ultimately, the convergence of global pressures and local initiatives is reshaping the Philippine mobility landscape at an unprecedented pace. What began as a response to external disruptions is evolving into a deliberate transition toward a more sustainable and resilient transport ecosystem.

As policy direction, private investment, and consumer behavior increasingly align, the shift to electric mobility is no longer a question of “if,” but “how fast.” The task now is to ensure that this transition is inclusive, widely accessible, and backed by strong infrastructure, so the gains of electrification reach every segment of society.

Speed,...

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and intent. Relying too heavily on automated corrections can sometimes take away from the raw, human element that gives any content its impact.

This is why AI works best when used deliberately. It should assist in solving practical challenges, like difficult lighting or crowded frames, while leaving the core of the work untouched. The goal is not perfection through automation, but clarity through thoughtful use of available tools.

Beyond smartphones, the broader ecosystem of gadgets continues to expand. Portable power banks ensure devices last through long assignments, while wireless storage solutions make file transfers seamless. Together, these tools create a more flexible and responsive workflow, especially during busy coverage periods.

As summer 2026 unfolds, bringing with it a calendar full of events and outdoor features, AI-powered tools will continue to play a central role. Whether capturing fleeting golden-hour light or making last-minute edits before publication, these technologies allow journalists to keep pace with the demands of the job.

Ultimately, the value of AI lies not in what it can do automatically, but in how it is used intentionally.

For those working in media, it offers convenience and efficiency, but it also requires discipline.

When used correctly, it enhances the storytelling process. When relied on too heavily, it risks overshadowing the very creativity it aims to support.

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MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

advertise@manilastandard.net

AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

The Coolest Homes Use the Least Electricity

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As the Philippines enters its hottest months, SM Home makes the case that sustainable living and summer comfort are the same project — and offers the tools to prove it.

COOLER Filipino home uses less electricity. A kitchen built around efficient appliances uses less gas and power. A bedroom fitted with the right curtains, the right bedding, and the right fan stays comfortable on a fraction of the load an overworked AC demands. Sustainable living and summer comfort, it turns out, are the same project.

Thermos Vacuum Insulated Bottle (P2,499)

personality Geri Lamata (@babasbites). The products below are the proof — a working toolkit for Filipino households looking to run cooler, lighter, and cleaner through peak heat. All are available now at all 78 SM Home branches nationwide and online.

Start with the envelope of the room Energy efficiency begins with what keeps heat out — or in. The Cashmere Full Blackout Curtain (P1,599) blocks 100% of light and provides thermal insulation that noticeably reduces indoor temperature through midday and afternoon peaks. The Living Essentials Blackout Curtains (from P1,199) offer the same core benefit in varied sizes, crafted from heavy, durable fabric. For rooms where full blackout feels excessive, the Royal Linen Supreme Sheer Curtain (P599) filters direct sunlight while keeping airflow uninterrupted.

Layer in the Family Home Cooling Blanket (from P2,899) and either the Royal Linen

Living Essentials Blackout Curtains (from P1,199)

This is the thesis behind SM Home’s Smart Summer Home Edit, first articulated in full at the recent Smart Summer Home Masterclass with interior designer Raiza Poquiz (@studioraizapoquiz), lifestyle creator Rachel Kelly Davis (@haven_hnl), and food

Smart Memory Foam Pillow or the Royal Linen Cool Memory Foam Pillow (both P2,499), and the result is a sleep environment that stays comfortable overnight without the air conditioner running at full tilt.

Cook more with less The Filipino kitchen is one of the most energy-intensive rooms in the house — which makes it one of the highestleverage places to reduce consumption.

The appliances below are engineered for efficiency.

The Tefal Home Chef Smart Multi-Cooker (P13,999) delivers up to 80% faster cooking with 17 functions in one unit — replacing multiple appliances and reducing overall energy use per meal. The Midea Retro Digital Blue 20L Microwave (P5,299) prepares meals in seconds while saving energy, and retains more nutrients with up to 10% less fat than frying. The Hanabishi Inverter Microwave (P4,599) goes further still, with inverter

Hanabishi Inverter Tower Fan (P5,599)

technology that saves up to 10% energy consumption while delivering even defrost across 5 power levels.

The Dowell Induction Cooker with Pot (P3,199) and the Imarflex Built-In Induction Cooker (P8,299) heat quickly and cleanly with thermal fuse protection and energyefficient operation. The Daewoo Hot Pot with Pan (P4,799) lets families cook more while using less energy in a 2-in-1 design with adjustable heat levels and safe, efficient heating technology. And for insulation beyond the stove, the Thermos Vacuum Insulated Bottle (P2,499) keeps drinks hot or cold for hours with vacuum insulation — reducing the need to reheat or re-chill throughout the day.

Airflow before aircon The single highest-impact shift any Filipino household can make this summer: reach for airflow before reaching for the compressor.

The Hanabishi Inverter Tower Fan (P5,599) delivers powerful airflow with 150° wideangle oscillation for full-room cooling comfort — at a fraction of the wattage of air conditioning. The Dowell Circulator Fan (P3,599) and Dowell Circulator Stand Fan (P3,599) are engineered for efficient, fullroom circulation. The Daewoo 6-inch Tablefan with Remote (P3,999) keeps workstations and bedside tables cool through the longest afternoons.

For days when a fan alone isn’t enough, the 3D Air Cooler Remote (P5,599) and the Dowell White Air Cooler (P8,299.75) offer energy-efficient alternatives to air conditioning — easing the heat, adding moisture to the room, and keeping spaces comfortably cool all day long without the compressor draw.

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Home Credit Makes Summer More Comfortable for as Low as P23/Day Shop for a more comfortable summer with easy installment deals on appliances and gadgets, available with as low as 0% interest, zero down payment

”ANG init naman!” If this line keeps coming up at home every summer, it might be a sign that appliances are no longer keeping up. Home Credit Philippines is making it easier and more affordable for families to stay cool and comfortable with essential summer appliances and gadgets available through installment deals for as low as P23 per day.

Running until May 15, 2026, the promo offers up to 24-month installments with as low as 0% interest and zero down payment for qualified customers.

Deals are available at more than 18,000 partner stores nationwide.

Home Credit’s summer lineup includes inverter air conditioners, energy-efficient refrigerators, and mobile phones—must-have items to help households beat the heat, keep food fresh, and stay connected, all through affordable and flexible installment options.

More appliances and gadgets are also available through Home Credit’s flexible installment plans: PRODUCT NAME

UNIT PRICE

LOAN TERM

MONTHLY*

DAILY

Carrier 1.0HP Inverter Window Type Air Conditioner

₱27,516

18

₱1,119

₱37

Samsung 7.4cu ft Inverter Two Door Top Mount Freezer Refrigerator

₱19,295

18

₱779

₱26

Samsung Galaxy S25 256GB/12GB Icy Blue Cellphone

₱51,990

24

₱1,659

₱56

TCL 1.0HP Inverter Split Type Airconditioner

₱34,495

18

₱1,399

₱47

Panasonic 9.5cu ft Inverter Two Door Top Freezer Refrigerator

₱22,465

18

₱909

₱31

Apple iPhone 17 Pro 256GB Silver

₱80,990

24

₱2,513

₱84

Condura 8.2cu ft Inverter Top Freezer Refrigerator

₱18,601

18

₱749

₱25

*Monthly rate includes the processing fee and is calculated based on a 30% down payment.

Among the featured deals is the Midea 1.0HP Inverter Window Type Air Conditioner, available for as low as P729 per month or P25 per day for 18 months (SRP P18,066). This unit is designed to keep rooms cool while helping households manage energy consumption. For better food storage this summer, the Condura 6.3 cu ft Inverter Two Door Top Mount Refrigerator offers reliable cooling and more space for everyday needs. It can be yours for as low as P669 per month or P23 per day for 18 months (SRP P16,578).

For those planning trips or simply in need of a dependable device, the Honor X9d 5G 256GB/12GB Sunrise Gold smartphone is available for as low as P809 per month or P27 per day for 18 months (SRP P18,999).

Get It with Home Credit From cooling your home to upgrading

everyday gadgets, getting summer essentials is simple with Home Credit. Customers only need one valid ID, with approvals possible in as fast as one minute. A Home Credit representative will guide each step of the process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free shopping experience. Customers may also download the Home Credit App to get preapproved, available on Google Play, the App Store, and Huawei AppGallery.

For the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www. homecredit.ph, or follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

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SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

advertise@manilastandard.net

MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS

THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

Using AI to finish work faster before vacation

By Jessica Luna

Kyowa Juice Extractor (P2,499)

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The Coolest...

HE days before a longawaited beach trip or provincial homecoming are often the most stressful at work. Deadlines pile up, inboxes balloon, and handover notes get rushed. For many Filipino professionals, however, AI tools are quietly becoming the secret weapon that clears the desk before the out-of-office email goes up.

Apps like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are now being used as “work accelerators” across offices in Makati, BGC, Cebu IT Park, and home workstations in the provinces. Instead of staring at a blank screen to start reports, presentations, or client emails, workers begin by prompting AI to produce first drafts they can quickly refine. A marketing officer preparing a campaign report, for instance, can paste raw notes and ask the AI to turn them into a clean executive summary in seconds.

In media and communications teams, AI is helping compress what used to be hours of writing and editing. A PR practitioner handling multiple clients can ask AI to draft press releases in different tones, create social captions from a long article, or summarize a 10-page document into bullet points for a briefing. The human still edits for accuracy and voice — but the heavy lifting is done in minutes, not hours.

For corporate employees, AI has become a reliable meeting assistant. Workers paste meeting transcripts or messy notes into the

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tool and ask for clear minutes, action items, and follow-up emails. Before filing for leave, they generate comprehensive handover documents that outline project status, pending tasks, and key contacts, ensuring teammates aren’t left guessing while they’re offline on a beach in La Union or Siargao.

Freelancers and small business owners are also benefiting. Online sellers use AI to write product descriptions, auto-reply templates for customer inquiries, and promotional captions for Facebook and Instagram. Virtual assistants draft client updates and invoices faster. Even teachers preparing modules before a school break use AI to format lesson plans, quizzes, and rubrics in record time.

Spreadsheets and data work, often the most time-consuming tasks, are now easier to manage with AI guidance. Employees ask for formulas, data summaries, or quick interpretations of figures without digging through tutorials. A sales associate preparing a monthly report can paste figures and request a written analysis ready to send to a supervisor.

What makes AI particularly useful before a vacation is its ability to reduce decision fatigue.

Instead of thinking through structure, format, and wording from scratch, workers focus only on refining output. The mental load drops, and tasks move faster. Many users say this allows them to finish two to three days’ worth of work in a single focused afternoon.

