Issuu

manilastandard.net

@ManilaStandardPH

@mnlstandardph

@manilastandard

@ManilaStandardYT

RARE GEOLOGICAL MARVEL. The Blue Mountains, a favored tourist destination in Sagada, Mt. Province, features a blue-green terrain, a natural reaction of minerals and smooth rock formations. It is also called by the locals as ‘Kaman-utek,’ meaning ‘like a brain,’ because the ridges look like gray matter. Dave Leprozo

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229

‘VP Sara a shareholder of firm that got P35.87m in gov’t deals’ By Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano VICE President Sara Duterte declared herself a shareholder of Gencorp Industries Inc., which allegedly received P35.9 million in government contracts while she was serving as Vice President, House lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro told the Senate impeachment court Tuesday.

VOL. XL • NO. 218 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

Luistro cited Duterte’s own declaration after Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Division Chief Rendell Sopeña testified that Gencorp secured 49 government contracts worth a combined P35,878,188 during Duterte’s vice presidency. The contracts included 15 from Davao City worth P34,216,900, 33 Next page

Ex-envoy linked to VP firms SEC papers show Cruz, Duterte incorporated several companies

By Maricel V. Cruz

USINESSMAN Jaime Tan Cruz, whose name appears in corporate records of several companies associated with Vice President Sara Duterte, was the same person appointed by then President Rodrigo Duterte as special envoy to China for trade and investments in 2019, the House prosecution confirmed Tuesday. Cruz served as the country’s special envoy to China from 2019 to 2022, according to the Chinese Embassy in Manila. He was also the businessman whom then President Duterte offered the chairmanship of Next page

NEW WITNESS. PhilGEPS

Division Chief Rendell Sopeña presents documents during Day 28 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. SPPA Pool / Lino Santos

DRIVERS FEEL THE PINCH. Jeepney drivers say their daily earnings are no longer enough to cover rising

Palace backs OMB probe into ‘ghost’ internet projects By Charles Dantes MALACAÑANG on Tuesday backed the Ombudsman’s investigation into alleged irregularities in government information technology projects, including claims that contractors sup-

expenses amid the surge in diesel prices. One such driver plies the Fairview–Cubao route in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Edd Castro

PUV groups set 2-day strike, call for more gov’t aid

plied cheaper, outdated or substandard hardware and software and delivered free Wi-Fi sites that were not operational or were “ghost” projects. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the inNext page

By Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz, and Ram Superable TRANSPORT group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) will stage a two-day nationwide strike on Sept. 29 and 30 over

Saclag settles for silver as rival controls ground battle

soaring fuel prices, low wages and the rising cost of basic goods and services. PISTON president Modesto “Ka Mody” Floranda said about 70,000 drivers and operators are expected to join the strike, along with progressive workers’ groups, urban poor organiza-

tions and members of the riding public. The strike threat came as bus operators separately appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Congress and government agencies for urgent action, saying soaring fuel and operating costs were threatening Next page

Most Pinoys remain hopeful on economy—SWS survey

By Riera U. Mallari

By Katrina Manubay

NAGOYA (Powered by PLDT Home)—Jean Claude Saclag’s bid for the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 20th Asian Games went up in smoke on Tuesday as the Filipino striking specialist was subdued by Tajikistan’s Otabek Rajabov, 0-3, in the gold-medal match of the men’s traditional -65kg mixed martial arts final.

THE Filipinos’ optimism about the country’s economic prospects rebounded to a “fair” level in June, showing a 24-point increase in net economic optimism from the

low of -14 in March, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). Recent poll results showed that 33 percent of Filipinos believed that the Philippine economy will improve Next page

PPI tackles AI, new revenue streams

BITTERSWEET SILVER. Jean Claude Saclag (right) cries as he is escorted out of the venue after failing to give the Philippines what could have been its first gold medal in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. POC Media

By Dexter A. See COMMUNITY journalists were encouraged to transform their digital assets to “sustainable revenue that will allow the guardians of truth to

perform their role as the country’s fourth state.” This was enunciated by Philippine Press Institute (PPI) chairman and Manila Standard publisher Rolando Estabillo during the Next page

GILAS 3X3 WOMEN TOPPLE MACAU, CRUSH MONGOLIA

PH, EU MAKE BREAKTHROUGH, SEAL FREE TRADE ACCORD

G7 LEADERS HIT HOUTHI STRIKES ON SAUDI ARABIA

SPORTS / A7

BUSINESS / B1

WORLD / A6

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sandigan suspends Ang amid graft raps By Maricel V. Cruz

HE Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day suspension of Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr. in connection with the two graft charges filed against him.

‘VP... From A1

Ex-envoy... From A1

from PhilHealth Region XI totaling P1,331,288, and one from OWWA Region XI worth P330,000. Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, for his part, said city officials and employees had no knowledge of the Vice President’s alleged interest in Gencorp. “Neither the name Sara Zimmerman Duterte nor the surname ‘Duterte’ appears in any of the official documents, such as, among others, the Articles of Incorporation,” the mayor said in a statement posted on Facebook. He also maintained the city’s transactions with Gencorp were legal and proper and challenged those making contrary allegations to present verified and credible evidence. Baste is expected to testify next week about the Gencorp transactions and has been subpoenaed at the prosecution’s request.

the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), an offer he declined. Private prosecutor Erwin Matib affirmed Cruz’s identity when Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo asked whether the businessman in the corporate records was the same person appointed special envoy and offered the PhilHealth post. The link to the former President was raised as the impeachment trial scrutinized VP Duterte’s business interests and corporate connections during day 28 of her Senate impeachment trial.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed a case against the lawmaker for conflict of interest for allegedly operating a construction firm while holding a position in government. The Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division, in a fourpage resolution, said the suspension of Ang was mandatory as prescribed by the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In ordering the suspension, the court said: “Any remaining objection to the validity of the information have been deemed waived.” The Sandiganbayan has also directed the House of

Palace... From A1 vestigation should continue if evidence points to possible anomalies involving public officials or contractors. “All anomalous transactions involving public officials should be investigated,” Castro said. “Everything the government does is for the people, and the services provided to our fellow Filipinos should not be lacking,” she added. Castro said no government official has so far been identified for possible accountability in connection with the issue, saying a more thorough investigation is needed before responsibility can be determined.

PUV... From A1 the viability of public bus services. Victory Liner Inc., along with provincial and city bus operators, said fuel now accounts for about 45 percent to 60 percent of operating costs, while regulated fares have failed to keep pace with the actual cost of providing transportation. Their appeal came as diesel prices rose by as much as P8.82 per liter Tuesday, bringing the three-week increase to P18.31 per liter. Gasoline prices rose by P4.88 per liter and kerosene by P6.47.

Hiking fares still a last resort

Malacañang, however, said raising public transport fares remained a last resort as the government weighs measures to cushion drivers, operators and commuters from the impact of the fuel price increases. The Palace also acknowledged PISTON’s planned strike, saying the government could not prevent transport groups from exercising their right to protest. Transportation Secretary Lopez said the government was also looking at expanding its fuel discount program. The subsidy was increased from P10 to P12 per liter but currently covers only some transport modes, including jeepneys and UV Express vehicles. “We are still trying to determine what other initiatives and subsidies the govern-

Representatives, through Speaker Faustino Dy III, to inform the court of the action taken in line with the order within 15 days from receipt of the resolution. “The suspension of accused Ang shall automatically be lifted upon the expiration of the 90-day period from the implementation of this resolution,” the Sandiganbayan said. The House has yet to respond to the court’s order to suspend Ang as of press time. Ang earlier claimed preventive suspension is “not warranted” since his alleged financial interest in Allencon Development Corporation no longer exists.

Palace: No one above the law

The Palace, meanwhile, stressed that no one is above the law amid questions over Duterte’s continued corporate interests while serving as vice president, saying government officials must comply with existing laws and constitutional provisions. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement after Securities and Exchange Commission records presented during the trial showed Duterte remained a director and shareholder of Metro City Chow Foods Corp. after assuming the vice presidency in 2022. “May batas po. Maliwanag ang batas. So, kung ano po iyong nasa batas iyon lang dapat po ang sundin, iyon ang dapat

Most Pinoys... From A1 (economic optimists), 32 percent said it will stay the same (neutral), while 24 percent think it will worsen (economic pessimists) in the next 12 months. Across major areas, net economic optimism is strongest in Balance Luzon (fair +18), followed by the Visayas

ment can provide,” Lopez said. “We are looking at how to extend the program and include other transport modes.” Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Transportation to establish a clear roadmap for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, including completion of route rationalization. He said high fuel prices were adding to the financial burden of transport operators who were already struggling with vehicle amortization.

Rollback seen next week

Meanwhile, Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad said fuel prices could see an estimated P8-per-liter rollback next week if the decline in global oil prices continued through Friday. Abad said diesel prices had dropped sharply in the previous three trading days and that the possible rollback would depend on movements in global oil prices. Still, the DOE does not foresee oil prices going down to pre-war levels anytime soon amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. “With the exchange rate and the situation in the Middle East, we expect that within the year, prices will not yet go down to pre-war levels. It will probably remain elevated until Christmas,” DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said. House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago called for immediate action on the

Saclag... From A1 Saclag is known for his explosive striking and aggressive stand-up game, but he couldn’t establish his preferred style as Rajabov repeatedly brought the fight to the ground and used his grappling skills to control the Filipino. “Sayang, gusto ko talagang makakuha ng gold. Nag-expect ako na kaya kong mag-gold. Malungkot ako, hindi lang dahil natalo ako, kundi dahil sa performance ko. Feeling ko, kulang ang ginawa ko,” said Saclag, who settled for the silver, the Philippines’ fourth medal in the games, with the other three all bronzes from soft tennis, mixed martial arts’ Carlos Alvarez and karate, also on Tuesday. Saclag tried to create space with his striking and even managed to hurt Rajabov with a left hook that felled his rival right into the first minute of the contest. The game plan was to fight the Tajik standing, but Saclag’s killer instinct kicked in as he pounced on his dazed foe. That proved to be his undoing as Rajabov was able to take him down and control the action on the mat with his second wind, keeping the Filipino from finding his rhythm. “Akala ko nag-improve na ako, pero grabe ang higpit niya sa baba. Gusto kong tumayo para makabalik sa laban, pero hindi niya talaga ako pinatayo,” he said. “Feeling ko, tatlong tao ang nakadagan sa akin.” The silver medal was Saclag’s second of the same color in the Asian Games, following his sec-

na ipatupad at hindi po kinakailangan na ang isang tao ay maging above the law,” Castro said in a Palace briefing. (There is a law. The law is clear. Whatever is provided by the law should be followed and enforced, and it is not necessary for a person to be above the law.) Castro also rejected the notion of impunity, saying officials should comply with what the law requires. “The word impunity should not prevail. We should simply comply with what the law requires,” she said.

Duterte still on company board while VP

The issue arose after SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Del Rosario testified that Duterte remained listed as a member of Metro City Chow Foods’ board of directors in its General Information Sheets from 2022 through 2025, during her first three years as Vice President. SEC records also showed that Duterte held a 20-percent stake in the company, was among its incorporators when it was established in 2016 and had served on its board since 2018. Article VII, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution prohibits the President, Vice President, Cabinet members and their deputies or assistants from directly or indirectly participating in any business during their tenure, among other restrictions, Del Rosario confirmed.

(mediocre +6) and Mindanao (mediocre +4), while Metro Manila shows the lowest (mediocre –6). Among different education levels, net economic optimism increased across all groups, the highest among those with no formal education or some elementary education (or non-elementary graduates) (high +20), followed by those who completed elementary or some high school education (or elementary graduates) (fair +12).

fuel excise tax after the DOE certified that the $80-per-barrel trigger for possible suspension had been reached. She said the government should use available mechanisms to provide relief from rising fuel prices while pursuing longer-term measures to lower the cost of basic necessities. Senator Bam Aquino also renewed his call for the removal of value-added and excise taxes on gasoline, diesel and LPG, saying higher fuel costs were also driving up the prices of basic goods.

PISTON appeals for understanding

Floranda led a protest Tuesday along Aurora Boulevard corner Westpoint Street in Cubao, Quezon City, against the latest round of fuel price increases. PISTON said affected routes in Metro Manila are expected to include Cubao-Marikina, Antipolo, Commonwealth in Quezon City, España in Manila, Monumento in Caloocan, Novaliches, Baclaran and Sucat in Parañaque, Pasig, Taguig and Alabang in Muntinlupa. Floranda appealed to commuters for understanding, saying drivers and operators were being forced to protest by worsening inflation and operating costs. PISTON is calling on the government to immediately suspend value-added and excise taxes on fuel products, repeal the Oil Deregulation Law, raise workers’ wages and grant a fare increase. Floranda said other transport groups

ond-place feat in wushu at the 2014 Incheon Games. Saclag said he plans to use the experience as motivation when he returns to the Philippines. “Gagamitin ko itong sakit para mag-improve pa. Kailangan ko pang husayan ang ground game ko,” he added. Meanwhile, the Philippines claimed yet another historic milestone at the games as Rebecca Cyril Torres, Samantha Veguillas and Ysabelle Arrogante bagged the bronze medal in the women’s team kata event in karate at the Toyohashi Gymnasium. The Filipinas took the bronze medal by beating Southeast Asian rival Thailand, 4-1, in the bronze-medal match, defeating Ramitar Terananon, Monsicha Sakulrattanatara and Phatcharin Plangplai to give the Philippines its first-ever Asiad medal in the team kata event. “Wala na kaming inisip kung sino ang kalaban,” Arrogante said. “Basta we said, sa amin ang bronze.” The historic medal was a culmination of years of sacrifice and perseverance of the three athletes. Also making their presence felt in the games were the Gilas Women, who stunned powerhouse Mongolia, 17-12, before routing Macau, 21-4, at the Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue. Meanwhile, Philippine flagbearer and Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aira Villegas saw her Asiad campaign end in the women’s 51kg preliminaries following a lopsided 5-0 decision loss to India’s Sakshi Chaudhary, while Tokyo Olympics silver medalist swimmer Kayla Sanchez missed out on a podium finish in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final, placing fourth overall at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Asked whether Malacañang was surprised that Duterte, a lawyer, had not been advised to divest from her business interests, Castro declined to comment. “We will no longer comment on that. Vice President Sara is already an adult and should not need any advice. She knows what she is doing,” Castro said.

Cruz was incorporator on several VP-linked firms

The SEC official also testified that Cruz’s name appeared as an incorporator in several companies linked to Duterte, including City Hall King Chow Foods Corp., Davao Bounty Times Foods Corp., Davao Emerging Taipans Corp., Davao New Royal Taipan Foods Corp., Great Jolly Times Foods Corp., JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corp. Cruz and Duterte were both original subscribers to Metro City Chow Foods, with Cruz as the largest and Duterte the second-largest original subscriber. Both remained listed as shareholders and directors in the company’s 2025 General Information Sheet. SEC records showed Cruz as the largest original subscriber, with 1,997 shares worth P199,700, while Duterte subscribed to 500 shares worth P50,000. Cruz is also linked to Gencorp Industries Inc., which Duterte declared as a business interest in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth despite her name not

PPI... From A1 start of a five-day seminar-workshop on Truth in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Age: Fact-Checking, Creating Content, Using AI Tools, and Monetizing Digital Assets spearheaded by the PPI and the German-based Hanns Seidel foundation. Estabillo said community journalists

were welcome to join the strike and that PISTON would continue its protests until the government scraps the excise and value-added taxes on fuel products.

‘Operations may soon become impossible’

For their part, Victory Liner and provincial bus operators cited fleet modernization expenses, loans, spare parts, tires, maintenance, insurance, toll fees, regulatory compliance and an impending wage increase as additional financial pressures. “No industry can survive when its regulated revenue is lower than the actual cost of delivering its service,” the operators said. “This is not a threat to stop operations. This is a notice that operations may soon become impossible,” they added. The statement was signed by the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines, Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas Inc., SOLUBOA and Mega Manila Consortium. A separate statement from a group representing bus lines nationwide said fuel prices had reached levels that operators could no longer afford. “We are not asking the government for aid. We are asking for a fair and sustainable fare that reflects the real cost of operating public transportation,” the group said.

Balance between costs, pressure on consumers

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said

appearing in the company’s incorporation documents or General Information Sheet. JTC owns nearly 55 percent of Gencorp, with Cruz representing the company in Gencorp’s records. Tulfo asked whether “JTC” referred to Jaime T. Cruz, but Del Rosario said the company’s incorporation papers contained no such disclosure. House prosecution spokesperson Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Cruz was “not just an incidental name” and that prosecutors were examining why Duterte declared Gencorp as a business interest despite not appearing in its corporate records. “Let’s keep in mind that when she submitted her SALN, Gencorp was included there,” Adiong said. “I think it’s too obvious to claim it as a mistake because you swore to it. You swore to your SALN.”

