year, a 31.56 percent increase from the 622,293 who visited in 2023.
Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization indicated that the surge in Filipinos started last October at 80,244 with the turn to Autumn, and peaked in December, during the Christmas season, with 108,500 visiting. December visitors were up
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
THE Philippine government is tapping the global debt market for the first time this year, offering benchmark-sized dollar and euro bonds to raise fresh funds ahead of “potential uncertainties” in the near future.
The government will issue its benchmark 10-year tranche and a 25-year sustainability bonds with an initial price guidance of 120 basis points above comparable US Treasuries and 6.100 percent area, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). The transaction is expected to be priced today during New York session.
S&P Global Ratings assigned a BBB+ long-term foreign currency issue rating to the US dollar senior unsecured bonds that the Philippines will be issuing.
“The bonds represent direct, general, unconditional, unsecured, and unsubordinated obligations of the Philippines [BBB+/Positive/A-2]. They rank equally with the sovereign’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations,” S&P Global Ratings said.
Meanwhile, the Philippines also returned to the euro bond market since April 2021, offering the firstever euro sustainability bond with a 7-year tenor at 160 basis points above mid-swap area. A concurrent euro tranche may follow at London
open, subject to market conditions. This will be issued under the Republic’s Sustainable Finance Framework, marking the Republic’s seventh G3 ESG bond offering.
National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza said the Philippines sees an opportune time window to re-enter the capital markets following a constructive market development over the week.
“Our goal is to capitalize on the current market momentum to secure the most efficient cost dynamics ahead of potential uncertainties in the near future. We look forward to the continued support of our valued investors,” Almanza said.
“We have constantly communicated our strategies to achieve ro-
bust socioeconomic development for the Republic, and hence, we are confident that our investors will remain receptive to the
37.2 percent from the 79,107 in December 2023. Although some 80 percent of the numbers are Filipinos who visited for tourism purposes, these also include those who traveled to Japan for business and other purposes (e.g. studies).
Japan’s former Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko even noted that Filipinos were the second top visitors to his country among Southeast Asian countries.
(See, “Pinoys top Asean arrivals, drawing Japan’s
TBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
HE Board of Investments (BOI) is aiming to release the 2025-2028 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) by the first half of this year, and it is expected to include projects with “high impact” for job creation, moving up the value chain and providing essential support to sectors critical to industrial development.
At the Doing Business in the Philippines 2025 briefing organized Thursday by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said the BOI is currently finalizing the SIPP in consultation with other investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and stakeholders.
“We are finalizing the 2025 SIPP; the projects identified have high impact for job creation,
value creation, to innovation, upgrading, moving up the value chain and providing essential support to sectors critical to industrial development,” Rodolfo said.
“We expect to release this. It says here, first quarter of 2025, but just to be conservative, I’ll say during the first half of this year. But don’t worry, even if this is not yet released, the current SIPP is still in place,” added Rodolfo.
With this, the BOI managing head reminded those who are not certain whether their sector or project or activity will be included in the next SIPP to “work very hard and very fast” to apply now under the current SIPP.
While Rodolfo did not disclose further details on the amendments that would manifest in the new SIPP, he said changes could be seen in terms of “Articulating further tiers one, two and three.”
China to PHL: Stop tagging Chinese national as a ‘spy’
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
BEIJING has called out the Philippines for tagging Chinese nationals arrested for illegal activities as “Chinese spies.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was reacting to an announcement recently made by the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice and the Philippine Armed Forces on the arrest of a Chinese national believed to be conducting espionage activities in military camps and other key critical infrastructure facilities.
“The Chinese government, as al-
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Chartered Bank and UBS are acting as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the transaction.
ways, asks Chinese nationals overseas to abide by local laws and regulations,” Mao said.
“We hope the Philippines will stick to the fact. Stop shadowchasing, stop peddling the so-called Chinese spy, and earnestly protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the Philippines,” she added. The statement fell short of cat-
egorically denying the allegation.
But the spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Manila said the statement is already a denial that China is involved in espionage in the Philippines.
“From time to time, ‘Chinese spies’ stories are hyped up here,” the Embassy spokesman told BusinessMirror.
“I am also curious what the final findings are.”
According to the NBI, a group of Chinese nationals is allegedly engaged in surveillance operations using sophisticated gadgets.
The 39-year old Chinese national, identified as Deng Yuanqing, is reportedly affiliated with the Army Engineering University of Chinese military People’s Liberation Army. He is married to a Filipina, and has
been traveling to the Philippines since 2015.
Intelligence agents have been monitoring his group as they were conducting surveillance operations in the AFP camps including the sites where US troops have access under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Two other Filipinos, identified as Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jason Amado Fernandez, were also arrested together with Deng during a sting operation last January 17 in Makati City.
In a separate statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, “In accordance with its mandate to help protect national security, the department takes any indication of espionage operations by foreign nationals seriously.”
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changes in the policy rate. This highlights the significant effects of supplyside shocks on inflation expectations and economic activity,” the researchers said.
“Supply-side shocks are generally considered to have temporary and short-lived effects on prices and do not necessarily warrant a monetary policy response. Nonetheless, central banks should remain vigilant to prevent these shocks from leading to secondround effects,” they added.
Using the Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) conducted between the first quarter of 2010 to the first quarter of 2024, the researchers found that households increase their consumption of selected commodities if their inflation expectations rise by one percentage point.
They said a rice price shock leads to a similar impact on consumption intentions, but the magnitude of change is less pronounced compared to oil price shocks.
However, in all cases, the researchers found that except for health expenditures, a rice price shock would only result to about a one percentage point change in these expectations.
estimated that nearly a third of households rely on remittances to augment their incomes.
The researchers also said as a net food and oil importer, exchange rate movements that affect import prices have a pass-through effect on domestic prices.
“For the monetary policy shock, we find that in both the anticipatory and reactive scenarios, a 25-basis-point hike will lead households to delay increasing their consumption of most commodities,” the researchers said.
“However, there are no significant differences between how households’ consumption intentions would change under the two scenarios,” they added.
Based on the latest results of the CES, released last month, BSP said consumers expect higher interest rates, a weaker peso, and a higher unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of 2024, the first quarter of 2025, and 12 months from the survey period.
The BSP also said consumers anticipate that interest rates may increase and the peso may depreciate against the US dollar for Q4 2024, Q1 2025, and the next 12 months.
Households, the data showed, expect that the unemployment rate may increase across all reference periods. Households expect that the inflation rate may increase in the near term and over the next 12 months.
This year, the government will borrow $3.5 billion through foreign bond sales, mostly composed of US dollars while the remaining will be in euros.
The borrowing plan is lower than the $4.5 billion program in 2024, as
Last year, the Philippines raised $2.5 billion through the issuance of triple-tranche US dollar global bonds in August and $2 billion from a dualtranche of dollar-denominated bond offering in May.
the Philippines will be relying less on the overseas debt market amid high borrowing costs and peso volatility.
“There’s a lot of domestic savings in the Philippines. There’s a lot of liquidity. It’s even cheaper for us to borrow domestically, practically speaking,” the Finance chief had said.
Apart from the Philippines’ usual dollar bond sale, National Treasurer
Almanza said the government is also monitoring all currencies, such as the Japanese yen, and keeping its offshore borrowing options open.
The possibility of issuing Sukuk, a Shariah-compliant certificate of investment in assets, is also on the table and it is eyed to be part of the government’s financing plan for the year.
The government will follow an 80:20 borrowing mix this year, of which P507.408 billion will come from external sources while P2.037 trillion will be sourced locally.
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US are under obligation to help one another if attacked by a foreign aggressor.
The 1951 treaty has been the bedrock of the bilateral defense alliance but was neither tested nor invoked.
During the first term of Trump and then during the term of his successor, Joe Biden, the US has used the buzzword “ironclad” in ensuring that the South China Sea is included within the scope of the MDT.
In a separate post, Manalo said he and Rubio “discussed the importance of the PHUS alliance for the prosperity and security of the Indo Pacific.”
Both secretaries exchanged views on how to advance security cooperation.
Manila and Washington under Trump will continue to deepen economic ties “for shared prosperity” and improved avenues for regional cooperation, Bruce said.
“We look forward to working with Secretary Rubio and his team towards addressing challenges and sustaining the momentum and positive trajectory in our bilateral relations,” Manalo added.
China reaction
IN Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reminded the US that the latter is “not a party to the South China Sea issue” and “has no right to intervene in maritime issues” between the Philippines and China.
“The US-Philippines military cooperation must not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, nor can it be used to endorse the Philippines’ illegal claims,” MFA spokesperson Mao Ning said.
Mao reiterated that China will continue taking “necessary measures to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
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“Maybe a bit more…we’re focusing also on the review on the manufacturing sector,” the BOI managing head also noted. The SIPP, prepared by the BOI in coordination and consultation with the IPAs, the Fiscal Incentives and Review Board (FIRB), other government agencies administering tax incentives, and the private sector,
The researchers also found that a depreciation shock on the Philippine peso also significantly raises the likelihood of increased consumption across various goods—excluding health—in the subsequent period. They noted that as one of the top remittance-receiving countries, exchange rate fluctuations have an impact on household inflation expectations and consumption. They
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‘arigato’,” in the BusinessMirror, September 6, 2023.)
Apply early for your visa
AS this developed, the Embassy of Japan has advised Filipinos planning to travel to the country to apply for their visas at least two months before their intended arrival, due to changes in the consular examination system.