The small items that quietly save Sustainability at home is often a story of the least glamorous items. The Lock & Lock Microwave Stainless Steel containers (from P579) enable batch-cooking and reduce food waste — airtight, leakproof, and built for microwave-to-freezer convenience. The Daewoo 1.5L Lunch Box (P1,999) encourages bringing meals from home rather than ordering in. The Kyowa Juice Extractor (P2,499) brings fresh juicing into the kitchen—an everyday alternative to packaged drinks, with less plastic, less transport, and none of the additives.

Efficiency is the new aspiration “We are being deliberate this season,” says Christopher S. Ang, Vice-President for Marketing at SM Home. “This is not a sale campaign dressed up in green language.

This is SM Home putting forward a real proposition: that the most beautiful Filipino summer home is also the most efficient one, and that our job as a home retailer is to carry the products that make that true. The Home Smart direction will continue beyond this summer. The bills aren’t going away. Neither is the heat. We intend to keep helping.”

All featured products are available now across the SM Home network of 78 branches nationwide and online. Customers are invited to Rediscover SM Home — and a cooler, lighter, more efficient way of living through the Filipino summer.

Canon PIXMA G4770: A Cost-Efficient Workhorse for Everyday Printing

By Bernadette Araño and Lyschelle Joy Armijo CANON’S PIXMA G4770 MegaTank printer enters the market as a straightforward yet purposeful addition to the MegaTank lineup, built for users who prioritize low-cost, high-volume printing without sacrificing essential office functions.

Designed as a 4-in-1 device, the PIXMA G4770 handles printing, scanning, copying, and faxing within a compact, space-saving frame—an advantage for home offices and small workspaces where efficiency and footprint matter. Its performance, rated at up to 11 images per minute (ipm) for monochrome and 6 ipm for color, aligns with the steady demands of day-to-day document production.

Where the printer makes its strongest case is in long-term economy. Equipped with high page yield ink bottles, the G4770 can produce up to 7,600 pages in black and 8,100 pages in color (both in economy mode). The refill system is equally practical: each bottle is keyed to fit only its corresponding tank, reducing the risk of spills or incorrect refilling.

Productivity features are equally considered.

A 35-sheet automatic document feeder allows for batch scanning and copying, minimizing manual intervention, while an easy-to-replace maintenance cartridge simplifies upkeep and supports sustained use. Canon recommends a monthly print volume of 150 to 1,500 pages, positioning the device comfortably within the needs of small offices and growing home-based operations.

Connectivity is in step with current expectations.

The PIXMA G4770 supports Wi-Fi, Wireless Direct, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service, alongside mobile and cloud printing through Canon’s

PRINT and Easy-PhotoPrint Editor applications.

This ensures flexibility for users working across multiple devices and platforms.

The printer does not attempt to compete on speed or advanced interface design, and its appeal lies instead in reliability, efficiency, and ease of use. For users seeking a dependable workhorse that keeps operating costs in check, the PIXMA G4770 delivers where it matters most.

For more information on the Canon PIXMA G4770, visit the official Canon Philippines website at https://ph.canon, or visit authorized Canon stores and dealers nationwide to explore the device firsthand.

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MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

advertise@manilastandard.net RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

Somewhere between the city and the sea: A smarter kind of summer W

By Millie Manahan

HEN summer calls for a quick escape from the city, Tagaytay is always the easy answer. I’m lucky enough to live somewhere that still feels cooler even in peak heat, where the air moves freely, carrying that faint mix of pine and coffee, and the view opens up instead of closing in. It’s simple, familiar, and always enough. But of course, there are also places like Baler, Zambales, and La Union, those longer drives that promise salt air, open roads, and a different kind of reset.

Maybe that’s what summer 2026 feels like now: less about the act of escape and more about how you get there. It isn’t just movement; it’s intelligence quietly shaping the journey with you.

The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite keeps things simple but smart— lightweight, easy to carry, and possessing just enough power to navigate short city runs without overthinking it.

Apart from the accessibility of the local area, having an electric scooter for quick errands is a modern relief.

It’s the kind of everyday mobility that removes the friction from a quick trip to a café or a short crossing between blocks, replacing stopand-go traffic with

something direct and fluid.

On the way out of the city, travel no longer feels like a blur of congestion. It feels coordinated. AI now sits in the background, suggesting routes that avoid bottlenecks, adjusting timing based on weather, and even predicting when you’ll hit that stretch of open road just before sunset. We’ve been utilizing AI in apps like Google Maps or Waze for years, but now, the integration feels seamless.

When the road finally opens up, travel stretches beyond convenience and

Xiaomi Electric Scooter Lite

becomes an experience again.

The drive itself starts to matter.

Conversations last longer; stops are less about necessity and more about choice.

Electric vehicles used to live in forums and comment sections.

Something people questioned or weren’t quite sold on yet. But lately, they’ve started to feel like a natural next step. Not because we have to switch, but because they simply make sense. They eliminate the small frictions we’ve grown used to: fuel stops and unexpected price hikes, and the constant “range

Kia Sorento Hybrid 2

anxiety” check. Suddenly, the shift doesn’t feel forced at all.

I recently drove the Kia Sorento Hybrid from Tagaytay to Baler and never once worried about range.

What stood out most was how it kept me in check on the road; its lane-keeping assist is something you truly appreciate on the unpredictable, winding roads of the Philippines.

It’s subtle, but it makes a significant difference over long hauls. The Sorento Hybrid fits into this space naturally, making the journey easier to enjoy. The shift between power sources is seamless, and the cabin is quiet enough to let the scenery take center stage.

For longer, more ambitious routes, the BYD Tang DM-i brings a different kind of intelligence into the picture.

It doesn’t just move; it manages.

Turn to D7

Kia Sorento

GCash upholds zero tolerance on ‘quishing’ scam, blocks fake illegal sites GCash has blocked over 4,900 fraudulent merchants using ‘quishing’—a new tactic where scam-mers use fake QR codes to steal payments.

G C A S H, the Philippines’ leading finance super app, has intensified its crackdown on illegal merchants, blocking suspicious accounts and scam websites that impersonate official GCash payment pages to de-fraud users.

With rising transportation costs adding to broader economic pressures, GCash continues to strengthen its antifraud efforts as Filipinos become more deliberate with every peso they spend, underscoring the im-portance of staying vigilant against schemes and safeguarding their hard-earned money.

The rise of “quishing” scams R ecent monitor ing has uncovered schemes where fake websites mimic legitimate GCash payment pages and use QRPh codes to collect payments.

An example of a growing scam flagged by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is known as “quishing” or QR phishing.

In these schemes, fraudsters exploit QR codes to redirect users to malicious payment p a g e s o r s te a l s e n - s i t i ve information, while misusing official branding to appear credible and deceive users into completing unauthorized transactions.

In some cases, fraudulent QR codes are embedded in posters, emails, receipts, or messages. When scanned, these can redirect users to fake login pages for e-wallets or banks, or even to sites that install harmful software on their devices. As a result, users may unknowingly send money to illegitimate accounts, even if the transaction appears familiar or routine.

What to watch out for GCash reminds users to stay alert for key warning signs before completing any payment: • Suspicious website URLs

that imitate GCash domains (e.g., “gcash-payments.com”, “gcsh.payment.com” instead of the official “payments. gcash.com”) • Mismatch in merchant identity, especially when the name displayed is random, incomplete, or unrelated to the actual business (e.g., “XJ82q” or “Merchant_123”) • Payment pages that feel inconsistent or unfamiliar, despite using GCash or QRPh logos If any of these signs are present, users should stop the transaction immediately.

Proactive enforcement and collaboration GCash has blocked wallets linked to these activities and escalated

fraudulent sites for takedown.

The company continues to work closely with government partners to strengthen enforcement and disrupt online fraud.

These efforts build on GCash’s sustained anti-fraud and cybersecurity campaigns such as GSafe Tayo. In 2025, GCash, in collaboration with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), has blocked over 3,200 merchants linked to illicit activities, which are often used as channels for fraudulent transactions and scams.

“By proactively blocking unauthorized actors and reporting them to our regulators and authorities, we are helping protect Filipinos and maintain trust in the country’s digital financial

ecosystem,” said Miguel Geronilla, Chief Information Security Officer at GCash.

“Scammers are evolving alongside digital payments,” said Miguel Geronilla, Chief Information Security Officer at GCash. “We have zero tolerance for these actors and are actively blocking and reporting them to protect our users.”

“Protecting users is at the core of our platform,” Geronilla added.

“We will continue to strengthen our safeguards and work hand-in-hand with the government to keep the ecosystem safe.”

Protecting every peso GCash urges users to verify website URLs and merchant details before completing transactions and to stop immediately if anything appears suspicious.

GCash users can report suspected scams through the GCash Help Center at help.gcash. com by chat-ting with Gigi and selecting “I want to report a scam”, or by calling the official GCash hotline at 2882.

Users may also report incidents to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group at (02) 8414-1560 / 0998-5988116 or acg@pnp.gov.ph, and to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) via hotline 1326, mobile 0991-4814225, or report@cicc.gov.ph.

By staying vigilant and using trusted platforms, Filipinos can better protect their funds and ensure that every peso counts.

More information is available at www.gcash.com

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MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS

THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

advertise@manilastandard.net

AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

Record-Breaking Run: ACMobility, BYD, and the DOT electrify the archipelago WITH fuel prices hitting the roof every Tuesday like clockwork, the timing is perfect. ACMobility and BYD Cars Philippines, in tandem with the Department of Tourism (DOT), just wrapped up a 22-day marathon that effectively debunked the biggest myth in local motoring: the idea that electric vehicles aren’t ready for the “probinsya” road trip.

They call it “Drive Electric. Love Pinas,” and it wasn’t just a scenic drive. It was a 3,500-kilometer statement of intent.

Two World Records later…

Led by adventurer Wil Dasovich, a convoy of electrified vehicles traversed the entire length of the archipelago. By the time they reached the finish line, they had bagged two Guinness World Records for visiting the most cities in a continuous journey—one for a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and another for a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).

Beyond the Pavement The journey started where the road usually ends: the La Paz Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte. The BYD Shark 6 DMO, featuring their signature Blade Battery, didn’t just handle the sand; it later ate up the steep, winding climbs of Baguio with the kind of torque that makes traditional internal combustion engines feel a bit dated.

But the real party trick was the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology.

In Pampanga and Cebu, the cars weren’t just transport, they were power sources. We’re talking about powering off-grid gear in a gorge

and running an entire DJ booth at BYD Cebu Central. It turns out, when you drive an EV, you’re basically bringing a massive power bank to the fiesta.

