Manila Standard - 2026 July 24 - Friday

ASEAN calls for freedom of navigation in all SCS

COAST GUARD SPOKES QUESTIONS CHINA ENVOY’S BATANES VISIT

By Katrina Manubay

By Katrina Manubay

ASEAN pushes for COC okay this year

“We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, se-

China fires water cannon at PH ship

13 nations join PH in affirming tribunal’s SCS ruling

By Katrina Manubay and Rex Espiritu

Tehran shuts down Strait of Hormuz anew

By Vito Barcelo

Impeach court subpoenas two ex-LB officials

By Maricel V. Cruz and Charles Dantes

Gerville

By Rex Espiritu, Katrina Manubay and Charles Dantes

CHINA’S coast guard fired water cannon and used a “dangerous maneuver” against Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels on a fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fisherfolk at Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal) on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

The incident took place hours before Manila hosted a regional security forum attended by the top diplomats of both China and the United States and three days after China Coast Guard personnel clubbed a Filipino soldier on the head on Ayungin Shoal.

PCG Spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said China Coast Guard ship (CCG vessel 3302) closed to within 50 meters (164 feet) of the BRP Datu Dumangsil and fired water cannon at it for two minutes.

Half an hour later, a second Chinese coast guard vessel (CCG 21579) crossed 500 meters across the bow of Dumangsil’s sister vessel BRP Datu Paiburong in what the PCG called a “dangerous maneuver.”

to Robin: Prosecution is out to prove raps vs. Sara

By Maricel V. Cruz and Ram Superable

TEHRAN announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz Sunday and launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbors, in retaliation for new US strikes following an attack by Iranian forces on a merchant vessel that was abandoned in flames by its crew. Sirens and explosions were heard in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Agence France Presse (AFP) journalists and local authorities reported, the latest escalation to undermine an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the Middle East war. Meanwhile, around 2,500 Filipino seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf as renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran have again disrupted commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

SENATE impeachment court presiding officer Senator Francis Escudero on Wednesday ordered the issuance of subpoenas for two former branch managers of Land Bank of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will follow legal procedures should questions arise over the release of Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records in her impeachment trial. Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camposano, former managers of the Landbank-Shaw Boulevard (Mandaluyong City) branch and the Department of Education (DepEd) branch, respectively, are summoned to testify in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial next Wednesday. They are to be presented by the

Senate to push for social media ban for minors

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said it is taking no position for or against Vice Presi-

THE House prosecution panel on Wednesday rejected suggestions that it should be neutral during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte, saying its role under the Constitution is to advocate for the impeachment case while the senator-judges remain impartial.

At the same time, lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro expressed confidence that the senator-judges will faithfully discharge

their constitutional duties with impartiality as the impeachment trial continues under close public attention. Luistro made the clarification after Senator-judge Robin Padilla remarked during the proceedings that the prosecution appeared “one-sided.”

“With all due respect to Senator-judge Robin Padilla, apparently this impeachment trial is adversarial,” Luistro said during a press briefing. Luistro explained that the very nature of impeachment is for the prosecution to prove the charges, while the defense Next page

By Rex Espiritu and Rio N. Araja

dent Sara Duterte as her impeachment trial continues, emphasizing that the proceedings highlight the constitutional principle that all public officials are accountable to the people. Former Supreme Court Associate Jus-

By Jasper Valdez

By Charles Dantes and Vince Lopez

ANIMAL-welfare advocates convey their message to the children through books that urge them to see animals not as creatures whose needs can be ignored, but as living things that deserve care, protection and respect.

continues to have confidence in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) despite testimony before the

impeachment court that some

soldiers are among persons of interest in an alleged

Launched on July 12 at the University Hotel in UP Diliman, Quezon City, the books entitled “Desiree Carlos: Ang Journalist na Tagapagligtas ng mga Strays” and “Tahol sa Katahimikan: Mga Tula at Kuwento” were written by Lalaine Manaog-Danao.

to

Malacañang said Wednesday. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said she was not informed whether the testimony presented by National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag had been relayed directly to the President, but confirmed that it had reached his security team. Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto ordered security and transport agencies to tighten coordination ahead of the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, focusing on public safety, traffic management, and rapid response to possible disruptions.

Both publications were tied to her broader effort to use story telling as a way to teach children about kindness toward animals. Manaog-Danao said she chose to focus on children because values are easier to shape early.

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vince Lopez

tice Adolf Azcuna, meanwhile, clarified that the case involving Duterte’s alleged death threats is far from resolved despite his earlier opinion that the prosecution had established criminal intent. Also, House prosecution spokesper-

son and Lanao del Sur Rep.

to Adiong said the impeachment trial serves the public interest by helping define the standards of conduct expected of the

Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. Meanwhile, Senator-Judge Panfilo Lacson said he will oppose the unsealing of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) “green box” containing Vice President

Zia Alon-

ASEAN pushes for COC ok this year

curity, stability, and freedom of navigation in and overflight in the South China Sea and recognize the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainable and development,” the ministers said in a joint communique issued Thursday.

The communique also said that “some ministers expressed concern over land reclamations, activities, serious incidents in the area, including actions that put the safety of all persons at risk, and damage to the environment, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security , and stability in the region.

The ministers also reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence and to exercise self-restraint in conducting activities that could complicate or escalate disputes in the waters.

“We emphasized the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea,” the joint statement read.

The 2002 DOC is a non-binding agreement signed by ASEAN and China that commits the parties to peaceful dispute resolution, freedom of navigation, and cooperative maritime efforts, serving as a foundation for a formal COC.. With AFP

“We are taking these threats seriously. My staff has routinely deleted and reported these disturbing comments on Facebook... I call on social media platforms and law enforcement to act decisively against this culture of impunity online,” Hontiveros posted on social media.

In response, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the agency is investigating the alleged death threats against Hontiveros after her chief of staff reached out.

Matibag tapped agents from the NBI Cybercrime Division to handle the case in coordination with forensic laboratory personnel to examine social media posts linked to the alleged death threats.

He said the matter is undergoing case buildup and may be referred to the Department of Justice if evidence warrants the filing of charges.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday reported the successful apprehension of two suspects linked to Lipata’s killing, namely the supposed gunman and the motorcycle rider.

“The two were arrested in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and, of course, this was after the intensive investigation and follow-up operations conducted by the NPD (Northern Police District), especially the investigation task group ‘Mima,” PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“They are the same culprits. They are the same ones who did what the witness says the two on a motorcycle stopped and killed alias Mima,” he added. The police spokesperson added that the motive of the suspects was still being investigated, while they are looking for other individuals who may be connected to the case.

“We are not stopping with the arrest of these two. We are still following up, and we are still investigating. There could be some other people who might be involved, but we are not saying that there is. But it is very possible,” Co said.

“You see, we were able to trace that alias Mima came from somewhere, so it was still in Caloocan. But it took them some time to go home... So it points to the fact that there were some other people who were looking or surveilling these movements because it was exactly before the victim arrived. Then they entered a few minutes before the perpetrators,” he added.

over the impact of social media on children’s mental health, safety, and overall well-being, urging the country to take proactive measures to protect the youth from its potential harms.

“With France joining the growing number of countries that have banned social media for minors, we can no longer afford to be left behind. A clear global consensus is emerging: social media use among our children endangers their mental health, safety,

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is “endeavoring to conclude” negotiations on an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea within the year, while reaffirming the importance of resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In a press briefing following the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conferences (AMM-PMC), and related meetings on Thursday, Lazaro em-

China... From A1

“These actions violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and endangered Filipino personnel engaged in a purely humanitarian undertaking,” Tarriela said.

The PCG likewise deployed a Cessna Grand Caravan, PCG-2081, for a maritime domain awareness flight over Bajo de Masinloc.

During the flight, the aircraft received a radio challenge from Chinese forces while operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the PCG said.

China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue claimed the Filipino vessels “intruded into the jurisdictional waters of China’s Huangyan Island despite... repeated dissuasions and warnings.”

“The China Coast Guard took necessary measures, including tracking, monitoring, blocking, and controlling the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law, and expelled them,” he said.

Panatag Shoal is about 357 kilometers off Zambales well within the Philippines’ EEZ, and roughly 926 kilometers from Hainan, China’s southernmost province.

Shameless

For his part, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called China “shameless”

Impeach... From A1

prosecution to testify on charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust by allegedly misusing P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds released to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd when she was Education secretary.

The charges are contained in Article 1 of the four Articles of Impeachment.

House lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro told the Impeachment Court that Constantino would testify ahead of Camposano.

Defense counsel Mark Vinluan asked if more than one witness would be presented next Wednesday, to which Escudero answered, “We will be issuing the subpoena for both, in case.”

“I have no idea if it’s going to be a short direct (examination) and cross (examination) and/or re-cross. So, we shall see. Kindly prepare for the two witnesses on that day,” the presiding officer said.

Of the P612.5 million confidential and intelligence funds under question, P500 was released to the OVP and P112.5 million to the DepEd.

Of the entire amount, prosecutors have revealed that P448 million has been disallowed by the Commission on Audit

During a security meeting, Recto directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to strengthen coordination on security, traffic, and crowd management while respecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

“Let us ensure that the SONA will be peaceful and orderly for everyone. We must be prepared, act in coordination, and respond swiftly to any situation,” Recto said.

Matibag testified before the im-

and overall well-being,” he said.

French lawmakers voted Tuesday to ban social media use for children under the age of 15, making France the first European Union country to introduce such an age limit.

Australia became the first country to ban social media use for those under 16 last year. Similar restrictions have also been announced by the British government, while Spain, Greece, and Denmark are planning to impose minimum age limits for social media use.

Indonesia has banned social media use for children under 16 since March. Malaysia has taken a similar approach,

phasized that progress is being made towards concluding the code.

“ASEAN now and China are geared towards the conclusion, hopefully the conclusion of the Code of Conduct

for trying to interfere in activities aboard the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal and for spreading lies to justify its actions.

Teodoro made the remarks after China claimed no construction should be done on BRP Sierra Madre based on what it claimed was a provisional agreement between Manila and Beijing.

“They cannot prove that. They entered our area, so they fabricated lies of an ‘encounter.’ They spliced the video. How are we supposed to believe them?”

“They should not interfere with what we do within our territory. They do not have the right to be there. Truly shameless! (Inuunggoy na tayo) They are blatantly pulling a fast one,” the Defense chief added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday awarded two Philippine Navy personnel wounded during the violent confrontation near Ayungin Shoal, praising their courage in defending the country’s territorial claims.

Marcos visited Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Carmelo Aballe, 33, and Private Eric Lacida, 24, at the Camp Ricarte Station Hospital inside the Western Command (WESCOM) headquarters in Palawan, where they are recovering from injuries sustained during the July 20 incident.

The commander-in-chief personally

(COA), including P73 million that has been ruled as questionable with finality and which the Vice President and two other responsible officials have been required to return to the government.

The COA has also reported that all of the P112.5 million given to DepEd was used in just 11 days.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) certified that many of the supposed recipients of the funds have no personal details in its database and are therefore considered non-existent, including a certain May Grace Piattos.

On the other hand, the NBI forensic examination division reported that many of the signatures on acknowledgement receipts of alleged recipients were similar and executed only by one person.

PBBM to follow law on BIR docs disclosure

During at a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office

Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked whether the President could authorize the disclosure of Duterte’s tax records should the Senate impeachment court subpoena them and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) seek presidential approval under Section 71 of the National Internal Revenue Code.

Castro said the administration would act only in accordance with the law and due process.

“Whether any law would be violat-

peachment court on Tuesday that active-duty soldiers were among the persons of interest in the alleged assassination plot.

Despite the disclosure, Castro said Marcos continues to trust the military as an institution, stressing that authorities should identify any personnel who may have strayed from their constitutional duties.

“The President’s trust in our soldiers remains. If there are those who have abandoned their mandate, they should be identified for the President’s protection,” she said, adding that no loyalty check is currently being conducted within the military.

with legislation that took effect in June restricting access for those under 16 to major platforms.

“Upon the resumption of Congress, the Senate will prioritize the proposed legislation that seeks to prohibit the use of social media by minors. We should not delay this any further, as the future of our youth is at stake,” he added.

The Senate chief previously introduced the Social Media Safety for Children Act (Senate Bill No. 2066), which seeks to prohibit social media use by minors under the age of 16. Gatchalian has also proposed the Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act

by the end of this year,” she said. The COC talks have been ongoing for nearly 17 years.

In a joint communiqué, the foreign ministers reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence and to exercise self-restraint in conducting activities that could complicate or escalate disputes in the waters.

