Manila Standard - 2026 August 30 - Sunday

EDITORIAL

20 .00

Illusions of freedom

IN METRO MANILA

VOL. XL • NO. 197 • 4 SECTIONS 18 PAGES AUGUST 30, 2026

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THERE was a time when threats to press freedom largely came in the form of suppression and backlash against those who dare speak the truth or hold power to account. A diminished press meant that journalists had no way of gathering documents or gaining access to sources.

Today, technology has made it appear that the press has become freer than ever. With social media, there is an infinitely greater number of voices chiming in and joining the vibrant public discourse. Documents are available with a single prompt. With artificial intelligence, tasks that once took so long to finish can be accomplished in record time.

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Go beyond raising consciousness and work toward forming a critical public with no tolerance for fakery.

32 dead due to habagat, cyclones Over P8 billion in infra, agri damage, 8 million people affected

By Rex Espiritu, Vito Barcelo, Joel Zurbano and Maricel Cruz

S

OME 32 people died – almost half of which from Benguet alone -- while 8 million were affected nationwide by the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), as well as recent tropical cyclones “Luis,” “Maymay,” and “Neneng.”

This as the state weather bureau said yesterday the inclement weather will likely continue as it monitors two low pressure areas still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

PAGASA said LPA 08i, located 615 kilometers north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, has a “low chance” of developing into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours.

LPA 08j, however, located 1,545 kilometers of extreme North Luzon, has a “high chance” of developing into a tropical depression.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council yesterday reported that around 8 million people in 10 regions have been affected by the inclement weather.

Some 25,800 individuals are still staying in 297 evacuation centers across the country.

A total of 19 individuals also suffered injuries, while three are still missing.

RISING WATERS.

Only the roof of a temporary shelter can be seen as the Marikina River continues to swell amid the rains brought about by the southwest monsoon (habagat) along the boundary of Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, and San Mateo, Rizal. Inset photos show (bottom left) rescue operations in Brgy. Sta. Rita in Olongapo and (bottom right) the collapsed portion of the Aquino Bridge in Tarlac City.

Edd Castro, Philippine Red Cross, DPWH

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Phivolcs warns of possible lahar from Pinatubo, Taal volcanoes

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned locals against potential volcanic sediment flows (lahar), muddy streamflows, or muddy runoff in rivers and drainage areas on Pinatubo and Taal volcanoes.

Citing the latest heavy rainfall warning from the state weather bureau, Phivolcs said rains from the southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to affect the western and central portions of Luzon.

Consequently, it strongly recommended increased vigilance and readiness of communities in predetermined zones of lahar and related hazards on these volcanoes.

“Prolonged and intense rainfall may generate non-eruption lahars on major rivers draining western Pinatubo Volcano where significant deposits of the 1991 PDCs (pyroclastic density currents) remain on the watershed,” Phivolcs said.

“Pinatubo lahars are likely to be channel-confined and occur on the upper to middle reaches of the Sto. Tomas- Marella and Bucao River systems but may transition to muddy streamflows and floods on the lower reaches and affect adjacent communities of San Marcelino, San Narciso, San Felipe, and Botolan, Zambales,” it added.

ERC approves VAT removal on system loss charges THE Energy Regulatory Commission has approved a resolution to remove the 12% value-added tax (VAT) on system loss charges in electricity bills to help lower costs for consumers.

“The allowable system loss charge is a government-mandated passthrough cost. It is therefore appropriate that it should not form part of the VAT base,” ERC chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan said.

In his penultimate State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that the passing

of system loss charges to power consumers as well as the imposition of value added tax on those losses must be stopped.

The Department of Energy said the move can shave off as much as 10 percent on consumers’ electricity bills.

The ERC resolution declares system loss charge an inherent governmentmandated passthrough cost that does not form part of the gross sales of generation companies, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and distribution utilities for VAT purposes.

The measure, once confirmed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, will remove the VAT currently applied to system loss charges on electricity bills The exclusion will take effect prospectively, following publication of the resolution and the issuance of a confirmatory ruling from the BIR. System loss refers to electricity that has been generated and paid for but is physically lost during distribution before reaching end users.

Under existing regulations, distribution utilities may recover only allowable

system losses within ERC-prescribed caps through the system loss charge reflected in electricity bills. Losses exceeding the approved caps are not recoverable from consumers and must be shouldered by the utilities concerned.

By clarifying the charge’s regulatory nature, the ERC said system loss includes technical losses in conductors, transformers and other distribution equipment, as well as non-technical losses such as pilferage, illegal connections and meter tampering.

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Comelec to proclaim Barzaga replacement in Cavite today Search for next

EARLY VOTERS. Inmates cast their ballots at the BJMP Dasmariñas for the special elections for the representative of Cavite’s Fourth District on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Norman Cruz

THE Commission on Elections said it hopes to proclaim today (Sunday) the winning candidate in the Cavite 4th District special election to replace expelled lawmaker Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga.

“Hopefully, before 5 in the early morning tomorrow (August 30), we can proclaim the winning candidate,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said in mixed English and Filipino.

According to him, the Comelec en banc on Saturday afternoon voted unanimously to extend the special election’s voting hours to 5 p.m. from 3 p.m., citing the inclement weather.

The poll body chair said they would be content with at least a 50-percent voter turnout from an earlier target of 60 to 65 percent in view of the circumstances.

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SC Chief Justice begins – JBC

By Pot Chavez THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) yesterday opened applications for the next Supreme Court Chief Justice, with incumbent Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo set to retire on November 6 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Interested applicants must visit the council’s website for complete details and guidelines on application requirements before accessing the JBC Turn to A4

Number of missing in Nepal floods soars to nearly 3,000

Peso’s slide hikes pressure on manufacturers’ cost—FPI

Magsaysay Ho to receive nation-building award

WORLD / A4

NEWS / A2

BUSINESS/ B1

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A2 | AUGUST 30, 2026

ANTI-FLOODING. Quezon City Engineering Department workers operate a mobile pumping unit at Marilao Bridge along E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue near Araneta Avenue on Saturday as heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon continue to affect Luzon, including Metro Manila.

Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

‘Prosecution doesn’t need Lachica in VP impeachment’

IN BRIEF Senator Hontiveros secures commitment from Meta SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has secured a commitment from Meta to respond to requests from Philippine law enforcement for user data, particularly in situations where there is a potential threat of violence.

H o n t i ve ro s e a r l i e r d i s p a t c h e d representatives to participate in a roundtable discussion with senior policy officials from Meta’s Asia-Pacific region at its headquarters in Singapore, focusing on the responsibilities of its platforms, especially Facebook, regarding the proliferation of nihilistic violent extremism.

As the meeting neared its conclusion without a consensus, Hontiveros’ representatives urged Meta to agree to provide subscriber information and traffic data to Philippine authorities when there are signs of imminent attacks, which the social media company consented to.

“Now that high-ranking officials from Meta have pledged to be more proactive regarding potential threats of violence, ac tions against such threats should be expedited,” Hontiveros said. Joel E. Zurbano

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE prosecution does not need Col. Raymund Dante Lachica’s testimony to prove its allegation that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte misused confidential funds, House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers said Saturday.

Barbers said evidence already presented sufficiently established Duterte’s role as head of agency and approving authority over the confidential funds. “We do not need his testimony to reinforce or emphasize our allegation,” Barbers said, referring to Lachica, during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

Lachica, a former Office of the Vice President (OVP) security officer, figured prominently in the testimony of two hostile witnesses presented by

Cops arrest high-value drug suspect in Camarines Sur THE regional police reported the arrest of a high-value individual and the seizure of suspected shabu valued at more than P1 million during a buybust operation in Camarines Sur on Saturday.

Police Regional Office-Bicol Director Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio said the operation, conducted in Barangay Pawili in Bula town, resulted in the arrest of a 46-year-old suspect identified as “Neil,” a high-value individual allegedly involved in illegal drug activities. Police recovered 150 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P1,020,000.

Before the operation, law enforcement personnel conducted intelligence gathering and surveillance to verify the suspect’s alleged involvement in illegal drug activities and establish information necessary for the operation.

MPD files charges vs. PCG personnel for pointing gun A PERSONNEL from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is facing charges for violation of Article 155 (Alarm and Scandal) of the Revised Penal Code filed before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office by the Manila Police District (MPD).

The charges came after the PCG personnel was nabbed by MPD Police Station 2 operatives who responded to residents seeking police assistance.

The suspect, identified as Jasper, 25, assigned to the PCG Parola Base in Tondo, Manila, and residing on Gallego Street in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, was reportedly drinking with companions at around 2 a.m. when he suddenly stood up, drew his service firearm and pointed it at one of his drinking mates.

The incident happened at the corner of Delpan and San Luis streets in Barangay 16, Tondo, Manila, and was witnessed by residents who panicked and immediately reported the matter to police.

The suspect was arrested by re sponding police officers and placed under the custody of the Manila Police District-General Assignment and Investigation Section (MPD-GAIS).

His loaded firearm was confiscated by police. Itchie G. Cabayan

By Rex Espiritu THE Office of the Ombudsman will conduct an inventory of individuals convicted by the Sandiganbayan to determine whether they are serving their sentences in jail or remain at large.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said over his radio program that the Sandiganbayan has sentenced several individuals, but only a few were imprisoned.

“The problem is that the court is being too lenient and is not doing its job of imprisoning those who should be imprisoned. They keep granting bail, and the bail amounts are too low.

Once a person is convicted and petitions for bail, the bail should be set,

if it is granted, based on the damage caused by the person,” the Ombudsman explained.

“They still allow them to post bail even after they have been convicted.

This happens often. So now, we are having everyone sentenced by the Sandiganbayan inventoried to see whether they are imprisoned or not, and who granted the bail,” he added.

Remulla also noted that some cases take a long time to be resolved, with some reaching 15 years. He said he is looking forward to having deadlines set for the judiciary.

“The problem is that once there is a motion for reconsideration or a grant of bail, it seems there is no deadline for the judiciary,” he said. “Of course, they have rules they must follow, and they

ask for permission and extensions. But how can that work if they sit on cases forever?”

The Ombudsman urged the Supreme Court to police the judiciary while also calling on the public to monitor the duties of both the Ombudsman and the judiciary.

Remulla hoped that other institutions, such as the National Police Commission, would also inventory their cases to check how decisions are being implemented.

The Ombudsman previously questioned the Sandiganbayan for granting bail to former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. for his non-bailable malversation charges over an alleged anomalous flood control project in Bulacan.

DEFENSE PACT.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) reaffirm their longstanding defense partnership as RTAF Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Sakesan Kantha visits PAF Headquarters at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Aug. 27, 2026. Kantha and his delegation pay a courtesy call on PAF Commanding General LtGen. Arthur Cordura, underscoring continued dialogue and professional military engagements.

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FPI warns weak peso is squeezing local manufacturers, PH supply chains

By Othel V. Campos THE peso’s slide beyond P62 to the dollar is intensifying cost pressures on Philippine manufacturers, threatening to erode competitiveness and eventually push higher prices through the supply chain, according to the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI).

FPI chairperson Elizabeth H. Lee said the weaker currency comes at a particularly difficult time for industry, which remains heavily dependent on imported raw materials, components, machinery and fuel even as manufacturers expand production and exports.

Philippine imports rose 19 percent to $92 billion in the first seven months of 2026, while exports reached $55 billion, resulting in a $37-billion trade deficit, based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data. More than 85 percent of imports were essential to domestic production and business operations, including raw materials and intermediate goods, which accounted for 38.2 percent; capital goods, 27.9 percent; and mineral fuels, including crude oil, coke and coal, 19.4 percent.

“Electronics may drive over 58 percent of our exports, but the sector is chained to imported components. Every chip we ship depends on costly foreign inputs. At P62.26 to the dollar, any foreign exchange gain is erased by the inflated peso cost of semi-finished parts. Exporters are left with volume, but no real windfall,” Lee said.

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of confidential funds.

