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EX-SPEAKER ASKS OMBUDSMAN TO DISMISS BASELESS PLUNDER RAP By Maricel V. Cruz and Joel Zurbano FORMER Speaker Martin Romualdez has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss the plunder, graft and other criminal complaints filed against him, noting that accusations of his alleged links to the flood control mess were baseless.
Orly Guteza
Romualdez, in a supplemental counter-affidavit filed Thursday, said the recantation of retired Marine T/ Sgt. Orly Guteza proves that the allegations levelled against him were baseless. Guteza, in his new affidavit, retracted his earlier testimony that he delivered cash kickbacks in suitcases to the residences of Romualdez and former House appropriations panel
chairman Zaldy Co. Guteza said he was offered payment in exchange for implicating Romualdez. He identified former Anakalusgan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor as the one who pressured him to provide false testimony against the former Speaker. Guteza also identified Senator Marcoleta as the one who edited and completed his draft testimony that was typed by Defensor's
son-in-law, Mark. "Particularly as to Guteza, complainant [Ombudsman] SPI (Special Panel of Investigators) cannot rely upon his (Guteza's) former account insofar as it implicates me while disregarding his subsequent sworn repudiation of the very allegation for which he was invoked. Guteza was supposed to supply the factual bridge Next page
House eyes end to evidence presentations in September By Maricel Cruz
VOL. XL • NO. 189 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026 •
Draw lessons from Ninoy’s life, says Marcos Jr. By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to draw lessons from the life and legacy of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. as the country observes Ninoy Aquino Day. In his Ninoy Aquino Day message, Mr. Marcos said Aquino’s memory serves as a reminder of the courage of Filipinos who stood by their convictions and helped shape the country’s democratic journey. "The memory of Ninoy Aquino reminds us of the courage of Filipinos to stand by their convictions and contribute to our nation’s democratic journey," President Marcos said. He reminded the public to acknowledge the lessons of the past and
THE House of Representatives prosecution panel will try to complete its presentation of evidence by the end of September to help the Senate impeachment court finish Vice President
Sara Duterte’s trial before December, House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Friday. In an online press briefing, Ridon said he supports Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s announcement Next page
DepEd: Hold active threat drills in schools Public, private schools to conduct safety drills Aug. 25 By Gabriel Oliva and Vince Lopez
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HE Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered all public and private basic education schools nationwide to hold a simultaneous active-threat drill at 9 a.m. Aug. 25 to strengthen preparedness against campus security threats.
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IN MEMORIAM. Representatives
of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and other organizations lay wreaths to commemorate yesterday the 43rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Parañaque City. NHCP
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police recorded 50 school-related incidents involving minor offenders, also called children in conflict with the law, since June 16. In Pinamungalan, Cebu, police found on Thursday afternoon a revolver inside the bag of a 14-year-old student of the Lut-od National High School. In Bantayan town, a 21-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for posting a series of online messages threatening to stage a gun assault at the Bantayan National High SchoolSenior High School. A memorandum signed by DepEd chief of staff Fatima Panontongan on Aug. 12 stated that the initiative comes on the heels of increasing incidence of violence and other security threats at schools and communities Next page worldwide.
88 areas under state of calamity, reports OCD By Rio N. Araja A TOTAL of 88 areas have been placed under a state of calamity, according to the latest disaster situation report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Friday. Dagupan City has one area under a state of calamity. In Pangasinan, four areas have been placed under a state of calamity, namely Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Bugallon, and Mangatarem. Bataan has 12 areas under a state of calamity, covering the entire province, Next page
SCHOOL SAFETY DRILL. This photo released on July 15, 2026 shows policemen simulating a security response for an active shooter threat during the National Safe Schools Summit and Safety Drill at the Manila Science High School. DepEd Philippines
Fuel prices seen to rise by as much as P2.25/l next week LOVE NOTE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sends an e-birthday
card with this love note to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos: My dear Liza, we're celebrating today a most important day in the calendar; Liza Day! Happy Birthday to the First Lady of every day of my life... and beyond! Bongbong Marcos FB
By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS are facing pump price hikes next week of as much as P2.25 per liter due to continuing geo-
political tensions in the Middle East. An industry source said Friday that diesel is forecast to increase by P1.75 to P2.25 per liter and gasoline by P1 to P1.50 per liter based on this
week’s Mean of Platts Singapore and foreign exchange average for the first four days of the week. Oil prices climbed due to a rebuild Next page
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mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Ex-Speaker... DepEd... From A1
“The Department continuously strengthens school preparedness through preventive planning, capacity building, and emergency response measures,” the memo read. Ahead of Tuesday’s drill, schools are required to undertake multiple preparatory measures, including developing contingency plans, identifying preparedness needs such as classroom double-locking, coordinating with relevant stakeholders, and activating School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (SDRRM) teams. The schools were also enjoined to invite a security expert to serve as an external evaluator of the ongoing drill in coordination with the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Local Government Units (LGU), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Local Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO).
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draw from them the resolve to protect freedom, strengthen democratic institutions and deepen national unity. The President said the challenges facing democracy have changed over time, pointing to disinformation, division, distrust and civic indifference as issues that require active participation from citizens. "The challenges facing our democracy may have changed over time, but our shared responsibility to reinforce it remains," he said. "Ninoy’s legacy encourages us to meet these challenges with vigilance and faith in the Filipino people as we work together to deliver meaningful progress for all," President Marcos added. The President also stressed that freedom comes with a collective responsibility to respect the dignity and rights of others and contribute to the nation’s common good. He said his administration would remain steadfast in protecting the country’s sovereignty, upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the freedoms Filipinos cherish are matched
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in the geopolitical premium as prospects for a diplomatic solution to the US-Iran conflict and normalization of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have dimmed. “With the expiration of the midJune US-Iran MOU (memorandum of understanding) and both sides expressing intentions to take a harder line, markets are pricing in the possibility of a prolonged crisis,” according to the source. “Further supporting prices is the increasing risks to Russian supply following Black Sea loading disruptions due to concerns over the reliability of replacement sour crude to offset the reduced Middle East availability,” he said. Diesel prices drew support from concerns of low inventories, reduced Middle Eastern availability through the Strait of Hormuz, and
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while Bulacan has 24 areas, also province-wide. Pampanga has 21 areas under a state of calamity, covering the entire province. In Zambales, one area, Masinloc, has been placed under a state of calamity. Rizal has one affected area, Rodriguez, also known as Montalban. Cavite has 23 areas under a state of calamity, covering the entire province, while Batangas has one affected area, Nasugbu. Bulacan recorded the highest number of areas under a state of calamity with 24, followed by Cavite with 23 and Pampanga with 21. The Bulacan provincial government said the declaration is meant to speed up the distribution of relief items, assistance, and medical services. NDRRMOC downgrades alert status from Red to Blue The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC) has downgraded its heightened moni-
It added that the active-threat drills shall prioritize the safety and well-being of the students, teachers, and other non-teaching staff. “Simulation activities shall be age-appropriate, trauma-informed, and focused on preparedness, protective actions, coordinated response, and post-incident recovery,” DepEd said. Following the conduct of the drill, the schools are instructed to submit an accomplishment report, supplemented by material evidence such as photos and videos of the drill, and an updated school plan for active attack incidents through the DepEd online reporting platform. However, schools that cannot proceed with the drill such as those who have already conducted the exercise prior to the prescribed date are exempted from the requirement. Meanwhile, DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said during a Senate hearing Thursday that the drill will place significant emphasis on the reunification phase, which will establish designated areas where students,
parents, police, and medical responders can safely coordinate rather than crowding around the school. “Preparation, readiness, and awareness are important for the school to react, immediately to ongoing threats,” he said. Garma said the drills are vital in ensuring that the campuses are safe during and after the threats, citing the June 22 incident where two high school students opened fire in San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, killing three students. The active threat drill was tested during the National Safe Schools Summit at the Manila Science High School on July 15 as part of the implementation of the DepEd Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE). The policy consolidated existing measures on learner rights protection and school safety into a unified framework that strengthens both preventive and response mechanisms. The campus incidents included shootings, stabbings, bomb threats and other threats, according to po-
lice data as of August 19. Of the 50 cases, 26 were bomb threats, 12 were shooting threats and two were death threats. Four involved alleged illegal possession of firearms, four were stabbing incidents, two were actual shootings. The first shooting occurred on June 22 at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where three students were killed and dozens were injured. Days before this shooting, on June 16, seven students were injured in a stabbing incident in General Trias, Cavite. The Grade 8 student carrying a gun to his school was later turned over to the custody of the local social welfare office, according to PNP monitoring. According to the Cebu police, a teacher discovered the .357 magnum revolver while conducting a surprise inspection of the students' bags. Initial investigation showed that the firearm belonged to the student’s grandfather who kept it inside a cabinet.
by opportunities for every citizen. "Together, let us carry forward the lessons of our history as we continue to nurture a more peaceful and prosperous Bagong Pilipinas," the President said. Ninoy Aquino Day is observed every Aug. 21 to commemorate Aquino, who was assassinated at the Manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983, after returning to the Philippines from exile. His assassination became a major turning point in the country’s political history, intensifying opposition to the administration of thenPresident Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and contributing to the events that culminated in the 1986 People Power Revolution. Filipinos commemorated the 43rd death anniversary of the former senator on Friday, with his family and supporters honoring his legacy while warning against disinformation and historical revisionism surrounding his life and assassination. This year’s commemoration highlighted the continuing battle over how Aquino’s life and the events surrounding his assassination are remembered, particularly amid the spread of misleading and
revisionist narratives online. Disinformation and historical revisionism In a statement, the August TwentyOne Movement (ATOM) defended his legacy and called attention to the disinformation and historical revisionism circulating on social media, as it described them. Among the claims that have circulated online are allegations linking Aquino to the founding of the Moro National Liberation Front and the New People’s Army, as well as claims that his assassination was staged and that he betrayed the country over the Sabah issue. "At this rate, they might even accuse him of betraying Andres Bonifacio, too," ATOM said, underscoring what it described as the growing number of allegations being attributed to the late senator. The group and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines led a wreath-laying ceremony outside Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where Aquino was assassinated upon his return to the country in 1983. The Aquino family, meanwhile, held a Holy Mass at the grave of the late senator at the Manila Memorial
Park. Also buried there are his wife, former President Corazon Aquino, and their son, former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. Bimby Aquino, Ninoy’s grandson, urged young Filipinos to take a more active role in learning about the late senator’s life and work by conducting their own research and consulting reliable sources. "We never had a conversation with him, but [we] just researched and trusted reliable sources," Bimby said. Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, meanwhile, shared anecdotes on social media about his memories with his late uncle. He said he was too young to understand what his Tito Ninoy went through and relied on his parents' stories to refresh his memory. He also reflected on the famous quote attributed to the historical figure: "The Filipino is worth dying for." "For me, these words speak to Tito Ninoy’s deep belief in the value of every Filipino. That even in times when hope seems to be fading, there is still reason to believe in one another, stand up for what is right, and do what we can for our country," Bam said.
constrained exports from Russia despite improving replacement supply from continued acceleration of outflows from China. The source added that renewed hostilities in the Middle East have supported Asian gasoline price benchmarks due to curtailment of crude feedstock exiting the Strait of Hormuz and disruption of flows from the alternate Red Sea route, although further upside is capped by higher regional supplies from rising India and China outflows. “Continuing attacks on Russia’s refining sector are further keeping global product supplies tight,” he said. On Aug. 18, the oil companies cut pump prices by P2.40 to P2.50 per liter for gasoline, P3.80 to P3.90 per liter for diesel, and P5 to P5.01 per liter for kerosene. The 33rd price movement this year resulted in a total net increase of P53.82 per liter for gasoline, P56.75 per liter for diesel, and P50.65 per liter for kerosene.
House... to hopefully conclude the trial before December, but emphasized that the timetable is merely a target, not a guarantee. Meanwhile, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday said that they have reached a consensus on whether the impeachment will be reverted to the afternoon sessions to hasten the proceedings. “Although there is already a consensus, but it will be done within the week," he said. To recall, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri suggested moving the impeachment trial back to the afternoon to give the prosecution and defense teams more time to present their arguments. Ridon noted that the prosecution, defense and the Vice President have all agreed to finish the impeachment trial as soon as possible. “We share the same sentiment as the Senate President’s that hopefully,
we can finish the hearings at the soonest possible time,” he said. “We will try to wrap up all of the presentation of evidence hopefully by the end of next month for the defense to present their evidence from October up until probably the end or middle of November,” he added. The panel is currently presenting evidence on the alleged misuse of confidential funds and has lined up witnesses from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), as well as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Bribery and unexplained wealth remain among the articles to be presented by the prosecution. “Hopefully by the end of September, we will be done,” Ridon said. The schedule was affected by inclement weather that canceled two hearing days this week. Ridon backed a proposal that the impeachment court consider a fourth trial day each week or longer daily hearings.
toring status from Red to Blue effective Aug. 20, 2026, at 6 p.m., following an assessment that operational requirements in affected areas are now manageable. In its latest directive through Memorandum No. 230, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the decision was based on the assessment that the operational requirements in affected areas are also being addressed by the respective National Response Clusters. Under the directive, Detailed Duty Officers may return to their respective units, except for uniformed personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine National Police. The NDRRMC said the Virtual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will remain active as the primary communication and coordination mechanism among concerned government agencies. "All agencies are hereby directed to maintain active coordination and timely information-sharing through the Virtual EOC," the NDRRMC said. Despite the downgrade, the agency
emphasized that continued vigilance, close coordination, and clear and timely communication remain necessary to ensure a unified and effective disaster response. The NDRRMOC will also continue monitoring the situation across the country and maintain close coordination with concerned offices. NDRRMC member-agencies and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils are likewise required to continue monitoring and submit updates on current and recent disaster events through the NDRRMC Monitoring Dashboard, email, and designated telephone and facsimile numbers. The downgrade from Red to Blue does not mean the country is no longer under monitoring, with concerned agencies expected to remain ready to respond to emerging disaster incidents and developments. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, meanwhile, said cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms will prevail in Ilocos Region, Batanes, Babuyan Islands and Zambales due to the southwest monsoon today (Saturday).
The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon or evening. Cloudy skies with scattered rains By Sunday to Tuesday (Aug. 23 to 25), cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will persist over the rest of the country. By Wednesday to Friday (Aug. 26 to 28), occasional rains are expected over Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro due to the southwest monsoon. Cloudy conditions are likely to continue in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas and Negros Island Region, with chances of scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Mindanao and the rest of the Visayas will still be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
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between the alleged accumulation of funds attributed to Zaldy Co and their supposed delivery to me," the former Speaker said. "He (Guteza) now states, in substance, that this bridge was engineered and constructed for him--that the accusation was not drawn from his own personal knowledge, but was allegedly supplied, prepared, revised, and presented to him for adoption. The Honorable Office [of the Ombudsman] need not accept his present account by fiat; neither, however, can his earlier, already compromised version continue to support a reasonable certainty of conviction without confronting his categorical repudiation and the circumstances he now describes," Romualdez added. Once that fabricated “delivery link” is removed, Romualdez said the same fundamental evidentiary gaps stand. "No contractor states that he paid me; no DPWH official states that I demanded or received a kickback; no identified project is traced to an unlawful payment to me; no financial record traces unlawful proceeds into my assets; and no competent witness establishes my knowing receipt of the alleged cash," he said. Aside from Guteza’s recantation, Romualdez also attached affidavits of 25 individuals who are former and incumbent employees of Co who have disputed the allegations he received kickbacks from flood control projects. At least three of the 25 also said in their affidavit that lawyer Levi Baligod offered them money to join the so-called “Maleta Boys” composed of 18 ex-bodyguards of Co. "For these reasons and in support of my counter-affidavit, I submit the instant supplemental counter-affidavit and the affidavits of denial and non-participation, and the Guteza Recantation Salaysay for the due consideration and appreciation of this Honorable Office," Romualdez added. Aside from Guteza, four “Maleta Boys” also retracted their testimony that connected several lawmakers to the scandal. His legal counsel, Ade Fajardo said the former Speaker is ready to face the accusations against him. "He's here to face the accusations against him,” Fajardo said. He said Guteza's recantation proved "there is no evidence linking the former Speaker to the flood control scam." Meanwhile, Senator Ping Lacson said he will file a proposed legislation that will enforce strict penalties for coercing individuals into committing perjury. Lacson deplored what he called a “profitable enterprise” of testimonies and recantations, particularly those aimed at political figures. "Orly Guteza’s recantation should not end there. Republic Act No. 11594 which we passed in October 2021 has increased the penalty for perjury to ‘prision mayor.’ Further, a person who induces another to commit perjury is also liable for being a principal by inducement," he said. "I will file a bill imposing heavier penalty and fine for 'subornation of perjury' or, if a person induces or forces another to commit perjury," the senator added. Lacson said the person directly offended or prejudiced may file such a complaint against those who induced someone else to commit perjury. "The person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file. In Guteza’s case ex-Speaker Romualdez. If not him for some reason, any public officer charged with enforcing the law," he said. Lacson on Thursday said Guteza’s recantation was not surprising as the retired Marine was previously identified as a “coached witness” of Marcoleta. “Since it is already on record during the Blue Ribbon committee hearing that Guteza was a coached witness of Senator Marcoleta, and it was even broadcast live, it is no longer surprising that he would eventually backtrack,” Lacson said in a statement. He also confirmed that Senate security surveillance cameras showed Guteza being escorted directly to the office of Marcoleta prior to testifying during the Sept. 25, 2025 hearing. Marcoleta earlier publicly addressed the video findings, saying he had met with Guteza shortly before the session to discuss his testimony regarding alleged flood control project kickbacks. "The backtracking of the 'Maleta Boys' has become a dime a dozen so it's not surprising that Guteza, the original 'Maleta Boy' a.k.a. Basura, followed suit," Lacson said. "In the words of swindlers, it's 'lagareng hapon' or 'doble kita,' or 4040 vision," he added.
