Manila Standard - 2025 August 9 - Saturday

BIGTIME OIL PRICE ROLLBACK BY AS MUCH AS P1.50/L NEXT

By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu

SC impeachment ruling not absolution—PBBM

By Pot Chavez and Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., yesterday said that the Supreme Court’s decision on the impeachment case addressed only procedural issues and had no bearing on its merits, even as impeachment proponents raised the option of seeking the ouster of the magistrates.

“We have to make very, very clear to everyone that the Supreme Court decision does not have any bearing on the rightness or wrongness of the merits of the impeachment case. They’re not saying that there was no

By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz,

Barcelo

By Caloy Lozada

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has expressed apprehensions that some relatives of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts locally called “sabungeros” were being swayed or “settled” to weaken the criminal cases being readied against those suspected of complicity in the

untary disappearances. This developed as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that Elakim Patidongan, a brother of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias “Dondon” and “Totoy,” also offered to turn state witness and has submitted his own sworn statement or affidavit.

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Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said yesterday.

His clarification came amid perceptions of a softer tone on the WPS issue in his recent State of the Nation Address, followed by the Chinese government’s criticisms directed towards him.

"There is no shift in tone," Mr. Marcos said in his BBM Podcast, responding to comparisons between his earlier remarks, including his 2022 vow that “not an inch of our territory will be abandoned” and his latest SONA, where he said the country is “a friend to all and an enemy to none.”

He stressed that asserting the Philippines’ territorial claims does not conflict with maintaining a foreign policy that seeks to avoid confrontation.

"Continuing to defend strongly our territory is not mutually exclusive from being a friend to all and an enemy of none," he said.

"We will defend our sovereignty and territory. You can do both," he added.

The president reaffirmed his support for a binding code of conduct in the South China Sea, which he said would establish clear rules for all parties and reduce tensions.

The Philippine leader’s clarification came even as Beijing called him out over his recent remark that "the Philippines has to get involved" should a full-scale war between the United States and China erupt over a possible Taiwan invasion.

In a statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun insisted that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China" and settling the "Taiwan question" is a "matter for the Chinese ourselves, which brooks no interference."

China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.

In an interview with Indian media outlet Firstpost on the sidelines of Mr. Marcos' state visit, the President said it would be inevitable for the Philippines to engage to be able to protect Philippine territory as well as the Filipinos living in Taiwan.

“To be very practical about it, if there is confrontation over Taiwan between China and the United States, there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it simply because of our physical, geographic location,” he said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels have been spotted patrolling both sides of Batanes, effectively "bracketing" the northernmost Philippine province, according to maritime security tracker SeaLight.

SeaLight director Ray Powell said CCG ship 4304 was located about 60 nautical miles west of Batanes, while ships 3301 and 3304 were positioned roughly 70 nautical miles to the east.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday night, Powell described the movement as a “bracketing pattern,” where vessels are deployed on opposite sides.

When asked on Friday if the CCG vessels were still in a bracketing pattern, Powell said, “Yes, bracketing in the sense that they are patrolling both east and west sides of Batanes.”

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In a press briefing before his departure, the President said that more investments could follow, estimating potential investments to rise to between $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion, highlighting India’s status as a strong and promising economy.

Mr. Marcos called his inaugural India visit “a new beginning” for bilateral relations, emphasizing robust dialogues with Indian leaders and business sectors. During his stay, he signed 13 agreements covering defense, maritime cooperation, agriculture, fintech, and cultural exchange, and engaged with the Filipino community in India. He urged Indian businesses to invest in the Philippines, citing its strategic location, youthful workforce, and growth potential.

“From these, real investments are expected to generate more than 4,000 direct jobs, including large-scale eimployment linked to infrastructure, manufacturing, renewable projects,” the President said.

The visit marks a significant milestone, timed with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, according to Mr. Marcos.

The Philippines also granted visafree travel to Indian nationals to boost tourism and economic exchange, while plans for resumed direct flights between the countries are underway.

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wrongdoing," he told reporters in a press conference before leaving India.

"Neither are they saying there was wrongdoing. All they’re saying is you did not handle it properly. That’s it,"

Mr. Marcos added.

The President emphasized that the matter rests solely with the judiciary and the legislature, noting that the executive branch has no role in impeachment proceedings.

For his part, former congressman Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, the Liberal Party’s (LP) acting president, said any Filipino citizen can seek the removal of SC justices if they believe the magistrates abused their authority by declaring the impeachment case against Duterte unconstitutional.

He put forward this opinion during The Agenda forum in San Juan City, when a reporter asked him about the citizenry’s options in situations when

PBBM...

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Mr. Marcos said the government is still developing its policy on online gambling, underscoring the need for broad consultations to address its social impact especially among vulnerable sectors and young people.

"We still have to form a policy on what we are going to do about online gambling," he said.

"To this end, I have already started to convene a conference of all stakeholders, from the Church, parents, regulators, because the victimized demographic is the youth," he added.

He drew a comparison to the debate over Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), saying licensed operations were not the issue, but rather the illegal activities that some operators became involved in.

"POGO itself was not the problem…But it was accompanied by human trafficking, credit card scams, all sorts of things happening,” he said.

“What we are trying to solve is the social impact – people drowning in debt, kids learning how to gamble. Let’s focus on that. How can we stop these from happening?”

“These are the things that we are going to examine and we will come up with a plan to make sure that we address the problem,” the President added.

On Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it is finalizing

Sabungero...

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At the same time, Remulla disclosed that negotiations were in the final stage on Patindongan’s inclusion in the government’s Witness Protection Program.

In a press briefing on Friday, the Justice chief expressed fears that some relatives of the missing sabungeros were being “settled to weaken the case” against the suspected conspirators in the disappearances.

“The rich must not dictate who lives and who dies in this country” Remulla stressed.

“We have news that they have (amicably) settled, but as we said the state has taken a special interest in this case. This is an issue that concerns the country and our way of life,” Remulla told reporters.

According to him, the complaints that they have filed were still being evaluated by the prosecutors to tie up some loose ends.

“We still need to evaluate everything because the statements to be included, there are what can be proven

Aklan...

From A1 reportedly suffered at least eight bullet wounds in the chest and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Ibajay Mayor Jose Miguel Miraflores condemned the attack, calling it “a senseless act of violence that has no place in public service.”

Initial police investigation showed that the slaying took place at about 9:15 a.m.

Police confirmed there was no scheduled session and no prior confrontation before the shooting, which occurred around 9:15 a.m. inside the town hall. Barangay Poblacion.

Police identified the lone suspect as councilor Mihrel Senatin who reportedly went to the municipal building to secure copies of ordinances he

members of the High Court themselves are seen as having made unconstitutional decisions.

“The answer to that question would be to file an impeachment complaint against the Supreme Court and then cite the grounds if they feel that there is a violation of Article XI that can be considered a culpable violation of the Constitution," Tañada said.

However, the former lawmaker clarified that neither he nor the LP is advocating for this course of action, pointing out that this is only an option available to the public.

“Like I said, I’m not advocating it, but it does not stop any citizen — as it is mentioned in Article XI — from doing so. Now the key here is, will there be a member of the House who would endorse the impeachment complaint?” Tañada asked.

He explained that Article XI focuses on the Accountability of Public Officers and lays down the impeachment procedure Last week, Mamamayang Liberal

new rules that will protect consumers from the risks associated with online gambling.

Strict identity verification, including biometric checks such as facial recognition, would ensure that only eligible individuals can use their funds for online gambling, the BSP said.

Daily limits on gambling-related transfers to reduce excessive financial losses will also be included in the new rules.

The BSP said the upcoming measures would also include time-based restrictions on gambling payments to help curb impulsive behavior and user tools for setting personal spending caps, taking voluntary breaks, or selfexclusion from gambling transactions.

"These safeguards aim to reduce the risks of addiction, fraud, and financial harm, while promoting the responsible use of digital financial services," the BSP said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called on the BSP to immediately prohibit e-wallets from connecting directly to online gambling platforms.

“If this happens, the BSP can protect many Filipinos from repeatedly falling into the trap of gambling addiction," Gatchalian said.

At the House of Representatives, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the government “to put an end to the silent epidemic of online gambling.”

“The numbers and stories paint a disturbing reality. Gambling, once confined to casinos and cockpits, now hides in our mobile phones – acces-

or not. That is our job, he who alleges must prove. We are looking at other pieces of evidence that can strengthen the narrative,” Remulla added.

Remulla also expressed confidence that their case build-up became stronger following the submission of statements by the Patidongan brothers.

For the time being, the DOJ was also working on getting testimony on the case from another Patidongan sibling identified as Jose, who allegedly has a pending sentence.

But for Remulla, the case has already become stronger with the statements of Julie and Elakim at hand, with a forthcoming affidavit from Jose to boot.

They are now at the evaluation stage, which will lead to a preliminary investigation. Remulla noted.

He added that subpoenas would be sent out soon against certain persons of interest.

In another development, Remulla revealed that they are planning to establish a forensic institute to bolster evidence gathering and processing.

He stressed that they are open to learning techniques from neighboring countries such as Argentina to equip the country’s forensic team.

authored.

Witnesses testified that they saw Senatin approached Estolloso then ask; “Vice, what’s wrong with you?, then opened fire at point blank range.

Police arrested Senatin at his home shortly after the attack and recovered a Glock 17 pistol believed to be the murder weapon. Both suspect and victim were members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. Investigators said there were no known political or personal animosities between them, leaving the motive unclear.

Western Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky Ligan described the killing “shocking,” noting the rare circumstance of two incumbent town officials being involved in such a despicable crime.

“We understand the sensitivity of this case. The Aklan Police Provincial

Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima also warned that SC justices could themselves face impeachment for blocking the House of Representatives' case against Duterte.

“You know, that we can initiate, or any interested party can initiate the impeachment process against these justices themselves, I don’t want to do it, but that probability is there,” she said in a televised interview.

Meanwhile, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio explained that the impeachment case filed against Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. is different from the one against Duterte.

“The Francisco [case], involving former chief justice Davide, followed the first mode. The first mode involves the plenary referring to the Committee on Justice and there was a hearing before it. The [impeachment of Vice President] Sara is the same as [President Joseph] Estrada and [Chief Justice Renato] Corona; this is direct filing, the mode is different,” he said in an interview with TrueFm.

He noted that in the said case, the

sible 24/7 to our people, including children and the youth, often with no age restrictions, and just a click away from financial ruin. Today, any person, even a minor, can register on a gambling app, fund it through an e-wallet, and lose everything within minutes,” he said.

He cited a 2025 study by Digital Risk Observatory showing that an estimated 34 million Filipinos – roughly one in three adults – have participated in online gambling.

He said some 64 percent of surveyed users admitted to betting online, with many of them doing so daily.

“Around 30 percent of users are between the ages of 15 and 24, and many of them started playing before reaching the age of 18. Our laws and our digital systems are failing to protect our youth,” Rodriguez said.

But for Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez, an outright ban will affect over 40,000 Filipino workers dependent on regulated online gaming sites.

“Banning online gambling won’t make it disappear…it just sends it underground. Right now, over 40,000 Filipino workers depend directly on regulated online gambling platforms. These are real people with real families, relying on these jobs for food, education, healthcare, and a better life,” Benitez said.

Benitez added that regulated online gambling generates more than P200 billion every year.

"That money doesn’t vanish – it goes directly into hospitals, schools,

P1.50/l...

From A1 per liter, while gasoline is expected to fall by P0.40 to P0.60 per liter. These estimates are based on the movement of the Mean of Platts Singapore—the benchmark for oil importers—and foreign exchange rates during the first four days of this week, compared to the full average of last week.

Bellas attributed the rollback to additional production increases by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, along with continued tariff uncertainties.

“Recent developments that raised expectations for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine have also caused oil prices to weaken further,” he noted. “Putting pressure on Asian diesel and gasoline prices is the increasing supply from China as Chinese refiners ramp up production.”

However, the price declines were limited by a larger-than-expected drawdown in US crude oil stockpiles, signaling healthy demand in the world’s biggest economy, higher Sau-

Office is handling the investigation with full professionalism and without favoring anyone,” Ligan said.

“Vice Mayor Estolloso was a dedicated and valued leader who always put the welfare of our people first. His sudden passing is a great loss to the municipality, and we will ensure that justice is served,” the mayor said in a statement.

The flag now flies at half-mast as Ibajay mourns the loss of its vice mayor. Meanwhile, the police are preparing murder charges against Senatin. In Nueva Ecija, police said they are coordinating with the school’s administration to ensure the safety and welfare of the students. Crisis intervention services are also being offered.

In a statement, Central Luzon Police chief, Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio

“one-year bar” starts from the time the panel acts on a complaint referred before the committee.

Meanwhile, the present impeachment move was a direct transmittal to the Senate.

As this developed, the Makabayan bloc yesterday filed a Motion to Intervene and Motion for Reconsideration before the SC on the Vice President’s impeachment case.

In a statement, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) Secretary General Josalee Deinla underscored that the framers of the Constitution intended impeachment to be a politically accessible tool of accountability. The recent SC ruling narrowed this tool that the Constitution has kept open, he added. The group, represented by the NUPL as counsel, prayed that the High Tribunal would dismiss the consolidated petitions and affirm the validity of the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate so that the trial may proceed forthwith.

infrastructure projects, community programs, and social services that improve our daily lives,” he said.

“Legal, regulated platforms keep gambling transparent and accountable. They verify ages to protect minors, ensure games are fair, prevent exploitation, and help spot and support people struggling with gambling addiction early, something impossible with underground operators,” Benitez added.

Earlier, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairman Alejandro Tengco warned that a total ban could cost the state over P100 billion in revenues.

Camarines Sur Rep. Nelson Legacion also welcomed the President's plan to convene a multi-sectoral conference to draw up a comprehensive policy on online gambling, but pressed for stronger measures including a total ban on its advertising.

Legacion cited House Bill 2360, which he filed on July 28, 2025, seeking to prohibit advertisements and sponsorships for online gambling on television, print, billboards, websites, social media, and messaging apps. But for Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Kalookan Archbishop Pablo David, normalizing the issue of gambling merely intensifies the harmful consequences of the vice.

“Responsible online gambling is a contradiction in terms,” David said.

