House, biz, economists support SONA plans; 13 senators absent
By Maricel V. Cruz, Ram Superable, Thony Lesaca, and Othel V. Campos
PBBM’S 5TH SONA:
Vows justice in flood control cases, lower power cost, uphold WPS rights
By Charles Dantes,
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday highlighted efforts to hold accountable all those involved in anomalous flood control projects across the country in his penultimate State of the Nation Address.
By Vince Lopez
A HOMEMADE bomb exploded near the entrance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) early Monday, hours before a suspected unexploded device was found near the Senate, authorities said. The blast shortly after midnight
Marcos, VP Sara laud INC on its 112th anniversary
By Charles Dantes and Katrina Manubay
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday hailed the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for promoting faith, discipline and service as he congratulated the religious organization on its 112th anniversary.
“For more than a century, the INC has served as a steadfast guide to a community grounded in faith, discipline, and a shared sense of responsibility,” Mr. Marcos said in his message, noting the religious group’s growth from “humble beginnings” into a global institution, saying its work has helped strengthen the moral foundation of society.
caused no casualties and came hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA). Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said there is a “strong possibility” the two incidents are related. Nartatez said police had contingen-
SPEAKER Faustino Dy III on Monday said the House of Representatives is ready to swiftly translate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) into legislation, even as members of the Senate minority bloc skipped the President’s speech in protest over the detention of opposition lawmakers.
Most Pinoys see admin’s anti-corruption efforts lacking NEWS / A3
He also took a strong stance on external security threats, declaring that “Filipinos do not yield” as he asserted the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea and upheld the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims.
STATE OF THE NATION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. delivers his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA), eliciting applause and a standing ovation from lawmakers at the heavilyguarded House of Representatives. Inset at left shows protesters holding an effigy of US President Donald Trump while a bomb expert at left scours the ground where an improvised explosive was discovered near the Senate building in Manila. Revoli Cortez, Edd Castro, Southern Police District.
Dy said the House would prioritize measures to raise the tax-exempt annual income threshold to P350,000, reduce income taxes for other workers, exempt small businesses from the minimum corporate income tax, and grant tax amnesty on unpaid income, estate, donor’s and value-added taxes and related penalties.
Bomb blast at DOJ mars otherwise peaceful SONA—Nartatez
cy plans for bomb threats and actual bombings but acknowledged that “something got past us and exploded in front of the Department of Justice.”
Authorities have yet to determine the size of the explosion. Manila Police District spokesperson Philipp Ines said the investigation is ongoing, while
images posted by local media showed a cracked vehicle windshield and scattered debris.
Police said a tow truck driver spotted the suspected device near the Senate before 8:30 a.m. and alerted security personnel. Explosive ordnance teams recovered a
By Angelica Villanueva
By Katrina Manubay PRESIDENT
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte both saw their trust and performance ratings fall below majority levels in the latest nationwide survey. The President posted an eight-point decline in satisfaction while Vice President Duterte recorded her lowest trust and performance ratings since 2022, according to a survey by the OCTA Research group. In the latest Tugon ng Masa poll, results showed that President Marcos’s performance rating fell from 55 percent in March 2026 to 47 percent in July 2026, with about 33 percent dissatisfied and 20 percent undecided. Trust in him
Maricel Cruz, Alena Mae Flores, Ram Superable and Rex Espiritu
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2026 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Bernos blasts
Aeta land turned into dumpsite
By Maricel V. Cruz
AN administration lawmaker on Monday called for greater protection of indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains following a documentary that showed part of an Aeta community in Subic, Zambales being used as a dumpsite.
“Respect, don’t desecrate indigenous peoples’ ancestral domain,” Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos said in a statement.
Bernos, vice chairperson of the House committee on indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples, issued the statement after the television documentary “Ibinasurang Paraiso” featured the conditions in Sitio Tibag, an Aeta community in Subic.
“The deplorable conversion of ancestral domains for the convenience of others must stop. Let us respect and not desecrate the ancestral domain of our IPs. May karapatan po sila na mamuhay nang tahimik, ligtas, at hindi ginagambala ng iba (They have the right to live in peace, in safety, and free from interference by others),” Bernos said.
“Our indigenous peoples have the right to live peaceful, safe, and undisturbed lives,” she added. The documentary reported that a portion of the mountain in Sitio Tibag had been used as a dumpsite by the Subic local government since 2019.
According to Bernos, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources investigated the matter in 2022 and later issued a cease-and-desist order against the Subic local government in 2025.
The lawmaker urged the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to determine whether similar incidents of encroachment have occurred in other ancestral domains.
IN BRIEF
Tagle to Catholics: Reject gossip
By Vito Barcelo
CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle has urged young Catholics to reject gossip, saying it quietly destroys friendships and should never be mistaken for genuine friendship.
choose friends who value honesty and loyalty over rumors, saying genuine friendship means accepting others without judgment, gossip, or rejection.
ages Catholics to accompany one another more intentionally in their faith journey.
THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Monday said the government and its partners have distributed about P10 million worth of assistance to families affected by Tropical Storm Kiyapo.
According to the latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council situational report, 6,617 families in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Western Visayas, and Soccsksargen received assistance.
The aid included family food packs, shelter repair kits, sleeping kits, kitchen kits, plastic mats, and financial assistance. In a separate message, OCD information officer Diego Mariano said 31 evacuation centers remain operational, sheltering about 1,760 families or 7,550 individuals. Mariano said Tropical Storm Kiyapo affected 63,606 families, equivalent to about 295,066 people. Rex Espiritu
‘Kiyapo’ aid reaches P10 million, says OCD Free shuttle services in Cavite City, Noveleta
THE local governments of Cavite City and Noveleta on Monday launched a free shuttle service to help commuters affected by traffic caused by an ongoing Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project in San Rafael, Noveleta.
The free shuttle service will operate from Monday to Friday, from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., while the DPWH completes the road project.
The service is intended to provide faster transportation for workers, students, and other commuters during peak hours while roadworks continue.
Noveleta Mayor Davey Chua said designated pick-up and drop-off points are at Pop Cafe (Uno Gas Station) in Sta. Cruz, Cavite City, and the Kawit Fire Station in PotolSta. Isabel. The shuttle route passes through Novelex (Ilang-Ilang Drive), allowing commuters to bypass congestion at Noveleta Crossing. The route is expected to benefit commuters traveling from Cavite City to the Kawit Fire Station, including students, EPZA workers, and passengers bound for Manila. Dennis Abrina
Army names Babilonia Training Command head
BRIG. Gen. Lennon Babilonia has assumed office as acting commander of the Philippine Army’s Education and Training Command (ETC), succeeding Lt. Gen. Michael Logico, who has taken over the leadership of the Philippine Military Academy. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Antonio Nafarrete presided over the change of command ceremony at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, on July 24. Before his designation, Babilonia served as deputy commander of the Education and Training Command, formerly known as the Training Command. In his keynote address, Nafarrete underscored the command’s role in developing the Army’s soldiers and future leaders.
“The Education and Training Command holds a unique and profound responsibility in our Philippine Army. You are the source of our professional standards and the developers of our leaders now and in the future,” he said. Rex Espiritu
Speaking at a youth gathering during the 12th Philippine Conference on New Evangelization on Sunday at the University of Santo Tomas, Tagle said a true friend does not spread gossip, lies, or harmful content.
“If you receive gossip, bias, lies, violent and destructive content, the one who sent you that is not a friend,” said Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.
He said people who constantly criticize others are likely to do the same to their own friends and urged young peo-
Partas bus gets banned 30 days for Busway crash
By Rio N. Araja
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended for 30 days the operations of a Partas Transportation Co. Inc. bus that crashed into concrete and plastic barriers along the EDSA Busway near the corner of Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.
LTFRB Chairperson Vigor Mendoza II said the agency has issued a show cause order against the bus operator following the crash, which occurred at about 3:30 a.m. on July 26.
“In this case, we will be looking at either employment of reckless drivers or the workload of the drivers. We want to know all the details and this will come out during the course of the investigation,” Mendoza said.
Based on the initial investigation, the bus was traveling southbound from the EDSA-Quezon Avenue Flyover toward Timog Avenue when it struck the barriers. Investigators said the driver allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel, causing the crash.
Mendoza said the incident constitutes a violation of existing public transport safety regulations and falls under reckless driving.
ple to recognize such behavior early. Tagle said gossip erodes trust, while love, acceptance, and kindness help strengthen and restore relationships. He added that people who feel accepted are more likely to become faithful friends.
Citing the Gospel of John, Tagle said Jesus called His disciples friends because He shared sacred truths with them rather than idle talk, emphasizing that true friendship is founded on truth and love.
He encouraged young people to
The conference continued to explore its theme, “Sangkáy: I Have Called You Friends,” focusing on how authentic Christian friendship can strengthen communion and mission amid growing social polarization, digital noise, and rapid societal change.
Speakers urged Catholics to rebuild relationships rooted in Christ and foster deeper personal and community ties.
Sessions also examined the challenges of forming meaningful relationships in the digital age, with panelists discussing how technology, including artificial intelligence-driven communication, has reshaped human interaction and made genuine friendship more difficult to cultivate.
Organizers said the theme encour-
The conference also highlighted the Church’s ongoing synodal process, emphasizing “relational conversion” through stronger collaboration among clergy, religious, and lay communities. Tagle described the Eucharist as a “school of relational conversion,” calling on participants to see communion with Christ as the foundation of evangelization.
Youth formation was another major focus, with organizers introducing sessions on mental health, discrimination, parenting in the digital age, and leadership ahead of the conference’s all-youth day.
Church leaders said the expanded program aims to equip young Catholics to play a more active role in the New Evangelization.
Culiat Bridge reopens to light vehicles after 2 weeks of repairs
By Vito Barcelo
Through our collaboration with the Quezon City local government, we were able to complete the repairs in just two weeks,” Dizon said. He said only light vehicles will be allowed to use the bridge while engineers continue to monitor its condition and complete the remaining safety assessments before permitting heavier vehicles to pass. Dizon said the accelerated repairs were carried out in compliance with President Marcos’ directive for government agencies to respond quickly to infrastructure-related incidents and minimize disruptions to the public. The reopening is expected to ease traffic congestion along Congressional Avenue, a
“This is a very high-volume traffic corridor, and we understand the inconvenience experienced by motorists.
BURNHAM PARK GLOW-UP. The newly rehabilitated Burnham Park, one of Baguio City’s iconic tourist destinations, is set to reopen during Baguio Day (Charter Day) celebrations on Sept. 1, marking the city’s 117th charter anniversary. Dave Leprozo
BICYCLE DONATION. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Moreno Domagoso receives 30 bicycles donated by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) for the Manila Police District’s Tourist Bike Patrol in Manila. Norman Cruz
OPINION
The -7 illusion
THE champagne corks are popping in Malacañang. The June 2026 Social Weather Stations survey has arrived, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s net satisfaction rating has soared from a historic low of -15 “Poor” to a breathtaking -7 “Neutral.” Cue the press releases and the collective amnesia.
Let us be brutally clear: a -7 rating is being peddled as a comeback story. The administration is asking Filipinos to celebrate that their President is merely “neutral,” having scraped out of the “poor” gutter. This is the political equivalent of a student raising a grade from F to D-minus and demanding a graduation ceremony. The unspun truth: 45 percent of Filipinos remain dissatisfied, a clear plurality over the 38 percent who are satisfied. This is not recovery. It is a patient whose fever dropped from 104 to 102, still burning with infection.