Anti-Dummy Law ‘could become relevant’

House prosecution adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers said prosecutors were still working to establish the relationship among Duterte, JTC and Cruz. “There is a document regarding JTC or Jaime T. Cruz that still needs to be carefully examined because he could be a trustee of the Vice President,” Barbers said. He said the Anti-Dummy Law could become relevant if evidence showed that someone was being used to conceal the identity of the actual owner.

are the “architects of local democracy and the heartbeat of the communities they serve.” “Community journalists carry not only the editorial responsibility of telling the truth but also the economic responsibility of keeping their organizations running where they face payroll, printing or hosting costs, and the constant pressure to maintain independent newsrooms,” he said.

the administration was trying to balance the rising operating costs of transport operators with the need to prevent additional financial pressure on commuters. “The government is exhausting all possible measures to help drivers and transport operators so the burden will not be passed on to commuters. If a fare increase happens, it should hopefully be our last resort,” Castro quoted DOTr’s Lopez as saying. Castro said the Transportation department was extending aid through fuel discounts, toll exemptions for provincial buses, extended terminal fee waivers at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, discounted MRT-3 and LRT-2 fares and free rides in partnership with government agencies. The government is also studying targeted assistance for transport groups through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. Castro said Malacañang was awaiting the department’s recommendation before deciding on a possible fare increase. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, an agency under DOTr, said it would formally submit its fare recommendations in October after assessing whether commuters could absorb higher fares following a regional wage increase scheduled for Sept. 25. LTFRB Acting Chairman Greg Pua Jr. said the agency’s task was to balance the interests of commuters and transport workers while preventing drivers from overcharging passengers. With AFP

NEWS

A3 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Comelec says 90% ready for BSKE By Vito Barcelo

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said preparations for the Nov. 2, 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are already about 90 percent complete, with the polls set to proceed manually unless Congress enacts a law postponing or changing the election process.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body must continue preparations because Nov. 2 remains the election date under existing law. The commission has not received any law that would alter the current schedule. “We are already at nine out of 10 in our preparations,” Garcia said, noting that the Comelec has already spent about P8 billion for the BSKE preparations. Garcia said the filing of certificates of candidacy is scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5. If a postponement law takes effect after Sept. 28, the Comelec would have to stop the filing process and adjust its preparations, including the deployment of election materials to far-flung areas, which must begin in the first week of October, with some supplies requiring sea transport. Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the 2026 BSKE will remain a manual election under existing rules, with the poll body continuing its preparations, including the training of electoral boards and deployment of election materials. Under the Comelec calendar, the election period will run from Oct. 3 to Nov. 9, while the campaign period is set from Oct. 22 to Oct. 31. Nov. 1 is election eve, when campaigning is prohibited, while election day is Nov. 2. The Comelec has also reminded prospective candidates that premature campaigning is prohibited in the BSKE.

PAO files civil case over boy’s death from rabies By Rio N. Araja THE Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has filed a civil suit against a hospital director and a staff nurse before the Quezon Regional Trial Court for the death of a six-year-old boy due to rabies. Public Attorney IV Julius Ceasar Balbuena told reporters that the civil case has been raffled off to Branch 173 Judge Maria Lourdes Gutierrez. He said PAO decided to file the civil case for damages against Dr. Maria Victoria Veloso of the Quezon Provincial Hospital NetworkGumaca and the attending nurse, Ma. Fe Alice Panopio, after the boy’s parents and the two accused failed to reach an amicable settlement during three mediation proceedings. On behalf of the boy’s parents, Benigno and Genalyn Postre, PAO filed a complaint for alleged medical malpractice and negligence over the failure to inject the boy with Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) to prevent viral infection.

TRADE TALKS. ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn joins the 22nd AEM-EU Trade Commissioner Consultation in Manila, where officials discuss strengthening ASEAN-EU economic ties, digital trade, the green transition, supply chain resilience, and regional integration. ASEAN FB page

Brion vouches for Marquez as next SC chief justice By Gwyneth Nolasco RETIRED Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Arturo Brion has nominated Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez for the chief justice position, following the compulsory retirement of SC Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Nov. 6, 2026. In a letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) dated Sept. 4, 2026, Brion cited Justice Marquez’s contributions to improving the

operations of the Judiciary. Marquez also served as chief of staff of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, chief of the Public Information Office, and spokesperson of the Court, according to a report from the Philippine News Agency (PNA). “I had the privilege of witnessing Associate Justice Marquez’s exemplary work ethic and dedication to public service during my tenure in the Court, particularly while he served as Court Administrator,” Brion said in his letter.

“His invaluable contribution to the Judiciary, especially in improving court operations and providing effective leadership to judges and court personnel, has undoubtedly strengthened the administration of justice,” he added. Marquez led the SC Committee on Virtual Hearings and Electronic Testimony, and he recommended the amendments to the Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing that were approved by the SC, according to a Feb. 3, 2026 press release.

JOHN HAY REFORESTATION.

The Philippine Red Cross and Philippine Noble Eagle join the John Hay Management Corp. in planting Benguet pine seedlings at Kadaclan Voice of America in an effort to restore and protect the forest ecosystem within the Camp John Hay reservation. Dave Leprozo

House mourns Batanes Rep. Gato, honors life SPEAKER Faustino Dy III on Tuesday expressed his deepest sympathies over the passing of Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr., paying tribute to the physicianlawmaker for a life devoted to public service and the welfare of his fellow Filipinos. Dy said the House extends its deepest condolences to Gato’s family and loved ones and stands with the people of Batanes, who had long trusted him as their representative in Congress. The Speaker said Gato brought to Congress the perspective of a physician who had spent much of his life caring for others, a background he carried into his work as chairperson of the House Committee on Health. Gato died Monday night at 66. The Nationalist People’s Coalition also mourned Gato, describing him as a valued party member, dedicated public servant and physician who devoted his life to caring for others. Maricel V. Cruz

DSWD readies over 3m food packs for new LPA THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is ready to augment over 3 million family food packs (FFPs) to local government units (LGUs) that may need assistance as a new lowpressure area (LPA) is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this week. DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said PAGASA sees a high possibility that the LPA could intensify into a tropical cyclone. She said more than 3 million food packs are prepositioned in warehouses nationwide. The DSWD also has P147.22 million in standby funds, including P101.36 million in Quick Response Funds for disaster relief operations. Maricel V. Cruz

Pinoys bound for Russia intercepted at NAIA

PNP: AI to transform hostage crisis response

allegedly admitted that Russia was his actual destination after he was recruited through a Facebook post to work as security personnel for a promised monthly salary of P70,000. Nery said he was recruited by an unidentified person in Bangkok, while Baby said his trip was sponsored by a person identified as “Alexander.” Meanwhile, I-PROBES intercepted another passenger, identified as “King,” who was traveling to Vietnam aboard a Philippine Airlines flight. During secondary inspection, King allegedly disclosed that Russia was his intended final destination and that he had been recruited for military service there, with a promised monthly salary of P150,000, citizenship after one year and additional bonuses for completing a special mission.

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. disclosed new measures to strengthen its response to hostage-taking incidents and other high-risk emergencies by integrating technology and proven practices from other countries into its crisis response system. Nartatez said the changing security environment requires the police force to continuously improve its handling of situations that demand careful negotiation, sound judgment and coordinated action. He said the PNP is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to advance its crisis response techniques while adopting global best practices. Vince Lopez

By Vito Barcelo

INVESTIGATION SOUGHT. Health workers, doctors, and nurses file a ‘Manifestation with Urgent Motion to Conduct Investigation’ with the Professional Regulation Commission in Paredes, Morayta, Manila, seeking an investigation into what they describe as the continuing unethical and unprofessional conduct of Dr. Lorraine Marie T. Badoy. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF

FOUR Filipino passengers who allegedly tried to leave the country for Russia to work as security personnel or potentially serve in the Russian military were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The four were intercepted in two separate incidents at NAIA Terminal 1 on Sept. 18 and 19 after immigration officers referred them for secondary inspection over inconsistencies in their declared travel purposes, according to the BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES). Three men identified as “Aldo,” “Nery,” and “Baby” were traveling together and declared Thailand as their destination. During questioning, Aldo

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Army chief denies using drone vs Islamic fighters THE Philippine Army on Tuesday denied using a drone to hit Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) combatants as alleged by an online video purportedly Army denies alleged drone strike on BIFF combatants Army chief Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran said the video had yet to be verified. He directed 6th Infantry Division (6ID) commander Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara to look into the social media post. “As to the posted video which we have yet to verify, I am going to direct the commander of the 6th Infantry Division to conduct an inquiry or investigation as far as that issue is concerned,” Gumiran told reporters during a press briefing. Rex Espiritu

DOLE ensures clean air at the workplace

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has warned that poor air quality can put workers’ health at risk, prompting the agency to urge private-sector employers to take immediate steps to protect employees from harmful air pollution. Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino signed Labor Advisory No. 15, Series of 2026, which sets guidelines for protecting workers from health hazards caused by environmental air pollution. Under the advisory, employers must conduct Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC) procedures to determine workers’ exposure to poor air quality, using the Air Quality Index Matrix and Action Points (AQIMAP) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health. Vito Barcelo

CA affirms ruling finding dad failed child support THE Court of Appeals (CA) on Wednesday denied a motion for reconsideration by a father who initially claimed to provide financial support for a minor child, but was proven absent from his parental duties. In a five-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Emily San Gaspar-Gito, the father, appellant Ronie Hernaez Peñaranda, assailed the CA decision affirming his conviction for neglect of parental duty to his child. He argued that he was a good father and claimed that the child’s mother, Maria Karen Diocareza, merely belittled his financial support. The CA said the father only disputed that the circumstances did not constitute his offense, and ruled that he failed to demonstrate any reason that can reverse or reconsider the March 23, 2026 decision. Gwyneth Nolasco

BOC FILES GRAFT RAPS.

The Bureau of Customs files multiple criminal complaints arising from alleged unholy alliance among a private importer, a Customs broker, and certain personnel of the agency involving six shipments of onions and carrots declared as ‘chicken lollipops.’ Norman Cruz

MMDA setting up stormwater catch basins to ease drainage problems By Joel E. Zurbano

HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is implementing a project that integrates traditional flood-control methods with nature-based and water-sensitive solutions. A key component of the infrastructure called Metro Manila Sponge City Project (MMSCP) is the development of Rainwater Impounding Facilities (RIFs) as catch basins for stormwater, reducing runoff in strained drainage systems.

According to the MMDA, these facilities will also support rainwater harvesting and non-potable reuse, linking flood resilience to water security by managing excess water during storms and promoting conservation during dry spells.

The facilities will utilize underground, subsurface storage systems, depending on site conditions, while allowing existing public and institutional uses at the surface to be maintained or enhanced. Where technically appropriate, the facilities will also be integrated with nature-based solutions and water-sensitive urban design measures, including permeable surfaces, landscaped detention areas, rain gardens, bioswales, and improved urban green spaces. The MMDA strongly recommends the RIFs as a prior-

PRELATE SPEAKS OUT.

PH Embassy: Sabong taboo in France

Bishop Gerry Alminaza, president of Caritas Philippines, speaks during a press briefing on Pax Silica, energy security and the 2026 Season of Creation at the Obispado de Cubao in Quezon City. Alminaza warns that the project’s demand of up to three gigawatts of electricity and 65 million to 90 million liters of water daily could have adverse effects on the country’s resources and future generations. Teddy Brul

By Katrina Manubay

Navy warns vs. falling Chinese rocket parts in PH drop zones By Rex Espiritu THE Philippine Navy’s Naval Command West (NCW) on Tuesday urged the public to observe safety measures ahead of the scheduled launch of a Long March 8A rocket from Hainan, China on Sept. 23. The rocket is scheduled to take off from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan, between 9:24 p.m. and 10 p.m. Philippine Stand-

ard Time, according to the NCW. The Navy identified two projected rocket debris drop zones that may affect areas within the Philippines’ maritime domain. The first drop zone is approximately 97 nautical miles north of Patag Island, 144 nautical miles southwest of Bajo de Masinloc, 190 nautical miles northwest of El Nido, Palawan, and 198 nautical miles west of Busuanga, Palawan. The second drop zone is approximately 46 nautical miles southeast

of Puerto Princesa City, 24 nautical miles southwest of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, 117 nautical miles northwest of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, and 105 nautical miles northwest of Pangutaran Island, Sulu. The NCW advised pilots and aircraft operators to follow official aviation protocols, NOTAMs, and air traffic control instructions and avoid affected airspace in accordance with official guidance. Mariners and fishermen were

also advised to avoid the projected debris drop zones during the launch window, monitor maritime safety advisories and maintain situational awareness. The Navy also urged the public to keep a safe distance from suspected rocket debris and report any sightings to authorities. It admonished the public not to touch, collect, sell, transport or otherwise handle suspected rocket debris and not to share unverified information.

Cayetano pushes total school safety law By Joel E. Zurbano

ART FAIR. Araneta City, the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, and Gateway Gallery launch the fifth edition of the Gateway Art Fair at World Kitchens, Gateway Mall 2 in Quezon City, The yearly event features over 200 artists, immersive installations, workshops, talks, and programs aimed at supporting sustainable artistic careers. Edd Castro

ity component of the MMSCP, in coordination with concer ned National Gover nment agencies, local gover nment units, property administrators, and development partners. Through the development of these facilities, the government will be investing not only in additional f lood-control capacity, but in a more resilient urban water system—one that captures water when there is too much, stores it when possible, and makes productive use of it when water becomes scarce, the MMDA said.

SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano backs the proposed Sagip Bata Act and the Comprehensive School Safety Act as measures to combat escalating youth violence and related concerns. Cayetano emphasized however, that the government must implement comprehensive systemic reforms to ensure that families and educational institutions have enhanced opportunities for meaningful engagement with children. The Sagip Bata Act aims to reinforce the country’s legislative protections against online sexual exploitation and abuse of children, encompassing online grooming practices, whereas the Comprehensive School Safety Act would establish a comprehensive

national framework for school safety, incorporating standards pertaining to physical security, access management, and coordinated interagency threat assessment mechanisms throughout educational facilities. On Monday, the Senate approved on third reading the two legislative measures. Cayetano said the government can achieve meaningful advancement on the issue only by addressing the diminishing duration of time children allocate to their families, educators, and faith-based organizations. “These laws will help people. Every death prevented, every sexual abuse prevented, every bullying prevented is important. But if we want to prioritize it, then it will take much more than regulating the media,” he noted.

THE Philippine Embassy in France on Monday night warned the local Filipino community against participating in illegal cockfighting and gambling activities, reminding them that cockfighting is considered animal cruelty and is punishable under French law. In an advisory, the embassy stated that French authorities had informed them of illegal gambling and cockfighting activities carried out by Filipinos in France. “There have also been complaints about disturbances to the peace and littering in connection with such activities,” the advisory read. “Filipinos in France are therefore advised that illegal cockfighting is an act of animal cruelty punishable in France,” it added. Under French law, cockf ighting is treated as a serious act of animal cr uelty and can result in a maximum f ine of €45,000 and up to three years in prison. The embassy advised the Filipinos to follow and respect French laws, encouraging the community to maintain the good name and reputation of Filipino expatriates with their French hosts. Cockfighting (sabong) is a traditional Filipino sport and cultural pastime involving two roosters fighting in an arena, with bets placed on either bird.

OPINION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

The record has two sides LAST week, this column argued that an allegation is not a verdict. Since then, something important has happened. Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco “Lalo” Matugas and his son, former congressman Francisco “Bingo” Matugas II, have filed their respective counter-affidavits before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the preliminary investigation involving the Mahayhay-Tuburan Road project in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte. That means the discussion should now move forward. The allegations are already known. Now there is another side of the record to examine. This distinction matters because allegations almost always receive the first and biggest headlines. They establish the public narrative before the people being accused have formally answered. But a preliminary investigation is not supposed to examine only the accusation. It must also consider the answer. In the Matugas case, some of those answers are capable of being checked against documents. Records cited by the Matugas camp state that neither Lalo nor Bingo was an incorporator, shareholder or officer of Boometrix Development Corporation, the contractor involved in the road project. The contractor does have a family connection to the Matugases. Ronald Abejo and his wife Princess Abejo are identified as the company’s principal shareholders, and Abejo is a relative of the Matugas family. That relationship is part of the record. But so are the corporate documents concerning who actually owned and managed the company. The Matugas camp also cites records stating that neither father nor son signed contract documents for the Mahayhay-Tuburan project and that the documents they rely upon do not show either participating in its implementation. Again, these are not conclusions that the public—or this column—needs to accept simply because the Matugases say so. They are assertions that can be verified. That is what makes the filing of their counter-affidavits significant. The Ombudsman now has an opportunity to put allegation beside answer, document beside document, and claim beside evidence. If the defense assertions are contradicted by other records, that should become apparent. If the documents support them, that should matter too. There is also a political environment surrounding this controversy that should not be overlooked—but neither should it be allowed to determine the legal issue. Surigao del Norte has long been characterized by intense competition between the Matugas and Barbers political families. The rivalry

was again evident in the 2025 elections, when Bingo Matugas challenged Lyndon Barbers for governor in a closely contested provincial race. That history provides political context. It does not prove that any political rival is responsible for the complaint, nor does it establish whether the allegations against the Matugases are true or false. But it does provide another reason to insist that the controversy be settled by documents rather than politics.

