Manila Standard - 2026 July 29 - Wednesday

Power bills may go down by 10%—DOE

House vows swift passage of tax package by Oct. as early Xmas gift

By Ram Superable, Alena Mae S. Flores, Maricel Cruz and Vito Barcelo

GOVERNMENT agencies and lawmakers swiftly responded to the President’s call for the removal of system loss charges which can shave off as much as 10 percent on consumers’ electricity bills as well as the passage of a tax relief measure that the House said may be passed in as early as August.

“Consumers can save 5 percent, but it can go as high as 10 percent per kilowatt-hour cost (once system loss charges are removed),” Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said. In his penultimate State of the Nation Address President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the passing of system loss charges to power consumers as well as the imposition of value added tax on those losses must be stopped.

Mixed reactions to SONA: Allies vow action, critics hit ‘promises’

By Maricel Cruz, Katrina Manubay, Ram Superable, and Vito Barcelo

on Tuesday, with House leaders and Cabinet officials pledging to implement his legislative agenda, while opposition figures and labor groups criticized the speech as lacking meaningful solutions to the country’s pressing problems.

House ready to present confi funds

evidence

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House prosecution panel is set to begin presenting evidence on Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds when the Senate impeachment court resumes trial proceedings today.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, the lead House prosecutor handling Article I of the impeachment case, said the proceedings will give the public an opportunity to finally see the evidence behind one of the principal charges against Duterte.

“This is where the truth comes out. This is no longer just a matter of allegations. We will present the documents, the witnesses, and the evidence before the impeachment court,” Chua said.

Meanwhile, the prosecution panel filed a manifestation on Monday saying it prefers an alternating presentation of evidence between prosecutors and the defense, saying this is “more organized and coherent.”

According to the prosecutors’ document, this arrangement will also facilitate a clearer appreciation of the legal issues in each charge.

“Subject to the sound discretion of the Impeachment Court, the Prosecution

Marcos brings assistance under BBM program to Davao de Oro

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday launched the government’s “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program in Davao de Oro, marking the latest initiative by his admin-

Ping

SENATOR Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and his team on Tuesday turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman the evidence they gathered on alleged anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City, the political bailiwick of former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. Lacson said the evidence may be

istration to bring national government services and financial assistance directly to local communities.

Speaking during a program in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, Marcos said the initiative aims to ensure that government support reaches every

sufficient to support cases for plunder, malversation, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against those responsible.

In a new Facebook livestream, Cayetano said he welcomes this development, which aligns with everyone’s demand for accountability through the proper pro-

cesses. He said he will answer the allegations at the appropriate time.

“This morning, we turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman for their further evaluation and ‘motu proprio’ investigation all the documentary and testimonial evidence,

municipality through coordinated assistance for agriculture, education and local development.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco

Tiu Laurel Jr. joined the President in distributing agricultural machinery, equipment and farm inputs from the

Department of Agriculture

(DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to farmer-beneficiaries from Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Occidental.

The assistance is intended to improve

Ombudsman to keep flood probe moving ‘steadily’ and ‘fairly’

By Rex Espiritu

THE Office of the Ombudsman said Tuesday it would keep its investigations moving “steadily” and “fairly.”

The anti-graft body made the remark a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address.

The first issue President Marcos reported on was the government’s investigation into alleged corruption involving flood

control projects. Echoing the Ombudsman, the President said cases were looming against his cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

“We are likewise grateful that this Office has been left free to carry out its constitutional mandate and to follow the evidence wherever it leads, including to those closest to the President himself,” the Ombudsman said in a statement.

“This is how accountability is meant

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos

respectfully manifests its preference for the proposed alternating presentation of evidence by the Prosecution and the Respondent on an article-by-article basis. Such an approach enables the Impeachment Court and the parties to focus on one Article of Impeachment at a time, thereby promoting a more organized and coherent presentation of evidence and facilitating a clearer appreciation of the factual and legal issues unique to each charge,” the manifestation, signed by all 11 House prosecutors, reads.

The prosecution team added that this could make the trial more orderly and focused.

The manifestation was filed via electronic mail on Monday. Senate impeachment court spokesperson Attorney Reginald Tongol said the court will decide on the motion today.

Article I accuses Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds during her tenure as Vice President and Education secretary.

Aside from serving as a House prosecutor, Chua also chairs the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which conducted the 2024 inquiry into Duterte’s confidential funds.

Over several months, the panel held a series of public hearings examining the release, withdrawal, disbursement, and liquidation of confidential funds received by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure.

The inquiry uncovered alleged irregularities, including acknowledgment receipts bearing the names of supposed recipients, many of whom were later found to have no matching birth records or whose identities could not be verified.

The committee’s findings eventually became one of the principal bases for the impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President.

“We conducted a thorough investigation. We will now present the evidence we have gathered before the Impeachment Court and let the facts speak for themselves,” Chua said.

Among the prosecution’s first witnesses are former Land Bank of the Philippines Shaw Boulevard Branch manager Violeta Constantino and former Land Bank Department of Education Branch manager Nenita Camposano.

At least 50 hurt in powerful quake

AMAJOR earthquake collapsed buildings and sparked fires in Japan’s southwest, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday, with broadcaster NHK saying that at least 50 people were taken to hospital.

Television footage on NHK showed several blazes, damaged bridges, a derailed cargo train and cracked roads after the tremor on Kyushu island. The broadcaster reported at least 12 collapsed houses.

The quake at 4:27 p.m. (0727 GMT) had a magnitude of 7.1, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, but reached the highest possible level of sev-

Garin: Implementation in one year

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the department will meet with the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Electrification Administration to coordinate on how to implement the President’s directive.

“We have to assess all electric cooperatives. They are more than 100. And we have private distribution utilities. So we have to do it one by one,” Garin said.

“Because if you want to remove the pilferage, it can be done. But technically, they have to adjust their capital outlay or infrastructure. So that might take time.”

“The directive of the President was to remove the whole system loss. Not partial, not just non-technical, but technical and non-technical,” Garin added.

She said it may take a year to implement the directive.

“I would say before the next SONA -- one year. It’s not that easy. We can issue policies but on the implementation side of the electric cooperatives, they have to purchase some new equipment, so it will take time,” she said.

The Senate Committee on Energy, for its part, immediately set a July 30 hearing to resume discussions on proposed amendments to the 25-year-old Electric Power Industry Reform Act following the filing of fresh measures by panel chairman Senator Erwin Tulfo.

Senate Resolution No. 537 calls for an inquiry into current power sector policies that allow energy distributors to shift

Rep. Zaldy Co, and others for the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

to function: no favor asked, none given. The Office of the Ombudsman will press forward steadily, fairly, and without fear or favor, for as long as the evidence and the law will allow,” it added. Romualdez, meanwhile, said he respects Mr. Marcos’ statement, insisting that he did not do anything unlawful.

A special panel of investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed a supplemental complaint affidavit against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Party-list

i.e. official records culled from government websites, while others were supplied by reliable sources, that we have gathered so far,” the senator said in a social media post.

The investigators alleged that Romualdez and Co conspired to amass ill-gotten wealth amounting to P56 billion from 2022 to 2025 through “transactions involving the diversion and misuse of public funds and the receipt of undue pecuniary benefits in connection with government dealings.”

The Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation team on Tuesday directed Romualdez and other respondents to submit counter-affidavits explaining their side on complaints related to flood control funds.

The Ombudsman’s investigators

“We are looking at cases of plunder, malversation, violations of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), etc.,” he added.

ing in some areas, and roads and bridges have been damaged and buildings collapsed,” she said.

The JMA initially issued an alert for a possible tsunami of up to one meter (three feet), but withdrew the warning at around 6:10 p.m.

en on Japan’s Shindo scale of shaking.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake — one of hundreds that strike Japan every year — at 6.8. The vast majority cause little damage.

“We are still assessing the extent of injuries and property damage, but I have been informed that there have already been several injuries,” Takaichi said.

“Power outages and fires are happen-

system loss costs onto retail utility customers while Senate Bill No. 2340 seeks to formally exempt system loss charges from being subjected to value-added tax on monthly power bills.

At the House of Representatives, Murang Kuryente party-list Rep. Arthur Yap welcomed President Marcos’ call to amend the EPIRA.

“This is a significant step toward making electricity more affordable and ensuring greater fairness for Filipino consumers,” said Yap, a member of the House minority bloc and vice chairperson of the House Committee on Energy.

‘Consider impact on cooperatives’

The Manila Electric Co., on the other hand, appealed to the government, regulators and legislators to consider the impact of removing the system loss charges to the operations of distribution utilities.

Still, Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said they respect the President’s policy direction and will actively participate in the discussions.

“We look forward to productive discussions which we hope will carefully consider the impact of reforms on the operations and sustainability of distribution utilities,” Aperocho said.

“To ensure real benefits to consumers, these reforms should also support the ability of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to efficiently operate, invest in infrastructure and system resilience, and deliver safe and stable electricity service,” he added.

Aperocho said system loss is not unique to any distribution utility but is

earlier filed a supplemental complaint for preliminary investigation against Romualdez, former congressman Zaldy Co, and others for plunder, graft, bribery, and money laundering.

“I can confirm that an order to file counter-affidavits has been issued by the preliminary investigation team to former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, as well as the rest of the respondents,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a statement, without specifying when the order was issued.

“The order states that they have 15 days upon receipt to submit their counter-affidavits. Once all parties have

Lacson said the anomalies in Taguig City are “something else” compared to the questionable flood control projects he and his team earlier documented in Bulacan. He said the anomalies involving infrastructure projects in Taguig City employed a mix of “old and new tricks.”

These include “passing off an illegal reclamation project as slope protection structures with several ghost projects, cases of double appropriations, recycled photos belonging to past and already completed contracts to bill and collect for new ones – all controlled by one person, dating as far back as 2019.”

House leaders said the President’s penultimate address on Monday laid out a clear roadmap for the administration’s final two years and committed to fast-track priority measures in Congress.

In contrast, Vice President Sara Duterte -- speaking to supporters at The Hague as she visited her imprisoned father, former President Rodrigo Duterte -- said she neither watched the SONA nor intended to read its transcript or summary, calling it “a waste of time” for Filipinos.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano echoed the criticism during his “Kontra-SONA,” accusing the administration of selective justice and calling Marcos the “president of the opposition.”

But House Assistant Majority Leader and Bulacan Rep. Agatha Paula Cruz said the SONA offered “hope and direction” through reforms aimed at easing the burden on Filipino families while sustaining economic growth.

“The President’s SONA delivered hope and direction by focusing on reforms that improve the

“This earthquake occurred inland, and no tsunami activity has been observed so far. For this reason, we hope to lift the tsunami advisory at a relatively early stage, depending on future sea level conditions,” a Japan Meteorological Agency spokesperson said.

No immediate abnormalities were recorded at nuclear power plants, the

a common operational aspect of the delivery of electricity — which affects the entire power industry.

He said Meralco consistently invested in system loss management initiatives, network modernization, and operational efficiencies — which enabled the company to maintain its system loss well below the 6.5 percent cap set by ERC.

The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc., for its part, warned that removing system loss charges without any government subsidy would bankrupt the country’s electric cooperatives.

“We can support the complete elimination of system loss charges from electricity billing if and only if the national government directly shoulders these costs through a dedicated subsidy mechanism,” PHILRECA said.

The group added that without a direct government subsidy, a total ban on system loss recovery would bankrupt non-profit cooperatives.

Quimbo: Tax measure an early X’mas gift

As this developed, the House committee on ways and means yesterday vowed to approve on third reading by August the President’s proposed tax relief package to ensure its implementation by Jan. 1, 2027.

Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, the panel chairperson, said the House leadership is committed to pass on third and finall reading next month the proposed tax relief package and its corresponding revenue measures to keep the President’s timetable on track.

“Our estimate—based on informal

submitted, the case will be submitted for resolution,” he added.

Aside from Romualdez, the other respondents in the complaint include: lawyer Jose Paras’ Jocelyn Sereno, Hermogene Real, D.S. Tantuico and Associates, and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation, through its Board of Directors— Luisita Chan, Felicito Guevarra, Yolanda Crudo, Gil Panganiban Jr., Diosa Mira Chan—and other John and Jane Does.

“Painful as this may be for our family, I respect the President’s statement. I never asked for any favor or special treatment.

I agree that we should do what is right,” Romualdez said in a statement.

He noted that between 2020 to 2025 alone, Taguig has accumulated P14.4-billion worth of infrastructure projects “and still counting.”

Lacson said they will continue to submit to the Ombudsman “whatever pieces of evidence we can still secure to help them achieve our shared crusade against graft and corruption.”

daily lives of Filipinos,” Cruz said.