He dismissed suggestions that prosecutors were holding back from calling Lachica because the security officer could take responsibility for the transactions and shield Duterte from accountability.

“Whatever he says that might turn around or alter the presentation of our evidence—in our view, it will not matter. It will not matter,” Barbers said.

“Because, at this point, the evidence provided by the witnesses we presented is already solid and sufficient to substantiate and underscore our allegations of misuse, misappropriation and, of course, the irregular liquidation we have cited,” he added.

Barbers also rejected suggestions that the prosecution is afraid to put Lachica on the witness stand. “Why would anyone be afraid of him?” he said.

He recalled that the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability repeatedly summoned Lachica during its 2024 inquiry into Duterte’s confidential funds, but he did not appear.

Ombudsman to inventory individuals convicted by Sandiganbayan

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

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the prosecution—former OVP special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta and Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.

Acosta testified that she turned over four P125million tranches of OVP confidential funds to Lachica upon Duterte’s instruction, even though he was not the SDO or fidelity-bonded accountable officer for the money.

Acosta also testified that she did not personally witness how the money was distributed and relied on reports and assurances from Lachica in preparing the liquidation documents for which she remained the accountable officer.

Ortonio, meanwhile, testified that Duterte approved the confidential fund disbursement vouchers and liquidation reports and confirmed that only Duterte, as head of agency, and Lachica, as her security officer, had personal knowledge of how the confidential funds were actually implemented.

Barbers said these testimonies, together with those of Land Bank of the Philippines officials and Commission on Audit auditors, already support the prosecution’s allegations under Article I pertaining to Duterte’s misuse

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T

HE Office of the Ombudsman has filed a malversation complaint against former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials over an alleged ghost flood control project in Bulacan.

In a statement on Friday, the Ombudsman said the project amounted to P77 million but did not exist.

“The project supposedly started last Feb. 24, 2025, and was declared to be 100% accomplished on May 2, 2025. However, upon inspection, it was non-existent,” the resolution said.

Therefore, the Ombudsman said there was probable cause to charge Co, Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Diaz Hernandez, Arjay Salvador Domasig, Jaypee De Leon Mendoza, Niño Lawrence Vergara Morales, Juanito Coronel Mendoza, Floralyn Yutuc Simbulan and Christina Mae

Del Rosario Pineda with one count each of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

Co is currently outside the country, having been spotted multiple times across Europe.

John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay, staff members of Co, were also indicted.

However, Alcantara was not included in the filing of information since he was admitted to the witness protection program.

The Bulacan case focuses on the construction of a riverbank protection structure along the Balagtas

River in Purok 4, Barangay San Juan, Balagtas.

The project was awarded to SYMS Construction Trading, which is owned by Sally Santos.

The Ombudsman noted the repeated approval of payments to SYMS despite irregularities in the Monthly Certificates of Payment and Statements of Work Accomplished.

This is a “strong indication of their participation in the devious schemes of misappropriating the funds for flood control projects,” the Ombudsman resolution said.

The Office said Alcantara had collected the kickbacks and delivered them to Co, who ensured that the project would be inserted in the National Expenditure Program and passed in the General Appropriations Act. There was also a repeated failure by those involved to review, inspect and certify the

projects. This could not be treated as ordinary mistakes, the Ombudsman said.

“Here, respondents acted with evident bad faith and/or gross inexcusable negligence when they issued the pertinent documents and certifications that led to the diversion of public funds… for a project that turned out to be nonexistent or incomplete. The repeated failure to exercise due diligence is very telling,” the resolution stated.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman dismissed for lack of probable cause the charges of violating Section 3 of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act against Co, Alcantara, Estrada and Tecsay. This section pertains to the direct or indirect request for gifts.

Alcantara was also not included in the aforementioned charge because he is a state witness.

EVACUATION CENTER.

The Quezon City Social Services Development Department distributes lunch to 314 individuals temporarily staying at an evacuation center in Barangay Roxas after 130 families evacuate their homes amid the threat of rising waters in the nearby San Juan River due to the southwest monsoon.

Quezon City Government FB page

IN BRIEF

Lawmaker calls for immediate implementation of NCR wage hike

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Saturday declared that the preliminary injunction halting Metro Manila’s P85 wage hike is legally unenforceable, saying that petitioning contractors Readycon Trading and R-II Builders have failed to post the required P10-billion bond ordered by the court.

Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando said under the Aug. 13 order issued by the Pasig RTC, the execution of the Writ of Preliminary Injunction was conditioned on the petitioners posting a P10-billion injunction bond. With no bond filed as of Aug. 28, the wage suspension has no legal effect, he added.

San Fernando urged the Department of Labor and Employment to issue a formal directive mandating all employers in the National Capital Region to implement Wage Order No. NCR-27 retroactive to July 25, 2026. He also called for targeted workplace inspections to ensure employers reflect the increase on workers’ payslips. Maricel V. Cruz

PCG, Australia eye stronger cybersecurity cooperation THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Australia are exploring expanded cooperation in cybersecurity and critical technology as part of efforts to strengthen the Coast Guard’s resilience against emerging threats in the maritime and digital domains.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan met with Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology Jessica Hunter at the PCG National Headquarters in Port Area, Manila, on Aug. 28. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown also joined the engagement.

The discussions covered the Cyber Capacity Uplift Project and possible areas of technical assistance, training, information exchange and other cybersecurity initiatives. Gavan said the meeting provided an opportunity to identify practical measures to strengthen cooperation.

Hunter reaffirmed Australia’s continuing support for the Philippines in developing its cyber capabilities and resilience. The meeting came a day after she co-chaired the 2nd Philippines-Australia Cyber Dialogue, which seeks to advance bilateral cooperation on cyber and critical technology issues. Rex Espiritu

DND chief to youth: Champion maritime awareness, security

DEPARTMENT of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called on young Filipinos to take an active role in protecting the country’s maritime interests and strengthening national security.

Teodoro made the call during the launch of the Bantay Dagat Youth Ambassadors – West Philippine Sea Edition Caravan at the “Safeguarding Our Seas” multi-stakeholder forum in San Juan City on Aug. 28.

He said protecting Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights should extend beyond the West Philippine Sea to the country’s broader maritime domain, including the Philippine Rise and other resource-rich waters. Rex Espiritu

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By Rex Espiritu

AUGUST 30, 2026 |

NEWS

Malversation raps filed vs. Co, DPWH officials

Lacson, Cayetano dispute continues over Taguig City reclamation

By Joel E. Zurbano

DOLE upholds order for P11.49m in workers’ benefits, OSH penalties

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has upheld an order requiring Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corporation and Ernest Jackson Lim to pay P11.49 million in unpaid workers’ benefits and penalties for occupational safety and health (OSH) violations, ensuring affected workers will receive the compensation due them.

The amount covers P1.17 million in unpaid wages during the Work Stoppage O rd e r ( W S O) , u n d e r p a i d wages, unpaid rest day premiums, holiday pay, and P10.32 million in administrative fines for serious OSH violations committed before

the collapse of a nine-story building in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino signed the resolution on Aug. 17, 2026, modifying a June 16, 2026, order after granting the motion for reconsideration filed by workers John John Dogos Placidas, Michael Dogos Placidas and Alfredo Aibis Balute.

DOLE ruled that the workers’ claims were valid, including their entitlement to unpaid wages during the implementation of the WSO from Oct. 16 to 24, 2025, as well as rest day premiums, resulting in a higher monetary award.

The department also affirmed the P10.32 million in administrative fines imposed

on the company and its responsible officer for continuing OSH violations before the fatal building collapse.

DOLE rejected the respondents’ claim that they were denied due process, saying records showed they were properly notified and given sufficient oppor tunity to answer the allegations and submit evidence.

The investigation found multiple safety violations, including failure to provide personal protective equipment, secure permits for mechanical lifting equipment, assign the required safety officers and first aiders, and provide temporary accommodation for workers, in violation of occupational safety and health standards.

THE dispute between Senators Panfilo Lacson and Alan Peter Cayetano continues over allegations of ghost projects and irregularities in Taguig City.

On Saturday, Lacson identified four parcels of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig as having fraudulently issued land titles, while four others lack plotted title lots in the Land Registration Authority’s digital file.

Lacson made public the details of the initial findings to dispel insinuations that his earlier disclosures on illegal reclamation activities in Taguig City were “fake news.”

“Since Senator (Alan Peter) Cayetano keeps publicly asking for evidence, I’ll give it to him, in the spirit of public interest,” he said.

Lacson disclosed details of four parcels of land that are purportedly titled fraudulently: one parcel measuring 9,204 square meters covered by an Administrative Patent and registered under an Original Certificate of Title (OCT); another covering 5,000 square meters processed through Judicial/Ordinary Land Registration and also under an OCT; a parcel associated with a Homestead Patent measuring 181,077 square meters and recorded under a Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT); and another measuring 193,027 square meters, also documented under a TCT. Lacson said some details, including the names of those to whom the titles were issued, as well as the OCT and TCT numbers, were withheld for the time being as the investigation is still ongoing.

“All of these will likewise be turned over to the Ombudsman fact-finding team for their further appropriate action,” he said.

Earlier, Lacson said the LRA was checking the origin and history of several newly uncovered land titles covering some 38.83 hectares of illegally reclaimed areas on the Taguig City side of Laguna Lake.

The uncovered land titles were based on materials provided by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to Lacson’s office.

EXECUTIVE AGENDA.

The Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber) launches ‘Coop Vote’ and presents its 2026-2028 Priority Executive and Legislative Agenda at Diamond Hotel in Ermita, Manila, on Aug. 28.

From left: Secretary General Edwin Bustillos, Chairperson Noel Raboy, and Vice Chairperson/ Trustee Marlene Sindayen.

Manny Palmero

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WORLD

A4 | AUGUST 30, 2026

Ecuador ex-leader sentenced to five years for corruption QUITO – An Ecuadoran court sentenced ex-president Lenin Moreno to five years in prison for accepting bribes from a Chinese company that built the country’s biggest hydroelectric dam.

The prosecution said on X that Moreno, who governed from 2017 to 2021, was among 20 people convicted in the case involving the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair dam by China’s Sinohydro.

Moreno was vice-president under socialist president Rafael Correa at the time of the alleged corruption, between 2007 and 2013.

He succeeded Correa, with the latter’s backing, but later fell out with his mentor by shifting to the right and aligning himself more closely with the United States.

Moreno has already announced plans to appeal the court’s ruling, which also saw his wife and other relatives sentenced to nearly three years in prison for complicity.

Prosecutors had sought a sixand-a-half-year prison term for Moreno.

The 73-year-old paraplegic, who served as the United Nations special envoy on disability issues, insisted Friday after the ruling that he had never received “a single cent” from Sinohydro.

He blamed the case on “the Correa regime,” saying his former backer-turned-rival, who has also been convicted of corruption but lives in Belgium, “promised to take revenge on me.”

Prosecutors say Sinohydro paid bribes totaling $76 million, around four percent of the cost of the hydroelectric project.

Am o n g t h o s e co nv i c te d alongside Moreno were two former managers of the power plant. AFP

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JBC Online Registration and Application System (ORAS) through the Philippine Judiciary Platform to formally submit their applications.

The JBC set October 13 as the deadline for the submission of online applications.

The online application, together with the uploaded documentary requirements, will be screened and verified for completeness and accuracy.

Applicants whose submissions have been determined to be complete and accurate will then receive an alert and/or notice in their respective JBC ORAS dashboards and email addresses to submit one complete set of hard copies of all documentary requirements to the JBC’s address at the 2nd floor of the SC Court of Appeals Building in Manila.

Gesmundo is leading the judiciary’s reform agenda under its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, which aims to achieve efficiency, innovation, and access.

His retirement will be followed

by Associate Justice Amy LazaroJavier on November 16.

AGONIZING WAIT.

