ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS
2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2021 Pro Patria Award 2026 National Newspaper of the Year PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion
BusinessMirror
www.businessmirror.com.ph
A broader look at today’s business
Saturday, September 12, 2026 Vol. 21 No. 333
EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS
BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS
P25.00 nationwide | 12 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
PESO HITS NEW RECORD LOW AS OIL PRICES SOAR T
n
By Andrea E. San Juan
HE Philippine peso fell to a new record low of P62.68 against the dollar after renewed tensions between the United States and Iran pushed global oil prices past the $100 per barrel level anew—fueling the demand for the safe-haven dollar assets. “The USD/PHP weakened to 62.680 as oil broke the $100/bbl favoring demand for the greenback,” Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said in a Viber message on Friday. Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), said the US dollar/peso exchange rate weakened for the third straight trading day after global crude oil prices climbed to 3.5-month highs, at $104 per barrel for the Brent
BANGSAMORO FACES HISTORY IN FIRST PARLIAMENT VOTE
crude oil. Analysts pointed this out after data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) showed that the peso closed at P62.68 against the dollar on Friday, 14.5 centavos weaker than its P62.535 finish on Thursday. This surpassed the previous record low finish of the local currency seen on September 8, when the peso closed at P62.625 against the greenback.
By Manuel T. Cayon
See “PESO,” A2
FROM LUXURY TO LIMBO:
Inside a detention center where scam workers wait for their return home
BUBBLE BUDGET A vendor sells toy bubble makers along Carriedo Street in Quiapo, Manila. Quiapo’s busy commercial streets remain a draw for budget-conscious shoppers, offering a wide range of low-priced merchandise as consumers look for ways to stretch their pesos. BERNARD TESTA
DAVAO CITY—Nearly 2.4 million voters in the southern Philippines’s autonomous region will make history on Monday to stamp their approval to a Parliamentary form of government in a national body politic long used to the republican Presidential form of government. The Bangsamoro populace will troop to the 1,186 polling centers to designate their chosen legislators to craft regional and local laws to suit their Islamic-based culture and a Shari’ahcentered system of justice. The September 14 Parliament elections—thrice postponed— will only pick their chosen representatives, equivalent to Congress representatives. Currently, the lawmaking body is called Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the interim Parliament, and their crafted legislations are called BTA bills until passed as laws. See “Bangsamoro,” A3
September freight faces familiar disruptions, but 301 looms larger
301
A SWIMMING pool sits empty at the sprawling former Baofu scam compound that was raided by authorities last year in Bamban, Tarlac city, northern Philippines, Thursday, June 5, 2025. AP/AARON FAVILA
12.5%
By Aaron Favila & Huizhong Wu | The Associated Press
P
ASAY—He had lost count of the number of times he was sold from company to company in the Philippines. After being lured there for an office job from his village in southern China by a relative, Wind said he immediately realized the job wasn’t as advertised. Instead of doing administrative work in Manila for 10,000 yuan ($1,500) a month as promised, he was required to scam people and paid around $50, he said. See “Luxury,” A2
US TARIFF ON PH PRODUCTS Section 301 duty imposed effective July 24 over Washington’s finding that the Philippines failed to effectively prohibit goods produced with forced labor.
USTDA BACKS SUBIC SHIPYARD EXPANSION A Philippine Navy vessel undergoes repairs at the Subic Drydock Corp. facility in the
Subic Bay Freeport. The US Trade and Development Agency has committed funding for a feasibility study to expand the facility’s approach pier, allowing it to accommodate larger vessels. SDC operates two of the country’s largest floating drydocks and provides repair services to both Philippine and US naval vessels. The project is part of efforts to strengthen Subic’s role as a key maritime and logistics hub under the Luzon Economic Corridor. Story on A3. HENRY EMPEÑO
Going global brings new hurdles for Filipino brands—Coins.ph By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
CASINO PLUS AWARDS P122.4-M A3
THE BIGGEST JACKPOT IN PHILIPPINE SLOT MACHINE HISTORY From left to right: LaVie Resorts and Casino Vice President for Slot Operations Stephen Tham, “Dragon King,” the winner of the P122.4 million jackpot, and Casino Plus CEO Evan Spytma during the ceremonial cheque turnover on September 9, 2026. Handout
T
ECHNOLOGY has made it easier for Filipino brands to reach customers overseas, but expanding beyond the domestic market can expose smaller businesses to challenges that go beyond having a product that sells, according to digital asset platform Coins.ph. Coins.ph Global Marketing Director Amira Alawi told BusinessMirror that Filipinos have long been entrepreneurial, but digital
platforms now allow even small local businesses to reach customers on the other side of the world. The harder part, she said, is managing the business once it starts crossing borders, particularly payments, cash flow, multiple currencies and the systems needed to support a growing operation. “Having a great product is only one part of building a brand. You also have to know how to run the business behind it,” Alawi said in an email. See “Global,” A2
“For Coins.ph, it’s about making that technology more accessible and useful to more Filipinos. We’re not just looking at where the market is today, we’re building for where Filipino finance is going next.” — Coins.ph Global Marketing Director Amira Alawi
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
S
EPTEMBER is bringing the usual mix of monsoon and typhoon disruptions, tighter peak-season capacity and more volatile freight rates for Philippine shippers, but a potential shift in United States trade policy could pose a larger cost risk, according to logistics provider Dimerco. In its Asia-Pacific freight outlook for September, Dimerco reported that the month keeps the risk of flight disruptions and flooding elevated. Meanwhile, on the ocean side, peak-season demand and blank sailings are tightening available space and adding to rate volatility. Within Asia, air freight capacity is expected to remain soft while rates stay generally stable. Cargo space on routes to Europe is projected to improve without significant rate increases, while shipments to both the US East and West coasts are also expected to see better availability, although rates on those lanes are forecast to rise. See “Freight,” A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 62.5420 n JAPAN 0.4052 n UK 84.5380 n HK 7.9764 n CHINA 9.3186 n SINGAPORE 49.3273 n AUSTRALIA 44.7551 n EU 72.6175 n KOREA 0.0463 n SAUDI ARABIA 16.6557 Source: BSP (September 11, 2026)
A2 Saturday, September 12, 2026
News BusinessMirror
FROM LUXURY TO LIMBO: Inside a detention center where scam workers wait for their return home A RESCUED Vietnamese scam worker exercises using improvised weights at a former scam compound in Pasay, June 3, 2025. AP/AARON FAVILA
A BATON, stick and handcuffs are seen in the “torture room” where workers were allegedly tied to steel rods and punished if they did not perform as expected at a former scam compound that is now being used as the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission temporary detention center in Pasay, Philippines, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. AP/AARON FAVILA Continued from A1
When he proved unable to scam, he was sold, he said. For the next several years, until the Filipino police raided his company, he was caught in a cycle, underperforming in scams, beaten and then sold. He was sold at least half a dozen times, ranging from a few thousand dollars to the highest, at 2.1 million pesos ($34,000), he said. “I regret it, but there’s no point in regret,” he said of his experience. Wind is one of the many scam workers swept up in the industrialscale cyberscam operations that have arisen in Southeast Asia in recent years, from the Philippines to Cambodia. As part of these operations, workers may sit in front
of a computer up to 16 hours a day to carry out complex online scams. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that more than 300,000 people from across 66 countries make up the workforce. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban in July 2024 on all scam operations, many of them masked as online gambling businesses, launching a nationwide crackdown. Initial raids saw large numbers of workers rescued, but the criminal outfits then splintered into smaller operations that are now harder to detect. Wind, who was interviewed last year, was rescued along with 400 other foreign workers from the
LIGHTS flash in a karaoke room at a former scam compound in Pasay, Philippines, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. AP/AARON FAVILA
infamous Bamban scam compound raided in March 2024, that was partly established by former Philippines mayor Alice Guo, now sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking. He used a pseudonym, as part of the condition of interviewing someone who was serving in the witness protection program for the Philippines authorities who are prosecuting the cases. Today, he’s still waiting for his return home, in the Nasdake building, seized by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in 2023. Many of those staying in the Nasdake building came from the region, like Vietnam, China, and Malaysia, but one man came from
A rescued Chinese scam worker using the pseudonym Wind poses with a tablet showing messages he used to scam his victims. AP/AARON FAVILA
as far abroad as Madagascar. Some had been trafficked, others came of their own accord in hopes of making money. Jade, another witness from China who agreed to speak on similar terms as Wind, said he was beaten multiple times. One of those times was so bad he had to go and get his teeth pulled out afterward from the pain, he said. “I was beaten because I didn’t want to scam,” he said during an interview last year. Violence is a feature of the industry, used to coerce its workers. Office spaces take up much of the floorspace inside the Nasdake building, a six-story former scam compound transformed into a temporary detention facility by the Philippine government. Other spaces include a mini karaoke lounge, and massage area with private suites. But the entertainment rooms and luxurious areas where the bosses and senior managers were pampered sit on the same floor as a sparse room decorated with a single metal bar where people were tortured, authorities showed the AP in a tour. At its peak, the detention facility held more than 900 people, the PAOCC said. The numbers fluctuate, as repatriations are organized. Now, the center holds about 70 people. The complex is run jointly by the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Jail Management. The workers are mostly confined to their rooms, where four to six per room are squeezed in wooden bunk beds. Others sleep on mattresses on the floor, divided in small sections in a large open room. Many are simply waiting for a return ticket from their government, and they stay anywhere from a few weeks to months to years. Wind, who had testified, was among the few who were willing to be interviewed. He had been rescued from the infamous Baofu scam compound that was linked to former mayor Guo, who is still facing money laundering charges. At Baofu, 1.5 hours outside of Manila, officials counted some 36 buildings, mostly small standalone villas in the raid and a few larger dormitories. The complex, which overshadows Bamban city hall, was a mix of luxury and utility, boasting a swimming pool and Chinese restaurants, but also bunk beds for workers. After he was rescued from the Baofu compound, Wind said his experience there had changed him. “I don’t feel like there’s anyone you can trust. Everyone’s out to cheat you.”
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Freight… Continued from A1
The outlook is less favorable for ocean freight within Asia, where capacity is expected to remain tight and rates are projected to increase. Space for Europe and both US coasts is expected to improve, but higher freight rates are likewise anticipated. On the other hand, Dimerco is watching developments from the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) investigation into structural overcapacity, which covers 16 economies accounting for more than 75 percent of US imports. The economies under review include China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Mexico, while sectors named in the probe include semiconductors, electronics, batteries and steel. Hearings for the investigation closed in May, with determinations still pending. The potential impact is particularly significant because Section 301 tariffs do not carry the same rate cap or expiry mechanism as the Section 122 surcharge, meaning businesses may need to prepare for a potentially more lasting increase in trade costs rather than a temporary addition. Philippine exporters are already dealing with an additional 12.5-percent tariff on goods entering the US under a Section 301 action introduced in July. The measure targets economies that Washington said failed to impose and effectively enforce prohibitions on imports produced using forced labor. The trade risks come as the country’s manufacturing sector enters September from a stronger position. The country’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose for a fourth consecutive month to 54.9 in August from 51.8 in July, marking the sector’s strongest improvement since December 2016. For shippers, however, stronger manufacturing activity comes with the need to secure logistics capacity ahead of the seasonal buildup. Dimerco advised businesses to book early on highdemand air corridors from Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, where capacity is expected to remain tight. It recommended securing ocean space one to two weeks ahead for intra-Asia shipments and two to three weeks ahead for Europe and US routes. The logistics provider also expects peak-season pressure to build on ocean routes to Europe and North America, with carriers adding peak-season and bunker-related surcharges even as demand cools. Weather-related disruptions remain another concern. Typhoon-related congestion has affected Shanghai and Ningbo into September, prompting Dimerco to recommend additional transit buffers, moisture protection for sensitive cargo and early confirmation of equipment. For companies moving goods from China to Europe, Dimerco said rail could provide an alternative, with transit times of about 16 to 27 days and relatively balanced capacity. However, China Railway has suspended liquid bag shipments, while GPS seals are now required for some cargo routed through Russia. Meanwhile, continued disruptions around the Middle East are keeping fuel and warrisk surcharges elevated, with Hormuz effectively closed and carriers continuing to use the longer Cape route for Asia-Europe shipments.
Peso… Continued from A1
Other factors
ASIDE from higher global oil prices, however, Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) cited other factors that could have fueled the demand for the greenback. For one, he said: “Demand for dollars remained firm amid expectations that persistent inflation pressures could keep the Fed’s policy stance restrictive for longer, allowing the greenback to retain an upward bias against regional currencies.” Asuncion said the local currency weakened further as market participants positioned ahead of the “closely” watched US August inflation report, which he said could shape expectations for next week’s Federal Reserve policy decision.
Re-escalation of conflict
RICAFORT explained that the recent move of the global oil prices past the $100 per barrel level was due to recent US-Iran retaliatory attacks involving shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the Houthi attacks on some Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure. These developments, the RCBC chief economist explained, “could further disrupt global oil/energy supplies and could add to inflationary pressures, thereby could also lead to higher oil imports, wider trade deficits for the country, which imports all of its crude oil/fuel/petroleum requirements.” Ravelas said: “Continue to expect the peso to remain under pressure and trade within the 62.60 to 62.90 range in the near term.” Within the trading session, the peso hit an intraday low of P62.775 against the dollar while its strongest point was at 62.63 against the greenback.
Global… Continued from A1
The opportunities are growing alongside the country’s’ expanding digital economy. The United States (US) Department of Commerce’s latest Philippines e-commerce guide, published in June, estimated the country’s e-commerce market at about $28 billion in 2024, driven by internet connectivity, smartphone use and digital payments. The guide also estimated that the country had more than 97 million internet users, with smartphones serving as the dominant channel for online shopping. For businesses looking beyond the domestic market, Alawi said the US remains an important market for Coins.ph, while the company is also seeing opportunities across Asia, particularly in cross-border payment activity. However, the way Filipinos currently pay online highlights a gap that businesses must navigate as they expand. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2024 National ICT Household Survey found that 87.9 percent of online sellers accepted cash on delivery, while 56.5 percent accepted electronic or mobile wallets. On the consumer side, 97.6 percent of online buyers preferred cash on delivery. Among those who did not use electronic payments for online purchases, 42.9 percent cited security concerns as the main reason. Alawi said these payment habits point to the importance of having financial systems that can keep pace as businesses move into more complex markets. “One thing I’ve learned from being around fashion and creatives is that having a great product is only one part of building a brand. You also have to know how to run the business behind it,” she said. She added that digital finance can help businesses manage some of those operational demands, saying “I think that’s important because we want our local brands to spend their energy growing the brand, not getting slowed down by the mechanics of doing business.”
