Manila Standard - 2026 July 1 - Wednesday

INC holds surprise rally vs. graft

By Vince Lopez, Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu, Katrina Manubay and Pot Chavez

THOUSANDS of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo religious sect rallied at the People Power Monument on Tuesday, snarling traffic as they protested the expected arrest of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, a church member and ally of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a video message ahead of Tuesday’s rally, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said the church was calling for “transparency” in standing by Marcoleta.

By Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu, Ram Superable

THE Iglesia ni Cristo has stoutly opposed the possible filing of a plunder case against Senator Rodante Marcoleta, describing it as a distortion of

Bonoan

By Rex Espiritu

PROSECUTORS from the Office of the Ombudsman are looking at former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a potential state witness in the malversation charges against former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and six others over the allegedly non-existent ₱92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it would take a second look at the flood control scandal in-

volving Senator Joel Villanueva after the Office of the Ombudsman said it would continue its case build-up hampered by insufficient evidence.

“For all Wednesdays [of July], it is for our last four witnesses. Maybe we will be presenting former Secretary Manuel Bonoan as our last witness, your honor,” the Ombudsman panel of prosecutors told the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday.

Bonoan himself is facing a P573-million plunder and graft charge before the

By Maricel V. Cruz

end, authorities reported an incident in Silang, Cavite involving a 15-year-old

the law intended to cover up corruption in government. In a statement read by INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala amid the rally at EDSA People Power Monument, the religious group said it was not against

By Vito Barcelo and Charles Dantes

LABOR Secretary Francis Tolentino on Tuesday announced what he described as a “historic” P85 daily minimum wage increase for workers in Metro Manila, raising the minimum wage for non-agriculture employees in the National Capital Region (NCR)

Miss Earth 2025, Nathalie Puskinova, walks the talk by joining the coastal cleanup in Baseco, Manila. MissEarth

to P780 per day. Tolentino said the adjustment is the largest single daily minimum wage increase ever enacted in Metro Manila.

Malacañang, meanwhile, rejected claims that the announcement of the P85 daily minimum wage increase was timed to divert public attention from the protest gathering along EDSA, saying the wage adjust-

ment had been studied well before its release and followed the established process of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB). The latest adjustment follows the P50 daily wage increase implemented in July 2025 and comes after months of petitions and sustained lobbying by labor groups seeking higher pay to offset the rising cost of living and persistent inflation.

By Maricel Cruz

IN DEFENSE OF MARCOLETA. Thousands of protesters, including members of the Iglesia ni Cristo, gathered at the EDSA People

Power Monument on Tuesday morning, June 30. Inset shows INC members at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. Both gatherings oppose the reported plan to file a plunder complaint against Senator Rodante Marcoleta. INC News and Updates Facebook page, Norman Cruz

“We want to let them know that selective justice is an injustice and we will not remain silent,” he said.

Silencing dissent in the guise of accountability

Duterte issued a separate statement saying the administration had “weaponized the justice system by filing cases against and imprisoning individuals who dare speak out against alleged corruption and abuses.”

“The people gathered in EDSA today reflect a growing sentiment that I have consistently expressed since 2024. Instead of confronting these challenges with solutions, the administration has chosen to silence dissent under the guise of accountability,” she said.

Duterte condemned what she described as the government’s poor governance and detachment from the struggles of ordinary Filipinos, especially amid rising prices, job insecurity, and increasing living costs.

“The President’s failures of character and leadership have fostered an increasingly oppressive political environment. A government that answers criticism with intimidation undermines the very

democratic institutions it is sworn to protect,” the Vice President said.

‘Hardly any investigations during Rody’s term’

Malacañang rejected Duterte’s claims, saying the flood control project anomalies issue arose because President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called out the scheme.

“These issues arose because of the President’s enforcement of the law and the swift effort to hold those involved accountable,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. “No one is being spared, regardless of political affiliation, and this has happened in less than a year.”

“But it seems many people have become impatient. But they were not impatient during the six years of former President Duterte, when there were hardly any investigations conducted…

The Vice President cannot simply point fingers because it is only now, under President Marcos Jr., that investigations of this scale have been ordered,” she added.

Castro also defended Mr. Marcos’ decision to cancel scheduled public engagements yesterday to monitor the situation.

“This (rally) will have an impact on every person, every worker, every student and every patient riding in an ambulance that was supposed to pass

However, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has yet to announce the effectivity date of the wage hike.

The increase is expected to benefit about 1.1 million minimum wage earners in the NCR.

Labor organizations, including the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), welcomed the increase but maintained that it remains below the estimated family living wage.

Labor groups continue to urge DOLE and the regional wage boards to review the regional wage-setting system, arguing that a family of five needs an estimated P1,266 daily living wage to meet basic needs.

Meanwhile, labor federations are also pressing Malacañang and Congress to expedite the passage of a proposed P200 across-the-board legislated wage hike, saying a nationwide law would provide a more equitable and lasting solution than staggered regional wage adjustments.

During a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the wage order was the result of weeks of deliberation and could not have been prepared solely in response to the day’s events.

“If it was announced today, it means the order had already been drafted well in advance. It had been under study for at least a month because Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino does not make this decision alone,” Castro said.

“It is the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board that deliberates and decides on these matters,” she added.

Castro made the remarks after being asked about social media posts suggesting the wage hike announcement coincided with the protest at the EDSA Shrine.

She said there was no basis for attributing political motives to the timing of the announcement.

“People should not read malice into the timing of the announcement. Lawmakers have long been calling for a wage increase. If the increase is granted now, some will say it was deliberately timed. There will always be criticism regardless of when it is announced,” she said.

He said even senators perceived as Duterte allies could vote to convict once they examine the evidence.

“I think it is premature to talk about the required two-thirds vote. Once the evidence is presented, we cannot be certain that all Duterte supporters will vote for acquittal.

Some may change their position,” he said.

Bucoy identified Senators Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Pia Cayetano as

through EDSA,” Castro said in explaining the President’s decision.

Permit for today’s rally

Yesterday’s rally, attended by some 7,000 INC members, had no permit, but the National Capital Region Police Office said it will exercise maximum tolerance and has no plans to disperse the protesters.

By evening, the Quezon City local government gave INC permit to continue its rally today along White Plains Avenue from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The permit noted that the estimated number of participants is around 100,000.

“Your activity should not impede the security measures being implemented by the Quezon City Police District and the Law and Order cluster of the city and the normal flow of traffic during the entire activity,” the QC Department of Public Order and Safety said.

At least four protesters were arrested yesterday for attacking the police during a scuffle at the People Power Monument.

One of the arrested individuals was a driver who was seen in a video reversing a bus, hitting a policewoman who was rushed to the Philippine National Police General Hospital for injuries.

Government prosecutors are ready to take action on possible complaints against individuals who violated the law in relation to the INC rally, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said.

among those who could vote to convict.

The three belong to the Senate minority bloc led by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

He cited the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, recalling that many senators were initially expected to acquit him but eventually voted to convict after the evidence was presented.

“When the trial began, many were expected to vote for acquittal, but after the evidence came out, many changed their minds and voted to convict,” he said.

Asked why the prosecution was

because the tragedy exposed the need for immediate action and long-term prevention.

student who attacked a 17-year-old schoolmate with a knife.

“We have three immediate options. Firstly, we will create a regional network of volunteer psychologists, psychiatrists, guidance counselors, social workers and other professionals who can be immediately deployed when such an incident occurs,” Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said after his meeting with education and social welfare officials at Price Mansion in Tacloban City Monday.

Romualdez said the network would be supported by preventive education and stronger coordination among government agencies, schools and local communities.

“Secondly, we will conduct regular seminars for students, parents, and teachers on mental wellness, child protection, and violence prevention. Third, we will strengthen coordination among all agencies to respond more quickly when children need help,” he added.

The move came after the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured at least 20 others, prompting national concern over school safety, bullying, children’s access to violent online content and the availability of psychosocial support for affected students and teachers.

“First of all, we sympathize with the families of the victims of what happened at San Jose National High School. As parents and as a nation, we are all hurt,” the lawmaker said.

Romualdez also said government response should go beyond sympathy

against him was a calculated conspiracy designed to block him from next week’s impeachment proceedings and silence his anti-corruption efforts.

the enforcement of the law but opposed what it called the misuse of legal processes to conceal alleged wrongdoing.

“The Iglesia ni Cristo is not against rule of law, but we oppose twisting it, especially if its goal is to cover up corruption,” Zabala said.

“Why is someone who is at the forefront of exposing those involved in flood control project anomalies being the one charged now, instead of those he exposed?...Even if they imprison Senator Marcoleta, we will not stop demanding justice for our fellow Filipinos who were robbed,” he added. Marcoleta, for his part, said the case

“We no longer have any allies. My only sin is serving you (the public)... It is standing up to them with total courage so that you may know the truth. So that you may know who is guilty because we want to hold all these people accountable. But once they arrest me, that will no longer continue,” he said.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday announced a non-bailable plunder case will be filed this week against Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan over undeclared campaign contributions worth around P75 million during the 2025 elections.

Aside from Marcoleta, Remulla said the

“The DOJ will always be ready. We have our mandate, if there are violations, our law enforcement agencies are there, our fiscals are there ready to act on their mandate,” Vida said.

‘Until we’re told to go home’ Protesters who spoke with Agence France Presse said they had been contacted by organizers at around 9:00 pm Monday night before via text, phone calls and messages on the Telegram platform.

“This is a lightning protest. As you know, the Iglesia ni Cristo is just one body. With just one command, everybody will follow,” 56-year-old Rodel Gundrean told AFP.

Church member Marc Raeden Quemada, 26, said he had been at the protest since 6:00 am and did not plan to leave “until we’re told to go home.”

The INC has historically had ties to the Duterte political dynasty, and Marcoleta is widely viewed as an all-butcertain vote against convicting the Vice President at her Senate impeachment trial, which begins next week.

Earlier in 2025, the church held a huge rally in Manila opposing the mooted first impeachment of Duterte.

The Vice President, however, was impeached once again by the House of Representatives in May.

Her trial is set to begin on Monday, July 6. With AFP

seeking Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) and bank records dating back to 2007, when she was Davao City vice mayor, Bucoy said investigators need a baseline to determine whether her wealth had increased beyond what could be reasonably explained.

Without such a starting point, he said, it would be difficult to assess any alleged unexplained wealth. Duterte’s SALNs show her declared net worth rose from P7.25 million in 2007 to P88.5 million in 2024.

“But I believe that just being sympathetic is not enough. We have a responsibility to act,” he added.

Romualdez called a meeting with the officials to discuss both assistance for those affected and measures to prevent similar incidents.

He rejected suggestions that Congress should leave the matter entirely to executive agencies, saying lawmakers have a role in bringing institutions together and addressing gaps in law, budget and implementation.

“This is not a matter of interference. The role of Congress is not just to make laws,” he pointed out.

“It is also our responsibility to bring together the various sectors and ensure that government programs have adequate support. When there is a lack of law or funding, it is our job to fix that,” he stressed.

Romualdez cautioned against reducing the incident to a single cause while investigators continue their work, noting that school violence may involve several overlapping factors.

“We should not lead the investigation. There are many possible factors behind these incidents—mental health, family environment, bullying, social media, access to counseling, and so on.”

He said the goal is to strengthen the entire child protection and school safety system rather than address only one issue after each tragedy.

He said possible legislative responses include expanding school mental health programs, hiring more guidance counselors and social workers, strengthening GMRC and reviewing safeguards for minors’ use of social media.

“This includes expanding school

case will also cover former congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano

yesterday denied the possible plunder case against Marcoleta was politically motivated, noting the lawmaker’s own submissions provided the evidence underpinning the legal issues related to his election campaign funds.

“We have filed several cases against public officials, and that is their usual answer: that they are being persecuted, that it’s about politics. But the facts will speak for themselves,” Clavano said.

“And when you read the case and you listen to the admission, you listen to the interviews, you will see that the case is quite clear cut. That’s why it’s hard to see where Senator Marcoleta is coming from because

Sandiganbayan Fifth Division and another graft case before the Sandiganbayan Second Division, also in relation to his alleged share of government funds from flood control projects.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he has reached an agreement for Bonoan to act as a state witness in the flood control cases before the Sandiganbayan and other courts.

“We already have a side agreement for the cooperation of former Secretary Manuel Bonoan to be a state witness, to be a cooperating witness,” Remulla told reporters.

“We will ask the court to discharge him as a respondent so he can testify for us as a state witness,” he added.

Second look at Sen. Villanueva’s involvement

Ombudsman Remulla said the evidence against Villanueva was still lacking, although he earlier said the complaints were already “ripe” for filing in court.

Last March, the DOJ announced that it referred its recommendations on three malversation complaints against Villanueva to the Ombudsman.

“We need to know—I cannot say lacking documents, no. If we aren’t satisfied, we make it satisfactory because at the end of the day we want people accountable,” Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said.

Vida said the DOJ would continue to work with the Ombudsman which has the mandate to file court cases involving senators.

The DOJ was deputized by the Office of the Ombudsman to assist in the case buildup involving the allegedly anomalous flood control projects.

“We continue working together, whatever the lacking documents or lacking pieces of evidence we continue what’s available,” Vida said. Vida refused to answer if Villanueva would eventually face charges in court.

mental health programs, adding guidance counselors and social workers to schools, strengthening the GMRC, and studying steps to make social media use safer for minors,” Romualdez said.

“We want our schools to be better prepared to protect our youth,” he added.

Romualdez said the safety of children should be treated as a shared national duty, not the responsibility of one agency alone.

“The safety of our children is not the responsibility of just one agency. It is the responsibility of the entire government, schools, parents, the community, and every Filipino,” he noted.

Romualdez said the country should not wait for another tragedy before fixing gaps in school safety, mental health support and child protection.

“This tragedy should be a reminder that we cannot wait for the next incident to take action. If we act together today, we will protect more children tomorrow,” he said.

“The DSWD appealed to all sectors for a stronger whole-of-nation approach and the urgency in responding to reported cases of bullying and violence against children occurring in schools and nearby premises,” Asst.

Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said.

Dumlao stressed that bullying must be addressed immediately. “Bullying, in any form, is not just a simple disagreement among children, whether in school or in the community. It should not be tolerated or dismissed as just a part of childhood, especially since these conflicts have long-term effects on children’s growth and development.”

Based on the report from the Cavite Police Provincial Office (Cavite PPO), the altercation, which occurred outside

the evidence used by our investigators came from him (Marcoleta),” he added. Remulla earlier said based on the findings of the Ombudsman Field Investigation Bureau, the alleged campaign contributions included P30 million from Defensor, P25 million from Espiritu, and P20 million from Viray.

