By Kyodo News
LINAPACAN, Philippines—Two sis-
ters in their 80s of Japanese descent in the Philippines who had been stateless before being granted citizenship from
Japan last year met with their Japanese relatives for the first time Sunday.
The meeting between Esperanza Morine Cabrillos, 87, and Lydia Morine Galalan,
and their relatives
By Vince Lopez
RESIDENT Ferdinand
P“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last night to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit, where regional leaders are expected to draw up a collective response to the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff increases.
Before departing from Villamor Air Base, the chief executive revealed that informal consultations among ASEAN leaders are already in motion, signaling their intention to address the United States’ draconian trade policy shift as a bloc despite different tariff rates imposed on each member.
“I will add to that list of issues in the discussions with the Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia, specifically PM Anwar on the proper response of ASEAN as a group towards the new tariff schedule being imposed by the United
By Ram Superable
DESPITE a diplomatic rift over its refusal to extradite accused murderer, former Congressman Arnie Teves, Timor-Leste will continue to receive the Philippines’ support in its bid for full ASEAN membership.
“I think it’s also ASEAN’s intention, particularly that of the chair, Malaysia, for Timor-Leste to become a member as soon as possible. It’s probably one of the key deliverables of their chairmanship this year,” incoming
‘Supermajority’ assures Romualdez’ speakership
By Rio N. Araja
LIBERAL Party (LP) lawmakers have officially joined the expanding supermajority coalition in the House of Representatives, which supports Speaker Martin Romualdez’s continued leadership in the 20th Congress. Some 278 out of 285 House members signed formal declarations backing Romualdez’s continued speakership, according to Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez, including four out of six representatives from the LP.
Suarez said this development has cemented the broadening consensus across party lines, acknowledging the incumbent Speaker as the most unifying, competent, and effective choice to lead the chamber during the crucial second
RELIEF GOODS. Relief workers deliver goods by banca to flood-affected communities in
Joseph Muego/Office of Civil Defense
POPE Leo XIV on Saturday appointed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new titular of Albano, a suburbicarian diocese the pontiff himself once held before his election. Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, succeeds Pope Leo—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost—who had held the title of cardinal bishop of Albano since February 2025. Before his election as pope, Leo served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis.
The Diocese of Albano, located just outside Rome, is one of seven suburbicarian sees historically associated with cardinal bishops, the highest-ranking order within the College of Cardinals. Before receiving the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano, Tagle had served as cardinal priest of the Church of San Felice da Cantalice in Centocelle since 2012.
In 2022, Pope Francis elevated him to the order of cardinal bishops, assigning him to the same titular church. CBCP News
By Vince Lopez
MALACANANG has ordered law enforcement agencies to hasten the arrest of former police Lt. Col. Rafael Dumlao III who has been implicated in the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee2016 Ick Joo.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued the order last with a view to helping the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) maintain public trust and boost coordination with with international partners in the resolution of high-profile cases involving foreign nationals.
The killings and other cases were mentioned during a recent meeting between Philippine and South Korean officials, Bersamin said in an interview at the sideline of their meeting in Camp
Crame, Quezon City.
“There are other immediate [things] that are being discussed, that’s why I’m bringing this to your attention because it was in 2016 and this murder happened inside Camp Crame,” Bersamin said.
He added that he was surprised Dumlao had remained at large and that he decided a manhunt “is the only” solution to finding the cashiered police official.
“If he does not fully surrender, then he runs the risk of a full-scale manhunt,” Bersamin stressed.
He said there were no Immigration records showing Dumlao had left the country. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the possibility that Dumlao had snuck out.
‘Atin Ito’ volunteers sail away for 3rd WPS mission
By Rex Espiritu
By Rex Espiritu
THE Department of National Defense (DND) “will not coddle anyone” in the military who breaks the law, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Sunday.
The warning came days after two Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel filed rape charges against a major general.
The accused was reportedly placed under house arrest at an undisclosed military camp pending completion of investigation and subsequent trial of the case.
“We will not coddle anyone, and we will subject them fully to the process of law. He is currently facing criminal charges of which he will be submitted to the jurisdic-
tion of the court and likewise, military proceedings,” Teodoro told reporters.
Teodoro emphasized that he has not spoken to the PAF official accused of sexually assaulting male subordinates, noting that he has a role in deciding whether the officer will be retained or removed from the service.
“It is improper for me to talk to any accused in a case, particularly if one is facing a General Court Martial because
the findings of a General Court Martial before it is submitted to the President, I will have to review them to submit my recommendation,” he said.
“I will just leave the process to run its course, but there will be no interference from anyone. The process will be followed," he added.
The defense chief also urged lawmakers to amend the law requiring that military officials be tried in civilian courts during peacetime.
Teodoro explained that under the current law, the General Court Martial “is limited to removal” of a military official during peacetime, “because the only charge should be conduct unbecoming of an officer.”
“We want to retain jurisdiction so that it is stricter. The custodial rules under military law are stricter so they will not be allowed bail, if officers or members of the uniformed service like the Armed Forces are separated already, they are subjected to civilian processes where they can avail of bail,” he said.
Last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) found substantial evidence to proceed with a pre-trial investigation against the PAF official.
The accused denied the allegations, asserting that rape could not have occurred because the two alleged victims were physically capable of overpowering him.
By Othel V. Campos
“We’re not discounting that he’s no longer here,” he said.
Bersamin, who also chairs the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) .said a P1million bounty has been raised Dumlao’s arrest.
In 2024, the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the acquittal of Dumlao in the kidnapping with murder of Jee, and sentenced the policeman to life in prison. According to the Supreme Court, the CA 13th Division granted the petition of the government and sentenced Dumlao to capital punishment without eligibility for parole.
Jee was abducted from his Angeles City residence on October 18, 2016 by armed men purporting to carry out an anti-drug operation.
The victim was subsequently found strangled to death right inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame where his remains were burned and flushed down the toilet.
However, the crime resurfaced following a high-level inter-agency dialogue led by PAOCC Executive Director Gilberto Cruz on May 22.
The meeting at Camp Crame involved the PNP, the Korean Embassy, consular officials, and representatives from the Department of Tourism to closely coordinate the planning for the arrest and resolving of the case involving Filipino Police officials and Korean nationals.
“This emphasized that the (resolution) of every case greatly relies on the continual close coordination of all law enforcement and government agencies, whether at the local or national levels,” the PAOCC said.
Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartaez Jr., PNP deputy chief for administration, reiterated their “continuous commitment” on pursuing all leads and holding perpetrators accountable, citing close coordination among agencies as key to success.
The dialogue focused on crafting a unified response to the “increasingly violent acts centered on South Korean nationals,” especially in tourist-heavy areas such as Angeles City, Taguig City and Cebu City.
There were three recent incidents involving Korean nationals in the country; an armed robbery in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig last May 18; a robbery and attempted murder in Pampanga on May 7, and another case on April 21. In response, the PNP said suspects in the Pampanga incident have already been arrested after being identified through CCTV footage. Authorities confirmed the suspects were also linked to other robberies in the area.
Meanwhile, the Southern Police District (SPD), through the Taguig City Police Station, has its hands full solving a robbery case involving two Korean nationals on May 18 near One Park Drive, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Taguig police immediately initiated a coordinated investigation, including CCTV backtracking and extensive fieldwork across nearby areas.
According to the SPD, the operation led to the identification of suspects through surveillance footage and the rogue gallery.
“The victims positively identified the suspects during the gallery presentation, further strengthening the case,” the SPD said in their released statement.
THE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) has expressed strong support for the appointment of Mr. Raphael Lotilla as the new Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“We are confident that his extensive experience as a professor, lawyer, chief executive officer, legislative liaison, and Energy secretary will be invaluable in this new role,” the group said in a letter of support to Lotilla.
The organization said his broad ex-
States,” Mr. Marcos said.
While ASEAN remains a diverse group with varying trade dependencies, the Philippine leader stressed the need to build a regional consensus on addressing the changing economic landscape.
To recall, Philippine officials met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer early this month to tackle “mutually beneficial ways to strengthen the bilateral relations” amid the 17 percent tariff rate imposed by Washington on Manila.
The unexpected trade angle adds new urgency to the high-level meetings, which were initially framed around the summit’s core theme of “inclusivity and sustainability.”
Aside from working out emerging trade issues, Mr. Marcos said his ad-
pertise will be crucial in advancing the country’s minerals development sector.
“We are particularly excited to see under Sec. Lotilla’s leadership is the fruition of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s vision for maximizing the full potential of the Philippine minerals development industry in improving the lives of present and future generations of Filipinos without compromising the integrity of the environment,” COMP said.
The group also urged the new DENR chief to continue the initiatives of his predecessor, secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, particularly efforts
ministration would continue championing ASEAN’s central role in addressing regional challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea, the Myanmar crisis, and the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
“At this Summit, I will join fellow ASEAN Leaders in reaffirming our commitment to ASEAN Centrality as we navigate pressing regional and global challenges, including developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, threats to regional peace and maritime security, as well as the far-reaching impacts of climate change, economic volatility, and digital disruption,” the President said.
“I will also highlight the Philippines’ commitment to the development of a common regional framework for ethical and responsible Artificial Intelligence aligned with ASEAN values,” he added.
Mr. Marcos will likewise attend the
on creating an enabling environment for mining, streamlining permitting processes, and promoting investmentfriendly policies.
COMP pledged full support and cooperation, looking forward to working together on programs that boost the environmental, social, and governance performance of mining contractors through its Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) program.
The mining group extended its gratitude to secretary Yulo-Loyzaga for her service and wished her success in her future endeavors.
Plenary and Retreat sessions of the summit, meet with ASEAN parliamentarians, youth, and business leaders, and witness the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045, the Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed.
Also in his packed schedule is presiding over the 16th Brunei-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit and joining the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN-GCC-China Summits.
Possible additions to Mr. Marcos’ itinerary are bilateral meetings with leaders of Laos, Kuwait, and Vietnam. While the President is away, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was tasked to head the government’s caretaker committee, alongside Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Saturday evening. “I cannot speculate, but based on the discussions we have had, the outlook is positive,” she added.
The Southeast Asian nation declined to turn over Teves, who is facing multiple criminal charges in the Philippines, including his alleged involvement in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
The move drew criticism from Manila and nearly led to the withdrawal of Philippine support for Timor-Leste’s application to join the 10-member regional bloc.
Despite this, Philippine officials signaled over the weekend that they would not let the bilateral dispute derail broader regional goals.
Lazaro, recently appointed to lead the Department of Foreign Affairs, said the Philippines aims to build on the groundwork laid by Malaysia, this year’s ASEAN chair, ahead of Manila’s turn in 2026.
She emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships and regional cooperation, in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Timor-Leste currently holds observer status in ASEAN and is allowed to participate in all meetings, including summit plenaries.
In 2022, ASEAN leaders agreed in principle to admit the former Portuguese colony as the group’s 11th full member.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, said earlier this year that the bloc is targeting full membership for Timor-Leste by its second summit in October or November.
President Marcos is joining the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 26 and 27, where further discussions on the matter are likely to take place.
Lazaro is set to formally assume the DFA post on July 31, replacing outgoing Secretary Enrique Manalo, who has been appointed as the country’s next representative to the United Nations.
for the mission. The ship left Manila at approximately 6 a.m. and is expected to arrive in Palawan by Monday morning.
Ahead of the main mission, a predeparture musical event will take place in Palawan on Tuesday, May 27, before the coalition heads toward the vicinity of Pag-asa Island for a sea concert.
Volunteers aboard the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca have been setting up the concert stage and preparing materials for participants.
The event will feature a diverse lineup of performers, including Ebe Dancel, the all-women rock band Rouge, rap collective Morobeats, P-pop group
HORI7ON, Japanese artist Fumi, as well as Indonesian and Malaysian musicians Viona and Kai Mata. South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond is also set to join the highly anticipated event.
In addition to the musicians, the mission will bring together artists, fisherfolk, and civil society leaders from the Philippines and neighboring countries, fostering peace, dialogue, and cultural exchange.
“We aim to uplift coastal communities by amplifying the lived experiences and aspirations of our fisherfolk, and to foster regional harmony through shared cultural and maritime narratives. We will sail not with warships, but with songs; not with hostility, but with harmony and solidarity,” said Atin Ito convenor Rafaela David.
The Philippine Navy recently affirmed its support for the Atin Ito Coalition, stating that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomes civic group initiatives and is prepared to assist in their third civilian mission to the WPS.
Last year, on May 16, Atin Ito’s 10-member advanced team successfully navigated 25 to 30 nautical miles from the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc, breaking through China’s “illegal blockade.”
The team delivered essential supplies, including 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 food packs, to Filipino fishers in the area. Despite being closely monitored by a Chinese Navy ship (bearing body number 175), their efforts reached 144 Filipino fishers aboard six mother boats and 36 smaller fishing vessels.
from their Japanese father’s side came as this year marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and eight months after they were recognized as Japanese nationals.
The Naha Family Court in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture allowed the siblings in September to create a Japanese family registry after it confirmed that their father was a Japanese citizen and ruled they had Japanese citizenship since birth. Their father immigrated to the Philippines to become a fisherman before the war, according to the ruling. He married their Filipino mother in 1935 and died during the war in March 1945.
In an interview with a Tokyo-based civic group in 2023, the two residents of the island municipality of Linapacan, south of Manila, shared their difficult experiences after their father died, including hiding their Japanese identity amid anti-Japanese sentiment following the war.
The civic group, called the Philippine Nikkeijin Legal Support Center, has helped many Filipino-Japanese descendants in the Philippines in their decades-long fight to obtain Japanese citizenship. Nikkeijin refers to people of Japanese descent who reside outside their ancestral homeland.
half of the Marcos administration.