A woman looks at photographs of the missing and dead following flash floods in Nepal, outside a hospital in Kathmandu on August 29, 2026. AFP

Number of missing in Nepal floods soars to nearly 3,000

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UWAKOT, Nepal – Rescuers in Nepal and China were still battling Saturday to locate thousands of people missing days after a deadly, tsunami-like wall of water and debris swept through the Himalayan region, engulfing villages.

The number of missing soared close to 3,000 Saturday, latest figures from both countries showed, with 633 bodies recovered – and reports of some dead possibly swept downstream as far away as India.

In an area home to vast energy infrastructure projects, Nepal’s disaster authority added 933 hydropower workers to a missing persons list already including trekkers and pilgrims to Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash.

Those that made it out say they have lost everything and now face an agonizing wait to discover the fate of missing loved ones, and the prospect of rebuilding their lives from nothing.

“All the settlements near the river were swept away. There is nothing left,” survivor Buddhi Ram Dangol said.

Samjhana Thing said she had been waiting

32 dead...

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Infrastructure damage has reached P6.11 billion and agricultural damage was estimated at P2.32 billion. Some 2,900 houses have also suffered damage, with 349 totally destroyed.

The NDRRMC said a total of 117 areas in the country have been placed under a state of calamity.

In Quezon City, the local government unit reported the water at the La Mesa Dam has reached the spilling level at 80.15 meters as of 1:50 p.m. yesterday.

Low-lying locations along the Tullahan River were affected by excess water from the dam.

Aside from Quezon City, other localities potentially affected by the overflow-

Phivolcs...

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Meanwhile, prolonged and heavy rainfall may also generate muddy streamflow, muddy runoff, and even volcanic debris flows around Taal Volcano, particularly on the slopes west

Editorial...

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But these have merely given us the illusion of freedom.

When the public is not able to distinguish between news and opinion, that is a dent on our freedom. When it cannot tell the difference between legitimate news organizations and those that mimic their look and sound, but which flout journalistic ethics, that, too, is a tragedy. When so-called influencers are loud, vicious, and ignorant, and the people allow themselves to be influenced, that is failure as well.

Some problems have been persistent. Impunity reigns in some areas where “offended” parties take the law into their hands and target journalists. Economically, the possibility of closure looms large. Many journalists do not earn commensurate compensation, forcing them to either a life of poverty or glaring conflicts of interest.

And when politicians feel entitled to school journalists on how to do their jobs, berating them even for being criti-

three days for news of her missing brother.

“We don’t know anything. Hopefully he is in a safe place,” she said.

The trauma of Wednesday’s catastrophe has been “enormous,” and as many as 93,000 people may have been affected, the Red Cross said, with the death toll expected to rise.

Emergency teams had been racing to retrieve survivors from affected zones, where the widespread devastation meant food and water supplies were running out.

Compounding the search for the missing have been fears of further flooding in affected areas.

The deluge of ice and mud caused huge lakes to form, and one of these formations has become a direct threat to emergency workers scouring the region for survivors.

Nepali police urged all rescuers to “immediately move to a safe location”, saying they had received information that “a water dam has burst again on the Tibetan side.”

In Tibet, where Chinese authorities are the only source of information, Beijing suspended its rescue operation at the hardest-hit area of Gyirong over the risk of renewed flooding, before saying the threat had eased.

State news agency Xinhua reported early Saturday morning that two villagers had been rescued in the area.

On the Nepali side of the border, the military located people trapped in the tunnel of the Trishuli 3A hydropower project, where they were working to find a way in to extract the

survivors.

“Two helicopters have been dispatched, but it is challenging because it is tough to even locate the entry points of the tunnel,” army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet told AFP. Some 350 workers and residents have been brought to safety from the site, he added, but efforts were ongoing to rescue more than a hundred trapped in the same area.

Workers rescued from other dam projects along the Trishuli valley described a disaster that unfolded with terrifying speed.

Buddha Tamang told AFP he survived only because he was inside a tunnel at the dam where he worked when the flood struck.

“The senior officers working on the other side, they were all swept away,” Tamang, who was airlifted on Thursday after being marooned for more than 24 hours, told AFP. Nepal reported a death toll of 626 people on Saturday.

There are 2,426 people, including hundreds of foreigners, who are out of contact in Nepal.

Across the border in Tibet, which is largely inaccessible to foreign journalists – seven people died and 554 remain missing, the state Xinhua news agency reported early Saturday.

Authorities also said they had evacuated 555 stranded tourists and 499 Chinese residents from Tibet.

In India, authorities said they had recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal, believed to be flood victims. AFP

ing dam include low-lying areas and communities near the Tullahan River in Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela.

In Tarlac City, the Department of Public Works and Highways temporarily closed the Aquino Bridge to all vehicular traffic after a portion of the bridge sustained structural damage due to continuous heavy rains and the strong current of the Tarlac River.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the bridge’s foundation was damaged following days of heavy monsoon rains.

Barricades were immediately installed, and engineering personnel were deployed to carry out continuous structural evaluations.

Traffic restrictions were also imposed at the Molave Y-Junction in Barangay San

Isidro to prevent buses, trucks, and other heavy vehicles from entering the bridge.

However, nearby roads remain accessible to local residents.

Motorists have been advised to use the Agana Bridge and other alternate routes while the Aquino Bridge remains closed.

As this developed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said it was now on “Red Alert” status as it monitors the prolonged effects of the habagat in parts of Luzon and the Visayas.

“We remain prepared. Our Field Offices are on heightened alert, and our relief resources are ready so that we can swiftly address the needs of our fellow citizens should the need arise,” Social Welfare Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

and north of Taal Lake.

“Old and loose volcanic deposits, already saturated from previous rains, may be remobilized in streams, roads, and across the lakeward slopes. In particular, muddy and debris flows can recur on previously affected communities of Agoncillo, Laurel, and Talisay,

Batangas,” Phivolcs said.

The state volcanology bureau has since strongly advised the communities and local government units of the above-identified areas of risk to continually monitor the storm conditions and take preemptive response measures for their safety.

cal of them or refusing to resort to flattery, that, too, is a continuing threat.

Today is National Press Freedom Day, by virtue of Republic Act 11699 enacted in April 2022. Today is also the birth anniversary of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, who went by the pen name “Plaridel” and became a primary figure in Philippine journalism.

The law directs government institutions and media organizations to lead schools in “consciousness-raising activities on the importance of the press, their rights and social responsibilities, and the elimination of all forms of violence against the press.”

Organizing consciousness-raising activities is good. Filipinos, especially the youth, must be made aware of the importance of press freedom. But it is also tragically inadequate. Given the threats now confronting our press, the best way to honor the legacy of Plaridel – certainly not a flimsy alias used for financial machinations -- and all those who fought for press freedom is to make Filipinos more discerning, through education and zero tolerance for fakery, of what freedom truly entails.

Comelec...

From A1

Cavite’s 4th legislative district has 447,387 registered voters, according to Comelec, translating to a target of around 223,000 participating voters.

Garcia, in an earlier report, said at least 5,772 voters cast their ballots across Dasmariñas’ more than 1,100 official precincts.

Among the five candidates in the running are Kiko’s mother and Dasmariñas Mayor Jennifer “Jenny” Barzaga, who was endorsed by Cavite Governor Francisco “Abeng” Remulla and Vice Governor Ramon “Ram” Revilla.

If Jenny wins, Dasmariñas Vice Mayor Elpidio “Third” Barzaga III will succeed her as local chief executive.

The other bets in the special elections are Raul Rex Del Rosario Mangubat, Marvin Opamin Dupal-ag, Leysander Aguilar Ordenes, and Jacinto Bautista Frani Jr. Ratziel San Juan and Dennis Abrina

ERC...

From A1

The commission regulates cost recovery through the System Loss Rate adjustment mechanism and applicable system loss caps.

To ensure transparency, all distribution utilities must, within 60 days of the resolution’s effectivity, revise their billing formats to separately and distinctly show the system loss charge as a government-mandated line item not subject to VAT. Halting the passing of the system loss on consumers, however, will take a bit longer.

According to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, the department has to assess all cooperatives and private distribution utilities that will be affected by the move.

Garin said it will take at least a year to implement the President’s twin directives.

“If you want to remove the pilferage, it can be done. But technically, they have to adjust their capital outlay or infrastructure. So that might take time…The directive of the President was to remove the whole system loss. Not partial, not just non-technical, but technical and non-technical,” she said in an earlier interview.

“I would say before the next SONA -- one year.

It’s not that easy. We can issue policies but on the implementation side of the electric cooperatives, they have to purchase some new equipment, so it will take time,” she said.

Alaska Milk names first Filipina managing director

BUSINESS OTHEL V. CAMPOS, Issue Editor / email: extrastory2000@gmail.com

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MARJORIE “Marj” Garrovillo brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience to Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC), becoming the first Filipina to serve as managing director of the FrieslandCampina operating company.

Her appointment marks a return home after a career spanning seven countries and several industries, including food and beverage, consumer goods, telecommunications and management consulting.

Garrovillo began her career at Unilever, rising from management trainee to regional marketing roles across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. She later held regional positions at The Coca-Cola Company and AkzoNobel.

At Danone, where she spent eight years, she served as CEO and managing director of its dairy and plant-based business in Australia, global vice president of marketing in Paris, and vice president of marketing for Danone Waters Indonesia.

She also served as marketing director of FrieslandCampina Vietnam, helping lead a commercial turnaround and strengthen crossfunctional collaboration.

Before joining AMC, Garrovillo held senior roles at Smart Communications and Nestlé Philippines, where she was chief marketing officer. She also co-founded Chrysalis Group, a management consultancy focused on business performance, people and purpose.

Her career has centered on business transformation, brand building and creating new growth opportunities across diverse markets.

At AMC, Garrovillo will draw on that experience as the company advances its purpose of providing affordable and accessible nutrition to Filipino families.

Financing that helps small businesses grow

ACCESS to working capital remains a challenge for many nano and microentrepreneurs, prompting financial technology companies such as Tala to provide financing options to small business owners who may have limited access to traditional credit.

These entrepreneurs include sari-sari store owners, home-based food sellers, online entrepreneurs and freelancers who rely on small businesses to support their families and generate income.

For Ailyn, a housewife from Misamis Oriental, entrepreneurship started as a way to help support her family after her husband became seriously ill and could no longer work.

She began selling home-cooked meals and snacks to help cover daily expenses and medical bills. As her customer base grew, however, another family emergency arose when her mother also needed financial support.

Microentrepreneur Ailyn turned to Tala for additional capital, allowing her to keep her business operating and eventually open a sarisari store.

“I used the loan wisely to keep the capital rolling. Even if I’m a housewife taking care of my children, I still want to have my own income,” Ailyn said.

Her sari-sari store now provides a steadier source of income while allowing her to continue caring for her children. She has also started saving for their education.

Tala said it seeks to reach underserved microentrepreneurs by providing accessible financing that can help them manage working capital, respond to financial needs, and pursue business growth.

“Nano and microentrepreneurs are unseen economic engines that drive growth at the grassroots level. We aim to back their growth by providing access to convenient and flexible credit,” said Tala Philippines president and general manager Moritz Gastl.

Magsaysay Ho to get nation-building award

HE Ramon V. del Rosario (RVR) Award for Nation Building will have its first female recipient this year, with maritime industry leader Doris Magsaysay Ho named the 2026 awardee for her contributions to the global shipping sector, Filipino workforce development and nationbuilding.

Magsaysay Ho, president and CEO of the Magsaysay Group of Companies, was selected for a career that has combined the expansion of a Philippine enterprise with initiatives strengthening the maritime workforce and advancing Filipino interests on the global stage.

“Dr. Doris Magsaysay Ho pioneered the Philippine maritime industry’s transformation into a globally respected sector while, in equal measure, expanding opportunities for Filipino seafarers and contributing to national progress,” said retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, chair of the Award’s Board of Judges.

“Her leadership has shown that shipping is not merely about connecting ports and markets, but also about advancing the welfare of the people who keep the industry moving.”

Named after Ambassador Ramon del Rosario, founder of the PHINMA Group of Companies, the RVR Award recognizes business leaders who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, national and global impact, and a commitment to corporate citizenship and social responsibility.