Investing in the home market
DESPITE the company’s focus on crossborder activity, Alawi said the Philippines remains a key market for Coins.ph. “The Philippines is such an important market for Coins.ph, so there’s a real commitment to continuing to invest here,” she said, citing continued investment in technology, infrastructure, security, compliance and services for businesses. Coins.ph said it processed $20 billion in total volume in 2025 and has more than 5 million verified app users. Looking ahead, Alawi said the company expects growth to come from the Philippines becoming more connected to the global economy, alongside continued expansion in users, business accounts and transaction volume as digital finance becomes more integrated into everyday transactions. She, however, did not disclose specific growth targets. “We also see strong potential in USDT and stablecoins as Filipinos become more comfortable using digital assets for practical financial needs,” Alawi said. “For Coins.ph, it’s about making that technology more accessible and useful to more Filipinos. We’re not just looking at where the market is today, we’re building for where Filipino finance is going next,” she added.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
News
Shift to RPVARA impacts cost of developing housing projects By Carmel Pedroza
C
EBU CITY—The government’s shift toward market-based real-property valuation could significantly affect the cost of developing housing projects, prompting property developers to factor potential changes in property taxes and landholding costs into project feasibility, pricing and investment decisions. Gerard Avorque, regional director of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Region 7, said the implementation of Republic Act 12001, or the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), should not be viewed simply as a tax reform, as the overhaul could have broader implications for the real-estate and housing sector. “It can affect property values, holding cost, project feasibility, pricing, and investment decisions,” Avorque said during the 2026 Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) - Central Visayas Housing Summit on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. RPVARA seeks to establish a more standardized, transparent and market-based system for valuing real property. Under the new framework, a single schedule of market values will serve as the basis for real-property valuation, replacing the fragmented valuation practices used by different government agencies. The schedule of market values will be prepared by local assessors, reviewed by the BLGF and approved by the Secretary of Finance. It will be updated every three years. Avorque said the reform is intended to bring greater consistency to property valuation and reduce disparities caused by outdated schedules and varying valuation practices among local government units (LGUs). He noted that some LGUs continue to use schedules of market values that have not been updated for decades, with some dating as far back as 1991. Under RPVARA, the government is also moving toward a more data-driven valuation system through the Real Property Information System and the computeraided mass appraisal system. The systems are intended to consolidate real-property transaction data from government sources and provide local assessors with a more systematic basis for determining market values. Avorque said the shift could eventually make property valuation more objective and transparent, while giving developers and investors better information for making business decisions. But the transition also comes with potential cost implications for the property sector.
‘Market value not the same as tax due’
AVORQUE stressed that an increase in the market value of a property does not automatically translate into a similar increase in the real-property tax that a taxpayer will have to pay. The distinction is important because RPVARA changes the valuation framework, while LGUs retain authority over other key components of the real-property tax calculation. The tax due is determined using the property’s market value, assessment level and applicable tax rate. Under the new system, the schedule of market values will be determined through the technical valuation process and ultimately approved by the Department of Finance, while the assessment level and tax rate remain within the authority of the LGU. “Market value is not equal to tax due,” Avorque said. This means that even if the new market-based valuation results in higher property values, the resulting tax burden can still be influenced by decisions made by local policymakers. Avorque said the BLGF’s compliance and impact studies are intended to help LGUs determine the appropriate assessment levels and tax rates after taking into account the potential effect of new property valuations on different categories of taxpayers. The studies will examine how changes in market values, assessment levels and tax rates could affect taxpayer burdens and LGU revenues. This, he said, should allow policymakers to identify sectors that could be disproportionately affected and make adjustments where necessary. For the housing industry, the issue is particularly significant because realproperty taxes form part of the cost of carrying real estate.
Costs can accumulate
AVORQUE warned that developers should not wait until new tax bills arrive before considering the implications of RPVARA. For projects that take several years to develop and sell, even relatively small annual increases in carrying costs can accumulate over time. Higher property-related costs could affect the financial assumptions behind projects, including the cost of holding undeveloped land, project feasibility, pricing and investment decisions. Developers may also face idle-land taxes on properties that remain unused. Avorque noted that idle-land tax can reach 5 percent of assessed value, on top of regular real-property taxes. The potential impact becomes more significant for large projects where developers hold substantial land inventories for years before development or sale. “If that will be burdensome, then, of course, the effect is to pass it on to the buyers,” Avorque said. This puts property taxation within the broader housing-affordability equation. For developers, the challenge is to maintain project viability while keeping homes within the purchasing capacity of Filipino families. For homebuyers, additional costs throughout the housing value chain can eventually be reflected in the price of a house or condominium unit. Avorque cautioned that policymakers should avoid imposing tax burdens that could undermine the industries that generate economic activity and employment. “We should not kill the goose that lays the golden egg,” he said, emphasizing the need to balance revenue generation with the capacity of taxpayers and businesses to absorb additional costs.
Developers urged to participate
RATHER than treating RPVARA as a government process that ends when a new tax bill is issued, Avorque urged developers to participate actively in the valuation process. Developers, he said, have access to actual market information that can help government establish more credible property values. They should monitor the development of the schedule of market values in every LGU where they have projects, participate in consultations and provide market data and other information relevant to valuation. See “RPVARA,” A4
Saturday, September 12, 2026
A3
USTDA funds expansion of Subic ship repair facility
S
By Henry Empeño
UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the designated first mover for critical infrastructure development under the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) initiative, has committed funding assistance to expand a key ship repair facility in the Subic Bay Freeport. T he USTDA announced on Thursday, September 10, that it has signed an agreement with the Subic Drydock Corp. (SDC) to fund a feasibility study for the pier expansion of the Subic firm, which operates two of the biggest floating drydocks in the country. The project is expected to bolster logistics infrastructure and maritime services across the LEC, helping position Subic Bay as a vital regional supply chain hub and
Palace bares list of 2027 holidays
supporting long-term economic opportunity for the Philippines, the USTDA said. USTDA Deputy Director and CEO Thomas R. Hardy signed the agreement on Thursday with SDC owner Terry Watkins during the USTDA-sponsored inaugural Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum held at Taguig City. The forum brought together some 600 investors and industry leaders in transportation, energy, digital
infrastructure and advanced manufacturing supply chains. The signing was witnessed by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Eduardo Jose Aliño, USTDA Regional Director for the Indo-Pacific Verinda Fike, and Luke Stiglich, vice president for business development at DM Consulting, Inc., a Californiabased firm tapped by SDC to conduct the study. Hardy said the agreement “reflects USTDA’s commitment to developing high-impact infrastructure along the Luzon Economic Corridor using American technologies.” “Our ongoing partnerships in the Philippines will support the country’s economic growth as part of a more resilient, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” he added. The feasibility study is expected to help develop a constructionready design package and financial analyses to expand the facility’s approach pier, allowing SDC to accommodate larger vessels. SDC’s Watkins said they want to extend the facility’s Approach Pier by an additional 169 meters to accommodate larger vessels
and enable repairs that are currently limited by draft and berth requirements. SDC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Guam-based Cabras Marine Corp., undertakes repair works for both the Philippine and American navies. Subic, previously the largest American military facility outside of continental United States, was designated in July as the preferred maritime gateway for the Pax Silica initiative under the LEC. The USTDA is also currently reviewing a proposal to expand the Boton Wharf in Subic, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao told BusinessMirror on Friday. The 237-meters long wharf is primarily used as a fertilizer terminal and a handling facility for bulk cargoes and transshipment vessels. However, the SBMA eyes to redevelop it into 12.8-hectare terminal as part of the LEC infrastructure roadmap to handle higher cargo volumes and warehouse needs. Yambao said the SBMA submitted its proposal for the Boton Wharf redevelopment to USTDA two months ago.
Casino Plus Awards P122.4-M: The Biggest Jackpot in Philippine Slot Machine History
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed a new proclamation declaring the list of 2027 regular and special holidays to serve as guide to companies and workers next year. The three-page Proclamation No. 1427 dated S eptember 8, 2026, listed the following regular holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January); Maundy Thursday (25 March); Good Friday (26 March); Araw ng Kagitingan (9 April); Labor Day - (1 May); Independence Day (12 June); National Heroes Day (30 August); Bonifacio Day (30 November); Christmas Day (25 December); and Rizal Day (30 December). The Muslim celebrations of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha were also declared as national holidays at a date to be later set by the President based on the recommendations of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos using the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. Marcos also announced eight special non-working holidays next year, namely, Ninoy Aquino Day (21 August); All Saints’ Day (1 November); Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (8 December); Last Day of the Year (31 December); Chinese New Year (6 February); Black Saturday (27 March); All Souls’ Day (2 November) and Christmas Eve (24 December). The new proclamation also declared the 41st Edsa People Power Revolution Anniversary (25 February) as a special working day since it “ushered political, social, and economic reforms in the country.” The historic event led to former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. being ousted from power after two decades of dictatorial rule. The new list of holidays is similar to that of Proclamation No. 1006, which set the list of regular and special holidays this year. Proclamation 1427 tasked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue the appropriate pay rules during the said holidays and special holidays. It will take effect immediately after it is published in a newspaper of general circulation. Samuel P. Medenilla
From left to right: LaVie Resorts and Casino Vice President for Slot Operations Stephen Tham, "Dragon King," the winner of the P122.4 million jackpot, and Casino Plus CEO Evan Spytma during the ceremonial cheque turnover on September 9, 2026. Handout
C
ASINO PLUS, one of the country’s leading responsible digital entertainment platforms licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), today made Philippine gaming history with the ceremonial handover of a P122,409,603.00 jackpot — the biggest verified jackpot in Philippine slot machine history. The landmark cheque presentation was held at LaVie Resort and Casino, Manila, on September 9, 2026, in the presence of PAGCOR, Casino Plus CEO Evan Spytma, and the verified winner,
who attended with their identity protected for personal safety and security.
A record that rewrites Philippines gaming history
The P122,409,603.00 payout represents a record-breaking jackpot in Philippine slot machines. The win was achieved through Casino Plus’ certified gaming platform, with the payout verified under the applicable PAGCOR regulatory framework. The record-setting jackpot underscores the scale and technological capabilities of Casino Plus’ digital
gaming platform, while highlighting the importance of regulated, secure, and transparent gaming experiences for Filipino players. “This is not just a win for one player; it is a defining moment for responsible, enjoyable, competitive, and transparent digital gaming in the Philippines,” said Evan Spytma, CEO of Casino Plus. “We built this platform on the promise that every Filipino player deserves a fair, secure, and life-changing experience. Today, that promise is P122 million worth of proof.”
A4
Saturday, September 12, 2026
News
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Maritime Group told DFA renews demand for China to leave PNP to help PCG in rescue ops Mischief, Subi reefs after flare incident for Coron ferry victims
T
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
HE Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday renewed its call for China to immediately cease its activities and leave Panganiban (Mischief) Reef and Zamora (Subi) Reef, following a recent incident in which Chinese forces fired flares near an unarmed Philippine Coast Guard aircraft conducting a maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement, the DFA said both Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef are low-tide elevations (LTEs), or features that are submerged at high tide and exposed at low tide. The department said Panganiban Reef lies within 200 nautical miles of the Philippines’ archipelagic baselines and therefore forms part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. The DFA also asserted Philippine sovereignty over Zamora Reef, saying it is an LTE located within 12 nautical miles of Pag-asa Island and its cays and therefore forms part of the territorial sea of Pag-asa. “As an LTE, Panganiban Reef is not land ter-
ritory that can be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor is it capable of appropriation under international law. Zamora Reef, another LTE, located within the territorial sea of Pag-asa, remains subject to Philippine sovereignty,” Rogelio Villanueva, DFA spokesman for maritime affairs, said. Villanueva added that China’s islandbuilding activities on both features violate the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), and the 2016 Arbitral Award. He stressed that reclamation and construction activities do not alter the legal status of either reef as a low-tide elevation.
“We call on China to cease its illegal occupation and activities in Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef immediately, and to abide by the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA said. The statement came a day after the Philippine Coast Guard disclosed that China’s People’s Liberation Army fired multiple flares toward an unarmed Coast Guard aircraft conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group on September 7. The video of the actual firing of flares was posted on social media pages by PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman of the PCG for the West Philippine Sea. According to the PCG, the aircraft was challenged by Chinese forces stationed at Zamora Reef before flares were fired in its direction. Similar actions were later taken by Chinese forces occupying Panganiban Reef. The PCG said its aircrew responded by asserting that the presence of Chinese forces on the reclaimed features violated international law and that the flight was a legitimate operation. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan earlier said the firing of flares at an unarmed aircraft endangered flight safety and disregarded China’s obligation of due regard under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The 2016 Arbitral Award found that Mischief Reef and Subi Reef are low-tide elevations. The Tribunal further ruled that Mischief Reef lies within the Philippines’
EEZ and continental shelf. (See related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/09/10/chinesefire-flares-at-unarmed-coast-guardobservation-plane/) China, however, rejected the Philippine position. In a separate statement, Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei said China has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including what Beijing calls Meiji Jiao (Mischief Reef) and Zhubi Jiao (Subi Reef), as well as adjacent waters. Guo accused a Philippine aircraft of entering without authorization in the airspace near Chinese-controlled features, which he said constituted a serious infringement of China’s sovereignty and threatened the safety of personnel stationed there. The Chinese diplomat said Beijing took “necessary measures in accordance with the law” to safeguard its sovereignty and security, describing the operation as “professional, restrained, and conducted in a standardized manner.” China would continue to safeguard what it described as its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, while opposing what it called acts of infringement, Guo added. The exchange marks the latest diplomatic row between Manila and Beijing over competing claims in the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippines continues to invoke the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, while China maintains it does not recognize the ruling.
T
HE Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG) has been directed to intensify its search-and-rescue efforts for individuals who remain unaccounted for following the fire that broke out aboard a passenger ferry in Coron, Palawan Wednesday night. In a statement on Friday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez directed the PNP-MG to help Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and concerned local government units in the continuing search for those still missing. “We are saddened by this incident and we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of those who lost their lives,” he added. “Time is crucial and essential for this kind of unfortunate incident and we continue to assist and deploy as many of our available personnel and resources to assist, especially in the conduct of search and rescue for the missing passengers and crew,” Nartatez said. At least five people were confirmed to have perished as a result of the sea tragedy while around 43 passengers and crew were rescued since the incident happened on Wednesday night.