“We emphasized the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the

checked on the servicemen’s condition and honored them with the Order of Lapu-Lapu, recognizing what the government described as their extraordinary service, bravery and commitment to protecting the Philippines’ territorial interests.

Aballe suffered a head injury that required four stitches and remains in stable condition while under medical observation to determine whether further medical evacuation is necessary, according to the Philippine Navy.

Lacida sustained minor abrasions on his hand and is also in stable condition, with no need for medical evacuation.

Marcos also granted the two servicemen P100,000 each in Special Financial Assistance, separate from the benefits they are entitled to under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Comprehensive Social Benefits Program (CSBP).

Reset needed – PBBM

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier told Chinese ambassador Jing Quan that he wants to prevent a repeat of recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea and pursue a “reset” in bilateral relations, the Palace said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Mr. Marcos and Jing met for about one hour and 20 minutes on Tuesday, a day after the violent con-

ed is speculative at this point, and the President and this administration will only follow the proper process and what the law provides,” she said.

She noted that courts, including the Court of Tax Appeals, may obtain tax records in cases involving alleged tax fraud or tax evasion without requiring presidential permission, depending on the circumstances provided by law.

When asked whether President Marcos would authorize the release of Duterte’s tax records if BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza sought his approval following a subpoena from the impeachment court, Castro said it was premature to predict the President’s response.

“ At this point, we cannot say how the President would respond, but he has consistently maintained that any action must follow due process and be based on the law,” Castro said.

She noted that if the same procedure had been applied in previous impeachment proceedings, the President would have followed the established process.

The remarks followed Castro’s earlier statement that the Senate impeachment court should issue any orders or subpoenas related to evidence in the impeachment proceedings because the President is also an impeachable official.

She said the administration would defer to the court’s authority while ensuring compliance with applicable laws.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said 21,261 police personnel, backed by 3,000 augmentation forces, will secure the Batasang Pambansa Complex, major roads, transport terminals, designated rally areas, and other key locations across Metro Manila.

A full alert status will take effect at 5 p.m. on July 24.

Authorities will also enforce a no-fly and no-drone zone, suspend Permits to Carry Firearms Outside Residence nationwide on July 27, and implement temporary road closures and traffic rerouting around the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

(Senate Bill No. 627), which would ban the use of smartphones and other electronic devices during class hours in both public and private schools.

Despite Facebook’s requirement that users be at least 13 years old, a significant number of underage Filipino users still access the platform, according to Gatchalian. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Gatchalian said 87.64 percent of Filipino internet users aged 12 have a social media account, while 80.76 percent of those aged 11 are active on social media. With AFP

South China Sea (DOC) that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea,” the joint statement read. The 2002 DOC is a non-binding agreement signed by ASEAN and China that commits the parties to peaceful dispute resolution, freedom of navigation, and cooperative maritime efforts, serving as a foundation for a formal COC.

Lazaro noted the monthly meeting of negotiators, saying it has always been the plan to conclude the negotiations under the Philippine chairship.

frontation at Ayungin Shoal.

“What the President wants is for these incidents not to happen again, and for China-Philippines relations to be reset toward better engagement,” Castro said. Castro declined to disclose details of the private discussion but said the meeting ended on a positive note.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting.

The United States and its allies earlier condemned China’s “dangerous” behavior after the clash near Ayungin Shoal. Rubio earlier wrote in an opinion piece that Washington is committed “to freedom of navigation in Southeast Asia” while reaffirming the US defensive umbrella in the region.

Wang also met with Philippine Foreign Theresa Lazaro where he noted “persistent difficulties and challenges in recent years” facing China-Philippine relations “The Philippines has acted in a manner contrary to other regional nations, becoming a source of disruption to regional peace and stability,” Wang told Lazaro, adding that ties between the countries “currently stand at a crossroads.” Lazaro, for her part, “reiterated the Philippines’ strong protest over the violent actions committed by China Coast Guard personnel.” With AFP

insists on the respondent’s innocence.

So, it is very much anticipated that the prosecution is biased towards presenting the case, presenting the evidence,” she pointed out.

Luistro stressed it would be unusual for prosecutors to take a neutral position or defend the respondent.

“It would probably be more surprising if the prosecution were to remain neutral. And it would be even more astounding if we were to defend the respondent,” she said.

She stressed that neutrality is expected of the senator-judges, not the parties appearing before them.

According to her, it should be the judge who must be neutral.

Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin shared that the House acts as prosecutor after determining that an impeachment complaint is sufficient in form and substance and is supported by probable cause.

She noted that 257 members of the House voted to impeach Duterte before transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, where the prosecution and defense now present their respective cases.

Garin said the issue of neutrality should be more appropriately applied to the senator-judges.

She added that the prosecution’s duty is to prove the charges, while the defense’s role is to defend the respondent.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan, meanwhile, said the prosecution respects the senator-judges and apologized if any reaction from the prosecution panel during the proceedings was perceived otherwise.

“We’re very appreciative that Senator Robin always brings color and surprise and excitement,” Kapunan said.

“There was really no intent to disrespect him,” she added.

This statement followed Padilla’s request for the prosecution to refrain from calling witnesses with perjury cases against them, mentioning John Mark Calilung and Jeremy Lotoc, a senior agent and a regional director, respectively from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Luistro brushed off Padilla’s concerns by saying that the two had no perjury charges, asserting that the prosecution’s role is inherently biased towards establishing a case against the respondent.

Padilla later reiterated that both prosecution and defense should ultimately aim for justice, defining true justice as neutral and impervious to political affiliations. He stated that justice loses its meaning when it takes a side, leading to oppression rather than fairness.

OVP request for catering rejected

By Joel E. Zurbano and Katrina Manubay

MEMBERS

of the Senate majority have declined the request of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the upper chamber to cover the costs of food, beverages, and catering for the defense team during the impeachment trial.

The decision reflects the Senate’s stance on budgetary responsibilities and the protocols typically followed in such proceedings.

“As these arrangements are required solely in connection with these proceedings, the OVP respectfully requests that the Senate shoulder the reasonable costs of food, beverages, and catering services for the defense team, support staff, and witnesses,” the OVP

said in a July 7 letter to the Office of the Senate President. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the chamber cannot shoulder food expenses for both the prosecution and defense panels in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. He said available funds will instead be prioritized for the rental of additional venues for committee hearings as budget deliberations begin.

“We have numerous committee hearings planned, and I foresee that we will need to rent space at the PICC since our committee offices have been utilized for the impeachment. Therefore, we will require extra funds to secure these venues. In summary, we do not have the budget to provide for the prosecution and defense,” Gatchalian said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the request was discussed by senators, including Gatchalian, during a meeting.

“I expressed strong opposition to it,” Lacson said, contesting Duterte’s request to use her own accredited caterer, noting that the Senate had already appointed an official catering service through the government procurement process.

“Accommodating the OVP’s caterer

and covering the costs of feeding Vice President Duterte’s defense team, support staff, and witnesses could potentially violate the government procurement law,” Lacson said.

He pointed out that the Senate has funds allocated for the impeachment trial under its ongoing 2025 appropriations, which may be used to provide meals for the prosecution and defense teams, witnesses, senator-judges, and support staff.

Senator Erwin Tulfo said the majority questioned why the Senate should shoulder the expense.

“How do we justify that? Where will we source the payment for the food if they are the ones choosing the caterer? It is not included in our budget, and we might face scrutiny. How do we justify feeding the defense team?” Tulfo said.

Duterte camp says VP should not be portrayed as violent

By Katrina Manubay

VICE President Sara Duterte’s camp on Thursday said it will argue during the Senate impeachment trial that she should not be characterized as violent following the presentation of a 2011 video showing her confronting a sheriff during her tenure as Davao City mayor.

In an interview with ANC, Duterte’s defense spokesperson, Atty. Michael Poa, dismissed online reports claiming

the vice president threw a laptop at him.

“It was said at one point that I was hit with a laptop—that’s not true, totally not true. I wasn’t hit with a laptop or anything,” he said.

“I’ve never seen her do that. She’s never been violent. She’s never even raised her voice at me,” he added.

The 2011 viral video of then-Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte punching court sheriff Abe Andres was reexamined and played during her impeachment proceedings.

NBI creates task force to probe 2019 SEA Games ‘irregularities’

By Pot Chavez

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has created a task force to investigate alleged irregularities surrounding the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

“Just today, we created a task force called Task Force Cash Cow. It will be composed of the Public Corruption Division, Special Action Unit, and the Office of the Director,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed on Thursday. He said the NBI will coordinate with the Commission on Audit (COA), Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to examine relevant documents.

Matibag added that the agency will also seek information from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

According to him, initial findings revealed that the government released P6.7 billion to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).

The NBI chief said subpoenas have been issued to several individuals, some of whom are scheduled to appear on Monday.

The defense argued the incident did not establish a pattern of violence, explaining that it occurred after the sheriff refused to grant a brief extension during a tense demolition.

Poa emphasized the importance of providing context, saying the defense intends to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident to argue that it should not be taken as a reflection of the vice president’s character.

“She knows what she wants, and that’s

what you need from a leader. And, to be honest, I’ve never seen any outburst or outrage,” Poa added. During Duterte’s impeachment trial, a video of her November 2024 online press conference was repeatedly played, in which she said she had spoken with someone who promised to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the event of her death.

US Marine offloaded from NAIA over grenade

Gov’t decongests jails, 32k detainees released

THE national government is strengthening jail decongestion efforts, surpassing the total number of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) released during the previous administration, according to Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco. Last week, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) conducted a nationwide culminating activity that resulted in the release of 1,156 PDLs from its facilities across the country. “BuCor released more than 1,000 PDLs nationwide. All BuCor facilities participated in the activity, which forms part of the Department of Justice’s continuing program to address congestion in our jails and penal facilities,”

C. Luzon police arrest Termite Gang members

suspected of carrying out a bank heist in Nueva Ecija and a series of robberies in Tarlac and Isabela.

In a phone interview at Camp Crame, Central Luzon police chief Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez said the group’s latest crime involved the robbery of a convenience store in Bamban, Tarlac. Mendez said the suspects first identify a target before renting a safehouse in the area to monitor the location and plan their operation. They also allegedly use different vehicles and license plates to avoid detection.

He said the group, also known as the “Acetylene Gang,” traditionally tunneled underground to break into banks but has shifted to targeting convenience stores because the robberies can be carried out much faster. Vince Lopez

WITH President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. set to outline the administration’s legislative agenda in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines is urging Malacañang to support the long-delayed Site Blocking Bill, saying the measure has become essential to protecting Filipino consumers, strengthening intellectual property rights and the creative industry, and sustaining the country’s digital economy. CitizenWatch said the government has already demonstrated that coordinated site blocking works through the Shared Blocking Management Database (SBMD), a content control portal that allows regulators to work with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and

the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to disrupt illegal online activities across multiple sectors. The platform enables the CICC and NTC to coordinate with government agencies, including the Philippine Amusement

GREEN SCORECARD. Representatives of environmental groups present the Green Scorecard during a press conference in Quezon City ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address on Thursday. Manny Palmero

RIVER CROSSING. A tobacco farmer crosses the Banga River in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. Revoli Cortez

TAHANAN NG PAG-ASA. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian leads the opening of Tahanan ng Inyong Pag-asa, a one-stop center where the Department of Justice and DSWD provide coordinated legal, rehabilitation, and reintegration services for child victims of online sexual abuse and trafficking, reducing the need for survivors to repeatedly recount their experiences.

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

NIA tells farmers not to plant rice yet

IN BRIEF

Army’s Logico is new PMA superintendent

THE Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City welcomed its new superintendent, Army Lt. Gen. Michael Logico, a member of PMA “MAALAB” Class of 1993.

Logico, who succeeded Navy Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia, previously served as Commander of the Philippine Army Training Command (TRACOM).

Logico also held key leadership positions in training, doctrine development, joint exercises, and special operations across the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Addressing the cadets, Logico said the AFP’s strategic focus has shifted from internal security to external defense, warning that future conflicts will no longer be fought only on the traditional battlefield but also through cyber operations, artificial intelligence, information warfare, economic coercion, influence campaigns, and autonomous systems. Rex Espiritu

Kidnap suspect yields at AKG headquarters

THE Philippine National Police AntiKidnapping Group (PNP AKG) on Thursday reported the surrender of a suspect in the Feb. 8, 2026 kidnap-forransom case in Taytay, Rizal.

