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Senate ‘simple majority’ before June 5 as minority woos peers

By Ram Superable and Jimbo Gulle THE current Senate minority is confident of reaching a “simple majority” – of having 12 senators in its bloc compared to 11 of the current majority members -- before the chamber

adjourns its session on June 5, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Sunday.

A dozen senators in the 24-person Senate are not enough to unseat current Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, barely two weeks after he took office in a leadership coup, Lacson Next page admitted.

VOL. XL • NO. 100 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026 •

One dead, 23 trapped as building collapses BFP confirms Malaysian fatality in Angeles; 26 rescued

By Butch Gunio, Rex Espiritu, Ram Superable, and Rio Araja

R

ESCUERS recovered the body of a Malaysian person with disability from a damaged hotel near the site of a nine-story building in Angeles City, Pampanga that collapsed early Sunday, as emergency teams continued searching for at least 23 people believed trapped beneath the rubble of the underconstruction structure.

100-200k Pinoys affected by new US immigration policy

By Katrina Manubay PHILIPPINE Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez yesterday said between 100,000 and 200,000 Filipinos could be affected by the new Immigration policy regarding green card applications for foreign nationals already in the US. In a message to the Manila Standard, Romualdez explained that the new rule is designed to reduce the burden on permanent residency (PR) applicants in the US. He said the new US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy is intended to simplify processing by transferring Green Card applications to consular services abroad.

“According to information we received, the new rule implemented by USCIS will unburden the processing of PR applicants in the United States and spread it to the consular services of US embassies where the applicants come from,” he said.

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Officials said at least 26 people had been rescued from the collapsed building and nearby structures, while 24 injured victims had been brought to hospitals for treatment.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officer-in-charge Rico Kwan Tiu said the victim’s remains were retrieved from the second floor of the Orsu Hotel in Barangay Balibago, which was heavily damaged when the nearby building collapsed at around 3 a.m.

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PANCAKE COLLAPSE. The still-unfinished nine-story building, center photo, collapses early Sunday in the Balibago district in Angeles City. At right is a file photo of the building while rescuers, left photo, recover the body of a victim from a hotel struck by the building debris. ABS-CBN video screen grab/ Bureau of Fire Protection Central Luzon

US, Iran closing in on deal to end ME war, says Rubio THE United States and Iran could strike a deal to end the Middle East war as early as Sunday, Washington's top diplomat said, while Tehran insisted the agreement would do nothing to limit its nuclear program.

Washington and Tehran have ob-

TALLEST MANGO CAKE. A 10-foot-tall mango cake is unveiled at the

opening of the Cebu Mangoes Festival at The Mactan Expo inside The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, where the recently-concluded 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit was held. The annual festival celebrates one of Cebu’s main agricultural products, which made the province one of the biggest exporters of dried mangoes in the world. (L to R): Louella Caridad, General Manager, Mactan Expo; Malu Kiunisala, General Manager - The Mactan Newtown, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls; Efren Aying, Chairman, Barangay Mactan; Jonathan Uy, Executive Manager, Profood International Corp.; Gwen De La Cruz, General Manager, Mercure Mactan Cebu.

served a ceasefire since April 8 while mediators push for a negotiated settlement, although Iran has imposed controls on Gulf shipping and the US has blockaded Iran's ports.

On Sunday, during a visit to India, Next page

P10/l fuel subsidy expanded nationwide

By Othel V. Campos THE government has expanded the P10-per-liter fuel subsidy program nationwide after a successful pilot rollout in Metro Manila, with LANDBANK’s digital subsidy platform

facilitating more than P27.5 million in fuel discounts for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

Since the program's launch on April 13, 2026, over 28,000 public utility jeepney (PUJ) and UV Express Next page

House prosecution securing evidence, witnesses vs. Sara

By Rio N. Araja WHILE waiting for the pre-trial proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment to commence, the prosecution panel is securing its evidence and witnesses, according to House trial spokesperson and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co. Co, a lawyer, pointed out that aside from conducting mock trials, the 11-member panel is pre-marking evidence to establish during the pre-trial proceedings, including laying down all pieces of evidence against the Vice President as well as those that may crop up during the trial.

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MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Authorities said rescuers had still been communicating with the Malaysian national by phone earlier Sunday before the victim later died.

The concrete structure, which had been under construction as a hotel or apartelle along Teodoro Street since 2020, collapsed into a massive pile of concrete slabs, steel beams, scaffolding and debris, triggering a largescale rescue operation involving firefighters, the Philippine National Police, local disaster officials and national government agencies.

Pancake collapse Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said more than 20 workers remained trapped beneath the rubble, which rescuers described as a “pancake collapse.”

“As of now, the priority is search and rescue first. There are more than 20 workers trapped due to the accident,” Dizon said. “As for the cause of the accident, maybe let’s not focus on that yet; that will still be investigated.”

Piles of broken poles and debris covered the site more than 12 hours after the collapse as rescuers worked under intense heat to locate survivors. The rubble remained wrapped in green protective plastic sheeting

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But he also said the minority lawmakers were actively wooing their majority counterparts over the weekend, with the results expected to be seen today (Monday) as the chamber resumes its session.

A simple majority, if it develops, would represent a first in the Senate – in that the presiding officer would not have the support of the numerical majority of his or her peers, Lacson noted.

Currently, only 12 of the majority senators are attending the sessions, as their 13th member, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, has gone into hiding anew, just days after voting for Cayetano to become Senate President.

Dela Rosa is trying to evade authorities ordered to serve a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the former national police chief’s role in the crimes against humanity charge filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte (see related story on A1 – Editors).

Lacson said the 11-member minority bloc is working to gather enough support to install Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President, describing the move as part of an effort to restore the Senate’s credibility and usher in a new generation of leadership.

In an interview Sunday on Bilyo-

commonly used at construction sites.

Bureau of Fire Protection regional spokesperson Maria Leah Sajili said rescuers heard cries and voices from beneath the debris during initial operations.

“Total of 23 estimated trapped victims as of today,” Sajili said. “We have a total number of 24 who escaped, meaning they are not included in the count of the 23 people we are looking for right now.”

She added that several injured victims had been transported to San Rafael Lazatin Memorial Hospital, including one patient whose identity had yet to be confirmed.

Angeles City Information Officer Jay Pelayo said eight individuals found near the collapse site suffered minor abrasions and remained in stable condition.

Pelayo said a project foreman and 10 construction workers also escaped unhurt, but the foreman’s account raised fears that additional workers remained trapped beneath the debris.

Thermal drone technology Rescue teams deployed thermal drone technology, listening devices, life monitors, rescue spreaders, police dogs and heavy equipment to locate survivors. The DPWH sent dump trucks, a backhoe, a boom truck and a Tadano crane to assist operations.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre said additional rescue equip-

ment and K9 units were deployed because “many debris need to be cut and lifted to locate people.”

Pelayo said rescuers had established communication with two trapped individuals.

“Mayor Jon said there were communications with two individuals.

Efforts to bring them out safely are ongoing and we are hoping to rescue them,” he said.

The rescue operation was complicated by unstable debris, collapsed scaffolding, massive concrete slabs and downed power lines.

“There are big chunks of concrete, and we need equipment to lift them up. That is what’s challenging for the rescue right now,” Pelayo said.

He added that emergency crews could not fully access parts of the site because of exposed electrical wires and unstable conditions.

Among those reported missing were a husband, wife and child believed to have been staying in workers’ barracks on the ground floor.

Barangay Balibago Captain Joseph Ponce said relatives told village officials that the family sold barbecue to construction workers and lived near the site.

Ponce said the number of casualties could have been much higher had many workers not already left for Manila after receiving their pay on Saturday.

Delivery rider James Bernardo

said he had just completed a food delivery nearby moments before the building collapsed.

“A few seconds later there was suddenly a loud noise in the area, and when I looked, I realized that the building had already collapsed,” Bernardo told Agence France Presse.

“We thought it was an earthquake, but it turned out it was the building collapsing.”

Video footage taken by Bernardo showed twisted steel beams, power pylons and concrete slabs covering the street as bystanders gathered near the scene.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II led the Unified Command System overseeing rescue operations and coordination among emergency responders.

Lazatin publicly called on the alleged owner of the building, identified only as “Mr. Lim,” to coordinate with local officials and provide a representative to help verify the exact number of workers at the site during the collapse.

The mayor also called for a full investigation into the incident, including the quality of construction work and soil testing conducted at the site.

“That is what needs to be investigated so we can find out if their workmanship was substandard, or if soil testing had something to do with it,” Lazatin said. “We need to look into all parameters so we can understand why

it collapsed.”

Building permits secured Lazatin said the building had secured the necessary permits before construction began.

He added that only a representative of the building owner had arrived at the site, while no representatives from the contractor had yet appeared before authorities.

“No one from the contractor’s side has arrived yet. Only the representative of the owner has arrived, and of course, they cannot really disclose anything,” Lazatin said. “Naturally, first and foremost, it is the project engineer and the building designer who truly need to explain why an incident like this happened.”

Authorities said they were reviewing the construction site’s permits and structural history as part of the investigation. Pelayo said officials had yet to determine whether heavy rains and thunderstorms that hit the city the previous day contributed to the collapse.

The DPWH said it would form a technical team to investigate the incident.

Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo Lazatin Jr. joined rescue efforts and requested additional heavy equipment and K9 units from national agencies.

“In times like this disaster, all of us need to help one another,” Lazatin said. AFP

naryo TV, Lacson admitted there had been no significant breakthrough yet in convincing senators from the majority bloc to support the leadership change.

“We each have our targets, our friends on the other side (majority), but as of now, I’ll be frank with you, there is no positive development as far as the 11 (in the minority) are concerned,” Lacson said.

He said the bloc remains confident it can secure a simple majority, although the numbers are still short of changing the leadership.

“If only one senator crosses over, the situation becomes awkward because Senate President Cayetano will remain as presiding officer and Senate president, but he will not have the majority. If only one and not two crosses over, it becomes 12-11. What will then be discussed are the committee chairmanships, because those are elected by the majority,” Lacson said in Filipino.

While he did not identify which majority senator was likely to switch sides, Lacson expressed hope that developments could still take place before the Senate adjourns in two weeks.

“Our only concern, the one thing we are united on, is to restore the lost dignity of the Senate. We hope to bring back the Senate of old,” he said.

Meanwhile, asked whether Gatchalian could become Senate President

by Monday, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III – who was unseat-

ed in the coup that installed Cayetano -- replied, “it depends,” without elaborating.

Lacson, who was Senate President Pro Tempore before the changes, said the minority bloc chose Gatchalian because he represents a fresh face without political enemies, giving the chamber an opportunity for a new beginning.

“The primary concern of our 11 is to lift up the Senate. We have no discussions about needing to change the leadership so we can push for Conass, change the leadership so the impeachment will convict, we have no such talk,” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB. He added that members of the minority bloc have been tasked with gathering more support from the rest of the chamber, while stressing that their endorsement of Gatchalian as Senate President remains non-negotiable.

“This is like a transition. We are moving to the next generation of senators. So, whatever we can contribute to guide the new generation, who will inherit the leadership of the Senate or the leadership of our country, at least through what we can contribute we can help,” Lacson said.

Sotto also addressed speculation surrounding his silence following his ouster as Senate President on May 11, saying he was the one who originally proposed Gatchalian for the post.

“I was asked why I have been silent re: Senate leadership... wrong! I was the one who brought out the idea of

making Sherwin as SP,” Sotto said.

Cayetano assumed the Senate presidency after a 13-9 vote removed Sotto, with Senators Miguel Zubiri and JV Ejercito abstaining. Both Zubiri and Ejercito later stated they wanted to be in the current minority, which has called itself “SB11” (Solid Bloc 11), a play on a Pinoy boy band’s name.

Gatchalian, for his part, said he is ready to assume the position if chosen.

“I think we have already learned a lot in the Senate, especially regarding the complex committees. So, if it is about being ready, I am truly ready,” Gatchalian said.

Meanwhile, Sotto rejected claims made by Senator Imee Marcos that a minority bloc conspiracy exists to convene a constitutional assembly aimed at extending the current presidential term until 2031 and preventing Vice President Sara Duterte from seeking the presidency in 2028.

Sotto echoed Lacson’s earlier statement dismissing the allegations as fabricated.

“In one dinner with some golf friends and Speaker Bojie, he mentioned an idea of suggesting a regional Senate representation. I never said it’s okay. Her (Imee’s) source does not know how to listen,” Sotto said, referring to House Speaker Faustino Dy III. Sotto added that his only comment during the discussion was that any future constitutional amendments should focus instead on lowering the minimum age requirement for national candidates.

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“There will be marking of evidence in the sense of whatever the prosecution and defense have,” she said in a dzMM interview.

During the pre-trial proper, the prosecution panel and the Vice President’s defense team would establish the common facts of the case tied to the allegations cited in the Articles of Impeachment.

“There could be common facts that they would agree on between the prosecution and defense.

US,...

From A1

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: "I do think perhaps there is the possibility that in the next few hours the world will get some good news.”

This came after US President Donald Trump posted on social media that the deal "has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries.”

Rubio said the agreement would start a "process that can ultimately leave us where the president wants us to be, and that is a world that no longer has to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon.”

Trump's post stressed that the Strait of Hormuz would be re-opened, a development that would bring relief to energy markets after a long Iranian blockade of a crucial waterway that in

There are common facts to be proven during the trial proper to be able to establish a conclusion of law,” Co said.

There would be instances when the two parties would clash on what actually happened, she added.

That is further compounded by the Vice President’s non-answer when she filed her response to the impeachment complaints filed against her, Co noted.

She said the prosecution panel is also considering inviting hostile witnesses, or individuals who display strong opposition against one side and may potentially have interests adverse to those of the lawyers who called them.

peacetime carries a fifth of world oil exports.

Iranian officials confirmed the existence of a draft agreement, but stressed that—contrary to earlier long-standing US demands—talks on the issue of Iran's contested nuclear program have been deferred for 60 days after any deal.

'Lasting peace' According to Iran's Fars news agency, Washington has agreed to release part of Tehran's funds frozen abroad under international economic sanctions and to end its naval blockade of ships traveling to and from Iranian ports.

In exchange, "according to this draft, passage through the Strait of Hormuz would return to prewar levels under Iranian management.”

And, Fars said, "sanctions on oil, gas, petrochemicals and their derivatives would be temporarily lifted during the negotiation period so that Iran can freely sell its

Since hostile witnesses could serve as a doubleedged sword, Co said the prosecution panel is still weighing the pros and cons before finalizing its list of witnesses to present during the trial.

What is certain, however, is that the witnesses to be invited should maintain the narrative they have testified to in congressional hearings or in sworn affidavits, she added.

While the Senate leadership remains unpredictable, with another ouster anticipated, she said the impeachment trial’s schedule should not be affected.

The Filipino people should remain vigilant as the trial should be conducted forthwith, she said.

products.”

Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as representatives from Turkey and Pakistan, joined a call with Trump to discuss the deal on Saturday.

Pakistan, which mediated historic face-to-face negotiations between US and Iranian delegations in April, hopes to host another round of talks "very soon", Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.

He said Pakistan's powerful army chief Asim Munir, who visited Tehran on Friday and Saturday, also joined the call, which "provided a useful opportunity... to move the ongoing peace efforts forward to bring lasting peace in the region.”

Lebanese front Trump said a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "went very well.” US strikes on Iran have been carried out together with Israel since the war began on February 28.

Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had warned earlier that Washington would face a tough response if it resumed hostilities, as Trump has often threatened.

"Our armed forces have rebuilt themselves during the ceasefire period in such a way that if Trump commits another act of folly and restarts the war, it will certainly be more crushing and bitter for the United States than on the first day of the war," Ghalibaf said.

On the war's other main front in Lebanon, state media reported that Israel struck the country's south on Saturday, where fighting has continued despite an April 17 ceasefire.

Lebanon's military said a strike targeted an army barracks and wounded a soldier, while Israel said one of its soldiers was killed on Friday near the border.

On Sunday, Lebanon's civil defense agency said its regional facility in the city of Nabatieh had been destroyed by an Israeli strike. AFP

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The Trump administration had earlier announced that most foreigners seeking a Green Card—permanent US residency—must apply from their home countries.

“From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wishes to obtain a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except under extraordinary circumstances,” said USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler.

Romualdez added that the policy aims to address cases involving applicants of various nationalities— not just Filipinos—who have been denied but did not leave the US afterward.

The envoy also gave assurance that Filipinos already in the Philippines waiting for their green card applications through the US Embassy or consulate should not face issues.

Earlier, USCIS clarified that consulate officers were instructed to evaluate all relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining if an applicant qualifies for any extraordinary relief.

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drivers have availed of fuel discounts at participating gasoline stations as of May 21, 2026.

The program forms part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) program which seeks to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs on essential sectors while sustaining livelihoods and mobility services.

Under the scheme, eligible drivers may receive up to P1,500 in weekly fuel discounts, automatically replenished every Monday.