“Speaker Romualdez has earned the trust of the current and incoming members of the House through principled, results-oriented leadership. What we are witnessing is no longer just support from traditional allies. It’s a political groundswell cutting across the entire spectrum,” he added.
“The Speaker is also heeding the President’s call for results-oriented leadership, as demonstrated by the House of Representatives’ swift approval of the majority of priority measures aligned with the Chief Executive’s legislative agenda,” Suarez said further. The supermajority bloc includes
key parties, such as Lakas-CMD, Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc., and now, the LP.
For many lawmakers, the decision of the majority of LP members to align with Romualdez reflects recognition of the leadership maturity and policy competence needed at a time when effective lawmaking and institutional harmony must take precedence over political divisions.
“Leadership in the House is about bringing people together to pass meaningful laws. Speaker Romualdez has done that, time and again,” Suarez said.
“The unity we now see among House members reflects a collective commitment to stability, progress, and responsible governance under his steward-
ship,” he added. This comes after Suarez earlier declared that the race for the Speakership in the 20th Congress is effectively over, with Romualdez enjoying the clear support of an overwhelming majority.
“This is already a supermajority. It’s over. The Speaker has the numbers,” he emphasized.
Lawmakers have credited Romualdez’s leadership in the 19th Congress for the timely passage of national budgets, the advancement of vital economic reforms, and the House’s seamless collaboration with the executive branch — key reasons for the breadth of his support.
“He (Romualdez) has kept the House focused on outcomes that matter. That’s what institutions need—leaders who work quietly, but deliver consistently,” Suarez noted.
Meanwhile, political stability and the ensuing trust and confidence of the Filipino people can only be achieved when government leaders are held accountable for their actions, Stratbase Institute said as the Senate prepares to commence impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Accountability is the foundation of stable and credible institutions. Without it, there will be no public trust. The strength of our democracy lies in how well we hold those in power to account. This is how we create lasting political stability,” Stratbase President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said.
“The strength of our institutions is measured not by the authority, but by how openly and honestly authorities can be questioned, corrected, and held accountable for their actions,” he added.
THE National Food Authority (NFA) has called on traders not to shortchange farmers by buying palay or unmilled rice at lower prices, as the agency is now working to deploy more trucks to be able to acquire palay directly from farmers at better prices.
NFA administrator Larry Lacson said the NFA has monitored areas where traders have been buying palay from farmers at P11.50 per kilo, with some 32 other areas where buying prices have been reported at P13 to P15 per kilo.
“When I see that, I am saddened because they invest P12 to P14 [per kilo] then they are bought at P13 [per kilo]. In fact we have monitored P11.50 [per kilo], so I said this was not fair.” he told GMA Super Radyo DZBB over the weekend.
The agency buys clean and dry palay at P23 to P30 per kilo, and fresh and wet palay at P17 to P23 per kilo, according to the NFA’s Palay Procurement Activity dated April 18, 2024.
“There are many reasons. First of all, of course the traders know that the farmers do not have a place to sell as NFA warehouses are full. They will say ‘You have no one to sell to, NFA warehouses are full. Let me buy it at this price,” Lacson said “Secondly, you cannot deny the fact that world prices of rice are quite low, they have dropped, so the millers follow the world prices, so all of these are connected, but [let me] just call for the farmers not to be shortchanged,” he added
The NFA has already bought some 4.6 million sacks of rice, higher than the 3.6 million target of the agency, with the agency planning on procuring more.
By Rio N. Araja
THE bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) will proceed with its scheduled confirmation hearings for three Cabinet secretaries on June 3, despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent directive for all members of his official family to submit their courtesy resignations.
CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel made this clear on Sunday, noting that the process will move as scheduled pending President Marcos’ withdrawal of the concerned officials’ appointments.
“Unless the President formally withdraws the ad interim appointments of the three Cabinet members under review, the CA committees are expected to move forward with the hearings on June 3,” said Pimentel.
Before the President’s call for courtesy resignations on May 22, the CA had already scheduled three committee meetings to deliberate on the ad interim appointments of the following secretaries:
Uphold values
By Rex Espiritu
FILIPINO and American soldiers who gave their lives during the Second World War must be remembered by honoring and upholding the values they died for, United States Ambassador to the Philippine MaryKay Carlson said on Sunday.
In her speech during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery on May 25, Carlson honored Americans and Filipinos, who fought together to defend the Philippines during the 1940s.
“Eight decades ago, Americans and Filipinos fought side-by-side across this country in a campaign to
liberate the Philippines, restore freedom, and push back tyranny. Though they prevailed, many never returned home. Many rest here, and today, we honor them,” the US envoy said.
“In the darkest hours of the Second World War, Americans and Filipinos fought together – from Bataan to Leyte, from the jungles of Luzon to the heart of Manila. They endured unimaginable hardships: hunger, captivity, and bitter combat – but together, they resisted. Together, they liberated. Together, they gave hope by defeating tyranny,” Carlson added.
The seasoned diplomat urged the people of both nations to renew their
commitment to the ideals that the war heroes fought for. She reminded them never to forget the price these heroes paid for the freedom now enjoyed by present and future generations.
“As we stand among these white marble markers, let us remember the fallen and renew our commitment to the ideals they served – duty, honor, country, and the unbreakable bond between the American and Filipino people,” Carlson said.
“Let us remember them in silence or ceremony but also in how we live – in how we honor their legacy by upholding the values they died for: liberty, democracy, and peace,” she added.
LTO chief lauds conviction of 3 license fakers
LAND Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza II yesterday lauded the conviction of three people who were arrested in 2022 for falsifying driving certificates in Jaro, Iloilo City. The conviction of two women and their male cohort is a product of the intensified campaign against fixers and other people who are making money out of illegal activities using the LTO, he said.
harvest tobacco leaves in Agoo, La Union before the onset of the rainy season.
By Rex Espiritu
A C-130 plane from the Philippine Air Force transported early Sunday morning a total of 2,500 relief goods from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the families affected by recent severe flooding in Maguindanao del Sur.
The aircraft took off from the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City to assist the PCSO and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in delivering the aid to disaster-hit communities in the province.
About 270,005 people, which is equivalent to 54,001 families, are expected to benefit from the ongoing relief operations.
“The relief goods will be brought as additional support for those affected by
severe flooding in Maguindanao del Sur,” the OCD said on Sunday.
The items were packed in the socalled ‘ChariTimba’ of PCSO. These are buckets containing rice, instant noodles, canned goods and bottled water.
“This is the second tranche of assistance from PCSO for the flood victims of Maguindanao, in response to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to hasten the delivery of aid for the affected families,” the OCD added.
PCSO general manager Mel Robles said their “commitment is unwavering” in this mission.
“We will not stop until we see to it that all the affected residents have already received necessary food and medical assistance,” Robles noted.
“This will be a continuous operation in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon to ensure that only qualified individuals are granted the privilege to drive,” he said. Rio N. Araja
Anakbayan calls for end to water privatization
PROGRESSIVE youth group
Anakbayan is calling for a nationwide reversal of water privatization policies, citing widespread failures by private water utility PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.
“Water is a right, not a business. But in the Philippines today, millions are being deprived of this right as the privatization of water utilities, under the leadership of corporations like PrimeWater, owned by the Villar family, continues to ravage our communities,” it said in a statement.
Anakbayan on Sunday accused PrimeWater of worsening water access in over 100 service areas through public-private partnerships. The group pointed to recurring service issues such as dry faucets, unsafe drinking water and rising water bills across communities from Bulacan and Cavite to Leyte and San Jose del Monte.
Superable
Ram
PCG appoints new public affairs acting chief
PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has appointed PCG Spokesperson, Captain Noemie GuiraoCayabyab, as the new Coast Guard Public Affairs Service (CGPAS) Acting Commander.
During the turnover ceremony at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila, former CGPAS Acting Commander, Commodore Algier Ricafrente, relinquished his duties and responsibilities to Captain Cayabyab. Commodore Ricafrente currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for International Affairs, CG-5. He welcomed the newly installed CGPAS Acting Commander and expressed his gratitude to the PCG Commandant for his support, guidance, and confidence in the CGPAS during his leadership. Vince Lopez
CIDG nabs ex-PDEA agent preying on PCG applicants
OPERATIVES of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested a suspect for alleged extortion by soliciting P350,000 from each applicant for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The CIDG, in collaboration with the PCG Intelligence Division, apprehended the suspect, identified as alias “Morris,” in an entrapment operation along P. Campa St. corner España Blvd. in Sampaloc, Manila on May 22. Morris, also tagged as a former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent was collared while receiving money from PCG applicants, CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said in a press statement.
The applicants said Morris represented himself as having connections and influence in the PCG on account of his former job as a PDEA agent. Vince Lopez
4 Army soldiers wounded in clash with NPA rebels
THE Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division on Saturday saluted the heroism and sacrifice of four troopers who were wounded during an encounter against New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in remote Brgy. Hagpa, in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.
The clash unfolded following a tip-off from concerned villagers that sent troops from the 28th Infantry Battalion responding swiftly to area.
The insurgents fled at the height of the skirmish, the Army reported.
“Despite sustaining injuries while protecting the lives and freedom of others, these four soldiers under the 28th Infantry Battalion exemplified the highest standards of duty, resilience, and patriotism.” 4ID chief Maj. Gen. Michele Anayron Jr. said. Rex Espiritu
Imus gov’t hands out palay seeds to farmers
IMUS City farmers have received subsidies from the local government unit in terms of quality palay seeds and fertilizers meant to boost their farm outputs.
Mayor Alex Advincula on Saturday presided at the distribution of the palay seeds and 150 sacks of urea fertilizer to 130 farmers.
Government records showed that Imus has 567 hectares of rice fields in the city, plus 80-100 hectares are of farmlands planted with vegetables.
Advincula said the city government remained focused on food security and agricultural development. Dennis Abrina
By Vince Lopez
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) aim to tap the assistance of local government units in clearing communities of the drug menace pursuant to the call of President Marcos to go after small-scale drug dealers.
“The national and local elections are just over. We have newly elected mayors, councilors. We are going to capacitate them so that they understand that our fight against drugs should not only be viewed from a law enforcement per-
spective. We need the cooperation of all government agencies, especially our community,” PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in an interview on national television.
“There is wisdom behind this pro-
nouncement by our President. As he mentioned that small-time drug peddlers also need to be targeted, PDEA will follow that, along with other law enforcement agencies,” PDEA spokesman Joseph Frederick Calulut said.
The projected intensified drug campaign would be in line with the presidential directive to weed out community-based drug dealers without violating due process.
“So now, in the same vein, part of the lesson of this election, let’s go back to the grassroots level. If people are worried, saying, bring (drugs) back here, then let’s continue with the big drug
RUNNING FOR DEAR LIFE. The Pharmaceutical and
OVER 3,000 Manila residents composed of housing beneficiaries from the Old Sta. Mesa Zip project and other neighboring communities attended the recent 12th National Housing Authority’s People’s Caravan. An initiative of NHA general manager Joeben Tai, the “People’s Caravan: Serbisyong Dala ay Pag-Asa” aims to bring together public and
private entities to provide a variety of programs, services and goods closer to the agency’s resettlement sites.
NHA assistant general manager
Alvin Feliciano spearheaded the program with participants benefiting from almost 20 government and private institutions, such as the Philippine Statistics Authority, the National Bureau of Investigation, the
Philippine National Police, the PAGIBIG Fund, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Manila Civil Registry Office.
The caravan also offered medical and dental services involving eye check-ups and haircuts free of charge, along with distribution of medicine/vitamins from the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the Manila Health Department and the Mission to Serve Optical. The caravan has already reached out to some 50,000 beneficiaryparticipants across 11 resettlement sites within this year alone, further emphasizing the program’s vision of building sustainable communities for Bagong Pilipinas. Rio N. Araja
By Ram Superable
SENIOR Citizens party-list Rep. Ro -
dolfo Ordanes on Sunday called on the Senate to act with urgency on the long-delayed universal social pension bill, describing it as a “meaningful and doable legacy measure” for Filipino senior citizens.
“There is still time in the remaining session days. House Bill 10423, which seeks to grant a universal social pension to senior citizens by amending RA 7432, was approved by the House on May 21, 2024, and transmitted to the Senate the following day. It has been pending in the Senate for over a year,” he said.
Ordanes, chairman of the House Committee on Senior Citizens, appealed to Senate President Francis Es-
cudero to take the bill to the plenary before the end of the 19th Congress. House Bill 10423 seeks to provide a monthly pension to all senior citizens by amending Republic Act No. 7432.
The measure proposes a monthly stipend of P1,000 for indigent seniors and P500 for non-indigent seniors, with the latter amount increasing to P1,000 after five years.
According to Ordanes, the measure is not simply another financial assistance program, but a fiscally responsible initiative with a phased rollout to ensure sustainability.
He added that the universal social pension would “uplift the dignity and well-being of seniors, especially those who continue to be vulnerable to poverty and neglect.
busts,” Marcos said.
“Let’s continue… We will imprison those involved in drugs. But let’s look at the smaller offenders first,” he added.
Fajardo also said that they will participate in town hall meetings to enlighten local government officials on the state of the drug problem in their respective communities.
According to Fajardo, they would also orient police personnel on how to properly approach drug users and pushers, as well as on how to detect drug facilities and laboratories within their areas of jurisdiction.
Speaker warns of risks posed by weaponized AI
By Rio N. Araja
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has warned of the growing dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI) being weaponized to spread disinformation, influence politics, and undermine democratic institutions, even as he called for urgent global action and legislative cooperation on the issue.
Delivering a special address at the 29th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in Madrid on Thursday afternoon (PH time), Romualdez urged parliaments across the world to confront the “unseen battles” being waged through data manipulation, cyberattacks, and AI-generated propaganda.
