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NBI probes close to 20 names for VP ‘hitman’ Matibag says not ruling out foreign hand in kill plot

By Joel Zurbano, Ram Superable, Maricel Cruz and Pot Chavez

T

HE National Bureau of Investigation has flagged close to 20 individuals whom Vice President Sara Duterte may have tapped to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., NBI director Melvin Matibag told the Senate impeachment court yesterday, adding that the bureau is not yet ruling out the possibility of a foreign hand in the assassination plot.

PESO SLIDES P61.75 : $1 BUSINESS / B3

ALEX EALA BACK IN US OPEN DRAW SPORTS / A7

Marcos, Rubio talks focus on expanding ties

By Charles Dantes

VOL. XL • NO. 159 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 •

“We already have names. As a matter of fact, for some of them, we have already spoken to their families and to people who know them,” Matibag said.

The NBI director said among the persons of interest is a member of the Vice Presidential Security Group.

“In our effort to narrow down the list, we found there are men in uniform who are in active service,” he said.

Matibag said on a scale of 1 to 10, the probability that the NBI will be able to identify who was supposedly contracted by the Vice President to do the killings was at 6 to 7, and within “three to six months.”

The prosecution has presented Matibag as its last witness for the fourth article of impeachment, which accuses the

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored Manila's alliance with Washington during the latter’s courtesy call at Malacañang on Wednesday, with discussions focused on expanding defense and economic cooperation amid growing global uncertainties.

Rubio is in Manila for the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Summits, which the Philippines is hosting as this year's ASEAN chair.

"It's a great pleasure. Thank you very much for coming," Mr. Marcos said.

Referring to current geopolitical developments, the President added that both countries were living through "interesting times," making partnerships even more significant.

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Lazaro to Wang Yi: Remove structures in Panatag shoal

By Katrina Manubay, Rex Espiritu and Vince Lopez

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Rubio warns Iran control of Hormuz ‘dangerous’ for SEA

By Katrina Manubay UNITED States Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Wednesday that Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent with repercussions reaching beyond the Middle East.

In another development, Rubio announced $2.5 billion in strategic investments for Southeast Asia while reaffirming Washington's commitment to remain a reliable, long-term partner of the regional bloc.

Rubio is currently in Manila even as US Central Command said it had begun striking military targets in Iran for the "11th consecutive night" to degrade the country's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the waterway.

HONORED GUESTS.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and US State Secretary Marco Rubio (top photo) pose for the customary photo op during the US official’s courtesy call at Malacanang Palace. Inset shows Foreign Secretary Ma. Teresa Lazaro ushering in China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the venue of their bilateral meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center. PCO/ Sec. Lazaro/X

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DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Theresa Lazaro on Wednesday reiterated the Philippines' demand for the removal of the remaining Chinese structures in Scarborough Shoal during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Following the meeting, the DFA issued a statement saying Lazaro also expressed concern over activities affecting the country's maritime rights and condemned a China Daily video portraying Filipinos in an "offensive and unacceptable" manner.

“She conveyed the Philippines’ consistent and principled positions on the South China Sea, raised concerns over actions that infringed on maritime rights and entitlements—including incidents affecting the safety of Filipino personnel and fishermen— and reiterated the call for the removal of the remaining structures in Bajo de Masinloc,” the statement read.

“The Secretary emphasized that disagreements over legal and political issues do not justify resorting to disturbing imagery, drawing a firm line at the depiction of Filipinos as monkeys in the July 10, 2026 China Daily video, which is deeply offensive, distressing, and unacceptable,” it added.

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Ping eyes insertions during Speaker Alan’s time

By Joel E. Zurbano DRYING OUT.

The water level at Angat Dam has dropped, as of yesterday, to 152.12 meters, well below the minimum operating level of 180 meters.

Dejaño Timbol

SEN. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Wednesday said his team uncovered infrastructure projects worth P2.08 billion in insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), some of which date back to when Sen. Alan Cayetano was House Speaker.

"There are too many P100-mil-

lion slope protection and drainage projects totaling P2.085 billion out of the P6.79 billion in insertions under the 2025 General Appropriations Act. There is no turning back," Lacson said.

He alleged that some of the infrastructure projects were fictitious, adding that several questionable contracts involved projects dating back to 2019 and

2020, when Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was head of the House of Representatives..

For his part, Cayetano denied his colleague's allegations of ghost projects in Taguig: "There are no ghost projects in Taguig, and if anyone can show one, someone will be held accountable."

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Speaker Dy urges proactive response to El Nino threat

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja THE House of Representatives is moving early to strengthen the country’s preparedness against the looming effects of El Niño, with Speaker Faustino G. Dy III urging government agencies to shift from reactive disaster response to proac-

tive planning before the dry spell worsens.

Speaking at the House Committee on Agriculture and Food’s El Niño briefing, the Speaker stressed that the country has already experienced the severe consequences of prolonged drought on agriculture, food supply, and the economy.

“This is timely because we

have already experienced the severe effects of El Niño on crop production, food security, and our economy. From 2023 to 2024, rice production dropped by 12 percent to 15 percent, leading to higher rice prices and affecting millions of Filipinos,” the House chief said.

Having witnessed firsthand the Next page

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Marcos,...

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NBI...

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Vice President of grave threats against the President, First Lady Liza Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

‘Foreign entities may be involved’ Matibag said the NBI was also not ruling out the possibility the assassination threat may have transnational elements.

Senator-judge Bam Aquino asked Matibag: “Does your investigation reveal any transnational nature related to this potential assassination of the President? Are there any foreign entities or individuals involved in your inquiry who are not Filipino?"

Matibag replied: “That is really one of the purposes why we included them to find out who. We know that to assassinate a president, it is not just one or two people talking here. Your ability, your capacity comes into play.

You need money, you need a network, you need people. So, we are looking at all of this.”

“What you are mentioning is in-

Lazaro...

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Beijing not involved in monkey editorial—envoy On Friday, the Philippines formally lodged a diplomatic protest against the Chinese newspaper over what it described as racist content depicting Filipinos.

Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said the Chinese government had no involvement in the editorial, describing it as a media action unrelated to the government.

Lazaro also stressed the importance of exercising restraint, avoiding actions that escalate tensions, and resolving disputes peacefully in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

The DFA said both sides held an honest, comprehensive, and constructive discussion on Philippines-China relations, covering political and security

Rubio...

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"If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and blow up your ships if you don't pay, we have created a very dangerous precedent that will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including this region," Rubio told the ASEAN delegates at a gathering in Manila.

"At its core, it's very simple. Iran demands the right—which they do not have under any existing legal mechanism—to control the transit of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

"There is a fundamental principle about freedom of navigation that is threatened. That cannot be allowed to happen," he stressed.

Rubio's remarks came as the region is grappling with a series of overlapping claims by China and ASEAN member states in the South China Sea, another crucial maritime route for global trade.

His arrival in the Philippines on Tuesday morning coincided with the US condemnation of a recent clash between Chinese and Philippine sailors at the Ayungin Shoal in the disputed West Philippine Sea..

Rubio is to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, where he will also have talks with fellow Quad members India, Australia and Japan, and others.

Iran not serious with talks—Rubio Rubio also said that the US remains "open" to diplomacy with Iran but that Tehran is not “serious.”

"The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive and constructive negotiations and discussions, provided that the commitments made are honored," he said.

"The problem we are currently facing is that they are not taking the negotiations seriously," Rubio said.

"If they are serious, we will be too.

If they are not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and those of our allies."

US $2.5b investments not charity In his opening statement during the ASEAN and U.S. Post-Ministerial Conference, Rubio emphasized that such investments are not ‘charity’ but rather in the U.S. national interest.

“We're investing because the development of ASEAN is also in the in-

cluded in what we are looking at. But one of the major reasons for that – the travels of our President – we have to also monitor it because of the possibility of endangering the life of the President during his time that he's outside of the country, that's also there because of the threat.”

‘Betrayal of public trust already consummated’ Matibag likewise testified that the Vice President’s own public admissions had already consummated the betrayal of public trust cited in her impeachment case, regardless of whether the bureau eventually identifies the person she allegedly asked to kill the President.

“The betrayal of public trust, as the issue in the Impeachment Court, we don’t need to investigate even if we pinpointed the person contracted,” Matibag said during the cross-examination, with defense counsel Mark Vinluan asking whether the NBI’s continuing investigation could eventually result in another impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“The betrayal of public trust was already consummated when she pub-

licly admitted – there is already an admission that she contracted a killer, a mamamatay-tao, an assassin, to kill the President.”

“And that itself is already an admission. And she added, ‘The hitman I spoke to has agreed.’ That constitutes betrayal of public trust,” Matibag added.

The defense immediately moved to strike the testimony from the record, arguing that Matibag’s answer contained legal and factual conclusions.

Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro opposed the motion, saying the defense itself had asked whether the alleged acts amounted to betrayal of public trust and that the witness merely explained his answer.

Presiding officer Francis Escudero denied the defense’s motion and allowed Matibag’s testimony to remain on the record.

Mayor Baste may face grave threat raps, too As this developed, Matibag said Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte may also face grave threat and inciting to sedition raps for making similar

threats against the President.

Senator-judge Ping Lacson asked Matibag why the NBI has not investigated Mayor Duterte after the latter told a rally in Cebu in May: “Isang ulo lang ang gusto namin, ‘yung ulo ni Bongbong Marcos (We only want one head—Bongbong Marcos's head).”

The NBI head said Mayor Duterte’s statement is covered by the wider inquiry being done by the special task force he created in April to look into the continuing and active threats against Mr. Marcos.

“The reason we didn't investigate him separately is that we have included him in this task force. We have an agreement among us that if we can establish that the elements for grave threat are there, we are contemplating on filing grave threat and inciting to sedition charges as well,” Matibag said.

“We are developing a theory based on conspiracy. We know that if we go to court using the theory of conspiracy, it is somewhat more difficult to build the case, which is why it is taking a long time to develop it,” he added.

issues, maritime concerns, regional and international developments, and mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.

The meeting took place during the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conferences, and Related Meetings, marking the first bilateral foreign ministers' meeting between the Philippines and China in two years.

It followed the 24th Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea, held from March 27 to 28, 2026, in China.

Coast Guard hits China obstruction The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday meanwhile called the China Coast Guard's obstruction of the medical evacuation of two injured soldiers from Ayungin Shoal an "act of barbarism."

The PCG also rejected Beijing's claim that it had permitted the evacuation involving injured Philippine Navy

personnel, stressing that China had no authority to grant such permission.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said the evacuation was a humanitarian mission conducted within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“For me, this is an act of barbarism.

This is an act of a pirate. This is very uncalled for by any coast guard personnel in different parts of the world,” Tarriela said during a press briefing in Manila.

He said coast guards are responsible for law enforcement and maritime safety, “but what they’re doing is harming people and jeopardizing the safety of personnel.”

The remarks came after the China Coast Guard claimed it had allowed the medical evacuation “out of humanitarian considerations.”

No permission to evacuate needed —Tarriela “We don’t need any permission from anybody because this is being conducted within our EEZ, and it is in accordance with UNCLOS and the

2016 Arbitral Award,” Tarriela said.

“All vessels at sea are customarily expected to support and not impede a medical evacuation,” he added.

Tarriela said the PCG vessel BRP Melchora Aquino repeatedly issued radio announcements before reaching Ayungin Shoal, informing all vessels in the area that it was conducting a medical evacuation.

The advisory reminded nearby vessels of their obligation under international law to assist, not obstruct, humanitarian and life-saving operations.

“We did not ask for any agreement or cooperation from the CCG or any other watercraft in the vicinity,” Tarriela said.

The PCG deployed BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua following Monday's confrontation at Ayungin Shoal that left Philippine Navy personnel injured.

Recently, tensions escalated when a China Coast Guard member allegedly struck a Philippine Navy sailor on the head with a wooden baton, injuring the sailor and damaging a Navy rubber boat.

terest of the United States. This is not charity. This is not something we're doing because we're nice people, although I believe we are nice people, but it's in our national interest,” he said.

In an opinion piece published in a local newspaper on Monday, Rubio asserted that this initiative aims to bolster the economic growth and security of the involved parties.

Rubio also cited the recent approval by the Development Finance Corporation to provide $1.5 billion in new strategic investments to boost aviation infrastructure, energy security, and supply chain security.

“We want to be among your most trusted partners in these efforts. We're committing to support regional security through nearly $130 million in assistance to ASEAN countries for demining, which reflects our commitment to the safety of everyday citizens,” he added.

He noted that the U.S. will stay ‘heavily engaged’ on energy issues, mentioning ASEAN’s initiative to implement the Petroleum Security Agreement.

Following the 48th Leaders Summit in Cebu, the leaders outlined action areas for regional resilience in response to the evolving situation in the Middle East, highlighting the bloc's collective resolve amid shifting global circumstances.

In a joint communiqué, they identified proposed actions, including expediting the completion of national processes for ratifying the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security (APSA) to ensure its prompt entry into force.

For her part, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, as ASEAN chair, emphasized the strong partnership between ASEAN and the U.S., noting that the conference will establish a clear and ambitious direction for the next phase of cooperation.

“In this spirit, today's meeting gives us a valuable opportunity to have an open and candid exchange on regional and global development, share our respective priorities, and explore new areas where we can work more closely together,” she said.

The U.S. and ASEAN's formal relations began in 1977 with the first dialogue meeting held in Manila.

The partnership evolved into a Strategic Partnership in 2015 and was further upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. With AFP

Speaker...

effective, implementable, and capable of protecting our fellow citizens.”

“It is crucial that we be prepared and not wait for a crisis to strike before taking action, for the peace of mind of every farmer and every Filipino,” Dy said.

Water elevation at Angat Dam in Bulacan meanwhile dipped to a record low of 152.12 meters as of Wednesday morning.

Authorities said the dam’s water level is 28.43 meters below its 180-meter minimum operating level and well below its 212-meter normal high water level.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier said the water level could hit 150 meters by the end of July.

The water level at the dam may even drop to 149 meters, especially with the El Niño episode expected to persist in the coming months.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System has already reduced water allocation to 45 million liters per day from the normal 70 million liters per day for Metro Manila.

“Based on our records, this is the lowest elevation at 152 meters (Tuesday). It is possible that if it doesn't rain for a few days, it will go down even further, and that will be the lowest elevation of Angat Dam,” hydrologist Edgar dela Cruz said in a television interview.

“Right now, we are monitoring a low-pressure area. If it develops into a tropical depression, we think it will move north. That will enhance the southwest monsoon if it develops,” he added.

PAGASA said the dam’s water level is expected to increase if continuous rainfall persists for several days.

