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HOUSE OKAYS P7.2T 2027 BUDGET ON FINAL READING

GLOBAL POVERTY INDEX RISES FOR FIRST TIME

MYNT IPO OVERSUBSCRIBED AMID STRONG RETAIL DEMAND

NEWS / A2

WORLD / A6

BUSINESS / B1

VP Sara warns of China backlash on PH business amid Palace probe By Katrina Manubay and Maricel V. Cruz VICE President Sara Duterte on Monday questioned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s warning that her family’s

VOL. XL • NO. 238 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

alleged Chinese funding links could threaten national security, saying the same reasoning could cast suspicion on Filipino businesses that trade with China or provoke a backlash against them. Next page

‘Buy buckets, collect rainwater’ PBBM says water conservation part of super El Niño info campaign By Charles Dantes, Katrina Manubay, Vince Lopez and Alena Mae Flores

COMMUNAL.

RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to prepare buckets and collect rainwater as the government is set to launch an information campaign on how to properly filter and treat rainwater to make it potable. “Part of that public service message will be to buy buckets so that when it rains, you can collect rainwater,” the President said in an interview before leaving Singapore Sunday evening. “We will teach you how to filter the rainwater, the treatment to use to clean it. And it will be healthy (to drink) even for little children.” “We’ll teach you how to do everything so you won’t get sick because the water is properly treated and filtered,” Mr. Marcos added.

A young resident of Sitio Ibayo, San Mateo, Rizal, fills pails with water taken from a communal water pump — the community’s primary source of water due to the lack of a piped water supply in the area. Inset shows the President urging Filipinos to use pails to store rainwater as one way of addressing water shortages due to super El Nino. Edd Castro, PCO

NBI eyes gaps in VP Sara, husband’s assets By Gwyneth Nolasco and Katrina Manubay NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag on Monday said they found possible discrepancies between the properties declared by Vice President Sara Duterte in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) and the actual assets that she and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, actually possessed. The Vice President brushed aside however, the NBI probe into her family’s alleged undeclared properties as an attempt to undermine her, along with her planned presidential bid in 2028. Meanwhile, Duterte leads voter preferences in all five alternative scenarios for the May 2028 presidential election, maintaining a near-majority share of support across candiNext page

Prosecution to wrap up impeach case, won’t present VP Sara By Maricel V. Cruz THE House prosecution has said it will no longer invite Vice President Sara Duterte to testify, and will present financial forensic analyst lawyer Alex Cabrera as its final witness in the impeachment trial.

Meanwhile, Cabrera stood by his findings that the Vice President and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, have some P817.8 million in unexplained wealth based on his examination of the couple’s financial records. The prosecution had considered issuing a

subpoena for Duterte to be grilled at the impeachment trial, but appeared to be having a change of heart on the matter. “We don’t see the need to get her testimony anymore when the records, most of them which came Next page

PDEA identifies Pinoy in Laos drug bust, eyes cohorts in PH By Ratziel San Juan and Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday said it has complete information on the Filipino arrested at a Laos airport for allegedly helping transport 521 kilos of shabu aboard a private jet bound for Manila. Identified by the alias “Fajad,” the

INVENTORY. NBI Director

Atty. Melvin Matibag presents photos of alleged Duterte properties during a press conference yesterday at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Pasay City. Norman Cruz

suspect was confirmed to be a Filipino of legal age. PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said Fajad has a residence in Marawi, among other locations in the Philippines. “There is an ongoing investigation into the airplane because we have a fellow Filipino involved and apprehended in Laos, and that really interests us at Next page

Lower diesel, higher gas and kerosene prices—DOE By Alena Mae Flores MOTORISTS can look forward to continued lower diesel prices with the release of additional diesel supplies in the global oil market. This developed as diesel prices rolled back by P3.01 per liter effective

ERC to Meralco: Refund P2.64b to customers BUSINESS / B1 6 a.m. Tuesday. However, gasoline prices will in-

crease by P1.56 per liter and kerosene by P1.77 per liter. Rino Abad, director of the Department of Energy’s Oil Industry Management Bureau, noted that despite tight global supplies, diesel prices decreased while other petroleum products registered Next page

DRUG TRAIL. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Usec. Isagani R. Nerez confirms the arrest of a Filipino national together with 12 others at an airport in Laos on October 1, for allegedly transporting 521 kilograms of shabu aboard a private jet bound for Manila. He also presented a diagram of suspected methamphetamine trafficking routes during a press conference. Manny Palmero

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Prosecution... From A1 from her, already spoke loudly,” prosecution spokesperson lawyer Jay Tolosa said. House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua of Manila said however, that the defense might present Duterte later on. “That could be their legal strategy for the vice president to explain issues,” Chua noted. Tolosa also reacted to Duterte’s statement that the impeachment trial was being rushed and that the prosecution was only “inventing evidence” against her. “These are not the prosecution’s allegations. Again, these numbers are based on the vice president’s bank records and tax filings,” he said. Tolosa also called on the impeachment court to look into possible violations to the sub judice rule, which prohibits parties from discussing and commenting on the merits of the case “We’ll leave it to the court,” he said. Cabrera, chairman emeritus of Isla Lipana & Co. (PwC Philippines), reaffirmed his findings during cross-examination by defense counsel Kristine Ferrer on Day 38 of Duterte’s Senate impeachment trial. “That is the result of my review po,” Cabrera said when Ferrer characterized the P817.8-million figure as an allegation in his forensic report. The forensic expert confirmed that his report, dated Oct. 2, 2026, examined the alleged unexplained wealth of Duterte and Carpio from 2022 to 2025, covering the Vice President’s tenure in office. “The unexplained wealth that we covered is for the period ’22 to ’25 po,” Cabrera said. Cabrera also confirmed that his report identified possible constitutional violations arising from the financial discrepancies uncovered during his examination. He clarified, however, that the laws cited in his report were those that “may have been violated,” rather than laws whose violation had already been conclusively established.

Lower... From A1 modest increases. “It is a big deal that there is a decrease in diesel. On Oct. 2, G7 countries agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel. This was immediately followed on Oct. 12 by an agreement between the US and Russia,” Abad said, noting that a substantial temporary easing of restrictions was granted on Russian oil. He explained that the immediate release under the agreement amounts to around 2.25 million barrels, with effects expected this month. An additional 3.75 million barrels are slated for release by November, followed by 7.5 million barrels thereafter, depending on the absorptive capacity of US refineries. “So we expect that, in summary, these developments would ease out the global diesel shortage. We expect that in the coming weeks, once these releases are fulfilled, the pressure on diesel prices will ease,” Abad said. Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales assured the public that the country’s petroleum inventory remains healthy, with supplies equivalent to 51.39 days of consumption. “If we break it down to products, in gasoline, we have almost 53 days of supply. In diesel, we’re at a high level, 56 days. Our kerosene is still high, almost 147 days. In jet fuel, 54 days. In fuel oil, almost 46 days. And in LPG, our supply is 31 days,” Sales said. “So we are keeping a healthy level in terms of supply of major liquid fuel products, including LPG.”

VP... From A1

Duterte also accused Mr. Marcos of using the issue to divert attention from his administration’s failure to resolve the territorial dispute with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). She made the remarks after the President said the Department of National Defense was thoroughly investigating allegations that Chinese funds reached a company linked to her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio. China is the country’s top trading partner – with bilateral trade reaching $87.73 billion in 2023 -- and main source of imports, alongside being a major market for Philippine electron-

House okays P7.2t budget for 2027 V By Maricel V. Cruz

OTING 282-13-1, the House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.

funding for the health sector aims to expand access to essential healthcare services and ease the financial burden of medical expenses on Filipino families,” she added. The ₱7.2-trillion proposal for 2027 is 6% higher than the ₱6.793-trillion budget for 2026. It is equivalent to approximately 21.7% of the country’s gross domestic product. For education, the House retained the ₱1.107-trillion allocation under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and recommended additional funding for several programs like the Tulong Dunong and School Safety and Security programs which had no allocations under the NEP.

tional funding to help farmers and fisherfolk withstand the anticipated effects of Super El Niño. “These amendments bring the total additional funding for agriculture approved by the House and recommended by the BARSc to ₱20.86 billion,” Suansing said. For transport, the House approved an additional ₱1 billion for the Fuel Subsidy Program, which had no allocation under the NEP, along with ₱250 million for service contracting and ₱250 million for capital outlay. Other transport allocations include ₱75 million for the EDSA Busway Project in the National Capital Region and ₱774 million for locally funded Department of Transportation projects.

The approved version will now be transmitted to the Senate for action. The House approved House Bill 10858, or the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), aims to make the budget more responsive to Filipinos’ immediate needs while strengthening preparedness for emerging challenges, including the projected impact of a Super El Niño. The money measure underwent extensive review by the Budget Amendments Review Sub-Committee (BARSc), which examined adjustments based

on requests from government agencies and recommendations raised during plenary deliberations.

‘Buy buckets,... From A1

“Access to safe drinking water is a public concern, and misinformation can put lives and livelihoods at risk. The PNP will investigate individuals or groups that spread misleading claims about water purification products if these are used to defraud the public,” Nartatez said. The directive came as the Office of Civil Defense reported it has been working with government agencies to address the spread of inaccurate information and speculation circulating online about water shortages and water purification products. OCD data showed El Niño has affected 451,889 individuals or 121,185 families in 1,019 barangays across six regions as of Oct. 11. Apart from water conservation, Mr. Marcos said the government is also preparing rice imports to secure food supplies, noting that succeeding harvest could be affected by the prolonged El Niño. “As much as possible, I don’t want to import, but I told them to import now so we can be sure we have enough supply,” the President said. The Department of Energy is likewise bracing for potential power supply pressure across the Luzon grid as dry conditions and soaring temperatures induced by El Niño push electricity demand upward. DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said the agency is conducting simulations on the current situation, factoring in heightened demand due to the weather phenomenon. “We have extended our simulations not only for this year but until next year. And assuming we have normal conditions, what we call business as usual, we see occasional red alerts for Luzon,” Marasigan said. He said the current risk projections do

not yet factor in supply-cushioning mechanisms, such as demand-side energy savings and the Interruptible Load Program, which incentivizes large commercial and industrial accounts to run their own generator sets during peak demand periods. While Luzon relies on incoming generation projects to bolster its reserves, the DOE highlighted the Visayas grid faces a more critical situation, where El Niño could slash hydroelectric output by up to 60 percent and solar efficiency by up to 20 percent. To mitigate risks across all regions, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the government has activated its interagency Task Force on Energy Resiliency alongside nationwide energy conservation campaigns to maintain power stability throughout the dry spell. “The other most important thing is the additional batteries and barges in the Visayas because, as we have seen in the projection, the Visayas is now stable. But when El Niño arrives, hydropower drops by 60 percent and solar by 20 percent. So, our supply will decrease, and we are counting on the barges and batteries to compensate for that,” Garin said. Marasigan said battery energy storage systems and power barges will be ready by the first quarter of 2027. “In that sense, if we have ancillary services available from these intermediate and immediate facilities — the added capacities — then we will be able to greatly reduce our potential red and yellow alerts,” he said. Marasigan added that officials hope committed power plants will come online as scheduled to help lower the number of yellow and red alerts. As for Mindanao, he said there will be very few yellow alerts. “And if there is a chance of a red alert,

PDEA... From A1

Lord Allan Velasco. Gracioso, in his sworn statement, alleged that he delivered suitcases of cash to the Dutertes as ordered by Velasco. Gracioso claimed he delivered over P2 billion to the Vice President and P1 billion for her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. “The Gracioso affidavit showed us the pattern that if we follow it, there are money deliveries, but where was the money taken?” Matibag asked. Gracioso also claimed that Velasco invested the money through “land banking” or purchasing other parcels of real estates. Matibag likewise showed the properties to have improvements in resorts, mansions and swimming pools, although lower agricultural land or property values were declared in the SALN. Matibag said the NBI is currently looking into the possibility that the Dutertes were involved in land bank-

ing, which can be another form of money laundering. He alleged that the Duterte family owned 121 properties, while the Vice President declared at least 24 properties in her SALN. The NBI is vetting the data from the SALN and comparing it with the supporting documents and surveillance findings. “We are investigating this because we are following the pattern as established in the Gracioso affidavit,” Matibag said. . Matibag noted the disparity between the declared values of the properties in the SALN and their actual condition and value.

“What was it they were saying back then? Now, it’s about ill-gotten wealth. Where did it all start? Confidential funds, corruption. Actually, they even tried to link us to drugs—so, corruption and drugs. Now, they’re bringing up “China funds”—money coming from China. And now, there’s the issue of ill-gotten wealth,” Duterte noted. “It’s just one thing after another. They went through with the impeachment, yet no evidence surfaced. Now, they want to wrap up the impeachment prosecution because the case is falling apart,” she added. She reiterated her earlier warning that the developments were connected to impeachment, charter change, and the possibility of no elections. In Singapore, President Marcos rejected Duterte’s claim that his administration was behind the “desperate” effort to bring her down and challenged her to prove the allegations.

to confirm that the administration had considered her a national security threat since 2023. “It is concerning that such a statement came from Marcos because it is tantamount to admitting that they have viewed me as a threat since 2023. It is alarming because he is saying that the vice president is a threat to the country,” she said. Duterte also warned that Marcos’ remarks could damage relations with Beijing and have wider security implications for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. She claimed the administration was using the allegations to justify deploying intelligence and law enforcement agencies against her for political reasons.

House calls for full-scale investigation

Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. earlier warned all provinces in the country are expected to experience drought by March 2027. Dr. Rafaela Jane Delfino of the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology at the University of the Philippines Diliman described the weather phenomenon as “literally off the charts.” Delfino said areas that depend on rain for farming should act early by putting up rainwater harvesting facilities and planting drought-tolerant crop varieties. Households, she added, should start cutting back on water use. Mr. Marcos said the government is also preparing cloud-seeding operations to induce rainfall. For her part, Vice President Sara Duterte declined to comment on the President’s statement, saying Filipinos could not rely on the administration for timely El Niño response. “We can’t rely on the president. I will not comment on his remarks about the buckets,” Duterte said in an interview during the OVP’s 91st anniversary yesterday. The Philippine National Police, however, said it has stepped up online surveillance and enforcement efforts against individuals and groups that may exploit drought-related concerns by spreading deceptive claims and fraudulent marketing schemes involving water treatment products. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to intensify monitoring of online scams involving water purification products and other fraudulent offers targeting vulnerable consumers.

NBI... From A1 date matchups, according to a survey by Pulse Asia Research, Inc. The same survey showed that out of seven possible candidates for vice president in the May 2028 national elections, Senator Christopher Go would emerge as a clear winner with the support of 31% of Filipino adults. In a press conference, the NBI released photos and videos of the surveillance on the Dutertes’ real estate properties, which aimed to determine whether the actual value of their assets matches with the SALN of the Vice President. Matibag said the findings they presented on her properties were part of the investigation in the affidavit of dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. Gracioso also worked as a former security aide to former House Speaker

ics, semiconductors, nickel ores, and agricultural products like bananas. Economic analysts noted in recent studies that major trade disruptions or sanctions could put hundreds of thousands of Filipino jobs at risk in electronics, mining, and agriculture while driving up inflation.

‘Palace considered VP a threat since 2023’

“This is concerning because it implies that businesses engaged in trade with China pose a threat to the country. There are so many businesses that export to or import from China,” Duterte said in a chance interview after the kickoff celebration of the Office of the Vice President’s 91st anniversary. She said Marcos’ remarks appeared

Education and Health Remain Top Priorities

“Despite the realignments, we made sure to safeguard the total budget for education — ensuring that it remains the top spending priority,” said Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations. “Moreover, the significant increase in

Support for Agriculture, Transport, and Social Services

The agriculture sector received addi-

Negative issue doubling up -- VP Sara

In a chance interview after the kickoff celebration of the Office of the Vice President’s 91st anniversary, Duterte said she had noted that negative allegations against her were doubling up.

Meanwhile, House lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro called for a full-scale investigation into the transactions, citing potential national security implications amid continuing tensions in the WPS. She said the transactions warranted scrutiny because of the territorial dispute with China and the connection between the company and the family of one of the country’s highest officials. House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers also said Mr. Marcos had reason to be alarmed by the reported remittances, particularly if an investigation established that the money had been used to finance Duterte’s political activities. The National Security Council earlier said it would coordinate with intelli-

PDEA. With that development, the picture becomes clearer regarding those who are involved here in the Philippines,” Nerez said during a press conference. “But the challenge is we have to establish the link: Who was he (Fajad) working with in the Philippines? If you ask us if we have any targets, yes, I say with much honesty. We have pretty good targets,” he added. Nerez said the agency was already building a case against those involved. “We have a pretty good idea who those involved are here. We have their names. And we are conducting an extensive investigation against these persons who are here in the Philippines,” he said. Aside from Fajad, the agency has identified another Filipino, known by the alias “Boyet,” who allegedly chartered the aircraft. “It was done through bank transfer. We have data on that. Boyet is from here in Luzon. Fajad also has an address in Luzon, the same one. So that links them… they know each other,” Nerez said. However, Nerez said the agency received information on Sunday that Boyet had left the country a day earlier on a flight bound for Hong Kong. Asked about Fajad’s fate in Laos, Nerez said the suspect must undergo the legal process there. “If Laos law imposes the death penalty... That’s it. Similar to us, if foreigners are arrested here, they have to face our laws. They have to undergo trial, and after that, the corresponding penalty under our laws will be meted out against them. That is also what will happen to Fajad,” Nerez said.

gence and investigative agencies to assess any national security implications arising from the reported transactions. Duterte said she was prepared to answer former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s allegations, which she described as part of a broader political attack against her. Her camp has denied the accusations and said it was considering filing criminal charges against Trillanes. Trillanes earlier alleged that more than P319 million in Chinese funds flowed through Cale88 Foods Corp., a company linked to Carpio. The former senator also claimed that the Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines Inc., a foundation associated with Duterte, received P150 million from the Chinese Embassy in 2019 to build 13 classrooms.

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Marcos, Wong seek continuity in ASEAN By Charles Dantes

RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong discussed sustaining the momentum of regional initiatives as the Philippines prepares to hand over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship to Singapore next month. In an arrival statement on Monday following his working visit to Singapore, Marcos said the discussions focused on ensuring continuity in the bloc’s priorities during the leadership transition, ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Manila in November. “I am pleased with my discussions with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, particularly on our shared interest in ensuring continuity and sustaining momentum in ASEAN priorities,” Marcos said. The handover will mark the transition from the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship to Singapore’s leadership of the regional bloc in 2027. Marcos said his back-to-back engagements with Wong were timely as the Philippines prepares to conclude its term and pass the chairmanship to Singapore. “As our term as ASEAN Chair draws to a close and we prepare to hand over to Singapore next month, these back-to-back engagements could not be more timely,” he said. Marcos said he looked forward to meeting Wong again at the ASEAN summit and related meetings in Manila, where regional leaders are expected to discuss shared priorities and cooperation.

Lacson to Robin: Clarify ‘disregard for law’ remark

COASTAL PATROL. The Philippine Coast Guard, through Coast Guard Station Kota, leads a joint operation with the Philippine Navy and Philippine Marine Corps to repel five unauthorized foreign fishing vessels from Kota Island waters on Oct. 11.

OCD: 24,000 families affected by Kanlaon eruption By Rex Espiritu AROUND 24,000 families, or approximately 94,000 individuals, have been affected by the recent eruption and ash emissions of Kanlaon Volcano, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Monday. OCD Deputy Spokesperson Junie Castillo reported the figures during a briefing on PTV 4’s “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon,” following the volcano’s moderately explosive eruption on Oct. 10 while it remained under Alert Level 2. Castillo said the affected families were reported because of the volca-

no’s ash emissions. Despite the number of affected families, about 2,500 families, or nearly 8,000 individuals, remained in 21 evacuation centers in affected areas. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported eight ash emission episodes on Oct. 11 and five more as of Monday. PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said the latest episode occurred from 5:45 a.m. to 7:24 a.m. Monday, lasting about one hour and 39 minutes. It produced an ash plume that reached 300 meters above the crater and drifted northwest.

