Manila Standard - 2026 June 17 - Wednesday

Sandigan puts Jinggoy under 90-day preventive

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Sandiganbayan Second Division has placed Senator Jinggoy Estrada under a 90-day preventive suspension over alleged kickbacks linked to the flood control mess.

Reacting to the court’s decision,

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said in a social media post that the legal directive explicitly bars Estrada from taking part in the high-profile political trial of the vice president throughout the three-month suspension period.

“Nothing can be clearer than this.

‘No stopping special session’

By Pot Chavez, Joel Zurbano and Ram Superable

SENATE President

Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday urged all senators to attend today’s special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying the one-day proceedings should be used to act on long-pending measures and key appointments.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and eight other allied senators, however, filed a petition before the Supreme Court yesterday seeking to declare null and void Gatchalian’s election as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Not everyone in Cayetano’s bloc joined the petition, though, with Senators Mark Villar, Joel Vil lanueva, and Ronald dela Rosa not included.

Villanueva earlier said he will attend the special session, while Dela Rosa has not surfaced since leaving the Senate premises on May 14 amid a standing arrest warrant from the In ternational Criminal Court.

“To allow an un-quorumed Senate minority to reshape the leadership of a co-equal branch of government is to sanction a constitutional crisis by subtraction. A Senate stripped of its independent voice ceases to be a counterweight to power and becomes a rubber stamp for executive ambition,” the 87-page petition read.

18 ex-bodyguards raise accusations anew in senator-less presscon

By Joel Zurbano, Ram Superable and Charles Dantes

THE 18 ex-bodyguards of former lawmaker Zaldy Co presented anew their

allegations of distributing luggage filled with cash against several politicians, government officials and even media personalities in a press conference led by former Rep. Mike Defensor. Defensor earlier packaged the press

IRAN said Tuesday that talks with the United States on its nuclear program and sanctions relief would likely begin later this week, as President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would “completely open” once the foes sign their deal.

Officials say negotiations over a final deal would take place in a 60-day

window after the memorandum of understanding to end nearly four months of war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran is physically signed.

“Likely on Friday, at a location to be determined... a new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States to reach a final agreement will

conference as a “Blue Ribbon Committee hearing” but no senator was present during the event, not even Senator Rodante Marcoleta who previously headed a hearing that invited the 18 to the Senate.

The former security personnel detailed

their participation in the deliveries of cashfilled “maleta” and presented photos which they said are proof of their allegations. Some of the personalities named by the former bodyguards immediately

House prosecutors to call in VP Sara’s officials as hostile witnesses

By Maricel V. Cruz

OFFICIALS of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) may be called as hostile witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, lead prosecutor lawyer Gerville Luistro of Batangas said.

Luistro made the disclosure as the House prosecution panel filed their pre-trial brief identifying witnesses and evidence for the June 18 pre-trial conference before the Senate impeachment court. Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense team also confirmed they have formally filed the respondent’s pre-trial brief before the Senate impeachment court. In another development, a member of the prosecution team said at least 50 firearms allegedly registered under the Vice President and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, could push their actual net worth above the figures reported in Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net

Anti-corruption fight a major concern of PBBM

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the fight against corruption remains one of the most serious concerns and priorities of his administration, stressing that public funds lost to graft deprive Filipinos of essential services and opportunities.

Speaking during a joint press confer-

ence with visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Malacañang,

Marcos said corruption weakens the government’s ability to deliver programs and projects for the people.

In the same forum, Marcos and. and Steinmeier pledged to deepen cooperation in defense, trade, maritime security, infrastructure and renewable energy.

Worth (SALN).

“I think most of them you’ve seen already in the inquiry in aid of legislation by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability then presided by Chair Joel Chua back in the 19th Congress,” Luistro said.

The OVP and DepEd are central to the impeachment allegations involving confidential funds, with Duterte having served as both Vice President and Education secretary during the period covered by several congressional inquiries.

Luistro also said the prosecution expects strong opposition from Duterte’s camp when evidence is presented under the article involving unexplained wealth.

“Without specifically mentioning the witnesses and the exhibits to be presented, but we anticipate that to happen in the article for unexplained wealth,” Luistro said.

Asked whether the defense would oppose efforts to subpoena bank records and bank officials, Luistro said the prosecution already expects such resistance.

“We anticipate that,” Luistro stressed.

The Batangas lawmaker pointed to past legal actions taken by Duterte’s camp during earlier proceedings as basis for the prosecution’s expectation.

In a statement, Duterte’s defense spokesperson, lawyer Michael Poa, said they personally submitted the document at around late Monday afternoon, but refrained from disclosing its contents while proceedings are ongoing.

“We will refrain from discussing the substance of the filing at this time, out of respect for the ongoing proceedings and in accordance with Rule XVIII of the Senate Rules on Impeachment,” it added.

In an interview with House reporters, House impeachment prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said they would would seek records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) pertaining to the armory of the Dutertes.

“So there are three important aspects to this new evidence. First, the type of property,” Ridon explained.

‘I mean, I think those properties that are regulated properties like guns, firearms, should really be declared in the SALN of a public official,” he said.

PBBM in Russia for 3-day visit

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Russia on Wednesday for a three-day working visit centered on strengthening economic cooperation, energy security, and food supply resilience.

The June 17–19 visit will see President Marcos attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan and hold a bilateral meeting with Russian

“With much respect, the Honorable Court is thus called upon to exercise its judicial power to halt this overreach, reinforce the canalized boundaries between the branches of government, and ensure that the Senate remains a true coequal partner in governance — beholden only to the Constitution and the people, not to the dictates of the Executive,” it added.

‘You can have the Senate presidency but…’ Cayetano appeared ready for the possibility that Gatchalian’s bloc will have 13 members or more by today.

“If they already have 13, congratulations. We know how you got it, through intimidation, bribery, and threats of imprisonment,” he said in a Facebook live video.

“We were actually discussing among ourselves – they can get everything, the Senate presidency, all the committees, but if they (Gatchalian bloc) are sincere, they must leave the Blue Ribbon Committee to us.”

“My question is, if you get 13, are we going to erase the flood control issue again, or will we put it front and center?” Cayetano added.

He claimed the Senate leadership row aimed to confuse the public and shield the administration from accountability over alleged flood infrastructure spending irregularities.

“When fundamental truths are... covered up or manipulated, public officials have a duty to act. Whether it is protecting the independence of the Senate from Malacañang, uncovering the truth behind the flood control corruption scandal,

President Vladimir Putin, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The discussions are expected to focus on food security, energy cooperation,

achieving justice through an impartial impeachment trial, or preventing a sinister Charter Change, the truth and the constitutionally provided safeguards embodied in our laws matter,” Cayetano said.

‘Cayetano is the crisis’

Senator Panfilo Lacson criticized Cayetano for his “last minute” attempt to assert his “authority” as Senate President through the petition his bloc filed before the High Court.

“Disgraced ex-SP Cayetano should have done that earlier to give the Court sufficient time to study and rule on the issue now being raised before the Court. Instead, he chose to file it at the last minute or a day before the special session called by PBBM,” Lacson said.

“Is he trying to dig deeper in his bag of tricks to create a scene (today) by invoking that pending action by the SC on his petition?”

“The Senate Sgt-at-Arms may have his arms and hands full (today) in case another series of crises is again created by Sen. Cayetano. In actual fact, he (Cayetano) is the crisis,” Lacson added.

Aside from Cayetano, other petitioners were Senators Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, and Camille Villar.

Lawyer Jose Luis Montales who served as Senate Secretary under Cayetano’s leadership, was also named a petitioner.

Gatchalian and the members of his bloc as well as Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfredo Corpus were named respondents.

‘Fulfill our mandate with all our might’ Gatchalian, for his part, said today’s

practices that had become embedded in parts of government.

trade, and broader economic relations between the Philippines and Russia.

The trip comes as the Philippines continues to confront energy supply challenges and rising concerns over global commodity volatility. Philippine officials indicated that oil, nuclear energy cooperation and trade will be among the key topics raised during the Marcos-Putin meeting.

Mr. Marcos has pursued a foreign policy aimed at expanding Manila’s economic and strategic partnerships with a wide range of countries while

special session will allow lawmakers to “act on measures that matter to the Filipino people.”

“The Senate must continue to work, fulfill its mandate, and respond to the needs of our nation,” he said.

“The Senate recognizes its duty to the people, and we will fulfill it with all our might in the special session called by our President,” Gatchalian added.

Among the measures lined up for consideration are the proposed establishment of a National Center for Geriatric Health, amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act, the proposed Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act, and amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Lawmakers are also expected to deliberate on the proposed Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged and Conflict-Affected Areas (GIDA) Schools Act, amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, and the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program.

Gatchalian noted the Commission on Appointments must also convene to act on pending Cabinet, military, and Foreign Service appointments.

“All of these will directly affect the lives of Filipinos, so we will ensure that the Senate acts quickly and efficiently. We will also discuss immediate relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction assistance for the tens of thousands of Filipinos affected by the Sarangani earthquake, including the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure,” he said.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri previously said members of the Senate ma-

maintaining longstanding alliances.

The Russia visit reflects that approach, particularly as the Philippines explores additional sources of energy and agricultural imports to bolster domestic supply chains.

The ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit is expected to provide a platform for regional leaders to discuss trade, economic recovery, food security, and emerging geopolitical challenges affecting Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

jority are committed to attending the special session and addressing urgent pending measures.

He described the agenda as clear and urgent, focusing on healthcare, education funding, and assistance for Filipinos in crisis.

“No drama, no delay, no excuse not to work. We should be ready to work and ready to help move forward whatever must be acted upon for the public good,” Zubiri said.

Enhanced security measures extended

As this developed, the Senate yesterday decided to extend the enforcement of enhanced security measures, Gatchalian said after a discussion with security officials from law enforcement agencies.

He confirmed the identified threat to the Senate arises from an armed group, reinforcing the necessity for these measures.

Earlier, Gatchalian issued an advisory to all senators and Senate offices that the security survey and inspection (SSI) stemmed from persistent information and intelligence reports relayed by the National Bureau of Investigation, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and other corroborating security assessments that confirmed an “evolving security concern.”

In his advisory, Gatchalian said the evolving security concern is under the context of “heightened political tensions, ongoing impeachment proceedings, anticipated mass mobilizations and the risk of actions that may threaten the security of the Senators, officials and employees, and disrupt, impede or interfere with Senate operations.”

begin,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

“In the final agreement, decisions will be made on the nuclear issues and the lifting of sanctions.”

According to Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Islamic republic’s top negotiator, will attend the signing in Switzerland.

The US side will be represented by Vice President JD Vance, who said Trump himself might also attend.

The developments came after Trump said an Iranian blockade on the crucial Hormuz strait oil and gas route would be fully lifted by the same day, which would be a major boost to the global economy.

The US had, in retaliation, imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports.

“Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said Monday, adding later that he did not “think we will need much help” keeping the waterway open.

Sporadic episodes of violence since an April ceasefire had threatened a deal but weeks of indirect negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar built momentum for an interim agreement. AFP

“The fight against corruption in the Philippines is as serious as it can get,” Marcos said.

“Every government, every entity, every business entity, every government feels the corrosive influence of corruption… This completely changes the way government can work. It limits governments to such an extent that many of the things that are wished for, that are necessary as services to the people, government is unable to deliver,” he added.

Marcos also said his administration’s anti-corruption campaign required sweeping reforms to dismantle abusive

“There was no way to do it easily or painlessly. We had to turn everything on its head to make very, very clear that these abusive practices that we had to suffer from before will no longer be allowed,” he pointed out.

The President said authorities are continuing efforts to uncover how irregularities developed within government systems and to hold accountable those responsible.

“We have to discover that, so we don’t go and do it again and make the same mistakes,” he said. “Those who are found to be part of this system of corruption, they will be punished and they will provide restitution to the Filipino people,” he said.

Earlier this year, Marcos ordered a comprehensive audit and inspection of flood control projects nationwide after questions were raised over billions of pesos spent on infrastructure that allegedly failed to mitigate flooding in several areas.