Drivers may verify their eligibility through their transport cooperative or operator, or by checking the official list of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

To avail of the subsidy, drivers only need to proceed to participating fuel stations and inform attendants that they will avail themselves of the fuel subsidy.

Once the PUV’s plate number and subsidy eligibility are validated through the fuel subsidy system, the discount is automatically deducted from the total fuel purchase, removing the need for cash transactions or physical vouchers.

The digital platform enables real-time validation and seamless subsidy application through a centralized database.

The program is being implemented through a whole-of-government approach, with LANDBANK supporting the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, the LTFRB, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology through secure digital processing for efficient subsidy delivery.

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Heat index levels to rise from 42°C to 48°C today

Over 2k families affected in Manila Parola fire—LGU

By Rio N. Araja SANGLEY Point, Cavite City in Cavite is forecast to experience a dangerous heat level of 48°C today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

A 46°C heat index is projected to hit Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

A 45°C heat index may be felt in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; San Ildegonso, Bulacan; Iba, Zambales; ISU, Echague, Isabela; Appari, Cagayan; DMMMSU, Bacnotan, La Union; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, and Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac.

On the other hand, a heat index of 44°C is expected in NVSU, Bagombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Baler (Radar), Aurora; Casiguran, Aurora; TAU, Camiling, Tarlac; Alabat, Quezon; Cuyo, Palawan, and Roxas City, Capiz.

A 43°C heat index may be felt in Metro Manila’s NAIA, Pasay City and Science Garden, Quezon City; Sinait, Ilocos Sur; MMSU, Batac, Ilocos Norte; Basco, Batanes; Clark Airport (DMIA), Pampanga; CLSU, Munoz, Nueva Ecija; Cubi Point, Subic Bay, Olongapo City; Infanta, Quezon; NAS-UPLB, Los Banos, Laguna; Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Virac (Synop), Catanduanes; CBSUA, Pili, Camarines Sur; Mambusao, Capiz, and Borongan, Eastern Samar.

Tayabas, Quezon; Coron, Palawan; Aborlan, Palawan; Daet, Camarines Sur; Legazpi City, Albay; Masbate City, Masbate; Iloilo City, Iloilo; Syquijor, Syquijor; Catbalogan, Western Samar, and Maasin, Southern Leyte will log a heat index of 42°C. Meanwhile, a low pressure area is sighted outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

By Pot Chavez, Itchie Cabayan

MEMORIAL DAY. Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. joins this year’s United States Memorial Day

ceremony yesterday at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City. Hosted by the U.S. Embassy, the solemn event honored American soldiers who died in service, including those who fought alongside Filipinos during the Second World War.

Japan’s role in joint military drills PH, US deterrence

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HE full-fledged participation of Japanese forces has given this year’s large-scale military exercise between the Philippines and the United States a new dimension and is helping create stronger regional security amid common threats, according to military officials and analysts.

In recent years, the Japanese SelfDefense Forces have either observed the annual Balikatan exercise, which is co-hosted by the Philippines and the United States, or taken part in one of its drills designed for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

“It’s important that we train with them (Japan Self-Defense Forces) in terms of military tactics and strategies because we are looking at addressing threats in the region not as individual countries, but as a collective group,” Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forc-

es of the Philippines (AFP) chief, told reporters after the exercise on May 8.

In the most recent Balikatan exercise, which lasted 19 days, Japan sent 1,400 personnel, three ships, and two aircraft, as well as its Type88 guided missile system. The Japanese contingent was among the approximately 17,000 participants from seven countries.

The move came after the Philippines’ Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, which enables faster troop deployment and facilitates joint drills, took effect last year. Kyodo

A TOTAL of 2,134 families have been affected in the massive fire that broke out in Parola Compound, Gate 46, Binondo, Manila, according to the city government.

Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso, together with Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, visited the victims of the fire incident on Sunday, noting that the figure may still increase.

“Nalulungkot tayo pero we will try to confront the problem. Immediately, I called city engineering to collect all the debris... Simultaneously, Manila Social Welfare [Department] is registering the families here, and at the same time, we are housing as many as we can,” he told reporters.

“We are very grateful for the quick response from DSWD from the national government,” he added.

Public Information Officer Director E-jhay Talagtag told Manila Standard that the mayor visited ground zero to check the situation of families in the evacuation center.

He shared that the mayor will return today to provide financial assistance to the victims.

The fire alarm level reached Task Force Charlie on Saturday afternoon as the emergency escalated rapidly.

Domagoso recognized that the wind affected the spread of the fire, adding that the area also has many alleys.

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PNP: Crime down 16% under ‘Safer Cities’

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HE Philippines’ crime rate dropped by 16% during the first 43 days of implementation of the anti-crime program “Safer Cities” initiative, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.

OVERSUPPLY. A vendor at Burnham Park in Baguio City trims cabbage as oversupply in the Cordilleras forces prices down to a “giveaway” rate of P80 for five kilos, highlighting the growing crisis faced by farmers struggling to recover production costs amid weak demand. Conrad Rotor

IN BRIEF NTF-ELCAC cites collapse of rebel networks Cine Europa showcases best of European cinema THE Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, together with the EU Member States embassies and the EU cultural institutes, will present Cine Europa 29 from May 28 to July 4, 2026.

This year’s Cine Europa will feature 17 full-length films and three documentaries from different EU member states.

The Manila screenings will run at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City from May 28 to June 3 and at Rizal Park from June 15 to 20.

Screenings will also be held in Tacloban from June 11 to 15 and in Cagayan de Oro from June 29 to July 4 to reach a wider audience across the country.

The films range from historical dramas and fiction to adventure and comedy, showcasing the diversity of European cinema. Admission is free in all venues. Rio N. Araja

PDEA, police seize P136m shabu in Cebu THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), along with other law enforcement agencies, seized 20 kilos of suspected shabu worth P136 million in Cebu.

In a joint operation, PDEA, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Coast Guard arrested two drug suspects in a buy-bust operation in Purok Gaway-Gaway, Barangay Uling, Naga City on May 23 at 4:50 p.m.

PDEA Region 7 director Joel Plaza identified the suspects only as Romy, 57, an electrician, and Dante, 47, a construction worker. Both are residents of Laguna.

Authorities seized 20 vacuum-sealed packs of suspected shabu weighing 20 kilos with a standard market value of P136 million, along with buy-bust money, three mobile phones, a compact sedan, and other non-drug evidence.

The suspects are temporarily under the custody of PDEA-7 in Lahug, Cebu City. Charges for violation of Sections 5, 11, and 26(b), Article II of Republic Act 9165 will be filed against them. If convicted, they face life imprisonment and fines of up to P10 million. Rio N. Araja

RECENT defeats of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Toboso and Cauayan, Negros Occidental have shown the “irreversible collapse of the remaining communist terrorist infrastructure” in the region, a ranking National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) official said Sunday.

These losses, NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said, shattered the communist insurgents’ long-running illusion of a so-called “people’s revolution” in Negros.

The defeats exposed what Torres described as a violent movement built on deception, fear, ideological exploitation, and the system-

atic manipulation of vulnerable sectors.

“But the people themselves have now rendered their verdict. Negrenses rejected terrorism as the path toward justice and reform,” Torres said.

The clashes in Toboso last April 19 and Cauayan on May 16 resulted in the deaths of 19 and five NPA members, respectively.

Torres said the April 19 clash, where 19 armed communist terrorist group members were killed, including longtime rebel leader Roger Fabillar, was a turning point that exposed the collapse of the remaining guerrilla network in Northern Negros.

“What collapsed in Toboso was not merely an armed unit. It was the last il-

Agents intercept two Pinays with P56m shabu

By Vito Barcelo GOVERNMENT agents seized more than eight kilograms of suspected shabu worth over P56 million from two Filipina passengers intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) following a joint operation by immigration, customs, and anti-drug authorities.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the operation stemmed from intelligence information received on April 22 from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration regarding two women allegedly attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the Philippines from Cambodia.

Airport monitoring teams later confirmed the passengers had boarded a flight bound for Manila.

Upon arrival at NAIA, BI personnel monitored and identified the suspects before they underwent customs inspection.

Authorities discovered packages containing white crystalline substances concealed beneath layers of coffee grounds inside their luggage.

The substances later tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.

The suspects, identified only by their aliases “Lona,” 43, and “May,” 59, were turned over to law enforcement authorities for investigation and filing of appropriate charges.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the interception highlighted the growing role of intelligencesharing and inter-agency coordination in combating transnational drug trafficking.

SCHOOL SUPPLY RUSH. Shoppers crowd a bookstore inside a Quezon City mall as families and students rush to buy school supplies ahead of the opening of classes, resulting in long lines and packed aisles on May 24.

Edd Castro

DHSUD welcomes assessment of expanded 4PH program

Filipino seafarer nabbed in Los Angeles drug bust A FILIPINO seafarer was arrested by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard in Los Angeles, California after authorities allegedly discovered around 227 kilograms, or nearly a quarter ton, of cocaine aboard the vessel where he was assigned.

The Filipino was identified as 43-year-old Ceasar Tubay Gelacio Jr., who was charged with importation of a controlled substance following his arrest on Thursday.

According to court documents, authorities received intelligence that the Greek-owned and Liberian-flagged oil tanker Aquatravesia had departed Ecuador and was bound for the United States while allegedly transporting a large quantity of illegal drugs. Crew members later discovered several packages of suspected cocaine concealed inside the ship’s garbage room. Vito Barcelo

lusion of a movement already abandoned and despised by the very communities it falsely claimed to represent,” Torres said.

Despite decades of insurgency, Torres said Negros communities have embraced peace, reintegration, democratic governance, and economic recovery.

He cited the growing number of areas placed under Stable Internal Peace and Security status, the dismantling of guerrilla fronts, and persona non grata declarations against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front across Negros as indicators that the insurgency has lost moral and political ground.

Data showed that a total of 3,776 focus crimes were recorded from April 6, when the campaign was launched, to May 18.

This was lower than the 4,495 focus crimes recorded from Feb. 22 to April 5, reflecting a decrease of 719 cases or 15.99%.

All eight focus crimes — murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, car theft, and motorcycle theft — registered decreases during the monitoring period.

Rape cases fell by 30.61%; carnapping of motor vehicles, 28.20%; physical injury, 25.93%; robbery, 15.12%; theft, 10.61%; carnapping of motorcycles, 6.64%; homicide, 5%; and murder, 2.17%.

In the National Capital Region, focus crime incidents declined by 8.57% during the same monitoring period.

The PNP attributed the improvement to proactive policing strategies, intelligence-driven operations, strategic deployment of personnel, and sustained coordination with local government units and stakeholders.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the initial gains of the Safer Cities initiative demonstrate the effectiveness of sustained police presence and responsive law enforcement operations in urban centers and communities.

“The decrease in focus crimes is the result of intensified police presence, rapid response, and collaboration among various sectors with our police force. We will continue strengthening our measures to maintain peace and ensure the safety of the people,” Nartatez said in a statement.

By Rio N. Araja

NEW PATROL CARS. Senator Erwin Tulfo, represented by his deputy chief of staff Francis Tulfo, turns over two patrol cars to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, on May 18.

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Sunday welcomed the positive assessment made by Colliers Philippines on the growing impact of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program in improving housing accessibility and reinforcing the country’s housing sector.

During the recent Q1 2026 Philippine Property Market Briefing held in Bonifacio Global City, Colliers Philippines research director Joey Roi Bondoc cited the government’s flagship housing initiative as a key contributor to the increasing activity in the affordable housing segment, according to DHSUD. “By prioritizing government inter-

vention to stimulate the economy, the Philippine government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program is doing wonders for the condominium market, specifically for the urban poor and low-income earners,” Bondoc was quoted as saying by BusinessMirror.

He emphasized the importance of strong collaboration among the national government, local government units, and private sector partners in sustaining the momentum of the housing sector and expanding opportunities for more Filipino families through the Expanded 4PH Program. He highlighted Keynesian economics, wherein the government intervenes to stimulate the economy, especially during difficult periods, in this case by creating demand and supply through the flagship housing program.

OPINION

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EDITORIAL

Why can’t they wait for 2028?

IF INDAY Sara Duterte had not agreed to be Bongbong Marcos’ vice presidential candidate, would he be the president today?

The 2021 poll surveys showed that the then mayor of Davao City was leading everyone, whether BbM or Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao or Leni Robredo.

The afterglow of the highly popular presidency of her father Rodrigo shone upon her. She could have used her father’s political grouping, the PDP, as machinery.

But reasons that defy political logic punctuated by soured relationships made her accept BbM’s entreaties to play second fiddle.

Since 1986, when the people threw authoritarianism into the dustbin of our history, we revived the vice-presidential office which under the 1987 Constitution authored by 48 presidentially selected commissioners adopted many similar provisions in the 1935 constitution insofar as that office was concerned.

Our vice president is nothing more than a president-in-waiting, a spare tire, activated only if the president dies, is declared incapacitated, resigns or convicted in an impeachment trial.

Prior to 1957, the vice president was appointed by his president to a Cabinet position. Quirino was Roxas’ foreign affairs secretary; Garcia as well to Ramon Magsaysay. Both succeeded upon the death of their presidents.

But when Nacionalista Party’s Garcia got elected in 1957, he did not appoint the Liberal Party vice president, Diosdado Macapagal, to any post. When Macapagal became president in 1961, he initially appointed Emmanuel Pelaez to DFA, but the relationship between the two soured soon after their election.

When Marcos became president in 1965 and was re-elected in 1969, he had the same vice president, Fernando Lopez, who he appointed to head the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Martial law abolished the VP post, and Marcos Sr. ruled by decree thereafter.

Since then, we have had a long history of presidents and their “vices” not seeing eye to eye, or our electorate chose a Numero Dos not in tandem with the president.

Cory Aquino and Doy Laurel’s “Uniteam” sundered in 1987, and the latter resigned as foreign affairs secretary.

Their public spat was bitter, but despite a Congress packed with Cory’s choices, Doy was never impeached.

Fidel Ramos was elected by a very slim margin in 1992, with only 23 percent of the national vote, while the people voted for Erap Estrada as his vice president, the candidate of his rival Danding Cojuangco.

Yet, when Manoling Morato filed an impeachment complaint against Estrada for having accepted a limousine when he was vice president as gift from his older brother who had become an American citizen, FVR and Speaker Jose de Venecia doused cold water upon it.

Erap became president in 1998, but Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of a different party won as vice president. Erap appointed her to head the DSWD. Two years and months after, it was Erap who was impeached and thrown out of Malacanang by Edsa Dos, “legalized” by a Supreme Court decision on “constructive resignation.”

Noli de Castro later got elected with Arroyo in 2004, amassing more votes than her, and stayed on as vice president till 2010.

—“—

Would the senatorjudges overturn an electoral mandate over charges which the same electorate can best judge come 2028?

Noynoy Aquino became president in 2010 but his team-mate Mar Roxas lost by a squeaker to Jojo Binay as Numero Dos. Despite charges of corruption when Binay was mayor of Makati, aired in the Senate by the trio of Trillanes, Cayetano and Pimentel, no impeachment was leveled against Binay in Congress.

Duterte won in 2016 but had for vice president Leni Robredo who was rival Roxas’ team-mate in the elections. Initially appointed by Duterte to head the housing portfolio, relations soon soured when Robredo was accused of criticizing Duterte in a trip to the US of A. “Sip-sips” in Congress filed an impeachment complaint against her, but no less than President Duterte himself publicly stopped it.

“Guys, lay off…do not tinker with the structure of government…I will not countenance it…elected ‘yang tao,” President Duterte told Congress.

The BbM-Sara tandem won by a historical mandate, with Sara garnering a million more votes than BbM, but soon, manipulative minds started a high stakes demolition campaign against the vicepresident.

What no president in the past tried to do against their elected vice- residents, BbM allowed no less than his congressman son, and his first cousin, the Speaker, to execute.

Now a second impeachment in the House is before the Senate, where 16 of its 24 members need to convict the vice-president, throw her out of elected office, and permanently disqualify her from holding any other position in government.

The senator-judges will soon have to wrestle in their minds and in their hearts --- why should, or would they overturn an electoral mandate over charges which the same electorate can best judge come 2028?

The Philippines’ geo-economic opportunity FOR decades, geopolitical discussions position the Philippines as a strategically located archipelago sitting astride vital sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific.

Today, however, the country is assuming a different role in the global economy.

As supply chains are redrawn and economic partnerships deepen across the IndoPacific, the Philippines is increasingly being viewed as a potential anchor for advanced manufacturing, logistics, critical minerals, and economic security in the region.

The recently announced Luzon Economic Corridor and the proposed 1,618-hectare economic security zone reflect a broader strategic shift in how allies and investors now view the Philippines in an era defined by supply-chain resilience, technological competition, and industrial realignment.

The Luzon corridor linking Subic, Clark, Manila, and Batangas is emerging as more than another infrastructure project.