Bacolcol said Kanlaon remained under Alert Level 2, indicating increased volcanic unrest, and warned that another explosive eruption remained possible. Communities near the volcano remain at risk of ashfall, volcanic gases, pyroclastic density currents, and ballistic projectiles if further explosive activity occurs, PHIVOLCS said. The agency reiterated that the fourkilometer permanent danger zone must remain evacuated. Residents within six kilometers of the summit were also advised to remain vigilant and prepared in case the alert level is raised to Level 3.

PNP to finalize ‘Undas’ security plans Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday directed all police units and regional commands across the country to iron out security measures ahead of the upcoming observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2. “We will deploy police assistance desks, foot patrols, mobile teams, and emergency response units in and around cemeteries to ensure that help is always within reach of the public. We will maintain a strong and visible police presence in key areas so families can focus on honoring their loved ones with confidence and peace of mind,” Nartatez said. Vince Lopez

Bar examinees’ deferred documents due Oct. 13

By Joel E. Zurbano SENATOR Panfilo Lacson called on Senator Robinhood Padilla to clarify his comments about a “disregard for law” in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Lacson questioned whether the remarks were directed at the entire impeachment court or particular members, especially in light of Padilla’s suggestion that he and his allies might abstain from the proceedings. Lacson said Padilla’s remark could be seen as a direct assault on the integrity of the entire impeachment court if he was referring to the body of which he is also a member. “I don’t know what Sen. Padilla meant by ‘disregard for law’ or if he was referring to the entire impeachment court where he is a member. If so, won’t his remark be taken as a direct assault on the integrity of the impeachment court?” he said. Lacson added that if Padilla’s remark referred to individual senatorjudges, it was only fair for him to identify them.

IN BRIEF

THE Office of the 2026 Bar Chairperson, led by Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, reminded Bar examinees to submit their deferred documents by Tuesday, October 13. In Bar Bulletin No. 2, Gaerlan warned that failure to submit the required documents within the prescribed period would result in disqualification. Applicants must submit printed, signed, and notarized application forms, along with physical copies of mandatory documents, to the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) in person or by courier within 10 calendar days of email notification that the forms are available for download. Digital or scanned copies must also be uploaded to the BARISTA portal. The requirements cover both physical and electronic submissions. Pot Chavez

HALLOWEEN PREP. Halloween decorations and floral arrangements for the dead are displayed at Dangwa Flower Market in Manila on Monday, Oct. 12. Norman Cruz

BI to set Sy free in compliance with SC By Vito Barcelo

CASCADES. Water cascades down the scenic Halsema Highway amid the extended rainy season and prevailing southwest monsoon as a cargo truck passes along the national road. Dave Leprozo

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it would comply with the Supreme Court’s order directing the release of mining tycoon Joseph Sy upon posting a ₱900,000 bond, while stressing that the ruling does not settle questions about his citizenship and identity. In a statement on Monday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau respects the Court’s resolution and is coordinating with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General to ensure the prompt and orderly implementation of the directive. The Supreme Court’s First Division issued the resolution on Oct. 7, granting a preliminary mandatory injunction for Sy’s immediate release

upon compliance with the bond requirement. It also directed immigration officials to submit written confirmation of his release within 24 hours. The ruling concerns a habeas corpus appeal, which examines the legality of a person’s detention, and does not determine whether Sy is a Filipino citizen, Viado said. Sy was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Aug. 21, 2025, after arriving from Hong Kong. The BI alleged that his fingerprints matched those of Chinese national Chen Zhong Zhen and accused him of misrepresenting his citizenship. Sy has denied the allegations, maintaining that he is a Filipino citizen with a valid birth certificate and Philippine passport.

1.6k Manila studes benefit from education programs AT LEAST 1,600 students from poor families in Manila’s third district have benefited from various educational assistance programs offered by the office of Rep. Joel Chua. Chua said his office provides scholarships and educational assistance to students from elementary to college. Under the “Abot Kamay na Edukasyon, Tuloy-tuloy ang Hatid Ay Serbisyo” program, many beneficiaries have transferred from public to private schools. The program provides financial assistance for educational expenses and other support to help scholars continue their studies. Chua cited 1,114 Grade 11 and 12 students who have received scholarship assistance at Espiritu Santo Parochial School since 2025, 198 beneficiaries of the CHED Smart Grant, 925 under the ARAL Program, seven at Nazarene Catholic School, and 24 at Holy Child Catholic School. The CHED Tulong Dunong program has also served 1,000 beneficiaries. Itchie G. Cabayan

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DepEd kicks off School Safety Week celebration By Gabriel Oliva THE Department of Education (DepEd) marks the National School Safety Week as part of a broader initiative to reinforce “secure, inclusive, and protective” environments for basic education students across the country. Meanwhile, DepEd on Monday extolled as a “hero” the student who manifested during the fatal school shooting incident in Banga National High School South Cotabato on Sept 18. In a statement, the DepEd said the event called on several national agencies, local government unit (LGU) officials, school administrators, and parents to create a united front against school violence, bullying, and online exploitation of children. During the event, stakeholders signed and ceremonially recited the “Panata ng Buong Komunidad para sa Mas Ligtas na Paaralan.” “The community pledge binds education stakeholders to a shared commitment to protect every child’s safety, health, and welfare while standing firmly against bullying, violence, discrimination, and abuse,” DepEd said. The pledge stated that ensuring the safety, health, and well being is a responsibility shared among several stakeholders, and with it, ensuring that schools are safe, inclusive, and respects the dignity of every child.

Manila cemeteries announce skeds for tombs cleanup By Pot Chavez BOTH the Manila North Cemetery and the Manila South Cemetery have announced the final dates for tomb cleanup and repair ahead of this year’s observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Manila North Cemetery director Daniel Tan urged the public to strictly observe this year’s cemetery guidelines to ensure safety, order, and peace within the premises. The last day for tomb cleaning, repairs, and painting is Oct. 27, while the last day for burials is Oct. 28. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, the cemetery will be open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vehicles of all kinds will not be allowed inside the cemetery during this period. Flammable substances, such as alcohol and thinner, as well as all forms of gambling, are also strictly prohibited. Tan said they held flushing operations on Sunday led by the Department of Environment and Public Services amid ongoing preparations for Undas 2026 on the instructions of Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso. “For the former presidents and other prominent figures buried here, such as President Ramon Magsaysay, we will fix and improve the area. We still have a lot of preparations to do aside from cleaning, and we will continue with the work,” he added.

TIME-HONORED TRADITION. Caracol is a century-old tradition handed down from generation to generation in Imus City, specifically marked by the celebration of the Eve of the Fiesta of Our Lady of Pillar, also called ‘Nana Pilar’ by the local Catholic devotees. Dennis Abrina

DSWD justifies travel permit for minors By Maricel V. Cruz

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated that the requirement for a minor’s travel permit is for the protection of children against trafficking and exploitation. The provision of Travel Clearance Certificates (TCC) for minors traveling abroad is part of the government’s anti-trafficking measures to safeguard minors or individuals below 18 years old traveling outside the Philippines who are unaccompanied by any of their biological parents or persons having parental responsibility or legal custody over the child, the DSWD said. DSWD assistant secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao stressed

that the issuance of travel clearance for minors is not just a department policy, but mandated by the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996. “We periodically remind parents that if a child is traveling without them, the clearance should be processed well before the travel date to avoid any delays in departure. We understand the frustrations of some, but we always emphasize that the welfare of the children is the primary consideration,” Dumlao said. She said the application for TCC and certificate of exemption (COE) have been made online and simplified as part of the ease of doing business and digitalization as directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “In fact, we already made the process of getting permits easier and accessible to the parents with our Minors Travelling Authority (MTA) digital system. “Applications are now online, and

interviews with parents or guardians will also be conducted online at their preferred schedule). There are also MTA Help Desks in airports where you can inquire and seek assistance,” Dumlao pointed out. The digital system allows for anyone to lodge their application anywhere at their most convenient time, as long as they have online devices and web connection. Once approved, the certificate is also issued by the Department. The system requires a virtual meeting, where the parents, their child or children, and the accompanying adult (if applicable) would be interviewed by the DSWD’s social workers to ensure the accuracy of information provided in the online application. “We appeal to the parents and guardians to prepare for this clearance ahead of time and understand why there is a need for this. Applications are now online, and interviews with parents or guardians will also be conducted online at their preferred schedule,” Dumlao added.

MILITANCY MARCHES ON. Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, the women’s group GABRIELA, and other militant organizations conduct a one-kilometer march from the University of Santo Tomas along España Blvd. to Mendiola near Malacañang where they unfolded a protest rally on pressing national issues, among them lifting of the Value Added Tax, privatization of electricity and water utilities, deregulation of the oil industry, agricultural liberalization, labor flexibilization, and automatic debt servicing. Norman Cruz

Phivolcs logs increased tremors at Taal By Noah Manalang

YORME IS CHIEF SCOUT. The Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Manila Council officially designates Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso as the Chief Scout of the capital city in a ceremony at the Bulwagan of the city hall. Norman Cruz

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has reported that 34 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in Taal Volcano within the last 24 hours. Through its monitoring bulletin released on Monday, Phivolcs noted the increase in seismic activity that previously recorded 20 volcanic earthquakes and nine tremors last October 10. The bulletin also logged a pH level of 0.48 and a temperature of 6.31 degrees in Main Crater Lake, and an emission of 2,406 tons a day of sulfur dioxide beginning on October 9. Entry to Taal Volcano Island or the volcano’s permanent danger

zone (PDZ), boating, and flying aircrafts within close proximity to the volcano remains prohibited. Meanwhile, Phivolcs warned of possible hazards including minor ashfall, lethal emissions of volcanic gas, and additional episodes of volcanic earthquakes and gas or steam-driven explosions. Phivolcs previously logged an 800-meter phreatomagmatic plume accompanied by volcanic lightning on October 8. The explosion lasted for five minutes. Residents of surrounding cities such as Agoncillo in Batangas evacuated their residents in reaction to the recent explosion. According to Phivolcs’ volcano alert level scheme, Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1 or a low level of volcanic unrest.

IN BRIEF LTFRB eyes new ManilaAntipolo bus routes THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has started preparing for the conduct of feasibility study on the proposed new routes covering the stretch of Antipolo City-Manila route of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2). Acting LTFRB chief Greg Pua Jr. said they have initiated coordination with the LRT Authority to come up with a fast, comfortable and reliable bus transportation system from Antipolo City in Rizal province to Recto Ave. in Manila, and vice versa. “The initial information that we have is the significant increase of passengers of the LRT-2, especially during rush hours in the morning and the afternoon. Our goal is to come up with new routes that will serve as alternative mode of transportation for the passengers, he said. Rio N. Araja

Bill promotes solar power among needy households A BILL filed at the House of Representatives mandating rooftop solar energy systems in all government housing projects nationwide aims to cut electricity bills for lowincome households by half and ease the heavy economic burden on relocated families. House Bill 10478, or the proposed “Power sa Mamamayan Act” authored by Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas seeks to establish the Solar ng Tahanan Financing Program, a national framework that bundles rooftop solar equipment directly into long-term housing loans with zero upfront costs for beneficiaries. “Our goal in relocating informal settlers is to help lift them out of poverty. As they are just beginning to rebuild their lives, we need to ease their burden by providing affordable electricity,” Vargas said. The measure targets a common strain in resettlement sites, where former informal settler families largely struggling with costly commutes to urban jobs, spend up to 10 percent of their monthly income on electricity, with bills ranging from ₱600 to ₱1,200 for basic lighting and electric fans. Maricel V. Cruz

NCRPO chief wants all stations spick-and-span ACTING National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano on Monday directed all heads of police units across Metro Manila to ensure that their stations and surrounding premises are spick-and-span as part of the organization’s commitment to disciplined and professional public service. Abrahano said police stations are a “public service facility where citizens seek assistance, report crimes, file complaints, and turn to the police during emergencies.” He said the conditions of police stations should therefore reflect the professionalism, discipline, and respect that the police owe the community. Vince Lopez

OPINION

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

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Fake affidavit of cohabitation FOR a marriage to be valid, the contracting couple must obtain a marriage license. However, couples who have lived together continuously for at least five years and have no legal impediment to marry are exempt from a marriage license requirement. The exemption applies if the parties attest to these facts before a person authorized to administer oath. The solemnizing officer, in turn, attests in an affidavit that he has ascertained the qualifications of the contracting parties and found no legal impediment for them to marry. (Article 34, Family Code of the Philippines) The application of the five-year cohabitation period under Article 34 of the Family Code, as an exception to the marriage license requirement, was put to test in the case of Republic of the Philippines v. Aguirre. The crux of the controversy was whether a period of temporary absence is excluded in the determination of the fiveyear In the Aguirre case, Boots left for Israel to work and remained there for three years (from May 24, 2006 to May 3, 2009). He then returned to the Philippines to marry Alma. “To facilitate their marriage without a license, they executed an Affidavit of Cohabitation on May 6, 2009, wherein they attested that they had lived together as husband and wife since December 2003.” (Op. cit.) “On May 8, 2009, they were married at St. Joseph Cathedral in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, officiated by Fr. Victor S. Baguna, who certified that the marriage was solemnized under Article 34 of the Family Code, exempting them from the license requirement. After the wedding, Boots and Alma lived together until June 2, 2009, when Boots returned to Israel.” (Op. cit.) They communicated for about two months after Boots left but eventually ceased contact. “On March 19, 2013, Boots filed with the RTC a petition for the declaration of nullity of his marriage to Alma for lack of a marriage license.” “Boots ‘asserted that the Affidavit of Cohabitation was false since he had been abroad from May 2006 to June 2009.’ The summons and the petition were served upon Alma, but she did not file an Answer.” In its judgment, RTC “found that the Affidavit of Cohabitation was false, and the parties did not meet the five-year cohabitation requirement under Article 34 of the Family Code… [T]he RTC held that the falsity in the Affidavit of Cohabitation was not a mere irregularity but rendered it ‘a mere scrap of paper’ [which produced no] legal effect.” (Op. cit.) On appeal to the Court of Appeals (CA), it “held that [the couples’] marriage was celebrated on May 8, 2009, without a marriage license. It determined that [the couple] did not qualify for the exemption under Article 34 of the Family Code… [because] Boots left for Israel on May 24, 2006, and returned only on May 3, 2009, making uninterrupted cohabitation impossible.”

On further appeal by the Republic to the Supreme Court, “the issue was… whether the CA erred in upholding the RTC’ s nullification of [the couples’] marriage upon the finding that the Affidavit of Cohabitation was false and thus cannot be used as basis for the marriage license exemption in Article 34 of the Family Code.” The Supreme Court explained that “Article 34 of the Family Code contemplates common law unions, which are not recognized as valid marriages in the Philippines. To encourage the marriage of persons in common law relationships, the lawmakers found it proper to exempt them from the requirement of a marriage license…” (Op. cit.)

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It renders the marriage void. “Relevantly, in jurisdictions which recognize common law marriages, continuous cohabitation is likewise required. Intermittent cohabitation, where the parties frequently separated, maintained separate residences, and did not deport themselves to the public as husband and wife, would not result in a common law marriage.” (Op. cit.) “Meanwhile, temporary absence or physical separation of the parties does not interrupt the continuity of the cohabitation, provided that the absence or separation was by mutual consent or the arrangement was for the purpose of convenience, health, business, or any other reason, and there is no intention on either party to abandon or desert the other.” (Op. cit.) However, “the fact of cohabitation by Boots and Alma as husband and wife during the immediately preceding five-year period (i.e., from May 2, 2004 until May 2, 2009) was not sufficiently established by the Republic. From 2001 to 2004, prior to his departure to Israel, Boots testified on cross-examination that while he and Alma were dating exclusively before their marriage, they lived separately.” “Thus, from 2005 to 2009, when Boots went to Israel, stayed there, and only returned to the Philippines a few days prior to the celebration of their marriage, his absence was not merely temporary. He had no intention to return to the Philippines, even on occasion, to live with Alma.” (Op. cit.) For Article 34 of the Family Code to apply as an exception to the general rule of requiring a valid marriage license, there must be showing that the couple continuously and exclusively cohabited as husband and wife for five years immediately preceding the celebration of their marriage. The use of false affidavit of cohabitation to dispense with a marriage license would thus render the marriage void.

‘My blood ran cold’ THE explosion was followed by a violent tremor that shook Riyadh airport, sending terrified passengers scrambling for safety as panic and chaos swept through the terminals. “I heard a very loud noise, so loud that I felt the airport shake,” a 32-year-old Riyadh resident told AFP a day after the deadly strike that Saudi Arabia blamed on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. “The airport alarm sirens went off, and that’s when the panic started.” People spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity due to the harsh measures Saudi authorities have threatened against those who speak out about strikes. “People who were in Terminal 3 started running towards us. Some had blood covering their faces,” recounted the 32-year-old. “Some had lost a hand or an arm. People were running while carrying injured people, covered in blood.” “My blood ran cold. I didn’t know where to go or what to do.” Security personnel escorted him and other passengers to a lower floor, where they waited for an hour before being allowed to leave the scene. A Saudi military spokesman called the attack a “full-fledged war crime”. The deadly strike was the second in three days, following waves of Houthi attacks targeting Saudi airports, energy installations and oil tankers after a yearslong truce between the two sides collapsed in July. At Riyadh hospitals, the health ministry activated emergency protocols to handle a mass-casualty event, with doctors ordered to report to medical facilities across the capital. “The numbers were far higher than anything I had ever seen here before,”

one doctor in Riyadh told AFP, saying some religious pilgrims bound for Mecca arrived with their white shrouds stained with blood. “Patients had severe limb injuries and shards of glass embedded in their faces and eyes,” he added. “At least four people suffered severe nervous breakdowns.” ‘I want to leave’ Saudi authorities have remained largely silent about the scale and breadth of Houthi attacks during the past three months, leaving some residents worried about what may come next. Warning text messages that once alerted residents to incoming barrages have fallen silent in recent weeks.

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Survivors recount horror after Riyadh airport strike “I want to leave from here,” one exasperated Riyadh resident told AFP. “I understand they do not want to cause panic but talk to us. Communication channels will make us feel comfortable.” Others have sworn off travelling through the kingdom altogether after getting caught in the crossfire. “I am never flying through Saudi Arabia again,” said an Indian national whose transit flight to Riyadh was diverted and forced to land in Dammam. There, he and his wife and young child slept in the terminal and said they were given no information by their airline and lost their luggage.

N some places where homeowners or vehicle owners must return their foreclosed assets to the bank, or hand them over to their next lawful holder of the title, they do so grudgingly. They show their sentiments by trashing the property – leaving everything uglier, dirtier, more damaged than when they first came in possession of it.