The suspect was identified as Gabriel Calimlim Esguerra alias Gab who turned himself in Monday to the AKG Luzon Field Office in Camp Crame, Quezon City, accompanied by his lawyer. AKG chief Brig. Gen. Edwin Balles viewed Esguerra’s surrender as a result of the “effectiveness of their aggressive police operation.” Esguerra was tagged as an accomplice in the kidnapping of an Indian national last Feb. 8 in Ridgemont Executive Village, Taytay, Rizal. Vince Lopez

DepEd set to roll out GAS-TUKLAS program

THE Department of Education (DepEd) is set to roll out a program designed to provide financial support for students and teachers who represent their schools in national and international competitions.

The DepEd has earmarked P100.8 million to fund the initiative called Government Assistance and Subsidies-Training and Upgrading Knowledge for Learners, Teachers, and Achievers in Schools (GAS-TUKLAS), As envisioned, qualified students and teacher-coaches will be provided with monetary support while participating in DepEd-sanctioned or recognized national and international academic or extracurricular competitions. Students and teachers from lowerincome households will be given priority for their participation in individual and team competitions, including academic, sports, creative and cultural, and other related and interdisciplinary competitions. Gabriel Oliva

Group aims to save Bohol’s Loboc watershed

By Minerva Newman

FIFTEEN local government units in Bohol have formed an alliance with community leaders, environmental experts, and stakeholders for the shared purpose of protecting and preserving the Loboc River watershed which is seriously threatened by soil erosion, landslides and continuing sedimentation.

The group referred to mudslide on an upstream hillside in Sierra Bullones and soil erosion in Bilar that adversely affected the green waters of Loboc town, threatening in the process the local agriculture industry and aggravating flood risks.

Bound by the single purpose of saving the Loboc watershed, the group met at the Panda Tea Garden Suites on July 16 to map out their plan of actions.

The participating municipalities were Alburquerque, Balilihan, Batuan, Bilar, Carmen, Catigbian, Dimiao, Garcia-Hernandez, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Sagbayan, Sevilla, Sierra Bullones, and Sikatuna.

Forester and provincial environment officer Wilson Henson presided as chairman of the initial meeting of the newly formed Loboc River Watershed Management Council (LRWMC).

“The Loboc River Watershed must be managed as one interconnected eco-

system,” Henson emphasized, pointing out that upstream human activity directly dictates the health, safety, and prosperity of downstream communities. The council members confronted pressing climate challenges head-on, from soil erosion and riverbed sedimentation to increasingly unpredictable flood patterns that threaten local communities and tourism operations alike.

To turn shared commitment into actionable protection, the council identified critical first steps by formalizing governance through the review of a proposed Executive Order to institutionalize the LRWMC and drafting a comprehensive Manual of Operations.

TABUK City—The National Irrigation Administration–Kalinga Irrigation Management Office (NIA-KIMO) has advised farmers served by the Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS), particularly those in downstream areas, to temporarily refrain from planting rice due to the continuing decline in the water level of the Chico River due to the El Niño phenomenon.

In a statement, the agency said the Chico River remains the primary source of irrigation water for UCRIS. However, the prolonged dry spell has significantly reduced the river’s water level, raising concerns over the availability of irrigation for the current cropping season.

The advisory specifically covers farmers in the downstream and tailend service areas of Masablang and Nambaran in Tabuk City, Cawagayan and Mapaco in Pinukpuk, Kalinga, as well as Quezon and Mallig in Isabela. NIA warned that planting rice under the present conditions could result in crop failure and financial losses due to the limited supply of irrigation water. Instead of planting rice, NIA encouraged farmers to cultivate crops that require less water or are more tolerant of dry conditions, including vegetables, corn, mung beans (munggo), sweet potatoes, and other alternative crops that can provide food and income during the dry season.

NIA also urged farmers covered by the Solar Pump Irrigation System to maximize the efficient use of their solar-powered pumps and, when available, supplement irrigation with alternative water sources such as wells, streams, and other accessible sources.

The agency said it continues to coordinate closely with local government units, Irrigators Associations, and other stakeholders to ensure the efficient management of irrigation facilities and the equitable distribution of the limited water supply.

By Pot Chavez

THE Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) is pushing for the reinstatement of the death penalty for individuals convicted of plunder.

VACC president Arsenio Evangelista, in a press briefing on Thursday, said every peso stolen by corrupt officials and government employees can be considered an act of sabotage against the economy.

He also shared the group’s expectations ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation

Address (SONA) next week.

“First of all, we want to hear about the total online gambling, jail terms, accountability to those involved in biggest robbery in broad daylight, Evangelista said, adding that they are also calling for a reshuffle of department heads.

The VACC also said they look forward to the amendment of Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, proposing to lower the age of criminal liability to 10, noting that low crime incidents have been recorded in other countries on account of their reformed juvenile justice framework.

Meanwhile, the group expressed confidence that the President will hold accountable the officials involved in corruption, including those allegedly linked to the country’s anomalous flood control projects.

By Vince Lopez

Australian Federal Police by improving intelligence sharing, expanding training opportunities, and strengthening coordination in transnational crime investigations,” Nartatez said.

SAVING LOBOC WATERSHED. Fifteen local government units, civic organizations, environmental experts, and stakeholders join hands for a single purpose of saving the Loboc River watershed in Bohol from further degradation wrought by soil erosion, landslides, and sedimentation. Minerva Newman

WHAT HARD WORK LOOKS LIKE. Using only raw muscle power, a porter at the Agri-Pinoy Trading Center in La Trinidad, Benguet pulls a huge cart loaded with vegetables. Dave Leprozo

P234-M SMUGGLING BID BLOCKED. The Philippine Navy’s Naval Command Western Mindanao (NCWM) foils an attempt to smuggle into the country some P234 million worth of imported cigarettes seized during an operation off Lutangan Island in Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay on July 19. Navy photo

Our working class deserves more

MALACAÑANG’S

recent announce-

ment that the ₱85 minimum wage increase for Metro Manila workers will push through as scheduled is good news. It offers welcome relief for more than a million workers who have been struggling to keep up with the continuing rise in the cost of living.

At a time when almost everything from food to transportation to electricity has become more expensive, the wage adjustment is a government decision that directly responds to the realities ordinary workers face every single day. Inflation has quietly eroded the purchasing power of Filipino families. We see it in the jeepney driver who now spends a huge portion of his daily earnings on fuel, and in the factory worker whose grocery budget no longer stretches as far as it did just a couple of years ago. The ₱85 increase, to be released in two stages—₱60 on July 25, 2026, and another ₱25 on January 20, 2027—will not erase the effects of inflation. But it will provide some breathing space.

Economists, including the Foundation for Economic Freedom, are saying that higher wages could force businesses to cut jobs or pass on additional costs to consumers. Those concerns deserve to be taken seriously. Small businesses, in particular, could find it difficult to absorb higher labor costs. But we also believe there is another side to the equation. Keeping wages stagnant while prices continue to climb has consequences of its own. Workers become discouraged, productivity suffers, inequality widens, and economic growth loses much of its meaning when the very people driving the economy can no longer afford basic necessities.

We see the Marcos administration’s decision not to suspend the wage order as an acknowledgment that economic stability is essential to social order. Workers who feel their efforts are recognized are more likely to remain productive, stay in the workforce, and continue spending on goods and services. Our working class is not some small or isolated sector. It is the backbone of Metro Manila’s economy. Construction workers build the city’s skyline. Service workers keep shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and offices running. Factory workers keep manufacturing plants productive. Raising their wages is not simply an act of compassion, but also an investment in the continuing

strength of the urban economy.

The economic benefits also extend beyond the individual worker. When people earn a little more, they spend a little more. That additional income finds its way into neighborhood markets, small eateries, public transportation, and countless local businesses. Money continues to circulate, helping communities thrive. Seen from this perspective, the wage increase is more than a concession to our workers ad serves as a modest economic stimulus that reaches the grassroots.

There is also an important political dimension to this decision. By refusing to suspend the wage increase despite enormous pressure from some business groups, the Marcos Jr. administration, by following through on a commitment like this, helps reinforce public confidence.

Of course, we do not see the wage increase as a cure-all. Without stronger efforts to stabilize prices, protect workers’ rights, and help small businesses adjust to difficult conditions, much of its benefit could eventually go to waste. The government cannot simply stand by while inflation steadily reduces the value of workers’ salaries.

The government decision should in fact spark a broader national conversation about what constitutes a living wage. Minimum wage adjustments have too often lagged behind the actual cost of living. Addressing that gap requires more than periodic wage increases and demands affordable housing, better public transportation, effective price monitoring, and policies that reduce the everyday financial burden on workers’ families.

By allowing the wage increase to proceed, the Marcos Jr. administration has chosen to side with workers rather than allow fears of economic disruption to dictate policy. Even amid difficult economic times, the people who keep the country running deserve not only words of encouragement but concrete support.

The wage increase will not solve every economic problem confronting Filipino families. Far from it. But it is a reminder that government policy can still make a real difference in people’s lives by protecting the dignity and welfare of ordinary working Filipinos.

Email: ernhil@yahoo.com

State of Mindanao

PRESIDENT Marcos will deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27. Expect applause, statistics, and promises of golden prosperity. Mindanao deserves an honest accounting instead. Days before the speech, Mindanawons delivered their own. KATUNGOD 2026 convened at UP Diliman’s Malcolm Theater. Over 300 delegates presented a people’s assessment of Mindanao. Lumad and Moro leaders joined bishops, lawyers, and academics. Their verdict challenges any triumphant presidential narrative. Bishop Daniel Palicte set the gathering’s tone. He warned against reducing Mindanao to electoral arithmetic. Political dynasties already eye the island for 2028. Meanwhile, its deepest wounds remain untreated. Development aggression illustrates those wounds most starkly. Across Mindanao, big

projects override community consent. Consider four ongoing examples of this pattern.

Davao’s New Carmen landfill collapsed last May. The trash slide killed one and buried others. Officials still push a five billion peso incinerator. Environmental groups warn of toxic emissions and climate harm. Communities demand ecological solutions over imported incineration.

The Samal bridge project destroyed parts of Paradise Reef. Scientists and advocates pleaded for realignment without success. Convenience for some meant ecological loss for all. Progress became the alibi for destruction.

In Bukidnon, Pulangi IV faces privatization. Manobo communities fear losing river and livelihood. Their consent remains an afterthought for planners.

Tampakan looms largest among these

WEDITORIAL

Ayungin Shoal assault must be condemned

E DEPLORE the recent assault on a Philippine Navy officer by Chinese Coast Guard personnel at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. This represents a disturbing escalation of tension in the South China Sea. President Marcos Jr.’s decision to summon Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang to explain the circumstances of the incident is a step in the right direction and conveys the government’s resolve to uphold national sovereignty.

According to news reports, the Navy officer sustained a head injury after being struck with a baton within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. This is not disputed territory under international law. The 2016 arbitral ruling clearly invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash line claim, affirming Philippine rights in these waters. Beijing’s rejection of the ruling does not cancel its validity, nor does it justify the use of brute force against Filipino personnel. This latest incident in our EEZ is likely to deepen mistrust. For years, Beijing has insisted that disputes be managed “bilaterally,” rejecting international rulings and multilateral mediation. But the Ayungin assault diminishes the credibility of that approach. It reinforces the per-

threats. The copper and gold project spans thousands of hectares. Blaan communities have resisted it for decades. Church leaders stand firmly beside them. Blood has already been spilled over that mountain.

These projects share a single grammar. Capital speaks while communities are merely spoken about. The military enforces what consultation should have decided. Development without consent is dispossession by another name.

The Talaingod 13 embody another form of aggression. July 15 marked two years since their conviction. Their case defines the true state of Mindanao.

A 2018 humanitarian mission evacuated threatened Lumad students. The state saw kidnapping where communities saw rescue. Tagum City’s court convicted 13 of child abuse. The convicted include Satur Ocampo, France Castro, and Meggie Nolasco, the best activists I know. Several volunteer teachers stand among them.

The appellate court affirmed the conviction last November. A motion for reconsideration now awaits resolution. Students themselves testified for their teachers’ innocence. Lumad youth Angelika Moral calls herself living proof.

The educational toll should shame any SONA. Over 200 Lumad schools have closed since 2016. Thousands of Indigenous children lost their classrooms.

Atty. Carol Kay Paquera named the un-

sponse that ignores the architectural roots of information disorder.

—“—

This reinforces the perception that China seeks not compromise but superpower dominance.

ception that China seeks not compromise but superpower dominance.

Equally disturbing is the recent release of an AI-generated video by Chinese state media depicting Filipinos as monkeys. This ill-conceived imagery is deeply offensive and undermines the possibility of constructive dialogue between our nations.

