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FIVE LOCAL SENATE TO AXE LUMP SUMS IN ’27 GAA; DBM TO COMPLY WITH SC HOLIDAYS IN OCT.

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Ram Superable

NEWS / A3

THE Senate will eliminate lumpsum funds from the proposed P7.2trillion 2027 national budget and ensure that unprogrammed appropriations comply with Supreme Court restrictions, Senate President VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 227• 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday, WORLD / A6 as budget officials clarified which allocations remain legally implementable. VOL. XL • NO. 253 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026 • The commitments follow Su-

ISRAEL CONTINUES TO POUND HEZBOLLAH

PNP resurrecting probe Arrest Bato now or face into PCSO official's slay sanctions, cops warned Speaker doubts grateful for PMA Classsolons '83 votein of confidence in Quad Palace minority touch with DelaComm Rosa

By Rio N. Araja By Katrina Manubay and Ram HESuperable Philippine

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National Police ALACAÑANG (PNP) is reopening on Sunday pressed its investigation into the Philippine the 2020 murder of National Police (PNP) to Philippine Charity arrest swiftly and lawfully Sweepstakes Officedela Sen. Ronald “Bato” (PCSO) boardthat secretary Rosa, warning officers Wesley Barayuga. who defy the order or break theOnlaw face sanctions. Sunday, PNP Chief Police

General Rommel Francisco MarOfficer Undersecrebil Palace said hePress ordered the reopening of tary Claire Castro said President Ferthe cold case after whistleblower dinand Lt. Marcos had Mendoza ordered police Police Col. Jr. Santie told to step up efforts as public impatience the House Quad Committee that he grew over Rosa’s continued helped carryDela out the killing at the evasion of an International Criminal behest of ex-PCSO general manager Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Royina Garma. "This is now a challenge for conGen. Mendoza narrated before Nartatez Jr.—after all, these are gressmen how Garma allegedlyyour famen. To the thePCSO policeofficial’s force: if roadside you obcilitated serve anyone failing comply assassination on Julyto 30, 2020with by the government's directive to arrest providing the necessary information Sen. Bato, this matter is now in his the about his schedule, details about hands of Gen. Nartatez; he is the one vehicle and the funding necessary to who must take action if such instances carry it out. areThe observed or sensed," she said. whistleblower also implicated “The government will not purincumbent National Policestop Comsuing the arrest of those who should be missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the apprehended,” Castro told Bilyonaryo planning of the murder. page Barayuga was a retiredNext police general and lawyer who supposedly threatened to expose corruption within the PCSO shortly before he was shot dead in Mandaluyong City. Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in-

preme Court rulings declaring certain provisions of the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Acts (GAAs) unconstitutional and striking down provisions governing unprogrammed appropriations (UAs) in the 2026 budget. “The Supreme Court said appropriations cannot exceed the budget proposed by the President,” Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB, adding that the Senate would ensure the 2027 budget contains no lump-sum Next page funds. PAGASA

Gov’tdares readiesChina Gibo P1.48b aid as to ‘do what it wants’ 'Julian' as wordstrengthens war sizzles THE government has readied DEFENSE Secretary GilbertoP1.48 Teobillion of aid China’s for communidoro Jr. worth has slammed alleged ties be hit hard byon typhoon plansthat to may impose sanctions Filipi‘Julian’ which who PAGASA says could no lawmakers have spoken out turn into a supertyphoon. against Beijing. As 5:00doPM Sunday, PA"Letofthem whatonthey want. This GASA raised Tropical Cyclone is all propaganda; let's stick to the isWind No.rights 3 over Batanes sue. DoSignal they have over the West and the northeastern portion of BaPhilippine Sea (WPS), the Ayungin buyan Islands. Next page “’Julian’ is forecast to continue intensifying over the next 24-36 hours as it moves towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the current trend in its intensification, the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out,” PAGASA said in its advisory. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 1.9 million family food packs worth P1.48 billion, other food items worth P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 million were already prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Some P171 million in standby fund is also available for utilization by the DSWD, including P123 million which can be allotted as Quick Response Fund (QRF) in the central office of the DSWD. In Batanes, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised residents to secure their roofs and install window shutters as Typhoon Julian is expected to make landfall Next page

A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic TRICK OR Marikina adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and wasTREAT. involved in the drugCity residents dressed up as ghouls and creatures of the night took to the streets yesterday to mark the coming of trade and extrajudicial killings. Halloween. Marikina City PIO

PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat

Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry OMB files graft, malversation raps vs. 6 DPWH men in Region 12

THE legal counsel of Chinese adviser of former President Rodrigo businessman Tony Yang sought to Duterte. disparage lawmakers’ conclusions Fortun, a lawyer who often finds Next page about his client’s supposedly himself at the center high-profile sketchy past and his alleged ties cases, apparently sought to mock with Philippine Overseas Gaming congressmen, calling their probe Operators (POGOs) and even “unacceptable.” organized crime. However, House members argued Lawyer Raymond Fortun they did not come by their suspicions questioned the House Quad about Yang recklessly. Committee’s impartiality and its On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker ability to pin Chinese national Yang Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga down for ay wrongdoing in a real and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of criminal court. Quezon presented a matrix showing “I am very interested in how they Yang’s first appearance and his [Quad Comm members] can prove subsequent activities at the Quad this criminal network in court. In Comm hearing. Congress, lawmakers act as both “We saw a pattern, and we tracked prosecutor and judge,” he said. it to the top of these corporations... Yang, who already admitted we stripped it of its layers , to get to CELEBRATING PH-VATICAN TIES. Foreign Theresa Lazaro joins Secretary of State having a Affairs fake Secretary Philippine birth theVatican top and through it all,His we have Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the Chiesa certificate, e Santuario di Battista de La Sallediscovered to unveil a commemorative is San the Giovanni brother of Michael and identified atstamp least two celebrating 75 years of relation between the Philippines the Holy See. Department Affairs or players in the issue Yang, aandpresidential economic of Foreign main actors

DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'

of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English. The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to By Rex Espiritu other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of THE Office of the Ombudsman filed illegal POGOs. malversation graft cases before Among theand companies implicated the Sandiganbayan against six perare Brickhartz Technology Inc. sonnel of the Department of Public and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., Works are and being Highways Rewhich linked(DPWH) to alleged gion XII for their alleged involvement kidnapping. in The the right-of-way scamsupposedly in General two firms Santos City. have connections with the Baofu In a resolution, the officeTarlac, found Compound in Bamban, prima facie evidence with reasonable which, in turn, can be directly traced certainty of conviction against former to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. DPWH Region XII Regional Director During Friday’s Quad Comm Subair Saro Diron, cited former Assistant hearing, lawmakers Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners. Next page

THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the country’s strong record and dedication to upholding the rule of Regional Director Laureano B. Suan law. Jr.,Department and four other of DPWH Foreignpersonnel. Affairs TheSecretary Ombudsman filedManalo 18 informa(DFA) Enrique in for malversation of public funds ations speech delivered at the UN Genor property falsification eral Assemblythrough in New York said the of public documents under Article 217 Philippines continues to emphasize in relation to Article 171 of thethe Rethe “importance of upholding visedof Penal Code, and another rule law and the integrity of the18 informationssystem for violation of of Section multilateral in the face to3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the day’s global challenges.” Anti-Graft andreports, CorruptManalo Practices Act. Quoted by also Seven individuals allegedsaid: “Theprivate Philippines has consisly involved in peace, the fraudulent scheme tently pursued the sovereign were also the cases. equality ofincluded states, theinrights and digNext page nity of all persons.” He added that the country is also recognized as the “first Asian ReNext page

Manilaclaim Standard PNP eyes foreign agencies to probe Navy spokes debunks China child abuse claims vs. Meghan’ s dad inphotojournalist of military exercises Scarborough shoal BAUTISTA

By Vince Lopez By Darwin Amojelar PHILIPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Jr., on Sunday said that they will Bautista denied an online news report work closely with law enforcement claiming that Malacañang was angry agencies abroadinas authorities look with the increase airport fees without into allegations linking the father the approval of the Cabinet members.of Meghan Duchess “The Markle, Bilyonaryo articleofisSussex, malito the possession of child abuse said and cious and unfounded,” Bautista exploitation images. in a Viber message, referring to the website that published the said story. “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. Bilyonaryo reported online that “Bautista and his long-time protege in Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are at the center of the storm after it was

this developed, police investiByAsRex Espiritu

gations are going over a laptop found alongside images ofNavy child abuse at the THE Philippine debunked former home of Thomas Markle, with on Sunday the recent announce"full results" expected week, Intement by China that inita conducted rior and Local Government Secretary military exercises off Bajo de Jonvic Remulla told Agence France Masinloc, also known as ScarborPresse Shoal, (AFP). in the West Philipough Nartatez stressed the need for crosspine Sea (WPS). border cooperation investigating China reportedlyinmade the announcement coinciding with the Next page fourth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the regional waters over the weekend. Philippine Navy Spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vin-

wins CMMA award

cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor By Gabriel Oliva any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only A PHOTOJOURNALIst from The for its internal audience. Manila Standard has been named the “Our troops did not observe winner in the Best News Photograph any exercise, we have to undercategory at the 2026 Catholic Mass stand that sometimes, China is Media Awards (CMMA). doing this for their internal audiDuring the CMMA’s pre-announceence, right? For them not to look ment of winners on Oct. 17, Revoli weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad Next page said. Two Chinese warships were monitored at a distance ranging from eight to 14 nautical miles. One of these went up to 1,000 yards at the MMCA site but eventually went away. “It was not threatening, just normal,” accord-

CMMA’S BEST NEWS PHOTO. Revoli Cortez, photojournalist of The

Manila Standard, wins the Best News Photograph category at the 2026 Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) with his photo titled ‘Traditional Drying Method.’ The photo, taken with a drone in May 2026, featured several farmers drying their rice harvest on concrete in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development. (From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua BUSINESS / B1

HOG PRODUCERS WANT 120-DAY IMPORT BAN

EXPLOSIONS RING OUT IN SAUDI CAPITAL ANEW

NEWS / A3 Next page

WORLD / A6

Next page

NTC TO SWITCH OFF ANALOG TV IN MEGA MANILA IN NOV.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

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PNP... From A1

Arrest... From A1

News Channel, saying swift action was needed. On Saturday, the spokesperson said Mr. Marcos wanted no time wasted in enforcing the law, rejecting calls for any negotiation with Dela Rosa’s camp. A day later, Castro said the administration had not rejected the Senate minority bloc’s offer to facilitate talks with Dela Rosa’s lawyers, but questioned whether the lawmakers had contacted him or knew his whereabouts. "There is nothing wrong with talking. In fact, it is better for the discussion to be calm—should they decide to arrest Sen. Bato—provided there is no obstinacy. It should not involve the kind of approach currently being employed by the SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) and the PNP (Philippine National Police); rather, it should be handled through proper dialogue—though, certainly, it cannot be resolved through mere sweet talk or empty promises," she added. Senators urge peaceful resolution The Senate minority bloc urged a

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The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) also said Sunday it would comply with the court’s directives while reserving the government’s right to seek reconsideration through appropriate legal proceedings. Malacañang said it “respectfully disagrees” with certain portions of the ruling, adding that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) was filing a motion for reconsideration. ‘Unaffected provisions remain implementable’ The DBM stressed that the 2027 national budget is still proposed and has not yet been enacted into law, thus it could not “categorically describe its allocations as already fully implementable.” It noted that the the Supreme Court did not declare all UAs -- proposed at P111.984-billion for 2027 – unconstitutional, as they are still subject to congressional deliberations and possible revisions to comply with the ruling. The high court specifically invalidated certain provisions and established safeguards governing their use, DBM added, but said programmed appropriations and automatic appropriations “remain legally recognized budget mechanisms, subject to applicable laws and implementation requirements.” “Unprogrammed appropriations may also be implemented, but only when constitutionally valid funding conditions and other requirements are satisfied,” it added. The proposed budget provides P976 billion for the Department of Education, P353.8 billion for the Department of Health and P241.6 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Government-wide infrastructure spending under the Build Better More program is pegged at P1.467 trillion, including P302.2 billion for the Department of Transportation. Automatic appropriations account for about P2.58 trillion, or 35.85% of the proposed 2027 budget. These include the National Tax Allotment for local government units, retirement and life insurance premiums, and interest payments on domestic and foreign debt. The DBM said releases may be made for foreign-assisted projects when supported by verified loan proceeds or international grants. A special provision also allows the Department of National Defense to use domestic and foreign loans for military procurement and defense acquisitions. Experts welcome court ruling The High Court declared Special Provisions 1(a) and (b) under Chapter XLIII of the 2026 GAA unconstitutional, ruling that unprogrammed appropriations must have clear limits and safeguards to uphold fiscal disci-

OMB... From A1

The charges stemmed from three investigation reports submitted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in 2018 and 2019 involving payments for the right of way for 18 parcels of land allegedly affected by the construction

peaceful resolution, citing concerns for Dela Rosa’s safety and calling for him to answer the allegations through the legal process. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday also called for a peaceful arrest that would protect both Dela Rosa and the officers involved. Lacson said Dela Rosa, a fellow former national police chief, was entitled to due process. “I sincerely hope and pray that should his arrest take place sooner or later, it will be carried out peacefully, without violence or tragedy,” Lacson said. The government on Friday offered a record P50-million reward for information leading to Dela Rosa’s arrest. In a TV interview Sunday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla justified the amount, saying it would come from intelligence funds intended for information gathering and rewards. Remulla said authorities were negotiating with an unidentified armed group allegedly sheltering Dela Rosa in Mindanao to secure his turnover and avert bloodshed. He warned an operation could cause as many as 10,000 deaths but did not identify the group or disclose

Dela Rosa’s location. Gatchalian questioned the talks, saying authorities should assert their power, though he acknowledged he did not know the details. Criticism over Bato handling The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) criticized the administration and Remulla over delays in arresting high-profile suspects, questioning why warrants remained unserved despite intelligence on their whereabouts and substantial confidential and intelligence funds. Lawyer Kristina Conti said the bounty—the government’s highest ever for a fugitive—underscored failures to enforce the warrant and the influence of Dela Rosa’s backers. “Ironically, putting a P50-million bounty on Bato Dela Rosa only highlights the incompetence of the Marcos administration in implementing the ICC warrant, before and now,” Conti said in a Facebook statement. She cited the failure of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Bureau of Investigation and the PNP to keep Dela Rosa within reach in May 2026. Conti, an assistant to ICC counsel representing victims of former presi-

dent Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war and their families, urged Dela Rosa to surrender and face the proceedings. Dela Rosa lawyers question reward Dela Rosa faces an ICC warrant over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Duterte administration’s drug war. He is accused of being a co-perpetrator with Duterte in murder and attempted murder cases. Both deny the allegations. Dela Rosa’s lawyers have questioned the reward’s legal basis, arguing that the government must identify a Philippine court warrant authorizing his arrest and the authority to use public funds for the bounty. Lacson denied that the reward and one-week surrender ultimatum were meant to prevent Dela Rosa from joining Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. He said the Senate could not compel the senator while he was in hiding and that he would likely be arrested if he appeared. Dela Rosa briefly appeared at the Senate on May 11 to vote for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president. He left after a May 13 shooting incident and was last reported leaving before dawn on May 14.

pline, transparency and accountability. 1(a) deals with excess revenue collections in any one of the identified non-tax revenue sources from its corresponding revenue collection target, as reflected in the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing. The BESF is a document that reflects the annual program of estimated expenditures and its corresponding funding sources. 1(b) deals with new revenue collections or those arising from new tax or non-tax sources which are not part of, nor included in, the original revenue sources reflected in the BESF. It said such appropriations become unconstitutional when they lack sufficient standards and grant the executive branch unchecked spending authority, potentially undermining funding for programmed projects when projected government revenues fall short. Public finance expert Zy-za Suzara welcomed the ruling but said its immediate impact on the proposed P7.2trillion 2027 national budget would be limited. “Congress needs to comply with the conditions imposed by the Supreme Court in passing the unprogrammed appropriations. They cannot increase the level of the unprogrammed appropriations,” Suzara said. Although the ruling did not abolish unprogrammed appropriations, Suzara said it could help prevent lawmakers from using standby funds to create fiscal space for pork-barrel allocations. Former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno said the ruling should guide current and future Congresses in complying with constitutional standards when crafting the national budget. She also urged the DBM to stop releasing funds covered by the ruling as a matter of courtesy. Releases limited to foreign-aided projects During a Senate Committee on Finance hearing on Oct. 22, Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said releases charged against the 2026 unprogrammed appropriations had been limited to foreign-assisted projects as of that date. The DBM said these projects were subject to a separate funding condition not invalidated by the court. Gatchalian said a significant portion of the 2024 and 2025 budgets had been allocated to the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP), identified as a funding source for flood control projects. He stressed that unprogrammed appropriations would not be abolished but would remain subject to the conditions set by the high court. He estimated that they accounted for about 2% to 5% of the national budget. The Senate is also reviewing allocations for foreign-assisted projects, which had been reduced, with funding transferred to unprogrammed appropriations.