“The number of visa applications to visit Japan has been increasing at an unprecedented rate, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. Taking this into consideration and in order to further revitalize peopleto-people exchange between Japan and the Philippines, we are preparing to transition to a new examination system [visa center system] to maintain the quality and enhance the efficiency of visa processing,” said the Embassy on its web site.
It added: “With the transition to the above new system, examination of visa applications for tourism purposes which normally took five working days, might now take several weeks—period longer than the standard processing time. Therefore, applicants are recommended to apply at least two months prior to the date of travel.” The same advisory was issued for applicants of a multiple-entry visa for temporary visitors for tourism, business, or visiting relatives, etc.
More direct flights
TRYING to explain why Filipinos liked visiting Japan, BusinessMirror columnist Wilma C. InventoryMiranda of the Financial Executives of the Philippines wrote of her family’s return trip. “[It] is safer like Singapore, for tourists to visit…. [It] is also near the Philippines, has a rich culture and history and of course, the shopping experience
However, BSP said, the percentage of respondents who expect higher inflation declined compared with the Q3 2024 survey results. Specifically, consumers expect that the inflation rate may average 6.2 percent for the next 12 months, which is above the National Government’s inflation target range of 2.0 to 4.0 percent for 2024-2025.
[you are assured there are no fake items there] and the food [authentic and unique] make it an attractive destination.” She also cited her fascination for Japan’s state-of-the-art toilet and the country’s reference for neatness. (See, “Why many Filipinos travel to Japan,” in the BusinessMirror, June 5, 2024.)
The large numbers of Filipinos traveling to Japan are also due to the availability of more direct flights from the Philippines. For instance, Cebu Pacific last week announced thrice-weekly nonstop flights between Manila and Sapporo, Japan’s winter capital. It is the carrier’s fifth route to Japan after Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, with flights departing from Manila, Cebu, and Clark.
Philippine Airlines also flies direct from Manila or Cebu to Tokyo, from Manila or Cebu to Osaka, from Manila to Fukuoka or Nagoya. Cherry Blossoms next FILIPINOS also visit Japan during the popular Cherry Blossom season, which this year, The Japan Meteorological Corp. has forecast peak blooming on March 31 in Tokyo and Fukuoka, April 3 in Osaka, and May 5 in Sapporo. Cherry Blossoms usually last for two weeks when they start blooming until their peak bloom.
“We cannot assess how many people we expect to visit in April [for the Cherry Blossoms] this year, especially considering the recent visa announcement. We believe that in light of the recent surge in tourists from the Philippines, there will be an increase over the same period as last year,” said the Embassy’s Japan Information & Culture Center in an email to the BusinessMirror. Last year, the cherry blossoms bloomed in early March until April, as 147,320 Filipinos traveled to Japan for those two months. Total foreign visitor arrivals in Japan last year reached 36.7 million, up 47 percent from 2023.
‘Marcos’s withdrawal forces Comelec to adjust again
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
TWO days after the Supreme Court
ordered the inclusion of internet personality Francis Leo Marcos in the official national ballot, the senatorial aspirant filed his withdrawal from the race on Thursday.
Marcos–whose real name is Norman Mangusin–explained that he wanted to give way to Senator Imee Marcos, who is also running for a Senate seat in the May elections.
“My ‘manang’ knows care deeply for her. One reason I withdrew my candidacy is to give way to Senator Imee Marcos’ bid. I appeal to my supporters to support Senator Imee so she can complete the given assignment,” he said in Filipino.
Earlier this week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed that having two Marcoses on the ballot would require adjustments, as Francis Leo Marcos’s name, alphabetically ordered, would appear before that of the President’s sister.
Aside from stepping aside for his “older sister,” Mangusin said he wanted to avoid additional costs for the Comelec, which would need to reprint ballots to include his name.
“The money of the people will be spent for nothing. If I’m the reason for additional government expenses, I’d rather step back. There are many more elections to come. This is my formal withdrawal of my candidacy,” he confirmed.
However, even if Mangusin had not withdrawn, Comelec would still incur expenses as another senatorial aspirant, Subair Mustapha—previously declared a nuisance candidate—also secured a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court last week.
This development will once again affect Comelec’s resumption of ballot printing, originally scheduled for January 25, as Mangusin’s name now needs to be removed.
“Because of this withdrawal, we will need an additional two to three days to update Comelec’s database, re-serialize, and adjust the ballot faces. But at least the printing hasn’t started yet. If all goes well, we’ll begin printing Monday morning,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said.
Garcia also noted that Mangusin’s decision was a significant help, as it reduced both costs and potential voter confusion.
Two soldiers killed, 12 hurt in Basilan attack
TBy Rex Anthony Naval
HE Presidential peace adviser on Thursday condemned the attack that killed two soldiers and wounded 12 others who were escorting a peace and development team in Sumisip, Basilan, on Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Papru) said this “cowardly act” was perpetrated by lawless armed men planning to derail the peace process that is starting to take root in Basilan.
Troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion who were providing security to United Nations Development Program (UNDP) personnel engaged in a crucial peace and development project in barangay Lower Cabengbeng, Sumisip, Basilan, were waylaid by gunmen some of whom were believed to be rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters.
“My heart go out to the families of the fallen soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace,” Galvez said.
As this developed, Galvez said that in coordination with the Basilan provincial
Pinoy crewmen of hijacked ship freed
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
AFTER more than a year of captivity in Yemen, the 17 Filipino crew members of M/V Galaxy Leader were finally released and will soon be repatriated.
This was announced by President Marcos in a statement posted in his social media account on Thursday.
“Our Filipino seafarers are now in the care of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Oman, and will be reunited with their loved ones in the Philippines very soon,” the chief
executive said.
The seamen were held captive in Yemen after MV Galaxy Leader was hijacked by Yemen-based Houthi terrorists in November 2023.
Aside from MV Galaxy Leader, other foreign-flagged ships with Filipino crew members such as MV True Confidence and MV Tutor, were also attacked while passing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
This prompted the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to impose additional requirements on ships with Filipino sailors
government, the Armed Forces (AFP) and the National Police (PNP), all relevant peace mechanisms were immediately deployed to de-escalate tensions on the ground.
These include the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, the Joint Peace Security Committee, the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, and Joint Peace and Security Teams.
“These measures aim to de-escalate tensions on the ground and facilitate a swift and impartial investigation to establish the facts and circumstances of the incident,” Galvez said.
He also called on the leadership of the
before they can pass through the said high risk waterways.
Marcos thanked Muscat and the concerned Philippine government agencies for successfully facilitating the release of the Filipino seamen.
“Allow me to express my gratitude to His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman and his government for their successful mediation, which led to the eventual release and safe passage of our countrymen through Oman,” Marcos said.
“I commend the concerned Philippine government agencies and private instrumentalities who worked tirelessly with foreign governments and entities for more than 429 days in making this momentous
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to conduct its own investigation and help bring the perpetrators to justice. This was after some reports claimed that some MILF members took part in the clash.
DSWD helps former Moro combatants DAVAO CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) agreed to help in government’s effort to help former Moro combatants return to the mainstream of society, Galvez said.
development possible,” he added.
To ensure the protection and welfare of thousands of other Filipino seafarers worldwide, Marcos said he signed Republic Act 12021 or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.
“This is to protect their rights and overall welfare, to promote their full employment and to ensure equal opportunities in the maritime industry—regardless of gender or creed—including equitable access to education, training and development, consistent with existing domestic and international laws, standards and conventions.” Marcos said.
PSA reports slowdown in construction activities
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
CONSTRUCTION activity in the country saw varying outcomes in November 2024, with residential projects falling, non-residential developments rising, and alterations and repairs gaining momentum, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.
The total number of construction works decreased by 2.7 percent, to 12,050 in November 2024 from 12,384 in November 2023. Residential construction fell by 7.82 percent, dropping to 7,513 from 8,150 in the same month last year. In contrast, non-residential construction rose by 4.92 percent, reaching 448 from 427 in November 2023.
Residential buildings represented 62.3 percent of total constructions, while non-residential buildings accounted for 23 percent. Most residential constructions were single-type houses (6,656 projects), followed by apartments (739), duplexes (103), condominiums (9), and
other residential types (6).
“Other residential construction consists of school or company staff houses, living quarters for drivers and maids, and guardhouses,” the PSA explained.
Non-residential projects were largely commercial buildings (1,898 projects), followed by institutional (509), industrial (214), and agricultural (64) establishments. Other nonresidential constructions, such as street furniture and communication towers, totaled 88 projects.
The total construction value for November 2024 was P42.48 billion, down 8.4 percent from P46.39 billion in November 2023. Residential construction value dropped 9.3 percent to P17.60 billion from P19.40 billion year-on-year, while non-residential construction value also fell 9.3 percent to P21 billion from P23.17 billion in the same period. Additions, involving new constructions that expand building area
DA bans chicken from South Dakota
Tor height, reflected a 4.9 percent year-on-year increase. Alterations and repairs, on the other hand, rose by 2.6 percent, while other types of construction, including non-building structures, grew by 5.7 percent.
In the statistics agency’s definition, “other constructions” include demolitions and street furniture. The latter consists of monuments, waiting sheds, benches, plant boxes, lampposts, electric poles, and telephone poles.
Last year, Leechiu Property Consultants reported an 18 percent office vacancy rate, mainly due to the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo).
The real estate brokerage firm forecast a drop in vacancy rates to 7 percent over the next five years, with a 5 percent annual demand increase and a 45 percent ratio of contractions to new demand.