President Marcos Jr. has reiterated that the Philippines will pursue a diplomatic path. “Any fight for rights

derlying driver. Militarization of ancestral domains is “corporate clearing,” she argued. Resource extraction hides behind counterinsurgency language. She demanded the dismantling of paramilitary groups. Lumad survival, she said, is itself resistance. Walden Bello delivered the conference’s sharpest indictment. He called the Talaingod prosecution outrageous lawfare. Similar cases target Community Empowerment and Resource Network (CERNET) workers and Frenchie Mae Cumpio. Behind them all, he argued, stands the military. Bello declared: “The AFP is a state within a state.” “Civilian control over the military is a myth,” he said. He likened the AFP to a “thought police.” Will the SONA mention Marawi’s unfinished rehabilitation? Prof. Tirmizy Abdullah pressed the Moro questions. Large development projects expand across Moro lands.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections risk becoming a mere political exercise. Peace, he insisted, must be measured by justice.

The conference closed with a People’s Declaration. It asserted marginalized sectors’ right to self-determination. It honored Indigenous defense of land and ecology. It demanded reversal of the Talaingod judgment. Mindanao’s promise has a human face too. Rene Baterbonia carried that promise on

should not be pursued through violence,” his spokesperson noted. This approach is correct, but it must be matched with firmness. Summoning the Chinese ambassador is a necessary step, yet it should be followed by firm action, whether through ASEAN, the United Nations, or partnerships with allies committed to upholding international law.

Our economic ties with China remain significant, but repeated provocations erode trust and make dialogue politically untenable. Beijing’s insistence on bilateral management of disputes rings hollow when its actions show coercion rather than cooperation.

The Philippines must confront the issue head-on, since the assault at Ayungin Shoal and the offensive propaganda campaign appear to be part of a broader pattern of intimidation. This should not be allowed to continue.

Ten years after the 2016 arbitral award, the Philippines must realize that the struggle for our maritime rights is far from over and should be pursued with even greater vigor. We must assert those rights with firmness, ensuring that diplomacy is not mistaken for weakness. China’s latest actions have strained bilateral ties dangerously close to breaking point. If Beijing continues down this direction, our government must work to strengthen alliances that truly promote mutual respect and beneficial partnership.

basketball courts. The Agusan boy became a national Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was the son of fish vendors. Seven siblings shared a flood-prone ancestral home. Basketball was his pathway out of poverty. Last month, he drowned during a team building activity. Mindanao mourned a future taken too soon.

His story mirrors his island’s condition. Talent abounds while opportunity and safety lag. Children escape poverty through luck and sacrifice. A just Mindanao would demand far less heroism.

Presidents measure the nation in growth rates. Mindanawons measure it in schools reopened and rights respected. The two measurements rarely meet. Here is the true state of Mindanao today. Teachers convicted for protecting Indigenous children. Ancestral domains cleared for extraction under military escort. Marawi still waiting, Bangsamoro peace still fragile. A military that answers to nobody. Mr. President, speak to these realities on July 27. Reinstate the Lumad schools through DepEd action. Support the reversal of the Talaingod conviction. Mindanao will listen for more than applause lines.

Facebook: tonylavs Website: tonylavina.wordpress.com

THE pending anti-disinformation bills confuse the symptoms with the disease. Instead of addressing the political, economic, and technological systems that manufacture and profit from coordinated information manipulation, they place the burden on individual expression and expand government authority over speech. This threatens democratic freedoms while leaving the real drivers of disinformation largely untouched. As institutions and individuals whose work depends on verifying facts, exposing falsehoods, and informing the public, we have every reason to support effective measures against disinformation. Journalists are among those who experience firsthand the damage that disinformation inflicts on democratic discourse and public trust. We therefore recognize the urgency of confronting this grave challenge. We support decisive and effective action against disinformation. However, we believe the pending anti-disinformation bills (HB 9465 and its equivalent in the Senate) are the wrong response to a real problem. Rather than moving to dismantle the architecture of disinformation, these measures primarily criminalize expression, expand the State’s authority to regulate speech, and create legal mechanisms that are vulnerable to

misuse against journalists, critics, and ordinary citizens. At the same time, they leave largely untouched the opaque algorithms, commercial incentives, coordinated influence operations, and platform structures that enable disinformation to flourish.

In short, the bills risk weakening the constitutional freedoms that sustain democratic accountability without meaningfully addressing the structural causes of information disorder.

Our principal concerns

1. Existing laws already address many harmful acts.

Philippine law already provides remedies for libel, fraud, identity theft, election offenses, cybercrime-related offenses, and other unlawful conduct associated with deception.

Before creating new criminal restrictions on protected expression, Congress should examine whether existing laws are being effectively implemented and how transparency and accountability mechanisms can instead be strengthened.

2. Criminalizing speech is ineffective, fails to address systemic disinformation, and focuses on the small fry

Criminalizing content is a blunt, disproportionate, and ultimately ineffective re-

It functions as a legislative shortcut: while it risks criminalizing individual users – often targeting the “small fry” – it fails to reach the platforms, algorithmic systems, and coordinated networks that manufacture and amplify disinformation at scale.

Furthermore, criminal law is ill-suited to hold the true architects of manipulation accountable; it is notoriously difficult to enforce against extraterritorial entities, and it cannot effectively address the systemic nature of disinformation.

3. The bills fail to provide for meaningful mechanisms for platform accountability.

Digital platforms play a significant role in the amplification of disinformation, yet current legislative proposals focus disproportionately on content removal—a reactive approach that risks censorship while leaving the systems of manipulation untouched.

Platform accountability must move beyond merely forcing companies to suppress speech; it requires establishing clear, enforceable legal mechanisms that address the jurisdictional and operational realities of these entities within the Philippines. Meaningful accountability demands transparency in recommendation algorithms, political advertising, and the infrastructure behind coordinated inauthentic behavior. Instead of incentivizing platforms to downgrade lawful speech to mitigate their own regulatory liability, the law should mandate

independent auditing, standardized disclosure, and robust public oversight. By shifting the focus from individual content to the technological architecture and the systemic operations that amplify falsehoods, we can address the root of the problem without eroding constitutional freedoms.

4. The bills create legal uncertainty that can easily be abused.

Broad and ambiguous definitions of prohibited speech invite inconsistent interpretation and selective enforcement.

Journalists routinely report on developing stories, disputed claims, whistleblower disclosures, leaked documents, election controversies, corruption allegations, and public health emergencies.

These are precisely the situations where facts continue to evolve and public scrutiny is most necessary. Laws affecting expression must therefore be narrowly tailored and clearly defined. Otherwise, they create uncertainty that discourages legitimate journalism and public participation.

5. The bills risk making the State the arbiter of truth. Government is frequently the subject of investigative reporting and public scrutiny. It cannot simultaneously serve as the ultimate authority on the truthfulness of speech concerning its own actions.

The antidote to falsehood is not government control over expression. It is greater transparency, timely access to public information, independent journalism, and more democratic debate.

A better way forward

Rejecting these bills does not mean accepting disinformation.

On the contrary, we believe the country urgently needs a comprehensive, rights-based strategy that addresses the structural drivers of information disorder rather than merely its visible manifestations.

Congress should instead prioritize measures that:

• Strengthen government transparency and pass the Freedom of Information law;

• Expose and regulate the financing of coordinated disinformation campaigns and influence-for-hire operations;

• Require greater transparency and independent auditing of digital platforms, including political advertising, recommendation systems, and coordinated inauthentic behavior;

• Support independent journalism, investigative reporting, and fact-checking initiatives;

• Strengthen media and information literacy and digital literacy across schools and communities;

• Encourage independent research into the country’s information ecosystem; and

• Promote genuine multi-stakeholder collaboration among government, media organizations, civil society, academia, and technology companies while fully respecting constitutional rights. These measures strengthen society’s resilience against disinformation while preserving the democratic freedoms that enable truth to emerge.

AI scores 100% at top math contest

Shanghai—A perfect result at the world’s most prestigious mathematics contest used to be the preserve of a handful of bright young minds each year, but for the first time, artificial intelligence has also scored full marks.

Two Chinese tech companies, Huawei and Xiaohongshu, said their AI models each achieved 100 percent on the questions given to human hopefuls at this month’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). They were the first AI labs to announce their scores, but others from around the world may follow suit in the coming days.

“Previously, no large language model had ever achieved a perfect score under the IMO’s official judging process,” the firm added, referring to the tech that underpins AI tools like chatbots.

“We are delighted with this result, because achieving a perfect score at the IMO is extremely challenging,” Xiaohongshu said in a statement this week.

In 2025, models made by the likes of Google and OpenAI reached gold-level scores for the first time – but could not match the abilities of five human contestants who got 100 percent. This year, 666 contestants from different countries took part in Shanghai.

Just seven of them achieved full marks, according to the official IMO scoreboard. Participants at the IMO, held in different locations each year, must be aged under 20. Huawei said Wednesday that its AI system “Celia” had shown “comprehensive problem-solving capabilities” across several mathematical fields.

Xiaohongshu, known as RedNote in English, said its model “dots-note-3.0” had entered the IMO for the first time this year. AFP

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Killer whales: Orcas blow fish to bits ‘for fun’

SYDNEY—A group of killer whales have been documented blowing a sunfish to bits in an unusual underwater escapade offering never-before-seen insights into orca behavior, according to research released Thursday.

Video released by the US-based NGO Beneath The Waves shows one orca holding the tail of a sunfish, with its fellow whale then charging with full force into the rotund mola, which explodes into pieces. The sunfish is already dead – this isn’t an elaborate murder ritual. Instead, it might be an attempt to turn the fish into smaller bite-sized chunks, researcher Kathryn Ayres said.

“Or it could also just be for fun. Orcas are known for playing with their food,” she explained.

“Orcas often tear apart prey and share it with other members of the group, including calves and juveniles.” The antics were documented on two occasions in 2024 and 2025 off the Gulf of California, according to the research published in the peerreviewed Frontiers in Ethology. Mark Peter Simmonds, director of science at OceanCare, likened it to “human formal meals where socializing as well as nutrition are in play.”

“Perhaps it is similar to the time when the lead human at a formal meal would carve up the roast,” he said.

Killer whales are highly intelligent apex predators and have been known to play with their prey and deploy sophisticated tactics to ensnare them. AFP

SPORTS Duplantis to join Euro meet after injury scare

STOCKHOLM—Swedish pole vault star

Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis will compete in the European Championships next month after pulling out of the Diamond League meet in London last weekend, his agent said Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Duplantis withdrew from the London meet with a left thigh problem after clearing 5.95 meters.

LESS than a week before our opening game in the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, the Philippine Football Federation has released the squad list that will comprise the Philippine Men’s National Football Team. Which is very timely, really. As expected, several big names are missing. Some are either busy with their mother clubs, some are injured and some are not really that keen to play for the flag and country for some reason.

We can’t blame them if their mother clubs will not release them. The tournament doesn’t fall on FIFA windows, so the clubs that pay their salaries, make sure that they are fit and healthy, and not cramped and stressed by several transfers while traveling on a coach, have every right to say no.

For the Hyundai Cup, our goalkeepers are Quincy Kammeraad, Patrick Deyto and Enrico Mangaoang; defenders Noah Leddel, Adrian Ugelvik, Jaime Rosquillo, Christian Rontini, Santi Rublico, John Lucero, Scott Woods and the indefatigable Daisuke Sato. Midfielders Sandro Reyes, Oskari Kekkonen, Cole Mrowka, Kenji Nishioka, Javier Mariona and Gavin Muens. Leading the charge are Pocholo Bugas Jarvey Gayoso, Aarran Long, Andrei Leipold, Martini Rey, Andres Aldeguer and Rocket Ritarita.

Paul and Jeff Tabinas will not be joining, along with Seb Rasmussen and Bjorn Kristensen. Of course, Gerrit Holtmann and Raphael Obermair are also missing.

While the team lacks the big guns and notable names, several young ones are allowed to shine and perhaps help the squad reach the knockout stage.

The squad is a mixture of experience, youth, prospects and a few whys. Against opponents in Group B, the team will need to dig deep to get the full points and possibly extend our “unbeaten” streak of late.

The Designated Kit Man has so many questions, but then again, it is more productive to be optimistic and pray that the team will do well in the competition.

While the whole football world celebrated the recently concluded World Cup and the impressive run by Spain, we are just happy that we already have a line-up. Talk about a reality check in one swipe.

Do I like our chances in the Hyundai Cup? Not really, but again, as long as there are players who commit to the team at their own peril, peace of mind and sanity, let’s rally behind our team and say “bahala na si

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

“No sign of injury after a professional examination that also included an MRI and x-ray,” his agent Daniel Wessfeldt told AFP.