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MST.DAYDESK@GMAIL.COM
‘More attention to youth struggles’ IN BRIEF
M
ANILA Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula appealed to the faithful to pay more attention to the youth, who may have problems that go unnoticed by those around them. In his message of solidarity released Friday, he noted the importance of listening to and understanding the situation of the youth,
as some may be silently battling sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, family issues, bullying and academic pressure.
“We need to listen to them, not only when they speak loudly, but especially when they suffer quietly,” the Cardinal said. “We need to create spaces where they can speak without fear of judgment, seek help without shame, and know that they are valued and loved.” Advincula issued the message following the shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) on Aug. 18, which claimed the
lives of two students, including the shooter. He noted that the response to the incident should not end with solidarity and condolences for the victims but should lead to a deeper understanding of the struggles young people face. “We must not allow this tragedy to pass without listening deeply to what it tells us about the struggles of our young people,” the archbishop said.
SPD nabs Chinese drug trafficker in Parañaque THE Southern Police District has announced the arrest of a suspected Chinese drug trafficker during an entrapment operation late Thursday night in Parañaque City. The arrest of the 40-year-old suspect, identified by his alias “Tiger,” is part of the ongoing efforts to combat drug-related crimes in southern Metro Manila, highlighting the SPD’s dedication to improving public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement. Police tagged the suspect as a high-value target. The buy-bust operation carried out by operatives of the SPD District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU), under the leadership of P/Maj. Cecilio Tomas Jr., in Barangay Tambo also led to the confiscation of illegal substances, including ecstasy, shabu, cocaine, and hybrid cannabis worth P350,000. Joel E. Zurbano
PRC reports convictions of fake doctor, optometrist THE Professional Regulation Commission-Cordillera Administrative Region (PRC-CAR) reported the conviction of two individuals involved in cases of bogus professional credentials and unauthorized practice in the region, bringing its total to 52 criminal convictions involving 30 individuals since 2012. The commission said an individual who allegedly posed as a licensed physician and another who practiced optometry without a license have been convicted in two separate cases. The first case involved a woman who went to the PRC-CAR office in Baguio City to renew a professional identification card that she presented as her own. The document was subjected to verification and found to be fraudulent. Dexter A. See
Former ASG leader surrenders in Tawi-Tawi
CASH AID. The DSWD-NCR distributes financial assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program to 766 beneficiaries from District 1 of Valenzuela City, including 728 patients needing medical aid and 38 families seeking burial assistance.
Romero’s relief part of probe; resignation still subject to approval By Rex Espiritu THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) has relieved reservist BGen. Michael Romero from his post as commander of the Tactical Operations Wing (Reserve) Northern Luzon as part of its investigation into the conferment of awards and recognitions to reservists. PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said the move was in accordance with established military protocols designed to protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation.
“In accordance with established protocol during an ongoing investigation, an officer or personnel involved may be relieved from his or her post to preserve the integrity of the proceedings,” Basco said. The PAF has also received Romero’s letter expressing his intent regarding his disposition in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force. “Subsequently, the Philippine Air Force has received the letter of BGen. Romero expressing his intent regarding his disposition in the AFP Reserve Force. The appropriate process is now being
undertaken in accordance with existing rules and regulations,” Basco said. She clarified, however, that Romero’s request does not yet amount to an approved resignation. “His request, however, does not constitute an approved resignation, and he remains a reservist pending completion of the process and approval by the proper authority,” Basco said. The PAF’s statement comes amid a review of its policies and records concerning the recruitment, promotion and conferment of awards, badges and other recognitions to members of the Reserve
Force. The controversy erupted after photos of Romero wearing a PAF uniform and numerous medals and badges circulated online, prompting questions from the public and retired military personnel about the basis for the decorations. Romero said he respects and supports any review or verification of records through official AFP processes, adding that the medals, decorations, badges and distinctions conferred upon him are reflected in official AFP records and can be verified through the appropriate offices.
A FORMER member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), known as “Abu Dujana,” voluntarily surrendered and turned over one M1 Garand rifle and one hand grenade during a reintegration program held at the Tawi-Tawi Police Provincial Headquarters, Camp Alejandro Suarez, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police Office (TTPPO) chief Col. Byron Allatog said the activity was spearheaded by the Provincial Police and the 51st Special Action Company of the Special Action Force (SAF), in coordination with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU). “Abu Dujana,” originally from Jolo, Sulu, and currently residing in Barangay Salamat, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, reportedly joined the ASG in 2014 under the late Muamar Askali, alias “Abu Rami,” after being recruited by Madzmar Sawadjaan. He later went inactive and ultimately chose to abandon the group and return to peaceful civilian life. Vince Lopez
UP offers AI accountability course for journalism students By Gabriel Oliva THE University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman’s Department of Journalism is offering a class on artificial intelligence (AI) accountability reporting for undergraduate students for the first semester of Academic Year 2026-2027. Journalism Department Chairperson and Assistant Professor Karol Ilagan is handling the course, which has 16 enrolled students. According to Ilagan, the course draws inspiration from the Pulitzer Center’s AI Accountability Network, where she is a fellow and part-time editor. It seeks to equip aspiring journalists and early-career reporters with the knowledge and practical skills to cover AI and its growing impact on society.
Under the network, journalists and the public can utilize the open-access “AI Spotlight Series,” a set of modules on AI accountability reporting designed to broaden understanding of AI and help journalists equip their colleagues with skills to cover AI-related issues. “If you are covering education, disinformation, labor, you are probably covering AI. Because AI is so ubiquitous and tricky, as it is unregulated primarily because a lot of our laws haven’t caught up with all of these technologies,” Ilagan told Manila Standard in an interview. She added that the course will not just focus on using AI software and tools, but rather on the technology’s behind-thescenes processes to begin actual reportage.
MAKATI FIRE. Firefighters respond to a residential fire in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City, on Aug. 21, 2026. The blaze is raised to the first alarm, with the Makati City Fire Station deploying a pumper and fire personnel.
PNP vows stronger actions vs. electricity theft By Vince Lopez
HOT HARVEST. Chili farmers in Barangay Malabanban North, Candelaria, Quezon, carry their freshly harvested produce. Revoli Cortez
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) pledged to step up efforts to strengthen the conviction rate of those involved in cases of theft and pilferage of electricity distribution facilities and materials. Territorial and other police units have been conducting aggressive operations against electricity theft, but PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Friday that the entire process does not end with the arrest of those involved in the illegal activity. Similar to other criminal activities, especially focus crimes, Nartatez wants to ensure that all those arrested are charged with strong cases in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to en-
sure conviction. “The certainty of arrest and punishment is also a strong crime prevention measure because it sends a strong message that the rule of law always prevails. This is what we in the PNP are also focusing on matters pertaining to theft and pilferage of electricity,” Nartatez said. Earlier, officials of the PNP and Meralco, the country’s largest power distribution firm, signed an agreement to strengthen their partnership to protect electricity distribution facilities and materials through enhanced coordination, information sharing and joint law enforcement efforts. Nartatez said this kind of coordination and cooperation should also be replicated
across the country in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen law enforcement efforts and protect consumers from activities that disrupt essential services and burden communities. He also emphasized the need to protect electricity distribution because of its critical role not only in the economy but also in the lives of Filipinos. Those arrested are charged under Republic Act No. 7832, or the AntiElectricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994. Nartatez said disruptions in electricity distribution can have major effects on households, schools and businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises.
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mst.daydesk@gmail.com
IN BRIEF PMA cadets immerse in tree-planting event
PMA CADETS PLANT PINE TREES. Philippine Military Academy cadets plant 1,000 pine tree seedlings as part of the school’s pre-128th year celebration, highlighting the elite military academy’s commitment to environmental protection alongside the generation of future military leaders. The event, with the theme ‘Rooting for a Greener Tomorrow,’ is held Aug. 18 at the PMA Army Detachment, with the participation of partner government agencies and organizations. PMA photo
SC clears rule in ejectment cases By Pot Chavez
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HE Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that courts may determine whether a litigant in an ejectment case is alive or dead when necessary to resolve who has the right to possess the property in question. In a decision penned by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, the SC First Division
clarified that this finding is only provisional and applies only to the ejectment case.
The High Tribunal explained that while the proper remedy to cancel a death certificate or correct a civil registry entry is to file a petition for cancellation, this does not prevent the court hearing ejectment cases from provisionally determining whether a party is alive or dead when necessary to resolve the issue of possession. It emphasized that ejectment cases are summary proceedings designed to
DSWD welcomes OCTA survey on poverty incidence
PH, VIETNAM TIGTHEN RELATIONS.
The Philippines and Vietnam further deepen security and law enforcement collaboration as the two Southeast Asian nations mark the 50th year of bilateral relations. National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban Jr. (right) concludes a series of high-level engagements during a meeting in Hanoi with Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm. NSC photo
By Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomes the results of the latest survey of OCTA Research and Social Weather Stations (SWS) which further enhanced the DSWD’s implementation of social protection programs and services for the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors. Based on the second quarter 2026 Tugon ng Masa (TNM) nationwide survey of OCTA Research conducted July 4 to 11 with 1,200 respondents, self-rated poverty slightly rose to 39 percent in July from 35 percent in March, translating to roughly 10.3 million families. Self-rated hunger also went up to 21 percent or around 5.6 million families in July from 17 percent or about 4.5 million families in March. Despite the increase in self-rated hunger, the survey revealed that 87 percent of families who experienced hunger said the episodes occurred only once or a few times, indicating that the majority of cases were occasional rather than continuous. “The Department welcomes these survey findings from OCTA Research and SWS as valuable tools to assess current ground realities and guide strategic adjustments in service delivery. The government will not stop providing services to Filipinos, in fact these surveys can help us how can we improve our services,” DSWD assistant secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.
promptly settle disputes over physical possession of property. As such, requiring the parties to first secure the cancellation of death certificate would defeat this purpose. The SC further held that a court’s finding on whether a plaintiff is alive or dead in an ejectment case is limited to determining the litigant’s legal capacity to sue and right to physical possession of the contested property.
PHILIPPINE Military Academy (PMA) cadets planted 1,000 pine tree seedlings as part of their school’s pre-128th anniversary celebration, highlighting the elite military academy’s commitment to environmental protection alongside development of future military leaders. The tree-planting activity, themed “Rooting for a Greener Tomorrow,” was held Aug. 18 at the PMA Army Detachment, with the participation of partner government agencies and organizations. Among those who joined the activity were representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Baguio, Watershed and Water Resources Research, Development and Extension Center, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-Northern Luzon Regional Office, 1401st Community Defense Company, 114th Regional Community Defense Group, among others. PMA superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Logico said their greening initiative mirrors the long-term process of developing military officers. Rex Espiritu
Magistrate cites impact of dignified workplace SUPREME Court (SC) Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh underscored the vital role of Committees on Decorum and Investigation (CODIs) in safeguarding workplace dignity and preventing gender-based harassment. Singh issued the statement at the inaugural National CODI Summit 2026, held last week under the auspices of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). The magistrate explained that the committees’ responsibilities extend beyond investigating complaints to include preventing harassment through education, awarenessbuilding, and institutional reform. “A strong CODI, therefore, does more than respond to wrongdoing. It helps build a workplace where wrongdoing is less likely to occur,” she said. Pot Chavez
BPSU grants diplomas in midwifery to 23 PDLs THE Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) held its third investiture ceremony for inmates of the Guagua District Jail who have completed a course in midwifery under the school’s College Education Behind Bars program. The event highlighted BPSU’s commitment to providing accessible higher education and professional development opportunities to prisoners or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). BPSU president Dr. Ruby SantosMatibag spearheaded the initiative, giving PDLs an opportunity to pursue higher education and acquire skills that can help prepare them for productive lives beyond incarceration. Twenty-three PDLs who completed Level I of their course were granted assistant midwife certification, while Level II finishers were awarded associate midwife certification. Butch Gunio
PH, Vietnam reaffirm commitment to stronger bilateral relations By Rex Espiritu THE Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to deepen security and law enforcement collaboration as the two Southeast Asian nations marked the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban Jr. concluded a series of high-level engagements in Hanoi on August 20, reaffirming Manila’s commitment to
strengthen security ties with Vietnam under their Enhanced Strategic Partnership. Oban met with Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and held bilateral talks with Vietnam Minister of Public Security General Lương Tam Quang. The discussions focused on translating the enhanced partnership into concrete cooperation through stronger strategic consultations, increased information sharing and closer coordination on issues affecting the national
security interests of both countries. The two sides agreed to pursue the establishment of an Annual High-Level Security Dialogue between the Philippine National Security Council and Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security. The proposed mechanism would institutionalize regular exchanges of strategic assessments, policy consultations and coordination on regional and global security concerns.
House to keep student support programs
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Faustino Dy III, aims to sustain programs for student mental health and protection in the proposed 2027 national budget amid growing concerns over violence in schools. House Committee on Appropriations vice chairman Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (1st District, Lanao del Sur) said the deadly shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) reinforced the need to continue programs already funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. He said the House will determine whether the Department of Education (DepEd) has effectively used the money and filled thousands of positions intended to support students.
Alonto Adiong said the recent violence in the campus underscored the need to continue programs aimed at addressing violence, particularly as such incidents in both public and private schools have become increasingly disturbing. Two junior high school students, including the shooter, died in the Aug. 18 ADZU shooting, which renewed concerns over gun violence and security in schools. The latest incident underscored the broader challenge confronting the country’s educational system. Alonto Adiong said Congress allocated P2.37 billion in the 2026 DepEd budget for the school-based mental health program, including support for additional personnel who can regularly assess and assist students. The 2026 budget also funded 10,000 school counselor associate positions as part of efforts to expand mental health services in schools.
CAREER CHASE BEHIND BARS. The Bataan Peninsula State University, through its College of Allied Health Sciences–School of Midwifery, hold its 3rd investiture ceremony for inmates who have completed their course in midwifery under the school’s College Education Behind Bars program. Butch Gunio
OPINION
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 , 2026
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What a record-breaking El Niño could mean for the world By Issam Ahmed WASHINGTON, United States — This year’s El Niño is on track to be the strongest on record, threatening to unleash extreme weather across the globe and make 2027 the hottest recorded year by far. Stacked on top of long-term humancaused climate change, the temporary jolt will offer a glimpse of the heat the world can expect by the late 2030s, experts say. Here’s what to know. What is El Niño? El Niño is the warming phase of a natural cycle in the tropical Pacific known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It sets in when trade winds that blow from east to west temporarily ease up, allowing warm water which normally piles up in the western Pacific Ocean to slide back east and rise to the surface. When those warmer-than-average surface temperatures last for a few months, they cause more storms and clouds over the region, “which cause ripple effects through the entire global atmosphere,” explained Emily Becker, a climate scientist at the University of Miami. The upshot is hotter and drier conditions in some places, cooler and wetter in others. Some effects are already being felt. For example, Indonesia’s long, intense dry season has fed wildfires that have burned hundreds of thousands of hectares. “Stronger events mean that we can expect to see more of these expected El Niño impacts,” Michelle L’Heureux, ENSO team lead at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Climate Prediction Center, told AFP, though she cautioned none are guaranteed. What’s going on this year? Daily sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region -- an imaginary box in the Pacific -- are currently running about 2.6C above a rolling 30-year-average, according to the highly cited Climate Brink dashboard, which draws on NOAA’s satellite-and-buoy sea surface record. The dashboard also aggregates forecasts that put El Niño on course to peak at a 3.9C anomaly this November -- well above the 3C anomaly detected in the 2015 El Niño. It stands to make this year a contender for the hottest year on record, currently held by 2024, and make 2027 a near certainty for top spot, since most of the heat impact is felt the following year. According to calculations by climate scientists Zeke Hausfather and Andrew Dessler, El Niño will add a temporary 0.3C on top of the long-term global
EDITORIAL
warming trend, resulting in a 2027 temperature of 1.76C above preindustrial levels -- compressing into a single year as much warming as would otherwise be expected by 2037. “It’s kind of a preview of the future,” Dessler, a professor at Texas A&M told AFP, though much of that heat will be focused in the equatorial Pacific. Mike McPhaden, a senior scientist at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, had a similar estimate, telling AFP: “It’s not inconceivable that 2027 may top out at 1.7C above preindustrial levels” if model forecasts bear out. There is not one single accepted way to measure El Niños.