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graph wins for the entire year, with no second or third prize,” Cortez said. The veteran photojournalist said having three of his works nominated was already an achievement, but he did not expect his Nueva Ecija entry to win because he believed all his entries were unique. He also expressed gratitude to the Manila Standard, citing how supportive the newsroom had been of his endeavors and assignments as a photojournalist for the daily broadsheet. “Sometimes, I even feel embarrassed to call and request a letter of assignment,” he said jokingly. Cortez dedicated his win to his wife, whom he described as supportive of his passion for photojournalism, and to his two children, who are both scholars at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University. The awarding ceremony for this year’s CMMA is scheduled to take place in November. Established in 1978 by Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and the Catholic Church, the CMMA recognizes excellence in media that upholds truth, human dignity and values. “More than an awards body, CMMA is a steward of legacy — honoring past excellence while inspiring the next generation of communicators to pursue truth with courage and humility,” the CMMA website read.

(Shoal), or in Bajo de Masinloc? That is the major point,” Teodoro said. The statement comes after an Oct. 22 report by a Chinese media outlet saying that China is planning to impose sanctions on Filipino legislators over their antiChina remarks. The reported sanctions could also affect several areas, including diplomatic relations, issues concerning the West Philippine Sea, trade and economic supplies, labor policies, tourism, and consular arrangements. Teodoro described the reported sanctions as a potential distraction from what he suggested could be China's underlying motives. He added that China could be using "weaponizing" economic ties regarding the WPS issue. Teodoro also accused China of bullying the Philippines by using its power and influence. He dismissed the reported move as propaganda amid ongoing maritime issues between the Philippines and China. The DND chief stressed that China was avoiding documented and factual arguments, particularly the arbitration ruling that overwhelmingly favored the Philippines in its dispute with China over maritime rights in the WPS. “They are not addressing that. They just say that they do,” Teodoro said. The Chinese Embassy in Manila has described Teodoro as the “real troublemaker” in the Philippines-China relations, accusing him of stirring tensions between the two countries. In a previous statement, the Chinese embassy criticized Teodoro’s remarks on Chinese-language teachers, describing them as a “cowardly” and “despicable” act. “The Philippines’ defense chief has repeatedly smeared China with false accusations and stirred up hatred. He has led soldiers in raids on steel factories, detained unarmed Chinese workers, and framed them with false charges,” the statement read. Teodoro has rejected the embassy’s comments labeling the Philippines a “troublemaker” in the region, saying Beijing was the “troublemaker” because of its continued aggression in the disputed waters.

of the Digos-Makar National Road in Lagao, General Santos City. In affidavits executed in 2017, witness Roberto S. Catapang Jr. admitted his involvement in a syndicate, saying “the group, in collusion with respondent public officers, collected money from the government purportedly as payments for the acquisitions, by fabricating and

submitting fake documents.” The DPWH Region XII technical working group (TWG) then approved the disbursement of P491,931,120.20 to claimants who were later found to have submitted falsified documents. Investigators also uncovered the alleged unlawful use of a 2009 appraisal value of P3,500 per

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Cortez, Manila Standard’s Malacañang photo correspondent, was named the winner for his work titled “Traditional Drying Method.” The photo, taken with a drone in May 2026, featured several farmers drying their rice harvest on concrete in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. In an interview, Cortez said his assignment at the Palace gave him the opportunity to capture the photo, citing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s official visit to the province earlier this year. “I make it a habit to take humaninterest photos when I’m on my way home or returning from an assignment,” Cortez said. According to Cortez, he used a drone to capture the vast harvest, noting that an ordinary camera would not have adequately captured the scene. The photo made it to the finals alongside two of Cortez’s other photographs: “Symbiotic Co-Existence,” which showed a farmer surrounded by migratory birds, and “Good Catch,” which featured a fisherman harvesting tilapia. The 2026 CMMA win marks Cortez’s second award from the organization, having first won in the same category 15 years ago. “I always pray to win a CMMA award because the recognition carries a lot of weight. Only one photo-

Gibo... From A1

square meter to determine compensation for properties acquired by the government in the early 1990s, resulting in inflated rightof-way claims. In a separate administrative decision, the Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal from service of former DPWH Region XII Legal Officer Ansare Mariga Busran.

Markle over suspected child exploitation, particularly cases that may involve digital evidence and individuals with links to different countries. “The safety of our children remains a priority. Those who try to engage in child exploitation often extend beyond borders, and as such, it emphasizes the importance of strong coordination with our foreign counterparts,” the PNP chief said. Remulla earlier said Markle is currently under investigation over allegations relating to the possession of images of sexual abuse on children. Nartatez said the PNP will coordinate with foreign counterparts to facilitate information sharing and support the investigation. Investigators will focus on digital forensics and evidence gathering to determine whether any illegal activity took place. “We will thoroughly investigate the accusations and coordinate with law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States for better information sharing on the matter,” he added. Authorities said the elder Markle possessed images of child abuse reportedly found among his belongings at his former home in Cebu, although he denied the allegations. Zero tolerance vs. child abuse Nartatez said the PNP maintains zero-tolerance against child exploitation and is committed to protecting minors from abuse, including forms of exploitation facilitated by digital platforms and international networks. He emphasized that any criminal action would depend on the investigation's findings. “The PNP will pursue the appropriate cases if evidence establishes involvement in the online exploitation of minors," Nartatez said. Markle, whose daughter Meghan is married to Britain's Prince Harry, had been living in Cebu, but returned to the United States earlier this year. Remulla told AFP the country planned to take "appropriate legal actions" against Markle— who has denied all claims of alleged offenses—if sufficient evidence was found. "The PNP, upon the reports of the son, inspected the former home of a certain Mr. Thomas Markle," Remulla said in a text message sent late Saturday. "Found were a trove of child pornography materials, as well as a laptop.” "The laptop is currently undergoing forensic investigation and we will have the full results in one week," Remulla said. "The PNP will coordinate with their counterparts to locate and take appropriate legal actions against Mr. Markle if sufficient evidence is found to charge him.” A British tabloid reported last week that Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr., had discovered the child abuse images while going through boxes found in his father's former home. Megan deeply distressed On Friday, Meghan Markle said she was "deeply distressed" by accusations her father had possessed images of child abuse, adding she had blocked contact between him and her children over previous "troubling and disturbing" allegations. After the reports, Meghan said that in 2018 she had seen a letter sent to London's Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection making similar accusations. "It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father, and I was given assurances that these were being investigated," she said in a statement. London's Metropolitan Police said it had passed on the information to the royal couple, but did not share it with other law enforcement agencies. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left Britain and quit royal duties in 2020 amid a bitter royal family feud. They made an unexpected return with their children to live in the United Kingdom in August. With AFP

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Hog producers want 120-day import ban, restore tariffs asap T By Othel V. Campos

HE Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) is urging the government to immediately restore higher tariffs on imported pork and suspend additional imports for at least 120 days. SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposal to raise pork import tariffs through the Tariff Commission (TC) falls short because the process could take months while hog raisers continue to lose money. “The clock is ticking. Our hog raisers are losing money. The industry cannot wait,” Cainglet said in a statement.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Saturday said the DA is pushing for the restoration of a 40-percent tariff on imported pork and a twomonth pork importation holiday to help local hog raisers recover from falling farmgate prices. He said the measures are intended to protect local producers from what he described as unfair competition

from imported pork and give hog raisers an opportunity to recover from mounting losses. “It is unfair for our producers to suffer losses because of unfair competition,” Tiu Laurel said in a message to the hograising industry dated October 22. He said the proposed tariff increase and import holiday are among the measures the DA is pursuing in response to the continuing decline in farmgate prices, which threatens the income and livelihoods of hog-raising families. Tiu Laurel acknowledged that some of the measures require approval from other agencies, including the Tariff Commission, but said this would not stop the DA from pursuing

solutions for the industry. SINAG is asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to issue two executive orders restoring the 40-percent outquota and 30-percent in-quota tariffs on imported pork and temporarily suspending additional imports. The group wants the suspension to last at least 120 days, or until local hog producers recover sufficiently and market conditions support a sustainable recovery. Cainglet said delayed tariff restoration would allow imported pork to retain a price advantage, further depressing domestic farmgate prices, which currently a range of P80 to P130 per kilo ex-farm, further worsening losses for local hog raisers.

Prisons should be places for reformation, says Bishop By Vito Barcelo A CATHOLIC bishop on Sunday has urged correctional institutions to become places of rehabilitation and renewal rather than mere confinement, saying inmates should be given opportunities to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society. Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care, called on the Church, correctional workers and families, to support prisoners through compassion and solidarity. “While a person may be deprived of liberty, no one can ever be deprived of the dignity bestowed by God,” Florencio said in a message for Prison Awareness Sunday, observed on Oct. 25.

He thanked prison chaplains and volunteers for providing spiritual guidance, prayer and charitable assistance, and recognized correctional personnel for helping ensure humane treatment and rehabilitation. Florencio also urged Catholics to comfort victims of crime, saying communities must extend compassion to those affected by wrongdoing while recognizing the dignity of people behind bars. Fr. Nezelle Lirio, executive secretary of the CBCP prison pastoral care commission, said prison ministry must go beyond material assistance to promote healing, transformation and hope. He said imprisonment also affects inmates’ families and stressed the importance of pastoral support in helping prisoners feel they have not been

EARLY RISER. The sun rises early over the Sierra Mountains with deep dark to intense hues on Sunday. Manny Palmero

Veteran journalist nabbed for cyber libel posts bail By Pot Chavez VETERAN journalist Philip Lustre Jr. secured provisional liberty following his arrest in Quezon City on Saturday under a warrant of arrest issued by a Davao City court in connection with a cyber libel case. Human rights lawyer Dino de Leon represented Lustre, the author of Kill, Kill, Kill: Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines, which documents former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs. In a social media post, Lustre thanked de Leon for agreeing to serve as his counsel after the conclusion of the Saturday News Forum, which they both attended. He also acknowledged the efforts of his friends in the mass media who assisted him in posting bail. “I must confirm that the complaint I had received did not indicate any complainant. I was told that details were contained in the separate information sheet that was not included in any charge sheet. Neither did I see any information sheet. There was no preliminary investigation either,” he shared. Lustre described the incident as a special operation, noting that he was arrested to keep him in jail over the weekend. “There was a procedural flaw in the process. That was how deep the Davao Group operates,” the writer added.

PCSO holds 2026 Social Workers’ Conference Reinforcing commitment to compassionate and transformative service Text by Jerwin Palo Nohay Photos by Edwin B. Lovino from CPD, PCSO THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) successfully conducted the 2026 Social Workers’ Conference at the Saffron Grand Ballroom of Lanson Place Mall of Asia, bringing together social workers, PCSO officials, and key stakeholders under the theme, “Journey of Transformation: Advancing Charity, Amplifying Impact.” The conference served as a significant platform for strengthening the knowledge, skills, and collaborative networks of social workers who play a vital role in delivering social welfare and charitable services to Filipinos in need. It also provided an opportunity for participants to exchange best practices, discuss emerging challenges, and further enhance their commitment to public service. Throughout the event, discussions focused on advancing the quality and effectiveness of social work interventions, particularly in the implementation of programs that directly benefit vulnerable and underserved sectors of society. The gathering underscored the importance of fostering stronger partnerships among government institutions, social welfare practitioners, and external stakeholders in ensuring the efficient delivery of assistance to beneficiaries nationwide.

A key highlight of the conference was the discussion of the updated guidelines and procedures of the Medical Assistance Program (MAP). Participants were oriented on the latest policies aimed at promoting a more efficient, equitable, and accountable system of delivering medical assistance to patients and families facing financial hardship. The session emphasized the importance of compliance, transparency, and

responsiveness in providing timely support to those requiring medical aid. Recognizing the demanding nature of social work, the conference also placed significant emphasis on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of social workers. Experts and resource speakers shared insights on self-care, resilience, stress management, and professional wellness, acknowledging the critical role social workers play in supporting individuals and families who

are experiencing difficult circumstances. The discussions highlighted the need to ensure that those who provide care and assistance also receive the support necessary to sustain their own wellbeing. Led by PCSO Chairperson Judge Felix P. Reyes (Ret.) and General Manager Melquiades A. Robles, the agency reaffirmed its recognition of social workers as indispensable partners in carrying out PCSO’s

mission of delivering help, hope, and compassionate service to Filipinos across the country. In their messages, PCSO leadership emphasized the invaluable contributions of social workers in bridging government assistance programs and the communities they serve. They also reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen the capabilities of social welfare professionals and enhance the impact of charitable services throughout the nation. T h e 2 0 2 6 S o c i a l Wo r k e r s ’ Conference served as the opening event of PCSO’s two-day stakeholder gathering, which was followed by the National Charity Summit on October 15, 2026. Together, these events reflected the agency’s continuing efforts to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence in charitable service delivery while advancing its vision of creating meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of Filipino beneficiaries. Through initiatives such as the Social Workers’ Conference, PCSO continues to champion professional development, promote holistic well-being among social welfare practitioners, and strengthen partnerships that contribute to a more responsive and compassionate system of public service for all Filipinos. “PCSO, Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong!”

NEWS

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FIRE DAMAGE. A fire that broke out at the Sorsogon City Public Market on Saturday night, causes extensive damage to businesses and livelihoods, affecting more than 380 vendors, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 5-Bicol.

PNP: Tighter security at defense meet IN BRIEF Filmfest highlights migrant workers E By Vince Lopez

52 families receive new housing units in Manila

SOME 52 families received ready-for-occupancy housing units in Manila on Saturday during the city government’s In-City Vertical Housing Project Grand Raffle. The raffle coincided with the 52nd birthday of Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso, who drew the winning stubs with Vice Mayor Chi Atienza. Domagoso said he was happy to provide families with decent homes and promised to continue the program. About 3,300 applicants watched the draw via livestream on the Facebook pages of the Manila Public Information Office, Manila Urban Settlements Office and the mayor. The beneficiaries will occupy units at San Lazaro Residences, a 20-storey development with a health center, commercial area, swimming pool and function room. Each 42-square-meter unit has two bedrooms, with monthly contributions ranging from P2,000 to P3,000. Pot

Chavez

PNP seeks to balance officers’ experience, career THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday, Oct. 25, took steps to evaluate how a proposed one-year extension of the compulsory retirement age for uniformed personnel could retain experienced officers while protecting the career advancement of younger policemen. PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the organization would respect the legislative process while ensuring that any changes to the retirement policy support operational effectiveness and public service. The proposal to raise the compulsory retirement age from 56 to 57 was discussed during a Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on Friday, Oct. 23. It seeks to align the retirement policy of the three uniformed services with that of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, whose compulsory retirement age is 57. Vince Lopez

KAPATID mounts ‘Protect Bilibid Lands’ campaign MARKING National Correctional Consciousness Week under Proclamation No. 551, political prisoners’ support group KAPATID on Sunday launched the “Protect Bilibid Lands” campaign, urging the government to preserve the entire New Bilibid Prison (NBP) reservation in Muntinlupa as a permanent national correctional center. The group also called for an immediate halt to plans to close the facility by 2028 and clear its grounds for commercial leasing and privatization. KAPATID urged Congress to investigate Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr.’s moves to convert 366.7 hectares of public land under Proclamation No. 1159 into a commercial real estate venture projected to generate P1 billion to P2 billion in annual lease revenues. Citing Republic Act No. 10575, or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, the group said land-use decisions must uphold BuCor’s responsibilities for prisoners’ safekeeping and rehabilitation, including providing hospitals and visiting areas.

THE 2026 Migrant Workers Film Festival has opened conversations about what it means to leave the country during its Philippine-leg screenings across university auditoriums, cultural centers, and film laboratories. Following its run in Hong Kong, the festival has turned its lenses toward the complex web of labor, displacement, family sacrifice, and resilience that defines the Filipino diaspora. The event, organized as a cultural and educational initiative by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, featured a curated lineup spanning nearly four decades of migration cinema. The program included “Migrante” (AsiaVisions, 1987), “Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves” (Marie Boti and Michelle Smith, 1997), “Rhose” (Nawruz Paguidopon, 2008), “Rhose, Where Do Your Dreams Go?” (Paguidopon, 2012), “Ang Walang Kapagurang Paglalakbay ng Pulang Maleta” (Richard Soriano Legaspi, 2014), and “Gusto Nang Umuwi ni Joy” (Jan Tristan Pandy, 2014). The festival has reached multiple institutions, creating spaces for students, artists, and migrant advocates to engage with audiovisual heritage. The Philippine run kicked off on Oct. 1 and 2 at the UPFI Film Center Videotheque, featuring screenings paired with talkback sessions with CAP National SecretaryGeneral Edge Uyanguren, Migrante International Deputy Secretary-General Josefina Pingkihan, and filmmakers Nawruz Paguidopon, JT Pandy, and Richard Soriano Legaspi.

XTENSIVE safety and coordination measures have been put in place as Southeast Asia’s defense officials prepare to converge in Cebu for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) 2026 from October 28 to 31.

FILMFEST ABOUT MIGRANTS. The 2026 Migrant Workers Film Festival sparks conversations about the realities of leaving the country through screenings at university auditoriums, cultural centers, and film laboratories across the

5 dead in public market blaze in Sorsogon LEGAZPI CITY — Five people died in a fire that broke out at the Sorsogon City Public Market on Saturday night, the provincial government confirmed Sunday. The provincial and city governments will shoulder the victims’ burial expenses, according to Salvador Mendoza, chief of the Sorsogon Provincial Information Office. Mendoza said officials were scheduled to meet to discuss immediate assistance for affected vendors and businesses.