Red Cross, surgeons’ group continue training for life-saving bleed-halt skills By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
Bangsamoro faces history in first parliament vote T By Manuel T. Cayon
Continued from A1
S
INCE 2019, their representatives to the BTA were endorsed for appointment, half by government and half by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and a sprinkling of others from various groups, including the Moro National Liberation Front. The big portion of the endorsement goes to the MILF, whose successful political peace settlement gave birth to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “After decades of peace efforts and the pursuit of greater self-governance, the Bangsamoro is about to enter a defining moment in its history,” the Bangsamoro government said in a statement on Friday. “For the first time, voters across the BARMM will elect members of the parliament this September, a milestone seen as the culmination of decades of peace efforts and a significant step toward meaningful autonomy.” It asked itself though: Beyond the ballot lies a bigger question: Is the Bangsamoro truly ready for its first parliamentary elections? Securing the peace, security and integrity of the ballot is crucial, said Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua. “The vote is sacred. It is an amanah, a trust entrusted to every voter.” Philippine National Police Chief, Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said security preparations will remain flexible and responsive to developments on the ground. The PNP has deployed 9,463 police officers across the region, 5,000 of them from
RPVARA. . . Continued from A3
The reform provides for regional and national consultative committees where issues and concerns relating to implementation can be raised. Avorque said government and the private sector need to communicate throughout the transition because the valuation changes could have a “profound impact” on developers and taxpayers. For developers, he recommended maintaining accurate and readily verifiable records of property inventories, titles, tax declarations, subdivision plans, surveys and other documentation. Particular attention should be given to
the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), and the rest are augmentation from national support units and regional offices. A special electoral board was also formed to respond to any untoward incidents during the elections. The second challenge is the new form of election greeting the Bangsamoro voters, already addressed by massive voters’ education across the mainland BARMM provinces of Lanao del Sur and the two Maguindanao provinces, and the southwestern Mindanao island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. Sulu is already out of the region after the Supreme Court ruled as valid the 54 percent vote on exclusion from the region cast by Sulu voters during the January 2019 plebiscite. The Commission on Elections reported it has already made three rounds of voter education across the region’s 105 municipalities and three cities—Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi. The information office said, however, that voters’ education was not simply about explaining how to cast a ballot. “It is also about helping voters understand the system they are participating in and what is at stake.” “We need to know our precinct number. We need that because when the election comes, this September 14, we will not have a hard time to locate our names, to locate our precincts and of course, our voting centers,” Comelec Regional Director Ray Sumalipao said. The Comelec said 2.393 million voters are registered for the BARMM elections. They will cast their votes through 5,212 clustered precincts in 1,186 voting centers
across the Bangsamoro region. That means thousands of voters will be navigating their assigned polling places on Election Day, many of them participating in a parliamentary election for the first time, the Comelec said. The third challenge is who to vote for. “The ballot may look unfamiliar to voters accustomed to choosing a president, vice president, senators, congressmen, and local officials,” the Comelec said. But there will be no presidential race, gubernatorial contest, or mayoral and councilor races. Instead, under the BEC, voters will elect members of an 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament composed of 40 regional representatives, 32 district representatives, and eight sectoral representatives. This structure makes the parliamentary election different from the national and local elections Bangsamoro voters have experienced repeatedly, the information office said. The parliamentary system is designed to provide voters with different forms of representation, it added It explained: on election day, voters will make eight choices: One regional parliamentary political party (RPPP). Voters will choose a party, not an individual candidate. The 40 regional party-representative seats will be distributed based on each party’s share of the vote, with the party’s nominees filling the seats it wins. One Parliamentary district representative. Voters will choose one individual candidate to represent their parliamentary district. Because the Bangsamoro has 32 district seats, the candidates on the ballot will
depend on the voter’s registered district. Six sectoral representatives. Voters will also choose representatives from the designated sectors: two for Settler Communities and one each for Women, Youth, Traditional Leaders, and Ulama. In total, each voter will make eight choices: one regional political party, one district representative, and six sectoral representatives. The Comelec said keeping lit the election day and the hours after the last ballot was cast is also critical in a region often marked with tampered votes, rigged machines and suspiciously manipulated power tipoffs. Aside from getting the assurance of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and electric cooperatives, the Comelec said it has contingency measures to fill in any power interruptions, from solar-powered and fuel-powered generators to other backup power sources. “Our machine will run for two days or even three days, 72 hours. So, we are ready for the brownouts,” Sumalipao said. “This means that even if a polling place loses electricity, voting can continue until the scheduled closing time of 7 pm. Making documents and transmitting can be done even the whole night of election day.” During his visit to Cotabato City on August 26, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia assured the public that winners of the first Bangsamoro parliamentary polls will be proclaimed by September 15. “We will make sure that all voting precincts will be able to transmit, and we will also ensure that all the winners will be known on the night of the elections on Sept. 14,” Garcia said.
HE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) continue their collaboration through the National Stop the Bleed program, a 14-year partnership that began with a commitment to make surgeons available during disasters and has evolved into a nationwide effort to put lifesaving bleeding-control skills in more hands. The partnership began in 2012, combining PCS’ specialized surgical expertise with PRC’s nationwide network of volunteers, responders, ambulances, and other emergency assets, through a Memorandum of Agreement focused on ensuring the availability of surgeons during emergencies and disasters. It was renewed in 2015, with PCS committing to support PRC particularly in the deployment of its Emergency Field Hospital, and again in 2024. Since then, PCS has supported PRC’s emergency preparedness and response efforts, including Emergency Field Hospital exercises, as well as trauma and emergency response training for Red Cross personnel. “Our partnership with the Philippine College of Surgeons has always been about one thing: saving lives. PCS brings the specialized surgical expertise and skills, while the Philippine Red Cross brings its nationwide network of volunteers and assets such as ambulances and Volunteers Emergency Response Vehicles, giving us the operational capability to bring that expertise where it is needed most,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said. The collaboration expanded into Stop the Bleed in 2023, when PRC and PCS conducted their first Training of Trainers, equipping 50 staff and volunteers with essential bleeding-control skills. In 2024, 500 PRC volunteers were trained across 12 sites and chapters, while simultaneous bloodletting activities collected 750 blood
subdivision roads, open spaces, parks and playgrounds, community facilities, drainage and utility areas and other common properties. Developers should establish who legally owns these properties, whether transfers have been validly completed and documented, and whether property assessments are consistent with their legal status. The push toward digital valuation makes accurate records even more important. “Better valuation is equal to better decisions,” Avorque said, while better records can contribute to greater transparency in real-estate transactions.
Avorque said that during an August 4 meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed that some aspects of RPVARA implementation be deferred. He said the matter is now being studied by the Senate and that the timing of full implementation remains uncertain. The uncertainty comes as the real-estate industry prepares for a significant change in how properties are valued for taxation and other government purposes. For developers, Avorque said the best response is to prepare early rather than wait for the new valuation system to take effect.
Implementation in transition
Housing sector faces broader cost pressures
confronting the housing industr y. Ken Salimbangon, president of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) Central Visayas, said the region’s continued economic and population growth is creating opportunities for the industry, but developers are also confronting increasingly complex barriers to delivering housing. “Delivering a housing project is no longer simply about acquiring land, designing a good development, constructing homes and bringing them to the market,” Salimbangon said. Developers must navigate regulations, taxation, infrastructure limitations, environmental requirements, water and power availability, financing, construction costs and changing government policies, he said.
These factors are interconnected. A delay in an approval can delay an entire project, while increases in development costs can eventually affect housing affordability. For rapidly expanding cities in Central Visayas, the availability of basic infrastructure is also becoming a critical consideration. Salimbangon said developers are increasingly asking whether there is enough water and power to support new communities, alongside the traditional considerations of land price, location, accessibility and market demand. Water, power, roads and transportation infrastruc ture will increasingly determine where new residential and economic corridors can develop, he said.
THE timing of the reform, however, remains an issue for the industry.
RPVAR A is only one of several issues
Based on the passenger manifest, there were 117 passengers and 17 crew in the ill-fated MV June Aster when it left Manila for Coron, Palawan. The PCG said around 80 individuals remained unaccounted for. Nartatez also ordered concerned police units to assist in the investigation of the incident to determine the cause of the fire and establish possible liabilities. The police investigation will complement the ongoing efforts of other government agencies to account for the missing passengers and crew members. It will also help establish the circumstances surrounding the fire. Nartatez said local police forces, especially in coastal areas near the tragedy site, were already tasked to coordinate with barangay officials for the search and rescue assistance. Local police units were also tasked to mobilize medical and other response teams to look after the survivors and assist in identification of the five cadavers for immediate transport to their respective families. Rex Anthony Naval
units for the PRC blood supply. The partnership continued in 2025, with another bloodletting initiative conducted with PCS collecting around 720 blood units. “Stop the Bleed” focuses on one of the most time-critical interventions in trauma care: controlling severe bleeding before professional medical help arrives. A person with life-threatening bleeding can bleed to death within minutes, making immediate action crucial. The program teaches the ABCs of bleeding control: A for Alert—call 911 or PRC Hotline 143; B for Bleeding—find the bleeding injury; and C for Compress—apply direct pressure to the bleeding injury. For PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn Pang, the continued partnership with PCS helps translate specialized medical expertise into practical lifesaving skills that can be used by responders, volunteers, and communities. “We are truly grateful for the support of the Philippine College of Surgeons and for sharing your expertise with us. We look forward to having more collaborative activities like this to fulfill our shared objective of saving lives and delivering timely and quality healthcare services,” Pang said. The Training of Trainers approach is designed to multiply the reach of Stop the Bleed, allowing participants to pass on bleeding-control skills to fellow staff, volunteers, responders, and communities. As PCS celebrates its 90th anniversary, the partnership reflects how the two organizations have expanded their shared work over the past 14 years—from ensuring that surgeons are ready to respond when disasters strike to equipping ordinary people with the skills to act before professional medical help arrives. The purpose, however, has remained the same: saving lives. What has changed is the number of people who are now being prepared to do it.
Balancing development and affordability
THE industry is also facing the continuing challenge of producing housing that Filipino families can afford despite higher input costs. Fuel, construction materials, logistics, labor, financing and regulatory compliance all contribute to the final cost of a home. Salimbangon said the industry therefore needs to look beyond simply addressing rising costs and instead focus on financing, smar ter design, innovation and greater construction efficienc y. “If the industry cannot produce housing sustainably, we cannot solve the housing shortage,” he said.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
OurTime BusinessMirror
A strategic investment in well-being: The science of hobbies in retirement By Jona C. Redondo
R
ETIREMENT often arrives with a mix of freedom and uncertainty. After decades structured by work, the sudden abundance of time can feel liberating—or empty. Many retirees discover that hobbies, whether rediscovered passions or entirely new pursuits, become the bridge to a richer, more purposeful chapter. Engaging in activities purely for enjoyment restores structure, fosters social connections, protects brain health, and delivers a renewed sense of meaning. Experts emphasize that this is not optional downtime but a strategic investment in well-being. Research consistently supports the value of hobbies later in life. A meta-analysis of studies involving more than 90,000 adults over 65 across 16 countries found that hobby engagement correlated with fewer depressive symptoms, higher self-reported health, greater happiness, and elevated life satisfaction. These benefits held even after accounting for income and partnership status. Neurologists and psychologists note that the most protective hobbies combine physical movement, mental challenge, and social interaction. Dr. Eva Feldman, a neurologist at the University of Michigan, advises patients to select one or two activities that check these boxes to complement daily life and support brain longevity. Riley Moynes, a researcher and author who interviewed hundreds of retirees, offers a practical framework in his popular TEDxSurrey talk, “How to Squeeze All the Juice Out of Retirement” (also known as “The 4 Phases of Retirement”). He describes an initial “vacation phase” of unstructured freedom that typically lasts about a year before boredom sets in. This often gives way to a second phase of loss—loss of routine, identity, workplace relationships, purpose, and a sense of power—that can trigger anxiety or depression. Phase three becomes a period of trial and error, where retirees experiment with activities to reclaim meaning. Those who persist reach phase four: reinvention and rewiring, characterized by purposeful contribution and deep satisfaction. Hobbies frequently serve as the experimental tools and eventual anchors of this final phase. Moynes’ talk, available on the TED platform and YouTube, has resonated widely because it normalizes the emotional arc of retirement and shows a clear path forward through intentional engagement. Connie Inukai echoes this encouragement in her TEDxAlmansorParkLive talk, “The 6 Reasons to Pursue Your Passion in Retirement.” She argues that retirement is the ideal moment to reclaim dreams deferred for “some day.” Inukai outlines reasons rooted in lifestyle, fulfillment, and the unique opportunity of a second act free from earlier career constraints. Her message is straightforward: the time once reserved for work can now fuel passions that were sidelined, whether creative, athletic, or intellectual. Watching her talk provides both inspiration and a structured rationale for taking action. Psychologist and retirement transition coach Dorian Mintzer, PhD, underscores the practical and psychological benefits. Hobbies supply purpose, structure, and social connection, she explains, helping maintain mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Mintzer notes that many people struggle with the shift from a productivity mindset to one of enjoyment and
beginner status. “If so much of your life has been producing, producing, producing, sometimes you need to shift your mindset from excelling to enjoying, relaxing, and embracing becoming a beginner again,” she advises. She recommends roadtesting potential hobbies while still working—practicing piano for 20 minutes a week, for example—so the transition feels less abrupt. Mintzer’s insights appear in interviews and her broader work on reinventing later life, including her own TEDx talk on embracing “bonus years.” Rekindling old hobbies often feels easiest because the foundation already exists. A former gardener may return to the soil with deeper presence, free from the pressure of weekend-only maintenance. Someone who played an instrument in youth can resume lessons without the performance anxiety of school recitals. These activities reconnect people with earlier versions of themselves while allowing growth. Starting new hobbies requires more deliberate curiosity. Experts suggest beginning small—10 minutes a day—to build consistency without overwhelm. Wendy Suzuki, a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University, highlights practices such as meditation for emotional regulation, while other specialists point to dancing, learning a language, or picking up an instrument for measurable cognitive gains, including improved attention, motor skills, and hippocampal volume. Practical entry points abound. Physical options include walking groups, yoga, swimming, or pickleball, which combine movement with community. Creative pursuits—painting, woodworking, knitting, or writing—offer flow states that reduce stress. Intellectual hobbies such as reading clubs, language apps, or genealogy keep the mind sharp. Social and purposeful activities, from volunteering at museums or food banks to joining community theater or Rotary clubs, rebuild networks lost after leaving the workplace. Some retirees turn long-standing interests into small enterprises or teaching opportunities, adding a layer of contribution that aligns with Moynes’ phase four. Challenges exist. Perfectionism, fear of looking foolish, physical limitations, or underestimating costs can stall progress. The solution lies in self-compassion and experimentation. Budget for pastimes as intentionally as other retirement expenses. Adapt activities for mobility or energy levels. Most importantly, treat the process as exploration rather than a performance review. As one retiree’s YouTube reflection illustrates in “How I Found My Passion and Purpose in Retirement,” passions often emerge not from careful planning but from simply showing up—joining a walking group, trying bocce, collecting specialized memorabilia, or starting a channel to share stories. Ultimately, hobbies after retirement are less about filling time and more about reclaiming agency. They protect against isolation and cognitive decline, restore daily rhythm, and open doors to unexpected friendships and achievements. Whether dusting off a longneglected guitar or stepping onto a dance floor for the first time, the act of engagement itself signals that this chapter remains one of growth. Experts from Moynes to Mintzer and Inukai agree: the golden years become truly golden when retirees actively cultivate the activities that light them up. Start small, stay curious, and watch purpose return.
Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, September 12, 2026 A5
Digital ID eases cash gift claims for senior citizens
S
By Wilnard Bacelonia
ENIOR citizens with a verified digital ID issued through eGovPH may no longer be required to submit a birth certificate when applying for government cash gifts, the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) said Friday. NCSC Chairperson Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said the digital ID already underwent verification through government databases, allowing the commission to use it as proof of identity and age for qualified beneficiaries. “Once they have an ID from eGov. ph, since it has already gone through the PSA, we will no longer ask for a birth certificate,” Gutierrez said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing. She said the arrangement was developed through interagency coordination among the NCSC, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.