It is viewed as a geo-economic platform integrating ports, rail systems, industrial zones, logistics networks, and digital infrastructure into a manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting higher-value industries.

More than roads, warehouses, or indus-

trial parks, the corridor could position the Philippines as a critical player in regional production networks where economic resilience, technological capability, and strategic reliability have become central considerations for global investors.

The involvement of the United States and Japan signals that economic security is now inseparable from national security.

—“—

The country can emerge as a vital hub for resilient supply chains and strategic industries in the IndoPacific Supply chains for semiconductors, electronics, data infrastructure, and strategic minerals are increasingly viewed through a geopolitical lens.

The proposed economic security zone reportedly aims to support advanced man-

T

HE Late Show with Stephen Colbert ran for 11 years, but it aired its last episode on Thursday, May 21. CBS, the network that ran the show, said it ended Colbert’s run because of financial reasons. But the parent company of CBS, Paramount, is widely believed to have caved in to pressure from the Trump administration.

US President Donald Trump was a favorite target of Colbert’s comedy – and rightly so. One of the lesser reasons is the president’s petty vindictiveness. And, indeed, one night after The Late Show’s last airing, Trump shared an AI video showing himself attacking Colbert and throwing the letter into a dumpster. AI Trump, heady with glee, then launches into his notorious – and cringey — YMCA dance moves.

Not content with this, Trump also wrote: “Colbert is finally finished at CBS. No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person.”

Comedy’s role in effecting social awareness and change is nothing new.

According to Lauren Feldman, associate professor at Rutgers University and co-author of A Comedian and an Activist Went into a Bar: The Serious Role of Comedy in Social Justice, “it is precisely because comedy is funny and entertaining that it is capable of engaging and motivating people around challenging issues.

Comedy pulls people in and creates

ManilaStandard

ONLINE

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

—“—

Today is Monday — we wonder what new antics our honorables have in store for us this new week Through its effects on audiences, comedy helps contribute to social change by drawing attention, disarming audiences, lowering resistance to persuasion, breaking down social barriers and stimulating sharing and discussion, she adds.

MECCA – Despite the Middle East war and a US government travel advisory, there was never any doubt in Fadel’s mind that he would attend this year’s hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

“Even if the war were still ongoing, I would not have backed out,” the 49-yearold US national, who asked that only his first name be used, told AFP. “We are undoubtedly in the safest place in the world,” he added, referring to a passage from the Koran.

This sentiment is common among many Muslims from Western nations who have come to Saudi Arabia for the upcoming hajj in the wake of the devastating war in the Middle East.

This year’s rites, drawing Muslim worshippers from across the world, follow waves of Iranian strikes on targets in Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors after the United States and Israel attacked the Islamic republic in late February.

An uneasy ceasefire has largely held since April, even though negotiations between the United States and Iran have failed to reach agreement.

On Saturday, both sides indicated that an agreement could come soon, but fears remained that fighting could resume at any moment.

Amid the uncertainty, the American embassy in Riyadh last month advised US citizens not to participate in the hajj.

“Due to the ongoing security situation and intermittent travel disruptions, we advise reconsidering participation in Hajj this year,” a statement released by the embassy read.

On Friday, US media reported the White House was weighing the launch of new military strikes on Iran, with any new fighting likely to have a direct impact on the hajj, according to experts.

“If the conflict breaks out again, there is a strong possibility of real disruptions to pilgrim travel,” said Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi Arabia at the University of Birmingham in Britain.

“They could find themselves stranded, which could create additional logistical and hosting challenges.”

‘Very anxious’ But for many, the chance to perform the sacrosanct Muslim rite has taken precedence over the fears of instability caused by the war.

Sayed, a 47-year-old Australian who will attend the hajj for the seventh time, said there were no “second thoughts

about coming here”, even as his own government issued an advisory urging citizens to reconsider travel to the region.

“When you make the intention to come, you come with a reason and a purpose. And that’s why you’re here and put your faith in God that everything will be fine,” he told AFP while standing outside Mecca’s Grand Mosque dressed in white garments.

As more than a million pilgrims poured into the holy city ahead of the hajj, the breadth and diversity of the global Islamic community was on vivid display, with many carrying paraphernalia such as bags and umbrellas showing their country of origin.

“This is an opportunity that comes once in a life and I decided not to miss it,” said Ibrahim Diab, a 63-year-old German national, despite the “shaky situation in the Gulf”.

But even amid the euphoric atmosphere in Mecca ahead of the hajj, some pilgrims said fears about the war had troubled them ahead of the journey.

“I was very anxious about it,” 36-yearold British accountant Imad Ahmad told AFP. Ahmad said his trip to Saudi Arabia was briefly interrupted in Jordan on Wednesday after the military there said it had shot down an unidentified drone in the country’s airspace.

But he also said there was no doubt that he would continue on his journey to Mecca.

“I will come, whichever way I can, inshallah,” he added. AFP

ufacturing, AI-related investments, and supply-chain resilience in industries critical to allied economies, reflecting the broader “Pax Silica” vision of building trusted semiconductor and technology ecosystems across strategic partner countries.

For the Philippines, the opportunity is significant.

The country possesses several advantages attractive to global investors, including a young English-speaking workforce, strategic access to ASEAN markets, proximity to key shipping routes, and reserves of nickel and copper essential to digital technologies.

More than 20 major global technology firms are reportedly preparing investments within the Luzon Economic Corridor under the emerging Pax Silica framework, suggesting that international interest may be moving beyond exploratory discussions toward long-term strategic positioning.

If sustained, these investments could help the Philippines move beyond low-value assembly work and accelerate its transition toward higher-value industries capable of breaking long-standing middle-income growth constraints.

The Philippines is also benefiting from shifting investor perceptions. In an era where geopolitical alignment carries growing economic value, strategic partnerships have become an increasingly important investment consideration.

Still, strategic location and strong international partnerships alone will not guarantee industrial transformation.

The more difficult challenge lies in whether the country can build the infrastructure and institutional capacity required to compete with regional neighbors such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India.

Power and energy remain among the Philippines’ most serious structural disadvantages. Electricity rates are among the highest in Asia, while concerns over grid reliability persist.

For industries such as semiconductor assembly, advanced electronics, AI-enabled manufacturing, and hyperscale data centers, stable and competitively priced utilities are essential. Investors today evaluate energy reliability, renewable power access, water systems, digital connectivity, and logistics infrastructure alongside labor costs and tax incentives.

A technology-driven industrial park cannot operate efficiently on unstable power systems and congested logistics networks.

Even the most strategically located corridor will struggle to attract long-term investments if electricity costs remain uncompetitive and regulatory bottlenecks continue to slow project execution.

The country’s digital readiness deserves attention.

While the Philippines has made progress in digital governance and innovation, global

competitiveness increasingly depends on the ability of government to support AI adoption, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and advanced workforce development.

This is where the real significance of the Luzon Economic Corridor becomes clear. It represents a test of whether the Philippines can transition from being primarily a consumer and labor-exporting economy into a more integrated participant in strategic industries of the future.

Done properly, the corridor could become a platform for higher-value manufacturing and technological innovation. It could help generate high-quality jobs, strengthen regional connectivity, and deepen the country’s role in global supply chains.

Ultimately, the success of these initiatives will depend on the country’s ability to translate strategic vision into effective execution.

The real measure of national competitiveness lies in whether institutions can deliver efficient infrastructure, affordable energy, coherent industrial policy, and responsive governance at the scale demanded by global investors.

The opportunity is now within reach for the Philippines to transform its strategic geography into a lasting foundation for industrial growth and economic security.

If pursued with consistency and resolve, the country can emerge as a vital hub for resilient supply chains and strategic industries in the Indo-Pacific.

—“—

The breadth and diversity of the global Islamic community was on vivid display, with many carrying paraphernalia such as bags and umbrellas showing their country of origin

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

a positive emotional connection, which can, in turn, inspire engagement and action. More recently, digital-era mediated comedy – including satirical news, sitcoms, sketch, stand-up, and funny documentaries – has served as a powerful influencer in contemporary social justice issues.”

Here at home, Filipinos have also been resorting to comedy to deal with the insane developments in our politics.

Technological adeptness and social media virality combine to almost instantly turn deplorable events into memes and other forms.

Think of materials showing running from the National Bureau of Investigation. Pounding on tables. Getting prayed over. Singing on national television. Most recently, crying and lamenting that nobody bothered to check on majority senators’ well-being during the supposed attack on the Senate, even as their photos showed they were fine.

Today is Monday -- we wonder what new antics our honorables have in store for us this new week.

Filipinos are known for our ability to turn the direst circumstances into comedy. But lest those in power believe otherwise, the people are not just laughing because there is nothing else we can do. We’re laughing because we need to get by from day to day, processing these grave transgressions without losing our minds.

But the caricaturization of our systems do not simply come and go. They stay with us and add, every day, to the repository of grievances and offenses made by those who misrepresented themselves as genuine public servants.

They will have their reckoning at the proper time; they will be tossed, not in an AI-generated trash bin, but in a much uglier place of irrelevance, infamy, or a physical jail.

Pilgrims from the West flock to hajj despite Mideast war

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

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WORLD

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Russia hits Kyiv with deadly attack K

YIV – Russia pounded Kyiv with a large missile and drone attack early on Sunday, killing one person and wounding 20, authorities said, after Moscow threatened retaliation for strikes in Russianoccupied eastern Ukraine.

MISSILE ATTACK WARNING. Smoke rises above Kyiv during a Russian strike on the Ukrainian capital on Sunday amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. A large ballistic missile attack pounded Kyiv early, authorities said, killing one person and wounding at least 20 after Moscow threatened retaliation for strikes in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine had been expecting a major attack after its own forces launched a drone barrage in the Russian-occupied east of the country, which Moscow said hit a college dormitory and killed at least 18 people. AFP

Gunman killed by US Secret Service after opening fire WASHINGTON, DC – A gunman opened fire near the White House on Saturday evening, with US Secret Service agents killing the assailant in a shoot-out during which a bystander was also struck, authorities said.

President Donald Trump was in the White House at the time -- on a day when he was working to negotiate a deal with Iran -- but was not impacted by the incident, Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.

The confrontation took place just after 6:00 pm when a man near the White House security perimeter “pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing.”

“Secret Service Police returned fire striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the shooting one bystander was also struck by gunfire,” Guglielmi said, without giving details on the bystander’s condition.

Multiple US media identified the suspect as Nasire Best, 21, of Maryland, reporting that Best had a history of mental health concerns and had multiple prior interactions with Secret Service members.

No Secret Service officers were hurt.

Police and security forces swarmed the scene, cordoning off access as National Guard troops blocked an AFP reporter from entering the area in downtown Washington.

“We heard probably 20 to 25 what sounded like fireworks, but they’re gunshots, and then everyone started running,” Canadian tourist Reid Adrian told AFP. Journalists who were on the White House North Lawn at the time said they were ordered to run and shelter in the press briefing room.

ABC News correspondent Selina Wang had been recording a video for social media when the gunfire broke out, capturing the sounds of the shots as she dove to the ground.

“It sounded like dozens of gunshots,” she said on X. Trump, 79, has been the target of three alleged assassination attempts, the most recent of which took place on April 25 when an armed man stormed a security checkpoint in a hotel where Trump was attending a media gala. AFP

Multiple rounds of loud explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital throughout the early hours of the morning, according to AFP journalists.

“Tonight Kyiv region is once again enduring a mass enemy attack with strike drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles,” said Mykola Kalashnyk, the head of the regional ministry administration.

The blasts caused a residential building near the government district to shake, while dozens of people took shelter in an underground metro station in the city centre, AFP reporters witnessed.

Residents were instructed to stay in shelters as city authorities warned fires had broken out and city military administration head Tymur Tkachenko said one person had been killed and at least 20 wounded.

Ukrainian authorities and the US embassy had earlier warned of a possible significant attack on Kyiv after Russia said it would “punish” those responsible for deadly strikes in a part of eastern Ukraine under its control.

“The capital has come under a mass ballistic missile attack,” Tkachenko wrote on Telegram early on Sunday.

He later said the air raid alert had been

lifted.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said damage had been recorded in every district of Kyiv, adding that a strike on a school had sparked a fire, and another on a business centre had led to people being trapped in a shelter.

Ukraine had been expecting a major attack after its own forces launched a drone barrage in the Russian-occupied east of the country, which Moscow said hit a college dormitory and killed at least 18 people.

Launched overnight on Thursday to Friday, the drone salvo -- one of Ukraine’s deadliest such strikes in months -- also wounded 42 in Starobilsk, in the occupied Lugansk region, trapping people beneath the debris.

Ukraine denied targeting civilians, saying it had hit a Russian drone unit stationed in the Starobilsk area.

Russia’s foreign ministry said on Friday that those responsible would face “inevitable and severe punishment”.

On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine was “seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv”. AFP

Ebola toll: 204; African countries seen at risk IN BRIEF ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo updated the death toll from the Ebola outbreak to 204 late Saturday, hours after the Red Cross said three volunteers had died there and Uganda confirmed three new Ebola cases.

A health ministry statement said 204 deaths had been recorded in three provinces of the vast central African country, from 867 suspected cases. The last World Health Organization toll on Friday put the number of deaths at 177 from 750 suspected cases.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever an interna-

tional emergency.

On Saturday, the African Union’s health agency warned that more countries on the continent were at risk of being affected by the Ebola virus, in addition to the DRC and Uganda.

“We have 10 countries at risk,” said Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), listing Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.

Kaseya said “high mobility and insecurity” in the region were helping spread the disease.

The new cases confirmed in Uganda

on Saturday bring to five the total confirmed in the east African country since it was detected there and in the DRC on May 15. One person in Uganda has died.

The health ministry named the new patients as a Ugandan driver, a Ugandan health worker and a woman from the DRC. All are alive.

Ebola is a deadly viral disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. It can cause severe bleeding and organ failure.

The current epidemic centres on the conflict-wracked eastern DRC, where it was detected in Ituri province, which borders Uganda, before spreading to South Kivu. AFP

Temp rising in chemical tank at risk of exploding LOS ANGELES – Firefighters warned Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) that a tank of toxic chemicals in California is heating up, adding to fears of a catastrophic explosion that has already forced tens of thousands of Californians to evacuate.

About 40,000 residents were ordered to leave their homes in the Garden Grove area of Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles, on Friday after the tank began to leak, sending fumes over a heavily populated area.

The tank contains 26,000 liters of methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable liquid used to make plastics, with firefighters warning the situation was serious.

Orange County Fire Authority Incident Commander Craig Covey said Saturday morning that an emergency team had ventured into the area overnight, seeking to neutralize the “explosive potential” posed by an additional 15,000-gallon tank nearby should the 7,000-gallon tank blow up, and were then able to view the temperature gauge on the 7,000-gallon tank. AFP

‘HEROIC RESPONSE.’ Members of the media stand outside the area where a shooting occurred earlier at 18th and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House in Washington, DC, on Sunday, Manila time. A gunman who opened fire on Secret Service officers outside the White House died after being shot, the agency said in a statement provided to US media. A bystander was also shot during the exchange of fire, the agency said, without providing the victim’s condition. AFP

Bangladesh puts AI in driving seat DHAKA – Bangladesh’s densely populated capital, infamous for grinding gridlock, has launched its first AI-powered traffic enforcement system in a bid to bring order to one of the world’s most congested cities.

Across Dhaka, buses, cars, motorcycles and pedal rickshaws jostle for space -seeming to treat signals, pedestrian crossings and even traffic police as obstacles to overcome.

On-the-spot police fines often spark arguments, confrontations are common, and officers are sometimes struck by vehicles refusing to obey commands.

“Those who violate the rules turn against us,” traffic sergeant SM Nazim Uddin told AFP. “But since AI was introduced, people behind the wheel have started obeying the law -- and we have been spared the everyday quarrels.”

Despite repeated attempts to modernise traffic management, the city of more than 22 million people had remained reliant on manual control, with officers stretching ropes across roads before traffic lights turned green. AFP

Bolivian police confront blockading protesters

GAS EXPLOSION. Rescue workers arrive to carry out rescue operations following a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi, in northern China’s Shanxi province on May 23, 2026. A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 82 people, authorities reported on May 23, 2026, revising an earlier death toll as they said preliminary findings showed the company involved had committed ‘serious’ violations. AFP

China rescuers search for missing after coal mine explosion kills 82 CHIN – Emergency rescuers in northern China were undertaking a major operation on Sunday to find two people still missing after a gas explosion at a coal mine killed at least 82.

The blast at the Liushenyu shaft in Shanxi province on Friday was the country’s worst mining disaster in nearly two decades, with 247 workers underground at the time, according to state media.

Hundreds of rescuers have rushed to the site, with medical teams taking 128 people to hospital as of Saturday evening, loaded into ambulances and carried on stretchers.

AFP journalists saw police blocking the road leading to the mine late Saturday, allowing only authorized vehicles to enter.

Helmeted rescuers took turns descending into the shaft overnight to look for the two missing workers, state media reported.