“Governor Edwin Hamor immediately proceeded to the scene and directed the Provincial Engineering Office to prepare a vacant lot along Sorsogon City Coastal Road for temporary stalls for affected vendors and tenants,” Mendoza said. Heavy equipment has arrived at the proposed site to prepare the temporary marketplace so vendors can resume operations while recovering from their losses. “A backhoe and a grader are also on their way to further speed up the work in

the area today,” Mendoza said. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Bicol (DSWD-5) has extended relief and financial assistance to families affected by the fire, particularly those of the five fatalities. DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio mobilized the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program to provide immediate financial and psychosocial support.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. directed the Police Regional OfficeCentral Visayas (PRO-7) and other concerned units to sustain heightened security readiness and strengthen intelligence monitoring throughout the multinational gathering. “The absence of identified threats does not lessen our responsibility to remain vigilant. The PNP is fully prepared to secure ADMM 2026 through proactive security measures, close coordination with partner agencies, and the strategic deployment of our personnel,” Nartatez said. The ADMM serves as ASEAN’s highest defense consultative and cooperative mechanism, bringing together defense leaders from member states to discuss regional security concerns, defense cooperation, and emerging challenges affecting the region. A total of 3,670 personnel from various government agencies have been mobilized to support security and emergency operations for the high-level meeting. Police deployment will remain in effect until November 1 to ensure the safety of delegates until their departure. Security coverage includes the conference venue, billeting areas, convoy routes, and key locations in Cebu City that delegates are expected to visit. Nartatez also ordered concerned units to immediately validate and act on any credible threat information while maintaining close coordination with partner agencies involved in the security effort. PRO-7 raised its alert status from normal to heightened despite the absence of monitored threats. To support the overall security plan, the PNP is also implementing advance security inspections, coordinated traffic management measures, strategic personnel deployment, and contingency planning for delegate movements.

PhilSA warns of Chinese rocket debris in PH waters By Rex Espiritu

EXOTIC. A reptile hobbyist shows off her pet iguana imported from Florida, United States, amid a growing market for exotic pets in the country. Dave Leprozo

THE Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) warned of potential hazards from debris following China’s launch of a Long March 8A rocket on Sunday, with two identified drop zones located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and archipelagic waters. The rocket was launched at around 10:03 a.m. Philippine time on Oct. 25 from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan, China, PhilSA said in an advisory. The first drop zone is within the Philippine EEZ, approximately 107 nautical miles from Patag Island, 122 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, 164 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan, and 167 nautical miles from Busuanga, Palawan.

The second drop zone is within Philippine archipelagic waters, about 42 nautical miles from Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park; 53 nautical miles from Pangutaran Island, Sulu; and 122 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa, Palawan. PhilSA said the drop zones were identified in a Notice to Airmen warning of an “aerospace flight activity.” The agency also said it had disseminated a pre-launch report to relevant government agencies and authorities. “While not projected to fall on land features or inhabited areas, falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone,” PhilSA said. The agency said the possibility of an uncontrolled atmospheric reentry by the rocket’s upper stages could not be ruled out.

OPINION

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EDITORIAL

Recidivists THIS is my Dia de los Muertos article in this space. It is especially dedicated to the ladies and gentlemen of the 20th Congress who voted overwhelmingly for the approval of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the so called “election year budget”. Now let’s start with a definition of the title of this article. Recidivism under our Revised Penal Code refers to a situation where the offender has a previous conviction by final judgment of a crime, then repeats the same crime even before arraignment for the present crime. I use the term liberally in this article to refer to the many members of the 19th and 20th Congress. The Supreme Court, by what is generally regarded as a unanimous vote, outlawed the actions of Congress under the 2024, 2025 and parts of the 2026 budgets. Specifically, it condemned the practice of increasing unprogrammed appropriations as a way of fattening pork barrels by unconstitutional lump sums through post-enactment powers, to the detriment of more important submissions under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) such as counterpart funding for foreignassisted projects and socially beneficial allocations. Such a practice fattened, not the calf, but the liempo used for flood control ghost projects and other sub-standard infrastructure where many members of our Congress funded and even pre-sold their pork barrel allocations for kickbacks from contractors, with DPWH officials as commission agents. Having inserted these allocations from the NEP to the GAB, and later through the infamous bicameral conference committee to ultimately become the General Appropriations Act signed by our president, the practice has resulted in the most corrupt budgets ever in the history of these benighted isles. But for a handful, the practitioners of these crimes against the people have yet to be arraigned before the Sandiganbayan, which is why this article may be legally flawed when I refer to the perpetrators as “recidivists.” But in the eyes of everybody except the corrupt members of Congress and their collaborators in the Executive, they are repeat offenders in all the years of the PBbM governance. Beyond redemption, if I may judge. For in the 2027 budget, there they went again. And unless the senators who in the past participated in enacting these sleight-of-hand appropriations now try to redeem themselves by scrutinizing with fine-toothed comb what is to be the 2027 GAA, both now and in the coming bicam, even those who claim to be “august” will be recidivists. Listen to the decent members of the HoR, such as Ungab of Davao, Erice of Kalookan and Tiangco of Navotas, when

they describe what creature their colleagues gave birth to, complete with crying episodes. While the country was focused on the impeachment trial of the Vice-President hated by these denizens of the elected underworld, they surreptitiously repeated their criminal acts while dismissing those who questioned the questionable. With the highest tribunal declaring their sordid past criminal, we ask: how now, brown hogs? 131 billion from foreign assisted projects, 10 billion from pensions and gratuity funds for government employees, 11.4 billion from DoH immunization programs, 9.5 billion from calamity funds, 8.6 billion from classrooms, among others. were transferred to the criminal DPWH which has shown extremely low absorption capacity while its leadership focuses on management by inspection and cuss words.

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With the highest tribunal declaring their sordid past criminal, we ask: how now, brown hogs? Basic infrastructure programs such as farm-to-market roads, the substitute for the foul-smelling flood control, are the new “stars” of the pork barrel game. So brazen are these that their coordinates are located in the Benham Rise or the Celebes Sea. Meanwhile those who voted “no” to impeachment got almost nothing, while the de facto leadership got billions of pesos for their sparsely populated districts. The Financial Assistance to LGUs (FALGU) went up to 41.85 billion from the baseline NEP proposal as part of the 58 billion LGSF, the president’s pork barrel, to be dispensed to whomsoever the president wants to woo or reward. “Babuyan na talaga,” as in pork here, there and everywhere, until the Supreme Court decided to declare “Tama na!” while the villains of the appropriations committee in the HoR and the finance committee in the Senate and the leadership of both houses are charged for crimes against the present and future generations who will bear the weight of the humongous debt these criminals created. Meanwhile, real hogs have gone on a “pork holiday” to protest the losing situation they are in, with low farmgate prices while imports flow freely from all over the universe. Remember that “parable” about how beautiful this land is, and how blessed we are with natural endowments? Until to foster “balance,” the Lord said, “wait till you see the government they have!”

No trust, no click WHEN you pay a bill, order food or send money through an app, you expect it to work and your information to stay safe. Receiving multiple scam texts or news of another cybercrime victim can make people think twice before buying from unfamiliar online sellers or using an app to send money. The Philippines has made digital participation an important part of its economy. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the digital economy generated ₱2.74 trillion in gross value added in 2025, equal to 9.8 percent of gross domestic product. That figure represents businesses, workers and households relying on connected services. It includes the everyday ways people pay bills, shop, study, work, and access public services. The value of that economy depends not only on internet access, but on whether people feel secure enough to use it. That confidence is under strain. TransUnion’s H1 2026 fraud report found that 72 percent of surveyed Filipino consumers had been targeted by digital fraud attempts between August and Dec. 2025, against 53 percent globally. Separately, its suspected digital fraud rate for Philippine transactions in 2025 was 4.1 percent, against 3.8 percent worldwide. These figures measure different

things. One reflects surveyed consumers reporting exposure; the other counts transactions flagged as suspected fraud. Neither shows how many people lost money, but both show how often consumers encounter risk online.

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A successful scam can mean lost savings, compromised accounts and hours spent trying to recover access A successful scam can mean lost savings, compromised accounts and hours spent trying to recover access. Even without financial loss, repeated exposure can make people wary of online sellers or e-commerce platforms, especially when they are unsure who receives their payment or how to get a refund. When a purchase goes wrong, a customer may spend hours contacting sellers, banks, and platforms to resolve it. That caution is understandable, but it can mean fewer choices and less convenience.

S

ENATOR Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s mindless loyalty to his patron and ultimate cowardice are legendary.

When he was chief implementer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Dela Rosa presided over one of the most cruel and anti-poor campaigns in the country. The so-called war masqueraded as a drive to enforce peace and order, but in reality sought only to establish a climate of fear and intimidation like the one enjoyed by the Dutertes in Davao. This is why there is a standing warrant for Dela Rosa’s arrest in the first place. He is one of the co-accused of the former President, who is on trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. But since talk circulated that the warrant had been released, Dela Rosa has been hiding, reneging on his sworn duty as a legislator. To be sure, Dela Rosa enjoys a significant mandate: in 2019 he placed fifth in the senatorial elections, on the back of 19 million votes, and was reelected in 2025, placing third with more than 20.5 million votes. There is no question that he was democratically elected by millions

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Dela Rosa has caused the people too much money and too much trouble. Dela Rosa has been hiding since November last year, shamelessly collecting a salary, and only showed up this May to install a political ally, Alan Peter Cayetano, as Senate President. It was the same day the now-infamous running-up-the-stairs meme took place. He took refuge in the Senate for two days, and was then escorted by another ally, Senator Robinhood Padilla, out of the Senate premises. He has been missing since then. The Interior and Local Government Secretary, Jonvic Remulla, rues the fact that he took Cayetano’s word

IN PHILIPPINE politics, where name recall, machinery, and family legacies typically dictate candidate competitiveness, a first-time Senate survey showing of 15 percent, in the eyes of some political observers, is a development that demands meticulousanalysis. For House prosecution adviser and trial spokesman Robert Ace Barbers, the latest OCTA Research poll – done from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, 2026 – suggests his expanding public profile is beginning to register with the voting public. But, from the perspective of some political observers, the true significance of these numbers extends far beyond Barbers’ individual ambitions; it carries profound strategic implications for the institutional credibility and leverage of the House Quad Committee which he once chaired. As the former lead chair of the powerful multi-committee panel, Barbers has been at the forefront of the highly publicized legislative inquiries investigating illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), narcotics networks, and extrajudicial killings. Critics have frequently dismissed the Quad Committee’s assertive interrogations as partisan theater designed to dismantle rival factions ahead of the 2028 elections. Barbers’ 15 percent baseline debut intrinsically complicates that narrative. When a committee’s public face gains measurable national traction, observes believe it signals that the panel’s investigative agenda is resonating with voters. This electoral validation provides the Quad Committee with a form of popular legitimacy, shielding it against ac-

Historically, the House of Representatives operates at a narrative disadvantage compared to the Senate, which has long positioned itself as the traditional launchpad for national leadership and a counterweight to lower house initiatives. By translating committee exposure into viable senatorial awareness, Barbers demonstrated, in the eyes of observers, that the House can effectively manufacture its own national political capital through oversight and accountability mechanisms. This gives the House leadership greater leverage to sustain its ongoing investigations, dictate policy debates, and counter rival probes without being overshadowed by the Senate. But this dynamic introduces a doubleedged sword for the Quad Committee’s strategic objectives. In politics, exposure creates an opportunity, but public cred-

ibility determines whether that opportunity can endure. Because Barbers’ visibility is deeply intertwined with high-stakes accountability battles – including his concurrent role in the current impeachment proceedings – the committee’s findings will face intense scrutiny. If the public perceives that the Quad Committee is being weaponized as a personal springboard for a 2028 Senate run, the integrity of its structural outputs could be compromised. Barbers, the former head of the Quad Committee, faces the delicate challenge of maintaining strict institutional objectivity. Any misstep that frames the investigations as a campaign vehicle could trigger a public backlash and undermine the credibility that fueled his polling numbers. At the end of the day, reading too much into a single poll conducted years ahead of the 2028 elections carries statistical risks, especially within a multiple-choice framework where respondents could select up to 12 names. Public sentiment remains highly fluid. But the OCTA result has provided Barbers and the House leadership with early strategic validation. It proves that the issues championed by the Quad Committee have given a provincial lawmaker an opening in the national consciousness. Whether this momentum can be sustained will depend on Barbers’ ability to balance high-profile political warfare with substantive legislative oversight, transforming temporary public curiosity into durable national confidence.

Digital trust is both a business asset and a consumer safeguard. Customers are more likely to use a service when they know their information and payments are protected. Aggressive branding campaigns or advisories that warn users to be careful cannot replace built-in protections. Companies should make it clear and easy to report suspicious activity and get help when things go wrong. Telecom providers, banks, and fintech platforms are testing scam blocking, reporting channels, security alerts, and stronger authentication. Silent Network Authentication can verify customers through network signals rather than one-time passwords that scammers may exploit. It has been tested with GCash, which serves 95 million users, and is in proof of concept with BPI, which serves 16 million customers. These efforts show promise, but safeguards need to work across the digital ecosystem. As Atty. Kit Belmonte, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, said, “Pro-

tection should not depend on which operator, bank or platform a person uses. If safeguards vary widely, scammers will look for the weakest link—and consumers will be left to manage risks they cannot control alone.” Scams cross networks and services, so protections must be coordinated across the whole digital ecosystem. Safeguards should become common practice across telecom operators. Platforms, banks, and government must also share information and responsibility. As United Against Scams develops a trust pillar in 2027, scam prevention should stay central to that work. Smaller providers may need support to keep pace. Information shared by one service can help others respond before the same scam reaches more people. Consumers should still expect basic protections wherever they connect, shop or pay. AI can help companies spot suspicious activity, but scammers can use it to create convincing fake messages and imper-

sonations. Companies need to protect customer data, check how AI is used and hold someone accountable for security. These decisions affect consumers when a failure can expose their money or identity. Digital transformation is often measured by how many services move online and how quickly transactions are completed. Consumers should also judge it by whether safeguards work when they are needed. If people are expected to pay, shop and share information online, they should not have to shoulder the risks alone. Trust is earned through reliable protections wherever people transact. Systemic digital transformation should be measured not just by how many Filipinos come online, but by whether they can pay, shop and communicate with confidence. The goal is to make digital services useful and safe enough that people want to keep using them. Consumers deserve that assurance with every online transaction.

cusations of purely vindictive politics and strengthening its mandate to pursue high-profile figures. Additionally, Barbers’ performance shifts the power dynamic between the legislative branches.

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Barbers, the former Quad Committe chair, faces the delicate challenge of maintaining strict institutional objectivity

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of Filipinos who must have believed his campaign promises or thought his association with the Dutertes was enough.

in an agreement when the DILG could have arrested Dela Rosa in the Senate. That’s a mistake Remulla for which he must be made accountable. That was five months ago. Now we are told Dela Rosa is hiding in a powerful group’s compound down south, and attempts to arrest him will likely result in bloodshed. Appeals to Dela Rosa to give himself up to end this monthslong hiding would be ineffective. The only thing that survives is the man’s instinct for self-preservation – his sense of decency, propriety, and shame have all disappeared if he even had them in the first place. The P50-million over his head reflects the government’s keen desire to take him into custody, once and for all. Perhaps it believes the prize money is lucrative enough to goad people into giving him up instead of protecting him. Dela Rosa must no longer be sleeping by now. But it is infuriating that it is taxpayers who must continue to shell out the money for Dela Rosa’s run, and for the authorities’ earlier failure to get him. This clown has caused Filipinos too much money and too much trouble. We’re looking forward to witnessing – and cheering — the end of his run.