David said the billions of pesos earned by the government from the industry come at a significant cost.

di prices for Asia, and robust Chinese crude imports in July. Bellas added, “Geopolitical risks and evolving US trade policy continue to add uncertainty and cloud the broader demand picture.”

The Department of Energy (DOE) echoed Jetti Petroleum’s outlook for price reductions. DOE estimates a rollback of around P0.25 per liter for gasoline, P1.25 per liter for diesel, and P1.20 per liter for kerosene. “Final adjustments will be determined after Friday’s trading,” said Rodela Romero, DOE director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau.

Oil companies implemented a major price hike on August 5, raising gasoline by P1.90 per liter, diesel by P1.20 per liter, and kerosene by P1.00 per liter. This increase was driven by a sharper-than-expected decline in US gasoline stocks, reinforcing the expectation of strong demand during the peak summer driving season, as well as the depreciation of the peso.

The potential rollback now signals some relief for consumers amid fluctuating global and domestic factors affecting fuel prices.

Peñones said the incident happened inside a classroom in Barangay Rizal in Sta. Rosa town at about 10:45 a.m. Initial investigation showed that the suspect, identified only as Leo, entered the classroom the shot the victim "Lea" with a .22-caliber gun in the neck before turning the gun on himself.

Both were rushed to the nearest hospital for immediate medical treatment. Their current condition remained undisclosed as of presstime. Peñones denounced the incident and assured the public of swift action to resolve the case.

"We are working hand-in-hand with the school and the parents of involved students to get to the bottom of this and to prevent similar incidents in the future” Peñones said. Vince Lopez

PH urges China to give advance notice on debris

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippines on Friday urged China to provide advance notice before any rocket stages or debris fall within Philippine waters.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said early warnings would help minimize risks and allow local authorities to safely recover the materials.

“We just wish that perhaps they could warn us a little earlier so that we know the path of the rocket, where the path is and kung magbibitaw sila ng stages kung saan babagsak,” Marcos said during a press briefing.

He noted this was not the first time suspected Chinese rocket debris ended up in Philippine waters, but stressed that no law had been violated. “There have been no casualties… wala naman tinamaan. Hindi naman nagka-problema,” he said.

The President recalled speaking to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, saying: “We have no interest in your rockets. Just tell us where they will land, we will collect it and give it to you… kung may babagsak, kukunin namin sa dagat tapos dadalhin namin sa inyo. Wala naman problema.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier raised concerns over China’s Long March 12 rocket debris entering Philippine maritime territory, calling on spacefaring nations to act responsibly. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año also condemned the launch, citing alarm and risk to Palawan residents, particularly in coastal barangays.

Authorities, including the Philippine Space Agency and Coast Guard, deployed assets to retrieve debris at sea and advised the public to “remain vigilant” following the rocket launch from Hainan.

‘At least one college grad by 2028’

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said his administration’s ultimate measure of success will be whether every Filipino family has at least one member who finishes college or technical vocational education before the en d of his term in 2028.

In his recent BBM Podcast, President Marcos acknowledged that his administration’s first years were spent making “fundamental” changes to government systems and improving the country’s investment profile, noting that such

structural shifts take time.

“Six years go very quickly,” President Marcos said, recalling that his term began while the country was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Government is like a tanker, it takes

Marcos marks 58 years of ASEAN, vows peace

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday extended his greetings to the peoples of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as it marked its 58th founding anniversary, reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to peace, cooperation and shared prosperity. In a video message, the President recalled the Philippines’ foundational role in ASEAN’s establishment more than five decades ago, describing the bloc as anchored on “peace, cooperation, shared progress and prosperity.”

“Guided by the purpose and principles of ASEAN enshrined in its Charter, we have stood together in navigating evolving regional and global challenges over the years,” he added. He commended Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN chair this year, noting its focus on inclusivity and sustainability—values aligned with shared regional aspirations.

Looking ahead, Marcos said that as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN chairman -

PDEA rewards P9.4m to civilian informants

By Charles Dantes

activities. At a ceremony in Quezon City, eight informants—wearing full-face masks and identified only by code names—received their rewards in person. The remaining informants received their payouts at regional PDEA offices.

“Hats off to the informants who discreetly provided us information leading to the successful execution of 29 high impact anti drug operations, seizures of large amounts of dangerous drugs and arrests of high value drug personalities nationwide,” said PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez.

12 kilometers before it can turn. That’s why I keep saying, ‘Bilisan na ninyo.’ If we don’t do this now, we might never be able to,” he added.

Pressed to name one priority project he wants to complete before leaving office, Marcos pointed to education.

“In my SONA, I said every Filipino family should have a college graduate or a TESDA graduate,” he said.

“If we can do that, that’s success,” he added.

“Our greatest resource is our people,” he said. “Talk to foreigners and ask what they think of Filipinos, they think highly of us. We should not waste that,” the president added.

He added that while physical development projects remain important, “the most important is human development,” and that education will ultimately be the gauge of his administration’s legacy.

President Marcos stressed that education and skills training are central to sustaining the gains of infrastructure and economic reforms. Without a well trained and well educated workforce, he said, Filipinos would struggle to compete in the global labor market.

IN BRIEF

COMMEMORATIVE

STAMPS. A staff member of the Philippine Postal Corporation displays the newly issued commemorative stamps marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India. The stamps feature a joint logo with both national flags, along with the sampaguita and lotus flowers, at the Manila Central Post Office on Friday. Norman Cruz

ship in 2026, it would build on the bloc’s achievements to address evolving priorities and emerging threats.

“As the Philippines steps into the ASEAN chairship in 2026, we will uphold ASEAN principles and continue the region’s legacy of lasting peace and shared progress,” he said.

ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, the bloc has expanded to 10 members, with Timor Leste pursuing full membership.

ABP offers P1m reward for Bacud slay suspects

THE Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas (ABP) party-list is offering a ₱1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the two men accused of killing their third nominee, Leninsky “Bogs” Bacud. The reward was announced following what the partylist described as a “direct attack on someone who gave his life to serving the public.”

Bacud was shot and killed in broad daylight on April 28 along P. Guevarra Street in Sampaloc, Manila. The ABP has vowed to pursue justice and hold those responsible fully accountable.

A non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued by the Regional Trial Court, Branch 33, in Manila on July 30 against the suspects, Arnold “Ford” Glean Umandap and Joshua Hernandez Andaleon. Police are currently conducting a manhunt and are required to use bodyworn cameras during operations. Rio N. Araja

DENR, military uncover illegal mining in Misamis

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday said a joint anti-illegal mining operation has exposed a large-scale illegal mining activity believed to be run by an incumbent barangay official. The raid took place on August 2 in Barangay Nangcaon, Opol, Misamis Oriental, leading to the arrest of an operator and the seizure of several heavy equipment. Authorities voiced concerns about the implications for public accountability and environmental protection.

The operation involved multiple agencies including the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region X, the Environmental Management Bureau Region 10, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine Army’s 2nd Special Forces Company.

Seized on-site were three hydraulic excavators, 10 water pumps, sluice boxes and mats, hoses, a wooden pan, and a sack of receipts and transaction records. Drone and ground surveillance confirmed a 4.88-hectare disturbed area, with excavation depths of up to three meters. Rio N. Araja

Armed, riding-in-tandem men stage Manila holdup

FOUR armed, motorcycle-riding men staged a daring holdup in an eatery in Sampaloc, Manila the other night, sending customers running in all directions in panic.

The eatery’s owner was held at gunpoint and robbed of jewelry and valuables worth an estimated ₱200,000. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.

Witnesses said the eatery, which had extended seating onto the sidewalk, was busy with customers when two motorcycles arrived, each carrying two armed men. The suspects immediately pointed guns at the male owner and announced the holdup.

Terrified customers fled as the crime unfolded. In less than a minute, the suspects took the valuables and fled the scene without resistance. Itchie G. Cabayan

Youth group seeks policy reforms

By Maricel V. Cruz

AYOUTH group including members of a prominent party-list has presented a five-point manifesto to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, amplifying their call for urgent, future-ready reforms in Congress.

Crafted during the recent YANIG

Youth Summit held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, the document reflected the voices of over 100 youth leaders from various schools, organizations, across the country, notably members of the TINGOG Kabataan chapters nationwide.

Collectively, they called themselves the Tayo ang Taya Youth Coalition.

lenges we face, but ready to be part of the solutions. You have my commitment that your voices will be heard.”

ple-centered,” she said. “This generation is not waiting to be invited to the table—they are already here, leading the conversation.”

IN BRIEF

Civic, religious leaders conduct peace dialogue

RELIGIOUS and civic leaders from across the Bangsamoro region convened at Notre Dame University on August 5 for the Faith and Peace in Action multi-sectoral dialogue organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference (MiRLeC), The event aimed to promote peaceful, credible, and values-based citizen participation in the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections this October.

MiRLeC, an interfaith body revived in 2024, brings together Christian, Muslim, and Indigenous leaders to call for moral leadership and inclusive peace-building.

Speakers, including OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and MiRLeC chairman Bishop Edwin dela Peña, emphasized the role of moral values in countering electoral violence and fostering unity. Rex Espiritu

PhilSA leads National Space Week celebration

For his part, TINGOG Rep. Jude Acidre, chairrman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, emphasized the value of direct engagement with young Filipinos.

US contributes

P13.8-m

aid for flood evacuees

By Katrina Manubay

THE United States government has allocated an additional P13.8 million to assist over3,000 families, or around 15,800 individuals staying in evacuation centers in Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga provinces following amid severe flooding caused by three tropical storms worsened by the southwest monsoon or habagat.

In a statement, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced they delivered repair kits containing basic construction tools and materials to help families rebuild their damaged homes.

“Although flooding has subsided in most areas, thousands of families remaining in evacuation centers continue to face significant challenges,” U.S. Embassy chargé d’affaires Y. Robert Ewing said.

The evacuees also received hygiene kits courtesy of the embassy.

The IOM vowed to continue monitoring the conditions of the evacuees to ensure their health and well-being.

The U.S military assets in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines also delivered 6,300 food packs for 18,000 people in Batanes.

Romualdez welcomed the manifesto and praised the coalition for their commitment to participatory governance.

“Youth participation is not just welcome, it is essential,” Romualdez said.

“This manifesto is proof that young Filipinos are not only aware of the chal-

The manifesto outlines key policy proposals across five priority areas: good governance, education, mental health, digital responsibility, and inclusive mobility.

Among the proposals are institutionalized youth-government dialogues, blockchain-backed transparency systems, participatory budgeting in local government, and stronger accountability mechanisms across public agencies. The document presents a clear call for Congress to work not only for the youth, but with them.

TINGOG Rep. Yedda Romualdez also commended the coalition for translating its advocacies into action.

“TINGOG has always stood for amplifying the voices of the underserved. Today, we stand with the youth in calling for a future that is more inclusive, accountable, and peo -

“This is more than a list of demands, it’s a roadmap for a better future,” said Acidre. “The ideas raised here are rooted in real experience and real urgency.

Good governance begins with listening, and today, Congress listened.”

Fellow TINGOG Rep. Andrew Romualdez echoed his colleagues’ support and reaffirmed the party-list’s commitment to translating these proposals into legislative action.

CORAL RESTORATION. The University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute, in collaboration with scientists from Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, spearheads the launch of the country’s first coral research and restoration laboratory to address the continuing destruction of coral reefs brought about by climate change and human intervention.

THE Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA urges the public to take part in this year’s observance of Philippine Space Week set Aug. 8-14.

Established under Presidential Proclamation No. 302, the event aims to promote public awareness on space science, recognize Filipino contributions to the global space community, and highlight the role of space science and technology applications in national development.

This year’s theme, “#YamangKalawakan ay Likas sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan,” underscores the value of space resources as an essential foundation for a resilient and progressive future.

The week-long celebration kicked off on Friday at Quantum Skyview, Gateway Mall 2 in Araneta City, with the opening and ribbon-cutting of the 2025 Philippine Space Week exhibit and the ceremonial turnover and demonstration of the Copernicus Philippines Mirror Site. Rex Espiritu

Agents confiscate vapes, weeds parcel from US CUSTOMS and anti-drug operatives have seized an abandoned package containing hybrid marijuana and vape products at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City.

A composite team from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG) conducted the operation, working in coordination with the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup).

The seized parcel, consigned to certain residents of Ilocos Norte, Cebu, Tarlac, and Misamis Oriental, originated from the United States. Joel E. Zurbano

DMW to set to establish extension office to assist OFWs in Nigeria

By Vito Barcelo

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is ramping up efforts to document the more than 7,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) currently in West Africa in a bid to facilitate the establishment of a Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Abuja, Nigeria, which will

serve as a vital support initiative for the Filipino workforce abroad.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac will leave forr Nigeria and Liberia this week to further deepen bilateral labor relations as directed by President Marcos.

The visit aims to establish a personal connection with the Filipino communities in Western African countries and to

UP eyes PH’s first lab for coral restoration

THE University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) is set to launch the country’s first coral restoration facility to address increasing threats on coral reefs caused by climate change and human intervention.

The project, called “Coral Conservation Capacity Development in the Coral Triangle: A Cryorepository Network for Coral Larvae,” involves research institutions from the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand who aims to establish the first regional network of coral larval cryobanks in the Coral Triangle.

The research targets Pocillopora, one of the Pocilloporid corals for larvae cryopreservation. The project is part of a ground-breaking regional effort to conserve coral reef biodiversity through cryopreservation.

“It’s not just about preserving corals today, it’s about building a foundation for future research and reef restoration that can benefit generations to come,” said Dr. Maria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez, lead of the Philippine research team.

Together with her laboratory, the Interactions of Marine Bionts and Benthic Ecosystems Laboratory (IMBiBE), Rodriguez intends to strengthen the country’s capability to safeguard coral biodiversity.

The initiative is spearheaded by Dr. Chiahsin Lin of the National Dong Hwa University and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Taiwan, and is supported by the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform through the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation, Inc.

The project is currently focused on pocilloporid corals with a brooding reproductive strategy.

ensure their safety in both work and living conditions.

“We do not promote overseas employment, but we always look out for the protection of our OFWs. Number one is safe and ethical recruitment— to make sure that our OFWs are documented and protected,” Cacdac said.

The DMW is planning to set up a pilot

office in Abuja to expand its presence in Western Africa and immediately provide assistance and services to the growing numbers of Filipino workers in the region. There are 150 OFWs in Liberia and about 6,000 in Nigeria, where the majority of the Filipino community are employed as clerical support workers, managers, and machine operators.