“With some light training and sufficient treatment he should be totally ready within 10 days. His planed competition programme stays firm. Next meet the European championships in Birmingham.”

The double Olympic and triple world champion has broken the world record 15 times, first with 6.17m back in 2020. His most recent mark was 6.31m in Sweden in March.

The European championships take place in the English city of Birmingham from August 10-16. AFP

Bahala na si Batman

Batman.” Obviously, we can’t really rely on Robin because whenever he opens his mouth and acts like he is still in front of a camera, it will always be a reality why the upper house has lost its lofty status as a respected and emulated source of pride for the people. Yes it is still a source, not of pride, however, but a never-ending prank and testament of how low this once august body has fallen.

The Philippines opens its bid in the Hyundai Cup against Myanmar on July 28 at home. They will face Laos on August 1, Thailand on August 4 and Malaysia on August 8.

The draw for the football competitions of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan has been made. In the men’s, the Philippines is bunched with Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Kuwait in Group C. On the women’s side, the Filipinas are in Group G along with China, Uzbekistan (na naman?) and Hong Kong. The Filipinas’ chances of moving out of the group stage look good; the odds are a little bit in their favor as compared to the chances of the men’s team. But then again, what do I know?

The Asian Games 2026 will begin on September 19 until October 4, 2026. On a personal note, preparations for the inaugural Paranaque Basketball and Volleyball Leagues are underway. 16 teams, representing all barangays of the city, have confirmed their participation in the men’s basketball and women’s volleyball tournaments that will hopefully give a platform to some aspiring and undiscovered talents in the city to showcase what they can do on the wooden courts.

City Councilor Tin Esplana, one of the movers behind the leagues, says that aside from promoting barangay pride, camaraderie and a healthy lifestyle, it is also her fondest wish that some young Paranaquenos will be discovered and offered scholarships to colleges and universities as they carry their barangay colors in the competitions.

The Paranaque Basketball and Volleyball Leagues will open on August 8 at the newlyopened Paranaque Coliseum and Paranaque Sports Complex. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@ yahoo.com or follow his account on Twitter: @erelcabatbat

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

Visayas’ best clash as tennis series ends in Mandaue City

THE Palawan Juniors Tennis Series wraps up its successful three-leg Vi sayas swing with the Mandaue City Juniors Age Group Tennis Champi onships, where another strong field of the region’s finest and rising talents will battle for championship honors and valuable ranking points beginning Thursday (July 23) at the Mandaue City courts in Cebu.

Serving as the final stop of the regional circuit after tournaments in Naga City and Cebu City, the six-day event is expected to deliver another week of high-level competition as players seek to cap the regional swing with impressive finishes before the nationwide circuit moves on to its next destination.

Fresh from a dominant campaign in last week’s Cebu City leg, Matthew Morris faces a tougher challenge as he tries to replicate his title romp. The Dumaguete standout captured three crowns, including the boys’ 16- and 18-and-under singles titles and the 18-and-U doubles championship with Jhunreal Espinosa.

This time, however, Morris will have to contend with top seed Aaron Tabura in the premier division, while another showdown with Espinosa looms in the 16-and-U category. Also expected to contend are Everett Niera, Marcus Sio, Andrio Estrella, Rynel Borgonia, Max Ada and Claudwin Toñacao.

The girls’ divisions are likewise packed with contenders as Mitchellen Cruspero goes for back-to-back titles in the 18-and-U class. Standing in her way is Donna Mae Diamante, eager to avenge her loss last week, while Juliana Tenepre, Alexa Ong and Christine Palomares hope to pull off breakthrough performances.

Cruspero and Diamante are also tipped to renew their rivalry in the girls’ 16-and-U class, where Nadine Seno, Kristina Villaver, Alessandra Garcia, Sabrina Aldeguer, Molly Tan and Abby Castigador are all capable of shaking up the draw.

Bolts, Bossing shoot for lead

MERALCO and Blackwater gun for a share of group lead when they collide with dangerous foes in Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra, respectively, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Holding similar 2-1 records and a chance to crowd Phoenix at the top of Group B, the Bolts take on the winless Hotshots (0-2) in the 5:15 p.m. opener while the Bossing battle the Gin Kings (0-1) in the 7:30 p.m. main game.

Meralco is aiming to sustain its winning form after taking down Rain or Shine, 122-114, and holding off a pesky Blackwater side, 116-114, behind Chris Newsome’s go-ahead fastbreak layup last Tuesday.

Seasoned import Antonio Hester has been a solid force for the Bolts despite coming in as a late replacement to the injured Jordon Varnado, and head coach Luigi Trillo is hoping he continues his steady performance.

“Hester is playing very well. He’s been in the country for only a few days but parang he fits in. He’s got a good disposition. I think he’s confident because he’s played here several times for several teams,” said Trillo of his reinforcement, who averaged 23.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in their two wins.

Hester will combine forces with local stalwarts in the likes of Newsome, CJ Cansino, and Chris Banchero as the Bolts try to strike a third consecutive win.

However, it will not be an easy task against Magnolia, which is hungry to get a breakthrough victory in the season-ending conference.

The Hotshots had already shown they could take a favorable result if they could just keep their composure after building double-digit leads in their losses to Phoenix, 86-89, and Blackwater, 81-89. Jeremiah Sevilla

PH pencak silat team bags

11 medals in Asian tourney

By Randy M. Caluag

THE Philippine pencak silat team turned in an impressive performance, collecting one gold, five silver and five bronze medals for an 11-medal haul at the 10th Asian Pencak Silat Championships in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam.

Hiraya Francine spearheaded the country’s campaign by capturing the lone gold medal in the women’s tunggal event of the seni category, leading the Filipinos’ strong showing against Asia’s top pencak silat athletes. The national squad also earned

By Jeremiah Sevilla

IT’S safe to say that San Miguel Beer has already solved its import problems with George King’s arrival in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, as far as assistant coach Peter Martin is concerned.

Martin heaped praise on King after the 6-foot-6 reinforcement erupted with 41 points and 11 rebounds to go with four assists, three steals, and a block to lead the Beermen to their third straight victory at the expense of Converge, 128-122, on Wednesday night.

According to the deputy mentor, San Miguel feels the former NBA veteran’s impact not just on the court but also on the sidelines.

“Kung titingnan ninyo, minsan kukunin niya ‘yung board, siya gagawa ng play para sa amin. It makes our job really much easier,” said Martin, who remained at the helm with head coach

Leo Austria still out due to illness.

Martin also lauded King’s leadership and willingness to motivate his teammates.

“And then he talks to the players.

At the start, he won’t be so aggressive.

The first game puro pasa nga siya eh.

Sabi ko nga sa kanya, it’s up to him. He knows how to play with these guys

five silver medals through Kram Airam in the women’s Tanding Class B (50-55kg), Kyan Voyde Garcia in the men’s Tanding Class I (85-90kg), Stephen Suazo in the men’s Open Class 1, Mary Justine Ayuno Acat in the women’s Open Class 2, and the men’s

regu team composed of Rick Ortega, Mark Laurenz Ortega and Edmar Tacuel. Five more athletes contributed bronze medals to the Philippine tally. Edmar Tacuel placed third in the men’s tunggal event, while Maricel Dela Torre Escalona secured bronze in the women’s Tanding Class D (60-65kg). Allimar Tanilon Campos added another podium finish in the men’s Tanding Class F (7075kg), Alvin Campos won bronze in the men’s Tanding Class G (7580kg), and Joo Ash completed the medal collection with a third-place finish in the men’s Tanding Class H (80-85kg).

The 11-medal performance underscored the steady progress of Philippine pencak silat on the continental stage, with the team demonstrating competitiveness in both the seni (artistic) and tanding (combat) disciplines.

The national federation credited the athletes’ dedication and sacrifices, while also acknowledging the leadership of Philippine Pencak Silat Association president Princess Jacel H. Kiram and the continued support of the Philippine Sports Commission in the team’s successful international campaign.

SMBeermen find stability in King

and

Commissioner’s Cup. The Beermen started with Marcus Lee before replacing him with Justin Patton and eventually turning to Bennie Boatwright late in the conference.

Lady Knights complete Final Four cast

LETRAN displayed the true heart of a champion to turn back Enderun Colleges, 21-25, 25-21, 25-14, 14-25, 15-4, and secure the last Final Four seat in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The reigning NCAA champion gathered itself up after a fourth-set meltdown and unleashed its true form in the decider to advance to the next round of the competition backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.

Judiel Nitura and Reeza Abayon took care of business in the fifth set as the Lady Knights opened a huge lead on their way to closing the elimination round with a 2-3 win-loss record.

Letran will take on top-seeded University of Santo Tomas in the knockout semifinals on Friday. College of Saint Benilde and Australian guest team Southern Storm Melbourne clash in the other Final Four showdown in the tournament supported by

F2

Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com and

With that import problem, SMB was not able to find consistency in the previous conference and eventually crashed out in the quarterfinals after losing to Rain or Shine, marking one of the winningest franchise’s worst finishes in recent memory.

But now that they have found a stable reinforcement in King, the Beermen have enjoyed a three-win streak to start their redemption campaign in the Governors’ Cup, sitting atop Group A alongside fellow unbeaten team NLEX. In those three victories, King came through with a league-leading average of 36.0 points on top of 9.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists, numbers that the Beermen need as star big man June Mar Fajardo continues to work his way back to full strength from an elbow injury.

Despite the impressive start, Martin believes the Beermen still have room to improve as King continues to build chemistry with the team.

“Konting familiarity pa, magiging okay na. Depensa na lang siguro, maga-adjust kami ng konti pa,” the assistant mentor said.

Smart Sports. Heady setter Hizki Flores provided stability for Letran, especially in the fifth set, with good setups that allowed the Lady Knights to drill crucial hits to pull away early. “Ang

Letran’s Leonilyn Padilla and Hizki

Flores reject Enderun’s Althea Botor. ( Roman Prospero )

advantage. Jasmine Salvani scored the Lady Titans’ fourth and last point of the match before Letran racked up five straight markers. Abayon landed a service winner to push the Lady Knights to match point, followed by Panangin’s finisher. Enderun closed the elims with a 1-4 mark.

Althea Botor uncorked a game-high 24 points on 18 kills, three kill blocks and three aces in a wasted effort for the Lady Titans, who threw away 28 points on errors.

Aurea Alvero scored 14 markers, 12 coming from attacks, while Salvani and Ederlyn Alba added eight and seven points, respectively, for Enderun.

The Lady Titans will tackle Vietnamese squad Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club in the classification round also on Friday.

All games in the competition, backed by technical partners Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology and Team Rebel Sports, are available live and ondemand via PusoP.com livestream and Solar Sports.

SMB import George King ( PBA Images )

he knows how to motivate,” added Martin. King has provided much-needed stability after San Miguel struggled with its import situation in the previous

Members of the Philippine pencak silat team display their medals. (Philsilat Sports Association)

Gov’t budget deficit widened

9.4% to P264.3b in

By Thony Rose Lesaca

THE national government’s budget deficit widened 9.39 percent to P264.3 billion in June 2026 from P241.6 billion a year ago as expenditure growth outpaced revenue collections, the Bureau of the Treasury said Thursday.

Revenue collections rose 2.46 percent to P314.5 billion from P306.9 billion in June 2025 on stronger tax collections. Tax revenues accounted for the bulk of the total at P299.3 billion, while non-tax revenues contributed the remaining P15.1 billion. The Treasury said the government’s fiscal performance remained on track in the first half of 2026, with the budget deficit reaching P786.8 billion, up by 2.79 percent, or P21.3 billion, from last year’s P765.5 billion

PH car sales hit six-month high in June

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE vehicle sales rose to their highest monthly level so far this year in June, led by stronger demand for both internal combustion engine and electrified vehicles, according to industry data released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. (TMA). Combined CAMPI-TMA sales reached 37,231 units in June, up 11 percent from 33,352 units in May but down 8 percent from 40,483 units in June 2025.

Total industry vehicle sales, including non-member brands, reached around 42,000 units in June, up 18.7 percent from the previous month.

CAMPI president Jose Maria Atienza said the June performance gave the industry a more positive outlook for the second half of the year, with monthly sales expected to surpass levels recorded in the same period of 2025.

He said new internal combustion engine (ICE) and electrified vehicle (xEV) models launched during the recent Philippine International Motor Show are also expected to add momentum to growing market demand.

“This June, we saw sales of both Internal ICE vehicles and xEVs rise. Industry sales of gas and diesel cars grew by 10 percent versus May due to more stable fuel prices, while xEVs grew by 49.2 percent thanks to improving supply level,” Atienza said.

