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Erice claims OMB Remulla got P1.5b confi funds at DOJ By Maricel V. Cruz A MEMBER of the House minority bloc on Wednesday accused Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla of seeking a huge amount of confidential and intelligence funds from then House
appropriations chair and now-fugitive Zaldy Co. Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice made the accusation against Remulla, who was then secretary of the Department of Justice. Next page
VOL. XL • NO. 180 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
‘2024 senators got leadership fund’ Bonoan: P24b for budget insertions, including for flood control projects By Joel Zurbano and Rio Araja
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LL senators in 2024 received a so-called “leadership fund” – a minimum of P500 million per senator and up to P1 billion for those who have committee chairmanships, former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan testified before the Sandiganbayan yesterday. Bonoan disclosed this during the hearing on the malversation case against Senator Bong Revilla over an alleged ghost project in Pandi, Bulacan. He claimed the total amount of leadership fund reached P24 billion, with then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri having the discretion as to increases.
“The fund will be under the discretion of the Senate president but there are thresholds we have agreed on,” Bonoan said. Bonoan added that then DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo allegedly used Revilla and Senator Jinggoy Estrada to submit lists of projects.
Incumbent senators in 2024 1. Juan Miguel Zubiri 2. Loren Legarda 3. Joel Villanueva 4. Koko Pimentel III 5. JV Ejercito 6. Mark Villar 7. Risa Hontiveros 8. Sonny Angara 9. Nancy Binay 10. Alan Cayetano 11. Pia Cayetano 12. Bato dela Rosa
13. Francis Escudero 14. Jinggoy Estrada 15. Sherwin Gatchalian 16. Bong Go 17. Lito Lapid 18. Imee Marcos 19. Robin Padilla 20. Grace Poe 21. Bong Revilla 22. Francis Tolentino 23. Raffy Tulfo 24. Cynthia Villar
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PRIME WITNESS. Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan enters the Sandiganbayan court room to testify in the case against former Senator Bong Revilla. News5 screen grab
VP’s lawyers question COA rules; Explain, Duterte dared By Joel E. Zurbano, Maricel V. Cruz and Ram Superable THE defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday questioned Commission on Audit (COA) rules governing confidential funds and challenged the prosecution to prove that the VP personally benefited from the ques-
tioned transactions. The 15th day of the Senate impeachment trial of Duterte focused on Article I, which deals with confidential and intelligence funds, while the prosecution pressed the Vice President to explain in person the transfer of confidential funds to military officials who were part of Next page
HABAGAT’S IMPACT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. inspects the clean-up of garbage that swamped Baclaran River at the height of the flooding in Metro Manila. Upper right inset shows an approaching storm, named Nangka, east of extreme northern Luzon. At right, displaced residents line up in a flooded street to get sacks of rice and fish from the local government of Calasiao, Pangasinan. PCO, PAGASA, Calasiao Information Office through Edd Castro
Monsoon rains here to stay until Saturday By Rio N. Araja and Rex Espiritu METRO Manila will continue to experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over the next few days, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that the storms left 21 people dead, 14 injured and one missing. On the other hand, the PNP reported 26 dead due to the bad weather. The OCD also said more than 3.1 million people have been affected by the combined effects of tropical cyclones “Luis” and “Maymay,” aggravated by the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat. Weather forecaster Chenel Dominguez said the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ remains the dominant weather system in the country, bringing concentrated rains over the western section of Luzon. The forecast covers Metro MaNext page
PBBM has nothing more to prove in flood control issue — Palace By Charles Dantes MALACAÑANG on Wednesday defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against calls for him to do more to prove he had no involvement in the alleged flood control corruption, saying his public statements and orders have already
made his position on the issue clear. In a radio interview with DZBB, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said Mr. Marcos should do more than simply claim he had no connection to the flood control controversy.
Ex-Speaker‘s camp: DOJ charges undermine Maleta Boys’ claims THE camp of former Speaker Martin Romualdez again questioned the credibility of the so-called “Maleta Boys” after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed separate cases against some of them, saying the move reinforced its position that their allegations against the Leyte lawmaker were unreliable. Atty. Ade Fajardo, Romualdez’s spokesperson and counsel, said the credibility of the 18 witnesses had been questioned since they surfaced in February, noting that even the Office of the Ombudsman had previously described their statements as calculated
to destabilize the government. “We have long been saying that the statements of the Maleta Boys were not credible or believable, ever since they surfaced in February,” Fajardo said in a DZMM interview. Fajardo said the filing of perjury complaints by several individuals named in the witnesses’ statements further weakened their allegations. “In simple terms, you lied in a sworn statement,” he said of the Maleta Boys, also described as ex-soldiers who served as employees and bodyguards Next page
Castro said the President has repeatedly addressed the issue, including during his State of the Nation Address and a recent media briefing in Canada. “The President has spoken. During the SONA. From the very beginning, during last year’s SONA. ‘You should be ashamed,’ the President said.
Those who should be held accountable must be held accountable,” Castro said. Mr. Marcos also specifically raised the flood control issue in his speeches and called for accountability, Castro said, adding that a presidential directive should be considered an Next page
MMDA to impose P5k fine on garbage violators By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is poised to enforce a higher penalty for improper waste disposal in the National Capital Region, with violators facing a fine of up to P5,000. Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged that the country is grappling with a serious waste problem, but stopped short of calling it a crisis, saying the government must address both improper disposal and gaps in waste collection. The President also said imposing stiffer penalties for littering would not be enough if communities lack accessible facilities where people can properly dispose of their waste. Next page
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‘2024... From A1 He said Senators Bong Go and Robin Padilla also submitted such a list through Bernardo. Asked if the senators approached him directly, Bonoan said it was either the senators’ staff or Bernardo. He also disclosed that Padilla and Senator Imee Marcos allegedly thanked him for his “assistance.” Zubiri, for his part, vehemently denied Bonoan’s allegations.
“For the record, as Senate President, I never requested, held, or handled any list of project requests from senators. I refused to handle any such list,” he said in a statement. “No proposed budget amendments were coursed through our office. The senators know that. All requests are coursed through the Senate Committee on Finance, which oversees the budget process in the Senate,” he added. Marcos said she was not aware of Bonoan’s claims: “I don’t know what expression of thanks was he referring to.” Asked whether Revilla, then chairperson of
Erice... From A1
VP‘s... From A1
In an interview on One News’ Political Beat, Erice said the DOJ under Remulla received a total of P1.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds. “Justice Secretary Boying Remulla had P350 million in confidential funds,” Erice alleged. “He requested from Zaldy Co an additional P1 billion and another P150 million. So for 2025, he had P1.5 billion. For the first time in the history of the Justice secretary, there was a P1.5-billion confidential and intelligence fund,” Erice added. He also voiced concerns over the use of such confidential funds. “I believe that if you were to open all confidential funds, you might find ‘Mary Grace Piattos,’ ‘McDonald’s,’ or even ‘Jollibee.’ The concept itself makes confidential funds easy to steal because aliases can be used under the pretext of protecting an asset’s identity,” he added. As of posting time, Remulla had yet to issue a statement in response to Erice’s allegations.
her security detail. The prosecution, meanwhile, maintained that millions of pesos in disbursements by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) lacked proper documentation and violated government rules. The trial featured the cross-examination of COA state auditor Xylene Mae Del Campo, who testified on the disbursement and liquidation of confidential funds by the OVP and DepEd. The testimony forms part of the House prosecution panel’s evidence in the impeachment case involving allegations of systematic misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of confidential funds by the OVP and DepEd during Duterte’s tenure. Defense counsel Kristine Ferrer scrutinized COA’s protocol for transmitting confidential fund liquidation documents to the House Committee on Justice, invoking Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which governs the use, reporting and audit of confidential and intelligence funds. Del Campo said the documents were transmitted to the committee in response to an official congressional subpoena. She said the OVP’s spending of confidential funds in 2023 appeared irregular, noting that details about suppliers are not classified and valid receipts or invoices are necessary to verify expenditures. Del Campo also cited a previous COA action involving DepEd, where P75 million in confidential
PBBM... From A1 instruction for government agencies to act. “The President’s words alone are already an order,” she said. Castro questioned what additional action Tiangco expected from President Marcos, saying it was not the President’s responsibility to personally gather and examine all evidence of the alleged irregularities. “The President’s job is to lay out and communicate his policy and what needs to be done,” Castro said. She said government agencies tasked with the investigation should collect evidence and build cases against those responsible for the alleged misuse of flood control funds. Castro also challenged Tiangco, who she said appeared to have extensive knowledge of the alleged irregularities, to submit whatever evidence he has to the Office of the Ombudsman. “How deep is his knowledge? It appears he knows quite a lot. So why doesn’t he dig up the evidence himself and submit it to the Ombudsman?” Castro said. Tiangco had argued that merely saying Mr. Marcos had exposed the alleged anomaly was insufficient to establish that the President had no involvement in the controversy. Castro, however, cited President Marcos’ previous argument that he would have had no reason to expose the alleged wrongdoing if he himself were benefiting from it. The President has repeatedly called for those responsible for irregularities in flood control projects to be held accountable as the government investigates alleged corruption surrounding the multibillion-peso program.
Monsoon... From A1 nila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro and Marinduque. Based on the weather bureau’s prediction, chances of rain in Metro Manila are at 90 percent on Thursday, 70 percent on Friday, 80 percent on Saturday and 90 percent on Sunday. Due to inclement weather, PAGASA cancelled the scheduled stargazing and telescope viewing activity on Thursday, Aug. 13, at its Astro-
funds was accepted after proper documentation was submitted, contrasting it with the questionable transactions under examination. ‘Funds must not be Trojan horse for corruption’ House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list said confidential and intelligence funds should not become a “Trojan horse for corruption” by making it difficult for auditors to determine whether billions of pesos in public money were properly spent. “We do not want confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) to become a Trojan horse for corruption because COA and other agencies struggle to scrutinize and verify whether the spending is appropriate or not,” Co said. She said the impeachment proceedings highlighted the difficulty of auditing confidential expenditures when agencies invoke the sensitive nature of the spending while still being required to provide documents for compliance with government rules. “For the longest time, we’ve been criticizing the allocation of funds to confidential and intelligence funds, especially to different agencies; it can go up to the billions,” she said. Co said the latest COA testimony showed problems in examining confidential fund spending by the OVP and DepEd. This included thousands of acknowledgment receipts without official receipts, expenses not allowed under the Joint Circular, questionable names in documents, and transactions that appeared physically impossible because large amounts were supposedly disbursed in different locations on the same day.
Ex-Speaker‘s... From A1 for fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co. Fajardo said Romualdez was prepared to face the allegations through the proper legal process and had no intention of leaving the country. “Congressman Romualdez said after the SONA (State of the Nation Address) that he is ready to face all these allegations, but through the proper process,” Fajardo said. He denied reports that Romualdez had attempted to leave the country, saying his camp had even informed immigration authorities that there had been no such attempt. Fajardo said the proper venue for any claim that Romualdez had tried to leave was the Sandiganbayan, where prosecutors had sought a preliminary hold departure order. “We are ready to answer that,” he said. Fajardo added that Romualdez’s camp was preparing for the preliminary investigation after the Ombudsman reportedly issued a subpoena in connection with the allegations. On reports of frozen assets in connection with a possible plunder case, Fajardo said proceedings involving the Anti-Money Laundering Council remained confidential. He acknowledged that authorities had sought freeze orders and said Romualdez’s camp was responding through the proper legal process. Fajardo also questioned reports that some of the “Maleta Boys” could be considered state witnesses, saying it would be difficult to reconcile such a move with the DOJ’s actions against them. “We have long been saying that it seems the most guilty are being made state witnesses,” he said. Fajardo said that after a year of allegations, authorities had yet to produce evidence that could bridge the gap between accusations and proof. “What we have are insinuations and hints. There is really nothing that can serve as a bridge from allegation to evidence,” he said. He pointed to the reported possibility that the “Male-
nomical Observatory in UP Diliman. The eastern portion of the country will experience improved weather conditions with chances of rains in the afternoon and evening due to localized thunderstorms. Visayas and Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms. PAGASA also said it is monitoring a tropical cyclone outside the Philippine area of responsibility. As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, tropical storm ‘Nangka’ was estimated at 2,225 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, moving
the Senate committee on public works in the 19th Congress, also received leadership fund, Bonoan said yes. He said all senators in the 19th Congress also “availed of the leadership fund” in fiscal year 2025. Asked by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno if Senator Panfilo Lacson is among those who availed of the leadership fund, Bonoan said no. He said Lacson was not yet an incumbent senator when the leadership fund for 2025 was being prepared in 2024. Lacson last year questioned the DPWH
“But for now, the most immediate concern is this, if there are anomalies in the CIF spending here, the Commission on Audit also needs to double its efforts in scrutinizing expenditures elsewhere,” she said. Co said clearer and stricter rules could be adopted for security-related expenditures to ensure public funds are properly accounted for and that the impeachment proceedings should prompt a review of existing safeguards. Explain fund transfer, Duterte dared The prosecution also urged Duterte to personally explain the transfer of confidential funds to a military official after Del Campo testified that the transaction violated government rules. Del Campo, supervising auditor of the COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office, testified that a Notice of Disallowance was issued in March covering three P125-million cash advances released to the OVP. She said a key basis for the disallowance was the sworn testimony of former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta before a House inquiry that she turned over the money to Col. Raymond Dante Lachica, head of the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group, upon Duterte’s directive. Prosecution counsel and spokesperson lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the issue ultimately rests with Duterte because the COA witness testified that she ordered the transaction. “It is clear here—we heard that she herself ordered such a thing, which constitutes a direct violation of the Joint Circular,” Tolosa said. “No one else can explain that but the Vice President,” Tolosa stressed. Co echoed the call, saying the Joint
ta Boys” could be used as state witnesses despite the DOJ’s filing of perjury and libel cases against them. Fajardo said the situation raised questions about the differing treatment of the witnesses by government agencies. “One branch of government is saying these testimonies are worthless or lies, while another branch, the Office of the Ombudsman, appears to be giving weight to them,” he said. He said the flood control allegations against Romualdez appeared to rest primarily on the witnesses’ accounts. “These allegations about flood control rest only on their statements. In other words, it is all stories from the Maleta Boys, with no other evidence,” Fajardo said. On reports that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan could become a state witness, Fajardo said he was not aware of any formal statement submitted by the former secretary to the Ombudsman as of late last week. He said there had reportedly been negotiations but noted that Bonoan would have to carefully consider the consequences of becoming a witness because of his central role in the budget and project implementation process. “No money would be released by the DPWH, and no project could be approved or awarded to a winning contractor without the approval of the DPWH. All of that centers on former Secretary Bonoan,” Fajardo said. He said the rules on state witnesses require that the person seeking such status should not appear to be the most guilty party. “That is the rule. It still needs to be approved by the court,” he said. Fajardo said Romualdez’s camp would confront any testimony from Bonoan if the former secretary eventually agreed to become a state witness. ICI found no liability on ex-Speaker Fajardo also cited the findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), saying it found no liability on Romualdez in its investigation. He said the commission found no direct involvement by Romualdez in the key stages of the budget process, including the bicameral conference committee, small committee and technical working group.
eastward at 10 km per hour. Meanwhile, PAGASA reported that the water levels of dams in San Roque, Angat, Magat, Pantabangan, Binga, and Ipo increased because of the rainy weather. San Roque Dam in Pangasinan increased by 2.83 meters from 8 a.m. on Tuesday, when its water level stood at 260.34 m. to 263.17 m. Angat Dam in Bulacan rose by 2.12 m. It is now recorded at 177.10 m from 174.98 m. Isabela’s Magat Dam saw an increase of 0.90 m from 176.35 m to 177.25 m. The dams of San Roque, Angat, and Magat logged the biggest water release for the past 24 hours.
for implementing the leadership fund, which he said allowed lawmakers to tinker with the National Expenditure Program (NEP). “The NEP is the President’s budget proposal to be transmitted to the House and eventually to the Senate. Why are there insertions in the NEP? That I cannot really understand for the life of me,” Lacson said in 2025. “You did not want to call it an insertion, so you called it a ‘leadership fund.’ Why are you accommodating lawmakers’ proposals?” he added.