From Makati to Mindanao The logistics were the real test.

The fleet utilized the ACMobility Philippine EV Spine Network, which now boasts over 160 charging points.

They topped up at the country’s fastest 480kW DC charger in Makati before heading south through the pottery gardens of Quezon and across the sea to the Visayas.

In Mindanao, the trip got personal.

Between whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro and paragliding in Bukidnon, the team made a stop at the House of Hope Foundation in Davao to spend time with kids battling cancer. It was a reminder that while the tech is impressive, the goal is a better, cleaner future for the next generation of Filipinos.

Range Anxiety?

What Range Anxiety?

Crossing 102 cities and municipalities should put “range anxiety” to bed once and for all.

With 79 dealerships now dotting the map and a charging network that stretches from Robinsons Pagadian to PTT stations in the north, the infrastructure is finally catching up to the ambition.

The “Drive Electric. Love Pinas” campaign proved that the tech is ready for our rugged terrain and island-hopping lifest yle.

The future isn’t just coming; it’s already here.

Ready to hit the road? Plan your route at tourism.gov.ph, join the movement at goev.ph, or explore the BYD lineup at bydcarsph.com.

When you’re ready to charge, find your nearest plug at acmobility.ph.

Chinese EVs look to sideline foreign brands at Beijing auto show B

EIJING—The world’s biggest auto show opens in Beijing on Friday, as Chinese manufacturers solidify their status as industry innovators and foreign brands face ferocious competition in the country’s giant car market.

Brands such as Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW once dominated in China, but have steadily lost market share to domestic firms that beat them to the electric vehicle revolution and undercut them on price.

Electric cars are also getting a boost as oil prices sent spiking by the Mideast war nudge drivers away from fossil-fuel powered models.

Dozens of carmakers will display their latest models at the 10-day exhibition in the Chinese capital, with domestic manufacturers like BYD, Xiaomi and Xpeng now at the forefront of integrating AI software and autonomous driving technology into their EVs. Foreign brands have been “too slow to localise decision-making and product development”, said Bill Russo, founder of Shanghai-based consultancy Automobility.

“The basis of competition in China has fundamentally shifted from hardware and brand to software,

A Xiaomi SU7 car is displayed at the gallery of the company’s headquarters in Beijing on April 22, 2026. (AFP)

speed, and ecosystem integration,” Russo told AFP. Mercedes-Benz’s China sales plunged 19 percent last year, while fellow German brand BMW saw sales hit their lowest level since 2017.

Volkswagen, long the largest seller in China, is battling to maintain a Chinese market share while also fending off competition at home.

The German car giant plans to

cut 50,000 jobs domestically by 2030, after post-tax earnings fell 44 percent last year.

‘Centre of gravity’ “China is now the centre of gravity for automotive innovation, not just production,” Russo said.

Foreign automakers are increasingly collaborating with local companies to keep pace with technological advances.

BMW has partnered with battery

maker CATL, while Audi is using Huawei’s driving assistance systems and Volkswagen is developing EVs together with Chinese brand Xpeng.

“The golden time for foreign brands has passed,” said Ernan Cui, an analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics in Beijing.

“Chinese brands... are upgrading much faster.”

Foreign manufacturers also face being outcompeted in other

markets, as Chinese carmakers look abroad to boost profitability.

Chinese brands already control around a fifth of the auto market in Latin America, and plan to boost overseas production to 3.4 million vehicles by 2030 from 1.2 million in 2025, according to consulting firm AlixPartners.

Major players like BYD have high hopes for the Middle East and European markets, with sky-high tariffs keeping Chinese models out of the United States.

The European Union had imposed tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on EVs imported from China, but in January agreed that Chinese carmakers could accept minimum prices to sell into the bloc.

Still, BYD is building a factory in Hungary to manufacture cars for Europe, Leapmotor is due to start making EVs in Spain this year and Chery said Tuesday it wants to produce a small electric vehicle in Europe.

Too many players But Chinese brands are also facing headwinds as a ferocious price war at home eats into profit margins.

“There are still too many players in the market with too much investment behind them,” according to Cui. “The losers are not quitting the market as fast as they are supposed to because they have investors’ backing, local governments’ backing, who do not want their existing investments to be written off,” she said. AFP

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MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

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AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

Planning a trip? AI mo na ‘yan!

By Jessica Luna

S

UMMER in the Philippines means beaches, fiestas, food trips, and family reunions, and for many, that also means hours of Googling, opening dozens of tabs, and second-guessing plans. This year, AIpowered tools are turning what used to be a chore into a conversation.

Filipinos are increasingly turning to assistants like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to brainstorm destinations, build realistic itineraries, find deals, and even line up reservations, saving precious time for sunshine and “sinigang” at the beach.

From the moment a trip idea forms, AI can help shape it into a workable plan.

Instead of starting with flights or hotel tabs, many users begin by telling their AI assistant what they want in plain language: a beach escape in Palawan for four days on a P15,000 budget, a familyfriendly Bicol loop with whale shark watching and spicy local food, or a relaxed Cebu weekend focused on cafés and heritage sites.

In seconds, the AI responds with a structured, day-by-day outline that includes suggested routes, activity timing, and meal ideas. This becomes the backbone of the trip — something travellers can refine with follow-up prompts like “make

Travellers usually plug it into familiar booking platforms. If the plan calls for island hopping, they head to Klook to compare tours and transfers. If it suggests a beachfront stay near Station 1 in Boracay or a central hotel in Cebu, they jump to Agoda to check rates and availability. Agoda

it more budget-friendly,” “add kidfriendly stops,” or “skip nightlife.”

Once the skeleton itinerary is set, travellers plug it into familiar booking platforms. If the plan calls for island hopping, they head to Klook to compare tours and transfers. If it suggests a beachfront stay near Station 1 in Boracay or a central hotel in Cebu, they jump to Agoda to check rates and availability.

For attractions, reviews, and operating hours, they validate ideas on Tripadvisor. AI acts as the strategist; these platforms handle the actual bookings.

Dining plans fit neatly into the same flow. After AI recommends must-try restaurants or food districts in Manila, Iloilo, or Siargao, users can ask for reservation links or search

those places directly on Google. The result is a seamless loop: inspiration from the AI, confirmation and booking through trusted local and global services.

One of the biggest advantages shows up when plans change. If a flight to Cebu is delayed or rain threatens an outdoor activity, travellers can simply tell their AI assistant the new situation and ask it to rebalance the day. Within seconds, the schedule adjusts, swapping time slots, suggesting indoor alternatives, or reordering stops to make the most of the remaining hours. What used to require frantic searching becomes a calm, real-time adjustment.

Filipinos are also discovering that AI is useful for uncovering lesser-

known destinations. By describing interests such as heritage churches, food markets, quiet beaches, or road-trip scenery, users often get suggestions beyond the usual Boracay-Bohol-Palawan circuit.

Small towns in Luzon, hidden coves in Mindanao, or underrated food stops along expressways surface in ways that standard search results might not prioritize. Many travellers now follow a two-step approach: draft the overall plan with AI, then double-check details and reviews on Tripadvisor or book experiences on Klook.

Getting the best results, however, depends on how clearly the trip is described. Specific dates, budgets, travel companions, and interests help the AI produce more practical

itineraries. Travellers can go further by asking for packing checklists, estimated transport times, or daily budget breakdowns. And while AI provides structure and ideas, users still verify prices, schedules, and availability on booking sites to ensure accuracy.

AI won’t replace travel agents anytime soon, especially for complex bookings, but it has transformed the way planning happens.

What once took an entire weekend of comparing tabs and secondguessing choices can now begin with a short conversation. For many Filipino travellers this summer, the smartest travel companion isn’t a person, it’s an AI assistant that helps think through the journey before it even begins.

Unregulated AI ‘speeding with no steering wheel’ GENEVA—Artificial Intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton insisted Tuesday on the need to strictly regulate the technology, warning that it remained unclear if humanity could co-exist with super intelligent AI. Hinton, considered the “Godfather of AI”, told the 2026 Digital World Conference in Geneva that there was a dire need to strengthen governance frameworks and ethical safeguards around the technology.

But, he warned via video link, huge investments were going into convincing the public that regulating the technology was akin to slowing down progress.

Those opposed to regulation say “unregulated AI is like the accelerator, and regulation is like a brake”, said the British-Canadian computer scientist who won the 2024 Nobel Physics Prize for his work on AI. “They want a very fast car with no steering wheel,” he said.

His comments came at the end of the day-long Geneva conference on the importance of international cooperation in shaping the social dimensions of AI. The participants raised concerns over how global debates on AI remain

Co-laureate of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics Canadian-British computer scientist and cognitive psychologist Geoffrey Hinton. AFP

largely driven by technical advances and commercial applications, with less focus on social impacts in areas including labour markets, inequality and public services.

Hinton warned about the impact AI will have on job losses.

The technology can certainly improve productivity in areas like health care, where there is always a need for more.

But in other sectors, like call centres, AI can already do the jobs as well as people and soon will do

it better, he said, saying it was clear that no amount of re-training will counter that.

And “if we get super intelligent AI, any intellectual job it will be able to do,” he said, meaning that “even if new jobs are created, AI will be a cheaper way to do them”.

Hinton, who made headlines when he quit Google in 2023 warning of the “profound risks to society and humanity”, said he remains concerned as AI progresses at lightning speed.

“We don’t know whether we can co-exist with super intelligent AI,” the 78-year-old said.

“But we are constructing it.”

Humans “still have a lot of control”, he said, stressing that “we should be careful to construct in a way where we still continue to exist, and we can live in harmony with it.”

The problem is that there are “very few models of far more intelligent things allowing far less intelligent things to have freedom”, he warned.

“We’re at the point in history when it’s urgent to try and solve this problem,” he said, yet “very few resources are being put into it”.

He suggested “maybe one percent” of work on AI was going into making it safer. AFP

Google unveils latest chips for powering AI LAS VEGAS—Google unveiled new generation tensor processing units (TPUs) for training artificial intelligence and powering digital “agents” that are all the rage in the tech world.

Google, along with Amazon, have taken to making their own cutting-edge AI chips, taking control of designs and seeking to reduce reliance on coveted Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) that dominate the market.

High-performance TPUs were among innovations touted at Google’s annual cloud computing conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

“In the era of AI agents, infrastructure needs to evolve to take on the most demanding AI workloads,” Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said in a blog post.

“This year, we’re bringing the eighth generation of our Tensor Processing Units with a dual chip approach.”

One of the new TPUs is optimized for training large language models that power AI and the other is tailored for a reasoning and decisionmaking process called “inference” used by AI agents.

AI agents are digital assistants that can independently tend to computing tasks.

