Manila Standard - 2026 May 16 - Saturday

Ombudsman suspends Aplasca

DOJ puts Bato on BI lookout list, NBI

By Rex Espiritu and Rolando Ng III

ACTING Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca was placed under preventive suspension without pay for six months by the Ombudsman for discharging his firearm that triggered the shooting incident in the Senate last Wednesday.

Senator Bato dela Rosa, on the other hand, was placed under Immigration lookout, with Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida ordering law enforcement personnel to arrest the senator if he tries to flee the country.

Senator Robin Padilla, for his part, was named a “persons of interest” by the National Bureau of Investigation in

relation to Dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate early Thursday dawn.

‘Unacceptable’

Ombudsman Crispin Remulla said Aplasca’s admission that he was the first to fire a warning shot at NBI operatives was “unacceptable.”

warns of heat levels of 41-51 degrees in days ahead

By Rio N. Araja

cal Services Administration on Friday warned that scorching heat will prevail in the coming weeks and trigger widespread dangerous heat index levels across

Water in 9 major dams below ‘normal level’ NEWS / A4

most of the country Ana Liza Solis, chief of Pagasa’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section, said heat index levels ranging from 42°C to 51°C fall under the danger category. She said however, that the warm and dry weather is a factor to the development of localized thunderstorms across the country, a usual pattern during the transition from

Japan considering

THE Japanese government is considering exporting Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system to the Philippines, a source familiar with the matter said Friday. Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo

Brawner Jr. said the military must prepare for a new kind of warfare amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The potential missile export follows Tokyo’s revision in April of its three prin-

DOJ, Ombudsman open to joint Senate probe

By Pot Chavez, Rolando Ng III, Rex Espiritu and Vince Lopez

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) said Friday it is open to conducting a joint investigation with the Office of the Ombudsman into the shooting incident inside the Senate premises in Pasay City.

“Possible. [The] DOJ and OMB collaborated previously on the flood control cases by virtue of a joint MOA,”

Millions swelter as brownouts hit Luzon, Visayas

By Alena Mae S. Flores, Othel V. Campos, and Vince Lopez

MILLIONS of consumers in Luzon and the Visayas endured a third straight day of rotating brownouts Friday as persistent power plant outages, transmission line failures, and soaring temperatures continued to strain the country’s power grid.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Luzon grid under red alert from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and under yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The Visayas grid was placed under red alert from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and yellow alert from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said the agency is hopeful supply conditions will normalize over the weekend as electricity demand typically declines on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Historically, demand is lower on weekends,” Marasigan said. “If so, even though

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano Martinez told Manila Standard.

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Thony Rose Lesaca

ciples on the transfer of defense equipment and technology, as well as the implementing guidelines, which

Martinez said the existing memorandum of agreement between the DOJ and the Ombudsman, signed in 2012 during the tenure of then-Justice sec retary Leila de Lima and former Om budsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, could also apply to the case. The statement came after Ombudsman Jesus Crisp in Remulla announced that his office would launch its own investigation into the incident.

“We are in the process of forming a panel. That will be complete by the end of the day so we can issue a subpoena as early as next week,” Remulla said. He also pointed out that the Ombudsman should conduct the probe because the National Bureau of In-

Philippines aim to strengthen security ties amid China’s assertiveness in the East and South China seas.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters Friday that “nothing has

CHINA called on Friday for a lasting truce in the Middle East and for shipping lanes to be reopened “as soon as possible,” as the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed during the war with Iran. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since conflict broke out with the United States and Israel on February 28 and Washington has blockaded Tehran’s ports. Iran’s grip over the waterway has rattled global markets and given Tehran significant leverage.

US President Donald Trump discussed Iran during a summit in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In an interview with Fox News after the first day of the summit wrapped, Trump said Xi had effectively assured

the hot and dry spell to the rainy season.

The coastal and low-lying areas are more affected by the dangerous heat level due to higher humidity that increases heat stress.

Heat index or “feels like” temperature estimates how hot it is for the body when both air temperature and humidity are taken into account.

A combination of high temperature and high humidity leads to extreme heat indices.

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.

High humidity slows the evaporation of sweat, making it harder for the body to cool down.

“When the weather is humid, we cannot release sweat easily because there is already a lot of moisture in the environment,” Solis said.

According to Solis, danger-level heat index readings had been observed mostly in Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

litical risks in the Middle East,” the source said. “The middle distillate market remains structurally tight as stocks decline further and demand normalizing seasonally, further firming up the price of diesel.”

The source added that gasoline prices were supported by tight supplies following a drawdown in global inventories and reduced refinery output. Asian refiners have been forced to process lighter grades of crude, for which they are not optimized, due to a shortage of Middle East crude feedstock.

On May 12, oil firms increased the price of gasoline by P0.40 to P0.47 per liter. Meanwhile, diesel prices saw a significant rollback ranging from P9.53 to P9.60 per liter, and kerosene prices declined sharply by P13.30 per liter, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

The DOE said the 19th price movement this year has resulted in a total net increase of P46.91 per liter for gasoline, P42.02 per liter for diesel, and P41.16 per liter for kerosene.

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed the local currency opened at 61.63 per dollar and touched an intraday low of 61.73 before closing at another all-time low. It marked the second straight trading day that the peso sank to record territory.

“The peso reached new lows today after the recent US consumer and producer inflation reports this week reinforced views that the US Federal Reserve might need to keep US policy rates on hold for a prolonged period,” a trader said.

The trader added that the peso might remain relatively weak due to challenges in local fundamentals but occasional interventions by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas could be expected.

vestigation (NBI), which is a party to the shooting incident, is under the DOJ.

The Ombudsman, however, said it is open to a joint probe with the DOJ.

Remulla said possible charges being considered include obstruction of justice and gross neglect of duty, among others.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier announced the creation of a special panel of prosecutors to conduct a comprehensive case buildup based on evidence gathered from the incident.

“The panel shall be vested with such powers as may be necessary to enable it to conduct an impartial, thorough, and just investigation including the authority to issue subpoenas,” Vida said during a press conference.

PNP, NBI ordered to submit all evidence on May 20

Vida directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to submit all relevant videos and documents pertaining to the incident from May 11 to 14 by 5 p.m. on May 20.

He also ordered the Senate, through the offices of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, to submit reports and all relevant evidence in its possession.

“Submit a report and turn over all relevant pieces of evidence in its posses-

Aplasca, who hails from Davao, is a mistah or classmate of Dela Rosa in the Philippine Military Academy.

“You will shoot at law enforcement?

We do not tolerate that,” Remulla said.

“That is why we need to investigate. What he did was unacceptable. What right does he have to do that? Who is he?” he added.

The NBI agents were at the GSIS office that is adjacent to the Senate Wednesday upon the request for security assistance of GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso

Remulla said the suspension order on Aplasca was already transmitted to the Senate, and the latter can appeal the order.

NBI execs’ suspension also sought

Meanwhile, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano appealed to Remulla to also suspend NBI Director Melvin Matibag and NBI Organized and Transnational Crimes Division chief Jerome Bomediano in connection with the shooting incident.

“Let me just appeal to the Ombudsman, suspend also the NBI director because he is more of a suspect than General Mao (Aplasca),” Cayetano said.

In explaining his decision to fire a warning shot, Aplasca said this was the protocol “when we perceive danger to the lives of our policemen.”

“Our protocol is that if we see danger, we challenge them to identify themselves,” he said.

Cayetano said five shots came from the “other side” after Aplasca’s warn-

ing shot, prompting other Senate security personnel to fire 27 times back. No one was hurt in the shooting incident.

‘Mockery of justice’

Vida, for his part, said an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order has already been issued against Dela Rosa to prevent him from fleeing the country.

The Justice chief also confirmed the Philippines has officially received the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa from the International Criminal Court.

“I do confirm that there is a valid ICC arrest warrant as well as a pending request from ICC… it has been duly received by the Philippines,” Vida said.

On its website, the ICC already listed Dela Rosa as a defendant “at large” for crimes against humanity in relation to the bloody war on drugs during the Duterte administration.

“We’ve sent notices to our border control authorities, basically. So, in effect, if he is sighted or seen trying to flee the country, he will be arrested,” Vida said, saying the government will treat any attempt on Dela Rosa’s part to leave the Philippines as a “mockery of justice.”

“I’m giving specific orders to law enforcement agents and border control authorities that if Senator Bato dela Rosa will try to leave the country, an appropriate arrest should be made,” Vida added.

The Justice chief clarified there is no manhunt operation yet against Dela Rosa as the government complies with the 72-hour period set by the Supreme Court for parties to comment on the lawmaker’s petition to stop the enforcement of the warrant.

“The order for his arrest is condition-

demand of 13,881 MW, with 4,160 MW unavailable to the grid.

EERI and Ilijan (power plants) have not fully returned, there will be no rotational brownout. Hopefully.”

DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the department was still awaiting the final operating status of power plants as of Friday night.

Rolling one-hour outages hit parts of Metro Manila and several areas in Luzon beginning Friday afternoon, while some areas in the Visayas faced interruptions lasting up to seven hours.

The NGCP said the outages stemmed from “major grid disruptions” affecting transmission lines, along with the maintenance shutdown and forced outage of several major power plants. Available capacity in Luzon stood at 13,508 megawatts (MW), below peak

Sixteen power plants have been on forced outage since May, while several others have been offline since as early as 2019. Fourteen plants are also operating at derated capacities.

In the Visayas, available capacity reached 2,441 MW against peak demand of 2,661 MW. The NGCP said 11 power plants in the region have been on forced outage since May, resulting in 841.3 MW of unavailable capacity.

The NGCP said the Tayabas-Ilijan and Dasmariñas-Ilijan 500-kilovolt transmission lines were restored on May 13, but authorities were still awaiting the resynchronization of affected power plants to the grid.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the tripping of the two transmission lines disconnected 2,462.1 MW of natural gas capacity from the Luzon grid, including

al. If you are leaving the country, then that’s a different story,” he said.

‘Be accountable’

Remulla, for his part, chided Dela Rosa for using the Senate to evade the ICC arrest warrant, noting that flight is an indication of guilt.

“I am surprised – he was a former PNP chief, yet now he is running from the law. He should face the charges. Why is he creating chaos?” the Ombudsman said.

“One should be accountable for his actions. Answer the case. If you are innocent, face the case. What kind of person is he? Should our senators act like that…running away from the law? Remulla added.

In February, Dela Rosa, Senator Bong Go, and six others were identified as “co-perpetrators” in the crimes against humanity trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte, documents released by ICC prosecutors showed. Other individuals also identified as indirect co-perpetrators were former PNP officials Oscar Albayalde, Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, and Isidro Lapeña as well as former National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran and former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

According to the ICC prosecution document, “Duterte and his co-perpetrators shared a common plan or agreement to ‘neutralize’ alleged criminals in the Philippines (including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production) through violent crimes including murder.”

ICC prosecutors have charged Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging his involvement in at

the Ilijan gas plant and units of Excellent Energy Resources Inc.

Within minutes of the incident, Ilijan Blocks A and B and EERI Units 1, 2 and 3 were disconnected. Only EERI Unit 1 has so far returned to the grid.

The incident also disrupted power transfers from Luzon to the Visayas during a period of tight supply. Conditions further worsened after Masinloc Unit 3, with a capacity of 325 MW, went on forced outage.

A red alert is declared when available power supply is insufficient to meet demand and reserve requirements, while a yellow alert indicates reserves have fallen below contingency levels.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin called on consumers to conserve electricity during peak hours.

“We urge everyone to conserve consumption, especially during peak hours this afternoon to evening,” Garin said. With AFP

least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018 as part of his “war on drugs.”

‘Explain Dela Rosa’s disappearance’ According to Matibag, Padilla is now among the “persons of interest” in Dela Rosa’s disappearance from the Senate, where he is supposed to be under protective custody

“If there is somebody to explain the whereabouts of Senator ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, I think the best person to explain that is Senator Robinhood Padilla,” Matibag said.

“He (Padilla) is the main person of interest to shed light on Senator Bato’s whereabouts,” he added.

He said Aplasca and Cayetano must also explain what happened.

“In my view, (Cayetano is) not a person of interest. But someone who owes an explanation to the public is Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, because they placed Senator Bato under protective custody, preventing us from arresting him last Monday because we respected their resolution,” Matibag said. Cayetano on Thursday said Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate was not an “escape” since there was no standing arrest warrant against the lawmaker from a local court.

Cayetano said Dela Rosa’s wife sent him a message confirming that her husband had left the building: “We would like to thank you and all the other senators for all the support you have done for my husband. At the same time, I’d also like to ask for forgiveness...It is for this reason I am sure that Ronald made his ‘escape.’ He told me, habang tumatagal kasi siya diyan sa loob as mas madadamay pa kayo.”

been decided at this point,” regarding the possible missile export.

Referring to an agreement on enhanced defense equipment and technology cooperation reached in Manila on May 5 with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Koizumi voiced his intention to decide what would be exported. On May 6, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces conducted a live-fire drill involving the Type 88 missile system during the annual U.S.-Philippines Balikatan exercise in the Philippines.

Japan and the Philippines are in full-scale talks on exporting used Abukuma-class destroyers. Tokyo is also considering exporting the Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile system, dubbed Chu-SAM, used by the Ground Self-Defense Force.

him that China was not preparing to militarily aid Tehran.

“He said he’s not going to give military equipment... he said that strongly,” Trump told Fox.

“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” Trump added.

sion and control. Evidence that may aid the special panel of prosecutors which would include CCTV footage, ballistic and paraffin examination results, deployment records, communication logs, witness statements, and other forensic and documentary evidence,” Vida said.

The DOJ chief also encouraged the media and the public to submit video footage and other materials to aid investigators.

“Andaming kumalat na video. You can submit it to our panel of prosecutors investigating this and we will look at them so that we can get to the circumstances that led to the incident,” he said.

Vida assured the public that the investigation would be “complete, transparent, and impartial.”

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the Senate to submit copies of CCTV footage recorded during the gunfire incident.

Remulla said subpoenas would be issued to Senate authorities as part of efforts to obtain a full picture of the events surrounding the shooting.

“Sana naman ay walang nawawala na footage,” Remulla said amid allegations that some CCTV recordings may have been concealed.

“Sana naman walang coverup dito,” he added.

NBI agents in GSIS upon request of Veloso

NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said NBI agents arrived Wednesday evening at the Government Service In-

When asked if the two presidents had discussed the subject, China’s foreign ministry responded on Friday saying it hoped a lasting ceasefire could be reached “as soon as possible” to restore peace and stability in the Middle East.

“Shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible in response to the calls of the international community,” it added.

surance System compound, where the Senate leases office space, after GSIS president Wick Veloso requested security assistance before tensions escalated.

Matibag stressed that NBI agents were not inside the Senate premises when the shooting occurred.

Aplasca, a former police general, earlier admitted firing the first shot, saying he discharged a warning shot after an NBI agent confirmed their presence in the GSIS wing. Remulla later ordered his suspension for six months (see related story on A1 – Editors).

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said police operational procedures prohibit warning shots except under limited circumstances.

“The PNP’s police operational procedure is clear in its provisions for PNP personnel. It states that as a general rule, warning shots are prohibited,” Tuaño said during a briefing at Camp Crame.

“There are only three incidents that are allowed or as an exemption from what we call warning shots. First, if the PNP member is outnumbered, second, if he is overpowered, third, if his life is in danger,” he added.

Tuaño said civilians who indiscriminately discharge firearms may face criminal charges under the Revised Penal Code, including indiscriminate firing and alarm and scandal.

He said PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. is awaiting the results of investigations being conducted by the

In peacetime, the Hormuz Strait accounts for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, along with other key commodities.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that naval forces had allowed a number of Chinese ships to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz since the previous night. AFP

“There is no point in continuing this conflict which should not have happened in the first place.”

Pasay City Police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the PNP Forensic Group.

“Right now, the PNP chief is watching the reconstruction done by the Forensic Group regarding for example the trajectories of the bullets, the spent shells and others,” Tuaño said.

“After the PNP chief watches it, we will ask for clearance from him on when we can give or share with the public the initial result of his analysis of the Forensic Group’s results,” he added.

Tuaño also said CCTV footage inside and outside the Senate premises had been turned over to the Anti-Cybercrime Group for preservation and analysis.

“It is currently being analyzed and monitored, and they will submit the results of their analysis to the investigation composite team,” he said.

Nartatez warns vs misinformation

Meanwhile, Nartatez warned the public against the spread of misinformation on social media related to the incident.

He directed the Anti-Cybercrime Group to coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology in conducting cyber patrols against content creators allegedly spreading false information and inciting fear or violence.

“This is not the time for misinformation and an opportunity to sow fear and incite violence. Rather, this is the

In a speech read by Lt. Gen. Arvin Lagamon, AFP civil military operations chief, during a forum organized by the Stratbase Institute in Makati City, Brawner said the Philippines is confronting “daily illegal, coercive, aggressive, deceptive, destructive, and bullying” actions in the WPS, along with malign influence and disinformation operations.

time for us to take a stand in fighting for what is right and just. On the part of the PNP, we will ensure accountability against those who would dare do that,” Nartatez said.

He urged the public to rely on information from legitimate news organizations and government agencies while authorities complete their investigation.

“We ask all our kababayan to refrain from engaging in speculations and remain calm instead as we commit to ferret out the truth about what happened. And also commit to making public the result of the investigation,” he said.

Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada also questioned the authority under which NBI agents were allegedly operating inside Senate premises.

“The President has made a categorical statement that he did not issue any order to effect the arrest of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. If that is truly the case, then the public deserves to know: under whose authority were agents of the National Bureau of Investigation operating within the Senate premises? Who gave the directive, and who must ultimately be held accountable?” Estrada said in a statement.

He said the Senate should not be treated as “a mere extension of any enforcement agency’s authority.”

“Law enforcement agencies are never above the law, and certainly not above the Constitution or the institutions they are duty-bound to respect,” Estrada said.

‘Political chaos bad for economy’

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.

(PHILEXPORT) has raised concerns over the potential economic and business fallout from recent tensions in the Senate, warning that prolonged political uncertainty could dampen investor confidence and slow economic momentum.

PHILEXPORT president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the country should remain firmly focused on recovery, investment promotion, and competitiveness amid global headwinds.

“Recent developments and tensions

within the Senate are creating renewed uncertainty in the political environment at a time when the country should be fully focused on economic recovery, investment promotion, and job generation,” Ortiz-Luis said.

The group noted that businesses value stability, predictability, and strong institutions, while prolonged political turmoil weakens market sentiment and diverts attention from urgent economic priorities.

PHILEXPORT said exporters continue to face external pressures, including geopolitical tensions, elevated logistics costs, and weaker global demand, making domestic stability even more critical.

“Our exporters are already dealing with global challenges such as high logistics costs, geopolitical tensions, and slowing demand in key markets. Domestic political noise only adds another layer of uncertainty that could

affect competitiveness and expansion plans,” Ortiz-Luis said.

PHILEXPORT called on government leaders to uphold democratic institutions and ensure that political developments do not disrupt economic activity and public confidence.

“At the end of the day, the country’s economic agenda must remain above politics. We hope our leaders will work toward restoring public confidence and maintaining a stable environment conducive to business, exports, and inclusive growth,” OrtizLuis said.

PHILEXPORT warned that Senate tensions might weigh on investor confidence, economic outlook

Malacañang assesses progress of major gov’t projects

KEY government agencies met in Malacañang on May 14 for the regular assessment of the execution of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to speed up implementation of administration projects.

Five key agencies handling big ticket programs tackled budget utilization issues to narrow the gap between disbursements and releases.

The agencies were the Department of Agriculture, Department of Transporta-

tion, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, and Department of Budget and Management. Government-wide release of allocations programmed for the second quarter have so far reached P1.287 trillion, “and it is a must that the social good that this will fund be enjoyed by the people soonest,” Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said. Recto said “there are spots of underspending and these must be resolved immediately.”

Israeli envoy irons out issues with Siargao business sector

THE Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, led by Ambassador Dana Kursh together with Consul Moti Cohen, recently conducted a virtual dialogue with more than 70 business owners and stakeholders in Siargao Island to discuss recent controversies involving some Israeli visitors on the resort-island.

The Zoom meeting was organized following the cancellation of a planned in-person gathering in General Luna, Siargao. The embassy explained that the physical meeting could not proceed due to coordination and protocol considerations after the structure of the event could not be maintained as originally planned. Despite the cancellation, Ambassador Kursh emphasized the importance of continuing open and constructive communication with the local community.

“We are here because we care about Siargao, its people, its future, and its reputation as a world-class tourism and surfing destination,” Ambassador Kursh said.

“Our intention in visiting Siargao was to listen, to learn, and to strengthen cooperation with the local government, communities, and the business sector,” Kush said. She expressed appreciation to General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga, Vice Mayor Dr. Romina Rusillon-Sajulga, and the entire local government unit for their hospitality, partnership, and openness throughout the Embassy delegation’s visit.

During the discussion, participants openly raised questions and concerns regarding tourism, community relations, and public behavior on the island. Kursh and Cohen addressed the issues raised and reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to responsible engagement and continued dialogue with local stakeholders. The embassy acknowledged ongoing public discussions, including conversations circulating on social media, regarding the behavior of some Israeli visitors in Siargao.

Department officials present said new procurement rules that expedite project acquisition should be maximized to cut delivery delays.

Recto said “there is a way that we can speed up the process without taking legal shortcuts. Red tape that causes paralysis without sacrificing transparency can be done away with.”

“The President’s order is to fast-track priority programs to push economic growth against global headwinds,” he said. In multiple Cabinet meetings, “President Marcos has urged his Cabinet to speed up the projects and programs that will have the highest multiplier effect, create jobs, battle inflation, with focus on food security,” Recto said. To address economic disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, which saw oil prices spike, the government packaged a multi-agency response called UPLIFT.

Kiko urges gov’t officials, civic groups to visit KIG

SENATOR Francis Pangilinan urges government officials, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and journalists to visit the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea.

“This would help boost national awareness and foster solidarity against the ongoing aggression and harassment from China in Philippine waters,” the senator said in a statement. Pangilinan made the call after his visit to Pagasa Island, where he addressed the challenges faced by its residents due to China’s territorial claims over the surrounding waters. He said his visit underscored the need for the government to support and modernize the country’s armed forces and coast guard. Joel E. Zurbano

SC ruling defines grave threat under Penal Code

THE Supreme Court (SC) on Friday announced a ruling that non-verbal threatening gestures with criminal intent may be considered grave threats under the Revised Penal Code (RPC). To convict for grave threats, the High Court said that the law requires two elements: the actual speaking or uttering of the threats and the intent to intimidate.

The High Tribunal held that Article 282 of the RPC does not differentiate between threats conveyed verbally and those expressed through non-verbal gestures. While the provision specifies that threats can be conveyed orally or in writing, it does not exclude threats conveyed through non-verbal means, the decision stated. Pot Chavez

Travel firm padlocked for illegal recruitment

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down a travel consulting firm based in Pasig City for alleged illegally recruitment of applicants for caregiver jobs in the United States and Canada in exchange for excessive fees of as much as ₱150,000. DMW undersecretary Bernard Olalia led the raiding team that padlocked the State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy on following reports that it used Facebook to recruit applicants using tourist visas for supposed overseas caregiver jobs.

According to Olalia, the victims were charged processing fees ranging from ₱90,000 to ₱150,000 in exchange for promised monthly salaries of $1,800 plus free food and housing in the US and Canada. Authorities said the firm held business permits from the Department of Trade, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the local government, but had no authorization from the DMW to recruit or deploy workers for overseas employment. Vito Barcelo

Speaker Dy cites House-DAR tie-up to push agrarian reform

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Faustino Dy III has reiter-

ated the partnership between the House of Representatives and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in continuing to support Filipino farmers.

Dy issued the policy statement during the DAR Region II 2026 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ (ARB) Summit held in Isabela, stressing the importance of sustained government coordination in improving agricultural productivity and strengthening the livelihoods of farmerbeneficiaries across the country.

In his message, the Speaker emphasized the important role of the House

as a partner of DAR in implementing programs that directly benefit agrarian reform beneficiaries.

“As your partner—the House of Representatives—you can count on us, Secretary, to continue coordinating and working together so we can further strengthen your programs aimed at helping and supporting our farmers across the country,” Dy said in Filipino.

Among the key activities during the summit was the distribution of

fight luncheon. Dy also gamely joined the trending “Hawak Mo Ang Beat” dance craze as a simple gesture of appreciation for the leadership of DAR, drawing cheers and excitement from attendees at the event. Dy was

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Water levels in key Luzon dams dip

RESCURE EXERCISE. Personnel from several government agencies, headed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, participate in a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) at Dolomite Beach on Friday, May 15, 2026. The large-scale simulation exercise is intended to improve the readiness and response capabilities of Search and Rescue (SAR) units, reinforce coordination among participating agencies, and evaluate communication systems during aviation and maritime emergency scenarios. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF

PH hails Portugal’s reopening of embassy

THE Philippines welcomed Portugal’s decision to reopen its embassy inManila, signaling growing bilateral cooperation as both countriesapproach the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

In an X post, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said he held aphone call with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.

“Had a productive exchange and welcomed his good news of the openingof a Portuguese Embassy in Manila in the very near future,” she said. She added their discussions also aimed to strengthen cooperation andpromote shared priorities during this milestone year.

Portugal’s Foreign Affairs confirmed that the government intends toreopen its embassy in Manila, describing the decision as well-receivedand a move to invigorate their relationship.

“A new step that demonstrates Portugal’s commitment to theIndo-Pacific,” the statement read. Katrina Manubay

PhilSA keeps ISO mark, ‘very satisfactory’ rating

THE Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has maintained its ISO 9001:2015 certification and again received a “Very Satisfactory” performance rating from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for Fiscal Year 2025.

PhilSA said it passed its first ISO 9001:2015 surveillance audit conducted by TÜV Rheinland, an international testing, inspection, and certification provider.

The audit confirmed that the agency’s Quality Management System remained compliant with international standards across key operational areas, including space science and technology applications, research and development, policy and planning, education and capacity building, public resource-sharing, and international cooperation.

PhilSA Ad Interim Director General Gay Jane Perez said the recognition reflected the agency’s efforts to strengthen institutional systems and improve public service delivery. By Rex Espiritu

QC hosts summer activities for youth

QUEZON City is hosting a range of free summer activities for youth and children through its “Bakasyong Sulit” program this month. These activities include the open swim, Amoranto training pool access, football training, and skateboarding clinic.

The program seeks to reduce screen

‘Release govt subsidies for private schools’

By Maricel V. Cruz

TINGOG Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre on Friday called for the immediate release of pending government subsidies and voucher assistance for private schools for School Year 2025–2026, warning that delays are worsening financial pressures on educational institutions.

Acidre, chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, backed an earlier appeal of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education for the expedited release

of government assistance intended for private schools.

“This is an education emergency for many private schools, especially small, mission-driven, and financially vulnerable institutions serving low-income families and underserved communities,” Acidre said. He said subsidies and voucher assistance are critical to the continued operations of many private schools, particularly those relying heavily on state support for salaries, classroom operations, and preparations for the next academic year.

“For these schools, subsidy support is not supplemental. It helps keep

classrooms open, supports teachers and non-teaching personnel, and allows schools to continue delivering education despite mounting financial pressures,” he said.

Acidre said the situation has become more urgent because of rising operational expenses driven by higher fuel and energy costs, which have affected transportation, utilities, maintenance, school supplies, and other daily expenditures.

“Many private schools are doing everything they can to keep education accessible and affordable, especially for families who rely on government assistance so their children can remain in school,” he said.

By Rio N. Araja

AMID a looming El Niño expected to develop between June and August, the state weather bureau said water elevation in nine major dams has already declined, with some now below “normal level.”

Based on Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration data, most dams in Luzon recorded lower water elevations on Thursday (May 14) against Wednesday’s levels.

The water level in Angat Dam, Bulacan dipped from 179.12 meters to 178.85 meters, significantly below its normal high water level of 210 meters.

Angat Dam supplies 97 percent of the water source of Metro Manila, and irrigation water for 28,000 hectares of land in Bulacan and Pampanga.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, May 15, its water level was already below its operating level of 180 meters due to scorching heat and the absence of rain.

Ipo Dam and La Mesa Dam, both essential to Metro Manila’s water delivery system, also recorded slight decreases.

Bulacan’s Ipo Dam’s elevation dropped to 100.06 meters from 100.08 meters. On the other hand, La Mesa Dam in Quezon City decreased to 79.87 meters from 79.89 meters.

Ambuklao Dam in Benguet fell to 740.17. meters from 740.46 meters against its normal operating level of 752 meters. Binga Dam, also in Benguet, dipped to 567.03 meters from 567.43 meters, way below the normal operating of 575 meters.

The water level of San Roque Dam in Pangasinan likewise declined to 228.81 meters from 228.89 meters against the normal operating level of 280 meters.

Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija’s level dipped from 189.33 meters to 189.55 meters, while its normal water elevation is 216 meters. Magat Dam in Isabela slightly increased from 181.55 meters to 181.69 meters against its normal level of 193 meters.

Laguna’s Caliraya Dam’s level dipped from 286.15 meters to 285.70 meters.

Pagasa said there is a 70 to 79 percent chance of an El Niño phenomenon emerging between June to August, and that it may persist until early 2027.

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, through the Social Housing Finance Corp., continues to widen access to secure homeownership through the pro-poor Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP).

Recently, cash assistance under ECMP was extended to accredited informal settler families-communities in Regions 2 and 9 and the Negros Island Region (NIR).

In Bacolod City, the first ECMP implementation in the NIR marked a milestone with the awarding of land acquisition assistance to LK Yuman Phase 1 and 2 Homeowners Associations in Barangay Cabug. A total of 209 families gained security of tenure and soon ownership of the land they occupied for years.

In Region 2, families in Cagayan and Isabela provinces also moved closer to secure homeownership through the Expanded 4PH.

In Solana, 77 member-beneficiaries of CMP Homeowners Association Inc. received support covering over 11,000 square meters of land.

In Cordon, Isabela, 134 households under Amianan CMP Homeowners Association Inc. benefited from land acquisition assistance spanning over 29,000 square meters.

In Region 9, the long-awaited relief came to an end for the 115 members of Maria Navarro Homeowners Association Inc. in Barangay Recodo, Zamboanga City, who were formally awarded documents securing land tenure after years of uncertainty.

Through the ECMP, the national government empowers organized communities to legally own the land where their homes stand – providing not only shelter, but dignity, stability and a stronger foundation for Filipino families.

Group urges streamlining of electronics permit

OPINION

Scorched, submerged, but surviving

RISING heat, driven this year by climate change, is significantly challenging the Philippines, creating a major public health, economic, and educational crisis.

Studies indicate human-caused climate change has doubled the likelihood of extreme temperature across continents, which include the Philippines.

But we are glad the Philippine government is on its toes by addressing rising heat and intense heat indices – projected to reach 42°C–51°C in 2026 – through a mix of longterm climate strategies, immediate public health warnings, and localized disaster management, particularly with the 2026 El Niño Alert.

Spearheaded by the Climate Change Commission, this plan, covering the period 2023 to 2050, focuses on strengthening infrastructure, improving agriculture resilience, and managing urban heat risks, with a focus on localizing climate action in cities like Quezon City.

With a 79 percent chance of El Niño developing between June and August 2026, the government has raised an El Niño Alert, prompting local government units to prepare for droughts, water shortages, and health crises.

Rising heat is a critical challenge in the Philippines because it acts as a “threat multiplier,” straining public health, agriculture, energy, and education, with 2024 being the warmest year on record.

The extreme heat—often reaching dangerous heat indices above 42°C—causes widespread class suspensions, illnesses, and reduced labor productivity, particularly threatening vulnerable communities.

The major reasons rising heat challenges the Philippines:

• Public Health Crisis: Extreme heat causes heatstroke, dehydration, and exhaustion, straining health systems and affecting millions of students and workers.

• Agricultural and Food Security: High temperatures and severe droughts diminish crop yields (especially rice) and cause massive, frequent grass fires.

• Economic Impact and Productivity: High heat reduces labor capacity in outdoor sectors and disrupts economic growth. It is estimated to lead to a 1 percent loss in working hours by 2025 and 2 percent by 2050.

• Energy Insecurity: As temperatures rise, demand for cooling increases, leading to power shortages, strained grids, and higher costs, especially given the country’s reliance on imported fuels.

• Compound Environmental Threats: Rising temperatures interact with climate change to worsen typhoons and sea level rise, which is already impacting coastal communities.

The projected outlook is by 2050, as many as 74 million Filipinos could face dangerous

heat, making heat management a major development challenge.

Climatologists say rising temperatures and intensified heatwaves are placing significant strain on the domestic economy, with key sectors like agriculture, construction, energy, and healthcare facing direct, escalating damage.

Extreme heat, combined with drought and water scarcity, directly damages crops and reduces yields while heat stress lowers livestock productivity, causing slower growth and lower milk production.

The country continues to endure severe heat stress, with 15 areas under ‘danger’ level heat index

Officials say extreme heat can trigger massive losses in farming communities and cause, for instance, a 25-percent decline in certain grain harvests during extreme events and accounts for the majority of global working hours lost to heat stress.

In construction and mining, labor-intensive, outdoor work becomes unsafe, leading to slower work speeds, fatigue, and necessary work stoppages, and construction, along with manufacturing, contributes to over 60 percent of heat-derived economic losses.

Rising heat dramatically increases demand for air conditioning, straining power grids, while simultaneously reducing the capacity of power plants to generate electricity (thermal efficiency) and decreasing transmission line efficiency.

Increased heat causes a surge in heatrelated illnesses, like cardiovascular issues, dehydration, , overwhelming emergency services and hospitals.

The International Labor Organization has projected that heat stress will result in a 2.2 percent loss of total global working hours by 2030.

Add to this the inflationary pressure, where hotter temperatures are linked to long-lasting price increases, particularly in food and agricultural products.

By early April 2026, the Climate Change Commission and the state weather bureau have warned of “danger” category heat levels, which can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and high risks of heat stroke.

The country continues to endure severe heat stress, with 15 areas under “danger” level heat index (42°C–51°C) reported in early May 2026.

Criticality and practicality

IN LATE April and early May there was talk on a draft memorandum by the Commission on Higher Education that proposed to cut in half the number of required general education curriculum units to 18 from the current 36. This is for undergraduate education beginning the first semester of the next school year (20262027) Aside from the cut in GE subjects, the draft also set the maximum requirement of 36 units of GE for autonomous universities, even as the Higher Education Act of 1994 says CHED could only set minimum requirements. The reframed curriculum removes subjects such as Filipino and Panitikan, and merges, for instance, readings in Philippine History with The Life, Works, and Writings of Rizal. But there is a law that says all undergraduate courses must include subjects devoted to Rizal. Ethics would be removed and taught instead across various disciplines. Some standalone GE courses such as ethics, meanwhile, have been likewise proposed to be taught across different subjects.

The proposal, called the Reframed General Education Curriculum, supposedly came from a desire to be more responsive to industry needs.

The idea met strong opposition among academic groups. In response, CHED organized a dialogue among stakeholder groups on May 5, streamed on its Facebook page; it attracted 1,400 Zoom participants and 4,700 FB viewers. During the consultation, CHED repeated that the reframing intended to address the current demands o the job market. It wants to encourage schools to produce employment-ready graduates. Two days later, the commission issued a statement saying that the reframed curriculum is not yet final and that it remains subject to consultation with higher education institutions, professors, students, professional organizations, and other stakeholders.

Even after the meeting, many academic institutions submitted their own opposition in writing, identifying parts of the proposal that would be specifically detrimental to their respective fields. There were at least 15 position papers and 22 official statements on the proposal.

***

This week, the CHED spoke anew: the reduction of GE units is being deferred to 2028 following opposition from the academic groups.

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the decision was reached following an interagency meeting with the CHED, Department of Education (DepEd), Teacher Education Council (TEC), and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

Why are we only deferring the adoption of the flawed proposal?

“There will be no GE implementation across all programs this [coming] school year,” she said. “This is to give us time, especially the technical panel and the Department of Education, to analyze and study well the different manifestations because we understand where they are coming from and even in the teacher education,” she said.

But why is there just a pause, as though it were just a step to quiet things down and momentarily placate those opposed to the idea?

Even the argument that the changes are due to overlaps with courses already taught under the K to 12 program does not fly. The sorry state of our basic education system, as we observe anecdotally and read about in the EDCOM reports, makes a clear case for the

Expanding defense cooperation

RECENT statements from the Philippine defense establishment regarding the future direction of the Balikatan exercises indicate a major shift in policy from a traditionally reactive and internally focused military posture toward a more outward-looking deterrence strategy closely aligned with the United States and other regional allies.

At the center of this development is the recognition that the security environment around the Philippines has fundamentally changed.

China’s increasingly aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea, including harassment of Philippine vessels and militarization of disputed areas, have pushed Manila to accelerate defense modernization and deepen security cooperation with allies.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s statement that future Balikatan drills may extend beyond the West Philippine Sea and involve broader multinational participation suggest that the Philippines is preparing for a wider spectrum of contingencies—not merely maritime disputes, but also regional conflict scenarios involving Taiwan, the Luzon Strait, and the eastern seaboard facing the Pacific.

The phrase “increase the scope, but not necessarily the scale” is particularly significant.

It indicates that the Philippine military is not merely seeking larger exercises for symbolic purposes; instead, it is aiming for more sophisticated and diversified operational training.

This means greater emphasis on interoperability, missile defense, logistics, cyber capabilities, drone warfare, and joint command systems.

China’s increasingly aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea... have pushed Manila to accelerate defense modernization and deepen security cooperation with allies

The inclusion this year of live-fire exercises involving the United States’ Typhon missile system and Japan’s Type 88 surface-to-ship missile represents a historic turning point. These systems are associated with

By Dr. Chung-Liang Shih

AS THE world confronts the challenges of population aging and healthcare workforce shortages, digital transformation in healthcare is no longer optional but essential.

Taiwan has introduced the “Healthy Taiwan” vision, placing “driving digital healthcare” at its core.

By integrating big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technologies, the system aims to improve healthcare quality and efficiency while moving toward a new healthcare model centered on holistic, person-centered care.

Taiwan benefits from both a robust ICT industry and the foundation of its National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which has accumulated high-quality healthcare data over time and laid a critical foundation for smart healthcare development.

Building on this, we have introduced a national digital health platform known as the “3-3-3 Framework,” integrating three major health spaces, three key health data standards, and three National AI governance centers to establish a comprehensive digital health infrastructure. Under this framework, we are promoting the integration of electronic medical records across more than 400 hospitals nationwide and adopting international standards such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to ensure cross-institutional interoperability.

Within a Zero Trust cybersecurity framework, healthcare data can be securely shared and effectively utilized.

With these policies in place, tangible results are already beginning to emerge.

In chronic disease management, the “Family Physician Platform” incorporates AI-based risk prediction to support physicians in delivering personalized care, facilitating a shift from reactive treatment to proactive health management.

In terms of healthcare data integration, the MediCloud system provides real-time access

need to do better.

***

Then again, we cannot debate on the CHED proposal without first revisiting the fundamental reason why we send our children to school in the first place. Of course, we want them to eventually land jobs with decent wages and enable them to have a comfortable life.

But is it all there is to learning?

General education is, well, general. These courses cover a wide range of topics that focus on how students think and learn, as much as on what they learn. They are general because the skills that students learn are not limited to one

anti-access and area-denial strategies designed to deter hostile naval forces. Their deployment in Philippine territory sends a strategic message that the country is becoming an increasingly important node in the allied defense network in Asia.

Equally notable is the growing participation of countries beyond the traditional Philippines-United States alliance framework. Japan’s role reflects Tokyo’s expanding security engagement in Southeast Asia, driven partly by concerns over China’s maritime expansion. Australia and other like-minded states may also increase participation in future exercises. This emerging coalition structure resembles a loose regional security architecture aimed at preserving freedom of navigation and deterring unilateral changes to the status quo.

Expanding Balikatan activities, however, carries risks and challenges. This could further heighten tensions with China, which already views the enhanced defense cooperation between Manila and Washington as part of a containment strategy. Beijing may respond through increased maritime pressure, economic coercion, or diplomatic protests.

The Philippines therefore faces the delicate task of strengthening deterrence while avoiding direct escalation. In the end, the evolving Balikatan exercises reflect a strategic transformation in Philippine defense thinking. Manila is no longer relying primarily on diplomacy and legal victories alone to protect its territorial interests. Instead, it is seeking credible military capabilities and stronger alliances to reinforce national sovereignty.

Digital-driven healthcare transformation: A new chapter of holistic care in Taiwan

to patient records and medication information, while enhanced visualization of examination results and AI-assisted medical imaging interpretation further improve healthcare quality and patient safety.

We are promoting the integration of electronic medical records across more than 400 hospitals nationwide

Personal health management has also been strengthened. The “My Health Bank” platform has surpassed a 50 percent adoption rate and can be integrated with data from wearable devices, encouraging individuals to take a more active role in managing their health. In digitalization of cancer treatment, Taiwan utilizes the FHIR standard to exchange Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data, accelerating the review process for catastrophic illness certification and related medical use, thereby improving access to timely treatment.

In addition, the promotion of virtual health insurance cards, e-prescriptions, and telemedicine services is effectively overcoming temporal and geographical barriers, expanding access to rural and home-based care.

Taiwan has established a comprehensive governance framework to advance the development of clinical AI. Nineteen national medical AI centers have been established, covering responsible governance, clinical validation, and impact evaluation, ensuring that AI is safe and reliable across the entire process from development to application.

To date, more than 50 AI medical products

field of study. Language enables them to communicate well in speaking or in writing. Literature stimulates their imagination and enables them to connect concepts that are both in the mind and reflected in reality. Ethics compels them to be upstanding individuals. General education encourages them to think critically, and think for themselves. It conditions them to focus on their ability to adapt to new things and new technology.

Wouldn’t employers would be delighted to better thinkers in their payroll?

An informed society makes better democratic and economic decisions. Citizens able to

have received regulatory approval, supporting early cancer detection, prediction of cardiac events, and clinical decision making support.

Taiwan also has 13 hospitals ranked among Newsweek’s “World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026,” placing second in Asia and demonstrating strong international competitiveness.

In addition, Taiwan is advancing federated learning platforms that enable cross-institutional and cross-border AI model validation without transferring sensitive data, and has begun collaborating with partners in Southeast Asia to establish trusted international datasharing models.

Diseases know no borders, and global health governance requires comprehensive collaboration.

Taiwan has established a smart healthcare ecosystem driven by data, enabled by AI, and supported by interoperable standards, extending medical services from hospitals into communities and daily life and realizing holistic care.

Taiwan’s practical experience demonstrates that we are capable of contributing to the international community.

However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from full participation in the World Health Organization and its related mechanisms. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1 neither mention Taiwan nor exclude Taiwan from participating in WHO and the WHA. We sincerely urge WHO and relevant stakeholders to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the global health system, thereby strengthening its completeness and resilience.

Taiwan will continue to advance smart healthcare through digital innovation and contribute to global health and well-being. Together, we can realize the vision of health as a fundamental human right as set forth in the WHO Constitution, as

think critically do not vote for a candidate on the strength of one’s last name, or because of a larger-than-life personality. They do not support their idol all the way even if that idol has committed atrocities or plunder the nation or mar the reputation of institutions or break the law. The unfortunate propensity of many of our people to believe and spread disinformation, and to blindly idolize personalities, and to resort to inhumane insults – all these highlight that we need better, more basic ways of learning and thinking.

