Dazzling Asian Games start as PH tries to eclipse 4-gold haul By Riera U. Mallari NAGOYA, Japan (Powered by PLDT Home) -- The 20th Asian Games got off to a roaring start in Nagoya Saturday evening with a dazzling opening ceremony themed “Heartbeat”, providing a high-energy kickoff to a multi-sport spectacular featuring over 17,000 participants, more than the Olympics.
The grand showcase had its buildup marred by logistical hurdles and weather concerns across Aichi Prefecture, but it set the stage for two weeks of elite competition. The Philippine delegation proudly marched during the parade of nations, strutting in style in “Malaya,” a Barong Tagalog-inspired uniform designed by Francis Libiran. Weightlifter Albert Ian delos Santos
and Olympic boxer Aira Villegas led Team Philippines as flag bearers in the stadium. PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio rallied behind the country’s contingent and sent a strong message of encouragement to the team as the games kicked off. “Today as the Asian Games officially start in Nagoya, the whole nation is behind our athletes as they carry the flag and the dreams of our country,” Gregorio said.
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VOL. XL • NO. 218 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
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FOR FLAG AND COUNTRY.
The Philippine contingent, led by flag bearers boxer Aira Villegas and weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos, makes its entrance at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium for the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. POC Media
‘Shooter influenced T by deep dark web’
By Rex Espiritu, Gabriel Oliva, Vince Lopez and Charles Dantes
HE Grade 9 student who opened fire at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato Friday before killing himself had been accessing the “deep dark web,” the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Saturday.
DILG seeks socmed use curbs for minors
“Upon investigation, he was heavily into the deep dark web. He was into the deep dark web which influenced him,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said. He said the gunman was also suffering from depression. “Based on his phone records, he left several notes detailing his depression. It was discovered last April 2026 by his parents who tried to handle the situation,” Remulla said. Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. added: “We are looking into various personal effects in coordination with the parents – notes, cellular phone, other gadgets that we can subject to forensic or any investigation.” “Record shows that he’s into heavy activities with social media as well as internet activities showing violent activities,” Nartatez said. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said DepEd may seek assistance from the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the DILG to investigate reports that the student shooter was part of a “true crime community” online.
COLLECTIVE GRIEF.
The Philippine flag flies at half-mast at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, a day after a shooting incident that left three students dead, including the gunman. Inset shows Education Secretary Sonny Angara visiting one of the students injured in the school shooting. DXMS Cotabato City FB, Sonny Angara FB
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Gov’t eyes fare hike, more support for PUV drivers as oil prices surge By Joel E. Zurbano THE anticipated rise in fuel costs prompted the government to consider adjusting public utility vehicle (PUV) fares while developing an additional support package for drivers and operators. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto met with the Department of Transportation and other organizations under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Committee to discuss ways to lessen the effects of growing fuel and operating costs on the transpor-
DILG to SC: Allow inspection of gun owners’ homes
tation industry amid calls for fare hikes of P1 to P2. “The proposed fare adjustment for public utility vehicles was among the matters discussed, and we hope to arrive at a positive decision in the coming days,” the DOTr said in a statement. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is expected to address pending fare hike petitions by October. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez added that the DOTr is also exploring expanded fuel assistance as a possible alternative or complement to fare increases. Turn to A4
SM’S LARGEST COASTAL CLEANUP DRIVE.
Close to 55,000 industry and employee volunteers heeded the call for a Waste Free Future across 32 SM malls nationwide, clearing more than 224,000 kg of waste in under three hours. For this year’s International Coastal Cleanup, SM Corporate Social Responsibility arm, SM Cares organized the country’s largest mallinitiated cleanup drive with the goal of diverting waste from oceans, rivers, lakes, and waterways.
By Vince Lopez, Gabriel Oliva and Maricel Cruz INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he will file a petition before the Supreme Court to allow police inspection of firearm safekeeping in the homes of licensed gun owners. This followed Friday’s school shooting incident in South Cotabato -- the country’s third deadly campus incident since June – that left three stu-
dents dead. “The Supreme Court ruled we cannot do home inspections. I will make a petition before the Supreme Court to make it legal for the PNP to inspect the homes of legal firearms users to make sure that they are kept properly,” Remulla said. He noted that in the past three school shooting incidents, all firearms used were not properly stored. “There has to be a right for the state
to inspect the gun owners, to check if their guns are properly stored,” the Interior chief said. “We should have the power to inspect. Remember, owning a firearm in the Philippines is not (a right) enshrined in the Constitution. It is not a right but a privilege and that privilege has to come with a responsibility and that responsibility has to come with accountability, especially with the PNP,” he added.
PCG asks Senate to address budget slash amid Chinese incursions in WPS
‘Baste may face hostile-witness questioning during impeach hearing’
By Rex Espiritu and Maricel Cruz
By Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte could face hostile-witness questioning when he appears before the Senate impeachment court, with House prosecutors planning to seek such a declaration as they examine the business interests of his sister Vice President Sara Duterte. House prosecution legal spokesperson and counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. on Saturday said the mayor’s testiTurn to A4
THE Philippine Coast Guard has appealed to the Senate to reconsider the cut in its proposed budget for 2027, saying a slash in the PCG funding would impact their operations amid Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea. During Friday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, panel chairman Senator JV Ejercito noted a 57.5 percent cut on the PCG’s capital outlays and a P3.3 billion slash in funding for air and floating asset acquisition and maintenance. “It will significantly compromise our operational ability. We are already operating at the maximum. It is dangerous because we might not be able to sustain (our operations),” PCG Comman-
dant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said. “It is just a matter of time that we will run out of ships. We are trying to prevent that,” he added. The PCG on Friday reported that a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship rammed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel while it was delivering fuel subsidies to Filipino fishermen in the WPS. The CCG vessel, identified as CCG21585, struck BRP Datu Magat Salamat (MMOV 3015). The incident occurred about 6.6 nautical miles north-northwest of Abad Santos Shoal and about 54 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Coast Guard said. Turn to A4
PALACE ORDERS DOH: HASTEN RELEASE OF MEDICAL CLAIMS
TRUMP BANS CNN, POLITICO, MS NOW FROM WHITE HOUSE
GOOGLE’S GEMINI AI CARRIED OUT CYBERATTACKS , HACKING
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DOH speeds up medical claims for indigent patients
NEWS
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A2 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
By Charles Dantes
T
HE Department of Health (DOH) is expediting the processing of medical assistance claims for indigent and financially incapacitated patients after the Department of Budget and Management released P27.4 billion to sustain the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto directed the DOH to coordinate with its regional directors and participating hospitals to validate accounts payable and promptly process legitimate claims under the program. “Let us continue coordinating with the regional directors, verify the accounts payable, and process the valid claims promptly. These funds
IN BRIEF
are available to support our patients and our partner hospitals,” Recto said. The MAIFIP funds will cover valid claims for hospitalization, medicines, emergency treatment, professional fees, and other necessary medical expenses for qualified patients. The DOH said timely processing of claims would also help healthcare facilities maintain operations and con-
tinue providing uninterrupted services, particularly to patients from vulnerable and low-income communities. The P27.4-billion allocation was released by the DBM to the DOH under the 2026 General Appropriations Act for the continued implementation of MAIFIP. Of the total amount, P19.1 billion will go to DOH Centers for Health Development to provide medical assistance through regional networks and partner healthcare facilities nationwide. Another P4.35 billion will support DOH hospitals in Metro Manila and the regions, while P2.91 billion will be allocated to the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s
Medical Center, and Philippine Heart Center. The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital will receive P950 million, while P52 million will be provided to Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers. Recto said the funding reflects the administration’s effort to ensure that government resources are converted into medical assistance for Filipinos facing health and financial difficulties. “For President Marcos, every available resource must be used to deliver meaningful assistance to the Filipino people. Through MAIFIP, we are helping patients obtain the care they need while supporting hospitals that serve communities every day,”Recto said.
DMW, NCIP budgets hurdle plenary debates The House of Representatives on Friday night concluded plenary deliberations on the proposed 2027 budgets of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), scrutinizing funding for overseas Filipino workers and Indigenous Peoples. The House terminated the period of sponsorship and debate on the DMW’s proposed P10.68billion appropriations, including its attached agencies. Under the 2027 National Expenditure Program, DMW receives P7.726 billion, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration gets P4.349 billion. During interpellation, lawmakers examined funding for the Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF). Philreca Party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus raises concerns over its proposed P900-million allocation, which is P300 million lower than the previous P1.2-billion budget. DMW sponsor Rep. Irene Labadlabad says OWWA has cited the need for additional funding. Maricel V. Cruz
FUELING UP.
Motorists line up at a gasoline station along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Saturday, September 19, 2026, ahead of a projected sharp increase in petroleum prices next week. Edd Castro
Lacson denies selective justice, urges Cayetanos to face issues
Tulfo, Poe lead latest Tangere Senate survey SENATOR Raffy Tulfo and former Senator Grace Poe ranked first and second in the latest noncommissioned survey of voter preferences for the 2028 senatorial elections after three previously included candidates are dropped from the roster because they say they will not run. Tulfo registered 39.9% in Tangere’s Sept. 10–14 nationwide survey, followed by Poe with 36.7%. The survey covers 2,400 respondents and reports a 2% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. The latest results differ from Tangere’s August survey after Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and former Vice President Leni Robredo are excluded. Sotto previously leads with 42.1%, while Moreno and Robredo each register 30.8%. Charles Dantes
By Joel E. Zurbano SENATOR Panfilo Lacson refuted allegations of “selective justice” and “intimidation” from Senators Alan Peter and Pilar Juliana Cayetano, urging them to address the issues raised against them instead. Lacson said that when false charges were thrown at him during the Arroyo administration, he faced the accusations head-on by defending himself in the proper forums. “It is not selective justice; just prioritizing. You talk too much with ad hominems. Instead of confronting the issues, you want to drag others into it. He conveniently forgets my two privilege speeches and Blue Ribbon Com-
mittee hearings on the flood control project mess that produced massive evidence on the anomalies,” he said. Lacson made the statement in response to Cayetano’s recent insinuation of selective justice, in which he “challenged” Lacson to investigate other areas instead of focusing on Taguig City, his bailiwick. Since last year, Lacson has exposed through two privilege speeches the corruption involving anomalous flood control projects in areas including Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro. He also chaired Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the flood control projects, during which several pieces of evidence were uncovered. In an interview on DZMM radio,
OVP warns of impostor using chief of staff THE Office of the Vice President (OVP) warned the public against individuals impersonating its officials through social media platforms and messaging applications, saying at least one person uses the name of OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez to contact a senior government official. In a public advisory, the OVP urged the public to exercise caution when communicating with suspicious accounts claiming to represent the office and to avoid providing personal or sensitive information. The office said the impersonator uses Lopez’s name to communicate with a high-ranking government official, prompting the OVP to remind the public to verify the identities of individuals claiming to represent it. The OVP said all official communications and transactions are conducted through its authorized channels. It identifies its official Facebook page as one of its communication platforms and advises the public to rely on verified accounts. Charles Dantes
MARTIAL LAW. A staff member of the Manila City Hall Engineering Department cleans the Martial Law marker at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila on Saturday, September 19, ahead of the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. Norman Cruz
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By Gabriel Oliva FOUR students from Sta. Maria National High School have died due to exposure to leptospirosis, as confirmed by the Santa Maria Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG) on Sept. 19. In a statement, the SSLG said two Grade 12 students, one Grade 10 student, and one Grade 8 student died on separate dates. In the comments section, the SSLG confirmed that the deaths were caused by leptospirosis. “Each one of them brought so much joy, kindness, and big dreams into our school. They were wonderful friends, students, and their presence will be missed every single day,” the statement read. According to the SSLG, the students’ bereaved families, friends, and loved ones are not alone, as the entire school community is grieving and extending its condolences and prayers. It added that the students were taken away“too soon”but reminded everyone of the memories and good times they shared with the school community. “Rest peacefully, dear Marians. You will always be loved and never forgotten,” the statement concluded. In August, the Department of Education (DepEd) directed all public basic education schools nationwide to strengthen measures against dengue and leptospirosis amid a rise in cases linked to recent inclement weather and flooding. In an advisory, DepEd directed school heads, health personnel, and staff to enforce strict sanitation standards and strengthen protocols for dengue and leptospirosis cases, including prevention, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms.