Barbers, the Quad Committee, and the 2028 horizon Honor Blanco Cabie

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

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Fresh protest clashes rock France anew IN BRIEF P UK, French troops war-game attack

LONDON – Thousands of British and French troops have taken part in a military training exercise that included one of Britain’s largest airborne operations in two decades, the UK government said Sunday. The war game is designed to show how Nato countries could be defended against a modern-day attack and comes during fears about Russian aggression in Europe amid Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Some 2,500 troops were involved in the seven-week exercise, in which 600 British and French paratroopers dropped from four RAF A400M Atlas transport aircraft over Germany. The exercise called Rhino Titan, held at the Sennelager military training centre in Germany, has been testing British troops’ ability against an enemy equipped with drones and electronic warfare. “The threats we face in the 21st century require an updated, modern approach to warfare –- and our adaptable armed forces are preparing accordingly,” defense minister Wes Streeting said in a statement. AFP

ARIS – Clashes erupted across France on Saturday as protesters took to the streets, a week after marches that degenerated into violence and prompted a firm security backlash from President Emmanuel Macron, who is scrambling to restore order. Police arrested nearly 1,000 people as officers faced “an extremely elevated level of violence” from black-clad “ultraleft” extremists, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said. Riot police squads fired tear gas at protesters in the capital as well as in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse, Montpellier and Nantes. Two people were “seriously” injured, Nunez said: one man in Toulouse, who reportedly had fingers blown off, and another person in Clermont-Ferrand. He did not give details of either case. Authorities had deployed 70,000 security personnel across the country for the

new marches, called to protest the cost of living. The violence came a week after rioting that saw public buildings vandalised, hundreds of shops looted and 2,700 people arrested, casting a pall over the country six months before an election to choose Macron’s successor. Nunez said Saturday’s outcome was more “positive” than a week ago, with more police on the streets acting more rapidly, conducting more pre-demonstration checks and better protecting businesses. But there was widespread anger at the government over a protest crackdown

viewed as an assault on the right to protest. Police battle ‘rioters’ Saturday’s demonstrations drew between 410,000 and 800,000 people across the country, according to different estimates by authorities and the organising CGT union. The main Paris march had between 110,000 and 250,000 attendees, according to those sources. Macron’s government has ordered police to prevent protesters reaching city centres, where shops are concentrated, and in Paris and some other cities, partial curfews were imposed in certain urban zones. The French president had ordered nonunion demonstrations be banned as “illegitimate”. In Paris, where many shops had boarded up windows to prevent looting, and the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay museums shut for the day, the main demonstration passed off largely peacefully. The march had been pushed to the capital’s southeast rim under a last-minute or-

der by authorities. Afterwards, though, clashes broke out as the crowd was dispersing, with Nunez blaming “500 rioters” at the back of the march. AFP journalists saw police charge several times, blasting tear gas and using batons against some, mostly young, protesters. “They were just taking people down, you know, beating protesters,” one demonstrator bleeding from a baton blow to his face, who gave his first name as David, told AFP. Ultra-right vs ultra-left Thousands of protesters in the western city of Nantes broke through lines of police firing tear gas and a water cannon to reach the city centre, an AFP journalist witnessed. Emma, 23, who came out in the northwest city of Rennes, denounced the bans on demonstrations and the “repression” of protests by high school students demanding better learning conditions. AFP

New York archdiocese agrees to pay $800-m NEW YORK – The Archdiocese of New York said Saturday (Sunday, Manila gtime) it had agreed to a settlement in which the church would pay more than $800 million to hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by clergy. The agreement, to be formally signed in early November, marks the end of years of negotiations with lawyers representing the plaintiffs, as the American Catholic Church has been mired in sexual abuse scandals since the early 2000s. “We are on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors,” New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks wrote in an email sent to his priests and forwarded to AFP by the archdiocese. According to The New York Times, which broke the story, each of the approximately 1,300 victims will receive at least $250,000, and potentially more depending on the severity of the abuse suffered. AFP

‘Call of Duty’ invasion edition tops sales charts SEOUL – The latest instalment of the “Call of Duty” video game franchise, featuring a full-scale North Korean invasion of South Korea, has topped sales charts in the wouldbe target, even as real-life border tensions are ratcheting higher. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4”, the latest edition of the globally popular franchise is set against a backdrop of tensions between the United States and Russia. Its Friday release comes on the heels of an explosion inside the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers, further straining ties on the peninsula. The game follows several parallel storylines: a squad of young American and South Korean soldiers fighting for survival, a former serviceman driven by revenge, and a power struggle surrounding a new North Korean leader -- a character players can also take on. AFP

ULTRA-RIGHT VS. ULTRA-LEFT. Police officers try in vain to arrest a protester helped by others in a street by the Campo Santo Antifascist village set as part of a counter-mobilisation ‘against racism, fascism and imperialism’ on the sidelines of the congress of the far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) in Orleans, central France, during the weekend. Amid another Saturday of protests under tight security across France, Orleans is hosting the National congress of the Far-right party Rassemblement National and preparing for a record-breaking demonstration, on the eve of their first major campaign rally. AFP

Explosions ring out in Saudi capital as airport due to reopen RIYADH , Saudi Arabia – Explosions rang out in the Saudi capital on Sunday, as the kingdom was due to reopen Riyadh international airport despite Yemen’s Houthis repeated attacks. Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthis, has faced a barrage of strikes from the group in recent weeks. The fighting erupted after a years-long truce between the Houthis and Yemen’s Riyadh-backed government fell apart, and has shifted the focus of the wider US-Iran war.

Riyadh’s international airport said flights would resume on Sunday after a two-week closure following the Houthi strikes, with the Flight Radar monitoring site showing a plane taking off early in the day. The fighters have carried out waves of strikes on the airport, including an attack this month that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned that the facility was still “unsafe” and a “military target”.

“The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all international, regional and local airlines -- as well as staff and travellers -- against using King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, as it is unsafe and serves as a military target for our forces,” he said. “The Saudi regime shall bear the consequences of any operations at the airport.” An AFP journalist in the city heard three explosions in the early hours of Sunday, with residents receiving alert messages for a “hostile aerial threat” urging them to stay in a safe place.

Israel to close all land crossings with West Bank on election day HEBRON, Palestinian Territories – Israel said Sunday all land crossings with the West Bank will be closed on the day of next week’s election, as it pledged a harder line on militancy after Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers in the territory. The announcement came a day after Israeli forces pushed into the occupied West Bank city of Hebron and displaced around 2,000 residents, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying, “they will not be allowed to return... until we’ve finished dealing with all the Hamas issues in Hebron”. Hamas, while not claiming credit, hailed Friday’s killings at a checkpoint near the Palestinian city, in which attackers shot dead two Israeli soldiers and wounded three more.

The warning came as the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it had downed a ballistic missile launched by the group towards Riyadh, as well as two drones in the capital area. “Air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Riyadh,” the coalition posted on X. Later Sunday morning, the coalition said its forces intercepted a cruise missile fired by the Houthis at the kingdom’s southern city of Khamis Mushait. AFP

DEMOCRATS’ SLIGHT LEAD. Former

US President Barack Obama speaks during a midterm campaign rally as he campaigns alongside Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit, Michigan during the weekend.. Obama delivered scathing criticisms of his successor, Donald Trump, to support Democratic candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Democrats are attempting to wrest back control of one or both chambers of the US Congress, which are currently controlled by Trump’s Republican party. AFP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to exact a heavy price for the attack just days before polls and said he was planning an operation on a scale not seen since Israel first occupied the West Bank in 1967. The Israeli army said that, from Sunday, Palestinians would “not be permitted to enter Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley for work”, using terms many in Israel use to refer to the West Bank. The army also said it would enforce “a ban on the entry and exit of Palestinian workers throughout Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, including industrial zones, as well as the closure of all land crossings throughout Election Day” on October 27, it added. AFP

More Lula, or back to Bolsonaros? Brazil votes in cliffhanger

FED UP WITH CRIME. Supporters of Brazil’s right-wing Senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro attend a campaign rally on the eve of the second round of the presidential election at the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the weekend. Final polls showed the two candidates neck-and-neck. AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilians head to the polls on Sunday (Monday, Manila time) facing a stark choice: another four years under veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, or a return to the right under Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. It is the final electoral battle for Lula, who turns 81 next week and is hoping to pull off a dramatic turnaround after a shock second-place finish in the first round to the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Final polls showed the two candidates neck-and-neck. Sunday’s runoff will determine whether Brazil remains one of Latin America’s

few leftist nations or joins a regional swing to the right championed by US President Donald Trump, who has not openly endorsed the son of his ally. Lula, who is seeking a fourth term in office overall, has pitched himself as a bulwark against US interference and democratic backsliding and promised to expand social protections. Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, has vowed to crack down on crime and slash government spending, while handing Brazil to “the Lord Jesus Christ,” with a message of change that won over Brazilians looking for something new. “Enough is enough. We’ve had 16

years of this administration, and it’s clear it didn’t work. It’s time for a change,” said Joao Paulo, 37, at a rally in Belo Horizonte, referring roughly to the total period Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) has governed Brazil. Flavio Bolsonaro has pitched himself as more moderate than his firebrand father, who is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for an attempted coup bid after his 2022 election loss. He has vowed that if elected, his first act will be to free Jair Bolsonaro, a deeply divisive figure in Brazil whose legacy loomed large over the campaign of his eldest son. AFP

NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Handle bomb threats properly—Abrahano N By Vince Lopez

ATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano on Sunday ordered all units in Metro Manila to intensify bomb threat awareness campaigns in schools, emphasizing coordinated response protocols, prompt threat assessment, and proper emergency procedures to protect students and teaching personnel while minimizing unnecessary class disruptions. The move came following a bomb threat on Oct. 21 at the University of

Santo Tomas (UST) Medicine and Surgery Building in Manila, where

a letter containing the threat was discovered inside a cubicle in the female comfort room, prompting stoppage of classes. Abrahano stressed that schools and responding authorities must be prepared to act swiftly and systematically whenever a bomb threat is reported. He also ordered police units to strengthen coordination with school administrators, security personnel, local government units, and emergency responders to ensure that established protocols are clearly understood and

properly implemented. “Every bomb threat must be taken seriously, but our response must also be disciplined, coordinated, and guided by established procedures. We need schools to know exactly whom to contact, how to report threats, when to activate emergency measures, and how to work with responding authorities,” Abrahano said. He also cited definitive protocols to protect lives, prevent panic, and help avoid unnecessary delays in determining the appropriate course of action.

Abrahano emphasized that awareness should cover proper threat reporting, immediate coordination with police and emergency responders, orderly evacuation when warranted, securing affected areas, and the conduct of appropriate security assessments before normal school activities resume. Likewise, the NCRPO chief reminded school officials and security personnel to preserve available evidence and refrain from spreading unverified information that could heighten public anxiety.

IN BRIEF

MARIAN FEAST OF CAVITE CITY.

Solon hails okay of new slots for 4Ps frontliners

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle celebrates Mass in Cavite City on Oct. 25, 2026 in observance of Fiesta da la Reina. Tagle previously served as bishop of Imus and Archbishop of Manila prior to his elevation as a cardinal and appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals in Vatican City. Dennis Abrina

HOUSE Minority Leader and 4Ps Partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan has welcomed the approval of 5,703 new regular positions for frontline workers of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), saying the move will provide them with greater job security and strengthen the implementation of the country’s flagship anti-poverty initiative. “We have been pushing for the regularization of 4Ps frontliners, so we are very pleased with this latest staffing action,” Libanan said in a statement. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the new 4Ps positions in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to institutionalize and expand the program’s workforce nationwide. Most of the new positions will be assigned to 4Ps divisions across the DSWD’s 17 regional offices, according to the DBM.

Garcia cites housing potentials of bamboo

BI warns job applicants vs. offers to work in Russia By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned Filipino jobseekers against suspicious employment offers in Russia amid concerns that recruits could be sent to fight in the war against Ukraine. The warning came on the heels of an interception of another Filipino allegedly hired for a securityrelated job in Russia. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued the warning following the stoppage of a 50-year-old Filipino man at the Mactan-Cebu

International Airport as he attempted to board a Cathay Pacific flight to Vietnam. According to the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section, the passenger disclosed during questioning that he was actually bound to Russia to work as a K9 handler. The passenger claimed he was recruited online before receiving his travel documents. He said he was offered a monthly salary of $3,500 without upfront fees, but was instructed to pose as a tourist to conceal the true nature of his trip.

Viado urged Filipino workers to exercise caution when considering overseas job offers, particularly those requiring them to misrepresent their travel purpose or hide their intended employment from immigration authorities. He warned that seemingly legitimate opportunities could be used as a front for human trafficking. The BI advised aspiring overseas Filipino workers to verify job offers through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and ensure that all required employment documents and work authorizations are in order before leaving the country.

DPWH speeds up Davao-Bukidnon highway repair PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the fast-tracking of rehabilitation works on damaged sections of the Davao-Bukidnon Road to restore safe and convenient travel for motorists and commuters. The road damage in Sitio Marahan, Marilog District, Davao City, occurred last July 17, following heavy rainfall that triggered a landslide and caused a portion of the highway to collapse. Another road slip was reported in Barangay Buda on July 27, prompting additional repair and stabilization work. The DPWH is expediting repairs to the vital highway linking the Davao Region and Northern Mindanao to ease traffic congestion, reduce travel time, and ensure the smooth movement of passengers and goods. The road rehabilitation aims to restore normal traffic flow and improve connectivity between the two regions. Rehabilitation efforts include slope stabilization, anchoring, and embankment works to reinforce the affected sections and reduce the risk of further road damage. The DPWH continues to prioritize the restoration of the highway, which serves as a major transport corridor for commuters, agricultural products, and other goods moving between the Davao Region and Northern Mindanao. Dizon said full restoration is expected to improve travel efficiency and support economic activities across Mindanao. Vito Barcelo

FREE RICE. Some 4,000 underserved residents of Malabon City benefits from a free rice assistance program through the second tranche of the ‘Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Rice Distribution Program’ of the city government.. The beneficiaries include members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, fire volunteers, and survivors of Violence Against Women and their Children. Andrew Rabulan

BATAAN 3rd District Rep. Gila Garcia has cited the potentials of bamboo and other local materials in developing safe, affordable, and sustainable homes for Filipino families. Garcia made the observation in his speech during the general membership meeting of the United Architects of the Philippines-Bataan Chapter on Saturday in Abucay town where she discussed bamboo innovation for sustainable housing. She said bamboo, as part of the natural resources and cultural heritage of the country, can contribute to the construction of durable, affordable and environmentfriendly homes when properly processed and designed and when safety standards are followed. Garcia also highlighted the importance of combining local materials, architectural expertise and community needs in creating homes that are not only structurally sound but also contribute to safer and more resilient communities. Butch Gunio

Bataan farmers trained in coconut production THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bataan, in partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute, has trained 21 farmers on good practices in coconut production and management during the Techno Klinik Batch 18 held at the Orani Municipal Hall on Oct. 21. DTI Trade and Industry Development analyst Marielle Reyes presented the agency’s programs and services supporting the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). Reyes also discussed the importance of proper packaging and product labeling to enhance quality, strengthen market competitiveness, and increase the marketability of coconut-based products. DTI also equips coconut farmers with relevant knowledge and provide access to programs and services aimed at product development, expanded market opportunities, sustainable livelihoods, and enterprise growth. Butch Gunio

BOC to adopt Japan logistics practices THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) aims to adopt proven Customs technologies and operational practices in Japan to speed up cargo clearance, improve trade efficiency, and strengthen border security. BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno led a delegation to Japan to study the country’s Customs systems and identify practices that could be applied to the Philippines’ ongoing logistics modernization efforts. The delegation met with Japan’s Customs and Tariff Bureau, the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia/Pacific (RILO A/P), Tokyo Customs, Yokohama Customs, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to learn about digital customs systems, intelligence

sharing, cargo inspection, and enforcement operations. The BOC is looking to apply lessons from the system to further improve its Customs Processing System (CPS) and enhance the efficiency of Customs operations in the country. At Tokyo Customs, the Philippine delegation observed cargo clearance procedures, large-scale X-ray inspection equipment, and surveillance technologies that could help improve risk-based inspections and strengthen border protection. Nepomuceno said the BOC aims to adopt practical solutions from Japan’s experience to make Customs services faster, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of businesses and the public. Vito Barcelo

CAREFREE, CARFREE TOMAS MORATO AVE. A group of beauties put their best foot forward as they take part in a regular entertainment program being spearheaded by the QC Public Affairs and Information Services Department every Sunday at the famous fine-dining row of the city. The activities include public service desks, pet adoption, and wellness booths, trash-to-cash exchange deals, fresh market, and information dissemination to ward off con games and scams.

SPORTS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

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

Jamesray Mishael Ajido, shown here in action, is one of nine Filipino athletes, all aged 17 and below, competing in six of the 25 sports featured in the Fourth Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.

Eala seeks deeper run in Tokyo meet By Jeremiah Sevilla

Swimmer Ajido is PH flag-bearer in Youth Olympics opening rites Y OUNG swimming sensation Jamesray Mishael Ajido will lead the Philippine delegation as flag-bearer during the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, Senegal, on October 31. The 16-year-old Ajido is one of nine Filipino athletes, all aged 17 and below, who will compete in six of the 25 sports on the program at Dakar 2026. The event marks the first time an Olympic competition will be held on African soil. “The YOG are as tough as the Summer Olympics,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino,

who will fly to the Dakar this week ahead of the Opening Ceremony at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio that will feature the culture and music of the host country under the theme “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates.” An advanced party for Team Philippines, headed by chef de mission Rocky Samson— secretary-general of the Philippine

Taekwondo Association—took an arduous 29-hour flight over the weekend to Senegal that will be hosting for 14 days close to 3,000 athletes from 203 nations. Ajido and Riannah Chantelle Coleman are the country’s representatives in swimming and they will plunge into the swimming competitions that start on November 1, the same day wushu’s Angel Polo (Women’s Taijiquan combined) also starts her campaign. Artistic gymnastics starts running on November 7 with Tchelzy Maayo and Hillarion Palles III campaigning, followed the next day by cycling with Maritanya Krog seeing action in women’s road

and individual time trial. Athletics action also starts on November 8 with Team Philippines pinning its hopes on Pi Durden Wangkay (Men’s 200m) and Naomi Marjorie Caesar (Women’s 800m). The country’s ninth athlete, Jade Justine Justiniane, also takes his turn beginning November 8 in windsurfing and sailing. The Philippines has so far bagged two medals in the YOG—Luis Gabriel Moreno won a gold medal in the mixed international team event of archery with China’s Li Jiaman in Nanjing and Christian Tio took silver in boys’ twin-tip racing of kiteboarding.