Maritime workforce Magsaysay Ho’s leadership of the family business has coincided with its expansion from a domestic shipping company into one of Asia’s major maritime manpower providers, alongside interests in logistics, human resources, hospitality and travel.

After studying industrial design at Pratt Institute in New York, she returned to the Philippines and eventually assumed leadership of the family enterprise. Much of her work has focused on developing the people who support the industry.

In 2018, the Magsaysay Group partnered with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines to establish the 13.7-hectare MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy in Dasmariñas, Cavite, designed to train up to 1,000 maritime students.

The group also established programs covering social development and employee and crew welfare, including the Homer Foundation, the employee-led support network Fundamayan, and MATTERS, which addresses health, mental wellness, financial literacy and career advancement.

The company was also the first Philippine maritime firm to earn EDGE Assess certification for workplace gender equity. Women currently account for 45 percent of its junior management positions.

Magsaysay executives headed by Magsaysay Group president and CEO Doris Magsaysay Ho welcomed the Panama Ambassador to the Philippines Eduardo Young Virzi at the Magsaysay head office in Ermita, Manila.

Doris Magsaysay Ho

Global leadership Magsaysay Ho’s selection as the first woman to receive the RVR Award follows several leadership roles in international institutions.

She represented the Philippines on the APEC Business Advisory Council from 2006 to 2016 and served as its chair in 2015, when the Philippines hosted APEC. She was later awarded the Order of Gawad Mabini, Rank of Commander, for her service in advancing Philippine interests and the country’s international standing.

In 2023, she became the first woman to chair The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association, a leading global protection and indemnity club.

Her record also earned recognition from Pratt Institute, which conferred on her an honorary Doctor of Humane Arts in 2024.

“Measured against every criterion the award has applied through the years, the strongest record belongs, for the first time, to a woman, whose career embodies what Ambassador del Rosario believed business should ultimately do: make lives better,” said PHINMA chairman and chief executive and RVR Award Board of Judges co-chair Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. Philippine heritage Magsaysay Ho has also been involved in promoting Philippine culture internationally, serving as chair of the Asia Society Philippines Foundation since 2003 and currently serving as a trustee of the global Asia Society in New York, which promotes greater understanding of Asia through education and cultural exchange.

Under her leadership, the Philippine Foundation helped bring the country’s heritage to a wider international audience through the landmark Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms exhibition at the Asia Society Museum in New York.

Magsaysay Ho joins previous RVR awardees who include Ambassador Howard Dee, Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong, Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, Diosdado Banatao, George S.K. Ty, Henry Sy Sr., Manuel V. Pangilinan, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Vicente Paterno, Washington SyCip, Oscar Lopez, Senen Bacani and Ambassador Jesus Tambunting.

The award will be formally conferred on Magsaysay Ho in November during the Ramon V. del Rosario Award for Nation Building ceremony, coinciding with PHINMA’s 70th anniversary celebration.

Othel V. Campos

Financing firms expand payment options for customers

SAFC and EastWest Bank representatives during the official agreement signing.

SOUTH Asialink Finance Corporation (SAFC) customers can now settle payments through EastWest Online or over the counter at 392 EastWest Bank branches nationwide under a new partnership between the companies.

“Our customers require payment options that fit how they operate. Whether that means walking into a nearby bank branch or settling payment online after business hours, EastWest Bank’s facility gives them

that reach. As we grow our branch network, our payment infrastructure has to keep pace,” SAFC president and CEO Maricel D. Dejongoy said.

Under the agreement, EastWest’s Bills Collect facility will accept cash and check payments and credit them directly to SAFC’s designated account. SAFC will also have access to an online portal for monitoring collections and consolidated reports.

“We are glad to support SAFC in making payments more accessible for their customers. Through our bank’s facilities, we can help ensure that collections reach SAFC efficiently, wherever their borrowers are located,” said EastWest Bank sector 1 head Ruth G. Co. S A F C a l s o a d o p t e d E a s t We s t ’s BIZENTERPRISE, a web-based platform that streamlines check processing and payment management.

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ON THE ROAD EDGARD HILARIO, Issue Editor / edgardhilario@yahoo.com

Nissan PH unveils next-gen Kicks e-POWER crossover

ISSAN Philippines ushers in a new generation of its electrified subcompact SUV with the launch of the AllNew Nissan Kicks e-POWER, inviting Filipino motorists to Live Daring on every drive. Built on Nissan’s engineering heritage, the latest model brings together the brand’s global expertise with enhanced technology, design, and features designed for modern driving.

First introduced in the Philippines in 2022, the Nissan Kicks brought Nissan’s e-POWER unique technology to the subcompact crossover segment, offering a distinct driving experience through its electric motor-driven performance. Four years after its Philippine market introduction, the All-New Nissan Kicks builds on this foundation with Nissan’s proven e-POWER technology, with new features, and design updates that enhance its overall driving experience.

The All-New Nissan Kicks brings these enhancements together to deliver a more confident, comfortable, and connected drive, while retaining the responsive performance that has become a defining part of the Kicks experience.

A Smarter Way to Go Electric At the heart of the All-New Nissan Kicks is Nissan e-POWER, delivering a 100% electric motor-driven experience with 136 PS and 280 Nm of torque. Its self-charging system uses a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine to generate electricity for the battery, while the electric motor drives the wheels.

This setup delivers the responsive feel of electric motor-driven performance, without requiring drivers to change their refueling habits.

Interior Built for Everyday Life Inside, the All-New Nissan Kicks is designed to make everyday journeys more pleasant and convenient for both drivers and passengers.

Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats are designed to support a comfortable seating position, while anti-heat leather upholstery helps reduce heat buildup in warm conditions. For rear passengers, an optimized seatback angle and a rear armrest contribute to a more relaxed ride, while the 6-way poweradjustable driver’s seat allows drivers to find a more personalized driving position.

The cabin also features a 12.3-inch Display Audio system with Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, along with NissanConnect Services with a three-year subscription, giving drivers more access to connectivity features while on the road.

Bold New Exterior Beyond the cabin, the All-New Nissan Kicks A New Drive to Live features a refreshed exterior design that gives the subcompact SUV a more modern and expressive Daring arrives with the look. The updated front end combines Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille with a new lighting all-new Nissan Kicks signature, while the triple-arrow Daytime Running e-POWER. Lights add a sharper visual identity.

At the rear, Nissan’s signature hexagon-shaped rear Nissan’s newlamps reinforce the Kicks’ styling with a clean look that generation stands out day and night. Complementing the vehicle’s bold design are improved headlights that deliver wider subcompact SUV and longer illumination, providing a clearer view of the road and enhancing visibility in low-light conditions. brings a fresh Enhanced safety with Nissan ProPILOT take on the Kicks Advanced driver-assistance technology is also a key part of the All-New Nissan Kicks e-POWER, led nameplate.

by Nissan ProPILOT.Designed to help reduce driving stress, particularly on highways and longer journeys, the system assists with steering, acceleration, and braking through features such as Intelligent Lane Keep Assist (LKA), which helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane, and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), which helps maintain a preset speed and safe distance from the vehicle ahead. In changing traffic conditions, ProPILOT can also bring the vehicle to a stop and resume driving with its Traffic Jam Assist, helping make daily commutes and long drives more convenient.

The All-New Nissan Kicks e-POWER also comes with 12 additional safety and driver-assistance technologies, including: • Leading Car Departure Notification (LCDN) • Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (IFCW) Yoshinori Kanazawa, • Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian president Nissan Detection (IFEB) Philippines • Blind Spot Warning with Blind Spot Intervention (BSW + BSI) • Lane Departure Warning with Lane Departure Prevention (LDW + LDP) • Rear Automatic Emergency Braking (RAEB) • Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) • Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) • Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection (IAVM + MOD) • High Beam Assist (HBA) • Driver Attention Alert (DAA) The launch further expands Nissan Philippines’ growing electrified vehicle lineup, joining the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER in bringing Nissan’s unique technology to more Filipino drivers. With the addition of the All-New Nissan Kicks, Nissan continues to give Filipino customers more opportunities to experience its approach to electrified mobility.

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Green GSM launches Premium 7-Seat EV Taxis in PH GREEN GSM, an all-electric ride-hailing platform, today officially launched Premium Taxi, an upscale seven-seat taxi service in the Philippines. With an all-electric fleet of sophisticated and spacious VinFast Limo Green vehicles, the service is designed to deliver a comfortable and convenient travel experience, setting a new standard for the high-end electric taxi segment in the market.

As Green GSM’s second service tier in the Philippines after Green GSM Car, Premium Taxi offers a new mobility option for groups of up to six passengers, families, business travellers, passengers carrying multiple pieces of luggage, and customers seeking a smooth ride in a pleasant and relaxing environment.

The entire Limo Green fleet is finished in black to reflect its highend positioning, making it easily recognisable and distinguishable from the existing Green GSM Car service, which features a cyan color scheme. Alongside its modern exterior design and spacious sevenseat configuration with three rows, each Limo Green is equipped with

amenities including automatic air conditioning, dedicated air vents for the two rear rows, and an air filtration system that helps keep the cabin pleasant and fresh.

Alongside the three signature benefits of electric vehicle-zero emissions, no fuel odour and no engine noise, Green GSM’s Premium Taxi also delivers a five-star service experience through carefullyselected drivers who have received high ratings for service quality. Fares are transparently displayed through in-vehicle meters and on the Green GSM app, allowing customers to conveniently track their fares and trip information.

During its initial phase, Premium Taxi will operate in Makati, Taguig, Mandaluyong and Pasig City, serving travel needs across key business districts, commercial centres, hotels and transport hubs in Metro Manila.

Customers can book through the Green GSM app, hail an available vehicle on the street, or contact the customer service hotline at 02-77778080.

GAC’s all-new GN6: The accessible MPV MVP for Filipino families FILIPINO families today have a wider range of mobility options than ever before. While some prioritize space and everyday versatility, others place greater importance on comfort, technology, performance, or accessible pricing. Ultimately, the right vehicle is one that responds to a family’s particular needs, lifestyle, and budget.

Recognizing these different priorities, GAC Philippines recently introduced its expanded MPV Family, comprising the All-New GAC GN6, GAC E8 HEV, and GAC GN8 PHEV Executive.

Together, the three models provide distinct mobility solutions for families at different life stages and price points.

As the most accessible model in the lineup, the All-New GN6 is thoughtfully designed for family life. From easier cabin access and comfortable three-row seating to flexible cargo space, connected technology, and advanced driver assistance features, the GN6 brings together the qualities families use and appreciate every day.

Built on GAC’s more than 10 years o f M P V

engineering experience and over 880,000 MPVs delivered worldwide, the GN6 brings together the space, comfort, versatility, technology, and safety that Filipino families value.

This well-rounded combination earns it a place among GAC’s “MPV MVPs.” Here are five ways the All-new GN6 provides more care and value for every family: 1. Space designed around the whole family.

A family MPV must accommodate more than passengers. It needs to adapt to school runs, daily commutes, family gatherings, grocery trips, weekend activities, and long journeys out of town.

Measuring 4,792 mm long and built on a 2,810 mm wheelbase, the GN6 provides comfortable seating for seven across three rows. Its cabin is arranged to give each passenger a more considered space, whether seated in front, in the second-row captain’s seats, or in the third row.

The independent second-row captain’s seats feature individual armrests, giving passengers a more comfortable and personal seating area. Easy cabin access also helps children, elderly family members, and passengers with limited mobility enter and exit the vehicle with less effort.

When more carrying capacity is needed, the third-row seats fold completely into the luggage floor to create a flat and practical cargo area. This expands cargo capacity from 324 liters to as much as 1,100 liters, allowing the GN6 to accommodate luggage, sports equipment, shopping, and other large items without requiring families to choose between

passenger comfort and usable storage.

Dual-zone automatic climate control helps keep the cabin comfortable, while a PM1 air filter supports cleaner air circulation for everyone on board. A power sunroof adds to the open and welcoming feel of the interior.