Several major dams posted slight increases: Ipo Dam in Bulacan, from 99.81 meters to 99.82 meters; La Mesa Dam in Quezon City, from 79.18 meters to 79.20 meters; Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, from 741.22 meters to 741.53 meters; Magat Dam in Isabela, from 161.78 meters to 162.25 meters.

The meeting came a day after Marcos summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang following the assault of Chinese Coast Guard on Philippine Navy personnel near Ayungin Shoal, reigniting tensions between the two countries locked by a longstanding territorial dispute.

Meanwhile, Rubio congratulated President Marcos for hosting the ASEAN meetings, saying the conference provided an opportunity to engage with regional partners while reinforcing Washington's close relationship with Manila.

"Thank you for welcoming me. I want to congratulate you on a great job of hosting this conference," Rubio said.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said the meeting primarily focused on further strengthening bilateral relations.

"Generally, it was just mostly on the relationship, strengthening of our relationship," Romualdez told reporters.

He said Mr. Marcos expressed appreciation for continued US support "on all matters, not only in the defense but also on the economic front."

According to Romualdez, Rubio's visit to Malacañang was intended to personally convey the best wishes of US President Donald Trump for President Marcos while attending the ASEAN-related meetings.

He added that Trump had spoken with Rubio before the trip and asked him to deliver the message, expressing hope that the US president would attend the ASEAN Leaders' Summit in November.

Romualdez said China was not a major topic during the meeting despite recent developments in the South China Sea. He explained that Marcos' remarks about living in "interesting times" referred broadly to the current global situation rather than to any specific scenario.

"It was not really mentioned. It was just in passing," Romualdez said when asked whether China was discussed directly.

He added that while the Philippines continues to hope that countries can encourage China to respect international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, specific issues such as the situation at Ayungin Shoal were not taken up during the courtesy call.

Romualdez also said President Marcos welcomed the progress of the Luzon Economic Corridor, noting that its implementation is moving quickly and is expected to contribute to the country's long-term economic growth and economic security.

"Pax Silica and the Luzon Economic Corridor are among the main points that President Marcos has expressed (to Rubio). Well, I wouldn't say gratitude, but he's very pleased that it's moving quickly and that it will definitely help the Philippine economy," Romualdez said.

“The President, of course, expresses his gratitude to the continued support that we've been getting from the United States on all matters, not only in the defense but also on the economic front. So the general discussion was surrounding that,” he added.

Asked whether the latest developments in the West Philippine Sea figured prominently in the meeting, Romualdez said the issue was raised only briefly.

“It was not really mentioned. It was just in passing,” he said when asked if the reported assault by the China Coast Guard on Philippine Navy personnel at Ayungin Shoal was discussed.

Still, he said China remains a regular topic whenever the Philippines and U.S. meet because of broader regional security concerns.

“China of course has always been a situation, that is always part of the conversation in the sense that the hope is that countries will have a way to be able to persuade China to be able to respect the rule of law, international law of the seas and so forth and so on,” he added.

The Philippines and the United States are treaty allies under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and have expanded cooperation in recent years in defense, infrastructure, trade and strategic supply chains.

had verified Taguig's flood control works and found no ghost projects.

Cayetano called for a nationwide investigation into alleged ghost projects rather than focusing solely on Taguig, saying all local government units should be subject to the same

level of scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has since announced it would resume its investigation into flood control projects after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address on July 27.

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impact of El Niño in his home province of Isabela—where prolonged dry conditions damaged farmlands, strained irrigation systems, and contributed to fish kills in the Magat Reservoir—Speaker Dy said the experience highlighted the importance of acting before a crisis hits.

He noted that while emergency interventions helped cushion the effects on farmers and fisherfolk, the lessons learned underscored the need for a unified national preparedness framework that enables government to anticipate, rather than merely respond to, future El Niño events.

Drawing from Isabela’s experience, Dy said the province immediately convened an emergency consultation with the Department of Agriculture Region II, the Provincial Government, NIA-MARIIS, the League of Mayors, all city and municipal agriculture officers, and other concerned agencies to coordinate early interventions.

The province also intensified monitoring of Magat Dam’s water levels and worked closely with irrigation managers to plan water releases and project available water supply before conditions worsened.

He added that Isabela prioritized the timely delivery of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk, including fuel subsidies, while advancing longerterm investments in irrigation systems, water-efficient technologies, community-based water management, climate-resilient agriculture, and additional water-harvesting and multipurpose dam projects.

He said these measures showed that early coordination and preparation can significantly reduce the impact of prolonged drought on communities and the country’s food supply.

He said the objective of the congressional briefing is to develop a unified national preparedness framework that local governments and national agencies can adopt before drought conditions worsen, “a system that is

Ping...

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He said that Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon had assured him on several occasions that his department

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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‘Consultations on fares needed’ T

By Darwin G. Amojelar

ransportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to start public consultations on filed fare hike petitions following recent increases in oil prices.

The move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strike a balance between the welfare of public transport drivers and the financial strain on commuters.

According to Lopez, carefully evaluating these petitions is critical, particularly because of their potential ripple effect on inflation, which recent Pulse Asia surveys highlight as the top concern among Filipinos.

“The complication right now is that we also have to address inflation. In a recent survey, one of the top concerns of our fellow Filipinos is managing inflation,” Lopez said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the headline inflation rate in the Philippines eased to 6.4 percent in June 2026, down from 6.8 percent in May. This brought the national average inflation rate for the first half of the year to 4.8 percent.

“I understand there are several petitions filed before the LTFRB for a fare hike. I instructed the LTFRB to start the process, including public consultations and discussions with regional directors nationwide,” he added.

Lopez, however, reassured the public that government assistance for transport workers remains active, including the P10-per-liter Fuel Subsidy Program.

The government is currently evaluating whether to extend or expand the program to cover more drivers.

THE SPEAKER. House Speaker Faustino “Inno” Dy III attends the plenary session at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 22, days before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

VP Sara leads presidential survey—Pulse Asia

By Ma. Katrina Mikaela Manubay VICE President Sara Duterte has emerged as the top choice for president in the 2028 elections, while Senator Christopher “Bong” Go leads the vice presidential race, according to a Pulse Asia survey.

In the latest Ulat ng Bayan survey, results show that nearly half of Filipino adults (49 percent) would pick Duterte over then-Vice President and incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo (26 percent).

Other officials who made the list include Senator Raffy Tulfo (14 percent), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon (1 percent), Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (1 percent), and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre (0.1 percent).

Support for Duterte was more pronounced in certain areas, with Mindanao leading at 83 percent and the Visayas at 53 percent, while Balance Luzon and the National Capital Region posted the lowest at 31 percent and 39 percent, respectively.

Support for Duterte also varied by socioeconomic class, with the highest among Class E (59 percent), followed

by Class D (48 percent) and Class ABC (46 percent).

The survey also revealed that Senator Go would likely win with 27 percent of the votes if the May 2028 elections were held during the survey period.

His main competitors included Senator Robin Padilla (21 percent), Senator Aquino (14 percent), former Senator Grace Poe (14 percent), Senator Erwin Tulfo (9 percent), Senator Francis Pangilinan (4 percent), and MMDA General Manager Torre (0.5 percent).

Quad ministers reaffirm ASEAN ties amid issues

By Kyodo News JAPAN, the United States, Australia and India reaffirmed their commitment Wednesday to closer cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), seeking to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

In a joint press release issued after their meeting in Manila, the foreign ministers of the Quad grouping said they remain committed to ASEAN’s long-term success and expanding cooperation with the bloc and its member states as “comprehensive strategic partners.”

To support the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, aimed at promoting peace, stability and prosperity, the ministers discussed boosting cooperation in “maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response.”

“We are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region,” the ministers said.

The meeting came less than two months after the previous Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi in late May, underscoring a renewed diplomatic push by the four countries.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS Twentieth Congress

ANNOUNCEMENT President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA), for confirmation, the ad interim appointments of the following Generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): 1. ONORLIE B. BRILLANTES 2. JOEY A. ESCANILLAS 3. ROY L. ONGGAO 4. RYAN REYNIE P. SONZA

to the rank of Major General to the rank of Major General to the rank of Brigadier General to the rank of Brigadier General

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above ad interim appointments in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 88342706 and 8551-1989.

21 July 2026.

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA Secretary (MS-JULY 23, 2026)

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AFP, PNP gear up for BARMM polls IN BRIEF

By Rex Espiritu and Vince Lopez

NMC updates ’94 policy to cope with WPS issue THE National Maritime Council (NMC) is updating the 1994 National Marine Policy as part of government efforts in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Department of Justice (DOJ) senior state counsel Fretti Ganchoon issued the statement Tuesday during a public briefing that discussed the practical challenges surrounding the issue amid conflicting narratives and disinformation.

“There is much that can be achieved if the country is unified.

Unity is paramount to the national security of the Philippines. That unity, however, is being challenged day by day, among others, by our adversaries’ cognitive warfare,” Ganchoon said.

She noted that the update is necessary to make the policy comprehensive, coherent, and responsive. Pot Chavez

T

HE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have intensified preparations for the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Newly installed AFP chief Gen. Antonio Nafarrete identified the BARMM polls as the military’s immediate operational priority, saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the military to ensure the security of the historic elections.

“The immediate order is we are preparing for the BARMM election, so

that’s one of the very near major security operations, the first parliamentary election,” Nafarrete said.

He added that the President also instructed the AFP to monitor developments following Monday’s incident with Chinese forces in Ayungin Shoal and ensure that injured AFP personnel receive

proper medical attention.

“In so far as what happened yesterday, he wants us to monitor and also look into the injured personnel,” he said.

Nafarrete, the second AFP chief to serve a fixed three-year term next Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., assumed command on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the PNP also stepped up security operations in areas classified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as high risk ahead of the BARMM polls.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed police units in the region to strengthen security operations in all areas placed under the red category.

“Our goal is to implement long-term changes to finally address the negative perceptions that come with the conduct

of elections in this region due to the incidents that happened in the past. It’s a work in progress, and we are on the right track,” Nartatez said.

The Comelec has placed 27 areas under the red category due to serious security threats posed by communist terrorist groups and other armed groups.

These included the municipalities in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and the Special Geographic Area.

The gun ban is already in effect across the region, while police commanders have been instructed to coordinate with local officials and facilitate peace covenants among political clans and other groups to help ensure peaceful, orderly, and credible elections.

CHR issues advisory on civil, political rights

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday issued its first advisory on civil and political rights and strengthening the rule of law, admitting that multiple priority legislative and policy reforms needed actions, including the issue of political dynasty and the passage of its Charter into law.

The CHR issued the first in a series of human rights advisories assessing the Fourth Philippine Human Rights Plan (PHRP4), beginning with the Plan’s chapter for stronger protection of civil and political rights.

While significant gains had been reflected in the Plan, the CHR underscored that important gaps still remained to be addressed.

The advisory was an offshoot of the CHR’s independent regional consultations with civil society organizations, marginalized sector and other stakeholders conducted by the Ateneo de Manila University Human Rights Center. Rio N. Araja

PCG warns of China Yinli-1 rocket fallout THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued a maritime advisory ahead of the possible launch of the Yinli-1 (Y4) rocket by China on Wednesday morning.

According to the Coast Guard District Northeastern Luzon, the rocket is scheduled to launch from the East China Sea Launch Area off Shanghai.

A designated drop zone is located approximately 115 nautical miles off Babuyan Island and 129 nautical miles from Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

The coast guard district also advised fishermen and mariners to avoid the designated drop zone during the launch time frame. Vince Lopez

PVAO MASCOT. The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) introduces its first-ever official mascot named ‘Lolo Giting’ during the regular Monday flagraising ceremony at the PVAO headquarters on July 20. According to PVAO, the mascot symbolizes the courage, wisdom, resilience, and enduring spirit of the Filipino veterans. PVAO photo

DSWD, DOJ to set up assistance center for sex abuse victims

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), is set to launch a new one-stop-shop (OSS) for victim-survivors of sexual abuse notably those committed online.

“As part of the efforts of the Marcos administration to combat child abuse, exploitation, and trafficking, the DSWD, as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), will manage a new one-stop-shop that will serve

as a reception and assessment facility for trafficked victims,” said DSWD assistant secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao.

The OSS, also called the IACAT–Tahanan ng Inyong Pag-asa (TIP) Center, will provide rehabilitative and protective programs, including counseling and temporary shelter, for trafficking in persons victim-survivors.

“The TIP Center, as a secure, private, and gender-responsive transit facility, will guarantee that victim-survivors are immediately separated from suspects fol-

lowing rescue operations, shielding them from intimidation and re-traumatization while their cases undergo legal processing,” Dumlao said.

The interventions that the new center aims to provide include trauma-informed and gender-responsive case management, social welfare, medical, psychosocial, legal and law enforcement services, and video in-depth interview, for OSAEC and CSAEM victim-survivors and their families.

“It is also expected that the TIP Center will streamline inter-agency coordina-

tion and referral pathways among member agencies of the National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM), specifically the DSWD, DOJ, DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), and law enforcement agencies. This means that after law enforcement rescue, the center can immediately provide a secure environment for immediate care and case management, ensuring a smooth transition to long-term recovery and rehabilitation,” Dumlao stressed.

NBDB broadens reading hubs to cover 25 additional areas

MECHANIZED FARMING. Vegetable farmers in Atok, Benguet, considered a major highland vegetable producing municipality, use precision sprinklers and drip emitters to irrigate their fields. The rotary nozzles not only allow for water conservation by minimizing runoffs while the drip emitters save up to 70 percent water by entirely bypassing foliage and evaporation. Dave Leprozo

THE National Book Development Board (NBDB) is expanding its Book Nook Project for 2026, to cover 25 more community reading sites, bringing the program’s total to 163 active hubs across the country.

Sixteen of the new sites are in Luzon, four in the Visayas, and five in Mindanao.

Established in 2021 under the NBDB’s Readership Development Division (READ), The Book Nook Project operates on the slogan “Aklat Para Sa Lahat,” or books for everyone, which is deemed “not aspiration but a basic right.”

The initiative supports the NBDB’s mandate under Republic Act No. 8047, the Book Publishing Industry Development Act, to build a functional, nationwide network of reading spaces, with a particular focus on rural, underserved, and marginalized communities, the board said in a statement.

“By empowering local schools, indigenous communities, and local organizations, we are ensuring that children and

neo-literates across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have a safe space to discover homegrown, Filipino-authored literature,” said NBDB executive director Charisse Aquino-Tugade.

The selection process for the 2026 cycle, led by the READ Partnerships Committee, drew 130 applicants from across the country.