“In an age when misinformation, cyber warfare, and AI disruption threaten the very fabric of our societies, the need for vigilance and unity among democracies has never been greater,” Romualdez said.
He cited the Philippine-led resolution during the 45th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, which called for coordinated national strategies on responsible AI use, aligned with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan. The measure, now adopted, encourages member-states to pursue AI innovation while protecting citizens from abuse and manipulation.
He underscored the role of lawmakers in ensuring that digital technologies remain tools for progress, and not weapons of division.
He called for more cross-border frameworks to regulate tech platforms, increase information literacy and build societal resilience against deepfakes and synthetic media.
“Forums like the PI-SF allow us to expand these initiatives globally. Here, we are not merely exchanging intelligence—we are building solidarity, mutual understanding, and the legislative muscle to defend freedom and prosperity in this rapidly shifting world,” the Speaker stressed.
THERE have been instances in history when despots did some drastic measures to preserve or enhance their continued power. These periods, and I will ask our readers to search these in the internet, have sometimes been called “the night of the long knives,” or purges. This is what our president sought to convey to the electorate, though he used a kinder term – “reset.”
The ostensible reason? Our president heard the loud voice of the electorate as evidenced by the results of the midterms.
He and his Alyansa fielded wellknown political brands: Lacson, Sotto, Cayetano, Binay, teleradyo favorite Tulfo, movie celebrities Revilla and Lapid, re-electionist Tolentino and his very own DILG secretary, Abalos, even the “pambansang kamao,” Manny Pacquiao. Their awareness level were in the high 90’s. “Formidable,” as Charles Aznavour would sing.
Arrayed against these “iconic” superstars were just two re-electionists, Bong Go and Bato, plus a lesser known Marcoleta who started out with 30 percent awareness along with singer-composerturned lawyer Jimmy Bondoc.
There was an imprisoned pastor who claimed “legions” of followers, a retired movie actor, a discarded executive secretary of the current president, and others whose names ring a bell perhaps only in their towns or provinces.
Plus, ne pas oublier, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, outliers from the pinklawan tribe whose names were household though. And then there were two defectors from the Alyansa, with high awareness as well, the president’s sister mismo and an heiress to vast family fortune, Camille Villar.
The odds were clearly stacked for the president’s chosen 12, later diminished into 10.
When the race began, the Alyansa clearly outclassed their rivals. Their resident pollster predicted a 10-2 sweep, with only Bong Go surviving, plus an independent Ben Tulfo. His worst case scenario had the clueless Revillame making it 9-3 for the Alyansa.
Congress through its Quadcomm and other “comites de pakialam” roasted over the coals the other half of the vaunted “Uniteam” which severely hurt the lady VP who to her eternal regret joined up with Marcos II in late 2021.
The trial by publicity engineered by the Torquemadas in the HoR did severe political damage to the vice-president, which of course further limited the chances of her father’s senatorial slate. But then again, whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.
Arrogance and hubris crafted a budget “most corrupt,” in the words of two of the Alyansa candidates: Imee and Ping.
Then, within eight hours of Feb. 5, just as Congress was to recess for the campaign, 215 congressmen signed without reading an instant impeachment complaint crafted in the dead of night. Do a time and motion exercise, and see what I mean.
They unanimously gave the lie to the president’s oft-repeated pronouncements that “impeachment would not improve the life of a single Filipino.” Ah! But it would fatten their pockets as the Alyansa campaign manager said for the record.
Bribed to sign, to put it simply.
Our president heard the loud voice of the electorate as evidenced by the results of the mid-terms
This was followed by a mysteriously insane political act a month later, when a beloved 80-year old former president was shanghaied into the enfeebled arms of an ICC which needed a shot in the arm to keep it alive, through concupiscence with a prosecutor who wanted to deflect attention from charges of sexual harassment. That turned strong waves of public disaffection into an emotional tsunami impossible to stop, and polarized the nation into a disaffected North reeling from economic problems and a raging South where salt was rubbed into wounds created by the impeachment of their favorite daughter.
In time, even the Alyansa coalition with the “mostest” in money and machinery, was deserted by El Presidente’s “manang,” – among Ilokanos, a term for an elder sister – and informally by another candidate.
Tables were instantly turned. Even the absentee votes from the soldiers and policemen who could not vote in their respective precincts made a complete shutout of the Alyansa and a loud shout-out for the Duter-ten, unknowns and imprisoned preacher selected.
Merveilleuse! As if getting Marcoleta, Imee and Camille squeak to victory on top of Go and Bato was not enough, a political resurrection for Bam and Kiko gave the dirty finger to the pollsters.
Malacanang was shell-shocked. To desperately try to snatch survival from defeat, the president does a “night of the long knives” and calls for the resignation, albeit “courtesy” of all in his Cabinet, later expanded to every other agency.
In our Thursday column, we will try to analyze what is turning out to be the night of “plastic” knives.
ANOTHER ally has stepped forward in the face of rising threats in the West Philippine Sea.
On May 14, the Philippines and Germany signed a landmark “Arrangement concerning Defense Cooperation.”
While the document itself outlines technical areas like cybersecurity, defense logistics, and peacekeeping, its broader message is unambiguous: the international community is watching, and it will not be silent in the face of Chinese aggression.
This agreement with Germany is a clear statement of solidarity between nations that believe in upholding international law, sovereignty, and promoting peace through collective strength.
It is also a strategic move by the Philippines, which is steadily diversifying its defense and diplomatic ties amid the escalating geopolitical tensions in the IndoPacific.
Just a few days ago, yet another confrontation erupted near Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea. According to reports, Chinese vessels engaged in dangerous and aggressive maneuvers, once again undermining the Philippines’ rights within its exclusive economic zone.
The incident drew strong condemnation from allies including the United States, Japan, and Australia—now joined by Germany, whose growing presence in
the region reflects a broader shift in Europe’s Indo-Pacific strategy. The Philippines-Germany defense agreement, forged days before this latest encounter, adds fresh weight to a growing network of security partnerships aimed at deterring peace threatening actions of Beijing.
The international community is watching, and it will not be silent in the face of Chinese aggression
It signals the Philippines has the support of responsible nations who abide by a rules-based international order.
This partnership also marks a milestone in the 70-year diplomatic relationship between Manila and Berlin.
For the first time, Germany has stepped into a more visible security role in the region: sending two navy ships to Manila after more than 20 years, participating in the Balikatan exercises as an observer, and preparing for future joint defense activities through the third Philippines-Germany Security and Defense Staff Talks.
This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: Generate a political cartoon in horizontal format of a brat wearing a grey polo barong, make him into a child with a big head and a small body as he is kicking and screaming, and crying. His face is scrunched and is beet red. His eyes are forcibly shut and streams of tears are jutting out. His tiny fist is holding a document titled ‘suspension of proclamation.’ He is screaming, ‘I’m gonna tell who are corrupt!’ The speech balloon is jagged. There are frenetic lines emanating from the screaming boy. There is a caption below that says, ‘Is he saying he represents the youth because he’s a brat?’
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expanded Thursday’s initial order for Cabinet members to turn in their unqualified courtesy resignations. Now, bureau chiefs and heads of agencies of the same rank are also being asked to step down.
According to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin who himself has been retained, the President is keeping Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go at their posts. The President has acknowledged their importance in the achievement of the country’s economic targets. They were retained so that “there will be no more problems with perception about where the country is going,” Secretary Bersamin said. Others have been replaced or reassigned.
These are strategic moves reflecting Germany’s recognition of the Philippines as a rising pillar in Indo-Pacific security.
In 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ visit to Manila—the first ever by a German defense minister—already highlighted this shift. His meeting with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro underscored Berlin’s commitment to real and tangible cooperation and led to the signing of the defense agreement.
Germany’s support also echoes its larger Indo-Pacific Strategy, which prioritizes maritime security, multilateralism, and upholding international norms.
As German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke noted at a recent forum organized by the Stratbase Institute, Germany stands with the Philippines in defending international law, freedom of navigation, and territorial sovereignty.
These are the foundational principles of peace and stability in a region that is increasingly being tested by power plays and gray zone tactics.
The rest are awaiting the President’s decision on their courtesy move, and while doing so shall perform their duties and functions until an announcement is made.
Nobody should take anything for granted.
Mr. Marcos called for the resignations supposedly to recalibrate the administration following the midterm elections held last May 12. As chief executive, this is his prerogative, as a member of Cabinet is his alter ego. The
The Philippines’ decision to pursue deeper defense ties with Germany is not about antagonizing China—it’s sustaining the region’s stability and safeguarding our national interest.
It’s about ensuring that Filipinos can look forward to a future where their country is secure, sovereign, and respected.
It’s also about asserting that the West Philippine Sea is not a lawless frontier, but a region governed by international rule of law, specifically the 2016 Hague arbitral ruling, which invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash line claim.
Once seen as distant from Europe’s strategic orbit, the Philippines is now recognized as a key player in the IndoPacific. Distance in no longer a barrier in the reality of a globalized, interconnected world where maritime security, trade routes, and the rule of law matters to all economies.
Germany’s deepening presence is not just about defending Philippine waters— it’s about defending the principle that might does not make right.
past years have been a good-enough gauge of how these handpicked officials reflect the President’s agenda. It’s a healthy practice, actually, not just in this instance. A regular assessment of officials’ performance is necessary so that nobody feels indispensable at one’s job, or identifies oneself too much with the position. Underperformance or under delivery are grounds for commensurate action. The gesture is called courtesy resignation to give the appointing power a free hand to do as he pleases. The real courtesy, however, is having the people in mind first and foremost. It is the people who deserve the best-performing leaders they could have in each aspect of governance and society. Decisions, then, as to who get appointed to the top posts in each agency should be based solely on the track record and qualifications of the officials being considered. The next three years of the administration will be of utmost importance. Filipinos have long aspired for better economics, better social services, and better infrastructure, among others. It is reassuring to think that nobody is taking anything for granted at this point.
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Country Director Daniela Braun rightly pointed out that Philippine-German relations have entered a new and vital phase—one rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose.
She highlighted Germany’s enduring commitment to peace and multilateral cooperation, while recognizing the Philippines as a rising defense partner with growing strategic relevance.
The Philippines is no longer merely reacting to provocations—it is proactively shaping the strategic environment. By expanding its circle of trusted defense partners, the country is sending a powerful signal: peace is not weakness, and diplomacy backed by unity is a formidable force.
As Stratbase Institute President Dindo Manhit succinctly put it, “The message is clear: responsible members of the international community such as the Philippines and Germany will continue to work together to ensure a free and open IndoPacific.”
That message must continue to resonate—not just in Berlin and Manila, but also in Beijing.
MONDAY MAY 26, 2025
Trump lambasts previous US policy in graduation
WEST POINT — President Donald Trump lambasted previous US leaders and policies in a campaign-style speech Saturday to graduating Army officers, underscoring his determination to remold the apolitical military to his right-wing ideology.
The address to newly minted junior officers at the famed West Point academy in New York featured the annual event’s traditional shout-outs to top students, jokes, and praise for the cadets’ sporting achievements.
However, the 78-year-old Republican, who has used the first four months of his second term to attack critics and concentrate power in the White House, quickly turned to edgier topics.
The blistering rhetoric got only muted applause from the rows of grey-uniformed cadets.
Justifying his isolationist policies and mistrust of historic US alliances, Trump said that for at least two decades, US leaders have “dragged our military into missions…, wasting our time, money and souls.” Troops were “led by leaders who didn’t have a clue in distant lands.” Trump also focused on his decision to rid the military of socalled DEI policies, which are meant to encourage participation by racial and sexual minorities in the ranks, including women.
The drive to rid the armed forces of what Trump derides as “woke” initiatives has also seen the removal from military academy bookshelves of scores of books that cover the painful US history of racism. AFP
After brief X outage, Musk refocusing on his businesses
WASHINGTON, DC — Social media platform X was hit by a two-hour outage Saturday, prompting owner Elon Musk to say he needs to spend more time focusing on his companies.
His statement echoed comments earlier this month suggesting he would reduce his role in US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The world’s richest person has an extraordinarily full plate as owner/CEO of X, xAI (developer of the AI-powered chatbot Grok), electric-car maker Tesla and rocket builder SpaceX -- not to mention his recent polarizing efforts to help Trump slash the size of the US federal government.
As backlash to those cuts grew and Tesla share prices slipped, Musk began drawing away from the government role, confirming last week that he was down to one or two days a week at the socalled “Department of Government Efficiency.” Still, the man who contributed more than $235 million to Trump’s election campaign remains a close advisor to the US president, attending an Oval Office meeting with the South African president on Wednesday. AFP
By Israelito P. Torreon
NOT all of us have heard the term mandamus before; for our brothers and sisters in the legal profession it is almost an everyday term we hear of – but what exactly is a mandamus – much more a continuing mandamus? Simply put, it’s a remedy which compels the performance of an act which the law specifically enjoins as a duty resulting from office, trust, or station, and that the court order granting the same is a pressing order until something that was asked for gets done. It’s a legal tool that’s been used for environmental issues – to push government agencies to act and uphold the law, which was seen in the landmark case of MMDA v. Concerned Citizens of Manila Bay (G.R. Nos. 171947-48, December 18, 2008). So, why should we not concertedly call to apply this to something just as important: our elections? Because if there’s anything more sacred in a democracy than the right to vote, it’s ensuring that our votes are counted fairly and accurately.