Electrified vehicle sales continued to climb, with total xEV sales reaching 31,381 units in the first half, up 132.7 percent from 13,488 units a year earlier. In June, xEV sales rose 16 percent year-on-year to 6,995 units.

Battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles together accounted for 28 percent of total car sales in June, up 6 percentage points from May. Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remained the top seller among CAMPI-TMA members in June with 17,627 units sold.

deficit, but 0.17 percent, or P1.4 billion, lower than the P788.2 billion first-half 2026 program.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s tax collections climbed 5.07 percent to P210.7 billion in June from P200.5 billion a year earlier. The Bureau of Customs collected P86.2 billion, up 11.88 percent from P77.0 billion in the same month last year.

First-half BIR collections reached P1.63 trillion, while BOC collections totaled P491.9 billion.

The Treasury attributed the

June—BTr

improvement in BIR revenues to higher collections from corporate income tax, personal income tax, value-added tax, other percentage taxes and miscellaneous taxes.

The six-month increase in Customs revenues was supported by a 10.34-percent rise in VAT collection due to higher oil prices, the Treasury said. These gains offset a 2.73-percent drop in excise collections amid lower oil import volume and the temporary suspension of excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene.

Non-tax revenues dropped 43.53 percent to P15.1 billion in June from P26.8 billion a year ago, reflecting lower Treasury income following the earlier remittance of dividends this year. Non-tax revenues totaled P246.5 billion as of end-June.

Government disbursements expanded 5.51 percent to P578.7 billion in June from P548.5 billion in the previous year.

“[This was] driven in part by the higher national tax allotment share of local government units, subsidy releases to government-owned and controlled corporations, particularly to the Food Terminal Inc. for the implementation of Rice-for-All Program, and the direct payments made by development partners to the suppliers or contractors of various foreign assisted rail transport projects of the Department of Transportation,” the Treasury said.

Interest payments rose 8.73 percent to P62.4 billion from P57.4 billion, while other expenditures increased 5.14 percent to P516.3 billion from P491.1 billion.

For the January-to-June period, government expenditures grew 4.94 percent to P3.18 trillion from P3.03 trillion in the same period last year. The Treasury said this was equivalent to 99.95 percent of the government’s P3.18-trillion first-semester program.

P786.8 billion

Budget deficit in first half

P2.39 trillion P3.17 trillion

Revenue haul in first half

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects to begin partial operations on the P58.42-billion South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (SLEX TR4) before the end of 2026, Secretary Giovanni Lopez said Thursday. Lopez said the public can look forward to the opening of the project’s first three packages, Packages A through C, before the year ends.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Timuay Manda (left) explains the Bayog Subanen United (BSU) Long-Term Development Plan to TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) community relations personnel, illustrating the Subanen community’s vision for sustainable growth, strengthened governance and cultural preservation. Through indigenous peoples’ (IP) royalty shares and sustained collaboration with the Balabag Gold and Silver Project of TVIRD, the community has invested in infrastructure, community institutions and long-term development designed to strengthen both cultural identity and economic opportunity.

Travel time between Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Tiaong, Quezon will be reduced from the current two hours to just 30 minutes once these initial segments become operational, Lopez said.

Once the entire expressway is completed, travel time from Batangas to Lucena will be cut from four hours to just one hour.

“By the end of this year, we can start using TR4. We will inaugurate it. Our target is to start operations in

November or December,” Lopez said.

“Our usual travel time there [for the entire route] is four hours. Once we open the [entire] TR4, it will take just one hour,” he said. SLEX TR4 is a joint project of the DOTr and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with SMC SLEX Inc. serving as the project concessionaire.

“That’s a big-ticket project in coordination and partnership with the

Pag-IBIG Fund released P5.82b in emergency loans in six weeks

PAG-IBIG Fund said it has released

billion in emergency loans to 803,769 members in less than six weeks as it moves to

the financial impact of ongoing

in the Middle East on

workers. The disbursements, made under the Special Assistance for Financial Emergencies (SAFE) Loan program, cover the period from the program’s launch on June 10 through July 22. The initiative supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for government agencies to deliver more responsive services to Filipino workers, according to Department of Human Settlements and Urban

Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, who chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

“President Marcos has called on government agencies to make services more responsive to the needs of Filipino workers. In line with this call, Pag-IBIG Fund is providing ready and affordable financial assistance through the SAFE Loan, especially as the continuing tensions in the Middle East create financial challenges that are being felt by our members and their families. We want our members to know that they can turn to Pag-IBIG Fund for support as they meet their needs and care for their families during this time,” Aliling said.

Expenditures in first half

DPWH. These are the road sector projects we can open within the year and hopefully the President can highlight them in his SONA,” Lopez said. An estimated 17,000 motorists daily are expected to benefit from the expressway once it becomes operational.

SLEX TR4 is a 66.74-kilometer, four-lane toll road stretching from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Tayabas/Lucena City in Quezon.

SM PRIME Holdings Inc. (SMPH) is counting on its newly-launched SM Seaside Cebu Arena to expand the live entertainment market in the Visayas, with more than 20 major events lined up at the venue in 2026. The lineup includes concerts by Filipino and international acts, live productions, sporting events and family entertainment, with some performers set to hold their first largescale shows in the region.

“Our goal is to help Cebu capture a larger share of the live entertainment economy. When major events come to the city, the impact extends beyond the venue. They support tourism, hospitality, transport, retail and the local services that benefit from stronger visitor inflow,” SM Prime Holdings president Jeffrey Lim said in a statement Thursday. Lim said the arena’s development was also driven by changing consumer behavior following the pandemic, particularly the growing preference among millennials and Gen Z for experiences that create lasting memories.

Technology is also supporting the growth of the sector, with online ticketing platforms improving access to events while upgraded venue systems enhance sound, visuals and production quality.

In May, the property firm partnered with global ticketing company Ticketmaster to launch SM Ticketmaster, replacing SM Tickets and combining Ticketmaster’s global platform and fraud prevention tools with SM Prime’s local operating network. Jenniffer B. Austria

City senior vice president for business development.

Youth digital accounts surge

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Gen Z and millennial customers accounted for more than 87 percent of all Metrobank eSavings accounts opened since the start of the year, according to the bank.

Metrobank said the figures point to a growing preference among younger customers for opening and managing savings accounts through digital channels, allowing them to save without visiting a branch.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom said connectivity has become the country’s “fifth utility,” alongside water, electricity, gas and transportation, as demand for digital services continues to grow across the Philippines.

“Connectivity has become fundamental to how Filipinos live, work, learn, and build their future,” said Carl Cruz, president and chief executive of Globe. “As connectivity becomes the fifth utility, our responsibility goes beyond expanding networks. We must ensure they are reliable, resilient, secure, and accessible because people increasingly depend on them every single day.”

The company said the growing importance of digital connectivity is reflected in changing consumer behavior. Data services now account for 89 percent of Globe’s total mobile service revenues, up from 85 percent a year earlier, as customers shift from traditional voice calls and text messaging to internet-based services.

During the first quarter, Globe’s mobile subscriber base reached about 67 million, including more than 39 million active mobile data users. Average monthly data consumption rose to around 16 gigabytes per subscriber, driven by video streaming, social media, online gaming, digital payments and other online activities.

Globe also reported that its GlobeOne mobile application serves an average of 8 million users every month.

To support demand, the telecommunications company said it expanded network infrastructure in 2025, deploying more than 1,500 new 5G sites and over 115,000 fiber-to-the-home lines while increasing 4G population coverage to 96.41 percent.

Globe said about 90 percent of its capital expenditures last year went to data infrastructure, including investments in 5G technology, fiber networks and network modernization.

Customers can open and manage their eSavings accounts through the Metrobank App, alongside other dayto-day banking activities such as fund transfers and bill payments, the bank said.

Nearly half of eSavings users are from Metro Manila and Region IV, areas with large populations of young professionals. A majority of account holders are female, the bank said.

Metrobank said the growing use of digital savings accounts comes as more young adults begin their careers, support their families and prepare for

major financial goals.

The bank has expanded the financial products available through its digital banking platforms. Aside from eSavings, customers can place funds in an Online Time Deposit and access Unit Investment Trust Funds through Metrobank Online.

Metrobank said these products allow customers to manage savings and investments through its online channels, from building emergency funds to pursuing longer-term financial goals.

To encourage more Filipinos to start saving, Metrobank is offering an eSavings promotion in which new clients who open an eSavings account through the app and register will receive a P100 Lazada gift card, subject to terms and conditions. The promotion runs through September.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission said Thursday that a supply shortage in the national power grid and higher fuel costs from the Middle East conflict have driven up electricity prices.

ERC Chairman Francis Saturnino Juan was responding to questions from Sen. Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, on ways to lower the country’s power rates, which became the highest in ASEAN in June.

“This is where competition will hopefully work to lower electricity prices. Unfortunately, we are not yet at the level where we have enough supply. Every time there is an increase in generation capacity, demand also increases, or there are new plants while older plants are being phased out,” Juan said.

“So our supply or installed generation capacity is also decreas -

ing. We are also having changes in the portfolio of plants because we now have renewables—intermittent plants that require additional investment in transmission,” he said.

Juan said when supply drops and demand rises, as in recent months, prices surge in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

“This is a very large part and can be addressed if we first have investment in additional supply—not only in generation capacity, but also in transmission—because the private sector is the one that needs to invest,” the ERC chief said. “The government does not have the ability because the law requires private companies to invest.”

He said the ERC’s role is to create a regulatory environment that will attract large investments, noting that private companies will not invest if they cannot recover costs and earn a reasonable return.

Basic said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that the study is a regulatory and technical requirement to determine whether the grid can safely and effectively integrate the new storage facilities.

“This endorsement is an important step in BSC’s expansion into technology that supports the grid,” the company said. “Both BESS projects are designed to provide frequency and voltage regulation, which will help support grid stability and the integration of more renewable energy into the national grid.”

Basic said it is finalizing requirements to start the study with NGCP. Alena Mae S. Flores Ayala Group’s key units keep FTSE4Good listings

CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. has remained in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the 12th consecutive year, with core business units ACEN Corp., Ayala Land Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands and Globe Telecom Inc. also retaining their places following a June review. The FTSE4Good Index Series, developed by global index and data provider FTSE Russell, tracks companies with environmental, social and governance practices that meet set standards. The indexes are used by investors and market participants to evaluate responsible investment funds and financial products.

FTSE Russell assesses companies across operational areas such as corporate governance, health and safety, anti-corruption and climate change. Ayala Corp., Ayala Land and BPI have been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2015. Globe joined the index in 2016, while ACEN was added in 2023. Ayala said the continued inclusion gives investors and stakeholders an independent benchmark for the group’s ESG performance.

“Our continued inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series affirms our belief that one does well by doing good. Our mantra must always be building businesses that support communities and enhance lives,” said Cezar Consing, president and chief executive of Ayala Corp. Jenniffer B. Austria

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Jenniffer B. Austria

lead to bigger global oil supply disruptions, Ricafort said.

Meanwhile, Philippine shares edged higher Thursday on renewed buying interest after two consecutive sessions of decline.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index jumped 15.27 points, or 0.24 percent, to close at 6,283.12, while the broader all shares index gained 5.72 points, or 0.17 percent, to 3,427.07.

“The PSEi briefly tested 6,300 several times but failed to hold above it as turnover remained subdued. Brent continued rising ($97 a barrel) while the peso held at the record low,” AB Capital Securities said, adding that bank stocks led the advance ahead of second-quarter earnings results. Four sectoral indices finished higher, led by financial stocks, which climbed 22.86 points, or 1.2 percent, to 1,934.26.

THE Department of Energy, together with Apolaki Seven Inc., German parent company ib vogt, and other government partners, has energized Phase 1 of the 99-megawatt-peak Tantangan Solar Power Project, a facility capable of supplying clean electricity to about 68,000 households.

“By bringing utility-scale solar generation to Mindanao, this plant strengthens the reliability and diversity of the island’s power supply. Amid the Middle East conflict, we are on a mission to reduce the Philippines’ dependence on imported sources and generate our own electricity,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said. “Projects such as this strengthen our energy security. It sends a clear message: Mindanao is ready to lead in our country’s clean energy transition.” The project represents another step in the government’s commitment to expand renewable energy capacity while ensuring that economic development reaches communities beyond the country’s major urban centers. Awarded Solar Energy Operating Contract No. 2023-08-689 on Sept. 19, 2023, under the Green Energy

Auction, the ground-mounted solar facility is 97.3 percent complete and is being developed in two phases. The newly energized Phase 1 delivers 74.5 MWp. Full completion is targeted for October, bringing total installed capacity to 99 MWp. The facility includes a battery energy storage system that can deliver 4 megawatts of power and store 16 megawatt-

Lower Siargao airfare possible TRANSPORT

TRAVELING to the country’s surfing capital may soon become more affordable as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is implementing key improvements at Siargao Airport aimed at increasing flights and lowering airfares.