The TPUs, created in partnership with semiconductor maker Broadcom, will be available later this year, according to Google Cloud unit leader Thomas Kurian.

Nvidia early this year announced production of new Vera and Rubin GPUs for powering AI, shortly before cloud computing giant Amazon unveiled the latest generation of its custom Trainium processors.

Google, Amazon, and Microsoft continue to integrate Nvidia GPUs into their computing infrastructures. AFP

Somewhere...

From D5

On a trip from Tagaytay to Pampanga and back, the car handled the heavy lifting. AI managed the energy use and route efficiency in real-time, while voice commands allowed me to adjust the cabin temperature or open the panoramic sunroof without taking my eyes off the road.

It even extends its utility beyond driving, turning the vehicle into a practical power source when you reach your destination.

What used to be a process of planning, calculation, and compromise is now handled in the background. AI helps remove the stress from decisions that once defined road trips: where to stop, when to charge, and which route makes sense. You’re still choosing your journey, but fewer parts of it feel like work.

Even the arrival feels different.

You don’t show up exhausted from managing logistics; you arrive with more of yourself intact. There is still the heat, the distance, and the unpredictability of travel, but the stress that used to sit on top of it all has evaporated.

Somewhere between the city and the sea, travel has evolved. It hasn’t necessarily become faster, but it has become more aware of us.

And that might be the real shift of summer 2026: not that we are traveling further, but that we are finally traveling in a way that keeps up with how we actually want to live.

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MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS

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SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

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AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

AI takes over our summer: The power gap between the summer of today and the past

By Earl Maghirang

S

UMMER is here, and as we hit the beach or go to far-flung adventures its nice to do a little comparison of what we had 20 years ago and what we have today, and how it has drastically altered the way we spend our vacation with friends and family.

Let’s start with something we all need for summer. Communication and entertainment. In 2006, yes, 20 years ago, we didn’t have the same sophisticated smartphones that we have today. We were transitioning from 3310s to the newer ones, including the Nokia 3650 with that weird curve design at the bottom.

For the 40-somethings now, we were entering college, and phones were still just phones for the most part. In 2026, phones are everything. It’s the extension of our lives. We use this to call, chat, take photos, and record videos. It’s where we get information and news and even some juicy chismis on the side.

The iPhone 17 and all the variants have dominated the market, with Android phones always hot on its heels. Artificial

Intelligence, or AI, has also made sure that we get information more smoothly, faster, and more concisely.

Still on the subject of phones and AI. Remember back then, when taking photos on our phones was so new, there were still people who preferred to bring their point-andshoot cameras? These days, cameras have become niche products, while smartphones with their AI systems have dominated our daily lives, especially when traveling or on summer trips. We also had to be content with the low-resolution photos that we printed out with our “colored phones”.

These days as long as you have the A.I. tag on your phone, you’ll be sure to get cool features. If you told me back in 2006 that the phones

we’ll be using today would be able to remove or erase people, add new elements in the background using AI or even open the eyes of people in the photo who have closed them, I would have said that that’s some serious sci-fi vibes. Yet here we are in the year of our Lord 2026. Having phones that can actually do the things I just described and more.

Moreover, the high-end phones are also capable of assisting in taking photos, whether assisting in the shot or sharpening the images.

Let me go off tangent a little bit by also thanking the tech gods for giving us water-resistant and shock-proof smartphones.

You cannot imagine how hard it was in 2006 how hard it was to take photos with those classic phones and how sensitive they

were. Nowadays, the tougher the phone, the better!

All these new features on our smartphones using A.I. have definitely elevated our summer getaway experience to the next level. We can take as much photos as we want, edit them and share them. We can change the hue and add filters for our photos and even add crazy, wacky stickers.

That’s such a far cry from what we had 20 years ago.

Traveling in 2006 had its ups and downs, and traffic then wasn’t really different from what it is now. AI, though, has taken some things and made it easier for the 2026 driver.

We have better cars now, with greater fuel efficiency and a lot more creature comforts. EVs or Electric Vehicles are also taking the world by storm, especially with the continued

surge of fuel prices. Traveling now is also simpler thanks to new technology, giving us the best routes, warning us of traffic, and offering alternate routes. Do you remember back in 2006, when we didn’t have any of those and driving was really more about going into survival mode?

Smartphones and EVs are also working hand in hand in providing comfort for our daily lives, not just for summer vacations. But summer is really when it gets pushed to the limits.

I can only imagine how much better our road trip from the South to Baguio was in the early 2000s with all the modern technology we have. Imagine being connected to 5G mobile data in the 2000s on your BYD or your Tesla or any EV car brand today and getting all the important data on your dashboard, including traffic conditions, the shortest routes, and more.

Then, with your current smartphone, you can look up great places to eat and take selfies.

You can take photos with your AI-friendly camera, helping make photos sharper and clearer.

Alas, we can’t break the timeline by bringing things from 2026 to 2006.

We can only dream of those situations and appreciate how technology has improved and touched our lives, and more importantly, made our summers a lot better. So thanks, A.I. and modern technology.

Globe Business empowers PH enterprises with context-rich, real-time AI through new managed data streaming platform

GLOBE Business has launched its Managed Data Streaming Platform in partnership with Confluent, establishing itself as the authority enabling intelligent transformation for Philippine enterprises. This new real-time data infrastructure is designed to power the next generation of context-rich, dataintensive AI applications.

The platform addresses a critical bottleneck: the AI stall. Studies show up to 95 percent of AI efforts underdeliver because they are fed with stale and fragmented data from legacy batch systems. To bridge this gap, Globe Business is providing the data-in-motion foundation that activates stagnant information into a high-velocity

stream of actionable, context-rich intelligence.

“In the race for AI leadership, success will depend not only on model quality, but on the ability to continuously capture and act on fresh, real-time data,” said KD Dizon, Vice President and Head of Globe Business. “By making realtime data an operational reality, we are giving businesses the highvelocity fuel they need to achieve true intelligent transformation” Built by the original creators of open source Apache Kafka® — trusted by over 80% of the Fortune 100 — Confluent offers a complete data streaming platform that allows enterprises to stream, connect, process, and govern data as it flows

throughout their business in real time. Confluent’s proven, enterprisegrade technology is now hosted on Globe’s local Virtual Private Cloud enabling Philippine businesses to transform raw data into reusable AI-ready data products that fuel the next generation of intelligent applications.

This managed approach significantly lowers the total cost of ownership compared to self-managed systems, allowing enterprises to bypass the steep expenses of specialized talent and complex infrastructure. By removing these financial and technical hurdles, companies a c r o s s t h e b a n k i n g, r e t a i l , logistics, manufacturing, and

ser vice sectors can build AIpowered applications faster while ensuring full support for local data residency compliance.

“AI is only as powerful as the data behind it,” said Kamal Brar, Senior Vice President of Partners and Technology Group at Confluent.

“Through this collaboration with Globe Business, enterprises in the Philippines can tap into realtime data streams that are secure, reliable, and ready for scale.”

Early adopters have seen measurable gains. Retailers using real-time data streaming have raised inventory accuracy to 95 percent.

Customer service teams supported

by AI agents have automated up to 80 percent of inbound requests,

cutting resolution time from hours to minutes. Companies like Notion report saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually after switching to managed data streaming.

Globe Business is also applying these lessons internally. With 80 percent of its workforce now using AI tools, the company has improved efficiency across operations, from hiring to service delivery.

By positioning real-time data as the essential infrastructure for the AI era, Globe Business is enabling modern organizations to achieve sustained business excellence through intelligent transformation.

Visit Globe Business website to learn more: www.globe.com.ph/ business/cloud/data-streaming

MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER AI, EVS, And THE GEAR THAT THInKS FOR YOU

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SATURDAY, APRIL 25,2026 2026 SATURDAY, APRIL 25,

advertise@manilastandard.net rumallari@thestandard.com.ph RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor rieramallari@yahoo.com EDGARD HILARIO, Asst.Editor Editor RIERA U. MALLARI, EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

EARTH DAY 2026 Somewhere between the city and the sea: E Sustainable future with OPPO A smarter kind of summer W VERY year on April 22, Earth Day highlights the importance of protecting our planet to ensure a brighter future for all its inhabitants.

As a global technology company serving over 760 million users in more than 90 countries and regions worldwide, recognizes its responsibility and

By MillieOPPO Manahan influence in shaping a more sustainable future. More than just creating exceptional products and experiHEN summer calls for a quick escape from the ences, OPPO integrates sustainability across its opcity, Tagaytay is always the easy answer. I’m erations and innovation and has pledged to make its entire operations carbon-neutral by 2050.

Withsomewhere this lucky enough to live that still feels goal firmly on the horizon, the company is continucooler evengreener in peak heat, where ing to implement practices, develop morethe air moves freely, carrying that faint mixand of inspire pinepeoand coffee, and the view environmentally friendly products, ple all around world to take steps to building opens uptheinstead ofreal closing in. It’s simple, familiar, and a sustainable future. always enough.

But of course, there are also places like Upgraded Packaging Materials and Processes Driveand GreenLa Transition Baler, Zambales, Union, those longer drives that Excessive packaging has become a widespread promise salt air, open roads, and a different kind of environmental challenge for the consumer goods reset. industry. OPPO has introduced the “3R+1D” principle of Reduction, Recyclability, Reusability, and Maybe that’s summer Degradability into itswhat packaging, promoting more something direct and fluid.

2026 feels like now: less aboutupgrades the sustainable packaging through to both On the way out of the processes and materials. act of escape and more about how city, travel no longer feels According frommovement; the World Wildlife like a blur of congestion. It feels you get there.toIt data isn’t just Fund, around 405 million tons of it’s intelligence quietly shaping thepaper andcoordinated. AI now sits in the journey with you. background, suggesting routes The Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Lite that avoid bottlenecks, adjusting keeps things simple but smart— timing based on weather, and even Kia Sorento Hybrid 2 becomes an experience again. lightweight, easy to carry, and predicting when you’ll hit that stretch OPPO Find X9 Series are used to track rhinos The drive itself starts to matter. possessing just enough power to of open road just before sunset. We’ve Conversations last longer; stops are navigate short city runs without been utilizing AI in apps like Google less about necessity and more about overthinking it.

Maps or Waze for years, but now, the paperboard are produced Nations Environment Programme choice.globally every Apart from the accessibility integration feels seamless. year , and paper-based packaging alone (UNEP), over 430 million tons of plastic Electric vehicles used to live in of the local area, having an When the road finally opens up, consumes approximately 3 billion trees, are produced globally each year, with forums and comment sections. electric scooter for quick travel stretches beyond placing ongoing Something pressure on people forest more than 11 million tons entering questioned errands is a modern relief. convenience and resources. To reduce paper consumption, the oceans, posing a serious threat to or weren’t quite sold on yet. But . To minimize plastic usage, It’s the kind of everyday OPPO has actively shifted paper-made ecosystems lately, they’ve started to feel likehas a incorporated natural biomass mobility that removes product guidance information to digital OPPO natural next step.