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Lacson also addressed the claim of Senator Pia Cayetano that she felt “threatened” by a colleague who would not stop pursuing issues against them. “I am the one she was alluding to. And I would not stop because throughout my public service career in law enforcement and legislation, I have a low tolerance for corruption and my record can speak for itself,” Lacson said. “Even if Pia Cayetano does not name me, I know she was referring to me. And I will not deny it—in fact, I am proud of it,” he added. Meanwhile, Lacson said the Cayetanos should learn to face the issues head-on instead of resorting to ad hominems or trying to drag other people into the mess. “If you throw stones, be prepared to defend yourselves if stones are thrown back. What is happening is ad hominem. I have yet to hear an explanation from Taguig. Did they deny there was illegal reclamation or that the slope protection projects were not built? None. They resorted to ad hominems and attacked the messenger. They should just answer the issues,” he said. He noted that during his early days as senator, he faced several false accusations from the Arroyo administration, including claims of multimillion-dollar accounts abroad. Lacson said he debunked all the allegations against him, with his accusers eventually apologizing and acknowledging they were wrong. “To me, it’s simple. If you did not do anything wrong, how will you be intimidated or pressured? I faced a lot of pressure during the nine years of the Arroyo administration. But did I lament that I was being intimidated? I defended myself,” he said. “I defended myself, and that should be the way to go—not to blame others,” he added.
School mourns loss of students due to leptospirosis
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OUSE Deputy Speaker Janette Garin rejected claims that the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) was pork barrel, citing restrictions on its use, while warning against placing essential, continuing expenses under unprogrammed allocations without assured funding. At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Garin addressed safeguards for local funds and spending priorities in the proposed 2027 national budget. On unprogrammed appropriations, she explained that their inclusion in the budget did not mean financing was already available. “Unprogrammed allocation again, that is not funded,” she said. She cited collections above projected tax revenues as a source that could make funding
available, explaining why the budget retained a provision for additional spending. “But if there are excess taxes, these unprogrammed items will be funded,” Garin explained. She said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) followed its priorities when deciding which allocations to fund as resources became available. Some could remain unfunded, particularly amid economic challenges. “So the authority rests within
the DBM, the Department of Budget and Management,” she said. Garin cautioned against moving essential commitments into unprogrammed allocations while providing assured funding for less urgent expenses. She cited students already enrolled in four-year scholarships, saying that support for their subsequent years should be provided through programmed spending. “Their subsequent years should be covered by this program,” she said. On the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), Garin cited restrictions on its use. “The Local Government Support Fund comes with conditions regarding where the funds can be spent,” she said. The executive’s proposed 2027 LGSF totaled P58.53 billion. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said requests for
financial assistance would come directly from local governments through its Ugnayang Bayan Portal, with approval subject to evaluation and funding availability. Asked about the risk of local funds being used for electionrelated advantage, Garin pointed to spending conditions and Commission on Audit (COA) oversight. Discussing local governments’ internal revenue allotments, she also cited their planning requirements. “They have an annual investment plan,” she said. Garin acknowledged that an incumbent could have some advantage, but said health, social services and disaster-related activities could not simply be halted because of an election. On the purpose of the LGSF, Garin said: “That fund is actually allocated for an ongoing program of the LGU that requires funding.”
Students from National University–Fairview hold an impromptu dance showdown at a mall in Fairview, Quezon City, drawing the attention and appreciation of mall-goers. Edd Castro
Leonen expected to serve as acting Supreme Court chief By Pot Chavez SENIOR Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen is expected to serve as acting chief justice following Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s retirement in November. In an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel on Friday, Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting explained that the senior associate justice usually served as the acting chief justice. Last month, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) announced the opening of applications for the position to be vacated by Gesmundo. Under the 1987 Constitution, the president appoints the chief justice from a list of at least three nominees submitted to him by the council. During his tenure, Gesmundo spearheaded the judiciary’s reform agenda, the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), which sought to promote efficiency, innovation and access. The 27th chief justice of the Philippines was set to retire on Nov. 6 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Aside from Gesmundo, Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier was also
set to retire on Nov. 16.I also changed “totaled” and similar constructions to past tense where appropriate, while keeping the leads and overall flow intact.
DOE cancels coal bidding over Semirara concerns
Sibling lawmakers push PH ube industry master plan
BI fast-tracks deployment of body cameras at airports equip their airport officers by the end of October. “This is not only about documenting our officers’ transactions. The body-worn cameras will strengthen accountability, transparency, and monitoring, and serve as a deterrent against any personnel who may attempt to abuse their position,” Viado said in a news release Friday.
IN BRIEF THE Department of Energy (DOE) canceled its planned coal bidding for three concession areas, citing the need to reassess the framework for awarding operating contracts. In a statement Saturday, the DOE said the move would ensure that any future award reflected the value of the indigenous energy resources and delivered clear benefits to the government and Filipino consumers. The termination came amid concerns raised during pre-submission conferences and recent developments affecting Semirara Island in Antique. The DOE said ongoing water seepage could affect extractable coal reserves, while a legal dispute involving the current operator and the agency created uncertainties for prospective bidders. The DOE said the areas had confirmed mineable coal reserves of commercial quantity and were ready for direct development and production. Any coal operating contract must provide clear and measurable economic returns to the government. The agency said it would recalibrate the bidding parameters, including appropriate government revenues, commitments for domestic utilization and other benefits commensurate with the value and characteristics of the resources.
DANCE SHOWDOWN.
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it is fast-tracking the deployment of body-worn cameras with voicerecording capability for all officers assigned at airports as part of measures to strengthen accountability, transparency and monitoring of immigration operations. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said they were targeting to
A3
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By Maricel V. Cruz
SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 |
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House leader rejects pork claims, seeks vital funds
The measure came amid the ongoing internal investigation into the attempted departure of a potential victim of human trafficking and illegal recruitment at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Parañaque City on Sept. 12. The BI terminated the services of one job order employee and relieved two immigration officers from their airport assignments, one of whom had been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Viado said the administrative actions were separate from the determination of any criminal liability, which would depend on the findings of the NBI. The probe would also determine who assisted or attended to the passenger from the time she entered the terminal until she reached the immigration area, including whether any personnel may have facilitated
her immigration clearance. The BI was likewise examining whether other airport personnel, including those from other stakeholders, may have had involvement in or knowledge of the circumstances. “We need to establish the complete timeline of the incident and identify everyone who may have had contact with or assisted the passenger inside the terminal. Given the circumstances, our investigation cannot be limited to what happened at the immigration counter alone,” the BI chief said. “We will not allow the wrongdoing of a few to undermine the hard-earned accomplishments and credibility of the Bureau. I strongly warn all BI personnel: Do not abuse your position and do not engage in illegal activities. We will take firm action against anyone found to have violated the law or abused their authority.”
SIGN OF SUPPORT.
A motorcycle rider raises his fist as he passes an anti-Pax Silica banner inside the University of the Philippines Diliman campus on Saturday, September 19. Manny Palmero
SIBLING lawmakers from Camarines Sur urged the House of Representatives on Saturday to prioritize a national ube industry master plan to increase production, strengthen local supply chains and expand the Philippines’ export potential. Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Luigi Vincenzo Villafuerte said rising overseas demand for ube presented an opportunity for the Philippines to become a major source of the root crop and its products. Luigi Villafuerte said a comprehensive roadmap covering production, processing, marketing and exports was needed to meet international demand. The siblings earlier filed House Bill 8814, which sought to create a Philippine Ube Industry Council and an Ube Industry Development Fund. The proposed fund would support farmers, processing facilities, research, quality infrastructure, branding, marketing and export promotion, while providing small farmers with better market access, fair prices, technical assistance and credit programs. The Villafuertes said the blueprint should be fast-tracked amid Vietnam’s efforts to increase ube production. Miguel Luis Villafuerte said local production was estimated at only 12,000 metric tons, underscoring the need to boost output amid surging global demand. Maricel Cruz
Philippines, UAE reaffirm defense cooperation THE Philippines and the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, particularly in military education and training and defense industry cooperation. Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met UAE Non-Resident Attaché to the Philippines Staff Col. Ahmed Saeed Ali Alramli Alketbi during the latter’s introductory call at the DND on Sept. 17. UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Alzaabi and Embassy Counsellor Musabbeh Said Humaid Binsumait Al Ali accompanied Alketbi during the meeting. The two sides discussed the evolving security situation in the Middle East and underscored the importance of collaboration and open dialogue in addressing interconnected security challenges with global implications. The meeting followed the signing of the Philippines-UAE Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s official visit to the UAE in January. The DND said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in military education and training, defense industry and the co-production of defense material. Rex Espiritu
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WORLD
A4 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
Gemini AI carried out cyberattacks, guessed passwords WASHINGTON – Google’s consumer AI model Gemini hacked multiple systems through guessing login credentials, the company told AFP on Friday, the latest case of rogue AI cybersecurity transgressions, which have generated safety concerns. The hacks, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, took place in May and were discovered by Google in July. “In a standard evaluation, the model found public information online and guessed credentials to access websites it thought were part of the test,”Heather Adkins, Google’s vice president of security engineering, told AFP in a statement. “In all three of these instances, the model stopped,” Adkins added, without specifying which organizations were breached. “We ensured the three entities were made aware, and we worked with our training partner on the changes they’ve now made to their testing processes.” In July, two OpenAI models escaped the closed environment they were meant to stay in, got onto the internet on their own and broke into the internal systems AI platform Hugging Face. The incident fed worries that AI giants cannot keep their own models under control, as similar episodes have been reported at Anthropic and China’s Moonshot AI. “These events highlight the importance of training powerful AI models to act responsibly,” Adkins emphasized. AFP
Dazzling... From A1
“You’ve worked hard and sacrificed a lot to be here. Focus the mind. Remember the purpose. For self. For family. For country. Bring out the heart of the Filipino athlete in every fight. We are all behind you and we are watching you. Laban, Philippines!” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino also had high hopes for the more than 400-strong Filipino delegation, lauding their presentation and the high level of readiness. “Everyone is excited,” Tolentino said of the opening activities, particularly on the look and feel of the team. “It’s ours alone, but they all looked great in general.” The Philippines is already setting the tone for early podium finishes with early action in sports like football, teqball and soft tennis already started ahead of the opening ceremony, according to Tolentino. The POC chief expressed confidence Team Philippines can better the four-gold medal haul made in the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, and maybe even double it. “We’re all praying for that – that we go beyond it or double it even, God willing,” Tolentino shared. “This is everyone’s dream as we are fully prepared for these Asian Games after four years of hard work and preparation. The event’s opening ceremony kicked off a massive athletic campaign that will feature 469 gold medal competitions in over 40 sports before concluding on October 4 with 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualifying spots up for grabs in seven disciplines. Sunday morning should see the first gold medal of the games, in the men’s individual triathlon.
Trump says CNN, Politico, MS NOW banned from White House W
ASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said Friday he was banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing them of spreading “fake news” about his administration.
The 80-year-old Republican – who has long had a fiery relationship with the media – warned that other outlets could face a similar fate but did not say which ones. The move by Trump drew immediate accusations that it was unconstitutional and would be thrown out by the courts, while the impacted news outlets said they would not be cowed. “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW...and Politico...from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Trump did not say what prompted the move but added that “media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States.” Later in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters: “I think that somebody has a right to keep them away if they’re going to write false stories all the time.” Asked if any particular stories had sparked the ban, he replied: “It’s really just cumulative stories over the last two years.” “You get sick of it,” he said. “They purposely write negative news, and they do that because they want to try and diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration.” US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host who has brought in tight restrictions at the Pentagon, backed Trump’s new ban and accused the outlets of having “endangered troops” with unspecified stories. Journalists for broadcasters CNN and MS NOW – which was until recently known as MSNBC –
DANGEROUS TREK. Palestinian children walk to school amid the rubble of destroyed buildings as the academic year begins in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, September 19, 2026. AFP
and Politico remained on White House premises following Trump’s announcement. Reporters for the two TV news channels could still be seen broadcasting from their stations on the White House driveway. CNN said Trump’s ban was an “illegal assault” on US press freedom, adding that its reporting was “fair and accurate” and was protected under the US Constitution. Politico vowed Friday to “vigorously defend our First Amendment rights against any attempt to restrict them.”
