Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said he has ordered an investigation to determine if Orly Guteza, who emerged as a ‘‘surprise witness’’ in the Senate’s
By Ratziel San Juan
PBBM orders agencies to prioritize public safety, order
By Rio Araja, Vince Lopez and Charles Dantes
MILLIONS of Filipinos will visit the tombs of the departed loved ones at cemeteries across the country during Undas – a collective term to refer to All Saints’ Day (Todos Los Santos) today and All Souls’ Day tomorrow.
Over 1 million are expected to troop to Manila North Cemetery, where some 500 Manila Police District personnel are deployed.
MPD public information office chief Maj. Philipp Ines said the number of visitors could be equal or higher than last year’s 1.5 million.
Manila South Cemetery OIC Director John Mark Mendez said they expect at least one million visitors until the end of Undas on Sunday.
Free rides will be offered to priority groups such as senior citizens, pregnant PWDs vehicles
By Alena Mae S. Flores
By Rio N. Araja
FILIPINOS have kept the flame of local Day of the Dead observances alive through the years, unextinguished by changing times nor dampened by generational differences.
The time-honored tradition of Undas (a collective term for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day), however, is not without some welcome innovations.
The living have learned to adapt to a range of contemporary circumstances to pay respects to their departed loved ones, whether that means living abroad, working remotely, or selfisolating.
Others have simply found new ways to honor the dead, using both technology and creativity to remember their relatives in a different light.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday made a fresh pitch for global investors to look at the Philippines, highlighting sweeping reforms and digital transformation efforts designed to build “a connected, resilient, and opportunity-driven Asia-Pacific.”
At the same time, Marcos urged Asia-Pacific economies to push for the full restoration of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism and Appellate Body, warning that smaller nations risk being neglected without a functioning global trade referee.
Speaking before top executives and policymakers at the APEC CEO Summit here, Marcos said his admin-
istration is positioning the Philippines as an innovation-driven economy through infrastructure modernization, artificial intelligence, and education reforms that prepare the workforce for the digital age.
“The Philippines is open, ready, and eager to do business with all of you,” he told the APEC leaders.
“We bring a dynamic workforce, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and an unwavering commitment to sustainable and inclusive prosperity,” he added.
The President’s keynote address came as he met with fellow APEC leaders to chart the region’s economic priorities and investment course. Next page
By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippines and the United States have established a new joint task force aimed at deterring China’s continued aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. formally announced the creation of “Task Force Philippines” on Friday.
The announcement came as Teodoro and Hegseth met for the fourth time on the sidelines of the Asso-
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800,000 visitors are expected over the weekend.
While most Filipinos will be marking Undas inside cemeteries, residents in two towns in Benguet province still bury the dead on their property as part of their culture.
The municipality of Atok and Kabayan are the only two remaining towns in Benguet which have yet to establish a public cemetery.
Atok town Mayor Franklin Smith said: “We grew up with the custom of having close family ties that is why we bury our dead close to where we live. This will allow us family members to mourn the death and cope with the loss by seeing the tomb still very close to us.”
“In our culture, we believe in the practices of our ancestors which
Marcos...
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Marcos said digital infrastructure and connectivity are at the core of the Philippines’ development agenda, citing government initiatives to expand broadband access to underserved areas and to equip micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with e-commerce and digital marketing skills.
“We are ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in the digital economy,” he said, noting that more than one million entrepreneurs have been empowered through the digitalization of MSMEs program.
He also said the government has strengthened data governance and cyber resilience to build trust in the country’s growing digital systems.
The President touted recent laws aimed at making the Philippines more attractive to investors, including the CREATE MORE Act, which reduces corporate income taxes and extends investment incentives for up to 40 years, and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, which streamlines approvals for major projects.
He likewise cited Republic Acts (RA) 12252 and 12289, which liberalize land leases and speed up government acquisition for infrastructure, and RA 12253, which sets a stable
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flood control projects, was being sheltered by the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).
‘‘When I saw the news, when I found out that Guteza was allegedly in the custody of the Philippine Marines, I immediately had my staff investigate if he was there,’’ Brawner said in an ambush interview during the pre-departure ceremony for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday.
‘‘So far, there has been no feedback to me,’’ he added.
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disclose his own SALN based on the guidelines of the Ombudsman.
So far, only 15 of more than 300 lawmakers have publicly declared their SALNs. In contrast, all 24 senators have released theirs to the media.
Several House members were still awaiting the chamber's policy on the public disclosure of the SALNs before releasing theirs, according to Bicol Saro party-List Rep. Terry Ridon, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts.
ciation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Malaysia. “We don’t seek confrontation, but of course, we’re ready to protect our interests, individually and mutually,” Hegseth said, and that’s why we’re publicly announcing the ‘Task Force
were passed on from generation to generation. That is why we never had cemeteries. We bury our deceased loved ones in our properties which is also a recognized proof of ownership of the family over the property,” the mayor added.
But with the changing times, establishing a public cemetery will soon become a reality.
Local government officials have identified three potential areas in Barangays Poblacion, Naguey and Pasong but consultations with the community will still have to be done.
As this developed, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed all concerned agencies to make public safety during Undas a top national priority.
"Every year Undas happens, so the government is ready. What’s important is that the remembrance of our fellow citizens for their loved ones is orderly, safe, and peaceful,”
fiscal regime for large-scale mining.
“Our actions are focused on delivering deep, institutional, and business-friendly reforms that unlock private capital and sustain competitiveness,” Marcos said.
He also pointed to the government’s “green force” – a technical working group on sustainable finance – which aims to channel investments toward climate-resilient and environmentally sound projects.
Marcos used his speech to preview the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship in 2026, saying Manila will lead efforts to roll out the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which is expected to unlock a USD2 trillion regional digital market by 2030.
“As the Philippines takes on the ASEAN chairship in 2026, we stand ready to build a more connected, competitive, and sustainable regional economy,” he said.
Marcos called on the APEC-member economies to invest more strategically in women and youth, emphasizing that closing gender gaps is key to achieving long-term economic stability and inclusive growth.
“To be truly connected and resilient, we must also strategically invest in our people, especially in women and youth, who are important players in ensuring social and economic stability,” President Marcos said during a session of the 32nd APEC Summit
Brawner also stressed that the AFP has no intention of preventing Guteza from testifying before the Senate.
‘‘If he is being protected because of threats to his life, I see nothing wrong with that. But if he is being kept from testifying, that could be a violation,’’ he said.
The Philippine Navy earlier clarified that Guteza has long been separated from military service and is not under the custody or protection of the Marine Corps.
Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said Guteza retired years ago and has had no official connection with the service since then.
“There is no need to wait for the guidelines. The Makabayan Bloc's challenge to lawmakers, and to all public officials; it is easy to make our SALNs public,” Makabayan party-list Rep. Renee Co insisted.
She asserted that the SALNs could even be posted on social media to make them easier for the public to access.
Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago joined Co in the call for public declaration of the SALNs.
“What's more important is the call of the times and that is the release of SALNs," Elago said. She said the people have been
Philippines’ here with you today.”
Hegseth, chief of the rebranded US Department of War, said the frequency of meetings with Teodoro shows that the Philippines is a “critically important partnership for [the US].”
Neither the US Department of War nor the Philippines’ Department of National Defense had released information on the new task force as of writing.
It’s unclear, for instance, if and how the newly-announced task force relates to the existing Task Force
Presidential Communications Office
Undersecretary Claire Castro said. Castro said the President issued clear directives to ensure that security, health, and consumer protection measures are in place for millions of Filipinos traveling to their hometowns to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has placed DSWD field offices on standby to assist travelers and distribute relief goods such as ready-to-eat meals, family food packs, and non-food items in case of emergencies or stranded passengers.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa conducted on-site inspections of DOH emergency tents along the South Luzon Expressway on Thursday to monitor conditions amid heavy traffic and high travel volume.
Philippine National Police acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nar-
in South Korea.
He said empowering women to participate fully in the economy is not only a matter of fairness but also of sound economics, citing global estimates showing that gender equality could boost worldwide GDP by as much as $28 trillion.
“Empowering women to participate fully in the economy could add as much as $28 trillion to global GDP, making this the most critical investment for sustained growth,” the President said.
He urged APEC economies to take concrete measures to close gender pay gaps and remove barriers to women’s participation in business, trade, and innovation.
The Philippines, he noted, has consistently ranked among the top countries in gender equality in Asia, with women playing leading roles in business, government, and civil society.
The President’s statement aligns with APEC’s broader agenda to strengthen inclusive growth and address inequalities across the region.
This year’s APEC Summit has focused on rebuilding economies through digital transformation, sustainability, and social inclusion.
“The Philippines calls on economies to prioritize the full restoration of the dispute settlement mechanism and the Appellate Body at the WTO,” Marcos said at the APEC Economic
House...
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2020 under the Duterte administration.
Ayungin based in the Western Command in Palawan.
The task force is named after Ayungin Shoal, a feature in the West Philippine Sea where BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era warship of the Philippine Navy, has been deliberately run aground to stake the Philippines claims against China in the area and to serve as a military outpost.
“Freedom of navigation and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty are not only important for us but for the whole world given the strategic area that the Philippines
tatez Jr. likewise ordered intensified patrols in cemeteries, transport terminals, and business areas.
About 31,200 police officers have been deployed nationwide, reinforced by 11,700 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Coast Guard. An additional 29,900 force multipliers, composed of barangay tanods, ranger groups, and volunteers, are assisting in maintaining public order.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board also ordered all regional directors to act fast on all complaints and concerns raised through Hotline 09567610739.
LTFRB chairperson Vigor Mendoza II said he saw the need for the agency to be responsive to complaints since most of them are related to road safety and discipline of drivers.
Leaders’ Meeting here.
“Without a functioning dispute settlement mechanism, small economies would be at a disadvantage. For small economies; rules are a potent equalizer,” he said.
The WTO’s Appellate Body, the final court for trade disputes, has been unable to hear appeals since late 2019 due to a lack of a quorum of members, a situation caused by the blocking of new appointments.
Marcos said restoring the mechanism is vital to upholding fairness, transparency, and openness in the global trading system.
He also called for new, forwardlooking rules that address modern trade realities, such as e-commerce, digital trade, and investment facilitation.
“We encourage economies to continue supporting discussions on ecommerce, investment facilitation for development, and services domestic regulation,” Marcos said, adding that these reforms would make trade more inclusive and responsive to rapid technological change.
The Philippines, he added, continues to support negotiations on agriculture and fisheries to strengthen sustainability and food security across the region.
“Through deeper regional economic integration, we can help each one of us—large or small—adapt, innovate, and prosper together,” he said.
occupies in the whole world — economic supply chains and the security environment,” said Teodoro. Ties between the two treaty-allies — especially when it comes to defense — have grown closer since President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. took office.
Under Marcos, the Philippines has been more assertive in its entitlements and claims in the West Philippine Sea, a body of water within the South China Sea that includes Manila’s exclusive economic zone and claimed features.
As locals breathe new life into tradition, here’s what Undas looks like in the year of our Lord, 2025. New normal Though the COVID-19 pandemic may seem a distant memory, with face shields and lockdowns now relics of the past, its effects remain tangible and deeply felt. Most notably, it transformed workplaces to accommodate hybrid and remote arrangements. People with laptops hooked to mobile hotspots are no longer an uncommon sight in final resting places, as those unable to take the day off finish their shifts among tombstones. Conference call visits to cemeteries have likewise become a familiar scene, first born out of pandemic travel restrictions and now embraced by Filipino migrants halfway around the world. In the case of one airline worker whose sibling died in 2021, their family held a virtual wake, followed by 24/7 Zoom calls to connect with faraway relatives. They later booked and spent an out-of-town vacation during Undas to posthumously fulfill their late family member's dying wish of going to the beach. New school On TikTok Shop, sellers trade flowers, candles, and even foldable mats for cemetery siestas—all marketed in time for Undas.
Elsewhere on the short-form video platform, content creators post vlogs, voiceovers and the like. These range from candle fire safety PSAs and singing Aljur Abrenica POVs, to atang (food offering) skits and even morbid legal advice.
Meanwhile, one church community has turned documenting family histories into a fun family activity and regular Undas tradition. Through genealogy apps, they’ve managed to trace ancestors, search for names, uncover hometowns, and preserve family stories through uploaded records and oral retellings.
Finally, a more familiar practice today is sharing tributes on social media: Facebook posts and Instagram stories filled with photos, memories, and heartfelt words of longing for those who have crossed over.
Upon reflection, it isn’t advanced technology that sustains the relevance of Undas year after year, but rather the human instinct to remember, to connect, and to keep the dead among the living — if only in spirit.
Fuel...
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The Department of Public Works and Highways carried out the project, while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources initiated it.
‘‘This dolomite project hearing is very important because it raises questions about overpricing and corruption in infrastructure projects,’’ Ridon said.
He also questioned whether such projects were necessary, noting the dolomite beach was ‘‘never part of the NEDA Masterplan for Manila Bay rehabilitation.’’
He clarified that the investigation was not politically motivated, noting it falls under the 10-year scope of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Environmental groups had long criticized the project for being wasteful and environmentally unsound, saying it failed to address Manila Bay’ water pollution problems despite its high cost.
calling for the release of the SALNs, seen as a safeguard against the accumulation of unexplained wealth.
Elago said there is public clamor for concrete steps to ensure there is no room for corruption in public service.
Kamanggagawa party-List Rep. Eli San Fernando also called on his colleagues to make their SALNs public and challenged President Marcos and his Cabinet to do the same.
“How can the administration be transparent if they do not take the lead in disclosing their SALNs?” San Fernando noted.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said however, that the
Executive department could not just allow the indiscriminate freedom to access the SALNs for security reasons. Meanwhile, two more congressmen released their SALNs to the media on Thursday. Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco declared total assets of P220.15 million as of June 30, 2025. With total liabilities of P6.2 million, Tiangco has a net worth of P213.9 million. For his part, Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice declared total assets of P115.19 million as of July 1, 2025. His total liabilities stood at P45.19 million, bringing Erice’s net worth to P70 million.
She said kerosene may also increase up to P1.75 per liter, excluding the cost of doing business by the oil companies.
Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said the price movement indication for the week of Nov. 03, 2025 is based on this week’s Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), the benchmark pricing for oil importers and foreign exchange average for the first four days versus last week’s full week average.