—“—

Neither side should be allowed to substitute publicity for evidence. Political camps will naturally emphasize facts favorable to their respective narratives. Supporters and critics will have their own conclusions. The Ombudsman has a different responsibility. Its task is to separate those narratives from what the evidence actually establishes. This is the other half of due process that sometimes disappears in highly publicized investigations. We readily understand the right of government to investigate. We should equally understand that an investigation is a process of testing competing assertions against evidence. A complaint sets out accusations. It is not the entire evidentiary record. Neither, of course, is a counter-affidavit proof that the respondent is correct. Both must be tested. That is why neither side should be allowed to substitute publicity for evidence. The Ombudsman has raised serious questions about the road project’s reported accomplishment and payments. Public reporting says the project was reported complete and paid despite a later inspection finding it only 65 to 70 percent accomplished. Those questions deserve answers. But the answers should come from the complete record—the complaint, the counter-affidavits, corporate documents, project records and whatever other evidence the Ombudsman considers relevant. The Matugases have now put their answers into that process. The next question should therefore not be which political camp can dominate the narrative. It should be what survives examination of the complete record. That approach takes no political side. It simply favors evidence. Last week, we said an allegation is not a verdict. Today, there is an important corollary. Once the answer has been filed, read that too. Because justice cannot be based on half a record. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Cambodia showcases scams crackdown with global conference By Suy Se with Alice Ritchie in Bangkok PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia showed off

a shuttered scam compound complete with counterfeit cash and a fake police station this week ahead of a global conference intended to burnish its anti-fraud credentials. Around 20 countries including the US and China will be represented at the meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, held amid international pressure on Phnom Penh to do more to tackle the multi-billion-dollar online scam industry. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hub for crime syndicates running centers filled with scammers -- some willing, some trafficked -- who defraud internet users through fake romantic relationships or cryptocurrency investment schemes. Cambodia stands accused of having allowed scams to thrive, with some estimates suggesting it has generated the equivalent of as much as half the country’s formal GDP in recent years. Phnom Penh began a high-profile crackdown in 2025 under pressure from its key ally China -- where scams have caused widespread public anger -- as well as the United States, Britain and others. But analysts say the industry has adapted, dispersing to smaller, lower-profile locations, while in many cases centres were given advance warning of raids, giving them time to evacuate. A senior FBI official and China’s vice minister of public security are listed on the agenda for the conference alongside junior ministers and law enforcement officials. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is hosting the talks aimed at boosting “collective efforts” against scams. But analysts expect few concrete outcomes -- and express scepticism about the lasting impact of Cambodia’s crackdown despite hundreds of scam centres being shuttered. “They could come back tomorrow,” transnational crime analyst Jacob Sims told AFP. He said it was “undeniable” the government had acted but warned: “The elite protection networks, the buildings themselves, the financial institutions, the corporate institutions are all completely in place.” Closing remarks at the conference are due to be delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Neth

Savoeun, named by two US congressmen last week among individuals they want sanctioned over alleged connections to scam centres. ‘Getting rich overnight’ Cambodian authorities on Monday showed off a sprawling scam centre on a 120-hectare (300-acre) site near the Vietnamese border they said had last year employed about 20,000 scammers. In one room, AFP reporters saw rows of soundproofed phone booths and counterfeit $100 bills scattered on the floor. On the walls were motivational slogans in Chinese, from “Give it your all” to “Getting rich overnight”.

—“—

Southeast Asia has emerged as a hub for crime syndicates running centers filled with scammers who defraud internet users through fake romantic relationships or cryptocurrency investment schemes. A fake Singapore police station was used as a backdrop for scammers making videocalls posing as officers. Officials said the centre was jointly run by Prince Group’s Chen Zhi and Huione Group’s Li Xiong -- both of whom were extradited to China this year. Hay Makara, an official from Cambodia’s anti-scam commission, said authorities had so far closed 663 scam sites, including 86 large compounds, and frozen $300 million in scamrelated accounts. “As of now, there are no more scam compounds,” he told reporters. However, he conceded that “the criminals are adapting... working from rented homes, rented rooms, hotels, even in cars”. Bare minimum The syndicates initially focused on Chinese

HE entire White House television network pool will no longer participate in coverage of United States President Donald Trump.

The networks -- which include FOX News Media, ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News – are boycotting the White House in solidarity with CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO, whom Mr. Trump had banned from presidential events. Members of the White House pool share the responsibility and costs of providing television coverage of the president. They also distribute footage that is then used by other outlets. They perform these duties on rotation. It was CNN’s turn to cover Mr. Trump’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly. On Friday, the US President announced the ban, “effective immediately” because the outlets were supposedly reporting “FAKE NEWS.” He also threatened to extend the ban to other media organizations, specifically those who had been critical of him. The Secret Service confiscated the media credentials of journalists from the three outlets. The news organizations have filed a suit to restore White House for their reporters. On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that his move was “instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS,” which he said has “grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.” Other newsrooms like the New

ManilaStandard

ONLINE

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

—“—

It is never the media’s job to provide anybody flattering coverage. In a statement, the White House pool members said: “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.” To be sure, a similar pushback has happened before – in 2009 under the Obama administration. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the Treasury Department excluded Fox News from interviews with an official of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The pool said none of their reporters would participate, and the government backed down. It is heartening to see members

TWELVE pesos. That is what the Polytechnic University of the Philippines still charges per unit in tuition. For the country’s largest state university by student population, the figure is striking. A jeepney ride can cost more. Yet ₱12 per unit still sits inside the financing structure of a university expected to provide twentyfirst-century education to tens of thousands of students. That single number captures the challenge before us. Free Higher Education has already transformed access to college. The next task is to strengthen the system that carries that promise. And to understand what that requires, we only need to follow the journey of every public peso—from what education truly costs, to how many students our universities can serve, to how firmly government is prepared to sustain the investment. First, cost. Education carries real expenses even when students receive it for free. Professors receive salaries. Laboratories need supplies. Computers require replacement. Buildings need upkeep. Universities must continuously invest in learning spaces, technology, student services, and academic support. Yet many State Universities and Colleges still carry tuition rates of around ₱50 to ₱100 per unit. PUP remains at ₱12. CHED’s normative costing study, meanwhile, places the actual cost at around ₱500 per unit at the minimum. The gap speaks for itself. Free Higher Education changed who shoulders tuition. Government now carries that responsibility for qualified students under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. That gives us space to revisit the existing tuition moratorium while preserving its original purpose of protecting students and families. Government can update the rate it recognizes and pays under FHE so public financing reflects present-day costs. Any justified

adjustment should be fully absorbed by government. For qualified FHE students, tuition remains at zero. From cost naturally follows the second question: how much education can our universities realistically provide with the resources they receive? Second, capacity. Funding ultimately shapes what happens inside the classroom.

When resources fall short, classes grow larger, laboratories serve more students with the same equipment, faculty carry heavier loads, and expansion becomes harder. Qualified applicants then compete for fewer available places. This turns financing into an access issue. Free tuition opens the door. Institutional capacity determines how many students can actually enter and receive a quality education. PUP makes this tension easy to see. We expect a major national university to serve a huge student population, maintain strong academic programs, modernize facilities, support faculty, and expand opportunities, while its historical tuition benchmark remains extraordinarily low. Normative costing offers a better way forward because programs carry different requirements. Engineering, nursing, agriculture, science, and other specialized fields demand different levels of public support. A more realistic funding model can therefore help government match resources with actual program needs and expand quality

places where demand is greatest. Which brings us to the final question: whether government is willing to sustain that adjustment over time. Last, commitment. CHED under Chairperson Shirley Agrupis deserves recognition for moving this conversation forward and for pursuing the implementation of the Multi-Year PreComposite Fee mechanism under UAQTEA. A possible ₱200-per-unit transition benchmark would require around ₱11.5 billion, compared with roughly ₱9.1 billion currently provided. That gap is manageable if we treat it as an investment in quality and access. Congress and the Department of Budget and Management should work with CHED toward a phased re-basing of tuition and other school-fee schedules for government financing. As normative costing becomes fully established, support can increasingly reflect the actual requirements of different programs and institutions. Additional funding should also produce visible gains in faculty support, laboratories, equipment, digital resources, student services, and additional quality places for learners. The principle should remain simple: When government adjusts the rate, government pays the rate. Students covered by FHE continue to study tuition-free. Free Higher Education has already changed what college means for Filipino families. It has turned higher education from a distant aspiration into a real possibility for millions. The next reform should make sure that promise rests on solid ground. PUP’s ₱12 tuition rate reminds us that access and quality must move together. A policy can only remain generous when the system supporting it is strong enough to endure. Free tuition deserves funding that reflects reality. And if government truly wants every qualified Filipino to have a fair chance at a quality college education, then it must be ready to finance that promise at its true cost.

speakers before broadening their targets to other languages. The US estimates that in 2025 alone, transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Asia defrauded Americans out of at least $18.2 billion through cyber-enabled scams. The industry is also concentrated in wartorn Myanmar, with other centres in Laos. Cambodian authorities said last month they had arrested nearly 30,000 suspects, including 15 high-ranking officials and law enforcement officers. But Lindsey Kennedy, an expert in organ-

ized crime, said there had been no effort to properly investigate the sites closed, nor interview those involved. “They did the bare minimum,” she told AFP. “There’s been no interest in gathering evidence in stopping these groups from moving abroad, from actually dismantling networks.” Several governments have sanctioned individuals and organizations over alleged scamming. The US on Monday announced new visa restrictions on 32 unnamed individuals, the

majority affiliated with the Prince Group, a conglomerate sanctioned by the US, UK and South Korea. Visiting Phnom Penh in July, FBI Director Kash Patel said online scams were a “top priority,” urging “increased efforts to hold highlevel scam bosses accountable,” and more information sharing on “complicit officials.” China, meanwhile, “consistently keeps up pressure,” but does it more quietly, Kennedy said. “They don’t put out sanctions. You only really hear about it when someone gets arrested.”AFP

—“—

Free education has turned higher education from a distant aspiration into a real possibility for millions.

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser

Emil P. Jurado+ Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

York Times and the Washington Post, and wire services like the Associated Press and Agence France Presse, are also not publishing photos from Trump’s events. “No news organization — or person — should be retaliated against by the government over the words they use,” said Patrick Maks, an AP spokesperson.

from rival media organizations use their collective power to push back against government overreach. In too many instances, Trump has lashed out at journalists who dared question him or hold him accountable, singling them out and berating them in public. In this instance, his actions against entire news organizations remind us how far – or how low – the US president is prepared to go in the name of retaliation. His ego was bruised; somebody must pay. But it is never the media’s job to provide anybody flattering coverage. Any official who expects this grossly misunderstands the role of journalists in society, and undermines their citizens’ right to receive information that would inform their decision making. Here at home, some unenlightened politicians have also taken the media to task for not covering them favorably, or even for simply asking questions. The previous chief executive, now jailed and awaiting trial in The Netherlands, famously insulted journalists, threatened their lives, or denied them reporting access. A senator called Senate media “paid hacks” for not fawning over him. He is now also in jail. Media practitioners may differ in the organizations to which they belong, or in their style of reporting. They should be uncompromisingly united, however, when truth is on the line, and when powerful people attempt to prevent them from or punish them for doing their jobs.

Funding free education

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net

Industry pushback

Mario R. Policarpio Jr. Head - Finance

Baldwin R. Felipe

Head - Ad Solutions

Joyce Pangco Pañares Managing Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie

Opinion Editor

Feliciano T. Buscas Jr. Head - IT-MIS

Paula A. Reynoso

Head - Suppplements

Virgilio DC Galvez

Aytch dela Cruz

Online Editor

Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

News Editor

(On leave)

Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

WORLD

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CALL FOR JUSTICE. Flowers and candles are seen at an intersection near an ICE-related shooting in Austin, Texas. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and wounded 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan national working as a DoorDash delivery driver, Sunday afternoon in North Austin. AFP

G7 hits Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia IN BRIEF Sokor urges nuke R freeze, sanctions Missing F-35 fighter parts ‘not sensitive’ – Australia SYDNEY – Missing F-35 fighter parts diverted from Australia to Hong Kong are not “sensitive,” Defense Minister Richard Marles said Tuesday, confirming Canberra was helping to investigate the incident. The United States operates more than 800 F-35 jets, its most costly weapons system, which is also flown by many of its defense allies, including Australia. News outlet Politico said a shipment of F-35 parts, including a canopy with radarresistant technology, had been unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong after leaving Australia, raising the possibility that China had accessed the weapons system. Marles confirmed the incident to reporters on Tuesday, saying Australia was working with the United States and its prime contractor for the F-35 program, Lockheed Martin, in an investigation. “We are examining very much everything that has occurred at the Australian end,” Marles said, adding that Canberra was “confident about the way in which we’ve engaged with the program,” without elaborating. AFP

Russian strike kills 2 in eastern Ukraine KYIV – Russian strikes killed at least two people in Dnipro, in eastern Ukraine, local authorities said Tuesday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky was in New York to plead Ukraine’s case at the United Nations. For months, Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in intensifying long-range strikes targeting a growing number of civilian sites, including factories, warehouses and energy and port infrastructure, as well as ships in the Black Sea. “The enemy attacked 4 districts of the region with missiles, drones and artillery,” Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram at 7:30 am (0430 GMT). “In Dnipro, warehouses and a business were severely damaged. Two people were killed,” he said, adding that six others were wounded in the attack. “A 25-year-old man was taken to hospital in serious condition. Men aged 35, 46 and 47 and a 51-year-old woman were taken to hospital in a moderate condition. A 57-year-old man will receive outpatient treatment.” AFP

Typhoon Dujuan leaves at least 4 dead in Japan TOKYO – Typhoon Dujuan left at least four people dead and 22 injured in Japan, while thousands of houses near Tokyo were without power after the storm swept through the region, authorities said Tuesday. The typhoon moved away from Japan’s coast and out into the Pacific by morning, allowing authorities to lift or downgrade most heavy rain and landslide warnings. Dujuan had already led to the early closure in the capital of the one of the world’s biggest video game trade fairs. Japan often sees strong typhoons in the late summer and early autumn, with other storms this season disrupting some events at the Asian Games being held in the country. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said three people died in Chiba prefecture and one in Kanagawa region, both near Tokyo. Search operations were continuing for six people missing after landslides triggered by torrential rain, the agency said. AFP

IYADH – G7 nations called on Yemen’s Houthis Tuesday to halt strikes on Saudi Arabia, offering a show of solidarity with Riyadh as the Tehranbacked fighters have added a new threat to the Middle East war.

relief on North

SEOUL – Washington should seek a freeze, rather than the immediate elimination, of North Korea’s nuclear program and offer sanctions relief in return, South Korea’s leader said in a New York Times interview. President Lee Jae Myung has reversed the stance of his hawkish predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol since taking power in June 2025, offering nucleararmed Pyongyang talks without preconditions. North Korea’s leadership has yet to respond to any of his offers. Despite long-running UN sanctions, North Korea has enshrined its status as a nuclear-armed state in law, with its leaders repeatedly declaring its atomic arsenal permanent and irreversible. At the same time, Pyongyang has secured critical backing from Russia alongside its traditional ally China, leaving it with less to gain from renewed diplomacy with US President Donald Trump. “I believe there is significant value in a trade-off between sanctions – which are not particularly effective anyway – and a stop to the development of additional nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile technology,” Lee was quoted as saying in an interview published Monday. AFP

ENDANGERED. Infographic visual explainer on the Borneo elephant in Sabah shows the size difference between the Asian elephant and geographic range. AFP

Iran leader to ‘firmly defend’ positions at UN TEHRAN – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday vowed to “firmly defend” his country’s positions, as he departed for New York to attend the UN General Assembly. “We emerged with our heads held high, and this is a source of dignity and pride for all of us. Therefore, we will firmly defend our positions in international forums,” he said before flying out of Iran, according to footage broadcast by state television. The president is due to speak at the UN meeting on Wednesday. “We will make the best possible use of this opportunity to convey Iran’s plight to the international community. We will

firmly tell our adversaries that, despite all the unfairness and injustices, the Iranian people have stood their ground,” he said. Pezeshkian will be the highest-ranking Iranian official to set foot on American soil since the start of the Middle East war, which began in late February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The United States has approved the UN visits for part of the Iranian delegation despite the war, but the group will be subject to movement restrictions, according to the US State Department. The Iranian president’s communications team have not been authorized to travel however, having been denied visas.

Their barring was described as “hostile” by Iranian presidential spokesman Habibollah Abbassi, according to local media. The reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains at the heart of the conflict between Tehran and Washington. Traffic in the vital maritime corridor, through which one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons passed before the war, has been severely disrupted, with Iran firing on commercial ships and demanding it approve passage. In response, the United States is maintaining a counter blockade of Iranian ports while upping economic pressure on Iran. AFP

The Houthi movement staged a lightning offensive in recent weeks to take over Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, including Mokha, threatening global trade and pushing energy prices up. Gains made by Yemen’s Houthis have cemented Iran and its allies hold over two key waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, that the wider Gulf and top crude exporter Saudi Arabia rely on to ship out its oil. G7 leaders representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States said in a statement “we call on the Houthis to immediately cease all military actions.” “All threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process in good faith,” it added. They also called on Iran “to end its arming of and support for the Houthis,” alleging Tehran is in violation of past UN Security Council resolutions. The war in impoverished Yemen, which began in 2014 with the Houthi capture of the capital Sanaa, had been largely frozen since 2022 but resumed in July. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition backing the internationally recognized government since 2015. Its intervention escalated the war, which has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Saudi strikes on Yemen’s strategic Red Sea port Mokha killed at least six people and wounded eight others, the Houthi-affiliated news agency Saba reported Tuesday. The strikes come off the back of a Houthi attack on Riyadh on Saturday which marked the first to target the Saudi capital in years and a major escalation by the pro-Iranian fighters. Britain agreed to give military support to Saudi Arabia, media reports said Monday, adding that the UK would provide “defensive” air-to-air refueling for Saudi jets. AFP

King Charles braces as memoir by Diana’s brother goes on sale LONDON – Charles Spencer’s book about his late sister, Princess Diana, packed with explosive revelations is published Tuesday, after searing extracts prompted a rare and sharp rebuttal from King Charles III. Almost three decades after Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997, people remain fascinated by her life and tragic death. “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister”, a memoir written by Diana’s younger brother, has been published by Penguin and translated into 12 languages. But extracts serialized in the British tabloid the Daily Mail over the past few days have triggered sensational headlines. Spencer has said he wrote the book to

“speak on Diana’s behalf” and correct “untruths that have become accepted over time.” “Diana would be cheering from the rafters at this book, I have no doubt about that,” he told the Mail on Sunday at the weekend. Published excerpts claimed her exhusband Charles, then Prince of Wales, and now the king, told Spencer in a phone call shortly after Diana’s death: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Her death, aged just 36, sparked an outpouring of grief in Britain for the woman dubbed “the people’s princess.” And it triggered accusations that the then monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, failed to respond swiftly with empathy and understanding. AFP

PERILOUS JOURNEY. A tourist watches migrants aboard a smugglers’ boat attempting to cross the English Channel under the observation of French rescue services off the beach of Merville-Franceville-Plage, northwestern France. AFP

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

Filipino chessers bounce back with twin wins in World Olympiad

Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 women’s team star Kacey Dela Rosa in action against Mongolia’s Enkhbuyan Enkhbayar in the 20th Asian Games women’s 3x3 basketball tournament. POC Media

ILAS Pilipinas 3x3 women’s team came through with a roaring start in the 20th Asian Games after taking down powerhouse Mongolia, 17-12, and dismantling Macau, 21-4, on Tuesday at the Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue in Nagoya, Japan. Kacey Dela Rosa shrugged off an ankle injury to power the Gilas Women past the higher-ranked Mongolians before the Nationals sustained the momentum against Macau to complete a sweep of its first two games in Group C. With the two victories, the Philippines sealed its place in the playins and boosted its bid for the group’s top seeding that grants a direct spot in the quarterfinals, replicating the triumphant start of the men’s team to its own campaign. Dela Rosa imposed her height advantage to help Gilas pull the rug

Gilas 3x3 women topple Mongolia, crush Macau from under Mongolia, pumping in 10 big points and three rebounds after shaking off a right ankle sprain she suffered just two minutes into the opening game. “It (injury) is not an excuse para magstop sa paglaban. I came back and we got the win,” the 22-year-old Dela Rosa said in an interview with One Sports. “I saw my team and the opponents were up already, parang doon na nagclick na they need me inside. Kaya ‘yon, I tied my shoes and came back in,” added the Ateneo standout, who was part of the gold medal-winning 3x3 team in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. With Dela Rosa lording over the paint, the Nationals erased a 5-8 deficit and zoomed to a 10-3 run

for a comfortable 15-11 lead with 1:03 remaining before keeping the Mongolians at bay. Kennan Ka supplied three points while Amyah Espanol and Victoria Pasilang chipped in two markers apiece to secure the upset win for the Anton Altamiranocoached team. “Mongolia is one of the top teams in the world... And the first game’s always the hardest, but we were able to really manage good possessions, especially when Kacey was down. We made really good stops to get the victory,” said Altamirano, who also lauded Dela Rosa for fighting through injury. “She’s a tough girl. She’s been through stuff like this. It’s a testament to her character and

mental toughness,” he added. Pasilang and Ka then stepped up in the rout against Macau, pacing the team with eight and seven points, respectively, as Dela Rosa managed her playing time. Dela Rosa still contributed four points while Espanol put up an all-around effort of two markers, eight rebounds, and five assists to cap off the sweet sweep. Gilas Women raring to seize the No. 1 seed when they face fellow unbeaten squad Malaysia on Wednesday at 5:05 p.m. The Malaysians also went 2-0 on the first day after beating Macau, 14-3, and Mongolia, 17-11, but the Gilas Women sat atop the group with a better point differential.

