BusinessMirror May 30, 2026

CBy Andrea E. San Juan

ONFIDENCE of local businesses continued to wane amid the ongoing Middle East conflict which has kept oil prices and inflation elevated, according to the central bank’s Business Expectations Survey (BES).

Based on the latest survey released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), business sentiment in the Philippines was “more pessimistic” in April 2026 as firms reported that higher inflation could raise operating costs and erode consumers’ purchasing power.

The survey for April showed that the current-month confidence index (CI) plunged from -24.3 percent in March 2026 to -35.8 percent in April 2026.

A negative CI means more respondents are pessimistic than

optimistic. April marks the second straight month that business confidence in the Philippines was in negative territory.

Current-month indicators

THE pessimism among businesses in April is anchored on their confidence towards the volume of business activity, total orders booked, access to credit and capacity utilization. The BSP explained that expectations on key economic indicators are expressed in terms of confi-

dence index (CI), computed as the percentage of firms that answered “up” less the percentage of firms that answered “down” with respect to their views on a given key economic indicator.

On volume of business activity, more firms turned pessimistic as the CI slid to -15.3 percent in April from the 2.2 percent in March.

Respondent firms also showed less confidence on the volume of total orders booked in April as the CI plunged to -15.6 percent from

the -2.7 percent in March.

Local firms also turned more bleak on their financial condition in April as the confidence index slid to -35.5 percent from the -24.9 percent in the previous month.

They also turned more pessimistic when it comes to access to credit as the CI declined to -9.9 percent in April from the -7.1 percent in March.

While firms are still optimistic about average capacity utilization or the extent to which a company’s

PHL, Japan sign renegotiated treaty against double taxation

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

Tthe agreement, titled “Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on

Import payments soar 22.4% to $13.17B in April, says PSA

By Justine Xyrah Garcia

THE country’s import payments surged in April, with bills for mineral fuels posting the fastest growth among major import commodity groups.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the import bill reached $13.17 billion in April, up 22.4 percent from $11.03 billion a year earlier.

Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials recorded the biggest increase among major import categories, with import payments more than doubling—or rising 105.6 percent—to $2.55 billion for the month from $1.24 billion in April 2025.

The commodity group accounted for 19.4 percent of the country’s total import bill during the month.

Within the category, petroleum crude registered the largest increase, with import payments soaring 124.7 percent to $636.49 million from $283.48 million a year ago. Coal and coke imports also rose 13.2 percent to $246.03 million from $217.43 million.

Despite the strong growth in fuel imports, electronic products remained the country’s top import commodity.

The PSA said electronics imports reached $4.22 billion in April, accounting for 32 percent of total imports and posting a 78.2-percent increase from a year earlier.

Other major import commodities included transport equipment (valued at $714.26 million), industrial machinery and equipment (at $478.06 million), and other food and live animals (at $438.42 million).

Import payments for these commodity groups declined by 41 percent, 13.1 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively.

The PSA said China remained the country’s largest source of imports, accounting for 28.8 percent of the total import bill in April. It was followed by South Korea (11.6 percent), Japan (8.2 percent), Malaysia (5 percent), and Indonesia (6.7 percent).

The statistics agency also noted that imports from China, South Korea and Malaysia all posted double-digit growth during the month, with Malaysia recording the fastest increase at 86.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the country’s export earnings rose 6.3 percent to $7.21 billion in April from $6.78 billion a year earlier. With imports growing faster than exports, the country’s trade deficit widened by 49.8 percent to $5.97 billion during the month.

For the January-to-April period, the trade gap reached $19.28 billion, larger than the $16.44 billion recorded in the same period in 2025.

“The results suggest that global crude oil shocks are now transmitted more strongly into domestic retail fuel prices under the excise-inclusive pricing regime,” the state think tank said.

China’s robotics push shines at Tokyo Humanoids Summit

By Yuri Kageyama The Associated Press

TOKYO—Mechanical hands dexterous enough to thread a needle, childlike dancing robots and adult-sized ones to help with deliveries were on display Thursday as the Humanoids Summit Tokyo opened.

Among the dozens of companies taking part, including wellknown players like Boston Dynamics and Toyota Motor Corp., the big stars now were clearly the Chinese. Chinese newcomers, like Booster Robotics and LimX Dynamics, took the technology initially developed in Japan and the US and finetuned it, often for cheaper mass production. It’s a repeat of what happened in other Japanese industries, from consumer electronics to cellphones and electric vehicles. In humanoids, Japan was initially ahead but then failed to produce major commercial solutions.

Tim Hornyak, author of Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots, who was at the event, categorized it as the so-called “Galapagos syndrome,” referring to how innovative Japanese products evolve in isolation and end up not translating for the international market.

“I really hope that Japan can come up with a Ford Model T-version of humanoid roots. But I think China has already stolen their lunch. It’s a bit too little too late,” he said.

The dancing and wiggling Mini Pi Plus robot from High Torque of

China, for instance, still can’t help at an auto plant or do your dishes. But it’s cute. And it doesn’t come with an eye-popping price tag, starting at $5,500.

One telling example of Chinese robotics use in Japan was GMO, a Tokyo-based AI and robotics company working on a humanoid with camera eyes that will help with Japan Airlines cargo and other chores at an airport.

The key is to have the robot do the work in the same way as people so they would be interchangeable, an initiative meant to tackle the labor shortage problem that is increasingly serious in Japan.

The inner robotics workings were all courtesy of Unitree, a Chinese outfit, which is also working on a four-legged dog-like “stellar explorer.”

Experts say Japan, with its finesse in manufacturing, proved a good breeding ground for robotics development. The sociological backdrop of a public receptive to robotics also helped.

A recent Pew global survey showed that people in Japan are highly aware of AI but are less anxious about it, at about 28%, than people in the US at 50%.

Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., a leader in robotics with its walking humanoid Asimo, first shown in 2000, was demonstrating a motorized four-fingered robotic hand that could screw on and off tiny bolts, or thread a needle. It didn’t seem to bother Keisuke Tsuta, assistant chief en-

gineer, that similar mechanical hands were on display galore near his booth, many of them from Chinese makers.

The technology Honda had developed is more durable and powerful than rival offerings, and the Japanese have historically shown they can excel at quality mass production, according to Tsuta.

The looming threat of a Chinese robotics domination didn’t seem to faze Osaka University Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, who has worked on humanoids for decades, including one that’s his clone.

“What’s significant is that Japan has a culture that’s receptive to robotics. If we’re going to really start using robots in society, Japan is the ideal place,” he said, stressing that Japanese don’t discriminate against robots.

His robotic counterpart, dressed all in black like the professor, did as good a job, if not better, of answering a key existentialist question on the meaning of robots.

“I think robots will coexist with people. Robots are the mirror of human beings,” the robot replied in a slightly monotonous but human-like voice.

Earlier, the professor had answered a similar question, but a bit differently.

“No one is interested in me. All everyone cares about is my robot,” he said, sitting next to his twinlike humanoid.

“As long as people identify with what I have produced, I am a success,” he added.

PHL seen outpacing growth of global insurance industry

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

THE Philippines is expected to outpace global insurance industry growth across all major segments over the next decade as increasing financial awareness and protection needs drive demand for insurance products, according to Europe’s largest insurer Allianz.

According to the Allianz Global Insurance Report 2026, the Philippines’s insurance market is expected to post an annual growth rate of 9.6 percent over the next 10 years, outperforming the global annual rate of 5.3 percent.

“This underlines the increasing relevance of insurance to the country’s economic and social development,” Allianz PNB Life Chief Investment Officer Henry Yang said in a separate statement.

The country’s life insurance industry is seen as the strongest segment, projected to expand by 10 percent through 2036 and exceed the global average of 4.9 percent, supported by higher interest rates.

Allianz said Wider Asia will continue to be the growth engine, driven by rising demand for private financial protection amid accelerating demographic changes across the region.

“For the Philippine life insurance industry, this environment is both a challenge and a strategic opportunity: to close protection gaps, support long-term investment in the local economy, and help build financial resilience for Filipino families,” Yang said.

For the property and casualty segment, Allianz sees the Philippine market growing by 8.5 percent through 2036, higher than the global annual growth of 4.7 percent, as demand for protection products becomes a “global phenomenon.”

Meanwhile, health insurance is seen as the industry’s fastestgrowing segment, with global annual growth projected at 6.7 percent and the Philippine market expected to expand by 8.3 percent annually.

“Asia in particular still has a lot of catching up to do in terms of health coverage and financial protection,” Yang said.

In 2025, the Philippine insurance market grew by 12.2 percent, with total premium income increasing to €7.2 billion, or approximately P458 billion.

Life insurance was the key growth driver, surging 16.9 percent, reflecting rising financial awareness and a growing middle class.

Property and casualty insurance also expanded by 5.6 percent, while health insurance declined following base effects from prior exceptional growth.

CPBRD...

Continued from A1

The study also identified transport costs as the main channel through which oil shocks feed into consumer prices, as higher fuel costs eventually spill over into fares, logistics, and commodity prices.

Transport consumer price index (CPI) posted the largest response among all inflation components at 0.252, higher than headline CPI at 0.137 and food CPI at 0.148.

While conventional economic theory suggests fixed excise taxes should dampen the percentage impact of oil price increases, the CPBRD said the Philippine experience showed the opposite because the TRAIN Law altered broader pricing behavior in the domestic fuel market.

According to the report, elevated pump prices eventually became normalized following the imposition of higher fuel taxes, reducing consumer resistance to succeeding price hikes. Researchers described this phenomenon as “reference-price resetting,” wherein higher fuel prices became embedded in consumer expectations over time.

The study also noted that producers may respond strategically to preserve margins under a fixed-tax environment, resulting in “asymmetric pricing behavior where price increases are passed through more rapidly than price decreases.”

At the same time, consumers became less sensitive to small price differences among gasoline retailers as fuel prices climbed, weakening competitive pressure in the market.

“These behavioral channels imply that pass-through elasticities can increase following excise tax reforms even when the mechanical tax arithmetic predicts the opposite,” the report stated.

Transport spillover THE paper said the stronger transmission of oil price shocks into diesel prices eventually feeds into transport fares, particularly because public utility vehicles and logistics operations heavily rely on diesel.

As transport operators absorb higher fuel costs, fare hikes are implemented more quickly, allowing oil price increases to spread further into logistics, delivery costs and consumer prices, the study noted.

Continued from A1

resources is being utilized, their confidence on this indicator also waned, with the CI sliding to 69.9 percent in April from the 73.1 in the previous month.

Near-term,

medium-term outlook

DESPITE the confidence index being in negative territory for the second straight month, outlook of businesses for both the near term (three months) and the medium (12 months) improved.

“The three-month ahead CI rose from -17.3 percent to -7.5 percent, while the 12-month ahead CI increased from 11.7 percent to 19.5 percent,” the BES showed.

The central bank’s survey explained that firms were less pessimistic about the next three months mainly because the start of the academic year for most schools is expected to propel demand for loans and financing products, as well as for clothing and apparel.

“Looking 12 months ahead, they were more optimistic due to anticipated stronger demand for

business process outsourcing, construction, and transportation services,” the BSP’s survey also pointed out.

Respondents also cited expectations of higher sales and income, better overall economic conditions, and a possible resolution of the Middle East conflict as additional reasons for their improved outlook.

Given these developments, the central bank said in a statement on Friday: “The BSP continues to closely monitor the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on domestic prices and the broader economy.”

“It stands ready to take necessary monetary action to prevent de-anchoring of inflation expectations from the 3-percent target to protect households and businesses,” BSP also noted.

According to the central bank, the shift to a monthly BES in January 2026 provides a “more timely” assessment of business confidence and enables the BSP to respond “more promptly” to evolving local and international conditions.

The paper also found evidence of “rocket-and-feather behavior” in transport pricing, where fare hikes are implemented rapidly while rollbacks occur weakly or not at all.

The study found that the cumulative upward response of transport CPI to oil shocks reached 0.093, while the downward response was almost negligible at 0.004, indicating that fare increases are transmitted far more aggressively than fare reductions.

CPBRD attributed this to the structure of fare regulation in the Philippines, where transport groups actively petition for fare hikes while rollback mechanisms remain largely absent.

“The near-zero downward response in transport CPI and the persistent upward impulse responses suggest that the current fare adjustment system lacks mechanisms to facilitate timely downward revisions,” the report stated.

“As a result, transport costs tend to retain the effects of past oil price increases, contributing to sustained inflationary pressure.” Justine Xyrah Garcia

Filipino workers in Japan are also expected to benefit from the

Bauan Growth

‘Gateway of Opportunity’ | The rise of Bauan as a key economic force of the South

The goal of the municipality is not simply to become a liveable place for every resident of Bauan, but to become a symbol of modernity, resilience, and people-centered development.

By Vincent Peter Rivera

N 2025 alone, the CALA-

IBARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) has proven to be vital to the Philippines’ economy after being the second-highest contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with a 14.8% share.

While widely recognized as home to several industrial and manufacturing hubs, holding a 25.4% share of the country’s total industrial output, there is another driving force to this economic engine.

Beneath the impressive industrial numbers lies the Services sector, specifically the ports, logistics, and shipping companies classified under Transportation and Storage. This sector serves as a crucial backbone to the region and is an industry that the coastal area of Bauan proudly champions.

Yet, long before it became a bustling gateway for global trade, Bauan’s identity was shaped by quiet resilience and deep-seated traditions.

Located in the province of Batangas, the Municipality of Bauan began as a vista of Taal in 1590, founded by Augustinian friars on the slopes of Mt. Macolod. Its very name originated from both geography and folklore, believed to have originated from either bauang (meaning close, concealed, and rugged mountains) or bawang (garlic)—an answer by local farmers who, when questioned by a Spanish official about the name of their land, mistakenly answered with the crop they were planting, assuming that the official was asking for what they’re planting.

A central piece of the municipality’s culture is the “miraculous anubing cross,” first discovered in 1595 near Alitagtag. This later on transcended to a traditional “Subli dance,” an indigenous religious dance honoring the Holy Cross, known as Mahal na Poong Sta. Krus.

A blend of subsob (falling on the head) and bali (bent or broken), this indigenous religious dance features performers moving in distinct, crooked postures to the rhythm of drums and chanting at sacred sambahan sites.

Aside from its strong ties to its heritage, Bauan takes pride in traditional fishing, marine conservation, scuba diving, and eco-tourism. But today, the town’s unique coastal topography is not only best showcased through these maritime activities but also to the economy of CALABARZON.

A central hub for the services sector

The Municipality of Bauan has emerged as one of the fastestrising economic centers in Southern Luzon. Municipality of Bauan Administrator, Atty. Ava Beatrice Jacqueline Talag said that local progress is no longer just a long-term vision, but a reality actively taking shape through strategic planning and investor-driven governance.

Atty. Talag emphasized that the local government’s current trajectory is designed to transform Bauan into a powerhouse of industry and trade, with economic ripples extending far beyond its borders. “Our growth contributes not only to the advancement of Batangas, but to the progress of the entire CALABARZON region,” she stated.

A central milestone in this economic expansion is the development of the South Luzon Container Ter-

minal (SLCT), a mega-port project spearheaded by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI). Once completed, the facility is projected to become one of the largest and most modern container terminals in the country. Atty. Talag framed the multi-million dollar project as a gamechanging development that will fundamentally redefine commerce, logistics, and global trade access across Southern Luzon.

“More than just a port, the SLCT symbolizes Bauan’s growing importance in the country’s economic future,” Atty. Talag noted, adding that the infrastructure signals the municipality’s readiness to compete on a global scale. However, the administration maintains that the true measure of this industrial boom lies in its human impact. Atty. Talag explained that the local government is heavily focused on translating these massive investments into tangible benefits for everyday citizens, pointing to rising employment opportunities and business expansions that are securing livelihoods for thousands of local families.

To sustain this momentum, she highlighted that the local government strictly operates under the administrative blueprint of SMILE: “Serve More with Integrity, Lead with Empathy.”

“Guided by this principle, the municipality has successfully built an environment where investors gain confidence, businesses thrive, and communities progress together,” Atty. Talag concluded.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, the longterm roadmap for the municipality is officially codified in the “Bauan 2040” development plan.  Atty. Talag noted that the blueprint outlines a comprehensive transformation for the town over the coming decades.

“Our long-term vision is to establish Bauan as a premier haven of sustainable industry, agri-industry, commerce, trade, and tourism,” Atty. Talag explained. She emphasized that this growth must be driven by a community of “God-centered, disciplined, and globally competitive individuals.”

A core pillar of the Bauan 2040 framework is striking a strict balance between aggressive economic expansion and aggressive environmental protection. Atty. Talag noted that the current leadership is fully committed to efficient governance that protects both local quality of life and the town’s historical roots.

“We envision a Bauan where major industries thrive alongside green and resilient communities,” Atty. Talag stated. “Through effective governance, our goal is to create modern opportunities that uplift every single Bauageño, while carefully preserving our town’s cultural heritage, natural resources, and core community values.”

Rather than viewing the roadmap as a passive checklist, the administration frames it as an active, binding pledge to the next generation. Atty. Talag clarified that the ultimate objective is to secure Bauan’s position as a regional pioneer of modern development.

“Bauan 2040 is more than a vision; it is a firm commitment to building a future-ready municipality that is progressive, inclusive, environmentally adaptive,

and

people-centered development.

“With its unwavering commitment to progress and inclusive governance, Bauan proudly stands as a gateway of opportunity, proving that

April factory gate prices ease as petroleum price hikes slow

By Justine Xyrah Garcia

FACTORY gate prices eased slightly in April as slower increases in petroleum product prices helped temper cost pressures in the manufacturing sector, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA data showed the Producer Price Index (PPI) for manufacturing grew 2.4 percent in April, slower than the 2.6-percent increase recorded in March.

However, this was higher than the 0.2-percent growth posted in April 2025.

The slowdown was largely

driven by the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products, the annual growth of which eased to 5.3 percent in April from 8.2 percent a month earlier.

The industry accounted for nearly two-thirds, or 62.7 percent, of the overall deceleration in factory gate prices during the month.

“Among the 22 industry divisions for manufacturing, manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products has the fourthhighest weight in the computation of PPI,” the agency said.

The PSA also noted that the other sectors that contributed to

the easing in factory gate prices included the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products—with annual growth slowing to 4.3 percent from 4.9 percent in March—and the manufacture of basic metals, which posted a slower annual increase of 3.8 percent from 4.9 percent.

“Of the remaining 19 industry divisions, 16 exhibited annual increases, while three industry divisions registered annual decreases during the period,” the report added.

Meanwhile, factory gate prices in food manufacturing accelerated to 1.4 percent in April from 1.2

percent in March.

The increase was mainly driven by higher prices in the processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and mollusks, which grew 1.8 percent after contracting 2.3 percent in the previous month.

The PPI measures factory gate prices of domestically manufactured goods and serves as an indicator of inflationary pressures within the sector.

It is also used as a deflator for indicators such as the Value of Production Index (VaPI) and the Value of Net Sales Index (VaNSI), which help estimate changes in manufacturing output and sales.

DA to lead in crafting IRR for EO raising pork MAV

TBy Ada Pelonia

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) will lead in drafting the guidelines in raising the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DA to take the lead in drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Executive Order (EO) 116.