So why does CHED want to do the opposite, whether this school year or the next?

Trump’s refurbishment project in Washington sparks nat’l row

WASHINGTON, DC—The project has Donald Trump obsessed. Critics cry corruption and bad taste.

Supporters praise the president for cleaning up America.

The ongoing project to refurbish the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in front of the Washington Monument has transformed a symbol of national unity into yet another focus for discord in Trump’s America.

Trump has ordered the long basin, designed to capture reflections of the towering Washington obelisk on the Mall, to be drained and painted in what he calls “American flag blue.”

Currently the job is only half done, turning the popular tourist attraction into a fenced-off work site.

The 79-year-old Republican president is taking extraordinary

interest in the project -- almost as much as in the enormous ballroom he has ordered built on the site of the White House East Wing, which he abruptly tore down after taking power last year.

For opponents, the pool mirrors much of what is wrong in the administration.

They point to the rising cost and reported links between Trump and the contractor. And they question the use of blue paint at an iconic landmark, perhaps most famous as the setting for civil rights leader Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I have a dream” speech. Coming on top of the ballroom, Trump putting his name on the side of the Kennedy arts center, and plans for building a giant triumphal arch, it has critics fuming. AFP

Russia pummels Kyiv, killing 21 and denting peace hopes

KYIV—Ukrainian emergency services said early Friday that a massive Russian missile and drone attack that pummelled Kyiv the previous day killed at least 21 people, further shredding hopes of a halt to Moscow’s grinding invasion.

AFP journalists in the capital heard air raid sirens wailing across the city on Thursday before several hours of thunderous explosions and flashes in the sky sent Kyiv residents running to shelter in metro stations.

said 20 sites in the capital were damaged, including homes, a school, a veterinary clinic and other civilian infrastructure.

rubble of a single destroyed residential building -- three men, three women and a young girl, police said.

IN BRIEF

“Everything was burning. People were screaming... people were shouting,”

Andriy, a Kyiv resident still wearing a nightgown and with blood stains on his shirt, told AFP near a collapsed Soviet-era residential building.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 675 attack drones and 56 missiles, mainly at Kyiv, adding its air defence units had downed 652 of the drones and 41 missiles.

Toll from India’s Uttar Pradesh storms: 111

NEW DELHI—Powerful storms that swept across India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state this week killed at least 111 people, government officials said, raising an earlier death toll as more districts reported casualties.

Gales, lightning and torrential rain battered the state on Wednesday, ripping tin roofs from buildings and uprooting trees that blocked roads, footage broadcast on television showed.

Uttar Pradesh, home to more than 240 million people, is frequently hit by storms during the summer months ahead of the monsoon rains, with lightning strikes a regular cause of death.

The Relief Commissioner’s office, the state aid agency, had initially said that on May 13, 89 people had been killed and 72 injured, with more than 200 homes damaged.

It later updated the toll to 111 dead as more reports came in, according to published remarks in The Hindu newspaper on Friday.

“Reports of 111 deaths were received,” the statement read, adding that 72 people were injured.

The Times of India reported the toll at 117, but AFP was not able to immediately confirm the figure.

One video, widely shared by Indian media, appeared to show a man hurled high into the air in the state’s Bareilly district, as a building roof was torn off.

AFP was unable to immediately verify the video, but the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency spoke to a survivor in hospital who said he was the man seen in the video.

Nanhe Ansari, a labourer, said he was trying to secure a tin roof with a rope when an intense gust lifted the sheet metal, and he clung on.

“The tin sheet started shaking due to strong winds, so I asked them to bring a rope to tie it down,” he told PTI from his hospital bed.

“While some of us were holding it and one person was tying it, a very strong gust of wind came. My grip did not loosen, and I was lifted nearly 50 feet (15 metres) into the air along with the tin sheet and thrown about 80 feet away,” he added. AFP

“Work is still ongoing in Kyiv at the site of the strike on the building –a Russian missile strike that literally levelled a residential block, from the first to the ninth floor,” he said in an evening address.

Twenty-one people including three children were killed in the attacks, Ukraine’s emergency service said early Friday, updating a previously announced death toll of 16.

Seven bodies were pulled from the

Another 45 were wounded. Russian attacks also wounded people in the southern regions of Odesa and Kherson, and in the eastern region of Kharkiv.

“These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end. It is important that partners do not remain silent about this strike,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine said it shot down 94 percent of all drones and 73 percent of the missiles fired by Russia. AFP

HAVANA—The head of the CIA visited Cuba on Thursday (Friday, Manila time), an extraordinary stepup in contact between Washington and Havana as the communist-run island reels from US pressure, declaring that it is out of oil.

The Central Intelligence Agency, at the heart of the decades-long struggle between the United States and Cuba, confirmed a Cuban government statement about Director John Ratcliffe’s visit.

Photos posted by the agency on X showed Ratcliffe alongside several people with blurred-out faces meeting

the intelligence of the Cuban Interior ministry, and other Cuban officials.

The visit comes during a deepening crisis in US-Cuba relations, with the island enduring constant power outages prompted by President Donald Trump’s fuel blockade.

Only one tanker from Russia—a historic ally of the Cuban authorities —has got through.

And that oil has now “run out,” Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy told state television. “The impact of the blockade is indeed causing us significant harm...because we are still receiving fuel.”

‘TURN ON THE LIGHTS.’

People walk on a street during a blackout in Havana on May 13, 2026. Cuba blamed the United States for the “particularly tense” situation in its power grid on May 13, 2026, which has been plagued by prolonged blackouts, while Washington once again offered $100 million in aid to the island. AFP

research, and public service. We will carefully review the Department of Justice’s letter.” AFP

6 hantavirus passengers to start quarantine SYDNEY—Six passengers caught up in the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak will land Friday in Australia to start one of the strictest quarantines “anywhere in the world”, Health Minister Mark Butler said. The six travellers -- four Australians, a Briton living in Australia, and a New Zealander -- tested negative before boarding the charter flight and would be “tested immediately”

repeatedly signalled that he wants to topple the communist government in Cuba.

According to a report on CBS News, citing unidentified US officials, the Trump administration is also seeking to indict Raul Castro, the 94-year-old brother of the late Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro.

But Cuba framed the Ratcliffe visit as a chance to calm tensions.

Trump has

The meeting with Ratcliffe took place “in a context marked by the complexity of bilateral relations, with the aim of contributing to the political dialogue between both nations,” a government statement read. AFP

ADDIS ABABA—A deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, African health authorities said Friday.

Some 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported and “four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases,” the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) said in a statement on social media.

“Ebola Virus Disease outbreak confirmed in Ituri Province,” the panAfrican health agency said.

“Africa CDC is closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent

high-level coordination meeting today with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce crossborder surveillance, preparedness and outbreak response efforts,” it said. First identified in 1976 and thought to have crossed over from bats, Ebola is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, causing severe bleeding and organ failure.

The highly contagious hemorrhagic fever has killed some 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years.

The deadliest Ebola outbreak in the DRC, between 2018 and 2020, killed nearly 2,300 people. AFP

NEWTOWN SQUARE— Through three consecutive PGA Tour runner-up fi nishes, Scottie Scheffl er could only wonder what might have been without poor starts. Now he’s hoping to fi nd out.

Defending champion Scheffler grinded to a three-under par 67 on Thursday to grab a share of the firstround lead at the PGA Championship alongside six rivals at challenging Aronimink.

“Definitely the best start I’ve gotten off to this year,” said Scheffler, who allowed his opening 63 in an American Express victory in January might have been up there too.

“I felt like, especially going into the weekend when you look at like the Masters and Hilton Head and Cadillac, finishing second was probably not all that bad from where I was starting the weekend.

“Definitely nice to get off to a better start this week.”

Scheffler fired his worst rounds at the recent tournaments at Hilton Head and Doral on the first day and started 70-74 at the Masters before a bogey-free weekend left him one stroke behind winner Rory McIlroy.

Scheffler is set for an 8:40 a.m. (1240 GMT) start on Friday after going off late Thursday while most of those who share the lead have afternoon starts on day two.

“It’s a really tight leaderboard,” Scheffler said. “At this moment it’s anybody’s tournament.”

World number one Scheffler only missed one of 14 fairways on Thurs-

Rufino grabs spotlight in San Pablo jr netfest

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Lilith

Scheffler fires 3-under 67 to seize share of PGA lead

day in taking an 18-hole major lead for the first time.

“There are a lot of run-ups on the greens and they put the pins on some of the high points,” Scheffler said.

“So your scores are definitely going to be lower if you hit the ball on the fairway, but it’s still really difficult to make birdies.

“You hit some really nice iron shots in there to 10 or 15 feet, and you’ve got putts with a ton of break on them. This golf course, especially

on the greens, is quite challenging.”

Scheffler stood and laughed after missing a four-foot putt at 14 that led to a three-putt bogey.

“There’s a ton of slope on the greens. That putt in particular on 14, it was like the pin was on the very highest point of the green,” Scheffler said.

“I played it what I thought was right center, and it broke pretty severely to the right. There’s just not much you can do there other than laugh. That’s

part of the game.

“Sometimes you get good and bad breaks. I holed a couple of long putts today and any time you’re able to do something like that, you’ve got to take the good with the bad.”

Philadelphia-area fans of the NFL Eagles taunted Dallas Cowboys fan Scheffler at times.

“I got chirped more than I expected for being a Cowboys fan, but it was all in good fun,” Scheffler said. “I got quite a kick out of it.” AFP

Valdez, Dy, Santos get PVL Press Corps recognition

PLENTY of storylines unfolded across the recent Premier Volleyball League season.

From breakout campaigns and clutch veteran performances to longawaited comebacks, Erika Santos, Alyssa Valdez, and Kianna Dy stood right at the center.

The trio will be honored at the 2nd Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night on May 30 at the Novotel Manila Araneta City for their memorable campaigns and impact throughout the past season.

A household name and face of Philippine volleyball for over a decade, Valdez continued to prove her value in one of Creamline’s most challenging seasons. Valdez, behind her heroics for the Cool Smashers in times of trouble, will be feted as Miss Quality Minutes at the formal awards rites supported by Rebisco. With several Creamline stars battling injuries late in the All-Filipino Conference, the veteran spiker stepped up and delivered key performances that helped stabilize the Cool Smashers en route to their 11th PVL championship

The 31-year-old Valdez received an average of 10.2 media votes and 2.8 team votes to secure the recognition in the annual awards night, also backed by Immuni+.

She bested other top nominees Chennie Tagaod of Akari and Royse

January 2025 after being sidelined for 559 days and eventually rediscovered her rhythm in time to help the High Speed Hitters win both the 2025 PVL On Tour and Invitational Conference titles.

Dy delivered some of the team’s biggest moments during that stretch, including scoring championship-winning points through kill blocks in both title-clinching matches. She then carried that momentum into the All-Filipino Conference, helping steer PLDT High Speed Hitters to a bronze medal finish -- the franchise’s best result in the all-local tournament to date.

The 30-year-old opposite hitter topped the voting with 10.2 media votes and 4.8 team votes, edging out fellow finalists Ces Molina of Farm Fresh, Jema Galanza of Creamline, and Kat Tolentino of Choco Mucho.

Meanwhile, Santos emerged as one of the biggest breakout stars of the season.

The Cignal winger will be recognized as this year’s Most Improved Player award. Following her move from PLDT, Santos transformed into the Super Spikers’ primary scoring option and embraced the responsibility of being one of the team’s go-to hitters.

Her explosive season was highlighted by a maiden MVP award in the 2025 PVL On Tour and a Finals appearance in the 2026 All-Filipino Conference — the Super Spikers’ first championship berth in two years.

PalawanPay, RUNRIO, UP Athletics advocate for wellness and community growth

THE Palawan Group of Companies has officially announced the launch of the PalawanPay Trilogy Marathon 2026, a three-leg race series aimed at promoting health, wellness, and community engagement at a larger scale. The initiative is launched in partnership with RUNRIO and the UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development (UP OASD), bringing together key institutions that share a vision of encouraging active lifestyles and creating meaningful social impact. Proceeds of the PalawanPay Marathon Trilogy will be used to purchase fully-equipped ambulances in Aklan and South Cotobato. The marathon series will be staged across three major locations in the country, namely Manila, Cebu, and Palawan, with each leg serving as a platform to engage communities and promote inclusivity through sport. The Manila leg is set to take place on August 9, 2026 at UP Diliman and will feature 1KM, 3KM, 5KM, 10KM, and 16KM race categories designed for beginners, casual runners, and experienced participants.

This will be followed by the Cebu leg on September 27, 2026 in Mandaue City, which will include additional distances such as the 21 km half-marathon to further challenge participants. The trilogy will culminate in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, on October 18, 2026, where the complete set of race categories, including the 42KM full marathon, will be offered as the series’ highlight.

Lillian Castro-Selda, Palawan Group Chief Financial Officer, highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared values in bringing the initiative to life: “At Palawan Group, we believe that forging meaningful partnerships is essential in helping us reach more people and create a

Rufino further strengthened her reputation as one of the country’s most promising young tennis talents after capturing two singles titles, while Miguel Lagac III sustained his impressive form in the Mayor Najie Gapangada Juniors AgeGroup Tennis Championships at the 7 Lakes courts in San Pablo City, Laguna last weekend.

The Makati City standout showcased both resilience and poise in the girls’ division of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop. Rufino survived a tough semifinal test against Gabrielle Palacio, rallying from a set down to prevail, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, before displaying composure in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Carolina Fandino to rule the 14-and-under category. Already drawing attention as a future contender on the national junior circuit, Rufino completed a remarkable double-title campaign after Natasha Gabriel retired while trailing, 6-2, 1-1, in the girls’ 16-and-U finals. The two-title romp earned Rufino a share of the tournament MVP honors. Lagac, meanwhile, continued the dominant form that carried him to victories in the recent Bagong Pilipinas Juniors tournament. Representing Quezon City, the hard-hitting youngster controlled Nicholas Andal, 6-2, 6-3, to secure the boys’ 16-and-U title before overpowering Karl Almiron, 6-3, 6-0, to reign in the premier 18-and-U division. Also emerging victorious in the five-day tournament – part of the nationwide talent-search program initiated by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro – were Los Baños native Djokovic Garcia, Makati’s Harrow Liam, San Pablo’s Frances Ilagan and Parañaque’s Eilythia Comia. Garcia pulled off the tournament’s biggest upset after stunning top seed Jan Caleb Villeno, 7-5, 6-3, to capture the boys’ 14-and-U crown. Liam outlasted Zachary Zoleta, 7-5, 6-4, in a tightly contested boys’ 12-and-U final, while Ilagan delivered the hosts’ lone singles title with a 7-5, 6-1 triumph over Ava Banson in the girls’ 18-andU championship.