Government agencies have since filed administrative and criminal complaints against several individuals linked to allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects, while hundreds of flood control projects remained under review.

Marcos said corruption involving public funds is particularly unacceptable because it directly affects ordinary Filipinos.

“What they have taken is not my money or your money or a company’s money. It’s the money for the people,” he said.

tors, and AI tools. Only 28 percent of adult Filipino respondents said they trusted most news most of the time, down from 38 percent in 2025 – a sharper fall than in Ireland, Thailand, Peru, and Poland, also among the markets with the sharpest declines this year.

vate hangar alongside workers from Misibis Aviation and Development Corp., an aviation firm associated with Co.

fired back against the accusations.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said he will take legal action after he was accused of receiving suitcases containing up to P70 million in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.

“Pure insinuations. Pure allegations. Pure theater. They just want to tarnish my reported assumption of office as chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee that will investigate the flood control scam,” he said.

The former “bagmen” of Co showed photos of Pangilinan, his wife Sharon Cuneta, and their two children inside a pri-

“There is not a single shred of basis in the attempts to smear my character by those who held a press conference about the suitcases linked to the billions of pesos stolen from the nation’s coffers. And because you even dragged my family into this, you will experience actual court cases, not just insinuations, allegations, or theater. You will be held accountable for the slander you are doing,” Pangilinan said.

Commission on Elections chairman

George Garcia also denied allegations that he received suitcases containing millions of pesos from individuals linked to the flood control scandal, describing the

The DNR, now in its 15th year, is based on an online YouGov survey of more than 97,000 adults across 48 markets, including 2,021 in the Philippines, for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford.

The fall pulled the Philippines below the global average of 37 percent, itself the lowest level since the DNR began tracking trust in news in 2015. It erased recent gains: Trust stood at 27 percent in 2020, rose to 38 percent in

claims as inconsistent and fabricated.

During an interview with Bilyonaryo’s Agenda, Garcia said he was not surprised that his name surfaced during yesterday’s press conference.

Garcia noted that earlier allegations claimed he had received four suitcases containing money, while the latest version alleged that he was given a black bag containing P10 million.

“You can see the lie. It’s a lie and it’s not even perfect. What is it really, a suitcase or a bag?” the poll chief said.

“I have nothing to do with flood control. Comelec is very far from the government’s flood control programs or projects,” he added.

Garcia said his legal action would not be limited to those who publicly made

2025, then dropped back to 28 percent this year.

Beyond the newsroom

The global report cautions against reading the trust decline only as a verdict on newsrooms. In the hardest-hit countries, it pointed to “political instability, divisive elections,” “a noisier and more fragmented information environment,” and direct attacks on news outlets and journalists.

the allegations but could also include individuals who may be behind the claims.

“It’s not enough that only the 18 people are implicated. Those behind them should also be included,” he said.

Media personality Ramon Tulfo also laughed off allegations linking him to the alleged flood control scam, saying that he wished the claims of him receiving millions of pesos were true.

In a Facebook post, Tulfo ridiculed the claim, questioning how P2 million to P3 million could fit inside a “small paper bag.”

“I’ll confront Joey when I get home to Manila and ask him where the paper bag of money went. My friends and family might ask for ‘balato’ with this allegation. How can millions of pesos fit in a small paper bag? Perhaps in a

Sen Jinggoy cannot participate in the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte for a period of 90 days,” he said.

“This Court hereby orders the suspension pendente lite of accused Senator Jose ‘Jinggoy’ P. Ejercito Estrada from his present position as Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, and from any other public office he may now or hereafter hold for a period of ninety (90) days from receipt of this Resolution,” the Sandiganbayan Second Division said in a resolution. Estrada’s suspension was in accordance with the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Plunder Law, under which courts may direct the preventive suspension of incumbent public officials once a criminal charge has been filed against them.

Section 5 of Republic Act 7080, or the Plunder Law, provides that any public official facing criminal prosecution “under a valid information under this Act ... shall be suspended from office.”

Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act states that officials charged with graft or criminal offenses under the Revised Penal Code “shall be suspended from office.”

‘bayong’ (tote bag) if that were the case,” he said.

Broadcaster Arnold Clavio also rejected the allegations that he received paper bags containing cash.

“Lies. Laughable. Saddening. But I will face all of this without fear. Talk is cheap. Before talking big, show the evidence first,” Clavio said.

As this developed, Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator Erwin Tulfo are mulling legal action against Defensor for claiming that the Blue Ribbon committee will be resuming its probe.

“He is creating confusion. He is not the chairman of the Blue Ribbon. He is not a member. He is not a senator. Why is he lying to the people?” Gatchalian said.

Committed to care: How medical services sustain Navy readiness

WHERE were you 10 years ago?

For many of us, a decade can feel like a blur—a collection of memories and moments reviewed in our minds. But for some, those ten years mark transformations that spread far past personal milestones, strengthening institutions that protect and serve the nation.

For the Philippine Navy, one of those transformations began in December 2016 at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui (NSLG) in San Antonio, Zambales, when the NSLG Medical Dispensary (NSLG MD) was renovated with the support of the SM Foundation. The same facility still pulses with purpose, delivering quality healthcare to naval personnel, trainees, their families, and residents nearly a decade later.

The dispensary provides about 18,000 medical services each year, ranging from preventive immunizations and physical exams to treatment of common infections and training-related injuries.

For Female Sailor Candidate Rochelle Nuestro, a trainee of the Philippine Navy Class 75, an ordinary day of training turned into a moment of uncertainty that could have changed the course of her life. Yet, it was within the walls of the NSLG Medical Dispensary that her journey to recovery began—a place where skill, compassion, and readiness converge to save not just bodies, but futures.

Reflecting on her experience, Nuestro said, “Kung wala ‘yung dispensary, for sure, wala na ako dito (Philippine Navy) kasi ‘yung accident ko, napunan agad siya because of the dispensary kaya hindi siya lumala nang sobra.” Her words capture the lifesaving role of the dispensary, where immediate first aid, X-rays, fracture care, and ongoing guidance ensured that her injury did not derail her career.

Serving as both a healthcare center and a force readiness asset, the NSLG Medical Dispensary provides access to quality care, allowing trainees to focus on their rigorous programs with confidence that their health is in capable hands.

SM Foundation’s partnership with the Philippine Navy has also reached other parts of the country through the renovation and expansion of several medical and dental dispensaries. These include facilities in LapuLapu City, Legazpi City, and Puerto Princesa, each improved to provide more accessible, efficient, and responsive healthcare services for Navy personnel, their families, and nearby communities. With every upgraded dispensary, care becomes faster, more accessible, and more dignified for the men and women of the Philippine Navy, their families, and the communities that live around them. These improvements also help raise the standards of medical service, supporting DOH and PhilHealth accreditation while bringing essential healthcare closer to those who need it most.

Rear Admiral Karl Decapia, PN, emphasizes the role of these renovations in keeping the Navy mission-ready:

“SM Foundation has given us years of free maintenance of the medical dispensary. It’s a huge help for NETC. It paved the way for improved medical services.”

SM Foundation has given us years of free maintenance of the medical dispensary. It’s a huge help for NETC. It paved the way for improved medical services.

His words highlight how quality healthcare not only improves health outcomes but also boosts confidence, morale, and operational readiness— missions that extend beyond clinics and dispensaries. Ten years on, these projects are more than physical renovations; they also represent a long-term commitment to the well-being of the entire Philippine Navy.

And when the question arises, where will we be in the next ten years? The answer lies with the ripple of care and commitment that continues to grow, shaping stronger, healthier communities—today, tomorrow, and for the generations of men and women who will wear the uniform in the years to come.

The Naval Base Rafael Ramos Medical and Dental Dispensary in Lapu-Lapu City has been transformed from a small space into a modern medical facility that now provides expanded outpatient, radiology, laboratory, and dental services.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Only 15% of laws have access clauses’

Mindanao monitored for decaying seafood

By Ratziel San Juan

THE Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition (R2KRN), a coalition of freedom of information (FOI) advocates, released a report that found only 55 (15%) of the 378 laws enacted during the 19th Congress contain at least one transparency-related provision.

The remaining 323 laws (85%) have no explicit transparency clause. Furthermore, of the 55 laws with transparency provisions, 15 contain privacy provisions, while 13 contain confidentiality provisions that may limit public access to information.

The group identified 190 transparency-related provisions across enacted laws, whether in whole or in part, including 148 transparency provisions and 42 transparency-limiting provisions, consisting of 20 privacy-related and 22 confidentiality-related provisions.

“We found that transparency is neither absent nor systematically embedded. It appears selectively and is at times accompanied by privacy and confidentiality constraints. Moreover, a substantial number of enacted laws have no explicit transparency provisions at all,” R2KRN said in its report. It likewise found that transparency measures are “concentrated in specific committees and policy sectors rather than institutionalized across all legislation.”

Five committees in the House of Representatives account for a significant share of laws with transparency provisions: Legislative Franchises (six), Science and Technology (five), Ways and Means (five), Basic Education (four), and Higher and Technical Education (four).

The said House panels produced 24 laws, or 44 percent of all measures, with embedded transparency clauses.

Villafuerte: LGUs covered under Right to Information

DEPUTY Majority Leader Luigi Villafuerte of Camarines Sur said local government units (LGUs) are among the government entities covered by the proposed Right to Information (RTI) Act approved by the House of Representatives. Under Substitute House Bill 9397, all government offices, including LGUs, will be required to designate a Right to Information Officer and a Right to Information Decision Maker to process and monitor requests for information. The measure seeks to institutionalize Filipinos’ constitutional right to access official records, contracts, expenditures, policy papers, and other information of public concern.

Villafuerte, one of the bill’s principal authors, said the proposal also aims to establish a centralized online RTI portal where citizens can file and track requests for government information and documents. It likewise provides for the creation of an RTI Commission to hear appeals, investigate violations, and enforce compliance. Maricel V. Cruz

Vizcarra ushers Isabela town into new era

RAMON, Isabela — Ramon is moving beyond its identity as a mere “highway town.”

Under the leadership of Mayor Giovanni Vizcarra, the municipality is building its future on four pillars: tourism, livelihood, health care, and education.

Mayor Giovanni Vizcarra and Vice Mayor Dennis Jon dela Cruz inaugurated two “Welcome to Ramon, Isabela” arches worth P4.7 million at the Santiago-Ramon and San Mateo-Ramon boundaries on June 15. The structures are intended to welcome visitors while symbolizing the town’s development agenda.

“The arches are our first greeting to visitors. But more than that, they declare what Ramon stands for: pride, unity, and progress,” Vizcarra said. He added that attracting tourists and investors would generate revenue, create jobs, and improve services for residents. Jessica M. Bacud

Solon: Expand dialysis, kidney disease coverage

\ THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) was urged Tuesday to expand its outpatient coverage for dialysis and other renal replacement therapies to make life-saving treatments more accessible to the growing number of Filipinos suffering from kidney disease. Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Brian Yamsuan

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday is monitoring wet markets in coastal communities in Mindanao following reports of seabed uplift and marine life deaths in parts of Sarangani after last week’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake, raising concerns over seafood safety.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed the Police Regional Offices in SOCCSKSARGEN (PRO12) and the Davao Region (PRO-11) to mobilize personnel and prevent potentially contaminated marine life from reaching public markets.

“We are coordinating with con-

By Maricel V. Cruz

AKBAYAN Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula on Tuesday urged President Marcos to immediately appoint a Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Panel Implementing Chairperson, a position left vacant after the resignation of Undersecretary Cesar Yano earlier this year.

Ismula emphasized that the appointment would ensure the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) remains fully implemented and on track, including the vital decommissioning process for combatants.

“As we welcome Amun Jadid, President Marcos Jr. must do right by our Muslim Filipino communities in BARMM this Islamic New Year. He can no longer delay the appointment of the GPH Implementing Panel Chair because doing so stalls peace and development,” Ismula said.