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Our greenhouse-gaswarmed atmosphere holds more moisture, so El Niño-linked rains can turn more extreme. NOAA in February adopted the Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI), which gauges warming in the Niño 3.4 region against warming across the whole tropical belt, to try to better represent the ocean-atmosphere system driving ENSO impacts. On that scale, the numbers run lower but the predicted ranking remains the same: NOAA puts the odds at 69 percent that this El Niño will be the strongest in its dataset going back to 1950. How climate change fits in Scientists agree climate change increases El Niño’s impacts. Our greenhouse-gas-warmed atmosphere holds more moisture, so El Niñolinked rains can turn more extreme. It also dries out soils, deepening drought where El Niño brings drought. There is less consensus on whether climate change itself triggers stronger El Niños, though evidence for this is emerging. “Climate change may be amplifying the El Niño cycle itself,” said NOAA’s McPhaden. Warmer tropical seas make the winds that drive El Niño more responsive to the ocean, tightening the feedback between the two and letting events build faster, he explained. McPhaden cited evidence from the paleo-record -- for example coral skeletons -- instrument readings that stretch back to the 19th century, and climate modeling which suggest El Niños may have increased in amplitude by about 10 percent over the past century. AFP
In US mining hub, black lung rates soar By Pierre Hardy OAK HILL, United States — John used to love to go fishing with his son. But at age 45, after 20 years working in the coal mines of West Virginia, physical activity has become nearly impossible. “I can’t do nothing,” said the man who, despite his sturdy build, had trouble speaking. “I can’t breathe, and it’s changed everything.” John, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym because he is part of a lawsuit against his former employer, has been diagnosed with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, commonly called black lung disease. When coal dust is repeatedly inhaled over time, it causes scarring in the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe. There is no treatment to reverse the damage. The complications can eventually be fatal, when not enough oxygen reaches the bloodstream. Appalachia -- a region defined by the Appalachian Mountains that includes all of West Virginia and parts of a dozen other states -- is a major mining hub in the United States. With about 30,000 coal miners working there, John is not alone in his suffering. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) this month published a study revealing that one out of three miners in the area with more than 25 years in the industry have black lung disease. “To see that it’s the worst that it’s ever been since I’ve been here, and all the way back to the 1970s, is quite alarming,” said NIOSH epidemiologist Scott Laney, the study’s co-author. “I was saddened, but I cannot say that I was surprised.” ‘Your son’s disease’ Disease prevalence rates in the region
have risen for the past 20 years or more, after a period when they had dropped off, thanks to regulations limiting miners’ exposure to coal dust. Why? The answer is silica, a material that is 20 times more toxic than coal. Once companies had extracted all the easy-to-reach coal, miners were forced to bore deeper into the rock, which sent fine silica dust into the air. This increased exposure explains why more and more miners are getting sick more quickly, and more seriously, than before, Laney explained. In a specialized clinic in the city of Oak Hill, the youngest black lung patient was just 30 when he was diagnosed with progressive massive fibrosis, the most severe form of black lung disease. “This is not Grandpa’s disease anymore. This is your husband’s disease. This is your son’s disease,” said Emery, the director of the Breathing Center and Black Lung Clinic at New River Health.
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When coal dust is repeatedly inhaled over time, it causes scarring in the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe. Emery said some of her 40-something patients are now on the list for double lung transplants, their only real hope of survival. “You can treat the symptoms... but there’s no cure for black lung.” ‘Totally preventable’ Faced with a crisis, the government’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in 2024 adopted a rule lowering the silica exposure limit to a level scien-
Why must our children pay the price before we act?
T panic.
HE tragic shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Tuesday left two students dead and at least nine others wounded in the ensuing
Lawmakers are right to demand stricter campus security, and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has rightfully ordered the Anti-CyberCrime group to work with social media platforms to purge the horrific live streamed footage. But we must ask: Why is safety always reactive instead of proactive? The attack was ruthlessly broadcast online, forcing police to chase shadows across the internet. We see a policy gap, with lawmakers renewing calls for protection only after blood is shed. We cannot treat school safety like an afterthought or an emergency response drill deployed only after disorder strikes.
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Until our leaders build fortifications of prevention rather than monuments of grief, these tragedies will continue to haunt us. enough for another armed minor to breach a campus. Tearing down graphic videos and
THE air in Manila is thick with the scent of burning affidavits and political desperation. It smells like a Japanese restaurant in Pasay, where a retired Marine named Orly Guteza now claims the script for a national scandal was written on a laptop, edited by a senator, and seasoned with the promise of P150 million. The man whose testimony was the human core of the multibillion-peso flood-control corruption narrative has reappeared after months in the political wilderness to say it was all a script—allegedly co-written by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former Rep. Mike Defensor, two men currently enjoying the hospitality of the state in separate plunder cases. This is not a recantation. This is a political bomb wrapped in a legal conundrum, tied with a ribbon of farce. The question for the Office of the Ombudsman is whether the institution itself can survive the no-win dilemma laid before it like a poisoned chalice. To prosecute Romualdez is to ignore the angel of exculpatory evidence now singing in the choir loft. To dismiss the case is to confirm the deepest suspicions of the Filipino people: that the Ombudsman is but a decorative lantern in the garden of Marcos power. The bind is worse than prosecution. If the Ombudsman probes Marcoleta and Defensor for allegedly manufacturing Guteza’s testimony, it simultaneously declares the recantation credible—sawing off the very branch on which the Romualdez case was built. If it refuses to investigate, it gives a free pass to the most serious allegation in modern Philippine legislative history: that a Senate hearing was a staged production. The only path out of this labyrinth is to reject the false choice entirely. The Supreme Court has repeatedly warned that recantations are exceedingly unreliable and easily purchased or coerced. A witness recanting is not a truth machine; he is a weather vane. And the only thing a weather vane is good for is telling you which way the political wind is blowing. What, then, is the standard that must govern? The Independent Evidentiary Standard. The credibility of neither Guteza’s original testimony nor his new affidavit stands or falls on his word alone. His
word is now radioactive. The only antidote is to follow the trails that cannot be coached, cannot be recanted, and cannot be manufactured in a Pasay restaurant. First, the money trail. A recantation cannot erase a wire transfer. A senator cannot edit a bank statement on a laptop. Second, the procurement trail. The flood-control projects are not phantoms. They have invoices, signatories, and timelines. Third, the communication trail. Guteza claims a meeting took place. Where is the CCTV? Where are the restaurant receipts? Where are the call logs and metadata from the laptop on which the affidavit was allegedly typed? The digital ghost of that evening is still in the machine.
Fourth, the documentary trail. The original affidavit is already fatally compromised by the alleged falsification of the notarial signature of Atty. Petchie Rose Espera. That fact predates the recantation—an independent red flag that someone was manufacturing evidence long before Guteza decided to flip. Fifth, the witness trail. Guteza mentioned “Paul” and “Mark.” He mentioned “Atty. Guanzon.” He mentioned Defensor’s son-in-law. These are not ghosts. They are people with phones, bank accounts, and a natural instinct to avoid prison. The logic is devastatingly simple. If these five trails corroborate Guteza’s original testimony, the recantation is powerful circumstantial evidence of witness intimidation or tampering—the crime hiding behind the crime. If the trails corroborate the recantation, the original testimony is revealed as political poison, and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s “investiga-
tion” should be reclassified as theatrical production. If neither account is substantiated—the most likely scenario—both versions must be substantially discounted. The word of a twice-confessed liar is not evidence; it is noise. The corruption metastasizing throughout this government is systemic. Public office has become a license to plunder. Laws are weaponized to protect the powerful. This must end—not with a whimper, not with a recantation, but with the cold, relentless application of the law to those who believe they are above it. My recommendations are not gentle. The Ombudsman must require Guteza to appear in person to affirm his recantation under oath, with a verbatim transcript. No affidavits from the shadows. The Ombudsman must issue subpoenas for all digital and physical evidence related to the alleged September 24 meeting—CCTV, restaurant logs, credit card receipts, toll records, cell tower dumps, and forensic extraction of the affidavit’s metadata. The Ombudsman must subpoena “Paul,” “Mark,” and “Atty. Guanzon.” Their testimony is now crucial. The Ombudsman must place Guteza in the Witness Protection Program as a neutralization measure—isolated from Marcos allies, Duterte allies, everyone. And most importantly, the Ombudsman must continue its investigation based solely on independent evidentiary trails. The recantation is not a dismissal letter. It is a reminder that no case should rest on the shifting testimony of a compromised witness. The documentary, financial, and forensic evidence must lead—not the political winds. The truth is not in Guteza’s mouth. It is in the ledgers, the bank accounts, the contracts, and the metadata. Make the bastards follow the money. Make them follow the paper. Make them follow the truth—wherever it leads, even to the very gates of power. The only thing worse than a political system too weak to catch its corrupt is a public too cynical to demand better. Let us prove the system wrong. Let us demand evidence over politics. Let us demand the law—not as a weapon for the powerful, but as a shield for the truth. Now.
tists believe is safer. But mining associations filed suit, claiming that the standards set by the government to measure compliance are too stringent. A federal appeals court suspended the rule. It has never been implemented, and MSHA has shelved it indefinitely. The National Mining Association, the main lobbying group for mining firms in the United States, told AFP it “absolutely supports” the new lower permissible silica exposure limit. “Where we differ with the MSHA silica rule is how to get there,” said association spokeswoman Ashley Burke. Burke insisted that new black lung
cases do not reflect current mining conditions, because of the delay in the onset of symptoms. Improvements over the last two decades had “exponentially” lowered dust levels, she said. A study by the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, a non-governmental organization that advocates for miners, showed that in mines tested by MSHA in 2025, one out of five had dangerous levels of silica dust. In about 10 of them, the dust level was twice as high as the limit proposed in the not yet implemented MSHA rule. “The companies know how to work around the dust inspectors,” said Gary
Hairston, a former miner and the president of the National Black Lung Association. “They ain’t worried about the coal miners. We’re just a number to them,” added Hairston, who is a black lung patient himself. “All they worry about is the coal they produce.” For Debbie Wills, who has spent nearly 40 years working with black lung patients at Valley Health Systems, the situation is all the more dire because the disease is “totally preventable.” “Nobody has to have it. But if you don’t use your engineering controls and run your mine properly, they will get it,” Wills said. AFP
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A P150 million ‘basura’ story becomes the Philippines’ most expensive recycling program.
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Emil P. Jurado+ Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
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MEMBER
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Guteza’s great flip
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
Following the tragedy in Tacloban earlier this year, promises were made, yet gaps remained visible
investigating online chat groups are necessary steps for healing and digital hygiene. But they do nothing to stop the next bullet. Real proactive measures require permanent structural changes. Let us enforce heavy criminal liability on adult gun owners who fail to secure firearms away from children. Embed professional counselors in any basic education institution before academic pressure turns into violent despair. Let us implement non-negotiable entry checks and threat detection systems nationwide without waiting for the next tragedy. Our children deserve sanctuaries of learning, not recurring nightmares. Until our leaders build fortifications of prevention rather than monuments of grief, these tragedies will continue to haunt us.
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WORLD
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
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IN BRIEF
El Niño to be ‘biggest’ in a century
L
ONDON – This year’s El Nino weather pattern will be the biggest in over a century, warming sea surface temperatures to an “unheard-of” level, Britain’s national weather agency predicted Friday.
Russia arrests foreigner for drone surveillance MOSCOW – Russia has arrested a foreign citizen it accused of trying to launch a surveillance drone over Moscow to help Ukrainian intelligence plot an attack on the Russian capital, officials said Friday. The FSB security service said it had detained the individual – whose nationality it did not specify – in northern Russia while he was trying to flee into neighboring Norway on foot. It published a video via state media of masked agents arresting a man walking along a dirt road in the darkness. The FSB said the man, working on Ukrainian orders, “travelled to Moscow, where at one of the city’s railway stations, he conducted reconnaissance with the aim of identifying freight trains transporting oil products, as well as administrative buildings in the city center.” It added that he had been arrested in August and had been working for Kyiv since 2023. Both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of extensive espionage and sabotage operations since Russia launched its full-scale offensive in February 2022. AFP
Plane crash kills 8 at US Air Force site in Alaska WASHINGTON – A plane crash at a remote US Air Force site in Alaska killed eight people on Thursday, the military said. The civilian-contracted plane crashed at the airport of the long-range radar site in Cape Newenham, on the state’s southwestern tip, the Alaskan Command said in a statement. Rescuers who landed near the crash site “confirmed there were no survivors,” it said. The statement did not say what those onboard were doing at the radar site, which tracks aircraft operating in Alaskan airspace. An Alaskan Command spokesperson said it was investigating the crash and would name the dead after their families had been informed. “This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” said Alaskan Command chief Robert Davis. “These individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment,” Lieutenant General Davis added. AFP
Japan executes Osaka pachinko parlor arsonist TOKYO – Japan hanged on Friday a man convicted of a 2009 arson attack on an Osaka pachinko parlor that killed five people, with the prisoner as usual informed shortly before his execution. It was Japan’s first execution since Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer” who murdered and dismembered nine people, was put to death in June 2025. Sunao Takami doused the pachinko arcade – a mechanical game involving thousands of small steel balls – near his home with petrol and set it on fire, killing four customers and one employee. “This incident resulted in extremely serious consequences... and sent shock waves through society and instilled a deep sense of fear,” Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said. AFP
INTENSIFYING. Infographic charts since 1950 the changes of sea surface temperature anomalies in the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean zone and the occurrence of El Nino climatic events, which increase the risk of extreme weather around the globe. AFP
The El Nino weather pattern is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5C above the baseline average, triggering worldwide changes in winds, atmospheric pressure and rainfall patterns, and causing warmer global temperatures overall. Adam Scaife, head of long-range forecasting at the Met Office, told the BBC that “We are expecting the biggest El Nino for over a century, peaking at something over three degrees – that is unheard-of in modern climate records.” He called it “an unprecedented event,” adding that “I have never seen an El Nino signal this intense in our forecasts.” The anomalous warmth, which is “up to nearly two degrees already”, will have particularly strong effects throughout the Tropics, Scaife said, “where we expect really severe droughts in places like South America, and the West Pacific.” Temperatures in the region are currently running about 2.6C above a rolling 30-year average, according to the Climate Brink dashboard. “These are not short-term weather forecasts. We’re talking about really long-term, persistent conditions here. There are well-known impacts on other systems including food, food security,” said Scaife, a physicist who specializes in climate modelling. The weather pattern is also expected to cause “increased rainfall and storminess in the autumn here in the UK around November time,” Scaife said. AFP
HK convicts Tiananmen vigil activists of inciting subversion HONG KONG – A Hong Kong court convicted two activists who organized annual vigils marking China’s deadly Tiananmen crackdown of “incitement to subversion” on Friday, with rights groups condemning the silencing of free speech. Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hangtung, 41, “incited other persons to organize, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power,” said a press summary of the ruling.
The three-judge panel said they found both defendants had committed acts that constituted “overthrowing or undermining the basic system... established by the Constitution” of China. They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, with sentencing expected at a later date. Lee and Chow were charged with “incitement to subversion” in 2021 and have been behind bars since, under a Beijingimposed national security law.
Semi-autonomous former colonies Hong Kong and Macau used to be the only places on Chinese soil that permitted public vigils to mourn those who died on June 4, 1989, when authorities sent troops and tanks to crush protests calling for political reform in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Lee and Chow were leaders of the now defunct Hong Kong Alliance, the group that organized annual vigils in the city’s Victoria Park.