To be fair, that is not what the office of Senator and former Senate president pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada did to his office at the sixth floor of the Senate building. But it gives off the same vibes. Earlier this month, the Government Service Insurance System, which owns the property and from which the Senate leases the premises, and the Office of the Ombudsman inspected Estrada’s vacated office which its next supposed occupant, the Senate president pro tempore Vicente Sotto III, could not immediately use. By the turnover deadline, October 5, the office reserved for the pro-tempore had been stripped bare of most of its floor tiles and wall panels. Estrada held the post for over a year, from May 2024 to September 2025. His two immediate successors did not use the office to Estrada, so he kept it until

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One’s office, both the physical space and the position to which one is elected, is sacred. Photos showed that wires were hanging from walls and ceilings, electrical sockers were pulled out, and the toilet bowl, shower, and

THE Department of Agriculture spent the better part of 2025 telling Filipino farmers that imports were killing their livelihoods. It suspended rice importation for four months, issued the executive orders to make it stick, and proudly declared that it was protecting local producers from “over-importation.” Then, in October 2026, the same department announced that rice imports might exceed five million metric tons—an all-time record—because El Niño is coming. The same government that banned imports to protect farmers is now flooding the country with imported rice to protect consumers. Both policies are being justified as “food security.” Both cannot be simultaneously true. This is not agricultural policy. This is agricultural whiplash. And someone is getting rich while Filipino farmers and consumers both lose. Consider the numbers, because they do not add up. The DA says the country had already imported 3.98 million metric tons by September 24, already surpassing the entire 2025 total of 3.39 million metric tons. The justification is El Niño, with a projected 700,000-metric-ton reduction in palay production and P6.78 billion in agricultural damage as of late September. But the DA’s own forecast from December 2025 projected imports of only 3.6 to 3.8 million metric tons for 2026, based on an anticipated strong harvest. What changed between December 2025 and October 2026? Either the forecasting model is catastrophically broken, or the “projection” is being reverse-engineered to justify import volumes that were already being negotiated. Agricultural forecasting is inherently uncertain, but a swing of 1.2 to 1.4 million metric tons in ten months is not uncertainty. That is a policy pivot disguised as a forecast. The claim of a 75-day supply is equally evasive. What does it actually mean? Is it total rice physically present in the country, or commercially available stocks, or government buffer stocks, or rice equivalent after milling? Does it include imports that have not yet arrived? Does it account for regional distribution gaps? The National Food Authority is legally required to maintain a 15-day buffer stock, roughly 555,000 metric tons. But a 75-day national supply is not the same as a 75-day NFA buffer stock, and the DA is conflating two different metrics to create an impression of abundance. The Constitution guarantees the right to information on matters of public concern, including access to the government research data used as the basis for policy development. The DA should publish its balance sheet model—beginning stocks, domestic production, milling recovery rates, imports, consumption, carryover, and losses. Without that disclosure, “75 days” is not a food-security metric. It is a press release.

Here is where the story shifts from incompetence to something that smells considerably worse. In June 2026, former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor published a devastating analysis documenting what he called “creeping cartelization” in the rice importation sector. The DA had established monthly import quotas—300,000 metric tons for January and February, 150,000 for March—to be allocated based on importers’ historical performance. But these quotas, Montemayor reported, were “not covered by written official orders, but effected through mere verbal instructions by higher DA officials.” Then came Planters Products Inc. That company had imported rice only once before, with a historical average of roughly 7,583 metric tons annually—about 0.19 percent of total imports. Under the DA’s own allocation formula, it should have received approximately 725 metric tons of the January 2026 quota. Instead, it imported 63,000 metric tons, or 16.5 percent of all January arrivals. That is not a rounding error. That is an 8,700 percent deviation from the stated formula.

Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution demanding an investigation, noting that Planters Products’ audited financial statements showed equity of only P536 million and a net loss for 2023–2024. How does a company with that balance sheet suddenly become one of the country’s largest rice importers? The answer may lie in its unique legal status as a “sequestered corporation” under the DA’s administration—a remnant of the Marcos Sr. era, rescued from bankruptcy through a fertilizer levy that the Supreme Court struck down in Planters Products, Inc. v. Fertiphil Corp. in 2008, precisely because it benefited a private entity with public funds. Now Planters Products appears to be enjoying preferential treatment in import allocations while its legal status remains ambiguous. If public funds are being used, procurement laws apply. If it is private, why is it receiving government quotas? When the Federation of Free Farmers questioned the deals, Planters Products responded not with transparency but with a cyberlibel complaint, exposing its critics to up to twelve years in prison. The message is clear: question our rice import deals, and we will send you to jail. The legal architecture of this arrangement deserves scrutiny. If the DA is ef-

fectively imposing de facto import quotas through verbal directives and discretionary allocations, it may be violating the very law it claims to be implementing. The Rice Tariffication Law explicitly replaced quantitative restrictions with tariffs. The Supreme Court’s Ang Tibay doctrine requires administrative decisions to be supported by substantial evidence, based on the record, and independently considered. A system of undocumented verbal instructions fails every prong of that test. And an administrative agency cannot legislate a new import regime by memorandum, or by phone call. Let me be clear: El Niño is real. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration has projected a moderate to strong El Niño that could persist into early 2027. Rice production is genuinely vulnerable to drought. But El Niño is also predictable. The DA knew about this risk and had time to prepare. Instead, it built import dependency rather than climate resilience. The measures it announces every cycle—cloud seeding, solar-powered irrigation, adjusted planting calendars—are the same ones announced for two decades. If they were working, we would not be projecting record imports. The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act allocated thirty percent of its budget to irrigation, yet coverage remains inadequate. The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund was supposed to mechanize the sector, yet in FY2023 the implementing agency disbursed only 7.62 percent of its allocated funds. So why, after decades of modernization programs, billions in tariffs, irrigation spending, and repeated declarations of self-sufficiency, does the Philippines need to import more rice than any country in the world? The answer is not El Niño. El Niño is a stress test. The answer is that our agricultural system has been structurally weakened by policies that prioritize import availability over domestic production capacity. Importing five million tons may be prudent food-security policy. Importing five million tons while the allocation system operates through verbal instructions and favors politically connected corporations is a governance scandal. Importing five million tons while domestic production deteriorates is a strategic failure. And importing five million tons while suing farmers for asking questions is something else entirely. The DA must publish its rice balance sheet, adopt objective and formulabased allocation criteria, refer the concentration data to the Philippine Competition Commission, invest in genuine climate resilience, and stop using cyberlibel to silence its critics. The measure of a food-security policy is not how loudly it is announced, but whether it can survive the scrutiny of the very people it claims to protect.

“We spent the night at the airport -- on the floor and chairs,” he added. “Not just us, there were at least one dozen other people around me from the same flight who kept waiting through the night.”

Another traveller was mid-air on a trip to Riyadh when the plane abruptly headed back for Jeddah, triggering dread among some passengers. “We panicked,” the 39-year-old said.

Asked if she would travel again by plane in the kingdom while the war continued to rage, she was unequivocal. “Never. I will never live this horror again.” AFP

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How the DA created the rice crisis it now claims to solve

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he had to vacate it. Estrada is no longer able to attend Senate sessions not because he is sick or had lost his government post. He has been in jail since June for the non-bailable crime of plunder in flood-control projects.

pantry sink. The GSIS reportedly inspected the premises as it was concerned about the structural integrity of the office. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said leaving offices in such a condition was not standard practice for senators. Then again, having to abort the performance of one’s duties as a lawmaker because one is accused of plunder is not standard practice, either. Estrada and his staff members – who could not have reasonably acted on his behalf without express instructions – show their uncouth side in leaving the office in deplorable conditions. It is possible they could have a decent explanation, but the possibility seems remote at this time. One’s office, both the physical space and the position to which one is elected, is sacred. A public official is expected to keep to the bare minimum standards of acceptable behavior especially when passing it on to one’s successor. Estrada may have shelled out his own money for pricey and stylish fixtures in his office, but restoring it to its respectable state after what he had done will cost Filipino taxpayers much. There is nothing classy in this behavior; it betrays only the regard with which he holds his office and the institution.

From import ban to import flood

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

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WORLD

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

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Pope to have surgery to remove lung nodule VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV announced that he would have an operation “in the coming days” for a lump on his lung, saying it had been located “at a very early stage.” “During recent medical checks, a nodule on my lung was found. It has been detected at a very early stage and is very localized,” the 71-yearold said in a weekly address in St Peter’s Square. “The doctors believe it would be right to intervene and so, following their advice, I have decided to have the operation to remove it. The operation is already planned in the coming days,” he said. Following the pope’s statement during his Angelus prayers, the Vatican press office said the pontiff was expected to have surgery in the next few days, and the expected recovery time from the operation would be around one week. The operation was to take place in the Gemelli hospital in Rome, which has frequently treated popes since John Paul II. No information has been given as to whether

the surgery and recovery would affect the pope’s agenda for international trips. He is next due to go to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between November 6 and 17. In Chiclayo, a city in Peru that Leo is due to visit, members of the faithful expressed hope for his quick recovery. “A lung nodule is no small matter. Let’s hope God grants him the ability to travel by air and that he gets better soon,” said Olga Pol, 62. “The people of Peru are eagerly awaiting him,” she added. “I’m certain that all of Peru is praying for the pope and that he’ll pull through,” retired journalist Diana Celi said. “God willing, we will have him here, because these preparations have been going on for several months – not just on a practical level, but also on a spiritual one.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement that the “calmness with which he spoke during today’s Angelus reassures us.”

She expressed to the pope her “personal closeness, and that of the Italian government, as he confronts this ordeal of the coming days.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wished Leo a “successful surgery and a swift, full recovery” in a post on X. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and we hope he will soon be back in good health and strength,” he added. Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo called on the faithful to pray for the pope’s “speedy recovery” and to continue preparations for his upcoming visit to Uruguay “with even greater enthusiasm”. Argentina’s bishops’ conference also urged Catholics to join in a special prayer for Leo ahead of the surgery, asking that it “go well” with a “swift and full recovery.” Chicago-born Leo became the first US pope last year following the death of his Argentine predecessor Francis on April 21, 2025 at the age of 88. AFP

PAPAL HEALTH. File photo shows Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd from the popemobile as he arrives for the weekly general audience at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Oct. 7, 2026. AFP

Global poverty index rises for first time W ASHINGTON – A UN global poverty index has risen for the first time since its creation in 2010, bringing the number of people affected to 1.2 billion, the United Nations Development Program reported Monday.

In the 2026 edition of their annual report, the UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative research center counted 51.5 million more people living in “acute” poverty compared to the previous year.

UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo said the increase in poverty should be a “wake-up call for the world.” “Behind these figures are 1.2 billion people facing hardships that reinforce one another: hunger, missed schooling

and a lack of clean water or electricity. This is unacceptable,” he said in a press release. More than half of those in acute poverty were children. However, UNDP said a major factor in the recorded increase was population growth, and new data was only available for 13 of the 108 developing countries covered by the report. While the total number of people in poverty has increased, the report provides a mixed picture. Some 33 nations have halved the percentage of

their people living in poverty as defined by the index in the past 15 years. Those included six countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Among the countries that have made the most rapid progress were countries in Asia – China and Vietnam – UNDP said. As in the previous year, the report found that the majority of the poorest people live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, specifically the Indian subcontinent, the most densely populated region on Earth. “In Egypt, Nepal, and Tajikistan,

both the poverty rate and the number of people experiencing multidimensional poverty have decreased significantly,” the press release said. In Angola and Zambia, the poverty rate has also declined, but population growth has more than offset this decrease, resulting in an increase in the number of people living in poverty. The poverty index used in the report includes indicators such as the lack of adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, food and education. AFP

IN BRIEF China sanctions Paraguay, Belize execs over Taiwan BEIJING – China announced sanctions on Monday against ministers from Paraguay and Belize over their diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its territory. The measures against Paraguay’s Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca include the freezing of their assets in China, visa denials and the banning of Chinese organizations from doing business with them, Beijing’s foreign ministry said. “Certain anti-China politicians... driven by self-interest, have stubbornly supported” Paraguay and Belize’s diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the ministry said in online statements. Beijing said the ministers had “taken a series of egregious actions and statements... damaging China’s core interests.” The sanctions, which took effect from Monday, were in order to “safeguard national security” and “oppose separatist activities,” it added. The move comes two days after Taiwan celebrated its national day. AFP

Man linked to suspected flydubai hijacker hits ‘lies’ SYDNEY – A Melbourne man whose Islamic community center has been linked by prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates to the co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain of a flydubai jet has hit out at “false accusations.” The Omani co-pilot, now in custody in the UAE, had drawn inspiration from AlQaeda’s September 11, 2001 suicide attacks, and carried out his attempt “with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life,” according to the Emirati prosecutor’s findings published by state media last week. The prosecutor said the co-pilot first became radicalized while studying in Australia “through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks.” The prosecutor alleged he was acquainted there with an organization known as “My Center” managed by a Lebanese man called Abu Hamza. AFP

HARVEST TRADITION. A Palestinian child sits next to plastic jerrycans while waiting at an olive mill for the harvest to be crushed and processed into olive oil in Al-Zawayda in the central Gaza Strip. The only operating olive mill in the area is in high demand as residents wait for hours to have their olives pressed despite fuel shortages and operational difficulties. AFP

Taiwan to ‘closely monitor’ China live-fire drills TAIPEI – Taiwan will “closely monitor” Chinese live-fire drills off China’s coast this week, the democratic island’s defense minister said on Monday. Chinese maritime authorities announced in recent days that drills would be held from October 12-20 in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea.

China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. The drills would be in waters close to China’s coast, according to the official announcements. “Keeping with the principle of preparing for the worst, we will continue to closely monitor all of their activities,

and coast guard vessels around Taiwan on an almost daily basis, and regularly conducts military exercises as part of preparations for a potential attack on the island. Taiwan is investing billions of dollars upgrading its defense capabilities, which President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday was to “deter war,” not start one. AFP

Opposition, journalists allege cop abuses during India protests

Nokor fires several ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan SEOUL – North Korea on Monday fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, Seoul’s military said, after weeks of mounting friction over a landmine explosion along their heavily fortified border. Since the blast that injured three South Korean soldiers in the Seoul-controlled area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), both countries have touted the test-firing of upgraded missile technology. “Our military detected around 09:20 (0020 GMT) several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. “Our military has stepped up surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches,” it added in its statement. Japan’s defense ministry separately confirmed the launch of at least one suspected ballistic missile. AFP

whether they involve firing or other military training,” Defense Minister Wellington Koo told reporters. “It should be emphasized here that the PLA’s (People’s Liberation Army’s) constant military drills that cause unease across the Indo-Pacific region deserve our close attention and condemnation.” China deploys fighter jets, warships

PUSH BACK. Security personnel detain demonstrators during a protest demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll irregularities linked to the ‘special intensive revision’ (SIR) near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. AFP

NEW DELHI – Opposition leaders and journalists accused police of heavy-handed tactics during weekend demonstrations, as authorities locked down New Delhi on Monday ahead of a fresh rally against the election chief. Authorities deployed thousands of personnel across central Delhi for a third straight day, erecting heavy metal barricades and closing key metro stations before a march called by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. The protests were triggered by allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter roll revision that critics say could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission of India, which oversees the voting process in the world’s most populous nation, has denied wrongdoing.

But attention has increasingly shifted to the police response after a chaotic weekend in which thousands of protesters, including members of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, were detained, according to local media reports. Most of those detained, including three top leaders of the CJP, have since been released. Opposition figures have accused authorities of trying to suppress dissent through mass detentions. Parliamentarian John Brittas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) alleged he was “manhandled, dragged, assaulted” by police during Sunday’s demonstrations. “This is not merely an assault on an MP. It is an assault on democratic freedoms and the rule of law,” Brittas said. AFP

SPORTS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

Van Sickle, Davison brace for marquee PVL face-off

CHAMPS AGAIN. Mem-

bers of t he Altas Perpsquad are shown after successfully defending their title in the 50th Milo Cheerdance Competition 2026-Vermosa Leg on Sunday at Barangay Pasong Buaya, Imus City. Dennis Abrina

Games Tuesday (Araneta Coliseum) 1 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs Galeries Tower 3:30 p.m. – Criss Cross vs AFP (Spikers’ Turf) 6 p.m. – Nxled vs PLDT

NXLED gets an early chance to test its mettle against a battle-tested PLDT side, with the anticipated return of Brooke van Sickle adding intrigue to their marquee showdown in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Chameleons and the High Speed Hitters collide at 6 p.m. in the main event of a twinbill that promises an explosive clash of firepower, depth and championship experience, as the league shifts to the Big Dome following a rousing season opener in Cebu. Before that, Farm Fresh and Galeries Tower kick off the action at 1 p.m., with the Foxies’ deeper lineup set to face a Highrisers squad eager to prove it can compete with the league’s more fancied teams. Sandwiched between the PVL matches is a 3:30 p.m. Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference encounter featuring reigning Open Conference champion Criss Cross, which begins its quest for another title in the men’s division, against AFP. Sports Vision, the league organizer, has incorporated a Spikers’ Turf match into each PVL playdate as part of its continuing effort to bring men’s volleyball to a wider audience and strengthen the sport’s mainstream appeal. But the spotlight will be firmly on the NxledPLDT showdown, particularly with Van Sickle expected to suit up for the Chameleons after missing the recent Invitationals due to a minor shoulder injury. A many-time MVP, Van Sickle leads an Nxled roster loaded with talent, including Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips, Jonah Escamillan, Jovelyn Fernandez, Jules Tolentino, Leyann De Guzman, Chiara Permentilla, Djanel Cheng and EJ Cariño. Former Cignal standouts Jackie Acuña and Gel Cayuna provide additional experience and support. Van Sickle’s return, however, will be tested immediately by a PLDT squad armed with championship pedigree, proven chemistry and considerable depth. The High Speed Hitters swept the PVL On Tour and Invitational titles last year, establishing themselves as one of the league’s most formidable teams. Although they fell short of another championship in the recent All-Filipino Conference, settling for third place, the setback could serve as added motivation in their pursuit of another crown.

15-year-old Cañete secures P2 at Philippine Drift Series finale J

UST weeks after a standout performance in Korea, 15-year-old Filipina drifter Bella Cañete came home and nearly took it all.

On September 5 and 6, Bella made her first appearance in the Korea Drift Series at Round 4, held at the Belle Foret Moto Arena, South Korea. Facing seasoned local professionals on unfamiliar ground, she qualified 3rd and finished 5th overall in the Pro category. She carried that momentum into the final round of the Philippine Drift Series at the Philippine Arena on October 10, 2026, competing in two categories. It was a true arriveand-drive weekend: Bella had no seat time in the car before competition day. She also drove the toughest machine on the grid, a stock Nissan Cefiro A31 with less than 200 horsepower, the heaviest and least powerful car in the field.

against Thirdy Yapo of CRD went to a One More Time (OMT) after a jump start from Bella and an error from Yapo at the hairpin. Bella kept her composure in the rerun to take the win, then defeated Jaycee Dy in the Top 4 to reach the final. The championship battle against Lloyd Rivera came down to the hairpin. A late handbrake pulled Bella off her line, and the Cefiro lost drive on the slippery section of the track. The error handed Rivera the win, and Bella secured P2. Reaching the final under those conditions showed what judges in both Korea and the Philippines have commended in her driving: precision, car control, and composure rather than horsepower. At just 15, Bella has proven herself against professionals in two countries in five weeks. She heads into the off-season as one of the most promising young talents in Asian drifting, and the hairpin that cost her the top spot is sure to be the corner she comes back for.

Fifteen-year-old Filipina drifter Bella Cañete in action Ramon Boado

In the Pro class, she qualified 6th and advanced to the Top 16 battles against the country’s top drivers. In Pro 2, she qualified 3rd. Her Top 8 battle

Seno rules Palawan Dipolog juniors, bags 3 titles BOGO City standout Etha Nadine Seno stamped her class on the Palawan Pawnshop Dipolog Juniors Age Group Championships, sweeping both girls’ singles crowns and adding a doubles title in a dominant campaign at the RGS and Mibang courts in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, last Sunday. The 14-year-old lived up to her top billing in both singles divisions, displaying remarkable consistency and all-around court savvy to rule the girls’ 14-and-Under and 16-and-U classes before capping her three-title romp with the 18-and-U doubles crown. Seno dropped just four games in three matches en route to the 14-and-U finals, where she weathered a late challenge from Aizelle Libonfacil to prevail, 6-0, 7-5, and secure the first of her two singles titles. She was even more dominant in the 16-and-U division, sweeping her first three matches without dropping a game before overwhelming Angelica Acido, 6-0, 6-1, in the final

Etha Seno (second from right) holds her trophy as she poses with (from left) coach Isagani Bulado, Keyan Sarip, and host Dr. Ian Pete Bandala.

to emerge as the tournament’s lone double-gold winner. Far from done, Seno teamed up with Gabrielle Bulado to beat Joy Busig and Princess Pampula, 8-5,

and complete her three-title sweep in the weeklong Group 2 tournament. The event launched a two-leg Mindanao swing of the Palawan Pawnshop tennis talent-search

program, spearheaded by president and CEO Bobby Castro and sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis, with support from Dunlop, ICON Golf & Sports and the Palawan Group of Companies. In the boys’ division, Muhammad Keyan Sarip of Marawi City shared MVP honors with Seno after capturing the 16-and-U singles title and finishing runner-up in the 18-and-U class. Sarip trounced Kim Tatad III, 6-0, 6-2, to rule the 16-and-U division but fell short of completing his own singles double, bowing to unranked Sky Bacongga, 6-4, 6-4, in a major upset in the 18-and-U final. Bacongga’s breakthrough victory underscored the competitive depth of the long-running circuit, which seeks to discover and develop young tennis talent, particularly in the countryside. Prince Centino defeated Sherwin Gom-Os, 6-3, 6-4, to capture the boys’ 14-and-U crown, while Zachary Bariquit outlasted Francis Dadan, 7-5, 6-4, in a hard-fought duel for the boys’ 12-and-U title.