“As long as there is hope, we will make every possible effort,” one rescuer told state news agency Xinhua.

Chinese authorities launched an investigation into the blast, the worst since 2009 when 108 people were killed in a mine explosion in northeastern Hei-

longjiang province.

Preliminary findings showed the company operating the mine had committed “serious illegal violations”, authorities told a press conference broadcast by the state-run CCTV. “Those found responsible will be severely punished in accordance with laws and regulations,” they added.

A person “responsible for” the company involved had been “placed under control in accordance with the law”, Xinhua said.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, ordered nationwide “tough crackdowns on illegal and unlawful activities,” including the falsification of safety data, unclear headcounts of underground workers and illegal contracting.

Wounded survivor Wang Yong told CCTV he heard no sound but smelled sulphur when the explosion happened.

“I didn’t hear any sound at all, but then a cloud of smoke appeared,” the miner said.

“When I smelled it, it was the smell of sulphur like when people set off firecrackers. When the smoke came down, I shouted for people to run,” he said. AFP

EL ALTO, Bolivia – Bolivian police clashed with protesters on Saturday to clear roads and allow provisions into Bolivia’s political capital of La Paz, amid a wave of protests against right-wing President Rodrigo Paz. Demands for Paz to resign have persisted despite his promise to respond to the grievances of labor unions and Indigenous communities.

The business-friendly conservative came to power six months ago, in the midst of the country’s worst economic crisis since the 1980s, distinguished by acute shortages of fuel and foreign currency and spiraling inflation.

The protesters have blockaded more than 50 points across the South American nation, including surrounding La Paz, causing shortages of food, fuel and medicine.

“We don’t know how long we’re going to endure this... we don’t have enough to eat sometimes,” Marco Cuttila, a student in La Paz, told AFP. AFP

Israeli strike destroys Nabatieh facility BEIRUT – Lebanon’s civil defence agency said early on Sunday its regional facility in the southern city of Nabatieh had been destroyed by an Israeli strike.

The Directorate General of Civil Defense said the building had collapsed and a large number of vehicles and equipment had been damaged by a “direct hit in a hostile Israeli strike.”

It added there were no reports of casualties among its personnel, who had been moved to another location before the incident.

The civil defense agency condemned “this attack on a centre dedicated to humanitarian and relief work,” stressing that it was facing “growing risks and challenges” in carrying out its operations.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have continued despite a truce that came into effect on April 17, with Israel saying it is targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s health ministry has recorded the deaths of 123 rescuers and health workers in Israeli strikes since the country was drawn into the wider regional war on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for the death of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes. AFP

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IN BRIEF Antique’s two most wanted fugitives fall FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño made an early mark as the new Region 6 police director with the arrest of two of the most wanted criminal suspects in Antique province.

Tuaño identified one of the suspects as “Dondon” and “Dongdong,” who was arrested in Bugasong town by virtue of a warrant of arrest for the crime of murder issued by the local Regional Trial Court.

Tuaño commended the operatives for the successful operation and underscored the importance of intensified efforts against wanted persons as part of the region’s anti-criminality campaign.

“This successful operation is proof of our intensified campaign against criminality. We will not give room to individuals who attempt to evade accountability under the law. Through the proper coordination and dedication of our police force, we continue to maintain peace and order throughout Western Visayas,” Tuaño said.

Vince Lopez

Vape pods get South Korean in big trouble THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reminded airline passengers to declare regulated items to avoid inconveniences prior to boarding or upon arrival at the airports.

The BOC issued the friendly reminder after BOC agents confiscated undeclared vape products from a South Korean traveler at MactanCebu International Airport (MCIA).

The passenger was found carrying 200 signature vape pods worth more than ₱66,000 during a physical baggage inspection conducted on May 3, 2026.

BOC said the vape products were not declared in the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form, and the traveler admitted having no permits or clearances for the items.

Vito Barcelo

INFINITE BEAUTY OF SUNSET. The tropical resort-island of Boracay, arguably the crown jewel of the country’s tourist attractions, paints a magnificent portrait even at sunset, with silhouettes of beach lovers superimposed on the sea with sailboats lining up the horizon. Dave Leprozo

‘E-sabong witnesses threatened’

By Vince Lopez

T

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday expressed readiness to provide security to the families of the “missing sabungeros” amid reports of alleged pressure and interference linked to the ongoing investigation.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said that they will not ignore claims that relatives of the missing sabungeros were allegedly asked to skip hearings. He stressed that any form of intimidation or bribery will

be investigated.

“Police assistance does not end in case build-up and filing of charges.

It expands to ensuring that no mockery of the justice system will happen at the course of the legal process,”

said Nartatez.

Relatives of the missing sabungeros alleged that individuals linked to the camp of gambling tycoon Atong Ang attempted to discourage them from attending court hearings.

Reports revealed that the number of relatives attending the hearings has declined over the past months, and police are now verifying claims of intervention as part of their continuing investigations.

Nartatez also confirmed that investigators were looking into reports of a possible meeting involving relatives

Bill eyes proper, more responsive use of funds BATAAN 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia eyes proper and responsible utilization of government funds to vigorously push economic development at the local levels.

Garcia filed House Bill 8520 or the proposed Philippine Budgeting Code seeking to prioritize projects and programs of local government units (LGUs) and regional offices that would help improve the quality of life in communities across the country.

Garcia also said the measure intends to recognize government agencies and LGUs for outstanding performance to ensure that every peso spent by the government delivers clear and meaningful benefits to the public.

The Bataan lawmaker said the proposed law has been referred to a subcommittee for further discussion and evaluation. Butch Gunio

Manalo urges gov’t rules on AI use in wars

By Katrina Manubay

WELCOME TO THE FORCE. General Trias City Mayor Luis Ferrer IV, along with Vice Mayor Jonas Labuguen and police chief Lt. Col. Bismark Mendoza welcomes 21 new police officers in a move seen to bolster peace and order in the city. As a gesture of gratitude for having joined the force, the new cops received one bullet proof vest each. Dennis Abrina

Solon criticizes Teodoro’s stance on armed encounter in Toboso

By Rio N. Araja ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Sunday slammed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for insisting that all 19 individuals killed in the April 19 incident in Toboso, Negros Occidental were members of the New People’s Army despite statements from forensic experts, human rights advocates and the victims’ families disputing that at least

and dismissed police officers who were previously linked to the case.

The PNP said separate manhunt operations remain active to get Ang, who is facing multiple charges connected to the disappearances of the sabungeros.

Nartatez called on the victims’ families to immediately report any attempts of intimidation or coercion.

“The PNP urges the relatives of missing sabungeros to immediately report if they experience any form of harassment from other parties. Our priority is their safety and their access to justice,” he said.

six of those killed were civilians.

Tinio, who was part of the National Fact Finding Mission in Toboso, said the sweeping claim of Teodoro, along with his public posture in Negros and highly publicized engagements with the troops had signaled political cover for a pattern of abuses and a dangerous mindset that treated killings as the default solution to political conflict.

“Secretary Teodoro’s insistence that

all those killed were NPA despite credible, contrary accounts from families, human rights groups and forensic findings, shows a refusal to confront the truth and a willingness to justify any killing as long as the military says so,” he said.

“That is not accountability. That is impunity dressed up as national security.

Instead of addressing the roots of the conflict — landlessness, poverty, exploi-

tation, lack of services — this kind of rabid militarism treats death as policy and dissent as a target,” he added.

The party-list lawmaker warned that Teodoro’s rhetoric and high-profile presence in Negros, including activities that projected celebration and solidarity with combat units, could be interpreted on the ground as a green light for further aggressive operations that endanger civilians.

PHILIPPINE permanent representative to the United Nations Enrique Manalo on Saturday called for stronger international governance of artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons in armed conflict, warning that their rapid development poses serious humanitarian, legal, and ethical risks, particularly for civilians and developing countries.

During his opening speech at a side event during Protection of Civilians Week, Manalo emphasized the significance of emerging technologies like AI, while urging the military to use them responsibly and in line with international law.

“Emerging technologies, including AI, when used responsibly and in accordance with international law, can contribute to improved early warning, humanitarian response, disaster mitigation, civilian protection, and peacebuilding efforts,” he said.

Manalo highlighted that the swift progress of AI is surpassing international governance and institutional capacity, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding humanity, accountability, and human dignity.

QC spokesman is 2026 CSC awardee

By Rio Araja

UNLESS APPREHENDED, LOOTING IS NOT A CRIME. Perhaps, this is what these teenaged boys are thinking while carrying their loot of cable wires and steel bars as they scurry along North Ave. in Quezon City, with their faces covered with cloths to hide their identities. Edd Castro

QUEZON City’s public information officer, Engelbert Apostol, is a Civil Service Commission’s 2026 Gawad Pagasa awardee.

Apostol, who serves as Public Affairs and Information Service Department (PAISD) chief, has been chosen as one of the best public servants in the annual Search for Outstanding Government Workers of CSC. He said he never dreamed of becoming a CSC awardee.

“Most importantly, a leader will only soar if the team is willing and able to roll and grind just as hard. I am fortunate to have the most efficient and hardworking PAISD staff. So, we are inviting our fellow public communicators to strengthen our collaboration so we can further improve our work,” he raised.

PAISD is the official information arm of the Quezon City gvernment to keep constituents wellinformed about the plans and programs of the city government, and to inspire their support and participation in city-building.

Apostol is a former executive producer of ABSCBN Broadcasting Corp.

PAISD was awarded the Excellence Award for Government Streaming at the prestigious and first-ever Asia Pacific Broadcasting Awards 2023 held in Singapore in recognition of the “Usapang QC” program, the first governmentled bi-monthly talk show in the country that airs on the Quezon City government Facebook page.

Mayor Joy Belmonte lauded Apostol and four other city officials as exemplary public servants whose innovations and initiatives create widereaching impact.

SPORTS

A8 MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

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

Belen wins PVL PC Rookie of the Year award

Capital1’s Bella Belen, shown here challenging two defenders during the recent PVL All-Star game, became the Solar Spikers’ primary offensive weapon in the mid-season Reinforced Conference and the season-ending All-Filipino Conference to earn Rookie of the Year title in the 2nd Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night.

18-time champion NCR tries to extend Palaro dominance

By Jeremiah Sevilla

P

ROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur—The battle for regional supremacy starts to heat up as the Palarong Pambansa 2026 stakes its first gold medals in athletics on Monday at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Gov. D.O Plaza Memorial Sports Complex here.

The maiden gold in the 66th edition is potentially up for grabs in the 3,000-meter run secondary girls, while mints are also on the line in long jump elementary and secondary boys as well as javelin throw elementary girls.

Action in the medal-rich swimming

also fires off with heats even as advanced games in team sports like football and softball are already underway.

Entering the meet as the 18-time overall champion, the National Capital Region (NCR) is aiming to continue its dominance in the annual games organ-

ized by the Department of Education (DepEd) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

The Metro Stars ruled the previous edition up north in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte after amassing 117 golds, 70 silvers, and 50 bronzes, with swimmers and gymnasts spearheading the medal harvest.

CALABARZON (Region 4-A) and Western Visayas (Region 6) are still expected to give the Big City a run for its money after finishing second and third, respectively, in the medal tally last year.

Nearly 11,000 student-athletes vie for the medals in more than 30 sporting disciplines, which include the newly

added regular sports of weightlifting, football for secondary girls, and futsal for elementary girls.

The competition also features karate, kickboxing, and soft tennis as demonstration sports, while muay thai and selected Para Games serve as exhibition events.

A total of 13,247 delegates from 18 regions alongside delegations from the National Academy of Sports (NAS) and Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO) converge in the Palaro tu AgSur, which draws a 10.74 percent increase in participation compared to the Laoag edition last year, making it one of the biggest Palaro in recent years.

BELLA Belen was a game-changer for Capital1 once finally unleashed in a delayed debut season in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

Fully settled in her new home, the Alas Pilipinas member instantly became the Solar Spikers’ primary offensive weapon in the mid-season Reinforced Conference and the season-ending AllFilipino Conference.

Her stellar performance earned her the Rookie of the Year honor in the 2nd Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night set May 30 at the Novotel Manila Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City.

The top overall pick out of National University received 69 media votes and 26 team votes behind an amassed 91.284 statistical points (SPs) for a total of 186.284 points to bag the recognition in the annual awarding rites supported by Immuni+ and Rebisco.

Belen, a three-time UAAP champion and MVP, bested her other 2025 Draft class batchmates AC Miner (85 points), Jean Asis (83.896), and Riza Nogales (64.479).

The 23-year-old spiker flexed her scoring prowess in the all-local tournament, finishing third overall in scoring in the preliminary round with 218 points while tallying a spiking success of 35.16 percent. She also displayed her defensive skills after finishing second in reception with 40.84 percent efficiency.

Belen will also headline the Mythical Team in the formal awards night, celebrating the season’s finest players in the league, organized

by Sports Vision.

She is also set to receive the Best Outside Spiker award after topping the polls with 91.284 SPs, alongside 45 media votes and 33.4 team votes.

PLDT’s Savi Davison will be recognized as Best Outside Spiker after collecting 89.252 SPs, tallying 44.4 media votes and 19.4 team votes.

JPGT Finals’ Subic Bay hosts IRONMAN PH, IRONMAN 70.3 on June 7 spots staked at Beverly Place THE chase for top honors and crucial ranking points reaches fever pitch as the ICTSI Beverly Place Junior PGT Championship unwraps on June 1-3 in Mexico, Pampanga, with the penultimate leg of the Luzon Series expected to produce the fiercest battles yet across all age-group divisions.

With only two stops left in the sixstage regional circuit, contenders from the 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 categories are under pressure to either solidify their positions or mount last-ditch bids for coveted spots in the North team that will face the South side in the Ryder Cup-style grand finals in August.

Every stroke and every finish will matter at Beverly Place, where the fight for ranking points is expected to be intense, particularly with several divisions still wide open and the top four spots in each category still up for grabs.

In the girls’ 7-10 division, Andrea Dee hopes to boost her drive for a finals berth as she chases a second leg victory after ruling the Summit Point stage. The rising talent from Quezon City currently ranks third with 27 points from two tournaments and needs one more start to satisfy the minimum three-tournament requirement for finals qualification.

Winter Serapio has already secured a berth in the finale after sweeping three legs for 45 points, while Jehanne Mendoza sits at No. 2 with 30 points.

Tyly Bernardino, Elizabeth Laurel and Amiya Tablac remain firmly in contention with the final two Luzon legs still to be played, including the closing stop at Eagle Ridge on June 17-19.

The boys’ 7-10 category also promises a spirited showdown, with Zoji Edoc aiming to strengthen his hold on second place behind overall leader and finalist Zach Guico. Fellow leg winner Kenzo Tan is likewise in the hunt at third, while Alexian Ching and Asher Abad seek strong finishes to improve their bids.

THE absolute pinnacle of endurance racing takes center stage on June 7 as the highly anticipated Century Tuna IRONMAN Philippines and the IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay unleash a massive, double-header multisport spectacle.

Regarded unchallenged as the triathlon capital of the Philippines, Subic Bay is bracing for an explosive weekend of racing where a record-breaking influx of international participants will clash with the best of local talent.

Athletes from all corners of the globe are locked in for a thrilling duel against the elements, uniquely challenged by Subic’s legendary, world-class course.

Maintained in pristine, championshipready condition year-round, the venue serves as the ultimate arena for both seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers.

The grueling battlefield begins with a

calm but tactical swim leg in the protected waters of Subic Bay. From there, athletes will transition into a powerhouse bike segment along the sweeping, paved surfaces of Tipo Road and the SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), before concluding with an electric, treelined run course through the golf course,

where spectators and families create an unmatched finish-line atmosphere.

This blockbuster weekend, organized

by Sunrise Events, Inc., offers a comprehensive array of distances tailored to every tier of athlete. Competitors can take on the ultimate challenge of the grueling IRONMAN PH – comprising a 3.8km swim,

180km bike and a full 42.2km marathon run – or opt for the prestigious IM 70.3 Subic Bay, consisting of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km half-marathon.

Registration is ongoing. For details, visit the official event pages at www. ironman.com/im703-subic-bay-philippines or sunrisesprint.com.

Beyond the marquee individual and relay categories, the festival caters to absolute beginners and speed athletes alike. The Birch Tree Adult Boost Sunrise Sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) offers an accessible comeback route or a lightning-fast sprint platform, while the newly introduced Super Sprint (400m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run) provides the perfect introductory gateway into multisport racing.

Baluyot searches for validation in Road To UFC

By Nissi Icasiano FOR years, Eros Baluyot built his reputation on the mats.

He conquered tournaments, collected medals, and carved out a name as one of the Philippines’ most accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu savants.

But when he walks into the Octagon for Road To UFC Season 5 on Friday, May 29, at the Galaxy Arena in Macau, China, Baluyot believes he is vying for something deeper than a contract.

The 33-year-old is determined to send a message when he collides with Japan’s Takeru Uchida in the flyweight tournament’s opening round.