The White House Correspondents Association – the independent body representing journalists covering the presidency – said it “stands in defense” of the journalists “who are being singled out for doing their jobs.” Both of Trump’s White House terms have seen him lash out repeatedly at media whose coverage displeases him. He has filed multiple defamation suits against news outlets, attacked the press on Truth Social and verbally assaulted several reporters, notably women, including CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins. AFP
Death toll from attack at police HQ in Pakistan rises to 31 of civilians were killed in the latest Pakistani strikes on eastern Afghanistan in June. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack on Friday evening, expressing “deep sorrow and regret over the injury of several people as a result of the blast.” He directed the “best medical assistance be provided to the injured” and called for a report into the attack. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed “regret” over the casualties, sending his “best wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured in the blast.” “The complete elimination of Fitnaal-Khawarij and terrorists operating with foreign backing is essential for national security,” he said, using another term for the TTP group. AFP
KOHAT, PAKISTAN – The death toll from an explosion and gun attack at a police headquarters in northern Pakistan rose to at least 31, including 16 police personnel, a senior police official told AFP on Saturday, with fighting ongoing. Attackers stormed the Old Police Lines complex at Kohat, a town of around 220,000 people in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, on Friday afternoon. The police compound serves as a district-level police headquarters, housing key offices of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Special Branch and several other police units. “At least 31 people, including 16 police personnel, have been killed and more than 100 injured so far in the militant attack and suicide bomb-
ing,” the official said. “Several militants are still holed up in the Special Branch section of the Kohat Police Complex,” the police official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “An exchange of fire with them has been ongoing since late last night. Their exact number remains unclear,” the official added. A statement from the Kohat district health officer late on Friday said that more than 100 people had been injured, the vast majority of them police personnel, and several were in a critical condition. Local militant group Ittehad-ulMujahideen Pakistan, a faction linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – the Pakistani Taliban – has claimed responsibility for the attack.
AFP images showed military personnel standing by piles of bricks, rubble and blown-out walls following the attack, with soldiers carrying assault rifles guarding the complex. Several ambulances were seen lining a street near the police compound. Pakistan has blamed the increase in attacks in KP and the southern border province of Balochistan on militancy emanating from Afghanistan, where the Taliban government denies Afghan involvement. The accusations have sparked a bitter rift and armed conflict between the neighboring countries, and Pakistan has carried out deadly airstrikes it says target militants on Afghan soil. The Taliban government in Kabul and the United Nations said dozens
‘Shooter’...
“We should act together – from the barangays to the DILG to the Deped, to the parents, everyone must come together and realize there is a problem, that depression is real, depression among kids is real and we must give the warning signs. We must give access to proper psychiatric healthcare,” Remulla said. On Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered concerned agencies to immediately investigate and strengthen security in schools following the fatal shooting at the Banga National High School. “I have ordered our agencies to strengthen security in schools and do everything necessary to prevent such a tragedy from happening again,” the President said.
“In the coming days, we will release additional measures to address the remaining gaps and better protect our students,”he added. Mr. Marcos also ordered a thorough investigation into the shooting, including how a minor was able to obtain a firearm and bring it inside the school. “We should not accept school shootings as simply becoming a part of our children’s lives,” the President said. School shootings are rare in the country, but in August, a student livestreamed himself shooting another schoolmate dead before taking his own life at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, a Catholic private institution in western Mindanao.
interest of the witness is adverse to the party calling him, then he will be qualified as a hostile witness,” Tolosa said in mixed English and Filipino. The Davao City Mayor is among the witnesses whom prosecutors asked the court to summon as they move beyond the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) and into corporate and other government records. Prosecutors are particularly looking into Gencorp Industries Inc., a company in which the Vice President reported a financial interest in her SALNs. They want to determine whether Gencorp had transactions with the Davao City government during
Baste’s tenure as mayor and, if so, establish the circumstances surrounding those dealings. The prosecution has clarified that the mayor is being summoned to provide evidence and is not himself being accused of wrongdoing in the impeachment case. Whether prosecutors will be permitted to treat Baste as a hostile witness will be determined by the senator-judges after the prosecution makes its request and establishes the basis for it. Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the impeachment court may need additional time to evaluate the voting threshold to convict or acquit the Vice President.
The department also agreed to conduct another round of targeted assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, exclusively for qualified transport operators and drivers. In the meantime, the DOTr’s UPLIFT initiatives are ongoing, including toll exemptions for provincial buses, terminal fee waiver at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, monthly membership waiver at SM public transport terminals, 50-percent fare discount on MRT-3 and LRT-2, Piso RoRo terminal fees, and Libreng Sakay services provided by partner government agencies. Meanwhile, the government may resort to staggering fuel price increases again as double-digit hikes in diesel prices loom next week amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, an oil industry source said Friday. Diesel prices could rise by P10 to P10.50 per liter, while gasoline prices may increase by P4.50 to P5 per liter, based on Mean of Platts Singapore trading and foreign exchange averages in the past four days. Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad, in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, said gasoline prices could rise by around P5 per liter, while diesel could increase by “more or less P10 per liter.”
ment vessel off the coast of the Philippines. These dangerous maneuvers jeopardize regional peace and stability,” the Canadian Embassy in Manila said in a statement on Saturday. In a post on X, US Ambassador Lee Lipton said Washington DC “strongly condemns” the act and commends the BFAR personnel manning the Filipino vessel for
their “sustained professionalism.” “We strongly condemn the China Coast Guard’s deliberate ramming of the Philippine BFAR vessel near Bombay Shoal, just 54 miles off the coast of Palawan. We commend the sustained professionalism of our Philippine Allies in the face of this dangerous, destabilizing act,” he said. The EU Delegation in Manila ech-
oed similar sentiments conveying deep concern over the incident. “Dangerous maneuvers at sea endangers lives. Respect for international law of the sea, as reflected in UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and the 2016 Arbitral Award, is key to maritime security and safety,” EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said.
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Remulla said he will ask DICT or Congress for ways to restrict or limit internet access for minors. “I will meet with DICT to put an end to this. I will even go to Congress to ask for the limitation of the use of social media for kids, similar to what they did in Australia,” he said. “It is a tragedy which continues to happen and we must all act together. This was a young man who was influenced by the deep dark web,” Remulla added. He also pointed out that depression is real among the children and proper mental health care must be extended to them.
‘Baste’... From A1
mony is being sought under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth and questions surrounding the Vice President’s declared financial interests. “We will ask the court to declare him as a hostile witness,” Tolosa said at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City. A hostile-witness declaration would allow prosecutors to use leading questions in examining Duterte, subject to the impeachment court’s approval. “If you’ll be able to show that the
PCG... From A1
As this developed, the United States, Canada and the European Union expressed concern over the latest actions by the CCG. “Canada is concerned by the Chinese Coast Guard deliberately ramming into a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources fisheries enforce-
Gov’t... From A1
Nestlé expansion creates opportunities, healthier choices in Tanauan
CHUCKIE mascot joins Nestlé Philippines officials, led by president Mauricio Alarcón, in marking another manufacturing milestone for the fortified chocolate milk drink.
Fuel firm pushes quality for better efficiency WITH fuel prices and vehicle maintenance costs affecting household and business budgets, motorists are paying closer attention to fuel quality and efficiency as they seek to get more from every kilometer. While fuels may appear similar at the pump, differences in quality can affect engine performance over time. Deposit buildup on critical engine components, for instance, can reduce combustion efficiency and potentially contribute to higher maintenance costs.
Caltex, whose fuels and lubricants are marketed by Chevron, uses its Techron® technology to help remove and prevent deposits on key engine components. Borescope testing has shown cleaner intake valves in vehicles using Caltex fuels with Techron®, supporting more efficient fuel combustion. Fuel volume is another consideration for motorists. Beyond mandatory government calibration, Caltex said it regularly inspects and maintains its pumps to ensure accurate dispensing and protect fuel quality from water and other contaminants. The company said these measures are intended to ensure motorists receive the volume they pay for while meeting regulatory requirements. Caltex also said its operations comply with national safety and environmental standards. Its diesel products meet the Philippine Biofuels Act (Republic Act No. 9367), including the Department of Energy’s mandated 3 percent coconut-based biodiesel blend for diesel sold in the Philippines. The requirement supports the use of locally produced coconut-based fuel and contributes to energy security. “At Caltex, we are committed to providing motorists with high-quality fuels they can trust. Through our focus on quality, accurate dispensing, and compliance with regulatory requirements, we help drivers make every kilometer count and every journey more rewarding,”said Chevron Philippines Inc. country chair and general manager Pongtorn Tangmanuswong.
NESTLÉ Philippines’ nearly P500 million expansion of its Tanauan City, Batangas plant is expected to generate more jobs, strengthen local supply chains and expand access to fortified food and beverage options for Filipino children. The investment will add 144 million packs of CHUCKIE chocolate milk drink to the facility’s annual production capacity, allowing Nestlé to meet growing demand while supporting economic activity in Tanauan and nearby municipalities. Nestlé Philippines chairman and CEO Mauricio Alarcón said the expansion reflects the company’s continued investment in local manufacturing and its commitment to serving Filipino families. “This investment enables us to serve more CHUCKIE to Filipino families with products they know, enjoy, and trust,” Alarcón said during the inauguration of the expanded facility.
Nestlé Tanauan Factory manager Neil Desabelle said the higher production capacity would allow the plant to respond to demand while maintaining quality, safety and reliability standards. The company said CHUCKIE is fortified with calcium and vitamin D for bone development, iron and zinc to support cognitive development, and protein to supplement growth, complementing a balanced diet and active lifestyle. Nestlé said it provided 25 billion fortified servings in the Philippines in 2025 as part of its efforts to make nutritious food and beverage
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SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 OTHEL V. CAMPOS, Issue Editor / email: extrastory2000@gmail.com choices more accessible to consumers while continuing investments in nutrition education and product innovation. The Tanauan expansion also supports Nestlé’s sustainability initiatives, including Fit for Purpose and Ready for Recycling packaging and paper straws, while CHUCKIE is part of the Nestlé Wellness Campus, the company’s nutrition education program.
BUSINESS
Food entrepreneurs return to school for formal learning A
FOOD business can teach an entrepreneur plenty about customers, operations, and survival. The kitchen, however, demands a different kind of learning, building on technique, discipline and consistency.
That realization led two food entrepreneurs, Joanna Ledesma and Jeremaine Sze, back to the classroom, where they added formal culinary training to years of hands-on experience. Ledesma had been cooking since Grade 2 before earning a degree in Business Administration at Saint Louis University in Baguio City. Her entrepreneurial career eventually took her into food and hospitality, where she developed and managed concepts including Simone’s Original Snacks, The Blue Mikey Bar and Restaurant, and Ramenshakku. Sze, meanwhile, was already building her own food venture when she enrolled. She started NamJai Thai Noodle House while completing the Professional Chef Program at CCA Manila, allowing her to put classroom lessons into practice as she developed the business. Their experiences show how culinary education can transform hands-on experience into stronger technical skills and a more disciplined approach to the food business. Yearning for new learning Ledesma entered CCA Manila with years of cooking and business experience but wanted to strengthen the technical side of her craft. “I wanted proper culinary training, stronger foundations, and professional techniques that would help me grow as a chef. Enrolling in the CCA ProChef Program was my way of investing in myself and finally giving formal education to a passion I had carried with me for so many years,” she said. The training deepened her understanding of kitchen discipline, organization, food safety, flavor development, presentation, consistency, and technique. “It taught me to understand the reason behind each technique instead of simply following a recipe. That gave me more confidence to experiment, create my own dishes, and combine what I learned in school with the flavors and ingredients that represent who I am as a Filipino chef,” Ledesma said. Her commitment to training required a significant time investment. As a mother and entrepreneur, she travelled weekly from Bolinao to Manila for classes, balancing her studies with family and business responsibilities. “CCA reminded me that no matter how much experience you already have, there is
ProBaking graduate Joanna Ledesma learns that culinary education can enhance your skills.