THE Philippines pulled a pair of 3.5.5 victories over Yemen in the men’s section and Angola in the women’s side to get back into the thick of things after six rounds of the 46th World Chess Olympiad at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Monday night. International Masters Pau Bersamina and Jem Garcia and Grandmaster Darwin Laylo delivered the decisive wins on boards one, three and four, respectively, while GM Daniel Quizon split the point with IM Al Zendani Zendan on board two as the Filipinos climbed to a 33-nation jam at 29th spot with eight match points each. Mhage Sebastian, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza produced the wins for the Filipinas on boards one, two and four while WIM Ruelle Canino halved the point with WIM Caxita Esperanca on board three that catapulted them to a 30-country tie for 28th also with eight points. The lopsided wins more than made up for the fifth-round defeats the Filipinos suffered at the hands of Uzbekistan 2 and the Filipinas to the Spaniards the day before. The 11-round tournament took a much-needed breather, giving everyone, including the Philippines, time to recharge and brace for the decisive last five rounds of this biennial tournament considered the Olympics of chess. The Filipinos battle the Argentines while the Filipinas tackle Kyrgyzstan in the seventh round today.

Afghan woman LPGT stars brace for stern Taichung test as Kenda Open fires off defies fear, wins Asiad cycling silver AN Afghan cyclist who disguised herself as a man to pursue her sporting dreams won an Asian Games silver medal on Tuesday, hoping it inspires other women in a country where Taliban authorities have sharply curtailed their freedoms. Italy-based Fariba Hashimi powered home second in the women’s road race near Nagoya in Japan, calling the triumph “something special”. “I can’t explain my feelings now,” said the 23-year-old, before reflecting on how she was attacked with stones and trained disguised as a man when she started out in the sport as a teenager along with sister Yulduz, who is also now a pro cyclist. “I was born inside a country where the women who dream are getting attacked, and I’m really happy that I have fought against that,” she said. “I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear.” The Taliban authorities returned to power in 2021 and have since imposed a series of rules limiting women’s access to education and public life, including sport. “They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us,” said Hashimi, who hails from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan and left the country after the Taliban authorities took over. “This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women, and I’m really happy. “I’m not alone, I know that behind me millions of women, from many countries, have the same dream and they are standing with me.” After fleeing Afghanistan with the help of Italian former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto, Hashimi relocated to Italy, where she now lives and trains. She and her sister competed at the Paris Olympics two years ago, and the 2028 Los Angeles Games are now looming into view. AFP

TAICHUNG, Taiwan—The Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s top guns plunge into an early test of skill, patience and stamina Wednesday (Sept. 23) as the Kenda Tires TLPGA Open gets under way, with the Filipina campaigners facing a strong cast of Taiwan LPGA Tour stars here. The 54-hole championship, carrying a total purse of NT$4 million, marks another significant step in the LPGT’s growing presence on the international circuit, this being a cosanctioned tournament with TLPGA, with 20 LPGT players set to challenge the hosts and other foreign contenders at the Taichung International Golf Club. And with the tournament moving to Taichung for the first time after previous TLPGA-LPGT co-sanctioned stops in other Taiwan cities, the LPGT delegation sees an opportunity to make an early impact – and perhaps produce another overseas victory. Leading the Philippine charge is two-leg LPGT winner Yvon Bisera, who opens against Taiwan standouts

ICTSI PR Communication Services and Production Head Bambi Marfil hits the ceremonial drive during Tuesday’s pro-am tournament.

Ling Jie Chen and Chieh Ning Hung at 8:10 a.m. on No. 10. Bisera, who captured the Thailand Ladies Masters last year for her first international title, believes the course’s combination of narrow fairways, uneven lies and undulating greens will reward precision more than power. “Sobrang init, para din lang sa Pilipinas,” said Bisera, who played the course for the second time during Tuesday’s pro-am. “The course has a combination of hilly and flat features. Uneven ang lies, but the trickiest part is really the greens – some are uphill, some are downhill.” The East and Center nines of the 27-hole layout will be used for the championship, with the sloping terrain and several narrow fairways putting a premium on accurate driving and wellplaced approaches. Bisera found the greens particularly demanding but saw some encouragement in the relatively open layout. “Medyo mahirap ‘yung greens, but the course layout is a bit open, so mas okay,” she said.

Arbole holds nerve, wrests solo lead at ICTSI Negros Classic

Art Arbole in action at the 2026 ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod. Manny Marcelo

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL—Fourteen years of waiting have brought Art Arbole to a place he has long dreamed of reaching: the top of a Philippine Golf Tour leaderboard with a championship within sight. Arbole took a major step toward ending that long title drought Tuesday, producing a personal-best 36-hole total and a bogey-free 67 to seize solo control at the halfway mark of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here. For the second straight day, the short but tricky layout yielded to Arbole’s steady all-around game. More importantly, the performance gave the journeyman his first outright lead after two rounds – a position that carried both promise and pressure as the tournament heads into the pivotal final 36 holes. “This is the first time that I was able to lead in two days. My game continues

to come together – driving, irons and putting,” said Arbole, his eyes betraying the excitement of a player who knows how close he is to a longawaited breakthrough. “I just need to stay focused day-today. Basta mag-connect lang lahat,” added Arbole, who overcame a double bogey in the opening round with an eagle and five birdies to share the lead with Jhonnel Ababa at 65. Now, with two rounds still to play, Arbole is refusing to look beyond the next shot. “Hanggang Thursday na lang. Ulitin mo lang ’yung ginawa mo sa first two days,” he kept telling himself as motivation. Focus lang sa mga shots na hindi mag-trouble. I’ll do my very best in the last two days,” said Arbole, who missed three birdie putts but made four scrambling pars at the back. “Mahirap talaga ang back nine ng Marapara,” added Arbole, who turned

pro in 2012 with a career-best Top 5 finish. Arbole’s eight-under 132 put him one stroke clear of Ababa, but the chasing pack is close enough to make the third round a potential turning point. “Kailangan dito steady ang driving mo,” said Ababa, who stayed within striking distance with a 68 despite another costly bogey on the par-5 18th. Starting on No. 10, Ababa parred his first eight holes before dropping a stroke on No. 18 for the second straight day. He recovered in style, however, with three birdies on the front nine to salvage his round and move to 133. “’Yung back nine ko, hindi masyadong maganda dahil ilang greens lang tinamayan ko, tapos ’yung paborito kong hole – No. 18 – bogey na naman. Pero nakabawi naman sa front nine,” said Ababa. He rued a third shot that hit a divot on No. 18 after a solid drive and second shot.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

Cruspero, Morris complete 3-title sweep in Siquijor junior netfest ALEXA Cruspero and Matthew Morris turned the Governor’s Cup Juniors Tennis Championships into a showcase of their versatility, sweeping two singles crowns and one doubles title each as the Group 2 tournament wrapped up Sunday at the Capitol Tennis Courts in Siquijor. Cruspero saved her toughest battle for last. After cruising through her first three matches, the top-seeded Cruspero had to dig deep into her arsenal – and keep her composure – to outlast a stubborn Etha Seno, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in a gripping girls’ 16-and-under final that could have gone either way. Cruspero came through with timely shots and clutch returns in the decider to deny Seno and claim the 16-and-U crown. She then completed her singles double by beating doubles partner Mercy Pinili, 6-3, 6-2, in the 18-and-U final. Morris matched Cruspero’s feat, ruling both the boys’ 16- and 18-and-under divisions before teaming up with Hazer Malicay to capture the 18-and-U doubles title. Morris survived Xian Calagos, 7-6(2), 2-1(ret.), to take the 16-and-U crown, then produced a far more emphatic finish in the premier division, blanking doubles partner Malicay, 6-0, 6-0, for the 18-and-U title. Cruspero and Morris later capped their respective three-title feats by joining Pinili and Malicay, respectively, in winning the 18-and-U doubles championships in the tournament presented by Dunlop and staged under the Palawan Pawnshop nationwide talent-search.

Triple-title winners Alexa Cruspero (second from left) and Matthew Morris (second from right) hold their trophies following their dominant performance at the Governor’s Cup in Siquijor. Joining them are PalawanPay head Miguel Mangabat (left) and Siquijor coach Gustavo Neri.

The Philippine karate kata trio performs for a historic podium finish POC MEDIA

PH karate trio bags Asian Games bronze By Riera U. Mallari

AGOYA (Powered by PLDT Home)—The Philippines claimed yet another historic milestone at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday as Rebecca Cyril Torres, Samantha Veguillas and Ysabelle Arrogante bagged the bronze medal in the women’s team kata event in karate at the Toyohashi Gymnasium here.

The Filipinas took the bronze medal by beating Southeast Asian rival Thailand, 4-1, in the bronze medal match, defeating Ramitar Terananon, Monsicha Sakulrattanatara and Phatcharin

Plangplai to give the Philippines its first-ever Asian Games medal in the team kata event. The Philippine trio started its campaign with a perfect 5-0 win over Cambodia’s Sreynuch Puthea, Oun Sreyda and That Chhenghorng before losing to powerhouse Iran, 0-5, in the semifinals. “Wala na kami inisip kung sino kalaban,” Arrogante said. “Basta we said, sa amin ang bronze.” The historic medal, the Philippines’ third in these games to go with the medals of the soft tennis team and Carlos Alvarez in mixed martial arts, was a culmination of years of sacrifice and perseverance of the three athletes. “Maraming losses over the years, pero perform lang, laban lang hanggang dulo.” Adding fuel to their fire was the news they received just a day prior that the Philippines officially qualified for the Karate World Cup this November in Hangzhou. “Na-inspire kami, kaya itutuloy pa namin ito, ‘yung magandang resulta,” Arrogante said. Head coach Sonny Montalvo commended

his athletes for their immense dedication, highlighting how the girls temporarily left their families and put their university studies on hold just to train. The trio also thanked their coaches and officials for their unending support, especially the late Pocholo Veguillas, the former president of Karate Pilipinas and father of current president Richard Lim, who is also the chef de mission of Team Philippines in the Games. The bronze also continued the Philippines’ streak of consecutive Asian Games medals in karate that dates back to Junna Tsukii’s bronze in Jakarta in 2018 and Sakura Alforte’s bronze in Hangzhou in 2023. Alforte, a specialist in individual kata, was not allowed to compete in this year’s Asiad because of a new rule that all members of the squad must take part in the team event. “Big boost sa karate. Nakita natin magaling ang Pilipino, tiwala lang,” he said. “Makainspire din ito sa delegation dito. Madami pa ang lalaban.”

MMA takes major step toward Olympic dream A SPORT once banned in much of the United States and famously decried as “human cockfighting” by a high-profile politician is making an ambitious play for the Olympics. Mixed Martial Arts, better known as MMA, is making its Asian Games debut this week in Japan -- a milestone that fighters and organisers hope will one day lead to an even bigger prize. Galastein Tan, director general of the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts, said being at the Asian Games was “a big step”. “As for any sport, the inclusion in the continental games is critical,” he told AFP in Nagoya. “Obviously the inclusion means that you already have a good governance structure, you have enough members, athletes to be able to compete, your ruleset, your officials are ready and therefore it is a significant one.” At a compact gym akin to a school sports hall, men and women scrap it out in separate categories in front of a modest but enthusiastic crowd.

Many of the competitors are from countries with proud histories in fighting sports -- Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and hosts Japan to name a few. Inspiring a generation For fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the MMA promoter synonymous with the sport, there is one immediate difference. In the UFC, which in June held an event on the South Lawn of the White House, the rough-and-tumble takes place inside a caged octagon. At the Asian Games, competitors do battle on a white and grey mat, but they are not fenced in. For martial artists used to fighting in a cage, this takes some adapting to -- a fence “does not really align with Olympic values”, said Tan. Getting everyone to agree on the rules of the competition, including what moves are allowed, is one major obstacle to MMA being at the Olympics. Singapore’s Teo Hui Hoon, who

Reyes Cup set Oct. 15 in Makati

Philippine Olympic Committee secretary-general leads Filipino crowd in cheering for Jean Claude Saclag (inset), who lost a tight finals match in the final of the men’s 65kg traditional MMA in the Nagoya Asian Games. The sport of MMA debuted in the Asian Games and is pushing for inclusion in future Olympic Games POC Media

is guaranteed to win at least a silver medal, said that Asian Games and Olympic recognition will encourage a

generation to take up the sport. “I think it will grow the talent pool a lot,” she said. AFP

Berberabe, Gilas Women take lessons from Japan loss GILAS Pilipinas Women veteran Stef Berberabe believes the team can learn valuable lessons from its 67-89 loss to powerhouse Japan as it turns its focus to the quarterfinals of the 20th Asian Games women’s basketball tournament. The Philippines suffered its first defeat of the tournament at the hands of world No. 9 and host team Japan on Tuesday at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, finishing second in Group B with a 2-1 record. Gilas Women struggled to match Japan’s early intensity on both ends of the floor, falling behind 11-24 after the first quarter and trailing by as high as 22 points, 28-50, before the halftime break. “We definitely didn’t take the first punch. They were the aggressors from the beginning of the game,” the 26-year-old Berberabe said in an interview with Cignal. The Filipinas tried to keep pace

with the Japanese cagers in the second half, getting as close as 45-60 midway through the third period. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome. “I think the second half we definitely adjusted. I’m proud of the team, we kept fighting. We didn’t give up. But Japan’s obviously a powerhouse team, so it was a good challenge. We learned a lot,” Berberabe stressed. The veteran guard acknowledged the challenge of facing Japan’s speed and physicality, noting that the game provided the Nationals with an important test ahead of the knockout stage. “They’re fast. But it’s definitely different even though we also play with pace and speed. But it’s a good challenge,” said the 2021 SEA Games gold medalist with the Gilas Women team. “Definitely fatigued, but it was fun to play,” added the former NU Lady Bulldogs standout.

Naturalized player Elizabeth Means paced the PH squad with 16 points and nine rebounds, Afril Bernardino contributed 13 markers, three rebounds and three assists, while Berberabe delivered nine points and five dimes. With the quarterfinals set for Thursday, Berberabe emphasized that the BT Toews-coached team’s immediate priority is to recover physically and mentally before returning to the court. “I think just rest and recovery. This was definitely a fast-paced game, very physical, so I think the most important thing is just recovering our minds, our bodies, and just going into it trusting coach BT’s system.” Gilas Women, who earlier dominated Kazakhstan (86-58) and Hong Kong (90-73), will now regroup for their return trip to the knockout round as they aim to improve their fifth-place finish in the previous Asiad and contend for a medal.

Veteran guard Stef Berberabe of the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s team Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

THE World Nineball Tour (WNT) has officially announced that the highly anticipated third edition of the Reyes Cup will take place at the Makati Coliseum from October 15 to 18, 2026. Spectator tickets are set to go on sale this Wednesday, September 23, at 5:00 PM local time. The premier team tournament pits Team Asia—returning as back-toback defending champions—against Team Rest of the World across four days of high-stakes Nineball action. Team Asia’s roster already boasts heavy-hitting talent, featuring reigning World Champion and top-ranked Filipino cueist Carlo Biado, alongside Hong Kong’s Robbie Capito, the highest-ranked non-Filipino Asian player following his impressive runnerup finish at this year’s US Open. Challenging the host continent, Team Rest of the World brings formidable star power. Spaniard Francisco Sanchez Ruiz returns to the event fresh off capturing his second US Open title, joined by legendary five-time US Open champion Shane Van Boening, who will be making his Reyes Cup debut. Ticket & Broadcast Details Tickets will be available online starting at 5:00 PM PST on Wednesday, September 23, via the official World Nineball Tour website (www. worldnineballtour.com). Pricing tiers for the event are set at ₱660 for General Admission, ₱1,600 for Premium Seating, and ₱2,000 for a GA Season Pass covering the full four-day event. Match play is currently scheduled to run from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM local time each day. International supporters and local fans unable to attend in person can stream all four days of competition live on WNT TV. The tournament forms a crucial anchor for the World Nineball Tour’s major Southeast Asian swing, which continues immediately after in Quezon City with the Philippines Open Pool Championship from October 20 to 24 at Gateway Mall.

BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

WHAT’S INSIDE?

€17.6 billion PH-EU merchandise trade

€10.3 billion

ICTSI secures $1-b loan from BDO

PH-EU services trade

FREE CONNECTIVITY. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region V marks the launch of free public internet access program (FPIAP) for 352 public schools in Sorsogon province. The ceremony gathered 357 beneficiaries and attendees from the Department of Education (DepEd) Sorsogon, local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies, highlighting their shared commitment to enhancing digital access and supporting the connectivity needs of learners and communities across the province.

DOE drafts rules on geothermal fund

PH, Australia launch P2-b plan

B4 BlackRock, other foreign funds eye GCash IPO

PH, EU seal free trade deal By Othel V. Campos and Ma. Katrina Mikaela Manubay

HE European Union and the Philippines said Tuesday the two sides made a “breakthrough” in their talks on a long-awaited free trade deal.

Brussels and the Philippines “reached substantial agreement on a free trade agreement, marking a significant milestone for both sides”, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement. The EU and the Philippines began the negotiations for a free trade agreement in 2016 but they stalled just a year later, before resuming again in March 2024. Business groups welcomed the con-

clusion of the free trade negotiations, saying this presents new growth opportunities for trade and investment between the two sides. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed she had spoken to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and that they had agreed on a free trade deal. Bilateral trade between the EU and the Philippines has potential to grow from €17.6 billion in goods in 2025 and €10.3 billion in services in 2024, according to the EU.

MEAT CUTTERS. Gimel Siasico

(center) of Texas Roadhouse Venice Grand Canal Mall emerged as the 2026 Texas Roadhouse Philippines Meat Cutter Champion after going head-to-head with meat cutters from Texas Roadhouse locations across the country. With Siasico are Samuel Bagdoc, first runnerup and Rannie Villanueva, second runner-up Held at the Venice Grand Canal Mall branch, the competition put the finalists’ skills to the test in the same 35°F walk-in cooler where meat cutters spend much of their days preparing steaks for guests. Each competitor was given about 30 to 40 pounds of beef—including sirloin, New York strip, and ribeye— and one hour to turn them into quality steaks according to Texas Roadhouse training specifications.

The FTA aims to eliminate tariffs on both sides and improve market access. With 113 million people, the Philippines represents a major market for EU exporters. The FTA will liberalise over 94 percent of tariff lines, covering more than 97 percent of bilateral trade, the EU said. The EU and the Philippines will move to finalize the negotiations on the basis of the substantial agreement reached Tuesday, including determining its implementation and finalising technical details The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said the deal makes the Philippines only the third ASEAN country, after Singapore and Vietnam, to conclude a bilateral FTA with the EU. The agreement is expected to deep-

DOLOMITE CLEANUP.

Employees from Manila Water’s east zone and non-east zone operations participate in the International Coastal Cleanup 2026 at Manila Bay’s Dolomite Beach, one of the 11 designated cleanup sites across Metro Manila. The activity gathered nearly 37,000 volunteers and resulted in the collection of more than 168,000 kilograms of waste.

By Jenniffer B. Austria and Darwin G. Amojelar ASSET managers BlackRock, Capital Group and Schroders are among investors seeking to participate in the initial public offering of Mynt Inc., the parent of e-wallet giant GCash, Bloomberg News reported. The institutional investors are reportedly securing shares at P6.50 apiece, although Mynt set the maximum offer price at P10 per share. Besides the three foreign investment funds, the IPO has also attracted several cornerstone investors, including multilateral lender International Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank Group. Foreign investors are expected to subscribe to up to 70 percent of the total offer shares, while domestic investors will take up the remaining 30 percent. The company will set the final offer price on Oct. 1, based on its latest timetable. The public offer period will run from Oct. 6 to 12, paving the way for the company’s debut on the Philippine Stock Exchange on Oct. 20 under the ticker symbol GCASH. BDO Capital & Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said there is “good demand from strong hands” for the Mynt IPO. Veteran stockbroker Jonathan Ravelas said the strong interest from institutional investors reflects confidence not only in GCash but also in the country’s long-term digital economy.

94%

Commercial vehicle sales seen growing 10% this year THE Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) expects the Philippine commercial vehicle market to grow around 10 percent this year, slower than last year’s 38-percent expansion but still reflecting steady demand for trucks, buses and other work vehicles. TMA president Robert Carlos said the group remains optimistic about the market, citing commercial vehicles’ role in transporting goods and people and supporting economic activity. “We are very optimistic. So, it’s still strong and stable,” Carlos said at a pre-event briefing for the Philippine International Truck Show 2026 set for

Oct. 22 to 24. The commercial vehicle segment sold about 60,000 units in 2025, up about 38 percent from the previous year, Carlos said. The industry is hoping for at least 10 percent growth this year, assuming economic conditions remain favorable, he said. Commercial vehicles — including light commercial vehicles, buses, trucks, cab-and-chassis units and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles — account for about 13 percent of the overall automotive market. Carlos said the shift toward electric commercial vehicles remains gradual,

with adoption constrained by charging requirements and the need to keep vehicles operating with minimal downtime. “For commercial vehicles, most important is there should be no downtime,” he said, noting that trucks need to remain available to transport cargo and people, making time a major consideration for fleet operators. Battery swapping could address the downtime issue, Carlos said, but the infrastructure needed to support electric commercial vehicles is not yet sufficiently developed in the Philippines. Othel V. Campos

DOE wants to check power market abuse By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has asked the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) to investigate possible market abuse by generation companies after electricity prices spiked in the Visayas and Mindanao grids last month. The price surge at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the two regions followed red and yellow alerts caused by power plant outages. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said she has instructed the department’s Legal Services Bureau to formally

write the PCC and PEMC, which governs the electricity spot market, to determine whether generation companies took advantage of the situation. “The DOE continues to work with the ERC and other power sector agencies to ensure that electricity supply is stabilized, market conduct is monitored and recalculated charges are correctly reflected in each consumer’s bill. At the same time, the DOE continues to work on the supply side, that plants are returning quickly and safely,” Garin said. Garin said battery reserves are being deployed in the Visayas grid to address recurring and prolonged power outages.

Tariff lines to be liberalized

en and diversify bilateral trade and investment ties while strengthening supply chains between the EU and the Philippines. Both sides said the FTA would create new opportunities for businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), farmers, manufacturers and consumers through improved market access and more predictable trading conditions. It is also expected to provide stronger and more diversified supply chains as businesses and economies seek greater resilience amid global trade uncertainties. Business groups said the deal could expand exports, attract foreign investments and strengthen the country’s manufacturing and supplychain position.

ASEAN-China trade jumps 18% to $913b TWO-WAY merchandise trade between ASEAN and China rose 18.2 percent to $913 billion in 2025, reinforcing China’s position as the bloc’s largest trading partner amid mounting global trade and geopolitical risks. Officials disclosed the trade figures Monday in Manila at the 25th ASEAN Economic Ministers-Ministry of Commerce Consultation, co-chaired by Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque and Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong. Chinese foreign direct investment in ASEAN climbed 0.5 percent to $26.2 billion in 2025, making China the bloc’s third-largest source of FDI. Ministers called for stronger ASEAN-China cooperation in trade, investment and supply-chain integration, citing unilateral trade actions, regional conflicts and disruptions in oil and gas supplies as drivers of global economic uncertainty and inflationary pressure. They said closer economic ties and constructive dialogue among trading partners were needed to address trade concerns and strengthen regional economic resilience. The ministers welcomed progress on ratifying the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol and urged its swift entry into force, saying it would give businesses and investors greater certainty, improve supply-chain connectivity and create opportunities in the digital and green economies. Meanwhile, trade between ASEAN and Australia and New Zealand reached a combined $153.9 billion in 2025, with the three sides agreeing Sept. 21 to deepen economic cooperation amid geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and supplychain risks. Two-way trade between ASEAN and Australia totaled $136.6 billion, while trade with New Zealand reached $17.3 billion, according to data presented at the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers-Closer Economic Relations Consultation held Monday in Manila. ASEAN also recorded $1.4 billion in foreign direct investment from Australia and $119.2 million from New Zealand in 2025, based on preliminary ASEAN statistics. Othel V. Campos

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

B2 Manila

Standard

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

SEC reviews mandatory IPO broker allocation rule By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission said it is reviewing whether to amend its rule requiring that a fixed portion of initial public offering shares be allocated to trading participants as part of broader capital market reforms. SEC chairman Francis Lim said the agency has formed a committee to study whether the broker allocation rule should be maintained, eliminated or revised. “We’re just studying it,” Lim told reporters in a recent forum. Under the current system, the SEC allocates 20 percent of IPO shares to trading participants. Lim said the Philippines is among the few markets in Asia that still impose such a broker allocation requirement. The SEC is weighing several options, Lim said, including retaining the allocation but changing how it is determined. One proposal would keep a fixed portion for the brokerage industry but distribute it based on the performance or contribution of individual brokers, rather than dividing it equally among all trading participants. Another option would scrap the mandatory allocation altogether and allow brokers to participate in IPOs through the book-building process alongside other market participants. Lim said the current system amounts to a “one size fits all” approach, as the same allocation applies regardless of the size of an IPO. He said the review will consider whether the rule remains appropriate as the Philippine capital market develops. Under the book-building process, investors indicate the number of shares they are willing to buy at various prices, allowing underwriters to gauge demand and help set the offer price. The SEC is also studying other IPO reforms, including measures to speed up registration and filing processes. The regulator has already implemented online filing, Lim said, though the statutory registration period remains at 45 days. The SEC seeks to encourage more companies to tap the Philippine capital market and increase the number of listed companies.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT. Unioil president Kenneth Pundanera, Aramco Asia Singapore managing director Ayman Hoho and Garcia Heights Subdivision Homeowners Association president Felipe Villanueva III lead the unveiling of the newlyrenovated basketball court in Garcia Heights Subdivision, Parañaque City. The project is part of Aramco’s community investment initiative in the Philippines, providing local residents, particularly the youth, with a safe and quality space for recreation and community activities. Norman Cruz

ICTSI gets $1-b BDO loan to fund global expansion I By Darwin G. Amojelar

NTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said Tuesday it secured a $1-billion, 10-year term loan facility from BDO Unibank Inc. to support investments across its global terminal network.

Career Opportunity in TECHNICARE SOFTWARE INC.

Career Opportunities in COLAS RAIL PHILIPPINES, INC.

MULTI-LINGUAL TEAM LEADER

Warehouse Manager

(1 Vacancy)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Description:

● Lead and supervise warehouse personnel, providing guidance, scheduling, and performance management to maintain operational efficiency. Coordinate with internal departments and external suppliers to ensure timely delivery and availability of required materials.

- Oversee daily operations, providing coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to agents to meet or exceed KPI's. - Utilize fluency in multiple languages to facilitate communication, bridge cultural divides, and manage work flows in a global environment. - Review and edit content/customer interactions in multiple languages to ensure quality, consistency in style,and adherence to brand guidelines. - Monitor team progress, identify performance issues, and develop improvement plans.

QUALIFICATION: • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Management, or a related field. • At least 3-5 years of experience in warehouse operations, inventory management, logistics, or supply chain functions, with at least 2 years in a supervisory role. • Strong knowledge of inventory control, warehouse procedures, and materials management.

Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training):

Application may be sent to colasrail.philippines@colasrail.com

- At least 3 years of experience in the same field of work. - Can work with minimal supervision. - Knowledge about at least any 3 languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, Tagalog, Cantonese. Applications may be sent to: 1504, 15th Floor, Eco Tower, 32nd St., Corner 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Email Address: personnel@bhgglobal.net Company/ Employer

Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position

TECHNICARE SOFTWARE INC. Complete Address: 1504, 15th Floor, Eco Tower, 32nd St., Corner 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Nature of business: Other Computer Programming Activities

Name: ZHAO, DEQIAN Address: Avida Towers Turf BGC 9th Avenue, Corner Lane S, Taguig City, Metro Manila Nationality: Chinese Intended period of employment: Two (2) years Manila

Company Name: Colas Rail Philippines, Inc. Complete Address: Level 6 Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2, Paseo De Roxas cor. Makati Avenue Bel-Air 1209 City of Makati NCR, Fourth District Philippines Nature Of Business: Construction of roads, highways, bridges and railways.

Name: Cucchi, Gilles Address: Makati City Nationality: French Intended Period of Employment: Three (3) years

COLAS RAIL PHILIPPINES, INC. hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing and qualifi ed to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Department of Labor and Employment – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Building, Muralla Wing cor. General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, 1002, Philippines.

Standard

Technicare Software Inc. hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Local Employment Located at 6th Floor, First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana Street corner A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros Manila.

Any Filipino jobseeker who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is intended to be hired for, may fi le an objection at Department of Labor and Employment – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Building, Muralla Wing cor. General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, 1002, Philippines after this publication. Please inform the Department of Labor and Employment – NCR, if you have any information on criminal off enses committed by the foreign national.

TODAY

Career Opportunity in BEYOND HORIZON GROUP INC.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

MULTI-LINGUAL TEAM LEADER (1 Vacancy)

Notice is hereby given that SUPREME HOLIDAY

Job Description: - Oversee daily operations, providing coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to agents to meet or exceed KPI's. - Utilize fluency in multiple languages to facilitate communication, bridge cultural divides, and manage work flows in a global environment. - Review and edit content/customer interactions in multiple languages to ensure quality, consistency instyle, and adherence to brand guidelines. - Monitor team progress, identify performance issues, and develop improvement plans. Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): - At least 3 years of experience in the same field of work. - Can work with minimal supervision. - Knowledge about at least any 3 languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, Tagalog, Cantonese. Applications may be sent to: 2nd Floor, Block 1, Bonifacio High Street, East Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Email Address: personnel@bhgglobal.net Company/ Employer

Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position

BEYOND HORIZON GROUP INC.

Name: QUACH, DUY CO Address: 3821 Fairlane Residence, West Capitol street, Taguig, Metro Manila Manila Nationality: Vietnamese Intended period of employment: Two (2) years

Complete Address: 2nd Floor, Block 1, Bonifacio High Street, East Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Nature of business: Consultancy

Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position

Company/ Employer

Notice is hereby given that SUPREME HOLIDAY TRAVEL AGENCY TRAVEL AGENCY CORPORATION with Sec CORPORATION with Sec Number: CS202005701, a corporation duly organized and existing under and in accordance with laws of the Republic Number: CS202005701, a corporation duly organized of the Philippines with formally close and terminate its operation effective and existing October 20, 2026. under and in accordance with laws of the

Republic of the Philippines with formally close and

All persons having claims against Corporation are requested to present the terminate its operation effective October 20, 2026. same at its principal office located at 3RD FLOOR SALCEDO ONE CENTER (1229), FOURTH DISTRICT, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR), for immediate settlement.

All persons having claims against Corporation are

requested to present same at its principal office This announcement serves as the notice to all concerned and of the legal dissolution foresaidFLOOR corporation. This notice has been published in located ofata 3RD SALCEDO ONE CENTER compliance with SEC MC NO. 05 Series of 2022

(1229), FOURTH DISTRICT, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR), for immediate settlement. This announcement serves as notice to all concerned and of the legal dissolution of a foresaid corporation. This notice has been published in compliance with SEC MC NO. 05 Series of 2022

Beyond Horizon Group Inc. hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Local Employment Located at 6th Floor, First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana Street corner A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros Manila.

Career Opportunity in PEIX TECHNOLOGY INC. COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Career Operation Services ServicesPhilippines PhilippinesInc Inc (AOSPI) CareerOpportunity Opportunity in in Amazon Amazon Operation (AOSPI)

(1 Vacancy)

Position title: Financial Analyst I

Job Description:

Position title: Investigation Specialist I Vacancy (1)

- Support the development and implementation of internal and external communications strategies. - Manage and maintain communication channels, including websites, email newsletters, and internal communication platforms. - Coordinate communications campaigns, events, announcements, and other organizational initiatives. - Ensure all communications are accurate, consistent, timely, and aligned with the organization’s brand and messaging guidelines.

Vacancy (1) Job Description:

Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training):

Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): ➢ Background in Accounts Payable is required.

Job Description: ➢ Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders in a clear, concise format. ➢

Participate in calibration sessions to ensure audit consistency and contribute to the development of quality frameworks and t raining standards.

Support the exploration of AI-assisted toolsSellers, to scaleincluding quality coverage across multiple languages. ➢➢ Provides prompt and efficient service auditing to Amazon the appropriate escalation of Sellers’ issues in a contact center environment. ➢ Demonstrate agile support through cross-functional collaboration and quick response to emerging quality and training needs across teams. ➢➢ Maintains a positive and professional demeanor, the company a positive lightcase whileprocessing effectivelywhen managing sensitive issues. Provide hands-on operational support during peak always periods portraying or critical business needs,inincluding direct required. ➢ Demonstrates excellent time-management skills and the ability to work independently while using departmental resources, policies , and procedures. ➢ Maintains acceptable performance metrics such as quality, productivity, first contact resolution, and attendance . Qualification (Education, Experience, License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): ➢ Actively seeks solutions throughProfessional logical reasoning and data interpretation skills , and identifies trends to the appropriate channel, including improvement suggestions ➢ Completed a bachelor’s degree.