Ismula noted that the appointment is urgent given the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, to ensure public trust and confidence in the

cerned government agencies in dealing with this matter with the goal of protecting the public from any potential harm,” Nartatez said.

“I have explicitly directed our local units in the affected areas to establish tight security checkpoints and maritime monitoring points around the uplifted coastal areas in Sarangani and Davao Occidental to strictly prohibit anyone from scavenging or harvesting exposed marine life,” he added.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the earthquake that struck Sarangani on June 8 triggered a severe co-seismic coastal uplift that raised the seabed by as much as two

meters in Glan, Sarangani.

Authorities reported similar conditions in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.

The geological shift caused seawater to retreat by about 200 meters, exposing large sections of coral reefs and seagrass beds.

As a result, significant numbers of marine organisms, including reef fish, eels, clams, and shellfish, have died, raising concerns about public health risks and the environmental impact of decaying marine life.

Nartatez said strict controls are necessary despite the hardships being faced by communities affected by the earthquake.

normalization track of the peace agreement.

“The immediate appointment of a new GPH Implementing Panel Chair will ensure that decommissioning continues and that the peace process remains on track as the BARMM elections approach,” she said.

Ismula further urged the Chief Executive to continue honoring and upholding the regional autonomy guaranteed to the Bangsamoro people under the peace pact.

“We urge Malacañang to respect the autonomy of the regional government as promised in the CAB by ensuring that the next elections are free, fair, and peaceful,” Ismula added.

“We have a golden opportunity to be one of the most successful peace processes in the world; we cannot squander that,” she said.

“President Marcos Jr. should also certify as urgent the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Act, which is one of the many important dimensions of the normalization track that has yet to be accomplished,” Ismula said.

Meanwhile, Senate committees that produced laws with transparency-related provisions are Public Services (seven), Ways and Means (six), Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform (five), Finance (five), and Science and Technology (five).

This accounted for 28 laws, or 51 percent of those with transparency provisions.

In contrast, several other committees were described as “stingy” in producing laws that promote transparency, showing a “consistent absence of such provisions.”

These include the House committees on Basic Education, Transportation, Local Government, and Justice, as well as the Senate committees on Basic Education, Public Services, Local Government, and Justice and Human Rights.

“This uneven distribution suggests that the integration of transparency provisions is not institutionalized across committees but rather varies significantly by sector and legislative practice. Some committees also produce laws involving, for instance, the renaming of buildings or the declaration of holidays, where transparency is less relevant,” R2KRN said.

By Joel Pinaroc

OPINION

The long road of learning

A NEW school year has begun for millions of Filipino learners, bringing a significant change: the shift from the traditional four-quarter system to a three-term academic calendar.

For many families, this may seem like a simple scheduling adjustment. Yet it reflects a broader effort to improve how our education system serves learners, teachers, and communities.

Through the work of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), we have gained a clearer understanding of the realities facing Philippine education.

We see the learning gaps that have emerged over time, the pressures on teachers, governance challenges, and the need to better connect education with jobs, opportunity, and national development.

While these findings highlight serious concerns, they also offer reasons for optimism.

Meaningful reform becomes possible when institutions listen, assess challenges honestly, collaborate, and remain committed to lasting solutions. Education shapes economic growth, social mobility, civic participation, community resilience, and national competitiveness.

This is why education reform is about more than policies or programs. It asks a fundamental question: Do we have the collective resolve to build the future we want?

The evidence is before us, and the roadmap is taking shape. The task now is to sustain the journey.

At its heart is the learner, whose growth unfolds across many stages of life.

A child enters school full of curiosity and progresses through basic education before choosing among higher education, technical-vocational training, employment, entrepreneurship, or further specialization. Throughout adulthood, skills must be developed, strengthened, and renewed.

Learning never stands still because life itself continues to move.

Recognizing this reality means viewing education not as separate experiences but as a connected pathway, where each stage influences the next. With this perspective in mind, three factors deserve our attention: continuity, coordination and commitment. First, continuity. Education works best when every level supports the next. Early childhood education builds foun-

dational skills.

Basic education prepares learners for further study and work. Higher education and technical-vocational training provide specialized knowledge and practical skills. Lifelong learning helps workers adapt in a changing economy.

A strong education system resembles a bridge built section by section, enabling learners to move confidently toward the future.

—“—

The road ahead calls for continuity, coordination, and commitment

Second, coordination. Responsibility for learning is shared. Schools, universities, training centers, employers, local governments, national agencies, and communities all contribute to learner success.

When these stakeholders work toward a common goal, policies become more effective, resources have greater impact, and opportunities become more accessible.

Third, commitment. Lasting progress depends on sustained commitment. Real reform requires patience, persistence, and steady execution.

Many of the most important educational gains happen quietly: a teacher receives better support, a student stays in school and graduates, a worker gains new skills and secures a better job, or a family achieves greater stability through educational opportunity.

Though often unnoticed, these everyday achievements collectively help build a stronger, more prosperous nation.

As another school year begins, education remains our most enduring investment in people. Every reform, policy, and innovation ultimately serves the learner.

The road ahead calls for continuity, coordination, and commitment. These principles can guide us toward an education system that empowers every Filipino to learn, grow, contribute, and succeed.

The future we seek is already taking shape in our classrooms. Our responsibility is to support learners and ensure that every step forward contributes to national progress.

Delivering development in times of explosive global volatility

By Kanni Wignaraja and Christophe Bahuet

SOUTHEAST Asia, like much of the world, faces an increasingly uncertain risk landscape. Economic and climate shocks are intensifying; conflict-induced tensions have disrupted global trade and energy markets; and fiscal space is tightening with demands on public spending rising rapidly. All of this makes it hard to secure economic, energy and human security.

Recent conflict escalation in the Middle East has put pressure on several drivers of the Philippines’ growth story – a dynamic import-export economy, service sector growth, significant remittance revenues, and robust foreign direct investment. Combined with inflationary pressures on households and firms, these pressures are adding to fiscal strain and forcing difficult policy choices. Whether these amount to real trade-offs remains unclear.

This picture is further strained by intensifying natural disasters that already cost ASEAN economies billions of dollars each year. In the Philippines alone, recorded post-disaster reconstruction needs have

reached at least P132 billion over the last decade.

What is at stake is not only economic growth but also progress in human development – expanding jobs and skills for young people, protecting livelihoods and access to essential services, and enabling communities to withstand shocks and recover.

—“—

In the Philippines alone, recorded post-disaster reconstruction needs have reached at least P132 billion over the last decade

The Southeast Asia region has achieved textbook progress over recent decades—lifting millions out of poverty, expanding access to services, finance and a business ecosystem, all the time strengthening regional integration and security.

The central question is how to sustain and grow these gains in a context of greater external shocks and volatility.

Making up for lost days

WE WELCOME President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for Congress to hold a special session today.

According to the Palace, today’s meeting should cover priority bills and appointments. Most especially, lawmakers should talk about what needs to be done for earthquake victims and other vulnerable sectors amid the various crises that the country is experiencing.

These concerns do not go on breaks even as lawmakers do, he said.

Drama marked the adjournment sine die of Congress, specifically the Senate, on June 3. It was the culmination of a tense four-week period that involved the surprise appearance of a fugitive to enable a Senate coup, a staircase chase, a change in committee leadership, gunshots later on found to be warning shots from Senate security, a dawn escape, tearful recriminations, many Facebook Live sessions, an attempt to introduce online participation in sessions even without force majeure, a walkout, the arrest of another senator on plunder charges, an admonition from the Senate President for his colleagues not to attend sessions, and the surprise appearance of an embattled senator tipping the balance of power. All Senate positions were declared vacant, a new Senate leader – albeit just a pro-tempore – was installed, and committees were redistributed anew. As recently as last week, there were threats to the

security of the Senate, prompting a work-from-home arrangement. Hackers also defaced the web site.

As of press time, the former Senate President clings desperately to his post. Unfortunately for him, even the lawyers of the political family he so staunchly defends recognized the authority of his rival. It is our hope that today’s session will once and for all settle whatever questions there might be on the new Senate leadership, and that this transpires without histrionics so that the work could begin in earnest.

—“—

Lawmakers have been shortchanging the people

There are legitimate conversations to be had. For example, the anti-political dynasty bill remains controversial, and many are concerned that while so named, its provisions still provide convenient loopholes for prominent families to remain in power across generations. The people are fully aware that the very people who are making this decision are themselves products of the system, but they must,

at the very least, acknowledge this anomaly and exhibit a sincere desire to challenge the status quo.

We must also seriously dive into the flood control scandal minus the machinations of wily personalities out to save their skins. The rainy season is beginning, and soon there will be typhoons and flooding again. People will remember, with greater anger and indignation, how funds meant for their protection instead fattened the bank accounts of hypocrites proclaiming they were public servants.

The elephant in the room, of course, is the impeachment trial of the Vice President, slated to begin July 6. For an orderly trial to proceed and for the truth to come out, we need sensible Senate leadership not driven by personal loyalties or animosities. There are witnesses to be heard and documents to be presented. Let the public hear and see -- and then make up their own minds instead of parroting scripts.

Precious Senate days were lost in the chaos of the past few weeks. In the meantime, the senators derived their salaries and reaped their privileges even if they did not get any work done, or worse, refused to work, on those days It is only fitting that lawmakers convene today and make up for lost time. They should acknowledge that they have been shortchanging Fililipinos with their behavior, and know that we are watching them.

Why are some people mosquito magnets? Clues are emerging

PARIS – Ever felt like mosquitoes bite you while ignoring everyone else?

Scientists are now making progress in deciphering the complex chemical cocktail that makes particular people more enticing to these disease-spreading bloodsuckers.

“It’s not a misconception -- mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others,” Frederic Simard of France’s Institute of Research for Development told AFP.

“But we are not all magnets all the time,” the medical entomologist added.

A range of sensory cues can cause mosquitoes to pick one human over another -- mainly the smell and heat our bodies give off, and the carbon dioxide we exhale.

Female mosquitoes -- which are the only ones that bite -- detect these signals with finely-tuned receptors, then choose their target accordingly.

“We have known for over 100 years that mosquitoes are attracted by the carbon dioxide that we exhale -- this is the first signal that triggers their behaviour” when they are dozens of metres away, Swedish scientist Rickard Ignell told AFP.

Within around 10 metres, “mosquitoes will start detecting our odour, and in combination with carbon dioxide,” this attracts them even more, said the senior author of a recent study on the subject.

As they get closer, body temperature and humidity make particular humans even more enticing.

Blood type doesn’t matter

However some popular theories on this subject do not hold water.

The idea that mosquitoes prefer particular blood types “has no scientific basis,” Simard said.

“There have been some studies, but

As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines is uniquely positioned to help shape a forward-leaning agenda that addresses current and future risk in more informed and better prepared ways, to respond to immediate shocks while addressing longerterm structural challenges.

The Philippines’ national experience demonstrates how risk-informed local planning, climate adaptation and decentralized economic governance can be advanced in an integrated manner.

Its role as Chair offers an opportunity to elevate these approaches at the regional level, while learning from others, on the best ways to align national reforms with collaborative ASEAN action in areas of collective interest. In this context, three priorities stand

only involving very few people,” he said. “Nor is it related to skin, eye or hair color,” he added.

Odour, on the other hand, matters greatly.

“A soup of molecules produced by our microbiota is more -- or less -- appealing to mosquitoes,” Simard explained.

—“—

Discovering why mosquitoes prefer particular people has becoming a more pressing issue as climate change expands the range where they roam

Humans release between 300 and 1,000 different odorous compounds, research has shown, but scientists are only just beginning to understand which ones attract mosquitoes.

For Ignell’s recent study, the researchers released Aedes aegypti mosquitoes -- known for spreading yellow fever and dengue -- on 42 women in a lab, to see which ones they preferred.

“We have shown that mosquitoes use a blend of odorous compounds (we identified 27 that the mosquitoes will detect, out of the possible 1,000) for their attraction to us,” Ignell said.