Shortlisted candidates completed Tuklas Dunong, a capacity-building workshop series covering site management, resource mobilization, community development, and basic book cataloging, equipping each partner with the foundation needed to sustain their reading space well beyond its launch.

The final roster of approved sites reflected the wide scope of that reach: local government units (LGUs), public elementary and high schools, state colleges, cultural museums, and youth-led grassroots organizations, each bringing a different vantage point to the same purpose, the statement read.

‘Actual money immaterial to prove kidnap-for-ransom’

By Pot Chavez THE loss or non-presentation of ransom money in court does not prevent a conviction for kidnapping for ransom, according to the Supreme Court (SC).

The SC First Division ruled that the prosecution only needed to

prove that ransom was demanded for the victim’s release.

The High Tribunal explained that kidnapping for ransom is committed when a private individual illegally kidnaps, detains, or deprives another person of liberty for the purpose of demanding ransom.

As such, the High Court stressed

that actual payment or receipt of the ransom money is not important to prove the crime of ransom.

It further emphasized that the failure to present the ransom money in court did not disprove that ransom had been demanded and paid since the evidence clearly established both.

P250-M POST HARVEST FACILITIES. Cagayan Gov. Edgar Aglipay hands out certificates of award amounting to P250 million to the mayors of Tuao, Piat, Buguey, Baggao, and Alcala for the construction of post-harvest facilities in their respective municipalities. Jessica M. Bacud

OPINION

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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A poignant colonial love story

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—“—

HEN it comes to love stories during the dying decades of Spanish colonial rule, we Filipinos are all too familiar with our national hero’s love interests. This is because Filipinos who go to college are required to study the life and times of Dr. Jose Rizal. Leonor Rivera is of course the most famous, but there were many whom he met during his travels in Europe. There was also one from Japan. Rizal ended up with Josephine Bracken who stayed with him until his death. She eventually died in apparent poverty in Hong Kong.

But how about a love story between a Spanish nobleman sent to the Philippines as Special Envoy of the Spanish monarch falling in love with an unknown Cordillera maiden? Was this possible at all considering the prevailing social norms in the country at that time?

For instance, natives were registered as indios and not as Filipinos. This was because only Spaniards born in the Philippines were considered Filipinos; those who came from Spain were called peninsulares, an even higher social category. Social segregation was strict and firmly enforced.

The Chinese living here, for example, were only allowed to live in enclaves called parian or Chinatown as we know it today. But it was worse with the so called non-Christian people living in the Cordillera region. Yet, in spite of all that, a Spanish nobleman ended up marrying a Cordillera maiden and lived happily during their relatively short time together. Here is their story that I would like to share.

It all started because of the desire of the Spanish colonial government to exploit and to benefit from the existing gold trade and mining operations in Northern Luzon.

In 1867, the reigning monarch of Spain, Queen Isabella 2, ennobled a loyal Spanish official by the name of Don Carlos, made him a Count and designated him as her Special Envoy to the Philippines. His mission was to collect and inventory all the treasures accumulated by the Spanish colonial government in the Cordilleras, and then bring the gold back to Spain.

When he arrived in 1868, he initially made his base of operations in Villa Fernandina which the City of Vigan today. Later, however, he apparently moved to the old upland town of Alilem which at that time was the center of the commandancia politico-militar of Amburayan that administered the Cordilleras to be nearer the gold mines.

This must have been the place where Don Carlos first spotted the unusually tall, attractive, and imposing Cordillera maiden whose name was Generosa. This description is based on a photo sent by the Spanish National Archives in Seville

There was no happy ending for Don Carlos and Generosa. showing Carlos and Generosa after their marriage. Don Carlos apparently did everything right by first converting Generosa to the Catholic faith then marrying her in the church of Alilem on July 8, 1871. The wedding was solemnized by a Spanish parish priest. Their daughter Joaquina was then born on July 15 and baptized on July 24 of the same year, indicating that the couple had been living together prior to their marriage and birth of their daughter.

There is also a photo, dating back to about 1871, of Carlos and Generosa as husband and wife with Joaquina. Generosa stood well above the ears of Carlos who was approximately six feet tall showing that she must have been about five feet nine inches tall and had fair complexion.

It’s no wonder that Don Carlos was smitten by her. The photo was captioned at back with the phrase “my happy family”.

Regrettably, the family bliss did not last long. The following year, Carlos had to go back to Spain to bring back the treasures he was able to collect. And since he could not bring home his own family with him due to the nature of his mission, he left his family behind with the promise that he would come back for them. He never did and spent the rest of his life never forgiving himself for what he did. He died an old man in 1914 in Spain.

And what happened to Generosa and Joaquina? Generosa was lost to history. I have been unable to find any records about her except for one brief moment in 1880 when she brought her daughter Joaquina for confirmation to the parish church of Vigan.

A lot remains unavailable to the public about the life of Don Carlos and what he did in the Philippines because his journal and other official documents relating to his mission remain classified to this day. Until such time that those documents are given the clearance to be released -- the Spanish archives promised as much – that is all that I can share with the public.

And Joaquina? She eventually married a Chinese immigrant and begot eight children. She and husband became reasonably well to do. She died in 1954 at the age of 83. Her descendants who remained here have increased and by in large became responsible citizens. Many, however, are now scattered all over the world living their own lives.

It is sad that Don Carlos and Generosa did not live happily ever after like in the movies.

EDITORIAL

NBI’s probe of grave threats

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HE testimony of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag before the Senate impeachment court on July 21-22 could be one of the pivotal moments in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Earlier, two NBI agents had already spoken about the alleged death threats she supposedly made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. But Matibag’s appearance carries added weight because he is the head of the country’s premier investigative agency.

WO big businessmen, reacting to our Monday article “Out of Sync,” sent an SMS to this writer.

One said: “Businesses are now on wait and see.”

The other said: “Dalawang taon na lang ang titiisin” (two more years to endure).

Some legislators are wondering why it seems the public is not keenly awaiting developments in what the prosecutors bill as “the trial of the century”.

My usual reply: “The poor worry about the next meal; the middle class worry about the ever-rising cost of electricity, and everything else. That’s why they are tuning out of what is clearly political demolition.”

They know the impeachment trial is a circus, much like Commodus staging gladiatorial fights, -- bloodbaths -- to let the Romans forget the corruption of his

ing on their own. It went through the bureau’s established chain of command and was subject to institutional review and supervision.

His testimony also has a direct impact on intent, one of the key issues in the impeachment trial. The Senate must determine whether the Vice President’s statements were simply emotional outbursts or whether they amounted to genuine threats against the country’s highest

SKRAT, BULGARIA—Doctor Kiril Apostolov shows no sign of being short of breath as he climbs a steep street in the mountain village of Skrat in southwestern Bulgaria, medical briefcase in hand, despite his advanced age.

Apostolov turned 90 in May but still scales the same hill almost every day to visit his patients at the foot of the Belasitsa mountain range, near the border with Greece and North Macedonia.

In Bulgaria, many general practitioners continue to work well past retirement age because there is no one to replace them, especially in rural areas.

In 2023, 54.5 percent of doctors in the EU’s poorest country were 55 or older -- the highest proportion of any country in the bloc, according to Eurostat. For general practitioners like Apostolove,

the average age is currently over 61.

Bulgaria also has the lowest life expectancy in the EU -- 75.8 years in 2024, compared with a bloc-wide average of 81.5 years -- and one of the highest rates of preventable mortality, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

This is partly down to the shortage of doctors, leading to later diagnoses and poorer management of chronic illnesses.

Apostolov alone has more than 1,500 patients on his books, spread across several villages.

Doctor Apostolov’s day starts around 7:00 am, when he gets into his rusty 20-year-old Peugeot to drive the roughly 16 kilometers from his home in Petrich to his office in Skrat. Often, patients are already waiting for him, seek-

ing help with a range of issues including high blood pressure and diabetes.

At midday, he leaves the surgery to visit patients who can no longer get around themselves. And in the afternoon, he gets back in his car to tour around the neighboring villages.

“I would gladly step aside for someone who wanted to come work here, but young doctors aren’t coming,” he said.

Apostolov began practicing in 1962 as a district doctor, before heading a hospital department in the town of Petrich and then running a cardiology practice. He was already over 60 when he settled in Skrat in 2000.

According to the OECD, primary care remains underdeveloped, underfunded, and undervalued in Bulgaria, despite a relatively high overall density of physicians. AFP

meled by bad governance, from having to wonder why their peso earnings can no longer be stretched enough to pay for groceries, utilities, and all other expenses.

They need to dig into hard-earned savings to tide their family over, but what happens when their savings run out?

There seems to be no light at the end of the long tunnel of misgovernance.

Their government does not seem to have solutions other than “ayuda”, “utang pa” more, and now, selling real estate to court after the glory his father Marcus the detriment of future generations.

Aurelius brought to the empire.

The impeachment trial is our gladiatorial circus, while corruption, which is the worst in a century, is hallmarked by ghosts Tragically, our people and “maletas” in flood control projects. resort to praying as they Meanwhile, the poorest of the poor are assuaged by “ayuda.” But make no misincreasingly lose hope. take about it: No one, no matter how poor, likes being treated as beggars. They know it is their money being returned to them, As the political climate does not favor from the VAT that they too shoulder. increasing taxes on an already over-taxed Just look at the trust and acceptance public, the government is now selling the surveys of the president who gives remaining portions of Food Terminal Inc. them ayuda, whether Publicus’, Social in Taguig, and the Mile Long property in Weather Stations’, or Pulse Asia’s. The Makati. The latter used to belong to Naponumber is going south and southwards, cor until a favored family that now conwhile the persecuted from the South trols the Philippine Daily Inquirer leased stays firm, even inching up. it for a song during President Cory’s time, It is the middle class that is being pum- until Duterte came.

There are more properties far from the public eye that government is “quietly” disposing, in what could be fire-sales to the favored.

Meanwhile, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority is giving for free some 2,000 hectares of Clark (maybe more) so that “friendly” carpetbaggers can put up an “AI City” that will hopefully compete against dominant China in the tech-nomics of the near future. For sure, the President will crow about it in his penultimate State of the Nation Address.

But will foreign investors bite immediately for freebie land? What about the high costs of power, the major requirement of such an ambitious endeavor?

They would be fools to rush in with their money. They would rather wait.

Unless, of course, our banks -- particularly government-owned institutions -- lend them money so they can meet the huge capital requirements, and the government extends more exemptions from taxes that ordinary folks and small businesses can never hope to get.

These investors will squeeze whatever they can from a government too willing to be raped because it is frantic for some concrete legacy.

Angkas and Grab motorcycle drivers are worried not only for their cellphones

and money as they take rides from criminals who kill without compunction, likely to be able to sustain their addiction to illegal drugs and deaden their nerves from the misery of daily existence.

Houses are robbed. Hoodlums steal anything and everything, whether merchandise or spare tires from lorries caught in traffic, even in full view of motorists and passers-by.

Wala nang takot sa batas.

Meanwhile, the “batas” is busy weaponizing the law against political enemies, or to pressure others to toe the line of the current powers that be.

And we have yet to see the worst.

Pray that stronger typhoons brought by the warm Pacific will skip our islands and veer as mercifully as Inday did. Look at the damage it wrought upon Hangzhou and Fujian, all the way up to Beijing, and thank Inday for sparing us.

Pray that these strong typhoons do not visit in September and October, when palay stalks are pregnant with expensively fertilized grain. And pray further that the drought the Super El Nino brings will not be as bad when our suffering farmers replant come November, hoping to harvest in March and April next year.

Tragically, our people resort to praying as they increasingly lose hope.

—“—

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno ManilaStandard

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

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Matibag’s testimony could influence senators who have yet to make up their minds, and could shape public opinion.

In Bulgarian mountains, local doctor still on call at 90

The long wait T

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Consistency matters in impeachment cases, as it does in criminal proceedings. When several officials directly involved in an investigation consistently describe the same events, their testimony becomes more difficult to dismiss. The prosecution can now argue that the alleged threats were not simply the claims of a single investigator but findings that were documented and affirmed by multiple NBI officials.

Matibag strengthened the credibility of the NBI’s investigation itself.

As director, he explained how the investigation was conducted, what procedures the bureau followed, and why the alleged statements attributed to the Vice President were considered serious enough to warrant official action. His testimony makes it clear that the investigation was not the initiative of individual agents act-

officials. By explaining how the investigation unfolded and what evidence was gathered, Matibag gave further support to the prosecution’s argument that the statements were serious enough to justify a formal criminal investigation.

The testimony could also potentially influence senators who have yet to make up their minds. It should be pointed out that impeachment trials are both legal and political in nature. Senators are expected to assess not only whether the evidence is legally sufficient, but also whether the outburst of the Vice President can be considered betrayal of public trust. Hearing the head of the NBI personally affirm the agency’s investigative findings carries considerable weight, particularly for senators looking for evidence they regard as credible and independent.

Outside the Senate chamber, Matibag’s testimony could also shape public opinion. The impeachment proceedings are being closely watched, and testimony from the NBI Director is likely to reassure many people that the allegations were subjected to a professional investigation rather than driven solely by political considerations.

The NBI director’s testimony alone will not decide the outcome of the impeachment trial. Whether it ultimately proves decisive remains to be seen, but it will improve the prosecution’s chances of convincing the senator-judges that the Vice President should be held accountable under the Constitution.

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OpenAI reports ‘unprecedented’ autonomous hack by AI agents

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AN FRANCISCO – ChatGPT maker OpenAI said its advanced artificial intelligence models had gone rogue during security testing, hacking into a popular platform for programmers on their own.

The San Francisco firm called it an “unprecedented cyber incident” and said it would conduct a joint investigation with the online code library Hugging Face.

AI models that underpin tools like chatbots and image generators are known as agents when they act autono-

mously to carry out tasks in the real world.

As the technology quickly becomes more sophisticated, cybersecurity is in the spotlight given the risk of advanced AI finding weak points in existing software before humans do.

OpenAI said the incident involved a combination of models, including its recently launched GPT-5.6 Sol “and an even more capable pre-release model.”

The company was trying to assess the models’ hacking capabilities by

setting tasks in a tightly controlled digital testing ground, where internet access was limited for safety.

“While operating in our sandboxed testing environment, our models spent a substantial amount of (computing power) finding a way to obtain open Internet access, in pursuit of solving the evaluation problem,” an OpenAI blog about the incident said.

After connecting to the internet, the models decided to target the platform Hugging Face – a large repository of AI models, datasets and other information – to help in their quest.

Searching for “secret information” that could help it cheat the evaluation, the OpenAI system “chained together multiple attack vectors, including using stolen credentials.”