Jeremaine Sze learns how to apply the skills and the right attitude to her food business, NamJai Thai Noodle House.
always something new to learn. I am a learner, and this is what encouraged me to enroll in CCA ProChef,” she said, While completing the program, she applied lessons in food preparation, sanitation and safety, cooking methods, staff training, and menu standardization to NamJai Thai Noodle
House. The classroom also changed how she viewed leadership in a professional kitchen. “Most people think that being skilled and knowledgeable in the kitchen is already enough. However, in a kitchen setting, when ego gets in the way, people often forget that attitude is still greater than skill. Obtaining a professional culinary certification significantly boosted my confidence as a leader,” Ledesma said. Building a professional skills set The experiences of Ledesma and Sze offer a glimpse into how CCA Manila bridges formal culinary education and real-world kitchen experience. Its six-month Professional Chef Program (ProChef ) is designed for aspiring chefs, career shifters, entrepreneurs and home cooks who want structured professional training without committing to a full diploma. Students start with kitchen safety, ingredients, knife skills and essential cooking methods before moving into culinary techniques and global cooking principles. The program also covers the operational side of a professional kitchen, including timing, workflow, plating, quality standards and kitchen discipline. Career preparation, cer tification and optional internship experience are also included. Coursework combines Rouxbe online learning with weekly face-to-face practical sessions at CCA’s BGC satellite campus, giving students structured instruction and handson kitchen experience while allowing them to balance work, business and other commitments. Putting culinary skills to work CCA is extending this approach to baking through its seven-month Professional Baking Program (ProBaking), launched in September 2026. The program covers ingredients, technique, and food safety before progressing to ar tisan bak ing, production, workflow, costing, yield management, and quality standards, culminating in a complete bakery business plan from concept and menu development to costing and execution. That business component recognizes an important reality for people entering the food industry: culinary skills are only part of the equation. Running a viable food venture also requires an understanding of costs, production, consistency, people, and customers. The combination gives career shifters a structured entry into the industry while giving experienced food entrepreneurs another way to strengthen the businesses they have already built. For Ledesma and Sze, formal training became part of that process—adding new skills to years of experience and turning what they learned in the classroom into something they could use in the real world. Othel V. Campos
Tech-voc skills gain hiring visibility JOBSTREET by SEEK and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are linking their digital platforms to make technicalvocational qualifications more visible and verifiable to employers. Under the partnership, TESDA graduates can integrate eligible certifications from their TESDA Skills Passpor t into SEEK Pass, J o b s t re e t ’s d i gi t a l c re d e n t i a l verification platform, allowing verified credentials to appear on their Jobstreet profiles. Formalized through a signing ceremony at the TESDA Central Office in Taguig City, the initiative enables graduates and alumni to verify and share their TESDA credentials while giving employers a clearer view of applicants’ technical training and qualifications. Verified credentials carry a badge
on a candidate’s Jobstreet profile, helping employers assess applicants’ qualifications as part of the hiring process.
“ This par tnership ser ves as another bridge for TESDA graduates as they go from Training to Trabaho. With their TESDA credentials, tech-
voc graduates find a pathway toward impactful careers. And being able to showcase these credentials through SEEK Pass and Jobstreet gives them
a much-needed boost,” said TESDA Director General Secretary Kiko Benitez. “Technical-vocational education equips Filipinos with practical skills that can open doors to meaningful employment. By making these credentials more visible and verifiable at the start of the hiring journey, we are helping TESDA graduates better demonstrate what they can do while giving employers greater confidence in the skills they are looking for,” said Jobstreet by SEEK Philippines managing director Dannah Majarocon. J o b s t re e t a n d T E S DA h ave previously worked together on employment-readiness programs, including training sessions for TESDA graduates in 2024 and Career Readiness Training during WorldSkills ASEAN 2025.
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ON THE ROAD
EDGARD HILARIO, Issue Editor / edgardhilario@yahoo.com
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Vingroup joins World’s Top 350 Companies
INGROUP has been ranked 340th in TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2026, placing the Group among the world’s Top 400 companies. Compared with 2025, Vingroup has risen nearly 500 places and remains the only Vietnamese company to be recognized on the prestigious ranking.
The World’s Best Companies 2026 ranking is jointly conducted by TIME, a globally recognized magazine, and Statista, a leading global data and market research company. Companies are evaluated across three comprehensive dimensions: revenue growth, employee satisfaction, and sustainability transparency, supported by in-depth analysis of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors. As the first and only Vietnamese company to be included in the ranking for two consecutive years, Vingroup achieved positive results across all three dimensions, receiving an overall score of 81 and ranking 340th among the Top 1,000 companies worldwide, up 477 places from its 817th ranking last year. In terms of Revenue Growth, Vingroup received an “Outstanding” rating. In the first half of 2026, the Group recorded consolidated net revenue of VND 222.9 trillion, up 72% year on year from the same period in 2025, driven by strong growth in industrial manufacturing and real estate
businesses. Consolidated profit after tax reached VND 20.904 trillion, 4.6 times higher than the same period last year and equivalent to 60% of the full-year target. In terms of Employee Satisfaction, Vingroup ranked 398th globally, up 496 places from 2025. The Group has developed a dynamic working environment that encourages dedication, innovation and employee engagement, while placing a strong focus on individual development. Over more than three decades of development, Vingroup has continuously expanded into new areas, established new growth drivers and progressively expanded its ecosystem into international markets. Today, companies across the Vingroup ecosystem operate in 12 countries, creating employment for approximately 400,000 people worldwide. In terms of Sustainability Transparency, Vingroup continues to make important contributions through green transition initiatives, infrastructure development and the development of sustainable urban and living ecosystems. Alongside economic growth, the Group focuses on creating longterm value for society. VinFast, the all-electric vehicle brand within the Vingroup ecosystem, has become the leading automotive brand by sales volume in Vietnam, while setting a target of delivering 300,000 cars and 1 million electric motorcycles globally in 2026. Meanwhile, Vinhomes has pioneered the development of the ESG++ urban model, adding Regeneration and Resilience to the three core ESG pillars of E – Environment, S – Social and G – Governance, thereby raising
BSB Junrose strengthens commercial mobility role with Michelin Tires BSB Junrose has been appointed as one of Michelin’s new importer-distributors serving commercial transportation and fleet customers in the Philippines. The partnership comes as Michelin builds on more than 60 percent growth in Philippine sales volume since 2023. The tire manufacturer has also expanded its local importer-distributor network from four to seven as it pursues further growth beyond its traditional passenger-car strength. For BSB Junrose, the partnership is more than an addition to its brand portfolio. It supports a broader effort to help fleet operators address the demands of vehicles that must remain productive every day. “BSB Junrose is strengthening its role in commercial mobility by supporting fleet operators in selected critical areas that contribute to vehicle reliability, uptime and operational efficiency,” said Ian Bangayan, President of BSB Junrose. “The addition of Michelin commercial tires expands that capability into another essential area of fleet operations.” Fleet performance is business performance Commercial vehicles sit at the center of logistics, distribution and the daily movement of goods. When a vehicle is taken off the road unexpectedly, the cost is rarely limited to a repair. Delayed deliveries, interrupted schedules and missed commitments can quickly affect customer service and operating results. Fleet decisions therefore extend beyond the purchase price of a part or tire. Operators must consider reliability, availability, safety, maintenance requirements and the effect of each component on productive time. The company currently helps keep fleets moving through batteries, lubricants, grease, clutches, bearings and selected engine components. The addition of commercial tires allows it to support another critical requirement of fleet operations. Expanding commercial fleet support As one of Michelin’s new importer-distributors, BSB Junrose has a focused role in serving commercial transportation and fleet customers in the Philippines. The partnership broadens its support for businesses that depend on reliable vehicle operations.
the standard for sustainable development across large-scale urban developments spanning thousands of hectares. In particular, in 2025, Vingroup officially expanded into two new strategic areas: Infrastructure and Green Energy. Through VinSpeed, with the Ben Thanh – Can Gio (Ho Chi Minh City) and Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway projects now under construction, as well as energy projects developed by VinEnergo across multiple localities, Vingroup is progressively co nt r i b u t i n g to s t ro n g e r re gi o n a l connectivity, the expansion of economic space and the acceleration of the green transition. Previously, Vingroup became the first and only Vietnamese company to qualify for and be included in the World’s Best Companies 2025 ranking. Brands across the Vingroup ecosystem have also received recognition from numerous international organizations. VinFast was previously recognized by TIME in two prestigious rankings: the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2024 and Asia-Pacific’s Best Companies of 2025. In the latter ranking, VinFast was recognized among the companies shaping the region’s position on the global economic map. TIME is a leading global magazine headquartered in New York, the United States, with a history spanning 101 years. With a global presence and in-depth, independent analysis of political, economic, cultural and scientific developments, TIME has established a strong voice and influence capable of shaping public discourse. Its rankings are widely recognized for their value and credibility worldwide.
Ford names Tim Wels as PH managing director FORD Motor Company has announced the appointment of c as managing director, Ford Philippines, effective November 1, 2026. Tim is currently general manager, Marketing and Strategy, Ford Australia. He will succeed Pedro Simoes who will be repatriating to the Middle East. Wels will relocate to Manila and will report directly to Andrew Birkic, vice president, Sales and Service, Ford International Markets Group (IMG). In his new role, Wels will be responsible for leading Ford’s business in the Philippines, including sustaining Ford’s growth in the market, improving the ownership and aftersales experience, and fostering strong relationships with dealer partners to better serve customers. Wels’ appointment comes at an exciting time for Ford Philippines with the recent launches of the refreshed Ranger and Everest lineup and Territory Hybrid Platinum, as well as the continuation of its commitment to improve the aftersales experience with the new Parts Distribution Center and Learning Center.
Tim Wels
“With a proven track record of driving profitable growth, enhancing brand value, and leading highperforming cross-functional teams, I am confident that Tim will be able to lead the team and work together with our dealer partners to further strengthen the Ford brand in the Philippines,” said Birkic. “On behalf of the Ford team, I also want to express my appreciation to Pedro for his significant contributions to Ford Philippines. Pedro successfully led an organizational and culture transformation and positioned the business for success in its next phase. We wish him the very best in his new role,” added Birkic. Wels joined Ford Australia in 2008 and has since built close to two decades of experience leading and growing the business across retail, product and brand marketing, new vehicle launches, customer experience, marketing communications and business strategy, resulting in his deep understanding of the automotive industry. “I am excited to be joining our talented team in the Philippines,”said Wels.“I look forward to working with our passionate group of employees, dealers and partners who have all been instrumental to the success of Ford Philippines, especially as it approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027 with an exciting vehicle line-up and enhanced ownership offerings for Filipino customers.”
Green GSM PH holds record driver festival
GREEN GSM Philippines hosted the Green GSM Platform Driver Partner Festival from September 12-14, 2026, bringing together thousands of current and prospective Driver Partners, with the handover of 1,000 electric vehicles to Green Driver Partners as the centerpiece of the event at The Tent in Las Piñas City and its partner depots. The event aimed to meet the growing demand for the green transition among Driver Partners and the public transport community, while marking a new step in the expansion of Green GSM’s service ecosystem in the Philippines. Central to the festival was the handover of the first 1,000 electric vehicles to Green GSM Platform Driver Partners, expanding their business options and giving the driver community access to more efficient and flexible operating models. The addition of more vehicles will strengthen Green GSM’s service capacity and its ability to meet customers’ growing mobility needs, while contributing to the broader transition to green transportation in the Philippines.
Building on the partnership between VinFast and Green GSM, the event introduced the vehicle rental model designed for Driver Partners, with an initial investment starting from just PHP 5,000, opening up additional business options and reducing the barriers for drivers to enter electric vehicle operations. The program reflects Green GSM’s “5 Green Promises” commitment, with a focus on providing better vehicles, suitable operating models, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for the Driver Partner community. Under this model, eligible Driver Partners could choose from VinFast electric vehicles including the 4-seater Herio Green/VF 5 and the 7-seater Limo Green. These all-electric models are designed to meet the needs of service operations, offering smooth per formance, ease of use, and optimized energy, maintenance, and servicing costs compared with gasoline vehicles in the same segment. Through support programs for pioneering partners, including free charging and VinFast warranty coverage of up to 7
years/160,000 km for the Limo Green and the VF 5/Herio Green, drivers can significantly reduce operating costs, improve business efficiency, and increase their long-term earnings. As part of the event series, Green GSM continues to reaffirm its longterm commitment to the Green Driver Partner community in the Philippines, with a focus on enhancing service quality, professionalism, and community engagement through the launch of the Global Green GSM Driver Partner Community in the Philippines. The Community serves as a platform to connect and support Driver Partners, while strengthening engagement across the broader Green GSM ecosystem. Through the Community, members will be able to share and learn from one another’s experiences in operating electric vehicles and providing mobility services, stay updated on the latest information and policies, and work together to build an increasingly professional, connected, and sustainable Driver Partner community.