She welcomed proposals to expand income tax exemptions, remove the minimum corporate income tax on small businesses, grant tax amnesty, eliminate systems loss charges on electricity bills, and uphold the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

“Congress will work with urgency to translate this vision into laws that create jobs, lower costs, and improve the lives of every Filipino,” she said.

Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun of Zambales likewise said the SONA provided Congress with a concrete legislative agenda focused on lowering taxes and electricity costs, improving healthcare and education, and strengthening accountability and national sovereignty.

“This was not a SONA where Congress’ role was limited to applauding. We have a clear job to do: reduce taxes, lower electricity costs, and strengthen our schools and hospitals,” Khonghun said in Filipino.

He noted that the President backed his proposals with measurable targets, including expanded school feeding for 4.5 million learners, the hiring of 10,000 school counselor associates, construction of more than 16,000 classrooms through private-sector support, and expanded PhilHealth benefits.

Nuclear Regulation Authority said.

About 45,000 households and facilities have no power in the Kumamoto region, according to local utility Kyushu Electric Power.

The firm added that three nuclear reactors operating in the region at the time were functioning normally.

‘Shaking is continuing’ A local NHK staffer wearing a helmet reported live on air that the shaking was continuing around half an hour after the quake, with the newsroom rocking so violently that it was difficult to remain standing. AFP

discussions with Speaker Bojie Dy and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos—is that we will finalize this compensation, as well as the corresponding compensating taxes to be imposed or adjusted to recoup the funds lost due to the resulting revenue shortfall, by this August,” he said.

During Monday’s SONA, the President asked Congress to expand the income tax exemption to cover workers earning up to P350,000 annually; reduce income taxes for other workers; exempt small businesses from the minimum corporate income tax; and grant tax amnesty for unpaid income tax, estate tax, donor’s tax, value-added tax (VAT) and the corresponding penalties.

He said the proposed increase in the income tax exemption threshold cannot take effect before Jan. 1, 2027 because government revenues and expenditures for 2026 have already been programmed under the existing tax structure.

Quimbo said the House is also targeting third reading approval before its October break of the proposed tax amnesty covering unpaid income tax, estate tax, VAT and other tax liabilities.

The granting of income tax relief and the scrapping of electricity system loss charges can be considered as an early Christmas gift of the President to Filipinos, Quimbo said.

The Department of Labor and Employment said the President’s proposal to increase the income tax exemption threshold will benefit more Filipino workers, particularly those in the middle class.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the proposal would require amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).

farm productivity, reduce production costs and strengthen food security in the three provinces, which are among Mindanao’s major producers of agricultural commodities.

Mr. Marcos also turned over financial assistance under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) to the provincial governments of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Occidental.

The funds will support Presidential Scholars and barangay-level projects in the beneficiary provinces.

The President said the program reflects his administration’s commitment to making government assistance more accessible and ensuring that development reaches communities outside Metro Manila.

The launch of “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” forms part of the administration’s broader effort to decentralize the delivery of government programs and bring services closer to local governments, farmers, fisherfolk and students.

Energy, social agenda lauded Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jan Almario Chan welcomed the administration’s energy agenda, particularly its emphasis on renewable energy, the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act, and amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act to remove systems loss charges passed on to consumers.

“We welcome the President’s decision to prioritize renewable energy and long-term energy security,” Chan said, adding that sustained legislative action would be needed to translate the President’s commitments into lasting benefits (see related banner story on A1 – Editors).

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also praised the President’s emphasis on social protection, as Secretary Rex Gatchalian described the address as “one of the best SONAs” in recent memory. He cited the continued rollout of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Assistance, expanded disaster preparedness under the Buong Bansa Handa program, and assistance for vulnerable sectors, including children with disabilities through Project Aruga.

DOJ approves cyberlibel, perjury raps vs. Baligod, et al

By Pot Chavez

THE Department of Justice (DOJ), through the Office of the Prosecutor General, has approved the investigating prosecution panels’ recommendations to file multiple Informations against lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 of his clients, who claimed to have worked under fugitive ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co.

The 18 claimed to have delivered maletas containing billions of pesos allegedly derived from flood control kickbacks to politicians and other personalities.

The recommendations stemmed from several complaints involving the execution and dissemination of a joint sworn statement, related press conferences and interviews, social media posts, and other online publications relating to them.

Under the approved resolutions, the so-called “18 maleta boys” are to be charged in 10 separate Informations.

Among the charges are 6 counts of cyber libel under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and 4 counts of perjury.

Baligod will be charged as a co-accused in certain Informations while a separate Information for 1 count of cyber libel will likewise be filed against him.

The corresponding Informations will be filed before the appropriate courts while other complaints were dismissed for lack of prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.

Earlier today, former Senator Sonny Trillanes disclosed that the DOJ already released a 41-page resolution, acting on the multiple lawsuits he filed before the agency.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Pot Chavez

NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag has categorically denied claims that he and his wife owned a mansion in the United States (US).

In a press briefing on Tuesday, he said such an allegation is a case of mistaken identity, referring to it as fake news.

“Mali na kaagad ‘eh, hindi pa nga kami magkakilala ng asawa ko noong 2004... Minsan, iyong makikitid iyong utak, I don’t want to brand what group is that, sasabihin na agad palusot lang iyan,” he said.

“But [if] you check the record, it will bear you out,” Matibag added.

Last week, Matibag told the Manila Standard that the claim came from social media personality Sass Rogando Sasot, stressing that outlets should fact-check before publication.

For her part, Sasot apologized to Matibag and his wife for the error, adding that the original post has already been retracted.

The NBI chief further explained that the property owner’s spouse is named Anna Marie, which is different from his wife, Maria Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag, who currently serves as Laguna 1st District Representative. Matibag called out media outlets that reported about it without verification, saying he abhors this kind of behavior.

The reports followed his testimony on the death threats article for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“That post was about the 26023 Baldwin Place in California that is listed at homes.com, a major U.S. online residential real estate marketplace owned by CoStar Group. Homes.com listed it as owned by a couple named \”Melvin Matibag and Anna Marie Matibag,\” Sasot explained in her Facebook post.

“Upon crossverifying with other public records in the United States, these two people are not NBI Director Melvin Matibag and Congresswoman Anna Marie Matibag,” she added.

FINAL TOUCHES. A worker conducts a safety check on the swans a month before the official inauguration of the newly-renovated Burnham Park on Baguio Day on Sept. 1, 2026. Civil works and landscaping are nearly finished, though the water in the lake is currently filled only at 50% capacity. Conrad Rotor

UP Diliman shut to visitors for UPCAT exams

By Gabriel Oliva

THE University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) will temporarily close its campus to joggers, bikers, and nonessential visitors on Aug. 1 and 2 to facilitate the administration of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2027.

In a revised advisory issued July 24, the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) said only authorized vehicles and individuals with official business related to the UPCAT will be allowed to enter the campus during the two-day examination.

The updated advisory expands an earlier announcement that limited the closure to the Academic Oval for motorists, joggers, and bikers.

The OVCCA also released a campus map to help examinees locate testing centers and navigate traffic flow, medical stations, portable toilets, jeepney routes, and directional signages.

The 493-hectare UP Diliman campus will host 24 testing centers, while 118 testing centers will operate nationwide.

DILG warns execs against

By Vince Lopez

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday reminded its officials and employees that soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, gratuities, or anything of monetary value in connection with their official duties is prohibited and punishable under existing laws.

In a memorandum, the DILG said it had received reports that some personnel were allegedly using their positions to solicit bribes and other forms of consideration from private individuals, national government agencies, and local government units.

The department said public office is a public trust and stressed that integrity, accountability, and professionalism must remain at the core of public service.

The DILG reiterated that Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, prohibits public officials and employees from directly or indirectly soliciting anything of monetary value in the course of their official duties or in connection with transactions that may be affected by their office.

12 minors nabbed after SONA rallies released

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said 12 of the 51 individuals arrested during rallies held in connection with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) have been released after being confirmed as minors.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co said the minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and social workers after police verified their ages.

“They are not all minors. Upon verification, out of the 51, 12 were brought to the police station for verification and upon learning and validating or confirming that they are minors, they were turned over to

DSWD, to social workers for assessment and as of now they were already released,” Co said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Co said some of the arrested initially claimed to be minors but failed age verification.

He added that those arrested included persons allegedly involved in vandalizing an establishment along Commonwealth Avenue.

According to the PNP, 39 individuals remain in the custody of the Quezon City Police District for alleged violations of various local ordinances. Of these, 30 are undergoing investigation and case build-up, while nine are undergoing inquest proceedings.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to investigate the explosions and improvised explosive devices recovered near the Senate and the Department of Justice on Monday.

Co said investigators are conducting backtracking and forward tracking operations to identify those responsible.

“It’s too early to tell if that was

done by a group or it could be connected. But there is a possibility that it is connected. So, let’s look at all our investigators,” he said.

He said intimidation is among the possible motives being considered.

“That’s the most logical one we can see. There is no other reason than to intimidate, to create fear during the day itself in the zone of our President,” Co said. He added that police currently see no ongoing threat to the Senate and the Department of Justice, where security personnel remain deployed to prevent similar incidents.

PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the overall security situation around the Batasang Pambansa Complex and Commonwealth Avenue remained generally peaceful despite minor incidents, including a scuffle involving groups attempting to cross into designated rally areas.

Nartatez also expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements, saying the PNP had addressed shortcomings identified during previous SONA security operations.

6 PH seafarers home after Hormuz clash

By Vito Barcelo

SIX Filipino seafarers aboard the Liberia-flagged oil and product tanker M/V Al Bahyah arrived safely in Manila on July 27 after the vessel was involved in a security incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

The seafarers arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR934. Representatives of the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed the returning crew members and provided immediate assistance, including financial aid. The Manila International Airport Authority Medical Team also

conducted initial medical assessments upon their arrival. Authorities said five of the six seafarers were unharmed, while one sustained a minor injury during the incident. The DMW said the Liberiaflagged tanker encountered a security incident while navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a key international shipping route. All six Filipinos were safely rescued. The agency reiterated its directive to licensed manning agencies and their accredited foreign principals to strictly comply with government regulations and implement all necessary safety measures to protect Filipino seafarers assigned to vessels transiting high-risk maritime areas, including the Strait of Hormuz.

IN BRIEF

NDRRMC: Over 372k affected by ‘Kiyapo’

A TOTAL of 372,517 people, or 80,756 families, were affected by Tropical Storm Kiyapo (international name Noul), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Tuesday.

In its latest situational report, the NDRRMC said 6,441 individuals, or 1,538 families, were staying in 27 evacuation centers.

The agency also reported three fatalities in Davao and Sarangani, while one person remains missing in Sarangani.

A total of 678 houses were damaged by the storm, including 247 that were destroyed and 431 that sustained partial damage.

The government has provided P20,235,857 in assistance to affected residents, according to the NDRRMC.

Tropical Storm Kiyapo exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday. Rex Espiritu PAF backs CERAB chief after Capas resolution

THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday defended the commander of Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB) after the Sangguniang Bayan of Capas, Tarlac, declared her persona non grata over concerns raised by residents and indigenous peoples regarding the military reservation in the area.

PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said Lt. Col. Owen Avenido was carrying out her official responsibilities as base commander.

The PAF said it remains open to dialogue with local officials and to a fair review of the allegations through established procedures.

The Air Force, however, maintained that actions taken in good faith to secure military property should be viewed within the context of official duty.

“As Base Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Owen Avenido was simply executing her lawful duty and professional mandate to uphold these safety standards,” Basco told reporters.

“We stand by personnel who perform their duties professionally and lawfully, and we remain committed to constructive engagement with the local government,” she said. Rex Espiritu Missing child who fell into creek found dead

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD child who was reported missing after falling into a creek in Barangay North Signal, Taguig City, was found dead Tuesday morning, more than 11 hours after he disappeared, police said.

Taguig City Police Station public information office chief Capt. Melvin Garcia said the child was reported missing at around 8 p.m. on July 27 as heavy rains triggered strong currents in creeks and rivers across parts of the city.

According to Garcia, a fisherman discovered the child’s body at around 7 a.m. on July 28 in Sitio Panglao, Barangay Ususan, about two kilometers from where he was last seen. The body was recovered more than 11 hours after the child was reported missing.

Garcia said the child had been playing in the rain when he tried to retrieve a slipper that had been swept away by floodwaters. Vince Lopez

TOBACCO HARVEST. A farmer crosses the Banga River in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, carrying freshly harvested tobacco leaves, one of the region’s major cash crops. Revoli Cortez

OPINION

The State of the Nation

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. opened his State of the Nation Address last Monday with a totally unexpected declaration: “I am not the President of my family. I am not the President of my friends. I am the President of the Philippines and my duty is to you, my fellow Filipinos...Rest assured that the wheels of justice are turning.”