PSA Forum to discuss Para Games OFFICIALS of Team Philippines set to see action in the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan will be gracing Tuesday’s (Oct 13) exclusive Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the media conference of the Philippine Sports Commission. National Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo and Executive Director Goody Custodio are gracing the public sports program to analyze, assess, and talk about the country’s campaign in the 45-nation continental showcase set Oct. 18 to 24. The session starts at 11 a.m. The Forum is presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus. Livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation , the session is also aired on a delayed basis over Sports Radio 918 AM and shared on the Facebook page Sports Radio 918.

Bautista rides scorching finish, grabs ICTSI Pueblo de Oro lead CAGAYAN DE ORO—Russell Bautista weathered the sweltering heat, shifting winds and a talent-laden field to wrest solo control with a five-under 67 in Monday’s opening round of the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship, capping a blistering front-nine finish with a spectacular eagle. The 26-year-old Bukidnon native, now based in Cebu, delivered the defining shot of the day on the par-4 eighth, where his 60-degree wedge from 90 yards took one bounce on the green before rolling into the cup for eagle. The highlight capped a three-under closing burst across his last five holes, highlighted by birdies on Nos. 5 and 7, and lifted him clear of a leaderboard that had been in constant flux under sweltering conditions. “Maganda ang drive, may mga na-missed na fairways pero nakaka-save-par kasi okay ang bakal at putting,” said Bautista, who admitted he was surprised to find himself atop a star-studded field after a round that demanded precision, sound decision-making and a steady touch around the greens.

His 67 was all the more encouraging after a difficult run this season, when he managed no better than a top-10 finish in the first seven legs of the circuit. Bautista is also seeking redemption after a painful near-miss at South Pacific last year, where he battled Jeffren Lumbo through a dramatic five-hole playoff before settling for the best finish of his three-year professional career. “Medyo nag-struggle,” Bautista said of his recent form, but Monday’s performance offered a timely boost as he pursues a breakthrough victory against a field hungry for a title. Still, the challenge ahead is considerable. Pueblo de Oro’s championship-ready layout once again demanded respect, with its tricky pin placements, sleek and sloping greens, and second shots that left little room for error. The combination of intense heat and increasingly blustery winds forced players to constantly reassess club selection and course management, making a low score a test of patience as much as ball-striking. “Mahirap ang course, lalo na ang pin placements, first day pa lang mahirap na,”

said Bautista, who birdied Nos. 11 and 15 from inside six feet but gave back a stroke after missing the green on the par-5 17th. He recovered quickly, however, setting up the late surge at the front. Lumbo, meanwhile, mounted a timely charge of his own, birdying the difficult 18th to card a 68 and tie Clyde Mondilla for second, just one stroke behind Bautista. Mondilla had a chance to draw level with the leader but dropped a shot on No. 8. Coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Negros Occidental and Iloilo, Lumbo continued his pursuit of a long-awaited second career victory with four birdies against two bogeys at the front. He added birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 before recovering from a bogey on No. 17 with his closing-hole birdie. “Maganda ang, lalo na sa wedge at putting, kaya naka-four-under,” said Lumbo, who credited his short game for keeping him in contention. “Maganda ang fairways at greens, kaya naka-score.”

Russell Bautista Manny Marcelo

SPORTS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

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

NU assistant women’s team coach Du banned for rest of season THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines Basketball Commissioner’s Office has suspended National University assistant coach Paul Du from all basketballrelated activities (5-on-5 and 3x3 for all divisions) for the remainder of Season 89 following an incident involving University of Santo Tomas assistant women’s team coach Arsenio Dysangco. The suspension stems from an incident during the post-game handshake line after NU’s game against UST on Saturday, October 10, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. Du delivered a forceful elbow to Dysangco, causing the UST coach to fall to the floor and require medical attention. The suspension takes effect immediately and will remain in place until the official end of the season. The Commissioner’s Office also acknowledges that there may be additional sanctions imposed on Du by the UAAP Board. National University can appeal the decision. In the controversial game, the defending champion University of Santo Tomas made quick work of National University, 90-66, to remain unbeaten.

Perpetual Junior Altas eye 6th straight victory By Dennis Abrina THE Perpetual Help Junior Altas shoot for their sixth consecutive victory when they face the winless Lyceum of the Philippines University GenTri in the NCAA Season 102 Juniors Basketball Tournament on Tuesday, October 13, at the FilOil Arena in San Juan City. Coach Joph Cleopas’ squad has won five of its first six games to climb to a 5-1 record, tied with the EAC Brigadiers atop Group B. The Junior Altas are coming off a 72-60 victory over the San Beda Red Cubs last Thursday, October 8, behind team captain Louie Rosales’ game-high 21 points. Rookie transferee Sizco Roquid, formerly of UE, leads Perpetual in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game, followed by Rosales at 17.6 points through six outings. Cleopas will also count on Lord Dulanas, Brian Orca Jr., Francis Rosales, Arkin Cristobal, Kurt Patalinghug, Raymark Madaya and Vandolf Urdaneta as the Junior Altas seek to extend their winning run. “We are just following what our coaches tell us—sticking to the system and always giving 100 percent when we step onto the court; even in practice, we give our best to achieve good results,” Rosales said. Meanwhile, the Letran Squires improved to 6-1 after beating the Mapua Red Robins, 74-69, on Monday. Mapua dropped to 4-3. In the seniors’ division, coach Olsen Racela’s Perpetual Altas aim to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Perpetual carries a 2-4 record, while Lyceum stands at 1-5.

UST assistant coach Arsenio Dysangco is assisted by UAAP personnel after being elbowed by NU assistant coach Paul Du following the UST-NU game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Saturday. UAAP

Eala drops a notch to no. 19 in latest WTA tennis rankings By Jeremiah Sevilla

LEXANDRA “Alex” Eala slightly dropped to No. 19 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings released on Monday ahead of her singles debut in the Wuhan Open 2026 in China.

Alexandra Eala

Eala slid one spot from her career-high No. 18 despite holding 2,241 ranking points as Belgium’s Elise Mertens climbed five places to No. 14 with 2,540 points following her semifinal finish in the recently concluded China Open. The 21-year-old Filipina skipped the WTA 1000 China Open to represent the Philippines in the 20th Asian Games in Japan, where she claimed her second consecutive singles bronze medal but fell short of earning a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina retained the No. 1 spot in the leaderboard, followed by

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at No. 2 and Russian Mirra Andreeva, who rose to a careerbest No. 3 after finishing runner-up to China’s Zheng Qinwen in Beijing. Rounding out the top 10 are Americans

Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at No. 6, Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova at Nos. 7 and 8, Poland’s Iga Swiatek at No. 9, and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk at No. 10. Eala’s slight drop in the rankings came ahead of her opening Round of 64 clash against qualifier No. 217 Han Shi of China in the Wuhan Open singles tilt on Monday night. The Center Court match at press time marked the first career meeting between Eala and Han, who secured her place in the main draw after pulling off a 7-6(2), 6-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova. The Pinay lefty ace was seeded No. 13 but did not receive a first-round bye because of the tournament’s smaller 56-player main draw. Eala is also set to see action in doubles competition with her Turkish friend Zeynep Sonmez, marking their second partnership this year and fifth overall after teaming up in the Madrid Open last April. Eala and Sonmez face Ukrainian wildcards Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska in the first round (Round of 32), with their match tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.

Evangelista captures 2 medals in World Shoot debut By Randy M. Caluag

Rica Adrienne Recinto Evangelista FB

MINDANAOAN shooter Rica Adrienne Recinto Evangelista made her first Shotgun World Shoot appearance a memorable one, capturing an individual bronze and helping the Philippines secure a team silver just over a year after taking up shotgun shooting. The Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat native finished third in the Ladies Modified individual competition and joined her Philippine teammates on the silver-medal podium in the same division. The 2026 International Practical Shooting Confederation Shotgun World Shoot V in Corinth, Greece, featured 30 stages over five days and drew nearly 1,000 competitors from 50 countries, according to organizers. “What an incredible feeling to represent the Philippines and stand among the best shooters in the world!” Evangelista wrote in a social media post celebrating her double podium finish. Evangelista began shooting shotgun in June 2025.

Her path to the world championship involved long training sessions, sacrifices and periods of self-doubt, but also lessons that extended beyond competition. “I’ve learned so much along the way—not just about becoming a better shooter, but about trusting myself, accepting mistakes and learning to let go of perfection,” she said. She credited coaches Dojo and Pavel for their patience, guidance, and encouragement throughout her development. Her preparations also included countless hours of practice with training partner Jampoy at Upper Valley Shooting Range. Evangelista thanked Jampoy and Mabel for allowing her to train at the facility, where much of the work behind her medal-winning performance took place. She also acknowledged her sister Cienne, who accompanied her and handled everything from meals to photography, allowing her to concentrate on the competition, and Andre for supporting her pursuit of the sport.

Bisera bucks early wobbles, dominates with fiery 68

Sizco Roquid scores. Dennis Abrina

CAGAYAN DE ORO—Yvon Bisera turned a shaky start into an impressive surge, unleashing a blistering back-nine charge capped by three straight birdies from No. 15 to shoot a four-under 68 and seize a commanding four-shot lead in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship on Monday. After stumbling with bogeys on Nos. 2 and 5 while struggling to find her touch with the irons, the Davaoeña ace regrouped in impressive fashion, stringing together six birdies to emerge from the opening round with a big cushion in the 54-hole, P1.25-million championship at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club here. Her scorching finish proved a stark contrast to the struggles of her rivals, many of whom faltered under the punishing heat and the course’s demanding layout. Reigning Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Sarah Ababa emerged as Bisera’s closest pursuer with a 72, but even she could not escape the day’s challenges, mixing three birdies with three bogeys to settle four strokes behind. Tiffany Lee and Velinda Castil carded 73s, while Martina Miñoza and Daniella Uy stumbled to 74s.

Yvon Bisera Manny Marcelo

Princess Superal and amateur sister Ace Superal turned in 76s, while Rev Alcantara and Angela Mangana limped home with 77s as the heat and the course took their toll on the early contenders. Bisera, however, refused to let her early miscues dictate her round. Despite a late start under sweltering conditions, she steadied herself with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 before taking charge on the back nine, where four

more birdies transformed a tentative start into a commanding performance. Reflecting on the contrasting fortunes of her opening nine, Bisera said her driving remained solid even as her iron play let her down on two early holes. “My driving was good, but my irons weren’t sharp on the front nine, and I missed two greens,” said Bisera in Filipino, who nevertheless managed to recover before the turn and put herself in position for a decisive back-nine assault. The late start also meant playing through the day’s intense heat, making her recovery all the more impressive. Bisera said conditions became more manageable as the round progressed. “It was extremely hot when we started late, but the temperature eased a little on the back nine,” she said. Bisera began to find her rhythm on the par5 seventh, then capitalized on a solid approach from 95 yards to set up a tap-in birdie on No. 9. From there, she took control, capping her charge with three consecutive birdies from No. 15 and leaving herself virtually unscathed over her final 13 holes.

BUSINESS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

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

Mynt IPO oversubscribed High inflation Oversubscription at GCash app amid strong retail demand freezes hiring activities in PH 4 times Oversubscription M 165%

By Jenniffer B. Austria

of AB’s allocation

Reported cornerstone investors

YNT Inc.’s initial public offering (IPO) drew strong investor demand at the close of the offer period, with several brokerage firms saying allocated shares were oversubscribed.

The offering is expected to raise about P53 billion, and total proceeds could reach P60.9 billion if the overallotment option is fully exercised. The offer period ran from Oct. 6 to Oct. 12, and the shares will list on the Philippine Stock Exchange’s main board on Oct. 20. AB Capital Securities Inc., which handles subscriptions directly through the GCash app, said its assigned share quota was 165.11 percent oversubscribed as of Friday.

Regina Capital and Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said his firm’s allocation was 4 times oversubscribed. COL Financial Inc. head of research April Tan also reported strong retail interest, which she partly attributed to news that about 22 cornerstone investors had committed to the IPO. COL Financial said Mynt, the parent company of e-wallet giant GCash, still has room to expand despite the platform’s strong position in the digi-

WHAT’S INSIDE?

tal payments market. GCash has 41.5 million monthly active users, equal to 56 percent of the country’s adult population, while adoption in more mature digital payment markets typically reaches 70 percent to 80 percent of adults. The platform also has 7.5 million active borrowers, about 18 percent of its monthly active users. Mynt plans to expand its merchant-acquiring business and strengthen its international presence by growing remittance services for overseas Filipino workers. SeA (Southeast Asia) Focus Portfolio hedge fund manager Eric Jurado said the IPO price of P6.60 per share implied that Mynt could deliver annual earnings growth of 15 percent from its 2025 net income of P17.15 billion, or growth of 25.8 percent annually from 2026 to 2028.

Martha Sazon, president and chief executive of Mynt, the parent company of GCash, is recognized among Fortune’s Most Powerful Women 2026 Asia—marking her third consecutive inclusion in the prestigious list. The recognition highlights her role in reshaping financial access in the Philippines and elevating GCash into the country’s #1 finance superapp.

Philex operations unhampered by strike

By Mark David Marababon

THE high inflation rate in the Philippines has compounded the struggles of job seekers and workers as rising living costs outpace wage gains and limit quality employment opportunities. University of Santo Tomas (UST) Economics Department chair Alain Santos, who holds a doctorate in economics, said price pressures directly impair labor market dynamics. “Domestic inflation is driven by structural supply shocks rather than overheating demand, forcing workers and job seekers into a double bind,” Santos said. “Elevated utility and logistics expenses squeeze enterprise profit margins, prompting businesses to freeze formal hiring or cut headcounts, which drastically restricts entry-level positions for job seekers and drives up underemployment,” he said. Santos also warned that high inflation erodes real purchasing power and drags on economic growth by depressing household consumption. He said navigating the supply shock requires pairing temporary monetary vigilance with targeted fiscal solutions such as logistics subsidies and resilient agricultural infrastructure. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the headline inflation picked up to a three-year high of 7.2 percent in September 2026 from 6.1 percent in August, ending a four-month cooling trend. The PSA said food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 6.7 percent after August typhoons devastated key agricultural hubs. Transport costs surged 14.6 percent, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels climbed 8.4 percent.

Pork imports pull down farmgate prices, squeeze local hog raisers By Othel V. Campos

DOT woos wellness investors

B3 Rising interest to suppress PH credit

A SURGE in pork imports is squeezing local hog raisers, with farmgate prices falling as low as P90 a kilogram, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said Monday at a congressional briefing on the hog industry. “The local hog industry is already in crisis. Tariff restoration cannot be postponed while Filipino hog raisers continue to absorb massive losses,” SINAG executive-director Jason

Cainglet said. Pork imports reached 906.06 million kg. in 2025, up from 738.43 million kg. in 2022, according to data presented at the hearing. Another 653.63 million kg. entered the country in the first nine months of 2026. Imports stood at 610.42 million kg. in 2023 and 774.67 million kg. by end-September 2024. SINAG said the import increase coincided with a collapse in farmgate prices to between P90 and P120 per kg. in September 2026, from P170

a year earlier. At current prices, hog raisers are losing an estimated P50 to P90 per kg., or P5,000 to P9,000 per hog. High feed and other production costs are compounding the losses, leaving raisers little room to absorb further price declines, the group said. Imported pork is contributing to excess domestic supply, with Department of Agriculture (DA) data showing a surplus equivalent to 193 days, according to SINAG.

Retail prices remain relatively high. Kasim sold at P330 per kg. and liempo at P370 in September 2026, compared with P358 and P373, respectively, a year ago. SINAG said the gap between farmgate and retail prices shows lower prices paid to hog raisers are not being fully passed on to consumers. It attributed elevated retail prices to intermediary margins, weak market regulation, poor price transmission and supply-chain inefficiencies.

ERC orders Meralco to refund P2.64b to customers in 6 months By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to refund about P2.64 billion to customers at an average rate of P0.1020 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) over about six months. Residential consumers will receive P0.1733 per

ASSET AWARDS. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) ranks first among Philippine banks and securities firms in both the Local Currency Bonds and G3 Bonds categories of The Asset Benchmark Research Awards 2026, affirming its strength across domestic and international bond markets. Shown are (from left) Mia Santiago, investment execution officer; Ivy May Mamauag, investment execution officer; Ricardo Pedrosa, head of trust banking group; Ginny Pecaña, head of investment services division; and Seth Gamboa, investment execution officer of Metrobank Trust.

kWh starting in Meralco’s next billing cycle. “In the next billing cycle from Meralco’s receipt of our order, we’ll include that together with the decision on the rate reset so there will be almost no movement in Meralco’s current rates,” ERC chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan said. “We will release both this month,” he said. Meralco has not yet received the order, senior vice-president and head of regulatory management Jose Ronald Valles said. As in previous actual weighted average tariff (AWAT) refunds, “this will significantly help reduce rates to customers,” he said. The refund is provisional and based on the ERC’s initial evaluation. The final amount remains subject to review during the commission’s final evaluation hearing set for Oct. 16 to 23, 2026, with any needed adjustments made accordingly. The ERC said it will monitor implementation and require monthly reporting from Meralco until the full amount is returned. The ERC issued the order Oct. 9 in ERC Case No. 2026-129 RC, granting Meralco provisional authority for its true-up of distribution charges for January to June 2026. This is the final portion of the lapsed period covered by the commission’s confirmation process.

ENERGY AWARDS. Manila Water Company Inc. (Manila Water) and Manila Water Philippine Ventures Cebu (MWPVC) earn podium finishes at the ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA) 2026. Manila Water’s 2.5-MWp Solar Project, recognized as the largest consolidated solar installation in the Philippine water sector, is named second runnerup in the On-Grid Self-Consumption Category, while MWPV-Cebu secures first runnerup in the Energy Management in Buildings and Industries – Small & Medium Industries Category. Shown during the gala dinner and awarding ceremony at the Museo del Galeón in Manila on Oct. 7, 2026 are King Verzola (left), Manila Water Energy director and Ruby Rose Mercado, general manager of Manila Water Philippine Ventures Cebu.

LTFRB denies accreditation of GrabBike, Dingdong RiderKo after compliance review By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has denied the accreditation applications of motorcycle taxi platform providers (MTPPs) GrabBike and Dingdong RiderKo for failing to comply with agency requirements. GrabBike is the motorcycle taxi service of Grab, while Dingdong RiderKo was established by actor and entrepreneur Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III. The two companies earlier received authority to operate under the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxi services in Metro Manila, nearby areas and

other urban centers nationwide. LTFRB acting chairman Greg Pua Jr. said a review of their operations showed both companies failed to meet certain conditions during the period covered by their operating authorities. Pua cited Section 5 of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Department Order No. 2026-006, which governs MTPP operations. “The order expressly provides that MTPPs whose previous pilot authority lapsed, expired, or was not maintained through active participation and compliance are excluded from the coverage of the order,” Pua said, quoting the DOTr issuance.