Elite Korean athletes put hearts on the line in new dating show
NICKIE WANG, Editor, ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer email: lifeandshow. manilastandard@gmail.com
By Angelica Villanueva
SHOWBIZ
The dating show will bring elite athletes together for physical challenges, mental tests and a chance to form connections away from competition
FOR athletes trained to measure success in seconds, points and podium finishes, romance usually has little to do with the competition. Love Training Camp is about to put the two in the same arena. The upcoming Korean reality series will bring together elite athletes from different sports for a mix of physical challenges, mental tests and dating, giving competitors a chance to meet people who understand the demands of performing at a high level. Contestants will take part in challenges designed to test their strength, focus and competitive instincts before spending time together away from the action.
The format also aims to show a side of high-level athletes that is rarely seen during competition. After pushing through a series of demanding tasks, the participants will have opportunities to talk, relax and form connections with people who share the pressures that come with elite sport. The series is currently in production and is set for an exclusive release on Disney+. Love Training Camp is produced by Sung Chikyong, whose credits include The Gentlemen’s League and Guided Adventure. Jang Junghee, known for Shooting Stars and Law of the Jungle, serves as the writer. Both creators have extensive backgrounds in Korean sports variety programming, with previous work centered on competition, team dynamics and unscripted entertainment.
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The series joins Disney+’s growing lineup of Korean variety shows. Other titles available on the platform include Deadly Tag, which follows contestants trying to outlast one another in a survival-style competition, and I Am Boxer, featuring 90 boxing hopefuls competing for the chance to emerge as Korea’s next boxing standout. Disney+ also carries The Zone: Survival Mission, starring Yu Jaeseok, Kwon Yuri, Kim Donghyun and Dex. The program puts its cast through a series of unusual and increasingly difficult challenges that require them to work together. Details about the cast, release date and individual challenges in Love Training Camp have yet to be announced.
Angela Muji
admits she can be foolish when in love By Angelica Villanueva
A
Angela Muji reveals that she tends to follow her heart when it comes to romance
By Jasper Valdez SEX has long been part of Philippine cinema, sometimes used as a selling point and other times as a way to examine the lives people lead behind closed doors. Over the decades, filmmakers have also used it to talk about work, poverty, stigma, family and health. With September marking World Sexual and Reproductive Health Month, these five Filipino films offer a look at how those conversations have changed from one generation to the next. ‘Burlesk Queen’ (1977) Celso Ad. Castillo’s Burlesk Queen follows Chato, played by Vilma Santos, a utility worker who enters the burlesque stage and eventually becomes its main attraction. Her decision is tied to money and the need to support her disabled father. The film looks at the commodification of the female body, while also showing the inde-
NGELA Muji may be making wiser choices in life and career these days, but when it comes to love, she admits she still tends to follow her heart.
Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, the actress and singer said she does not always make the most rational choices once feelings are involved. “I’m not that wise when it comes to love. I guess it’s true what they say. When you love someone, you can become a little blind and a little foolish. But that’s all part of being in love,” Angela said. She even gave a rough breakdown of how she approaches romance. “I’d say maybe 80-20, 80% heart and 20% mind. I think that’s a fair enough balance. It can’t really be 50-50. That wouldn’t be love anymore,” she explained. Her candid take on love also mirrors the emotions behind her latest single, “Is It Over,” a heartbreak ballad connected to her role in the Viva One series Dating Alys Perez. Director Crisanto B. Aquino said the song was written from Alys’ point of view, with the character’s questions and pain serving as the basis for the lyrics. Angela said she carried the same emotional perspective into the recording. “While I was recording it, I was really thinking about Alys and how deeply Drake had hurt her,” she said. She added that even while filming emotional scenes for the series, the song would sometimes play in her head because of how closely it matched what Alys was going through. “Every time we had a scene where Alys was crying again, the chorus of ‘Is It Over’ would automatically start playing in my head,” Angela said.
The release also brings Angela back to music, years after she first entered the industry as a member of P-pop Generation. She recalled that during her time in the group, she would sometimes ask for more lines because singing opportunities had to be shared among members. Angela said she once found herself hoping for more lines to sing while performing in a group. Now, she has a solo track of her own. “Back then, I only dreamed of getting a few more lines in the Ppop group. Now, I have one solo song all to myself,” she said. Angela later shifted her focus to acting, taking supporting roles in Chasing in the Wild and Ang Mutya ng Section E before landing her first lead role in Seducing Drake Palma in 2025. The project also marked the beginning of her onscreen p a i r ing with Rabin Angeles. She has also begun discussing possible future recordings with Ivory Music, with pop and ballads among the directions she wants to explore. But for all the changes in her career, Angela’s answer to love remains much simpler. When feelings are involved, she still gives the heart more room than the head.
‘Dating Alys Perez’ director Crisanto Aquino (left) co-writes Angela Muji’s first solo track ‘Is It Over’
Angela Muji brings the heartbreak of her character in ‘Dating Alys Perez’ into ‘Is It Over’
More than sex on screen Five Pinoy films that had something to say about sex pendence Chato gains through her work. ‘Macho Dancer’ (1988) In Macho Dancer, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Lino Brocka shifted the gaze toward men. Allan Paule plays Pol, a young man who leaves his impoverished village and enters Manila’s nightlife as a dancer, stripper and sex worker. Brocka treats prostitution as part of the who wants to leave her old life behind and settle down. Getting out, however, does not erase the label society has placed on her. Directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna, the film turns Ligaya’s story into an examination of sexual stigma and the hypocrisy faced by a woman trying to define herself beyond her past.
characters’ economic reality while looking at poverty, exploitation and the power held by people around them. ‘Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo sa Akin’ (1997) Rosanna Roces plays Ligaya, a sex worker
‘Serbis’ (2008) Sex becomes part of an underground economy in Brillante Mendoza’s Serbis. Set inside a rundown family-owned movie theater in Angeles City, the film follows the Pineda family as prostitution operates within the same building. Mendoza connects questions about sex and morality with poverty and survival, while family problems unfold around the business.
‘Kalel, 15’ (2019) Jun Robles Lana takes the discussion toward sexual health in Kalel, 15. Elijah Canlas plays a teenager who learns he is HIV-positive while dealing with a complicated family life, including a father who is a priest. Rather than treating teenage sexuality as a simple cautionary tale, the film looks at the consequences of poor support, limited sexual-health guidance and the stigma that keeps Kalel from openly dealing with his diagnosis.
B4 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
RANDY M. CALUAG, Issue Editor
Delos Santos leads WAGC winners at Caliraya The exclusive Malbon Buckets Club members enjoy the MBC 008 on and off the fairways.
Malbon makes golf cool and stylish at MBC 008 By MS Golf & Leisure
F
AIRWAYS, streetwear and a little luck come together as the Buckets Club transforms a competitive golf tournament into a celebration of modern golf culture. Rain may have swept across Alabang Country Club, but it did little to dampen the unmistakable energy of Malbon Buckets Club. A total of 115 members turned up for MBC 008, the club’s final competitive tournament of 2026—a gathering that blended golf, streetwear, food, music and entertainment in a way few traditional golf events would attempt. That, however, is exactly what the Malbon lifestyle is about. M a l b o n Buckets Club is the community-driven side of Malbon Golf, the lifestyle brand known for br inging together the sport’s traditions and the attitude of contemporary street culture. Its tournaments are not merely about posting the lowest score. They are designed as shared experiences where golf, fashion and friendship meet. At MBC 008, that philosophy was in full throttle. The competition remained central to the day, but there was nothing overly rigid about the atmosphere. On-course activities, partner pop-ups and social spaces gave members plenty to enjoy between swings. Even the rain became part of the story as players stayed on the fairways, competed and embraced the conditions in true Buckets Club fashion. The most memorable stop was fittingly found at Hole 8. Called “Lucky 8,” the hole featured an actual slot machine that players could try before stepping onto the tee box. Matching symbols inspired by MBC 008 earned instant prizes, adding an element of chance to a sport already known for its unpredictable
bounces and breaks. Golf may be a game of skill, patience and precision, but Malbon made sure luck also had its moment. The experience extended well beyond the scorecard. AC Mobility’s Denza Premium Dealership brought a touch of automotive luxury, while BingoPlus VIP Club and the 19th Hole added high-roller energy to the event. Players could pick up a fresh Americano from % Arabica, refuel with Oatside and stay refreshed with Sip Purified Water, Sip Plus, Nutrifizz and Lemondou. Conti’s, KitKat and Conzace provided additional fuel throughout the round. Rudy Project supplied performance eyewear, while Toyama Audio Video provided the soundtrack that helped keep the mood lively despite the wet weather. After navigating 18 holes, players could turn to All Time Massage to loosen tired muscles. Akemi Glow, BYOND, Hello Glow and Scent Smith brought skincare, grooming and wellness into the clubhouse scene. Ayala Land Premier and Manila Craft also contributed to a post-round gathering that felt as much like a lifestyle festival as a golf tournament. That balance is what has made the Buckets Club a growing attraction among golfers. It offers competition without losing the social side of the game, while giving members a space to express themselves through fashion, music and shared experiences. MBC 008 may have closed the competitive calendar, but the Buckets Club’s season is not quite finished. Next on the schedule is the Intramuros “Trick or Tee” Fun Round, a Halloween-themed social event inside Manila’s historic walled city. Costumes, friendly competition and another distinctly Malbon experience are expected. For golfers curious about the community everyone seems to be talking about, Buckets Club membership provides access to exclusive tournaments, member experiences, product launches and golf lifestyle events. Membership information is available at bucketsclub. com.ph.
RICHARD“Ricky”Delos Santos, a local elite amateur from Veterans Golf Club, assembled a two-round net score of 139 to capture the Division A championship in the World Amateur Golfers Championship Philippines tournament at Caliraya Golf and Country Club in Laguna. Delos Santos opened with a net 66 before closing with a 73 to complete his title run. He submitted gross rounds of 70 and 73 for a 143 total. Randy Sulpico Someros settled for first runner-up honors after net rounds of 72 and 75 for a 147 aggregate. Raymund James Lachica finished second runner-up with a 154 total built on rounds of 83 and 71. Gerardo De Chavez and John Paul Gutierrez each posted net scores of 155, while Ian Davin Rosales placed sixth at 157. Ronald Andal, Philip Ouano and Miguel Lucas Barretto completed the Division A finishers. In Division B, Aaron Arvin Sorbito came through with the best closing round among the champions, firing a net 67 after an opening 74 to seize the crown with a 141 total. Past WAGC world champion Ma. Victoria “Vicky” Herrera finished four strokes behind at 145 after net rounds of 76 and 69 to claim first runner-up honors. Greg Reyes took second runner-up with a 146 total following rounds of 76 and 70.
Romeo Lopez placed fourth at 149, while Leo Gerald De Castro and Neil Ruelan shared fifth position at 150. Alvin Hipolito, meanwhile, rallied from an opening net 76 with a brilliant 66 to top Division C with a 142 aggregate. Hipolito edged Renan Vincent Gustilo by one stroke. Gustilo carded rounds of 74 and 69 for a 143 total to finish first runner-up, while Audi Noel Capellan placed second runner-up at 144 after rounds of 76 and 68. WAGC enthusiast and two-time World finalist Oliver James “OJ” Matias also displayed remarkable consistency in winning Division D, holding off Ruth “The Ruthless” Castro, who showed strong finish, and Hannah Bella Lazaro in a tight finish. Matias posted net rounds of 69 and 70 for a winning 139 total. Castro continued her string of strong finishes with rounds of 69 and 71 for a 140 aggregate, earning first runner-up honors. Lazaro also finished at 140 following rounds of 66 and 74 but settled for the second runner-up trophy. The tournament brought together amateur golfers from different handicap divisions, with the leading performers displaying consistency and composure over two rounds at Caliraya’s challenging layout.