The EO raises the pork import allocation by 150,000 metric tons (MT) to 204,210 MT amid mounting concerns over tight domestic supply due to the lingering effects of African swine fever (ASF) on the local hog industry.

Tiu Laurel said the DA will consult hog raisers, meat processors, and lawmakers in crafting the guidelines to address concerns that higher imports could undermine local producers already grappling with elevated feed, fuel, and biosecurity costs.

“The IRR will seek a careful balance between protecting consumers from high prices, safeguarding the viability of local hog producers, and honoring the country’s international trade commitments,” he said.

“The objective is to stabilize supply and prices without weakening the long-term competitiveness of the domestic swine industry.”

Under the EO, the MAV Management Committee should allocate 30,000 MT

to meat processors and 120,000 MT to Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and the Kadiwa program to help augment supply and moderate retail prices.

The move comes as the government braces for broader inflationary pressure from soaring global oil prices triggered by the Middle East war.

Rising fuel costs had pushed up transport, logistics, and food prices simultaneously, which the DA said has increased pressure on the government to prevent another spike in headline inflation.

The DA also acknowledged concerns that lower tax collections from imported pork could affect funding for the Animal Industry De -

velopment and Competitiveness Act (Aidca).

Aidca created the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (AnCEF), which will allocate P20 billion annually for livestock development from meat and poultry import revenues.

“We understand the concerns being raised by the local swine industry, especially after years of battling ASF and elevated production costs,” Tiu Laurel said.

“What we plan to pursue is a calibrated approach where imports temporarily address supply gaps while the government continues investing in rebuilding domestic hog production capacity, strengthening biosecurity, and improving long-term industry resilience.”

PHL market for packed soups, ready meals seen hitting $237M

THE country’s market for packaged soups and ready meals could reach $237 million in retail sales by 2030, owing to sustained consumer demand for convenient meal options, an international report said.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the growth forecast represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6 percent from 2026 to 2030.

If realized, the report noted that this would indicate a moderate slide from $176 million in retail sales last year, which posted a CAGR of 8 percent from 2020 to 2025, cit -

ing figures from Euromonitor International.

“While growth moderates from a larger base, the market remains attractive with steady expansion driven by continued consumer demand for convenient meal options,” the USDA said.

Busy urban households seeking convenient meals and the increasing participation of women in the workforce have fueled the demand for packaged soups and ready meals in Filipino diets.

“These products serve as complete meals or as components that shorten home cooking time, addressing the time constraints faced by

modern Filipino families.”

In 2025, the USDA said soups accounted for 45 percent of the total market at $79 million, while ready meals represented 55 percent at $97 million. Both segments rose by 6 percent year-on-year.

Broken down, dry soup held the lion’s share of soup sales at $47 million (59 percent), while shelf-stable soup accounted for $32 million (41 percent).

“Dry soup has been the fastest-growing format at a CAGR of 11 percent from 2020 to 2025, outpacing shelf-stable soup’s 6 percent.”

For ready meals, the USDA said shelfstable ready meals led the product group at $57 million (59 percent), followed by frozen ready meals at $38 million (39 percent), and dried ready meals at $2 million (2 percent).

“Shelf-stable ready meals recorded the strongest growth in this segment at a CAGR of 9 percent, followed by frozen ready meals at 8 percent.”

The USDA expects dry soup to maintain the strongest growth trajectory at a CAGR of 6 percent from 2026 to 2030, followed by shelf-stable and frozen ready meals at 7 percent each. Ada Pelonia

El Niño task force to prepare for drought impact pushed

SEN. Francis Kiko Pangilinan expressed full support for the interventions, especially, formation of a task force, to blunt the adverse impacts of the drought expected to be brought by the “super” El Niño phenomenon later this year.

In a media interview in Albay province on the sidelines of his attendance at the Agri Fiesta 2026 there, the senator explained that the task force must be composed of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Finance (DOF) to activate critical interventions.

“The government has a budget for natural disasters, calamity relief, and quick response which must be mobilized. Of course, once there is a state of calamity declaration, the funds to be released will be the calamity funds,” he said, speaking mostly in Filipino. “So, all of that must be prepared, and we must ensure the supply of rice is adequate. We must make sure that when El Niño comes, which they’re saying will hit us third and fourth quarter, the government interventions in terms of cash for work, repair, and rehabilitation, and all of those budgets are mobilized,” Pangilinan added.

The senator is no stranger to mobilizing government resources to prepare for El Niño, which will have the greatest impact on the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

As the Aquino III administration’s food security czar from 2014 to 2015, Pangilinan was at the helm when the most intense El Niño in 20 years hit the country.

Under his watch, the NIA adopted several measures to mitigate the impact, including the Quick Turn Around Scheme, which promoted planting the 2015 first crop immediately after the harvest of the 2014 second crop; adopting water-saving technologies; implementing a

water distribution rotation; and rainwater harvesting. NIA has also encouraged farmers to plant early-maturing and drought-tolerant rice varieties to save water.

Despite the El Niño phenomenon in 2015, Pangilinan said that the price of rice was the lowest in two decades “because we made sure we provided support through the right interventions.”

“So, an interagency task force on El Niño should be mobilized, should be organized, and should start planning for the third and fourth quarters of this year,” he stressed.

Butch Fernandez

Russia says it’s PHL’s ‘strategic partner,’ cites growth potential in many areas

By Carmel Pedroza

CEBU CITY—Russia is positioning itself as a strategic partner in addressing Cebu and the Philippines’ growing demands in agriculture, food security, transportation, energy, healthcare, and digital modernization as both countries open what Russian officials described as a “new stage of collaboration.”

Addressing business leaders and stakeholders at a business forum in Cebu on Friday, May 29, 2026, Artyom Tsinamdzgvrishvili, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of the Philippines, outlined a range of Russian technologies, supplies, and investment opportunities aimed at supporting the region’s rapid economic growth and infrastructure modernization.

“This region of the Philippines is showing strong momentum in growth and development, while Russia brings proven technologies, reliable supplies, and engineering capabilities ready for joint implementation,” Tsinamdzgvrishvili said.

Among the immediate areas where Russia sees opportunities to support Cebu and other Philippine regions is agriculture, particularly the need for higher yields and stable food production.

Russia is offering potassium and nitrogen fertilizers, NPK solutions, urea, agricultural machinery, and technical support for local farmers and cooperatives.

On food security, Russia said it could help stabilize supply chains through exports of grain and flour amid rising fuel costs and global supply disruptions.

The Russian official also cited transport modernization as another area for cooperation, noting the Philippines’s ongoing efforts to upgrade aging public transport systems and expand tourism mobility services.

Russian manufacturers, including vehicle maker GAZ, are prepared to supply passenger and municipal vehicles, school buses, and tourism shuttles adapted for tropical conditions, he said.

Russia also seeks partnerships in digital transformation initiatives, particularly in smart city development and e-governance.

“This region wants safer and smarter cities and better digital public services. Russia brings e-government platforms and AI solutions for smart video analytics and monitoring, smart traffic, tourism management, and disaster response,” Tsinamdzgvrishvili said. Energy cooperation was also emphasized as demand for reliable power continues to grow across the Philippine islands.

Russia is offering liquefied natural gas (LNG), solar and wind energy equipment, battery storage systems, and even next-generation nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors.

In healthcare, Russia proposed supplying pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostic and imaging equipment, specialized medical vehicles, and medical technologies suitable for remote and underserved areas.

The Russian trade representative also pointed to potential collaboration in disaster preparedness and emergency response, citing the Philippines’s vulnerability to typhoons and other natural hazards. Russia is offering firefighting and rescue vehicles, helicopters, mobile command centers, and disaster-response technologies.

Waste management and recycling technologies are also possible areas of cooperation, including waste-to-energy systems and public-private partnership models for municipal waste projects.

During the open forum, Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco said the province sees strong opportunities for cooperation with Russia in both the short and long term, particularly in healthcare, information technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure.

“I think from the perspective of Cebu Province, short-term and medium-term, we’re looking at healthcare. We have already made some headway,” Soco said, citing previous exchanges between Cebu and Russian officials from St. Petersburg. Delegations from both sides had already visited each other, including a Cebu delegation led by Provincial Board Member, Dr. Stanley Caminero.

“One of the biggest cancer treatment facilities in St. Petersburg, the Napalkov Center, we visited, and they can do telemedicine. They can review offsite cases and provide second opinions,” Soco said.

Soco said Cebu is also interested in partnerships in information technology, particularly services that can be delivered remotely.

In the long term, the province is seeking Russian investments in heavy infrastructure, including roads, bridges, energy, and renewable energy systems.

“We would like to invite their heavy industries to really invest here in Cebu,” Soco said, noting that Cebu has both an international airport with independent authority status and an international seaport that positions the province as a strategic logistics hub.

Soco cited similarities between Cebuanos and Russians that could help strengthen future cooperation.

“There’s a commonality in the traits of the Cebuanos and the Russian people,” he said.

Business groups also expressed optimism over possible partnerships with Russia. Bambi Gothong-Tan, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), highlighted Cebu’s tourism appeal and strategic location as key advantages.

“Cebu has a lot of sun and sand, which the Russians would want during their winter months,” Gothong-Tan said.

She added that Cebu’s strengths in infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, and logistics could make the province an attractive investment destination for Russian businesses.

“Since Cebu is the logistics hub of the Philippines, we’re in the center of the whole country, so we can reach anywhere. We hope you come and invest in Cebu,” she said. Tsinamdzgvrishvili described the Philippines as one of Southeast Asia’s most “enterprising and dynamic” economies, and said bilateral ties between Manila and Moscow are entering

Regulators, private sector push domestic energy expansion amid Mideast crisis

TOP energy officials and private sector leaders have intensified calls for the aggressive buildout of indigenous energy sources to cut reliance on imported fuel and shield the country from global price volatility amid the ongoing oil crisis.

At the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines’ (EJAP) third energy forum on May 26, Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said moving beyond the current crisis requires maximizing domestic energy resources, particularly renewables.

“Beyond these challenges lies a critical opportunity to move decisively from crisis response and define a new era of Philippine energy that is secure, sustainable, resilient and people-centered,” Garin said in a keynote address delivered by Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and CEO Francis Saturnino C. Juan, meanwhile, called for urgent focus on energy storage to strengthen grid stability and ensure reliable supply during peak demand.

“If we had the storage to capture even a portion of that midday surplus and dispatch it during the evening peak, none of that energy would be wasted, and the cushion that failed us the other week would be materially thicker,” Juan said in a video message.

Officials from the Department of Energy (DOE), ERC and private sector stakeholders underscored, in a panel discussion, the need to build a more resilient energy system moving forward.

ERC Director for Market Operations Service Sharon O. Montañer emphasized the importance of aligning energy security

with the development of a more flexible and resilient power system.

Fuentebella, who leads the DOE’s energy efficiency efforts, said energy resiliency is key to navigating the ongoing global oil crisis.

From the private sector, MGEN Renewables President and CEO Dennis B. Jordan, Prime CoreGen President and CEO Jose Victor Emmanuel A. de Dios and Aboitiz Power Corp. Vice President for Corporate Affairs Ronald Francis A. Suarez called

TimeOur

The day of the drone swarms

SOMETIME in 2012 I was involved in the making of a documentary, one of those typical run-of-the-mill narrative videos that we were used to doing. What I cannot forget about the first shooting day was the excitement I saw on the faces of the cinematographer, the director and all production people. They were like little boys unboxing their latest toy. That was the day I first saw a “drone.” For fellow seniors and oldies who are not up to date with innovative technology, drones are “unmanned aerial vehicles” or UAVs for short. Indeed, at that time, it was the wonder gadget in the world of indie film directors who have to make do with severely limited budgets. Before drones, directors had to factor in the use of a helicopter to shoot scenes from an aerial view. It was extremely costly, something like P30,000 per minute, if I remember it right.

With a camera attached to a drone you can achieve the same effect but at a minuscule cost. However, like any new toy, every filmmaker started to incorporate drone shots at the slightest opportunity and for the flimsiest and most whimsical of reasons. In fact, many drone scenes are gratuitous or unnecessary. Even now I note that most of the travel video blogs I watch have drone shots. Admittedly, flying drones offer a unique perspective and the ability to capture stunning images.

These small flying machines carrying cameras have now become ubiquitous electronic gadgets that are employed not only in filmmaking but also in concerts, events, news reporting and law enforcement monitoring and surveillance. Companies and organizations use them also for documenting construction progress as well as for environmental scanning, and other purposes.

This is why I couldn’t then imagine how this dream tool of every indie filmmaker would now turn into a killing machine, a lethal weapon of evil, death and destruction.

If you’ve been watching developments in the Russia-Ukraine war as well as the IranUS stand-off, you must have learned about asymmetric warfare and how the cheap ordinary drone has shown its effectiveness against expensive ballistic missiles.

Think about this. A cheap Iranian drone has been able to shoot down a multi-million-dollar Stealth fighter jet. Inexpensive Ukraine-made drones that can now travel hundreds of kilometers at will, continuously blowing up aerial bases, military buildings, oil refineries and trains carrying supplies deep inside Russia.

Using them as tactical weapons, these supposedly weaker states are finding a way to inflict big damage on the Goliaths of the world. Military experts are now finding out that overwhelming might does not always guarantee winning. Being smart, intelligent and innovative is now the more effective way. Innovation at much less cost can bring a mighty powerful nation to its knees or a stand still.

With drones, Ukraine solves its problem of lack of soldiers to send to the front. Instead, it is sending smart drones to do a big part of the fighting with impactful results. I read a report where, in one instance, drones were able to force Russian combatants to surrender. I thought this thing happened only in apocalyptic movies, like Terminator 2 and 3. Since they are now being proven to be effective in defending against missiles, drones designed for war are now being manufactured at a prodigious rate in Ukraine and Iran. Ukraine went from 3.5M drones last year to 7M this year. Suddenly, even private companies are now cashing in on drone technology. Asymmetric warfare is making drone making a profitable new industry.

BusinessMirror

Seniors deserve our gratitude, care, protection–Speaker Dy

Spowerful nations do not really have a counter weapon yet. Russian troops are already speaking of “the Ukrainian digital hell.”

I used to imagine a lot of positive uses for drones. For instance, they could deliver packages to your homes, including food boxes, or common medicines for colds or fever.

Nowadays drones are being employed by law enforcers for surveillance, intelligence gathering or to guide raiding teams about to enter safe-houses of criminals. In calamitystricken areas, drones are effectively used by government and news organizations to survey the extent of damage from above, even in areas where the use of helicopters could be risky and dangerous. Building contractors use them to monitor progress of ongoing construction projects.

Drones are commonly used in concerts, festivals, and other public events for visual impact.

That said, drones are still an unknown thing.

They are double edged.

For one they can be used by individuals with insidious intent. What can stop someone to use a silent drone to enter an open window or door in a high-rise building to snoop and record what’s inside? Instead of “akyat boys” we might have drones to spy on empty houses.

The malicious range of uses is limited only by the imagination. What if an adept drone operator decides to use it to stalk someone or bully him by dropping dirt or feces or worse, acid, at the flick of a finger?

As far back as three years ago, I drafted an action thriller film concept about the dark side of drones. I initially focused on the invasion of privacy and its use as an assassination tool. The producer did not find it believable then and shelved it. Maybe the time has come to un-shelf it.

Using drones can be exploitative and breed fear when used without consent.

Drone as a weapon, particularly in the form of targeted killing, has serious legal, moral, and political costs.

It has national security implications.

What if domestic terrorists start using drone swarms to attack the seat of government? Who knows but probably a foreign nation could now be using drones to spy on our islands and seas, or even government building and military installations. What if they start using smart drones to harass our fishermen, our maritime defense people such as the Philippine Coast Guard?

I know our country is lagging way behind in innovative technology. But it’s just a matter of time before we begin to experience the insidious and invasive side of drones, not just in the arena of war but in our private and social lives as citizens.

It’s not too early to look into the future, and confront the issues related to drone technology that need to be addressed in the areas of public safety, privacy and civil liberties.

Truth to tell, it may be too late for us to get our act together. Even as I am writing this think piece, the Armed Forces of Ukraine has deployed a battlefield technology that feels like a mix of science fiction and a game of Call of Duty or Metal Gear.

A single operator can now control an entire swarm of drones in real time, see the battlefield through artificial intelligence, receive instant targeting data, and coordinate strikes with sniper-level precision.

War can now be waged like a computer game. Safe in his box looking through a first-person viewfinder, individual soldiers are on the hunt all day and all night long, picking and ticking off targets one by one.

He doesn’t see enemy combatants as human beings anymore.

David Howell Petraeus, a retired United States Army general who served as the fourth director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) now speaks of “drone swarms.” He predicts that next will come truly autonomous systems and drone swarms—and even

When waging war becomes as easy and exciting as a computer game, there will be hell to pay not only for our countrymen but for all humankind. As a septuagenarian now in the last third of this lifetime, I am filled with extreme anxiety for my children and grandchildren and future generations. I can only utter a warning that may not even be heard.

The day of the killer drones is coming. Be afraid. Be very afraid. www.businessmirror.com.ph

By Jose Cielito Reganit

PEAKER Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday backed the growing push to institutionalize a Universal Social Pension for senior citizens, saying the country has a moral obligation to protect all elderly Filipinos who spent their lives sacrificing for their families and the nation.

Speaking at the turnover of the initial batch of signatures of the “12 Million Signatures for the Elderly” signature campaign at the House of Representatives, Dy said millions of Filipinos are now calling for stronger support for senior citizens struggling with rising medicine, healthcare and costs of living.

“I believe that true public service starts with listening, understanding, showing sympathy and love,” Dy said before senior citizens’ groups, lawmakers and supporters of the pension measure.

At present, government financial assistance for senior citizens is limited to indigent elderly Filipinos under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens program, which provides P1,000 monthly to qualified beneficiaries.

The program covers senior citizens aged 60 and above who are frail, sickly, living with disabilities and have no pension or permanent source of income or financial support from relatives.

Dy said the proposed Universal Social Pension is more than a financial assistance program and should instead be viewed as a recognition of the dignity and contributions of senior citizens.

“That is why the Universal Social Pension is not simply about assistance, it is about dignity, gratitude, and compassion,” Dy stressed.

“Given the costs of medicine, food, and health care, our seniors must be provided support to help them afford all of their basic needs,” he added. The Speaker from Isabela also underscored what he described as the moral responsibility of government and society to care for vulnerable Filipinos, particularly the elderly.

“Let us always remember: The true measure of a nation is how it cares for its most vulnerable citizens,” the House leader said, as he assured senior citizens that the House would continue supporting measures aimed at easing

their burdens and improving their quality of life.

The event, led by United Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay, chairperson of the House Committee on Senior Citizens, marked the formal turnover of millions of signatures gathered nationwide urging Congress to strengthen social protection and financial security for senior citizens.

Aquino-Magsaysay described the campaign as a growing nationwide movement among senior citizens seeking the passage of a long-awaited universal pension measure.

She said the signature campaign launched last March 18 has since mobilized senior citizens’ associations, organizations and federations across the country in support of the proposed legislation.

“Our Ceremonial Partial-Turnover today of the more than one million signatures in support of the bill reverberates the strong clamor of the more than 12 million

senior citizens all over the country asking for our government to give preferential attention for the promotion of their welfare and rights,” she said in her message.