“In 2025, we do believe that given all these contractions, we will need time to be able to fill this up,” Leechiu’s commercial leasing director Mikko Barranda said during a property market report presentation last December. He added, “Vacancy levels [in 2025] will continue to flutter at the same level, and we will see that really take a turn in 2027.”
Feasibility study for Metro ferry system ready by mid year–DOTr
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday said the feasibility study for the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (Mapalla) Ferry System Project will be finished this year.
Approval for the ambitious project is anticipated by mid-2025, according to Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan.
“We foresee the feasibility study being completed by the first half of this year. By the middle of 2025, we expect to secure the required approvals for this project,” Batan said.
The ferry system, a collaboration between the DOTr and the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) Center, aims to provide a sustainable and efficient transportation option by utilizing Metro Manila’s interconnected waterways, including the Pasig and Marikina Rivers, and Manila Bay and
Crewmen. . .
Laguna de Bay.
“[We’re] maximizing what we already have because the rivers and bays are there. All we need to do is establish a high-capacity ferry system,” Batan emphasized.
The first phase of the Mapalla Ferry System will span a 30-kilometer stretch of the Marikina and Pasig Rivers, featuring at least 32 ferry stations. The system will operate with 40 electric ferries, each capable of accommodating 100 to 150 passengers per trip.
Once operational, Mapalla is expected to connect Metro Manila with Cavite and Laguna through a network of high-capacity, low-carbon commuter vessels. The project also promises seamless intermodal transfers to other transit systems and active mobility networks.
Earlier, Batan said the project will initially cost between P15 billion to P20 billion. The system was conceptualized to mimic ferry systems such as those in New York and in Bangkok.
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Department of Agricul -
ture (DA) slapped a temporary ban on poultry products from South Dakota, United States, due to bird flu outbreaks in that state.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order (MO) 4, which banned the entry of imported domestic and wild
birds including their products, such as poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from the US state.
Tiu Laurel said the temporary ban will prevent the entry of bird flu virus “to protect the health of the local poultry industry.”
“The local poultry industry is a multi-billion-peso business that spurs large investments, creates jobs, and helps ensure food security,” Tiu Laurel said.
The DA said it decided to issue the ban after US veterinary authorities confirmed several outbreaks of H5N1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) in South Dakota, which affected domestic birds. The agency submitted its official report on December 17. It added that the rapid spread of H5N1 HPAI in the US in a short period since its first laboratory detection “necessitates a wider coverage of trade restriction to prevent the entry of HPAI virus and protect the health of the local poultry population.”
MILF. . .
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In last week’s meeting between Galvez and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the two agreed “to bring positive change to the lives of former rebels, their families, and their communities,” a statement from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) said.
The agency said the partnership
The DA said there has been a mutual HPAI-related arrangement in 2016 between the veterinary authorities of the USA and the Philippines wherein a state-wide ban should only be imposed if there are three or more counties affected by HPAI in one state.
Following this report, Laurel ordered the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to suspend the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) to the affected commodity.
He also noted that only birds slaughtered or products processed on or before November 13, 2024, will be allowed to enter the country. The ban does not cover heat-treated products.
with DSWD was given a budget of P1.4 billion and that will allows the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program to expand its reach and focus on high-impact, community-driven interventions.
The Opapru has been implementing its social and economic programs through the Pamana program since its inception in 2011 as the key component of the national government’s peacebuilding efforts to transform conflict-affected and vulnerable areas by addressing developmental
Continued from A3
Comprehensive assistance
THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it will extend comprehensive assistance, which include physical checkup, to the released Filipino seamen.
DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said: “Of course, we will be mindful of the arrival protocols later because there will be debriefings that will happen and primary health checkups and all those things.”
Cacdac said the assistance is on top of what they extended to the families of the affected mariners.
gaps, fostering hope, and boosting growth and development.
“I would like to thank the Secretary Gatchalian for the continued partnership to ensure the implementation of the country’s peace process,” Galvez said. “What we are doing today is more than planning; it is building a future where peace takes root and prosperity blooms,” Galvez said.
He added that the Opapru-DSWD listed interventions flow into the following tracts: peace and development where conflict-affected
“We provided [them] all forms of assistance [to their families] throughout that one year, threemonth period. We provided psycho social assistance. We provided medical assistance to those who have children somewhere along the way,” Cacdac said.
During their captivity, some of the said sailors were reported to have shown symptoms of malaria.
“Based on what we know, those who became sick from malaria already recovered at the midway point [of their captivity]. As far as we know, all of them are of course in good spirits,” he said.
DMW said the released seamen were scheduled to be repatriated late Wednesday.
barangays would have roads connecting remote villages, children have access to education, and health centers provide essential care; local government units to step up sustainable progress such as implementing livelihood projects. Gatchalian said the programs would show government’s “genuine concern” to help uplift the lives of the former combatants and others who have been affected by the armed conflict. “More than anything, I want peace to reign in our country,” he said.
Marcos unswayed on SB 1979, says will read first the substitute bill revising sex ed content
DESPITE the announced revisions on Senate Bill 1979 that mandates enhanced sex education instructions in schools, President Marcos deferred from reconsidering his earlier statement that he will veto the measure.
“I need to read the substitute bill first,” Marcos said in a brief statement released to Palace reporters on Thursday.
Early this week, Marcos made known his objection to SB 1979, which he said contained provisions, which will teach 4-year-olds how to masturbate and ensure that every child has the right to try different sexualities. He called such provisions, which are also rejected by some advocate groups, “ridiculous and abhorrent.”
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the main author of SB 1979, denied the proposed sex education bill contained any of the said
provisions, which she said was a result of disinformation.
However, Hontiveros decided to revise SB 1979 after seven other senators withdrew their support for the bill, when the President aired his opposition against it.
The new version of SB 1979 removed the phrase “guided by international standards” and also emphasized that comprehensive sexuality education will only be taught to students who are 10-years-old and above.
Project Dalisay, a group opposing SB 1979, claimed that the statement “guided by international standards” will allow the teaching of the concept of masturbation to students.
Hontiveros said she is open to dialogue with other senators on how to improve the new version of SB 1979. Samuel P. Medenilla
Comelec: Separate BARMM polls to cost at least ₧2.5-B
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Thursday that at least P2.5 billion would be needed if separate parliamentary elections will be held for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia explained that the current budget for the BARMM parliamentary elections is bundled with the costs of the national and local elections, as these are assumed to take place simultaneously on May 12.
“The BARMM elections are integrated into the national and local elections, which saves
costs because the same machines, teachers, and ballot boxes are used—only the ballots are different. If we conduct a separate election, it’s essentially like holding a new one.
That’s why the Comelec would need at least P2.5 billion,” he said.
Garcia’s estimate follows the Senate plenary’s deliberation on a bill seeking to postpone the BARMM elections to August 2025.
The bill, principally authored by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, aims to move the elections to allow the Comelec more time to prepare and give the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) additional time to finalize its transactions.
While the matter remains unresolved,
Garcia said the Comelec has opted to delay printing the ballots for the BARMM parliamentary elections to avoid waste. The poll chief noted that 2.3 million ballots are needed for the parliamentary elections, which can be printed within a few days if necessary.
He also called on lawmakers to address provisions clarifying the allocation of parliamentary seats originally assigned to Sulu following the province’s exit from the region.
“The question is, will the President certify this as urgent? Will it be passed before Congress adjourns on February 5?” Garcia asked, emphasizing the need for an immediate resolution.
18.
Brief
Salary
BusinessMirror
48. ZHANG, JIANNENG Quantity Surveyor
Brief
49. ZHENG, YEGU Quantity Surveyor
Brief Job Description: Review construction plans and quantity requirements.
HC CONSUMER FINANCE PHILIPPINES, INC. (HOME CREDIT) 15th Floor, Ore Central Building, 9th Ave. Cor 31st. Bonifacio
Basic
Basic Qualification: College graduate, and fluent in Mandarin and English languages. Preferably
City Of Taguig
50. RAJMANSKI, MACIEJ PAWEL Senior Lead For Late Collections Strategy
Brief Job Description: To lead and oversee the end-to-end management of late-stage collections.
LAU PHILEX FREIGHT FORWARDING CORP. Kabatuhan Road, Deparo, Barangay 168, City Of Caloocan
51. AGBASI, HENRY CHINEDU Freight Forwarding Specialist
Brief Job Description: Review and check all order requests before processing.
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56. KUMAR, ANIL Freight Forwarding Specialist
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57. MANPREET KAUR Freight Forwarding Specialist
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58. RAM, SANJIT Freight Forwarding Specialist
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59. SANDEEP SINGH Freight Forwarding Specialist
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60. DONA MEJIA, SHARON ROXANA Senior Specialist, Collections - Spanish
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Trump’s massive deportation plan requires $27 billion expansion of detention centers
By Morgan Lee & Stephen Groves The Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M.—President
Donald Trump’s inauguration-day executive orders and promises of mass deportations of “millions and millions” of people will hinge on securing money for detention centers.
The Trump administration has not publicly said how many immigration detention beds it needs to achieve its goals, or what the cost will be. However, an estimated 11.7 million people are living in the US illegally, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently has the budget to detain only about 41,000 people.
The government would need additional space to hold people while they are processed and arrangements are made to remove them, sometimes by plane. The Department of Homeland Security estimates the daily cost for a bed for one adult is about $165.
