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Hotel101’s Formula 1 bet A PwC-linked study put the race’s economic impact on the city at roughly €467 million, supporting about 8,850 jobs and generating €83 million in tax revenue. Hotel101 landed in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time.
PRIME trackside real estate: Hotel101 Madrid towering directly behind the roaring grandstands as Formula 1 sweeps through Madrid. View captured from the Monumental terrace.
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Text and photos by Troi Santos
PHILIPPINE condotel chain bought land in Madrid before anyone knew a Grand Prix was coming—turning it into one of the smartest plays at this year’s race. Grand Prix weekends never favored the fan. You landed, fought for a hotel room 40 minutes from the circuit, and spent more on logistics than the ticket cost. So when news broke that a 680-room hotel would sit inside the boundary of Madrid’s new circuit, a visit went straight onto my itinerary. I arrived at the paddock on September 10 and spent the weekend shooting from the fence line. I didn’t get inside Hotel101 until after the checkered flag, once the crowds thinned and the barriers came down, and finally had the run of the place, no credential line in front of me for once. I shot La Monumental more than once, the 550-meter banked
corner, built at a 24-percent gradient, roughly 13.5 degrees of banking. Steep enough that standing at the outer wall with a long lens, it felt like watching cars come off the top of a wave, and it was the signature shot every editor wanted by Sunday night. Walking the hotel property the next day, once the grandstands were coming down, I understood the appeal: it was built against the boundary of a circuit that didn’t exist three years ago, by a company with the foresight to buy the land long before anyone announced a race would run past it. Justine Blanco, the hotel’s operations manager, gave me the tour that morning, before I headed to the airport for the flight home
GOLDEN hour light illuminates the contemporary façade of Hotel101 Madrid in Valdebebas along Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. The newly completed 680-room hotel—one of the largest hospitality developments in Spain and the flagship European venture for Philippine-based DoubleDragon Corp.—serves as a primary trackside accommodation hub situated alongside the MADRING Formula 1 street circuit and the IFEMA exhibition complex.
to New York. He’d been on vacation in Madrid when he saw the job posting on LinkedIn and knew right away it was for him, and that enthusiasm showed on the walkthrough: rooftop pool, mechanical rooms most guests never see, clearly proud of what the team had built. The photos told the story better than I could. HappyRooms stacked nine stories up. The paddock visible from the upper floors. The restaurant busy resetting after a sold-out weekend.
Land deal’s the story
THE executive leadership team of Hotel101 Madrid stands in front of the lobby’s vibrant geometric branding wall during the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix weekend: Chief Operating Officer Matthew Morio, Sales Operations Manager Carissa Montinola, and Hotel Operations Manager Justine Christopher Blanco. Situated in Valdebebas steps from the new circuit, the management team heads the operations for the Philippinebased hospitality brand’s 680-room European flagship.
VERTICAL geometry and modular design define the central courtyard canyon of Hotel101 Madrid in Valdebebas. Overlooking the oversized ground logo, repetitive façade bays emphasize the brand’s standardized prop-tech condotel concept as the property welcomed international race crowds along the adjacent MADRING circuit.
HOTEL101 Madrid was developed by DoubleDragon. The land deal predated the race by years, and that’s the real story here, more than the corner. DoubleDragon signed for the site, 6,593 square meters on Avenida Fuerzas Armadas in Valdebebas, in April 2023, closing that October. Nobody outside Formula 1’s inner circle knew Madrid was getting a Grand Prix yet, and Valdebebas was a quiet district known mostly for Real Madrid’s training ground, not a motorsport venue. DoubleDragon bought it because it Continued on A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 62.7850 n JAPAN 0.4026 n UK 83.8996 n HK 8.0026 n CHINA 9.3625 n SINGAPORE 49.2354 n AUSTRALIA 44.6276 n EU 72.0897 n KOREA 0.0455 n SAUDI ARABIA 16.7190 Source: BSP (September 18, 2026)
News Hotel101’s Formula 1 bet BusinessMirror
A2 Sunday, September 20, 2026
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INSIDE the ground-floor lobby of the newly opened Hotel101 Madrid during Spanish Grand Prix race week. The space highlights the brand’s prop-tech focus with automated express check-in stations, a minimalist front desk, and integrated quick-service dining via HBNB Grab & Go. Continued from A1
made sense on its own terms, close to Barajas and the IFEMA convention halls. Then in January 2024 the Grand Prix got announced, and a smart logistics play turned into the only large hotel sitting inside an F1 circuit boundary in Europe. I’ve followed DoubleDragon since Jollibee’s Tony Tan Caktiong acquired Mang Inasal in 2010, and the backstory explained how the company thought. Edgar “Injap” Sia II was 26, an architectureschool dropout in Iloilo, when he borrowed P2.4 million from his father, a grocer, to open the barbe-
cue chain in 2003. It grew to more than 300 branches in seven years, and Tan Caktiong bought it for roughly P3 billion. Sia partnered with him instead of walking away, and by 2012 they’d combined their holdings into DoubleDragon Properties Corporation, listed on the exchange in 2014. Their approach showed up in every project since: one solid product, standardized, replicated everywhere. Hotel101’s version was the “HappyRoom,” 21 square meters, one queen bed, one single bed, a kitchenette, the same room in Manila or Madrid. The financing model worked because Hotel101 didn’t borrow to
build; it presold the entire building, room by room, as individual condominium titles to retail investors, mostly Filipino buyers, increasingly international ones too. Madrid units went for €188,000 to roughly €248,500 depending on floor, and DoubleDragon’s own disclosures put total expected sales at about €143.3 million, or P8.8 billion, enough to cover land, design, and construction without a bank loan. It let everyday investors own a stake in a Grand Prix-adjacent hotel, otherwise out of reach. Once the hotel opened, owners got professional, hands-off management. Every unit went into
HOTEL101 Madrid Operations Manager Justine Blanco (center) stands flanked by front desk staff members Donable Hernandez (left) and Adrian Acuña (right) at the hotel’s reception counter during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. Dressed in signature green uniforms accented with the hotel’s vibrant geometric pattern, the front-of-house team manages the check-in area equipped with digital tablets displaying the exterior of the newly opened 680-room property in Valdebebas.
one pooled operation run by Hotel101 Global, and owners got paid monthly out of that shared pool, split evenly regardless of which rooms filled up: 30 percent of gross revenue to owners, 70 percent to Hotel101 for daily operations, staffing, and marketing, per the company’s own published model and SEC filings. For an investor who wanted hospitality exposure without ever touching a front desk, it worked well enough. Neither company published a number for the hotel’s take over race weekend, but the pricing signals were strong. Citywide, Madrid hotel rates ran about 70 percent above the same weekend last year, averaging around €485 a night against €286 the year before. Hotel101 itself was reportedly pricing around $527 a night, with premium bookings running toward €2,500, a sign the property captured demand at the source. MATCH Hospitality, holder of the €400-million, 10-year VIP contract for the race, had prebooked blocks of rooms for corporate clients and staff, bundled with tickets and circuit access, part of why the lobby felt less like a hotel and more like an operations center. Downstairs, HBNB Kitchen, run by Valencia’s Grupo La Sucursal, did the volume you’d expect catching hotel
KEY guest amenities are highlighted, including a sleek ground-floor lounge bar, a modern gym equipped with state-of-the-art cardio machines, and an outdoor lap pool with palm-lined decks offering direct, open-air views of the Monumental grandstand complex and circuit perimeter just beyond the boundary fence. Underscoring the brand’s unique Filipino hospitality in its European flagship, the dining experience is captured through a comprehensive breakfast spread, where Spanish staples like artisan bread and olive oil are presented alongside traditional Philippine Arroz Caldo porridge, creating a global culinary fusion just steps from the high-speed race action.
and circuit traffic alike. I’ve never covered a race at Montmeló myself, but its situation was well documented, and the contrast with Madrid was what made this worth writing about: about 30 kilometers outside Barcelona, no real hotel infrastructure on-site, losses close to €20.8 million over five years, offset by more than €75 million in public subsidies over that same stretch. Madrid built the opposite model on purpose, and it
was already paying off: convenient land near Barajas, a short walk to the fence line, everything within a few hundred meters. A PwC-linked study put the race’s economic impact on the city at roughly €467 million, supporting about 8,850 jobs and generating €83 million in tax revenue. Hotel101 landed in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. I wrote about Hotel101 once before, when it went public via SPAC merger in June 2025 at a deemed valuation of about $2.3 billion, the first Filipino-owned company on Nasdaq, under ticker HBNB. I worked a few blocks from where that bell got rung, and still missed covering it in person, filing that story off wire copy and a press release. Madrid was my chance to stand next to the thing instead, and seeing the operation up close reinforced how far the company had come. It was targeting a million rooms across more than 100 countries by 2050, and after walking this property, that felt less like a slogan and more like a plan already in motion. I spent three days at that circuit with a camera pointed mostly at the cars. Turned out the building next to Turn 12 was the more interesting subject. I’ll be back next year, and I plan to spend more time at Hotel101 itself, watching how the place runs, not just shooting the cars going by.
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Takaichi shuffles Japan’s Cabinet to revive sagging support, keeps key ministers
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OKYO—Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reshuffled her Cabinet on Thursday in a bid to turn around her waning popularity, but retained key ministers as she pursues stronger ties with the US. Japan faces President Donald Trump ‘s tough demands for bigger defense spending, more investment in America and measures to combat a weak yen. The reshuffle is the first by the right-wing star of the governing Liberal Democratic Party since she took office last October as Japan’s first female leader in modern history. It’s a widely used tactic by a prime minister to manage power balance within the party, policy priorities and public opinion. She had for months enjoyed high ratings, attracting young voters with her style and straight talk
Fiji declares an HIV emergency and expands testing as cases surge
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ELLINGTON, New Zealand—Fiji has declared an HIV national emergency after data showed 1 in 60 people in the South Pacific island nation was estimated to be infected. The government says it is boosting testing and treatment efforts to fight a surge in new infections, which have increased 12-fold over the last 15 years, according to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS ). However, agencies now had to work together on the crisis, officials said this week. The latest figures showed about 9,000 people were living with HIV in 2025 in a country which has fewer than a million people, according to the UN agency. It said only 39% of patients knew their HIV status and just 22% were receiving antiretroviral treatment. Fiji officials said 1 in every 60 adults in the country has HIV, compared to 1 in 167 five years ago. Among pregnant women, 1 in every 50 has HIV. “This means HIV is now a national crisis and the government is treating it like one. No more business as usual,” Fiji’s Health Minister Antonio Lalabalavu said in a video statement on Facebook. “More people in Fiji are living with HIV than ever before.” Lalabalavu declared the illness had been given “outbreak ” status in January 2025 but said the Cabinet had decided this month that such a response was no longer sufficient and should be elevated to a designation of national emergency. That required government agencies to work together with the health m i n i s t r y on ad d re s s i n g t he problem, he said. See “HIV,” A4
that were fresh in male-dominated Japanese politics. But she has seen her popularity fade after pushing policies including an enforcement of male-only succession rules for the imperial family at a time people were expecting tougher measures to fight inflation. “We will make a strong and prosperous Japan under the responsible and expansionary fiscal policy,” Takaichi told a news conference after her new Cabinet was formalized in a palace ceremony.