The survey’s most devastating finding is not the topline number but the classperception question, which reveals a structural indictment that a single quarter of disinflation could never paper over. In December 2022, a honeymoon-era 54 percent of Filipinos believed Marcos served the poor. That figure has collapsed by nearly one-third to a paltry 35 percent. Where did those believers migrate? They swelled the ranks of those who correctly see the administration as a concierge service for oligarchs. The “serves the rich” perception has nearly doubled, from 23 percent to a commanding 43 percent. This is a slow-motion catastrophe for an administration that campaigned on unity and uplift. Temporary relief from peak inflation acted like a spoonful of sugar, helping the masses momentarily swallow the bitter pill of their own immiseration. The sugar rush is fading, and the chronic malady of a government working for the one percent is now the dominant diagnosis. This is not a national recovery; it is a national divorce. Marcos is “moderate” in his Balance Luzon heartland but remains profoundly reviled in Mindanao, where he sits at a dismal -35. That is hostile territory, a permanent scar from the Duterte family feud. The rebound is a Potemkin village. Perhaps the most chilling omen is hidden in the age demographics. While working-age adults, momentarily grateful for slower inflation, drove the modest improvement, the nation’s youth delivered a damning verdict. Satisfaction among the 18-to-24 cohort crashed 10 points backward to a brutal -27. This is the generation that will inherit crushing
national debt and simmering geopolitical crises, and they have already mentally checked out on the man in Malacañang. So, what was the secret sauce of this fleeting bounce? A dash of easing inflation after a historic spike, a pinch of statistical mean reversion, and a heaping tablespoon of public attention diverted by the Duterte impeachment circus. The administration is like a magician who tripped over his own feet, landed with a loud thud, and then stood up to take a bow, calling the accident a choreographed finale. The undead flood-control scandal, the health-rumor fiasco—these are not resolved crises. They are problems the public has grown exhausted from hearing about. Fatigue is not forgiveness.
—“—
This is why Marcos Jr.’s ratings bounce is a political mirage.
This -7 is not an upturn; it is a precarious resting point while the underlying pathology—a perception of profound class bias—goes untreated. The administration will take a victory lap, selectively quoting this poll while ignoring its structural warnings, just as it once dismissed the polls that showed it floundering. This is governance by public relations, a cynical game of managing sentiment rather than solving problems. If there is a path forward, it lies in a radical, and highly improbable, pivot. Instead of merely suspending fuel excise taxes during an inflation spike, enact the long-stalled wage reforms that would permanently shift the “serves the poor” needle. Instead of general denials of kickback allegations, commission a truly independent forensic audit of flood control funds that ends in an orange jumpsuit for someone whose name is not just a convenient fall guy. Place a billion-peso flood-control project in a poor barangay in Mindanao, not just another flyover in a congressman’s district.
But we know better. Genuine propeople governance requires choosing the 35 percent over the 43 percent, and that is class treason no elite politician will attempt. Marcos’s -7 is not a second wind; it is the political equivalent of being dead and not knowing it yet. The public has not rallied to his side. They have simply run out of the energy required for active fury. That is not a mandate. It is just a deeper, more cynical sigh.
Make smoking cool again? Pop culture reboots the vice
By Raphaëlle Peltier
NEW YORK — From beauty mogul Kylie Jenner lighting up on the cover of Vanity Fair to cigarette trays at singer Dua Lipa’s wedding, the pop cultureverse has rebooted cigarettes as the accessory du jour, health risks be damned.
Smoking rates are at a six-decade low among American adults and the lowest in a quarter-century among youth.
And yet, searches for the term “smoking pose” on the image-sharing platform Pinterest have soared 70 percent among 18- to 24-year-olds, according to Style Analytics, a fashion world data tracker.
On Instagram, the account “Cigfluencers” shares images of celebrities smoking -- “your favorite smoker’s favorite smokers,” reads the tagline.
The posts included a number of shots snapped in May at the Met Gala, the annual gathering of A-listers in New York.
Even though current US smoking statistics don’t show an increase in the actual habit, making cigarettes chic again has triggered concern among antismoking advocates.
“Pop culture’s glamorization of smoking is just reigniting the addiction among young people and discouraging those trying to quit,” Jessica Rath, vice president at the anti-tobacco advocacy group Truth Initiative, told AFP.
‘Highly concerning’
The organization noted that eight of the 10 feature films nominated for this year’s best picture Oscar contained images of tobacco use.
This type of exposure makes young people two to three times more likely to use tobacco products, Rath said.
Brian King, head of US programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the trend is “highly concerning from a public health perspective.”
One explanation for the resurgence is the return of aesthetics from the 1990s and early 2000s -- an era when smok-
ing was still quite common in the United States.
The look was all over the recent popular series “Love Story,” a show that detailed the storied relationship of the late John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette -- the latter was a regular smoker and was portrayed as such on the show.
The brand strategy newsletter On Brand has dubbed the smoker’s aesthetic an act of rebellion against the social media pressures of “self-optimization.”
And it’s all set, of course, against a backdrop of economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
This exposure makes young people two to three times more likely to use tobacco products, the advocacy group said.
“Right now, we’re also having kind of a colliding mental health crisis with young people,” said Rath.
“And so young people are thinking that using nicotine is helping their feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress -- when really it could be making it worse.”
King noted that public attention has shifted away from the risks associated with conventional cigarettes, as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches grow in popularity.
“In some cases, we as society have been recalcitrant in terms of remembering those risks, and also importantly implementing policies that we know work to prevent the use of these products,” King said.
How are you doing, Senator Pia?
LOOKING at and listening to Senator Pia Cayetano these days is deeply troubling.
A few weeks ago, at the height of the leadership crisis at the Senate, she took her colleagues to task for not checking up on her and her allies in the then-majority amid the shooting incident at the Senate building. She burst into tears narrating how she had feared for her life when the Senate came “under attack.”
It was later on revealed that the shots came from none other than the Senate security officer.
When the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte began, Cayetano unabashedly showed her true colors right away. She spoke imperiously and sounded high and mighty, taking pride in being a product of the University of the Philippines College of Law and saying she has the duty to simplify things for the benefit of the public.
But her demeanor has only been baffling, if not cringe-worthy.
During last week’s trial, Ms. Cayetano insisted that the legal principles in the landmark case Stonehill versus Diokno, specifically those that pertained to warrants of arrest, were comparable to subpoena being issued in the current case. Often she forgot that she had to at least feign
The senator-judge seems mired in an identity crisis.
impartiality and try a bit of courtesy because she was a senator-judge. This weekend, Ms. Cayetano outdid herself. She posted on her Facebook wall a spliced video captioned “Nagbabakasakali lang. Walang mga ebidensiya pero nag-aakusa na. (Taking their chances. They have no evidence but they are making accusations)” pertaining to the prosecution team’s efforts in presenting documentary proof of the Vice President’s wrongdoing. The video was composed of bits and pieces from the actual exchange between Cayetano’s brother, Senator Alan, and prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno on the issue of so-called fishing expeditions. Diokno’s words were shamelessly edited to make them sound as though he was conceding that they did not yet have solid proof against Ms. Duterte. Anyone familiar with content produced by trolls would spot their trademark style in the video posted by Senator Pia. The words were on high speed. There was background music and accompanying laughter sounds. At one point, the words “Allan is about to school Jokeno” on the side.
The video was obviously intended for an audience that had not had the opportunity to watch the actual trial, or comprehend what was being said. Those who have seen the day’s exchange would know that the splicing mangled the context and twisted the message. On the contrary, it was the Cayetano siblings who were schooled by Diokno that day, in his magnificently calm and respectful manner, on the issue of subpoenas and fishing expeditions. What self-respecting lawyer and self-styled champion of women’s rights would resort to patent disinformation? What proper senatorjudge would actively use one’s social media platform to malign a litigant? Has Senator Pia really stooped that low just so she could defend a political ally? Alas, her words and actions have manifested that she is unfit to be a senator-judge, and that she lacks the scruples to remain as a lawyer. Such behavior by a nationally elected official coincides tragically with a Pulse Asia survey that says 33% of Filipinos use their personal beliefs in deciding what online information to accept or take seriously. This finding is something that government officials must address with urgency, not encourage. Out of genuine concern, someone must ask how Senator Pia is doing. She seems mired in an identity crisis, not knowing whether she is a duly elected lawmaker and now a senator judge, or just another troll.
Film recounting bloody Punjab crackdown caught in India’s crosshairs
By Bhuvan Bagga
GURDASPUR, INDIA — At a Sikh temple in India’s Punjab state, a crowd gathered to watch a film that has drawn authorities’ ire, recounting the horrors surrounding a separatist insurgency in the 1980s-90s.
The film, “Satluj”, tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a rights activist allegedly tortured and killed by police in 1995 after having investigated thousands of cases of disappearances and presumed extrajudicial killings during a brutal government crackdown in the state.
Viewers showed up for a screening in the temple courtyard in Gurdaspur district even as officials have accused director Honey Trehan of distorting history, and after the film was taken down from online platforms within 48 hours of its release.
For some in the crowd, it was an act of defiance, seeking to preserve the memory of what many regard as one of the darkest chapters in Punjab’s history.
“It has shown us all that we didn’t know, and which our government wants to keep hidden,” Shamsher Singh, 32, told AFP after his second time watching “Satluj”.
While authorities have not officially announced any actions against the film or its distribution, a rumoured ban has sparked anger.
“The government bans anything that is good,” said Singh.
But the alleged restrictions have also fuelled an interest in watching the film, with Sikh groups hosting screenings in temple courtyards, community halls and village squares across Punjab.
“We’ve been organising at least five
‘De-normalize smoking’
US President Donald Trump’s administration has made significant cuts to smoking prevention and cessation support programs. And the previous administration under Joe Biden backed off its plan to ban menthol cigarettes, which are popular among young people.
King said that in the US, the tobacco industry spends the equivalent of approximately $1 million an hour on marketing and promotion.
Nonprofits and anti-smoking organi-
such screenings each evening,” said Inderpal Singh Bains, a farmer leader who is behind the Gurdaspur temple event.
“Such is the craze that we have a long waitlist, with many villages still waiting” for a screening, he said.
Disappeared without a trace Punjab state in the 1980s and early 1990s was a violent battleground between Indian authorities and armed backers of “Khalistan”, a conservative separatist movement that sought an independent homeland for the Sikh community.
The director has been accused of distorting history.
Thousands of civilians, police and militants were killed as security forces battled separatists, who enforced strict religious codes and targeted political opponents, according to rights groups.
In 1984, the Indian army carried out a raid against insurgents hiding in the Golden Temple in Amritsar -- the holiest site in Sikhism -- sparking anger among faithful.
The prime minister at the time, Indira Gandhi, was then killed by her Sikh bodyguards, leading to mass riots which killed some 3,000 people.
For Harjinder Kaur, whose separatist father was killed in fighting in 1991, the film is a painful reminder of the open wounds in her family history.
Kaur’s mother and two uncles are believed to have been arrested two years
zations lack data on how tobacco companies might be pushing the “cigfluencer” phenomenon. But it’s critical, King said, that the United States works to “de-normalize smoking” in the face of such trends. Society must “not be doing anything that could potentially reverse the considerable progress that we’ve made in reducing smoking over many decades,” he said. Along with traditional methods of discouraging smoking -- public service messaging, cessation support, price hikes, and smoking bans -- Rath recom-
after her father’s death, and have not been seen again since.
“My father, of course, paid for his actions, but I am pained for my uncles and mother who had no fault,” she told AFP, their fate unclear despite police saying they would be released.
‘Disputed claims’ According to figures presented in “Satluj”, an estimated 25,000 people were abducted and killed during the unrest.
The film shines a light on such incidents, following activist Khalra’s investigation before his own abduction. But critics say it offers a selective retelling of history.
Ravneet Singh Bittu, from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, argued that “’Satluj’ cannot hide behind the excuse of ‘creative freedom’ while presenting disputed claims as established history”.
“Punjab’s painful past is not a script to be selectively edited to suit a narrative,” said Bittu, whose grandfather Beant Singh was Punjab’s chief minister before being assassinated in 1995. Trehan, the director, told AFP that his film “depicted the truth”, adding that he had received overwhelming “love and appreciation” for it.
He cited speeches by Khalra himself “talking about 25,000 people who were abducted and killed”.
Rajiv Singh Randhawa, a key witness in Khalra’s abduction case, said criticism of “Satluj” was overblown. “One movie can’t threaten the state or an individual,” he told AFP at his home in Amritsar, adding that “the ban has already taken Khalra’s story to millions” of viewers. AFP
mends working with platforms and Hollywood to discourage the habit. She suggests displaying on-screen messages directing viewers to support services, similar to those already in use to prevent suicide or assist those suffering sexual violence.
