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INQUIRER’S EGGIE APOSTOL, 100
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Prosecution’s ‘surprise witness’ sparks heated debate in trial By Joel E. Zurbano and Katrina Manubay
VOL. XL • NO. 213 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
‘Peaceful’ BARMM polls leave 4 dead
THE impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its 24th day on Monday, Sept. 14, focusing on
allegations of unexplained wealth under Article II with former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang taking the witness stand. Escudero overruled the defense’s motion to exclude her testimony, allowing her to proceed, but added that her expertise would be subject to rigorous cross-examination and scrutiny by the defense. The prosecution accused Duterte of accumulating wealth disproportionate to her legal income and of failing to accurately declare it in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. Last week, the prosecution concluded its presentation of the first article on confidential funds and indicated its intentions to introduce more Next page Former Sandiganbayan Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang
Irregularities mar ‘calm, orderly’ voting By Vito Barcelo, Nash Maulana and Vince Lopez
C
OTABATO CITY— Officials called the parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro region on Monday “peaceful,” but the situation quickly devolved into four shooting deaths, firefights, an explosion, ballot irregularities, and reports of gunfire, vote-buying and other election offenses.
MILF Commander Bravo casts vote in BARMM polls NEWS / A2 These incidents prompted the Commission on Elections to take control of Cotabato City and Maluso town in Basilan, as the counting of votes in most areas began at 7 p.m. Next page
Ex-Speaker ready to face charges as Sandigan orders transfer to QC jail By Maricel Cruz and Charles Dantes FORMER Speaker Martin Romualdez said he is prepared to face the charges against him “with confidence in the truth” as the Sandiganbayan Third Division yesterday ordered his transfer to the male dormitory of the Quezon City Jail. “I respect the decision of the Sandiganbayan,” Next page
TESTING TIME. Soldiers keep watch as voters head to a polling station in Marawi City on the
southern island of Mindanao on September 14, 2026, for the first elected parliament in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern Philippines. Voters began casting ballots for their first elected parliament on September 14, hours after gun violence left at least three people dead outside a polling station. Insets show a woman displaying the electoral ink on her finger after voting and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, also president of United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), voting at Barangay Lower Pangangkalan, Pahamuddin, Special Geographic Area, BARMM. AFP
At 69, PBBM shares thoughts on major issues facing country By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday thanked Filipinos for joining his 69th birthday celebration, held simultaneously at 90 locations across the country. Speaking at the Salo-Salo sa Palasyo 2026 at the
Kalayaan Grounds of Malacañan Palace, Mr. Marcos said the nationwide celebration made his birthday especially meaningful. “You joined me in celebrating my birthday. I am happy, and I did not expect that all of you would be here and would be able to come,” President Marcos said. The president said the celebration extended beyond
Malacañang to communities across the country. “Not only here in Malacañang, but also in different places throughout the Philippines,” he said. Before returning to the country from India, the President share his thoughts on current issues during a kapihan with his accompanying media: Next page
DOE okays halt in fuel excise tax as oil prices surge to P5.58/liter By Thony Lesaca and Alena Mae Flores THE Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a certification to the Department of Finance (DOF) stating that the Dubai
crude oil price has breached the $80 per barrel threshold paving the way for the suspension of the fuel excise tax as pump prices soared to a high of P5.58 per liter. Prior to this week’s oil price hike, Next page
Labor unions protest slash in NCR minimum wage hike By Jimbo Gulle and Vito Barcelo GIFT GIVER. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. hands out gifts to youngsters during the annual Salo-salo sa Palasyo a day
after he celebrated his 69th birthday. Malacañang reopened to the public who availed of the President’s Handog: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat, which delivered government services and assistance, including financial assistance, health services, livelihood and employment, education, support for farmers, and free legal services to communities.
THE labor group SENTRO on Monday condemned the NCR Wage Board’s issuance of Wage Order No. 28, which reduced the wage increase from P85 to P60 and, it
said, threatened workers’ claims to wages they should have received under Wage Order No. 27. SENTRO said the issue was not merely the lower wage increase but the potential Next page
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
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MILF commander casts vote in polls M By Rex Espiritu
ORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader Abdullah Macapaar, known as Commander Bravo, on Monday cast his ballot as one of the first voters in the first parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). In photos posted on social media, the commander was seen personally casting
his vote at Saduc Central Elementary School in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Ex-Speaker... From A1
‘Peaceful’... From A1
Romualdez said after doctors of the Philippine General Hospital said his continued confinement “is not necessary.” “I have always said that I will face the charges against me and answer them before the proper court. That has not changed... I maintain my innocence.” “This is a difficult moment for me and my family. But I will face the days ahead with dignity, with faith in God, and with confidence in the truth,” he added. He thanked his physicians at Cardinal Santos Medical Center as well as doctors of PGH for their care and professional judgment. “I will continue to follow the medical advice of my doctors,” the former Speaker said. PGH medical director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi told the Sandiganbayan that the lawmaker’s medical condition can be managed outside the hospital. He likewise confirmed that the former Speaker needs continued psychiatric treatment for major depressive disorder and anxiety. “We formed a team of 12 doctors all covering various conditions he was diagnosed to be suffering from another hospital,” Legaspi said. He said Romualdez was also diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and recommended the use of a CPAP machine during sleep. Based on his medical abstract from Cardinal Santos, the former Speaker is suffering from “hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, unstable angina, coronary artery disease, post percutaneous coronary intervention, cerebrovascular ischemic disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and primary hypothyroidism.” Romualdez underwent angioplasty in October 2024. Dr. Henry Fabro of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said the facilities at the Quezon City Jail are sufficient to monitor the lawmaker’s cardiac condition, with about 24 nurses on duty around the clock. As this developed, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected claims the case of the former Speaker, who is his cousin, was part of a political “drama.” In a media briefing on Sunday following his attendance at the 18th BRICS Summit in India, the President said his critics were simply looking for something to say to undermine or insult him and his administration. “It’s just another attack. We get them a lot,” Mr. Marcos said.
Toward the evening, a shootout erupted in Cotabato City’s Lugay-Lugay District, said to be controlled by a local political family involved in an earlier exchange of gunfire in Barangay Bagua II. Authorities were also confirming a firefight in Lanao del Sur province, the area of “red” or most concern to the elections watchdog, as reports said more truckloads of men were entering Cotabato, invoking the name of Allah or God in the largely Muslim region. The first regular parliamentary election determines the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament, which will subsequently elect the region’s chief minister. The polls capped a peace process that began in the late 1990s and led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The election had been postponed several times before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a law in March setting the polls for Sept. 14.
Labor... From A1 loss of wages that workers had already won through the legally mandated wage-setting process. The group said the Wage Board’s declaration that WO 27 “never took effect” could deny NCR workers retroactive pay. It estimated that minimum wage earners alone could be owed more than P3,000 each, or more than P3.3 billion for 1.1 million workers. The figure does not include possible wage distortion adjustments affecting another 1.7 million workers, it said. “Why should workers pay for the government’s failure to defend its own wage order?” SENTRO said. The group also criticized the manner in which WO 28 was issued, saying workers and their organizations were not meaningfully consulted despite the legal requirement for consultation. SENTRO said the National Wage Coalition had sought dialogue and proposed amendments to protect the gains under WO 27, but its appeals were ignored.
Comelec: Voting remained calm, orderly
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said voting remained generally calm and orderly, with most precincts opening despite isolated incidents. Garcia described the polls as the most orderly observers had experienced, saying voting proceeded in most areas and emphasizing that “ballots, not bullets” should determine the region’s future. But the election was marred by violence even before polls opened. Three people were killed and 15 others wounded in a shooting outside a school being used as a polling station in Cotabato City shortly before midnight Sunday. Another civilian died after being caught in a shooting incident at Central Pilot Elementary School on Monday morning, the Comelec chief added. Garcia said 19 others were injured in separate incidents, including those wounded in the shootings and an explosion.
Rival political groups clash
Cotabato City police chief Jibin Bongcayao said the shooting began after rival political groups clashed over their positions in the queue. The confrontation escalated from shoving to a fistfight before gunfire erupted, he said. Police said the groups involved were supporters of rival political parties that emerged from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. A separate explosion was reported in Barangay Kalanganan II shortly before midnight. Police said a wounded man identified as Zainodin Sapal Macabuat emerged from the area carrying a homemade bomb that may have exploded prematurely. Relatives later identified him as a former employee of the Bangsamoro
Prosecution’s... From A1 testimonies, including possibly calling Duterte herself later in the trial. Cabotaje-Tang testified as an expert witness on public accountability and the legal framework surrounding undisclosed wealth and unlawful business interests in the country. House prosecutor Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno introduced the former magistrate to clarify how judicial courts assess whether government officials’ amassed wealth exceeding their legitimate earnings.
‘Surprise witness’
However, the defense, led by counsel Mark Vinluan, objected vigorously to her being called to testify, labeling her a “surprise witness.”
Macapaar leads the MILF North Western Mindanao Front and serves as an Honorable Member of the Parliament. “For the very first time after 64 years of existence, Commander Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar finally casts his vote in the first-ever Parliamentary Election,” an online user posted on Monday. “[A] meaningful moment that reflects his journey from the years of struggle to the peaceful exercise of his right and
responsibility as a citizen... May this election be a turning point for our people. May it be conducted with fairness, sincerity, and respect, and may the voice of every Bangsamoro be heard,” another social media user posted. According to Commission on Elections documents and the website of the MILF-affiliated United Bangsamoro Justice Party, Macapaar is a member of the political party, as well as one of its 40 nominees.
Youth Commission. Early Monday, another shootout in Barangay Bagua II killed two people and wounded 13 others. The barangay chairman said the incident stemmed from a longstanding rift between relatives involved in local politics. Toward the closing hours of voting, young men also became unruly and damaged the windshields of sport utility vehicles parked outside Sero Elementary School along Sinsuat Avenue. Despite the incidents, Garcia said the day-long voting remained orderly, while voters in the two Maguindanao provinces reportedly proceeded peacefully to polling places.
independently confirmed by the Comelec. The Legal Network for Truthful Elections said it received 618 monitoring reports by midday covering preliminary and regular voting hours. Its observers reported continuing safety incidents, coordinated assistance and vote-buying schemes, and ballot-secrecy violations. LENTE said seven monitors reported seeing people carrying firearms inside voting centers, including three separate incidents in Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte, and three in Marawi City.
Some ballots pre-shaded, replaced
Comelec placed Cotabato City under its control following the shooting and explosion incidents, allowing the poll body to directly intervene in election operations where security conditions could threaten the orderly conduct of voting. Maluso, Basilan was also placed under Comelec control after 36 of 68 ballots were found pre-shaded before distribution to voters. Garcia said the affected ballots were immediately replaced, and authorities had a lead on the person allegedly responsible. The incident caused delays as election officials secured the questionable ballots and waited for replacements. Basilan Vice Gov. Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman called the pre-shading a “desperate move” aimed at frustrating the Bangsamoro people’s aspirations for peace, prosperity and self-governance and discrediting the Bangsamoro Federalist Party. “The aspiration for peace, prosperity and self-governance must prevail,” Hataman said. He did not identify any individual or group as responsible. The Comelec also had not established the culprit or motive, with the matter still under investigation.
Multiple voting, vote-buying, illegal sample ballots reported
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting reported alleged multiple voting, vote-buying, gunfire and distribution of prohibited sample ballots in several areas. PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson said several people appeared to have cast ballots on behalf of other voters at Central Oring Elementary School in Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte. Voting on behalf of another person is prohibited except when an authorized individual assists a voter with a disability, she said. In Lanao del Sur, PPCRV reported gunfire at Dilausan Central Elementary School in Lumbaca-Unayan at about 10:31 a.m., prompting voters to flee. The watchdog also reported alleged widespread vote-buying in Barangays Marang and Gadung in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte. The allegations had not been
The defense contended that she was not listed in the pre-trial order, was absent from the formal articles of impeachment, and that her testimony had not been provided to them in advance. The defense further argued that her legal expertise might improperly evoke conclusions of law. Senator-judge Imee Marcos raised concerns regarding the relevance of the witness, questioning the rationale behind her presentation, given that she would neither authenticate documents nor aid in establishing the physical facts of the trial. “I wonder why our witness is here because she won’t confirm the documents and can’t provide any help regarding the facts,” Marcos said. Marcos proposed that if Cabotaje-Tang’s testimony would solely revolve around the Constitution and frameworks of public accountability,
Widespread use of ‘assistors’
LENTE reported that 137 of 492 reports indicated voters did not personally feed their ballots into the automated counting machines. In 119 cases, Electoral Board members were reported to have fed the ballots, contrary to Comelec instructions. Voter assistance was reported in 187 of 501 monitoring reports. LENTE said widespread use of assistors created vulnerabilities to ballot secrecy, particularly where political party watchers were reportedly involved. The group also documented cases in Maguindanao del Norte where voters left polling places before their ballots were fed into the machines, allowing watchers to complete the process. At one voting center, LENTE said watchers and other individuals allegedly pressured voters to choose a specific party and gave them money in small envelopes after voting. LENTE called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to maintain public order and protect voters and election personnel from intimidation, illegal assistance and interference.
PNP: Isolated flare-ups between rival parties
The PNP said the overall situation remained generally peaceful despite isolated flare-ups involving supporters of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party. As of 8 a.m., 1,045 or 88.11 percent of the 1,186 voting centers had opened. The elections involved 2,393,202 registered voters, 14,605 established precincts and 5,212 clustered precincts. The PNP maintained heightened security in 93 identified areas of concern, including 27 classified under the red category. PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. had placed police offices and units in the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on full alert from July 16 through Sept. 30. Nartatez said police were focused on ensuring that qualified voters could cast their ballots safely and peacefully, while reminding personnel to remain impartial, professional and respectful of voters, candidates and election workers. The Philippine Army deployed about 13,000 troops and Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary members as part of the government’s security effort.
it would be more appropriate for her to be invited later as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) rather than as a trial witness. Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo also suggested that the retired justice should only be allowed to testify after the prosecution has completed the presentation of all other factual witnesses related to the unexplained wealth case.
Court overrules defense motion
As the debate over Cabotaje-Tang’s testimony heated, Senator-judges Vicente Sotto III, Risa Hontiveros, and Panfilo Lacson called for a definitive ruling from Presiding Officer Francis Escudero. Sotto asserted that it would be appropriate for the impeachment court to consider the testimony of Cabotaje-Tang, emphasizing that it could provide valuable insights for certain senator-judges and the public in general.
Inquirer’s former publisher Eggie Apostol, 100 EUGENIA Duran Apostol, former newspaper publisher and co-founder of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, died on September 13. She was 100. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced her passing on Facebook, two weeks before her 101st birthday on September 29. Apostol received the 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts. “Apostol showed the power of a free press to speak truth, serve the public, and uphold democracy,” the Foundation said. “Her legacy lives on in every journalist who continues to defend truth, independence, and the people’s right to know.” Born in Sorsogon on September 29, 1925, Apostol graduated magna cum laude from UST in 1948 with a degree in Journalism. She edited the women’s pages of The Manila Times before launching the Inquirer with Max Soliven and Betty Go-Belmonte. In 1999, she founded Pinoy Times after then-President Joseph Estrada boycotted the Inquirer. Despite threats and suits, it reached 500,000 copies on weekends. Time Magazine named her a “Hero of Asia” in 2006.
At 69,... From A1 On VP Sara’s step-down call
The President declined to respond to Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent accusations against him and her calls for him to step down, suggesting her attacks may be driven by anger over the legal troubles she is facing. Speaking to reporters Sunday after attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, Mr. Marcos was asked about Duterte’s statements, including her claim of an alleged plan against her. The President said he was aware of the accusations but saw no reason to respond. “You know, I hear about them, but I don’t really even have a response. If she feels very angry, I suppose, with what’s happening to her, and I am the target of that anger, or the main target of that anger, what can I do?” Mr. Marcos said. “You cannot force anyone to love you,” he added.
On flooding in Bulacan
The President also said residents of flood-prone Bulacan will have to wait longer for long-term solutions to worsening floods, as his administration moves to build water-retention basins, relocate families from nobuild zones, and redesign flood-control measures to cope with increasingly extreme weather. “That will take quite a long time,” President Marcos said when asked when residents in flood-prone areas would begin to feel relief from persistent flooding despite the government’s efforts to hold officials accountable for failed flood-control projects. Mr. Marcos said the problem could not be addressed simply by pumping out floodwater, particularly in areas where surrounding land remains saturated.
DOE... From A1 pump prices breached over P100 per liter in the National Capital Region, depending on the station’s location and market forces. On Sept. 8, the DOE announced maximum price increases of P5.58 per liter for kerosene, P5.18 per liter for diesel and P4.69 per liter for gasoline. The 36th price movement this year resulted in a total net increase of P59.32 per liter for gasoline, P60.46 per liter for diesel, and P53.45 per liter for kerosene. For the period Sept. 8 to 14, gasoline sold at P70.61 to P101.60 per liter, diesel at P70.08 to P107 per liter and kerosene at P100.90 to P119.90 per liter. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced the lifting of value-added tax (VAT) on the allowable system loss charge within the cap approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). “I think the requirement in the law is if the average over one month is above $80 on average, then we inform the Finance department... And then the DOF would be the one to recommend to the President,” Garin said.
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Senate OKs bill proposing 5-yr barangay terms on 3rd reading By Ram Superable THE Senate approved a measure on Monday to extend the terms of local barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years, effectively rescheduling the upcoming local polls. Voting 13-5 with zero abstentions, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2387 on its third and final reading to move the elections originally scheduled for November 2026 to the second Monday of November 2028. Subsequent local elections will take place every five years on the second Monday of November to prevent scheduling conflicts with the annual All Saints’ Day observance. Senator Francis Escudero, the principal author and sponsor of the legislation, expressed gratitude to his peers for backing a policy aimed at stabilizing grassroots governance. “I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting this measure that will strengthen barangay governance and give our local leaders the time they need to deliver meaningful programs,” he said after the plenary vote. Under the amended provisions, barangay officials will be restricted to serving a maximum of two consecutive five-year terms instead of the previous three-term allowance. Youth council members will face a strict limit of a single five-year term to encourage broader civic engagement and regular leadership turnover among younger constituents. “Barangays are planners, implementers, first responders, peacekeepers, and frontline service providers, all at a level where the government interacts directly with households and families,” the lawmaker explained.