Key ministers will stay
TA K A IC HI ret a i ned Defense
Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Foreig n Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to ensure continuity of Japan’s key policies and good ties with Washington. Both are Takaichi’s main party rivals and keeping them is seen as her strategy to contain their inf luence. Takaichi also kept Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, her longtime confidant who has been implementing her ambitious spending policy, and Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Minoru Kiuchi. Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa, who has dealt with Trump’s tariff and investment demands, also kept his job. In a party leadership revamp Wednesday, Takaichi retained a kingmaker and former Prime Minister Taro Aso as LDP vice president, his brother-in-law Shunichi Suzuki as secretary-general and a few of her right-wing allies. Her rival Takayuki Kobayashi stayed on as head of the LDP policy research council. Maintaining stable ties with Washington is also important for
Takaichi as Japan struggles to mend ties with China following her comment last year that Japan’s military could intervene if China were to take action against Taiwan—an island democracy that Beijing considers its own territory. The tensions have spilled over into the neighbors’ economic ties. Takaichi on Thursday reiterated that Japan consistently supports building stable and constructive ties with China. Takaichi, who will attend the UN General Assembly in New York later this month, was reportedly seeking a meeting with Trump ahead of his planned Sept. 24 talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Takaichi said nothing has been decided about her talks with Trump.
deter threats from China, North Korea and Russia. Japan says it wants to adapt to “new ways of warfare” that involve use of artificial intelligence and combat drones and their deployment. The Takaichi-led government has increased defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product and wants to spend more for 2027. Japan is likely to face US demand for further increase, possibly up to 3.5% of GDP. The victory in the Okinawa gubernatorial election Sunday by Genta Koja, a conservative new face backed by Takaichi’s LDP and several other conservative parties, is expected to help her push for a military buildup on Japan’s southern islands to deter China.
Japan plans for a stronger military with drones and use of AI
Who are the new ministers
TA K A IC H I ’ S g o v e r n m e nt i s working to revise security and defense strategy documents by the end of the year to bolster Japan’s offensive capabilities to
TAKAICHI replaced 10 out of 18 ministers. Hiroshi Nakatsuka, from the LDP’s junior coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, was appointed as minister of administrative reform and children
policies. Kazuo Yana replaced Norikazu Suzuki as agriculture minister, despite Yana’s alleged involvement in a political funds scandal. Internal Affairs Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Takaichi’s party rival, was replaced by Hisayuki Fujii.
Takaichi introduces tax cut and ambitious spending
TAKAICHI, as part of her measures to combat rising prices, has pushed a two-year cut in the consumption tax to 1% from the current 8% and payouts to households. But the plan without funding details has divided her party and could be a problem when parliament reconvenes in October. T he ta x measure, adopted Monday by the Cabinet, has added to concern about Japan’s already strained financial health. Takaichi’s spending policy has already prompted U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to urge Japan to stop the reflationary policy of weak yen and low interest rates. AP
El Niño puts India on track for driest monsoon since 2009
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NDIA is on course for its driest monsoon in 17 years as a strengthening El Niño curbs rainfall, threatening crop yields and raising food-price risks. Cumulative rainfall during the June to September monsoon season is 15% below the long-term average so far, according to the India Meteorological Department. If the deficit persists, it would be the weakest monsoon since 2009, when precipitation was 18% below normal. The weather office had forecast a 10% shortfall for this season back in May. Conditions may become favorable for a tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal in the last week of September, s a id C h r i st i a n
Werner, managing director of Australia-based consultancy Global Weather Climate Analytics. That could potentially bring muchneeded rain to eastern and northeastern India, mitigating the deficit there, he added. Still, the storm is unlikely to materially change the national picture and Werner expects the seasonal deficit to hold between 13% and 16%. Forecasters and academics are also placing bets on India’s monsoon through a specialty prediction platfor m at L ancaster University in the UK, known by its acronym CRUCIAL. With less than two weeks of monsoon remaining, the
platform is assigning a 68% chance that the season will end with a rainfall deficit of 10% to 20%, according to founder and planetary scientist Mark Roulston. Rainfall is expected to remain below average in the week through Sept. 23, before recovering to near-normal levels in the following seven days, India’s weather bureau said late Thursday. Adequate monsoon rains are crucial for the hundreds of millions of Indian farmers who depend on the seasonal precipitation to irrigate fields in the country, which is among the world’s biggest producers of rice, sugar and cotton. The season accounts for most of India’s annual rainfall.
The prolonged shortfall could hurt both the current harvest and the next crop cycle, adding to the pressure on food prices that are already accelerating, with costs rising for a seventh straight month to 5.95% in August, the highest level this year. Rice, sugar cane
and corn plantings are running behind last season. When the monsoon is deficient, every 1 percentage-point shortfall in precipitation from normal levels typically raises food inflation by about 25 basis points, according to Yuvika Singhal, an economist at QuantEco.
Weaker rains and rising prices have already pushed the government to allow duty-free sugar imports to bolster supplies. The government is also selling onions at subsidized prices in some states, as part of efforts to cool rising food costs. Bloomberg News
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Sunday, September 20, 2026
The World
US said to hold off on tariffs until after Xi-Trump summit By Alicia Diaz & Michelle Jamrisko
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Bloomberg
HE US is expected to hold off announcing new tariffs on China and other trading partners until after next week’s summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter, a delay that could preserve such a threat as leverage in the negotiations.
viewed in a comprehensive and fair manner, and should not be used as a pretext for protectionism,” Huang Ling, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, said in late August. “We will continue to closely follow and comprehensively assess subsequent US moves, and reserve the right to take all necessary measures.” What Bloomberg Economics Says... “A key question for the US team is how much it might be willing and able to leverage tariff threats to push China for stronger import and export commitments. Chinese exporters’ resilience to Washington’s hefty tariffs through 2025 is likely to blunt that leverage.” —Nicole Gorton-Caratelli.
While the reason for the postponement is unclear, Trump has repeatedly used tariff warnings to press trading partners for concessions. The administration had intended to release a trade report on alleged excess capacity before the meeting that would recommend a 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods, Bloomberg previously reported. It’s also uncertain whether the final tariff rate will change from the previously expected level, which would restore Trump’s second-term duties on China to around 20%, which Beijing has previously said is consistent with its trade truce with Washington. US and Chinese negotiators are set to meet over the weekend to discuss any agreements ahead of Xi’s state visit. The trip would be Xi’s first to the US since 2023, when he met former President Joe Biden during a visit that included
attending the APEC summit in San Francisco. In March, the Trump administration launched an investigation into more than a dozen major trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 over excess capacity concerns. Those expected levies, along with already-implemented duties related to forced labor, are set to eventually bring rates closer to Trump’s country-specific tariffs that were overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this year. The Office of the US Trade Representative and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. Inside US Trade first reported the delay. China has previously signaled that it could take action if US tariffs exceed prevailing levels when the trade truce was struck. “Capacit y issues should be
Trump has said he would hold a state dinner for Xi, one that Apple Inc. Executive Chairman Tim Cook and OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman are poised to attend. US and Chinese officials are expected to discuss a number of issues during the summit, ranging from the war in Iran, trade and flows of rare earths to artificial intelligence. The US is offering only a sixmonth extension of the truce, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Washington believes Beijing hasn’t fully delivered on commitments it made on rare earths when Xi and Trump met in Busan, South Korea, in October, the newspaper said. That agreement saw Beijing guarantee flows of rare earths in exchange for reduced US tariffs, a
deal that’s set to expire in November. More recently, the Trump administration has been asking China to boost its exports of the critical minerals to Japan to avoid disruptions to global supply chains, Nikkei has reported. Volumes of magnets shipped to Japan have slumped in recent months, as its relations with China soured following backlash from Beijing after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about Taiwan. At the same time, even as shipments to the US have climbed, they remain short of their level before Trump’s return to the White House. Washington, meanwhile, is pushing ahead with efforts to reduce its reliance on imports of critical minerals. The Pentagon announced this week it will take a stake of almost 20% in a US producer of tungsten—a metal used in military hardware—expanding the Trump administration’s push to secure key supplies outside China. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed Middle East issues with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call Thursday, according to China’s Foreign Ministry. Wang said the next stage of high-level exchanges between the two countries should be conducted in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit. Any easing by Beijing on export restrictions could help downstream manufacturers, while reducing some of the scarcity premium in alternative suppliers, Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets, wrote in a note.
Africa’s urban waste crisis is outpacing infra investment and choking neighborhoods
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OHANNEBURG—Two men sit on top of a hill at the end of a narrow road in Johannesburg ‘s industrial suburb of Kya Sands. But the hill is no natural feature—it is a mountain of illegally dumped trash, piled so high it now swallows the road beyond. “When I started as a ward councilor in 2021, this mountain was very small. I could even drive my vehicle down this road,” municipal councilor Devon Steenkamp told The Associated Press. “It’s now quite a high, big mountain; there are always constant fumes.” The mound is only the edge of a dumpsite that mushroomed after the municipal landfill reached capacity and closed in 2010. Adjacent to it, waves of waste spread across a valley as smoke rises and trucks unload more trash. Johannesburg’s mounting waste problem reflects a broader challenge across Africa. Rapidly growing cities, including Lagos, Dakar, and Accra, are generating waste far faster than many municipalities can collect, recycle, or safely dispose of it. Africa’s urban population is projected to double by 2050 to 1.4 billion people, according to a joint report last year by the OECD, African Development Bank, Cities Alliance and United Cities and Local
Governments of Africa. The United Nations Environment Program estimates that more than 90% of waste generated in Africa is disposed of at uncontrolled dumpsites and landfills, often with associated open burning. The World Bank projects that waste generation in sub-Saharan Africa will increase by 124% between now and 2050—the fastest growth of any region.
Over 2,000 illegal dumping hot spots
IN Johannesburg’s densely populated Alexandra township, goats forage through piles of household waste as residents navigate sidewalks strewn with plastic, food scraps, and construction debris. Local resident Linda Makole, 75, is especially concerned about children, many of whom live in one-room homes and rely on sidewalks and a few parks for space to play. “Small children can’t possibly be healthy living in this environment,” Makole told the AP. “Weekly, my landlord takes all his tenants’ garbage in a van and goes to dispose of it,” she said. “I don’t know where he dumps it.” Pikitup, the city’s waste company, has
identified more than 2,000 illegal dumping hot spots and allocated 115 million rand ($6.4 million) in 2025/26 to tackle the problem. Some residents said their garbage went uncollected for up to four weeks. The Johannesburg Crisis Alliance has blamed the disruptions on labor disputes, financial constraints, and an aging fleet. Unreliable waste collection has driven demand for informal waste haulers. “If the municipality is not collecting the general waste, then of course people are going to phone anybody with a truck to come and collect,” said Carmen Jordaan, who co-runs Whole Earth Recycling. Jordaan said that legal disposal required registration and landfill fees, prompting some informal haulers to dump waste illegally in areas like Kya Sands. Polluting the air, soil, and water Bryce McCall, a former South African equestrian show jumper, has watched a separate dumpsite sprawl alongside his home, where he runs a stables and beekeeping business. “I used to have 70 horses here; now we’ve got 28,” McCall said. “Clients don’t want to come here anymore.”