The water level of Panbatangan Dam also rose from 183.11 m to 183.9, as did the Binga Dam (from 574.26 m to 574.46 m) and Ipo Dam (from 100.63 m to 100.74 m). The water levels of Caliraya Dam, La Mesa Dam, and Ambuklao Dam, however, decreased. In its latest bulletin, the OCD said a total of 909,133 families or 3,148,255 people have been affected across Regions I, II, III, V, VI, IX, CALABARZON, CAR, NCR and MIMAROPA. Benguet recorded the highest number of fatalities at 15, with deaths reported in La Trinidad, Baguio City and Atok, all due to landslides.
Circular leaves little room for a different interpretation. “It will be difficult to find justification,” Co said, adding that the prosecution’s invitation for Duterte to personally face the impeachment proceedings remains in place. “Because, as mentioned, the black-letter law—the text of the Joint Memorandum Circular—is clear. Whatever explanation contradicts this text, we need to hear it from VP Sara Duterte herself,” Co said. SDO responsible for disbursements Under Joint Circular No. 2015-01, Del Campo said the special disbursing officer is responsible for disbursing the cash advance and that a confidential fund cash advance may not be transferred from one accountable officer to another. Del Campo said Acosta’s admission demonstrated a direct violation of the rule. “She said they considered it an irregularity, a blatant violation of the rules,” Tolosa said, adding that the violation was serious enough for the auditor to recommend the immediate issuance of a Notice of Disallowance. Tolosa said COA normally gives an agency an opportunity to explain an audit finding before issuing such a notice. The prosecution acknowledged that the Senate Impeachment Court would ultimately determine whether the transaction violated the rules and what responsibility, if any, should attach to Duterte. House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong separately said the transfer of confidential funds from designated special disbursing officers to other people, including members of Duterte’s security group, was a deliberate violation of the rules.
MMDA... From A1 The increased fines stemmed from the approval by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) of a resolution raising the penalty for improper garbage disposal from P500 to P5,000 across Metro Manila. In Pateros, the fine will be lesser at P2,500. The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors of Metro Manila, serves as the governing board and policymaking body of the MMDA. “We are just waiting for the ordinances from each city, and we will follow up on that in the next Metro Manila Council meeting,” MMDA chairman Romando Artes said. Artes said the MMC will meet again on Aug. 18 to discuss the matter. He reiterated his appeal to the public to refrain from littering, particularly during the rainy season when improperly disposed waste can clog drainage systems and worsen flooding in the process. Artes said garbage thrown on streets can take years to decompose, and urged residents to comply with local ordinances on proper waste disposal. Recent heavy rains have aggravated flooding in parts of Metro Manila, partly due to clogged canals and drainage systems, he said. The MMDA also stressed the importance of reusing and recycling to reduce waste and prevent blockages, saying cleanup efforts would be futile if littering continued. On Wednesday, the MMDA deployed a trash skimmer to accelerate the removal of tons of garbage that had accumulated in a creek in front of Baclaran Church in Parañaque City. A trash skimmer is a mechanical device used to collect floating waste from waterways. The MMDA said deployment of the machine was intended to speed up the cleanup. The MMDA, in partnership with the Parañaque City government, is also sustaining manual cleanup operations in the creek. Artes urged residents to dispose of their garbage properly to prevent waste from reaching roads and waterways and contributing to flooding. “I wouldn’t call it a garbage crisis, but that is the problem that we are facing,” Mr. Marcos said when asked about the country’s worsening garbage problem. His remarks came as the government intensifies cleanup and waste collection operations in waterways and drainage facilities in Metro Manila, where large volumes of trash have contributed to flooding. “It’s not useful to fine people for not throwing their garbage if there is no place to put their garbage,” he said.
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DOH, PhilHealth ink new healthcare pact By Ram Superable
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HE Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Wednesday pledged to overhaul the national healthcare system by expanding primary care access and lowering outof-pocket medical expenses under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a joint statement, the two agencies vowed to reorient health services nationwide toward a primary caredriven Universal Health Care model that reaches even the country’s most remote areas. “The Filipino spirit has long proven that even under the worst possible conditions of a global pandemic, the Philippine health system can come together, mobilize, build communities of action, and deliver comprehensive benefits at scale when the will is there. What we are asking of ourselves now is to carry that same urgency into peacetime, into the daily, unglamorous work of primary care,” they said. Under the joint initiative, every Filipino family is expected to have guaranteed access to healthcare providers, along with affordable and widely available prescription medicines. Preventive healthcare strategies will extend beyond hospitals to focus on schools, workplaces, and barangays. Specialized medical services will also be decentralized across the regions to prevent families from exhausting their savings or traveling long distances for treatment.
Senate to probe Pax Silica Hub in New Clark City
RELIEF DISTRIBUTION. Calasiao Mayor Patrick Agustin Caramat leads local government personnel, barangay officials, the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, department heads, and volunteers in distributing sacks of rice and milkfish to families affected by flooding in Calasiao, Pangasinan, as relief operations continue. Edd Castro
Group urges smarter approach to gadget rules CONSUMER advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines said proposed restrictions on children’s use of electronic gadgets should protect minors without allowing the government to take over responsibilities that properly belong to parents. CitizenWatch co-convenor Atty. Tim Abejo said concerns over excessive screen time, harmful online content, and other risks facing children warrant government action, but warned against measures that could shift too much responsibility away from families. “Government has a clear duty to protect children, but there is a difference between helping parents do their job and having the State
do the parenting for them,” Abejo said. The Department of Education has backed stronger digital safety and online protection measures. During Senate discussions in July, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said gadget use exposes children to social media and online games, highlighting broader digital risks. More recently, Angara said DepEd would coordinate with telecommunications and social media companies to strengthen safeguards for minors online, reflecting a shared-responsibility approach. Abejo said the same principle should be reflected in legislation governing gadget use.
“Parents must remain primarily responsible for guiding their children, but they cannot be the only line of defense,” he said. “Schools, government, digital platforms, and technology companies all have roles to play. The answer is shared responsibility, not transferring the responsibility of parents to the State.” He said government support should strengthen parents through information, digital literacy, and practical supervision tools rather than replace their role. CitizenWatch said policy should focus not only on limiting access to devices but also on ensuring children participate safely and responsibly in the digital world.
CAAP resumes flights at Romblon Airport THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has strengthened regional air connectivity with the resumption of commercial flights at Romblon Airport. On Tuesday, Sunlight Air completed its inaugural Clark-Tablas (Romblon) flight, marking the return of commercial air services to the province. CAAP said the resumption was made possible through the joint efforts of airport management, Sunlight Air, security agencies, and other stakeholders, which ensured operational, safety, and security requirements were met. Joel E. Zurbano
AFP says nearly 1,000 rebels ‘neutralized’
By Ram Superable A RESOLUTION calling for an investigation into the proposed Pax Silica Hub in New Clark City, Tarlac was filed on Wednesday by Sen. Raffy Tulfo. Senate Resolution No. 571 seeks to determine the project’s potential economic, environmental, social, technological, and national security impacts. As chair of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Tulfo will lead the panel’s evaluation of the adequacy of existing laws and regulatory safeguards. “While such investments could make a significant contribution to economic growth, technology transfer, innovation, and job creation, they have also sparked concerns and important issues that must be studied,” he said. Designed as a high-value technology project, the Pax Silica Hub aims to establish the Philippines as a regional center for advanced computing, artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, and semiconductor-related industries.
IN BRIEF
MILITARY operations from Jan. 1 to August this year have “neutralized” about 970 New People’s Army members and supporters, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said 862 surrendered, 37 were arrested, and 71 were killed during the operations. Authorities also seized or received the surrender of 653 firearms, 255 anti-personnel mines, and 38 rebel encampments. “If we look at the numbers, we can see the operational gains,” Padilla said, adding that the campaign aims to free more communities from the NPA’s “cycle of violence.” In 2025, the AFP said it neutralized 2,018 NPA members and supporters, while recovering 1,134 firearms, 531 anti-personnel mines, and 149 rebel encampments. Rex Espiritu
EMERGENCY ‘GO BAGS.’ San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora launches the distribution of Emergency Go Bags to 45,000 households at City Hall as part of the local government’s efforts to strengthen household disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Garcia alarmed over BSKE postponement By Vito Barcelo
BACK TO SCHOOL. Students return to school in Batasan, Quezon City, as classes resume after days of rain-related suspensions, with improving weather allowing them to head back to their classrooms. Edd Castro
THE proposed postponement of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) could create uncertainty in governance, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia said Wednesday as Congress considers several measures seeking to reset the polls. Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum, Garcia said repeated election postponements leave both incumbent officials and the public uncertain over whether current leaders will remain in office or new officials will be elected. He added that delays also waste the poll body’s extensive election preparations.
Garcia clarified that the observation reflected his personal view and not Comelec’s official position, adding that the commission will respect whatever decision Congress makes on the proposed measures. He expressed hope that lawmakers would decide by September to allow the poll body to adjust its preparations. The BSKE is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2026. Comelec has already spent about P8 billion of its P19-billion election budget, while some materials, including indelible ink, may go unused if the polls are postponed. Pending measures include a Senate bill seeking to move the elections to November 2028 and extend the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years.
PNP chief orders probe into Cavite resort shooting THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered an investigation into the shooting at a resort in Maragondon, Cavite, that left a police officer and a civilian dead and another officer injured. Cavite police chief Col. Ariel Red said investigators are looking into a personal motive after the suspect, also a police officer, allegedly had a heated argument with one of the victims before the shooting. Red said the Maragondon police chief was immediately relieved while the suspect, a police corporal, was arrested and is under police custody pending criminal and administrative proceedings. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, including forensic examinations, and reminded all police personnel to strictly observe firearm safety and discipline. Vince Lopez
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PH, Brazil eye closer defense, trade relations By Katrina Manubay FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday discussed ways to expand cooperation between the Philippines and Brazil in key sectors during their meeting in Brasília. In an X post on Wednesday, Lazaro reaffirmed the Philippines longstanding friendship and expanding partnership with Brazil. “On behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., I reaffirmed the PH longstanding friendship and expanding partnership with Brazil, especially as our two nations celebrate eight decades of diplomatic relations this year,” Lazaro’s X post read. For his part, Lula emphasized Brazil’s interest in broadening relations in the defense sector and the potential for cooperation in the semiconductor industry. “I highlighted our intention to expand and diversify bilateral trade. The Philippines is the largest global market for Brazilian pork. I also emphasized Brazil’s interest in broadening relations in the defense sector and the potential for cooperation in the semiconductor sector, one of the Philippines’ main export products,” his post on X read. He added that Lazaro also invited him to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in November. In a media release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), it stated that Lazaro underscored the Philippines’ shared commitment with Brazil to strengthen cooperation in key areas.
DEEPENING PH-BRAZIL TIES. Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2nd from left) explore ways to expand bilateral relations in defense and trade as the two countries mark 80 years of friendship. Others in photo taken during Lazaro’s call on the Brazilian leader at the capital Brasilia are (from left) Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Brazilian Ambassador to the Philippines Gilberto Fonseca Guimarães de Moura and Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Patrick Hilado. DFA photo
CHR calls for civilian protection in conflicts By Rio N. Araja
T QC posts gains in flood control, less evacuation
THE Quezon City government’s flood mitigation efforts have achieved gains as evacuees during the southwest monsoon or habagat dropped by 80 percent compared to last year’s figure. “Our priority has always been to protect the lives of our QCitizens. The significant reduction in the number of evacuees and the performance of our flood mitigation measures are encouraging signs that our investments are making a difference,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. “But our work is far from over. We will continue investing in flood mitigation and climate adaptation, strengthening our disaster response, and ensuring that when extreme weather strikes, the City is ready to protect and assist our communities. Zero casualty is always our goal,” she added. At the onset of the southwest monsoon on July 23, 2025, the city recorded 10,576 affected families, or 35,847 individuals that sought shelter in evacuation centers. As of last Aug. 11, the number declined to 2,146 families, or 8,220 people, despite heavy rains and flooding brought by the intensified by the southwest monsoon from Aug. 2 to 11. The city government attributed the improvement to continuing investments in science-based flood mitigation infrastructure, stronger disaster preparedness and response, and close coordination with national government agencies had been responsible for the 80-percent gain. Rio N. Araja
HE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday called for the protection of innocent civilians including human rights advocates during armed conflicts.
The CHR sounded the call during the observance of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which had for its theme “Pinalakas na Ugnayan at Pagkakaisa sa Pagsulong ng IHL.” The CHR emphasized that humanity must prevail amid armed conflict under the law. As part of this year’s observance, the Commission will convene the 2026 CHR Conference on IHL
with the theme “The Business of Armed Conflict” on August 13 at its central office in Quezon City. As businesses increasingly operate in conflict-affected environments, discussions on responsible business conduct, human rights and accountability have become increasingly important, the CHR noted. “The conference will examine the intersections of business, armed conflict, and accountability in the Philippine context, including the role of businesses in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and post-conflict recovery,” it added. Apart from the IHL, the CHR cited the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, to which the Philippines is a party. The protocol set fundamental rules to protect civilians and individuals who are not, or are no longer, participants in hostilities. “The principles of distinction, pro-
portionality, precaution and military necessity regulate the conduct of hostilities to minimize human suffering while preserving human dignity,” it pointed out. “Respect for these legal frameworks is indispensable to protecting civilians, reducing suffering, and creating the conditions for sustainable peace,” the CHR said. In 2025, the CHR conducted an inquiry on the current situation of human rights defenders, particularly focusing on incidents of redtagging. The probe underscored the serious threats red-tagging poses to the life, liberty, and security of human rights defenders. “Peace is not merely the absence of armed conflict, but the presence of justice, accountability, and institutions that uphold the dignity and rights of every person,” the Commission stressed.
NEW ARMY CHIEF. Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, the 68th commander of the Philippine Army, lays out his command thrust ‘STRONG’ in front of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., AFP chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete (all seated in background), and other officials during the change of command ceremony in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on August 11. Army photo
Gumiran takes command as Army chief By Rex Espiritu
PET PARK PLUS. Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso and Vice Mayor Chi Atienza lead the opening of the Senior Citizens Park and Community Pet Park in Pandacan district, underscoring the local government’s push to make the city cleaner, greener, and more livable for both residents and their pets. A joint undertaking with the Department of Budget and Management and the Metro Manila Development Authority, the nearly onehectare facility consists of a senior citizen’s pavilion, children’s playground, fitness area, pet park, sunken garden, activity area, croquet area, and al fresco space.
COUNTER-INSURGENCY expert LT. Gen. Donald Gumiran on Tuesday formally assumed command the Philippine Army and vowed to transform the service into a “future-ready force.” He succeeded former PA chief then Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete who was promoted to four-star general upon his assumption as Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) chief last July 21. Gumiran is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992 and served as head of the Western Mindanao Command and many other key military posts before assuming command of the Army. In his acceptance speech at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Gumiran said he aims to
“build a stronger, more capable, and future-ready force.” He expressed willingness to provide the leadership, guidance, and enabling environment to make this happen, through what he dubbed as the “S.T.R.O.N.G. Framework”. “S” stands for stewardship or faithfully exercising leadership over the PA’s personnel, resources and the public entrusted to the Army; “T” stands for transformation and continuous modernization of PA personnel, capabilities, doctrines and systems to prevail in an increasingly complex and evolving operational environment; “R” is for readiness and maintaining a mission-ready, joint-ready and futureready force, capable of defending the nation across the full spectrum of military operations.