The Office of the Ombudsman said the alleged donations were not declared in Marcoleta’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

In an earlier interview, Marcoleta acknowledged receiving the donations but maintained the cases filed against him were politically motivated and intended to intimidate government critics.

He added he did not disclose the campaign contributions from his friends during the 2025 polls because

of the school premises, escalated when the older student allegedly punched the younger learner several times.

The offended minor retaliated by stabbing the victim once in the lower abdomen.

The DSWD’s Field Office (FO) 4-A (CALABARZON) immediately reached out to the victim’s family extended medical assistance worth P10,000 to the injured student.

“The DSWD and its attached agencies will continue working with other concerned agencies, especially the Department of Education, to ensure that learners will be safe from bullying and school violence,” Dumlao said.

The DSWD spokesperson, however, emphasized that all stakeholders must work together through a whole-of-society approach to establish stronger mechanisms for early detection, reporting, intervention, and support for both victims and those who commit acts of bullying to prevent such incidents from further escalating.

“Addressing bullying is not only about responding to incidents after they happen. It should go beyond disciplinary action and there must be a collective commitment to promote empathy, accountability, respect, and positive relationships among learners,” Dumlao pointed out.

“Reiterating the statement of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, teaching and correcting children’s negative behavior should start at home. Parents and guardians should not transfer the responsibility of disciplining their children to teachers. They should maintain open communication with their children, guide them to resolve conflicts peacefully, and closely work with teachers and school officials to address bullying incidents before they worsen,” Dumlao added.

they wanted to remain anonymous.

The senator also argued that since the funds were received a month before the official campaign period, they became “personal funds” under the Peñera doctrine, which states that a person is only considered a candidate at the start of the campaign period.

“In this case, he did not declare it in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), nor did he declare it in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). He only disclosed it to the public, in the media. In reality, it should have been declared in either his SALN or his SOCE,” Clavano said when asked why the Office of the Ombudsman is pursuing a plunder case against Marcoleta even though the donation did not involve public funds.

The eruption lasts four and a half minutes, while Alert Level 1 remains in e ect. Screengrab from PHIVOLCS-DOST

Dy pushes for stronger socmed rules to protect kids

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE Speaker Faustino G. Dy III is pushing for stronger safeguards to protect Filipino children from the growing dangers of social media, saying the government must ensure that technology supports the healthy development of young people instead of exposing them to harm.

Together with Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Dy filed House Bill 9965, or the proposed Children’s Social Media Safety Act, which seeks to establish the country’s first comprehensive framework regulating children’s access to and use of social media platforms.

“We recognize that social media is a major part of daily life, making it even more important to ensure that our children are safe while using it. If we allow Filipino children to explore the online world, they should be given adequate protection,” Dy said.

The Speaker said that while digital platforms provide opportunities for learning and communication, they also expose children to cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, addiction, anxiety, sleep disruption, and other risks that existing laws do not adequately address. “Just as we have laws protecting children in schools, on the streets, and in our communities, we should also have clear protections while they use social media. It is our responsibility to ensure that technology benefits children rather than harms their development,” he added.

The bill adopts an age-based framework. Children below 13 years old would be prohibited from creating or using social media accounts, while those aged 13 to below 18 would be allowed access only with verifiable parental or guardian consent and active supervision. Platforms would also be required to implement age verification, strengthen privacy settings, and provide parents with tools to monitor activity, manage screen time, and withdraw consent.

Cayetano bloc seeking to void June 3 session

By Pot Chavez

SENATORS aligned with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to void the Senate’s June 3, 2026 session.

In their 19-page Manifestation and Motion, the petitioners said the High Court should resolve the conflicting claims of authority under the Constitution.

“The subsequent election of respondent Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian on June 17, 2026 neither erases nor retroactively cures the constitutional infirmities that have attended the rump session of June 3, 2026. A subsequent polit-

ical development cannot validate proceedings whose legality is precisely the issue submitted for judicial determination,” the motion stated.

The petitioners include Senators Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Christopher Lawrence Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, and Camille Villar. Lawyer Jose Luis Montales, who served as Senate secretary

under Cayetano’s leadership, also joined the petition. Earlier this month, the group also asked the SC to declare null and void the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore.

The petitioners argued that the June 17 special session did not render the earlier petition moot, adding that the validity of the June 3 “rump session” is capable of repetition yet evading review, warranting a definitive ruling from the Court.

A related petition was previously dismissed by the High Tribunal, which ruled that the petitioner lacked legal standing.

Embassy warns visa fraud cases will be reported

By Katrina Manubay

THE United States Embassy in Manila on Tuesday warned that it will report visa fraud cases to Philippine law enforcement authorities and urged applicants not to submit fake documents or provide false information in their visa applications. In an advisory, the embassy said applicants who commit visa fraud could face arrest, criminal charges, a ban on entering the United States, and a permanent immigration record.

“The US Embassy will notify Philippine law enforcement about visa fraud. Consular officers remain up to date in detecting fraudulent documents and the latest scams. Do not use fake documents or misrepresent facts,” the advisory said.

The warning follows previous embassy advisories on visa application requirements and fraud prevention. In April, applicants were required to set their social media accounts to “public” during the application process and disclose all social media usernames, handles, or identifiers used over the past five years.

The embassy said applicants must certify that all information provided is accurate, warning that failure to disclose social media information could result in visa denial and future ineligibility.

It also urged applicants to rely only on official sources for visa information and to avoid scammers claiming they can guarantee visa approval.

CIDG meets with relatives of Baterbonia

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Tuesday said it will meet with the family of former college basketball player Rene Baterbonia to discuss the results of its investigation into the June 8 drowning of two student-athletes during a team-building activity in Aurora province.

CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Rober Alexander Morico II said the private meeting has two objectives: to inform the family of the investigation’s findings and to assure them that the CIDG will continue to monitor the case throughout the prosecution.

“One is to inform them of the result of our investigation because they have the right to know. Second is to assure them that in all stages of prosecution, if this goes to trial, the CIDG will continue to follow up the case because trial takes time,” Morico told reporters at Camp Crame. Morico said the invitation was also extended to other government agencies conducting parallel investigations. He declined to discuss the merits of the case, saying it has already been referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

He said the DOJ is now reviewing the anti-hazing complaints endorsed by the CIDG last Friday against 11 individuals, led by resigned Ateneo basketball coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin. The CIDG, he added, will continue working closely with prosecutors and provide any evidence needed.

Morico also declined to comment on Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla’s statement that four student managers and ball boys could be excluded from the case and turned into state witnesses, saying it was not the CIDG’s role to interpret the law.

IN BRIEF

BI intensi es drive vs. abusive foreigners

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intensified its drive against abusive and undesirable foreigners, warning that those who violate Philippine immigration laws will face deportation following the recent arrest of 10 foreign nationals in Siargao Island.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the arrests underscore the government’s commitment to protecting communities while preserving the country’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination for legitimate visitors.

Viado stressed that the Philippines remains open to tourists, investors, students, and foreign residents who respect the country’s laws. The operation forms part of the BI’s intensified immigration enforcement in Siargao following consultations with local government officials. The bureau has expanded independent operations, strengthened coordination with local governments and law enforcement agencies, enhanced intelligence sharing, and conducted immigration law enforcement training for local partners. Vito Barcelo

BELGIAN Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot is in the Philippines from June 30 to July 2 to strengthen bilateral ties as the two countries celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the visit marks the first by a Belgian foreign minister to the Philippines in 33 years.

Prévot and Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro are expected to review progress under the Joint Plan of Action and discuss expanded cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, maritime affairs, labor mobility, information and communications technology, creative industries, and people-to-people exchanges. The

PH, Belgium optimistic on early EU free trade deal

THE Philippines and Belgium on Tuesday expressed optimism that negotiations for the proposed EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could be concluded soon, saying the pact would expand trade and strengthen economic resilience. During a joint press briefing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said both sides are committed to advancing the agreement. Prévot said the FTA would diversify partnerships, create new economic opportunities, and deliver tangible benefits to citizens and businesses.

Lazaro said the agreement would improve market access and simplify trade through rules on origin and other trade facilitation measures, adding she hopes negotiations can be completed in the coming months with the support of Belgium and other EU member states. Katrina Manubay Belgian minister begins o icial visit

WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY. A total of 210 green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings are released into the waters o Virac, Catanduanes on June 16 as part of the celebration of World Sea Turtle Day. DENR Region V

ROSAS NG SAMPIRO FESTIVAL. Performers in colorful costumes take part in the Rosas ng Sampiro Festival 2026 in Makati, celebrating faith, culture, and community in honor of the city’s patroness, the Virgen dela Rosa de Macati.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2026

Isko vows to pursue Manila Bay cleanup

IN BRIEF

DND hails declaration of July 12 ‘WPS V-day’

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro

Jr. welcomed the Cebu City Council’s approval of a resolution declaring July 12 of every year as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day.”

In a statement released by the Department of National Defense, Teodoro described the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award as a victory that the Philippines should continue to uphold and work to enforce.

“We laud the Cebu City Council’s unanimous approval of a resolution declaring July 12 of every year as ‘West Philippine Sea Victory Day.’ The 2016 Arbitral Award was indeed a victory which our country should embrace and fight to enforce,” Teodoro said.

The measure, authored by councilor Paul Labra, declared July 12 as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” in Cebu City, and urged Congress to enact legislation establishing a nationwide observance of the occasion. Rex Espiritu

Bill eyes unified medical services in times of crisis

A BILL filed at the House of Representatives calls for the establishment nationwide of a unified and standardized Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) to ensure that immediate prehospital, life-saving care during times of crises is available in every community. House Bill (HB) 9474, authored by Parañaque City Rep. Brian Yamsuan, aims to institutionalize the EMSS by putting in place clear national standards for emergency protocols and operations, and mandating the continuing training and professionalization of medical first responders.

“A well-functioning, coordinated emergency medical services system can be the key to the survival and recovery of patients even before they are brought to the hospital,” Yamsuan said. Maricel V. Cruz

DSWD helps 373 HIV patients in Region 7

A TOTAL of 373 people living with HIV (Human Inmmunodeficiency Virus) in Central Visayas received aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the agency’s community-based Services Section–PLHIV Assistance and Psychosocial Support Program from January to April 2026. The DSWD in Region 7 provided comprehensive support to

By Maricel V. Cruz

DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian mulls to replicate a community-managed water supply livelihood project in more geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

Gatchalian broached the idea after visiting a Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) in Barangay Lumbangan in Zamboanga City, on Monday (June 29).

The Solo Parents de Lumbangan SLPA, composed of 30 members and organized under DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, receive P600,000 worth of Seed Capital Fund in May 2025 to establish and operate a community water supply system.

Gatchalian said the project demonstrates how a livelihood intervention can also address a critical public service need in an isolated community.

“We looked at a very successful sustainable livelihood project of the DSWD. In accordance with the order of our President, we are bringing development to the most remote areas of our country,” he said.

Through the project, the SLPA installed a water impounding, treatment, and distribution system that now supplies clean and flowing water to 24 households in their community.

Households pay a one-time installation fee of P2,000 and a monthly fee ranging from P160 to P180, depending on their water usage and consumption.

While Barangay Lumbangan has a natural spring, Gatchalian explained that residents had no system to bring water directly into their homes.

“This barangay, for the longest time, has not had a water supply to their homes. So what they did, they applied for a grant (and) they were given P600,000 last year. What they did now, they set up a small water distribution business,” he said.

By Pot Chavez

MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday reaffirmed the city government’s commitment to cleaning up Manila Bay.

The mayor reiterated his pledge during the inauguration of the Marine Clean-Up Vessel for the Enhancement of Marine Litter Management in Manila Bay (EMLM) Project at Pier 15, Muelle de San Francisco in the Port Area.

“I, as mayor of Manila, on behalf of the people of Manila, would like to thank you for helping us clean Manila Bay. It is a very challenging task for the people of Manila doing it alone. Without you, we will never be successful following the directive of the Supreme Court under the Mandanas ruling,” Domagoso said.

He also vowed that the city government would continue carrying out its responsibility to maintain bodies of water within Manila’s territorial jurisdiction.

“In our own little way as a city government, rest assured that we will fulfill our duty to maintain and manage the waterways within our territorial jurisdiction,” he said in Filipino.

Domagoso said the capital has the largest Manila Bay coastline among Metro Manila local government units and serves as the catch basin for water flowing from eastern areas.

“When the water comes down from the mountains toward Marikina and other towns, we are the ones who receive it here in Manila. Unfortunately, it also carries garbage with it, which is why I would like to give special recognition to our estero rangers from the DENR and the City of Manila,” he said.

Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna and Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa attended the inauguration ceremony.

7.8-km CALAX segment in Cavite now open

By Vito Barcelo

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced that the new Governor’s Drive Interchange of the CaviteLaguna Expressway (CALAX) is now open to motorists, providing a faster route between Laguna and Cavite provinces. The newly opened 7.88-kilometer CALAX Subsection 3 connects the Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange to the Governor’s Drive Interchange

in General Trias, Cavite. It officially opened to traffic on May 5, 2026 and is expected to benefit nearly 50,000 motorists and commuters daily from Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cavite.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the new expressway segment cuts travel time between Biñan, Laguna and General Trias, Cavite from about one hour to just 26 minutes. Travel between Aguinaldo Highway and Governor’s Drive has also

been reduced from around 30 minutes to about five to six minutes, allowing motorists to save time and reduce fuel consumption.

Dizon said the new road will provide greater convenience for commuters, particularly those who live in Cavite and work in Metro Manila.

“If you’re working in Taguig, in BGC (Bonifacio Global City) and you live in Cavite, CALAX is now your route. It’s a huge convenience,” Dizon said.

By Dexter A. See

A PLACE TO TALK TO GOD, ALONE. A devotee prays before a life-size icon of Padre Pio Pietrelcina at a chapel in Bagumbayan, Quezon City. Saint Padre Pio is best known for bearing the ‘stigmata’ which are visible, bleeding wounds on the hands, feet, and side that emit distinct floral or perfume aroma and which he bore until his death in 1968. Teddy Brul

SIDEWALK ENHANCEMENT. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, in collaboration with the Pasig City government, undertakes a sidewalk enhancement initiative on a three-kilometer stretch of C-5 Road from Barangay Bagong Ilog to Ortigas Avenue, using recycled glass and hard plastics that can withstand the test of time. MMDA photo

JOURNEY INTO THE WOMB OF THE EARTH. The local government of Sagada, Mountain Province opens to the public a cave network discovered only in 2023 by villagers of Barangays Ankileng and Balugan and named Tatayaen Cave, The opening was preceded by a series of inspections, assessments, and exploratory activities to ensure the safety of spelunkers. Dave Leprozo

OPINION

No place for Duterte zealots

THE White Ribbon march on June 28, 2026 was conceived as a clear, uncompromising stand against systemic corruption. Its purpose was never to shelter or empower political actors who have long defended graft and embezzlement.