HIV. . . Continued from A3
He added that more cases were being uncovered because testing efforts were reaching more people. The government said it was expanding free testing and free treatment for people who tested positive and would provide clean needles for drug users. However, stigma about the illness remained an issue. “This is about protecting people—not judging them, not watching them, not shaming them,” Lalabalavu said. Analysts say the crisis was driven in part by the growing use of injected methamphetamine, which has exploded
Illegal dump sites also burn trash to make room for more, polluting the air, soil, and water and exposing nearby communities to toxic substances, Jordaan warned. “You’re burning toxic plastics, and we’re all inhaling that,” she said. “At night, the air is so toxic you can’t breathe. We’ve got air purifiers in our bedroom,” McCall said. “The air quality is so bad (bees) don’t produce as they should.” Dr. Suzan Oelofse, a principal scientist at South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), said that poorly managed waste also attracts vermin and can clog stormwater drains, increasing the risk of flooding. ‘It’s really, really close to tipping point’ “The waste generation rate has consistently outpaced investment in new waste management infrastructure,” Oelofse said, adding that the city remains heavily dependent on aging landfill sites while recycling and composting lack momentum. South Africa’s draft National Waste Management Strategy warns that landfill space is depleting at an “unsustainable rate.” The pressure is already evident in Johannesburg, where only two of the city’s four municipal landfills still accept general waste. AP across the Pacific as traffickers use island countries as transit hubs for drugs. HIV rates in Pacific Island nations are low, except in Papua New Guinea where infections have surged since 2010 to the highest and fastest-growing numbers in the region. A national HIV crisis was declared there by the government in June 2025. Even in countries with low rates, officials fear outbreaks. Most Pacific islands nations have very small populations and not all health services are funded or available, making the spread of transmission difficult to curb. Fiji’s crisis was “a stark reminder to the world that AIDS is not over,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said in a statement. AP
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JPMorgan analysts unsure how to model oil as Iran war drags on By Lorelei Smillie Bloomberg News
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ORE than six months after the start of the Iran war, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s oil analysts are stating what many traders have been saying privately for some time: the path to the end of the war is increasingly impossible to predict. Several economic red lines that the bank assumed the US administration would be unwilling to cross—including oil rising above $100 a barrel, gasoline prices nearing $5 a gallon and surging treasury yields—have already happened, making the exit strategy less clear, analysts including Natasha Kaneva said in a note. Oil traders and analysts are increasingly unsure about how long the Iran war will last as energy prices surge and the ripple effects threaten to derail global economic growth and stoke inflation. Critical energy infrastructure, including Saudi Arabia’s vital East-West pipeline have come under attack recently, fueling worries about further supply tightness.
“The market is on edge, in our view,” the analysts said in a note, widely cited by market participants on Thursday. Oil’s fair value in September is estimated at around $90 a barrel even though prices are close to $106, the analysts said, adding that it implies the market is pricing in the risk of an additional 4 million barrels a day of supply losses on top of the 10 million barrels a day already disrupted. “With no clear signals from either the US or Iran that they are prepared to de-escalate—and absent a diplomatic breakthrough on Sept. 24, when President Trump and President Xi are set to meet in DC—the assumption that the disruption is temporary is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain,” the analysts wrote. The global inventor y cushion has dwindled during the war but for now, there is still enough of a buffer to limit crude prices from gaining further, they said. However, if Middle Eastern flows remain at current levels, the firm estimates fourth quarter and December 2026 prices could be $7 and $8 above current forecasts of around $80 and $78 a barrel, respectively.
Russia’s wartime economy faces long-term erosion from debt and military spending By David Mchugh The Associated Press
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RANKFURT, Germany—The frictions in Russia’s wartime economy are growing, as massive military spending balloons the budget deficit. Consumers and businesses are gloomier. Growth has slowed. None of that, however, signals an imminent financial crisis or economic collapse, economists say. With crucial oil export revenues holding up due to high prices from the Iran war, the government is able to find the money to pay for its 4 1/2-yearold invasion of Ukraine, at least for now. Meanwhile, low unemployment and government largesse in poor regions help keep a lid on consumer grumbling. That picture suits the Kremlin’s narrative of stability ahead of Russia’s stagemanaged parliamentary election that got underway Friday and concludes Sunday. But economists warn that longer-term problems are gnawing at the foundations— and could one day result in a crisis.
Consumers and businesses are more pessimistic
INDICATORS of consumer sentiment have drifted down since a peak in 2024-25, when increased military spending was pumping up growth and wages. More recently, consumers have coped with higher gasoline prices and shortages due to Ukrainian drone attacks that knocked out refineries. And many small businesses have lost inventory and customers due to strikes against online retailers Wildberries and Ozon. At the same time, growth has slowed from a peak of over 4% annual expansion in 2023-24. The government foresees 0.6% this year, and the economy shrank in the first quarter before rebounding somewhat in the second. The consumer sentiment index compiled by the Levada Center, an independent Russian pollster, fell to 94 over the summer, down from 116 in spring and summer of 2025. Readings under 100 indicate that consumer sentiment is more negative than positive. People asked about the election in Moscow responded with mostly basic concerns about pensions and prices. Alexander Vertukhin, a 72-year-old retired military prosecutor, said the government should be focusing on “a decent standard of living for pensioners.” As for his own situation, “I’m doing fine, both financially and in every other respect,” he said. “Overall I’d like housing to become more affordable, I’d like pensioners to be able to live decently instead of merely surviving,” said Dmitry Kirillin, 26. “I’d also like travel in our country to be more affordable. Those are the main things that first come to mind, if I gave it more thought I could probably name more.” He added, “I’d like prices to rise more slowly, if that’s possible in the current situation.” The gasoline situation and Wildberries strikes have made the war more visible to people but don’t constitute a crisis, said Chris Weafer, CEO of the Macro-Advisory Ltd. consultancy active across the former Soviet Union. He described the economy as in a
state of “tolerable stability” and the public mood as “grumbling” but not protesting. “The economy is under strain—it’s stagnant to the effect that it’s stable but not growing,” Weafer said. “But it’s not facing recession either.” Most people “are not that affected” by the Ukrainian strikes, he said. “Just because your shopping habits are disrupted, that’s not going to change the public support for the Kremlin.” President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has declined in recent months but remains higher than it was before the war started in 2022.
Russia’s budget deficit has spiked higher
ONE key sign of stress is Russia’s budget deficit and the government’s efforts to find new sources of money. Putin has resorted to increasing value-added tax paid by consumers at the cash register, raising a raft of other fees and tightening taxation of small businesses. But the deficit has continued to climb. By the end of July, budget data showed a deficit of 2.8% of annual economic output—almost twice the original annual budget target. Available resources in Russia’s reserve fund have dwindled to 1.6% of GDP, meaning the Kremlin needs to borrow from domestic banks. That, however, means paying high borrowing costs, with interest rates on Russian bonds as high as 17%, according to Janis Kluge, an expert on Russia’s finances at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Budget stress is “adding to doubts about how long Russia can sustain the war,” he wrote in a recent report. Russia’s central bank has kept rates high to contain the inflation caused by war spending. That stresses civilian companies who don’t get the privileged access to credit afforded defense firms. Another source of war funding has been increased private lending by Russia’s compliant banks to defense-related companies, meaning those debts are not showing up in the deficit figures. Some warn the endgame is coming for Russia’s economy Over the long term, Western sanctions deprive Russia of new investment that would make the economy more productive. And the risk factors—high spending, low growth, rising debt and elevated borrowing costs—lead some economists to warn that while Russia’s economy has not collapsed, its structural foundations are eroding dangerously. The current trajectory is “unsustainable,” according to Torbjörn Becker at the Stockholm School of Economics. Still, “the timing of a crisis remains highly uncertain.” Higher oil prices from the Iran war help Russia’s finances Oil export earnings, which had fallen below $10 billion per month ahead of the Iran war, rebounded to $15.8 billion by June and $13.8 billion in July. Russia’s budget constraints “may effectively disappear for as long as elevated energy prices persist,” Becker wrote. To change that, tougher measures against Russia’s sanctions-evading oil tanker fleet must be a priority, he argued.
www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion
Sunday, September 20, 2026 A5
Marcos to firms: Help in manufacturing FNRI food techs
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By Samuel P. Medenilla
ESPITE developing numerous food technologies, which can provide Filipinos with proper nutrition, the government continues to face challenges when it comes to commercializing the innovations, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The President is urging more firms to adopt and help in scaling up food technology developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNR I) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which includes iron-fortified rice, iron rice premix, rice-mongo complementary foods, high-protein crackers, vegetable cookies and the enhanced Nutribun.
“Now, one of the biggest challenges we constantly face is that while we have many talented scientists and researchers, the process of scaling up production—moving from the laboratory to manufacturing—is what really needs to be studied,” the President said in Filipino at the sidelines of his visit at the plant of the Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corp. plant in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, with Science
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center) and Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. (left) listen as Racky D. Doctor (partly hidden), president of Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corp. plant in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, inform them about their nutritious food products. PHOTO FROM NUTRIDENSE FACEBOOK
and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., last Thursday. “This is where we look for partners like Nutridense; that is why
we toured their facility and observed their operations,” he added. Nutridense was among the beneficiaries of the DOST’s Small
NAST PHL pushes for creation of an institute on natl measurement to protect consumers, exports
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HE National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL) has called on the government to make the establishment of a National Measurement Institute a national priority. The country’s weak measurement system results in Filipino consumers getting less than what they pay for, and exporters spending more to have their products tested, the NAST said in a statement. “Measurement tells us whether the rice we buy is the weight marked on the sack, whether the hazardous substances in a product and in the environment stay within safe limits, and whether a factory’s output meets the specifications a buyer paid for,” it said in a news release. An attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the NAST PHL explained that metrology, the science of mea-
surement, is the framework of the country’s National Measurement System and a core part of the National Quality Infrastructure, which assures the quality, safety, and reliability of products and services. “A measurement is only useful if other countries accept it, and acceptance depends on a national institution able to maintain measurement standards recognized worldwide,” it said. NAST PHL cited that Republic Act 9236, the National Metrology Act of 2003, committed the State to reliable and internationally traceable measurements. The law tasked the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) of the DOST to serve as secretariat to the board it created, and maintained the National Metrology Laboratory (NML) as ITDI’s laboratory arm for technical, calibration, and laboratory functions.