The woman the mosquitoes most liked to bite -- which included pregnant women in their second trimester -- produced a large amount of a particular compound made by a breakdown of the skin oil se-

out for the countries in this region, First, integrating the cost of climate risk into the planning and delivery of public and private investments.

An anticipatory approach requires systematically integrating risk analysis into local, national, and regional development plans, sector strategies, and factoring this into major public and private investment decisions and delivery. This is especially important for critical infrastructure and services.

In practice, this requires applying, coordinating, and monitoring regulations and standards so that infrastructure development and service delivery are riskinformed and properly costed. Several ASEAN countries are already moving in this direction.

bum. That even a small increase of this compound -- called “1-octen-3-ol”, or mushroom alcohol -- made a difference came as a surprise, Ignell emphasised.

“Mosquitoes are fascinating creatures,” he added.

Beer makes you attractive Drinking beer has also been linked to attracting mosquitoes, because it raises body temperature, increases the amount of exhaled CO2 and changes skin odor, according to several studies.

For standardized research conducted in Burkina Faso, some brave volunteers drank beer, then several days later water, to see which mosquitoes preferred.

The Anopheles mosquito, which can spread malaria, was more enticed by the scent of the beer drinkers.

For a 2023 study in the Netherlands, 465 volunteers put their arms in cages filled with female Anopheles mosquitoes.

The volunteers who had drunk beer in the previous 24 hours were 1.35 times more attractive to the mosquitoes.

Discovering why mosquitoes prefer particular people has becoming a more pressing issue as climate change expands the range where they roam.

For example, the tiger mosquito, a vector for the chikungunya virus, is spreading into new areas. Last year, chikungunya reached as far north as France’s Alsace region for the first time.

“This risk is affecting more and more people,” Simard said.

So what can you do to avoid getting bitten?

Try loose-fitting clothing that covers your skin, mosquito nets and repellent, Simard advised.

“Try to eat light meals -- and go easy on the alcohol,” he added. AFP

Indonesia is linking adaptation planning with climate budgeting; Viet Nam is strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure planning; and in the Philippines, local governments are increasingly using risk data to guide investment decisions and project design. Clear national policy and regulatory frameworks help development partners align support, ensuring resources reinforce rather than bypass these priorities and measures.

(Kanni Wignaraja is an Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, UNDP Assistant Administrator, and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, while Christophe Bahuet is UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines.)

US ‘to build stockpile in Australia’

SYDNEY – The US military is planning a permanent war-ready weapons stockpile for its Marine Corps on Australia’s southeast coast beyond the range of most Chinese missiles, tender documents show and officials confirmed to AFP.

The development of the stockpile, a first for the Marine Corps in Australia, comes as the United States is keen to leverage the continent’s strategic location in the South Pacific to counter China’s rapid military build-up, analysts said.

The US Marines Corps began global prepositioning of military supplies during the Cold War -- using floating stores on ships and caves in Norway where weapons, ammunition and vehicles to sustain thousands of troops are kept.

The first land stockpile in the Asia-Pacific is expected to open this year in the Philippines, close to potential flashpoints in the South China Sea.

Documents published by the US Navy this month show advanced planning for an even larger Australian stockpile, with $30 million allocated to build warehouses and offices in southeastern Victoria state for “critical forward provisioning”.

The Australian stockpile, expected to reach full capacity by 2028, will be kept in Melbourne before being moved to US warehouses to be constructed next year at an Australian military base at Bandiana in rural Victoria, tender documents show.

Australia does not permit foreign military bases on its soil, a sensitive issue in a

country that has a security alliance with the United States and is hosting an increasing variety of US forces on rotation at Australian defence bases.

The US Navy is engaging a global defence contractor to employ around 110 engineers, mechanics, material and safety specialists to manage the Australian stockpile, which includes “crew-served weapons”, the documents show.

“Marine Corps activities in Australia support integrated global sustainment by maintaining ready-for-issue equipment and supplies for operations and exercises across the Indo-Pacific,” a US Marine Corps Forces Pacific spokesperson told AFP.

The spokesperson declined to comment on contract details or force planning assumptions but said Marines equipment is kept at “high readiness”.

Contracting arrangements and the operation of the facility would be made in close coordination with Australia’s Department of Defence.

“These activities improve responsiveness, strengthen interoperability with allies and partners, and support a range of missions across the Indo-Pacific,” the spokesperson said , using an alternative description for the Asia-Pacific region. AFP

UK ups Russia sanctions to bring ‘war machine to halt’— Starmer

EVIAN, France – The UK is imposing a raft of new sanctions against Russia, including on tankers that transport LNG, in a bid to pressure Moscow into halting the war against Ukraine, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced as a special G7 summit session got underway Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending the summit of seven leading world powers in the French resort town of Evian-lesBains, with allies looking to tilt the balance in Kyiv’s favour after over four years of war and intensify pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure on Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent,” said Starmer.

The talks are taking place after a Russian barrage of missiles and drones early Monday killed at least 11 people across Ukraine and sparked a fire at one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in the capital.

Seventy new sanctions actions “will choke Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts” by targeting Russia’s illicit “shadow fleet,” military procurement supply chain and finance networks used to circumvent sanctions, Starmer’s office said.

The actions against the so-called “shadow fleet” -- used by Russia to transport energy and other assets under a different flag -- target more than 20 oil tankers.

Starmer’s office said the United Kingdom is now the first G7 country to sanction several Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels recently acquired by Russia to service an already sanctioned Arctic LNG project.

The British premier -- under pressure at home after his defence minister resigned in a row over military spending last week -- is to tell leaders at the session that “the G7 should collectively go further to ensure Ukraine secures the just and lasting peace it deserves”.

Starmer’s office also announced a deal to send enriched uranium to fuel Ukrainian nuclear power stations which would “power Ukraine for the next two years”.

Some £210 million ($282 million) worth of export finance will allow the UK-based Urenco to supply enriched uranium to Ukraine’s nuclear power producer, Energoatom, it said. AFP

G7 powers in push with Zelenskyy to end war

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France –Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday joined a summit of the G7 group of leading powers seeking to up pressure on Russia to end the war against his country. The talks at the French resort of Evian-les-Bains notably brought Zelenskyy face-to-face with US President Donald Trump, who has sought to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin but also showed signs of losing patience with Russia. Zelensky was warmly greeted by host President Emmanuel Macron, who has in recent months helped drive European efforts to pile pressure on Russia. The Ukrainian president’s attendance at the special morning session kicked off the second day of the threeday meeting, which will be followed later in the day by a session on Iran to be attended by Arab leaders. European leaders will be keen to remind Trump of the importance of pushing Russia to accept peace on Kyiv’s terms and not pressure Ukraine into making concessions to Moscow. Zelensky on Monday urged a “decisive and substantive” response from the G7 leaders after the latest wave of Russian strikes, which killed at least 11 people and sparked a fire at a landmark Kyiv cathedral. He revealed he had proposed a meeting with Putin at the G7 in France, but that Moscow was “not ready” for it.

Later Monday, Zelensky also said he had suggested to Trump that he could meet Putin in the United States, suggesting the Kremlin strongman would find such an offer “harder to refuse.” Trump, who spoke by phone to both Zelensky and Putin, expressed optimism as he arrived at the summit Monday and said that “maybe we can do something” on Ukraine at the G7. “They’re both open to it,” he said. “I had two very good conversations yesterday,” the US president added, without giving further details.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ahead of the G7 summit session that the United Kingdom plans to supply enriched uranium to Ukraine for its nuclear power stations and impose new sanctions against Russia. AFP

IN BRIEF

Multi-nation KAMANDAG military exercise rolls out

THE Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) formally opened the 10th iteration of the annual Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma Mula sa Dagat (KAMANDAG) Exercise on Monday, bringing together military forces from several allied and partner-countries for a series of joint training activities across the Philippines.

The opening ceremony was held at Acero Hall inside Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

This year’s exercise includes participating forces from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC), while representatives from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Thailand are joining as observers.

According to the PMC, training activities will be conducted in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Palawan, TawiTawi, Manila, and Cavite as part of efforts to strengthen interoperability and improve readiness among participating forces. Rex Espiritu

American sex offender barred from entering PH

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has barred a 48-year-old American classified as a registered sex offender from entering the country.

The passenger, identified as Cabbot Allen Sanders, arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 aboard a Korean Air flight from Seoul, South Korea. Immigration officers intercepted Sanders upon arrival after verification through international law enforcement database revealed a derogatory record involving sexual offenses against a minor. Records showed that he was convicted in 1998 for communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. Sanders was booked on the next available flight out of the country for being an undesirable alien under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. Vito Barcelo

Pagasa predicts at least nine typhoons this year

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) foresees nine to 13 tropical cyclones to enter the Philippine area of responsibility until December 2026.

Ana Liza Solis, Pagasa’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief, said despite the El Niño phenomenon, rainfall would not be unusual.

“Historically speaking, there are times that there will be typhoon and super typhoon category,” she said.

“There are also instances (the category) is just a tropical storm, a low pressure area, but it is rainy in times of southwest monsoon or ‘hanging habagat,’” she added. Rio N. Araja

‘Flawed’ anti-dynasty bill nixed

By Othel V. Campos

SEVERAL business and civic organizations have urged the Senate to reject House Bill No. 8389, arguing that the measure would entrench rather than curb political dynasties in the country.

In a joint statement, at least seven organizations said the measure which recently passed third and final reading in the House of Representatives, fails to fulfill the 1987 Constitution’s mandate to prohibit political dynasties, but institutionalizes instead the continued dominance of political families.

The groups said HB 8389 limits its prohibition to relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity and only within the same political unit, leaving significant loopholes that would allow political clans to retain power across different levels of government.

According to the statement, the pro-

posed law would still permit members of the same family to simultaneously occupy key positions such as governor, congressman, and mayor within a province, while other relatives hold national posts including senator, vice president, or president.

The organizations also argued that the bill would allow termed-out officials to pass their positions directly to spouses, children, or siblings without any waiting period, while enabling relatives to swap positions once their respective terms expire. They added that relatives beyond the second degree, including uncles, aunts, and cousins, would remain largely unrestricted under the proposed law.

“This is not reform but protection of dynasties,” the groups said, warning that political dynasties limit opportunities for independent candidates, concentrate public resources within family networks, and contribute to persistent poverty and governance problems in many provinces.

The organizations called on the Senate to refrain from acting on the measure and urged the President to veto the bill should it reach Malacañang. They also backed the “Dapat Isa Lang” campaign being pushed by the People’s Initiative Coalition Against Dynasties (PICAD), which seeks stricter limits on political dynasties through a people’s initiative.

New state prosecutors take oath at Palace

By Pot Chavez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has administered the oath of office to 56 newly appointed prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ), as the agency continues to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s justice system.

The oath-taking ceremony was held last week at the Presidential Hall in Malacañang Palace.

In his message, Mr. Marcos commended the DOJ for implementing key reforms since 2022 and recognized the important role of prosecutors in upholding the rule of law.

“You have chosen this difficult yet noble calling in the service of justice,” the President told the newly minted prosecutors.

Mr. Marcos cited several accomplishments of the DOJ, including the establishment of new regional, city, and provincial prosecution offices nationwide, the expansion of prosecutor positions from 2,756 to 3,407, and the increase in prosecution attorney positions from 210 to 510.

He also noted the improvement in the prosecution success rate of the National Prosecution Service (NPS), which rose from 89.94 percent to 90.84 percent.

The President likewise highlighted

THE Daily

the DOJ’s efforts to strengthen prosecution policies and guidelines, particularly through Department Circular No. 015, which raised the standard of proof required before filing criminal cases in court from “probable cause” to “prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.”

Among those promoted were Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Deana P. Perez, Regional Prosecutor Prima Jesusa B. Quinsayas-Mangelen of Region XII, City Prosecutor Alfred A. Ganaban of the Office of the City Prosecutor in Baguio City, and Julius R. Cesar of the Office of the City Prosecutor in Tagbilaran City.

time.