IN BRIEF Gov’t releases P657m for Mountain Province PARACELIS, Mountain Province — More than P657 million worth of peace and development projects were earmarked by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) to the province’s nine towns following a ceremonial groundbreaking and the distribution of funds to recipient localities. The fund distribution was among the activities lined up by OPAPRU to mark the 40th anniversary of the historic Mount Data “sipat,” or peace accord, which ushered in four decades of peace in the region. OPAPRU Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento formally handed checks to local chief executives for their respective projects, witnessed by representatives of government agencies and development partners. Sabangan received the largest allocation of P165 million, followed by Besao with P100 million, Paracelis with P95 million, Bauko with P85 million, Tadian with P65 million, Sagada with P60 million, Bontoc with P50 million, Barlig with P30 million, and Sadanga with P7 million. Dexter A. See
DepEd delivers health services to 91 schools THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said it led a health drive in 91 public basic education schools nationwide, providing healthcare services to over 47,000 target beneficiaries as part of the Handog ng Pangulo service initiative. DepEd said the caravan supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide communities across the country with direct access to social services. The initiative targets about 47,600 beneficiaries, including 22,000 teachers, 18,700 learners, 6,000 parents and guardians, and 900 nonteaching personnel. The health drive was conducted in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, turning 91 schools in 85 cities and provinces into primary healthcare hubs during the nationwide wellness break to avoid disrupting classes. Gabriel Oliva
STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR THE TREES. Residents of Provident Villages in Marikina City stage a Stations of the Cross on Monday to protest the Asian Development Bank Bridges Project, which they say could result in the cutting of several mature trees. Manila Observatory Dean Tony La Viña joins the activity. Edd Castro
Marcos rejects link between SC ruling, chief justice selection P By Charles Dantes
RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday rejected any suggestion that the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the graft conviction of his mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos, would influence his choice of the country’s next chief justice. President Marcos dismissed any connection between the Supreme Court ruling and his upcoming selection of a successor to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, whose term ends in November. “No, no. That’s the first time I made any connection between the choice of Chief Justice and no, that’s never been, that will never enter our thinking in any way,” Mr. Marcos told reporters in
India when asked whether the ruling could influence his choice. The question came after the Supreme Court overturned Imelda Marcos’ graft conviction, prompting concerns about a possible connection between the ruling and the president’s upcoming appointment of the next chief justice. Meanwhile, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion
Members of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and other workers protest outside the Department of Labor and Employment central office in Manila on Monday, demanding the removal of Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino over what they call the illegal and deceptive passage of Wage Order No. 28, which reduced the original P85 wage increase to P65. Norman Cruz
Crime victimization falls, cybercrime hits record high—SWS By Katrina Manubay THE proportion of Filipino families reporting victimization by common crimes declined in June 2026, while reported cybercrime reached a new high, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
cial interest in the foundations. To establish this, the prosecution presented documents filed in Switzerland. In his ponencia, Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda ruled that the documents were classified as private, not public. Under the Philippine Rules of Court, private documents must be authenticated. “To authenticate, the prosecution must present witnesses who can attest to the authenticity and contents of these documents,” Brion noted. The Court found that the prosecution failed to do this, as its witnesses had no personal knowledge. The decision also held that even if the defective information were disregarded, the prosecution still failed to prove all elements beyond a reasonable doubt.
PBBM’s peace initiatives pave way for historic BARMM polls
WAGE PROTEST.
The latest poll showed that 10 percent of families reported victimization by any common crime—pickpocketing or robbery of personal property, break-ins, carnapping, and physical violence—within the past six months. SWS noted that the figure was down 2.3 points from 12.3 percent in March 2026,
DSWD extends aid to ship fire survivors THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended P410,726 in humanitarian assistance, including financial aid, food packs, and non-food items, to survivors and affected families of the MV June Aster fire in Coron, Palawan. The passenger-cargo vessel caught fire on September 9 while traveling from Manila to Coron with 134 individuals on board, prompting continuing search, rescue, and retrieval operations. DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency immediately coordinated with the local government to determine needed assistance, including psychosocial support ordered earlier by Secretary Rex Gatchalian. Maricel V. Cruz
said Monday that government lawyers failed to prove the graft charges against former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos beyond a reasonable doubt on appeal before the Supreme Court. Brion said Mrs. Marcos, as a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa (IBP), was accused of allegedly holding a financial or pecuniary interest in Swiss foundations. He explained that under R.A. 3019, the first mode applies to the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and their deputies. Since records showed Mrs. Marcos was a Cabinet member and not an IBP member, conviction under that mode was not possible. That left the second and third modes, which may be committed by any public official. These required proof that Mrs. Marcos had a finan-
DAILY GRIND. A fisherman casts his net along the coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan, one of the country’s rich fishing grounds, as he goes about his daily routine. Dave Leprozo
which had sharply risen from 7.5 percent in November 2025, the highest level since 13.0 percent in September 2010. As of June 2026, 9.1 percent of families reported victimization by any of the three property crimes—pickpocketing or street robbery, burglary or break-ins, and carnapping—within the past six months, down from 11.5 percent in March 2026. For street robbery, 7.3 percent of families said they experienced victimization during the past six months, down from 8.9 percent in March 2026. Across major areas, victimization by street robbery increased in Metro Manila from 9.6 percent in March 2026 to 10.7 percent in June 2026, in the Visayas from 5.1 percent to 7.1 percent, and in Mindanao from 6.2 percent to 9.1 percent. The survey also found that 1.4 percent of families had members hurt by physical violence within the past six months, down from 1.7 percent in March 2026. Meanwhile, among families owning any motor vehicle, 0.3 percent reported having it stolen in the past six months, down from 1.1 percent in March 2026. Families victimized by break-ins also decreased from 4.6 percent in March 2026 to 3.5 percent in June 2026, after rising from 2.0 percent in November 2025.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s sustained implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreements, from amnesty and the normalization of former Moro combatants to strengthening BARMM autonomy and preparing for its first regular parliamentary elections, has helped pave the way for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to complete its historic transition from armed struggle to democratic political participation. Various initiatives by the administration are now converging with the political track of the peace process as BARMM prepares to hold its first regular parliamentary elections on Monday, September 14, marking 50 years since the signing of the historic Tripoli Agreement. Datu Michael O. Mastura, a former senior member of the MILF panel in peace negotiations with the government, welcomed and lauded the MILF’s participation in the historic parliamentary elections. “The important thing is that they [the MILF] are seeking legitimacy. So, let us welcome them to the electoral process,” Mastura said in an interview. “They have to know how to transition from an armed conflict group to a party seeking seats in a parliament through the exercise of voting rights,” said Mastura, a former deputy minister for the Office of Muslim Affairs. “I am very happy that they have accepted it. Finally, we have the go-signal on Monday, Sept. 14,” said Mastura, who also served as a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. Mastura said the significance of the BARMM elections goes beyond institutionalizing a parliament and ushering in new political leadership in the autonomous region. “We should use these [BARMM elections] as a reform movement. We are moving into a system that will discourage one-man rule. In exchange, we have the assembly or parliament. We would like to see a strong bureaucracy, coupled with a strong party system,” the Muslim scholar said.
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EO opens PH to foreign college students P By Gabriel Oliva
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an order establishing the Education Philippines (EduPhil) Program which seeks to promote the country as a “preferred” destination for international students seeking higher education.
HANDOG NG PANGULO. Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval and National Bureau of Investigation director Melvin Matibag tour service booths and interact with residents during the ‘Handog ng Pangulo 2026 Serbisyong Tapat Para Sa Lahat’launch at the Malabon Sports Complex. Around 3,000 city residents received state services and assistance during the event. Andrew Rabulan
IN BRIEF Senator eyes accurate ship passenger manifests DHSUD launches 4PH projects nationwide THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Pag-IBIG Fund on Monday simultaneously launched housing projects across the country under the Marcos administration’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program. Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the activities reflected the administration’s commitment to making housing programs and opportunities more accessible to communities nationwide while making President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s birthday week more meaningful. He said the events formed part of the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Tapat Para sa Lahat” program. The Pag-IBIG Fund’s “Handog ng Pangulo: Nationwide Open House sa Bagong Pilipinas” was held simultaneously at 14 Pag-IBIG-accredited Expanded 4PH housing projects across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Rio N. Araja
ILO, Canada to tackle PH forced labor issue THE International Labor Organization (ILO) and Canada will launch a new initiative to tackle forced labor in the Philippines, with the program open to journalists for media coverage. THE International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Canadian government are set to launch a new initiative meant to tackle forced labor in the Philippines. Forced labor is described as a serious violation of fundamental rights at work, and remains a challenge that is often hidden and difficult to detect. In the Philippines, the risks of forced labor are particularly relevant to critical sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and mining. The project will bring together government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, the United Nations and other partners to strengthen collective action against forced labor.
By Ram Superable
SENATOR Francis Escudero is pushing for the nationwide rollout of a maritime digital passenger manifest system to address critical information gaps exposed by the MV June Aster tragedy. The Philippine Coast Guard recently raised the possibility that the illfated vessel carried more passengers than recorded on its official manifest indicating overloading during the recent tragedy in Coron, Palawan. “What happened to MV June Aster
shows why we must accelerate and expand the rollout. If aviation has a strict real-time digital passenger manifest, this should also be the standard in our maritime sector,” Escudero said. The lawmaker shared his observations regarding regional port implementation of digital passenger manifests that remains inconsistent, despite existing Maritime Industry Authority mandates designed to curb overloading and improve sea safety. He added that neighboring countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea al-
PH to host ASEAN meeting to tackle disaster resilience By Rex Espiritu
MINISTERS and heads of disaster management agencies from across ASEAN will gather in Manila on Sept. 15-16 for the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience (AMCDR), a flagship event of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship confronting one of the region’s most persistent and costly challenges. Southeast Asia sits within the Asia-Pacific, the most disaster-prone region in the world. ASEAN member-states face multiple hazards, including typhoons, floods, earthquakes, droughts, and extreme weather intensified by climate change. These hazards increasingly interact with rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and other pressures, creating systemic, cascading, and compounding risks, event organizers said. The stakes extend beyond any single disaster. ASEAN represents one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions, with a combined gross domestic product exceeding USD 3.6 trillion and a population of more than 670 million. As a major hub for global trade, manufacturing and investment, disaster disruptions can ripple through supply chains and markets far beyond Southeast Asia. Strengthening disaster resilience is therefore essential to sustainable development, economic security and regional stability, the group noted. ASEAN is not starting from nothing. For two decades, the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) has provided the foundation for regional cooperation on disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response and resilience.
ICONIC PAINTING. Catholic devotees in Pakil, Laguna reenact the discovery 238 years ago of an image of Virgin Mary which the locals call Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba, immortalized through an oil painting secured over the ages with a 9 x 11-inch glass case with silver filigree ornaments. Teddy Brul
CHED-DAP partnership on leadership building THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has partnered with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to launch a leadership capacity-building program for officials of state universities and colleges (SUCs). CHED said the tie-up was attuned to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prepare higher education institutions to address the changing needs of learners and technological and workforce demands. According to CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis, institutional leaders play a vital role in translating policies, resources, and reforms into concrete results. “A policy can establish a direction. A framework can provide guidance. Resources can make implementation possible. But institutional leaders still have to make the crucial decisions,” Agrupis said. Gabriel Oliva
ready enforce electronic manifest submissions or digital boarding protocols. PCG data shows 132 individuals on the MV June Aster manifest, with 76 confirmed dead, 43 accounted for as survivors, 13 missing, and two listed passengers who did not board. “It has been almost five days since the incident, and the investigation must be expedited. As we grieve, we must also act. This kind of tragedy, which could have been avoided, should never happen again. Let us ensure safe travel for every passenger crossing our seas,” Escudero said.
Executive Order (EO) No. 124 signed Sept 8 mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as the implementing agency of the program. The EO also creates a taskforce to serve as the principal inter-agency coordinating body for the promotion, facilitation, and development of the education of international students enrolled in Philippine higher education institutions (DEIs). Members of the taskforce will include representatives of CHED as chairman, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as vice chairperson, and the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Tourism, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Professional Regulation Commission as members. “The CHED shall also serve as the Secretariat of the Task Force and provide the necessary technical and administrative support for the performance of its functions,” the EO stated. Under the order, the duties of the taskforce will revolve around formulating policies and strategic direction of the program, developing and overseeing the implementation of the five-year program, creating the EduPhil portal, streamlining VISA applications, and submitting an annual report to the President through the CHED. “The EduPhil Portal shall be established to facilitate and streamline the delivery of government services relating to the education of international students in Philippine higher education institutions,” the EO added. As ordered, the portal should be classified as the government’s only outlet for international student documentation, institutional endorsement tracking, and interagency referral as secure and interoperable platform. It also aims to be the official digital avenue for international student-related information and services and as the common platform for the member agencies to implement the program.
Troops kill four Reds, capture 3 in Esperanza, Agusan skirmish By Rex Espiritu
RICE DONATION. Camp John Hay Management Corp. or state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority donates 2,500 kilos of rice for typhoon-hit households in Baguio City. BCDA vice president for Land and Asset Development Richard Cepe turns over the donation to a representative of the city government. Dave Leprozo
GOVERNMENT troops have attempts by the New People’s Army (NPA) in from Northern Mindanao to establish a foothold in the Caraga region following a series of encounters in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, the Philippine Army said. Soldiers of the 1st Special Forces Battalion initially first engaged the NPA Headquarters Force Neo of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) early Saturday morning in Barangay Bakingking. The 8th Infantry Battalion later engaged the same group at around noon-
time during hot pursuit operations in the same village. The Army reported that four NPA members were killed in the encounter, among them Julia Cagadas alias Rhed tagged as NCMRC secretary. The three other fatalities were identified as Jonny Almonte Lindayo alias Kikoy/Bugkoy, Rochamae Bihag alias Maki, and Gerald Basahon alias Doydoy. Three insurgents later identified as Cherelyn Cuarisma Magsayo alias Lian, Marilyn Taquin alias Mayumi/Mayang, and Angelito Tahal Torres alias Erin, laid down arms. The troops also seized six high-powered firearms.
OPINION
A5
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
EDITORIAL
Sacred cows in robes “JUDICIAL in nature.” Three words, and seven Court of Appeals justices walk away clean. That is the sum total of the Supreme Court’s December 3, 2025 resolution dismissing the Ombudsman’s administrative complaint in JIB FPI No. 25-028-CA-J—disclosed quietly some nine months later, as these things tend to be. The case had all the ingredients of a legal thriller: a brawl between Antique officials over DSWD food packs, a six-month preventive suspension order, a CA temporary restraining order that neutered the Ombudsman, and a High Court that found the justices’ actions “judicial in nature” and therefore beyond administrative discipline. Let us be clear about what happened. Seven CA justices reversed the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension orders against Mayor Ernesto Tanjanlangit III of Tobias Fornier, Antique, and eight members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The Ombudsman cried foul, citing a mountain of Supreme Court precedent holding that its decisions are immediately executory and cannot be stayed by CA injunctions. The Court’s response was, in effect: judicial nature, case dismissed, next. This is the legal equivalent of a referee ejecting a player for a flagrant foul, only for the league commissioner to overturn the ejection on the ground that the referee’s whistle was administrative in nature. The logic is airtight if your only goal is to ensure that no one ever holds a judge accountable for anything short of accepting a briefcase full of cash on live television. The precedent problem is where the absurdity becomes operatic. In Ombudsman v. De Chavez (G.R. No. 172206, July 3, 2013), the Court held that a CA injunction staying an Ombudsman penalty “encroaches on the rule-making powers of the Office of the Ombudsman under the Constitution and RA 6770,” invoking the principle that special rules prevail over general ones. In Gobenciong v. CA (G.R. No. 159883, March 31, 2008), the Court ruled that preventive suspension orders are “immediately effective and executory” and that a motion for reconsideration does not stay implementation. By issuing a TRO against an Ombudsman preventive suspension, the CA justices were not merely exercising discretion. They were contradicting binding precedent. If that does not constitute gross ignorance of the law—a serious charge under Rule 140— then the phrase has no meaning. This is the same Court that, in Reyes v. Paderanga, found a judge guilty of gross ignorance for a single erroneous order and fined him P20,000, reasoning that good faith inheres only within the parameters of tolerable misjudgment. Was the De Chavez doctrine—repeatedly affirmed, unambiguous, directly on point—somehow not evident and basic? Or does the standard become more forgiving when the respondents wear robes? The judicial acts doctrine exists for good reason. Judges should not be disciplined for every erroneous ruling, or the judiciary would be paralyzed by complaints from losing litigants. But the doctrine has always had exceptions: bad faith, malice, corruption, gross ignorance. The Court’s dismissal does not address whether those exceptions apply. It simply says the acts were judicial, therefore case closed. That is circular reasoning elevated to constitutional doctrine. The question is not whether the acts were judicial—of course they were. The question is whether judicial acts performed in gross violation of binding precedent, in a manner that systematically undermines
another constitutional body’s mandate, can be subject to administrative discipline. The Court’s answer is effectively no, and do not ask again. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who inherited this mess from Samuel Martires, has announced he will refile. The Supreme Court, through its spokesperson, has invited him to file a proper complaint with supporting evidence. This is political theater of a high order. The Court knows any refiled complaint will face the same judicial nature dismissal unless it alleges bad faith or corruption with smoking-gun proof—virtually impossible to obtain against judges who leave no paper trail. The invitation is a public relations move designed to make the Court appear open to accountability while preserving a framework that guarantees none. Remulla, for his part, has threatened to publish a graveyard of Ombudsman cases reversed by the CA. Whether this is genuine conviction or strategic positioning—he is, after all, a former congressman who knows how to command a microphone—is almost beside the point. The spectacle is what matters.