Since then, the NML has operated under ITDI’s policies, procedures, and budget. The arrangement limits what the laboratory can do and the activities it can take on. NAST PHL pointed out that “a benchmarking study covering several Asean countries found the Philippine NML had the lowest number of measurement competencies recognized by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, the fewest personnel, and the smallest annual budget among those compared.” It laments that the Philippines ranks seventh out of nine Asean member states in metrology in the 2024 Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development (QI4SD) Index, below the Asean average. NAST PHL supports the following: Enact the pending National Measurement Institute legislation in the 20th
Congress, transforming the NML into a modernized National Measurement Institute of the Philippines (NMIPhil) with upgraded facilities. The NMIPhil Act is among the priority bills of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028. Provide adequate budget support, including more plantilla positions and better salary rates, to build and keep the technical workforce the institute will need. Promote metrology across government, the academe, industry and trade, and the public, to build demand for and confidence in national measurement services. NAST PHL serves as the government’s primary advisory body on national ST&I policy and related matters. It is the premier organization that recognizes achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and nurtures emerging scientific talents.
Your friendly ‘sari-sari’ store as invisible community pharmacy
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EDICINE should never feel out of reach. Yet for many Filipinos, a trip to the pharmacy can mean literally crossing mountains and streams for a handful of tablets. So sometimes, they go to the sari-sari (variety) store near them. And sometimes still, they can only afford one or two tablets. In a remote sitio in Barangay Kalawakan, Bulacan, getting to the nearest pharmacy can mean traveling almost a dozen kilometers without public transportation. A single trip to town can cost more than P400 one way. For some, the only alternative is to walk—a trek that takes well over an hour, even in good weather, Danika Geronimo of the Ateneo de Manila University Research Communications. Common medicines, including paracetamol, flanax, alaxan, and bioflu, are sorted into individual trays at a sari-sari store, where customers can purchase them in small quantities to meet their immediate needs. A new study by Ateneo de Manila University researchers explores sari-sari stores as potential points of access to medicine and healthcare, leveraging their ubiquity and accessibility within local communities. Most of the medicines sold by the tinderas (sari-sari store owners or sellers) in the study were for what they considered common illnesses: headaches, diarrhea, fever, colds, and stomachaches. They included familiar over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol, mefenamic acid, ibuprofen, and loperamide. They generally stocked nonprescription medicines, often selling them in small quantities.
So familiar, it’s almost invisible
SUCH a scene is ordinary enough to be almost invisible: a neighbor walks up to the nearest sari-sari store; asks the tindera for a few tablets; purchases piecemeal (tingi); then goes home. Yet behind this familiar transaction is a
Complementary services to institutional healthcare
FROM behind the counter, the tindera (variety store owner or seller) becomes a familiar witness to the everyday rhythms and needs of her community. PRIETO, 2026
larger story of proximity, affordability, and the gaps between communities and formal healthcare. “The sari-sari store, as a venue to observe interactions between the consumers, the government, and the medical and pharmaceutical world, shows us its social, political, and economic relevance,” the researchers write. The study draws on ethnographic insights from interviews with 14 sari-sari store tinderas. The findings show that distance is a major factor in why some store owners choose to sell medicines: in communities without nearby pharmacies, keeping common medicines within reach can save residents the cost and time of traveling to town. The same is true of store hours: one tindera said that they kept the store open until midnight, making medicines available even after a nearby pharmacy had closed for the day. Tinderas, serving as the eyes and ears of their communities, repeatedly encounter the people in those communities. They learn which medicines people ask for, what they can afford, and what their neighborhoods tend to need. Some began selling medicines after noticing demand from the people around them. They adapt to the communities they serve.
The value and boundaries of proximity
“SARI-SARI stores bring valued ‘things’ in close proximity to the people who look to them for healing and comfort,” the researchers explained. This is where the sari-sari store becomes more than just a place to buy medicine. Embedded in ever yday Filipino life, sari-sari stores reveal how people rely on informal systems of care alongside formal institutions. Yet the study also reveals the boundaries of the services these sari-sari stores offer. Tinderas do not see themselves as doctors or pharmacists; 11 of the 14 simply refuse to sell antibiotics and other prescription medicines, advising customers to directly seek care from healthcare professionals when necessary. Viewed through the lens of the sari-sari stores as a community “myopticon”—a place where the health needs of a neighborhood become visible through everyday interactions—the study raises questions about who is close enough to notice when people need medicine, who can make it available, and who is there when formal healthcare is beyond reach.
THERE is another boundary: the law. “Strictly speaking, the sale of pharmaceuticals through sari-sari stores is illegal, unless the outlet is duly licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There are, however, layers of liminalities, such as due considerations for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and medicines not captured in the FDA circular,” the researchers clarify. The researchers approach the issue through a medical anthropology lens and recommend against blanket prohibitions and punitive measures. They argue that policies should account for the economic and geographical barriers that shape access to medicine. “We see the value in recognizing the role of sari-sari stores in the health system, as well as in accounting for economic and geographical barriers before imposing top-down prohibitions,” the researchers say. Sari-sari stores are neither replacements for pharmacies nor substitutes for the country’s healthcare system. The sari-sari store does not stand outside nor simply beside the healthcare system: it occupies an ambiguous but necessary liminal space between the household and formal institutions—a place shaped by poverty, distance, convenience, trust, and necessity. Perhaps sari-sari stores tell us what happens when the system is too far away, too costly, or simply unavailable to those who need it. Researchers Melissa Louise M. Prieto, Gamaliel P. Galigao, Ana Rica S. Navarra-Cruz, Louise Gabriel R. Jimenez, and Gideon Lasco published their research, “Sari-sari Stores as Community Pharmacies? A Qualitative Exploration of Sari-sari Stores Selling Medicines in the Philippines,” in the August issue of the “Acta Medica Philippina” journal.
Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, which aims to commercialize the technologies, including those in food developed by FNRI. The company is now manufacturing a biscuit, which was fortified with iron and other nutrients that is now being used by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in its feeding program. The firm received P3.10 million in equipment assistance in 2015, including kernel extruders, blending machines and other processing equipment that enabled commercial-scale production of nutritional products that allow it to raise its annual production capacity to more than 400,000 kilograms, It has adopted 40 DOST-related technologies covering fortified foods, complementary snacks and ready-to-eat products. Since it got the government support, Nutridense now has 15 partner distributors in 16 regions and 103 regular employees and 186 project-based workers. “So, this is the kind of operation that we need. So that not only are
we able to supply, not only are we able to secure our food supply, but also we are providing our children especially with proper nutrition,” he said. “This is the kind of operation that we will continue to do not only here in Pangasinan, we are also doing this, how many facilities do we have? We are doing similar of this around the country so we can increase our production [of nutritious food] and we can provide it to more people,” Marcos said. While in Pangasinan, Marcos also visited Sta. Barbara Central School, in Sta. Barbara to inspect the primary healthcare activities under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program. Around 200 learners, parents, and teachers at Sta. Barbara Central School benefited from the program. Marcos then witnessed the implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program, wherein 50 severely wasted and/or undernourished Grades 2 to 6 pupils received hot meals, with nutrition packs produced by NutriDense.
DOST-PCHRD, PhilHealth push research for fair, quality health care
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HE Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) brought together health researchers, policymakers, local government leaders, development partners, and health sector stakeholders to explore how research evidence can be translated into better health care implementation during the ninth PhilHealth Studies Forum in Pasig City on September 17. Carrying the theme “From Insights to Impact: Elevating PhilHealth Implementation for Fair, Quality Health Care” the forum underscored the critical role of research in strengthening health programs, improving service delivery, and supporting responsive and informed decision-making. Science Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized the importance of a data-driven approach in advancing meaningful health reforms. Highlighting the partnership between DOST, through PCHRD, and PhilHealth in generating policy research, he called on stakeholders to address key concerns in health care, including communication equity, financial integrity, strategic purchasing, and patient dignity. “This has proven that when science and public service become partners, progress does not only stay on paper, but is also felt. Agham na ramdam ng bawat Pilipino [Science that is felt by every Filipino,” Sec. Solidum said partly in Filipino, underscoring the need to translate research insights into systemic improvements that contribute to national health security. Echoing this call for evidence to inform action, Dennis Formadero, PhilHealth acting senior manager of Corporate Planning Department, highlighted the role of research in advancing the shared goals of the health sector under the Unified National Agenda for Health (UNA) Para sa Kalusugan. As PhilHealth and the Department of Health move forward with a common purpose through UNA Para sa Kalusugan, Formadero emphasized that evidence can help guide decisions and ensure that reforms respond to the needs of Filipinos. “If UNA Para sa Kalusugan is our banner, then evidence is our compass,” he said, underscoring the importance of using research not only to generate knowledge but also to strengthen implementation and improve health outcomes. The forum featured three plenary sessions that explored how research findings can inform the implementation and improvement of health programs. Beyond presenting study results, the sessions provided a collaborative space for researchers, implementers, and policymakers to examine the implications of current evidence in real-world health care settings and identify opportunities for action. Dr. Leah J. Buendia, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development and DOST-PCHRD OIC, commended PhilHealth’s continued commitment to evidence-based governance. “Evidence must not end with the study. It must move into action,” Buendia said. Reaffirming the shared commitment of both agencies, Buendia called for sustained collaboration to ensure that health research consistently translates into responsive interventions, informed decision-making, and ultimately, improved health outcomes and universal health care for all Filipinos.
Faith
Sunday
A6 Sunday, September 20, 2026
Editor: Lyn Resurreccion • www.businessmirror.com.ph
Cardinal urges Congress to pass anti-dynasty law
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ARDINAL Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan urged Congress to enact an anti-political dynasty law after the Supreme Court ruled lawmakers have a constitutional duty to do so. “Congress, the Supreme Court has spoken. Now enact the law,” David said in a social media post. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Congress’ 39-year failure to enact the law constitutes “grave abuse of discretion” and a continuing violation of its constitutional duty. The court directed lawmakers to act “with utmost urgency” and enact the law “at the earliest opportunity.” The 1987 Constitution directs the state to guarantee equal access to public service opportunities and
prohibit political dynasties as defined by law. The court said 39 years was more than a reasonable period for Congress to fulfill the mandate, despite the Constitution setting no specific deadline. It also noted numerous antidynasty bills filed since the Constitution was ratified and the continued spread of political dynasties, including in the party-list system. David said the mandate has remained largely unfulfilled because Congress was tasked with defining political dynasties.
Jordan’s Crown Prince visits Jesus’ baptism site ahead of 2030 celebration By Fr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik CARDINAL Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan SAN ROQUE CATHEDRAL-DIOCESE OF KALOOKAN
The cardinal also questioned whether law makers’ personal interests could affect efforts to enact legislation restricting political dynasties. “What happens when those entrusted with making the law have a personal interest in not making
it?” he asked. “ T hir t y-nine years is long enough,” David said. The House of Representatives approved an anti-political dynasty bill on third and final reading in June, while a Senate version remains pending.