The initiative comes in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to make air travel more accessible, particularly to popular tourist destinations that attract both local and international visitors.

Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said one of the agency’s priorities is securing a “night rating” for Siargao Airport, which would allow aircraft to operate during nighttime hours. The move is expected to improve airport efficiency, expand flight schedules, and encourage

Sunlight Air offers P99 seat sale

BOUTIQUE carrier Sunlight Air is offering one-way base fares as low as P99 and discounted fares across its domestic network to encourage more passengers to travel. The airline said customers can book P99 one-way base fares to all Sunlight Air destinations from July 22 to 23, 2026. Travelers can also enjoy a 15 percent discount on Value and Plus fares by using the promo code 7SOARING.

airfares by introducing improvements for Siargao,” Lopez said.

“We are working on what is called a ‘night rating.’ With a night rating, we can expect more flights; and with more flights, the natural tendency is for fares to go down,” he added.

Siargao has grown into one of the country’s most soughtafter destinations, drawing visitors with its worldfamous surfing waves, pristine beaches, and island-hopping attractions. However, the cost of airfare has remained a common concern among travelers, especially during peak travel seasons when ticket prices often surge because of limited flight availability.

By extending airport operations into the evening, the DOTr expects airlines to maximize aircraft utilization and offer additional flight frequencies. Increased competition and seat capacity are seen as key factors that could eventually bring ticket prices down.

Beyond the night rating, the government is also moving forward with plans to extend the runway at Siargao Airport to accommodate larger aircraft and meet the island’s steadily growing passenger demand.

“We are also finalizing the runway extension project for Siargao. We have conducted studies in coordination with the DENR regarding how to proceed with the improvements. I am quite confident that by next month, we can begin the design phase for the Siargao Airport runway extension,” Lopez said.

The runway extension is part of the government’s broader airport modernization program. Lopez earlier explained that airport runways need to be at least 2,100 meters long to accommodate larger aircraft capable of carrying more passengers.

Operating bigger planes would increase seat capacity on provincial routes, a development expected to help make air travel more affordable.

Darwin G. Amojelar

MOVE projects stronger international travel demand in second half of 2026

AIRASIA MOVE (MOVE) is projecting stronger international travel demand in the second half of 2026, driven by younger travelers across ASEAN who are planning further ahead, prioritizing value, and making more deliberate spending decisions.

Based on MOVE’s forward booking insights for travel between July 1 and December 31, 2026, the travel platform said consumers are increasingly choosing destinations that offer affordability, convenience, and meaningful experiences, signaling a shift from spontaneous trips to more intentional travel planning.

The anniversary promotion comes as Sunlight Air celebrates seven years of operations, during which it expanded from serving a single route to Coron into a boutique airline connecting travelers to several island destinations from its hubs in Clark and Cebu.

“We’re very proud to say that Sunlight Air is the only boutique airline in the Philippines, not because it makes the airline appear more ‘unique’, but because it is a testament to how we have overcome—and continuously overcome the challenges most boutique airlines are prone to,” Ryna Brito-Garcia, chief executive of Sunlight Air said.

“ Despite the pandemic and fluctuating fuel prices, we have maintained the service standards that distinguished Sunlight Air from the beginning: a no-overbooking policy, wider legroom and complimentary inflight snacks, and a network exclusively serving domestic island destinations, rounding out a comfortable boutique experience on every flight,” she added.

Since its launch, Sunlight Air has expanded its network from Clark to Coron, Boracay (Caticlan), and Siargao, while also operating flights from Cebu to Coron, Siargao, and its newest destination, Siquijor.

The airline operates a fleet of ATR 72-500 and ATR 72-600 aircraft, renowned for its efficiency, reliability, and comfort.

The data points to sustained demand for regional international travel, particularly to destinations within a four-hour flying radius, where travelers can maximize both their time and travel budgets.

The platform expects Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines to remain among the strongest destination markets for the rest of the year, supported by extensive regional connectivity and competitive travel value.

Despite ongoing economic uncertainties, travelers continue to invest in their holidays, although they are becoming more selective in how they allocate their budgets.

According to the data, average spending on flights for the second half of 2026 is about 35 percent

Millennials remain the largest traveling generation on MOVE, accounting for 43% of all bookings, followed by Gen Z at 23%.

higher than average hotel spending, suggesting that travelers are willing to pay more to reach their preferred destinations while seeking better value in accommodation.

The trend is reflected in hotel booking patterns, with 76 percent of reservations made through MOVE being for threeand four-star properties, highlighting demand for accommodations that offer a balance between comfort, convenience, and affordability.

Younger travelers continue to drive demand across the platform. Millennials account for 43 percent of all bookings, while Gen Z represents 23 percent, meaning the two generations collectively make up

GRAB Philippines has been recognized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as one of the recipients of its “Bayani sa Last-Mile” award. The recognition was conferred during the Digital Bayanihan Awards: A Decade of Digital Transformation and Building the Future Together held on June 30, 2026, at the Bahay ng Alumni in Quezon City. The event concluded National ICT Month 2026 and marked DICT’s 10th anniversary under the theme “Isang Dekadang Digital: Konektado sa Puso at Serbisyo.” Grab was among private sector organizations, government agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders honored for their contributions to the country’s digital transformation over the past decade.

“Last-mile delivery is where digital transformation becomes real for many Filipinos. It is when a small business can serve more customers, when a family can receive what they need more conveniently, and when a delivery-partner can access livelihood opportunities through technology,” said Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda.

nearly two-thirds of all bookings on MOVE.

The findings suggest that while younger consumers remain costconscious, travel continues to be a lifestyle priority. Instead of traveling less, they are increasingly choosing destinations and experiences that deliver greater value within their budgets.

MOVE said the evolving travel behavior underscores a broader trend across ASEAN, where consumers are placing greater emphasis on careful planning, affordability, and convenience as international travel continues to recover and strengthen in the second half of 2026.

“We are honored by this recognition from DICT, and we remain committed to working with the government in building a more inclusive digital economy that creates opportunities for consumers, merchants, and our delivery-partners,” he added.

DOTr: Villars to donate land for LRT-1 Cavite Extension

TRANSPORTATION Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the Villar family is willing to donate land for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project. Lopez clarified that right-of-way (ROW) acquisition will not pose a problem for completing the railway project. Contrary to previous reports, he said that the Villar family intends to donate the necessary property to pave the way for faster construction.

“As a matter of fact, the Villar family wants to donate their land,” Lopez said during a radio interview. Meanwhile, Lopez said that a comprehensive traffic study must be conducted to evaluate a proposal to dismantle the C-5 Quirino Flyover, a move suggested to fast-track the project.

“There are suggestions asking if we need to remove that flyover because of its width. But if we do that, if we take it down, I said we need a traffic study first,” Lopez explained.

He added that DOTr is also studying the possibility that the flyover could “co-exist” with the elevated LRT-1 track.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier directed Lopez to immediately resolve the right-of-way issues surrounding the LRT-1 Cavite Extension.

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) previously committed to completing the entire stretch of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension before the end of the Marcos administration’s term in 2028.

Phase 1 of the extension project connects Baclaran Station in Pasay City to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque City via five operational stations: Redemptorist-ASEANA, MIA Road, PITX, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, and Dr. Santos.

The remaining Cavite leg (Phases 2 and 3) covers the last three stations yet to be constructed: Las Piñas, Zapote, and Niog.

The recognition also comes as Grab continues to advance its commitment to the Marcos administration to help generate 500,000 livelihood opportunities for Filipinos through its platform. Grab has already delivered new livelihoods equivalent to 73 percent of its five-year target, putting it on track to exceed its goal

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

James Reid (left) and Kathryn Bernardo headline ‘Someone, Someday,’ which premieres on television on July 27 after its streaming rollout on Netflix and iWant

Billy, a dating app CEO whose carefully built life begins to unravel in the series’ emotionally charged opening episodes

SHOWBIZ

The Filipino TV breakthrough we’ve been waiting for

WE watched the first two episodes of Someone, Someday ahead of its television premiere on July 27. The series begins streaming on Netflix today, with iWant following on July 25 before its free TV rollout.

During the advance screening, one question kept coming up: What has become our gauge for judging a local series? Is it whether it feels like a foreign production or, more specifically, whether it feels like a Korean drama?

The easy answer would have been yes. These days, whenever a series features polished cinematography, deliberate pacing, and cinematic visuals, it is quickly labeled “parang K-drama.” Someone, Someday resists that comparison.

Its visual identity is unmistakably Filipino. From its warm, lived-in color palette to its carefully composed cinematography, the series embraces a local aesthetic without borrowing the visual language audiences have come to associate with Korean dramas. Rather than imitating an established formula, it creates one that feels distinctly its own.

After two episodes, the biggest takeaway is not whether Someone, Someday measures up to Korean dramas. It is that Philippine television no longer needs that comparison. This

James Reid stars as Jordan, Billy’s closest friend and confidant, whose steady presence anchors the series’ quiet emotional moments

is a series that looks polished, feels intimate, and confidently embraces a visual language that is unmistakably Filipino.

The series opens with an emotionally charged wedding sequence that immediately places Kathryn Bernardo at the center of the story. It is a demanding introduction, and she delivers one of her most restrained performances to date.

As Billy, the successful CEO of the dating app Love List, Kathryn communicates volumes through

Pageant Concept Eton Concepcion

Mutya ng Pilipinas marks 58th year celebration with twin victories

not career success but providing a better life for her younger brother, Oliver (Migz Casimiro), whom she raised herself.

James Reid returns to television with equal confidence.

As Jordan, Billy’s closest friend and confidant, he settles naturally into the role. His chemistry develops effortlessly, making even the quieter conversations feel emotionally enters. Her arrival as Abi Mercado

dramatically shifts the tone of the series. Introduced through a string of vertical teasers released by ABSCBN, Abi first appears as Billy’s

as a devoted daughter caring for her abusive, bedridden mother, played by Rita Avila, before resentment transforms admiration into confrontation. In one tense exchange, Billy calls Abi a liar before the encounter ends in violence.

James (left) and Kathryn in a scene from the upcoming series ‘Someone, Someday’

MUTYA ng Pilipinas continues to bring pride and honor to the country with Mutya ng Pilipinas 2025 Luzon Lyndzy Maranan ’s crowning as Miss Global Universe 2026 in Singapore and Mutya ng Pilipinas 2025 Visayas Eunice Deza’s finish as second runner-up at Top Model of the World 2026 in Egypt.

“We’re so excited because 2026 is Mutya ng Pilipinas’ 58th year. We would like to thank our friends in the media. You have always been with us, never missing all our adventures and trials and our victories that we would like to share with you,” Mutya ng Pilipinas president Cory Quirino said during the homecoming victory party held at CWC Design Center in Makati.

“This program is all about celebrating the victories of queens whose dreams have always been to represent the Philippines, and win or lose, to them it’s already a victory,” Quirino added.

“Being called Miss Philippines is a dream I will forever be grateful for. This dream may have started with me, but today, I carry it for the entire nation. To everyone who has been with me since the very beginning, thank you for believing in me. Your love and unwavering

Miss Global Universe 2026 Lyndzy Maranan (right) and Top Model of the World 2026 second runner-up Eunice Deza return home following their respective pageant victories

support have carried me through this journey to Miss Global Universe,” Maranan said.

“A month has passed since finishing as second runner-up at Top Model of the World, and my heart is still filled with gratitude. Representing the Philippines on the international stage was more than a dream come true. It was an honor I will cherish forever. This marks a beautiful milestone, but the journey is far from over,” Deza said. At the victory party, Quirino announced the participation of Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2025 Andrea Endicio in Miss Polo Universe 2026, which will be held at Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan in Dubai, UAE, on Sept. 26. Miss Polo Universe, now in its second year, unites women from around the world to lead meaningful change rooted in advocacy and purpose while championing leadership, cultural pride, and educational impact on the global stage.

biggest admirer, secretly entering her room, stalking her, and trying on her belongings. The obsession gradually unravels into something darker. Subsequent previews reveal Abi

Maja described Abi as a layered character, making her primetime return to ABSCBN alongside Bernardo and Reid all the more compelling.

The series also released its official soundtrack featuring 11 songs, including James’s “Pauwi Na,” “Sandal,” “Traffic,” “Hurt Me Too,” and “Pahinga” featuring TJ Monterde, alongside tracks by Maki, Belle Mariano, Angela Ken, Bryan Chong, FANA, and Shaniah Rollo

Directed by Chad V. Vidanes and Dolly Dulu, Someone, Someday also stars Dimples Romana, Rowell Santiago, McCoy De Leon, and Daniela Stranner.