“Shows also have the power to reduce tobacco depictions and incorporate realistic quitting examples into storylines,” said Truth Initiative, noting recent depictions in “The Bear” of the main character working to quit smoking using nicotine replacement therapy. AFP
Iran halts strikes, Trump gives space to talks
IN BRIEF France, Spain battle ‘monster’ wildfires
BORDEAUX — Firefighters battled massive blazes tearing through forests across France and Spain Monday, as authorities warned of a fresh heatwave set to engulf the scorched French wine-growing region around the major city of Bordeaux.
campaign before his martial law bid.
The Seoul Central District Court ruling could see South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party (PPP), which Yoon represented, forced to pay 39.7 billion won (US$29 million) to the election commission if it is upheld on appeal. It could also see Yoon’s 2022 electoral win nullified, a largely symbolic blow for the disgraced ex-leader who is already serving a life sentence for insurrection. Yoon declared martial law in December 2024, ordering troops to shut parliament, before MPs rallied to vote it down after just six hours and oust him. The 65-year-old and his close cohorts have since been prosecuted in a hail of criminal cases. Monday’s sentence, suspended for three years, was handed down by judges who found Yoon guilty of twin violations of polling legislation by making false statements on the 2022 election trail. AFP
SEOUL — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attacked the bloc of Southeast Asian nations on Monday for seeking a denuclearized Korean peninsula, blasting the position as “stupid and foolish.” At its annual regional forum last week, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed “grave concern” over Pyongyang’s ongoing nuclear weapons development and stressed the importance of dialogue “to realize lasting peace and stability in a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.” North Korea has long insisted on its right to nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs, although they are forbidden under the terms of UN Security Council sanctions. It enshrined its nuclear status in its constitution in 2023. AFP
More than 325,000 people have fled their homes, mostly in the Gironde department, home to Bordeaux, as some of the worst forest fires in either country’s history rage across southwest France and central Spain near Madrid.
France’s fire has caused an unprecedented “pyrocumulonimbus” – a giant fire cloud that creates its own winds and packs lightning that causes more blazes, said the National Firefighters Federation of France (FNSPF).
“It’s a David-versus-Goliath scenario...
at some point, we’ll find a weak spot and strike there,” said FNSPF spokesman Eric Brocardi.
French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a crisis cabinet meeting to discuss the emergency on Monday morning.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit fire-hit areas in Valencia, in the east of the country on Monday where firefighters are battling a new blaze and where 15,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.
On Sunday, during a visit to the fire zone in Avila province west of Madrid, he warned: “Difficult hours lie ahead.”
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Sunday evening the fires were advancing, but slowly.
Earlier Sunday, civil protection chief
Virginia Barcones, describing the fire around Avila, said the country was battling a “monster”.
“We are dealing with a perimeter of 280 kilometers encompassing 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres),” Barcones told state broadcaster TVE of the wildfire. Scientists say climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent and intense.
Coming at the height of the summer holiday season, the fires were fueled by woodland parched to tinder by successive heatwaves and lack of rain since May.
In France, the prefect of the southwestern Gironde region and where the country’s fires are concentrated, urged tourists to stay away and seek “other destinations.” AFP
Mass shooting kills three, wounds four, including toddler, in Seattle
SEATTLE – A mass shooting near the Space Needle landmark in Seattle killed three people on Sunday and wounded at least four others, including a toddler, according to the police.
Seattle Police said one suspect has been arrested and they are searching for another following the incident at a food festival in a popular tourist district of the northwestern US city.
Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said shots were heard around 6:00 pm (0100 GMT) and “there were two people who we believe were shooting at each other.” Two weapons were recovered. There is “no outstanding threat to the community,” he said.
Seattle Police said three people had died. Police said on X earlier Sunday there were “multiple shooting victims” after shots were fired at the Seattle Center.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said State Patrol SWAT officers had been deployed to assist local police.
“My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe,” he said on X.
Mayor Katie Wilson said the shooting was “an act of horrific violence.”
“Our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them,” she said in a statement. She also expressed her thanks to “the Seattle police officers who responded to the scene and took a suspect into custody.”
Four patients were being treated at the trauma center facility at Harborview Medical Center, according to spokesperson Susan Gregg: a child, a woman of unknown age who was in surgery, a 23-yearold man and a 39-year-old woman. AFP
TEHRAN — Iran and the United States held their fire Monday, handing Gulf shipping and the oil industry a respite from missile strikes as Donald Trump’s UN envoy said the president was “giving talks some space.”
Tehran said it had halted retaliatory attacks against Washington’s allies in the Middle East, and US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told “Fox News Sunday” that, while forces remained “locked and loaded,” Trump would give negotiations “a little bit of room.” Fighting over the strategic Strait of Hormuz derailed diplomatic efforts between Washington
Prior
tors and other defensive weapons. AFP
New AI tools let readers question, talk to books
Kamel, CEO of Sinai.ai, a platform now in testing. With these tools, users get access to an e-book or audiobook alongside an AI chatbot. Confused about a character’s motives or the historical setting? Just ask. Readers can dig into a character’s psychology, historical context, or a philosophical concept -- no separate research required.
French startup My Smart Book launched something similar in mid-April. Like Sinai, its chatbot draws only on the actual text of the book -- no outside information. Even book-selling behemoth Amazon is in on it. Its audiobook company, Audible, launched a feature called “Ask a Question” last fall.
Mid-listen, you can tap a button, ask your question, hear the answer, and then pick up the story right where you left off.
“We’re excited about the potential for AI-powered features to enhance the customer experience,” an Audible spokesperson told AFP, adding the tool is “designed to answer questions specifically about the audiobook the listener is currently engaged with.” AFP
POC okays volleyball reforms, sets stage for fresh elections
THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has achieved the first step in solving the volleyball leadership crisis following the resignation of all members of the board of the suspended Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).
“That’s the first step and they all agreed to resign,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said after the volleyball general assembly called by the POC on Monday morning at the Solaire Theater Board Room in
Parañaque City. The POC is the “caretaker” of all national volleyball federation activities after the FIVB suspended the PNVF primarily on poor governance last May—this was preceded by a similar sanction by the Philippine Sports Commission
and followed by the POC.
Also agreed upon was the creation of a new 13-member PNVF board that includes athletes’ representatives (beach volleyball for women and volleyball for men), as well as for the major collegiate leagues—UAAP and NCAA—to heed the call of the federation on the lending of their athletes to the national teams.
The position of chairman was also removed and the POC will have a seat in the board, and for the secretary-general will be appointed by the president during the assembly
Agra, Barte reunite to capture Singapore Open pickleball title
By Randy M. Caluag
FORMER tennis standouts Jessica Agra and Kevin Barte turned back the clock with a championship-winning reunion, capturing the Mixed Doubles 35+ (3.5 and above) gold medal at the PPA Asia Singapore Open 2026 held at the Singapore Expo.
The title marked Agra’s second gold medal on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) circuit and her fourth podium finish in international competition.
Agra and Barte swept through the draw without dropping a match, beating Lauren Yeng and Reyor Ko in the quarterfinals, Pay Jyue Lo and Russel Arcilla in the semifinals, and Tian Yi Li and Nick Chan in the championship match. All three victories came via identical 1-0 scorelines.
The triumph carried added significance for Agra, who reunited with Barte, her longtime doubles and training partner during their junior tennis days.
“I’m really happy with the win today,” Agra said in a radio interview. “RK Barte
was my doubles partner and training partner in tennis when I was a junior, and it’s exciting that we were able to play together again in pickleball. I feel the most comfortable on the court with him by my side. It was fun, and I also knew he would fight for every point.”
She also expressed hope that their successful partnership would continue.
“Thank you so much, Bartayyy! Best feeling to play next to you. To many more,” Agra said.
The victory was made even more memorable as Agra’s entire family was present to witness the championship run.
“This one was special because Team Agra was complete. Best support system ever. Love you so much! None of this would be possible without your love and support,” she said in a social media post.
Agra now shifts her focus to the Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam at the end of August, along with upcoming tournaments on the PPA, APP and DJoy international circuits, as well as major local competitions.
attended by close to 40 former board members and stakeholders.
“This is to introduce inclusivity and, more importantly, that the stakeholders prioritize the call of the national team,” added Tolentino, who presided over the assembly with POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan. All amendments on the PNVF constitution, Tolentino added, have been approved and that the POC will call for another assembly on August 10 to tackle the next steps toward fresh elections of the federation.
Seno surges, Morris reigns in Mandaue juniors tennis
NADINE Seno produced the tournament’s biggest breakthrough while Matthew Morris reaffirmed his growing stature as one of the country’s brightest junior prospects, emerging as the biggest winners in the Mandaue City Juniors Age Group Tennis Championships at the Mandaue City courts in Cebu on Sunday. Coming off a winless campaign in the Cebu City leg of the three-stop Visayas swing of the Palawan Juniors Tennis Series, Seno made a stunning turnaround, sweeping two singles titles in emphatic fashion by toppling a pair of No. 1 seeds to headline the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop. The Bogo City standout first ruled the girls’ 14-and-under division, capping a dominant run with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 demolition of top seed and local ace Sabrina Aldeguer in the finals. She then carried the same confidence into the tougher 16-and-U class, dispatching Trisha Nocum, 6-2, 6-3, in the semifinals before overpowering another top seed, Mitchellen Cruspero, 6-2, 6-2, to complete an impressive double-title romp.
It marked a remarkable bounce-back for Seno, who settled for semifinal finishes in both age categories in Cebu City just a week earlier. Her stellar response earned her a share of the tournament’s Most Valu-
able Player honors with Morris. While Seno grabbed the spotlight with her breakthrough run, Morris continued to establish himself as the player to beat in boys’ competition. The Dumaguete ace successfully defended his dominance in the 16-and18-and-under divisions after pulling off the same feat in Cebu City, dropping just four games in two championship matches.
He overwhelmed doubles partner Jhunreal Espinosa, 6-0, 6-2, to capture the 16-and-U crown before repeating the identical scoreline against top seed Aaron Tabura to retain the premier 18-andU title and complete another double championship sweep. The Mandaue tournament capped the three-leg Visayas swing following stops in Naga City and Cebu City, extending the momentum of the nation-
New pro Koivun stuns Scheffler to win 3M Open
WASHINGTON—Jackson Koivun, playing only his third PGA Tour event as a professional, held off top-ranked Scottie Scheffler in Sunday’s final round to capture the 3M Open in record fashion.
The 21-year-old American fired a five-under par 66 to finish 72 holes in a tournament record 25-under par 259 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, to defeat Scheffler by three strokes.
“I played a great round of golf,” Koivun said. “Had some nerves coming down 18. All throughout the crowd I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming.’
“I just tried to tune that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could and was able to find some good putts coming down the stretch.”
American Lee Hodges set the prior 3M Open scoring record at 24-under 260 to win in 2023.
Former world amateur number one Koivun, who didn’t miss a putt inside five feet all week, fired a 61 on Saturday to lead by three on the way to his first PGA triumph in just 24 days as a pro, poised and calm under pressure.
Koivun took some of his aggressive shotmaking from words written on his glove -- confidence, trust and dominate.
“Dominate is a word I came up with in college because I wanted to see how good I can play,” Koivun said. “It helped me a lot in college golf with my mindset and I just kept doing it.”
Scheffler, a four-time major winner, fired a bogey-free 63 to finish second on 262 with Brian Harman, the 2023 British Open champion, fellow Americans Denny McCarthy and Chandler Phillips and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters winner, sharing third on 264.
Scheffler birdied six of his first 12 holes but the 30-year-old American came up short in what would have been the greatest last-round comeback of his career, having started six adrift. “Not everything I hoped for,” said Scheffler. “I did what I could today. I was close... put up a good fight. Played nice today.”
Scheffler, who won in January in the California desert, now has five runner-up efforts, including the Masters, among 11 top-four finishes this year. AFP
wide Palawan Juniors Tennis Series, which came on the heels of the successful Mindanao circuit.
With Philippine tennis riding a wave of renewed enthusiasm following Alex Eala’s rise to world prominence, the series continues to provide aspiring young players with a vital platform to sharpen their skills, gain valuable match experience, earn ranking points and prepare for higher levels of competition.
Sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Rating, the nationwide circuit is backed by ICON Golf & Sports, Dunlop and the Palawan Group of Companies. The program is spearheaded by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro, whose sustained commitment to grassroots tennis continues to create opportunities for young Filipino talents through professionally organized tournaments staged across the country.
