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Japan wraps up Asian Games as PH matches '62 gold medal haul THE Asian Games in Japan closed on Sunday after a fortnight lit up by record-smashing young stars but marred by mishaps, mediocre crowds and accusations of mismanagement. More than 17,000 athletes and officials, a bigger number than the Olympics, descended on Nagoya and Aichi prefecture for the continent's premier sporting spectacular. Next page
LA 2028 STILL ON EALA’S RADAR SPORTS / A8 FLAG BEARER. Double
medalist and flag bearer Jeus Yape leads the Philippine contingent yesterday at the closing ceremonies of the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. POC Media
VOL. XL • NO. 233 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026 •
INFLATION LIKELY QUICKENED IN SEPT. BUSINESS / B4
Bribery raps vs. VP dropped Palace: Pulling impeach Article 3 could deprive Pinoys of knowing truth By Rio N. Araja and Katrina Manubay
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HE prosecution panel in the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte is withdrawing Article III, which accuses her of bribing Department of Education officials, to shorten the proceedings, Manila Rep. Joel Chua confirmed Sunday. Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said dropping Article III was within the prosecution’s discretion but warned that the move could deprive Filipinos of a full examination of the bribery allegation. Chua stressed that the decision does not stem from weak evidence, saying prosecutors believe they have presented sufficient evidence on at least three of the four impeachment articles. “We think we have already proven at least three articles, and we think that’s enough to at least not catch up next year,” Chua said in a dzMM interview. Article III accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust over alleged bribery of Education officials during her tenure as education secretary from 2022 to 2024. By dropping Article III from its presentation, the prosecution will no longer pursue the bribery allegation Next page
EL NIÑO’S TWO FACES. For the For Chile, while El Niño heavy rain,
DA: El Niño could cut palay yield by 700,000 tons By Othel V. Campos and Rio N. Araja A POTENTIALLY severe El Niño could cut palay production by about 700,000 metric tons in the second half of 2026, prompting the government to expand food buffers and prepare assistance for farmers, fisherfolk and other workers whose livelihoods could be disrupted by
Teachers to receive P983.5m Teachers Day incentive today By Maricel V. Cruz and Gabriel Oliva MORE than 983,000 public school teachers are bound to receive their ₱1,000-World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) on Oct. 5, with ₱983.5 million allocated for the pay-
ment, Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales said. Meanwhile, certain local government units (LGUs) across the country have suspended classes on Monday, Oct 5, in observance of the annual celebration of the National and World Teachers’ Day. Next page
‘DOE says no solution yet to Visayas outages’ THE Department of Energy (DOE) has admitted it has no immediate solution to the continuing power shortage in the Visayas, according to a statement released by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). “There is no immediate solution,”
Philippines, El Niño means drought, hotter weather, and less rain. The photo on the left shows parched farm land in Leyte province. For Chile, while El Niño brought heavy rain, floods, and storms, the rains have resulted in flowers blooming in the arid Atacama Desert. El Niño means a major redistribution of heat, moisture and atmospheric circulation, and different parts of the world respond differently. Manny Palmero, AFP
the NGCP quoted Committee on Energy chair Jose Alvarez as saying during a hearing at the House of Representatives when he asked the DOE why the Visayas continues to experience Yellow and Red Alerts despite the interconnected grid. Next page
drought and extreme heat. Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said over the weekend the government is applying lessons from the previous El Niño and implementing measures to mitigate the impact of the expected dry spell. “We are now more prepared,” Tiu Laurel said, citing advance purchases of rice, fertilizer and other farm inputs, expanded storage capacity
AFP backs probe of Beijing funding; China embassy hits smear drive By Rex Espiritu and Itchie Cabayan THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has called for an investigation into allegations of Chinese interference in Philippine politics. Meanwhile, the Chinese government dismissed as 'baseless accusations” the alleged malicious smear campaigns targeting educational and people-to-people exchanges between China and the Philippines, including Chinese-language education in the Philippines. Next page
and targeted interventions in areas expected to be hardest hit. “At the end of the day, we are looking at the worst-case scenario, so we expect that overall production will still be lower,” he said. The DA projects that El Niño and other weather-related shocks could reduce palay output by about 700,000 metric tons during the main harvest, while also affecting fisheries and livestock. Next page
SANTA’S AIR EXPRESS AT SM NORTH EDSA.
The Santa Air Express has landed. A blimp takes center stage in the light show at SM North EDSA, bringing to life the mall’s concept for this year, ‘Santa’s Air Express.’ Crowds gather as the lights and music signal that Christmas is truly on its way.
Atacama desert blooms with life after El Niño rains A RESPLENDENT display of flowers has bloomed across Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, after the El Niño climate phenomenon brought heavy rain to the region. Underneath the normally parched earth, millions of seeds and bulbs from around 200 different species spend their days lying in wait for water. Heavy rain caused by the El Niño weather pattern recently lashed northern Chile, prompting this abundant ensemble of living things to emerge from their hiding place. Next page
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Bribery... From A1
as part of the evidence it intends to present before the Senate Impeachment Court. Castro however said that Malacanang respects the prosecution’s legal strategy. “That is up to the prosecution to decide—if they believe that is the right strategy for presenting witnesses,” she said. Castro noted that the bribery allegation was included in the Articles of Impeachment and questioned whether dropping it would “shortchange” Filipinos who want to know the whole truth. “If they back down from the bribery accusation against the Vice President, wouldn’t they be shortchanging or disadvantaging Filipinos who wish
Atacama... From A1
Now, vast stretches of violet carpet the desert, and angelic white buds peek out from the cracked ground. Dozens of tourists pull over to snap pictures of the breathtaking scenery that, with any luck, might even include a rainbow superimposed over a deep red sunset. Seasonal rain of over 180 millimeters in some parts "had never been recorded before," Cesar Pizarro, head of Atacama biodiversity for Chile's forestry body CONAF, told AFP. Rainfall seeped deeper than usual
DA:... From A1
The Philippines' palay output for the second half of 2025, specifically the October to December harvest season, was 6.85 million metric tons, reflecting a 5.2% decline from the previous year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Last year’s fourth-quarter volume of production of palay was the lowest recorded for the same quarter since 2012, the PSA added. The Ilocos Region was the top producer, accounting for 18.4% of the total output, followed by Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley. P6.2 billion for farmers’ fuel subsidies President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has provided the DA an additional P6.2 billion for fuel subsidies and other assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and agricultural truckers affected by higher fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict and the early effects of El Niño. The DA is tailoring assistance to local conditions, including increased use of foliar and soil ameliorants, particularly bio-based, non-urea products. Tiu Laurel said fertilizer application and seed intensity would also be increased where warranted. The department earlier said it was adopting a scientific approach to mitigate the impact of the expected El Niño, with nearly P10 billion allo-
AFP... From A1
In a radio interview Sunday, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said China’s activities should not be viewed only in terms of its actions in Philippine waters. "We have been discussing this -- China's activities in our maritime domain and even on land, including espionage, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and interference in our politics and economy. These are all part and parcel of the game plan," Trinidad said. He said the allegations should be referred to the appropriate authorities for verification. The statement came on the heels of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s allegation that Chinese funds reached organizations and some political entities in the country. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has urged Trillanes to submit his evidence to authorities to allow a thorough investigation. Trinidad added that the activities of the Chinese Communist Party extend across various dimensions of national power, including the political, economic, technological, psychosocial, military and diplomatic spheres. "The Chinese Communist Party's activities cover all dimensions of national power -- political, economic,
to know the whole truth about the matter? Again, the decision rests with them,” she said. Focus on Duterte’s unexplained wealth The prosecution will instead focus on the remaining articles, including Article II on alleged unexplained wealth. Chua said prosecutors had hoped to finish presenting their evidence next week but acknowledged that delays could prevent them from meeting that target. The Senate Impeachment Court reset its hearing to Monday to give Duterte’s defense more time to study records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council. Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison said the direct and cross-examination of AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura would require scrutiny of 23 to 24 boxes of documents.
With Article III withdrawn, the prosecution is expected to conclude its presentation after Buenaventura and officials from banks, insurance companies and the Bureau of Internal Revenue testify. The court is currently hearing Article II, which accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth, violating rules on her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and failing to divest from business interests. Ridon: House to respect impeachment end date Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the prosecution panel, said prosecutors would respect whatever date the impeachment court sets for a decision. He was responding to impeachment court spokesman Regie Tongol’s statement that the tribunal was aiming to decide the case by
Dec. 16, before the Christmas holidays. “If we can do it much earlier, I think it will be better for everyone. But if that is the hard date to actually decide on it, it is something we will respect as part of the prosecution,” Ridon said. Ridon said the timetable would depend on how quickly both sides complete their evidence presentation and how much time the senator-judges need to deliberate. House legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the prosecution aims to finish presenting its evidence before the Senate’s one-month break from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15. “Our intention is to end at least before the start of the one-month break, on October 15 to November 15. But, of course, the presentation of the defense is something we cannot con-
trol,” Tolosa said. He said prosecutors have been expediting their presentation by reducing the number of witnesses, including on allegations involving grave threats and confidential funds. “We are really expediting things. We are really speeding up,” Tolosa said. He said prosecutors also intend to streamline their presentation on the unexplained wealth article while urging the defense to avoid unnecessary delays. The timetable for a decision remains dependent on the completion of both sides’ evidence presentation and the subsequent deliberations of the senator-judges. Tolosa also cited Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan’s statement that the impeachment court had not discussed a specific decision or voting date.
into the sand, giving a new lease on life to the nature reserve located about 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Santiago. The "flowering desert" phenomenon will peak in October, according to CONAF, which estimates that 15,000 hectares will blossom into a floral paradise. The current iteration of El Niño is predicted to be the strongest since comparable records began four decades ago. The phenomenon raises surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and causes global changes in winds and rainfall as well as erratic weather
conditions. The torrential rains that pounded Chile in July killed 13 people and destroyed or severely damaged around 4,000 homes. 'Generates life’ While acknowledging these devastating effects, Pizarro also highlights that nature can benefit from El Niño. "Although there is great concern… about the impacts it is causing in many places, it also generates life," he said. Atacama is witnessing "more than flowers," he added, explaining that insects, snails, birds, reptiles and mammals proliferate too. Bees get busy with pollination,
while beetles feast on their leftovers and fertilize the soil with their nitrogen-rich excrement ahead of the next rainfall. Pizarro hopes that a massive influx of tourists won't wreak too much damage on the natural haven, stressing the importance of using established footpaths and leaving pets at home. "For our country, the flowering desert is a source of pride. It is part of our heritage," he said, admiring the yellow beauties sprouting all around him. "Although there are several deserts that bloom when it rains, the territorial extent and the diversity of species we have here are unique," he said. AFP
Japan...
cated for fuel and fertilizer subsidies and solar-powered irrigation projects. The National Food Authority has expanded its storage network to 365 active warehouses from about 300 after leasing additional facilities. The government is also opening new cold storage facilities to extend the shelf life of meat, vegetables and other perishables. Cloud-seeding operations have begun in drought-hit areas, including Isabela and Negros. Tiu Laurel said the DA would deploy the measure when cloud formations contain enough moisture to produce rain. The DA is also coordinating with the Office of the President on irrigation. Tiu Laurel said recent heavy monsoon rains had replenished major dams and could provide enough water for the next planting season. Dams below high-water levels The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, however, reported that most major dams remained below their normal highwater levels. As of Oct. 4, Angat Dam in Bulacan stood at 208.49 meters against its normal high-water level of 210 meters, while Ipo Dam was at 100.18 meters against 101.10 meters. La Mesa Dam in Quezon City was at 79.13 meters against 80.15 meters. Ambuklao Dam in Benguet stood at 750.95 meters against 752 meters, while Binga Dam was at 574.34 meters against 575 meters.
Teachers...
Marcelino Libanan authored the measure. “The proposed higher benefit is not merely an incentive but a clear expression of our nation’s gratitude. Public school teachers are the backbone of our education system. They deserve recognition not just in words but through tangible support,” Gonzales said. “As we mark World Teachers’ Day, our appreciation for teachers should be backed by the resources and support they need to do their work well,” Flores said. He said he hopes that Congress’ budget deliberations will result in additional funding for education programs that remain underfunded. Meanwhile, LGUs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have issued local class suspensions. In Luzon, face-to-face classes in all levels in Legazpi and Sto. Domingo City in Albay in Region 5; Calauaga, Quezon are suspended, and modular or asynchronous learning modalities will be implemented. Classes at all levels for public schools in Sta Maria, Bulacan; Infanta, Lingayen in Pangasinan; and Rizal, Nueva Ecija are suspended, while the suspension of classes for private schools are left to the discretion of their administration. Classes in Pugo, La Union; Santa Cruz, and Pagsanjan Laguna; Magsaysay in Palawan; Arayat Pampanga; Aguilar, Pangasinan; In Visayas, classes in Mahapag, Santa Fe, Tanauan, Leyte, Catbalogan, Samar have been suspended in all levels. In Mindanao, classes in all levels in Talakag, Bukidnon and Pinan, Zamboanga del Norte, and Sarangani, have also been suspended. Meanwhile, in a statement on Oct 3, DepEd said a program will be held in celebration of the National Teachers’ day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, in Quezon City on Monday. The program will be spearheaded by DepEd National Capital Region.
technological, psychosocial, military and diplomatic,” he said. Chinese Embassy spokesman Ji Lingpeng said educational and people-to-people exchanges have long played an important role in promoting friendship between the two countries and fostering mutual understanding between the two peoples. Ji noted that for decades, Chinese-language teachers from China have helped the Filipino people understand the language and Chinese culture, serving as a bridge between China and the Philippines. "We believe those malicious rhetoric and actions against China-Philippines people-to-people exchanges by certain individuals have no place in the Philippines and time-honored friendship between the Chinese and Filipino peoples will continue to stand," Ji said in a statement. "In the meantime we urge the Philippine side to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the Philippines are safeguarded," he added. Ji's reaction came amid reports of repeated attacks against the educational exchanges between China and the Philippines and the Chinese-language education in the Philippines by a retired U.S. Air Force military officer. Meanwhile, the China Embassy refused to comment on allegations made by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that Vice President Sara Duterte and husband Mans Carpio received millions in cash from China.
From A1
In a related development, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores pushed for the P975.96-billion proposed budget for the Department of Education, which he said may fund higher personnel spending, teaching allowances, benefits, career progression, training and additional personnel intended to ease teachers’ workload. “The ₱983.5 million funding for this year’s WTDIB is line-itemized in the 2026 General Appropriations Law, with a special provision to guarantee its timely release,” Gonzales said in a statement. Gonzales, a member of the House committees on appropriations and basic education and culture, said the incentive would remain a priority and that lawmakers were seeking to increase it. “We assure our teachers that this incentive will remain a priority every year. In fact, we’ve filed a bill seeking to enhance the benefit,” he said. Under existing law and Department of Education guidelines, qualified public school teachers would receive a ₱1,000 incentive every Oct. 5 in observance of World Teachers’ Day. UNESCO has observed World Teachers’ Day every Oct. 5 since 1994 to honor the role of mentors in shaping societies. In the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10743 also declared Oct. 5 as National Teachers’ Day. In May, the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture approved House Bill 4531, which seeks to triple the WTDIB to ₱3,000. The 66-member committee is chaired by Pasig City Lone District Rep. Roman Romulo. The bill would also make the incentive permanent. Congress first granted the WTDIB to public school teachers through a line-item provision in the 2019 General Appropriations Law. Gonzales and 4Ps Party-list Rep.
‘DOE... From A1
The DOE could not be reached for comment as of press time. “Why Yellow and Red Alerts? Why can’t Mindanao plants supply power? Why can’t Luzon supply power?” Alvarez asked DOE Usec. Mario Marasigan who explained that simultaneous outages of major power plants in Mindanao have limited the power that can be transferred to the Visayas. Only about 50 MW can currently be transferred because several plants remain unavailable, the statement quoted Marasigan sa saying. It said that Marasigan acknowledged the Visayas’ lack of conventional and baseload generation, particularly in Negros. “Negros has no baseload except for one geothermal plant. It is mostly
renewable, particularly solar. There are not enough conventional plants,” the statement quoted Marasigan as saying. The DOE official, according to NGCP, added that the intermittency of renewable energy can further tighten supply when generating units go offline. “When a plant goes offline, we become short of supply,” Marasigan said, adding that the DOE’s focus is now on generation companies and the immediate return of unavailable plants. “What is important is that the plants that are offline return as soon as possible,” he said. Despite these efforts, Marasigan warned that Yellow and Red Alerts could still occur in the second and third weeks of October, underscoring the continuing vulnerability of the Visayas power supply, the NGCP statement said.