GMA Prime’s action series Taskforce Firewall continues to tackle cybercrime issues through high-stakes cases, intense action sequences, and personal conflicts that challenge its characters.

This week, Team Firewall, led by Isa (Kylie Padilla), faces another cybercrime case involving online gaming and the disappearance of children. Despite her confrontation with co-member Leila (Cheska Fausto) over Martin (Luis Hontiveros), Isa keeps the team focused as they work to solve the case.

Meanwhile, Martin remains determined to repair his marriage with Isa, but she refuses to reconcile.

The emotional storyline became a creative milestone for Padilla, who co-wrote the confrontation scene with director Rico Gutierrez and the show’s writers.

“Direk Rico and the writers of Taskforce Firewall respectfully invite our input as actors. I have always loved to write; I just recently came from Ricky Lee’s writing workshop. So, to have a chance to co-write a scene has been a dream come true,” Kylie shared.

After portraying storylines involving ransomware attacks, betrayals, and personal struggles, Padilla also opened up about her experience working with the cast and the connection they have built on set. In a recent post, she expressed appreciation for the bond formed among the actors and the production team, particularly her partnership with Miguel Tanfelix, who plays Galo.

“Our onscreen chemistry was a surprise for me as well. But I really find Isa and Galo’s dynamic charming. Their friendship and buddy-cop relationship is not loud, but you know they have each other’s back,” Padilla shared.

Padilla noted that portraying a strong friendship without a romantic angle feels authentic, adding that despite the series’ dramatic scenes, the cast keeps a light atmosphere behind the cameras.

The Taskforce Firewall ensemble includes Padilla and Tanfelix, alongside Jak Roberto, Kyline Alcantara,

Very Wang Nickie Wang

Kathryn Bernardo plays the role of

Maja Salvador returns to ABS-CBN primetime as Abi Mercado, a mysterious admirer whose obsession with Billy gradually takes a darker turn

SHOWBIZ

By Angelica Villanueva

OPM singers Ice

Seguerra , Sitti , Nyoy Volante , Kean

Cipriano , Princess Velasco , and Juris are looking beyond their own catalog for their next concert, assembling songs that shaped their lives and stayed with them through different stages of their careers.

The one-night concert will organize its setlist into themed sections such as the Kilig Playlist, Broken Playlist, Barkada Playlist, and Healing Playlist.

Unlike the group’s previous concert, which served as a reunion and reintroduction, the new show gives more space to songs the performers grew up listening to and later carried into their own work as musicians.

Ice, who directs the show, said the concert was designed to feel less like a formal production and more like a gathering where one person starts singing and the rest eventually join in.

“The concept is, you know when you’re at a gathering and someone says, ‘Let’s sing’? I’ll sing, but you know the song. Then all of a sudden, we’re all singing together. That’s the experience, in the guise of a concert,” Ice said during an intimate media conference.

The artists submitted songs connected to particular moods and memories before the choices were narrowed down into a final program. Ice shared that the selection process required balancing what the performers wanted to sing with what the audience would appreciate.

“These are all our choices. We made sure that the songs in the playlist are songs that matter to us, favorites that we really love singing,” he continued.

Songs behind sessionistas’ musical stories

how personal song choices shape the group’s next one-night performance at

The acoustic singer added that personal connection remains important when choosing material for a full concert.

“It’s hard for me to sing songs that I don’t resonate with. If it’s a concert, it’s very important that what comes out is what the singers themselves really want, because that’s the only way they can connect with the audience,” Ice shared. Meanwhile, Nyoy said the production also made room for the distinct style of every performer, even when several of them share similar musical influences.

“No one artist is the same. It’s our job to make sure that the uniqueness of every

character will shine,” he explained.

The group added another segment so each sessionista could lead one playlist while the others remained part of the number. Much of the concert will also keep the performers onstage together to preserve the relaxed atmosphere of a barkada jam session.

Princess said the members’ confidence in their individual careers has prevented competition from getting in the way of the group.

“We’re all secure with who we are in terms of our professional status and our careers. Never pumasok sa isip ng sino man sa amin yung sapawan,” she stated.

For Nyoy, the concert also offers younger listeners a way into classic OPM.

“What we’re doing is guiding them. After the concert, I’m pretty sure a lot of them will listen to those songs,” he told Manila Standard

Entertainment

Duncan Ramos will miss the show because of unforeseen circumstances but remains part of the Sessionistas and is expected to return for future performances.

“Sessionistas: The Playlist” is happening on Aug. 22 at 8:00 p.m. at The Theatre at Solaire.

GARY Valenciano has partnered with global money transfer app Sendwave for its new “Between Here And Home” campaign, which pays tribute to Overseas Filipinos and the families they continue to support from abroad. The campaign features Valenciano’s classic hit “Babalik Ka Rin,” using the song to underscore stories of sacrifice, resilience, and the hope of family reunions despite long distances.

Its launch centers on a digital film about a Filipina nurse working overseas to provide her son with a better future while her mother cares for the child in the Philippines. The story reflects the shared experience of many Filipino families living apart because of overseas work.

“Gary Valenciano’s music transcends both time and distance,” Philippines Market Head Leo Albea said. “For generations of Filipinos around the world, his songs have brought families together, evoked memories of home, and reminded us of what it means to be Filipino no matter where life takes us.”

Albea said “Babalik Ka Rin” was chosen because it captures the longing and hope that define the lives of many Overseas Filipinos. Beyond the launch film, “Between Here And Home” will continue as a storytelling platform featuring real-life experiences of Overseas Filipinos and their families.

Founded in 2014, Sendwave serves more than 1 million users worldwide and has operated in the Philippines since 2021, allowing users in North America and Europe to send money to families across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The company also announced that eligible new users who download the app and complete their first transfer may receive a $20 credit on their

COMIC book fans will return to San Diego, California on Thursday for the latest Comic-Con, with many convention-goers buzzing about this year’s return of Marvel. The studio skipped last year’s event but will be back at the coveted Hall H on Saturday to promote Avengers: Doomsday, which is slated to premiere in December. Under the Russo brothers’ direction, the latest superhero flick will pick up where 2019’s Endgame left off, bringing together heroes and villains from X-Men, the Avengers, Black Panther, and the Fantastic Four to duke it out once more. The last time Marvel was in Hall H, they stunned more than 6,000 attendees by announcing Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey Jr. would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe—or MCU, as breathless fans call it—not as Iron Man but as the villainous Doctor Doom.

DC Studios will also grace Hall H to preview its HBO series Lanterns, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as small-town Nebraska detectives, which debuts Aug. 16. The flesh-and-blood narrative offers a new take on 2011’s Green Lantern, a Ryan Reynolds-led space adventure movie. Since the pop culture festival began in 1970, it has grown into a major event, with thousands of sometimescostumed fans gathering in San Diego to buy memorabilia, see their idols, and celebrate beloved stories.

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro will mark the 20th anniversary of Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth on Friday.

addition to promo for Emmy-nominated horror comedy Widow’s Bay, Apple

The Sessionistas’ upcoming concert is built around songs tied to memory, heartbreak, friendship, and healing

From left: Princess Velasco, Ice Seguerra, and Nyoy Volante discuss

The Theatre at Solaire

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

The heart of makeup

FINALLY stepping into the MUA Studio at Proscenium Retail Row in Rockwell, Makati, felt like discovering a hidden sanctuary. With interiors designed in soothing shades of white, cream, and blush pink, the intimate beauty studio instantly puts you at ease.

RALPH Lauren welcomed guests to The Ralph Lauren Centre Court Suite during The Championships, Wimbledon, where attendees experienced the newly debuted The Polo Bar by Ralph Lauren at Centre Court.

The New York institution’s signature atmosphere was brought to the tournament’s historic grounds for the first time, with guests enjoying classic cocktails and curated details while watching the Gentlemen’s Singles Semifinals.

Among the notable guests were Dustin Hoffman, Keira Knightley, Richard E. Grant, Kento Kaku, Lesley Manville, Felicity Jones, Luke Thompson, Joe Locke, Rashida Jones, Ezra Koenig, Ananya Panday, Mia Armstrong, and Bassel Khaiat. All guests were dressed in Ralph Lauren.

Ralph Lauren is a global leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products, with its reputation and distinctive image developed across various products, brands, and markets for more than 50 years.

In the Philippines, Polo Ralph Lauren is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. and is available at Shangri-La, Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Makati, Solaire, and the newly opened Rustan’s Cebu Store. The brand is also available online through Lazada.ph, Shopee.ph, Zalora.ph, and Rustans.com.

Hoffman joins the star-studded guest list at The Championships as the tournament draws figures from film, fashion, music, and global entertainment

RUNNERS, families, and pet owners gathered at Parklinks Estate early Thursday for the Parklinks Run, an event that combined fitness with a preview of the mixed-use development’s growing residential, retail, and lifestyle offerings. The race began at 5:00 a.m., with participants navigating pedestrianfriendly roads, landscaped open spaces, and the Parklinks Bridge across the Marikina River. Race categories included the 10K, 5K,

Soft lighting, aesthetic makeup stations complete with illuminated mirrors and multiple drawers, comfortable chairs, and a dedicated area for portrait photography create an atmosphere that is welcoming and wellorganized. The luxury hair, makeup, and portrait studio has become a space where confidence is

Founded by bridal and celebrity makeup artist , the studio reflects her philosophy that beauty should not feel intimidating. Instead, it should be an experience rooted in comfort, trust, and genuine care.

Aside from professional hair and makeup services, MUA Studio also offers portrait sessions through its in-house photographer. It is a convenient hub for anyone preparing for milestones, content shoots, or simply wanting to capture their best self or upgrade their Facebook and Instagram profile pictures. The team is also working on other creative packages, such as bridal showers and intimate makeup classes.

What struck me most during my visit went beyond the makeup artistry. It was the heart, how the people made the space feel safe. There’s a certain kind of vulnerability that comes with sitting in a makeup chair. You arrive bare-faced, allowing someone to see every detail you often try to conceal, like blemishes, uneven skin, dark circles, and insecurities.

In many ways, aside from your doctor or dermatologist, who understands what’s happening in your body and skin, your makeup artist becomes someone you trust with your appearance at one of its most unguarded moments.

A good makeup artist will not erase or cover up who you are.

Instead, the artist will recognize your features, enhance what already makes you beautiful, soften what you wish to downplay, and help you see yourself with renewed confidence.

I experienced exactly that during my appointment.

My makeup was done by Xands, Belle’s in-house-trained artist, who previously worked in a major TV network’s publishing division. Her portfolio is star-studded, as she has glammed up a number of celebrities.

From the moment I sat in her chair, I felt completely at ease.

Her makeup application was light, and every stroke of the brush or pencil was gentle and intentional. Our conversation flowed so naturally that the entire appointment felt calming before a work event. It reminded me that makeup artists often become quiet listeners, not therapists in the clinical sense, but patient and compassionate people who create space for stories, honest conversations, and even laughter while transforming another person’s face.

Equally memorable was my hairstylist, Euge, whose kindness and professionalism stood out throughout the session. He constantly checked in, made sure to ask for my preferences, and offered thoughtful suggestions. That collaborative approach made all the difference.

Another quality of the duo assigned to me was their generosity. They never hesitated to share the products they were using or explain why they recommended certain brands. There was no sense of gatekeeping, just a sincere desire to inform their clients. It’s a mindset that clearly reflects Belle herself.

Having attended one of her makeup masterclasses in 2025, I witnessed firsthand how the MUA Studio founder and creative director generously shares her techniques, product recommendations, and industry knowledge. She believes there is room for everyone to grow and that generosity has become part of the studio’s culture. At MUA Studio, confidence does not just happen in front of the mirror. It begins the moment you feel seen, heard, and comfortable in your own skin. The calming interiors may catch your eye first, but it’s the warmth, respect, and genuine concern of the people inside that will make you want to return. Experience the safe space by reaching out to @_ muastudio on Instagram. For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@ gmail.com.

Keira Knightley attends the Gentlemen’s Singles Semifinals as the tennis event welcomes screen and culture personalities to Centre Court

Dustin

The Parklinks Run brings fitness and community activities together

roads and green areas

Participants make their way through Parklinks Bridge as the estate promotes active living within its riverside development

The blush-toned studio setting supports

MUA Studio houses hair, makeup, and portrait services into one creative hub for clients who want a calmer, more personal beauty experience

Mia Armstrong takes part in Wimbledon’s social scene as the tournament