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PCCI airs concerns over P85 NCR daily minimum wage hike By Othel V. Campos and Vito Barcelo THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expressed concern over the P85 daily minimum wage increase for workers in the National Capital Region,
warning that higher labor costs could strain businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), unless accompanied by productivity gains and measures to reduce the cost of doing business. The Department of Labor and
VOL. XL • NO. 138 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026 •
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MARKED CHANGE. Heeding the outrage over the virtual closure of EDSA’s northbound road on Tuesday, right photo, members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) continue their protest against corruption and call for accountability at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City on Wednesday, left photo, without closing down the thoroughfare. INC News and Updates, Manny Palmero
QC revokes INC rally permit; protest moves to Manila
OMB: Rally won’t stop filing of plunder rap vs. Marcoleta
By Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu, Vince Lopez and Rio Araja
Palace: Senator’s own admissions basis of case By Rex Espiritu, Pot Chavez and Charles Dantes
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MBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said the plunder case against Senator Rodante Marcoleta will still be filed despite the protest rallies from his Iglesia ni Cristo supporters. “Nothing has changed. We will file the case,” Remulla said. “Their rally is part of their freedom of expression, but it is based on a wrong premise. There is no selective justice in this country when it comes to the Ombudsman,” he added. Marcoleta, for his part,
expressed confidence he will be acquitted of the plunder rap. “I am very sure that the court will not find me guilty because as I said, these are all fabricated cases and they are not within the meaning, within the contemplation and within the parameters of
our plunder law,” he said on Wednesday. The Ombudsman earlier said the non-bailable plunder case will be filed before the Sandiganbayan over Marcoleta’s undeclared campaign contributions worth around P75 million during the 2025 elections. Aside from Marcoleta, Remulla said the case will also cover former congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray. “When there is a motu proprio investigation, we don’t stop it,”
Remulla said, referring to the Ombudsman’s power to initiate a probe on its own initiative. “The evidence is in front of you – might as well bring it to court.” “Whether you are a high-ranking official or not, if a wrongdoing was committed, it should be corrected,” he added. Malacañang likewise rejected accusations of “selective justice” in the expected filing of charges against Marcoleta. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro Next page
Marcos off to Canada for 4-day visit; unfazed by INC protest rally By Charles Dantes
THE Quezon City local government yesterday revoked the permit to rally that would have allowed the Iglesia ni Cristo extend their rally for a third day today (July 2), citing the “massive inconvenience” their protest has caused. “Thousands ended up getting late for work or school. Businesses were disrupted,” the QC Department of Public Order and Safety said in a statement. “They also violated the agreement to remain along White Plains and not to occupy EDSA.” As of past 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Next page
Prosecution eyes translators during VP’s trial By Maricel V. Cruz
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. flew to Canada on Wednesday evening for a four-day official visit despite the continuing EDSA rally, with Malacañang saying the President saw no reason to cancel the trip. Meanwhile, the President pledged continued investments in the modernization of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the development of its personnel, saying a stronger and more capable air force is vital to protecting the country’s sovereignty and addressing evolving security challenges. Speaking at a Palace press briefing before the Chief Executive’s departure, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Mr. Marcos sees no reason to cancel because it had long been scheduled and would not allow rumors of destabilization to interrupt his work. Castro said Mr. Marcos believes the rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) leadership was intended to promote transparency and accountability, goals that she said are already being pursued by the administration. “The President believes in the leadership of the INC and Next page
HOUSE Prosecution Panel spokesperson and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Wednesday said the panel is considering engaging translators in major Philippine languages, including Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Bicolano, and others, to help explain the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte clearly and accurately to the public. Next page
MODERNIZATION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. views the modern armaments of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on display during its 79th Founding Anniversary at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. The event reaffirms the PAF’s commitment to becoming a modern, dependable and adaptable force capable of operating across the air, land, sea, cyber and information domains. PCO
Risa identifies adult ‘groomer’ of shooters
CIDG WANTS HOMICIDE RAPS VS. BALDWIN NEWS/ A2
EALA FACES JOINT IN WIMBY 2ND ROUND
Alex Eala
SPORTS / A8
By Ram Superable
TACLOBAN SHOOTING HEARING.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the senate committee on women children family relations and gender equality, leads the inquiry on the Tacloban City shooting incident involving minors that occurred on June 22, 2026. Joseph Muego
SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said she has identified the possible “adult groomer” of student-gunmen in the deadly June 22 Tacloban school shooting incident, although she clarified that her findings were still preliminary. The police officer who owned the gun used in the school shooting claimed that her nephew broke into her home and “forcibly damaged” a Next page
RAZON IS 3RD RICHEST IN ASEAN REGION NEWS/ A2 Enrique K. Razon
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Razon is biggest gainer in ‘Crazy Rich ASEANs’ list By Ratziel San Juan
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RILLIONAIRE and richest Filipino Enrique “Ricky” Razon on Wednesday figured in the top three of Bilyonaryo’s “Crazy Rich ASEANs” list featuring the region’s wealthiest personalities.
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said the allegations against Marcoleta were supported by the senator’s own public admissions. “So when they say there is selective justice because Senator Marcoleta’s case came first, do they mean it is acceptable for someone to be charged only for as long as others are also charged, or would they rather no one be charged at all?” she said. She said Marcoleta himself acknowledged receiving P75 million from three friends while he was still serving as a congressman and before the official campaign period. “He cannot deny that – all of the admissions came from him, including his acknowledgment that he received P75 million, which he used and benefited from after it was given by his three friends,” Castro said. On Tuesday, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said the church was calling for “transparency” in standing by Marcoleta. “We want to let them know that selective justice is an injustice and we will not remain silent,” he said. In a previous interview, Marcoleta acknowledged receiving the campaign donations but maintained the case to be filed against him was 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 they wanted to remain anonymous.
INC members have started leaving the People Power Monument. With no permit in Quezon City, INC said it will move its protest to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila today. As this developed, Malacañang appealed to the leadership of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to remain vigilant against groups that may exploit its ongoing protest actions to destabilize the government. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said authorities are taking seriously reports circulating on social media about alleged plans to storm government institutions, including Malacañan Palace in Manila, although these have yet to be verified. The Armed Forces of the Philippines has already placed all its units in the National Capital Region under red alert status to ensure heightened operational readiness amid the protest actions. Castro said the Palace does not
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Barbers, who also serves as impeachment adviser, said the initiative aims to make the proceedings easier to understand, especially for Filipinos who are more comfortable receiving information in their native language. “The issue of impeachment is very broad. It is not just a legal matter. It also involves procedural and public information aspects. That is why it cannot be explained by just one person. We need a team with a unified message and a single narrative,” Barbers said. He explained that while the panel has lawyer-spokespersons handling legal and procedural matters, his role is to strengthen public communication and ensure that accurate and timely information reaches ordinary Filipinos. “We plan to explain the process in different languages so that more Filipinos can understand it and avoid falling victim to misinformation,” he added. Barbers stressed that impeachment is an accountability mechanism provided under the Constitution that applies even to the country’s highest officials, and that the public deserves to understand how it works before forming conclusions. He also urged Filipinos to watch the trial instead of relying solely on social media commentary. “The proceedings are live, so we encourage the public to watch them firsthand. As the trial progresses, we expect fake news and varying interpretations to increase. It is better for the public to see and hear the evidence and the process themselves than rely on speculation or misinformation,” Barbers said. He emphasized that the prosecution’s goal is not only to present its case before the impeachment court but also to help ensure that the public understands the constitutional process based on facts, evidence, and the rule of law. Rallies related to the case of Senator Rodante Marcoleta should not affect the scheduled July 6 opening of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte’s impeachment trial because they concern a separate legal matter distinct from the Articles of Impeachment pending before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court. “But then again, when you try to connect this with the impeachment, as far as we know, there should be no reason for the impeachment trial to be delayed. We do not see any connection whatsoever,” Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson for the House prosecution panel, said in an interview.
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believes that they held the rally or protest to promote transparency and accountability, and he will not disregard that because those are also the goals of the President, which is why he has ordered investigations to strengthen transparency and accountability,” she said. Castro stated that concerns involving Senator Rodante Marcoleta were outside the President’s authority because the complaint against the senator is under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman. “As for Senator Marcoleta, the President cannot respond because that is a separate matter, and the case or complaint filed against him is not handled by the Executive but by the Ombudsman,” she added. Asked why Mr. Marcos did not cancel the trip despite the ongoing demonstration, Castro explained that the visit had been planned well in advance and stressed that the president must continue performing his duties. “It has long been scheduled and the
Behind only Vietnam’s Pham Nhat Vuong and Singapore’s Jason Chang, Razon accounted for the list’s highest jump at three places in June, when his fortune rose to $20.1 billion from $15.9 billion (a 26.4-percent increase). This development made him the richest Filipino in history, topping the late Henry
Sy Sr.’s previous $20-billion record. “The June reshuffle came as billionaire fortunes diverged across Southeast Asia,” Bilyonaryo reported. “Razon’s rise pushed Thailand’s Sarath Ratanavadi down one place to fourth despite his wealth increasing to $16.8 billion,” it added.
Meanwhile, Vuong maintained his gold finish, with his fortune rising to $34 billion from $33.2 billion. Singapore semiconductor tycoon Jason Chang trails at 2nd, adding another $1.7 billion after a previous $6.7 billion gain that saw him rise from eighth to second.
believe the INC is behind any destabilization efforts against the Marcos administration. “We respect the integrity and leadership of the INC. Surely, the purpose of their protest is not to destabilize the government,” she said. “That is why, at this time, our appeal to the leadership of INC is to exercise caution, as they may be exploited by others whose objective is to oust the President. As we know that is not what the INC encourages among its members,” Castro said. The Palace official acknowledged that some groups have long sought to remove President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from office. “This information has already reached us, and whether it is merely a rumor or an act of intimidation, authorities will not simply dismiss it,” she said. Castro also accused presidential sister, Senator Imee Marcos, of spreading “fake news” and making politically motivated attacks against the President. The senator earlier told INC protesters the Marcos administration has be-
come “drunk with power” and has lost focus on important national issues. “We personally watched Senator Imee Marcos’ speech and address at the INC rally, and this is the PCO’s comment as an office that fights fake news: Senator Imee Marcos uttered words that would intensify anger against the government, attacks against the President, and this government.” “It is pitiful that there are obstructionists such as the senator. She relies on and uses fake news simply to destroy and spread this kind of false information,” Castro said. She also said the senator had ignored government assistance programs for farmers and fisherfolk while claiming that the administration had failed to help them. Despite the protests, Mr. Marcos left for Canada yesterday evening for a four-day official visit. Castro said the President saw no reason to cancel because it had long been scheduled and would not allow rumors of destabilization to interrupt his work.
CIDG wants homicide raps vs. Baldwin, et al
President also needs to work. He cannot simply stop working because of rumors that someone will storm Malacañang or attempt destabilization,” she said. “The President will not stop working for the people, but we respect the leadership of the INC and we do not believe they would be behind any destabilization.” Castro said. Castro said Mr. Marcos’ July 1 to 4 visit to Canada aims to further strengthen bilateral relations between Manila and Ottawa. The Palace official noted that both countries are expected to announce formal frameworks for cooperation and agreements covering energy, natural resources, trade and investment, labor and immigration, tourism, and culture and the arts. The president is also scheduled to attend business meetings and private sector engagements with Canadian industry leaders in mining, information technology and business process management, telecommunications, nuclear energy and financial services, Castro said. Addressing the PAF’s 79th founding anniversary at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos commended the
service for its role in territorial defense, disaster response, and regional security. “The Philippine Air Force has grown from a modest post-war force into a mission-oriented, capability-driven, and values-based institution,” Mr. Marcos said. “Whether providing humanitarian assistance after devastating typhoons or safeguarding our territorial integrity, the Air Force has shown time and again that it is an indispensable partner in nation-building,” he added. The President said the government would continue funding the Air Force Modernization Program through the acquisition of helicopters, aircraft, and surveillance radar systems. He also committed to investing in personnel development through specialized intelligence training, advanced flight simulation programs, and joint exercises with foreign military partners. Mr. Marcos said the administration would also support programs promoting the mental health and overall well-being of Air Force personnel. He reiterated his directive for the PAF to maintain the airworthiness of all military aircraft and strictly enforce safety protocols during operations and training.
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Employment (DOLE), meanwhile, announced Wednesday that the P85 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will take effect in two tranches, with the first P60 hike starting on July 19, 2026, and the remaining P25 to be implemented on Jan. 20, 2027. The wage increase will benefit around 1.1 million minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region, according to Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino. While expressing its commitment to comply with the Wage Order issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the country’s largest business organization urged the government to pursue policies that balance workers’ welfare with business competitiveness, job preservation, and investment growth. PCCI president Perry A. Ferrer said the Chamber respects the authority of the wage board and calls on employers to fully comply with the order once it takes effect. “While we recognize the legitimate aspiration of Filipino workers for better wages amid the continuing rise in the cost of living, we believe wage determination must also consider the capacity of enterprises— particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—to absorb higher labor costs while preserving jobs, sustaining businesses, and encouraging investments,” Ferrer said. He warned that wage increases not matched by productivity gains and reforms to lower the cost of doing business could fuel inflation, weaken the country’s competitiveness, and discourage investments. Ferrer said the government should complement wage adjustments with measures to reduce the cost of basic commodities, transportation, fuel, and
other essential goods so that the benefits of economic growth are shared more broadly. PCCI director for labor and employment Butch Guerrero said businesses operating on thin margins may have to streamline procurement, renegotiate supplier contracts, defer expansion plans, or accelerate automation to offset higher labor costs. “These adjustments, while necessary, may ripple across both the formal and informal sectors of the economy, ultimately affecting the livelihoods of the country’s nearly 50 million workers,” Guerrero said. Despite its concerns, the PCCI reiterated its commitment to constructive dialogue with the government, labor groups, and other stakeholders in pursuing policies that protect workers while enabling enterprises to grow, invest, and create quality jobs. Ferrer said the Chamber would continue advocating reforms that strengthen Philippine competitiveness, expand employment opportunities, and ensure that economic progress benefits both workers and employers. Under the new wage order, the daily minimum wage for non-agricultural workers will increase to P780 from P695, while agricultural workers will receive P743 a day, up from the current P685. Tolentino said the wage adjustment was based on inflation, rising electricity rates, increasing prices of basic goods, and the need to help workers attain a decent standard of living. The increase covers all minimum wage earners in Metro Manila. The labor chief added that the wage order could also result in wage adjustments for about 1.9 million workers, adding that consultations on possible wage increases are continuing in other regions, including Central Luzon and Central Visayas. Meanwhile, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said the P85 increase remains inadequate to cope with the rising cost of living and criticized its staggered implementation.
By Vince Lopez THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has recommended the filing of homicide and reckless imprudence resulting in homicide cases against resigned Ateneo men’s basketball team coach Thomas Anthony ‘Tab’ Baldwin and eight others in connection with the drowning of two players in Dipaculao, Aurora last June 8. PNP-CIDG director, Major General Robert Alexander Morico II made the disclosure during a meeting on Tuesday with the parents and relatives of the late 18-year old Ateneo rookie Rene Baterbonia where he briefed them on the progress of their investigation into tragic incident. The cases for two counts of homicide and two counts of reckless imprudence resulting in connection with the death of the young Baterbonia and 21-year old Nigerian Chukwuwmeka Divine Adili were referred to the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice against Baldwin and eight other members of the Ateneo coaching team. Apart from Baldwin, the other respondents in the cases were strength and conditioning coach Grant Hearns, Dean Caesar Castaño and Ceasar Vincent Elumba, assistant coaches Sandro Nicholas Soriano, and Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., athletic director Emmanuel Fernandez , physical therapist John Eric Rueca, and sports facility officer Vincent Raphael Mangulabnan. The charges were contained in a ‘supplemental referral for evaluation, case build-up and preliminary investigation’ relative to the deaths of the two young student-athletes.’ The PNP-CIDG forwarded boxes of affidavits taken from witnesses including players, members of the coaching team and Ateneo de Manila University officials as well as former Ateneo basketball players who revealed they also nearly drowned in similar water-trainings during their stint with the Blue Eagles team.