This opening statement appeared to be a direct reference to what he said were criminal cases being readied by the Office of the Ombudsman against his first cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The Leyte congressman, who was absent at the joint session of the legislature, issued a statement denying any wrongdoing, saying he respects the President’s declaration even if it is painful for him and his family.

The President’s opening statement also harked back to his 4th SONA, where he concluded his hour-long speech with a stinging reminder to lawmakers and other public officials involved in substandard, anomalous and ghost flood control projects costing hundreds of billions of pesos ending up in private pockets: “Mahiya naman kayo!”

The President emphasized that cases were examined thoroughly “and we went to where the evidence led us. We did everything to get to the bottom of it,” with contractors, ranking officials and lawmakers have been charged and jailed because of the investigation on the multibillion-peso corruption scandal.

While the flood control controversy remains a major issue, the President reaffirmed his anti-corruption stance and vowed prosecution of those involved.

Apart from focusing on corruption accountability, the President’s SONA announced measures to stabilize prices and fight inflation that surged from 1.4 percent in June 2025 to 6.4 percent in June 2026, with the weak peso hitting a historic low of ₱61.847:$1.

The SONA also declared a more aggressive infrastructure push, with emphasis on farm-to-market roads, port modernization, railways, and housing projects. These were cited as crucial engines of growth and job creation.

The annual report highlighted social protection through expanded educational assistance, health care, nutrition programs, and livelihood support for vulnerable groups especially in conflict-affected and rural areas. He also discussed measures to address disaster resilience and climate adaptation, with the government committed to strengthening preparedness and adaptation measures, given the country’s vulnerability to typhoons and flooding. Apart from focusing on hastening economic recovery amid inflation and a weak

peso, and delivery of social protection programs for the disadvantaged sectors in Philippine society, the President also cited foreign policy challenges, particularly strained ties with China. following recent maritime clashes. He reaffirmed a diplomatic but firm stance on defending Philippine sovereignty in the South China Sea while also emphasizing ASEAN leadership on energy, food, and maritime security. As current ASEAN Chair, Marcos emphasized regional cooperation on energy security, food stability, and maritime safety.

The President’s fifth address represents a make-or-break moment.

In my view, Marcos Jr.’s fifth SONA represents a make-or-break moment, as he wanted to convince Filipinos that his administration can deliver tangible relief from economic hardship, uphold integrity amid political scandals, and defend national interests abroad.

The speech focused on restoring public trust through a stronger anti-corruption drive, pursuing tax relief to ease the burden of inflation, expanding social services such as scholarships and healthcare, strengthening food and energy security, and reaffirming Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. He also stressed that no official or political ally would be spared from accountability if implicated in corruption.

We know that after years of criticism over rising prices, governance issues, and political divisions, the President has little time left before 2028 to demonstrate that reforms can improve the daily lives of ordinary Filipinos. Success will ultimately be measured by cleaner government, lower inflation, more jobs, better public services, and consistent economic growth.

In the end, the President’s latest SONA raises both expectations and political stakes. If the promised anti-corruption campaign is pursued consistently, major legislative measures are enacted, and flagship programs are implemented effectively, he could leave office with the promised ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ established as a credible governance legacy. However, failure to sustain reforms or deliver tangible outcomes would reinforce public skepticism and make the vision appear more like a mere political slogan than a lasting program for thoroughgoing national transformation. ernhil@yahoo.com

A question of trust

FOUR weeks into the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, the country has heard a growing number of arguments. Lawyers have debated procedure. Political camps have argued over motive. Commentators have examined evidence, context, timing, and possible consequences.

All these questions deserve attention. Yet they eventually return us to one basic question: Is the Vice President still fit to remain in office?

That question lies at the heart of an impeachment trial.

An impeachment trial goes beyond the search for criminal liability. It asks whether a high public official has committed a breach so grave that continued service becomes incompatible with the trust and authority of the office.

The Articles of Impeachment accuse the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. Among the most serious allegations are her public statements involving the killing of the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker.

The Senate must study the evidence with care. The defense deserves a full opportunity to explain its side. The prosecution carries the duty of proving its case. Through all these proceedings, three considerations deserve our close attention.

First, the Vice President’s statements form part of the public record.

The Vice President made utterances about having arranged the killing of the President, the First Lady, and the former Speaker should harm come to her. Her lawyers may describe those words as an emotional outburst, a conditional warning, a figure of speech, or a reaction to intense pressure. Context helps us understand a statement.

Responsibility tells us how seriously we must take it.

Words spoken by an ordinary citizen have consequences. Words spoken by the Vice President carry the full weight of public office. They come from a person who stands next in line to the presidency and who exercises authority in the name of the Filipino people.

—“—

There is one central question: is the VP fit to remain in office?

Thus, the issue goes beyond the existence of an actual plot or the technical elements of a crime. The Senate must also ask what those words reveal about judgment, restraint, and temperament.

Every leader feels anger. Every politician carries pressure. Emotions rise as conflict deepens and the stakes grow higher. Public office demands composure precisely in those moments, because pressure reveals the true quality of one’s judgment.

Second, the oath of office carries a deep and continuing obligation.

Upon assuming office, the Vice President promised to preserve and defend the Constitution, faithfully execute the laws, do justice to every person, and devote herself to the service of the nation.

That oath gives a moral foundation to the established legal authority. It reminds every official that at all times, power remains a public trust.

The vice presidency holds a special place in our constitutional order. The Vice President serves as the immediate successor to

Rallying points

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. started and ended strong during last Monday’s State of the Nation Address. But while there was mention of gains already made toward the administration’s priority areas, there was also a striking acknowledgment that more things need to be done in his last two years in office.

Immediately after the customary greetings, he dove into the government’s efforts to tackle corruption and affirmed his commitment to move toward a more transparent and accountable government. Recall that it was also during the SONA last week where we dared public officials to “have some shame,” referring to their acts of profiting off infrastructure projects meant to shield Filipinos from the effects of typhoons and consequent flooding.

The President then talked about the crisis in the Middle East, which began in the first quarter of this year, and its profound effects on many aspects of Filipinos’ lives. He listed efforts currently being done to alleviate the effects of the crisis, from assistance to displaced overseas Filipino workers, greater support to local governments, steps to achieve stability in oil supply and in prices, and other forms of relief to ordinary consumers.

Mr. Marcos announced greater tax incentives for those earning less than P350,000 a year, as well as concrete measures to achieve both energy and

food security. He talked about infrastructure – digital and physical alike – that would provide clear benefits to the people in their daily lives. He highlighted the need to explore other sources of energy outside of traditional ones. It was a good move to articulate that there is no justice in making consumers bear the burden of system losses in power distribution.

The President has no more time to make new promises.

We found comfort in the President’s acknowledgment that while social protection projects are important, sustainable jobs for Filipinos are better. Indeed, there are many ways by which people could be helped to carve out a better future for their families. And amid the usual statements on education and health, President Marcos underscored the importance

By Melandrew T. Velasco

WHEN President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, many Filipinos expected one issue to dominate the national conversation: flooding. Last year, the President’s pointed admonition—“Mahiya naman kayo!”—directed at those behind alleged ghost and substandard flood-control projects resonated across the country. It reflected public frustration over billions of pesos spent on infrastructure while communities continued to drown after every major storm.

This year, there is reason to hope that the country’s flood mitigation strategy is evolving—not merely through bigger budgets, but through better thinking.

One of the most encouraging examples is unfolding in Mandaue City, Cebu, where San Miguel Corporation (SMC), through its Better Rivers PH program, has begun dredging and rehabilitating the heavily silted Butuanon River. The initiative, undertaken in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Mandaue City government, and the DENR, aims to restore the river’s natural capacity to carry floodwaters after years of heavy siltation and recurring floods.

The project represents more than another corporate social responsibility initiative. It reflects a philosophy that SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang has consistently advocated: flood control begins by restoring rivers themselves.

For decades, the country’s response to flooding has centered on higher dikes, wider drainage canals, pumping stations, and concrete floodwalls. These remain important, but many overlook a fundamental reality. Rivers that have become shallow from decades of accumulated silt and debris simply cannot carry the volume of water nature intended them to handle.

The result is predictable. Rivers overflow, communities flood, and billions more are

the President. The office represents continuity during crisis and stability during uncertainty. Any statement involving violence against the sitting President touches the very structure that the oath seeks to protect. Pressure may explain the emotional setting. It also reveals character under strain. Leadership becomes clearest when circumstances become hardest. Calm carries its greatest value during conflict. Restraint matters most when anger feels strongest. Sound judgment proves itself when the stakes are high.

The oath therefore lives in every decision, every action, and every word.

Third, the Senate must keep the trial cen-

of critical thinking, innovativeness, creativity, and problem-solving skills among the youth, and of the need to protect them from violence and from disinformation. He acknowledged mental health as a pressing issue that threatens Filipinos’ well-being.

More than the recitation of efforts to improve global trade, it was the last part of the speech that made a deep impact on those listening to the SONA. Made in obvious reference to a recent video insulting Filipinos and to cumulative acts of harassment and intimidation right in our own exclusive economic zone, President Marcos tried to rally Filipinos against a common threat that targets our dignity and self-respect.

“Your government will do all that is necessary to continue upholding this [Arbitral] Award, utilizing every peaceful and legal means available to the Republic against any attempt, foreign or domestic, to undermine this achievement,” he said.

We cannot comprehend how any Filipino who claims to love the Philippines could disagree or dismiss such words, whatever one’s political affiliations may be.

With two remaining years in office, President Marcos Jr. has no time to make new promises. But that is all right. For someone who wants to leave a legacy based on merit, he only needs to deliver on what he has already vowed to do.

Where rivers breathe again

spent repairing the damage.

Better Rivers PH approached the problem differently.

Its engineers removed not only floating garbage but millions of tons of mud, silt, and debris that had accumulated over decades. The objective was to restore rivers to their original depth, width, and carrying capacity.

Since 2020, Better Rivers PH has removed nearly 9.2 million metric tons of silt and waste from more than 190 kilometers of major waterways, including the Pasig, Tullahan, San Juan, Pampanga, Meycauayan, and other rivers in Bulacan, Laguna, Las Piñas, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa. The expansion into Cebu demonstrates that this model can benefit flood-prone communities well beyond Metro Manila.

This year, there is reason to hope that the country’s flood mitigation strategy is evolving.

Equally significant is how government policy appears to be embracing the same direction. Under the leadership of DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, river dredging and desilting have become increasingly prominent components of the department’s flood mitigation strategy. Rather than relying solely on new concrete structures, DPWH now recognizes that restoring rivers is an essential first line of defense against flooding. In many respects, this reflects the very approach Ramon Ang has championed for years—that healthy rivers are the country’s most effective and sustainable flood-control infrastructure. This is a welcome development. The Philippines does not suffer from a shortage of engineering talent or financial re-

tered on continuing fitness for office. Impeachment involves the Constitution, the evidence, and the solemn duty of the senator-judges. Popularity belongs to elections. Loyalty belongs to political alliances. Impeachment demands a higher and more exacting standard. Fairness requires a careful hearing of both sides. It also requires courage to face the substance of the accusations. At its core, the trial asks whether the conduct established by the evidence is consistent with the responsibilities of the vice presidency. It asks whether the Filipino people may still place confidence in the official who holds that position. It asks whether her

sources. What it has often lacked is continuity, accountability, and the political will to implement solutions that have already proven effective.

President Marcos’ challenge last year was not simply about exposing ghost projects. It was a call to ensure that every peso allocated for flood control translates into real protection for Filipino communities. Many listened to the SONA expecting concrete plans to strengthen flood resilience, accelerate river rehabilitation, and institutionalize greater transparency in infrastructure spending.

The partnership among DPWH, local governments, and responsible private sector leaders such as San Miguel Corporation offers a model worth replicating nationwide. Flood mitigation is not solely a government responsibility. Nor can it depend entirely on corporate initiative. It requires a sustained partnership anchored on science, sound engineering, environmental stewardship, and public accountability. Ultimately, rivers are more than waterways. They are living infrastructure. When neglected, they become disasters waiting to happen.

When restored, they become our strongest natural defense against floods.

Perhaps one lesson has already become unmistakably clear: before we build higher walls against floods, we must first allow our rivers to breathe again.

As my footnote, “Floods are often called natural disasters. But when rivers are neglected, projects are abandoned, and accountability is forgotten, many floods become man-made tragedies. Restoring our rivers is not only an engineering task—it is a moral obligation to future generations.”

Melandrew T. Velasco is the writer, president/chief executive officer of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.; and president/executive director

continued exercise of power strengthens the constitutional order and serves the common good.