IN BRIEF Manila opens elderlies, pet park in Pandacan THE city government of Manila on Wednesday inaugurated its Senior Citizens Park and Community Pet Park in Pandacan district, underscoring the push to make the city cleaner, greener, and more livable for both residents and their pets. Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso, together with Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, led the inauguration ceremonies for the project, jointly undertaken with the Department of Budget and Management and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Domagoso urged local barangay officials to take the initiative in monitoring the area and keeping it clean. The mayor also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for supporting the project despite their political differences, and credited Robinsons Land for contributing to the realization of the project. Pot Chavez
SC bares digital rules of 2026 Bar exams THE Supreme Court (SC) posted on Wednesday the digital modality guidelines and Examplify User Guide for the 2026 Bar examinations. “In accordance with Rule 138, Section 8 of the Rules of Court,1 the bar examinations shall be administered by electronic means. Consistent with previous years, Examplify has been adopted as the official digital platform for the conduct of the 2026 Bar Examinations,” the two-page advisory read. “Familiarity with Examplify is an essential component of examinees’ overall readiness. Examinees must ensure that they are adequately versed in the software prior to the Bar Examinations,” it added. The user guide is a comprehensive walkthrough of the software examinees will use for the examinations. Pot Chavez
Troops recover body of female NPA rebel THE military is investigating the body of a female believed to be a member of the Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) of the New People’s Army (NPA. The corpse was discovered by the troops while conducting counter-insurgency operations in Abra, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday. AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the body was found on August 7 by a K9 tracker team from the Army’s 5th Infantry Division during clearing operations at an encounter site in the province. Padilla said the newly discovered body was different from the three suspected rebels killed during a previous encounter in the province. Rex Espiritu
OPINION
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
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EDITORIAL
The price of rice is on the rise again AFTER coming from the market where we bought rice at P65 per kilo, the same dinorado variety which less than two months back was P55 per kilo, I opened Spotify to listen to the soundtrack of Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady.” One of its memorable songs starts with the line “the rain in Spain stays mostly in the plain.” So, with a bit of impish delight, I used its rhyme for this article on the state of our staple grain. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a slight decline in our price index from 6.4 to 6.2 percent this month, the marginal decline based mostly on the price of oil but which is beginning to heat up again as the ghost month begins, while Trump and his invisible Iranian ayatollah play cat and mouse. The same official statistics report a 17.1-percent rice price inflation, which probably explains why our middle-class variety now costs P65 per kilo. There are P50-per-kilo varieties that are too “laon” or aged, a favorite of carinderias because “laon,” when cooked, expands. Our President, in his State-of-the-Nation Address, took pride in 800 buying stations spread across the 7,000-island archipelago where rice is sold at P20 just to keep the illusion going. Meanwhile, Planters Products Inc. (PPI), a long-sequestered company, has been resurrected so the government can import rice, purportedly to tame the price of rice in the market. But as rice is a fungible commodity, what happens between announced selling price and actual market prices is another thing, and the differential goes to the pockets of the “wa-is.” Even before that, there is a margin (huge, depending on greed and opportunity) between contracted price prior to and after the import ban. The international grains market is more complicated than the Navotas fishport where “banyeras” of fish are bidded out through the “bulong” system. My lola explained this to me when she was yet in the business of “consignacion.” Our fishing taipan cum agriculture secretary, whose vessels fish in the waters of the South Pacific, must have learned the intricacies of rice marketing and logistics in his current job. The managers of the resurrected PPI and Food Terminal (FTI), which handles the logistics of PPI’s imports, must be working with unseen hands in the background. Both were reassigned to these Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations from the Development Bank of the Philippines where they were earlier appointed board directors. The Department of Agriculture, however, assures the public that there is an amazing 5.5 percent year-on-year in-
crease in palay production, a figure which makes farmers’ and traders’ mouths gape in astonishment. The price of fertilizers hit the roof after Iran closed Hormuz, so farmers cut down their inputs. As a result, the whole industry, contrary to what DA reports, expects low production this coming harvest. And as I write this, we still do not know the real damage to our fields of the incessant rains that flooded the plains of Luzon, brought by the cascading waters of the Sierra Madre and Cordillera which the “ghosts” failed to control.
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Soon the poor would be ‘nganga.’ As the law of supply and demand which the 20 per kilo promise failed to defy (even Magsaysay could not repeal that law), taxpayers are subsidizing every kilo of that 20 peso price by another 20 pesos, thus widening the fiscal deficit which eventually increases our national debt. The private traders’ and farmers’ organizations asked the Senate to investigate why the bankrupt PPI, which has neither money nor warehouses (FTI has one or two), was allowed to buy for the government in circumvention of the Rice Tariffication Law. The long-entombed PPI was allowed to import as a “private corporation” with sanitary and phytosanitary clearances given by the DA. Where did PPI suddenly get its wherewithal, or is it merely fronting for private pockets? FTI has for the longest time merely collected rent from leased premises until PNoy sold 70 percent of the property to Ayala Land in 2012, with another 20 percent to be sold soon to support government overspending. After a hearing by the Kiko Pangilinan-led Senate Committee on Agriculture where the other Kiko’s (Tiu) officials failed to explain the hows and whys of the PPI rice importation, nothing more was heard. Has it been drowned by the politically motivated impeachment trial, or has it been silenced by whoever? Sooner than soon, our teeming poor will be “nganga” wondering why rice, which they drown in salt and MSG-laced instant noodles as “lamang tiyan,” has become more unaffordable. That, and the torrential rains that bring floods from whose “control” the usual crooks profited greedily, is the “new normal,” our President says. Today is the start of the “ghost month,” and the price of rice is on the rise again.
Art or medicine? Japan’s cosmetic tattoo artists in limbo By Tomohiro Osaki GINOWAN, JAPAN — Tattoo artist Remy painstakingly injects tiny dots of pigment into Koki Hatanaka’s bald scalp to mimic hair follicles, performing a grey-zone cosmetic procedure increasingly in the crosshairs of Japanese health authorities. Japan bucks a global trend by viewing permanent make-up as the domain of medical professionals, and has ramped up threats of criminal prosecution against anyone else who practices it -- like the 44-year-old Okinawan. Industry insiders insist that their craft, from make-believe hair to filled-in eyebrows and lip tints, is an artistic pursuit more befitting tattooists and hairstylists. But in a country where body art has long symbolised yakuza gangsters, these cosmetic tattooists’ safety and sanitary protocols are not enough to dispel skepticism. “It’s a complete mystery to me why they keep saying this constitutes a medical practice,” Remy -- his professional name -- told AFP as he used a fine needle to ink 28-year-old Hatanaka. The procedure known as scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is “hardly invasive” and “so painless that clients sometimes even fall asleep,” while requiring sophisticated aesthetic talent, Remy argues. And it is an important job: a sudden onslaught of alopecia -- the medical term for hair loss -- once plunged Hatanaka into despair. “I didn’t even want to go outside,” the marine sports instructor, whose style now passes for a buzz cut, told AFP. “If I hadn’t done this, I wouldn’t have become brave enough to strike up con-
versations with strangers,” he said. “I’m more confident in myself now.” Risky needles A landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2020 declared traditional decorative tattooing a non-medical act, welcome news for an industry long run by artists with no clinical training.
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The country’s complicated relationship with tattoos fuels official distrust of scalp micropigmentation, done to address alopecia. But the same did not apply to SMP, which has “an established history of doctors’ involvement,” a health ministry official told AFP. The use of needles makes it a “riskyenough practice that it can hurt human bodies if done without medical expertise,” she said. The ministry has repeatedly warned, most recently in December, that criminal complaints can be filed against unlicensed practitioners, “essentially signalling arrest,” healthcare law expert Akihiro Saotome told AFP. That notice likely had a “significant chilling effect” on these businesses, he said. In reality though, a slew of medically unlicensed cosmetic tattooists continue to operate openly, having even rallied together at a flamboyant convention hosted by Remy’s SMP brand, Scalp Ink, in Okinawa last month.
Divided loyalty has no place in government service
W
HEN Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called on government officials siding with Beijing on West Philippine Sea issues to resign, he was articulating a basic principle that should be self-evident to anyone holding public trust: sovereign integrity demands undivided allegiance. Public office is not a platform for diplomatic ambiguity. It is not a refuge for foreign advocacy. In a vibrant democracy, we expect robust debate over internal matters like economic reform, taxation, or infrastructure development. But national sovereignty is not a bargaining chip. When our maritime domain, which is defined by international law and reaffirmed by the 2016 arbitral ruling, is subjected to constant encroachment, there is no legitimate middle ground for a public servant. Every official, whether elected to Congress or appointed to an executive post, takes a solemn oath to preserve and defend the Constitution. That document explicitly mandates the protection of our marine wealth in our archipelagic waters and exclusive economic zone or EEZ. When government officials echo Beijing’s narratives, whether by minimizing maritime aggression,
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There is no legitimate middle ground for a public servant.. Critics would likely describe Secretary Teodoro’s statement as a threat to free speech. This argument misses the mark. Private citizens enjoy the freedom to hold and express whatever geopolitical views they choose. Public servants, however, operate under a different set of obligations. They wield state power, influence national policy, and represent the Philippine
AFTER a prolonged dry spell, the monsoon rains came with a vengeance accompanied by a series of typhoons that are now causing so much flooding and misery. It is as if nature has decided to unleash its fury to show the undeniable results of all those substandard flood control projects. Unfortunately, the flooding carried an unimaginable amount of garbage disposed of illegally by residents along river banks, drainage and other places not intended for waste disposal. We can all rightly blame corrupt government officials for stealing all the money intended to solve the flooding problems, but the public must share part of the blame for their lack of discipline in disposing waste. The massive flooding therefore supports the clamor that in spite of all the corruption, the government must continue its flood control projects on full blast instead of putting the brakes on them. Only this time, the government must ensure that flood control projects are implemented properly. It is also not enough to simply keep on asking the public to cooperate by properly disposing of their garbage. The Department of the Interior and Local Government must lead in developing a program by formulating disposal protocols that Barangay officials must religiously implement as a basis for sanctions if they fail in their duties. What we are seeing every rainy season, in spite of all the media blitzes about clearing all the drainage, is the same problem of clogged drainage because of garbage. Irresponsible people con-
tinue to dispose of their waste anywhere they want. Last week for example, a TV station showed a motorcycle rider with about two sacks full of waste stopping beside a pile of garbage in a sidewalk and simply emptying the sacks, riding off as if nothing happened.
We should all be shocked with what that guy did but unfortunately, that is an everyday occurrence in the National Capital Region. Simply driving around the NCR especially along congested residential streets will show piles of uncollected garbage along sidewalks. Even in the streets leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, garbage on the sidewalks is a normal sight. With the kind of corruption that we have accompanied with a citizenry that does not seem to have the discipline to dispose of its garbage properly, it does make us wonder if we would ever be able to get out of this morass. But there must be local leaders out there who can inspire his or her team to do the right thing. We Filipinos have this culture of relying heavily on the leader to set policy directions. Sadly however, if we happen to elect an uninspiring and corrupt leader, then that is too bad for everybody and we will just have to wait
for the next elections. The trick is to be more discerning in choosing whom to vote for at all levels. More importantly, voters should never sell their votes. For now however, from the way things are moving, it is likely that we will have to wait for the next elections because the government seems to be so preoccupied with a lot of other things. All the things that could go wrong seem to be going wrong at the same time. There is a war going on, which is wreaking havoc on our economy with no end in sight. Our national attention is focused on an impeachment trial and the flood control investigations that could go on for months, aggravated by the never ending rains that is causing so much misery in many parts of Luzon. In the place where I live, for instance, this is the third week of nonstop rains, causing the death of about ten people due to landslides. The weather, economy and almost everything being reported by the media seem to be conspiring against us. Let us hope that all these end soon. *** The only good news for the country is happening half a world away. Filipina tennis star Alex Eala won her first WTA title in Washington DC and reached the 4th round of the Canadian Tennis Open in Toronto. Clearly, she is doing the country proud not only for her first tournament win but more importantly by how she has been conducting herself in those many interviews. She behaves with maturity, humility and intelligence well beyond her young age of 21. Let’s all wish her all the best in her pursuit of more victories.
Dozens of beauty specialists, including from South Korea, Vietnam and Sweden, deftly inked the scalps, eyebrows and lips of their models, surrounded by towering banners depicting each participant as oceanic royalty in coral crowns. They argued that, if anything, permanent make-up is even less medical in nature than tattooing for artistic purposes, because it does not penetrate the skin as deeply. Otherwise, they said, both follow the same hygiene safeguards, use needles to insert pigment into human skin and are practically indistinguishable. “I’m doing nothing I should be ashamed of,” Tatsuki Miyahira, an Okinawa tattooist who also performs SMP, told AFP. He has no medical licence. If raided, he said, he would “give them a full tour” of his workplace and explain every safety precaution. He added that if Japan officially declared SMP art, “I think I can hold my head even higher.” Worried customers Experts say Japan and South Korea
were long among the few countries that penalised permanent make-up by nonmedical personnel -- until last year when Seoul passed a landmark law decriminalizing it. “Why is it only Japan that still can’t do this?” asked hairstylist Michiko Shinmasu, 50, who doubles as an eyebrow tattooist. The lack of legal endorsement “makes my clients (for eyebrow work) feel as though they’re doing something wrong. They’re like, ‘this is grey-zone, right?’” she said. Some think Japan’s complicated relationships with tattoos -- historically etched on criminals and then favored by mobsters to assert their rebellion -- fuel official distrust of the practice. Even today tattoos are often banned in public places like hot springs, and Japanese are far less inked than their Western counterparts, although this is changing. “Nowadays lots of people get their bodies inked just for fashion” in Japan, SMP business operator Yasuaki Sameshima, 41, told AFP.
“But tattoos of a different kind existed before. I think their negative image is spilling over and shaping the way SMP is perceived today.” Despite repudiating medical control on his profession, SMP guru Remy agrees it risks infections if done poorly, warning against a completely unregulated approach. In fact, he campaigns for the systematic accreditation and training of all tattoo artists -- cosmetic or not -- in an industry he says remains an ungoverned “grey zone.” “Every country has some kind of license specifically for doing tattoos, but Japan hasn’t created that,” Remy said. He founded the Japan Tattoo Hygiene Association, with the ultimate goal of making its program mainstream and even mandatory for the opening of tattoo parlors. “I believe that’s the best way to protect clients and to ensure that tattoos are done under proper hygiene management.” AFP
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Everything seems to be going wrong at the same time.
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MEMBER
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The rains came with a vengeance
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno
Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net
questioning our lawful claims, or downplaying the rights of our fishermen, they directly undermine the state they are sworn to serve.
Republic to the world. When officials speak, their words carry the weight of the state. Legitimizing foreign claims from within the apparatus of government weakens our international standing and sends a dangerous signal to our partners and adversaries alike. Consider the demoralizing impact on our Coast Guard personnel and military officers, who are men and women facing real physical danger in the West Philippine Sea, when they see state leaders adopting the rhetoric of the very power opposing them. It undermines morale on the frontlines and compromises strategic deterrence at home. Calling for the resignation of proChina officials is not about suppressing dissent. It is about demanding basic institutional integrity. If an official’s personal convictions or political alliances align more closely with Beijing than with Manila, stepping down is the only honorable course of action. You cannot draw a salary from the Filipino taxpayer while undermining the country’s sovereignty. Secretary Teodoro’s standard is simple, fair, and necessary: if your loyalty to the Republic is not absolute, you have no business staying part of it.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
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Taiwan condemns China navy drill plan T
AIPEI – Taiwan has condemned China’s plan to hold a navy drill with Indonesia this month off the democratic island’s east coast, saying Beijing seeks to create the “false impression” that it has jurisdiction over the area.