Most of the editorial and sales staff had reportedly quit by March, according to

The daily traced its origins to a predecessor launched in 1992 and adopted its current name in 1996. It pushed a shift to digital as print circulation fell. The management’s problems worsened after allegations surfaced in 2024 that a former Japanese president was involved in an investment fraud scheme, which damaged the outlet’s reputation. Kyodo Manila-based Japanese paper literally writes

multiple former employees and other people familiar with the matter. A former senior staff member said the paper’s finances had deteriorated in recent years. Former staff members also said the company had failed to pay wages for the month January onward, resulting in an ongoing labor dispute seeking back pay. Rentals for its office has also been left unpaid. Kyodo News contacted the

paper by email to confirm the situation but did not receive a response.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

PH hopes in PH ADT Open rest on Ramos, Que, Jahns

By Jeremiah Sevilla

TARLAC CITY—Sean Ramos is looking to bank on his familiarity of the course at the Luisita Golf and Country Club as the rising star headlines the Filipino cast alongside Keanu Jahns and Angelo Que in the inaugural BingoPlus Philippine Asian Development Tour (ADT) Open that fires off Wednesday here.

“I’ve played this course like a million times before, even as an amateur under the national team. The course has never changed ever since then,” said Ramos, who is currently the highest-ranked Filipino on the ADT Order of Merit standings at No. 10.

“The conditions are really good, though. I think they’re the best I’ve seen. So I’m gonna play the same

Champ Italy leads field in Volleyball Nations League

A STACKED field of champions and medalists headlines the Philippine leg of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) starting on Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig.

World No. 1 and reigning VNL champion Italy banners the cast as the flagship annual international competition of volleyball’s world governing body FIVB, returns to the country.

Japan, VNL silver medalist in 2024, enters the Philippine leg—presented by the Philippine Sports Commission—carrying momentum with a 4-0 win-loss record. Italy, threetime champion US and world No. 13 Czechia are at 3-1.

Starring skipper Mayu Ishikawa, Yoshino Sato and Yukiko Wada, Japan scored victories over France, Ukraine, Germany and Canada.

With Ekaterina Antropova, Merit Adigwe and Loveth Omoruyi leading the way, Italy zoomed past Bulgaria, Netherlands and Turkiye before Brazil ended their run. No. 9 Serbia has managed one win in four matches, while 12th-ranked Dominican Republic is still seeking its first victory of the campaign.

World No. 7 USA battles the Dominican Republic in the 12 p.m. match on Wednesday, before Czechia and Italy clash at 4 p.m. Japan and Serbia face off at 8 p.m.

Each team plays 12 matches in the group stage, with the top eight advancing to the finals in Macau.

The Philippine leg features Pool 5 in Week 2 of the competition. Other hosts of pool play of the prestigious event are Canada, Brazil, China, Türkiye, Thailand, Serbia, Hong Kong and Japan.

way as I did before and hopefully it works,” added the 23-year-old golfer.

Ramos launches his campaign in the $100,000 (P6 million) tournament with USA’s Henry Chung and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong on the first tee at 7:20 a.m.

Seasoned Philippine Golf Tour campaigner Jahns, for his part, will need to rediscover his touch at Luisita as he returns to the course after seven years.

“I always enjoy coming back here. I have very good memories of this place. They did add a few tee boxes where the course is a bit longer from the last time I played,” said Jahns, who gets his campaign going with England’s Thomas Plumb and South Korea’s Seung Park at 12:25 p.m.

“The greens are a little tricky this year. Hopefully, I could read the greens pretty well and put up a great result,” added the Filipino-German veteran.

Three-time Asian Tour champion Que also sees action in the ADT Open with the hopes of sustaining the momentum from his victory in the Caliraya

Iran snatches draw in World Cup opener

After months of uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament following the war in the Middle East, all eyes were on the Iranians as they took on the New Zealanders in Group G at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

Goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi secured a point for Iran after Elijah Just had twice fired New Zealand into the lead.

Afterwards, Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei lashed out at the restrictions that have been placed on his team since arriving in North America.

The Iranians were initially due to be based in Tucson, Arizona before switching their training base to Tijuana in Mexico due to ongoing tensions with co-hosts the United States over visa issues.

US authorities have refused to grant visas for several members of the Iranian delegation, prompting Ghalenoei to describe Iran as “the most oppressed team in the World Cup.” Ghalenoei said Iran had been told to leave the United States immediately after Monday’s game.

“They delayed our arrivals, they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery,” Ghalenoei said. “They are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best.”

A few hours before Monday’s opener, hundreds of protesters against Iran’s ruling regime gathered outside the SoFi Stadium to vent their anger at Tehran’s rulers.

“This team is not the Iranian people’s team, it’s the regime’s team,” said Ava Amin, a philosophy student who came to demonstrate with a banner calling for “regime change.” AFP

Marcial heads to Japan for training camp

By Randy M. Caluag

RECOGNIZING the challenges of developing as a middleweight boxer in the Philippines, Filipino Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial will begin preparations for upcoming bouts with a training camp in Tokyo, Japan, “As a Filipino middleweight boxer, it is difficult to get the proper training and preparation in the Philippines because there are very few natural middleweight fighters available for quality sparring,” Marcial said. “That’s why, in order to have the best possible preparation, we need to look abroad and train in a country where we can find the right level of training environment.”

Marcial expressed gratitude to his support team for making the overseas camp possible, particularly his promoter Sean Gibbons, who helped arrange the Japan stint.

“I would like to thank my support system and my promoter, Sean Gibbons, for arranging this training camp,” he said. “I would also like to thank my ABAP family for their continued support, as well as the POC, PSC, and B-Steel for their invaluable assistance.”

The 29-year-old middleweight, who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, is looking to sharpen his form against stronger and more varied opposition as he eyes bigger fights in the professional ranks.

Marcial last saw action in the professional circuit in October last year

with decision win over Eddie Colmenares of Venezuela at the Araneta Coliseum for the vacant WBC International middleweight title. The win kept his unbeaten record intact with seven straight and reinforced his status as one of the Philippines’ brightest hopes in boxing beyond the lower weight classes.

“This is the beginning of my preparations for the big fights ahead, God willing,” Marcial said. “Our training camp starts here. Let’s go Tokyo, Japan.”

The move abroad reflects a growing trend among Filipino fighters seeking higher-level sparring and conditioning overseas, particularly in divisions where local competition remains limited.

Frantic fight for JPGT Finals spots up at Eagle Ridge

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite—Fast starts and nerves of steel will be the defining themes as junior golfers make one final, frantic push for glory in the sixth and final leg of the Luzon Series – the ICTSI Eagle Ridge JPGT Championship – unwrapping Wednesday (June 17) at the Aoki course of the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club complex here. With coveted slots in the Elite Junior PGT Finals on the line, a mix of established frontrunners and desperate backdoor bidders are bracing for an all-out war across the 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 age divisions.

At stake are tickets to the North vs. South Finals scheduled for Aug. 17-20 at Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro, where Luzon’s best will defend their crown against a fired-up contingent from the South. In the girls’ 7-10 category, every single shot and putt will carry immense weight over the 36-hole tournament. While early finalists Winter Serapio (45 points) and Andrea Dee (37 points) can rest easy having already secured their passage, the battle for the remaining two slots is wide open.

Jehanne Mendoza (32 points) and Aicee Cervantes (23 points) currently occupy the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, but their cushions are dangerously thin as Laura Pablo and Cecilia Mamauag breathe down their necks, tied for fifth with 20 points.

Even Elizabeth Laurel, at joint seventh with 18 points, remains mathematically alive and could pull off a stunning coup with a victory worth 15 points this week.

A mirror image of high drama is set for the boys’ youngest group. Zach Guico and Zoji Edoc have already punched their tickets to the Finals with identical 42 points. That leaves a three-horse race for the final two spots with third-running Kenzo Tan (31 points) and No. 4 Kingston Ching (30 points) out to fend off a fierce challenge from No. 5 Asher Abad (24 points).

The battle for the final seats in the 11-14 division promises to be exceptionally fierce, amplified by a few notable absences and spoiler threats. In the boys’ class, No. 2 Javie Bautista and No. 3 Chan Ahn are well-positioned next to first finalist Vito Sarines, but must guard against complacency. The real fireworks lie just below them –No. 5 Race Manhit is making a furious, last-ditch push to crash into the Magic 4. Crucially, No. 4 Ryuji Suzuki will not be competing this week, flinging the door wide open for No. 6 Jacob Casuga and Beverly Place champion No. 7 Ryuichi Tao to make a dramatic late-season surge. Meanwhile, the girls’ 11-14 division is ripe for a shakeup.

BUSINESS

FORTY-TWO Philippine compa-

nies have made the 2026 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 list, according to the business magazine’s third annual regional ranking of corporations by revenue.

The total number of Philippine firms on the list increased by two compared with the previous year.

Top Frontier Investment, which is the largest shareholder in San Miguel Group, ranked No. 10 in in the region with an annual revenue of $25.88 billion.

SM Investments Corp. (SM Investments), the parent company of the SM Group, together with its banking subsidiaries BDO Unibank Inc. and China Banking Corp. performed well in the ranking.

SM Investments followed Top Frontier Investment among domestic firms, ranking No. 28 with $11.85 billion in revenue. Manila Electric Company took the No. 36 spot with $8.65 billion, while Ayala Corp. placed No. 51 with $6.67 billion and BDO secured No. 52 with $6.59 billion.

“We are honored to be part of this year’s Fortune Southeast Asia 500 for the third time,” said SM Investments president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio.

“This recognition reflects the dedication of our people, the trust of our customers, and the valuable contributions of our partners and tenants. It also underscores the important role that businesses play in advancing inclusive growth and strengthening Southeast Asia’s economic development and trade landscape,” said Dybuncio.

Nine other Philippine corporations landed in the top 100, including GT Capital Holdings Inc. at No. 57 with $6.03 billion; JG Summit Holdings at No. 63 with $5.94 billion; and Aboitiz Equity Ventures at No. 69 with $5.45 billion.

Jollibee Foods Corp. ranked No. 71 with $5.3 billion; followed by Bank of the Philippine Islands at No. 85 with $4.57 billion; Cosco Capital Inc. at No. 86 with $4.56 billion; PLDT Inc. at No. 94 with $3.8 billion; Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. at No. 95 with $3.82 billion; and Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc at No. 100 with $3.66 billion.

By Thony Rose Lesaca

THE Philippine government launched a triple-tranche offering of US dollar-denominated global bonds to help finance its budget, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said Tuesday.

The transaction marks the country’s second international bond market foray this year, capitalizing on easing global borrowing costs fueled by market optimism over a US-Iran ceasefire agreement.

The offering consists of 5.5-year and 10-year tranches alongside a tap, or reopening, of the existing 5.750 percent 2051 dollar bonds originally issued in January 2026. BTr officials expect the transaction to price later today during the New York trading session, with settlement scheduled for June 24, 2026.

Initial pricing guidance stands at 85 basis points

over US Treasuries for the 5.5-year tranche, 125 basis points over the benchmark for the 10-year tranche and 6.100 percent for the 2051 tap. The state intends to use the sales proceeds for general budget financing.

The global bonds maintain investment-grade expectations and are projected to receive ratings of Baa2 from Moody’s, BBB+ from Standard & Poor’s, and BBB from Fitch. Moody’s Ratings has already assigned an investment-grade Baa2 rating to the offerings.

“The national government remains committed to fostering strong and inclusive socioeconomic growth,” Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go said.

“This transaction highlights our continued pursuit of prudent fiscal management and our broader development agenda. Against the backdrop of encouraging developments

Laguna Chapter–Siniloan Branch

secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang,

chapter administrator

THE Pag-IBIG Fund launched a new emergency loan program that provides qualified members up to P10,000 in affordable cash assistance to counter rising daily expenses linked to the Middle East conflict, agency officials said Tuesday.