OPINION

Partially implemented oral sale is enforceable

1403(2) of

Code of the Philippines must be reduced in writing like a note or memorandum, otherwise the same shall be unenforceable by action.

The writing must be in long hand and subscribed to by the party.

“[T]he Statute of Frauds aim to safeguard the parties to a contract from fraud or perjury [although] its non-observance does not adversely affect the intrinsic validity of their agreement. The form prescribed by law is for evidentiary purposes, non-compliance of which does not make the contract void or voidable, but only renders the contract unenforceable by any action.” (Ocampo, et al. v. Batara-Sapad, et al., G.R. 256343, April 2, 2025, citing Heirs of Alido v. Campano)

“In fact, contracts which do not comply with the Statute of Frauds are ratified by the failure of the parties to object to the presentation of oral evidence to prove the same, or by an acceptance of benefits under them.”

“[T]he Statute of Frauds is limited to executory contracts…[because] there is a wide field for fraud as there is no palpable evidence of the intention of the contracting parties.” (Op. cit.)

“It has no application to executed contracts because… [it] would promote fraud or bad faith as it would allow parties to keep the benefits derived from the transaction and at the same time evade the obligations imposed therefrom.” (Op. cit.)

In the case Ocampo v. Batara-Sapad, Marcos Batara (Marcos) owned a one-hectare parcel of land in Kaliwanagan, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, which is registered under his name. On Feb. 14, 1974, Marcos passed away and was survived by his two children: Noblesa Batara-Sapad (Noblesa) and Ernesto C. Batara (Ernesto). (G.R. 256343, April 2, 2025)

“Noblesa, [then 9 years old], was taken into the care of Marcos’s brother, Marcelo Batara (Marcelo); while Ernesto, then aged 13 years, was sent to Manila to live with another brother of Marcos. At that time, neither Noblesa nor Ernesto knew about their father’s ownership of the lot.”

“On August 2, 2007, Noblesa received a written order from the Office of the City Treasurer of San Jose directing her to settle the real property arrearages on the disputed lot… [since]1983.

“Noblesa… learned the disputed lot is being occupied by her cousin… Benedicto Batara Ocampo (Benedicto).”

“Benedicto claimed he purchased the lot from his uncle Marcos through the intercession of Marcelo; but Benedicto failed to show any written proof of the sale.

“Noblesa thus asked Benedicto to either pay the purchase price himself or sell it to third parties so they can divide the proceeds.”

“Thereafter, Noblesa filed an action for recovery of possession against Benedicto and his wife, Daisy… before the city court of San Jose.”

“In their defense, Benedicto and Daisy claimed they took possession of the lot after buying it from Marcos for the price of P

40,000.00.”

“Benedicto claimed he paid the purchase price in installments from 1972 to 1985, with the first installment of P3,000.00 having been paid directly to Marcos. Upon Marcos’s demise in 1974, Benedicto remitted the rest of the payments to Marcelo… in consideration of Marcelo’s support and aid to Noblesa and Ernesto.”

The writing must be in long hand and subscribed to by the party

In fact, [o]ne of the payments was witnessed by Ernesto himself... Benedicto admitted the sale was not evidenced by any written document because Marcos and Marcelo died before they could execute the necessary instruments.”

“Nevertheless, Benedicto produced the owner’s copy of [the title] which Marcos allegedly gave him after receiving the first installment payment in 1972. Benedicto also submitted official receipts to prove that he had been paying the realty taxes on the lot since 1982.”

“On Feb. 20, 2018, the city court rendered judgment in favor of Noblesa and Ernesto… [declaring that] [t] he sale to Benedicto cannot be given effect, as it was undocumented and unregistered. Furthermore, there is no proof that Marcelo was authorized to receive payments and convey the property on behalf of Marcos and his heirs.”

After the appeals of Benedicto and Daisy to the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals having been denied, they “ask (sic) [the Supreme] Court to uphold the sale, which was duly proven by their testimonial evidence.”

“Benedicto admits the sale to him was completely unwritten, as Marcos and Marcelo died before they could execute a deed of sale. He further admitted Noblesa and Emesto could not have executed the deed themselves in 1972 because they were [then] still minors.”

“Benedicto thus presented purely testimonial evidence to prove the sale, offering the testimonies of his wife and relatives who were allegedly present during the payment of the installments and who were personally aware of Benedicto’s acquisition of possession over the disputed parcel [of land].”

The Supreme Court declared “the scope of Article 1403(2) is limited to the enforcement of an unwritten contract. It does not apply to contracts that have been partially or totally implemented.” (Op. cit.)

The Court further said “‘[t]aking possession of the property and making improvements thereon serve as indicators that an oral sale of a piece of land had already been executed.’ Thus, buyers in possession may invoke an unwritten contract of sale as the legal basis of their possession.” (Op. cit.)

Next Hiroshima: Somewhere Philippines?

By Herman Tiu Laurel

IT IS Aug. 6, 2025 as I start writing this article, the day of the 80th commemoration of the bombing of Hiroshima in Japan in 1945 where “Little Boy” (the cute name given to the atomic bomb of 15,000 tons TNT equivalent) was dropped. Japanese sources two days later reported up to 60 percent of the city’s built-up areas were destroyed and 200,000 of its 300,000 residents perished or injured.

On Aug. 9, 1945 the atomic bomb named “Fat Man” was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, estimated casualties ran upwards of 100,000. This second bomb was bigger than Little Boy, Fat Man was equivalent to 21,000 tons of TNT. Modern nuclear weapons have the equivalence of 1,000,000 tons of destructive power of TNT, and the historic moment when it will be first used is fast approaching — if we, Mankind, and Filipinos, do not help to end all wars.

(Editor’s Note: The “Little Boy” bomb, dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, weighed approximately 4,400 kilograms (9,700 pounds). It was 120 inches (300 cm) long and 28 inches (71 cm) in diameter. The bomb’s power came from 64 kilograms (141 pounds) of uranium-235. (The atomic bomb nicknamed “Fat Man”, dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, weighed 10,800 pounds (4,900 kilograms).This plutoni-

um bomb was the second atomic weapon used in warfare, and its detonation caused widespread destruction and casualties.)

I will cut to the chase: the global geopolitical conditions today are nearing a “point of no return.”

The US is threatened to the extent it is now building up to a nuclear confrontation with rising nuclear powers Russia and China

The hegemonic obsession of the major Western nuclear power the United States is threatened to the extent it is now building up to a nuclear confrontation with rising nuclear powers Russia and China. Trump’s transfer of several B 61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs to the UK, then the deployment of nuke subs “near” Russia, signals

EDITORIAL

Listening to atomic bomb survivors

EVERY year, but particularly today, we hear the echoes of the grief of less than 100,000 officially recognized survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings that killed 214,000, including 38,000 children, in 1945.

In succeeding years, many of the survivors called hibakusha would face leukemia, cancer, or other terrible side effects from the radiation.

The 4,400-kilo “Little Boy” uranium bomb detonated over Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945 had an explosive yield equal to 15,000 metric tons of TNT, razed and burnt around 70 per cent of all buildings and caused an estimated 140,000 deaths by end of 1945, along with increased rates of cancer and chronic disease among the survivors.

TNT is a high explosive formed from toluene by substitution of nitro groups for three hydrogen atoms. It is relatively insensitive to shock and can be conveniently melted.

Three days later, the 4,670-kilo “Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki killed 74,000 of the approximate 263,000 population at the time of the bombing, who included 240,000 Japanese residents, 9,000 Japanese soldiers, and 400 prisoners of war, according to the Nuclear Museum.

this while the minute hand of the atomic dooms-

day clock start closing in on midnight.

In a still far earlier stage of development in Asia, the US “Pivot to Asia ”transferring 60 percent of its military assets to Asia” is apparently escalating even without conscious decisions of President Trump -- run on by the Deep State auto-pilot’s algorithm, systematically setting up proxy war preps in the Philippines (Taiwan is indefensible and blockade-vulnerable) as launch pad for offensive missiles against China -- with Tomahawk nuke-capable Typhon missile systems in mobile container systems now moving around undisclosed sites.

In July 2024 when news of the US deployment of the Typhon missile system in the Philippines was disseminated, surprisingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin who reacted first as the South China Morning Post reported “Philippines warned ‘US satellite-like’ status puts it under Putin’s nuclear cross hairs’.”

This was followed by a reaction from North Korea, and only months later from the always restrained China whose foreign minister Wang Yi said, “ (the Typhon missiles) ... seriously threatens the security of regional countries and intensifies geopolitical confrontation.”

Since the first US deployment of the Typhon missile system others have followed, like the NMESIS (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), which the Google AI adds

The blitz on Nagasaki leveled 6.7 sq km. of the city, with ground temperatures reaching 4,000°C and radioactive

The dwindling hibakusha population serves as a constant reminder of the catastrophic consequences from nuclear weapons and the need for nuclear disarmament

black rain pouring down on the city, silently poisoning countless more by end of 1945. It takes around10 seconds for the fire-

“... utilizes the Naval Strike Missile and is designed to strike surface vessels from land-based positions. The system is highly mobile and intended for maritime warfare operations in the Pacific, particularly in the Luzon Strait.”

While these are all sitting ducks for China’s drones and even hypersonic missiles, they are the essence of the ACE (Agile Combat Employment) strategy. The US realizes it cannot match China’s fire power; hence ACE strategizes the dispersal of targetable sites to Chinese pre-emptive or counter-attacks.

The bases and missile deployments in the Philippines are meant to be targets for Chinese missiles, like paper targets, knock down targets or sitting ducks in a shooting gallery, to absorb and divert away from US forces. There is no defense against in-coming Chinese, or Russian and North Korean, hypersonic missiles as we have seen in the Iran-Israel war from June 13-25, 2025.

This is all assuming the US-Philippine proxy war against China remains conventional, although even conventional now includes nukealike hypersonic missiles like the Russian Oreshnik that devastate targeted areas like nuclear weapons -- the impact only limited in the circumference of destruction.

ball from a nuclear explosion to reach its maximum size, but the effects last for decades and span across generations.

Five to six years after the bombings, the incidence of leukemia increased noticeably among survivors. After about a decade, hibakusha began suffering from thyroid, breast, lung and other cancers at higher than normal rates.

Doubtless, the bombings had a profound impact on Japanese society with the officially created term hibakusha –meaning “explosion-affected-people” or “bomb-affected-people”-- used to distinguish them from other war-related casualties.

Today, we hear many hibakusha spending their lives dealing with illness, depression and societal prejudice, and their dwindling population serves as a constant reminder of the catastrophic consequences from nuclear weapons and the need for nuclear disarmament. Today, their stories like that of Koko Kondo’s, only eight months old when the bomb blasted Hiroshima, cry for attention and action to eliminate nuclear weapons as they endure the long-term emotional and physical toll of nuclear weapons.

We hear again their syllables, which do not just echo suffering, for they also highlight resilience, advocacy for peace, and determined efforts to prevent future nuclear attacks.

If the proxy war goes full-nuclear then there will be nothing left salvageable of the Philippines. What Manila looked like

(Editor’s note:The Battle of Manila, which

US raises bounty on Venezuela’s Maduro to $50-m

WASHINGTON, DC

– The United States doubled its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro -- who faces federal drug trafficking charges -- to $50 million on Thursday (Friday, Manila time), a move Caracas described as “pathetic” and “ridiculous.” Washington, which does not recognize Maduro’s past two election victories, accuses the South American country’s leader of leading a cocaine trafficking gang.

“Today, the Department of Justice and State Department are announcing a historic $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a video on social media.

“He is one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.” The previous bounty was set in January at $25 million.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Bondi’s “pathetic” bounty was “the most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen.”

“The dignity of our homeland is not for sale. We reject this crude political propaganda operation,” Gil said on Telegram.

In 2020, during President Donald Trump’s first term in office, Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials were indicted in federal court in New York on several charges including participating in a “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

The Justice Department accused Maduro of leading a cocaine trafficking gang called “The Cartel of the Suns” that shipped hundreds of tons of narcotics into the United States over two decades, earning hundreds of millions of dollars. AFP

IN BRIEF

Israel to ‘take control’ of Gaza

JERUSALEM – Israel’s military will “take control” of Gaza City under a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and approved by his security cabinet, his office said in a statement Friday.

Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure at home and abroad for a truce to pull the territory’s more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants.

The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Under the plan to “defeat” Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army “will pre-

and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, a day after Senator Tom Cotton said he had written to Intel questioning Lip-Bu Tan’s connections to firms in China.

In a statement issued Thursday, Tan said the company was “engaged with the Trump administration to address the concerns raised and ensure officials “have the facts.”

Intel is one of Silicon Valley’s most iconic companies, but its fortunes have been dwarfed by Asian powerhouses TSMC and Samsung, which dominate the made-toorder semiconductor business.

In Cotton’s letter, posted on his website, the senator alleged Tan controls dozens of Chinese companies and holds stakes in hundreds of Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip firms. AFP

TOKYO – Record rainfall hit parts of southern Japan on Friday, as authorities urged residents to evacuate and warned of possible landslides.

The deluge follows a period of punishing heat in many parts of Japan, with a national record temperature of 41.8 C set this week. Television footage showed brown, fastflowing water overflowing its banks to inundate homes in the Kagoshima region.

Local media reported that Kirishima city, Kagoshima, saw a record rain of 500 millimetres in the 24 hours through 5:00 am, twice the average rainfall for the entire month of August.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the region was “seeing heavy rains that it has never experienced before,” but it downgraded its highest alert for heavy rain as the downpour eased. AFP

pare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones,” the premier’s office said.

In Geneva, UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday said that “the Israeli Government’s plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted”.

Under the plan to “defeat” Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army “will prepare to take control of Gaza City while

distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. Turk said that the plan “runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-State solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination”. He said Israel should instead allow “the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid” and Palestinian armed groups must unconditionally release hostages. He added that Israel likewise should free “Palestinians arbitrarily detained.” Before the decision, Netanyahu said

PLAN TO DEFEAT HAMAS. Demonstrators raise pictures and flags during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, outside the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem on Thursday. Today, the Israeli army said last month that it controlled 75 percent of the Gaza Strip, mainly from its positions in the territory along the

Mushroom murderer accused of poisoning hubby

SYDNEY – Australia’s recently convicted mushroom murderer also tried to poison her husband with bolognese pasta and chicken korma curry, according to testimony aired Friday after a suppression order lapsed. Home cook Erin Patterson was found guilty in July of murdering her husband’s parents and elderly aunt in 2023, lacing their beef Wellington lunch with lethal death cap mushrooms.