The simplified requirement is expected to help elderly applicants who have difficulty securing birth certificates, one of the recurring problems encountered during validation of cash gift applications. Gutierrez said the NCSC and local Offices for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCAs) also work with the PSA to assist applicants whose civil registry documents are incomplete or unavailable. Alternative documents may likewise be considered to establish an applicant’s age when a birth certificate cannot immediately be produced. “If there are other documents that can establish their identities… we re-
THE National Commission of Senior Citizens, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, launched the digital senior citizen ID through the eGovPH Super App on August 15, 2025. The NCSC on September 4, said senior citizens with a verified digital ID issued through eGovPH may no longer be required to submit a birth certificate when applying for government cash gifts. PHOTO COURTESY OF PIA
solve it in favor of the senior citizen applying for this,” she said. Applications are initially filed with OSCAs, which forward the documents to the NCSC regional offices for validation, including checks for duplicate applications and confirmation that beneficiaries remain eligible. Under the Expanded Centenarians Act (Republic Act 11982), senior citizens receive a P10,000 cash gift upon reaching the milestone ages of
80, 85, 90, and 95, and a P100,000 cash gift upon turning 100. The NCSC manages the distribution of these funds. Payouts can be claimed in cash through local coordination or deposited digitally via partner banks like the Land Bank of the Philippines. In addition to national laws, some local city or municipal governments provide extra birthday cash gifts through their own local ordinances. PNA
Glimpses of the Age of AI in my twilight
I
T is creeping into our daily life like the monsoon floodwaters that silently enter our low-lying street in the middle of the night, unnoticed at first then inexorably rising and overflowing our pedestrian pavements until they reach the entrance to our elevated garage way in a matter of minutes. I’m talking about Artificial Intelligence or AI, which is snaking its way into every nook and cranny of our human society. When I switch on my favorite streaming digital platform as I do every morning, the music I now listen to is AI generated. I can choose music from a variety of styles that echo Bach, Mozart and Beethoven or crooners like Pat Boone, Bobby Vinton or Frank Sinatra. To give background sound to your daily routine, you can also play the music of the 40s. 50s, 60s or whatever suits your age. When I watch historical vignettes, I am awed by the way the remote ancient past is brought to life—the palaces of the Pharaohs, the Persepolis of Darius the Great, the hanging gardens of Babylon, the 7 palaces of the Han Dynasty—visually and vividly recreated in awesome detail and full splendor based on authoritative archeological sources. When I watch video clips of aggressive lions in combat with fearsome crocodiles, or a lone wounded hyena being devoured by a pack of wild dogs, or vehicles crashing into one another on the road, or people falling from buildings, as well as other riveting scenes that grab you, I have to ask myself: is this real or AI produced? Mind you, even the voice of the narrator in many inspirational and motivational videos that I watch are not voices of humans. They are AI produced, imitating the accent, diction, inflection and modulation of human voice talents, accompanied for good measure by AI generated text-captions.
Then I encounter all kinds of breaking reports about the uses of AI almost everywhere. For instance, the use of Generative AI is revolutionizing healthcare by enhancing medical imaging, surgical precision, and administrative efficiency. Animated 3-D images of your inner organs can now help your doctor detect abnormalities or abscesses inside your body that can’t be seen in the usual MRI image. A simple brain scan image of the brain can now become a fully rounded picture in just a few clicks to give neurologists or brain surgeons a better and clearer perspective of a tumor or clot. In weather and climate modeling, applications of AI are producing better, faster models that will have real impacts on our ability to predict the weather. Scientists can now predict Earth’s surface dynamics, enhancing forecasts for crop yields, forest health, and drought impacts. Using AI-powered climate models, the global community can now draw up better plans for climate action. AI also means robotics. China is now displaying a range of AI-enabled robots that can run a 100-meter dash, serve dishes to a customer in a cafe, and so on. Apparently, AI technology is now easily accessible to the ordinary Juan. You can use it to change an image according to your preference or intent. You can manipulate an image to appear younger or older, sexy looking, or devilish, or whatever you fancy. It’s a heaven-sent tool for people who harbor illusions about the way they look, or someone with extreme malice who can distort the face of a perceived enemy and then spread it on social media. That’s all good news. But already AI technology’s potential for great malice is now showing. There’s a report about GROK generating “One Nonconsensual Sexualized Image Per Minute” and concerned au-
thorities around the world are starting to look into Elon Musk’s xAI after its chatbot began “undressing” celebrities and underage children at the request of users. Not too long ago, a highly controversial AI generated clip depicting a former US president and his wife as apes was maliciously posted on the social media account of a sitting president. AI has exposed not just a cognitively declining or cognitively defective elected leader but the cognitive irresponsibility of those who are supposed to be models of good manners and upright conduct in public life. Many were outraged, but the rest just scoffed at it as if it were just one of those schoolboy pranks. Thanks to available AI apps, prominent personalities, including doctors, government officials, and media celebrities find themselves being used without permission on ads on social media. Their faces and manner of speaking including their voices are used in these posts that lead the unsuspecting public to believe they are true testimonials. In schools around the world, professors are encountering the new phenomenon of AI-generated academic papers being submitted by their students. Even creative talents are worried about the increasing use of AI to generate short stories, novels, poems in just a few clicks. Paintings can now be composed by a digital creator, with instructions to use style reminiscent of works of famous Renaissance, Impressionists or Abstract painters. Need an imitation Van Gogh or Picasso to hang in your living room? You can have it in no time at all at the right price. Name it, AI can do it. In many corporate offices, AI is now doing the work of receptionists, secretaries, bookkeepers, and in some offices, the tasks usually done by human janitors. Manufacturers are infusing AI in their systems, making petulant and demanding humans redundant. In advanced countries, experiments are now being done to demonstrate that AI can take the place of human surgeons in surgical operations. The common question in the minds of real people is: “Will AI replace my job?” As we are scratching our heads on this question, the war between Ukraine and Russia is showing us how AI is shaping the war of the future. The same AI technology that can kill cancer cells with pinpoint precision can also be used to
kill soldiers by someone controlling an AI-powered drone inside a bunker many miles away. The violent video game is now being played in real battles in destructive wars, maiming and killing human beings in real time. One clip even shows a motley of soldiers surrendering to a weaponized drone that got them cornered. Weaponized or bomb-laden robot soldiers are now being tested and being refined as the war continues. These are just glimpses of a limitless uncharted horizon. As a septuagenarian, I will most likely not live long enough to see the full unfolding of the Age of AI, for better or for worse. Not that I am eager to see it. After all, I’ve seen enough of the onslaught of innovations that have happened in the past five decades, which radically changed the way we work and live. I was there when television and the telephone first arrived. I was present at the birth of the Internet Age and the Digital World. I’ve seen all the array of gadgets that have made life more convenient and enjoyable, as well as menacing and dangerous. I’ve seen enough, perhaps too much. Yet I can’t help but worry. In an age in which machines have intellectual capacities superior to our own, I worry about the future of human creativity. I also worry about the morality and ethics of using AI for god-like purposes. For instance, robots are learning to make human babies. Twenty have already been born. One in six people of reproductive age suffer from infertility. Start-ups are using AI-powered robots to increase IVF success rates and lower costs. Feeling, though, is a different story. Intuition, instinct, extra sensory perception, inner spirituality are our innate powers as human beings. They are what will see us through. From my perch as a fading boomer, the question is not whether AI will replace us. The real question to focus on is how do we take this AI bull by the horns and use it to make the world a better place and make our lives more meaningful and purposeful? I have high hopes for humanity. As our generation is getting ready to leave, I can’t help but be assured by the words that writer William Faulkner spoke when he received the Nobel Prize for Literature: “I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul...”
A6
BusinessMirror
Saturday, September 12, 2026 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
businessmirror.lifestyle@gmail.com • www.businessmirror.com.ph
The premium �lagship mobile experience made more accessible THE Galaxy S26 FE combines a slim, premium design and durable materials with the iconic Galaxy silhouette. It also features an enhanced triple rear-camera system with advanced image processing, including a 50MP wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. PHOTO FROM SAMSUNG
S
AMSUNG officially launched its first FE (fan edition) phone in 2020 but the first FE gadget was actually released in 2017. I wished they had also called it fun edition because really, this is like getting a flagship phone at a more accessible price point. Somewhere in our messy house is the first actual Samsung FE, the Galaxy Note FE. It was a reliable mobile handset that lasted 3 years (it was a muchabused work phone). The Galaxy S20 FE, launched in 2020, became the standard for affordable flagship alternatives, The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, powered by the latest One UI 9, is the gateway to the premium Galaxy experience with its premium and intelligent camera capabilities. It has a long-lasting 4,900mAh battery that allows you to reach up to 69 percent charge in around 30 minutes with the 45W adapter. The 6.7-inch Amoled display has up to 120Hz refresh rate for smooth, immersive visuals with brightness, resolution and clarity for streaming, gaming, browsing, and creative work. The S26 FE gets a full IP68 rating, which means it is able to survive up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water. The front and back sides are covered with Gorilla Glass Victus+. The Galaxy S26 FE is guaranteed up to seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. The prices are ₱46,990 for 128GB, ₱53,990 for 256GB, and ₱67,990 for 512GB. The Galaxy S26 FE features an enhanced triple rear camera with advanced image processing, including a 50MP Wide Camera and 8MP Telephoto Camera that supports
Pre-orders now available for GTA VI LimitedEdition DualSense Controllers for PS5 3x Optical Zoom. To compare, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 200MP main camera with an f/1.4 aperture and OIS joined by a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 50MP periscope telephoto with OIS for 5x optical zoom, and a 10MP telephoto for 3x optical zoom. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE also has enhanced Nightography for capturing bright and clears shots in low light while preserving every detail. It also features My FanCam, which intelligently tracks a selected person, reframing video as the scene moves, with less need for manual editing. Another camera feature is Super Steady with Horizontal Lock, which allows you to capture level, smooth footage while filming fast-moving activities like sports, travel, and everyday adventures. The enhanced Photo Assist allows you to add, change, or restore elements using natural
language prompts. With Gemini Omni, you can create and edit videos clips based on photos and videos from your Gallery and turn them into videos. The updated Now Brief is even more personalized through customizable briefing cards like weather and wellness insights. You can now create your own cards with a simple prompt. Now Nudge is expanded to select third-party apps and notifications while Circle to Search with Google now allows users to search for multiple items in an image at once, making it easier for you to identify products, places, objects and more in a single step. The Galaxy S26 FE is now available in Samsung Experience Stores nationwide, and at www.samsung. com/ph in Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio.
Nintendo celebrates 40 years of Zelda with remake, accessories, and more BY PATRICK VILLANUEVA INITIALLY launched in 1986 by Nintendo, the Legend of Zelda has become a prominent figure not only for the company but also for the gaming community. With 33 titles throughout its four-decade history, Nintendo made sure the franchise and its fans got the recognition they deserved this year. One of the brand’s most beloved games will get a remake—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Announced during Nintendo Direct, series producer
Eiji Aonuma showcased what to expect from the remake, from its gameplay to its graphics. The game will feature updated graphics, expanded cutscenes and dialogue, symphonic orchestral music, reworked camera and movement controls, and more. Emphasizing why they chose this as the remake, Eiji said this 1998 action-adventure classic “served as a defining moment of the series.” Fans will be able to play this game on November 5, 2026, on the Switch 2 console. More than that, Nintendo also announced that next year, a live-action
film featuring the franchise will also be released in theaters worldwide. While not much is known so far, it is titled The Legend of Zelda without any subtitle, with Shigeru Miyamoto stating that watching the film will make fans understand why. It is set for release on April 30, 2027. Other announcements include Nintendo Switch 2—The Legend of Zelda: 40th Anniversary Edition system, anniversary editions of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 carrying case with a screen protector, all featuring a Triforce design.
Amiibo figures of Young Link and Young Zelda will launch in 2027, which can be used to unlock special in-game masks. They will also have a collaboration with Lego to make the LEGO The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time-Link & Epona set. Additionally, a Hasbro Legend of Zelda Electronic Master Sword, 27 inches long with more than 15 touch- and motionactivated sounds, will be available by spring 2027. More information about the celebration can be found at zelda40th.nintendo.com, or visit Nintendo of America on YouTube.
BEING one of the most anticipated games of the year deserves a matching accessory. And that’s what Grand Theft Auto VI will get as they partner with PlayStation to release GTA VI Limited-Edition Wireless DualSense controllers. With the game being set in Vice City, this new gaming accessory for PlayStation took inspiration from the city’s vibes, releasing two controllers: DualSense Wireless Controller—Grand Theft Auto VI Black Limited Edition, and DualSense Wireless Controller—Grand Theft Auto VI White Limited Edition. In a new blog post from PlayStation after their recent State of Play, it mentioned that these two controllers were meant to capture “the essence of Vice City, from bright days along the coast to vibrant city nights.” In doing so, both designs feature custom palm tree details molded in its grip, as well as in its touchpad, designed inside the GTA branding “VI”. Additionally, it features a glowing neon finish on the bottom part, inspired by the fictional city’s vibrant night scenes. The Black Limited Edition design, according to PlayStation, refers to the iconic, high-energy nightlife of parties and clubs present in Vice City, a city inspired by Miami. Meanwhile, the White Limited Edition is inspired by the glamour of its white sand and pastel skies. With the game being launched on November 19, 2026, pre-orders for this newest accessory was made available on September 10 at 10 am. In the Philippines, its suggested retail price is at P5,411, although its actual price, availability and launch date may differ. Meanwhile, you can check out an extended look taken from the PlayStation 5, showcasing its gameplay, immersion, and graphics for the console. More information can be found at tinyurl.com/7rjmkkac. Grand Theft Auto VI is an anticipated open-world game, a part of the long-running series Grand Theft Auto, developed and published by Rockstar Games. PATRICK VILLANUEVA
Appistoki, Novare launch innovation hub to drive enterprise agentic AI adoption BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES APPISTOKI, a Novare Channel Partner, has launched the Salesforce Data and AI Center of Excellence (CoE) at Novare’s headquarters in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, marking a step toward accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies among Philippine enterprises. The CoE will serve as a joint innovation hub, where the two companies collaborate to co-develop new applications. It will help organizations in the Philippines better understand and implement agentic AI in practical and scalable ways across business operations and customer experience. “We wanted to create a space where organizations can experience AI in action. Through Agentforce, businesses will better understand how intelligent and connected customer engagement can transform industries such as real estate,” said Abhijeet Kulkarni, founder and chief executive officer of Appistoki. “Novare is committed to delivering purposeful and enterprise-ready AI solutions for Filipino companies. AI
should create a meaningful impact for both businesses and people. This initiative reflects our commitment to helping organizations adopt AI in ways that are practical, responsible, and outcome-driven,” said Victor Silvino, chief executive officer of Novare Technologies. The CoE will focus on the real estate industry, including use cases such as intelligent lead engagement, personalized property recommendations, and AI-assisted customer support. Accounting for over 5 percent of the Philippines’ GDP, the real estate sector is primed for sustained momentum following a 6.8 percent year-on-year expansion in Q1 2026. Harnessing AI will be pivotal to unlocking this next phase of growth by driving operational efficiency, data-driven customer acquisition, and personalized buyer engagement. According to Paul Carvouni, senior vice president and general manager for Salesforce Asean, “Business success in the Philippines will be defined by organizations that move beyond AI pilots to apply AI where it delivers measurable outcomes. Our collaboration with Appistoki on this CoE
reinforces our commitment to equipping Filipino businesses with the technology and expertise needed to turn AI ambition into real competitive advantage. Together, we are leading the shift to agentic transformation across the region.” Appistoki and Salesforce have worked together to drive successful AI and data initiatives across a myriad of industries, including real estate, banking and telecommunications. The new facility will serve as Appistoki’s dedicated innovation space for Agentforce, Salesforce’s agentic AI platform, and Data 360, Salesforce’s native data engine, showcasing how organizations can unify their data and leverage AI agents to improve customer engagement, automate workflows, and create more connected digital experiences. It will host customer briefings, live demonstrations, workshops, and collaborative sessions for organizations exploring AI-powered transformation initiatives. Ayala Land Inc., one of the Philippines’ leading real estate developers, highlighted the role of Appistoki in advancing its Salesforce journey. “Appistoki has been a critical part of
our Salesforce journey. We’re taking that journey to the next level—using AI on top of the data we’ve built on Salesforce to unlock more value from our investment and our partnership with Appistoki,” said Roscoe M. Pineda, chief information officer for Ayala Land. Appistoki has made significant investments in building a dedicated Salesforce capacity—spanning industry-focused accelerators, Salesforce certifications, live experience demos, and more. Appistoki is also part of the Salesforce Forward Deployed Engineering Partner Network, delivering the engineering depth required to help customers bridge the gap between AI ambition and a production-ready agentic workforce. Appistoki was named the Asean Partner of the Year for the second year running at the Salesforce Partner of the Year Awards in May 2026, in recognition of delivering transformative solutions that drive business outcomes for customers across the region. The company was also named the In-Country Excellence Partner of the Year in the Philippines.