BUSINESS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH stocks up 0.74%, peso climbs as investors hunt for bargains PHILIPPINE shares closed higher on Monday as investors continued to look for oversold stocks following last week’s slump. The peso also strengthened against the US dollar on Monday, closing at 62.76 from 62.801 on Friday. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose 42.19 points, or 0.74 percent, to close at 5,743.18. The broader all shares index gained 11.26 points, or 0.35 percent, to 3,203.11. “The local market extended its gains as investors continued with their bargain hunting,” Philstocks Financial Inc. said. Philstocks, however, noted that trading remained cautious due to weak investor confidence. “This is amid the headwinds that are still at play, including elevated global oil prices and bond yields, as well

as concerns for the local economy’s growth and inflation outlook,” it added. Two sectoral indices advanced, led by services, which climbed 1.98 percent, while holding firms rose 1.7 percent. Financials slipped 1.07 percent while industrials fell 0.15 percent. Mining and oil declined 0.31 percent, and property lost 0.33 percent. Market breadth was positive, with 103 gainers against 87 decliners, while 55 stocks were unchanged. Value turnover reached P5.75 billion, while foreign investors were net sellers with outflows at P332.60 million. Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. was the day’s top index gainer, advancing 4.62 percent to P40.80, while DigiPlus Interactive Corp. was the main index laggard, declining 9.38 percent to P7.44. Jenniffer B. Austria

PSRM BRIEFING. Quincy Raya, (center), president of the Philippine Society for Regenerative Medicine (PSRM), discusses advances in cellular therapies during a media briefing at Discovery Primea in Makati on Oct. 12, 2026. With her are Daryl Joel Dumdum, PSRM co-founder and vice president, and Marivic Hebron-Juan. The briefing previewed the PSRM’s inaugural annual convention scheduled for Oct. 21–22, 2026. Norman Cruz

Philex Mining operations unhampered by labor strike By Jenniffer B. Austria

G 11.

OLD and copper mining firm Philex Mining Corp. said its operations remained unhampered despite a labor strike that started on Sunday, Oct.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Monday, Philex said fewer than 100 workers were recorded at the picket lines on Sunday and Monday morning. While about 35 percent of its total workforce was absent, the company noted that not all absences were confirmed to be linked to the strike. “So far, mining and processing operations have continued and remained unhampered. Initial reports saw production and output levels yesterday are at the usual without any drastic

ERC approves P3.73-b capex for Negros Power By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved a P3.733-billion capital expenditure budget for Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power), led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr., covering 37 projects from 2024 to 2026. In its ruling, the ERC authorized Negros Power to implement the projects and recover eligible costs through a Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditures rate, in accordance with the Rules for Setting the Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates. The commission said its evaluation showed the projects will help Negros Power fulfill its mandate under Section 2 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 to provide continuous, safe, reliable, secure, and efficient service. Negros Power stated in its application that the projects are designed to systematically expand and rehabilitate its distribution network, meet operational capacity requirements, and comply with safety and performance standards. The bulk of the budget, amounting to P990 million, is earmarked for rehabilitating aged, unsafe, and obstructing poles and long-span lines, as well as replacing materials damaged by Typhoon Tino.

decrease, but we are still in the process of finalizing the daily production report for yesterday,” Philex said. The company said the strike was initiated by the Philex National Mines and Allied Workers Union (NAMAWU), even as ongoing negotiations continued at the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in the Cordillera Administrative Region. To maintain operations, Philex implemented two long shifts, with managers, supervisors, and non-striking rank-and-file workers stepping in to

augment the workforce. As part of efforts to reach a resolution, the Department of Labor and Employment has invited the company and the union to a conciliation-mediation conference before the Office of the Secretary. “The company will continue to work with the union, the NCMB, and DOLE toward this end,” Philex said, adding that it will continue implementing measures to ensure the steady operation of the Padcal mine. Philex swung back to profit in the second quarter of 2026 as production at the Padcal mine normalized and higher gold and copper prices supported earnings. Second-quarter net income reached P392 million, reversing a P592-million net loss in the first quarter and more than doubling the P171-million profit recorded a year earlier.

STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING. Waterfront Philippines Inc. convenes its 2026 annual stockholders’ meeting on Sept. 30, 2026. Joining the event are Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., chairman; Arthur Lopez, vice chairman; Elvira Ting, president; Hanniel Ngo, chief operating officer; Arthur Ponsaran, corporate secretary; and directors Justice Renato Francisco, Lamberto Mercado Jr., Ruben Torres, and Josaias Dela Cruz, along with company officers and shareholders.

AstraZeneca, Hi-Precision team up to advance digital pathology in PH By Othel V. Campos ASTRAZENECA Philippines and Hi-Precision Diagnostics Center Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding to advance digital and computational pathology in the Philippines. The partnership seeks to modernize pathology services, improve diagnostic workflows, and expand access to specialist case reviews and second opinions, particularly for cancer patients living far from specialist centers. “We aim to combine science, technology and local expertise to strengthen pathology services and help build a more connected, equitable and future-ready diagnostic ecosystem for the Philippines,” said AstraZeneca Philippines country president Lotis Ramin. Digital pathology converts tissue slides into high-resolution images that pathologists can securely review and share with specialists, while computational pathology uses validated software, including artificial intelligence, to identify patterns that support, but do not replace, a pathologist’s diagnosis. The technologies could also provide care teams with timely diagnostic

information to support precision medicine and help match patients with appropriate treatments based on the characteristics of their disease. Under the MOU, the partners will deploy and optimize digital pathology infrastructure, improve systems interoperability, and strengthen clinical quality through validation, quality assurance, governance, training, and knowledge-sharing. The agreement also covers data governance, collaborative case review, remote consultation, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement to support responsible and sustainable implementation. “Hi-Precision has always believed that quality diagnostics should be accurate, accessible and responsive to patients’ needs. This collaboration with AstraZeneca will help us strengthen the capabilities, standards and systems required for digital pathology,” said Hi-Precision Diagnostics vice president for Medical Services Vannessa Ongsu. The companies said the initial implementation could serve as a foundation for wider adoption of digital and computational pathology across relevant healthcare settings in the Philippines.

Thank you, Cesar Virata IN the life of every person, there is a day that determines the course of the remainder of his existence on Earth. For Cesar E. A. Virata, who passed away last week, that day was Feb. 25, 1986, the day on which the dictatorship of President Ferdinand E. Marcos came to an end. Up until Feb. 25, 1986, Cesar Virata was one of the best professionals produced by this country and one of the most respected officials of the Philippine government. After that date, he came to be regarded by some Filipinos as just another displaced official of an overthrown government.

—“—

Up until Feb. 25, 1986, Cesar Virata was one of the best professionals produced by this country and one of the most respected officials of the Philippine government. After the installation of the revolutionary government of Corazon C. Aquino, many private institutions, fearful of incurring the displeasure of the new national administration, would have nothing to with Cesar Virata, notwithstanding their subsisting respect for Mr. Marcos’s longserving Secretary/Minister of Finance. For the rabidly antiMarcos crowd, Cesar Virata was a pariah who needed to be made to atone for his association with the Marcos government. In their eyes Mr. Virata was an enabling person, someone who gave aid and comfort to the enemy. Fortunately for Cesar Virata and for Filipinos who were not rabidly anti-Marcos, one Filipino business leader chose to go against the anti-Virata sentiment and gave Cesar Virata a postEDSA Revolution home. That business leader was Alfonso Yuchengco, the founder and head of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation—Malayan Insurance Co. conglomerate. With or without clearance from Malacañang, Mr. Yuchengco gave Cesar Virata the vice-chairmanship of his commercial bank, a position that Mr. Virata held until his passing. At Yuchengco, who passed away earlier than Cesar Virata, deserves commendation for doing something that in the climate of those times was very courageous.

Mr. Yuchengco’s appointment of Cesar Virata was not merely an act of benevolence; it was a very wise business move, given the credentials and vest experience of the grandson of President Emilio Aguinaldo. Those credentials and that experience encompassed government service, private business and academe. From the deanship of the college of business administration of the University of the Philippines Cesar Virata went on to become a partner in the nation’s most prestigious auditing firm (Sycip, Gorres, Velayo and Co.), the first chairman of the board of governance of the newly established Board of Investments (BOI), Secretary/ Minister of Finance, chairman of the Monetary Board and, last but certainly not least, Prime Minister of the Philippines. In the private sector. sector once more, the business community accorded numerous honors to Mr. Virata, including the presidency of the Bankers Association of the Philippines. The debate over Cesar Virata’s role in Mr. Marcos’s martial-law administration has not ended, as the recent protest over the Cesar Virata School of Business Administration at U.P. has shown. The debate over whether Cesar Virata acted patriotically or betrayed Philippine democracy is likely to rage for some time. It is granted that serving in the martial-law Cabinet was not the best of options for Cesar Virata. But in the resolution of that issue, certain ineluctable facts need to be taken into account. President Marcos’s overthrow of a democratically elected government and his assumption of dictatorial powers was not well regarded abroad, especially in the international financial community, and things were not made better by the reports of corruption and excessive behavior by Mr. Marcos, his family and his business cronies. If the vital inflow of international financial resources was to be maintained, a person of integrity, competence and vision was needed to ensure the stability of the Philippine economy. There was a need for someone who enjoyed the confidence and respect of the international community, especially the foreign financial institutions. The Philippine government official of their choice was Cesar Virata. For your exemplary service to Mother Philippines in both good and challenging times, thank you, Cesar Virata. (llagasjessa@yahoo.com)

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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Manila Manila Manila

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DOT woos wellness investors T By Othel V. Campos

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) is seeking more private-sector investments in healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centers, wellness services, and related infrastructure to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a health and wellness tourism destination.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay urged business leaders, investors, and industry stakeholders to tap opportunities in the sector during the 15th Arangkada Philippines Forum held on Oct. 9, citing its potential to generate jobs, expand tourism services outside major urban centers, and improve healthcare support facilities. “We want to develop a stronger health and wellness sector that attracts investment, creates jobs, expands regional capacity, and improves services for Filipinos,” Angara-Mathay said. She noted that medical and wellness tourism requires an integrated network of healthcare providers, hotels, transport services, infrastructure, and technology to

ensure quality care and a seamless experience for international patients and their companions. The DOT is encouraging investments in hospitals, diagnostic centers, digital health services, rehabilitation facilities, wellness centers, hospitality establishments, and long-stay communities. Angara-Mathay said linking these services would allow patients to access specialized treatment, recovery programs, accommodation, and other support services in one destination. As of September 2026, the DOT’s accreditation network covered 13 hospitals, 21 ambulatory clinics, 10 dental clinics, and 63 spas. The country also has six hos-

pitals accredited by Joint Commission International, an organization that evaluates healthcare institutions against international standards. Although the DOT does not provide medical services, AngaraMathay said the department works with industry stakeholders to address gaps in tourism infrastructure and healthcare support through public-private partnerships.

Career Career Opportunity Opportunity ininVehicle Vehicle Master Master Service Service Corp. Corp. Career Opportunity in Vehicle Master Service Corp.

Chinese Chinese Mechanical Mechanical Specialist Specialist Chinese Mechanical Specialist One One (1) (1)Vacancy Vacancy One (1) Vacancy Job JobJob Description: Description: Description:

Chinese Mechanical Mechanical Specialist Specialist isiswho who installs, installs, maintains, maintains, repairs, repairs, and andand troubleshoots troubleshoots various various •• • AAChinese A Chinese Mechanical Specialist is who installs, maintains, repairs, troubleshoots various types types ofofmechanical mechanical equipment equipment and andand systems. systems. types of mechanical equipment systems.

Qualification: Qualification: Qualification:

•• • Must Must have have good good problem-solving, problem-solving, analytical, analytical, and andand communication communication skills. skills. Must have good problem-solving, analytical, communication skills. Must be behighly highly motivated motivated and andand able able totowork work with with minimum minimum supervision. supervision. •• • Must Must be highly motivated able to work with minimum supervision. Applications Applications may may be besent sent to: to:to: Applications may be sent vehiclemasterservicecorp@gmail.com vehiclemasterservicecorp@gmail.com vehiclemasterservicecorp@gmail.com Company/Employer Company/Employer Company/Employer

EDC’S AWARD.

Energy Development Corp. president and chief operating officer Jerome Cainglet (right) receives the National Strategic Excellence Award from Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Brunei Darussalam minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Energy, Upstream and Downstream), during the 2026 ASEAN Energy Awards ceremonies at the Museo del Galeón in Pasay City on Oct. 7.

Name Name ofofforeign foreign national national intending intending totoapply apply for forthe thethe position position Name of foreign national intending to apply for position

Company Company Name: Name: Vehicle Vehicle Master Master Company Name: Vehicle Master Service Service Corp. Corp. Service Corp.

Name: Name: Name: 1.1.Song Song Junlong Junlong 1. Song Junlong

Company Company Address: Address: Company Address: 27 27T.27 T.Santiago Santiago St., St.,St., Canumay Canumay West West T. Santiago Canumay West Valenzuela Valenzuela Valenzuela

Address: Address: Address: 1.1.Quezon Quezon City CityCity 1. Quezon

Nature Nature ofofBusiness: Business: Repairs Repairs And AndAnd Nature of Business: Repairs Maintenance Maintenance Of OfMotor Motor Vehicles Vehicles Maintenance Of Motor Vehicles

Intended Intended period period ofofemployment: employment: Intended period of employment: 11--Two 2(years) 2(years) 1Two - Two 2(years)

Nationality: Nationality: Nationality: 1.1.Chinese Chinese 1. Chinese

Vehicle Vehicle Master Master Service Service Corp. Corp. hereby hereby declares declares that that the thethe above-named above-named foreign foreign national national isisable, able, willing, willing, and andand Vehicle Master Service Corp. hereby declares that above-named foreign national is able, willing, qualified qualified totoperform perform the thethe services services and andand job jobjob description description for forfor this thisthis position. position. The TheThe company company has hashas the thethe intention intention toto to qualified to perform services description position. company intention employ employ the thethe said saidsaid foreign foreign national national and andand apply apply for forfor an anAlien Alien Employment Employment Permit Permit with with the thethe Department Department ofofLabor Labor employ foreign national apply an Alien Employment Permit with Department of Labor and andand Employment Employment --National National Capital Capital Region Region located located atatDole Dole Central Central office office muralla muralla ststcorner corner general general Luna.. Luna.. Employment - National Capital Region located at Dole Central office muralla st corner general Luna..

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Career Career Opportunity Opportunity ininCHINA CHINA SOUTHEAST SOUTHEAST ASIA ASIAASIA ELECTRIC ELECTRIC POWER POWER CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION CORP CORP Career Opportunity in CHINA SOUTHEAST ELECTRIC POWER CONSTRUCTION CORP Position Position Title: Title:Title: Site SiteManager Manager (1(1Vacancy) Vacancy) Position Site Manager (1 Vacancy) Job JobDescription: Description: Job Description: Oversees Oversees overall overall construction construction and andelectro-mechanical electro-mechanical installation installation ininaccordance accordance with withproject project requirements. requirements. Oversees overall construction and electro-mechanical installation in accordance with project requirements. Qualification: Qualification: Qualification: **Strong Strong negotiation, negotiation, communication communication and andinterpersonal interpersonal skills. skills. * Strong negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills. **Excellent Excellent analytical analytical and andproblem-solving problem-solving abilities. abilities. * Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. **Fluent Fluent ininwritten written and andspoken spoken Mandarin Mandarin and andEnglish English language. language. * Fluent in written and spoken Mandarin and English language. **Strong Strong leadership leadership and andteam teamteam management management skills. skills. * Strong leadership and management skills. Company/Employer Company/Employer Company/Employer

Name Name ofofforeign foreign national national intending intending totoapply apply for forthe the position Name of foreign national intending to apply forposition the position

China China Southeast Southeast Asia AsiaElectric Electric Power Power Construction Construction Corp. Corp. China Southeast Asia Electric Power Construction Corp. Site SiteAddress: Address: 2D-ROS 2D-ROS Commercial Commercial Complex Complex Rizal RizalRizal St., St., St., Site Address: 2D-ROS Commercial Complex Poblacion, Poblacion, Barotac Barotac Viejo ViejoViejo Poblacion, Barotac Nature Nature of of Business: Business: Construction Construction Nature of Business: Construction

Name: Name: Jiang, Jiang, Linlin Linlin Name: Jiang, Linlin Address: Address: Barotac Barotac Viejo, Viejo, Iloilo IloiloIloilo City CityCity Address: Barotac Viejo, Nationality: Nationality: Chinese Chinese Nationality: Chinese Intended Intended period period of of employment: employment: Two Two(2) (2)years years Intended period of employment: Two (2) years

Position Position Title: Title:Title: Design Design Specialist Specialist (1(1Vacancy) Vacancy) Position Design Specialist (1 Vacancy)

ERC approves EAUC’s ancillary services contract with NGCP By Alena Mae S. Flores

remain on when a power plant suddenly trips or demand surges. Because a battery system can respond almost instantly, it is well-suited for this role. Under the ASPA, EAUC’s 44.72 MW BESS will provide NGCP with firm reserves of up to 13 MW of regulating reserve and 13 MW of contingency reserve for a five-year term. Firm reserves mean EAUC, a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., is obligated to make the capacity available and faces penalties if it fails to do so. Currently, the Visayas has only 40 MW of firm regulating reserve and 67.3 MW of firm contingency reserve against the required 67 MW and 75 MW that should be under firm contract. The ERC authorized a provisional rate of P5.28 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for both