If there’s anything more sacred in a democracy than the right to vote, it’s ensuring that our votes are counted fairly and accurately
Constitutional duty of COMELEC
The 1987 Constitution clearly outlines the powers and duties of the COMELEC in ensuring that elections are conducted in a fair, orderly, and transparent manner. Specifically, Article IX-C, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution states: “The Commission on Elections shall have the exclusive authority to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall.” Furthermore, Article V, Section 1 of the same Constitution enshrines the right to vote for all Filipino citizens, making it the duty of the COMELEC not only to facilitate but to safeguard the integrity of this right by ensuring that every vote is counted accurately and fairly. Need for a continuing mandamus on electoral concerns
Let’s talk about the May 12, 2025 elections. I know that the majority of the Filipinos felt that the experience left a lot to be desired. From the onset, there were serious flaws in the system that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Although we had laws and regulations in place, they were either ignored or poorly executed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). For starters, we have the issue with overseas voting. Despite there being no law supporting the conduct of online voting, the COMELEC unilaterally decided to roll it out anyway, with-
DIPLOMATIC
KYIV — Russian strikes killed at least 12 people in Ukraine overnight into Sunday, officials said, as Kyiv and Moscow traded fire amid an ongoing major prisoner swap.
Ukraine’s emergency services described a night of “terror” as Russia launched a second straight night of major air strikes on Ukraine, including on the capital Kyiv, after pummeling the country with ballistic missiles and drones overnight Friday to Saturday. The latest fire comes as the two sides pur-
sue their biggest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in Feb/ 2022, and as the United States tries to broker a ceasefire to halt the three-year-old war.
The death toll from the latest Russian strikes included three children ages eight, 12 and 17, killed in the northwestern region of Zhytomyr, officials said.
Ukraine’s military said early Sunday it had shot down 45 Russian missiles and 266 attack drones overnight. Four people were also reported dead in the western Khmelnytskyi region, four in the Kyiv region and one in Mykolaiv in the south.
Emergency services said four people were killed and 16 injured in the Kyiv region, including three children, in the “massive night attack”.
AFP journalists heard explosions in Kyiv, with Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, warning “the night will not be easy.”
The capital was “under attack” but “air defenses are operating”, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Russian authorities meanwhile reported that a dozen drones flying towards Moscow had been downed.
In Moscow, restrictions were imposed on at least four airports, including the main hub Sheremetyevo, the Russian civilian aviation authority said.
The renewed attacks follow Ukraine’s air force on Saturday morning saying Russia had launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones overnight. AFP
out considering the legal framework laid out in Sections 23, 24, 25, and 27 of RA 10590. In short, they decided to implement something that wasn’t even authorized by law. This is a blatant oversight that undermines the trust we place in the election process.
Next, despite reiterative calls from the public for manual counting at the precinct level, as required by Section 31 of RA 9369 and Section 24 of RA 9369 for the random manual audit of election results, COMELEC refused to heed the voice of the people. Section 24 requires a random manual audit, not a full manual count, and this is a ministerial act that COMELEC is legally bound to implement. The aforementioned sections hereby states as follows:
“Sec. 24. A new Section 29 is hereby provided to reads as follows:
”SEC 29. Random Manual Audit. – Where the AES is used, there shall be a random manual audit in one precinct per congressional district randomly chosen by the Commission in each province and city. Any difference between the automated and manual count will result in the determination of root cause and initiate a manual count for those precincts affected by the computer or procedural error.”
Sec. 31. Section 25 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as follows:
”Sec 25. Manner of Counting Votes. – In addition to the requirement in the fourth paragraph of Section 12 of the Republic Act No. 6646 and Section 210 of the Omnibus Election Code, in reading the official ballots during the counting, the chairman, the poll clerk and the third member shall assume such positions as to provide the watchers and the members of the public as may be conveniently accommodated in the polling place, an unimpeded view of the ballot being ready by the chairman, of the election return and the tally board being simultaneously accomplished by the, poll clerk and the third member respectively, without touching any of these election documents. The table shall be cleared of all unnecessary writing paraphernalia. Any violation of this requirement shall constitute an election offense punishable under Section 263 and 264 the Omnibus Election Code.”The chairman shall first read the votes for national positions.
“Any violation of this Section, or its pertinent portion, shall constitute an election offense and shall be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa Blg. 881.”
Another issue we encountered was the disorganized transmission of the results to the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC). The law explicitly says the election results should be transmitted simultaneously to organizations like PPCRV, NAMFREL, and the media, but instead, the results were first sent to a data center, consolidated, and then sent off. Why? Why break the system that’s supposed to ensure transparency? What are they hiding?
Section 7 of RA 9369, also requires that the automated election system must meet specific minimum system capabilities, including adequate security, accuracy in vote recording and transmission, error recovery, voter verified paper audit trails, and many other requirements.
Section 7 provides as follows:
Sec.
(a) Adequate security against unauthorized access:
(b) Accuracy in recording and reading of votes as well as in the tabulation, consolidation/ canvassing, electronic transmission, and storage of results;
(c) Error recovery in case of non-catastrophic failure of device;
(d) System integrity which ensures physical stability and functioning of the vote recording and counting process;
(e) Provision for voter verified paper audit trail;
(f) System auditability which provides supporting documentation for verifying the correctness of reported election results;
(g) An election management system for preparing ballots and programs for use in the casting and counting of votes and to consolidate, report and display election result in the shortest time possible;
(h) Accessibility to illiterates and disable voters;
(i) Vote tabulating program for election, referendum or plebiscite;
(j) Accurate ballot counters;
(k) Data retention provision;
(l) Provide for the safekeeping, storing and archiving of physical or paper resource used in the election process;
(m) Utilize or generate official ballots as herein defined;
(n) Provide the voter a system of verification to find out whether or not the machine has registered his choice; and
(o) Configure access control for sensitive system data and function.
“In the procurement of this system, the Commission shall develop and adopt an evaluation system to ascertain that the above minimum system capabilities are met. This evaluation system shall be developed with the assistance of an advisory council.”
However, COMELEC failed to ensure that ALL these capabilities were met.
The automated counting machines (ACMs) likewise lacked the necessary international certification three months prior to the elections, as required by law. Section 11 of RA 84336, as amended by RA 9369, requires that a certification be issued by the technical evaluation committee (TEC) stating that the automated election system (AES), including its hardware and hardware components, is operating properly, securely and accurately three months before the elections. However, TEC has only issued the required certification for the 2025 AES only on April 30, 2025. Merely two weeks shy of the election day.
It bears emphasis that these not mere technical errors. These are intentional and they strike at the very foundation of our democracy—the right to a fair and transparent election.
But, why should we care?
The answer to that is simple. This isn’t just about a few technical errors or some minor glitches in the system. This is about both our constitutional rights in the governance of our nation and the personal rights we exercise as individuals. When we cast our votes, we should be sure that they’re being counted as we intended. We should trust that the system in place is fair, transparent, and up to date. Without these checks in place, what happens next time? Will we have another election where people lose faith in the system?
Certainly, when the mechanisms designed to protect the fairness of our elections fail, the very
foundation of our democratic system is at risk because the integrity of our elections is paramount in any democracy. Without it, the very foundation of our democratic rights is shaken. When trust in the system erodes, it could lead to lower voter turnout and a general sense of disenchantment with the political process.
The Concept of a Continuing Mandamus in the Philippines
The concept of a continuing mandamus first appeared in the case of MMDA v. Concerned Citizens of Manila Bay (G.R. Nos. 171947-48, December 18, 2008). This decision laid the groundwork for the institutionalization of A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC (Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases), which has since been applied primarily in environmental cases. In 2023, the Supreme Court limited the application of the writ of continuing mandamus in the case of Baquirin v. Dela Rosa (G.R. No. 233930, July 11, 2023), stating that the writ applies only to environmental concerns and cannot be invoked to compel the investigation of antiillegal drug operations.
In Baquirin, the petitioners, both concerned citizens and members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, argued that the respondents (heads of the Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, and Commission on Human Rights) had failed to properly fulfill their duties to prevent violations of the right to life and to investigate and prosecute such violations in the context of government anti-illegal drug operations like Oplan Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel. The petitioners sought a writ of continuing mandamus to direct the respondents to: (1) investigate allegations of extrajudicial killings under these operations, (2) prosecute those responsible, (3) and submit regular reports to the Supreme Court on the number of extrajudicial killings, the progress of investigations, and measures to prevent further violations. However, the Court denied the petition, explaining that a writ of mandamus can only be granted when it is shown that a legal duty has been unlawfully neglected. To issue such a writ, the following must be established: (1) a clear legal right belonging to the petitioner, (2) a corresponding duty of the respondent to perform an act required by law, (3) a failure of the respondent to perform that duty, (4) the duty is ministerial (not discretionary), and (5) no other remedy is available in the ordinary course of law. In the end, the Court found that the petitioners failed to prove that the respondents had neglected their duties. Specifically, the petitioners could not establish that the heads of the PNP, DOJ, and CHR had failed to take necessary action in relation to the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. While the Court is correct in saying that the writ should not be used for investigative matters, as in the Baquirin case, its pronouncement that the writ is strictly confined to environmental concerns seems overly restrictive. The writ’s potential goes beyond just environmental matters. In limiting the application of continuing mandamus to environmental cases based solely on its inclusion in A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC, the High Court seems to be placing an artificial restriction on its own powers—powers that should be able to adapt to the evolving needs of the nation. This limitation is particularly striking when we consider that the concept of a continuing mandamus was essentially spun “out of thin air” in MMDA v. Concerned Citizens of Manila Bay prior to the institutionalization in A.M. No. 096-8-SC.
The use of continuing mandamus in India
The potential of continuing mandamus extends far beyond environmental cases. For example, in India, a continuing mandamus has been utilized in cases involving fundamental rights and freedoms. In the case of Vineet Narain v. Union
The Supreme Court of India, recognizing that the mere issuance of a writ of mandamus would not suffice due to persistent executive inaction, adopted the procedure of continuing mandamus to ensure effective discharge of public duty by the CBI and other governmental agencies, free from political bias and influence. Acknowledging the
continuing mandamus as a special legal tool forged to address the unique problems in relation to other fundamental rights, then we could see its broader application. After all, the concept of a continuing mandamus wasn’t created just for environmental concerns, and members of the legal profession will agree with me that
PETRO Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle remained undeniably sharp throughout the entire season — and now, she’s poised to reap the rewards of her outstanding campaign as the first-ever Season Most Valuable Player award at the inaugural Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night.
Van Sickle, the driving force behind the Angels’ triumphant end to Creamline’s dominant AllFilipino Conference reign, will claim the highest individual honor presented by Arena Plus on May 28 at the Novotel.
The 27-year-old outside hitter was a steady, cutting force for Petro Gazz on both ends of the floor, helping the Angels slice through the competition all the way to the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino crown—and ultimately deny the Cool Smashers their fifth-straight title in the all-local tilt.
Van Sickle topped the voting with a weighted score of 227.6 points, calculated from 50% statistics, 30% media votes, and 20% team votes. She earned 116.3 statistical points, 66.3 media votes, and 45 points from coaches and team captains — more than enough to edge out Creamline’s MVP duo of Bernadeth Pons and Michele Gumabao. Reinforced Conference MVP Pons placed a close second with a total of 205.6 points, built on 122.8 statistical points, 50.4 from the media, and 32.4 from coaches and team captains. Meanwhile, Invitationals MVP Gumabao settled for a distant third with 151.4 points, drawn from 92.5 statistical points, 35.1 media votes, and 23.8 team votes.
It was a season of highs and lows for Petro Gazz.
The Angels saw their ‘three-peat’ bid shattered in the Reinforced Conference quarterfinal and missed out on the mid-year Invitational tilt.
But Petro Gazz came back sharper and more determined than ever with Van Sickle leading the charge, capping a six-month grind with a triumphant run in the all-local contest. The Angels proved they had what it took to rise and finish strong, even after a stumble.
Amid the twists and turns of their roller-coaster season, the Hilo, Hawaii-born spiker remained a steady presence. Her impeccable performance was one of the reliable constants Petro Gazz could count on through every exhilarating high and challenging low.
THE Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards extended their hot streak with an 88-52 drubbing of the Marikina Shoemasters on Saturday in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Led by Robby Celiz and Will McAloney, all but one of the 15 players fielded by Coach Don Dulay scored as the Rice Vanguards cruised to win No. 12 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Nueva Ecija is ahead of Abra (11-1), San Juan (10-1), and second and fellow winners Quezon Province (10-2) and Muntinlupa (10-2) in the race for playoff berths.
The Quezon Huskers battered the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys from the start before coasting to a 96-78 victory in the nightcap, while the Muntinlupa Cagers subdued the Quezon City Galeries Taipan, 75-68, in the second game.
Way ahead, 68-40, the Huskers sealed the Cowboys’ seventh loss in 13 starts with four straight triples, the first by local idol Topeng Lagrama, second and third by Emman Tagle and the last by Jason Opiso, against a triple by Ilagan’s Allen Mina, and an 80-43 buffer after three quarters. Judel Fuentes, despite getting ejected with Ilagan’s Allan Santos following a double disqualifying foul midway through the second quarter, scored 17 and handed 2 assists for Quezon, which got 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists from JP Sarao and 11 points plus 4 rebounds from Ximone Sandagon.
JP Sarao of the Quezon Huskers
PARIS—Roland Garros will pay tribute to its greatest champion with a ceremony for the retired Rafael Nadal on Sunday, while Aryna Sabalenka gets her French Open campaign up and running on the opening day of the tournament.
Nadal, the record 14-time champion on the Paris clay, retired from tennis last November after an illustrious career.
He returns to Court Philippe Chatrier a year after suffering a first-round exit at the hands of Alexander Zverev in what proved to be his final French Open.
The Spaniard finished with a remarkable 1124 win-loss record at Roland Garros, dominating the tournament since winning the title on his debut in 2005.
Nadal hung up his racquet following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, initially denying him an opportunity to wave goodbye to his adoring fans in Paris.