www.businessmirror.com.ph • businessmirror.lifestyle@gmail.com
BusinessMirror
Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • Saturday, September 12, 2026
A7
From Tech to TEQ63: Geek Culture Crosses Over at SuperManila 2026 OPPO FIND X9S SHOWS HOW PERFORMANCE MEETS CREATIVITY TODAY’S users expect more from their smartphones than ever before. They want flagship performance that powers through demanding tasks, cameras that rival professional gear, AI features that simplify everyday life, and battery life they never have to second-guess. It’s no longer about excelling in just one area but about delivering an experience where every feature works seamlessly together. The Oppo Find X9s is built with exactly that in mind. Combining next-generation performance, professional-grade imaging, intelligent AI capabilities, and dependable all-day reliability, it’s designed for people who move effortlessly between work, creativity, and everything in between. Whether you’re editing videos, capturing life’s biggest moments, or staying productive on the go, the Oppo Find X9s delivers a true flagship experience without compromise. ■ POWERFUL PERFORMANCE THAT KEEPS UP. At the heart of the Oppo Find X9s is the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s, a next-generation flagship chipset engineered to deliver exceptional speed, responsiveness, and power efficiency. From managing multiple productivity apps and editing high-resolution content to gaming and streaming, the processor ensures every interaction feels fast and fluid. For creators, this translates to smoother photo processing, faster video rendering, and responsive performance even when working with demanding creative applications. Complementing this performance is intelligent thermal management that helps keep the device cool and stable during extended use. Whether recording long-form videos, capturing hundreds of photos during an event, or editing content on the go, the Find X9s is designed to maintain consistent performance without compromising the user experience. ■ BUILT TO CREATE. The Oppo Find X9s is built to perform and more importantly, to create. Its advanced Hasselblad camera system brings professional-grade imaging into users’ everyday lives, producing natural colors, rich detail, and balanced exposures across different shooting conditions. Enhanced by the LUMO Image Engine, the device intelligently optimizes every frame, helping users capture everything from travel memories and portraits to food photography and social content with remarkable clarity. For creators who love telling stories through video, the Oppo Find X9s also supports pro-level video recording, making it easy to produce cinematic-quality footage for vlogs, Reels, short films, or branded content. Combined with Oppo’s AI-powered imaging features, users can spend less time editing and more time creating. ■ BATTERY THAT MATCHES YOUR AMBITION. Flagship performance means little without the battery life to support it. The Oppo Find X9s is powered by a massive 7025mAh battery, giving users the confidence to stay productive, creative, and connected throughout the day. From filming content and editing videos to streaming entertainment, navigating unfamiliar cities, or managing work on the go, it’s built to handle even the busiest schedules without constantly reaching for a charger. Paired with Oppo’s intelligent battery optimization, the Find X9s maximizes every charge so users can spend more time creating, exploring, and staying connected. The Oppo Find X9s (16GB + 512GB) is available nationwide through Oppo Brand Stores, Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and the official Oppo online store. Buyers can enjoy a P1,000 discount voucher on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop, while purchases made through the Oppo Online Store come with a P1,000 discount voucher plus a free Oppo Enco X3s. More information can be found at www.oppo.com/ph, or the brand’s official social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
MICHAEL NGAN, Lenovo Philippines president and general manager; and Charlotte Koa, Lenovo Philippines consumer business lead
I
’VE always considered myself a geek, although being one meant something quite different when I was growing up. Back then, a geek was usually that socially awkward kid obsessively interested in things that weren’t necessarily considered cool. In my case, it was wrestling, toys, video games and comics. Decades later, the socially awkward part may have improved somewhat, but I’m still into pretty much the same things. Geek culture has changed a lot since then. With all the information available today, people can go incredibly deep into the things they love and build an impressive amount of knowledge around a particular game, comic, series or hobby. People don’t simply watch a show anymore. They know the lore, alternate timelines and character histories, and can explain why some object that appeared for three seconds in Episode 4 is actually connected to something that happened two seasons ago. I don’t think I have that kind of time—or energy anymore. I still enjoy the occasional deep dive, and after practically every episode of Lanterns, I somehow end up listening to podcasts dissecting the story and all the details I completely missed. I enjoy hearing what other fans picked up, but if encyclopedic knowledge is now part of the qualifications, my geek membership might be due for review. That was pretty much how I felt walking around SuperManila Comic Con 2026 last weekend.
MY FIRST SUPERMANILA
HELD at The Concourse and Space at One Ayala in Makati, SuperManila expanded to three days this year, bringing together comic-book creators, artists, collectors, toy companies, gaming brands and other communities under the increasingly large popculture umbrella. I’ve attended a fair amount of pop-culture conventions, so I thought SuperManila would feel familiar. There were certainly enough toys around, with Blokees, ZD Toys, Gundam, Lego and other collectibles on display. I was even surprised to find a toy panel hosted by my friend Carlo Torres, aka JoeStarScream. But SuperManila was clearly a comic convention first, with a much stronger presence of comic art and trading cards than at the other cons I usually attend. Even some familiar stores had adjusted accordingly. At Co. The Collectible Store, where I’m used to seeing plush toys, anime merchandise, figures and blind boxes, trading cards occupied most of its booth, with tables where players could sit down for a game, trade cards or show off their latest pulls. Cards are one part of collecting I haven’t gotten into, so watching all of this made me feel a bit like a tourist in a country where I understood the language but didn’t quite know the customs. Artist Alley was another matter entirely. I knew many of the comics and had heard some of the artists’ names, but I would be lying if I said I recognized everyone sitting behind those tables. The one artist I was actually looking for was Pugad Baboy creator Pol Medina Jr., but sadly I couldn’t find his booth. Meanwhile, I was walking past some very big names in comics, including Peach Momoko, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Mike Zeck and C.B. Cebulski, alongside Filipino artists such as Carlo Pagulayan, Stephen Segovia, Manix Abrera, Harvey Tolibao and Lan Medina. For serious comic collectors, that lineup alone was probably enough reason to spend the entire weekend there. I was happy walking around, looking at the artwork and occasionally pretending I knew more than I actually did. There was one artist, however, whom I specifically wanted to meet.
A ‘QUICCS’ MEETING
I’M not an art-toy collector—at least not yet—but if I were to start, Quiccs would probably be at the top of my list. I only have one of his pieces, something I won
from Smart 5G a few years back. Juanito “Quiccs” Maiquez is one of the most recognizable Filipino names in the international designer-toy scene, with his signature TEQ63 character combining influences from graffiti, street culture and Japanese mecha. What I didn’t know was just how much of a gamer Quiccs actually is. He described himself as a “massive gamer,” tracing it back to the 486 PC era and games such as Doom and Command & Conquer. He later moved on to StarCraft, Warcraft and Red Alert, which he said were a big part of his childhood. Gaming stayed with him even as art became his career. Quiccs recalled taking graphic design as his vocational course in school, describing it as a natural merger of computers and art. He continued down that path, eventually developing TEQ63 and applying his graphic-design background to toys. These days, he still finds time for Mobile Legends, Call of Duty: Mobile and the more niche Mecharashi, a tactical mecha game that appeals to him as a longtime Front Mission fan going back to the original PlayStation. That makes his collaboration with Lenovo a natural fit, since computers, gaming and art have been part of Quiccs’ interests long before this partnership came along. Gaming and art have always been closely connected anyway, even if discussions about gaming PCs tend to focus more on frame rates, GPUs, ray tracing and display resolutions. That made SuperManila 2026 the right venue for Lenovo to announce its collaboration with Quiccs.
TECH FOR TEQ63
UNVEILED as part of Lenovo’s Legion Gen 11 campaign, the collaboration takes Quiccs’ familiar TEQ63 and gives it a Lenovo Legion treatment while keeping the character recognizably his. “Gaming has always been something I enjoy, so getting the chance to bring my design into the Legion world made this collaboration especially interesting for me. We wanted the piece to still feel distinctly Quiccs while giving it a Legion identity that gamers can immediately connect with,” he said. The design carries Legion’s blue and red colors across TEQ63’s armor and extends to custom packaging. That’s a detail non-collectors might dismiss, but anyone who keeps figures sealed knows the box is part of the display and sometimes almost as important as the figure inside. Quiccs joined Lenovo Consumer Business Lead Charlotte Koa during the September 6 SuperManila program hosted by Gino Quillamor, where they talked about how the collaboration came together. “Gaming today goes beyond what happens on the screen. It is also shaped by communities, creativity, personal expression, and the interests that gamers share outside of play. Working with Quiccs allowed us to bring Legion into that broader culture through a distinctly Filipino creative collaboration,” Koa said.
HOW TO GET THE QUICCS COLLECTIBLES
LENOVO is running its Legion x Quiccs promotion from September 18 to October 31, with buyers of select participating Lenovo Legion and LOQ devices receiving corresponding limited-edition merchandise. The main collectible is the 12-inch Legion x Quiccs TEQ63, which Lenovo values at
LEGION x Quiccs promotion at SuperManila Comic Con 2026
₱15,000. There’s also a 3-inch TEQ63 valued at ₱4,000, while other promotional items include an exclusive jersey shirt worth P1,800 and a sticker pack worth ₱350. The particular freebie depends on the qualifying Legion or LOQ device purchased. Lenovo positions LOQ as the more accessible entry point into PC gaming, while Legion is intended for enthusiasts, creators and competitive players. I wouldn’t choose a laptop solely because of a free toy, of course, but if you’re already considering one of the participating machines, a 12-inch Quiccs collectible valued at ₱15,000 is certainly more memorable than another laptop bag or mouse.
MORE GEEK STUFF TO COLLECT
AFTER spending several hours at SuperManila, I still couldn’t tell you which trading cards everyone was chasing, and I definitely didn’t recognize every artist whose booth had a long line in front of it. Watching people open packs hoping to pull a particular card also looks suspiciously like another hobby capable of destroying both my budget and remaining storage space. SuperManila was different from the conventions I’m more familiar with, and that was what made walking around interesting. There were things I knew, things I vaguely recognized, and entire sections where I had absolutely no idea what was going on. The geek culture I grew up with was easier to separate into categories: comic-book guys, gamers, toy collectors and wrestling fans. Today there’s so much crossover that those lines barely matter. Comics become games, games become toys, artists design collectibles and sneakers, and a Filipino toy designer who grew up playing Doom can end up creating a TEQ63 for Lenovo Legion. I still don’t think I qualify as the kind of geek who can spend an hour explaining every Easter egg in a movie or TV episode. I’m perfectly happy letting someone else do the research and listening to their podcast afterward. As for adding art toys and trading cards to my existing collections, I’m going to try very hard to resist. Although that 12-inch TEQ63 isn’t helping.
Education BusinessMirror
A8 Saturday, September 12, 2026
SPECIAL REPORT
Concerned father maximizes IT expertise to build AI school CCTV security system By John Eiron R. Francisco
C
ONCERN for the safety of his six-yearold and 15-year-old children prompted an information technology (IT) professor to turn his expertise into an AIassisted school-security system designed to help schools monitor CCTV feeds, identify individuals, and detect people entering restricted areas. Project developer and IT faculty member at National University (NU)-Fairview Herminiño C. Lagunzad told the BusinessMirror that a series of serious incidents in schools this year had heightened his concerns as a parent—regardless of whether children attend public or private schools. The events prompted Lagunzad to develop a prototype called the “AI-Assisted School Security and Multi-CCTV Face Identification System,” which he hopes could give schools an extra layer of security through automated CCTV monitoring and facial identification. “As a parent, this is my way of giving us peace of mind and ensuring that our children remain safe amid the recent crimes that have occurred in schools,” he said, partly in Filipino. Beyond students, Lagunzad said the system could also monitor faculty members, school personnel, visitors, and others within school premises. The current prototype can monitor multiple CCTV cameras simultaneously,
UA&P’s response to AI use in education: Gadget-free classes, redesigned assessments
H
OW can universities preserve authentic learning when artificial intelligence (AI) can practically perform the tasks that students traditionally do? The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) opened its classes a little more than a month ago with clear guidelines to preserve university learning amid AI's growing role in education: Protect students’ attention. Rethink AI-era assessments. Allow responsible AI use. UA&P’s “Policy on Authentic Learning in the Age of AI,” rolled out in July, affirms the university’s mission of forming the whole person while acknowledging AI's transformative presence in the educational landscape.
Gadget-free environments
A SCREENSHOT of the AI school security dashboard
as Lagunzad tested the system using up to eight cameras. It has registered-person identification, unknown-person monitoring, designated security zones, restricted-area monitoring, after-hours alerts, long-distance and low-light face processing, multi-frame verification, automatic screenshots and video recording of incidents, an incident database, and manual activation for panic or security events. For instance, a school can set a schedule for a particular group of students, such as Grade 5 pupils who are expected to be in school from 7 a.m. to noon. If the system detects a student outside the designated area during that period, it can trigger an alert for security personnel to verify the situation. The program can then automatically capture a screenshot and record about 30 seconds of video, which security personnel can review to determine whether an incident occurred. Monitoring can also cover faculty members, school personnel, and visitors.