Together, these features demonstrate how the GN6’s space is not simply measured in dimensions. It is designed around the different people, routines, and responsibilities that make up family life.

2. Family-focused Features. The GN6 gives Filipino families access to a combination of three-row space, comfort, technology, performance, and safety features in one vehicle.

At the center of the cabin is a large 14.6-inch touchscreen display, complemented by a 10.25inch digital instrument cluster. The two displays give the interior a clean, contemporary appearance while placing essential vehicle information and connectivity functions within easy view and reach of the driver.

Families also benefit from features that make everyday travel more comfortable and convenient, including the second-row captain’s seats, flexible fold-flat third row, dual-zone climate control, PM1 air filtration, and power sunroof.

Rather than focusing on equipment for its own sake, the GN6 brings these features together to support real family needs: keeping passengers comfortable, helping the driver stay informed, and allowing the cabin to adapt as plans change.

With 270 Nm of torque, the GAC GN6 delivers smooth, responsive performance for daily commutes and family road trips alike.

3. Turbocharged Performance for City and Highway Driving. Powering the GN6 is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 176.7 HP and 270 Nm of torque. It is paired with a sevenspeed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission, or 7WDCT. This combination gives the GN6 the

responsiveness needed for daily city driving, carrying a full complement of passengers, merging into faster traffic, and travelling on provincial roads. Its 270 Nm of torque provides useful pulling power when the vehicle is loaded with family members and cargo, while the transmission supports smooth and confident progress across different driving conditions.

The GN6 has a WLTC combined fuel-consumption rating of 7.22 liters per 100 kilometers, balancing its turbocharged performance with the everyday efficiency expected of a family vehicle.

4. Level 2 Advanced Assistance Safety for Greater Family Confidence. For a family vehicle, care also means supporting the driver and helping protect everyone inside. The All-New GN6 GX is equipped with a comprehensive Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System, or ADAS. Its suite of driver-support technologies includes: • Adaptive Cruise Control • Traffic Jam Assist • Integrated Cruise Assist • Automatic Emergency Braking • Forward Collision Warning • Lane Keeping Assist • Lane Departure Warning These features assist the driver in monitoring traffic conditions, maintaining the vehicle’s position, and responding to potential hazards.

NICKIE WANG, Editor, ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer email: lifeandshow. manilastandard@gmail.com

Beyond the spotlight: Stars lend a hand to Filipinos in times of disaster

By Angelica Villanueva

SHOWBIZ

Taiwanese celebrities Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Vic Chou, and Ashin donate P5 million for Mindanao earthquake victims

AS EARTHQUAKES, floods, and tropical cyclones hit different parts of the country this year, several personalities used their resources and reach to help communities dealing with displacement and recovery.

Among the biggest celebrity-backed contributions came in June, when Taiwanese stars Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, and Vic Chou of F4, together with Mayday frontman Ashin, donated a combined ₱5 million for victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao.

Of the amount, ₱2.5 million went to GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Operation Bayanihan, while another ₱2.5 million

was coursed through ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya.

Weeks later, another wave of disasters hit as the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng brought heavy rains and flooding to several regions.

By Aug. 21, the combined effects of the weather disturbances had affected 6,620,335 people, or 1,905,622 families, across 10 regions, the Office of Civil Defense said. Of those, 52,543 people from 15,523 families were staying in 701 evacuation centers.

Actress and content creator Ivana Alawi joined relief efforts in Pampanga, where she helped prepare and distribute assistance to flood-affected residents. Reports also showed her giving ₱1,000 in cash aid

to beneficiaries during the activity.

At the same time, Donny Pangilinan also offered assistance in Cavite by personally handing out relief packs to the people living in Barangay Acacia in Silang. His involvement gained attention when pictures and stories from the residents were shared online.

Their efforts formed part of a much broader response led by government agencies, civic groups, volunteers, and local communities.

However, for public figures, assistance can carry another layer of impact. Beyond providing immediate aid, their involvement can direct attention to communities still in need and encourage followers to contribute through relief drives and established organizations.

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Donny Pangilinan hands out essential relief packs to families in Barangay Acacia, Silang, Cavite

SB19 delivers high-energy performances of its hit tracks at Lollapalooza Chicago

BINI cements its place as the first Filipino group to hit the Coachella line-up

Modern-day pride Pinoys continue to carry PH pride across the world

By Angelica Villanueva

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HE year has given Filipinos plenty to contend with, from economic pressures to a turbulent political climate.

Gwyn Dorado performs at Malacañang Palace during her courtesy call following her milestone finish on South Korea’s ‘Sing Again 4’

Away from those concerns, however, Filipino athletes, musicians, performers, and researchers have continued to give the country reasons to look outward with pride, carrying the Philippine name into competitions, stages, and institutions across the world.

As the country marks National Heroes’ Day on Aug. 31, their achievements offer a present-day picture of Filipino excellence. They do not stand in the same historical place as the heroes whose sacrifices the holiday commemorates, but their work shows how talent, discipline, and persistence can earn recognition for the country today.

In music and entertainment, Filipino singers have continued to make their presence felt in South Korea’s competitive television scene.

Gwyn Dorado, 21, finished second in JTBC’s Sing Again 4 in January after entering the competition as Contestant No. 59. She was the only foreign singer among the final four and had earlier scored 798 out of 800 for her performance of “I Want You.” Arabelle Dela Cruz followed with a victory of her own. The Clash 2025 first runner-up won South Korea’s Veiled Cup in February after competing against singers representing different parts of Asia. Performing as the “Laguna

Diva,” Arabelle took the championship with her rendition of “Feeling Good.”

P-pop has also continued its push into major international festivals.

BINI reached one of the world’s biggest music festivals in April when the eight-member group became the first Filipino group to perform at Coachella in California.

Its appearance added to the group’s growing international profile after songs such as “Pantropiko” and “Salamin, Salamin” helped expand its audience beyond the Philippines. The group later joined the Summer Sonic lineup in Japan in August.

SB19 also extended P-pop’s international reach in 2026. Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin became the first Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza Chicago in July, where they performed tracks including “GENTO,” “MAPA,” and “DAM.” Their overseas run continued at Summer Sonic in Osaka and Tokyo in August, adding two more major festival appearances to a year marked by growing visibility outside the country.

Meanwhile, in the world of sports, Alex Eala has produced one of the biggest Filipino sporting stories of 2026.

The 21-year-old became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level singles title after beating American Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, at the Washington Open in August.

Her run also included victories over Zheng Qinwen, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. Eala has since risen to world No. 18, the highest ranking achieved by a Filipino and Southeast Asian player in WTA history.

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena remains among the country’s most recognizable international competitors. The Olympian cleared 5.91 meters at the Golden Sand meet in Poland in August, setting a meet record and recording his best clearance in nearly two years.

Two-time Olympic champion Carlos Yulo has continued competing after his historic Paris campaign, while Filipina cue artist Chezka Centeno added another world championship to the country’s haul by winning the WPA Women’s World 8-Ball Championship in Wisconsin in July.

Alex Eala celebrates a historic victory after claiming her first WTA Tour-level singles title at the Washington Open

History also came from a team that rarely receives the same spotlight. Making its Women’s Baseball World Cup debut in Taiwan, the Philippine women’s baseball team earned its first victory in the tournament with a 6-0 win over Cuba before defeating Great Britain, 6-2. The Filipinas finished the group stage with a 2-3 record.

Philippine representation abroad is not limited to arenas and stages. Six Filipinos were included in the 2026 Asian Scientist 100, an annual list recognizing researchers and innovators from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The honorees were National Scientists Romulo Davide, Marcela Navasero, Mary Donnabelle Balela, Garry Benico, Aurelio De Los Reyes V, and May Anne Mata.

Their work spans fields such as agriculture, environmental protection, mathematics, engineering, and aquatic sciences, showing another side of Filipino achievement that often unfolds far from the public spotlight.

Davide has long been recognized for his work in plant pathology and nematology, while Balela’s research has included biodegradable kapok-based materials designed to absorb oil spills. De Los Reyes, meanwhile, has worked on mathematical models applied to reproductive health.

National Heroes’ Day remains rooted in honoring those who fought and sacrificed for the country. The Filipinos earning recognition today carry a different responsibility, but every title, performance, discovery, and breakthrough gives the Philippine name another place on the world stage.

Five local films that prove courage comes in many forms

By Angelica Villanueva HEROES in Filipino films do not always arrive in uniform or stand at the center of history. Sometimes, they are mothers protecting their children, workers enduring years away from home, young people carrying responsibilities beyond their age, or ordinary citizens choosing to act when it would be easier not to.

This National Heroes’ Day long weekend, these films offer different portraits of courage, from resistance against colonial rule to sacrifices made within families and communities.

The resistance fighter: ‘Sakay’ Julio Diaz plays Macario Sakay in Raymond Red’s 1993 historical drama about the former Katipunero who continued resisting American rule after the fall of the First Philippine Republic. The film follows Sakay as he sustains an armed resistance movement despite

being branded a bandit by colonial authorities. It also revisits how history can shape the reputation of figures whose actions were once viewed through the lens of those in power.

The mother and activist: ‘Liway’ Kip Oebanda’s 2018 film draws from his childhood inside a prison camp during martial law.

Glaiza de Castro stars as a mother who uses stories to shield her son from the harsh reality surrounding them. Told partly through a child’s perspective, the film places family life alongside political resistance and shows how courage can also mean protecting a child’s sense of hope in a difficult environment.

The migrant worker: ‘Anak’ Vilma Santos plays a domestic worker who returns from years of employment in Hong Kong to find her relationship with her children fractured.

Rory Quintos’ 2000 drama explores the emotional cost of leaving home to provide for a family.

mother, his younger sister, and eventually those around him. Rather than centering on a grand act, the film builds its story around small gestures of care, resourcefulness, and generosity from someone with very little to give.

Through its tense mother-daughter relationship, the film looks at sacrifice from both sides of migration and the distance that money sent home cannot always be repaired.

The community hero: ‘Magnifico’ Heroism takes a quieter form in Maryo J. de los Reyes’ 2003 drama. Jiro Manio plays a boy from a struggling family who tries to help his sick grand-

The women working far from home: ‘Sunday Beauty Queen’ Baby Ruth Villarama’s documentary follows Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong who spend their days off organizing and joining beauty pageants while navigating work, distance from home, and the realities of migrant life. The film gives space to the women’s humor, friendships, and ambitions, presenting them not only through hardship but also through the lives they continue to build for themselves.

B4 | AUGUST 30, 2026 RANDY M. CALUAG, Issue Editor

Max Out Golf Stix takes scientific approach to club fitting M

By Randy Caluag

AX Out Golf Stix is bringing a scientific and personalized approach to club fitting, helping golfers find equipment and swing techniques suited to their physical characteristics and playing styles.

Established in 2007, the custom club fitting and club-making business is owned by Dante Romero, who completed the Club Fitting and Club Making Training Program at the GolfSmith Institute in Austin, Texas.

Romero is also a member of the Golf Clubmakers Association of America, an organization composed of professionals dedicated to advancing the craft of building, repairing and fitting golf equipment.

His approach evolved after attending the Modern Golf Summit in 2016, where he studied BioSwing Dynamics under noted instructor Mike Adams.

The system recognizes that no single swing works for every golfer because factors such as height, weight, flexibility and body composition affect how a player moves.

A lady golfer has her club inspected and fine-tuned during a demo day at a local driving range.

Romero also learned modern coaching methods for junior golfers from John Dunigan and studied golf analytics developed by Mark Broadie, whose Strokes Gained system provides a more detailed evaluation of a player’s strengths and weaknesses.

These concepts now form part of Max Out Golf Stix’s comprehensive service, which combines equipment fitting with swing, performance and equipment coaching.

Technology plays a major role in the fitting process.

Smart2Move pressure plates measure how golfers apply and transfer force through their feet during the swing, while the Trackman launch monitor records vital information such as ball speed, launch angle, direction, distance and club movement.