Golden Tigresses, Fighting Maroons take Round of 8 opener UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas weathered a fourth-set scare from Ateneo De Manila University to eke out a 2516, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, victory in the Round of 8 Pool F opener of the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup Round of 8 on Sunday at the Imus Sports Complex. The Golden Tigresses held off the Blue Eagles in the tight fourth frame after squandering a six-point lead to remain unbeaten in the league’s centerpiece competition, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R&B Milk Tea. UST controlled the first two sets, only to lose steam in the third before showing resolve late in the fourth to seal the two-hour, nine-minute win and inch closer to clinching a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage. “Sa third set, nakulangan kami sa attack variation and ‘yung diskarte namin since nababasa na ng kalaban ‘yung mga ginagawa namin. ‘Yung ginawa naming adjustments sa fourth set is mas sinipagan namin and mas naging mahaba ang pasensya namin sa sarili namin kapag naba-block o nadedepensahan kami,” said Tigresses

Games on Wednesday (Ninoy Aquino Stadium) 11 a.m. --- FEU vs CSB 1 p.m. --- Letran vs Ateneo 3 p.m. --- NU vs Adamson 5 p.m. --- UST vs UP

UST’s Regg Jurado and Kim Rubin try to keep the ball alive. Roman Prospero

winger Marga Altea, who scored 15 points on 11 kills and four kill blocks. Ashlee Knop finished with 12 points while Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado added 11 markers each for UST, which extended its winning streak to four after sweeping the first round.

After surrendering the third set, the Tigresses raced to an 18-12 lead in the fourth. However, Ateneo refused to go down without a fight and countered with an 8-2 run to tie it at 20. But the Blue Eagles shot themselves in the foot after Dona De Leon and Alexia

Montoro committed back-to-back errors, giving UST a two-point cushion. Jihan Chuatico saved a point for Ateneo but UST scored three straight points, capped by a Poyos ace to close the match. De Leon and Bea Buena finished with 12 points each while Chuatico had nine markers for the Blue Eagles. Meanwhile, University of the Philippines recovered from an opening set hiccup to beat Letran, 21-25, 25-22, 2522, 25-16, in Pool F. The Fighting Maroons carried the momentum of their three-game first-round sweep to draw closer to clinching a quarters incentive in the competition, which has the Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, Jersey Haven, Solar Sports and 12 Beyond Production as technical partners.

Avaricio rides South Pacific high into Apo title defense

Chanelle Avaricio

DAVAO CITY—Chanelle Avaricio brings a potent mix of winning momentum, growing confidence and proven course mastery into the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic, seeking back-to-back victories and a fourth title of the season as the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour wraps up its 2026 campaign Tuesday (Oct. 27) here. Fresh from a one-shot victory over Tiffany Lee at South Pacific last week, Avaricio heads to the quaint Apo layout with another compelling edge: a return to the course where she ruled in dominant fashion last year, turning a tight opening-round battle into a runaway triumph with a sterling second-round 68 that propelled her to an seven-shot victory. The reigning champion thus looms as the player to beat in the P1.25-million season-ending championship, armed with the confidence of a recent winner, familiarity with the demands of the course and an increasingly well-rounded game sharpened by overseas competitions, including the China Tour. Another victory would not only give Avaricio a fitting finish to her campaign but also match her fourtitle haul in the 2022 season. She has already stamped her class this year with victories at the demanding Pinewoods leg and Summit Point before surviving a dramatic, shifting battle of fortunes at South Pacific.

Yet for Avaricio, the significance of each triumph goes beyond numbers or comparisons. “Each win means a lot to me,” said Avaricio after edging Lee in a tense finish. “It’s same as my other wins. Pero lahat naman, I’m really grateful and happy. So, it’s the same as all my wins. So, grateful lang talaga.” That humility, however, will not diminish the target on her back at Apo. With her recent form and impressive title-defense credentials, Avaricio will have to contend with 23 challengers, including three amateurs, eager to derail her bid for another LPGT crown and close the season with a statement of their own. Among the leading threats is Yvon Bisera, who seeks redemption and a third title of the season, while Lee will be out to sustain her late-season charge after ending a two-year title drought at Pueblo de Oro. Daniella Uy, Harmie Constantino and Princess Superal also have the firepower to mount serious challenges if they find their rhythm early. Local knowledge could prove crucial on Apo’s tight, tricky layout, putting Sarah Ababa, Mafy Singson and Chihiro Ikeda in the mix. Their familiarity with Davao’s oldest golf course, where they have trained and developed their games, could provide a valuable advantage in a field expected to push Avaricio from the opening round.

RARING to make a deeper run this time, Filipina ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala tangles with British teenage wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic in the first round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis 2026 set to begin on Monday at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan. Seeded eighth in the WTA 500 tournament, the 21-year-old Eala takes on the 17-year-old Stojsavljevic for the first time in the Round of 32. Eala hopes to build on her Ningbo Open campaign in China, where she snapped her slump in the Asian swing with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win over France’s Diane Parry in the opening round. The world No. 20 Filipina, however, bowed out in the second round after a hard-fought 5-7, 4-6 loss to No. 13 Diana Shnaider of Russia. Eala is aiming to bounce back in Tokyo, although she is expected to face a tough challenge in the bottom half of the draw featuring four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, Wuhan Open winner Maja Chwalinska, and Shnaider. But Eala must first overcome Stojsavljevic, who is looking to make her mark on the WTA Tour after an impressive juniors career that saw her win the girls’ singles title in the 2024 US Open. Stojsavljevic sparked a fiery run in New York as she beat top seed Emerson Jones of Australia and current No. 12 Iva Jovic of the USA on her way to the final, where she swept Wakana Sonobe of Japan. The British teenager, currently ranked No. 308, reached a careerhigh No. 261 after advancing to the quarterfinals of the Birmingham Open, which Eala ruled back in June. Stojsavljevic last competed on the Tour in Wimbledon, where she fell in the first qualifying round.

Altas try to end 6-game slide By Dennis Abrina THE University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas are desperate to snap a six-game losing streak when they take on the Arellano University Chiefs in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Game time is set for 5 p.m., with coach Olsen Racela’s squad eager to claim its third victory and regain momentum heading into the third phase of the elimination round. Perpetual carries a 2-7 win-loss record into its second meeting with the Chiefs, who hold a 4-5 slate, as both teams look to improve their standings in the ongoing campaign. The Altas are seeking payback after absorbing an 88-65 defeat at the hands of Arellano on September 25 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Perpetual suffered another heartbreaking setback last Thursday, falling to Jose Rizal University, 72-70, in overtime for its sixth consecutive loss. Mark Gojo Cruz, LA Casillo, Ray Allen Maglupay, JM Tulabut, Jim Corpuz, Gelo Gelsano, Ariea Borja and Shawn Orgo are expected to lead the Altas’ bid to turn their fortunes around. Meanwhile, the defending Season 100 champion Junior Altas will seek a bounce-back victory against the Braves in their second Group B elimination-round encounter at 12 noon. Coach Joph Cleopas’ squad is determined to recover from an 86-82 loss to the Group A-leading JRU Light Bombers on October 20.

Perpetual Help’s Gelo Gelsano Dennis Abrina

BUSINESS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

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

COCONUT EXPORTS.

The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 11 (DA 11) and Avante AgriProducts Philippines Inc. dispatch the country’s first export of whole green fresh young coconuts to Monrovia, Republic of Liberia. The consolidated shipment consists of two 40foot reefer containers carrying a total of 1,600 sacks, equivalent to 32,000 pieces of whole green fresh young coconuts. Weighing an estimated 50 metric tons with a total value of $22,400, the cargo was transported via CMA CGM shipping lines.

NTC to switch off analog TV in Mega Manila on Nov. 22 By Darwin G. Amojelar

P70.5 billion August infrastructure Infra spending in August 2026

P84.9 billion Infra spending in August 2025

P522 billion Infra spending in 8 months

spending fell 16.9%–DBM By Thony Rose Lesaca

G

overnment infrastructure and other capital outlays fell 16.9 percent to P70.5 billion in August 2026 from P84.9 billion a year ago as ongoing project bidding weighed on public works disbursements, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) data showed.

The DBM said ongoing bidding for some Department of Public Works and

Highways (DPWH) projects affected disbursements, while most projects remained under implementation. It said P10 billion worth of checks issued to contractors and suppliers remained uncashed. “Adverse weather conditions in August—particularly flooding across parts of Luzon—also slowed construction activities for road infrastructure and rail transport projects,” the

agency said. Data showed that in the first eight months of 2026, infrastructure and other capital outlays declined 34.6 percent to P522.0 billion from P798.4 billion a year ago. The DBM traced the drop to lower DPWH disbursements amid stronger procurement compliance, project oversight, payment claims verification and

contractor documentation. “Nevertheless, infrastructure spending was supported by the continued project implementation and construction of other public infrastructure, such as school facilities, hospitals and farm-to-market roads by [the Department of Education, Department of Health and Department of Agriculture], respectively,” the DBM said. Defense modernization, rail and mass transport projects helped moderate the decline, it said. Overall government disbursements rose 16.0 percent to P507.3 billion in August 2026 from P437.3 billion in the same month last year. The budget agency said spending was supported by the subsidy to PhilHealth, allotments to local government units and expenditures for personnel services.

THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said it will shut down analog television broadcasts in Mega Manila on Nov. 22, 2026 as it steps up efforts to inform the public about the transition to digital television. NTC deputy commissioner Alvin Blanco said television networks have been preparing information materials and public service announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness of the switch-off. “We are looking at Nov. 22 as the analog switch-off date,” Blanco said, adding that the commission is continuing its public information campaign ahead of the deadline. The first phase covers Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga and Bataan. NTC Memorandum Circular No. 005-11-2025, issued in November 2025, requires television stations in those areas to migrate to the Integrated Services Digital BroadcastingTerrestrial (ISDB-T) standard within 12 months of its effectivity. About 80 percent of TV households in Mega Manila received digital TV broadcasts as of December 2024, according to a survey by Kantar Media Philippines commissioned by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The NTC is also coordinating with broadcasters to inform viewers, particularly those who still rely on analog television for news and entertainment.

BUSINESS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

ALABANG’S MICHELIN RESTAURANT.

PH stocks may test 5,600 level amid inflation, rate hike worries

Butcher Boy, the only Michelin-recognized restaurant in Alabang for 2026, opens on Saturday at Alabang West along Daang Hari Road in Muntinlupa City. Muntinlupa City Vice Mayor Stephanie Teves-Wong led the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside the restaurant’s owners. Butcher Boy first opened in Salcedo Village, Makati, in December 2024, bringing acclaimed Chef Andrew Walsh’s dining concept to the Philippines. Dennis Abrina

By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE stocks may test the 5,600 level this week as rising oil prices, a weakening peso, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ latest interest rate hike weigh on investor sentiment. Japhet Louis Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc., said the local market could remain on a bearish path as the economic outlook stays gloomy and investors contend with persistent inflation risks.

New QC cold storage facility breaks ground A

By Othel V. Campos

He noted that the central bank’s 50-basis-point rate hike at its latest meeting suggests inflation could remain elevated, while its signal of possible further tightening adds to concerns over borrowing costs and economic growth. Despite the rate increase, the peso continued to weaken, hitting a record low of 63.62 to the U.S. dollar. “Given the inflationary risks it brings, the peso’s weakness, if sustained or worsens, is expected to drag the local market,” Tantiangco said. Tantiangco added that the current uptrend in oil prices presents another upside risk to inflation that could weigh on the local bourse this week. Investors will also monitor the U.S. Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy meeting for signals on the direction of global interest rates. Tantiangco said Philippine shares remain at bargain levels from a fundamental standpoint, but a sustained rally could be difficult without positive catalysts. “Chartwise, the market pulled back after failing to take its resistance at 5,800. In its decline, the market also fell below its 10-day exponential moving average. Trading range is still seen from 5,600 to 5,800,” Tantiangco said.

C LOGISTICS Holdings Corp. and Glacier Megafridge Inc. broke ground on Green Rise Engineered Cold Chain Logistics (GRECO), a next-generation automated cold storage and distribution facility in Balintawak, Quezon City, that will accommodate approximately 25,000 automated pallet positions upon completion. The facility, strategically located along EDSA near the junction with the North Luzon Expressway, is designed to serve Metro Manila’s major retail, food service, and distribution networks while strengthening con-

nections to production hubs across Central and Northern Luzon. GRECO is expected to begin operations in February 2028, pending regulatory approvals and construction progress.

DigiPlus plans 60 new local games in 2027

“GRECO marks a significant step in realizing AC Logistics’ ambition of expanding cold storage connectivity across the Philippines,” said AC Logistics president and chief executive Erry Hardianto, adding that the facility will strengthen the nation’s cold chain network and help businesses transport products more efficiently, reliably, and sustainably. The facility will feature an automated storage and retrieval system using four-way shuttle technology. The system is designed to maximize storage density, provide realtime inventory visibility, and speed up order fulfillment while minimizing manual handling in temperature-controlled environments.

DIGIPLUS’ AWARD. DigiPlus

Interactive Corp. receives a 2-Golden Arrow Award from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in recognition of its “outstanding performance in corporate governance” on Oct. 23, 2026, at the Makati Shangri-La in Makati City. Representing DigiPlus are (from left) Celeste Jovenir, vice president for investor relations, corporate communications, and sustainability; chief legal and compliance officer Kristine delos Reyes; and assistant corporate secretary Jellyn Clemente.

DIGIPLUS Interactive Corp. plans to nearly double its localized game releases next year as it expands its portfolio through new partnerships. DigiPlus head of localization Ray De Guzman said the company is targeting as many as 60 new games in 2027, up from more than 30 titles expected this year. De Guzman said the company has secured two additional intellectual property partnerships for next year, with the first expected to begin rolling out games in the first half of 2027. The expansion follows DigiPlus’ partnership with Regal Entertainment to bring the “Shake, Rattle & Roll” horror film franchise to digital gaming through five titles on its BingoPlus platform. “Innovation at DigiPlus is about setting new standards for how digital entertainment is created and experienced. We bring together technology, creativity, and a deep understanding of our audiences to develop experiences that are engaging, differentiated, and distinctly relevant to our users,” said DigiPlus chairman Eusebio Tanco. “Our strategic partnership with Regal Entertainment reflects this approach. By combining the film outfit’s strong creative legacy with DigiPlus’ digital capabilities and local market insight, we are creating new opportunities to bring established Filipino entertainment into the digital space, strengthen our content portfolio, and deliver greater value to our audiences,” Tanco said. The games — “Manananggal,” “Reyna Ahas,” “Triple Terror,” “LRT Monster,” and “Aswang” — debuted Oct. 22. They will be rolled out in phases on ArenaPlus and GameZone, extending the titles across DigiPlus’ digital entertainment brands. Jenniffer B. Austria

A year of red lights THIS year, I collected more rejections than this article’s word limit can hold, so I’ll tell you about the two that hurt the most. After months of peer review, and after staying hopeful throughout the wait, a journal rejected a manuscript born from my dissertation, which I like to think of as my life’s work at this early stage of my career. The other was a short leadership program for women that turned down my application. I had written that one with more hope than I let myself admit. Others came as short, polite emails. I read them once and tried to forget about them the moment I archived them. As a research adviser, I tell students that rejection is part of research. Personally, I subscribe to the popular saying that sometimes a rejection is a redirection. Having interviewed students for various awards and sat on graduate admission panels, I know that rejection is a natural part of any selection process. One would think, then, that I should be able to navigate rejection well by now. Experience and lessons from mentors have taught me what to do after one: read the reviews, revise, and send the paper somewhere else. What I would like to acknowledge, however, is the feeling that comes with it. We can plan our next steps, but that never changes the hurt of reading that first rejection email. Nor does it quiet the lingering question: maybe this is not for me, or maybe I am not as worthy as my peers.

As I reflect on this, I believe part of the reason for the hurt is that the work is personal. That manuscript held years of hard work and the stories of women who trusted me with them. The program application described the leader I want to become. When both were turned down, it was hard not to read the decisions as a judgment of me. Margaret Archer’s work helps me make sense of this. Archer argues that people, through internal conversation, work out what they care about most, which she calls ultimate concerns. We then commit to projects that serve those concerns. A paper, a promotion, a slot in a program: these are projects I deliberately chose, not random goals. They are projects that carry what I care about. But projects run into structures we did not design. Review systems. Selection panels. Limited slots. A rejection is the moment a project meets a constraint, and I would offer this as the explanation for why it hurts. What is turned down is not just an output but a piece of what we were trying to become. It was also harder because we tend to celebrate wins more openly than losses. In the workplace, achievements are easy to announce, but for losses we have to search for the right words, hence the phrase “soften the blow.” In academia, we announce acceptances, grants, and awards. I know what my peers have achieved and thus made me think that’s probably what I should have

—“—

Your rejections do not make you less of a scholar, a leader, or a woman who belongs in the room. also achieved by now. We rarely announce rejections. And while this probably holds true for many of us, regardless of background, this silence costs women more. Many of us learned early that we have to prove we belong before anyone lets us in, and a rejection can confirm that old fear. When it comes from a program designed for women, it raises a harder question: if this door didn’t open, which one will? The usual advice is to bounce back. I have given that advice myself. But resilience offered too quickly can become another performance, one more thing to get right. Before we bounce back, we may need to simply sit with the fact that something mattered to us and did not happen. And if you are a manager, teacher, or mentor, I hope this is something we can teach others and ourselves, that Instead of saying “rejection is normal,” I want to say, “rejection is normal, and it is also okay to feel it.” And instead of jumping ahead of what could be done, to take time to feel the hurt and reflect why it did. It is in acknowledging that feeling that internal

conversation can be exercised again. So here is my honest ending. A happy ending would be to say I am ready to review, revise, and try again, but that would not be true. At least for now, I am taking a short break from this manuscript. I am not saying this as a confession of defeat. In Archer’s terms, it is part of the internal conversation, a pause to ask which concerns still matter to me and which projects deserve my focus next. I don’t have that answer yet, and that’s okay. If you had a year like mine, I hope you hear this clearly: your rejections do not make you less of a scholar, a leader, or a woman who belongs in the room. And stepping back does not mean you have given up. Sometimes rest is how we find our way back to what we care about. We can stop at the red light. We can rest before we try again. Dr. Jessica Jaye Ranieses is an Associate Professor in the Department of Decision Sciences and Innovation at De La Salle University. She is also the President of the Philippine Academy of Management, and Co-Chair of the PRME Working Group on Global Women and Leadership. She can be contacted at jessica.ranieses@dlsu.edu.ph. The perspectives shared in this piece are solely the author’s and do not necessarily represent the official views of De La Salle University, its faculty, or its administration.