In actual use
THE developer cited an example in which
a school could set a schedule for a particular group of students, such as Grade 5 pupils expected to be on campus from 7 a.m. to noon. If the system detects a student outside the designated area during that period, it can trigger an alert for security personnel to verify the situation—a feature Lagunzad said sets it apart from conventional facial recognition and monitoring systems currently available in the market. “Based on the accuracy [rate], it’s 90 to 92 percent,” Lagunzad emphasized. “[System-wise], it also shows the accuracy of how fast it can identify and verify.” He pointed out, however, that being identified by the system does not automatically mean the individual is safe. In contrast, an “unknown” identification does not necessarily mean the person poses a threat. “The purpose of the system is purely for recording purposes so that the case and the situation can be monitored,” he said. Lagunzad said schools would also need to properly orient security personnel and other users on how to interpret the sys-
tem’s alerts to avoid treating an unidentified person as automatically suspicious.
Investment
LAGUNZAD said the system itself would cost around P300,000, excluding the CCTV cameras, and would require a computer with sufficient specifications to process multiple camera feeds. The system can work with wired or wireless CCTV setups and can operate online or offline—provided the cameras and computers are connected through the appropriate network configuration. “I’m very positive that they [schools, government, private entities] can adopt this technology or system,” he shared. However, the developer said the prototype remains under testing as he continues to check for possible errors and make modifications before formally presenting it to institutions for potential adoption. He estimated that the prototype is about 85 percent complete and said he plans to pursue patent protection after completing the necessary modifications and finalizing the system.
DICT’s ‘Hack for Gov’ turns students’ passion for tech into cybersecurity skills
I
N an age when cyber threats constantly loom, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) continues to equip future tech enthusiasts with cybersecurity skills to enhance the nation’s cyber resilience. Turning students’ passion for technology into useful cybersecurity skills, the DICT hosted its annual “Hack for Gov” competition on August 19, with students from 10 state universities and colleges across the Ilocos Region competing. The event became a battleground of minds and skills, testing their cybersecurity knowledge and teamwork. It gave them hands-on experience in ethical hacking through Capture-theFlag challenges that tackled simulated cybersecurity threats across areas such as network security, cryptography, and digital forensics. For third-time joiner Ana Victoria Alentajan of the Universidad de Dagupan (UdD) in Pangasinan, teamwork was her team’s biggest advantage: “[W]e trained together for several days. We got to know each other and understand how we work, so it became easier for us to communicate during the competition.” Lizmer Aleda Santillan from the same school also said they divided the topics and categories among team members before combining their findings: “Our preparation was really about building chemistry within the team. We [each studied different topics and categories], and then we brought all our knowledge together.”
Editor: Mike Policarpio
for Gov engages our passionate IT enthusiasts. They apply ethical hacking because hacking can also be used for wrong reasons.” Ruiz-Chua emphasized the importance of turning their skills into something productive, particularly in protecting government systems from cyber threats. For her, “instead of [giving hacking] a negative connotation, we turn it into something productive and helpful, especially for our country.”
Passion for tech
REGION 1 ICT students put their tech and hacking skills to good use.
Productive, ethical hacking
BEYOND the contest, Santillan said the hacking event also helped them grow and gain confidence. She said “competitions and events like this allow us to grow and encourage us to step out of our comfort zones.” The team “Angels Wings” from the Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte won the competition. They were followed by “CyberOwls Beta”
from the UdD, which secured second place, and “MLUC tr0jans” from the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Mid La Union Campus in La Union, which took third spot. DICT officer-in-charge and regional director Jaemie Ruiz-Chua said the competition enables students to put to the fore their ethical hacking skills in simulated real-world situations: “Hack
THE competition also aims to identify and nurture cybersecurity talents who may contribute to the country’s cybersecurity workforce and, subject to eligibility, represent the country in international cybersecurity competitions. The DICT official likewise encouraged more schools and ICT enthusiasts to join similar competitions in the future. Interested participants may coordinate with the department’s Region 1 office and submit a letter of intent for consideration. The regional office also offers free technical and upskilling training programs to help students and ICT enthusiasts further develop their skills. Through the competition, students not only have a platform to compete but also an opportunity to turn their passion for technology into skills that can help build a safer digital environment for the country. Justin Ralph S. Rabor and Joyah Mae C. Quimoyog/CCMT, PIA Ilocos Sur
ONE of the policy’s most concrete measures is adopting a gadget-free classroom as a general rule. Junior college and undergraduate students are expected to refrain from using mobile phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and other personal electronic devices during class—unless the instructor expressly authorizes them for legitimate pedagogical purposes. “Students have the habit of clicking, scrolling, or swiping in tabs while classes are ongoing,” observed Vice President for Academic and Faculty Affairs Dr. Fe Gladys Golo. “We want students to understand that focused concentration, human connection, and deep thinking matter more than screens.” “[Research also] shows that handwriting activates a broader network of brain regions associated with motor control, sensory perception, and higher cognitive functions,” Dr. Golo continued. “Between typing and handwriting, students will benefit more if they practice their handwriting again, turn real paper pages, and converse with one another while in the classrooms.” While faculty members may permit the use of electronic devices for a clear educational purpose, periods of device-free learning are encouraged to cultivate sustained attention, meaningful conversations, and genuine human interactions in and out of the classroom. Authentic assessments THE policy also calls on faculty members to use assessments that require students to exercise their own understanding, judgment, critical thinking, and abilities. Faculty members may use assessment strategies that include oral examinations, presentations, in-class writing, case discussions, practical demonstrations, supervised exercises, and reflective work. “Recitations and group work, where students simulate that they are like a teacher to their classmates, favor the gadget-free guideline,” said Fr. Gary Soria, who has been teaching The Apostle’s Creed and Christian Moral Life to junior college students for more than a decade. “Including a mini lecture in between interventions, as the students proposed, seems to get the attention of most students.”
Responsible use of AI
UNDER the new policy, the responsible use of AI is permitted by default—unless the instructor prohibits it. However, students remain accountable for the accuracy and integrity of all work submitted in their name. Submissions with material AI assistance must include an “AI Disclosure Statement.” Faculty members are also expected to communicate course-specific permissions or restrictions on AI use to their students. While the policy stresses disclosing and citing AI use in detail, the university is not trying to police student outputs but to promote independent and critical thinking at the heart of liberal education. “We want to train students to think, create, imagine, and problem-solve,” Dr. Golo concluded. The Policy on Authentic Learning in the Age of AI, which applies to UA&P’s junior college and undergraduate programs, does not ordinarily cover graduate, executive, professional, and other continuing education programs—unless otherwise determined by the dean or head of the concerned academic unit.
Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
Saturday, September 12, 2026 A9
NEW FILIPINO DREAM From remote Filipino workers (RFW) to digital nomad 5. The visa door has finally opened
FOR years, traveling with a Philippine passport meant dealing with visa applications, paperwork, financial requirements, and closed doors. I know what that feels like. But things are changing. Digital nomad visas are creating new opportunities for remote workers to legally live in another country while earning from clients or employers abroad. More than 60 countries now offer some form of digital nomad or remote-work visa— have you heard about the Spain Digital Nomad visa? For Filipinos, this creates a completely different path. You no longer have to think only about working abroad as an OFW. You can build a remote career first, then use that income to explore where you want to live. After traveling to all 195 countries with a Philippine passport, I know our passport has limitations. But I also know it does not have to limit the size of your dreams.
Photos by Kack Medina Umandap
F
OR generations, the Filipino dream often meant leaving home. It meant packing a suitcase, moving abroad, working as an OFW, and spending years—sometimes decades—building a better future while sending Balikbayan boxes and hard-earned savings back to the Philippines. Today, that dream is evolving. We live in a time when Filipinos can earn in dollars, euros, or other global currencies while continuing to live in the Philippines, where those earnings can go much further. Technology has made it possible to build international careers without permanently leaving home. And once earning remotely becomes your reality, a new question naturally follows: why work from home when you can work from anywhere? The opportunities that once seemed out of reach are becoming more accessible. Countries around the world are opening their doors through digital nomad visas and other remote work programs, making it easier than ever to live, work, and travel abroad legally while maintaining your career. On September 10, I launched my first book with Penguin Random House SEA at the Manila International Book Fair at SMX MOA. Titled Career or Travel, Why Not Both? How to Become a Digital Nomad, it shares a message I have carried with me for years: the Filipino dream has not become smaller - it has become bigger. It is no longer tied to a single destination or defined by leaving home forever. Today, that dream can fit inside a backpack, a laptop, and a reliable internet connection. This is what that shift looks like.
1. First, what exactly is a digital nomad?
A DIGITAL nomad is a person who earns a global income and manages that income through technology, no matter where their body happens to be. Your office is your laptop. Your paycheck can come from Manila, Madrid, or Mexico City while you sit in a cafe in Palawan. The work follows you, instead of you following the work.
6. This dream is not just for Gen Z THE author and her book
2. There is no single type of digital nomad
FILIPINOS arrive at this life through many different doors. These are the five you will meet most often: The freelancer or VA. This is where most Filipinos start. You work for an overseas employer or client as a virtual assistant, writer, designer, bookkeeper, or customer support specialist, and you are paid in dollars for skills you may already have. The creator. These are the bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, and influencers who earn from an audience instead of a boss. They are part of what the world now calls the creator economy, the fast growing market where people earn a living from the content, community, and personal brand they build online. The online entrepreneur. This nomad owns the business itself, running a dropshipping store, an agency,
or a consulting and services company, and managing suppliers, clients, and staff entirely through a laptop. The passive earner. Their money works while they sleep, through day trading, a managed stock portfolio, or rental and Airbnb units they oversee online from anywhere in the world. The full-time traveler. Not everyone is chasing income. Some live simply on the road, volunteering as they go, proof that this life is about freedom as much as money. What ties all five together is simple. They use technology to earn or sustain themselves, and they are free to keep moving from one country to the next.
3. Why “work from home” is becoming “work from anywhere”
I WAS once a young OFW in Kuwait, working abroad
because that was the path I thought would give me a better future. But eventually, I started asking myself: What if I could earn without having to leave home? What if my career could travel with me? For most Filipinos, the story starts at home, and to see why it pays so well right now, look at the global economy. More and more Westerners keep their full time jobs while building small side hustles to cover rising costs. Picture someone earning ten to fifteen thousand dollars a month at a big company who also sells shirts on the side. They cannot answer customers all day, and hiring a fellow American to help is far too expensive. So they hire someone from the Philippines or another country in the Global South and pay maybe $1,500 to $2,000 a month. For them it is small. For a Filipino here, it is life changing (that’s 93,000 pesos), and demand keeps growing. The internet has created something our parents never had: a global job market where your location does not necessarily determine the value of your work.
4. Then something clicks, and you start to move
ONCE working from home becomes normal, you start wondering why you have to stay home at all. At first, you might simply work from another city in the Philippines-Palawan, Boracay, Siargao. Then you try another country for a month. Eventually, you realize that the laptop you used at your kitchen table can also be your office in Bangkok, Bali, or anywhere with good Wi-Fi.
AND please don’t think this is only for young people.I have met Filipinos who started their digital careers after years as OFWs, seafarers, factory workers, or traditional employees. Some discovered remote work much later in life. You don’t have to be 22. You don’t have to be a tech genius. You simply have to be willing to learn, adapt, and keep up with the changing world. I did not start with a perfect plan. I started as an OFW, took a risk, and slowly figured out another way. That is what I want other Filipinos to know: your starting point does not have to determine where you end up.
7. Everything you need is in the book
CAREER or Travel, Why Not Both? is a practical guide, not a fairy tale. Inside, I show you the platforms where you can upskill and find verified remote jobs, how to position yourself in the global economy, how to write a CV foreign employers notice, how to manage money across currencies, and how to stay on the road for the long run. I did not come from money. I earned my way to all 195 countries on a Philippine passport, and the tools I used are the same ones inside this book. Grab a copy at Fully Booked online and in Fully Booked and National Book Store branches, and soon on Shopee and Lazada. If it is out of stock, you can also reach me through TravelWithKach.com and I will get one to you. Kach Umandap is a Filipina Digital Nomad, global mobility advocate, and the first Filipino to visit all 195 UN-recognized countries using only a Philippine passport. She writes the Travel with Kach column for BusinessMirror.
ART & ECOLOGY
Getting to know Sagay Story & photos by George Ordoña
dance before being served a refreshing merienda.
HAVE been to Sagay twice, both times on TPB media ecotrips. Being married to an Ilongga—and a creative one at that—made me even more curious about the workings of a Negrense mind. Before my first visit, I had no idea what Sagay had to offer. As a tour organizer, I was familiar with Bacolod and Iloilo City, but Sagay was practically uncharted territory for me. I got my first hint of what made the place special when I discovered that one of our fellow participants was an ecotourism professor at a major university. Ecotourism, now more commonly referred to as sustainable tourism, has become a buzzword used by many tourism establishments. Some simply jump on the bandwagon without fully understanding what it means. My cynicism was quickly laid to rest. Our ecotour was a fascinating combination of art and ecology— something quite rare in the Philippine setting.
Martime Museum
I
Carbin and Suyac Island
FIRST off was Carbin Reef, a beautiful sandbar and part of the Sagay Marine Reserve. There, we were fortunate to watch a kinilaw chef work his magic using fresh produce from the sea. It was a simple but memorable demonstration of how local food, culture, and the marine environment can come together. Our next stop was Suyac Island, home to centuryold mangroves. These mangroves have helped protect the island from the onslaught of powerful storms, including Yolanda. The islanders are fierce defenders of their environment. Many have been trained as eco-guides, proudly explaining the different species of mangroves to visitors. And the welcome is distinctly local. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted with song and
BACK on the mainland, we visited a maritime museum manned by precocious children with remarkably good communication skills. As a tour guide myself and a maritime enthusiast, I was impressed. The children were knowledgeable, confident, and clearly proud of their community.
Rainbow Barrio
BY then, I was convinced: Sagay is the real deal when it comes to ecotourism. But what fascinated me even more was its art scene. Have you ever seen a barrio where houses are painted in vibrant rainbow colors, almost as if they were giant canvases? Even the trisikads are embellished with colorful designs. As we slowly pedaled through the village, the trisikad drivers entertained us with stories about the mangroves and the environment. It was a wonderful combination of transportation, storytelling, art, and ecology.
Artists’ Beach
WE eventually arrived at a beach with striking black sand. Art installations stood along the shoreline— long poles embedded in the sand representing the different forms of art. There were simple accommodations and a café serving some of the best iced coffee this side of town. The same vibrant colors found in the village were carried over to the beach cottages. It felt less like an ordinary beach resort and more like an artists’ beach haunt.
Nune, the Artist
AND then there was Nune. During my first visit, we
CARBIN Reef
MARGAHA Beach
were fortunate to meet Sagaynon artist Nunelucio “Nune” Alvarado. I remember climbing to the second floor to meet him. As we made our way up, background music filled the space, creating an almost magical atmosphere. Nune was seated with his wife nearby. He was witty, sometimes naughty with his remarks, and thoroughly entertaining. Despite some memory gaps, he remained jovial and engaging. At the time, I knew him primarily as an internationally recognized Negrense artist. Today, I look back at that meeting differently. Nune was born in Sagay in 1950. He studied advertising at La Consolacion College in Bacolod before pursuing Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Growing up in Negros and being exposed to the lives of ordinary people and sugar workers would profoundly influence his art. He became one of the important figures in Philippine Social Realism, an art movement that confronted social inequality, poverty, political oppression and the struggles of marginalized communities. His particular focus was the sacadas—the seasonal agricultural workers who have long formed part of the sugar industry in Negros.