A series of potentially damning allegations about Patterson’s behavior in the leadup to the meal were withheld from the jury to give the mother-of-two a fair trial.

France’s

Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale on Friday rejected an application to keep these allegations secret.

Patterson tried to kill her estranged husband Simon on three occasions between 2021 and 2022, police alleged in one of the major claims not heard during the trial. She was accused of serving him poisoned dishes of pasta bolognese, chicken curry and a vegetable wrap, according to freshly released evidence.

Simon told a pre-trial hearing in October last year how Patterson had asked him to taste test a batch of curries she had made.

huge wildfire will burn for several more days, say officials

ISSE – France’s biggest wildfire in decades will burn for several more days even though it has been brought under control, authorities said Friday as hundreds of firefighters kept up a battle against the flames.

The giant blaze in the southern department of Aude has burned through more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of land -- an area bigger than Paris, killing one person, injuring 13 and destroying dozens of homes.

About 2,000 firefighters are still on duty around the blaze which was declared under control on Thursday night.

The fire will not be “declared extinguished for several days”, said Christian Pouget, the prefect for Aude. “There is still a lot of work to be done.”

Authorities have banned access to the forests that were devastated by the fire

until at least Sunday.

They said that roads in the zone were too dangerous because of fallen electricity lines and other hazards.

Pouget said that about 2,000 people forced to flee the flames had still not been allowed back to their homes.

Hundreds of people are sleeping in school gyms and village halls across the region.

The fire is the biggest in France’s Mediterranean region for at least 50 years, according to government monitors. The southern region suffers more than others from wildfires.

At its most intense, the flames were going through around 1,000 hectares of land per hour, according to authorities in the nearby city of Narbonne.

Two days of strong and changing winds made the blaze difficult to predict. AFP

Israel planned to take full control of Gaza but did not intend to govern it. He told US network Fox News on Thursday that the military would seize complete control of the territory, where it has been fighting Hamas since the Palestinian militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

He added that Israel did not want “to keep” the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied in 1967 but withdrew troops and settlers from in 2005. Netanyahu said Israel wanted a “security perimeter” and to hand the Palestinian territory to “Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us”.

“That’s not possible with Hamas,” he added. AFP

“I remember Erin saying that the purpose of the taste test was so she could, I guess, customise future curry production for our respective tastes,” he said in testimony suppressed until now. He later fell ill after eating a mild chicken korma served by Patterson on a camping trip in 2022.

“At first I felt hot, especially in my head, and that led to feeling nauseous and then that led to me quite suddenly needing to vomit,” he said.

Simon eventually fell into a coma before receiving life-saving surgery to remove a section of his bowel. AFP

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s Cabinet met again on Friday for the second time in days to discuss disarming Hezbollah, after the Iran-backed group rejected the government’s decision to take away its weapons. The meeting considered a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah’s disarmament, with Washington pressing Beirut to take action.

Information Minister Paul Morcos said the Cabinet endorsed the introduction of the US text without discussing specific timelines. The government said on Tuesday that disarmament should happen by the end of this year. The introduction endorsed in Thursday’s meeting lists 11 “objectives” including “ensuring the sustainability” of a November ceasefire with Israel, and “the gradual end of the armed presence of all non-governmental entities, including Hezbollah, in all Lebanese territory”. It also calls for the the deployment of Lebanese troops in border areas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the five places in the south they have occupied since last year’s war with Hezbollah. The November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah stipulated that weapons in Lebanon be restricted to six military and security agencies.

Following the Cabinet decision on Tuesday, Morcos said the Lebanese government was waiting to review an “executive plan” on Hezbollah’s disarmament.

The army was tasked with presenting a plan to restrict the possession of weapons to government forces by the end of August. Only then would the government review the full provisions of the US proposal, whose implementation “is dependent on the approval of each of the concerned countries”, the information minister said. AFP

CATASTROPHE. This photograph taken on Thursday and released by the Sécurité civile shows firefighters on a filed next to a French Army helicopter during an operation to extinguish a wildfire raging in the department of Aude, near Jonquieres, in the south of France. France’s biggest wildfire this summer has been brought under control, authorities said, after it killed one person and destroyed thousands of

Trump says would meet Putin, even before Zelenskyy meeting

Dilao brothers brace for duel in Olivarez Sr. tennis meet

FRANK and France Dilao gear up for a sibling rivalry as they lead a banner cast in the premier boys’ division of the Dr. Pablo Olivarez Sr. National Juniors Championships, which got under way Friday at the Olivarez Sports Center and Parañaque courts in Sucat.

With a huge number of entries vying for top honors and valuable ranking points in the five-day Group 2 tournament, organizers are utilizing both venues to ensure a smooth flow of matches. The event gathers the country’s top junior players alongside a slew of rising stars eager to break through and challenge the established names.

The girls’ competition will take its turn from Aug. 14 to 18.

While the Dilao brothers are tipped to figure prominently in the 18-and-under race, they are expected to face stiff opposition from fellow standouts Jonathan Higa, Julio Nariga, Gavin Kraut, Lance Maglaquii, Anton Parulan and Martin Paulsen, all aiming to launch their own title drives.

Fierce battles are likewise anticipated in the other age divisions, with several players eyeing multiple crowns. Narido, for instance, seeks a possible two-title romp as he headlines the 16-and-U roster that also features Alexandre Coyiuto, Kenji Kue and Paulsen. In the 14-and-U bracket, Matteo Calingasan is tagged as the player to beat, with Kue also doubling up in this class against the likes of Matthias Go, Sky Berille, Enzo Masaga, Antonio Cablitas and Aaron Coyiuto.

The 12-and-U side, meanwhile, is bannered by Tyronne Caro, with a competitive mix that includes Yuan Torrente, Liam Harrow, Raven Licayan, Rafael Cablitas, Angelo Alegria, Joaquin Dacyon and Alexander Calingasan.

Also at stake are titles in the girls’ 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-U divisions, along with the 10-and-U unisex category. The annual tournament, sanctioned by Philta and presented by Dunlop and staged as part of the Olivarez family’s long-standing commitment to junior tennis development, is supported by Universal Tennis and ICON Golf & Sports, and held under the Palawan Pawnshop junior program spearheaded by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Trinidad, Ordonez enter WG wakeboard semis

CHENGDU, China — Raph Trinidad and Eric Ordonez made it look easy to barge into the semifinals of the water events in the 2025 World Games at the Sancha Lake Arena on Friday here.

Trinidad, the flag bearer for the proud Philippine team in the opening ceremonies Thursday night, carried out a splendid performance in the cable wakeboard event, scoring 80.20 points to dominate his heat and land third among the 10 qualified athletes to the semis set Saturday at the same venue.

Max Milde and Germany (83 points) and Loic Deschaux of France (80.40) topped the qualification round that saw the participants do tricks while being pulled by a cable

system above. It is in the same principle, albeit being dragged by a motorboat, that Ordonez did his routine and earned the nods of the judges to qualify for the semis after registering 36.67 points in wake surf.

Supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, Ordonez is expected to turn up the tempo and give top athletes Jett Lambert of USA (83.75) and BM Jomboon of Thailand (80) a run for their money.

Wong struggles in taijiquan

Meanwhile, Agatha Wong placed eighth out of the nine participants with one event left in women’s taolu at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre on Friday.

Wong, a five-time Southeast Asian Games champion, earned 9.160 points in taijiquan or bare hands and will now try her best to perform well in taijijian or sword in the evening contest set at 7:50 p.m. The medalists will be determined after combining the scores in the two wushu practices.

Zhuoling Lu of host nation China topped taijiquan with 9.796 points, while Zeanne Law of Singapore (9.740) and Basma Lachkar (9.720) followed suit. Also competing in the evening is wushu bet Jones Llabres Inso.

Canadian teen Mboko outlasts Osaka to win WTA title

MONTREAL—Canadian teen-

ager Victoria Mboko conquered four-time Grand Slam champion

Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Thursday, capping a fairytale run at the WTA Canadian Open with her first WTA title.

Mboko, 18 and playing in her first WTA final, denied Osaka her first tour-level title since the 2021 Australian Open, wearing down the Japanese star, 27, who has struggled to find consistency since returning from maternity leave early in 2024.

Mboko, who was ranked outside the top 300 to start the season and had climbed to 85th entering the week, is now projected to rise to 34th in the world.

Before an ecstatic center-court crowd of 11,000, she converted eight of her nine break points, seizing her fourth win of the week over a Grand Slam winner.

She ousted former Australian

AS the pros in both the men’s and women’s divisions, along with the country’s seasoned triathletes and rising stars, gear up for tomorrow’s (Sunday) IRONMAN 70.3 LapuLapu presented by Megaworld, the spotlight first turns to the sport’s future. The RLC Residences IRONKIDS kicks off the explosive IRONMAN weekend today (Saturday), introducing young dreamers aged 6 to 15 to the thrill of multisport. These budding athletes are ready to battle for top honors and recognition in swim-run and run-only events designed to instill discipline, passion, and a healthy lifestyle among the country’s youth.

This year’s turnout has more than doubled from last year’s aquathlon roster, with over 600 kids set to compete across various age-group categories: 6-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15. The relay division will feature the 6-10 and 11-15 brackets at the Beachfront, Dusit Thani,

Open champion Sofia Kenin in the second round and toppled reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff in the fourth before saving a match point en route to a semi-final victory

over former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina.

“It feels unbelievable right now,” Mboko said, adding that “words cannot really describe how the day went.”

It started with an MRI on the right wrist she injured in the semi-finals, and ended with a come-from-behind victory over one of her childhood heroes and a final ovation from delirious fans who have taken her to their hearts.

“I think when I had that winning moment and seeing so many people standing up and cheering for me, it was kind of a surreal experience,” Mboko said. “I would never have thought that something like this would have come so suddenly.

“I think it just proves that your dreams are closer than you think they are.”

Displaying vintage power and precision, Osaka gave her inexperienced opponent little room to maneuver in the first set, gaining an early break on the way to a 3-0 lead and pocketing the set when Mboko, who had 22 unforced errors in the set, misfired on two forehands to drop her serve a second time. AFP

Crypto group planned sex toy tosses at WNBA games

LOS ANGELES—A cryptocurrency group has said it organized a spate of “stunts” in which sex toys were tossed on courts at WNBA games, US media reported on Thursday.

USA Today first reported that an unnamed spokesman for a group behind a meme coin called Green Dildo Coin had orchestrated at least some of the incidents, which angered WNBA players and led to at least two arrests.

“We didn’t do this because, like, we dislike women’s sports or, like, some of the narratives that are trending right now are ridiculous,” the unnamed source told USA Today.

“We knew that in order to get a voice in the space ... we had to go out and do some viral stunts to save us from having to pay that influencer cabal, sacrifice our souls and the fate of the project.”

On July 29, a sex toy landed on the court as the Atlanta Dream hosted the Golden State Valkyries.

In the week since, similar objects have been thrown onto the court or into the stands at several other games, including another game in Atlanta.

The WNBA confirmed that one person had been arrested in connection with one of the incidents in Atlanta and on Wednesday an 18-year-old man was arrested for throwing a sex toy at a Phoenix Mercury game which hit another fan -- who was at the game with his young neice.

USA Today reported that the meme coin group spokesman said that Delbert Carter, who was arrested for allegedly throwing a green sex toy on the court at the end of Atlanta’s home game against Phoenix, was not part of the cryptocurrency group. Nor was Kaden Lopez, who was arrested in Phoenix. According to the statement from the Phoenix Police Department, Lopez said he saw the trend on social media and bought his own sex toy to throw. AFP

RLC Residences IRONKIDS fires up IM 70.3 weekend

Mactan. Run-only races for the 6-10 and 11-15 divisions add another exciting element to the weekend’s action.

Princess Galura, president and managing director of organizing Sunrise Events, Inc., emphasized the IRONKIDS’ role in sparking young athletes’ interest in sports and promoting healthy living, particularly in the host city.

“The IRONKIDS has been making a positive mark on Cebu’s youth for the past decade, serving as a springboard for future sports careers while promoting an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Galura. She also credited RLC Residences’ partnership for helping strengthen their mission.

“We are getting better and bigger at every single race – from 200+ junior athletes in Palawan to 350 in Subic Bay, and now over 600 kids

here in Lapu-Lapu,” said Karen Cesario, Senior Director, Marketing Head, and Chief Integration Officer of RLC Residences.

“We are overwhelmed by the turnout, overflowing with gratitude for the community’s support. More than anything, we are inspired by the passion of aspiring young athletes and the strong commitment from their parents and families,” she added.

Race distances vary by age group: 6-8 years – 100m swim, 1km run; 9-10 years – 150m swim, 1.5km run; 11-12 years – 200m swim, 1.5km run; and 13-15 years – 250m swim, 2km run. The relay events will feature –6-10 years – 100m swim, 1km run; and 11-15 years – 200m swim, 1.5km run, while run-only races are set at 1km for the 6-10 group and 2km for the 11-15 division.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025

RIERA U.

RANDY

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Torcaso lauds

PH for 7-0 win over Timorese

THE Philippine national women’s team has done well as a newly-revamped squad.

National coach Mark Torcaso said this after the Filipinas came up with a strong start and dealt TimorLeste a 7-0 rout in their opening game in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation-MSIG Serenity Cup 2025 on Thursday evening in Vietnam.

“This is a young team that’s developing. It’s a very important win for us as there are players that are developing,” said Torcaso.

The Filipinas, who are preparing for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asia Cup, drew two goals apiece from Quinley Quezada and Dionesa Tolentin, to win and grab the Group B lead with Myanmar.

Myanmar earlier turned back Australia, 2-1, with Win Theingi Tun chipping in the winning goal in the 47th minute.

The Filipinas put on the pressure immediately, knocking in four goals in the first half, off newcomer Aaliyah Schinaman, a 5’5” find from San Mateo California.