He said diesel may increase from P2.50 to P2.70 per liter and gasoline from P1.50 to P1.70 per liter as oil prices continued its rally as the sanctions on Russian oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil, which together account for more than 5 percent of global oil output, have introduced significant compliance risks and uncertainty into the market.
“Growing concerns that refined products output will tighten globally due to the US sanctions on key Russian producers have resulted in strengthening diesel and gasoline prices outside of crude movements,” Bellas said.
On Oct. 28, the oil firms also increased pump prices by P2 per liter for diesel, P1.70 per liter for kerosene and P1.20 per liter for gasoline.
By Pot Chavez
THE Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appointed a presiding judge in the appeal of former President Rodrigo Duterte challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
In its decision dated October 29, the court named Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza as presiding judge.
Last week, the Appeals Chamber rejected Duterte’s camp’s challenge to the ICC’s jurisdiction over the case.
“As a result of the Prosecution’s preliminary examination having commenced prior to both the Philippines depositing its written notification of withdrawal from the Statute and the date on which that withdrawal became effective, the Chamber finds that the Court can exercise its jurisdiction in the present case over the crimes alleged against Mr. Duterte that were committed on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party,” the ICC said in its October 23 decision.
Before joining the ICC, Carranza served as a Senior National Prosecutor in Peru’s specialized system for prosecuting crimes such as terrorism, grave violations of human rights, and crimes against humanity.
She also coordinated 17 prosecutorial agencies within the system.
According to the ICC, other cases handled by Carranza in the Appeals Chamber include those involving Congo warlord Bosco Ntaganda and Ugandan warlord Dominic Ongwen.
By Rex Espiritu
THE upcoming signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and Canada on Sunday underscores the country’s expanding defense and security partnerships with like-minded nations, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Friday.
In a statement, the DND said this initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to strengthen international ties to promote regional peace and stability.
“The high-level defense engagement underscores the Philippines’ commit-
ment to expand the country’s security partnerships,” it added.
This Sunday, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his counterpart, Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty, will hold a bilateral
meeting in Makati City prior to the signing of the SOVFA.
The meeting between the two officials highlights “the deepening defense partnership between the two nations.”
“Following the meeting, Secretary Teodoro and Minister McGuinty will sign the Philippines-Canada SOVFA, the negotiations for which concluded earlier in March this year,” the DND said.
SOVFA negotiations between the Philippines and Canada were successfully concluded on March 7.
“This agreement will establish a framework for increased cooperation,
UNDAS SUNSET. A stunning sunset cast a golden glow over the Quezon City skyline on Thursday, October 31, 2025, as residents marked Undas by visiting cemeteries and offering prayers for their departed loved ones. Edd Castro
By Vince Lopez
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) acting
chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced the opening of the newly launched Chinese Desk, which will serve as a vital mechanism to boost coordination in the country’s fight against transnational crimes.
The PNP jointly established the Chinese Desk with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China on October 28 in Binondo, Manila.
Nartatez said the Chinese Desk seeks to
enhance inter-agency cooperation and improve law enforcement responses to crimes that transcend borders such as kidnapping, scamming, and other illegal activities linked to organized crime groups, while protecting the rights and safety of all communities in the Philippines.
“Through this desk, we can respond swiftly and effectively to incidents involving Chinese nationals while maintaining full respect for our laws and due process,” he said.
The PNP chief emphasized that the partnership aims to build trust and ensure the safety of both the Filipino-Chinese community and the
THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) marked its 91st anniversary on October 30, reaffirming its mission to serve Filipinos through health and welfare programs.
“For 91 years, PCSO has remained strong because of our people—their dedication, integrity, and heart for service,” said PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles. The agency held a charity run in Makati with more than 4,000 participants, honored long-serving employees, and launched simultaneous charity activities nationwide.
PCSO revenues reached P62.3 billion in 2024, enabling broader support through ambulance donations, medical assistance, and equipment for hospitals and local governments.
Cited as the “Most Improved GOCC,” the agency has earned multiple local and international awards for performance and responsible gaming.
general public.
“Our goal is to speed up coordination and strengthen relationships among agencies to suppress syndicates operating within our country. This is not for just one group, but to protect all citizens, whether Filipino or foreign, against criminality,” he explained.
Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines provided authorities with an initial list of 27 missing Chinese nationals in the country. Security agencies will crossmatch the list with their intelligence databases to determine the status and possible whereabouts of the individuals.
fostering closer collaboration between defense and military establishments, improving interoperability between forces, and facilitating more effective joint exercises and capacity-building activities,” it added.
Formal negotiations started on January 16, 2025. The Philippines has similar agreements with at least three to four countries. Following the 75th anniversary of Philippines-Canada diplomatic relations in 2024, the two nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through the conclusion of the SOVFA.
THE local government of Silago, Southern Leyte, is optimistic about attracting more investors following the town’s formal declaration as being under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC).
Mayor Lemuel Honor said the peace milestone marks a major step toward sustained growth and development, noting that Silago is now more conducive to investment, tourism, and livelihood opportunities.
“We were the last municipality in Southern Leyte to be affected by the New People’s Army. It is now evident that there is no NPA presence even in our upland areas,” Honor said.
The declaration was announced during a ceremony at the Silago Municipal Auditorium, attended by local officials, security forces, and other stakeholders. It signifies the absence of NPA activity and the town’s capability to maintain order and support development. Rex Espiritu
THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) underscored the importance of safety, regulatory oversight, and international compliance in drone operations during the Philippine Navy Drone Warfare Summit 2025.
CAAP Director General Raul Del Rosario said maintaining safety and regulation is crucial amid the rising use of drones in civil, commercial, and defense sectors under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations.
“Effective regulation allows innovation to progress while maintaining the integrity of our airspace,” Del Rosario said at the summit held from October 27 to 29 in Subic Bay.
He said all drone operators must secure a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Controller Certificate, undergo accredited training, and register with CAAP to ensure accountability and compliance. Joel E. Zurbano
THE Quezon City government has hosted the first Girls Summit 2025 with the theme “Stand with Girls,” attended by more than 400 young women leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city has about a million children, nearly half of whom are minors, stressing the need for greater awareness of gender and child protection issues.
She cited a case in Novaliches where 10 women, including seven minors, were rescued from sexual exploitation through coordinated city government efforts.
Belmonte noted that women and girls are 14 times more vulnerable during disasters due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of gender and development issues.
She said the summit aims to empower young women through leadership training, education, and advocacy on gender equality and child rights. Rio Araja
By Rio Araja
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has reset the deadline for private developers to comply with Republic Act (RA) 10884, or the Balanced Housing Development Program (BHDP), to give them more time to meet legal requirements and avoid sanctions.
In a news release on Friday, the DHSUD said Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling signed a memorandum deferring until Dec. 31, 2025 the implementation of cease and desist orders and the sus-
By Katrina Manubay
FOREIGN
Affairs
Secretary Theresa Lazaro announced that the Philippine government is set to open a new consulate in Busan, underscoring its commitment to serve the growing Filipino community of nearly 70,000 in South Korea.
In a post on X, Lazaro joined President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to meet the Filipino community in Busan.
“With nearly 70,000 Filipinos now calling the Republic of Korea home, we look forward to opening a Philippine Consulate in Busan to bring our services closer to them,” Lazaro said.
President Marcos confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will soon open a consulate office in Busan, making it the second consulate in South Korea.
T his new location will enable overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the area to renew their passports, submit civil registry documents, and legalize papers without having to travel to Seoul, where the Philippine Embassy is located.
The President also said a Social Security System (SSS) office will soon be established at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, making it easier for Filipinos in Korea to process membership, contributions, and claims with the state pension fund.
The President is currently in South Korea to attend the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.
pension or cancellation of licenses to sell for non-compliant developers.
“This is a win-win approach. It will allow private developers ample time to cope with the effects of the strict implementa-
tion of the law. Their compliance will lead to the production of more socialized housing projects that will benefit underprivileged Filipinos,” Aliling said.
However, he clarified that monetary fines imposed on violators will remain and immediately executory upon receipt of the Order of Imposition of Administrative Sanction.
“As partners in advancing a strong housing industry, the government and the private sector must continue working together for the welfare of all,” he added.
The DHSUD earlier identified around 600 real estate projects as non-compliant with the BHDP provision of RA 10884.
The discovery was made through the ongoing Zero Backlog Program which aims to streamline regulatory actions and ensure full compliance with housing laws.
RA 10884 requires developers of new residential subdivisions and condominiums to allocate portions of their projects for socialized housing -- 15 percent for subdivisions and 5 percent for condominiums -- or undertake alternative compliance schemes approved by DHSUD.
Aliling gave assurance that the DHSUD will continue its coordination with developer groups to strengthen public-private partnerships in achieving the government’s housing goals.
MALASAKIT KITS. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines gives away Malasakit kits to plane passengers across the country in time for the surge of travelers during the long Undas weekend. CAAP photo
Teodoro, Malaysian counterpart meet ahead of ASEAN confab
DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. on Thursday, Oct. 30, met with his Malaysian counterpart, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, Malaysia’s Minister of Defense, ahead of the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 12th ADMMPlus in Kuala Lumpur.
The two defense chiefs discussed preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 and the upcoming Trilateral Ministerial Meeting (TMM) among the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Teodoro thanked Khaled Nordin and the Malaysian government for the warm hospitality, reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to advancing regional peace, stability, and cooperation through ASEAN and trilateral defense mechanisms. Rex Espiritu
Los Baños commends Xylarium collection
THE municipal government of Los Banos, Laguna has recognized as a “cultural treasure” the Xylarium collection of the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI), an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). ’s (DOSTFPRDI) Xylarium collection as a cultural treasure.
The local government unit, in a resolution, acknowledged the collection for its “invaluable contribution to science, heritage, and environmental conservation.”
“This recognition strengthens the value of DOST-FPRDI’s wood specimens and also highlights the Filipino spirit of innovation and care for the environment. By safeguarding this collection, we are protecting the foundation for discoveries that can help shape Philippine forestry,” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. said. Pot Chavez
Army’s training unit gets new commander
THE Philippine Army has appointed Brig. Gen. Michael Logico as commander of the Training Command (TRACOM), succeeding Maj. Gen. Danilo Benavides who retired ending 34 years of military service.
The change of command was held Oct. 28 at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.
Logico was TRACOM’s deputy chief since October 2024. His earlier assignments included director of the Joint and Combined Training Center and the Joint Doctrine Development Center under the AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC). Rex Espiritu
By Rex Espiritu
MAGUINDANAO del Sur Gov. Datu
Ali Midtimbang has successfully mediated a peace settlement between two feuding families of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders. Through his Mediation and Peace Dialogue program, Midtimbang
brought together the families of Sukarno Ampatuan and Patrick Omar at his office on Thursday.
Ampatuan leads the MILF’s 105th Base Command, while Omar heads the 128th Base Command. Their groups had been engaged in intermittent clashes in Rajah Buayan town over the past five years, resulting in several
By Joel E. Zurbano
THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has distributed Malasakit Kits across all airports under its supervision to provide additional comfort and assistance to Undas travelers. Airports managed by the CAAP included Zamboanga International Airport, Pagadian Airport, Tacloban Airport, Calbayog Airport, Catarman Airport, Borongan Airport, Laoag International Airport, Roxas Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Ozamiz Airport, Suquijor Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, San Jose Airport, Romblon Airport, Marinduque Airport, Iba Airport, Plaridel Airport, Lubang Airport, Baler Airport, Mamburao Airport, Calapan Airport, Pinamalayan Airport, and Camiguin Airport, and Davao
International Airport. Each kit contained vital items such as bottled water, snacks, and alcohol. Additionally, flashlights and whistles were provided.
Malasakit Help desks were also set up in all airports to offer on-site assistance and address passenger concerns.
Airport security personnel were placed on heightened alert to maintain order and ensure the safety of travelers, while medical teams are prepared to deliver immediate care in the event of emergencies.
“We continue to closely monitor airport operations to ensure that every passenger experiences a smooth, safe, and convenient journey during this busy travel period,” CAAP director general Raul Del Rosario said.
casualties and property damage.
“Forget your dispute over territorial areas. Let’s work for peace for the sake of our children and our children’s children,” Midtimbang told the warring families.
“I am happy you heeded my call for a peaceful settlement,” he said.
Both sides agreed to refrain from violence and demonstrate that peace is
possible in their communities.
The settlement was facilitated by Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, and Rajah Buayan Mayor Bai Maruja Ampatuan Mastura. Catu warned the families that the military would intervene in case hostilities resumed.
IS A foreclosure sale due to non-payment
of a loan valid even if the borrower could not have agreed to the interest rates imposed by the lender?
The answer is NO.
The Supreme Court explained that credit agreements which are potestative in character violates the principle of mutuality of contracts, rendering them null and void (United Coconut Planters Bank v. Ang and Fernandez, G.R. 222448, March 3, 2025).
“[A]s long as the interest rates were unconscionable or unilaterally imposed by the mortgagee, the foreclosure proceedings that followed should be annulled.”
“The unilateral imposition of interests, at such rate that the lender or mortgagee so pleases, cannot and should not be reason to justify a foreclosure sale” (Op cit.).
“The mortgagor should be given a chance to pay their indebtedness at an interest rate clearly agreed upon by the parties, otherwise, they shall be at the mercy of their creditor, standing to lose their property without being afforded a fair opportunity to settle their indebtedness” (Op cit.).
“Jurisprudence has held that in a situation wherein a debtor was not given an opportunity to settle his/her debt at the correct amount due to the imposition of a null and void interest rate scheme, no foreclosure proceedings may be instituted.
“The registration of such foreclosure sale has been held to be invalid and cannot vest title over the mortgaged property” (Op cit.).
“In a situation wherein null and void interest rates are imposed under a contract of loan, the non-payment of the principal loan obligation does not place the debtor in a state of default, considering that under Article 1252 of the Civil Code, if a debt produces interest, payment of the principal shall not be deemed to have been made until the interests have been covered” (Op cit.).
“Necessarily, since the obligation of making interest payments in the instant case is illegal and thus non-demandable, the payment of the principal loan obligation was likewise not yet demandable on the part of [ the lender]. With [the borrower] not being in a state of default, the foreclosure of the subject properties should not have proceeded” (Op cit.).