The Special Assistance for Financial Emergencies, or SAFE Loan, aims to help Filipino workers manage rising costs for fuel, electricity and transport. The initiative follows a separate benefits package previously given to overseas Filipino workers who returned from the Middle East.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund board chairman Jose Ramon Aliling said the program aligns with presidential directives to bring practical relief to citizens.

“President Marcos has directed government agencies to bring timely and practical help closer to Filipino families, especially in times of need,” Aliling said.

“In response, Pag-IBIG Fund is offering the SAFE Loan so qualified members may have access to affordable cash assistance for urgent household needs, especially as the effects of the Middle East conflict continue to be felt in fuel, electricity, transport and other daily expenses here at home.”

Aliling said that while recent global developments suggest tensions could ease, domestic prices will take time to normalize.

“We first extended assistance to our repatriated OFW members because they were directly affected by the situation in the Middle East,” Aliling said.

in global markets, we are confident that our policy direction will continue to be well

By Jenniffer B. Austria

directors

INDEPENDENT

of First Gen Corp. have defended the Lopez-led firm’s P61.87 billion investment in two pumped-storage hydropower projects, saying the transaction was thoroughly reviewed and will generate long-term value for shareholders.

In a signed statement issued Tuesday, independent directors Alicia Rita Morales, Edgar Chua and Manuel Francisco Ayala said they are standing by their decision to support First Gen’s acquisition of a 33 percent stake in the 600-megawatt Wawa pumped-storage hydropower project in Rizal and the 1,400MW Pakil project in Laguna.

The statement comes amid an ongoing dispute within the Lopez family over the transaction. The independent directors said they exercised “objective and independent judgment” in evaluating the projects and concluded that the investment will benefit First Gen and its shareholders.

‘‘At the end of the review process, we concluded that First Gen’s investment in both PSH projects will benefit First Gen and its stockholders,” the independent directors said. They said annual earnings attributable to First Gen’s stake in the projects, which could reach an estimated P16 billiononce the facilities are completed and fully operational, “have solid basis.”

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF LICENSE OF FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD. doing business under the name and style of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES has decided to close its Philippine Representative Office, effective December 31, 2024 The corporation shall file a Petition for Withdrawal of License with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in accordance with the requirements of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines and relevant SEC rules and regulations. This Notice will serve as notice to all parties concerned of the withdrawal of license of the said foreign corporation.

Robert David Gillespie

Chief Financial Officer

FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD doing business under the name and style of FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES Email: rob.gillespie@forescout.com

9. Other Matters

10. Adjournment

(MS-JUNE 17/24/JULY 1, 2026)

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CIRTEK Holdings Philippines Corp. (CHPC) has agreed to sell substantially all the assets of its antenna business, Quintel USA Inc,, to Delaware-based John Mezzalingua Associates LLC (JMA) for up to $5.3 million.

The listed technology firm announced on June 16 that its board approved the asset purchase agreement on June 15. The strategic divestment is part of efforts to improve corporate liquidity, reduce exposure to operating losses and streamline the corporate structure.

The transaction includes an initial pay-

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ment of $3.3 million within 14 days after closing. The remaining balance of about $2 million will be paid following the final determination of deductible liabilities.

The move comes as CHPC faces acute liquidity problems, which recently forced the company to suspend payments and the redemption of preferred

PHILIPPINE shares slipped Tuesday as investors pocketed profits following the market’s strong rally the previous day. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 0.43 percent, or 27.13 points, to close at 6,245.75, while the broader all shares Index lost 0.27 percent, or 9.32 points, to 3,425.03.”The main gauge succumbed to some fatigue, giving up early gains as investors locked in profits following yesterday’s outsized rally,” First Metro Securities said.The financial sector led the decline, dropping 1.58 percent, followed by holding firms, which shed 0.75 percent, and property stocks, down 0.57

TOP LINE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORP.

shares due to a lack of unappropriated retained earnings.

“The strategic divestment permits CHPC to optimize its corporate structure, shed outstanding third-party and operating liabilities and monetize its underlying business assets to improve overall corporate liquidity and operational focus,” the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Under the agreement, JMA will acquire selected customer contracts, accounts receivable, inventory, order backlog, business records and intellectual property rights, including Quintel trademarks and technology. The buyer will assume certain liabilities, while other obligations will remain with CHPC.

19F Latitude Corporate Center, Mindanao Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City, Philippines

Contact No. (032) 505 6058

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF TOP LINE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Please take notice that the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of TOP LINE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORP. (the ÒCorporationÓ) shall be held on July 10, 2026, Friday at 8:30 am via remote communication through teleconferencing and/or videoconferencing, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, with the following program:

Stockholders of Record may only attend/participate via proxy, remote communication or vote in absentia, subject to validation procedures.2 Only validated stockholders will be provided access to the Zoom meeting platform and can cast their votes in absentia on or before 30 June 2026 via the Corporation’s secure online voting facility.

The Board of Directors has fixed 8 June 2026 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to be notified, participate, and vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting (“Stockholders of Record”).

Stockholders of Record may only attend/participate via proxy, remote communication or vote in absentia, subject to validation procedures.2 Only validated stockholders will be provided access to the Zoom meeting platform and can cast their votes in absentia on or before 30 June 2026 via the Corporation’s secure online voting facility.

Definitive Information Statement on the guidelines for voting at the CorporationÕs website at topline.ph

Definitive Information Statement on the guidelines for voting at the CorporationÕs website at topline.ph

8:30 - 9:30 am Registration

9:30 -10:30 am Annual StockholdersÕ Meeting Proper

and/or videoconferencing, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, with the following program: 8:30 - 9:30 am Registration 9:30 -10:30 am Annual StockholdersÕ Meeting Proper The Agenda for the 2026 Annual StockholdersÕ Meeting

Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting via the Zoom online meeting platform and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to asm-2026@harborstar.com.ph or fill up the registration form at www.harborstar.com.ph/asm2026registrationform on or before 25 June 2026

The Agenda for the 2026 Annual StockholdersÕ Meeting shall be as follows:

1. Call to Order

2. Proof of notice of the meeting and existence of quorum

HSSSI is not soliciting proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to asm-2026@harborstar.com.ph on or before 30 June 2026

3. Chairman and PresidentÕs Message

Only stockholders who have successfully registered within the prescribed period, together with the stockholders who voted in absentia and by proxy, will be included in the determination of quorum.

Only stockholders who have successfully registered within the prescribed period, together with the stockholders who voted in absentia and by proxy, will be included in the determination of quorum.

Proxies, in the form provided by the Corporation, must be submitted to the CorporationÕs Corporate Secretary, at the Principal Office of the Corporation, or through investorrelations@topline.ph not later than June 29, 2026. The proxies shall be validated on July 3, 2026 at the Principal Office of the Company. The Corporate SecretaryÕs decision shall be final and binding on the shareholders. WE ARE NOT, HOWEVER, SOLICITING PROXIES.

Proxies, in the form provided by the Corporation, must be submitted to the CorporationÕs Corporate Secretary, at the Principal Office of the Corporation, or through investorrelations@topline.ph not later than June 29, 2026. The proxies shall be validated on July 3, 2026 at the Principal Office of the Company. The Corporate SecretaryÕs decision shall be final and binding on the shareholders. WE ARE NOT, HOWEVER, SOLICITING PROXIES.

Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting via the Zoom online meeting platform and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to asm-2026@harborstar.com.ph or fill up the registration form at www.harborstar.com.ph/asm2026registrationform on or before 25 June 2026

Stockholders may send their queries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to asm-2026@harborstar.com.ph on or before 3 July 2026 The Definitive Information Statement containing the attendance,

HSSSI is not soliciting proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to asm-2026@harborstar.com.ph on or before 30 June 2026

Stockholders may send their queries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to asm-2026@harborstar.com.ph on or before 3 July 2026

The Definitive Information Statement containing the

of the Stockholders held on December 2, 2025 5. Management Presentation and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025

4. Reading and approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on July 18, 2025 and the Special Meeting of the Stockholders held on December 2, 2025

5. Management Presentation and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025

Appointment of External Auditor

6. Appointment of External Auditor

General ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers and management since the last annual stockholdersÕ meeting up to the date of this meeting

7. General ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers and management since the last annual stockholdersÕ meeting up to the date of this meeting

Election of Board of Directors

8. Election of Board of Directors

9. Other Matters

10. Adjournment

The Board of Directors has fixed the Record Date at the end of trading hours of the Philippine Stock Exchange on June 18, 2026 for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the Record Date at the end of trading hours of the Philippine Stock Exchange on June 18, 2026 for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and will close at exactly 9:15 a.m. The Corporation will only allow attendance by remote communication and voting in absentia, subject to validation procedures.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and will close at exactly 9:15 a.m. The Corporation will only allow attendance by remote communication and voting in absentia, subject to validation procedures.

Stockholders who will participate in the ASM by remote communication should pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/TOPASM2026 on or before June 29, 2026. Successful registrants will receive an email invitation with a complete guide on how to join the ASM and how to cast votes in absentia. For any registration concerns, please contact investorrelations@topline.ph Please refer to the

Stockholders who will participate in the ASM by remote communication should pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/TOPASM2026 on or before June 29, 2026. Successful registrants will receive an email invitation with a complete guide on how to join the ASM and how to cast votes in absentia. For any registration concerns, please contact investorrelations@topline.ph Please refer to the

Stockholders may send their questions about the ASM and the Corporation to its Investor Relations Officer at investorrelations@topline.ph Pursuant to SEC Notice dated March 12, 2025, the Stockholders may examine the Definitive Information Statement, and Management Report on the CorporationÕs website and through the PSE Edge Portal. There shall be an audio and video recording of the ASM. All votes cast shall be validated by the Stock and Transfer Agent, Stock Transfer Service, Inc. May 4, 2026, Cebu City.

Stockholders may send their questions about the ASM and the Corporation to its Investor Relations Officer at investorrelations@topline.ph Pursuant to SEC Notice dated March 12, 2025, the Stockholders may examine the Definitive Information Statement, and Management Report on the CorporationÕs website and through the PSE Edge Portal. There shall be an audio and video recording of the ASM. All votes cast shall be validated by the Stock and Transfer Agent, Stock Transfer Service, Inc. May 4, 2026, Cebu City.

For the Board of Directors,

For the Board of Directors,

BRIGITTE CARMEL C. LAPASARAN LIM Corporate Secretary

percent. Industrial shares rose 0.30 percent, while services and mining and oil advanced 0.47 percent and 2.67 percent, respectively.Trading, however, remained active, with value turnover reaching P7.73 billion, as investors repositioned ahead of key global risk events later this week, First Metro Securities said.Market sentiment was weighed down by losses in several heavyweight stocks, including AREIT Inc., which tumbled 5.45 percent after parent Ayala Land Inc. sold P2.67 billion worth of shares through a block placement. Emperador Inc. also fell 3.75 percent to P15.40. Century Pacific Food Inc. was the day’s top index gainer, climbing 4.35 percent to P30.Market breadth remained negative, with 92 decliners outnumbering 84 advancers, while 56 stocks were unchanged.Despite the pullback, foreign investors remained net buyers, with net inflows reaching P939.98 million. The peso continued to strengthen against the U.S. dollar Tuesday, closing at 60.32 from 60.48 on Monday. Asian equities extended their rally and oil prices fell further on Tuesday, fueled by the USIran peace deal and as tech firms tracked another blockbuster performance by SpaceX.The euphoria that swept trading floors at the start of the week continued to propel buying amid relief at the end of a threemonth conflict that sent shockwaves through energy markets and global inflation soaring.

SPOTLIGHT

Bayanihan by the lake

By Alex Arceta and DJ Oracion

Photos by Mark Mendoza and Angelo Gallardo

BEYOND being a tourist spot, Yambo Lake is part of the identity of San Pableños and nearby Nagcarleños, serving as an important source of income for many families in the area.

“Ang Yambo Lake ay isa sa mga pamanang kultural ng San Pablo,” said Francis Dionglay, an AP Teacher and cultural mapper. “Malaking bahagi ng kabuhayan ng taga San Pablo ay galing dito.”