For this reason, organizers firmly rejected attempts by pro-Duterte groups to hijack the protest and turn it into a campaign to free former president Rodrigo Duterte or derail the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

Bayan, a core member of the White Ribbon coalition, issued an unequivocal message: supporters of the Duterte father-and-daughter tandem were not welcome. The march was anchored on accountability, not political rehabilitation. Major religious and civic organizations gathered at the EDSA People Power Monument to demand prosecution of grafters under the rallying cry, “Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot!”—a slogan that by itself excluded personalities linked to corruption scandals.

Kidapawan Bishop Colin Bagaforo of the CBCP reinforced the non-partisan nature of the event. Politicians could attend, but none would be allowed to speak, ensuring that the protest remained focused on corruption rather than political theatrics.

Bayan stressed that it could not “link arms” with groups that routinely deploy disinformation to shield the corrupt and smear anti-corruption advocates.

Sanlakas echoed this stance: the march welcomed citizens committed to fighting corruption and political dynasties—but not those who belonged to dynasties themselves.

Organizers recalled past incidents where pro-Duterte groups attempted to infiltrate rallies, often resulting in disorder, clashes with police, and staged provocations meant to frame youth activists.

Meanwhile, at the Senate, the same Dutertealigned groups calling for the ouster of the Marcos Jr. administration have staged continuous pickets but failed to gain public traction. Their theatrics—fiery speeches and even coffin parades—have not translated into mean-

ingful support.

Bayan reiterated that while it is open to working with all who genuinely seek accountability, it refuses to be distracted by groups attempting to whitewash the crimes of political clans.

Pro-Duterte personalities who insisted on joining the march were bluntly told: “YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.” Participants were urged to reject any attempt to hijack the protest for partisan ends.

Supporters of the Duterte father-anddaughter tandem were not welcome

The urgency of the march stems from the devastating impact of corruption: up to 40 percent of the national budget is lost annually, with flood control projects serving as a prime example of graft. The impeachment articles against Sara Duterte include misuse of confidential funds during her tenure as Education Secretary, failure to address literacy and classroom shortages, and alleged under-the-table deals for favored contractors.

If Duterte loyalists succeed in sabotaging the impeachment trial, the Filipino people stand to lose the chance for genuine accountability.

The Senate trial is expected to be mired in legal maneuvering, with Duterte’s defense team dismissing the charges as “unfair” and “void”—a strategy that undermines Constitutional processes and mocks the legal system through blanket denials.

Sara Duterte’s refusal to confront the charges with seriousness or coherence, marked by denial and deflection, suggest not just political entitlement but a troubling disconnect from logic and public accountability. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

The trial beyond the verdict

NEXT week, the Senate will convene as an impeachment court to hear the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

As provided by the Constitution, the House of Representatives will present the case for the prosecution, while the members of the Senate will assume the solemn duty of judgment.

The Vice President will have every opportunity to answer the charges and present her defense.

The nation will understandably focus its attention on the individual at the center of the proceedings. Yet a closer look reveals that another subject stands before the bar of public scrutiny.

The trial will also test the strength of our institutions, the maturity of our political culture, and the depth of our commitment to the principle that public power carries public accountability.

For this reason, the significance of impeachment extends far beyond the fortunes of any single official. It reaches into the very heart of Constitutional government.

Impeachment occupies a unique place in democratic systems. It belongs neither exclusively to politics nor entirely to law. It draws elements from both.

The process is political because it is entrusted to elected representatives. It is legal because it proceeds through established rules, standards of evidence, procedural safeguards, and constitutional limitations.

Throughout history, debates have arisen over where politics ends and law begins in an impeachment proceeding. Those distinctions often shift according to perspective, circumstance, and interest.

One reality, however, remains consistent.

Impeachment is fundamentally a constitutional process. Its authority comes directly from the Constitution itself, which defines its purpose, prescribes its procedures, and establishes its limits.

The roots of impeachment stretch back centuries. The concept first emerged in England, where Parliament developed a mechanism for holding powerful royal officials accountable for abuses committed in the exercise of public authority. The framers of the United States Constitution later adopted and refined the practice, recognizing that republican government required a peaceful Constitutional means of addressing serious misconduct by high-ranking public officers.

The Philippines inherited this tradition through the Constitutional framework that shaped our own democratic institutions.

Successive Constitutions retained impeachment because the principle behind it remains

enduring: power must always answer to law, and public office must always answer to the people.

That principle deserves emphasis today.

Impeachment exists to preserve the integrity of Constitutional government. Its purpose is to safeguard the public’s trust in institutions and to affirm that accountability applies even at the highest levels of authority.

The Constitution declares that public office is a public trust. Those words carry profound meaning. Government positions are held in trust for the benefit of the nation. Authority is exercised on behalf of citizens.

Responsibility accompanies power. Accountability accompanies responsibility.

As the proceedings begin, three considerations deserve particular attention.

First, prudence.

Moments of Constitutional significance call for calm judgment. Strong opinions will emerge from every direction. Supporters and critics alike will offer competing narratives. Public debate will intensify.

The significance of impeachment extends far beyond the fortunes of any single official

Amid this environment, prudence becomes essential.

Prudence requires patience. It invites careful examination of facts, thoughtful consideration of arguments, and respect for the processes established by law.

It encourages public officials to approach their duties with discipline and restraint. It asks citizens to listen carefully, weigh evidence honestly, and seek understanding before reaching conclusions.

Second, principle.

Every impeachment ultimately returns to questions of principle. Beyond personalities, political alliances, and electoral calculations lies a larger concern: the standards by which public authority is exercised.

Principle demands fidelity to the Constitution. It calls for honesty in the presentation of evidence, fairness in the evaluation of claims, and integrity in the exercise of judgment.

Democratic institutions earn public confidence when they demonstrate consistency in upholding the principles entrusted to them.

Third, posterity. The effects of this trial will extend well be-

MSurprise, surprise

ETRO Manila woke up Tuesday to a surprise. At the intersection of historic EDSA and White Plains Avenue, a group of people amassed at dawn, growing into a sizable crowd by rush hour. Initially it was not clear what organizations they represented or what they were rallying about.

Over the course of the morning, more details emerged. The rallyists were from the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo, protesting the supposed impending arrest of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, one of its more prominent members. Marcoleta is set to face plunder charges for accepting P75 million in campaign contributions from at least three individuals.

There was also a smaller gathering at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

The spokesperson of the INC, Edwil Zabala, later took to the group’s broadcast station to expound on their position. They were not protesting the implementation of the law, he said. What they were against was the bending of the law and to cover up anomalies in government. Justice, Zabala said, was selective.

Marcoleta was a surprise winner in the 2025 elections, hardly figuring in any surveys but winning on the backs of the millions-strong INC membership. In recent months, Marcoleta has been staunchly pro-Duterte, doing everything he could to prevent the impeachment trial of the Vice President from happening. He has uttered unpatriotic statements about the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea. During the hearings on the flood control scandal, Marcoleta supported a witness who gave conflicting, if not confounding, testimonies using an affidavit with dubious notarization. Marcoleta also famously schooled another senator, during arguments for his proposal to allow

online participation in Senate proceedings, for not having a legal background. Unfortunately, in the eyes of his supporters, a grave injustice is being done to Senator Marcoleta. Hence the surprise.

We can only hope that such actions on the part of the crowd arose out of their informed, independentlyformed opinion

The Vice President, whose impeachment trial will begin next week, was quick to voice her support. “The President’s failures of character and leadership have fostered an increasingly oppressive political environment. A government that answers criticism with intimidation undermines the very democratic institutions it is sworn to protect,” she said in a statement released by her office. Nobody begrudges the rallyists their right to assemble peacefully to air their grievances. Nobody will also oppose the cry to have transparency and accountability in government. So long as they do not

By Jose Antonio Goitia

WHEN Metro Manila came to a standstill recently, it was not because of a natural disaster or a sudden national emergency. It was because of a massive rally that paralyzed major arteries—most notably EDSA—for hours.

The cost of this event was paid entirely by ordinary citizens who had absolutely no part in it: workers arriving late or losing a day’s pay, students struggling to reach their schools, patients delayed on their way to hospitals, delivery riders, commuters, and small businesses trying to survive.

As I watched this unfold, it became clear to me that this issue goes far beyond politics or religion.

At its core, it is a profound test of whether we, as a people, exercise our constitutional rights with a corresponding sense of responsibility and respect for the rule of law.

Due Process and the Rule of Law

Let me be absolutely clear: due process is not a political privilege. It is a fundamental constitutional guarantee that must protect every single Filipino equally. Justice loses all its credibility the very moment it becomes selective.

Defending due process, however, is never the same as defending wrongdoing. If there are allegations of illegal acts, they must be resolved by concrete evidence and through our court systems—not by political pressure, and certainly not by the court of public opinion.

While our Constitution strictly protects religious freedom and the separation of Church and State, it simultaneously ensures that the rule of law applies equally to all, without exception.

Constitutional rights are simply inseparable from civic responsibility.

“The right to peacefully assemble is fundamental, but it should never unnecessarily burden the rights of millions of fellow Filipinos to work, study, travel, and access essential services.

Rights are strongest when they are exercised

yond its final verdict. Future public officials will study how the institutions of government discharged their responsibilities during this moment.

Future generations will look back on how constitutional mechanisms functioned when placed under public scrutiny. Future citizens will draw lessons about the meaning of accountability and the strength of democratic governance.

For that reason, the conduct of the proceedings may prove as consequential as the outcome itself.

The Senate will render its judgment according to its constitutional duty. History, however,

provoke or initiate violent acts, authorities must exercise maximum tolerance – as they should toward all others freely expressing their sentiments especially on matters of government.

The lack of consideration, however, was apparent from the element of surprise. Because there was no warning, people who started their day early, eager to go to work and earn a living, or attend to their personal errands, were caught in a traffic jam. Had they received advance information, they could have taken other routes to avoid the path of the rallyists. We can only hope that such actions on the part of the crowd arose out of their informed, independently-formed opinion. We understand that bloc voting is a time-honored tradition among the flock, the very reason they have been able to install politicians by the sheer power of their numbers. If they were merely instructed to go, however, that would be a tragic story, reflective of an inability to assert what they truly believe against the authorities – fallible, really, as everyone is – who told them where to go and what to say. Many Filipinos, not only those who were on Edsa on Wednesday, abhor selective justice, and have had enough of the hypocrisy of many politicians who claim to be on the side of transparency while doing otherwise. What we want to caution our compatriots against, however, is blindly standing by any single personality for the sake of loyalty. It is all right to find a champion and admire one figure, especially if he or she appears to embody all that we believe in. But nothing should prevent the people from calling out that person when they go against the principles they claim to have, or act out of line. It is also our duty to be critical of those whom we support. Politicians are public servants supposed to look after the people’s interests, not idols we should worship at all costs.

Rights and responsibilities must go hand in hand

with responsibility and deep consideration for the common good.”

Permit requirements are not designed to suppress free expression or silence dissent.

They exist for a practical, democratic purpose: to protect public safety, coordinate massive gatherings, and ensure that one group’s exercise of its rights does not completely obliterate or infringe upon the rights of others.

Defending due process, however, is never the same as defending wrongdoing

While I highly commend the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and our local government units for maintaining peace despite the unexpected scale of the gathering, we cannot simply dismiss the severe disruption experienced by millions of ordinary Filipinos as an unavoidable inconvenience.

Safeguarding Faith from Partisan Politics

We must also be deeply cautious about allowing politics to overshadow faith.

Political beliefs among citizens will always differ, but they should never eclipse the core spiritual teachings of unity, discipline, faith, and obedience to God.

When faith becomes secondary to political maneuvering, we risk losing sight of the very values meant to unite us as human beings and as a nation.

Having long associated with many of my brothers and sisters in the Iglesia ni Cristo, I have witnessed firsthand the deep sincerity of their faith and their unwavering commitment to their Church’s teachings.

I have always genuinely admired the values of unity, discipline, and obedience to God that

will render its own judgment on how faithfully our institutions fulfilled theirs. Whatever our individual views on the merits of the case, one point deserves broad agreement: it is important that the impeachment trial takes place. Constitutional questions deserve constitutional resolution. Public controversies of this magnitude deserve a forum where facts may be presented, evidence examined, arguments heard, and judgments rendered according to law. The process itself serves a vital democratic purpose. It provides the nation an opportunity for clarity. It provides institutions an opportunity to fulfill their responsibilities.

have been upheld throughout the Church’s history under the spiritual leadership of Ka Felix Y. Manalo and Ka Eraño G. Manalo.

It is my most sincere prayer that our brothers and sisters in the Iglesia ni Cristo will continue to be guided by those enduring values.

I pray they will never allow themselves to be used by political opportunists, or by those who seek to manipulate sacred faith for personal or partisan gain. The Church should always remain a source of unity, moral strength, and service to God—not a vehicle for partisan interests.

The True Challenges Ahead As a nation, we must keep our eyes focused on the challenges that genuinely threaten our collective future. Our greatest battle is not against one another. It is against systemic corruption, the abuse of power, grinding poverty, criminality, and every force that actively weakens our democratic institutions and erodes public trust.

The underlying issue here was never whether the Iglesia ni Cristo had the right to express its views.

The Constitution explicitly protects that right. The real question is whether those rights were exercised with the same respect for the rights of millions of other Filipinos trying to go about their lives.

A democracy simply cannot endure if any organization—regardless of its size, immense influence, or religious affiliation—believes it may disregard legal processes or impose unnecessary, harsh conditions on the public to pursue its cause. Rights and responsibilities are two sides of the same coin. When one is exercised without the other, both our democracy and the rule of law are profoundly diminished.

(The writer holds Juris Doctor, PhD, MNSA, MPA, and MBA degrees, is the Chairman Emeritus of the Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement)

It provides the public an opportunity to see accountability exercised through constitutional means. In time, it also provides closure—a conclusion reached through a process established by the people themselves in their fundamental law. The country now turns a page that will become part of our constitutional story. How we proceed from here will say much about who we are as a democracy and what kind of Republic we aspire to become. May we meet this moment with wisdom, fairness, and a steadfast commitment to the Constitution that binds us together as one nation.

Seoul, Kyiv hold ‘constructive’ talks about NoKor POWs

SEOUL – South Korea and Ukraine held

“constructive” talks Tuesday about the fate of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting in Russia, Seoul said Tuesday.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiga discussed the matter during talks in Seoul.

The soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in January last year while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region.

North Korea and Russia have demanded the repatriation of the pair, but rights groups and experts have warned they could face severe punishment if returned to Pyongyang.

The soldiers have asked to be sent to South Korea, which would in effect amount to defection.

Seoul is seeking their transfer on the grounds that they are citizens of a single Republic of Korea envisaged in its constitution.

North and South Korea remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

The nations are separated by a demilitarised zone, but South Korea considers the entire Korean peninsula as one country.

The ministers “engaged in constructive discussions” on the soldiers’ future on Tuesday, a South Korean foreign ministry spokesman told reporters.

They agreed to be guided by “international law and humanitarian principles.”.

“The government will continue to make diplomatic efforts to advance and resolve the issue of the North Korean prisoners of war,” the spokesman said. AFP

IN BRIEF

France to illuminate Statue of Liberty

NEW YORK – France will stage an elaborate light show at the Statue of Liberty to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the French consulate said Monday (Tuesday, Mnila time).

Described as a “monumental artistic creation,” the show will be recorded in advance and broadcast by the ABC network at the start of its 25 hours of programming for Independence Day, July 4.

“The Statue of Liberty will be revealed to the public as it has never been seen before, in a staging designed to magnify its symbolic and emotional power,” the consulate said.

“Our friendship goes back 250 years, it is still very strong, it runs deep, and that is why we wanted to do something significant,” France’s consul to New York Cedrik Foursicot told AFP.

The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was given to the United States by France in 1886, and is one of the country’s most famous monuments. France also dispatched its air force acrobatics team to the United States this month to mark the 250th anniversary. AFP

SF archdiocese announces $395-m abuse settlement

LOS ANGELES – The San Francisco archdiocese announced a $395 million settlement on Monday (Tuesday, Manilatime) with more than 500 people who say clergy in the California jurisdiction sexually abused them, in many cases as minors. Many of the cases go back decades and the statute of limitations had expired, but California passed a law giving complainants an extra three-year window from early 2020 to the end of 2022 to seek charges.

The settlement must still be approved by an association of abuse victims and a judge. The archdiocese also agreed to devise a 14-point reform plan designed in part to protect children from sexual abuse by clergy. The settlement marked the latest case of the Catholic Church making amends around the world in recent decades for sexual abuse of minors by its clergy. AFP

Trump: Iran meeting set in Qatar

TEHRAN – US President Donald Trump said Iran requested a meeting on Tuesday in Qatar, despite Tehran denying any direct negotiations were planned with Washington on the deal aimed at ending the Middle East war.

Washington and Tehran both have said they were sending teams to the Gulf state, but issued conflicting statements on most other details, including timing and purpose of the trip.

The nations’ preliminary agreement to stop the conflict and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz has repeatedly come under strain due to clashes, but has also been dogged by the sides’ contradictory assertions.

Just after Trump’s Truth post on Monday asserting the Doha meeting with Iran, his spokeswoman told Fox News that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner “will be flying to Doha for high-level meetings this week”.

CNN reported early Tuesday that Witkoff was en route to Qatar.

However, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday

that a delegation of the country’s own experts would travel to Doha this week, but staunchly denied any sit-down with the Americans.

“We have not yet entered the stage of negotiating a final agreement,” he said, noting that “over the coming days, we will not have any negotiation meetings with the US side at any level.”

Iran’s exercise of control over the highly strategic strait has sparked repeated flare-ups, the latest of which came early Sunday when US Central Command said it had attacked 10 Iranian military targets over “continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping”.

Tehran said it retaliated with strikes against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The blockade remains a key sticking

exposed. Temperatures around Lake Velence reached 40–41°C on June 29, 2026, further accelerating the lake’s water loss. AFP

Outgoing Starmer to unveil long-awaited defense plan

LONDON – Outgoing Prime Minister

Keir Starmer was scheduled to finally announce his long-delayed plan for funding Britain’s future defense needs, with increased money for drones and autonomous systems.

The announcement follows months of wrangling within his Labor government over the resources required to modernize the UK’s armed forces in the face of rising threats, including from Russia.

Two defense ministers quit earlier this month in a row over the Defense Investment Plan (DIP), including defense secretary John Healey who said it risked

making Britain “less safe”.

The resignations highlighted Starmer’s weakening authority. He announced last Monday he was stepping down after MPs from his ruling Labor party switched their support to veteran politician Andy Burnham.

Burnham, the 56-year-old former Greater Manchester mayor, will take over as prime minister in mid-July if he faces no challengers for the Labor leadership.

Starmer, who hopes the 10-year defense spending plan will become one of his legacies, called the proposals “gamechanging investment” in a statement re-

US military reopens Venezuela port as quake deaths top 1,700

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela – The US military reopened a major port in Venezuela to ease aid deliveries on Monday as the death toll from last week’s devastating twin earthquakes surpassed 1,700 with tens of thousands still reported missing.

Five days after powerful back-to-back quakes flattened entire neighborhoods in the coastal state of La Guaira, the task of recovering the dead loomed large, as hopes of finding survivors faded.

At a makeshift morgue set up in a port warehouse in La Guaira, hundreds of bodies were stored in white and black body bags and coffins waiting to be identified, an AFP correspondent saw.

Dozens of relatives waited outside for news of their families as forensic personnel in blue uniforms examined the corpses.

“There were 11 people in my house-

hold; only two of us survived because we were at work,” Wilker Molalla told AFP.

“My family is there -- I’m told my sister and her children are there, as well as the children of my brother.”

US Marines meanwhile completed repairs to one of Venezuela’s two main ports to allow delivery of supplies and equipment.

The port of La Guaira “is now operational, and the USS Fort Lauderdale is using the port to deliver critically needed supplies and equipment,” a US military statement said, referring to a US warship dispatched to assist with aid efforts.

American airmen were also helping restore traffic at Simon Bolivar International Airport near Caracas, which was also damaged in one of the worst quake disasters in Latin American history.

The airport had partially reopened to cargo and aid flights on Saturday. AFP

leased late on Monday. It “will keep our country safe and secure long into the future,” he added, ahead of the unveiling on Tuesday.

The plan includes more than £5 billion ($6.6 billion) for drones and autonomous systems over the next four years, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a press release.

The investment will see capabilities ranging from “highly complex autonomous mine-hunting drones to small ‘quadcopter’ tactical drones, and lowcost ‘kamikaze’ one-way attack drones,” the MoD added. AFP

point in the negotiations. Iran and Oman border the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s

and

and

“During a trip to Muscat, the first meeting of the Joint Hormuz Committee was held,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on X. The strait comprises Omani and Iranian territorial waters, but under international law the two cannot generally block passage or charge tolls. Iran warned on Sunday that any attempt by ships to bypass its preferred route through Hormuz would “increase tensions” in the Middle East. AFP

former education

the co-founder of a multibillion-dollar tech startup, of corruption on Tuesday, sentencing him to 10 years in prison.

Judges found Nadiem guilty of graft tied to the procurement of Chromebooks for schools during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in around $120 million in state losses.

The anti-corruption court in Jakarta also ordered Nadiem to pay a fine of 1 billion rupiah ($55,850) and another 809 billion (more than $45 million) in restitution -- or serve an additional prison term.

The case represents a remarkable turnaround for the Ivy League-educated cofounder of ride-hailing app Gojek, once seen as a poster boy for Indonesia’s tech startup scene.

Nadiem, 41, quit the company to become one of the country’s youngest cabinet members in 2019, and served as education minister until 2024.

Prosecutors had argued that his decision to purchase Chromebook laptops, which use Google’s operating system ChromeOS, was linked with the US tech giant’s investment in Gojek and had cost the state around $120 million in losses.

Nadiem has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyer said he would appeal the verdict.

The former minister claims the Chromebook procurement had in fact saved money, and has dismissed the case against him as an “investigative error”.

After the hearing, a tearful Nadiem said he had been “sentenced based on completely unreasonable facts... the four judges who sentenced me to 10 years in prison could not look me directly in the eye.”

“I was practically sentenced to 15 years because I was ordered to pay 809 billion rupiah in restitution, money I do not have,” he added.AFP Families

68 victims of the country’s civil war years after they were unearthed in mass graves. The bones, contained in small wooden boxes, were exhumed between 1998 and 2018 following their discovery in clandestine cemeteries in a military outpost and surrounding villages in San Martin Jilotepeque municipality, according to the Association for Justice and Reconciliation.

“Thanks to God... we can come here to leave a candle or flowers and chat with his remains,” 55-year-old Norberta Martin told AFP, saying soldiers had slit her father’s throat.

“He’s already in heaven, maybe protecting each of us because he died without owing anything to anyone,” she added in the cemetery of the mountainous village of Pacoj. AFP

Over 1 million migrants apply for Spain’s mass regularization

MADRID – More than one million undocumented migrants in Spain have sought legal status under a scheme that has defied a wider European crackdown on irregular immigration, the government said on Tuesday, the final day for submissions.

The vast scheme was predicted to benefit around 500,000 people, most from Latin America, when the left-wing government launched it in April. “The more than one million applications submitted... show how necessary this recognition of

and

bilities was,”

JAKARTA – An Indonesian court convicted

minister Nadiem Makarim,

DEADLY HEATWAVE. People walk in water of Lake Velence, close to Gardony city, Hungary on June 29, 2026. The water level has fallen to a historic low, with only 48 centimeters negative recorded on the Agard gauge. Persistent drought, lack of rainfall and extreme evaporation have left increasingly large sections of the shoreline

Paraguay stuns Germany; Brazil, Morocco advance at World Cup

LOS ANGELES—Paraguay sensationally sent four-time champions Germany crashing out of the World Cup on Monday as Brazil and Morocco clinched dramatic victories to reach the last 16.

Germany’s hopes of mounting a deep run at the tournament ended at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium with the country’s first ever defeat in a World Cup penalty shoot-out.

The seismic upset was the highlight of another day of enthralling action as the knockout rounds got into full swing, with Brazil coming from behind to score an injury-time winner in a 2-1 defeat of Japan before Morocco edged past the Netherlands 3-2 on pen-

Magpantay tops Universal Open Pool in Taiwan

By Randy M. Caluag

PHILIPPINE cue artist Jonas Magpan-

tay defeated Taiwan’s Chang Sheng Yi 13-5 to clinch the 2026 Universal Open Pool Championship held recently at the Pluit Village Mall in Jakarta.

The victory earned Magpantay his maiden World Nineball Tour (WNT) title and a $15,000 first-place prize. It also provides a significant momentum boost for the player nicknamed the “Silent Killer” ahead of the Stage 2 Asian Pool Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, scheduled for July 10-15.

Chang opened the match with an early 2-0 lead, but Magpantay responded by winning six consecutive racks to seize control at 6-2. Relying on sharp shot-making and tight safety play, Magpantay maintained his lead for the remainder of the contest. Chang struggled to capitalize on his opportunities, hampered by critical missed shots and a scratch on the break.

“I would like to dedicate my victory to my family, my friends, my sponsors, my country, and to God,” said Magpantay, who is a native of Bansud, Oriental Mindoro.

The triumph drew praise from Philippine sports officials, including Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Francisco J. Rivera.

alties in a classic duel in Monterrey.

Orlando Gill was the hero for Paraguay in their shoot-out defeat of Germany, saving from Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade to give them a crucial advantage.

Paraguay blew two chances to win it before Jose Canale blasted in the winning spot-kick after Germany’s Jonathan Tah blazed his effort over the bar.

Germany had never lost a penalty shoot-out at a World Cup on four previ-

ous occasions since the 1982 finals in Spain.

“Obviously, we analyzed every player and every detail of the penaltytakers,” ‘keeper Gill said afterwards. “Thank God I was able to save two penalties. This is a privilege; we eliminated a champion.”

Paraguay will now face either France or Sweden in the last 16, who play on Tuesday.

Brazil escapes

Another shock had looked on the cards when Brazil squeezed past Japan 2-1 in Houston to book their place in the last 16 thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Gabriel Martinelli.

Japan had threatened to pull off one of the all-time great World Cup upsets after Kaishu Sano fired them into the

lead with a superb 29th-minute goal on the counter-attack.

But Brazil equalized on 56 minutes, Casemiro nodding in at the far post after a superb curling cross from the left by Gabriel Magalhaes. Japan appeared to have done enough to force extra time, but paid the price after Ao Tanaka conceded possession on the edge of the area in injury time. The ball found Martinelli, who took a touch before burying the winner.

“I can’t find the words to describe the joy in my heart. Seeing all those fans on their feet, my parents, my friends... I can’t explain it,” said Martinelli.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said his team would depart the tournament with heads held high. AFP

Go fires solid 64 to seize control at ICTSI Pinewoods

BAGUIO – Most players would have welcomed at least one practice round before taking on the demanding Pinewoods Golf and Country Club. Lloyd Go needed none. Arriving from Bangkok only the night before, Go made an unforgettable first impression on the challenging mountain layout, firing a flawless, two-eagle fueled eight-under 64 to storm to a commanding three-shot lead over Jeffren Lumbo at the start of the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge here on Tuesday.

Making its Philippine Golf Tour debut as a host venue, Pinewoods immediately lived up to its reputation as one of the country’s most exacting courses. Its narrow landing areas, sidehill fairways, severe elevation changes, treacherous hazards, difficult pin placements and glass-like greens punished even the slightest mistakes, while thick fog repeatedly halted play, disrupting the rhythm of the field. Yet every time play resumed, Go

simply picked up where he left off. Instead of losing momentum after each fog delay, the Cebuano ace stayed

The final bell, but not the last round

THERE is something poetic about hearing the final bell. In boxing and mixed martial arts, it does not always signal defeat. Sometimes, it simply means one contest has ended and another is about to begin. That is exactly how I feel as I write this final installment of In The Red Corner for Manila Standard. I joined this newspaper on January 1, 2025, and from that day onward, I had the privilege of doing what countless journalists aspire to achieve at least once in their careers. I became a newspaper columnist. For me, that was a dream realized. Being entrusted with a regular opinion space is one of the profession’s highest honors. It offers more than a byline. It provides a platform to challenge ideas, examine complicated issues, encourage meaningful conversations, and perhaps influence how readers see the world.

Having spent more than a decade wearing different hats in media, becoming a columnist was the final

unchecked box on my journalism bucket list.

That opportunity arrived when my Bedan Kuya, veteran journalist Erel Cabatbat, reached out while I was looking for a “new home” toward the end of 2024.

Then came sports editor Chief Riera Mallari. Without hesitation, he welcomed me into the Manila Standard family.