Also emerging victorious in Mandaue were Andrio Estrella of Asturias, Cebu, Enzo Niere of Bogo City, Arianna Tiongko of Cebu City and Cruspero of Negros Oriental. Estrella rallied from a set down to edge Madison Rago, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5, for the boys’ 14-and-U title, while Niere also came from behind to defeat Dale Diamante, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, for the boys’ 12-and-U championship.
THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the Gilas Pilipinas team bound for the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup will discuss their coming campaign in China and other basketball related matters as it serve as special guests in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday (July 28) at the Philippine Sports Commission media room. SBP Executive Director Erika Dy, 3x3 program director Ryan Gregorio, Gilas men’s
POC president Abraham Tolentino with PNVF board members and volleyball stakeholders
The whole Agra family came in full force to support Jessica in Singapore. Jessica Agra
Jackson Koivun holds the championship trophy AFP
Nadine Seno and Morris Matthew show off their trophies and medals after capturing top honors in the Mandaue juniors tennis tournament. Flanking them are Palawan tennis coach Allain Rey Lao (left) and tournament referee Karen Arellano.
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2026
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
UST
savors sweeping golden finish
IT WAS short but sweet for the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.
Marching into their first tournament following the departure of key senior players and in the absence of their injured main setter, the Golden Tigresses found a way to bring out their fierce growl and translate it into a breakthrough championship in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals.
UST came out firing on all cylinders and captured the throne in a sweeping fashion to punctuate the Espana-based squad’s dominance in the international-flavored weeklong tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.
The Tigresses rolled past every obstacle for an impressive perfect seven-game romp capped by a come-from-behind, 2225, 25-8, 25-12, 25-22, winner-take-all championship win over College of Saint Benilde on Sunday at the Playtime FilOil Arena in San Juan.
“Siyempre, sobrang happy dahil ‘yun nga nakuha namin ‘yung championship,” said UST head coach Shaq Delos Santos, whose squad dropped only a total of two sets the whole competition.
“Sabi ko nga medyo short ‘yung preparation namin but ang good thing kasi ‘yung response din ng mga players and also coaches sa sistema na ina-adjust namin. I think ‘yun ‘yung malaking bagay. Good thing dito, nakita rin namin kung ano pa ‘yung mga kailangan naming i-improve. Sobrang dami pa namin kailangan ayusin,” added the architect of the Tigresses’ last UAAP championship 16 years ago.
Skipper Regina Jurado and Most Valuable Player Angge Poyos stepped up not only on offense but also in their roles as leaders of a Tigresses side filled with young guns.
The duo delivered the much-needed points in the title showdown with Jurado pumping in 21 points and Poyos scoring 20 as UST surpassed its third-place finish in 2023 by capturing the elusive crown in the competition supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com and Smart Sports.
Rookie Kim Rubin, who helped UST’s high school team rule the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup and was named MVP last May, added 12 points while middle blocker Blessing Unekwe scored seven of her 10 points on kill blocks, highlighting the Tigresses’ collective team effort.
Centeno rules Oneida Women’s 8-Ball tourney for 3rd world title
By Randy M. Caluag
FILIPINA cue star Chezzka Centeno completed an unbeaten campaign to capture the 2026 Oneida WPA Women’s World 8-Ball Championship on Monday morning (PH time), defeating former world champion Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, 9-6, in the final in Wisconsin, USA.
The victory handed the Zamboanga native her third individual world championship, adding the Women’s World 8-Ball title to the WPA Women’s World 10-Ball crowns she won
in 2023 and 2025, respectively.
Centeno, known as “The Flash,” dominated the 64-player field from 22 countries, sweeping all three of her elimination-round matches before eliminating Chinese Taipei’s world No. 2 Tzu Chien Wei, 8-5, fellow Filipina Rubilen Amit, 8-6, and Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan, 8-4, to reach the championship match. She avenged last year’s heartbreak against
Ouschan, who defeated her in the inaugural edition of the tournament, and returned to the final determined not to be denied.
Centeno controlled the title match against the multi-time world champion Fisher, pulling away to secure the 9-6 victory, the world crown, and the tournament’s $30,000 top prize.
The triumph carried deep personal significance for the 25-year-old, whose mother, one of her strongest supporters throughout her billiards career, recently passed away.
After sinking the winning shot, Centeno broke into tears and dedicated the victory to her late mother, making the emotional celebration one of the tournament’s defining moments.
The championship was sanctioned by the World Pool Association (WPA) and organized by the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA), bringing together many of the world’s top female players in one of the sport’s premier international events.
Alex prioritizes singles, pulls out of doubles
By Jeremiah Sevilla
FILIPINA tennis standout Alexandra “Alex” Eala
bared the reason behind her sudden pullout in the 2026 Mubadala DC Open doubles, where she was initially set to renew her dream partnership with American legend Venus Williams.
The 21-year-old Eala had a last-minute change of heart and decided to withdraw from the doubles event of the Washington Open, prompting the 14-time Grand Slam doubles winner Williams to pair up with Russia’s Diana Shnaider instead.
Coming off a three-week break from competition after her Wimbledon breakthrough, Eala said she is not yet ready to go all-out in both singles and doubles to kick off her North American hard-court season in the WTA 500 tournament that runs from July 27 to August 2.
“I have so much respect for Venus. I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have to be around her, to learn from her, to hit with her. But I do think this is my first week coming back, and I think that Venus is someone who deserves a partner who can give their all physically,
emotionally, mentally when they’re on court with her,” Eala said in a press conference.
“I think right now I can only do that for singles. I don’t have the capacity yet to be able to give that in both singles and doubles. I’m really grateful for the opportunity that I had, or have, and hopefully we see more of it in the future,” she added.
Eala and Williams were supposed to play as a pair for the second time after their quarterfinal run in the Bad Homburg Open in Germany last month.
With her doubles withdrawal, Eala now sets her full attention to the singles event where she seeks to exact a sweet revenge against Asian Games tormentor and reigning Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China in the first round on Tuesday.
Eala and Zheng are set to meet for the first time on the WTA Tour, giving the Pinay ace a shot at avenging her 1-6, 7-6(5), 3-6 loss to Zheng in the Asiad semifinals nearly three years ago in Hangzhou.
Meanwhile, Eala has already earned a main draw seeding and a first-round bye in the National Bank Open slated August 2 to 13 in Toronto, Canada.
Schoeman returns, eyes 2nd IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu crown
OLYMPIC bronze medalist Henri Schoeman returns to the IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu presented by Megaworld next month determined to prove that his breakthrough victory was no one-off. After capturing the title in his race debut in 2024, the South African sat out last year’s edition but is back, seeking a second championship against what is arguably the strongest international professional field ever assembled for the country’s premier middle-distance triathlon.
Schoeman’s commanding wire-to-wire triumph in 2024 established him as one of the event’s standout champions. This year, however, the 34-year-old faces an even sterner challenge on a course renowned not only for its worldclass setting but also for its punishing heat, humidity and demanding terrain that test even the sport’s most accomplished professionals. He won the grueling 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21km run in four hours, two minutes and 31 seconds, besting New Zealand’s Sam Osborne (4:06:40), and Britain’s Tom Bishop (4:11:01).
What made the victory even more remarkable was that it came in Schoeman’s debut over the IRONMAN 70.3 distance.
While the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic bronze medalist has since competed in several middle-distance events around the
world, including the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and Challenge Samarkand, his victory in Lapu-Lapu remains his lone IRONMAN 70.3 title – making his return to Cebu on Aug. 9 even more compelling as he seeks to capture another crown that launched his transition to long-course racing. But repeating will be anything but easy.
A fired-up international cast is eager to foil the 2024 champion in the marquee race organized by Sunrise Events, inc., setting the stage for another spectacular battle of endurance, speed and tactical brilliance on one of Asia’s premier triathlon destinations.
Leading the challengers is Austria’s Sebastian Fuchs, the 24-year-old rising star who captured third place at IRONMAN 70.3 Spain in 2023 and continues to establish himself among Europe’s promising young professionals.
New Zealand’s Brett Clifford also looms as a major threat after compiling an impressive string of podium finishes this season, highlighted by a silver medal and multiple bronze-medal performances in half-IRONMAN races, including events in South Korea and Taiwan.
Japan’s Kenshin Mizushima brings an equally formidable résumé, having captured multiple elite overall championships in IRONMAN 70.3 competitions and regional triathlon circuits.
“They
Members of the victorious UST Golden Tigresses are shown after their title romp. Roman Prospero
Chezka Centeno on top of the world again WPA
Alexandra Eala (right) during her first team-up with Venus Williams
Phoenix import BJ Johnson against Ginebra’s Ralph Cu PBA
Henri Schoeman
AMRO keeps 2026 PH growth forecast, trims inflation outlook
By Thony Rose Lesaca
growth forecast for the Philippines
at 4.1 percent for 2026 and 5.5 percent for 2027, while lowering its inflation outlook for the country this year.
AMRO cut its 2026 inflation forecast for the Philippines to 5.7 percent from 6.0 percent and retained its 2027 inflation projection at 4.1 percent, according to its July 2026 Quarterly Update of the ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook (AREO).
AMRO chief economist Dong
He said the country’s stable growth outlook is supported by its participation in the global artificial
SKILLED WOMEN.
Mary Jane Domo, a graduate of Greenstone Resources Corp.’s technical livelihood training program, is making her mark as a mechanic in the mining field. Domo checks the engine oil level of an articulated dump truck, one of the many maintenance tasks she now carries out with confidence. Across Greenstone, a subsidiary of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD), women are stepping into technical trades long viewed as male-dominated—working as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and welders—through the company’s livelihood training programs.
By Jenniffer B. Austria and Othel V. Campos
AG&P Industrial, the engineering and construction arm of Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Company of Manila Inc., has started construction of an 85-hectare module fabrication yard in San Pascual, Batangas as it expands capacity to serve global demand for energy and industrial infrastructure projects.
intelligence supply chain, particularly through semiconductor exports.
“Even though we typically think that the Philippines is very much a service-based export economy, it is very much plugged into the global AI cycle as well. They are very involved in the semiconductor exports, so that would continue to provide support to export growth in the Philippines,” he said in a virtual news briefing
Monday.
He said the slower growth forecast compared with last year’s 4.4 percent also reflected subdued private investment, an area that should be strengthened further to withstand headwinds.
“This is an area that the Philippines should really focus on, that is how to strengthen private investment so that the production capacity and the infrastructure will be strong enough to support higher medium-term growth in terms of dealing with extreme weather conditions to make the economy much more robust,” He said.
He said the Philippines has been among the economies in the region most affected by the global oil price shock, which has weighed on growth while pushing up inflation.
The facility will have an annual fabrication capacity of 80,000 metric tons of modules for projects serving the energy (LNG, petroleum, clean and renewable fuels), power, refining, chemicals, digital and industrial infrastructure sectors.
The San Pascual yard will replace AG&P Industrial’s Batangas Heavy Fabrication Yard in Bauan, which has served as the company’s main
IN BRIEF
from members.
“Though there was an adoption of resolutions yesterday during the AGMA [annual general membership assembly], the conditional JVA has to be approved by the majority of the member-consumer-owners,” Castro said.
“This is the only time we can say that the agreement is approved for execution,” he said.
SOCOTECO II board president Elenito
Senit told the assembly he signed the conditional joint venture agreement with Ignite Power on July 23 after receiving formal board authorization.
Senit said the agreement addresses longstanding financial and technical challenges confronting the cooperative, particularly the need to rehabilitate, expand and modernize its aging power distribution system.
The assembly subsequently voted to confirm and adopt the board’s resolution.
Alena Mae S. Flores
1,793 arrested in crackdown on illicit vapes, cigarettes
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it inspected 3,590 establishments selling cigarettes, vapor products and heated tobacco products nationwide as part of an intensified campaign against illicit trade and excise tax violations.
latency, is a testament to our consistent efforts to deliver superior performance,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar Ignite gets member backing for SOCOTECO II venture
IGNITE Power & Energy Corp., a joint venture between businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Primelectric Holdings Inc. and former Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s MP Holdings Inc., said member-consumer-owners of South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II) have thrown their support behind its proposed joint venture agreement with the cooperative, but the deal still requires majority approval before it can move forward.