His tally of 14 victories at a single Grand Slam
appears unlikely to be beaten, with Margaret Court’s 11 Australian Open titles second on the all-time list.
Nadal’s heir apparent Carlos Alcaraz will start his title defence next week as a slight favourite to become the first man to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires since his compatriot’s retirement.
Victory over world number one Jannik Sinner in last weekend’s Italian Open final gave Alcaraz the second seeding for Roland Garros.
That raises the possibility of the world’s top two players meeting in a Grand Slam final for the very first time on June 8.
“I think for the people, for the tennis fans, I think it’s great to have a match-up from some players that make them excited about watching that
match,” Alcaraz told his pre-tournament press conference of his budding rivalry with Sinner.
“I think for the people and probably the people who don’t like watching tennis, I think (our rivalry) is something that because of that (they have) started to watch tennis.”
Novak Djokovic will launch his sixth bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam triumph against American Mackenzie McDonald, fresh from lifting his 100th ATP title in Geneva.
The 28-year-old became just the third man to reach a century of tournament victories, after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in a three-hour epic in Switzerland on Saturday. But questions remain about Djokovic’s form after losing in his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid to Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi respectively.
The Serb faces a difficult draw, with last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev a potential quarterfinal opponent and Sinner possibly waiting in the last four. AFP
HORSE Owner/Breeder Benhur Abalos Jr. reaped unparalleled success in the recent 27th Philtobo Gintong Lahi Awards.
Besides securing the honor as Owner of the Year hands-down, Abalos brought home six more awards convincingly earned by his champion horses during the awards night recently at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at Mckinley Hill Village, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
``I’m very grateful and honored for these recognition. Buong puso naming ipinagmamalaki at ibahagi sa inyo ang aming karangalan upang maghatid ng inspiration sa Philippine horse racing industry,’’ said Abalos.
The former Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government likewise saw his winning thoroughbreds earn the accolades they truly deserve.
Batang Manda was named Horse of the Year and Low Profile received the Stallion of the Year award while Palauig (Champion Sprinter), El Jaleo (Champion Two-Year-Old Colt) and Open Billing (Champion Older Horse) were also honored.
That’s apart from another award that Batang Manda obtained as the solid choice for Champion ThreeYear-Old Colt trophy.
``Sama-sama tayo sa progress ng pag-produce ng mga champion na kabayo upang makasabay tayo
at lalo pang lumakas ang ating industriya. Hindi lang sa local, pati na rin sa international at para magbigay ng inspirasyon sa younger generation,’’ said Abalos.
For nearly two decades, the horse owner/breeder Abalos has become a
THE race to the ICTSI Junior PGT Elite Junior Finals intensifies as Luzon’s top young talents head to Caliraya Springs Golf and Country Club for the fourth leg of the Luzon Series, which tees off earlier than expected this Wednesday (May 28) in Caliraya, Laguna. With national finals berths at stake, the pressure is on for elite junior golfers as they vie for ranking points and division titles in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Juniors PGT Championship –part of the nationwide series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI). Fresh off his victory in the Sherwood leg, Patrick Tambalque leads a stacked boys’ 1518 division. Expect fireworks as he takes on a powerhouse field that includes Zachary Villaroman, John Paul Agustin, Geoffrey Tan and Enzo Chan, along with promising newcomers Kristoffer Nadales, Nathan Belandres and Vincent Ilagan.
Meanwhile, the girls’ premier division is set for another dramatic showdown. Levonne Talion and Rafa Anciano, fierce rivals throughout the season, are locked in a gripping battle for dominance.
Talion staged a sensational eight-stroke comeback to edge Anciano in a suddendeath thriller at Eagle Ridge in April, but Anciano bounced back with strong performances at Sherwood Hills and a dominant win at Splendido Taal – where Talion was absent – making her the frontrunner heading into Caliraya. The boys’ 11-14 division also promises tight competition with Race Manhit, Jacob Casuga, Inigo Gallardo, Jose Luis Espinosa and Matthias Espina poised for a close fight. On the girls’ side, expect an exciting clash featuring Alexie Gabi, Kelsey Bernardino, Eliana Dumalaog, Annika Abad
and Kendra Garingalao.
In the youngest age group (7-10), Winter Serapio aims to finally clinch her first title after finishing third at Sherwood and runnerup at Splendido. She’ll need to overcome tough competition from Tyly Bernardino, Tyra Garingalao and Penelope Sy, who’s also chasing a breakthrough after back-to-back third-place finishes.
On the boys’ side, two-leg winner Zach Guico seeks to complete a hat trick as he fends off challenges from Asher Abad, Kenzo Tan, Alexian Ching and Connor Sy. The Luzon leg is part of a broader talent search initiated by ICTSI in 2023 to identify and develop promising young golfers nationwide. Following three successful Luzon legs, the Visayas-Mindanao Series kicked off earlier this month with the JPGT Mactan Island Championship.
beacon of success to a vibrant Philippine racing industry by consistently developing a parade of champion horses in the sport of kings. So it really came as no surprise when the former Mandaluyong City mayor was recognized as the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Horse Owner of the Year early this year.
Abalos has produced four Presidential Gold Cup winners from his stable, the most recent of which was Batang Manda in December last year that likewise installed the latter as the PSA Horse of the Year. Abalos first won the prestigious PGC in 2008 with jockey Kelvin Abobo followed by Hagdang Bato twice in 2012 and 2014 guided by jockey Jonathan Basco Hernandez before Batang Manda accomplished the feat again last year.
``Masuwerte ako dahil nabiyayaan ako ng magagaling na kabayo upang maka-apat akong Presidential Gold Cup, sina Ibarra, Hagdang Bato at Batang Manda,’’ said Abalos during the PSA Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.
MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
HOUSTON–Germany’s Matti Schmid and American Ben Griffin each fired a two-under par 68 to share the lead after Saturday’s third round of the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge.
Schmid, chasing his first PGA title, and Griffin, who captured his first victory in a pairs event last month, both stood on 13-under 197 after 54 holes at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I’m a PGA Tour winner now, so that helps. Going into tomorrow very confident,” Griffin said. “I feel like I’m in a really good spot. It seems like me and Matti are going to duel it out a little bit tomorrow, at least try to take advantage of our leads.
“So the pedal is going to be down. I’m excited to get back out there. Excited to go at it and see what I can do.” American Rickie Fowler was third on 201 after a 67 with Scotsman Robert MacIntyre and Americans Nick Hardy and Akshay Bhatia on 202 and world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a pack sharing seventh on 203.
“I think I’ll have an outside chance,” Scheffler said. “I’ll see if I can get out a little earlier than the leaders and post a number.” Schmid’s best career PGA Tour finish is third, which he has managed three times, most recently last October in Las Vegas.
“A lot of things could happen, so I was just focused on my game trying to execute as good as I can,” Schmid said. “I’ve had a few close calls also on the European Tour. I also played some nice final rounds this year too, so hopefully I can just put one more up there tomorrow, and hopefully that’s enough.” Griffin took his first PGA title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans pairs event with Andrew Novak and comes in off his best major result, a share of eighth at last week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
There was drama late as Schmid sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the parthree 16th to grab the solo lead while Griffin went over the green at 16 but sank a par putt from just beyond seven feet to stay within one. But the German found trees left off the 17th tee and punched out into the fairway on his way to bogey, salvaging that on a 13-foot putt to share the lead. Both closed with pars to stay tied at the top as they were when the day began.
GENEVA—Novak Djokovic became just the third man to win 100 ATP titles with a typically dramatic comeback victory over Hubert Hurkacz in the final of the Geneva Open on Saturday. The 38-year-old, playing in Switzerland in a bid to find form ahead of the French Open, recovered from losing the first set to clinch a 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2) win after three hours and five minutes on court.
Djokovic joins Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only players with a century of tour titles.
“I had to work for it, that’s for sure. He was probably closer to the victory the entire match than me,” said Djokovic, who is the first man to win titles in 20 consecutive years.
“I was just trying to hang in there... this is what happens at this level. A few points decide it, an incredible match... and I’m delighted to clinch the 100 here.”
It was the former world number one’s first tournament triumph since clinching his maiden Olympic gold medal against Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Games last summer.
Djokovic had lost both of his previous matches on clay this season prior to the Geneva tournament, against Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi at the Monte Carlo and Madrid Masters respectively.
But he decided to play at the lowkey clay-court event in a bid to find form ahead of the start of the year’s second Grand Slam event on Sunday at Roland Garros, where the Serb will be targeting a record-breaking 25th major singles trophy.
It was Djokovic’s first tournament since splitting from coach and old rival Andy Murray, but he showed no ill-effects. AFP
By Peter Atencio
LAOAG City—Eighteen gold medals will be at stake when action in athletics and the demonstration sport of weightlifting get going at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa here on Monday.
Sixteen gold medals will be up for grabs in track and field, with the first coming from the secondary girls’ 3000-meter event at 6 a.m. at the Ferdinand Marcos Stadium stadium, the main venue of the games.
The next gold medals will come from the elementary boys’ long jump, the elementary girls’ discus throw, the secondary boys’ long jump and the secondary girls’ discus throw.
At the Laoag Central Elementary School, medalists will be declared following the staging of the 48kg boys’ event and the 40-kg girls’ category matches in weightlifting, which will be run by Olympic gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz.
Weightlifting, which makes its debut appearance in the games, has been included in the calendar, due to its potential of delivering honors for the Philippines in the international stage, like Diaz, who won the country’s first gold medal in the
By Randy M. Caluag
THE Philippines posted a lopsided
just seven points, 67–60, heading into the final period. During that crucial stretch, Supreme Court Justice Midas Marquez emerged as a key contributor, hitting back-to-back three-pointers and sending a sharp bounce pass to Gilbert Malabanan to keep Mongolia at bay.
and the community to see weightlifting in the Palarong Pambansa “said Diaz, following a visit at the early morning training sessions.
Seventy athletes from nine regions have joined in the 10 weightlifting categories for secondary boys and girls.
Regional bets from Southern Tagalog, who came up with outstanding finishes in the recent National Open, are expected to shine in middle distance running events of athletics.
Thirteen-year-old Pearl Asilo, a Grade 7 National Academy of Sports student, who came from the province of Misamis Occidental, is projected to make a mark in the late afternoon elementary girls’ long jump action In the last National Open in Capas, Asilo, won the gold medal in the women’s under 18 events, with a 5.27-meter leap.
This was higher than the jump of 17-year-old Ma. Cristina Indaya (5.10) and University of Santo Tomas Rica Clavell (5.10).
Sixteen-year-old Khiane Manicad, who came up
IN a historic moment for Philippine sports, businessman, lawmaker, and sportsman Mikee Romero has galloped into prominence — becoming the first Filipino to break into the Top 25 of the World Polo Tour (WPT) amateur rankings. Romero now stands at World Rank No. 24, with 110 WPT points earned through his debut at the 2025 Gauntlet of Polo, the most prestigious and demanding polo series in the world. With this feat, he not only became the highestranked Filipino in WPT history, he also surpassed Thailand’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Brunei’s Mateen Bolkiah to become Southeast Asia’s top amateur polo player.
The Gauntlet of Polo—often called the “Olympics of Polo”—is held at the National Polo Center in Florida and comprises three iconic tournaments: the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup, and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
For more than a century, this hallowed turf has been the playground of Argentine, American, and European titans. But in 2025, the thunder of Filipino hoofbeats broke through the silence, rewriting history in a sport once thought out of reach by Southeast Asians.
“It still feels surreal,” Romero said. “To be among the Top 25 is a huge honor—but it’s more than a personal milestone. This is a triumph for every Filipino who dares to dream, for a nation that never had a place on this field—until now.” Romero’s GlobalPort Polo Team delivered one of the Gauntlet’s most unexpected and inspiring runs. They toppled global powerhouses La Dolfina/Tamera and Park Place—teams that eventually claimed the series’ top honors. GlobalPort surged to the semifinals of the C.V. Whitney Cup, came within striking distance in the USPA Gold Cup, and fell heartbreakingly short in the US Open quarterfinals, losing 11–10 to La Dolfina/Catamount after leading by a goal with just 80 seconds remaining.
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects to further reduce the reserve requirement ratios (RRRs) next year, according to Governor Eli Remolona Jr.
“Maybe next year, because we’re trying to make the yield curve more reliable, which means managing liquidity in the system better than we have,” Remolona said.
“And that the reserve requirement is a factor in that. So far, we’ve been trying to manage liquidity by issuing our own BSP bills. We’ve been issuing large amounts of BSP bills in an effort to absorb the liquidity in the system,” he said.
Remolona said the reserve requirement cuts would expand liquidity in the system.
“So we’re trying to manage that. We might start issuing BSP bills. An alternative to that is selling the treasury securities that we hold. That has the same effect on liquidity,” he said
The BSP, on Feb. 21, 2025, reduced the RRRs by 200 basis points (bps)
for universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) and non-bank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions (NBQBs); 150 bps for digital banks; and 100 bps for thrift banks (TBs).
The reduction brought the RRRs of U/KBs and NBQBs to 5.0 percent; digital banks to 2.5 percent; and TBs to 0.0 percent. The new ratios started on March 28, 2025 and would apply to the local currency deposits and deposit substitute liabilities of banks and NBQBs.
The BSP also signaled to investors and analysts in Milan, Italy that it is considering more interest rate cuts amid a favorable inflation outlook,
which supports investment and growth.
“Moving forward, the Monetary Board will be assessing if there is room to continue the shift to a more accommodative stance,” Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald Abenoja said during the Philippine Economic Dialogue (PED) on May 6, 2025.