“In Heirs of Zoilo Espiritu v. [Spouses] Landrito, the loan obligation involved, which was secured by a mortgage, was marred by an iniquitous imposition of monetary interest because the creditors omitted to specifically identify the imposable interest rate... Because of the failure of the debtors to pay back the loan, the mortgaged property was foreclosed [which the]
debtors failed to redeem…” (Op cit. cited in United Coconut Planters Bank [UCPB] v. Ang and Fernandez).
“Since the [s]pouses Landrito… were not given an opportunity to settle their debt, at the correct amount and without the iniquitous interest imposed, no foreclosure proceedings may be instituted.” “[I]t has not yet been shown that the [s]pouses Landrito had already failed to pay the correct amount of the debt and, therefore, a foreclosure sale cannot be conducted…” (Op cit.).
The Supreme Court explained that credit agreements which are potestative in character violates the principle of mutuality of contracts, rendering them null and void
“As a result, the subsequent registration of the foreclosure sale cannot transfer any rights over the mortgaged property to the [s]pouses Espiritu. The registration of the foreclosure sale… cannot vest title over the mortgaged property” (Op cit.).
“The Torrens system does not create or vest title where one does not have a rightful claim over a real property. It only confirms and records title already existing and vested.” “Thus, the decree of registration, even after the lapse of [one] year, cannot attain the status of indefeasibility.” (Op cit.)
In the case of “[Spouses] Castro v. Tan… the [Supreme] Court nullified the foreclosure proceedings ‘since the amount demanded as the outstanding loan was overstated… [A]ccordingly, we declare the registration of the foreclosure sale invalid and cannot vest title over the mortgaged property’” (Op cit. cited in the UCPB case).
“Also, in [Spouses] Andal v. PCB, the Court upheld the nullification of the foreclosure sale, affirming the appellate court’s holding that “since the interest rates are null and void, [respondent] bank has no right to foreclose [petitionersspouses’] properties and any foreclosure thereof is illegal...
“Since there was no default yet, it is premature for [respondent] bank to foreclose the properties subject of the real estate mortgage contact” (Op cit. cited in the UCPB case).
By Juan ‘Yuan’ Santos
THE Zumba music has faded in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa. The banners for World Heart Day 2025 are down, and the officials have gone home. After the speeches, the statistics, and the celebratory photos, we are left with a critical question: What now?
The reality, as DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa rightly articulated, is the fight against cardiovascular disease is not about abstract numbers but the empty chair at the dinner table, the nanay or tatay taken decades too soon.
We can and should applaud the highlevel strategies. The DOH’s 8-Point Agenda and the expansion of the Healthy Hearts Program are vital structural reforms. But we must be brutally honest with ourselves: these policies will remain mere ink on paper without a profound, parallel revolution in our communities.
The real battle for the Filipino heart will not be won in the halls of Congress or even in the sanitized corridors of our hospitals. It will be won—or lost—in our barangays, our office break rooms, and our very own living rooms.
The “Galaw-Galaw, Pilipinas!” campaign is a brilliant start. But a single Zumba session, while a powerful symbol, is not a strategy. For far too many, it is a temporary diversion, a fun yearly photoop before returning to the lifestyle that is silently killing us.
We must aggressively counter the modern culture of convenience—the kainupo-scroll (eat-sit-scroll) existence that has become our national pastime. This is not just a DOH responsibility. It is a call to action for every local official, office manager, and family head.
The real battle for the Filipino heart will not be won in the halls of Congress or even in the sanitized corridors of our hospitals
True community engagement isn’t just another dance-off. It means demanding and building safer, wider sidewalks so walking is a viable choice, not an obstacle course.
It means carving out green spaces for leisure, advocating for local sports leagues, and normalizing the simple act of choosing the stairs. The government can provide the framework, but we, the people, must provide the will.
If lifestyle change is the long-term war, then CPR-readiness is the emergency battle we are desperately unprepared for. This is where the gap between policy
and a yacht—but all drawn as ghostly outlines, faint but massive, weighing
One politician grins
as he holds a magnifying glass to his own report, saying, “See? Modest living! Behind them, citizens peer through the bars of a fence made of receipts and tax forms, whispering, “Magic truly runs in public service.” The background shows a cloudy sky of swirling numbers and shadows labeled “Lifestyle Checks,” “COA,” “Audit Trails”—hovering like storm clouds.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is on track in ordering the Department of Public Highways to slash puffed up infrastructure costs and directing all government agencies to adopt the same price overhaul.
The directive covers infrastructure and capital expenditures under the Departments of Education, Agriculture, Health, Transportation, and the Interior and Local Government as well as the National Irrigation Administration. The President explained such measures would curb corruption and align project costs with real market rate, apart from enforcing transparency and financial prudence or budgetary control.
Prior to his departure for the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting in Busan, South Korea the other day, the President said: “Alongside our efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ regional foothold and attract investments, we continue to cleanse our bureaucracy of corruption – because only a transparent government can build a fair economy.”
Given the impudent scenario we have seen following the severe storms that roared into the country in the third and fourth quarter of 2025, the President’s syllables mean the comprehensive elim-
and reality is most terrifying. The handson CPR demonstration by the Philippine Heart Association was not just a sideevent; it was arguably the most critical component of the day. Why? Because when a heart stops, the ambulance is almost always too late. The hard truth is that the person most likely to save you isn’t a paramedic—it’s the person sitting next to you. As a nation, we are dangerously unqualified for this moment. We wait, we panic, we film, we pray. We are paralyzed by the fear of doing it wrong, forgetting that in the face of cardiac arrest, the only truly wrong action is inaction.
The vision of a “CPR-Ready Philippines” cannot be just another government slogan; it must become a social contract. Learning CPR should be a fundamental
ination or removal of corrupt practices, behaviors, and systems within public administration.
This is not merely about punishing individual wrongdoers but about fundamental changes to the entire government administration system
They involve implementing systemic reforms to ensure that government functions are conducted with integrity, transparency, efficiency, and accountability. We know the people are keenly watching how the President’s words
skill of citizenship, as basic as literacy. We must demand this training—not just offer it, but mandate it—in our schools before graduation, in our workplaces for employment, and in every barangay hall for our tanods and community leaders.
Being CPR-ready empowers every single Juan to become the crucial bridge between a person’s collapse and the arrival of professional help. Those few minutes, and those two hands, are the absolute difference between a tragedy and a second chance.
The DOH and PHA are building the system. The World Health Organization’s HEARTS package is a fantastic tool. But tools are useless until we, as a society, decide to pick them up.
The future of Filipino heart health does not rest on Secretary Herbosa’s shoulders
will be transformed by those tasked to eliminate the malpractice, which targets illegal or unethical activities, including bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, abuse of power, fraud, and the acceptance of kickbacks or illicit gifts.
Of course the people, who feel they have lost their future because public servants, conniving with unquenchable private contractors, have scammed them of their trust and hard-earned taxes, will watch how this systemic reform will roll. In their view, which we share and underscore, this is not merely about punishing individual wrongdoers but about fundamental changes to the entire government administration system.
This involves reviewing and changing institutional, management, and human resources aspects to prevent future corruption.
The primary goal is to restore public trust in government institutions, often eroded by widespread corruption, remove altogether corrupt practices so the government can ensure public services and resources – for instance healthcare, education, and public contracts – are distributed fairly and efficiently, without citizens having to pay bribes for basic entitlements.
The President and the directed government agencies must not fail the people.
alone. It rests squarely on ours. It rests on our personal, unglamorous decision to put down the chicharon and take a walk. It rests on our collective will to transform our communities from concrete jungles into places that encourage health, not hinder it. Most importantly, it rests on our courage to get trained, to step forward in a crisis, and to press our hands on a stranger’s chest to keep their heart beating. The government has shown its commitment. It is time for us to show ours.
(The writer, former territory manager and sales representative at a business newspaper, is currently a part-time university instructor and Sales and Advertising Consultant and a graduate student at Rizal Technological University, pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Administration.)
NOVEMBER 1, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC – US President Donald Trump landed back in Washington Thursday (Friday Manila time) after a surprise directive to begin nuclear weapons testing that raised the specter of renewed superpower tensions.
The announcement on social media was issued just before Trump -- who boasts frequently about being a peace president -- went into a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea. But Trump’s announcement left much unanswered -- chiefly about whether he meant testing weapons systems or actually conducting test explosions, something the United States has not done since 1992.
It appeared to alarm key US foe Iran, which criticized the directive as “irresponsible.”
Vice President JD Vance said the US nuclear arsenal needed to be tested to ensure it actually “functions properly,” but did not elaborate on what type of tests Trump had ordered.
The president’s statement “speaks for itself,” Vance told reporters at the White House.
“It’s an important part of American national security to make sure that this nuclear arsenal we have actually functions properly, and that’s part of a testing regime,” he added.
Trump’s statement nevertheless amounted to unusual nuclear saber rattling.
Caught between Venezuela, US, Trinidad fishers fear the ocean
CEDROS, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
– A stone’s throw from Venezuela, in the eye of a political storm fueled by a US naval deployment, fishermen from the archipelago of Trinidad and Tobago fear getting caught up in the tumult.
Between Venezuelan military preparations in response to muscular US “provocation” on the one hand, and Trinidadbacked American strikes on alleged drug boats on the other, people who normally ply their trade in the sea told AFP they are keeping a low profile.
In Cedros, a village in the extreme southwest of the island of Trinidad, a group of them chatted in hammocks on the beach, their boats unusually idle.
The fishers eyed the Venezuelan coast, about a dozen kilometers (seven miles) away, as they discussed their dilemma.
Barefoot and dressed in shorts, Kendrick Moodee told AFP he and his comrades were taking “a little more caution,” with the Venezuelan coast guard “a bit tense” these days. There has been closer policing, the 58-year-old said, of fishing in Venezuelan territorial waters where boats from Trinidad and Tobago were previously left to operate undisturbed.
Several Cedros fishermen said Venezuelan patrols have been violently repelling Trinidadian vessels, and beatings and extortion have increased.
Their territory curtailed, the fishermen have seen their yields and income dwindle.
US strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific have killed at least 62 people on boats Washington claims were ferrying drugs in recent weeks. Family members and victims’ governments have said some of them were fishermen at sea.
Earlier this month US President Donald Trump hailed the success of the operation, saying: “We’re so good at it that there are no boats. In fact, even fishing boats –- nobody wants to go into the water anymore.” AFP
It came days after Russia declared it had tested nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered cruise missiles and sea drones.
“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Trump also claimed that the United States has more nuclear weapons than any other country and that he had achieved this in his first term as president.
That however appeared to be untrue.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says in its latest annual report that Russia possesses 5,489 nuclear warheads, compared to 5,177 for the United States and 600 for China.
In his post, Trump said -- minutes ahead of his Xi summit -- that China was expected to “be even within 5 years.”
The Kremlin questioned whether Trump was well-informed about Russia’s military activities.
The recent weapons drills “cannot in any way be interpreted as a nuclear test,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. AFP
BOBROVO, Russia – Russians marking an annual day of remembrance for victims of Joseph Stalin’s repression warned Thursday history could “repeat itself” and criticised attempts to rehabilitate the Soviet leader’s legacy.
Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953, presided over a totalitarian state that executed and imprisoned millions of people that he deemed political enemies.
His legacy is controversial among Russians, some of whom glorify him for leading the USSR to victory in World War II while others deplore him as a murderous tyrant.
Justice minister faces complaint over ‘support’ for jailed Sarkozy
PARIS – Around 30 lawyers have filed a complaint against the French justice minister accusing him of “implicitly” supporting former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who is serving a prison sentence.
Last month Sarkozy, France’s president from 2007 to 2012, was handed a five-year jail term for criminal conspiracy over a plan for late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to fund his electoral campaign.
On Wednesday, Sarkozy, 70, received a prison visit from Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, despite a prosecutor warning that it could undermine judicial independence.
Darmanin met Sarkozy at Paris’s La Sante prison in the presence of the jail’s director, and discussed the former head of state’s security arrangements, a source close to the case told AFP.
A group of around 30 lawyers filed a complaint after Darmanin last week expressed his “sadness” at the conviction of one of his political mentors, ahead of Sarkozy’s imprisonment. AFP
NEW PARTY LEADER. People, some dressed in black to mourn the death of Thailand’s former queen Sirikit, walk past her portrait displayed in Bangkok on Friday,
day that one of Thailand’s largest political parties,
a
by ex-premier
leader following the resignation of his daughter, the former prime minister. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 39, stepped down as Pheu Thai party chief last week after a court removed her as prime minister in August over an ethics breach linked to a border dispute with Cambodia. AFP
At the Butovo firing range, a Stalinera execution site near Moscow that has become a shrine to his victims, visiting Russians warned against venerating the wartime leader or emulating his ideas.
“This is our history. We must know it, and we must learn from it,” said Kristina, a 49-year-old landscape gardener whose great-grandfather was executed at the site.
“It is our duty to preserve and pass it on to future generations,” she said.
Another visitor, who asked to remain anonymous, called attempts to whitewash the Soviet leader’s image “terrifying”.
Russia ordered the closure of the Me-
morial human rights organization that documented Stalin-era atrocities in 2021, forcing it largely into exile, while the capital’s Gulag museum that showcased the history of Stalin-era prisons closed last year.
“Monuments to Stalin are being erected all over the country,” the woman said.
“The fact that this place remains is truly a miracle.”
While Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Stalin as a “complex figure,” he and other officials have increasingly evoked his defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II to rally Russians around the Ukraine offensive. AFP
UNITED NATIONS, New York – United Nations fact-finders on Thursday (Friday Manila time) denounced Iran’s intensification of oppression since the country’s 12-day war with Israel in June, with more than 21,000 arrests and mistreatment of minorities and journalists.
“Since March of this year, we have documented further deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran,” said Sara Hossain, who heads the Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, a body established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022.
“Airstrikes by Israel on Iranian territory and a subsequent domestic crackdown by the Iranian authorities further constricted civic space, undermined due process, and eroded respect for the right to life.”
Of the 21,000 people arrested by Iranian authorities during the 12-day war, Hossain said the Islamic Republic tar-
geted a broad swath of Iran’s civil society, including “lawyers, human rights defenders, journalists, and even social media users who simply published content relating to the hostilities.” Iran has also ramped up executions, with more than 1,200 to date in 2025 -already exceeding the 2024 total, which was the highest recorded figure in Iran since 2015.