For many athletes across Asia, Road To UFC represents the opportunity of a lifetime. The win-and-advance competition serves as a direct pathway to the UFC, requiring contenders to survive an eight-man bracket and win three straight bouts to earn a coveted spot on the roster.

Baluyot understands the magnitude of the moment. Still, he insists his mission stretches beyond the promise of the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization.

“I want to prove that I am more than just a grappler,” he said. “People know my jiu-jitsu, but I want them to see the mixed martial artist I have become.”

That label followed him throughout his rise in the all-encompassing sport.

Baluyot first entered the consciousness of Filipino fight fans through jiu-jitsu. At just 17 years old, he captured an IBJJF world title as a white belt in 2010. Two years later, he repeated the feat as a blue belt, strengthening his reputation as a prodigy in the discipline His journey in “the gentle art” reached another milestone in 2022 when he finally earned his black belt, a lifelong aspiration for practitioners around the world.

At the same time, however, Baluyot quietly began laying the foundation for a different future.

Through Alvin Aguilar’s Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), he made his professional MMA debut by submitting MJ Abrillo with a second-round armbar.

Victories soon followed. Baluyot engaged in a thrilling battle against Ef Sevilla in April 2023 before submitting former ONE world title challenger Rene Catalan later that year.

In May 2024, he captured the vacant URCC flyweight championship after choking out Robin Leonen with a triangle submission in the opening round.

Three more wins pushed his ledger to a spotless 7-0, including a second-round heel hook stoppage of Changy KaraOol under ONE Friday Fights.

Yet despite the unbeaten run, questions persisted.Many observers still viewed him strictly as a submission specialist.

Baluyot conceded that those perceptions have fueled him.

“It is disappointing sometimes because people only focus on the submissions,” he stated. “Most of my wins ended on the ground, so they think that is all I can do. I know I have worked hard to become well-rounded, and this is my chance to show it.”

To prepare for the biggest assignment of his MMA career, Baluyot expanded his training beyond his usual surroundings at Tag Team Studios in Makati City alongside his longtime teammates at Submission Sports Philippines.

He spent nearly two months sharpening his skills at the Landslide Martial Arts Training Center in La Trinidad, Benguet, the home of Lions Nation MMA. There, he trained with some of the country’s most respected names, including Eduard Folayang and Joshua Pacio, as well as Kevin Belingon, Stephen Loman, Jeremy Pacatiw, and Danny Kingad.

He also made regular trips to nearby Baguio City to work

Eros Baluyot

on his striking under Olympic boxer and national coach Roel Velasco at the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines training facility.

“I am excited to show the full breadth of my arsenal,” Baluyot shared. “I can strike just as well as I can grapple.

This camp helped me become more confident in every area.”

That preparation becomes even more crucial considering the challenge awaiting him in Uchida.

The Japanese owns an extensive amateur pedigree and currently holds an 8-2 professional record, with every one of his victories coming by submission.

Baluyot recognizes the danger that comes with facing such a seasoned opponent. At the same time, he believes it presents the perfect opportunity to finally earn the respect he has long pursued.

“I respect Uchida a lot because he is experienced and very skilled,” Baluyot expressed. “But this is exactly the kind of fight that can validate everything I have worked for. If I can win against someone like him, people will finally understand that I truly belong at this level.”

For others, Road To UFC may simply be a launchpad toward greater fame and financial reward. But for Baluyot, it is personal.

This is not only about reaching the UFC. It is about proving that beneath the decorated jiu-jitsu credentials is a complete MMA fighter deserving of recognition every time he straps on four-ounce gloves.

BUSINESS

B1

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

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

Car sales fell 8% in April amid high fuel prices

MARUBENI INVESTMENTS. Finance Secretary Frederick Go (center) welcomes Marubeni Corp.’s continued investments in the Philippines including its plans to utilize carbon credits for its reforestation initiatives and expand into pharmaceutical distribution. Go assured Marubeni executives of the government’s support on policies that will help unlock more sustainable investments in the country. Marubeni also underscored that the Philippines remains an important market for its long-term growth and expansion plans.

DTI sees sustained export growth $8.17 billion

Exports in March 2026

$6.78 billion Exports in March 2025

$22.70 billion Exports in first quarter

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects the export momentum to continue through 2026 amid strong global demand for semiconductors and agricultural products, despite lingering external risks.

Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque expressed optimism that the export performance can be sustained until the end of the year. She cited resilient growth across key industries and improving market access under free trade agreements.

“The potential of the Philippine products is very strong. The demand is there,” Roque said.

The positive outlook follows a strong export run in early 2026.

Merchandise exports reached an alltime high of $8.17 billion in March, marking the longest expansion streak in the sector and reflecting robust demand for Philippine goods.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed exports rose 7.9 percent in January to $7.1 billion, followed by an 8-percent increase in February. These gains brought total

exports for January and February to a record $14.47 billion. Momentum accelerated in March with a 20.4-percent surge, which electronic products largely drove.

Roque said the growth trajectory reflects a strong global appetite for Philippine exports, particularly in electronics and semiconductors, which remain the top export earners of the country.

Agriculture also continues to post solid gains, led by coconut-based products, bananas and pineapples.

Emerging exports such as ube are also gaining traction in international markets.

Roque said free trade agreements are helping expand access for Philippine goods, which strengthens the long-term export prospects of the country.

BSP raises single-issuer limits for unit investment trust funds

By Thony Rose Lesaca THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has recalibrated the investment rules for Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs), allowing them higher exposure to single issuers under specified conditions to support the development of the local capital market.

A UITF is a ready-made investment where money from multiple investors is pooled together and managed by professional fund managers.

Under Circular No. 1234, the BSP raised the maximum exposure limit to 20 percent for UITFs invested partially or substantially in exchange-traded equity securities.

This adjusts the standard rule where a UITF’s combined exposure to any single entity shall not exceed 15 percent of the fund’s market value.

The BSP said that any exposure beyond the 15 percent threshold up to the 20 percent limit must consist solely of

investments in the same entity’s exchangetraded equity securities.

Meanwhile, the allowable exposure limit for equity index-tracking UITFs shall be the actual benchmark weighting of the index component issuer, which may exceed 20 percent.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. signed the circular on May 20. The new guidelines will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

The updated policy requires trust entities to monitor all aggregate investments of a UITF in any entity and its related parties. The BSP also mandated that these entities maintain adequate tools and controls to manage overall risk exposure.

If a fund breaches these limits, trust entities must immediately notify the BSP supervising department. The notification must include the date of occurrence, causes of the breach and corrective actions taken or planned.

FOREIGN RETIREES. Twenty-two foreign retirees choose to make the Philippines their home as they take their oath as Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) members during a ceremony on May 13, 2026 in Makati City. Administering the oathtaking are Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay and Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) chief executive and general-manager Roberto Zozobrado. The SRRV is a premier non-immigrant visa that grants holders permanent residency and multiple-entry privileges in the Philippines.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque

Total merchandise exports from January to March 2026 reached $22.70 billion, up 12.7 percent from the $20.14 billion recorded in the same period in 2025.

Imports in the first quarter amounted to $35.50 billion, up 8.9 percent from $32.60 billion a year earlier.

PHILIPPINE vehicle sales fell in April 2026 as consumers remained cautious amid rising fuel prices and lingering market weakness, an industry report showed.

Total industry sales dropped to around 32,400 units in April, down 17 percent from 27,692 units the previous month and 8 percent lower than a year ago, according to a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

Data showed that of the total industry estimate, CAMPI and TMA members contributed 27,225 units.

This marked a 24.60percent decline from 36,104 units in March and an 18.9-percent drop from 33,580 units sold in April 2025.

Four-month sales also fell 11.8 percent to 132,867 units from 150,654 units in the same period last year.

“While the market has not fully recovered from last year’s second semester slowdown, this was further affected by the oil crisis with customers carefully considering their car purchase,” CAMPI president Jose Maria Atienza said.

He said the market has yet to fully recover from the slowdown seen in the second half of last year, with the recent oil price situation further weighing on consumer sentiment.

Commercial vehicles continued to dominate the market, accounting for 79.51 percent of total CAMPI-TMA sales, even as month-on-month sales dropped 25.8 percent to 21,647 units from 29,262 units in March.

Passenger car sales reached 5,578 units in April, down 19.66 percent from 6,943 units a month ago.

Despite the broader market slowdown, electrified vehicles (xEVs) sustained strong momentum. From January to April, xEV sales posted a 158.9-percent growth to 17,655 units from 6,820 units in the same months in 2025. Othel V. Campos

BUSINESS

B2

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF MANDALUYONG CITY rtc1mdlocc@judiciary.gov.ph (63 995-2598147)

BDO UNIBANK, INC., Mortgagee, FRE-M 26-2156 FOR EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE UNDER ACT 3135 AS AMENDED BY ACT4118 -versusJOANNA FRANISCA FEDERICO FERMO, Debtor/Mortgagor. x-------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Upon Extra-Judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by BDO UNIBANK INC., as Mortgagee, against JOANNA FRANCISCA FEDERICO FERMO, Debtor-Mortgagor, with postal addresses at (1) 3 Everlasting, Lavender Street, South Greenheights Village Putatan, Muntinlupa City 1772; (2) Unit 1826 18th Floor, Building 3, Fame Residences EDSA, Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 13, 2026 amounts to TWO MILLION SEVENTY HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN PESOS & 571100 (Php 2,728,257.57) ONLY Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty and other charges, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of Mandaluyong City or his duly authorized deputy will sell at PUBLIC AUCTION to the HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH OR MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency on the 23th day of June, 2026 at 9:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter but not later than 12:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the main entrance of Mandaluyong City Hall, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, the following described real property together with all the improvements existing thereon to wit: CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. -008-2024004346Registry of Deeds - City of Mandaluyong IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the unit identified and described as: TOWER: 3 UNIT NO. : 1826 FLOOR LEVEL: 18TH FLOOR UNIT DESCRIPTION: 1 BR WITH BALCONY APPROX. AREA (SQ.M.) : 24.10 OF THE “FAME RESIDENCES TOWER 3” CONDOMINIUM PROJECT in the diagrammatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of condominium project annotated on TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE 2014000521 which embrace and describes the land located at MANDALUYONG CITY with an area of EIGHTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVEN (18,907) Square Meter “All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.”

“In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on June 30, 2026, at the same time and place without further notice.”

Manila

Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to Standard investigate for themselves the title of the said real property and

TODAY

the encumbrances thereon, if there be any.

Mandaluyong City, Philippines, March 24, 2026.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERRIF BY: (Sgd.) JONATHAN R. BAYUN JR. Sheriff IV 0999 324 9061

PH stocks seen trading sideways on peace hopes

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

HE local stock market is expected to trade sideways with an upward bias during this shortened trading week on hopes of a possible peace deal between the United States and Iran.

market could move sideways next week. Investors are advised to trade cautiously,” Tantiangco said.

Last week, the Philippine Stock Exchange index closed at 5,961.40, down 0.26 percent from the previous week’s close. The broader all shares index dropped 0.43 percent to 3,356.83.

Average daily value traded dropped to P5.17 billion from the previous week’s average of P6.76 billion.

Foreign investors were net sellers, with outflows at P1.38 billion.

Asian stocks pushed higher Friday while oil prices also rose as traders tracked headlines on Iran war peace talks, against a backdrop of corporate earnings optimism and AI enthusiasm that have pushed indexes to record highs.

Wall Street moved broadly higher, with the Dow Jones index finishing at a second straight all-time high, despite concerns that soaring energy prices will stoke inflation and lead to tightening monetary policy.

Federal Reserve Governor Chris Waller added his voice to a growing bloc of policymakers calling for the US central bank to indicate that its next move could be an interest rate hike.

Fears about inflation sent the yield on the 30-year Treasury earlier this week to its highest level since 2007, with long-term debt yields in Britain and Japan hitting rates not seen since last century. With AFP

Cebu Pacific takes delivery of new Airbus A320neo

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CEBU Pacific has taken delivery of a brand-new, fuel-efficient Airbus A320neo, marking Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks another step forward in its fleet Financial Inc., said the bourse is expected to take cues modernization program. from developments between the U.S. and Iran, as well The aircraft arrived in Manila as the movement of the local currency and bond yields. on May 23, 2026 from Airbus’ “Based on latest reports, the U.S. and Iran are seemingly assembly facility in Tianjin, China, closing in on a deal. This in turn has brought global oil and is the second of four A320neo prices lower,” Tantiangco said. jets scheduled for delivery this “While this spurs optimism, caution is still advised,” year.

Tantiangco added. “Recent developments show that the In total, the airline expects to US-Iran situation is volatile. A regression of the situation receive seven NEO aircraft in is expected to weigh on the local market.”

Tantiangco also noted that the continued 2026 as part of its ongoing fleet strengthening of the peso against the dollar could boost modernization program. the market. However, a continued rise in inflation and “The arrival of another interest rate expectations may continue to drag on Airbus A320neo reinforces our performance. commitment to sustainability “Taking the said factors into consideration, the local while keeping air travel accessible,” Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer said.

“In today’s operating environment, NEO aircraft also play an important role in helping us manage costs, improve operational efficiency, and reduce our carbon footprint.”

Airbus NEO aircraft now comprise 74 percent of Cebu Pacific’s jet fleet. Compared to previous-generation aircraft, these aircraft burn 15 to 20 percent less fuel per flight and produce significantly less noise, contributing to lower carbon emissionsYELLOW and more sustainable CYAN MAGENTA BLACK operations.

Cebu Pacific operates one of the youngest fleets in the world.

Its diversified fleet mix of 14 Airbus A330s, 27 Airbus A321s, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. Leaders from PLDT Enterprise and Skygo Marketing Corp. mark their 40 Airbus A320s, and 20 ATR growing partnership aimed at strengthening Skygo’s digital transformation through smarter connectivity, managed network solutions, and future-ready technologies. From left: Hazel Amoyan, PLDT Enterprise head of turboprop aircraft enables the CRM - Visayas; Jay Lagdameo, PLDT Enterprise vice president and head of Domestic Enterprise Business, Regional & widest network coverage in the Commercial; Shyrwinsteel Sia, Skygo chief technology officer; and Waldo Layese, Skygo software manager.

Philippines.

Publication: MANILA STANDARD TODAY

When women come and lead together, the world shifts

Copy furnished: BDO Unibank INC. 1) 33rd Floor, BDO Corporate Center Ortigas, No. 12 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City Joanna Francisca Federico Fermo 1) 3 Everlasting, Lavender Street, South Greenheights Village Putatan, Muntinlupa City 1772 2) Unit 1826 18th Floor, Building 3, Fame Residences EDSA, Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City

(MStandard - May 11,18 & 25, 2026)

SOMETHING profound happens when you find yourself in a room of women who have fought very hard, both quietly and tirelessly, to be where they are. You can physically sense a change in the atmosphere. You sense a shift in energy and transformation.

This is exactly what happened to me on May 20, 2026 at the official launch of the PRME Working Group on Global Women and Leadership. As a co-chair of this initiative, I thought I would feel great pride. I had no idea how overwhelmed I would feel momentarily, reflecting on the purpose of this work.

PRME, which stands for the Principles for Responsible Management Education, is a UN-supported initiative that calls on business schools and management institutions around the globe to take responsibility and to create leaders who are ethical, inclusive, and sustainable.

Our Working Group within this scope has been developed and created with a specific purpose: to further advance women leaders through research, mentoring, curriculum development, and impactful collaboration on a worldwide basis.

Our Working Group has a small, yet global representation: Tao Jiang, University of Leeds (UK), Dr. Prerna Tambay, Kingston University (UK), Dr. Iffat Sabir, Al Ain University, UAE; and myself, from De La Salle University, Philippines – four women leading a worldwide initiative for women leaders, all sharing the same conviction that this conversation is too important to stay inside any single institution or culture.

Through the launch, our working group brought together educators, researchers, advocates, and even diplomats from around the world. Today, I wanted to share my key learnings from the three speakers who grounded everything we were trying to say in something real.

Dr. Haifa AlKaylani, OBE, President and Founder of the Arab International Women’s Forum, pointed to a paradox.

In many Arab countries, women now outnumber men in universities. Girls are pursuing STEM degrees at rates that

exceed the global average. And yet the gap between educational achievement and actual leadership representation remains wide. More schooling has not automatically meant more power and I think that should make us uncomfortable. It should also make us more intentional about asking what happens after the degree.

—“—

Women’s leadership does not happen by chance; it happens because someone chose to put time into mentoring and to open up opportunities.

Ms. Fozia Fayyaz Ahmad, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, did something brave. She told her own story. She grew up in a small village in Punjab, attended a modest public school, and somehow held onto a dream that felt almost impossible from where she was standing. That dream carried her into the Foreign Service of Pakistan and eventually to the diplomatic stage she stands on today. She said that education is not simply the acquisition of knowledge. It is dignity. It is confidence.

It is the thing that turns a dream into a direction.