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locker to get the weapon. During the resumption of a Senate panel’s hearing into the role of online gaming platforms in exposing minors to violent contents and harmful online communities, Hontiveros narrated how a Facebook user could be the shooters’ groomer and was possibly linked to the “764” network, considered a Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) group. According to the US Department of Justice, the 764 network’s goals “include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government.” Members of 764 work together “towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors,” it added. After the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and at least 20 wounded, one of the suspects identified only as Nash posted on his “dummy” Facebook page, with the profile name “Date Larping,” Hontiveros said, citing a source. In his post, alleged members of the 764 network published messages of support for Nash’s supposed involvement in the shooting, she said, adding that a certain Sedykh Ryazanov left a comment. “I edited you already on TikTok. Just make sure to delete your Discord, Reddit and Telegram accounts to clear everything of evidence,” the post quoted Ryazanov as saying. “ Sedykh Ryazanov is the suspected adult groomer of this boy (Nash),” the senator said. Hontiveros added that a separate Facebook account of Nash showed him wearing a black KMFDM band shirt. The industrial band is not involved in 764 network, Hontiveros said, adding that “many members of communities like 764 use that shirt” to pay tribute to the killers in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting incident. There are many indications that NVE networks infiltrate online games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Gorebox to conduct recruitment activities, according to Hontiveros. Police Sgt. Arla Ray Paciencia said she had kept her 9mm Glock in a gun box inside a locker and that only she had the key to her house. The teenager sneaked into Paciencia’s house through a window, said Tacloban City police chief Col. Noelito Getigan. “‘Nash’ unlawfully entered my own house… He forcibly damaged my locker; it was locked. My house was locked as well. [It was] a plastic locker and my firearm was inside my gun box. I was the only who had possession of the key to my house,” Paciencia told a Senate hearing.
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PH extending visa-free entry for Taiwanese By Katrina Manubay TAIWAN passport holders will continue to enjoy visa-free entry to the Philippines for up to 14 days after the Philippine government extended the reciprocal travel privilege for another year. In a statement issued Tuesday night, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said the “non-extendible and non-convertible” visa-free arrangement will remain in effect from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. “The Manila Economic and Cultural Office is pleased to announce that, in line with the Philippine government’s directive to observe reciprocity in the visa-free privileges granted to Philippine passport holders traveling to Taiwan, Taiwan passport holders may enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding fourteen (14) days,” the statement said. MECO said Taiwan passport holders intending to stay in the Philippines for more than 14 days must secure a visa before arrival. The office added that the standard travel requirements and procedures introduced on July 1, 2025, remain in effect. Taiwan has yet to announce whether it will extend its visa-free entry program for Philippine passport holders. As of Wednesday, Taiwan’s 14day visa-free entry privilege for Filipino travelers remains valid until July 31, 2026.
SHELTER FROM THE STORM. Fishing and cargo boats take shelter from inclement weather at Mahatao Port in Basco, Batanes, during the rainy season, creating a picturesque scene that attracts photographers. Dave Leprozo
PBBM eyes rice price cap extension By Charles Dantes
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RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is studying whether to extend the government’s P50-per-kilogram price cap on imported rice after the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) recommended keeping the measure in place, Malacañang said Wednesday. Speaking at a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration consulted the Department of Agriculture (DA), which endorsed the NPCC’s recommendation to extend the price ceiling. “We coordinated with the Depart-
ment of Agriculture because the price cap is about to be lifted. According to the DA, the National Price Coordinating Council has recommended extending the price cap,” Castro said. She added that the President is still studying the recommendation for approval, taking into consideration the
upcoming northeast monsoon season in September. Castro said the administration is also pursuing measures aimed at stabilizing food prices amid concerns over inflation in the second half of 2026. She said Mr. Marcos, during his recent visit to Russia, directed the Department of Agriculture to ensure an adequate supply of fertilizer despite rising global prices driven by the oil crisis. “The directive is that our farmers should not run out of fertilizers,” Castro said. She noted that the government is currently distributing fertilizer to farmers as the planting season begins to help
lower production costs, which could reduce the cost of palay during the harvest season. Castro also said the government will continue constructing post-harvest and cold storage facilities to reduce food losses and improve supply management. Asked whether the existing P50 price cap would remain in effect while President Marcos deliberates on the recommendation, Castro said she had not confirmed the procedural details but expected a decision soon. “We were not able to ask about that specific situation, but in my view, the President will likely make a decision before the day ends,” she said.
IN BRIEF Padilla supports juvenile detention facilities in PH ROCKET DEBRIS?
Personnel from the Coast Guard Station Eastern Palawan recover suspected rocket debris that washes ashore along the coastline of Sitio Taburon in Barangay Balading, Bisucay Island, Cuyo, Palawan. PCG Palawan
Angat Dam water level drops to critical level, says PAGASA By Rio N. Araja THE water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan dipped to its critical level of 159.90 meters as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The dam’s level fell by 0.05 meters from 159.95 meters recorded at 8 a.m. on June 30. Its normal high water level is 210 meters.
Its minimum operating level is 180 meters. Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements, irrigates about 28,000 hectares of farmland in Bulacan and Pampanga, and generates 200 megawatts of electricity for the Luzon grid. Once the dam falls below its minimum operating level of 180 meters, water releases for irrigation are reduced or temporarily suspended, while power generation is halted. The critical water level is set at 160 meters.
PAGASA earlier said El Niño conditions are now present in the tropical Pacific. Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Liza Solis said there is a 69 percent chance of a strong El Niño developing during the August-September-October season. El Niño typically increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall in many parts of the country, raising the risk of dry spells and drought.
‘Next AFP chief should build on Brawner legacy’
BI arrests alleged Luffy gang member wanted in Japan THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a Japanese national believed to be a member of the notorious Luffy gang who is wanted in Japan for theft. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the fugitive as 56-year-old Inoue Hideharu, who was arrested on June 23 during an operation at a condominium on P. Del Pilar Street in Makati City. The BI said Inoue is an overstaying and undesirable alien facing an active arrest warrant in Japan. He was also identified as a high-ranking manager of the Luffy gang, which has been linked to crimes targeting elderly victims. Viado said foreign fugitives will find no refuge in the Philippines, stressing that the BI will continue working with local and international law enforcement agencies to track down wanted individuals. Vito Barcelo
DENR, mining firm to restore Zambales bamboo plantation
By Rex Espiritu DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said the next top military leader should build on the legacy of Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., whose three-year term as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief ends on July 21. Speaking on the sidelines of the Philippine Air Force’s 79th founding anniversary at Villamor Air Base, Teodoro said the selection of the next AFP chief rests solely with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “That is a matter for the President to decide. The choice of the Chief of Staff is unique among all positions in the AFP. We will all wait for the President’s decision,” Teodoro told reporters. The defense chief declined to disclose whether he had recommended a successor, saying discussions on the appointment are confidential. “This process is between the President and the Secretary of National Defense. It is privileged, so it cannot be discussed,” he said. Teodoro stressed that the succession process is crucial and that the incoming military chief must sustain the reforms and momentum established under Brawner’s leadership.
SENATOR Robin Padilla on Wednesday urged the government to establish specialized detention facilities for minors involved in heinous crimes as part of stronger accountability measures. Padilla reiterated his long-standing call to review existing policies on juvenile offenders, citing the rising number of violent crimes involving youth. He said the facilities should focus on accountability, rehabilitation, education, and reform, noting that he had previously helped establish a therapeutic center for drug dependents inside the New Bilibid Prison. Padilla also argued that social intervention programs alone are insufficient for minors who repeatedly commit serious crimes, including gruesome murders. The lawmaker said juvenile offenders must be held accountable while given opportunities to reform, adding that his views are shaped by his own experiences as a former troubled youth, ex-convict, and criminology student. Ram Superable
IMPASSABLE. The Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera reports that the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road remains impassable due to a road slip in Barangay Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet, with damage from 2025 typhoons worsened by recent heavy rains. Dave Leprozo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Shangfil Mining & Trading Corp. have signed a fiveyear agreement to rehabilitate and protect an 82-hectare bamboo plantation in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Under the agreement, the company will support the replanting, maintenance, and protection of the plantation in Barangay Guinabon, while the DENR will provide technical assistance, monitoring, and capacity-building activities. The project aims to achieve an 85-percent seedling survival rate and will prioritize bamboo, native trees, and fruit-bearing species to strengthen forest cover, enhance biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration. DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the partnership demonstrates how government and the private sector can work together to accelerate forest restoration and promote long-term environmental sustainability. Butch Gunio
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Cagayan observes 443rd anniversary with FL Liza Marcos By Jessica M. Bacud
CAGAYAN marked its 443rd year with a series of activities culminating on June 29 with a Thanksgiving Mass centered on faith, gratitude, and unity, graced by the presence of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos. The anniversary celebration underscored Cagayan’s four centuries of resilience and community spirit. Governor Edgar Aglipay and Vice Governor Manuel Mamba led the provincial delegation in welcoming Mrs. Marcos, highlighted by a briefing on PGC programs aligned with Bagong Pilipinas agenda and a concert at the Claude Andrews Convention Center at the Cagayan State University. The Thanksgiving Mass at the Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral was celebrated by Tuguegarao Archbishop Ricardo Baccay. The Mass was attended by a wide cross-section of provincial leaders and stakeholders. Among them were Aglipay said the anniversary was “about people, not just dates.’‘ “We celebrate not just the feast, but our heritage and the resilience of every Cagayano. Four hundred forty-three years tells the story of our ancestors’ sacrifices and our children’s future. For four centuries, our unity has been the foundation of our rise and our triumph. Let us carry on the spirit of bayanihan for the future of our province,” the governor said. “My commitment to every Cagayano is to lead with humility, compassion, and a wholehearted dedication to service,” he added For his part, Mamba said the occasion was made even more significant by the First Lady’s presence, reminds us that Cagayan’s strength lies in unity. When national and local governments work together, we secure progress and peace for every Cagayano household.”
FL GRACES CAGAYAN JUBILEE. First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos partakes of Cagayan’s 443rd anniversary celebration with a theme highlighting its people’s core values of faith, gratitude, and unity. In photo flanking Mrs. Marcos are Governor Edgar Aglipay and Vice Governor Manuel Mamba. Jessica M. Bacud
DAR writes off P64m in farmers’ debts By Rio N. Araja
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HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has condoned P64.24 million in decades-old amortization debts of over 1,600 farmerbeneficiaries in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces in Eastern Visayas.
Solon wants more cops to secure PH schools REP. JB Bernos has called for increased police visibility and stronger security measures in schools across the province following the recent mass shooting incident at a school in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured. In a letter to Abra police chief director Col. Charles Domallig, Bernos sought the “immediate strengthening of police visibility and security measures in educational institutions throughout the Province of Abra, particularly in high schools, colleges, and universities.” He urged the Philippine National Police to intensify patrols, increased police presence in and around school campuses, and coordinate closely with school administrators and local government officials to ensure the safety and security of students and personnel. On June 22, two Grade 9 students opened fire on fellow students at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, killing three and injuring 20 others. Maricel V. Cruz
Lawmaker seeks probe on ube’s state of affairs A RESOLUTION filed in the House of Representatives seeks a congressional inquiry into the state of the Philippine ube (purple yam) industry amid declining domestic production despite rising global demand. House Resolution 1166, filed by Pinoy Workers Party-list Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi, calls for the inquiry in aid of legislation to assess the industry’s condition and identify measures to improve its competitiveness. The global ube market hit $455.3 million in 2024 and is forecast to reach $943.6 million by 2035 at a 6.9-percent compound annual growth rate, according to Transparency Market Research. Major flavor house T. Hasegawa declared ube the 2024 Flavor of the Year, which pushed brands and cafés worldwide to adopt it. Ube’s vivid purple color is extremely “shareable,” and platforms like Instagram and TikTok reward visually striking food, according to Gen Z experts. Maricel V. Cruz
235 pass ‘26 special Shari’ah Bar exams A TOTAL of 235 examinees passed the 2026 Shari’ah Special Bar Examinations (SSBE), representing a 29.52-percent passing rate, the Supreme Court (SC) announced on Wednesday. SC Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, chairperson of the 2026 SSBE, presented the results and provided examination statistics and key announcements. Ahmad Nuska Bato and Van Regine Lim Perlas topped the examinations both achieving an overall rating of 89.1500 percent. Completing the top five spots were Cairah Cairodin, Michelle Lovely Go, Hanna Macapintal and Sittie Escander. Pot Chavez
FOWL AND FISHERY EXPO. Department of Agriculture officials join exhibitors and other stakeholders in the Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines 2026 Exposition at the World Trade Center. DA photo
DA reaffirms commitment to agri development By Ram Superable THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to agricultural modernization and multi-sector collaboration during the threeday Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines 2026 expo at the World Trade Center. Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Michael Garcia said the department will continue supporting initiatives to improve animal health services, strengthen biosecurity, and help the livestock industry recover. “Through events such as this, we are able to share innovations, explore emerging technologies, strengthen partnerships, and develop practical solutions that respond to the needs of our livestock industry,” Garcia said in his keynote address during the event organized by Informa Markets. Agriculture Undersecretary for Live-
stock Constante Palabrica, in a recorded video message, said the expo supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” vision for unified economic and social progress. The event featured government exhibits showcasing agricultural programs and services. The main agriculture pavilion included the National Livestock Program, the Bureau of Animal Industry, the National Dairy Authority, the National Meat Inspection Service, and the Philippine Carabao Center. Other participating agencies included the Agricultural Training Institute, the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, and the Halal Food Industry Development Program. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources National Capital Region, represented by Director Noemi S.B. Lanzuela, and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, led by Executive Director Maria Theresa M. Mutia, also expressed support for responsible aquaculture development and industry transformation. The expo brought together stakeholders from the livestock, poultry, aquaculture, meat, and feed industries to promote knowledge sharing, networking, and business opportunities aimed at strengthening food security and sustainability. This year’s event focused on the use of modern technologies and innovative farming practices to improve productivity and profitability in the agricultural sector. During the expo, the Bureau of Plant Industry partnered with the Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division to distribute free vegetable seeds and herb planting materials to attendees.
Apart from writing off the delinquent financial obligations, DAR also awarded 147 electronic certificates of land ownership award (e-titles) covering 233.67 hectares to 95 beneficiaries, formally recognizing their ownership and guaranteeing their right to cultivate their land. At least 2,217 certificates of condonation with release of mortgage (CoCRoMs) were distributed to 1,663 agrarian reform beneficiaries in a 3,990.27-hectare land. The condonation helped the farmers to redirect resources toward farm development and family needs. “By securing their land rights and freeing them from financial obligations, we are empowering them to invest more confidently in their farms, improve their productivity, and build a better future for their families. This is the vision that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Secretary Conrado Estrella III continue to pursue through genuine and responsive agrarian reform,” DAR said in a statement.
DSWD assisted 705 victims of trafficking during 2026 Q1 By Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided a wide array of comprehensive services to 507 trafficked persons during the first quarter of 2026. DSWD assistant secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said victim-survivors of human trafficking received interventions and assistance, under the agency’s Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP). “The DSWD serves as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). Part of our mandate is to ensure that we provide social protection services to human trafficking survivors
to help them recover from the traumatic incident they experienced,” Dumlao said. Social workers facilitated the immediate reintegration of 432 traffic victims into their families and communities, while 58 others were referred to the Tahanan Iyong Pag-Asa (TIP) Center or appropriate Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs), primarily to provide temporary protective custody for high-risk situations, children, and instances of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). Among the services extended to the victim-survivors were rescue, counseling, financial assistance, skills training, auxiliary services, temporary shelter, and legal aid.