The WAGC division champions with their trophies and customized bags during the awarding rites.
Samal set for grand 5150 Series finale as champs seek repeat SAMAL— Eryk Omandam and Natasha DoromalLim return to Samal Island here on Sunday (Sept. 30) chasing back-to-back titles, but the defending champions will have to navigate a deeper and more competitive field as the Damosa Land 5150 brings the inaugural 5150 Triathlon Islands of the Philippines Series to its climactic finish. The Davao del Norte staging marks the fourth and final stop of the seven-month circuit, which has taken Olympic-distance triathlon to four of the country’s premier island destinations and showcased the Philippines as a compelling stage for world-class multisport competition. The Olympic-distance test – 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run – caps a series put together by the Philippine Sports Commission, with elite-level competition at its core but with an equally important mission: bringing high-caliber sporting events to spectacular natural destinations across the country. From the waters and coastlines of Guimaras to the challenging terrain of Camiguin and the scenic roads of Bohol, the series has combined endurance racing with the sights, communities and character of each host destination. The circuit, organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., also serves as a central pillar of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Council’s program to position the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class sporting events. Now, the spotlight shifts to Samal, where hundreds of athletes are set for another race to remember – and another opportunity to experience the island’s smooth highways, white-sand beaches, clear waters and vibrant communities. Samal is hosting the 5150 for the second straight year after a successful debut last year, when Omandam and Doromal-Lim emerged as the overall champions. This time, however, both will face a souped-up field featuring seasoned endurance campaigners and rising stars from Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Tagum,
Athletes inspect their bikes ahead of Sunday’s Damosa 5150 Triathlon.
Kidapawan, Digos, Mati City, Manila, Pagadian, Cebu and Metro Manila, among other areas. For Omandam and Doromal-Lim, the challenge is straightfo r w a rd b u t d e manding – repeat as champions while helping give the inaugural island series a memorable finale. For the hundreds of other participants, Samal offers a chance to measure their preparation against a course that combines open-water swimming, fast stretches of highway and a run through an island community known for its natural beauty. Adding an entry point for newcomers is the Sunrise Sprint, featuring a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. The shorter format is designed for first-timers and recreational athletes look-
ing to experience multisport racing, while relay competitions in the men’s, women’s and mixed divisions of both the Damosa Land 5150 and Sunrise Sprint are expected to bring some of the country’s leading triathlon clubs into the action. The racing program begins Sunday with the Sunrise Sprint rolling start at 5:40 a.m. at Bridgesport by Damosa Land, followed by the 5150 age-group and relay races at 6:20 a.m. The swim cutoff is one hour, with bike and run cutoffs at three and five hours, respectively. Damosa Land, Inc. president Cary Lagdameo said the event is part of a broader effort to draw
attention to Samal’s potential as a tourism and sports destination, with sustained collaboration needed to build on the momentum generated by events such as the 5150. “Samal already has many of the natural strengths of a great destination – pristine waters, rich marine life, remarkable landscapes and a community that is eager to welcome visitors,” said Lagdameo. “Realizing that potential will require sustained effort from many sectors. An event like this may be only one drop in the ocean, but drops create ripples, and when people move together with purpose, those ripples can become waves.” Mayor Lemuel Reyes, meanwhile, described the race as an opportunity to put Samal’s natural assets and local hospitality in full view while celebrating the determination of the athletes taking on the course. “More than a test of endurance, this race celebrates courage, discipline, community and the extraordinary beauty of our island,” said Reyes. “As athletes swim through our waters, cycle across our landscapes and run alongside our communities, they experience Samal not simply as a race venue, but as a destination where adventure, nature and genuine Samalenyo hospitality come together.” Race director Julian Valencia said the combination of demanding competition and a spectacular setting should make the second Samal staging a fitting conclusion to the inaugural series. “From the clear waters of Samal to its rolling coastal roads and the energy of its communities, this course is designed to test preparation, reward discipline and give every athlete a race to remember,” Valencia said. “Whether you are chasing a podium finish, pursuing a personal best, taking on your first Olympic-distance triathlon or joining the Sprint, you are part of a meaningful milestone for Samal and multisport in the region.”
Breakout Blizz: For those ‘DQ na kaya’ moments WE’VE all had those moments where our brains just completely run out of RAM, our inboxes are basically screaming at us, and we find ourselves sitting in meetings and lectures nodding along to things we don’t even remotely understand. When life gets ridiculously loud and overwhelming, you can always count on DQ for your well-deserved break from, well, everything, with sweet treats to help you hit pause and enjoy a brief, guilt-free escape from the daily grind. And with the new Breakout Blizz collection, you have the perfect excuse to finally slow down and live in the moment. Made in collaboration with KitKat, the new Breakout Blizz collection features six irresistible desserts centered around the iconic chocolate wafer biscuit. Treat yourself to a fun little recess and dig into the rich, salty-sweet swirls of the new Caramel Almond Chill Blizzard (starts at P119), made
with DQ’s signature vanilla soft serve mixed with caramel fudge, chopped almond nuts, chocolate fudge, and KitKat pieces, and then topped with a caramel-chocolate drizzle and half a KitKat piece. Drop everything now and dive straight into a vibrant, fruity dessert with the new Berry Much Done Blizzard (starts at P119), made with DQ’s signature vanilla soft serve mixed with blueberry syrup, mini marshmallows, and KitKat pieces, and then topped with a blueberry drizzle and half a KitKat piece. Take a timeout and savor the new Tired-MeSu Blizzard (starts at P119), made with DQ’s signature vanilla soft serve mixed with coffee concentrate, cheesecake bits, and KitKat pieces, and then topped with even more cheesecake bits and half a KitKat piece. For a quick selfie break, you’ll never go wrong with the new Caramel Almond Chill Parfait (P189), featuring layers of DQ’s signature vanilla
soft serve with caramel fudge, chocolate fudge, chopped almond nuts, and KitKat pieces in between, and then topped with whipped cream. Or take your sweet time with the new Mudpie Me-Time Tin Cake (P439), a 100-percent ice cream cake made with DQ’s signature soft serve, chocolate fudge, coffee concentrate, and KitKat pieces. Finally, take a breather with the whole gang with the new Cherry-OutHere Blizzard Cake (starts at P749), a 100-percent ice cream cake made with DQ’s signature soft serve, cake crunch, and chocolate fudge, made even more delectable with frosting, cherries and KitKat pieces.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 |
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DQ’s new collection includes three new Blizzard flavors as well as the Caramel Almond Chill Parfait, the Mudpie Me-Time Tin Cake, and the Cherry-Out-Here Blizzard Cake
CRAVINGS JOYCE PANGCO PAÑARES, Issue Editor / email: joyce.panares@gmail.com
Go on an Oceania culinary adventure at Waterside T
HERE is nothing quite like the allure of pristine white sands, vibrant coral reefs, and the captivating flavors of island life. The vast landscape and culinary traditions of Oceania offer a treasure trove of discoveries for food lovers who want to unravel diverse tastes. This September, Waterside at Solaire Resort Entertainment City sets sail once again, leaving the shores of the Levantine region to travel across Oceania for yet another memorable gastronomic “Eat Around The World” experience. With a flair for fresh, earthy ingredients, this next chapter invites diners on a culinary voyage through Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and more. The journey begins with a warm bowl of Roasted Pumpkin and Kumara Soup, inspired by New Zealand’s beloved pumpkin and sweet potato pairing. Silky and naturally sweet, every spoonful brings a gentle richness that makes for a comforting start to the meal.
For something lighter and refreshingly zesty, Kokoda offers a taste of Fiji by way of delicately cured fish tossed with lime, coconut cream, chili, and tomatoes. Its clean, citrusy character and tender mixture make it an inviting opener that awakens the palate without overwhelming it. The main course brings heartier flavors of the islands to the table. The Hangi Style Lamb combines tender herb marinated lamb with a fragrant roasted root vegetable. This aromatic dish stands out, due to its balance of spice and meat that gets tastier with every bite. Another plate worth lingering over is the Hawaiian Kalua
Ahi Poke
Pork, featuring slow-roasted pork shoulder accompanied by banana leaf, cabbage, and pineapple relish. This mouth-watering plate is succulent and savory with a bright fruity finish that gives a satisfying contrast of deep roasted notes and tropical freshness. For diners who are eager to share the spirit of island gatherings, the Polynesian Seafood Luau Platter makes an ideal centerpiece. Grilled lobster, mahi-mahi, and prawns come together with coconut-lime sauce and tropical salsa, creating a generous medley of smoky, briny, creamy, and tangy flavors best enjoyed around the table. The grill selection is another highlight of the feast. Leading the lineup is the Australian Ribeye Steak which is prized for its tender bite and satisfy-
ing char giving way to a juicy center. Completing the selection are Jumbo Prawns with Macadamia Crumble that fuses seafood with the buttery crunch of macadamia. To cap the experience on a sweet note, guests can indulge in Pavlova, a classic favorite featuring crisp meringue, soft interiors, and bright passion fruit. This interplay of delicate sweetness and tart tropical fruit leaves a refreshing finish that is light enough to tempt one more bite. Diners with a penchant for sweets should also make room for the Sticky Date Pudding, a warm, tender dessert paired with sweet sauce. (For inquiries and reservations, call +632 8888 8888 or visit https://sec.solaireresort.com/offers/dining/Waterside)
Kalua Pork served on top of banana leaf Pavlova
Kumara Croquettes
Läderach chocolaterie opens at Greenbelt 5 LÄDERACH, the Swiss chocolatier renowned for its unparallelled freshness and artisanal craftsmanship, has opened its second store in the country at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City. The Greenbelt 5 store offers a well-curated selection of Läderach’s handcrafted chocolate creations. These include its iconic FrischSchoggi, or fresh chocolate counter where large slabs of chocolate are broken by hand into pieces to suit each customer’s preference. Chocolate lovers will also enjoy an assortment of pralines and truffles, mini mousses, tablet bars, FrischSchoggi Mini, and snacking and seasonal offerings. Rooted in a tradition of exquisite craftsmanship, Läderach places freshness at the heart of its chocolate-making. Its creations are made in Switzerland using carefully selected ingredients and are available exclusively through Läderach stores around the world. Läderach, which first entered the Philippines with its SM Mall of Asia chocolaterie, is synonymous with high-quality, fresh Swiss chocolate. Founded in 1962, the family-owned company
Patrons are spoiled for choice—from the iconic FrischSchoggi, or fresh chocolate counter where large slabs of chocolate are broken by hand into pieces, to pralines and truffles and table bars—at Läderach.
has continually delighted customers with pioneering chocolate creations, from thin-walled hollow truffle balls to the open sale of fresh chocolate in its own boutiques and delicate mini mousses. Now led by the third generation of the Läderach family - brothers Johannes, Elias, and David Läderach - the company remains deeply rooted in craftsmanship and innovation.
As World Chocolate Master, Elias Läderach embodies and represents the brand’s exceptional chocolate expertise. Today, the rapidly growing company employs over 2,500 people from more than 80 countries. Läderach’s handcrafted chocolate creations are sold in more than 260 chocolateries across 30 countries.
A ribbon cutting ceremony marks the opening of Läderach in Greenbelt 5
HOSPITALITY
C2 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer email: lifeandshow.manilastandard.gmail.com
The honorees of the prestigious AHEAD Asia 2026
Bohol’s South Palms scores double win at AHEAD Asia 2026 SOUTH Palms Resort & Spa, MGallery Collection has won two honors at AHEAD Asia 2026, taking top awards for Sustainability and Spa & Wellness and putting Bohol on the map in Asia’s hospitality design scene. The Panglao resort was recognized for a design approach rooted in the island’s landscape, materials, and communities. Timber reclaimed from fishing boats and typhoon-damaged structures was incorporated into the property, while limestone excavated during construction was repurposed as architectural cladding. Passive design, solar energy, greywater reuse, on-site water bottling, glass recycling, and composting further reduce the resort’s environmental footprint. Local craftsmanship also runs through the property, with Philippine-made furniture, handwoven raffia, local earthenware, and locally sourced ingredients shaping the guest experience.