From A1
Team Philippines capped its campaign in the 20th Asian Games on Saturday with a silver and bronze medal in jiu-jitsu, leading to a historic medal haul that gave the country its best Asian Games performance in 64 years, dating back to the golden benchmark set at the 1962 Jakarta Games. The Philippine delegation finished the games with four gold medals, nine silvers and 16 bronzes, surpassing the country’s medal performance in every Asian Games since Jakarta. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio announced the milestone during a media thanksgiving briefing in Nagoya, calling the campaign a breakthrough for Philippine sports. “This is the best performance of the Philippines in 64 years. And when we say 64 years, the last time was in 1962 in Jakarta. So ito po ’yung pinakamaraming medalya in 64 years,” Chairman Gregorio declared during a media thanksgiving briefing in Nagoya. The Philippines’ 1962 campaign produced seven golds, six silvers and 24 bronzes, but the Aichi-Nagoya delegation’s overall medal haul represented the country’s most productive Asian Games campaign since then. Chinese swimmer steals the show Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi, just 13, stole the show with three gold medals, all in Games-record times. She looks set to be a major medal threat at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The schoolgirl was named a Games MVP to cap an extraordinary showing that saw her scorch to gold in the 200m butterfly and win the 200m-400m individual medley double. For all that, the shy teenager said: "I don't think I am what people describe as a prodigy." Also in the pool, Japanese swimmer Shin Ohashi, only 17, smashed the men's 200m breaststroke world record to delight the home crowd. In athletics, where rain fell over several days, the 20-year-old Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson did the 100m-200m double and was named men's MVP. On a dry evening, a celebratory closing ceremony full of colour and song saw Japan hand over hosting duties to Doha 2030. "Tonight we close a Games that will shape the next generation of Asian sport," said Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani. Top officials remained defensive up until the last minute. 50 world records set OCA director general Husain AlMusallam said "numbers are facts", pointing to 50 world records at the Games after they opened on September 19. "The athletes cannot perform if they don't sleep well; the athletes cannot perform if they don't have good transportation," he said. This 20th edition of the Games, first contested in 1951, did not have a traditional athletes' village in a bid to save money. Instead, participants were housed in wooden temporary units, on the cruise ship Costa Serena and in hotels. Organisers said this was a template for future multi-sports events. But this approach brought issues, with some teams complaining the units were too cramped and the beds too short. The ballooning number of athletes and officials meant there were not enough beds for everyone. AFP with Riera Mallari
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advertise@manilastandard.net Architecture was the dream Daniel set out to build. With one less financial worry, thanks to his SM Scholarship, he also thrived to become a published author.
What it took to keep going: A scholar’s journey through setbacks By Daniel Joseph Vicente
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HERE was once a little boy who stood beside a window, looking at a world much larger than himself.
He was only four years old, but inside his young mind was a house waiting to be built. “May sariling kwarto sina Mama at Papa,” he whispered. “May garden para kay Mama, at may garahe para sa motor ni Papa.” In his imagination, every corner had a purpose. He ran across the room, disappearing into a house that seemed to hold everything in one small space: a living room, a bedroom, and just enough of a kitchen.For a moment, I wondered who he was. Then a blaring sound broke through the dream. I woke up. The first architect I ever knew was that little boy. He was me. Growing up, I learned that a home was more than an address. My family moved from Pasig to Makati and eventually to North Caloocan. I experienced leaving behind places that once felt familiar. I saw the house we once called home disappear as development changed the place around us. I watched a part of my childhood disappear with it, and I learned that while a house can be taken away, the memories built inside it remain. My dream was built out of those experiences. I wanted to be an architect to design buildings and create spaces for people to tell their stories. However, following that dream was not an easy decision. There was a time when I had to choose between the practical path my family had encouraged me to take and the one that carried my passion. My family encouraged me to pursue medicine because they believed it offered stability, especially when a relative offered to sponsor my education. But deep inside, architecture was the dream I had carried since
childhood. Choosing it, though, meant choosing uncertainty. At the same time, my father was experiencing serious health problems that required surgery, maintenance medicines, and continuous care. There was a possibility that paying for college would become difficult without financial assistance. Determined to continue my education, I applied for different scholarship opportunities. Fortunately, one opportunity changed the course of my path, the SM Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship became a solid foundation that allowed me to continue building my dream. It eased the financial burden on my family and allowed me to focus on becoming the architect I wanted to be. But even with that support, the journey was not without challenges. College became my construction site. The foundation was laid through sleepless nights, difficult subjects, and moments when I questioned whether I could keep going. Studying architecture was already demanding, but I also had to find ways to help cover my expenses. I took on commissions for architectural plates and renderings, often working on them alongside my school requirements. It was not easy to balance both, but I kept pushing because I knew that every plate I completed and every sleepless night brought me closer to the dream I had carried since childhood. When I needed to stay closer to school, the scholarship allowance also helped support my dormitory needs. When I almost thought that everything was coming into place, during my fifth year, another storm came. My father was diagnosed with cancer. Once again, my family had to gather their strength and find ways to carry the weight together. There were moments when I wondered if I could keep going.
This year’s SM Scholar-Graduates, like Daniel and his fellow scholars, are proof of what the right support can make possible: A dream turned into a life actually lived.
When Daniel was still a student, he also accepted commissions for architectural plates which helped him complete his five-year program and finally build the future he had imagined as a child.
Balancing classes, creative commissions, and trips home to care for his father, Daniel lived every moment driven by a clear purpose: to build a brighter future for his family.
But every time the weight of helping with my father’s medical expenses made me want to stop, I remembered the people who had helped build my foundation. My family and friends became my pillars. SM Foundation became one of the beams that helped hold my dream together. And then I realized that having the right people around you can make a huge difference in who you can become. Brick by brick, I reached the day of graduation as an architectural student, a day I had only dreamed about. I reached this chapter because I kept building, and because I had people who understood and supported me. Now, I am taking the next steps to becoming a full-fledged architect. I am taking up my apprenticeship in a design firm in Quezon City as part of the requirements for my licensure examinations. I’m still learning, still discovering, and still adding new pieces to the framework of my future. I also became a published author. Architecture is not the only way I learned to build. Through writing, I found another space where I could create, imagine, and tell stories. I became the author of Kolonya and Architect’s Love, stories that allowed
Daniel (center) and his fellow SM Scholars from Class of 2026, each one building toward a future of their own.
me to express another side of my creativity and build worlds beyond physical structures. Looking back at my journey, I realized that being a scholar of SM is also about carrying a responsibility: to keep striving, to honor the opportunities given to me, to always strive for excellence, and to inspire others who are still building their own dreams. It is not about comparing your chapter one to someone else’s chapter ten. Whenever there are possibilities, take them. And give yourself time to recuperate as well. Take it at your own pace. A delayed dream is not a discarded dream. The most sturdy structures aren’t always the quickest to construct. And looking back, I still see that four-year-old boy standing beside the window, imagining a home that did not exist yet. He did not know how he would build it. But he knew that someday, he wanted to try. Now I would tell him to keep dreaming, but take it easy. Someday, you will build the house you once imagined, and perhaps help other people build the homes they dream of, too. Daniel Joseph Vicente, who graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Architecture from National University-Manila, is among the 274 scholar-graduates honored by SM Foundation this year. He and his fellow graduates were formally recognized during the annual Presentation of the SM College Scholar Graduates at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
PILLARS OF SUPPORT. The diploma Daniel received belongs just as much to his parents who never stopped finding ways to keep him in school.
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MST.DAYDESK@GMAIL.COM
IN BRIEF Two wounded as house collapses in Manila TWO persons, one a minor, were wounded while another was trapped when an old house collapsed the other night in San Nicolas, Manila. A report from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office identified the victims as Ian Kyle Tomas, 13, of Delpan, Binondo, and Maribel Mayonte, 29, of Baseco Compound. Both are street vendors selling cold drinks. Dolores Candaza, also a vendor, was trapped but suffered only minor injuries after residents helped her out of the debris. Two others were also hit by debris but did not require medical treatment. MDRRMO chief Arnel Angeles said the incident occurred at 8:40 p.m. at an old house on Sevilla Street. The structure had been abandoned for some time and was already scheduled for demolition. Tomas suffered wounds on his right arm and a bump on the head. He was immediately treated at the Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital. Itchie G. Cabayan
Western Visayas police leads in accounting for loose firearms WESTERN Visayas police has emerged as the top-performing police region in the country in accounting for loose firearms, with 6,838 firearms accounted for from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026, under Project RTT 3389 (Restrict, Track and Turn-in). Police Regional Office 6 Director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the figure placed PRO-6 ahead of Central Luzon, with 5,070 firearms accounted for, followed by PRO11 with 3,070 and PRO-4A with 2,998. Tuaño said the accomplishment reflected sustained efforts by police units, local governments and barangays to account for firearms outside the proper registration and licensing system and encourage their lawful turnover. “This is a collective accomplishment of Western Visayas,” Tuaño said, citing the cooperation of local government units, barangays and communities. He stressed that the goal was not simply to increase the numbers but to prevent firearms from being used in incidents that could endanger lives. Vince Lopez
Eagle rescued in Baguio turned over to authorities
PLANE CRASH. A light aircraft lies in a rice field after crashing in Barangay San Antonio, Arayat, Pampanga, on Oct. 3, 2026. Responding to the incident are personnel from the Magalang MDRRMO, Arayat BFP and Arayat MDRRMO.
Over P590m in child vaccines wasted in 2025, says Gatchalian By Ram Superable
S
ENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday criticized the government’s National Immunization Program (NIP) after more than P590 million worth of vaccines intended for children’s first 1,000 days of life went to waste in 2025. Gatchalian cited data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education showing that 62.41%, or P4.93 billion, of the P7.9 billion allocated to
the NIP in 2025 was intended for seven vaccines needed during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. An estimated P590.3 million worth of
these vaccines was wasted in 2025, while only 65% of children were reached by immunization services during the same year. “If we had been able to give the vaccines worth half a billion pesos to the children, maybe we could have vaccinated 70% or 80% of them,” the Senate chief said. Health Secretary Edwin Mercado, for his part, assured that the department would use PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan, or YAKAP, clinics to help increase the country’s vaccination rate. The Department of Health is also set to conduct its School-Based Immunization Program
Marcos admin eyes solar irrigation plan as lasting legacy
A RESCUED young eagle in Loacan, Baguio City was turned over to proper authorities after a family in Purok Bubon found the bird in the garden of the house they were renting on Oct. 3. According to the Baguio Public Information Office, Leticia Amoguis said her husband, Ed, spotted the bird at around 10 a.m. The family then contacted Baguio 911 instead of attempting to care for the eagle themselves. They were advised to coordinate with Baguio City Police Station 4. Police personnel later went to the residence of William Guidangen and took custody of the bird for turnover to wildlife authorities for assessment, care and possible rehabilitation. Mayor Benjamin Magalong commended the Amoguis family, Baguio 911 and the police for acting quickly and carefully. Dave Leprozo
Escudero: Private sector incentives key to housing By Ram Superable SENATOR Francis Escudero on Sunday said the Affordable and Decent Rental Housing Incentives Act he sponsored, which grants incentives to private developers, could expand affordable rental options for poor and low-income families by encouraging the construction, rehabilitation and operation of rental housing units. Recently approved in the upper chamber on second reading, Senate Bill No. 2507 seeks to strengthen cooperation between the government and private sector in addressing the country’s housing needs. “The Constitution itself recognizes that the challenge of housing cannot be met by the government alone. The ‘Affordable and Decent Rental Housing Incentives Act’ gives life to this constitutional mandate by providing incentives for the private sector,” Escudero explained. The measure mandates the establishment of a registration and certification system for qualified rental housing and requires providers to charge rental rates set by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development based on household income, prevailing rental prices in the area, and the size and type of the unit. Only units that meet prescribed standards and are leased to poor and lowincome tenants would qualify for the incentives. Qualified developers and operators would receive a value-added tax exemption on leases, tax incentives under Republic Act No. 11534, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, and a 25% tax credit on gross rental income for five years.
this month in partnership with the Department of Education to protect eligible students against measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria and human papillomavirus. Under the Bakuna Eskwela campaign, which will be implemented in public schools nationwide, eligible Grade 5 female learners who previously deferred HPV vaccination will also be offered catch-up vaccination. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend parentteacher association meetings for additional information about the vaccination program and their responsibilities after their child or ward is vaccinated.
RESCUED. A young eagle is turned over to wildlife authorities after a family finds the bird in the garden of their rented home in Purok Bubon, Loacan, Baguio City, on Oct. 3. Dave Leprozo
DENR reports unhealthy air quality in parts of Manila By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on Sunday reported “unhealthy” air quality in some parts of Metro Manila. As of Saturday at 8 a.m., unhealthy air quality was recorded at nine monitoring stations in Valenzuela City, Quezon City (Ateneo), Marikina City (Parang), San Juan City, Mandaluyong City, Taguig City (TUP), Pasay City, Parañaque City
(PEATC) and Las Piñas City. These areas recorded elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) 2.5, with air quality reaching levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Air quality was classified as “fair” in Navotas City, Pateros, Parañaque City (Don Bosco), and Muntinlupa City (Filinvest City and Bilibid). According to the DENR-EMB, the observed haze may be associated with smoke and transboundary haze from ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia,
which could have been transported toward the Philippines by prevailing winds. The fires in Kalimantan began in August. Air quality in Metro Manila had already improved in early September due to a shift in wind direction. The DENREMB advised the public to minimize prolonged outdoor activities, particularly in areas visibly affected by haze, while children, older persons and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions were urged to limit outdoor exposure and take necessary precautions.
THE Marcos administration is pushing for the nationwide expansion of solarpowered irrigation as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s drive to lower farming costs, strengthen food security, and modernize the country’s irrigation system, Acting Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto said. Recto said the Solar-Powered Pump Irrigation Program (SPIP), administered by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), is targeted for expansion to 10,000 sites nationwide by 2030. NIA currently operates 4,036 SPIP sites across 43 provinces in all 17 regions, including 2,147 sites in Luzon, 1,102 in the Visayas and 787 in Mindanao. Recto said the program seeks to provide farmers with reliable irrigation while reducing dependence on diesel and exposure to fuel price fluctuations. Under NIA’s Vision 2030 roadmap, the government aims to benefit two million farmers, irrigate an additional 100,000 hectares of agricultural land and move toward net-zero energy use in irrigation. The systems use renewable energy to operate water pumps and require significantly lower operating and maintenance expenses than diesel-powered pumps. NIA is also developing an artificial intelligence-based monitoring system using real-time data to track water availability, soil conditions and irrigation requirements. NIA data show existing solar-powered irrigation systems can provide six to eight hours of irrigation daily. Recto cited projects in Ilocos Norte, Bukidnon and Pangasinan as examples of how solar-powered and AI-assisted irrigation can reduce costs, increase production and help farmers maintain operations during power disruptions.
ART FOR COASTAL PROTECTION. Fisherfolk, coastal residents, photographers, artists, poets and environmental advocates gather in Gubat, Sorsogon, on Oct. 3, using art to promote coastal protection and raise awareness of communities dependent on the sea.