Aquino-Magsaysay stressed that she has been advocating for the measure since the 17th Congress, emphasizing that the proposed pension recognizes the rights of elderly Filipinos.

“With the emergence of various economic crises and challenges that befall upon our elderly, now more than ever the Universal Social Pension becomes an existential and moral imperative,” she said.

She said the signature campaign would continue nationwide until the proposed Universal Social Pension bill is enacted into law.

“This is just the start. We hope to gather more and more signatures from across our regions, provinces, cities and municipalities until our voices are heard and our signatures turn into law,” she said. PNA

The silver tsunami: Business opportunities in an aging world

By Jona C. Redondo

GLOBAL populations are aging at an unprecedented rate. By 2050, the number of people aged 60 and older is projected to more than double to 2.1 billion, driven by falling fertility rates and rising life expectancies. The projected number of Filipinos aged 60 and above in 2050 is expected to rise to about 23.6 million to 23.7 million. This major demographic shift will result in senior citizens comprising roughly 15 percent to 20 percent of the country’s total projected population, marking the Philippines’ transition into a recognized “aging society.”

While this “silver tsunami” poses challenges like strained pension systems, labor shortages, and increased healthcare demands, it also unlocks vast economic opportunities in what experts call the “silver economy” or “longevity economy.” This market— encompassing products, services, and innovations tailored to older adults—is already valued in trillions and growing rapidly, creating openings for entrepreneurs, corporations, and investors worldwide.

The silver economy extends beyond traditional eldercare. It includes health and wellness, technology-enabled independent living (AgeTech), financial services for wealth transfer and retirement, leisure and tourism, housing adaptations, and even opportunities to extend working lives. Older consumers often hold significant wealth and purchasing power, making them an attractive demographic. Companies that adapt stand to gain, while those ignoring the shift risk obsolescence.

Global perspectives: Experts highlight the opportunities

EXPERTS from various countries emphasize turning demographic pressures into growth engines through innovation and policy support.

In the UK and globally, Andrew J. Scott, Professor of Economics at Lon-

don Business School and co-author of The 100-Year Life and The Longevity Imperative, reframes aging as an opportunity for a “longevity society.” In videos and discussions, such as his Wheeler Institute talk and IMF panels, Scott argues that healthy aging can boost productivity and economic growth if societies invest in prevention, lifelong learning, and flexible work. He notes that longer lives allow extended careers, multigenerational contributions, and new consumer markets. Scott highlights how businesses can innovate in areas like AIassisted work, reskilling programs, and products supporting active aging, turning potential fiscal burdens into a “longevity dividend.”

Joining Scott in IMF discussions, Bertrand Gruss (Deputy Division Chief in the IMF’s Research Department) analyzes the “Rise of the Silver Economy” in the World Economic Outlook. In the April 2025 IMF video panel with Scott and BBC correspondent Michelle Fleury, Gruss discusses how healthy aging trends can mitigate labor force declines and create growth in sectors serving older populations. He points to global data showing uneven aging paces but universal opportunities in consumption by seniors, provided policies support healthy longevity. France has positioned itself as a hub for silver economy innovation. Laurence Lafont, President of Silver Valley (a major accelerator for elderly-focused startups) and former COO of Microsoft France, discusses this booming sector in interviews, such as on Tech 24 and related videos. Silver Valley supports startups developing solutions for autonomy, connected homes, remote assistance, and wellbeing. Lafont stresses the cross-sectoral nature—tech, health, housing—and France’s role in fostering an ecosystem that addresses aging while driving job creation and exports. She views the silver economy as a driver of digital transformation tailored to seniors’ needs.

China, with one of the fastestaging and largest elderly populations, sees enormous potential. Jessica Tan, Co-CEO of Ping An Group, one of China’s largest financial and health services conglomerates, estimates the elderly care sector could reach 22 trillion yuan (around $3 trillion) by 2030. In WSJ discussions and company perspectives, Tan outlines integrated services combining insurance, telemedicine, home care, and offline support. She acknowledges challenges in scaling but sees the silver economy as a major consumption booster, with opportunities in techenabled care, financial products, and ecosystem partnerships. China’s steep aging curve makes elderly offerings one of the easiest high-growth segments, contrasting with shrinking youth markets. Japan, the world’s most aged society (nearly 30 percent over 65), leads in technological adaptation. Experts like Kenji Kushida (Carnegie Endowment) describe aging as a “technological opportunity” for global leadership. Labor shortages and eldercare needs drive innovations in robotics, AI, dysphagia-friendly foods, and care management platforms. Videos and analyses highlight private-sector responses, government support for startups, and test-bed potential for international firms. Japan’s experience—with robots in nursing homes, extended work policies, and AgeTech—offers lessons and export opportunities. Businesses in automation, senior housing, and health tech thrive amid acute demographic pressures. In the US, discussions focus on “aging in place,” senior housing, gig economy roles for retirees, and wealth management amid multigenerational transfers. Morgan Stanley and AARPlinked experts point to sectors like independent living and tech services.

Key business opportunities

HEALTHCARE and wellness: Demand surges for preventive care, telemedi-

cine, personalized medicine, and longevity products. Opportunities exist in wearables, mental health apps, and integrated care platforms. AgeTech and Smart living: Connected homes, robotics, AI companions, and mobility aids enable independence. Silver Valley and Japanese innovations exemplify this.

Financial services: Retirement planning, reverse mortgages, insurance for long-term care, and wealth transfer tools. Ping An’s model integrates finance with health.

Housing and adaptation: Retrofitting homes, multigenerational living, and senior communities with wellness features.

Leisure, tourism, and consumer goods: Tailored travel, entertainment, nutrition, and fashion for active seniors with disposable income. Employment and lifelong learning: Reskilling platforms, flexible work, and tapping older workers to ease labor shortages. Scott and Japanese policies underscore this. These sectors promise job creation—millions across Europe and beyond—and GDP contributions. The silver economy in parts of Europe already rivals significant industries, with projections for continued expansion.

Challenges and strategies for success REALIZING these opportunities requires overcoming barriers: ageism in marketing and hiring, regulatory hurdles, accessibility gaps in tech, and uneven infrastructure in developing regions. Experts like Tan note integration challenges, while Gruss and Scott stress policy needs for healthy aging and workforce participation. Successful strategies include usercentric design (co-creating with seniors), public-private partnerships, cross-border knowledge sharing (e.g., Japan’s tech exports), and data-driven personalization. Businesses must view seniors as diverse, active consumers—not a monolithic burden.

Samsung makes bold move into the AI TV era (Conclusion)

SAMSUNG has introduced its newest lineup of Vision AI TVs and sound devices, including Micro RGB and Mini LED TVs. It’s no longer about getting a better picture on a larger screen. Vision AI Companion with advanced natural language understanding allows you to interact with your TV more conversationally. What can it do?” You can ask for real-time recommendations or pull up cast information while watching a TV series or a movie, or ask for the current stats of your favorite player in the middle of a live broadcast. You’ll get all these information in real time.

NEO QLED VISION AI TV

WITH its Neo QLED Vision AI TV, Samsung combined hardware precision with AI processing for improved picture quality and motion handling.

Samsung engineered the Neo QLED Vision AI TV with the Quantum Mini LED backlighting at its foundation. The Quantum Mini LED makes use of thousands of microscopic LEDs organized into precise zones controlled with greater accuracy than standard LED panels. The viewer gets a picture with stronger contrast, cleaner highlights, and shadow detail that holds up even in the darkest scenes. The Neo QLED Vision AI TV’s SmartThings connectivity delivers remarkable convenience and helps you control your smart home devices directly from the screen.

Whether it’s monitoring or controlling your smart appliances, staying connected to your pets while you’re away, or managing your energy consumption with AI Energy Mode, this integration simplifies dayto-day life and keeps you entirely immersed in doing what you love.

The TV can also serve as an art piece for your living room. The built-in Art Store offers access to over 5,000 curated works from famous museums across the globe. When you switch off your TV, you can turn it into a rotating gallery of masterpieces to add elegance to your space. Meanwhile, Samsung Knox Security runs in the background to safeguard your connected devices. It protects your personal data, blocks suspicious apps, and keeps the TV’s software secure through continuous updates.

MINI LED AI TVS

SAMSUNG’S Mini LED lineup focuses on making AI-powered viewing more accessible across price segments, providing the viewer with smarter processing and enhanced realism. The NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor uses 20 AI neural networks to optimize picture and sound based on what you’re watching or

Optimizer keeps you focused on achieving victory without having to fumble through your display settings. Through real-time screen analysis, it instantly recognizes the specific genre of your game and automatically applies the optimal visual and performance settings.

ODYSSEY OLED GAMING MONITOR

THE 32-inch Odyssey OLED G7 (G73SH model) boosts Samsung’s OLED gaming lineup by bringing premium visual performance to a wider range of users. It features 4K resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, delivering detailed visuals and smooth gameplay.

to 7 years of OS upgrades, ensuring your TV continues to grow alongside your interests, adapting to new technologies and features as they emerge.

Samsung TV Plus helps you broaden your horizons. You can deepen your passions further with unlimited access to over 750 channels and thousands of on-demand content—from sports and news, to blockbusters and the hottest TV shows—for free.

Samsung’s latest range of Vision AI TVs and sound devices create moments that feel more immersive, connected, and meaningful. Pursue your passions more fully with the new Samsung Micro RGB and Micro LED TVs, coming this June.

The future of mobile imaging from Xiaomi + Leica

THE rapid development of mobile photography over the past two decades has made it easier and more accessible than ever for anyone to become a master behind the lens. While text and voice were once the primary ways we communicated with each other, today photos and videos have become integral to how we connect and share. But as mobile photography has become woven into the fabric of everyday life, people also expect more from their cameras—for them to go beyond simply capturing a moment and instead become a tool for expression,

storytelling, and creativity. This shift is also reshaping the mobile industry, with collaborations between smartphone brands and traditional camera makers playing a growing role in how photography is experienced. One such partnership is the collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica—a partnership that is redefining mobile photography by bringing together over a century of photographic heritage with the latest smartphone technology. As the partnership enters its fifth year, the upcoming Xiaomi 17T Series, with its Leica 5x telephoto camera across the lineup and Leica Live Moment, signals the next step in this collaboration, pointing toward new possibilities in how stories are told through mobile phones. Behind evolving mobile imaging experiences, Leica’s cutting-edge optics have continued to push the boundaries in terms of both image quality and style. The collaboration has progressed between different generations of lenses, evolving from iconic Summicron to premium Summilux optics, with the larger apertures of the latter helping to deliver clear, highquality images. As Xiaomi and Leica continue to push mobile imaging forward and narrow the gap between smartphones and traditional cameras, the focus is no longer on how close mobile photography can get to traditional cameras, but on how it can move beyond them.

Part of the motivation for this evolution is the shift in the way people themselves are using their phones to capture their most important moments. A single photo freezes time. A video records everything. But most real-life moments exist somewhere in between: a fleeting glance, a subtle shift in expression, the split second before or after something meaningful happens. This is where a new kind of storytelling begins. This thinking led to Leica Live Moment on the upcoming Xiaomi 17T Series. With this feature, you can capture not only what happened, but how it felt. By treating movement as part of the storytelling—not just an afterthought—Leica Live Moment adds continuity, emotion, and context to everyday images. At the foundation of this is also Leica’s signature aesthetic, which is applied across the rear camera system on Xiaomi 17T Series, ensuring a familiar, classic Leica look whichever perspective you’re going for. Users can experience Leica Live Moment on the upcoming Xiaomi 17T Series alongside a full suite of flagship upgrades. These include a newly enhanced eye-care display, which supports longer viewing sessions with greater visual comfort, and a larger battery capacity across the entire lineup for longer, more dependable use throughout the day and beyond across a wide range of everyday scenarios.

FROM MANILA’S E-COMMERCE BOOM TO SALESFORCE VP: WHY AKSHAY VAJPAYEE SAYS THE PHILIPPINES IS BUILT FOR THE AI ERA

BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES

AKSHAY VAJPAYEE didn’t find his professional footing in a plush New York boardroom or a hypersanitized Silicon Valley lab. Instead, he forged it in the high-stakes, hyper-growth chaos of Manila’s e-commerce boom.

Before stepping into his current role as vice president of corporate marketing at Salesforce, Vajpayee spent his formative years building and scaling operations in the Philippines. Now based in Seattle, where he drives major enterprise technology initiatives, he credits the Southeast Asian archipelago for his global trajectory.

“Those early years in the Philippines taught me things about operating in fast-moving, resourceconstrained environments that no elite business school prepares you for,” Vajpayee says. “I think about those lessons constantly, even now when navigating the highest levels of global enterprise tech.”

LEARNING LEADERSHIP AT MAGNITUDE

EDUCATED at the Technion, Vajpayee holds a Master’s degree from Stanford University and honed his strategic acumen at McKinsey & Company. Yet, his most pivotal professional transition happened on the ground in Manila. Arriving in 2018 as a 26-year-old engineer tasked with scaling category operations for Shopee, he entered an explosive, fiercely competitive market. “At Shopee, that meant building structured seller management programs from scratch, designing new value-added services, and creating formal pathways for local manufacturers to transition directly to modern e-commerce,” he recalls. By the age of 30, through sheer grit, he found himself leading an organization of over 1,000 people.

“The systems, protocols and communication styles that work perfectly for 30 or even a hundred people completely break down at a thousand,” he says. “You realize very quickly that you cannot manage a thousand people directly; you can only create the operational conditions, culture and alignment for them to succeed. Success becomes about empowering talented people to make great, high-velocity decisions without you being in the room.”

THE PHILIPPINE AI ADVANTAGE IN THE AI ERA VAJPAYEE believes the Philippines is significantly underestimated in global technology conversations. The local BPO sector has cultivated a massive, English-proficient, and service-oriented workforce with deep experience supporting global tech giants—a unique foundation that is invaluable in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

Modern tech success, he notes, hinges on a potent combination of technical capability, deep customer empathy, and the ability to operate fluidly across complex cultural contexts. Filipino professionals are naturally strong in the latter two. “The engineering part is buildable,” he says. “The raw talent is undeniably there.” This human-centric advantage becomes critical as businesses grapple with AI integration. Vajpayee observes that most organizations currently treat AI as a mere point solution to automate minor tasks. Drawing from his current vantage point at Salesforce and Slack, where he works closely with the C-suite on long-term growth and enterprise AI adoption, he argues for a complete workflow redesign.

“At Slack, I work closely with our C-suite on longterm growth strategy, including how we scale our self-serve and product-led growth motion and build global team capacity through a multi-geo hub model. That gives me a front row seat to how enterprise AI is actually being adopted at scale, not in theory but in practice.”

“It is a profound strategic challenge, not just a technical one,” he adds. “It requires leaders who understand the intersection of technology and human behavior—a skill set that will define the next decade of business in the Philippines and beyond.”

EMBRACING UNIQUE STRENGTHS FOR Filipino professionals looking to break into the global tech industry, Vajpayee’s advice is clear: step outside your comfort zone and embrace your roots.

“I learned more in my first six months in Manila than in years of working where the rules were already set,” he says, urging local talent not to underestimate the value of their background. Filipino professionals bring a rare blend of cultural fluency, service orientation, and resilience that is highly prized in global organizations. “The instinct is sometimes to feel like you need to prove yourself by becoming someone else,” Vajpayee observes. “The better instinct is to understand what you bring that others do not, and build from there.”

WHY DIGITAL DEVICES AND ONLINE ACCOUNTS NEED SPRING CLEANING

IF the spring season has brought an urge to scrub your living space from top to bottom, why not clear out the digital detritus cluttering your electronic devices and online accounts at the same time? Carrying out the digital equivalent of spring cleaning a home isn’t just an opportunity to tidy up our online lives. Eliminating dust bunnies like dormant accounts and forgotten files can help protect personal data, according to cybersecurity experts.

“Clutter is fuel for scammers. Old accounts, exposed data and forgotten apps give them more ways in,” Michael Sherwood, a product vice president at cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes, said. “Cleaning up your digital life is one of the simplest ways to shrink your attack surface in a threat landscape that’s getting smarter, faster, and more automated.”

Here is a digital spring cleaning checklist:

■ FREE UP STORAGE SPACE. Does it seem like your phone or laptop is always running out of storage space?

All those photos, videos and other big files that we share or download add up over time. Running out of internal storage can slow down devices or prevent them from downloading essential operating system updates. Personal gadgets usually come with built-in tools that instruct users on how to free up space. On iPhones, go to your settings menu, then General, and then iPhone Storage, where you’ll see how much storage is left and which apps and files are eating up the most space. On Android devices, the Storage tab in settings provides a similar breakdown, with options to free up space manually or automatically.

Windows and Mac computers have similar dashboards and controls in their settings menus to identify the biggest hoggers of storage space. Archive important files by copying them to an external drive, cloud storage or both, and then delete them from the device.

■ DECLUTTER YOUR INBOX. Your inbox is probably a mess: notifications and reminders, receipts, newsletters, tickets, bank and credit card statements and security warnings, many of them left unread. You might have a few personal missives you want to keep along with spam to purge. Culling the clutter can help boost productivity and focus, and there are tricks to make the process less tedious and time-consuming. Sort or filter your inbox by size to float the biggest messages—usually those with oversized file attachments—to the top for deletion. Do the same by sender or date so you can delete old and unneeded emails, or big batches from prolific senders. Now might also be a good time to unsubscribe from any mailing lists or newsletters you don’t read anymore.

■ APP CHECK. Another way to free up space is to go through the apps on your phone and delete the ones you no longer use. But don’t stop there. If any of those apps required you to sign up for an account, don’t forget to log in and delete the account as well. Otherwise, any details you provided will remain on file and vulnerable to hackers.

“Every dormant account is an open door. Scammers actively target abandoned logins because no one’s watching,” Sherwood said.

■ UPDATE APPS AND SOFTWARE. Make sure the apps you’re keeping are the latest version by checking for app store updates. Same goes for the operating systems on your phone and computer. Check for the latest software updates and patches for the best performance and security.

■ SOCIAL MEDIA REVIEW. Cybersecurity experts advise taking the time to audit your digital footprint to see how exposed you are on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and other social media platforms. The idea is to “review what personal info is out there and limit what apps and services can access,” Sherwood said.

You should check the privacy settings for each account and even consider deleting older posts.

“Limiting what personal information is publicly available helps to reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks such as phishing and identity theft,” said Chad Thunberg, chief information security officer at cybersecurity company Yubico.

■ THIRD PARTIES. Has a website ever suggested logging in with your Facebook or Apple account? Did your smart thermostat or doorbell camera request access to your Google account? It’s worth checking which third-party apps and services have access to your accounts. Removing unneeded ones is another way to tighten up your online privacy.

When I checked my Google account’s “Third-party apps & services” tab, I found only three and still need them.

My Facebook settings revealed 18 connected apps and services, though all but one were expired. I removed the remaining active connection, for a photobook service I don’t remember ever using but still had access to my name and profile photo.

■ GET A BETTER KEY. Tighten up security with review of your password practices. Make sure you’ve got multi-factor authentication turned on for your accounts, if you haven’t done it already. Better yet, get a passkey. It’s a “modern login standard” that offers much better security than a traditional password, Thunberg said. Passkeys are two parts of a code that only make sense when combined, kind of like a digital key and padlock. A growing number of online services and platforms now support passkeys, including Google, Amazon, Facebook and eBay. Passkeys need to be authenticated with your fingerprint, face scan or PIN, which means “they cannot be faked, intercepted or replicated by AI-based attacks,” Thunberg said.