The data allows Romero to recommend suitable club heads, shafts and specifications without relying solely on trial and error.

He further expanded his expertise during the 2017

Mizuno Philippines fitting seminar at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club and Camp Aguinaldo. The seminar introduced Mizuno’s Shaft Optimizer, which analyzes club-head speed, swing tempo, toe-down movement, kick angle and release factor before recommending appropriate shaft options.

“At Max Out Golf Stix, we believe that the golfer and the clubs both need to be improved so the player can perform at his best,” the company said. “It is not only about the clubs being used, but also how they are used.”

Max Out Golf Stix offers custom fitting, club assembly and repair, retail services and coaching. It is an authorized dealer of leading brands, including Honma, Titleist, Mizuno, TaylorMade, Callaway, PXG, Srixon, Cleveland, XXIO and Scotty Cameron.

The company has fitted nearly 4,000 local and foreign golfers since opening.

For fitting sessions and inquiries, contact 0927-2254332 or 0922-884-8168.

Laudit, Camacho emerge victorious in Great UP Run 2026 ROY Laudit and Maricar Camacho led a field of 10,000 runners in The Great UP Run 2026 held recently at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City.

Laudit set the pace in the men’s 16-kilometer division, completing the course in 54 minutes and 53 seconds. Joel Orogan finished second in 56:00, while Mark Anthony Oximar placed third in 58:35.

Camacho, meanwhile, ruled the women’s 16K race with a time of one hour, 10 minutes and 13 seconds.

Maria Corinne Elizabeth Caymo secured runner-up honors in 1:27:25, followed by Angelie Rose Lumba in third place at 1:32:10.

Organized in partnership with the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development and the Office of the Vice President for Community Affairs, the event brought together generations of Iskos and Iskas while celebrating the unity and spirit of the UP community.

RUNRIO, the country’s leading race organizer, also donated P1 million to the OASD to support the university’s athletics programs and student-athletes.

UP President Angelo Jimenez formally received the donation.

“The Great UP Run is one of the events that I just couldn’t miss,” said RUNRIO president Rio de la Cruz, a UP alumnus. “It is one of the first races that our company organized back in 2007, and it’s a race that has endured and grown bigger through the years.”

The successful staging further strengthened the event’s place as one of the university’s most anticipated community gatherings, combining fitness, school pride, and support for UP sports.

Cristalino served as the official hydration partner, with B’lue as the flavored vitamin water partner and Pocari Sweat as the ion supply drink partner.

CDO, Hotel Sogo, and University Hotel were the major sponsors. Other sponsors included Astrotel, Citadines, REV, Park Access, Locally, Salonpas, PalawanPay, Sailun Tires, Universal Robina Corp., Dove, Vaseline, Rexona, Dr. O Skinlab, Unilab, Genwell, Quaker Oats, S Brands Consumer Corp., Milcu, Kiks Tamarind, Athleisure, Wellmade Manufacturing Corp. and Closeup.

The Great UP Run brought together generations of Iskos and Iskas while celebrating the unity and spirit of the UP community.

DLSU Indoor Open set Sept. 9 at Estancia Mall GOLF enthusiasts are set to test their skills when the DLSU Indoor Open takes place on Sept. 9, 2026, at Eastwing Golf on the third floor of Estancia Mall in Pasig City.

The one-day indoor golf tournament will feature a two-man alternate-shot format, combining teamwork, strategy and shot-making in a friendly but competitive atmosphere.

Participants may choose between two playing schedules, with the

morning batch running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the afternoon session set from 2 to 6 p.m.

Aside from the competition, players will also have opportunities to win exciting prizes in the event’s raffle draw.

The tournament offers golfers a chance to compete in a modern indoor setting while strengthening camaraderie among members of the DLSU community and other golf enthusiasts.

The victorious Team La Union/DEFTACathletes and officials

La Union grapplers flex might in AJSSF Manila jiu-jitsu festival T E AM L a U n i o n / D E F TAC L a U n i o n strengthened its reputation as an emerging force in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after collecting 13 medals at the Asian Sport Jiu-Jitsu Federation Manila Jiu-Jitsu Festival Championships 2026.

Fielding only 10 competitors, the La Union-based squad captured eight gold, two silver and three bronze medals in the tournament held recently at Gateway Mall 2 in Cubao, Quezon City.

Felix Rafael P. Blasé led the team’s charge with a gold medal, extending an impressive season that saw him win silver for the Philippines at the Marianas Pro Taiwan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Taipei last May. William Gormley, Nicholas Lipton and Jowell Delos Reyes each delivered two gold medals, while Janelle Cardozo completed the team’s eight-gold haul with another championship performance.

Luke Landrigan and Ace Xivor Corpuz secured one silver medal apiece, while Kath Meer, Ava Meredith Mamaat and John Melson Nisperos contributed bronze medals.

For Team La Union, the achievement went beyond its impressive medal count.

The campaign reflected the steady growth of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the province and demonstrated how athletes from different backgrounds can come together through combat sports.

Among the team’s most recognizable

members was Landrigan, a prominent Filipino-Australian professional surfer, certified surf coach and entrepreneur from San Juan, La Union.

Widely regarded as one of the personalities who helped popularize surfing in t he country, Landrigan showed his versatility by stepping away from the waves and testing his skills on the jiu-jitsu mats.

His transition into another demanding discipline underscored the value of remaining open to new challenges, even for athletes who have already established themselves in their chosen sport.

The team credited professors Joel Yaptinchay and Juan Rico “Infamous” Rulloda, along with coach Sha Casuga, for preparing the athletes and guiding them throughout the competition.

Blasé said the team’s success represented the discipline, sacrifice and hard work of athletes who continue to represent La Union in local and international events.

He also expressed hope that their performance would encourage more young people to embrace sports as a source of confidence, purpose and positive direction.

DEFTAC La Union is part of the province’s growing Brazilian jiu-jitsu community, providing athletes with opportunities to train, compete and develop their abilities in an environment built on discipline and mutual respect.

Experience Taco Bell’s bold flavors like never before with the new Rice Bowls

AUGUST 30, 2026 |

(The rice bowls will be available for a limited time only. Order today by visiting your nearest Taco Bell store for dine-in and take-out orders. You can also order for delivery via the 8911-1111 hotline,

Taco Bell’s newest creations: the Beef Rice Bowl and the Grilled Chicken Barbeque Rice Bowl

Taco Bell Philippines’ official website, or through official delivery partners Grabfood, foodpanda, and Pickaroo)

Isole: A celebration of Sicily and Sardinia

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JOYCE PANGCO PAÑARES, Issue Editor / email: joyce.panares@gmail.com

Bell’s newest creations: the Beef Rice Bowl and the Grilled Chicken Barbeque Rice Bowl, each priced at just P249 a la carte (or +P30 with a 12-oz soda).

The Beef Rice Bowl is made with Mexican rice, seasoned beef, shredded iceberg lettuce, seasoned nacho chips, sour cream, jalapeno peppers, and diced tomatoes while the Grilled Chicken Barbeque Rice Bowl is made with Mexican rice, char-grilled chicken, shredded iceberg lettuce, seasoned nacho chips, fiesta salsa, garlic sauce, and barbeque sauce.

CRAVINGS

IF YOU are a passionate foodie, you have likely traveled far and wide to taste every unique flavor and trendy dish available. Yet, despite exploring all those exotic culinary creations, you know deep down that nothing satisfies a true craving quite like a hearty rice dish. It remains the one ultimate comfort food you naturally find yourself going back to all the time when you want a meal that leaves you genuinely full and happy.

Taco Bell understands exactly how to whip up something that always hits the spot, whether you’re stepping out for a casual weekend brunch or looking for a comforting midnight snack. On those specific days when you simply need your rice to be the perfect anchor for a flavorful meal, you’ll never go wrong with Taco

Finestra’s Italian chef Andrea Spagoni

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HIS season, Finestra at Solaire Resort Entertainment City brings the culinary traditions of Italy’s islands to the table through Isole, the newest chapter of its year-long “A Taste Across Italy” series.

Expertly curated by Finestra’s Italian chef Andrea Spagoni, the three-course sharing experience celebrates the honest flavors of the country’s two largest islands, elevating beloved regional and street food traditions through refined techniques and contemporary craftsmanship.

The journey begins with a trio of antipasti that captures the vibrant coastal character of southern Italy. Delicate amberjack Carpaccio is paired with fennel and pine nuts, while Caponata—a beloved island staple— is reimagined atop crispy toast with king red prawn and spicy jam. Completing the appetizer course is Panelle, the iconic chickpea fritter often enjoyed from neighborhood street vendors, enhanced with parsley emulsion and fried capers, while preserving the comforting familiarity that has made it a lo-

cal favorite.

At the heart of the experience is artisanal Fregola with clams, a unique handcrafted pasta specialty that reflects the islands’ enduring connection to the sea through briny seafood flavors and the savory depth of Bottarga. Alongside it, wood-fired roasted lamb rack and pork belly pay tribute to centuries of pastoral tradition, complemented by seasonal fava beans and zucchini salad that embody the simplicity, freshness, and rustic elegance of the Italian countryside.

To finish, dessert pays homage to Seadas, a rustic pastry originating from pastoral communities where sheep’s milk cheese and honey have long been local staples. At Finestra, the beloved dessert is elevated with pecorino mousse and honey glaze, offering a sophisticated interpretation and a delicate

balance of sweet and savory that lingers long after the final bite.

Designed for two or more guests, Isole embraces one of Italy’s most treasured traditions: sharing.

Whether for an intimate dinner or a romantic evening over handcrafted cuisine and fine wine, Solaire Resort Entertainment City invites guests to experience “A Taste Across Italy” at Finestra— where exceptional flavors and meaningful moments come together.

(For inquiries and reservations, call +632 8888 8888 or visit https://sec.solaireresort.com/offers/

Caponata on Toast, King Red Prawn and Spicy Jam

Lamb Rack and Pork Belly Served with Fava Beans and Zucchini Salad

dining/finestra-a-taste-across-italy. Solaire Rewards members enjoy up to 20% off dining, while new members who sign up for Solaire Rewards may receive 30% off their first dining bill)

4 festive Oktoberfest nights at Newport World Resorts THE Philippines’ premier leisure and entertainment destination brings back Oktoberfest for its fourth year from October 28 to 31 at The Ballroom of Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts. For four nights, the ballroom takes on the convivial spirit of a Bavarian beer hall, where long tables fill with guests, steins make their way around the room, and the celebration grows as the evening unfolds.

A proper Oktoberfest begins with beer in hand. Weihenstephaner flows throughout the evening, with Weiss, Wheat, and Dunkel served on tap, bringing to the table nearly a thousand years of brewing heritage. All the way from the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan in Freising, Germany, it is recognized as the world’s oldest brewery.

The first pour makes way for a full Bavarian feast prepared by the award-winning culinary team of Newport World Resorts. Warm laugen pretzels and German breads are passed around the table before plates make room for sausages, crispy pork knuckle, schnitzel, and other hearty favorites, with traditional sweets waiting at the end of the meal.

The AnTon Showband returns from Bavaria for all four nights, filling The Ballroom with the familiar songs and playful energy that make sitting quietly through Oktoberfest nearly impossible.

The revelry eventually finds its way into some friendly competition. Guests can test their strength at Stein Holding, race for bragging rights at Beer Chugging, or try their hand at Hammerschlagen as the rest of the room rallies behind them.

The first Prost to Oktoberfest 2026 at the media launch was led by Newport World Resorts Chief Hospitality Officer John Lucas (center right), Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts General Manager Gagan Talwar (center left), and (2nd from right) Newport World Resorts Senior Vice President for Commercial Sales and Partnership Kathy Mercado, together with Newport World Resorts Vice President of Food & Beverage Operations Knut Becker, Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts Director of Operations Iulai Sau, and host Eric Bituin, ahead of the four-night celebration from October 28 to 31 at The Ballroom of Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts.