Hussein Abbass, a computing professor at UNSW Canberra, told AFP that the incident was “amazing on many fronts.” AFP

UNEARTHING HISTORY. A fish fossil from Limfjord is seen at the Natural History Museum of Denmark’s storage facility in Copenhagen, Denmark. Two Danish coastal cliffs where paleontologists have uncovered 55-million-year-old fossils of prehistoric wildlife are likely to gain World Heritage status as UNESCO’s committee meets in South Korea. AFP

US hits Iran, says war cost at $37.5-b

TEHRAN—Fresh US strikes triggered air defenses in Tehran on Wednesday after President Donald Trump warned he was “not finished” with a war with Iran that has already cost his nation $37.5 billion.

After the foes’ fighting over the strategic Strait of Hormuz led to the collapse of a preliminary deal, the Middle East war has expanded to include the region’s other key chokepoint for global oil supplies.

Still, top US diplomat Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s statement that it is willing to use diplomacy to find an agreement with Tehran.

“The problem we are currently facing is that they are not taking the negotiations seriously,” Rubio said at a Southeast Asia ministers’ meeting in Manila.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has said that diplomatic exchanges with Washington through mediators were continuing.

The latest round of Middle East attacks included US forces hitting targets such as “military logistics infrastructure”, while Iranian state media reported strikes around the country, including Bushehr, which hosts a nuclear power plant.

“News sources reported minutes ago that air defense activity was heard in the west, east and northeast of Tehran,” state TV posted on Telegram.

As the war nears the five-month mark and November legislative elections approach, Trump has faced intense political pressure to end the conflict, which is unpopular even with segments of his base.

Critics have pointed to the cost of the war that Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth said Tuesday had soared to $37.5 billion, defending a request for tens of billions in additional funding for the military. AFP

Danish fish fossil cliffs to gain World Heritage status NYKØBING Mors, Denmark—Two Danish coastal cliffs where paleontologists have uncovered 55-million-year-old fossils of prehistoric wildlife are likely to gain World Heritage status as UNESCO’s committee meets in South Korea.

The cliffs have for decades been known for what UNESCO terms “exceedingly well-preserved” fossils of early insects, birdlife, and more than 80 different fish species, including ancient relatives of mackerel and herring.

“It’s very unique,” said Jan Audun Rasmussen, a researcher and curator from Museum Mors, who co-authored the UNESCO bid.

“What we can show in these deposits is the first evolution of many of the fish lineages and bird lineages,” he said.

Fifty-five million years ago, all of Denmark was covered by water and Limfjord’s low-oxygen clay seafloor provided a perfect time capsule for fish, birds and turtles that died and sank to the seabed.

There was no oxygen for small organisms that would eat the bodies of dead animals, explained Audun Rasmussen, standing below the towering 60-metre-high (200-foot) Hanklit.

“That means that the preservation of the fossils... it’s excellent.”

The cliffs are already on the UNESCO’s tentative list and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recommended they be included on the World Heritage list.

Sokor resto owner faces jail for ant sorbet SEOUL—The owner of a South Korean Michelin-starred restaurant is facing one year in jail for garnishing a palate-cleansing sorbet with black ants “to add a sour taste,” local media said.

Seoul prosecutors requested the prison term for the anonymous owner of the unnamed eatery at a Monday court hearing for violating food safety regulations, the reports said.

Under South Korean law, only 10 insect species are approved for human consumption, including grasshoppers and brown mealworm larvae.

But the restaurant, which holds two prized Michelin stars, is accused of serving the forbidden insects imported from Thailand and the US, a food safety ministry statement said.

Local media said the ants were served atop a sorbet.

Authorities launched their probe last year, according to a food ministry statement, claiming the chef topped the icy desserts with “three to five” ants “to add a sour taste.”

He made around 12,000 sales worth 120 million won ($81,000) over nearly four years until January 2025, the statement said.

A memorial stone reading ‘For Peace, Freedom and Democracy – Never Again Fascism – Millions of Dead Warn’ stands in front of the birth house of former German dictator Adolf Hitler that is turned into a police station in Braunau am Inn, Austria.

AFP

Hitler’s Austrian birthplace to become a police station BRAUNAU am Inn, Austria—Austria will formally open a new police station on Wednesday in Adolf Hitler’s former house, in the hope of deterring today’s ascendant far-right extremists from making the pilgrimage to the Nazi dictator’s birthplace.

The authorities hope that its transformation will bring to an end a long and delicate debate over what to do with the site, in a country often criticized for not taking full responsibility for its role in the Holocaust.

After a 20-million-euro ($23-million) refurbishment finished three years behind schedule, the unassuming building where one of history’s most notorious figures was born in the center of the town of Braunauam-Inn is all but unrecognizable.

The roughcast yellow walls of the 17th-

century home near the German border, where the future Fuehrer was born on April 20, 1889, have been whitewashed over by the Austrian architecture firm Marte.

A police sign hangs above the entrance, while the pavement still bears a memorial stone with the inscription: “For Peace, Freedom and Democracy. Never Again Fascism. Millions of Dead Warn.”

After Hitler’s Germany annexed its Alpine neighbor in 1938, some 65,000 Austrian Jews were killed and another 130,000 forced into exile.

But the country’s most popular political party is now the far-right FPOe, which was founded by former Nazis. Around 37 percent of Austrians back the party, according to polling aggregator Europe Elects. AFP

SPORTS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Eala back in US Open main draw after career-best rise A

By Jeremiah Sevilla

LEXANDRA “Alex” Eala is headed back to the US Open main draw.

Currently ranked No. 29 in the world, the Filipina tennis star earned a main draw spot in the 2026 US Open after the 104-player direct entry list was released on Wednesday morning (Philippine time).

Eala has now secured a second consecutive main draw berth in the final Grand Slam of the calendar after making a historic maiden appearance last year.

Then ranked No. 56, Eala became the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam main draw match after pulling off a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 upset against 14th seed Clara Tauson of Denmark in the first round (Round of 128).

The Pinay tennis ace ended her campaign in the second round following a 4-6, 3-6 loss to Cristina Busca of Spain.

This year, Eala is bent on claiming a seeded spot in the US Open following her stellar Wimbledon run where she emerged as the first Filipino to be seeded in a Grand Slam and reach the third round of a major in the Open Era. Coming off an eventful homecoming, the 21-year-old will begin her build-up for the North American hard-court major in the Mubadala DC Open in the US capital from July 27 to August 2.

She will also see action in the

Alexandra Eala will begin her build-up for the North American hard-court major in the Mubadala DC Open in the US capital from July 27 to August 2. Eala Instagram

WTA 500 tournament’s doubles event alongside American icon Venus Williams.

The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate

will then play in two WTA 1000 tilts, the Canadian Open in Toronto from August 2 to 13 and the Cincinnati Open in Ohio from August 13 to 23.

Should Eala maintain her ranking inside the top 32, she will seize a seeded slot in the US Open which is slated on August 30 to September 13.

‘The Dink’ sees comedy in US pickleball craze LOS ANGELES—When filmmaker Josh Greenbaum first ventured onto a pickleball court, he found an accessible pastime that could quickly turn intense, generating not just sweat but a range of emotions in minutes.

His conclusion: pickleball had all the right ingredients for comedy.

Greenbaum drew on that observation to direct “The Dink,” an Apple TV film premiering this Friday on the streaming platform.

“I think part of what’s so funny about it is, you know, how quickly something that starts very (much) as casual fun can become deeply competitive and also weirdly emotional,” the 47-yearold director told AFP in an interview.

“The Dink” brings together Dusty (Jake Johnson) -- a former tennis prodigy who spends his time reminiscing about past glories, much to the chagrin of his father (Ed Harris) —- and Candace (Mary Steenburgen), a divorcee who has developed a passion for pickleball in this new phase of her life.

The film, which features realtime former tennis ace Andy Roddick, is about reinvention, ego, friendship, “and trying to find purpose,” Greenbaum said.

“You have these kind of two lost souls,

Jake Johnson (left) and Mary Steenburgen attend Apple TV’s ‘The Dink’ New York Photo Call at CityPickle Hudson Yards. AFP

obviously of different generations, who are trying to figure out who they are and redefine themselves, and they help one another to do so,” he said.

The movie, written by Sean Clements and produced by Hollywood staple Ben Stiller, also touches on intergenerational conflict.

“Maybe in this version, tennis

represents sort of the way things have been done, and pickleball is representing a new way,” said Greenbaum, who directed “Will & Harper,” a 2024 documentary chronicling a crosscountry road trip by two old friends.

At the heart of “The Dink” is pickleball, a sport played with small rackets and perforated plastic balls

that is all the rage in the United States, where schoolkids, seniors and A-list Hollywood celebrities are on board.

The movie takes its name from the controlled dink shot that pickleball players deftly arc over the net.

The “unique” relationship between tennis and pickleball was fertile ground, the director said.

“There’s a contentiousness between the two sports at the moment, and I think a lot of it’s driven by the fact that they’re fighting over limited resources,” said Greenbaum, who was trounced in his first pickleball game by opponents in their sixties.

“It’s just a sport that makes you laugh, that you make friends with people, that you share something together, and that you can get better at. Even, you know, at my age,” says 73-year-old Steenburgen, herself an avid player.

On Monday, at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles, the usually red carpet was blue like a pickleball court.

Greenbaum and his cast don’t doubt “The Dink” will draw new enthusiasts to the game.

But Jake Johnson, whose character finds a second chance through pickleball, hopes the film will inspire viewers to “do what makes them happy, no matter what.” AFP

Evenepoel wins ‘special’ Tour de France individual time-trial THONON-LES-BAINS, France— Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel stormed to victory in Tuesday’s 26.1km individual time-trial at the Tour de France to shave valuable seconds off Tadej Pogacar’s overall lead.

Belgian Evenepoel, 26, blasted over the stage 16 course along the shores of Lake Geneva 28 seconds quicker than reigning champion Pogacar in second.

Everyone else finished more than a minute back, with Dane Mattias Skjelmose taking third at 1min 04sec on the course from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains in the French Alps.

That performance by the world and Olympic time-trial champion -- on Belgium’s national holiday -- cut fourtime Tour winner Pogacar’s overall lead to 4min 32sec.

“It’s amazing, it was a very nice TT (time-trial), a lot of people on the side of the road,” said Evenepoel.

“My whole family from both sides being here, my parents came just today. My wife is here with her parents and the siblings as well.

“And also on the Belgian national day is pretty special -- I read this morning it’s been a while since

Belgium won on National Day, so I’m proud to be the one.”

It was Evenepoel’s second successive stage victory after he triumphed on Sunday’s mountainous 15th stage.

It was his fourth Tour stage victory overall, and his third in time-trials.

He also extended the gap to thirdplaced Isaac del Toro to more than two minutes.

But it was a miserable day for Evenepoel’s Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team-mate Florian Lipowitz.

Two days after two-time former winner Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour while sitting second overall, German Lipowitz went down hard on a bend and was forced out of the race.

He had been fifth overall until that point and had set the fourth fastest time in the three intermediate time-checks.

But several minutes after he crashed, Lipowitz was escorted to a medical vehicle holding his left arm.

His team later confirmed the 25-yearold had broken his collarbone.

“That’s very unfortunate, it’s like

Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel cycles to the finish line of the 16th stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains in the French Alps. AFP

a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory, so I wish him all the best and I hope it’s not too bad,” Evenepoel said of his team-mate.

Both Pogacar and Del Toro had a scare going through the same bend where Lipowitz fell but managed to stay upright. AFP

Asian Tour partners with PGA, Europe in blow to LIV PARIS—The Asian Tour on Tuesday announced a partnership with the PGA Tour and European circuit until at least 2029, severing its ties with LIV Golf in a global shake-up of the sport.

The agreement is aimed at expanding playing opportunities and strengthening pathways for golfers in Asia, the three organisations said in a joint statement.

As part of the deal, the Europeanbased DP World Tour will resume cosanctioning selected events with the Asian Tour from 2027.

Details of the tournaments involved will be announced later this year when the DP World Tour unveils its schedule for next season.

The partnership marks a revival of ties between the European circuit and its Asian equivalent, which were linked through a past alliance from 2016 to 2021.

Their relationship dates back even further, to 1999, when the Malaysian Open became the first event jointly sanctioned by the two tours.

Asian Tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said the pact would help broaden the reach of professional golf in the region.

“We feel the time is now right to collaborate with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour to enhance the Asian Tour for our members, fans and partners,” he said.

“Bringing the three Tours together under one partnership will increase the bandwidth of the professional game in Asia.”

DP World Tour chief tournament and operations officer Ben Cowen said the arrangement would provide “unprecedented international opportunities” for Asian Tour members through newly established pathways. AFP

Jake Gaspay of Rizal

Rizal routs Manila five THE Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers warmed up with each quarter and dumped Manila Batang Quiapo, 11586, on Tuesday to boost their playoff bid in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.

With 13 players, headed by Joel Lee Yu, scoring, the Golden Coolers moved beyond reach, 105-76, before cruising to their 11th win against six losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 27team tournament.

The shifty Yu, a former Far Eastern University Tamaraws star, posted 18 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists to earn the SportsPlus best player honors over JP Sarao, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.

Yu also drilled in a triple with 6 minutes and 35 seconds left to push Rizal ahead, 9973, and join the MPBL 1,000-point club in his seventh season.

MPBL Commissioner Emmer Oreta awarded Yu with the ball he used to score the important points.

Other Golden Coolers who turned hot were Alwyn Alday with 15 points and 4 rebounds, Laurenz Victoria with 11 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals, and Jake Gaspay and Lervin Flores with 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Marco Balagtas matched Sarao’s 10 rebounds as Rizal dominated the paint and poured in 76 points against 30 for Manila, which fell to 2-16.

Manila fell to 2-16 despite John Ashley Faa’s 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, and Joe Gomez De Liano’s 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Bataan trounces Paranaque The Bataan Risers overwhelmed the Paranaque Patriots, 139-88, in the nightcap to raise their card to 7-11.

All but one of the Risers fielded scored, as Bataan bombarded Paranaque with 20 triples, seven by Alfred Flores and five

by Chito Jaime and remained in playoff contention in the North division.

SPORTS

A8

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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

Morris bags 3 crowns in Cebu juniors tennis meet TOP junior standout Matthew Morris reinforced his status as one of the country’s best after dominating the boys’ 16- and 18-and-under singles in the Cebu City Juniors Age Group Tennis Championships at the Villa Aurora and Alta Vista courts last Monday.