You’ll need a password manager to store your passkeys if you’re not already using one. Apple, Google and Samsung include their own password manager apps on phones, but there are third-party options from 1Password, BitWarden, Nordpass and many others. AP

BusinessMirror

Honor 600 review: One trick AI pony?

THE Honor 600 feels like a phone designed by a committee staring at three things: an iPhone, an Honor Magic device, and a PowerPoint presentation with a giant AI checklist. Then someone in the room probably said: “What if we just combine everything—the iPhonestyle camera module, the bright orange colorway everyone seems obsessed with, and a buffet of AI features. Why not throw in a Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 for pre-orders, too?”

The strange part is...beneath all that marketing noise, the Honor 600 isn’t just a collection of random tech buzzwords. Underneath the “Anything is Possible” branding, the viral AI clips, and the aggressively polished marketing is a smartphone trying to do something smarter than most uppermidrange devices in 2026: make flagship experiences feel normal.

Not aspirational. Not intimidating. Just everyday normal. But trying to blend an absolute buffet of experimental AI tools with real-world practicality is a tightrope walk. And with a noticeable price increase this time around, the stakes are significantly higher for Honor’s number series.

Is this device a genuinely mature, dependable daily driver that justifies its premium shift, or is it just a beautifully wrapped, highly expensive AI showpiece?

DESIGN AND BUILD: WHEN LIFE

GIVES YOU ORANGES

THERE’S no dancing around it: the Honor 600 absolutely joins the growing pile of midrange phones borrowing heavily from Cupertino’s aesthetic. The flat edges, camera layout, and overall silhouette immediately trigger iPhone comparisons the moment you pick it up. But let’s be honest—for most buyers, that familiar look isn’t a dealbreaker; it’s a feature. Apple’s design language became the default template for “premium” years ago, and Honor has simply refined it into something comfortable rather than awkwardly trying to reinvent the wheel.

At 190g and a mere 7.8mm thin, the phone feels beautifully balanced in the hand. It defies its own spec sheet, somehow avoiding looking or feeling like a bulky brick despite cramming a massive battery under the hood. The matte metal frame adds a reassuring rigidity that easily outclasses the plasticheavy competition in this price bracket. When it comes to colors, your options are Black, Golden White, and Orange. But unless you’re stepping up to the Pro model, I’d strongly advise sticking to the classic black or white variants. While the orange looks incredibly vibrant and punchy in studio renders, the real-world device leans closer to a pale, washed-out mandarin. It’s a bit of a missed opportunity—I really wish Honor had gone all-in with a deeper, richer shade of tangerine.

Honor also deserves credit for making it more durable this time around as the Honor 600 boasts IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings. To help navigate its massive feature set, Honor also added a dedicated physical AI button on the side. It supports short, double, and long presses, letting you quickly summon tools like the AI Photos Agent, AI Memories, or Google Lens.

DISPLAY & AUDIO: LOUD AND ACTUALLY CLEARER

THE Honor 600’s 6.57-inch AMOLED display is genuinely good—not fake “spec-sheet good,” but actually impressive. Its 2728 x 1264 resolution keeps text perfectly sharp, while the 120Hz refresh rate ensures that navigating apps and scrolling through your social feeds feels fluid. Colors pop vibrantly

without looking artificial, and blacks are deeply inked.

You won’t constantly see its headline 8000 nits peak brightness during everyday use, as that number is heavily reserved for specific HDR scenarios. However, even out in the blazing afternoon sun, outdoor visibility is excellent.

The audio side was also a pleasant surprise. The stereo speakers produce a much fuller sound profile than what you typically find on an uppermidrange phone. More importantly, Honor’s signature 200 percent volume boost is noticeably cleaner this time around.

MOST POWERFUL NIGHT CAMERA SYSTEM?

HONOR is making big promises this year, leaning heavily on its nextgeneration AiMAGE intelligent imaging architecture. The system features a 200MP Ultra-clear Night Camera built on a 1/1.4-inch sensor—the largest in its class—delivering 16-in-1 binning with an equivalent 2.24μm super pixel size and 24% greater light sensitivity through E2E AI Remosaic technology. The Honor 600 pairs this hardware with a 12MP ultrawide/macro lens and a 50MP selfie shooter. On paper, it mirrors the Honor 400, but real-world testing proves that the computational AI tuning has drastically improved.

The biggest compliment I can give these cameras is simple: I trusted them. Most midrangers fail outside controlled studios, but the Honor 600 delivers where it actually matters—real life.

It isn’t perfect, though. The 12MP ultrawide remains a weak link that struggles as daylight fades, and you will notice occasional shutter lag when rapidly clicking away. Video recording also maxes out at a standard 4K at 30fps. It captures everyday chaos reliably enough that you can finally stop worrying if your phone can handle the shot.

PERFORMANCE: BUILT

FOR BALANCE, NOT FLEXING

THE Honor 600 swaps the previous generation’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 for a newer Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (paired with an Adreno 722 GPU). Rather than chasing brute-force benchmark flexing, Honor tuned this chipset for daily efficiency. The result? Jumping between apps, editing clips, and multitasking feel fluid and completely lag-free. Gaming is respectable—Honor of Kings runs smoothly at max settings, and other resource heavy titles are still perfectly playable at default settings. Thermals stay remarkably cool, but let’s be realistic: this isn’t a gaming phone. The real star of the show is its massive 7000mAh battery (up from the Honor 400’s 6000mAh). This is the phone’s true killer feature as it completely obliterates battery anxiety, easily coasting through a full day of heavy use with plenty of juice left by the time you get home.

To refill that massive tank, you get 80W wired SuperCharge and a very handy 27W wired reverse charging feature to power up your accessories. At this higher price bracket, the total omission of wireless charging definitely stings but it’s not a deal-breaker.

EVERYWHERE, EVERYTHING AI ALL AT ONCE HONOR built its entire marketing campaign around AI. Depending on your current level of tech fatigue, that’s either thrilling or exhausting. The headline act is AI Image-to-Video 2.0, and it is vastly improved. On the Honor 400, the process felt like handing your photo to a caffeinated robot and hoping for the best. Version 2.0 introduces much-needed creative agency by offering distinct pathways depending on how much control you want over the generation, which takes about two to five minutes per clip.

With Free-form Prompt Templates, you can finally type exactly what you want—directing camera movements, cinematic transitions between two photos, or specific action sequences. Ironically, if your prompting skills are rusty, you’ll find yourself using ChatGPT or Gemini just to generate a script good

enough for your phone’s AI to interpret. If you don’t want to overthink the wording, Honor provides optimized Pre-set Prompt Templates that offer highly stable, stylized animation results. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can skip the text box entirely with the No Prompt option, letting the system automatically analyze your image and interpret the movement just like the first-generation feature—just be ready for a lot of “sighing” motion. Honor’s tagline is “Anything is Possible”—and that’s technically true, assuming you know how to prompt it.

Beyond video generation, the creative suite offers some highly practical tools alongside a few quirks. For content creators who never know what to do with their hands, Magic Pose suggests real-time posture and framing ideas based on your background, while the Magic Color engine works behind the scenes to dynamically punch up color accuracy depending on what you’re framing. Furthermore, the updated Moving Photo Editing allows you to use tools like the Moving Photo Eraser to remove background pests without flattening the image and killing the live animation.

The day-to-day productivity and security features quietly handle the heaviest lifting on the device. Tools like AI Summary, AI Minutes, and AI Recorder organize your meetings and turn voice recordings into clean text, collectively elevating the device into an “assistant phone.”

Finally, the AI Deepfake Detection is a highly underrated addition for 2026. It screens for deepfakes and cloned voices during media playback and calls, offering a crucial layer of genuine peace of mind against modern scams.

FINAL WORD: The Honor 600 isn’t just a one-trick AI pony—although Honor clearly wants AI to be the first thing people associate with the series. Thankfully, underneath all the prompts, flashy demos, and aggressively polished marketing is a genuinely competent upper-midrange smartphone. The display is brighter and sharper, the cameras feel noticeably more dependable than before, performance is balanced for everyday use, and the 7000mAh battery is easily one of the phone’s strongest selling points. The AI may be what gets people through the door, but the refinement and day-to-day usability are what make the Honor 600 easier to live with than some flashier competitors.

There is one important caveat though: if you’re buying the Honor 600 primarily for AI Image-toVideo, remember that the feature is only free for a limited time. After that, generating more videos will eventually require payment, which raises an interesting question about how sustainable AIheavy smartphone experiences will become once subscriptions and usage limits fully enter the picture.

The Honor 600 starts at ₱28,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant, climbs to ₱32,999

Editor: Mike Policarpio

No. of students in higher education more than 2x in 20 yrs, but inequalities remain

THE number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide has more than doubled over the past two decades and reached 269 million in 2024.

This was according to the first Higher Education Global Trends report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO.

The report revealed that international mobility has tripled over the same period, with nearly 7.3 million students studying abroad—half of them hosted in European and North American countries.

Women now outnumber men in higher education, but lag behind at doctoral level. Serious geographical inequalities remain with lower enrollment and completion rates in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.

“This new report shows increasing demand for higher education, which plays an irreplaceable role in building sustainable societies,” UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said. “Yet, this expansion does not always translate into equitable opportunities, highlighting

the need for innovative financing models to deliver quality, inclusive higher education.”

El-Enany said that with key initiatives like the “Global Convention on Higher Education and the Qualifications Passport,” “UNESCO will continue to support countries in delivering high-quality higher education opportunities to everyone.”

The report, which includes new data from 146 countries, shows that the number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide has increased from about 100 million in 2000 to 269 million in 2024. It represents 43 percent of the population of higher education age—typically 18 to 24 years old. However, this growth masks stark regional disparities, with 80 percent of young people in Western Europe and Northern America enrolled in higher learning, 59 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 37 percent in the Arab

States region, 30 percent in South and West Asia, and 9 percent in sub-Saharan Africa.

Private institutions continue to account for a third of global enrollment, with the highest share in Latin America and the Caribbean (49 percent in 2023). In countries such as Brazil, Chile, Japan and the Republic of Korea, 4 in every 5 students attend a private higher education institution. The report shows that only one-third of countries legally mandate tuition-free public higher education.

Completion of studies has not increased at the same pace as enrollment, with the global gross graduation ratio only rising from 22 percent in 2013 to 27 percent in 2024.

Global mobility, gender equality

THE number of students going abroad for higher education has more than tripled over the past two decades: from 2.1 million in 2000, to nearly 7.3 million in 2023. Yet mobility benefits only 3 percent of the global cohort, with major disparities.

The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Canada, the Russian Federation and France continue to host half of all international students. Countries such as Türkiye and the United Arab

STI to roll out DepEd’s strengthened SHS curriculum across 63 campuses

STARTING June 2026, STI’s network of 63 campuses will fully adopt the Department of Education’s (DepEd) strengthened senior high school (SSHS) curriculum for School Year (SY) 2026-2027. The transition aligns with the national mandate and builds upon a successful pilot program that included STI College General Santos, setting a new standard for an educational framework designed for future readiness.

The revised curriculum will consolidate the previous four-track system into two pathways: the Academic and Technical-Professional or TechPro track. This shift eliminates fixed strands, allowing students to customize their education experience by taking core subjects while still allowing them to enroll in electives outside of their chosen tracks.

The new structure will also streamline 15 core subjects into a more focused set of five: Effective Communication; Life and Career Skills; General Mathematics; General Science; and Philippine History and Society. By decongesting the existing material, this aims to foster deeper, interdisciplinary mastery that better prepares graduates’ skills for the demands of higher education and the workforce.

“At STI, we’ve always believed

in future readiness, so keeping up with these changes is our way of delivering on that promise," said Vice President for Academics Karen Tabije. “Through hands-on learning, we are ensuring every student is career-ready—whether it’s stepping into university, straight into the workforce, or even taking on entrepreneurship.”

Under the refined curriculum, students will now have more time for field exposure opportunities, expanded on-the-job training, and apprenticeships with its vital industry partners. These enhancements ensure that the institution’s academic programs further strengthen practical expertise and integrate professionalism into the workplace as early as the learners’ SHS year. This transition applies exclusively for incoming Grade 11 students, while Grade 12 learners from nonpilot schools in SY 2026-2027 shall continue to take the existing SHS curriculum.

Renewed partnership APART from the support to the new SHS framework, STI has renewed its partnership with the DepEd to expand its Education for Real Life mission.

In a ceremonial signing on May 4, the two entities formalized a new

agreement for quality, technologydriven education to reach more Filipinos nationwide. The renewed memorandum of understanding will leverage its campuses, mobile school buses, and state-of-the-art facilities as extensions of DepEd’s reach to provide resources and learning access to communities in need.

The joint work cements the long history between the two in bridging the digital divide, ever since the first launch of STI Foundation’s flagship “Driving Education Where IT Matters” advocacy under DepEd’s “Adopt-a-School” Program in 2007. This collaboration with the agency marks a significant step in empowering a new generation of career-ready graduates and delivering a futureready education.

Beyond the scaling of its mobile school initiative and digital literacy training, STI is also harnessing its technological expertise in its career guidance programs and educational advocacy efforts through the STI Student’s Career Opportunity and Personality Evaluator or SCOPE assessment and Career Camp workshops.

For a full list of programs and admission details, visit sti.edu or follow its official Facebook page to get the latest news on enrollment schedules.

Emirates are becoming popular study destinations. With mobility numbers up at least five-fold in the past decade, they now closely trail France.

International students increasingly prefer to study within their region: In Latin America and the Caribbean, the share of intra-regional mobility rose from 24 percent to 43 percent from 2000 to 2022, with Argentina as the top destination.

Internationally mobile students from the Arab States are increasingly concentrated in the Gulf countries and Jordan, marking a shift from the dominance of Western Europe and North America a decade earlier.

UNESCO plays a major role in promoting international student mobility through its “Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education” and its regional equivalents, which have already been ratified by 93 countries. The convention not only establishes fair and transparent recognition of qualifications, but also sets universal standards for quality assurance to ensure trust and confidence in higher education qualifications worldwide.

Women now outnumber men in higher education: Globally,

there were 114 women enrolled in higher education for every 100 men in 2024. Gender parity has been reached in all regions except sub-Saharan Africa. Central and Southern Asia made strong progress: from 68 women enrolled per 100 men in 2000, to achieving gender parity in 2023. Women remain under-represented at doctoral level and hold only about one-quarter of senior leadership roles in academia.

Pressing challenges

DESPITE some progress, only a third of countries have implemented programmes to support under-represented groups’ access to higher education. Countries such as Chile, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mauritius, Mexico, the Philippines and South Africa have reduced or abolished higher education fees for targeted groups. And notwithstanding a ninefold increase in enrollment from 1 percent in 2019 to 9 percent in 2025, refugees still face major obstacles to higher education. A key barrier is the recognition of missing or unverifiable qualifications, such as in the Global South.

UNESCO works to address this through its “Qualifications Passport:” a tool to recognize the aca -

demic, professional and vocational qualifications of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The passport is currently being implemented in Iraq, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe with plans for further expansion, and has already been delivered to hundreds of successful applicants. Government investment in higher education averages about 0.8 percent of gross domestic product globally, while fiscal tightening in many contexts is intensifying the strain on higher education institutions, creating a need for innovative financing models in order to deliver quality, inclusive higher education.

Finally, the report notes that the rapid expansion of student numbers in recent decades has put pressure on higher education systems, highlighting the need to ensure quality standards of instruction, and further measures to widen access to higher education to disadvantaged groups while securing equitable and sustainable financing. Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are also reshaping teaching and learning, yet only 1 in every 5 universities had a formal AI policy in 2025. Read the full report online by searching: UNESCO Higher Education Global Trends Report.

Anihan Tech. School celebrates 40 years of women empowerment, to host benefit lunch

Story & photo by Patrick Villanueva

WITH the vision of becoming the leading technical-vocational school for women, Anihan Technical School (ATS) in Calamba, Laguna, will be celebrating its fourth decade with a benefit lunch for its longtime sponsors.

The technical school is a nonstock, non-profit project of the Foundation for Professional Training Inc. recognized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Education.

During the media tour on April 30, ATS highlighted its mission to support the development of women—especially the less-privileged—through education. The school’s officials explained that the focus of their institution is providing skills, making their graduates ready to work, especially in the services industry.

Still, they encourage their students to become entrepreneurs.

ATS said it is committed to providing “full-tuition scholarships to financially challenged young women through the support of generous donors, sponsors, and partners, as well as the proceeds from the Anihan Livelihood Center.”

Ready for entrepreneurship

ANIHAN offers a 1-year scholarship program in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Services or CARS, with the provision of three National Certificates-Level II in Bread and Pastry Production, Cookery, and Food & Beverage Services.

It was explained that students taking the course will be having a 1-year class, which consists of six months of classroom training, and six months of on-the-job training (OJT) with ATS’s industry partners, which are mostly in the hotel and restaurant, and service sectors.

During their presentation, the officials also boasted about how they receive students across Luzon, with enrollees reaching as far as Palawan.

In their school tour with the media, they presented several facilities such as their classrooms, kitchen laboratory, computer laboratory, and their science laboratory, which will be used for their new pharmaceutical course.

Moreover, students who finish the 1-year course are guaranteed work with the school’s 83 industry partners. As such, ATS officials also highlighted their 100-percent employment rate, with graduates working in local and overseas firms, while others venture into entrepreneurship, or come back to work for the school.

Benefit lunch, fundraising TO celebrate its milestone year, ATS will be hosting a benefit lunch and fundraising campaign on June 7, at the Palms Country Club in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City themed “Anihan @40: A Milestone of Harvesting Dreams.”

Sponsorship packages range from Pearl (P10,000), Topaz (P15,000), and Ruby (P25,000). These would include a seven-day, 15-day, and 30-day promotion on Anihan's social media platforms, as well as sponsorship acknowledgement. Ruby sponsorship will include a logo inclusion on the souvenir bag. All packages include two complimentary lunch cards. The donations, officials said, will be used for the upgrading of their kitchen laboratory as a way to further support their students. In turn, the sponsors will be getting far more ready trainees for their OJT program.

“After finishing the program, we give updates to the sponsor on the development of their scholars. [Their donations will also] improve the quality of our education,” said School Director Aileen R. Clutario of ATS.

Clutario also confirmed the impact of their program for women, as she noted that their family incomes improved after taking their courses, then venturing into the workforce.

“We can see the economic impact of the program on the students. When they enter ‘Anihan,’ we have a [means of tracking their family income, which was before entering, about P5,000 to P10,000],” the school director shared. “After the program, we saw a significant increase, especially when they land a job in Manila.”

Interested sponsors or those who want to enrol at ATS may learn more by contacting Marketing Officer Michelle C. Salon at 09453818012, or through their website anihan.edu.ph.

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan

RIVER OF JANUARY

Bucket list destinations in Rio de Janeiro

Story & photos by Joshua Berida

THERE are many adjectives that would best describe Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro; from beautiful to stunning to alluring to exquisite to anything in between.