Primelectric Holdings Inc. president and chief executive Roel Castro said the member-consumer-owners adopted resolutions during the cooperative’s annual general membership assembly, but cautioned that the conditional joint venture agreement (JVA) must still secure majority approval
The simultaneous Tax Compliance Verification Drive, conducted by all 22 BIR revenue regions on July 20, resulted in 1,793 apprehensions for various tax compliance violations, the agency said.
BIR teams seized 8,634 vape products and 22,251 packs of cigarettes, with an estimated tax liability of P16.54 million.
The violations included failure to register with the BIR, issue receipts or invoices, maintain registered books of accounts and display certificates of registration, as well as possession of excisable products without the required BIR tax stamps and other breaches of registration, invoicing, bookkeeping and excise tax laws.
“The bureau will continue to enforce our tax laws firmly and fairly. Businesses that comply with the law deserve a level playing field, while those who deliberately evade taxes and sell illicit products should expect consistent enforcement. Protecting our revenue base protects every honest taxpayer and supports nation-building,” said BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza.
operating base for more than 40 years.
AG&P Industrial said the new facility forms part of its next phase of growth and is designed to increase productivity, improve safety and quality and help address supply chain constraints affecting large industrial projects.
The yard will use the company’s proprietary Modstruction system, which shifts much of the construction
work from project sites into a controlled fabrication environment, an approach designed to reduce project costs and shorten delivery times.
The facility will feature a dedicated wharf, advanced assembly areas and specialized load-out facilities, with potential drydock capabilities. AG&P Industrial said these features would help it handle large and complex projects for international clients.
PH motorcycle sales increased 3.58% to 939,528
units in first half—MDPPA
THE Philippine motorcycle industry posted a 3.58-percent increase in firsthalf sales this year, as strong firstquarter demand offset a softer second quarter, the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA) said Monday.
The industry sold 939,528 units from January to June, up from 907,054 units in the same period last year, MDPPA said.
First-quarter sales climbed 11.6 percent to 496,868 units from a year ago, providing the cushion that kept first-half sales in positive territory. Second-quarter sales fell 4.2 percent to 442,660 units from 462,007 units in the same period last year, as the market faced a tougher comparison against an exceptionally strong first half of 2025.
Automatic motorcycles remained the top-selling category with 655,004 units sold in the first six months, reflecting riders’ preference for the segment’s convenience, fuel efficiency and practicality for daily commuting.
Business motorcycles followed with 148,989 units, underscoring their role in delivery services, small businesses and other livelihood activities. Mopeds accounted for 107,632 units, while the street category posted 24,346 units. Big bikes contributed 2,994 units, and other motorcycle categories made up the remaining 563 units.
MDPPA president Erwin Estrada said the first-half results reflect the resilience of the Philippine motorcycle industry.
By Jenniffer B.
stood at 132 percent. Credit costs, however, increased to 67 basis points as the bank raised provisions as a precaution against potential risks.
Shareholders’ equity grew 8 percent, lifting book value per share to P121.78. The bank’s common equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 13.1 percent, keeping its capital position above regulatory requirements. BDO said its strong business fundamentals and balance sheet would help it navigate economic uncertainties and take advantage of growth opportunities.
MREIT Inc., the real estate investment trust of property developer Megaworld Corp., said Monday it will acquire P27 billion worth of mall, hotel and office assets through a share swap deal with three companies. The transaction, the largest asset infusion into the company to date, will add 303,900 square meters of gross leasable area to MREIT’s portfolio, the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.
Once completed, MREIT’s total gross leasable area will exceed 950,000 square meters, keeping the company on track to reach its target of 1 million square meters by 2027.
“As we scale, we remain focused on driving cost efficiencies across the portfolio. This provides a clear path to margin improvement and, in turn, dividend-per-share accretion for shareholders. MREIT’s next phase of growth is about building a larger, more diversified platform that drives long-term value for shareholders,” MREIT president and chief executive Jose Arnulfo Batac
WATER USE. JTI Asia Manufacturing Corp. cuts the water used in its operations by half at its manufacturing facility in Malvar, Batangas through a system improvement that is helping strengthen both manufacturing efficiency and environmental performance. Shown are (from left) Christian Louie Pamplona, utilities and energy supervisor; Maria Danica Alulod, building and facilities engineer; Jessa Marie Landicho, environment engineer; and Dani Mei Llagas, corporate affairs and communications manager.
BUSINESS
UnionBank’s first-half income doubled to P6.9b
By Jenniffer B. Austria
UNIONBANK of the Philippines
(UBP) more than doubled its net in-
come to P6.9 billion in the first half of 2026 on the back of consumer lending growth, higher fee income and improved asset quality.
Earnings grew 113 percent from a year earlier, with the parent bank accounting for 96 percent of group profit as its core businesses continued to perform strongly, the company said.
Net revenues rose 9 percent yearon-year to P43.1 billion, supported by growth in consumer loans, current and savings account (CASA) deposits and fee income.
Net interest income increased 8 percent to P33.7 billion as loans expanded. Consumer lending remained the bank’s main growth driver, accounting for 61 percent of its total loan portfolio.
Gross consumer loans grew 10 percent, led by credit cards and personal loans, which together expanded 18 percent.
The bank’s net interest margin improved by 40 basis points to 6.9 percent, helped by a 7-p0ercent increase in CASA balances.
Non-interest income also grew 12 percent to P9.4 billion, driven by higher fees from cards, wealth management, bancassurance and other everyday banking transactions. UnionBank said the growth was supported by its 19.3 million customer base.
The bank said it continued to build reserves to support loan growth and strengthen its balance sheet following portfolio reviews. Despite higher provisions, credit costs fell 19 percent to P9.4 billion as asset quality continued to improve.
“We continue to build on the actions we began in 2025 to enhance our balance sheet while sharpening our focus on the businesses that drive long-term value for the group,” UnionBank chief financial officer Manuel Lozano said in a statement to the stock exchange Monday.
“Our customer franchise remains strong, asset quality continues to improve, and we are confident that we can continue the positive profitability trajectory,” he said.
Lozano said UnionBank was also taking steps to simplify the group and rationalize businesses where resources could be better deployed as part of its strategy to focus on its core capabilities and strengthen its position in next-generation banking.
Vena raises $310m for solar plant
By Alena Mae S. Flores
VENA Energy said Monday it achieved financial close on the 500-megawatt-peak Ixus Bugallon Solar Power Project in Bugallon, Pangasinan, securing $310 million in debt financing from a syndicate of eight international banks.
The lenders are BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, DBS Bank Ltd., ING Bank N.V., Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., MUFG Bank Ltd., Standard Chartered Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
Vena Group chief investment officer and Vena Nexus global head Simone
Grasso said in a statement that “achieving financial close for the Ixus Bugallon Solar Power Project reflects the continued confidence of our banking partners in Vena Energy’s ability to develop, finance and deliver large-scale renewable energy infrastructure.”
“As the Philippines advances its
clean energy transition, we remain committed to mobilising long-term capital for projects that strengthen energy security and deliver lasting value to communities and stakeholders,” Grasso said.
The Ixus Bugallon facility sits next to Vena Energy’s existing 550-MWp Bugallon Solar Power Project and will raise the company’s total capacity in Pangasinan to about 1 gigawattpeak once completed, expanding one of the country’s largest solar development clusters.
The Department of Energy awarded the project under its second Green Energy Auction Program in support
of national renewable energy targets. Once operational, the project is expected to generate enough renewable power for about 650,000 Philippine households while avoiding more than 570,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to removing around 125,000 vehicles from the road or planting 9.5 million trees. The project is also expected to save an estimated 830 million liters of water per year compared with conventional energy generation.
Vena Energy, part of Vena Global Group Pte. Ltd., develops renewable energy and digital infrastructure solutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
ACEN
developing nearly 1,000 MW of solar, battery storage in Zambales
ACEN Corp. is developing nearly 1 gigawatt of solar and battery storage projects in Zambales, transforming the province into one of the Philippines’ largest renewable energy hubs, the company said Monday.
The portfolio includes the 585-megawatt SanMar Solar project, built across more than 500 hectares of lahar-covered land, and the 363-MW Palauig Solar project, one of the largest solar developments in the country.
Together, the two facilities represent 948 MW of renewable energy capacity, of which about 450 MW is already operational. The remaining capacity is under construction and is expected to
be completed within 2027.
ACEN managing director and chief operating officer for Philippine development and operations Miguel de Jesus said the projects aim to deliver benefits beyond power generation.
“At ACEN, we believe renewable energy projects should create value far beyond the electricity they generate,” de Jesus said.
“In Zambales, we are not only building one of the country’s largest renewable energy hubs—we are investing in infrastructure, creating local jobs, supporting indigenous communities, and strengthening the country’s long-term energy security,” he said.
Economy’s management needs a generalissimo
THE Philippine economy exists and functions under a form of government in which power is shared equally by three institutions operating under a constitutions, namely, the institution that makes the laws (the Legislature), the institutions that implements the laws (the Executive Department) and the institution that decides whether the actions of the legislature and the Executive Department are in accordance with the Constitution (Judiciary). The President of the Philippines is the nation’s chief economic policymaker and he appoints Cabinet members who will assist him in executing the economic policies approved by the legislature. This situation is entirely different in the parliamentary system of government. In that system, the people who make the laws and the people who execute the laws are housed in one institution, namely, parliament. The men and women who head the Cabinet departments are members of parliament (MPs). The people who make the laws are the people who will implement them. Thus, there is no need for coordination between parliament and the government of the day because the Cabinet members are MPs. Indeed, in his classic book on government, British author Sir Ivor Jennings refers to the parliamentary system as “Cabinet Government.”
In contrast, because of the distribution of power among three branches of government, coordination between the Legislature and the Executive Department is necessary in order that the left hand of the government will know what the right hand is doing, so to speak. Otherwise, Congress will be approving, and the Executive Department will be implementing laws that are irrelevant to the real needs of Philippine society. The hearings called by Congressional committees to elicit views and testimony from Cabinet members and other high-rank Executive Department personages are the most visible manifestation of coordination between the Legislature and the Executive Department.
Where economic matters are concerned, coordination between the Executive Department and Congress is undertaken by two entities, namely, the Legislative–Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) and the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). DBCC is an Executive Department body, but concerned Congressional committees are invited to participate in its work. Coordination is fine, and the works of LEDAC and DBCC is useful, but eight decades after being granted independence by the last colonial power, and despite its abundant human, physical and cultural resources, the Philippines remains an economically weak
ACEN recently began constructing 1,660 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage systems across its solar facilities in the province.
The battery investments will allow power generated during periods of high solar output to be stored and delivered when electricity demand peaks, including during evening hours and periods of reduced solar generation, improving grid stability and supporting the growing share of renewable energy in the Philippines.
Once fully operational, ACEN’s solar facilities in Zambales are expected to generate about 1,400 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annu-
The management of the Philippine economy needs an individual who will clearly be the primus inter pares among the economic managers.
country where around 20 percent of the national population lives below the official poverty line. Notwithstanding its recent ascent to upper-middle-income country status, the Philippines remains a Third World country and is unlikely to graduate out of that status anytime soon.
Economically, the Philippines has been an underperforming country. With its abundant physical and human resources, it should have been doing much better. Some countries with less favorable resource endowments have performed better than the Philippines. There are numerous reasons—some policy-related, some structural — for the Philippines’ economic underperformance. Certainly one of the leading reasons has been the weak framework for the management of this country’s economic resources.
Because of the Philippine system of government, the hallmarks for the management of the Philippine economy have been coordination and inter-departmental courtesy. Those hallmarks have not gotten the Philippine economy far. All too often talk-talk has not been converted to walk-walk.
The management of the Philippine economy needs an individual who will clearly be the primus inter pares among the economic managers, a person possessed of the respect, the stature and the gravitas to lay down the overall direction of the economy and to supersede the decisions of the men who make up the economic management team. The Philippine economy needs an individual who, because of his gravitas and stature, can prevail over the Frederick Gos, the Ralph Rectos and the Arsenio Balisacans of the government.
In sum, the Philippine economy needs an economic generalissimo. The closest that the country has gotten to having such a person was during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (with Cesar Virata) and during the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal (with Armand Fabella). Their economic-management team colleagues deferred to Messrs Virata and Fabella out of confidence and respect.