One memory still makes me smile. Chief asked for my column title and the photo that would appear beside my weekly piece. The answer came almost instinctively: In The Red Corner.

It was the very same title I proudly carried during my three-year stint with The Bedan, the official student publication of San Beda University.

Back then, I was simply a young student fascinated by boxing, captivated by martial arts, and hoping my words would someday reach audiences be yond the campus gates.

Little did I know that years later, that same banner would appear in the pages of a national newspaper.

From that moment forward, I wore the responsibility like a championship belt.

Since January 2025, I have written dozens of columns. Most weeks, I delivered one. Occasionally, I managed two. Every deadline felt like preparing for another title defense.

Every submission demanded fresh ideas, careful research, thoughtful analysis, and the discipline to

composed, plotted his way around the course with remarkable precision, and capitalized on every scoring opportunity. His disciplined approach, superb putting and impeccable course management turned what many expected to be a survival test into a virtual clinic.

Among the Tour’s top guns, Go was naturally expected to contend. Few, however, could have predicted such a spectacular opening round on a course he had never played.

“I just came from Bangkok last night and it was my first time to play the course today, so I was really more conservative with my round,” said Go. That conservative game plan hardly showed on the scorecard. He birdied Nos. 3 and 7 before eagling the par-5 10th. After another lengthy fog interruption, he birdied No. 14, chipped in for his second eagle on the par-4 17th, then capped his round with another birdie on the closing hole to complete one of the finest opening rounds on the PGT this season.

contribute something worthwhile instead of simply filling space. Some weeks, the words flowed like crisp combinations. Other times, I found myself staring at a blinking cursor, searching for the opening that would finally land.

Writers, much like fighters, know that not every round comes easily. Still, I kept answering the bell.

Together, we explored the evolving landscape of Philippine combat sports. We discussed the industry’s changing direction. We gave John Riel Casimero his flowers after his victory over Luis Nery. We recognized Manny Pacquiao for once again rising to the occasion against Mario Barrios. We introduced promising prospects deserving of greater attention and tackled difficult conversations that many preferred to avoid.

Those stories were never written merely to generate discussion. They were written because combat sports deserve nuance.

Too often, boxing and MMA are misunderstood. Many only see punches, kicks, blood, or knockouts. They rarely notice the discipline, sacrifice, heartbreak, resilience, and humanity behind every athlete who walks toward the bright lights.

If this column accomplished anything, I hope it helped paint a clearer picture of that world.

I also tried to champion causes that mattered. I wanted every article to carry purpose, whether it examined the industry, celebrated overlooked athletes, questioned prevailing narratives, or simply shared lessons drawn from personal experience.

Caloocan rips Paranaque for 14th MPBL win

PACESETTER Caloocan Batang Kankaloo flaunted its deep bench in a 127-91 thumping of Paranaque on Monday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.

All 15 Batang Kankaloo, headed by Rommel Calahat, scored 3 points or more as Caloocan led by as far as 116 and climbed to 14-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 27-team tournament.

Calahat posted 16 points and 4 rebounds to clinch the SportsPlus best player honors over Kean Baclaan, with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

Other major contributors for Caloocan, which tows Abra (12-1) and San Juan (10-1) in the North division, were Eric Camson with 13 points and 5 rebounds, and homegrown Joseph Manlangit, with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Paranaque, which skidded to 1-16, drew 24 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists from Jomar Santos, 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists from Marlon Monte, 12 points and 3 assists from Jobert Medina, 11 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds from James Mangahas, and 10 points plus 8 rebounds from John Michael Cruz.

Cebu thwarts Quezon City

The Cebu Greats repelled the Quezon City Black Bulls’ repeated rallies to prevail, 74-61, in the nightcap and climb to 12-3, overtaking Binan Tatak Gel, 11-3, for the third spot in the South division being lorded by Gensan (13-2) and Batangas (11-2).

Mark Meneses again paced Cebu with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists, followed by Alvin Baetiong, with 10 points and 8 rebounds, and Kint Ariar, with 10 points and 3 rebounds.

Trailing, 56-66, following a triple by Cebu’s CJ Payawal, Quezon City moved to within 61-68 when Joshua Roque converted two charities with 3 minutes and 26 seconds left.

The Black Bulls couldn’t score after that, however, while the Greats came through with six charities for the final count that pulled Quezon City down to a 6-8 slate.

Quezon City tumbled to 6-8 despite Val Chauca’s 14 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, Jake Agoncillo’s 13 points and 6 rebounds, and Kobe Monje’s 12 points and 5 rebounds.

Today, however, it is time for me to step away. Allow me to clarify: I am not retiring from journalism. Quite the opposite.

A new opportunity has presented itself. More importantly, it is an answered prayer that I believe I must pursue. This chapter may be closing, but In The Red Corner is far from finished. You may very well see it again sooner than expected.

As I prepare to watch Manila Standard from my own red corner, my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you to everyone at Manila Standard who welcomed me with open arms from day one. I will always remember that this was the only publication that invited me to its annual Christmas party, a simple gesture that made me feel not merely like a contributor, but part of the team.

Looking back, I never imagined that one day I would write for a major national newspaper. This journey gave me more than published columns. It reminded me that journalism, at its best, remains an act of service.

So this is not a farewell. Like every great fighter who leaves the ring after an unforgettable bout, I simply return to my corner, grateful for every round, every exchange, every lesson, and every person who believed I belonged under the bright lights.

See you around!

(For comments or questions, reach the author at nissi.icasiano@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nissi.icasiano.)

Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill saves the penalty kick by Germany’s forward Kai Havertz during the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough. AFP

Rommel Calahat of Caloocan

Lloyd Go Manny Marcelo

Jonas Magpantay

In The Red Corner

Nissi Icasiano

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

Djokovic, Sinner survive Wimby scares

LONDON—Jannik Sinner survived a major scare and a bloodied foot to open his Wimbledon title defence with a five-set victory over Miomir Kecmanovic, while Novak Djokovic had to dig deep to beat China’s Wu Yibing.

Sinner was pushed to the brink of becoming only the third male defending champion to lose in the Wimbledon first round before battling back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-3 on Monday.

Trailing by two sets to one, the Italian world number one dug deep to win his first five-set match in his last six attempts.

Sinner’s gutsy victory in three hours and 28 minutes was all the more commendable after he injured his right foot in an awkward fall that left his shoe covered in blood.

He let out a shriek of pain and was motionless for several moments before gingerly resuming play.

With two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz still sidelined by a wrist injury sustained in Barcelona in April, Sinner is the clear favourite to become the 10th man in the Open era to retain the trophy.

He is bidding for his fifth Grand Slam title and his first since his maiden victory at the All England Club last year.Mag

But the 24-year-old hasn’t reached a Grand Slam final this year and crashed out of the French Open in the second round, blowing a two-set lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo as he wilted in the stifling Paris heat.

Ahead of Wednesday’s second-round clash with Portugal’s Nuno Borges, the Italian insisted he would not be affected by his latest fitness concern.

“I’m good. It just seems much worse than it is. I’m actually very surprised that they let me keep playing because my all white outfit turned into a little red! It is just a nail,” he said.

In Alcaraz’s absence, Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, is expected to be one of Sinner’s main rivals.

The 39-year-old Serb is chasing an all-time record of 25 Grand Slam singles titles among men and women.

Djokovic would become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam in the Open era if he lifts the trophy on July 12.

Reaching those historic targets will require a significant improvement from Djokovic, who laboured for over three hours in a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over Chinese world number 102 Wu in front of David Beckham and rapper Bad Bunny. AFP

La Salle still hungry for title

By Peter Atencio

THE De La Salle University Lady Spikers will be hungry for another crown.

Lady Spikers’ star outside hitter Angel Canino said this weeks after her team completed a sweep of the 88th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament.

“We’re enjoying the championship after we won it. I am honored for receiving an award. But it comes with a responsibility,” said the 23-year-old Canino after she was named UAAP Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year at the Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Awards on Monday at the Discovery Suites Magellan Hall.

Last month, La Salle dethroned the National University Lady Bulldogs in Game 2 of the Finals, 25-22, 25-16, 2516, to claim the championship

“We’re starting to train again, and it’s difficult during the off-season. We try to add from what we improved before,” added the 5’11” Canino.

La Salle went on to end a three-year title drought for its 13th crown.

The Lady Spikers also became the first team to go 16-0 in the tournament since the NU Lady Bulldogs in Season 84 back in 2022.

In Season 89, Canino is returning with three other key veterans from De La Salle University’s (DLSU) championship core. This includes Finals MVP and team captain Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leo. Historically, La Salle is the only other team next to the Ateneo Lady Eagles to finish 16-0, and that was back in Season 77.

La Salle’s first tournament sweep was in Season 67, in 2004, when it went 14-0, and was declared automatic champions after the elimination round.

Cone rests Brownlee, Phillips, but Gilas still rips Franklin Bulls

By Jeremiah Sevilla

GILAS Pilipinas continued to flex its solid form despite resting Justin Brownlee and Mike Phillips, taming the New Zealand NBL team Franklin Bulls, 94-66, to complete a sweep of its tuneup games ahead of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers third window on Tuesday.

The Nationals jumped off to a hot start in front of a sizable Filipino crowd at the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre in Pukekohe, New Zealand as they erected a 32-19 lead in the first quarter en route to another lopsided win.

National team head coach Tim Cone opted to rest the 38-year-old Brownlee anew while versatile forward Phillips, who scored eight points against the Jets, also did not see action in the friendly match.

Cone’s wards still dominated throughout the game, posting a 50-37 advantage entering the halftime break

Gilas sustained its solid form from its 90-61 romp over the Manawatu Jets last Sunday, showing readiness for the upcoming real battles against the New Zealand Tall Blacks and the Australia Boomers for the final window of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ first round.

and keeping the Bulls at bay, 74-59, heading to the final frame.

After getting a pair of confidenceboosting victories, Gilas will head to Auckland to face the Tall Blacks on Friday, July 3.

The Filipino cagers will then battle the Boomers in Perth on Monday, July 6 to wrap up its Group A campaign.

While Gilas has already locked in a spot in the crossover round, the team is still eager to avenge its defeats to New Zealand and Australia at home and hike its 2-2 win-loss slate as records are set to be carried over.

Australia leads the group with a clean 4-0 slate, New Zealand holds a 2-2 card, while Guam is winless in four games.

The Philippines will likely take on Group C leaders Jordan, Iran, and Syria in the crossover group, where only the top three teams will be assured of World Cup spots in Qatar next year.

MILO’s Walk, Run & Roll also open to para athletes

THE Philippine Sports Commission, with full support from leading energy drink MILO, is pushing even harder to make sure that this year’s Milo Walk, Run & Roll event will be a tremendous success.

“It’s a PSC project that began in 2024, an advocacy that we started when we found the need for projects not just for elite but para athletes,” said PSC commissioner Walter Torres during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the PSC media room.

Torres, who represented the Philippines in fencing during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, said the event set July 26 inside the vast UP Diliman campus caters to persons with disabilities and their respective families and friends.

“It will be a very festive atmosphere and a happy Sunday. Through this event we hope that respect between people with disabilities and those with none will be developed,” added Torres, who was glad that MILO shares the same advocacy.

The event was first staged in 2024 with 800 participants at UP Diliman,

then followed last year in Surigao with a field of 3,000. For this year, organizers are expecting 5,000 entries with 2,000 having registered so far.

“We also invite all cancer survivors and even those with learning disabilities. They are all welcome to join. You also have a place in sports. You have a reason to be active,” added Torres at the

forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus. Para coach Joar Cavadores and wheelchair basketball and breast cancer survivor Gem Tanyag also graced the forum along with Febe Sevilla, a sign language interpreter.

Cavadores said events are set at 1K, 3K, 5K and 10K. “Napakaraming runs in the Philippines pero seldom we see runs for persons with disabilities. This event will recognize them and showcase that they belong. ‘Yung mga naka-wheelchair, crutches and prosthetics. ‘Yung takot nila lumabas, tinatanggal natin. This is life-changing,” he said.

For first-timers, Torres said a seminar will be held on July 9 “on how to relate and assist and manage persons with disabilities” during the competition.

“Isa po itong magandang experience para sa kanila. Makikita nila na kaya pala,” said Tanyag.

Organizers have made sure that the route will cater well for those with disabilities.

“The route itself, pinag-isipan talaga na malawak ang roads. Safety was a main concern. Hindi pwede ‘yung may areas na pwede sila matapilok. The water stations, from 2.5 kms intervals ginawa namin 1.5 kms. And there is no cutoff time – just finish and enjoy the race,” he added,

Lee breaks through the mist, grabs 2-shot lead with 69

BAGUIO—A thick blanket of fog rolled in and out of Pinewoods Golf and Country Club on opening day, repeatedly halting play and adding an eerie unpredictability to an already demanding layout. Through the shifting visibility and mounting pressure, 17-year-old Tiffany Lee stayed composed just long enough – and struck just boldly enough – to seize control of the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge.

Lee closed with a three-under 69, highlighted by a blistering late stretch that flipped the script on a volatile round, giving her a two-stroke cushion over Chanelle Avaricio after 18 holes of the 54-hole, P1 million championship.

“It’s a very tough course, honestly.

You need a lot of accuracy and a good short game,” said Lee, summing up a day where precision mattered as much as patience – especially with fog delays breaking rhythm and testing focus throughout the field.

For Lee, the round was anything but linear. She opened with a roller-coaster front nine, mixing four birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey, made even more difficult by intermittent stoppages as fog swept across the course. Just when momentum seemed uncertain, she reignited her round with a decisive four-birdie burst starting on No. 14.

That late surge transformed what had been a crowded leaderboard into a clearer statement of intent.

“I was focusing on hitting more confidently, especially on narrow fairways and small openings into the greens,” she said. “I tried to commit fully to my shots so I could execute properly.”

Even so, a closing bogey prevented her from stretching the lead further –but not from walking off with the outright advantage.

“The greens are hard and fast, very difficult to control,” added Lee. “I just had to work through it the best I could.” Behind her, Avaricio showed flashes of command but could not sustain it. She opened with an eagle-aided 32 and briefly threatened to run away with the round, only to stumble on the back nine with three bogeys against a birdie for a 71.

Shown here are (from left) Gem Tanyag, commissioner Walter Torres, and Joar Cavadores

Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic during their men’s singles first-round tennis match on the first day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP

Tim Cone

Tiffany Lee Manny Marcelo

BSP expects June inflation to stay above 6%

By Thony Rose Lesaca

I NFLATION rate will likely stay within 6.0 percent to 7.0 percent in June 2026, as higher electricity rates and vegetable prices offset easing oil and food costs, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Tuesday. Headline inflation eased to 6.8 percent in May from 7.2 percent in April, as transport and food costs rose more slowly, tempering overall price growth.