The beach, the mountains, and the sea are picturesque backdrops for a vacation or for some the ideal place to live. I spent a few days in Rio and was immediately captivated, but still cautious because of all the bad things I read and heard about the city. Rio de Janeiro, which in English means “River of January” has several bucket list worthy destinations that you should include if you get the chance to visit.

Cristo Redentor

CHRIST the Redeemer or Cristo Redentor might just be the most recognizable landmark/attraction of Rio. When you think of this statue, you’ll immediately associate it with the city. This 30m high statue towers over the city atop Mt. Corcovado. The construction of the statue concluded in 1931. You have the option to drive up to the station or take the train. There are usually hundreds of people visiting Christ the Redeemer so plan your trip accordingly. Other than the statue, the surrounding views of the mountains and the sea are worth the trip.

Sugarloaf Mountain

IF you’re looking for stunning overlooking views of Rio, Sugarloaf Mountain or Pão de Açúcar is the place to be. The cable car ride will already whet your appetite for more bird’s eye views. Once you get to the

different stations, Rio’s views will captivate you. The towering peaks and the crescent-shaped beaches make for beautiful backdrops. Consider going up the mountain an hour or so before sunset. This provides you with more than enough time to catch the sky turn red during golden hour. Stay for the night views and live music. There’s plenty of establishments where you can get something to eat and drink.

Copacabana

THIS long stretch of sand is a popular spot for both locals and visitors. Several establishments line its shore and thousands of beach goers simply hang out, swim or grab a caipirinha. At night, it’s a vibrant place to dine out or walk along its broad thoroughfare. There are bars and restaurants that have a live band if you feel like dancing to the beat of samba.

CAPITAL OF OENO-BISTRONOMY

Ipanema

THIS iconic beach isn’t too far from Copacabana. You’ll probably hum the tune or quietly sing the song “The Girl from Ipanema” while strolling along this beach. The mountains and the concrete jungle provide a beautiful contrast that typifies Rio’s cityscape. Just like Copacabana, Ipanema is a vibrant area where you can chill, get something to eat and drink, or swim.

Escadaria Selaron

ESCADARIA Selaron is another popular attraction in Rio. These colorful stairs attract several tourists a day. It’s as busy as it can be throughout the day with multiple visitors taking photos and selfies. It’s difficult to get the perfect photo because of all the people walking up and down. However, it’s a place you shouldn’t miss during your visit.

Why Filipinos should visit Bordeaux in

Photos by Kach Medina Umandap

I VISITED

Bordeaux this May 2026 for four days, and somehow, in that short time, I felt more inspired, more creative, and even more appreciative of the little pleasures in life.

Maybe it was the golden light reflecting on the limestone buildings. Maybe it was the slower pace compared to Paris. Or maybe it was because Bordeaux is one of those cities where beauty quietly surrounds you—from the architecture and museums to the food, wine, and conversations shared over long lunches. Most Filipinos visiting France immediately dream of Paris, and understandably so. But after visiting Bordeaux, I realized this city offers something different: a more intimate and refined side of France that food lovers, wine enthusiasts, and culture seekers will absolutely appreciate.

Bordeaux is globally known for its wines, but in recent years, it has also become one of France’s rising gastronomic capitals. The city now has an exciting mix of Michelin-starred restaurants, modern bistros, wine bars, and culinary experiences that blend tradition with creativity. This is where “oeno-bistronomy” comes in.

“Oeno” refers to wine, while “bistronomy” combines bistro-style dining with high gastronomy. Bordeaux has mastered this balance beautifully. Here, dining is not just about expensive tasting menus. It is about pairing excellent local wines with thoughtful, seasonal dishes in a relaxed but elegant setting. And honestly, this is something many Filipinos would enjoy. We naturally love sharing meals, discovering flavors, and gathering around food with family and friends. Bordeaux feels luxurious without being intimidating.

How to Get to Bordeaux

GETTING to Bordeaux from the Philippines usually requires a connection through a European or Middle Eastern hub. A major development for Filipino travelers was Air France relaunching direct Manila-Paris flights in December 2024 after nearly 20 years. However, as of 2026, the route now operates seasonally and is suspended from May 4 to October 12. Outside those dates, the easiest connections are through Doha with Qatar Airways, Dubai with Emirates, or Amsterdam with KLM.

From Paris, I highly recommend taking the TGV INOUI high-speed train to Bordeaux instead of a domestic flight. The journey from Paris Montparnasse Station takes around 2 hours and 10 minutes to 2 hours and 35 minutes, depending on the service. Comfortable, scenic, and far less stressful than another airport transfer, the train ride itself feels like part of the French experience.

As for accommodations, Bordeaux has something for every type of traveler. Budget hotels and hostels can start around €40 to €80 per night, mid-range boutique hotels range from €120 to €250, while luxury stays inside historic buildings can go beyond €400 per night.

If it’s your first time visiting, I recommend staying near the city center around Place de la Comédie, the Opera House, or the Golden Triangle district. Everything

South of France

becomes walkable - restaurants, shopping streets, museums, and major attractions.

Here are five experiences you absolutely should not miss in Bordeaux.

Experience Fine Dining at Le Chapon Fin ON my first night in Bordeaux, I had dinner at Le Chapon Fin, one of the city’s most iconic restaurants and among the oldest gastronomic institutions in France.

The restaurant celebrated its 200th anniversary recently, and under the direction of François Régimbeau and Sylvie Cazes, the historic space has been beautifully revived while preserving its Belle Époque charm. Chef Younesse Bouakkaoui now leads the kitchen, bringing a modern touch to traditional Bordeaux cuisine.

Dining here feels theatrical in the best way possible. The interiors alone are unforgettable, with dramatic rock formations and elegant details that transport you into another era.

The menu changes seasonally, but every dish during my dinner was carefully paired with wine. One highlight of the evening was tasting wines from Château Chauvin, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé.

Throughout its long history, Le Chapon Fin has welcomed famous personalities including Sarah Bernhardt, King Alfonso XIII of Spain, and artist Toulouse-Lautrec.

Rocinha

WHILE in Rio, include a favela tour in your itinerary. Rocinha provides you with a glimpse of life inside a favela. It’s like any other neighborhood with residents going to work and generally minding their own business. You’ll still hear bad news about gang wars and police crackdowns, but it’s not the whole story. Favelas are vibrant communities with a soul. Most day trips include a stop at an overlooking view of the neighborhood.

Cais do Valongo

BRAZIL is one of the country’s that benefited the most from the slave trade. The Portuguese forcibly took Africans to work in the plantations, cities, and various other places. Cais do Valongo is a reminder of Rio’s dark past. You’ll see vestiges of the dock that

This is not just dinner. It is a full Bordeaux experience.

Get the Bordeaux CityPass IF you plan to explore museums and attractions, the Bordeaux CityPass is absolutely worth it.

I used the 48-hour pass which currently costs €48 and includes unlimited access to trams, buses, and even the Le Bato river shuttle. Since individual transport tickets already cost €1.90 each, the pass quickly saves money.

The pass also includes access to major attractions like La Cité du Vin, Bassins des Lumières, and more than 15 museums and monuments around the city. You can also choose one guided activity including a walking tour, boat tour, or electric train tour.

I personally joined the boat tour and loved seeing Bordeaux from the river perspective.

One thing to remember: many museums close around 6 PM, so plan your days properly.

Enjoy the “Menu du Jour” at Le Bordeaux Brasserie FOR a more relaxed but equally memorable dining experience, have lunch at Le Bordeaux Brasserie located inside the InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hôtel directly across the Opera House.

The atmosphere during lunch is wonderful because you can sit outside, enjoy people-watching, and take in the elegance of the square.

During my visit, I tried chilled pea soup, homemade semi-cooked foie gras terrine with Lillet, organic egg prepared Caesar-style, and a roasted Châteaubriand

date to the early 19th century. It’s where hundreds of thousands of slaves arrived in the country.

Museu do Amanhã

THIS museum caught my eye when I saw pictures of its exterior. I was curious enough to enter and learn about its exhibits. The museum’s themes revolve around sustainability, coexistence, the present, and an imagined future. Art pieces, photographs and videos provide creative depictions of the museum’s themes.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian RIO is home to quite a number of attention-grabbing architectural wonders, one of which is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. The latter doesn’t look like a typical church, it looks more like a blend of modern and Native American pyramid aesthetics.

Final thoughts

R IO de Janeiro remains a breathtaking city with a complex tapestry. While acknowledging the dark history of its slavery past, Rio’s vibrant spirit prevails. It shines through its beautiful beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema to name a few and iconic sites such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Cristo Redentor to offer an unforgettable and welcoming experience.

served with bordelaise sauce. We also shared mashed potatoes and fregola sarda risotto with Comté cheese before ending with dessert of the day.

This is the kind of lunch that reminds you why the French take dining seriously.

Attend Mass at Cathédrale Saint-André EVEN if you are not religious, visiting Cathédrale SaintAndré is something special.

If you can, attend a Mass or simply sit quietly inside the cathedral. The Gothic architecture is breathtaking, and the atmosphere feels peaceful despite being in the city center.

Right beside it is the Pey-Berland Tower, where you can climb to the top for panoramic views of Bordeaux’s rooftops. However, the access to the tower is restricted and you must book an advance e-ticket (this is free if you have a City Pass). At the top of 231 steps (50 meters height), this is the best panoramic viewing platform in the city.

The area surrounding the cathedral is lively with cafés, restaurants, and beautiful city buildings, making it one of the best places to simply walk around and enjoy the rhythm of Bordeaux.

Walk the Bordeaux Heritage Trail

ONE of the best ways to discover Bordeaux is by walking the Bordeaux Heritage Trail.

Along the route, you’ll pass iconic landmarks including the Monument aux Girondins, Place de la Bourse, Porte Cailhau, Grosse Cloche, Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, and the elegant riverfront along the Garonne. Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage city, and every corner feels cinematic.

I know Filipinos love Paris, but I genuinely think Bordeaux will make you fall even more in love with France. It is sophisticated without trying too hard. It is luxurious yet welcoming. And for food lovers especially, Bordeaux is unforgettable. This city teaches you how to slow down, savor your meals, appreciate good wine, and enjoy

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Jinggoy posts bail as Sandiganbayan issues arrest warrant on flood cases

By Joel R. San Juan

THE Sandiganbayan on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Manuel Bonoan for the graft complaint filed against them in connection with flood control scandal.

The senator promptly posted bail personally before the Sandiganbayan. “Posting bail is a legal remedy available to me under our justice system, and I intend to avail myself of every lawful means to defend myself and clear my name,” Estrada said in a statement sent to reporters.

The arrest warrant was issued by the Sandiganbayan’s Second

Division chaired by Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg a day after the Ombudsman filed plunder and graft charges against Estrada, Bonoan and three others for allegedly receiving kickbacks from the government’s flood control projects amounting to over P573 million.

The anti-graft court set the bail for the respondents in the amount of P90,000.

Estrada and Bonoan were named as respondents in one of the two graft cases that the Ombudsman filed on Thursday.

Another graft and plunder cases were raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division against Estrada, Bonoan and three others, namely, DPWH-Manila assistant district engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna

and district engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales, Jr.

The plunder and graft cases stemmed from alleged illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations within the DPWH infrastructure portfolio for fiscal year 2025.

The Ombudsman said based on investigation, public funds were deliberately funneled into designated infrastructure projects in exchange for pre-determined commission fees or kickbacks.

The illegal scheme, according to the Ombudsman, would amount to over P573 million which allegedly were “systematically delivered” to Estrada.

In his statement to Senate reporters, Estrada said: “ Mariin kong itinatanggi ang mga paratang

laban sa akin. Ang mga ito ay walang batayan at walang bahid ng katotohanan [I strongly deny the charges against me. These are without basis and devoid of truth].”

He added, “I respect the rule of law and our judicial institutions, and this is precisely why I am posting bail and personally submitting myself to the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.”

Still he said, “ Umaasa ako sa patas na pagtrato, due process, at pagiging walang kinikilingan sa pagdinig ng kasong ito. Nagtitiwala ako na sa huli, mananaig ang hustisya at ang katotohanan [I believe in just treatment, due process and full impartiality in the hearing of this case. I believe that in the end, justice and truth will prevail].”

No ‘work from jail,’ but senator-judges facing arrest, detention may still join impeachment trial

SBy Butch Fernandez

ENATOR-JUDGES in the impeach -

ment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte who are facing arrest and detention may still participate in the proceedings without resorting to online attendance or voting, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Friday. He then proceeded to outline how such can be done, even as Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been deemed a “fugitive” from the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court; Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was issued a warrant by the Sandiganbayan and posted bail for charges related to the flood funds scandal; and charges of obstruction of justice pend against Sen. Robin Padilla for aiding dela Rosa’s “escape” from Senate

premises last May 14. Lacson said the option to participate— even sans online method—will remain in compliance with the Rules of the Senate, which allows online or remote participation and voting only in cases of force majeure or extreme circumstances, and in national emergencies.

“One remedy is for the Impeachment Court to ask the Sandiganbayan or any court/s to which their cases would be assigned for ‘leave of court,’ and if granted, order the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology or their custodian/s to escort them to the Senate so they may participate in the impeachment trial of the Vice President. The senator-judges will be physically present,” he said in English and Filipino in a radio interview.

“Work-from-jail is not allowed,” he added. “We cannot allow online participation because that is reserved for force majeure and national emergencies.”

Dela Rosa faces arrest by virtue of a warrant issued by the ICC, in connection with the anti-drug war of the Duterte administration. He is in hiding.

Other senators face possible plunder and graft charges in connection with the flood control scandal, while another faces charges of plunder and indirect bribery involving campaign donations.

“The impeachment trial involves a Senate-created special tribunal tasked under the Constitution to try and decide impeachment cases. Under the Constitution, the Senate must convene as an Impeachment Court to conduct the

impeachment trial,” Lacson said.

Double-edged sword

Meanwhile, Lacson noted that allowing online participation and voting in Senate proceedings - and possibly the impeachment trial - may be a double-edged sword, as it would increase the chances of the senators concerned being tracked down and captured.

He said that in the case of dela Rosa, law enforcers can track him once he logs into the Senate session.

“If dela Rosa wants to participate and uses his mobile device or laptop, he inadvertently helps law enforcement in tracking him down,” he said. “If the law enforcers see his IP address, they have a good chance of getting him.”

SMC: No final decision on Boracay bridge

SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) clarified that the proposed P7.78-billion Boracay Bridge Project has not been abandoned, saying further consultations will be pursued to hear from a broader range of local stakeholders and guide the project’s next steps.

The company issued the statement after reports and social media posts said SMC had backed out of the project, which was awarded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) following a public-private partnership process.

SMC said the reports appear to have stemmed from differing interpretations of discussions during a May 13 meeting between SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang and Aklan officials led by Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores, Rep. Florencio Miraflores, Rep. Jesus Marquez and Board Member Reynaldo Quimpo.

The meeting was part of continuing consultations on the project and focused on concerns raised by boat owners, transport associations, cooperatives, tricycle drivers, port workers and other local stakeholders. These included possible livelihood displacement, outstanding boat modernization loans and changes to existing transport operations between Caticlan and Boracay.

During the meeting, SMC said Ang acknowledged the opposition expressed by the Aklan officials and said the company would not insist on pursuing the project if the host communities do not support it. He said the project could be revisited in the future if concerns on livelihood, transport operations, access, safeguards and other local impacts are properly addressed through further consultations.

SMC said it has been consistently engaging stakeholders in good faith and

will continue to work with government, cooperatives and local groups to study mitigation measures, transition support and livelihood programs.

The conglomerate said the proposed bridge is designed as a controlled-access link that will support tourism while improving the movement of essential goods, waste, utilities, emergency services and regulated transport between Caticlan and Boracay.

It added that the project is not intended to open Boracay to unrestricted vehicle access. Vehicle use would be limited to authorized vehicles under rules to be set by local and national authorities.

SMC said the bridge will also not add hotel rooms, raise tourist caps or change Boracay’s carrying-capacity limits. Existing environmental safeguards and island-management rules will remain under the authority of the national and local governments.

It is meant to complement, not replace, the existing boat crossing between Caticlan and Boracay. Passenger movement through the jetty port is expected to remain operational, while the bridge would take on functions better handled through a controlled land connection, including waste movement, cargo, utilities and emergency access.

The project can help reduce pressure on the marine corridor, where boats and barges currently carry not only passengers but also goods, supplies, waste and other essential services.

Boracay is home to about 40,000 permanent residents based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing. Because most basic goods must be transported across the strait, residents and businesses absorb higher logistics costs that the bridge can help reduce by making goods delivery more efficient.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DBM gives nod to creation of non-teaching positions

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the creation of 22,268 new nonteaching positions for the Department of Education (DepEd) for fiscal year (FY) 2026.

The move aims to ease the workload of teachers by ensuring that schools have dedicated support staff and by improving school operations across the country.

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara expressed deep gratitude for the swift action, noting that it directly aligns with the administration’s educational priorities.

Nagpapasalamat kami kay Pangulong

Marcosatsa DBM dahilmalakingtulongito upangmaibsanangmgagawaingadministratibongatingmgaguro.Sapamamagitan ngmgabagongposisyongito,masmakatututoknaangatingmgatitsersapagtuturo atsapagpapataasngkalidadngedukasyon

sa bansa,” Angara said. The allocation is for 6,000 School Principal I, 11,268 Administrative Officer II, and 5,000 Project Development Officer I positions for elementary and secondary levels. The positions will be distributed across various regions. According to DBM, regional offices will directly issue the corresponding Notice of Organization, Staffing, and Compensation Actions to expedite deployment. This development follows a recent milestone where the DBM also approved 32,916 new teaching positions to address public school teacher shortages. The funding for these newly filled positions will be charged against DepEd’s built-in appropriations under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act. With this manpower boost, DepEd reinforces its commitment to fostering a more efficient and supportive environment for Filipino educators and learners alike.

Navy units intercept smuggled cigarettes in Mindanao

THE Philippine Navy (PN) on Friday announced that units from the Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) and Naval Task Force 61, intercepted two separate maritime smuggling operations off Basilan and Sulu.

The operation resulted in the seizure of more than P113 million of undocumented foreign-brand cigarettes. In a statement, the Navy said these naval anti-smuggling operations took place last May 23 and 24.

“The first operation was conducted on 23 May 2026 off Tongquil Island, Sulu, where naval operating units intercepted F/B Sea Dragon [per marking] and MPB Sea Horse [per documents]. Aboard the vessel were approximately 282 master cases of undocumented cigarettes with an estimated value of P42.7 million,” it added.

Last May 24, the PN said another successful interdiction was carried out near Sibago Island, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan, leading to the apprehension of M/B Lappas.

The vessel was found transporting around 473 master cases of undocumented cigarettes valued at approximately P70.9 million.

“Naval personnel immediately conducted boarding, inspection, and verification procedures which confirmed that the cargoes lacked

Continued from A4

a stronger economic phase following six decades of diplomatic relations.

“Sixty years of friendship and partnership is not only a symbolic milestone; it is a strong foundation for our economy, for trade, and for the new projects we are building together here right now,” he said.