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The Court’s dismissal is a victory for judicial independence. It is also a defeat for accountability. Strip away the jargon and the posturing, and the fundamental question remains: can the Ombudsman, the Constitution’s protector of the people, effectively discipline erring officials when the judiciary can and will nullify its actions without consequence? The answer, as the Court has just demonstrated, is no. The CA can issue TROs against Ombudsman suspensions, contradicting binding precedent. The Ombudsman can file complaints. The Court can dismiss them as judicial in nature. And the officials who were supposed to be suspended remain in office, governing, potentially influencing witnesses, potentially tampering with records. The sacred cows Remulla warned about are real, and they are grazing comfortably on the pasture of judicial immunity. If Remulla is to succeed where his predecessor fell short, he must do more than refile the same complaint with different phrasing. He must build a record, documenting specific CA reversals that violate De Chavez and Gobenciong—not just legal error, but a pattern of disregard for binding precedent. He must press the Court to either explicitly overrule its own precedents or explicitly exempt judges from their application. He must make the judicial nature dodge politically costly enough that the Court cannot wave it away. The alternative—accepting that judges are immune from accountability for grossly erroneous rulings that undermine other constitutional institutions—is worse. It means preventive suspension, a key anti-corruption tool, is available only until a well-connected respondent finds a sympathetic appellate justice. The Court’s dismissal is a victory for judicial independence. It is also a defeat for accountability. Whether it is a defeat for the rule of law depends on whether the judicial nature doctrine has any limiting principle at all. On this resolution, the answer appears to be no. And that should worry everyone—except, perhaps, the seven CA justices and the Antique officials they protected.
Incubator shortages, premature births strain Gaza’s hospitals KHAN YUNIS, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES — As monitors beep and doctors consult near them, two tiny newborns lie silently side-by-side, sharing a single incubator in a southern Gaza hospital running short on space and supplies. Gaza’s youngest already face an extremely precarious entry into the world, given the dire humanitarian situation in the war-shattered territory that borders Israel and Egypt. But for babies needing specialist care, such as those born prematurely, the road ahead is even more perilous. “The situation is dire: there is no oxygen available for them, nor is there any spare incubators in the hospital,” said Hatem Dhahir, head of the neonatal department at Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis. “We’re trying to transfer them to other hospitals, but they’re always full and the situation is very bad. Most of the children
need oxygen and are very underweight, and things are going from bad to worse,” he told AFP. The war between Israel and Hamas has devastated the Palestinian territory’s healthcare system, with many medical facilities rendered completely or partially unusable.
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Many medical facilities have been rendered completely or partially unusable. Ongoing Israeli restrictions on goods entering the Gaza Strip mean medical supplies and specialist equipment are also running low.
F
A defining moment
IRST-EVER parliamentary elections were held Monday in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, with almost 2.4 million residents eligible to cast their votes. Finally, after a 2014 agreement and the establishment of an interim government, politicians belonging to 13 parties vied for 80 parliamentary seats.
The election is the result of decades of negotiations and failed attempts. “The election marks a milestone in the continuing journey of BARMM towards lasting peace, democratic governance and meaningful selfdetermination,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a video message, where he exhorted the people to participate in the historic event. “This is more than just electing leaders, but it is proof of how far we have progressed in the peace process,” said BARMM interim chief minister Abdulraof Macacua. Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who was the region’s interim chief minister until last year, and is a candidate for parliament, said: “Our people have long aspired to have elections, where the people themselves can choose their leaders.” But just hours before election day,
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ONLINE
By Thomas Urbain TOP AI executives say they want to slow the breakneck pace of artificial intelligence development, but competition, US government reluctance, and geopolitical factors stand in the way. What are AI leaders proposing? On Saturday, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei advocated for a coordinated slowdown of AI development to better understand the risks arising from the technology’s capabilities. He received public support from his counterpart at OpenAI, Sam Altman, as well as from Elon Musk and Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis. Why now? In recent months, OpenAI and Anthropic have reported several incidents in which AI systems spontaneously broke out of their confined environments to access the internet and attack websites and platforms. These AI systems demonstrated the ability to coordinate, establish hierarchies among themselves, cheat and erase traces of their actions. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Jacob Coxon -- who resigned from Anthropic and previously worked at OpenAI -- publicly accused both startups of lax security standards and “gambling with our lives.” Will they slow down on their own? Competition among the industry’s leading players is so fierce, with hundreds of billions of dollars in investment at stake, that none of them is willing to risk easing off the accelerator alone. Amodei has expressed a willingness to coordinate with rivals, excluding China. When asked by AFP about potential discussions to this end, Anthropic, OpenAI and Google did not immediately respond. For now, the only concrete measure adopted by both Anthropic and OpenAI Israel says it is preventing the entry of items that could also have military use as it accuses Hamas -- which carried out the worst-ever attack against Israel on October 7, 2023 -- of plotting further violence. Dhahir said Nasser hospital had seen a significant increase in the number of premature births in recent months, as well as twins and triplets. The influx was forcing staff to place two or even three babies in each incubator, he said. In March, the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA said that one in three pregnancies in Gaza were high-risk and 70 percent of newborns were premature or underweight. Incubator sharing significantly increased mortality risks, it said. ‘No room’ Nearly the entirety of Gaza’s population was displaced at least once during the devastating war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The fighting flattened swathes of the territory, left hundreds of thousands of people living in tents and temporary
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We harbor no illusions about the amount of work that still needs to be done. As a result, the Commission on Elections placed Cotabato City and Maluso, Basilan under its control. This means that the Comelec now has direct authority over local officials,
“That is the IPO story in essay form: we are the responsible firm; we are the cure; buy the safety premium,” he posted on X, referring to widely expected initial public offering. Several figures in tech private equity also accused Anthropic of “regulatory capture” -- seeking to have public authorities cement, through regulation, a hierarchy with the startup at the top. “Stop pretending the motivation to slow down is purely altruistic,” said David Sacks, a former AI advisor to President Donald Trump who remains influential at the White House. “You face massive product-liability exposure if your products enable a truly damaging cyberattack,” he said. Can AI slow down without the Trump administration’s support? On Sunday, Trump dismissed the warnings from AI industry leaders as
“negative forces.” Several Republicans have expressed reluctance to actively regulate the technology, fearing it could stifle innovation and risk letting China win the AI race, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson. On Sunday, Amodei reiterated the need for government oversight of AI. Like Altman and Hassabis, he believes that rules set by the industry itself would be insufficient. Can the brakes be applied without China? Anthropic’s Amodei suggests limiting coordination to democratic countries, excluding China. However, the AI race and China’s advances in the field create “the toughest dilemma” regarding whether or not to slow down AI development, he noted on CBS on Sunday. The United States plans to discuss AI safety on the sidelines of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s late September visit to Washington. But China is wary of any US attempt to impose its own regulatory framework, according to several media outlets. This divergence is particularly pronounced given that China encourages the emergence of so-called “open” AIsystems that are freely accessible and modifiable -- in contrast to the “closed” models favored by major US companies. Open AI models are, by definition, harder to control, as users can alter their parameters -- potentially for malicious purposes. To allow leading non-Chinese companies to ease off the accelerator, Amodei urges stricter export controls on the most advanced US chips to China and better safeguards against the misappropriation of Western AI technology by Chinese laboratories. AFP
shelters, and shattered vital infrastructure such as sanitation and access to safe water. Despite a US-backed ceasefire declared in October 2025, the Israeli military continues to target Palestinians it says are militants. A UN-mandated inquiry published in June said that severe shortages of food, medical supplies, fuel and the collapse of healthcare services had an enormous impact on maternal health. “Against this background, rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, low-birthweight infants and congenital defects have increased,” the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry said. Heart conditions were among three types of congenital defects to have particularly increased, the commission said, citing medical practitioners. In southern Gaza, Mona Ahmad was accompanying a baby taken to Nasser hospital in late August and diagnosed with a serious congenital defect in which the heart’s two main blood vessels are switched in position.
“We received a final report stating that the baby was suffering from transposed arteries and needed to be transferred, as there was absolutely no treatment available for her here,” Ahmad told AFP. “The baby spent a full week in the neonatal unit and was discharged because there was no room for her there,” she added. In a bid to revive Gaza’s neonatal care system, the UN children’s agency UNICEF has scaled up its work to supply medical equipment such as incubators, ventilators and monitors to hospitals. Including work that began before the ceasefire, UNICEF has supplied 93 incubators to six facilities across the Gaza Strip. But challenges remain immense and more needs to be done, said Toby Fricker, chief of advocacy and communications for UNICEF Palestine, following a visit to a neonatal intensive care unit in the territory. For now, “through the pure... resilience of the doctors, of people, things are working,” he said. AFP
is the inclusion of independent observers who will internally verify the companies’ work regarding AI safety. Is this a PR stunt? While many in the industry welcomed Amodei’s message, others questioned his motives. For Brian Roemmele, an entrepreneur and figure in the AI sector, it amounts to a sales pitch delivered just weeks before Anthropic is likely to take shares public.
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Open AI models are, by definition, harder to control, as users can alter their parameters — potentially for malicious purposes
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Is it possible to slow down the development of AI?
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno
Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net
shots were fired after an argument outside a school-turned-polling station in Cotabato City, the regional capital, leaving three people dead and some 15 others wounded. Authorities also reported gunfire and an explosion in Basilan. Pre-shaded ballots were also reportedly circulating there.
government employees, and law enforcement so it could safeguard the votes and address security issues. The deaths are unfortunate, as all deaths are. But these should not dishearten the people of BARMM. Neither should it prevent them from believing that things not possible before might be possible now. For example, in Marawi City, news agency Agence France Presse reported that voters lined up patiently to cast their votes. AFP talked to an 18-year-old voter who admitted he was nervous at the possibility of chaos but who observed peaceful conduct of polls. The youth said he was excited for the results. As we know too well, eradicating election violence and all other negative things usually associated with casting our votes will not be accomplished in a few months, or in a few years. The BARMM election on Monday was also previously just a fond dream. We harbor no illusions about the amount of work that still needs to be done in terms of ensuring governance, autonomy, respect for the will of the majority, and reverence for human life. To advance toward that goal, however, even in minute steps, is a feat worth noting.
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Beijing to ban possession of drones, citing security BEIJING – Beijing will ban the possession of drones within city limits under new rules from November, further tightening regulations that already prohibited the sale of the devices. The rules, announced on Sunday and due to take effect on November 15, forbid possessing or storing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Chinese capital and ban flights in its airspace. Transporting drones or their components into Beijing will also be forbidden. Airspace safety fears in the city of 22 million were raised in June when a small plane crashed into its tallest skyscraper, killing the pilot and injuring 13 others. The regulations, formulated by Beijing’s municipal government, cited the need to “safeguard the security of the capital.” Under rules introduced in May, Beijing already prohibited drone sales, while owners had to register their devices but were allowed to keep them. The new regulations mandate that all drone owners dispose of their devices or move them out of Beijing by November 15, or else face confiscation and fines. Authorities will offer subsidies for owners to scrap their gadgets or sell them through buy-back channels. Alternatively, they will be offered free shipping to mail them out of the city. Drone flights in Beijing’s airspace already require permission from authorities. According to the new rules, exemptions may be provided for special purposes like counter-terrorism, agriculture, disaster relief, and research. AFP
WAR VICTIMS, TOO. A medical worker checks on prematurely-born babies lying in infant warmer beds at the overcrowed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
Search on for over 100 missing passengers IN BRIEF J AKARTA – Indonesian rescuers searched Monday for more than 100 people missing after a ferry capsized in rough seas, with aircraft, naval vessels and divers deployed to find survivors, the country’s top rescue official said.
Surfer hospitalized after shark attack in Australia
SYDNEY – A surfer in his fifties was rushed to hospital on Monday after being bitten by a shark in Western Australia, the state government and local ambulance service said. Authorities said they received a report of a “shark incident” around 9:45 am (0145 GMT) at Glenfield Beach, just over 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Perth. The man is in a “serious but stable condition,” national broadcaster ABC said, citing local health authorities. Locals were advised to take additional caution around the beach. Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are shifting sharks’ migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks. A 12-year-old boy died after he was bitten by a shark while swimming in Sydney Harbour in January. Three divers were also fatally mauled in separate incidents between May and June – two in Western Australia and the third in Queensland. AFP
Japan’s Okinawa ousts anti-US base governor TOKYO – A candidate backed by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling party won a gubernatorial election in Okinawa, bringing to power a leader who approves of a contentious US military base relocation plan for the first time in 12 years. In a landslide victory following Sunday’s vote, Genta Koja beat incumbent Denny Tamaki, who has long pushed for a major US military base to be moved out of Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture. Koja, 42, accepts a central government plan to keep the US Marine Corps’ Futenma air base on Okinawa’s main island, but move it to a less populated location. His campaign focused on economic messages, pledging to double Okinawa’s average income, the local government budget for childcare, and spending by tourists on the island, which has long been less prosperous than the rest of the country. AFP
1 dead, 25 others missing in boat sinking off Greece ATHENS – One person died and 25 remained missing after a boat filled with migrants sank off the Greek island of Gavdos, near Crete, the coast guard said on Monday. “Fifty-one were picked up by two boats that were in the area,” a coast guard spokesman said, adding that according to those plucked from the sea, 77 people were on board the boat when it went down. Crete and Gavdos, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) from the Libyan coast, have become the main point of entry for asylum seekers in Greece. In late August, Greece’s ANA news agency published figures from the immigration ministry that indicated that migrant arrivals in Greece fell from about 61,000 in the year to August 2025 to 42,000 in the following 12 months – a decline of around 31 percent. Authorities in Europe have tightened their immigration rules over recent years as far-right, anti-immigrant parties have won increasing support. AFP
FAITHFULNESS. Devotees carry idols of Hindu deity Ganesha on the occasion of ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ festival in Mumbai on Monday, September 14, 2026. AFP
Panel to hear Cambodia, Thailand sea dispute SINGAPORE – Cambodia and Thailand will face off before international mediators in Singapore this week in a longstanding dispute over valuable maritime resources, the latest spat between the feuding neighbors. Phnom Penh initiated a UN-backed conciliation process at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) after Bangkok pulled out of an agreement to work towards joint offshore energy exploitation in the Gulf of Thailand. The 2001 memorandum of understanding covers a vast and resource-rich territory of around 27,000 square kilometers to which both Cambodia and Thailand lay claim. Bangkok in May unilaterally pulled out of the framework agreement, called “MoU 44,” saying that “no progress had been made” in implementing it.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied it was linked to the simmering border conflict with its Southeast Asian neighbor, which erupted into two rounds of clashes last year that left dozens of people dead, and displaced more than a million before a truce was agreed. Cambodia said last week that it resorted to the conciliation process “after Thailand unilaterally terminated the agreed bilateral framework” through which the two nations had “negotiated their overlapping maritime claims for more than two decades.” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in June that the move was also to “protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with international law.” The two countries’ representatives are set to give their opening statements on
Tuesday before a five-member conciliation panel of international law experts at the world’s oldest arbitration court’s offices, in Singapore. Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn is expected to open the floor, followed by his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Set up in 1899, the PCA is the world’s oldest intergovernmental dispute-resolution body and resolves disputes between countries and private parties through referring to contracts, special agreements and various treaties, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The PCA office in Singapore is the Hague-based court’s first in Asia. The commission’s recommendations are not binding and will take about a year to be decided. AFP
The Virgo Transport 8, which authorities said carried 213 passengers and 30 crew, lost contact with its shipping company early on Sunday after departing Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, in East Java. National search and rescue agency chief Mohammad Syafii said Monday that six people had been confirmed dead and 129 others were missing. At least 108 others had been rescued the previous day. Five aircrafts and 17 vessels, including navy warships, were deployed to assist with the search, which will be focused in areas around the capsized ferry, he added. “We will maximize the search operation in six sectors that we have divided by prioritizing the search for floating victims,” Syafii said. “Hopefully, we can find the victims in safe condition.” He added that divers and underwater drones will be deployed to search for the victims in and around the wreck, which rescuers have located. The ferry was not overloaded and it transported passengers below its maximum capacity of 500 people, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said in a press conference Monday. Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that relies heavily on boat connections for daily transport and tourism. Lax safety standards and unpredictable weather are the main reasons for the disasters. Last week, a speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists working for local and international news agencies, went missing near a volcano, Mount Anak Krakatau, in Banten province. That search is ongoing. AFP
France submits new proposal to ban social media for under-15s
YOUNG REVELER. A girl with her face painted waves a Mexican flag during the 55th Annual 26th Street Mexican Independence Day parade in Chicago. AFP
PARIS – The French government submitted a reworked proposal to ban social media for children, after its previous ban was struck down by the country’s top constitutional authority, President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday. France’s Constitutional Council struck down the previous legislation in mid-August, finding that part of it constituted an unnecessary infringement on the freedom of expression of those affected. “After rigorous technical work the government today is notifying” the European Commission of the new draft, Macron wrote on X. The notification is a key step, as it
ensures that the legislation is in line with European Union laws. Macron has made banning social media use for children and teens one of his top priorities and hopes to see a working ban in force by the time he leaves office next year. He has called for similar legislation to be adopted throughout the European Union. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is due to address a possible bloc-wide social media ban for children in a speech in Brussels this week. A growing number of countries are taking steps to restrict social media access amid multiplying warnings over its harmful effects on children. AFP
SPORTS PVL charts new path to glory in 10th season NEW season, new format, one grand prize. The Premier Volleyball League is turning the page on its landmark 10th season with a bold new All-Filipino Conference format designed to give teams more opportunities to compete, more players the chance to shine, and every victory greater value on the road to a single ultimate prize – the Philippine Grand Championship.
Sherwin Malonzo
For the first time, the league will stage the conference across three distinct series – Siklab, Sigla and Sinag – creating a season-long championship race that will test teams not only on their ability to win, but also on their consistency, depth and endurance. The first two series will each crown their own champion while awarding standings points that will carry over into the third and final series. Those accumulated points will determine the teams’ overall rankings and seeding for Sinag, setting the stage for an intense final push toward the Philippine Grand Championship. In other words, every match will matter from the opening serve to the final point. A team’s performance in the first two series will not simply be remembered as a separate chapter – it will shape its position, path and chances of winning the grand prize. “For this All-Filipino Conference, we will have three series. Now, each series will earn points, and those points will be added up, which will be the basis of their rankings for the third series. Each series, we will have a champion until the third one. So it’s all round-robin,” said PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
US Open win cements Zverev’s status among world’s tennis elite N EW YORK—The Grand Slam floodgates have opened for Alexander Zverev, who cemented his status among the tennis elite with a US Open victory -- his second major in less than four months after more than a decade of toiling amid disappointment, controversy and injury.