In recent years, local residents have strengthened their collective efforts to manage and protect the lake through the Yambo Lake Multipurpose Cooperative (YLMC). According to YLMC Chairperson Eden C. Doria, the cooperative traces its roots back to 2015 and experienced significant growth after the pandemic. The organization became the Yambo Lake Credit Cooperative in 2022 before evolving into its current multipurpose cooperative structure in 2025.

For Raymond Sotalbo, one of the tour guides of YLMC, the lake remains an essential source of livelihood. “Dito po nakukuha ‘yong mga necessity, pangangailangan... Dito ko po nakukuha ‘yong pinanggagastos ko sa pamilya ko,”.

Sotalbo is only one of the many whose income from the tourism initiative helps support daily

needs and sustain household expenses, highlighting how closely the community’s welfare is tied to the lake.

Beyond providing livelihood opportunities, Sotalbo also noted that one of their goals is to showcase the rich area to a wider audience.

“Pangalawa, ‘yon nga po para makilala rin ang bayan namin na Nagcarlan,” he said.

At the same time, YLMC members actively work to preserve Yambo Lake’s condition. Regular cleanup drives, locally referred to as “bayanihan,” are held every Friday.

Tour guide Julius Corcega shared that “Every Friday may tinatawag po kaming bayanihan o yung paglilinis dito sa kapaligiran ng lawa. Pero kahit hindi Biyernes, basta may makita kami dyaan palutang-lutang na basura, plastic o ano man, pinupulot po namin at tinatapon sa basurahan.” These efforts reflect a shared responsibility to protect the lake that sustains them.

Doria extends this story beyond the community, inviting visitors to become part of it. “Sa pagpunta po ninyo, marami din po kayong matutulungan,” she said.

Behind every visit is a family supported, a livelihood sustained, and a community that continues to hold on to its lake with gratitude and care.

PUPOUS expands education for indigenous communities

THE Polytechnic University of the Philippines Open University System (PUPOUS) marks another significant milestone in its commitment to accessible and inclusive education through its partnership with the Iram Community in Olongapo City, Zambales.

Through this collaboration, qualified and deserving Indigenous Peoples (IPs) will be given the opportunity to pursue tertiary education through Open Distance and e-Learning (ODeL), breaking barriers of geography and access while bringing quality higher education closer to their communities.

A key step in this initiative was the administration of the PUP College Entrance Test and Evaluation at Iram High School by the Office

Text and photos by Diana

Noche

EACH day we see people wearing frayed clothes mumbling incendiary words on the streets, carrying on both sides of the conversation. Then there are the ranters, the ones furiously slicing the air with their arms, their eyes sharp but blank. These people lead stilled lives like being in a rut and, in our eyes, loving it. Theirs is a truncated sense of the future; their past was rooted from nowhere. They walk wounded without completely realizing it, treading an irreversible course from which it is difficult, if not impossible, to break away. When dawn creeps over after depths of darkness, despite a great drain of physical vitality, a new day above the ground for them might be a good day to nevertheless start afresh. Is God still alive?

Every day we see them—poor and nameless—with our hands-off, shift-the-eyes indifference and to -

ken acknowledgment of their plight. They are people without destination and seemingly prepared for a difficult life, carrying the small bundles of their existence. We wonder: how long has it been since they last used a toothbrush? Or taken a bath?

The common belief that these people somehow deserve the deprivation they endure has taken root in many of us. Yet few stop to imagine what their days are really like—waking to the noise of traffic, searching for food, facing hunger that goes beyond an empty stomach and settles deep into the spirit.

Homelessness is more than the absence of shelter. It is the loss of comfort, stability, and often, connection. Many survive physically, but carry the exhaustion of lives shaped by hardship. Amid the endless flow of people around them, they remain unseen, unnoticed, and too often forgotten.

It is easier to look away from difficult realities—the homeless, the

of the Counseling and Psychological Services (OCPS) and the PUPOUS Student Services Office, opening doors for future learners to become part of the PUP community.

The partnership was formalized through the signing of Memoranda of Agreement for Academic and Extension Collaborations between PUP and the Iram Community, reflecting a shared vision of empowering Indigenous Peoples through education.

As PUPOUS continues to reach underserved sectors, this initiative stands as a testament to the University’s mission of democratizing access to higher education and creating opportunities for every Filipino learner, regardless of location or circumstance.

Childhood lung growth slowed by pollution, researchers warn

By Robert Harland

AIR pollution is often spoken of as an environmental

air quality regularly exceeds World Health Organization guidelines, with diesel exhaust, construction dust and industrial emissions combining into a haze that blankets the city. Every day, infants and toddlers breathe this air during the most formative stages of lung development. The UK study also found that exposure during pregnancy already affects lung function by age eight, meaning expectant mothers are passing on compromised health before their children even take their first breath. The implications are stark. A child whose lungs fail to reach full capacity is at risk of lifelong respiratory problems. The study equates low lung function with the same level of cardiovascular risk as high cholesterol. In a city where traffic congestion is constant and playgrounds often sit beside busy roads, the danger is not abstract — it is immediate. It is not enough to shrug off smog as an unavoidable part of urban life. The science shows that every breath matters and every day of exposure chips away at a child’s future health. Parents must be vigilant: avoiding peak traffic hours, using air purifiers at home and pressing schools and barangays to create clean air zones around classrooms and play areas. But beyond individual action, there is a collective responsibility. Stricter vehicle emission standards, greener urban planning and stronger enforcement of clean air laws are essential if we are to protect the next generation. This is not just about statistics or policy. It is about the lungs of our children, their ability to grow, thrive and live long, healthy lives. For Manila’s families, the message is clear: air pollution is a child health crisis and ignoring it is no longer an option.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

FILMMAKER Lawrence Roxas is using the power of storytelling to deliver a public health message, hoping his new drama Behind the Smile can help raise awareness, encourage testing, and reduce stigma as HIV cases continue to rise in parts of the country.

Roxas said the project came from concern over rising cases in his home province of Oriental Mindoro, which has the highest number of HIV cases in the MIMAROPA region.

“Na-inspire po ako dito kasi sa lumalaganap na cases dito

sa Pilipinas,” he said at a press conference. “At sa MIMAROPA, ang Calapan po, ang Oriental Mindoro

ang pinakamaraming cases ng HIV.”

The film is a drama that integrates Roxas’s advocacy into its storytelling, drawing from both personal narratives and information about HIV, mental

health, anxiety, and depression. Produced by GO Films, EVTR Trading and Construction, and the Calapan City government, the project stars Ejay Falcon, Jennica Garcia, BJ Forbes, Mike Lloren and introduces beauty queen Dana Alexa. Falcon said he is proud the film brings attention to his home province and involves local creators.

“Very proud po ako na ang director namin, si Direk Lawrence, tagaOriental Mindoro. At ang producer po namin, taga-Oriental Mindoro din. At yung pelikula po ay ginawa sa

Rotary Club of Manila names

LEADING broadcast company GMA Network has been named “Television Station of the Year” at the 2026 Pro Patria Journalism Awards of the Rotary Club of Manila, held June 11 at the Fairmont Hotel.

GMA News vice president for News Programs and Specials and officer-in-charge Michelle Seva received the award on behalf of the network. Multi-awarded broadcast journalist Atom Araullo was honored as “Television Broadcaster of the Year.”

Seva, speaking on behalf of GMA Network, underscored that the recognition extends beyond the company and its employees, noting it also reflects the trust of Filipino viewers.

“Their trust is a privilege we never take for granted,” she said.

Addressing fellow media practitioners, Seva emphasized the role of journalism in safeguarding democracy.

“Collectively, all of us in this room share a common responsibility: to ensure that facts remain stronger than fear, rumor, and division. Because democracy is strongest when citizens have access to information that they can trust,” she said. “Asahan po ninyo na kami sa GMA ay mananatiling Walang kinikilingan. Walang pinoprotektahan. Noon at ngayon, serbisyong totoo.” The Pro Patria Journalism Awards, presented by the Rotary Club of Manila, honor media work that upholds truth, promotes patriotism, and

SHOWBIZ

Director turns to f ilm to raise HIV awareness

aming probinsiya,” he said.

He added he joined the project because of its message and relevance to public awareness on HIV.

Roxas explained that the film

supports nation-building through responsible reporting.

Over the years, GMA Network has received multiple recognitions from the Rotary Club of Manila for its public service journalism.

The network has also been named Most Trusted TV Network for nine consecutive years by the Trusted Brand Awards of Reader’s Digest. It likewise topped brand trust rankings among major Philippine news outlets in the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s Digital News Report. In digital performance, GMA Network ranked No. 13 in the Tubular Labs Leadership Worldwide Ranking for April 2026.

Araullo, meanwhile, has earned recognition for his documentary work covering social and environmental issues. He anchors GTV’s State of the Nation, hosts The Atom Araullo Specials, and is part of I-Witness At the 2026 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, his documentary “Golden Tree” won Bronze in the Environment & Ecology category, while “Baby Makers” received a finalist certificate.

Very Wang

Nickie Wang

avoids a documentary format, opting instead for a narrative approach meant to build emotional connection.

“It’s not like a documentary. It’s really a drama,” he noted. “You can see more of the writer and director’s creativity, and you feel the story more deeply.”

The cast emphasized that the film’s advocacy made it meaningful to join the project.

BJ Forbes stressed that open discussion is key to fighting misinformation and stigma around HIV.

“For me, all aspects should be talked about. Nothing should be hidden because that’s how people learn and how the right information is shared,” he explained. He also warned against stigma in everyday conversations.

“It should not be included in bad jokes. It should not be used to insult others. We should talk about these things to learn more and support others,

not to judge,” he added. Forbes encouraged the public to seek confidential testing and guidance through groups such as LoveYourself PH. Jennica Garcia shared that HIV testing is already part of standard prenatal care.

“When you are pregnant, you undergo many tests. HIV testing is included,” she shared.

She added that education plays a major role in addressing fear and misinformation.

Dana Alexa noted that discussions on sexual health should become more open and normalized.

“Talking about sex education is very controversial. People are really afraid to talk about it,” she noted. “If you tell your partner, ‘Let’s go test,’ people get offended. But it should be normalized.”

Roxas added that the production is also coordinating advocacy screenings with medical professionals who will explain HIV-related issues after showings and encourage testing. He shared that some screenings will also include discussions with health experts and people living with HIV to help personalize the issue.

Coco Martin, Julia Montes thrill fans with explosive ‘Sigabo’ trailer

ABS-CBN has released the official trailer of Coco Martin’s Sigabo, teasing a mix of action, romance, and drama ahead of its June 22.

The trailer features cinematic action sequences alongside light, romantic moments between Coco Martin and Julia Montes, who headline the series.

Martin, who serves as actor, co-director, and co-producer, described the project as a personal milestone and an upgraded take on his earlier action series.

Sobra akong proud na proud sa project na ito, kasi from Probinsyano to Batang Quiapo talagang in-upgrade namin,” he said in a TV Patrol interview.

The series marks his first original concept, blending action with romance and comedy aimed at Filipino audiences.

In Sigabo, Martin plays Gabo, a former convict who takes on a secret mission in exchange for his freedom. He later crosses paths with Sam, a lawyer and undercover investigator played by Montes.

Industry figures, including filmmaker Erik Matti, producer Roselle Monteverde, and actors Lito Lapid and Mark Lapid, have praised Martin’s work in action television, crediting him with sustaining interest in the genre.

“It’s Coco who really brought back the excitement of action movies and series,” Matti said in an interview with TV Patrol. “When he does action, it’s action all the way.”

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

Viral ‘academic weapon’ star meets fans in Manila

By Jasper Valdez

TO many Filipino fans, Linda Walker is a character from a viral Chinese micro-drama who has become a symbol of focus, discipline, and persistence—the kind of student who keeps going even when the work gets difficult.

Known for playing the viral “academic weapon” in The Heiress Who Won With Brains, Chinese actress Zhang Yingfei brought that same message to Manila during her recent visit, where she met fans and spoke about education, personal growth, and the value of taking things one step at a time.