Enough with coordination. Bring on the economic generalissimo so that the underperformance of the Philippine economy will finally stop.
(llagasjessa @yahoo.com)
ally, enough to power around 340,000 households while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The company has completed 14 kilometers of transmission infrastructure connecting its renewable energy facilities to the Luzon grid, with an additional 22 kilometers under construction to support growing demand for clean power. Throughout the development of its Zambales projects, ACEN prioritized local hiring, with about 80 percent of its workforce drawn from surrounding communities, predominantly members of the Ayta Indigenous Peoples community.
Sustainable Laguna de Bay fishing pushed
By Christopher Hedreyda, Michael Lalap
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna—The government is strengthening its science-based approach to fisheries management by deploying a new generation of technical enumerators, who will gather reliable data across the Laguna de Bay to protect and restore it a viable food source for Filipinos,
The initiative, led by the Department of Agriculture’s National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) and funded by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), ensures that fisheries projects and development are always aligned with scientific evidence.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stressed the importance of Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest lake, as a source of food for Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces.
“Laguna de Bay remains one of the country’s most important inland fisheries, supplying fresh fish to Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Keeping the lake productive through science-based management is essential to ensuring a stable food supply while preserving the livelihoods of thousands of fisher folk,” Tiu Laurel said.
The department hired new technical data enumerators to be stationed in Laguna and Rizal, and in Muntinlupa City, which will play a key role in collecting information on fish catches, fish species identification, biological sampling, fishing gear identification, and standardized survey protocols, which will be used for appropriate management interventions.
“Our enumerators are the eyes and ears of fisheries science. They are the boots on the ground whose work transforms every fish landing and every field survey into the evidence
we need to make better decisions for Laguna de Bay,” said DA-NFRDI executive director Dr. Ma. Theresa Mutia.
According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate, a strong foundation and training for enumerators will help the government ensure that the fisheries policies are based on scientific inquiries.
“Reliable fisheries data is the backbone of sustainable resource management. Every accurate record gathered in the field helps us make better decisions to protect our fisheries, improve productivity, and secure the livelihoods of our fishing communities,” Bayate said.
Enforcement of environmental laws to ensure the conservation of Laguna de Bay is a top priority, according to the LLDA, assuring the public that it continues to closely monitor ecological and man-made actions to ensure full compliance with environmental laws and the total protection of the lake basin.
The inter-agency effort on stock assessment is expected to generate the scientific evidence needed to guide conservation measures, rebuild fish stocks, balance environmental protection, and ensure the sustainability of Laguna de Bay to provide food for the communities and contribute to the food security of the country for generations to come. PIA-Laguna
Lake Sebu named FAO Village for climate resilience
By Marita Moaje
LAKE Sebu, a farming community shaped by the traditions of the T’boli and Ubo-Manobo Indigenous Peoples, has been recognized as the Philippines’ first United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Village for its climate resilience, sustainable food systems and environmental stewardship.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) last week said the recognition places Lake Sebu among more than 300 villages worldwide in the FAO Villages global network and highlights how local communities can provide practical models for adapting to climate change.
“Today’s recognition says that Lake Sebu possesses something whose value extends beyond its boundaries,” CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A.
Borje said during the unveiling of the FAO Village marker at the Gono Menos Bnek, or the Lake Sebu Rice Museum, on July 16.
The event gathered local officials, development partners and members of indigenous communities to celebrate the milestone.
“Something worth strengthening. Something worth protecting. Something from which the rest of the world can continue to learn. In that sense, this recognition is not only about Lake Sebu. It is also about our shared responsibility,” Borje said.
Borje said the recognition reflects the goals of the Philippine National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050, the country’s long-term climate resilience strategy developed under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The plan integrates the protection of indigenous culture and heritage as part of climate adaptation efforts. The FAO cited Lake Sebu for its efforts in conserving natural heritage and biodiversity, sustaining food traditions, linking food culture and rural heritage with education, hospitality and tourism and promoting rural development through innovative scientific and digital solutions. The designation recognizes practices that have long been part of life in the municipality. For generations, the T’boli and UboManobo communities have cultivated heirloom rice varieties, protected forests and freshwater ecosystems and preserved Indigenous knowledge that supports food production and biodiversity. PNA
Gov’t unveils program for better nutrition and environmental care
By Joshua Sugay
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro—Employees of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) MIMAROPA are expected to strengthen healthy eating habits and environmental stewardship following the launch of Project S.I.B.O.L. (Sabayang Itanim, Bantayan,
First of 3 parts
ENERGY is the lifeblood of the modern world, animating everything from cars, to homes, to the fitness tracker gathering dust on your bedside table.
But there are some big problems with the global energy system. For one, it’s heavily reliant on fossil fuels, the burning of which is driving the climate crisis. It’s also frequently unfair: globally, more than 650 million people lack access to electricity. Those problems–and others–have led to calls for the world to overhaul the way it produces, distributes and consumes energy. But can we really change something as massive and
complex as the global energy system?
Debora Ley thinks so. She is a climate change scientist, a renewable energy engineer and a coordinating lead author of the Seventh Edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), a landmark report on the state of the planet from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). We recently sat down with Ley to discuss how the world can break its addiction to fossil fuels and give more people access to clean, reliable electricity. In a nutshell, can you tell me what’s wrong with the global energy system?
Debora Ley (DL): In GEO-7, we identify five main issues. One, hundreds of millions of people
around the world don’t have access to electricity. Two, more than 80 percent of the world’s energy comes from the combustion of fossil fuels, which is the primary cause of the ever-deepening climate crisis.
Three, humanity wastes a lot of energy, which means we need to burn more fossil fuels than would otherwise be necessary. Four, many of our energy systems are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, like floods and forest fires.
Finally, while the world is embracing renewable energy and electric mobility, there are real concerns around the mining of the minerals used in things like batteries and solar panels. (To be continued) UNEP News
Obserbahan, at Linangin) as part of the agency’s observance of Nutrition Month 2026.
The initiative, conceptualized by Officer-in-Charge
Assistant Regional Director Mark Laurence Guilles, supports this year’s Nutrition Month theme, “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan!”, by encouraging employees to grow food and ornamental plants while promoting sustainable environmental practices.
During the launch, each employee planted a vegetable, herb, medicinal plant, ornamental plant, or other potted plant using reusable or recycled containers to help reduce waste and encourage resource conservation. The Department of Agriculture (DA) MIMAROPA provided seeds for the activity.
Acting Regional Director Gloren R. Hinlo said the project demonstrates the connection between nutrition, health and environmental responsibility.
“Project S.I.B.O.L. reminds us that proper nutrition begins not only with what we eat, but also with how we care for the environment that provides our food. Through simple and collective actions, we can cultivate healthier habits and a greener workplace,” Hinlo said.
CPD-MIMAROPA photo
AS URBAN communities face growing waste management challenges, collection infrastructure plays a more critical role in keeping recyclable materials within the recycling loop.
Across Metro Manila, Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP), the bottling arm and official distributor of Coca-Cola products in the country, has been supporting local government units (LGUs) and community partners in strengthening PET bottle recovery and waste diversion efforts through infrastructure support and long-term collaboration.
Through partnerships with the cities of Manila, Pasig, Valenzuela, Quezon City and Caloocan, CCEAP has provided baling machines and collection bins to help improve PET bottle recovery at the local level.
Baling machines compress collected
PET bottles into compact bales, reducing storage requirements and improving transport efficiency. This enables partner communities to recover and move more recyclable materials while helping divert valuable resources away from landfills and the environment. These initiatives contribute to CCEAP’s broader commitment to supporting community-based recycling systems and advancing PET bottle circularity in the Philippines.
“Effective recovery and recycling systems are built through collaboration. By working with local governments and community partners, we can make PET bottle collection more efficient and accessible where it matters most,” says lawyer Juan Lorenzo Tañada, vice president for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs of Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP).
Lake Sebu in South Cotabato (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
BE THE CHANGE. EMPOWER EDUCATION. INSPIRE THE FUTURE
Beyond profit: How CSR supports PH education
By Raine Nicole Aguila
EDUCATION plays a fundamental role in an individual’s personal and professional development. However, access to quality education remains unequal, making it a challenge rather than a guarantee for many Filipinos.
In the Philippines, more than 1.5 million children and youth are out of school, with most belonging to the 10–19 age group, largely due to poverty. Learning outcomes also remain a significant concern. According to UNICEF, 90 percent of Filipino 10-year-olds cannot read and understand a simple text, while 83 percent do not achieve the minimum proficiency in mathematics. These figures highlight persistent challenges in literacy, numeracy and equitable access to quality education among Filipino learners. These educational gaps are also reflected in international assessments. Based on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, the Philippines performs approximately five to six years behind countries with similar income levels in learning outcomes. The findings underscore the need for sustained efforts from both the public and private sectors to improve the quality and accessibility of education.
Gemini-generated image
Education is closely linked to opportunities later in life. Basic literacy and numeracy are essential for everyday tasks such as reading, writing and problem-solving, while educational attainment often influences employment prospects, as many employers require at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Recognizing these challenges, many businesses have expanded their role beyond economic activities by investing in community development through corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR is a business approach that integrates social, environmental and ethical responsibilities into a
company’s operations, encouraging organizations to contribute positively to society while pursuing long-term business success.
In the Philippines, many companies implement CSR initiatives that support healthcare, livelihood, disaster response, environmental conservation and education. Among these areas, education has become a major priority because of its long-term impact on individuals, communities and national development.
Education-focused CSR initiatives include scholarship programs, classroom construction and rehabilitation, the provision of digital learning devices, teacher
training, reading and literacy programs, and support for the Alternative Learning System (ALS), which provides educational opportunities for out-of-school youth and adult learners. These initiatives complement government efforts to expand educational access and improve learning outcomes.
Investments in education through CSR contribute to improved literacy, numeracy, preschool participation and school attendance while helping learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed for future employment. In the long term, these initiatives also support workforce development,
reduce poverty and contribute to sustainable economic growth. Education-focused CSR aligns with the Philippines’ national development priorities while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Several companies in the Philippines have integrated education into their CSR initiatives. For example, the National Book Store Foundation implements Project Aklat and Project Aral, which provide books and school supplies to underserved students. The Insular Foundation supports education through its Adopt-A-Scholar Program for public elementary students and the Gold Eagle College Scholarship Grant for deserving college students. Meanwhile, the Metrobank Foundation Inc. promotes academic excellence through the MetrobankMTAP-DepEd Math Challenge, which encourages students to strengthen their mathematical skills. These initiatives represent only a few of the many education-focused CSR programs implemented by private organizations across the country. By supporting scholarships, learning resources, school programs and academic development, these initiatives complement government efforts to improve access to quality education. They also demonstrate how private sector participation can help address educational challenges while contributing to the development of a more skilled, competitive and future-ready workforce.
Reaching across the digital divide: Converge brings robotics and coding to Oriental Mindoro grade schoolers
AS THE Philippines advances toward a more digital future, ensuring that children in remote communities gain access not only to the internet but also to digital skills has become increasingly important. While connectivity continues to expand nationwide, many young Filipinos in underserved areas still have limited opportunities to learn coding, robotics, and other technology-related skills that are becoming essential in today’s economy.
Recognizing that digital inclusion goes beyond internet access, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is investing in digital education through TechForGood: Code the Future, Build New Paths, a youth-focused initiative that introduces elementary students to coding, robotics, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The pilot program was launched this June in Oriental Mindoro in partnership with Stairway Foundation Inc. and LAYERTech Labs, an Albay-based software research and development company.
The initiative reflects Converge’s broader goal of helping build a digitally empowered Philippines where children, regardless of location or economic background, have the opportunity to develop skills needed for the future.
For Converge, expanding internet access is only one aspect of digital transformation. As the company continues its shift from being a telecommunications provider to a technology company, it is placing greater emphasis on equipping young Filipinos with practical digital skills.
“Our collaboration with Stairway Foundation has always been anchored on creating opportunities through technology,” said Jay-Anne Encarnado,
Prior to teaching the children, LAYERTech first guided the community coordinators on robot assembly and software programming.
Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Converge. “This year, we’re excited to elevate that partnership as we continue our journey from being a telco to becoming a techco. We want to demonstrate that technology can be a force for good, especially when it reaches children who may not otherwise have access to these learning opportunities.”