Tagle to digital missionaries: Let Jesus be your top influencer
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ARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle urged Catholic digital missionaries across Asia to begin their mission not with what they post online, but with a deeper relationship with Jesus. In a video message to the Asian Catholic Digital Missionary Assembly, he reminded delegates that those who influence others are themselves shaped by the people and experiences around them. “My appeal to you, dear digital missionaries, be aware of what and who inf luences you,” Tagle said, urging them to make Jesus a cent ra l inf luence in their lives. “Having experienced the transforming influence of Jesus in your life, you will bear authentic, true,
genuine witness to others,” he said. Tagle encouraged the missionaries to deepen their relationship with Jesus through prayer and study, saying, “So, pray well, study well.” The pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicaster y for Evangelization also urged them to let Christ’s light shine through their digital presence. “Let Jesus and his light shine forth by being an influence in his name,” Tagle said. More than 100 Catholic digital missionaries, communicators and influencers from across Asia attended the assembly, early this month at Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) headquarters in Quezon City. The assembly is organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops’
CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle celebrates Mass at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome on May 3. GOI VILLEGAS/CBCP NEWS
Conferences Office of Social Communications and RVA, in partnership with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. T he gat her ing ca r r ies t he theme “Influencers to Witnesses: Sy nod a l Way for Dig it a l Mission in Asia” and aims to strengthen digital missionaries in their work of evangelization.
Asian bishop: Social media is an ‘appetizer,’ not the destination
MEANWHILE, a Philippine bishop told social media can draw people toward the Catholic faith, but its ultimate purpose should be to lead them into Christian community and the Eucharist. “Social media is an appetizer; Eucharist is the destination,” said Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr., chairman of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences-Office of Social Communication, during the assembly on September 11. He urged the digital workers to see digital platforms as entry points to faith rather than destinations for online engagement. “The debate is over. The Church is already there,” Maralit said, noting that people across Asia already turn to digital spaces to seek meaning, build relationships and explore faith. He challenged the digital workers to move beyond views, likes, followers and viral content, saying digital evangelization should
focus instead on listening, encounter, discernment and community. “O pen t he door a nd present the thread,” he said, urging participants to use their online presence to lead people toward Christ rather than build personal brands. Maralit contrasted the attention from the economy of social media, which rewards speed, novelty and controversy, with the Gospel’s call to patience, compassion, closeness and transformation. He called for five shifts in digital mission: from content to encounter, audiences to communities, virality to fidelity, competition to collaboration, and inf luence to witness. Credibility, he said, should come primarily not from audience size or production quality but from fidelity to Christ and the authenticity of Christian life. The challenge is especially significant in Asia, which the bishop described as a “living symphony” of cultures, languages, religions and social realities that requires dialogue and sensitivity. “The digital highways are waiting,” he said, urging the missionaries to defend human dignity and share stories of faith across Asia’s online spaces. The goal, he said, is for people online to encounter not merely another influencer but “a true community, and ultimately, the living face of Jesus Christ.” CBCP News
Vatican News
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HE year 2030 will mark 2,000 years since the traditional date of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Bethany Beyond the Jordan—today known as AlMaghtas—is regarded as the site of Christ’s baptism. Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II during his visit to the site on September 13 issued directives to improve the site to enhance the experience of Christian pilgrims and visitors. “The Crown Prince emphasised the need to carefully plan for the 2030 millennium celebrations, commemorating 2,000 years since the baptism of Jesus Christ, in a manner that reflects the profound history of the site and occasion, and reaffirms Jordan’s status as a premier global destination for Christian pilgrimage,” read a statement of The Royal Heshemite Court. “The Crown Prince—accompanied by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, and chairman of the Baptism Site Commission’s board of trustees—was briefed on the services offered to pilgrims and visitors. Her Royal Highness Princess Miriam Ghazi, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin, director of the Office of the Crown Prince Zaid Baqain, and Baptism Site Commission Director General Abdullah Bawareed accompanied the Crown Prince on the visit,” it said. The Crown Prince underlined the need to promote the Baptism Site more widely, in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan Tourism Board, and all relevant partners. At Al-Maghtas, in Jordan, archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of churches, chapels, hermits’ caves, and a baptistery—places of worship tied to Jesus’ Baptism. In 2015 this area was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List. Three Popes have made pilgrimages there: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
JORDAN’S Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II (second from left) visits the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany Beyond the Jordan) and emphasizes the need to carefully plan for the 2030 millennium celebrations, commemorating 2000 years since the baptism of Jesus Christ. VATICAN NEWS
My journey toward the truth: The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (‘Mt 13:31–32, Gen 2:9’) By Soo Oh
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N the last installment, I shared the meaning of the two kinds of seed in the Bible, as well as the importance of God’s Word and discernment. Today, I would like to share about the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil found in Genesis 2:9. If the true meaning of the figurative seed is the Word of God (Lk 8:11), then the field or soil where the seed is sown represents the human heart (1 Cor 3:9, Lk 8:11-15). Depending on the condition of that heart—the field or soil—the sown seed grows into a tree and bears fruit. That is why Luke 8:15 states that the good soil refers to those who hear the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it, and produce a crop through perseverance. If God’s seed is God’s Word and Satan’s seed is Satan’s teaching
(human commandments), then the field (soil) sown with these two seeds is the human heart, and the tree that grow from those seeds would refer to a person. This is why prophetic books in the Bible often use figurative language, comparing people who receive God ’s seed to trees belonging to God, and people who lack the Word—and are t hu s c u rse d a nd jud ge d— to trees belong ing to Satan (Ps 1:1-3, Jer 5:14, Dan 4). A tree born again and grown from receiving God’s seed in the field of the heart is a person (child) of God. And a tree grown from receiving Satan’s seed in the field of the heart is a person (child) of Satan. Thus, two different seeds yield two different types of trees. When we look at the First Coming, when Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled, the reality of these two seeds and trees was
revealed. Jesus, the Son of God possessing God’s seed, was the actual reality of God’s tree—the Tree of Life. Jesus called himself the true vine and gave life through the truth, which is the fruit of that true vine. Thus, Jesus was the reality of the Tree of Life, which had been a secret of the kingdom of heaven (Jn 15:1, Jn 14:6). The disciples who heard and understood Jesus’ words and became one with him became the branches and leaves of this Tree of Life (Jn 15:5). On the other hand, the reality of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil at the First Coming was the leaders of Israel—such as the Pharisees, scribes, and teachers of the law (Mt 7:13–24). They started out as the chosen people meant to bear good fruit but became one with Satan and spread the fruit of falsehood (the fruit of knowledge of good and
evil) and became enemies of God (Jer 2:21, Deut 32:31–33, Dan 4). The false fruit which was a mix of good and evil was like poison, killing people’s spirits (Mt 23:33). Though they appeared holy, clean, and good on the outside, inside they were like whitewashed tombs full of the dead bodies killed by their fruit of good and evil (Mt 23:27). When Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field, which grows into a large tree where the birds of the air come and nest in its branches (Mt. 13:31–32), he was referring to himself. Jesus—who was one with Father God, a Spirit, and accompanied by the Holy Spirit—was the fulfillment of the Tree of Life hidden as a parable in the Old Testament. What about believers living in the era of the New Testament to-
day? Do you understand the meaning of the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? If you were unaware of these truths until now, or if this explanation sounds completely new, were you truly walking in the truth? Is it acceptable not to know? Just as one could not know Jesus—who is the way, the truth, and the life—without understanding the Old Testament and its fulfillment, one cannot enter the kingdom of heaven today without understanding the New Testament and its fulfillment. The Tree of Life appears again in Revelation 22:1–2, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is also hidden within its pages. The New Testament—especially Revelation—speaks of the Tree of Life, representing the organization of servants possessing the truth with whom the returned Jesus is with, as well as the group
of the beast who lack truth and have received only human commandments (the mark of Satan). Is it acceptable if you cannot distinguish between the two? The Word of truth in the Bible enables us to discern good from evil so that we do not eat the fruit of good and evil, but instead listen only to the fruit of truth coming from the Tree of Life. By patiently walking the narrow path according to that Word until the end, we reach life and salvation (Mt 7:13–24). Those who seek and hunger for this truth (the fruit of the Tree of Life) will find it and be filled. Zion Chr ist ian Mission Center (ZCMC) is the theology arm of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and it offers a full theology course for free. You can sign up here to download the ZCMC SPS (Self-Paced Study) app and start your journey today.
Biodiversity Sunday BusinessMirror
Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014
Sunday, September 20, 2026 A7
Editor: Lyn Resurreccion
Asean Heritage Parks: Natural infrastructure systems in focus
‘Protected areas are our last ecological frontiers—humanity’s final stronghold against planetary collapse’
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By Jonathan L. Mayuga
HEN we safeguard our 14, and soon to be 15, Asean Heritage Parks in the Philippines and the rest of the AHPs across Southeast Asia, we are securing the water systems that irrigate our farmlands, the natural barriers that buffer our coastlines against severe typhoons, the carbon sinks that mitigate global warming, and the ecosystems that drive green and blue economic growth.” Dr. Jerome Montemayor, executive director of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), gave this statement during the three-day forum in Quezon City early this month that highlighted the Asean Heritage Parks (AHPs), the region’s best of the best protected areas. T he Phi lippines, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the ACB held the event that gathered from Asean member states, including t he Phi lippines, which ta ke pride as home to some of the most prestigious AHPs under the Asean Heritage Parks Programme, the region’s flagship initiative for regional biodiversity conservation. The event brought together key players from the AHPs and from protected area management in the region to showcase and facilitate the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches, particularly highlighting Philippine experiences, to strengthen the effective and sustainable management of protected areas across Asean member states.
Asean heritage, treasures DENR Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr. underscored the regional dimension of the AHPs. “The 69, and soon to be 71, Asean Heritage Parks managers are brought together regularly, as often as we can, for learning exchange, for sharing of best practices. These are not just national treasures, but beyond the protected areas being treated as our national patrimony, these are also Asean rich heritage and treasures that we should all value as Asean citizens,” he said. Malaysia recently secured recognition for three new sites—including Bako and Lambe in Sarawak and the Tengku Hasanal Wildlife Reserve in the peninsula. Timor-Leste, Asean’s newest member state, has identified the Nino Konis Santana National Park as a candidate for its first AHP nomination, which officials hope to secure before
the end of the Philippine chairmanship.