THE Energy Regulatory Commission has granted provisional authority for the ancillary services procurement agreement between the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and East Asia Utilities Corp. for its battery energy storage system in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. “The Visayas needs additional capacities now, not months from now. We gave this application priority because every additional firm, reliable reserve in the grid helps reduce the chance of yellow alerts and the disruption they cause,” said ERC chairperson and chief executive Francis Saturnino Juan. The order, issued in ERC Case No. 2026-140 RC, was approved by the commission on Oct. 9, 2026, allowing the contract to be implemented while the Career Career Opportunity Opportunity ininDITO DITO TELECOMMUNITY TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION CORPORATION Career Opportunity in DITO TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION ERC completes its Position Position title: title: Position title: OSS OSS Architecture Architecture and andand Autonomous Autonomous Network Network Senior Senior Advisor Advisor full review. OSS Architecture Autonomous Network Senior Advisor Job JobJob Description: Description: Description: The regulatory Provide recommendations recommendations for for for OSS OSS roadmap roadmap development development aligned aligned with withwith business business and andand network network •• • Provide Provide recommendations OSS roadmap development aligned business network body prioritized transformation transformation objectives. objectives. transformation objectives. •• • Evaluate Evaluate emerging emerging technologies technologies and and industry industry best best practices practices for for OSS OSS evolution. evolution. Evaluate emerging technologies and industry best practices for OSS evolution. its action on the •• • Provide Provide advisory advisory support support on onnetwork network automation automation approaches approaches and andand OSS OSS process process optimization. optimization. Provide advisory support on network automation approaches OSS process optimization. application due to •• • Advise Advise on onthe thethe development development ofofoperational operational dashboards dashboards and andand analytics analytics capabilities capabilities and andand support support data-driven data-driven Advise on development of operational dashboards analytics capabilities support data-driven decision-making decision-making through through KPI KPI and and performance performance analysis. analysis. decision-making through KPI and performance analysis. the tight reserve situation in the ViQualification Qualification (Education, (Education, Experience, Experience, Professional Professional License, License, Skills Skills Certification, Certification, Specialized Specialized Training): Training): Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): •• • Strong Strong knowledge knowledge and andand practical practical experience experience ininOSS OSS strategy, strategy, architecture, architecture, and andand digital digital transformation. transformation. Strong knowledge practical experience in OSS strategy, architecture, digital transformation. sayas and the ur•• • Expertise Expertise in in telecom telecom network network operations, operations, OSS OSS modernization, modernization, and and operational operational process process optimization. optimization. Expertise in telecom network operations, OSS modernization, and operational process optimization. gent need to make •• • Knowledge Knowledge ofofnetwork network automation, automation, autonomous autonomous networks, networks, and andand closed-loop closed-loop automation. automation. Knowledge of network automation, autonomous networks, closed-loop automation. • • Strong Strong understanding understanding ofofOSS OSS data data governance, governance, data data quality quality management, management, KPI KPIKPI monitoring, monitoring, and andand • Strong understanding of OSS data governance, data quality management, monitoring, additional firm reoperational operational analytics. analytics. operational analytics. serves available to •• • Ability Ability totoevaluate evaluate emerging emerging technologies technologies and andand industry industry best best practices practices and andand translate translate them them into intointo practical practical Ability to evaluate emerging technologies industry best practices translate them practical OSS OSS solutions. solutions. the grid, supportOSS solutions. Applications Applications may may be besent sent to: to:to: Applications may be sent ing the Departsharmaine.rendon@dito.ph sharmaine.rendon@dito.ph sharmaine.rendon@dito.ph SHARMAINE SHARMAINE RENDON RENDON SHARMAINE RENDON ment of Energy’s plan to introduce Company/ Company/ Employer Employer Name Name ofofforeign foreign national national intending intending totoapply apply for forfor the thethe Company/ Employer Name of foreign national intending to apply position position position battery storage as an immediate staCompany Company Name: Name: DITO DITO TELECOMMUNITY TELECOMMUNITY Company Name: DITO TELECOMMUNITY Name: Name: CUI, CUI, DINGLONG DINGLONG Name: CUI, DINGLONG CORPORATION CORPORATION CORPORATION bilizing measure. Address: Address: Unit UnitUnit 322, 322, Callery, Callery, Two Two Serendra Serendra 11th 11th Address: 322, Callery, Two Serendra 11th Complete Complete address: address: 11/F 11/F UDENNA UDENNA TOWER, TOWER, RIZAL RIZAL Complete address: 11/F UDENNA TOWER, RIZAL Avenue, Avenue, Bonifacio Bonifacio Global Global City, City, Taguig Taguig City CityCity Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig DRIVE DRIVE CORNER CORNER 4TH 4TH AVENUE, AVENUE, BONIFACIO BONIFACIO The Visayas DRIVE CORNER 4TH AVENUE, BONIFACIO Nationality: Nationality: CHINESE CHINESE Nationality: CHINESE GLOBAL GLOBAL CITY, CITY, TAGUIG TAGUIG CITY CITY GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG CITY Intended Intended period period ofofemployment: employment: ONE ONE (1) (1)YEAR YEAR grid logged 123 Intended period of employment: ONE (1) YEAR Nature Nature ofofbusiness: business: Telecommunications Telecommunications Company Company Nature of business: Telecommunications Company yellow and red DITO DITO TELECOMMUNITY TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION CORPORATION hereby hereby declares declares that thatthat the theabove-named above-named foreign foreign national national isisable, able, willing, willing, and andand qualified qualified DITO TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION hereby declares the above-named foreign national is able, willing, qualified totoperform perform the theservices services and andand job jobdescription description for forthis thisthis position. position. The TheThe company company has hashas the theintention intention totoemploy employ the thesaid saidsaid foreign foreign national national and andand alerts between to perform the services job description for position. company the intention to employ the foreign national apply apply for foran anAlien Alien Employment Employment Permit Permit with withwith the theDepartment Department ofofLabor Labor and andand Employment Employment - -National National Capital Capital Region Region located located atat967 967 apply for an Alien Employment Permit the Department of Labor Employment - National Capital Region located at 967 January and early Maligaya Maligaya Street, Street, Malate, Malate, Manila. Manila. Maligaya Street, Malate, Manila. September 2026, prompting the Career Career Opportunity Opportunity in inDITO DITO TELECOMMUNITY TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION CORPORATION Career Opportunity in DITO TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION DOE to estimate Position Position title: title: Position title: that around 200 Telecom Telecom Technology Technology Integration Integration and and Innovation Innovation Senior Senior Advisor Advisor Telecom Technology Integration and Innovation Senior Advisor Job Description: Job Description: Job Description: megawatts (MW) Project Technical Support Cross-functional Coordination •• • Project Technical Support &&Cross-functional Coordination Project Technical Support & Cross-functional Coordination •• • Provide technical coordination support across multiple partners and vendors, advise on Provide technical coordination support across multiple partners andand vendors, advise onend-to-end end-to-end of battery storage Provide technical coordination support across multiple partners vendors, advise on end-to-end system system integration integration approaches, approaches, and andand recommend recommend solutions solutions toto enhance interoperability interoperability among among system integration approaches, recommend solutions toenhance enhance interoperability among in the region could heterogeneous heterogeneous network network components components and andand platforms. platforms. heterogeneous network components platforms. •• • Cloud Native Network Integration. Cloud Native Network Integration. Cloud Native Network Integration. cut the occurrence •• • Advise on adoption ofofcloud-native technologies into existing network infrastructure, including Advise onthe thethe adoption cloud-native technologies intointo existing network infrastructure, including Advise on adoption of cloud-native technologies existing network infrastructure, including containerization, microservices, and orchestration frameworks, totoimprove service agility, scalability, containerization, microservices, andand orchestration frameworks, improve service agility, scalability, containerization, microservices, orchestration frameworks, to improve service agility, scalability, of these alerts by andand operational efficiency. and operational efficiency. operational efficiency. about half. Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): The ERC acted •• • Bachelor’s degree or ininCivil, Electrical, Telecommunications Engineering from top 200 QS Bachelor’s degree orabove above Civil, Electrical, Telecommunications Engineering from toptop 200200 QSQS Bachelor’s degree or above in Civil, Electrical, Telecommunications Engineering from Ranking universities. Ranking universities. Ranking universities. on the applica•• • At 15 ofofexperience with world class telecom operators, focused on Atleast least 15years years experience with world class telecom operators, focused ontelecom telecom At least 15 years of experience with world class telecom operators, focused on telecom tion within days infrastructures. infrastructures. infrastructures. •• • Demonstrated accountability for contracting, and lifecycle management ofoflarge-scale Demonstrated accountability forengineering, engineering, contracting, andand lifecycle management large-scale Demonstrated accountability for engineering, contracting, lifecycle management of large-scale of filing to help site rollout programs atataaatcomparable seniority level for or sitesite rollout programs comparable seniority level for5for 5years years orabove. above. rollout programs a comparable seniority level 5 years or above. minimize alerts •• • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, essential for relationships and Excellent interpersonal andand communication skills, essential forfostering fostering relationships andand Excellent interpersonal communication skills, essential for fostering relationships collaboration. collaboration. collaboration. as quickly as posApplications may be to: Applications may besent sent to:to: Applications may be sent sible. sharmaine.rendon@dito.ph sharmaine.rendon@dito.ph sharmaine.rendon@dito.ph Ancillary serSHARMAINE SHARMAINE RENDON RENDON SHARMAINE RENDON vices act as standCompany/ Company/ Employer Employer Name Name of offoreign foreign national national intending intending to toapply apply for forfor Company/ Employer Name of foreign national intending to apply the thethe position position position by power capacity Company Company Name: Name: DITO DITO TELECOMMUNITY TELECOMMUNITY Name: Name: ZHOU, ZHOU, FEIFEI FEIFEI that the grid keeps Company Name: DITO TELECOMMUNITY Name: ZHOU, FEIFEI CORPORATION CORPORATION Address: Address: Unit Unit 704 704704 Almond Almond Building, Building, McKinley McKinley CORPORATION Address: Unit Almond Building, McKinley ready—compaComplete address: 11/F UDENNA TOWER, RIZAL Parkway Corner 11th Avenue, Two Serendra 11th Complete address: 11/F UDENNA TOWER, RIZAL Parkway Corner 11th Avenue, Two Serendra 11th Complete address: 11/F UDENNA TOWER, RIZAL Parkway Corner 11th Avenue, Two Serendra 11th DRIVE CORNER 4TH AVENUE, BONIFACIO Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City DRIVE CORNER 4TH AVENUE, BONIFACIO Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City DRIVE CORNER 4TH AVENUE, BONIFACIO Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City rable to a spare GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG CITY Nationality: CHINESE GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG CITY Nationality: CHINESE GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG CITY Nationality: CHINESE Nature Nature of ofbusiness: business: Telecommunications Telecommunications Company Company Intended period period of ofemployment: employment: ONE ONE (1) (1)YEAR YEAR Nature of business: Telecommunications Company Intended Intended period of employment: ONE (1) YEAR tire—to ensure DITO DITO TELECOMMUNITY TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION CORPORATION hereby hereby declares declares that thatthat the theabove-named above-named foreign foreign national national isisable, able, willing, willing, and andand qualified qualified DITO TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION hereby declares the above-named foreign national is able, willing, qualified supply and detotoperform perform the theservices services and andand job jobdescription description for forthis thisthis position. position. The TheThe company company has hashas the theintention intention totoemploy employ the thesaid saidsaid foreign foreign national national to perform the services job description for position. company the intention to employ the foreign national andand apply foran anAlien Alien Employment Permit withwith theDepartment Department ofLabor Labor andand Employment National Capital Region located and apply for Employment Permit with the of and Employment - -National Capital Region located apply for an Alien Employment Permit the Department of Labor Employment - National Capital Region located mand stay balatat967 967 Maligaya Maligaya Street, Street, Malate, Malate, Manila. Manila. at 967 Maligaya Street, Malate, Manila. anced and lights

Job JobDescription: Description: Job Description: Responsible Responsible for forpreparing preparing and andreviewing reviewing construction construction designs, designs, drawings, drawings, and andplans; plans; coordinating coordinating with withproject project teams; teams; and andensuring ensuring designs designs comply comply with withproject project Responsible for preparing and reviewing construction designs, drawings, and plans; coordinating with project teams; and ensuring designs comply with project specifications, specifications, safety safety standards, standards, and andapplicable applicable regulations. regulations. specifications, safety standards, and applicable regulations. Qualification: Qualification: Qualification: **Strong Strong negotiation, negotiation, communication communication and and interpersonal interpersonal skills. skills. * Strong negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills. **Excellent Excellent analytical analytical and andproblem-solving problem-solving abilities. abilities. * Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. **Fluent Fluent ininwritten written and andspoken spoken Mandarin Mandarin and andEnglish English language. language. * Fluent in written and spoken Mandarin and English language. **Strong Strong leadership leadership and andteam teamteam management management skills. skills. * Strong leadership and management skills.

reserves, which is lower than prevailing spot prices in the Visayas reserve market where prices have averaged around P21 per kWh. The regulator noted that securing capacity through this contract translates to lower ancillary service costs for consumers compared to relying on the spot market.

Company/Employer Company/Employer Company/Employer

Name Name ofofforeign foreign national national intending intending totoapply apply for forthe the position Name of foreign national intending to apply forposition the position

China China Southeast Southeast Asia AsiaElectric Electric Power Power Construction Construction Corp. Corp. China Southeast Asia Electric Power Construction Corp. Site SiteAddress: Address: 2D-ROS 2D-ROS Commercial Commercial Complex Complex Rizal RizalRizal St., St., St., Site Address: 2D-ROS Commercial Complex Poblacion, Poblacion, Barotac Barotac Viejo ViejoViejo Poblacion, Barotac Manila Manila Manila Nature Nature ofofBusiness: Business: Construction Construction Nature of Business: Construction

Name: Name: Zhang, Zhang, XiXi Xi Name: Zhang, Address: Address: Barotac Barotac Viejo, Viejo, Iloilo IloiloIloilo City CityCity Address: Barotac Viejo, Nationality: Nationality: Chinese Chinese Nationality: Chinese Intended Intended period period ofofemployment: employment: Two Two(2) (2)years years Intended period of employment: Two (2) years

Standard Standard Standard TODAY TODAY

TODAY

Application Application may maybe besent sent to: to: Application may be to: sent CHINA CHINA SOUTHEAST SOUTHEAST ASIA ASIAASIA ELECTRIC ELECTRIC POWER POWER CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION CORPORATION CHINA SOUTHEAST ELECTRIC POWER CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION Maria Maria Sunny Sunny A.A.Caling Caling Maria Sunny A. Caling rvcgbi@gmail.com rvcgbi@gmail.com rvcgbi@gmail.com Declaration Declaration ofofIntent Intent totoEmploy Employ Foreign Foreign Nationals Nationals Declaration of Intent to Employ Foreign Nationals CHINA CHINA SOUTHEAST SOUTHEAST ASIA ASIAASIA ELECTRIC ELECTRIC POWER POWER CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, CORPORATION, hereby hereby announces announces itsitsintention intention totoemploy employ qualified qualified foreign foreign nationals nationals for forvarious various CHINA SOUTHEAST ELECTRIC POWER CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, hereby announces its intention to employ qualified foreign nationals for various specialized specialized positions, positions, including including Site SiteManager Manager and andDesign Design Specialist, Specialist, and andto toapply apply for fortheir their Alien Alien Employment Employment Permits Permits (AEP) (AEP) with withthe theDepartment Department ofofLabor Labor and andand specialized positions, including Site Manager and Design Specialist, and to apply for their Alien Employment Permits (AEP) with the Department of Labor Employment Employment ––Bureau Bureau ofofLocal Local Employment Employment (DOLE-BLE), (DOLE-BLE), Central Central Office. Office. Employment – Bureau of Local Employment (DOLE-BLE), Central Office. The Thepositions positions require require relevant relevant education, education, specialized specialized skills, skills, and andwork workwork experience experience appropriate appropriate for forthe the duties and andresponsibilities responsibilities ofofthe the respective positions. positions. The positions require relevant education, specialized skills, and experience appropriate forduties the duties and responsibilities ofrespective the respective positions. Qualified Qualified and andinterested interested Filipino Filipino applicants, applicants, ororany any person with withobjections objections ororrelevant relevant information information regarding regarding the theintended intended employment, employment, may maycontact contact and andsubmit submit their theirtheir Qualified and interested Filipino applicants, orperson any person with objections or relevant information regarding the intended employment, may contact and submit concerns concerns to:DOLE to:DOLE ––Bureau Bureau ofofLocal Local Employment Employment (BLE), (BLE), DOLE DOLE Building, Building, Muralla Muralla Wing, Wing, cor. cor.Gen. Gen.Gen. Luna LunaLuna St., St.,Intramuros, Intramuros, Manila Manila 1002. 1002. concerns to:DOLE – Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), DOLE Building, Muralla Wing, cor. St., Intramuros, Manila 1002.

NOTICE NOTICE OF OF ANNUAL ANNUAL CERTIFICATEHOLDERS’ CERTIFICATEHOLDERS’ MEETING MEETING NOTICE OF ANNUAL CERTIFICATEHOLDERS’ MEETING TO TO ALL ALL CERTIFICATEHOLDERS: CERTIFICATEHOLDERS: TO ALL CERTIFICATEHOLDERS:

Please Please be bebe informed informed that that the the Annual Annual Certificateholders’ Certificateholders’ Meeting Meeting Please informed that the Annual Certificateholders’ Meeting of ofofHERITAGE HERITAGE PARK MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (“HPMC”) HERITAGEPARK PARKMANAGEMENT MANAGEMENTCORPORATION CORPORATION(“HPMC”) (“HPMC”) shall shall bebeheld held onon66 6November November 2026, Friday, atat10:00 10:00 a.m. and shallbe heldon November2026, 2026,Friday, Friday,at 10:00a.m. a.m.and and conducted conducted through through remote remote communication communication via via secure secure online online meeting meeting conducted through remote communication via secure online meeting platform platform (Zoom) (Zoom) for forfor the the following following purposes: purposes: platform (Zoom) the following purposes: AAA G GG EE N DDD AAA ENN

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1. 1.1.Call Call to toto Order Order Call Order 2. 2.2.Certification Certification of ofof Notice Notice and and Quorum Quorum Certification Notice and Quorum 3. 3.3.Approval Approval of ofof the the Minutes Minutes of ofof the the Annual Annual Certificateholders’ Certificateholders’ Approval the Minutes the Annual Certificateholders’ Meeting Meeting held held on onon 21 2121 November November 2025 2025 Meeting held November 2025 4. 4.4.Report Report of ofof the the President President Report the President 5. 5.5.Approval Approval ofofthe the Audited Financial Statements ofofthe the Approvalof theAudited AuditedFinancial FinancialStatements Statementsof the Corporation Corporation and the Perpetual Care Fund asasof ofof31 3131 Corporationand andthe thePerpetual PerpetualCare CareFund Fundas December December 2025 2025 December 2025 6. 6.6.Ratification Ratification of ofof all allall legal legal acts, acts, resolutions, resolutions, and and proceedings proceedings Ratification legal acts, resolutions, and proceedings of ofof the the Board Board of ofof Trustees Trustees and and of ofof Management, Management, done done in inin the the the Board Trustees and Management, done the ordinary ordinary course course of ofof business business from from 21 2121 November November 2025 2025 to toto ordinary course business from November 2025 66 November 2026 2026 6November November 2026 7. 7.7.Appointment Appointment of ofof External External Auditor Auditor Appointment External Auditor 8. 8.8.Other Other Matters Matters Other Matters 9. 9.9.Adjournment Adjournment Adjournment

The The Board Board of ofof Trustees Trustees of ofof HPMC HPMC has has fixed fixed 31 3131 October October 2026 2026 as asas The Board Trustees HPMC has fixed October 2026 the the Record Record Date Date for forfor certificateholders certificateholders entitled entitled to toto vote vote at atat this this 2026 2026 the Record Date certificateholders entitled vote this 2026 Annual Annual Certicateholders’ Certicateholders’ Meeting Meeting of ofof HPMC. HPMC. Annual Certicateholders’ Meeting HPMC. Certificateholders Certificateholders of ofof Record Record may may attend/participate attend/participate via via proxy proxy or oror Certificateholders Record may attend/participate via proxy remote remote communication. communication. Certificateholders who who wish wish to toto participate participate remote communication.Certificateholders Certificateholders who wish participate in ininthe the annual meeting should notify the Office ofofthe the Corporate theannual annualmeeting meetingshould shouldnotify notifythe theOffice Officeof theCorporate Corporate Secretary Secretary through Letter ofofIntent Intent totobe bebesent sent via e-mail toto Secretarythrough throughaa aLetter Letterof Intentto sentvia viae-mail e-mailto HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph or oror register register online online through through the the link link HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph register online through the link https://heritagememorialpark.com.ph/company/investor-relations/ https://heritagememorialpark.com.ph/company/investor-relations/ https://heritagememorialpark.com.ph/company/investor-relations/ on onon or oror before before 30 3030 October October 2026. 2026. The The Letter Letter of ofof Intent Intent can can be bebe downloaded downloaded before October 2026. The Letter Intent can downloaded at atat https://heritagememorialpark.com.ph/. https://heritagememorialpark.com.ph/. Validated Validated certificateholders certificateholders https://heritagememorialpark.com.ph/. Validated certificateholders will will be bebe provided provided access access to toto the the live live streaming streaming of ofof the the meeting. meeting. AsAs will provided access the live streaming the meeting.As required required under under the the Securities Securities and and Exchange Exchange Commission Commission rules rules and and required under the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, regulations, there there will will be bebe audio audio and and visual visual recordings recordings of ofof the the annual annual regulations, there will audio and visual recordings the annual meeting meeting for forfor future future reference. reference. meeting future reference. The The validated validated Certificateholders Certificateholders or oror proxies proxies shall shall receive receive aa link The validated Certificateholders proxies shall receive alink link of ofof the the HPMC’s HPMC’s secure secure online online voting voting facility. facility. Certificateholders can can the HPMC’s secure online voting facility.Certificateholders Certificateholders can cast cast their their votes votes on onon or oror before before 44 November 2026. 2026. AllAll votes votes cast cast shall shall cast their votes before 4November November 2026.All votes cast shall be bebe subject subject to toto validation. validation. subject validation. HPMC HPMC isisis not not soliciting soliciting for forfor proxies. proxies. Certificateholders who who are are HPMC not soliciting proxies.Certificateholders Certificateholders who are unable unable to toto join join the the meeting meeting but but wish wish to toto vote vote on onon items items in inin the the agenda agenda by byby unable join the meeting but wish vote items the agenda proxy proxy must must submit submit their their duly duly accomplished accomplished proxy proxy forms forms via via email email to toto proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph, HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph, not not later later than than 44 November 2026. 2026. HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph, not later than 4November November 2026. Certificateholders Certificateholders may may send send their their queries queries and and comments comments to toto the the Certificateholders may send their queries and comments the items items in inin the the Agenda Agenda to toto the the Office Office of ofof the the Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary via via email email items the Agenda the Office the Corporate Secretary via email to toto HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph on onon or oror before before 44November 2026. 2026. HeritageParkACM@rmmi.com.ph before 4November November 2026. CamScanner CamScanner CamScanner

The The Notice, Agenda, Proxy, Minutes ofof the the Annual The Notice, Notice, Agenda, Agenda, Proxy, Proxy, Minutes Minutes of the Annual Annual Certificateholders’ Certificateholders’ Meeting held onon21 2121November November 2025, Audited Certificateholders’Meeting Meetingheld heldon November2025, 2025,Audited Audited Financial Financial Statements ofofthe the Corporation and the Perpetual Care FinancialStatements Statementsof theCorporation Corporationand andthe thePerpetual PerpetualCare Care Fund Fund asasof ofof31 3131December December 2025 and other information related toto Fundas December2025 2025and andother otherinformation informationrelated relatedto the the Annual Annual Certificateholders’ Certificateholders’ Meeting Meeting can can be bebe accessed accessed at atat https:// https:// the Annual Certificateholders’ Meeting can accessed https:// heritagememorialpark.com.ph/. heritagememorialpark.com.ph/. heritagememorialpark.com.ph/. Very Very truly truly yours, yours, Very truly yours, (SGD.) (SGD.) (SGD.) ARSENIO ARSENIO C. C.C. CABRERA, CABRERA, JR. JR. ARSENIO CABRERA, JR. Corporate Corporate Secretary Secretary Corporate Secretary

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

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

Rising interest rate to suppress PH credit growth By Thony Rose Lesaca

BOHOL TOURISM. Speaking at the Bohol Tourism Marketing Workshop in Tagbilaran City on Oct. 7, 2026, Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports head of tourism and destination marketing Blesie Cruz (standing) underscores how Bohol-Panglao International Airport, operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Corporation, can play a significant role in supporting Bohol’s tourism growth. Source: Facebook Page of Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado

DICT chief vows smooth transition after resignation By Darwin G. Amojelar DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda has vowed to ensure a smooth and orderly transition following his resignation, he said in a statement. “I am committed to ensuring a smooth and orderly transition, with the continuity of essential functions, operations, and ongoing digital initiatives safeguarded,” Aguda said. Aguda thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the trust and opportunity

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda

IN BRIEF

to serve as the country’s chief information and communications technology official. He described his tenure as a privilege and an honor, particularly in contributing to the administration’s digital transformation agenda. He also thanked DICT personnel for their hard work, professionalism and commitment to public service, and expressed appreciation to the Filipino people for their trust and support throughout his tenure. “Serving the Filipino people through the advancement of our nation’s digital future has been a distinct honor,” he said.