Schinaman, an NCAA Division 1 player of the University of California-Berkley, let out a leftfooted shot from close range to the bottom left corner off an assist by Chandler McDaniel in the second minute.

Quezada, a member of the Filipinas’ squad that went to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, added a second goal in the seventh minute, a right-footed shot to the center of the goal, after her first attempt got blocked.

Skipper Hali Long was next, with a header off from the center of the box, following McDaniel’s assist with her cross pass, sending the Philippines ahead, 3-0, in the ninth minute.

Thirteen minutes before the first half ended, Quezada connected again, with her left-footed shot from the center of the box handing the Filipinas a 4-0 spread in the 32nd minute.

This time, Quezada scored with the help of Tolentin’s cross pass following a set piece situation. In the second half, Tolentin struck in succession in the 57th and 64th minutes to bring the Filipinas’ lead up to 6.

Fil-Australian Adelaide Wyrzynski, a newcomer playing out of Tarleton State University in Texas, added a final mark in the 75th minute.

The Filipinas will next clash with Australia on Sunday. Peter Atencio

Gilas PH’s FIBA playoff hopes hang by a thread

By Peter Atencio

THE Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team is not yet out of contention.

Team Philippines still has a chance to make it to the playoffs after they got stunned by the New Zealand Tall Blacks’ outside shooting and Jordan Ngatai’s 22 points and an 86-94 setback that followed on Thursday evening (Manila time).

The Tall Blacks, who weathered Justin Brownlee’s 37 points, moved to a 2-0 win-loss record and grabbed a share of the lead with Chinese Tai-

pei in Group D of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This assured the Tall Blacks a seat in the quarterfinals, while Gilas’ second straight setback will mean that they have to beat another winless squad, Iraq in their bracket.

Doing so on Saturday will allow Gilas to earn a playoff slot and a chance to fight it out for a quarterfinals berth.

“So, we’re disappointed. But the tournament is not yet over for us,” said Cone.

Cone said they never expected the Tall Blacks to be this good.

Many Filipino fans based in the Middle East came and watched as Gilas went down the standings in

their bracket despite Brownlee’s heroic showing.

“We have a big game coming against Iraq. We’ll see if we get onto the next round,” added Cone.

Taylor Britt added 19 points and 7 assists to the Tall Blacks.

Chinese Taipei rode on a thirdquarter explosion from Lin TingChien, who finished with 22 points, in overpowering Iraq, 87-60.

Cone said Gilas struggled in the first half, with the Kiwis shooting well from the outside.

“I don’t think we all saw that coming. We’re disappointed,” added Cone.

Brownlee’s big effort included seven triples and a barrage of second-half buckets that brought Gilas back from a 41-55 halftime deficit.

The Tall Blacks got into the groove behind Ngatai’s hot shooting and Flynn Cameron’s penetrations as they moved in front with a 23-14 lead.

The Tall Blacks, who hit 9 triples in the first half, went on to take a 14-point edge edge at the end of the first half.

Brownlee and Dwight Ramos took charge and managed to bring Gilas’ deficit down to four late in the period.

But Britt’s buzzer-beating layup gave New Zealand a 74-68 cushion heading into the fourth. The combo of Brownlee and Ramos allowed Gilas to come within three, 85- 82.

But, Ngatai’s fifth triple, and Britt’s back-to-back layups allowed them restore control for the Tall Blacks.

Jahns outguns Que in classic ICTSI Caliraya shootout

CAVINTI, Laguna—In a mano-amano showdown between friends on and off the course, Keanu Jahns kept his punches rolling from start to finish, flooring Angelo Que with a blazing final-round charge to clinch the fiercely contested ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship with a blistering 64 on Friday here. Despite the lopsided four-stroke win result, it was a finale that seemed to beg for extra holes – not out of necessity, but simply to savor more of the thrilling shotmaking and putting brilliance both players displayed under calm skies at the Lakeside course of Caliraya Springs Golf Club.

Jahns took control from the opening tee, capitalizing on his length to set up precise wedge approaches and relying on a steady putter to do the rest. The 29-year-old Fil-German star carded a closing eight-under card, powered by a scorching five-

But it was his composure down the stretch

en holes under intense pressure from Que, who had dominated the season’s early legs – that turned a tightly anticipated showdown into a runaway win. Jahns flashed the full range of his arsenal – power, consistency, precision and poise – qualities that set him apart from his peers.

At least, in this P2.5 million champioship.

Two-up with two to play, Jahns birdied the 17th while Que faltered with a bogey from the bunker, sealing the contest with a commanding swing.

“I just stayed composed and kept pace with Angelo because I knew someone was bound to shoot another low score today. We were battling it out up until No. 15 – it was a great match,” said Jahns, after capping off a brilliant performance with a 72hole total of 22-under 266, clinching a decisive four-stroke win over the Tour’s hottest player.

UAAP champion National University and NCAA champion Arellano University collide in a blockbuster opening-day showdown as the 2024 V-League Collegiate Challenge kicks off today (Saturday) at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Defending men’s V-League titleholder Far Eastern University also banners the eight-team men’s field, which includes UAAP squads University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, and Ateneo de Manila University, along with NCAA contenders College of Saint Benilde and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Now in its 21st year, the V-League, supported by Nestle Crunch Ice Cream, Mikasa and Premiere EMS, continues its tradition of developing amateur volleyball talent from top collegiate programs across the country. Just last month, tournament organizer SportsVision and headed by Ken Ucang staged a competition in Cebu featuring CESAFI teams, where the University of Cebu emerged victorious in the men’s division and the University of San Jose-Recoletos ruled the women’s side. In the women’s Collegiate Challenge, NCAA rivals CSB Lady Blazers and Letran Lady Knights join the Perpetual Lady Altas, Arellano Lady Chiefs, and Mapua Lady Cardinals, with UAAP representation from the FEU Lady Tamaraws, Ateneo Blue Eagles, and Adamson Lady Falcons.

CHENGDU, China—Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio is keen on building regional training centers to further strengthen grassroots development and promote inclusivity even in remote provinces.

Traveling in his first international mission as the sports chief, Gregorio arrived in this ultramodern city Wednesday afternoon to attend the opening ceremonies of the 2025 World Games at the Tianfu International Convention Center and give his word of support to the national teams here.

And what a perfect time to lay out his grand plan of putting up training hubs in key locations in the Philippines with the presence of Filipino athletes who joined this significant multi-sports event for non-Olympic disciplines.

“We must develop these centers to give young athletes an equal chance of honing their talents and avoid them being taken away from their families at a very young age,” said Gregorio, who met with Team Philippines Chef de Mission Stephen Arapoc to also discuss his next big project for the sports agency.

“There is already a directive from the Office of the President to put up regional training centers. It is now all about creating a framework which will work for both the PSC and the stakeholders,” added Gregorio, who, himself, was a former CdM

opening the track ovals gaining positive feedback from the public, Gregorio said it is high time to build training hubs in several strategic locations to cover the entire country.

He mentioned Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Clark in Pampanga, Tayabas in Quezon Province, Ormoc City in Leyte, Bacolod City/Negros Occidental, and urbanized areas in Mindanao like Bukidnon, Zamboanga City, and General Santos City as possible hubs.

Also being planned to become a water sports training center is Siargao, one of the popular surfing destinations in the south.

These locations, he said, must also adopt a sport specific to the needs and the assets available.

“Aside from the help of the local government and the schools, these provinces must cater a sport they are known for,” Gregorio explained.

“For example, Zamboanga has plenty of weightlifters because of Hidilyn Diaz, so the city should serve as the key training center for that sport, much like muay thai in Baguio City, or boxing in Cagayan de Oro and GenSan, or football in Bacolod,” he furthered.

To jumpstart this plan, the PSC is set to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority on August 13 to make New Clark City a regional sports hub.

initiative of

10,000 jobs

Expected jobs by 2027

Agila shipyard in Subic aims to create 10,000 jobs

Manila Water’s income rose 15% in first half to P8b

Expected investments

$1 billion 310 hectares

Size of Agila Subic shipyard

SEC orders end to dual-class common shares

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered all listed companies to stop classifying common shares into Class A and Class B, a system originally designed to enforce foreign ownership limits. It issued SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 10, Series of 2025, on Aug. 7, 2025 to repeal a 1973 rule that permitted the trading of “B” shares on the regular board and required buyers to accept either “B” or “A” certificates. The original rule was meant to enforce the 40-percent limit on foreign ownership of shares. Under the system, Class A shares were reserved for Filipino citizens, while Class B shares could be owned by both Filipinos and foreigners.

The SEC said the classification had led to price differences between the two share classes and created administrative problems for trading participants and the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines. Advances in the Philippine Stock Exchange’s trading system now allow for the accurate monitoring of foreign ownership, making the old classification system unnecessary.

“To ensure efficiency in executing and settling equity trades, the classification of common shares into Class A and Class B of all listed companies shall be discontinued,” the SEC said in the circular.

The directive applies to all listed companies, including the 10 with existing A and B shares: Concrete Aggregates Corp., Filsyn Corp., Asia Amalgamated Corp., ATN Holdings, FJ Prince, Metro Alliance Holdings and Equities Corp., Benguet Corp., Lepanto Consolidated Mining, Manila Manila and Oriental Petroleum Minerals Corp. Under the circular, companies with Class A and B shares should amend their articles of incorporation (AOI) within one year from the effective date of the rules to reflect the declassification.

By Othel V. Campos

ITHE 310-hectare facility, idle since Hanjin’s bankruptcy in 2019, employs about 4,000 workers through its tenant companies and expects to add thousands more in the next two years.

Agila Subic serves as a strategic Asia-Pacific center for shipbuilding, subsea infrastructure and logistics, attracting major locators.

Agila general manager Mark Millan said the transformation is delivering opportunities for engineers, skilled workers, contractors, and service providers, while boosting the local supply chain.

“When we started operations in 2022, we committed to transforming the facility into an economically viable site that would attract world-

class locators and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Subic Bay and nearby communities. We are pleased to see that we are on track after only three years,” he said.

The project is backed by US-based Cerberus Capital Management, which acquired the shipyard in 2022.

The facility is rapidly emerging as a strategic hub for shipbuilding, subsea infrastructure, and logistics in the Asia-Pacific, while also spurring a surge in new restaurants, shops, and small businesses in surrounding communities.

It hosts four major tenants including the Philippine Navy, Subcom, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Philippines and V2X.

NDUSTRIAL hub Agila Subic Compass Inc. expects to create 10,000 jobs by 2027, with total investments expected to exceed $1 billion in the revitalization of the former Hanjin Heavy Industries shipyard in Zambales province. DOTr, DOT

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Tourism (DOT) broke ground on a new passenger terminal for Siargao Airport Friday to improve the travel experience for visitors to the popular surfing destination.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon launched the construction of the expanded Siargao Airport

in Barangay Sayak, Del Carmen, Surigao Del Norte. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the two departments to improve the island’s infrastructure to support its growing tourism and trade, which he said will create more jobs and business opportunities for locals.

Dizon said the new terminal would “elevate Siargao’s status as a premier gateway” to the country’s surfing capital. He noted that the current

GWEC investing over P14b in

GUIMBAL Wind Energy Corp. (GWEC) plans to invest up to P14.36 billion in investment for a proposed 200-megawatt (MW) onshore wind power project in Iloilo province. Documents submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that the GWEC project would be constructed within an 11,097-hectare area covering the municipalities of Guimbal, Igbaras, Tubungan and Tigbauan.

The site will accommodate 33 wind turbine generators, each with a capacity of 9 MW. The remaining area will be used for access roads and navigational corridors.

The company plans to develop the project in up to two phases, aiming to meet the country’s growing electricity demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. GWEC’s goal is to help the Philippines achieve energy selfsufficiency and transition to a lowcarbon emission economy.

To finalize the preliminary design, two meteorological (met) towers are being installed in Guimbal to collect at least a year’s worth of data. As of April 2025, one met mast has been installed in Barangay Calampitao, with construction starting in January 2025. Installation of the second mast in Barangay Bacong is in progress. Alena Mae S. Flores

terminal is often overcrowded and that the project’s main goal is to improve passenger comfort.

The new terminal is expected to be finished in eight months and will increase the airport’s capacity from 200 passengers to at least 750 daily.

The Siargao Airport project is part of a larger modernization and expansion plan for Davao and Bicol Airports, submitted by the JG Summit and Filinvest Groups under a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) deal.

Power disconnection in storm sites halted

DOT supports IndiGo’s planned flights to PH

Meralco says rates among lowest in PH

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER

retailer

Manila Electric

Co (Meralco) said Friday its rates are subject to a stringent review and approval process to ensure they are fair and reasonable.

Meralco vice president and head of communications Joe Zaldarriaga said the company’s generation rates, which have not changed for 10 years, are among the lowest in the country.

He said Meralco’s rate falls within the bottom 30 percent of all distributors, including electric cooperatives (ECs). Zaldarriaga noted that Meralco’s latest approved weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the lowest granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to any private distribution utility (PDU).

“Despite such comparatively low rates, Meralco consistently provides a high level of energy security, power reliability, and efficiency,” Zaldarriaga said.

“More importantly, Meralco continues to consistently improve on these performance parameters year after year,” he said.

Zaldarriaga said that while ECs primarily source cheaper power from coal plants, Meralco uses a mix of gas, coal and renewable energy to meet its customers’ growing demand.

PH stocks fall below 6,400, peso slips on slim growth

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE

ng Pilipinas. Mining and oil sector also went up by 0.79 percent

On the other hand, financials declined by 0.96 percent followed by holding firms which dropped by 0.63 percent.

Value turnover stood at P6.36 billion as foreign buying picked up with inflows at P37.65 million.

Ayala Land Inc. was the top index gainer, advancing by 2.82 percent to P27.35 while Alliance Global Group Inc. was at the bottom, declining by 2.83 percent to P7.20.

Japanese stocks rallied Friday on a broadly negative day for Asian markets, fueled by relief that Tokyo and Washington had settled a tariff issue that raised concerns about their trade deal.

The news compounded optimism sparked by strong earnings from market heavyweights Sony and Softbank that fanned a rally in the tech sector.