“There are strong indications that the Government of Iran continues to systematically implement the death penalty in ways that contravene international human rights law,” Hossain said.
The investigation also found that the Islamic Republic’s repression of ethnic and religious minorities has “intensified” with “over 330 Kurds and large numbers of Arabs” arrested and “hundreds of thousands of Afghans” deported, Hossain said. AFP
Indigenous Australians celebrate state treaty
SYDNEY – Australia’s state of Victoria has passed the country’s first treaty with Indigenous peoples, a landmark act of recognition long denied to the country’s first inhabitants.
Cheers and applause rang through Victoria’s parliament as lawmakers passed the bill late on Thursday night, a deeply symbolic moment that caused many onlookers to burst into tears.
The treaty will establish an elected assembly of Indigenous representatives, support a truth-telling process to address past grievances and form an advisory body focused on erasing health inequalities.
Making up less than four percent of the current population, Indigenous peoples still have lives about eight years shorter than other Australians and are far more likely to be imprisoned or die in police custody.
Indigenous leader Jill Gallagher, who spent years working towards the treaty, said “history was made”.
Generations of Indigenous Australians have tried, and failed, to strike similar treaties with Australia’s federal government. AF[
Brazil boasts drop in deforestation
BRASILIA – Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has fallen for the fourth straight year, the government said Thursday, a boost for the country just days before it hosts UN climate talks.
Brazil is home to the largest share of the vast rain forest, which spans nine countries and is considered crucial in the fight against climate change.
The National Institute for Space Research which tracks forest cover by satellite, said that an area almost four times the size of Greater London had been destroyed between August 2024 and July 2025.
This was 11 percent less than the previous year and represented the lowest figures since 2014.
Claudio Almeida, a coordinator at INPE, said the loss of 5,796 square kilometers (2,238 square miles) of native vegetation represented “the fourth consecutive year of a reduction” in deforestation. AFP
Pakistan-Afghanistan talks to resume
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Afghanistan will hold another round of peace talks in Istanbul next week and will maintain a ceasefire until then, Turkey’s foreign ministry confirmed late Thursday.
The talks, set for November 6, come in the wake of the deadliest clashes between the South Asian neighbors since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. More than 70 people were killed and hundreds wounded in violence that erupted after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which Taliban authorities blamed on Pakistan.
“All parties have agreed to continue the ceasefire. The modalities of its implementation will be examined and decided at a high-level meeting in Istanbul on November 6, 2025,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. AFP
CAPITAL1 refused to back down.
Showing composure and sheer determination, the Solar Spikers clawed their way through multiple deficits before completing a stunning straight-sets victory over the Cignal Super Spikers, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21, in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Powered by the dynamic duo of Oleksandra Bytsenko and Bella Belen, Capital1 showcased nerves of steel to notch their second win in four outings (2-2) in Pool A of the tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by ICTSI, Milcu, Mikasa, and Fabriano.
The hard-fought win moved the Solar Spikers closer to securing a spot in Pool D, where they will face the bottom three teams from Pool B — a chance to further solidify their bid for a quarterfinal berth.
“So I’m very happy and very proud of them because we work as a team. Since from the first point, we knew we had a plan and we followed. And even if we have to do some changes, we did. We adjusted the team, especially on this third set,” said Solar Spikers head coach Jorge De Brito.
“Even if they make adjustments there, we get a big distance. And then they got super close. But the intention they had to minimize also our spikers. But we adjusted on the right moment. So I’m happy for that and the tournament is just beginning,” he added.
NEW YORK—The NBA’s board of governors has formally approved the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to billionaire Mark Walter, the league said Thursday.
The NBA said the final completion of the deal, which will see Walter take a majority interest in the Lakers from Jeanie Buss, is expected “shortly”.
“As Mark assumes his role as majority owner of the Lakers, I have no doubt that he will be a committed steward of the team and a great addition to our league given his many successful ventures in business and sports,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. The Lakers announced in June that Walter had agreed a sale with owner Jeanie Buss, whose family has controlled the franchise since 1979, in a $10 billion deal that makes the Lakers the highest-valued team in US sports history.
Buss will remain the Lakers’ governor for a period of “at least five years” following the deal, the NBA confirmed Thursday.
“While this historic transaction transfers the Buss family’s majority interest in the Lakers, I am thrilled that Jeanie will remain the team’s governor and an active and engaged member of our league,” Silver added.
Walter is the chief executive of holding company TWG Global which has built an impressive portfolio of professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks. He is also part of the ownership group of English Premier League side Chelsea.
TWG also owns the Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament and the Cadillac Formula One team and Walter was already a minority owner of the Lakers. AFP
SAKHIR, Bahrain—The Philippines capped its 2025 Asian Youth Games campaign on a high as Isabella Joseline Butler claimed gold in the jiujitsu girls’ -63kg division on Thursday, providing a fitting finale to the team’s campaign.
The 17-year-old Butler submitted the United Arab Emirates’ Aysha Aljneibi via collar choke with one minute and five seconds remaining.
Butler, born in Davao City and now based in Huntington Beach, California, said she was proud to reconnect with her roots and wear the Philippine colours. Her victory raised the Philippines’ tally to seven gold, seven silver and ten bronze medals, enough for 12th place in the 45-nation meet.
“We found that there was a
BAHRAIN—Filipina jiu-jitsu icon
Meggie Ochoa has found a new calling in the sport she once dominated as part of the national team.
The 35-year-old now coaches the national youth jiu-jitsu team competing in the Asian Youth Games here with the goal of developing a new crop of talents who will not just continue, but hopefully, surpass her and her fellow champions’ international exploits.
“‘Yung motivation ko, ma-build up ‘yung mga youth athletes para mayroong mga mas marami pa na papalit sa amin sa adult team in the future, na ma-level up sila to the point na ‘yung mga na-deliver namin na medals in the past, ma-outnumber nila,” said Ochoa.
Her resume is nothing short of remarkable.
Ochoa made history as the first Filipino gold medalist in the JJIF World JiuJitsu Championships when she topped the women’s -49kg category in 2018 in Sweden then struck gold again in the women’s -48kg class in 2022 in UAE.
She also won gold medals in the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, the Asian Indoor and Mar-
Arts
To
EIGHT days of surfing on Siargao Island off Cloud and it all came down to Indonesian Bronson Meydi and Australian Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie lifting the biggest prizes and the precious ranking points in the World Surf League (WSL) QS6000 in General Luna town.
“I can’t believe it … wow! That was a crazy final,” said Meydi, only 20 and last year’s WSL world junior champion. “The waves went slow and just in my favor, so it was lucky. So lucky that the big one came and stoked to get an 8.8 on that one.”
Meydi scored a remarkable 15.33 total score after four waves in the final round Thursday to grab the top of the podium over Australia’s Ben Loretson, who ranked second with 14.70 after seven waves.
Mackenzie, on the other hand, made 12.73 points to bring down fellow Aussie Isla Huppatz’s 11.60 points after 11 waves for a total of 19 waves in the women’s competition of the event supported by the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC).
Only 16, MacKenzie averaged 11.09 in heat scores and 3.43 in wave scores through the round of 48 where she was never been intimidated by the competition despite her young age .
“I came into this event trying to look at it in a fun way and just enjoy surfing Cloud 9 with no one else out and I’m so shocked and happy and stoked right now,” Mackenzie said.
“Isla [Huppatz] is one of my best mates and she absolutely ripped so I knew I had to bring my best surfing,” she said. “It was a bit shaky there at the start, but I am glad I ended up getting that little barrel, and yeah, going into the lead.”
Another Aussie and one of the favorites to dominate, Dane Henry, was remarkable run with 17.7 points in the
en’s -48kg division of Asian Games in China in 2023, a little over a year before she retired as a national athlete.
“Before I really thought I was just going to be an athlete all the way. Pero
way to represent the Philippines through the sport that I love, and I’m grateful I got the chance to do so,” Butler said. Already a gold medallist at the JJIF Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in Greece last year, Butler said she now aims to join the adult national team and compete at the SEA Games.
“I plan to try out for the adult team next year and compete at the SEA Games.”
On her path to gold, Butler beat Uzbekistan’s Ziyoda Shomurodova, 4-0, in the semifinals after defeating Thailand’s Maria Elissavet Kokoliou, 4-0, in the quarterfinals, and submitted Kazakhstan’s Ayaulym Dossymzhankyzy in the Round of 16.
“I was able to get to my controlling positions at close guard, which I love, and I was able to work from there,” Butler said. “All of the stuff that I’ve been doing in training, working on close guard and attacks from there as well as my lapel guard, which I was able to display today, that was really cool.”
Kram Airam Carpio won the Philippines’ first gold medal, topping the pencak silat, girls’ 5155kg, while also delivering gold for the national team were Charlie Ratcliff in modern MMA (girls’ 45kg), Pi Durden Wangkay in athletics (boys’ 200 m), Lyre Anie Ngina (muay, girls’ wai kru 14-15), Zeth Gabriel Bueno (muay, boys’ wai kru 14-15), and the pair of Jan Brix Ramiscal & Tyron Jamborillo (muay, mixed team mai muay). Meanwhile, 15-year-old Mara Alexandria Sarinas added a bronze in the girls’ -57kg jiujitsu division after a submission win over Thailand’s Prasita Rumakom.
Sixteen-year-old Sebastien Blaize Cabanlig came close in the boys’ -48kg jiujitsu but missed the podium. On the mats and beach wrestling arenas alike, other young Filipinos posted valiant efforts though gold proved elusive.
parang nagkaroon ako ng mga opportunities to coach noong 2024, and somehow, I really found a fulfillment in it and nakita ko rin na parang mas willing na akong i-give up ‘yung pagiging athlete ko kaysa i-give up ko ‘yung coaching para mag-focus sa pagiging athlete,” said Ochoa. Ochoa admitted she still has a long way to go as a coach, but her experiences as an athlete have helped ease the transition into her new role. And it helps that she is not alone as she shares the coaching duties with Christopher Gallego, with 18 athletes competing in these Games under their guidance.
“Mas mahirap maging coach para sa’kin kasi ang dami mong iniisip tsaka parang kailangan ‘yung emotions mo, kailangan mo siyang i-manage kasi you have to be on top of things and kailangan ikaw din ‘yung mas composed para yung mga atleta, hindi rin sila mara-rattle,” said Ochoa.
“Ang daming mga iba ibang layers na iniisip kung coach ka. Pero exciting din siya and challenging pero for me kasi, pag ka challenging, for me, dito ako lalong nae-encourage na magpatuloy, lalo na pag nafi-feel ko na wala pa ako doon sa nararapat. Nacha-challenge ako tapos gusto kong mas matuto at mas galingan pa lalo.”
Round of 16 where he led but Meydi couldn’t be denied in their quarterfinals with
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
SHOWING maturity well beyond its years, young Far Eastern University-DN Steel rebounded from a grueling thirdset collapse to topple the veteran-laden PGJC-Navy in four sets, 25-23, 25-16, 3133, 25-17, for their first win in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Friday at the Paco Arena in Manila. After failing to close the door on the Sealions in the marathon third frame— where they squandered nine match points—the Tamaraws regrouped and came out firing in the fourth.
FEU-DN Steel
unleashed a fiery 13-6 opening blitz and never looked back, sealing the victory in one hour and 58 minutes to even their record at 1-1 in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by Alpha Insurance, Premiere EMS, Buffalo’s Wings n’ Things, and Arena Plus.
“Sa boys namin, kahit anong gawin niyan laban ‘yan. Nakita mo ‘yung galing sa bench papasok, medyo kahit sinong gamitin ko papasok at lalaban talaga. ‘Yun ang pinakamagandang character ng brotherhood na meron kami,” said FEU-DN Steel head coach Eddieson Orcullo, praising the team’s collective grit.
Down 17-20 in the third set, the Tamaraws leaned on Charles Absin, Mikko Espartero, and Dryx Saavedra to mount a furious rally, eventually reaching match point at 24-22. Yet the Sealions refused to yield, fending off all nine match points before a Paul Salboro centerline fault handed them their own set point.
Joeven Dela Vega then capitalized with a pipe attack that extended the match, 33-31. But that was the last gasp for PGJCNavy. The youthful FEU squad regained its rhythm in the fourth, with Saavedra spearheading the charge en route to a
By Peter Atencio
Six fighters from Lapu Lapu City dominated the livestick competitions on the final day of the 2025 Batang Pinoy National Championships here.
Led by Carl Nino Cosep, the Cebuanos all won by unanimous decision when action ended at the Veranza Artrium in Dadiangas.
The 14-year-old Cosep outsteadied Laguna’s Chino Benavente in the 14-15 year-old boys’ 51.156 kg event.
“Binigay ko lahat. Nagpakita ako ng magandang laban,” said Cosep, who last saw action in the meet two years ago, coming up with a podium finish in the full contact event.
Also delivering mints for Lapu Lapu are Shamler
Augusto and Tristan
in two other weight classes of the 12-13
the 16-17 year-old girls’ 49-kg matches after prevailing over Malaybalay’s Angel Santos in the livestick action. Ybañez earned the first gold in the individual single weapon juniors C-girls’ category, following her win over Stephanie Kate Gaviola (Maasin).
“All fights were won by unanimous decision. So far, they have a good performance,” said Lapu Lapu City coach Jonel Pepito.
In futsal, Davao City topped the 17-under boys’ finals with a 2-1 victory over Negros Occidental at the Mindanao Polytechnic College gymnasium. Goals scored in the 19th minute from Liam Lumapas and Lleomer Pollo won the game for the Davaoenos. In boxing, Cagayan de Oro’s Jobert Abragan outpointed Mandaue’s Fredrich Locsin in the junior boys’ 48-49 kgs finals at the Oval Plaza gymnastium. At the closing hours of Day 6, Pasig leads the overall medal tally with 38 golds, 25 silvers and 29 bronzes to near a general championship for a second straight time. Manila is in second with its 36-31-25 gold-silverbronze haul, while Baguio is in third with its 29-2124 tally.
DAVAO City—In a climax dripping with tension and nerve, Russell Bautista had the spotlight firmly in his grasp – until, in a cruel twist of fate, he let it slip away.
And Jeffrey Lumbo seized the moment with steely resolve, calmly drilling a nerve-wracking birdie putt from 16 feet on the fifth playoff hole. As the ball disappeared into the cup, the thunderous roar from the packed gallery echoed Lumbo’s triumphant ascent, while Bautista’s putt from six feet agonizingly veered left, sealing his heartbreak and handing Lumbo the ICTSI South Pacific Classic crown here.