ECO-GOVERNANCE AWARDS. John Hay Management Corp. is conferred three awards for exceptional environmental stewardship during the 9th Environmental Summit held at the Newton Plaza in Baguio City. JHMC president and chief executive Manjit Singh Reandi (4th from feft) holds one of the trophies. Dave Leprozo
OPINION
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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026
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EDITORIAL
Parable of the bend ONCE upon a not-too-distant time, a man called Erich Sylvester at one point in his colorful life, as vice-chairman of the allimportant Blue Ribbon Committee, thundered about times when the law must bow to public demand, when government officials must “bend the law.” Then, from his powerful perch, he pointedly asked the justice secretary from the historic province of Cavite, from whence sprang Emilio Aguinaldo and Nardong Putik, if he agreed with his “bend the law” maxim. The secretary agreed, without hesitation. Beside Erich Sylvester now named Erwin was the chairman, also a proud native of the Cavite of Pedro Janolino, the executioner of Ilokano General Antonio Luna. Behind them was the long-time head of the Blue Ribbon secretariat, a lawyer whose father was a distinguished jurist from Samar, and who has been in the Senate since it re-opened in 1987. The veteran secretary of the Blue Ribbon could not believe what he was hearing, contrary as it was to what his law professors pounded into his head about the “rule of law.” He rolled his eyes as he looked at the ceiling, imploring the firmament for reaction to the legal sacrilege he was witnessing. The author of the “legal” theory once creatively fooled the government of the US of A when he ditched his native-born Filipino citizenship and assumed a Mexican identity copied from an Hollywood action star, served in its armed forces, then came back home and, when appointed member of the Cabinet of this president, re-assumed his Filipino birthright. Due to swashbuckling image as a fighter for the oppressed in broadcast media, he was elected to the Senate and is now one of its 24 republics. Now he has become a legal “expert,” Chair of the Blue Ribbon, whose theory of the bend has become norm, adopted by no less than the country’s Ombudsman. The gentleman from Tarlac hated by the powerful gentleman from Cavite of the Montanos and the Bocalans will soon be served a warrant of arrest once the Ombudsman files charges he already announced the other day for “plunder,” a nonbailable crime which would eliminate him from participating in the all-too-important impeachment trial of the vice-president targeted for political assassination by the administration. Not possessed with the legal acumen of the previously mentioned gentlemen, I can only wonder at which predicate acts under R.A. 7080 constitute the basis of the announced action of the Ombudsman based on the theory of the bend. The same day the Ombudsman an-
nounced soon-to-be-filed charges against the gentleman from Tarlac, he also threw away plunder charges against the dismissed former secretary of public works and converted him to state witness. Whaaaat? Baguio’s Benjie Magalong was aghast at the new state witness who once dismissed his complaints about sub-standard and overpriced projects with a “he, he, he.” The reasons are obvious. It is not about Marcoleta’s single vote in the impeachment trial. It is the legal acumen he brings to the table which the two lawyers in the majority cannot match. One of them lacks know-how; the other is too slippery and self-centered.
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The rule of law is no more. What matters is the rule of the bend The stubborn Marcoleta will keep demanding, along with Alan Cayetano and their group, whether in the halls of the Senate or beyond, for the real identity of the flood control vampires. The people of this benighted land living in constant fear of floods, its treasury partitioned among legislators and executive officials in the biggest corruption heist ever, are wondering when the “masterminds” will be charged, let alone properly investigated. It seems we are waiting in vain. The rule of law is no more. What matters is the rule of the bend. Forward, backward, sideways to the left, sideways to the right, the rule of law is bent, depending on whether one is ally or enemy. Such is the true state of the nation, never mind the claims to be made come July 27 in the penultimate SONA. Institutions once pillars of democratic order are now shattered. Law is weaponized by government itself against whoever it wishes to target. We have a government which keeps invoking the rule of law against the rule of might in the international arena, yet cannot enforce the rule of law within its territory and amongst its own citizens, except selectively and through the bending of law. Many of those who benefited from the “people power” that ousted Ferdinand the First have become collaborators and cheerleaders of the selective rule of the bend in the era of Ferdinand the Second. The rest of the citizens of this benighted land look towards 2028 as salvation from the miseries imposed by a woefully damaged system and political culture. Yet, as events unfold, ours may be a failed state by then.
Lowering the age of discernment BECAUSE of the school shooting in Tacloban, there is a frenzied clamor to lower the age of criminal suspects to be charged as adults to 12 years old. As we know, the two suspects in that shooting that killed three students and wounded scores of others are 15 and 14 years of age. The incident has become the worst school violence in the country’s history becoming eerily similar to what we often times see on TV happening regularly in the United States. Currently, only 18 years and above can be tried as adults but under certain circumstances even suspects younger than 18 could be tried as adults if the prosecution can show that the suspects understood the consequences of their actions. This is the reason why only one of the suspects has been charged in court while the other was referred to the DSWD to undergo a program mandated by R.A. 9344 as amended. Both will be confined in a DSWD facility and not in a regular jail while the case of the 15-year-old suspect is under litigation. Perhaps, one reason for the clamor to lower the age is we appear to have the highest age of minors being tried as criminal suspects at 15 years while most countries in Asia have theirs at only 14. The other could be because of the increasing number of violent incidents perpetrated by minors. Other countries in the West, however, notably the United States, actually have lower statutory minimum like boys as young as 10, 12 and 13 being tried as adults.
Needless to say, these cases in the US are extreme and have been opposed by several cause-oriented groups in that country. We do not have that kind of process here because of the provisions of R.A. 9344 of 2006. Our courts are bound by what the law says. The question now is whether to lower our statutory minimum like other countries in the region or device a process similar to the US wherein a judge can decide whether a minor can be tried as an adult under certain extraordinary conditions.
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There also seems to be no limitation as to the number and caliber of firearms that an individual can license or possess so long as the license fees are paid But before doing that, we have to agree on what the problem really is. Is the problem simply lowering the age wherein an individual can be charged as an adult? It should be obvious that this problem is a lot more complex because the issue includes other matters like bullying in schools, youth violence, firearm proliferation and how the government manages gun ownership.
Shielding the Filipino child from social media dangers
T
HE introduction of House Bill 9965, the proposed Children’s Social Media Safety Act, is one of the most consequential childprotection efforts in recent legislative history.
In an era when social media platforms have become the default playground, classroom, and social space for millions of Filipino children, the bill offers a long-overdue framework to ensure that digital participation does not come at the cost of their safety, mental health, or future well-being. The bill’s most important contribution is clarity. For years, parents, educators, and even regulators have been left to navigate a digital ecosystem designed primarily for adults and even optimized for profit. Children under 13 are currently able to create accounts with ease, often by simply inputting a false birthdate. Teenagers are exposed to algorithmically amplified content that can range from harmful challenges to predatory behavior. HB 9965 draws a clear line: children under 13 cannot create accounts, and those aged 13 to 17 may only participate with verified parental consent and active supervision. This restores authority to parents and guardians who have long been outpaced by the speed and opacity of tech platforms. Equally significant is the bill’s demand for real accountability from social media companies.
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By Danilo R. dela Cruz, Jr. MANY Filipinos are closely watching the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, set to begin on July 6. It remains one of the country’s most divisive political issues, with public opinion deeply split. That is precisely why many believe the presiding officer must be impartial. Recently, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has been giving interviews and issuing statements about his preparations should he become the trial’s presiding officer. But this raises an important question. Sherwin Gatchalian as presiding officer? There are those who object. Gatchalian is widely perceived as being aligned with the current administration. He is also viewed by some as politically close to groups that strongly support the impeachment of Vice President Duterte. Gatchalian himself has acknowledged that impeachment is ultimately a political exercise. Whoever presides over the proceedings must balance the interests of both sides and ensure that the process remains fair and credible. With the country already deeply polarized, even the slightest perception of bias could inflame tensions further. If the person leading the proceedings is widely perceived to be aligned with one political camp, the trial itself may struggle to command public confidence. Instead of appearing impartial, it could easily be viewed through a political lens. The danger is that the impeachment trial may be dismissed by many as nothing more than a scripted exercise with a preFor instance, although we appear to have strict regulations on firearm licensing, there are simply too many loose firearms in the possession of people who are not authorized by law to possess or carry out of their residences. There is hardly a day wherein we do not read about people being shot and killed. There also seems to be no limitation as to the number and caliber of firearms that an individual can license or possess so long as the license fees are paid. An example of this is the number of firearms reportedly owned by Senator Bato dela Rosa numbering more than 100
PPI
Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers
In a digital world where risks evolve faster than laws, HB 9965 is not merely timely but essential These measures shift responsibility away from overwhelmed parents and toward the corporations that profit from children’s engagement. The bill also tackles the architecture of harm embedded in many digital platforms. By prohibiting manipulative design features, restricting geolocation tracking, limiting data collection, and requiring the highest privacy settings by default, HB 9965 recognizes that danger is
That presents a significant challenge for anyone without extensive legal training. What this trial needs is a truly neutral figure – someone whose integrity is beyond question and who is not perceived to belong to either political camp. The country does not need another source of political instability. We already have enough divisions as it is. It would also be preferable for the presiding officer to possess substantial legal experience and a thorough understanding of the procedural and evidentiary issues that will inevitably arise between the prosecution and the defense. There are also reports and political speculation that certain groups within
both the House of Representatives and the Senate are supporting Gatchalian because of his perceived political alignment. Others claim that he lacks an independent political center and simply follows the wishes of those in power. If that is the public perception, then it is fair to ask why he is even being seriously considered for the position. Before the trial has even begun, questions are already being raised about his independence. At the same time, there are also reports that other political groups are quietly promoting former Senator Kiko Pangilinan as an alternative presiding officer. According to these accounts, supporters of Pangilinan have been privately lobbying for his selection while criticizing Gatchalian’s qualifications. Is this really how we want to choose the person who will oversee one of the most consequential Constitutional proceedings in recent Philippine history? If the selection of the presiding officer is already clouded by political maneuvering and competing partisan interests, we should not be surprised if public confidence in the trial begins to erode even before the first witness takes the stand. If there is even the slightest reasonable doubt about the impartiality of the presiding officer, then perhaps that alone should be enough to disqualify any candidate from consideration. (The writer is a University of the Philippines graduate who writes on politics, governance, and current affairs from what he calls ‘the perspective of a keen observer of Philippine public life.’)
which is enough to arm a small private army. The PNP which is the government agency in charge of firearms also seems to be more concerned in the revenue collected to form part of its trust fund than limiting the number of firearms in the hands of civilians. Simply lowering the statutory minimum age to 12 as some people have already suggested is extreme and too simplistic due to the complexity of the problem. As brought out in various media discussions, the current government infrastructure system is quite weak to tackle
the problem of bullying in schools which has become a serious issue that needs attention. The DepEd, for example, does not have enough guidance counselors to monitor and provide assistance to students in need of help or detect brewing problems before it gets out of hand. This problem, therefore, is not only about amending RA 9344. It also needs the inputs of the Police, DOJ, DSWD and DepED. Together, a holistic solution could be found and implemented as soon as possible due to the gravity of the problem.
determined outcome. There is also the practical question of legal expertise. Gatchalian is not a lawyer. Presiding over an impeachment trial requires ruling on procedural objections, evidentiary issues, and complex Constitutional questions that arise in real time.
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Whoever presides over the proceedings must balance the interests of both sides and ensure that the process remains fair and credible
Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
can be accessed at: manilastandard.net
MEMBER
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Impeachment trial should be beyond doubt
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno
Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net
For too long, platforms have relied on self-regulation, which is an approach that has repeatedly failed to protect minors. HB 9965 requires age verification systems that actually work, periodic checks to ensure parental consent remains valid, and immediate disabling of prohibited accounts.
not only found in content but in the very mechanics of engagement. The requirement to remove misleading AI-generated content is especially timely, given the rise of deepfakes and synthetic media that can distort reality and expose minors to exploitation. Beyond regulation, the bill invests in digital literacy and healthier offline communities. Integrating responsible social media use into the K–12 curriculum acknowledges that safety is not achieved through prohibition alone but through education. Meanwhile, the directive for LGUs to create device-free community spaces and expand sports, arts, and civic activities serves to remind us that childhood must remain rooted in real-world interaction, not algorithmic feeds. Critics may insist that the bill is too restrictive, but its intent is not to deny children access to technology. As House Speaker Faustino Dy III emphasized, the goal is to ensure ageappropriate use supported by parental guidance. In truth, HB 9965 empowers families, strengthens institutions, and compels tech giants to finally take responsibility for the youngest members of their user base. In a digital world where risks evolve faster than laws, HB 9965 is not merely timely but essential. It signals that the Philippines is ready to confront the realities of the algorithmic age with a child’s welfare at the center of government policy.
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WORLD
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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026
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Venezuela quake survivors seek food, toll rises to 1,900 L
Myanmar families: ‘Nothing left except death’ MYIT CHAY, Myanmar – Ranks of bereaved Myanmar families bow in silent grief to pray for their dead, some of the latest victims in a years-long conflict now estimated to have claimed 100,000 lives. Clasping their hands at the monastery hall in central Magway region, they offer alms for the deceased: small cash notes, rice and curry -- all they can spare while living through a civil war. “How many more young people will have to die?” asked Soe Gyi, recounting how his nephew was killed in combat after he quit training as a monk to fight for prodemocracy rebels. “Only the elderly and the very young children are left,” said the 49-year-old last month, speaking under a pseudonym to protect his security, like all others in this story. “The generation in between has been cut down.” Monitor organisation Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) said on Wednesday that the number of conflict-related fatalities across all sides since a 2021 coup now stands at 100,114. ACLED tallies media reports of violence. There is no official verified figure, and estimates vary widely. But all around Magway’s Myit Chay area -- on the banks of the Irrawaddy river bisecting Myanmar -- the emotional toll is unquestionable. Thaung Sein said her civilian son was killed as their family was displaced by a recent military offensive. AFP
A GUAIRA, Venezuela – Tens of thousands of people desperately sought food and shelter in Venezuela on Tuesday after the two earthquakes killed nearly 2,000, but rescue teams managed to pull a 3-year-old boy alive from the rubble six days after the shocks.
Last week’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude shocks -- one of the worst earthquake disasters in Latin American history -- collapsed whole residential complexes, left tens of thousands unaccounted for and prompted frantic search-and-rescue operations for survivors trapped in the ruins. Hopes were fading fast for more rescues, but nearly a week after the quakes, a Jordanian civil defense team dug the three-year-old boy from the wreckage of a house in Caracas. Video footage online showed rescue workers cheering with joy on discovering the child, whose vital signs were good, the Jordanian civil defense said in a statement. The critical 72-hour window during which survivors were still likely to be found closed on Saturday evening. Six days after the shocks, the UN refugee agency said “food shortages are widespread, basic services have broken down and connectivity has been largely severed” in the port city of La Guaira -- the worst hit area north of the capital Caracas. “They give out supplies here, but sometimes people nearly kill each other for food...it’s like a cockfight,” said Daniela Armas, 18, a vendor in La Guaira who was injured falling from a motorbike during the quakes. Manila In a daily update, Venezuela’s NationStandard al Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez TODAY said deaths had risen to 1,943, with more than 10,500 injured after one of Latin America’s worst earthquake disasters. He said nearly 6,500 people had been rescued from the rubble in La Guaira, but that number was likely closer to 20,000 including those who escaped or were helped out by family. Many Venezuelans have not hidden their anger at the government’s slow response to the disaster in a country already struggling with decades of economic crisis that has weakened infrastructure and health services. AFP
World’s oceans break June heat record — EU
PARIS – The world’s oceans just experienced their hottest June on record and could set fresh highs in the months ahead as El Nino and climate change drive temperatures even higher, scientists said Wednesday. Global average sea surface temperatures in June were 20.98C, beating the previous records of 2023 and 2024, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Marine Service. The record capped six months of near unprecedented ocean warmth in 2026, with prolonged marine heatwaves, the service said. Average sea temperatures in the first half of the year were 20.04C, slightly below the high set in the same period in 2024. And scientists said the onset of a potentially powerful El Nino weather pattern could boost global heat in the oceans and atmosphere even further in 2026 and into next year. “Current conditions could indicate
the beginning of a new phase, leading, once more, to uncharted territory,” said Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus Climate Change Service, the EU’s climate monitor. “With ocean temperatures at these levels and El Nino on the horizon, we are likely to see more temperature records fall in the coming months,” Buontempo said in a statement. El Nino is marked by unusually warm waters in parts of the Pacific Ocean, releasing more heat into the atmosphere and influencing wind, cloud and weather patterns around the globe. This can raise the risk of weather extremes ranging from floods in Peru to droughts in parts of Africa and wildfires in Australia. But it can also cause a temporary spike in global temperatures, compounding the long-term warming caused by humanity’s burning of fossil fuels. Land and sea temperatures reached
such as carbon dioxide. Warmer oceans increase moisture in the atmosphere, providing fuel for tropi-
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Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position Name: Ajay Kumar Pallapotu Address: Unit 3225 Tower C, SM Jazz Residences, Jupiter Street cor Nicanor Garcia St. Brgy. Bel Air, Makati City Nationality: Indian Intended period of employment: Three (3) years
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Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position
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Hinduja Global Solutions Limited hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Local Employment 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave. Intramuros, Manila 1002. If there are any objections or inquiries, please contact the concerned DOLE Regional Office. Any Filipino jobseeker who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is intended to be hired for, may file an objection at Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Local Employment 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave. Intramuros, Manila 1002 after this publication Please inform Department of Labor and Employment – NCR, if you have any information on criminal offenses committed by the foreign national.