Meanwhile, expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates were boosted by Donald Trump’s nomination of a key economic adviser to the central bank’s policy committee, adding to downward pressure on the dollar. With AFP

PSE lifts Asiabest trading suspension after PLC acquisition

THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) lifted the trading suspension on shares of Asiabest Group International Inc. (ABG) at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

The suspension was lifted following the acquisition of a 66.67 percent stake in ABG by PremiumLands Corp. (PLC) from Tiger Resorts Asia Limited (TRAL) in December 2024. The acquisition was led by PLC chairman Francis Lloyd Chua. With the resumption of trading, ABG announced a new strategic direction focused on mass housing and infrastructure development. The company aims to help address the country’s housing backlog and create sustainable, integrated communities.

“This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for ABG,” Chua said.

“Our vision is to transform ABG into a dynamic player in industries that are part and parcel of our nation’s success: from real estate and mass housing to infrastructure, technology, and sustainable development. Through this listing, we gain a stronger platform to help improve the quality of life for more Filipino families.”

PLC, the lead member of the acquiring consortium, is the parent company of Industry Holdings Development Corporation (IHDC). IHDC’s subsidiary, Concrete Stone Corporation (CSC), is the pre-cast and aggregates arm that developed the Cebu-Cordova Link Express (CCLEX). Another subsidiary, Industry Movers Corporation (IMC), operates as the group’s maritime logistics company. ABG plans to leverage this consortium to become a major player in infrastructure, construction, and maritime logistics.

Manila Water’s income

rose 15% in first half to P8b

MThe company’s strong performance was driven by continued top-line growth in its East Zone Concession and Non-East Zone Philippines (NEZ PH) businesses.

Manila Water also saw a 15 percent increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), reaching P14.6 billion, thanks to ongoing initiatives aimed at operating efficiency and productivity.

a promise, it’s already happening.

GOTIANUN-LED Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) successfully raised P8 billion from its inaugural preferred shares offering, driven by strong demand from both institutional and retail investors.

The company said the offering was oversubscribed by 1.66 times the base offer of P6 billion, allowing it to exercise its oversubscription option to raise the full P8 billion.

“Our successful maiden preferred shares issuance marks a historic mile-

This resulted in a four-percentagepoint improvement in the EBITDA margin to 73 percent.

Revenues for Manila Water’s East Zone Concession rose 11 percent to P16 billion, bolstered by the third tranche of the approved Rate Rebasing tariff adjustment in January 2025.

Billed water volume, however, saw a 1 percent decline due to lower consumption from residential

customers and reduced cross-border volume.

Costs for new facilities were offset by lower direct costs, keeping total costs at a 1 percent growth to P1.9 billion. East Zone EBITDA increased 11 percent to P5.7 billion, and the EBITDA margin improved to 75 percent.

Outside the East Zone, the company’s businesses across the Philippines saw a 12 percent net income growth, reaching P852 million. This was driven by implemented tariff adjustments and an 8 percent increase in total billed volume. Key contributors were Clark Wa-

ter, Boracay Water, Cebu Water, and Estate Water. These gains pushed revenues up 11 percent to P4.7 billion. The company’s international arm, Manila Water International, saw its equity share in net income increase 15 percent to P46 million, with improved performance from its Thu Duc Water business in Vietnam and the IWP2 management contract in Saudi Arabia.

Manila Water invested P11 billion in group-wide capital expenditures (CAPEX) for the first half of the year, with the East Zone Concession accounting for 86 percent of the total at P9.3 billion.

stone in our corporate history and demonstrates investor confidence in FDC’s vision and our commitment to sustainable growth,” said FDC president and chief executive Rhoda Huang.

“We are very thankful for the exceptional support that we received from our investors, and we are excited to continue building on our momentum and delivering long-term value to our stakeholders.”

The preferred shares were listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the symbols “FDCPA” for the Series A shares and “FDCPB” for the Series B shares. The Series A shares have an initial dividend rate of 6.6253 percent per annum, while the Series B shares have a rate of 7.1087 percent per annum. FDC will use the proceeds to refinance existing obligations and sup

SM among Top 5 in ASEAN good governance

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Capital Market Forum (ACMF) has recognized several companies from the SM Group for their strong corporate governance.

SM Investments Corporation and its property arm, SM Prime Holdings Inc., were named among the Top 5 Philippine publicly listed companies (PLCs) and the Top 50 ASEAN PLCs. The group’s banking arm, BDO Unibank Inc., was also ranked among the Top 50 ASEAN PLCs.

“Good governance is essential to longterm value creation. We continue to align our governance practices with global standards to help build trust and deliver sustainable outcomes for our stakeholders and the communities we serve,” Frederic DyBuncio, president and chief executive of SM Investments said. Out of the six Philippine PLCs that

received awards, three were from the SM Group. BDO was the only Philippine bank to make the Top 50 list. Nestor Tan, BDO Unibank president said BDO’s corporate governance principles are about effective oversight, strict compliance with regulations, and sustainable value creation to promote the best interest of its various stakeholders.

“We value this recognition which affirms our deepest commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance practices.” China Banking Corporation (Chinabank), another financial institution under the SM Group, was honored with the ASEAN Asset Class designation. This recognition is given to companies that consistently achieve high scores on the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS). SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025

port key growth initiatives in its core businesses, including residential real estate, consumer banking, hospitality, and power generation. BPI Capital Corp. served as the sole issue manager. Joint lead underwriters and bookrunners

PROPERTY giant Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) saw its second-quarter net income increase by 7 percent to P3.40 billion, driven by strong performances across its diversified business portfolio. In a disclosure to the stock exchange, RLC said consolidated revenues rose 16 percent year-over-year to P12 billion for the April to June period.

This brought first-half revenues to P23.03 billion, an 8 percent increase from the same period last year.

Excluding one-time gains recorded in 2024, first-half net income for 2025 rose 5 percent year-over-year to P6.88 billion, reflecting solid operating performance across RLC’s investment and development portfolios.

“RLC’s solid results in the first half of 2025 reflect the strength of our di-

versified portfolio and our commitment to disciplined execution,” said RLC president and chief executive Mybelle Aragon-GoBio.

“We sustained our growth momentum with strong performances across our core businesses, while enhancing financial flexibility through prudent balance sheet management.” RLC’s malls business boosted firsthalf sales, with revenues up 9 percent year-over-year to P9.46 billion. Occupancy across 1.7 million square meters of leasable space stood at 94 percent.

Realized revenues from RLC Residences, excluding joint ventures, surged 130 percent to P2.78 billion. This brought first-half realized revenues to P4.73 billion, up 33 percent year-over-year. Jenniffer B. Austria

Power disconnection in storm areas halted

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued an advisory directing distribution utilities (DUs) to suspend disconnection activities and offer flexible payment options to consumers in areas declared under a state of calamity.

These are consumers affected by Severe Tropical Storm Crising, Tropical Storm Dante, Typhoon Emong, and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon.

The advisory covers the billing period from July 19 to Aug. 31, 2025.

Consumers with a monthly consumption of 100 kilowatthour or less may defer payments

and settle their bills on a staggered basis over a period not exceeding three months.

“Affected consumers are encouraged to contact their respective DUs for specific payment terms or alternative arrangements,” the ERC said. The DUs may offer other payment terms, provided they are mutually agreeable to both the

DA inspects smuggled fish cargoes for donation to typhoon victims

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday inspected more than a dozen container vans of frozen fish at the Port of Manila, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has identified for potential donation to communities affected by recent tropical cyclones and other natural disasters.

The fish cargoes have already been tested and found to be safe for human consumption.

“President Marcos wants these smuggled fish turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development so they end up on the plates of suffering Filipinos who need them the most,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.

According to records from the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA-IE), 19 container vans of frozen fish are currently being held at the Port of Manila, while an

additional five were seized at the Port of Subic. The DA-IE is led by Undersecretary Carlos Carag. Each container holds approximately 30 metric tons of frozen fish, bringing the total seizure to about 720 metric tons, or 720,000 kilograms. This would be enough to distribute at least one kilogram of fish to more than 700,000 families.

The DA-IE has also flagged several other suspicious shipments and has requested that the Bureau of Customs hold their release pending inspection by relevant DA agencies, including the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Bureau of Animal Industry.

The President has directed regulatory agencies, particularly the DA, to intensify their crackdown on agricultural smuggling to protect local producers and public health, and to ensure that lawful taxes and duties are collected.

Mitsubishi,

MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) has opened a new dealership in Marikina City, operated by its longtime partner, Diamond Motor Corp. (DMC).

The new facility is DMC’s first 2S dealership, which is dedicated to parts and service, providing customers with easier access to Mitsubishi’s vehicle care solutions. Strategically located at Block 33 Lot 30 Mt. Everest Street, the dealership spans 2,878 square meters within a 6,500-squaremeter property.

The branch complements DMC’s main dealership along Marcos Highway and “reflects the company’s drive to deliver

utility and the consumer.

The ERC also instructed generators, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., the National Power Corporation, the National Transmission Corporation, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, and independent power producers to extend the same payment schemes to the DUs. This

exceptional service,” according to a company statement.

“Diamond Motor Corporation has been an acknowledged trailblazer in the automotive industry for over 50 years. We constantly innovate to serve our customers better for them to experience the Diamond Difference,” said DMC dealer principal George Blaylock.

MMPC said the opening strengthens its Metro Manila network and its commitment to bringing quality vehicles and after-sales services closer to Filipino motorists through its dealer partners. Othel V. Campos

applies only to collections from affected consumers.

The regulator noted that DUs must segregate the amounts paid by affected consumers to determine the staggered payments due to generators and other providers.

The ERC encouraged consumers who are able to pay their bills to do so.

SUSHMITA OROCEO FABRO, Debtor/s-Mortgagor/s, x------------------------------------------------------x 2ND NOTICE OF EXTRA JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) UPON extra -judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Uniform Loan and Mortgage Agreement (Real Estate) executed on March 04, 2019, June 17,2021, by Sushmita Oroceo Fabro, as Attorney-in-Fact of Spouses Raziel Oroceo Viloria and Elvin Cuaresma Viloria, Debtor/s-Mortgagor/s, both of legal age, Filipinos and with postal address/es at 1) Unit LG29 Tower 2, Grass Residences, Nueva Ecija Street and Misamis St. Bago Bantay, Bagong Pag-asa, 1105, Quezon City; and 2) Unit LG30 Tower 2, Grass Residences, Nueva Ecija Street and Misamis st. Bago Bantay, Bagong Pag-asa,

SEC.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025

extrastory2000@gmail.com

RODERICK

ALENA

DigiPlus included in PSE index, replaces Bloomberry

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ONLINE gaming firm DigiPlus

Interactive Corp. is set to join the 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) on Aug. 18, 2025.

DigiPlus will replace Bloomberry Resorts Corp. based on the regular index review conducted by the Philippine Stock Exchange.

China Bank Corp. managing director Juan Paolo Colet said the announcement put to rest the intense speculation on whether the country’s largest online gaming company would be added to the benchmark index.

“There was a lot of talk that PLUS would not make it, but ultimately the PSE rightly decided to keep to the letter of its index rules since it was

clear that PLUS met the requirements as of the last review period,” Colet said.

“The decision ensures index policy predictability and stability,” he said.

Because of the recent drop in the DigiPlus’ share price due to calls for stricter regulation and ban versus online gaming operators, there were speculations this could affect the company’s chance of being included in the index.

DigiPlus chairman Eusebio Tanco, in a statement, welcomed the company’s inclusion.

“Joining the PSE Index is more than a corporate milestone for us at DigiPlus. It’s a powerful statement that homegrown Filipino companies can lead in the digital age,” Tanco said.

DOT supports IndiGo’s PH flight plan

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) pledged ITS support to fast-track IndiGo Airlines’ plan to expand operations in the Philippines by 2026.

DOT Secretary and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) vice chair Christina Frasco met with IndiGo senior vice president Vinay Malhotra on Aug. 6, 2025, during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to India. She urged the establishment of direct flights between India and the Philippines, citing the Marcos administration’s “generational reforms” to improve the climate for travel.

“No less than our President has communicated the government’s desire to expand connectivity to the Philippines,” Frasco said. Malhotra confirmed that nonstop flights to Manila and Cebu are “definitely on their radar,” with long-haul aircraft deployments planned as part of the airline’s aggressive growth. IndiGo, India’s largest passenger carrier, operates more than 400 air-

craft, flies 2,300 daily flights to over 130 destinations and carried 118 million passengers in 2024. The airline adds one new aircraft weekly and has over 1,000 more on order.

“We are looking at the Philippines very, very positively,” Malhotra said, naming the country alongside Seychelles, Mauritius and Bali in its expansion pipeline.

Frasco committed to facilitating partnerships, providing inputs, and supporting joint marketing to strengthen air links between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Air India is set to launch five weekly direct flights from New Delhi to Manila starting Oct. 1, 2025.

Frasco met with Indian Tourism

Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi to deepen bilateral tourism cooperation between the Philippines and India, Both sides agreed to explore joint marketing campaigns, data sharing and collaboration in major international travel fairs.

“We are very grateful that your Prime Minister has announced free visa for Filipinos coming into India. And with this direct connection, we foresee ease of access for both our countries, and we are very hopeful that the Air India flights beginning in October will just be the beginning of connections to more cities in India, as well as more islands in the Philippines,” Frasco said.

Food firm URC posted P6.27b in first-half income contribution

FOOD manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. (URC) said Friday its net income attributable to equity holders of the parent for the first half of 2025 decreased by 4.9 percent to P6.27 billion from P6.59 billion a year ago as cost grew faster than sales.

First-half consolidated revenues climbed 6.4 percent to P85.88 billion, URC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday.

“We are encouraged by our first half 2025 results, notwithstanding various external challenges. The strong volume-driven growth across our branded consumer food business thus far is a testament to the strength of our portfolio. We expect to sustain this momentum for the balance of the year as we continue to provide the best value to our customers and generate healthy returns for our shareholders,” said URC president and chief executive Irwin Lee.

Cost of sales increased 9.1 percent

P62.96 billion on higher material costs, particularly coffee.

The 6-percent increase in consolidated revenues was driven by higher sales across its key business units.

Total Branded Consumer Foods (BCF) revenues grew 5 percent versus the same period last year.

Domestic operations posted a 4.6-percent increase in net sales to P39.59 billion in the first half of 2025 on higher volume. Snacks and ready-to-drink beverages delivered double-digit growth, while challenges in coffee and noodles persisted amid stiff competition.