SURVIVOR. Firefighters and rescue teams carry survivor Daniela Andrea Largo Sanchez out of the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Pereira, Colombia on August 11, 2026. Volunteers and rescuers cleared rubble with their bare hands to search for survivors after the country’s strongest earthquake in a decade killed at least 169 people and smashed dozens of buildings. AFP
IN BRIEF Rescuers find woman alive as quake toll at 216 Charges dropped against Bondi Beach attack hero SYDNEY – Australian police dropped assault charges on Wednesday against a man lauded for his bravery during last year’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach. Fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed was hailed as a hero after footage showed him disarming a gunman during the December 14 attack, which killed 15 people at a Jewish festival. Ahmed was earlier this year accused of stalking and assaulting his father, charges he denied. Both charges were withdrawn after a brief hearing on Wednesday, court documents showed. Ahmed ducked between parked cars as the Bondi shooting unfolded, grabbing one of the two gunmen and wresting away his weapon in an effort to stop the killing. He sustained gunshot wounds in the attack. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would later meet Ahmed in person, describing him as a “true Australian hero” and an inspiration to all. AFP
19-year-old gets probation for ‘seditious’ toilet graffiti HONG KONG – A Hong Kong judge sentenced a 19-year-old Wednesday to 18 months of probation for writing “seditious” words on a toilet wall, including a slogan used during pro-democracy protests in 2019. Leung Kai-lok, who has autism spectrum disorder, was found guilty last month of acting with “seditious intention” and admitted to destroying property. Charged under Hong Kong’s national security law, he had faced up to seven years in prison. Leung admitted to writing phrases on the wall of a toilet in an office building using a marker, including “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” a slogan used during the 2019 protests. He also wrote obscenities and “die John Lee,” referring to the city’s chief executive. Leung appeared in court on Wednesday, standing with his head bowed as the judge sentenced him to 18 months of probation and to pay HK$1,500 in cleaning fees. AFP
PEREIRA, Colombia – Colombian rescuers pulled a 32-year-old woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed building Tuesday, sparking cheers and applause as exhausted crews raced to find more survivors from the country’s strongest earthquake in a century. Daniela Largo was carried from the wreckage wrapped in a blue blanket as rescuers embraced and relatives shouted out with joy. Soldiers, firefighters and volunteers continued to scour collapsed buildings across western Colombia after Monday’s 7.4-magnitude quake. Authorities revised the death toll down to 216 after local officials in Cali corrected earlier figures. “We were losing hope and then we received a call,” said her mother Sandra Milena Perez in Pereira. Perez said a local resident heard cries
for help beneath the rubble and joined neighbors in removing debris before professional rescuers arrived. “Thanks to him, today we’re happy,” she said. “At home her 12-year-old son is waiting for her.” In Pereira and in Cali, emergency crews used cranes, dogs and heavy machinery to search ruined buildings while volunteers formed human chains to clear debris by hand, hoping to reach people still trapped beneath collapsed structures. As darkness fell, families prepared to sleep in parks as aftershocks rattled damaged neighborhoods where entire blocks had been reduced to rubble. The quake overwhelmed parts of the health system, turning the rescue effort into one of Colombia’s largest disaster responses in years. “The house came down on top of us. I
US fires on ship trying to break Iran blockade WASHINGTON – A US helicopter fired missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship that attempted to break the American blockade of Iran’s ports, the United States military said. The US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired on and disabled the M/V Vela Nova “after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, adding that the vessel “is no longer transiting to Iran in violation of the US blockade.” It was the third time the United States, in a months-long war against Iran, has forcibly halted a vessel since reinstating the ports blockade on July 14. CENTCOM said it has redirected 55 ships that tried to run the blockade and boarded two others as of Tuesday. US forces previously blockaded Iranian ports from April 13 to June 18, during which they disabled nine ships and redirected more than 140, according to CENTCOM. Iran has demanded that the United States end the ports blockade as part of its conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for oil and gas shipments before the war that has seen traffic plummet due to Tehran’s attacks on ships in the area. US President Donald Trump repeated his frequent claim Tuesday that the United States has taken over the waterway. “We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don’t have control. We have total control. We own it,” Trump told reporters. AFP
DEVASTATING FLOODS. Firefighters rescue workers from a flooded factory following heavy rain in Wenling, eastern China’s Zhejiang province on August 12, 2026. AFP
Trump’s secret plane swap triggers questions, confusion
Aussie delivery drivers win ‘world-leading’ pay hike SYDNEY – Hundreds of thousands of gig workers in Australia have been granted a huge pay rise from next week under a decision by the country’s workplace relations tribunal lauded as “world-leading.” The order from the Fair Work Commission, issued Tuesday, will see delivery drivers working for online platforms such as UberEats and HungryPanda earn Aus$31.30 (US$22) an hour. Australia’s minimum wage currently sits at Aus$26.44 an hour. The drivers must also be provided with workplace accident insurance under the new rules, which come into effect on August 17. The country’s Transport Workers Union – which represents gig workers – hailed the new minimum standards. “Gig workers in Australia were left outside of our workplace systems for far too long,” union National Secretary Michael Kaine said. AFP
wasn’t able to get out,” said Beatriz Arcos, who was trapped with her husband and mother beneath their collapsed condominium. “It took about an hour to get us out.” Arcos said she was hospitalized after a concrete block fell on her back. Her husband and mother were also injured. In Cali, residents armed with picks, shovels and their bare hands joined firefighters in digging through collapsed buildings. Rescuers stopped every few minutes to call into the rubble and listen for any response. “We’re doing this with our hands, with gloves” said volunteer Pablo Cesar Ruiz “It’s sad to see time slipping away.” In Pereira, army units and sniffer dogs combed through twisted concrete and exposed steel. AFP
China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and insists it has authority over the waters surrounding the island, which Taipei rejects. The Chinese defense ministry said Tuesday one of its warships and an Indonesian frigate will conduct a “passage exercise” east of Taiwan in mid-August to “enhance the joint operational capabilities of the two navies” and “jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.” Taiwan’s top China policy body hit back late Tuesday, saying it “strongly condemned the CCP military provocation,” referring to the Chinese Communist Party. “This move is, in reality... aimed at creating the false impression for the international community that the CCP has jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan and blatantly infringing upon our national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a statement. The Indonesian military did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment. China’s announcement came as Taiwan holds its largest military drills of the year, aimed at preparing its population for a potential Chinese invasion. Beijing deploys warships, fighter jets and coast guard vessels around Taiwan on an almost daily basis to assert its claim of sovereignty. In June, Chinese ships began to patrol an area of the Western Pacific near Taiwan’s east coast, which Taipei branded as “provocative” and “expansionism in disguise.” During that operation, the China Coast Guard for the first time radioed cargo ships passing Taiwan for information about their crew and destination. That was followed last week by China’s Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration announcing “traffic control measures” for the Taiwan Strait as Typhoon Dolphin swept towards the region. Ships entering the sensitive waterway from the south would be “required to strictly comply with the traffic control regulations, seek shelter in safe waters, and follow the instructions of on-site maritime authorities to ensure safety,” the August 5 announcement said. AFP
GAGGLE. US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after stepping off Air Force One on August 11, 2026 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. AFP
WASHINGTON – Donald Trump confirmed that he secretly switched planes because of a threat to his life, after the Washington Post revealed the US president was smuggled out of Air Force One to a different aircraft on a catering truck. “They wanted me to go in a different flight, a different plane – equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say,” Trump told reporters during a gaggle. “I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it.” The newspaper reported Monday that the secret operation reportedly smuggled Trump off Air Force One before the plane departed, still carrying journalists and top aides who remained at apparent risk of an Iranian strike. Trump covertly exited the presidential
plane while it was on the ground in Turkey on July 8. Some traveling media expressed anger at having unwittingly served as decoys, while others complained about deception and lack of communication from the White House. Trump boarded the presidential jet in full view of video cameras and photographers, with AFP pictures showing two supply containers at the front and rear of the aircraft. But he then reportedly left the plane, stepping inside one of the cargo containers, to board a smaller US Air Force aircraft positioned nearby. “I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump told reporters. “Because that would be the plane I think that – that they would be more likely to go for.” AFP
M. Standard – Aug. 13 & 20, 2026
SPORTS
A8 THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
Alas Girls bound for best finish in an FIVB world championship
The Alas Pilipinas Girls jubilate after beating the Tunisians. Volleyball World
PH fencers capture 2 golds in Kuala Lumpur SEA meet By Randy M. Caluag
T
EAM Philippines made it to the top of the podium after its women’s foil and men’s saber squads captured gold medals in the 2026 Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Cadet and Junior Championships on Tuesday night at the Arena TSH OCM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Victoria Ebdane, Willa Galvez and Jodie Tan combined to rule the junior women’s team foil event, defeating Vietnam, 44-37, in the final. Philippines Team A reached the championship round after surviving Team B’s Yuna Canlas, Hagia del Castillo and Victoria Malvar, 29-28, in a tightly contested semifinal. Ebdane, Galvez and Tan then seized control against Vietnam. With the Filipinas protecting a slim 9-6 advantage, the 15-year-old Galvez overwhelmed Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, 10-1, in the fourth of nine bouts to widen the lead to 19-7. Galvez, a member of the decorated University of the East fencing team, delivered a team-high 21 touches. Ebdane contributed 13, while Tan added 10. Galvez’s international campaign is backed
by Nickel Asia Corp., with support from NLEX Corp., Rain or Shine, MVP Sports Foundation, Strong Group Athletics, Pocari Sweat and Icons Sports Management Services. The Philippines secured its second championship in the junior men’s team saber competition, where national team member Khiane Felipe joined forces with Vito Coching, Drake Chung and Matthew General to turn back Thailand, 4540, in the final. The two victories highlighted another productive day for the Filipino junior fencers, who also collected one silver and four bronze medals in the team competitions. Estelliah Gilliana, Hailey Sophia Peters, Arianna Tiu and Nadelle Turiano earned the silver medal in the junior women’s team saber event.
Team Philippines’ Willa Galvez, Victoria Ebdane and Jodie Tan display their gold medals after ruling the junior women’s team foil event in the 2026 Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Cadet and Junior Championships Tuesday at the Arena TSH OCM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Team B’s Hagia del Castillo, Victoria Malvar and Yuna Canlas secured the bronze medal. (Maria Ellen Campos Palafox)
SAN FELIPE, Chile—Alas Pilipinas Girls have set a new benchmark, achieving the best-ever finish by any Philippine volleyball team at a world championship. Caera Celis, Xyz Rayco and Jhaynna Bulandres found their spark again as the Philippines marched on to the Round of 16 of the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship. On the strength of two huge victories over world No. 8 Mexico and No. 20 Tunisia, plus a gritty stand in a 19-25, 16-25, 25-22, 2519, 11-15 loss to world No. 12 Venezuela on Tuesday at the Liceo Mixto San Felipe, Alas Pilipinas Girls marched into the knockout phase alongside powerhouse teams China, USA, Korea and Poland. By making it to the final 16 here, the Alas Pilipinas Girls have surpassed the Bryan Bagunas-led squad that fell just short of that stage at 19th in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship last year in the Philippines, and the team which placed 18th in the 1974 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Mexico. It’s a milestone still unfolding, as Alas Pilipinas, which also boasts Madele Gale, Resty Olaguir, Frances Ramos and Jhenica Sadia, seek a place in the last eight when it takes on South Korea on Wednesday in Los Andes. The coaching staff said it’s an unexpected feat, noting that after securing the World Championship berth with a fifth-place finish in the Asian Volleyball Confederation U16 Women’s Championship in November last year, plans for a long training camp were dashed by leadership changes and management woes in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation. Team manager and assistant coach Karl Chan is pleased to see Megan Hernandez, Princess Manzano, Irish Mahinay, Taj Teves, Nadeth Herbon, and 14-year-olds Sharina Lleses and Jello Mauricio make their mark this early. “It’s fulfilling to see these kids succeed and achieve more, because it’s the start of their journey in international volleyball. We’re looking forward to seeing these 14 players be future national team players in the senior level,” Chan said. Head coach Edwin Leyva credited the players for adapting quickly, from coping with chilly 4-degree temperatures to learning on the fly against teams they have previously seen only on video.
Eala faces big test in last tune-up for US Open By Jeremiah Sevilla
Joshua Fontanilla strikes for GenSan
GenSan stuns Caloocan by 3 THE GenSan Warriors kept their poise after yielding control and bested Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, 85-82, on Tuesday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex. Staring at a 75-81 deficit after leading 73-68 early in the fourth quarter, the Warriors tightened their defense and bundled six points to knot the count at 81, with 45.1 seconds left. Gensan’s Joshua Fontanilla, however, converted two charities, and Larry Rodriguez scored on a fastbreak for the final count, as Caloocan’s Jeff Manday missed a hurried 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds to go. The Warriors raised their record to 15-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament and occupied the fourth spot in the South division, behind Batangas City (15-3), Quezon Province (13-3), and Binan (17-4). Fontanilla, former star of St. Clare College of Caloocan, notched 20 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds to earn the SportsPlus best player honors over Adi Santos, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
THE Philippines’ pride Alexandra “Alex” Eala braces for another big test in her last major tune-up for the US Open after landing in the bottom half of the main draw in the Cincinnati Open in Ohio, United States, firing off this week. Ranked No. 20 in the world and seeded 17th in the WTA 1000 tournament, Eala was bracketed with five top 10 players in No. 2 Elena Rybakina, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 7 Linda Noskova, No. 8 and defending champion Iga Swiatek, and No. 10 Amanda Anisimova following the draw ceremony held early Wednesday (Philippine time). The top half of the bracket features No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 4 Coco Gauff, No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, and No. 9 Elina Svitolina. Eala, who received a first-round bye as a seeded player, is on course for a
possible first meeting with two-time Grand Slam finalist Anisimova in the third round. If the Washington Open champion makes a deep run, she could set up a series of rematches against Noskova in the fourth round, Pegula in the quarterfinals, and either Rybakina or Swiatek in the semis. Before all of that, Eala must get past the winner of the match between Poland’s Magda Linette and Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round that begins on Thursday. The 21-year-old Pinay ace is set to open her campaign in the second round tentatively scheduled for Friday. Eala holds a 2-2 head-to-head record with Linette, with the Filipina sensation winning their last two encounters in straight sets in the Miami Open and ASB Classic earlier this year. On the other hand, Eala lost to Ruse
in their only previous duel, which was a three-set tussle back in the 2024 US Open qualifiers. Eala enters the Cincinnati Open with some much-needed rest
f o l lowing her fourth-round finish in the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto, where she bowed to Swiss veteran Belinda Bencic. A few days after her grueling campaign, Eala thanked the Filipino fans who made Toronto feel like a home court.
“Saya pala dito sa barangay Toronto. Difficult to put into words but very easy to be grateful for you all,” she wrote on Instagram.
Alexandra Eala
PH combat bets stranded in China after 20-medal haul, appeal for help
Delegation head Sharma Devaiah with PH combat athletes. Sharma Devaiah
FILIPINO martial artists appealed for assistance after being stranded at Haikou Meilan International Airport following a 20-medal campaign at the International Sport Kickboxing Association Asia Pacific Championship–Elite Invitational Tournament in Sanya, China. The Excalibur Fight Team collected four gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals in various disciplines during the tournament held from Aug. 5 to 9 in Sanya. Delegation head and athlete Sharma Devaiah said the Filipinos completed their campaign successfully, with all fighters making weight and competing in their respective divisions. Despite fielding one of the smallest delegations, the Philippine squad delivered podium finishes in Muay Thai, K-1, wushu sanda, No-Gi, light contact and point fighting. Devaiah led the medal charge by winning
the senior women’s -55-kilogram No-Gi gold. She also secured three silver medals in light contact, K-1 and K-1 Light to finish with four medals. Gerwin Lete captured gold in the boys’ under-18 -55kg wushu sanda division, along with silver in K-1 Light and bronze medals in K-1 and full contact. He also competed as a challenger for the ISKA 55kg youth title. Gregory Mamuad emerged as the delegation’s only double-gold medalist after ruling the under-16 -55kg point fighting and light contact events. He added silver medals in K-1 and K-1 Light. Jhay Shareezer Gayman contributed a silver in Muay Thai and a bronze in point fighting in the boys’ under-12 -40kg class, while Neil James Calabias earned three bronzes in K-1, Muay Thai and K-1 Light in the under-18 -60kg division. Randy M. Caluag
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
INDUSTRY TIE-UP.