“It will help support consumption moving forward. It will help investment activities. It will help credit activity to spur and support economic activity,” said Abenoja who was promoted to deputy governor on May 19, 2025. He was assistant governor during the Philippine Economic Dialogue in Italy.
borrowing rate Reserve requirement of big banks Reserve requirement of digital lenders
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) will start the consultations on the proposed Metro Rail Transit Line 4, a fully-elevated railway masstransit system serving the eastern side of Metro Manila and the highlypopulated areas of Rizal province.
The DOTr said it is inviting all interested local and international consultants/companies to participate in the market engagement conference for the project management consultancy of the MRT Line 4 project. It aims to ascertain the level of interest of the local and foreign consultants for the project. The Conference will be hosted by the DOTr in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank on June 4, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. at EDSA Shangri-La Manila in Mandaluyong.
The government is seeking a $1-billion loan from the ADB to finance the planned mass transport system that will run from San Juan City to Taytay, Rizal.
The 15.56-kilometer MRT4 would have 11 stations, two other provisional stations in the future and a barrierfree design to allow inclusive access. It is expected to address the transport bottleneck along Ortigas Ave.
The ADB said the MRT4 project would provide a reliable, rapid, affordable and safe public transport and would reduce traffic congestions and commute/travel times from Taytay to the Ortigas CBD from one to three hours by road to less than half an hour by rail.
It will also maintain the higheconomic growth and inclusive urban development of eastern Manila, the Ortigas CDB, Pasig City and the neighboring Rizal province, the ADB said.
Once fully operational, the P59.3billion MRT-4 system could run 80 kilometers per hour at maximum speed and a commercial speed of 25 kilometers to 40 kilometers an hour.
Darwin G. Amojelar
By Jimmy L. Montejo
(Second of two-part series)
Federico “Piki” Lopez, chairman and chief executive of listed First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) and a third-generation top-level manager of the family-owned conglomerates, professes that he felt so at home in the water world.
“I grew up a competitive swimmer and my dearth of academic honors was way compensated for by the profusion of competitive swimming medals and records broken,” Lopez said in a speech before the Management Association of the Philippines after accepting the Management Man of the Year Award in 2020.
“Water was always my element which later translated to a love for the sea. I ruefully admit though that in my earlier days as a scuba diver, I was also an avid spear fisherman, and we’d justify this by claiming that we’d spear only what we’d eat,” he said.
He vividly recalled, in the same speech, his incredible experiences with notoriously ferocious man-eaters of the oceans but amazingly were not on a feeding frenzy at the time.
He narrated that while spearfishing off the Verde Island Passage in Batangas, a 14-foot hammerhead shark came dangerously close to him.
“Fortunately, I wasn’t on this shark’s menu and had no bloodied fish to defend against this gigantic predator, so he casually departed after deciding we had nothing exciting to offer,” Lopez recounted.
Federico Lopez’s close encounters in the deep
also be gentle and harmless unless provoked.
“The sight of something this magnificent, this powerful, and this beautiful, my steel-shaft speargun
didn’t only feel like a toothpick pointing at an armored tank but also that it didn’t belong there,” he said.
“I retired the speargun forever after that dive and exchanged it for an underwater camera instead,” he added.
According to Lopez, his succeeding years underwater spent with a special camera brought him even closer to the sea with which he had developed a passionate attachment.
Another episode brought Lopez eyeball-to-eyeball with an equally huge tiger shark during a dive in Fiji.
“There were initially only two of us divers underwater when this monster-sized shark began circling and his very presence warded off all the other Bull sharks, Gray Reef sharks, Nurse sharks, Whitetip and Blacktip sharks that had been with us the previous four days,” he recounted.
“But what I found in that cageless encounter with a shark, infamously branded among the three most responsible for attacks on humans, was something completely different from what I had expected,” he told his audience at the MAP.
“He was never menacing nor terrifying, but more cautious, gentle and even playful. As he directly approached me for the first time, I could feel his nose glide gently just a foot or so above my head, sort of playing with the bubbles rising from my regulator. Instinctively, I gently lifted my gloved fingers to touch his underbelly as he passed by.”
“I never had shark’s fin soup ever again,” he said.
“I wrote an article about that encounter which became a magazine cover a few months later,” he said.
THE government is intensifying its efforts to combat the use of fraudulent travel documents, as authorities said trafficking syndicates are employing
“We
MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025
SMPC in talks with local banks for 700-MW coal plant expansion
SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) is in talks with local banks to fund its planned 700-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas, under subsidiary St. Raphael Power Generation Corp.
SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun said the company plans to engage banks to syndicate a term loan facility that could help finance the project.
Gotianun, however, said the project’s implementation remains uncertain due to funding challenges, as some of the country’s biggest banks have declared they will no longer support additional coal plants.
“We are talking to other banks to find out their appetite,” Gotianun said.
SMPC plans to fund the project through 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity.
While the final cost has yet to be finalized, Gotianun said the project could cost more than $1 million per megawatt, depending on the technology the company will use.
Depending on funding, SMPC may implement the project in phases. However, it initially planned to construct the two 350-megawatt coalfired power plants simultaneously.
Aside from funding, Gotianun said the group is also reviewing the overall viability of the project.
Jenniffer B. Austria
RLC’S
Robinsons Land Corp. receives two major accolades at the 2025 Global Good Governance (3G) Awards recently held in Brunei Darussalam. Attending the ceremony are (from left) Christian Lorenz Pacheco, RLC senior controls and compliance manager, Prof. Humayon Dar, PhD (Cambridge) chairman Global Good Governance Awards; Liza Gerella, RLC vice president and deputy compliance officer; Ramon Daniel Rivero, RLC assistant vice president corporate planning and strategy; Dato Seri Paduka Awang Mohammed Riza bin Dato Paduka
Haji Mohammed Yunos -Brunei Deputy Minister (Public Service Administration) at the Prime Minister’s Department; and Nicole Clarence, Filart corporate planning and strategy officer.
TeaM Energy recently turned-over to the Office of Quezon Vice Governor Anacleto Alcala III (2nd from right) various office equipment consisting of desktop computers, printers, and copying machines that will be distributed to various local government units and schools in the province. Formally turning over the items to Alcala is Froilan Gregory Romualdez III (2nd from left), assistant vice president for external affairs, TeaM Energy. Also in photo are Carlo Calvario, external affairs coordinator, TeaM Energy, and Katherine Ursolino, executive assistant, office of the Vice Governor.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
MERALCO PowerGen Corp. hopes the Department of Energy will decide by mid-June on its request for an exemption from the coal ban for the 1,200-megawatt Atimonan ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant.
MGen has been seeking clarification from the DOE on its decision to recall its exemption from the coal ban for the Atimonan coal plant in Quezon province, pending additional review.
MGen president Emmanuel Rubio informed the DOE the project could
be delayed by up to 18 months if no decision is made soon.
“The options for OEM for the steam turbine is telling us that we need to make a decision soon, otherwise the slot in the fabrication shop might be given to another order,” Rubio said.
“Doesn’t mean it will be canceled; it means it can be delayed. They’re saying anywhere between 12 to 18 months. ... I hope by June 15 there will be a decision,” he said.
Rubio earlier said MGen aims to deliver the baseload capacity by late 2029 or early 2030, “in time for us to participate in the baseload capacity auction that the DOE is planning for December.”
“Our commitment is that the LCOE (levelized cost of energy) of this is going to be probably one of the most competitive and it’s needed, the capacity is needed,” Rubio said.
He said MGen had already agreed to the conditions set by the DOE
when it issued the exemption, which include repurposing the coal plant by 2050 to burn another type of fuel. He said if MGen does not comply with the conditions, it cannot operate the coal plant.
“We’re looking at technologies like ammonia co-firing as long as it’s viable, right? Then we will consider. So even in the discussions with our EPCs (engineering, procurement and construction), we are already asking them to make sure that the boiler can co-fire ammonia,” he said.
Rubio said another DOE condition is to maintain all existing permits and not change the plant’s configuration.
PH stock investors stay ‘cautious’ on local, international developments
By Jenniffer B. Austria
STOCK market investors are expected to stay cautious this week as they weigh both local and global developments.
Analysts said investors would watch how the market could hold above the 6,400 level as a key support. If the index stays above this level, it could move up toward the 6,600 resistance level.
Philstocks Financial Inc. research head Japhet Tantiangco said sentiment may improve following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to keep his economic team. This move could ease worries about changes in the government’s economic direction.
“Signals from Bangko Sen-
tral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. of two more possible rate cuts this year may also strengthen market confidence,” Tantiangco said.
He, however, noted that risks from the U.S. fiscal outlook and rising debt levels may still affect global markets, including the Philippines.
Last week, the Philippine Stock Exchange index closed at 6,413.10, down 0,81 percent while the broader all shares Index ended at 3,746.79, down 0.60 percent. Average daily value traded dropped to P6.75 billion from previous week’s average of P7.86 billion.
Foreign investors were net sellers for the week, with outflows reaching P447 million.
Lessons from the Running Era: What running taught me about leadership and well-being
I RECENTLY witnessed a quiet act of leadership during my first-ever “fun run” since 2015. A student of mine showed up at the event with a friend who was running for the very first time. Instead of chasing a personal record and go on his own, he paced himself to match his friend’s capacity, all while offering words of encouragement, checking in often, and even slowing down just to make sure his friend wouldn’t feel left behind. As I watched them, I realized not just how great of a friend my student is but how that act is leadership in its purest form. Running, like leading, isn’t always about being first or the best but it’s about bringing others along. I have become part of what people now call the “running era” not only because I was inspired by this fitness trend but also because of the wake-up call I got from the results of my recent physical examination. Suddenly, I realized that I was no longer in my early thirties. The next “great project” in my life shouldn’t be another degree or research study, but something far more personal: my health. As someone who has long advocated for well-being, especially in the workplace, I knew I had to start practicing what I preach. I wanted to prioritize physical wellness not only to improve my health but to model the kind of life that is grounded in self-awareness and sustainability. Before, I thought that running
was all about speed. I believed the goal was to go as fast as I could. Anything less meant I wasn’t doing it right. But thanks to running influencers and helpful articles, I learned about the concept of pacing. I discovered that going slow is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, the run-walk method is very much acceptable for beginners. Because of this newfound knowledge, I stopped focusing on speed and started focusing on consistency. Running is not about being the fastest, but about knowing “your own pace”, listening to your body, and moving forward in a way that feels right and sustainable. The same principle applies to leadership. In the past, I would say yes to almost everything. Every new role, every project, every opportunity that came my way, I took it. I used to think that being busy was being effective. I eventually learned though that, just like running, leading is not about doing more or moving fast. It is about being intentional and knowing when to pause. I have come to realize that leaders who push themselves too hard do not only wear themselves out but also risk wearing out the people around them. I believe that the best leaders are not those who run ahead and leave others behind but those who run alongside their team, making sure everyone is still in harmony. Running is not always comfortable. Waking up early, finding the energy to run in the afternoon after a day’s work, running with sore legs, or trying to endure your run on a hot day will always be challenging. There is always a
point when your body seems to tell you to stop. But if there is one thing I’ve learned, discomfort is not a sign for you to quit. It is actually a sign that you are growing. In leadership, discomfort is part of the process. It shows up in difficult conversations, unpopular decisions, or those times when you feel burnt out. What running has taught me is to stay with the discomfort, to breathe through it and not let it overwhelm me. It is through these moments that we develop the kind of endurance that helps us stay grounded. Finally, while running looks like an individual activity, I have come to see that it is also about community. There is something special about showing up and seeing familiar faces. In my case, what started as a family activity, now became a neighborhood activity. Leadership is not about doing everything on your own. It is about showing up for others and building something together. It is about lifting others up, sharing wins, and walking with people through the hard parts. That moment I saw between my student and his friend reminded me of this. Leadership is not measured by how far ahead you are. It is measured by how many you bring with you. Sometimes, it means slowing down. Not because you are weak, but because someone else needs your strength.
Jessica is the Assistant Dean for External Affairs and Lasallian Mission of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business and is as an associate professor at the Department of Decision Sciences and Innovation at De La Salle University. She earned both her Doctor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from the same institution. She can be contacted at jessica.ranieses@dlsu.edu.ph.
The perspectives shared in this piece are solely the author’s and do not necessarily represent the official views of De La Salle University, its faculty, or its administration.
By Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) designated Nueva Vizcaya province as the “Ginger Capital of the Philippines,” signaling the start of stronger government support to scale up ginger production across the Cagayan Valley region.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said President Marcos has consistently highlighted the importance of increasing agricultural productivity, particularly in high-value crops like ginger, as a key strategy
in revitalizing rural economies.
“Ginger is valued both for its culinary and medicinal uses. With proper backing from the DA, it can drive product value addition and uplift the incomes of smallholder farmers in
FAST Logistics Group, the Philippines’ leading provider of end-to-end logistics and selling and distribution solutions, is expanding into agri-logistics as part of its broader mission to support Filipino entrepreneurs and drive inclusive economic growth through logistics innovation.
In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Provincial Government of Guimaras, FAST showcased premium Guimaras Mangoes at the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines held from May 22 to 24, 2025 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. The industry leader purchased premium Guimaras Mangoes directly from mango growers and producers.
These were then transported to Manila using a 2-tonner refrigerated truck — a historic milestone for the province, where produce is typically shipped using nonrefrigerated vans.
This marks the first time Guimaras mangoes were transported using a dedicated ColdChain vehicle, helping preserve their freshness and quality from farm to exhibition.
Upon arrival in Manila, the mangoes were stored at the FAST ColdChain Hub Cavite, a state-of-the-art facility with 13,000 pallet positions and multitemperature zones. Equipped with sophisticated monitoring systems and realtime data tracking, the hub ensured that the mangoes were kept at optimal conditions before being showcased to the public.