ASEAN-member representatives, with Philippine Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna (eighth from left) and the Asean Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director Jerome Montemayor (right) doing the Asean handshake demonstrating regional cooperation and solidarity. PHOTOS CREDIT TO ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY
15th Philippine AHP THE soon-to-be-declared the 15th AHP of the Philippines is the Mount Balatukan Range Natural Park in Misamis Oriental. Its endorsement was announced during the Asean Heritage Parks Forum, allowing the Philippines to match Vietnam for hosting the highest number of recognized regional heritage parks in Southeast Asia. Mount Balatukan is a key biodiversity area and important bird area. It serves as a sanctuary for critically endangered flora and fauna, including the Philippine eagle, the world’s largest bird of prey, and Rafflesia, a rare parasitic plant known for producing some of the world’s largest flowers. Its unique combination of ecological value, cultural significance, and crucial environmental functions made it the perfect AHP candidate.
Regional initiatives WITH the forum’s theme, “Navigating a Sustainable Future for Asean Heritage Parks,” the Philippines highlighted its Asean chairmanship this year with the launching of five regional initiatives on biodiversity conservation. The forum is the Philippines’ flagship biodiversity event as Asean Chairman for 2026, convening more than 400 delegates, protected area managers, and policymakers from across the region. Among the initiatives launched were: 1. The AHP Regional Action Plan 2026-2035, a 10-year roadmap to strengthen ecosystem representation and management across the AHP network; 2. The Philippine Asean Heritage Parks Network, a national coordination platform to strengthen peer learning, science-based monitoring, and reporting among Philippine AHPs;
PHILIPPINE Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director Jerome Montemayor
3. The Philippines Biodiversity Financing Program implemented by DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau with the United Nations Development Programme under the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund; 4. The Small Grants Programme III, an ACB initiative supported by the Federal Republic of Germany through it state-owned development bank (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, or KfW) and the European Union, providing direct micro-grants for community-led conservation projects in protected area buffer zones across Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Vietnam from 2026 to 2031; and 4. The AHP Programme Operations Manual through a dedicated capacitybuilding workshop bringing together AHP committee members and site managers to finalize a common operational reference for the network.
have consistently emphasized that human well-being and economic prosperity are inseparable from the biodiversity that sustains them,” Cuna said, explaining why the AHP Forum stands as one of the key gatherings of the country’s Asean chairship year. “It is more than a convening of protected area managers, stakeholders and partners; it is an affirmation of the kind of shared future we want for Asean—one in which biodiversity remains at the heart of our region’s peace, prosperity, and the well-being of our people,” he added.
Environmental protection: A significant challenges EN V IRONMEN T Secretar y Juan Miguel Cuna, in his keynote address, said the challenges facing the region cannot be addressed by one country alone, and that “the protection of our environment is one of the most significant of these challenges.” “Guided by the three pillars of Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors, and People Empowerment, we
Advancing shared commitment CUNA said the Philippines has stood alongside fellow Asean member states in advancing the region’s shared commitment to protect its most important natural areas, boasting the country’s network of AHPs. “Each of these places tells a story— of mountains and marshes, reefs and rainforests, and of the Indigenous peoples and local communities, who have protected them for generations, often long before any government declaration ever did. We owe them our gratitude, and this forum owes them its attention,” he said. The launching of the Philippine AHP Network, the DENR chief said, will bring together the managers and representatives of existing and newly-
declared AHPs “while also providing a space for protected areas that are pursuing AHP nomination to learn from those who have already walked the path.” “Through the network, we hope to create a stronger bridge between these individual experiences and our collective commitments—connecting park managers, connecting national priorities with regional cooperation, and connecting the work we do on the ground with the broader global agenda for biodiversity and sustainable development,” Cuna stressed.
Socio-economic and environmental importance CUNA highlighted the social, economic and environmental importance of AHPs to Asean. “AHPs are vital natural capital and are engines of growth. These parks anchor the ecotourism industries of every member state, drawing visitors to Kinabalu, to Khao Yai, to Hoang Lien, to Tubbataha—sustaining livelihoods in fisheries, agriculture, and tourism for millions of our people across the region,” he said. Socially, Cuna said AHPs serve as cultural anchors as much as they are ecological. “Many are ancestral domains, sacred grounds, and living classrooms for the indigenous knowledge systems that have supported sustainable resource use for centuries. They give our young people a tangible reason to value what their ancestors protected,” he said. Ecologically, the DENR chief said mangroves and reefs buffer the region’s coastlines, while forests stabilize slopes and store carbon, and wetlands regulate floods. “The Asean Heritage Parks Network, spanning tens of millions of hectares across all our territories, is quite simply one of the most significant natural infrastructure systems our region possesses. They are our
nature-based solutions to the climate crisis and the cornerstone for biodiversity conservation in the region, contribution to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and to National Action,” Cuna said.
Shared natural heritage, beacon of hope SINCE it began more than 40 years ago, the AHP Programme has grown from 11 original sites to 69 national parks and nature reserves with high conservation importance, representing a wide range of ecosystems in the Asean region, ACB’s Montemayor said. “The AHPs do not just generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of Asean’s rich natural heritage, through a regional network of representative protected areas. More importantly, it is a way for greater collaboration among the Asean member states in preserving our shared natural heritage,” he added. Montemayor said that AHPs serve as a beacon of hope in the face of the worst impacts of climate change. While serving as a model for all protected areas, AHPs also offer park managers across Asean a chance to learn best practices in protected area management, so that they, too, would soon be AHPs and join the growing network of parks that serve as home and sanctuary to endangered wildlife. “The climate paradox across Southeast Asia is predicted to get even worse now that the world is about to cross the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit of global warming, according to the recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme,” Montemayor pointed out. “My fellow biodiversity warriors, the remaining protected areas in the region offer us hope that we can still reverse this trend. Protected areas are our last ecological frontiers—humanity’s final stronghold against further planetary collapse,” he said.
DENR to launch Pinoy Biotech Hub on NBW to bridge gap between research and public
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HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB), together with the InterAgency Steering Committee of the National Biotechnology Week (NBW), will launch the beta version of the Pinoy Biotech Hub during the nationwide celebration of the 22nd NBW from September 21 to 24. Serving as a centralized digital knowledge repository of biotechnology innovations, research, and technologies developed by Filipino scientists and researchers, the new platform is designed to make Filipino biotechnology information accessible to the public and bridge the gap between scientific research and the people who stand to benefit from these innovations. The DENR will also host its annual Enviotech
Forum, where ERDB researchers will present the latest technologies and research on the application of biotechnology to soil restoration, wastewater treatment, and natural pest and disease control. In a statement, the DENR said that as the Philippines looks to harness science and innovation to address environmental, health, food, and livelihood challenges, this year’s observance highlights how biotechnology can help build a greener, healthier, and more resilient country. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization defines biotechnology as the application of biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to develop technologies and products for medical, agricultural, and industrial use. With the theme “Biotek para sa Kinabu-
kasan: Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran,” the NBW will be held at the DENR Multipurpose Hall, DENR Central Office in Quezon City. It will bring together government agencies, scientists, researchers, students, industry leaders, and the public to explore how biotechnology can translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions that benefit communities and the environment. Serving as the 2026 chairman of the NBW Interagency Steering Committee (IASC), the DENR highlights biotechnology’s role in advancing sustainable development, protecting biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience, and improving the quality of life of Filipinos. From developing products and technologies that support agriculture and aquaculture to finding new ways of managing environmental
concerns, biotechnology offers opportunities to address some of the country’s most pressing challenges while creating new avenues for livelihood, investment, and innovation. The annual observance is organized by the IASC, which includes the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Science and Technology (DOST), Health (DOH), Trade and Industry (DTI), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the DENR, with the chairmanship rotating annually among member agencies. Designed to make biotechnology more accessible and relevant to the public, this year’s NBW features scientific forums, youth competitions, and exhibits. The event will be highlighted by a biotechnology exhibit, the National Intercollegiate Genetics Quiz Contest hosted by
the UPLB Genetics Society, the Pitch Biotech technology pitching session, and the DA-led launching of the book “Beyond the Genome: A Comprehensive Review of Gene Editing in Animals.” Other activities include the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications Inc’s forum on biotechnology solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, DTI’s TID Talks 2-26: Exploring Blue Biotech Trends, Opportunities, Investments, and Economic Value of Marine Biotechnology for the Philippines, DOST’s Forum on the State of Biotechnology and Biosafety Education in the Philippines, and the Agri-Aqua S&T Forum on Biotechnology. The DENR said that by bringing together researchers, government agencies, academia, industry, and communities, the
NBW 2026 creates a collaborative venue to strengthen collaboration and encourage the development and adoption of biotechnology solutions suited to Philippine needs. Through NBW 2026, the DENR aims to inspire Filipinos, especially the youth, to view biotechnology not only as a field of science, but as a transformative tool that can address real-world challenges and open new opportunities for the country. Established through Proclamation 1414, series of 2007, to heighten public understanding of biotechnology’s role in advancing national growth, the annual event was updated under Proclamation 921, series of 2025, moving its observance to the final week of September in alignment with international biotechnology celebrations. Jonathan L. Mayuga
Sports BusinessMirror
A8 Sunday, September 20, 2026
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun Lomibao
101ST TO 1 IN 35 MINUTES S ILVERSTONE, England— Max Verstappen needed about 35 minutes to overcome 100 karting drivers in a Red Bull event at Silverstone on Wednesday. Verstappen started 101st at the Silverstone karting circuit, and overtook 64 drivers on the first lap alone, with many of his opponents crashing among themselves. “When I went to the grid and I saw where I had to start, with 100 karts in front of me, I was a little bit worried,” Verstappen said. “After my first lap with all the carnage, I did think, ‘OK, we have got this under control.’” Many got blocked on the track after a pile-up that prompted a full-course yellow flag. Verstappen went off track but was able to return. “That was simply lovely,” Verstappen said. “It was a lot of fun.” Verstappen, who finished second in Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, was up to 37th two minutes into the race. He went off track again but stayed comfortably faster than most drivers, none of them with any significant professional driving experience. He said jokingly that the victory ranked as “the best one yet” in his career.
Hamilton’s denial follows a report Tuesday in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera which said Hamilton had asked for changes to Ferrari’s trackside staff and that his relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur was strained. “I’ve seen some of the stories that have gone out and I want to clear it up here. I’ve never asked for anyone on my team to be replaced. Everyone I work with works hard every day, and their dedication is what moves us forward,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of himself with dozens of Ferrari staff members. “I always try to empower and lift people to be the best versions of themselves or at least see the best in themselves. I may not always achieve that but it’s my intention and what I’m here to do. We all work together and that will continue.” Hamilton has sometimes questioned Ferrari’s strategy over the radio this year, including asking whether he was being used as a “guinea pig” in last month’s Dutch Grand Prix, and protesting that teammate Charles Leclerc was allowed to hold him up. After that race, he said the messages came from a desire to win and added it was “difficult” to see rival team Mercedes “execute straight away” on strategy decisions. The seven-time champion got his first win with Ferrari at the BarcelonaCatalunya Grand Prix in June and remains third in the standings, but a retirement in last week’s Spanish Grand Prix left him 101 points off standings leader Kimi Antonelli. That also marked five consecutive races without a podium finish for Hamilton. AP
Hamilton denies seeking Ferrari staff change
LEWIS HAMILTON said Thursday he has “never asked” for any of Ferrari’s staff to be replaced and praised their dedication after some tense radio exchanges over team strategy in recent Formula 1 races.