During the June 10 meet-and-greet, held at SM North EDSA Annex, Zhang was asked what advice she would give students who feel pressured by schoolwork. She pointed to steady progress rather than shortcuts. “In learning, don’t set yourself too big a goal. I think you can

start step by step,” she said. She suggested breaking challenges into smaller goals and reminded young people to seek help from a doctor, teacher, or trusted adult when problems become difficult to handle alone.

Chinese actress

For the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), Zhang’s popularity was a way to bring students into a bigger conversation. Wilson Lee Flores, the group’s board member and Public Information Committee chairman, said the visit was organized around education, tourism, and the long friendship between Filipinos and Chinese.

“Our objective here is education for a better future,” Flores said. He added that education remains “the most effective weapon to fight poverty and social injustice.”

Zhang, Linda Walker is not just a role that opened new doors. She said the character also reminds her how to handle difficult days. When she feels emotionally unstable, she thinks about how Linda would respond. Linda, she said, is someone who “works hard and never gives up.”

That sentiment resonated with FFCCCII Youth Committee chairman Peter Mangasing who said Linda Walker’s online popularity says something about what young people admire.

“By making ‘academic weapons’ spread across the country, you prove that our young generation looks up to intelligence, hard work, and resilience,” Mangasing said. He also urged the youth not to leave inspiration on their screens. “Don’t just watch excellence on your screens. Live it,” he said.

Cult hits, tech, and nostalgia take over Iloilo in Japanese toys exhibit

By Seymour Barros Sanchez

FOLLOWING a successful inaugural run at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in Bonifacio Global City, the vibrant world of Japanese toy culture is officially heading to Iloilo.

The Japan Foundation, Manila, in partnership with the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, is proud to present “OMOCHA: Japanese Toys Today.” Opening with an exclusive preview reception on June 26 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the exhibition will be accessible to the public from June 27 to July 26, Tuesdays through Sundays, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the 2nd Floor Galleries 1 and 2 of ILOMOCA in Iloilo City.

Admission to the Iloilo leg of the traveling exhibition and all its accompanying side events is entirely free. Operating under the bilateral theme “Weaving the Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, and Possibilities,” the event celebrates cultural exchange as a bridge between nations.

The presentation is also tied to the Next Generation Co-Creation Partnership – WA 2.0, a people-centered initiative designed to foster deeper cultural dialogue, collaboration, and mutual understanding between Japan and ASEAN countries.

“Omocha” ( ), the Japanese word for “toys,” carries a cultural legacy that stretches back centuries. The exhibition features more than 70 types of contemporary Japanese toys from

various brands and manufacturers, alongside informative panel displays detailing their historical roots.

Visitors will be taken on a generational journey tracing how these objects emerged in popular culture during the Edo period, originally handcrafted as symbolic talismans meant to pray for the health, protection, and good fortune of children.

Guests will also have the chance to get up close to globally recognized pop culture icons that have captured hearts across generations, including Gundam, Hello Kitty, Pokémon, and Transformers.

In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to explore how traditional craftsmanship meets innovation, as the exhibition features TOMY Asia’s well-loved classic lines, Plarail and Beyblade, alongside modern toys infused with robotics, digital technology, and hightech ingenuity.

True to the spirit of “omocha,” the exhibition is designed to be fully immersive, featuring interactive play areas where people of all ages can gain hands-on experience with both traditional and modern toys while keeping their childlike sense of wonder alive.

Housed in the iconic Casa Emperador Building within the Iloilo Business Park, ILOMOCA stands as the first museum in the Visayas dedicated entirely to modern and contemporary art. Spanning 3,000 square meters across

Godzilla and other collector pieces form part of the exhibit, which links Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary pop culture

three floors, the museum serves as a community hub where global art meets local audiences. By hosting this international showcase, ILOMOCA continues its mission to make art, culture, and dialogue accessible in everyday life.

Whether you are a lifelong collector, a nostalgia chaser, a design enthusiast, or a family looking for an enriching weekend activity, “OMOCHA: Japanese Toys Today” invites visitors to rediscover the joy, artistry, and connection behind the world of play.

For full exhibition schedules, interactive area guidelines, and public program details, please visit the official social media channels of The Japan Foundation, Manila, and ILOMOCA.

Shticks

Joseph Peter Gonzales

‘Home Along Da Riles’ cast reunites, revives Cosme family magic

AT the recent media conference for Home Along Da Riles (Da Reunion) held at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center, nostalgia took center stage as the original cast revisited the sitcom that ran for 11 years and left a lasting mark on Philippine television.

Present at the event were Claudine Barretto, Nova Villa, Vandolph Quizon, Smokey Manaloto, Maybeline dela

Sherilyn

Tan, Dang Cruz, Cita Astals, and Boy 2 Quizon, who also directs the film.

Boy 2 said he believes the project would make his grandfather, the late comedy icon Dolphy, proud.

“I’m sure that my grandfather (Dolphy) will be proud of the outcome of this project, especially since most of the main cast members are intact. I’m happy to continue his legacy,” he said.

For Vandolph Quizon, the film revisits what happens to the Cosme family after Kevin’s departure.

“Here, people will see what happened to the Cosme family after Kevin left. Even if he’s not in the movie, my dad’s presence can be felt in all the scenes,” he said.

Smokey Manaloto noted how the story was adjusted for today’s viewers while keeping its heart intact.

“We adjusted the roles to fit with today’s generation. Humor is present, but the core is about the family. Each character is relatable,” he said.

Boy 2 added that the film carries lessons that still resonate across generations.

“It’s a must-watch for a contemporary audience. It has valuable lessons to impart. Comedy is universal. It appeals to everybody,” he said.

Nova Villa also shared her thoughts on the continuation of the Cosme family story.

“It’s also interesting to know what life is for Cosme’s kids after he left. I’m pretty sure viewers would want to know,” she said.

Boy 2 admitted the reunion required an adjustment period at the start of production.

“Yes, during the initial shooting days, we were still adjusting. It’s been years since we all worked together. But after that, everything went fine,” he said.

Claudine Barretto said the cast quickly found their rhythm again.

“We missed one another. But basically, we’re like one big, happy family. Even if we haven’t seen each other for ages, the closeness always remains,” she said.

On the film’s central message, Nova pointed to family support.

“No matter how many problems come your way, when you have your family to back you up, it’s more than enough,” she said.

At the end of the conference, Claudine also praised Boy 2 for bringing the project together.

“For everything that he has done just to make this project a reality, kudos. He and Vandolph, actually. I would just like to say good job to him,” she said.

* * *

ACTOR-DIRECTOR Coco Martin and actress Julia Montes spoke about what keeps their relationship grounded amid years together.

For Julia, faith remains at the center.

“I believe that it’s good that you have a center, which is God. I feel so blessed that I was able to find a partner like that in Coco. Especially since we Filipinos are family-oriented. Despite the ups and downs in our relationship, there is God in the center. That’s my greatest blessing,” she said.

She added that Coco’s outlook has also shaped their bond.

“You know, Coco is blessed because he knows how to share. He’s got so much faith. And that helped in our relationship. We all know that nobody’s perfect, and so are relationships. You will face challenges along the way. What’s important is you have a strong center,” she said.

Coco, meanwhile, described how their partnership extends into business.

“We’re past that stage when you get tickled pink just seeing each other. Now, whenever we go to a place, we think about what good business we can build out of it,” he said.

He cited their company CCM Films as an example of their shared work.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026

By Nickie Wang

VVirgin at 21 LIFE

VLFXXI goes ‘Hubo’t Hubad’ with 12 fresh scripts

IRGIN Labfest returns for its 21st edition this June with 12 new one-act plays that explore identity, memory, faith, politics, family, and personal struggles under the theme “Hubo’t Hubad.”

The annual festival of untried, untested, and unstaged plays, which runs until June 28 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater), features works by eight first-time playwrights and four returning writers.

Organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the festival takes its theme from the Filipino words for

“bare” and “stripped,” inviting audiences to examine stories that reveal the complexities of the human experience.

Among the featured plays is Password123, Pilipinas321 by Anthony Kim Vergara, which follows a cybersecurity expert working in an underground operation disguised as a technical support center. Elijah Felice Rosales’ Human Rights Story of the Year centers on an award-winning journalist whose achievements are challenged during a farewell gathering.

ships and sexuality through the story of a former womanizer who finds love, while Faith Ferrer Lacanlale’s Betamax follows a woman whose grip on reality changes after an accident.

Floyd Scott Tiogangco’s Patayin ang mga Surot unfolds on the final night of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, while Neil Arkhe Azcuna’s Balos places medical workers in Marawi in a difficult moral dilemma after a wounded fighter arrives at their hospital. Other new works include Alab Usman’s Haram, about queer Muslims navigating faith and love; Gab Mactal’s Lualhati, which revisits a past romance between a philosophy professor and a former nun; and Dustin Celestino’s Elehiya, an impressionistic exploration of fathers and sons.

Ron Evangelis-

ta’s She’s Electric examines relation-

Jerom Canlas’ Footprint explores grief through a family’s use of a virtual memory archive, while John Lapus’ Taksyapo! connects two strangers sharing stories inside a rage booth in Tarlac. Gerald Manuel’s Buhaghag rounds out the lineup with a psychological story about a woman haunted by a mysterious figure.

The festival will also restage three works from last year’s edition: Ade Valenzona’s Polar Coordinates, Rolin Cadallo Obina’s The Late Mr. Real, and Siege Malvar’s Presidential Suite #2

Apart from performances, VLFXXI includes educational programs such as Staged Readings, the Writing Fellowship Program and Showcase, Theater Talks, and the Playwrights’ Fair.

The staged readings will feature scripts by Jose Victor Torres, M. Manalastas, Dingdong Novenario,

Crafting the terno Slim’s, TESDA host butterfly sleeve workshop

SLIM’S Fashion & Arts School of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will hold a workshop focused on creating the butterfly sleeves of the terno, one of the most recognizable elements of

Philippine fashion. The workshop will highlight the defining feature of the national dress, known for its structured and stiffened upward-curving silhouette. Originating from the traditional baro’t saya and popularized by Philippine National Artist for Fashion Design

Ramon Valera in the mid-1900s, the butterfly sleeves remain a hallmark of Filipina pride, grace, and femininity.

The initiative is part of a series of Saturday workshops on couture Filipiniana techniques aimed at providing participants with a deeper appreciation of local cultural dressmaking traditions.

Attendees will learn pattern drafting, cutting, hand-sewing, and finishing methods. By the end of the course, participants will be able to create their own distinct, well-structured, and fully handmade butterfly sleeve without the use of machine stitching.

The workshop is being conducted in partnership with TESDA through Juana Creatives, an inclusive co-working and skill-building hub for women freelancers, hobbyists, cultural practitioners,

Rafael Jimenez, Juan Ekis, and Jay Fernandez. The Writing Fellowship Program, led by playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas, will culminate in a showcase of new works. International collaborations will also include staged readings of How Romantic: A Guide to Modern Pangcah Life by Ihot Sinlay Cihek and Prison Dancer from Canada’s National Arts Centre. Theater Talks will feature discussions with theater practitioners from

and design entrepreneurs. The organization provides enterprise support through industry-led classes across a range of creative disciplines. Through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), participants will also have the opportunity to feature and promote their creations and products at various trade fairs. The sessions will be facilitated by Joseph Richard Papa, an awardwinning fashion practitioner, educator, and TESDA National Lead Expert for Fashion Design NC II and Garment Production NC II. Papa’s collections have appeared on local and international runways, including the Concours International des Jeunes Créateurs de Mode in

Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan, while Playwrights’ Fair will gather veteran playwrights and guest speakers to discuss contemporary theater and storytelling. Performances are scheduled at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., while educational activities will be held at 5:00 p.m. throughout the festival. Tickets are priced at P800 for regular seats and P1,000 for premium seats and are available through the CCP Box Office and TicketWorld.