The proceedings may continue for many more weeks. More witnesses may appear. More documents may surface. More legal questions may reach the Senate floor. Political pressure will surely grow. Through all of it, the central question must remain in clear view.

After weighing her words, her oath, her judgment, and the standards attached to the country’s second-highest office, is the Vice President still fit to remain in office?

The Constitution calls for an answer. The Filipino people deserve one. —“—

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2026 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Myanmar OKs death sentence for cyberscams

YANGON – Myanmar’s militarybacked parliament approved a law on Tuesday that authorizes capital punishment for those who detain or violently coerce victims into working in online scam centers, the speaker said.

The “Anti-Online Scam Bill” was passed after MPs approved changes to a draft bill at a combined meeting of the lower and upper houses Tuesday morning in the capital Naypyidaw, Union Parliament Speaker Aung Lin Dwe said during a live television broadcast.

Lower house MP Aye Chan confirmed to AFP that the death sentence remained in the approved version of the law.

“There were not many significant changes to the proposed draft bill after discussions between the lower house and upper house. The important parts of the bill remained the same,” Aye Chan said.

Draft legislation published in May said the law included sentences of 10 years to life in prison, as well as capital punishment, for “violence, torture, unlawful arrest and detention, or cruel treatment against another person for the purpose of forcing them to commit online scams.”

If committing such an offence caused death, “the death penalty shall be imposed,” it said.

The draft bill also featured a maximum sentence of life in prison for those who “run an online scam center” and those who “commit digital currency scams (crypto scams).”

Internet fraud factories have flourished in war-torn Myanmar, part of Southeast Asia’s thriving scam economy, targeting web users worldwide with romance and cryptocurrency investment cons.

The multibillion-dollar black market attracts many willing employees, but repatriated foreigners have also reported being trafficked to sites in Myanmar and tortured by scam center operators.

The anti-scam law is the first legislation passed by Myanmar’s new government, headed by former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

He led a 2021 coup in which the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered the country’s ongoing civil war.

In April, Min Aung Hlaing assumed the role of civilian president after heavily restricted elections that did not include the detained Nobel laureate, Suu Kyi, or her party.

Many analysts describe the military-backed parliament as a rubberstamp legislature, with pro-military MPs sweeping the vote, which was widely criticized by Western nations and democracy watchdogs as a sham meant to launder the junta’s image. AFP

Iran discusses Hormuz with Oman, Saudi

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone calls on the Strait of Hormuz with his Omani and Saudi counterparts Badr Al-Busaidi and Faisal bin Farhan, state TV said Tuesday. During the calls, “they stressed the need to strengthen cooperation and advance joint diplomatic efforts to establish stability in the region and eliminate the insecurity imposed on the Strait of Hormuz due to the aggressive actions of the United States,” the state broadcaster added. Iran has maintained control over the strait since the start of the Middle East war on February 28, disrupting shipping through the vital conduit. In recent weeks, fighting has also spread to involve Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The last few days have nonetheless seen a lull in hostilities in the region. AFP

Japanese arrested for years of guitar noise

TOKYO – An overly enthusiastic Japanese musician has been arrested after allegedly giving his elderly neighbors insomnia for more than seven years with his loud guitar playing, police said on Tuesday. Kyoto resident Kazunori Yokoi, 61, has allegedly been rocking out on his dozens of guitars and playing his radio at loud volume day and night since 2019, a local police officer told AFP, declining to be named. This caused three neighbors in their 60s to their 80s to suffer from sleep deprivation and depression, while a fourth developed a constant ringing in the ears known as tinnitus.

A string of official warnings failed to change his behavior, but the four neighbors finally gave police sufficient grounds to arrest him on assault charges, the official said.

Police seized over 40 guitars – many electric – from Yokoi’s residence, along with CD and radio cassette players and

“It was awful because all kinds of

were jumbled together all day,” Kyodo News quoted one long-suffering neighbor in his 60s as saying. AFP

SONA seen missing Cordillera issues

By Dexter A. See

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Surviving witnesses to the historic 1986 Mount Data Peace Agreement between the Philippine government and the Cordillera Bodong Administration–Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA), along with autonomy advocates, expressed disappointment over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s failure to take a clear position on the renewed quest for regional autonomy in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), despite calls for Malacañang to certify House Bill 6981, which seeks to establish the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), as urgent.

ing the issue to the controversial 2011 agreement entered into by a faction of the group during the administra-

tion of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, instead of the 1986 Mount Data Peace Agreement, which serves as the basis for ongoing negotiations to complete the 40-yearold peace process.

He said the agreement remains unsettled because the government has yet to grant the region’s long-sought autonomous status.

“We submitted our counterproposal to an earlier government position paper presented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, emphasizing the region’s clamor for autonomy. Unfortunately, it appears that our proposal was not reflected in the President’s final revisions of his SONA,” Ngao-I said.

Ngao-I, one of the remaining witnesses to the Mount Data Peace Agreement, maintained that the

2011 agreement cited as the basis of the 15-year standoff was never recognized by the CBA because it was signed by only a faction of the group without the approval of its leaders and elders.

He said providing resources for community development is welcome, but stressed that the government continues to miss the main issue—supporting the Cordillera’s quest for autonomy.

He urged President Marcos to follow, or even surpass, the initiatives of former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, who certified previous autonomy bills as urgent, leading to the passage of Republic Acts 6766 and 8438. Ngao-I added that autonomy advocates remain hopeful the President will certify the pending autonomy bill when Congress resumes its second regular session.

More than 400k Dasmariñas residents to choose next rep

By Dennis Abrina

DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite—The decision on who will fill the vacant seat of expelled Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga in the Aug. 29, 2026 elections now rests with the city’s 432,844 registered voters.

During the three-day filing period for certificates of candidacy on July 15, 16, and 17, former Vice Mayor Rex Mangubat, Marvin Dupal-ag, Leysander Ordenes, former Councilor Jesse Frani, and incumbent Mayor Jenny Barzaga—the mother of the expelled congressman—filed their candidacies.

The Commission on Elections has set the 28-day campaign period from July 30 to Aug. 27, 2026.

A political observer in Cavite, who requested anonymity, said the incumbent candidate has the advantage because of political machinery, although that advantage could disappear if voters have grown dissatisfied with the current leadership.

In the May 2025 midterm elections, then-Rep. Kiko Barzaga defeated Jesse Frani by 15,626 votes, 165,942 to 150,316. The observer said the result showed that political machinery alone does not determine the outcome when voters make independent choices.

PhilSA confirms Cagayan rocket test launch in 2027

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippine Space Agency

(PhilSA) on Tuesday confirmed the upcoming sounding rocket launch that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted in his fifth State of the Nation Address.

According to PhilSA, the test launch in Cagayan will help advance the country’s launch capabilities, develop Filipino expertise in rocket technology, and prepare for future space launch activities.

President Marcos said Cagayan is geographically and economically well-positioned to become the country’s gateway to space and the site of its first spaceport. PhilSA said the demonstration flight will involve a liquid-fueled rocket carrying a lo -

NBI, PAOCC crack down vs. metal producer in Pampanga

By Pot Chavez

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), together with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), announced on Tuesday its operations against an alleged manufacturer of substandard steel products in Magalang, Pampanga.

“We want the public to understand the hazards involved—first, the health risks, and second, the violations involving products that fail to meet government standards,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag said during a press briefing. Matibag added that there are indications the company may be linked to buildings that collapsed during the Mindanao earthquake. He said it was the fourth steel manufacturer apprehended through joint operations involving the NBI, PAOCC, and other government agencies. He also warned that authorities would continue pursuing manufacturers that fail to comply with national standards.

PAOCC Executive Director Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the July 18 operation targeted possible violations involving substandard steel products, radioactive industrial materials, worker safety, environmental protection, and Republic Act 12305, or the Philippine Nuclear Energy Safety Act.

“Today, we speak with one clear purpose—to protect the lives, health, and safety of the Filipino people. On July 18, 2026, the PAOCC, together with the NBI, implemented search warrants against Chuangxing Steel Corporation in Magalang, Pampanga. The operation was the result of months of intelligence gathering, technical assessments, and close inter-agency coordination,” Acorda said.

IN BRIEF

PNP boosts ASEAN fight against scams

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is strengthening intelligence sharing and cross-border operations against online scam syndicates following the creation of the ASEANAPOL Scam Combat Operational Task Force 2026-2028. PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the task force would enable closer coordination with Southeast Asian police agencies to track and dismantle transnational scam networks targeting Filipinos and other nationals.

He said the initiative would improve real-time intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and coordinated operations, allowing authorities to respond faster and identify criminal networks more effectively.

The task force was among the agreements approved during the 44th ASEANAPOL Conference in Manila. The PNP will also expand intelligence sharing on scam syndicates and fugitives while directing its Anti-Cybercrime Group to intensify regional cooperation. Vince Lopez

cally developed payload weighing up to two kilograms to an altitude of at least five kilometers.

The project is being implemented by PhilSA, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, in partnership with Ascend International Gateway Inc. and South Korea’s Perigee Aerospace Inc. It builds on a memorandum of understanding signed during the Philippines-Korea Business Forum on March 4, 2026.

“Yes, we are going to launch a rocket into space,” President Marcos said, adding that the initiative is supported by interim guidelines for rocket launches and is a key step toward establishing and operating the country’s first spaceport.

development. Mayor Joy Belmonte said the program encourages students, scholars, and academic professionals to undertake evidence-based research that can help shape policies, improve public services, and address community needs. The program honors the late journalist and newspaper publisher Betty Go-Belmonte. It is open to Filipino undergraduate and postgraduate students who are Quezon City residents and/or enrolled in higher education institutions in the city, as well as faculty members of QC-based colleges and universities. Rio N. Araja

WOODEN TRANSPORT. Schoolchildren from Banaue, Ifugao ride their handcrafted wooden scooters on a seven-kilometer downhill journey from the upper villages to Poblacion, reaching school in about 10 minutes. Dave Leprozo

Monte City Veterinary Office at the Child Youth Development Center in Barangay Poblacion, Imus.

ASPIRANTS. Former Vice Mayor Rex Mangubat (in photo), Marvin Dupal-ag, Leysander Ordenes, former Councilor Jesse Frani, and incumbent Mayor Jenny Barzaga (in photo) file their Certificates of Candidacy during the July 15–17 filing period for the upcoming elections.

CBA chief executive officer Engr. Andres Ngao-I said the President also cited the wrong reference by attribut-

Eala teams up with ATP No. 4 Auger-Aliassime for US Open

By Jeremiah Sevilla

FILIPINA ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala is set to team up with Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the 2026 US Open mixed doubles event on August 24 to 26 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.

The current WTA No. 28 Eala and ATP No. 4 Auger-Aliassime were included among the star-studded pairings in the initial entry released by the USTA early Tuesday (Philippine time). Also featured in the 16-team list are top-ranked players Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, as well as defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

The 21-year-old Eala will make her professional mixed doubles debut partnering with the 25-year-old Auger-Aliassime.

Auger-Aliassime bagged the bronze medal in the mixed doubles tournament of the 2024 Paris Olympics

with Gabriela Dabrowski.

The Canadian’s singles resume is also impressive, having won ATP Tour titles along with two US Open semifinal finishes in 2021 and 2025. He also made quarterfinal runs in the other three Grand Slams.

The USTA said the mixed doubles entry window will close on August 17, at which time the top six teams with the best combined singles ranking will be officially listed in the main draw. Eight pairs will be determined via wildcard while two more tandems will enter the main draw through the qualifiers.

“Anytime you can bring women and men together on the same team, you showcase tennis at its best. This

is exactly what the Mixed Doubles Championship does. We are proud to again bring the world’s top players together in a format that will provide exciting entertainment for our fans,” USTA CEO Craig Tiley said. Eala will also participate in the Stars of the Open exhibition of the North American swing major together with

Iva Jovic, Joao Fonseca, and Learner Tien on August 27. The Pinay netter begins her US Open buildup in the 2026 Mubadala DC Open, with a first-round matchup against Asian Games tormentor and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China early Wednesday (Philippine time).

PH youth jiu-jitsu team finishes 3rd in Asian tourney

By Randy M. Caluag

THE Philippine youth jiu-jitsu team strengthened its reputation as one of Asia’s rising powers after placing third overall in the Under-16 division of the 10th JuJitsu Asian Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The Filipinos bagged five gold, four silver and five bronze medals to emerge as one of the tournament’s top-performing youth squads, underscoring the country’s growing presence in the continental jiu-jitsu scene.