BUSINESS

B3 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Subic EnerZone, SBMA extend distribution deal By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

BOITIZ-OWNED Subic EnerZone Corp., has extended its management and operation of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s power distribution utility for an additional 25 years under a renewed partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Subic EnerZone Corp. officer-in charge president and general manager Jay Navarro (left) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño exchange tokens of gratitude during the renewal of their power distribution partnership. Subic EnerZone, the distribution utility of Aboitiz Power Corp., extended its management and operation of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s power distribution system for another 25 years under the agreement.

APECO woos US, Canadian firms for key projects

By Othel V. Campos

THE Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) is seeking investors for defense, clean energy, and data center projects through investment missions to the United States from Oct. 24 to 30 and Canada from Nov. 2 to 6. APECO president and chief executive Gil Taway IV will lead the delegation to promote the 12,923-hectare ecozone in Casiguran, Aurora, highlighting its Pacific-facing location and incentives under the CREATE MORE Act.

APECO president and chief executive Gil Taway IV

In the U.S., APECO will hold investment briefings, site visits, and business meetings in Texas, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., following up on initial talks with defense firm Anglicotech LLC and consulting firm Valent. During the U.S. mission, APECO will sign agreements covering a proposed liquefied natural gas power generation project and substation facilities in the zone, as well as defense-related economic activities. In Canada, APECO will hold investment briefings in Montreal on Nov. 2 and Calgary on Nov. 5, targeting investors in infrastructure, energy, mining, critical minerals, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics. About 100 business executives and industry representatives are expected to attend. The missions aim to attract companies seeking Philippine operations and access to regional markets, Taway said. “As a Pacific-facing ecozone, we can be a reliable investment location for investors looking to establish presence in the Philippines, access the broader region, and take advantage of the two major economies’ multimillion-dollar Indo-Pacific strategies,” he said. APECO is also positioning the zone as a complementary investment location for the Luzon Economic Corridor, offering an alternative to established industrial centers along the country’s western seaboard.

Subic EnerZone has served the will remain essential to that progress. special economic zone since October It supports the daily work of loca2003. As of Feb. 28, 2026, it served tors, the services people depend on, more than 3,750 customers, including and the opportunities that continued industrial and commercial locators, investment can bring,” Perdices said. residential customers, streetlights, “For AboitizPower Distribution and industrial locators under retail Utilities and Subic EnerZone, this electricity supply arrangements. partnership carries a clear responSince taking over management of sibility: to plan alongside SBMA, the freeport’s power distribution sysstrengthen the systems that serve the tem, Subic EnerZone has played a freeport, and prepare for its changkey role in driving economic develing needs. That work calls for practiopment in the area, maintaining total cal planning, close coordination, and system losses at 4.37 percent as of a long-term view of reliability and late 2025 — below the governmentgrowth,” he added. mandated 5.5 percent cap for private Jay Navarro, officer in charge, presdistribution utilities. ident, and general manager of Subic Subic EnerZone’s modernized EnerZone, detailed system upgrades, power systems will serve as the backgrowth roadmaps, and reliability enbone for the authority’s long-term hancement plans designed to support master development plans, officials the SBMA’s vision for a modern, resaid. silient, and future-ready economic Anton Perdices, executive chairhub. man of the AboitizPower Distribution Group, opened the NOTICE partnership ceremony by highNotice is hereby given that Stock Certificate lighting the deep-rooted synergy Nos. 1, 12, and 13 of Manila Water Infratech between the Aboitiz Group and Solutions, Inc. (formerly Manila Water the SBMA, reiterating Subic EnTotal Solutions, Inc.), registered in the erZone’s commitment to powername of Manila Water Company, Inc. and ing progress. representing 199,995, 440,000,000, and “Subic has always been a place 112,000,000 common shares, respectively, of possibility — a freeport where have been reported lost. Unless contested businesses grow, industries conwithin one (1) year from the last publication nect, and communities build betof this Notice, said certificates shall be ter lives. As Subic moves into its cancelled in the Corporation’s books and next chapter, reliable electricity replaced. (MS-OCT. 12/19/26, 2026)

Maguindanao del Norte grew 6.3% in 2025 By Nash B. Maulana MAGUINDANAO del Norte’s economy grew 6.3 percent in the latest Philippine Statistics Authority report, up from 4.6 percent in 2024. The province logged a gross domestic product (GDP), of approximately P90.98 billion at current prices, according to the PSA. Gov. Datu Tucao Mastura, a certified public accountant, said the province’s economic performance reflects broad improvement across various industries. Mastura said the accelerated growth relies heavily on key transport hubs, including the Polloc Freeport in Parang and the domestic airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat. Provincial Administrator Datu Sharifudin Tucao Mastura said the provincial government continues to pursue initiatives to drive regional development. Local officials expect the province’s GDP to expand significantly once the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) completes the relocation of its government center to Parang in 2027. Regional leaders have planned the transfer to the former Sarmiento Industries estate along the coast since 2019. However, Mastura acknowledged that the provincial government must work closely with the financial sector to expand banking services to support the increased economic activity expected from the migration of government offices and personnel. BDO Network Bank has already established a branch in Sultan Kudarat, the capital municipality of Maguindanao del Norte. The provincial government has also begun rebuilding the old Maguindanao Capitol in Sultan Kudarat, starting with a recent groundbreaking for the “Istana Magindanaw” — or “Maguindanao Palace.” Maguindanao del Norte was one of two provinces in BARMM to record a per capita GDP above the regional average.

DISCOVER VISAYAS. The Department of Tourism, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry — through the Visayas Island-Chambers Tourism Alliance — and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport sign a memorandum of understanding on Oct. 23 for “Discover the Visayas, #FlyViaCebu,” an initiative encouraging travelers to explore the region using Cebu as a central gateway. Signing the MOU are (seated, from left) MCIA general manager Ricia Vinelli Montejo, PCCI president Ferdinand Ferrer and DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Development Planning Stanley Ng.

PH fresh durian sales hit $53m at CAEXPO 2026 A PHILIPPINE fresh produce exporter secured $53 million in durian sales at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO 2026), helping push the country’s total export sales to a record $60 million, according to the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions. Fresh durian accounted for 90 percent of total sales, reflecting strong Chinese demand for Philippine produce. The performance marked the highest sales total for the Philippines since it began participating in the annual trade event in 2004. A record 72 Philippine enterprises joined the expo under the national showcase brand PARTNERPhilippines. Other items that attracted buyers included organic coconut products, coconut oil, herbal beverages, banana chips, and coconut-based handicrafts. “This proves that the Philippines is distinctly programmed for business and growth,’” said CITEM executive director Leah Pulido Ocampo. Cebu was featured as this year’s “Province of Charm,” showcasing its artisanal products, business opportunities, and tourism destinations. Alongside the trade exhibition, the Board of Investments hosted the Philippine Investment Forum to promote opportunities in advanced manufacturing, innovation, regional supply chains, and green economy projects. Business associations also signed a memorandum of understanding during the event to strengthen enterprise cooperation.

CITEM executive director Leah Pulido Ocampo

CITEM attributed the strong demand to the quality, tropical flavors, and relatively short shipping times of Philippine products, as well as Chinese consumers’ growing preference for healthy and natural goods. Improved trade and logistics links — including the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement, or CAFTA 3.0, and the opening of China’s Pinglu Canal — are expected to expand market access and reduce shipping costs. CITEM will next lead the country’s participation in the China International Import Expo in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, where Philippine exporters will seek additional supply contracts for fresh produce and seafood. Othel V. Campos

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

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

EastWest gets PSE nod for P9-b stock rights offer By Jenniffer B. Austria

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HE Philippine Stock Exchange has approved the P9-billion stock rights offering of East West Banking Corp.

The PSE said it approved the listing and offering of 900 million EastWest Bank shares at an offer price of between P10.80 and P11.05 per share. The share price of EWBC closed at P9.41 on Friday. Under the proposed offering, shareholders may subscribe to one offer share for every 2.70 to 2.76 common shares held. EastWest Bank has scheduled the pricing date for Nov. 12, with the shares set to trade ex-rights on Nov. 18. The record date is Nov. 19, while the offer period will run from Nov. 23 to 27. AB Capital & Investment Corp. will act as the lead underwriter for this transaction. The offer shares are tentatively scheduled for listing on Dec. 7. The bank’s major shareholders Filinvest Development Corp. and FDC Ventures Inc. have committed to subscribe to their entitlement shares and

acquire additional rights shares that may become available during the offering. Filinvest Infra-Solution Ventures Inc. (FINSOLVE), a wholly owned FDC subsidiary, will also subscribe to shares that remain unsubscribed under the SRO. Proceeds from the offering will support the bank’s strategic growth objectives and future expansion plans, including scaling up its wealth and priority banking propositions, investing in transformative digital technologies and funding loan growth across key retail and business segments. EastWest is the banking arm of the Filinvest Group and one of the country’s leading consumer-focused banks. As of June 2026, it had total assets of P623.9 billion and one of the largest consumer loan portfolios domestic banking industry, amounting to P337.6 billion

SMART BUILDING. The Yuchengco Centre in Makati City becomes the first building in the Philippines to earn

SmartScore certification, the global standard for smart building technology. House of Investments Inc., the investment holding company of the Yuchengco Group, developed the tower together with Japan’s Sojitz Corp. Shown during the awarding of certification are (from left) Jijet de la Rosa and Christian Mata of Aidea; Marco de Padua, senior manager at Leechiu Property Consultants; Ed Jennings and Queenie Tang of WiredScore; Gema Cheng of House of Investments; Kohei Terashima of Sojitz Corp.; Ring Joven and Alexis Nikolai Diesmos of House of Investments; and Philip Añonuevo, executive director at Leechiu Property Consultants.

Meralco’s energy sales rose 0.8% in first 9 months By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) said it posted a 0.8-percent increase in consolidated energy sales to 41,054 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the first nine months of 2026, as new service connections more than offset softer organic demand. Meralco vice-president and head of commercial operations Charina Padua said third-quarter sales alone grew 3.4 percent from a year ago, “boosted by warmer temperatures and steady energization efforts.” Nine-month residential sales rose

1.5 percent to 14,731 GWh on sustained energization efforts, she said. Commercial sales increased 1 percent to 15,393 GWh, led by the continued expansion and ramp-up of retail and restaurant establishments. Industrial sales were down 0.3 percent to 10,819 GWh from January to September, as gains from the resilient semiconductor sector were largely offset by headwinds in the steel and plastics industries, Padua said. Padua is bullish on fourth-quarter sales, which could lift full-year performance. “Yes, we expect growth in Q4 given

Reliable power needs sustained demand for gas, says Prime Midstream DEMAND for gas-fired power remains strong as the Philippines needs dependable and affordable electricity amid fuel-price volatility and growing renewable energy generation, according to Prime Midstream president and chief executive Donnabel Kuizon Cruz. Speaking during a recent interview with Japanese media at the Philippine NatGas Complex in Batangas City, Cruz said gas-fired power plants continue to play an important role in meeting the country’s electricity requirements, particularly during evening hours when solar generation declines. “We see ourselves being asked to deliver more than our capacity now, which means that very reliable and affordable power sources are still much needed. The effects of the El Niño and the continued market volatility are affecting our electricity prices. Gasfired power plants must continue to operate in this manner,” said Cruz. Cruz also emphasized the complementary roles of indigenous gas and

imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) in managing exposure to global fuelprice volatility. “In terms of the volatility of the market—of the prices—indigenous gas price is usually historically lower than LNG prices, be it spot or term LNG. So it helps to cushion the market price spikes that LNG experiences,” said Cruz, who is also president and chief executive of upstream company Prime Energy. Prime Midstream’s LNG terminal, majority-owned by Prime Infra with a 60-percent stake alongside First Gen and Tokyo Gas with 20 percent each, complements indigenous gas from Malampaya in supplying power plants in Batangas, providing greater flexibility in fuel sourcing and helping manage exposure to international price fluctuations. Beyond its existing power generation customers, Cruz said Prime Midstream is looking to expand its infrastructure services to other industries and markets across the country.

MedSynergy, RGP Enterprises team up to develop Yakap Center health facilities MEDSYNERGY Business Development said it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with RGP Enterprises to develop Yakap Center facilities in Caloocan City and Marilao, Bulacan. MedSynergy founders Jinky Abella and Ceferino Bautista said the partnership aims to make essential healthcare services more accessible and convenient for Filipino families. “Yakap Center is more than a business venture. It is a commitment to making essential healthcare more accessible and convenient for Filipino families. We believe that quality healthcare should not be a privilege, but an opportunity that every Filipino family should have. Through this initiative, we hope to help bring the benefits of PhilHealth YAKAP closer to the communities that need them,” the founders said. Each Yakap Center is designed as a one-stop facility offering four services including medical consultation, laboratory diagnostics, a pharmacy and an optical clinic. Medical consultation covers assessment by healthcare professionals, while laboratory services support medical evaluation and preventive care. The pharmacy provides prescribed medicines, and the optical clinic offers eye examinations and vision care. The Caloocan and Marilao facilities form part of a plan to build 10 Yakap Centers across Caloocan City, Quezon City, Bulacan, Laguna, Pampanga and Pangasinan. MedSynergy said it will work with local operators and stakeholders, and each facility will be developed to respond to local healthcare needs and program requirements.

Prime Midstream’s LNG terminal, majority-owned by Prime Infra with a 60-percent stake alongside First Gen and Tokyo Gas with 20 percent each, complements indigenous gas from Malampaya in supplying power plants in Batangas, providing greater flexibility in fuel sourcing and helping manage exposure to international price fluctuations.

IN BRIEF MGen interested in PHIVIDEC coal plant

MERALCO PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., said it is interested in joining the planned privatization of the 232-megawatt coal-fired power plant at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. MGen president Emmanuel Rubio said the sale could give the company an “opportunity” to expand its asset portfolio. “Well, of course, there will be interested parties. We’ll look at it. I think there’s an opportunity in Mindanao. There’s pent-up demand in Mindanao,” Rubio said. State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) started preparing to privatize the Mindanao coal plant. It announced last month that it was procuring consultancy services for a thirdparty financial valuation of the facility. MGen operates through its key subsidiaries MGen Thermal Energy Inc. and MGen Renewable Energy Inc. Its portfolio includes thermal, liquefied natural gas, solar and battery energy storage assets. It also holds investments in Batangas LNG facilities through Chromite Gas Holdings Inc., Singapore-based PacificLight Power Pte. Ltd. and SP New Energy Corp. Alena Mae S. Flores

US awards $34.1m to develop ube industry

MedSynergy Business Development and RGP Enterprises sign an agreement to build Yakap Centers in Caloocan and Marilao, part of a 10-center plan.

THE United States awarded a $34.10million grant to develop the Philippine ube industry, supporting a five-year program expected to benefit more than 12,500 farmers as global demand for the purple yam grows. The US-funded initiative will strengthen the ube value chain, improve farmers’ access to markets and help connect Philippine growers to international food and beverage supply chains. It complements a separate P300 million Department of Agriculture (DA) program to expand domestic production.

“We are grateful to the US government and the US Department of Agriculture for this support, which will help us scale up ube production, meet growing global demand, realize the tuber’s potential as an export winner, and create better income opportunities for our farmers,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. “By strengthening the entire value chain, we can turn ube into a more competitive agricultural product while fostering inclusive growth in rural communities,” he said. The US government, through the US Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress Program, awarded the grant, equivalent to about P2.1 billion, for the development of the Philippine ube value chain. Othel V. Campos

Australian investments surged 657% in 9 months

AUSTRALIAN investments approved by the Board of Investments (BOI) surged 657.3 percent to P1.57 billion in the first nine months of 2026 from P207.9 million a year ago, prompting the agency to seek more opportunities in critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. BOI managing head and Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo will lead the Philippine delegation to the International Mining and Resources Conference + Expo (IMARC) 2026 in Sydney from Oct. 27 to 29. The mission seeks to attract investments in value-added mineral processing, advanced materials and other high-value industries linked to the global energy and technology transition. “IMARC provides an excellent platform to showcase the Philippines’ strengths, engage global industry leaders, and advance investments that support long-term industrial development,” Rodolfo said. Administrative and support services, wholesale and retail trade, and information and communication activities drove most of the growth in Australian investments. Othel V. Campos

continuous energizations and possibly boosted demand due to El Niño,” she said. Meralco’s consolidated distribution utility energy sales fell 0.5 percent in the first half to 26,967 GWh from 27,091 GWh a year ago. Warmer conditions in the second quarter helped cushion a weak first quarter. Growing adoption of rooftop solar also curbed Meralco’s energy sales, with an estimated 372 GWh of ownuse energy generated year-to-date. Clark Electric Distribution Corp. posted 1 percent sales growth, while Shin Clark Power Corp. added 4.3 GWh to consolidated energy sales.