Not because we the friction from a formats. In 2025, this initiative saved materials, such as tea residue, into have to switch, but because they designs. By replacing 10–30% about 110 million A4 sheets, equivalent packaging quick trip to a café to avoiding the felling of approximately of petroleum-based plastics with these simply make sense.

They eliminate or a short crossing 13,000 mature trees and reducing around environmentally friendly alternatives, OPPO is continuing to implement greener practices, develop more the small frictions we’ve grown Xiaomi Electric Scooter Lite between blocks, 3,500 tons of carbonused emissions .

OPPO is not only reducing plastic environmentally friendly products, and inspire people all around the to: fuel stops and unexpected replacing stopworld to take real steps to building a sustainable future. consumption but also finding a valuable According to estimates from the United price hikes, and the constant “range and-go traffic with

anxiety” check.

Suddenly, the shift use for biomass waste that would otherwise be disposed of.doesn’t feel forced at all.

Bringing New Life to E-Waste I recently drove the Kia Sorento The volume of electronic waste generated Hybrid from Tagaytay to Balergloband ally continues to rise too.

Data from United never once worried aboutthe range.

Nations shows that the scale of e-waste reached 62 What stood out most was how million tons in 2022 and is increasing by about 2.6 it kept meByin2030, checkthis onisthe road; to its million tons annually. expected lane-keeping assist is something surpass 82 million tons, far exceeding current reyou truly appreciate on the cycling capabilities .

One of the ways in which OPPOroads is tackling unpredictable, winding of the this challenge is through its commitment to imPhilippines. proving product that each device is It’sdurability, subtle, butso it makes a significant used for longer rather than ending up as waste. difference over long hauls.

The At the same time, the company is continually Sorento Hybrid fits into this space improving its recycling system for electronic naturally,users making the journey easier waste, encouraging to return their devices to enjoy.

The shift between power to either be reused, or dismantled, recycled, and sources seamless, the cabin safely discarded.

Inis2025, whileand selling aroundis 35,300 tonsquiet of new products, OPPO recycledtake as enough to let the scenery many as 1,187 tons of used devices in China and center stage.

Europe duringFor thelonger, same period . more ambitious routes, Engaging more Public to join the BYD Tang DM-i brings a different the Green Initiatives of intelligence into the practicpicture.

In additionkind to improving environmental It doesn’t just move; it manages. es through its own products and technology, OPPO also works closely with communities around the Turn to D7 world to inspire greater public participation in environmental initiatives.

Across Africa’s vast savannas, researchers are photographing the unique eye patterns of rhinos to track their movements, migrations, births, and deaths. To better protect these extraordinary and endangered animals, OPPO has partnered with the Peaceland Foundation and Impact Steps to donate OPPO Find X9 series smartphones to Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Taking advantage of the smartphone’s advanced telephoto capabilities, researchers can now use more lightweight equipment to photograph these rhino eyes in high detail from a distance while also streamlining data collection and enhancing the accuracy of subsequent Kia Sorento identification work.

Youronhome as sanctuary withfake Xiaomi’s GCash upholds zero tolerance ‘quishing’ scam, blocks illegal sites Smart Air Purifier and Dehumidifier

GCash has blocked over 4,900 fraudulent merchants using ‘quishing’—a new tactic where scam-mers use fake QR codes to steal payments.

IN AN era where the home has Lite addresses this with an 8L daily G C A S H, the Philippines’ become the ultimate sanctuary, the capacity, effectively balancing the leading finance super app, has quality of the air we breathe indoors moisture levels in the home. Designed intensified its crackdown on has never been more critical. With specifically for sensitive spaces illegal merchants, blocking the Philippines’ fluctuating weather like nurseries and bedrooms, the suspicious accounts and scam patterns and the rising prevalence of Dehumidifier Lite features a Whisperindoor allergens, Xiaomi introduces quiet Sleep Mode that operates at just websites that impersonate its latest “health shield” for the 33.82 dB(A). This ensures that while official GCash payment pages modern Filipino family: the Xiaomi the device works to keep the air dry to de-fraud users.

AIoT Wellness campaign. and comfortable, the family’s rest With rising transportation Centering on the concept of “Total remains undisturbed. costs adding to broader Indoor Air Management,” Xiaomi The Power of Xiaomi’s AIoT economic pressures, GCash highlights the powerful synergy Synergy continues to strengthen its antibetween the Mijia Smart Air Purifier As part of Xiaomi’s robust AIoT 6 and the Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier ecosystem, these devices work fraud efforts as Filipinos become GOOGLE announced a new enhancement to Lite.

Together, these devices ensure in harmony to create a balanced, more deliberate with every Chrome, adding built-in AI to help people in the that indoor environments are not healthy, and sanitary living space. peso they underscoring Philippines seekspend, and understand information with only free from harmful pollutants By automating air management, much ease. Poweredofbystaying Google’s latest AI themore im-portance but are also maintained at the ideal Xiaomi allows parents and caregivers capabilities (Gemini 3.1), these browser enhancevigilant against schemes and humidity levels to prevent respiratory to focus on what matters most—the ments will be firsttheir available on desktop and iOS. safeguarding hard-earned discomfort and mold growth. well-being of their loved ones. A Xiaomi’s new devices provide Total Indoor Air Management, creating a health shield People using Android can also activate Gemini money.

Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6: A healthy home truly starts with the air for your family. while using Chrome and other apps by simply New Standard in Air Purification you breathe, and Xiaomi’s new AIoT The rise of “quishing” scams holding the power button.

The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 is solutions keep that space clean, dry, Users can visualize their home’s breath taken is a clean one.

R ecent monitor ing has Key features arriving with this update include: engineered to provide peace of mind and perfectly balanced. health in real-time through the Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier Lite: uncovered schemes where Interact with web content for families with young children or The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 and upgraded LCD color display.

Perfecting Your Home’s Climate without switching tabs fake websites mimic legitimate elderly members who are sensitive Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier Lite Efficiency is at the heart of its Clean air is only half of the Whether you need to synthesize a complex article GCash payment pages and use to air quality. Equipped with an are now both available for P9,999 on design; the Mijia Smart Air Purifier wellness equation—high humidity or spark new idea, you canpayments. now do so without losQRPha codes to collect advanced five-sensor system, the Xiaomi’s official Shopee stores and 6 is capable of clearing a standard in tropical climates often leads to a ing your place on the web. With Chrome’s side panel, An example of a growing scam device constantly monitors the authorized outlets nationwide. room in as fast as 3.5 minutes, “sticky” feeling and promotes the you can multi-task with ease and instantly get help environment for even the smallest To learn more about these devices, flagged by the Bangko Sentral removing up to 99.9% of common growth of mold and mildew. with whatever you’re working on, without ever havchanges in air composition. visit http://mi.com/ph. allergens and odors, ensuring every The Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier ng Pilipinas (BSP) is known as ing to switch tabs. Just click the icon in the top right “quishing” QR phishing. corner of your or current tab and start chatting with your personalized browsing assistant.

In these schemes, fraudsters Chrome’s enhanced capabilities can help exploit new QR AI codes to redirect youusers summarize lengthy web content, perform tasks like to malicious payment creating a pop quiz for your upcoming final, answer p a g e s o r s te a l s e n - s i t i ve questions like “how can I make this recipe vegan?” and misusing GCash users can report fraudulent sites for takedown. ecosystem,” said Miguel Geronilla, eveninformation, remember pageswhile you’ve previously visited so you that imitate GCash domains official branding to appear suspected scams through the (e.g., “gcash-payments.com”, The company continues to work Chief Information Security Officer can finally close the tabs you’ve set aside for later. credibleGet and users thedeceive best of Google GCash Help Center at help.gcash. “gcsh.payment.com” instead closely with government partners at GCash. with a product line designed to redefine the interTCL Electronics, the Philippines’ #1 Panel TV with innovative integrations into completing unauthorized section of work and play. brand and a“payments. global leader in to display and coolcom by chat-ting with Gigi and of the official strengthen enforcement and “Scammers are evolving By connecting your workspace tools within the gcash.com”) Leveraging its alongside world-classdigital panel payments,” expertise, said ing technology, officially marks a newonline milestone transactions. selecting “I want to report a scam”, disrupt fraud. browserIn(such as Gmail, Calendar, YouTube is set Geronilla, to dominate a brandsome cases,Maps, fraudulent or by calling the official GCash • Mismatch in merchant T h e s e e f f o r t s b u i l d o n TCLMiguel Chief Information and more), Chrome helps you act on information the new Security space with the official launch QR codes are embedded in hotline at 2882. identity, especially when the GCash’s sustained anti-fraud and Officer at GCash.

“We have moment you find it. With ease, you can schedule of the TCL Monitor held recently posters, emails, receipts, or Users may also report incidents name displayed is random, cybersecurity campaigns such zero tolerance for these actors and meetings on your Calendar, see location details from at the Circuit Base flagship store TCL is set to dominate a brand-new space with the messages.

When scanned, these to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group incomplete, or unrelated as GSafe Tayo.

In 2025, GCash, in are actively blocking and reporting Maps and ask questions about YouTube videos. in Quezon City. official at launch of 8414-1560 the TCL Monitor held recently at can redirect users to fake login Integration with Gmail means you can even to the actual business (e.g., (02) / 0998-598collaboration with the Cybercrime TCL them to protect our users. ” expands its legacy of excelthe Circuit Base flagship store in Quezon City. compose send emails leaving your “XJ82q” or “Merchant_123”) pagesand for e-wallets or without banks, or its officialusers entry isinto 8116 or acg@pnp.gov.ph, and to Investigation and Coordinating lence with “Protecting at the the core current page.

Just open the side panel and ask to Fromadded. even to sites that install harmful the Cybercrime Investigation and • Payment pages that feel Center (CICC), has blocked over Philippine of our monitor platform,market. ” Geronilla send an email.on Once it’sdevices. finished,As you’ll point that empowers the (CICC) community. software their a have the inconsistent or unfamiliar, Center via We 3,200 merchants linked to illicit high-stakes “We willprofessional continue toproductivstrengthen oura priceCoordinating option to make any necessary edits and then get it aren’t just selling screens; we are providing ity to deeply immersive cinematic result, users may unknowingly hotline 1326, mobile 0991-481- the despite using GCash or activities, which are often used as safeguards and work hand-in-hand sent with a single tap or click. gateway to better productivity and world-class enexperiences, this launch represents sendGet money to illegitimate ac-tabs 4225, made or report@cicc.gov.ph.