Visitors at IFEX Philippines were treated to the unmatched flavor of Guimaras Mangoes, which drew attention not only for their taste but also for their distinction as the country’s first and only fruit with Geographical Indication (GI) Registration.
This certification means that Guimaras mangoes are officially recognized as coming from a specific region and having unique qualities tied to that origin.
FAST chief executive Manuel Onrejas Jr. underscored the importance of endto-end logistics in connecting farmers to markets, noting that FAST has the capability and technology to champion Filipino agricultural products both locally and globally.
By-laws Art. II, Sec. 1 - Regular Meetings; Art. II, Sec. 3 - Place of Meeting; Art. II, Sec. 6 - Conduct of Meeting; Art. II, Sec. 7 - Manner of Voting; Art. III, Sec. 6 - Conduct of the Meeting
8. Appointment of External Auditor for the current year
9. Election of 2025 Board of Directors
10. Other Matters 11. Adjournment
Only stockholders of record as of 28 May 2025 are entitled to notice and to vote at this meeting.
The Company will not hold a physical meeting and will instead conduct the meeting via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can therefore only attend and participate in the meeting by remote communication. Stockholders also have the option to vote in absentia or appoint the Chairman as proxy.
Stockholders who intend to attend by remote communication shall inform the Company by email to corpsec@apmciloilo.com on or before 16 June 2025, subject to the procedure set in the Information Statement, which will be posted on the Company’s website www.apmc-iloilo.com
In the same website, stockholders may access the following: (a) Management Report; (b) SEC Form 17A; (c) Minutes of the Meeting on 11 June 2024 and (d) Proxy Form for Attendance at Meeting and other meeting documents required under Section 49 of the Revised Corporation Code.
The link for the Zoom webinar will be sent to the email address of the stockholders who registered to attend via remote communication.
To those who would opt to participate by voting through the Chairman as proxy, the deadline for submission of proxies will be at 5:00 pm of 11 June 2025
Those who are unable to join the meeting via remote communication but wish to vote on items in the agenda may appoint the Chairman as proxy with specific voting instructions which will be duly counted. Proxies can be submitted to the Office of the Corporate Secretary or via email to the aforementioned address. For individual stockholders, the submission must be accompanied by a copy of a government issued ID as proof of identification. For corporations, the submission must be accompanied by a certification from its Corporate Secretary stating the corporate officer’s authority to represent and sign on behalf of the corporation. Kindly submit to the Office of the Corporate Secretary the original signed and notarized documents within a reasonable time after the resumption of regular business operations. During the meeting, the Company shall entertain questions and comments after the presentation of the Annual Report. Questions which were not answered during the meeting shall be forwarded to the Office of the Corporate Secretary for the appropriate response via email. For ASM-related queries, email to corpsec@apmciloilo.com or
Nueva Vizcaya and the wider region,” the DA secretary said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that Nueva Vizcaya topped ginger production in 2024, harvesting about 7,140 metric tons from 933 hectares.
The province is home to around 5,010 ginger growers
and is recognized for adopting innovative farming practices that helped boost average yields to 7.4 metric tons per hectare last year.
Nueva Vizcaya plays a vital role in the ginger supply chain, serving as a key source for trading hubs across Northern and Southern Luzon and Metro Manila.
In 2024, it facilitated the movement of approximately 14,753 metric tons of ginger to these markets. Covering 481,388 hectares, the province is also a major producer of rice, corn, onion, garlic, tomatoes, melon and mango.
LAGUINDINGAN International Airport (LIA), operated by Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corporation since May 2025, is now handling over 300 domestic flights weekly, underscoring the airport’s tremendous potential as the “Golden Gateway to Mindanao” and beyond.
Based on May 2025 data, LIA–the country’s sixth-busiest gateway and Mindanao’s second-busiest after Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport–now caters to a total of 337 flights per week to some of the country’s most attractive destinations, namely Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao. In particular, Cebu is highly
Airport Corporation), where travelers can easily fly to 29 local and 13 international destinations.
Access to and from MCIA has vastly improved recently, thanks to landmark initiatives such as Cebu Connect and CEB+. Cebu Connect is MCIA’s premier transfer service system, designed to facilitate efficient and seamless airport transfers within MCIA, thereby reducing layover time and maximizing comfort and convenience for travelers.
With Cebu Connect, passengers from LIA can now enjoy seamless connections to international destinations via MCIA, bypassing the need to transit through Manila. Reduced connection times make
By Othel V. Campos
THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said over the weekend it approved the proposed acquisition of Generali Life Assurance Philippines Inc. by the Insular Life Assurance Company Ltd. (InLife).
Both InLife and Generali Philippines are licensed life insurance providers in the country, offering traditional life insurance products including individual and group coverage, with health and
medical riders as well as standalone health insurance plans.
The PCC’s Mergers and Acquisitions Office (MAO) began a phase 1 review of the transaction on April 8, 2025 to assess any potential competition concerns under the Philippine Competition Act (PCA).
Following a detailed review of market conditions, submissions from the parties and third-party feedback, the MAO found that the acquisition would not harm competition.
The decision cited strong competitive pressure from numerous existing play-
ers, low barriers to market entry and the ease with which consumers can switch providers due to a wide range of available products and distribution channels.
The PCC also noted that regulatory oversight, evolving consumer preferences and the role of brokers help maintain competitive discipline, limiting any risk of price increases or reduced service quality.
The PCA mandates the PCC to review mergers and acquisitions to ensure they do not lead to a substantial lessening of competition or harm consumer welfare.
PSALM resets schedule of CBK plants bidding
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. is moving forward with the privatization of the 796.64-megawatt Caliraya-BotocanKalayaan (СВК) hydroelectric power plants on June 30, 2025, or two weeks behind the earlier deadline of June 16, 2025.
“The management of PSALM reiterates that the proposal submission date for the CBK power plants is on June 30, 2025,” it said.
Nine companies expressed interest to participate in the CBK privatization, according to PSALM.
The companies attended the preproposal conference where the agency presented an overview of the project, the bidding process and the project agreements for the sale of the CBK hydro plants, which are being privatized on an “as is, where is” basis.
The interested firms include Thunder Consortium (Aboitiz Group, JPOWER, Sumitomo Corp), ACEN Corp.’s GIGA ACE 11, Inc., First Gen Prime Energy Corp. of the Lopez Group, Semirara Mining & Power Corp. of the Consunji Group, Hexa Philippines Holdings Inc. (a part of HEXA Renewables, a pan-Asia renewable energy platform established by I Squared Capital), Marubeni Corp. of Japan, Korea Water Resources Corp., businessman Enrique Razon’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. and San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. Department of Finance and National Power Corp. representatives attended the pre-proposal conference as observers.
TWO natural gas plants overseen by Meralco PowerGen Corp. are expected to deliver 2,500 megawatts of capacity by the end of the month, a top executive said over the weekend.
MGen president Emmanuel Rubio said Unit 3 (425 megawatts) of Excellent Energy Resources Inc.’s (EERI) 1,275-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant is now fully operational. The facility is awaiting completion
of Linseed Field Power Corp.’s first onshore storage facility, which is targeted to be finished by the end of the month.
“So by the end of May, 2,500 MW of gas capacity will be available,” Rubio said.
MGen also controls the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant in Batangas, which is also fueled by LNG. Aside from MGen, Aboitiz Power Corp. and San Miguel Corp.
By Darwin G. Amojelar
PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) said it expanded its flights to Laoag City in Ilocos Norte in time for the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2025.
The country’s national carrier said it added 74 more flights to carry some 6,800 passengers, including the athletes, coaches and officials who are joining the biennial multi-sport event. PAL’s ramped-up operations include special and chartered flights direct from Cebu, Davao and Legazpi (Daraga) to Laoag, providing crucial air links from the rest of the archipelago.
The additional flights double PAL’s
Manila-Laoag run from two to four roundtrips a day between May 24 and June 2 for the opening and closing of the games.
“As national flag carrier of the country, it’s an honor for us to be included and to be actively assisting this historic event,” said PAL vice president for sales and distribution Justin Warby.
“We aim to make traveling easier and more convenient for all participants through the special flights that we’ve included,” he said.
The Palarong Pambansa is an annual national sports festival organized by the Department of Education,
where the country’s best student-athletes from 17 divisions participate in various sporting events.
The tournament this year is being hosted in Ilocos Norte, where activities are being held in various venues around the province.
“It is a privilege to transport our Filipino athletes on our flights, and we wish them the best of luck in the games,” Warby said.
He said with the added air operations, PAL reinforces its commitment to nation-building through sports and youth development, ensuring safe and seamless travel for thousands attending the week-long sporting spectacle.
owns stakes in the two power plants. Rubio said the natural gas plants get their LNG supply from Shell and Vitol.
“We have a 10-year contract with Shell and Vitol, but the agreement is that for 2025 and 2026, the trading would be all in spot, but we have not limited ourselves to the spot sale, just these two,” he said.
Rubio said they were hoping to have 15 LNG trading candidates by the end of the year.
“We’re seeing a downward trend, a forward curve of LNG, so we should be okay. Energy prices are going down,” he said.
The Department of Energy previously criticized Manila Electric Co. and EERI for not delivering the full committed capacity under the power supply agreement.
By Othel V. Campos
TECHLOG Center Philippines said it is strengthening its presence in the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector with a new P877-million project in Cebu, bringing its total investments to over P2.7 billion and generating jobs for more than 6,800 Filipinos.
The company said it signed a supplemental agreement (SA) for the project with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on May 21, 2025 at the PEZA head office in Pasay City. Located at Bonifacio Business Park, the project involves the establishment of both voice and non-voice BPO operations.
Services will include data analysis, timekeeping, document and payment processing, coding and workforce management supporting up to 900 employees once fully operational. An American-owned enterprise, Techlog operates ITBPM services in other parts of the country, including a site in Iloilo. The upcoming Cebu facility will be its fifth in the Philippines and is slated to begin operations by January 2026.
Techlog also integrates circular economy practices such as the refurbishment and sustainable re-manufacturing of used mobile phones and PCs, contributing to responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and fostering innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9).
PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. has launched Southmont Central, a new district within its 800-hectare Southmont estate in Cavite.
The project had a strong start, with 43 percent of its inventory sold on the very first day. This shows strong investor confidence in Cavite, which is quickly becoming a key growth area south of Metro Manila.
Southmont
residents will enjoy resortstyle amenities such as a sky lounge, swimming pool, fitness gym, landscaped gardens, and an L-shaped Sky Deck Pool. These amenities are designed for both relaxation and recreation. Located at the corner of West Avenue and Quezon Avenue, the project offers easy access to business hubs,
landmark in Quezon City.
an
for
estate development. The estate’s residential projects continue to sell steadily. Hillside Ridge is already 97-percent sold; Lanewood Hills, 90-percent; and Verdea, 52 percent.
Turnover for Southmont Central’s commercial lots is set for the third quarter of 2028. Ayala Land aims to make the district a lively new hub in Cavite’s growing economy. Southmont is one of the four large estates Ayala Land is developing in Southern Luzon, along with Nuvali, Broadfield and Aéra. These projects show Ayala Land’s plan to create balanced communities that combine homes, businesses and institutions to support long-term growth in the region.Jenniffer B. Austria
TRAVA, the flagship residential project of Greenfield Development Corporation’s Greenfield Deluxe, recently unveiled its signature clubhouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, marking a new chapter in sustainable luxury and community living.
On May 17, homeowners, future residents, and key company executives gathered to experience the heart of the Trava community. Set against the backdrop of Trava’s master-planned landscape, the event showcased how the clubhouse embodies the development’s vision of upscale, eco-conscious living.
“As we open the doors to the Trava Clubhouse, we also open the doors to stronger community connections,” said lawyer Duane A.X. Santos, president of GDC.
“This space was thoughtfully built not just as a structure, but as a symbol of the Trava lifestyle—elegant, ecoconscious, and sustainable.”
The clubhouse is designed to be a place where neighbors connect while enjoying the facilities including a fully equipped fitness center, a game room for all ages, and a spacious social hall perfect for gatherings and events. Multi-purpose function rooms offer flexible spaces for meetings, workshops, or private celebrations.
Outside, the clubhouse opens to beautifully landscaped gardens and outdoor courtyards. A swimming pool offers a refreshing retreat, while basketball and tennis courts invite residents to stay active and engage in friendly competition. Walking trails and quiet seating areas provide peaceful spots for reflection and relaxation.
The design reflects the vision of National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin and his partners, blending timeless elegance with thoughtful functionality. Sustainability is a key feature, with solar-powered areas reducing energy consumption while maintaining the comfort and luxury residents expect.
“As more families look for homes that reflect their values, Trava stands out for offering a luxurious lifestyle that’s also mindful of the environment,” added Santos. “This clubhouse proves that style, sustainability, and community can come together beautifully.”
Now open to all residents, the Trava Clubhouse sets the tone for life in Greenfield City’s vibrant community—one built on nature, strong relationships, and moments that truly matter.
MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025 lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
By Nickie Wang
BROADCAST journalist
Atom Araullo secured another international honor for the Philippines after The Atom Araullo Specials (TAAS) won a Gold Medal at the 2025 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
The award-winning episode, Pogoland, aired in 2024 and explored the complex and controversial world of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). It won in the Documentary: National Affairs category, marking the third straight year that The Atom Araullo Specials earned a Gold Medal.
Previous wins include Batas Bata (Child’s Game) in 2024 and Mata sa Dilim (Eye in the Dark) in 2023 under the Documentary: Social Issues category.
GMA Network brought home a total of three medals and two Finalist certificates from this year’s competition.
Firefly, a film produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, won Silver in the Films: Feature Films category. The 2024 release earlier dominated the inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Hollywood, California, where it won Best Picture, and also performed strongly at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival.