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EDITORIAL
Send in the clowns THE impeachment trial is getting to look like a circus, so today I use the theatrical metaphor of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, with one of my favorite songs --- Send in the Clowns, sung by various artists from Judy Collins to our very own Lea Salonga, even Dame Judi Dench. Bring on the jokers and the clowns to muddle the issues, to cover up a disaster in the making. Because the prosecutors from the HoR, aided by “veterans” in the legal profession are being upended by the bright young guns of the defense, the minions are sending in the clowns. There is Sleepy Hollow, forever spectator in the VIP box who wants to scrimp on electricity bills in his house, or maybe Speaker Bodjie Dy has turned down the temperature at the Batasan. There are the ladies of the prosecution, and our readers could decide who is Maleficent of Sleeping Beauty, or Ursula of the Little Mermaid. Cruella de Vil does not seem to be in the Senate premises, not yet anyway. There is Chucky aspiring to sound knowledgeable like Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones but fails in comparison. Tyrion was the “wise” brother of the scheming queen regent, Cersei Lannister, so our verbose Chucky is trying to show his wares not in the trial but outside, hoping perhaps to be showered favors from the throne. Try harder. From out of the blue, a morose clown was sprung from jail bowels with fantastic tales that no one believed, and thus splattered egg all over the faces of the House prosecutors. Now the maladministration minion aided by a friar who claims to have been a drug addict once, has sprung a Kraken upon the gullible, perhaps paid, perhaps jaundiced media. Dissatisfied at how a former powerful couple treated him, this Kraken confesses to the friar about “maletas” he computed first at 2 billion, added up another billion in the re-telling, which he singlehandedly delivered to the princess, her king who is now jailed, even a courtier who was in Korea and Japan when he allegedly delivered the cash. He is after all, a Kraken, with his monstrous height and awesome powers. He can be here, there and everywhere. And he has this ability to lie with a straight face and cool nerves, such that even the NBI’s polygraph gives him a sobresaliente grade, if we are to believe the spin. As if the jaundiced media had not learned their lesson from jailbird, they now interview the Kraken and give his fantastic tales full coverage. “Don’t you love farce? My fault I fear I thought you’d want what I want Sorry, my dear But where are the clowns?
Quick send in the clowns Don’t bother, they’re here.” Now comes the best of them all, the Tin Soldier who the venerable Juan Ponce Enrile, then the Senate President, once labelled “the phantom of the opera of Philippine politics”. Worried that their star witness would bring a bag of hearsay, their Ursula and/ or Maleficent decided to withdraw his name despite eager-beaver personal appearance at the back of hostile witness Jon Snow, who came to protect the kingdom from the wiles of greedy characters.
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Bring on the jokers to muddle the issues, to cover up a disaster in the making. Juan Ponce Enrile denounced this Tin Soldier for meeting with a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China on 12 August 2012 in Beijing. There, he pandered before the Chinese official and told him that the Filipino people are not interested in those South China Sea islands while accusing our foreign secretary, the late Abert del Rosario, of treasonous actions by bringing in the US of A into what should have been a purely bilateral affair between the Philippines and PROC. He presented himself as the best channel of communication between China and the Philippines, claiming authority from no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III. Ambassador Sonia Brady could not believe what she heard, so on 17 August, she decided to report the conversation she had witnessed. Now the Tin Soldier who served China’s interests under PNoy has come up with a tall tale denouncing the princess for being a China “lover” who supposedly received millions of funds for her Tapang at Malasakit Foundation from the country he once was chummy-chummy with. And the palace mouthpiece of a thousand and one costume changes agreed con mucho gusto. Made-up tale omitted the fact that the Chinese Embassy under then Ambassador Zhao Jian-hua donated so many twostorey school buildings, neither ghost nor sub-standard, to Davao City worth P150 million through that foundation. Are you a soldier of China or the CIA, ano ang trip mo? Will the ongoing circus send in more clowns, in the hope that, like drugs, our people will forget their daily misery?
‘Act before it’s too late’: Tokyo residents fight for more trees By Natsuko Fukue TOKYO — One sweltering day in Tokyo, Kaoru Morimoto told friends she wasn’t sure she could endure another summer in her neighborhood, where tree cover and the crucial shade it provides are dwindling. As Japan experiences ever more frequent extreme heat, tree cover that can help lower temperatures is shrinking rather than growing in Tokyo, bucking a trend among many major world capitals. Morimoto wants that to change. Last year she launched a campaign urging officials to set a canopy cover target, a rare grassroots initiative focused on the issue. “Everyone says the summer has become more intense,” but public awareness about Tokyo’s lack of tree cover is low, Morimoto told AFP. Together with Susumu Nirasawa, a fellow resident in her western Tokyo neighborhood of Nakano, the 66-year-old organizes expert talks, shares temperature data on social media, and attends local council meetings where she petitions officials. Around 30 others in the community have joined the cause. “We want the ward government to take the issue seriously,” Nirasawa, 71, said. Japan saw its hottest summer on record in 2025, with warmer days on the rise globally due to climate change. This year, the country recorded almost 120 heat-related deaths between May and August, while more than 73,000 people needed emergency care. Although experts say greater tree cover can help lower air temperatures, a Uni-
versity of Tokyo study in 2024 showed the city lost canopy cover equivalent to three and a half times the size of New York’s Central Park in under a decade. Thermometers and notebook in hand, Morimoto and Nirasawa take their own temperature readings in Nakano, hoping hard data will help unite their neighbours behind the cause.
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Tree cover that can help lower temperatures is shrinking rather than growing, bucking a trend among many major world capitals. We “measured the shade under trees with large canopies and under trees that had been more heavily pruned,” said Morimoto. “There was about a three‑degree difference.” Extreme weather, narrow streets In the 2024 study, University of Tokyo researcher and urban forestry expert Kinya Shiraishi found that canopy cover in central Tokyo fell to 7.3 percent in 2022 from 9.2 percent in 2013, a loss of 12 square kilometers. By comparison, canopy cover in New York stands at around 23 percent, with the city aiming to raise it to 30 percent by 2040. London aims for a 10 percent increase
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A teaching moment
ODAY is National Teachers’ Day, a special working holiday, as mandated by Republic Act 10743. The celebration in fact began last month, with the theme “Teacher, Ikaw Naman: — roughly translated, “Teacher, it’s your turn.”
Some local government units suspended classes today to observe the occasion. The law mandates public and private educational institutions are exhorted to participate in the celebration. The vital role of teachers in the formation of young Filipinos’ minds is not disputed. This is why teaching has always been regarded as a noble profession even as it is certainly not the most financially lucrative career choice. Families take pride in their members who embrace teaching. But after all these years of celebrating teachers at this time of the year, it is time the government did more and did better. Teachers need to see their job not just as a way to earn a stable paycheck, but as an opportunity to develop their individual skills and imagine their future. Given the overwhelming problems in the educational system as identified and discussed in the EDCOM 2 reports, making teachers’ concerns a priority would not be easy. For example, how can the work-life balance of teachers be ensured amid the pressing
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Teachers have evolving needs that must be met on top of traditional needs that have scarcely been met over the years. There is also immense pressure to achieve credentials in higher education for professional progress. Unfortunately, existing workloads make any attempt to study further a physical impossibility. Amid advances in technology,
AN account blocked is not necessarily a child protected. A teenager may be excluded from one platform while remaining exposed to danger in another. Yet a ban offers government something easy to announce and count. The harder task is to show that children are actually safer. Senate Bill No. 2424, or the proposed Safe Media Access and Responsible Technology for Kids in Digital Spaces (SMART KIDS) Act, deserves scrutiny on that basis. The bill recently passed on Second Reading defines children as persons below 18, also covering certain older persons “unable to fully care for or protect oneself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination due to a disability or condition”. Its prohibition therefore extends beyond the under-16 threshold previously approved by the House of Representatives. The bill’s provisions prohibit children’s accounts for covered high-risk digital services. The prohibitions are absolute, even with parental consent or supervision. Coverage reaches social media, gaming services with social networking functions, generative artificial intelligence and comparable services. This is a substantial restriction on young people’s digital participation. The bill recognizes exclusions for specified educational, private messaging, news and workplace services or functions. These qualifications matter. But they do not resolve whether teenagers should be denied access to covered services regardless of parental guidance or the effectiveness of protective settings. An under-13 threshold for general social media accounts offers an established regulatory starting point. The US Federal Trade Commission explains that its children’s privacy framework focuses on younger children because of their vulnerability to marketing and limited understanding of data collection. That framework requires parental consent for covered data collection; it is not a universal social media ban. The Philippine approach should combine that age floor with safeguarded access for teenagers aged 13 to 17. Turning thirteen does not, by itself, confer maturity.
Older teenagers still need protection. The point is to distinguish younger children from adolescents and require safeguards appropriate to their developing capacities, rather than impose the same exclusion across these ages. Meta states that Facebook and Instagram require users to be at least 13 and describes Teen Account protections limiting contact and content. Such arrangements offer a model for graduated protection, subject to independent scrutiny. Private accounts, restrictions on unsolicited adult contact, safer recommendations and accessible reporting should be enforceable standards across platforms.
Grooming, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying and harmful content require serious intervention. Platforms must respond promptly to reports, cooperate with lawful investigations, and face consequences for failures to meet legal obligations. Government must strengthen investigators and victim assistance. None of these responsibilities disappears when an account is disabled. UNICEF warns that bans may backfire when children use shared devices, find workarounds or migrate to less regulated services. It also recognizes online access as a source of learning, connection and selfexpression. Lawmakers should examine whether exclusion reduces harm or moves activity beyond available safeguards. CitizenWatch Philippines has called for balanced, proportionate regulation. The bill itself requires an evidence-based risk framework that considers mitigation measures. Why should effective safeguards not also inform decisions about teenage ac-
cess? Risk assessment should help identify which features need restrictions and which uses can safely continue. The treatment of parents also deserves examination. The bill assigns them primary responsibility for guidance and supervision, but refuses supervision as an exception to the prohibition. Penalties are imposed for specified violations, with protections against penalizing inadequate supervision, absent willful intent or gross negligence. Even so, families need usable tools and support alongside duties and penalties. Age assurance presents another challenge. The bill will require registration of social media to confirm identity and age with the Philippine National ID, which is still being rolled out, or another government-issued ID, while requiring data minimization, accessibility and alternatives where necessary. These safeguards deserve support, but their implementation must prevent unnecessary collection, insecure retention and erroneous exclusion. The business implications cannot be treated as an afterthought. The bill provides account-specific disabling procedures and contemplates judicial restrictions on operations or access for serious violations. Those safeguards must be acknowledged. Nevertheless, any platform-wide restriction could interrupt customer inquiries, promotion, orders and business communication for enterprises relying on Facebook, Instagram or Messenger. Courts and regulators must weigh these potential consequences for lawful users. The SMART KIDS Act should protect children through an under-13 threshold, safeguarded teenage access and enforceable platform duties. Before excluding everyone below 18 from covered accounts, lawmakers must explain why those measures would be insufficient. Families deserve a framework that helps them guide their children, preserves legitimate opportunities and makes online abuse harder to commit. Those outcomes should determine how smart this piece of legislation really is.
from its current 20 percent by 2050, while Paris also plans to boost coverage from about 18 percent. “If we want to improve the quality of urban life, canopy cover is one of the key factors,” Shiraishi told AFP, adding that trees also lower flooding risks and can help city dwellers feel calmer. He said the decline was driven largely by the loss of private residential gardens, with ageing landowners selling their properties and mature trees often felled as large plots are subdivided to meet housing demand in the capital. Many roads in Tokyo are also narrow and have little space for greenery, while authorities are wary of trees toppling over in extreme weather. A Tokyo metropolitan government of-
ficial told AFP that the city “is currently working to expand tree canopies through careful pruning, focusing on roads where the pavements are wide and the trees can grow.” Without proper management, trees threaten the visibility of traffic lights and are at risk of falling during typhoons, he said, adding that Tokyo uses a benchmark for measuring greenery which includes farmland and grassland found in its outer reaches. But on a hot, sunny day in the city center, there was little shade along a street home to the finance ministry. One plane tree stood almost bare, its upper branches cut back close to the trunk. “Unless we promptly make efforts to increase canopy cover and shift our
policies, we’ll run out of time,” said Eijiro Fujii, professor emeritus at Chiba University who specializes in horticulture, glancing at a group of heavily pruned trees in Tokyo’s central district of Kasumigaseki. Fujii blames overpruning, developed to manage trees in limited spaces, as well as the frequent rotation of public officials overseeing street greenery, for the decrease in canopy cover. In Nakano, Morimoto and Nirasawa say the ward’s mayor has recently begun to emphasize the importance of tree shade, but neighborhood officials have so far failed to set a target for canopy cover. “Deaths from heat stroke are rapidly increasing in Japan,” Fujii said. “We need to act before it’s too late.” AFP.
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Families deserve a framework that helps them guide their children.
Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser
Emil P. Jurado+ Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
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MEMBER
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Child safety beyond the age ban
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
shortage in the number of educators willing and able to take on teaching tasks? How can they feel they deserve a proper wellness break when the volume of reports that have to be prepared and submitted weigh them down as much as their actual classroom responsibilities?
teachers are also faced with a dilemma to ensure real learning instead of overdependence on modern tools. They may find themselves helpless amid students’ overreliance on artificial intelligence to complete their tasks, or amid the youth’s vulnerability to disinformation and manipulation online. Worse, teachers themselves are not immune from these failings. With their immense workload, teachers may not have the time nor inclination to update their knowledge to avoid the pitfalls of technology. Not for a lack of willingness, they may find themselves unable to provide wise counsel and practical advice to their students who believe AI instantly makes everything look and sound better, or who indiscriminately accept claims as truth without verification. Commemorating Teachers’ Day should take more than repeating the usual lines about educators’ contribution to society. That has been a given for a long time. We should honor teachers by acknowledging that they have evolving needs that must be met on top of traditional needs that have scarcely been met over the years. On this day, teachers deserve to know that they deserve better. They must be given the means to improve themselves, so that they can thrive as individuals, sustain their love for the job, and become a guide and inspiration for the next generation of Filipinos.
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‘Task force on AI to prevent US overregulation’
HOUTHI STRIKE. Flames burn at a facility belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco south of Riyadh on October 3. The circumstances remained unclear, but in recent weeks Aramco, majority-owned by the Saudi state, has come under attack from the Houthi authorities targeting the kingdom as part of the war in Yemen where Riyadh is backing the internationally recognised government. AFP
NEW YORK — A White House task force on artificial intelligence will assess the technology’s risks and opportunities, while preventing overregulation that stifles innovation, its leader Jay Clayton has told the Wall Street Journal. Clayton, the US director of national intelligence, is widely reported to be the new AI czar in the administration of US President Donald Trump, though the appointment is yet to be confirmed. Clayton would become the second person to hold the informal title after venture capitalist David Sacks, who held the role at the start of Trump’s second term before stepping down. The new “Super Intelligence Force” -using Trump’s preferred term for artificial intelligence -- will have 120 days to report on the risks and opportunities of the technology, the Journal reported on Saturday. “The president asked that a group be put together that was going to ensure exactly what he said... (that) we stay the leaders in superintelligence, and that the interests of the American people are put first,” Clayton said. “The risk of not being first is high,” he added. “Not being first increases the identified, and unidentified, risks, particularly from our adversaries. Being first will better enable us to address those risks on behalf of the American people.” A longtime Wall Street lawyer, Clayton represented Goldman Sachs during the 2008 financial crisis and Barclays in its purchase of Lehman Brothers’ assets. AFP
Yemen gov’t forces blast Houthi targets IN BRIEF S
ANAA — Yemen’s government forces said Sunday they had struck Houthi targets around the country, deepening the conflict ravaging one of the world’s poorest nations and the wider region.