Duplantis kicks o Diamond League season

PARIS—Serial world record setter Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis will be on hand to kick off this season’s Diamond League series when he takes to the pole vault runway at the Shanghai/Keqiao meet this weekend.

The US-born Swede will be joined by Kenya’s middle-distance queen Faith Kipyegon, Norway’s hurdles king Karsten Warholm, Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and Nigerian 100m hurdler Tobi Amusan in what promises to be a high-octane start to the 15-meet series.

This year’s Diamond League crosses four continents and 15 cities en route to the two-day series final in Brussels on September 4-5. With no Olympic Games or world championships in 2026, the Diamond League, which has a total prize-money pool of $9.24 million, will also act as a perfect run-up to World Athletics inaugural season-ending Ultimate Championships in Budapest on September 11-13.

“With competitors from around 100 countries and an ever growing fanbase on all seven continents, the Wanda Diamond League is a truly global series which delivers reliable, championshiplevel track and field competitions to athletes and fans across the world,” said Diamond League CEO Petr Stastny.

“In the coming years, the series will remain on the cutting edge of innovation in athlete services and fan engagement, while continuing to provide a crucial foundation for the sustainable growth of the sport as a whole.” The Diamond League will also not have to contend this year with Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam track series. That ill-fated bid to reinvigorate interest in athletics outside Olympic years was curtailed in its inaugural 2025 season, with Grand Slam filing for bankruptcy in December, with millions owed to athletes. AFP

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

PH sanda warriors bag silver, 4 bronzes in world meet

By Randy M. Caluag

XANDER Alipio, bagged a silver medal, bowing to Peru’s Jesus Herreras Montalvo in the men’s 65kg division in the 11th IWUF Sanda World Cup in Macau, China.

Alipio secured a bronze in the 60kg class at last year’s World Championships.

Four other Filipino bets bagged a bronze medal each after losing to their semifinal foes.

It was a tough opening round for the rest of the national squad, starting with Jenifer Kilapio.

The lone female fighter on the Philippine roster fell, 2-0, to reigning Wushu Asia Cup champion Aparna Dahiya of India in the women’s 48kg division.

In the men’s 52kg division, World Championships bronze medalist Russel Diaz suffered a similar 2-0 defeat against China’s Ou Jiaming.

Defending men’s 56kg champion Carlos Baylon Jr. also saw his title retention bid cut short.

Baylon dropped a 2-0 decision to a familiar foe, the taller Arsen Umalatov.

The bout was a rematch of last year’s Wushu World Championships final in Brazil, where Umalatov also bested the Filipino fighter.

Rounding out the semifinal losses, 2025 World Championships bronze medalist Gideon Fred Padua bowed out to reigning champion Zunlong Wang of China in the men’s 60kg division.

Doctor suggests Maradona’s death was avoidable

SAN ISIDRO, Argentina—A doctor close to Diego Maradona testified Thursday that a simple diuretic could have helped the football legend’s health improve “within 48 hours,” at the trial over his death.

“In about 48 hours, his condition would have clearly improved,” Dr. Mario Schiter, who treated Maradona in the early 2000s and attended his autopsy in 2020, said when asked what could have prevented the demise of the footballer in his final days.

“Every day I see patients like this in intensive care, who come in with congestive heart failure. We give them diuretics to reduce their volume and, after 12 hours, they’re already back home,” the intensive care specialist added.

Seven healthcare professionals are on trial in San Isidro for potential negligence in Maradona’s death, and face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The trial is expected to run through July.

Schiter’s testimony follows several experts who have reported Maradona -who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 -- had excess fluid in several organs when he died.

“He had water everywhere,” Carlos Casinelli said last Thursday, as another doctor who participated in the autopsy. He said these liters of fluid could not have accumulated “in less than a week or ten days,” suggesting his medical team should have noticed the swelling.

In 2020, Schiter had advised against home hospitalization after Maradona underwent surgery, but that year the champion footballer opted to convalesce in a rented house north of Buenos Aires, where he died of pulmonary edema and cardiorespiratory arrest at the age of 60. AFP

PSC chief hopes to discover future PH riders from ‘Tour’

BAGUIO CITY—The Tour of Luzon is not just a race to determine stage winners and an overall champion. For Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio, it is where the Philippines begins to find the cyclists who could one day wear the national colors.

The sports chief said the 14-stage, 1,800-kilometer journey from Calatagan, Batangas to Baguio City has evolved into a crucial scouting ground for Filipino talent capable of enduring elite-level competition.

“Asking around, you begin to hear names of promising riders,” Gregorio said. “This is where you see who can survive this kind of race, who has the engine, the heart, and the discipline that we can develop further for the national team.”

Addressing the crowd at the close of the race, Gregorio captured the magnitude of the event in both scale and meaning.

“What a race. Fourteen stages. One thousand eight hundred kilo-

meters. Five regions and thirteen provinces,” he said. “The Tour of Luzon remains the toughest, most spectacular race in the country — our heritage in motion.”

Gregorio also framed cycling as a reflection of the Filipino spirit, drawing from the story of a beloved cycling figure he paid tribute to during the ceremonies.

“In the last two weeks, I realized why Filipinos love cycling so much,” he said. “Because cycling is the story of every Filipino, the hardship, the perseverance, the climb.”

He described the brutal heat, the punishing climbs, and the endless pedaling as something riders endure without quitting.

“You don’t know if it’s penance, punishment, or madness, padyak nang padyak, tulak nang tulak, but they don’t give up,” he said. “That is the soul and spirit of the Filipino people.”

For Gregorio, that is why spectators cheer as loudly for the first rider to cross the line as they do for the last

rider who refuses to quit. Gregorio noted how this year’s edition drew crowds several times larger than last year’s revival staging, with highways and town centers filled with spectators from Batangas to Pangasinan and up to Baguio.

He was particularly struck by children arriving at finish areas as early as morning, already wearing helmets and cycling gear.

“They’re not just cheering. They’re dreaming,” he said. “That’s what the Tour of Luzon is all about, the dreams of Filipino kids.”

He shared that in conversations about potential prospects, names like Joshua Nash Lim of MPT Drive Hub, the highest-rated Filipino in the Tour, have already surfaced, early signs that the race is serving its purpose as a talent discovery platform.

Gregorio also welcomed the growing presence of foreign teams, saying local riders appreciate the exposure to different styles and world-class competition.

“As athletes, you want to beat the best,” he said. “That’s how you improve.”

He added that interest from international squads continues to grow, while even officials from the Union Cycliste Internationale have begun monitoring the race’s progress.

Warriors maul Cowboys, get share of MPBL lead

THE Gensan Warriors blanked the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys in the homestretch to prevail, 91-83, on Thursday and share the lead in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Novadeci Sports Complex in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Unfazed by three consecutive triples that pushed the Cowboys back on top, 83-82, with 1 minute and 23 seconds left, the Warriors scored the game’s last nine points, sparked and capped by two charities from Hesed Gabo, to notch their seventh straight win and catch up with the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo.

Marwin Dionisio shone for the Warriors, pouring in eight of his game-high 25 points in the last 2 minutes and 23 seconds, grabbing 8 rebounds and issuing 2 assists to earn the SportsPlus best player honors.

Gabo supported with 17 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds, Anton Eusebio with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, and Mark Cruz, with 11 points, laced by three triples.

The Cowboys tumbled to 5-2 despite Donald Gumaru’s 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Arth Dela Cruz’s 13 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, JP Cauilan’s 14 points, Joshua Guiab’s 12, and Alex Cabagnot’s 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Valenzuela trips Quezon City

The Valenzuela City Darkhorse tamed the Quezon City Black Bulls, 90-83, in the nightcap to tie their victims at 4-3 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.

Powered by Val Chauca and JR Olegario, Valenzuela rallied from a 13-27 deficit to seize control at 37-29 and never wavered.

Chauca posted 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals to edge Olegario, with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, for the best player award.

They were backed by Lester Reyes, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Angelo Obuyes, with 11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals.

Quezon City got 18 points and 5 rebounds from Kobe Monje, 15 points and 2 assists from homegrown Pat Buena, and 12 points, 7 assists and 2 steals from Ryan Costelo.

Pasay thwarts Zamboanga

The Pasay Voyagers encountered turbulence before regaining their bearing and cruising past Zamboanga SiKat, 81-67, in the first game.

Ahead by as many as 18 points, Pasay allowed Zamboanga to draw level at 63-63 early in the fourth quarter.

Hungry pros brace for wide-open battle at ICTSI Caliraya tourney

THE Philippine Golf Tour resumes with a vengeance next week as a hungry, battle-tested field returns from a two-month break eager to seize momentum in what shapes up to be a fierce and wide-open chase for the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship crown beginning May 19 in Cavinti, Laguna.

With the demanding Caliraya Springs Golf Club offering birdie chances alongside danger at nearly every turn, the P2.5 million championship promises four days of high-stakes shotmaking, calculated risk-taking and survival golf where a single gust of wind or one errant swing could instantly alter the leaderboard.

The second leg of this year’s 10-stage PGT season unfolds on the Arnold Palmer-designed layout renowned for its rolling terrain, deceptive angles and water hazards guarding key stretches of the course. While Caliraya can yield low scores, the

ever-present winds sweeping across the property are expected to heighten the challenge and place premium value on precision, patience and decision-making under pressure.

Defending champion Keanu Jahns returns determined to reassert his dominance after overpowering the field by four shots in last year’s edition. But he faces a deeper, sharper and more motivated cast all eager to make an early statement in the season.

Leading the charge is Sean Ramos, who looms as a major threat after a strong showing in the recent Asian Development Tour event, where he narrowly missed out an ADT breakthrough in a playoff. With his game further sharpened by international campaigns, Ramos heads to Caliraya carrying both confidence and momentum.

Angelo Que, meanwhile, is out to end a string of near-misses at Caliraya. The three-time Asian Tour

winner finished fifth at Lakewood and remains driven to finally break through after settling for runner-up honors in the last two editions – first to Clyde Mondilla in 2024 and then to Jahns last year.

Mondilla himself is eyeing a second Caliraya title in three years, while multi-titled campaigners Tony Lascuna, Reymon Jaraula, Rupert Zaragosa, Jhonnel Ababa and Guido van der Valk are all expected to figure prominently in the title hunt in the blueribbon championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. The next generation of stars is likewise ready to challenge the veterans. Cousins Carl Corpus and Aidric Chan continue to gain experience and polish from overseas stints, while Jeffren Lumbo and Russell Bautista – who figured in a gripping five-hole playoff at South Pacific last year – are tipped to provide another strong challenge.

2.8%

New Clark City promoted as top investment hub

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority ((PEZA) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on May 14 held a joint briefing to market New Clark City as a premier destination for global capital within the Luzon Economic Corridor.

The event gathered government officials, developers and prospective investors to discuss opportunities under a recent memorandum of agreement. The partnership aims to streamline investment facilitation and consolidate the city’s status as a technology-driven “smart city.”

Remittances climbed 2.8% to $8.68b in first quarter

By Thony Rose Lesaca

$8.68 billion

$8.44 billion Remittances growth in Q1 Cash remittances in Q1 of 2026 Cash remittances in Q1 of 2025

CASH remittances from overseas Filipinos grew 2.8 percent to $8.68 billion in the first quarter of 2026 from $8.44 billion in the same period last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Friday.

The first-quarter expansion marked the slowest cumulative growth since the 2.7 percent increase recorded in the January-to-March period last year and represented a slight month-onmonth slowdown from the 3.1 percent growth posted in February.

The BSP said the United States remained the largest source of cash remittances in the first quarter, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Personal remittances, which include cash sent through banks and informal channels as well as in-kind

transfers, also increased 2.8 percent to $9.66 billion in the first quarter from $9.40 billion last year.

March cash remittances rose 2.3 percent to $2.87 billion from $2.81 billion in the same month in 2025.

Land-based workers accounted for the bulk of March remittances at $2.26 billion, while sea-based workers sent the remaining $61 million.

Personal remittances also grew 2.3 percent to $3.20 billion in March from $3.13 billion a year ago.

Union Bank of the Philippines chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion

BILATERAL MEETING. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque joins Finance Secretary Frederick Go for a productive high-level meeting with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu and Minister Rechie Valdez (Women, Gender Equality and Small Business). The discussion focused on collaboration in clean energy, agriculture, infrastructure and critical minerals; empowering MSMEs and women-led enterprises; and robust economic cooperation and investment between the two nations.

$1-b World Bank-backed farm program launched

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday launched a $1-billion initiative to modernize Philippine agriculture, improve productivity and strengthen food security with support from the World Bank.

The Philippine Sustainable Agriculture Transformation (PSAT) Program marks the country’s first use of the World Bank’s Program-for-Results financing scheme. This ties fund releases to the achievement of measurable targets rather than providing upfront disbursements.

The program focuses on increasing rice-based farming productivity, improving supply chain efficiency, and enhancing institutional performance to build climate resilience.

Under the framework, the government must meet verified targets through disbursement-linked indicators before the World Bank releases funds.

“This financing allows us to raise farm productivity, stabilize food supply, and protect millions of livelihoods dependent on agriculture. By strengthening value chains and building climate resilience, we are supporting rural incomes and reinforcing a key pillar of the economy,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

The government expects an initial $300-million release in 2026 to support the sector against rising energy costs and climate-related risks. The DA said the project combines productivity initiatives with governance reforms to deliver sector-wide improvements.

“These programs will help at least 5 million farmers diversify livelihoods, increase income, and manage climate risks. Rural communities will benefit from modernized services, stronger value chains, and a more resilient food system,” World Bank division director for the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei Zafer Mustafaoğlu said.

A $24.5-million Technical Assistance for Sustainable Agriculture Transformation grant complements the financing package.

This includes a $14.5-million contribution from the United Kingdom through its Just Rural Transition Support Programme.

“Agriculture sits at the crossroads of climate change, food security, and economic growth. As farmers face stronger typhoons, floods, and disrupted supply chains, transforming agriculture is not just a technical task—it is a strategic necessity,” British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton OBE said. Othel V. Campos

said the softer first-quarter growth largely reflects a normalization phase following strong inflows at the end of 2025.

He said that emerging global headwinds such as slower growth, elevated inflation and geopolitical uncertainties likely weighed on the disposable income of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“While deployment and employment abroad remain broadly stable, these external pressures are likely capping growth in the near term,” Asuncion said.