RED BULL Formula One driver Max Verstappen shows the field how it’s done at Silverstone. AP
Samal set for 5150 finale as Omandam, Lim seek repeat titles
Naturalizing more players no easy task, says SBP
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ETTING more naturalized players for Gilas Pilipinas is not as easy as picking apples, according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy. There is online clamor for more reinforcement as the Philippine men’s basketball team bombed out of the Asian Games, and Dy explained to the BusinessMirror why no one was available to replace the injured Justin Brownlee. “Naturalized players? It is very difficult in our country,” Dy said. “Our laws are very strict when it comes to who we give citizenship to. There are many processes. It is not like you simply decide that you want someone to become Filipino and get it done the next day. “Another issue is where do they play once they become naturalized Filipinos? They still play abroad because they can only play as imports in the Philippine Basketball Association,” Dy added. Naturalization requires congressional action, committee hearings in both the House of Representatives and Senate before the bill is sent to the Office of the President. “It is not simple, so we carefully choose who we want,” Dy said. Marcus Douthit gained
WITHOUT Justin Brownlee out, Gilas Pilipinas falters in its title defense. PHOTO VIA FIBA.BASKETBALL Filipino citizenship in 2011, Andray Blatche in 2014, Ange Kouame in 2021 and Brownlee in 2023. “We remain focused on qualifying for the Fiba World Cup, which would open the door for us to qualify for the Olympics. That’s what we’re banking on.” Josef T. Ramos
A different game A FEW weeks ago, I wrote that after the FedEx Cup Playoffs, with the exception of The Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup alternating yearly, there isn’t much to look forward to for golf fans. Since the majors now end by July, there is half a year left without much excitement for TV golf. I remember also mentioning that there should be more tournaments where the format isn’t strokeplay. Match play, even for regular hackers like us, brings a new dimension into the game. Going one on one, hole by hole with a competitor is much more thrilling than simply aiming for a score and watching the leaderboards. I think match play is one of the purest forms of golf competition. It is the format
RYK OMANDAM and Natasha Doromal-Lim return to Samal Island on Sunday chasing back-to-back titles, but a deeper field awaits the defending champions in the Damosa Land 5150 Triathlon. The Davao del Norte staging marks the fourth and final stop of the seven-month 5150 series, which has taken Olympic-distance triathlon to four of the country’s premier island destinations and showcased the Philippines as a compelling stage for world-class multisport competition. The Olympic-distance test—1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run—caps a series put together by the Philippine Sports Commission, with elite-level competition at its core but with an equally important mission: bringing high-caliber sporting events to spectacular natural destinations across the country. From the waters and coastlines of Guimaras to the challenging terrain of Camiguin and the scenic roads of Bohol, the series has combined endurance racing with the sights, communities and character of each host destination. The circuit, organized by Sunrise Events Inc., also serves as a central pillar of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Council’s program to position the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class sporting events. Now, the spotlight shifts to Samal, where hundreds of athletes are set for another race to remember—and another opportunity to experience the island’s smooth highways, white-sand beaches, clear waters and vibrant communities. Samal is hosting the 5150 for the second straight year after a successful debut last year, when Omandam and Doromal-Lim emerged as the overall
used in amateur championships, so why not do something similar for the pro tour. There used to be match play events in the PGA Tour. The most recent one, the WGC Match play was canceled in 2023. It might be due to lack of corporate sponsorship, or the added challenge of staging a match play event compared to a standard stroke play event. While a normal 72-hole stroke play tournament takes 4 days, a match play event would need a few more days. Let’s say we start with a field of 128 players, with OGWR used as the basis for matches. World number 1 takes on the 128th ranked player, number 2 takes on 127th, and so on. That’s 64 matches and would take probably two days unless two courses are used. The next rounds would take a day each with 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 matches for the final. That’s an additional
ELITE Filipino triathletes brace for fierce battle for the crown in the series finale. SEI PHOTO
destination—pristine waters, rich marine life, remarkable landscapes and a community that is eager to welcome visitors,” said Lagdameo. “Realizing that potential will require sustained effort from many sectors. An event like this may be only one drop in the ocean, but drops create ripples, and when people move together with purpose, those ripples can become waves.” Mayor Lemuel Reyes, meanwhile, described the race as an opportunity to put Samal’s natural assets and local hospitality in full view while celebrating the determination of the athletes taking on the course. “More than a test of endurance, this race celebrates courage, discipline, community and the extraordinary beauty of our island,” said Reyes. “As athletes swim through our waters, cycle across our landscapes and run alongside our communities, they experience Samal not simply as a race venue, but as a destination where adventure, nature and genuine Samalenyo hospitality come together.” Race director Julian Valencia said the combination of demanding competition and a spectacular setting should make the second Samal staging a fitting conclusion to the inaugural series. “From the clear waters of Samal to its rolling coastal roads and the energy of its communities, this course is designed to test preparation, reward discipline and give every athlete a race to remember,” Valencia said. “Whether you are chasing a podium finish, pursuing a personal best, taking on your first Olympic-distance triathlon or joining the Sprint, you are part of a meaningful milestone for Samal and multisport in the region.”
Championship was played in that format. Only in 1958 was the format changed to stroke play. I think that since major season end in July, the second half of the year should be when these match play events are held. Imagine if there were a US Match Play Championships or a European Match Play Championships and an Asian Match Play Championships held in October and November, and a culminating World Match Play in December. Wouldn’t that bring added interest to the second half of the golf year? It seems that I am not alone with this view, as there seems to be a revival of match play in the future. The Tour Championship, traditionally played as a standard, limitedfield tournament will be shifting to a twoweek match play format in 2028. I hope this shift pushes through, and more events are created specifically to promote match play.
The last couple of weeks have been proof that golf shouldn’t be limited to standard 72-hole stroke play tournaments. Team competitions held recently like the Walker Cup, the amateur version of the Ryder Cup was as expected, thrilling to the last hole. On the ladies professional tour, the Solheim Cup also just recently concluded with the Europeans taking the trophy. In a few days, it will be the President’s Cup where Team USA will take on the rest of the world. Golf needs to continuously evolve for it to grow. A large part of discovering the game is seeing it on TV. Golf cannot afford to only draw interest for half a year and then have a few unimportant tournaments played during the rest of the year. I hope the trend towards other formats of play continues and proves successful. It’s more fun to watch, and that could bring in more people into the golfing world.
champions. This time, however, both will face a souped-up field featuring seasoned endurance campaigners and rising stars from Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Tagum, Kidapawan, Digos, Mati City, Manila, Pagadian, Cebu and Metro Manila, among other areas. For Omandam and Doromal-Lim, the challenge is straightforward but demanding—repeat as champions while helping give the inaugural island series a memorable finale. For the hundreds of other participants, Samal offers a chance to measure their preparation against a course that combines open-water swimming, fast stretches of highway and a run through an island community known for its natural beauty. Adding an entry point for newcomers is the Sunrise Sprint, featuring a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. The shorter format is designed for first-timers and recreational athletes looking to
5 days. Logistically, it is more difficult and expensive. That’s probably the reason match play tournaments on the professional level has gone out of fashion. But I think holding match play tournaments should stay. Not only that, I think they should be elevated to major status. The amateur majors are staged with a match play format. As recently as the 1950s, the PGA
experience multisport racing, while relay competitions in the men’s, women’s and mixed divisions of both the Damosa Land 5150 and Sunrise Sprint are expected to bring some of the country’s leading triathlon clubs into the action. The racing program begins Sunday with the Sunrise Sprint rolling start at 5:40 a.m. at Bridgesport by Damosa Land, followed by the 5150 age-group and relay races at 6:20 a.m. The swim cutoff is one hour, with bike and run cutoffs at three and five hours, respectively. Damosa Land Inc. president Car y Lagdameo said the event is part of a broader effort to draw attention to Samal’s potential as a tourism and sports destination, with sustained collaboration needed to build on the momentum generated by events such as the 5150. “Samal already has many of the natural strengths of a great
BusinessMirror
September 20, 2026
China’s porcelain city carries centuries-old heritage to a new generation
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BusinessMirror SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com
A NEW ERA
YOUR MUSI
Gigi De Lana wants more room to be herself Story and photo by Justine Xyrah Garcia
G
igi De Lana has spent years proving what she can do with a song. From singing competitions to the pandemic livestreams that turned the Gigi Vibes band into a household name, she built her following by taking familiar songs and making them feel distinctly hers. But after years of being known for her covers and vocal performances, the 31-yearold artist is now at a point where the more interesting question is what she sounds like when the song, the image, and even the career choices are entirely her own. During an exclusive interview with BusinessMirror’s SoundStrip following the press conference for Ryan Cayabyab’s September 20 concert at The Theatre at Solaire, “Unang Siklab LIYAB: Mga Himig ng
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Dakilang Pag-Ibig” where she is one of the featured performers, Gigi talked about how her career has evolved and the new direction she now intends to pursue. “I don’t want to be specified that I’m only ‘this.’ I can do anything I want. Whatever people say, it’s fine because that’s how they see me. But they don’t know me personally,” she pointed out. It is an approach that makes sense for an artist whose career has already moved through several forms. Gigi and her band were performing at weddings and debuts before the pandemic, when the cancellation of live events pushed them into livestreaming. Their online gigs eventually built a huge following, with Gigi’s rendition of Roselle Nava’s “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita” becoming the viral performance that brought her wider recognition. The momentum led to her self-titled debut album in 2022, which included original songs and two bonus tracks. Gigi co-wrote “O Bakit Ba” and “Letting Go,” while “Sakalam” became her debut single and other tracks became soundtracks for television and streaming projects. From covers to a voice of her own That first album already established Gigi as more than a cover singer, but she admits that putting her own compositions out into the world came with a different kind of pressure. She had written songs before but was afraid of being judged, something she connects to her tendency to please people and seek approval. That hesitation has eased. Gigi said she is preparing more original material that she describes as vulnerable because it draws from her own experiences, and she has become more accepting of the fact that not everyone will like what she creates. “Whether you like it or not, someone will love your song, someone will hate it. So, might as well just release it,” she said.