One of his best-known works is “Hulat Sweldo,” a two-panel oil painting from 1994. The Hiligaynon title refers to waiting for one’s wages. The painting depicts sacadas waiting for their pay and is part of the National Fine Arts Collection of the National Museum of the Philippines. Nune’s paintings are often visually powerful. His human figures can have strong outlines, angular forms and intense expressions. Beneath the colors, however, are stories of hardship, inequality and survival. His contribution to Negros goes beyond painting. He has helped nurture an artistic community in the region and was involved with groups including Pamilya Pintura, Pintor Kulapol and Black Artists in Asia. His work has also been exhibited internationally. Among his distinctions are the CCP Thirteen Artists Award in 1992. Yet despite these achievements, Nune remains deeply connected to Sagay. That, for me, is perhaps the most interesting part of his story. I came to Sagay expecting an ecotourism destination. I discovered something much richer. Here, mangroves protect communities. Children become museum guides. Fisherfolk become environmental advocates. Trisikad drivers become storytellers. Houses become canvases. A
SAGAYNON artist Nunelucio “Nune” Alvarado
black-sand beach becomes an artists’ gathering place. And somewhere along the way, I realized that perhaps art and ecology are not really separate things in Sagay. Both are about paying attention to the place you call home. Both are about preserving what is worth preserving. And both, when done sincerely, are about people. Sagay is not merely an authentic ecotourism destination. It is also a genuine art scene—a place where environmental protection, local culture and creativity are woven into everyday life. Sagay is where art meets ecology. Thank you Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and Helen Javier Arguelles for all the assistance and for allowing me to discover this remarkable side of Negros. George “Jing” Ordoña is a travel writer, tour organizer, and DOT-Accredited Tour Guide who’s passionate about sharing Manila’s rich history and culture. He’s the operator of ManiLakad, a one-man company that conducts walking tours of historic neighborhoods in Metro Manila including Intramuros, Binondo, and Quiapo. He may be contacted via Viber (09606975930), Jing Ordona fb messenger and (gpo.islander@gmail.com).
A10 Saturday, September 12, 2026
TheWorld
US diesel prices soar past $6 a gallon, deepening strain for hauling everyday goods
N
EW YOR K—Diesel pr ices in t he US h it yet another record on Friday, soaring past $6 a gallon on average as Washington’s war with Iran disrupts the world’s f low of fuel. The national average of $6.05 is up from $5.85 last week and $3.70 from this time last year, according to motor club AAA. Higher diesel prices mean more expensive transportation for a long list of everyday goods. That’s because diesel is used for many freight and delivery networks. And some businesses have already passed along steeper costs to consumers in the form of added fees on online orders and packages in the mail. Shoppers may feel more and more sticker shock, particularly
in the grocery aisle. Perishable foods, like meat and produce, face one of the most immediate st ra i ns of e x pensive d iesel because they need to be hauled in and restocked frequently—or may be harvested using farm equipment powered by the fuel. It can take time for those costs to trickle down. But the surge in diesel prices doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Prices at the pump for diesel and regular gasoline — which hit $4.29 on average in the US Friday—closely follow that of crude oil. And oil has renewed its rise recently. This week, both Brent, the international standard, and US crude surpassed $100 a barrel for the first time in months as fighting between the US and Iran escalated again. AP
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Iran turns to BRICS Summit as US war deepens its isolation By Dan Strumpf & Sudhi Ranjan Sen
I
Bloomberg News
RANIAN President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday for a BRICS summit marked by deep divisions as the war involving Iran, the US and Israel enters a dangerous new phase. Pezeshkian is expected to hold a one-on-one meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later Friday ahead of this weekend’s summit. The two leaders are likely to discuss the conflict and its impact on the Strait of Hormuz, as well as trade and economic ties. Iran, subject to heavy US sanctions and more than six months of American attacks, is among the BRICS members most interested in casting the grouping of emerging economies as a counterweight to the US-led economic and political order. But its escalating tensions with other members, particularly the United Arab Emirates, are complicating efforts to forge a
common position at the New Delhi gathering. The UAE, which joined BRICS alongside Iran in 2024, has been hit by repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks during the war that have damaged energy infrastructure and airports. The UAE responded in August by severing economic ties with Iran, its longtime trading partner. Those tensions were on display at a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in May, when Iran clashed with the UAE and pressed the group to condemn the joint US-Israeli attack. The disagreement contributed to a deadlock that left the group unable to
agree on a joint statement. In the run-up to the leaders’ meeting this weekend, differences persisted over language in the joint statement on the Middle East war, but the gaps have narrowed following constructive discussions, according to people familiar, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. Negotiations have also advanced in broader areas including health, education, culture and technology, these people said. India’s Ministry of External Affairs didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment His Excellency Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has just arrived in New Delhi to attend the BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government. pic.twitter.com/x2Vuq4UqTl —Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) September 11, 2026
Fighting across the Middle East has intensified in recent weeks. The US stepped up strikes on Iranian oil tankers in recent days in response to Iranian missile attacks on US Navy vessels. Meanwhile, c lashes bet ween Iran-bac ked Hout hi mi l itants and Saud ibacked forces in Yemen have also picked up. The widening conflict has driven benchmark oil prices toward $107 a barrel. At this weekend’s meeting, Iran is seeking to counter mounting economic pressure from the US by boosting non-dollar trade and shoring up diplomatic ties. Washington has blockaded Iran’s Persian Gulf ports, severely curtailing oil exports, and is pressuring other coun-
tries to cut their remaining trade ties with Tehran. The squeeze has contributed to shortages of products including gasoline, inf lation of more than 80% and a currency that has repeatedly hit record lows. “Our goal in BRICS is to combat American unilateralism,” said Pezeshkian on state TV ahead of his departure from Tehran. “Investments in the New BRICS Development Bank will be made jointly, without reliance on the US dollar”
Isolated Iran
THE visit marks the first by an Iranian president to India in more than eight years. India and Iran have long shared cordial ties, though the US-Israeli war launched against Iran in February has disrupted energy linkages and India’s longstanding access to supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. India and Iran are looking to diversify their trade ties, Modi said at a meeting with Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan in August. Those efforts could be complicated by New Delhi’s push to repair its own strained ties with Washington after more than a year of tariff tensions. Iran has two natural allies within the grouping that are most likely to rally to its side: China and Russia. China, the group’s biggest economy by far, has emerged as an economic lifeline for Iran, buying large volumes of its oil exports. Russia, meanwhile, remains an important security partner for Tehran.
TheWorld
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Saturday, September 12, 2026 A11
US has made progress in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but the Iran war is far from over By Joseph Krauss
I
The Associated Press
N recent weeks, the United States has succeeded in loosening Iran’s grip over the Strait of Hormuz while virtually shutting down Iran’s own oil exports, accelerating its economic free fall. But the war launched by the US and Israel in February—intended to last a few weeks—is still far from over, and the stalemate is costly for both sides. An agreement reached in June quickly crumbled, with no sign of diplomatic progress since then. Low-level fighting persists, and the US does not seem to have an exit strategy. The mounting economic pressure on Iran has yet to stoke an uprising, and if its leaders are backed into a corner, they may opt for military escalation rather than capitulation. Their Houthi allies in Yemen have meanwhile stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, helping to push oil prices back up. The price of a barrel of Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged above $100 this week, and diesel—heavily used in transport and farming—hit a
record, potentially stoking inflation. US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that gas prices are likely to stay high through the midterm congressional elections. “Unfortunately, the US is not winning in the war with Iran despite its limited success in loosening Iran’s grip over the strait and the devastating impact on Iran’s economy,” said Mona Yacoubian, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “Iran shows no sign of backing down, and instead has demonstrated a willingness to not only fight back, but escalate wherever it can. The war is likely to be protracted with no clear victor.”
Iran loses leverage as oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz
IRAN effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz—through which a
fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas transits in peacetime—in the opening days of the war, using the worldwide economic shock as leverage. Meanwhile, it continued to export its own oil, mainly to China. But in recent weeks, the balance has reversed. A US blockade has virtually halted Iran’s exports, while the American military has facilitated greater exports by Gulf countries, according to figures compiled by Homayoun Falakshahi, an oil expert at Kpler, a global trade monitor. He found that Iran’s oil exports had dropped from 1.85 million barrels a day last spring to around 255,000 in August. Exports of nonIranian oil rose from 300,000 barrels a day at the height of the war to 8.4 million in September, and exports through alternative routes took that number to 10.8 million. US Energ y Secretar y Chris Wright boasted of similar figures on Sunday, saying “we’re probably two-thirds or more of preconflict flows.” Non-Iranian exports were at around 14 million barrels a day before the war, according to Falakshahi. But the increased f low depends on a major US deployment in the strait that has strained the militar y’s resources. T he unpopular war has already cost US taxpayers more than $37.5 billion and left 18 US service members dead, and is expected
A MAN works aboard a boat as a motorboat leaves a harbor in Bandar Abbas, Iran, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. AP/VAHID SALEMI
to weigh on Republicans in November’s election.
Tehran could escalate in other ways
THE tightened blockade and new US sanctions are already taking a heavy toll on Iran’s economy, driving up prices and causing even longer lines outside gas stations. But so far, it’s shown no sign of pushing the country’s increasingly hard-line leaders to make concessions on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s disputed nuclear program or its support for armed groups in the region. “Washington’s main problem
is that it still lacks a theory of victory: More ships are getting through, and Iran is hurting, yet none of that has produced a political outcome,” said Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group think tank. Iran has continued to attack ships in the strait, drawing limited US strikes on its coastal areas and then responding with missile attacks on Arab countries hosting US forces. Trump recently dismissed the conf lict as “small potatoes.” But with the US supply of sophisticated interceptors showing strain, Iran could be tempted to
escalate its attacks—or respond through regional proxies. T he I r a n - b ac k e d Hout h i s launched a wave of attacks on Saudi oil facilities this week as part of a conflict that goes back more than a decade but has heated up in recent weeks. The Houthis are also attacking Saudi shipping, threatening its oil exports and a crucial trade route through the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint leading to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The Houthis have damaged Saudi Arabia’s Jizan refinery, a large supplier of diesel and jet fuel to Europe, Falakshahi said. The volume of Saudi oil passing through the Bab el-Mandeb bound for Asia has plunged from around 3.4 million barrels a day in June to just 128,000 in August, according to Kpler’s figures, though it has recovered slightly to some 700,000 barrels per day in September. “Tehran has repeatedly signaled that it will respond to growing US pressure by moving up the escalation ladder, not by backing down,” Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies and a former Israeli intelligence officer focused on Iran, wrote on X. “Iran will not simply accept an indefinite maritime blockade, nor will it allow Washington to impose mounting economic costs without imposing costs of its own,” he wrote.
Iran seeks end to Saudi US marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks blockade of Yemen after Tehran-backed N Unity, mistrust and scrutiny rebels take key port of New York’s mayor By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press
C
AIRO—Iran’s government on Friday called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen and the immediate resumption of talks, in its first public statement since Iran-backed Houthi rebels entered a key Yemeni port and intensified their threat to a key global shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement carried by the staterun IRNA news agency, Iran’s foreign ministry said Yemen’s sovereignty must be respected and its problems cannot be resolved through a blockade or military alliances. Iran also said it was ready to help support negotiations. Meanwhile, experts say the developments in Yemen could give Tehran more leverage in any negotiations with the United States after over six months of war.
Events threaten a key Strait of Hormuz alternative
THE Houthis’ entry into the Red Sea port of Mokha on Thursday brings them within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important alternative for global shipping as Iran targets vessels on the Strait of Hormuz. It’s the rebels’ biggest territorial gain in years. The Bab el-Mandeb at the southern end of the Red Sea is especially important to neighboring Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, whose blockade of the Houthis has fed into the rebels’ escalating attacks on Saudi shipping as the kingdom tries to get its oil out of the region. About 12% of the world’s goods are typically shipped through the strait. Disruption to the waterway could mean trouble for all shipping and for the price of crude oil, which has now soared again. Already, the Houthis in recent
weeks have been targeting Saudi oil infrastructure and ships on the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia, which earlier this week said it had always offered “opportunities for negotiation,” also has said it has the right to defend itself in response to the Houthis’ actions under the blockade they declared on the kingdom in July. S h i p p i n g t h ro u g h t h e B a b a l Mandeb had fallen by about 60% since the Houthis began attacking some ships there in late 2023 while expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Shipping increased this year as Saudi Arabia sought alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, but renewed Houthi threats have “curtailed” that activity, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
The fighting risks a return to civil war
IN a statement released Friday, the National Defense Council of Yemen’s Saudi-backed and internationally recognized government on Thursday strongly condemned the Houthis’ renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying it would respond to threats. It said a military operation by Yemeni forces would not be limited to a single front. The sharply escalating fighting threatens to end a fragile truce that had largely halted Yemen’s civil war since 2022. At stake are the 40 million people in the Arab world’s poorest country who fear a return to the conflict that killed 150,000 and brought many others to the brink of famine. The Houthis have been at war with Yemen’s government since 2014, when the rebels swept from their mountainous heartland and seized much of northern and central Yemen. Saudi Arabia entered the war the following year on behalf of the government. AP
E W YO R K—A m e r i c a n s a re commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, remembering the shock, the dead and the sweeping consequences of the al-Qaida attacks on symbols of US might and prosperity. Friday’s milestone anniversary will bring memorial rituals—wreath-laying, flag-flying, moments of silence, vigils and readings of victims’ names—and volunteer projects in tribute to a day that about half of US adults remember as the most historic event of their lifetime, according to a new poll. For others it’s an occasion for private reflection—or, in many schools, education—about the attack that unfolded in a single morning but left nearly 3,000 dead and a decades-long trail of aftermath, from personal grief to far-flung wars. Police Officer Casey Kloepfer plans to spend time Friday at the Brooklyn station house where his father, Officer Ronald Kloepfer, reported to work that day before being called to the World Trade Center. He didn’t make it home. Casey Kloepfer was only 4, but he grew up hearing about his father’s affinity for helping people and for a job that enabled him to do so. He became an officer this past June. “It’s big footsteps to fill, but it’s definitely something that I take very seriously and want to continue to honor him and be the best police officer I can,” he said by phone this week. The 29-year-old wears his father’s badge number and even has joined the New York Police Department lacrosse team, which his dad founded.
the Pentagon, the U.S. military’s fortresslike headquarters near Washington. The fourth plane also was headed for the nation’s capital, officials concluded, but the aircraft went down in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew members stormed the cockpit and fought the hijackers. “In the course of history, there are a few moments that divide time into, really, what came before” and after, President Donald Trumpsaid at a 9/11 remembrance in Washington this week. The Republican, who was in his native New York on Sept. 11 and has often recounted his memories, plans to attend the Pentagon’s anniversary ceremony Friday. Vice President JD Vance is expected at the observance at the National Sept. 11 Memorial in New York, while other administration officials are headed to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. Planned remembrances extend far beyond the attack sites, from beams of light projecting from New Hampshire’s Mount Washington to a stair climb at Mississippi State University’s football stadium to a ceremony at Honolulu’s 9/11 memorial.