Working with local craftsmen, the project team draw on Bohol’s materials and building traditions in developing the Panglao property
AHEAD Asia judges praised the project for its “great storytelling and locally driven narrative,” citing its response to the site and community. “Bohol’s culture has always been generous, warm, and deeply connected to the land and sea around it, and this resort was built as an expression of that generosity, not a replica of it,” said Hope Uy, managing director of Panglao Shores, the project’s developer. Patricia Ho Douven, founder of White Jacket, said the goal was never to simply make the resort “look Filipino,” but to tell Bohol’s story through its materials, craftsmanship, and local way of life. Phillip Pond, founder of Atelier Pond, said the design team spent months working with local craftsmen and materials before developing the concept. C9 Hotelworks served as lead hospitality consultant, working with Panglao Shores, Alturas Group of Companies, Accor, and other design partners. The AHEAD Asia ceremony was held Sept. 11 at Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore. The awards, organized by Sleeper magazine, recognize new hospitality architecture, interior design, and guest experiences.
By Nickie Wang
A
Manila luxury hotel has climbed the ranks to secure a place among Asia’s 10 best family hotels, proving that a city stay can deliver plenty of room for children to play, parents to unwind, and families to spend time together. Hyatt Regency Manila, City of Dreams ranked No. 8 in Smart Travel Asia’s 2026 Best in Travel Poll, moving up two places from No. 10 last year. The recognition marks its second consecutive appearance on the Hong Kong-based publication’s regional list. The hotel, which has been Forbes Travel Guide Star rated since 2018, was named among the Top 10 Best Family Hotels in the 2026 poll conducted from June to late August.
Shrek, Po, Alex the Lion, Puss in Boots, and other familiar characters anchor interactive attractions for younger visitors at City of Dreams Manila
Families staying at City of Dreams Manila have access to rooms, dining, pools, and leisure options designed for both children and adults
This hotel in Manila is among Asia’s best family-friendly stays Safety, service, and value emerged as key considerations among travelers, while 60 percent of respondents cited child-friendly resorts among their interests. Smart Travel Asia editor and founder Vijay Verghese noted that “service is at the heart of brand recognition and recall,” pointing to the people behind a hotel as a major part of how guests remember their stay. At City of Dreams Manila, families have plenty to keep them occupied, beginning with DreamPlay, the world’s first DreamWorks-inspired indoor family entertainment center. The 5,000-square-meter attraction features 12 interactive experiences inspired by characters including Shrek, Princess Fiona, Po, Tigress, Alex the Lion, Puss in Boots, and the Trolls. Chez Gingy serves American, Italian, and Asian favorites, while the DreamPlay Shop offers DreamWorks toys and merchandise. Hyatt Regency Manila has 364 rooms and suites, with 24-hour in-room dining and complimentary minibars stocked with selected snacks and canned beverages. Larger families can stay together in the 114-square-meter two-
bedroom Executive Suite, while the 86-square-meter Hyatt Pool Villa offers a separate living area and proximity to the pool. The hotel’s 200-square-meter outdoor pool also features a children’s pool and heated whirlpool. Dining options extend across City of Dreams Manila, with
Strong marks for service and guest experience help the Manila property move from No. 10 last year to No. 8 in the latest travel poll
Check in to the extraordinary THERE is something captivating about travel: the thrill of discovering new cultures and stepping beyond everyday life. Yet I have always been drawn to an unexpected truth. Some of the most memorable experiences do not require venturing into the complete unknown. They emerge when a familiar setting suddenly reveals a hidden layer of wonder. This paradox fuels my fascination with experiential travel, the idea that a hotel can transform into a stage for the extraordinary. When I learned that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was expanding its “Special Happens...” program with eight new experiences across its global portfolio, I felt that familiar spark of curiosity ignite once again. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has unveiled eight new experiences in its “Special Happens...” travel program. The Accor brand announced the expansion on September 10, 2026, spanning four categories: After Dark, In the Spotlight, Around the Table, and In the Wild. Each offers guests extraordinary moments and lifelong memories. The After Dark category invites guests to discover extraordinary evenings shaped by music, nature, and unexpected settings. At Fairmont Tokyo, the acclaimed hidden listening bar OFF RECORD transforms into a private world for one unforgettable evening. Guided by bar director Hideyuki
Dee-tails
Ardee de los Angeles
Saito, guests journey through four musical chapters inspired by J-Pop, UK rock, reggae, and American soul, each paired with signature cocktails, bespoke bites, and storytelling from a Tokyo-based DJ. The experience includes a stay in the Presidential Suite with curated soundscapes, premium in-room audio, exclusive vinyl selections, and privileged access to Tokyo’s hidden gems, from a private rickshaw journey to priority views from Tokyo Tower. At Fairmont Mayakoba, “Symphony in a Cenote – An Extraordinary Night, Carved in Stone and Sound” takes guests beneath the lush tropical jungle into an
In Tokyo, Hideyuki Saito helps shape an after-hours stay built around private listening sessions, curated sound, and access to the city’s lesser-seen spots
ancient cenote. Escorted by candlelight, guests descend into an underground world where crystal-clear waters and towering limestone formations create a spectacular natural stage. A live musical performance, enhanced by the cavern’s remarkable acoustics, echoes through one of nature’s most breathtaking chambers. Handcrafted
In Puerto Rico, guests step into a liveperformance experience inspired by the entertainers who once took the stage at the storied El San Juan venue
more than 20 restaurants. At The Café, children ages 5 and below dine free, while those aged 6 to 12 receive half the buffet rate. Families can also browse The Shoppes at the Boulevard, while adults can unwind at Nuwa Spa or Nobu Spa, enjoy live entertainment at CenterPlay, or visit the resort’s gaming areas.
canapés and fine champagne complete an unforgettable evening for one night only on Oct. 30. The In the Spotlight category engages visitors in deeply personal experiences inspired by culture, music, and entertainment. At Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, “Karam: A Journey of Emirati Hospitality” offers a full-day immersion into the traditions, flavors, and generosity at the heart of Emirati culture. Beginning with Arabic coffee and dates, guests are escorted to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with an abaya arranged for female guests. Returning to the hotel, Chef Muna Al Mansoori welcomes guests into the kitchen to discover the stories and heritage behind Emirati cuisine before enjoying a memorable meal at Mazaj overlooking Khor Al Maqta and the Grand Mosque. Fairmont El San Juan Hotel offers
“The Grand Performance Experience Stay,” where guests enjoy a styling session and perform on stage with a live band at Chico Cabaret, following in the footsteps of icons like Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. Fairmont Golden Prague presents “The Ultimate Curated Music Experience” with dopeYEAH, Prague’s top private music club. Each bespoke experience includes intimate concerts, private storytelling, and access to spaces normally closed to the public. Fairmont’s Around the Table category offers rare culinary experiences. At Fairmont Quasar Istanbul, “The Spice Route” includes after-hours access to Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar, a master merchant-led tour of five centuries of spice-trade heritage, a custom spice-blend session at Aila, and a private chef-led tasting dinner. At Fairmont Copley Plaza, the annual Holiday Bacchanal Dinner turns the iconic lobby into an intimate Bacchusinspired celebration with Champagne, live music, and a five-course dinner paired with fine wines. Fairmont’s In the Wild category offers exclusive nature adventures. At Fairmont Tremblant, “Beyond the Slopes” includes private chauffeured Cadillac transport from Montréal-Trudeau, First Tracks access 40 minutes early, and private Après-Ski terrace service with Canada Goose gear, champagne, and gourmet hors d’oeuvres. The experience ends with an overnight stay in the new Presidential Suite, in-suite dinner, and breakfast at Le Comptoir. Claudia Kozma Kaplan, chief brand officer, says the new “Special Happens...” moments help guests embrace the unexpected, discover local stories, and create lifelong memories.
QUESTIONS about artificial intelligence, flexible learning and how schools can better respond to disruption will be discussed in two education dialogues set in Cebu and Metro Manila this September. The International Council for Open and Distance Education
TheYoungmeasure of success couple find their fit in custom tailoring By Angelica Villanueva
I
N a trade where clients often expect the person taking their measurements to be older, young entrepreneurs Hazel and Gifre Songcayawon quickly learned that looking young could work against them. The couple behind Sephora Couture entered custom tailoring in 2023 with little technical experience of their own. What they did have was access to Gifre’s father’s knowledge of coatmaking, experience in online selling and enough confidence to start accepting clients from their condominium community in Pasig. The business initially focused on alterations, which quickly drew customers after the couple posted about the service online. Soon, someone asked if they could make a suit. Eventually, they said yes. But once the business moved beyond alterations and into custom suits, they encountered another challenge. And that is hiw to convince customers that two young owners could handle a craft often associated with veteran tailors and master cutters. “When we meet clients, they ask, ‘How old are you? Who will take my measurements?’ Some of them seem like they want to back out because they’re used to master cutters being older,” Gifre recalled. Rather than stay in the background, Hazel and Gifre made themselves more visible. They began appearing regularly in Sephora Couture’s social media posts, handled measurements themselves, and joined homeservice appointments. Gifre also drew from his experience running Facebook ads for previous online businesses to bring in inquiries.
For the couple, visibility became part of credibility. “Posting online really helped a lot. They saw that we had client after client. We wanted them to know that the people they talk to on Facebook are really us. We’re the ones transacting with them,” Hazel said. Still, social media could only get clients through the door. The harder part was learning enough about the craft to back up what they were selling, and that lesson came during one of the most difficult periods of their lives. Hazel was pregnant when Gifre’s mother died. His father, whom they had relied on for much of the technical side of coat-making, was grieving and stepped away from the operation. They already had paying clients and deadlines to meet. “We really didn’t know anything. I didn’t know how to judge te quality of fabric or what materials we were supposed to use,” Hazel continued. Money became tight as well, while materials, labor and existing orders still had to be covered. At one point, the pressure pushed the couple to question whether the business was worth continuing. “He even asked me, ‘Should we stop?’” Hazel recalled. But they chose to continue.
Dindo Arroyo is among the entertainment personalities who have turned to Hazel and Gifre Songcayawon as their Pasigbased tailoring business expands beyond its early alteration work
Learning from experienced tailors gives the couple a closer understanding of fabric, construction, finishing, and quality control
Hazel and Gifre searched online for tailors and rebuilt production as they went. Not every hire worked out. Some workers left, while rushed jobs exposed problems in workmanship. One person who helped change that was an experienced tailor they knew as Kuya Renz. “He wasn’t selfish with his knowledge. He taught us everything he knows about this industry,“ Gifre shared. Through him and other experienced tailors, the couple learned to look closely at fabric, construction and finishing, including how collars, lapels and sleeves should fall. They gradually became more involved in fittings and quality control themselves. Sephora Couture has since grown from a condo-based alteration service into an operation working with about 10 tailors, including two inhouse workers. Its clients now include corporate groups, wedding customers and entertainment personalities such as Patrick Garcia, Dindo Arroyo, Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz, and Darryl Yap. The business also offers home service, rush orders and virtual measurement guidance for clients abroad. For Hazel and Gifre, being young no longer means having to imitate the people who came before them. They have instead learned to combine an old-school craft with the way their generation does business. “The struggles and the problems mold you. They teach you what you should be doing,“ Gifre stated. Edgar ‘Bobot’ Mortiz (center) becomes part of the couple’s growing client list as word of their made-to-measure work reaches customers beyond their original condominium community
What’s in a name?