But public commemoration has been effectively banned since Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, following huge and sometimes violent prodemocracy protests the year before. The judges ruled that the Hong Kong Alliance leaders had breached the Chinese constitution in their calls to “end one-party dictatorship” after Beijing imposed the security law, even though their “unlawful” advocacy had been nonviolent. AFP
US ‘sanctions and pressure’ on Iran won’t solve MidEast conflict—China BEIJING – China said on Friday that US “sanctions and pressure” would not resolve the Middle East conflict, after Washington urged governments including Beijing to join efforts to isolate the Iranian economy. The United States has vowed it would “collapse” the Iranian regime with its threatened campaign, which Tehran has branded as “economic terrorism” doomed to fail, nearly six months since their war began. Asked about US President Donald Trump’s threats, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Friday that “sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue.” “China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the
problem through political and diplomatic means,” he said. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has defended Trump’s push for economic pressure on Tehran. When asked whether the United States would pressure China to join the campaign, Bessent told CNBC that “many conversations are best to have in private”, but called on Beijing “to get with the program.” Spokesman Lin reiterated the need for all parties to take “responsible measures” in resolving the war, when he was asked about Bessent’s comments. “China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council,” Lin said. AFP
BIRTHDAY BASH. Panda twins Lotti (left) and Leni discover their birthday cake made of vegetables on August 21, 2026 at the Zoological Garden in Germany as Berlin’s Panda twins celebrate their second birthday. AFP
Man charged for trying to pass Ukraine intel to Russia
OUTPOURING GRIEF. Mourners prepare to bury the body of 17-year-old Palestinian Salim Fuqaha, whose body was held by Israeli authorities since he was killed on March 16, during the funeral at a cemetery in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. AFP
SYDNEY – Australian police charged a man with foreign interference on Friday for allegedly seeking to pass intelligence about Ukrainian military activities to Russia. The 27-year-old Russian-Australian citizen underwent “military-style” training in Russia and later joined the Ukrainian armed forces, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett told a news conference. Police allege he travelled to Russia for the training in October 2024 before return-
ing to Australia, where he “maintained contact” with individuals he believed were linked to Moscow’s intelligence services. He travelled in 2025 to Ukraine, where he enlisted in the country’s armed forces and “gained access to information relating to their military personnel, units and locations”, police allege. Barrett said he then “provided, or attempted to provide, information obtained in Ukraine to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence
services.” “It is alleged this conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel,” she said. “We don’t want Australia to become a safe haven for people who are undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries,” Barrett said. Police said there was no indication he had received military training in Australia. The man has not been identified and was unemployed, Barrett said. AFP
SPORTS
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
Palaro standout Della bags Silver in 4th SEA swim meet B
ORACAY— In a rousing international debut, Palarong Pambansa standout Anton Paulo Dominick Della secured an age-group silver in the men’s 10-kilometer race, kicking off the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Championships, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission here on Friday.
Swimming in ideal conditions at the 1.66-kilometer course off the Boracay Newcoast overlooking the Sibuyan Sea. Della clocked two hours and 20 seconds, placing second in the 18-19-yearold division. The 17-year-old pride of San Fernando, La Union, who bagged four golds in the last Palarong Pambansa held in Agusan del Sur, actually narrowly missed a podium finish in the Open division by a stroke out of the 31 entries who swam. He was just five seconds behind Vietnamese bronze medalist Van Dung Cao (2:00.15) in the event won by compatriot Ngoc Vin Dho (1:58.30), while Mochammad Taufik took bronze (2:00.06). Sharing the spotlight with Della was Dianna Celyn Cruz, who bucked painful hips to bag bronze in the 20-year-
Filipino swimmer Anton Paulo Dominick Della gets his water during a feeding stop at the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships off the Boracay Newcoast in Malay, Aklan, on Friday.
old and above women’s class (2:48.17), finishing 16th overall in the meet organized by the Philippine Aquatics Inc. and sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Swimming Federation. Cruz wound up 16th overall among 20 entries in the women’s open division, where Vietnam finished 1-2 cour-
tesy of Kha Ni Nguyen (2:18.29.86) and Huynh Tu Uyen Le (2:19.26.63) in the meet, likewise supported by the Aklan and Malay provincial and municipal governments, respectively. “I swam a tactical race by trying to keep myself in the lead pack. The weather was good from the first to
fourth rounds, while from the fifth and sixth rounds it was a bit wavy or choppy,” said Della. “You need to last long in this kind of race, so I drafted behind the lead swimmers so it didn’t get heavy so much before making my move in the last 500 meters,” added the athlete.
Swiatek into Cincinnati semis after Rybakina injury CINCINNATI—Iga Swiatek moved into the semifinals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters as Elena Rybakina was forced to retire with a heel injury less than half an hour into their clash Thursday. Rybakina’s withdrawal raised concerns over the fitness of the world number two Kazakh just 10 days before the start of the US Open. Trailing 4-1 in the opening set of Thursday’s Cincinnati quarter-final, Rybakina suddenly pulled up short at 40-all, heading to her bench and consulting with the trainer. She went back out and played one more point before quitting. “I was feeling anxious watching the whole situation,” said her opponent Swiatek. “I hope she will be fine. Health is always the priority.” “This is an important tournament, but the US Open is the US Open. I hope she is ready for that,” she said, referring to the major which begins in New York on August 30. “It was a shame she was injured, we were having a good match.” Had two-time Grand Slam winner Rybakina reached the Cincinnati final she would have risen to number one in the world for the first time in her career, following incumbent Aryna Sabalenka’s shock exit to 20-year-old Sara Bejlek. Defending Cincinnati champion Swiatek said she had “gained a lot of confidence in the last weeks,” which have also included her victory over Rybakina in the final of this month’s Toronto event. “I feel great, ready to play my game... I’m happy to be playing the tennis that I am.”
Iga Swiatek
‘Good record’ Poland’s Swiatek now plays a semi-final against Jessica Pegula, who is reportedly carrying a hip niggle after defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4). Sixth-seeded Anisimova converted all five of her break points against Pegula, breaking her three times in the second set, before the world number three rebounded to win. Pegula is setting WTA records at age 32. She is the fourth player since 2009 to reach five or more Masters 1000 quarter-finals after turning 30, along with Li Na, Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Pegula needed just 34 minutes to pocket the opening set. But Anisimova struck back in the second, earning a double break for 4-0. After Anisimova squared the match at one-set each, Pegula regrouped with an opening break in the deciding set. They would each be broken twice as they went to the tiebreaker, where Pegula sealed the win on her first match point. Pegula’s win was her sixth without a loss to Anisimova. “I know I have a good record against her, but literally every single match is like it was today,” she said. Sweet victory In the men’s draw, Flavio Cobolli advanced to the final four with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Tommy Paul, gobbling down a handful of sweets for an unorthodox boost midway through the match. The Roland Garros runner-up asked for the candy to be brought to the court and seemingly took energy from the pause before dispatching Paul, who had himself eliminated top seed Alexander Zverev 24 hours earlier. “A sweet with chocolate makes me happy,” Cobolli said. “I’ve tried it in doubles so why not singles?” Cobolli mounted the comeback after dropping the opening set. With the match tied at a set apiece, Paul needed an extraordinary effort to hold serve for 4-3 in the final set, battling through five deuces and saving four break points. AFP
HONOR Magic V6 takes center court at Gentry Open 2026 GLOBAL AI devices provider HONOR Philippines brought the HONOR Magic V6 to center court as the official presenter of Gentry Open 2026, marking another year of partnership with the tournament and its commitment to supporting the growth of tennis in the Philippines. Now in its second year, Gentry Open is a Class 1 tennis tournament that provides aspiring professional players from across the country with an opportunity to compete at a high level. Held at the CSA Tennis Stadium from August 19 to 30, the tournament brings together the country’s rising tennis talents and creates a platform for the next generation of athletes to develop their skills and pursue their professional aspirations. The partnership came to life during the Gentry Open 2026 opening ceremony on August 20, where HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng joined Gentry Open representatives and the Pareng Crew. With a ceremonial serve by Pareng Hayb and the HONOR Magic V6 taking center stage as the tournament’s presenter, the opening highlighted the shared values of perfor-
Pareng Hayb puts the HONOR Magic V6 to the test during a special Pull Up durability exhibition at Gentry Open 2026.
mance, discipline, and innovation while bringing HONOR closer to Gentry Open’s premium sports audience and the next generation of Filipino tennis talent. Adding to the opening-day activities, the Pareng Crew got hands-on with the HONOR Magic V6, putting the flagship foldable through a special Pull Up exhibition. The durability showcase high-
lighted the device’s ability to keep up with demanding, fast-moving lifestyles, while giving attendees a closer look at the innovation behind HONOR’s latest foldable. “We’re proud to partner with Gentry Open as it continues to create opportunities for the next generation of Filipino tennis players. Their passion, discipline, and drive to push their limits reflect the same spirit
of performance and innovation that we bring to the HONOR Magic V6,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines. As Gentry Open continues its second-year run, HONOR Philippines looks forward to strengthening its partnership with the tournament and creating more opportunities to bring innovation closer to Filipino consumers through meaningful experiences both on and off the court. Unfolding the HONOR Magic V6 The HONOR Magic V6 will officially launch on August 24, 2026, Monday, at 6:00 PM. Catch the grand unveiling via livestream through https://www.facebook.com/ share/1DNqCBieEd/ and discover a new era of foldable innovation as the real magic unfolds. #HONORMagicV6 #UnfoldTheRealMagic Stay updated on everything HONOR by visiting http://www.honor. com/ph and following HONOR Philippines on Facebook (Facebook. com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines) for exclusive launch updates, product information, and more.
PVL On Tour saves best for last in Victorias City Games Saturday (Victorias City, Negros Occidental 4 p.m. – Capital1 vs Farm Fresh 6:30 p.m. – Galeries Tower vs Creamline
THE Premier Volleyball League brings the curtain down on its sixweek On Tour Showdown on Saturday (Aug. 22) with a star-studded twin bill at the Victorias City Coliseum in Negros Occidental, highlighted by the much-anticipated return of former league ace Sachi Minowa – better known to Filipino fans as Jaja Santiago – to the local volleyball scene. Creamline, the PVL’s winningest and most popular club, closes out the provincial swing against Galeries Tower at 6:30 p.m., with the Cool Smashers looking to follow up their victory over the Nxled Chameleons in Isabela with another impressive performance before what is expected to be a full-house crowd. But while the spotlight will naturally fall on Creamline, the evening’s bigger story may well be Minowa’s return. The former Chery Tiggo star is set to see action for the Cool Smashers as she begins her stint with the club ahead of the coming PVL Invitational Conference. It marks another significant chapter in the career of the towering middle blocker, who led Chery Tiggo to the historic 2021 PVL Open Conference championship before moving to Japan, where she played for several seasons and eventually acquired Japanese citizenship. Minowa has already had a taste of life in the Creamline colors, playing in a recent friendly against Choco Mucho in Cagayan de Oro. Saturday, however, carries a different feel. “It’s really good to be back. Namiss ko talaga ang mga ganito dito sa Pilipinas,” said Minowa, who recalled her last visit to Negros Occidental as having been during her high school days. “So sobrang happy and excited ako to play here again,” she added. For Minowa, the comeback is about more than simply returning to the court in front of Filipino fans. She is also relishing the opportunity to work alongside Creamline’s established stars while learning from a new generation of players.
Wesley So keeps Sinquefield crown, wins P5.4-m prize PHILIPPINE-BORN Wesley So sustained his climb in the world rankings by besting Indian sensation Praggnanandha Rameshmabu in the Armageddon on Wednesday, August 19 (Thursday, August 20, Philippine time) and keeping the Sinquefield Cup crown in Saint Louis, Missouri. Wesley So, pride of Bacoor, Cavite, and Praggnanandhaa both finished with 5.5 points after the 10-man, roundrobin classical matches, then drew the two rapid playoffs, necessitating the decider, where white is given five minutes and black four, but only needs a draw to win the match and the $87,500 (P5.39 million) champion’s purse. The 32-year-old So did just that to become the tournament’s winningest with 3 solo titles, counting his victory in the 2016 Sinquefield Cup. Fabiano Caruana also has three, but shared the title with Levon Aronian in 2018. So, also a three-time United States champion, drew with German No. 1 Victor Keymer in the first round, before notching back-to-back wins against Dutch star Jorden van Foreest and Caruana.. The first World Fischer Random Chess champion, So drew his remaining games against Praggnanandhaa, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Anish Giri, and Sam Sevian in succession. Last week, So placed third in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz behind Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov. With his return to form, So rose to world No. 5, behind Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Caruana and Sindarov. On August 23, So will try to complete a remarkable month when he plays in the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals with Caruana, Keymer and Praggnanandhaa.
SPORTS
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
November busy month for PH chess IT will be a busy November for Philippine chess as three international tournaments—two in Ozamiz and one in Quezon City—are lined up for that month with titles, norms and hefty cash prizes at stake. The first one is the 7th ASEAN Individual Championships slated for Nov. 2-10 at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Recreational and Aquamarine Park, where the Open and Women’s champions get a Grandmaster or Woman GM titles or norms and the second to third placers earn an International Master or WIM title or norms. The next is the Misamis Occidental Philippines International Championship scheduled Nov. 10-17, also at the AMORAP, where super GMs not just in the region and Asia are expected to participate. Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry S. Oaminal is hosting the two events while the NCFP, PSC and the ASEAN Chess Confederation and WR Chess had banded together in support of the three tourneys. The finale is the AQ Prime International Open Championship set Nov. 17-26 at the MICE Center in Quezon City. “It will be one month of pure chess where our very own players will have a chance to become a GM, an IM or a WGM or an WIM and earn norms with FIDE rating points,” said NCFP secretary-general and CEO GM Jayson Gonzales. Last year, Ozamiz also hosted the ASEAN Individual tilt and helped Ruelle Canino and Mark Jay Bacojo seal a WIM and IM title for finishing second and third in their respective class. The champion’s purse in the first tournament is $3,000 (P185,000), while $7,000 (P432,000) and $5,000 (P308,000) await the winner of second and third events, respectively.
Golden Tigresses, Lady Chiefs clash for early V-L lead Games Saturday
(Gameville Central Park) 10 a.m. – Mapua vs Benilde (Men) 12 noon – NU vs Letran (Men) 3 p.m. – Arellano vs UST (Women) 5 p.m. – Perpetual vs San Beda (Women)
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and Arellano University dispute the early women’s division lead in the V-League Collegiate Challenge Saturday at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City. The Tigresses and the Lady Chiefs are coming off impressive opening weekend victories that they hope to carry over in the 3 p.m. match. San Beda and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta try to enter the win column at 5 p.m. to cap another quadrupleheader. UST used a balanced offense in a triumphant return after missing last year’s edition. The Tigresses, who won the 2024 title, pulled off a 25-15, 25-16, 2519 sweep of the Lady Red Spikers last Sunday, with rookie Kim Rubin leading the way and Pau Escober proving her worth to fill the void left by libero Detdet Pepito. Arellano, meanwhile, unveiled a gem in Cassey Florida in a 25-20, 2522, 25-15 romp of reigning NCAA champion Letran on opening day. San Beda, which was without its ace scorer Angel Habacon, struggled in its tournament opener against UST. The Lady Red Spikers hope that they can match up well with the Lady Altas in an all-NCAA clash. Perpetual dropped a 21-25, 18-25, 22-25 decision to Adamson last Sunday. In the men’s division, reigning UAAP champion National University shoots for a third straight win against Letran, which is eyeing to make it two in a row under new coach Jessie Lopez at 12 noon. College of Saint Benilde and Mapua clash in a rematch of the NCAA Season 101 Finals at 10 a.m.
Filipino obstacle racers display their medals. SarangKo
Filipino obstacle racers strike gold in Ireland tilt By Randy M. Caluag
T
HE Philippine Obstacle Course Racing Team displayed its world-class caliber by capturing the gold medal in the Mixed 30+ 400-meter Team event at the 2026 OCR World Championships in Limerick, Ireland. The seasoned quartet of Southeast Asian Games champions Sandi Menchi Abahan, Marites “Tess” Nocyao, Jeffrey Reginio and Jordan
Paul Biollones delivered a dominant performance, completing the course in a winning time of two minutes and 18.400 seconds.
The Filipino obstacle racers finished more than 11 seconds ahead of the United States, which settled for the silver medal with a time of 2:29.601. Canada completed the podium after clocking 2:52.746 for the bronze medal. The victory highlighted the Philippines’ growing stature in international obstacle course racing, a discipline that demands speed, strength, agility, endurance and seamless teamwork.
Competing against some of the world’s strongest and most experienced obstacle racers, the Philippine squad maintained a blistering pace throughout the 400-meter course and executed its transitions efficiently to secure the championship. Abahan, Nocyao, Reginio and Biollones brought extensive international experience to the event, having previously represented the country and won medals at the SEA Games.