The 29-year-old German had finally fashioned his “happy end” with his French Open victory in June. On Sunday, he played in his third straight Grand Slam final, following up his Wimbledon runner-up finish with a victory over rising US star Ben Shelton. The 6-foot-6 (1.98m) German had been destined for the top from a young age, hailing from a tennis family where his mother and father both played the sport to a high level in the former Soviet Union. “For me, my family is everything and I owe them a lot for helping me to become the tennis player that I am today,” Zverev has said. Tipped for stardom from his youth, his path has been anything but smooth. He lives with diabetes and in 2022 suffered a career-threatening ankle injury at Roland Garros. He also plays in the shadow of domestic violence allegations made by two former partners, Olga Sharypova and Brenda Patea, which he has strenuously denied. The ATP Tour investigated one claim and found insufficient evidence to punish Zverev. The case involving Patea, the mother of his daughter, led to a 2023 penalty order and fine from a German court. Zverev appealed and the two reached a settlement in June of 2024 -- hours before he was due to play in the French Open semi-finals. Highs and lows Zverev, who idolized Roger Federer growing up, made his first Grand Slam final in 2020 at the US Open, agonizingly losing in five sets to Dominic Thiem after being 2-0 up. “That was exactly the time when I had real struggles with my serve and my second serve,” he said of that match. “I knew that my serve could break down at any moment. That’s one difference that I do feel now, luckily for me.” His seemingly unstoppable rise was temporarily halted when he tore ankle ligaments while playing Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros semis two years later and he underwent surgery. Returning in January 2023, Zverev captured a 20th
Germany’s Alexander Zverev hugs the trophy after defeating USA’s Ben Shelton in the men’s singles final tennis match on Day 15 of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. AFP
career title in Hamburg before having a fine 2024 season, in which he powered into the French Open final and surged to world number two, dispelling concerns that he was mentally frail. “In the life of a professional athlete, you will have the highest highs and the lowest lows,” said Zverev. “Getting caught up in the lows is the biggest mistake that you can make. “You shouldn’t try to evaluate everything when times are tough, you should try to find ways to get better when you’re on a high.” A third Grand Slam final defeat followed at the 2025 Australian Open, in straight sets by Jannik Sinner.
There were successes along the way, the most notable a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where he stunned Novak Djokovic before taking down Karen Khachanov in the final. But doubts about whether or not he would break his Grand Slam duck resurfaced as Sinner and Alcaraz dominated men’s tennis by winning nine consecutive majors between them. Zverev says he never lost faith that he could break through. “I believed in it. I believed that it’s possible,” he told reporters in New York, adding with a laugh: “I think not many of you guys did.” AFP
Top 16 locked as title race heats up in LISEA Pickleball THEroad to championship glory is getting more exciting as the Top 16 teams have officially secured their places in the knockout stage of the 1st Inter-Agency LISEA Pickleball Tournament “Sec. Conrado Estrella III Cup” Men’s Doubles Open Category following an action-packed elimination round held at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Gymnasium along Elliptical Road, Quezon City. The tournament also received a special boost with a visit from the Secretary, further energizing players and spectators alike as government agencies battled for a coveted spot in the next phase of competition. With 36 teams representing different government agencies competing in four brackets, the tournament has been marked by spirited rivalry, outstanding performances, and a strong sense of fellowship. The competition continues to highlight pickleball’s increasing popularity among public servants and its role in promoting wellness and teamwork. Leading the field entering the knockout round are three undefeated
As the tournament enters its most thrilling stage, players will battle not only for bragging rights but also for the honor of becoming the first-ever champions of the prestigious Sec. Conrado Estrella III Cup.
tandems who stamped their class throughout the elimination stage. Representing the Philippine National Police (PNP), Paul Armas and Gary
Napaton completed their bracket campaign without a loss, while Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) standouts Daryl Alingasa and John Kerin Nastor also
advanced with a perfect record. Joining them among the tournament favorites are UP Diliman’s Jien Camontoy and Odilon Badong, who likewise remained unbeaten and are expected to be strong contenders for the title. The host agency’s hopes remain alive as Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) duo Orlando Reyes and Crisostomo Bernaldez successfully earned a place in the Top 16, keeping their championship aspirations intact. Meanwhile, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) representatives Michael Javier and Ronald Dylan Concepcion continue their determined campaign, hoping to capitalize on every opportunity as they seek to advance deeper into the competition. With every match now carrying do-or-die implications, all eyes will be on the Top 16 knockout phase on September 17, 2026. As the tournament enters its most thrilling stage, players will battle not only for bragging rights but also for the honor of becoming the first-ever champions of the prestigious Sec. Conrado Estrella III Cup.
Bisera, LPGT stars take aim at Taiwan crown YVON Bisera carries both confidence and a renewed hunger for victory as she leads a 20-player Ladies Philippine Golf Tour contingent against a strong international field in the Kenda Tire Open on Sept. 23-25 at Taichung International Golf Club in Taiwan. The Davaoeña ace, a two-leg winner on the LPGT this year, heads the Philippine charge brimming with confidence despite narrowly missing a third victory at Summit Point last week. Her recent run, highlighted by two wins and a stirring comeback, has sharpened her belief that she can contend once again – this time on foreign soil. Bisera said the steady improvement in her long game has given her added confidence heading into the three-day championship. “My long game has become more consistent, and my irons were particularly good at the Summit Point Championship. I hit all the greens in the second day and 16 of 18 in the final round. That gives me confidence playing internationally because I know I just need to focus on my
putting,” said Bisera in Filipino. She now looks forward to testing how her game holds up on an unfamiliar course against some of the region’s best players. “I’m excited to see how my game adapts to a different kind of course and how I perform against a strong international field. It’s a great opportunity to challenge myself, see where I stand and measure my game against some of the best players in the region,” she added. The Kenda Tire Open marks another cosanctioned event between the LPGT and Taiwan LPGA Tour, continuing a partnership forged in 2015. The two circuits staged their f irst co-sanctioned tour nament in Taiwan in 2018, the Party Golfers Ladies Open in Miaoli County. Backing her up is a deep LPGT cast that includes proven winners Princess Superal, Mafy Singson, Sarah Ababa, Ji-won Lee, Harmie Constantino and Chihiro Ikeda, giving the Philippines a formidable mix of experience and firepower.
Yvon Bisera with father Rey during Summit Point Championship Pro-Am which she topped.
Mozzy Ravena
Spikers’ Turf finally shares stage with PVL THE Spikers’ Turf will mark its 10th season with a milestone long envisioned by its founders – finally sharing the same stage and playdates with the Premier Volleyball League. The men’s pioneering league’s 2026 Invitational Conference will open on Oct. 10 at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena alongside the PVL’s All-Filipino Conference, putting the country’s top men’s and women’s volleyball leagues under one roof for the first time. The historic triple-header will begin with Choco Mucho taking on Capital1 at 1 p.m., followed by a Spikers’ Turf match at 3:30 p.m. Creamline and Akari will then cap the opening-day festivities at 6 p.m. And it will not be a one-day arrangement. Sports Vision Management Group Inc., which organizes both leagues, has decided to make the shared playdates a regular feature, with Spikers’ Turf matches sandwiched between PVL games every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. “Foremost, I would like to thank Cignal and Sports Vision, PVL, for making the dream possible,” Spikers’ Turf tournament director Mozzy Ravena said Monday during the league’s 10/10 press conference at Novotel Manila. “It took 10 years. Even from the very beginning, we wanted to play side by side with the PVL and finally, as they say, dreams do come true. After 10 years, ito na, maglalaro na kami with the women’s teams sa PVL. Thank you so much for making it happen,” she added.
SPORTS
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RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
Alas Women face China on opening day
JUBILANT. University of the
Philippines’ Gani Stevens screams his heart out after scoring a basket at the start of the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament late Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The Fighting Maroons defeated the Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 92-85.
Eala remains at world no. 18 heading into Singapore Open By Jeremiah Sevilla
F
ILIPINA tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala remained steady at a career-high No. 18 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings released on Monday following her impressive run in the US Open 2026.
Alex Eala attends the Tory Burch Spring Summer 2026 show during New York Fashion Week in New York City. AFP
Eala held on to the ranking after making history as the first Filipino tennister to reach the third round (Round of 32) of the final Grand Slam of the year. Seeded No. 17 in the US Open, the 21-year-old sensation decimated American qualifier Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round before hacking out a vengeful 6-1, 6-4 sweep against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in the second round. Eala bowed to American friend and rising rival Iva Jovic in a thrilling three-setter, 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, that
lasted over three hours at the famed Arthur Ashe Stadium last week. The Filipina lefty ace first seized No. 18 after her historic title run in the Mubadala DC Open in Washington last month. The WTA 500 triumph made Eala the first Filipino player to win a Tour singles title and the highest-ranked Southeast Asian woman netter in history. Eala will now turn her attention to the Singapore Tennis Open, which is scheduled for September 21 to 27, 2026, at the OCBC Arena. Eala is expected to be a seeded player in the WTA tourney alongside world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 5 Mirra Andreeva and No. 11 Amanda Anisimova. The Singapore tilt will serve as Eala’s final tournament before she represents the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Asiad tennis tournament will run from September 27 to October 3. Eala heads into the continental meet as the highestranked player in the field, making her a heavy favorite to win the gold medal and secure a ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Gilas Pilipinas gets the boot from mighty Chinese GILAS Pilipinas’ title defense in the 2026 Asian Games came to a heartbreaking end after suffering a 44-point beatdown to its vengeful rival China, 61105, on Monday at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan. The Nationals crashed out of the group stage as the defending champions finished with a 1-2 record in Group C and failed to secure one of the two best third-place spots for the quarterfinals after failing to keep its losing margin at 37 points or fewer. Gilas briefly managed to stay within that threshold with Sedrick Barefield and Calvin Oftana sparking fightback attempts, but the Tim Conecoached squad could not sustain the rally as China pulled away repeatedly. The defeat marked the country’s lowest finish in the Asiad men’s basketball history, with Gilas ending the tournament in ninth place. The Philippines’ previous worst showing was seventh in the 2014 Incheon iteration. It was a crushing end to a title-retention campaign that began with high hopes after the Justin Brownlee-led Philippines captured the gold medal in the 2023 Hangzhou edition, ending a 61year title drought at the expense of China in the semifinal and Jordan in the final. Filipino fans were left disappointed as Gilas entered the game with a plus-27 point differential
and ranked as the best third-placed squad before the blowout loss to China. Former Philippine Sports Commission chairman and PBA commissioner Noli Eala was among those who voiced his frustration over the heavy defeat. “Nakakahiya! Gilas came into this game with a mindset that they could just lose, (mind you) not win, lose by 37. Where is the national pride?” Eala wrote on X. “Unacceptable. A national embarrassment.” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino also chimed in. “It was a good thing we got the gold medal in Hangzhou, though we have to wait for five years to regain the gold medal,” said Tolentino. “The question is: why do the other countries have so many naturalized players? Why can’t we?” Oftana was the lone Gilas player to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points, including eight in the final 2:37 as the PH team tried to mount one last comeback. Barefield added nine points while Don Trollano had seven markers for the Nationals, who struggled badly on the offensive end. Gilas shot just 32 percent from the field and 23 percent from three-point range while China hit 51 percent from the floor and buried 12 triples compared against the Philippines’ seven. Jeremiah Sevilla
Calvin Oftana FIBA
NAGOYA—Alas Pilipinas Women will face defending champion China right away, but Bella Belen insists they are ready for the big battle on Wednesday at the Okazaki Central Park General Stadium in Okazaki. Belen and other members of the Philippine team arrived in the bustling metropolis last Sunday (September13), three days ahead of the competition proper. “We will do our very best against China,” said Belen during the flight from Manila. After China, the Alas Women tackle Kazakhstan the following day. There are only three teams in Pool B and Alas needs to beat Kazakhstan to advance to the quarters of the event long dominated by the Chinese. The Chinese defeated the Japanese in straight sets at the 2023Hangzhou Games to clinch their 9th gold medal The men’s competition will start on Sept. 27, while beach volleyball will begin right on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court. Qatar and China are defending their titles in the men’s and women’s divisions This marks the first time Alas will play in the continental showpiece since the 2018 Jakarta Games. Grizzled veteran and captain Jia De Guzman was part of that team. Other members of the team are Eya Laure, Angel Canino, Shaina Nitura, Alyssa Solomon, Amie Provido, Thea Gagate, Dell Palomata, Niña Ytang, Mars Alba, and Justine Jazareno.
Tennis surge in Siquijor with Governor’s Cup SIQUIJOR is strengthening its presence on the country’s tennis map as it hosts the inaugural Governor’s Cup Open and Junior Championships, drawing a huge field to the Capitol Tennis Courts and other venues across the province. The Open tournament fires off Tuesday (Sept. 15), with JB Aguilar and Nilo Ledama leading a 32-player men’s draw that includes a host of local standouts eager to test their mettle for the top P50,000 purse. Also in the field are Eric Jay Tangub, Vicente Anasta, John Sonsona, Richard Bautista, Hazer Malicay and Matthew Morrison, among other players expected to provide stiff competition in the tournament hosted and sponsored by Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa. The event also features Legends competitions in the 35-and-under and 50-and-under categories, with singles and doubles events on tap. But the spotlight will largely be on the juniors, with the tournament, sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Ranking and supported by Dunlop, ICON Golf & Sports and Palawan Group of Companies, set to serve off on Sept. 17. Morris and Malicay headline the boys’ division, joined by Andrian Rodriguez and Rafa Callao, while Alexa Cruspero, Etha Seno, Jhaira Lanterna and Marypauren Balolong loom as players to watch in the girls’ side of the Group 2 tournament conducted under the Palawan Pawnshop nationwide talent-search. The overwhelming response from young players has prompted organizers to tap additional courts in Larena, Siquijor and Ibabaw to accommodate the entries. The turnout underscores the growing interest in tennis among the province’s youth, fueled in part by the remarkable rise of tennis sensation Alex Eala on the international stage.
Collins’ late goal leads Filipinas to draw with Uzbekistan By Randy M. Caluag THE Philippine women’s national football team displayed its trademark fighting spirit as 19-year-old Natalie Collins struck in the 89th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan in the preliminary round of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. With the Filipinas trailing late in their Group G opener, Collins capitalized on the team’s
aggressive high press and delivered the equalizer to secure a valuable point for the Philippines. The result gave the Filipinas and Uzbekistan identical records of one draw, while China and Hong Kong had yet to begin their respective campaigns. The Filipinas are seeking to surpass their quarterfinal appearance in their Asian Games debut in Hangzhou, China, in 2023. Head coach Mark Torcaso said
the tournament would also serve as an important part of the team’s preparations for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “We want to try and be better than we were at the last Asian Games, which was a quarterfinalist,” Torcaso said. “But we also understand it’s outside the FIFA window. We have a lot of players unavailable, and we’re going to test a lot of our young players and new players.”
The Filipinas celebrate their draw with the Uzbeks. PWNT
BUSINESS
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
KKR exits First Gen, sells P25.8-b stake P25.8 billion A
19.9%
KKR stake in First Gen
By Jenniffer B. Austria and Alena Mae S. Flores
P36
Value of transaction
Share price sold
MERICAN investment company KKR & Co. has exited First Gen Corp., selling its entire 19.9 percent stake in the Lopez-led power generation company for about P25.8 billion, a regulatory filing showed Monday.
Valorous Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., a global private equity and investment firm owned by KKR, sold 715.86 million First Gen common shares at P36 each to Angsana Finance Ltd., a firm incorporated in the Cayman Islands, First Gen said in the filing. First Gen also disclosed the resignation of board director Manolo Michael de Guzman in connection with
the divestment. KKR proposed in August to acquire an additional 8.43-percent stake from First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH), First Gen’s parent, at P35 per share. The firm also planned a tender offer for First Gen’s 11.67-percent public float at the same price to support a voluntary delisting.
FPH rejected the proposal, saying it did not reflect First Gen’s true value. First Gen reported attributable recurring net income of P8.7 billion for the first half of 2026, slightly higher than P8.6 billion in the same period last year. The increase came despite the sale of its 60-percent stake in its natural gas portfolio to Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. in November 2025. First Gen is the third-largest power firm with a market share of 10.74 percent, accounting for 3,028.41 megawatts of the national grid, according to the latest data from the Energy Regulatory Commission. It is also the third-biggest power player in the Luzon grid with a share of 12.07 percent, equivalent to 2,465.72 MW.
WHAT’S INSIDE?
PH Racing Club shifts to renewable
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AUSTRALIAN INVESTORS. Department of Finance Undersecretary and Government Corporations and Investments Group head Ma. Angela E. Ignacio welcomes the Australian institutional investor delegation led by Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown. Ignacio cited reforms to improve the ease of doing business, build a pipeline of bankable projects, and mobilize sustainable investment across infrastructure, energy, utilities, resources, telecommunications, education and real estate.
extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
PH expedites investments to increase jobs EXECUTIVE Secretary Ralph G. Recto said the government will fasttrack investments, strengthen skills training and help businesses expand and hire more Filipinos after July labor data showed mixed results. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s July 2026 Labor Force Survey showed 49.2 million Filipinos were employed, an increase of about 3.2 million from a year ago. Private establishments added 582,000 wage and salary workers, and middle- and high-skilled occupations rose by a combined 2.6 million workers. Unemployment nonetheless rose to 6 percent, with 3.14 million Filipinos out of work, an increase of 551,000 from a year earlier. “More Filipinos are finding work but more are also entering the labor force so job creation must keep pace. Kaya kailangan nating pabilisin ang pagpasok ng mga investments, tulungan ang mga negosyo na lumago at kumuha ng mas maraming manggagawa, at ihanda ang mga Pilipino sa mga trabahong nagbubukas,” Recto said. The government launched the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap to expand the country’s manufacturing base and move beyond assembly work into chip design, engineering, research and innovation. The Marcos administration also approved 46 special economic zones expected to draw P141.2 billion in investments and generate close to 189,000 jobs. Of those zones, 43 are outside Metro Manila, with 29 in Luzon, 12 in the Visayas and five in Mindanao. The government is also accelerating the Luzon Economic Corridor, which will link Subic, Clark, Manila and Batangas into a logistics, manufacturing and innovation hub and is projected to generate up to 1 million jobs. A planned 1,600-hectare technology hub in New Clark City within the corridor is expected to support semiconductor, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence industries and create 130,000 highquality jobs.