DITO Telecommunity, PLDT Inc. and Smart join hands to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure through greater industry collaboration, as they cut the ribbon on a newly-inaugurated co-location tower to maximize existing network sites and reduce unnecessary duplication of investments. Leading the event are DITO Telecommunity chief technology officer Rodolfo Santiago (left) and PLDT first vice president for network Roderick Santiago, marking a shared milestone in the companies’ strategic collaboration agreement. Revoli Cortez
WHAT’S INSIDE?
KKR eyes FGen stake as earnings rise
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P2 trillion
BIR’s 7-month collection P1.99-trillion topped P2t, beat target 7-month tax collection
7-month collection goal
By Thony Rose Lesaca
T P358 billion Collection in July
PH gets $750-m ADB loan to fund health services THE Philippines secured a $750 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve equitable access to quality health services under Subprogram 3 of the Build Universal Health Care Program. The ADB raised the financing for the subprogram by $250 million from an initial $500 million as oil price and supply shocks widened the government’s financing needs due to the conflict in the Middle East, the multilateral lender said. It said the increase in financing will be sourced from up to $1.75 billion in additional support that ADB president Masato Kanda offered President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in May. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is also providing about $188 million in parallel cofinancing for the program, higher than the original $130 million, ADB said. “Conflict does not have to cross a border to enter a family’s home. It arrives in the price of medicine and in whether the lights stay on. ADB is acting so Filipinos can get the health care they need...even as a distant crisis drives up costs,” Kanda said in a statement. Subprogram 3 has continued to support universal enrollment in PhilHealth, alongside a decline in household out-ofpocket health spending to 42.7 percent in 2024 from 48.8 percent in 2019, the ADB said. The program has expanded PhilHealth benefit packages to cover primary care, emergency services and additional medicines; increased nocopayment beds in public and private facilities; and deployed mobile health units, emergency medical assistance teams and community health teams under PuroKalusugan in underserved areas, the ADB said.
Thony Rose Lesaca
HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Wednesday it collected P2.003 trillion from January to July 2026, surpassing the P1.990-trillion goal for the period by P13.53 billion or 0.68 percent.
The seven-month collection was also P102.60 billion or 5.4 percent higher than in the same period last year. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the bureau has collected around 60 percent of its full-year target for 2026, reflecting improving taxpayer compliance and sustained collection efforts by the revenue re-
gions, revenue district offices and the large taxpayers service. “We remain guided by the President’s directive to make government services more accessible to taxpayers, and by Secretary Frederick Go’s direction to make tax administration fairer and more efficient for businesses and investors,” Mendoza said. BIR gross collections for July alone
reached P358.44 billion, exceeding the P336.07 billion monthly target by P22.37 billion or 6.66 percent. July collections were also P19.41 billion higher than the same month last year, up 5.73 percent year-on-year. “These results show that better taxpayer service, clearer rules and effective enforcement can support stronger compliance and collection,” Mendoza said. The bureau said it continues to simplify tax rules and processes, expand digital services, improve taxpayer assistance, strengthen audit safeguards and enforce tax laws against deliberate noncompliance under its fivepoint reform agenda, BIR DARES.
SMPC layoffs seen not affecting bidding
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Megaworld’s earnings rose 5% in first half
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Three branches of Lopez family investing P2.2b in ABS-CBN By Darwin G. Amojelar and Jenniffer B. Austria
POWER RELIABILITY. Manila Electric Company (Meralco) energizes the new Bustos Substation in Bulacan to support the
province’s growing power demand. The project involves the installation of a new 50-megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformer bank, three 69-kilovolt (kV) gas circuit breakers, six 69-kV disconnect switches, the construction of a 69-kV sub-transmission line, and a control house equipped with a 13.8-kV indoor modular switchgear.
SM Investments’ first-half income rose 8% to P45.9b By Jenniffer B. Austria
SM INVESTMENTS Corp. (SMIC) said Wednesday it posted a consolidated net income of P45.9 billion in the first half of 2026, up 8 percent from P42.6 billion a year ago as sustained consumer demand and contributions from its diversified businesses offset slower economic growth. Consolidated revenues rose 6 percent to P339.2 billion from P319.2 billion a year earlier despite economic challenges during the period. “Consumer spending in our retail
stores and malls remained healthy despite recent economic shocks,” SMIC president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio said. “The Filipino consumer was tested during the first half of the year but our businesses proved to be resilient. Steady demand across our consumerled businesses plus solid contributions from our portfolio companies continue to reflect the strength of our diversified business model. This gives us the confidence to keep investing for long-term growth,” he said. Banking accounted for 47 percent
of the conglomerate’s net income, followed by property at 27 percent, retail at 15 percent and portfolio investments at 11 percent. SM Retail posted a 5-percent increase in net income to P8.9 billion, while operating income grew 12 percent to P14 billion, reflecting stronger sales and expense management amid higher inflation. SMIC’s mall business also sustained growth, with revenues increasing 8 percent to P41.8 billion on higher occupancy, stronger tenant sales and improved operating efficiency.
iSON bares $550-m investment plan in PH By Othel V. Campos
RETAIL EXPO. Finance Undersecretary Michael Peter Alejandro delivers the
keynote address at the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) 32nd National Retail Conference & Expo, where he joined business leaders, retailers and industry innovators in discussing the future of Philippine retail and economic growth.
GLOBAL technology and infrastructure company iSON is expanding its planned investments in the Philippines to about $550 million, broadening its commitments beyond telecommunications to include modern agriculture and clean energy projects. The investment package includes $300 million for telecommunications towers and digital infrastructure, $50 million for a modern agri-farming project and $200 million for a 400-megawatt agro-solar project in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
Finance Secretary Frederick Go met with iSON representatives to discuss the company’s existing and planned investments in the Philippines, as well as potential opportunities in digital healthcare and the expansion of its business process outsourcing operations. “The Department of Finance is committed to creating an environment where investments can translate into better opportunities for Filipinos. With active discussions with investors, we can unlock new investments, create quality jobs for the Filipino workforce, and strengthen key industries,” Go said.
ABS-CBN Corp. is raising P6 billion in new equity as the media and entertainment company plans to accelerate its transformation into a more sustainable, content-led business. Three investment companies representing branches of the Lopez family—Crème Investment Corporation, Mantes Corporation and Presta Holdings Company Inc.—have committed to subscribe to a combined P2.2 billion worth of ABS-CBN shares using personal resources. Crème Investment Corp., Mantes Corp. and Presta Holdings Co. Inc. said the investment would fund ABSCBN’s obligations to its employees and support the company’s recovery, acording to a joint statement “ABS-CBN has been part of this family for generations,” Eugenio Lopez III said on behalf of the family members. “The mission my father set out to pursue remains the heartbeat of this family—to be in the service of the Filipino. We are putting our own money behind this conviction,” Lopez said. The family said it would finalize the investment’s structure, including its terms, with ABS-CBN. I&C Holdings Corp., a 100 percent Philippine-owned private investment holding company focused on longterm corporate turnarounds, will invest P3.5 billion in ABS-CBN shares. “ABS-CBN has built valuable brands, intellectual property, content and deep relationships with Filipino audiences in the Philippines and overseas,” I&C Holdings Corp. said. “As the media industry continues to evolve, we believe these assets provide a strong foundation for the company to adapt, build a sustainable content-led business, and create longterm value.” Lopez Inc. will provide an additional P300 million through the subscription of ABS-CBN shares. “This substantial investment is a vote of confidence in ABS-CBN,” said Mark Lopez, chairman of ABS-CBN.
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KKR eyes FGen stake as earnings rise F By Alena Mae S. Flores
IRST Gen Corp. confirmed Wednesday that global investment firm KKR has submitted a preliminary proposal to First Philippine Holdings Corp. to acquire an 8.43 percent stake in the Lopez-led power company. In separate disclosures to the Philippine Stock Exchange, First Gen and FPH said the proposal is non-binding and does not create legally binding obligations. KKR reserves the right to amend, suspend, or withdraw the proposal at any time, including adjustments to timing, price, structure, and conditions. Under the proposal, KKR would acquire the 8.43 percent stake from FPH and enter into a shareholders agreement with the parent firm. KKR currently holds a 19.9 percent stake in First Gen. KKR would then launch a voluntary tender offer for First Gen’s entire public float of 11.67 percent, supporting a petition for First Gen to voluntarily delist from the PSE. “We have been informed that FPH has acknowledged the letter and is evaluating the proposal, especially in light of recent developments,” First Gen said. First Gen added that no agreements have been signed, no formal discussions have taken place, and no advisers or consultants have been appoint-
ed to date. First Gen shares jumped 28.4 percent to close at P27.35 apiece following the announcement. Separately, First Gen reported a slightly higher attributable recurring net income of P8.7 billion for the first half of 2026, up from P8.6 billion in the same period last year. The increase came despite the sale of its 60 percent stake in its natural gas portfolio to Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. in November 2025. “Pantabangan-Masiway started 2026 well with high water elevation at its dam, and this enabled the plants to provide the power needed during the scorching summer months,” said Francis Giles Puno, First Gen president and chief operating officer. “However, our hydro plants are now slowly feeling the effects of El Niño as dry spells and droughts have resulted in minimal incremental water elevation. This will affect Casecnan more, as its generation is normally higher from May to November”.
SOLANE ILOILO. Solane inaugurates its newest Park N’ Order branch in Iloilo. Present during the launch are Benedict
Libunao, Isla LPG account manager for Western Visayas (from left); Tonito Gonzalez, Isla LPG chief commercial officer; Trisha Sicat-Hamoy, Isla LPG chief financial officer; Banjo Castillo, Isla LPG chief operating officer; Tomoaki Asai, Isla LPG chief executive officer; Gavin Santos of Fabson Inc.; Pien Santos, chief executive officer of Fabson Inc.; Trista Santos of Fabson Inc.; JR Santos of Fabson Inc.; Rene Gamba, Isla LPG national sales director; Katherine Cabisada, Isla LPG trade excellence and market intelligence manager; and Arllan Lazaga, Isla LPG regional sales manager for Visayas.
PSEi rose for 2nd day on bargain hunting, Q2 earnings PARTIAL PARTIAL PARTIAL EXTRAJUDICIAL EXTRAJUDICIAL EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT OF OFOF INTESTATE INTESTATE INTESTATE ESTATE ESTATE ESTATE OF OFOF THE THE THE LATE LATE LATE CONRADO CONRADO CONRADO T.T.ANTONIO T.ANTONIO ANTONIO Notice Notice Notice isishereby ishereby hereby given given given that that that the thethe estate estate estate ofofthe ofthethe late late late CONRADO CONRADO CONRADO T.T.ANTONIO T. ANTONIO ANTONIO (hereinafter (hereinafter (hereinafter referred referred referred totoas to asas “decedent”), “decedent”), “decedent”), who who who died died died on onon June June June 19, 19,19, 2014 2014 2014 without without without any any any will willwill was was was settled settled settled by byby the thethe surviving surviving surviving legal legal legal heirs heirs heirs particularly particularly particularly aaparcel a parcel parcel ofofland of land land with with with TCT TCT TCT No. No. No. 295752 295752 295752 located located located ininthe in thethe City City City ofofQuezon, of Quezon, Quezon, Metro Metro Metro Manila, Manila, Manila, Philippines. Philippines. Philippines. Being Being Being ofoflegal of legal legal age age age and and and with with with full fullfull civil civil civil capacity capacity capacity totocontract, to contract, contract, they they they have have have agreed agreed agreed toto to divide divide divide as asas they they they do dodo hereby hereby hereby divide divide divide and and and adjudicate, adjudicate, adjudicate, the thethe subject subject subject property property property aboveaboveabovedescribed, described, described, ininequal in equal equal shares; shares; shares; that that that they they they have have have executed executed executed the thethe foregoing foregoing foregoing instrument instrument instrument out outout ofoftheir of their their voluntary voluntary voluntary free free free will willwill without without without force force force on onon May May May 28, 28,28, 2025, 2025, 2025, ininTaytay, in Taytay, Taytay, Rizal Rizal Rizal as asper as per per Doc. Doc. Doc. No. No. No. 176; 176; 176; Page Page Page No. No. No. 37; 37; 37; Book Book Book No. No. No. II;II;Series II; Series Series ofof2025 of 2025 2025 before before before Notary Notary Notary Public Public Public Atty. Atty. Atty. Chantal Chantal Chantal Evanne Evanne Evanne J.J.Castañeda. J. Castañeda. Castañeda. (MStandard-July (MStandard-July (MStandard-July 30, 30,30, Aug. Aug. Aug. 66&& 613, & 13,13, 2026) 2026) 2026)
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N NNO OOT TTII IC CCE EE Notice Notice Notice isisis hereby hereby hereby given given given that that that SEAOIL SEAOIL SEAOIL PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES INC. INC. INC.with with withoffice office officeaddress address addressat atat22nd 22nd 22ndFloor, Floor, Floor,The The TheTaipan Taipan Taipan Place, Place, Place,F.F.F.Ortigas, Ortigas, Ortigas,J.J.J.Road, Road, Road,Ortigas Ortigas OrtigasCenter, Center, Center,Pasig Pasig Pasig City, City, City,isisisapplying applying applyingfor for forregistration registration registrationwith with withthe the theBoard Board Boardof ofof Investments Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI) (BOI) as asas an anan Industry Industry Industry Participant Participant Participant with with with New New New Investment Investment Investment(Seaoil (Seaoil (SeaoilBangar Bangar BangarLPG LPG LPGImport Import ImportTerminal Terminal Terminal with with with Two Two Two New New New Storage Storage Storage Tanks Tanks Tanks with with with total total total Capacity Capacity Capacity of ofof 4,000 4,000 4,000 MT), MT), MT), under under under Tier Tier Tier 11 Special 1Special Special Laws Laws Laws -- Downstream -Downstream Downstream Oil Oil Oil Industry Industry Industry Deregulation Deregulation Deregulation Act Act Act (R.A. (R.A. (R.A. 8479) 8479) 8479) of ofof the the the 2026 2026 2026 Strategic Strategic Strategic Investment Investment Investment Priority Priority Priority Plan Plan Plan (SIPP), (SIPP), (SIPP), with with with project project project site site sitelocated located locatedat atatBrgy. Brgy. Brgy.Paratong Paratong ParatongNo. No. No.4, 4,4,Bangar, Bangar, Bangar,La LaLa Union. Union. Union. Any Any Anyperson person personwith with withvalid valid validobjection/s objection/s objection/son ononthe the theaboveaboveabovementioned mentioned mentioned project project project may may may file file file his/her his/her his/her objection objection objection ininin writing, writing, writing, under under under oath, oath, oath, with with with the the the BOI BOI BOI within within within three three three (3) (3) (3) days days days from from from the the the date date date of ofof this this this publication. publication. publication. (SGD.) (SGD.) (SGD.) MARY MARY MARY ANN ANN ANN E. E.E. RAGANIT RAGANIT RAGANIT Director Director Director Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure and and and Services Services Services Industries Industries Industries Service Service Service
By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE shares rose for a second straight trading day Wednesday on continued bargain hunting and upbeat secondquarter earnings. The peso also closed slightly stronger at 61.18 against the U.S. dollar, up from 61.26 on Tuesday. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 39.75 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 6,366.64, while the broader all shares index climbed 26.07 points, or 0.76 percent, to 3,463.99. “The local market’s rise is attributed to bargain hunting together with appreciation of Q2/1H corporate results of selected stocks,” Philstocks Financial Inc. said in a note. Among sectoral indices, holding firms led the gainers, advancing 2.32 percent following strong first-half earnings from SM Investments Corp. Financials rose 1.87 percent, mining and oil gained 1.25 percent, property increased 0.74 percent, and industrials edged up 0.13
percent. Services was the sole declining sector, dropping 1.36 percent. Trading remained thin, with value turnover at P6.2 billion as investors stayed cautious amid Middle East tensions and sluggish second-quarter economic growth. Foreign investors were net buyers, registering P13.82 million in net inflows. DMCI Holdings Inc. was the top index gainer, jumping 5.68 percent to P8, while Emperador Inc. lagged the index, falling 2.06 percent to P15.24. Meanwhile, oil prices rose again Wednesday and stock markets were mixed, with eyes on the release of key US inflation data that could guide the Federal Reserve on its plans for interest rates. Traders trod nervously ahead of the consumer price index (CPI) figures, which follow a report last week showing the world’s top economy lost more than 20,000 jobs last month, suggesting the labour market was slackening. With inflation stubbornly elevated above the Fed’s two percent target for more than five years -- compounded by the Iran war since February -- monetary policymakers are increasingly considering lifting borrowing costs. The bank’s July meeting saw three board members call for an increase, dissenting from the final decision to hold rates, and investors are betting they will announce one before the end of the year, with some eyeing at least two. Analysts pointed out that there will be one more CPI release and another jobs report before the Fed’s next meeting in September. The higher oil prices rise, the more traders expect the Fed to tighten, and a lack of progress in talks between the US and Iran on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is adding upward momentum. An announcement from Pakistan’s defense minister that the two were “close to some sort of arrangement” provided a sliver of hope Tuesday, though that later faded. With AFP CYAN CYAN CYANMAGENTA MAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOW YELLOWBLACK BLACK BLACK
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SMPC layoffs won’t impact coal bidding By Alena Mae S. Flores
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EMIRARA Mining and Power Corp.’s decision to retrench employees is an operational move and will not affect the planned auction of the Semirara coal blocks, the Department of Energy said.