PH technology corridor to link industry hubs THE Board of Investments (BOI) is advancing a broader Philippine Technology Corridor that links strategic industry hubs across the country, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Sunday. The corridor covers advanced manufacturing in New Clark City, IC design in Metro Manila, critical minerals in Mindanao, AI infrastructure in Batangas, connectivity in Aurora and prospective wafer fabrication in Bulacan, Recto said. The government will underpin the drive by improving infrastructure, developing Filipino talent, implementing predictable rules and resolving investment bottlenecks fairly and quickly. In Tarlac province, a 1,600-hectare technology and advanced manufacturing hub in New Clark City is forecast to generate 130,000 jobs, Recto said. The hub is part of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), a SubicClark-Metro Manila-Batangas link where state and private investment will focus on transport, logistics, energy, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. The LEC aims to create 1 million jobs. Recto said that electronics and semiconductors are driving merchandise exports to historic levels, with shipments reaching an all-time high of $64 billion in the first eight months of 2026 and strengthening the country’s position in the global technology supply chain. Recto, chair of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council, said the record output validates President Marcos Jr.’s directive to move the Philippines beyond assembly and into highervalue activities. He said investors increasingly see the Philippines as a choice not only for manufacturing and assembly but also for chip design, engineering, research and innovation. Recto said that as demand for AI, semiconductors and data centers grows, so do opportunities for Filipino workers, engineers and businesses. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that merchandise exports in August rose 27.8 percent from a year ago to $9.1 billion, a 35-year monthly high. Electronic products drove most of the growth, generating US$6.2 billion, or 68 percent of total exports for the month. From January to August, electronics exports grew 26.2 percent to US$37.1 billion.

REAL ESTATE

C1

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com Jenniffer B. Austria, Issue Editor

The artist’s early rendering of the planned retail plaza. Concept details remain subject to change.

SM Prime refreshes Susana Heights for younger generation S USANA Heights Village in Muntinlupa is entering a new phase of development as SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s premium residential arm, Signature Series, starts redeveloping the established southern estate to meet the needs of younger families.

The redevelopment aims to retain the village’s large residential lots, mature trees and low-density setting while adding retail spaces, upgraded amenities and other conveniences for residents. Since relaunching available lots late last year, Signature Series has drawn interest from buyers looking to secure properties for their children, according to Jose Juan Jugo, executive vice president and head of Signature Series. “Many of our buyers are acquiring properties for their children who are now raising families of their own,” Jugo said. “They see Susana Heights as a place where the next generation can put down roots and a long-term asset that can remain in the family,” he said. New spaces The estate has long appealed to families seeking more space and a quieter residential environment in the south of Metro Manila. Its dedicated access to the South Luzon Expressway also provides a direct

connection to Alabang and the wider Metro Manila road network. For Signature Series, the challenge is to introduce new facilities without losing the qualities that have made the village attractive to established homeowners. “We want to preserve what families have long valued about Susana Heights while thoughtfully introducing the amenities, conveniences and shared spaces that younger families increasingly value,” Jugo said. The first phase of the redevelopment includes changes to the estate’s master plan, architecture and landscaping. The plans also call for two retail plazas outside the residential core, allowing residents to access everyday services, dining options and social spaces without changing the village’s predominantly residential character. The North and South Plazas are planned with low-rise buildings, glass frontages and landscaped walkways surrounded by tropical greenery. The design is intended to provide a garden-like setting for shops and

other establishments while keeping commercial activity separate from the quieter residential areas. Perkins & Will is leading the master plan for the South Plaza and future improvements, while Greener & Partners is designing the North Plaza. Inspira Design Core is handling landscape planning across the estate. The redevelopment will also cover shared facilities, including the main clubhouse, covered tennis courts, an air-conditioned indoor basketball court, fitness gym, social hall and chapel. These facilities are intended to support recreation, fitness and family gatherings, giving residents more options within the estate. Village’s appeal Signature Series seeks to build on Susana Heights’ established identity. Its emphasis remains on generous lot sizes and a less crowded setting, with new amenities added around the existing residential core. For families buying property as a long-term investment, the changes could make the estate more practical for younger homeowners while retaining the features that drew earlier generations to the village. The retail plazas and other improvements are still in the planning and development process, with project details subject to change. Jenniffer B. Austria

Empire East tops off four-tower project in Mandaluyong

Cebu’s retail sector gains new shopping, dining destination CEBU’S retail landscpae is gaining another shopping and dining destination with the opening of upscale Astra Lifestyle Centre in Mandaue City, as Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) expands its commercial property portfolio in the Visayas. The boutique retail center along A.S. Fortuna Street offers restaurants, cafés, shops, wellness facilities and recreational activities. It has also brought several brands to Cebu for the first time, including Nabe Izakaya and Hotpot, Refuel Specialty Coffee and Bistro, and Hai Chix and Steaks. Homegrown tenants include Tales and Feelings, Commonly Uncommon, Tian Fu, Kalipay Filipino Restaurant, Ondo Bakery, Seoul Moon and Cloud Nine Creamery. The center also houses Metro Supermarket, fashion and beauty shops, clinics, fitness and wellness facilities, children’s activity centers, and home interior businesses. More tenants are expected to open, including Little Italy Pizzeria, sports and recreation facility Studio 300, and Much Love Mom. “Astra Lifestyle Centre reflects our vision of creating more than just retail spaces, but destinations that become part of people’s everyday lives. From thoughtfully curated homegrown favorites and first-inCebu concepts to its distinctive design and welcoming atmosphere, every element has been carefully considered to create an elevated yet approachable lifestyle experience,” said Joanna Marie S. Bergundthal, CLI executive vice president and chief people and strategy officer. Astra Lifestyle Centre is part of CLI’s Astra mixed-use development,

which also includes Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue, One Astra Place condominium and the 12-storey Astra Corporate Centre. The center received the Best Retail Architectural Design award at the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards in August 2026.

The Paddington Place artist perspective Astra Lifestyle Centre, Cebu Landmasters, Inc.’s (CLI) newest upscale lifestyle destination along A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City, Cebu.

EMPIRE East Land Holdings Inc. has topped off The Paddington Place, a four-tower residential development along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, as the property developer moves closer to completing the project. The topping-off ceremony marked the completion of the buildings’ structural frameworks. The company said its next priorities were to finish construction, prepare for unit turnover and welcome residents. Empire East president and chief executive officer Anthony

Charlemagne C. Yu said the company’s goal went beyond completing the buildings. “Today, we celebrate reaching the top of The Paddington Place. But our greater achievement will come when we open its doors to the families who will call it home,” Yu said. The project adds to Empire East’s portfolio in Mandaluyong, where it has completed 40 residential towers. Across its developments, the company has built 166 towers in its 32 years in the Philippine property industry, 122 of which have been completed and turned over to buyers. Located along Shaw Boulevard, The Paddington Place is designed to combine residential units with retail spaces and amenities. Shops and service establishments are planned for the ground floor, while the company’s corporate office will occupy the second level. The seventh level will house recreational facilities. The location provides access to nearby business districts, commercial establishments and transport links, giving residents options for commuting and everyday needs. Metro Stonerich Corp. is the project’s construction partner. Empire East said it would continue to focus on construction completion, unit turnover and the long-term maintenance of the development as it prepares to welcome homeowners.

PH1 World, Megawide showcase 27-sqm housing model under 4PH program PH1 World Developers Inc. and Megawide Construction Corp. showcased a 27-squaremeter housing model under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, giving prospective homeowners a look at the type of residential unit being offered through the initiative. The model unit, was displayed at the second National Housing Expo 2026 at the SMX Convention Center held this month, was designed to illustrate the companies’ approach to providing modern housing under the government-backed program. PH1 serves as the property developer, while Megawide brings its engineering, procurement and construction expertise to the partnership. The companies said the display highlighted their respective roles in developing and building housing projects.

The expo, organized by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the Pag-IBIG Fund with other government shelter agencies, featured more than 80,000 ready-foroccupancy units from participating developers and drew over 40,000 sign-ups, according to the companies. PH1 president Gigi Alcantara said the event helped introduce the housing program to more Filipinos and gave prospective beneficiaries an opportunity to explore available housing options. The model home is part of PH1’s broader commitment to deliver 100,000 homes under its housing initiatives. The company expects to have delivered more than 25,000 homes by 2028, with additional towers under the Expanded 4PH program expected to reach the topping-off stage in the coming months.

PH1 World Developers and Megawide at the 2026 National Housing Expo

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

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

King of Talk bears past mistakes Boy Abunda confronts his past and admits regret over insensitive celebrity interviews

By Jasper Valdez

S Five years of friendship keep Faith Da Silva (right) and Sam Verzosa close, with the actress crediting him for encouraging bigger ambitions while ruling out a romance

Faith Da Silva friendzones Sam Verzosa By Angelica Villanueva ACTRESS Faith Da Silva has clarified that she and businessman Sam Verzosa are not in a romantic relationship, despite their close bond. On Friday’s episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the Red Crown star addressed questions about their relationship, reiterating that Sam is not her boyfriend. “We’re very, very close. Especially right now. And we’re still getting to know each other, but he’s not my boyfriend,” she said. Da Silva revealed that they have known each other for five years and credited Verzosa with helping her expand her ambitions and pursue new opportunities. She also described him as a mentor who taught her about manifestation and affirmations. “He taught me about manifestations and affirmations, and because of him, my dreams in life grew even bigger because I realized that nothing in this life is impossible,” she said. Sam previously addressed their relationship during his June appearance on the same program, saying they were just friends. He was previously in a relationship with actress Rhian Ramos, who confirmed their breakup in March on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. Rhian said they had been separated since October 2025 and clarified that content creator Wil Dasovich was not involved in their split.

Despite speculation surrounding their bond, Faith Da Silva (left) maintains that Sam Verzosa remains a close friend and mentor

EASONED television host Boy Abunda admitted that some of the questions he asked celebrities earlier in his career were insensitive, saying he has since learned to be more careful about how he handles personal subjects. During a recent visit to the set of GMA Network’s Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the veteran talk show host reflected on his years in entertainment journalism and acknowledged that some of his past interviews make him uncomfortable when he watches them today. “I regret having asked some tough, insensitive questions,” Boy said, explaining that he started hosting at a time when such questions were generally accepted on showbiz talk shows. He also admitted that the pressure to establish himself in the industry may have influenced his approach. “Maybe because I was making a name for myself,” he said. “There was a time when we were encouraged.” Boy, who previously hosted Startalk and The Buzz, said he regularly reviewed episodes of his programs to assess his performance, often becoming his own harshest critic. “I don’t need bashers. I am a relentless basher of my own work,” he said. Looking back at some of his older interviews, he admitted there were moments when he questioned how he handled certain conversations. “There are interviews I watch, and I just say, ‘How the hell did I get there?’ It’s like, did I actually do it?” he shared. For Boy, making mistakes is una-

A visit to the ‘Fast Talk’ set gives Manila Standard Entertainment a behind-thescenes look at Boy Abunda (left) at work

Years of interviewing celebrities leave Boy Abunda more conscious of boundaries, trust and the responsibility that comes with asking difficult questions

voidable in a career built around asking questions, particularly when dealing with celebrities who may be reluctant to discuss sensitive matters. “No matter how cautious, no matter how careful you are, you’re bound to make mistakes. You’re just human,” he said. He stressed, however, that he has never been afraid to acknowledge his shortcomings. “I committed a lot of mistakes along the way. And I was not afraid at any point in my career to own up to my mistakes and to apologize if I needed to apologize.”

His approach to interviewing has also changed over the years. Boy said he now places greater importance on establishing trust with guests, recognizing that some need more time before discussing personal matters. He explained that guests or their representatives sometimes request that certain questions be avoided. While he does not necessarily shy away from difficult subjects, he believes there are limits worth respecting. “There are requests that you really have to respect, especially if the price is damaging a relationship,” he explained. “It’s just a question. It will never be more important than a marriage,” he added. Despite decades in the industry, Boy continues to examine his work and remains interested in helping

younger television personalities improve their hosting skills. He also acknowledged that his demanding schedule sometimes leaves him exhausted, although he has no intention of stepping away from the profession. “Yes, I’m tired. But it’s not the kind of tiredness that leads you to quitting,” he said. Asked what keeps him going after years of interviewing some of the country’s biggest celebrities, Boy gave a simple answer. “If you ask me, ‘What was my best interview? What was my best talk show?’ I’ll tell you, ‘The next one.’” Fast Talk with Boy Abunda airs weekdays from 4:05 to 4:30 p.m. on GMA Network. The show’s weeklong birthday special begins today, Oct. 26, and runs until Oct. 30, with various guests joining Abunda throughout the celebration.

Sacha Baron Cohen revives ‘problematic dinosaur’ Ali G in new film WITH Ali G: Who Iz I?, Sacha Baron Cohen returns to the guerrillastyle comedy that made him famous, but his controversial character faces a very different cultural climate. The film, Cohen’s directorial debut, revives the persona first introduced in a British television segment before becoming the star of Da Ali G Show. Cohen played a white man obsessed with hip-hop and reggae who interviewed public figures, including Donald Trump and Buzz Aldrin, often without their knowledge that they were part of a joke. The new mockumentary follows Ali G, known for flashy outfits and gold chains, as he seeks a television comeback after discovering that his girlfriend, Julie (Morgana Robinson), is pregnant and he needs money. To satirize today’s political polarization, Cohen also plays Ali G’s nemesis, Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degeocello, a professor so left-wing that “he makes AOC look MAGA,” referring to Democratic socialist congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Cohen

Two decades after the character made him famous, Sacha Baron Cohen brings Ali G into a sharply different cultural climate while taking aim at presentday political extremes

also portrays Colonel Morad, who represents the opposite end of the political spectrum. Some critics consider Ali G a relic whose cultural appropriation is no longer funny. “The film has a few scattered giggles, but it’s dawdling and cumber-

some, and far less ‘relevant’ than it thinks,” Variety wrote, describing Ali G as a clueless white poseur whose funniest moments came as a talkshow stooge. Cohen acknowledged the changing times, saying they were precisely why he wanted to revive the character.

“I brought back Ali G because he is a problematic dinosaur,” he said. “I just love the idea of dropping him into today’s world.” Two decades ago, Cohen used Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan to expose American prejudices. His work has drawn comparisons to filmmaker Nathan Fielder, whose documentary You Can See Everything, about disgraced biotech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, debuted last week to critical acclaim and box-office success. Cohen praised Fielder for creating “something completely different.” Cohen, 55, arrived at the Los Angeles premiere in character, wearing neon yellow from head to toe. He stepped out of a convertible alongside Robinson and performed “Richer than Elon,” a song mocking SpaceX chief Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man. AFP

Alexander Skarsgard and his viral ‘Wicker’ transformation ALEXANDER Skarsgard was eager to play the woven fantasy husband in the whimsical romantic drama Wicker, but wearing the elaborate costume proved less enchanting than expected. The Swedish actor told AFP that the intricate suit, which sent the internet into a frenzy, triggered “panic and claustrophobia.” “It was quite heavy and warm and glued to my face a little. I couldn’t really take it off at all during the day,” he said. Now playing in US theaters, Wicker is based on British author Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story The Wicker Husband. Skarsgard stars opposite

Olivia Colman, who plays a fisherwoman ostracized in a medieval, patriarchal village for being independent and smelling of fish. Defying convention, she asks a basket weaver, played by Peter Dinklage, to create a husband for her. A month later, Skarsgard appears as a tall, carefully woven dream spouse whose domestic and bedroom skills leave the village talking. The men resent him, while the women envy the fisherwoman. Directors Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, who are work and life partners, said the whimsical story explores modern themes of envy, love,

and social comparison. “The movie can just be enjoyed at surface level, and it’s this fun spectacle,” Wilson said, adding that its deeper themes remain relatable today. Creating the titular character’s elaborate appearance fell to New Zealand special effects studio Weta Workshop, known for its work on The Lord of the Rings films. Although the prosthetic face echoed Skarsgard’s features, it made conveying emotion difficult. “I had to exaggerate all my expressions,” he said, explaining that subtle movements disappeared beneath the mask. Skarsgard felt like a “clown” dur-

ing rehearsals, but Colman praised his performance. “He’s incredibly humble,” the Oscar winner said, marveling at how he conveyed love, humor, and nuance through a character made essentially of wicker. Filming began with the sex scenes, clips of which quickly went viral. Swedish furniture retailer IKEA joined the fun with cheeky advertisements promoting rattan products as “made from husband material.” Skarsgard said the scenes balanced passion with humor and awkward moments, calling them “a good way to start the movie.” AFP

Heavy prosthetics force Alexander Skarsgard to rethink how he conveys emotion as he plays an unusual romantic lead opposite Olivia Colman

LIFE By SCA Isidro A dewy morning after the rain. The tips of the pine branches bow under the weight of raindrops, like tears falling into the cold morning air, like tiny needles piercing through the skin. Last night was an adventure. I stepped onto the wooden planks of the footbridge, suspended in the darkness, connecting one place to another. Then I entered the back door. And there was a sharp descent, down into the quiet, down toward my bed dressed in crisp white sheets. That descent felt like going deeper into my self descending beneath the noise, beneath the surface, and staying there for a while, resting. Being. Until for a little while. (Pine Needles) Thus wrote Diwa Aquino-Gacosta after a two-day stay at the Pine Needle Treehouse of Tudor in the Pines, a boutique forest homestay in Baguio City. She posted this as entry No. 258 of her 365-day writing project for 2026. In it, she wrote, “Morning reflection or muni-muni before the start of Day 2 of the Creative Nonfiction writing workshop here at Tudor in the Pines. I must say that I am in love with the place. I highly recommend it!” A humanitarian worker recently returned from South Sudan, Diwa is finding her footing again in the Philippines. She is taking a career break to reflect on her experiences, particularly the challenges and lessons of living far from home. She hopes to complete her book before her break ends in 2026. Although she could have joined the organizers and fellow workshop participants at the Tudor House, which accommodates 10 people, Diwa chose to stay alone at the Pine Needle Treehouse. From her banig on the upper floor and in the receiving area of the glass house, she enjoyed views of the stars. The setting is ideal for a peaceful retreat where guests can slow down, reconnect, and enjoy nature. The Pine Needle Treehouse is half of the Twin Glass Treehouse, perhaps

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Tudor in the pines

Tudor in the Pines offers accommodations that combine classic and contemporary design amid a property dotted with pine trees

The glass treehouse is part of the property’s Twin Glass Treehouse accommodations

the only glass treehouse in Baguio. Its counterpart is the Pine Cone Treehouse. Both accommodations stand 30 feet above the ground, connect through a timber deck, and feature expansive views of pine forests. Each accommodates two guests and is accessible via a wooden-and-rope hanging bridge. Tudor in the Pines is nearly seven kilometers from the city center, about a 20-minute drive away. You wouldn’t believe that this

Its lodging options cater to couples, families and groups seeking a quiet retreat

1,000-square-meter property has at least seven pine trees! There’s plenty to enjoy at Tudor in the Pines. Guests can watch the sunrise from a private viewing tower, explore forest paths, hug trees, or practice “grounding” by walking barefoot on the grass. They can also sip coffee, read, unwind, and listen to birdsong in the private gardens. At night, couples, families, barkada, or office mates can gather around the dapayan for barbecue.