The Dumaguete City standout survived an early scare from Naga City leg champion Madison Rago, 6-4, 6-4, in the opening round of the 16-and-U division before cruising through the rest of the draw, including a commanding 6-2, 6-0 victory over doubles partner Jhunreal Espinosa in the finals.

Morris carried that momentum into the more competitive 18-and-U class, dropping only two games in four matches. He capped another imposing campaign with a 6-1, 6-0 dismantling of Claudwin Toñacao in the championship match.

Fresh from his impressive campaign in the Governor’s Cup in Dumaguete last April, Morris completed his tripletitle haul after joining forces with Espinosa to rout Al Jose Gairanod Jr. and Kristian Kilat, 8-2, in the 18-and-U doubles finals.

Ma. Caroliean Fiel matched Morris’ three-title feat on the girls’ side to share MVP honors in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop, the second stop of the three-stage Palawan Juniors Series Visayas.

The Ormoc City ace overcame her toughest challenge in the girls’ 14-and-U semis, battling past Naga City leg winner and doubles partner Nadine Seno, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, before overwhelming Niña Orlanes, 6-0, 6-0.

Seeded second in the premier girls’ 18-and-U category, Fiel also upended top seed Mitchellen Cruspero, 6-2, 7-6(2), then partnered with Seno to dominate Jaynelle Castro and Arianna Tiongko, 8-1, for the 14-and-U doubles championship backed by the Palawan Group of Companies with support from ICON Golf & Sports.

Team Manila-PH reclaims PONY World Series crown

By Randy M. Caluag

T

EAM ManilaPhilippines reclaimed the prestigious PONY International World Series 18-Under Girls Softball Championship after crushing host Texas Pride Elite, 8-1, in the title match at the McAllen Softball Complex in McAllen, Texas.

Representing the Asia-Pacific region, the Filipinas turned in a dominant performance against a field that featured some of the best youth softball teams from across the United States, as well as Mexico, Guatemala, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

The victory restored the Philippines to the top of the tournament after the Big City Softbelles previously captured back-to-back PONY World Series titles in 2023 and 2024, both also held in McAllen.

“We are very proud of the team’s accomplishment. That is why we continue to support the development of these world-class youth athletes, many of whom come from poor families in the provinces, with the hope of earning college scholarships from reputable universities in Manila,” said Team Manila Softball president and Manila Councilor Rafael “Che” Borromeo.

Borromeo said the team’s impressive campaign also drew the attention of American universities.

He disclosed that Texas A&M University and Texas Lutheran University have expressed interest in recruiting ace pitcher Edralyn Borrico of Smokey Mountain, Tondo, who starred in the championship game. Also on the radar

of US recruiters are Mary Antoinette Sicapore, Angelica Jean Latriz, Claire Olarte and Rhea Manalo.

The Team Manila-Philippines is supported by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, International Container Terminal Services Inc.

(ICTSI), San Miguel Corporation and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The latest title further cemented Team Manila’s status as one of the country’s most successful youth softball programs.

The squad made history by becoming

Members of the victorious Team Manila-PH hold their championship banner. Team Manila

Gilas PH 3x3 Men qualify for FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup GILAS Pilipinas 3x3 Men capped off a remarkable campaign in the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Asia 2 competitions by securing a berth in the 2026 FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup after a dominant run in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Competing against fellow Under-21 teams from Japan, New Zealand, Belarus, Singapore, and Malaysia, the Philippines reached the finals in five of the six stops, winning three en route to the first-place finish.

Gilas started their campaign with back-to-back wins, but they suffered a tight loss to Belarus in the Stop 1 Finals. After missing out on a podium finish for Stop 2, Gilas bounced back big time by beating Japan to win Stop 3. The young Filipino ballers made sure there was no doubt about who the best team was as they defeated New Zealand and Japan to win Stops 4 and 5 via game-winning two-point baskets.

The Philippines finished with 520 points in the tournament, 50 points clear of second-place Japan, to earn a spot in

Members of the Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Men display their medals.

the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup, marking another significant milestone for the SBP’s rapidly growing 3x3 program.

SBP Executive Director Erika Dy

emphasized that the accomplishment reflects the federation’s continued investment in the 3x3 discipline and the willingness of stakeholders across

Golden Tigresses blank Aussies, clinch semis top seeding UNDEFEATED University of Santo Tomas secured the No. 1 seeding in the semifinals after a quick work of Australian guest team Southern Storm Melbourne, 25-20, 25-14, 25-9, in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Golden Tigresses neutralized the Australians’ height advantage by beating them to the draw with fast and angled attacks to break their defensive wall on their way to a 4-0 win-loss record.

It was the veteran duo of Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado who did most of the damage as UST inched closer to completing an elimination round sweep of the competition backed

by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea. Poyos punched in 14 points on 13 kills and an ace while Jurado played her first game in the tournament

Games Thursday (Ninoy Aquino Stadium) 1 p.m. --- Enderun vs Letran 3 p.m. --- CSB vs Southern Storm 5 p.m. --- UST vs HCM

after sitting out the first two and contributed eight points for the Espana-based squad.

“Grateful kasi nakuha namin itong panalo na ito in straight sets.

Matatangkad yung mga kalaban and nu’ng first set parang kinakapa ko pa,” said Poyos, who was limited to three points in the first set.

“Inaral ko naman na magamit, na ginagawa naman namin sa training, which is ipa-check ball yung bola, lalo na ‘yung mga blockers matatangkad,” Poyos added.

Marga Altea also had eight markers for the Tigresses, who will face Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club on Thursday to close the elims of the tournament supported

the first Philippine team to win the Girls Big League Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2012. It also ruled the PONY World Series in Hemet, California, in 2017 and 2018 before winning back-to-back championships in McAllen in 2023 and 2024.

by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com and Smart Sports.

UST dictated the pace the whole match for an easy 80-minute victory that snapped Southern Storm’s threegame winning streak, pulling the Aussies down to second with a 3-1 win-loss record.

The Tigresses rained down 47 attack points with young setter Arlene Waje dishing out eight excellent sets.

UST blew the third set wide open with a 14-1 blast that turned a four-point lead early in the frame into an insurmountable 24-7 advantage.

Southern Storm saved two matchpoints before Tigresses middle blocker Bianca Plaza called it a day with a quick attack.

No player from the Aussies’ side reached double-digit scoring, with Cleo Anastasias finishing with nine points.

Philippine basketball to work together in developing national teams.

“Earlier this year, our Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Women ended an eight-year drought to make it back to the FIBA 3x3 World Cup. Now Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Men will also end their own eight-year drought to make it back to the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup,” said Dy. “This achievement is further proof that Filipinos are worldclass not just in basketball but also in 3x3. With the support of our sponsors and the commitment of stakeholders, the SBP will continue to put our athletes in positions to succeed.”

Back in 2018, the group composed of RJ Abarrientos, Ricci Rivero, Rhayyan Amsali, and Jeepy Faundo finished with a 2-2 record in the pool stage to finish ninth overall out of 20 teams.

“On behalf of the SBP 3x3 program, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the schools, coaches, and team officials who supported Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 by allowing their players to represent the country,” added Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Program Director Ryan Gregorio.

UST’s Victoria Esceber keeps the ball in play.

Roman Prospero

Isabella Smith and Steph Baker had six and five points, respectively, for Southern Storm, which already secured a semis seat on Tuesday night after beating the Vietnamese, 25-15, 26-24, 20-25, 24-26, 15-12.

La Liga chief Tebas: FIFA ‘destroying football’ ROME—The president of the Spanish football league, Javier Tebas, accused FIFA of acting “irresponsibly” following the announcement of discussions regarding a possible 64-team World Cup in 2030, in an interview with an Italian sports daily published Tuesday.

Tebas also said that FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s time was “over”, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport that there is a “system that is fundamentally flawed”, which has allowed him to lead football’s global governing body for a decade.

“The football industry is not just about the World Cup, however important it may be,” he said.

“They are destroying the football industry -- which generates tens of thousands of jobs -- for an event that lasts 40 days and involves only a minority of players.”

At the World Cup opening ceremony in June, Infantino mentioned “discussions about expanding to 64 teams” for the World Cup’s centenary in 2030, which will be co-hosted primarily

by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina also welcoming some matches.

“We have repeatedly expressed our concerns about the competition calendar. And now they want to organise a 64-team World Cup,” Tebas added, emphasising that “it is the domestic leagues that keep this sport alive”.

“We need fewer national teams and better protection for domestic football at all levels. They don’t realise this and are making decisions irresponsibly,” Tebas added.

BUSINESS

B1

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

TAX COMPLIANCE.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza meets with officers of the Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), led by president and lead convenor Monchito Ibrahim, on July 21, 2026 to strengthen collaboration on initiatives that will enhance tax education, improve compliance and support the continued growth of online sellers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Peso slides to 61.75 a dollar

B3

18 PAL’s order for Rolls-Royce engines

Meralco eyes investment 14 in Albay to expand business PAL’s order for Airbus A350-1000 aircraft

15

PAL’s order for Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner jets

PAL orders 18 Rolls-Royce engines for Airbus fleet

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) said it signed an agreement with RollsRoyce for 18 Trent XWB-97 engines to power nine additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with an option for engines covering up to five more aircraft under PAL’s purchase rights.

The carrier also signed a separate agreement for Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare service program, which will manage the health and maintenance of the engine fleet.

The agreements support PAL’s fleet modernization program and its push to operate a modern, fuel-efficient and reliable long-haul fleet, the airline said.

It previously announced the selection GE Aerospace to supply GEnx-1B engines for 15 new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, with purchase rights for five additional aircraft, the companies said.

The Trent XWB-97 is the exclusive engine for the Airbus A3501000 and is known for its fuel efficiency, reliability and environmental performance.

“This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines. Together, the Airbus A350-1000 and the Trent XWB-97 engine will continue to define our flagship long-haul operations for many years to come,” PAL Holdings Inc. president and chief operating officer Lucio Tan III said.

“Our TotalCare agreement complements this investment by providing comprehensive maintenance support that helps maximize fleet availability while giving us greater confidence in long-term maintenance planning and cost predictability,” he said.

“We are proud to continue strengthening our long-standing relationship with Philippine Airlines. The Trent XWB-97 is an exceptional engine, renowned for its proven reliability and efficiency, making it our best-selling engine over the past 18 months. Combined with the comprehensive operational support provided by TotalCare, this order will enable Philippine Airlines to maximize their operational performance as they continue expanding their A350-1000 fleet,” Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace president Rob Watson said.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

M

ANILA Electric Co. is exploring a possible partnership with Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) as it seeks to expand its distribution business outside its franchise area, Meralco senior vice president and chief external and government affairs officer Arnel Casanova said.

Casanova said local government officials invited the company to invest in Aleco.

“The mayors, actually, said they are having a hard time because the businesses that are planning to move into their municipalities cannot invest because of the unreliability of power,” Casanova said.

“So they are encouraging us to actually look into Albay, so that we

could help Aleco to be able to have a better service,” he said.

Meralco, the country’s biggest power retailer, is studying the possibility of submitting an unsolicited proposal to Aleco, Casanova said.

“We’re studying that and hopefully, Aleco will be welcoming us to provide us with the necessary information so we could make a better proposal,” he said.

Aleco teamed up with San Miguel Corp. in 2013, but the cooperative’s member-consumers voted to terminate the agreement in 2022.

Meralco is also waiting for the terms of reference for the competitive selection process (CSP) for Batangas II Electric Cooperative (Batelec II), Casanova said.

He said Meralco hopes South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) will hold a CSP for a possible joint venture agreement.

“Well, hopefully, they bid it out also similar to what Batelec has done. Because it actually ensures more transparency and it’s for the best interest of the member consumers,” he said.

Casanova said Meralco submitted a letter to Socoteco II encouraging the cooperative to open a bidding process, noting that other parties are also interested.

DROUGHT MITIGATION. Manila Water

Non-East Zone operating unit Clark Water strengthens its water supply system through the implementation of a comprehensive El Niño Mitigation Plan, reinforcing its commitment to water security and reliable service delivery for customers across its service areas in Pampanga amid the challenges posed by prolonged dry weather conditions.

Gov’t to save P40b through IT streamlining—DICT THE government could save between P30 billion and P40 billion annually by streamlining technology and eliminating redundant IT systems, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Wednesday.

DICT Undersecretary for e-Government David Almirol said the agency plans to allocate at least P100 million of those operational savings directly to local tech startups next year.

“We noticed that a lot of savings are happening because of e-governance

and the platforms we are building,” Almirol told reporters on the sidelines of the eGov Hackathons.

“Instead of those savings going to waste, we will give them to the startups,” he said.

The savings stem from enforcing Republic Act 12054, or the E-Governance Act, alongside a strict “Once Only” policy aimed at stopping agencies from building overlapping digital platforms.

Almirol said total ICT budget requests from government agencies

were estimated at around P200 billion for 2025. However, agency reviews uncovered widespread redundancies, such as individual departments requesting hundreds of millions of pesos each to build separate HR, payroll and asset management systems.

Rather than letting the savings lapse, DICT intends to allocate at least P100 million to contract Philippine startups as integrators, software developers and research and development (R&D) partners. Darwin G. Amojelar

ERC eyes lower reserve price cap

B4 Foreign business groups urge PBBM to sustain reforms

By Othel V. Campos THE Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sustain the momentum of economic reforms, saying further legislative and regulatory measures are needed to improve the Philippines’ competitiveness, attract more investments and support long-term economic growth.

Ahead of the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), the JFC submitted a letter proposing priority legislative and executive measures aimed at strengthening the country’s investment climate.

The business groups identified amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, the proposed Cybersecurity Act, Digital Economy Act, National Single Window System Act, Artificial Intelligence Act, National Land Use Act, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Charter, Philippine Ports Authority Charter and the Freedom of Access to Information Act as priority measures.

The chambers also called for full implementation of recently enacted reforms, including the CREATE MORE Act, Ease of Doing Business Act and Ease of Paying Taxes Act. The JFC said the measures would help address persistent challenges in energy costs, digital competitiveness, trade facilitation, regulatory efficiency and infrastructure governance while positioning the Philippines to attract more investments and integrate more deeply into regional and global value chains.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Ebb Hinchliffe said the Philippines has made meaningful progress in advancing reforms that strengthen investor confidence and improve the business environment.

GSIS increases Megawide stake to 9.5%

By Jenniffer B. Austria

POWER AGGREGATION. McDonald’s Philippines and COREnergy sign a retail aggregation program (RAP) and retail competition and open access (RCOA) agreement that will initially cover 36 McDonald’s restaurants across Cebu and Negros Island. Signing the agreement are (from left) Emanette Ong, vice-president and head of business group development, McDonald’s Philippines; Margot Torres, managingdirector, McDonald’s Philippines; Francis Del Val, president, COREnergy; and Jose Marko Anton Sarmiento, vice-president and head of operations, COREnergy.