According to the Russian trade official, current bilateral trade already includes Russian exports of meat products, metals, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment to the Philippines, while the Philippines exports microelectronics and agricultural products to Russia.

the necessary legal documents and permits. The apprehended crew members failed to present proof of lawful transport and possession of the cargoes, prompting the apprehension of the vessels and their personnel for violation of Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” the PN said. It said all apprehended individuals were properly processed, medically examined, and informed of their constitutional rights in accordance with existing operational and legal procedures.

The PN said the seized vessels and illicit cargoes were subsequently transported to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, Zamboanga City, for inventory and documentation prior to turnover to the Bureau of Customs, Port of Zamboanga, for appropriate disposition.

“These successful operations highlight the sustained maritime security and antismuggling efforts of WMNC in safeguarding the maritime approaches of Western Mindanao. The PN remains committed to intensifying maritime patrol and interdiction operations in support of national security, economic protection, and the government’s campaign against transnational and illegal maritime activities.” Rex Anthony Naval

180 million and a GDP exceeding US$2.4 trillion, and has made major advances in digitalization, with nearly all central government public services now accessible online, he added.

The Russian Federation also invited Philippine businesses and government representatives to participate in several upcoming economic and industry events in Russia this year, including the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, INNOPROM industrial exhibition, the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, and the Global Fisheries Forum.

Manila is set to host the fifth meeting of the Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation later this year, bringing together government officials and private sector leaders from both countries. Russia. . .

Russia has a population of about

Editor: Angel R. Calso

US, Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and start nuclear talks

By Aamer Madhani, Jon Gambrell, Michelle L. Price & Sam Metz The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—US and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement Thursday to extend the ceasefire in the 3-month-old war by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program, according to a US official familiar with the matter.

Iran did not immediately confirm any deal. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but said it was unclear if President Donald Trump would approve it.

“It’s hard to say exactly when or if the president’s going to sign,” Vance told reporters.

He added: “We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points.”

The emerging memorandum of understanding came as the fragile ceasefire in the war between the US and Iran appeared to be wavering. The latest flare-up in fighting happened less than a day earlier, when Kuwait intercepted missiles fired from Iran, according to US Central Command.

Proposal addresses Strait of Hormuz

THE memorandum makes clear that Iran will not be able to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran will have to remove all mines from the vital waterway within 30 days, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

During the war, Iran has effectively closed the strait, which had been the conduit for about a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas. Its closure has sent oil prices skyrocketing around the world.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted Thursday at a news briefing that the cost of oil could “come down very quickly” once a deal is finalized.

Iran has said it’s letting some commercial vessels pass—about two dozen daily in recent days, compared with more than 100 a day before the war—but the Islamic Republic also has charged tolls for at least some ships. It set up a formal gatekeeper agency earlier this month, spurring a new round of US sanctions this week.

Under the tentative agreement, the US would gradually lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and would also agree to relax sanctions, allowing Iran to sell more of its oil.

Yet even as word of the potential deal emerged, the US Treasury Department imposed additional sanctions on the Iranian military’s oil sales arm. The new penalties, first reported by The Associated Press, extend the Trump administration’s economic pressure campaign on the Islamic Republic. Details of the tentative pact were first reported by the news outlet Axios.

Nuclear issue remains unresolved

AMONG the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day ceasefire is what will happen to Iran’s highly enriched uranium, the first official said. The Islamic Republic has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Vance suggested on Thursday evening that negotiators were trying to strike general terms on the

highly enriched uranium settled in the tentative agreement, with the specifics to be hammered out in the ensuing talks.

Vance said the continued back and forth involved “a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment.”

Iran has not publicly committed to giving up the stockpile. It is believed to buried under a trio of nuclear sites that were badly damaged by US airstrikes last year.

Nuclear analysts have said that Iran might consider China or Russia, which have close relations with Tehran, to be a potential acceptable third party to take possession of the enriched uranium. But Trump said Wednesday that he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with such a plan.

Though Trump and his team said from the start of the conflict that one of their prime objectives was to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, Vance framed the war’s accomplishments as something far less definitive.

“We’re in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president but over the long term,” Vance said. “That’s a very very good thing for the American people.”

Iran, which has long maintained its program is peaceful, has insisted that any deal must include an end to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. Tensions deepened Thursday in Lebanon as Israel conducted an airstrike on a southern suburb of the capital, Beirut, and other strikes in the southern coastal city of Tyre. At least 14 people were killed across the country’s south.

Kuwait reports an attack KUWAIT announced that its airdefense systems intercepted incoming missiles and drones on Thursday, without detailing what had been targeted. Iran said it had retaliated for strikes earlier in the week by firing on a US base in a Gulf state it did not name.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemned Iran for what it called “blatant aggression,” and US Central Command called the attack on

Russian drone strike in Romania sparks NATO request for transfer of anti-drone capabilities

KYIV, Ukraine—A Russian drone that was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people, Romanian authorities said Friday.

In response to the crash in the city of Galati, NATO member Romania asked the alliance for a faster transfer of anti-drone capabilities to its military, the Foreign Ministry said, calling the drone’s flight a serious violation of international law. Police and other agencies responded at the scene. Galati is on the Danube River, near the borders of Ukraine and Moldova.

Ukrainian forces shot down 217 drones overnight on Friday according to the country’s air force. In total, Russia attacked with 232 drones and one ballistic missile. Hits were recorded in 14 areas, the air force said.

The drone was tracked by radar in Romanian airspace and crashed onto the roof of a building in Galati, Romania’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. The impact was followed by a fire. Two people suffered minor injuries, and several others were evacuated.

While Romania has confirmed drone fragments on its territory on multiple

occasions since the war started in 2022, including in Galati in April this year, no one has previously been hurt in any of the drone incidents.

In response to the latest incident, Romanian President Nicusor Dan convened the NATO member’s top defense body for a meeting on Friday to discuss the implications of what he called “the worst incident to hit the national territory” since Russia invaded Ukraine, and blamed Russia directly for the incident.

“We will have proportional measures in relation to the Russian Federation.... There is no ambiguity about the author and the cause of this assault,” he wrote in a post on Facebook. “The unprecedented character of the event imposes a firm, coordinated and measured response—at the national, allied and international level.”

Dan added that his thoughts are with the injured persons, families and residents “who experienced terrible moments in their own homes.”

The Romanian military scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and a helicopter that were authorized to engage targets, and alert messages were sent to residents of the affected areas.

one of America’s top allies in the Persian Gulf an “egregious ceasefire violation.” Kuwait repeatedly came under fire from Iran and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq before the April ceasefire began.

The exchange took place after US officials said late Wednesday that American forces launched more strikes on Iran, shooting down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the strait and hitting

an Iranian ground-control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard acknowledged the attack around Bandar Abbas International Airport and said via the state-run IRNA news agency that it launched a retaliatory attack on the air base that launched the assaults. The Revolutionary Guard did not specify whether

the response targeted Kuwait, which houses US Army Central’s forward headquarters, air bases and a naval base.

On Monday, the US said it conducted what the Pentagon called “self-defense” strikes on missile launch sites and minelaying boats in southern Iran.

Although they have traded strikes and accusations of ceasefire violations, Washington and Tehran have not returned to fullscale hostilities and keep negotiating.

Vance said that, “Ceasefires are always a little messy” but it’s “very much holding.”

Later Thursday, Iran’s defenses destroyed “a hostile aircraft” around the southern city of Jam, the area’s governor, Masood Tangestani, told state broadcaster IRIB. No other information was immediately available.

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin and Matthew Lee in Washington and Jennifer Peltz and Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.

General Gheorghe Maxim, a stand-in commander for the Romanian Armed Forces joint staff, said at a press conference Friday that the incident “is not an attack from Russia against Romania,” but “Romanians should understand that Russia is a threat to the security of the countries in the area.”

Russia has been using long-range ballistic missiles and drones to damage Ukraine’s power grid and hammer cities, and Ukraine has braced for further heavy bombardments.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb condemned the drone strike in Romania and wrote in a social media post that “Russia is crossing another line in its war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Stubb said, without elaborating, that “the situation is being discussed within the Alliance.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said the incident showed that Russia “has crossed yet another line.”

She said the EU will keep strengthening security along its eastern border and was actively drafting another set of sanctions against Russia, the 21st so far.

See “Drone,” A18

Aid supplies reach heart of

Congo’s Ebola outbreak as WHO head travels to Kinshasa

By Justin Kabumba & Ope Adetayo The Associated Press

BUNIA, Congo—Aid workers rushed supplies Thursday to the center of Congo’s outbreak of a rare type of Ebola virus while beleaguered medical personnel struggled with a lack of equipment, a distrustful population and armed groups in a volatile region.

A white cargo plane with aid donated by the European Union delivered masks, gloves, boots and medications, which all are in short supply, to the northeastern town of Bunia at the heart of the outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province. U.N.branded forklifts lifted several cases into trucks.

Health workers with scant supplies have been struggling to contain an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, a kind of Ebola that has no approved treatment or vaccine. In some areas, doctors have resorted to wearing expired medical masks while treating suspected patients.

Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for dealing with the bodies of victims, which clash with local burial rites. Residents have launched at least three attacks against health centers in Ituri province.

Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said that during outbreaks people in remote communities can feel overwhelmed by an incoming flood of information and people.

“We’ve seen in every epidemic that there’s always resistance,” Kamba said. “Communities always ask themselves, ‘What’s going on?’ And in epidemics like this one, it is really risk communication and community engagement that ultimately change perceptions.”

Aid donated by the EU is expected to arrive in batches over the next eight days, said Jérôme Kouachi, head of emergency operations at UNICEF in Congo.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was on his way to Congo to witness the efforts. The WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, in the hope of ramping up aid.

The United States on Thursday said it is increasing aid to

Congo and Uganda by $80 million, bringing its commitment to more than $112 million since the outbreak.

The additional money would pay for personal protective equipment for health care workers, Ebola test kits, support for health screening at airports and contact tracing, the US State Department said.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Africa Centres for Disease Control director-general, said the organization on Monday believed it had secured funding pledges of nearly $500 million toward Africa’s emergency response, but as of Thursday afternoon the amount had dwindled to $290 million as partners withdrew or reduced pledges.

He also said the Africa CDC hoped to have treatments and a vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus by the end of the year and there were some vaccine candidates already in the works.

The Congolese government has confirmed more than 1,000 suspected cases, with at least 220 deaths, since it declared an outbreak on May 15. But the virus had been spreading undetected for weeks and the WHO suspects it is much larger than what has been reported.

The virus also has reached neighboring Uganda, which has confirmed seven cases and one death.

On Wednesday, the Congolese government said the first survivor to recover from the virus had left a health center.

“We are trying to catch up,” Congo Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said earlier this week. “It is a race against the clock.”

The ground response has been hampered by multiple challenges including customs’ red tape, insufficient storage facilities, bad roads and weak telecommunications, humanitarian agencies said in a report Thursday. Tedros on Wednesday called for a ceasefire in a region where armed groups have staged violent attacks for decades.

“We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,” he said.

Tucked in the northeastern part of Congo close to the Ugandan border, Ituri province has been reeling from attacks by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias. In early May, the ADF killed at least 40 people and burned several homes in Ituri.

The illness also has been reported in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls many key cities including Goma and Bukavu. The rebels have reported two cases.

The region’s main airport in Goma, which doubles as a staging ground for humanitarian efforts into the region, has been closed since January 2025, when M23 seized the city.

The conflict has precipitated one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with at least 7 million people displaced in eastern Congo.

Ope Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria. Mathew Lee contributed from Washington and Mogomotsi Magome contributed from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Palestinians mourn 10 killed in Eid strikes as Netanyahu vows wider control of strip

By Wafaa Shurafa The Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip—Dozens

of Palestinians in Gaza City gathered on Thursday for funeral prayers for 10 people killed in Israeli strikes the night before, including five children and an elderly person, as well as a Hamas militant.

More than 20 people were injured in the strikes, according to Shifa Hospital. Video from the scene showed flames pouring from an upper-floor window of a building, while bystanders rushed to carry wounded people, including children, to ambulances.

Mohammed Shawish, who was wounded and lost his wife in the strikes, broke down in tears as he held her body at the hospital morgue, saying, “I married my wife for love. For God’s sake, I chose her because of love.” The strikes took place on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” an Islamic holiday celebrated

by millions of Muslims worldwide. The Israeli military said Wednesday evening it had launched strikes in the northern Gaza Strip targeting two Hamas militants.

Among those killed was Hamas fighter Imad Isleim. On Thursday, mourners carried his body wrapped in a white shroud with a Hamas flag draped over it.

His death came as a “shock” to the family, even though they knew it could happen at any time, his cousin Nidal Isleim said.

The strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was expanding its control in Gaza.

“Right now, we are tightening the grip on Hamas,” Netanyahu said Thursday at the Jordan Valley Conference in the occupied West Bank. “We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. You know that? We were at 50%, we moved to 60%.”

He said the next step was to move to 70% control, with Israel “tightening the grip” on Hamas “from every direction.”

“We will deal with the remnants,” Netanyahu said. “But the most important thing is to continue leveraging our power,

to increase it.”

The conference was part of a broader discussion on the war, Iran, Hezbollah, Gaza and regional strategy.

“There is still more work. What is happening right now is truly a global change. There is no doubt about that,” Netanyahu added.

Earlier this week, an Israeli strike killed Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed leader of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, less than two weeks after his predecessor was also killed.

Across the Gaza Strip, 16 people were killed and 39 others wounded over the past 48 hours, Gaza’s health ministry said in an update on Thursday. The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but is staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.

Since a fragile ceasefire came into effect last October, 922 people have been killed in Gaza and 2,786 others injured, according to the ministry.

Putin to host Asean leaders at June summit in Russia

By Jim Gomez The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines—

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will hold a commemorative summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia in June, the Philippines’ top diplomat said Friday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said in a post on X that she and her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, spoke on the phone about ASEAN’s summit to be held in the Russian city of Kazan.

The Russian Embassy in Manila said that ahead of the June 17 to 18 meeting, Lavrov and Lazaro discussed “the prospects of expanding Russia’s strategic partnership” with ASEAN.

Aside from the Philippines, ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.

Most ASEAN state members voted to support a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia for its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine, but the regional bloc has maintained relations with Moscow as a “dialogue partner” and engaged Russian officials in annual top-level meetings.

Some of ASEAN’s diverse states have been perceived to be aligned with the United States, like Washington’s treaty ally the Philippines, which currently

holds the association’s yearly rotating presidency. Other members have heavy trade and security engagements with China and Russia. Vietnam and Laos abstained from the UN General Assembly resolution concerning the attack on Ukraine.

Several ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, have either imported or expressed interest in purchasing Russian crude oil after global fuel prices soared after the US and Israel attacked Iran in February.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will attend the summit with Putin, a Philippine government official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss the matter publicly. It remains to be seen whether Singapore’s leader would attend.

The wealthy island nation condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and imposed sanctions. The leader of Myanmar, which currently coordinates ASEAN’s relations with Russia, will likely not be allowed to attend. ASEAN has prohibited Myanmar’s leaders from attending top-level meetings including annual summits with Asian and Western countries, after Myanmar’s army forcibly ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government in 2021, sparking a civil war. Lower-level career diplomats have been allowed to attend.

ASEAN leaders proposed a five-point peace plan in 2021 demanding an immediate end to fighting and hostilities, but Myanmar’s government has failed to end the violence or foster dialogue.

Water shortages worsen across Cuba as oil supplies dwindle

By Andrea Rodríguez The Associated Press

HAVANA—Nearly 3 million Cubans experience water shortages every day because of a severe oil shortage that government officials blame on a US energy blockade, authorities said late Wednesday during a roundtable discussion regarding the impact of the ongoing blockade.

The island’s water system is operating with only 37% of the required fuel as Cuba faces its worse energy crisis.

The water system is one of the sectors most affected because it is one of the country’s largest energy consumers, said Antonio Rodríguez, president of the state-run National Institute of Water Resources.

Details of the forum focused on the intermittent water supply affecting an overall population of nearly 10 million people were published Thursday by the official website Cubadebate.

Rodríguez said that not only does water pumping consume electricity, but all of the agency’s essential activities require fuel, from unclogging pipes and cleaning septic tanks to repairing leaks. Chemical supplies are also needed, and their import is currently paralyzed. According to Rodríguez, the agency once purchased parts and other supplies worth some $100 million annually, but in the last year, purchases totaled only about $10 million given a total suspension of credit. Many suppliers are placing contracts on hold as they assess

when it might be advantageous to deliver supplies to Cuba or what obstacles might arise in processing bank payments, not to mention the limitations on shipping services, he said.

Complicating the problem is aging infrastructure and oversaturated pumping stations, especially in large cities like Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Matanzas, Rodríguez said. Many high-rise buildings and apartments also require electricity to power the pumps that lift water to the elevated tanks.

The water crisis is not new, but it has worsened in recent months.

Since January, the US government tightened sanctions it had already imposed on Cuba as it pressures the island to change its political model. US President Donald Trump also threatened in late January to impose tariffs on any countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, which produces only 40% of the fuel it needs.

The population, already

having endured five years of economic crisis, inflation and shortages, is now struggling with daily power outages that last up to 20 hours.

Many neighborhoods in Havana receive water deliveries by tanker trucks, but they remain inconsistent.

“It’s been five days since the water came in,” Magaly Ribial, a 60-year-old teacher, said Thursday as she collected water for her home from a tanker truck parked near her house in Old Havana.

Meanwhile, 95-year-old Dayse Izquierdo struggles to carry water and obtains whatever her neighbors bring her when the tanker truck, which Cubans call a “pipa,” arrives.

Some residents even said they walk from other parts of the city when they hear that water trucks are arriving in a specific neighborhood.

The Associated Press videographer Ariel Fernández in Havana contributed.

With stalemate in Ukraine and discontent at home, Putin is ready to escalate his war

By The Associated Press

FACING a battlefield stalemate in Ukraine and growing war fatigue among Russians, President Vladimir Putin appears ready to try to change the narrative around the conflict.

He looks likely to sharply escalate the Russian aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital in the hope it will shore up his sagging domestic approval ratings and persuade an increasingly pessimistic audience at home that Moscow is winning the war, now in its fifth year.

Russia’s warning to carry out “consistent and systematic” missile strikes on Kyiv, accompanied by a call for evacuating foreign embassies from the capital, signals Putin’s intention to expand Russia’s barrage despite the heavy costs and potential international outrage.

Massive drills of Russia’s nuclear forces earlier this month and a series of belligerent statements from Moscow warning Kyiv’s European allies about possible retaliation for what the Kremlin cast as their involvement in Ukrainian drone attacks have underlined Putin’s intention to up the ante.

As Russia’s advance stalls, Ukraine boosts long-range strikes AFTER a series of gains last year, Russia’s advances along the over 1,000-kilometer (600mile) front line have ground to a near halt recently, and Ukraine’s armed forces have launched successful counterstrikes and reclaimed some ground.

“The character of the war is shifting in favor of Ukrainian forces, at least for now,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a recent analysis. “Russian forces’ rates of advances are stagnating while Ukrainian forces are employing novel tactics and operational concepts in efforts to break out of positional warfare.”

The battlefield gridlock undermines Putin’s declared goal of quickly capturing the eastern Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control. Kyiv has rejected his demands to withdraw from the region as a condition for a ceasefire.

At the same time, Ukraine has significantly expanded its longrange strikes on Russian energy facilities and arms factories, inflicting increasing damage.