BCDA, US agencies near deals to boost Pax Silica hub in New Clark City By Othel V. Campos
DOE, DENR craft energy bidding rules
B3
TRADE Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the Bases Conversion and Development Authority is preparing three agreements with US government agencies that could pave the way for their participation as potential locators in the Pax Silica industrial hub in New Clark City, Tarlac. Rodolfo said the agreements would strengthen the Philippines’ ability to attract not only investments but also pre-investment activities, including
feasibility and pre-feasibility studies. He cited the role of the US Trade and Development Agency in supporting feasibility studies and the US Development Finance Corp. in taking projects toward financing. “What Pax Silica brings to the table is, one, designation of the Philippines as a trusted partner for AI tech ecosystem. Number two, the ability to coordinate investor action, investment action,” Rodolfo said. He said Pax Silica would also help link projects that were previously
pursued separately into an integrated industrial technology strategy, with advanced manufacturing in New Clark City as one node. Other nodes include critical minerals and processing, the planned IC Design Hub and potentially AI compute facilities in areas outside Clark suited to digital infrastructure. “It’s really an AI-driven industrialization node,” Rodolfo said, ADDING that Pax Silica is only one of the partnerships supporting the futuristic strategy.
BCDA’s master agreement with its counterpart will serve as the framework for locator developments, with individual locators required to comply with Philippine laws, including environmental and labor regulations. Rodolfo said the government remains optimistic about signing the agreements while addressing safeguards and consultation requirements. “It’s a big opportunity to turn this into something that can transform the Philippines. Not just the Pax Silica, but also the AI industry,” he said.
Peso’s slide boosts BPO edge, but inflation risk looms, IBPAP says Peso falls to new low of 62.86 a dollar
B4 INFRA ADJUSTMENTS.
Manila Water Company implements strategic infrastructure adjustments to support the national government’s underground railway project and ensure uninterrupted water and wastewater services to communities.The company says it is advancing the relocation of critical water and sewer infrastructure affected by the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), helping pave the way for the country’s first underground rail system while ensuring the continued delivery of reliable water and wastewater services to customers.
THE Philippine information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry is gaining short-term competitiveness from the peso’s depreciation, but rising inflation and blanket wage hikes could erode the sector’s long-term advantage, IT-Business Processing Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Jack Madrid said Monday. The weaker peso makes Philip-
pine BPO contracts more competitive against rival outsourcing destinations, Madrid said. However, prolonged depreciation could erode employees’ purchasing power as transportation and food costs rise, he said. “It makes our contracts more competitive versus our competition. But it will also affect the purchasing power of our employees,” Madrid said. “So it has those two effects. But it makes the Philippines more competitive in the short term. But I’m more worried about the long-term impact of inflation,” he said. Madrid said that on proposed wage increases, the uncertainty over labor costs could affect investor projections and decisions. “Investors don’t like uncertainty. And so when announcements like that are made, it affects the projections that our investors make,” he said. The IT-BPM industry covers a wide range of operations serving different customers and requiring varying skill sets, making a uniform wage increase less suitable for the sector, Madrid said. “The issue of pay is always matched to the specific skill. So a blanket wage hike, that is not very helpful for us,” he said. Most IT-BPM workers already earn above the minimum wage, Madrid said, suggesting across-the-board increases may not necessarily address the industry’s specific compensation requirements. Othel V. Campos
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Ayala Land Inc.-led Station Square East Commercial Corporation (SSECC) move forward with a P1-billion modernization program for Market! Market! Shwon are BCDA president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang (right) and Ayala Land Inc. chairman of the board Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.
BCDA, Ayala Land sign lease extension, to modernize Market! Market! in Taguig By Jenniffer B. Austria and Othel V. Campos BASES Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Ayala Land Inc.-led Station Square East Commercial Corp. (SSECC) have agreed on a P1 billion modernization program for Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), following a 12-year and seven-month lease extension. Under the deal, SSECC will continue operating the commercial center for 12 years and seven months starting June 5, 2027, when its current lease expires. The company will invest P1 billion to upgrade the property and prepare it for
integration with major mass transit infrastructure serving BGC, including the Metro Manila Subway. Ayala Land Inc. president and chief executive Anna Margarita Dy said the company is committed to reinventing Market! Market! for its next phase. “We are committed to reinventing and modernizing Market! Market! for its next act,” Dy said. “For us, renewal does not simply mean building something new. It means looking again at the places we already have, understanding how cities and communities have changed around them and investing in them so they can create even more value for the next generation,” she said.
BUSINESS
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com
Alsons Power expands Visayas footprint with MMTI supply deal By Alena Mae S. Flores ALSONS Power Supply Corp. signed a retail electricity supply agreement with Japanese-affiliated Makoto Metal Technology Inc. for two manufacturing plants in the Mactan Export Processing Zone II in Lapu-Lapu City. The agreement marks another milestone in APSC’s expansion beyond Mindanao and strengthens its growing presence among commercial and industrial customers in the Visayas. APSC is the retail electricity supply arm of Alsons Power Group, the power generation business of the Alcantara Group. “Cebu is an important market for us, particularly with its strong base of manufacturing and commercial customers. Partnering with MMTI is an important step in expanding Alsons Power’s presence in the Visayas and bringing
our energy solutions to more businesses across the country,” Alsons Power chief executive Antonio Miguel Alcantara said. Under the Retail Competition and Open Access framework, qualified electricity consumers such as MMTI can choose their electricity supplier based on pricing, service reliability, and supply arrangements. “For a manufacturing company like Makoto Metal Technology Inc., having a reliable, competitively priced, and flexible electricity supply is essential to sustaining our operations and supporting our continued growth. We see Alsons Power as a trusted partner that understands the unique requirements of the manufacturing industry and can provide the reliability, flexibility, and support we need as we expand our operations,” said Jon Romulo Montances, admin and support manager at MMTI.
Alsons Power Supply Corp. formalizes its retail electricity supply partnership with Makoto Metal Technology Inc. Present at the signing were Alsons Power RES senior manager Valia Mae Quinajon (second from left), RES sales and marketing specialist Christopher Mark Capiral, and MMTI admin and support manager Jon Romulo Montances (second from right). APSC will supply electricity to two MMTI manufacturing plants in the Mactan Export Processing Zone II in Lapu-Lapu City.
Philippine Racing Club shifts to RE, sets up unit P By Jenniffer B. Austria
hilippine Racing Club Inc. is venturing into renewable energy and plans to utilize its available properties for project development.
PRC told the stock exchange Monday that its board approved the incorporation of PRC Power Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary that will handle its green energy business. PRC Power will have an authorized capital stock of P100 million, with PRC initially subscribing to 25 million common shares at P1 each. “The transaction is intended to enable the issuer to invest in renewable energy projects and potentially utilize its available properties for development, thereby creating additional value and potential revenue opportunities,” PRC said.
PH BRICS membership: Good economics but bad geopolitics PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has just returned from India, where he attended the summit meeting of BRICS, the organization founded 18 years ago by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as a counterpoise to the Group of 7 countries (G-7). Although Mr. Marcos was invited to the meeting in his capacity as the head of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chair-country, speculation has been growing as to whether the Philippines will accept BRICS’ offer of membership. Expectably, President Marcos was asked whether the Philippines would consider joining BRICS. His response was tactfully noncommittal: the Philippine government would give the matter serious consideration. Would joining BRICS be a good idea for the Philippines? It would be a good idea from the economic standpoint but a bad idea from the standpoint of geopolitics. As a general rule, it is good policy for a country to continually strive to widen its circle of friends. More friends means more As things stand trade, more foreign direct investments at, the problem (FDI), more aid, more technology transfers, and more employment opportunities for with the BRICSoverseas Filipino workers. membership idea Because of these potential economic relates to China benefits, it has always been the policy of the Philippines to initiate and maintain and Russia. friendly relations with as many countries as possible. From the economic standpoint membership of BRICS would potentially be highly advantageous for the Philippines, considering that it would thereby become a co-member of an organization that encompasses 15 – an additional ten countries have joined the founding BRICS members – of the world’s most prosperous countries. Economically speaking, joining BRICS is an attractive idea for this country. Reality suggests that the Philippines will not receive an invitation to join G-7 or the larger Group of 20 countries (G-20) anytime soon. BRICS membership would be an excellent alternative opportunity to participate in the economic interactions of many of the world’s most prosperous countries. However, a country’s economic relations with other nations cannot, and should not, be treated in isolation. Those relations need to be considered within the context of its geopolitical situation. Attractive as more economic benefits are, a country cannot consider them without regard for geopolitics, i.e., that country’s place in the world. As things stand at, the problem with the BRICS-membership idea relates to China and Russia. Membership of BRICS would bring the Philippines into institutional relations with China, a country that maintains a hostile posture toward the Philippines, disputes certain elements of Philippine sovereignty and acts aggressively toward Philippine military assets. Sitting down at BRICS meetings with Chinese officials would make little sense for Philippine delegates under present circumstances. Then there is Russia. The Philippines has maintained cordial relations with the Russian Federation since the end of the Cold War, but, overall, this country and Russia have not been, and are not, on the same ideological wavelength. The Philippines is a solid supporter of Ukraine, whose invasion by Russia has been denounced by this country in concert with other law-abiding United Nations members. The Philippines joining Russia in a close-knit organization would, like it or not, be interpreted as abandonment of Philippine solidarity with Ukraine. This country can, and should, maintain economic relations with Russia, but that can be done outside BRICS. In sum, joining BRICS at this time would be good economically but bad geopolitically for the Philippines.
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The initial P6.25 million investment will be funded from internal cash resources and is not expected to have a material short-term impact on the company’s financial condition or operations. Over the long term, PRC expects the investment to yield additional revenue and profits. PRC, which operated the Santa Ana racetrack, stopped direct horse racing
operations in October 2022 after its 25-year congressional franchise expired without renewal. The company subsequently shifted its focus to real estate development, including properties in Makati and Cavite. In the first half of the year, PRC incurred a net loss of P48.1 million, reversing the P20.8 million net income recorded in the same period in 2025.
CAMP HARAYA. Twenty-seven young women leaders join the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation’s 3rd Camp HARAYA, held Sept. 9–10 at the Ridgewood Hotel in Baguio. Camp HARAYA, also known as the Baguio City Youth Resilience Bootcamp, was organized by the PDRF through its Building Resilience through Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (BRIDGE) Project, in partnership with the Canadian government, the Baguio City government, and the SIGLAT Baguio Youth Innovation Hub.
(llagasjessa@yahoo.com)
PH stocks edge up after 2-day slump on bargain-hunting PHILIPPINE shares edged higher Monday as investors went bargain hunting following two straight sessions of losses. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index rose 13.26 points, or 0.22 percent, to close at 6,075.07. The broader all shares index gained 5.12 points, or 0.15 percent, to end at 3,363.52. Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said investors took advantage of lower prices after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas indicated it could begin easing monetary policy if inflation declines faster than expected. Gains were limited, however, as the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and the continued weakening of the local currency weighed on investor sentiment. The peso closed at a new historic low of 62.86
against the U.S. dollar Monday, down from Friday’s 62.68 finish. “Overall, market participants remained selective amid lingering geopolitical uncertainty and concerns over economic growth,” Limlingan said. Most sectoral indices advanced, led by mining and oil, which rose 0.38 percent. Services gained 0.36 percent, industrials added 0.31 percent, while financials and holding firms both climbed 0.26 percent. Property stocks rose 0.11 percent. Market breadth was nearly even, with 96 advancers against 95 decliners, while 66 issues were unchanged. Total market turnover reached P5.69 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
BUSINESS
B3
Manila
Standard
TODAY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com
DOE, DENR craft energy bidding rules By Alena Mae S. Flores
T
HE Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources plan to issue a joint administrative order establishing guidelines and procedures for evaluating and awarding natural resource contracts, including those on coal-rich Semirara Island.
Under the draft JAO, evaluating and awarding any service or operating contract involving natural resources will prioritize national interest, energy security, economic development, and sustainable resource utilization. “We are still drafting the new guidelines, Manila considering some of the developments. We Standard now have a joint memorandum together TODAY with DENR on brownfield exploration. It has undergone the first public consultation, and the stakeholders have asked for 15 days, I think, for them to read and send their comments,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said. “I think the 15 days is already up. [After this], then we will have another last consultation this week, and then a few days after that we’ll issue the final draft, and then it begins,” Garin said. The JAO will serve as the framework for the DOE’s competitive bidding round,
MEGA JOB FAIR. More than 1,235 individuals participate in the ‘Land a Job’ Mega Job Fair and ‘Lingkod Bayani on the Go’ event on Sept. 11 at the Robinsons Place General Trias activity center in Barangay Tejero. Over 4,000 job vacancies were offered by 26 local employers and two overseas recruitment agencies during the fair. Dennis Abrina
DA, DPWH to advance P71.5-m Tarlac farm roads and monitor funds, and track physical and financial progress. The DPWH will oversee procurement, contract awards, construction supervision, quality control, and contractor compliance.
By Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Works and Highways signed an agreement to advance P71.52 million worth of farm-to-market road projects in Concepcion, Tarlac, to the bidding stage as part of efforts to improve farmers’ market access and reduce transport costs. Ê Ê The Sept. 10 memorandum of agree- Career Opportunity in Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI) ment covers four projects totaling 5.43 Position title: Investigation Specialist I kilometers under the 2026 FMR DevelVacancy (1) opment Program. The projects involve Job Description: road concreting in Barangays Balutu, ➢ Provides prompt and efficient service to Amazon Sellers, including the appropriate escalation of Sellers’ issues in a contact center environment. ➢ Maintains a positive and professional demeanor, always portraying the company in a positive light while effectively managing sensitive issues. Santiago, and Castillo, as well as a road ➢ Demonstrates excellent time-management skills and the ability to work independently while using departmental resources, policies , and procedures. ➢ Maintains acceptable performance metrics such as quality, productivity, first contact resolution, and attendance . connecting Balutu and Panalicsican. ➢ Actively seeks solutions through logical reasoning and data interpretation skills , and identifies trends to the appropriate channel, including improvement suggestions The Balutu road spans 1.16 kilomeQualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): ters with a P14.89 million budget, while ➢ Interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex transactional issues correctly and clearly to both internal and external customers. ➢ Clear, crisp, and proactive documentation of operational procedures required to tackle known risk-related patterns. the 1.51-kilometer Santiago road has a ➢ Problem-solving skills, having demonstrated ability to recognize non-obvious patterns and analyze problems logically. ➢ Self-disciplined, diligent, proactive, and detail-oriented, impacting time management and organizational skills. P21.89 million allocation. The Castillo ➢ Proven ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments where decisions are made without compromising on customer experience and financial losses. project covers 1.56 kilometers worth Applications may be sent to: Name of Company HR: Ivanka Patricia Quinial P19.85 million, and the Balutu-PanalicsiEmail address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search can road covers 1.21 kilometers at P14.89 Manila Company/ Employer Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position million. Standard Company Name: Name: Thi Thu Trang Tran TODAY Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI) Address: Pasay City Complete address: Laurel Jr. said improved farm-to-market Nationality: Vietnamese Unit No. 2C, Flr. no. 4th, One E-Com Bldg., Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia Intended period of employment: two (2) years roads would help farmers move produce Complex St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City, Metro Manila, NCR, 1300 more efficiently and connect with buyers. Nature of business: AOSPI is a corporation organized under Philippine laws. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) “Farm-to-market roads are shortcuts under SEC Certificate of Registration No. CS201722700. It is authorized to provide support services, including but not limited to remote technical support services, IT development, customer support, customer care services, for the development and prosperity for business process outsourcing, back-office support (including but not limited to systems, hardware, software, financial operations, vendor management, our farmers and rural communities. We and human resources relating to the back-office), and other activities necessary or useful thereto, as well as marketing support activities, without want these projects completed soonest so engaging in retail trade, the practice of a profession, or acting as an Internet Service Provider. our farmers can bring their products to Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI). hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job descriptioninfor thisDOCUMENTATION position. The company has the intention Career Opportunity EFS SERVICES INC. to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit market more efficiently,” Tiu Laurel said. with the Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila EXACT POSITION : INDIAN APPOINTMENT SETTER Filipino jobseeker who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is intended to be hired may file an objection Under the agreement, the DA will set Any ( 3 Vacancy) at Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila, after this publication. Description: inform the Department of Labor and Employment – NCR, if you have any information on criminal offenses committed by the foreign national road standards, review detailed engineer- PleaseJob -Familiarize themselves with the services offered -Research potential clients and generate leads ing designs and work programs, release -Contact potential clients via cold calling, email or social media Career Opportunity in Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI)
Position title: Investigation Specialist I
Vacancy (1)
Job Description: ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢
Provides prompt and efficient service to Amazon Sellers, including the appropriate escalation of Sellers’ issues in a contact center environment. Maintains a positive and professional demeanor, always portraying the company in a positive light while effectively managing sensitive issues. Demonstrates excellent time-management skills and the ability to work independently while using departmental resources, policies , and procedures. Maintains acceptable performance metrics such as quality, productivity, first contact resolution, and attendance . Actively seeks solutions through logical reasoning and data interpretation skills , and identifies trends to the appropriate channel, including improvement suggestions
Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢
Interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex transactional issues correctly and clearly to both internal and external customers. Clear, crisp, and proactive documentation of operational procedures required to tackle known risk-related patterns. Problem-solving skills, having demonstrated ability to recognize non-obvious patterns and analyze problems logically. Self-disciplined, diligent, proactive, and detail-oriented, impacting time management and organizational skills. Proven ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments where decisions are made without compromising on customer experience and financial losses. Applications may be sent to: Name of Company HR: Ivanka Patricia Quinial Email address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search
Company/ Employer
Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position
Company Name:
Name: Thi Thu Trang Tran
Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI)
Address: Pasay City
Complete address:
Nationality: Vietnamese
Unit No. 2C, Flr. no. 4th, One E-Com Bldg., Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia Complex St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City, Metro Manila, NCR, 1300
Intended period of employment: two (2) years
Nature of business: AOSPI is a corporation organized under Philippine laws. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under SEC Certificate of Registration No. CS201722700. It is authorized to provide support services, including but not limited to remote technical support services, IT development, customer support, customer care services, business process outsourcing, back-office support (including but not limited to systems, hardware, software, financial operations, vendor management, and human resources relating to the back-office), and other activities necessary or useful thereto, as well as marketing support activities, without engaging in retail trade, the practice of a profession, or acting as an Internet Service Provider.
in which the government will auction 10 blocks on Semirara Island and other coal areas under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program within the year. “So currently, we’ll see what the response on the public consultation is, but again, the objective is we want to wrap this up before the end of the year,” Garin said. The draft states that financial evaluations will aim to secure the highest economic returns for the state through guaranteed, quantifiable, and enforceable benefits. Evaluations will be comprehensive, addressing legal, technical, financial, environmental, social, and national security dimensions. Work commitments, economic benefits, and other undertakings offered by the winning proponent will be fully integrated into the contract alongside enforcement instruments.