Visa rules push out foreign residents
TOKYO – In a tiny Tokyo restaurant filled with the smell of Nepalese dumplings, Budhathoki Samjhana surveys the business she built from scratch but may now have to give up as Japan tightens visa rules. Even though Japan has a rapidly aging population and is suffering labor shortages in many sectors, opposition to immigration is growing and the new rules for business manager visas were introduced by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in late 2025. Nepalese national Budhathoki, who spent a decade away from her young daughter to create a new life for them in Tokyo, faces expulsion from the country because she may not be able to meet the specifications. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK “I always wanted to become a bridge between Japan and Nepal... but my dream is broken,” the 38-year-old told AFP from the capital’s Okubo district, where her restaurant is nestled alongside Vietnamese cafes, Indian curry houses and Korean barbecue joints. AFP
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US deports 1st migrant to Pacific nation Palau
SYDNEY – The United States has started deporting migrants to a sparsely populated archipelago in the tropical Pacific, the island nation of Palau told AFP on Wednesday. an all-time high in 2024 at the tail end of President Donald Trump has led a push the last El Nino. to expel asylum seekers and undocument“With the arrival and the onset of an ed migrants from the United States, disEl Nino year ... we can expect that 2026 patching them to places like El Salvador will be amongst the warmest (ever) reand Uganda. corded,” Simon Van Gennip, lead OceaTiny PacificYELLOW nation Palau, by population CYAN MAGENTA BLACK nographer for the Copernicus Marine one of the smallest countries in the world, Service, said in a news briefing. agreed in December to resettle up to 75 de“This is due to El Nino ... but also from portees in exchange for $7.5 million. the warming due to the greenhouse gas The office of Palau President Surangel emissions we continue to provide for the Whipps said the first deportee had arrived atmosphere,” Van Gennip said. in the country, a collection of coral atolls The report follows a warning issued and volcanic isles scattered some 800 kilin a major UN scientific assessment last ometers east of the Philippines. month which declared that the world’s “We welcomed our first individual at oceans were in a “deepening crisis” as the airport in late May, brought him to seas were warming and rising faster. his temporary residence and helped him Oceans are a key regulator of Earth’s connect his phone and settle in,” the Palau climate because they absorb some 90 president’s office said in a statement to percent of the excess heat caused by AFP. AFP humanity’s release of greenhouse gases
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AMONG LAT-AM’S WORST. Volunteers and paramedics stand still as rescuers carry out sound tests in search of survivors following the June 24 twin earthquakes, in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on Wednesday, Manila time. Tens of thousands of people urgently need food and shelter in Venezuela due to the devastation from two huge earthquakes that killed more than 1,700 and injured 5,000, the UN said as doctors warned of potential outbreaks of disease.AFP
‘TARNISHED BUT ALIVE.’ A US flag blows in the wind outside the Dream Maker Station
Route 66 Souvenir & Gift Shop at the Route 66 midpoint on June 7, 2026 in Adrian, Texas. Whatever it means, the ‘American dream’ still offers hope to millions of people who believe the United States is a place where anyone can succeed, no matter the odds. As the country celebrates 250 years since independence, many Americans and immigrants know the daily reality of chasing that dream through countless disappointments and endless striving. AFP
NATO project tests perennial grass to clean Ukraine’s war-tainted soil KOMORANY, Czech Republic – Scientists at a Czech university are studying whether a particular strain of grass could revitalize Ukraine’s famed soil after years of war and make it usable again for farming. Ukraine has often been called the breadbasket of Europe because it is home to the extremely fertile black earth known as chernozem, which has propelled the country to become a major grain producer and exporter. But nearly four and a half years of fierce fighting have polluted much of the famed farmland. Under a NATO-sponsored project, the northern Czech Jan Evangelista Purkyne University (UJEP) is working to study whether a certain strain of grass, the giant miscanthus, could remove pollutants like oil products, explosives, and
trace elements from the soil. “The goal is to revitalise contaminated areas while producing biomass,” UJEP environmentalist Josef Trogl told AFP in a small experimental field at a former Czech brown coal mine. Giant miscanthus is native to east Asia but is grown across Europe for biomass, which is used for heating. Although it takes years to cleanse the soil, early results have been promising, scientists say. The grass is “capable of growing on degraded and contaminated soils” and “produces extensive root systems that can accumulate metals while simultaneously restoring soil organic matter,” Ember Morrissey, a West Virginia University biologist and co-author of a recently published study on giant miscanthus, told AFP. AFP
US lifts restrictions on AI models SAN FRANCISCO – Anthropic will soon begin restoring access globally to its most powerful AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, after the US government lifted a restriction on where they could be released, the company said Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time). Over the past couple of weeks, the Trump administration has invoked national security concerns to limit the ability of major US tech companies to release advanced models, including those from Anthropic which some researchers feared could be exploited to bypass cybersecurity measures. “We’ve received notice that the Department of Commerce has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5,” Anthropic posted on X. “We’ll begin restoring access tomorrow.” Just four days ago, the company said it had received authorization from the government to allow a small group of American cybersecurity firms to access Mythos 5. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said in a June 26 letter to the company that “Anthropic has worked with the US government to address risks associated with the Covered Models,” Politico reported. AFP
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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026
Mbappe stars as France reaches last 16; Norway, Mexico advance Jeremy Randell Go
Go named PhilCycling track official By Randy M. Caluag BUSIESSMAN-SPORTSMAN Jeremy Go has pledged to make track cycling more accessible and to strengthen the country’s athlete development program after being appointed to a key leadership role overseeing track events within PhilCyling. Go, owner of the Go For Gold cycling team, expressed gratitude to the PhilCycling Board of Trustees and federation president Cong. Bambol Tolentino for entrusting him with the responsibility, saying he is committed to helping elevate track cycling in the country. “I am deeply honored and grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the Board of Trustees of PhilCycling, and especially by our President, Cong. Bambol Tolentino,” Go said. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve Philippine cycling in this new capacity. I accept this responsibility with humility and a strong commitment to help move track cycling forward in our country.” Go outlined three major priorities that will guide his program over the coming years, beginning with making track cycling more accessible to aspiring athletes across the country.
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OS ANGELES—Kylian Mbappe extended his red-hot scoring streak to fire France past Sweden and into the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday as Norway and Mexico both won their opening knockout round games.
Mbappe took his tally for the tournament to six goals -- making him joint top-scorer alongside Lionel Messi -- with a superb double as France strolled past the Swedes 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The prolific French striker’s latest brace took his career World Cup goals record to an incredible 18 in 18 matches, one behind Argentina superstar Messi’s all-time record of 19 goals. Bradley Barcola scored France’s other goal as Les Bleus produced another dazzling exhibition of attacking football that underscored their status as favourites for the title. After France were held at bay for most of the opening 45 minutes, Mbappe finally broke the Scandinavians’ resistance on the stroke of halftime, jinking into space before rifling home. Barcola made it 2-0 on 53 minutes before Mbappe added a second in the 74th minute to seal a victory that sends France into a last 16 duel with Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday.
“I know who I am and what I’ve got to do, but it’s not just me, I think the team is perfectly aware of what we have to do here,” Mbappe told beIN Sports.
Haaland rescues Norway Earlier Tuesday, in-form Manchester City striker Haaland fired Noway to their first ever World Cup knock-
out win in a 2-1 defeat of Ivory Coast at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Haaland swept in an 86th-minute winner to slam the door on Ivory Coast’s hopes of a fightback after Amad Diallo had equalised for the Africans following Antonio Nusa’s opener for Norway. The Norwegians -- beaten in both of their previous opening knockout round appearances in 1938 and 1998 -- will face Brazil in the last 16 on Sunday with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs. Haaland will head into that meeting brimming with confidence after taking his tally for the tour-
France’s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the crowd. AFP
PH beats Iran to kick off pool play in AVC Girls’ U18 in Korat THE Philippines defeated Iran, 29-19, 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, for its first victory in Pool C Wednesday in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Girls’ U18 Championship at the Terminal 21 Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Xyz Ellen Rayco top-scored with 19 points on 14 attacks, three blocks and two aces, followed by Ma. Ellanie Lorraine Gonzalvo with 15 points on 12 attacks and two aces in the one-hour and 50-minute match. Jhaynna Love Bulandres and Adelaine Terese Agustin chipped in nine points for the team, which clinched the bronze medal in the Princess Cup. Sana Naghipour led the Iranians with 15 points, 13 on attacks, followed by Setayesh Nasr Esfahani with 15 points on eight attacks and two aces. “We had expected Iran to play well; they beat us in the semifinal at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain,” said head coach Rey Karl Dimaculangan, who is assisted by Keenan Quitco and Marco Ely Maclang. The Philippines—sent to the tournament through Ma. Ellanie Lorraine Gonzalvo. the Philippine Olympic Committee and supported AVC Photo
by the Philippine Sports Commission, Boysen and Monolith— will next face Japan and 10 a.m. Thursday and Indonesia at 4 p.m. on Friday. Dimaculangan stressed the importance of mindset. “We need to be more focused on the game and be more aggressive, especially on the floor,” he said. Most of the players are members of the 2026 Palarong Pambansa champion National University, while Lleses is a player of King’s Montessori of Quezon City, and Gonzalvo is with the Adamson University. Six of the players—Rayco, Bulandres, Lleses, Princess Khaira Manzano, Irish May Mahinay and Frances Dianne Ramos—are part of the national team that qualified for the FIVB World Girls’ U17 in Chile from August 6 to 16. Kazakhstan defeated Hong Kong, 25-3, 25-23, 25-15, in Pool B at the Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University gym. The semifinalists in the championships will qualify for the U19 world championships next year—the FIVB has yet to announce the venue.
Lee stays low, soars high at ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge golf BAGUIO—Tiffany Lee overcame the toughest conditions of the week with a gritty one-over-par 73, stretching her lead to four strokes over Harmie Constantino and moving 18 holes away from capturing the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge crown at Pinewoods Golf and
Tiffany Lee. Manny Marcelo
Country Club here on Wednesday. Battling strong mountain winds that sent shots veering off line throughout the day, Lee relied on patience, controlled ball flight and steady execution to separate herself from the field. “The wind was definitely the game-
changer. It changed a lot – my plans and a lot of shots I was trying to hit,” said Lee. “I just tried to keep it low, lower than yesterday – my ball flights. In putting, I was trying to stay stable because of the hard wind, so I was trying to choke down a little bit, trying to stay as grounded as possible – and yeah, play with the wind,” she added. The 17-year-old Korean mixed four birdies with three bogeys, and a double bogey on the fifth, highlighted by an opening birdie on No. 2 and a threebirdie burst over a four-hole stretch from No. 8. Her resilience enabled her to post the day’s joint-best score despite the demanding conditions. With a 36-hole total of 142, counting her first round 69, Lee heads into the final round of the P1 million championship in prime position to secure another Ladies Philippine Golf Tour title. A victory would mark another milestone in her young career. Lee first grabbed the spotlight by winning the 2024 Lakewood Championship as a junior before capturing the Splendido Taal Championship in her professional debut later that year. A subsequent dip in form forced the former junior standout to re-
build both her swing and confidence. Now back in contention, Lee acknowledged that sleeping on a sizeable lead presents a different challenge. “Both excited and nervous for tomorrow. It’s been a while since I was leading. It’s definitely great pressure but I’m also excited about my game,” she said. “I’ll just do my best, keep the game that I have and enjoy. Leading by four, I should never lose my focus,” Lee stressed. While she enjoys a comfortable cushion, the chasing pack features proven champions capable of mounting a comeback on one of the country’s most unpredictable layouts. Constantino matched Lee’s 73, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 No. 14, to seize solo second at 146. Fresh from ending a year-long title drought with a dominant victory at Caliraya Springs, Constantino loomed as a serious threat entering the final day. Chanelle Avaricio carded a 76 but remained in the hunt despite slipping to third at 147. Five shots behind Lee, she is still very much in the hunt on a Pinewoods layout where fortunes can change with a single gust of wind.
nament to five goals, one behind joint top-scorers Messi and Mbappe. Ivory Coast’s Diallo came within a whisker of grabbing an injury time equaliser, but his curling free-kick destined for the top corner was saved by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. Norway coach Stale Solbakken saluted Haaland as the “greatest goalscorer in the world” after Norway’s win. “To score five goals in the World Cup in three games, for a little country like Norway... I wouldn’t swap him for anyone,” Solbakken said. “Because he’s the greatest goalscorer in the world of football today.”
Mexico down Ecuador In the late game on Tuesday, co-hosts Mexico maintained their proud record of never having lost a World Cup match at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca with a 2-0 win over Ecuador. After torrential rain and lightning delayed kick-off by an hour, Mexico tore into Ecuador and were soon two goals to the good. Julian Quinones lashed in a spectacular opener to put ‘El Tri’ 1-0 up after 22 minutes, and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez made it 2-0 with a fine strike in the 31st minute.
San Juan five extends streak THE San Juan Knights extended their hot run, and the Quezon Huskers rebounded on Tuesday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. San Juan subdued Bataan, 10295, in the second game, while Quezon battered Pasig City, 93-55, in the nightcap of another triple bill of the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 27-team tournament. Powered by Patrick Sleat, the Knights notched their 10th straight win and climbed to 11-1, trailing only Caloocan (14-1) and Abra (121) in the race for playoff berths in the North division. Sleat posted 21 points, 13 in the fourth quarter, 8 rebounds and 5 assists to earn the SportsPlus best player honors over Mike Calisaan, with 18 points and 3 rebounds, Orlan Wamar, with 12 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds, and Gerry Abadiano, with 11 points. Bataan slid to 5-9 despite five Risers, led by Hubert Cani, scoring in double figures.
Patrick Sleat of San Juan
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RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
PSC pushes for coaching reforms after Aurora tragedy
Alexandra Eala (left) is raring to exact revenge against Maya Joint, who denied her a maiden WTA Tour title in the Eastbourne Open grass tournament last year. (WTA, Wimbledon)
Eala out for revenge vs. Joint after Eastbourne heartbreak By Jeremiah Sevilla
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ITH a dream match against tennis icon Serena Williams now dashed, Alexandra “Alex” Eala seeks to get payback against Australia’s Maya Joint when they clash in the second round of the Wimbledon Championships 2026 on Thursday in London, England.
The world No. 32 and 29th seed Filipina sensation tangles with the No. 87 Australian in the Round of 64 at a yetto-be-determined time at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Eala crushed No. 72 Renata Zarazua of Mexico, 6-1, 6-2, to clinch her breakthrough Wimbledon victory following a
first-round exit in her debut last year. Hours later, Joint pulled off a 6-3, 6-7 (4-6), 6-3 stunner over seven-time Wimbledon champion and 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams to set up the rematch with Eala. The 21-year-old Pinay ace is raring to exact her revenge against the 20-yearold Aussie, who denied her of a maiden
WTA Tour title in the Eastbourne Open grass tournament last year. Eala came close to winning the WTA 250 tourney after taking four championship points, but Joint stormed back to come away with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (1210) win in the scintillating final. “I had a really great match with Maya last year so I’d love to have the chance to improve on some things that I could have improved from that match,” Eala said. Joint is also looking forward to her second meeting with Eala as the two continue their budding rivalry on a bigger stage this time. “We had an amazing, epic match last time we played in Eastbourne. So I’m expecting the same kind of match this
time. I’m really excited and I think it’s going to be really fun,” the 20-year-old Aussie said. Meanwhile, Eala expressed her gratitude to the throng of Filipino fans who trooped to the All England Club to witness her historic win in the opening round. After becoming the first Filipino netter to be seeded in a Grand Slam singles, Eala made another remarkable feat as she emerged as the first Pinoy to win a Wimbledon singles match in the Open Era. “The Filipino fans keep surprising me in good ways. I know how notoriously difficult it is to get tickets to this event, so to have what I would call a full house of almost all Filipinos is amazing,” Eala said.