Supriya Verma, author of Bold Women’s Sustainable Futures, said something that cut through a lot of noise for me. Visibility, she argued, is not enough. Being seen is not the same as being heard. Being invited is not the same as being given real influence. Women need access to decisionmaking, not just a seat at the table where decisions have already been made. If women are invited into leadership but are not listened to, supported, or resourced, then the system has not truly changed. It

has just gotten better at looking like it has.

While each woman has her unique context and career path, there is a unifying thought. Women’s leadership does not happen by chance; it happens because someone chose to put time into mentoring and to open up opportunities. I can speak to this personally because I am extremely thankful to everyone who not only opened their doors and provided me with opportunities but also prepared me for reality, and the difficulty associated with that journey. I hope to be able to return the favor by being that person to someone else.

Finally, I want to echo one of our speakers. Let us prioritize empowering the underserved, because empowering the already empowered is already happening.

What we now need is to extend our reach to the women who have not been found yet.

If you are an educator, a researcher, a practitioner, or even a student who shares the same conviction, I want to personally invite you to join us. Our working group is building something intentional. In the months ahead, we are launching a mentoring program, an inclusive pedagogy series, and research and policy initiatives that we hope will create real, documented, transferable impact.

As one participant said: “nobody shines for us unless we decide to shine for each other”. We hope you come join us.

Dr. Jessica Jaye Ranieses is an Associate Professor in the Department of Decision Sciences and Innovation at De La Salle University. She is the President of the Philippine Academy of Management (PAoM), and Co-Chair of the PRME Working Group on Global Women and Leadership. She can be contacted at jessica.ranieses@dlsu.edu. ph.

The perspectives shared in this piece are solely the author’s and do not necessarily represent the official views of De La Salle University, its faculty, or its administration.

BUSINESS

B3 MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Filinvest opens P1-b solar plant in Misamis

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Filinvest Group over the weekend inaugurated its first large-scale solar power project, a 20.774-megawatt peak facility in the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Energy industry officials and Filinvest Development Corp. executives attend the inauguration of FDC Green Energy Corp.’s new large-scale solar power project in Misamis Oriental. From left: Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan, National Electrification Administration administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, FDC vice chairperson Josephine Gotianun-Yap, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, PHIVIDEC administrator Joseph Donato Bernedo, FDC director Michael Edward Gotianun, FDC chairman Jonathan Gotianun, and FDC Green president and chief executive Juan Eugenio Roxas.

DA lifts temporary ban on Belgian poultry exports “Our priority remains safeguarding Philippine agriculture while ensuring a stable and affordable food supply for Filipino consumers,” Tiu Laurel said.

“We are reopening trade only after rigorous technical evaluation confirmed that the identified zones maintain strong veterinary controls and pose negligible risk to local poultry health.”

Tiu Laurel said the move will also help secure supply chains for poultry products and breeding materials without compromising the country’s biosecurity standards.

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture has lifted its temporary ban on poultry imports from Belgium after the Bureau of Animal Industry confirmed that the European nation has put sufficient safeguards in place against highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Under Department Circular No. 25, the DA recognized Belgium’s regionalization protocols for bird flu, paving the way for the resumption of imports of domestic and wild birds. The directive also permits poultry products such as meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from bilaterally recognized, disease-free zones.

The move expands the government’s options for stabilizing the local poultry supply and strengthening food security amid persistent inflationary pressures.

Manila The decision comes more than a year after the Standard Philippines suspended Belgian poultry importsTODAY following avian influenza outbreaks.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the decision reflects the government’s “science-based and risk-calibrated” approach to protecting consumers and the domestic poultry industry.

EMS Group plans P1-b investment to fund expansion

EMS Group of Companies is planning an additional P1 billion investment to expand its artificial intelligence manufacturing capabilities, following nearly P1 billion spent to establish its AI segment in the third quarter of 2025.

EMS chairman and chief executive Perry Ferrer said the company is doubling capacity for its AI power supply segment amid rising demand.

“We are carrying out the expansion through retrofitting and upgrading existing facilities rather than building new plants, allowing us to scale operations without heavy upfront capital outlays,” Ferrer said, referring to EMS’ AI power supply products, which are gradually becoming a new growth segment for the group.

He said AI-related products now account for around 15 percent to 17 percent of the company’s portfolio, adding that EMS is deliberately capping exposure per product line to maintain balance across its diversified operations, limiting any single segment to 25 percent or less.

EMS is targeting to double its AIrelated production capacity by September, supported by incremental upgrades to existing facilities.

Ferrer said the company is working with an American partner with Philippine operations, with output mainly intended for export markets, particularly the United States.

While he declined to identify the customer, Ferrer said the AI segment focuses on advanced electronics rather than consumer appliances, marking a shift toward higher-value manufacturing.

He also noted that EMS’ beauty consumer goods segment continues to post single-digit growth despite shifts in consumer spending behavior amid challenging economic conditions.

EMS is likewise preparing longerterm plans for 2026, including potential additional facilities, as it continues to expand its diversified manufacturing base amid intensifying global competition for supply chain investments.

Othel V. Campos

The project was developed by FDC Green Energy Corp., or FDC Green, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Filinvest Group’s utility arm, FDC Utilities Inc. The ground-mounted solar facility is estimated to generate about 30.2 million kilowatt-hours of net clean energy annually.

The initiative supports the 5.5 percent annual peak-demand growth projected by the Department of Energy through 2030.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the project is the first utility-scale solar power plant in the country paired with a thermal baseload plant.

“Today, we didn’t just flip a switch. We turned on something bigger,” Garin said during the event.

She said the project is one of 22 renewable energy projects that the DOE is monitoring closely, pushing for completion this month.

“You are one of those who delivered,” Garin said to FDC. “Solar energy is not a Manila promise.

It is already here, already workStandard ing, already delivering.”

TODAY Backed by a 25-year solar energy operating contract awarded by the DOE, Filinvest allotted more than P1 billion in capital investment.

“We are thrilled to officially bring our

first utility-scale solar project online to support the country’s aggressive green energy targets,” said Juan Eugenio Roxas, FDC Green president and chief executive.

“Our facility utilizes advanced bifacial solar panels to capture sunlight on both the front and back surfaces, resulting in a higher energy yield, generating 30% more energy than conventional panels.”

The increased energy production helps maintain supply during daylight hours, supporting grid reliability and boosting the long-term value of the clean power delivered to customers.

At full operation, the solar facility is projected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 21,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. This is roughly equivalent to taking about 4,500 passenger cars off the road annually, based on typical vehicle emissions.

The project is located within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, one of the Philippines’ major economic zones. It benefits from optimal solar energy conditions given its flat terrain and proximity to substations. Beyond its technical advantages, PHIVIDEC offers an opportunity to establish a renewable energy hub in Mindanao, further attracting potential businesses that recognize the need for clean energy.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING OF THE PHILODRILL CORPORATION TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS: Notice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting (“Meeting” or “ASM”) of The Philodrill Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) at 2:30 pm.

The Meeting will be conducted virtually and attendance at the meeting will be via remote communication only.

The Agenda for the Meeting shall be as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Call to Order and Proof of Notice of the Meeting.

Certification of Quorum.

Approval of the Minutes of the June 18, 2025 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting.

President’s Report on the Company’s Exploration and Production activities for the past year.

5. Presentation of Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025 and action thereon.

6. Ratification and Approval of all previous acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors, Management, and all Committees.

7. Appointment of Independent Auditor.

8. Election of Directors.

9. Other Matters.

10. Adjournment.

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS June 18, 2026 The 2026 Regular Meeting of the Stockholders of Asia Pacific Medical CenterIloilo, Inc. (formerly known as Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center – Iloilo, Inc.) will be held on 18 June 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting will be conducted via remote communication thru a Zoom Conference.

Though there is no physical venue, the Chairman will preside over the meeting at the principal office, Asia Pacific Medical Center Hospital Building, Brgy.

Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Agenda of the Meeting is as follows: 1.

2.

3.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Stockholders’ Meeting held on 18 June 2025 4. Presentation of the Annual Report and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 and action thereon 5. Open Forum 6. Ratification and Approval of the previous acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Corporate Officers 7. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation Art. III - Principal Office of the Corporation Art. VII - Authorized Capital Stock of the Corporation 8. Amendment of the By-laws Art. VI - Office 9. Appointment of External Auditor for the current year 10. Election of 2026 Board of Directors 11. Other Matters 12. Adjourment Only stockholders of record as of 31 May 2026 are entitled to notice and to vote at this meeting.

The Company will not hold a physical meeting and will instead conduct the meeting via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can therefore only attend and participate in the meeting by remote communication. Stockholders also have the option to vote in absentia or appoint the Chairman as proxy.

Stockholders who intend to attend by remote communication shall inform the Company by email to corpsec@apmciloilo.com on or before 16 June 2026 subject to the procedure set in the Information Statement which will be posted in the Company’s website www.apmc-iloilo.com.

In the same website, stockholders may access the following: (a) Management Report; (b) SEC Form 17A; (c) Minutes of the Meeting on 18 June 2025 and (d) Proxy Form for Attendance at Meeting and other meeting documents required under Section 49 of the Revised Corporation Code.

The link for the Zoom webinar will be sent to the email address of the stockholders who registered to attend via remote communication.

To those who would opt to participate by voting through the Chairman as proxy, the deadline for submission of proxies will be at 5:00 pm of 11 June 2026.

Those who are unable to join the meeting via remote communication but wish to vote on items in the agenda may appoint the Chairman as proxy with specific voting instructions which will be duly counted. Proxies can be submitted to the Office of the Corporate Secretary or via email to the aforementioned address. For individual stockholders, the submission must be accompanied by a copy of a government issued ID as proof of identification. For corporations, the submission must be accompanied by a certification from its Corporate Secretary stating the corporate officer’s authority to represent and sign on behalf of the corporation. Kindly submit to the Office of the Corporate Secretary the original signed and notarized documents within a reasonable time after the resumption of regular business operations.

During the meeting, the Company shall entertain questions and comments after the presentation of the Annual Report. Questions which were not answered during the meeting shall be forwarded to the Office of the Corporate Secretary for the appropriate response via email.

For ASM-related queries, email to corpsec@apmciloilo.com or contact the Office of the Corporate Secretary at (033) 3215748 and 09292703169. For shareholding concerns, please contact the Investor Relations Office at (033) 3215748 and 09292703169 or via email directly to apmciloilo.investment@ gmail.com.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business hours on March 18, 2026 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at this meeting.

In accordance with the Company’s Amended By-Laws, stockholders may attend and participate in the meeting by remote communication or by voting through the Chairman of the meeting, as proxy. Stockholders who intend to attend by remote communication are required to accomplish the Registration Form1 and submit it together with the required documents to 2026asm@philodrill.com on or before June 10, 2026. The link through which the Meeting may be accessed shall be sent to the email address of the registered stockholder. Stockholders may vote electronically in absentia, subject to validation procedures. The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting of votes in absentia are set forth in the Guidelines on Participation by Remote Communication and discussed in the Information Statement (SEC Form 20-IS).

If you are unable to join the virtual meeting but wish to vote on items in the agenda, you may appoint the Chairman as your proxy with specific voting instructions which will be duly counted. Duly accomplished Proxies shall be submitted by email to the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 2026asm@philodrill.com for inspection, validation, and recording at least seven (7) days before the opening of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting, no later than June 10, 2026. The Proxy Validation Committee will inspect, examine, and validate the sufficiency of the proxy forms received. We enclose a sample Registration/Proxy form for your convenience.

By registering to participate in the virtual meeting a stockholder or a proxy or representative of the stockholder agrees for the Company and its service providers to process their sensitive personal information necessary to verify their identity and authority. A stockholder who fails to comply with the registration requirement will not be able to participate in the virtual stockholders meeting.

Stockholders (or their proxies) whose registration are validated can: (a) view the webcast of the meeting, (b) vote on the agenda items using the online ballot that will be sent to them; and (c) send their questions, comments, or motions on the agenda items during the Meeting by email to 2026asm@philodrill.com. Stockholders who will participate the Meeting are encouraged to send their questions, comments and motions before the meeting. Relevant questions on the agenda items will be read by the Moderator and will be answered by concerned Officers during the meeting.

The Definitive Information Statement (“IS”), Management Report, Audited Financial Statements, Interim Quarterly Report as of March 31, 2026, and other documents related to the ASM, including the Guidelines on Participation by Remote Communication may be accessed through any of the following operations: 1. Go to the Philodrill Corporation website via this link: https://philodrill.com/ 2. Go to the PSE EDGE portal via https://edge.pse.com.ph/ or; 3. Request for a copy by sending an email to stocks@philodrill.com For ASM-related queries, you may send an email to stocks@philodrill.com; info@ philodrill.com or contact the Office of the Corporate Secretary at +632 8631-8151. For account updating or concerns regarding your shareholdings, please contact our Transfer Agent, Stock Transfer Service, Inc. (STSI), at telephone no. +632 5310-1343 or via email directly to Mr. Richard Regala at rdregala@stocktransfer.com.ph.

Very truly yours, (SGD.) ADRIAN S. ARIAS Corporate Secretary

sgd. THERESE MARIE A. GERAFIL Corporate Secretary 1

Downloadable at the Company’s website https://philodrill.com/

CYAN M

BUSINESS

B4

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

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

HSBC names PH key hub for $4-b clean energy fund

By Thony Rose Lesaca

H

SBC launched a $4-billion sustainability and transition credit facility to support clean energy and low-carbon companies in mainland China, identifying the Philippines as a key investment hub.

The bank said in a statement the facility aims to bring clean technologies and solutions to markets more efficiently as Chinese companies expand internationally.

HSBC will extend credit limits for eligible companies, streamline credit approval processes and offer tailored financing solutions aligned with specific business needs.

The initiative connects Chinese technology with a growing Southeast Asian market.

“China is home to some of the world’s most dynamic low-carbon companies. These businesses are setting new benchmarks in high-end manufacturing while playing a vital role in transforming transition ecosystems,” HSBC sustainable finance and transition global head Natalie Blyth said.

HSBC said the Philippines serves as a key hub for renewable energy in the emerging ASEAN Power Grid—a

regional initiative that leaders reaffirmed support for during the 48th ASEAN Summit.

The Department of Energy targets to achieve a 35-percent share of renewables in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50-percent by 2040, alongside nearly 7,000 energy project commitments across the sector.

The Philippine data center market is also projected to grow from $735 million in 2025 to $2.48 billion in 2031, reflecting rising demand for clean power infrastructure and advanced battery storage solutions that Chinese clean energy firms can supply.

“The Philippines is in full stride in its clean energy journey, with ambitious renewable targets and a government actively seeking sophisticated foreign investment are creating exactly the conditions where HSBC’s new facility can make a real difference,” HSBC Philippines chief executive and banking head Sandeep Uppal said.

TOURISM TIES. Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay meets on May 13, 2026 with Canadian Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) Rechie Valdez to explore expanded cooperation in tourism, agriculture, trade and science-based innovation. Both sides highlighted tourism as a key driver of economic growth and cultural understanding, alongside the need to balance development with environmental stewardship.

DOE expects strong interest in 25-GW RE auctions

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Department of Energy expects strong investor interest as it prepares to auction 20 to 25 gigawatts of additional renewable energy capacity to achieve a 50-percent clean energy share by 2040.

The upcoming rounds under the Green Energy Auction Program will build on the 20 gigawatts of capacity already awarded in the first four rounds of the program, energy officials said.

Project deliveries for the new pipeline are scheduled to begin between 2027 and 2035 as part of a 10-year program to expand the nation’s power supply.

“We project that we will need to do

GEA for about another 20 gigawatts additional,” Secretary Sharon Garin said.

“But that won’t come at the same time, all together, but several GEAs that will have to be conducted. But according to our projections, more or less 20 GW is what the Philippines needs to reach 50 percent by 2040,” she said.

The government wants to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 before hitting the 50-percent mark a decade later.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said officials will launch auctions for offshore wind and wasteto-energy projects within the next few months. Investor interest in waste-

PNOC set to receive 22,000 metric tons of LPG for emergency fuel buffer PHILIPPINE National Oil Co. (PNOC) is set to receive about 22,000 metric tons of state-procured liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States in Batangas to reinforce the country’s oil buffer amid the Middle East crisis.

PNOC announced the arrival as company officials visited the South Pacific Inc (SPI) Terminal and Calaca Industrial Seaport Corp. (CISC) in Calaca, Batangas to ensure operational readiness and secure handling of the supply.

The state oil company is seeking expressions of interest for the commercial withdrawal of the inventory to cushion the local market against global price volatility.

PNOC set an indicative price of P90,930 per metric ton, but the final price will depend on the prevailing formula at the time of lifting, excluding storage and lifting fees.

The volume arrives under new leadership, following the May 20, 2026 inauguration of PNOC president and

chief executive Franz Josef George Alvarez, who took his oath before Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.

Alvarez previously served as PNOC Exploration Corp. president and chief executive, and represented Palawan’s first district in Congress from 2013 to 2022.