Encarnado said introducing coding and robotics at an early age encourages curiosity, creativity, confidence, and problem-solving—skills that will become increasingly valuable as artificial intelligence, automation, and digital technologies reshape industries.
To support the initiative, Converge partnered with LAYERTech Labs to provide hands-on robotics and programming workshops designed to help students understand how technology works rather than simply teaching them how to use it.
A key feature of the program is its use of open-source technology. LAYERTech Labs developed the robotics workshops using affordable bipedal robot kits powered by open-source programming languages, allowing students and educators to continue learning without relying on costly software licenses.
“Our goal is to bring technology to where it is needed the most,” said Frei Sangil, President and Founder of LAYERTech Labs. “We believe innovation should narrow social inequalities rather than widen them. By using open-source solutions, communities can continue learning independently without the burden of expensive software.”
The workshops were designed to maximize participation among underserved learners. Separate sessions were conducted for boys from the Stairway Foundation and Puerto Galera Academy and for girls from Baclayan Mangyan School and the Stairway Foundation, ensuring children from different backgrounds could participate equally. Rather than relying on lectures, TechForGood emphasized experiential learning through collaboration and problem-solving. The three-day program began with a Train the Trainers session, where ICT volunteers, Stairway Foundation officers, and community coordinators learned robotics assembly and programming. This approach enables local educators to continue teaching future groups of students after the workshops conclude. Students then assembled robot kits from scratch while working in teams, developing patience, communication, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills alongside technical knowledge. In the final phase, participants connected their completed robots to computers and wrote simple code that enabled their creations to move and perform programmed actions.
For many students, it was their first experience seeing software transformed into physical movement, making coding more engaging and accessible. Beyond teaching technical concepts, the workshops encouraged creativity, logical reasoning, resilience, and collaboration—skills that are increasingly valuable in education and future careers.
According to Jonalyn Onde, Baclayan Development Officer at Stairway Foundation, the initiative complements the organization’s long-running ICT education program, where volunteers teach children basic computer skills.
“Ang partnership po na ito ay under sa ICT Program ng Stairway kung saan ako at mga ICT volunteers dito sa Baclayan community ay nagtuturo sa mga bata ng basic na paggamit ng computer.” Onde said introducing robotics and coding allows students to move beyond basic computer literacy while helping prepare them for higher levels of education and future employment opportunities.
The robotics initiative also marks another milestone in the partnership between Converge and Stairway Foundation. Since 2023, both organizations have worked together to improve digital access through internet connectivity, donated computers and tablets, and digital literacy programs. They have also collaborated on campaigns promoting child online safety, responsible internet use, cybersecurity awareness, data privacy, and protection against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
As industries continue adopting artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and software technologies, digital literacy is becoming an essential life skill. Programs like TechForGood introduce these concepts early, inspiring children to explore science, engineering, and technology while broadening their understanding of future career opportunities.
For Converge, investing in STEM education complements its continued expansion of digital infrastructure. While fiber-optic networks connect communities to the internet, education enables people to maximize the opportunities that connectivity creates. By bringing robotics and coding to underserved children in Oriental Mindoro, Converge, Stairway Foundation, and LAYERTech Labs are helping ensure that technological progress reaches communities beyond urban centers. Their partnership demonstrates that building a truly connected nation requires investing not only in technology but also in people, empowering the next generation of Filipino innovators to help shape the country’s digital future.
The girls of Baclayan Mangyan School, guided by Stairway coordinators and volunteers, spent an afternoon learning basic coding skills to power up their robot kits.
The young boys under the care of Stairway Foundation and those enrolled in Puerto Galera Academy learned to manipulate their robots through an app downloaded on their mobile phones. The robots are equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities.
LAYERTech Labs offer a whole suite of models for different learning groups but make sure to make these accessible to low-income sectors.
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Shticks
Bea Alonzo gears up for election-themed drama
FOLLOWING the success of Widow’s War Bea Alonzo is preparing for another major primetime project with GMA. Her next series, Whispers from Heaven, is slated to premiere early next year as one of the network’s flagship offerings for 2027.
“I’m proud to be part of this project,” Bea said, adding that the series is both timely and relevant with the 2028 elections approaching.
She plays Celestine Reyes, the chief of staff to Buenavista City Mayor Ivana Alabanza-Perona, portrayed by Maricar Reyes
“It’s something new and challenging for me, especially since the theme revolves around elections,” she shared. Bea said it took her a year before accepting another television project because she wanted something meaningful to mark her 25th year in the entertainment industry.
“I felt my next project should be bigger than me. The focus should no longer be on me but on the viewers. This story shows the impact of people’s votes, and that’s important.”
Joining the cast are Tom Rodriguez, Cassy Legaspi, Jake Macapagal, and Jason Abalos under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Zig Dulay * * *
Lorna Tolentino hopes granddaughter follows Lea Salonga’s path LORNA Tolentino couldn’t hide her pride over the positive response to her granddaughter Tori Fernandez who recently performed “Fairest of Them All” from Snow White during the culminating showcase of Trumpets, Inc.’s summer workshop.
“Yes, I have a Lea Salonga in her. That’s actually my dream for her,” the veteran actress said.
Tolentino revealed she is willing to invest in Tori’s future by sending her abroad to study and gain exposure to Broadway or London’s West End. But for now, the young performer prefers to stay in the Philippines.
“She wants to remain here because her friends are here, and she joins choral competitions, so she still gets the training she needs,” LT shared.
Asked where Tori inherited her singing voice, the actress laughed before replying, “Of course, from me! Singing runs in our family. Just look at my cousin Zsa Zsa Padilla.”
While waiting for her next acting project, Tolentino said she is focused on supporting her grandchildren, particularly Tori.
“I saw her talent early on, and I want to help her develop it. I just want all my grandchildren to have a bright future,” she said.
SHOWBIZ
Beaver Magtalas takes on biggest role yet in Cinemalaya’s ‘Kaka Sa Yawan’
Very Wang Nickie Wang
YOUNG actor and up-and-coming P-pop artist Beaver
Magtalas is making his Cinemalaya debut in Kaka Sa Yawan (Brothers by the River), a coming-of-age drama that explores family, identity, and the culture of the Tadyawan Mangyan community in Oriental Mindoro.
Magtalas portrays Niko, the older version of the film’s protagonist, a Manila-raised man who returns to Mindoro after spending a decade in the capital. He shared that the character resonated with him because of its message about confronting regret.
“Maraming tao ang may regrets, pero we shouldn’t let those regrets hinder us from doing what we want to do. They make us who we are,” he shared.
The actor earned the role after auditioning alongside more than 500 hopefuls.
“Pumila po talaga ako sa audition. I think I was around number 500-something,” he recalled.
Landing the part also came with pressure, particularly after stepping away from acting following his last television project, Pamilya Sagrado.
“I’m so happy when I got the role. Pero may kasamang pressure kasi Cinemalaya ito... naisip ko, ‘Kaya ko ba ito?’” he admitted, adding that the film’s director helped him build his confidence throughout production.
Filming required Magtalas to travel almost every weekend between Manila and Oriental Mindoro while continuing his P-pop training.
“Every Friday night after training, I would travel to Mindoro. Then first thing the next morning, we’d head straight to the shoot,” he recalled. “I barely got any sleep, but I didn’t feel the exhaustion while we were filming.”
He also found similarities with Niko, noting that he had been away from his own hometown for an extended period because of training commitments.
Before filming, the cast underwent an immersion
‘The Odyssey’ charts another course to box office glory
CHRISTOPHER Nolan’s latest blockbuster, The Odyssey, retained the top spot at the North American box office in its second week, taking in an additional $87 million, industry estimates showed Sunday. With an additional $353 million overseas, the film has already grossed $640 million worldwide. Based on Homer’s ancient epic poem, the star-studded film follows hero Odysseus as he faces obstacle after obstacle on his way home from the Trojan War. It is the first film ever shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, as Nolan leaned into filmmaking heritage for this modern adaptation of one of humanity’s oldest stories. Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway lead the cast as Odysseus and Penelope, with Tom Holland portraying their son, Telemachus. Second place went to Moana, Disney’s latest live-action remake of one of its animated hits. It took in an additional $10.5 million in its third week, for a total domestic haul of $102 million and another $125 million overseas.
with the Tadyawan Mangyan community in
Oriental
Gran
“The first day wasn’t for shooting. Immersion talaga siya,” he shared, describing the experience as peaceful and an opportunity to witness the community’s close relationship with nature.
Magtalas hopes viewers leave the film with a deeper appreciation of the Mangyan people and their traditions.
“We really want to shine a light on the Mangyan culture. It’s not something people get to see every day.” An official entry to Cinemalaya 2026, Kaka Sa Yawan (Brothers by the River) will screen from Aug. 7 to 16. Produced by Bryce Entertainment Production and IGMM Film, the movie also stars Bryce Nicolo
and Deanne
Joseph Peter Gonzales
Bea Alonzo prepares for ‘Whispers from Heaven,’ a 2027 primetime series that marks her next major project after ‘Widow’s War’
Tori Fernandez (left) earns the support of grandmother Lorna Tolentino as the veteran actress encourages her interest in music and theater
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ continues its strong global run as Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland lead the filmmaker’s IMAX-shot take on Homer’s epic
The film is rooted in Oriental Mindoro, where family ties, memory, and Mangyan culture shape a young man’s homecoming
The cast of ‘Kaka Sa Yawan,’ a film that puts the Tadyawan Mangyan community in the spotlight
Sitio
Vida, Socorro,
Mindoro.
Mercader, Benedix Ramos, Nikki Valdez, Luis Alandy, Queenay Mercado, Karl Medina, Dennis Dato, Noelle Polack,
Bautista
Queenay Mercado (left) and Beaver Magtalas working on location in Mindoro for the coming-of-age drama
Paulo Avelino wants kids off their phones and back at play
By Jasper Valdez
PAULO Avelino wants children growing up in crowded urban areas to have the freedom to run, climb, and play with others, experiences that shaped his own childhood in Baguio.
The actor drew from those memories as he and his business partners opened PlaySpace, a cosmicthemed indoor playground at Ayala Malls Vermosa in Imus, Cavite, on July 18.
“Metro Manila can be so cramped. I grew up in Baguio, where we had the luxury of running around, climbing trees, and falling off cliffs,” Paulo said at the soft opening of the new play center. He recalled spending much of his
younger years outdoors, including climbing a guava tree and once breaking his arm.
“I really grew up playing outside,” he shared. “Back then, we didn’t have cellphones yet. You had no choice but to go outside and play with other kids.”
Paulo noted that children living in condominiums or communities with limited open areas may not have the same access to outdoor play. He hopes PlaySpace can offer them a safe place
By Nickie Wang
AFFORDABLE housing remains a challenge through the years, but Kaia Homes, Inc. (KHI) believes socialized housing can meet government requirements while providing the quality and comfort of private communities.
“There are government regulation requirements,” KHI president John Phillip Wang told the Manila Standard Life. “But why stop and just deliver what the government requires? The delivery of the features here is in line with what we deliver in our other subdivisions or other projects. It comes with trying to understand the buyer and trying to focus our efforts around the buyer.”
The company recently unveiled Kaia Homes Tarlac, a 48-hectare community in Barangay Armenia, Tarlac City, with 7,066 two-story townhouses designed as an affordable alternative without sacrificing quality, comfort, and dignity. KHI is an affiliate of Citihomes Builder and Development, Inc. (CBDI), which focuses on developing socialized housing communities with private village standards. Rosie Tsai serves as chairperson of CBDI.
Kaia Homes Tarlac is the company’s third Kaia Homes project in its 12-year history of building socialized housing communities. The project followed discussions with PAG-IBIG Fund and developers under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4Ps) program.
The townhouses are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2027. Through PAGIBIG financing, prospective homeowners may avail of up to a 30-year payment plan.
“Panibagong simula, Kaya mo na” is the line created by Kaia Homes for its Naya Townhouse unit in Tarlac City. Each two-story home has a 32-square-meter floor area on a minimum 30-square-meter lot, with provisions for two bedrooms, one toilet and bath, a rear kitchen, and space for a motorcycle or e-bike. The homes feature roof framing with Astrofoil insulation to reduce indoor heat, second-floor concrete pouring, foundation-grade beam, ground floor posts and beams, second-floor beams, and deadbolt security locks for front and rear entrances.