Gigi De Lana
A full album is being considered, although the current plan is to release more singles and possibly EPs. The format may be different from her first album, but the impulse is similar: to give listeners a clearer sense of the artist behind the voice. Cutting back on the pressure The same shift in self-assurance can be seen in Gigi’s appearance. She had wanted a pixie cut since 2016 but kept her long hair for years, partly because her mother had told her that it was her “crowning glory.” By the time Gigi finally cut it, however, the decision had become connected to a larger realization that she did not need to keep shaping herself around other people’s expectations. “I reached a point where I realized I don’t need to please anybody anymore,” she said. Some fans have told her they prefer her long hair, which Gigi understands. She even wears a wig sometimes because she misses it herself. The difference now is that other people’s preferences no longer determine whether she feels comfortable with the way she looks. There is also a more personal reason she has chosen to keep her hair short. Her mother used to brush and care for her long hair, so seeing it after her mother’s death became painful because of the memories attached to it. “Grieving is a long process,” Gigi said. “It is beautiful because you remember the person, you remember the feeling.” Making room for everything else The freedom Gigi is giving herself is not
limited to songwriting or her appearance. She has already tested other parts of show business, making her acting debut in Four Sisters Before the Wedding in 2020 and later taking on a lead role opposite Gerald Anderson in Hello Heart. She has also undergone acting workshops as she continued developing that side of her career. Now she wants to explore more acting, dancing, and theater, while continuing to move between alternative, rock and pop rather than settling into one genre. “I want to do anything because life is too short for me just to stay in one place,” she said. That willingness to experiment also informs her return to the concert stage. Gigi said she used to be preoccupied with hitting every note correctly and making sure a performance was technically perfect. She now wants to be immersed in the song and communicate its emotion to the audience. “When I’m on stage, I’m the song. I embody it,” she said. For someone whose reputation was built partly on vocal precision, accepting imperfection marks a subtle change in how Gigi understands performance. She has learned that a live show cannot always be flawless, and that the moments that deviate from perfection can sometimes make the experience more human. “When you do live, it’s not going to be perfect but it’s still perfect,” she said. “The imperfections, that’s what make the song perfect.” After years of making other people’s songs her own, Gigi is now working with
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SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 | soundstrip.businessmirror@gmail.com
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BUSINESS
WRITERS IN ANOTHER DIMENSION Ben&Ben’s Miguel and Paolo take leap from songwriting to storytelling Story and photos by Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
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elling a story through more than four-minute songs is not enough for Ben&Ben frontmen and twin brothers Miguel and Paolo Guico.
For years, the band was constrained to distill complex emotions and select only the “meatiest” narrative elements. Breaking out from that contained, tight structure of songwriting—saying more with less—the two ventured into book writing and launched the physical copy of their debut fantasy romance book, The Traveller Across Dimensions. “We feel a bit of imposter syndrome,” Miguel admitted to the audience present during their book talk at the Manila International Book Fair last September 12. “It’s our first time doing something like this. But then, what is creativity if not taking risks and trying out new things?” The book expands on the universe of their 2024 studio album of the same name and centers on Liwanag, a traveller who awakens and only remembers her name, consumed by a heavy internal anxiety and questions about her existence.
Saying more with more
CHARTING this new territory of book writing is a challenge, yet an exciting experience for the twins. The literary format provided a larger mirror to reflect human experience by breathing life into characters encountering new people, experiencing conflicts and resolutions unique to full-length book storytelling, Paolo said. With a song, Miguel said they only have three to five minutes to tell the whole story from the first verse down to the last note. “The difference with a book is that there is so much space to express the story and convey each idea,” Miguel said. “[It’s] also very challenging to get more out of you. Because if a song is how do you say more with less, for a book, it is how do you say more with more.”
The writing process
IT began with an unfinished set of songs alongside visual storytelling in 2024, Miguel told reporters in a separate interview. He was
actually the one who pushed to flesh out a full written story, as visual art and music alone left essential details unsaid. The storytelling process moved inward: the brothers wrote chapter summaries for each song, zoomed in to draft specific scenes and dialogue and gradually introduced new characters. This narrative construction created a two-way synergy with their music: the overarching story arc helped them finish incomplete songs, and the narrative’s conceptual ending directly dictated how they wrote their final songs. To turn their manuscript into a cohesive book, they sought the expertise of their former high school teacher, Ella Mallabo-Mutas, who is now dean of the College of Arts and Science at Manila Tytana Colleges, to sharpen their prose, interrogate character motivations, and deepen narrative logic. They also partnered with independent publisher 8Letters and Puppeteer Studios, a local animation studio, to produce animated music videos alongside the project. Beyond the songs and the book, Miguel said they share the dream of The Traveller Across Dimensions becoming a full-length animated film or series to fully convey the color, sound and narrative they want to express.
Liwanag’s journey
THE anxious traveller is drawn from the band’s listener community, called “Liwanag,” and their personal stories of struggle with heartbreak, grief, forgiveness, among others, Paolo shared during the interview. “Most of the time, our songs are about unprocessed struggles and eventually, rising above those hardships,” Paolo said. “Even if we only know them through messages, facing heavy struggles in life, love, friendship, work, or studies takes true courage, which inspired the character of Liwanag in The Traveler Across Dimensions.” For Paolo, how he wants the readers
Ben&Ben
of the book to understand the concept of struggle is not to put their identity in their suffering. “Don’t identify it with yourself. It’s such a sticky thing—suffering—that we tend to identify with it so much just because we endured it,” he said. “If you make it your identity, it will affect how you view life through the lens of the suffering that you went through 10 years ago—that’s still the lens that you see life right now.” In the story, Liwanag meets an older traveler named Gabay, who tells her that travellers pursue two goals: a “Big Dream,” or reaching the dimension of inner peace called Duyan, and a “Little Dream,” which is to be present with love.
She embarks on a journey to reach Duyan, and in her journey, she goes through three dimensions: Light, depicting innocence; Energy, representing struggle and pain; and Feel, portraying maturity and love. “The takeaway we wanted to share is that even if there are many things we worry about or fear that haven’t happened yet, and even if we have many ‘what-ifs’ and past regrets, perhaps the most important things in life are happening right in the present moment, and we shouldn’t forget to cherish that,” Miguel shared. “Big dreams are important, but the little dreams matter equally—and the point of all this is to be present with love,” he added.
China’s porcelain city carries centuries-old heritage to a new generation
CHINESE porcelain artist Chen Qing paints a vase in Jingdezhen, known as China’s “Porcelain Capital,” in eastern China’s Jiangxi province on Sept. 1, 2026. PHOTOS FROM AP by María Teresa Hernández
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The Associated Press
INGDEZHEN, China—Chinese porcelain artist Chen Qing has a vivid memory of her grandfather. It was the only time he wrote down the formula for her family’s distinctive red pigment. He asked her mother to memorize it and burned the paper minutes later. The secret has since been passed down orally from one generation to the next. “My mother did not reveal the formula to me until I was over 30,” Chen said. Her family has practiced the craft since around 1860 in Jingdezhen, known as China’s “Porcelain Capital.” It is located in Jiangxi province, about 1,180 kilometers (735 miles) southeast of Beijing. Jingdezhen’s pottery-making history spans more than 2,000 years dating back to the Han Dynasty, as its porcelain sites were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2026.
Small details take years to master
JINGDEZHEN’S craftsmen have kept alive techniques once used to produce porcelain for the imperial court. That knowledge later spread to private artisans. Chen’s ancestors adopted some of those traditions after the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. “The craft is very difficult for an outsider to master,” Chen said. “A family might spend nearly a century developing a single technique.”
Two tables in her studio are covered with brushes, unfinished pieces and pigments. She works in silence, a lamp lighting her strokes. Chen’s fingers never touch the porcelain’s surface. She steadies her hand against its outer edge, holding the brush firmly as she paints delicate, precise strokes. Painting a porcelain teacup can take days to complete. A single particle of dust or sweat could ruin the piece and require her to start from scratch. Landscapes are the most difficult scenes to paint because their boundaries are not clear. A mountain summit might be emerald green, gradually shifting to brown and other warmer colors farther down the slope. “Mastering a craft is a lifelong process,” Chen said. “Few people are willing to spend
A RESEARCHER examines a plate at the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Institute, which specializes in the research and restoration of ceramics excavated from the city’s historic imperial kiln sites in Jingdezhen, in eastern China’s Jiangxi province on August 31, 2026. is incorporating new technologies into its work, including artificial intelligence, to help match and reconstruct ancient porcelain fragments. “By the establishment of our ceramic gene bank, we can collect all kinds of information,” said the institute’s president, Weng Yanjun. “We hope that we can retrieve ancient technology with modern science.” That research can also shed light on the culture and beliefs that surrounded porcelain-making centuries ago. Among the tiles made at Jingdezhen’s imperial kilns were those used in the Bao’en Pagoda. It was part of a Buddhist temple complex that was destroyed during a 19thcentury rebellion in the city of Nanjing. Its exterior walls were covered with porcelain tiles, each bearing an image of the Buddha.
‘Some traditional rituals have faded considerably, yet in the hearts of craftspeople, that reverence remains.’
— Artisan Sun Lixin, a fourth-generation practitioner who learned the trade from his father at age 13 more than 10 years learning such a painstaking craft.”
Fragments of porcelain reveal a spiritual past
ARTISTS like Chen work alongside archaeological sites and museums to preserve China’s porcelain heritage. Jingdezhen’s Imperial Kiln Institute researches and restores ceramics excavated from an adjacent complex, where pieces for emperors were crafted in kilns whose remains are still visible today. The institute
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Traces of other religious traditions can also be found in porcelain studied by the institute, Weng said. “Islam, Buddhism, Taoism and, later on, European Catholic Christianity harmoniously blend into the porcelain decorations,” he added.
Porcelain-making was surrounded by its own beliefs
WITHIN Jingdezhen’s imperial kiln complex stands a shrine commemorating Tong Bin, the protective spirit of ceram-
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ics. Known as the “Immortal Master of Wind and Fire” or “Kiln God,” Tong was revered during the Qing dynasty for sacrificing himself in protest against the abuse of kiln workers, according to local tradition. The shrine remains open today, with a statue honoring Tong inside alongside figures representing other traditional roles in porcelain-making. “In ancient times, the technology was not as advanced as it is today, so, in many cases, people had to rely on their beliefs— their gods—to help bring good luck and better results,” Weng said.
How artisans today honor their craft varies widely
SOME Jingdezhen craftsmen say they hold no particular beliefs associated with porcelain-making. Others display figures of Budai—or the laughing Buddha—in their workshops as symbols of good fortune and prosperity. For artisans like master Sun Lixin, however, the work retains a spiritual dimension. He is a fourth-generation practitioner who learned the trade from his father at age 13. “Some traditional rituals have faded considerably,” Sun said. “Yet in the hearts of craftspeople, that reverence remains.” Every time he paints or fires a piece, Sun is mindful of the hundreds of millions of years of geological history the white clay has undergone before reaching his hands. He does not visit Jingdezhen’s shrine, but has a practice of his own. Sun instinctively bows to the Kiln God before a firing, wishing for it to be successful and for fine porcelain to emerge. “If we do not care for it, paint it with devotion and treasure it,” Sun said, “how could we possibly do it justice?” n Cover photo by YI REN on Pexels.com