Buyers can withdraw the LPG 20 days after it arrives at the SPI facilities, provided they meet a minimum lifting volume of 2,000 metric tons per order. PNOC requires orders to be made in increments of 500 metric tons and warned it may reject proposals outside these parameters.

To prevent hoarding and ensure equitable distribution, PNOC capped the initial maximum volume for any single buyer at 50 percent of the total cargo.

The company may lift the 50-percent cap and allow supplemental requests if supply remains after the initial allocation, provided buyers validate their storage capacity.

Alena Mae S. Flores

2GO, SMX team up to strengthen logistics support for exhibitions 2GO Group Inc is strengthening its collaboration with SMX Convention Center to enhance logistics and shipping support for exhibitors, event organizers and corporate clients across the Philippines.

The partnership aims to integrate the transportation firm’s logistics and sea travel capabilities into SMX’s service offerings. This will provide exhibitors and organizers with seamless cargo movement, freight handling, transport solutions and customs brokerage services for events held across SMX Convention Center properties nationwide. These properties include locations in Manila, Clark, Bacolod, Davao, SM Aura and the newly opened SMX Seaside Cebu.

Under the agreement, local and international exhibitors will gain access to end-to-end logistics support. The services will allow them to efficiently transport event materials, booth equipment, construction supplies and other cargo to SMX venues. By combining freight, forwarding, customs brokerage and passenger travel services, 2GO enables clients to manage both cargo movement and personnel mobility through a single logistics partner.

As on-ground events, trade shows and conventions continue to expand across the country, both companies note an increasing demand for reliable logistics solutions that can support events across multiple regions.

SITE INSPECTION. Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) president and chief

executive Federico Laxa and executive vice president Junefe Payot inspect two vertical housing projects being built in Novaliches, Quezon City under the Expanded National Housing for Filipinos (4PH) Program of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. The site inspection is part of the agency’s thorough monitoring to ensure smooth progress and high quality construction of such projects.

IN BRIEF Century Pacific Food allots P9-b capex

CENTURY Pacific Food Inc. is earmarking between P8 billion and P9 billion in capital expenditures this year to fund capacity expansion despite rising costs from geopolitical tensions and a weaker currency, company officials said.

The food manufacturer aims to fund the planned spending through internally-generated cash flows and a moderate increase in debt, Century Pacific Food chief finance officer Chad Manapat said in a recent investors briefing.

The company is pushing forward with long-term growth plans while navigating an uncertain operating environment marked by elevated fuel prices, higher commodity costs and foreign currency volatility.

“We continue to earmark capital for capacity expansion,” Manapat said, noting that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could continue to pressure operating expenses and consumer demand.

Higher pump prices have already increased logistics costs across Century Pacific Food’s supply chain, while the peso depreciation beyond 61 to the dollar has raised the cost of imported raw materials, according to the company. Persistent inflation and economic uncertainty could also weaken consumer sentiment and purchasing power, particularly among low-income households.

Jenniffer B. Austria

RCR plans more asset infusions this year

2GO Group and SMX Convention Center team up to provide integrated, end-toend logistics and sea travel solutions for exhibitors and event organizers across the Philippines. Signing the agreement are (from left) Sherwin Lucas, general-manager of SMX Convention Center Manila and SMXCITE; Walid Wafik, senior vice-president for operations of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.; Will Howell, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the 2GO Group; and Faye Alonzo, business unit head of 2GO Forwarding,

RL COMMERCIAL REIT Inc. (RCR) plans to execute up to two rounds of asset infusions this year, prioritizing shopping malls to leverage rising consumer traffic and variable rental structures.

The real estate investment trust company of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) expects to finalize the first tranche of properties within the next three months, but executives said the precise timing and scale remain contingent on market conditions.

“We will try to do two tranches this year,” RCR treasurer Kerwin Max Tan said.

While RLC maintains a diverse portfolio of leasable properties, RCR is focusing immediate expansion on retail spaces. Mall assets yield stronger revenue upside because their lease structures tie rental rates directly to tenant sales, capitalizing on improving retail foot traffic.

Malls comprise 53 percent of the company’s gross leasable area, while offices account for the remaining 47 percent. The company expects the retail segment to command a larger share over time, reflecting the broader composition of the parent firm’s property holdings.

The pipeline for future injections extends beyond retail and commercial spaces. RCR president and chief executive Jericho Go said the parent company’s asset base includes additional malls, offices, logistics facilities and hotels available for eventual integration into the REIT. Jenniffer B. Austria

Smart blocked 955m scam texts in Q1

SMART Communications Inc. said it blocked more than 955 million scam and phishing text messages in the first quarter of 2026 as part of an aggressive crackdown on mobile fraud.

The telecom provider said it also blacklisted nearly 200,000 mobile numbers linked to malicious activities during the same period.

Scammers are increasingly using sophisticated tactics to bypass traditional network defenses and target mobile users directly.

“Scammers are exploiting devices that imitate legitimate cell towers to send fraudulent messages directly to nearby phones,” PLDT and Smart chief operating officer and head of network Menardo Jimenez Jr. said.

“This is why we continue to strengthen our network defenses while working closely with government partners to help protect our customers,” he said.

The technology, known as signal hijacking, allows criminals to send phishing messages directly to nearby phones by overriding local network signals. To combat this, Smart and its value brand TNT launched anti-text scam awareness videos to amplify the government’s campaign against mobile technology fraud. Darwin G. Amojelar

to-energy remains high, with more players expected to bid than the 230 megawatts currently on offer, Guevara added.

The agency will release the terms of reference and notice of auction soon for GEA-6, which focuses on biomass. Officials also expect to launch GEA-7 by June, focusing on battery energy storage systems paired with solar, as well as ground-mounted, floating, and rooftop solar installations.

“We also expect that GEA-7, which is like a continuation of GEA-4 for mostly different types of solar onshore, which is floating and then on rooftops and on ground. And also some battery energy storage system with solar,” Guevara said.

EJAP forum to tackle long-term power strategy GOVERNMENT officials and energy executives will gather at an energy forum on May 26, 2026 to shape long-term policy strategies amid an ongoing global oil crisis.

The Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) is hosting its third energy forum, themed “Beyond the Crisis: Defining a New Era of Philippine Energy,” at the Frabelle Corporate Plaza in Makati City to address national energy security and grid vulnerabilities.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin will lead the event by detailing state initiatives to bolster energy independence and accelerate the development of domestic, indigenous power sources.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson and chief executive Francis Saturnino Juan will discuss regulatory overhauls and power market innovations designed to lower costs, boost efficiency, and offer broader utility options to consumers.

A panel discussion will follow, featuring Prime CoreGen president and chief executive Jose Victor Emmanuel de Dios, MGEN Renewables president and chief executive Dennis Jordan and DivinaLaw senior partner Jose Layug Jr. They will be joined by DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella and ERC Market Operations Service director Sharon Montañer.

“The crisis exposed real vulnerabilities in the country’s energy sector—vulnerabilities we can no longer afford to ignore,” EJAP president John Ted Cordero said.

“This forum brings together the voices that matter most in shaping what comes next. The path forward will not be easy, but the direction is clear: a more secure, more resilient and more inclusive energy future for all Filipinos,” he said.

The high-level industry summit is backed by several major corporate players. Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., Aboitiz Power Corp., Meralco PowerGen Corp. and DivinaLaw are the gold sponsors for this year’s event.

Petron Corp. is supporting the forum as a silver sponsor. Bronze sponsors include PetroEnergy Resources Corp., PetroGreen Energy Corp., Manila Electric Co., Citicore Renewable Energy Corp., BDO Unibank Inc., Semirara Mining and Power Corp., First Gen Corp., Vena Energy and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

REAL ESTATE

C1

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com Jenniffer B. Austria, Issue Editor

Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC) chairman Romolo V. Nati

Italpinas launches green residences in Batangas

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TALPINAS Development Corp. (IDC), a real estate developer focused on sustainable buildings in emerging cities, is betting on the long-term growth of Sto. Tomas, Batangas with the launch of Miramonti Green Residences.

The upscale Grand Summit Bohol will feature more than 200 guestrooms and suites and cater to the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (M.I.C.E.) sector with an exclusive, premium beachfront leisure experience.

Grand Summit Hotel to rise in Panglao PANGLAO is about to welcome a new player in its fast-growing tourism scene as Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) broke ground for Grand Summit Bohol, a beachfront property that signals rising confidence in the island’s longterm prospects as both a leisure and meetings destination.

Set to open in 2028 along the quieter stretch of Doljo Beach, the upscale development marks RHR’s first major venture in Bohol, one of the country’s fastest-expanding tourism hubs outside Metro Manila and Cebu. The project also reflects the growing interest of large local hospitality groups in destinations benefiting from stronger air connectivity and rising foreign and domestic travel demand.

Unlike the more crowded sections of Panglao, Doljo has managed to retain a laid-back character, with wide beachfronts and unobstructed sunset views. Robinsons Land executives said the location was deliberately chosen to position the property as a premium resort destination while tapping the island’s increasing appeal for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).

Grand Summit Bohol will feature more than 200 guest rooms and suites, alongside a ballroom, meeting spaces, restaurants, spa, gym and family-oriented amenities.

A dedicated Muslim prayer room is also part of the development, reflecting the company’s push for more inclusive hospitality offerings.

The project comes as Bohol continues to benefit from infrastructure upgrades, particularly the Panglao International Airport, which has improved access to the province and helped fuel tourism growth in recent years. Local officials have also been positioning the island as a priority tourism and investment destination.

For RHR the Bohol expansion is part of a broader nationwide growth strategy that has seen the group steadily widen its footprint across different travel segments— from value hotels to upscale leisure properties and international-branded developments.

RHR senior vice president Barun Jolly said Bohol stood out because of its combination of natural appeal and long-term growth potential.

“Doljo Beach offers a quieter and more exclusive environment that perfectly fits the Grand Summit brand,” he said.

Robinsons Land president and chief executive officer Mybelle Aragon-GoBio said the company viewed the project not only as a hospitality investment but also as a contribution to the province’s economic development through tourism and employment generation.

Miramonti Green Residences will be a mixed-use high-rise development that reflects the rising appeal of emerging provincial cities outside Metro Manila.

Located at the foot of Mt. Makiling, the project marks IDC’s first development in Luzon and signals the company’s continued focus on sustainable communities in highgrowth areas.

Residential hub Sto. Tomas has steadily transformed into one of Southern Luzon’s expanding industrial and economic hubs, driven by the growth of industrial parks, PEZA zones and major infrastructure links. The city now hosts a workforce estimated at more than 100,000 employees, creating demand for housing, rental spaces and lifestyle-oriented developments.

For IDC the move into Batangas was a long-term decision made well before the city’s recent growth accelerated.

“Choosing to develop in Sto. Tomas

was the right choice, made more than 10 years ago, when we bought the property,” said IDC chairman Romolo V. Nati. “We bet on the growth of this city ahead of the competition.”

The strategy appears to be paying off as Miramonti Green Residences is already nearly sold out.

The project features around 330 residential units complemented by resort-style amenities including swimming pools, lounges, landscaped gardens, a gym and function halls. Its Italian contemporary design also takes advantage of the scenic backdrop of Mt. Makiling.

Sustainable living Beyond aesthetics, the development highlights the growing importance of sustainability in the property sector.

Miramonti carries an EDGE green certification, an international sustainability standard developed by the International Finance Corp. under the World Bank Group. It was also recognized as the “Best Mixed-Use Building in the Philippines” at the International Property Awards.

The building incorporates green features such as rainwater harvesting systems, cross ventilation, shaded façades and water recycling facilities designed to lower energy and water consumption while improving comfort for residents.

“We are very happy to see that Miramonti has been so well received by the market,” said IDC chief executive Giuseppe Garofalo. “The location, design, construction quality, and amazing amenities make this project a truly unique product for the area.”

IDC believes emerging growth areas like Sto. Tomas offer stronger long-term investment potential as developers and investors increasingly look beyond the saturated Metro Manila market.

Aside from industrial activity, Batangas also benefits from tourism and pilgrimage traffic linked to the nearby National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio, helping sustain demand for accommodations and rental properties.

To support investors, the company offers property management services through its subsidiary Prima, allowing unit owners to generate passive income through leasing arrangements.

As infrastructure and industrial activity continue to spread across Southern Luzon, Sto. Tomas is steadily emerging as one of the region’s promising real estate destinations. Jenniffer B. Austria

Miramonti Green Residences officially opened its doors during its grand inauguration day last May 16 welcoming homeowners, investors, business partners, and guests for a truly memorable occasion.

Profriends pushes ahead with Westwind expansion in Lancaster City

From left: Nieves Santos, business unit head, Profriends; Loren Sales, chief operating officer, Profriends; Kathleen Choa, president, Profriends; engineer Paolo Lorenzo Pe, chief operating officer, ABC and engineer Jed Pentecostes, area manager, ABC.

PROPERTY developer Property Company of Friends Inc. (Profriends) is doubling down on its push toward vertical and integrated community developments as it renewed its partnership with contractor Archipelago Builders Corporation (ABC) for the second building of Westwind inside Lancaster New City in Cavite.

The agreement signals Profriends’ continued shift from traditional houseand-lot projects toward more urban-style residential communities designed to meet changing lifestyles and growing demand for accessible living spaces outside Metro Manila.

Located within the sprawling Lancaster New City township, Westwind is positioned as a modern residential enclave that combines condominium-style living

with access to community amenities and commercial areas inside the estate.

Despite uncertainties tied to the ongoing Middle East crisis and rising concerns over construction costs, both companies said the project remains on schedule, helped by early procurement planning and close coordination between the developer and contractor.

Profriends president Kathleen Choa said the company focused on securing materials ahead of time to minimize disruptions while maintaining steady construction activity.

“We do not only talk about the issues, but we solve them together,” Choa said For its part, ABC said the project reflects a shared goal of making quality housing more affordable for Filipino families

at a time when rising costs continue to challenge the broader property sector.

ABC chief operating officer Paulo Lorenzo Pe said Profriends’ commitment to balancing quality and affordability gives added purpose to the collaboration.

Founded in 1965, ABC is among the country’s established AAA contractors and has handled large-scale infrastructure and building projects across various sectors.

The continued partnership also highlights the sustained expansion of Profriends, which has built more than 64,000 homes since it started operations in 1999. Over the years, the company has steadily expanded beyond standalone subdivisions into larger mixed-use communities, particularly in Cavite and Iloilo.

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SHOWBIZ

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Anton Vinzon

Anton Vinzon (left) and Bruce Roeland bring grit and action to GMA’s newest afternoon sportsaction series

lands knockout lead role in new drama ‘Kamao’

By Angelica Villanueva

A

NTON Vinzon is still getting used to being called the lead.

After his stint in Mga Batang Riles and Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0, the young actor now headlines GMA’s newest sports drama Kamao. For Anton, the jump came faster than expected.

“I still feel like a second lead. I’m not used to the idea that this is now my first series without my Mga Batang Riles friends. There is pressure, but it is good pressure,” Anton said in the vernacular.

That pressure comes with a role that requires more than memorizing lines. In Kamao, Anton plays Makmak, an amateur boxer who dreams of becoming a champion while facing problems outside the ring. The part required him to train, study boxing, and change his routine.

“When I found out, I couldn’t sleep for one week.

I kept researching boxing. I watched [Manny] Pacquiao fights. I told myself, I really have to prepare for this character,” he shared.

Anton said he cut out junk food and sweets, sticking mostly to chicken breast and a highprotein diet. He wanted the physical change to feel real, not created through makeup.

“I don’t want my abs to be made with makeup.

I told myself I had to prepare so people would

Anton Vinzon channels his own journey of setbacks and self-belief into Makmak, an aspiring boxer trying to fight past his limits in ‘Kamao’

believe me as a boxer,” the young actor said.

Anton also knew Filipino viewers would be sharpeyed about the sport.

“People in the Philippines are very critical when it comes to boxing because it is like their second sport. I really prepared for this role so people would believe that I am a boxer,” he continued.

The new project also comes at a time when Anton is learning to carry himself with more ease in public. Asked how he moved from being shy and timid to showing more confidence, he credited his stay inside the “Pinoy Big Brother” house for helping him mature.

“It was great because I learned a lot. Inside Kuya’s house, I really became mature. That was where I learned discipline. I studied, I read books on how to communicate with others because before, I really didn’t know how to communicate,” Anton told Manila Standard Entertainment.

He admitted he used to be introverted, but the experience pushed him to open up.

“I was very shy, like an introvert. But right now, I’ve met so many people from different walks of life, and now I’m here to show people what I can do and how confident Makmak is in everything he does,” he added.

Adding to the pressure is the presence of his father, veteran actor Roi Vinzon, who plays his grandfather in the series. Anton said working with him made the project more personal.

“This is really my tribute to Papa. I hope that when the pilot comes out, he will be proud of me,” he said.

He added that Roi has been hands-on during taping, often reminding him that mistakes are part of the process.