The long-running news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) received a Bronze Medal for its environmental documentary Minahan sa Homonhon Island (Nickel and Dime: The Cost of Mining in Homonhon Island), which tackled the effects of large-scale mining in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Jessica Soho personally went on location for the story, which drew significant public
attention online. Meanwhile, GMA Integrated News’
24 Oras earned a Finalist certificate for its special coverage Super Typhoon Carina (Typhoon Gaemi) and Habagat (Southwest Monsoon)
The network’s multiplatform efforts provided critical real-time updates, data, and reports during one of 2024’s most destructive weather events.
Also earning a Finalist certificate was Lost Sabungeros, GMA Public Affairs’ first investigative documentary, directed by Bryan Brazil. The film examined the unresolved disappearances of more than 30 cockfighters since 2022.
The New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, established in 1957, recognizes excellence in news, documentaries, entertainment, and streaming media from around the world. GMA Network has consistently led Philippine entries, winning the most nominations and awards for the country year after year.
By Angelica Villanueva
P-POP powerhouse SB19 continues to make history on the global stage after clinching the “Favorite Asian Act” title at the 2024 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
On its social media accounts, the five-member group thanked
said SB19’s leader Pablo “This award isn’t just for us, it’s also for A’TIN and our fans around the world. You are
ENEVA Cruz’s upcoming concert, Gen Evolution , now set for May 30 at the Music Museum, promises a night of music that defined a generation. It will also feature songs she wrote about her journey from a simple girl with big dreams to a woman who continues to grow and share her passion with others.
“You can’t sing only old songs,” she said. Working with concert director Jeffrey Hidalgo , Cruz adds newer sounds and TikTok trends to the mix.
“It’s a good story to share,” she added. “By sharing my music and the music from my time, I want my younger audience, the millennials, to appreciate the music from a creative level — the songwriting, the prose, which unfortunately, we don’t see or hear much of these days.”
Originally planned for April to coincide with her 49th birthday, the show was
moved to allow more time for rehearsals. The concert also marks Geneva’s 35 years in the industry.
“Choreography is harder to rehearse than the vocals,” Cruz said, who trains like an athlete, thanks to her boyfriend, a national athlete himself. “I need more time with my dancers.” Young artist Sam Shoaf will join her with a Gen Z medley.
Donna Cruz , her cousin, is also a guest. Her set includes music by Michael Jackson, Jungkook, Dua Lipa , and Kendrick Lamar Geneva started performing professionally at 13 with
Smokey Mountain . Today, she is different from the teen artists who started in showbiz, hence the title of the show.
“I’m still evolving, and it’s about my evolution as a woman, as an artist, and as a person. Geneva then was very tame. I didn’t know about life and love. Now, she trains harder, listens more, and performs with focus. That’s the idea behind the title of the concert,” she said. Outside of music, Geneva is back in school, working to finish her college degree. “I want to do this for my children,” she said. Her son Heaven is now 29, and her daughter London is 11.
to return this June.
TANDUAY Light has brought together actress and Tanduay Calendar Girl 2025 culinary content creator for a digital collaboration celebrating moments of togetherness through food, drinks, and shared experiences.
Titled ChiuRy-fic Vibes the video was filmed at La Luz Beach Resort in Batangas and centers on the theme “Gaan ng may Kasama.”
In the video, Chiu prepares a Mango Sunrise cocktail while Ninong Ry cooks maple-candied pork skewers, both using Tanduay Light as a key ingredient. The video emphasizes the product’s versatility, showing how it can be used in both drinks and dishes that pair well together. Chiu also displays bartending
By Angelica Villanueva
FOR those who are looking for something to satisfy their Texas cravings but are on a tight budget, Texas Roadhouse is launching its Texas-Sized Sets, starting at P425, which include a starter, entrée, and drink. These sets are designed to deliver a satisfying Texas dining experience with generous portions and bold flavors, available anytime.
Diners can kick off their meal with the restaurant’s popular, all-time favorite fresh-baked bread with cinnamon butter and complimentary peanuts, followed by a choice of appetizers and entrees inspired by classic Texas fare. For appetizers, guests can select from a variety that combines classic Texas flavors with lighter choices. The Texas chili dip offers a rich, savory beginning, while the Onion Frizzles provide a crunchy, crispy texture. Those seeking something a bit heartier can opt for an additional P75 for
a cheese quesadilla or California salad—ideal for those wanting a taste of Tex-Mex or fresh greens to accompany their meal.
Entrée options include the tender and flavorful pork tenderloin and the Southern chicken salad sandwich, offering a satisfying balance of protein and texture. For those looking to enhance their meal, the smoked bacon or crusted mahimahi options are available with a P100 upcharge, providing smoky or seafood variations to the set.
Each meal is paired with an icecold glass of green tea lychee, a refreshing and slightly sweet
beverage that complements the savory dishes.
Moreover, Texas Roadhouse is offering a 2+1 promotion on its popular “Rita Margaritas,” enabling customers to savor this signature cocktail at excellent value.
The dining experience at Texas Roadhouse goes beyond food. Diners can expect a lively atmosphere filled with Texas-style hospitality, where staff perform energetic line dances, adding a fun and memorable element to every visit.
Texas Roadhouse is a great spot for families, friends, and those seeking Texas cuisine, offering large portions, reasonable prices, and a vibrant atmosphere.
The newly launched TexasSized Sets provide diners with generous servings, flavorful dishes, and a vibrant dining atmosphere, offering a satisfying and affordable way to enjoy the bold tastes of Texas anytime.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or trying the restaurant for the first time, these meal sets promise great value without compromising on taste or fun.
Texas Roadhouse rolls out its Texas-Sized Sets with generous portions, bold flavors, and vibrant Westerninspired ambiance
moves, while Ninong Ry adds his trademark humor to the cooking segment. The video ends with a segment called “Pulutan Wars,” where Chiu picks her favorite pulutan, adding a touch of friendly banter.
“This collaboration highlights how Tanduay Light brings people together in unexpected yet authentic ways, through laughter, good food, or great company,” said Jon Edzel Ty , Tanduay digital brand manager.
At 55 proof (27.5 percent alcohol by volume), Tanduay Light is a rum blend created by Tanduay’s master blender. It features mild woody notes and a touch of sweetness, with fruity notes of ripe banana and subtle hints of bubblegum and
caramel. Its taste is light and fruity with a gentle woody undertone, and it has a smooth, candied finish with sweet, ripe fruit flavors.
The ChiuRy-fic Vibes video will be available on digital platforms including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
“Tanduay continues to evolve and connect with a new generation, showing that good times are always better when shared with the right company,” Ty added.
Tanduay Light and other Tanduay products are available at leading supermarkets and liquor stores nationwide, and can also be purchased through the official e-commerce site www.shots.ph, as well as on Shopee and Lazada.
THE Travel Madness Expo (TME), one of the Philippines’ largest travel and trade events, is set to return on July 11 to 13 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, offering discounted fares, package tours, and networking opportunities for industry professionals and travelers.
Organized by Travel Innovators Inc., the three-day expo aims to showcase a wide range of local and international travel deals, with more than 250 companies expected to participate. These include airlines, travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, cruise lines, insurance providers, financial institutions, food concessionaires, and tourism offices.
“TME 2025 is prepared to provide visitors with the ultimate travel experience,” said Ma. Paz Alberto president of Travel Innovators Inc. and chairperson of TME 2025. “Our exhibitors are working to curate the best and most unforgettable trips. We encourage travelers to turn their dream destinations into reality.”
This year’s event will feature cultural performances, food tastings, entertainment, and raffle prizes for attendees. Exhibitors have been
screened for service quality and industry reputation, according to organizers.
TME is also inviting trade buyers to business-to-business (B2B) networking sessions to help establish connections and partnerships among stakeholders in the travel sector. Now in its 12th year, TME takes place during the travel industry’s lean season, allowing exhibitors to offer competitive rates and extended payment terms. Participating agencies are expected to roll out buy-nowpay-later packages with three-month payment extensions.
TME 2025 seeks to exceed last year’s count of 198 booths and further expand its exhibitor base. The event is supported by both local and national tourism organizations and industry stakeholders.
The expo will be held at Halls 1 to 4 of the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex. For inquiries, contact the TME 2025 Secretariat Office at 0917-585-2213 or 0949-989-1193 (Viber), email travelmadness10@gmail.com, or visit www.travelmadness.org and www. facebook.com/TravelMadnessPH.
SOUTH Korean actor Song Joongki made his long-awaited Manila debut for the IAM Song Joong Ki Live fan meet at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. But before facing thousands of cheering fans, the 39-year-old actor took time to meet with the local press.
This wasn’t his first time in the Philippines. “I went to Cebu 15 years ago for a vacation,” he recalled. However, his current trip to the capital left little room for exploration. “I don’t have much time to enjoy my stay here,” he said with a smile. “So next time I really want to come here for a family vacation. Because I heard there are many beautiful islands. I want to visit some paradise.”
Despite the tight schedule, Song Joong-ki made sure to take in a few simple pleasures: sleep, the gym, the Manila Bay’s iconic view, and a cookie he couldn’t quite name.
“Due to the short period of time that I have here in Manila, I won’t be able to make that plan work,” he admitted. “But the next time I come back to the Philippines, I really want to pursue that kind of schedule, [that] tour schedule for [the next] visit in Manila.”
Known for preferring an authentic experience over tourist traps, Joong-ki spoke about his love for local haunts. “The places that the Filipino locals really go on a daily basis, those are the places that [I want] to look around,” he said. “Public market, the market, the local restaurants, the vibes to feel that I’m in the local places.”
Asked what he recommends for Filipinos heading to Korea, the K-drama A-lister hesitated to give typical answers.
“It’s hard to make any recommendation,” he said, “but for me, when I go to a new country or new city, the best and most exciting part of the tour is enjoying local food, the place where locals really enjoy.”
Still, he offered his favorites. “There’s a lot of Filipinos who go to Korea, so I’d recommend something that I’m personally so into as well. I’d recommend Korean barbeque—samgyeopsal, galbi, and bulgogi,” he said. “When my foreign friends come to Korea, I always bring them to Insadong and then to the traditional public market Gwangjang Sijang.”
As for his next visit to the Philippines, don’t expect the actor to head only to white-sand beaches. “I want to visit the supermarket and buy a lot of, you know, local biscuits as well and bring them to Korea,” he said, flashing a grin.
The actor, who now lives in Rome with his wife,
Mercury Rising
Bob Zozobrado
EVERY time I am by the bay, I always get fascinated by the soothing sound of lashing waves on the shore, while the fresh sea breeze leaves me no choice but to relax in its cool comfort. This is why, when I feel I’ve had enough of the day-to-day struggle in the concrete jungle, I try to find time to “detox” myself and head towards any part of Manila Bay.
So, when I received an invitation for Conrad’s 35th instalment of its Of Art and Wine Series called Bayside, I made sure I’d make it a red-letter day on my calendar. You see, what I do is hit two birds with one stone.
First, I spend time at the al fresco veranda of the hotel’s C Lounge, and enjoy the fresh sea breeze while watching the famous, glorious Manila Bay sunset on the horizon. When the panorama of nature’s golden colors amidst the refreshing air has done its job of soothing my frayed nerves, then I proceed next door to the opening cocktails of the art exhibit.
Lara Latosa is a seasoned free diver and environmental advocate. Her artistic journey has been shaped by her profound connection to the sea. Looking at her colorful masterpieces, one can easily feel the energy of the ocean waves, the interplay of light underwater, and the fragile balance of marine life.
Her artworks transport viewers into a world of fluidity and energy. Her keen eye for detail and deep connection with nature shine through in every brushstroke, creating pieces that evoke the rhythmic dance of the ocean.
When asked to give a statement about her masterpieces, she declared, “My art is a love letter to the ocean! It is an escape from life’s struggles and a way to express my deep bond with the sea. The waves symbolize my passion
for water, my journey with mental wellness and my belief in life’s ephemeral beauty.”
Going over her many art pieces on display, I right away found my favorite — Pusong Pinoy, as shown on this page. It has the striking colors of the Philippine flag, blending very well with the artist’s affinity with the sea in delivering its visual message.
When I asked her if there was any interesting story behind it, she immediately said that she worked on this piece during the Olympics when Filipino athletes were raking in gold medals. She was so inspired by their resilience and grit, which they displayed even when no one watched while they were still making their journey, but received praise only when they won. Looking at this
actress Katy Louise Saunders, and their two children, noted his personal connection with Filipinos.
“Actually, I have some Philippine friends in Korea. And when I stay in Italy with my wife, we have some Philippine friends there too,” he shared. “So the Philippine people for us, the image of the Philippine people is so kind always and friendly. So when I had that interview, I was telling myself that I really want to go to the Philippines because I have a good image from some of my friends.”
Meanwhile, by the time he stepped onto the stage at MOA Arena, the energy was electric. The crowd roared at the sight of him.
“Salamat, Manila!” he shouted, greeted by deafening cheers. “Wow! There’s so many people tonight. The arena’s jam-packed. I’m very, very grateful to all coming here tonight. Of course, thank you for the invitation from IAM Worldwide for bringing me here in Manila for the first time.”
Presented by IAM Worldwide and Publicity Asia, the fan event was filled with lighthearted moments and emotional exchanges, giving Filipino fans a glimpse of the actor’s warmth beyond the screen.
our
on display at
year. They are crafted in acrylic on canvas, showcasing ocean waves in abstract form, and are available for purchase.
Complementing the exhibit, the hotel is offering a Bayside-inspired afternoon tea at the C Lounge also until July 12. Curated by its acclaimed chefs, the set for two offers a delightful journey of taste and refinement. The menu features a refined selection of oceaninspired treats, such as Blue Lagoon Macaron,