Just one piece of Trump’s plan, a bill known as the Laken Riley Act that Congress has passed, would require at least $26.9 billion to ramp up capacity at immigrant detention facilities to add 110,000 beds, according to a recent memo from DHS.
That bill—named after a Georgia nursing student whose
murder by a Venezuelan man last year became a rallying cry for Trump’s White House campaign—expands requirements for immigration authorities to detain anyone in the country illegally who is accused of theft and violent crimes.
Trump also is deploying troops to try and stop all illegal entry at the southern US border. He triggered the Alien Enemies Act to combat cartels. The rarely used 1798 law allows the president to deport anyone who is not a US citizen and is from a country with which there is a “declared war” or a threatened or attempted “invasion or predatory incursion.” Detention infrastructure also will be stretched by Trump’s ban of a practice known as “catch and release” that allows some migrants to live in the US while awaiting immigration court proceedings, in favor of detention and deportation.
ICE uses facilities around the US to hold immigrants
ICE currently detains immigrants at its processing centers and at privately operated detention facilities, along with local prisons and jails under contracts that can involve state and city governments. It has zero facilities geared toward detention of immigrant families, who account for roughly one-third of arrivals on the southern US border.
“There’s a limitation on the number of beds available to ICE,” said John Sandweg, who was acting director of ICE under President Barack Obama. “There are only so many local jails you contract with, private vendors who have available beds. And if the administration wants to make a major uptick in detention capacity, that’s going to require the construction of some new facilities.”
Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the US border with Mexico leverages the US military to shore up mass deportations and provide “appropriate detention space.” The Pentagon also might provide air transportation support to DHS.
Private investors are betting on a building boom, driving up stock prices at the top two immigration detention providers—Floridabased GEO Group and Tennesseebased CoreCivic.
A fast-track budgeting maneuver in Congress called “reconciliation” could provide more detention funding as soon as April. At the
Yemen’s Houthi rebels release crew of seized vessel in Red Sea amid ceasefire
By Jon Gambrell
The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates— Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier seized in November 2023 at the start of their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor over the IsraelHamas war.
The move by the Iranian-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to de-escalate their attacks following a ceasefire in Gaza. However, it came as US President Donald Trump moved to reinstate a terrorism designation he made on the group late in his first term that had been revoked by President Joe Biden, potentially setting the stage for new tensions with the rebels.
The Houthis said they released the sailors after mediation by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that’s long been an interlocutor with the Houthis. A Royal Air Force of Oman jet took a flight to Yemen earlier Wednesday and took off again about an hour after the Houthi announcement with the crew, who smiled as they stepped off into freedom in Muscat.
The Houthis also said Hamas separately requested the release of the ship’s crew of 25, who included mariners from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico.
“This step comes in support of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” the Houthis said in a statement on rebel-controlled SABA news agency.
In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the release of 17 Filipino crew members, describing the moment as an “utmost joy.” The Filipinos, who were in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Oman, would be flown home soon, Marcos said.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the release of two Bulgarians identified by officials as the ship’s captain, Lyubomir
efforts and rising tensions
Chanev, and assistant captain, Danail Veselinov. A government jet was on the way to Oman to bring the Bulgarians home, the ministry said.
Hans Grundberg, the United Nations’ special envoy to Yemen, called the crew’s release “heartwarming news that puts an end to the arbitrary detention and separation that they and their families endured for more than a year.”
“This is a step in the right direction, and I urge Ansar Allah to continue these positive steps on all fronts, including ending all maritime attacks,” he added, using another name for the Houthis.
Vessel’s link to Israeli billionaire THE Houthis said they hijacked the Galaxy Leader over its connection to Israel. The attack launched the rebels’ campaign targeting ships in international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects them.
A representative for the Galaxy Leader’s owners had no comment on Wednesday.
The Bahamas-flagged vessel is affiliated with an Israeli billionaire, Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel.
The Houthi attack on the Galaxy Leader saw the rebels launch a helicopter-borne raid. Propaganda footage of the raid has
been played constantly by the Houthis, who even shot a music video aboard the ship at one point.
On Monday, the Houthis signaled they now will limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated ships after a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip, but warned wider assaults could resume if needed.
However, it likely won’t be enough to encourage global firms to reenter the route that’s crucial for cargo and energy shipments moving between Asia and Europe. Their attacks have halved traffic through the region, cutting deeply into revenues for Egypt, which runs the Suez Canal linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
The release of the vessel’s crew now may have been an effort to curry favor with the US, though the ship still remains moored off the Yemeni port city of Hodeida.
“This gesture by the Houthis may be intended as a goodwill measure towards the new Trump administration,” said Yemen expert Mohammed al-Basha, of the Basha Report risk advisory firm.
However, Trump signed an order urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reinstate a foreign terrorist organization designation on the Houthis. Rubio separately called Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the foreign minister of the United Arab
same time, the Texas state land commissioner has offered the federal government a parcel of rural ranchland along the US-Mexico border for deportation facilities.
Where could ICE add detention space?
THE American Civil Liberties Union estimates that ICE is considering an expansion of immigrant detention space across at least eight states, in locations ranging from Leavenworth, Kansas, to the outskirts of major immigrant populations in New York City and San Francisco, said Eunice Cho, senior staff attorney for the group and its National Prison Project.
The ACLU sued for access to correspondence from private detention providers after ICE solicited feedback last year on a potential expansion. Related e-mails from detention providers suggest the
Emirates, who have led a coalition battling the Houthis since 2015.
“Under President Trump, it is now the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the Houthis’ capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources, and thereby end their attacks on US personnel and civilians, US partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea,” the White House said.
Biden lifted the designation early in his term, citing the humanitarian threat that the sanctions posed to ordinary Yemenis and to back an de facto ceasefire that still broadly holds in Yemen’s war.
Houthi attacks targeted over 100 commercial ships
THE Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023, after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. Israel’s military offensive has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but say women and children make up more than half the fatalities.
The Houthis have sunk two vessels in their campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate US- and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military vessels.
The rebels had maintained that they only targeted ships linked to Israel, the US, or the UK However, many of the ships attacked had little or no connection, including some bound for Iran.
The tempo of Houthi attacks has slowed in recent weeks, particularly involving ships at sea. That may be due in part to the US airstrike campaign. The US and its partners alone have struck the Houthis over 260 times, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The
Aamer Madhani in Washington and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.
possible redeployment of a tent facility at Carrizo Springs, Texas, previously used to detain immigrant children, and the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas—one of two major immigrant family detention centers that the Biden administration phased out in 2021.
“Under the Trump administration, Homeland Security will be working to try to detain everyone that it possibly can and also expand its detention capacity footprint well beyond what is currently available in the United States at this point,” Cho said. Cho added that Congress ultimately holds the purse strings for immigrant detention infrastructure—and that the Pentagon’s involvement under Trump’s emergency edict—warrants a debate.
Using the military ADVOCATES for immigrant rights are warning against a hyper-militarized police state that could vastly expand the world’s largest detention system for migrants. Immigrant detention facilities overseen by ICE have struggled broadly to comply with some federal standards for care, hindering safety for staff and detainees, a Homeland Security Department inspector general found during 17 unannounced inspections from 2020-2023. During Trump’s first administration, he authorized the use of military bases to detain immigrant children—including Army installations at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Goodfellow Air Force Base. In 2014, Obama temporarily relied on military bases to detain immigrant children while ramping up privately operated family detention centers to hold many of the tens of thousands of Central American families caught crossing the border illegally. US military bases have been used repeatedly since the 1970s to accommodate the resettlement of waves of immigrants fleeing Vietnam, Cuba, Haiti, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Groves reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed.
“How does this detract from our own military’s readiness?” she said. “Does the military actually have the capacity to provide appropriate facilities for detention of immigrants?”
LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand register their marriages as law gives them equal status
By Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul The Associated Press
BANGKOK—Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand are expected to make their wedded status legal Thursday, the day a law took effect granting them the same rights as heterosexual couples.
The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal.
As many as 300 couples are expected to complete the formalities at a daylong gala celebration in an exhibition hall at a shopping mall in central Bangkok.
Hundreds more were predicted to register at district offices around the country. They included actors Apiwat “Porsch” Apiwatsayree and Sappanyoo ‘Arm’ Panatkool, who tied the knot at the Phra Nakorn district office in central Bangkok.
“We can love, we love equally, legally,” said Sappanyoo.
“And we can build our family in our own way because I believe that every kind of love, every kind of family is beautiful as it is,” his partner Apiwat said.
They posed afterwards on a terrace at the office, smiling and waving while clutching a bouquet of flowers.
Activists said they hoped at least 1,448 same sex marriages would take place Thursday, in reference to Civil and Commercial Code’s Article 1448.
Thailand’s marriage equality bill, which sailed through both houses of parliament, amended Article 1448 to replace the words “man and woman” and “husband and wife” with “individuals” and “marriage partners.” It is intended to grant full legal, financial and medical rights to LGBTQ+ couples.
In Taiwan, which in 2019 was the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, 526 people registered on the first day, according to its government’s Department of Household Registration. Partners will have equal rights and
responsibilities in dealing with joint assets, tax obligations and deductions, inheritance rights and survivor benefits.
Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity, and thousands of people from around the world attend the annual Bangkok Pride parade. But rights advocates have struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law in a largely conservative society where members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life, although they note that things have improved greatly in recent years.
Couples interviewed earlier this month by The Associated Press expressed happiness with the new law, even those already settled in contented long-term relationships.