Gilas Women close FIBA stint with win over Senegal By Jeremiah Sevilla THE Gilas Pilipinas Women’s squad caught fire from deep before thwarting a comeback attempt by Senegal to pull off a 79-75 victory and cap off its 2026 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign on a high note at the Arena Astros in Guadalajara, Mexico on Friday (Philippine time). Uncorking their fiery outside shooting, the Gilas Women built a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter, then staved off Senegal’s late fightback to at least end their 2028 Los Angeles Olympics bid with a gutsy win. The Nationals notched a 1-2 record in Group B of the tilt, where only the tournament champion is set to advance to the OQT. Head coach Burke “BT” Toews praised the squad’s much-improved defense following the 38-85 beatdown to world No. 7 Canada on Thursday that vanquished the No. 30 Philippines’ Olympic hopes. “Despite that (loss to Canada), I still
Gilas Pilipinas Women’s star guard Vanessa De Jesus drives past Senegal’s forward Khadidiatou Diouf during their final game in the 2026 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico on Friday. FIBA
thought that our defense was getting better, and I thought we showed it today big time,” said Toews, who marked his first win at the helm of the national team. It wasn’t just on defense that the Gilas Women stepped it up a notch, as they also displayed a balanced offense highlighted by 12 three-pointers. Vanessa De Jesus fired four triples to finish with 16 points on top of eight assists and four rebounds, while Kacey Dela Rosa and Sophia Dignadice also drained 16 markers with two treys apiece. Jack Animam drilled 14 points, anchored on a perfect 6-of-6 field goal shooting. “Today there was really balanced scoring. This was the first game of the tournament where our shooting was pretty deadly,” Toews said. Finding their rhythm on the attacking end, the Filipinas unleashed a 15-0 blitz to erase a four-point deficit and seize a 61-50 lead at the end of the third period.
Gilas Youth squad crashes out of FIBA U18 Asian Cup contention
Gilas Pilipinas Boys’ Chog Moral drives past multiple players of China during their game in the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup quarterfinals on Friday in Ahmedabad, India. FIBA
THE Gilas Pilipinas Youth Men’s team crashed out of contention in the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup after yielding to China, 103-117, in the quarterfinals on Friday at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium in Ahmedabad, India. Chog Moral came through with a breakout performance, but it was not enough for the Gilas Boys to overcome the top-seeded Chinese squad, which imposed its height advantage to pick up the win. Moral fired a game-high 26 points built on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting clip to lead the charge for the young Nationals, who missed out on a chance to fight for the podium for the third straight edition. The PH U18 team, though, is still
in the bracket for fifth place and can mark its best finish since ending up fourth in 2016. Luke Edward Atacador chipped in 14 points, Ethan Aguas and Jan Bennett Cagurungan each added 12 markers, while George Aidan Green had 11 for the Juno Sauler-mentored squad. Moral and the Gilas Boys were able to keep up in the early going, but China started to break away for good in the second period with Zichao Wang and Yuxiu Chen at the forefront. Wang and Chen tallied 25 and 23 points, respectively, to fuel China’s fiery offense that produced 17 triples. China advanced to the semis to face the winner between Japan and New Zealand. Jeremiah Sevilla
BUSINESS
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
JCI CONGRESS.
Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Agnes Devanadera (center) joins Junior Chamber International (JCI) World Congress 2026 director Luis Angelo Sevilla (left) and JCI Angeles City Culiat president Allen Jeil Gerona (right) during the stakeholders’ luncheon and executive presentation for the JCI World Congress 2026 at Royce Hotel & Casino in Clark Freeport on Aug. 7, 2026. More than 6,000 delegates from 120 countries will gather in Clark Freeport for the JCI World Congress on Nov. 11 to 15, 2026, showcasing the Philippines’ capacity to host large-scale global events.
WHAT’S INSIDE?
PLDT, Smart block sites with violence
R&I affirms Philippines’ R&I’s rating for PH ‘A-’ rating, stable outlook ‘A-’ JCR’s rating J ‘A-’
By Thony Rose Lesaca
for PH
‘BBB+’ S&P rating for PH
APAN’S Rating and Investment Information Inc. (R&I) affirmed the Philippines’ “A-” investment grade rating with a “stable” outlook on Friday, citing the country’s improving fiscal position and expectations of continued economic expansion.
“Based on this recognition, R&I has affirmed the Foreign Currency Issuer Rating at ‘A-’,” the credit watcher said in a statement. JCR, another Japanese debt watcher, also has an ‘A-‘ rating, with a stable outlook for the Philippines. S&P Global Ratings maintains the Philippines’ long-term sovereign credit rating at ‘BBB+’, while Fitch Ratings, while Fitch Ratings holds the Philippines’ long-term foreign-
currency issuer default rating (IDR) at ‘BBB’ with a negative outlook. Moody’s keeps it at ‘Baa2’ with a stable outlook. R&I said economic expansion is expected to continue, supported by population growth, infrastructure investments and foreign direct investment inflows. The credit watcher said the country’s fiscal balance has improved as a share of gross domestic product,
Fitch: Weaker growth complicates fiscal status WEAKER growth is complicating the Philippine government’s ability to reduce budget deficits, with the 2027 budget signaling a modestly slower pace of fiscal consolidation, Fitch Ratings said. While upward revisions to deficit forecasts relative to Fitch’s earlier assumptions are small, mediumterm debt stabilization and the trajectory of the country’s ‘BBB’ sovereign rating will depend increasingly on how sharply growth and investment recover from subdued levels, the rating agency said. The Philippine gross domestic product growth remained weak at 2.3 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. Investment accounted for much of the slowdown, with gross fixed capital formation contracting 8 percent quarter-on-quarter, reflecting the global energy-price shock and public infrastructure disbursements that remain subdued following last year’s corruption investigations into flood-control projects. The weakness appears broadbased across the public and private sectors, while high energy costs also weighed on household consumption, Fitch said. Slower growth is feeding into the fiscal outlook. The 2027 budget proposal targets a deficit of 5.1 percent of GDP, a slower pace of consolidation than the 4.8 percent deficit forecast envisaged in last year’s medium-term fiscal framework, it said. Repeated upward revisions to medium-term deficit targets suggest the government continues to prioritize supporting growth over a faster pace of consolidation, leaving risks tilted toward a more gradual reduction in deficits over the next few years, Fitch said. The government now forecasts a deficit of 3.5 percent of GDP by 2030 compared with 3.1 percent in last year’s proposal.
while the government debt ratio is likely to decline in the medium-term. It said the current account deficit and external debt also remain at manageable levels, while the banking sector continues to maintain stability. R&I said it expects economic growth to recover to the 5-percent range from next year onwards, as budget execution returns to normal. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) welcomed the rating affirmation, noting that it reflects sound macroeconomic fundamentals amid global uncertainties. “The country’s resilience is supported by a sound banking system, an efficient payments system and a healthy external position. The BSP remains focused on bringing inflation closer to the 3.0-percent target,” the BSP said.
BIODIVERCITY.
La Mesa Ecopark strengthens its role in championing ‘biodiverCity’ or biodiversity in the city, environmental protection and water security as it recently hosted the La Mesa Ecopark Executive Committee (ExeCom) meeting, welcomed eco-content creators for an exclusive preview and reopened Phase 2. The ExeCom is composed of duly designated representatives from the Quezon City government and Manila Water Company and chaired by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
UK asks Filipino exporters to tap underused trade scheme By Othel V. Campos THE United Kingdom is urging Philippine exporters to make greater use of its Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) after £92 million, or about P7.7 billion, worth of eligible Philippine exports entered the UK in 2025 without claiming available preferential tariffs. UK trade adviser Ellie Parker said about £1.8 billion worth of Philippine goods entered the UK market last year, of which around £299 million was eligible for DCTS preferences. Only £207 million of eligible exports used the scheme, leaving £92 million without the available tariff benefits.
Parker said the gap shows the opportunity for Philippine exporters to better maximize the DCTS, particularly as demand for Philippine products remains strong in the UK market. She identified electronic equipment and machinery, bananas, plantains and pineapples, sustainable apparel, tuna, coconut products and spectacles as Philippine products with further growth potential in the UK. The DCTS took effect in June 2023 and provides preferential tariffs to 65 developing countries, including the Philippines, to support economic growth through improved access to the UK market. The scheme’s enhanced preferences tier covers the
Economy to stay sluggish through 2026—MAP THE Philippine economy will likely stay sluggish for the remainder of 2026, weighed down by weak consumer spending, a soft peso and limited money circulating in the economy, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) president Donald Lim said Thursday. Speaking on the sidelines of the MAP general membership meeting, Lim said businesses have already largely written off 2026 as a difficult year and are instead pinning their hopes on a stronger 2027. “For a planning perspective, we know already. We’re just estimating up to this point,” Lim said, describing the 2026 outlook as essentially settled from a business-planning standpoint.
Companies are seeing only a “little blip” in revenues while the broader economy remains slow and the peso weak, he said. A weaker peso could benefit overseas Filipino workers through higher peso-valued remittances, Lim said, but this would not be enough to offset weakness across the wider economy. Lim also voiced doubt that the fourth quarter would bring a significant rebound in consumer spending, citing a lack of disposable income. “There’s not enough money,” he said, questioning where consumers would find additional funds to support a stronger spending spree toward the end of the year. Othel V. Campos
Philippines and provides zero tariffs on 92 percent of product lines. Parker said exporters should actively claim the preferences and comply with DCTS rules of origin, including requirements to provide proof of origin and demonstrate that goods meet the required processing rules. She also pointed to reforms introduced in January 2026 that could further benefit Philippine exporters, particularly in garments. The UK relaxed product-specific rules for garments, allowing greater flexibility in sourcing inputs from other countries, provided the required processing is carried out locally.
IMMEDIATE RELIEF. One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Manila Electric Company and Meralco Balagtas Business Center volunteers visit houses in Barangay San Juan in Balagtas, Bulacan to provide relief packs to those affected by the southwest monsoon (habagat). Meralco and One Meralco Foundation, together with the local government partners, mobilized rapid disaster response operations across different communities in Bulacan and Cavite.
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BIR flags 25 gas stations
B3 DBM releases P27.4b for medical care
B4 Net oil import bill falls 14.8% on lower volume By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Philippines’ net oil import bill reached $13.20 billion in 2025, down 14.8 percent from $15.49 billion in 2024, the Department of Energy said. The Department of Energy attributed the decrease to the pesodollar exchange rate and lower volumes of imported finished petroleum products. Finished petroleum products accounted for 70 percent of total oil import costs while crude oil made up the remaining 30 percent. The total import cost of crude oil rose 19.2 percent to $4.10 billion from $3.44 billion in 2024. The total product import cost for 2025 dropped 24.7 percent to $9.55 billion from $12.69 billion a year earlier, driven by lower import volumes. Total export earnings in 2025 fell 30.1 percent to $440.28 million from $629.40 million in 2024. The country’s total petroleum product demand is expected to grow from 28.65 billion liters in 2025 to 69.62 billion liters by 2045, for an annual growth rate of 5 percent, the department said. The Department of Energy said the average days of supply will drop from 82 days in 2030 to 42 days by 2045 if current storage capacity remains unchanged.
BUSINESS
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com
Globe active mobile data users reach 39.6m in H1 GLOBE Telecom Inc. on Wednesday said more than 39.6 million subscribers actively used mobile data in the first half of 2026, driven by rising demand for video streaming, social media, gaming, digital payments and artificial intelligence applications. The Ayala-led telco said average monthly mobile data consumption reached 17 gigabytes per subscriber during the first half, up from 15 GB a year earlier. Globe said the increase indicates Filipinos are consuming more data as digital activities become embedded in daily life, with connectivity taking on the role of a “fifth utility” alongside water, electricity, gas and transportation. Data-driven revenues accounted for 91 percent of Globe’s consolidated gross service revenues in the first half of 2026. “The way Filipinos use connectivity tells us we are progressively becoming a digital nation,” Globe president and chief executive Carl Cruz said. “We are grateful that more customers are choosing Globe to be part of their everyday lives. We will build on this trust by continuously improving our network and delivering experiences that customers can rely on,” Cruz said. To support rising consumption, Globe invested P26.3 billion in capital expenditures during the first half of 2026 to expand digital infrastructure and ensure network stability. Darwin G. Amojelar
PLDT, Smart block websites streaming extreme violence By Darwin G. Amojelar
P
LDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. have blocked more than 100 websites found streaming or hosting footage of school shootings and other acts of extreme violence to protect users from harmful online content.
The telecommunications companies said the initiative aims to protect children and young people who are increasingly exposed to disturbing
material online. “This is something we do not tolerate,” PLDT chief operating officer Butch Jimenez said. “We have de-
cided to ban these kinds of sites preemptively as soon as they are discovered. Our networks will not be used as a channel for content that glorifies violence and puts our communities, especially our children, at risk.” PLDT said the list of blocked websites will expand as additional sites are identified through network monitoring and coordination with government agencies, child protection organizations and parenting groups. The restriction is implemented at the network level, making the sites
inaccessible to PLDT and Smart subscribers. “There is no debate to be had here,” Jimenez said. “Content that turns real-world violence into entertainment has no place on our networks and in our society, and we will keep acting decisively every time we find it.” The initiative forms part of the PLDT Group’s broader child protection and online safety programs, which include blocking websites that host child sexual abuse material.
ENERGY FORUM. Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin (right) and ASEAN Centre for Energy Executive Director Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood lead the soft launch of the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-26) in Metro Manila. Scheduled for Oct. 5 to 9 in conjunction with the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, AEBF-26 serves as a key platform for governments, industry leaders and investors to mobilize investments supporting ASEAN’s transition toward a sustainable energy future.
Maya strengthens user account controls to boost cybersecurity DIGITAL financial services provider Maya has strengthened its cybersecurity measures by giving users direct control over their accounts as digital finance adoption grows and cyber threats evolve. Through in-app security features, Maya allows users to freeze or unfreeze cards instantly and manage usage limits. Biometric authentication, automated fraud monitoring and dynamic CVVs on Maya credit cards provide additional background security for online transactions. Maya also works with regulators and law enforcement agen-
cies, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Justice, and the Philippine National Police. Kristoffer Rada, head of corporate affairs at Maya, said these measures reflect a broader shift in how security drives consumer trust. “For us in Maya, cybersecurity is not some back-office product; it’s really part of the product,” Rada said. “As more people depend on digital financial services every day, maintaining trust becomes a responsibility shared by financial institutions, regu-
SM Group receives 12 int’l business awards
SM Investments Corp. president and CEO Frederic DyBuncio says the company’s awards reflect its commitment to responsibility across local communities as the SM Group received 12 Stevie Awards at the 2026 International Business Awards.
THE SM Group received 12 Stevie Awards at the 2026 International Business Awards, with recognition spanning parent-company reporting and programs delivered through its malls and communities. SM Investments Corp., the parent company of the SM Group, received four awards. It won Gold Stevies in the Conglomerates (Large) and Best Annual Report (Publicly Held Corporations) categories for its 2025 Integrated Report. Its 2025 Sustainability Report received Bronze for Best Sustainability Report, while the SM Sustainability School received Bronze under Sustainability Initiative of the Year in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. “Clear reporting gives investors and other stakeholders a better view of how we make decisions, manage the business and plan for the long term,” SM Investments president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio said. “The other awards show how that same sense of responsibility is carried through by our businesses in the communities they serve.” That work is reflected across eight awards received by SM Supermalls. “People experience a mall through the things they do there, not through what we say about it,” SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan said.
“A place to read, an event that brings local art to more people, or a program that makes the mall easier to use can make a practical difference to a community.” The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition won Gold for Brand Experience of the Year (Consumer), while the Find Your SM campaign received Silver in the same category. The SM Green Movement won Silver for Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility. The SM Cares Coastal Cleanup initiative received Silver for Achievement in Environment, while SM Cares: A Mall for All received Silver for Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion. The SM Cares Book Nook, a program that creates space in malls for people to read and share books, received Bronze for Most Innovative Creative Project. The Empowering Communities campaign was recognized under Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. SM Mindanao Art received Bronze in the Corporate and Community (Community Engagement Event) category for giving Mindanao artists and their work a wider public audience. More than 300 business professionals participated in two months of judging to determine the winners based on average scores. The International Business Awards, now in their 23rd year, recognize organizations, executives, entrepreneurs and teams worldwide.
lators, government and the broader ecosystem.” Rada said cybersecurity policy must balance strong safeguards with the need to adapt to fast-changing technologies. He said regulation should emphasize outcomes such as protecting customers, maintaining service continuity and ensuring institutions can recover from security incidents rather than focusing solely on static rules. “Technology evolves so fast. The rules that apply this year may no longer be applicable and could become archaic in five years,” Rada said. “Whatever technology evolves, you have to evaluate using the same stan-
dard because the risks are the same.” Rada advocated for technologyneutral and risk-based standards supported by closer coordination between government and industry. Cyber risks cross banking, telecommunications, data privacy and law enforcement domains, making real-time information sharing and scam prevention critical, he added. “Cyber threats do not stop at the boundaries of one company, one regulator or one country,” Rada said. “The stronger the coordination across the ecosystem, the better we can protect customers and maintain confidence in digital services.”
BUSINESS CONFERENCE.
2GO Group chief operating officer and chief financial officer William Howell delivers his presentation during the Mindanao Business Conference in Cagayan de Oro City, highlighting connectivity as a critical enabler of a more futureproof and inclusive Mindanao economy.