At ground zero, a new tribute to those who fell ill
TRADITIONALLY, there are no political speeches at the New York commemoration,
Trump to attend Pentagon observance
ON Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida extremists hijacked four commercial jets and crashed them into New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The impacts brought down the World Trade Center’s twin towers—icons of U.S. economic power, and among the tallest buildings on Earth—and blew a hole in
MEMBERS of the FDNY march with flags during a memorial to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in the Staten Island borough of New York. AP/PAMELA SMITH
where relatives read all the victims’ names, punctuated with moments of silence at key points in the attack timeline. For the first time, this year’s ceremony will add a silent moment to honor people who were exposed to the clouds of toxic dust released by the twin towers’ fiery collapse and have since died of cancer and other illnesses. Questions remain about how many people developed health problems linked to the dust. It’s a reminder of how the attacks’ long shadow has reached into many corners of life in the US and beyond. The US-led global war on terrorism included invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan— the latter Washington’s longest war—and detentions and harsh interrogation of terror suspects in an international network of secret CIA prisons. The US military found and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011, but accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed still awaits a trial 23 years after his capture. The attacks changed US air travel, prompted new federal surveillance and intelligence-gathering powers and banking regulations, and generated ongoing debate over the balance between security and freedom. The Department of Homeland Security, many state anti-terrorism laws and billions of dollars in state and local counterterrorism funding all are post-9/11
creations. So, too, is the culture of individual vigilance summed up by the slogan “ if you see something, say something.”
SEPT. 11 generated a wave of patriotism that propelled some Americans to join the military, fire departments, police forces or other public agencies. But amid the national unity that many remember, the attacks also fanned mistrust, prejudice and hate crimes directed at Muslims. In the quarter-century since, Muslim Americans have played a growing role in public life from statehouses to Congress to New York City Hall, where Zohran Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor. Yet he is facing some criticism for planning to attend the anniversary ceremony at ground zero, something his predecessors have done for years. Some complaints came from Republican ex-Gov. George Pataki and 9/11 vic tims’ relatives, who cited among other things past remarks that some of Mamdani’s political associates have made about the attacks. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, also inveighed against Mamdani attending. Mamdani, a Democrat, responded this week that he loves the city and country and wants the anniversary to focus on victims’ families, first responders and New Yorkers who helped one another after the attacks, which he called a “horrific act of terror.” The 34-year-old mayor was an elementary school student in New York on 9/11. Sept. 11 isn’t a federal holiday, but Congress has designated it both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. “One appropriate way to remember is by serving,” says Jay Winuk, who lost his brother Glenn Winuk and then co-founded the volunteer organization 9/11 Day with friend David Paine. The group helps people find meal-packing and other volunteer opportunities and this year arranged for dozens of Times Square billboards to pause their advertising at 9:11 a.m. Friday. Instead, they will simply display the time.
A12 Saturday, September 12, 2026
Sports BusinessMirror
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun Lomibao
COACH TIM: WE’VE GOT TO MOVE ON T FEU presents ‘Super Bowl’ vibe in opening 89th season
H
OST Far Eastern University (FEU) kicks off Season 89 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) with a ceremony that feels less of a traditional sports opening but more of a Super Bowl halftime-show or a UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. with Vice Ganda and gloc-9 headlining a star-studded lineup of performances designed to usher in a brand-new UAAP season with the opening ceremony theme “Super Unkaboga-Bowl.” Both celebrity artists are FEU alumnus. But more than a curtain-raiser, the show will spotlight FEU’s artistic side while setting the tone for Season 89’s theme, “For Everyone, UAAP.” “We are going to put on a show, Saturday will see the artistic side of FEU,” Season 89 President Mark Molina of FEU said. “It will be a celebration of the artistic side of FEU. And after that, on Sunday, it’s going to be a showcase of the athletic side of FEU. This is what’s in store in Season 89.” The spectacle will serve as the opening act for what promises to be another packed UAAP calendar with the men’s basketball tournament tipping off Sunday with a tripleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. FEU will make its first appearance at noon against Adamson University with coach Sean Chambers parading an intact roster led by reigning MVP Janrey Pasaol and boosted by the arrival of Season 88 high school boys MVP Cabs Cabonilas. Two rematches of last season’s Final Four will then take center stage. Defending champion De La Salle University begins its bid for back-to-back titles against National University at 2:30 p.m. and preseason favorites University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas renew their rivalry at 6 p.m. For FEU, Season 89 is about more than simply putting together a memorable opening weekend. The university is also looking to make its mark across the various sports it will enter throughout the season, building on several years of strong performances in both the collegiate and high school divisions. “I hope we will win a lot of championships again,” Molina said. “We have been doing well in the past few years, both in high school in college. We have been very competitive. Almost all of our teams are in the podium or in the Final Four.”
HE Philippines started its gold medal defense with an 85-89 loss to Bahrain in men’s 5x basketball at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday with head coach Tim Cone pouring his disappointment in a postgame press conference. “We’re very disappointed with the way we played. We expect a lot more out of ourselves,” said Cone, who’s coaching what could be considered as the Gilas Pilipinas Team B that didn’t get together long enough for the tough grind where the Philippines is the primary target. But Cone’s looking forward into their two more assignments in Pool C. “At some point, you can be disappointed only long enough, you’ve got to move on,” he added in the press conference aired by PBA Rush. “So, you know, this is only the first game of the tournament, so we’ve got to move on.” The Filipinos played catch up most
of the way at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya and held the lead for the last time at 43-41 at half time. Bahrain came back from the showers ablaze with a 21-5 run for a 6448 advantage the team from the Middle East with four naturalized players never relinquished. The Bahrainis held a comfortable 76-61 lead entering the fourth quarter. Former National Basketball Association (NBA) player, 7-foot-1 JaKarr Sampson, was all over and finished with 24 points, six rebounds and eight assists for Bahrain, while 6-foot-11 Elijah Thomas went 8 of 8 shooting from the field for 20 points. The team missed Justin Brownlee’s output with his replacement, Calvin Oftana, trying to fill in with 31 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the three-point zone. Adrian Nocum made it 80-89 on a layup with two minutes remaining
K
THE Philippines’ Zavier Lucero tries to prevent JaKarr Sampson from scoring from the perimeter. COURTESY GULF DIGITAL NEWS (BAHRAIN)
Que, 47, tackles each and every hump in winning at Summit Point
Reigning champions square off with tougher foes in Samal 5150
E
RYK OMANDAM and Natasha Doromal-Lim brace for a tougher and fiercer challenge as they seek back-to-back overall titles in the Damosa Land 5150 Triathlon which fires off September 20 on Samal Island in Davao del Norte. The defending champions conquered the demanding Olympicdistance race—1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run—in last year’s inaugural staging beating a strong international field to claim the men’s and women’s overall crowns. Omandam, a senior Human Resource Management student at the University of Mindanao, will again look to make his biggest gains in the bike and run legs as he targets not only a second straight overall championship but also the 20-24 age-group title in the event organized by Sunrise Events Inc. The 33-year-old Doromal-Lim will also defend her 30-34 age-group crown with added emphasis on her swim preparation while remaining confident in her bike and run legs. The Damosa Land 5150 also serves as the fourth and final leg of the four-race 5150 Triathlon Islands of the Philippines Series backed by the Philippine Sports Commission. The series opened in Guimaras in March, moved to Camiguin in May and then headed to Bohol for the third leg, held during the province’s milestone 10th staging of the Olympic-distance race. The circuit brings the globally recognized Ironman 5150 brand to key island destinations across the archipelago with the Damosa Land 5150 providing a fitting finale in Samal. Supported by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the series goes beyond
medals and podium finishes, bringing together sport, tourism and national branding in a four-island showcase of Philippine endurance racing. The National Sports Tourism-InterAgency Council program also seeks to position the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class sporting events with the 5150 series helping demonstrate how elite competition can drive tourism and promote the country’s natural assets. NATASHA DOROMAL-LIM will also defend her 30-34 age-group crown. SEI PHOTO
ANGELO QUE shares a championship kiss with wife Tracy as daughter Chandra (partly hidden) and son Camillo look on. NONIE REYES
A
NGELO QUE was tested from the opening stretch, pressured by a blistering early charge from Aidric Chan and a spirited mid-round assault from Justin Quiban but still came out victorious in the ICTSI Summit Point Championship on Friday in Lipa City. At 47 and with two decades of professional golf behind him and a career forged through countless battles here and abroad, Que once again showed that experience, composure and sheer resolve can still trump youth and momentum. Relying on precise ball-striking and crisp iron play, Que closed out with a 70 to outgun Chan by two strokes. A final-round two-under card left him four strokes short of a four-day streak of 66s, but it was more than enough to secure the championship. Finishing at 20-under 268, the reigning Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion claimed his 21st career title along with the P440,000 top prize. “There was really no pressure today. It was nice playing with Adric and Justin because we’ve known each other for a long time, so it felt just like a practice round,” Que said. “We were talking the whole round and weren’t really trying to compete—we were
Bugna heads field in Isulan netfest ATHLYN BUGNA returns to the Palawan Pawnshop junior tennis circuit seeking another dominant run as she headlines the stellar field in the Bagong Pilipinas Juniors Age Group Tennis Championships at the Capitol indoor and outdoor courts in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. The Batang Onay/RSB standout from La Carlota is coming off a threetitle haul in the recent Bagong Pilipinas Manila leg where she ruled the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under singles and the 18-and-under doubles categories. Bugna will be tested anew as the week-long tournament—a Group 2 event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and the Universal Tennis Rating—that got underway Thursday
but sprained his left ankle after stepping on Thomas’s foot and didn’t return—he had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Justine Baltazar had 10 points also for Gilas, which couldn’t get the numbers from Sedrick Barefield and Robert Bolick who were dud from the outside all game long. The Philippines must now sweep Kazakhstan at 6 p.m. (Manila time) on Saturday and China at noon on Sunday to make the quarterfinals. China routed Kazakhstan, 99-61, also on Friday. Ironically, the Philippines controlled the boards, 51-36, and played with more chemistry with two more assists at 35 against their tormentors. “Usually, when you look at those stats alone, you would think that we would have controlled the game,” Cone said. “But we had a hard time dealing with their size. Josef Ramos
with competitions in the boys’ and girls’ 12-, 14- and 16-and-under divisions. The premier 18-and-under category fired off Friday. The Isulan stop is also the second leg of another Mindanao swing under the government’s Bagong Pilipinas sports agenda, which seeks to strengthen grassroots sports, promote wellness and expand opportunities for young athletes through public training facilities and youth athletic programs nationwide. The circuit resumes with the Kidapawan Juniors Championship from September 16 to 22 at the Kidapawan City courts in Cotabato. For registration and other tournament details, contact tournament director Bobby Mangunay
at 0915-4046464. Also tipped to figure prominently in the boys’ premier division of the event are Krelz Gecosala and Jhazz Fernando. Gecosala, another multi-titled campaigner in the country’s longestrunning talent-search program under the Palawan Pawnshop junior tennis circuit led by president and CEO Bobby Castro, heads the cast in the boys’ 16-and-under division, along with Matteo Calingasan, Kresthan Belacas and Rein Hayana. Belacas, fresh from a victory and runner-up finish in last week’s Digos City leg, banners the 14-and-under field that includes Francis Dimzon, Jon Roceta and Juan Antonio Cablitas.
actually just pushing each other.” The two-stroke winning margin hardly reflected how effectively Que kept the threats at bay as he never allowed Chan to come within three strokes until No. 17. Four up with two holes to play, Que gave back two shots on the par-three penultimate hole. The late blunder from the bunker and missed putts added a touch of drama to what had otherwise been a victory lap, but they barely unsettled the veteran shotmaker’s resolve or poise. Que calmly matched Chan’s par on the par-four 18th for the win. “I was trying to make two more birdies so that I could shoot another 66, but unfortunately, I missed it on the wrong side on the 17th,” Que said. Chan closed with a 66 to finish runner-up at 270, while Quiban missed a chance to force a tie for second after bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17—he settled for third at 272 after a 69. Keanu Jahns shot a 68 to tie Reymon Jaraula, who carded a 70, for fourth at 278 and Kristoffer Arevalo took solo sixth at 279 after a 70, while Fidel Concepcion fired a 66 to join Jeffren Lumbo, who a 68, and Sean
Ramos, who turned in a 70, in a threeway tie for seventh at 280. Asked about his thoughts when Chan repeatedly closed the gap to within three strokes, Que downplayed the threat. “That’s still a big gap coming down the stretch, meaning he still needs to make three more birdies to tie me,” Chan said. “If I can just match his birdies, then it won’t be a big concern.” But the final 18 holes did unfold as a thrilling, high-voltage shootout with Chan blazing to a front-nine 30, Que matching him with a 32 and Quiban staying firmly in the hunt with a 33. All three navigated the opening stretch without a single misstep, setting the stage for a tense duel that seemed destined to go down to the wire. Only Que had begun the final round with a commanding five-shot advantage over Quiban and six over Chan, who, however, was in no mood to let the leader breathe. But every time he clawed his way to within three shots, Que seemed to have an answer. Just as the pressure began to mount, the leader would respond with a birdie on the very next hole, restoring his four-shot cushion and keeping Chan at arm’s length.
Magsayo tangles with unbeaten Cortes in Nevada
M
MARK “MAGNIFICO” MAGSAYO must win to get back on track for a world title. BOXING SCENE PHOTO
ARK “MAGNIFICO” MAGSAYO takes on the biggest fight of his life since his first world title conqest four years ago as he faces undefeated American Andres Cortes on Sunday in a non-title lightweight bout organized by Zuffa boxing at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada. International match negotiator Sean Gibbons told the BusinessMirror on Friday that the 31-yearold from Tagbilaran City would be figuring in an “exceedingly difficult” fight with Cortes who’s in 26 bouts highlighted by 13 knockouts. “I see a difficult fight against a 25-0 guy that has never been defeated but this is Magsayo’s moment, and he is going to treat this as his world title fight,” Gibbons said. “All the people are tuning for this fight. If
he wins this fight, he is back in the equation.” Magsayo, sporting a 29-2 record with 19 knockouts, won five straight highlighted by three knockouts including a fifth-round domination of Northern Ireland’s Feargal McCrory in his Zuffa boxing debut last April in Las Vegas. Known for his knockout prowess throughout his career, Magsayo needs to cut down Cortes who is expected to deliver a tactical approach to avoid getting hurt. But Magsayo improved his counterpunching and tactics that makes the fight challenging for Cortes. The fight is an undercard to the main event between reigning World Boxing Council welterweight champion Ryan Garcia of the US and Conor Benn of England. Josef Ramos