By Jasper Valdez FOR many students, the name their friends and classmates know them by may not be the same one written on their birth certificate or school records. The term “lived name” refers to the name a person uses in everyday life even when a different one appears on legal documents. For transgender and gender-nonconforming people, a lived name may better reflect their gender identity or expression. Others may also use a different name for personal, religious or safety reasons. The issue recently gained attention at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines
(PUP), where the administration committed to allowing lived names during this year’s commencement exercises following calls from students. Students who use lived names may have those names called during graduation even if their legal names remain on university records. The Office of the Student Regent is also preparing a resolution that would formalize the practice for future graduation rites. PUP is not the first Philippine university to make room for lived names during commencement. UP Cebu began allowing graduates to have their lived names read and displayed during graduation exercises in 2022, while legal names continue to appear on official
Schools can accommodate the names students use publicly while keeping legal names for records that require them
documents such as diplomas and transcripts of records. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Philippine Normal University (PNU), De La Salle University (DLSU) and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) have also adopted practices allowing
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NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Hazel (left) and Gifre Songcayawon build client trust by handling inquiries, measurements, fittings, and home-service appointments themselves
lived names during graduation rites. Recognizing a lived name does not necessarily change a student’s legal identity. Universities can retain legal names on documents that require them while using lived names in other settings. That difference can become especially visible during graduation, when the name on a student’s official record may not be the one they have used throughout college. The same
How lived names are changing the way universities recognize students
SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 |
email: lifeandshow.manilastandard.gmail.com
By Jasper Valdez
ICDE Secretary General Torunn Gjelsvik is set to deliver a keynote reflection during the Manila event. A panel discussion will also bring together representatives from UNESCO, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization and ADB. “These Knowledge Dialogues provide an important opportunity to bring together regional and global perspectives on the future of learning. The insights generated in Cebu and Manila will help shape discussions leading up to the 31st ICDE World Conference in 2027,” Gjelsvik said. The Cebu dialogue will be open to both onsite and online participants, with registration required. For the Manila event, online participation will also be available through registration, while onsite attendance will be by invitation only. The two discussions will also serve as part of the lead-up to the 31st ICDE World Conference, which UPOU will host in Cebu City from Nov. 15 to 19, 2027.
LIFE
Students join conversations on how artificial intelligence and flexible learning can help education systems adapt to disruption
(ICDE) and the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) will convene the Knowledge Dialogues on Sept. 23 in Cebu City and Sept. 25 at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Mandaluyong City. Both events will look at how open, distance and flexible education can help make learning systems more resilient and ready for future challenges. The Cebu leg, hosted with the University of the Philippines Cebu, will focus on learning systems that are resilient, inclusive, scalable and sustainable. Its sessions and roundtable discussions will cover artificial intelligence, institutional resilience and communitybased learning. The Manila dialogue, meanwhile, will bring the discussion to a regional level. Organized with ADB, it will focus on cooperation across countries and on practical ideas that can help shape education policy and practice.
Young
Future of learning takes center stage in Cebu, Manila dialogues
issue can also arise in class lists, student IDs, school correspondence and campus activities. How universities handle those situations can vary, particularly when existing systems were built around legal names. As more universities accommodate lived names, schools are also working out how to balance accurate official records with the names students actually use in their daily lives.
Lived names give students the option to be recognized during commencement by the names their classmates, friends, and communities know them by
C4 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
PETS
DESIREE CARLOS, Editor / email: daycarlos28@yahoo.com
By Mariana Burgos
T
HE irresistible urge to sniff baby animals is a phenomenon many people experience, often described as a response to their adorable appearance and sweet smell. But beyond the surface of cuteness lies a fascinating scientific explanation rooted in biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. Understanding why the scent of baby animals triggers such strong reactions involves exploring how animals communicate through pheromones, how the human brain processes these smells, and the evolutionary significance of these olfactory cues. At the core of this phenomenon is the role of pheromones—chemical signals secreted by animals that influence the behavior and physiology of others of the same species. According to the article "How Animals Communicate via Pheromones" by American Scientist, pheromones serve as a crucial mode of communication in the animal kingdom. These chemical messengers can convey information about identity, reproductive status, and emotional states. Baby animals emit specific pheromones that signal their vulnerability and need for care, which in turn elicits nurturing behaviors from adults. This chemical communication is not limited to animals; humans also respond to pheromones, though the mechanisms are more complex and less understood. The human sense of smell, often underestimated, plays a significant role in how we perceive and react to these scents. Rutgers University researchers highlight in their article "Human Sense of Smell: It's Stronger We Think" that the olfactory system is far more sensitive and sophisticated than commonly believed. Humans can detect and differentiate thousands of odors, and these smells can directly influence emotions and social behaviors. When people sniff baby animals, their brains process the scent through olfactory receptors that connect to the limbic system—the area responsible for emotions and memory. This connection explains why the smell of a puppy or kitten can evoke feelings of warmth, happiness, and even a biological urge to protect. Delving deeper into the neuroscience, the article "The Scent of Cuteness—Neural Signatures
A young woman is sniffing some puppies. (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.)
The Science Behind Sniffing Baby Animals' Scents of Infant Body Odors" published on PMC by L. Schäfer and colleagues explores how infant body odors activate specific brain regions. Their research shows that smelling the scent of infants increases activity in brain areas linked to reward and bonding, such as the orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala. These neural responses are thought to promote caregiving behaviors by making the scent of babies inherently pleasurable and attention-grabbing. This neural activation is not just limited to human infants but extends to baby animals, whose scents share similar chemical profiles that trigger these brain circuits. The chemistry behind baby animal scents is equally intriguing. The article "Nature: Sniffing Out Smells' Effects on Human Behaviour" by the Monell Chemical Senses Center explains that newborn animals produce a unique combination of volatile organic compounds, including aldehydes and lactones, which contribute to their characteristic "baby smell." These compounds
A little girl is sniffing a puppy and a kitten. (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.)
are often byproducts of vernix caseosa—a waxy, protective coating found on newborn mammals. This scent acts as a biological signal that enhances bonding between the infant and caregivers. Moreover, these chemical cues can hijack the brain's reward circuits, releasing dopamine and other neurotransmitters that reinforce positive feelings and caregiving instincts. Interestingly, the act of sniffing itself is a finely tuned behavior that animals, including humans, use to maximize scent detection. According to the article "Animals Learn to Fine-Tune Their Sniffs" from ScienceDaily, animals adjust their sniffing patterns to bring odor molecules more effectively to their olfactory receptors. This adaptive sniffing enhances their ability to detect subtle chemical signals in the environment. When humans sniff baby animals, they may unconsciously modulate their sniffing to better perceive these important scents, further strengthening the emotional and behavioral responses.
A young man is holding up a tiny puppy and sniffing him. (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.)
The evolutionary perspective sheds light on why these responses to baby animal scents have developed. From an adaptive standpoint, recognizing and responding to infant cues is essential for species survival. The scent of babies signals their need for protection and care, prompting adults to provide nurturing behaviors that increase the offspring's chances of survival. This biological imperative is deeply embedded in the brain's reward system, ensuring that adults are motivated to care for the young. The cross-species appeal of baby animal scents suggests that these chemical signals tap into universal neural pathways related to caregiving and affection. Moreover, the influence of scent on human behavior extends beyond just bonding with infants. The Monell Center article also discusses how smells can affect mood, memory, and social interactions. The scent of baby animals may evoke nostalgia, comfort, and a sense of well-being, which explains why people often seek out the company of puppies and kittens. These positive associations reinforce the human-animal bond and contribute to the popularity of pets in many cultures. In summary, the science behind sniffing baby animals' scents reveals a complex interplay of chemical communication, sensory processing, neural activation, and evolutionary biology. Baby animals emit specific pheromones and volatile compounds that signal their vulnerability and trigger caregiving behaviors in adults. Humans possess a highly sensitive olfactory system that detects these scents and processes them in brain regions associated with reward and bonding. The act of sniffing itself is an adaptive behavior that enhances scent detection, further strengthening emotional responses. Ultimately, these biological mechanisms ensure that adults are motivated to nurture and protect the young, promoting survival and social connection. About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist, writer, and tutor. She has been a solo parent for 19 years now because she is the wife of Jonas Burgos, a Filipino desaparecido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.
Garlic Toxicity in Pets: Understanding the Risks and Effects By Mariana Burgos GARLIC, a common ingredient in many human diets, is often mistakenly considered safe or even beneficial for pets. However, this assumption can be dangerously misleading. Garlic toxicity in pets, particularly in dogs and cats, is a serious health concern that pet owners must understand to prevent accidental poisoning and its potentially severe consequences.
What is Garlic Toxicity in Pets?
toxic effects have been confirmed in various species, including dogs, sheep, and horses. However, the severity and threshold doses vary. For dogs, ingestion of garlic exceeding 15-30 grams per kilogram of body weight can induce anemia, while cats require even smaller amounts to experience toxic effects. The variability in toxicity is also influenced by the form of garlic consumed. Fresh garlic, powdered garlic, and garlic oil all contain different concentrations
· Rapid breathing or increased heart rate as the body attempts to compensate for low oxygen levels · Vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain reflecting gastrointestinal irritation · Dark-colored urine, which may indicate hemoglobinuria (presence of hemoglobin in urine due to red blood cell destruction) In severe cases, pets may experience collapse or even death if untreated.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing garlic toxicity involves a combination
Garlic toxicity refers to the harmful effects that garlic ingestion can have on animals, especially pets like dogs and cats. Garlic belongs to the Allium family, which also includes onions, leeks, and chives. According to the article "Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals" from the Merck Veterinary Manual, ingestion of garlic in raw, cooked, or concentrated forms can lead to a condition known as Heinz body hemolytic anemia. This condition results from damage to the red blood A dog rests beside containers full of garlic. A cute white puppy sits beside a bundle of An orange cat sniffs a clove of garlic. cells, which impairs their ability to carry (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.) garlic. (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.) (Photo from iStock royalty-free images.) oxygen efficiently throughout the body. The toxic compounds in garlic, priof the toxic compounds, with garlic oil being the most marily organosulfoxides, are metabolized into reactive of clinical history, physical examination, and laboraconcentrated and potentially the most dangerous. sulfur compounds that cause oxidative damage to red tory tests. The article "Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) blood cells. This oxidative stress leads to the formation Toxicosis in Animals" explains that veterinarians of Heinz bodies— abnormal clumps of damaged heClinical Signs and Symptoms look for signs of hemolytic anemia through blood moglobin inside red blood cells— ultimately causing Recognizing the symptoms of garlic toxicity early tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) to dethese cells to rupture which leads to anemia. is crucial for timely intervention. According to the tect Heinz bodies and evaluate red blood cell levels. article "Can Dogs Eat Garlic?" by PetMD, the clinical Treatment primarily focuses on supportive care. signs of garlic poisoning in pets can range from mild Immediate veterinary attention is essential, espeSpecies Susceptibility and Toxic Dose to severe and typically develop within a few days afcially if ingestion was recent. Decontamination Not all animals are equally susceptible to garlic toxter ingestion. Common symptoms include: methods such as inducing vomiting or administericity. Dogs and cats are particularly vulnerable, with · Weakness and lethargy due to anemia ing activated charcoal may be used to prevent furcats being more sensitive than dogs. The article "The · Pale or yellowish gums indicating reduced red ther absorption of toxins. Intravenous fluids, oxygen Effect of the Type and Concentration of Garlic (Allium blood cell count or jaundice therapy, and blood transfusions might be necessary spp.) on Animal Health" by K Beleć et al. highlights that
in severe anemia cases. The article by K Beleć et al. emphasizes that there is no specific antidote for garlic poisoning, so treatment aims to manage symptoms and support recovery.
Preventive Measures and Recommendations
Prevention is the best approach to managing garlic toxicity in pets. Pet owners should avoid feeding garlic or any Allium family members to their animals. The article from the Merck Veterinary Manual advises that even small amounts of garlic in pet food, supplements, or treats can accumulate over time and cause toxicity. Moreover, pet owners should be cautious about homemade diets or human food that may contain garlic as an ingredient. Educating oneself about the dangers of garlic and related plants is crucial for safeguarding pet health.
Misconceptions about Garlic Benefits for Pets
There is a common misconception that garlic has health benefits for pets, such as flea prevention or immune system boosting. However, according to the article "Can Dogs Eat Garlic?" by PetMD, these purported benefits do not outweigh the risks. The potential for toxicity, especially with repeated or high-dose exposure, makes garlic an unsafe choice for pet supplementation. Veterinarians generally recommend safer alternatives for flea control and immune support that do not carry the risk of toxicity. Garlic toxicity in pets is a significant but preventable health hazard. According to the article "Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals" by the Merck Veterinary Manual, and supported by research such as the study by K Beleć et al., the key to managing garlic toxicity lies in prevention, early recognition, and prompt veterinary care. Pet owners should avoid feeding garlic in any form and be vigilant about the ingredients in their pets' diets. By understanding the risks and effects of garlic toxicity, pet owners can protect their beloved animals from unnecessary suffering and ensure their health and well-being remain a top priority.