The Friday showdown unfolded like a cinematic masterpiece – a high-stakes duel between two determined players desperate for their career breakthrough. Their five-hole playoff battle was a grueling test of skill and nerves, and it etched itself as the second longest playoff after Rene Menor nipped Thai Pasavee Lertvilai on the sixth playoff hole in the 2017 PGT Asia at Splendido Taal. It also eclipsed Justin Quiban’s four-hole play-
off victory over Marvin Dumandan, which also took place at this South Pacific layout in 2023.
“I didn’t expect to make a comeback. I just enjoyed my game – I didn’t think about how big the opponent’s lead was or how many holes were left,” said Lumbo said in Filipino, who emphasized staying focused all throughout despite the deficit he had to overcome and the few holes remaining in his stirring comeback.
“In the playoff, I didn’t let the pressure get to me. I just stayed focused and enjoyed it,” he added.
Lumbo’s comeback was the stuff of legend.
Trailing Bautista by four shots after 54 holes and even by five midway through the final round, he stayed unwavering. While Bautista posted an impressive 32 on the front nine, Lumbo matched it with a bogey-free 33, quietly staying in the hunt.
Then the momentum shifted. Bautista began to falter under the immense pressure, bogeying holes 11 and 16, while Lumbo surged ahead, sinking a clutch pitch-in birdie on No. 14.
By Randy M. Caluag
NICO Ali Walsh, grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, gained more than just a fight in Manila—he found a second home.
After battling Thailand’s Kittisak Klinson to a majority draw during the 50th Anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the 24-year-old American boxer said he felt a connection that went beyond the ring.
“The people here are special. Not just the place, not the sound, but seriously—it’s the people,” Walsh said, his voice filled with gratitude after the fight. “All praises to Allah for this fight and the decision. Thank you to all my people in the Philippines! I’m blessed beyond belief, and I’ll be returning again soon.”
The iconic Big Dome, the very same venue where his grandfather battled Joe Frazier in 1975 in one of boxing’s most brutal and unforgettable matches, once again echoed with chants of “Ali! Ali!”—only this time for the grandson continuing the family’s legacy. Walsh started strong, relying on sharp jabs and crisp left hooks that landed cleanly on Klinson. The
Batangas 5 forges semis tiff with Binan
crowd roared when he unleashed a few of his grandfather’s trademark moves—the “Ali shuffle” and the “rope-a-dope”—drawing smiles and applause from Filipino fans who knew their boxing history well.
But as the fight wore on, Klinson clawed his way back, forcing Walsh into exchanges that turned the bout into a tactical chess match. After eight rounds, one judge had it 77-76 for Klinson, while the other two scored it 76-76, resulting in a majority draw.
Walsh couldn’t hide his disbelief.
“I thought it was a clear victory. I was having a good time out there. I fight in America and sometimes get booed—some people even hate my grandfather there,” he said. “But here, it was different. The love was real.”
Despite the inconclusive result, the night was a celebration of legacy and connection. For Walsh, it wasn’t just about proving his boxing pedigree—it was about honoring the memory of the man who made Manila immortal in sports history.
As he left the ring, drenched in sweat and emotion, one thing was certain: Nico Ali Walsh didn’t just fight in the Philippines—he belonged here.
BATANGAS struck hard in the homestretch and subdued Zamboanga SiKat, 95-87, on Thursday to clinch the last semifinal slot in the 747 Live presents Manny Pacquiao’s MPBL 2025 Playoffs and Finals at the Batangas Province Events Center. The count was tied at 85 with 2 minutes and 21 seconds left, when the Batangas City Rum Masters clustered nine points, including four free throws by Levi Hernandez, to seal the outcome and complete their climb from a 15-29 hole dug by Michael Are’s back-to-back triples and JP Cauilan’s triple early in the second half. Hernandez bunched seven points and CJ Isit added a triple as Batangas threatened at 65-66 with 58 seconds to go in the third quarter. It was a see-saw affair from there, until the Rum Masters found their bearing to seal their quarterfinal series, 2-1, and arrange a best-of-three semifinal tussle with Binan Tatak Gel.
The Rum Masters won the series opener on October 16 at the Batangas City Coliseum, 70-61, but Zamboanga took the second game, 7872, on October 23 at Ynares Center Montalban to force the sudden death
P175 billion
Investment pledges in 10 months of 2025
P123 billion
Investment pledges in 10 months of 2024
P250 billion
Investment target for 2025
Cebu Pacific named ‘Asia’s low-cost airline of the year’
CEBU Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, was named Asia’s Low-Cost Airline of the Year by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), a global authority in aviation research and analysis.
The award recognizes the airline’s strong business performance and its continuous effort to make air travel affordable and accessible to a wider public.
CAPA’s annual recognition honors carriers that demonstrate outstanding strategic leadership, innovation, and lasting industry impact.
CEB chief executive Mike Szucs expressed his gratitude for the award.
“We are deeply honored to receive this award from CAPA. It recognizes the passion and commitment of every Cebu Pacific employee who works hard each day to make flying safe, affordable and accessible for our passengers,” he said.
Szucs said the airline’s purpose remains “to connect people and communities, and to help fuel tourism and economic growth across the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific.”
CEB stood out for its significant passenger growth and strong financial results.
Data showed that from January through September 2025, the carrier flew nearly 20 million passengers, marking a 13.9-percent increase from 17.5 million in 2024.
Domestic passenger volume grew 12.7 percent to 14.9 million, while international passengers increased 17.7 percent to 5.1 million.
The seat load factor averaged 84.8 percent in the nine-month period, as overall capacity in seats rose by 14 percent to 23.5 million.
The CAPA Awards for Excellence are based on independent research by an international panel of judges and analysts, not on customer surveys or sponsorship.
By Othel V. Campos
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it registered a 41.72-percent increase in approved investments in the first 10 months of 2025 to P175.36 billion from P123.75 billion in the same period last year, moving closer to its P250 billion-target for the year.
The figure, based on the agency’s board meeting on Oct. 24, 2025, reflects the “continuing confidence of our locators and partners in the ecozone program and the country’s long-term investment potential,” according to PEZA director-general Tereso Panga.
Panga said the P175.36 billion already represented more than 70
Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and chief executive Agnes Devanadera presents leather gloves manufactured by All Fashion Gloves Inc., a Clark-based company to LTHL chief executive Raymond Tan during a meeting in Hong Kong. The gesture highlights Clark’s craftsmanship, export quality and growing investor confidence in homegrown enterprises.
Congress
percent of the conservative P250billion investment goal for 2025.
“With strong pipelines of projects still under review, we are confident and optimistic of meeting and hopefully even exceeding our 2025 investment goal of P250 billion,” he said. The total approvals covered 243 projects, including pioneer and
B2
expansion ventures, which are projected to generate $6.08 billion in exports and create 59,937 jobs. Of the total, P140.11 billion came from 27 approved big-ticket projects.
PEZA’s positive performance, showing double- to triple-digit growth across all key indicators, provides a measure of optimism for the country’s investment landscape, even as the broader investment environment remains cautious amid global uncertainties, Panga said.
The upward investment trajectory is expected to boost the gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2025 and 2026, given the 10-percent increase in actual ecozone exports and 5-percent rise in employment for January to September 2025, compared to the same period last year.
THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business group, is pressing Congress to expedite the passage of the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) Act, saying a modern, unified framework for standards and testing is vital for boosting the competitiveness of Filipino enterprises in global markets. PCCI executive vice-president Perry Ferrer stressed the urgency of the bill at the first National Quality Infrastructure Conference on Oct. 29, 2025, and organized by the Department of Trade and Industry
THE arrival of the Michelin Guide in the Philippines, with its inaugural selection unveiled on Oct. 29, 2025, is a “defining moment” for the country’s tourism and culinary sectors, according to Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
The 2026 guide covers Metro Manila and Cebu as well as Pampanga, Tagaytay and Cavite, spotlighting 108 establishments in total.
The milestone signals the Philippines’ official inclusion in the prestigious global guide, celebrating the country’s culinary excellence with one Two Michelin Star and eight One
(DTI) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
“Quality infrastructure is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. When our products cannot prove compliance with international standards, they cannot enter foreign markets,” said Ferrer.
He said an effective NQI system enhances efficiency, protects consumers, supports innovation, attracts investment and builds global trust in Philippine-made goods.
The proposed NQI Development Act, which aims to establish a unified
Michelin Star establishments. Frasco, speaking at the Michelin Guide ceremony, said the inclusion “reflects the strength of Filipino talent and the collective effort to bring our cuisine, and those who craft it, to the world.”
Leading the lineup is Helm, by Chef Josh Boutwood, which achieved the rare distinction of Two Michelin Stars upon its debut. The eight One-Star establishments include Asador Alfonso in Cavite, Gallery by Chele in Taguig City, Linamnam in Parañaque City and five restaurants in Makati City: Celera, Hapag, Inatô, Casa Palma and Toyo Eatery. Othel V. Campos
framework for standards, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment across all industries, is pending in both chambers of Congress.
PCCI and other business groups are urging lawmakers to prioritize the measure, citing fragmented standards and testing systems as key obstacles to national competitiveness.
The conference concluded with the signing of a manifesto of support from various industry sectors, calling for the bill’s swift passage to anchor national growth on quality and global alignment. Othel V. Campos
B3 B4
DESIGNER and luxury goods manufacturer Luen Thai Holdings Limited (LTHL) plans to expand its manufacturing operations in Clark Freeport Zone.
Luen Thai chief executive Raymond Tan discussed the expansion plans during a meeting in Hong Kong with Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and chief executive Agnes Devanadera, citing the Freeport’s efficient management, investor-friendly environment and responsive leadership as key factors in the company’s decision to grow its presence in Clark.
Tan lauded CDC’s strategic direction and its “leadership that listens” approach under Devanadera, noting how close coordination between the public and private sectors continues to enhance investor confidence and operational efficiency within the Freeport.
The meeting in Hong Kong highlighted CDC’s commitment to gathering private sector insights to boost public-private collaboration, with the agency’s leadership emphasizing a focus on “leadership that listens.”
Tan is scheduled to visit Clark soon to finalize the technical requirements and timelines for the proposed expansion. Othel V. Campos
By Alena Mae S. Flores
PT FIRSTGEN Geothermal Indonesia, a subsidiary of Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC), and PT DSSR Daya Mas Sakti (DSSR), a subsidiary of PT Dian Swastatika Sentosa Tbk (DSSA), which is part of the Sinar Mas Group, have finalized a strategic partnership to develop a geothermal energy portfolio in Indonesia.
The companies signed a shareholders’ agreement to formalize the joint venture, which will focus on developing and managing geothermal resources with a combined potential of 440 megawatts (MW) across six strategic fields. These fields are located in West Java, Flores, Jambi, West Sumatra and Central Sulawesi.
This follows a partnership agreement the two parties signed in August 2025, which aimed to facilitate the transfer of global expertise and enhance domestic capacity to unlock Indonesia’s vast geothermal potential.
Indonesia holds around 40 percent of the world’s geothermal reserves, equivalent to 24 gigawatts, but only about 10 percent has been developed.
“Our joint venture with Sinar Mas will allow us to jointly explore and develop geothermal projects in Indonesia,” said EDC president and chief operating officer Jerome Cainglet.
“We believe our target sites have a potential to generate 440 MW of clean baseload power, with exploration drilling in some of the sites planned to start by next year,” he said. EDC, the geothermal arm of First Gen Corp., one of the Philippines’ biggest power producers, is bringing nearly five decades of geothermal experience and expertise to the collaboration.
“The Philippines and Indonesia are the key markets that we are focused on at the moment,” Cainglet said.
“We are bringing close to 50 years of geothermal experience and expertise to Indonesia. At the same time, we know that there is also a lot that we can learn there, which we may use in the Philippines as we continue to expand our geothermal base in the country in full support of the DOE’s call for more geothermal development here,” he said.
Peso seen rebounding by December
THE recent depreciation of the Philippine peso is a “momentary” fluctuation led by seasonal demand and supply factors, according to a lawmaker and veteran customs broker.
The peso-dollar exchange rate observed on Oct. 28 when it closed at an all-time low of 59.13 against the US dollar was merely a snapshot, a normal pre-year-end occurrence, according to Manila Second District Rep. Rolando Valeriano.
The weeks leading up to the holiday season typically see importers using up large amounts of dollars to purchase goods for consumer holiday spending and raw materials for the hectic production months extending into the summer, he said in a statement. Valeriano, chair of the House Committee on Public Order & Safety and vice-chair of the Committee on Ways & Means, said the supply of dollars in the Philippine market often improves in December, March, May, June and July. These are the usual months when overseas Filipinos remit dollars, euros, riyals, dinars and other currencies to their families for holiday spending, school fees and emergencies, he said. While acknowledging that investor confidence is a factor, the lawmaker pointed out that international trade and global finance issues are also affecting the economy. Rising tariffs in the United States, for example, make Philippine exports more expensive for U.S. consumers, effectively adding to inflation. This has prompted some Filipino exporters to pivot and focus more on markets in Europe, Asia and Australia, he said.
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE National Privacy Commission (NPC) concluded its investigation into an alleged GCash data leak, finding that no personal data breach occurred within the mobile wallet’s systems.
The NPC launched an inquiry following reports that a dataset allegedly belonging to GCash was being offered on a deep web forum. After directing G-Xchange Inc., the operator of GCash, to submit technical documentation, preserve system
logs and participate in a technical demonstration, the NPC’s Complaints and Investigation Division (NPCCID) conducted an independent validation.
The NPC said the dataset circulating online was inconsistent with
GCash’s verified data structures. Several listed accounts were found to be invalid or inactive, and no indicators of unauthorized access, infiltration or data exfiltration were detected within GCash’s monitored environments.
A live technical demonstration of the GCash system, which covered the period from Jan. 1, 2025 to Oct. 29, 2025, confirmed that no unauthorized access attempts were made to critical databases, including the one storing electronic Know-Your-Customer (eKYC) data. The demonstration returned zero events, confirming that only pre-ap-
proved internal IP addresses interacted with the system, strongly indicating that no breaches occurred.
The NPC reiterated its commitment to monitoring threats to personal data and working closely with regulated entities to ensure compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA) and its implementing rules and regulations.