Marine nabbed in Japan on suspicion of murder
TOKYO — A US Marine stationed on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of the murder of a Japanese woman, police said on Sunday. The suspect “killed the 39-year-old woman at a hotel in Naha and stole her wallet on Saturday,” a local police spokesman told AFP. US Ambassador George Glass posted on social media that he had spoken with Japan’s foreign ministry and Okinawa’s governor to offer “our sincere condolences and pledging full cooperation as the investigation continues”. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the crime “exceptionally brutal and vicious” on X. The government has urged the US “to provide maximum cooperation with the investigation, enforce stricter discipline among US military personnel, and take thorough measures to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes,” Takaichi said. AFP
Germany’s Merz visits Kyiv unannounced BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Sunday on an unannounced visit in a show of support for the country in its war with Russia. “I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said in a statement issued after his arrival. “If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us.” Merz, whose country is among Ukraine’s largest supporters, has been joined on the trip by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, according to government sources. “Today, I will tell President [Volodymyr] Zelensky: ‘You can continue to count on our help,’” Merz said in the statement, which also touted cooperation between German and Ukrainian companies. The German chancellor’s visit comes just a day after Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital, saying that “massive” new airstrikes would hit the city. AFP
Bosnia votes; wartime divides set campaigns SARAJEVO — Bosnia votes in general elections Sunday after years of political turmoil and stalled reforms, with rival parties campaigning on ethnic divisions rooted in its 1990s war. Voters will elect a dizzying number of officials across multiple tiers of government, in a complex system that has held the partitioned country together since the 1995 peace deal. Its key race will be for the tripartite presidency, split between Bosnian Muslims or Bosniaks, and the Serb and Croat ethnic groups, with frontrunners pitting visions of a united country against greater autonomy for the Serb-run entity while Croats seek greater political representation. But the major parties’ repeated focus on war-era rhetoric and division was frustrating for some voters, activist Adi Selman of the Karton Revolucija protest group told AFP. AFP
ELECTION FLAIR. A supporter of Brazil’s President and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures next to a huge banner with pictures portraying different moments of his life during a campaign rally on the eve of the general election, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on October 3. AFP
Kim oversees Nokor missile launch that uses AI SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of a missile with his daughter, state media reported on Sunday, which allegedly used artificial intelligence to adjust its trajectory. The AI technology means the missile is “capable of changing its flight orbit at a low altitude”, Kim’s powerful sister had said, adding this meant there was “no way to avoid” the attack. It launched from an area around the eastern coastal city of Wonsan early Saturday morning and flew more than 700 kilometres (435 miles), South Korea’s military said, without giving further details. “Through today’s launching drill, the
strategic missile soldiers have fully demonstrated their professional qualifications and counterattack posture,” Kim said after overseeing the launch, according to an English-language dispatch by the official Korean Central News Agency. “We must continue our responsible efforts nonstop to constantly and repeatedly make the enemy recognize the reliability and fatality of our strategic offensive means,” he added. Photos released by KCNA showed a missile soaring into the sky in a burst of orange flame. Another photo showed Kim smiling, flanked by his daughter Ju Ae and wife
Ri Sol Ju, who is seen clapping her hands in celebration. Ju Ae, who was first introduced to the public in 2022, is the most likely successor to her father according to South Korea’s spy agency, citing her increasingly prominent role at major state and military events. The launch was conducted to help train soldiers operating the “hypersonic strategic weapon system”, KCNA reported. It came days after Seoul’s military demanded an apology from Pyongyang for a blast that wounded three South Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which it blamed on the North. AFP
The armed forces launched strikes against the Houthis in the capital Sanaa, the northwestern governorate of Saada -one of the group’s strongholds -- and Taiz in the southwest, military spokesman Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili said. Yemen was plunged back into civil war in July after years of calm, pitting the Iran-backed Houthis, who control most of northwest Yemen including Sanaa, against Yemen’s internationally recognised Saudi-backed government. The government, based in the city of Aden, controls much of the country’s south and east -- a region that is larger but much less populated. The strikes came hours after the Houthis claimed an attack on an oil facility near the Saudi capital, where an AFP journalist saw flames and smoke, and accused the Gulf kingdom of striking Sanaa dozens of times. The foes have traded strikes since the Houthis seized all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and took control of the Bab alMandab strait in a lightning offensive last month. Houthi-affiliated channel Al-Masirah TV reported that “Saudi enemy aircraft” hit Sanaa with 26 strikes, after earlier reporting “Saudi aggression” against the Yemeni capital, without providing details on the targets or casualties. Two correspondents in Sanaa reported hearing loud explosions and seeing warplanes firing missiles at the city. In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, flames and smoke were seen rising on Saturday afternoon from an Aramco facility south of Riyadh, an AFP journalist said. AFP
Cornell leader promises review after alleged student gang rape NEW YORK — The president of Cornell University voiced support Saturday for an external review of the institution facing widespread outcry over the alleged gang rape of a student in 2024. “In conjunction with our board of trustees, I welcome the independent review by an outside law firm into all aspects of Cornell’s handling of the 2024 matter,” President Michael Kotlikoff said in a video shared on Cornell’s website. The incident was detailed in a graphic lawsuit filed last month, drawing harsh backlash against the Ivy League institution and New York prosecutors for not filing any criminal charges against the accused perpetrators. The plaintiff claimed in the civil suit that she was drugged with ketamine, assaulted and raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, a social club for male students.
“This has been one of the most difficult weeks in our history, and I know many of you are angry, saddened, and struggling,” Kotlikoff continued. “What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come.” The criminal investigation into the gang rape was reopened Monday, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointing the state’s top prosecutor, Attorney General Letitia James, to lead the effort. Hochul slammed how the initial investigation into the complainant’s claims unfolded at Cornell, which is located in Ithaca in central New York state. “She sat for hours and told (police) exactly what happened to her. And according to new reports, she could not have been clearer that she was 100 percent confident that she had been raped,” Hochul said. AFP
‘ICE’ PROTEST. A demonstrator protests in support of families detained by US
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inside the Dilley Detention Center in Dilley, Texas on October 3. AFP
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Anti-POGO raids net 244 in Zambo Sibugay T By Vito Barcelo
HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has rounded up 244 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, in a major crackdown on suspected illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO)-related activities in Zamboanga Sibugay.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the mass arrests were made on Oct. 2 in simultaneous operations in Barangay Kimos, Siay, and Barangay Tandiong Muslim, Alicia. The raids were conducted by the BI Intelligence Division in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The BI said 113 foreigners were arrested in Siay, consisting of 110 Chinese, two Cambodians and one Hong Kong national. Another batch of 131, mostly Chinese, were apprehended in Alicia, along with nationals from Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar. Their identities and nationalities remain subject to verification. The foreigners are being investigated for alleged Immigration violations, including working without the required work visas, being undocumented and alleged involvement in illegal POGO-related online activities. Some are also being investigated for possible illegal entry. Authorities seized computers, 78 monitors, about 3,000 mobile phones, laptops and SIM cards at a site in Siay. The equipment were believed to have been used in an organized illegal online operation, according to the BI. The 244 foreign nationals will undergo deportation proceedings for their alleged immigration violations. Those ordered deported will be blacklisted and barred from returning to the Philippines, the BI said.
JOURNALISM WORKSHOP. Veteran journalists Nestor Cuartero of the Manila Bulletin, Joyce Panares of the Manila Standard, Ramon Bonilla of the Manila Bulletin, and Bryan Ulanday of Philippine Star underscore the importance of time-honored practices in the traditional media amid the digital era where computer technology dominates how information is gathered and shared during the fifth Usapang Plaridel Campus Journalism Workshop Series at the St. Clare College in Caloocan City, attended by over 100 college and high school students. Nelly Lumbaca
Army brokers truce between 2 warring groups in Cotabato By Vince Lopez THE two groups involved in recent armed clashes in Barangay Kalanganan, Cotabato City, have agreed to a cessation of hostilities and a joint investigation and verification to prevent further violence and seek a peaceful resolution. Datu Bimbo Ayunan-Pasawiran, barangay chairman of Kalanganan, and Ustadz Abusaima Hussain, also known as Abu Shaima, base com-
mander of the 128th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF), expressed support for the measures during a consultative meeting at the 6th Infantry Division headquarters on Oct. 3. The meeting was spearheaded by Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, acting commander of the 6ID and Joint Task Force Central. Representatives of the Government of the Philippines-MILF Co-
ordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and other security and peace stakeholders attended the meeting. The adversaries presented their concerns, grievances and perspectives on the recent incidents in Kalanganan. As the meeting ended, the parties shook hands, signifying their commitment to honor the agreements reached and work toward ending
hostilities in the area. As part of the measures agreed upon, an inspection, verification and investigation will be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the recent incidents. The Philippine National Police, through Cotabato City Police Office director Col. Jibin Bongcayao, will initially lead the investigation in coordination with the 6ID, Joint Task Force Central and the governmentMILF peace mechanisms.
Seminar workshop tackles new trends in journalism amid digital technology THE Samahang Plaridel will continue to lead the way in guiding aspiring young journalists even during this digital age in media that now allows two-way interaction and real-time feedback. In a journalism workshop, veteran journalists Nestor Cuartero of the Manila Bulletin, Joyce Panares of the Manila Standard, Ramon Bonilla of the Manila Bulletin and Bryan Ulanday of Philippine Star underscored the importance of the time-honored practices in the traditional media amid the digital era where computer technology dominates how information is gathered and shared. All four speakers shared their knowledge and experiences at the fifth Usapang Plaridel Campus Journalism Workshop Series at the St. Clare College in Caloocan City. Samahang Plaridel president Evelyn Quiroz presented the certificate of recognition to St. Clare College Vice President Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem and BSED head Dr. Adrian Angelo Roque. Samahang Plaridel legal counsel Atty. Hector Villacorta of Market Monitor gave a lecture on Marcelo H. Del Pilar, deemed the “Father of Philippine journalism”, while Usapang Plaridel program head Ed Andaya of People’s Tonight delivered inspirational remarks. More than 100 college and high school students participated in the event. St. Clare College was the fifth school to benefit from Samahang Plaridel' s outreach program to help uphold a high standard of journalism in the country. The Usapang Plaridel workshop series was also held at the E. Rodriguez Jr. High School, New Era, Jose P. Laurel High School and Emilio Aguinaldo College-Manila.
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IN BRIEF ‘Surrender old passport when renewing in UK’ THE Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom will require passport renewal applicants to surrender their current passports for cancellation before their new passports can be released or mailed, effective October 1, 2026. In an advisory, the embassy said current passports may only be retained while the renewal is being processed. “Applicants may retain their cur rent passpor t while their renewal application is being processed. However, the new passpor t will only be released upon sur render and cancellation of the cur rent passpor t,” the advisor y read. The embassy also said that detailed instructions on returning the current passport will be provided to applicants upon submission of their passport renewal applications. Katrina Manubay
Hiked fees weigh down OFW deployment to ME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS A FOUR-LEGGED WORD. Pet lovers bring their paw friends to the Malate Church in Manila on Sunday for vaccination and blessing in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day. Norman Cruz
Supreme Court annuls couple’s flawed marriage By Gwyneth Nolasco SUPREME Court has voided a couple’s marriage after finding they falsely claimed to have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years to avoid the marriage license requirement. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, the SC Third Division denied a petition seeking to uphold the marriage of Boots Rodel Aguirre and Alma Aguirre despite their failure to secure a marriage license. Case records showed that the couple began living together in December 2003. Boots later left for Israel on May 24, 2006, and returned to the Philippines in May 2009, when they married.
Before the matrimony, the couple executed an Affidavit of Cohabitation stating that they had lived together as husband and wife for six years. The affidavit was intended to exempt them from the marriage license requirement. The man later filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court seeking to declare the marriage void for lack of a marriage license. He admitted that the Affidavit of Cohabitation was false, saying he had been in Israel from May 2006 to June 2009. The RTC declared the marriage void “ab initio” (from the start), finding the couple did not meet the Family Code requirement that they must have continuously and exclusively lived together as husband and wife for at least five years immediately before the marriage.
EVEN PUNY THINGS CAN BRING HUGE HAPPINESS.
Boundless joy comes out of these tiny handcrafted toy sailboats for two kids playing at the shallow waters of Anda, Pangasinan during the weekend. Dave Leprozo
DEPLOYMENT of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the Middle East has slowed as medical examination fees under the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) WAFID system have doubled to more than P12,000 per applicant, according to migrant expert Emmanuel Geslani. Private recruitment agencies have temporarily slowed the processing of some Middle East job orders as they adjust to the new WAFID electronic medical referral system, which requires applicants to register online, submit passport and personal information, pay a $10 fee by credit card, and undergo medical examination at a GCC-accredited clinic assigned by the system. The new medical fees are roughly twice the previously authorized rates for OFW medical examinations, adding to the financial burden on workers and contributing to delays in deployment. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac has objected to the system’s automated assignment of workers to clinics, calling it a form of “decking” that prevents applicants from freely choosing where to undergo their medical examination. Vito Barcelo
Power firm ramps up engineering workforce ABOITIZPOWER is expanding its talent development programs to cover young engineers and build a workforce capable of supporting the country’s growing energy needs. The company’s initiatives included its cadetship program and the Global Technical Center of Excellence (GTCOE), a joint learning and development hub established by JERA and AboitizPower. The training program provides engineering graduates with technical training and hands-on experience at AboitizPower’s energy generation facilities. It is open to graduates from universities nationwide, including regional schools and partner institutions. Butch Gunio
SPORTS
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
LA 2028 still on Eala’s radar despite Asiad exit
By Jeremiah Sevilla
T
HE Philippine taekwondo team is wasting no time building on its historic showing at the 20th Asian Games, with the national jins now setting their sights on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Philippines capped its threeday campaign in Japan with a bestever five-medal haul—one gold, three silvers and one bronze— across kyorugi, poomsae and virtual taekwondo, placing the country third in Asia behind powerhouses South Korea and Iran. Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) secretary general Raul “Rocky” Samson said the results in Aichi-Nagoya offered a clear indication of what Filipino jins could achieve when the Olympic qualification campaign begins. “Seseryosohin po natin ’yan, kasi ang Olympic level po is parang the same as Asian level,” Samson said in response to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino’s challenge to pursue berths in the Los Angeles Games. “For taekwondo, ’yung nagmemedalya sa Olympics actually nasa mga Asian countries din ’yan,” Samson added. The Philippines delivered two notable performances in the Olympic weight classes, with Tokyo Olympian Kurt Bryan Barbosa and world junior champion Tachiana Keizha Mangin reaching their respective gold-medal matches before settling for silver. Samson said the national taekwondo program would build on the Asiad breakthrough by addressing weaknesses and sustaining training.
Philippine taekwondo team standouts Jeus Gabriel Yape (left) and Kurt Bryan Barbosa show the medals they won in the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. Courtesy: POC Media
Asiad haul spurs PH jins’ LA Olympics drive “Pag-aaralan namin ’yung mga pagkakamali, ’yung mga kailangang pang gawin. Kailangan hindi tayo magpirmi. Kailangan tuloy-tuloy lang ’yung ensayo, ’yung sakripisyo,” he said. “Kailangan mag-develop ng iba-iba ring style para next time ’pag lumabas may iba kang bala.” The road to Los Angeles will include opportunities to improve world rankings and strengthen seeding positions. Samson, however, stressed that the Olympic qualifying tournament would remain a major hurdle, with athletes needing to finish in the top two to secure a berth. The PTA plans to keep national athletes active in international competitions while
preparing specifically for the Olympic qualifiers. Samson identified Barbosa and Mangin as among the country’s strongest prospects, while also pointing to a promising crop of young athletes emerging from the program. Meanwhile, the poomsae and virtual taekwondo squads helped complete the Philippines’ historic medal haul. Jeus Gabriel Yape emerged as a double medalist, winning bronze in men’s individual poomsae and gold in mixed individual virtual taekwondo. Eighteen-year-old Juliana Mykhail Candelaria claimed silver in women’s individual poomsae. Yape was later named the Philippines’ flag bearer for the Asian Games closing ceremony.