- Relevant professional certifications or specialized courses in Digital Media Technology - Can work with minimal supervision. - Knowledge about at least any 3 languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, Tagalog, Cantonese. Applications may be sent to: 2F Block 1, Bonifacio High Street East, Fort Bonifacio, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, 1630 Email Address: personnel@bhgglobal.net Company/ Employer

Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position

PEIX TECHNOLOGY INC. Complete Address: 2F Block 1, Bonifacio High Street East, Fort Bonifacio, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, 1630 Nature of business: Management Consultancy Activities

Name: YE, GANG Address: 1805 Tower 2, Avida Towers, 34th St., Taguig City, 1635 Metro Manila Nationality: Chinese Intended period of employment: Two (2) years

Peix Technology Inc. hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Department of Labor and Employment - Bureau of Local Employment Located at 6th Floor, First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana Street corner A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros Manila.

2+ years of experience communication programming and projects. ➢➢ Interpersonal skills, withinthe ability to communicate complex transactional issues correctly and clearly to both internal and external customers. 3+ years of experience in adocumentation Training and Quality role. ➢➢ Clear, crisp, and proactive of operational procedures required to tackle known risk-related patterns. ➢➢ Problem-solving having demonstratedskills. ability to recognize non-obvious patterns and analyze problems logically. Excellent written skills, and verbal communication ➢ Self-disciplined, diligent, proactive, and detail-oriented, impacting time management and organizational skills. ➢ Proven ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments where decisions are made without compromising on customer experience and financial Applications may be sent to: losses. Name of Company HR: Ivanka Patricia Quinial Email address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search

Company/ Employer

Applications may be sent to: Name of Company HR: Ivanka Patricia Quinial Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position Email address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search

Company Name:

Name: Stefan Schleicher

Company/ Employer Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI)

Address: General Trias, Cavite

Complete address:

Nationality: Deutsch

Company Name:

9th to 14th Floor, Four E-Com Center, Blk. No. 22, Harbor Drive, Mall of Asia ComplexOperation St., District 1, Barangay 076, Pasay City, Metro Manila, 1300 Amazon Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI) Nature ofaddress: business: AOSPI is a corporation organized under Philippine Complete

Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position

Name: Shulan Caiemployment: Two (2) Years Intended period of

laws. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Registration No. CS201722700. It is of authorized to Unit No.SEC 2C, Certificate Flr. no. 4th,ofOne E-Com Bldg., Ocean Drive, Mall Asia provide support services, including but not limited to remote technical support Complex St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City, Metro Manila, services, IT development, customer support, customer care services, NCR, 1300process outsourcing, back-office support (including but not limited business to systems, hardware, software, financial operations, vendor management, Nature of business: a corporation organized under activities Philippine and human resourcesAOSPI relatingis to the back-office), and other laws. It is registered with theasSecurities and Exchange (SEC) necessary or useful thereto, well as marketing supportCommission activities, without engaging retail trade,ofthe practice of No. a profession, or acting as authorized an Internet to under SECinCertificate Registration CS201722700. It is Service Provider. provide support services, including but not limited to remote technical support

Address: Manila City Nationality: Chinese Intended period of employment: two (2) years

services, IT development, customer Inc support, care that services, Amazon Operation Services Philippines (AOSPI).customer hereby declares the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the business process outsourcing, back-office (including butintention not limited services and job description for this position. support The company has the to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit the Department Labor andfinancial Employment (DOLE)vendor Centralmanagement, Office, DOLE Building, Muralla Wing corner, General Luna Street, Intramuros, towith systems, hardware,ofsoftware, operations, Manila, 1002,resources Philippines and human relating to the back-office), and other activities necessary or jobseeker useful thereto, well as marketing Any Filipino who isascompetent, able, andsupport willing activities, to performwithout the services for which the foreign national is intended to be hired, may file an engaging trade, the practice of a and profession, or acting as an Central Internet Office, DOLE Building, Muralla Wing corner, General Luna Street, objection inatretail the Department of Labor Employment (DOLE) Intramuros, Manila, 1002, Philippines, after this publication. Please inform the Department of Labor and Employment – NCR if you have any information Service Provider. on criminal offenses committed by the foreign national.

Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI). hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila Any Filipino jobseeker who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is intended to be hired may file an objection at Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila, after this publication. Please inform the Department of Labor and Employment – NCR, if you have any information on criminal offenses committed by the foreign national

ICTSI, led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr., signed the term loan agreement with BDO as the sole borrower. The loan supports a $740-million capital expenditure program for 2026 that will expand capacity, upgrade equipment and fund new projects in several markets. ICTSI said it plans to use the capital to complete the Phase 3B expansion of Contecon Manzanillo in Mexico, continue expansion projects at terminals in the Philippines, Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, acquire and upgrade port equipment and undertake new projects in Honduras, Australia, Ecuador and Mexico. ICTSI reported net income of $589.98 million for the Januaryto-June period, up 22 percent from $483.84 million a year ago. Excluding a nonrecurring charge tied to the sale of Yantai International Container Terminal in Shandong Province, China, first-half net income rose 25 percent to $604.69 million. Revenue from port operations climbed 27 percent to $1.92 billion from $1.51 billion a year earlier, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 24 percent to CYAN $1.23 billion from $990.54 million. Second-quarter net income reached $296.41 million, up 21 percent from $244.31 million a year ago. ICTSI handled 8.12 million twenty-foot equivalent units in the first half, up 16 percent from 6.99 million twenty-foot equivalent units in the same period in 2025. It attributed the increase largely to two newly-added terminals: Durban Gateway Terminal in South Africa, which began operations in January 2026, and Batu Ampar Container Terminal in Batam, Indonesia, which began operations in September 2025. Improving trade activity in Asia and the Americas also supported higher cargo volumes, though weaker volumes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa — caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the deconsolidation of Yantai International Container Terminal — partly offset the gains.

Peso edges up, local stocks slide on growth concerns

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTIO

THE Philippine peso edged up slightly against the US dollar Tuesday, but local stocks fell as investors grew increasingly concerned about slowing economic growth. Notice is hereby given that SUPREME HOLIDAY TRAVEL AG TheCORPORATION peso closed at with 62.72Sec against the dollar, up from 62.78 Number: CS202005701, a corporation Monday. organized and existing under and in accordance with laws of the Re Theofbenchmark Philippine Stock close Exchange index lostits29.23 the Philippines with formally and terminate operation eff October 2026. to close at 5,814.56 amid renewed worpoints, or 0.5020, percent, ries about the pace of the domestic economy’s expansion. The All persons having claims against Corporation are requested to prese broader all-shares index fell 13.36 points, or 0.41 percent, to same at its principal office located at 3RD FLOOR SALCEDO 3,253.35. CENTER (1229), FOURTH DISTRICT, NATIONAL CAPITAL RE Philstocks Financial Inc.settlement. said the market declined further as (NCR), for immediate investors weighed a bleaker growth outlook. Fitch Solutions’ announcement as notice to to all come concerned and of the BMI This expects third-quarterserves economic growth in below a foresaid corporation. This notice has been publish earlierdissolution projectionsofdue to delays in public infrastructure projects compliance with SEC MC NO. 05 Series of 2022 and tepid household spending. Elevated oil prices, rising local treasury yields and a weak peso also weighed on market sentiment, Philstocks said. Trading remained tepid, with net value turnover reaching P5.52 billion. Foreign investors were net sellers, posting net outflows of P1.01 billion. Most sectoral indices ended lower. Holding firms posted the steepest decline, dropping 2.17 percent, followed by mining and oil, which lost 1 percent. Property fell 0.97 percent, financials eased 0.50 percent and industrials dropped 0.28 percent. Services was the lone gainer, rising 0.86 percent. Monde Nissin Corp. was the best performer among index members, gaining 1.48 percent to close at P6.16. Ayala Corp. posted the biggest decline, falling 8.07 percent to P490. Market breadth was negative, with decliners outnumbering advancers 99 to 90, while 58 stocks were unchanged. Jenniffer B. Austria CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

B3 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

DOE drafts rules on P10-b fund for geothermal energy By Alena Mae S. Flores

PRIVATE LABEL. Philippine private-label manufacturer GoNutrients Manufacturing Inc. produces supplements and functional beverages for entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, influencers and corporations that sell the products under their own brands. The company supplies formulation, production, packaging and Philippine Food and Drug Administration registration support, helping clients enter the market without building their own facilities. Clients retain full ownership of their products throughout each stage of the engagement.

Privacy body issues show cause orders to Meta, Roblox By Othel V. Campos THE National Privacy Commission (NPC) issued show cause orders on Sept. 22, 2026 to Meta, Roblox, Reddit and Discord, citing alleged non-compliance with registration requirements under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and NPC Circular 16-03. The orders are part of the NPC’s ongoing enforcement of the Data Privacy Act, its implementing rules and regulations, and related issuances. The NPC said it is intensifying its monitoring and investigation of digital platforms that process the personal data of individuals in the Philippines, particularly as these services become increasing-

ly integrated into the daily lives of Filipinos, including children and young people. The compliance investigations will examine registration, transparency, lawful processing, data subject rights, accountability and the adoption of appropriate organizational, physical and technical security measures. The NPC said it will take appropriate regulatory action against entities found non-compliant with data protection laws, rules and regulations. The commission also cited the need to protect the privacy and rights of minors as learning, communication and social interaction increasingly extend into digital spaces.

“The safety, privacy, and overall well-being of our youth must always come first,” the NPC said, stressing the need for responsible data processing and respect for the rights of young data subjects. The NPC called on digital platforms, government agencies, parents, educational institutions and other stakeholders to work together to create digital environments that protect personal data and enable young people to exercise their data privacy rights. The NPC said protecting young people in the digital environment is a shared responsibility and that it would continue to hold organizations accountable for how they process personal data.

HE Department of Energy has issued a draft circular setting out guidelines for the P10-billion Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility (PGRDF).

The facility aims to catalyze earlystage geothermal exploration and predevelopment activities in the Philippines by reducing the high upfront costs and risks tied to exploration drilling. The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide concessional funding through a sovereign loan to the Philippine government to establish the facility. Under the draft circular, which will still undergo public consultation, the facility will operate as a risk-sharing mechanism, financing 50 percent of total eligible expenditures. Developers should fund the remaining 50 percent, along with all administration, permitting and non-eligible operational expenses. Qualified developers will receive a sub-loan with a six-year tenor. The sub-loan carries a bullet repayment of principal, accrued interest and commitment fees due at the end of the six-year period or upon issuance of a certificate by the Energy Department, whichever comes first. If exploration drilling proves unsuccessful and the Energy Depart-

ment determines the project is no longer commercially viable following technical evaluation, the sub-loan may convert into a grant, forgiving all repayment obligations, subject to the developer relinquishing its Geothermal Service Contract to the department. To qualify for funding, an applicant should hold a valid geothermal service contract in good standing and propose a greenfield project. Applicants should also meet comprehensive technical and financial qualifications. Eligible expenditures include direct costs tied to early-stage geothermal exploration, such as exploration drilling using standard or big holes, associated site preparation and infrastructure, and well testing. Expenditures tied to normal business operations, administrative costs and activities on the ADB’s prohibited investments list will not qualify. The facility’s management team will hold an annual orientation and issue a call for proposals starting in the second half of each year, continuing for six years or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.

Solviva Energy sees growing demand for rooftop solar amid high fuel prices SOLVIVA Energy, a residential solar startup backed by AboitizPower Corp., expects strong growth this year as the conflict in the Middle East pushes up fuel and electricity prices, driving Filipino households toward rooftop solar. “What changed this year was the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted shipping routes and global energy markets, causing price volatility. That has been the tipping point for us. Instead of us trying to force demand for rooftop solar, they’re coming to us,” said Solviva Energy chief executive Coby Cobankiat. Inquiries about the company’s residential solar packages rose 272 percent from March to August 2026 compared with the same period last year. The company now plans to expand beyond the Greater Manila area as demand grows and new government rules simplify the installation process. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve been in a testing phase. Now the goal is to expand in the smartest way that we can. We intend to be available in more cities and offer more products for more households,” Cobankiat said. In August, the Department of Energy issued Department Circular No. DC2026-08-0017, easing rules for installing solar energy systems in residential homes, medical facilities

and small businesses. “In general, the current environment is geared towards setting the type of policies that can accelerate adoption even further,” Cobankiat said. Solviva also reported a shift in customer behavior after installation, with households increasing their overall electricity use. Cobankiat called the trend a positive sign, saying residential solar can help customers use more energy, improve their quality of life and become more productive. The Philippines has one of the lowest rates of per capita electricity consumption in Southeast Asia, according to the World Bank Group. To lower the barrier to entry, Solviva offers a zero-down-payment, rent-to-own plan with fixed monthly installments over as long as five years, with payments starting 30 days after installation. Competing providers typically require an upfront lump sum. “You don’t have to save up for the system just to save even more. That’s why we wanted to address the barrier of upfront cost,” Cobankiat said. The company’s packages include end-to-end service, from site assessments to after-sales support, for the operational life of the system. “These big panels on your roof will last about 25 years. What you’re really looking for is a company that’s going to be around for the lifetime of the system,” Cobankiat said.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

A Solviva Energy team installs a 13-kWp rooftop solar system on a home in Quezon City. Solviva handles the full process for homeowners, from site assessment to after-sales support.

Solviva operates under 1882 Energy Ventures, AboitizPower’s startup and innovation arm, and has served as a direct-toconsumer bridge for clean energy solutions since 2023. “Ultimately, the choice goes back to the customer. Our role is to make options clear, simple and available,” Cobankiat said. Alena Mae S. Flores

BIR collects P24.8m in abatement fees from micro taxpayers By Thony Rose Lesaca THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Tuesday it collected P24.815 million in abatement fees in the first two months of its one-time micro taxpayer abatement program. It said 1,352 micro taxpayers filed 6,234 abatement applications as of Sept. 18. It approved 5,000 of those applications, covering P84,509,316.48 in tax liabilities and penalties. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said availment of the program gained momentum after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned it in his State of the Nation Address, along with intensified campaigns by BIR’s revenue regions. “Our directive to our Revenue Regions and Revenue District Offices is to not simply wait for taxpayers to come to us. Let us identify those who are qualified to avail of the program within the system, reach out to

them, and guide them in settling their covered liabilities, regularizing their records, and returning to compliance,” Mendoza said. Under the program, micro taxpayers with delinquent or assessed basic taxes or penalties not exceeding P80,000 per taxable year can apply for abatement, subject to prescribed conditions. The program covers qualified micro taxpayers with delinquent accounts as of Dec. 31, 2025, preliminary or final assessments as of end-2025, and open stop-filer cases, including those who have ceased business operations. Once BIR approves an application, the taxpayer pays an abatement fee of P5,000 per taxable year. “With the program available until December 31, 2026, we encourage taxpayers who qualify to avail while there is still time. This is an opportunity to settle covered liabilities, clean up old tax records, and move forward in compliance,” Mendoza said.

NOTICE OF LOSS The Public is hereby notified that Proprietary Membership Certificate No. 4522 of the Manila Polo Club representing one (1) share therein registered in the name of Tony Tan Caktiong has been declared missing and cannot be located. After the expiration of one (1) year from the date of last publication of this notice on September 23, 2026, if no contest has been presented to Manila Polo Club regarding said certificate, the right to make such contest shall be barred and the Club shall cancel in its books the certificate of stock which has been lost, stolen or destroyed and issue in lieu thereof new certificate of stock unless the registered owner files a bond or other security in lieu thereof running for a period of one year, in which case a new certificate may be issued even before the expiration of the one (1) year period.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

B4 Manila

Standard

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

PH, Australia launch P2-b plan

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Othel V. Campos

HE Philippine and Australian governments on Tuesday launched a five-year, Au$45-million (P2 billion) program to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the Philippines. The Promoting Growth, Resilience, Economic Stability and Sustainability (PROGRESS) program will fund reforms to improve the ease of doing business, increase investment and trade and enable growth in priority sectors, according to the two governments. Australian Assistant Minister

for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite said the program was developed jointly by the two governments to deliver better economic outcomes. “This is a program that has been developed jointly by the Australian Government and the Philippine Government to deliver better economic

outcomes to boost infrastructure and to improve living standards in communities throughout the Philippines,” Thistlethwaite said during a media briefing. “Australia and the Philippines are committed to a strong and enduring economic partnership. PROGRESS will enhance our cooperation and support the Philippines to achieve strong and inclusive economic growth,” he said. The program is expected to focus on renewable energy, resources and digital economy development, Thistlethwaite said. He said development priorities discussed with

the Philippine government included renewable energy development, the establishment of a carbon market, offshore wind industry development and infrastructure development, among others. “We talked about red tape reduction and how we can improve the efficiency of government decision-making and approval processes for economic projects. And we also discussed economic empowerment for women, for small businesses, for people with disabilities and micro businesses and how they can be established here in the Philippines. So that’s the flavour of the areas that the funding will go

IN BRIEF

UNICAPITAL MILESTONE.

Unicapital director Jaime Martirez shares the group’s milestones as it celebrates five decades of industry excellence in debt and equity capital generation on Sept. 8, 2026. Since 1976, Unicapital Group has served as a trusted financial partner to growing businesses nationwide by offering full-service investment banking, treasury, lending and stock brokerage solutions. Over the past five decades, its deep expertise across capital raising, debt and equity offerings, and mergers and acquisitions advisory has empowered companies to strengthen their financial foundations and capital accessibility.