Pacing the gold medal haul were Megan Louise Cabreros, Aleina Bella Salamillas, Zion Amir Regudo, Eavan Chang and Gianna Isabella Cruz, who topped their

THE Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) hopes to sustain its successful campaign in South Korea by fielding its up-and-coming athletes in the 2026 Asian Taekwondo Indonesia Open Championships on Aug. 1-5 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

PTA Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong is convinced the members of the SMART/MVPSF PH taekwondo team have what it takes to fulfill their mission in the event that drew 30 countries including Korea, Iran, Jordan, Chinese Taipei, China, Cambodia, and Iraq. Grandmaster Hong, meantime, is still on cloud nine after the impressive showing of the Filipino fighters in the recent 7th Kimunyong Cup in Seoul that saw them collect 9 medals, including four golds.

Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and MILO, the Nationals will be spearheaded by Ethan Jervey Dayne Chavez (-58kg), Kurt Mykel Curata (-58kg), Felicity Jana Castel (-49kg), Rhiyanne Agatha Shay Cadilena (-57kg), and Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape in poomsae.

Other members of the men’s Kyorugi squad that will have former icon Roberto Cruz and Christian Al Dela

Cruz as coaches are VonGabriel Polo Barbosa (-54kg) Tor Timothy Castillo (-63kg), Sturdy Jay Gilbuena (-68kg.), Cyvir Junio (-74kg), and Marcus Neil Delos Santos(-80kg).

Comprising the women’s team are Caitlin Julia Carlos (-46kg), Sharifa Vianca Dela Cruz (-53kg), Jizyl Javier (-67), Mary Heart Capulong (-73kg) and Ashley Rose Reniedo (over 73kg.)

Apart from Yape also expected to deliver for the vaunted men’s squad are John Daniel Navarro, JayR Casas, Jesseray Lucas Frantilla, Nathanael Managbanag, Liam Jethro Jimenez, Dane Shaun Enjealo Subaste, Carl Johnsen Ong, Paul Anthony Rodriguez, and Kemp Prochina, Making up the women’s team are Aesha Kiara Oglayon, Glaiza Mae Cabural, Julianna Martha Uy, Casey De Leon, Elizabeth Marie Borres, Heza Allyson Serapio, Stella Nicole Yape, Emie Fernandez, and Juliana Mykhail Candelaria.

GM Hong said some members of the team are being considered for future international meets – foremost of them is the 2028 LA Olympics.

Rain or Shine’s Nocum named PBA’s best cager for week

ADRIAN Nocum has been one of the players who have stepped up for Rain or Shine after it traded Gian Mamuyac midway through the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup. Nocum contributed to the Elasto Painters’ rise after a flat start with averages of 15.5 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds over the last two games. With his contributions, Nocum was adjudged as the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period from July 21 to 26.

Nocum’s playmaking skills have improved, and it was in full display last Sunday against Barangay Ginebra where he had a career-high 10 assists aside from contributing 13 points as the Painters won, 110-99. He remains one of the potent scorers of the Elasto Painters after his 18-point, eight-assist night against Phoenix Super LPG last Tuesday in their first game against Mamuyac.

“We actually, on purpose, try him a lot more minutes at the point,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. “His decision-making is getting better, more matured, and he is also, partly, nagpapakita din siya ng leadership.”

With the play of Nocum, Rain or Shine has leveled its win-loss record to 2-2, in a share of second place with Blackwater and Meralco in Group B in the team standings.

Nocum got the nod over the likes of Caelan Tiongson of Rain or Shine, Schonny Winston of Converge, and Juami Tiongson of Terrafirma from reporters covering the PBA beat.

Palawan Series brings Luzon’s best to San Pablo

THE spotlight shifts to Luzon as the country’s brightest young tennis talents gear up for an intense battle in the four-leg Palawan Junior Series, which blasts off Thursday (July 30) with the San Pablo City Juniors Age Group Championships at the 7 Lakes Tennis Club in Laguna.

With valuable national ranking points, championship honors and the opportunity to establish themselves among the country’s next generation of stars on the line, the tournament is expected to draw spirited competition across all agegroup divisions.

respective divisions against Asia’s best young competitors.

Ysabelle Anne Tambunting, Sean Khale Juatan, Sebastien Blaize Cabanlig and Jin Gabriel Ong added silver medals, while Chantal Valkyrie Lu, Christopher Matthew Cruz and Mara-Alexandria Sarinas contributed bronze medals to complete the Philippines’ impressive youth medal tally.

The strong showing reinforced the country’s bright future in the sport, with its young athletes continuing to make their mark on the regional stage.

The senior national team also delivered a solid performance, collecting one gold, one silver and four bronze medals early in the previous phase of the tournament.

Leading the girls’ singles 18-andunder field are Frances Ilagan and Ava Banson, both determined to open their campaigns with strong performances. Aside from chasing the coveted singles crown, the two are also looking to gain an early edge in the nationwide circuit that has already produced a host of standout performers during successful three-leg swings in Mindanao and the Visayas.

The nationwide developmental program, spearheaded by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro, continues to fulfill its mission of discovering, nurturing and developing promising talents from the countryside who could eventually earn spots in the national pool and represent the Philippines in international competitions.

The growing success of the series comes at an opportune time for Philippine tennis. With Alex Eala’s remarkable rise on the world stage inspiring countless young athletes, interest in the sport continues to soar, encouraging more juniors to pursue the game and dream of following in her footsteps.

Banson will also be among the favorites in the girls’ 16-and-U category, where she is expected to face stiff opposition from Francine Wong, Claire Alcala and Jasmine Sardona. Each possesses the talent and experience to contend for the title in what shapes up to be one of the tournament’s most competitive divisions.

The Luzon swing carries added importance as it opens the final stretch of the nationwide circuit sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Ranking (UTR), with support from ICON Golf & Sports and the Palawan Group of Companies.

Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime Instagram

Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum splits the defense of two Ginebra defenders in a PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup won by the Elasto Painters, 110-99.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

BSP chief sees small chance of aggressive interest hikes

By Thony Rose Lesaca

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas

Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said Tuesday there is only a small chance of more aggressive monetary policy tightening this year, even as the peso hit a new low against the dollar this month amid renewed volatility.

“There’s a chance, yes, but it’s a small chance,” Remolona told reporters on the sidelines of the BSP’s Philippine Economic Society Knowledge Sharing event.

The BSP has already raised key benchmark rates to 4.75 percent on June 18, marking its second straight 25-basis-point hike meant to anchor inflation expectations and mitigate second-round effects. With the peso also plunging to a record low of 61.847 against the US dollar on July 24, Remolona said the central bank only intervened in a small way to maintain orderly markets.

“When it’s a strong dollar, we limit intervention to just maintain orderly markets. Because if we intervene against a strong dollar, which is helping the rest of the world get their dollars, we’re giving them dollars,” he said.

Remolona said the BSP tracks the US Dollar Index, which measures the dollar against six major currencies including the euro, British pound and Japanese yen and that the index showed broad dollar strength rather than peso-specific weakness.

The BSP governor said the BSP intervened only minimally in the foreign exchange market, noting that heavy intervention against a strong dollar would simply deplete the country’s reserves to the benefit of other nations seeking dollars.

BDO raises P132b from bond offer

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO Unibank Inc., the Philippines’ largest lender by assets and controlled by the Sy family, raised P132 billion in fresh funds from an issuance of ASEAN sustainability bonds, the bank said Tuesday in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

The offering drew strong demand from retail and institutional investors, with the issue oversubscribed by more than 26 times against the original offer of at least P5 billion, it said.

The strong demand prompted the bank to close the offer period early on July 10, 2026. The bonds were issued and listed Tuesday on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. The pesodenominated bonds carry a tenor of

one and a half years and a coupon rate of 6.26 percent a year. They were issued, settled and listed on July 28.

BDO said it would use the net proceeds to finance or refinance eligible assets under its sustainable finance framework, support its lending activities and diversify its funding sources.

The offering marks BDO’s sixth issuance of peso-denominated ASEAN sustainability bonds and its

second sustainability-linked bond this year. The bank raised P100 billion through a similar issuance in January.

BDO has raised a total of P386.7 billion through five sustainability bond issuances since January 2022.

ING Bank N.V. Manila Branch acted as sole arranger and sustainability coordinator, while ING and BDO served as selling agents. BDO Capital & Investment Corp. was the financial adviser.

BDO posted a net income of P40.7 billion in the first half of 2026, slightly higher than P40.6 billion a year ago, supported by strong loan growth and higher operating income.

The bank’s pre-provision operating profit rose 12 percent, helped by stronger lending activity and controlled operating expenses, which grew at a single-digit pace.

Malampaya consortium welcomes PBBM’s recognition

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Malampaya or Service Contract 38 (SC 38) consortium, led by Prime Energy Resources Development Corp., on Tuesday welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recognition of Malampaya’s contribution to the country’s energy security and acknowledged the Department of Energy’s support in enabling continued investment in indigenous gas development.

“The extension of SC 38 provided the regulatory certainty needed to resume exploration and drilling activi-

ties in Malampaya,” Prime Energy, the subsidiary of businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., said.

“We thank the Department of Energy for its support and look forward to bringing the Phase 4 wells into production later this year to help sustain the country’s indigenous gas supply,” the consortium said.

The president recognized the Malampaya gas field as a key pillar of the country’s energy security during his State of the Nation Address on Monday, describing the latest natural gas discovery as a “national treasure”

that will help sustain indigenous energy production for years to come.

“Because of the extension as well of the Malampaya service contract until 2039, drilling operations once again resumed for the first time in eight years. What we have uncovered is truly a national treasure,” Marcos said.

He said the newly-discovered reserves are sufficient to supply electricity to about 1.6 million households over the next eight years, underscoring Malampaya’s importance in meeting the country’s growing energy needs.

Marcos cites DHSUD, Pag-IBIG for delivering

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. said the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Pag-IBIG Fund have delivered more than 500,000 homes built or financed under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (4PH), citing the figure during his 2026 State of the Nation Address.

Pag-IBIG Fund has released P517.45 billion in home loans that financed 379,294 housing units under the Marcos administration, based on its latest available data. The agency has expanded partnerships with private developers and government agencies to increase housing

supply, introduced Pag-IBIG Fund Acquired Assets as an additional homeownership option and lowered financing rates to reduce monthly amortizations.

“In our housing program, we have already built and funded more than 500,000 homes, including more than 100,000 homes we added in just one year under our expanded 4PH program,” Marcos said.

“DHSUD and other agencies in the housing system are there to fulfill the Filipino people’s dream of having a home. Together with the private sector and local governments, we are working hard to

the

Lifting of NCR IT ecozone ban to lift investments

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday welcomed the Office of the President’s decision to lift the moratorium on the establishment and expansion of information technology (IT) economic zones in Metro Manila, saying the move will strengthen the country’s competitiveness as a global hub for digital services and accelerate investments in the IT-business process management (IT-BPM) industry.

The policy removes restrictions imposed under Administrative Order No. 18, allowing the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to resume processing applications for new IT ecozones and targeted expansions in the National Capital Region. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the decision responds to longstanding demand from investors seeking more PEZA-accredited office space in Metro Manila while creating fresh opportunities for real estate development and business expansion.

“By reopening the NCR to new IT ecozones and targeted expansion, we are addressing long-standing investor demand, unlocking significant real estate opportunities, and revitalizing the ecosystem that drives our country’s digital economy,” Roque said.

She said the reform resulted from close collaboration among the DTI, PEZA and industry stakeholders, who had pushed for the policy change.

Roque said the lifting of the moratorium would complement the government’s continuing efforts to develop regional IT hubs by allowing Metro Manila to accommodate the expansion requirements of global IT-BPM firms that continue to prefer established business districts.

“We are positioning the IT-BPM sector to generate thousands of highquality jobs, attract foreign direct investments, and ensure economic growth nationwide. We invite our global partners and prospective investors to take full advantage of this renewed momentum and build their future here in the Philippines,” she said.

500,000

homes

shortage nationwide. We are doing this through new communities, PagIBIG Fund’s acquired assets, the Community Mortgage Program, resettlements and even rentals,” he said. The president underscored

TAX MODERNIZATION. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), led by Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza, and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (SwissCham), represented by vice chairperson Michael Alzona, sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on July 21, 2026 to strengthen collaboration in support of the BIR’s digital transformation initiatives and the modernization of tax administration. The MOA operationalizes the commitments outlined in the memorandum of understanding signed on June 24, 2026, which established a framework for publicprivate cooperation on tax administration, digital transformation and taxpayer service.

Malampaya Shallow Water Platform in offshore Palawan.