SMPC announced Monday it filed a notice of redundancy with the Department of Labor and Employment, affecting 462 workers at its coal mine site in Antique. The move comes after SMPC reduced its 2026 annual coal production target by more than onethird compared with last year. The job cuts impact more than 11 percent of SMPC’s workforce, which stood at 4,045 employees as of late July. “Semirara, they have announced retrenchment. Also because I think there are some issues in the operations now. It hasn’t been confirmed to me if the issue is about the upcoming bidding. But I would say that SMPC is a very qualified candidate for the bidding round that we will be doing,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said. Garin said she is unsure of the company’s reason for the retrenchment, but believes SMPC followed all legal requirements, particularly regarding labor and environmental standards. SMPC said it adjusted its production goals in response to operational uncertainty surrounding the upcoming coal mine auction by the DOE. “We will check that, but it won’t affect the bidding. And I’m sure they have a reason for doing that,” Garin said. She said the DOE targets holding the bidding this year, though it will be delayed by two months from the initial September auction target. Garin said the DOE is reviewing
the terms of reference for the coal bidding, including the Semirara coal blocks, to ensure the winning bidder prioritizes selling its production to the domestic market. She noted SMPC exports most of its production, with a smaller portion consumed by domestic power plants. “If there’s need for more coal, it can easily be bought from, procured from local mining sites, or imported from other countries. It’s not like all of our coal power plants depend on Semirara,” Garin said. Garin said the agency is working with the Department of Finance and other government bodies to ensure the terms of reference benefit the government. “I postponed it because we need to really study properly the treatment of greenfield bidding of coal,” she said, adding that government officials are considering higher revenue sharing for the government. “Semirara has been a reliable source. It’s a sure source, so I think government can ask for sharing that would give more benefit.” SMPC’s current coal operating contract with the DOE expires July 14, 2027. The company plans to participate in the DOE’s competitive bidding round, where the government will auction 10 blocks on Semirara Island under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program.
ISO CERTIFICATIONS. Nickel Asia Corp. achieves dual international certifications for its Quality Management System and Information Security Management System. Awarded by TÜV Rheinland, the certifications confirm that NAC’s management systems meet internationally recognized standards for quality and information security. Representatives from NAC, TÜV Rheinland, and FCU Solutions Inc. attend the certification milestone.
Mary Mediatrix Medical Center opens wellness center MARY Mediatrix Medical Center has sonalized care that supports lifelong opened a Lifestyle and Wellness Cenwellness. By helping patients stay ter in Lipa City, Batangas, dedicated healthy, we hope to improve quality to preventive medicine and personalof life while reducing the burden of ized wellness as noncommunicable chronic disease on families and comdiseases account for 68 percent of munities,” Cuasay said. deaths in the Philippines. The Lifestyle and Wellness Center A joint study by the World Health offers executive checkups, nutrition Organization and the Department of counseling, physical rehabilitation, Health found that investing in disease and personalized wellness programs prevention and early intervention developed through multidisciplinary ranks among the most cost-effective collaboration, complementing the strategies for improving public health hospital’s existing healthcare serwhile reducing the long-term ecovices. Rather than focusing solely on nomic burden of chronic illness. treating existing illness, the center Noncommunicable diseases, inemphasizes preserving health through cluding heart disease, stroke, cancer, comprehensive health assessments, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disrisk-factor management, and individeases, cost the Philippine economy an ualized wellness planning. estimated P756.5 billion annually, or The facility features a private, nearly 4.8 percent of gross domestic hotel-inspired reception and lounge, product. where a dedicated concierge team “Modern healthcare recognizes that coordinates consultations, diagnostic preventing disease is often more efprocedures, and other healthcare serfective, and far less costly, than treatvices. ing it after complications arise,” said Cuasay said the center builds on Dr. Edna Cuasay, assistant medical the same evidence-based philosophy director, chief of clinics, and chief of that has guided MMMC’s clinical the Institute of Clinical Neurosciencprograms. The hospital recently rees at Mary Mediatrix Medical Center. ceived the World Stroke Organiza“Our Lifestyle and Wellness Center tion’s Platinum Award, recognizing was established to help people iden- Manilaits timely intervention, coordinated Standard tify health risks early, make informed clinical pathways, and adherence to TODAY lifestyle choices, and receive perinternationally recognized standards
Semirara coal nearing the end of the line —“—
Coal production is dwindling and SMPC may lose its foothold on the island ...
SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), except for its power generating business, is close to ending its dominance in the coal mining sector. Coal production is dwindling and SMPC may lose its foothold in the island with government’s plan to re-bid its expiring contract. Semirara just filed a notice of redundancy with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) affecting 462 workers at its coal mine site in Antique. The job cuts follow SMPC’s decision to reduce its 2026 annual coal production target by more than one-third from last year’s. The redundancies cover over 11 percent of SMPC’s workforce of 4,045 employees, including more than 2,000 workers from host communities as of late July. “We recognize the impact of this decision on our affected employees and their families, and we will do our best to support them through this transition,” says SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun. The company had to adjust its production goals amid an operational uncertainty. The Department of Energy (DOE) is holding a coal mine auction for Semirara’s deposits between August and September this year. SMPC’s coal operating contract with the DOE will expire on July 14, 2027. The company plans to participate in the DOE’s competitive bidding round, where the government will auction 10 blocks on Semirara Island under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program. SMPC finds the terms of the new coal mining auction tricky. It filed a petition with a Makati court seeking protection against repeated DOE demands to disclose proprietary information, including a comprehensive asset list that the department intends to share with other prospective bidders. SMPC reasoned out that since it owns equipment assets under its contract and the Coal Development Act, it could not disclose them to competitors in the bidding. The company said the government can claim ownership of the assets only if SMPC fails to remove them within a year of the contract’s expiration. The company back in the 80’s entered an agreement with the DOE for an exclusive right to develop, explore and mine coal resources on Semirara Island in the town of Caluya, Antique. The company subsequently discovered coal mining sites in Unong and Panian. Coal deposits were also discovered in a third site, in Himalian, in 1981. Then known as Semirara Coal Corp., it opened the first coal mining site in the island in Unong in 1984, in joint venture with Voest Alpine of Austria
But things are not rosy for Semirara now. Net income in the first half of 2026 rose 2 percent to just P8.58 billion from P8.42 billion a year ago. Gains in the power segment fortunately offset a decline in coal earnings. The power segment was the group’s largest earnings contributor, accounting for about 70 percent or P5.86 billion, while the coal segment, including a cement associate, contributed 30 percent. Total revenues increased 9 percent to P34.02 billion from P31.33 billion, as higher coal and electricity selling prices more than offset lower coal shipments and power sales volumes. SMPC is now relying more on its power generating business. Net income in the second quarter rose 17 percent to P4.76 billion from P4.07 billion a year earlier, again led by stronger power performance. The power segment contributed P4.6 billion, or 96 percent of consolidated second-quarter earnings. Total power sales rose 9 percent to a record 1,563 gigawatt-hours from 1,435 GWh, following stronger performance across the company’s power plants. The coal segment, however, just contributed P191 million, or 4 percent of consolidated second-quarter earnings, as lower production and shipments along with higher fuel costs outweighed a selling price recovery. Coal production dropped 55 percent to 2.5 million metric tons from 5.6 million metric tons, while shipments fell 13 percent to 4 million metric tons from 4.6 million metric tons. Operations were affected by stripping activities in the new Narra block and limited production at the Acacia mine. The average selling price for Semirara coal rose 27 percent to P2,833 per metric ton from P2,223 per metric ton, supported by stronger global benchmarks. Group capital expenditures in the second quarter, though, fell 80 percent to approximately P400 million from P2 billion a year earlier. Group capex for the first half dropped 80 percent to P900 million from P4.5 billion in the prior year, mainly due to the absence of major fleet upgrades in the coal segment. The declining contribution of the coal mining business to SMPC’s bottom line has now become more evident. With the government favoring renewable power sources over fossil fuels and coal that pollute the environment, Semirara and other coal producers will soon fade into oblivion in the new emerging energy mix. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com
of care. “Whether we are treating patients with complex medical conditions or helping them prevent disease before it develops, our commitment remains the same: delivering compassionate, evidence-based care that helps people live healthier, fuller lives,” she said. “For nearly seven decades, Mary Mediatrix Medical Center has continually evolved to meet the changing healthcare needs of the communities we serve,” said Dondi delos Santos, president of Mary Mediatrix Medical Center. “Healthcare today is no longer defined solely by treating illness. It is increasingly about preserving health, preventing disease, and empowering people to live longer, healthier lives. Through our new Lifestyle and Wellness Center, we are investing in that future while remaining true to our commitment to provide accessible, compassionate, and patient-centered care for every Filipino,” Delos Santos said. MMMC said the shift from reactive treatment toward proactive prevention will be measured not only by lives saved in hospitals, but also by illnesses prevented, healthier communities, and improved quality of life for future generations.
BUSINESS
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
Megaworld’s first-half profit up 5% to P12.7b By Jenniffer B. Austria
TEACHERS MONTH. Carrying the theme ‘Teacher, Ikaw Naman!’ (Teacher, It’s Your Turn!), the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) celebration calls on businesses, civic organizations, academic institutions, government agencies and community groups to invest in meaningful initiatives that strengthen teachers’ well-being, professional growth and capacity to deliver quality education. Led by the National Teachers’ Month Coordinating Council (NTMCC), with Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) serving as its lead and secretariat, the movement provides organizations with opportunities to help advance teacher support where it matters most.
JG Summit’s six-month core income fell 37% to P13b JG SUMMIT Holdings Inc. on Wednesday reported a first-half core net income of P13 billion, down 37 percent from a year ago, as higher fuel costs and foreign exchange pressures weighed on its airline business. The conglomerate said consolidated revenues rose 7 percent to P200 billion, driven by gains in the property, food and feed businesses as well as higher airline passenger traffic. “Our first-half results reflect the underlying resilience of our diversified portfolio—with 7% topline growth carried by our broad-based property gains and resilient food business,
alongside our airline which benefitted from healthy passenger volumes despite higher fares,” JG Summit Holdings president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. The conglomerate said profitability was dragged by the airline’s weak performance in the second quarter, traditionally a strong period, following a sharp increase in fuel prices. It also incurred higher parent-level interest expenses after absorbing debt from its petrochemical subsidiary. Including noncore unrealized foreign exchange losses from the peso’s depre-
ciation, net income from continuing operations fell 47 percent to P11.4 billion. Food manufacturing unit Universal Robina Corp. posted a 4 percent increase in revenues to P89.3 billion on strong demand for branded consumer food products, while net income rose 10 percent to P6.9 billion. Property arm Robinsons Land Corp. increased revenues by 10 percent to P25.4 billion, supported by higher office and mall occupancy, additional warehouse space, increased hotel capacity and stronger residential sales. Net income increased 5 percent to P7.2 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria
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EGAWORLD Corp. said Wednesday it posted a 5-percent increase in first-half net income to P12.7 billion, as sustained growth in its recurring income businesses offset challenges in the property market. Consolidated revenue rose 2.6 percent from a year ago to P44.2 billion, supported by higher contributions from the company’s office, mall and hotel businesses. Leasing revenue rose 5.97 percent to P11.37 billion, while residential sales held steady at P27.2 billion. “Our first-half performance demonstrates Megaworld’s ability to deliver growth across all segments even amid a challenging property market. This outperformance reflects the enduring advantage of our integrated townships, where complementary uses reinforce demand across the portfolio,” Megaworld president and chief executive Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso said. Megaworld’s hotel and resort business was the fastest-growing recurring income segment, with revenue rising 11 percent to P3.1 billion in the first half. The 405-room Belmont
IN BRIEF SMIC to exit mining, shift Atlas stake to another unit
SM INVESTMENTS Corp. (SMIC) plans to exit the mining business by transferring its 34-percent stake in Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. to another listed company owned by the Sy family, SMIC president Frederic DyBuncio said. DyBuncio said the restructuring is targeted for next year. “The intention for SMIC is to completely move out from the mining sector. And we want to move the shareholding we have in Atlas into another listed entity, which is still belonging to the family,” DyBuncio said. DyBuncio did not say which entity will acquire SMIC’s stake in Atlas. However, the market has been speculating that the Sy family will transfer all its mining interests to listed firm Dominion Holdings Inc., which is also owned by the family. Dominion Holdings this week acquired a 20.43-percent stake in Atlas by taking over Anglo Philippine Holdings Corp.’s (APO) subscription to the mining company. Atlas shares rose 0.25 percent to close at P16.04 on Wednesday, while Dominion Holdings shares advanced 8.47 percent to P12.80. Jenniffer B. Austria
Monde Nissin’s income up 31%
MONDE Nissin Corp. reported a 31.2-percent increase in net income to P5.8 billion in the first half of 2026, as stronger gross margins and a turnaround in its protein business helped offset higher energy and logistics costs. First-half consolidated revenue grew 6.8 percent to P44.3 billion, the company said Wednesday in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Monde Nissin attributed the earnings improvement to pricing actions, cost management initiatives and gains from
Shell Energy PH executes battery storage deals
its US dollar hedging position, which helped cushion the impact of higher energy and transportation costs arising from the Middle East crisis. Revenue from the Asia Pacific Branded Food Business (APAC BFB) rose 5.9 percent to P36.9 billion, driven mainly by biscuits and strategic growth categories. Domestic sales increased 6.4 percent to P35 billion. Revenue from the protein business, which includes Quorn Foods, jumped 12 percent to P7.38 billion from P6.59 billion a year earlier. Jenniffer B. Austria
Vivant’s core income dropped 19% in first half
VIVANT Corp. reported a consolidated core net income of P784 million in the first six months of 2026, down 19 percent from the same period in 2025, as some of its power generation assets experienced downtime. Accounting for noncore items — including net losses from an unplanned downtime experienced by a subsidiary, foreign exchange gains and insurance proceeds — net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company stood at P757 million, 21 percent lower than the same period last year. Vivant chief executive Arlo Sarmiento said the company recognizes that uncertainties continue to persist. “Externally, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, slower-thanexpected economic growth prospects, and potential changes in industry regulations will continue to shape today’s business environment,” Sarmiento said. “Internally, the company also faced operational challenges with the unplanned downtimes of a couple of our conventional plants, which affected our earnings in the first half of the year. Resources have been dedicated to ensure commitments are met, operational processes are strengthened, and these capacities are restored at the soonest possible time,” he said. Alena Mae S. Flores
Hotel Iloilo, which opened during the period, brought Megaworld’s hotel portfolio in Iloilo Business Park to nearly 1,000 rooms. The company’s mall business posted an 8-percent increase in revenue to P3.6 billion, while portfolio occupancy remained high at 95 percent. The mall portfolio added more than 16,000 square meters of new stores in the first two quarters. Office rental revenue grew 5 percent to P7.8 billion on stable demand from business process outsourcing tenants. Office lease renewals covered more than 122,000 square meters across Megaworld’s properties in the first half. Reservation sales from the residential business rose 15 percent to P63 billion in the first half, driven by a 20-percent increase in secondquarter residential sales to P33.3 billion.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
IRON ROADMAPH. Board of Investments (BOI) executive-director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa (right) receives the 2026-2040 Philippine Iron and Steel Industry Roadmap from Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) president Joel Ronquillo during a turnover ceremony. The roadmap lays out key strategies to strengthen domestic iron and steel production, deepen industrial linkages, and position the Philippines as a more resilient and investment-ready manufacturing hub.