A variety of Bavarian sausages and meatloaf

(Early-bird tickets are available at P5,300 nett per person until September 30, 2026. For ticket reservations, contact Hilton Manila

Commercial at 0917 811 5779 or email ladydianne.tan@hilton.com and shine.lubaton@ hilton.com)

C2 | AUGUST 30, 2026

Good

LIFE

VIRGILIO DC GALVEZ, Editor email: vcgalvez@manilastandard.net

Mindful snacking anyone?

Only 5 percent of Pinoys skip morning and afternoon merienda

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NACKING has become a habit for most Filipinos, with only 5 percent skipping merienda in between breakfast and dinner meals, according to the 2026 State of Snacking report.

“

Thirty seven (37%) percent of Filipino consumers seek energy-boosting snacks in the morning and 30 percent do so in the afternoon — a finding that reveals snacking is deeply embedded in the daily routines of middle-income consumers.

The report significantly also shows that a growing number of Filipino snackers (38 percent of those polled) choose snacks which are high in fiber or a source of vitamins.

“These findings confirm what we’ve long believed — more consumers are empowered, informed and

“

snack options at least some of the time — a figure that the report says has grown organically since 2022.

“The trend is most pronounced among younger demographics, with Gen Z and Millennials across multiple markets adopting portion control strategies and prioritizing functional nutrition,” says the report.

To encourage mindful snacking, Mondelez says it aims to offer all its snacks in either “individually wrapped portions or feature the Mindful Portion.” It says that 94 percent of the company’s revenue in 2025 came from Mindful Portion snacks.

As consumer needs and d e s i r e s evolve, the Mindful snacking company says is about eating it periodically renovates its with attention and recipes in an intention. Slowing effort to address c h a n g i n g down, checking expectations labels, understanding w i t h o u t portions, and making c o m p r o m i s i n g taste or quality informed choices.

— well ahead of any regulatory mandate.

(The 2026 State of Snacking report is an annual study conducted by Mintel in collaboration with Mondelez International, drawing on consumer surveys across more than thirteen countries and AI-powered social media analysis covering millions of online conversations about snacking behaviors and preferences.)

Caitlin Punzalan, Corporate and Government Affairs Lead, Mondelez International Philippines

making smarter choices every day.” says Caitlin Punzalan, corporate and government affairs lead of Mondelez International in the Philippines.

“As manufacturers, we are responding to what consumers want: Great taste, transparent nutrition, and appropriate portions,” she adds.

4 in 10 global consumers want healthy snacks Globally, the data shows that approximately 4 in 10 consumers now actively seek healthier

SNACKING REPORT.

Mindful snacking is about awareness.

Research has shown that snacking mindfully can help reduce overindulgence and lead to more fulfilling snack moments.

Snapshot of Filipino consumer snacking behavior from the 2026 State of the Snacking Report conducted by Mintel and Mondelez International.

Routine rainfall hits day-to-day workers hardest — PIDS Study

By VC Galvez AS the southwest monsoon or Habagat brings heavy rains across the country, a new Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) study found that routine rainfall reduces the weekly work hours of Filipinos, with day-today and short-term workers most affected.

In their paper, PIDS researchers John Joseph Ocbina and Dr. John Paolo Rivera said frequent rainy periods — not just typhoons — add up to significant productivity and income losses.

“When considered cumulatively across repeated weather events and large numbers of workers, even small reductions in weekly hours may translate into meaningful losses in labor input, productivity, and earnings at the sectoral and regional levels,” the authors noted.

Using Labor Force Survey (LFS) data and rainfall records from PAGASA, the study showed that bad weather shortens workweeks rather than stops work entirely.

Among workers whose hours were cut due to weather, 32%

worked only 21 to 30 hours, 31% worked 11 to 20 hours, and 17% worked 10 hours or less during the reference week.

The impact falls hardest on jobs that require outdoor work or physical presence. Farm laborers, fishery workers, construction workers, and transport workers accounted for the largest share of those affected.

Regions with high rainfall were also more vulnerable, including CAR, Caraga, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol — areas where many livelihoods depend on agriculture, fisheries, and other weathersensitive industries.

The researchers said rainfall should be treated not just as an environmental or disaster issue.

“Rainfall affects labor supply not only through direct exposure but also via disruptions to mobility, production processes, and supply chains.”

The study also found that workers in day-to-day and short-term arrangements are more vulnerable than those in permanent jobs.

To address this, PIDS recommends stronger climateresponsive labor regulations,

RAINY DAY BLUES. File photo shows commuters waiting for rides last Thursday, August 27, as heavy rain pours over Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Edd Castro

more flexible work arrangements, investment in flood-resilient

transport and workplace infrastructure, and targeted

social protection for workers in weather-sensitive occupations.

Rainy Days, Hidden Risks: Why Year-Round Preventive Care Matters for Dogs

EVERYDAY CARE. Everyday moments of companionship remind pet owners that keeping dogs healthy means staying proactive with preventive care, including vaccinations, parasite protection, and regular veterinary visits.

These simple steps can help protect dogs from various health risks and support their well-being throughout the year.

INTERNATIONAL Dog Day last August 26 was a reminder that caring for our dogs means protecting their health all year.

With persistent rains and flooding from Habagat and seasonal weather disturbances, dogs face higher exposure to parasites and other health risks.

“International Dog Day is a timely reminder that caring for our dogs means taking proactive steps to protect their health,” said Dr. Vincent Casimero, Head of Business Segment, Pets, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. “When we protect our dogs’ health, we also help protect the families and communities around them.”

Leptospirosis: A key concern One key concern is leptospirosis, a bacterial

disease affecting both dogs and humans. Rats are a major source, and dogs can get infected through contact with floodwater, soil, or areas contaminated with infected urine. Early signs include fever, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Severe cases can damage the kidneys and liver.

Aside from leptospirosis, changes in weather also increase exposure to parasites and other preventable illnesses.

Pet owners can help by keeping vaccinations and parasite protection up to date, avoiding floodwater, providing clean drinking water, maintaining a clean environment, and scheduling regular vet visits.

Year-round preventive care gives dogs the protection they need — not just in the rainy season, but every day.

When scrolling becomes an introduction to history

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NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

41 percent of internet users said they were inclined to believe information shared by many people online.

Those figures were not specifically about history, but they show why a first encounter can matter.

Research involving younger users points to a similar concern.

A 2023 policy brief from the De La Salle University Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance, based on a survey of young people in Metro Manila, found that respondents generally showed a relatively strong ability to distinguish fake news from legitimate articles, though gaps remained. The researchers recommended stronger education in history, current affairs and digital literacy.

The challenge, then, is not to dismiss history content simply because it appears on social media, but to recognize its limits. A brief video or post can introduce the subject, while the fuller story often sits beyond the content that first appeared on the feed.

That makes a few questions worth asking before accepting a post as the whole story: Who made it? Where did the information come from?

Does another reliable source give the same account? What context may have been left out to fit a short video or graphic?

For young Filipinos, the feed can be where history begins, however, it does not have to be where the search for it ends.

email: lifeandshow.manilastandard.gmail.com

Social media can spark curiosity about the past, but deeper research and reliable sources help young Filipinos understand history beyond the feed

LIFE

A STUDENT scrolling through TikTok, YouTube or Facebook may come across a piece of Philippine history without looking for it. A clip about Andres Bonifacio, an infographic about Gabriela Silang or a post about the EDSA People Power Revolution can appear between entertainment videos, memes and updates from friends.

What begins as an unexpected encounter on the feed can lead someone to look more closely at a historical figure or event. At the same time, the version that appears first may come without a teacher, textbook or even a clear source to explain where the information came from.

That changing relationship with the past is especially relevant this August, as the country observes History Month. National Heroes Day on Aug. 31 also brings attention to the people and events that helped shape the nation.

Remembering them today, however, happens in an environment very different from the one previous generations knew. After all, much of the country’s history happened long before today’s students were born.

In a February 24 Oras special report, Mav Gonzales spoke with members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha about how they understand the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, with textbooks and accounts from those

who came before them among the ways they learn about the event.

Even the oldest members of Gen Z were born more than a decade after the uprising.

Today, those accounts are no longer limited to textbooks, classrooms or stories passed down by older generations, as social media has become another space where young people encounter and discuss the past.

The role of online spaces in youth participation was also examined in proceedings from a 2025 symposium published by the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies this year.

The discussions recognized online platforms as spaces where people can speak, engage, learn and weigh the information they receive.

Being comfortable in those spaces, however, does not guarantee that every post is reliable. Pulse Asia’s July 2026 survey found that 91percent of Filipino internet users get online news from Facebook, while 61 percent cited YouTube and 21 percent TikTok. At the same time, 72 percent of Filipino adults considered disinformation a big problem.

More revealing for the history question, 56 percent said they would seek another trustworthy source when faced with conflicting versions of information. But 14 percent said they would believe the first version they encountered, while

Young

By Jasper Valdez

AUGUST 30, 2026 |

Who teaches girls what they can become? like. I simply needed the space to imagine one,” she said.

Binibining Pilipinas 2026 first runner-up Julianne Raine World Vision Philippines’ #GirlsCan event brings together youth ambassadors, pageant titleholders, Antonio, meanwhile, spoke about artists and child-rights advocates in a discussion on giving girls room to learn, lead and dream a different barrier — the doubt that can come from comparing oneself

By Jasper Valdez with others.

Recalling her first pageant, Julianne said she repeatedly ONG before girls are asked what they want to questioned whether she was good become, some have already heard what they enough to be there. She eventually reconsidered what strength meant should not be. to her.

“I don’t have to become stronger by being harder on myself. I can For actress and World Vision girls narrow their choices before they become stronger by being kinder,” ambassador Jasmine Curtis-Smith, have fully explored them.

World Vision ambassadors discuss how support at home, in school she said. those messages do not always come Jasmine traced part of her own and in communities helps girls imagine more for themselves For musician and World Vision as outright discouragement outlook to her mother, who grew up ambassador Quest, creating They can be as ordinary as being in Bolinao, Pangasinan, and began that room for girls also told to let a brother handle something working early to help support her “I believed in myself because involves the people around or hearing that a certain job is not for siblings. Her mother did not finish I had people around me who them. He urged men to women. high school at the time and had to set believed in me first,” Gwendoline respect women and help “Before a girl learns what she wants, aside some of her own plans. said. protect spaces where they she learns what the world expects Later in life, however, she returned She credited her family, can participate without of her,” Jasmine said during World to school, worked as a nurse aide education, mentors, community being diminished.

Vision Philippines’ #GirlsCan event at and eventually established her own and life experiences with giving “Most of these women Gateway Mall 1 in Quezon City on Aug. agency. her room to explore what she don’t need us in order to 22.

“My mother’s choices expanded my could do. thrive. They can thrive on The event marked the eighth year of life,” Jasmine said.

“When I was a little girl, their own,” Quest said. the organization’s Girls Can campaign, Watching her mother start again I didn’t know what the “We just need to give which promotes opportunities for girls showed Jasmine and her sister that future would look them space and respect to learn, lead and pursue their goals. the paths available to women did not the space they have.”

Jasmine said repeated expectations have to end with what was expected The messages shared can eventually affect how girls see of them. at #GirlsCan point to a themselves.

“One woman’s freedom changes the simple gap: girls may be “Sometimes, no one actually tells us, next girl’s starting point,” she said. encouraged to dream, ‘You can’t do that.’ But a girl can still Binibining Pilipinas International but what they hear at 2026 Gwendoline Meliz Soriano hear a thousand messages about what home, in school and from offered another side of that experience. she should be and who she should be,” the people around them Growing up, she imagined becoming she said. can shape how far they a news reporter, theater actress, film Over time, she said, those messages Jasmine Curtis-Smith draws from her mother’s story to show allow those dreams to go. director and even a police officer. can turn into self-doubt and make how one woman’s choices can widen another girl’s future

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What courage looks like at 15

By Jasper Valdez CHRISTOPHER Fabian remembers his son Chris Lorenz Fabian as the kind of student who would leave money at the school canteen so classmates who were hungry could buy something to eat, even if doing so left him with less.