International operations reported a 6.6-percent increase in net sales to P18.21 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by strong volume growth in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Aboitiz Equity Ventures reported 27% income drop to P8.4b in first six months

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures

Inc.

(AEV) said Friday it posted a 27-percent decline in first-half net income to P8.4 billion from P11.5 billion in the same period last year. The company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange its second-quarter net income was P5 billion, a 65-percent increase from the P3.2 billion reported in the first quarter. It said the quarter-on-quarter

growth was largely driven by improved performance in the power and food and beverage segments. Despite the second-quarter recovery, the results were not enough to offset a softer first quarter, leading to the year-on-year drop for the first half, the company said.

Power accounted for 64 percent of AEV’s total net income contributions from its strategic business units (SBUs) in the first half, while food and beverage accounted for 33 per-

cent. Financial services contributed 15 percent, while real estate and infrastructure posted losses of 1 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Aboitiz Power Corp.’s net income contribution to AEV was P6.9 billion, a 24-percent decrease from P9.1 billion a year ago.

AboitizPower’s core net income in the first half was P12.8 billion, compared with P17.1 billion in the first half of 2024. The company said this reflected the full impact of de-

By Darwin G. Amojelar

SMART Communications Inc., a wireless unit of PLDT Inc., is targeting Gen Z customers with a new mobile brand to regain its position as the top mobile provider in the Philippines.

The company on Friday launched its new mobile brand, KIQ, which it says is the Philippines’ first and only fully app-based service. The brand is one of the first in the world to offer a personalized digital telecom experience aimed at Gen Z.

“We’re not just launching a new mobile brand; we’re revolutionizing the telco industry with a gamechanging experience attuned to the next generation of mobile users,” said

preciation and interest expenses for GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co., which began in March 2024, and lower spot market prices. Including the impact of foreign exchange, AboitizPower’s reported net income in the first half of 2025 was P12.7 billion, down from P17.1 billion in 2024. Energy sold totaled 19,440 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the first half of 2025, a 9-percent increase from 17,758 GWh in the same period a year earlier.

Smart chief operating officer Anastacio Martirez. Martirez noted that Gen Z, which comprises about 27 million to 29 million Filipinos aged 19 to 29, represents an economic gap in Smart’s brand portfolio that the company wants to address.

“In the socio-economic pyramid, we have already addressed it [the other segment], so the gap is the 19-to29-year-olds,” he said.

Smart hopes the new brand will lead to an average revenue per user (ARPU) higher than its current prepaid segment’s P120 to P130.

“We hope that this [Gen Z], from the research that we have, the insights that we have, that it can be in the north of it,” Martirez said.

TECH

‘Intelligent, honest’ ChatGPT-5 released as AI race accelerates

SAN FRANCISCO—

OpenAI released a keenly awaited new generation of its hallmark ChatGPT on Thursday, touting “significant” advancements in artificial intelligence capabilities as a global race over the technology accelerates.

ChatGPT-5 is rolling out free to all users of the AI tool, which is used by nearly 700 million people weekly, OpenAI said in a briefing with journalists.

Co-founder and chief executive Sam Altman touted this latest iteration as “clearly a model that is generally intelligent.”

Altman cautioned that there is still work to be done to achieve the kind of artificial general intelligence (AGI) that thinks the way people do.

“This is not a model that continuously learns as it is deployed from new things it finds, which is something that, to me, feels like it should be part of an AGI,” Altman said.

“But the level of capability here is a huge improvement.”

Industry analysts have heralded the arrival of an AI era in which genius computers transform how humans work and play.

“As the pace of AI progress accelerates, developing superintelligence is coming into sight,” Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg

wrote in a recent memo.

“I believe this will be the beginning of a new era for humanity.”

Altman said there were “orders of magnitude more gains” to come on the path toward AGI.

“Obviously... you have to invest in compute (power) at an eye watering rate to get that, but we intend to keep doing it.”

Tech industry rivals Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and Elon Musk’s xAI have been pour-

ing billions of dollars into artificial intelligence since the blockbuster launch of the first version of ChatGPT in late 2022.

Chinese startup DeepSeek shook up the AI sector early this year with a model that delivers high performance using less costly chips.

‘PhD-level expert’

With fierce competition around the world over the technology, Altman said ChatGPT-5 led the pack in coding, writing, health care and much more.

Students drive digital transformation thru Byte Forward Hackathon

STUDENTS are leading the way to digital transformation at the Metro Manila leg of the Byte Forward Hackathon, a 24-hour innovation challenge designed to solve real-world business problems faced by enterprises today. The hackathon was held from August 7 to 8 at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City.

In collaboration with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Converge hosted the hackathon as part of a broader initiative to bridge enterprises with next-gen thinkers, who are techsavvy and possess the natural edge in creating bold, out-ofthe-box solutions.

Ten teams from schools across the region were tasked to solve problems sourced directly from members of the PCCI and Converge SME partners.

This ensures the challenges are rooted in real operational needs and have tangible business value. The collaborative approach offers participants a unique opportunity to address issues that directly impact companies and communities.

“We believe the best way to discover talent is by giving them real challenges,” said Ron Puno, CEO of Rev21 Labs Inc. “In this upcoming hackathon, students will face actual business problems sourced from actual businesses in Metro Manila. Over the course of 24 hours, they’ll be tasked with turning their classroom knowledge into practical, innovative

solutions. We’re not looking for perfection—we’re looking for fresh ideas, critical thinking, and the drive to build something real under pressure. It’s this mindset and potential we’re excited to see in action.”

At the end of the event, teams were asked to design, prototype, and prepare a live demonstration or simulation of their proposed solution to present to a panel of judges from the PCCI, Converge, and Rev21.

The winning teams will will be awarded cash prizes worth P50,000, P30,000, and P20,000, respectively. The 1st and 2nd place winners will also get free internet connection for 12 months.

Byte Forward Hackathon will culminate with a grand winner, chosen from the victors in NCR, North Luzon, South Luzon, and Visayas legs, who will take home prizes up to P500,000. Future in motion

The Byte Forward Hackathon, together with a special Trya-Tech zone are simultaneous, co-located events of the Metro Manila Business Conference 2025.

The event is the premier business gathering that convenes the nation’s most influential leaders across industries for a high-impact conference fueled by bold ideas and actionable solutions. Over 500 delegates, including top-tier government officials, business leaders, diplomats, foreign investors, and forward-thinking entrepreneurs, will gather to shape the economic future of Metro Manila and beyond.

“GPT-3 felt to me like talking to a high school student -- ask a question, maybe you get a right answer, maybe you’ll get something crazy,” Altman said.

“GPT-4 felt like you’re talking to a college student; GPT-5 is the first time that it really feels like talking to a PhD-level expert in any topic.”

Altman expects the ability to create software programs on demand -- so-called “vibecoding” -- to be a “defining part of the new ChatGPT-5 era.”

In a blog post, British AI expert Simon Willison wrote about getting early access to ChatGPT-5.

“My verdict: it’s just good at stuff,” Willison wrote.

“It doesn’t feel like a dramatic leap ahead from other (large language models) but it exudes competence -- it rarely messes up, and frequently impresses me.”

However Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that his Grok 4 Heavy AI model “was smarter” than ChatGPT-5. Honest AI?

ChatGPT-5 was trained to be trustworthy and stick to providing answers as helpful as possible without aiding seemingly harmful missions, according to OpenAI safety research lead Alex Beutel.

“We built evaluations to measure the prevalence of deception and trained the model to be honest,” Beutel said.

ChatGPT-5 is trained to generate “safe completions,” sticking to high-level information that can’t be used to cause harm, according to Beutel.

The company this week also released two new AI models that can be downloaded for free and altered by users, to challenge similar offerings by rivals.

The release of “open-weight language models” comes as OpenAI is under pressure to share inner workings of its software in the spirit of its origin as a nonprofit. AFP

Vertiv appoints industry veteran Koh to lead Asia’s emerging markets

VERTIV (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, today announced the appointment of Jordan Koh as senior director for enterprise sales in emerging markets for Asia. In this role, Koh will drive the company’s enterprise growth strategy across high-potential markets, including South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Koh brings more than 25 years of experience in the IT networking and digital infrastructure space, including more than 15 years in senior sales leadership roles across Asia-Pacific. Known for d elivering transformational growth and building high-performance teams, he has deep expertise in data center infrastructure, optical networks, and enterprise collaboration platforms.

“Jordan’s leadership experience with global hyperscalers and his deep understanding of regional dynamics make him the right person to lead Vertiv’s next phase of growth in the emerging markets,” said Paul Churchill, vice president and general manager of Vertiv Asia. “With enterprises rapidly investing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and critical digital infrastructure, Jordan will play a central role in helping customers scale efficiently — backed by Vertiv’s innovative solutions and global partnerships with industry technology leaders like NVIDIA and Dell.”

As demand for critical digital infrastructure surges in emerging economies, Koh will lead Vertiv’s Enterprise go-to-market strategy focused on scalable growth, channel partnerships, and cross-border synergy. He will also serve as a key voice for customers navigating the complexities of AI-ready infrastructure, edge deployments, and responsible business infrastructure design.

“I’m excited to join Vertiv at such a pivotal time in the data center industry, when digital transfor region,” said Koh. “Emerging markets in Asia are entering a new phase of digital transformation. The Vertiv power, cooling and IT management solutions is exactly what enterprises and service providers need to scale reliably and responsibly. I’m looking forward to working alongside our talented team to drive growth and innovation, leveraging our partnerships with NVIDIA to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Jordan Koh, Senior Director for Enterprise Sales

Digital literacy, intersectoral action key to successful fraud prevention in PH

WHAT began as simple phishing emails has evolved to a complex network of online schemes that leave many pockets dry. Powered by both cutting-edge AI deepfakes and forged IDs, digital fraud is more challenging to battle against despite financial technology’s undeniable convenience.

According to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, the Philippines has a high rate of digital fraud, accounting for 32% out of 10,000 total cases in 2024. This translates to an average loss of P198 million, triple the complaints from 2023, as more cases of copycat advertisements, impersonations, and investment scams pile up.

Recognizing that the rise in fraud and scams hurts Filipino consumers, Tala Philippines backed increased exchange of industry knowledge at Decoding Deceit: A Financial Fraud Forum. The Consumer Lending Association of the Philippines (CLAP) organized the forum to serve as a platform for both the public and private sector to share insights from real-world incidents and identify practical measures to protect financing companies, other fintech players, and their customers from rampant financial fraud.

“We should empower agencies with AI tools to keep up with evolving scams. At the same time, we can also partner with telcos and social media platforms to block known scam numbers or accounts,” said Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Rogelio V. Quevedo during a panel on forging a fraud-free framework together with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the National Privacy Commission (NPC), and the Cybercrime

Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

Commissioner Quevedo also stressed the critical role of consumers in protecting themselves: “Scammers may reach you, but it’s up to you to verify if the company or name you’re dealing with is legitimate. If it’s not on the SEC Check App, it’s likely fraudulent.”

He assured that the government is staying ahead of fraud: “The government is actively keeping pace with these scammers. When there is money to be earned, the human mind can easily discern, which is why government agencies must remain vigilant.”

Detrimental Impact of Fraud on Financial Inclusion

The National Strategy for Financial Inclusion for 2022-2028 sets primary objectives of promoting inclusive digital finance and enhancing access to risk protection, among others. When asked about major obstacles to achieving these objectives, Pat Yoder, SVP of Credit at Tala, pointed out the surge in “fixers” and the financial fraud they encourage and exacerbate.

“The rising fraud increases default rates while driving up costs, resulting in tighter approval rates hence hindering financial access,” he explained. “Experiencing the negative effects of fraud, along with the sheer perception of its presence in the industry often drive firsttime users to disengage from formal finance.”

To mitigate financial fraud’s detrimental impact on paving the way for more Filipinos to actively use their financial accounts, a panel of lawyers and law enforcement officers advocated for more consideration and resources to build strong, admissible criminal and civil cases. This often requires coordinated investigative efforts

and substantial evidence, procured through cyber warrants, to trace virtual crimes to real perpetrators. They agreed that publicizing credible case victories, despite the high costs and complexities involved, is the most significant deterrent, discouraging wouldbe fraudsters from capitalizing on the Philippines’ push for digitalization and financial inclusion.

Kaspersky: Nation-state APTs use dark Artificial Intelligence

BRACE for more sophisticated and stealthy attacks driven by the rise of Dark artificial intelligence (AI) in APAC.

This is among the key findings shared by global cybersecurity and digital privacy company Kaspersky during its APAC Cyber Security Weekend 2025 in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Attended by key journalists from the region and executives from the company, the event featured a timely discussion on how attackers employ AI technology to wage digital menace around the world – from simple phishing attacks to nation-state-backed cyber espionage.

“Since ChatGPT gained global popularity in 2023, we have observed several useful adoptions of AI, from mundane tasks like video creation to technical threat detections and analysis. In the same breath, bad actors are using it to enhance their attacking capabilities. We are entering an era in cybersecurity and in our society where AI is the shield and Dark AI is the sword,” says Sergey Lozhkin, Head of Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) for META and APAC at Kaspersky.

Dark AI refers to the local or remote deployment of non-restricted large language models (LLMs) within a full framework or chatbot system that is used for malicious, unethical, or unauthorized purposes. These systems operate outside standard safety, compliance, or governance controls, often enabling capabilities such as deception, manipulation, cyberattacks, or data abuse without oversight.

Dark AI in action

Lozhkin shared the most common and wellknown malicious use of AI today comes in the form of Black Hat GPTs, which emerged as early as mid-2023. These are AI models that are intentionally built, modified, or used to perform unethical, illegal, or malicious activities such as generating malicious codes, crafting fluent and persuasive phishing emails for both mass and targeted attacks, creating voice and video deepfakes, and even supporting Red Team operations.

Black Hat GPTs can be or private or semiprivate AI models. Known examples include WormGPT, DarkBard, FraudGPT, and Xan-

thorox, designed or adapted to support cybercrime, fraud, and malicious automation.

Aside from the typical dark uses of AI, Lozhkin revealed that Kaspersky experts are now observing a darker trend – nation-state actors leveraging LLMs in their campaigns.

“OpenAI recently revealed it has disrupted over 20 covert influence and cyber operations attempting to misuse its AI tools. We can expect threat actors to create more clever ways of weaponizing generative AI operating in both public and private threat ecosystems. We should brace for it,” he explains.