EastWest secures two IFM awards, wins fourth consecutive priority banking title
EASTWEST Bank has lowered barriers to select investment opportunities and expanded its wealth management experience for clients. These efforts earned the bank two recognitions from International Finance Magazine: Most Innovative Securities Broker – Philippines and Best Priority Banking Experience – Philippines, the latter marking EastWest Priority’s fourth consecutive win. The bank received the awards across two business units. Through its Financial Markets Distribution Group, EastWest expanded access to U.S. dollar-denominated government securities. Through EastWest Priority, it strengthened advisory, investment and lifestyle services for affluent Filipino clients. Winning Best Priority Banking Experience for the fourth straight
year, EastWest Priority continues to evolve from traditional preferred banking toward a broader wealth management model built around personalized advice, investment solutions, market intelligence and lifestyle support. EastWest Priority’s approach rests on four pillars: hyper-personalized portfolio solutions, expert relationship management, market intelligence and curated lifestyle privileges. Together, these support clients across financial planning, investment management, protection and legacy planning. Clients can access deposits, insurance products, bonds, unit investment trust funds, equities, foreign exchange solutions, portfolio management services and selected alternative investments. Recommendations are tailored to each client’s objectives and risk profile.
BUSINESS
B3 SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com
DA says gov’t to limit future sugar imports to actual demand
The Bureau of Internal Revenue flags 25 of 65 gas stations tested in first three days of large-scale fuel marking drive across Luzon, sealing pumps pending confirmatory testing.
By Othel V. Campos AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday said the government is refining its sugar import policy to ensure future shipments are limited to actual demand while protecting local producers from market volatility. He said sugar imports are not the administration’s primary policy but a temporary tool to address supply gaps and stabilize prices. “In future importations, we will import just enough for what the country needs — not more, not less,”
BIR flags 25 Luzon gas stations T HE Bureau of Internal Revenue flagged 25 of 65 gasoline stations tested during the first three days of a large-scale fuel marking enforcement drive across Luzon, sealing pumps and taking inventory of affected fuel pending confirmatory testing.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the bureau is expanding its use of enforcement tools to curb revenue losses. “We are making fuller use of fuel marking and our other enforcement tools to identify revenue leakages, act on them quickly and protect compliant businesses from unfair competition in the petroleum
sector,” Mendoza said. The operations began Aug. 17 and will continue for several weeks with enforcement teams deployed across Luzon. The BIR is leading the operations in coordination with the Bureau of Customs, with BIR regional directors personally heading their respective teams. The authorized fuel marking service provider conducts technical fuel sampling and testing. Fuel marking is one of the BIR’s primary tools for detecting possible tax non-compliance involving gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Petroleum products that fail field tests undergo inventory, sealing or padlocking, and confirmatory testing. When the BIR confirms non-compliance, it determines the applicable taxes, penalties and other amounts due before pursuing assessment and collection actions.
Under fuel marking rules, taxpayers may request corrective marking from the service provider once they settle tax liabilities and comply with prescribed requirements. The BIR then undertakes unsealing procedures. The fuel marking operations complement other BIR enforcement activities, including inventory stock-taking, registration and invoicing verification, and tax compliance verification drives. While current deployment covers Luzon, the BIR plans to expand the initiative nationwide. “This is not a one-time operation. We will continue using fuel marking and our other enforcement tools wherever the risk of tax leakage is high, and we will expand these operations to other parts of the country,” Mendoza said. Editor’s Note: This news article was humanwritten. AI tools were used to help with editing and proofreading.
CCC, NYC launch project to train climate leaders THE Climate Change Commission and the National Youth Commission have partnered with select higher education institutions to pilot the Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP), giving university students opportunities to expand climate knowledge and practical skills. The pilot session, held virtually Aug. 15, brought students into an accelerated learning program covering climate science, policy, climate diplomacy, communications and innovation. Designed as a complementary, fast-tracked learning experience, Youth CLAP establishes a common foundation on climate issues for college students while enabling them to apply knowledge to challenges within their campuses and local communities. Spanning four consecutive Saturdays, the project combines four core modules and a masterclass to help participants engineer climate solutions. The initiative culminates in an innovation showcase where students will pitch finalized proposals. CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert Borje emphasized bridging the gap between climate awareness and multidisciplinary, youth-led action. “There are students here from different institutions, disciplines and communities,” Borje said. “One of you may understand the science. Another may know how to build the technology. Someone else may understand policy. Another may know how to communicate the idea so that people actually listen. Very often, the solution is not sitting inside one person. It emerges when different people learn how to think and work together.” During the masterclass, Rodel Lasco, executive director of the Oscar M. Lopez Center, discussed climate science and nature-based adaptation strategies. “Natural ecosystems are critical in enhancing climate resilience, the climate resilience of our people, especially Indigenous Peoples,” Lasco said. Emma Porio, professor emeritus at Ateneo de Manila University, led a session on field action, urging students to connect climate concepts with community realities.
CIRCULARITY FOR GROWTH. Aboitiz Equity Ventures first vice president and chief reputation and sustainability officer Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar speaks on how circularity helps businesses create long-term value, strengthen resilience and build industry connections during the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Summit 2026 in Cebu.
Tiu Laurel said, adding that the revised policy will be presented to industry stakeholders for consultation. Tiu Laurel also highlighted the government’s allocation scheme, under which import rights are earned through purchases of locally produced sugar. He said this mechanism removes individual discretionary power from government officials and creates a transparent process. “Sugar importation is not the policy of this administration. It is a tool for price and market stabilization to be used when necessary and under clearly defined circumstances,” Tiu Laurel said.
ERC pledges tighter market monitoring By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission emphasized the need for heightened regulatory vigilance and structural adaptability amid market concentration and emerging technologies in the Philippine electricity market. “In a market where there is high concentration of market power in the hands of a few participants, there is need for closer monitoring to ensure that those with market power will not abuse that market power or resort to anti-competitive behavior,” ERC chairman Francis Saturnino Juan said during the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market’s 20th anniversary. “We should be more vigilant in our monitoring efforts, so we ensure that there remains to be competition happening and that prices are not unduly inflated to the detriment of our electricity consumers.” Juan noted that the power sector today differs fundamentally from 20 years ago, highlighting the rapid entry of variable renewable energy and energy storage systems. He said managing grid assets efficiently, alongside exploring longterm baseload options such as nuclear power, will be vital to reducing reliance on imported fuels and securing affordable electricity. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin highlighted the role of market-driven analytics and close coordination between government agencies and market governance bodies during critical power crises. Garin emphasized that data modeling and simulations provided by the market served as an essential compass for drafting responsive policies to mitigate consumer impact during price surges.
Manila Water prepares treatment plants with back-up gensets for heavy rain MANILA Water Co. Inc. has completed rainy season preparations across key facilities in its East Zone concession area to ensure uninterrupted water service amid potential flooding and power outages during the Habagat season. The preparations covered three major water treatment facilities in Quezon City and 33 water reservoirs across the concession area. The three treatment facilities— Balara Treatment Plant 1, Balara
Treatment Plant 2 and East La Mesa Treatment Plant—are equipped with backup generators to maintain operations during power failures. Manila Water also deployed sandbags and dewatering pumps at critical facilities for flood mitigation. Personnel completed emergency readiness checks and secured fuel reserves, batteries, medical kits, food provisions, system backups and other essential supplies, the company said.
Manila Water has positioned emergency equipment across the concession area for rapid deployment, including six mobile treatment plants, a mobile command center, six 4x4 rescue vehicles, an ambulance, an amphibious vehicle, three speedboats, 38 water tankers and two folding boats. The company also has 64 desludging trucks available to siphon floodwater in support of local government disaster response efforts.
Manila Water corporate communications head Dittie Galang said the company continues to bolster operations as weather patterns become more unpredictable. “Weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, but Manila Water has been maintaining resilient operations and ensuring uninterrupted service for our customers, even during the most challenging conditions,” Galang said. Othel V. Campos
Ogilvy helps creators build brands
OMAKASE EXPERIENCE. World Cellar at World Kitchens in Gateway Mall 2 hosts an exclusive wine dinner in Metro Manila as part of the Araneta City Seafood Festival. The dinner features an omakase-style menu created by Japanese chef Masaki Watanabe, pairing a five-course meal with selected wines and sake.
OGILVY Manila hosted the third annual Ogilvy Creator Camp at its headquarters in Rockwell, Makati City, bringing together digital creators for a program aimed at turning content creation into sustainable businesses. Creator Camp 2026 focused on helping creators transition from content producers to chief executives of their personal brands. The program covered brand equity, corporate structure, tax compliance, artificial intelligence, audience ownership and real-time co-creation with major brand leaders. “When we look at the landscape today, how people consume content, build trust and interact with brands has changed completely,” Ogilvy Manila chief executive Elly Puyat
said. “It’s no longer just about big commercial productions, print ads or broadcast television — it’s about authenticity, connection and human stories.” Puyat noted that creator culture is the core of modern influence. “Creators are the storytellers, curators and trusted voices people turn to for real recommendations and human connection,” she said. “Our job is not to dictate to creators what to say or how to say it, but to collaborate with them and build an ecosystem where both brands and creators thrive together,” Puyat added. “We wanted a space where we can invest in the community, share insights and help creators transition from talent-for-hire into strategic business leaders.”
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
BSP likely to hike rates next week By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is likely to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points at its policy meeting next Thursday even as inflation eases, BPI lead economist Emilio Neri Jr. said in a statement. Neri said the risks to the inflation outlook are no longer limited to food, with energy, wages, a weakening peso and imported costs also emerging as potential sources of pressure. “Looking further ahead, the potential onset of a Super El Niño in the latter part of the year could compound agricultural supply disruptions and keep food prices elevated into 2027,” Neri said. He said recent rains and flooding could cause further damage to crops just as food supply conditions were starting to stabilize. Higher domestic fertilizer prices could also raise farm production costs as the planting season gets underway. Oil prices also remain volatile as US-Iran talks remain uncertain, while rising producer prices in China could add to imported cost pressures, he said. The approved wage increase in the National Capital Region could add another layer of pressure once implemented, particularly for laborintensive services, Neri said. Neri also flagged the peso as a concern for the inflation outlook. The currency fell to a new intraday record low of P61.995 per US dollar last week. “A sharper depreciation would amplify imported inflation. This could require tighter policy even if the underlying shock remains largely supply-driven,” Neri said. A 25-basis-point rate hike would allow the BSP to reinforce its price stability mandate, Neri said. “Tighter monetary policy to address inflation would therefore reinforce the need for the fiscal side to accelerate reforms, improve spending execution and tackle bottlenecks that monetary policy cannot resolve,” he said.
P27.4b released for medical care By Thony Rose Lesaca
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HE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Friday it released P27.410 billion in medical assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated Filipinos to help cover treatment costs and other essential medical services.
The funding is chargeable against the Department of Health’s (DOH) regular budget under the 2026 General Appropriations Act and will support continued implementation of the health agency’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program, the DBM said.
Centers for health development will receive the largest share, at P19.145 billion, to support medical assistance delivery through partner local government hospitals, privately owned institutions and other local health facilities. DOH hospitals in Metro Manila and the regions will receive another
P4.353 billion, while governmentowned and controlled corporation specialty hospitals will receive P2.910 billion. These include the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Philippine Heart Center. The University of the PhilippinesPhilippine General Hospital will receive P950 million, while Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers will receive the remaining P52 million. Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said channeling the bulk of the funding through centers for health development will help extend
Finance Secretary Frederick Go says the Philippines’ deficit-to-GDP ratio is on track to hit 5.45 percent by 2026, with revenues projected to reach P6.5 trillion by 2030.
Deficit-to-GDP ratio on track to hit 5.45% by end-2026, DOF chief says DEPARTMENT of Finance Secretary Frederick Go said the country’s deficit-to-GDP ratio is on track to reach 5.45 percent by the end of 2026, the lowest level since the start of the Marcos Jr. administration. Go made the announcement while presenting the government’s revenue and financing program to the House Committee on Appropriations on Aug. 17, 2026,
as part of the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) presentation of the proposed P7.2trillion fiscal year 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP). Total revenues are projected to grow from P4.8 trillion in 2026 to P6.5 trillion by 2030, Go said. Representing the Department of Finance in the DBCC’s Economic Team, Go briefed lawmakers on the fiscal fundamentals underpinning
government programs and projects, and called on Congress to make every peso count and make its benefits ripple through generations. Go also cited the country’s improving fiscal standing in the region. The Philippines’ revenue effort reached 16.6 percent of GDP in the first half of 2026, now among the highest in Southeast Asia, he said. Debt levels remain within sustainable limits at 56.8 percent of
IN BRIEF Araneta Group chairman wins life achievement award
ARANETA Group chairman and chief executive Jorge Araneta received the Life Achievement Award at the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, held at Shangri-La The Fort on Aug. 20, 2026. The award, considered one of the highest individual honors in Asian real estate, recognizes Araneta’s “extraordinary contributions and lifelong dedication to the Philippine real estate industry through his visionary leadership of Araneta Group and the continued evolution of Araneta City as one of the country’s most iconic and transformative urban developments.” Araneta City senior management consultant Rowell Recinto received the award on Araneta’s behalf. “Mr. Araneta pioneered the integration of entertainment and retail and incorporated mass transit [even before MRT and LRT] into a mixed-use estate -- two concepts that are now planning musts in all developments. Moreover, he had the foresight to introduce land uses in Cubao that would have been unthinkable before that time but now constitutes part of the identity of Araneta City,” Recinto said after accepting the award. Araneta is one of the Philippines’ foremost business leaders and the current head of one of the country’s most enduring and diversified family-owned enterprises, the Araneta Group. “Today, his pioneering mindset continues to drive innovation as Araneta City continues to transform itself to adapt to address future needs,” Recinto added.
Security Bank wins Asian Banking honors
SECURITY Bank Corp. and Security Bank Capital Investment Corp. won three awards at the Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2026, recognizing the bank’s progress in digital innovation, client-centric solutions and sustainable finance. Security Bank’s retail banking segment won Mobile Banking & Payment Initiative of the Year – Philippines, while its wholesale banking segment won Domestic Digi-
the reach of MAIFIP beyond major hospitals and bring medical assistance closer to local communities. The DBM said the funding will also support implementation of eMAIFIP through the eGovPH superapp to make medical assistance more accessible through digital channels. “The P27.4 billion we are releasing is meant to translate into real help at the hospital level— medicines that can be bought, procedures that can be performed, and medical bills that families do not have to shoulder on their own. This is a substantial investment, but its true value will be measured by the number of Filipinos it is able to help,” De Leon said.
tal Transformation Bank of the Year. Security Bank Capital also received Syndicated Loan of the Year – Philippines for the P150 billion senior term loan it arranged for Terra Solar Philippines Inc. The awards reflect Security Bank’s BetterBanking strategy, which aims to make banking more accessible for individuals, help businesses operate more efficiently and support landmark projects that contribute to sustainable national development. Security Bank’s award-winning mobile banking initiative transforms the customer onboarding and banking experience through a digital journey. The bank’s mobile app enables real-time account opening through electronic know-your-customer verification, letting customers complete onboarding digitally using biometric verification and instant identity validation.
211,000 bank accounts opened via National ID
LANDBANK of the Philippines and Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) said more than 211,000 accounts were opened without a physical ID within a month of launching a National ID-enabled onboarding service in July, reflecting strong demand for accessible financial services. The milestone was announced on Aug. 14 at LandBank Plaza in Malate, Manila, during the ceremonial signing of the National ID Authentication Services (NIDAS) Subscription Contract. The agreement among LandBank, OFBank, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) formalizes a whole-of-government approach to secure digital identity verification, adopting NIDAS as the primary proof of identity across their onboarding platforms. LandBank president and chief executive Lynette Ortiz, OFBank president and chief executive Leila Martin, PSA assistant secretary Rosalinda Bautista and DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda led the event. Launched in July 2026, the service lets clients open accounts through the LandBank and OFBank mobile banking app or digital onboarding website using real-time verification powered by the PSA, eliminating the need to present or upload physical government-issued IDs.
GDP for general government, below the 70 percent general government debt-to-GDP international benchmark set for COVID-19 and recovery years, he added. Go said the government’s goal is not to spend less but to spend better, directing public funds toward highmultiplier programs and projects that create jobs, raise incomes and deliver lasting benefits for the Filipino people.
PDIC to sell 70 Luzon properties in September
TP’s executive leadership comes together during the Philippine Leadership Town Hall to celebrate the company’s 30 years of operations in the Philippines and its ninth consecutive Great Place to Work certification. Leading the event are (from left) TP in the Philippines chief executive Rahul Jolly, GPTW Philippines general manager Charles Plumley, TP Group chief executive Jorge Amar, TP Americas chjief executive Miranda Collard, vice president of human resources Rachel Cacabelos and TP India, Philippines and ANZ regional president Anish Mukker.