RESORT MANAGER. Fuego Hospitality Collective Inc. (FHC) formalizes the management of Costa Pacifica Resort, a beachfront property along the dark sand shores of Sabang Beach in Baler, Aurora in a transaction brokered by Leechiu Property Consultants. The resort will move forward under the Fuego brand as Fuego - Costa Pacifica. Signing the agreement are (from left) Adam Domingo, senior manager for hotels, tourism and leisure at Leechiu Property Consultants; Myla Caceres, managingdirector at AHG; Santiago Elizalde, chairman of Fuego Hospitality; Anna Rosalyn Angara, president of Sea and Sierra Vista Inc.; and Alfred Lay, director for hotels, tourism and leisure at Leechiu.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

TBSP: No zero-fee rule for e-wallets

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) clarified on Tuesday that its landmark pricing regulation for electronic fund transfers does not require banks and electronic money issuers (EMIs) to eliminate transfer fees entirely, but instead mandates that all charges be reasonable, transparent and strictly based on actual costs.

Governor

in a radio interview that the central bank issued the clarification to address misconceptions that Circular No. 1238 requires all digital payment providers to offer free fund transfers.

“There is a common misconception that Circular 1238 mandates banks and e-wallets to set transfer fees to zero. That is not the case,” Tangonan said.

“If you read Circular 1238, it simply states that the fees should be rea-

sonable,” he said. Tangonan said the BSP’s objective is to ensure that pricing remains fair and aligned with actual service costs rather than requiring financial institutions to eliminate transfer charges altogether.

The clarification comes after several major banks voluntarily waived online transfer fees following the issuance of the circular, fueling public perception that the BSP had ordered all digital payment providers to adopt zero-fee transactions.

Fintech Alliance.ph chairman Lito Villanueva said most banks and EMIs or e-wallets have already complied with the circular, but he cautioned

FUNDRAISING CONCERT. Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) announces a major fundraising concert, ‘Music for a

Aug. 16, 2026,

Theater at Rockwell. Under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga, the concert pays tribute to the environment and shared connection with nature. Featured soloist Daniel Asis, a 16-year-old Filipino

will perform George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, bringing youthful brilliance to one of the most celebrated works in the piano repertoire. The evening culminates in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F Major, ‘Pastoral,’ a timeless tribute to the beauty, serenity, and restorative power of the countryside.

DOE eyes embedded generation to power Pax Silica hub

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy is considering embedded generation to meet the power requirements of the proposed Pax Silica hub in Tarlac province amid concerns that there is not enough available supply. Embedded generation refers to small power stations that supply power to projects for their own use.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the agency is drafting a circular that will provide for the requirements of data center hubs.

“I just want to emphasize whether it’s 50 megawatts, 100 megawatts, or 5,000 megawatts. We can supply that. But we just need to make sure that anything we do to power a data center or hub will not put the rest of the country at a disadvantage so that our consumers have protection here,” Garin said.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority said the Pax Silica initiative may consume up to 3 gigawatts of capacity. “One of the things that we could immediately do if we have contrac-

DOE to resume offshore wind auction in December after two-month delay

THE Department of Energy will resume the fifth round of its Green Energy Auction Program on Dec. 1, 2026, covering 3,300 megawatts of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity for delivery between 2028 and 2030, Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said.

Guevara said the agency will resume GEA-5 proceedings about two months after suspending the auction earlier this month to align its timelines with infrastructure readiness, regulatory mandates and project development conditions.

The agency said it has been coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine National Oil Company on environmental tenurial permitting requirements.

“These are what we call the DENR-PNOC-related readiness requirements, environmental fees and

charges, bonds, monitoring funds and auxiliary onshore arrangements. So we are giving ourselves from July until Sept. 2 to complete the coordination,” Guevara said.

The department will finalize the supplemental department circular for GEA-5 by Aug. 24 and issue the supplemental terms of reference, updated auction timelines, stakeholder advisory, instructions to prospective bidders and authority to resume GEA-5 by Oct. 2, Guevara said.

The auction proper is targeted for Dec. 1, with awards to be issued from Dec. 2 through June 30, 2027, she said.

“So the total delay of our Green Energy Auction 5 is only two months,” Guevara said. The Department of Energy had initially planned to hold the auction on Aug. 27. Alena Mae S. Flores

that business models differ across the industry. Banks can absorb zero fees because they earn from lending, insurance and other revenue streams, Villanueva said, while EMIs and fintech firms rely more heavily on fee-based income to sustain operations, including services for unbanked communities in remote island barangays.

Villanueva said an electronic fund transfer entails costs before, during and after a payment is routed through the switch, including customer authentication, fraud screening, compli-

ance checks, settlement and customer support.

As a result, he said transaction fees are not based solely on switching costs but also reflect the infrastructure and services required to complete a secure and reliable digital payment. These include fraud prevention systems, cybersecurity upgrades required under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, telecommunications charges such as SMS notifications, cloud infrastructure, compliance requirements and continuous technology investment.

BRIEF

the GSIS Touch mobile application. Once a member selects a plan,

tors who are willing to locate at the hub if they can identify the capacity that they would need is to do what we call embedded generation because it’s the easiest part,” Department of Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said.

“If we already have the timeline for the additional capacities per year, then we can also project the needed transmission, distribution, and generation for each of these years and put that in the transmission development plan and the Philippine Energy Plan,” she said.

GSIS, Maxicare sign deal for zero-interest HMO loans

launch a financing scheme that lets government employees pay for health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage through a zero-interest loan spread over 12 months. The program supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen healthcare benefits for government workers and is designed to help employees maximize the Medical Allowance granted under Executive Orders Nos. 64 and 95 by removing the need to pay insurance premiums in a lump sum. Under the proposed program, members can browse, compare and enroll in health insurance packages offered by accredited Health Insurance Providers (HIPs) through

TREATMENT PLANT. Set for completion this year, the 220-million-liter-perday Kaysakat Water Treatment Plant will strengthen Manila Water’s water supply portfolio by providing an additional raw water source amid the impacts of El Niño. Once operational, the facility is expected to benefit more than one million residents in Antipolo City and neighboring Rizal municipalities.

THE Fintech Alliance Philippines

said it is supporting a proposed bill that would establish the country’s first legal framework for consumerdirected financial data sharing, saying it could significantly expand financial inclusion by allowing more Filipinos to use their digital financial transactions as proof of creditworthiness.

Fintech Alliance Philippines board trustee Todd Schweitzer said the passage of House Bill No. 9149, or the Open Finance and Consumer Data Empowerment Act of 2025, would help bridge longstanding gaps in the country’s financial system by enabling consumers to securely share their financial data with accredited lenders.

“Open Finance legislation matters because it accomplishes two things at once: it directly expands financial access for consumers, and it opens new markets for industry to competitively serve customers the system has ignored,” he said.

The proposed measure seeks to establish the Philippines’ first comprehensive legal framework for open finance, giving consumers the legal right to authorize the transfer of their financial and transactional data for credit evaluation. Under the bill, consumers could allow accredited lenders and financial service providers to access up to 24 months of transaction history, including alternative data such as bill payments, subscription activity, rewards card usage and other digital financial records.

Schweitzer said that while digital payments have become mainstream in the Philippines, millions of consumers remain underserved by the formal financial sector.

Recent data showed digital payments accounted for 57.4 percent of all retail payment transactions in the Philippines in 2024, while an estimated 58 million Filipinos now use e-wallets. Darwin G. Amojelar

in cash assistance to each validated affected farmer. More than 12,300 farmers have already qualified, with the DA seeking additional funds to extend the aid to as many as 20,000 beneficiaries. Othel V. Campos

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BINANCE Philippines is targeting a dominant share of the local cryptocurrency market as it prepares to launch its platform in the second half of the year, the company’s newly appointed general manager said Tuesday.

“We’re entering the market, and we want obviously to get a huge chunk of it or dominate it eventually,” Binance Philippines general-manager Jen Bilango said in a media briefing.

Binance is expanding its presence in the Philippines, where an estimated 12 million to 15 million Filipinos actively own or use cryptocurrency, under a two-year regulatory sandbox program run by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The company has teamed up with BlockShoals Technologies, a fintech firm approved by the SEC to operate as a crypto asset intermediary, for the venture.

The 24-month sandbox arrangement involves a testing plan in which Binance and BlockShoals will introduce financial products in phases.

The first phase will begin once the companies establish the necessary payment rails, including the onboarding of a virtual asset service provider regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. This will allow Filipino users to convert fiat currency into crypto assets.

The two-year sandbox approach is designed to give the SEC greater visibility into the products being offered and to allow the regulator to decide which services are appropriate for the Philippine market.

The company hopes that almost all of Binance’s global products will eventually be offered in the Philippines.

Regenerative Future’ on

at The Proscenium

pianist,

HAIR PROFESSIONALS. New Summit Colors Distribution Inc. announces the contract renewals and the latest additions to its New Summit Colorpro ambassador family. Shown are (from left) Lynn Trenquitio of Lj Salon and Spa; Niño Delim De jesus, Dely’s Beauty Salon and Spa; Genelyn Pidlaoan, Gen Signature Hair Beauty Salon; Laurice Gofredo Lalap, Azta Urban Salon -Ayala Malls Vermosa, Cavite; Jhon Alvin Baldecasa, Azta Urban Salon-Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati; Mark Oliquino, Azta Urban Salon-SM North Edza Towers; Sherwin Atibagos, Bam & Sherwin Hair Fashion; James Mark Orgula, James Creation Salon; Edward Empalmado, Azta Urban Salon-Ayala Malls Feliz; Lovely Peralta, Hairchology; Glydel De Jesus, Glydel Haus of Beauty; and Joy Femar Jaboya, JJ&J Hairstudio

BSP Deputy

Mamerto Tangonan said

Contemporary art made accessible in Makati

By Phoebe Kate Angeles

THE simplest term for contemporary art is the art of now. It is produced without a specific technique because it explores a wide array of ideas, materials, and execution. Contemporary art is created by living artists as they express whether their political stances, personal feelings, or a reflection of their identity.

Somewhere hidden in the busy city of Makati, creative spaces are found tucked in La Fuerza Compound in Chino Roces Avenue. All showcase contemporary art of local artists: Modeka Art Gallery, Finale Art File, and Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery. The admission for these galleries are completely free because of their mission to make contemporary art accessible for everyone.

Modeka Art Gallery curates regular art exhibitions that feature

paintings, sculptures, mixed-media art, fine art photography, and digital art from starting and established Filipino artists. Then, Finale Art File is a spawning ground for young artists where most of them make their debuts. Their artists are as diverse as the art they install. Finally, Vinyl on Vinyl represents the artistic practices that revolve around pop surrealism, after-modernism, street art, and other emerging unexplored genres.

“There’s this kind of notion that art spaces are a bit snobbish, so, what I really like about this space is it’s more of the

Bringing healthcare closer to Bantayan Island through point-of-care testing

By Julienne Andrea Chua and Darren Barrientos

Photos by Mark Tedoso

FOR many Filipinos living in geographically isolated communities, accessing healthcare often means hours of travel, expensive transportation, and delayed treatment. In Bantayan Island, Cebu, however, a community-centered approach to tuberculosis (TB) detection has transformed the way healthcare reaches those who need it most.

The transformation began in 2021 when Bantayan became one of the pilot sites for the USAID Introducing New Tools Project.

Dr. Samantha Tinsay, then the Island’s Municipal Health Officer, recalled how the initiative introduced an ultra-portable AI-powered X-ray and the Molbio Truenat mobile RT-PCR system, allowing healthcare workers to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) closer to patients’ homes.

“I was the Municipal Health Officer in Bantayan, Cebu,” she recalled. “We were chosen as a pilot for the USAID Introducing New Tools project. We were given three

tools, an ultra-portable X-ray with AI and the Molbio mobile RT-PCR test called Truenat. That’s how I became familiar with them. They’re a point-of-care testing company.”

Unlike conventional diagnostic methods that require patients to travel repeatedly to hospitals, the portable technology allowed healthcare workers to bring testing directly into communities. Patients no longer had to wait months for a diagnosis.

“Before, it took them three months to be diagnosed,” Dr. Samantha said. “Now, we can just take your sputum now, wait for one to two hours for the result, and then we’ll find out if it’s drug-susceptible or drug-resistant TB.”

The initiative proved especially meaningful in Bantayan, where residents often travel by boat just to access medical services. Transportation costs alone can discourage patients from seeking treatment.

“The challenge in the island or any rural area is the fare,” she explained. “For us, maybe we don’t think about it so much. But for them, it’s 50 pesos, 100 pesos. They have to go back for their medication or for additional diagnostics.”

Through point-of-care testing, patients receive screening, diagnosis, and medication within the same visit. According to Dr. Samantha, the community’s screening efforts expanded dramatically, allowing health workers to detect more cases before they became severe.

Beyond statistics, one patient who exemplifies this transformation was Joseph, resident in Doong Island. Severely ill and weighing less than 30 kilograms,

he had long been misunderstood by his community, with some attributing his condition to superstition rather than disease. Through point-of-care testing, healthcare workers confirmed that he had tuberculosis, allowing him to receive proper treatment.