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), together with members of the Sports Stakeholders’ Panel, expressed support for the ongoing Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) investigation into the Aurora tragedy while renewing calls for stronger safeguards and professional standards in Philippine sports. In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the panel commended the CIDG for its “diligent and sustained pursuit of the truth” regarding the incident that claimed the lives of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili. It also welcomed the transparency of the CIDG’s public updates and backed the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) parallel review of institutional oversight under CHED Memorandum Order No. 63, Series of 2017. The panel acknowledged that the investigations, which seek to determine whether hazing or negligence contributed to the tragedy, have created uncertainty among sports professionals, particularly coaches and team managers. It emphasized, however, that while many sports require discipline, rigorous physical conditioning, and mental toughness, coaches and team officials have an equally important duty to protect athletes from harm, abuse, exploitation, and practices driven by profit or personal power. “The dual responsibility of pushing athletes to excel while exercising sound judgment and safeguarding them must always go hand in hand,” the statement said. The Sports Stakeholders’ Panel also reiterated its commitment to professionalizing coaching and team management through higher standards, continuing education, mandatory certifications—including basic life support training—clearer operational guidelines, and stronger athlete safeguarding measures.
SMART/MVPSF National Taekwondo Poomsae draws stellar cast
My Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA App
NBA launches new My Jr. NBA, Jr. WNBA App THE NBA has launched the My Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA App, a unified digital hub to support program participants, coaches, referees, parents and competition managers and operators. The app will serve as the primary digital destination for the league’s international Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programs across more than 190 countries and territories in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe & Middle East, India and Latin America. The app, which is free to download, centralizes key tools and resources for Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programming, including competition management, registration and data features, live game streaming and integrated communication capabilities. The platform supports multiple languages, geo‑targeted content and both app and web‑based access. The key features of the app include Competition Management: Program operators can manage schedules, standings, results, brackets, box scores, play‑by‑play and multimedia galleries all in one place; Live Streaming: Coverage of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA leagues and tournaments; Registration Hub: Simplified sign‑ups, waiver processing and participant tracking; Communication Tools: Direct updates for participants, parents, coaches, referees and organizers; and Event Information: Centralized access to Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA events and activities, including program entry.
THE drive to build a house of champions continues as the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) stages the SMART/MVPSF National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships on July 5 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The association, through the able leadership of Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong, expressed confidence that they can discover a new batch of talents from the more than 2,000 taekwondo jins who have confirmed participation in the one-day event. The association is coming off a successful campaign in the recent Asian Taekwondo Championship in Mongolia, where the Nationals brought home 11 medals – 10 of them from the poomsae athletes. Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Milo, the tournament features two categories — Recognized Poomsae (Individual, Pair and Team) and Freestyle
Poomsae (Individual, Mixed Pair, Team). Respected club teams, including Central Gymnasium, Meta Taekwondo, and Discovery Pluz are in for exciting battle with top collegiate team like Ateneo, Xavier School, UST, UP Diliman, and La Salle. Also fancied to do well are teams from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Pangasinan, Isabela, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, and Gensan. Poomsae, as in the past, has consistently attracted a large following — young and old – for its well-choreographed patterns of movements — not to mention the practice of taekwondo’s well-respected principles. Competition will start promptly at 9 a.m. Poomsae athletes perform their routine almost flawlessly.
Go masters Pinewoods winds, pulls away by 9
Lloyd Go. Manny Marcelo
BAGUIO—When Pinewoods finally showed its teeth, Lloyd Go responded with his best golf. After capitalizing on calm conditions in the opening round disrupted by several fog delays, Go showed he could thrive when the course turned brutally difficult, firing the day’s only under-par round – a five-under 67 – to blow the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge wide open, storming away by nine strokes over Jeffren Lumbo after 36 holes at Pinewoods Golf and Country Club here on Wednesday. The mists that greeted players in Tuesday’s opening round had disappeared. In their place came the dreaded Pinewoods winds, sweeping across the mountain layout from every direction and turning an already demanding course into a relentless test of survival. Scores soared throughout the day as gusts bent flagsticks and punished even slightest misses. Everyone struggled – except Go. Fresh off a two eagle-laden opening
64 that gave him a three-shot cushion despite having no prior competitive experience on the course, the Cebuano ace displayed an even more impressive performance under brutal conditions. After a birdie-bogey exchange from No. 2, he caught fire in the middle stretch with six birdies over nine holes, offsetting another miscue on the 16th for a brilliant 32-35 card that stood as the day’s lone sub-par effort. His two-day total of 13-under 131 not only tripled his overnight advantage over Lumbo but also underscored the completeness of his game as Pinewoods demanded precision, patience and composure. “I think I played better today,” said Go, whose 67 came despite shooting three strokes higher than his openinground 64. “But the wind was so strong today, so overall, I think my game was better today than yesterday.” Go’s ability to keep the ball in play proved the biggest difference. While
much of the field battled recovery shots from awkward lies and wind-blown misses, he consistently found fairways and left himself manageable approaches, allowing his sharp short game and confident putting to take over. “My short game and putting have been really good today and I haven’t lost the ball, so I’m always in the fairways or when I miss, I’m always on the side where I have a shot on the green,” he said. “I think keeping it in play really helped me.” He could have padded his lead to double digits had he avoided a mishap on the par-3 No. 16, but by then the damage had long been done as one contender after another came back rattled by the relentless mountain winds. Still, Go isn’t looking too far ahead. Seeking his second Philippine Golf Tour title following his breakthrough victory at Palos Verdes in 2024, he remains wary of the final 36 holes despite his commanding position.
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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
WHAT’S INSIDE?
DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the World Bank call for the faster digitalization of government transactions during a recent forum in Makati City. BSP Deputy Governors Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (sixth from left) and Mamerto Tangonan (fifth from left) lead the BSP delegation at the forum on government payments. With them are (from left) InstaPay Steering Committee representative Jose Paolo Miguel Lozada, PESONet Steering Committee chairman Carlo Nazareno, Department of Labor and Employment Undersecretary Warren Miclat, Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Maria Francesca Del Rosario, World Bank digital specialist Rebecca Rouse, Financial Sector specialist Aileen Laurente Amor-Bautista, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Adonis Sulit, Department of Finance officer-in-charge Niño Raymond Alvina and BancNet chief executive Elmarie Reyes.
GDP growth likely slowed Growth forecast for Q2 to 2.6% in Q2—economists
PH stocks rebound on thin trading
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2.6% 2.8%
GDP growth in Q1
4.4% GDP growth in 2025
Building approvals increased 0.8% to 181,832 in 2025 THE number of approved building constructions in the Philippines rose 0.8 percent in 2025 to 181,832 from 180,341 in 2024, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Residential buildings accounted for the bulk of construction activity, posting 117,832 projects or 64.8 percent of the total, up 1.2 percent from 116,427 in 2024. Single-detached houses made up the majority of residential builds at 100,552 projects or 85.3 percent of the residential total. Non-residential construction fell 0.6 percent to 38,991 projects, representing 21.4 percent of the total. Commercial buildings dominated this category with 26,395 projects or 67.7 percent. Additions to existing structures, alterations and repairs and other construction types made up smaller shares of overall activity at 3.1 percent, 7.9 percent and 2.7 percent respectively. Alterations and repairs rose 2.7 percent from the previous year while additions and other construction categories declined 0.7 percent and 0.1 percent. CALABARZON led all regions in construction volume with 44,819 projects or 24.6 percent of the national total. Central Luzon followed with 24,889 projects or 13.7 percent, while the Ilocos region ranked third with 14,048 projects or 7.7 percent. The total value of construction activity climbed to P601.42 billion in 2025, up 6.7 percent from P563.89 billion in 2024.
By Thony Rose Lesaca
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HILIPPINE economic growth likelyed slow to 2.6 percent in the second quarter of 2026 as weaker consumption and investment weigh on economic activity, according to a June 2026 Market Call report by economists from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). The report said the economy is showing tentative signs of recovery, but elevated inflation, high interest rates and softer demand continue to constrain growth. “We estimate [second-quarter] 2026 [gross domestic product] growth at 2.6 percent, while the [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] is expected to maintain its tightening bias with another 50 [basis point] rate
hike to address persistent inflation,” the economists said. The economy grew 2.8 percent in the first quarter, its slowest pace in five years, amid the lingering effects of last year’s graft scandal, delays in budget implementation and higher global oil prices. Inflation eased to 6.8 percent in May from 7.2 percent in
April as slower price growth in food and transport tempered consumer prices. The rate remained above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2 percent to 4 percent target range despite the softer print. UA&P economists expect inflation to stay above target for the rest of the year, keeping the BSP on a tightening path. “We see underlying price pressures in tertiary sectors, where inflation pass-through tends to be lagged, along with a looming Super El Nino season threatening to raise food prices,” they said. The BSP’s Monetary Board delivered its second straight 25-basispoint rate hike at its June policy meeting, bringing the benchmark rate to 4.75 percent to anchor inflation expectations and mitigate secondround effects.
LT Group completes clean energy shift
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GSIS hikes stake in CREC to 7.48%
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PEZA registers P10-b Hann golf project in New Clark City Fong Shann Printing Philippines marks a decade at LIMA Estate with the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Batangas, expanding its operations alongside the estate’s continued growth.
Fong Shann Printing opens larger Batangas facility FONG Shann Printing Philippines opened a new 32,000-square-meter manufacturing facility within LIMA Estate in Batangas, Aboitiz Economic Estates said. The Taiwanese export-oriented company, which makes paper-based printing and packaging products for international markets, relocated its operations from Dongguan, China, to LIMA Estate in 2015, initially leasing an 8,000-square-meter facility. It later expanded into a 15,000-square-meter plant and added production equipment including a Ko-
mori 6+1 press, flexographic and gluing machines and spot UV technology. The new facility, built on a 3.2-hectare site, more than triples the footprint of the company’s original warehouse. Fong Shann started with 350 employees in 2015 and has since grown into a regional manufacturing operation serving export clients in Vietnam, Taiwan and China. The new plant is expected to generate 500 to 600 jobs. Aboitiz Economic Estates vice president and head of industrial and commercial business Clifford Aca-
demia said the acquisition signals confidence in the estate. “When a company decides to own the ground it once leased, that is the clearest vote of confidence an estate can receive,” Academia said. “Fong Shann has grown with LIMA Estate for ten years, and its choice to build its largest facility here, as an investor, reflects the kind of long-term partnership we set out to enable. We don’t just provide space; we provide the conditions for businesses to keep growing, decade after decade,” he said.
SMC’s P1.43-t revenue flows back to economy By Jenniffer B. Austria
DECADE OF SERVICE. As it celebrates its decade-long service in the Philippines in 2026, Allianz PNB Life (Allianz) reiterates its commitment to serving Filipino families and honoring their trust. Munich-based Allianz Group entered the Philippine market in 2016 through its partnership with Philippine National Bank (PNB). It brought together one of the world’s largest financial services organizations and one of the Philippines’ most established banking institutions, creating Allianz and expanding access to insurance and financial protection solutions for Filipino families nationwide.
SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) distributed P1.43 trillion, or about 95 percent of the P1.5 trillion in revenue it generated in 2025, to suppliers, employees, investors, communities and the government, the conglomerate said in its latest sustainability report. The company said the distribution showed how most of the economic value its operations created flowed back into the broader economy through business activity, employment, public revenue and investments. SMC said it allocated about P995
billion to suppliers and operating expenses, supporting businesses across its nationwide supply chain. The company said the spending helped suppliers sustain operations, generate income and maintain jobs. The conglomerate said it also paid P221 billion in taxes and other government payments and allocated P153 billion to providers of capital, including investors and shareholders. Employee salaries and benefits totaled P58 billion, while SMC invested P560 million in community development programs. SMC reported core net income of P79.6 billion in 2025.
By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said Wednesday it registered Hann Reserve—a P10 billion tourism development in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, as an ecozone domestic market enterprise on June 23, 2026. PEZA signed the registration agreement with Hann Philippines Inc., clearing the way for the country’s first golf courses affiliated with the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). The agreement also covers clubhouses and food and beverage outlets as the developer prepares for full commercial operations. The project is expected to generate more than 220 jobs and boost tourism-driven economic activity in Central Luzon. Hann Reserve began preview operations on Jan. 31, 2026, following a supplemental agreement signed in August 2025. Once fully operational, the development is expected to create jobs, support local businesses and contribute to the region’s long-term economic growth. PEZA said the registration highlights continued investor confidence in the country’s economic zones and reinforces New Clark City’s position as a leading tourism and investment destination.
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PSEi rebounds on thin trading to close at 6,069
BUSINESS
AT LEAST two major rail projects in the capital region are trying the patience of commuters. Their timely completion would have greatly shortened the travel of weary workers and students and given them more quality time to spend with their families. Finance Secretary Frederick Go summed it best. “Rail projects give people back their time. A seamless connection between LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Subway means shorter commutes, more hours with family, and workers who can reach more opportunities across the city,” he said. But the P64.915-billion LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project, By Jenniffer B. Austria along with the LRT 1 Common Station are taking long to build. HILIPPINE shares rose Wednesday, with the The LRT 1 Common Station would clear the way for construction of the Unified Grand Central Station along North benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index Avenue, Quezon City, connecting LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7 and gaining on thin trading as the local bourse tracked the Metro Manila Subway into a single transit hub. The completion of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project advances across most Asian markets. will help ease traffic congestion in Las Piñas and neighboring areas in southern Metro Manila, where thousands commuters The 30-company PSEi added 32.09 the other hand, holding firms slipped troop to Metro Manila in morning rush hours. points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 0.57 percent, while mining and oil It continues to be a pipe dream, though. The rail extension 6,069.26, while the broader all shares stocks fell 1.44 percent. has been decades in the making, spanning five administrations index gained 5.49 points, or 0.17 perTrading activity was light, with from former Presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal cent, to 3,324.78. value turnover reaching only P3.93 Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III, Rodrigo Duterte and to the “The PSEi rebounded in line with billion. Foreign investors were net incumbent administration of President Ferdinand Marcos the region, but conviction remained sellers, with outflows at P80 million. Jr. light as the peso remained weak amid Leading the index gainers was JolThe project would have reduced travel time between Pasay the Fed’s hawkish tone, keeping uplibee Foods Corp., which jumped City and Cavite province by 60 percent. Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos saw the project as side capped,” AB Capital Securities 4.09 percent to P140 per share, while Manila a vital transportation solution that would provide commuters said in a market note. DMCI Holdings Inc. was atStandard theManila botwith a reliable alternative to private vehicles and road-based The Philippine peso closed at tom, falling 2.67 percent to P7.30 perTODAY public transport. 61.621 to the U.S. dollar Wednesday, share. “The LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will make a down from 61.36 Tuesday. Asian stocks mostly rose Wednessignificant contribution to easing traffic in our area. Once it “Foreign flows were flat while local day as investors nervously awaited becomes fully operational, more commuters will have access participation was subdued,” AB Capikey US jobs data that could help deto fast, safe, and efficient public transportation,” Santos said. tal added. termine the Federal Reserve’s next Phase 2 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, however, remains The market was also buoyed by interest rate decision, while the yen stalled due to an alignment conflict involving the C-5 Quirino bargain hunting after Tuesday’s sellis in focus as it wallows around fourFlyover in Las Piñas City. The ₱300.39-million flyover, built by the Department of off. decade lows. Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and completed in April Financial stocks led sectoral gainRegional markets enjoyed a fruit2024, was constructed directly on the originally planned righters, rising 0.93 percent, followed by ful first half of the year thanks to a of-way of the railway project, creating a physical obstruction industrial issues, which advanced surge in tech stocks, but ructions in to the extension’s alignment. 0.87 percent. The services index the sector over the past few weeks The government is now evaluating options, including climbed 0.71 percent, while the prophave raised concerns that a bubble has redesigning portions of the railway route or partially erty sector edged up 0.31 percent. On formed. With AFP dismantling the affected section of the flyover to allow the
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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Unfinished Metro rail projects a disservice to many commuters
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The completion of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will help ease traffic congestion in Las Piñas and neighboring areas in southern Metro Manila... rail project to proceed. An ongoing right-of-way dispute with landowners over right-of-way usage is also hampering the fruition of the LRT1 Cavite Extension Project Another unfinished rail project is the loop, or the link connecting LRT-1 line with MRT-3 on EDSA. The loop and the common station would have integrated Metro Manila’s railway network and created seamless travel for thousands of Metro Mania commuters. Former President Macapagal-Arroyo way back in 2010 famously asked the question: “Where’s my loop?” “By making it convenient because it’s O-shaped, you don’t have to go down and take another transport. You can go anywhere and get off anywhere, and you just take the transport for your final destination,” she said back then. Over a decade and half later, the rail loop is nowhere to be found. The DOTr recently terminated the contract of BF Corp. and Foresight Development and Surveying Co. (BFC-FDSC), a company founded by late Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando. The DOTr rescinded the deal to build the common station, or the Unified Grand Central Station (Common Station) project, because of excessive construction delays. The termination followed President Marcos Jr.’s directive to speed up and finally complete the construction of the common station, which had been ongoing since 2009, to ease and reduce travel time for commuters. The P2.8-billion station features a 13,700-square meter concourse area, which will seamlessly interconnect the rail lines of LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7 and the much-awaited Metro Manila Subway. Commuters, for now, will have to wait and be more patient. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com
(MS-JULY (MS-JULY 2/9/16, 2/9/16, 2026) 2026)
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
BUSINESS
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LT Group completes RE shift via First Gen T By Alena Mae S. Flores
HE Lucio Tan Group completed its shift to green energy last month through a partnership with First Gen Corp., the country’s leading renewable energy producer. The agreement between LTG and First Gen was finalized in late 2025, with power supply start dates staggered across the conglomerate’s various facilities. Francis Giles Puno, First Gen president and chief operating officer, said the fulfillment of the partnership sends a powerful message that companies
across aviation, real estate, manufacturing and hospitality can lead the way toward a low-carbon future. He described LTG’s move to clean energy as “a clear statement of leadership” because it demonstrates that environmental, social and governance principles are the foundation of longterm competitiveness.