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has raised its stake in Megawide Construction Corp. to 9.5 percent after acquiring 111.94 million shares through a series of block transactions, the company said.

The latest acquisitions brought the state-owned pension fund’s total holdings in Megawide to 191.71 million common shares.

Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra said the investment reflected confidence in the company’s strategy and its participation in government-led programs and

public-private partnerships involving social and transport infrastructure.

“The investment of GSIS reflects another vote of confidence in our vision of engineering a First-World Philippines, particularly through our participation in various governmentinitiated campaigns and public-private partnerships that aim to address critical social and transport infrastructure in the country,” Saavedra said.

Saavedra’s Megacore Holdings Inc. sold 91.8 million Megawide shares on July 16 at P4 apiece.

Megawide shares recently hit a 52week high of P4.20 as the company continues to reduce debt.

BUSINESS

B2

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH has serious electricity cost disadvantage in Asean —“— THE Philippines has plenty of investment corridors and enough fiscal incentives to offer to foreign businessmen. But with prohibitive electricity rates, the Philippines can never compete against its Southeast Asian counterparts. Not yet.

Electricity is a major production cost that investors look into before relocating their factories from their home base.

The recent assessment of the Department of Energy (DOE) on the country’s power rates will certainly discourage the foreign

Electricity is a major production cost that investors look into before relocating their factories from their home base.

investors that we are trying to woo.

The Philippines in June this year registered the highest electricity rate in the region comprising the member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), even surpassing that of Singapore.

“In Asean, we had the highest electricity rate for the month of June. We were even higher than Singapore,” Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara concedes.

Guevara attributed the spike primarily to a supply deficit in the Visayas, where 21 power plants went on forced outage, leaving the region dependent on imported power from Luzon and Mindanao.

“We had 21 power plants on forced outage, making the region dependent on imported power from Luzon and Mindanao. The Visayas has also been under yellow alert since May 13, and that has driven prices higher,” said Guevara.

Higher demand amid rising temperatures during the dry season compounded the shortage, forcing distribution utilities to dispatch costlier power plants to prevent blackouts.

“As a result, we had to dispatch more expensive power plants to avoid blackouts. To be accurate, we were the highest in Asia only for the month of June. We monitor this every month,” she said.

The nationwide average rate in June reached P12.43 per kilowatt-hour, narrowly above Singapore’s rate.

“Singapore’s average was lower by P0.093 per kWh, so the difference was very small. Singapore was also above P12 per kWh. Ours was P12.43 per kWh,” said the DOE official.

Meanwhile, residential customers consuming 200 kWh in the franchise area of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest retailer, paid P14.48 per kWh in June, up P0.15 from the previous month Among the country’s top 20 distribution utilities, Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative posted the highest residential rate in June at P16.57 per kWh, a 32-percent surge from May, led by a nearly P4 increase in generation charges.

Northern Samar Electric Cooperative followed at P15.72 per kWh; KalingaApayao Electric Cooperative at P14.53 per kWh; Meralco at P14.48 per kWh; and Leyte Electric Cooperative IV at P14.46 per kWh,.

In off-grid areas, Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative recorded the highest power rate at P24.92 per kWh; followed by First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative at P19.44 per kWh; Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative at P18.29 per kWh; Palawan Electric Cooperative at P12.93 per kWh; and Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative at P12.86 per kWh. With such prohibitive power rates across several regions, the Philippines will have a hard time convincing foreign investors to relocate here.

The Philippines is pushing major infrastructure projects to entice foreign investors.

For one, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is busy awarding critical remaining contract packages for the $3.91-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) project The BCIB project will provide a permanent road link between the provinces of Bataan and Cavite, addressing a key missing link in the road network of Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the Calabarzon region.

Once completed, the bridge will cut travel time between Bataan and Cavite from five and a half hours to about 45 minutes, saving commuters more than four hours of travel time.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) are also positioning the Port of Subic Bay as the preferred maritime gateway for the Pax Silica initiative, supporting logistics, cargo handling, import and export operations, data integration and other critical supply chain requirements.

Pax Silica is a US-led strategic coalition and economic security zone.

The Philippines joined as the 13th signatory, designating a 1,620-hectare hub in New Clark City as the first AInative industrial acceleration hub. It aims to counter China’s dominance in tech and mineral processing.

Another business opportunity is the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (APECO). It manages over 13,000 hectares of land and offers a one-stop shop for business registration and permits and grants tax- and dutyfree importation privileges to investors, as well as income tax holidays and other fiscal incentives.

APECO sees itself as a connecting point to the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) to provide alternative sites for industries, logistics and defensesupport activities.

Infrastructure facilities and investment initiatives, however, are not a guarantee that foreign investors will readily move their operations to the Philippines.

Competitive electricity rates remain a major factor for those willing to place their bet on the Philippines.

Foreign investors will always seek the cheapest production cost through low power rates that will be reflected in their balance sheet.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

B3

BUSINESS extrastory2000@gmail.com

Peso slides to new low vs. dollar T

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Jenniffer B. Austria

HE Philippine peso hit a record low of 61.75 against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, slipping a half-centavo from its previous finish of 61.745.

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed the local currency opened at 61.73 against the greenback before settling at its weakest level since May 19, 2026.

Jonathan Ravelas, a senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said the currency weakened as the dollar gained strength on elevated crude oil prices.

“The peso fell after the greenback strengthened further on elevated crude oil prices as U.S. and Iranian attacks escalated, renewing inflation concerns,” Ravelas said. He expects the peso to trade between 61.60 and 61.90 in the near term.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index extended its losses Wednesday due to profit-taking and a market correction.

The 30-company PSEi fell 65.95 points, or 1.04 percent, to close at 6,267.85.

The broader all shares index slipped 18.23 points, or 0.53 percent, to 3,421.35.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said investors took profits as a weaker peso and rising fuel costs weighed on market sentiment.

Ricafort noted that investors are concerned the peso’s depreciation, higher oil prices and an upcoming wage hike in Metro Manila could drive up inflation.

The services index suffered the steepest drop among sectoral indicators, plunging 104.92 points, or 3.01 percent. Holding firms dipped 12.34 points, or 0.28 percent; financials edged down 1.47 points, or 0.08 percent; and property eased 4.63 points, or 0.24 percent.

BUSINESS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

ERC proposes to reduce reserve market price cap

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T INFORMATION SHARING. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) general counsel Roberto Figueroa and Department of Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty sign an information-sharing agreement at the BSP head office in Manila on July 22, 2026 to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of financial account scams and related offenses under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA).

Arthaland gets SEC nod for P3-b preferred share sale

By Jenniffer B. Austria ARTHALAND Corp. has secured an approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a preferred share offering of up to P3 billion that will refinance maturing obligations and support ongoing project development.

The boutique property developer said it received the SEC’s Certificate of Filing of Enabling Resolution dated July 13, 2026 for the issuance of its Series G and Series H preferred shares.

Arthaland plans to offer up to 4 million cumulative, non-voting, non-

participating, non-convertible and redeemable peso-denominated preferred shares priced at P500 each, with an oversubscription option of up to 2 million additional shares.

If fully subscribed, including the oversubscription option, the offering will generate gross proceeds of as much as P3 billion.

The company did not provide further details on the timing of the offering.

Proceeds will primarily fund the partial redemption of Arthaland’s Series D preferred shares, which were listed in December 2021 and are scheduled for redemption in Decem-

ber 2026, the company said.

The Series G and Series H preferred shares will be listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange. Dividend rates for the two series have yet to be finalized.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. is the sole issue manager, lead underwriter and bookrunner for the transaction.

Arthaland in the first half of 2026 launched Sondris, a luxury condominium project in Makati City, and Liv North Tower, a 42-story residential development in Quezon City, as it continued to expand its premium residential portfolio.

IN BRIEF Food security takes center stage at EJAP forum THE Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) will gather top government and industry leaders on July 23 to discuss the country’s readiness against mounting threats to food production, as an approaching El Niño and global conflicts drive up farm costs.

The Food Security Forum will be held at Frabelle Corporate Plaza in Makati City and will bring together Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president Danilo Fausto and Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. board member Caitlin Punzalan.

Fertilizer and fuel prices remain under pressure amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, adding to the strain on farm production costs.

“Food security is at the heart of economic stability. Every disruption in food production eventually reaches Filipino households through higher prices and greater uncertainty,” EJAP president Ted Cordero said.

The forum will review lessons from the 2023-2024 El Niño episode, assess preparations for the expected dry spell and discuss measures to strengthen the country’s long-term food security, one of the Marcos administration’s key priorities.

GSIS earmarks P520.08m in loans for pest-hit areas THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said Wednesday it set aside P520.08 million in emergency loans for active members and old-age and disability pensioners in Bagulin, La Union and Negros Occidental.

The loans aim to assist 21,153 members and pensioners affected by a state of public health emergency due to a dengue outbreak in Bagulin, La Union and a state of calamity due to an outbreak of the redstriped soft scale insect affecting sugarcane plantations in Negros Occidental.

The loan is payable over 36 monthly installments with a fixed interest rate of 6 percent per annum, the agency said.

To qualify, active members should be working or residing in the affected areas, have no unpaid GSIS loan overdue by more than six months and not be on

HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is proposing to lower the offer price cap in the reserve market to P9 per kilowatt-hour from P25 per kWh to encourage greater participation in long-term supply agreements.

The ERC released a draft resolution amending the price ceiling and floor-setting mechanism for trading reserves in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), which remains subject to nationwide public consultations.

“This adjustment is intended to encourage greater participation in Ancillary Services Procurement Agreements (ASPAs), which provide a more stable and predictable alternative to reserve market procurement,” ERC chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan said.

“A lower ceiling price narrows the gap between market exposure and long-term contracted rates, giving generators stronger incentive to enter into ASPAs. Wider ASPA coverage, in turn, reduces the system’s reliance on high-priced reserve market transactions and supports more stable, lower reserve prices for consumers,” he said.

The ERC said it will retain the P0

AIA, MediCard launch combined insurance, HMO

unpaid leave.

Members should also have paid at least three months of premiums within the last six months, have no pending administrative or criminal case and maintain a monthly take-home pay of at least P5,000 after deductions.

Old-age and disability pensioners living in the affected areas can also apply for the program, provided they retain at least 25 percent of their monthly pension after all loan deductions and have no unpaid emergency loan overdue by more than six months. Thony Rose Lesaca

By Thony Rose Lesaca

Pru Life UK launches two-year pay plan PRU Life UK has launched PRUWealth 10 Flex Elite, a two-year pay insurance plan that offers guaranteed protection and predictable income with a shorter premium payment period.

The product provides 10 years of insurance coverage with a minimum annual premium of P250,000. It is available to insured Filipinos aged seven days to 70 years old and policy owners of at least 18 years old. Clients can pay premiums monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually over the two-year payment term.

By the end of the third year, clients can receive an annually predictable cashflow equivalent to 11 percent of the annual premiums paid until the plan’s maturity period. Clients can also expect to receive guaranteed full premium return at maturity.

Beyond payouts, the product offers life insurance protection and guaranteed insurability, with no medical underwriting required subject to applicable eligibility requirements.

Beneficiaries will receive 220 percent of the annual premium when the life insured dies due to an accident within the first two years from the policy effectiveness date or last reinstatement, or due to any cause thereafter.

“PRUWealth 10 Flex Elite offers guaranteed benefits, predictable payouts and life insurance protection within a simple and straightforward plan, reflecting our continued commitment to developing innovative solutions that respond to the changing needs of Filipino consumers,” Pru Life UK chief product officer Garen Dee said. Thony Rose Lesaca

per kWh offer floor price in the reserve market, calling the measure necessary to ensure a fair, competitive, transparent and efficient electricity market.

The floor price promotes equitable participation among market players regardless of size or financial capacity, the ERC said, while preserving the integrity of price discovery by allowing reserve prices to reflect genuine supply and demand conditions.

The commission said the floor price also supports the sustainable development and operation of the reserve market pending sufficient market maturity, liquidity and competitive depth that may warrant a reassessment of the existing framework.

The ERC said it will review the offer price cap every five years from the completion of the previous review or when deemed necessary.

The reserve market, now integrated into the WESM, aims to optimize energy and reserve procurement.

Forest Lake Memorial Park, Bauang is known for its verdant surroundings and winding roads. Forest Lake Development Inc. reports P5.5 billion in sales in 2025, up 45 percent from P3.8 billion in 2024.

Forest Lake’s sales rose 45% to reach record P5.5b in 2025 FOREST Lake Development Inc., a leading memorial park developer, said Wednesday it recorded P5.5 billion in sales production in 2025, the highest in the company’s nearly three-decade history and a 45-percent increase from the P3.8 billion recorded in 2024.

Total revenue grew 20 percent to P3.26 billion from P2.72 billion in 2024, continuing average annual revenue growth of about 20 percent since 2020, the company said.

Net income before tax rose 20 percent to P789 million from P660 million a year earlier. Total equity increased to P2.66 billion from P1.90 billion, while cash and cash equivalents surged 121 percent, the company said.

“2025 was a landmark year for Forest Lake. Our record-breaking P5.5 billion sales production, combined with strong revenue and profit growth, reflects the trust that Filipino families continue to place in our brand and the dedication of our people,” Forest

Lake president and chief executive Alfred Xerez-Burgos III said.

The company’s P3.55 billion in land and land development assets reflects its long-term commitment to nationwide expansion and service excellence, it said.

“The strength of our financial performance enables us to continue investing in expansion, innovation, and Total Memorial Care services that address the evolving needs of the families we serve,” Xerez-Burgos said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved Forest Lake’s increase in authorized capital stock to P4 billion from P1 billion, a move the company said will support new memorial park developments, expanded memorial chapels and Total Memorial Care facilities, and investments in technology and digital transformation.

Forest Lake chairman Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr. said the company’s growth demonstrates the resilience of its business model.

AIA Philippines and MediCard have launched Group Life + HMO, an integrated employee benefits plan that combines life insurance with healthcare coverage, the companies said Wednesday.

The plan merges MediCard’s health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage with group life insurance from AIA Philippines, including annually renewable term life insurance, total and permanent disability protection and accidental death, dismemberment and disability coverage.

MediCard said the total and permanent disability feature advances life insurance coverage by providing a lump-sum payout for disabilities caused by natural or accidental cases.

The accidental death, disability and dismemberment feature provides an additional benefit if an insured employee dies within 180 days of the date of the accident, the company said.