NOTICE OF THE STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING NOTICE OF 2026 THEANNUAL 2026 ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING NOTICE is hereby given that the 2026 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting
NOTICE is hereby given Annual Meeting of EEI CORPORATION will nowthat take the place2026 on October 16, Stockholders’ 2026, at of3:30 EEIP.M. CORPORATION will nowAlltake place of onrecord October 16, 2026, at via remote communication. stockholders as of October 01, 2026 shall communication. be entitled to notice of, to vote at the of record as of 3:30 P.M. via remote Alland stockholders said meeting. October 01, 2026 shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at the said meeting.
The Agenda shall be the same as previously published in the Philippine Star and the Business Mirror on July 16 2026. The Information Statement, Management Report, Star and the The Agenda shall beand the17,same as previously published in the Philippine SEC Form 17A, and other pertinent documents shall be made available on the Company’s Business Mirror on July 16 and 17, 2026. The Information Statement, Management website and via PSE Edge.
Report, SEC Form 17A, and other pertinent documents shall be made available on the Company’swho website viaandPSE Edge.must submit the requirements via mail or Stockholders wish toand attend participate email at eei_asm@eei.com.ph, as to ensure receipt on or before close of business on Stockholders October 15, 2026.who wish to attend and participate must submit the requirements via mail
or email at eei_asm@eei.com.ph, as to ensure receipt on or before close of business
onProxies October 2026.Voting in Absentia Forms must be submitted in person, or via All and 15, Electronic mail or email at eei_asm@eei.com.ph, as to ensure receipt on or before close of business on 15,and 2026.Electronic Voting in Absentia Forms must be submitted in person, or AllOctober Proxies
via mail or email at eei_asm@eei.com.ph, as to ensure receipt on or before close of (sgd) IANNOEL MONDRAGON business on V.October 15, 2026. CYAN MA Corporate Secretary (sgd) IANNOEL V. MONDRAGON Corporate Secretary
Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI). hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila
Any Filipino jobseeker who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is intended to be hired may file an objection at Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila, after this publication. Please inform the Department of Labor and Employment – NCR, if you have any information on criminal offenses committed by the foreign national
Visayas grid on red alert as power deficit hits 309 MW THE Visayas grid was placed on red alert Monday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., continuing a pattern of near-daily power warnings across the region for September. The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said except for Sept. 6, when the Visayas grid experienced only yellow alerts, all other days in September have seen red alerts. The grid has been placed on red alert 39 times since January. NGCP issued Monday’s red alert after available capacity reached only 2,153 megawatts against a forecast peak demand of 2,462 MW, leaving a 309-MW deficit. NGCP also placed the Visayas grid on yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. A total of 1,075.2 MW was unavailable to the grid Monday as 12 power plants experienced forced outages and 13 others operated at reduced capacity. Outages among offline units range from recent failures this month to long-term shutdowns dating to 2021. NGCP said contributing factors to the supply squeeze include forced outages at major coal-fired facilities—Toledo Power Corp. units 1 and 2 and Panay Energy Development Corp. unit 3—alongside limited power imports from the Mindanao grid. A red alert is declared when supply cannot meet consumer demand and the grid’s regulating requirement. A yellow alert indicates the operating margin is insufficient to meet contingency requirements. The Department of Energy pledged to resolve the region’s supply shortfall and eliminate grid alerts before the end of the year, relying on the planned integration of 250 MW from battery energy storage systems and additional power plants. Alena Mae S. Flores
-Qualify prospects based on their needs -Schedule appointments between qualified prospects team -Maintain accurate records of all communications with potential clients Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): -Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal. -Excellent phone, email, and instant messaging communication skills. -Solid organizational and time management skills. 565430658-v1\AP_DMS
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
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Name of Foreign national intending to apply for the position
Name : SIMAK, GURMAIL SINGH Address : 59-C MARLBORO ST. EAST FAIRVIEW QUEZON CITY Nationality : INDIAN 2 Name : SHARMA, PARDEEP KUMAR Address : 23 OLYMPUS DRIVE SERRA MONTE FILINVEST 2 BATASAN HILLS QUEZON CITY Nationality : INDIAN 3 Name : SUKHMANDER SINGH Address : 51-C SAN PABLO ST. BRGY. PLAINVIEW MANDALUYONG CITY Nationality : INDIAN 565430658-v1\AP_DMS EXACT POSITION : PUNJABI/HINDI CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSULTANT ( 3 Vacancy) Job Description:
1
1
- great bilingual customer service assistant. - responsible for providing excellent customer service to our clients - managing a high volume of customer inquiries - have excellent communication skills especially English and Punjabi/Hindi - able to work in a fast-paced environment Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): - bilingual skills in Punjabi/Hindi and English - excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills in both English and Punjabi/Hindi - proficient in the use of MS Office applications - strong multi-tasking, customer-service, and problem-solving skills
Name of Foreign national intending to apply for the position Name : BALVIR SINGH Address : 1857 RD LY FABIE ESTATE STA. ANA MANILA Nationality : INDIAN 2 Name : GURJANT SINGH Address : 44 FRANCIS ST. CENTRAL BANK EMPLOYEE TOWNHOMES QUEZON CITY Nationality : INDIAN 3 Name : JASVEER KAUR Address : 0021 BRHG DEL PILAR PARANG MARKINA CITY Nationality : INDIAN EXACT POSITION : SEÑIOR INDIAN ADVISORS ( 3 Vacancy) Job Description: 1
-Answering customer questions about service outcomes and consulting necessary -Informing customers about potential cost -Overseeing and managing the scheduling and workflow -Informing customers of changes in service Qualification (Education, Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): - bilingual skills in Punjabi and English - excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills in both English and Punjabi - proficient in the use of MS Office applications - strong multi-tasking, customer-service, and problem-solving skills
1
Name of Foreign national intending to apply for the position Name : AKVEER KAUR
Address: RIVERA ST. STA. QUITERIA BRGY. 163 CALOOCAN CITY Career Opportunity in Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI) (AOSPI) Career Opportunity in26 Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc
Ê
Ê
Nationality : INDIAN 2 Position Name :title: PARMINDER SINGH Investigation Specialist I PositionAddress: title: Investigation Specialist I 40 GARNET NORTHVIEW 1 BATASAN HILLS QUEZON CITY Vacancy (1) Nationality : INDIAN Vacancy (1) Description: 3 Job Name : BALJIT KUMARI Job Description: ➢ Provides andPARIS efficientST. service to Amazon the appropriate escalation Address: BLK 34prompt LOT 30 GOLDEN CITY Sellers, SUBD. including BRGY. ANABU 2F IMUS CAVITEof Sellers’ issues in a contact center environment. ➢ Maintains a positive and professional demeanor, always portraying the company in a positive light while effectively managing sensitive issues. : INDIAN ➢ Nationality Provides prompt andexcellent efficienttime-management service to Amazon theindependently appropriate escalation Sellers’ issues in a contact environment. ➢ Demonstrates skillsSellers, and the including ability to work while using of departmental resources, policies , center and procedures. ➢ Maintains acceptable performanceSERVICE metrics such as quality, productivity, contact in resolution, andlight attendance . ➢ POSITION Maintains aBILINGUAL positive andCUSTOMER professional demeanor, always portraying thefirst company a positive while effectively managing sensitive issues. : REPRESENTATIVE EXACT ➢ Actively seeks solutions through logical reasoning interpretation skills , and identifies the appropriateresources, channel, including ➢ Demonstrates excellent time-management skills andand thedata ability to work independently whiletrends usingto departmental policiesimprovement , and procedures. ( 1 ➢Vacancy ) suggestions Maintains acceptable performance metrics such as quality, productivity, first contact resolution, and attendance . Actively seeks solutionsExperience, through logical reasoning and data interpretation skills , and identifies trends to the appropriate channel, including improvement Job➢Description: Qualification (Education, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): suggestions - great bilingual customer service representative.. ➢ Interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex transactional issues correctly and clearly to both internal and external customers.
- responsible for providing excellent customer serviceoftooperational our clients ➢ (Education, Clear, crisp, and proactive documentation procedures required to tackle known risk-related patterns. Qualification Experience, Professional License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training):
Problem-solving skills, having demonstrated ability to recognize non-obvious patterns and analyze problems logically. - managing➢a high volume of customer inquiries ➢ Self-disciplined, diligent, proactive, and detail-oriented, impacting time management and organizational skills. ➢ excellent Interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues correctly and clearly to both internal and external customers. - have communication skills in other languages especially in transactional English. ➢ Proven ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments where decisions are made without compromising on customer experience and financial ➢ toClear, and proactive documentation of operational procedures required to tackle known risk-related patterns. - able work crisp, inlosses. a fast-paced environment ➢ Problem-solving having Professional demonstrated ability to recognize non-obvious patterns and analyze problems logically. Qualification (Education,skills, Experience, License, Skills Certification, Specialized Training): Applications may be sent to: and organizational skills. ➢ Self-disciplined, diligent, and proactive, impacting time management - bilingual skills in Punjabi/Hindi Englishand detail-oriented, Name of Company HR: Ivanka Patricia Quinial ➢ Proven ability to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments where decisions are made without compromising on customer experience and financial Emailskills address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search - excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication in other languages also in English. losses. - proficient in the use of MS Office applications Company/ Employer Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position - strong multi-tasking, customer-service, and problem-solving skills Applications may be sent to:
1
Name of Company HR: Ivanka Patricia Quinial Name: Thi Thu Trang Tran Email address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search
Name ofName: Foreign national intending to apply for the position Company Name Operation : LIN, CHIA-CHI Amazon Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI)
Address: Pasay City
Address:address: GUNDAYA ST. BRGY. 8 GUNO GINOOG CITY MISAMIS ORIENTAL Complete Nationality: Vietnamese
Company/ Employer
Nationality : TAIWANESE Unit No. 2C, Flr. no. 4th, One E-Com Bldg., Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia Complex St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Company Name : Company Name: NCR, 1300
Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position
Intended period of employment: two (2) years
Name: Thi Thu Trang Tran
EFS DOCUMENTATION SERVICES INC. Address: Pasay City th Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) laws. ItAddress: is registered with11 the Complete 1102B Flr. AIC Center Esolta St. Brgy. 291 Binondo Manila under SEC Certificate of Registration No. CS201722700. It is authorized to Complete address: Nationality: Vietnamese Nature of Business : Documetation provide support services, including but not limited to remote technical support services, IT development, customer support, customer care services, Unit No. 2C, Flr. no. 4th, One E-Com Bldg., Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia Intended period of employment: two (2) years Intended period of employment: Three (3) years is a corporation of business: AmazonNature Operation Services AOSPI Philippines Inc (AOSPI)organized under Philippine
business process outsourcing, back-office support but not limited Complex St., Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay(including City, Metro Manila, to systems, hardware, software, financial operations, vendor management, NCR, 1300 and human resources relating to the back-office), and other activities Applications may be sent to
or useful thereto, as marketing support under activities, without Nature necessary of business: AOSPI is as a well corporation organized Philippine engaging in retailHR: trade, theARMIE practiceBAGGAYAN of a profession, or acting as an Internet Name Company MS. laws. ItService isofregistered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Provider. under SEC Certificate of Registration No. CS201722700. It is authorized to Email address: efsdocumentationservicesinc@gmail.com Amazon Operation Services Philippines (AOSPI). hereby technical declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the provide support services, including but notInc limited to remote support EFSservices DOCUMENTATION SERVICES hereby declares that the above-name national is able, qualified to perform job description for this INC. position. The company has the intention to employ foreign the said foreign national andwilling, apply forand an Alien Employment Permit services, IT and development, customer support, customer care services, the Bureau of Local Employment, 6Fposition. First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila thewith services andoutsourcing, job description for this The company haslimited the intention tocor. employ the said foreign national and apply for an business process back-office support (including but not to Alien systems, hardware, software, financial operations, management, AnyEmployment Filipino jobseeker who with is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreignthrough national the is intended beLocal hired may file an objection Permit the Department of vendor Labor and Employment-Central Office Bureautoof at Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramurosand BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila, after this publication. and human resources relating to the back-office), other activities Employment(BLE) located at of 6thLabor Flr. BF corner Solana Avenue andoffenses Soriano St. Intramuros, Manila, Pleaseorinform thethereto, Department andCondminium Employment –Corporation, NCR, if you have any information on criminal committed by the foreign national necessary useful as well as marketing support activities, without Philippines. engaging in retail trade, the practice of a profession, or acting as an Internet Service Provider.
Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI). hereby declares that the above-named foreign national is able, willing, and qualified to perform the services and job description for this position. The company has the intention to employ the said foreign national and apply for an Alien Employment Permit with the Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila Any Filipino jobseeker who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is intended to be hired may file an objection at Bureau of Local Employment, 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros, Manila, after this publication. Please inform the Department of Labor and Employment – NCR, if you have any information on criminal offenses committed by the foreign national
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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
BUSINESS
B4
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 158, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
Peso slumps to new low of 62.86 a dollar T
JOINT VENTURE. Global sustainable infrastructure company ACCIONA is entering the Philippine integrated facilities management (IFM) market through ACCIONA Facility Management Philippines, a new joint venture (JV) with Aboitiz Construction, Inc., the engineering and construction arm of the Aboitiz Group. Signing the agreement are (clockwise, from top left) Sebastian Aboitiz, ACI Plus chief operating officer; Jose Maria Miranda Ferris, ACCIONA international expansion director; Enrique Suárez Ruiz, ACCIONA Facility Services Business Development; Antonio Peñalver, Aboitiz Construction executive director; and Maximiliano Ades, ACCIONA Facility and Environment Services Global head.
By Thony Rose Lesaca, Othel V. Campos and Alena Mae S. Flores
HE Philippine peso closed at a new low of 62.86 against the US dollar Monday, as surging global oil prices and hawkish Federal Reserve rate expectations pushed the local currency deeper into uncharted territory, according to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.
Broadband project rated ‘moderately satisfactory’ By Darwin G. Amojelar THE World Bank has rated the progress and overall implementation of the Philippines’ Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) as “moderately satisfactory,” as the government moves to accelerate procurement and the rollout of a nationwide broadband infrastructure program. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) acknowledged the rating, saying the agency continues to adjust its systems and procedures to comply with World Bank procurement rules while advanc-
ing the project’s connectivity, cybersecurity and safeguards activities. “The moderately satisfactory rating” reflects the project’s progress toward its development objective and its overall implementation, with procurement activities continuing to move forward, the DICT said. The PDIP is DICT’s first World Bank-financed project. It has a total approved cost of about $288.88 million, consisting of $287.24 million in World Bank financing and $1.64 million in Philippine government counterpart funding. The DICT said potential bidders have
IN BRIEF External debt service burden rises to $7.30b
THE Philippines’ external debt service burden rose 3.02 percent to $7.30 billion in the first half of 2026 from $7.08 billion a year ago as growing principal payments outpaced a decline in interest payments, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said. Principal repayments grew 8.97 percent to $3.38 billion as of end-June from $3.10 billion in the same period last year, while interest payments fell 1.63 percent to $3.92 billion from $3.99 billion. The debt service burden equaled 3.0 percent of the gross domestic product and 2.7 percent of its gross national income, the BSP said. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said higher foreign borrowings by the government to partly finance wider budget deficits likely drove the increase in the overall debt service burden. “For the coming months, external debt [is] largely a function of national government budget deficit and the borrowings needed, usually a smaller share for foreign borrowings in the total borrowing mix with a bigger share allocated for domestic borrowings amid the risk of [foreign exchange] losses entailed in external borrowings,” Ricafort said. Thony Rose Lesaca
GCC to drive IT-BPM industry toward $50b goal STATE Street’s entry into the Philippines as a global capability center (GCC) underscores the growing role of GCCs in propelling the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry toward its 2028 revenue target, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said. IBPAP president Jack Madrid said the industry continues to receive inquiries and expressions of interest from multinational companies seeking to establish or expand GCC operations in the country. State Street recently established its first Philippine GCC at Uptown Bonifacio
been steadily adjusting to the World Bank’s qualification and technical requirements to ensure the procurement process is aligned with prevailing market conditions in the Philippines. The government is conducting procurement through international competitive procurement, which requires mandatory posting, evaluation, review and clearance periods, as well as strict governance and due-diligence procedures. As DICT’s first World Bank-funded undertaking, the agency is also adapting its internal systems and procedures to the World Bank Procurement Regulations, with continuing guidance from the multilateral lender.
The local unit opened the session at 62.75, already weaker than Friday’s record closing low of P62.68, before sliding further in morning trade to hit P62.865. The move surpassed the previous intraday record of P62.775 recorded Sept. 7 and marked the 25th time this year that the peso has touched a new all-time low, reflecting sustained pressure on the currency since it first breached the 60 mark in early 2026. Renewed Middle East tensions drove the immediate slide in the peso. Brent crude rose 2.77 percent to $107.51 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate climbed 2.27 percent to $102.32 after Houthi forces attacked targets in Saudi Arabia and Iranian forces assaulted commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, Reuters reported. The Philippines imports nearly all of its oil, so higher crude prices directly widen the country’s trade deficit and increase demand for dollars
Global City, with operations occupying three floors, Madrid said on the sidelines of the fifth anniversary of PMI Business Solutions at the Rockwell Complex in Makati City. “Every week, every month, we get inquiries and expressions of interest from GCCs,” he said. Growth will come from both existing GCCs expanding their Philippine operations and new companies setting up centers for the first time, he said. The Philippines now has more than 200 GCCs, compared with about 2,200 in India, Madrid said, adding that the country needs to accelerate its growth rate to capture more of the expanding market. Othel V. Campos
SAFER FOOD.