“Without the point-of-care test, we wouldn’t have known that it was TB,” she said. “It took the BHW, the tests, the nurses... and now, he works for the LGU as a security guard for the mayor.” His recovery, she emphasized, was not the work of one person alone. “It took a community.”

Today, even after leaving her post in Bantayan, Dr. Samantha continues advocating for local governments to adopt similar healthcare models across the country. She believes innovation alone is not enough to sustain change.

“Political will,” she stressed. “You can do so many things. There are a lot of technologies and donations. But if there is no support from our local government units, it won’t be sustainable.”

industrial type and it’s really accessible and it’s less of an institutional space, but more of a creative space.” explained by Kimberly Fabregas, a gallery associate of Modeka Art Gallery. Every month, these galleries change their installations and feature a different local artist. It allows these art galleries to be a platform for local artists to showcase their creations. The galleries are not limited to young and new artists but they also feature established artists to show their talent as well. “What Finale does is we help them market and gain a fan base, as I call it, but more of collectors, so it helps them with their art.” stated by Mika Sorenas, writer and contributor of Finale Art File in art galleries’ role in supporting Filipino artists.

These creative spaces are curated by artists for everyone that has an eye and heart for art. It invites every single person who can feel and see interpretations outside the box. “I hope they feel the connection with the art. I hope that it’s like an oasis in the buzzing city of Makati because it’s so loud out there, and in here, it’s cold and you can appreciate the art, take a moment to breathe, pause, and reflect on art.” added Kimberly Fabregas.

Spaces like the art galleries in La Fuerza Compound aim to build communities for people who can see beyond and feel deeply connected to art. You do not have to create art yourself in order to connect with artists, if you wish to expound your knowledge, feel free to visit La Fuerza Compound and reflect on art. Aside from Modeka Art Gallery, Finale Art File, and Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, there are other galleries as well such as Silverlens, Leon Gallery and many more.

By Robert Harland

HIS Majesty King Charles III and I share one thing in common: we both enjoy a refreshing gin and tonic. Yet I suspect the King may not be aware that the world’s largest producer of gin is not Britain, but the Philippines. It’s a curious twist of fate that a spirit so deeply associated with British culture has found its greatest volume of production thousands of miles away in Southeast Asia.

Gin’s story is as colorful as its botanicals. Originating in the Netherlands in the 17th century as “jenever,” it was introduced to England by soldiers returning from war. The English quickly embraced it, and by the early 18th century gin had become the drink of the masses.

Cheap, potent and widely available, it earned the notorious nickname “Moth er’s Ruin.” The Gin Craze of the 1720s and 1730s saw Lon don awash with small distilleries and so - cial problems multiplied — public drunkenness, crime and poverty were all linked to excessive consumption. William Hogarth’s famous engraving Gin Lane captured the misery of the era, contrasting it with the wholesome stability of beer.

Despite its grim reputation, gin eventually evolved into a more refined spirit. By the 19th century, distilling methods improved and gin became cleaner, smoother and more palatable. The invention of the gin and tonic owes much to the British Empire: quinine, dissolved in tonic water, was used to ward off malaria in colonial India and gin was added to make the bitter medicine more enjoyable. Thus, a classic was born.

Royalty, however, did not always favor gin. For centuries, wine and brandy were the preferred drinks of kings and queens. Gin was considered plebeian, associated with the working classes rather than the aristocracy. Only in more recent times has gin shed its lowly image and been embraced across social strata. Today, it is celebrated for its versatility, with craft distillers experimenting with botanicals ranging from lavender to peppercorns.

The Philippines’ dominance in gin production is largely due to Ginebra San Miguel, a household name and cultural staple. Affordable and widely consumed, it has made the country the world’s leading gin producer by volume. While British distillers focus on premium craft expressions, the Philippine market thrives on accessibility and tradition.

From “Mother’s Ruin” to royal refreshment, gin has travelled a remarkable path. It is both a cautionary tale of excess and a symbol of conviviality. Whether sipped by a monarch in Buckingham Palace or enjoyed in a Manila bar, gin continues to embody history, resilience and the enduring human desire for a well-made drink.

Finale Art File Installation

Modeka Art Gallery

Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery

Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery

Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery Entrance

Dr. Samantha Tinsay

The team arriving in Bantayan Island

Molbio’s Truenat mobile RT-PCR system allows healthcare workers to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) closer to patients’ homes.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

RThe cast of Regal Entertainment’s ‘Haunted Carnival,’ with producer Keith Monteverde (rightmost, first row) and director Joey de Guzman (2nd from left, first row) prepares for its 2026 MMFF run with a story set inside a sinister theme park

EGAL Entertainment is taking audiences into a sinister theme park with Haunted Carnival , one of the first four films announced for the 2026 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

The film, the third installment in the Haunted franchise after Haunted Mansion (2015) and Haunted Forest (2017), aims to bank on horror anchored on an emotional narrative, according to director Joey de Guzman Rather than relying solely on familiar elements, De Guzman said the film is designed to immerse viewers in a mysterious world that is both frightening and emotionally driven.

“It’s going to be both fun and scary. It’s going to have mystery,” De Guzman told Manila Standard Entertainment during a press junket right after the cast reveal event for the film. “We wanted to create an environment where we can build our own world, shape it, and make it work.”

The filmmaker acknowledged that the project presents technical and creative challenges, with several ambitious sequences still being developed ahead of production. Instead of seeing those uncertainties as obstacles, he views them as opportunities to push every department creatively.

“I don’t even know how we’re going to pull off some of the sequences yet,” he admitted. “That’s the best environment to be in because it pushes

NINE-YEAR-OLD social media

personality Willard King Tolentino performed at Brewing Point during a live show by former “Tawag ng Tanghalan Boys” member Canlas

Willard sang Vittorio Grigolo Italian song “Bedshaped” (Cosi), his first live performance of a foreign-language song. He dedicated the number to his father, talent manager, and social media personality Wilbert Tolentino became emotional while watching the performance.

Wilbert described the moment as a proud milestone, noting that it was his son’s second time performing live before a large audience.

Willard also sang “I Will Be Here” before joining Canlas for a duet of “A Million Dreams.” Other guests at the event included MFK, Czine, Caleb Biol

The young performer is preparing to release his debut single, “Lambing,” composed and arranged by Canlas. The track will be available on FM radio and digital streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. In a message to his father, Willard thanked Wilbert for his love, sacrifices, and constant support, calling him his “hero” and greatest inspiration.

Regal unveils a terrif ying new playground with ‘Haunted Carnival’

everyone—the actors, the camera department, and every creative team—to do something beyond what we’ve done before.”

Asked whether he felt pressure to uphold Regal Entertainment’s long-standing reputation

for horror films, De Guzman said his approach was to begin with the characters rather than the scares.

He explained that the story was built around the emotional journey of its lead character before weaving in the slasher elements that define the film’s tone.

“I started with the character and her transformation,” he shared. “Then I built the slasher genre around it. I have the blueprint and the structure, and it’s up to everyone else to help paint the picture.”

In the same junket, actor John Arcilla said he was drawn to the project because of its humanity despite its fantastical setting.

“I always look for something interesting and something human in every character,” he started. “Even if the role exists in a fantasy world, it still has to connect with real people. That’s what makes a character memorable.”

He added that the film draws inspiration

By Angelica Villanueva

VMX star Astrid Lee has no problem dating someone older but believes age should never excuse dishonesty or disrespect in a relationship.

During the media conference for her latest VMX project, Daddy’s Girl Astrid said she is generally more attracted to men older than her and would be open to a noticeable age gap as long as the person is single, kind, and respectful.

Mas gusto ko po yung older than kaysa mas bata sa akin,” Lee

She initially identified men between 28 and 30 as within her preferred age range but later admitted she could also be drawn to those in their 30s or 40s.

Asked whether she had received attention from someone significantly older, Lee said a married man once tried to court her. She immediately rejected the possibility.

“Someone did, maybe around 14 years older or more, but I wasn’t interested because, of course, he was already married,” she said.

For Lee, the age difference itself is not the issue. What matters is how the person behaves and whether the relationship begins on honest terms.

Astrid Lee opens up about her dating preferences while stressing honesty, respect, and being single as nonnegotiables in a relationship

from De Guzman’s passion for storytelling and entertainment, allowing performers to ground extraordinary characters in authentic human experiences.

Meanwhile, RK Bagatsing, who joined Arcilla and De Guzman in the junket, described his role as one that audiences may “love to hate.”

Without revealing plot details, Bagatsing said he was immediately intrigued after reading the screenplay and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with a new creative team.

“I was really excited when I read the script. Beyond creating a memorable character, I always look forward to having a memorable experience with my co-actors and learning something new from every project,” he shared.

Completing the cast of Haunted Carnival are James

Julia

‘Daddy’s

an anthology centered on age-gap relationships, temptation, and complicated affairs

“I’m okay with it, as long as he is kind, respectful, and, of course, not married,” she said.

Astrid’s comments came as she promoted Daddy’s Girl, a curated anthology about age-gap relationships, secret affairs, temptation, and power.

The special, directed by Christian Paolo Lat, brings together older Filipino films and several VMX titles under one theme.

The actress hosts the anthology, which begins streaming Aug. 11. She also

appears in Stepdaddy one of the films included in the collection.

When asked which veteran actor she would like to work with in an age-gap romance, Astrid named Albert Martinez, whom she described as one of her acting idols.

“Super idol ko talaga siya when it comes to acting. I feel like we would be a good match, even if it’s just a little bit of romance like that,” Astrid shared.

The young actress was also asked how she would respond if Martinez pursued her in real life.

“Sure! It’s possible,” she answered jokingly.

Despite her openness to dating an older man, Astrid said she is currently single and is not entertaining suitors. Her reason has less to do with a lack of interest and more with her concern that a relationship could distract her from work.

Willard has built a large online

Willard King Tolentino draws from family support

his

as he begins building his path in music

Director Christian Paolo Lat (left) and Astrid Lee introduce

Girl,’

Reid,

Barretto, Maricel Soriano, Fyang Smith, Price Carlos, Charlie Fleming, Joaquin Arce, JM Salvador, and Celyn David.

Director Joey de Guzman leads the new film with plans to balance slasher thrills and an emotional character arcs

Very Wang Nickie Wang

Award-winning actors John Arcilla (left) and Maricel Soriano join the horror project, which builds its story around fear, mystery, and human conflict

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

Filipino film producer honored at Emirates fest in Dubai

By Nickie Wang

ENTREPRENEUR and film producer Aquino Plotado won the Best Film Producer award at the 12th Emirates Film Festival held July 26 at the New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Plotado was recognized for his production work on the short film As the Call, So the Echo , which previously earned awards for Best Actor for Enzo Pineda and Best Director for writer-director Rusty Palacio Guarin at the 11th Emirates Film Festival.

The recognition adds to Plotado’s achievements in the UAE. In July 2025, he received the Billion Dirhams Deal Maker Award at the Emirates Real Estate Awards 2025 for his work in the real estate and film industries.

This year’s festival awarded Best Film to Bukal , directed by Epy Quizon , who also won Best Director.

John Moreland Lynn took home Best Actor for Quiet on Set , while Ruwani Tebuwanage won Best Actress for Police Seat

Francis Gacer received the Best Screenplay award for Tilamsik sa Dakilang Apoy , while Vera won Best Cinematography. Other winners included Thraattu for Best Editor, Cassandra’s Client for Best Sound, Yung Tayo Na Hindi Naging Tayo for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Toxicity (Canada) for Best Production Design, and Osman for Best Cast Ensemble.

Ritchie Barrios won Best Supporting Actor for Yung Tayo Na Hindi Naging Tayo , while Jessica Miranda received Best Supporting Actress for Batingaw Regional awards recognized films from different parts of the world, including Thufaili (Uninvited Guest) from India for Best Regional Film (South Asia), Tilamsik sa Dakilang Apoy from the Philippines

for Best Regional Film (Southeast Asia), The Keyboard from Egypt for Best Regional Film (Middle East), L’Appel from France for Best Regional Film (Europe), Unleash Your Imagination for Best Regional Film (GCC), and The First for Best Emirati Film.

The festival also honored emerging talents, with Charmae Cabrera receiving the EFF Promising Actress award, Ron Jordan De Ocampo named EFF Promising Actor, and Orli Gayeta receiving the EFF Filmmaker Recognition Award.

Festival founder and CEO Ron Awa announced plans to expand the Emirates Film Festival’s global reach by welcoming more international filmmakers and strengthening Dubai’s role as a destination for cinema and cultural exchange.

By Nickie Wang

ENTREPRENEUR and educator Dr. Michael V. Maranan has released four books based on his experience in business, logistics, customs brokerage, and leadership, providing practical lessons for entrepreneurs, professionals, and students.