MediCard chief executive Julian Mengual said healthcare has long been a core part of employee benefits but that today’s workforce needs more than medical coverage alone.

“While PhilHealth and other healthcare programs continue to strengthen access to care for Filipinos, many families still face financial pressures and may pay out-of-pocket when unexpected health or life events arise,” Mengual said.

“Employers want to know they’re supporting their people through life’s unforeseen moments. By helping protect employees from both medical costs and the wider financial impact of life’s uncertainties, employers can provide more meaningful support for their people and their families,” he said.

PCC clears PetroEnergy’s P1.9-b buyout of Nabas wind

FULLY-DIGITAL. Executives of Land Bank of the Philippines and Visa launch a

government purchase card (GPC) aimed at helping government institutions shift to a fully-digital payment system. The GPC is designed to automate procurement-related payments for public sector institutions, replacing traditional cash advances and manual reimbursement processes. Covered transactions include low-value purchases, government travel-related spending and recurring expenses.

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has cleared Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources Corp.’s proposed acquisition of all shares held

by BCPG Wind Cooperatief U.A. in PetroWind Energy Inc., owner of the 49.2-megawatt Nabas wind project in Aklan province.

The PCC issued the decision on July 21, and PetroEnergy received it Wednesday. The commission confirmed the parties may proceed with the transaction.

PetroEnergy signed a share purchase agreement with BCPG on Dec. 18, 2025 to acquire BCPG’s entire 40-percent equity interest in PetroWind.

The transaction involves 7.81 mil-

lion shares for a total of P1.9 billion.

“The PCC advised that the full copy of its decision will be issued as soon as possible. Pending its issuance, the PCC also advised that a certification of the clearance will be issued once signed,” PetroEnergy said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The company said the PCC clearance satisfies the regulatory condition under the share purchase agreement.

Upon closing, PetroEnergy and PetroGreen Energy Corp., which PetroEnergy owns 75 percent of, will jointly own 100 percent of PetroWind.

PetroEnergy said acquiring BCPG’s

stake allows it to achieve full ownership and control over the operations, governance, financing and strategic decisions of the Nabas Wind Power Project in Aklan province.

The move is expected to streamline decision-making, optimize capital allocation and potentially enhance long-term revenue and shareholder value, the parties said.

PetroWind was incorporated on March 6, 2013 to develop and operate the project. The first phase, the 36-MW Nabas-1 wind farm, was commissioned in June 2015, while the Nabas-2 expansion began testing and commissioning last year.

Alena Mae S. Flores

BINONDO

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Reyna’s Cravings, Guangzhou’s first Filipino restaurant, opens on July 18 in Panyu District in memory of the owner’s late sister, drawing support from the Philippine Consulate General.

Reyna’s Cravings makes history as first Filipino restaurant in Guangzhou R

By Michael Wong Ho

EYNA’S Cravings, the first Filipino restaurant in Guangzhou, opened on July 18 at No. 307, West Hanxi Avenue, Shibi Street, Panyu District, Aoyuan Yue Times, founded in memory of the owner’s youngest sister who died of cancer.

Owner Renia Batuigas Barrios said she and her late sister Reyna had dreamed of opening a Filipino

restaurant in China.

Reyna, remembered as a skilled cook, inspired the restaurant’s

mission to share warmth, hospitality and Filipino culinary traditions.

The menu features beef bulalo, caldereta and sinigang alongside a broad pork selection that includes crispy pata, liempo, adobo, nilaga, Bicol express, binagoongan, lechon kawali, lumpia, sisig and dinakdakan.

The restaurant also serves fried chicken, inasal, adobo and silog meals as well as vegetable and seafood dishes, spaghetti and pancit.

Desserts include halo-halo and

leche flan, and the restaurant offers Filipino beers such as San Mig Light, San Mig Pale and Red Horse.

The Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou, led by Philippine Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas, joined the local Filipino community to celebrate the restaurant’s grand opening.

“Filipino restaurants overseas are more than businesses—they are cultural ambassadors that share our traditions, hospitality and identity

Filipino-Chinese groups slam China Daily’s AI video

Overseas Chinese leaders gather in Beijing conference ABOUT 400 leaders of major overseas Chinese organizations from more than 140 countries and regions attended the 11th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations, which opened July 13 at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese jointly sponsored the event, which serves as an international platform for communication, cooperation and solidarity among overseas Chinese leaders worldwide.

CPPCC chairman Wang Huning

met with conference representatives and extended a welcome and greetings to overseas Chinese communities across the globe.

Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council director Chen Xu attended a welcome dinner held at the Beijing Hotel.

The conference, themed “Gathering the Hearts and Strength of Overseas Chinese for Development,” featured exchanges among delegates from more than 10 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Spain, Canada, Chile, Kenya, Tanzania and Papua New Guinea.

Leaders shared best practices and experiences in enhancing support systems for local Chinese communities, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese, promoting traditional Chinese culture abroad and fostering deeper mutual understanding and friendship between China and foreign nations.

Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Victor Lim and vice president William Castro led the Philippine delegation, joining global peers in highlighting the constructive role of overseas Chinese associations worldwide. Michael Wong Ho

About 400 leaders from over 140 countries, including Philippine delegates from FFCCCII, attend the 11th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations in Beijing.

through food. We are pleased to support Filipino enterprises like Reyna’s Cravings that help expand the presence of Philippine culture in Guangzhou,” Arribas said.

The consulate welcomed the opening as a step in promoting Philippine culture in southern China, offering Filipinos in Guangzhou a taste of home while introducing local and international diners to the richness and diversity of Philippine cuisine.

By Julie Ann Lope TWO leading Filipino-Chinese organizations condemned an artificial intelligence-generated video released

by China Daily, calling for its immediate removal and a formal apology.

The video, posted July 10, portrayed the Philippines as a monkey.

The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) said differences between governments over maritime or territorial issues do not justify insulting an entire nation, adding that disagreements should not turn into ridicule or ad hominem attacks.

FFCCCII president Victor Lim reaffirmed that the chamber supports friendship, peace, trade, investment, cultural understanding and cooperation between the Philippines and China.

Lim cited the long history of trade and cultural ties between the two nations and urged that differences be resolved through diplomacy, mutual respect and constructive dialogue rather than mockery.

“We should not let temporary disputes overshadow our long shared history,” Lim said.

Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran Inc., an organization committed to fostering unity, integration and stronger ties between the Chinese-Filipino community and the broader Filipino

FFCCCII and Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran condemn China Daily’s AI-generated video depicting the Philippines as a monkey, demanding its removal and a formal apology.

nation, described the video’s imagery, including the offensive portrayal of the Barong Tagalog, as dehumanizing.

The group said the content inflicts deep hurt and undermines the mutual respect that should form the basis of relations between nations.

Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran called on China Daily to remove the video immediately, issue a sincere apology to the Filipino people and uphold higher standards of responsibility in its future reporting. The group also urged all media outlets, local and international, to reject narratives that paint entire nations with a single broad brush and to choose constructive dialogue over mockery.

Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran reiterated its commitment to its purpose: to honor diverse roots, celebrate a shared Filipino identity and prove that nations can disagree deeply without losing respect for one another.

WHYNOT marks first anniversary in PH with expanded product line BEVERAGE brand WHYNOT celebrated its first anniversary in the Philippines, citing product expansion, wider distribution and community engagement as key achievements during its inaugural year in the market.

The company has grown its beverage portfolio to more than 10 options since its local launch, spanning milk teas, fruit drinks, flavored milks and readyto-drink coffees.

WHYNOT said the product diversity, combined with an expanding retail and distribution network, has made its beverages more accessible, affordable and convenient for Filipino consumers.

The brand also highlighted its commitment to community and youth de-

velopment beyond its commercial milestones.

WHYNOT sponsors Maharlika Football Club, supporting local sports initiatives that promote teamwork, determination and a positive lifestyle.

WHYNOT credited its consumers, business partners, employees and distributors for the milestone, saying their support was instrumental to the brand’s success in the Philippines.

Heading into its second year, WHYNOT vowed to continue offering quality products at affordable prices, expand accessibility nationwide and create more “refreshing moments” for communities across the country.

Julie Ann Lope

WHYNOT marks its first anniversary in the Philippines, highlighting an expanded beverage lineup, wider distribution and community programs including its sponsorship of Maharlika Football Club.

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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

Jeric Raval reflects on family, fatherhood, and self-care as he embraces a role away from his action-star image

Jeric Raval enjoys life as ‘Tatay Eric’ to 20 grandchildren

By Jasper Valdez VETERAN action star Jeric Raval may have spent years playing tough-as-nails characters on screen, but at home, he is simply “Tatay Eric” to his 20 grandchildren.

“Grandchildren are like your own children, too,” Jeric shared during an interview at the opening of Cindyrella Medical Group in Parañaque City.

Unlike the strict father he once was, Jeric said he now leaves the disciplining to his children.

“I leave the disciplining to their parents now. I’m too old for that,” he said.

Instead, Jeric enjoys spending time and playing with his grandchildren, who range from teenagers to younger children, some of whom live outside the Philippines.

Jeric said becoming a grandfather has not changed how much importance he places on his family. He remains present in the lives and careers of his children, including actress AJ Raval, whom he recently accompanied to an audition in Makati.

“Whenever she says, ‘Tatay Eric, can you come with me?’ I go with her when I’m free,” he said. “I do the same for all my children. I’m there for every one of them.”

“My family is my life,” he added.

The actor said he did not push any of his children to enter show business. His priority was that they finish their studies before starting work, whether inside or outside the entertainment industry.

“I encouraged all my children to finish their studies before they started working,” Jeric said. “I never encouraged any of them to enter show business.”

Now that his children are older and have families of their own, Jeric said he has more room to look after himself.

“Back then, I never put myself first,” he said, recalling the years when he was focused on raising his children and putting them through school.

“Now that they’re grown and living their own lives, I can finally make myself a priority again.”

Jeric Raval (third from left) joins former 1990s sexy stars during a Parañaque event where he opens up about family life and supporting his children

SHOWBIZ Why Obsession’s success is impossible to ignore O, finally, I was able to watch the movie Obsession, which has grossed over $400 million from a budget of less than a million. Thanks to Peacock, the streaming service I’ve read is owned

by NBC Universal, the movie became available beginning last Friday. It was how I started my weekend.

S

Touchbass

Yugel Losorata

again, there’s the One Wish Willow that sets the tone, and anything can happen, or not happen, from there.

My older brother, who was likewise curious about the strong reception Obsession generated, watched it with me while we were both at our mother’s place. He was visibly disappointed and thought the storytelling was not tight enough. He found one or two scenes amateurishly done, though he admitted there were genuine scares. He also felt there was no need for an item to wish for someone to fall for you and that a believable, deranged lover was as the plot was frightening enough.

I jokingly told him that when I was much younger, I didn’t understand the buzz surrounding The Blair Witch Project. And yes, we couldn’t argue with success. I can say the adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery, which starred Kathy Bates, was scarier. But then Megan Lawless, who played a Nikki becomes central to the film’s word-of-mouth rise supporting role in Obsession, quit her among young horror viewers day job following the film’s box-office triumph.

Every once in a Earlier this year, when while, there’s this I saw the King of Pop kind of sleeper biopic Michael, I saw a hit, low-budget poster for Obsession and yet so effective, was intrigued by its title. especially with the Unfortunately, I didn’t youth audience it is bother to watch it on the primarily catering to. big screen, thinking it It’s a success story, was another one of those and we must hope thrillers you can skip that the director’s without worrying that next projects will not you missed something disappoint. The lead special. The next time actress is bound to be I encountered it, it was a major star, as she already the talk of the carries Obsession town and breaking records. through her sheer When I was younger, I acting ability and thought I dealt with some visual charm. form of romantic obsession Curry Barker’s low-budget horror breakthrough follows Bear and Nikki through My takeaway once or twice. I would a dangerous romance shaped by jealousy, fear, and the One Wish Willow is that Obsession become overly jealous is proof that a whenever I saw my nowgood idea and wife talking to another provoking execution can lead guy. We were likewise workmates, like to a breakthrough for every the protagonists in the film, and of course artist looking for that lifeI was the “Freaky Nikki” between me Inde Navarrette’s changing project. If it and my then-girlfriend, now the caring riveting happened to Curry, mother of my son. And yes, I was far less performance fuels you can’t say it can’t threatening than the character played by the phenomenal happen to you, Inde Navarrette. success of regardless of your ‘Obsession’ I even turned that little “obsession” age or background. into a song called “Scorpio,” which Pun intended, tackles the mental challenge romantic you have to be jealousy poses. It became a single by our rightly obsessive band Syato, and its title in achieving was decided because my your goal of erstwhile songwriting making it in partner and I were both the industry born under the zodiac you’re in. sign Scorpio. Men with this sign are thought to be unreasonably jealous.

Now let’s deal with how I saw Curry Barker’s horrorthriller. Naturally, I was expecting more from it considering its massive success. The experience was not an instant wow, though it slowly grew on me after I thought about it. I thought there would be more backstory on Nikki’s character or that Bear could have been braver in facing the situation he got himself into. But then

First look at ‘Bongga Ka, ‘Day!’ musical teases OPM-filled stage production

By Jehan Gusto

The stage production introduces a new generation to Annie Batungbakal’s story through comedy, romance, and Filipino pop classics

BONGGA Ka, ‘Day! The Annie Batungbakal Musical officially launched its promotional campaign with a media event at Newport World Resorts, where the cast previewed musical numbers and announced its ticketselling schedule ahead of its September opening.

The production opened the event with performances

showcasing songs from the musical, giving members of the media and invited guests a first look at its staging, choreography, and OPMinspired soundtrack.

Exclusive ticket pre-selling ran from July 8 to 9, while general ticket sales began July 10. The musical is scheduled to open on Sept. 18.

Atasha Muhlach stars as Annie Batungbakal, leading a cast that includes Sam

Concepcion, Jeff Moses, Anthony Rosaldo, and KD Estrada.

Joining them are Jackie Lou Blanco, Ring Antonio, John Lapus, Dindo Divinagracia, and Air Paz-Pablico.

Based on the well-known Filipino character, the stage production blends comedy, romance, and OPM classics while introducing Annie Batungbakal’s story to a new generation of theatergoers.

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

C3 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

NOW & NEXT Children should also know they can approach a parent, teacher, or trusted adult when something online makes them feel confused, pressured, threatened, embarrassed, or uncomfortable.

Parents can build trust by responding calmly and focusing on the child’s safety, especially if they have already clicked a suspicious link, replied to a stranger, or shared something they regret.

Cases involving child abuse, exploitation, or threats to a child’s safety may be reported to the MAKABATA Helpline 1383, the government’s national hotline for children’s concerns.