Finance executives renew call for public fund accountability THE Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) on Wednesday renewed its call for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, as the country grapples with weak economic growth, severe flooding, damaged infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods and rising fiscal pressures. FINEX said accountable public spending has become an economic necessity rather than only a governance imperative, given the current fiscal and economic conditions. The country’s gross domestic product grew 2.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026, slowing from 2.8 percent in the first quarter and bringing first-half growth to 2.6 percent, well below the government’s original 2026 growth assumptions and its revised full-year target of 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent. It said the national government’s debt-to-GDP ratio climbed to 65.2 percent as of the end of the first quarter of 2026, the highest level in more than two decades, further narrowing
the government’s fiscal space. The group said the situation underscores the need to ensure borrowed funds are deployed efficiently and productively. Weak governance and inefficient public spending could also erode investor confidence, raise perceptions of sovereign and institutional risk and ultimately increase the cost of capital for both government and the private sector, according to FINEX. The group acknowledged the important role of government spending in supporting economic activity, creating jobs and encouraging investment, saying well-targeted public expenditure is needed to help stimulate the economy amid the slowdown. It stressed, however, that faster spending should not come at the expense of good governance, and that government must spend efficiently and with appropriate guardrails so that every peso borrowed and spent delivers meaningful economic and social returns.
SHELL Energy Philippines said Wednesday it executed key agreements for the engineering, construction and long-term operations of its planned 30-megawatt/60-megawatthour Hermosa Battery Energy Storage System project in Hermosa, Bataan. Power Dimension Inc. will deliver engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning services for the Power Titan 3.0-based battery energy storage facility under the engineering, procurement and construction contract, including associated electrical and balance-of-plant infrastructure. Shell Energy Philippines also executed a separate long-term service agreement and operations and maintenance agreements with Sungrow Power Technology Solutions Philippines Inc. to provide ongoing technical support, maintenance and operational services. The facility, located in Bataan, is designed with a storage capacity of 60 megawatt-hours, enabling it to store electricity when supply is available and discharge it when needed to support grid reliability. It forms part of Shell Energy Philippines’ growing energy infrastructure portfolio. Shell Energy Philippines president and chief executive Bernd Krukenberg said the agreements mark a significant step forward for the project. “The execution of the EPC, LTSA, and O&M agreements represents a significant step forward for the Hermosa Battery Energy Storage System project. We are pleased to be working with experienced partners across project development, construction, and long-term operations as we progress into the next phase of the project,” Krukenberg said.
Coins.ph, Bayad team up to expand bills payment services
Coins.ph global marketing director Amira Alawi (right) and Bayad chief commercial and marketing pfficer Dennis Gatuslao sign a partnership agreement to expand the former’s bills payment network to nearly 300 billers across 17 categories, offering realtime posting and faster processing for Filipino users.
COINS.ph, a digital asset exchange and mobile wallet, has signed a strategic partnership with Bayad, the country’s premier bills payment network, to expand bills payment capabilities for millions of Filipino users. The direct integration with Bayad’s biller network eliminates thirdparty aggregators, allowing Coins. ph to deliver faster, more seamless and more reliable bill payments within the app, the companies said in a statement. The partnership brings Coins.ph’s biller count to nearly 300 merchants, doubling the platform’s previous capacity. The expanded network spans
17 categories covering utilities, government services, telecommunications, travel and banking, letting users settle their monthly bills on a single platform. Through Bayad’s direct application programming interface integration, Coins.ph now offers real-time posting for major billers, ensuring payments post within 24 hours to help users avoid late fees. The upgrade is designed to benefit bill-only users who rely on the app for recurring payments rather than digital asset trading. Coins.ph global marketing director Amira Alawi said the partnership reflects the company’s push to become
part of users’ daily routines. “We want to show how Coins.ph fits naturally into your daily life,” Alawi said. “By partnering with a household name as trusted as Bayad, we’re making it incredibly easy for our users to settle their utilities and everyday expenses with nearly 300 billers, all in just a few taps.” Bayad chief commercial and marketing pfficer Dennis Gatuslao said the tie-up merges traditional and digital payment methods. “This partnership bridges the best of everyday traditional payments with the power of digital finance,” Gatuslao said.
BINONDO
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com
Firm helps PH traders navigate China market By Michael Wong Ho
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UORIUM International Trade, a China-Philippines sourcing and trading company, is offering supplier verification, factory coordination and purchasing support to help Filipinos navigate crossborder trade.
Quorium International Trade founder Wendy Angela said many aspiring importers, overseas Filipino workers and small business owners are excited by opportunities they see online but hesitate because they do not know how to verify suppliers, communicate with Chinese factories or estimate total costs. “Many people wanted to start, but they were scared because they didn’t know how things really work here in China,” Angela said, recounting her experience after years living in the country and working first as an English teacher. She said her time in China gave her a close look at how business relationships are built and where Filipino traders commonly run into trouble. Over time, she noticed many Filipinos wanted to trade with China, either sourcing goods for the Philippines or selling Philippine products there, but were held back by uncertainty and lack of knowledge. “My goal is to help Filipinos approach opportunities in China with better knowledge, stronger preparation and greater confidence,” she said.
Quorium International Trade founder Wendy Angela (right) says many aspiring importers, overseas Filipino workers and small business owners are excited by opportunities they see online but hesitate because they do not know how to verify suppliers, communicate with Chinese factories or estimate total costs..
Quorium, registered in both China and the Philippines, aims to bridge the two markets. Services include supplier verification, factory coordination, purchasing support
and broader trade assistance. The company also runs educational webinars designed to help Filipinos understand crossborder sourcing and international
trade before committing capital. “Access to China is easier than ever thanks to online platforms and logistics services,” Angela said. “But access alone is not enough.
Filipino delegates win 3 silver medals at China song fest
Filipino delegates win silver medals at the 2026 Culture China Water Cubic Cup Chinese Songs Final in Beijing on Aug. 2, 2026.
THE Philippine delegation won three silver medals at the 2026 Culture China Water Cubic Cup Chinese Songs Final, which concluded in Beijing on Aug. 2, 2026. St. Stephen’s High School student Yang Mei Jia took a silver medal in the youth group. Hope Christian High School student Lei Li Si and Saint Jude Catholic School student Lin Jin Chan won silver medals in the teenage group. Thirty teenage-group singers from around the world competed in the final round. The youth-group final was held June 27 and broadcast online on Beijing TV’s 8K channel. Judges evaluated contestants on singing level, stage performance and Chineselanguage expression. The competition ran more than six months and drew about 9,000 participants from more than 33 countries and regions. Organizers said the contest uses music as a bridge to promote cultural exchange among overseas Chinese.
Michael Wong Ho
Business chamber donates 30 bikes for Manila police patrols By Julie Ann Lope THE Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) donated 30 mountain bikes to the City of Manila on Monday for use by police patrolling the city’s tourist attractions. The Manila Police District will deploy the bicycles to help ensure the safety of visitors, city officials said. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno thanked FFCCCII for the donation and said Binondo has become a popular tourist destination, particularly as a food district. He said the city would do its part to ensure the bicycles are fully utilized. FFCCCII honorary president Francis Chua, vice president Antonio Cosing, welfare committee chairman Robert Kho Tian Ang, secretary general Fernando Gan, assistant secretary general Gino Villanueva Chen and external affairs committee vicechairman Hong Chaoming attended the turnover event.
FFCCCII donates 30 mountain bikes to Manila for police patrols of tourist spots like Binondo, as Mayor Isko Moreno vows the bikes will be put to full use.
What many need is guidance — how to find reliable suppliers, how to verify factories, how to calculate all costs and build a solid foundation before entering the market,” she said.
Company brings Taiwanese culture to Bulacan students
Thick and Thin Agri Products honors late founder Tayson Hsieh with Project: Ligaya Taiwan Day, bringing Taiwanese culture and education to 350 students at Duhat Elementary School in Bocaue, Bulacan.
THICK and Thin Agri Products brought Taiwanese culture, education and community goodwill to about 350 Grade 5 and Grade 6 students at Duhat Elementary School in Bocaue, Bulacan as part of the fourth edition of Project: Ligaya Taiwan Day. The event honored the company’s late founder, Tayson Hsieh, who arrived in the Philippines in 1984, founded Thick and Thin Agri Products in 1990 and made Barangay Duhat the company’s home since 1997. Following Hsieh’s death in 2025, the company launched Project: Ligaya to continue his vision of strengthening ties between Taiwan and the Philippines by sharing Taiwanese culture, education and resources with local communities. The daylong event transformed the school into a series of interactive activity stations. Students tried spring couplet writing, learned about the Dragon Boat Festival through a zongzi cultural experience, played with traditional Taiwanese folk toys, sampled Taiwanese snacks and tested their knowledge in Taiwan trivia. Ersao Taiwanese Restaurant ran a Taiwan milk tea station that gave each pupil the chance to taste the island’s iconic beverage while learning about its origins. Organizers also highlighted Taiwan’s advances in education, healthcare and innovation, framing the event as both a cultural celebration and a learning opportunity. Thick and Thin Agri Products general manager Charlie Hsieh said Project: Ligaya carries forward his late father’s values of generosity and community service. He said the company is committed to giving back, strengthening Philippines-Taiwan friendship and sharing Taiwan’s culture with future generations. Barangay chairman Faustino Dela Cruz and Duhat Elementary School principal Michael Galvez thanked the company for its continued partnership and the enrichment the program brought to students. Julie Ann Lope
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SHOWBIZ
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Meet P-pop’s newest girl group
By Nickie Wang P-POP girl group Oona has found a new home at ABS-CBN Music, joining one of the country’s biggest rosters of homegrown pop acts as it unveils its second single, “Unang Tingin.” The five-member group, composed of Isaki Bautista, Coleen Trinidad, Jaylou Felciano, Karyss “Kari” Asio, and Julia “Bella” Patillas, was formally welcomed to the label during a recent media launch at Matrix Creations Events Venue in Quezon City. ABS-CBN Music executives Roxy Liquigan, Jonathan Manalo, and Andie Arellano welcomed the group, which joins fellow P-pop acts BINI, BGYO, WRIVE, Yes My Love, AJAA, 1621, DNA, Baby Dolls, and AZTER. The move comes after Oona spent years building its following through live performances, online content and its debut single, “Darama,” which the members co-wrote. The girls know a thing or two about persistence. Leader Isaki shared that they had faced numerous rejections before finally getting their shot. “We’ve been rejected so many times but we know in our hearts that this is something that we really want to do so we kept on trying and trying,” she said. That persistence now has a soundtrack.
Rex Smith
on surviving ‘killer career’
Rex Smith at the Philippine Global Media Group’s gala night in Cerritos, California
ESCRIBING showbiz as a “killer career” may sound a bit unfair, but coming from a man who decided early on that it is the path to take, and witnessing others succumb to it, makes sense and emphasizes the significance of making it through life by living your passion.
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Pinay girl group Oona begins a new chapter with ABS-CBN Music after years of wanting to get noticed for their music and artistry
school. I went forward and never went back, either left or right.” The former teen idol and band frontman added,
Johnson and Consul General of the Philippines in Los Angeles Adelio Angelito Cruz, who wittily mentioned that Rex Smith, or his music, was instrumental to his getting married. Yugel Losorata PGMG is a rising media organization of Last Saturday, I witnessed mostly experienced hitmaker Rex Smith, now journalists. Officers a septuagenarian, sing like include Dan Nino he’s decades younger and (president), Val remain energetic beyond Abelgas (chairman what you could expect from a of the board), Lydia nostalgia act as he performed Solis (vice president), at a Filipino-American event D o n n a b e l l e held in Cerritos, California. Gatdula-Arevalo He certainly proved that (secretary), Meg he had not been killed by a Ilagan (treasurer), career that even success, as Ellen Rodriguezhe pointed out, may take the Swing (press life out of you. relations officer), Joe “I am really enjoying this Cobilla Jr. (press part of my life, and I feel The hitmaker, now 70, takes pride in making a living out of singing relations officer), like I’m 21 again,” quipped his records. He is flanked by the author (right) and California-based and Ric Gavino Rex in a chat after his realtor Cris Bayani III (left) (auditor), as well as a performance at Philippine host of directors. Global Media Group’s (PGMG) “I think real singers are born, not Rex, also an actor and, Induction of Officers & Gala Night made, and I really believe that God interestingly, the first to play at Cerritos Sheraton, where he sang gave me a gift, my voice, so I am Marvel’s Daredevil in live his classics “You Take My Breath treating it by taking care of it and action, related, “My grandson is Away,” “Let’s Make A Memory,” working at it.” half-Filipino, which means the “Forever,” and “Simply Jessie.” Rex, who sat right next to his wife connection is now in the bloodline. I An artist live-singing four certified Tracy and walked himself to the bar just played in Cebu in May, and I’m classics for nearly five decades now to buy glasses of wine, noted that he looking to go back to Manila.” should qualify as a major, enduring does a lot of biking and cardio for I remember back in college, act. his breathing. Small wonder he is “Simply Jessie” was among the Rex noted he feels lucky that still taking our breath away when he songs you needed to learn to sing during his time, when there were no sings. He rehearses for 45 minutes to get some girls’ attention. The platforms to showcase one’s talents to an hour with headphones. idea was to mimic how Rex sang it from the bedroom, “few had the He mused, “I’m happy to report on the record, which is never easy nerve and the desire to go out of the that at 70, I feel I’m singing like I’m because of his voice’s charm and front door and go and go.” 42!” restraint. He shared, “Fortunately, I Rex noted that all five of his kids PGMG picked the right guest for navigated it, and I am so grateful are grown and have all moved out, their event, as Rex is a favorite act to God that I have my health and I another way of saying he now has in the Philippines, proven by his 26 am enjoying it. At that time, I just more attention for his wife and his years of touring Manila and other burned every bridge behind me. I dog. He enjoys home and peace places in Asia’s Pearl of the Orient. had no alternate plan or fallback “like water from a spring on a Present during the occasion were when I made this decision in high sizzling summer day.” Cerritos Mayor Lynda Provido
Touchbass
BINI takes P-pop to Japan with ‘Summer Sonic’ debut AFTER electrifying crowds across California, Hawaii, and Nevada, BINI is heading to Japan this weekend for its Summer Sonic debut, taking the Mountain Stage at one of Asia’s biggest music festivals. The eight-member girl group, composed of Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena, will perform Friday, Aug. 14, from 2:40 to 3:20 p.m. JST at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Osaka. BINI will then take the stage in Tokyo on Sunday, Aug. 16, from 3:30 to 4:10 p.m. JST at ZOZO Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe. The Tokyo performance will be livestreamed exclusively in Japan through WOWOW on Demand. Summer Sonic is held annually over one weekend in August across two major regions of Japan, bringing together major international and Japanese acts. This year’s lineup also includes
Oona performed “Unang Tingin” for the first time at the launch, much to the delight of more than 100 fans. The song tackles the idea that first impressions can be deceiving. “The song is about how first impressions aren’t always true,” Kari said. Jaylou added that the group hopes the track encourages listeners to feel confident about who they are, a message Oona wants to carry into its P-pop journey. Oona’s members also bring different pieces of experience to the group. Isaki and Coleen are former MNL48 members, while Jaylou built an online following through TikTok lifestyle content and dance covers. Bella and Kari came into the group with performance backgrounds. Aguila Entertainment and Islah Entertainment will co-manage Oona’s career with Star Music. After surviving rejection, finding a label and finally taking the stage, Oona’s next challenge is the one every new P-pop act dreams of: making people remember its name.