The books were launched July 21 at Max’s Restaurant in Quezon City, with media members, business leaders, educators, students, and industry partners attending the event.

Maranan described the collection as a reflection of his decades of experience in entrepreneurship, education, and supply chain management.

The titles include From Eight to Infinity: Secret Stories and Lessons from the Life of Dr. Mike Maranan, a memoir that chronicles his journey from humble beginnings to becoming an entrepreneur and educator while sharing lessons on perseverance, discipline, resilience, and leadership.

Confessions of a Licensed Customs Broker provides an inside look at the customs brokerage profession, covering industry realities, professional responsibilities, and career opportunities in logistics and international trade.

Meanwhile, The Business That Fits You encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to create ventures aligned with their strengths, interests, resources, and long-term goals rather than simply following market trends.

The Filipino-language title Ang Negosyong Swak Sa’yo aims to make entrepreneurial guidance more accessible by helping readers identify business opportunities suited to their skills, personality, and circumstances.

The launch highlighted entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, and practical business education while bringing together members of the business, academic, and entrepreneurial communities. Selected products under the 88 WeServe brand were also introduced during the event.

The four books are available through Maranan’s official website, with additional online selling platforms expected in the coming months.

producers

alleged offensive jokes

By Angelica Villanueva

THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has summoned Vice Ganda and the producers of It’s Showtime over complaints regarding alleged racist and inappropriate scenes aired during the show’s July 24 episode.

In a statement released Tuesday, July 28, the MTRCB said it received multiple complaints from viewers over a “Memerimar” skit in the program’s “Laro Laro Pick” segment and a separate “lugaw” scene involving Vice Ganda and co-host Ion Perez

The notice, signed by MTRCB chair and CEO Lala Sotto on behalf of the MTRCB Board, directed representatives of GMA Network Inc. and ABS-CBN Corporation to appear before the

MTRCB Hearing and Adjudication Committee on July 29 at 10:30 a.m.

The complaints questioned whether the episode violated Section 3(c) of Presidential Decree No. 1986, which prohibits television programs that are “contrary to law, good customs, public order, or public morals or are otherwise objectionable.”

The complaints stemmed from a skit where Vice Ganda spat water on Baby Dolls member Johaira Morris and asked, “ Anong nangyari sa ’yo ? Bakit nagputik ka ?”

Some viewers interpreted the remark as a reference to Johaira’s complexion and criticized it as racist and colorist.

Vice Ganda issued a public apology before the end of the July 25 episode over the jokes made the previous day.

COMIC book enthusiast Jon Bolerjack began filming Stan Lee around 2014 to document how the legendary creator of some of the world’s most beloved superheroes was spending his 90s.

The filmmaker also captured what he described as troubling instances of alleged exploitation, warning that similar situations could happen to anyone.

Stan Lee: The Final Years arrives on streaming platforms Tuesday despite what Bolerjack described as opposition from some in the industry.

The documentary includes allegations from people close to Lee of exploitation by two former managers, including one who was charged in 2019, a year after Lee’s death at 95, with fraud, theft, and unlawful deprivation of liberty.

Bolerjack, who said he was with Lee before

his death, told AFP at Comic-Con in San Diego that he faced pressure not to release the film from one of Lee’s former managers and several companies he declined to identify.

Born Stanley Martin Lieber in 1922, Lee became one of Marvel’s most influential figures, co-creating iconic superheroes, including Spider-Man and Black Panther. The documentary portrays him as a creative force but a poor negotiator.

“Stan knew that he made a bad deal, and he never tried to blame Disney for that,” Bolerjack said, noting that Lee still loved his role as Marvel’s public face.

Bolerjack said the documentary is ultimately a warning about protecting loved ones from exploitation.

“The story is that anything can happen to you. Anything can happen to your parents. You should pay attention,” he said. AFP

Aquino Plotado (right) receives recognition in Dubai for his work as a film producer, adding to his growing list of achievements in the UAE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Tides examines the Battle of Mactan and the Battles

La Naval through trade, faith, diplomacy, and conflict

Ayala Museum revisits maritime encounters that shaped Philippine history

By Earla Joy Nicol

AYALA MUSEUM OPENED TURNING TIDES: MARITIME ENCOUNTERS AND Exchanges of Power on July 16, an exhibition that examines two defining moments in Philippine history—the Battle of Mactan (1521) and the Battles of La Naval de Manila (1646)—through the themes of trade, diplomacy, religion, and cultural exchange.

Running until Feb. 14 at the museum’s 3F Main Gallery, the exhibition features historical artifacts, paintings, devotional objects, scale models, multimedia installations, and interactive experiences that explore how these maritime encounters were part of wider regional and global movements of commerce, faith, diplomacy, and conflict.

Developed through extensive research and collaborations with national cultural institutions, religious organizations, and lenders across the country, Turning Tides explores the motivations, alliances, beliefs, and decisions of the people involved in these historic events and how their legacies continue to shape Filipino identity.

Curator Jei Ente said the exhibition aims to introduce audiences to a lesser-known chapter of Philippine history while providing a deeper understanding of the country’s role in the region.

Fernando Amorsolo’s ‘The First Baptism’ forms part of Ayala Museum’s look at early religious, political, and cultural exchanges in Philippine history

“Most Filipinos are familiar with the significance of the Battle of Mactan, but not as many are aware of the role that Filipinos played in the Battles of La Naval, which sabotaged the quest of Dutch forces to control Southeast Asia. Through these stories and fascinating character dynamics, we hope visitors reflect on how choices made hundreds of years before still impact us today,” Ente said.

The exhibition features works that illustrate the cultural and religious exchanges of the period, including Fernando Amorsolo’s The First Baptism and The Traders

Also on display are La Japona, a 17th-century image of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary from Santo Domingo Church; an ivoryand-gold rosary recovered from the San Diego shipwreck; and the Manto Patrimonial, the ceremonial vestment worn by Our Lady of La Naval and the Child Jesus during the Quincentennial Celebration of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

Visitors can also view Ayala Museum’s scale models of a Spanish galleon, a caravel, and precolonial Philippine vessels that demonstrate the maritime technologies that connected the archipelago to regional and global trade networks during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The exhibition features five interactive digital modules exploring maritime trade, naval warfare, political alliances, religious traditions, and everyday life. A short animated film created with students from the University of Makati Institute of Design and the Arts, inspired by the chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta, is also part of the exhibit.

Jorell M. Legaspi, senior director for arts and culture of Ayala Foundation, said the exhibition highlights the Philippines’ historical role in international exchange.

“Turning Tides presents the Philippines as an active crossroads of trade, diplomacy, religious faith, and cultural exchange. It reflects Ayala Museum’s commitment to preserving Philippine heritage and making it accessible, relevant, and meaningful for our growing audiences,” Legaspi said.

The exhibition coincides with the 65th anniversary of Ayala Foundation and will be accompanied by curator’s tours, lectures, family activities, and other public programs throughout its run.

Manila opens its call for exhibition proposals for the upcoming editions of Gallery C’s Of Art and Wine series.

“Conrad Manila envisions Gallery C as a home to Philippine contemporary arts. Every exhibition mounted in this space reflects our ongoing commitment to championing Filipino artists by

Spaces for emerging artists

ARTISTS and aspiring creatives have fresh opportunities to develop their practice and share their work through two distinct initiatives. The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) invites emerging cultural workers to gain hands-on experience through its Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) Apprenticeship Program, while Conrad Manila’s Gallery C welcomes exhibition proposals from artists seeking a platform to showcase their creative vision.

Together, these programs reflect a shared commitment to nurturing artistic talent and supporting the continued growth of the Philippine creative community.

2026 Kaisa sa Sining Apprenticeship Program in Tagum City

Glazing Life

Glaiza Lee

Through its Cultural Exchange Department, the CCP brings the 2026 Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) Apprenticeship Program from July 22 to 31 at the Herminigildo Balayo MD Hall, Tagum City Cultural Center.

Now in its eighth edition, the apprenticeship program welcomes 24 participants from the 17 CCP KSS partner organizations nationwide, who will undergo training to enhance the competence and skills of regional cultural workers in technical theater (sound and lighting), as well as stage and production management.

They will be mentored by resource speakers who are prominent in their respective fields, namely Arnelio Manzano, Joey Nombres, Renz Sevilla, and Chinggay Bernardo. Each speaker will tackle specific work areas in arts and theater through accompanying lectures, interactions, demonstrations, case studies, and practical applications.

The 2026 KSS Apprenticeship Program is one of the pioneering programs the CCP provides to its KSS network. To date, there are 80 members nationwide, composed of local government units, educational institutions, and community-based organizations.

For the past seven years, the program has provided training to 188 apprentices from 102 local communities. The 2026 KSS Apprenticeship Program is organized through a partnership with the Musikahan sa Tagum Foundation, the City of Tagum, and the Tagum City Tourism Arts and Culture Council.

Conrad Manila calls for exhibition proposals

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of its art gallery, Conrad

Showcasing

Twenty-four selected artists move forward to a January 2027 exhibition after the first Ortigas Art Competition gives emerging talents a new platform

showcasing compelling works that resonate with both art enthusiasts and our discerning guests. As we celebrate our tenth anniversary year, we strengthen this advocacy by inviting exhibit proposals that embody artistic excellence while aligning seamlessly with our brand’s identity,” shared Rupert Hallam, general manager of Conrad Manila. Exhibition proposals may be submitted by individual artists, curators, art collectives, or organizations with a proven exhibition history. Artworks must be original and available for sale, while artists must meet the production, marketing, and logistical expectations of the gallery.

Proposals will be accepted year-round, with reviews conducted quarterly. Requirements include a proposal summary, artist or curatorial statement, resume of the artist/s, curator/s, or organization/s, and five to 15 digital images or video links of work samples with descriptions.

Applicants must also provide preferred exhibit dates, technical requirements, installation needs, and a public engagement plan.

“World-class Filipino artistry continues to take center stage at Gallery C. Since our inception, we have mounted 40 solo and group exhibitions, featuring over 200 Filipino visual artists through the much-celebrated Of Art and Wine series. With our standardized selection process now in place, we look forward to presenting an even more diverse and captivating roster of exhibitions,” Gallery C resident curator Nestor Jardin said, adding that the selection committee will prioritize Filipino artists and organizations.

Proposals will be evaluated based on artistic quality, alignment with the gallery’s objectives, commercial appeal, feasibility, installation requirements, readiness to exhibit, and professionalism.

Located on the third level of Conrad Manila, Gallery C opened in November 2016 and has since remained a non-commercial space dedicated to Philippine contemporary art, featuring rising talents, established practitioners, and master artists.

The hotel houses 737 artworks created by established and emerging Filipino visual artists, curated to reflect the country’s rich cultural narratives.

For more information on Conrad Manila’s art installations or to submit exhibit proposals, contact Aly Castro, Gallery C Manager, at aly.castro@gallery-c.org.

Filipino creativity through free exhibitions

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra string quartet helps open the ninth Ortigas Art Festival

By Earla Joy Nicol

THE 9th Ortigas Art Festival invites the public to explore Filipino creativity through free exhibitions at GH Mall in Greenhills, featuring works by National Artists, emerging talents, and regional artists.

The festival opened on July 16 with performances by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Ballet Barre. This year’s edition brings together National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal, installation art pioneer Luis “Junyee” Enano Yee Jr., Agos Studio, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and artist collectives from Rizal, Pasig, and Mindoro.

The multidisciplinary festival, which runs until July 31, turns the mall into an accessible art venue where visitors can experience visual arts, literature, theater design, photography, and other creative

disciplines. Now on its ninth year, the event continues its mission of expanding access to Philippine art by providing exhibition opportunities for artists beyond traditional gallery spaces.

A new highlight this year is the first Ortigas Art Competition, which selected 24 finalists who will advance to an exhibition scheduled in January 2027, giving emerging artists a platform to further develop their careers.

Head curator Renato Habulan said the festival was created to showcase artworks while opening opportunities for young and regional artists who face challenges in finding exhibition venues. Over the years, he added, the event has grown into a community guided by the vision, “Art for Everyone.”

Organizers hope the free exhibition will encourage more Filipinos to engage with local artists and discover the diversity of Philippine art.

Turning

of

The Manto Patrimonial worn by Our Lady of La Naval and the Child Jesus is among the devotional objects featured in the historical exhibition

Ballet Barre joins the Ortigas Art Festival opening program as the free showcase expands its reach across different creative disciplines

Nestor Jardin leads the gallery’s curatorial direction as the hotel invites artists, collectives, and organizations to submit exhibition concepts

Gallery C opens its call for proposals as the hotel marks a decade of giving Filipino artists a venue for contemporary works

The hotel continues to house works by Filipino visual artists as part of its effort to make local art part of the guest experience