Putin scaled down the annual May 9 Victory Day parade, fearing Ukrainian drone strikes. Days later, a massive drone attack on Moscow’s suburbs killed three and showed that even the densely protected capital isn’t fully immune from assault, shattering Kremlin efforts to cast the conflict as something distant that doesn’t affect ordinary Russians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks were “significantly changing the situation—and, more broadly, the world’s perception of Russia’s war.”

Acknowledging the growing threat of Ukraine’s deep strikes, Russian lawmakers this week approved a bill that says the country’s banks should bear the cost of installing drone-jamming systems on their premises, rather than rely on the military.

“From Russia’s perspective, these attacks are just going to get worse,” said Thomas Withington of the Royal United Services Institute in London. He added that Ukraine’s increasingly audacious drone attacks were “exacting not

only a political but an economic cost in Russia.”

The war is taking a toll on the Russian economy and morale

RUSSIA’S economy has stagnated as the initial boost from massive military spending has petered out. The government has raised taxes and increased domestic borrowing to keep the budget deficit under control. And even though the US war in Iran has meant windfall oil revenues for Russia, fundamental economic challenges remain.

Putin is expected to play down the negative dynamics at next week’s international economic forum in St. Petersburg, an annual event intended to showcase Russia’s achievements.

Nigel Gould-Davies of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said in an analysis that “war-fueled high prices of capital, labor and goods, as well as rising taxes, have begun to depress the civilian sectors,” resulting in “a dual economy of overheated military output and civilian stagnation.”

While Russia has relied on volunteer soldiers to fight the war, offering them comparatively high wages and other benefits, Gould-Davies argued that “there are signs that this incentive may no longer be working effectively, and that Russia has begun to lose more troops than it can recruit.”

To sustain the war, the Kremlin will have to forcibly mobilize human and material resources, requiring it to “curtail the last remaining post-Soviet market freedoms, labor freedom, and freedom of movement,” he said.

In a sign of brewing discontent, some social media influencers previously loyal to the Kremlin have started to openly criticize government policies.

A move by authorities to restrict cellphone internet and block popular messaging apps has upset daily routines for millions, causing open grumbling. Natalya Kasperskaya, a prominent IT entrepreneur and a staunch Kremlin supporter, harshly criticized the shutdowns and attempts to block virtual private networks, warning that they cause massive damage to the tech sector.

Tatyana Stanovaya, a Russia expert who founded the R. Politik newsletter focused on Kremlin politics, noted the spreading Ukrainian drone attacks along with mobile internet shutdowns and rising taxes have eroded Putin’s standing. While he faces no immediate threats to his rule, “the gradual fading of Putin’s credibility is real,” she said.

In early spring, Russian opinion polls, including one by a government-run pollster, recorded a dip in Putin’s approval ratings, although they rose slightly in May in the state-controlled poll after the organization changed its methodology to include faceto-face interviews. Many observers believe the numbers may

be inflated amid a widespread crackdown on dissent.

“Putin is losing his magic,” Alexander Baunov of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center wrote in a commentary. “Power remains undivided in his hands, but its spell is fading. Even loyalists complain about the mounting restrictions and repression, and once-upbeat businesspeople are now despondent.”

Russia’s new threats to Ukraine and the West CITING a May 22 Ukrainian drone attack on a college dormitory in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine that Moscow said killed 21 people, Putin ordered a massive missile strike on Kyiv and its surrounding region. Sunday’s barrage that involved Russia’s new hypersonic Oreshnik missile killed two, injured scores of others and destroyed or damaged many buildings.

On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow will launch “consistent and systematic” strikes on Kyiv to target drone-making facilities and “decision-making centers.” It urged foreign diplomats to leave the capital—a demand rejected by Ukraine’s allies.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to warn him of the coming strikes and push for the evacuation of its diplomats.

“The danger in all of these wars as they continue and then they go on is that they always have the threat of escalation, of spreading into something new,” Rubio told reporters after the call.

The Iran war has effectively put US mediation efforts in Ukraine on hold and drained American missile arsenals, delaying the delivery of US-made Patriot missiles that Ukraine desperately needs to fend off Russian attacks.

Moscow-based military analyst Sergei Poletaev said Russia sees the shortage of air defense assets in Kyiv as an opportunity.

“Kyiv’s air defenses have been exhausted enough to make a massive attack efficient,” he said in a recent commentary.

Accompanying the declared blitz on Kyiv, Russia issued a barrage of threats aimed at Ukraine’s European allies.

The Defense Ministry published a list of facilities in Europe that it said were involved in manufacturing drones and their components for Ukraine. And Moscow’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned the Baltic nations that their NATO membership won’t protect them from Moscow’s retaliation if they allow Ukraine to launch attacks from their territory. Those allies have denounced Moscow’s claims.

“We are actually very, very close to direct military confrontation,” said Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

A18 Saturday, May 30, 2026

Asia’s defense summit opens with China and doubts about US priorities topping concerns

By David Rising The Associated Press

SINGAPORE—China’s rapid military modernization and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and growing concerns over American priorities are top issues on the table at Asia’s premier defense summit drawing leaders, top diplomats and security officials from around the world.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, also comes as the Middle East is increasingly on edge as new attacks have threat -

ened the tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war. Russia, meanwhile, has intensified its war on Ukraine.

Vietnamese leader To Lam opens the conference Friday with a

keynote address, while US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth starts Saturday’s session with remarks focused on the Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

Vietnam navigates a delicate superpower balance

Lam has consolidated his power in Vietnam this year, becoming both Communist Party general secretary and president of the strategically important Southeast Asian nation, departing from its tradition of shared leadership.

Like several other countries in the region, Vietnam has competing maritime claims with Beijing that have led to confrontations, but at the same time is heavily tied economically to China, its biggest two-way trade partner.

The US, meantime, is Vietnam’s largest export destination and has been seeking to make diplomatic inroads and expand defense contracts to try and pull some of that market away from Hanoi’s traditional partner, Russia.

Recently leaked documents showed, however, that even after elevating relations with Washington to the highest diplomatic level, Vietnam’s military remained skeptical of American intentions and had taken steps to defend against a possible American “war of aggression.”

Drone. . .

Continued from A11

“A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians,” she wrote in a social media post.

“On EU territory.”

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the risk of such “serious

With Hanoi performing a delicate balancing act with both Washington and Beijing, Lam was expected to keep his address focused on using consensus to manage differences and working jointly on regional stability and development.

Lam was expected to meet on the sidelines of the conference with Hegseth, who will be making his second appearance at the event. Last year in Singapore, Hegseth raised the ire of Beijing by saying “ the threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” and that its military was “rehearsing for the real deal.”

Hegseth said Washington would bolster its defenses to counter what the Pentagon sees as rapidly developing threats, particularly in China’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan.

Questions about US commitments

BUT this year’s speech comes only about two weeks after US President Donald Trump visited Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, where Xi warned that their two countries could clash over Taiwan if the issue was not handled properly.

Following the meetings, Trump called Xi a “great leader” and said that they were going to have a

incidents” was raised by “ Putin’s increasing nervousness, driven by military setbacks.”

“Russia is growing weaker on the battlefield in its war against Ukraine, yet it continues to pursue its objectives through brutal drone and missile attacks,” he said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday he was pressing the United States to provide more Patriot

“fantastic future together.” Trump also raised questions about Washington’s willingness to defend Taiwan, calling a new $14 billion arms package that he has yet to greenlight “a very good negotiating chip for us” with China.

China claims the self-governing democratic island as its own, and Xi has not ruled out using force to take it.

The US, meantime, supplies Taiwan with modern aircraft, missiles and other weapons to help it defend itself, though follows a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily if China were to attack the island.

Trump has shown greater ambivalence toward Taiwan than his predecessors, fueling speculation about whether the president could be persuaded to dial back American support.

Hegseth’s speech will focus on the military’s “common-sense approach to safeguarding US vital national interests in the Indo-Pacific,” according to the Pentagon.

Coming so soon after the meeting of the two leaders in Beijing, it seems unlikely Hegseth will say anything to upstage Trump’s own remarks.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun also did not attend last year’s event.

Ukraine and the Middle East are unavoidable topics

WHILE the annual conference tilts toward Asian security issues, there will be no avoiding Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the Iran war, which has led to the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.

In peacetime, a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped through the strait, and since it has been effectively closed by Iran, global oil prices have spiked, causing economic problems around the world. Qatar’s minister of defense is among the speakers this weekend. Just ahead of the conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote to Trump and US Congress asking for more American-made air defense ammunition to counter intensifying Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Though Zelenskyy, who made a surprise in-person appearance at Shangri-La two years ago, is not expected this year, speakers will include many top European defense officials, including from Lithuania and Poland.

China is due to open Sunday’s dialogue with its view, though Beijing was only sending a lower-level delegation this year, according to Chinese media reports. It was not immediately clear who would be speaking.

air defense missiles that can counter the Russian attacks.

He warned that deliveries to Ukraine are falling dangerously short as the Iran war diverts and depletes US stocks. “I believe (the US) must act quicker. We are being very persistent,” Zelenskyy told reporters during a visit to Sweden.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned the U.N. Security Council that the escalation and intensification of attacks risks getting out of control, with “unknown and unintended consequences.” He said that more civilians have been killed in the first four months of this year than in the same period in the past three years. Guterres called for more diplomacy, immediate de-escalation and “a full and unconditional ceasefire.” AP

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Marcos hints at more Cabinet changes, eyes ’25 poll losers

By Samuel P. Medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has hinted at possible new changes in his Cabinet as he eyes appointing more candidates, who lost in the 2025 polls.

The chief executive made the statement after the one-year ban for the appointment of the candidates lapsed on May 13, 2026.

He said many of the former candidates, who ran but did not get elected in the previous polls, were competent.

“I’m not just talking about the senatorial candidates. There are many others who ran for whatever position that I think are good and can contribute to the government,”

Marcos said in Filipino in an interview with reporters in Tokyo, Japan.

“So, don’t be surprised if we start—we get more appointments from those candidates who ran in the last election who didn’t make it,” he added.

The President said he hopes bringing the said former candidates to the government will help further improve the public services.

“It’s a shame [if they will not serve the public]. We need to get the best talent we can,” Marcos said.

As of press time, the President has yet to announce who among the said former candidates he will appoint.

Last week, Marcos appointed former Senator Francis N. Tolentino as the acting secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). He was the first former candidate given an appointment in the government.

Tolentino lost his reelection bid in the 2025 elections, when he ran under the Alyansa Bagong Pilipinas, which was endorsed by Marcos.

In a related development, the President clarified he has no plans to replace the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito “Jonvic” C. Remulla, who he said he still trusts even after the Philippine National Police (PNP) failed to arrest

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa at the Senate earlier this month.

Earlier, some critics said Remulla has a poor record in running after the “big fish” wanted by the law, such as gaming businessman Atong Ang and former lawmaker Zaldy Co.

Ang is wanted in connection with the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight workers and aficionados), dozens of whom were believed abducted and killed in the past five years.

Co, formerly chairman of the powerful House appropriations committee, is believed hiding abroad after being tied to the budget scandal.

“I don’t know why that rumor went around. I think somebody wants his [Remulla] job. So they are spreading [rumors that] he will soon be replaced by the one they are pushing for. But we have no plan to replace him,” Marcos said.

AFP hails Japan’s commitment to beefing up PHL defenses

By Rex Anthony Naval

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) lauded Japan’s commitment in seeking to provide it with additional military equipment and technology

In a message to reporters, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the military hails this commitment made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. during their meeting.

“This defense partnership augurs well with the ongoing Horizon 3 Modernization Program and aligns perfectly with our Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept [CADC]. As a maritime nation, upgrading our maritime domain awareness [MDA] and humanitarian assistance and disaster response [HADR] capabilities is a necessity,” he stressed. Trinidad added that the AFP views the Japan Self-Defense

Force not only as a regional neighbor but as a like-minded strategic partner dedicated to maintaining a free, open and rules- based Indo-Pacific.

“This cooperation underscores our shared commitment to international law, specifically the 1982 Unclos, ensuring peace and stability in the region,” he added.

Makati seniors get cash incentive

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

THE city government of Makati has begun the distribution of the P6,000 incentive following the allocation of P356.48 million for the mid-year incentive of 59,414 registered Blu Card holders.

Mayor Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay said that the distribution started on May 28 through GCash for registered Blu Card holders in Makati, including over 8,000 senior citizens who will receive their benefit in designated payout centers in their respective barangays starting June 3.

“We have made sure that no qualified beneficiary will be left out because of lack of access to an e-wallet. Lahat makakatanggap ng kanilang mid-year incentive, wala pong mapagkakaitan. Alam po nating inaasahan ito ng ating mga seniorito at seniorita, kaya’t dapat lamang na matanggap nila ang benepisyong inilaan namin para sa kanila,” Binay said.

The mayor said the schedule of the manual payouts in every barangay is posted on the city’s official Facebook page, My Makati.

“Even as we embrace digital innovations to improve efficiency and transparency, we need to be flexible and provide alternative means of access to our constituents, especially those who are disadvantaged. The city will continue

to pursue ways to empower them so that they, too, can fully enjoy the convenience afforded by technology,” Binay said. Makati senior citizens with registered and validated GCash accounts have started to receive their incentives directly via digital payout, while onsite distribution for other qualified beneficiaries will also be conducted in designated payout venues for the 23 barangays of the city from June 3 to 10, 2026. Binay reminded Blu Card holders to ensure that their GCash accounts are active and properly registered to avoid delays in receiving their incentives. Meanwhile, unclaimed cash incentives on the scheduled payout dates may still be claimed on June 11 and June 15 to 18 at the Cash Division,

“Our

Aboitiz Foundation Scales Digital Skills-to-Jobs Initiative Through AIDA Plus

ONE of the Aboitiz Foundation’s flagship programs, Elevate AIDA, in partnership with Connected Women, serves as a key implementation partner in delivering training, building participant communities, and connecting graduates to digital work opportunities. Together, they have equipped thousands of Filipinos with in-demand digital skills and access to the growing digital economy.

Building on the success of Elevate AIDA, Aboitiz Foundation is launching AIDA Plus, an expanded skills-toemployment platform designed to connect even more Filipinos to opportunities in the digital economy.

AIDA Plus forms part of Aboitiz Foundation’s broader goal of creating 300,000 jobs through strategic partnerships and inclusive workforce development programs. Participants who

complete the training will receive a TESDA certificate, recognized both locally and internationally.

The program’s next phase formally kicked off through the signing of partnership agreements in CALABARZON and Mindanao, marking its nationwide expansion and strengthening its focus on industry-aligned digital skills training, certification, and direct employment pathways.

AIDA Plus’ predecessor, Elevate AIDA, focused on training women in AI data annotation and equipping them for remote digital work. The new program broadens its reach by introducing additional training tracks such as virtual assistance, cloud accounting, data analysis, and digital illustration, while expanding access to beneficiaries of all genders and strengthening partnerships with public and private technical-vocational institutions and employers.

“AIDA Plus represents the natural evolution of Elevate

AIDA as we deepen our focus on creating real and sustainable opportunities for Filipinos in the digital economy,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, President of Aboitiz Foundation. “As industries evolve, workforce development must also evolve — from simply providing access to training toward building stronger pathways to employment, inclusion, and longterm economic participation.”

In Laguna, Aboitiz Foundation signed a memorandum of agreement with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority IV-A and the Jacobo Z. Gonzales Memorial School of Arts and Trades to train at least 500 scholars through a Virtual Assistance (VA) program linked directly to employment opportunities through Cyberbacker, a global virtual assistance services firm.

A Cloud Accounting course will soon be launched as part of the digital training portfolio.

Aboitiz Foundation also formalized a separate three-year partnership with TESDA Region XI and Ring Circle BPO in Davao City to expand AIDA Plus in

a

Aturnout and an

response from a live audience point toward a speed cubing boost in the country.

“We are pleased as we saw everyone’s enthusiasm in the cube,” said Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) which staged the first Philippine National Speed Cubing Open at the Tagaytay City Combat Center last Wednesday and Thursday.

As a result, Tolentino said that he will push for the inclusion of speed cubing as demonstration sport in the inaugural Southeast Asian Games Youth Plus that the country is hosting from December 2 to 14 next year in Metro Manila.

Alongside that, Tolentino said that the next step after the nationals is the country’s hosting of the Asian championships.

“We have unlocked a new era in speed cubing—from long time ago when as kids, we got enamored with the Rubik’s Cube,” said Tolentino, who heads the National League of Mind Sports and is also the vice president of the Asian Mind Sports Association (AMSA).

Most notable at the nationals was Crimson Arradaza, a 15-year-old from Baguio City who set a new world record in 3x3x3 one-handed speed cubing event and the emergence of similarly world champion potentials, 19-yearold Brenton Wong (regular cube) and Aragon Martin Gonzales (Pyraminx). Arradaza, an incoming ninth grader at the Balay Sofia Inc. in Baguio City, broke the previous world mark of 5.66 seconds set by Switzerland’s Dhruva Sai Meruva in October 2024 at Swiss Nationals 2024 in Basel.

A total of 72 speed cubers—backed by their families, friends, followers and fans—participated in the event that the POC staged in partnership with the AMSA and sponsored by Stellar Cube.

“I’m happy Filipinos have gone competitive in this mind sport, which doesn’t require height, but tactics, speed and skills,” Tolentino said.

“We’re satisfied in promoting the sport because there are many Filipinos who play the cube.”

By Tim Reynolds

The Associated Press

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA looked different in Game 6. In every way.

Wembanyama’s all business in Game

fiery pregame address for teammates, something he doesn’t typically do— seemed as comfortable as could be.

He had 28 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists, on 10for-21 shooting in 28 minutes, leading the Spurs past the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-91, to tie the Western Conference finals at 3-3.

There was the long robe that the San Antonio star wore to his home arena on Thursday night, done to celebrate an Islamic holiday but also reminding some of his look last summer at a Shaolin temple he visited while seeking physical, mental and spiritual growth. There was the freshly cropped hair, another sign that he was all business.

“I’d seen a picture pregame,” Spurs guard Devin Vassell told NBA TV afterward. “I knew he was locked in from there, for sure.”

Sure enough, on the court, Wembanyama was back to his dominant self as well. Facing an elimination game for the first time in his career, Wembanyama— who had a

PATRICIA MAE SANTOR won the women’s 100-meter butterfly for secondary girls to to emerge as the most successful individual athlete with seven gold medals in the 66th Palarong Pambansa on Friday in Agusan del Sur. Santor, swimming out of National Capital Region (NCR), clocked one minute and 4.09 seconds to go 7-of-7 gold medals in the competitions staged at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Gov. DO Plaza Memorial Sports Complex Aquatic Center in Prosperidad.

B“I think we were consistent,” Wembanyama said. “And we did what we needed to do.”

Game 7 is Saturday night in Oklahoma City, the place where Wembanyama started this West title series with a 41-point, 24-rebound masterpiece that carried the Spurs to a double-overtime win. If he gets another win on Saturday, he and the Spurs will be heading to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.

From the outset, Wembanyama’s imprint was on Game 6. After winning the opening tip-off, his next three plays went like this— made 3-pointer, blocked shot, another made 3-pointer and the tone was set,

approach from Game 5, when Wembanyama had 20 points on just 4-for-15 shooting.