QRPh logos channels for fraudulent transactions the definitive with the shift government tohabkeep thetertainment, work done faster across accessible through our trusted in viewing counts, even if the transaction By staying vigilant and Cernitchez, using If any of these signs are present, and scams. ecosystem safe. ” Gemini in Chrome can work across multiple open partners at Circuit Base,” says Joseph its that Filipino consumers have familiar routine. tabs,appears so you can easilyor cross-reference and consolitrusted platforms, Filipinos can users should stop the transaction “ B y p r o a c t i v e l y b l o c k i n g been waiting Protecting every peso TCL Brand Manager. for. date information a single view. For example What tointo watch out for the View vision urges has always beentotoverify GCash users betterRedefining protect their funds and immediately. unauthorized actors and reporting “TCL’s when planning buildingusers activity, TCL Monitor is purpose-built to seamlessly Greatness,’ and merchant we do thatdetails The ensure GCasha team reminds toChrome can Proactive website URLs and that every peso counts. enforcement themManager to our regulators Shown here are (from left) TCL Brand Joseph Cernitchez,and ‘Inspire bring together all of your research to plan the perinnovative tech within andadapt from a high-performance professional workstay alert for key warning signs Assistant Product Manager authorities, Oriana Jang, Circuit President before completing transactions andTCL collaboration we areBase helping protect by putting fect offsite ice breaker. For shopping, you can easily immersive gaming setup, delivering reach.

Our new monitor CEO Margaret Tanlinked Bueno, TCL Filipinos B2B Sales Offi cer maintain Alvin Rackstrust Uy, in everyone’s before completing any payment: to stop immediately if anythingspace to an More information is available at GCash has& blocked wallets and create a table comparing the key details of products versatility, speed, and visual precision for today’s line is a testament to that—combinCircuit Base Executive Offi cer Jovencito Almendras, and Brand • Suspicious website URLs appears suspicious. www.gcash.com to these activities and escalated the country’s digital financial across sites, making shopping a breeze. multi-functional users. ing cutting-edge performance with Management Head Dustin Kwan.

Smarter, more helpful AI-powered Chrome here

TCL brings signature innovation to your desktop in partnership with Circuit Base

E10 D 6

MS TECH & MOBILITY TRENDS

THE INTELLIGENT SUMMER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

advertise@manilastandard.net

AI, EVS, and THE GEAR THAT THINKS FOR YOU

All-new, colorful MacBook Neo launches at Power Mac Center P Record-Breaking Run: ACMobility, BYD, and the DOT electrify the archipelago

WITH fuel prices hitting the roof every Tuesday like clockwork, the timing is perfect. ACMobility and BYD Cars Philippines, in tandem REMIER Apple with the Department of Tourism (DOT),partner just wrapped up a 22-day Power Mac marathon that effectively debunked Center the the biggest mythunveiled in local motoring: the idea that electric vehicles aren’t all-new MacBook Neo in ready for the “probinsya” road trip. a fun and simultaThey callvibrant it “Drive Electric.

Love Pinas,” and it wasn’t just a scenic neous launch in Greenbelt drive. It was a 3,500-kilometer 3statement and SMofMegamall. intent.

Two World later…

Customers whoRecords joined the launch Led by adventurer Wil Dasovich, received the event exclusive bunconvoy ofanelectrified vehicles dlea including AirPods Pro 2 and t r a v e4-pack, r s e d t hstackable e e n t i r with e l e nover gth AirTag of the archipelago.

By the time P12,000 worth of freebies for those they reached the finish they with qualified pre-orders.

In line, addition, had inbagged two3 Guinness World those Greenbelt and SM MegaRecords for visiting most mall who lined up untilthe 7PM alsocities got a chance to win up tojourney—one P600,000 worth in a continuous for ofaprizes (P300,000 per location).

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and While attendees were the(PHEV). first another for a Plug-in Hybrid to access exclusive perks, PMC is Beyond the Pavement extending its opening The journey startedpromotions where the over coming roadthe usually ends:days, the Laensuring Paz Sand more customers take the Dunes in Ilocos can Norte.

Thepart BYDinShark excitement.

6 DMO, featuring their signature “We are takingdidn’t Applejust fanshandle on a Blade Battery, lifestyle journey worthy of the anthe sand; it later ate up the steep, ticipation for the new MacBook Neo. winding climbs of Baguio with the With every device Power Mac Center kind of torque thatsure makes launches, we make ourtraditional custominternal combustion engines ers know we stand behind their feel pur-a bit dated. chase, helping them choose better, set But the was the up faster, andreal get party more trick out of what Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology. they’re upgrading to,” PMC Director Pampanga and Cebu,Managethe cars forInMarketing and Product weren’t just transport, they were ment Joey Alvarez. power sources. about Mac&Me: EasyWe’re to usetalking and easy powering off-grid gear in a gorge

and running an entire DJ booth at BYD Cebu Central. It turns out, when you drive an EV, you’re basically bringing a massive power bank to the fiesta.

From Makati to Mindanao The logistics were the real test.

The fleet utilized the ACMobility Philippine EV Spine Network, which now boasts over 160 charging points.

They topped up at the country’s fastest 480kW DC charger in Makati before heading south through the pottery gardens of Quezon and across the sea to the Visayas.

In Mindanao, the trip got personal.

Between whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro and paragliding in Bukidnon, the team made a stop at the House of Hope Foundation in Davao to spend time with kids battling cancer. It was a reminder Ready to hit the road? Plan your that while the tech is impressive, the route at tourism.gov.ph, join the goal is a better, cleaner future for the movement at goev.ph, or explore next generation of Filipinos. the BYD lineup at bydcarsph.com.

Range Anxiety?

When you’re ready to charge, find What Range Anxiety? your nearest plug at acmobility.ph.

Crossing 102 cities and municipalities should put “range anxiety” to bed once and for all.

With 79 dealerships now dotting the map and a charging network that stretches from Robinsons Pagadian to PTT stations in the north, the infrastructure is finally catching up to the ambition.

Macbook Neo Indigo The “Drive Electric. Love Pinas” campaign proved that the tech is ready for Made our rugged terrain to own, for More tise to support customers, reinforcing and island-hopping lifest As the premier Apple partner inyle. the how the Mac is made for more than The futurePMC isn’t extends just coming; it’s Philippines, its experordinary, with powerful capabilities already here.

Gen Z is Google’s most active users as AI transforms Search into intelligent partner GEN Z is now the most active generation on Search, a trend clearly reflected in the way people across Southeast Asia including Philippines are engaging with the platform.

AI is taking Search beyond its foundation of providing information, transforming it into a truly intelligent partner. Powered by Google’s most advanced multi-modal reasoning model Gemini 3.1, Search can have an intuitive, back-and-forth conversation and it will get people’s complex and highly nuanced intent.

As AI natives, this shift resonates with Gen Zs. They are no longer just entering keywords, they are researching, planning, brainstorming, and even having conversations with Search. AI-powered features like AI Mode and Search Live make it faster, more natural, and more intuitive to find and act on information, allowing people to search in multimodal ways including text, voice and visual. As

Macbook Neo Citrus

in completing tasks both for work and play.

Now available in all Power Mac Center stores nationwide, the MacBook Neo is easy to use and easy to own with these exclusive offers.

Terms and conditions apply.

Accessories: Enjoy up to 50% off on a wide selection of accessories until April 30, 2026. This offer is valid for straight payments only and

this growth, showing Search is more relevant than ever .

The Philippines’ young, AI-native population uses Search to expand their world and make decisions they can trust.

In the Philippines, this shift is even more undeniable.

The country has one of the youngest, most AI-native populations in the world. Gen Zs lean heavily into Search, with 89% using it every day to make smarter, more intentional choices for a wide array of decisions. From researching on upcoming travel destinations to exploring the latest trends, this generation relies on Search to navigate the journey from curiosity to the final checkout—ensuring that they always make decisions that are guided by the reliable information they find online.

These days, social media might be where Gen Z discovers a trend, but Search is where they deep-dive about it and fact-check it. Instead of simply following a viral hype or long queues, they use Google reviews on Maps to find the truth behind the filter. They rely on Search to look up a brand’s history, find honest feedback, and compare prices to see if a product is actually worth the buzz. Search provides the credibility they need to make a move.

is available with any MacBook Neo payment option.

1 Infinite: As a limited “double burn” offer (1 point = P2) from PMC’s loyalty program 1 Infinite, members can redeem up to 2,500 points (P5,000 off), with no minimum spend required. This offer is applicable to both device and accessory purchases and is valid from April 23 to 26, 2026 only.

UpTrade: Score up to P4,000 in additional trade-in value when you trade in your MacBook Air (M2 or earlier) and upgrade to the all-new MacBook Neo or MacBook Air (M5) from April 23 to May 10, 2026. Offer available at all Power Mac Center stores nationwide.

Mobile Care and Basecamp: Customers who purchase the MacBook Neo until April 30, 2026 can also receive a 90-day complementary software fix from Mobile Care Service Center, PMC’s official service arm, and free training for MacBook Neo + AI Toolkit for Beginners provided by Basecamp, PMC’s official training arm.

To avail the free training, please register here <https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/ e/1FAIpQLSe_z0LeHOubTSrH4g uDE7H1gaZICevgaQ15fF0tqxI7CB-aQw/viewform>.

Partners: Get special Grab vouchers on purchases of the MacBook Neo until April 24, 2026.

Education, SMB, and Enterprise: PMC also offers special Education pricing for students and members of the academe. Meanwhile, businesses and organizations looking to boost their operational efficiency and service delivery can approach any PMC store for a consultation on Apple integration.

DigiCon ‘26 signals age of collaboration CREATIVITY is evolving and with it, how innovation happens.

As the world marks World Creativity and Innovation Day, a defining shift is taking shape: today’s most meaningful breakthroughs are no longer driven by single ideas or standalone efforts, but by collaboration across industries, disciplines, and technologies.

From artificial intelligence enhancing human imagination, to brands building ideas alongside creators and platforms, innovation is increasingly the result of co-creation.