The commission also issued a warning to individuals and groups engaging in the unauthorized access, sale or distribution of personal data, stressing that such acts are clear violations of the DPA and punishable under the law.
PLDT Inc. has teamed up with USbased Ciena Corp. to deploy optical technology to improve data transmission from the Asia Direct Cable (ADC) system to local end-users in the Philippines.
The telecommunications company is utilizing Ciena’s 6500, which is powered by WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) coherent optical technology, to efficiently and reliably backhaul local traffic from global cloud providers.
“PLDT is committed to strengthening the country’s digital backbone by ensuring that the international capac-
ity carried by the ADC system translates into world-class connectivity for users nationwide,” said PLDT and Smart senior vice president and head of enterprise business group Blums Pineda.
“With the support of Ciena’s optical technology, we can provide faster, more resilient, and more secure services, powering the Philippines’ digital economy from individual users to enterprises and hyperscalers,” said Pineda.
Ciena’s WL5e coherent optical technology enables PLDT to carry
By Thony Rose Lesaca
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday announced a 60-day suspension of Makati Express Cargo Inc.’s (MECI) accreditation as a deconsolidator or consignee, following its alleged failure to comply with a show cause order to settle outstanding duties and taxes.
The suspension came after reports showed that MECI had numerous containers of Balikbayan boxes left unclaimed and unpaid across several ports in Cebu, Manila International Container Port and Davao, the BOC said.
It said some of these containers had already overstayed and were declared abandoned.
The show cause order was issued on Oct. 23 and required the company to settle the unpaid duties and taxes. It also directed the freight forwarding company to explain within three days why its accreditation should not be revoked and its BOC transactions prohibited.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the BOC would continue to enforce accountability and protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“We remain committed to ensuring that all forwarding companies comply with customs
and
Nepomuceno said.
multi-terabit traffic, delivering lowlatency, high-capacity connectivity from the ADC landing station to PLDT’s national backbone.
Ciena’s Navigator Network Control Suite (Navigator NCS) enhances PLDT’s network operational efficiencies by simplifying and accelerating workflows for network planning, provisioning, and assurance.
Matt Vesperman, Ciena vice president for Asia Pacific, said the Philippines is a key destination for many global cloud providers and enterprises seeking to expand their
presence in Asia.
“Ciena’s market-leading optical technology provides a seamless connectivity link to advance international trade and digital transformation within the Philippines,” he said. Through its corporate arm, PLDT Enterprise, PLDT said it continues to accelerate its digital investments. The ADC system is connected to the recently inaugurated VITRO Santa Rosa (VSR), which is the Philippines’ first artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data center, built and operated by VITRO Inc. Darwin G. Amojelar
AYALA Corp. has been honored with the five Golden Arrow Award, the highest distinction for excellence in corporate governance among publicly listed companies in the Philippines, marking its first time achieving this top recognition. The award is based on the ASEAN Governance Scorecard (ACGS), which evaluates performance in areas like sustainability, resilience, stakeholder management, transparency, accountability and board strategy. Ayala attained a score within the ACGS’s highest bracket.
Ayala’s win follows its four Golden Arrow Award last year and three Golden Arrow Award in 2023.
“At Ayala, we believe that the highest standards of corporate governance are a prerequisite for a sustainable busi-
ness. We strive to be an institution that our stakeholders can always rely on. Strong corporate governance is key to building and keeping this trust,” said Ayala Corp. president and chief executive Cezar Consing.
The award also recognized eight other Ayala firms, underscoring the conglomerate’s strong reputation in governance.
Globe Telecom earned its fourth consecutive 5 Golden Arrow Award. ACEN, Ayala Land, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Integrated Micro-electronics, Inc. each received the four Golden Arrow Award. AREIT and AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp. were given the three Golden Arrow Award. ENEX received one Golden Arrow Award.
By Othel V. Campos
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is leading a push to modernize the country’s major fish ports under the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA).
It aims to transform traditional fishing hubs like Navotas into modern agri-fishery business centers to spur job creation, attract investments and cultivate a new generation of entrepreneurs.
DA Secretary Tiu Laurel, attending the two-day Navotas Business Conference on Oct. 28 and 29, lauded the city as “the fishing capital of the Philippines and home to one of the busiest and most vital fish ports in the country.”
He cited Navotas as a “cradle for entrepreneurs, innovators and fisherfolk who drive the nation’s food supply,” suggesting its success could be a template for other regions.
The PFDA modernization program will focus on upgrading ports, cold storage facilities and logistics systems to significantly enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of fish landing sites.
These improvements are expected to generate opportunities for local businesses and simultaneously boost the incomes of fisherfolk.
The PFDA network is being strengthened to enhance value creation, ensuring that every kilo of fish is properly handled, preserved and sold at competitive prices. The agency actively manages regional ports and oversees 136 project locations under the Municipal Fish Ports Program.
The overarching goal is to position Navotas and similar cities as hubs of sustainable, modern agri-fishery enterprises, providing mutual benefits for the government, the private sector and local communities.
Tiu Laurel said the agency’s vision is to develop these areas as centers for trade, processing and logistics, converting short-term livelihoods into long-term enterprises.
MORE than 1,200 engineers from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Clark Freeport for a major regional conference, underscoring the area’s growing status as a premier destination for international meetings.
The 43rd Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (CAFEO 43) took place from Oct. 28 to 30 at the SMX Convention Center Clark. It began with a welcome dinner, setting a tone for collaboration, professional development and continuing education
LIGHT Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the private operator of the LRT-1 train line, is extending its safety and disaster preparedness programs beyond its rail operations and into the communities it serves, the company announced.
The initiative, named “LRT-1 KaligtaSakay: A Safety Education Program,” addresses the growing need for community resilience following recent natural disasters, including earthquakes and widespread floods. Launched in 2023, the community outreach program focuses on equipping elementary and high school students and school personnel in neighborhoods adjacent to the LRT-1 route
NAC forms network of ‘sustainability champions’
LISTED natural resources development company Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) has established a network of “Sustainability Champions,” comprising employees from its subsidiaries and community stakeholders, to advance the company’s ambitious sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.
The initiative is designed to promote sustainable practices and connect with a growing movement of people focused on climate action and building sustainable communities. This company-wide network is the result of focused stakeholder engagement.
NAC’s sustainability journey began in 2021 with the formation of a board-level sustainability committee to embed ESG into its core business, operations and the OneNAC vision.
The company’s Pathway to Sustainability Ambition involved a materiality assessment, objective setting and gap analysis across its subsidiaries.
Initial programs presented during the launch include greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, solid waste management, water and energy conservation, livelihood creation for sustainable communities, gender equality and environmental protection through nature-based solutions.
“This is a necessary move to inspire more employees and members of the communities to get personally involved in various sustainability engagements to encourage dynamic participation in sustainable practices,” said marine biologist Agapito Cuadra Jr., a member of the environment department of TMC.
with essential life-saving knowledge.
The program includes engaging modules on basic first aid, fire safety, electrical safety, basic school and train safety, commuting etiquette and proper handwashing. The goal is to cultivate a safety and preparedness culture that extends from the classroom and daily commute to the home, empowering participants to respond effectively in an emergency.
LRMC head of health, safety, environment and quality Jason Magdaong said safety is a shared responsibility that goes “well beyond our rail operations.”
Magdaong said the program is about “taking the expertise and dis-
among the region’s top engineering minds. Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and chief executive Agnes Devanadera opened the event, highlighting the essential role engineers play in driving national progress and regional integration.
“There can be no development in any country without infrastructure, and that’s how vital your profession is,” Devanadera said, adding that the engineering sector was central to Clark’s transformation from a former US airbase into a successful economic zone following the 1991 Mt. Pina-
cipline of our rail safety protocols and sharing them with the communities that depend on us. By educating the youth in disaster and life safety, we are not just teaching them to be safe passengers; we’re making them agents of resilience for their families and neighborhoods.”
The operator has already teamed up with several community institutions along the line, including Marcela Marcelo Elementary School, Philippine National School for the Blind, Philippine School for the Deaf, Don Carlos Village Elementary School, Apelo Cruz Elementary School, Baclaran Elementary School – Central and Maricaban Elementary School.
It said the initiative has empowered an average of 500 students and 70 teachers and administrative staff. The effort has been significantly supported by LRMC’s workforce, with an average of 200 employee volunteers dedicating more than 900 total volunteer hours.
By expanding its corporate safety mandate to local schools, LRMC said it is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
LRMC plans to expand the project further by rolling out partnerships with more schools this year.
INVESTMENT OFFICERS. The Board of Investments (BOI) holds its first nationwide capacity program for local investment officers through the BOI–Linangin ang Obligasyon at Kakayahan tungo sa Aktibong Lokal na Pamumuhunan (BOI-LOKAL) on Oct. 13 to 14, 2025 at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
NEA energizes 87 households in remote barangay in Benguet
THE National Electrification Administration (NEA), in partnership with the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO), has provided at least 87 households with access to electricity in Barangay Ansagan, Tuba, Benguet under the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP).
NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda led the switch-on ceremony on Oct. 30, 2025.
Almeda called illuminating a remote village a “gratifying experience” given the positive changes access to electricity can bring.
“This is our way of making people feel that the national government cares for all of you—to provide you with the muchneeded electricity for the students; for
your livelihood,” Almeda told members of the community, which was led by barangay captain Atos Adonis.
Almeda was joined by Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, BENECO generalmanager Melchor Licoben and BENECO board president George Dumawing Jr. Ansagan, located in the southern tip of Tuba, is home to over 2,000 residents whose main source of livelihood is farming.
Almeda said the NEA has been exerting its best efforts to “achieve 100-percent electrification before the term of our dear President Bongbong Marcos ends.”
The overall energization project covers 44 sitios/puroks and 375 household connections.
tubo eruption.
“We have risen from the ashes and are now leading economic growth in this part of our country. The poverty rate in Pampanga is now just one percent. Our recovery would not have been possible without the engineers,” she said.
The conference theme, “ASEAN Engineers: Beacons of Prosperity, Inclusivity, Equity, Resilience and Sustainability,” drew attention to Clark’s strategic importance within the North Luzon Economic Corridor and its commitment to infrastructure-led development.
PRIVATE companies in the Philippines can claim full tax deductions and donors’ tax exemptions for contributions to milk feeding initiatives under a new joint program by the National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The NDA–BIR joint administrative order (JAO), signed at a launch event in Manila, formalizes the private sector–funded milk feeding program, an effort supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev).
Recognized by DepDev as a national priority, the initiative seeks to encourage private sector investment in tackling child malnutrition while boosting the livelihood of local dairy farmers.
The program addresses two pressing challenges, said NDA administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya.
“When we buy local milk, we help not only children but also farmers. Every glass of milk represents livelihood and a better future,” Andaya said.
Andaya noted the link between nutrition and literacy, citing the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, which showed that 18 million Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are functionally illiterate, an issue he connected to poor childhood nutrition.
He recommended extending the milk feeding period to 120 days, in line with the National Nutrition Council’s advice, rather than the current 15-day inclusion in the Department of Education’s 120-day feeding cycle.
“Malnutrition is the silent barrier to progress. If our children are healthy, our people become smarter and more productive,” Andaya said.
Othel V. Campos
SATURDAY,
By Thony Rose Lesaca
INVESTING in nature could unlock major gains in jobs, productivity and fiscal resilience in the AsiaPacific region, according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report
released Thursday.
The ADB’s Asia-Pacific Climate Report 2025: Unlocking Nature for Development noted that 75 percent of the region’s output comes from “moderately” or “heavily” naturedependent sectors.
Despite this reliance, nature remains undervalued and underfinanced. Only $200 billion of more than $270 trillion of global financial assets is being allotted for
nature-positive investments, the bank said.
This translates to less than 1 percent of the region’s total assets supporting investments like sustainable farming.
Closing the gap between biodiversity and climate financing in Asia and the Pacific will require an annual funding of over $1 trillion, with public resources focused toward governance, policy and data reforms that attract private investment.
“Healthy ecosystems are not environmental extras in the region’s growth story. They are productive assets at the core of Asia’s growth and resilience,” said ADB chief economist Albert Park.
By Othel V. Campos
STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines said Thursday it reduced the interest rate on its AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program to 3 percent per annum from 4 percent, making agricultural credit more affordable for small farmers, fishers and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
The move is part of LandBank’s effort to expand access to affordable financing and strengthen support for the agriculture sector, said president and chief executive Lynette Ortiz.
The reduced rate and program launch was led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., along with Ortiz, on Oct. 30, 2025, at the Cadiz City Arena in
THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has detailed the rigorous, multi-layered safeguards guiding its investment strategy, affirming the security and responsible growth of its members’ funds following a recent announcement of strong financial performance.
The discipline is the bedrock of the fund’s management, according to GSIS president and general-manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso, who spoke at “The Agenda” media forum hosted by Atty. Siegfred Mison.
“We receive contributions of 21 percent, yet we are mandated to pay out a pension of up to 90 percent of our members’ average salary over their last three years of service. Our investment strategy must bridge that gap,” Veloso said.
He said that “no single person decides” on investments, noting that every proposal is first vetted by an in-
ternal research office, an assets and liabilities committee and a board-level risk oversight committee before being presented to the full board for a vote. Veloso, who has four decades of experience as an investment banker, said this system of checks and balances is “non-negotiable.”
This approach, anchored on the core principles of liquidity, safety and yield, helped the fund achieve success, including a net income of P112 billion as of September 2025 and total assets of P1.92 trillion. This financial performance secured the fund life until 2058.
“Our members can be confident that a robust governance framework is in place to protect their fund,” Veloso said.
“Our singular focus is on managing their money with the highest level of professionalism and integrity to guarantee their pension when they retire,” he said.
Negros Occidental.
“Through our partnership with LANDBANK and other collaborators, we will ensure that the benefits of the AGRISENSO Plus Program reach all farmers and fishers in every part of the country,” said Tiu Laurel.
The value chain-based lending program, developed in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the private sector, provides “holistic and practical solutions” to help farmers address ongoing challenges
such as climate change, unstable farmgate prices, and disruptions from natural calamities like the recent Mt. Kanlaon eruption, Ortiz said.
The program offers simplified documentation, free life and credit life insurance, and expanded technical and market support to boost farm productivity and profitability.
Aside from small farmers and fishers, the program also provides competitive financing rates for cooperatives, associations, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large agribusinesses, anchor firms and agriculture graduates.
CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc.
president and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy underscored the growing importance of sovereign cloud as the Philippines accelerates its digital transformation journey, stating it is essential for maintaining full control of sensitive data under Philippine laws. Unlike traditional cloud systems hosted overseas, a sovereign cloud operates within the country’s jurisdiction—either independently or in hybrid form with global cloud pro-
viders—but with strict boundaries on data location, access and governance.
“This gives the government and Filipino companies the assurance that their most sensitive information is managed and protected according to our own legal frameworks,” Uy said.
He said that as Filipinos increasingly rely on digital transactions with government agencies, banks, hospitals and schools, data sovereignty becomes critical.
“Many assume their personal in-
formation is automatically protected under Philippine law, but if that data is stored abroad, it may fall under another country’s legal system. That limits our ability to regulate or audit how it’s used,” Uy said.
Sectors such as government, finance, healthcare and education stand to benefit most from adopting sovereign cloud solutions, given their responsibility for handling vast amounts of confidential information.
“At the end of the day, sovereign
cloud allows the Philippines to fully embrace digital transformation while safeguarding our national interests and ensuring that critical data stays within trusted boundaries,” Uy said.
Uy joined other technology leaders in a plenary session on digital sovereignty at the fifty-first Philippine Business Conference and Expo, which tackled policy frameworks for harnessing emerging technologies while protecting data assets.
Othel V. Campos
PhilHealth’s benefit claim payments jumped 94% to P217.93b in 9 months
STATE-RUN Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) announced on Thursday a significant surge in benefit claims payments, releasing over P217.93 billion to healthcare facilities nationwide in the first nine months of 2025.
This represents a 94.18-percent increase from P112.23 billion paid out in the same period last year, demonstrating PhilHealth’s strengthened financial support for Filipino patients and providers, PhilHealth said in a statement.
The total claims payment in the first nine months of 2025 reached P217.93 billion, covering both public and private facilities. Private facilities received the majority of the funds, accounting for P127.79 billion, while public facilities received P90.14 billion in reimbursements.
PhilHealth also reported a substantial improvement in efficiency, achieving an average claims processing turnaround time of just 22 days as of Sept. 30, 2025. This progress aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ directive to enhance the agency’s performance and responsiveness.
The significant expenditure is largely driven by payments for catastrophic conditions covered by Z Benefit Packages—such as heart surgery, cancers and kidney transplantation— and high-cost services like outpatient hemodialysis.
This reflects the increasing medical needs of the population and the corporation’s commitment to ensuring sustained financial support for members diagnosed with life-threatening or complex illnesses.
LEADING global smart device brand
OPPO is ushering in a new era of artistry and technology with the OPPO Find X9, now available for pre-order in the Philippines.
Crafted as the brand’s most cultured flagship yet, the OPPO Find X9 redefines sophistication by combining breathtaking design, professional-grade imaging, and intelligent technology in one masterpiece of modern engineering.
Capturing every moment with purpose and precision
At the heart of the OPPO Find X9 lies the Hasselblad Master Camera System, boasting a quad-camera setup that redefines mobile photography, bannered by a pro-level 50MP main camera with an ultra-large aperture that captures 57% more light than the previous generation.
The OPPO Find X9’s 50MP Periscope Telephoto combines OPPO’s exclusive Triple Prism Lens with a large sensor delivering 3x optical zoom and 6x lossless zoom. Featuring True Color Camera technology and the LUMO Image Engine, it captures life with studio-level color accuracy and detail.
Aside from its photography prowess, the OPPO Find X9 also showcases OPPO’s most remarkable jump in mobile photography - the ability to record videos in 4K resolution at 120 FPS through its main camera. This allows shooting high-quality slow-motion footage with exceptional stability.
From stunning 4K Motion Photos to cinematic 120FPS Dolby Vision video, every frame is crafted with depth and artistry. Paired with a 120x Super Zoom, it lets users discover beauty from every distance, be it a city skyline, an intimate portrait, or a faraway landscape.
Empowering Seamless Productivity with next-level AI and software
Beyond delivering stunning visuals, the OPPO Find X9 enhances how creative individuals work, create, and live.
OPPO’s newest flagship device delivers next-level performance with the latest ColorOS 16, featuring an all-new Luminous Rendering Engine upgrade carrying two major enhancementsUnified Seamless Architecture, which enables fluid, element-level animations and effortless transitions between system and third-party apps, and Independent Rendering, a self-developed asynchronous scheduling algorithm that boosts scrolling smoothness, reduces frame drops, and ensures consistently fast, responsive interactions
The OPPO Find X9 also introduces AI Mind Space, an intelligent app that simplifies how users capture and organize information. With a simple three-finger swipe, on-screen content—text, images, or web pages—can be saved instantly into a unified hub that automatically categorizes ideas for easy access and management. Pushing Boundaries with Upgraded Hardware As it continues to test the limits of smartphone photography and videography, the OPPO Find X9 is bolstered by a powerful battery and next-level chipset. Packed with a large 7,025 mAh silicon-carbon battery, it can keep up even with the most dynamic lifestyles, complemented by 80W SUPERVOOC™ fast charging and 50W AIRVOOC™ wireless charging for quick, seamless power-ups. Taking the OPPO Find X9 a notch higher is the newest MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset under its hood, along with the latest edition of Trinity Engine, which redefines chip-level resource management for sustained high performance and superior power efficiency co-developed with MediaTek. Get the OPPO Find X9 and experience artistry, culture and technology
The OPPO Find X9 is designed for those who seek more and use technology as an expression of refinement, creativity, and individuality.
Pre-order the OPPO Find X9 (16GB + 512GB) available in sleek colorways of Titanium Grey and Space Black at P69,999 across all OPPO Brand Stores nationwide until November 20 and enjoy the following benefits: PHP 2,000 discount DJI Osmo Mobile SE Stabilizer It will be exclusively available on OPPO’s official Shopee store on November 10 at 8 PM and you can enjoy the following perks until November 24: Free DJI Osmo Mobile SE OPPO P2000 off Product Voucher Shopee Platform Voucher 0% Interest SPayLater P200 GCash cashback on positive reviews
You can also get the OPPO Find X9 through Globe Postpaid GPlan 2499 starting on November 14 with a cashout of PHP 61,000 and take home a free DJI Osmo Mobile SE, up for grabs for the first 65 buyers (both online and offline). It will also be available via Smart Postpaid Plans +999 soon.
To know more about the OPPO Find X9, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com/ph/ or OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
Let’s Do Our Pau-rt: foodpanda and NGO partners unite to tackle hunger and food waste this World Food Day
FOODPANDA Philippines celebrated World Food Day with a month-long outreach that served various communities in different parts of Metro Manila. The initiatives, grounded in the belief that everyone deserves access to food and nourishment, supported children, women PDLs, delivery partners, and community volunteers. These efforts emphasize foodpanda’s commitment to compassion, inclusivity, and sustainability under its company-wide advocacy, “Let’s Do Our Pau-rt.” Turning Surplus into Sustenance with SOS Philippines In Quezon City, foodpanda joined forces with Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Philippines to address both hunger and food waste by delivering meals to 500 beneficiaries from communities facing involuntary hunger. SOS Philippines, a non-profit environmental organization, rescues surplus food and transforms it into nourishing meals through its Rescue Kitchen initiative, proudly supported by foodpanda in advancing the UN Sustain-
able Development Goal of Zero Hunger. Beyond providing donations, foodpanda employees also volunteered to prepare, cook, and distribute meals to families in Pook Malinis, Quezon City,
as well as to foodpanda riders in the area. “Food waste and food insecurity are two sides of the same coin,” said Bianca Alarcon, Executive Affairs Management Officer of SOS Philippines. “Through
our partnership with foodpanda, surplus food that would otherwise go to landfills is turned into nourishing meals for communities in need. Together, we’re proving that sustainability and compassion can go hand in hand.”
Bringing Comfort and Care in Taguig City
foodpanda also extended its support and compassion to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) NCR Taguig Women’s Dormitory - distributing food packs, hygiene kits, and other essentials for a month’s supply to women deprived of liberty (PDLs), with BJMP also celebrating their National Correctional Consciousness Week.
The BJMP Taguig Women’s Dormitory runs rehabilitation programs, including education, vocational training, religious, sports, and counseling activities, to prepare PDLs for reintegration into society. The initiative sought to provide comfort and restore dignity among women who often have limited access to basic necessities.
SYNOLOGY Solution Day 2025 concluded successfully at SPACE at One Ayala on October 23, drawing over 500 IT professionals. The event showcased Synology’s latest innovations in data storage and management, data and workload protection, business productivity, and video surveillance—highlighting strategies to enhance enterprise data management efficiency.
Celebrating Synology’s 25th anniversary, Thachawan Chinchanakarn, Head of Southeast Asia at Synology, expressed gratitude to all customers and partners in attendance, stating: “Synology solutions enable secure and scalable data management in over 100 countries worldwide, helping organizations reduce total cost of ownership and improve operational efficiency.” She added, “In the Philippines, as businesses accelerate digital transformation and strengthen data protection against emerging cyber threats, Synology continues to support them with comprehensive solutions that
enhance operational efficiency and ensure long-term data security.”
Claire Huang, Country Manager at Synology, noted: “This year, companies are expanding investments in AI and automation while continuing to view data protection and recovery as top priorities. In response to these market demands, Synology unveiled the PAS7700, an NVMe SSD dualcontroller storage solution, and further strengthened data protection solutions to help counter the growing threats of hacking and data breaches. Our goal is to empower Filipino businesses to pursue innovation while maintaining a secure data environment.”
The event also featured a panel discussion with IT experts from organizations and businesses that are Synology customers. Mr. Vhran Guanio, Head of the IT Department at Tom’s World Philippines, shared: “Synology’s reliable and cost-efficient solutions help us maintain business continuity while keeping our systems secure and operations seamless.”
Representing Ayala Corporation, Mr. Christian R. Vallez, Head of Knowledge Management also shared that Synology offers secure and flexible solutions that build a stronger data infrastructure to preserve organizational knowledge and drive smarter decisions across the group. Meeting Modern Data
THE holiday season is a time for giving, sharing, and showing love — and for millions of Filipinos, that love is often sent through a padala. To help you send malasakit (care) to your loved ones wherever they are in the Philippines, Palawan Group of Companies’ Palawan Express Pera Padala is made even more affordable with lower domestic remittance fees. From October 1 to December 31, 2025, Palawan Express Pera Padal sukis can enjoy a 1% service fee on every domestic remittance send-out transaction. That means you only pay PhP 1 for every PhP 100 sent! For transactions of Php 20,001 or more, the regular service fee will apply. Customers who use PalawanPay can also enjoy a 1% fee when remitting to any Palawan branch via the app!
Whether it is for noche buena (Christmas Eve meal), aguinaldo (Christmas gift), or a simple, “thinking of you” gift, Palawan Express Pera Padala ensures that your money goes further – helping bridge the gift between you and the people you hold dearest! For us at Palawan Group, every padala is more than just money – it is a tangible reminder that love surpasses distance. Palawan Group Chief Executive Officer Karlo M. Castro remarked, “Palawan Group is a proud 100% Pinoy company. We are run by Filipinos to serve fellow Filipinos, and deeply ingrained in our culture is a padala being more than just money — it’s a message of love, care, and connection. Through our Mas pinababang fees promo, we want to make it easier for families to send love this Christmas season, no matter the distance. Palawan Express Pera Padala has always been part of the Filipino family’s story, and this is our way of giving back — by helping them stay close even when they are physically far apart.”
Behind Every Padala, a Story of Love Across thousands of Palawan Express Pera Padala branches and outlets across the Philippines, each padala carries out a common theme: love and sacrifice. There’s a mother in Manila who sends her 13th-month pay to her parents in Cagayan so they can stock up the fridge as the grandchildren flock in for Christmas. We have heard of a son working in Cebu who sends a little extra to his siblings in General Santos City for their new shirts and slippers. There is also a grandmother in Bicol who uses padala service to send money for her grandchildren’s toys.
newly introduced Synology Tiering automatically places frequently accessed “hot” data on high-performance storage while moving less frequently used “cold” data to more cost-effective tiers—boosting management efficiency.
Management Demands Synology introduced its enterprise storage solutions, including the high-performance PAS series featuring active-active dual controllers and end-to-end NVMe technology. It also previewed new features in DSM 7.3, designed to enhance both security and storage efficiency. Among them, the
Strengthening Cyber Resilience With the recent launch of DP7200 and APM 1.1, Synology highlighted updates to ActiveProtect that expand workload support, enhance cyber resilience, and simplify compliance. Key features include WORM (Write Once, Read Many) to prevent unauthorized data deletion and network isolation for secure access. These improvements strengthen immutability and airgapped protection, supporting a robust 3-2-1-1-0 backup strategy that includes offsite backups and immutable copies.
Expanding the Video Surveillance Ecosystem Synology also showcased its comprehensive video surveillance ecosystem, encompassing cameras, storage, and management software. Attendees experienced the latest AI-powered video analytics for people, vehicle, and intrusion detection, and Synology’s newest camera lineup seamlessly integrated with its systems.
ACMOBILITY, Ayala’s mobility solutions group and the leading provider of EV charging solutions and infrastructure in the Philippines, reinforced its pioneering charge in the country’s electric vehicle (EV) space as it showcased its latest innovations and growing network at this year’s Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS).
At the summit, ACMobility showcased its integrated ecosystem of home, public, and on-demand charging solutions, anchored on the Philippine EV Spine Network, a nationwide system of charging stations connecting key cities and destinations from north to south. With over 100 operational sites and 70 more coming soon, ACMobility continues to expand toward its goal of 700 charge points nationwide by the end of 2025, empowering more Filipinos to drive electric with confidence and ease.
“Energy means more than just power. It’s what gives every EV driver the confidence and freedom to keep moving forward,” said Carla Buencamino, Head of ACMobility Infrastructure. “This energy fuels our goal to make electric mobility seamless, accessible, and sustainable for every Filipino.”