He also highlighted the benefits of choosing geothermal power for critical corporate operations. “Geothermal doesn’t choose the time of day,” Puno said. “It will deliver to you power 24/7 and immune to the fluctuations of the sun and wind.” Under the agreement, LTG and affiliate companies Philippine Airlines, Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Macroasia SATS Food Industries Corp., Macroasia Catering Services Inc., Grandspan Development Corp. and Absolut Distillers will receive more than 21 megawatts of power from the First Gen group’s Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Leyte. First Gen will also provide six
projects of the real estate arm Eton Properties with more than 8 MW of electricity. Among these real estate projects are the 13-story Cyberpod Building, the 21-story Three Cyberpod Centris and the 24-story Cyberpod Five, which house business process outsourcing companies in Quezon City, as well as the mixed-use property development Eton WestEnd Square in Makati City. The agreement requires First Gen to provide PAL with more than 3 MW of geothermal energy for the airline’s Maintenance Base Complex, Inflight Center and its headquarters, the Lucio K. Tan Jr. Center in Pasay City. These sites house the airline’s corporate
headquarters, logistics, catering and back-office support. Another 3.9 MW of geothermal power is allocated to LTP for the company’s aircraft maintenance, repair and overhauling facilities; 1.8 MW to the in-flight and corporate food-catering facilities of MACS; 2.7 MW to bioethanol production plant Absolut Distillers; and 700 kilowatts to construction and steel fabrication company Grandspan Development Corp. LT Group and PAL Holdings Inc. President Lucio Tan III expressed optimism about the development as the group begins diversifying its energy supply and reducing its dependence on nonrenewable fuels.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. Maibarara Geothermal Inc. vice president Paul Elmer Morala, center, receives an
award from Energy Regulatory Commission chair Francis Saturnino Juan Jr., third from left, and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, third from right, during the ERC’s 25th anniversary celebration on June 26 in Pasay City. Maibarara Geothermal, a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, was recognized by the regulator for its operational performance and commitment to power system reliability.
DA, DILG exempt agri storage from property taxes By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior and Local Government have issued a joint memorandum circular establishing uniform guidelines to exempt qualified farm storage facilities from local real property taxes. The move is aimed at lowering operating costs and encouraging investment in post-harvest infrastructure. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. signed the circular. It implements Section 12(b) of the Sagip Saka Act, which grants real property tax exemptions to qualified structures, buildings and warehouses used to store agricultural inputs and outputs, provided their assessed value does not exceed P3 million. The circular also supports Executive Order No. 101, series of 2025, which mandates the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act and strengthens interagency coordination to expand benefits for farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives, associations and agricultural enterprises. Tiu Laurel said the issuance provides a clear and uniform framework for implementing one of the law’s key incentives. “The guidelines are an important step in fully realizing the vision and promise of the Sagip Saka Act,” he said. The circular outlines the requirements, procedures and responsibilities of national government agencies and local government units, giving qualified beneficiaries greater certainty when applying for the tax exemption. Tiu Laurel said the incentive is expected to encourage investments in storage facilities that reduce post-harvest losses, preserve product quality, improve inventory management and support more efficient marketing and distribution of agricultural products.
Crescent Mining to resume exploration in Mankayan mines as CDO order lifted By Dexter A. See CRESCENT Mining and Development Corp. said it will resume its suspended mineral exploration activities in portions of Barangays Guinaoang and Bulalacao after the municipal government lifted a cease-and-desist order. In a statement, the company said it informed local government officials and village leaders of its plans during a recent dialogue, adding that the exploration would proceed in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. The company holds a valid Mineral Production Sharing Agreement issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Crescent Mining also completed the required Free, Prior and Informed Consent process, which resulted in the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the affected Indigenous Peoples through their council of elders. According to the firm, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples issued a certification precondition Sept. 29 after the company complied with the consent process and completed negotiations for the agreement. Owners of the affected surface areas and identified drill sites also gave their consent through separate memoranda of agreement
and rental agreements. Crescent Mining suspended its exploration activities after the municipal government issued a cease-and-desist order Oct. 28. Despite the suspension, the company said it continued to hold dialogues with stakeholders, including groups opposed to the project, as part of its efforts to address their concerns. Company attempts to engage with project opponents did not result in what it described as a “good faith meeting.” Mankayan Mayor Caesar Pasiwen lifted the cease-and-desist order April 13, allowing the company to resume exploration with one year remaining to complete its approved work program. Manila The company said it remains committed to Standard conducting its operations responsibly while TODAY respecting environmental protection, CONCEPCION INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION the rights of Indig(formerly Concepcion Airconditioning Corporation) enous Peoples and the welfare of host NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING communities. It exTO: ALL STOCKHOLDERS pressed hope that continued dialogue Notice is hereby given that CONCEPCION INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION (formerly Concepcion Airconditioning Corporation) (the and cooperation “Corporation”) will conduct its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting virtually via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yikJbg24Q7GC2-MwmoiIlA) on July 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., at which meeting the following would lead to the matters shall be taken up: resolution of out1. Call to Order; standing issues. TO:
CONCEPCION INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION (formerly Concepcion Airconditioning Corporation)
2.
Certification of Existence of Quorum;
3.
Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on July 24, 2025;
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING
ALL STOCKHOLDERS
4.
Report of the Chairman;
Notice is hereby given that CONCEPCION INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION (formerly Concepcion Airconditioning Corporation) (the 5.will Approval of Statements as of December 31, “Corporation”) conduct its the Audited Annual Financial Stockholders’ Meeting virtually via 2025; Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yikJbg24Q7GC2-MwmoiIlA) on July 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., at which meeting the following matters shall be taken up:
6.
Election of Directors;
1.
Call to Order;
2.
7. of External Auditor; Certification ofAppointment Existence of Quorum;
3.
Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on July 24, 2025;
4.
Report of the Chairman;
5.
Approval of the Audited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2025;
6.
10. of Directors; Other Matters; and Election
7.
Appointment of External Auditor;
8.
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation;
10.
Other Matters; and
8. 9.
11.
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation;
Ratification of All Actions taken by the Board and Management;
Adjournment.
The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the said meeting is fixed at the close of business 9. Ratification of All Actions taken by the Board and Management; hours on June 24, 2026. Stockholders may attend the meeting by remote communication and/or vote inÊabsentia or through the Chairman of the meeting as proxy. 11. Adjournment. Stockholders who wish to participate by remote communication or vote inÊabsentia or by proxy should notify the Corporate Secretary by The record dateto forcic.secretary@romulo.com the determination of stockholders entitledfrom to notice of, and vote at, said meeting is fixed at the close of business email July 3, to 2026 totheJuly 14, 2026. hours on June 24, 2026.
Stockholders may attend the meeting by remote communication and/or vote inÊabsentiavia or through Chairman of the meeting as proxy. Successful registrants will receive an electronic invitation emailthewith a complete guide on how to join the meeting. For any registration Stockholders who wish to participate by remote communication or vote inÊabsentia or by proxy should notify the Corporate Secretary by concerns, please get in touch with the Corporation through cic.secretary@romulo.com. email to cic.secretary@romulo.com from July 3, 2026 to July 14, 2026. Successful registrants will receive electronic invitation via emailawith a complete guide on how to join the meeting.the For any registration All stockholders whoanwish to vote through proxy or inÊabsentiaÊshall submit duly signed proxies or ballots, as the case may be, to concerns, please get in touch with the Corporation through cic.secretary@romulo.com. st
the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the 21
Floor, AIA Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City and/or by email to
All stockholders who wish to vote through a proxy or later inÊabsentiaÊshall submit duly signed or ballots, as the case may be, to shall be validated on July 18, 2026 at 2:00 cic.secretary@romulo.com not than July 14,the 2025. Theproxies proxies and ballots submitted the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the 21st Floor, AIA Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City and/or by email to p.m. We are not soliciting proxies. cic.secretary@romulo.com not later than July 14, 2025. The proxies and ballots submitted shall be validated on July 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. We are not soliciting proxies.
The Information Statement which contains a brief explanation of each item on the agenda and procedures for attending the meeting via
GGC GROUP’S AWARDS. Members of GGC Group Asia’s talent
management arm, The Culture Hub, celebrate winning Gold for Talent Management Team of the Year at the Campaign Agency of the Year Global Awards in London. GGC Group Asia, formerly DDB Group Philippines, also took home top honors at the international competition, recognizing the firm’s commitment to employee development, engagement and workplace culture.
The Information Statement which contains a brief explanation of each item on the agenda and procedures for attending the meeting via communication andinÊabsentia, for casting votes inÊabsentia, Management Report, Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2025 remoteremote communication and for casting votes Management Report, and Annual Report for the year ended and December 31, 2025 in SECin Form 17-AForm are posted on are the Corporation’s at https://concepcion.ph/app/uploads/2026/04/CIC-2025-SEC-17A-CIC-2025SEC 17-A posted onwebsite the Corporation’s website at https://concepcion.ph/app/uploads/2026/04/CIC-2025-SEC-17A-CIC-2025Conso-FS-SEC-Copy-Signed.pdf and PSE EDGE.
Conso-FS-SEC-Copy-Signed.pdf and PSE EDGE.
The meeting shall be recorded in audio and video format and copies thereof shall be retained by the Corporation.
The meeting shall be recorded in audio and video format and copies thereof shall be retained by the Corporation.
BUSINESS
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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
GSIS hikes CREC stake to 7.48% S By Alena Mae S. Flores
INTERNAL AUDIT. Executives from the MVP Group and Gokongwei Group of Companies participate in a forum organized to mark International Internal Audit Awareness Month. Spearheaded by the Internal Audit Group of PLDT and Smart in collaboration with MVP Group and JG Summit Holdings Internal Audit teams, the event featured a panel discussion. Panelists include (from left) David Gulliver Go, chief human resources officer of JG Summit and director of Cebu Air; Francis Flores, global managing director of Pickup Coffee; and Dr. Erika Legara, director and chief data officer of the Philippine Center for AI Research. Facilitating the discussion is Gian Lao of PLDT and Smart’s public engagement and corporate communications group.
DoubleDragon signs deal to build Bangkok condotel By Jenniffer B. Austria DOUBLEDRAGON Corp. is expanding into Thailand with a 770room condotel project near Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, the company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Wednesday. Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp., a DoubleDragon unit, signed definitive binding agreements with Origin Property PCL to develop Hotel101Bangkok on an 8,336-square-meter site along Phahon Yothin Road. The
property sits beside the Yaek Kor Por Aor BTS Station, giving guests direct access to Bangkok’s mass transit network and key commercial and tourism districts. Hotel101 Global said the project is expected to generate about 1.925 billion baht (around $58 million) in sales revenues once all units are sold. Construction is targeted for completion by 2029. The Bangkok property will bring Hotel101’s standardized condotel model to one of Southeast Asia’s busiest transportation hubs as the
IN BRIEF BPI expands banking to over 8,000 merchants BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said it is expanding access to banking services, enabling customers to open accounts and deposit or withdraw cash at more than 8,000 partner merchant locations nationwide. The initiative, rolled out under the bank’s “May BPI Dito” program, transforms neighborhood establishments such as groceries, pharmacies and gasoline stations into banking touchpoints, extending the lender’s reach beyond its traditional branch network. More than 8,000 partner stores now allow customers to open deposit accounts and apply for the bank’s financial products, BPI said, while 1,369 locations also offer cash deposit and withdrawal services. Combined, the network covers over 8,000 merchant locations across the country. BPI’s partner merchants include Robinsons Easymart, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwide, The MarketPlace, Robinsons Department Store, Toys R Us, Uncle Johns, Tambunting Pawnshop, Prince Retail, Savers Depot and CVM Pawnshop among others. “Through our growing partner network, we are transforming everyday locations into gateways to banking, helping make financial inclusion a reality for more communities,” BPI president and chief executive TG Limcaoco said. Jenniffer B. Austria
PH to host merged nuclear conferences THE Department of Energy and the World Nuclear Association will jointly convene the World Nuclear Supply Chain Conference 2026 and the Philippine International Nuclear Energy Forum 2026 as a single integrated event in Manila on Oct. 20 to 21, the two organizations announced. The combined conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, during the Philippines’ chairship year of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The partnership merges the World Nuclear Association’s global supply chain conference with the Department of Energy’s regional platform for nuclear
industrial cooperation. Organizers said the event will draw policymakers, regulators, utilities, developers, reactor vendors, engineering and construction firms, manufacturers, suppliers, financiers, research organizations and international institutions as Southeast Asia pursues reliable, low-carbon and secure energy systems. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the Philippines was pleased to partner with the World Nuclear Association to convene the integrated event in Manila. “As ASEAN countries explore sustainable pathways to meet growing energy demand, cooperation on policy, skills, investment, and supply chain capability will be essential,” Garin said. “This forum will support constructive dialogue and practical partnerships that can help unlock opportunities for nuclear energy development in the Philippines, across ASEAN and beyond,” she said. Alena Mae S. Flores
Apex Mining clinches 2 gold awards in Hong Kong APEX Mining Co. Inc. clinched two gold awards at the FinanceAsia Best Companies 2026 ceremony in Hong Kong on June 25, 2026, marking the company’s second consecutive year on the prestigious regional list. The Philippine mining firm won top honors in both the Best Managed Company – Basic Materials category and the Best Managed Company – Philippines Market category. The double-gold achievement marks a significant jump from 2025, when Apex Mining received the bronze award as the Best Managed Company in the Philippines under the basic materials category. Considered the benchmark of Asia’s topperforming corporations, the FinanceAsia Best Companies list relies on nominations from active regional investors and financial analysts. Voters evaluate the corporate behavior and performance of Asian peers over the preceding 12 months. Apex Mining, which trades under the ticker symbol APX, maintains a broad investor footprint. The company is included in both the midcap index of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the small cap index of Morgan Stanley Capital International.
company continues its international expansion. Hotel101-Bangkok will offer fourstar amenities at affordable rates, including meeting and conference facilities for business travelers. Other planned amenities include an all-day dining restaurant, a swimming pool, a full-size gym, a business center, a children’s pool, parking spaces, luggage storage and 24-hour reception. Origin Property, listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, was established in 2009 and specializes in condominiums near BTS Skytrain routes and expressways.