FILIPINA tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala remains determined to reach the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics despite missing out on a direct qualification spot in the Asian Games. Eala saw her chance at an Olympic quota slip away after falling to China’s Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, in the women’s singles semifinals of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. Wang, the tournament’s fourth seed, went on to sweep second-seeded compatriot Zhang Shuai, 6-2, 6-1, in the final to claim the gold medal and the Olympic quota. World No. 18 and top seed Eala aimed for Olympic qualification in Nagoya, but instead she settled for a second straight Asian Games bronze medal. Still, the feisty 21-year-old ace remained eager to find another way to realize her Olympic dream. “There are other ways to qualify for the Olympics, so I guess it’s also an extra motivation. Competing in the Olympics is definitely a dream of mine,” Eala said. “So if anything, I leave here more motivated,” she added. Eala reiterated that she had no regrets representing the Philippines in the continental meet despite skipping the mandatory WTA 1000 China Open, which cost her a chance to earn precious ranking points and could potentially result in a fine from the WTA. Alex Eala “I have no regrets. I left everything on the court,” Eala emphasized. “Of course I am disappointed with the result. Losing is never an easy endeavour, but there’s always good and bad.” “There’s always positive things to take away, and there are always lessons to be learned one way or another, no matter the result,” she added. Eala also found herself dealing with the weight of expectations that comes with being the current face of Philippine tennis. With fans turning up in numbers at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center, the Pinay netter admitted that the attention can sometimes be overwhelming. “I definitely do get overwhelmed sometimes, but I understand that it’s such a privilege to be in the position that I’m in, and to be able to live out the dreams that I’ve always had as a kid,” she said. For the trailblazing Pinay tennister, pressure is part of the path she has chosen. Jeremiah Sevilla
Actress Ai-Ai goes the distance in HYROX Rome By Alona Cochon FOR Ai-Ai delas Alas, the toughest moment in her HYROX race in Rome came when painful cramps in both legs made her consider quitting. The finish line was still ahead. The actress and comedian reminded herself why she had started—and found the determination to keep going. At 61, Delas Alas completed the Women’s Open solo division, turning a demanding fitness race into a personal milestone. “Almost 62, still fighting, still dreaming, and still proving that I can,” she wrote on social media after the competition. Held from September 23 to 27 at Fiera Roma, the second Rome edition of HYROX brought its distinctive mix of running and strength exercises to the Italian capital. The format is straightforward, but completing it takes endurance. Competitors tackle eight onekilometer runs, each followed by a functional fitness station, for a total of eight kilometers of running interspersed with demanding workouts. The stations include a 1,000-meter SkiErg,
Philippine actress Ai-Ai delas Alas pushes herself to the limit. Screenshot from Ai-Ai delas Alas’ Facebook page.
sled push, sled pull, burpee broad jumps, a 1,000-meter row, farmer’s carry, sandbag lunges and wall balls. Each presents a different challenge, testing strength, stamina and the ability to maintain effort as fatigue builds. That combination helps explain HYROX’s appeal: it gives fitness enthusiasts a clear goal, with running and familiar gym movements brought together in one race. Its standardized format also allows participants to measure their progress across events. For delas Alas, however, the Rome challenge became deeply personal. In her social media account, she described cramps running through both legs and the struggle to continue. She recalled drawing motivation from her decision to take on the race, while supporters cheered her through difficult moments. She eventually crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 8 seconds. Filipino competitors from Italy and other countries also joined the event, sharing the experience of testing themselves in an international fitness competition. Delas Alas’ finish offered an encouraging example for people considering a new sporting goal later in life. Beyond the clock and the rankings was the satisfaction of completing a challenge she had chosen for herself.
La Salle sweeps UP, takes early lead in men’s UAAP chess DE LA SALLE University stole the spotlight after delivering a 4-0 sweep of the University of the Philippines to open its UAAP Season 89 Men’s Chess Championships campaign on Saturday at the BGPOP Building, UST in Manila City. With the other two men’s matches ending in 2-2 draws, the Green Woodpushers seized the early lead with two match points, while defending champion University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, Adamson University, and Ateneo de Manila University found themselves in a four-way tie for second with one match point apiece. Rookie FIDE Master Jethro Aquino [1.0/1.0] set the tone for the Taft-based squad on Board 2, turning back UP’s Cyrus Francisco [0.0/1.0] to help power La Salle’s perfect opening-round performance. National Master Tenshi Biete [1.0/1.0] likewise delivered on Board 1, defeating Io Calica [0.0/1.0], while Rigil Kent Pahamtang [1.0/1.0] and John Lance Valencia [1.0/1.0] completed the sweep against Daniel Tagufa [0.0/1.0] and Rodernerz Adra [0.0/1.0], respectively. Meanwhile, reigning five-time champion UST salvaged a 2-2 stalemate against FEU behind a clutch endgame performance from Jan Clifford Labog [1.0/1.0], who converted a one-pawn advantage in a same-colored bishop endgame to prevail over FIDE
La Salle’s Jethro Aquino plays the white pieces. UAAP Media
Master Alekhine Nouri [0.0/1.0] after a grueling 94move encounter. Labog’s victory on Board 3 proved crucial for the defending champions, offsetting Chester Acuyong’s [0.0/1.0] loss to FEU’s Jerish Velarde [1.0/1.0] on Board 4 with fellow UST stalwarts Lee Roi Palma
[0.5/1.0] and Chester Reyes [0.5/1.0] settling for draws with International Master Mark Bacojo and National Master Oscan Cantela, respectively. Ateneo and AdU also fought to a 2-2 stalemate, with Soaring Falcons senior Joshua Roque [1.0/1.0] taking down rookie National Master Tyhrone Tabernilla [0.0/1.0] on Board 3. Ateneo’s National Master Cedric Abris [1.0/1.0] responded by defeating National Master Michael Jan Inigo [0.0/1.0] on Board 2 while Khalil Kis-Ing [0.5/1.0] and Ritchie Abeleda [0.5/1.0] battled John Rocel Simon [0.5/1.0] and Juncin Estrella [0.5/1.0] to fighting draws on Board 1 and 4, respectively, to complete the deadlock. Over in the women’s division, UP pulled off the opening round’s biggest upset after stunning defending champion National University, 2.5-1.5. With the match deadlocked at 1.5-all, Maryss Caldoza [1.0/1.0] delivered the crucial point for UP on Board 4, outlasting Sara Dalagan [0.0/1.0] in a tense endgame showdown. Caldoza advanced a pair of connected passed pawns before sacrificing her knight to clear the path for an unstoppable queening pawn, eventually forcing resignation to seal UP’s victory over the reigning champions.
Plenty of work needed for Alas Men NAGOYA, Japan—The Alas Pilipinas Men finished in 13th place after collecting only two wins in the 16-nation event at the 20th Asian Games AichiNagoya 2026, but will return home with heads held high and plenty of work to do moving forward. Led by team Bryan Bagunas, Alas nailed its first victory on Friday, beating Uzbekistan, 2519, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17, before winning by default against Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, Oct. 3. Though it was not the outcome they had hoped to achieve, the Alas squad showed flashes of brilliance despite having limited time to practice together, especially against the mighty China side during the preliminary round. They also put up a valiant stand against Chinese Taipei and Indonesia but ultimately fell short. Alas team manager Ronwald Dimaculangan pointed to limited preparation as the culprit for their near misses. “Preparation talaga, like training camp and need for better result but happy naman to get a win at the Asian Games,” said Dimaculangan, who also handles the University of the East team in the UAAP. Like the traditional powerhouses in the Asian region, Dimaculangan said the country needs a strong program, saying: “We need to identify talent and the right coaches who have experience playing and coaching at the international level.” “And the goal is to represent the country para yung level ng goal nila hindi pang local lang,” added Dimaculangan. Dimaculangan, however, stressed that it must be a collaborative effort with proper support from all stakeholders.
BUSINESS
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
Chips lift PH exports to 35-year high INCUBATION CENTER. The Department of Agriculture’s Central Luzon regional office (DA-RFO III) begins construction of an Agribusiness Incubation (ABI)
Center after a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 1, 2026 at the DA Research Outreach Station for Lahar-Laden Development (DA-RSLL) in Barangay Rabanes, San Marcelino, Zambales. The facility is part of the “Development of a Community-Based Agribusiness to Improve the Livelihood and Income of Marginal Farmers in Central Luzon” initiative. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is funding the project through a $6-million grant.
Inflation likely quickened Economists’ inflation forecasts in September—economists
6.5% to 6.9%
By Thony Rose Lesaca
P Inflation rate in
6.1%
August 2026
6.2% Inflation rate in July 2026
HILIPPINE inflation likely accelerated in September 2026, potentially ending a four-month streak of easing as higher fuel costs and food price pressures pushed up consumer prices, economists said over the weekend. Six economists forecast September inflation at 6.5 percent to 6.9 percent, up from 6.1 percent in August. The Philippine Statistics Authority is scheduled to release the data on Oct. 6. Inflation eased to 6.1 percent in August from 6.2 percent in July amid slower price growth in food and electricity. Core inflation also eased to 4.1 percent from 4.2 percent in the previous month. Bank of the Philippine Islands lead economist Emilio Neri Jr. gave the highest estimate at 6.9 percent. He
said habagat-driven monsoon rains and flooding likely lifted the prices of vegetables, fruits and fish, while transport costs added more pressure amid a short-lived fuel relief. “September’s rebound could mark the start of a second inflation peak, with inflation potentially breaching 7 percent in the coming months. Unlike April’s fuel-driven spike, the second wave is likely broader and stickier, driven by food, labor costs and more,” said Neri. ING forecast September inflation
at 6.8 percent on the back of higher domestic fuel prices and adverse weather conditions that likely increased food prices, particularly rice. Reyes Tacandong & Co. senior adviser Jonathan Ravelas pegged September inflation at 6.7 percent, driven primarily by higher domestic fuel costs, elevated food prices and persistent supply-side pressures. Security Bank chief economist Angelo Taningco said selected food items such as rice, fish, fruits and vegetables, as well as pump prices likely pushed inflation up to 6.7 percent. He added that higher costs of manufactured goods and peso depreciation also drove the acceleration. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort also projected inflation at 6.7 percent amid the peso’s weakness, higher energy costs, lower base effects and elevated rice prices.
PHILIPPINE merchandise exports surged 27.8 percent in August 2026 from a year ago to $9.11 billion, the highest monthly value in 35 years and the 20th straight month of year-onyear growth, preliminary Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed. Electronics drove the increase as global demand tied to artificial intelligence and data centers remained strong. Electronic products posted a $2.32 billion year-on-year gain, the largest among commodity groups, and stayed the top export at $6.20 billion, or 68.1 percent of the month’s total. Eight-month merchandise exports reached $64.04 billion, up 14.8 percent from $55.80 billion a year earlier. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque welcomed the record and said the department will keep providing endto-end, strategic and focused support to help more Philippine businesses maximize opportunities and strengthen the presence of Philippine products in the global market. “Filipino exporters continue to demonstrate their capability to compete and succeed globally. This 35-year high builds on the sustained export growth we have achieved since last year, proving that the international market is ready and eager for Philippine products. The DTI remains firmly committed to helping our businesses meet local and global standards, connect with buyers, penetrate new markets, and establish a Philippine brand that reflects the trust of the global market in Filipino products,” Roque said.
BUSINESS
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com
ART FAIR. Gateway Art Fair, Quezon City’s highly anticipated celebration of visual arts, opens its fifth edition — its biggest yet — on Oct. 1 at Araneta City. The event, which runs through Oct. 4, showcases works from 250 local participants across Gateway Malls 1 and 2. Among the featured exhibitors are Yaru Nu Artes Ivatan, Voyage: Mindo Artist Group, UST College of Fine Arts, Artistica PH, Pugad in Art Studio, and Female Art Addicts.
Higher inflation fears, GCash IPO threaten stock rally By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE stocks could remain under pressure this week as investors await the September inflation report. Analysts expect September inflation to come in higher than anticipated, which could prompt a interest rate hike by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Online brokerage 2TradeAsia.com expects September inflation to settle between 6.6 percent and 7 percent, following the central bank’s broader estimate of 6.4 percent to 7.4 percent. A reading near the upper end of that range could further weaken market sentiment and push the benchmark index toward the 5,500 support level. “Expect sentiment to sway to official September consumer price index print. Results at the higher-end of estimated range could cement expectations for Oct. 22 rate hike, and might expose the 5,500 support,” 2TradeAsia.com said in a note. It added that an inflation rate of 6.8 percent or higher could strengthen expectations of a 25-basis-point rate hike by the BSP. Meanwhile, the upcoming initial public offering of Mynt, the operator of fintech app GCash, could intensify competition for investor funds. The company has priced its shares at P6.60, with the offer period running Oct. 6-12. For the short term, F. Yap Securities recommended a defensive stance, favoring large-cap stocks, infrastructure-related companies, and dollar earners while investors await major liquidity events like new listings.
Prime Infra expects to double revenues R
By Alena Mae S. Flores
AZON-LED Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. expects to double its revenues and earnings over the short and medium term, driven by an aggressive expansion program. “We are positioned to double both revenue and earnings over the short to medium term. Growth will be driven by our existing portfolio, acquisitions, and the commercial operations of our two-gigawatt pumped storage hydroelectric projects in Laguna and Rizal,” Sandy Alipio, Prime Infra treasurer and chief financial officer, said in a report. These assets are projected to fundamentally diversify the company’s portfolio, fortify its earnings profile,
and serve as the backbone of the grid’s renewable energy transition. The company posted revenues of P67.63 billion in 2025, up from P55.99 billion in 2024, following its acquisition of a controlling stake in the gas-fired power plants and liquefied natural gas terminal at the Philippine NatGas Complex in Batangas. Prime Infra has evolved from a single-asset firm into a diversified developer and operator of critical
WATER SOURCE.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Spring Development Project harnesses natural springs as water sources and builds infrastructure to supply safe, clean water to nearby communities with limited or no access. The project is part of the DENR’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon.
PNB open to selling stake in property unit
infrastructure across multiple regions since its inception in 2017. “As we approach our 10th year, our focus remains fixed on operational efficiency, financial discipline, and delivering stable, long-term returns. We continue to strengthen governance and build institutional capabilities across finance, operations, and project execution, supported by transparent and data-driven reporting,” Alipio said. Alipio noted that while early macroeconomic headwinds — including the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile market conditions — led the company to defer its planned initial public offering in 2023, Prime Infra pivoted toward private capital and strategic partnerships, creating a more resilient and flexible funding model. “Throughout this period, Prime Infra has remained committed to a strategy that balances opportunistic agility with strict capital discipline,” she said. The company invested in highimpact assets, including Manila Water Co. and Prime Energy, where the Malampaya Phase 4 Project delivered two new wells, extending the field’s operating life by approximately six years. The addition of gas-fired power plants under Prime CoreGen also strengthened the company’s position across the natural gas value chain and supports the country’s transition to cleaner energy. “In parallel, we secured a landmark funding agreement in 2025 worth P273.47 billion for our pumped storage portfolio, reflecting strong institutional confidence in our investment strategy and execution,” Alipio said.