Chinese EVs look to sideline foreign brands at Beijing auto show Gen Zs are the heaviest users of Search. Signed-in users globally aged 18 to 24 now issue more daily queries than any other age group.

a result, Gen Z has emerged as the most active generation on Search. Signed-in users globally aged 18 to 24 now is-

sue more daily queries than any other age group . Google sees over 5 trillion searches annually with Gen Z driving

Brealme gives first look at realme 16 Series 5G ahead of local launch EIJING—The world’s biggest auto show opens in Beijing on Friday, as Chinese manufacturers solidify REALME has officially unveiled the realmestatus 16 Seriesas 5Gindustry in the Philippines their via a livestream on its official Facebook innovators and foreign page, introducing a lineup focused on improved face photography, longer batbrands ferocious tery life, and smarter AI features. The competition the16 Pro+ 5G, lineup includes thein realme country’s realme 16 Progiant 5G, andcar realme 16 5G. 200 Master Portrait market. for Moments that Matter

The biggest highlight across the Pro Brandsissuch Volkswagen, Toyota models the as 200MP Multi-focal Luand BMW once dominated in China, maColor Camera System, designed but have steadily lost market share for detailed shots across different focal tolengths. domestic firms that beat them to The realme 16 Pro+ 5G adds the electric revolution andit a 50MP 3.5xvehicle telephoto lens, making undercut them for on price. more versatile portraits and zoom Electric carswhile are the alsorealme getting a photography, 16 Pro boost as oiltheprices spiking by 5G brings same sent 200MP main senthe war nudge drivers away sorMideast to a wider audience.

Forfossil-fuel those looking at a models. more accesfrom powered sible option, the realmewill 16 display 5G feaDozens of carmakers tures latest a dualmodels 50MP at portrait camera their the 10-day system powered a Sony IMX852 exhibition in thebyChinese capital, sensor, offering manufacturers reliable image qualwith domestic like ity for everyday BYD, Xiaomi and shots.

Xpeng now at the To make creation easier, the forefront of content integrating AI software Series is also equipped with AI tools and autonomous driving technology like AI Edit Genie 2.0, AI Instant Clip, into their EVs. and AI Portrait Glow, users Foreign brands haveallowing been “too to edit and share photos faster. There’s slow to localise decision-making also room to play, with features like and said PopBill Vibeproduct Master development”, Mode and AI Photo Russo, founder of Shanghai-based out for users who want a bit more perconsultancy Automobility. sonality in their shots.

“The basis of longer, competition China Built to last chargeinfaster hasAllfundamentally shifted from three devices come equipped hardware and brand with a 7000mAh batterytoforsoftware, extended

daily use. The Pro variants support 80W SUPERVOOC charging, allowing for quick top-ups when needed.

Performance-wise, the realme 16 Pro+ 5G runs on the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, while the realme 16 Pro 5G is powered by the Dimensity 7300 Max, both supported by an Airflow Vapor Chamber Cooling System for sustained performance. The realme 16 5G uses the Dimensity 6400 Turbo, optimized for

efficient day-to-day use.

Smooth displays and durable builds The Pro models feature AMOLED displays with up to 144Hz refresh rates and peak brightness of 6,500 nits, offering a smooth and bright viewing experience even outdoors.

Meanwhile, the realme 16 5G comes with a 120Hz AMOLED display in a more compact form.

Durability is also a key highlight, with

the entire Series rated IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K, providing strong resistance against dust and water exposure.

The lineup also introduces distinct finishes across models: the realme 16 Pro+ 5G comes in Master Gold, the realme 16 Pro 5G is available in Pebble Grey and Orchid Purple, while the realme 16 5G features a lighter design in Air White and Air Black, complete with a built-in Selfie Mirror at the back.

Pricing, Availability, and Launch Offers The realme 16 Series 5G is now available nationwide with the following SRPs: ● realme 16 5G (8GB+256GB) P25,999 ● realme 16 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB) - P31,999 ● realme 16 Pro 5G (12GB+512GB) - P37,999 ● realme 16 Pro+ 5G (12GB+512GB) - PHP 43,999 A Xiaomi SU7 car is displayed at the gallery of the company’s headquarters in Beijing on April 22, 2026. (AFP) Pre-orders (April 23-30) come with freebiesCATL, such as realme Buds speed, and ecosystem integration,” cut 50,000 jobs domestically by maker while Audi is Air7 usingor realme Watch S2, a 5000mAh power Russo told AFP. 2030, after post-tax earnings fell 44 Huawei’s driving assistance systems bank, and a Privilege Card, plus disMercedes-Benz’s China sales percent last year. and Volkswagen is developing EVs counts of up to P2,000, with total perks plunged 19 percent last year, while ‘Centre of gravity’ together valued atwith up toChinese P8,900, brand Xpeng. fellow German brand BMW saw “China is now the centre of gravity “The golden foreign For a limited time time, for Shopee buysales hit their lowest level since for automotive innovation, not just brands has passed, ” said Ernan Cui,to ers (April 23-May 5) can enjoy up 2017. production,” Russo said. an analyst Gavekala Dragonomics P9,000 off,at receive free AKASO Volkswagen, long the largest seller Foreign automakers are inEK7000 Beijing.series action camera, and get in China, is battling to maintain a increasingly collaborating with “Chinese brands... upgrading the device for as low asare PHP 22,499 Chinese market share while also local companies to keep pace with much faster. ” For more updates on the realme 16 realme Series 5G: 200MP cameras, 7000mAh battery, and AI-powered features fending off16competition at home. technological advances.

Foreign manufacturers also Series 5G, follow realme’s official headline The German car giant plans the to latest Number BMW Series has partnered with battery face being outcompeted website and Facebook page. in other

markets, as Chinese carmakers look abroad to boost profitability.

Chinese brands already control around a fifth of the auto market in Latin America, and plan to boost overseas production to 3.4 million vehicles by 2030 from 1.2 million in 2025, according to consulting firm AlixPartners.

DigiCon embraces the have theme,high Major 2026 players like BYD ‘Interoperability: the Age hopes for the Welcome Middle toEast and of Collaboration. ’ European markets, with sky-high tariffs keeping Chinese models out This is transforming how creativity of the United States. works in practice. What used to be linear The European Union had imposed processes are now collaborative ecosystariffs of up to 35.3 percent on EVs tems—where marketers, technologists, imported from China, but in January creators, businesses, and communities agreed Chinese carmakers contributethat to shaping ideas from concould minimum prices to sell cept toaccept execution.

In this environment, into the bloc. innovation is no longer owned by one Still, BYD is building a factory sector, but built through shared inputsin Hungary to manufacture cars for and continuous exchange.

Europe, due tois start At theLeapmotor center of this is evolution the making EVs in Spain this year and Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines’s (DMAP) flagship con-to Chery said Tuesday it wants ference, DigiCon. produce a small electric vehicle in Now in its 11th year, DigiCon 2026 Europe. embracesToo this many reality through playersits theme, “Interoperability: Welcome thefacing Age But Chinese brands are to also of Collaboration.”

Happening on Octoheadwinds as a ferocious price war 15–16eats at the Manila Marriott Hotel atber home into profit margins.

Grand Ballroom, conference is de“There are stillthetoo many players a platformwith wheretoo industries insigned the asmarket much intersect and where collaboration beinvestment behind them,” according comes a driver of innovation. to Cui. Built over a decade with 2,000 “The losers are not quitting the participants annually, DigiCon has market fast asa they are supposed evolvedasbeyond conference into a tocatalyst because they have investors’ for collaboration connecting backing, disciplines andlocal emerginggovernments’ technologies backing, who do real-world, not wantcrosstheir to turn ideas into existing to be written industry investments impact. off,” she said. AFP

SHOWBIZ

E11 SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Touchbass

Yugel Losorata

BINI, P-Pop’s win at Coachella sparks mixed reactions

Cup of Joe poses for a photo with the crowd after their performance

Cup of Joe

serves it real

From left: Gab Fernandez, Gian Bernardino, CJ Fernandez, Xen Gareza, and Raphaell Ridao at the media meet-and-greet

How the country’s fast-rising band keeps its feet on the ground

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By Jasper Valdez

Cup of Joe performs its hit songs for a lively crowd in San Juan, La Union

S Cup of Joe gets more popular, there’s more pressure to look a certain way, act a certain way, and fit expectations that come with fame. But instead of chasing that image, the band members are saying what matters most is staying true to who they really are—their values, personalities, and love for music.

authentic selves.

“We want people to feel that they belong,” he said.

Cup of Joe’s steady rise—from playing together in senior high school to performing for larger crowds—has not changed how they work behind the scenes.

Lead guitarist Gab Fernandez recalled how the group once had to balance school with music before deciding to commit fully.

“During college, we had to balance school and music, and it was difficult to focus on both,” he said. “Eventually, we decided to fully commit to our music careers.”

Even as their reach expands, communication remains central to how they operate as a group.

“Communication is the most important thing when you’re in a group like this,” said rhythm guitarist CJ Fernandez. “We always make sure to talk things through, especially when someone has a problem, so we can support each other and adjust.”

Keyboardist Xen Gareza said these conversations also help them stay aligned. “Sometimes we have downtime, and we just sit down and talk about what’s happening,” he said.

The Tang Refreshing Rave carried a similar idea, built as a space for young people to connect in person rather than through screens.

“As Gen Z becomes more connected online, they also struggle with face-to-face interaction, and that really connects to what a real moment means,” said Mondelēz International Philippines marketing director Adrian Manlapig.

“We wanted them to be in a safe space where they can express themselves, meet new friends, or reconnect,” he added.

Mondelēz senior category marketing manager Karol Canlas-Apelo said the event “celebrates refreshingly real moments and creates a safe space for people to have fun without pressure.”

“What’s real for us is our dedication to music,” said vocalist Raphaell Ridao. “We don’t like to fake anything. We want to stay authentic and let our individuality shine so the group can shine as well.”

That mindset carried into their performance at the Tang Refreshing Rave in San Juan, La Union, on April 17, where the Baguio-based group headlined a beachside crowd made up largely of Gen Z listeners.

The casual and open setting mirrored how the band approaches both its music and its relationship with fans.

Frontman Gian Bernardino said the group makes a conscious effort to stay connected, not just onstage but within the band itself.

“We take time to sit down and talk and give space to each other so everyone feels they belong,” he said. “We celebrate individuality, and we try to reflect that in our songs and how we present ourselves.”

Bernardino said they want that same openness to carry into their shows, where the audience can feel at ease to be their

Mondelez executives and Cup of Joe cap off the night with a toast celebrating a night of music

Some of OPM’s biggest names, including Sarah Geronimo, SB19, and the SexBomb Girls, are heading to Clark this May for a weekend of live music

Aurora Music Festival celebrates milestone year with OPM top acts AURORA Music Festival is marking its fifth year with a two-day event on May 2 to 3 at Clark Global City in Pampanga, drawing thousands of music fans for one of the country’s major Original Pilipino Music (OPM) gatherings.

The annual festival, which began as a platform to highlight Filipino music, has grown into a large-scale event featuring multiple artists across genres and generations.