“I would say his overall activity,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, when asked to describe the biggest differences between Games 5 and 6 for his biggest and best player. “That, probably from my perspective, was just from his will and intent on leaving his imprints on the game.”

Wembanyama got most of the fourth quarter off, with the game having long been decided. Game 6 wasn’t over, but it’s a safe bet that he was already thinking about Game 7. Harrison Barnes, the team’s thirdoldest player, was in Wembanyama’s ear during the fourth quarter on the Spurs’ bench, offering some wisdom.

He spoke. Wembanyama nodded. Whatever the message was, it was clear.

“Listening to the experienced people, whether it’s on our team, on our staff or outside,” Wembanyama said when asked what’s the first thing he thinks of when preparing for a Game 7.

Santor graduates from Palaro

“I really set my expectations high,” said Santor, 18, of University of Santo Tomas. “That sweep was my goal this Palaro because this is my last season.”

“I am glad I got it in my last year,” said the national team member Santor who beat NCR teammate Sinagtala Cuevas (1:06.75) and National Academy of Sports’ Riannah Coleman (1:06.99).

Santor earlier won the 50m

Paalam eyes elusive Asian Games title

CBy Josef Ramos

ARLO PAALAM clinched a morale-building victory at the Eindhoven Box Cup last Monday in The Netherlands and now hopes to make the team to Nagoya to target the gold medal that has eluded his illustrious career—the Asian Games.

“I really want to win that Asian Games gold medal because I have none of that,” said Paalam, a flyweight silver medalist in Tokyo 2020 but missed going back-to-back in Paris 2024 where he didn’t get past the quarterfinals. “I will work hard together

Jaeden Laygo tallied 12 points while Katrina Corazon Equibal and Calvin McCoy de la Rosa added 11 points apiece to lead Batang SMB’s balanced attack and frustrate Batang TNT’s Kyrian Nadera, who exploded for 30 points in the 13U contest.  In almost similar fashion, the Batang Beermen in the 10U division needed a 24-3 finishing kick to turn back their opponents. Simon Bailey Robles scored 24 points, Ivan Luke Hufano had 20 and Khalix Aiden Marohom added 19 for the Batang Beermen, who completed a tournament sweep of the 10U division.

with my trainer Elmer Pamisa.”

Paalam has two Southeast Asian Games gold medals—flyweight in Philippines 2019 and bantamweight in Cambodia 2023—and one Asian championships gold in Amman 2022.

But he could only get bronze in the Asian Games in Jakarta 2018.

“I’m praying for my inclusion in the Asian Games team,” said the 27-year-old Paalam, who’s training camp is now based in his native Cagayan de Oro City.

The Asian Games are set September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya and Aichi.

Paalam was in elements in The Netherlands as he wracked up three

butterfly (28.98), 400m (5:14.83) and 200m (2:27.94) individual medley, 200m butterfly (2:22.44) and anchored the 4x50m medley relay (2:00.97) and 4x100m medley relay (4:27.13) with Sophia Rose Garra, Krystal Ava David, Nichole Rivera and Reiko Philomena Uy.  She also had remarkable performances with five gold medals

in last year’s Palaro in Laoag City and six golds in the Batang Pinoy in General Santos City. Charles Nathan Boneo of CALABARZON and Riley Maddaleign Alindogan of Bicol Region secured six gold medals each also in swimming to stay in the shadow of Santor in the national school games supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and organized

victories, including a 5-0 conquest of England’s Abdul Burton in the men’s 55-kg or bantamweight final.

He now feels fighting at 55 or 57 kgs, and no longer as a flyweight, has become his comfort zone.

“I can no longer fight well as a flyweight,” said Paalam, who thanked Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Marcus Jarwin Manalo for making his comeback after the Paris Olympics possible. Besides Paalam—who wasn’t on the team in the Bangkok SEA Games last December, Clark Vicera also captured a gold medal in men’s flyweight in The Netherlands.

HEAVY favorites Casey Alcantara and Christopher Papa lived up to their billing as they beat AJ Lim and Ronard Joven, 6-4, 6-3, and book their ticket to the men’s doubles final in the Palawan Open 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center late Thursday.

The top-seeded duo will battle the fourth-ranked tandem of Nilo Ledama and Eric Jed Olivarez for the coveted crown and the P150,000 top purse.

Alcantara, a seasoned doubles specialist, and his American partner Papa endured a grueling, hold-for-hold battle against Lim and Joven through the first eight games of the opening set.

Tied at 4, Alcantara and Papa finally broke through in a pressure-packed, back-and-forth ninth game before serving out the set.

The second set followed a similar script, with both sides trading blows to reach a 3-3 count. Once again, Alcantara and Papa unleashed their full might when it mattered most—breaking their opponents in the seventh game, holding serve in the eighth, and breaking once more in the ninth to seal the straight-set victory.

While Alcantara and Papa relied on late-set heroics, Ledama and Olivarez punched their finals ticket in dominant fashion, dismantling the unranked pairing of Eric Tangub and Richard Bautista, 6-3, 6-1, in challenging court conditions.

Ledama and Olivarez signaled their intentions early, breaking Bautista and Tangub in the very first game of the match. They comfortably held serve four times before breaking again in the ninth game to pocket the first set. The second frame was a complete masterclass—the fourth seeds swept the first five games before routinely exchanging serves to wrap up the lopsided win. The defeat ended a gritty, giantkilling run for Tangub and Bautista, who had previously stunned the second-seeded Indian tandem of Parth Aggarwal and Digvijay

THE PHILIPPINES’ ELECTRIC VEHICLE SHIFT GAINS INDUSTRY BACKING CHARGING AHEAD:

Global automotive manufacturers are responding with long-term local investments, shifting from completely built unit (CBU) imports to regional manufacturing and multi-pathway options.

WBy Malou Talosig-Bartolome

ITH pump prices swinging unpredictably, Filipino motorists are asking a fundamental question.

They no longer just want to know if Electric Vehicles (EVs) are good for the environment— they want to know if they make financial sense for the pocket.

The hard math indicates that the transition to electrified mobility is rapidly turning into a practical economic strategy.

In an interview on BusinessMirror’s Freshly Brewed, Ralph M. Menchavez— President and CEO of Movem Electric Inc.—outlined the real-world economics of EV ownership.  Backed by targeted government initiatives and substantial manufacturing commitments from automotive giants like Toyota and Mitsubishi, the structural costs of driving in the Philippines are beginning to favor electrification.

The Math of EV Ownership: Daily Operational Savings FOR years, the initial purchase price was the primary barrier for local drivers. However, market dynamics are shifting.

Menchavez notes that select EV models now retail below the P1 million threshold, placing them in direct price competition with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The long-term financial advantage, however, is realized on the road. A comparison of operational costs highlights a widening gap:

n Historical Baseline:  Before recent global oil shocks, ICE vehicles averaged P5 per kilometer, while EVs ran at P1.70.

n Current Metrics:  With volatile fuel costs pushing ICE expenses between P5 and P15

per kilometer, EV running costs have remained stable, averaging P2 to P2.20 per kilometer.

For the average commuter, this translates to spending roughly P120,000 annually on gasoline versus approximately P24,000 on electricity.

“Ang laki ng tipid mo pag nagEV   ka ,” Menchavez emphasized. These operational savings are further supported by reduced maintenance requirements— given the absence of oil changes and fewer moving parts— alongside national policy perks, such as zero import tariffs on EVs extended until 2028.

Financing the Fleet: Official Relief for MSMEs

THE government is leveraging these operational margins to drive the modernization of public transport and small businesses.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cris A. Roque said shifting to electric platforms can slash operational costs by 33% to 80% for operators.

To help buyers overcome upfront acquisition costs, the DTI and the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) introduced a dedicated loan facility. According to official program parameters, the timeline is structured to ease early cash flow pressures:

n Year 1:  Zero principal and zero interest payments.

n Subsequent Years:  A fixed 6.7% annual interest rate.

The program is aimed at public utility and commercial operators, providing the financial runway needed to upgrade tricycles, jeepneys, and

buses without immediate debt distress.

Automakers Align Production with Policy

GLOBAL automotive manufacturers are responding with long-term local investments, too, shifting from completely built unit (CBU) imports to regional manufacturing and multipathway options.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) is establishing a dedicated assembly line in Santa Rosa, Laguna, specifically for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs).

MMPC President and CEO

Ritsu Imaeda emphasized that robust government policy and institutional support provided the “final push” required to

secure this localized production commitment.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is also deploying a structured “multi-pathway” strategy to address diverse market segments.

This includes balancing its P5.5-billion Tamaraw production line—engineered specifically for MSMEs—with a steadily expanding electrified vehicle portfolio.

According to projections from TMP First Vice President Elijah Sue C. Marcial, electrified vehicles are on track to capture between 20 percent and 30 percent of the market by the end of the year.

To accelerate consumer adoption, Toyota’s official rollout includes bundling free home chargers with every battery EV purchase and

establishing a dedicated battery recycling facility in Pampanga to secure the technology’s local lifecycle.

Overcoming Infrastructure and Range Limits CONSUMER confidence relies heavily on a predictable range and charging accessibility.

Current technical metrics show that modern EVs deliver between 300 and 400 kilometers per charge—well within the requirements for a Manila-toBaguio round trip—with nextgeneration platforms targeting ranges up to 1,400 kilometers.

The domestic charging network is expanding to meet this capacity.

Department of Energy (DOE) data confirms 1,500 charging stations nationwide, heavily concentrated within Meralco’s

franchise network.  Digital infrastructure, such as Movem’s Charge M application, is being utilized to streamline public charging access. Regulatory compliance under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) is also enforcing an institutional mandate: commercial and designated public establishments must reserve at least 5 percent of their total parking slots exclusively for electric vehicles.

The Road Ahead WHEN balanced against significant fuel savings, zerotariff structures, official DTI financing, and localized manufacturing investments from Toyota and Mitsubishi, the operational logic of electrification is clear.

SUZUKI ACCESS: A PRACTICAL RIDE

By Eric Montelibano

WITH fuel prices affecting our everyday budgets, practicality has become essential. According to MotorcyclesData (a team of professional experts focusing their energies, experience, and knowledge on tracking the evolution of motorcycle industry sales, keeping a close eye on base trends and future challenges), ASEAN’s motorcycle market returned above the 15 million-unit milestone in 2025, representing a 4.3% increase. They further added that the Philippines is ASEAN’s third-largest motorcycle market, with a growth of +2.8% approaching the historical peak of around 2.4 million units. Vietnam is the second-largest and delivered a strong growth of +13.5%, while Indonesia is ASEAN’s largest market and the world’s largest, growing at +0.6%. Thailand rebounded at +9.8% and is the fourth-largest ASEAN market for motorcycles.

This growth reflects the shift to motorcycles as a solution for mobility. So, what would drive your decision to purchase a motorcycle? Would

it be the styling, specifications, and high-tech features? Or a combination of form and function that effortlessly work together to make your

motorcycle work for you?

The Profile of Your Ride

IMAGINE traversing through busy EDSA. You will need an

easy-to-drive, lightweight motorcycle that is comfortable enough to maneuver through tight spaces and survive stopand-go traffic. You’d also want a well-engineered and designed motorcycle that does not emit heat from the engine to the driver, can handle bumps and road imperfections quite well, and has outstanding gas consumption. Remember, this will be your daily grind on the road. The 2026 Suzuki Access 125, one of Suzuki’s newest entries to the Philippine market, fits this description ideally.

Efficiency

THE Access has a 125cc fuelinjected engine ideal for daily rides. Matched with the CVT transmission, it consumes less fuel compared to other brands. This translates to lower costs. Add this all up and travel a greater distance for your peso.

Comfort

WITH a balanced suspension,

QUICK SPECS

the Access gets you through tiring stop-and-go traffic.

The upright seating position, large footboard, and long seats help improve control, lessen fatigue, and provide exceptional maneuverability. It makes riding comfortable.

Ideal Daily Ride

THE large under-seat compartment of the Access can carry more riding essentials. Aside from the large footboard, convenient front and middle hooks, and a separate fuel neck at the rear, the scooter spells practical usefulness. The stable and comfortable ride handles uneven roads, humps, and potholes, and with the ideal ground clearance, it easily blends with everyday rides.

Simple and Practical

WITH a digital instrument panel that displays speed, fuel, average consumption, odometer, and trip meters, headlight mode, and turn signals, you have all the information you need for your

Acceleration

Decent pickup

Engine: 125cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected

Power: ~8.6 hp

Transmission: CVT (automatic)

Fuel Tank: ~5 liters

Fuel Economy: ~50–57 km/L

Price (PH): ~P84,900–P93,900

Highlights:

Elegant, simple styling (“retro-modern”)

Chrome accents for a premium touch

Semi-digital instrument panel

Spacious footboard and under-seat storage

Comfort:

Wide and long seat

Relaxed upright riding position

ride. The well-designed fuel neck filler at the rear of the scooter makes it more convenient to load gas and eliminates the need to open the seat. The simple design logic makes it easy to maintain and use, resulting in a practical ride.

Engineered for the Daily Rider

EASY to drive, its comfortable ride, essential and simple features combined with fuel economy make the Access the ideal daily ride for Filipinos. The practical result is a harmony of form and function that delivers outstanding value for a motorcycle, at a price point below P100k.

The Access is not only a motorcycle, but a solution for today’s fuel prices. A ride to work, the delivery of goods, bringing people places, and navigating everyday life, its advantage is seen in its practical, essential, and efficient design that makes things more pleasant on the road.

Not aggressive or sporty

Designed for smooth, predictable power delivery

Fuel Efficiency & Practicality

This is one of the strongest selling points.

Fuel Economy: ~50–57 km/L

Large under-seat storage (good for groceries or a helmet)

Lightweight and easy to handle

Perfect for:

Daily commute

Errands

Budget-conscious riders

& photo by Randy S. Peregrino

SUZUKI PHILIPPINES POWERS INTO THE FUTURE AT THE 2026 PIMS ELECTRIFIED INNOVATION:

SUZUKI Philippines is set to make a powerful and exciting return to the 10th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) 2026, happening from June 4 to 7, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. In line with this year’s PIMS theme, “Forward in

AION.

Continued from B3 demands of Philippine urban traffic.

At the core of its capability is GAC’s ultra-safe ‘Magazine Battery’ technology.

The Elite variant features a 47.1 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery, housed within a high-strength steel body structure.

evolve, Suzuki moves forward with renewed energy and purpose, presenting a lineup that embodies smart engineering, efficiency, and driving excitement. On display at the Suzuki Showcase are the Jimny 3-Door with Suzuki Safety Support, XL7 Hybrid Black Edition, Dzire Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, and

When the battery runs low, its advanced DC Fast Charging capability replenishes power from 30percent to 80percent in approximately 30 minutes. This ensures a zero-anxiety ownership experience, keeping daily commutes and trips outside the city seamless. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability further extends its practicality, transforming the car into a mobile power source for electronic devices during outdoor activities.

Smart assistance, assured security SAFETY remains a cornerstone of the AION UT’s design. Tailored for both novice drivers and daily commuters

the

3-Door and 5-Door, S-Presso, Ertiga Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, and Dzire Hybrid. From city driving to weekend adventures, participants will experience firsthand Suzuki’s performance, comfort, and efficiency, with complimentary refreshments available for all test-drive guests throughout the event. The excitement begins on Day 1 with a special product launch presentation from 1:00 PM to 1:15 PM, setting the

navigating tight city streets, it features a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies. Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, and a 360-degree Surround View Camera System provide confidence in gridlocked traffic and complex urban scenarios.

Highlight features include large 2.1-meter V-shape side curtain airbags, offering enhanced protection for all occupants. Intelligent systems such

tone for Suzuki’s bold new chapter. The energy continues across the succeeding days with the Suzuki Show featuring guest performers, happening from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM on Day 2 and 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM on Day 3 and 4, bringing entertainment, engagement, and vibrant energy to the booth.

Families and young visitors can enjoy the Suzuki Safety Scouts activity area, featuring fun and educational road safety experiences for children, exciting booth games with free prizes, and special merchandise for guests who complete a

as Drive-off Assist and Reverse MisAcceleration Mitigation further safeguard against common urban driving mishaps. Together, these technologies ensure that the AION UT delivers not only convenience but also peace of mind for Filipino drivers.

Pricing and color

THE AION UT Elite is priced at P998,000, inclusive of a P50,000 introductory discount, valid until June 30, 2026. An additional P20,000 discount applies to the first 400 units sold, positioning

the model as an accessible entry into premium sustainable mobility. The standard SRP is P1.068 million, reflecting its comprehensive package of design, technology, and capabilities. Available colors are Champs-Elysees Beige, Emerald Green, Rococo White, Seine Silver, and Two-Tone: Rococo White + Emerald Green.

A confident step into sustainable driving WITH its stylish exterior, spacious and tech-forward interior, balanced electric

powertrain, advanced safety suite, and comprehensive ownership package, the AION UT signals GAC’s confident stride into the future of urban electrification. It is not merely a new model but a statement of intent—delivering sustainable, high-quality mobility tailored to Filipino drivers. In doing so, GAC Philippines reinforces its commitment to harmonizing international engineering with localized precision, ensuring durability, safety, and practicality for the evolving urban landscape.

The VinFast VF MPV 7 might be the sweet spot Filipino families have been waiting

BThe VF MPV 7 is aiming straight at the needs of modern Filipino families. For years, the family MPV formula in the Philippines has been pretty simple. You buy one because you need space. You live with the slightly van-like looks. You accept the fuel bills. And somewhere along the way, “practical” became more important than “fun” or even “comfortable.” But Filipino buyers are changing. Families today want a vehicle that can carry kids, grandparents, balikbayan luggage, grocery hauls, and road trip bags without feeling like a rolling appliance. They want something practical, yes, but also modern, comfortable, and easier on the wallet long term. And then, there comes the VinFast VF MPV 7. Bigger, more refined, without the premium price

In the Philippines, buyers searching for a familyoriented 7-seater often face a familiar compromise between more affordable B-segment MPVs that prioritize practicality and compact dimensions, and larger C-segment models that offer more space and refinement but come with a higher ownership cost. The VF MPV 7 lands somewhere right in the middle, and that may be its biggest strength.

At 4,740 mm long with a 2,840 mm wheelbase, the VF MPV 7 has the footprint and cabin proportions of a much larger people-mover. On paper alone, it already looks like the kind of vehicle built for big Filipino families and long weekends out of town.

And in the Philippines, cabin space is not just a nice bonus. Just one family trip to Tagaytay with three kids, a cooler, overnight bags, and a lola in the third row is enough to remind anyone why space is king.

“I used to think EVs were mostly small city cars with tiny cabins,” said Marco, a father of three from Quezon City who recently checked out the VF MPV 7 online after its launch. “But when I started looking at the specs, I was honestly surprised. A cargo area that expands to as much as 1,240 liters with the rear seats folded down sounds like something built for actual family life.”

Lower monthly costs

Of course, space alone is no longer enough these days. Filipino families are becoming much more conscious about long-term ownership costs, especially after the past few weeks of

small business owner who has been researching EV ownership and is now considering pre-ordering the MPV 7. “At first I was just curious about EVs. But after doing the math, realized this could actually make a big difference.” VinFast is also sweetening the