Evro: Powering the Connected EV Experience
At the heart of this ecosystem is Evro, ACMobility’s e-mobility platform connecting Filipino drivers to every charger, partner, and service all in one app. In just a year since its launch, Evro has grown into the country’s leading e-mobility service platform with over 35,000 downloads and 25,000 registered users, reaching more than 80% of EV drivers nationwide. Built to make every journey smarter and more convenient, ACMobility highlighted the latest Evro app updates during the summit, which include:
● Station Finder: A first-of-its-kind feature that gives a nationwide map of over 240 DOE-registered charging stations. It allows EV users to search, charge, and transact across Evro’s expanding network of partners, including ACMobility, Shell, and Caltex. Smart Filters help users find stations compatible with their vehicles, while One-Tap View and real-time Status Indicators make it easy to locate available chargers anytime, anywhere.
● MyCharge Planner: Helps reduce users’ guesswork by allowing them to plan smarter and charge only what they need. Users just simply need to select the car, set the current and target battery levels, and the tool provides an estimated charging amount based on the vehicle’s specifications under optimal charging conditions. This helps users save time, manage costs, and drive with confidence.
● GCash Link & Pay: Allows linked Evro accounts to advise users if their GCash account has sufficient funds for transactions. It’s quick, secure, and charges only what users consume, making every experience as convenient as possible. No hassle for OTPs or delays with refund.
● Evro Charge Vouchers: Newlylaunched in-app feature that lets users claim and redeem digital coupons that they can use at partner stations nationwide. These will now be regularly available through the Evro app, giving users new offers to discover each time they plug in and charge, adding even more value to every kilometer powered by Evro.
IN A retail market defined by constant change and tech-driven lifestyles, Yale Smart Shop (YSS) is transforming how Filipinos experience home security and property management. As the dedicated retail arm of Yale’s world-class smart home solutions, YSS offers cutting-edge products that protect not only private residences but also commercial spaces, rental properties, and short-stay accommodations.
Entrepreneurs looking for a lowrisk tech franchise investment gain a future-proof business model grounded in innovation, consumer trust, and relevance to modern living, meeting the growing demand for reliable security across homes, businesses, and hospitality settings.
Smart Retail, Smarter Opportunity
Yale Smart Shop (YSS) is an interactive destination for smart living. Filipino homeowners can see, touch, and test Yale’s advanced products before making a purchase. This includes smart locks, digital door viewers, and security cameras.
Trained YSS staff engage visitors with live demonstrations, showing how each solution works and how it can enhance safety and convenience. This experiential format strengthens customer engagement and drives higher conversion rates, giving franchise owners a retail franchise with high ROI and a clear competitive advantage.
Why Yale Smart Shop is one of the best franchise opportunities in the Philippines
Franchising remains one of the Philippines’ most dynamic industries, offering entrepreneurs a proven, lowerrisk path to business ownership. With
thousands of retail brands contributing significantly to the economy, strong consumer spending, a young population, and active franchise networks create an especially attractive market. Investing in a YSS smart home retail franchise means aligning with a trusted global brand that already has strong local traction. Franchise owners gain the advantage of Yale’s 180-year heritage, a turnkey setup with full training, marketing and operational support, exclusive product bundles with seasonal campaigns, and seamless integration with digital platforms and e-commerce channels to maximize reach and revenue potential.
Yale Smart Shop stands out by offering a streamlined, modern business model that reduces risk and maximizes efficiency. With zero inventory requirements, franchisees can focus on their customers rather than stock. The experiential retail format, ranging from 6 to 30 square meters, lets shoppers try Yale’s smart locks, safes, and cameras firsthand, driving stronger engagement and conversions.
HOME Credit Philippines (HCPH), the country’s leading consumer finance company, has partnered with Puregold’s Tindahan ni Aling Puring (TNAP) community to launch the Aling Puring Credit Card powered by Home Credit.
This partnership underscores a shared commitment to make financial wellness and progress more achievable for Filipinos—empowering families, resellers, and small business owners with greater confidence and control over their budgets.
Designed with the Aling Puring community in mind, the new credit card makes everyday grocery shopping easier, more flexible, and more rewarding across over 500+ Puregold stores nationwide.
“Our partnership with Puregold and Aling Puring goes beyond making shopping easier. It’s about empowering Filipinos by giving them access to financial tools that help make their everyday lives better,” said Zdenek Jankovsky, Chief Business Development Officer and Executive Director of Home Credit Philippines. “Through the Aling Puring Credit Card, we aim to provide Filipino shoppers and small business owners with a smarter, more flexible way to manage their budgets, handle finances confidently, and enjoy more value every time they shop.”
Empowering Every Filipino Shopper
The Aling Puring Credit Card powered by Home
By: Marielle Reyes
Operations are made easier through a fully digitized IT platform that manages sales, transactions, and installations seamlessly. Earnings are commissionbased with no hidden fees, ensuring franchisees are rewarded directly for their performance and drive. Backed by the unrivalled support of a trusted global brand, every YSS partner gains access to full IT systems, training, and ongoing operational guidance, making it possible to be in business for yourself, but never by yourself.
This makes YSS a franchise business with global brand support that is uniquely positioned in the fast-growing home security and smart living market.
Real Franchise Success Stories
In this climate of growth and confidence, success stories from Yale Smart Shop franchisees in the Philippines highlight how smart home technology is emerging as a promising new category for investors.
In Davao, Janine Cruz partnered with local interior designers and hosted weekend smart-home workshops, doubling her sales within a
Credit is a Visa Classic Contactless card designed to make everyday spending more rewarding and worryfree.
or
you all the screen space you could want for scrolling,
and protection.
year and building a loyal customer base of homeowners and design professionals.
“By collaborating with interior designers and offering hands-on workshops, I showed customers how Yale technology fits seamlessly into everyday life—and that connection helped my sales grow twice as fast in just a year.”
The Future Is Smart and Franchise-Ready
With smart home adoption rapidly growing across the Philippines, Yale Smart Shop is poised for nationwide expansion. The combination of a respected global brand, a proven retail concept, and flexible investment options creates opportunity entrepreneurs rarely encounter.
Whether you are an experienced business owner or exploring your first venture, YSS offers more than a way to sell products—it provides the chance to lead the movement toward safer, more connected homes and to build a business that grows alongside the future of technology.
on moderate use. Whether you are commuting across Metro Manila or traveling out of town, the X7d’s endurance is impressive.
By Nickie Wang
ACTOR Gerald Anderson and veteran producer Ronald “Dondon” Monteverde are joining forces for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Rekonek, an alternative Christmas film that explores the meaning of connection in a world suddenly cut off from the internet.
The project brings together Monteverde’s Reality MM Studios and Anderson’s 3rd Floor Studios, with the actor taking on a new role behind the camera as a producer.
Monteverde, who co-founded Reality MM Studios with director Erik Matti in 2003, shared that working with Anderson motivated him to keep learning despite his long experience in the industry.
“Even as a veteran, I still want to learn new things, and working with Gerald allowed me to do that,” Monteverde told Manila Standard Entertainment in an interview.
Rekonek takes place during a global internet outage that forces people to rediscover what connection truly means beyond screens and social media. The film follows Filipinos from different walks of life as they navigate a world suddenly stripped of Wi-Fi and constant connectivity.
According to Anderson, the story shows how dependent people have become on technology.
“Sometimes relationships are affected by social media, by phones, by the internet—and then suddenly, when all of that disappears, what happens?” he explained. “When the internet goes down, there are a lot of lessons to learn. It makes you realize we can still live without it.”
The partnership between Anderson and Monteverde began more than a decade ago during the production of On the Job. Monteverde recalled that their professional chemistry eventually led to discussions about new projects, one of which became Rekonek
“We’ve always wanted to work together again,” Monteverde recounted. “Everything just fell into place. We
MISS Universe mania has begun with the stunning Philippine bet Ahtisa Manalo all set to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey at the world’s most exciting and muchanticipated pageant.
Manalo looked radiant wearing a pink, sequin half-sleeve slit dress with a dragon motif on the shoulder during her send-off held at Citadines Millennium Hotel in Ortigas.
Manalo, who was born in Candelaria, Quezon, to a FinnishSwedish father and Filipino mother, expressed her excitement and gratitude to everyone for their love and support since joining national pageants.
“For my countrymen, I will fight whatever it is, and I’m going to come on the other end smiling. I promise you’ll see the best Ahtisa on the Miss Universe stage,” said the 28-year-old entrepreneur.
Shamcey Supsup-Lee, national
director of Miss Universe Philippines, expressed her admiration for Manalo’s courage when she returned to try again after falling short in Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
“She didn’t let that failure stop her from pursuing what she really wanted, to become Miss Universe Philippines. And I really do believe in destiny,” said Supsup-Lee.
submitted a concept to a film festival, and it got accepted. From there, everything took off.”
Monteverde commended Anderson for his dedication behind the camera, describing him as “very involved” in every aspect of production, from planning to casting.
Anderson noted that the team has been meticulous in shaping every element of the film.
“We’ve been hands-on all the way. The film is almost done. We have two to three more days of shooting left,” he mentioned. “We’ve carefully planned everything, from the cast to the story to the promotions.”
Reality MM Studios is known for producing acclaimed films and series that push creative boundaries, while 3rd Floor Studios began as Anderson’s passion project in fitness and lifestyle before evolving into a film and content production company.
GMA Network held its Kapuso Bloodletting Day on Oct. 24, demonstrating the spirit of bayanihan through collective efforts to help victims of recent earthquakes in Cebu and Davao.
The initiative, organized by GMA Corporate Affairs and Communications in partnership with the GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) and the Philippine Red Cross, aimed to provide life-saving support to affected communities.
Employees from various departments volunteered to donate blood during the event.
“It’s really a united effort from GMA management, its employees, and GMA’s cooperative—sama-
The 74th Miss Universe pageant will push through as originally scheduled despite the passing of Thailand’s Queen Sirikit. It will be held from Nov. 2 to 21 in Nonthaburi, Thailand, with only some changes in the schedule of activities in deference to the state of mourning in Thailand. ***
Myrna Esguerra targets 7th crown in Miss International 2025
THE long wait is over for Bb. Pilipinas International 2024 Myrna
Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo will represent the
sama to make this bloodletting successful,” said GMAKF executive vice president and COO Rikki O. Escudero-Catibog GMA Network vice president and head of Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz added, “ Nakakatuwa na ang dami nating mga Kapuso dito sa GMA , na kahit nakaduty , nagpapaalam sila to come here for a while and donate blood for the victims of the earthquake not only in Cebu, but in Davao, and other parts of the country ” The drive collected 148 blood bags, later turned over to the Philippine Red Cross. Each blood bag can benefit up to three individuals in need of transfusions.
going to deviate from the performance I showed in Binibini, but more polished, elegant, and classy. I want to show my authentic self,” said the 24-year-old tourism management graduate who volunteers with the National Cleanup Coalition Philippines in pursuit of her platform of raising awareness on environmental preservation and sustainability.
“She’s so sweet. No doubt about it, she’s Miss International material,” said Bb. Pilipinas International 2025 Katrina Anne Johnson, who joined her fellow Bb. Pilipinas past and present queens and other well-wishers at the event. The 63rd Miss International 2025 will be held in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 27.
Esguerra as she is all set to fly to Japan for the Miss International 2025 pageant. It’s been almost a decade since the Philippines brought home the title, and many Filipinos believe that the drought may end this year with Esguerra’s victory. Esguerra made history as the firstever country girl from the province of Abra to enter and win in Bb. Pilipinas, made even more significant as it happened during the pageant’s 60th anniversary edition.
Esguerra, glowing in a salmon pink, mermaid-cut, strapless dress, met with members of the media during her send-off held at World Kitchens in Araneta City on Tuesday. “I can’t wait to come to Japan and shout ‘the Philippines.’ I’m thankful I have had more than enough time to prepare after I won Binibini in July 2024. I’m not
NInside the glittering halls of Marriott Manila Hotel on Thursday night, Helm, a fine-dining restaurant at Ayala Triangle in Makati led by Filipino-British chef Josh Boutwood, captured the highest honor in the inaugural 2026 Michelin Guide Selection in the Philippines.
The first Philippine edition of the Michelin Guide featured 108 local establishments across Manila, its environs, and Cebu. Among them, eight restaurants received one star each, while 25 were awarded Bib Gourmand distinctions for quality dining at moderate prices.
Boutwood, in an interview with Manila Standard Life after receiving his award, said he has no plans to make major changes at Helm despite the recognition.
“I think this just proves we’ve done something right,” he said. “We’ll keep progressing, executing well, using great ingredients, and doing the best we possibly can.”
He described Helm as a “very personal restaurant,” emphasizing the overall experience beyond the food.
“Everyone who comes in feels like they’re entering my home,” he added. “We focus not just on the food, but also on the service, ambience, and
music. Maybe that’s what worked for us, along with our consistency.” Boutwood credited his team for their role in earning the recognition.
“They work tirelessly to bring my vision to life, and I couldn’t do any of this without them. I may be the one representing the restaurant, but they’re truly the heart and soul of what we do every day,” he noted.
When asked if he is prepared for the influx of diners after this recognition, Boutwood expressed a desire for rest.
“Honestly, I just want a vacation,” he said in jest. “When we found out Michelin was coming in, we became hyper-focused on doing our absolute best. It’s been non-stop…thinking about the experience, the food, everything. I’m just relieved that tonight is over
and all that hard work has paid off. But now, of course, we have to start looking ahead to next year.”
He explained that the journey toward Michelin recognition was the result of years of consistent work.
“It’s been a consistent effort—every single day. Years, really. Years of hard
work leading up to a night like this.”
When asked if he is aiming for three stars, Boutwood shared that maintaining Helm’s current standard is his priority.
“I think three stars might be a bit unattainable in Helm’s current form, and that’s okay. I’d rather focus on
maintaining our two stars. But who knows—maybe one of my other restaurants will earn a star someday.”
Eight other restaurants received one Michelin star for their highquality cooking: Asador Alfonso, which sources ingredients directly from Spain to deliver authentic dishes balancing rustic simplicity and depth; Celera, which features contemporary Asian dishes influenced by Japan, China, and Singapore; and Gallery by Chele, which emphasizes environmental integrity through local sourcing and waste reduction.
Completing the list are Hapag, known for elevating Filipino ingredients into modern, sophisticated dishes; Inatô, an intimate dining space where guests face an open kitchen; Kasa Palma, which combines French techniques with global influences from Latin America to Southeast Asia; Linamnam, where the chef welcomes only ten diners into a transformed childhood bedroom featuring elegant Filipino interiors; and Toyo Eatery, which celebrates the complexity of simple ingredients in modern Filipino cuisine.