NextGen relinquishes rights to 2 wind farms

Gov’t expects to relaunch coal bidding in 2 weeks By Alena Mae S. Flores The Department of Energy (DOE) said it expects to launch a new coal bidding round within two weeks, covering the same mine sites included in the canceled 2026 Coal Bid Round, Secretary Sharon Garin said Monday. The DOE scrapped the 2026 Coal Bid Round on Sept. 15, citing the need to revise the rules governing the award of coal operating contracts. The agency said the state owns the coal reserves and reserves the right to reassess or terminate a bidding process when existing parameters fail to protect state assets or maximize national benefits. “In a few weeks, in two weeks, we will be announcing the bidding

towards,” Thistlethwaite said. The program will also support measures to ensure women, persons with disabilities and marginalized groups have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from economic growth. Thistlethwaite said no funding had yet been allocated to specific projects. “We haven’t allocated funding to specific projects yet. We’re very much in the scoping phase and working with the various Philippine government departments to identify where the priorities are and ensuring that the projects stack up and they make solid economic sense,” he said.

already for the same mine sites but with new rules,” Garin said during a virtual briefing. She did not give an exact date for the new auction. The revised framework aims to ensure that future contract awards deliver clear and measurable benefits to the Philippines and its people, Garin said. “We want to make sure that the country, the state benefits from any of these contracts because we have a lot of contracts including, for example, the Semirara. It has been 50 years. We also took into account concerns raised by our stakeholders and the developments in Semirara Island that may affect our coal reserves,” she said. Garin said Semirara Island supplies fuel to the country and that the DOE wants to maximize and optimize coal

ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. 8th Floor 8 Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive Rockwell Center, Makati City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

mining operations there. The DOE should bid out the 10 coal blocks on Semirara Island in Antique province before Semirara Mining and Power Corp.’s contract expires in July 2027. “At the same time, it is not only the extraction that is important. We also need to optimize where the coal is used in the Philippines. We want our coal to be used for domestic use primarily. First of all, we need to address the fuel needs of the Philippines before we export or sell to other companies that do not operate here in the Philippines,” Garin said. The new framework will give greater weight to clear and measurable benefits, appropriate government revenues and commitments to domestic coal use, she said.

NEXTGEN Energy Corp. said its subsidiary, Airstream Renewables Corp. (ARC), voluntarily relinquished its rights to develop the Asisan and Sambong wind farm projects. NextGen told the stock exchange that ARC decided to give up its rights under Wind Energy Service Contract (WESC) No. 2023-12-356 for the Asisan wind project and under WESC No. 2024-02-373 for the Sambong wind project. ARC held the exclusive right to develop the Asisan wind farm, which covers portions of Tagaytay City, Mendez and Alfonso in Cavite. Further site evaluation and technical data confirmed that significant portions of the area have creeping residential development, creating safety setback constraints, environmental concerns and spatial limits that substantially raise navigational hazards, NextGen said. ARC also held the exclusive right to develop the Sambong wind farm, covering portions of Tagaytay City and Alfonso in Cavite as well as Laurel and Nasugbu in Batangas. Third-party contractors’ field investigations and site assessments determined that the Sambong contract area has hollow bedrock terrain, making construction and wind turbine generator installation challenging and financially unviable, NextGen said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Smart launches paid AI workspace

SMART Communications, the wireless arm of PLDT Inc., has launched AI.Smart, a paid AI workspace giving subscribers access to multiple artificial intelligence tools through their mobile accounts. Smart and TNT subscribers can use the platform starting Sept. 18, with credit packs starting at P49, letting users tap AI tools without a credit card or a U.S. dollar subscription, the company said. Developed with Amihan Global Strategies and powered by Avtica, AI.Smart charges purchases directly to users’ Smart or TNT mobile accounts rather than requiring a separate AI subscription.

ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. 8th Floor 8 Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

The rollout targets a market where prepaid mobile services are widespread and many consumers lack access to international payment cards. Smart first vice-president and head of strategy and corporate brand Lloyd Manaloto said the service brings AI tools alongside services subscribers already use on their phones. “AI.Smart puts a real AI assistant right beside it, one that understands Filipino, respects your privacy, and can be paid for through your existing prepaid or postpaid account,” Manaloto said. The platform runs in a dedicated Amazon Web Services environment provisioned for Smart, delivering AI inference through Amazon Bedrock. It can select among models from providers including Amazon Nova, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, OpenAI and Thinking Machines, depending on the task. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ilocos rural lender renamed Billease Bank

RURAL Bank of Sta. Maria (Ilocos Sur) Inc., a unit of fintech firm Billease, renamed itself Billease Bank Inc. and elected former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) deputy governor Eduardo Bobier as an independent director. The bank said its board elected Bobier subject to confirmation by the BSP. Billease co-founder and chief executive Georg Steiger said bringing the bank under the Billease name marks a natural next step in the company’s mission to expand access to responsible financial services for underbanked Filipinos. “A unified brand allows us to offer a more complete suite of financial products from credit to savings and deposits under one roof, helping more Filipinos build stronger financial futures,” Steiger said. The rebranding integrates the bank into Billease’s broader digital ecosystem and lays the groundwork for seamless product delivery across a single platform. Billease Bank president and chief executive Dennis Valdes called the rebranding an important milestone for the institution. “As one unified brand, we’re better positioned to bring relevant, responsible financial services to more Filipinos and support their financial wellness,” Valdes said.

ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. Unit 10A, 5th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting (ASM) of the aforementioned Corporation will be held virtually or via remote communication on 16 October 2026 at 3:00PM via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM2026. Webinar password will be sent via email after registration.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting (ASM) of the aforementioned Corporation will be held virtually or via remote communication on 16 October 2026 at 2:00PM via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM2026. Webinar password will be sent via email after registration.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting (ASM) of the aforementioned Corporation will be held virtually or via remote communication on 16 October 2026 at 4:00PM via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can register at https://bit.ly/ATRAMPesoMFASM2026. Webinar password will be sent via email after registration.

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows: I. Call to Order II. Certification of Notice and Quorum III. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on 01 August 2025 IV. Management Report V. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of 31 December 2025 VI. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last annual stockholders’ meeting VII. Election of Directors for 2026 to 2027 VIII. Filing of Petition for Revocation of Registration of Shares IX. Shortening of Corporate Term X. Appointment of External Auditor for 2026 XI. Other Matters XII. Adjournment Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on 17 August 2026 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

I. Call to Order II. Certification of Notice and Quorum III. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on 01 August 2025 IV. Management Report V. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of 31 December 2025 VI. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last annual stockholders’ meeting VII. Election of Directors for 2026 to 2027 VIII. Filing of Petition for Revocation of Registration of Shares IX. Shortening of Corporate Term X. Appointment of External Auditor for 2026 XI. Other Matters XII. Adjournment Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on 17 August 2026 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

I. Call to Order II. Certification of Notice and Quorum III. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on 01 August 2025 IV. Management Report V. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of 31 December 2025 VI. Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors since the last annual stockholders’ meeting VII. Election of Directors for 2026 to 2027 VIII. Filing of Petition for Revocation of Registration of Shares IX. Shortening of Corporate Term X. Amendment of Articles of Incorporation XI. Amendment of By-laws XII. Appointment of External Auditor for 2026 XIII. Other Matters XIV. Adjournment Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on 17 August 2026 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2026 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before 05 October 2026. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary by 09 October 2026. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia.

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2026 annual meeting of the stockholders on 05 October 2026. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary by 09 October 2026. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia.

The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement. The Definitive Information Statement including its exhibits are to be released to the shareholders via email on September 23, 2026 and will be available in the Company’s website.

Makati City, Philippines, 25 August 2026.

Makati City, Philippines, 11 September 2026.

(Sgd.) ATTY. MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SAN JUAN Corporate Secretary

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

COMMUNITY

SPOTLIGHT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 DIGITAL.MANILASTANDARD@GMAIL.COM / DIGITAL.MKTG@MANILASTANDARD.NET PETER PAUL DURAN, Issue Editor

The entrance features prominent signage welcoming visitors to Arroceros Forest Park.

The last lung of Manila I By Brylle Varela

N the middle of Manila’s busy streets, where buses, cars and pedestrians constantly fill the roads, a pocket of green quietly stands between the city’s concrete structures. Tucked along Antonio Villegas Street in Ermita is the Arroceros Forest Park, a riverside urban forest that offers visitors a brief escape from the noise and rush of the metro. Often called the “Last Lung of Manila,” the park is a 2.2-hectare green space near the Pasig River and Quezon Bridge. It is home to a diverse collection of trees and plants, as well as birds and other wildlife that have made the forest their refuge. The park’s greenery is more than just a backdrop for a quiet afternoon. A 2016 study cited estimates that Arroceros Forest Park can remove about 30 tons of particulates from the air each year, highlighting the role that urban forests can help in mitigating air pollution. But for visitors, its appeal can be much simpler. Upon entering the park, the noise

of Manila gradually gives way to the sound of leaves rustling through the trees. Tall greenery provides shade along the pathways, while wooden seats offer places to stop, read a book, have a conversation or simply take a break. For some, it can even be a quiet place for a date. For others, it is simply somewhere to sit down after a long day and breathe. Inside the park are pathways, bridges and water features, including a koi pond. The area also has a riverside walk that provides a view of the Pasig River. Beyond its greenery, Arroceros also carries a piece of Manila’s history. According to the National Museum of the Philippines, the site was once part of the Parian de Arroceros, a marketplace and trading area along the Pasig River during the Spanish pe-

Upon entering, guests are greeted with a landscape distinct from the typical scenery of Manila.

riod. Archaeological excavations in the area have uncovered ceramics, coins, glass beads, metal fragments and other materials that offer a glimpse into the site’s past. Today, that history sits alongside a forest that offers a stark contrast to the city surrounding it. Step outside the park and the difference is immediate. The traffic, buildings and steady movement of commuters return. Along the edge of the forest, the Pasig River runs beside the city, while Quezon Bridge carries vehicles between the streets on both sides. It is a meeting point between two versions of Manila: one fast and noisy, the other is shaded and still. For those looking for a green space without leaving the city, Arroceros Forest Park offers a simple alternative. You do not need to travel far from Manila’s commercial districts to find a place where the pace slows down, even just for a while. The park is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., although visitors may want to check their Facebook page for the latest schedule before visiting.

A fountain can be seen at the center of the Arroceros Forest Park.

Adjacent to Arroceros Forest Park, visitors can enjoy a view of the Pasig River alongside the Quezon Bridge.

Azalea Boracay keeps home-style hospitality at heart of island stay By Sasha Uy

Capiz women find community through pickleball ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Friendship, confidence and girl power took center court as DINX Pickleball Club successfully held its first Fellowship Derby on September 13, 2026, at Shuttle Grounds in Roxas City. Founded by four millennial women—Shaira Espinosa, Rholin Bulan, Nicole Pimentel and Isabelle Isiderio— DINX is a growing all-women pickleball community that aims to provide a welcoming space where women of all ages and skill levels can play, grow and shine. The club draws inspiration from Winx Club, the founders’ childhood favorite known for celebrating friendship, individuality and girl power. DINX carries the same spirit into the world of pickleball by encouraging women to build confidence, form meaningful friendships and support one another both on and off the court. More than a sports organization, DINX seeks to create a strong sisterhood among women who share a love for pickleball. The club welcomes beginners, recreational players and experienced athletes alike, believing that every woman deserves a safe and supportive community where she can learn, belong and enjoy the game without fear of judgment. The inaugural Fellowship Derby brought players together for a day of friendly competition, sportsmanship

and camaraderie. Princess Delos Santos and Erika Lim emerged as the tournament champions, marking a memorable milestone in the club’s young history. While winning added excitement to the event, the derby’s greater purpose was to strengthen connections among women and celebrate the growing pickleball community in Capiz. Through gatherings and competitions like this, DINX hopes to encourage more women to become active, discover their potential and experience the joy of belonging to a community that genuinely supports them.

From left: Nicole Shenn Pimentel, Shaira Rachel Espinosa, the champions, Princess Delos Santos and Erika Lim, Rholin Grace Bulan-Bachar and Isabelle Mae Isiderio.

BORACAY — For Roxanne V. Madrozo, hotel resident manager at Azalea Hotels & Residences Boracay, hospitality on the island is not only about rooms, amenities, or proximity to the beach. After nine years with the property and about 15 years in the hospitality industry, she has seen the island change through its busiest seasons, its 2018 closure and rehabilitation, and the pandemic. What has remained, she said, is the island’s spirit of service. “Over the years, we can’t deny the fact that the island has become commercialized. The infrastructure has improved, tourism has been regulated, and environmental protection has become a priority,” Madrozo said. Before the rehabilitation, Boracay was widely known as a party destination. Today, she said, stronger regulations have reshaped the island without taking away what visitors continue to love: the powdery white sand, clear blue water, sunsets, and the warmth of the people who welcome guests. “Despite those changes along the way, I’m glad that the Filipino spirit, the eagerness to serve, is still there,” she said. Located on Station 2, Azalea Hotels & Residences Boracay places guests close to key island stops such as D’Mall and D’Talipapa, making it convenient for travelers who want access to both the beach and local dining or shopping areas. The property’s serviced-apartment setup is especially suited for families and groups, with spacious accommodations and kitchen facilities that allow guests to settle in with more ease. That setup, Madrozo said, is one of the property’s strongest appeals, especially for Filipino families who travel in groups and want to stay together. It’s a preference the property has taken further with its recently launched Studio Bundles, which let big groups book adjoining studios instead of splitting up across the property, keeping everyone close by while still giving each traveler their own space. Here, the word “residences” matters. Azalea follows a serviced-apartment concept, with accommodations designed for longer, more comfortable stays. Guests can cook, dine together, and make practical choices while still enjoying the services of a hotel. “People say Boracay is expensive, but if you find a nice hotel at a reasonable price, you can really enjoy it,” Madrozo said. The property offers deluxe rooms and larger one-, two-, and three-bedroom serviced apartments, giving families and barkadas more room to move, rest, and gather.

The poor man’s humble superfruit By Robert Harland AT its September general assembly, held recently at the Acacia Hotel, Bacolod City, the Negros Occidental Garden Club turned its attention to one of the country’s most overlooked fruits: the guava. The presentation, billed as “The Poor Man’s Humble Fruit,” was hosted by the club’s Waling‑Waling Group, represented by Vice Chairs Jean Visitation and Zeny Guzon, who reminded members of guava’s remarkable qualities and enduring relevance. Long regarded as a “backyard fruit,” guava is in fact one of the most affordable and nutritious foods available. It is unusually high in protein for a fruit, providing more than two grams per 100 grams, and is exceptionally rich in Vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants that support immunity, digestion and heart health. In short, guava offers a nutritional profile that rivals and even surpasses many imported fruits, yet remains inexpensive and abundant in local markets. For many families, guava trees growing freely in backyards provide a virtually cost‑free source of nourishment, making it a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness. The Waling‑Waling Group’s presentation urged members to reconsider guava’s place in Filipino life. Too often taken for granted, it deserves recognition as a superfruit of health, heritage and sustainability.

SHOWBIZ

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

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

When love becomes a dangerous game

‘Forgotten Island’ earns 100% Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of US release

The cast of ‘The Loyalty Game: Level Up’ prepares to bring the relationship drama from streaming to television

By Angelica Villanueva DREAMWORKS Animation’s Forgotten Island has debuted with a 100 percent Rotten Tomatoes critics score ahead of its Sept. 25 US theatrical release. Set in the Philippines in the 1990s, the studio’s 50th animated feature follows best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, respectively, as they enter the mythical island of Nakali on their final night together before going separate ways after high school The longer they remain on the island, however, the more their memories of home and their friendship begin to disappear. Joel Crawford and Filipino-American filmmaker Januel Mercado directed the film after previously collaborating on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Featuring a largely Filipino voice cast and soundtrack lineup, the film also stars Lea Salonga, who voices Manang, a character inspired by the manananggal of Philippine folklore. The cast also includes Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, and Ronny Chieng Filipino artists also figure prominently in the soundtrack, with songs from SB19, BINI, Salonga, the late Francis Magalona and Ruby Ibarra. Katseye member Sophia Laforteza contributes a cover of INXS’ “Never Tear Us Apart” and makes a voice cameo. Forgotten Island will hold preview screenings on Sept. 24 before opening the following day.

DreamWorks Animation’s Philippine-set adventure ‘Forgotten Island’ explores friendship and courage while weaving elements of Filipino folklore into its story

Jericho Rosales (left) and Janine Gutierrez lead ‘The Loyalty Game’ as married couple Ben and Ana

Very Wang

Nickie Wang

HE secrets are about to spill out all over again.

After captivating viewers on Prime Video Philippines, The Loyalty Game is moving to television with a new chapter that promises more twists, revelations, and scenes designed to keep audiences guessing. The Loyalty Game: Level Up premieres Oct. 5 on Kapamilya Channel, TV5, ALLTV2, and A2Z, with streaming available on Kapamilya Online Live and iWant. ABS-CBN Studios unveiled the new poster for the series, teasing a version that goes beyond its original streaming run. Produced by Star Creatives, The Loyalty Game consistently topped Prime Video Philippines’ most-watched series list while new episodes were released weekly. It also remains among the platform’s Top 10 shows. Jericho Rosales and Janine Gutierrez play married couple Ben and Ana, whose seemingly stable relationship begins to unravel when questions of loyalty and fidelity expose dangerous secrets. What begins as a test of trust soon becomes a complicated game of love, deception, and betrayal, with every revelation threatening to destroy their marriage. “The character scared me. I think gray characters are the most interesting characters to play,” Jericho said of his role. He described the series as darker and more intriguing, with themes that put fear in front of viewers and keep them watching.

Janine, meanwhile, hinted that the answers are buried beneath the surface. “Everything is underneath the surface. Even for us, the answers to the questions are revealed as the story progresses,” she said. The series also stars Charlie Dizon, Sofia Andres, Yassi Pressman, Yen Santos, Elisse Joson, Karina Bautista, KD Estrada, Robbie Jaworski, Alyanna Angeles, Kira Balinger, Maika Rivera, and Carmina Villarroel. Seasoned actors Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Bernard Palanca, Desiree del Valle, and Pilar Pilapil round out the cast. Mae Cruz-Alviar directs the series, with Ian Loreños, Raymund Ocampo, and Cathy Garcia-Sampana.