“He told me, ‘It’s okay to make mistakes. The result will show. You will get used to it because this is your first lead role,’” Anton shared.

Director L.A. Madridejos said he saw the role fitting Anton during the first days of taping, especially in his scenes with Roi. “I thought, this will work. At his age, I don’t think there is another actor with that kind of charisma that you can bank on,” the filmmaker said.

Madridejos said the series follows a young man who thinks life has already set limits for him, only to find strength through family and friends. For Anton, that theme is close to his own story.

“Makmak relates to who I am in real life. I had dreams, I auditioned, I was not accepted. But Makmak does not give up. He keeps getting back up,” Anton said.

The series also stars Amy Austria, Wendell Ramos, Neil Ryan Sese, Katrina Halili, Bruce Roeland, Therese Malvar, Chanty Videla, Tito Abdul, Tito Marsy, Matt Lozano, and Euwenn Mikaell.

Kamao premieres today at 3:20 p.m. on GMA-7 and Kapuso Stream.

The cast of ‘Kamao’ come together at the series’ grand media conference to answer questions from the press

Romania’s culture wars drama wins top prize at glitzy Cannes finale FJORD, a thought-provoking drama

by Romanian director Cristian Mungiu that challenges left-wing prejudices, won the best film prize at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday at a star-packed closing ceremony.

In his second Palme d’Orwinning film, Mungiu explores the contradictions of Scandinavia’s supposed tolerance in a drama starring Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).

It follows a devoutly Christian Norwegian-Romanian couple and their five children who move to a remote village in Norway and become the subjects of a child abuse

investigation.

“This is a message about tolerance, inclusion, and empathy.

These are wonderful values that we all cherish, but we need to put them into practice more often,” Mungiu told the audience.

The movie is based on true events and is notable for how it questions the progressive values of Norwegian society and appears sympathetic to the conservative religious characters—a departure from most arthouse festival fare.

The 146-minute drama became one of the biggest talking points in Cannes, praised as a “brilliantly knotted social drama” by Variety and a “masterful drama of our

Cristian Mungiu’s ‘Fjord’ becomes one of Cannes’ most discussed entries, telling the story of a family struggling with faith, tolerance, and empathy

polarized times” by Deadline.

Russian family drama Minotaur

by Andrey Zvyagintsev won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. The film follows a businessman caught up in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Accepting the award, the exiled director urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the “carnage” in Ukraine.

Belgium’s Virginie Efira and Japanese actress Tao Okamoto shared best female performance honors for All of a Sudden by Ryusuke Hamaguchi. Belgian actors Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne shared the male acting award for Coward, directed by Lukas Dhont.

Rwandan filmmaker MarieClementine Dusabejambo won the Camera d’Or for Ben’Imana, while Fatherland and La Bola Negra shared best director honors.

This year’s festival featured stars including John Travolta, Cate Blanchett, and Vin Diesel, though major Hollywood studios skipped the event. Discussions also focused on artificial intelligence in filmmaking and the lack of women directors, with only five of 22 competition films directed by women. Actress Geena Davis said progress for women in film remains slow.

Other winners included Iranian documentary Rehearsals for a Revolution, Nepalese film Elephants in the Fog, and refugee rap drama Congo Boy, whose young star Bradley Fiomona Dembeasset won the Certain Regard best actor prize. AFP

Maki marks a major streaming milestone as he prepares for overseas shows and the release of his new single ‘habangbuhay pansamantala’

Maki surpasses 1 billion Spotify streams ahead of Southeast Asian tour SINGER-SONGWRITER Maki has topped 1 billion all-time streams on Spotify ahead of his Kolorcoaster Southeast Asian tour and the release of his new single “habangbuhay pansamantala.”

The milestone follows the performance of his album “Kolorcoaster,” which includes tracks “Dilaw,” “Namumula,” and “Kahel na Langit.”

Maki is scheduled to perform at The Theater at Mediacorp in Singapore on June 13 and at Bengkel Space in Jakarta, Indonesia on June 14. Additional dates in North America, Australia and New Zealand are expected to be announced. Tickets for the Singapore and Jakarta shows are available via MakiKolorcoasterTour.myx.global.

Before the tour begins, Maki will release “habangbuhay pansamantala” on Friday, May 24.

He described the track as a “pink song,” centered on relationships where a person feels like a second choice or is kept on the sidelines.

Maki wrote the song, while Nameless Kids vocalist Nhiko Sabiniano handled production. A preview of the track has already drawn millions of views on social media ahead of its official release.

To promote the single, Maki has scheduled two fan events: “Pink Fest” at TriNoma on May 29 and “Pink Room” at Quezon Club, Solaire Resort North on June 5. Tickets for “Pink Room” are available through Solaire Rewards.

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

C3 MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

This railway crossing near Kamakura-Kokomae Station, featured in the basketball manga ‘Slam Dunk,’ draws a steady stream of fans

Provocative films ‘Dreamboi,’‘Relyebo’ secure international exposure

Growing number of Filipino fans book trips inspired by anime hits NOW & NEXT

By Nickie Wang

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ILIPINO fans are increasingly turning their love for anime into travel plans across Asia, with travel platform Trip.com reporting a 155 percent year-on-year rise in searches for anime- and comic-related trips in the Philippines in 2026.

The increase mirrors a broader trend across Asia, where searches for anime-inspired travel climbed 195 percent from a year earlier, driven largely by fans visiting conventions, themed attractions, and real-world locations featured in popular series.

According to the travel platform, major events such as AnimeJapan 2026 drew travelers from 82 countries and regions, with international ticket sales surging 697 percent year on year. Most visitors came from Asian markets, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Anime’s global popularity has expanded through streaming services and social media, with titles such as One Piece, Demon Slayer, and Naruto continuing to dominate streaming charts worldwide.

The Philippines has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s most active anime fan communities, fueled by a young and digitally connected audience. Trip.com data showed animerelated search activity in the country rose sharply compared with 2025.

Travel tied to anime culture is also expanding beyond streaming and merchandise. Hotel bookings near major anime festivals and convention venues have increased during event periods, according to the company.

Events such as Hong Kong Comic Con 2026 and Anime Festival Asia Thailand continue to attract travelers from Southeast Asia, including Filipino fans.

In Japan, destinations associated with popular anime and manga series are also attracting overseas tourists. The railway crossing near Kamakura-Koko-mae Station, featured in the basketball manga Slam Dunk, has become a popular stop for fans.

Anime-focused districts such as Akihabara and Ikebukuro also recorded higher hotel bookings, driven by visitors from South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The trend has extended to attractions and accommodations offering immersive experiences. Universal Studios Japan recently introduced collaborations based on anime franchises, including experiences inspired by Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Detective Conan.

Trip.com said anime fans are increasingly traveling to experience the settings and culture behind their favorite stories firsthand, turning screen-based entertainment into real-world tourism across Asia.

Nico Locco rejects being typecast as erotic film actor

From left: ‘Hayok’ stars Apphle Celso, Nico Locco, and Stephanie Raz

By Angelica Villanueva CONTROVERSIAL actor Nico Locco refused to limit himself to a single category of acting, insisting that performers should be free to move between mainstream, independent, and erotic projects as he takes on one of his most volatile roles yet in VMX’s new film offering Hayok.

Speaking at the film’s press conference, Nico pushed back against the idea that actors who appear in sexually charged films should eventually “graduate” to mainstream entertainment.

“I view myself as an actor. So when people ask or say that I’m a VMX actor, I just say I’m an actor,” Nico shared.

He said he continues to pursue mainstream work, including a major project currently in production, while remaining open to VMX films if the material interests him.

“We’re actors. We’re supposed to be able to do all types of

different roles—erotica, mainstream, BL series. Those are all different categories. I don’t want to close my doors,” the actor added.

In Hayok, Nico plays Neil, a contractor whose attraction to Lucy, portrayed by Apphle Celso, spirals into obsession after repeated rejection. The film also stars Stephanie Raz. “He cannot handle rejection. At first, it seems very normal, but as time goes on, you start to see that it’s not normal,” he explained.

The actor described the film as a “slow burn of suspense,” adding that Neil’s growing fixation drives much of the tension in the story.

“There’s a hunger there. The fact that he keeps getting rejected over and over almost makes him more hungry,” he said, referring to the meaning behind the title Hayok.

Nico also acknowledged drawing from his own past relationships while preparing for the role, particularly experiences with boredom and immaturity during his younger years.

“I got bored in my past relationships. Instead of looking inward and trying to find the solution with your partner, I would look outward and find gratification elsewhere,” he admitted.

Now in his 30s, Nico said his perspective has changed and has become more mature.

“I realized that’s not the solution.

I’m mature now,” he stated.

Directed by Topel Lee, Hayok now streams on VMX.

VMX is reaching two international milestones as Rodina Singh’s trans drama Dreamboi lands a U.S. premiere at the 50th Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, while its 2022 erotic drama Relyebo is set for a Japanese remake through a partnership with Okura Pictures.

D r e a m b o i , produced by VMX and CineSilip Film Festival, will screen on June 23 at the Roxie Theater.

The film follows a trans woman who finds emotional refuge through the voice of an audio erotica creator. It stars EJ Jallorina and Tony Labrusca and premiered at the inaugural CineSilip Film Festival in October 2025.

Directed by trans filmmaker R o d i n a Singh, known for Mamu: And a Mother Too, the film initially received an X rating from the Philippines’ Movie and Television Review and Classification Board before being revised to R-18 after appeals.

“Frameline is one of the oldest and most important LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world,” Singh said. “As a transpinay filmmaker, I grew up Christine Bermas stars in seeing trans people ‘Relyebo,’ where she plays onscreen mostly as the object of a security guard’s jokes, warnings, side fantasies after he becomes characters, or tragedies. fixated on a tenant Dreamboi gets to bring in his building that trans imagination to Frameline’s historic 50th year.”

Frameline, founded in 1977, has long championed LGBTQ+ storytelling and queer cinema.

Meanwhile, VMX also confirmed that Relyebo will be adapted in Japan through a partnership with Okura Pictures, also known as OP Eiga.

The studio, one of Japan’s oldest independent film companies, is known for producing “pink films” and has traditionally focused on original screenplays, making this its first foreign adaptation.

Relyebo, directed by Crisanto Aquino, follows a security guard whose fantasies spiral after becoming fixated on a tenant in his building. It stars Sean de Guzman and Christine Bermas.

Aquino, who directed Write About Love, called the remake a milestone for Philippine cinema.

VMX chief executive Vincent del Rosario III said the collaboration could open more international partnerships for the streaming platform. Okura Pictures executive vice president Nobu Tanaka described the project as a significant step for the Japanese studio as it expands ties with Asian partners.

Production of the Relyebo remake is scheduled to begin in September.

Daring Tony Labrusca stars in ‘Dreamboi,’ which will premiere in the U.S. at the 50th Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival

LIFE

C4

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

The new routes are expected to boost tourism in Siquijor, especially during the summer season

Bringing Siquijor closer to summer travelers

By Nickie Wang SIQUIJOR rises from the Bohol Sea like a green-edged secret, a small island province where time seems to loosen its grip. Here, limestone cliffs meet white-sand coves, waterfalls spill into jade pools, and winding roads cut through forests that feel older than memory itself.

Often called the “Island of Fire,” Siquijor carries a reputation shaped by both natural wonder and folklore that lingers in conversation and curiosity. Yet beyond the myths, it is a place of striking contrast: serene beaches beside rugged coastlines, centuries-old churches standing near quiet fishing villages, and days that unfold in a rhythm set more by tide and light than by clocks.

Getting there is now easier, with Sunlight Air launching direct flights from Cebu and Clark, cutting down the usual plane-and-ferry journey to the island known for its beaches, waterfalls, and laid-back atmosphere.

The airline said the new routes allow travelers to skip the traditional multi-leg trip previously required to reach

Siquijor. Passengers from Cebu can now fly directly to the island, while those coming from Manila may connect via Clark.

The boutique airline’s added convenience is expected to encourage more short trips and spontaneous getaways, particularly during the summer season.

Siquijor’s attractions include Paliton Beach, known for its calm shoreline and soft sand, Salagdoong Beach, popular for cliff diving and clear waters, and Cambugahay Falls, a multi-tiered cascade with natural swimming pools and rope swings.

Apart from its natural scenery, heritage churches and cultural traditions also characterize the island’s long history and distinct identity.

Sunlight Air said the new routes are part of its efforts to improve access to domestic destinations across the Philippines.

For bookings, the airline is offering a 10 percent discount using the code SUNLIGHTINSIQUIJOR10 until June 30, with travel valid until Oct. 15, 2026.

P

LATO once said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Our current series of activities truly exemplifies such a declaration. We at the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) had to close our Angeles, Pampanga Satellite Office due to recently discovered business ethics infractions by the staff, which posed the problem of how we would be able to continue serving our more than 4,000 foreign retirees in Central Luzon.

Mercury Rising Bob Zozobrado

The Philippine Retirement Authority launches a Pop-Up Service Caravan, bringing services directly to retirees at SM Malls throughout the region

A large group of retiree visa holders waiting for their SRRV IDs to be renewed

Big thanks to SM Malls in Central Luzon for their kind cooperation and willing collaboration with us in making this concept a reality. This giant commercial enterprise has graciously provided us with enough space and comfort to set up a working area where we can conduct business transactions with efficiency and safety.

Using our staff and office equipment at strategically located areas in various SM Malls, we are able to handle new applications, process ID renewals, receive payments, and dish out needed

A Central Luzon caravan for the golden agers PRA Satellite Offices, of which there are four located in strategic areas all over the country, have been set up to deliver more accessible, efficient, and retiree-centered services. By bringing these benefits to potential and current retirees, these offices save resources, reduce travel burdens, and make processing and waiting times faster and shorter for our retirees compared to having to go to our Main Office in Makati.

These offices also strengthen member satisfaction by providing localized support and uninterrupted service, making it easy for these foreign nationals to accomplish the required documents for a pleasurable stay in our country. They also promote regional economic growth while reinforcing our agency’s image as a responsive and compassionate government agency.

So, with the closure of our Pampanga office, we had to find a way to continue servicing our retirement visa holders in the area. There were many suggestions as to how we could compensate for the absence of our service. One stood out as the best solution, most exciting, and fun to do—a Pop-Up Service Caravan throughout Central Luzon.

We feel that this is a proactive and mobile approach to bringing our services directly to our current retirees and potential applicants in the area. It demonstrates responsiveness, resilience, and our unwavering commitment to quality service and care for our “ageless dreamers,” where they need it most.

Biggest travel fair returns under ‘Nurturing the NextGen Tourism’ theme THE Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) will hold the 37th Philippine Travel Mart from Sept. 4 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, showcasing travel deals and domestic tourism opportunities.

Carrying the theme “Nurturing the NextGen Tourism,” the three-day event will feature exhibitors from tour operators, hotels, airlines, local government units, and other tourism stakeholders, with support from the Department of Tourism and its regional offices.

Organizers said the fair will offer discounted packages on tours, accommodations, flights, and travel services, allowing visitors to compare deals on destinations across the Philippines in one venue.

The event will also include live performances, talks, and presentations.

PHILTOA president Ma. Lourdes F. Japson said the fair underscores efforts to strengthen domestic tourism and promote more inclusive and sustainable travel.

The event is anchored on PHILTOA’s NextGen Tourism framework, which focuses on sustainability, digitalization, inclusivity, and health and wellness.

Tickets will be available online starting July 2026 via philtoa.com, with regular admission priced at P120 and discounts for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Festival inspired displays add color and excitement at the PHL Travel Mart

The satellite allows PRA to handle applications, renewals, payments, and provide information to retirees and potential applicants

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE Some jokes are really funny until you realize you still have to sleep beside that person.

information to potential applicants.

These business activities are further made attractive by the convenience and accessibility of these SM Malls in the chosen

destinations.

This PRA Pop-Up Service Caravan is scheduled to weave its way through the Central Luzon area until the end of the year, with each engagement lasting three to four days, depending on the demand.

Locations will all be at SM Malls in Telabastagan (Second Level), Pampanga (The Event Center), Bataan (The Event Center), Tarlac (The Event Center), Clark (Cinema Lobby), Olongapo Central (Level 2 Atrium), and Cabanatuan (L4 Roof Park).

As these locations are easily accessible, our potential applicants and current retirement visa holders can now conveniently file applications, go through initial evaluation, obtain Letters of Introduction, renew their SRRV IDs, and request visa restamping, visa cancellation, visa conversion, etc.

A special thanks also goes to Land Bank of the Philippines, which has committed to taking care of whatever cash collections we have from these out-of-office activities, seeing to it that the money is safely retrieved from these locations and deposited into our agency’s account.

With the success of this initial foray through Central Luzon, we plan to bring this Pop-Up Service Caravan to other parts of the country where there are substantial concentrations of foreign retirees not directly served by our Satellite Offices.

More information on these caravans and their future destinations may be obtained from 8848-1412-16 local 2037 or from mc.pra2023@gmail.com.

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