TP Philippines earns 9th straight ‘Great Place to Work’ certification TP in the Philippines has been certified as a “Great Place to Work” for the ninth consecutive year, the company said, coinciding with its 30th anniversary of operations in the country. The certification is awarded to organizations that consistently build high levels of trust, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie among employees. TP in the Philippines said the recognition reflects a workplace culture that has remained strong through rapid business expansion, digital transformation and the evolving nature of work. TP in the Philippines chief executive Rahul Jolly said a great workplace empowers people to turn opportunities into meaningful impact. “Receiving our ninth consecutive Great Place to Work certification, as TP celebrates its 30th year in the Philippines, is a testament to the work cul-
ture we have intentionally built over the past three decades,” Jolly said. “It reflects our people-first approach, and the unwavering commitment to creating limitless opportunities for our people to learn, innovate, grow and lead. We remain focused on shaping the future of work while ensuring our people continue to thrive alongside technology,” he said. TP established operations in the Philippines in 1996 and has since grown alongside the country’s ITBPM industry, helping strengthen the Philippines’ position as one of the world’s leading hubs for digitally integrated business services. The company now employs about 60,000 people across 29 sites nationwide and continues to invest in technology, talent development and innovation aimed at shaping the next generation of customer experience.
THE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) said it will offer 70 properties in Luzon for sale through electronic public bidding, with bid submissions accepted from 9 a.m. on Sept. 23 until 1 p.m. on Sept. 24, according to the state deposit insurer. Bids will be opened at 2 p.m. on Sept. 24, PDIC said. Interested buyers can submit bids through the agency’s e-bidding portal. A 240-square-meter prime commercial lot with improvement in Barangay Magasawang-Tubig, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, headlines the portfolio, PDIC said. The property, set at a minimum bid price of P3.1 million, sits along the Western Nautical Highway, giving it access to key commercial areas and serving as a transport corridor connecting Naujan to other parts of Oriental Mindoro. The remaining 69 properties comprise 51 residential properties, 17 agricultural properties and one mixed residential/agricultural property with improvement, PDIC said. The properties range from 75 square meters to 15 hectares in size and are located in Albay, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Isabela, Laguna, Palawan, Pangasinan, Romblon and Sorsogon. PDIC said the properties offer options for individual buyers, developers, agribusiness investors and commercial enterprises. The public bidding is open to all qualified buyers who register through PDIC’s e-bidding portal, the agency said.
TECH
C1 SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph rieramallari@yahoo.com
The sixth instalment in the hit Grand Theft Auto series is likely to smash records when it comes out on November 19.
GTA VI, job cuts, digital shift loom over 2026 Gamescom P ARIS—The videogames industry meets on Tuesday in Cologne at the Gamescom trade show as concerns mount for its future amid job cuts, cutthroat competition and the end of discs. Though the latest installment in the smash-hit Grand Theft Auto series will not be on show at Gamescom, developers are under pressure to make their games stand out from the crowd as developers bring releases forward to try and avoid the GTA behemoth. After a launch event showcasing the main upcoming releases -- with the latest instalment in the Final Fantasy saga as the centrepiece -- the gaming gathering opens its doors to industry on Wednesday and to the public on Thursday, running through Sunday. About 360,000 people attended last year’s jamboree. In the shadow of GTA VI The sixth instalment in the hit Grand Theft Auto series -- likely to smash records when it comes out on November 19 -- is giving rival publishers nightmares.
Other studios have pulled releases forward to try and avoid clashing with Rockstar Games’ GTA release which has so far enjoyed an “unprecedented and astonishing” number of pre-orders according to Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive. Some games would struggle in the flurry of releases, Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics, a specialist consultancy that focuses on the games industry, told AFP. “Some games will not sell as well because they’re competing with, you know, some of the other biggest games,” he said. “It’s tough.” Game over for the disc One hotly-debated topic at the trade show will be Sony’s decision to discontinue video games on physical discs from 2028.
The Japanese giant popularised discs with the PlayStation in the 1990s, but digital sales for the PS4 and PS5 made up nearly 82 percent of sales at the beginning of 2026. Some players fear the decline of the disc could mean the end of the secondhand market as well as the loss of a tangible part of video gaming heritage. Microsoft’s U-turn Celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Xbox games console this year, Microsoft will showcase more than 25 games, including “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4” and “Gears of War: E-Day.” “Gears of War” will be an exclusive release for Microsoft consoles, the US giant said in June, marking a change from a previous strategy that had seen it make major titles for various platforms in an effort to pay off rising development costs. “The U-turn is about winning hearts back,” Elliot told AFP, adding Microsoft would expect the move to boost Xbox brand loyalty. Revenue at Xbox last year fell seven
percent and Microsoft in July said it would cut 3,200 jobs at its gaming division by the end of June next year. Tough times Faced with a period of relative bust after lockdown-fuelled pandemic boom times came to and end, studios across the world have cut jobs. US publisher Epic Games, maker of “Fortnite”, in March laid off 1,000 and Sony’s US studio Bungie, which makes “Marathon”, in June cut nearly 300 jobs. Long-established studios in France, including giant Ubisoft as well as Nacon, are also struggling. Nearly 10,000 people have lost their jobs and the industry is on course for 15,000 lay-offs this year, according to the ASGC Games Industry Layoffs Tracker, a figure which if reached would be close to the 2024 record. Although the global video game market continues to grow, reaching nearly $200 billion for the first time in 2025, players’ time is dominated by a handful of hit games like “Roblox” and “Fortnite”. AFP
Real magic to unfold: HONOR Magic V6 takes spotlight GLOBAL AI devices provider HONOR Philippines is set to launch its next flagship foldable smartphone, the HONOR Magic V6, on August 24, 2026, promising a new chapter in premium mobile innovation. Following a series of teasers highlighting its durability and innovation, the HONOR Magic V6 is set to reveal what lies beyond the fold. With advanced AI capabilities and flagship performance, the latest foldable is poised to raise the bar for what consumers can expect from the next generation of foldable smartphones. “With the HONOR Magic V6, we’re bringing together intelligent AI experiences, powerful performance, and durability designed for everyday demands. We’re excited for Filipinos to discover what’s beyond the fold on August 24,” said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng. The HONOR Magic V6 will be officially unveiled on August 24. For launch updates, product information, and exclusive announcements, visit www.honor.com/ph and following HONOR Philippines on Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@ honorphilippines) for exclusive launch updates, product information, and more.
HONOR’s latest flagship foldable is set to redefine the premium smartphone experience with nextgeneration AI, exceptional durability, and powerful performance
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
Nozomi, Sophos announce partnership NOZOMI Networks, the leader in operational technology (OT), Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber physical systems (CPS) security and Sophos, a global cybersecurity leader, announced a partnership to integrate Nozomi Networks Vantage, Nozomi’s cloud-native, AI-enabled OT security platform, with Sophos Fusion, Sophos’ AI-native cybersecurity defense system to enhance visibility and threat detection between IT and OT environments.
The announcement represents one of the first major third-party technology integrations following the launch of Sophos Fusion, demonstrating Sophos’ commitment to an open ecosystem that brings best-of-breed security technologies into a unified defense system. Critical infrastructure is facing an aggressive threat landscape as both nation states and cybercriminals increasingly target OT and industrial environments, and many OT outages begin with a compromise of the IT environment. As organizations connect more industrial assets and adopt remote management capabilities, complete visibility across both IT and OT environments becomes increasingly important. “The intersection of IT and OT environments has long been misunderstood by the cybersecurity industry, leading to inefficiencies and potential danger for critical infrastructure,” said Matt Cowell, Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Nozomi Networks. “This partnership helps solve these problems by seamlessly integrating OT intelligence into IT security investigations so teams have the full picture when assessing their increasingly expanding attack surface.” This integration brings Nozomi’s OT telemetry, asset intelligence, and threat data directly into Sophos Fusion, where it can be correlated with security data from across the customer’s IT environment without needing to switch contexts, putting OT intelligence directly where investigations happen to help security teams work faster and make better decisions. Key benefits of the partnership include: • Security data correlation across OT, endpoint, network, cloud, and identity sources • Improved investigation quality through richer context and correlation • Greater SOC efficiency through fewer manual processes and less console switching • Automated enrichment and response through Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) workflows
REDMI Watch 6 Active arrives, packs up to 18-day battery life, AMOLED display XIAOMI has officially introduced the REDMI Watch 6 Active in the Philippines, expanding its wearable ecosystem with a feature-packed smartwatch designed for active, on-the-go lifestyles. Built for students, young professionals, and first-time smartwatch buyers, the REDMI Watch 6 Active combines smart fitness tracking, long-lasting battery life, and seamless daily connectivity in a stylish, lightweight form factor. High-Definition Visual Experience in a Modern, Ultra-Slim Profile The REDMI Watch 6 Active features a vibrant 1.85-inch rectangular AMOLED display with a crisp 390 x 450 pixel resolution, delivering clear visuals for notifications, workout metrics, and daily checks. Upgraded to reach a peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits, the screen ensures reliable outdoor visibility even under direct sunlight. With Always-On Display (AOD) support and a refreshed user interface (UI), accessing essential information is fast and intuitive. Designed for all-day comfort, the REDMI Watch 6 Active adopts a modern flat-edge frame, transitioning from traditional rounded designs. Measuring just 9.9mm in thickness with compact overall dimensions (44.55 mm
x 39.4 mm x 9.9 mm), the smartwatch pairs a PC polymer body with a durable TPU strap. A convenient Quick-Release strap mechanism allows users to effortlessly customize their look for any occasion. Comprehensive All-Day Health and Fitness Tracking To help users monitor their personal wellness, the REDMI Watch 6 Active comes equipped with advanced optical sensors that deliver continuous health insights, including: ● 24/7 Heart Rate Monitoring: Continuous heart rate tracking to keep users informed during rest and physical activity. ● Blood Oxygen (SpO2) Tracking: Realtime monitoring of blood oxygen saturation levels. ● All-Day Stress Tracking: Continuous stress analysis with guided breathing recommendations when needed. ● IP68 Water Resistance: Built to endure everyday sweat, rain, and water splashes during workouts or outdoor activities. Seamless Bluetooth Calling and Long-Lasting Battery Life Staying connected on the move is effortless with Bluetooth 5.3 technology. The REDMI Watch 6 Active supports Bluetooth
calling, allowing users to answer phone calls directly from their wrist without reaching for their smartphone—ideal for multitasking during commutes or workouts. Powering the device is a high-capacity 470 mAh battery engineered to minimize charging frequency: ● Up to 18 days of operation on light usage. ● Up to 12 days of continuous power under normal daily usage. Product Availability and Pricing The REDMI Watch 6 Active is officially priced at ₱2,599. Xiaomi is rolling out the REDMI Watch 6 Active across online and offline channels in the Philippines according to the following schedule: ● Online Early Bird Promo (August 21 – 30, 2026): Available exclusively on the Xiaomi Online Store and Shopee. Early buyers will receive a Free Limited Strap with their purchase while stocks last. ● All Online Platforms (August 31, 2026 onwards): Available across all official Xiaomi e-commerce stores nationwide. ● Offline Retail Stores (September 15, 2026 onwards): Available in-person across all official Xiaomi Authorized Retail Stores nationwide.
Built for students, young professionals, and first-time smartwatch buyers, the REDMI Watch 6 Active combines smart fitness tracking, long-lasting battery life, and seamless daily connectivity in a stylish, lightweight form factor.
TECH
C2
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
FROM AI ADOPTION TO IMPACT
Thinking Machines, OpenAI expand access for PH orgs A S AI adoption accelerates, the challenge for organizations is increasingly shifting from access to execution: identifying the right workflows, helping people adopt new ways of working, and translating AI into measurable business outcomes.
At a recent media briefing in Makati City, Thinking Machines and OpenAI discussed what the recognition of Thinking Machines as Advanced Partner means for Philippine organizations: moving from individual experimentation to secure, practical AI adoption across enterprises, growing businesses, and educational institutions. OpenAI’s Partner Network is designed to help organizations turn AI ambition into measurable impact by connecting them with partners that bring deep industry expertise, technical capability, deployment experience, and strong customer relationships. Thinking Machines is one of only 30 companies worldwide recognized as an OpenAI Advanced Partner, reflecting its proven technical capabilities, delivery track record, and ability to support customers with local expertise. The recognition also reflects Thinking Machines’ belief that world-class AI capability can be built in the Philippines and applied to meaningful business and societal challenges. Niek van Veen, Vice President for Commercial at Thinking Machines, said:
OpenAI has recognized Thinking Machines as an Advanced Partner. This expands Thinking Machines ability to help Philippine organizations turn AI adoption into practical capability and measurable outcomes through enterprise transformation, ChatGPT Business, and ChatGPT Edu. Shown here are Niek van Veen (left), VP for Commercial, Thinking Machines Data Science and Mark Jeffrey, Director of Partnerships, Southeast Asia and Taiwan at OpenAI.
“Being recognized as an OpenAI Advanced Partner is an important validation of the capability our team has built over the last decade. What excites me even more is what comes next. Expanding our work together through ChatGPT Business and ChatGPT Edu enables us to support more organizations, from growing businesses to educational institutions, while continuing to help enterprises deploy AI at scale and developing Filipino talent.” From adoption to enterprise transformation AI is increasingly becoming part of how people work in the Philippines, highlighted by the 40% of ChatGPT messages in the country that are work-
related, creating an opportunity for organizations to move from individual experimentation to coordinated, organization-wide capability. As AI tools become more capable, organizations are looking beyond individual assistance toward agentic workflows that improve how teams make decisions, serve customers, and get work done, as evidenced by new OpenAI research. This growing adoption presents an opportunity for Philippine businesses to move from individual use to enterprise-wide AI capability, with a focus on practical implementation, measurable productivity gains, and responsible scaling. The next challenge is making that progress repeatable across the organization.
realme 16T teases 8000mAh Titan Battery, 7-year battery health guarantee REALME is giving fans an early look at the upcoming realme 16T, highlighting its battery power and endurance designed to last for years. The realme 16T is equipped with an 8000mAh Titan Battery, backed by a 7-year Battery Health Guarantee. realme credits this to its Titan AI Deep Power and Extended Use Care, which work to slow down battery wear over time. The device is also backed by a 6-year Guaranteed Smooth Performance, with AI Boost helping keep things running steadily even after years of daily use. On charging, the realme 16T comes with 45W SUPERVOOC Charge, along with Bypass Charge and Reverse Charge which comes handy for
Adding to the realme 16 Series lineup, realme gives an early look at the battery life, charging speed, and durability behind its newest smartphone.
For enterprises, Thinking Machines works with leaders and teams across diverse industries to identify high-value workflows, build AI fluency, redesign processes, and deploy AI within existing data, governance, and operating environments. “AI is easy to experiment with; transforming an organization with it is harder,” van Veen said. “The opportunity now is to turn familiarity with AI into organizational capability — embedding it into the way businesses operate, make decisions, and create value.” For many organizations, the central challenge is no longer access to capable models. It is choosing the right workflows, integrating AI into existing
keeping the phone cool while plugged in, and for topping up other devices when needed. The device also comes with All-Around Water & Drop Protection, carrying an IP69 Pro rating and Military-Grade Shock Resistance for everyday bumps, spills, and dust exposure. Alongside its long-term durability, realme is also offering added value to early buyers. Customers who blind pre-order the realme 16T from August 17 to 27, 2026, and claim their reserved unit on the First Selling Day on September 4, 2026, can enjoy freebies and discounts worth ₱8,097 in total. The exclusive offer includes a FREE TechLife Bluetooth Speaker 3, FREE Laifen SE Lite Hair Dryer, a Privilege Card with a six-month extended warranty and six-month screen damage protection, plus ₱2,000 OFF. More details about the realme 16T, including its launch date, pricing, and full specs, will be announced soon. For more updates on the realme 16T, follow realme’s official Facebook page.