Building a safer online community Raising children in the digital age can be challenging as online threats continue to evolve, from scams and unfamiliar apps to AIgenerated content.

Since 2022, PLDT Home’s Online Alerto has provided Filipino families with a space to exchange experiences, learn about emerging digital threats, and discover practical ways to build safer online habits at home.

The community helps parents learn from real-life situations, share warnings about scams and suspicious online activity, and become more confident in guiding their children.

E

VERY morning, parents send their children off to school with reminders to behave and a familiar instruction: Mag-ingat ka.

Today, that reminder must extend to the digital world. As children go online to study, play, watch videos, or chat with friends, they may encounter suspicious links, fake giveaways, hacked accounts, online strangers, cyberbullying, misinformation, and manipulated content.

While the internet provides opportunities to learn, create, and connect, it also exposes children to risks. Parents need to ensure that their children engage with age-appropriate and child-friendly digital spaces by enabling parental controls, privacy settings, content restrictions, and other available safety features.

Teaching children to spot warning signs Online threats do not always appear dangerous at first. They may come as a message from a classmate asking for a password, an offer of free game credits, a viral video presented as fact, or a stranger inviting a child to continue chatting privately.

Some messages create urgency by claiming an account will be suspended, a prize will expire, or someone needs immediate help.

Others may come from fake or hacked accounts designed to gain a child’s trust.

Experts encourage parents to teach children a simple habit when something online feels unusual: Pause, Check, and Tell.

Online Alerto encourages Filipino families to build safer digital habits as children face scams, misinformation, cyberbullying, and other internet risks

Teaching kids to stay safe in a changing online world from a fake or compromised account. Videos and images may also be edited or generated using artificial intelligence, while viral posts may present opinions or incomplete information as facts.

Checking does not require advanced technical knowledge. It starts with asking simple questions: Who sent this? Why are they asking for information? Is the source trustworthy? Could the content have been altered?

Sachzna Laparan done paying for love, seeks financially stable partner

Parents are urged to teach children to pause, check, and tell when online messages, links, or accounts feel suspicious

Children should pause before clicking links, opening files, downloading apps, replying to unfamiliar accounts, or sharing personal information. Messages that create fear, pressure, or excitement should be approached

with caution, as scammers often use urgency to prevent careful thinking.

They should also learn to check the source of online information. A message may appear to come from someone they know but may be

Kara David big winner at inaugural FAMAS Broadcast Awards

Kara David leads the network’s honorees with wins for documentary, public affairs, and public service hosting

BROADCAST journalist Kara David and actor Kelvin Miranda led GMA Network’s winners at the inaugural FAMAS Broadcast Awards held Monday at The Manila Hotel.

David emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, taking home three awards: Best Documentary for I-Witness episode Embalsamador De Motor, Best Public Affairs Talk Show for I-Listen, and Best Host for Public Service for the same program.

Miranda, meanwhile, won Best Performer for Series and Anthology for his portrayal in the fantasy drama Sanggre: Encantadia Chronicles.

GMA Public Affairs also collected multiple honors, with Born to be Wild named Best Educational Show and Biyahe ni Drew winning Best Lifestyle Show.

Kelvin Miranda earns Best Performer for Series and Anthology for his role in ‘Sanggre: Encantadia Chronicles’

On the entertainment side, Family Feud received the Best Show for Game, Reality, and Competition award, while Fast Talk with Boy Abunda was named Best Entertainment Talk Show.

GMA-produced It’s Showtime also earned Best Variety Show, while host Vice Ganda was recognized as Best Host for Entertainment.

The awards recognized excellence in Philippine broadcast television, with GMA programs and personalities among the inaugural recipients across entertainment, public affairs, and lifestyle categories.

Parents cannot completely keep children away from the digital world. The internet is already part of how they learn, communicate, relax, and prepare for the future.

What they can do is equip children with habits that help them recognize risks and respond wisely.

Before they click, reply, share, or trust, remind them to Pause, Check, and Tell. It can help children explore the online world with greater confidence, caution, and care.

Families can join the Online Alerto Facebook community at facebook.com/groups/ onlinealerto.ph to learn more about protecting children online.

Sachzna Laparan opens up about the financial toll of her past relationship and how she plans to move forward

By Jasper Valdez SACHZNA Laparan said her previous relationship cost her far more than money, claiming that repeated undisclosed debts eventually depleted her love and trust for her former partner.

“It wasn’t only my money that was running out. My affection for him and my faith in the relationship were fading, too,” Sachzna shared.

She made the admission on July 7 after being introduced by PNGB (Precious Nick Asher Gold Buyer) owners Sherill and Reynaldo Villanueva as the jewelry company’s newest celebrity endorser.

The actress and content creator earlier disclosed that she lost about P50 million after investing money into her former partner’s cryptocurrency venture and settling some of his alleged debts. She said the amount was released gradually, beginning with P40 million before another P10 million was added.

Sachzna claimed she did not know the full extent of the borrowing because she respected her former partner’s privacy and never checked his phone.

“I never took or checked his phone. I was so busy, and we each had our own lives,” she said.

“He had his privacy, and I had mine. I trusted that he wouldn’t do it.”

She also said her name may have helped him gain the confidence of lenders and investors,

even if he did not directly claim that she would guarantee the loans.

“He wasn’t directly using my name, but I was still being used because people knew I was his partner.

Being with me gave him credibility,” she said.

According to Sachzna, she paid several obligations herself to prevent the situation from escalating, although she believes other debts may still exist.

“There were debts of his that I personally paid. But there are probably more because I don’t know about all of them. So, for sure, some still haven’t been paid,” she said.

She eventually stopped covering the debts after ending the relationship. Sachzna said she had given her former partner several chances to address the problem, but more obligations allegedly surfaced over time.

She also ruled out reconciliation despite saying that he had asked her to take him back.

“I’m not taking him back,” she said. “I still care about him because we were together for three years. But care is all I have left for him.”

After often taking on the expenses in her past relationships, Sachzna said she now wants a future partner who is financially secure.

“Maybe the next person I date should be richer than me,” she said in jest.

She later clarified that wealth is not her only consideration.

“He should be stable. He doesn’t have to be extremely wealthy, as long as he’s financially stable,” she said, adding that she wants someone with a regular source of income who can meet her as an equal.

Sachzna said she spent 10 to 15 years building the money she lost through endorsements and businesses, including accommodations and resort ventures. Still, she said she has stopped dwelling on the amount.

“My peace of mind is worth more than what I lost,” she said.

The local gold retailer’s CEO, Sherill Villanueva (second from right), introduces Sachzna Laparan (second from left) as their newest celebrity ambassador

LIFE

C4 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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

During an overnight sleep study, the patient undergoes a medical-grade monitoring which helps specialists identify underlying sleep disorders that often go undiagnosed

Turning self-care into a staycation state of mind

The hidden sleep crisis affecting your health, work and relationships Designed to feel more like a hotel than a hospital, Hele Sleep Diagnostics’ sleep suites provide a comfortable setting for overnight sleep assessments

Quan Spa at Manila Marriott Hotel invites guests to slow down with wellness treatments that complement a day of dining, shopping, and relaxation at Newport World Resort

Quan Spa offers restorative treatments like the Traditional Hilot Massage and Embrace, a couples’ experience

SELF-CARE does not have to wait for a special occasion.

As International Self-Care Day on July 24 approaches, Newport World Resorts presents everyday ways to prioritize personal well-being through shopping, dining, and wellness experiences available within one destination.

A wardrobe refresh can be a simple way to start. Newport Mall features fashion, accessories, and footwear options for different styles, from Lacoste’s classic French sportswear and Calvin Klein’s modern essentials to Shoe Game Manila’s curated sneaker collections. Pandora offers handcrafted jewelry pieces, while Segnatempo showcases luxury timepieces built around timeless craftsmanship.

Beauty routines can also become moments of self-care.

L’Occitane brings Provence-inspired skincare and body care, while MAC Cosmetics and KIKO Milano offer professional beauty collections for everyday looks and special occasions.

Dining experiences at Newport World Resorts turn meals into opportunities to slow down and reconnect. Feta Mediterranean on the fourth floor of Newport Mall serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a warm, contemporary setting.

At Chairman Fu Hotpot Bar on the second floor of the Grand Wing, diners can enjoy leisurely hotpot meals with selections such as the Full Set Menu for two, starting at P4,888, featuring appetizers, individual broths, premium meats, rice or noodles, and dessert. The Express Lunch Set is available Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with solo hotpot meals starting at P788. Premium selections include Kitayama Wagyu, available from P1,288.

At Sheraton Manila Hotel at Newport World Resorts, S Kitchen transforms weekends into culinary experiences.

Fridays feature Orient Express, an Asian-inspired buffet with East Asian, Indo-Chinese, and South Asian specialties.

Saturdays feature Surf & Turf with premium meats and seafood, while Sundays celebrate Filipino cuisine through Filipino Fiesta.

Wellness experiences provide a calming close to a self-care day. Shine Spa at Sheraton Manila Hotel offers treatments such as the Shine Signature Hilot Massage, inspired by traditional Filipino healing practices, and the Voyagers Massage, which combines Swedish techniques with aromatherapy.

At Quan Spa of Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts, guests can choose restorative treatments such as the Traditional Hilot Massage or Embrace, a couples’ experience combining a soothing bath, a massage, and wine.

With shopping, dining, and wellness experiences in one destination, Newport World Resorts creates opportunities to make self-care part of everyday living.

Guests can unwind at Shine Spa in Sheraton Manila Hotel, where wellness treatments offer a relaxing pause from everyday routines

By Nickie Wang

P

OOR sleep does not stop at tired mornings.

When sleep disorders go undiagnosed and untreated. Its effects can follow you into your work, relationships, health, and overall well-being. Persistent fatigue, brain fog, and daytime sleepiness are often dismissed as results of a busy lifestyle, but they may point to underlying sleep problems.

Dr. Michael Sarte, a sleep medicine specialist in the Philippines, said many patients are surprised to discover they have been living with sleep disorders for years without recognizing the signs.

“The symptoms are there — they’ve just been calling it something else,” Sarte said.

Hele Sleep Diagnostics, a sleep clinic focused on making sleep testing more accessible, works with specialists like Sarte to help patients understand the causes behind poor sleep and address them through proper assessment.

Here are seven ways undiagnosed sleep issues can quietly affect daily life Relationships: The Irritable Partner Poor sleep can affect emotional regulation, leading to mood changes, impatience, and unnecessary tension with loved ones. Restful sleep helps improve focus, patience, and emotional balance.

Family and kids: The distant member Constant exhaustion can make it harder to stay engaged with family activities and important milestones. Better sleep helps restore the energy needed to be more present with loved ones.

Career: The productivity cliff Daytime sleepiness can affect concentration, decision-making, and performance at work. Quality sleep supports mental sharpness and helps maintain productivity.

Education: The academic hurdle For students, poor sleep can lead to reduced attention spans, memory difficulties, and challenges staying focused in class. Adequate rest helps support learning and academic performance.

Social life: The cancelled plans Lack of energy can lead people to cancel plans or avoid gatherings.

Restful sleep allows individuals to participate more actively in social activities and maintain relationships.

Physical health: The never-ending flu Sleep plays an important role in the body’s repair and immune functions. Poor sleep can make people more vulnerable to illnesses and slow recovery.

Mental well-being: The vicious cycle of anxiety and depression Sleep affects how the brain processes emotions. Ongoing sleep problems may contribute to higher stress levels, anxiety, and low mood.

Recognizing sleep concerns early can help prevent their effects from becoming long-term problems.

“We now understand that sleep is one of the most powerful determinants of long-term health,” Sarte said. “Getting tested, whether in a clinic or in a hospital, is the single most important step you can take before those consequences become harder to reverse.”

Located at Makati Diamond Hotel, Hele Sleep Diagnostics provides a comfortable setting that combines medical-grade monitoring with a more relaxed environment for patients, including parents and children.

Sleep affects every part of daily life. To learn more or book a session, visit www.sleepbyhele.com or contact Hele Sleep Diagnostics through its Facebook page.

Guests can enjoy an accessible sleep testing in a relaxed clinical environment at Hele Sleep Diagnostics

The future of fitness gets a smart upgrade

The pop-up showcases Technogym’s connected fitness ecosystem through interactive displays and smart wellness solutions

By Jehan Gusto THE way people approach fitness is changing. Today, wellness is no longer just about hitting the gym or chasing personal bests. It is about creating healthier habits that fit into everyday life.

From smart home fitness solutions to personalized training powered by technology, the modern wellness experience is becoming more intuitive, accessible, and tailored to individual goals.

For those looking to discover what that future looks like, Technogym’s “Wellness in Focus” pop-up at focus_ in Power Plant Mall offers a glimpse into how technology and movement are reshaping the way people stay active.

Designed as an interactive wellness space, the pop-up invites visitors to explore Technogym’s connected ecosystem of premium fitness equipment and digital wellness tools. Whether they are beginning their fitness journey, maintaining an active lifestyle, or training with specific performance goals in mind, guests can experience how personalized insights can help make every workout more meaningful.

One of the highlights is the Connected Dumbbells, a smart strengthtraining solution designed for modern homes and condominium living.

Compact yet highly functional, it offers an efficient way to incorporate resistance training without sacrificing valuable space, making it ideal for those embracing the convenience of home workouts.

Visitors can also try the Technogym Checkup, where sciencebacked assessments provide a snapshot of their current fitness level.

The personalized results can serve as a starting point for building a wellness plan aligned with individual goals, making it easier to understand where to begin or how to improve.

For runners and cardio enthusiasts, the Technogym Run platform showcases how today’s fitness equipment goes beyond traditional exercise machines. Equipped with intelligent biofeedback technology and advanced performance tracking, it transforms a standard run into a more immersive and data-driven workout experience.

Beyond trying out the equipment, guests can participate in interactive activities at each station while consulting with wellness experts throughout the activation. The result is an experience that feels less like a showroom and more like an introduction to a smarter, more personalized approach to healthy living.

As more Filipinos invest in wellness, not only through exercise but also through technology that supports healthier lifestyles, experiences like Wellness in Focus show how fitness is evolving to meet the needs of modern living.

The Wellness in Focus pop-up is open at focus, R3 Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City. Walk-in guests are welcome to explore the installations and discover how Technogym’s connected wellness ecosystem can fit into their everyday routines.

Technogym is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Focus Global Inc.

Visitors can assess their fitness level through the Technogym Checkup, which provides personalized insights to help guide individual wellness goals Technogym’s Connected Dumbbells bring spacesaving, technologydriven strength training to modern homes and condominium living