TATE-RUN Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has increased its stake in Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) to 7.48 percent after acquiring additional common shares from Megawide Construction Corp., the company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Wednesday.
GSIS purchased 287,452,327 CREC common shares from Megawide on June 25 at an undisclosed price. The transaction brought GSIS’s total CREC holdings to 834,327,371 shares, or 7.48 percent of the company’s outstanding shares. GSIS bought 320 million CREC common shares from Megawide on May 8 and another 226,875,044 shares on May 12. CREC shares opened trading at P4.69 apiece Wednesday, hitting a high of P4.69 and a low of P4.45, with an average price of P4.58. CREC’s board of directors approved a cash dividend declaration on June 17. Shareholders of record as of July 17 will receive the dividend, payable Aug. 12. “Our dividend declaration reflects a prudent balance between funding the continued high growth phase of the company at the same time rewarding shareholders with a decent yield return,” CREC president and chief
executive Oliver Tan said. “As we continue to energize more projects, we are converting our pipeline into operating assets that support sustainable growth and shareholder value,” he said. CREC reported consolidated net income of P1.15 billion in 2025 and net comprehensive income attributable to parent company shareholders of P740.1 million. The company recently energized solar facilities in Pangasinan and Negros Occidental, raising its gross total renewable energy capacity to 791 megawatt-peak. Company officials said the new projects mark crucial steps toward a target of building 5 gigawatts of capacity within five years. CREC plans to energize additional solar facilities in Pangasinan, Batangas and Quezon in the coming quarters, with testing and commissioning activities currently underway.
SEC orders Bridge Cash to halt lending
AFFORDABLE FINANCING. From boosting farm production to supporting enterprise growth, Land Bank of the Philippines expands access to affordable financing to help farmers, fishers, cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Albay province strengthen their livelihoods and achieve sustainable growth. The state-owned Bank rolled out its Agrisenso Plus caravan at the Albay Astrodome and the Uswag, Oragon MSME Fair at The Pepperland Hotel on June 26, 2026, bringing together over 1,000 farmers, fishers and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), along with more than 300 MSMEs.
DICT, KOICA launch $25.6-m National Cybersecurity Center By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) broke ground on the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) in Valenzuela City to strengthen the country’s ability to prevent cyberthreats. KOICA is funding the project through a $25.6-million grant. The center will serve as the country’s central hub for cyber threat monitoring, intelligence sharing and incident response. The project includes a main facility in Valenzuela City and a backup center in Ilocos Norte, along with the rollout of advanced cybersecurity sys-
tems and specialized capacity-building programs. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said cybersecurity has become an essential pillar of nation-building in the digital age. “The dream of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is for every Filipino to be connected and have access to digital opportunities. But beyond connectivity, we also want every Filipino to be secure. We don’t just want people connected, we want them protected,” Aguda said. KOICA vice-president Lee YunYoung said the initiative is particularly significant because it represents the largest KOICA-funded cybersecurity project globally and one of the largest KOICA grant projects currently being implemented in the Philippines.
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered online lending entity Bridge Cash to immediately stop its unauthorized lending operations. The SEC’s Enforcement and Investor Protection Department issued a cease-and-desist order directing Bridge Cash to halt all online lending transactions and to stop operating applications, online lending platforms (OLP) and messaging channels under the name Bridge Cash or any other variation. It also covers the company’s operators, owners, administrators, officers, representatives, agents, promoters and all persons acting on its behalf. The SEC said it also ordered Bridge Cash to stop engaging in deceptive, unfair, fraudulent and unauthorized lending practices, including falsely claiming affiliation with First Digital Finance Corp. or any other legitimate SEC-registered financing or lending company. Borrowers filed complaints alleging that Bridge Cash released loan proceeds substantially lower than the approved amounts because of undisclosed deductions and hidden charges, while requiring full repayment within five to seven days. The SEC said Bridge Cash is not registered as a corporation and has not secured the certificate of authority required to engage in financing or lending activities. The commission said Bridge Cash’s operation of an unregistered online lending platform violated SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2019, which requires financing and lending firms to disclose all online lending platforms they operate, as well as Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2021, which imposed a moratorium on new online lending platforms. Jenniffer B. Austria
Meralco to meet Valar Atomics after reactor demonstration
GLOBAL AWARDS. Top-tier executives from Texas Roadhouse USA, led by chairman Greg Moore, visit Manila to present to the restaurant chain’s Philippine team a series of prestigious global awards. The other officers are Chris Colson, chief business and administrative officer (international); Tim Getty, vice president and head of international; Mark Stephens, director for global operations; and Joe Pzalgraf, director for international marketing who are joined by The Bistro Group president Jean Paul Manuud and chief operating officer Guia Abuel. The local team was honored for their unprecedented growth and operational excellence on the world stage, coinciding with Texas Roadhouse Philippines’ celebration of 10 years of delivering legendary food and legendary service in the country.
MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) said it will meet with Valar Atomics in the coming days after the US company’s Ward 250 advanced reactor design achieved a successful zero-power fueled criticality demonstration. Meralco chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan will hold talks with Valar Atomics representatives following positive developments in the firm’s small modular reactor technology, Meralco executive vicepresident and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said. The demonstration took place at the San Rafael Energy Research Center in Emery County, Utah and marked
the first US Department of Energyauthorized reactor built outside a national laboratory. The Ward 250 is the second of multiple advanced reactors expected to achieve criticality by July 4, a deadline President Donald Trump set in a May 2025 executive order. Criticality demonstrates that the Ward 250 can sustain a controlled nuclear chain reaction, a milestone the reactor must reach before it can generate power. “But of course, we’re open to discuss other SMR technologies,” Aperocho said. “We’re not just limited to a single
partner in terms of the SMR technology. So that’s basically our broad strategy in terms of the nuclear energy adoption,” he said. Aperocho outlined six factors guiding Meralco’s approach to small modular reactors, or SMRs, starting with regulatory and policy readiness. He said Meralco will align with Philippine nuclear policy on licensing and institutional capability. The Department of Energy recently released draft guidelines for a tender to build the country’s first nuclear power plant, with a staggered delivery period starting in 2038. Alena Mae S. Flores
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The Philippine Chinese Commerce and Industry Overseas Association markS its 20th anniversary and inductS Shi Yu Rong as president on June 21, 2026 in Binondo, Manila, with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and FFCCCII President Victor Lim in attendance.
Philippine-Chinese business group marks 20th anniversary By Michael Wong Ho
T
HE Philippine Chinese Commerce and Industry Overseas Association celebrated its 20th anniversary and inducted its eighth board of officers on June 21, 2026 at the Federation Building in Binondo, Manila. The association inducted Shi Yu Rong as its new president. Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan attended the event, witnessed the turnover of the association’s official seal and delivered remarks. Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Victor Lim served as guest speaker and congratulated the association on its anniversary, describing it as one of the leading organizations in the Filipino Chinese community. Lim said the group has long provided a platform for Filipino Chinese business people, new immigrants and entrepreneurs to strengthen exchanges and cooperation.
He also cited the association’s efforts to promote economic and trade cooperation between the Philippines and China, participate in charitable and public welfare programs and support the interests of the overseas Chinese community. Lim commended the association for holding a simple yet dignified celebration in line with Jing’s call for overseas Chinese organizations to operate diligently and frugally, support Chinese education and promote integrity within the community. community service initiatives. He said the modest event demonstrated During the ceremony, the association prudent use of resources, allowing more funds donated P200,000 to the FFCCCII’s Lost to be allocated to education, charity and other Filipino Chinese Students Allowance
Project. It also contributed P500,000 to the federation’s Overseas Chinese Assistance Center’s Overseas Chinese Services Foundation.
Guangzhou’s 1st Pinoy restaurant opens July 18 PH consulate joins THE Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou announced that the city’s first Filipino restaurant, Reyna’s Cravings, will open on July 18, 2026. The restaurant is located at No. 307 West Hanxi Avenue, Shibi Street, Panyu District. It aims to introduce authentic Filipino flavors and hospitality to Filipino and Chinese diners. Reyna’s Cravings owner Renia Batuigas Barrios said she and her late sister shared a passion for Filipino cuisine and a dream of showcasing the Philippines’ culinary traditions in Guangzhou. “We want Filipinos, Chinese nationals and members of the international community to experience Filipino hospitality and feel at home while enjoying authentic Filipino food,” she said. Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas pledged the consulate’s support for the venture. “It is about time that Guangzhou has a Filipino restaurant,” he said. “You can count on the support of the Philippine Consulate General and the Filipino community in Guangdong. We will also encourage our Chinese friends to discover and enjoy Filipino cuisine at Reyna’s Cravings.”
The restaurant’s menu will feature Filipino dishes such as kaldereta, sisig, adobo, sinigang, lechon kawali and crispy pata. Reyna’s Cravings is expected to become
a gathering place for the local Filipino community and a culinary gateway for Guangzhou residents to explore the Philippines’ food culture. Michael Wong Ho
The Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou announces that Reyna’s Cravings, the city’s first Filipino restaurant, will open on July 18, 2026, in Panyu District to showcase authentic Filipino cuisine and hospitality.
Malabon medical mission benefits over 900 residents THE Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc (FFCCCII) held a free medical and dental mission on June 21 at the Potrero Covered Court, benefiting 960 residents. Five volunteer doctors and ten volunteer dentists provided healthcare services during the event. The medical team gave consultations and treatment to about 700 patients. Dentists performed tooth extractions for 110 patients. Volunteers also distributed 150 pairs of reading glasses to senior residents with vision needs. FFCCCII vice president William Castro donated
APEC SME forum to push AI, robotics THE Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou joined the APEC SME Business Forum 2026 in Shenzhen’s Luohu District from June 23 to 25, where officials and business leaders discussed how artificial intelligence and robotics can accelerate small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development across the Asia-Pacific. The China Center for Promotion of SME Development organized the forum, which brought together government officials, industry leaders and business organizations to showcase affordable digital solutions for streamlining operations, optimizing workflows and strengthening decision-making among SMEs. Forum sessions focused on how AI and robotics can boost productivity, cut costs and enhance competitiveness for micro small and medium enterprises. Philippine Consulate General Consul Jan Michael Gomez represented the office at the forum, taking part in panel discussions and networking activities aimed at promoting innovation and cooperation in SME development. The Consulate said it remains committed to supporting initiatives that advance PhilippineSouth China economic ties and encourage digital transformation and international partnerships benefiting Philippine businesses. Organizers highlighted opportunities for Philippine SMEs to adopt accessible AI tools and join collaborative projects that could help the businesses scale up, build resilience and expand market access in the region. Julie Ann Lope
FFCCCII’s free medical and dental mission in Malabon City treats 700 patients and benefits 960 residents, with vice president William Castro donating Gibi shoes to attendees.
Gibi sports shoes, manufactured by his own company, to patients who attended the mission. The event reflects FFCCCII’s continued
commitment to improving community health and promoting public welfare through volunteer service.Julie Ann Lope
Golf event celebrates PH-China friendship A GOLF tournament at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City on June 23, 2026 capped a series of sports events celebrating PhilippineChina Friendship Day. Jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and
Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) and the Filipino Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation (FCAAF), the tournament aimed to strengthen people-to-people ties, goodwill and bilateral diplomacy through sports. The competition drew more than 150 participants, including government officials, business leaders and prominent figures from the Filipino Chinese
communities. Among the prominent attendees were FFCCCII honorary president Dr. Cecilio Pedro, FFCCCII vice president Shi Bo Nian, FFCCCII vice president and FCAAF chairman William Castro, former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and PSC commissioners Walter Francis Torres and Matthew Gaston.
During the event, Pedro highlighted the deep historical roots connecting the two nations. He noted that the Philippines and China have maintained cultural and economic exchanges through the ancient Maritime Silk Road for more than 1,000 years. “Despite challenges over the years, friendship has remained the foundation of bilateral relations,” Pedro said. Michael Wong Ho
Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou joins APEC SME Business Forum 2026 in Shenzhen, highlighting AI and robotics tools to help Philippine SMEs boost productivity and expand regional market access.
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SHOWBIZ
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Ashtine Olviga
eyes new challenge in showbiz By Jasper Valdez
SHTINE Olviga is stepping into her first solo concert with the pressure of carrying a stage on her own, but the singer-actress is already looking at another test outside music. After years of being seen as soft and fragile, the self-described “mahinhin” wants to find out how she’ll do when it comes to action.
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Touchbass
Yugel Losorata
Beatles Day acknowledged Global Beatles Day honors enduring appeal of Fab Four
Fans continue to celebrate the enduring influence of the legendary band, honoring its music and legacy across generations
THE world celebrated the annual Global Beatles Day last June 25. Many of my friends and music mates posted about their admiration for the band, while I uploaded to Facebook and Instagram a clip of me raw-singing “In My Life.” For all this, we all have to thank one Beatle fan from Indianapolis named Faith Cohen, who initiated the Fab Four tribute in 2009 as a “thank you” or love letter to the band. The chosen date marks the group’s performance of “All You Need Is Love” live on the BBC’s Our World program in 1967. It was the first international satellite television broadcast, and it reached around 400 million viewers. Love for The Beatles spread from the fan-driven inaugural celebration, which encouraged fans to reflect on The Beatles’ legacy. This year, Apple Corp., which The Beatles themselves founded, formally acknowledged it. It also released a colorized version of what was labeled as the anthem for the Summer of Love. For a dedicated Beatles fan like me, this is so positive. It’s a major step toward keeping The Beatles’ work relevant and introducing it to new generations. The music and ideals of the British group, which recorded most of their music in the ’60s, are timeless and universal. It’s fitting that we have this in today’s divisive world, caused by the rise of political fanaticism and the widening gap between older generations, used to the kind of world The Beatles grew up in or had been exposed to, and younger people navigating life through advanced technology and social media. No artist deserves a special day to honor their impact on the world more than The Beatles. Artists like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Queen, Led Zeppelin, or Nirvana may be likewise deserving for their own contributions to music and pop culture, but nothing comes close to the collective charm of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Their influence included changing the way music is recorded and how people dress and behave. Most important of all is the global appeal and accessibility of their songs. It’s unimaginable to think of a modern world without The Beatles. How lucky we all are to have been aware of their melodies and messages. People with all sorts of complaints should only think about those who endured the World Wars, when there was no Beatles music to cheer them up. I’ve read a comment that expressed bewilderment over how Pete Best could have survived the ordeal of being cut out of the band right before it really took off. Well, at least he had The Beatles’ music to nurse his feelings. And he did enjoy some royalties after Beatles performances, with his drumming on them, were included in The Beatles Anthology. There was a time when a boy band was compared to The Beatles or when a classic rock band was labeled as the greatest rock act. So, to have one acknowledged day every year to honor the beauty of The Beatles discography is a victory for everyone. Call it an interesting or morbid bit, but that inaugural Beatles Day in 2009 was the same day Michael Jackson died. And we all know his association with The Beatles, in particular his collaborative recordings with Paul and his purchase of their catalog. For all the brilliance of The Beatles, the most obvious manifestation of their genius was how prolific they were, recording first-grade music together for only seven years. That alone is worth celebrating.
Ashtine Olviga prepares for her first solo concert while looking ahead to action roles that push her beyond her gentle screen image
The singeractress’ ‘Love Like Ashtine’ concert will show her growth from girl group performer to solo artist
At the press conference for Love Like Ashtine, Ashtine said she wants to return to acting after the concert and try a genre far from the image people usually associate with her. “Action,” she said when Manila Standard Entertainment asked what kind of project she wants to do next. “It’s something I used to imagine myself doing. Since I can be quite soft-spoken and gentle at times, I wonder what I would look like doing action.” What excites her is the chance to find out if she can pull it off. “That’s one of the things I want to see. I want to challenge myself and find out how far I can go with something like that,” she added. The same challenge is shaping her preparations for Love Like Ashtine, her first solo concert happening at the New Frontier Theater. The show marks a new step for Ashtine, who first built her music background by being part of a girl group before gaining wider attention as JJ in Ang Mutya ng Section E. Ashtine admitted that performing alone has been a major adjustment after years of being used to having groupmates beside her. “I’m used to having members with me, even during press conferences or interviews like this. Now, it’s a really big adjustment,” she said. She also said the concert has pushed her to rely more on herself. “Before, I really used to rely on my members. I admit that,” she said. “But now, I tell myself, girl, do your best. Study your songs. You need to know what you’re doing.” The concert will also allow Ashtine to return to her performer roots. She said audiences can expect a side of her that they’ve never seen before. “The never-before-seen kind of Ashtine. The performance-level Ashtine. The girl group Ashtine,” she said. Ashtine shared that she looks forward to singing and dancing again.