Reyes Tacandong & Co. senior adviser Jonathan Ravelas said the slower growth was more indicative of normalization than a warning sign.

He cited a combination of cooling global labor markets, higher base effects and rising living costs overseas as factors limiting the money OFWs can send home.

The collaboration ensures a seamless process for businesses, ranging from initial site selection to full-scale operations. Officials cited the city’s proximity to Clark International Airport, Subic Bay and major expressways as a primary draw for logistics and advanced manufacturing firms.

“The partnership strengthens the Philippines’ position as a competitive investment destination,” PEZA director-general Tereso Panga said. He cited the area’s strategic location and future-ready ecosystem as key drivers for growth.

BCDA president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang said the collaboration would provide investors with a seamless process from site selection to operations.

The briefing included tours of Hann Reserve and Vista Country Club to demonstrate the city’s readiness for mixed-use developments and tourism estates. By the end of 2025, 5 PEZAregistered ecozones in the Clark area already hosted 24 companies. These locators have generated more than 29,000 jobs and brought in cumulative investments exceeding P62 billion.

Peso hits record

low, PSEi slips below 6,000 level

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine peso weakened by 8.1 centavos to a fresh record low of 61.721 against the U.S. dollar Friday as markets expect the US Federal Reserve to keep policy rates on hold for a longer period.

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed the local currency opened at 61.63 per dollar and touched an intraday low of 61.73 before closing at another all-time low. It marked the second straight trading day the peso sank to record territory.

“The peso reached new lows today after the recent U.S. consumer and producer inflation reports this week reinforced views that the U.S. Federal Reserve might need to keep U.S. policy rates on hold for a prolonged period,” a trader said.

The trader added that the peso might remain relatively weak due to challenges in local fundamentals, though occasional interventions by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas could be expected.

Meanwhile, Philippine equities ended a volatile trading week in negative territory Friday as a weakening peso against the dollar dampened investor sentiment. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index failed to stay above the 6,000 level, dropping 38.26 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 5,976.77. The broader all shares index declined by 22.16 points, or 0.65 percent, to 3,371.41.

“The index slipped back below the

6,000 level as weakness in financials, holdings and mining outweighed strength in selected telco and index names,” AB Capital Securities said.

Most sectors finished in the red, led by mining and oil, which declined 2.52 percent, while financials plunged 2.39 percent. Holding firms also slipped 2.33 percent, and property dropped 0.11 percent. Services, on the other hand, rose 1.59 percent, while industrials inched up 0.01 percent. Trading remained thin as value turnover reached P5.48 billion. Foreign investors were net sellers, with outflows reaching P168.9 million.

Shares of DigiPlus Interactive Corp. rebounded strongly, increasing 11.58 percent to P12.72. Bank of the Philippine Islands was the day’s biggest laggard, declining 4.7 percent to P90.35. In regional markets, oil inched higher and Asian stocks traded in a narrow range Friday as investors awaited results from U.S. President Donald Trump’s talks in Beijing. While Tokyo and Hong Kong edged down, an AI stock boom boosted Seoul to a new record, with the Kospi index topping 8,000 points for the first time. With AFP

Meralco pushes for wider solar use, highlights rollouts

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco)

reiterated its support for the wider adoption of solar energy, emphasizing that the company has embraced the technology as part of its broader sustainability and energy efficiency efforts.

Ronnie Aperocho, Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the company has been installing solar panels across its facilities to demonstrate confidence in the technology and encourage responsible use among households and businesses.

“Meralco installed and continued to install solar panels in our own facilities for the same reason many households and businesses are now

exploring solar technology—it helps us use electricity more efficiently and responsibly,” Aperocho said.

Meralco’s use of solar is aligned with its long-term sustainability agenda, particularly through its Resource Conservation and Efficiency Program, an energy efficiency initiative launched in 2020.

“As part of this program, we have installed solar panels in our headquarters, business centers and sector offices to help reduce operational energy use,” Aperocho said.

For Meralco, adopting solar technology internally is also about leading by example, according to the official.

“We believe that if a technology can help save resources and improve efficiency, we should also practice it ourselves,” he said.

Aperocho added that Meralco’s solar subsidiary, MSpectrum, has helped many homes and businesses shift to cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.

Meralco remains committed to advancing sustainability both within its operations and across the communities it serves.

“We will continue to promote and push the responsible use of solar energy, including other eco-friendly technologies, in our quest to foster and encourage sustainability in our operations,” Aperocho said.

CREIT declares P0.49 per share dividend, targets 20% expansion

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CITICORE Energy REIT Corp.

(CREIT), the country’s first and largest renewable energy real estate investment trust, declared Friday cash dividends for the first quarter of 2026 of P0.49 per share.

The payout is equivalent to a dividend yield of 6 percent based on the closing price of P3.40 per share on March 31, 2026.

CREIT said in a statement the payout ratio represents 106 percent of distributable income, exceeding the minimum regulatory requirement of 90 percent. Dividend payments are scheduled for July 8, 2026, for stockholders of record as of June 11, 2026.

leases tied to our green asset portfolio, insulated from geopolitical issues due to the tenants’ essential business of power generation.”

The company maintained a 100 percent occupancy rate across its assets with a weighted average lease expiry of 19.19 years.

As part of its growth roadmap, CREIT’s board approved May 15, 2026, a proposed asset-for-share swap with its parent firm, Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC), and its subsidiaries.

The transaction is expected to infuse approximately 1.7 million square meters of land and 860 megawattspeak of solar assets in Pangasinan, Pampanga, Batangas, Quezon and Negros Occidental. This strategic move will expand CREIT’s leasable land assets by about 20 percent.

The company posted revenues of P458 million for the first quarter, which it said underscored the stability of its renewable energy asset portfolio. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reached P446 million, while net income hit P342 million.

“CREIT continues to demonstrate what a stable, yet growth-oriented REIT can look like,” CREIT president and chief executive Oliver Tan said. “Our revenues are highly predictable, backed by fixed long-term

Upon completion, CREIT’s total gross leasable area is expected to reach 8.8 million square meters, solidifying its position as the largest REIT in the Philippines.

“This transaction reflects how CREIT’s platform is built for longterm growth,” Tan said. “It reinforces CREIT’s ability to expand alongside CREC in a disciplined and sustainable manner.” Cebu Pacific April passenger

By Darwin G. Amojelar

cent increase from the 9.2 million recorded in 2025. This growth was supported by a 6 percent rise in domestic travelers to 7.3 million and a 6.7 percent increase in international passengers to 2.5 million. The year-to-date SLF averaged 81.3 percent, while overall capacity grew by 10.5 percent to 12.1 million seats.

Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer, attributed the weaker April load factors to

fare adjustments necessitated by rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions.

“We have since recalibrated pricing, including rolling out targeted seat sales, with early indications of a booking recovery emerging in our late April and May booking trends,” Lao said. “Our approach remains iterative and data-driven—carefully balancing demand stimulation and affordability, while maintaining discipline on cost and capital.”

Cebu Pacific ranks as the

PH lifts ban on Spanish pork imports

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture has lifted its temporary ban on the importation of pork and other swine products from Spain after recognizing the country’s African swine fever (ASF) regionalization system.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Department Circular No. 22, which formally recognizes Spain’s ASF regionalization measures. The move

is expected to widen meat supply sources and help ease pressure on domestic pork prices.

The policy allows the immediate resumption of imports for pork meat, pig skin and other swine byproducts, subject to agreed-upon sanitary and veterinary conditions between Manila and Madrid.

The Philippines had imposed a temporary ban on Spanish pork imports in 2025 following a series of ASF cases reported in parts of Europe.

Under the new directive, all import transactions from Spain must comply with bilateral protocols, Philippine quarantine rules and Administrative Circular No. 12, series of 2025, which outlines procedures for mutual

recognition of ASF regionalization among accredited trading partners.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said its assessment found that Spain maintains robust veterinary surveillance and disease control systems, significantly reducing the risk of ASF transmission through imported products.

Tiu Laurel said the policy reflects a calibrated balance between protecting domestic agriculture and ensuring food security.

“We remain vigilant against ASF, but we also recognize the importance of sciencebased risk assessment and international cooperation in securing stable food supply chains,” Tiu Laurel said. “Allowing imports from properly regulated and

Alsons’ profit jumped 15% to P543m in Q1

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ALSONS Consolidated Resources

Inc., the listed company of the Alcantara Group, posted a 15 percent increase in net income to P543 million in the first quarter, up from P472 million a year ago, despite volatility in the global business environment.

In a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange, net income attributable to the parent company surged 64 percent to P223 million, up from P137 million in the same period in 2025.

Consolidated revenues grew 12 percent to P3.36 billion from P2.99 billion, driven by strong demand for electricity in Mindanao.

“The current geopolitical tensions have caused major economic shifts not only for the Philippines, but in other economies around the world,” said Roberto Ramos, Alsons chief finance officer. “Yet amid this evolving landscape, our commitment to powering communities with care remains steadfast.”

Sarangani Energy Corp., which operates a 210-megawatt coal plant in Maasim, Sarangani province, remains the primary driver of revenue and earnings for Alsons.

Other key contributors include the company’s retail electricity supply unit, which provides 118 MW to customers, and improved participation in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

“Despite the challenging global environment and shifting market conditions, we remain focused on reliable operations, disciplined execution and prudent cost management,” Ramos said. Alsons is also progressing on two large-scale solar projects in Mindanao to expand its renewable energy capacity.

Other hydroelectric projects in the pipeline include the 22 MW Sindangan Hydro plant in Zamboanga del Norte and the 42 MW Bago Hydro plant in Negros Occidental. Both are in advanced predevelopment stages.

Meanwhile, Mapalad Power Corp. has completed Phase 1 of its Ubay project in Bohol, which involves the installation of modular generator sets. Phase 2 is currently in advanced construction.

Alsons said the Ubay project will provide a reliable in-island power plant designed to support Bohol during

Axelum nets P2.3b in first-quarter revenue as export volumes surge

AXELUM Resources Corp. reported a strong first-quarter 2026 performance, with consolidated revenues rising 7 percent to P2.3 billion, driven by higher sales volumes and improved average selling prices across key product segments.

The company said white meat exports posted robust growth across major markets, with sales to North America and Australia increasing 16 percent and 53 percent, respectively. Shipments to Asia more than doubled during the period on the back of new customer accounts and a larger order book.

Domestic sales also grew 2 percent as newly launched products continued to gain traction across retail and online channels nationwide.

“Coming off a high base in 2025, we still managed to demonstrate growth despite an increasingly challenging operating environment. We feel the broader consequences of the Middle East conflict, particularly its disruptive effects on commodity pricing and ocean freight costs,” Axelum president and chief operating officer Henry Raperoga said.

Gross profit climbed 15 percent to P570 million, lifting gross margin to 24 percent on the stronger contribution of higher-value products.

EBITDA surged 59 percent to P367 mil-

lion, supported by margin expansion and higher foreign exchange gains. Pre-tax income jumped 89 percent to P290 million, while net income nearly doubled to P267 million.

Axelum maintained a solid financial position, ending the quarter with P3.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents. The company posted a current ratio of 4.2 and a debt-toequity ratio of 0.2, while annualized return on equity stood at 9 percent.

The company said its healthy balance sheet would allow it to absorb external shocks, sustain operational readiness and support future growth initiatives. Axelum plans to prioritize product innovation and accelerate the expansion of its consumer business through new market-ready offerings.

The company is also implementing costefficiency measures, including inventory harmonization, process streamlining and resource optimization, to improve operational performance and preserve competitiveness amid market volatility.

“We move forward with guarded optimism amid global economic complexities, with a stronger focus on ensuring a resilient supply chain, operational adaptability and strategy execution,” Raperoga said.

Othel V. Campos

monitored areas in Spain helps diversify pork sources while maintaining strict animal health standards.”

He added that regionalization enables trading partners to contain disease outbreaks within specific zones rather than imposing blanket nationwide bans, consistent with international veterinary standards.

Spain remains one of the world’s largest pork exporters and has long been an accredited supplier to the Philippine market.

LOPEZ Inc. president and chief executive Federico “Piki” Lopez on Friday welcomed a decision by the company’s board to withdraw a Feb. 27 resolution that removed him from his leadership roles, describing the move as a potential first step toward resolving a deep-seated family rift.

The 71-percent majority of the board opted to retract the resolution to allow for family discussions while a case to lift an existing injunction remains before the Court of Appeals.

Lopez said he hopes the majority will follow the gesture with genuine and concrete efforts to reach an amicable and fair resolution to the internal conflict. He also called for an end to misinformation that he believes is damaging the Lopez Group.

The executive said he will continue to fulfill his fiduciary duties to shareholders and remains a responsible steward of the group’s businesses, specifically First Philippine Holdings Inc, (FPH) and First Gen Corp.

He said these entities include institutional minority shareholders with significant economic interests.

Lopez said he expects the majority stakeholders to address unresolved questions regarding ABSCBN Corp. He said the media firm should finally chart a path to recovery to protect the family legacy and the welfare of investors and employees.

While formal legal processes proceed in the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Lopez said he is prepared for any outcome.

He said he remains focused on leading FPH and First Gen to deliver value through strategic projects and partnerships with industry players.

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Charles Dantes

THE Asian Development Bank said Friday it is prepared to extend up to $1.75 billion in additional financing to help the Philippines manage the economic impact of the Middle East conflict.

Officials of the Manila-based lender said during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. they are ready to support the government in managing rising fiscal pressures through additional policy-based and countercyclical lending and trade finance if necessary. The additional funding support would come on top of about $2 billion

in policy-based loans already being prepared for the Philippines this year.

The Philippines has faced significant strain due to its heavy reliance on imported oil, fertilizers and other global commodities. The government recently declared a national energy emergency and launched the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport to protect citizens

through fuel subsidies, excise tax reductions and cash assistance for vulnerable sectors.

“The Philippines is ADB’s home, and we see the strain this crisis is placing on Filipino families, workers, and businesses. ADB will act swiftly to support the government to protect vulnerable communities, manage fiscal pressures, and strengthen the economy’s resilience,” ADB president Masato Kanda said.

The lender said it is working with key government agencies to strengthen long-term resilience, including providing advisory support on domestic fertilizer security to the Department of Agriculture and social protection assistance to the Department of Social

Welfare and Development. It said it is also supporting investments in energy security, clean energy, energy efficiency and mass transit systems to reduce the country’s exposure to fuel-price shocks.

The $1.75-billion package aims to mitigate the impact of oil supply shocks and other economic disruptions that have affected farmers, fishers and repatriated overseas Filipino workers. Founded in 1966, the ADB is a multilateral development bank owned by 69 members, 50 of whom are from the region.