The Department of Science and Technologyn- Misamis Occidental conducts food safety orientation in Ozamiz City on Aug. 26, 2026 in line with continuing efforts to enhance the Complementary Food Production Facility and strengthen local food safety practices. Melanie Laude served as the resource speaker, guiding them with essential food safety standards.
DA distributes P4.3b in farm aid nationwide
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed P4.3 billion in farm assistance to 542,000 beneficiaries in 269 local government units under Handog ng Pangulo, through the KADIWA ng Pangulo and Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo programs. The assistance also included the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program, which gives vulnerable sectors access to rice priced at P20 per kilo sourced from National Food Authority stocks procured from local rice farmers. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the assistance addresses the practical needs of farmers and other agricultural beneficiaries. “We want to make sure our farmers have the support they need to produce more, earn more, and build more secure livelihoods,” he said. The DA’s contribution formed part of Handog ng Pangulo 2026, which the Office of the President culminated on Sept. 14 as part of activities marking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s birthday. The Office of the President launched Handog ng Pangulo in 2024 under the banner “Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” to bring government services closer to communities through coordinated efforts by national agencies and local governments.
Lopez Holdings announces new president By Jenniffer B. Austria LOPEZ Holdings Inc., the listed holding company of the Lopez family, has elected Benjamin Lopez as its new president, replacing Salvador Tirona. Lopez, 56, will also serve as chief operating officer and chief finance officer, the company said. Tirona is leaving his post after 26 years with the company. “After 26 meaningful years with the Lopez Group of Companies, the time has come for me to move on and say goodbye,” Tirona said during the company’s annual stockholders meeting Monday. “Throughout my tenure, I have always sought to uphold fairness, integrity and professionalism, always seeking outcomes that served the best interest of the Lopez group and its stakeholders,” he said. First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) has Lopez as vice chairman and a director, positions he has held after serving as vice president since 2005. Rockwell Land Corp. has had Lopez as a director since 2020, and INAEC Aviation Corp. has had him as president since 2007. Lopez Inc. counts him as senior executive vice president, a post he has held while serving as co-chairman since 2024. Lopez sits on the boards of FPH and several of its subsidiaries, as well as ABSCBN Holdings Corp., ADTEL Inc., Asian Eye Institute and Rockwell Leisure Club.
among local importers. The US dollar also held firm against major peers Monday as investors weighed the prospect of interest rate decisions from both the Fed and the Bank of Japan later this week. A trader said the peso reached new lows after August’s US inflation data solidified views of a Fed rate hike, adding that the currency will likely remain weak amid hawkish expectations. Another trader said the 63-per-dollar level is clearly within striking distance as the peso remains under pressure from a strong dollar, elevated oil prices and sustained local demand for dollars. “But touching 63 is different from staying there. At these levels, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is likely to be increasingly watchful of any disorderly move, so the bigger question is whether P63 becomes a new trading range or simply another level the market tests,” the trader said.
India’s iSON to invest $375m in PH expansion By Othel V. Campos INDIA’S iSON Group plans to invest up to $375 million in the Philippines over the next 10 years to expand operations in digital infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and business process outsourcing (BPO), the company said. Vivek Gupta, founder and chairman of iSON Group, led a delegation that presented the company’s existing operations and new investment plans during a Sept. 12 meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Finance Secretary Frederick Go and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda. iSON Tower Ltd. Inc., the group’s digital infrastructure arm, has invested $65 million to build 450 telecom towers across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao under the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Common Tower Policy. The company employs more than 120 direct staff. iSON Tower plans to invest $300 million over the next decade to expand its network to 3,000 towers, building 300 to 400 towers annually. The expansion could generate more than 100 additional direct jobs and grow its contractor network to about 1,000 workers. The group is also pursuing $75 million in new and expanded investments in agriculture, healthcare and BPO.
PlayTime, NCAA team up to support sports PLAYTIME Entertainment has teamed up with the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines (NCAA), expanding beyond entertainment into sports. The partnership aims to connect with young audiences and support youth development through athletics. PlayTime Entertainment president Roy Alcid called the partnership a milestone for the company and an extension of its commitment to youth programs. “It’s a milestone for PlayTime as we enter a new space in sports and expand beyond entertainment. It allows us to live out our purpose: Born for Happiness — bringing joy, connection and shared experiences to a passionate community,” Alcid said. Alcid said partnerships with industries outside entertainment would let
PlayTime expand into meaningful cultural spaces while reaching new audiences, including students, alumni and sports fans. He also said he hoped the partnership would highlight the personal stories of young athletes rather than focus solely on statistics and results. PlayTime Entertainment spokesperson Adela Marshall said the collaboration reflects the company’s belief in the power of sports to bring people together. “We believe in the power of sports to create connections and shared experiences,” Marshall said. “In this season of NCAA, we hope to bring not just brand presence but a sense of sportsmanship and worthwhile experiences,” she said. Darwin G. Amojelar
COCONUT PROCESSING.
The Syntegral Coconut ‘Synovation’ Integrated Coconut Processing Project, nominated by the Board of Investments (BOI), is named runnerup in the Asia Category of the AIM Investment Awards 2026 during the AIM Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sept. 7, 2026. Receiving the award on behalf of the Philippines is Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo (right).
ENVIRONMENT
C1
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com RAY S. EÑANO, Editor
& S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y Pangolin located in Cavite, released to DENR for rehab MENDEZ, Cavite— A Philippine pangolin found by a resident in Barangay Galicia 3, Mendez, Cavite, was safely turned over to the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in the first week of September for proper assessment and rehabilitation. Based on his report, the concerned citizen discovered the pangolin roaming around his house on September 2, 2026. Recognizing the need for proper handling of the wildlife, he immediately sought assistance from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Mendez. Following coordination with the MENRO, the pangolin was endorsed for turnover to the DENRProvincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cavite on September 3, 2026. The PENRO, in turn, promptly coordinated the matter with DENR CALABARZON for the appropriate arrangements and subsequent transfer of the wildlife to BMB. Upon assessment by the BMB, the
Indigenous peoples as full partners By Christophe Bahuet UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines
Conclusion A DISTINCTIVE feature of I-LEAD is the Indigenous-to-Indigenous exchange it seeks to foster between Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines and Māori communities in New Zealand. This can create space for practical learning on leadership, enterprise development, cultural revitalization, and stewardship of ancestral lands and resources. For UNDP, it reflects a broader commitment to work alongside Indigenous Peoples and ethnic minorities across Asia and the Pacific to support self-determined development, local governance, sustainable livelihoods, and ecosystem protection. The Māori experience in New Zealand offers one example of how Indigenous leadership, institutions, and economic participation can drive progress. Between 2018 and 2023, the Māori economic contribution to New Zealand grew from $17 billion to $32 billion, while the Māori asset base grew from $69 billion to $126 billion. Every Indigenous community has its own history, identity and aspirations. But it does show that recognition and empowerment are not only matters of justice. They are also foundations for stronger social cohesion, more resilient institutions, and more inclusive economic growth. Across the Philippines, Indigenous communities show that ancestral knowledge and modern development are not opposing forces, but complementary. Traditional ecological knowledge supports the care of lands, ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources. Customary governance can strengthen participation and accountability. Indigenous entrepreneurship can support sustainable livelihoods, broaden economic participation and protect cultural identity. Indigenous women and girls are central to these efforts, helping sustain families, lead communities, and shape local economies. Together, these contributions form a practical development agenda: one that strengthens local governance, improves access to services, and helps ensure that decisions reflect the knowledge and priorities of the communities most directly concerned. The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is therefore not only a day of commemoration. It is a reminder that sustainable development is strongest when Indigenous Peoples are fully included and recognized as leaders, partners, innovators, and custodians of knowledge. The Philippines is strongest when every community contributes its knowledge, leadership and aspirations to the national story. By recognizing and empowering Indigenous Peoples—especially women and girls—we help build a future that is more just, more inclusive, more prosperous, and more resilient for generations to come.
pangolin was found to require a specialized diet consisting of natural food items, such as termites and ants. Its behavior, while under temporary human care, also indicated that it had not been domesticated or kept in captivity. The BMB’s Wildlife Resources Conservation Division subsequently coordinated with Cebu Pacific Air for the animal’s transport to Palawan, where it is expected to undergo further care and rehabilitation, with its eventual return to its natural habitat subject to the appropriate assessment and disposition by wildlife authorities. The safe handling and prompt turnover of the Philippine pangolin highlight the importance of immediate reporting and coordination when wildlife is encountered outside its natural habitat. The quick response of the Mendez MENRO, PENRO Cavite, DENR CALABARZON, and BMB helped ensure that the animal was placed under the care of the appropriate wildlife authorities.
Low-angle view of ocean waves reflecting the setting sun on a golden sky near a coastline in Bangladesh, with small boats visible along the distant shore. WMO/Ahnaf Ibne Nasir
El Niño fueling extreme heat, floods
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UELED by exceptionally warm Pacific waters, the El Niño climate pattern is intensifying and has yet to peak. Forecasters are almost certain it will persist through February 2027—with unusually warm conditions expected across much of the world in the coming months. El Niño is strengthening rapidly in the Pacific Ocean, raising the prospect of months of extreme heat, floods, drought and disruptive weather around the globe. The phenomenon, already firmly established, is expected to become “very strong” and peak around the end of the year, according to new forecasts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The likelihood that El Niño will persist through February 2027 is now close to 100 percent. Never before has the UN weather agency issued such an unequivocal forecast for El Niño or its cooler counterpart, La Niña. And beneath the surface of the tropical Pacific lies another cause for concern. An enormous reservoir of unusually warm water that could continue feeding El Niño in the months ahead. In some parts of the Pacific, subsurface temperatures in July and early August were more than eight degrees Celsius (around 14 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. The combination points toward an unusually powerful climate event unfolding on a planet already significantly warmer because of greenhouse gas emissions. “El Niño is being supersized before our eyes,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a press release last week. “The science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up.” El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern
that typically develops every two to seven years, when waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific become unusually warm. That warming can alter atmospheric circulation thousands of miles away, shifting rainfall and temperature patterns everywhere. But this El Niño is developing against an unusual backdrop. The oceans are already exceptionally warm, providing a hotter baseline on which the natural climate cycle is playing out. Scientists have not established that man-made climate change is increasing or intensifying El Niño. But a warmer atmosphere and ocean can amplify some of its consequences, increasing the heat and moisture available to fuel extreme weather. The latest measurements show how quickly the current event is developing. The Niño 3.4 index, a closely watched measure of ocean temperatures in the central tropical Pacific, averaged 1.5°C above normal from May through July. By July, it had reached 2°C, and weekly readings from late July through mid-August climbed as high as 2.6 degrees.UN News
Gov’t closes 55 illegal wildlife traders, seizes 300 wild fauna
DENR personnel in General Santos City prepare to file cases against two individuals arrested in April for illegally transporting protected species– including cockatoos, gibbons, a bearcat and a Western crowned pigeon. The suspects were intercepted in a minivan following a tip-off from concerned citizens. (Photo from DENR Region 12 SOCCKSARGEN)
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported last week the apprehension of 55 illegal wildlife traders and confiscation of over 300 wild fauna as part of its enforcement against wildlife poaching, illegal possession and trafficking, conducting 71 enforcement operations from January to August 2026. “Protecting our wildlife requires sustained and decisive enforcement,” Environment Secretary Juan Miguel “Mitch” Cuna said. “Through sustained enforcement, strengthened coordination, proper investigation and case preparation, we remain committed to ensuring that violations of our wildlife laws are addressed and that our country’s wildlife resources are protected,” he said. The agency continues to coordinate with the Philippine National Police
(PNP), Bureau of Customs (BOC), local government units and other concerned agencies in detecting and addressing wildlife trafficking and other illegal activities. Under Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, the collection, hunting, possession, transport and sale of wildlife without the required permits or authority are prohibited. The law provides penalties for violations, with heavier fines for offenses involving threatened and critically endangered species. In a sweeping crackdown on wildlife trafficking from January to August of this year, the DENR seized 394 illegally traded animals and exotic species across the country. The haul included 224 birds, 97 reptiles, 54 amphibians, 10 mammals, 9 arachnids and insects.
Former egg poachers now helping endangered pawikan survive FROM poaching the endangered sea turtle (pawikan) eggs for P30 each, coastal communities in Candon City, Ilocos Sur are now taking a more active role in marine turtle conservation, helping protect them until they hatch and reach the sea. The country is home to five of the world’s seven sea turtle species: the green turtle, hawksbill turtle, olive ridley, leatherback and loggerhead. All are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, with the hawksbill turtle classified as critically endangered, while the green turtle, olive ridley, loggerhead, and leatherback are globally recognized as facing significant extinction risks. Habitat loss, illegal egg collection, bycatch in fisheries, marine pollution and climate change continue to threaten their survival, making community-based conservation initiatives crucial for the long-term recovery of pawikan populations. “What we’re seeing is a heartening change. The same communities that once saw pawikan eggs as a source of income are now becoming their protectors, watching over nests, guarding hatchlings, and helping them reach the sea,” said Environment Secretary Juan Miguel “Mitch” Cuna. In the past, the struggle for daily survival once turned coastal residents into a severe threat to local marine life. Driven by extreme poverty and the immediate need to provide food for their families, locals frequently resorted to poaching pawikan (sea turtle) eggs. It is revealed that from just two nests, over 80 eggs were regularly being stolen from the shores. Historically, poachers collected these highly vulnerable eggs to sell in town for P30 each.
Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) hatchlings make their way to the sea during a release activity in Barangay Caterman, Candon City, Ilocos Sur, following the successful protection of their nesting site by local pawikan parents, the city government of Candon, and DENR-CENRO Tagudin.
C2
SHOWBIZ
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Mommy Rizza Dizon
gives Ryzza Mae the green light to fall in love
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ELEVISION personality Ryzza Mae Dizon may still be young, but her mother, Rizza Amimita Dizon, appears ready to let her daughter make her own choices when it comes to love. ‘Misty Green’ is Chris Rocks’ first directing project in a decade
Chris Rock gets serious with ‘Misty Green’ after 10-year directing break COMEDY star Chris Rock is returning to the director’s chair after a decade, this time with Misty Green, a drama that explores the darker side of Hollywood. “I’m always going to be a comedian,” Rock said Sunday, the day after the world premiere of Misty Green at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). “The next (film) may be super gritty, or it might be really silly,” he added. “Whatever it is, I’m going to try to make it great.” Misty Green stars Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses) as a hard-partying, once-successful actor whose career is struggling. She’s short on cash, about to be kicked out of her apartment, and needs to book a gig quickly. While the film includes plenty of laugh lines, the tone is serious throughout, exploring institutional racism, substance abuse, and the pitfalls of stardom in Hollywood. On the red carpet ahead of Saturday’s premiere, the legendary stand-up comic Rock said: “I shouldn’t have to do the same thing every time. Let’s see what Chris Rock’s drama looks like.” Variety magazine has called Misty Green the “best movie about Hollywood in years,” and Eleazar’s leading performance has attracted critical praise. The British actor stars alongside established names including Adam Driver, Anna Kendrick, and Rock himself. She told reporters Sunday she was concerned that her being cast might keep other stars away. “There are lots of bigger names than me that could have taken this part,” she said. She worried privately that other actors considering the film would think Eleazar was “not big enough ... it’s not worth my while,” she said. AFP
Very Wang
Nickie Wang
Asked what she thinks about Ryzza Mae being in the public eye, Mommy Rizza admitted that criticism aimed at her daughter can still hurt a mother. Her advice, however, has remained simple: ignore the noise, pray, and focus on what matters. “Lagi ko pong pinapaliwanag kay Ryzza na hayaan mo lang siya, anak,” she told Manila Standard Entertainment. “Huwag mo lang po sila papansinin. Basta ang importante, magdasal ka lang palagi sa Panginoon.” Ryzza Mae, 21, graduated from senior high school at Far Eastern University High School in June last year, another milestone in the journey of the former child star who first became a household name at a young age. Now, as she enters adulthood, the question of romance naturally follows. Mommy Rizza, however, is not about to play matchmaker. “Kung sino po yung magugustuhan ng anak ko, kung sino yung magmamahal sa kanya at magmahal din niya, support po ako,” she said. That is about as close to a maternal green light as it gets. Mommy Rizza was asked about names being linked to Ryzza Mae, including Hyeon Yul and Bimby Aquino. She admitted she did not know if her daughter already had someone special.
Bimby Aquino (right) is being linked to Ryzza Mae Dizon after making a special appearance on her birthday last June
Anna Magkawas (left) praises Mommy Rizza Dizon’s authenticity and generosity to her growing online community
What she does know is the kind of person she wants for Ryzza Mae. “Sinasabi ko sa kanya, piliin mo yung mabait at mapagmahal sa magulang,” Mommy Rizza said. In other words, the dating rules are straightforward: be kind, love her daughter, and respect the family. While Ryzza Mae’s personal life continues to attract curiosity, Mommy Rizza has also found herself in the spotlight after becoming the new face of Luxe Slim and Konjac Zero. The contract signing took place Saturday at Alimento in Molito, Alabang, with Anna Magkawas, CEO and founder of the Luxe Beauty and Wellness Group, in attendance. The entrepreneur revealed that she had been following Mommy Rizza long before Team Ryzza amassed 3.8 million Facebook followers. “She’s very genuine and authentic. Nasa around 200 thousand pa lang ang followers niya, sinusundan ko na siya,” the lady CEO stated, and pointed to Mommy Rizza’s love for coffee and generosity as qualities that made her a natural fit for the brand. “Nakikita naman natin na she’s very giving, too. She’s extending her hands to those in need,” she added. Her growing popularity has also prompted questions about
whether Mommy Rizza herself might enter showbiz. For now, she is keeping her priorities close to home. “Nagsimula lang po ako sa pagluluto ng baon ng anak. Masaya po ako sa mga ginagawa ko ngayon,” she said. “Wala pa naman pong offer at kung meron man, hindi ko pa po alam. Pero mas gusto ko pong bigyan ng oras ang mga a n a k ko.”