Spotify is preparing an “AI Persona” to clearly label artist profiles that are not tied to real people
Filipino-Japanese singer Ena Mori and fellow P-pop group SB19. BINI’s Japan debut comes as the group earns four nominations at the 39th Awit Awards. The nominations include Best Performance by a Group and Best Pop Recording for “Shagidi,” Best R&B Recording for “Katabi,” and Best Global Collaboration for “Blink Twice,” featuring Indonesian singer Agnez Mo. The group has been on the road for its BINI Signals World Tour, recently performing in Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Rohnert Park, and San Diego. Japan will be only a pit stop. After Summer Sonic, BINI returns to North America for shows in Vancouver on Aug. 18, Calgary on Aug. 21, Edmonton on Aug. 22, Winnipeg on Aug. 24, Toronto on Aug. 27 and Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 28.
Spotify to launch badge identifying AI music
BINI adds Osaka and Tokyo to its overseas run as the group continues its world tour and earns four Awit Awards nominations
STREAMING giant Spotify said Tuesday it would launch a new “AI Persona” badge in mid-September clearly identifying content producers that are AI-generated and not real people. “Listeners have been clear in telling us that they don’t like seeing an artist profile that seems human, only to find out that the persona is AI-generated,” Spotify said in a statement. The move is the Swedish company’s latest effort to be transparent about how the music on its platform was made, amid growing concern
across the music industry over AI-generated content overwhelming streaming catalogues. In April, the company launched its “Verified by Spotify” badge, signalling that a profile has been reviewed and meets its authenticity standard. “Alongside artist profiles that self-disclose as AI Personas, we will also start applying badges to relevant profiles,” the company said. Spotify will not include AI Personas in editorial or personalized recommendations, unless a user follows an AI Persona, it said. AFP
LIFE
C3 THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
PE OPLE
For Anne Curtis, fitness is a lifestyle,
A bigger market for local personal care brands
not a summer project By Nickie Wang
ACTRESS, television personality, and fitness enthusiast Anne Curtis has spent a decade as a Century Tuna Superbod, giving her a front-row view of how fitness culture has changed. Her biggest advice remains simple: Health should be a lifestyle, not a temporary phase.
SUPERBOD.
Anne Curtis encourages a more sustainable approach to wellness, emphasizing consistency over seasonal fitness goals Wipro Consumer Care International’s acquisition of S Brands opens new opportunities for Philippine personal care labels to expand beyond the local market
By Angelica Villanueva
The #SuperbodEra launch introduces the Top 40 finalists, who shared their health advocacies
Century Tuna Superbods marks its 20th year by highlighting fitness, personal growth, mental strength, and the stories behind its finalists
“Being healthy shouldn’t just be a phase in your life. It should be a lifestyle that you’re committed to,” Curtis told Manila Standard Life. The actress and Century Tuna brand ambassador believes fitness does not have to revolve around intense workouts or getting in shape for summer. What matters, she noted, is making small, consistent choices throughout the year. “Fitness should never be something you do only for summer. It should become part of your lifestyle, sustained through small, consistent choices throughout the year,” she said. Curtis acknowledged that motivation often peaks at the start of the year, only to fade after summer. “I believe from January 1, everyone is inspired to work out. Come pagkatapos ng summer, everyone nagla-less,” she shared. Rather than committing to hardcore routines for a specific
season, Curtis encouraged people to find sustainable ways to stay active. “You don’t have to do hardcore, like preparing for summer and stuff. But that’s why it’s all in those small choices, daily, everyday commitment, and just doing something.”
—“—
Fitness is not a seasonal project. It is built through the small decisions made every day. Her advice comes as Century Tuna Superbods enters its 20th year, with the program evolving to celebrate fitness, personal growth, mental strength, and health advocacy. Curtis noted that the platform has become more inclusive, placing greater emphasis on the stories
behind each finalist. The #SuperbodEra launch introduced the Top 40 finalists ahead of the competition’s final leg. The contenders shared their personal journeys and health advocacies, ranging from accessible nutrition and mental wellness to physical training. “Having been with Century Tuna for so many years, I’ve had a frontrow seat to how this brand and this platform have grown,” Curtis shared. “What makes Superbods so special is how it brings real human stories to the center stage.” The competition will culminate in a grand finals, where the male and female grand winners will each receive P1 million. The runners-up will receive P250,000 each. As the finalists compete for the title, Curtis’ message remains relevant beyond the contest. “Fitness is not a seasonal project. It is built through the small decisions made every day,” she exclaimed.
FROM hair treatments to rubbing alcohol, several personal care products familiar to Filipino households are preparing to enter a bigger stage. Wipro Consumer Care International is expanding its business in the Philippines through its acquisition of S Brands Consumer Care Inc., the local company behind KERATINplus, AlcoPlus, DeoPlus, Empress, Grips, and Fiona Cologne. The consumer goods arm of Wipro Enterprises has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 percent of S Brands. The transaction is Wipro Consumer Care International’s second strategic acquisition in the country, following its purchase of Splash Corporation in 2019. It is also the company’s 16th acquisition as it builds a wider personal care business across Asia and other international markets. Nagender Arya, president for East Asia and chief operating officer of Wipro Consumer Care International, said the deal would strengthen the company’s presence in the Philippines while creating opportunities to bring S Brands products abroad. “This acquisition is an important milestone in our journey to become one of Asia’s leading personal care companies,” Arya said. “As our 16th strategic acquisition, it reinforces our long-term commitment to the Philippines following the acquisition of Splash Corporation in 2019,” he continued. S Brands has built its local business across hair care, hygiene, fragrance, deodorant, and men’s grooming. KERATINplus leads the country’s hair treatment category, while AlcoPlus has become one of
its better-known hygiene labels. Wipro plans to support the brands through research, product development, e-commerce, and new marketing efforts. Arya said the company would also study how KERATINplus, Empress, and other S Brands products could perform in its existing markets. “In the Philippines, of course, the brands are already strong. We will look at bringing in more innovative products,” he added. He also shared that the company would work with the S Brands team to identify new product ideas suited to the Philippine market while testing selected brands with consumers in other countries. Wipro Consumer Care International has more than 37 brands sold in over 60 markets across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The company views the Philippines as an important part of its regional plans because of its young consumer base and growing demand for hair care, skin care, fragrance, and hygiene products. S Brands founder and president Dick Sy Ong said the partnership would give the company the resources and international reach needed to serve more customers. “S Brands is growing, and we’re ready to reach more people in more markets. Wipro has the track record and global reach to help make that happen. And with their proven R&D and innovation, we can give even more to our customers,” Ong said. Incoming S Brands chief executive Amit Kumar Dawn said the acquisition would provide a stronger platform for expanding the business, building its brands, and improving operations in the Philippines.
The deal brings S Brands into Wipro’s wider international network, with plans for product innovation, stronger distribution, and overseas growth
Marian Rivera’s new luxury is a good night’s sleep
Marian Rivera joins the growing conversation around sleep wellness as smart technology becomes part of more personalized nighttime routines
ACTRESS and mom Marian Rivera is lending her name to a luxury that never goes out of style: a good night’s sleep. The award-winning actress and GMA’s primetime queen has been named the newest endorser of ZLEEP AI, a premium sleep technology brand expanding its presence in the Philippines. Marian’s partnership comes as consumers pay closer attention to sleep as part of their overall wellness routine. Her involvement puts a familiar face behind a growing conversation about how
technology can help people sleep more comfortably and wake up better rested. The product combines artificial intelligence, smart sensing technology, ergonomic design, and luxury materials in its sleep systems. Its flagship ZLEEP AI Zenith features BioAdaptive AI technology and an eight-drive body-sensing system that detects changes in pressure and sleeping position, adjusting support throughout the night. The mattress also offers adaptive spine alignment, real-time health
tracking, and a body-sensing smart alarm. The concept is straightforward: sleep is personal. Bodies move, sleeping positions change, and comfort needs vary throughout the night. The brand’s technology is designed to respond to those changes, creating a more personalized sleeping environment. Marian’s endorsement gives the emerging sleep-tech category a recognizable personality as the brand introduces smart sleep solutions to Filipino consumers.
LIFE
C4 THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Sandez Clinic approaches arm sculpting as both surgery and artistry, emphasizing proportion and harmony for natural-looking results
NOW & NEXT
The new status symbol
isn’t a designer bag, it’s sculpted arms By Nickie Wang
T
HERE was a time when the most coveted object resting on someone’s arm was the handbag.
These days, it might be the arm itself. Not long ago, the clearest sign of luxury was something you could carry. An Hermès bag resting casually on the arm. A Cartier bracelet passed down through generations. A Swiss watch admired for its craftsmanship and scarcity. These objects spoke quietly of taste, achievement, and aspiration. Those symbols have not disappeared. But they are sharing the spotlight with something far more personal: the body itself. Beautiful skin, healthy hair, natural-looking features, and, increasingly, sculpted arms are becoming expressions of modern self-investment. Luxury has not lost its appeal. It has simply become more intimate. The quiet-luxury movement changed more than wardrobes. As logos became smaller and tailoring cleaner, attention shifted from what people wore to how they carried themselves. Posture, proportion, and confidence became part of the aesthetic. That may explain the growing interest in arm sculpting. In a country where sleeveless dressing is practically a year-round proposition, well-contoured arms can complete an outfit in a way no accessory quite can.
And increasingly, women are willing to travel for them. Filipinos seeking specialized aesthetic procedures have long looked to cities such as Seoul, Bangkok, and Singapore. But Metro Manila is increasingly entering that conversation. Patients from Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and other parts of the country are traveling to Manila in search of physicians known for a particular specialty. Overseas Filipinos, too, are timing procedures around trips home. The reason is simple: luxury has always rewarded mastery. People do not necessarily travel for convenience. They travel for specialists. The real shift is not simply that patients are traveling. It is what they are traveling for. Rather than finding a clinic that simply promises slimmer arms, many patients are looking for practices that approach arm sculpting as a complete discipline, considering body proportions, skin quality, recovery, and long-term maintenance. One practice shaping that conversation is Sandez Clinic, led by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gerard Santos. The physician-led clinic approaches arm sculpting as both surgery and artistry, with an emphasis on proportion and harmony rather than simply removing fat. Cosmetic surgeon Gerard Santos (right) and dermatologist Jobel Fernandez Santos bring surgical and dermatological care together in its approach to body contouring, with an emphasis on balanced and natural-looking results
Arm contouring combines surgical planning with attention to recovery and skin quality as demand for specialized aesthetic procedures grows
Patients seeking arm sculpting are increasingly looking beyond fat reduction to treatments that consider proportion, skin quality, recovery, and long-term maintenance
The work does not end in the operating room. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jobel Fernandez-Santos oversees the recovery process, focusing on scar optimization, skin quality, pigmentation management, and long-term maintenance. Together, the surgical and dermatological approach forms Sandez Sculpt™, the clinic’s philosophy for creating results designed to look balanced, refined, and natural. Visit www.sandez.ph to learn more.
Why everyday stomach discomfort deserves more attention
Health services and professional guidance form part of Watsons’ year-long effort to help customers make more informed choices about their everyday well-being
By Angelica Villanueva DIGESTIVE discomfort often slips quietly into the day. It can begin after a rushed meal, surface during a stressful afternoon, or linger after several days of irregular eating. Because the symptoms are familiar, many people simply wait for them to pass. Leading health and beauty retailer Watsons is seeking to change that approach through its Build Better Gut Health campaign, a year-long initiative aimed at helping Filipinos better understand digestive health and make informed choices before common concerns become harder to ignore. The campaign brought healthcare professionals, wellness advocates, brand partners, media representatives, influencers, and Watsons Club members together for discussions on digestive care. Zesther Rodriguez, senior category manager for the health business unit, said digestive concerns such as bloating, hyperacidity, acid reflux, constipation, indigestion, and diarrhea have become so common that many people treat them as a routine part of daily life. “Because these symptoms are so common, they’re often ignored or treated only when they become uncomfortable,” Rodriguez shared. Although these conditions may cause only temporary discomfort, they can also indicate that the digestive
system needs more attention. Gut health supports digestion and nutrient absorption while also contributing to immunity and overall well-being. Rodriguez noted that the campaign encourages people to regard gut care as part of regular health maintenance instead of waiting for symptoms to appear. “At Watsons, we believe gut care shouldn’t begin only when symptoms appear. Through Build Better Gut Health, we want to help customers better understand their digestive health, make informed choices, and discover the right solutions that support long-term wellness, not just quick relief,” she said.
Over the coming months, participating Watsons stores will feature dedicated gut health displays where customers can explore products for different digestive concerns. Pharmacists will also be available to offer guidance, while free health services and expert consultations will form part of the initiative. The campaign brings together product access, health education, and professional advice. Customers may also seek support through Watsons stores, the Watsons App, and its Click & Collect service. Rodriguez said digestive care is often overlooked beside more familiar health habits such as balanced eating, regular exercise, and proper sleep. “When we think about staying healthy, we often focus on eating well, staying active, or getting enough sleep. While all of these are important, one essential part of our health often goes unnoticed: our gut,” she stated. By drawing attention to recurring digestive concerns, the campaign aims to help Filipinos recognize that discomfort should not always be dismissed as something ordinary. Paying closer attention to the gut may be a practical step toward better daily health.
The Build Better Gut Health campaign encourages Filipinos to pay closer attention to digestive health
Long gaming sessions can become a concern when they begin to interfere with a child’s sleep, schoolwork, relationships, and daily responsibilities
Help, my child has a gaming disorder MakatiMed cites three red flags and six ways to monitor behavior
UNTIL the horrific shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, Leyte, last June 22, where three students were killed and 20 injured, few people had heard of GoreBox, an online game reportedly favored by the 14-year-old alleged perpetrator. Does taking away GoreBox and similar games mean the end of gaming-related violence? Not quite, says Paul Lawrence Filomeno, MD, a board-certified pediatrician from Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) and a specialist in addiction and recovery medicine focusing on screen gaming and digital behavioral addictions in children and adolescents. “Gaming violence is a violent behavior that can be triggered by some factors,” Filomeno explains. He said violence involves an accumulation of risk factors, including the home and school environment, social pressures, bullying, and cultural and family norms. “To blame the game itself would be lacking,” he says. “It is multisystemic, and a very complex issue.” While some children can game for hours and return to real life without difficulty, others may play for only two hours but experience significant effects on their behavior, academics, and relationships. Three red flags Filomeno identifies three signs of gaming disorder: Loss of control. A child intends to play for an hour but continues for several more, prioritizing gaming over
homework and other responsibilities. Functional impairment. Gaming interferes with eating, sleeping, school, hygiene, hobbies, or relationships. Difficulty in stopping. Failing grades, cutting class, or giving up allowance and belongings to continue gaming are troubling behaviors. Family plays a key role Gaming disorder requires a multidisciplinary approach involving guidance counselors, pediatricians, child psychologists, and addiction specialists. Still, Filomeno considers the family the first component of the healthcare team. “Ninety percent of the effort is delegated to the family,” he says, stressing that parents must model the behavior they expect from their children. The 6S approach Filomeno recommends that parents monitor six areas: sleep, safety, selfregulation, school, social connection, and security. Parents should watch whether gaming affects sleep, exposes children to strangers online, changes their behavior when screen time is reduced, affects academic performance, limits social interaction, or compromises their online security. Change, he says, happens gradually. “The outcomes of gaming disorder are measured by small steps,” Filomeno says. “If he reduces his gaming from 8 hours to 7 hours, that’s already a big win. Small steps are still better than setting impossible expectations.”