REDIT growth in the Philippines will moderate through 2027 as tighter financial conditions and rising borrowing costs weigh on loan demand, Fitch Solutions unit BMI said in a report. BMI raised its credit growth forecast to 10 percent for end-2026 from 8.5 percent, citing better-thanexpected resilience in bank lending. “Latest data show outstanding loans grew by 11.9 percent year-onyear in August. However, even with the upward revision, our forecast still implies a slowdown towards yearend,” it said. For 2027, BMI expects loan growth to ease modestly to 9.0 percent by year-end. The US-Iran conflict ended the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ easing cycle, BMI said, with the central bank delivering three consecutive 25-basispoint hikes at its last three meetings. The hikes raised the benchmark interest rate to 5.0 percent as of August. “As the effects of earlier easing fades, these hikes will start feeding through more prominently and weigh on loan demand. Bond yields have also steadily risen across the curve

since the start of the US-Iran conflict,” BMI said. “Sustained increases in borrowing costs will likely prompt banks to tighten lending standards to limit the extent of any deterioration in credit quality, reinforcing the slowdown in credit growth,” it said. BMI forecasts consumer lending, a key driver of credit demand, will remain weak as elevated energy and food prices continue to erode purchasing power. Higher borrowing costs could further dampen consumers’ appetite for new loans, it added. BMI said it also expects credit quality to remain weak as elevated inflation and rising unemployment squeeze household finances and strain borrowers’ ability to repay loans. “These pressures will likely persist into 2027, although recovering construction lending should provide a partial offset,” BMI said.

ASEAN sets 45% RE target for 2030

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aims to reach a 45-percent renewable energy share of installed power capacity and 30 percent of total primary energy supply by 2030 under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030. The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) disclosed the regional goals as it released the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO9) at the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum last week. The forum coincided with the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, which the Philippines hosted and chaired. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the outlook provides an essential evidence base for turning regional pathways into concrete action and investments. “AEO9 gives us the evidence. APAEC gives us directions. Our task is to turn both into decisions, investments, and projects that deliver results,” Garin said. Garin called on governments, industry, investors, development partners and researchers to use the outlook as a practical guide to identify gaps, inform investment decisions and translate ASEAN’s energy pathways into concrete action. Alena Mae S. Flores

The DOTr is expanding rail worker training at the Philippine Railways Institute, which has trained nearly 5,000 personnel since 2019 as rail projects need 20,000 workers. The Philippines needs 20,000 new railway workers to run the upcoming mass transit systems, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

DA to release P40.95m in farm aid in Batangas

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) will distribute P40.95 million in farm assistance in Nasugbu, Batangas, covering crop production, farm mechanization and solar-powered irrigation. DA Regional Field Office IV-A and attached agencies will award the aid to farmerbeneficiaries at the Looc I & II Covered Court in Barangay Looc. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the package covers rice, corn, high-value crops, urban agriculture, farm mechanization, coconut production and irrigation development. The biggest component is a P29.8-million solar-powered irrigation system that the Bureau of Soils and Water Management is implementing. The facility will provide a more reliable water supply for farms and reduce dependence on conventional power for irrigation. The Rice Program accounts for P6.2 million, the largest allocation among the production support programs. The corn program will receive P1.2 million, while the High Value Crops Development Program is allocated P545,000. The National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program will provide P62,500. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) will provide P2.1 million in assistance, and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) will provide P1.1 million for coconut farmers. Othel V. Campos

DTI taps Toyota as strategic partner for MSME logistics

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Supply Chain and Logistics Group has welcomed Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) as its newest strategic partner in supporting the DTI Supply Chain and Logistics Center (SCLC) to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. The SCLC is the government’s central hub for business-matching, advisory services and logistics optimization. Through it, the partnership will connect MSMEs with fit-forpurpose mobility options designed to lower distribution costs and expand market reach. The alliance addresses transport and logistics bottlenecks that frequently hamper local business growth. High shipping costs and limited vehicle access remain major operational hurdles for small producers and distributors across the country. Toyota Motor Philippines president Masando Hashimoto reaffirmed the automaker’s commitment to national economic resilience through accessible transport solutions. “Through this partnership with the Supply Chain and Logistics Center, we aim to strengthen local businesses by improving their logistics capabilities—making them more efficient, accessible, and resilient,” Hashimoto said. Othel V. Campos

DA seeks stronger ASEAN trade, investment By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for stronger trade partnerships and private-sector investments among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to help bridge food supply gaps as climate disruptions and geopolitical tensions threaten agricultural production. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said closer regional cooperation would help countries manage shortages when domestic production falls short. Stronger trade frameworks and cross-border investments would support the movement of food across Southeast Asia, he said. He also called for wider adoption of the “Big Brother, Small Brother” model, which links small farmers and agricultural cooperatives with established companies to improve produc-

tivity, business management and market access. The DA advocates programs such as Adapt-A-Coop, which pairs agricultural cooperatives with privatesector mentors to strengthen their business and commercial capabilities. Launched in 2024, the corporate mentoring initiative brings together major Philippine companies, including Jollibee Group Foundation, Ayala Corp. and PHINMA, with local rice and agricultural cooperatives. The program provides guidance on production cost accounting, financial management, packaging and marketing to help cooperatives improve efficiency and connect with buyers. It works with private-sector and civic organizations, including the Makati Business Club, ACDI/VOCA and AgriCOOPh, to build the capacity of rice and other agricultural cooperatives in Luzon and Mindanao.

SSS flags 5 Pasay firms over unpaid contributions THE Social Security System (SSS) called on five employers in Pasay City to settle P3.19 million in delinquent contributions and penalties during a Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operation on Sept. 29, 2026. The employers owe P1.14 million in unpaid contributions and P2.05 million in penalties for failing to remit monthly contributions required under Republic Act No. 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018. A restaurant had the largest delinquency at P2.25 million, made up of more than P739,000 in unpaid contributions and P1.51 million in penalties. SSS records show it failed to remit contributions for its 35 employees. The other employers operate in management consultancy, real estate, carwash and gambling and betting activities. The employers have 15 days from receipt of the written notices to coordinate with the SSS Pasay-CCP Complex Branch and settle their accounts. If they fail to do so, SSS will file criminal cases against them for violating RA 11199. The Pasay operation was part of a simultaneous RACE drive in the National Capital Region (NCR), in which SSS served notices to 419 delinquent employers with unpaid contributions of more than P169 million. “Every employer is required by law to deduct and remit social security contributions on behalf of their employees. Failure to do so not only violates the law but also deprives workers of their rightful benefits,” SSS president and chief executive Robert Joseph de Claro said. Thony Rose Lesaca

LRT-2 lacks trains, eyes buses for commuters THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) are seeking funding to buy additional trainsets for LRT Line 2 to ease long queues at stations as passenger numbers continue to rise. Only eight trainsets are in operation, as one is undergoing a train operating control panel upgrade and another is still being repaired. While waiting for funds to buy new trains, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the LRTA to study special permits for

public utility buses (PUBs) to give commuters an alternative way to travel. “We are continuing to seek funding for the additional trains needed for LRT-2. Some of our existing trains also require upgrades. Meanwhile, we are exploring other ways to ease queues at stations and assist our commuters,” Lopez said. “We have directed the LTFRB and LRTA to coordinate on a proposal to issue special permits to buses, providing passengers with an alternative mode of transportation while we address the shortage of trains,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Social Security System (SSS) vice president for NCR North Divisions Victorina PardoPajarillo explains to the representative of a gaming firm that the company needs to settle their SSS contribution delinquencies amounting to more than P60,000 during the Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operation in Pasay City on Sept. 29, 2026.

ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com RAY S. EÑANO, Editor

& SUSTAINABILIT Y

PH unveils plan to lower plastic pollution by 85% T HE National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines has launched the Philippine National Plastic Action Roadmap 2026–2040, a shared national direction for coordinating action to prevent plastic pollution and strengthen the country’s transition to a circular, inclusive, resilient and accountable plastics system.

Samar vet urges livestock raisers to brace for heat By Vee Tolentino-Gumban

Stakeholders share pledges during the launch, committing to work together toward a more circular, inclusive and sustainable plastics system in the country.

Led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the road map sets a national ambition to reduce plastic pollution by 85 percent by 2040 through coordinated action across the plastics life cycle. It connects prevention and better product design with responsible production and consumption, viable reuse and refill systems, effective collection, recovery and recycling and environmentally sound management of residual waste. “The challenge is significant and we should respond appropriately. The Roadmap serves as a blueprint to bring existing targets and initiatives into a common framework and provide a firm basis for directing investment where it is needed most,” DENR Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said. “Through this Roadmap, the Philippines aims to reduce plastic pollution by 85 percent by 2040,” added Cuna, stressing the directive under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on the urgency to address the issue of plastic pollution and its persistent impacts to the country. The road map recognizes plastic pollution as a systems and development challenge affecting public health, biodiversity, resilience and livelihoods. Product design, affordability, services and markets influence whether materials remain in

productive use or become pollution. The country’s island geography and differing local capacities require solutions suited to local conditions, including those of remote and underserved communities. It harmonizes and aligns existing national policies and initiatives, including the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, the National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction and Management of Marine Litter (NPOA-ML), the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP) and the existing road map for plastic waste management and reduction of nonrecyclable single-use plastics. It also connects these with wider national priorities on development, biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods. Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines, said the road map provides a shared direction for moving from fragmented interventions to coordinated action across the plastics life cycle. As secretariat of NPAP Philippines, UNDP has helped bring diverse sectors and perspectives together around a common understanding of the plastics system and the solutions needed to address plastic pollution. UNDP Philippines News

BORONGAN CITY—Livestock and poultry raisers in Eastern Samar are being urged to secure water supplies and strengthen farm preparations as prolonged heat and dry conditions threaten animal health and productivity amid the developing El Niño. Provincial veterinarian Dr. Melanie C. Osita issued the call during Kapihan ha Este, a media forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Eastern Samar, where she discussed measures livestock raisers can take to protect their animals from the possible impacts of extreme weather. Osita said the livestock and poultry sector must prepare early as prolonged heat and water shortages

The same decisions affect food security. Protecting productive agricultural land preserves space for food production and farming livelihoods. This becomes more important as the Philippines relies on imports to supplement domestic supplies of rice, onions, garlic, fish and other commodities. For Siargao, agriculture can also complement tourism. Local farmers can supply households, restaurants and resorts, allowing more tourism income to circulate within local communities. This does not mean stopping development. It means determining where development makes sense and where environmental, agricultural and disaster considerations require greater protection. Siargao already offers a concrete example. In Del Carmen, mangrove conservation has been associated with fisheries, biodiversity, tourism livelihoods and natural protection against storm surges. Mangroves cannot stop a super typhoon. But healthy coastal ecosystems can reduce vulnerability while supporting communities that depend on them. The lesson is important as Siargao’s tourism industry continues to develop. Where should resorts and commercial establishments expand? Can water supplies, roads, electricity and wastemanagement systems support additional development? Which coastlines, wetlands, mangroves and agricultural areas should remain protected? These questions become much harder to answer once development has already taken place. Environmental planning also cannot always stop at municipal boundaries. Water systems, coastlines, fisheries, watersheds and ecosystems connect communities across Siargao. This is where a national land-use framework becomes

cess to sufficient water. She advised farmers to collect rainwater, recycle it whenever possible, and prepare containers or drums that can be used as additional water reserves during prolonged dry spells. “When the place is already very dry, we need to store water. Provide gallons or containers because during the dry spell, when the weather is persistently hot, the stress level of our animals doubles,” she said. The veterinarian explained that heat and water stress can directly affect animal production. “When the stress of our animals doubles, their production also decreases,” Osita said. VTG/PIA Eastern Samar

PH, South Korea eye expanded climate and environment tie-up

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna (right) meets with South Korean Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change Jongho Kyun at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week and Climate Week NYC 2026.

Land use planning: Why it matters to Siargao’s future Conclusion

could affect animal production and, ultimately, food security. “We are facing Eastern Visayas with the threat of this so-called Super El Niño. This will become a threat to our food security, not just in Eastern Visayas, but for the whole nation as well,” Osita said. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier reported that Eastern Samar has been experiencing dry spell conditions from June to September, with drought conditions projected from October through March. The weather outlook also points to a possible strengthening of El Niño toward the end of 2026. Osita said one of the most immediate concerns for animal raisers is ac-

relevant. The effort has continued across two Congresses. Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas II was among the authors of an earlier House version of the National Land Use Act. In the current Congress, Rep. Lalo has carried the initiative forward through HB 8466. Passing legislation, however, would only be the beginning. Effective land-use planning requires reliable environmental information, community participation, capable local governments and consistent enforcement. For Siargao, the choices made today will influence whether future generations can find safe homes, produce food, earn livelihoods from tourism and fisheries, and continue enjoying the natural environment that made the island special. Environmental protection and development do not have to be opposing choices. Good land-use planning is about finding the space for both—before the land is built over and before the next disaster forces communities to confront choices that should have been made years earlier.

Del Carmen, Siargao Island Mangrove Site

THE Philippines and the Republic of Korea are deepening their strategic partnership to strengthen environmental governance, and bolster climate resilience across Southeast Asia, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna announced following bilateral talks at the United Nations headquarters. Meeting with South Korean Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change Jongho Kyun on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week and Climate Week NYC 2026, the environment chief stressed the pressing need to convert international climate commitments into concrete investments, policy frameworks, and technology transfers. “As we move toward COP31, we see the priority increasingly shifting from commitments to implementation and delivery—translating climate goals into policies, investments, technologies, and measurable outcomes,” Cuna said, adding that

South Korea’s extensive experience in linking climate action with economic development, technology, and infrastructure offers immense value to the Philippines. The meeting also highlighted the catastrophic floods in Nepal and the need to strengthen international support for countries facing climaterelated loss and damage. Both sides recognized the importance of establishing a clear pathway for vulnerable countries to access the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). Cuna said ensuring effective access arrangements under the FRLD will be particularly important for countries such as the Philippines, which continue to face significant risks from climate-related hazards. “There is a need to establish practical pathways so that countries most vulnerable to climate impacts can access support when loss and damage occur,” Cuna said. “The FRLD can play an important role in helping countries recover, rebuild and strengthen resilience.” DENR News

Siquijor asks families to grow vegetables LARENA, Siquijor— The Siquijor provincial agriculture office is urging households and communities to keep their vegetable gardens productive through the expected dry months to sustain local food supply. Provincial agriculturist Evangeline Baroy said her office will continue supporting barangay and communal vegetable gardens. She said it will also encourage households to make use of available space to grow vegetables. The latest advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said a moderate to strong El Niño is present in the tropical Pacific and is expected to persist until the first half of 2027. It may reach a very strong state before the end of 2026, the advisory said. The gardening push is part of the province’s El Niño preparations, which also include water conservation, seed stockpiling and other support for farmers and fisherfolk. Baroy said the office is extending

support to communal gardens in the municipalities and to barangay gardens under the Gulayan sa Barangay vegetable garden program. “We are also extending our support to the communal gardens in our municipalities. We recently recognized communities that have shown extra effort in maintaining their barangay gardens, and we will continue to support and sustain these initiatives as part of our response to the El Niño we are facing,” Baroy said. She said the gardens give families an additional source of fresh vegetables. They also strengthen community food production when limited water affects farm output. For households with limited space, Baroy encouraged growing vegetables in containers to make efficient use of available water. “We can practice container gardening at home and reuse water from household activities so we can still have source of vegetables,” she said. She said households may reuse wash water for their gardens, provided the water is suitable for plants. PIA

SHOWBIZ

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

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

JoshLia reunion film goes international after crossing P100 million at the tills JOSHUA Garcia and Julia Barretto are proving that their on-screen romance still draws a crowd, with their reunion film Always Yours, Never Mine crossing the P100 million mark at the Philippine box office. The romantic drama, directed by box-office filmmaker Cathy Garcia-Sampana, reached the milestone as of Sunday, Oct. 11, following its nationwide release on Sept. 30. The film’s lead stars thanked moviegoers for supporting their latest project, which follows a love story spanning three decades. “Doon po sa mga nanood ng Always Yours, Never Mine, over a hundred million thanks mula sa puso namin. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo,” Joshua and Julia said. The film is also preparing for an international rollout, with screenings scheduled in several territories beginning Oct. 22. Audiences in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Australia, and New Zealand can watch the movie starting Oct. 22. Screenings in the United States, Canada, and Guam will follow on Oct. 23, while the United Kingdom and Austria will welcome the film on Oct. 31. France, Italy, and Spain are scheduled to screen it beginning Nov. 1. Always Yours, Never Mine follows Apollo, played by Joshua, and Luna, portrayed by Julia, through 30 years of meaningful encounters, unexpected turns, and difficult choices that test their relationship. The cast also includes Bianca Umali, Chanda Romero, Bob Jbeili, Karen Reyes, Migs Almendras, Paulo Angeles, and Joy Barcoma. The movie marks another big-screen collaboration for Joshua and Julia, popularly known by fans as JoshLia. Their previous projects together include Un/Happy for You, Block Z, I Love You, Hater, Unexpectedly Yours, Love You to the Stars and Back, and Vince & Kath & James. With its domestic box-office milestone and upcoming overseas screenings, the reunion project is extending its reach to Filipino moviegoers and audiences abroad. As Apollo and Luna, Joshua Garcia (left) and Julia Barretto trace a relationship shaped by reunions, difficult choices, and changing circumstances over three decades