Lady entrepreneur Anna Magkawas (left) welcomes Mommy Rizza Dizon as the new ambassador of her beauty and wellness brand
Mommy Rizza Dizon remains supportive to daughter Ryzza Mae in making her own choices in love
Moira heads to MOA Arena for fourth major concert MOIRA is taking her music to a bigger stage as she mounts her fourth major headline concert, Where It All Started, on Oct. 4 at 8:00 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The concert marks her first major show at the Pasay venue after three sold-out runs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, adding another major milestone to the OPM singer-songwriter’s career. Billed as the most-streamed Filipina artist and the first local female solo act to surpass 11 million Spotify followers, Moira will bring her signature acoustic and narrative-driven format to the arena. The setlist is expected to feature some of her biggest hits, including “Malaya,” “Paubaya,” “Tagpuan,” “Tagu-Taguan,” “Before It Sinks In,” and “Ikaw at Ako.” The concert will also feature narrative segments in which Moira will share personal stories and disclosures onstage. Adding to the star power is a lineup of guest performers that includes Ogie Alcasid, Adie, Johnoy Danao, and December Avenue, along with surprise co-billing artists. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster Philippines. Moira is set to be joined several OPM guest performers on her concert ‘Where It All Started’ at SM Mall of Asia Arena
Sandra Bullock (right) and Nicole Kidman reunite as Sally and Gillian Owens, respectively, at the film ‘Practical Magic 2’
Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman end Spider-Man’s six-week reign at the tills THE A-list witches of Warner Bros.’ Practical Magic 2 cast away Sony’s Spider-Man from its weeks-long perch atop the North American box office, industry estimates showed Sunday. Nearly three decades after the beloved original, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return to star in Practical Magic 2, whose estimated $30 million debut ended Spidey’s six-week run in first place. The film resurrects the story of sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, modern-day witches who face a curse that sees any man they fall in love with doomed to an early death. The witch sisters summoned another $16 million outside of North America, for a total global estimate of $46 million. The original 1998 film hardly enchanted critics upon its debut but went on to conjure a cult following that had kept hopes of a sequel alive ever since. The “cast is what drives these movies’ success, and Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Maisie Williams and Joey King are strong.” But it wasn’t all bad news for Sony’s Spider-Man:
Brand New Day. After swinging from victory to victory, the Tom Holland and Zendaya-led blockbuster caught second place this weekend, bringing in another $8.4 million, for a global total of $2.45 billion over its seven weeks in cinemas. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey sailed into a close third place, drawing another $7.4 million domestically, for an epic $1.64 billion over its nine-week global box office journey. Runner, an action comedy led by Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson, debuted in fourth place, with the heroes fighting a cartel to get a sick young girl a lifesaving organ transplant. It brought in $6.4 million domestically for Angel Studios. Coyote vs Acme took fifth place, with Will Forte and an animated Wile E. Coyote snaring another $5.6 million for Falling Forward Films. Rounding out the top 10 were Buddy, with $3.5 million; Insidious: Out of the Further, with $3.4 million; Hope, with $3.3 million; The Uprising, with $3.3 million; and By Any Means, with $2.5 million. AFP
LIFE & SHOWBIZ
C3 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
No small fries
Fries fans get their fill at nationwide FryFest
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By Angelica Villanueva
RIES are often treated as an add-on, but their place on Filipino fast-food tables tells a different story. Millions of orders are made each week, making them one of the chain’s stronger contributors beyond its main meals. Content creators Vince (left) and Raeinhyer join fries fans in the chain’s first nationwide FryFest
The first FryFest turns a side order into a one-hour nationwide event after months of promos built around fries fans
McDonald’s Philippines turned that demand into its first FryFest, held Sept. 4 across more than 50 branches in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The event gave participants an hour of unlimited fries, along with games and activities, capping a campaign that began in July. Yves Nacpil, marketing director of McDonald’s Philippines, said fries may not always be the centerpiece of a meal, but they regularly end up in customers’ orders. “Of course, chicken is our biggest product. But I think how we look at it is our chicken meal sales and actually all of our meal sales, every time people buy it, a lot of them would also get it as a meal with fries,” she said.
Nacpil estimated that about three million fries orders are made each week. During the chain’s weekly Friday promotions, at least 350,000 orders are recorded, based on his calculation from unit sales. The campaign started July 10 for National Fries Day with a oneday P99 BFF Fries offer. Similar promotions followed every Friday, and Nacpil said fries sales have more than doubled on those days since the campaign began. Still, the company did not treat the unlimited-fries event primarily as a way to drive sales. “The goal here is not just to make a lot of sales but really to be part of the experience and the day-to-day of our McDonald’s fans,” Nacpil said.
Participation in FryFest was limited by the one-hour period and the number of branches involved. Other fries offers remained available throughout the day for customers who could not join the event. Nacpil said the unlimited format came from a simple consumer observation. Whether customers order a small, medium, large, or BFF serving, some fries fans still feel they could have more. “This is that one time in a year where they could freely indulge in the product,” he said. Preparing for the demand starts months before a campaign reaches customers. Nacpil said the company works with both local and international suppliers and sets its supply requirements around the fourth quarter of the previous year based on plans for the coming year. McDonald’s Philippines is already working on its 2027 campaigns, and FryFest may return after its first run. “We’ve seen a lot of success this year from our fries campaign. So, there’s a high chance that the Fry Fest will be done again next year,” Nacpil said. For a menu item usually ordered beside something else, fries proved capable of drawing a crowd of their own.
Mindanao journalists sharpen survival skills for high-risk field coverage
Elijah Canlas breaks silence on Miles Ocampo split Shticks
Joseph Peter Gonzales
In a recent vlog interview, Elijah Canlas finally confirmed what had been circulating for months: He and Miles Ocampo are no longer together. “As much as I’ve been trying to keep it private considering that I’m currently going through it, there are talks about it that are spreading, so I think it’s time for me to admit it,” he said. Elijah admitted the breakup hurts more than their first split in 2023. “When we got back together, we thought that this is it. But that’s what happens with relationships even if we gave it our all. What’s important is that we broke up mutually and amicably. There’s no hate, at least on my part.” The actor declined to discuss the details, choosing instead to protect their five-year relationship. “That kind of mutual breakup is simply painful especially if there’s no problem but you just both realized that you’re not a match anymore. I don’t want to go into the full details out of respect for her and our relationship. It was a mutual decision. It wasn’t just me but her, too. “At that moment, we were just crying and expressed our gratitude to each other for the past five years that we were together. That was very painful but we decided as adults. I should respect that decision. But one thing is certain: I will love and respect her forever.” Could they still become friends? “At this point, I don’t know. Yes, we broke up amicably but we were together for five years. It’s not that easy to jump back into being friends again. It’s just been a couple of months. It’s still fresh. I’m open to the idea though. The love will always be there and she’s a great person. We just need to heal.” Elijah also put to rest speculation that a third party caused the breakup. “There is no third party involved. And that’s the truth! I guess, that’s the normal notion when it comes to a couple breaking up: that the guy is
After five years together, Elijah Canlas (right) and Miles Ocampo part ways in a mutual breakup the actor describes as painful but respectful
the one at fault. But I love Miles so much and I couldn’t do it to her.” As for finding love again, Elijah isn’t ready. “It’s not yet time for that. At present, I’m focused on myself and work, too. I was in a relationship for five years. That’s a long time in my life. And those five years, I don’t regret any of it. Those were the best times of my life. It would be a dishonor to myself, even to my heart, to just jump straight into another relationship.” *** LOVI Poe is keeping her daughter Sloane’s face off social media for now. In a recent television interview, the actress explained that the decision comes down to privacy.
For now, Lovi Poe (right) keeps daughter Sloane’s public exposure limited as she and Monty Blencowe weigh privacy
Marketing director Yves Nacpil frames FryFest as a customer experience after weekly promos drive stronger demand for fries nationwide
“Well, this is what works for us at the moment because of internet and privacy concerns. It’s a discussion that me and my husband (Monty Blencowe) have. But eventually, it would be nice to share this beautiful treasure that we have. Maybe, in the future.” And why Sloane? “It means ‘warrior.’ We want her to grow up thinking that she’s a fighter and a tough cookie!” Lovi also explained why she didn’t immediately hold her baby after giving birth. “Actually, it was my decision because I was very groggy and had pre-eclampsia. I labored for 30 hours! I didn’t want to hold her and have that first moment and not feel it fully.” A few hours later, she finally saw her daughter, and the maternal instinct kicked in. “I was concerned if my child has already eaten or what should I do with her.” After a few days, the actress found herself overwhelmed by a love she could barely explain. “The certain love that you can’t even explain. It’s like, this is no joke—now I know exactly what love means. I’ve been singing so many songs and have fallen in love with so many things, but this is different.”
PLDT and Smart have supported a media safety training program for journalists in Northern Mindanao, giving field reporters and photojournalists practical skills to handle emergencies and manage risks while covering stories. Organized by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), Hanns Seidel Foundation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the threeday program was led by the COPC Journalism Institute and the AFP’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID). The training covered tactical, digital and legal skills for journalists working in challenging and high-risk areas. Participants also took part in scenario-based exercises designed to test their readiness and help them navigate potentially dangerous field situations. Louie Domingo, executive director of the Emergency Management Center, shared practical approaches to emergency preparedness and developing a survival mindset during field assignments. Journalists were also taught how everyday items they carry can be safely repurposed during emergencies. AFP 4ID spokesperson Maj. Joe Patrick Martinez stressed the value of equipping journalists with additional knowledge and practical skills. “We are very grateful to be equipped with additional knowledge.
This enriched our information about the basics, opened our minds to their alternative uses, and enhanced the resourcefulness of our media partners, which will be useful especially when they are on their own,” Martinez said. Hanns Seidel Foundation program coordinator Caroline Lee described the training, simulations and practical demonstrations as particularly timely as community journalists prepare to cover the upcoming Bangsamoro elections. Judee Chaves, Mindanao relations head at PLDT and Smart, said the companies’ support is part of their broader effort to help media partners stay prepared during emergencies. “We thank the organizers for the opportunity to help keep our media partners safe and prepared in the field. Through our #KonektedForResilience advocacy, we hope to contribute not only connectivity and resources, but also practical knowledge and mindset that can help our partners make more informed decisions in times of risk and uncertainty,” Chaves said. The initiative forms part of PLDT and Smart’s community partnerships and support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 17, or Partnerships for the Goals. It also supports the companies’ efforts to promote a #SafeandSmartPhilippines through the #KonektedForResilience advocacy.
Reporters and photojournalists in Northern Mindanao take part in scenario-based safety training ahead of challenging community assignments
LIFE
C4
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
ABS-CBN Foundation receives P500,000 in support of flood relief operations for families recovering from recent calamities
Business mentorship opens new income paths for Filipinos FOR Filipinos looking for a job, starting a business or simply finding another way to earn, a new nationwide initiative is offering more than advice. Trabaho at Negosyo, a partnership between Global Dominion Financing Inc. and Go Negosyo, is providing business mentorship, employment opportunities and alternative income streams to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), aspiring entrepreneurs and jobseekers. The initiative comes as many households and business owners continue to contend with weak consumer demand, stiff competition and limited access to capital. Global Dominion president and CEO Samuel Cariño said the program is designed to help Filipinos make smarter financial decisions while opening practical opportunities to earn and grow. “Our goal is to help more Filipinos make informed financial decisions while connecting them with practical opportunities to grow a business, find employment, or earn additional income,” Cariño said. The roadshow has reached thousands of participants in Quezon City, Pasay, Cebu, Davao and Bataan, combining entrepreneurship coaching with employment and livelihood opportunities. For business owners, the mentorship focuses on using financing for productive needs, from buying equipment and replenishing inventory to strengthening operations and expanding a business. The program also emphasizes responsible borrowing. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to understand loan terms, assess their repayment capacity and determine whether financing can generate enough sustainable value for their businesses.
Samuel Cariño presents practical earning and financing opportunities for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs at Trabaho at Negosyo roadshow
Global Dominion and Go Negosyo leaders discuss collaborative programs that help MSMEs access mentorship, financing guidance, and new income opportunities
Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said the combination of mentorship and actual earning opportunities can help entrepreneurs move from ideas to viable businesses. “Mentorship is what turns ambition into a plan, and a plan into an enterprise,” Concepcion said. “What makes this partnership work is that it connects entrepreneurs to real, practical opportunities to earn and grow, with the infrastructure to back it up.” Participants can also explore employment opportunities with Global Dominion or become accredited independent loan consultants. Loan consultants are trained to explain and offer the company’s financing services to eligible clients, particularly business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Unlike regular employees, accredited consultants work independently, giving them a flexible option for earning additional income while helping entrepreneurs identify financing solutions suited to their needs. The program combines Go Negosyo’s network and entrepreneurship platform with Global Dominion’s financing expertise and nationwide reach. Trabaho at Negosyo will continue in Central Luzon and Mindanao through the end of the third quarter, with additional stops in the Visayas and Mindanao planned through the end of the year. Cariño said the goal is for every community stop to leave participants with something they can use immediately, whether it is business knowledge, a job prospect or another source of income. “Every stop should give participants something useful to move forward—whether that means better business knowledge, a clearer understanding of responsible financing, a job opportunity, or an additional source of income,” he said.
PEOPLE
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By Nickie Wang
IM Chiu knows what it means to be the person everyone can count on financially. As a breadwinner, the actress learned that helping family comes naturally to many Filipinos.
Kim Chiu reminds breadwinners to care for their own needs while continuing to support loved ones through smarter money habits
Kim Chiu puts a premium on financial wisdom
But after years of working, earning, and supporting loved ones, she has also learned an equally important lesson: being financially responsible does not mean forgetting yourself. “Filipinos are really family-oriented. When we have something, we want to share it. We’re not selfish. Whoever has something in the family is usually the one who gives,” Kim started. She never formally decided to become her family’s breadwinner. It simply happened. “I became the breadwinner without anyone having to tell me, ‘Ikaw na lang maging nanay at tatay sa pamilya natin.’ It just happened naturally,” she went on. Kim sees the opportunities she has received as blessings but believes breadwinners should also be practical about their money. “If your glass is already overflowing, there’s no point in keeping it all to yourself because it will only go to waste. It’s better to share what you have,” she pointed out. But sharing does not mean giving away everything. Kim urged breadwinners, particularly overseas Filipinos who regularly send money home, to make room for their own needs, savings and future. “Always remember yourself, too. At the end of the day, you are the one living your life,” she said. “It’s not selfish to think about yourself. You deserve it, too. What you earn is also for you.”
That philosophy makes her renewed partnership with WorldRemit particularly personal. Kim is returning as an ambassador for “Bahay Mo, Panalo Mo,” WorldRemit’s promotion with The Filipino Channel (TFC), which gives eligible overseas Filipino customers the chance to win monthly cash prizes and a brand-new house and lot in the Philippines. The campaign hits close to home for Kim, who won a house and lot when she emerged as the winner of Pinoy Big Brother. “I can relate to ‘Bahay Mo, Panalo Mo’ because when I won PBB, I also won a house and lot. There’s still a different feeling when you have a home of your own,” she shared. Kim believes that owning a home represents more than having a roof over one’s head. It is the result of years of work, sacrifice, and financial responsibility. “It feels like there’s a different sense of responsibility when you have your own home,” she said. Her own family experience also explains why she chose to continue working with WorldRemit. Kim helped support a younger sibling who studied in Canada, sending money while the sibling worked toward a future career. Today, that sibling has graduated and is preparing to become a commercial pilot. The financial dynamic has even changed. “Now he treats me. He’s the one sending
money to me. I don’t send as much anymore because he tells me he’s doing fine. He’s already secure,” Kim said. “The most rewarding part of being a breadwinner is seeing the person you supported become financially independent.” She also pays attention to the practical side of remittances, noting that exchange rates matter because every peso counts, particularly when money is being sent for tuition, groceries, or emergencies. “With WorldRemit, you can see the exchange rate. Every peso counts. More than sending money, it is more of a connection, love, support, and security. Kapag nagpadala ka ng pera, may kwento yun. Pwede pang-tuition, pang-grocery, minsan pang-emergency,” she expalined. Leo Albea, head of the Philippine market at WorldRemit, said the company continues to invest in the Filipino community because remittances help overseas Filipinos support their families and pursue their goals. “Owning a house is a dream of many Filipinos. It is such a fun experience to give this to OFWs,” Albea said. WorldRemit also donated P500,000 to the ABS-CBN Foundation for flood relief assistance. “Bahay Mo, Panalo Mo” launches this September for eligible WorldRemit customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and select areas in Australia.
Gabbi Garcia wants own money, savings even after marriage By Jasper Valdez GABBI Garcia wants to keep control of her own finances even if marriage and starting a family eventually become part of her life. The actress and television host, who was unveiled as Salmon’s newest celebrity ambassador during the Salmon Feels Good Show at
Glorietta in Makati, said she intends to maintain her own money and savings regardless of her relationship status. “Even if I get married or have a family, I have to have my own money, my own savings,” Garcia shared. Garcia said having money of her own would allow her to remain independent when it comes to personal expenses rather than rely entirely on a partner. “I can spend whatever I want to spend on,” she said. At the event, Gabbi Garcia (center), Joy Barcoma Her outlook comes from years of (left), and Baus Rufo discuss finances and share tips handling money she earned from show on handling and spending money business. Garcia has been working in the industry for 12 years and recalled being myself a little.” much stricter with her finances when she She stressed, however, that rewarding was starting out. herself does not mean spending freely. “When I was starting out, those were the “I don’t overspend. I don’t splurge. I’m really growing pains. I really had to save up. I had mindful of my expenses because, of course, it’s to be mindful of my earnings,” she said. my hard-earned money,” Garcia said. After more than a decade of working, The actress credits her parents with Garcia said she now gives herself more teaching her how to manage her finances. room to enjoy what she earns, while She said she remains open with them about making sure her spending stays within money and still turns to them for advice on her means. spending and taking care of what she earns. “I’ve been in the industry, I’ve been That caution also shaped how she working for 12 years already. So I think approached investing. Garcia admitted she now’s the time for me to really enjoy what was initially afraid and advised younger I’m earning as well,” she said. people to understand where they are putting “It’s really about balance. I work hard, I their money instead of simply following work so hard. And then after that, I reward what others tell them. Gabbi Garcia talks about keeping her own savings, spending within her means, and learning how to handle money with intention
“I can’t just say, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ because I was very afraid at first. Do your research,” she said. “Be intentional with what you want to do with your money. Knowledge is important.”