This year’s lineup is led by P-pop group SB19 and band IV of Spades. Organizers said the event will also feature performances from Sarah Geronimo, Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Armi Millare, SexBomb Girls, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, and Kitchie Nadal.

The festival has built its reputation on bringing together established and emerging Filipino acts in a single event, offering audiences a mix of pop, rock, and folk music.

Over the years, Aurora Music Festival has positioned itself as a venue for showcasing local talent, amid a concert scene often dominated by international performers.

The Clark edition will feature a range of artists from different eras of OPM to showcase the genre’s continued evolution.

Aurora Music Festival 2026 is presented by Epic Events. Tickets are available through official ticketing platforms.

YOU have heard of Coachella being the biggest music festival nowadays, and that the Philippines’ very own BINI was among the most anticipated and applauded acts that performed in its latest edition.

Another source of Pinoy pride, and something legit – not mere hype, blown up to appear bigger than it actually is.

Headliners of the show included Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter, who brought in, as a special guest, who else but Madonna.

And yet this apparent world-stage accomplishment still has some detractors from, you guessed it, some of their compatriots.

I find it unnecessary to put in the negative comments about the group that can be found on social media. Just stating the obvious painful truth is enough: that despite such a big achievement, there are Pinoys implying that they got the majority of their support from fellow Filipino, and not foreign, fans. Of course—and who cares about that stat? They made it big time, however you see it.

Let me tell you that I really don’t dig these sing-and-dance groups, not as much as bands playing and composing hits themselves. Their songs don’t really resonate with me as much as a classic rock song taped via analogue recording would.

But my personal take on current music and live performing can’t get in the way of acknowledging the fact that these girls did something special at Coachella. There’s no reason for anyone born in the Philippines or with deep Filipino roots not to be proud of them.

Unless … you’re suffering from a “mental disease” called crab mentality. Yes, the crabs who keep pulling down those on their way up embody the social cancer that keeps killing the Filipino resolve.

I am writing this piece merely to reiterate what was said by ace songwriter and music industry specialist Trina Belamide in her particular Facebook post about this matter. She opened that viral post by saying, “Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o malulungkot sa mga bashers ng BINI.” She stressed her sharp, pointed sentences later: “BINI made it to the world’s biggest stage, performed very well, and made an impact internationally. Period. It is a big deal and I think it’s something we should absolutely be proud of.”

There’s no need to rephrase what she posted. And I agree with her, not because I’m forever amazed that she wrote the song “Tell the World of His Love,” which, back in my youth in 1995, welcomed Pope John Paul II with a superbly uplifting tune during his World Youth Day visit. In other words, she’s the real deal and highly respected among peers in the music sphere.

I agree with Trina’s take on BINI primarily because it is simply right. Yeah, why does someone have the nerve to even pinpoint that the media engagement resulting from BINI’s historic appearance “does not mean commercial success”?

Trina does say that “iilan lang naman ang may crab mentality so hayaan na lang natin sila” and that “most of us celebrate these ladies’ success.” That’s the happy ending to her post, which leaves a good taste.

Going back to crab mentality: if an act like BINI, right after performing at Coachella, could still be the object of vitriol, how will lesser acts navigate being performers trying to find their spot in the cutthroat Philippine entertainment scene?

Unfortunately, this disruptive thinking cannot be righted in this lifetime. It will take the next generations to seriously fix a set of people infested with toxicity in the head. Positive change may happen from the way children are raised to how adults truly act in the real world. The naturally good must never succumb to a broken system. We can always take the first steps to fighting crab mentality head-on, and make future Filipinos significantly more selfless and less judgmental.

I don’t want to dig deeper, though. It’s plain and simple that Filipino artists should uplift other artists, especially their kababayans—anywhere in the world. It’s never cool hearing horror stories about a true talent complaining of having been duped or backstabbed by, of all people, a compatriot.

I can say something about being a newbie in another country. It’s a sad thing when you feel like your own kababayan doesn’t really make an effort to help you establish your footing, and more often, as I have heard or observed, one gets embraced only after they have already somehow made it—practically by their own efforts, and with significant help from, uh, likely non-Filipinos.

By that time, the same person is a tired, wounded, angry soul who’d probably do the same to the next wannabe. It’s a vicious cycle that must cease, for every true artist, especially those giving some pride to the flag, deserves better.

BINI’s performance on one of music’s biggest global stages draws strong support from fans while also stirring discussion online among Filipinos

LIFE

E12

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Gelo (left) and Nate keep it easy in street-ready fits

Beyond the stage The laid-back style and easy charm of BGYO

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HERE aren’t many places where you can appreciate great music, fresh fashion, and genuine good manners all at once.

But that’s exactly what happened at the recent Pull&Bear store opening in Alabang. I went for the style and the beats.

What stayed with me, though, was something else entirely—the surprising warmth of BGYO.

BGYO brings its laid-back style to the Pull&Bear store opening in Alabang Town Center

You know what I love about BGYO? Their story feels earned. The five of them—Gelo, Akira, JL, Mikki, and Nate—didn’t just get plucked off the street. Back in 2018, ABS-CBN’s Star Hunt Academy held auditions, and over 250 hopefuls showed up. These five were among them.

For two years, they trained intensely— local mentors and South Korean coaches pushing them on vocals, dance, and stage presence. Gelo, the oldest and the leader, handles lead rapper and dancer duties.

Akira and JL are your main vocalists, the ones who give you chills. Mikki is the main rapper with that sharp, confident energy.

And Nate? He’s the bunso, the youngest, but also the main dancer—and trust me, he moves

Dee-tails

Ardee de los Angeles

When the Filipino boy band recently stepped into Pull&Bear’s new store opening at Alabang Town Center, expectations were naturally high. What I didn’t expect, however, was how refreshingly normal—and genuinely kind—the five-member group would be up close.

The event itself was a sleek affair.

Pull&Bear unveiled its latest retail space at ATC, complete with laid-back urban aesthetics, denim displays, and a vibe that matched the group’s youthful, energetic brand. When Gelo, JL, Mikki, and Nate (Akira was unwell at the time) emerged in coordinated casual fits from the store’s new collection, the energy in the space immediately shifted.

But here’s the surprise: between the posed photos and the scripted greetings, I had the chance to sit down with the boys for a quick chat near the fitting rooms. No booming stage monitors. No towering handlers. Just these young men who, despite their rapid rise to P-pop stardom, greeted every crew member, stylist, and fan with a warm “thank you” and direct eye contact.

JL pairs a brown jacket with tailored black pants, adding a polished touch to his casual fit

like he’s been performing for decades. They first appeared on TV in late 2020, covering Sarah G’s hits, and by January 2021, they officially debuted with “The Light.” What stuck with me? They cowrote those Tagalog lyrics themselves. No one handed them a script. That’s when I knew this group was different.

In an industry where ego can sometimes overshadow talent, BGYO remains startlingly polite and down-to-earth. They talked about their families, their nerves before big events, and how they still get starstruck meeting senior OPM artists. There was no entitlement, no rush to move to the next interview.

BGYO has the choreography, the vocals, and the visuals—that’s never been in question.

But after that afternoon in Alabang, I walked away convinced that their real superpower is something quieter: humility. And in a world of perfectly curated personas, that kind of genuine warmth doesn’t just surprise you. It stays with you.

FASHIONPhilippines seeks next wave of Filipino designers for Milan

Mikki brings a casual edge as BGYO showcases its offstage style at the event

Scented collection centered on floral and fresh accords JUST in time for Mother’s Day, The Body Shop is launching a new seasonal fragrance collection inspired by floral and fresh scent notes.

The White Tea and Elderflower collection, launching on April 30, is described by the company as a light floral blend designed for body care use. It opens with notes of sparkling tonic water, cucumber, and lemon, followed by apple orpur. The fragrance features dewy elderflower and white tea, rounded out by conference pear and a base of cedarwood and soft musk.

The range includes bath and shower gel, body butter, body yogurt, hand cream, and fragrance mist.

The Body Shop collection uses ethically sourced Community Fair Trade ingredients, including shea butter and

The White Tea & Elderflower body butter gives a light and uplifting scent blend

almond milk, as part of its long-running sourcing commitments.

The company, founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick in Littlehampton, England, continues to follow its “Beauty with a Heart” philosophy, built around corporate social activism and five core values: against animal testing, support community fair trade, activate self-esteem, defend human rights and support the planet.

The products are available in stores nationwide and through the brand’s website at thebodyshop.com.ph. For launch details, contact Jun Bernabe at leonardojr.v.bernabe@ thebodyshop.com.ph.

The program offers mentorship, market access, and a three-day exhibition in Milan

Veronica Bertozzi (left) and Adam Pereyra at last year’s FASHIONPhilippines Milan

THE Philippines is bringing its fashion industry back to Milan, with applications now open for FASHIONPhilippines Milan 2026, the second edition of its showcase at Milan Fashion Week.

The program follows the country’s debut appearance in 2025, which organizers described as a breakthrough for Filipino designers on the international stage.

The initiative is led by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, the Philippine Fashion Coalition and LIT Fashion Consultancy.

Organizers said the 2026 edition will feature a larger exhibition, expanded European market access, additional mentorship, and a stronger focus on export readiness and brand positioning.

Selected designers will be reviewed by a Europe-based panel of fashion and business industry professionals who will also serve as mentors throughout the program. Applications are open until April 26.

The program includes business development sessions with international experts, collection development using Filipino innovation textiles, participation in a three-day exhibition in Milan

during Milan Fashion Week, and market exposure activities such as retail visits and showroom tours.

Mentorship will also include portfolio reviews and consultations covering design, buying, marketing, creative direction, and sales.

To qualify, applicants must be Filipino-owned and registered businesses, be members of the Philippine Fashion Coalition, have released at least two collections in the past two years, and be willing to integrate Filipino textiles into their work. They must also submit 15 to 20 exportready designs and pay a USD 500 participation fee upon acceptance.

Required documents include a brand profile, past collection line sheets with pricing, lookbooks, product and packaging photos, business registration papers, passport copy, and links to digital platforms and press materials.

The program begins Sept. 21, with mentoring sessions, followed by a three-day exhibition from Sept.

22 to 24 in Milan alongside Milan Fashion Week.

Organizers said the initiative aims to strengthen Filipino fashion brands for international markets through training, exposure, and industry engagement.

FASHIONPhilippines serves as the country’s export promotion platform for fashion enterprises and has previously brought local brands to trade events in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Applications are open for FASHIONPhilippines Milan 2026, a showcase for Filipino fashion designers at Milan Fashion Week The Body Shop introduces its White Tea & Elderflower fragrance mist with fresh floral notes

The collection’s hand cream adds a floral, fresh touch to everyday body care