Patherine Khunnares, 37, a web designer, said she and researcher Vivian Chullamon, 36, “have a supportive social circle, friends, and family who accept us for who we are and accept the person we love.” Marriage, it seems, isn’t everything that fulfills us emotionally.
“However, ultimately, we believe that as two human beings, we should be granted the same basic legal rights as heterosexual couples. We are a complete family in spirit, but legal recognition would alleviate our future anxieties. In the end, we aren’t asking for anything special—we just want a simple, happy family life.”
Bangkok’s city government has said that it organized workshops for district office staff who are in charge of handling marriage registration. They included lectures raising awareness about gender diversity and guidance on how to properly communicate with those who come for the service. The Interior Ministry has offered similar guidance.
“It’s like a missing piece of the jigsaw,” Bangkok Deputy Gov. Sanon Wangsrangboon said at one of the workshops earlier this month. “Society is ready. The law is getting ready. But the last piece of the jigsaw is the understanding from officials.” About three-dozen countries around the world have legalized some form of same-sex marriage, more than half in Europe.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump signs an executive order regarding the southern border in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, January 20, 2025, in Washington. AP/EVAN VUCCI
THIS image released by the state-run Oman News Agency show the crew of the Galaxy Leader arriving in Muscat, Oman after being released by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. OMAN NEWS AGENCY VIA AP
Saudi crown prince unveils $600 billion investment in US over next 4 years, discusses plan with Trump
By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emir -
ates—Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said Thursday the kingdom wants to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, comments that came after President Donald Trump earlier put a price tag on returning to the kingdom as his first foreign trip.
Trump’s 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia upended a tradition of US presidents first heading to the United Kingdom as their first trip abroad. It also underscored his administration’s close ties to the rulers of the oil-rich Gulf states as his eponymous real estate company has pursued deals across the region as well.
The comments from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reported early Thursday by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, came in a phone call with Trump.
“The crown prince affirmed the kingdom’s intention to broaden its investments and trade with the United States over the next four years, in the amount of $600 billion, and potentially beyond that,” the report said.
The readout did not elaborate on where those investments and trade could be placed. The US in recent years has increasingly pulled away from relying on Saudi oil exports, which once was the bedrock of their relationship for
decades. Saudi sovereign wealth funds have taken large stakes in American businesses while also looking at sports as well. There was no immediate readout from the White House on the call. It also wasn’t immediately clear if Trump’s call with the crown prince was his first with a foreign leader since re-entering the White House. However, it was the first reported abroad. The crown prince, the de facto ruler of the oil-rich kingdom, also spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio early Thursday.
On Monday after his inauguration, Trump talked about possibly heading to the kingdom again as his first foreign trip, like he did in 2017.
“The first foreign trip typically has been with the UK but...I did it with Saudi Arabia
Firefighters battle to maintain the upper hand on a huge fire north of Los Angeles
By Christopher Weber & Marcio Jose Sanchez
The Associated Press
CASTAIC, California—Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a huge and rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles and resulted in more than 50,000 people being put under evacuation orders or warnings.
The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and in less than a day had charred nearly 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week.
Though the region was under a red flag warning for critical fire risk, winds were not as fast as they had been when those fires broke out, allowing for firefighting aircraft to dump tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant on the latest blaze. By Wednesday night, about 14 percent of the Hughes Fire had been contained.
“The situation that we’re in today is very different from the situation we were in 16 days ago,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday evening. Red flag warnings were extended through 10 a.m. Friday in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the Palisades and Eaton fires could break their containment lines as firefighters continue watching for hot spots.
last time because they agreed to buy $450 billion worth of our products,” Trump told journalists in the Oval Office. “If Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another $450 billion or $500—we’ll up it for all the inflation—I think I’d probably go.”
The 2017 visit to the kingdom set in motion a yearslong boycott of Qatar by four Arab nations, including the kingdom. Trump maintained close relations with Saudi Arabia, even after Prince Mohammed was implicated in the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. The kingdom also had been talking for years with the Biden administration about a wider deal to diplomatically recognize Israel in exchange for US defense protections and other support.
home it’s just super stressful,” she said.
A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of the major north-south artery had been closed for emergency vehicles, to move equipment and to prevent accidents due to smoke billowing across it. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the interstate and toward Castaic.
Marrone said that because winds were not as strong as they were two weeks ago, aircraft crews were able to drop fire retardant on the south side of the fire, where the flames were moving, he said. More than 4,000 firefighters were assigned to the fire, he said.
Winds in the area were gusting at 42 mph (67 kph) in the afternoon. They had reached as high as 65 mph (105 KPH) in some mountain pockets by Wednesday night, according David Roth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Kayla Amara drove to Castaic’s Stonegate neighborhood to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property.
“Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there’s a house here to return to,” Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance.
Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she’s been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California.
“It’s been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to
More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from the Hughes Fire, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. There were no reports of homes or other structures burned. Parts of Interstate 5 near the Hughes Fire that had been closed reopened Wednesday evening.
To the south, Los Angeles officials began to prepare for potential rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Gusty weather was expected to last through Thursday and precipitation was possible starting Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
“Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fireimpacted communities is real,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a Wednesday morning news conference.
Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.
“Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up.
The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out January 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 70 percent, and the Eaton Fire was at 95 percent.
Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Ethan Swope in Castaic, Hallie Golden in Seattle, Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a bilateral meeting, in Riyadh, May 20, 2017. AP/EVAN VUCCI
The rice dilemma: Understanding why inflation might stay out of reach despite monetary easing
AS the Philippines grapples with the volatility of rice prices, the delicate balance of agricultural policy and monetary policy comes into sharp focus. The warnings from former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo underscore a pressing concern: the precarious state of rice supply could undermine the effectiveness of monetary policies designed to foster economic stability and growth. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Rice inflation risks, high BSP cautioned,” January 22, 2025).
Rice, a staple that holds an 8.9 percent weight in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is more than just a dietary staple; it is a critical indicator of economic health. The situation is clear: as one of the largest rice importers globally, the Philippines confronts a dual challenge of a weakened peso and increasing fuel costs, both of which are likely to drive up food prices and inflation even more. Guinigundo’s cautionary remarks regarding the BSP’s potential interest rate cuts are not mere speculation; they are rooted in the tangible impacts of a volatile agricultural sector.
The BSP’s strategy must be recalibrated in light of these developments. Easing monetary policy too soon could unleash a new wave of inflation, particularly if food prices remain erratic. Guinigundo, now a country analyst for Global Source Partners, rightly points out that the central bank’s forward guidance should extend beyond nominal economic indicators, incorporating the harsh realities of agricultural supply challenges. The ongoing issues within the Department of Agriculture have led to a declaration of a food security emergency—a clear signal that the situation is dire.
While the decision to release 300,000 metric tons of rice from the National Food Authority reserves is a step towards addressing the crisis, the real impact may be minimal. Guinigundo highlights that this quantity barely scratches the surface of the country’s daily rice consumption. The NFA’s approach—selling rice through government-run Kadiwa centers—raises questions about sustainability and effectiveness. The government’s promise to bring rice prices down to P28 per kilo is increasingly unrealistic, especially when broken rice is already selling for P58 per kilo.
The recent resolution from the National Price Coordinating Council urging the DA to declare a food security emergency reflects an urgent need for decisive action. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel’s plan to distribute rice stocks to local government units at controlled prices is a temporary fix, but without addressing the root causes of supply shortages, such measures will merely provide a band-aid solution.
As we move forward, it is crucial that the BSP and the DA collaborate closely to align their strategies. Monetary policies should be guided by a comprehensive understanding of agricultural dynamics, while agricultural policies must prioritize productivity and resilience against external shocks. Currently, the relationship between monetary policy and agricultural stability is more important than ever. The BSP must exercise caution in its monetary easing approach, while the DA must confront the underlying issues in rice production and distribution. Together, they can forge a path toward economic resilience, ensuring that well-meaning policies translate into tangible benefits for all Filipinos. National economic stability, including rice prices, requires a unified and dedicated approach.
Execution bond provision applies only to cases filed after effectivity of Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers
The execution and judgment of monetary awards under Section 59 of Republic Act No. 12021 or Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers shall apply to complaints filed on or after the effectivity of the law.
The Magna Carta was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on September 23, 2024, while the implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) was signed on January 8, 2025.
The National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) noted in memorandum that the IRR, specifically Section 1, Rule XXII, states that Section 59 of RA No. 12021 applies to monetary awards, salaries, wages, statutory benefits, death and disability claims, damages, and other similar awards arising from complaints filed with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) or the NCMB on or after the date of effectivity of the law.
decisions of the NLRC/NCMB.
Section 59 of RA 12021 “requires that before a disputed amount of a monetary award in favor of a seafarer can be executed while the NLRC or voluntary arbitrator’s decision is pending appeal with the courts, the seafarer must first file a bond sufficient to fully restitute the amount in case the award is eventually reversed by the courts.”
Under the rules, DOLE clarified the distinction between undisputed and disputed amounts for purposes of requiring the filing of the seafarer’s bond while the decision is being questioned in the courts.
The NCMB clarified that said section has no retroactive effect with respect to complaints filed prior to the effectivity of the law as these shall be governed by the laws, rules and regulations prevailing as of the date of their filing.
cases of claims for disability compensation; and (d) any other amount admitted by the employer to be due the seafarer.
Upon finality of the decision of the NLRC or voluntary arbitrator, the undisputed amounts shall be immediately executory even pending appeal with the courts without the seafarer being required to file a bond.