“It’s been so long since I last performed. Most of what I’ve been doing recently has been more focused on singing, more relaxed. I haven’t really tried performing that way again, and I really missed it,” she said. While preparing for the concert, Ashtine said she is still learning how to handle her strengths and weaknesses. “You can do anything as long as you believe in yourself,” she said. “Even now, I’m still trying to learn that and embrace my weaknesses and my strengths.” The concert, she said, will trace her journey “chapter by chapter,” from starting out to where she is now. Love Like Ashtine is set for Aug. 22.
Jonathan Manalo hits 10B streams FILIPINO songwriter-producer Jonathan Manalo has surpassed 10 billion streams across major digital platforms as he also welcomed the Recording Academy’s new category recognizing Asian pop music. Manalo, a voting member of the Recording Academy and head of creatives, content, and operations at ABSCBN Music, has reached 10.2 billion all-time streams on platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube as of June 25, based on data from Muso AI. “It’s a number I’m deeply grateful for, but more than a milestone, it’s a reminder of the incredible journey that music can take. Every stream represents a listener who connected with a song, a story, a melody, or a moment that meant something to them,” Manalo said.
The milestone covers songs Manalo wrote and produced for some of the country’s best-known artists, including Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Lani Misalucha, Sarah Geronimo, Kyla, Erik Santos, Ebe Dancel, Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto, Jona, Moira Dela Torre, SB19, BINI, and BGYO. His catalog includes original soundtracks for Filipino films, television dramas, and digital series, helping his music reach audiences across generations. Following the milestone, Manalo also welcomed the introduction of the Grammy Awards category for Best Asian Pop Music Performance. “Asia is home to some of the world’s most vibrant music cultures, and this
recognition reflects the growing impact of Asian artists, songwriters, producers, and creatives as active participants in the global music community,” he said. Manalo said the new category could help expand global recognition for Filipino artists. “For Filipino artists especially, this is an encouraging step forward. Filipino music has always been rich in talent, storytelling, and artistry. As we continue to engage with and contribute to the global music landscape, opportunities like these help shine a brighter spotlight on the music excellence coming from the Philippines and across Asia,” he added. Manalo has written and produced songs including “Tara Tena,” “Gusto Ko Nang Bumitaw,” “Pagbigyang Muli,” “Patuloy Ang Pangarap,” and “Pinoy Ako.”
Jonathan Manalo marks a major digital milestone as his catalog continues to reach listeners through songs written and produced for Filipino artists
LIFE
C3 THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026
When makeup starts caring for skin
By Nickie Wang
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AKEUP and skincare often exist in separate corners of a daily routine. One promises coverage and confidence, while the other focuses on repair and long-term care. Actress and entrepreneur Jennylyn Mercado believes that the two should work together. After years in front of cameras and under harsh studio lights, the actress noted that she knows firsthand what prolonged use of makeup can do to the skin. Long shooting days often meant wearing heavy products for hours, sometimes with little benefit beyond appearance. “As actors, we used to wear makeup almost 24 hours a day,” Jennylyn told Manila Standard Life during the launch of her beauty brand, DLN Skin, held June 27 at Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan. “Before, our makeup stayed on our faces the entire day without offering any benefits. It would clog our pores and damage our skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.” That experience was the inspiration behind her newest venture, which places makeup and skincare in the same bottle. Jennylyn shared that the concept came from a simple question: if people already wear makeup for long hours, why shouldn’t it also help protect and nourish the skin? The answer became DLN Intuitone Skin Tint, the hero product of her newly launched brand. Designed as a lightweight complexion product, it aims to function both as cosmetic coverage and as skincare support. The product was three years in development, a process Mercado described as demanding and highly meticulous. Manufacturing in Thailand added another layer of difficulty, particularly during research and development. She recalled that each product revision took about three weeks to arrive. Any issue found during testing meant another request, followed by another long wait. “The first year was the most challenging,” the actress recalled. “If something wasn’t working well on the skin, we had to request another revision and wait again.”
Actress Jennylyn Mercado (second from right) is joined by her husband, Dennis Trillo (leftmost), along with family and friends—including entertainment reporter Nelson Canlas (rightmost)—at the brand’s launch, showing their full support for her latest venture
Despite the lengthy process, Jennylyn explained that the decision to manufacture in Thailand was deliberate. She cited similarities between Thailand and the Philippines, particularly the hot and humid climate, as a key reason. She also noted that several ingredients used in the product were difficult to source locally, making overseas manufacturing a practical choice. What stands out in today’s beauty market is the growing demand for hybrid products, where consumers want fewer steps but more benefits. The old divide between skincare and makeup is becoming less rigid. Skin tints, tinted sunscreens, and serum foundations have turned into everyday staples for people seeking efficiency without sacrificing care. Jennylyn appears to be tapping into that growing demand. Her product contains SPF along with skincare ingredients aimed at hydration, skin repair, and barrier support. But she is careful not to oversell what such products can do. She stressed that makeup with skincare benefits should complement, not replace, a proper skincare routine. “It is a skin tint first and foremost,” she noted, adding that it can work as a makeup base, sunscreen option, or quick everyday product. Jennylyn, long known as an actress, singer, and endorser, now adds entrepreneur to her résumé. Yet the transition feels less like reinvention and more like an extension of lived experience. Beauty, after all, has changed. Consumers are no longer looking only for coverage or flawless finishes. Increasingly, they want products that understand skin, respect time, and fit into real life. That may be the strongest idea behind Mercado’s venture: beauty products no longer need to choose between performance and care. In a market crowded with promises, perhaps the future lies in formulas that do both. The DLN Intuitone Skin Tint is currently available via TikTok Shop and Shopee with a suggested retail price of P998.00 per air pump bottle. For more information, follow @dlnskin on Instagram and DLN Skin Official on TikTok and Facebook.
Actress Jennylyn Mercado launches her own makeup line, which combines cosmetic coverage with skincare benefits like SPF and hydration
Margaret Diaz finds comfort and trust in ‘Hibla 2’
‘Hibla 2’ cast members (from left) Albie Casiño, Ghion Espinosa, and Margaret Diaz, alongside director Topel Lee, at the film’s press conference
By Jasper Valdez MARGARET Diaz said working with Aliya Raymundo helped her feel more comfortable while filming their intimate scenes in Hibla 2, the VMX remake of the 2002 sexy drama Hibla. During the film’s official press conference, Margaret said Hibla 2 marks her second GL role, and working with Aliya made the experience easier for her. “I felt more comfortable because of Aliya. She really helped me through it,” Margaret said, describing Aliya as someone who guided her on set. In Hibla 2, Margaret plays Jillian, a probinsyana whose bond with Carla, played by Aliya, becomes complicated after the two women reconnect and get entangled in each other’s relationships. According to Margaret, their closeness off camera helped her handle scenes she never thought she would be comfortable doing.
“For Hibla, I enjoyed my scenes with Aliya more because we’re really close. I didn’t feel uncomfortable with her,” she said. Margaret also shared that Aliya helped ease some of her personal insecurities during the shoot. “Aliya also empowered me. I would open up to her about my personal insecurities, and she would always tell me, ‘Girl, I didn’t even think of that. I don’t even see that. I think you’re perfect,’” Margaret said. For her, what mattered most was the trust she felt with Aliya while doing something she once thought would be difficult for her. “I enjoyed it more, not because of the sexual aspect, but because I never thought I could feel that comfortable doing a love
scene like that,” she added. When asked if she was worried that her comments might lead people to question her sexuality, Margaret said she does not see anything wrong with being attracted to any gender. “I don’t see anything wrong if I ever become attracted to a woman or to any gender. Love is love. You can’t change that. It’s a feeling,” she said. Directed by Topel Lee, Hibla 2 revisits the material of the original film by Yam Laranas but takes a bolder approach to its relationships and intimate scenes. “This is bolder. There’s more action, and the intimate scenes are more expanded compared to the original,” Topel said. Topel said the film also allowed him to further explore erotica, a genre he admitted was once outside his comfort zone as a director more closely associated with horror. “When I first started doing VMX, I really had a fear of erotica. I didn’t know how to approach kissing scenes and make-love scenes in films,” he said. “So I took it as a challenge and thought maybe this was where I could explore doing love scenes.” He said filming erotica requires a different approach from other genres. “It’s a different animal compared to genres like horror,” Topel said. Hibla 2, which also stars Albie Casiño and Ghion Espinosa, streams worldwide on VMX beginning June 30. Sexy actress Margaret Diaz credits her co-star Aliya Raymundo for helping her feel comfortable during intimate scenes in ‘Hibla 2’
Megan Young points out how selfcare and confidence have become part of her daily routine through different stages of life
Megan Young finds strength in self-trust AFTER years in the spotlight, Megan Young says her understanding of confidence has changed with time. Known to the public through her work in entertainment and pageantry, Young said confidence now means more than physical appearance and has become tied to self-trust and daily routines. “Before, confidence was very physical for me. If I looked good, I felt good,” Young said. “But now, confidence comes from consistently showing up for myself, whether that’s taking care of my intimate health, setting boundaries, making time to rest, or simply feeling comfortable and secure in my own body.” She said growing older has made her more mindful of the choices she makes for herself and her family. “Now, it’s about trusting my intuition,” she said. “I feel more confident making choices for myself, especially when it comes to my intimate health and daily self-care routine. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also become more mindful of the products and routines I trust for myself and my
family every day.” Young said self-care has become an important part of her routine, adding that consistency plays a key role in maintaining comfort and confidence. “I’ve become more mindful about taking care of myself,” she said. “The routines you stay consistent with every day really matter. For me, intimate care is part of that. It’s something reliable that helps me feel comfortable, confident, and ready for whatever the day brings.” She also described the partnership as meaningful because it aligns with different stages of her life. “It feels full circle,” Young said. “People have seen me grow through different stages of my life, and Lactacyd has been that kind of constant.” Jamie Superable-Martin, brand manager of Lactacyd, said Young’s personal growth resonates with many women. “Megan represents the kind of confidence that women genuinely connect with today,” SuperableMartin said.
LIFE
C4 THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
By Nickie Wang
Facelift gets a high-tech makeover
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HYROX KING. The actor-athlete credits mental focus, training, and self-motivation for helping him stay steady through the race’s toughest stations
Growing interest in non-invasive aesthetic treatments shows how ultrasound-based technology can help lift, tighten, and contour the skin without the need for surgery
DEMAND for non-invasive cosmetic procedures continues to grow, with clinics turning to newer technologies designed to lift and contour facial features without surgery. Facial Care Centre is highlighting its Ultraformer MPT treatment, a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedure aimed at improving skin firmness and facial definition. The treatment uses macro and micro HIFU energy to target specific layers beneath the skin, a process intended to stimulate collagen production and support skin tightening. According to the clinic, the procedure offers three primary benefits for the face and neck: lifting sagging skin, improving elasticity and firmness, and reducing localized fat deposits to help refine facial contours. The Ultraformer MPT is part of a growing category of ultrasound-based aesthetic treatments that focus on gradual, natural-looking results rather than dramatic changes in appearance. Facial Care Centre said treatment protocols are adjusted based on individual skin needs, with consultations used to determine the most suitable settings for each client. Industry observers note that the growing popularity of nonsurgical aesthetic procedures reflects a broader shift toward treatments that aim to enhance natural features while minimizing downtime. Practitioners continue to stress the importance of safety, proper consultation, and clinically guided treatment plans as more consumers explore cosmetic options for facial lifting and contouring procedures. Book a consultation at Facial Care Centre today through https://facialcarecentre.com.ph/.
Chesca Kramer turns to a noninvasive lifting treatment that boosts skin firmness, sharpens facial definition, and maintains a natural look
AS climate-related disruptions continue to affect food production and access to nutritious meals, health experts say Filipino families may need to look beyond diet alone to maintain overall wellness. This year’s Nutrition Month theme, “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan!” underscores the link between human health and the environment, as climate change continues to affect food systems, supply chains and food security. For many households, staying healthy has become increasingly difficult amid rising food costs, unpredictable weather and the demands of daily life. Nutrition experts continue to stress the importance of balanced diets rich in fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-dense food. But for many families, meeting daily nutritional needs remains a challenge due to busy schedules, irregular meal times and growing health concerns. While Nutrition Month activities often focus on children, health specialists note that wellness requires a broader family-based approach. Parents and caregivers play a key role in shaping healthy habits, but long work hours, stress and lack of rest can also affect their well-being. Different stages of life also come with different nutritional needs. Children often require support for immunity and digestive health as they grow and remain
CTOR David Licauco is proving that fitness can be both a personal challenge and a source of inspiration, using his success in endurance racing to encourage Filipinos to embrace healthier and more active lives.
David Licauco pushes body and mind to the limit
PEOPLE That message came to life in his recent performance at HYROX Jakarta 2026, where he emerged as the top Filipino finisher in the international fitness race. Local showbiz’s Pambansang Ginoo ranked first among 3,166 Filipino participants, posting a personal best of 1:07:38. He placed ninth in the men’s 30 to 34 age division and 28th overall in the Men’s Open category during the competition held June 27 to 28 at the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia. HYROX is a fitness race that combines running and functional workout stations, testing both cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength. Participants complete eight rounds of a one-kilometer run followed by a workout station. But behind the impressive finish time was a race that demanded as much from the mind as it did from the body, with every station pushing athletes closer to their physical and mental limits. In an exclusive interview with Manila Standard Life, David shared that mental preparation played a key role in helping him stay focused throughout the race. “Mentally, I prepared by visualizing the race over and over. My mindset was really just to stay calm, trust the hard training, and have fun. It’s a mental sport,” he recalled. The 32-year-old actor, health enthusiast, and entrepreneur added that he also relied on self-motivation during the race, especially in moments when exhaustion began to creep in. “I tried my best to stay in the moment and pep talk myself, saying, ‘You’re so strong, lakas mo,’” he said. David credited his improved performance to a strength and conditioning program designed by Miguel Aytona, who coaches De La Salle University and the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Still, even after crossing the finish line with a personal record, David was not fully satisfied, a sign of the competitive drive that continues to push him forward. “There were moments where I could have pushed harder. But it’s okay. I’ll work harder for my next race,” he noted. David shared that his goal is to continue improving, finish in the top three, and qualify for the HYROX World Championships. He added that the sport has also given him an opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream of representing the country. “As a kid, my dream was to represent the Philippines in basketball. That didn’t happen. So HYROX is my way to represent the Philippines internationally and hopefully inspire fellow Filipinos,” he explained. Earlier this year, David also competed in HYROX Taiwan, where he recorded a time of 1:07:48 and finished as the top Filipino in the Men’s Open division in Asia.
David Licauco carries the Philippine flag in the international fitness competition
After finishing as the top Filipino participant in HYROX Jakarta 2026, David Licauco sets his sights on improving his time and reaching the world stage
How to strengthen family wellness beyond nutrition
Health experts remind Filipino households that good nutrition works best with rest, movement, hydration, and support for every life stage
active, while adults may need added support for circulation, vitality and healthy aging, particularly as they deal with stress and other health concerns. Supplement brand LAC Philippines said it continues to offer products aimed at addressing nutritional needs across age groups. Among its products for children is LAC ImmuGuard Junior, which contains vitamins, zinc and probiotics intended to support immunity and digestive health. For adults, LAC Masquelier French Pine Bark Extract is designed to support antioxidant protection, circulation and collagen health. Health experts said supplements may help address nutritional gaps, but emphasized that these work best alongside healthy lifestyle habits such as balanced meals, regular exercise, adequate sleep and proper hydration. As Nutrition Month highlights the connection between nutrition and sustainability, experts said building healthier communities also requires helping families stay resilient amid evolving environmental and health challenges.