Through Yumi Sansano (leftmost) and puppet characters Potpot, Lala, and Biboy, Ellen Estrada (center) brings lessons on manners, heritage, nature, and self-expression into children’s entertainment

The fight to keep Filipino values alive in the digital age

HERE was a time when children learned their ABCs from books, sang nursery rhymes in classrooms, and were reminded by their parents to say “po” and “opo” when speaking to their elders. Today, much of childhood takes place on screens, where educational content competes with cartoons, games, and an endless stream of videos. Musikwela hopes to make a difference by combining music, storytelling, puppetry, and animation to teach literacy, nurture creativity, and introduce young viewers to Filipino traditions, good manners, and values. Behind the project is Ellen Estrada, founder and executive director of Musikwela, as well as creative director and head of Ideasquest Inc., an advertising boutique agency and animation studio. She believes that teaching children to become responsible, compassionate Filipinos begins with the lessons they learn at home and the stories they encounter while growing up. “We want to raise a generation of Filipinos who are proud to be Filipinos and live with empathy, respect for oneself, others, and the environment, and aspire to make a positive difference in our society,” Estrada says. “In Musikwela, we believe that character building also equates to nation building.” The idea began in 2014, when Estrada noticed that her daughter Yumi’s classmates were no longer saying “po” and “opo” as often as she expected. The observation raised a bigger question about the values children were learning and the traditions that could gradually disappear if nobody made an effort to preserve them. “I somehow felt alarmed. Sila kasi ang mga kasabay ni Yumi paglaki,” she recalls. Knowing she could write stories and compose music and having the resources of her company at her disposal, Estrada decided to create a song about “po” and “opo.” The response suggested she had found an audience. Her Po at Opo song eventually reached 3.4 million views, while Ang Bagong Alpabetong Filipino garnered 4.7 million views. Since 2017, Musikwela has served as an educational resource for teachers, parents, and other educators. It became particularly relevant during the pandemic, when online learning made digital materials an important part of children’s education.\ Estrada hopes the program will encourage families to spend time together rather than leave children alone with their screens. “Technology is now a big part of our lives. There are also different parenting styles. I hope Musikwela becomes a family activity, where parents watch it together with their children,” she says. She wants the episodes to inspire conversations, with children asking questions about a story, trying a craft they saw on the program, or singing its songs with their parents. The program’s educational ambitions have received recognition. In 2023, its documentary about food chemist and wartime heroine Maria Orosa, Ang Bayani at Ang Kanyang Sandok, won Best Documentary

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Nickie Wang

and Most Child-Friendly Documentary in the Adult Division of the National Council for Children’s Television’s DokyuBata Film Festival. It also received a Special Jury Citation for Educational Documentary for Children at Baguio’s Montañosa Film Festival’s Pelik Ubbing. Musikwela features 30-minute episodes with Ate Yumi and three furry puppet characters, Potpot, Lala, and Biboy. Together, they are known as the Musikscouts, or Musikwela Scouts, whose mission is to encourage children to learn, explore, and express themselves confidently. Yumi Sansano, Estrada’s daughter, leads the group. She won multiple medals at the 2019 World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, including the Champion of the World title in the Junior Opera Division. She also hosted the first season of PTV 4’s children’s program Artsy Craftsy and has performed as a soprano for the president, ambassadors, and other distinguished guests. Potpot, Lala, and Biboy teach children about music, kindness, creativity, and nature. Bringing the furry puppets to life on television, however, requires technical skill. “Shooting with puppets is actually challenging. Puppetry is very technical, especially when performing on TV. You must have the right angle,” Estrada says. Musikwela will release five episodes in November for National Children’s Month, coproduced by Ideasquest Inc. and the National Council for Children’s Television. The episodes tackle respect for elders, indigenous cultures, autism awareness, disaster preparedness, and environmental care. They will be available on Musikwela’s social media platforms, website, and YouTube channel. The new installments will add to its 13 existing videos as Estrada works toward making Musikwela a recognizable Filipino educational entertainment brand.

Ellen Estrada (left) develops the children’s program with daughter Yumi Sansano around music, stories, and lessons on respect, creativity, and Filipino culture

Vincent Soberano wins top honors at Bali AI film festival FILIPINO filmmaker Vincent Soberano won two major awards at the fifth Bali International AI Film Festival for Secret Apartment, his first feature-length project made entirely with generative artificial intelligence. The film received the inaugural Bold Vision Award and the Gold Award for Best AI Major Motion Picture, the festival’s top competitive honor in the category. Organizers said the festival received more than 1,000 entries from dozens of countries. Known for his work in action films, Soberano ventured into romantic and psychological drama with Secret Apartment, a 60-minute production set in modern Taipei. The story follows a university student who begins an illicit affair with a powerful real estate tycoon engaged to her older cousin. It explores desire, obsession, social

hierarchy, and the consequences of forbidden relationships, drawing inspiration from Marguerite Duras’ novel The Lover and the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians. The festival created the Bold Vision Award to recognize filmmakers who use emerging cinematic technologies to explore unconventional subjects and expand the possibilities of filmmaking. In its official citation, the festival praised Secret Apartment for tackling adult desire, intimacy, secrecy, and social boundaries, describing the project as a daring use of AI filmmaking. The Gold Award, introduced in Season 5, recognizes AI productions that move beyond traditional short films into feature-length storytelling. Produced by Scene 8 Studios, the film stars Azela Lee and Michael Wu,

Azela Lee (right) and Michael Wu lead Vincent Soberano’s 60-minute AI-generated drama exploring desire, secrecy, and social divides in modern Taipei

with Sarah Chang as co-producer. Soberano said he initially used AI tools for storyboards, previsualization,

pitch presentations, and visual effects before experimenting with Higgsfield’s Cinema Studio, which

inspired him to develop a full-length film. He wrote, directed, generated, edited, and composed the production in less than three months, using AI platforms and models including Seedance 2.0, Nano Banana Pro, and Cinema Studio 4, along with CapCut for editing and Songer for music. Maintaining consistency across hundreds of short AI-generated clips posed a major challenge, particularly in preserving characters’ faces, bodies, clothing, and intricate details. Soberano developed his own workflow and supporting software to address those problems. The awards have helped secure distribution and licensing deals for Secret Apartment, which is expected to reach multiple platforms, including services specializing in vertical dramas.

LIFE & SHOWBIZ David Licauco prepares to take on Park Seo-joon’s ‘Fight for My Way’ role in the series’ local adaptation

C3 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

David Licauco dreams of becoming the next Park Seo-joon DAVID Licauco has never been shy about his admiration for South Korean actor Park Seo-joon. Now, the Kapuso star has a chance to step into the shoes of his idol in the Philippine adaptation of the hit 2017 Korean drama Fight for My Way, which will be produced by Viva One. David will portray the character originally played by Park, with Ashtine Olviga taking on the role made famous by Kim Ji-won. “I’m very excited about this development! I’m very open and vocal about my admiration for Park. He’s my favorite Korean actor. This is really a dream come true for me,” David said. It is easy to understand why the actor sees the project as a major career milestone. For someone who has openly admired Park’s work, getting the chance to play one of his memorable characters is both an opportunity and a daunting responsibility. David admires Park’s commanding screen presence, striking aura, and magnetic charisma. But beyond the actor’s looks and star power, it is his ability to transform himself for different roles that David appreciates most. He cited Park’s performance in Itaewon

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Joseph Peter Gonzales

Class as a particular favorite, pointing to its story of a man who starts from scratch and builds a successful business through hard work and persistence. The restaurant business depicted in the series also struck a personal chord with David, who has his own business interests. Still, taking on a role associated with an established Korean superstar comes with considerable pressure. David admitted that he feels grateful but nervous, knowing that viewers will inevitably compare his performance with Park’s original portrayal. He plans to study his idol’s acting nuances without simply copying everything he does. That may be the most sensible approach. Korean dramas have built devoted followings in the Philippines, and local adaptations inevitably invite comparisons with their original versions. The challenge is to retain what made the story compelling while allowing Filipino actors to make the

characters their own. *** POKWANG is ready to explore another side of her acting career after winning Best Actress at Cinemalaya 2026 for 2 Valid IDs. The comedian said she hopes to work with some of the country’s most respected dramatic actresses, including Maricel Soriano and Sharon Cuneta, in a full-fledged heavy drama. Pokwang has already shared the screen with Vilma Santos in the 2021 horror film Healing, an experience she described as a great honor. She also expressed sadness that she would no longer have the opportunity to work with the late Nora Aunor, with whom she had appeared at an event. Her ambitions extend to comedy colleagues, too. Pokwang named Eugene Domingo and Vic Sotto among the performers she admires, while expressing interest in starring opposite Vice Ganda in a drama film. After years of making audiences laugh, Pokwang appears eager to show how much emotional depth she can bring to a role. Her Cinemalaya win may have opened another door, and she seems determined to walk through it.

A Texas-sized feast for every appetite

By Angelica Villanueva

OMETHING is comforting about sitting down to a hearty meal with warm rolls on the table, a cold drink within reach, and plenty of choices for what comes next.

Texas Roadhouse is leaning into that kind of dining experience with its new Texas-Sized Sets, available from P445. Available all day, every day, the sets bring together an appetizer, entree, and beverage, with Texas Roadhouse’s freshly baked rolls and sweet cinnamon butter included with every order. Diners can begin with sweet potato soup or cheese quesadilla. Orange Medley Salad is available for an additional P75, while Andouille Sausage Dip comes with an additional P50. The entree selection includes Southern Fried Fish and Country

Fried Chicken. Guests looking for other options can choose Herbed Pork Steak, Asian BBQ Chicken, or Smoked BBQ Ribs for an additional P100. The beverage choices include Houseblend Ice Tea and Green Tea Lychee, with the option to upgrade either to a refillable serving for P65. Strawberry Arnold Palmer, a combination of iced tea, lemonade, and strawberry puree, is also available for an additional P65. For those who want something sweet after the meal, Salted Caramel Iced Cream and Rodeo Chocolate Rush Cake are available as add-ons for P75 each.

Southern favorites, hand-cut steaks, ribs, and line-dancing performances form part of the casual dining experience offered alongside the new set meals

Country Fried Chicken joins a three-course set menu that lets diners choose among appetizers, mains, drinks, and optional desserts throughout the day

Rajo reimagines workwear for Holiday 2026 Celebrated designer’s latest collection puts versatility at the heart of everyday dressing THE working woman’s wardrobe is getting a rethink as Rajo introduces its Holiday 2026 Collection, a lineup designed to take women from the office to evening engagements without requiring a complete change of clothes. Drawing inspiration from the everyday wardrobes of Rajo Laurel’s collaborators, Venisse Laurel Hermano and Gela Laurel Stehmeier, the collection reflects the demands of modern working life, where professional commitments share space with family gatherings, social occasions, and personal pursuits. Familiar workwear staples take on new forms through graphic proportions, sculptural shapes, and fluid fabrics that soften structured silhouettes. Shirts receive fresh interpretations, while interchangeable separates allow wearers to create different looks from a considered selection of pieces.

Rajo Laurel’s new collection draws from the everyday wardrobes of Venisse Laurel Hermano and Gela LaurelStehmeier, which is centered on comfort, adaptability, and longer-lasting pieces

Rajo Laurel builds his Holiday 2026 line around fluid fabrics, sculptural proportions, and interchangeable pieces

The approach reflects Rajo’s emphasis on longevity and thoughtful consumption, encouraging women to revisit existing wardrobe staples rather than constantly seek new additions. Comfort also figures prominently in the collection, with breathable, tactile materials lending ease to everyday dressing. A restrained palette of neutrals sets the tone, punctuated by accents of silver, fuchsia, and lustrous brown that introduce color without disrupting the collection’s cool, understated aesthetic. Rather than treating holiday dressing as an occasion for an entirely new wardrobe, Rajo presents a collection built around adaptability. Its pieces are designed to move with the wearer through changing schedules and settings, making familiar clothing work in different ways. With Holiday 2026, Laurel explores the possibilities of a more considered wardrobe, where versatility, comfort, and enduring design take precedence over novelty.

The Texas-sized sets join the restaurant’s selection of signature dishes, including hand-cut steaks, falloff-the-bone ribs, and margaritas. The dining experience also comes with the lively atmosphere associated with Texas Roadhouse, where classic country music and line-dancing performances by staff add to the occasion. Whether it is a lunch break or a meal shared with family and friends, the new sets give diners room to build a meal around their preferred flavors and courses.

Jessica Chastain plays a dual role as a mother and her sinister sister in the horror release that opens with $27.5 million in North America

‘Other Mommy’ terrorizes box office, ‘Forgotten Island’ hangs at No. 6 JESSICA Chastain’s horror film Other Mommy opened at No. 1 at the North American box office, earning $27.5 million in ticket sales, while Forgotten Island landed in sixth place with $4.5 million, industry estimates showed Sunday. Released by Universal and Blumhouse, Other Mommy stars the Oscar winner in a dual role as a sinister entity terrorizing a child, with the nightmare made even more disturbing by the demon’s resemblance to the girl’s mother. Meanwhile, Forgotten Island earned $4.5 million to place sixth among North America’s top-grossing films for the weekend. Verity, Amazon MGM’s psychological thriller starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, slipped to second place with $11.5 million. Sony’s Resident Evil ranked third with $8.4 million, bringing its North American total to $138.5 million and international earnings to $181 million. Brad Pitt’s survival thriller Heart of the Beast, about a former soldier and his traumatized combat dog in the Alaskan wilderness, placed fourth with $7.1 million. The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s sequel to the 2010 film The Social Network, opened in fifth place with $5.5 million. The film stars Mikey Madison as Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, Jeremy Allen White as the reporter who receives leaked internal documents, and Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg. AFP

LIFE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026

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

PEOPLE

Chef Chele González bets on familiar flavors with inventive edge

Spanish chef Chele González showcases his culinary collaboration with Miele through the brand’s Innovation Series

The chef draws on his Spanish background, German influences and Philippine ingredients to create four limited-edition dishes that balance familiar flavors with inventive combinations

Miele’s brand and experience activation manager Cynthia Farhat at the launch of Chef Chele Gonzáles collaboration with the brand

By Jasper Valdez

need to keep going and growing your craft.” Having spent approximately 30 years in the food and beverage industry, he now works with a research and development team of six or seven people and operates two test kitchens. “Sometimes something can look simple,” he explained, but the research and technical work behind a creation can determine whether it succeeds. Even with that experience and support, many ideas never reach diners. “When I develop a menu, for example, in Gallery [by Chele], 50 percent doesn’t make it,” Chele admitted. “If you reach 50 percent, you are already very successful.” He also relies heavily on instinct when deciding whether a creation works. “Sometimes it’s difficult to describe. It’s just an inner voice,” he said, explaining that certain decisions come naturally without requiring too much thought. Unsuccessful experiments are not necessarily abandoned permanently. Chele sometimes revisits them after allowing the ideas to rest, finding new ways to develop something that previously did not work. That emphasis on practical results also shapes how Chele views kitchen technology. He values equipment that allows him

HEF Chele González once wanted to create the next big food trend. After years of watching new food crazes come and go, the Spanish chef has developed a greater appreciation for familiar dishes, particularly those that leave room for experimentation.

About a decade ago, when he began developing his own businesses in the Philippines, Chele was interested in introducing new culinary concepts. He recalled seeing cheesecakes, buns, and other products become popular in Hong Kong and Japan, only for the excitement to fade months later. “Sometimes, it’s just a trend,” he said. These days, he prefers to start with food people already know. “I like this combination between something classic and something innovative,” he explained, adding that even new creations should retain something comforting and familiar. That approach is reflected in his latest collaboration with German appliance manufacturer Miele. For its Innovation Series, Chele developed four limitededition creations drawing on his Spanish background, German culinary influences, and ingredients from the

Philippines. His Dark Beer & Pretzel Cheesecake builds on his burnt Basque cheesecake recipe, introducing malty notes from dark beer and a salty pretzel crumble. The Miele Chocolate Shortbread combines Auro’s 77 percent dark chocolate, almond sablé, and toffee with caramelized German sausage, bringing an unexpected savory element to the dessert. For the savory offering, he turned to coca, a traditional Catalan flatbread, adding his signature New York-style pastrami, sauerkraut, cheese, and herbs. The Coffee & Honeycomb Cheesecake uses Philippine coffee and crunchy honeycomb, with inspiration drawn from Miele’s coffee machines and honeycomb washing machine drums. For Chele, creativity must be supported by technical ability and knowledge, both of which require continuous development. “You need to keep educating yourself,” he said. “You

Anko’s 2026 Christmas collection features festive mugs and seasonal tableware designed to bring holiday details into everyday spaces

Chef Chele González (center) brings his culinary approach to Miele’s Innovation Series

to achieve results that would otherwise be difficult, rather than choosing appliances simply for their prestige “I like luxury, but I like luxury that is functional,” he said. “I don’t like things that are for status.” The four creations are available at the Miele Flagship Showroom in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, until Oct. 23. The pop-up operates Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Making room for Christmas Festive decor gets a playful makeover The more than 200-piece range is designed to work with existing home decor and suit different decorating styles and budgets

By Angelica Villanueva A CHRISTMAS tree does not have to fill the living room to make the season feel festive. A small tree on a side table, a few ornaments on a shelf, or a new cushion on the sofa could already bring a familiar home closer to the holidays. For Anko, decorating for Christmas is less about starting from scratch and more about finding small ways to make the home feel different for the season. The Australian home and lifestyle brand is bringing this approach to its 2026 Christmas collection, with more than 200 pieces designed to be mixed with items families already have at home. During its launch at the Pink House in Taguig City, Anko gave a media preview of the collection, which covers different parts of the home, from the living room and dining area to the kitchen. Traditional red, green, and gold pieces sit alongside pinks, playful characters, and novelty designs, giving shoppers different ways to approach their Christmas styling. Anko interim country manager Kim Mulligan said the collection was developed with Filipino households, different decorating styles, and varying budgets in mind. “Our team has spent months and months curating this range to make sure that not only does it fit the Filipino family and what the Filipino family wants but also that it fits into every kind of budget, every style,” Mulligan said. The collection reflects lessons from Anko’s first Christmas

The range offers alternatives for households looking to add holiday touches without completely redecorating their homes

season in the Philippines. The brand opened its first local store in November 2024 and used its initial holiday range to learn more about Filipino shoppers. This year, Anko organized its Christmas offerings around three themes: traditional Christmas, with red, green and gold; a trend-focused palette of pinks and reds; and a novelty Christmas range featuring playful characters and designs. The approach also recognizes the long Filipino Christmas season.

“Christmas here starts on the 1st of September, which is the most exciting thing for me, being a Christmas fanatic,” Mulligan said. During a house walkthrough, Anko marketing director Kat Costa demonstrated how shoppers could build a festive look without replacing everything they already own. Larger ornaments could anchor a Christmas tree before smaller pieces are layered in. Mini trees, plush characters and tabletop decorations offer alternatives for homes with limited space. The same approach extends to the dining table, where placemats, glassware, mugs, serveware and decorative pieces could be combined with everyday dinnerware. “Everything doesn’t need to be screaming Christmas. There are things that can really go together and play together in the store. Mix and matching,” Costa said. Anko is also using its Anko Club membership to add an interactive element to Christmas shopping. Its Christmas Personality Quiz groups shoppers into personalities such as the host, joy bringer, organizer, trendsetter and heart giver, with product suggestions matched to each. Members who spend at least P2,000 in a single receipt and register their purchase until Nov. 30 also get a chance to win a P25,000 Anko shopping spree. For Mulligan, the goal goes beyond decorating. “Family is really at the center of Christmas and it’s also at the center of Anko. I hope that we can bring making everyday living brighter and making Christmas brighter to life through what we have to showcase for you today,” she said.