Disputed amounts, meanwhile, include those determined to be legally due the seafarer and damages, including moral damages, exemplary damages, nominal damages, attorney’s fees, and other similar awards.
Upon finality of the decision of the NLRC or voluntary arbitrator, the disputed amounts shall be immediately executory, provided that the seafarer files the required bond.
to disputed amount in the awards of the NLRC or voluntary arbitrator.”
The House version contains the controversial escrow/execution bond provision while these were omitted in the Senate version.
Both Houses of Congress through the bicameral committee convened three times (December 6, 2023, then May 23 and July 31, 2024) just to restore the provision on the execution bond. The House contingent led the reinstatement of the said provision.
The bicameral committee in the first report omitted the escrow but retained a provision on execution bond. The whole provision was deleted in the second report but was reinserted in the third report.
Sweepingly linked with ambulance chasing, employers and manning agencies stressed that such move is necessary to ensure the restitution of monetary awards in case the appropriate appellate court annuls or partially or totally reverses the monetary judgment award.
A seafarer seeks payment of monetary benefits because of the fact that he is in financial distress due to his medical condition.
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The NCMB clarified that said section has no retroactive effect with respect to complaints filed prior to the effectivity of the law as these shall be governed by the laws, rules and regulations prevailing as of the date of their filing.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued Department Order No. 247, series of 2025, that seeks to implement Section 59 of RA 12021, which prescribes rules on the enforcement and execution of
Cracks
LThe undisputed amounts include (a) any unpaid salary or wage, including the amount equivalent to the unexpired portion of the contract in cases arising from illegal dismissal; - any remuneration capable of being expressed in monetary value as stipulated in the standard employment contract or in an applicable collective bargaining agreement; (b) any unpaid statutory monetary and welfare benefits; (c) the amount corresponding to the disability grading as determined by a third doctor in
By Michael R. Blood And Kevin Freking The Associated Press
OS ANGeLeS—California Republicans are pushing back against suggestions by President Donald Trump, house Speak-
er Mike Johnson and other Republicans that federal disaster aid for victims of wildfires that ravaged Southern California should come with strings attached, possibly jeopardizing the president’s policy agenda in a deeply divided Congress at the outset of his second term.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma clarified that the Magna Carta did not modify or amend the jurisdiction of the NLRC and voluntary arbitrators over money claims of Filipino seafarers.
“The general rule still holds that decisions of the NLRC and the voluntary arbitrators which have become final are still immediately executory even pending appeal with the courts,” he said. “The requirement of a seafarer’s bond is an exception to this general rule and applies only
Many are jobless, sick, disabled and infirm who incur huge debts to sustain their medication while others die before the decision by the Supreme Court is released. Instead of saving his earnings for his medication, he will be forced to redirect them to the execution bond, jeopardizing further his economic well-being.
Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09088665786.
Several Republicans who narrowly won California House seats in November have expressed dismay that the state relief could be hitched to demands in exchange for helping the thousands of Californians in their districts still reeling from this month’s disaster.
Pinoy Marino Rights
Dennis Gorecho
Praising solitude Qatar sees Gaza role as springboard to brokering other conflicts
By Fiona MacDonald
Qatar’s
success in helping to broker the long-awaited Gaza ceasefire has enhanced its reputation as an international mediator, with officials now considering which other conflicts they could help resolve.
The gas-rich Gulf nation hosted the late-stage indirect talks between Israel and Hamas that culminated in the truce that started Sunday, with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani working round the clock to get the deal over the line. The agreement capped more than a year of often frustrating negotiations, with officials from both former US President Joe Biden’s administration and successor Donald Trump’s team involved in the final push.
Israeli and Hamas officials never came face to face in a highly choreographed set of final meetings in the Qatari capital, underlining the complex nature of the high-stakes engagement. And the task is far from complete: Qatar is working on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement for when the initial truce ends in less than six weeks, with its lines into Hamas again of paramount importance.
The Israel-Hamas breakthrough was the product of more than a decade of Qatari efforts to position itself as the Middle East’s indispensable go-between, weathering criticism from its neighbors and beyond for the US-coordinated housing of leaders of Hamas—designated a terrorist organization by the US and others—while maintaining channels to Israel, even though the two countries don’t formally recognize each other.
Qatar was isolated by Arab states including Saudi Arabia for almost four years through 2021, though relations are now cordial. Ongoing and careful handling of relations with even adversarial parties will be critical to maintaining its key role.
Qatar was “pivotal” throughout the negotiation process, “and not just because of its relationship with Hamas,” said Anna Jacobs, a nonresident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. “Its very close relationship with the US, engagement with senior Israeli officials, and its much improved relations with Gulf neighbors Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are what made Doha the integral regional actor.”
In a soft-power play backed by Qatar’s $510 billion sovereign wealth fund, the country is involved as a mediator in more than 10 other ongoing cases of various natures, according to one Qatari official, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters. The nation is on the look out for other places it can be of service, said a diplomat briefed on the Gaza talks, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
For example, Qatar sees the potential to work on Afghanistan, where it wants to help improve the humanitarian situation as well as curb Islamic State’s attempts to gain ground there, the diplomat said. Doha hosted talks between the US and the Taliban in 2020, working with the first Trump administration, and went on to accept evacuees fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban regained power the following year. Qatar this week facilitated a swap deal that saw two American citizens detained in Afghanistan released, the foreign ministry said. Qatar also has constructive ties with Iran—with which it shares the world’s biggest gas field. A goal is to leverage that to help ease tensions between Tehran and Washington, the diplomat said. Those reached a zenith during Trump’s first term in office, with the new US president overseeing a strategy dubbed ‘maximum pressure’, walking away from a deal on the Islamic Republic’s atomic activities and imposing heavy eco-
EThe Israel-Hamas breakthrough was the product of more than a decade of Qatari efforts to position itself as the Middle East’s indispensable go-between, weathering criticism from its neighbors and beyond for the US-coordinated housing of leaders of Hamas—designated a terrorist organization by the US and others—while maintaining channels to Israel, even though the two countries don’t formally recognize each other.
nomic sanctions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, elected last year on a reformist agenda, has indicated a wish to pursue re-engagement with the West over both nuclear development and sanctions. That creates potential for talks to take place, the diplomat said.
Qatar has in the past helped free American prisoners from Iran, and aided negotiations for the release of Ukrainian children taken by Russia following its invasion in 2022. There’s a high probability UkraineRussian mediation will start in earnest this year, and countries experienced in the field have the potential to take part as mediators.
In the Arab world, Qatar and Kuwait were the only Gulf states that refused to normalize relations with former Syrian President Bashar AlAssad, who was overthrown late year. Doha is now looking to help rebuild war-ravaged Syria, coordinating with Turkey and Saudi Arabia to ensure it doesn’t become a failed state and there’s a smooth transition to a formal government.
Qatar is providing technical support to revive infrastructure in Syria, including its electricity sector, the diplomat said, and will likely invest in reconstruction projects.
Qatar’s success as a mediator “stems from its neutral positioning, lack of historical baggage with many parties, and willingness to engage with groups like Hamas, the Taliban and Western powers simultaneously,” said Abdulaziz Al-Anjari, founder and head of Kuwait-based Reconnaissance Research.
“The more they do it, the more unique they become, and the more difficult others could be seen as reliable mediators,” Al-Anjari said.
‘Blood on hands’ QATAR had never put such a highlevel negotiator as Al Thani at the heart of mediation talks before Gaza, the Qatari official said. The Prime Minister even told the US that for every day there was no deal, he felt he had people’s blood on his hands.
The turning point came late last year, after a frustrated Doha announced it would step back from mediating. Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, at the newlyelected president’s behest, flew to the Qatari capital in November to ask why.
Momentum then started to build, according to the diplomat briefed on the talks. Witkoff proceeded to work with Biden’s main Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, to push the Israelis while the Qataris pressured Hamas, ultimately paving the way for a long-delayed agreement announced on January 15. How the US approached the task as a team, before the new administration had come into office, was invaluable in helping close the gaps, according to the Qatari official. With assistance from Thomas Hall /Bloomberg
Tito Genova Valiente annoTaTions
ach day, when I leave home already late in the afternoon, or in early evening, I am without a voice. I lose it by spending the whole day alone. With no one to talk with, my vocal folds have rested in those days and, except for any loud singing I might indulge myself – if ever – there is nothing at all to disturb the human in me to produce any sound. Or any language that could be heard by another animal.
It is a physical state to lose one’s voice, or to have it diminished by non-use. The moment, however, I step out of the porch, my mind is overflowing with thoughts and concepts, each one crowding each other out, because in those long moments of solitude, something as loud as the keening of the universe, a language deeper and more voluminous than any kind of lull has taken over any sound that we think others hear, or listen to.
I could label the isolation as metaphysical but any meditation on being alone defeats the aloneness I never forced myself to be into. Besides, being alone is often equated with being lonely but solitude is not a punishment. It is not the opposition to the status of the social, that of being part of society.
Age has guided me to contemplate any form of solitude. I discover in the stillness of my room the appearance of memories, how the time can bring back right where I place a book, or where I let rest a paper and pen, the past. This is not the sentimental yesterday but the remembrance of, let’s say regrets, as I am now able to exercise my mind to think what it was I presently have the courage to think as lamentable.
Solitude can summon the appearances of friends or enemies long gone. The fact that there is no one to dialogue with, no conversation complicates the process of imagining these individuals. Shall I count
Cracks.
in the northern part of the state are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas.