The bank continues to support resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific while addressing immediate fiscal challenges in its host country.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PUBLIC utility vehicle operators

using the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) are expected to save more than P5 million following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to suspend terminal fees for three months starting May 18.

Department of Transportation

Secretary Giovanni Lopez recommended the suspension to

television, radio, online and international operations totaled P2.98 billion. This segment continued to represent the largest portion of total revenue at nearly 90 percent.

“Against first quarter last year, this segment’s sales contracted by over a billion pesos, equivalent to 31 percent with political advocacies and advertisements boosting comparable period in 2025,” GMA said in a statement. Darwin G. Amojelar

PetroEnergy’s income softened 14.3% in Q1

PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC) on Friday reported a 14.3-percent drop in consolidated net income in the first quarter to P240.62 million from P280.80 million a year ago, as the company recorded no oil revenues during the period.

PERC said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company declined 2.46 percent to P139.92 million for the quarter ended March 31, compared with P143.46 million during the same period in 2025.

The group’s renewable energy operations remained its primary revenue driver. Electricity sales saw a slight increase following the full operation of the 13.2-megawatt Nabas Wind Power Project Phase 2 and continued generation from the 27 MW Dagohoy Solar Power Project and the 19.6 MW San Jose Solar Power Project. Revenue also benefited from the commencement of the 34 MW Limbauan-2 Solar Power Project.

PERC said improved tariff rates for the 36 MW Nabas Wind Power Project Phase 1 and the 50 MW Tarlac Solar Power Project Phase 1 contributed to gains. However, these were partially offset by scheduled preventive maintenance shutdowns at Maibarara Geothermal Inc.’s units in March. The company reported no oil revenues for the quarter because no crude oil liftings were allocated to consortium partners for the Etame oil operations in Gabon, West Africa. Alena Mae S. Flores

mitigate the financial burden on operators caused by high diesel prices and to boost their daily take-home income. The free terminal fees cover all vehicles using the hub, including provincial and city buses, modern and traditional jeepneys, UV Express vehicles and taxis.

“The President’s instruction to us is to continue to help our fellow PUV operators and drivers. This initiative is a great help to them because they will be able to save on terminal fees

that they can use to load crude oil or use for any of their expenses,” Lopez said.

Under the current fee structure, provincial buses pay P100 per onboarding, while city buses and UV Express vehicles pay P20. Jeepneys, modern jeepneys and taxis typically pay P10.

The DOTr said the suspension will last for three months but may be extended depending on a future assessment by the agency. High

PAGCOR’S DIVIDEND. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco (right) turns over to Deputy National Treasurer Kenneth Ian Francisco a check worth P5.67 billion, representing the agency’s dividend remittance for calendar year 2025, during a ceremonial turnover at the PAGCOR Corporate Office in Pasay City on May 13, 2026.

fuel costs continue to pressure the transport sector, where diesel prices have fluctuated significantly in recent months.

The PITX serves as a major multimodal hub for commuters traveling between Metro Manila and provinces to the south.

Government officials hope the temporary relief will prevent further petitions for fare hikes while stabilizing the earnings of 1000s of drivers and small-scale operators.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CITICORE Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) reported on Friday a 58-percent jump in first-quarter net income to P364 million from P230 million in the same period last year, as its growing portfolio delivered stronger profitability.

The company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that electricity sales remained the primary driver of its top line, accounting for 85 percent of its P1.14 billion in revenue for the period ending March 31.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 53 percent to P593 million from P388 million in 2025.

The company attributed this growth to the positive contribution of the company’s expanding renewable energy portfolio and resulting margin

improvements. CREC president and chief executive Tan said the company’s profitability has improved greatly as evidenced by its EBITDA. He said the company is making way for newly energized solar facilities attributed to its Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) commitment.

“Our Binalonan, Bolbok and Pagbilao solar plants are scheduled for energization in the second quarter, and when those facilities come online, our revenues and earnings will reflect the full scale of what we have built,” Tan said. The company recently achieved key milestones by bringing additional capacity online, including solar facilities in Pangasinan (125 megawattpeak) and Negros Occidental (69 MWp). These additions brought its gross total renewable energy capacity to 791 MWp.

By Othel V. Campos

STEELASIA Manufacturing Corp. has secured a P1.25-billion green loan facility from Taiwan-based Cathay United Bank to finance its green steel initiatives.

The facility will serve as working capital for SteelAsia’s operations, which use electric arc furnace technology combined with renewable energy and scrap recycling to produce low-emission green steel.

“The green loan is a sign that we are indeed on the right track in our expansion strategy,” said SteelAsia president and co-chief operating officer Rafael Hidalgo.

“Steel production with low CO2 emission is not only sustainable for the environment, but it is also the foundation upon which we are building the country’s steel industry,” he said.

SteelAsia’s Calaca mill, operating since 2008, has been assessed by DNV of Norway as one of the greenest steel facilities globally. It has a carbon footprint about 90 percent lower than the global average for conventional steelmaking.

The company is replicating this low-emission model in new projects, including the country’s first medium sections mill in Lemery, Batangas, which is expected to start operations this year.

The green loan is SteelAsia’s first under its Sustainable Finance Framework, which Moody’s ranked among the best globally for the steel industry in February. The framework ensures clear sustainability objectives, transparency and strong governance in the use of proceeds.

TECH

Trust, tech, governance in focus at Future of Trust Leaders Forum

TRUST is the new infrastructure. As data, money, and identity move deeper into the digital world, systems have to be built to protect them. This will be the focus of Future of Trust: A Leaders Forum on Technology and Governance, the pre-opening event of Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2026.

This invitation-only forum will gather senior leaders from the global technology ecosystem, the business com-

The forum is an initiative of the country’s leading emerging technology councils and organizations — the Global AI Council Philippines, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines, and Data Center Association of the Philippines — with support from Go Digital Philippines and other private organizations, bringing together the full breadth of expertise needed to move these conversations from dialogue into action.

These are not abstract concepts for the Philippines; they are already taking shape on the ground. Key government agencies including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are already embedding digital governance into their operations. Meanwhile, the Integrity Chain, a blockchain-powered transparency initiative, has completed its first phase with the DPWH and is now moving into its second, showing that blockchain as an anti-corruption infrastructure is no longer a theory but reality. Two local government units have also gone live on blockchain, proving that this technology has moved well beyond the boardroom and into the hands of the communities it has always been meant to serve.

Future of Trust is a fitting opener for this year’s Philippine Blockchain Week – setting the tone for national and regional dialogue on meaningful and accessible digital transformation.

US, China discussing AI ‘guardrails’

BEIJING—The United States and China were discussing setting up “guardrails” for the use of artificial intelligence (AI), US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday, with growing calls for regulation of the burgeoning technology.

“We’re actually going to be discussing the AI guardrails with the Chinese because the Chinese are substantially behind us but they have a very advanced AI industry here,” he said during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.

Trump arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling President Xi Jinping a “great leader” and “friend” and extending an invitation to visit the White House in September.

The two sides have a number of outstanding trade disputes, including on US export controls on advanced AI technology to China.

Trump is accompanied by several top leaders in the tech world, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and xAI’s Elon Musk.

Bessent said that the world’s “two AI superpowers are going to start talking.”

The Treasury secretary said Washington and Beijing would set up a “protocol” on the path forward on AI, particularly “to make sure nonstate actors don’t get a hold of these models.”

He insisted, however, that Washington did not want to “stifle innovation” and that he was “very satisfied” with how leading tech companies had rolled out models so far.

Bessent said that given the US lead in AI technology, Washington would use “US best practices, US values” to determine the course forward “and then roll those out to the world.”

LEADING fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (PSE: CNVRG) reported sustained growth with P11.2 billion in revenues in the first quarter of the year as its subscriber base reached more than three million amid the surge in its prepaid fiber internet users.

As of end-March 2026, the total Converge subscriber base reached 3.09 million, representing a 14% year-on-year (YoY) improvement. A key driver of this growth was the Surf2Sawa (S2S) prepaid fiber service, which saw its subscriber base skyrocket by 86.7% YoY to reach 674,000 customers.

“We are focused on expanding our fiber footprint, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao, to serve more Filipinos with world-class connectivity,” said Converge Co-Founder and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy.

“Our enterprise customers will also get a boost with the completion of our national digital infrastructure that sets the stage for providing cloud and data heavy services.”

The company’s Enterprise business has

discuss ways to address the challenges of the digital age through the establishment of trusted systems across finance, governance, and digital services.

“Every great economy is built on trust. What blockchain gives us is the infrastructure to make that trust verifiable, scalable, and impossible to fake,” said Management Association of the Philippines President, Donald Lim.

To answer how trust is built in a digital world, the forum organizes the conversation into three interconnected pillars. Technology lays the infrastructure through blockchain, digital identity, and AI governance. Governance sets the rules through the policies and frameworks that make digital systems legitimate and accountable. Lastly, Trust Economies show the stakes through the markets, capital, and ecosystems that rise or fall on whether trust can be verified and sustained.

THESE days, your phone isn’t just for one thing. It’s for work, quick edits, catching up with friends, and a bit of gaming when you get the chance. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be dependable. The OPPO A6s 5G is designed with that in mind, offering reliable performance, a durable build, and AI features that help smooth out the day. Here are six ways the OPPO A6s 5G fit right into your everyday: Enjoy Long-Term Smoothness with 60-Month Fluency Protection

The OPPO A6s 5G is designed to stay smooth and responsive over time. Backed by 60-month Fluency Protection, the devices are optimized for long-term performance, helping users enjoy seamless multitasking, faster app launches, and reliable everyday experiences even after years of use.

If you find yourself balancing responsibilities, passions, and personal goals, having a dependable smartphone can make all the difference. With its powerful battery, durable build, AI-enhanced camera tools, and smooth all-around performance, the OPPO A6s 5G is built to keep up with every hustle, every adventure, and every moment in between. Stay Powered Longer and Recharge in Less Time

From back-to-back online meetings to late-night streaming and endless scrolling, it’s easy to run out of battery before the day ends. The OPPO A6s 5G is built to keep up, packing a massive 7000mAh battery that lasts long after most phones tap out. It’s designed for the long run too, retaining over 80% of its capacity even after 1,800 charge cycles. This is roughly up to five years of use. And when you do need to recharge, you won’t be stuck waiting around. With 80W SUPERVOOC™ Flash Charge on

“Emerging technologies are reshaping how governments, businesses, and communities operate. The opportunity is immense, but so is the responsibility to create governance frameworks that ensure transparency, accountability, and meaningful safeguards for the public,” said Atty. Mark Gorriceta, CoFounder and Trustee of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines and Go Digital Philippines Chair.

While Future of Trust is by-invitation-only, PBW 2026 ticket holders may secure their slot at this landmark forum.rite to info@pbw.ph to find out more.

digital infrastructure designed to prop up its delivery of cutting-edge technologies and cement the Philippines’ position as a vital node in the global digital economy. The said architecture consists of its extensive fiber backbone and satellite network, international subsea cable systems, cable landing stations, and scalable data centers.

For the first quarter of 2026, Converge registered P 3.02 billion in net income. Its EBITDA grew by 3.3% to P 6.9 billion , with an EBITDA margin of 61.8 %, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) standing at 15.6% by the end of the period.

“Despite geopolitical turmoil affecting the local economy and its growth prospects, we are able to insulate much of our operations from these. Our financial performance in the first quarter remains steady and we assure our subscribersnow at 3 million - that we hear them, and we’re improving resolution of our network challenges,” said Converge President and Co-Founder Maria Grace Uy.

Closing arguments in mega trial pitting Musk vs. OpenAI

OAKLAND—Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI presented closing arguments Thursday in a blockbuster trial where the verdict could hobble ChatGPT’s parent company in the breakneck race for AI supremacy.

The three-week trial in Oakland, outside San Francisco, has seen a parade of Silicon Valley titans take the stand.

World’s richest person Musk is suing OpenAI over its pivot away from a scrappy non-profit into the $850 billion juggernaut behind ChatGPT.

Musk claims OpenAI

CEO Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman improperly used a $38 million injection he had hoped would sustain OpenAI as a research lab dedicated to developing AI technology for the good of humanity.

For the nine-person jury, as Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers noted, their decision may come down to a simple question: who should they believe among the bickering billionaires?

“A non-profit devoted to the safe development of artificial intelligence, open sourced as practical, for the benefit of humanity. You know, we’re supposed to buy that,” quipped Musk’s attorney Steven Molo in his closing argument on Thursday, slamming Altman’s integrity.

OpenAI attorney Sarah Eddy countered with an attack on Musk.

“Even the people who work for him, even the mother of his children, can’t back his story,” she said, referring to Shivon Zilis, a business associate of Musk with whom he has four children, who testified about her role as an inter-

mediary between the tech executives. Musk, who was visiting China on Thursday as part of US President Donald Trump’s delegation, left OpenAI in 2018 and continues to pursue lucrative AI projects through his company SpaceX.

Petty revenge?

OpenAI was founded as a non-profit in 2015, but established a for-profit subsidiary in 2019 as the AI race heated up.

Altman and others insist this was necessary to raise the vast sums of money from investors required to compete in a costly and difficult field. Musk’s legal case demands that OpenAI revert to non-profit status, a move that would stymie its position in the global artificial intelligence race against Anthropic, Google and China’s Deepseek. As a non-profit, OpenAI would have to abandon its planned IPO and sever ties with powerful investors— Microsoft, Amazon, and SoftBank— whose funding is essential in the costly AI race. In that scenario, the jury would have to determine whether Microsoft—the then-startup’s first private investor with a $13 billion injection—knowingly facilitated the company’s deviation from its original mission. AFP

Happycash secures ISO 27001 Certification, expands responsible lending

HAPPYCASH has secured ISO/IEC

27001:2022 certification, aligning it with global standards for information security, as the sector faces continued regulatory pressure and public concern over data privacy, security breaches, and abusive lending practices.

The development comes amid the rapid expansion of digital lending in the Philippines, now estimated to be a ₱56 billion market. As more Filipinos seek faster and more accessible financing, mobile-based lending platforms have seen growing adoption, supported by the country’s expanding base of over 76 million smartphone users. This shift is expected to continue as digital access improves and demand for immediate credit rises. 1

Beyond the certification, Happycash reinforces these standards through concrete operational policies and responsible lending practices designed to strengthen borrower protection. Building trust through responsible lending

While the ISO certification underscores its commitment to data protection, Happycash has also taken steps to

LEADING global AI smart devices

provider HONOR Philippines today unveiled the all-new HONOR 600 Series starting at Php 25,999! Designed for a new generation of creators who don’t just want to capture moments but creatively reinterpret them and share them with the world, HONOR 600 Series is now available for pre-order from May 14 to May 29 with a chance to win a brand-new Mercedes-Benz.