His mother, Erbea Fabian, said this was typical of Chris. He also lent clothes to classmates and once gave another student his Boy Scout uniform for an investiture ceremony. Chris attended instead in a white shirt and an old pair of Scout pants he had already outgrown.

“He never thought twice about helping his classmates. If one of them had no money and he also had none, he would borrow from his teacher and promise to pay it back the next day,” she said.

His grandmother, Athlete Fabian, also connected Chris’ concern for others to the values he learned as a Scout.

“He truly followed the ‘Service First’ creed of the Boy Scouts. That is why he offered his life as a shield so his classmates could be saved,” she said.

That instinct to look after others became the reason Chris’ name was known nationwide after June 22. During the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, the Grade 10 student and Senior Scout rushed to close and block a classroom door as armed schoolmates approached.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said his action helped save at least 30 fellow students. Unfortunately, Chris was among three students who died in the attack.

Athlete said the family was proud that Chris had come to be

regarded as a hero, although the recognition did not lessen their loss.

“He is now considered a hero, but he is no longer with us,” she said.

Pampanga, where Chris’ family has roots, was among the first local governments to honor him, naming him its “Pride of Pampanga” through Provincial Resolution No. 10319 just days after the shooting.

Chris’ fellow Scouts were also among those who honored his actions in the days after the shooting, with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Tacloban Council paying tribute to him before the national organization posthumously conferred on him the Gold Gallantry and Heroism Award, its highest honor for bravery.

His name was also included among the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Eastern Visayas Awards, which cited his heroism, selflessness and concern for others.

Tacloban formally declared Chris a “Young Hero” in August through City Ordinance No. 2026-16-15, citing his “extraordinary selfless courage and supreme sacrifice.” On Aug. 26, the DILG and National Youth Commission (NYC) named Chris a recipient of the Youth Heroism Award.

But beyond the citations and titles, Chris’ story has come to represent the kind of courage young people are capable of showing when others need help.

At 15, he set an example of what it means to think of others even when that meant risking his own life.

At 15, Scout Chris Lorenz Fabian showed how concern for his classmates can become an enduring act of courage, compassion and selflessness

C4 | AUGUST 30, 2026

PETS

A dog eats a watermelon.

(Photo from iStock royalty-free images.)

DESIREE CARLOS, Editor / email: daycarlos28@yahoo.com

By Mariana Burgos

F

EEDING your dog a balanced diet is essential for their health and happiness, and many pet owners wonder about incorporating fruits into their furry friend’s meals. Fruits can be a nutritious and tasty treat for dogs, but not all fruits are safe for canine consumption.

Understanding which fruits are safe and beneficial, and which should be avoided, is crucial for responsible pet care.

Fruits That Are Safe for Dogs calories and packed with water, making it an According to the article "What Fruits Can excellent treat during hot weather. Similarly, Dogs Eat?" by PetMD, many common fruits are MedVet lists cantaloupe and pineapple as safe for dogs and can provide valuable nutrisafe fruits for dogs, both of which ofents such as vitamins, fiber, and antifer vitamins and hydration benoxidants. Fruits like blueberries, efits. Pineapple, in particular, blackberries, strawberries, contains bromelain, an and raspberries are highenzyme that may aid dilighted as safe wild bergestion, but it should be ries that dogs can enjoy. given in small amounts These berries are rich to avoid stomach upin antioxidants and set. fiber, which support Apple is another a dog’s immune syspopular fruit for tem and digestive dogs, but with a health. However, caveat. According PetMD cautions to MedVet, apples that not all wild berare high in fiber and ries are safe, so it is vitamins A and C, important to stick which are beneficial to the well-known for dogs. However, safe varieties. the seeds and core Bananas are contain cyanide, a another fruit fretoxic substance, so quently recomthese parts must be mended for dogs. removed before offerAs noted in the article ing apples to dogs. This "Which Fruits Are Safe advice is echoed in Petfor Your Dog to Eat?" A Jack Russell takes an MD’s guidance, emphasizby MedVet, bananas are a apple. (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.) ing the importance of prepagood source of potassium, ration to ensure safety. vitamins, and fiber, making Citrus fruits present a more nuthem a healthy snack option. Their anced picture. PetMD’s article "Can Dogs Eat soft texture also makes them easy for dogs Oranges? Benefits, Risks, and Feeding Tips" to chew and digest. However, moderation is explains that ripe oranges, tangerines, and key because bananas contain natural sugars, clementines are generally safe for dogs in and overfeeding can lead to weight gain or moderation. These fruits provide vitamin C digestive upset. and hydration but should be given sparingly Watermelon is a refreshing and hydrating due to their acidity and sugar content. On fruit that dogs can safely consume, provided the other hand, grapefruits and lemons are the seeds and rind are removed. PetMD’s best avoided as they can cause gastrointestiarticle explains that watermelon is low in

the pits and seeds of fruits like peaches and nal irritation and toxicity in some dogs. cherries contain cyanide and should be reThe article "The 8 Best Fruits for Dogs (+ Honmoved or avoided altogether. ourable Mentions)" by Adored Beast offers a It is also important to note that well-rounded list of fruits that are some fruits, while safe, should not only safe but also beneficial be given in moderation due for dogs. Blueberries top their to their sugar content. list. It is praised for their anOverfeeding fruits high tioxidant properties and in natural sugars can low-calorie content. lead to obesity, dental Raspberries and blackproblems, and digesberries follow closely, tive issues in dogs. providing fiber and PetMD advises that vitamins. Strawberfruits should be ries are also recomconsidered treats mended, with the and not a substicaveat that they tute for a balanced should be given in dog food diet. moderation due to When introductheir sugar content. ing any new fruit Adored Beast to your dog’s diet, it also highlights wais best to start with termelon, bananas, small amounts to and apples as exmonitor for any adcellent fruit choices, verse reactions such aligning with the adas allergies or digesvice from PetMD and tive upset.

MedVet. Additionally, Fresh, washed fruits they mention kiwi as a A furparent gives her dog without added sugars, syrsafe and nutrient-rich fruit a strawberry. (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.) ups, or seasonings are always for dogs when served propthe safest choice. erly. Kiwi offers vitamin C, fiber, Avoid canned or processed fruits and potassium, but its fuzzy skin that may contain harmful additives. should be removed to prevent digestive discomfort.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freeWhile many fruits are safe and healthy lance artist, writer, and tutor. She has been a for dogs, some fruits are toxic and must solo parent for 19 years now because she is the be strictly avoided. MedVet’s article warns wife of Jonas Burgos, a Filipino desaparecido. against grapes and raisins, which can cause She and her daughter are animal lovers and severe kidney failure in dogs. Even small are active in advocating not only human rights amounts can be dangerous, so these fruits but the rights of animals as well. should never be given to dogs. Similarly,

Storytelling: Planting Seeds of Kindness and Compassion Towards Animals “THIS story teaches us to be kind to dogs and cats. Why?” author Lalaine asked more than 30 children gathered in a Church last Sunday afternoon in Montalban, Rizal..

“Because they are also created by God, like us,” the children replied.

“What did the grandmother in the story teach her grand daughter?”

“To be kind to dogs and cats,” the kids said, “To not hurt them,” they added.

Be kind to animals. Do not hurt them.

These two important messages were successfully put across by storyteller Lalaine D. Manaog-Danao who wrote the children’s book “Desiree Carlos, ang Journalist na Tagapagtanggol ng mga Strays.”

The storytelling session last August 23 was a joint project of Tails, Trees & Seas.

Org., Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), and the Good News Family Worship Center-Montalban. The objective was to plant seeds of compassion, kindness, and responsible pet ownership among children.

“We hope to encourage children to be kind to animals, particularly dogs and cats, because we believe humans who are kind to animals will grow up kind and respectful towards their fellow humans,” Save ALL said.

“Ten years, 20 years, even 50 years from now, our world will be a better place if more humans respect other forms of life and our environment,” said Danao, founder of Tails.

The book tells the inspiring story of Desiree Carlos and how her compassion for stray animals began at an early age. Much of this early influence came from her late grandmother, Lola Belen, who helped nurture in her a deep sense of kindness and concern for animals. From those early lessons of compassion grew a lifelong commitment to animal rescue with the creation of Save ALL. This organization has helped thousands of animals by rescuing abandoned, impounded, or neglected dogs and cats, feeding strays, spaying or neutering, and providing medical care, shelter, rehabilitation, and opportunities for a better life for rescues.

For Carlos, however, rescue is only one part of the mission. Equally important is education—teaching children that compassion can prevent suffering before it begins. Through the storytelling activity, the children were encouraged to understand that animals are living beings capable of feeling hunger, fear, pain, and affection. They were reminded that owning a pet comes with responsibili-

ties that include providing proper food, veterinary care, a safe home, affection, and protection.

Carlos also emphasized the value of responsible pet ownership, including the importance of not abandoning animals and supporting humane approaches to controlling the population of unwanted dogs and cats.

Pastor Rev Arnold Magramo and Teachers Ronalyn Pablo, Ivana Magayano, Jm Obiasca, Lovely Bugayong, Genesis Leal, John Cris Senobio, Yuri Centino, and Camille Centino of the Good News Family Worship Center - Montalban share the belief that teaching children these lessons early will help raise children who will treat animals with greater understanding and respect. Thus, their full support for the project.

The storytelling was not simply about reading a book. It became an opportunity for the children to ask questions, share their experiences, and discover that even small acts of kindness—giving water to a thirsty stray, offering food, reporting an injured animal, or simply treating animals gently—can make a difference.

The partnership between Save ALL and Tails, Trees and Seas Organization Inc. reflects a shared belief that compassion can

be taught, nurtured, and passed on to the next generation. Storybooks, according to the organizers, can become powerful tools for helping children understand difficult social and environmental issues in a way that is engaging, memorable, and age-appropriate.

Adding joy to the gathering were a

Volunteer Niko Salgado and Marco Labayane distribute snacks.

The storytelling for compassion and kindness for animals was a success because of the support of Pastor Rev Arnold Magramo and Teachers Ronalyn Pablo, Ivana Magayano, Jm Obiasca, Lovely Bugayong, Genesis Leal, John Cris Senobio, Yuri Centino, and Camille Centino of the Good News Family Worship Center – Montalban, Tails volunteer Rhona Chruz, and Save ALL volunteers Niko Gabriel Salgado, Micko Jonas, Marco Labayane, Nikki Guevarra Labayane, and Rachelle Bautista. With them is Lalaine D. Manaog-Danao, author of the book Desiree Carlos , and Journalist na Tagapagtanggol ng mga Strays.”

Author Lalaine D. Manaog-Danao reads the book to the children who participated during the discussion.

The young participants with the organizers of a storytelling session in Montalban to plant seeds of compassion, including author Lalaine D. Manaog-Danao and journalist Desiree Carlos. This activity was a joint project of Tails, Tress, Seas. Org, Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), and the Good News Family Worship Center-Montalban. group of animal lovers who volunteered to cook and prepare snacks for the children. They are Niko Gabriel Salgado, Micko Jonas, Marco Labayane, Nikki Guevarra Labayane, and Rachelle Bautista who also distributed the spaghetti, burger, juice and bags of candies to the young participants. This made the event not only educational but also a warm and memorable experience for everyone.

The smiles of the children, their enthusiasm during the storytelling, and their excitement in receiving books and treats reflected the spirit of the gathering: that learning can be joyful and that kindness can begin with a simple story.

For Carlos, every child who learns to care for a stray represents hope for a kinder future. Her own journey—from a young girl inspired by her Lola Belen to becoming an animal rescuer and advocate who has helped thousands of animals—demonstrates how one compassionate heart can inspire an entire community.

The organizers hope that the children who attended the activity will carry the lessons beyond the walls of the worship center and into their homes and communities. After all, compassion begins with understanding. And sometimes, it begins with a story.

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