PHILIPPINE National Bank (PNB) is open to selling more shares in newly listed property firm PNB Holdings Corp. as it seeks to further separate its core banking business from its real estate assets. PNB president and chief executive Edwin Bautista said the bank could reduce its stake in PNB Holdings, whose shares were recently listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange. However, no decision has been made on the timing of any sale, and the lockup period for major shareholders remains in effect. “We’re open. Maybe get a strategic partner to get the whole shares because at the end of the day, we are not really a real estate company,” Bautista said. “In fact, when we took it out of our balance sheet, the balance sheet of PNB itself was cleaner.” PNB Holdings was spun off from the lender to hold its real estate assets, allowing PNB to focus on core banking operations. Bautista added that PNB Holdings was priced at a level that gives investors an opportunity to realize the underlying value of its properties. He noted that the market value of the listed firm remains below the market value of the properties it holds. The bank currently holds a 49.75 percent interest in PNB Holdings Inc. Several companies owned by LT Group Inc., the listed holding firm of tycoon Lucio Tan, collectively own a 30.5 percent stake. Meanwhile, Bautista said PNB expects to sustain its strong financial performance in the second half of the year after delivering double-digit growth in the first half. “The growth rates are going to be very similar,” Bautista said regarding prospects for the second half. Jenniffer B. Austria
When AI makes the call, who checks the answer? GREEN LIGHT
—“—
Jake Go
EVER asked an AI tool to summarize a customer complaint, draft a reply, or explain a policy you were too busy to read? In a Philippine contact center, that convenience can save minutes. Across thousands of shifts, it can also change who makes the decisions. A fluent answer can feel like a reliable one. When we stop checking it, we risk something deeper than a factual mistake: situational disempowerment, the gradual surrender of our own judgment to a machine. Picture an exhausted agent on a night shift. An AI summary says a customer never paid a disputed bill, although the payment is in an earlier message. The agent trusts the summary and rejects the complaint. The customer is already struggling to make ends meet. A neat paragraph on a screen has now changed what the company believes happened—and what happens next to that person. This is how reality can be distorted. The next step is subtler: belief offloading. Instead of asking whether an answer is true or fair, we begin to accept the machine’s interpretation as our own. Then a suggested action starts to feel like our decision. Someone who is tired, inexperienced, under pressure to meet a handling-time target, or facing a personal crisis may have less room
to push back. The stakes extend beyond one call. An inaccurate answer about a loan, a health benefit, a job application, or a fraud complaint can affect someone’s income, care, or reputation. A worker who follows an unexamined suggestion may carry the blame while the system that shaped it remains invisible. Now imagine that pattern spreading like an epidemic across teams: one unchecked summary becomes a script, the script shapes the next decision, and each repetition makes the error seem normal. Could that eventually hollow out the Philippine ITBPM and outsourcing industry? Would we give up the position we have built while our neighbors compete for the same work? That outcome is not inevitable. But if clients see weaker judgment behind faster answers, the risk to our reputation is real. Our English fluency has long been an ace. AI can translate and polish language for almost anyone, including competitors. If we let it replace our own reading, writing, and listening practice, what will distinguish us? Our advantage must grow beyond fluent speech into cultural understanding, sound decisions, and the ability to resolve problems a script cannot. AI is here to stay, and Philippine IT-BPM firms should use it for research, translation,
AI should free Filipino workers to do work of greater value and impact. summaries, and routine drafts. Rejecting useful tools would waste an opportunity to serve customers better. Yet each deployment needs clear rules for when a person must verify an output, what records the tool may use, and who is accountable when it steers a decision. Without effective workplace guardrails—and public standards that reinforce them—cost savings can conceal harm to workers and customers. The answer is to work with AI hand in hand, using its speed as a springboard to more valuable work: solving difficult cases, spotting unfair outcomes, and caring for people who need help. It should sharpen our judgment rather than become a crutch. For an IT-BPM team, that means four habits: Delegation: Let AI draft and organize. Keep a named human decision-maker for disputes, financial consequences, sensitive information, and vulnerable customers. Description: Give the tool the right policy, context, and limits. Tell it to say when information is missing rather than inventing an answer. Discernment: Check consequential claims against the original call, customer
record, and current policy. Let agents challenge a confident recommendation. Diligence: Log AI assistance, protect personal data, provide a clear route to correct mistakes, and never punish staff merely for taking time to verify. Managers can begin with one workflow this week. Sample AI-assisted cases, check the source records, and record what agents overrode. Track corrections and customer outcomes alongside speed. Ask who is most likely to be harmed if a suggested answer is wrong, then give those cases stronger review and a straightforward appeal route. AI should free Filipino workers to do work of greater value and impact. If a customer loses access to money or care because nobody checked a persuasive answer, efficiency is no achievement. The person affected deserves a human who can still say: let me look again. Jake Go is the CEO and Managing Partner of Springboard Philippines (www. springboard.com.ph). In addition to this leadership role, Jake educates the next generation of business innovators at De La Salle University, teaching under the Department of Decision Sciences and Innovation. He is also actively pursuing his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the same university.
BUSINESS
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Tubig Pilipinas, SM expand water projects By Jenniffer B. Austria
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UBIG Pilipinas Holdings Inc. is expanding its water business through new infrastructure developments, including SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s reclamation project in Pasay City and a 200-hectare residential project in Carmona, Cavite. The company is also open to partnering with businessman Lucio Co, whose investment firm, Crystal Bridges Holding Corp., acquired 100 percent of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. from the Villar Group earlier this year. Tubig Pilipinas president Ryan Wesley Yapkianwee said the company is working with the SM Group on four water projects to serve several of its townships, including the planned reclamation development. SM Prime director Hans Sy owns a minority stake in Tubig Pilipinas, where his son, Howard Conrad Sy, currently serves as a director. Yapkianwee said Tubig Pilipinas is open to a potential partnership with Co as the businessman expands his footprint in the water sector. PrimeWater operates water district joint ventures, bulk water supply, and wastewater management projects nationwide. Yapkianwee noted that Tubig Pili-
pinas occupies a niche market, as its projects typically cost as little as P1 billion — a scale often bypassed by larger water utility firms like Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. Tubig Pilipinas is also preparing to raise up to P1.8 billion through a follow-on offering. The proceeds will fund its expanding project pipeline, including a bulk water project in Cebu and other developments. The company operates 12 major water infrastructure projects across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, focusing on bulk water supply, distribution, and sanitation for underserved areas. Key assets include a 150,000-cubic-meter bulk water facility in Bacolod and the San Jose City water improvement and rehabilitation project. Tubig Pilipinas also maintains several joint venture projects with Manila Water.
COURTESY MEETING. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto discusses Toshiba Corp.’s planned expansion of its hard disk drive manufacturing operations in the Philippines with Koji Ikeya, senior executive vice president of Toshiba Corp., during a meeting at Malacañang on Oct. 1, 2026.
Low supply prompts sugar sector to drop US quota By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine sugar industry is rejecting sugar allocations for the U.S. market for crop year 2026-2027 as projected production drops to 1.66 million metric tons (MT) from 1.85 million MT last year. Sugar producers, millers, refiners, and traders reached a consensus to classify the entire harvest as “B” sugar — allocated exclusively for domestic consumption — amid tighter supplies caused by red striped soft scale insect infestations and El Niño weather impacts. The decision came during a hybrid consultation hosted by the Philippine Sugar Millers Association in Makati City ahead of the issuance of Sugar Order No. 1 (SO1).
PH sets regional energy agenda as ASEAN 2026 chair
consumers. Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers Association (LuzonFed) president Cornelio Toreja said fulfilling the country’s commitment to the U.S. market could still be considered if the offered price was attractive enough to benefit farmers. “Nevertheless, we will abide with the majority,” Toreja said after stakeholders agreed to support an all-B classification. The Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc. (CONFED), represented by president Aurelio Valderrama, former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela, and former E.B. Magalona Mayor Alfonso Gamboa, pushed for an all-B classification.
INVESTMENT COOPERATION.
By Alena Mae S. Flores Manila
THE Philippines has set out Priority Economic Deliverables and annual priorities for the energy sector as chair of ASEAN 2026, focusing on the operationalization of the ASEAN Power Grid agreement. The Department of Energy said these priorities translate the chairmanship’s vision into concrete regional initiatives under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026-2030. They support the four pillars of the Philippine chairmanship: securing people through inclusive and reliable energy; powering jobs and economic growth; fostering innovation through emerging technologies and digitalization; and building resilience through stronger systems, standards, and regional cooperation. The energy sector’s top priority this year focuses on the ASEAN Power Grid, with efforts centered on operationalizing the Enhanced APG Memorandum of Understanding and developing legal and regulatory guidelines for a regional submarine power cable framework. These actions aim to strengthen the institutional and regulatory foundations for regional power connectivity and cross-border electricity cooperation. ASEAN is also advancing seven annual priorities under the Philippines’ chairmanship, including the publication of the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook to inform regional energy planning and pathways toward shared ambitions. Other key priorities include the ASEAN Nuclear Power Plant Financing and Human Resources Development Study — providing a regional reference for the safe, secure, and responsible consideration of nuclear power — and the ASEAN CCUS Assessment and Business Model Study, which identifies viable pathways for deploying carbon capture, utilization, and storage across the region. The Philippines will also lead the Upstream Oil and Gas Fiscal Benchmarking Study to strengthen ASEAN’s position for upstream investment through a comparative assessment of fiscal regimes, as well as the Sustainable ASEAN Energy Management Certification Scheme to bolster regional capacity and standards.
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) received a request from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fill the Philippines’ U.S. sugar quota of 147,000 MT. Some sugar groups and traders had proposed allocating 4 percent to 10 percent of production as “A” sugar for the U.S. market. A smaller 4 percent to 6 percent allocation was viewed by some stakeholders as potentially favorable to farmers because stronger demand could help lift domestic sugar prices. However, most participants said exporting sugar to the U.S. while local supply is expected to tighten would be difficult to justify to producers and
Standard
TODAY
Court denies bid to stop cargo vessels at Cebu South Harbor container terminal By Darwin G. Amojelar A REGIONAL Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu has denied a private port operator’s bid to stop the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) from allowing cargo vessels to use the facilities of Cebu South Harbor and Container Terminal Corp. (CSHCTC). In an eight-page order dated Sept. 25, Cebu City RTC Branch 20 Presiding Judge Leah Geraldez dismissed the application of Oriental Port & Allied Services Corp. (OPASCOR) for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction against CPA general manager Francisco Comendador III and CSHCTC. OPASCOR had sought to restrain the CPA from authorizing vessels to dock and berth at CSHCTC’s private port, arguing that such operations violated existing government regulations and the terms of the terminal’s permit. The court, however, ruled that OPASCOR failed to demonstrate a clear and unmistakable right requiring protection. It noted that before recognizing such a right, the court would first have to determine whether the CPA violated Administrative Order No.
02-2010 and its board resolutions, and whether CSHCTC was operating beyond the scope of its permit — issues that remain contested and under review by the Department of Transportation. “Thus, OPASCOR has failed to establish the first requisite for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction,” the court said. The court added that it found no urgency warranting immediate judicial intervention, noting OPASCOR acknowledged that Maersk Filipinas Inc. transferred its foreign cargo operations to CSHCTC in July 2024, yet OPASCOR waited more than two years to seek injunctive relief. This delay, the court said, “belies its claim of urgency.” “OPASCOR likewise failed to establish irreparable damage,” the court said. “Damages are irreparable within the meaning of the rule relative to the issuance of injunction where there is no standard by which their amount can be measured with reasonable accuracy.” As argued by the CPA and CSHCTC, the court said the petition “laid out in plain financial terms the alleged harm it suffered from the defendants’ actions.”
The Board of Investments (BOI) pitches economic opportunities in the Philippines and underscored the importance of strengthening ASEANChina economic cooperation at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Roundtable Meeting on Investment Cooperation on Sept. 18, 2026. BOI executive director Ma. Corazon HaliliDichosa delivered the Philippine intervention during the meeting.
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 October 5, 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.
BUSINESS
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
Gov’t infra spending fell 4% in July G By Thony Rose Lesaca
OVERNMENT infrastructure spending and other capital outlays fell 4.0 percent to P89.6 billion in July 2026 from P93.3 billion a year ago, as public works disbursements declined, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) data showed.
The DBM said spending under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, the capital outlay component of the Philippine Rural Development Project and payments of accounts payable for various rail transport projects supported infrastructure disbursements during the month. “These items moderated the decline in the overall infrastructure expenditures for July amid lower disbursements posted by the Department of Public Works and Highways,” the DBM said. Seven-month infrastructure spending and other capital outlays plunged 36.0 percent to P457.0 billion from P713.5 billion a year ago. “The lower level reflected, among others, lower DPWH disbursements
amid strengthened procurement compliance, monitoring of ongoing projects, and review and validation of payment claims and contractor documentation,” the DBM said. The agency said the processes aim to ensure that payments are supported by properly verified and documented infrastructure works. Total government disbursements rose 19.8 percent to P588.6 billion in July from P491.2 billion a year ago, led by higher maintenance and other operating expenses, interest payments, personnel services spending and local government transfers. Overall disbursements for January to July reached P3.763 trillion, up 7.0 percent from P3.516 trillion in the same period of 2025.
TRAVEL GETAWAY. Philippine National Bank, in partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Mabuhay Miles, openS the PNB Great Travel Getaway 2026 on Oct. 1 at the PNB Financial Center. The three-day travel fair offers travel deals, cardholder privileges and rewards for visitors until Oct. 3. Joining the ceremonial ribbon-cutting are executives from Gino Ricardo Domingo, assistant vice-president and head of loyalty, Mabuhay Miles; Justin Warby, vice-president for sales, PAL; Carlos Luis Fernandez, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, PAL; Richard Nuttall, president, PAL; Edwin Bautista, president and CEO, PNB; Rolando Ebreo, first senior vice president, PNB; and Jennifer Ng, first senior vice president and chief marketing and customer experience officer, PNB.
PH banks’ bad loan ratio steady at 3.35% in August PHILIPPINE banks’ gross nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio held steady at 3.35 percent in August 2026, unchanged from July, as asset quality remained broadly stable, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed. The ratio was lower than the 3.50 percent a year ago but remained the highest level since May’s 3.44 percent. Union Bank of the Philippines chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion said the unchanged ratio suggested asset quality remained broadly stable despite a challenging operating environment. “The lower NPL ratio compared to 3.50 percent a year ago also points to an improvement in asset quality rela-
tive to the size of the loan book,” he said. Gross non-performing loans rose 1.80 percent to P596.30 billion from P585.74 billion in July and jumped 8.40 percent from P550.10 billion a year earlier. The banking system’s total loan portfolio increased to P17.78 trillion, up 1.63 percent from P17.50 trillion in July and 13.2 percent from P15.71 trillion in August 2025. “While gross bad loans increased by 8.4 percent year-on-year, the banking industry’s loan portfolio expanded at a faster 13.2 percent pace, indicating that credit growth continues to outpace the buildup in problem loans,” Asuncion said. Past due loans climbed 3.72 percent
PNB approves P750-m credit facility for Fruitas’ expansion, acquisitions By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE National Bank (PNB) has granted a P750-million credit facility to kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings Inc. to fund the food and beverage company’s expansion, including new product offerings and acquisitions. Proceeds will be used to expand Fruitas’ product portfolio and support acquisitions as the company grows its multi-brand food and beverage business. “We are grateful for PNB’s continued partnership and confidence in Fruitas,” Fruitas president and chief executive Lester You said. “As we pursue the next phase of our growth journey, this credit facility provides additional flexibility to accelerate store expansion, strengthen our brand portfolio, and pursue new opportunities both locally and internationally,” he said. PNB president and chief executive
Edwin Bautista said the bank is confident in Fruitas’ growth prospects and financial management. “This credit facility reflects our confidence in Fruitas Holdings’ longterm growth trajectory and disciplined financial management,” Bautista said. Fruitas is looking to expand its product offerings across its brands. While its previous acquisitions involved kiosk operations, the company plans to move into larger formats, including restaurants. The group aims to sustain doubledigit revenue growth this year despite weak economic conditions. You said weekly sales in September rose 47.7 percent from a year earlier. The company expects the fourth quarter to be its peak season. Fruitas started nearly 25 years ago with a single fruit-shake concept. It has since grown into a multi-brand food and beverage group with more than 30 active brands and over 858 stores nationwide as of end-2025.
Housing developers urge phased rollout of property valuation reform By Othel V. Campos HOUSING developers are calling for a phased implementation of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), saying local governments should first complete updated Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) before a standardized valuation system can work effectively. Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA) president Noel Cariño said the group welcomes RPVARA’s goal of standardizing property valuation but cautioned that the sweeping reform requires careful study and monitoring before full implementation. “One of the salient and immediate reactions to the RPVARA is that we welcome it. Definitely, it’s something
that’s good that it’s standardized,” Cariño said. “But it’s such an important legislative or landmark change that it deserves careful study and careful monitoring of how the process is going to be implemented,” he said. Cariño said the government’s decision to suspend implementation was “a step in the right direction,” although the suspension’s length should depend on the readiness of local governments and other stakeholders. He said a CREBA review study recommended that valuation reform proceed only after local governments complete and update their CLUPs. CLUPs are critical because they determine how land is classified and used, which affects the basis for assessing its value, Cariño said.
PSID Class of 2026 translates local pop culture into market-ready spaces By Mark David Marababon
SHELTER MONTH. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) opens this year’s National Shelter Month with another housing milestone under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program in Dasmarinas City, Cavite.