Bureau of Immigration racing to modernize PH border systems THE Philippines has been named the world’s top retirement destination for 2026, capping a record-breaking year for tourism that saw domestic spending hit P3.26 trillion and employment in the sector climb to 7.7 million. But as thousands of foreign retirees flock to its shores each year, the Bureau of Immigration is racing to modernize the country’s border systems, ensuring the gates remain as secure as they are welcoming. World’s best place to retire The Philippines ranked first out of 20 countries in the Expatriate Group’s Retirement Abroad Index 2026, scoring 78 out of 100. It surpassed Thailand (2nd), Colombia (3rd), and other popular retirement havens. The index evaluated countries across five factors: healthcare quality, visa accessibility, health insurance requirements, cost of living, and expat community and integration. The Philippines performed particularly well in affordability and visa accessibility. Data shows that a retired couple can live comfortably on around £750 to £1,000 per month—roughly $998 to $1,330. The country’s strong private healthcare sector and well-established expat communities across Manila, Cebu, and popular island destinations make the transition seamless. A growing retiree community As of June 2026, 86,292 foreign retirees from over 150 countries have made the Philippines their second home. Active Special Resident Retiree’s
Airport e-gates
Visa (SRRV) holders number about 62,000, and the Philippine Retirement Authority is targeting 4,700 new applicants in 2026. “Foreign retirees contribute to retail, hospitality, and tourism. The moment they settle in their chosen location, they travel all over the country,” PRA President Roberto Zozobrado was quoted as saying. Tourism Secretary Dita AngaraMathay called the ranking “an affirmation of the progress we are making in creating a more welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable experience for travelers and retirees alike.” Tourism by the numbers Latest official data from the
systems, and helping people adopt new ways of working. Making practical AI adoption accessible to MSMEs Thinking Machines and OpenAI are also expanding their work together to reach a broader set of organizations. ChatGPT Business provides growing teams with a secure workspace, centralized administration, and shared access to ChatGPT. For Thinking Machines, this creates an opportunity to help more Philippine businesses apply AI to concrete workflows across marketing, sales, finance, operations, and management. The focus is practical adoption: helping teams start with useful work, build confidence, and identify where AI can create measurable value. Organizations interested in ChatGPT Business can learn more about the available plans and how Thinking Machines can support adoption at: https:// thinkingmachin.es/thinking-machineschatgpt-business/ Preparing Filipino talent for an AI-enabled economy The expanded collaboration also includes ChatGPT Edu, OpenAI’s offering designed to help educational institutions deploy AI across students, faculty, researchers, and campus operations with security and administrative controls. Thinking Machines works with educational institutions through practical programs, workshops, and local case studies that demonstrate responsible and effective uses of AI in teaching, learning, research, and operations. Trusted partnerships help turn AI capability into outcomes More than two million businesses globally are now building with OpenAI. As organizations around the world adopt AI, trusted partners play an important role in translating frontier capabilities into secure, practical deployments that fit local needs. Mark Jeffrey, Director of Partnerships, Southeast Asia and Taiwan at OpenAI, said: “The Philippines is already among the top 15 markets globally for ChatGPT users reflecting Filipinos’ openness to new technology and enthusiasm for finding practical ways to use it. We see enormous potential for AI to strengthen education, transform customer experiences, equip more workers with new skills and create opportunities for local entrepreneurs.”
Philippine Statistics Authority showed domestic tourism expenditure rose three percent to P3.26 trillion in 2025, up from P3.16 trillion the previous year. Inbound spending, however, declined 6.4 percent to P698.46 billion from P745.99 billion in 2024. Despite the drop in foreign exchange earnings, foreign visitor arrivals still increased -- from 5.44 million in 2024 to 5.87 million (eTravel portal) or 5.94 million (BI records) in 2025. The data confirms that the domestic market remains the larger and more resilient economic base of Philippine tourism. Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) edged down 1.4 percent
to P2.27 trillion, while tourism employment grew 2.5 percent to 7.70 million. Why CAISS matters now As tourist traffic rises and the retiree population grows, so does the need for secure, efficient border management. The Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) proposed project—a P10.74-billion PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP)—aims to modernize border control across 11 international airports, one major seaport, and six mobile border crossing stations. The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organizationcompliant project is an unsolicited proposal by Securiport LLC, submitted in May 2023, that deploys a unique, patented, and comprehensive solution – Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record data exchange, AIdriven risk assessment tools, and biometric border control elements (e-gates, enrollment/verification, and screening workflows) under a single integrated platform. Crucially, the project follows a “no-cost-to-government” model: the private partner finances, designs, builds, and maintains the platform, recovering investment through a minimal $4 user fee per international traveler built into airline ticket costs. After a 20-year concession period, all assets will be transferred to the government.
Board-reportable AI outcomes in 12 months seen ACCENTURE’S latest Pulse of Change research revealed that business leaders are navigating an increasingly uncertain operating environment, marked by slower growth expectations, rising inflation concerns and heightened geopolitical volatility. Despite these headwinds, organizations are continuing to invest in artificial intelligence (AI), buoyed by confidence that AI can deliver measurable business outcomes and create value within the next one year. Key Findings: • The research finds that AI investment intentions remain strong. 80% of C-suite leaders plan to increase AI investments over the next 12 months. While only 21% report having already achieved widespread, sustained business value from AI, down from 26% at the start of the year, 65% are experiencing greater returns with their Agentic AI investments than they initially anticipated specifically in terms of productivity, decision-making, customer and employee experiences, innovation, and risk management. More than half (53%) expect their AI investments to generate quantifiable, board-reportable outcomes within the next 12 months. • Employees See AI gains but need stronger reskilling support. The research also studied employee views, who report a broadly positive experience with AI, but highlight that organizations need to do more to bring them into the process. Perceptions of AI’s value have strengthened significantly over the year. While at the start of the year, just 43% said that AI helps them work faster and more efficiently, 82% of employees now say AI tools have increased their overall productivity. In addition, 72% report higher job satisfaction since AI tools were introduced. However, 53% believe they would be expected to reskill on their own if their roles were disrupted.
C3
SHOWBIZ
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Julie Anne goes low-key in new single, teases fans with 2027 concert
Julie Anne San Jose talks about easing the pressure on herself while preparing for possible 20th-anniversary plans next year
S
INGER Julie Anne San Jose is taking a more relaxed approach to her music as she looks toward a major career milestone: a concert to celebrate her 20th year in entertainment.
Very Wang
Nickie Wang
At the official launch of “Saglit Lang,” an original single she wrote and produced herself, Julie Anne described her current creative direction as calm and relaxed, a quality evident in the jazzy, bossa novainfluenced single she has just released. “There is always The musical something you are reinvention is chasing,” she told also personal, Manila Standard the singer-actress Entertainment. “There explained. After is always something you years of pressure feel you have to prove and constantly putting or accomplish. We get so herself forward, Julie focused on that that we forget Anne said she has learned ourselves.” to take a step back and That realization has changed ‘Saglit Lang’ marks Julie Anne San allow things to unfold the way she approaches her Jose’s musical turn to bossa nova naturally. music. Rather than creating songs “I feel like I owe it with pressure or expectation to myself,” she said. hanging over them, Julie Anne wants listeners “Sometimes, you just have to step back and let to simply sit with the music. things be.” “There is a certain calmness and gentleness Still, the slower pace does not mean Julie in it. I feel like that is what we need right Anne is standing still. now,” she went on. The singer confirmed that plans are being
discussed for a concert, which she hopes could happen next year as part of her 20th anniversary celebrations. No date has been announced, but she promised fans that the show would be carefully prepared. “It’s going to be worth the wait because I’m going to prepare for this,” she said, smiling. The timing comes as several of Julie Anne’s older songs, including “I’ll Be There,” “Right Where You Belong,” “Baby U Are,” “Bakit Ngayon,” and “Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang,” have found new life online. Julie Anne admitted she did not expect the sudden resurgence. “Everything happened so suddenly. I was really surprised. My old songs are coming back, and I’m so very grateful,” she said. While she has continued to co-headline concerts with other artists, Julie Anne last
Kanye West planned concerts trigger frenzy in Russia RAPPER Kanye West’s announcement of two stadium concerts in Russia later this year has sent the local media and political scene into a frenzy—with President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman even asked on Thursday if a planned meeting was on the cards. US star West, who also goes by the stage name Ye, will perform at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg on Oct. 10 and 11, which will be the biggest show by a Western artist since Moscow launched its offensive on Ukraine in February 2022. Most American and European artists have shunned Russia, which was hit by huge sanctions after it launched the war. West has a cult following in Russia, and more than 100,000 tickets to the shows have already been sold, Russian media reported, citing the concert promoters. In a daily briefing on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked if there were any plans for Putin to meet West. “This is not our area. This is not ‘Mosconcert,’” Peskov told the reporter, referring to a Russian cultural agency. “This is the presidential administration,” he added—without explicitly ruling out a meeting. Lawmakers and officials have also jumped into the frenzy. While one thanked him for not giving in to “anti-Russian hysteria,” MP Nikolai Novichkov has been critical of the rapper’s statements glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. West sparked widespread outrage with comments praising Hitler, a song titled “Heil Hitler,” and the sale of T-shirts bearing a swastika on his website. Under Russia’s “law against rehabilitation of Nazism,” Holocaust denial and the spreading of false information about the Third Reich is punishable by years in prison. The law has routinely been used to target critics of the Kremlin. Several countries—including the United Kingdom, France, and Poland—have this year banned West from performing. AFP
Kanye West’s rumored Saint Petersburg concerts spark discussion in Russia, highlighting the continued absence of Western performers amid the Ukraine war
As her earlier songs resurface on digital platforms, Julie Anne San Jose looks back on a career spanning almost 20 years of music, acting, and live performances
mounted a solo show in 2022 with Limitless, A Musical Trilogy. Looking back on two decades in show business, she counts releasing her own albums and songs, receiving nominations and awards, and pursuing ventures outside music among the defining moments of her career.
Herlene Budol’s ‘love gift’ turns out to be a million-peso fortune
Herlene Budol turns a surprise jewelry valuation into another candid moment about money, image, and the labels that have followed her public life
the “Hipon Girl” nickname that followed her after she joined Binibining Angono in 2017. Instead of hiding from comments about her looks, Budol turned the nickname into part of her showbiz identity. She was less amused by another label that has followed her career: being called “stupid” after her answer in a pageant. “One mistake is all it takes for people to remember you for that, instead of the things you did right,” she said. Budol acknowledged her mistakes but argued that intelligence should also be measured by how a person treats others, including the ability to respect, understand, and get along with people. She also opened up about her early days in show business and credited Willie Revillame, whom she considers a father figure in the industry, for helping shape her career during her time in Wowowin. Budol said she managed to balance work and school and has since completed college. She is now considering a master’s degree, possibly in business, as she dreams of starting her own company. As for her love life, Budol admitted that she currently has suitors but is in no rush.
HERLENE “Hipon Girl” Budol may have unknowingly been sitting on a nearly P1 million love token for years. The actress and beauty queen recently brought a jewelry set she received during her Wowowin days to Maddox Jewelry, where owner Charo Cordial examined the pieces to determine whether the stones were genuine and how much the mysterious gift could be worth. Budol refused to identify the person who gave her the jewelry, joking that revealing his identity could spark another controversy. She even wondered whether he was truly in love with her at the time or simply had a crush. Then came the revelation. The set was found to contain 14-karat gold, natural amethyst, and natural diamonds. Cordial estimated its market value at around P900,000, depending on the final valuation. The discovery appeared to catch Budol off guard. She initially joked that she could sell the jewelry because she was short on money but quickly changed her mind after hearing the estimated price. “Let me keep it for now. I apparently have an investment,” she said in Tagalog. So, who was generous enough to give Budol a jewelry set worth nearly P1 million? She is not telling. The mystery gift was only one of the more revealing moments in Budol’s conversation with Maddox Jewelry. She also addressed
Charo Cordial (left) examines Herlene Budol’s mystery jewelry set, later valued at around P900,000
LIFE
C4
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Four ways to keep unexpected expenses from soaking your budget RAINY season has a way of turning small expenses into big ones. A flooded commute, a sudden home repair, a car problem, or one too many delivery orders can quickly eat into your budget. You cannot predict every rainyday expense, but you can make your finances more flexible. Here are four ways to prepare. 1. Give your emergency fund its own home When an urgent repair or unexpected bill comes along, having money set aside can keep you from dipping into funds meant for everyday expenses or bigger goals. With Maya Personal Goals, users can create up to five personalized savings goals. Each goal can earn up to 8 percent interest p.a., giving your emergency savings a dedicated place while keeping other financial priorities separate. 2. Save now for expenses you know are coming Some expenses may not be urgent today, but you know they are lurking somewhere on the horizon. Car maintenance, home repairs, and weather-related replacements can all be easier to handle when you have money waiting for them. Maya Time Deposit Plus offers 3-, 6- and 12-month terms with rates of up to 6% p.a. Users can also top up their funds along the way. Think of it as getting your wallet ready before the rain starts pouring. 3. Know your backup plan when savings fall short Sometimes, preparation still gets ambushed by reality. An unexpected expense can be bigger than your savings, or several bills can land at once. For eligible users, Maya Easy Credit provides access to up to P50,000, repayable within 30 days, for shortterm expenses such as urgent repairs or unexpected bills. For larger expenses, Maya Personal Loan offers up to P400,000 with repayment terms of up to 48 months. The point is not to expect disaster. It is to know what options are available before you actually need them. 4. Don’t forget the little rainy-day expenses Not every expense comes with flashing warning lights. Sometimes, it is the extra ride because traffic is terrible, additional fuel, food delivery after a miserable commute, or yet another umbrella sacrificed to the weather gods. These expenses may look harmless individually, but several small purchases can quietly punch a hole in your budget. Leaving some breathing room for them can make the rainy season easier to navigate. Rainy-day money is not about expecting the worst. It is about making sure one unexpected expense does not throw everything else off course. Keep an emergency fund. Prepare for expenses you can anticipate. And know your options when the bill is bigger than expected.
Building separate savings for emergencies and planned expenses helps households manage sudden costs without disrupting other financial goals
NOW & NEXT
Rainy-day ready
The ‘One Piece’ event gives fans several ways to celebrate the long-running anime ahead of a themed run at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in September
By Nickie Wang
G
IANT inflatables of Elbaph warriors Dorry and Brogy are among the attractions at the official One Piece activation at The Block Atrium of SM North Edsa in Quezon City. Running through Aug. 30, the event is part of Animezing North, SM North EDSA’s umbrella initiative for official anime activations featuring interactive attractions, exclusive merchandise, and themed experiences based on popular titles. Towering inflatables of Dorry and Brogy, the legendary giant warriors linked to the highly anticipated Elbaph arc, take over the atrium in a first for the Philippines. The activation also features an inflatable version of the Thousand Sunny, the Straw Hat Pirates’ ship, also appearing in the country for the first time. Fans can shop for officially licensed One Piece merchandise from participating brands, including Toy Kingdom, Miniso, GeekPH, Oxygen, Careline, National Book Store, Filbars, SM Store, Funko, and Coolectzone. Visitors can also claim a free Chopper paper hat while supplies last.
The celebration continues through Aug. 30 before ‘One Piece’ fans shift their attention to a piratethemed run scheduled in SeptemberThe celebration continues through Aug. 30 before One Piece fans shift their attention to a piratethemed run scheduled in September
The world of ‘One Piece’ arrives at SM North Edsa
The activation forms part of Animezing North, which brings official anime-themed experiences to SM North EDSA
SM North EDSA brings the Straw Hat Pirates’ world closer to Filipino fans through large-scale attractions, merchandise and character appearances
Cosplayers join the festivities as the ‘One Piece’ activation brings together fans of the popular Japanese manga and anime series
Those who accumulate at least P3,500 worth of receipts from One Piece merchandise can take home a limitededition “One Piece” tote bag. Tony Tony Chopper will also make appearances during meet-and-greet sessions scheduled from Aug. 21 to 24 and Aug. 28 to 30. The adventure continues next month with the One Piece Run, organized by RunRio and scheduled for Sept. 26 at the
The activation forms part of Animezing North, which brings official anime-themed experiences to SM North EDSA
SM Mall of Asia Complex. Runners and anime fans can choose from 1K, 3K, 5K, and 10K categories. Registered participants will receive an exclusive One Piece race kit containing an official event shirt, commemorative race bib, and pirate-themed bandana. Finishers will receive a One Piece tote bag, a towel, and a spinning finisher’s medal featuring an exclusive design inspired by the series. Official race-day merchandise, including straw hats and hoodies, will also be available onsite. From towering giants at SM North EDSA to a piratethemed run at the Mall of Asia Complex, “One Piece” fans have two chances to join the adventure this August and September. For details and updates, follow SM City North EDSA and RunRio on their official social media pages or visit SM Supermalls’ website.
What can 1.5 million Sfeer Points get you? RIYADH Air’s Sfeer Lifestyle Membership is closing in on one million members less than a year after its launch, and the airline is celebrating with a 1.5 million-point giveaway. The millionth person to join Sfeer will receive 1 million Sfeer Points and become the program’s final Founding Member. Two existing Founding Members will also be randomly selected to receive 250,000 points each. So, what can 1.5 million Sfeer Points get you? The biggest prize, 1 million points, could unlock more than 120 one-way Economy redemption flights on Riyadh Air across its expanding network once redemptions become available, currently expected later in 2026. Actual redemption options will depend on destinations, availability and applicable requirements. For a family of five, 1 million points could potentially cover two Economy round trips each year for four years, or eight family getaways. A group of five friends could also use the points for approximately three Business Class round
Riyadh Air marks Sfeer’s approaching one-million-member milestone with a points giveaway that can be used for future flights and travel experiences
trips together. Sfeer Points currently have no fixed expiry date, giving members more flexibility to save for future trips as Riyadh Air expands its network. The program also offers complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi, a “Best Offer Guaranteed” feature, and partner benefits from companies including Hilton, Uber, and muvi Cinemas. Sfeer, Riyadh Air’s lifestyle membership program, combines travel, experiences, partnerships, and other member benefits as the Saudi carrier builds its global network.