“I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
Local officials have said the conservation efforts for the delta smelt had nothing to do with the hydrants running dry as firefighters tried to contain blazes around Los Angeles. They said intense demand on a municipal system not designed to battle such blazes was to blame.
The wind-driven firestorms wiped out whole neighborhoods of L os Angeles County, left thousands homeless and killed more than two dozen people.
Trump said earlier this week that discussions are underway in the White House to bring more water to perennially parched Los Angeles, alluding to rainfall runoff lost to the Pacific and the state’s vast water storage and delivery system.
“Los Angeles has massive amounts of water available to it. All they have to do is turn the valve,” the president said.
California has long been a favorite target of Trump, who also referred to the fires in his inaugural address Monday. In LA, he said, “we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense.”
“That’s going to change.”
Trump has made no mention of the multinational firefighting force deployed to contend with multiple blazes. Firefighters were gaining ground on the two major fires Wednesday when a third blaze broke out north of Los Angeles and quickly burned through hundreds of acres of dry brush.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican
the ways they have been good to me? Or, is this time now to forgive even the most dreaded of people in the past?
This is a festive session with oneself to be able to see all the humans that have participated in one’s growth. As one grows older (and only those who have grown older will recognize this), there is a gift from the universe—that of being able to discern the goodness of people in the past. There can also be surprises as when you stumble upon the realization that the extremely genial friend has now shown you his evil side. Or the gentleness of what was supposed to be a friend has turned out to be a veneer of a mindless creature. The impact of what is nothing but short of revelations is for you to reconsider your judgment. When this happens, listen again to the hum of the earth around. Think Borges and admit his adage “Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.”
The pauses in one’s soul are priceless. Disguised as nothingness, silence can be mistaken for the null and the void, a space that does not warrant any value. But look again, the fact that the universe is now granting you the gift of being responsible for yourself, you need to banish those doubts.
There are other matters to be considered in solitude. You could, as I have, feed the birds. The act of feeding them is never simple. It is not a facetious gesture as well. It
echoing Trump’s complaints, has said there are “serious” problems in how the state is managed. Those include insufficient funding for forestry programs and water storage. He also noted the public dispute between the LA fire chief and City Hall over budget cuts.
Johnson said Wednesday that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did not prepare the state or the city for what was to come. He particularly cited a 117-million-gallon reservoir left unfilled for nearly a year. Newsom has called for an independent investigation of the reservoir.
Bass didn’t directly respond to a question about possible conditions on disaster aid, saying in a statement: “Our work with our federal partners will be based on direct conversations with them about how we can work together.”
Some Republicans have suggested that the congressional relief package could become entangled with efforts to raise the nation’s debt limit — and with the House so closely divided, even a few breakaway votes from either party could alter the outcome.
That leaves GOP lawmakers from California in a political quandary: whether to forcefully stand up for their home state, often pilloried by the GOP as representing all that is wrong with America, while Republicans in Congress are eager to show a unified front and parlay their November election wins into what Trump has called a new “golden age” for the nation.
Several California representatives agreed that the federal government must guard against the misuse of funds but argued that the money should not be held up or saddled with restrictions not placed on other states after tornadoes and hurricanes.
The dilemma played out in social media posts by Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, who narrowly prevailed in
cannot even be seen as the hobby of the moyenne bourgeoisie. Where the wind is coming is the treasure one gathers with birds. Where do they go when it rains? Where do they fly into when the air is cold? Thirty or even more years ago, these thoughts were never in your being.
Then you were conscious of debts.
Then, your concern was about homes, the brick-and-mortar form. Then, your thoughts were about tomorrow —not the day that followed your today nor was it about the weeks that were about to fall upon your plans. Your tomorrow was the future, which, however planned, you gave to Fate or chance.
Then, creeping, you were mindful of death. Or deaths.
Solitude takes you to the edge of death also, as it brings you to loving (embracing is the lovely word for it) the companion of passing— those interminably sad goodbyes. As you
November in his swing district east of Los Angeles.
“Californians are entitled to receive federal disaster assistance in the same manner as all Americans,” he wrote on X. But, he quickly added, “Some federal policy changes may be needed to expedite rebuilding as well as improve future wildfire prevention. Those kinds of policies are not conditions.”
Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, whose sprawling district runs from east of Sacramento south to Death Valley, told KCRA-TV in Sacramento last week that Johnson’s use of the word conditions was not “especially helpful.” Speaking at the Capitol Wednesday, he said there is a lot of ambiguity about what constitutes conditions for disaster aid.
He said his focus is to make sure the money doesn’t get wasted through government inefficiency.
“We want to make sure the money actually gets to the victims and they can use it to rebuild their homes and to recover,” Kiley said.
Politicians in Washington have feuded for years over how to restrain the growing wildfire threat across the West. Republicans have long complained that inadequate land management practices have exacerbated damage from wildfires, while Democrats have emphasized the role of climate change and the failure of the federal government to address it.
About the only thing they agree on is that the problem persists.
Some lawmakers have noted that disaster aid over the years for Johnson’s home state of Louisiana did not come with conditions. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called the idea a “non-starter.”
Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, whose largely rural district runs from the Sacramento area north to the Oregon border, said he wasn’t too concerned about talk of conditions.
“Everything has conditions, especially the way California wastes
sit alone in your chair, there is no fear and, contrary to youthful expectations, anxiety in looking at farewell. You are an expert now in that slow or even quick turn of the heels or the graceful but sad twist of the body away from you. You now understand why that beloved turned his soul from you, and because those are souls marveling at the turn of events, disappearances become vignettes, permanent departures are prized lockets in your mind collection.
The price to pay, at the end of the day, is the loss of one’s voice, but one that can be regained slowly as the night deepens and the company restores you to the family of men and women. But mark my word, you will sooner be back in solitude again and, like Auden, be cool about how he was wrong that love could last forever.
E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com
money,” LaMalfa said. “We want to help people and we want to help with that, like we’ve helped with others. But California is very, very irresponsible.”
Trump plans to visit the state to see the damage firsthand on Friday. Newsom hasn’t said publicly if he’ll accompany him on his tour. With the fragile GOP majority in the House — there are 219 Republicans, 214 Democrats and one vacancy — Johnson cannot afford defections on any vote. And it could be several weeks before a fuller accounting of the state’s recovery needs is ready and a formal request submitted to the White House.
Following major natural disasters, the president typically makes supplemental spending requests, as happened after hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Congress also could provide more disaster aid to California through legislation. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said he would work to include disaster aid in a filibuster-proof bill Republicans hope to craft this year that would pay for some of Trump’s top policy priorities. Newsom urged Johnson and other congressional leaders to quickly approve assistance for the state, where fires are still burning and strong winds continue to threaten new ones. In an e-mail to supporters from his campaign committee, he warned that “Republicans are holding federal aid hostage” and said Democrats might be able to peel off a handful of GOP votes to push through an aid package.
“In times of natural disaster — from Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Helene — Americans have always stood together, setting aside politics to extend a helping hand to those in need,” the governor wrote. “Historically, federal disaster aid has been provided without conditions.” Freking reported from Washington.
Friday, January 24, 2025
Recto uses Create More to entice global investors
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
THE recently enacted Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (Create More) Act was promised to global investors to make more money for them while providing more high-quality jobs for Filipinos.
In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Secretary Ralph Recto urged global investors to invest in the Philippines following the recent passage of the Create More Act.
“The Philippines is very serious about growth—not just steady economic growth, but strong, inclusive, and sustainable progress. So, if you are looking for a place to grow your business and make more money,
I have one message: Choose the Philippines. And we will make it happen,” Recto said. The Philippine economy grew by 5.2 percent in the third quarter of last year, and will likely fall short of reaching its 6-percent growth target in 2024, according to Recto earlier (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/01/20/typhoonstake-toll-on-phl-growthgoal/).
Moreover, forecasts show the
Philippine economy will grow by at least 6.1 percent in 2025, and will be among the frontrunners in the Asean region.
“What makes this potential even more exceptional is that the growth of our domestic market is driven by e-commerce, making the Philippines the fastest-growing digital economy in Asean,” Recto said.
According to the latest e-Conomy SEA report, the Philippines
RUBIO ASSURES MANALO: U.S. SUPPORT FOR MDT CONTINUES
By Malou TalosigBartolome
Mhas $31 billion in gross domestic merchandise value in 2024.
As such, the government is expanding digital infrastructure through the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project, the National Broadband Program and the Common Tower Program to enhance digital connectivity, particularly in underserved areas.
This, coupled with the country’s demographic sweet spot, makes the Philippines the “ideal demographic partner for the economy of the future.”
“Create More was designed to address your concerns and tailor fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to meet your specific needs. Simply put, Create More was carefully crafted to make more money for you and create more high-quality jobs for our people,” Recto said.
Create More introduces streamlined business compliance, VAT exemptions for export enterprises and incentives for large-scale investments.
Under the enhanced deductions regime, the corporate tax rate was reduced to 20 percent while tax incentives can be availed up to 27 years for registered businesses.
ARCO Rubio, the new US Secretary of State, has assured Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo that the Trump administration will continue to be committed to the treaty that requires the US to help the Philippines in case it is attacked by a foreign aggressor.
Rubio spoke with Manalo Wednesday night (Philippine time), a day after meeting personally the foreign ministers of QUAD in Washington D.C.—India, Australia and Japan.
Beijing cautioned Manila and Washington D.C. against using the PhilippineUS Mutual Defense Treaty “to endorse the
Philippines’ illegal claims” in the West Philippine Sea.