French singer accuses Miley Cyrus of plagiarism FRENCH disco diva Amanda Lear publicly accused American singer Miley Cyrus on Monday of plagiarizing one of her songs from the 1970s. Lear, a model-turned-singer who was a muse to surrealist painter Salvador Dali and a lover of Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, took Cyrus to task over apparent similarities between her song “The Sphinx” and the American’s new track “Redlights.” Cyrus released her tenth album Bass Persuades last Friday, a

10-track dance pop opus including the ballad “Redlights” which invites comparisons to the slower, gravelly-voiced song by Lear from 1978. “Thank you, Miley, for copying my song ‘The Sphinx’! I’m flattered!” Lear wrote on social media on Sunday with the hashtags “ripoff” and “copycat.” “I’ve never been litigious, but my record label, Universal, and the publishers of the track, for which I wrote the lyrics, want acknowledgment of the

plagiarism,” Amanda Lear told AFP on Monday. “I simply pointed out the situation by thanking Miley Cyrus and adding that I was flattered. I never threatened a lawsuit or retaliation,” she added. Lear is a prolific composer and singer who has produced more than 20 albums. The Rolling Stones is believed to have written a song about her “Miss Amanda Jones” dating to her time as a prominent figure during the Swinging Sixties in London. AFP Miley Cyrus’ new release, ‘Redlights’ is one of the tracks from her album ‘Bass Persuades’

French singer Amanda Lear accuses Miley Cyrus’ ‘Redlights’ of drawing heavily from her 1978 song ‘The Sphinx’

A scene from Disney’s coming-of-age supernatural comedy drama ‘Coven Academy’

‘Coven Academy’ turns up the magic and supernatural drama THE official trailer for the new supernatural series Coven Academy has been released, offering a closer look at the teen drama from executive producer Tim Federle. The series premieres Oct. 2, with the full season available on Disney+ Philippines. The trailer follows Briar (Malina Weissman) as she struggles to control her newfound powers as a witch while navigating a turbulent love triangle involving Jake (Malachi Barton) and Ollie (Louis Thresher). Set to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Brutal,” the trailer also teases Briar’s mysterious presence and the intrigue she sparks among her fellow young witches. Set in New Orleans, Coven Academy follows three teenage witches and their warlock peers at an elite magic boarding school where power comes with a price, secrets can be deadly and attraction can be dangerous. Caught between ancient supernatural conflicts and forbidden romances, the students must decide how far they are willing to go to protect their city and themselves. The series stars Weissman, known for A

Series of Unfortunate Events, as Briar, an independent New Yorker who discovers she is a witch. Barton plays Jake, a magnetic warlock with a dangerous edge, while Jordan Leftwich portrays Sasha, an empathic student who can read minds. Ora Duplass plays Tegan, a witch with the ability to bend time, while Thresher portrays Ollie, a newly turned vampire. Tiffani Thiessen stars as Miss Graves, the glamorous and formidable head of the school. Special guest star Devon Sawa plays Mr. Cole, a charismatic warlock professor. The recurring cast includes Swayam Bhatia as McKenna, Brendon Tremblay as Alexander, Keegan Connor Tracy as Tamora, BJ Harrison as Agnes and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre as Teese. Federle, known for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and the upcoming Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion sequel, created Coven Academy and serves as executive producer with Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin, Amanda Row, and Bronwyn North-Reist. The series is produced by Federle’s Chorus Boy Productions in association with Disney Kids & Family.

LIFE

C3 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

FRONT ROW

By Jasper Valdez

Young artists find their voices on theater stage

HAKESPEARE can be intimidating enough on the page, and hearing his centuries-old English spoken at full speed onstage does not necessarily make it easier. Repertory Philippines’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream, however, finds ways around that barrier without rewriting the playwright for a modern audience.

By Nickie Wang

Repertory Philippines keeps William Shakespeare’s original language while using modern styling, music and physical comedy in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The production leans on movement, visual humor and fantasy elements to help audiences follow Shakespeare’s story

THE stage has a way of demanding more from performers than simply learning lines. It asks them to stay open, take risks, and, sometimes, discover something about themselves along the way. Benedix Ramos and Omar Uddin have found that experience in The Notebook: The Musical, where their roles have become an exercise in growth. Singer Angela Ken, meanwhile, sees live performance as a chance to connect with people who need to hear a voice beyond their own. Omar’s experience in The Notebook has also made him look ahead to the roles he hopes to play someday. Asked about his dream roles and the artists he would like to work with, he said he would eventually like to portray an older version of Noah.

REP gives Shakespeare a younger pulse

in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The production incorporates modern costumes, pop songs, choreography, and animated projections to make the material more accessible to younger audiences

Directed by REP artistic director Jeremy Domingo, the production marks the company’s return to Shakespeare after 18 years, following Hamlet in 2008. Domingo stays close to Shakespeare’s original text and themes but surrounds them with contemporary costumes, pop songs, choreography, and animated projections that make the material feel less distant. By preserving much of Shakespeare’s language while updating what happens around it, Domingo gives younger audiences several ways into a play that might otherwise feel unfamiliar. The characters dress in modern clothes, recognizable songs turn up in unexpected places, and much of the comedy relies on movement and physical reactions rather than dialogue alone. That approach, however, cannot completely remove the difficulty that comes with Shakespeare’s language. At the Sept. 11 press preview, I could follow the larger story mostly through context clues, but a good part of the dialogue remained difficult to catch. The language already requires close attention, and moments when

microphone levels dropped, particularly during musical numbers, made some passages even harder to understand. Even when individual lines were difficult to process, the actors’ movement, reactions, and comic timing usually made the larger situation clear enough to follow. The production finds a much stronger rhythm once the four lovers finally turn on one another after the love potion throws their relationships into disorder. Hermia (Sevee Eslabra), Helena (Isabelle Prado), Lysander (Luis Marcelo) and Demetrius (GK Diola) shouting and scrambling around the stage while Puck and Oberon (Randy Villarama) watch the mess unfold is also where the production’s mix of Shakespearean comedy and modern physical humor works best. The scene does not require the audience to catch every word to understand the jealousy, confusion, and frustration driving it. Whenever Joey CosioMercado appears as Puck, attention tends to follow him because there is always some movement, expression, or bit

of mischief suggesting he is about to interfere again. That unpredictability makes him one of the production’s most entertaining characters and helps carry scenes where the dialogue itself may take longer to register. Tristan Bite’s Bottom and Alexa Sandiego’s Peter Quince are similarly effective because both performers commit fully to the ridiculousness of The Mechanicals. Their scenes are among the easiest to enjoy, with their character work and comic timing doing much of the heavy lifting even when some of Shakespeare’s wording slips past. The costumes make the production’s contemporary direction easy to read, particularly in the way the younger characters are styled, but the physical setting does not always establish the different worlds with the same clarity. The shift from the palace to the forest, for instance, never feels convincing enough to create the sense that the characters

have entered a distinctly different, enchanted space. Despite those hurdles, the production succeeds in making Shakespeare feel less remote than his reputation might suggest. The dialogue can still be daunting, and newcomers may sometimes need to rely on context, but Domingo gives them other ways into the story through comedy, movement, music, and performances that remain readable even when the words are not. As a first encounter with Shakespeare onstage, it was enough to make the material feel less intimidating rather than more so. REP may not make A Midsummer Night’s Dream effortless for newcomers, but it makes another encounter with Shakespeare seem worth having. A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs until Sept. 27 at Saint Cecilia’s Hall, St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. Tickets are available through Ticket2Me and TicketWorld.

From left: Benedix Ramos, Angela Ken, and Omar Uddin discuss how live performance has helped them grow as artists and connect more closely with audiences

“Now that I’m in The Notebook, I would want to play middle Noah or older Noah, give me like 20-30 years,” Omar said. Benedix, meanwhile, believes preparation for theater requires more than memorizing what has been written and rehearsed. Performers, he said, have to remain open to whatever happens once the curtain goes up. “In order for you to prepare yourself, you have to be open. You don’t really have to stick to what you have written in your notes, what you have rehearsed. It’s the surprise on stage that you allow in order for you to feel the ground, to feel the moment,” he explained. Those unexpected moments can bring performers closer to their characters, their fellow actors, and the audience. It is that unpredictability that can make live theater feel immediate and alive. With its enduring love story and compelling performances, The Notebook: The Musical drew theatergoers, with limited shows sold out. Benedix and Omar, with Sheena Belarmino, were part of the cast through Sept. 20 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati. That connection with an audience is also what makes performing meaningful to Angela. Seeing people respond in real time reminds her why she chooses to use her voice, particularly for those who may feel unheard. “That fulfills my heart because that is the purpose of what I do, for them to know that they are not alone and, at the same time, that we are here for a reason. Our voices are instruments for those people whose voices are not being heard,” Angela told Manila Standard Life. Angela is set to headline her first solo concert, Panahon na Natin, on Oct. 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater. The concert will give her a chance to showcase her artistry as a singer and performer while creating an intimate space for music and connection.

Sevee Eslabra (left) and Luis Marcelo in a scene from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as they take the roles of Hermia and Lysander, respectively

Ikebana master to lead grand floral demo in Manila THE delicate art of Japanese flower arranging will take over Manila as Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 welcomes a leading master for a grand demonstration this October. Headmaster Hiroki Ohara, Iemoto of the Ohara School of Ikebana, will lead the much-anticipated Ikebana Grand Demonstration on Oct. 4 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at St. Cecilia Hall of St. Scholastica’s College in

Manila. The event is a highlight of the 16th Asian Regional Conference of Ikebana International, bringing together Ikebana enthusiasts and practitioners for an afternoon devoted to the Japanese art of floral arrangement. Ohara, who heads the Ohara School of Ikebana, is expected to showcase the discipline’s distinctive approach to flowers,

branches, and natural materials, transforming them into carefully composed arrangements. The demonstration forms part of the four-day regional conference, scheduled from Oct. 1 to 4. The 16th Asian Regional Conference is hosted by Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 in cooperation with Cagayan de Oro Chapter 163, Cebu Chapter 145, and Davao Chapter 133.

Ohara School headmaster Hiroki Ohara showcases the Ohara School’s approach to Japanese flower

LIFE

C4 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

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

PEOPLE Family grief takes visual form in Loisse Ledres’ ‘Ancestral Blessings,’ inspired by the grandmother and aunt she lost during the pandemic

By Nickie Wang

T 11, Loisse Ledres left Cebu for America. She gained a new country, a new culture, and an entirely new world around her. But she never really left the Philippines behind.

Color serves as Loisse Ledres’ main language for exploring Filipino identity, migration, memory, and personal growth

‘Keep Growing’ turns Loisse Ledres’ experience with heartbreak and healing into a work that later reaches a wider audience through the ‘High School Musical series’

Instead, she carried it with her in the most vivid way possible: through color. Today, Ledres is a multimedia artist whose maximalist, abstract works burst with fuchsia, movement, and emotion. Her paintings and murals draw from Filipino culture, childhood memories, migration, grief, love, and the messy business of growing up. “Colors come first,” she told me over lunch in Quezon City, accompanied by her manager, Jazz Digao. It is a fitting philosophy for an artist whose work rarely whispers. Ledres grew up surrounded by the vivid hues, celebrations, and close-knit communities of the Philippines before immigrating to the United States with her family. Those early memories remained deeply embedded in her creative instincts, even as she found herself navigating a very different artistic landscape. At the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, she was often the only Filipino in her

class. Surrounded by Western and European design traditions, she found herself asking a difficult question: How could she impress her teachers without losing the artistic voice that was uniquely hers? “How do I impress my teachers but stay true to my work?” she recalls. The answer eventually became the foundation of her career. Ledres won awards and scholarships and went on to work in advertising with global brands including Disney, Hulu and American Express. But commercial success did not replace her desire to build something of her own. In 2018, she co-founded Tagalikha, a FilipinoAmerican creative group that started as a blog and grew into a community where Filipino creatives in New York could meet, collaborate and support each other. Then came GeezLoisse Studios, which she founded in 2023. At 28, Ledres has already taken her work far beyond the canvas, creating murals and public art in Las Vegas and at Nevada State University while working on community projects with the Clark County Department of Parks and Recreation. Her art has appeared at music festivals, group exhibitions, and publications in Las Vegas and New York. In 2025, she held her first solo exhibition in Las Vegas. But beneath all the color is something far more personal. Ledres uses art as a visual diary, exploring memory, mental health, grief and growth. Her piece Keep Growing, depicting a woman whose tears nurture a sprouting leaf, emerged from her own experiences. It later resonated so deeply with a viewer that the person credited the work with helping them through heartbreak. “I just hope people can relate and process their own feelings, whether about family or love,” she says. “I try to be as honest as possible with my work.” That honesty is also evident in Ancestral Blessings, a mural inspired by relatives she lost during the pandemic. The idea came to her

A visual artist

painting

her way home

At Nevada State University, ‘Growing Together’ reflects Loisse Ledres’ continuing interest in community, connection, and large-scale public art

during a flight as she mourned her lola from afar. Then there was the unexpected thrill of seeing Keep Growing featured on Disney+’s High School Musical series, a particularly meaningful moment for an artist who had long admired its Filipina

The artist who crawled past every barrier to find his place A VISUAL artist and educator from the Cordillera Region, Emiliano Santos has spent much of his life navigating spaces that were not designed with people like him in mind. Rather than allowing physical barriers to define his ambitions, he found ways around them, sometimes literally crawling toward opportunities others could simply walk into. At six years old, Santos lost the use of his legs after a prolonged fever left him paralyzed from the waist down. His parents, his mother, an elementary school teacher, and his father, a security guard, initially sought help from an albularyo and manghihilot because of the family’s financial limitations. By the time they brought him to a doctor, the virus had already caused irreversible damage. The illness disrupted his growth, leaving his bones smaller and thinner, while even sitting upright eventually became a challenge. Rather than be defined by his circumstances, Santos focused on what he could still pursue: his education. As the eldest of five siblings, he relied on family, friends, and classmates to help him through school. When no one was available, he crawled through shallow creeks and rocky mountain paths to attend classes. In high school, he stayed in a two-story dormitory and had to crawl up and down the stairs. A dorm mate regularly helped him until his father found a house near campus where children of family friends were allowed to lease in exchange for helping Santos move around. College posed another challenge. He initially wanted to become a lawyer but understood his family’s financial realities. “I instinctively knew that my family could use the money to hire someone to help carry me around,” he recalled. So he held on to another dream: becoming an artist. His artistic journey As a child, Santos read comics

printed on old newspapers used to wrap tinapa, crawling under the silong of their house to copy them using pencils, ballpens, and bond paper from his mother’s bag. He eventually gravitated toward oil pastel and acrylic, developing work inspired by the natural environment around him. Pursuing formal art education, however, brought another challenge.

Glazing Life Glaiza Lee

Years after fighting for access to formal art education, Emiliano Santos continues his practice as both an artist and longtime teacher

Emiliano Santos now passes on his training to younger creatives after building a career in visual art and education

“I wanted to continue my studies and develop the skills I had learned. At that time, I wasn’t thinking about tuition or materials. I just wanted to get into school,” he shared. One school turned him away, telling him, “You can’t study here because it’s all stairs.” At 25, unable to afford a full bachelor’s degree, Santos enrolled in

a studio arts certificate course at the University of the Philippines Baguio, where he received a scholarship and support from friends. He completed the course in 1994. He later earned a degree in visual communication from UP Diliman College of Fine Arts at 32 and a master’s degree in art education at 46. While working as a graphic artist

As a UP Diliman student in 1993, Emiliano Santos joins fellow artists in preparing artwork for the university’s lantern parade, an early chapter in his creative career

at UP Diliman, Santos continued painting. His first solo exhibition, Nature and Art, at the Social Security System gallery in Quezon City gave him an opportunity to sell his work and pursue art more seriously. Art eventually became more than an interest. It became his profession and a

stars Vanessa Hudgens and Olivia Rodrigo. Now based in New York City, Ledres continues to move between digital work, murals, exhibitions, and community projects. Her current studio is in Long Island City, Queens, where she continues collaborating with artists and arts organizations. Her ambitions are equally expansive. She hopes to work with Filipino fashion and furniture designers while continuing to create pieces that speak to the Filipino diaspora. Her work Stay Out of the Sun, which explores colorism, is another example of how personal experience can become a larger conversation about identity and belonging. For Ledres, however, art is ultimately about healing. She wants people to walk away from her work feeling something, whether it is grief, joy, recognition, or hope. “That’s my goal: that they see life differently,” she says. And perhaps that explains why color remains such an important part of her language. way to help others discover their own creative potential. From learning to teaching Life had another plan for Santos. During a 2011 visit to his alma mater, a former batchmate encouraged him to apply for a teaching position at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Teaching had always been another ambition. “When I graduated from college, I really wanted to teach, but I didn’t expect that it would happen. I really wanted to share what I had learned.” Benilde welcomed Santos into its Design Foundation Department, where he taught drawing fundamentals, art and color theories, and figure drawing. Entering the classroom also showed him the difference an inclusive environment can make. “I was really amazed because as a PWD, I was warmly welcomed. The facilities, especially the restrooms, are PWD-friendly.” Now in his 15th year as a full-time faculty member, Santos continues to teach and develop his artistic practice. “If you work hard and have patience, it will bear beautiful things,” he said. His own experience shapes how he teaches, bringing patience and understanding to students who may face challenges of their own. He believes teaching is about helping young people build the confidence and discipline to shape their futures. A father of one, Santos continues to work as an artist and educator while promoting awareness of polio. “My disability did not become a hindrance to achieving my dream,” he said. His journey shows that meaningful inclusion goes beyond accessibility. It also means having opportunities to study, work, teach, and participate in the creative life of a community.