The figure remained above the government’s previous target range of 2.0 percent to 4.0 percent.

Falling domestic oil prices and lower rice and meat costs likely tempered June inflation, the BSP said. Higher electricity rates and vegetable prices, however, may partly offset those declines.

“The BSP will remain vigilant and guided by incoming data, particularly on inflation and growth prospects. It will continue to monitor recent developments in the Middle East for their implications for inflation and economic activity,” the BSP said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release June inflation data on July 7, 2026. The BSP implemented multiple rate hikes in the first half of the year, including a 25-basis-point adjustment in June that brought the overnight borrowing rate to 4.75 percent.

Analysts expect the BSP to continue its monetary tightening in the second half to control inflation.

May trade deficit widened

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Othel V. Campos

THE Philippines’ trade deficit widened to $5.48 billion in May 2026, up 50.5 percent from $3.64 billion a year ago, as merchandise imports surged 21.9 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Tuesday.

Imports rose to $13.36 billion in May from $10.96 billion in the same month last year, but this marked the lowest level in two months following the $13.23 billion recorded in March 2026.

Electronic products led import growth at $4.63 billion, followed by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials at $1.75 billion and transport equipment at $806.83 million.

China remained the country’s largest source of imported goods,

ERC suspends collection of green energy bill for two more months

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has extended the suspension of the Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All) collection for two more months to ease electricity costs for consumers. The extension covers the July and August 2026 billing periods and applies to all collection agents, including distribution utilities, retail electricity suppliers, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. It suspends the GEA-All rate of P0.0371 per kilowatt-hour.

The GEA-All is a uniform charge that funds payments to renewable energy developers under the government’s Green Energy Auction Program.

The ERC approved the extension after determining the GEA-All Fund has enough money to cover payments to renewable energy developers during the suspension. The fund held a balance of P707.47

million as of June 5, 2026, which the commission said is sufficient to cover expected disbursements, including payments to additional renewable energy facilities set to begin commercial operations in coming months.

The ERC said the suspension aims to provide immediate relief to consumers as households face rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures linked to global developments. The commission said it will continue to safeguard the fund’s financial integrity to ensure timely payments to developers.

The ERC will conduct a comprehensive review of the fund by August 2026 to decide whether to extend the suspension further.

Collection agents should implement the suspension starting with the July and August 2026 billing cycles. They must submit compliance reports — including sample customer bills showing the removed GEA-All

within 15 days after the August billing period closes.

followed by South Korea and Indonesia.

Exports grew 7.6 percent yearon-year to $7.87 billion from $7.32 billion, the highest level since exports reached $8.19 billion in March 2026, the PSA said.

Electronic products topped export earnings at $4.30 billion, followed by machinery and transport equipment at $441.61 million and other mineral products at $406.78 million.

The United States, Hong Kong and

Japan were the top destinations for Philippine exports.

The PSA said the May trade gap was the narrowest recorded in two months despite the year-on-year increase.

Total external trade in goods climbed 16.1 percent to $21.23 billion in May from $18.28 billion a year earlier, reaching its highest monthly level since March.

For the January-to-May period, total exports reached $37.87 billion, up 10.6 percent from $34.25 billion in the same period in 2025. This was the highest year-to-date export value recorded since the series began in 1991, the PSA said.

Total imports for the five-month period amounted to $63.11 billion, an increase of 16.2 percent from $54.32 billion a year earlier and also the highest year-to-date import value since 1991.

$5.48 billion $7.87 billion $13.36 billion Trade deficit in May Exports in May Imports in May

EMPOWERED SCHOOLS. The installation of satellite internet and reliable electricity at Kawit Elementary School in Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bulacan is a welcome gift for students for the new school year. Aboitiz Foundation and ING Hubs Philippines have teamed up to equip four public schools in Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT) with digital learning systems powered by renewable energy and enhanced internet connectivity. The initiative aims to expand access to quality digital education in one of Central Luzon’s geographically isolated communities.

PICKLEBALL PARTY. SM City East Ortigas marks Pride Month by hosting the Pink Paddle Club Pride Pickleball Party with Zymbading. The event celebrates diversity and community through sport, featuring an exceptional performance and exhibition game by Drag Queen Zymbading, highlighting the mall’s

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2026

Profit-taking, global jitters drag PH stocks; financials lead rout

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) tumbled below the 6,100 mark Tuesday, snapping a three-day rally as macroeconomic headwinds and midyear window dressing triggered a broad sell-off.

The benchmark PSEi slumped 96.24 points, or 1.57 percent, to finish at 6,037.17 on the final trading day of the first half of the year. The broader all shares Index mirrored the decline, shedding 33.67 points, or 1 percent, to close at 3,319.29.

The local currency also faced pressure, with the peso depreciating to 61.36 against the U.S. dollar Tuesday from Monday’s close of 61.17.

“The local bourse ended lower after profit-taking, following gains over three straight sessions, as investors closed positions to end the first half of the year,” said Luis Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp.

Limlingan noted that market participants also moved to the sidelines

to lock in gains amid mixed signals coming out of the ongoing U.S.-Iran peace talks. “Overall risk appetite remained subdued,” he added.

Financial stocks bore the brunt of the downturn, with the sectoral index plunging 2.67 percent to 1,850.84.

Holding firms also saw heavy selling, losing 2.16 percent, while the mining and oil index retreated 2.10 percent.

The property sector gave up 1.12 percent and industrials slipped 0.58 percent. Services proved the most resilient among the major clusters, easing just 0.41 percent.

Value turnover was relatively healthy, reaching P6.45 billion.

Foreign funds joined the exit, with external investors turning into net sellers, logging net outflows of P342.2 million.

Market breadth was firmly negative, with 112 decliners easily outpacing 78 gainers, while 39 stocks remained unchanged.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Century Properties raises P3b from notes issuance

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CThe peso-denominated corporate notes have been enrolled with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. following their successful placement to qualified institutional investors, CPG disclosed to the local bourse Tuesday.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD. doing business under the name and style of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES has decided to close its Philippine Representative Office, effective December 31, 2024. The corporation shall file a Petition for Withdrawal of License with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in accordance with the requirements of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines and relevant SEC rules and regulations.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD. doing business under the name and style of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES has decided to close its Philippine Representative Office, effective December 31, 2024. The corporation shall file a Petition for Withdrawal of License with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in accordance with the requirements of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines and relevant SEC rules and regulations.

The notes, which are exempt from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will primarily fund strategic land banking in Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Panay, and the Davao region. Proceeds are also earmarked to build out presold units under the company’s firsthome residential segment.

China Bank Capital Corp. served as the sole arranger and bookrunner for the transaction.

This Notice will serve as notice to all parties concerned of the withdrawal of license of the said foreign corporation.

This Notice will serve as notice to all parties concerned of the withdrawal of license of the said foreign corporation.

CPG management framed the debt issuance as part of a longterm capital management strategy to diversify funding sources and build out liquidity.

Robert David Gillespie Chief Financial Officer

FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD doing business under the name and style of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES Email: rob.gillespie@forescout.com

Robert David Gillespie Chief Financial Officer FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD doing business under the name and style of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES Email: rob.gillespie@forescout.com

“This issuance reinforces our long-term funding platform and reflects our disciplined approach to capital management,” CPG president and chief executive Marco Antonio said. “By raising capital ahead of need, we are enhancing financial flexibility while remaining well-positioned to pursue future opportunities.”

The real estate developer said it continues to see favorable long-term prospects for the domestic property market, driven by a persistent structural housing backlog and resilient end-user demand.

C and head of investor relations, said the fundraising solidifies the company’s capital base while supporting its next phase of expansion.

“Our priority is to maintain a funding profile that gives us flexibility without compromising financial discipline,” Marqueses said.

CPG has been actively pivoting toward the affordable housing segment while building up its land bank to support future project launches outside the capital region.

PLDT’S RECOGNITION. PLDT Inc. chief sustainability officer Melissa Vergel de Dios (right) receives PLDT’s

citation from Michael Taschner, S&P Global head of sustainability services for Sustainable1, at a recent event in Taguig City. PLDT was again included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026, securing its spot in the ranking of the world’s leading companies in

Rodel Marqueses CPG chief financial officer

By Thony Rose Lesaca

OUTSTANDING loans from local banks’ foreign currency deposit units (FCDU) fell 0.8 percent to $15.44 billion as of end-March 2026 from $15.56 billion in the previous quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Tuesday.

The first-quarter total included $8.25 billion in new loans and $8.36 billion in repayments, the BSP said. It said that the loan portfolio also dropped 2.17 percent year-on-year from $15.78 billion. Foreign currency

BIR REFORMS.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza reports on the first six months of the agency’s reforms under the BIR DARES agenda during the Swiss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (SwissCham) ‘Policy to Practice’ roundtable on June 24, 2026. During the event, the BIR and SwissCham also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen publicprivate collaboration on tax administration, digital transformation and taxpayer service.

deposits, meanwhile, grew 3.14 percent to $60.77 billion from $58.92 billion a year earlier.

Philippine-based borrowers held $10.443 billion of the total outstanding debt, while non-resident borrow-

ers owed $4.996 billion.

Among domestic borrowers, merchandise and service exporters received the largest share, with $2.75 billion in outstanding loans.

The transport and logistics sector — including towing, tanker, trucking, forwarding, and other personal and related industries — borrowed $2.51 billion.

Power generation companies held $1.85 billion in borrowings.

Medium- to long-term loans with maturities of more than one year made up 77.1 percent of the total portfolio, down from 79.2 percent in the

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) ex-

pects full-year profit to exceed last year’s P50.6 billion as distribution sales rebound and its generation business gets a boost from a major solar project, chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said Tuesday.

“I think the full-year profits would be ahead of last year. Definitely,” Pangilinan told reporters on the sidelines of the company’s annual stockholders meeting.

He did not give specific figures ahead of the release of Meralco’s first-half financial results.

“And we’ve seen the actual year-todate May and best estimate for June, which is the last day today,” Pangilinan said.

“I think first half will be ahead of last year. And full year most likely,” he said.

Pangilinan attributed the bullish forecast to a rebound in sales volume and a bigger contribution from the generation business.

Distribution utility volumes rose

4 percent in May and an estimated 2 pecent to 3 percent in June compared with the same months last year, he said.

“Then the generation business is doing much better than last year, especially with the onset of Terra Solar,” Pangilinan said.

Meralco PowerGen Corp., the company’s power generation arm, is building MTerra Solar, a project designed to generate up to 3,500 megawatts-peak of solar power supported by a 4,500-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.

previous quarter.

Ruben Carlo Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines, said the decline in FCDU loans reflects “prudent corporate behavior amid a persistently elevated US dollar borrowing costs and lingering global uncertainty.”

“Firms likely opted to deleverage or optimize balance sheets, including reducing FX exposure and, in some cases, shifting toward peso funding given ample domestic liquidity and improving local rate expectations,” he said.

Asuncion said muted external demand and softer trade-related financing needs may have also tempered new loan uptake. He said he expects FCDU lending to stabilize and gradually pick up in the coming quarters, supported by anticipated easing in global financial conditions and lower US dollar rates.

Asuncion said the recovery will likely be measured, as corporates remain cautious and trends stay closely tied to global trade dynamics and international monetary easing.

ABOITIZ Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corp., inaugurated the 92.55-megawatt-peak San Manuel Solar Power Plant in Pangasinan province.

The plant expands the company’s solar portfolio in Pangasinan and supports efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in the Philippine power mix.

The company built the plant in coordination with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, local government units and host communities. It supplies power directly to the Luzon grid through the San Manuel 69-kilovolt substation.

San Manuel is Aboitiz Renewables’ third solar plant in Pangasinan, joining the 154-MWp Laoag 1 and 2 and the 94-MWp Cayanga-Bugallon solar power plants.

Aboitiz Renewables now operates 45 renewable energy facilities across the Philippines, spanning solar, hydro,

geothermal and energy storage. The company has a development pipeline of more than 1,800 megawatts in solar, hydro and wind projects. [FLAG: source needed]

The Aboitiz Group held a 24.3-percent market share of the national grid as of June 2026, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission, remaining the dominant player in Philippine power generation.

The company’s installed capacity stands at 6,850.63 MW, below the national market share limit of 7,049 MW, or 25 percent of the country’s total installed capacity of 28,197 MW.

AboitizPower president and chief executive Danel Aboitiz said power generation investments like San Manuel strengthen the energy system, diversify the energy mix and support the Philippines’ long-term energy security. Alena Mae S. Flores

and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have tapped GCash to digitally disburse fuel subsidies to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators nationwide. Eligible beneficiaries will receive fuel assistance directly through their GCash e-wallets, an approach the company said delivers aid with greater speed, security and transparency than traditional manual disbursement methods and removes the need for beneficiaries to travel or wait in long queues. The government launched the initiative in response to rising global oil prices driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The price increases have placed

Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corp., inaugurates its 92.55-megawatt-peak San Manuel

irrigation, storage projects ahead of November El Niño peak

Romeo Ong, president, Sunnywood Superfoods Corp.; Celestina Ocampo, chief executive of Melching Dried Food Trading; Hannah Co, business development manager of Silverwave Corp.; Cristalle Belo-Pitt, representative of The Belo Medical Group; Jeannie Posas, president of Dizon Farms; Cirilo Noel, independent director,

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is accelerating preparations for a projected El Niño episode expected to peak by November, calling for faster climate adaptation measures, stronger field coordination and more datadriven planning to protect food production.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco

Tiu Laurel said the department posted stronger institutional performance in the first half of the year but said sustaining that momentum will require faster execution as weather-related risks intensify.

“Preparedness prevents a challenge from becoming a crisis, and a crisis from deteriorating into a catastrophe. That must be our guiding principle in the months ahead,” Tiu Laurel said.

He repeated the priorities he outlined during the DA’s midyear management committee meeting, urging officials to anticipate problems before they escalate.

Tiu Laurel said the DA has more lead time than it did during the previous El Niño episode and should use that time to implement mitigation measures.

Instead of waiting for reservoirs to run dry or crops to fail, Tiu Laurel ordered immediate work on irrigation, water-impounding and other climate adaptation projects, including small farm reservoirs that can also support fisheries and create additional livelihood opportunities.