IN BRIEF PAL offers free rebooking fees on Middle East flights
PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) is offering a free first rebooking on flights from Manila to Dubai, Doha and Riyadh, the airline said over the weekend. Eligible passengers may change their flight date once without a rebooking fee if they submit the request at least 15 days before departure and no later than Nov. 15, 2026. PAL said the offer gives travelers more flexibility as work schedules and personal plans change. The one-time fee-free date change lets passengers book earlier while keeping the option to adjust their travel dates. The offer does not cover tickets bought during PAL’s major promotional fare and seat sale campaigns. Fare differences, ticket validity rules and other terms and conditions may apply. The airline said the initiative is part of its efforts to respond to changing customer travel needs while maintaining links between the Philippines and key international destinations. The flag carrier operates scheduled nonstop flights from its hubs in Manila and Cebu to 29 destinations in the Philippines and 40 in Asia, North America, Australia and the Middle East. Darwin G. Amojelar
Solar, storage take center stage at ASEAN forum
SOLAR EXPO. Filipino homeowners gather at UP Town Center for Manila’s first residential solar expo, where Helios Sustainable Energy Corp. and over 20 financial and industry partners showcas solutions to eliminate upfront costs and lower rising household electric bills.
to P769.89 billion from P742.27 billion in July and jumped 11.08 percent from P693.08 billion a year earlier. Asuncion said NPLs will likely remain manageable in the near term because of banks’ strong capital and provisioning buffers, but the outlook still warrants caution. “The outlook warrants caution as persistent inflation, the possibility of higher-for-longer interest rates, and signs of moderating economic activity could weigh on borrowers’ repayment capacity and lead to some deterioration in asset quality,” he said. Asuncion said that while current indicators suggest the banking system remains resilient, risks to the NPL outlook appear slightly tilted to the upside. Thony Rose Lesaca
THE Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), the region’s largest photovoltaic industry group, will co-organize two sessions on distributed solar and energy storage at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum on Monday, alongside the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting. The first session, “The Future Grid: The Role of Distributed Solar and Storage,” will examine how rooftop solar, battery storage, microgrids and demand-side solutions can ease grid pressure, improve reliability and extend clean energy to islands, remote communities and industrial users. It aims to build a shared understanding of the grid
constraints in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and showcase practical, replicable solar-plus-storage solutions. The second session, “Financing Distributed Solar and Storage: Innovative Pathways to Achieve Scale in ASEAN,” will focus on financing models, investment opportunities and market solutions to expand deployment across the region. It will bring together leaders from government, industry, finance and development institutions to speed up project rollout. Solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems are transforming the energy landscape across ASEAN, with the Philippines emerging as a key model for regional adoption. APVIA views distributed solar and storage as essential to building stronger, more flexible power systems, and sees innovative financing as vital to scaling solar across residential, commercial, industrial and community applications. Alena Mae S. Flores
Globe restores internet services
GLOBE Telecom said it has fully restored Internet services disrupted along an international subsea cable segment linking the Philippines and Singapore. “Mobile and broadband customers who experienced intermittent connectivity or slower internet browsing should now see services return to normal,” the Ayala-led telco said. Globe said traffic across the affected segment resumed after its cable landing station in the Philippines reactivated the system and normalized fiber connections. The company said it is coordinating with international network partners to determine the exact nature and location of the fault. The disruption had reduced available international bandwidth, slowing internet speeds and causing lag for some customers browsing the web and using overseas-based online services. Globe thanked customers for their patience and understanding during restoration. Darwin G. Amojelar
THE Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) Batch of 2026 opened its annual graduation exhibit, “What the Pop!”, which turns decades of local nostalgia into functional, marketready living spaces. The exhibit runs through Oct. 31 on the 3rd floor of V-Mall in Greenhills and is open to the public. It features eight booths designed by 25 graduating students and offers property developers, trade buyers and home enthusiasts practical ideas for contemporary Filipino living. PSID bpresident Ponky Canlas Intengan said working with corporate trade partners shows students how materials are made and installed on job sites. “So working with all these bigger brands exposes us to the real world of interior design. It’s one thing to just stay in the classroom and learn concepts and theories. But actually partnering with them, you see materials, you see how things are made,” Intengan said. He said the class includes career shifters from dentistry, accounting, business administration and communications, which helps it design for real user habits. “We are a very small batch, actually, compared to the past batches of the Philippine School of Interior Design. We are only 25 graduating students this year. But I think what sets us apart is that we are tight-knit,” Intengan said. PSID vice president Francesca Castaneda wrote in the souvenir program that design must honor cultural values while offering beauty and comfort to modern homeowners. PSID Batch Advisor Nicky Jardenil said each gallery combines research, psychology and spatial design to link historical milestones with modern living standards. The exhibit follows four generational chapters in chronological order. Baby Boomers The first chapter features the booths Toyang and Telebisyon. Toyang reimagines a multigenerational family lounge inspired by childhood games such as sungka, piko and sipa, set against a modern Bauhaus look. Its design team included career shifter and dentist Olivia Panganiban. “Because when you know what you want and you know how to put things together, and you trust your gut, it can come out nice,” Panganiban said.
REAL ESTATE
C1
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com Jenniffer B. Austria, Issue Editor
An interior view of Fili Hotel at NUSTAR Cebu, showcasing the brand’s distinctly Filipino expression of five-star luxury and hospitality.
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FOUR AWARDS. One proud moment for Philippine hospitality. Robinsons Land president and chief executive officer Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio celebrates Robinsons Hotels and Resorts’ four wins at the 2026 World Travel Awards, marking another milestone for Filipino hospitality on the global stage.
Fili Hotel Bridgetowne brings luxury hospitality to NCR
OBINSONS Land Corp. (RLC) is bringing Fili, its homegrown five-star hotel brand, to Metro Manila with the planned opening of Fili Hotel Bridgetowne in 2027. The upcoming hotel development recently won the Asia’s Leading New Luxury Hotel Development Project 2026 award from the World Travel Awards, ahead of three other hotel projects. Fili Hotel Bridgetowne will be
the second Fili property after the flagship hotel at the NUSTAR Integrated Resort in Cebu. The brand was created by RLC as a homegrown luxury hotel brand built around Filipino design, craftsmanship and hospitality.
A room at Fili Hotel at NUSTAR Cebu, showcasing the refined design and distinctly Filipino character of the homegrown five-star hotel brand.
RHR senior vice president and business unit general manager Barun Jolly with World Travel Awards founder Graham E. Cooke during the 2026 World Travel Awards ceremony.
The hotel will incorporate elements of Philippine art, culture and history into its design. Filipino professionals will also be involved in delivering the guest experience. RLC president and chief executive Mybelle Aragon-GoBio said the company created Fili nearly five years ago as a homegrown five-star hotel brand developed by a Filipino real estate company. She said the latest recognition, along with Robinsons Hotels and Resorts’ second consecutive win as the Philippines’ Leading Hotel Group, reinforces the company’s belief in
Megawide moves closer to completing Jab Residences in Cavite HOME buyers looking for affordable housing options may soon have more choices in Dasmariñas, Cavite, as Megawide Construction Corp. completes the structural framework of two residential towers under the government’s expanded 4PH housing program. Megawide subsidiary Megawide Dreamrise Residences Inc. recently held the simultaneous topping-off of Towers C and D of Jab Residences.
Filipino talent and enterprise in the hospitality industry. Expanding hotel portfolio Robinsons Hotels and Resorts senior vice president and business unit general manager Barun Jolly said the award recognized the work of the hotel group and its service teams. The group operates 27 owned hotels with more than 4,000 rooms across 10 brands and 20 locations. Its properties are located in destinations including Tagaytay, Cebu, General Santos, Davao, Iligan, Butuan, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Tacloban.
Aside from Fili Hotel Bridgetowne, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts received two other recognitions at the World Travel Awards. Grand Summit Hotel General Santos was named the Philippines’ Leading City Hotel, while Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu was named the Philippines’ Leading Family Resort. RLC has also expanded its luxury hotel portfolio through The Westin Manila and NUSTAR Hotel Cebu. Built around Filipino identity Fili takes its name from “Filipino,” with its design drawing from local art, craftsmanship and the history of the destinations where its hotels are located. These elements are intended to give the brand a distinct cultural character, with Philippine heritage incorporated into the luxury hotel experience. The brand also puts Filipino professionals at the heart of its operations, drawing on their education, training, creativity and attention to detail. “This award is a great validation of all the hard work done by the phenomenal team of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts,” Jolly said. The company was named Best Developer in the Philippines for the fourth consecutive year at the 2025 PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, while Fili Hotel Bridgetowne was recognized as Best Hotel Development. Jenniffer B. Austria
Market! Market! set for new chapter as BGC transit network expands
The milestone came seven months after the project’s concrete pouring ceremony in February and marks the completion of the structural framework of the two towers. Megawide Dreamrise Residences is a partnership between Megawide and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development through the Home Development Mutual Fund, or Pag-IBIG Fund. The partnership focuses on socialized housing under the government’s expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. The program seeks to speed up the construction of affordable and accessible housing for Filipino families. For Megawide chairman Edgar Saavedra, the progress of the project is part of a wider effort to bring more private-sector participation into the government’s housing program. “This milestone is a very important step for the government, the Filipino people, and the country,” Saavedra said.
He said the company was proud to be part of the initiative and looked forward to stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors. The construction of the residential towers also draws on the Megawide group’s different capabilities. Megawide Construction provides engineering and construction expertise, while its Precast and Construction Solutions unit supplies precast components and ready-mix concrete, as well as logistics and other support services. Megawide Dreamrise Residences currently has two projects in its portfolio, Jab Residences and Jenara Residences, both in Dasmariñas. Together, the two developments are expected to deliver 7,143 housing units over the next two years. The projects form part of Megawide Group’s larger plan to build 100,000 socialized housing units under the expanded 4PH program over the next five to seven years.
MARKET! Market!, a vibrant shopping mall managed by Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), is set for a new chapter as it prepares take on a bigger role in BGC’s growing transport network. The property will become the site of the Bonifacio Global City Station of the Metro Manila Subway Project, bringing a major mass transit connection to one of BGC’s established commercial destinations. With the subway station planned within the property, ALI is set to reinvent and modernize Market! Market! for the next phase of its development. The changes build on ALI’s original 2000 master plan for “Convergence Square,” a mixed-use concept designed around retail, public transport and civic space. More than two decades later, that vision is taking on a new role as Market! Market! moves closer to becoming a place where shopping and transportation come together. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Ayala Land-led Station Square East Commercial Corp. (SSECC) have finalized a 12-year and seven-month lease extension that will support the property’s modernization starting June 5, 2027. Under the agreement,
SSECC will invest P1 billion to upgrade the commercial center and prepare it for integration with major mass transit infrastructure serving BGC. “With BCDA’s transport-oriented development plans and the future Metro Manila Subway station within the property itself, Market! Market! can evolve from one of BGC’s important gateways into an even more vital point of connection—bringing together rail, road, commerce, work, and everyday life in one of Metro Manila’s most dynamic business districts,” ALI president and chief executive Anna Margarita B. Dy said. “For us, renewal does not simply mean building something new. It means looking again at the places we already have, understanding how cities and communities have changed around them and investing in them so they can create even more value for the next generation,” she added. The future subway station is expected to strengthen BGC’s links to other parts of Metro Manila and key gateways such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. As the transport network around it expands, Market! Market!’s role is also expected to go beyond retail, giving the property a bigger part in the movement of people through BGC.
C2 MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
SHOWBIZ Pageantry gets a satirical makeover in ‘Red Crown’
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Very Wang
Nickie Wang
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T LOOKED like an ordinary beauty pageant press conference, complete with queens, witty introductions, and a crown for the media favorite. On Sept. 29, GMA Network’s Studio 7 was transformed into a pageant stage as the 25 queens of Red Crown took to the runway for the film’s press launch.
The event deliberately mirrored a beauty pageant, with the cast introducing their characters in the witty, over-the-top fashion familiar to pageant fans, before someone was crowned the “Darling of the Press,” a traditional media choice award given during pageant press conferences. Among the queens were real-life pageant queens Michelle Dee, Ahtisa Manalo, Bianca Manalo, Ara Arida, Herlene Budol, and MJ Lastimosa, alongside Sparkle stars and other members of the ensemble. Shuvee Etrata was named the event’s “Darling of the Press,” receiving the crown from Ruffa Gutierrez, who plays the pageant director in the film. But the real twist in Red Crown is that this pageant comes with a prize no contestant wants. The film follows 25 contestants competing in the 25th anniversary edition of the Queen of the Islands pageant. What begins as a glamorous battle of beauty, rankings,
The ‘Red Crown’ ensemble joins GMA Network senior vice president Annette Gozon-Valdes, director Dominic Zapata, writer Kit Villanueva and supervising producer Rose Conde as the film prepares for its Oct. 28 cinema release
scores, pasarela, and sisterhood soon turns deadly as contestants are eliminated one by one. This time, the queens are not simply fighting for the crown. They are fighting for their lives. “I believe it has come full circle for me,” Ruffa told Manila Standard Entertainment. “The showbiz industry taught me how to tell a story, while pageantry taught me how to own the stage. With Red Crown, I get to express both worlds.” The former beauty queen and actress said the film marks her first project with GMA Pictures, describing it as “very campy, very exciting” while revealing its darker side. “May pagka-horror suspense siya,” she said. “Our director did a very good job, and I think all of you will like it. I really believe it’s going to be a
Shuvee Etrata (right) earns the media’s choice honor at the film’s pageant-themed launch, with Ruffa Gutierrez presenting her the crown
Mark Lapid recalls story behind now-classic ‘Saging lang ang may puso’ line By Nickie Wang MARK Lapid may now be known for his work in government, but one of his most memorable showbiz moments remains the line, “Saging lang ang may puso.” The line came from a 2005 film and quickly became a talking point. Lapid recalled that the director wanted to shoot the scene on the first day, but he initially wanted to hold off. “On the first day of the shoot, gusto na ni-shoot ng director. Eh kasi ayokong bitawan yung line,” he said during an intimate junket with the entertainment. “Sabi ko, ‘Pwede sa huli na, baka magbago pa mga isip.’” As an actor, however, Lapid knew he had to go along with the director. The scene was eventually filmed in front of a church patio in Naraya, Pampanga. “As an actor, natutuwa rin sila doon sa line. Nakakatawa, saging lang naman talaga ang puno na may puso,” he said. Lapid said the scene was later shown to him during dubbing, since the production did not have live sound recording. The line eventually became one of his most remembered moments on screen. These days, Lapid’s priorities have shifted toward family and public service. He serves as chief operating officer and vice chairperson of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism. “First, family. But of course, part na rin yung pagseserbisyo sa bayan,” he said. Still, showbiz remains close to him. “Showbiz is there. It’s in our heart. Sa amin, showbiz is more of our passion.” Given the choice between showbiz
blockbuster hit.” Ruffa also urged audiences to support Filipino films, calling Red Crown a fitting way to open the holiday movie season. Michelle, meanwhile, pointed to the many pageant references woven into the story, including the second trailer’s eerie puppet, which she likened to the unseen voices that can influence contestants behind the scenes. “Usually, in pageants, we compete for the crown. But this time, we’re fighting for our lives,” she said. The satire does not stop there. Michelle revealed that the contestants themselves are exaggerated versions of the personalities and stereotypes associated with pageantry, with names such as Ara Ariba, Mary Jane, Dolly and Wendy Lee providing clues to the film’s playful approach. “Everything is exaggerated in the movie,” she said, encouraging viewers to look out for the references scattered throughout the story.
Directed by Dominic Zapata and written by Kit Villanueva and Ken de Leon, Red Crown mixes pageant spectacle with satire, comedy, dark humor, mystery, and survivalthriller elements. The film stars 25 queens, including Yana Aduana, Alethea Ambrosio, Ara Arida, Herlene Budol, Skye Chua, Faith da Silva, Michelle Dee, Haley Dizon, MJ Encabo, Shuvee Etrata, Gazini Ganados, Rein Hillary, Maika Kemmochi, MJ Lastimosa, Aira Lopez, Sanya Lopez, Ahtisa Manalo, AZ Martinez, Ashley Ortega, Vanessa Peña, Sandy Riccio, Jade Tecson, Tarah Valencia, Yna Angela Uy, and Yza Thalia Uy. They are joined by Michael De Mesa, Epy Quizon, Bianca Manalo, Vince Maristela, Roxie Smith, Christian Singson, Jay Ortega, Tim Yap, Pinky Tobiano, Cat Arambulo, Anna Magkawas, and Ruffa Gutierrez. Red Crown opens in cinemas nationwide on Oct. 28.