The community will include a clubhouse, gate and guardhouse, perimeter security, a multipurpose covered court, a park, and a children’s
PlaySpace incorporates roleplaying areas that encourage creativity and everyday learning through interactive activities
to move around and interact without being occupied by their phones.
“It’s nice to have a safe space for kids where they can truly be themselves, run around, not be on their phones, and just enjoy with other kids,” he noted.
The venture began two years ago during a late-night gaming session with his friends. PlaySpace CEO and president Adam Vinluan proposed the idea while the group was talking on Discord.
“It’s actually the brainchild of Adam, but two years ago, we were just talking on Discord while playing games. He brought it up out of nowhere, and I said yes. We started working on it,” Paulo recalled.
For Adam, the idea was also shaped by his experience raising his fouryear-old son, who was diagnosed with global developmental delay, or GDD.
“Being a dad, you worry so much,”
Adam said. “We saw that he needed to go to places like playgrounds to be exposed to other kids, interact, and help his development. But every time we went, it was always so crowded, and it was hard to book therapy.”
He explained that the project gave him a chance to create a place for his son while also serving other families.
“Aside from helping my child have a place to play, I loved the idea of helping other kids enjoy it too,” Adam explained.
The team spent two years planning the project, including a year of construction. Since the mall was already operating and a cinema was beside the site, heavy construction work was done at night.
Inside, children can climb through multi-level structures, race down slides, play in a large ball pit, and take part in interactive games. The venue also has role-playing areas and
The Kaia Homes Tarlac project introduces two-story townhouses designed to balance affordability with features commonly found in private residential communities
playground.
Wang emphasized that parks, playgrounds, and green spaces remain important elements in their projects.
“What we feature in the materials are things we believe we can do better than other fellow developers. Especially the covered court. Nobody knows their neighbors’ covered basketball courts, especially for socialized projects,” Wang noted.
CBDI has built at least eight covered courts over the past 12 years to provide residents with spaces for community gatherings.
“The chapel is also typically quite small.
Although we’re giving a chapel, that’s not even part of the license itself. We’re giving a chapel out of Thanksgiving,” Wang explained.
The houses also include non-ladder-type stairs, telephone-type shower heads, lavatories, window grills, steel rear doors, deadbolts, window screens, and screen rear doors.
Citihomes Builder Development, Inc. started its venture 43 years ago in Cavite. Today, its housing projects are spread across Southern and Northern Luzon, with 21 branches in Cavite, Batangas, Pampanga, and Bulacan.
“Our first project in Cavite started in 1993. Then,
The indoor playground offers activity zones designed to promote physical play and social interaction among children of different ages
activities for younger children. Paulo, who handles marketing for the venture, explained that his partners manage the business while he attends to acting commitments.
“I’m very lucky to have amazing partners. Technically, they can run the place even without me,” he stated.
While PlaySpace currently carries an outer-space theme, Paulo revealed that future branches could take on different concepts.
“Hopefully, this won’t be the only branch,” he said.
Housing communities designed around Filipino families’ needs
Kaia Homes Inc.’s first project in General Trias was in 2015. Even then, we went in with the philosophy of, OK, you need to have this number of square meters. It has to have this door and that door and this many windows. But I said, ‘No, we can do better than that,’” Wang shared.
Citihomes acquired the Tarlac property before the COVID-19 pandemic. Wang noted that the location was chosen after studying the area’s accessibility and nearby communities.
Kaia Homes Tarlac is near SM City Tarlac, San Jose Arch, Tarlac Recreational Park, and Camp O’Donnell. The property is also accessible through Cojuangco Highway, a four-lane road.
“The community is not that far. It’s quite close to Capas and Tarlac City,” Wang added.
Kaia Homes plans to begin construction before the end of the year, with residents expected to start moving in by next year.
“I don’t imagine many of them will have P1 million to pay in cash. But it’s P4,000 a month,” Wang said.
KHI continues to operate only in Luzon, with Wang stressing that expansion outside the region will not come at the expense of quality standards.
“We are not publicly traded. We don’t have investors in the company. This is still quite a small family and very familial corporate culture. To protect that culture, you cannot grow so fast,” Wang explained.
The company follows what Wang described as the Kaiser principle, a Japanese approach of continuously improving one’s craft.
“We try to keep studying. When we’re thinking about the next project, the only thing we think of is how to make this project better than the last one,” he noted.
“We just launched the model houses this July. So today, you have a visual representation of what the buyers will get,” Wang noted. He pointed out that most buyers are expected to use financing options rather than cash payments.
The company expands its socialized housing developments with amenities aimed at long-term community living
Paulo Avelino (second from right) hopes PlaySpace encourages children to spend more time playing, moving, and interacting instead of staying on their phones
Paulo Avelino’s new business is inspired by his childhood memories of growing up outdoors and staying active with friends
and
skills through pretend play
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: BE THE CHANGE. EMPOWER EDUCATION. INSPIRE THE FUTURE
Classrooms as capital: Why investing in Filipino youth is the nation’s ultimate test
By Sean Jericho Rodeo
IN A classroom in rural Cavite, a 16-year-old student sits at a worn wooden armchair with a Grade 11 textbook open before him.
He pauses at unfamiliar words, whispering their sounds under his breath as he struggles to understand the text. He is polite, ambitious, and dreams of becoming an engineer. Yet behind his determination lies a harsh reality: he cannot fully comprehend the very material meant to prepare him for college.
Does this scene sound familiar?
Perhaps you knew a classmate who faced the same challenge, have a younger relative experiencing it today, or even struggled with reading yourself. While troubling, this situation is far from rare.
For thousands of Filipino students, it is an everyday reality.
According to diagnostic assessments conducted by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) and the Department of Education (DepEd), an astonishing 87 percent of Grade 11 students in public schools are classified as nonindependent readers. Even more alarming, proficiency in core subjects drops from 30.5 percent in Grade 3 to less than 1 percent by the time students reach senior high school. What begins as a modest learning gap in childhood often grows into a full-blown educational crisis by young adulthood.
For decades, Filipinos have embraced the saying, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” Today, however, education experts and policymakers are asking a difficult question: How can the youth carry the nation’s future if the education system fails to equip them with even the most fundamental skills in literacy and numeracy?
Building the Nation Together: Globe, DICT mark GIDA milestone in Pangasinan
The Price of Neglect
The roots of this crisis extend far beyond the classroom. Long before a child ever picks up a pencil, malnutrition and stunting have already limited the potential of one in every four Filipino children under the age of five. By the time these children enter school, many are already beginning the race with a significant disadvantage.
As students progress through basic education, overcrowded classrooms, limited learning resources, and the practice of automatic promotion often compound the problem. By senior high school, the consequences become impossible to ignore. National diagnostic examinations reveal that only four out of every 1,000 Grade 12 students demonstrate true grade-level mastery.
The economic consequences are equally alarming. The World Bank estimates that learning poverty could cost the Philippines billions of pesos in lost future productivity and earnings. An entire generation risks being left behind in an economy increasingly driven by critical thinking, digital literacy, and technical expertise. The First Steps Forward Despite these sobering realities, a significant shift in approach is beginning to emerge. Recognizing that education requires more than piecemeal reforms, national leaders are increasingly treating it not as a routine government expense but as one of the country’s most valuable long-term investments.
Digital literacy as a CSR investment
By Stella Creus
GLOBE, together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, marked a major milestone in the country’s digital inclusion journey with the ceremonial activation of a new connectivity site in Barangay Macaleeng, Anda, Pangasinan.
The event highlighted the activation of Globe’s mobile network expansion across 52 unserved sites, bringing connectivity to these previously zero-signal zones for the very first time, a breakthrough in bridging the digital divide. Fulfilling the company’s commitment to ensure reliable mobile network access across 180 project locations in support of the DICT’s digital inclusion initiatives, Globe’s expanded network footprint brings coverage to the newly connected communities while delivering optimized network services and bandwidth across 128 underserved areas, ensuring all beneficiaries can fully access reliable mobile data.
The ceremony brought together DICT Undersecretary for Support Services Heherson Asiddao, Anda, Pangasinan Mayor Joganie Rarang, representatives from the Department of Education, local government officials, community leaders, Globe executives, and residents who stand to benefit from improved connectivity. During the event, local beneficiaries also received and activated their Bayanihan SIM cards, gaining immediate access to mobile connectivity and digital services.
“This is an important milestone. Every new tower means more communities connected, more families reached, and more opportunities opened.” said DICT Undersecretary for Support Services Heherson Asiddao. “This is why connectivity is not just about technology. It is about the people and making sure that where they live does not limit what they can achieve. “ Anda, Pangasinan Mayor Joganie Rarang welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the transformative impact of digital infrastructure on community development.
“For our students, farmers, entrepreneurs, and families, better connectivity opens doors to opportunities that were once beyond reach. This milestone is an investment in the future of Pangasinan.”
For Globe, the milestone reinforces its commitment to helping build a more connected and digitally inclusive Philippines.
“The hardest places to connect are often the communities that stand to benefit the most from connectivity,” said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe. “Whether through new technologies, stronger partnerships, or innovative network solutions, our goal is simple: to make sure geography is never a barrier to opportunity.”
Reliable connectivity opens access to online learning, digital government services, healthcare information, livelihood opportunities, financial services, and communication with family and loved ones. As more underserved communities come online, connectivity continues to create new opportunities for individuals, families, schools, and local businesses.
The ceremony reflects the shared commitment of Globe, DICT, and local government partners to expand connectivity where it is needed most. By continuing to work together, they are helping create more opportunities for communities across the country to participate in an increasingly connected and digital Philippines.
DIGITAL literacy has become one of the most important skills in the 21st century. As technology continues to shape the way people learn, work, communicate, and access essential services, the ability to use digital tools effectively is no longer optional— it is a necessity. Recognizing this need, many companies are expanding their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs by investing in digital literacy initiatives. These programs benefit not only individuals and communities but also contribute to longterm social and economic development.
Corporate Social Responsibility refers to a company’s commitment to making a positive impact on society while operating ethically and sustainably. Beyond generating profits, businesses are expected to contribute to the well-being of the communities they serve. One meaningful way they fulfill this responsibility is by promoting digital literacy. By investing in education and technology, companies help reduce the digital divide and create opportunities for people who may otherwise have limited access to digital resources.
Digital literacy is the ability to use computers, smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices confidently, safely, and responsibly. It involves more than knowing how to operate technology. A digitally literate person can search for accurate and reliable information online, evaluate the credibility of digital content, recognize misinformation and online scams, protect personal data and privacy, communicate effectively through digital platforms, and use technology to solve problems, learn new skills, and complete everyday tasks. These abilities are essential in a world where many services, educational resources, and employment opportunities are available online.
Many companies incorporate digital literacy into their CSR programs through a variety of initiatives. They organize training sessions that teach participants basic computer skills, internet navigation, online communication, and the use of productivity software. Businesses also conduct workshops on cybersecurity, helping individuals understand how to create strong passwords, avoid phishing scams, recognize cyber threats, and protect their personal information. In addition, companies donate computers, tablets, internet connectivity equipment, and educational software to schools, libraries, and community learning centers. Some organizations establish digital learning hubs where students and adults can access technology, receive technical support, and participate in digital education programs.
Another important aspect of digital literacy CSR programs is promoting digital entrepreneurship. Companies provide aspiring entrepreneurs with training on digital marketing, e-commerce, online financial management, content creation, and the use of digital business platforms. These programs enable small business owners, freelancers, and young entrepreneurs to reach wider markets, increase their income, and compete in an increasingly digital economy. By encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, businesses help stimulate local economic growth and create more employment opportunities.
From left: Mel Baquiano, Globe Territory General Manager; Gian Villaceran, Globe Business National Government Accounts Head; Anda, Pangasinan Mayor Joganie Rarang; and DICT Undersecretary Heherson M. Asiddao at the ceremonial activation of the new connectivity tower in Barangay Macaleeng, Anda, Pangasinan.
Representatives from Globe, DICT, and local government lead the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the activation of a new connectivity tower in Barangay Macaleeng, Anda, Pangasinan.