He also called for a more integrated food systems approach that links production, storage, logistics, weather monitoring and market demand through real-time data.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. said Tuesday it posted a 45.6-percent increase in office lease renewals in the first half of 2026 amid sustained demand for office space. Megaworld said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange it renewed around 122,000 square meters (sq. m.) of office leases from January to June, surpassing the 83,353 sq. m. recorded in the same

followed by Uptown Bonifacio and McKinley Hill in Taguig

Iloilo Business Park, Southwoods City in Laguna and Cavite, as well as developments in Makati, Las Piñas, ArcoVia City in Pasig and The Mactan Newtown in Cebu.

Megaworld said tenants continue to favor its township developments that combine office buildings with residential, retail, hospitality and transport components.

“Our strong lease renewal performance reflects the trust and confidence that our tenants continue to place in us and in the long-term value of our office developments,” Megaworld Premier Offices head Roland Tiongson said.

“They have seen how the township concept benefited them and their employees because they thrive sustainably within a self-sustaining ecosystem that offers residential communities, hotels, retail and dining destinations, transport accessibility and open spaces within a single, master-planned environment,” Tiongson said.

The property firm earlier announced that 24 of its office towers, representing a combined 430,000 sq. m. of gross leasable area, are now fully occupied. These buildings are located across Metro Manila as well as key regional business hubs such as Cebu, Iloilo, Pampanga and Davao.

Aboitiz

Solar Power Plant in Pangasinan. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 92.55-MWp San Manuel solar power plant are (from left) Binalonan vice-mayor Bryan Louie Ramirez Balangue, Pangasinan vice governor Mark Lambino, Aboitiz Renewables president Jimmy Villaroman, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, AboitizPower president and chief executive Danel Aboitiz, San Manuel Mayor Kenneth Marco Perez and San Manuel vice-mayor Alain Jerico Perez.

MARKETPLACE MOLITO. Grocery retailer The Marketplace officially opens its newest store on June 26, 2026 on the 2nd Floor of Molito Lifestyle Center, Madrigal Avenue corner Alabang-Zapote Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Attending the opening of the new store are (from left)

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.; Muntinlupa Mayor Rufino Biazon; former senator Jamby Madrigal; Maria Beatriz Vazquez, president, Bellville Development Inc.; Chris Pesigan, CEO of Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitz; Ambrocia Hernande of Farming Community; Robert Cuasay, president of San Luis Farmers Association and Sofia Palaganas SyCip, COO of Gramans Group.

Catch

the rain, when it falls, where it falls

By Robert Harland

AT the June general assembly of the Negros Occidental Garden Club (NOGC), hosted by the Damas del Dia group at the Acacia Hotel in Bacolod City, members were treated to a fas cinating presentation by Registered Agriculturist Sammy Bongo. His talk highlighted the many benefits of rain water harvesting — a practice that is especially relevant as the rainy season returns and as communities brace for climate extremes.

For gardeners, the most immediate advantage is access to a sustainable water supply. Stored rainwater pro vides a free and abundant source for irrigation, reducing dependence on municipal systems or costly deep‑well pumps. Plants thrive on rainwater because it is naturally soft, slightly acidic and free of salts and chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride that are often present in treated tap water. This makes it especially suitable for orna mentals, vegetables and fruit trees. As Mr. Bongo noted, even tropical fa vorites like rain lilies, coleus and gu mamela respond with vigorous growth after a downpour.

Rainwater harvesting also helps manage the excesses of the season. Heavy downpours often lead to soil erosion, waterlogging and nutrient leaching. By diverting rainfall into tanks or cisterns, gardeners can pre vent flooding in beds and pathways while preserving the integrity of their soil. Stored water can then be released gradually during dry spells, ensuring a steady balance that keeps gardens lush year‑round. And storms bring more than just water: lightning naturally fixes atmospheric nitrogen, depositing several kilograms per hect are — a free fertilizer delivered from the sky. Importantly, harvesting rainwater doesn’t require elaborate infrastruc ture. While gutters and downspouts are the most common collection points, households without them can improvise. Large barrels or basins placed beneath roof edges capture runoff directly. Rain chains, ropes or bamboo poles can guide water into containers. In the garden it self, shallow basins or swales collect rainfall and allow it to percolate slowly into the soil. Even tarpaulins or plas tic sheets stretched during storms can funnel water into drums. These simple methods prove that anyone can harvest rain, regardless of their setup.

PFinding home in pride

RIDE Month may only be observed every June, but for many who joined the LoveLaban Pride PH Festival 2026, the sense of community it represents extends far beyond the month.

Thousands gathered not only to cel

ebrate Pride but also to reconnect with friends, meet new people, and be part of a space where they felt seen and ac cepted.

The festival became a reminder that community is built through everyday support—not just during annual cel ebrations.

For many attendees, LoveLaban was also an opportunity to reflect on what still needs to change.

While the event celebrated diversity and inclusion, it also opened conver sations about the experiences of LG BTQIA+ Filipinos outside the festival grounds.

SEMPHIL launches academe program to build the next generation of Filipino engineers

SAMSUNG Electro Me chanics Philip pines Corporation (SEMPHIL) formally launched its APEX (Accelerating Part nerships Towards Excellence) Academe Partnership Program, bringing together leading universities, technical institu tions, and government stakeholders in a unified effort to help prepare the next generation of Filipino engineers and manufacturing professionals.

The program was formally introduced during the Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony held at SEMPHIL’s manufacturing facility in Calamba, Laguna, marking a significant step in strengthening collaboration between in dustry and academia.

Participating institutions include Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna, Mapua University, MFI Polytechnic In stitute Inc., Mindanao State University Iligan, TESDA CALABARZON, and University of the Philippines Diliman.

The initiative builds upon SEMPHIL’s longstanding commitment to education, technical training, and workforce devel opment. Over the years, the company has invested in programs that support students, employees, and future profes

sionals through scholarships, continuing education opportunities, and industry based learning experiences.

As manufacturing technologies con tinue to evolve and industries increas ingly require specialized skills, closer collaboration between educational insti tutions and industry partners has become more important than ever. Through this partnership program, SEMPHIL seeks to help bridge that gap by creating op portunities for students to acquire prac tical exposure, industry insights, and career pathways that align with the de mands of modern manufacturing.

“APEX reflects our belief that devel oping talent is a shared responsibility,” said Mr. Ryu Kyeongwoo, President, SEMPHIL. “By strengthening our part nerships with academic institutions and training organizations, we hope to help equip future engineers and professionals with the knowledge, skills, and experi ences they need to succeed in an increas ingly competitive global environment.”

The initiative expands on SEMPHIL’s existing programs, including Dream Campus, which supports employees pursuing higher education; the Applied

Industry Ba sed Technician Program de veloped with MFI Foundation; and the SEED Scholarship Program, which pro vides educational opportunities for de serving students pursuing engineering related disciplines.

The launch also highlights the grow ing role of Laguna and the CALABAR ZON region as a center for advanced manufacturing and technological inno vation. With the continued expansion of industrial locators and export oriented industries, demand for highly skilled Filipino talent continues to rise across engineering, electronics, automation, and technical fields.

As one of the country's leading elec tronics manufacturing companies, SEMPHIL recognizes that investing in education is an investment in the long term competitiveness of Philippine in dustry.

“Our goal extends beyond supporting individual student. We want to contrib ute to building a stronger talent pipeline that will help sustain the growth of Phil ippine manufacturing and create mean ingful opportunities for future genera tions,” Mr. Kyeongwoo added.

Participant Gab Vizcarra said that despite efforts to recognize the com munity, equal rights remain a continu ing concern.

“Absolute freedom in terms of rights especially. I do think when it comes to rights, sobrang kulang pa rin. Even though there are initiatives from the gov ernment, kulang pa rin,” Vizcarra said.

The same hope for a more welcom ing community was shared by attendee Eileen Ceron.

As the festival came to a close, the rainbow flags were folded and the crowds slowly dispersed.

But for many participants, what they were taking home was more than mem ories from the celebration. They left with renewed connections, shared stories, and the hope that the sense of community they found at LoveLaban would continue to grow beyond June.

“Everyone will be accepted. ‘Yung inclusivity nila sa society natin, sana gano’n. Wala nang prejudicial about sa kanila and lahat silang maging part na ng society natin,” Ceron said. For her, Pride is not only about cel ebrating identities but also about en couraging people to accept one another beyond the event itself.

The color green

Text and photos by Diana

Noche

LIKE love, the beauty of the forests defies description. It must be experienced and felt—a backcountry sedative for the metropolitan chaos.

We stop to listen to the birds chirping and darting about the forest canopy. We look around, sniff the air, and feel a renewed spiritual refreshment. We feast our eyes on those stretched out trees, each one grown up to enormous heights, glowing green, some twisted, like a beautiful rhapsody, each one a wealthy com munity of interdependent lives.

Inexpediently, our forests have continued to shrink, largely as a consequence of a petroleum fueled lifestyle and relentless development. Increasingly, old landscapes are giving way to new ideas of progress, often at the expense of the natural world. For decades, towering trees have inspired wonder and offered quiet refuge. Today, many are being felled to make way for elevated highways, sprawling subdivisions, commercial complexes, and expanding roads. Others disappear to supply timber and firewood. In many forests, the scars of kaingin remain—bare patches of land where thriving ecosystems once stood. Only recently, public concern grew over the planned removal of more than 200 decades old trees to make way for transport infrastructure. The debate un derscored a difficult question: How do we pursue development without sacrific ing the very environment that sustains us? A sapling can always be planted, but it takes decades before it can provide the same shade, habitat, and ecological value as a mature tree. Nature cannot simply be replaced overnight. The human pursuit of progress should not leave nature existing only in books, paintings, and fading memories. We all need places where birds still scatter seeds, streams continue to flow, leaves dance with the wind, and forests offer moments of peace away from the demands of daily life. These are not luxuries— they are reminders of what makes

Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City attends LoveLaban 2026. Together with group of dancers perform during LoveLaban 2026 (below photo) and prticipants hold a large rainbow flag during LoveLaban 2026 (upper left photo). Photo courtesy of Gabriel Oliva/Tambuli

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

By Angelica Villanueva

BEFORE any dream of fame, endorsement deals, or starring roles, the aspiring finalists of Viva’s Next Big Star are learning to face the harder part of show business, and that is surviving the work that comes before the spotlight.

At the press conference for Viva One’s reality talent search, contestants spoke about the emotional demands of the competition, while judges stressed that becoming an entertainer takes more than popularity or online support.

Mish, 19, admitted her biggest hurdle was playing a character whose experiences were far removed from her own.

“I think the most difficult for me is when I try to act out something that I haven’t really lived in, that kind of life,” she said.

For Mina, 19, she wanted to make sure she could give justice to the characters they were assigned to portray.

“I was challenged in this part because we have to learn the character that we’re portraying. And with this character, it’s different from what we usually do. In a way, we must act as if we’re someone who will give life to this character,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Lougee, 16, added that preparing for the role required research and emotional control.

“We have to research how to portray our character, balancing the emotions because it’s not easy. It’s a very intense scene,” she said.

Jaycee echoed her fellow finalists, sharing that the experience stayed with her after filming.

“After the scene, I had anxiety attacks. Ang tagal ko pong umiyak sa gilid. Ang tagal po bago ako kumalma. Nag-breakdown po talaga ako sa gilid,” she said, recalling how emotionally drained she felt after one particularly difficult scene.

Beyond acting, actress Cristine Reyes, one of the judges, reminded the contestants to stay grounded when opportunities begin to come their way. “Be authentic. Hold on to what’s real and to the people who truly care for you, not the people who just say yes because you’re famous. If you’re

US director sentenced to 30 months for defrauding Netflix

AMERICAN director Carl Rinsch, known for the 2013 film 47 Ronin, was sentenced Monday to 30 months in prison for defrauding Netflix of millions of dollars, prosecutors in New York announced.

Rinsch was convicted last year of misspending $11 million paid to him by the streaming platform in 2020 to create a science fiction series called White Horse

“Instead of using the money to make the show, Rinsch made risky bets on highly speculative stock options and cryptocurrency and spent millions of dollars on luxury goods for himself,” US Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Jay Clayton said in a statement.

Among the purchases Rinsch allegedly made were luxury clothing and furniture, a red Ferrari, and five Rolls-Royces.

In addition to the prison sentence, Rinsch, 48, was ordered to forfeit $11 million.

His lawyers had pleaded for leniency from the judge overseeing the case, arguing that the misuse of funds happened “under the enormity of pressure” in his career and during an “incredibly contentious divorce.”

Although Netflix was never named by prosectors, Rinsch was previously reported to be in a dispute with the company over a planned series

initially titled White Horse and later renamed Conquest

The show, according to court document, was meant to focus on a scientist who creates a group of powerful clones “banished to a walled area in a Brazilian city, where they began developing advanced technology and came into conflict with humans and each other.”

Rinsch began his feature film directorial career with 47 Ronin, starring Keanu Reeves

Ahead of Rinsch’s sentencing, Reeves wrote to the judge to ask for “leniency and mercy” for his former director, calling him an “exceptional artist” who was prone to “self-sabotage.” AFP

‘Viva’s Next Big Star’ finalists share toughest lessons

famous, be thankful. But at the same time, don’t change,” she said.

Judge and filmmaker Jason Paul Laxamana said the finalists reached the competition through careful evaluation, noting that while online subscriptions account for part of the voting, performance remains the deciding factor.

“We really scrutinized each challenge. I will guarantee you, these eight kids know what they’re doing,” he said.

Several contestants also pointed to the workshops as the biggest factor in their growth. One participant said the acting sessions gave her opportunities she had never experienced before, while another shared that directors constantly reminded them to understand the objective of every scene before stepping in front of the camera.

Streaming every Friday on Viva One, Viva’s Next Big Star follows aspiring performers as they undergo workshops, challenges, and performances for a chance to become Viva’s newest homegrown stars.

The competition is directed by Ryan Evangelista, with Jason Paul, Cristine, and director Mac Alejandre serving as judges and mentors.

SINGER Jojo Mendrez performed the OPM classic “Yakap” during the 17th Star Awards for Music held on June 25, drawing applause from the audience and fellow artists, including Moira Dela Torre and Ben&Ben Mendrez performed “Yakap,” a song popularized by Junior in the 1980s, as part of the awards program. Despite the positive reception, Mendrez said he felt nervous before going onstage.

“I felt like a melting candle. I was so nervous that I thought I wouldn’t be able to perform. I prayed backstage that I would be able to sing well,” Mendrez said.

He said he was surprised by the audience’s response during the performance.

“I was surprised because there were moments during the song when the audience started clapping, and some even shouted my name. Thank you so much to everyone who appreciated my performance,” he said.

Audience members applauded the performance, with some describing it as one of the notable moments of the evening.