Pedro Pascal takes on the role of troubled cellist Alex Serian, learning the instrument as music becomes a way into his character’s memories and emotional struggles
Pedro Pascal hits a different note as cello player in ‘Behemoth!’ From left: Mark Lapid spends time with Coco Martin and Lito Lapid in Sydney
and politics, Lapid has little hesitation. “Of course, showbiz, kasi showbiz. I mean, showbiz is our life,” he said. He described acting as a craft built around working with fellow performers, while government service comes with greater pressure and responsibility because of public expectations. In the same interview, Lapid also addressed the travel tax, saying its proceeds support programs beyond tourism, including scholarships through the Commission on Higher Education and assistance for state universities and local colleges. “A lot of people don’t know where it goes because we don’t have enough public information about it,” he said. “If people knew that the P1,620 they pay stays in the Philippines and supports different programs, they might have a better appreciation of it.” Lapid stressed that any decision to re-
duce, modify, or remove the travel tax belongs to lawmakers but warned that eliminating it could mean losing funding for various government programs. Lapid explained that the travel tax was originally introduced in the 1970s to discourage Filipinos from traveling abroad and encourage domestic tourism. But as international travel became more accessible and less of a luxury, he said the government has been looking at ways to rethink the tax. “We’re asking for a transition period, two years, so that makakapagaugment ang national government para malagyan kami ng budget because next year, zero budget kami,” he said. “We have three options that we submitted to Congress. We were proposing to lower the tax, make it just P500, or yung mga incoming Filipinos na lang magbabayad.”
ACTOR Pedro Pascal learned to play the cello for his starring role in the upcoming film Behemoth! from Oscarwinning writer-director Tony Gilroy. “I was so taken by what the story was and the... intimacy of all of it, in the way that I guess how intimate it can feel to listen to music and to be guided by music,” the 51-year-old actor told AFP on Friday. Jumping between past and present, the film tells the story of Alex Serian, a cellist who moves to Los Angeles to care for his dying mother and escape an overbearing ex played by Olivia Wilde. While there, he joins an orchestra that performs film scores, and the music they play serves as a link for both Alex and the audience, connecting fragments from his past that appear to have overwhelmed him. Chilean-American Pascal said his character “just seemed like a person who is as much of a kind of passenger to his life as you are a passenger to his experience... as a viewer.” As he goes from city to city, lover to lover, the score for Behemoth! --
written by nine composers and which serves as the score performed by the orchestra in the film -- triggers the main character’s memories. The film marks a departure for Gilroy, who cut his teeth writing action movies like the Bourne films and legal thrillers like Michael Clayton. “I never wrote a character quite like this before that wasn’t escaping or rushing towards” crises, the 70-year-old filmmaker said, adding that he was inspired by the legendary Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, who “manages to be... a passenger in the movie, but never passive.” “And that’s the trick to this: is to put him on the train and not have him run over by it. And that became possible when (Pedro Pascal) came on.” US actress Eva Victor, who plays one of Alex’s partners in the movie, questions whether the main character is as passive as he appears to be. “I feel like it’s very active to be running from things and to be not engaging with things in your life... I think that’s very actively self-sabotaging,” she said. AFP
LIFE & SHOWBIZ By Nickie Wang
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WENTY-SIX aspiring ChineseFilipino stars have been unveiled as the inaugural Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines kicks off a nationwide search for the country’s next cultural ambassadors and entertainment talents. Presented by CHiNOY TV, ABSCBN Studios, Century Park Hotel Manila, and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), MMCG PH is the official Philippine search for representatives for Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Global Year 3. But this is no ordinary beauty contest. The organizers are positioning MMCG PH as a talent discovery and development platform for aspiring Chinoys, with opportunities in acting, hosting, music, digital content, and other entertainment projects. More than 2,000 hopefuls auditioned in Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao before the field was narrowed to 11 male and 15 female finalists. By the time they arrived at the media launch, the candidates had already gone through an intensive bootcamp designed to build their confidence, versatility, and readiness for the competition and whatever opportunities might follow. Creative director Janeena Chan emphasized that the journey is bigger than the final crown. While only one man and one woman will eventually represent the Philippines at the global competition, the organization intends to continue developing all 26 candidates. And there are already signs that some are catching attention. Ben Siao and Maria Eddiessa Izobel Taguiam were named Mr. and Ms. Century Park Hotel Manila, while Jyron Chrisler Ngo and Bianca Codilla received the Media’s Ris-
C3 MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
Next-generation Chinoy stars Inaugural Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines turns pageant into launchpad for showbiz hopefuls
The 26 finalists of Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines 2026 take the stage as the inaugural competition opens a new path for aspiring Chinoy talents in entertainment
The inaugural Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines pageant aims to discover and develop Chinese-Filipino talent in acting, hosting, music, and other entertainment field
ing Star Award, based on votes from media guests at the launch. The candidates also faced the press during Q&A sessions, offering glimpses of their personalities, stories, talents, and ambitions. Messages during the event came
from ABS-CBN business unit head Raymund Dizon, Century Park Hotel Manila director for business development Bella Tan-Luy, and Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila head Cristal Bagatsing. Through CHiNOY TV and ABS-CBN
Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines creative director Janeena Chan talks about the candidates’ journey beyond the pageant crown
Studios, the organization hopes to open doors for the finalists in talent development, digital content, acting, hosting, music, and other entertainment ventures. The competition continues with People’s Choice Award voting, followed by a fashion show on Oct. 6 at
the SM The Block Atrium. Then comes the big night: the inaugural Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines Winners Night on Oct. 20 at the Metropolitan Theater, where the country’s first Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines will be crowned.
Airbnb makes trip planning more personal with social travel tools and AI
Secret Recipe brings together its familiar dining experience and a wider selection of dishes for different tastes
All-day dining gets a new fresh selection By Angelica Villanueva THERE is something satisfying about having a say in every part of a meal. A creamy starter, a familiar Filipino favorite, or something with a brighter flavor can change the way a dining experience comes together. Secret Recipe is giving diners more choices to do just that with the fourth season of its All Day Flavorful Combo, adding new selections to its allday offering starting Oct. 1. Priced from P375, the combo allows guests to choose an appetizer, entrée, and drink, giving them the freedom to put together a meal based on their preferences. Beef Bowl and Macaroni Salad are among the new appetizer choices. The Beef Bowl comes with savory marinated beef, while the Macaroni Salad offers a creamy start. Three new entrées are also available: Chicken Sisig, Chicken Hamonado, and Lemongrass Chicken. Chicken Sisig gives the familiar dish a crisp treatment. Chicken Hamonado comes with tender chicken in a sweet and tangy sauce, while Lemongrass Chicken combines herb-infused chicken with citrus and aromatic notes. The new dishes join selections carried over from previous seasons, giving diners a wider range of combinations to choose from. Part of the appeal is the option to mix different components instead of
The All Day Flavorful Combo offers diners more choices with new appetizers, entrées, and drinks
ordering a set meal. Diners can start with one of the appetizers, choose a main course, and complete the meal with a drink. The format also works across different times of the day, making it an option for those looking for a full meal or simply wanting to try something different. The All Day Flavorful Combo is available at Secret Recipe locations starting Oct. 1, with prices beginning at P375. It cannot be combined with other discounts, including Senior Citizen and BFF discounts. With the latest additions, Secret Recipe continues to build its all-day offering around choice, giving diners more ways to make a meal their own.
PLANNING a trip can be half the fun, but figuring out where to stay, what to do, and what to bring can also turn into a chore. Airbnb is hoping to make that part easier with a new set of tools that puts recommendations from people you know, AI-powered search, and practical travel services all in one place. The platform is introducing new ways for travelers to connect with family, friends, and people they have traveled with on Airbnb. Once connected, users can see where their friends have stayed, what they recommend, and even where they are planning to go next. A new Travel Map makes it possible to explore those trips visually. Users can see destinations their connections have visited, along with the homes, experiences, and services they booked. They can also read reviews, save favorites, and message friends directly through the app. Privacy remains in the traveler’s hands. Users can choose which trips appear on their map, hide or remove trips and block connections whenever they want. Airbnb is also giving travelers a new way to explore neighborhoods. Neighborhood pages provide information on what an area is like, things to do, places to eat, and how to get around, along with experiences recommended by local hosts.
The updated Airbnb app brings travel connections, past trips and destination ideas together to make planning a more social experience
Search the way you actually talk
Airbnb is bringing AI into trip planning, starting in the US, with the goal of making the search process feel less like filling out a form. Travelers can search for homes, experiences, and services using their own words or voice. AI-powered filters can also understand keywords and suggest relevant options. Type “baby,” for example, and the system can surface filters for cribs, playgrounds, books, and toys.
Airbnb’s new Travel Map gives travelers a more personal way to discover destinations through the trips and recommendations of people they know
Choosing between several promising stays should also become easier. A new side-by-side comparison tool uses AI to summarize the key features of homes saved to a wishlist. Even customer support is getting an AI upgrade, with chat support now available in more than 50 languages and voice support being expanded.
The little things matter, too
Airbnb is also adding services designed to take care of the chores that can eat into vacation time. In select European cities, guests can have meals delivered from local restaurants straight to their Airbnb. Grocery delivery, already available in the US, is expanding to Europe. Travelers in select US cities can also arrange laundry pickup and delivery through Rinse, while baby gear such as cribs, strollers, high chairs, and toys can be rented and delivered to an Airbnb through BabyQuip. The service will launch in more than 60 US cities in November, with Airbnb guests receiving a 10 percent discount. In the French Alps and South Florida, travelers can also rent local equipment and services, including ski and snowboard gear and boats. The idea is simple: spend less time figuring out the logistics and more time enjoying the trip.
LIFE
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
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T’S been 10 years since my last visit to this very progressive Canadian city, and that was for the 80th birthday of our eldest sister, who has settled down here with her Canadian husband. Now that she has turned 90, my siblings and I decided to have a reunion to help her celebrate her “big day.”
Meandering around Toronto Lost in The Queen City’s strange and spectacular sights
Located on Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore, Toronto is the capital city of the province of Ontario. Not only is it the most populous city in Canada, it is also the fourth most populous city in North America. Being an international center of business, arts, sports, finance, and culture, it is also one of the most multicultural cities in Although no longer the tallest free-standing structure in the world, the CN Tower is still the tallest in North America and the Western Hemisphere the world. In fact, the city’s tourism slogan is “Diversity Is Our Strength.” The day after my eldest sister’s grand celebration, my other siblings Bob Zozobrado and I decided to go around the city, just to update ourselves with its new sceneries and whatever else it offers. First stop was at the iconic CN Tower, YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE a 554-meter-high communications and The government announced, “If you have 5 children, observation structure right in the heart your salary will be doubled.” A man rushed home and of downtown. The initials refer to “Catold his wife, “I have a child with my girlfriend, I’ll nadian National,” the railway company bring him here to add to our 4 kids so my salary will that built the tower. This used to hold be doubled.” He leaves, grabs his child, and comes the record of being the world’s tallest back. But when he walks in, he sees only 1 child at home. Shocked, he asks, “Where are the other 3?”The free-standing structure for 32 years, unwife calmly replies, “You’re not the only one who til it was surpassed in 2007 by the Burj heard the announcement. Their fathers came to pick Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates. It Yonge Street was once considered the longest street in the The author stands at Toronto’s Kilometer Zero, from where all them up, too!” world, stretching an incredible 1,896 km from Toronto all the still is the tallest in North America and distances in the city and suburbs are measured way to Rainy River in the Western Hemisphere. Every year, it attracts more than 2 million internapockmarked with dents all over and from which point all distances in the On its banks are three urban centers, tional visitors to its several observation a couple more that looked like they city and neighboring areas are measToronto and Hamilton on the Canadidecks, revolving restaurant, and enterwere held together by black ribbons. ured. Right next to this point is the an side and Rochester on the US side. tainment complex. There was also one that looked like start of Yonge Street, the city’s main Recently, the lake has hogged the Just a short walk away is Lake Ona stack of boxes and another one that thoroughfare, named after Sir George headlines because US President Dontario, providing every visitor with its looked like a stack of dinner plates Yonge, a British Secretary at War. The ald Trump signed an executive orbreathtaking scenery. The lake is apkept inside an automatic dispenser. Guinness Book of World Records has der directing proximately We capped our meandering with declared Yonge Street as the longest in all US federal 7,400 square something new that tickled our fanthe world because it is 86 kilometers agencies to remiles and has cy—freshly cooked “flat doughnuts.” long, including its extensions. If seen fer to the body an average Well, they’re made of a crust, with on a map, the street connects the shores of water as depth of about chocolate spread on top, and garof Lake Ontario to another lake up Lake America. 90 meters, alnished with slices of fresh bananas, north, Lake Simcoe. However, Canthough some and sold under the brand “BeaverAs we leisurely walked around sevada and several parts can go tails.” Although we all enjoyed every eral blocks downtown, my siblings other mapping as deep as 240 single morsel of it, we just couldn’t and I couldn’t help noticing the sevcompanies dismeters. It is the figure out which part of it was the eral buildings with ultra-modern deregarded the easternmost doughnut. But, meandering around signs. There was one that looked like move and conamong North A freshly made Beavertails pastry topped with a city like Toronto, you have to be the Jenga game, another one comtinue to use its America’s chocolate and bananas. posed of twin towers and looked like ready for unusual things. original name, Great Lakes, huge crystal pillars, and one shaped Lake Ontario. and it sits beLake Ontario, the easternmost of the like the end of a knife! Further down For feedback, I’m A few blocks away, I found myself tween the Canadian province of OnGreat Lakes, stretches along Toronto’s the street, there were two skyscrapers at bobzozobrado@gmail.com. standing on Toronto’s Kilometer Zero, tario and the US state of New York. southern edge
Mercury Rising
What makes these Philippine stays worthy of a Michelin Key By Nickie Wang
NUSTAR Hotel Cebu joins the 2026 Michelin Key selection, adding a contemporary luxury stay to Cebu’s growing hospitality scene
Hotel Okura Manila brings Japanese-inspired hospitality to Newport World Resorts with refined interiors and city views
THE Philippines is making a bigger impression on the global luxury travel map, with the country’s Michelin Key hotel selection growing from five properties in 2025 to nine this year. The 2026 selection features two Two Michelin Key hotels and seven One Michelin Key properties, with five hotels making their debut on the prestigious list. Among the biggest winners is El Nido Resorts Lagen Island, which enters the selection with Two Michelin Keys. Raffles Makati also moves up from One to Two Keys, joining the country’s top tier of hotel stays. The latest selection is part of the Michelin Guide’s second global hotel selection, which recognizes 2,832 hotels across 79 countries following anonymous inspections and evaluations. The 2026 list includes 155 Three Key, 657 Two Key, and 2,020 One Key hotels worldwide. For the Philippines, the expanded selection showcases a mix of luxury city hotels, island resorts, and secluded retreats, from Manila and Cebu to Palawan, Siargao, and Negros Occidental. Set in a forested cove surrounded by limestone cliffs and overlooking Bacuit Bay, El Nido Resorts Lagen Island combines Filipino-inspired accommodations, outdoor adventures, and environmental initiatives.
At Raffles Makati, all-suite accommodations, personal butler service, and elegant interiors provide an intimate luxury experience in the heart of the capital. Four other properties are making their Michelin Key debut. NUSTAR Hotel Cebu joins the list with contemporary accommodations, sea and city views, and access to the wider NUSTAR Resort & Casino. El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island offers beachfront villas surrounded by white sand and clear waters. In Manila, Hotel Okura Manila at Newport World Resorts brings Japanese-inspired hospitality, refined interiors, and a rooftop pool to the capital. Meanwhile, Manami Resort in Sipalay City offers a more secluded escape, with 18 villas set on a hillside overlooking the Sulu Sea. Three hotels from last year’s selection retain their Keys: Nay Palad Hideaway Siargao, Fairmont Makati, and Amanpulo. The Michelin Key is awarded using five criteria: architecture and design, service quality, individuality, value for money, and the hotel’s connection to its destination. One Key represents a “very special stay,” Two Keys an “exceptional stay,” and Three Keys an “extraordinary stay.” Michelin Guide International Director Gwendal Poullennec said the growing number of Key hotels worldwide reflects a hospitality industry becoming more creative, personalized, and experience-driven.
El Nido Resorts Lagen Island earns Two Michelin Keys for its setting, hospitality and nature-focused experience
Surrounded by limestone cliffs and forest, Lagen Island offers a secluded island escape in Palawan