Open AI’s report revealed that the malicious actors have used LLMs to craft convincing fake personas, respond in real-time to targets, and produce multilingual content designed to deceive victims and bypass traditional security filters.

“AI doesn’t inherently know right from wrong, it’s a tool that follows prompts. Even when safeguards are in place, we know APTs are persistent attackers. As dark AI tools be -

come more accessible and capable, it’s crucial for organizations and individuals in Asia Pacific to strengthen cybersecurity hygiene, invest in threat detection powered by AI itself, and stay educated on how these technologies can be exploited,” Lozhkin adds.

To help organizations defend themselves against Dark AI and AI-enabled cyber threats, Kaspersky experts suggest:

• Use next-generation security solutions like Kaspersky Next to detect AI-powered malware and threats in the supply chain.

• Utilise real-time threat intelligence tools to monitor AI-driven exploits.

• Limit access controls and employee education to reduce risks from shadow AI and data leakage.

• Establishing a Security Operations Center (SOC) for real-time threat monitoring and rapid response.

To be updated on the latest threats using Dark AI, visit https://www.kaspersky.com/.

GreatDay HR named Southeast Asia’s Best HR Management App

GREATDAY HR Philippines has been recognized as the Best HR Management App in the 2025 South East Asia Business Awards by APAC Insider, reaffirming its commitment to providing innovative, practical HR solutions tailored to Philippine businesses.

The annual awards program by APAC Insider celebrates outstanding companies across Southeast Asia that demonstrate excellence in customer service, innovation, and business growth. Winners are evaluated based on merit, market performance, and client feedback—making GreatDay HR’s achievement a reflection of both product excellence and customer satisfaction.

GreatDay HR is a mobile-first human resource platform that enables businesses to digitize and automate essential HR processes. From timekeeping and payroll to leave management and performance tracking, the app provides a secure

and intuitive solution, particularly valuable to small and medium-sized enterprises navigating evolving workplace demands.

“Our goal has always been simple: to empower HR professionals to focus on people, not paper-

work,” said Sri Coles, CEO of SunFish DataOn Philippines, Inc., the company behind GreatDay HR. “This award is a proud moment and a reminder of why we do what we do. We remain deeply committed to helping businesses grow through smarter, more human-centered HR technology.”

GreatDay HR is one of several HR solutions offered by SunFish DataOn Philippines, Inc., which also provides the enterprise-grade SunFish HRIS platform and Managed Payroll Services. Together, these solutions support a wide range of organizations, from fast-growing startups to large-scale enterprises, with a shared mission to simplify HR management and support employee success.

This recognition marks a significant milestone in GreatDay HR’s mission to bring purposeful innovation to the heart of Filipino workplaces.

To learn more, visit www.greatdayhr.ph.

protocols to verify user identity, while all transmitted data is encrypted, making transactions resistant to tampering and fraud. With this, GCash ensures that users enjoy a frictionless and protected payment experience every time. Tap to Pay works at any terminal that accepts Mastercard payments, both locally and abroad. This partnership allows users to enjoy the same seamless tap-and-go experience wherever they go, even when traveling internationally, where it can be a huge hassle to be weighed down by a wallet filled with foreign coins, bills, and multiple cards.

Through this innovation, GCash eliminates the various

FOODPANDA Logistics recently held a special event for its Ka-panda partner riders, as part of the festivities celebrating 11 years of foodpanda’s operations in the Philippines.

The “hybrid” 11UP event – which saw over 100 Ka-panda riders from across the country joining onsite in Pasig, and thousands more watching the event online – was punctuated by exciting prizes and giveaways worth over P1.3 million. The grand prizes included brand new motorcycles, driven home by lucky winners Mark Angelo Bojocan from Mega Manila; Jomar Cabrera from Luzon; Rico Jay Rotano from Visayas; and Regine Canoy from Mindanao.

“With a milestone as special as foodpanda’s eleven years in the country, it was very important that we celebrate it together with our hard-working Kapanda partners,” said foodpanda Logistics Rider Experience Lead Ron Sanders.

“Just as important was making sure that Ka-pandas from across the country were well-represented, including for the raffle prizes. And it was only fitting that the grand prizes were motorcycles, something that they can also use for their livelihoods,” Sanders added.

Sanders noted that while the big event was one of the highlights of the anniversary, there are many more exciting activities lined up for Ka-panda riders, including visits to various rider communities, safety

SHOWBIZ

By Nickie Wang

ROMANTIC comedies often rely on familiar formulas, but Meg & Ryan finds fresh ground in an unexpected pairing that works.

Rhian Ramos and JC Santos star in the film, which opened nationwide on Aug. 6, bringing to life two characters from opposite worlds whose paths collide in an unlikely love story.

Directed by Catherine Camarillo and produced by Pocket Media Productions, the film follows Meg Zamonte, a wealthy party girl coping with grief and addiction, and Ryan Cañete, a 35-year-old introvert raised in a conservative household.

A spontaneous night together turns into a relationship challenged by personal struggles, clashing values, and second chances.

Rhian plays Meg with layered vulnerability, capturing both her recklessness and fragility. JC turns in an understated, endearing performance as Ryan, stepping away from his usual roles to portray

The film

&

highlights the unlikely but compelling connection

Chemistry surprises in Rhian Ramos–JC Santos film

‘Meg & Ryan’

an awkward but sincere character. Their chemistry, built on quiet glances as much as tender exchanges, drew praise at the premiere.

The leads share a chemistry that feels lived-in and unforced, surprising given it is their first big-screen pairing. Who knew these two had such electric onscreen chemistry? Their connection unfolds not only in intimate scenes but also in small, telling moments. The supporting cast adds interesting flavor to the plot. Ces Quesada and JC share warm, believable scenes as mother and son. Cris Villanueva brings nuance to Meg’s strained relationship with her father. Warren Osinaga, in his acting debut, earns genuine laughs despite limited screen time.

By Rolando Ng III

ONE fine, sunny day, there was a young, good-looking man named Alden. He was in a studio, sitting with the audience as he watched the show away from the stage. While warming up his seat, his attention was suddenly caught by a personal housekeeper named Yaya Dub as she mimicked a soundbite.

Unbeknownst to them, their faces were flashed without any cues. It was a spontaneous encounter—something like love at first sight. The pure spark between Richards and Maine Mendoza created a new concept for lunchtime television.

Eat Bulaga, the long-reigning noontime variety show, produced an accidental fairytale—a love story that gave the romance genre a refresh. It was a drama skit, a segment inside the show’s Juan for All As such, their daily routines and gushy, flirtatious moments were

Revisiting the noontime fairytale that captivated millions

made and aired live.

Because of its nature, they had to improvise their dialogues by dubbing their lines from preexisting audio, similar to those from Dubsmash. Alden and Yaya Dub had to sustain the fever and fervor of their ‘kilig’ moments. This saw her boss, the conservative

and stern Lola Nidora, raising her concern. By invoking her eye-widening shocker ‘babala,’ she served as the firewall between the budding pair. There were trials and tribulations.

Vicor’s newest solo act Angelo Miguel wants to leave a legacy

By Jasper Valdez

FORMER InnerVoices vocalist Angelo Miguel is ready to take center stage as a solo artist under Vicor Music, a label under Viva Music Group, bringing with him not just years of experience but also a clear vision of the legacy he hopes to leave in OPM.

At a press conference held on July 31 at VIVA Café in Araneta City, the 33-year-old singer-songwriter opened up about the emotional weight of going solo after five years with InnerVoices.

“I’ve had mixed emotions since the beginning. I couldn’t sleep properly for months,” he said. “But I told myself—if I don’t do this now, when will I ever?”

While known for his rock roots, Angelo admitted he’s been adjusting to more mainstream material.

“It’s not easy to interpret love songs,” he said. “But we all have something to draw from emotionally.”

He credited his longtime friend for guiding him through the softer vocal delivery needed for Mula Ngayon, recorded with a more subdued, heartfelt tone. He also shared that songwriting has always been his deepest passion. “I consider myself more of a songwriter than a belter,” he said.

Tasteful cinematography and Catherine’s steady direction keep the tone grounded, even in daring sequences. While the pacing leaves some room for tightening, Meg & Ryan succeeds as a charming, kilig-filled romance anchored by a pairing that proves more compelling than expected.

“There are songs I wrote long ago—like Isasayaw Masilayan Ka Lang Muli—that I hope people will remember even when I’m no longer around.”

Angelo revealed that leaving InnerVoices was a leap of faith. “I had no direction at first. I didn’t know where I was going,” he said. That uncertainty eventually led him to Spryta Studios in Mandaluyong, where award-winning sound engineer Rene Serna helped him shape his debut solo material and encouraged him to pitch it to Vicor.

He credited his years with InnerVoices for shaping him, but said it was time to carve his own path.

“I may still be young, but in terms of industry experience, I’ve been around long enough. If I don’t start now, I might never get the chance,” he said. Now officially part of the Vicor Music roster, Angelo Miguel said he feels both nervous and excited to finally share his music with a wider audience. His ultimate goal? “I want to leave behind something meaningful. When I’m gone, I want people to still have my songs. I want to be remembered.”

Yaya Dub was put in an arranged marriage to Frankie Arrenoli, played by Jose Manalo. Later on, when things were seemingly romantic between them, Alden and Yaya were met with a barrier that fell between them. But with a change of heart from Nidora and his sheer persistence, both characters finally sa tamang panahon—at the

Imagine noontime without them— we might still be filling our senses with comedic laughter and short-form contests. And while these may still be the norm today, AlDub and their Kalyeserye created a force that proved to everyone that romance is possible on

Angelo’s solo debut was marked by the release of his EP Magkaibang Mundo on August 1, now available on streaming platforms. The three-track collection—Magkaibang , Masilayan Kang Muli, and Mula —explores themes of love, longing, and emotional reconnection.

With a clear message and a fresh start, Angelo is embracing the next phase of his career—one lyric

were starting to embrace newer concepts in dating and falling in love, AlDub seemed to strike a chord with viewers who believed that romance has to—and must—be done right. Hahamakin ang lahat or risking one’s limits to prove his or her desire beyond feeling, was perpetuated in their story. This was received well by stay-at-home wives, whose conservative values aligned with Nidora and the lolas. Ten years have passed, and so much has changed between the main players of this noontime fairytale. Various demands for a reunion from their loyal fans have been made. Eat Bulaga is now airing under different circumstances. Alden and Maine, now the wife of actor and public servant Arjo Atayde, are busy with their own personal and showbiz commitments. One may seem to think that the AlDub phenomenon could only be a thing of the past. But be with me here on this: their mystique remains eminent. Their glory has not faded. And the story of Alden and Yaya Dub will continue to live on for years to come.

AUGUST 9, 2025

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Luxury resale business reveals modernized brand look

By Nickie Wang

A LOGO is a brand’s visual handshake, the first impression that speaks volumes without saying a word. It captures a company’s identity, values, and personality in a single image, telling customers who you are before they even walk through the door or click on a website.

Case in point, Purse Maison, a luxury resale boutique, has introduced a refined version of its logo, aiming to maintain its recognizable identity while adopting a cleaner, more modern look.

Urging Filipinos to get ahead on financial resolutions

By Angelica Villanueva

WHILE January is often seen as the ideal time to start fresh, a top financial institution is challenging the tradition by declaring August as the best month to set financial goals.

and

The updated design reflects the brand’s growth and professionalism, with minor adjustments intended to add clarity and elegance while keeping the visual familiar to its clientele, founder Jay Ann Claire Bincal said.

“We’ve always loved our original logo, and so did our community. This update is not a rebrand, it’s a refinement,” Bincal said. “It reflects our growth and maturity while still holding on to the trust and elegance we’re known for.”

Purse Maison began as Bincal’s private handbag collection before developing into a resale business. What started as casual sales to friends expanded into an online store and eventually led to the opening of its first 45-square-meter showroom. The company is now preparing to move into a 300-squaremeter space in Bonifacio Global City.

The store offers 100 percent authentic luxury goods, including handbags, accessories, shoes, and ready-to-wear pieces, both new and pre-owned. All items are inspected by experienced authenticators, with a money-back guarantee for any product found not to be genuine.

Citing behavioral studies and spending trends, Metrobank said most New Year’s resolutions fall short, with international data showing that 8 in 10 people fail to achieve the goals they set in January.

One major reason is that January comes too late—right after the holiday season, when many Filipinos are still recovering from the year’s highest spending period, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“We encourage all Filipinos to become more financially mindful and resilient by redefining our usual holiday traditions when it comes to financial planning,” said Digs Dimagiba, Metrobank’s chief marketing officer.

people can allocate upcoming salaries and bonuses toward meaningful goals, whether it’s a condo down payment, an emergency fund, or capital for a small business.

Metrobank’s G.I.F.T. framework offers a simple guide to building financial mindfulness. It encourages individuals to get guided with goals by setting clear financial objectives as early as August, allowing more time for strategic planning before the new year. It also advises investing a portion of your bonus, recommending that part of any holiday windfall be directed toward investments that grow in value.

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First introduced in 2024, the G.I.F.T. campaign returns this year with the launch of the #EarlyGIFTChallenge. The initiative encourages Filipinos to share one financial resolution on social media this August and tag family and friends to create a ripple of accountability and support.

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“Let us all start making our resolutions early in August—take the time to reflect, make just one smart goal that you can publicly commit to, and inspire others to join you so you have a support system. This time, you, as well as your family and friends, can all finally accomplish your resolutions and grow together,” the financial executive added. Metrobank recommends that Filipinos begin financial planning ahead of the holiday surge to avoid what it calls a “financial hangover.” By doing so,

The framework stresses the importance of following a budget, especially during the gift-giving season, to ensure spending stays aligned with financial goals. Finally, it urges people to take advantage of deals, helping avoid overspending by maximizing value-based offers and saving

Whether it’s saving for a dream vacation, investing in a new gadget, or working toward a bigger life milestone, Metrobank hopes the challenge will foster a culture of early financial planning and collective growth.

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“With the gift of an early start and the right financial guidance, Metrobank aims to empower Filipinos to take proactive steps toward their goals now,” the bank said. More financial resources and planning tips earnest.metrobank.com.ph/ gift-of-financial-wellness.

Saving is a great way to be financially empowered