In its seven years of operation, Tudor in the Pines has hosted wellness and digital detox weekends, remote work and “workcations,” content creation and photo shoots, prenup shoots, romantic escapes, wedding proposals, and intimate weddings. It is also a favorite for birthdays, anniversaries, family getaways, team building, and retreats for companies and Christian groups. Most recently, it hosted an intimate Creative Non-

fiction + Publishing workshop co-facilitated by Beverly Siy and Ronald Verzo, the husband-and-wife team behind Balangay Books, an independent publishing outfit. Apart from the twin glass treehouses, Tudor in the Pines has several other accommodations. A fusion of classic and contemporary design, the Tudor House accommodates up to 10 guests. Its glass-house lounge overlooks the Sto. Tomas Hills. The property also features a spacious master bedroom with a private coffee corner, a guest room overlooking the pine trees and garden, a bedroom with two beds, and an expansive attic suite with a skylight offering views of the forest and sunrise. Below the Tudor House is the Forest Terrace, accessible through a garden tunnel. Art enthusiasts will appreciate its large oil paintings. Like the other big units on the property, it has a fully equipped kitchen, while its living and dining areas comfortably accommodate a group of six. The luxurious Royal Cottage is a medieval-inspired lodging accessible through a stone archway and a black gallery decorated with oil paintings and collectibles. It has two well-appointed bedrooms connected by a cozy daybed, a fully equipped kitchen, spacious living and dining areas, and a private long-bath area. It accommodates six guests. A personal favorite of this writer, as well as popular blogger and vlogger Mommy Pehpot and her family, is the Garden Terrace. Located just below the Royal Cottage, it overlooks the Pine Cone and Pine Needle treehouses. This contemporary designer’s home features a huge timber deck enclosed in glass, with views of the sky and garden. Its two bedrooms have large panoramic doors, and the unit comfortably accommodates four guests. I heard Tudor in the Pines has awesome offers, even though we’re already well into the “ber” months. Tudor in the Pines is located at 17 Western Link Circumferential Road (Lower Balacbac Road), Sto. Tomas, Baguio City. Contact them via Viber or WhatsApp at +639396364546, or email thetudorhomestay@gmail.com.

Experiencing global flavors under one roof By Angelica Villanueva DINERS looking for variety have a new option in Bonifacio Global City, where Kinjoru Izakaya features Japanese favorites, Chinese dishes, Italian pasta, roasted meats, and other international offerings under one buffet spread. Located on the eighth floor of Brittany Hotel BGC, Kinjoru is built around an open-kitchen concept, allowing diners to watch chefs prepare food across different stations. The restaurant is now on its second day of operations, according to corporate chef Tom Quintana Gregorio. “We have Spanish, Caribbean, European, roasting, and tequila stations. We have the Japanese station, tempura, yakimono, ramen, sashimi, nigiri, and maki. We also have Italian pasta with a variety of sauces. We have Chinese, dim sum, and roasting,” Gregorio said. With so many dishes available, maintaining food quality and freshness is one of the kitchen’s priorities. Gregorio said the team prepares fresh food daily instead of relying on leftovers while following a rotating menu cycle. “No leftovers. We need to cook fresh every day. We have our rotation of the menu cycle,” he said. The Japanese station focuses on preparation and food safety, particularly for raw seafood. The chef handling the station explained that the sashimi is checked before being placed on the buffet. “Before we put it out, I taste all the sashimi. Same with the nigiri. We really need to make sure that it is safe before we serve it,” the chef said. The salmon served at the restaurant is sourced from Norway, while the kitchen is also considering trout for its sashimi selection. The chef explained that the two have

Don Macchiatos introduces four Vietnamese-inspired coffee drinks, including Salt Coffee, Coconut Coffee, Iced Milk Coffee and Iced Black Coffee

Kinjoru Izakaya offers an international buffet featuring Japanese specialties, roasted meats, Italian pasta, Chinese dim sum and other dishes

different flavor and fat profiles, with trout costing more. “The salmon we have is Norwegian. We are also trying the trout because trout has more fat. The Norwegian salmon has a little saltiness, while the trout does not have that strong taste. It is more expensive, but the flavor is different,” the chef said. The maki selection also changes throughout the day. Rather than keeping the same offerings for every meal, the kitchen adjusts the selection for breakfast and lunch. “For the maki, every day it is different. During breakfast, the setup of the maki is different, and it is also different for lunch. We do that so the guests will not get tired

The restaurant’s open-kitchen concept lets diners see chefs prepare food across its stations

of eating the same thing,” the chef said. Kinjoru has 10 chefs assigned to different cuisines, with the kitchen team working across the restaurant’s various stations. Its open-kitchen setup allows diners to see part of the food preparation and presentation process. The restaurant caters to hotel guests and walk-in diners, with breakfast and lunch service available. It also accepts private events and other functions. The kitchen team’s immediate goal is to introduce Kinjoru to more diners and eventually expand its reach. “Our goal is to cater to more people, become known, and expand the restaurant,” Gregorio said.

The buffet at Kinjoru Izakaya features an assortment of breads, pastries and other selections alongside its international cuisine stations

Local coffee chain adds Vietnamese flair to its affordable lineup VIETNAMESE coffee, known for its strong brews, creamy sweetness, and distinctive roasted notes, is the inspiration behind four new drinks from Don Macchiatos, the Philippine coffee chain known for its P39 offerings. Launched on Oct. 20 at the brand’s flagship branch on P. del Rosario Street in Cebu City, beside Sto. Rosario Church, the new lineup features Salt Coffee, Coconut Coffee, Iced Milk Coffee, and Iced Black Coffee. The drinks use traditional Vietnamese phin filters, which produce a rich brew often paired with sweetened condensed milk and served over ice. The lineup features Trung Nguyen Robusta beans, known for their dark roast and chocolate notes, along with Vinamilk condensed milk, a popular Vietnamese brand. Coconut Coffee, or Cà Phê Cốt Dừa, pairs coffee with a sweet, creamy coconut topping finished with desiccated coconut bits for added crunch. Salt Coffee, or Cà Phê Muối, combines a strong brew with a lightly salted cream topping that balances the coffee’s roasted notes and sweetness. Both are priced at P59. Iced Milk Coffee, or Cà Phê Sữa Đá, offers a classic combination of strong coffee and sweetened condensed milk, while Iced Black Coffee, or Cà Phê Đen Đá, serves a phin-brewed coffee over ice, with dark-roasted bitterness and subtle chocolate or caramel notes. Alongside the launch, Don Macchiatos has renovated its flagship store, with a design by Yaoto Architects + Partners inspired by Vietnamese street-side coffee shops. The space allows customers to sit facing the bustling streets while enjoying their drinks. The four new flavors will roll out to other branches soon. Customers can get an early taste at the P. del Rosario flagship store in Cebu City.

LIFE

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

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

By Nickie Wang

D

ISCOVERY Coron has launched a prepaid stay program that gives travelers flexible options for island getaways. The launch follows the resort’s win as the World’s Top Luxury Private Island Resort at the 2026 REVE Luxury Awards. The 19-hectare private island resort in Palawan’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve introduced the “Stay Your Way Pass,” which allows guests to book six- or 10-night stays at discounted rates. Each package covers two guests and includes daily breakfast at Firefish Restaurant and round-trip land and boat transfers from Busuanga Airport. Rates start at P72,528 for six nights in a Garden Suite and P118,880 for 10 nights. Oceanview Suites cost P77,328 for six nights or P128,880 for 10 nights. Sunset Villa Standard accommodations are priced at P101,328 for six nights and P168,880 for 10 nights, while Sunset Villa Deluxe packages cost P113,328 and P188,880, respectively. The first purchase window runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 15, while the second is scheduled from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2027. Pass holders can schedule their stays during three periods: Sept. 15 to Nov. 30; June 1 to Oct. 31, 2027; and

Prepaid pass for private island escapes Discovery Coron introduces its ‘Stay Your Way Pass,’ a prepaid program offering six- or 10-night stays at the private island resort in Palawan

The resort launches its ‘Stay Your Way Pass’ following its recognition as the World’s Top Luxury Private Island Resort at the 2026 REVE Luxury Awards

June 1 to Oct. 31, 2028. My Discovery Elite members can retain applicable benefits, including a welcome resort voucher and food and beverage discounts. Loyalty points do

not apply to pass stays. Eligible members who did not purchase a pass may also enjoy food, beverage, and spa discounts during their visit. The launch adds to a notable year

Guests at Discovery Coron can enjoy kayaking and other outdoor activities as part of an island getaway

for the resort, whose general manager, Joegil Magtanggol Escobar, was named the Philippines’ top general manager at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific for the

Mercury Rising Bob Zozobrado

Glittering awards night in Bangkok

A

From left: SMHCC executives Nian Rigor, Charmagne Adonis, and Leah Magallanes at the Asia CEO Awards 2026

SM Hotels scores double victory in diversity and sustainability SM HOTELS and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) has been named a Circle of Excellence awardee in two categories at the Asia CEO Awards 2026: Sustainability Company of the Year and Diversity Company of the Year. Established in 2009, the Asia CEO Awards recognizes outstanding leaders and organizations for excellence in leadership, innovation, corporate responsibility, and organizational achievement. The Diversity Company of the Year recognition acknowledges SMHCC’s efforts to foster an inclusive workplace through initiatives such as the SM Equal Opportunity Policy, Women’s Empowerment (WE) Alliance, and partnership with SM Cares. Its community programs include Pride Games, skills training for persons deprived of liberty, and participation in Angels Walk for Autism. These initiatives support accessibility, gender inclusion, and second-chance employment. “Diversity and inclusion must be reflected in how people are treated, the opportunities available to them, and the way they can participate and grow,” said SMHCC vice president for Human Resources and Organizational Development Charmagne Adonis. The Sustainability Company of the Year distinction recognizes SMHCC’s environmental initiatives, including Plate for the Planet, which aims to reduce

food waste, promote sustainable dining, and strengthen food recovery and donation practices. Other efforts focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable procurement, local sourcing, and biodiesel use. Through Tela Tales, the company repurposes used hotel linens into new products, extending material life and supporting circularity. SMHCC’s Gateway to Gastronomy campaign also supports the Department of Tourism’s Food and Gastronomy Tourism Roadmap 2024– 2029. Implemented across eight hotel properties nationwide, the campaign celebrates Filipino culinary heritage through destination-inspired menus featuring local ingredients, producers, and regional traditions. It also supports local livelihoods and sustainable tourism. “Sustainability is most effective when it is built into everyday decisions and operating practices,” said SMHCC vice president for F&B, Quality, and Sustainability Leah Magallanes, citing efforts to reduce food waste, recover surplus food, improve resource use, and repurpose materials across the company’s hotels. The company earns recognition for its inclusive workplace initiatives and environmental efforts, including food waste reduction and sustainable sourcing

second consecutive year. For reservations, visit www.discoverycoron.com, email reservations@ dc.discovery.com.ph, or call +63 2 7719 6988 or +63 917 815 8678.

N UNPLANNED quick trip to Bangkok came about when I heard the good news that the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), which I head, won the Best Travel Marketing Effort in this year’s prestigious TTG Awards. This was the 35th edition of this glittering event that honors the best and the brightest in the Asia-Pacific travel industry. Since its founding 41 years ago, this is the first time the PRA has received an international award, and for our marketing effort at that! When I was appointed head of this agency three years ago, I had to make changes in some of its operational procedures and implement new International, Resorts World Sentosa, strategies for our marketing department. and Frasers Hospitality. These all resulted in increased revenue A total of 68 travel suppliers for the PRA and more high-profile foreign were voted by industry profesretirees who have made our country their sionals to receive the highest new home. honor of being the best in the Because of the cooperation and full following six categories: Hotel support of my Executive Committee for Chain, Hotel-Individual Propthe changes I made at the PRA, I felt the erty, Resorts-Individual Property, award belonged to them, too, and to the Serviced Residences, BT-MICE, Airstaff. This is why I brought the members lines, and Travel Services. of the Executive Committee with me to There were two Travel Agency help me receive the award, which was Awards: Best Travel Agency (EU given out at the Centara Grand at Central Holidays) and Best Corporate Travel World in Bangkok. Agency (Corporate Travel ManageTwenty-one travel establishments rement Asia). ceived the Hall of Fame Award, given The most important and prestigious to an establishment that has received a awards, which served as the evening’s TTG award for ten consecutive years: finale, were the Outstanding AchieveSingapore Airlines, Changi Airport ment Awards, of which there were three Group, Hertz Asia Pacific, Royal Cliff awardees. I’m proud to say that the PRA Hotels Group, Sabre Asia Pacific, Lotte was one of them, winning for Best TravTour, Hong Kong International Airport, el Marketing Effort. The other OutstandRaffles Hotel Singapore, Regal Airport ing Achievement Awards were for DesHotel, Banyan Tree Resorts and Spa, and tination of the Year, given to Australia, Qatar Airways. and Most The other SusYOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE Hall-of-Famers tainare Thai Airable Husband 1 proudly declares, “When my wife ways, Thailand and I have an argument, I always have the Convention last word!” & Exhibition Husband 2: What do you say? Bureau, Royal Husband 1: “Yes, dear.” Plaza on Scotts, Royal CaribTravel Combean, BWH Hotels, Travelport, Harbour pany, received by The Ascott Ltd. Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Phoenix Tours What made the evening even more sigPRA’s ExeCom members (from left) Philip Moreno, Attorney Antonio Rivera, the author, Noehl Bautista, and Marilou Cantancio are joined by Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz Paredes (center)

Fivera, Thailand’s first and only popopera band, entertains the audience with a spellbinding musical performance of several Broadway hits

nificant was the win of five other Philippine entities: Best Hotel-Manila (Okada Manila, received by its executive vicepresident David Anthony Baldwin); Best Business Hotel-Philippines (Conrad Manila, received by senior sales manager Micolle Cruz); Best Meetings and Conventions Hotel-Philippines (ShangriLa The Fort, received by director of sales and marketing Gemma Valores) Best Conventions and Exhibitions The golden Center (SMX trophy C o n v e n t i o n Maproudly Center earned by nila, received the Philippine by Melissa Retirement Carlos, viceAuthority (PRA), president for marking its first commercial of international award SM Hotels and in 41 years of C o n v e n t i o n s operations in the Corp.); and Philippines Best National Tourist Organization (Tourism Promotions Board, received by its chief operating officer Marga Nograles). Adding color to the star-studded evening were the musical performances of Fivera, Thailand’s first and only pop-opera band, blending classical opera sounds with popular contemporary music. There was also a live band performance by The Swing Kings, which moved everybody to swing along with their rhythmic sounds. And I have to commend the hotel’s chefs, who provided us with an amazing gastronomic dining experience that certainly was “the best for the best.” I haven’t had a more tender steak than the one I had that evening. It simply was in the “melt-in-your-mouth” category, the best way to cap a glittering evening of triumph for the Philippines and the Philippine Retirement Authority. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com