Redefining Mobile Creativity with Industry-Exclusive AI Image to Video 2.0

At the heart of the HONOR 600 Series’ creative capability is AI Image to Video 2.0, powered by the industry’s first unified multi-modal video generation model — a system that integrates video generation, editing, and comprehension into one seamless workflow. Users can combine up to three images with natural language prompts to produce stunning 3–8 second video sequences, define both opening and ending frames for full narrative control, and access the industry’s most extensive library of cinematic templates for stylized film-quality results in a single tap.

(NPC), in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173). Its internal infrastructure incorporates bank-grade encryption, data minimization, multifactor authentication (MFA), and regular independent audits—reinforcing a secure-by-design protocol. “Achieving ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification reflects our commitment to protecting user data while raising the standard for responsible lending,” said Rhonalyn Reyes, Head of External Affairs. “For us, trust is built not only through security, but through how borrowers are treated at every stage of the process.”

Ethical practices that put borrowers first

The online lending industry in the Philippines has long been associated with reports of aggressive debt collection practices, including harassment, excessive follow-ups, and unclear loan terms that add to financial strain. Against this backdrop, Happycash enforces a zero-tolerance policy against harassment, intimidation, and other abusive collection practices.

The platform also offers flexible repayment support for users facing financial difficulties, allowing them to manage obligations without escalation or undue pressure. Clear and transparent pricing ensures that borrowers understand their loan terms, eliminating hidden costs and charges.

seamlessly connecting up to 15 devices at once and supporting the diverse needs of every household member. From students learning online, to professionals working remotely or managing side hustles, to families streaming entertainment and loved ones staying in touch, GFiber Prepaid delivers flexible, reliable fiber connectivity that makes everyday progress possible. “GFiber Prepaid has become a trusted everyday partner at home. It is a reliable WiFi that adapts to real household needs, without long-term lock-ins. As we continue to grow this segment, we remain committed to deliver dependable service, accessible offers, and customer-first support that keeps families connected every day,” said Abigail Cardino, Vice President and Head of Brand Management, Broadband Business at Globe. GFiber Prepaid can be installed in as fast as 24 hours. It offers customer support through the GlobeOne app and dedicated Alagang Globe Viber groups. Plus, it offers at home assistance via the Globe Care-avan. Value-packed offers such as FREE 300 Mbps, six times faster than the previous 50 Mbps, for the same ₱699 installation fee, plus 7 days of unlimited internet, or 30 days of 100 Mbps for ₱999 with free installation, give families greater flexibility to manage their budgets while enjoying dependable, high-speed connectivity at home. Worried about rising monthly expenses? Globe AT HOME GFiber Prepaid offers a budget-friendly internet solution that works as hard as you do. Unlike traditional plans, there are no long-term commitments, just flexible prepaid options paired with fiber-fast speeds that empower remote work setups and ensure seamless home schooling for the kids. With Globe, families can stay productive, connected, and resilient, enjoying reliable connectivity without the burden of a fixed monthly bill.

Offering endless creative possibilities, a dedicated AI Button provides instant access to video generation from the Gallery, while the AI Photos Agent enables natural language-driven editing — simply describes the change, and it happens. Ultra Versatile Moving Photo Editing, including Moving Photo Eraser and Moving Photo Breakout Collage, rounds out the creative toolkit with dynamic 3D compositions. The momentum has already proven that previous models in the series have generated over 13.4 million seconds of AI — created video content, underscoring the demand for expressive, dynamic storytelling on mobile.

The Segment’s Most Powerful Night Camera System

Building on the 200MP ultra-clear imaging legacy of the HONOR 400 Series, the HONOR 600 Series takes on mobile photography’s toughest challenge — night imaging. Powered by HONOR’s next-generation AiMAGE intelligent imaging architecture, the series features a 200MP Ultra-clear Night Camera on a 1/1.4-inch sensor — the largest in its class — delivering 16in-1 with equivalent 2.24μm super pix-

By Nickie Wang

GUY Ritchie’s In

The Grey plays like a larger-than-life version of Counter Strike rendered in live action, a kinetic battlefield where viewers feel not just like spectators but embedded inside the mission itself.

The film plunges into a world of highstakes finance and extraction operations where legality bends, and violence is never far behind. Elite operatives Sid and Bronco, played by Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal, are tasked with recovering a stolen billion-dollar fortune from a ruthless tycoon, Manny Salazar, portrayed by Carlos Bardem What begins as a precision-driven heist escalates into a sprawling assault on a fortified island controlled by a private army. There is a video-game pulse to the staging, particularly in its squadbased movement and shifting tactical perspectives. The film resembles a highend multiplayer map where strategy, speed, and survival instincts overlap. That Counter Strike-like energy becomes its defining texture, pulling the audience into the firefights as if they were part of the team’s comms channel.

Visually, the characters are styled with polished, luxury-forward wardrobes that contrast sharply with the violence they commit. The elegance of their appearance clashes with the bluntness of their actions, especially since the film gives their moral resolve little grounding beyond the momentum of the mission itself. That imbalance is not questioned within the story; it is simply how this world operates.

The ensemble, which also includes Eiza González, Rosamund Pike, Fisher Stevens, and Kristofer Hivju, moves through the narrative with a shared sense of professional detachment, especially in the case of González’s Rachel Wild, who describes her character as relying entirely on Cavill and Gyllenhaal’s operatives as her only trusted lifeline. Action choreography stands out as one of the film’s stronger elements. Set pieces are staged with clarity and precision, building tension through coordinated movement. Gunfights and infiltration sequences are cleanly executed, even when the narrative logic stretches under the weight of rapid escalation. Where the film stumbles is in its timelines and structural plausibility.

PINOYFLIX Films introduces its latest suspense-thriller, Roots of Contagion, during an official story conference. The project brings together campus horror storytelling with a public health awareness campaign on disease prevention and hygiene.

The film, to be directed by Jose “JR” Olinares and with screenplay by Prim Lamaroza, follows students from Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba as they confront a deadly botanical outbreak inside the school’s historic campus. Although fictional, the story presents a realistic scenario that highlights preparedness, rapid response, and community health measures in the face of biological threats.

The event will unveil the full cast, official synopsis, and central concept of the film.

Harry Styles: From teen heartthrob to music icon

A DECADE after One Direction, Harry

Styles has cemented his status as one of the world’s biggest pop stars, blending magnetic stagecraft with a modern vision of masculinity.

On Saturday (Sunday in Manila), the British singer will open a new months-long tour with his first date in Amsterdam after launching his fourth album earlier this year.

Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally was released on March 6 and shot straight to the top of the charts in some 20 countries, including Britain, France, and the United States.

It was a spectacular follow-up to Harry’s House, which was released in 2022 and won album of the year at the Grammy Awards.

Spotted at just 16 on The X Factor television talent show, Styles rose to global fame in the chart-topping band formed in 2010 alongside Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne

With their catchy pop-rock sound, One

Direction, or 1D as they became known, sold nearly 70 million records before splitting up in 2016. His self-titled debut album in 2017 was followed by 2019’s Fine Line, featuring the hit “Watermelon Sugar” and bringing major commercial success. In the years since, he has drawn a broader and more diverse fanbase.

His album Harry’s House and the 20212023 Love On Tour further cemented his transformation, bringing “a bit of the flair back” to what some see as a bland male pop landscape.

He is set to play 12 shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in June, followed by a 30-date residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden before wrapping up the tour in Sydney in December.

Styles has also become a fashion icon. In 2020, he became the first man to appear solo on the cover of US Vogue, wearing a Gucci lace dress and a crinoline skirt by Harris Reed

From sequined jumpsuits to feather boas and pearl necklaces, his outfits recall stars such as David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, known for pushing gender boundaries.

Fashion designer Nik Shimmin called Styles “a breath of fresh air” who represents “a version of modern-day masculinity that a lot of people want to see.” Styles has declined to label his sexuality, drawing accusations of “queerbaiting” from some critics. Publicly, he has only confirmed relationships with women and has reportedly become engaged to US actress Zoe Kravitz Though private about his personal life, Styles has become more outspoken politically, encouraging young Americans to vote and raising funds for LGBTQ causes, said Louie Valencia, a humanities professor at Texas State University. Styles, who will also be the subject of an Oxford summer course titled “Harry Styles and the Cult of Celebrity,” told the Times he was excited for the tour. Clara Lalanne, AFP

‘In The Grey’ delivers tactical action thriller fueled by high-stakes heist chaos

Events unfold with a compressed urgency that often feels disconnected from the scale of operations being portrayed.

Still, Ritchie’s direction keeps the momentum steady. His interest in shadow economies and transactional violence is clear, framing the story as a commentary on how power circulates through money, influence, and force.

Pinoyflix unveils campus-set horror film ‘Roots of Contagion’

Pinoyflix said the project aims to go beyond entertainment and position the film as an awareness initiative on hygiene practices and disease prevention among students and communities.

The production has support from multiple partners, including the Provincial Government of Laguna through Vice Governor Jose “JM” Carait III, and the Provincial Tourism Office of Laguna, which backs the project’s regional outreach efforts. Also involved are the Calamba City Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Office, which guides emergency preparedness messaging, and the Hands of Our Children Movement Inc., which serves as a beneficiary partner.

Starring in the film are Althea Ablan, Kate Yalung, John Arcenas, Abdul Rahman, Jeffrey Santos, Dindo Arroyo, Lovely Rivero, Sharmaine Suarez, Rob Sy, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, and Valerie Concepcion

“This is not just entertainment; this film serves as a powerful tool for awareness,” a Pinoyflix representative said. “We present a

The result is a stylized simulation of global financial warfare, where every exchange feels like a match point in a high-risk game.

In the end, In The Grey is built for velocity rather than reflection. It is loud, polished, and structurally loose, but consistently energized by its own momentum.

Distributed by CreaZion Studios International, In The Grey is now showing in cinemas nationwide.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Honoring Filipinos who shape the nation through excellence, integrity, and service

By Nickie Wang

THE Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award brings into focus individuals whose work and character leave a lasting imprint on the country, grounded in excellence, integrity, and public service.

JCI Senate Philippines past president Dr. Cecilio Pedro summed it up

clearly during his speech at the media launch of the award last weekend.

“It’s up to you to take on the challenges despite the problems. We’re looking for someone who takes extraordinary initiatives. That’s what we’re looking for as the main qualification,” he said.

“We are looking for people who embrace being extraordinary. All of us can be extraordinary in our own ways, as long as we keep moving forward and keep striving to improve. Even if you think you’re already the best, remember this: there are always better days ahead,” he went on.

TOFIL Award is one of the Philip-

Food and travel series dish up global culinary journeys

METRO Channel debuts three new lifestyle programs this May, featuring stories on cheesemaking, culinary journeys, and travel experiences in Cheese: Searching for a Taste of Place, Jeremy Pang’s Hong Kong Kitchen, and Brent Owens: Extreme, Authentic & Unwrapped Cheese: Searching for a Taste of Place premieres today, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. The six-part documentary explores the connection between cheese and terroir, the environment where it is produced, led by international cheese specialist Will Studd The series follows cheesemakers across different regions, highlighting craftsmanship, dedication, and tradition. Jeremy Pang’s Hong Kong Kitchen

airs Sunday (May 17) at 7:00 p.m.

The show follows British chef Jeremy Pang as he explores the streets of Hong Kong with celebrity guests, showcasing Cantonese cuisine and the city’s food culture.

Meanwhile, MasterChef Australia Season 6 winner Brent Owens takes viewers to South Africa in Brent Owens: Extreme, Authentic & Unwrapped, a 13-episode travel series featuring food and adventure experiences across the country. The program premiered May 3 and airs new episodes on Sundays at 8:30 p.m.

Metro Channel, a lifestyle cable network, is available on Sky Cable Channel 52 (SD) and Channel 174 (HD), Cignal Channel 69, and GSAT Channel 70.

pines’ most prestigious recognition programs that honors individuals whose achievements, integrity, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on the nation and the Filipino people.

Founded in 1988 by JCI Senate Philippines in partnership with national institutions and civic leaders, the award was established to recognize living Filipinos whose life’s work reflects excellence not only in their professions but also in nationbuilding, ethical leadership, and meaningful social contribution.

Over the decades, TOFIL has honored individuals from fields such as

business, public service, medicine, science, education, arts, media, entrepreneurship, sports, humanitarian work, and community development.

More than a recognition, it has become a symbol of inspiration, highlighting values such as hard work, patriotism, innovation, compassion, and servant leadership.

Among past honorees are Jose W. Diokno, known for his defense of democracy and human rights, and Washington SyCip, whose work helped shape Philippine business and entrepreneurship.

Each honoree goes through a rigorous selection process led by a panel

of judges from various sectors. Candidates are assessed not only on professional achievement but also on character, social impact, legacy, and contribution to national development. Through the years, the TOFIL Award has continued to spotlight stories of achievement rooted in purpose and service, emphasizing that success is measured not only by personal milestones but also by the communities uplifted along the way. Today, it remains a platform that celebrates the Filipino spirit, resilient, globally competitive, compassionate, and committed to building a better nation for future generations.

Landco’s crown jewel secures four regional honors, eyes international recognition

THE Nautilus at CaSoBe has secured four honors at the 2026–2027 Asia-Pacific Property Awards and two nominations at the International Property Awards, placing the Philippine development on the regional and global real estate stage.

The Nautilus at CaSoBe, a flagship beachfront condotel by Landco Pacific Corporation, received five-star recognition in Architecture for Multiple Residences, Leisure Architecture, Sustainable Residential Development, and Leisure Development during a gala night in Bangkok attended by regional property leaders.

The project is also the only Philippine entry advancing to the International Property Awards, with nominations in Architecture for Multiple Residences and Leisure Architecture. Winners will be announced in London later this year following evaluation by a global panel of industry experts.

The recognition follows earlier international wins for Landco Pacific, including The Spinnaker at Club Laiya, which was named Best International Sustainable Residential Development at the 2024–2025 International Property Awards in London.

“When the world takes notice of The Nautilus, it validates something we have long stood by — that when you build with genuine care for design, for people, and for the environment, the results speak for themselves,” said Landco Pacific president and CEO Erickson Y. Manzano

He added that sustainability is central to the company’s approach. “Sustainability is not a box we check. It is embedded in how we design, build, and operate,” he said. Inspired by Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, The Nautilus rises as a 10-story condotel within the 15-hectare CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach) estate in Batangas, about two to three hours from Metro Manila. It

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