Mendrez later expressed gratitude after seeing videos showing support from Moira, Ben&Ben, and other attendees.

“I saw the videos afterward, and I am truly grateful to Moira, Ben&Ben, and all the stars who generously applauded my performance. Their support means so much to me, and I sincerely thank them,” he said.

The performance marked a milestone in Mendrez’s music career as he continues recording and performing revival songs.

KAPAMILYA fans filled the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga on Sunday, June 28, as stars of Sigabo and Some-

joy to viewers during the weekend. Coco Martin’s Sigabo airs on weeknights at 8:00 p.m. across multiple platforms, including ALLTV2, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya

Live, and iWant.

The aspiring artists of Viva’s ‘ Big Star’ share lessons from acting challenges, workshops, and the pressure of proving they are ready for the spotlight

The final 8 of Viva’s ‘Next Big Star’ together with the panel of judges (center) Mac Alejandre, Cristine Reyes, and Jason Paul Laxamana at the reality show’s press conference

The finalists of Viva’s ‘Next Big Star’ face acting workshops, emotional challenges, and weekly performances as they compete to become Viva’s newest homegrown stars

Carl Rinsch was

From left: Kathryn Bernardo, Julia Montes, Coco Martin, and James Reid at the Primetime Bida motorcade in Pampanga

Jojo Mendrez performs ‘Yakap’ at the 17th Star Awards for Music

MoCAF 2026 returns with biggest edition yet, featuring more than 50 galleries

THE Modern and Contemporary Art Festival (MoCAF) returns for its fifth edition from July 3 to 5, with its largest lineup yet, bringing together more than 50 local and international galleries, expanded programs, and new collaborations at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City.

Founded in 2022, MoCAF has grown from a showcase of 19 galleries into one of the country’s leading platforms for modern and contemporary art, representing hundreds of visual artists, artisans, and creatives.

This year’s participating local galleries include Ysobel Art Gallery, Fundacion Sansó, Art Underground, and White Walls Gallery. International exhibitors include SHIKISAISHA GALLERY and Gallery Kogure of Japan,

INSIDE the glittering halls of the Marriott Grand Ballroom at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City, some of the country’s landmark celebrations have come to life, bringing together stars, industry leaders, and headline-making moments.

On July 7, 2024, the Entertainment Editors’ Choice, more popularly known as The Eddys, joined that distinguished roster.

During the 7th edition of the annual film awards, fans packed the ballroom lobby, eager for a glimpse of actors, filmmakers, and industry luminaries arriving for one of the country’s major film award ceremonies, which honors excellence in acting, writing, directing, and producing in the local movie industry.

The event also marked the beginning of a partnership between the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd), the nonprofit organization behind the prestigious film event, and Newport World Resorts.

That partnership continued in 2025 when the Marriott Grand Ballroom’s Ceremonial Hall hosted The Eddys for a second straight year on July 20, coinciding with the venue’s 10th anniversary. This year, the awards ceremony returns on July 5, making the ballroom its home for the third consecutive year as it opens the country’s film awards season.

Newport World Resorts has established itself as one of the country’s leading destinations for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), alongside its hospitality and entertainment offerings.

Its convention facilities are supported by five hotel brands: Hilton Manila, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City, Manila Marriott Hotel, and Hotel Okura Manila. Located across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, the complex offers seamless access for both local and international guests.

At the heart of the property stands the Marriott Grand Ballroom at Manila Marriott Hotel, regarded as the largest hotel ballroom in the Philippines. Since opening in 2015, the venue has hosted large-scale events ranging from awards ceremonies to major corporate gatherings. Its pillarless design, soaring ceilings,

White Space Art Asia of Singapore, and Kate Contemporary Madrid of Spain. Festival director Coleen Wong said visitors can expect a bigger and more engaging edition featuring returning exhibitors alongside first-time participants. Among this year’s highlights are a special exhibit featuring Jerika See and Sheila Go, a collaboration between Toym Imao and Tarantadong Kalbo, works by Jappy Agoncillo, and Chinabank’s presentation of 100 artworks by 100 artists.

MoCAF Discoveries, the festival’s platform for emerging artists, will welcome back alumni from previous editions to showcase their artistic growth. For the first time, the festival will also feature digital artists and illustrators,

with works printed and framed in partnership with Art Caravan.

MoCAFLimited returns with artistdesigned merchandise, including a capsule collection with Team Manila, while workshops, XTN Artisans, and XTN Bites expand the festival experience with creative brands, makers, and food exhibitors.

Wong said MoCAF remains committed to making contemporary art more accessible to seasoned collectors and first-time visitors alike.

MoCAF Gives Back also returns to support ScholarSip by Fundacion Sansó, which funds tertiary education for art scholars, and the Mbrace Project, which assists Filipino children in need.

Tickets are priced at P380, with dis-

Home of The Eddys

History, art, and intellectual resistance converge in

By Seymour Barros Sanchez

HISTORY, art, and intellectual resistance converge at the Yuchengco Museum in Pasts Revisited: An Exhibit on a Usable History and the Romance of Renato Constantino and Letizia Roxas Constantino. Running until July 11, the exhibit explores the decolonizing partnership of the celebrated historian couple whose writings reshaped Filipino identity. Presented by the Constantino Foundation, the exhibit serves as a response to what its managing director, Renato Redentor “Red” Constantino, describes as a state of “national amnesia” amid deep political and environmental crises.

“Our current period will be remembered in history as a chapter of intense chaos. We are living in troubled times around the world, but also here. Our nation feels lost… We are in trouble because we are such a forgetful people,” Red said.

Co-curated by Ninel Constantino head of the UP Diliman College of Fine Arts Industrial Design program, and graphic designer and illustrator Yla Luna Constantino, the exhibit aims to spark curiosity and reflection.

“If this exhibition sparks curiosity, deepens understanding, or inspires reflection, then it has fulfilled its purpose,” Ninel said.

and advanced acoustics have made it a preferred venue for grand productions and milestone celebrations, including the Marry Me at Marriott Philippine Gratus Gala, a bridal fashion event for the wedding and hospitality industries. The ballroom has hosted several major events in recent years. These include the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Ceremony Manila and Environs | Cebu on Oct. 30, 2025, a milestone for the Philippine culinary industry. Earlier that month, the Manila Ballroom hosted the gala night and press conference for the

Beyond the main ballroom, the property includes the 4,400-squaremeter MGBX Exhibition Hall, providing additional space for large conventions and exhibitions. Each hotel within Newport World Resorts adds depth to its MICE portfolio. Sheraton Manila Hotel offers function spaces suited for product launches and executive meetings, while Hilton Manila provides venues for social and corporate gatherings. Hotel Okura Manila complements the complex with meeting suites and private dining rooms for more intimate events. Together, these facilities continue to strengthen Newport World Resorts as a hub for major local and international events, making it a fitting home for one of the year’s most anticipated film events in the Philippines, The Eddys. For more information on Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Join the Newport World Resorts Viber Community at https://newportwr.com/nwrvibercommunity for exclusive updates. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership. Download the Epic Rewards mobile app for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

‘Pasts Revisited’ exhibit

At its core is the concept of a “usable history,” championed by Renato and Letizia, which argues that understanding the past should help shape the present and build a more equitable future.

Dr. Rosalinda Pineda-Ofreneo noted that Letizia evolved from traditional patriarchal expectations into Renato’s equal intellectual partner and co-author. Renato described her as the “lighthouse of my intellectual peregrinations.”

The exhibit also connects historical critique with contemporary issues through “Alas ng Bayan,” a collaboration with 350 Pilipinas that highlights five Filipino women who resisted oppression across different periods of history.

Pasts Revisited is recommended for students, educators, and cultural advocates interested in Philippine historiography.

The museum is open Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission fees apply, with discounts for students, teachers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. Group visits may be arranged through info@ constantinofoundation.org.

Visitors may also purchase Dr. Pineda-Ofreneo’s books Renato Constantino: A Life Revisited and Dahil ang Bukas ay Para sa Mapagkalinga at the YSpace Museum Shop.

‘Pasts Revisited’ traces the lives and ideas of Renato and Letizia Constantino

The exhibit invites visitors to see how history can shape present-day conversations on nationhood and identity

Renato Constantino’s writing desk is also on display at the exhibit

Newport World Resorts hosts the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Ceremony Manila and Environs | Cebu

Newport World Resorts has welcomed the year 2026 in grand fashion at The Grand Countdown to 2026

Entertainment Editors’ Choice returns to the Marriott Grand Ballroom for a third straight year

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

The evolution of Filipino wedding LIFE

Kultura Atelier redefines wedding fashion for a new generation

By Angelica Villanueva

EDDING

Wfashion took the spotlight at Kultura Atelier’s KASAL event on June 24, where designers presented bridal wear, barongs, accessories, and formalwear shaped by both tradition and the changing tastes of Filipino couples.

Co-presented with Mastercard and hosted by Kultura Atelier, SM Aura Premier, and Sarsa, the event offered a look at different parts of a modern wedding celebration. Guests walked through spaces styled as a Bridal Suite and Gentlemen’s Lounge while viewing

Kultura Atelier aims to highlight the growing Filipinomade fashion, accessories, and wedding pieces from local designers

The evening’s main draw was the KASAL Fashion Show, which also marked the launch of Kultura Atelier at SM Aura.

Designers Jor-el Espina, Philip Rodriguez, Rodolfo, Daryl Maat, Martin Uy, Zarah Juan, Harold + Harry by Harold Sarabia, Good Luck, Humans, Ken Samudio, and Fashion Accessories Makers PH joined the presentation. Kultura Atelier’s in-house brands Raffaella, EN Barong Filipino, Nuevo Ystilo, Little Miss Lacey, and Aurea also

VISITING cultural spaces supports artists and institutions while deepening appreciation for the stories, ideas, and identities that shape communities. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or a first-time visitor, every exhibit offers a meaningful experience that inspires curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Orion in Sight: A View of Collective Work TalaAnyo, a group of seven Philippine artist-led initiatives formalized in 2025, presents its first museum exhibition, Orion in Sight: A View of Collective Work (Tanaw ang Balátik: Sipat sa Kolektibong Paggawa), at the thirdfloor galleries of the Ateneo Art Gallery until Oct. 18.

Derived from tála (“star” and “to mark”), anyo (“form”), and talanyo (“constellation”), TalaAnyo has collaborated on art projects since 2023 and first gathered through Pagtilipon-tipon in 2024 at Orange Project in Bacolod. The exhibition highlights works by TalaAnyo’s founding members and selected materials from earlier artist collectives such as Kaisahan, Tambisan sa Sining, Artista ng Bayan, and Salingpusa. Curated by Lisa ItoTapang with support from writerresearcher Janine Go Dimaranan, the exhibit revisits collaborations that continue to expand Philippine

showcased their latest pieces. Wedding attire took many forms on the runway, from embellished bridal gowns and entourage looks to barongs, accessories, and formalwear for guests.

Barongs appeared throughout the collection in a range of cuts, fabrics, and patterns. Alongside more traditional styles were versions with updated silhouettes and styling choices aimed at contemporary weddings. Some bridal looks also incorporated elements drawn from

Filipino design while leaning toward cleaner, more contemporary silhouettes.

Outside the runway, guests visited a flower bar, photobooth, personalization station for wedding favors, and beverage counters serving matcha and local liquor. A wedding-

inspired tablescape and cake display completed the setup. Taken together, the collections reflected how Filipino weddings continue to change. Couples still turn to familiar cultural references, but many are also looking for clothing and details that better match

Discovering the art scenes

their personalities and the kind of celebration they want to host. KASAL brought those ideas into one space, showing how designers are adapting traditional wedding wear for a new generation while keeping Filipino craftsmanship at the center of the conversation.

Quiet Collisions: Geometries of a Fractured Calm traces visual artist Peter Markus Jentes’ shift from hard-edged precision to emotionally charged abstraction.

Grounded in geometry, design, and advertising, his works combine clean lines and structured grids with stains, drips, and layered materials such as acrylic, paper, spray paint, coffee, pencil, and ink. These “quiet collisions” mark moments where structure meets emotion and control meets disruption.

Influenced by Mark Rothko, Fernando Zóbel, Frank Stella, and Arturo Luz, Jentes uses geometry and color to build layered emotional spaces. The recurring horizon line becomes a metaphor for duality, transformation, and balance between chaos and calm.

Harbinger Metropolis

muralism and socially engaged art. Public programs including artist talks, workshops, and curator walkthroughs will run throughout the exhibition. Gunita: Memory, Identity, and Filipino Arts Presented by Arte Bauan in partnership with Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria and Holiday Inn & Suites Manila Galleria, Gunita: Memory, Identity, and Filipino Arts runs until

Aug. 31. More than memory, Gunita serves as a repository of stories, identities, and cultural expressions that shape Filipino identity. The exhibit features works by Ada Panopio, Jerwind Magnaye, Windsor Magnaye, Ruby Bagsit, Doy Kastilyo, and Yelcast, whose works have reached audiences in Europe and Africa through KUNST Filipino’s Viaje Program. Yelcast represented the Philippines at the Florence Biennale, while Windsor Magnaye earned recognition in Paris.

Through lectures in Morocco and South Africa, the artists also explored how memory, identity, and heritage shape contemporary art. Each artwork captures personal histories, traditions, faith, and community, turning memory into living art.

Quiet Collisions: Geometries of a Fractured Calm

Visual artist Ivan Co returns to Conrad Manila with a solo exhibition of kinetic sculptures as part of the hotel’s Of Art and Wine series, on view until July 25 at Gallery C. Featuring 10 sculptures curated by Nestor Jardin, the exhibit explores progress and humanity’s uncertain future. Co’s automaton, gravitram, and pendulum sculptures, adorned with semi-precious gemstones, depict a world in constant motion and invite reflection on technological change. Co, the sole Filipino featured in the Platinum Jubilee publication honoring Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, was also recognized by The Rolls-Royce and Bentley

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‘Orion in Sight: A View of Collective Work’ brings together artist-led initiatives in an exhibition that revisits collaboration, community, and the evolving story of socially engaged Philippine art

‘Gunita: Memory, Identity, and Filipino Arts’ explores heritage, faith, and personal histories through works that celebrate the many stories shaping Filipino identity

Peter Markus Jentes’ ‘Quiet Collisions: Geometries of a Fractured Calm’ examines the balance between order and emotion through layered abstractions and geometric forms

remain at the heart of wedding fashion

Glaiza De Castro showcases designer Daryl Maat’s masterpiece at Kultura Atelier’s ‘KASAL’ fashion show

From bridal gowns to barongs and formal wear, Kultura Atelier brings together Filipino designers and brands in a curated space celebrating locally made wedding essentials