Rubio-Manalo call IN a statement, U.S. State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said both ministers spoke about issues of mutual concern including China’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.”
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto
ROTARIANS WITH RCBC CHIEF Eugene S. Acevedo (right), President and CEO, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, shares a light moment with Rotary Club of Manila President Jujut Enriquez during the RCM 20th Weekly Membership Meeting where Acevedo was Guest of Honor. NONOY LACZA
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
B1 Friday, January 24, 2025
Watsons builds more stores outside Metro Manila in ‘24
By VG Cabuag @villygc
Watsons Philippines, a health and beauty retail brand under the sM Group, concluded 2024 with 1,166 stores, as part of its strategic expansion.
The company opened 80 new stores last year, with more than 50 of these outside Metro Manila, the company said.
The Watsons brand also opened its 8,000th store in Asia at the Mall of Asia last year, led by Malina Ngai, group CEO of AS Watson group.
“The Philippines has been selected for this momentous occasion because it’s one of the fastest-rising economies in Asia and a strategic
market for AS Watson. This vibrant and highly potential market has a young demographic that increasingly focuses on health and beauty, aligning perfectly with Watsons’ expertise,” Ngai said. Since its first store opened in 2002, Watsons Philippines has grown through a joint venture between the SM Group and Hong Kong-based A.S. Watson & Co. Ltd. SM said the brand continues to
enhance its presence nationwide, making healthcare and beauty products more accessible to Filipino consumers.
Last year’s new store openings include key cities and municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao, reflecting Watsons’ commitment to reaching communities in need.
A recent study by Bain and Company, titled Asia-Pacific Front Line of Healthcare 2024, reveals that about 85 percent of consumers in the region prioritize healthcare maintenance, with 51 percent willing to increase out-of-pocket spending for improved health outcomes and experiences.
Jared de Guzman, customer director at Watsons, emphasized the brand’s focus on community pharmacies.
“Watsons is not only expanding in malls but is also committed to
establishing a strong presence in local neighborhoods,” he said.
“By the end of 2024, we have 400 community stores throughout the Philippines, ensuring accessibility and convenience for our customers.”
Watsons began its community pharmacy journey in 2015 with its first store in Pateros. Today, the brand operates in three formats: Watsons Pharmacy, with more than 1,000 locations in various settings; SM Beauty in 76 SM Stores; and LOOK, a multi-brand outlet at SM Aura and SM Mall of Asia.
“Our community stores bring essential healthcare products closer to home, catering to the convenience sought by our busy shoppers. They have become vital destinations for health, beauty, and wellness needs,” de Guzman said.
‘NGCP is a Filipino corporation’
ATOP official of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Thursday reassured the public that the company is primarily a Filipino corporation and the Chinese do not have control over the grid.
In his statement during a hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, NGCP Vice Chairman Henry Sy Jr. emphasized, “The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) does not control the power grid nor NGCP.”
He added that the company is primarily run by Filipinos, dispelling rumors of foreign domination.
Sy further clarified that local corporations, Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. and Calaca High Power Corp., each hold 30 percent of NGCP’s shares, giving them a combined 60 percent stake, while SGCC holds a minority 40 percent, which
is in full compliance with the Philippine Constitution.
Addressing the partnership with SGCC, Sy explained that when he purchased his shares in 2010, SGCC was already an investor, and the shareholders’ agreement was already in place.
He also debunked claims that the Chinese company has the power to shut down the grid, stressing, It is NGCP alone, through its Filipino directors and personnel, and not the Chinese, that has control over the system operations.”
“The Chinese do not have control over the grid. There is no proverbial single red button that can instantly turn off the grid,” he added.
There are protocols that actually prevent this, according to Sy. On the issue of security, Sy said NGCP’s SCADA (Supervisory Control
and Data Acquisition) system is isolated and not connected to external networks or the internet, making it immune to remote hacking attempts.
Sy emphasized the importance of stability across the country’s power grid, supply chains, laws, policies, and regulations in fostering a resilient energy industry.
He urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to approach the issue of energy challenges from a holistic perspective, citing that from 2016 to 2023, 97 percent of power interruptions were related to supply problems.
“We need stable, affordable baseload power. We need a comprehensive, aligned plan that considers the needs of all sectors. We are willing to be part of the solution, but transmission should not be the solution to everyone’s problems,” he said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
Top PHL retailers may soon sell cheap rice–DA
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is tapping the country’s major retail chains to distribute cheaper rice nationwide.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he met with representatives from supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores to discuss the initiative which aims to stabilize prices of the food staple.
With over 3,200 retail outlets, including SM, Robinsons, 7-Eleven, Puregold, and MerryMart, the agency considers these networks as crucial in reaching millions of Filipinos daily.
“This is a solution that we believe will stabilize rice prices faster and more efficiently. But we need to find the right balance to operationalize this properly and secure everyone’s cooperation,” Laurel said in a statement.
The DA said the program would be piloted in Metro Manila where
retail rice prices remained high despite tariff reductions and declining global quotations.
It will feature two main components, such as the P29 Rice or aging stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) for vulnerable sectors and the Rice-for-All program which offers various rice grades, including 5 percent broken, 25 percent broken, and 100 percent (Sulit Rice) broken rice varieties.
The agency said Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), a government-owned corporation, would handle the supply and packaging of rice distributed through participating retail chains. Laurel noted that the pilot initiative would be monitored over several months before potential expansion to other regions facing similar challenges.
By collaborating with retail networks, the agency said it wants to make “a long-term impact” on stabilizing rice prices nationwide, especially in urban areas where fluctuations are more evident.
Banking&Finance
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) posted a five-fold increase in its net income in January to October 2024.
Data from the BSP showed its net income soared 423.61 percent to P113.1 billion in January to October 2024 from P21.6 billion in the same period in 2023.
The central bank’s net income was driven by a 49.5-percent growth in revenues to P264.1 billion in the 10-month period last year from the P176.6 billion in the same period in 2023. The BSP’s interest income breached the P200 billion level at P200.7 billion in January to October 2024. This represented a 23.13 percent growth from the P163 billion posted in the 10-month period in 2023.
Miscellaneous income surged 366.18 percent to P63.4 billion in January to October 2024 from the P13.6 billion posted in the same period of 2023.
“(Miscellaneous income) includes trading gains/losses, fees, penalties and other operating income, among others. However, starting with end-December 2022 report, data on net trading losses are excluded and instead recorded as part of ‘Other Expenses’,” BSP said.
Meanwhile, BSP said its expenses contracted 11.5 percent to P182.3
billion in January to October 2024 from P206 billion in January to October 2023.
This was despite the 0.86 percent increase in the central bank’s interest expenses to P140 billion in 2024 from P138.8 billion in 2023.
Other expenses, recorded as net trading losses starting in December 2022, contracted 37.05 percent to P42.3 billion in 2024 from P67.2 billion in 2023.
Meanwhile, the BSP also recorded higher net income before net gain/ loss on foreign exchange rate fluctuation, income tax expense/benefit and capital reserves.
The data showed the BSP soared to P81.8 billion net income in January to October 2024 from a net loss of P29.4 billion in the same period of 2023.
The BSP also posted a net gain of P31.4 billion on foreign exchange rate fluctuations in January to October 2024.
However, the data showed that this was a decline of 38.43 percent from the P51 billion net gain posted in January to October 2023.
Net gain/loss in foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the BSP said, represents realized gains or losses from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates arising from foreign currencydenominated transactions of the BSP. Cai U. Ordinario
On MICE alliances
Y work in and for asso-
Mciations during the last three decades has given me the opportunity to learn, understand, and appreciate the MICE (meetings incentives, conferences and exhibition) industry and its supply-side stakeholders: destinations, venues, event management companies, event logistics suppliers, tourism agencies, among others. Completing the eco-system of the MICE industry, corporates and associations are part of the demand-side MICE stakeholders as they organize MICE events, work with, and procure services rendered by these MICE supplyside stakeholders.
Of late, I noted in my interactions with the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) and the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) that MICE stakeholder alliances have been formed in several key MICE destinations in the Philippines such as Boracay, Iloilo, and Cebu. While the formation of MICE stakeholder alliances is not new as there are quite a number of such groupings already existing around the world, I was particularly interested in why such alliances are being formed here in the country.
I found out that MICE stakeholder alliances form to collectively enhance the competitiveness, visibility, and attractiveness of their respective cities or regions as preferred MICE destinations. Despite some competition, the collaboration is driven by shared goals and mutual benefits that outweigh individual rivalries. Here’s a list of their motivations:
1. Destination marketing synergy. By pooling resources, alliances can run larger-scale and more impactful marketing campaigns to target international markets. Unified branding strengthens the destination’s appeal, showcasing it as a cohesive and well-organized hub for events.
2. Cost efficiency. Sharing costs for marketing, research, and infrastructure development makes it more economical for stakeholders compared to working independently.
BSP to require financial instis to share info as law requires
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
FINANCIAL institutions may soon be required to enter into an information sharing agreement with the central bank to aid in the investigation related to the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (Afasa).
In a draft circular, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) proposed that the information sharing agreement be made by financial authorities with the BSP through the Consumer Account Protection Office (CAPO).
A unit in the BSP, the CAPO has the authority to investigate and inquire into financial accounts as well as share financial account information with authorities.
“Any ‘financial account information’ shared by [the] BSP to a ‘competent authority’ pursuant to these rules and duly-executed ‘informa-
3. Strengthened value proposition. Collaborations allow destinations to offer comprehensive packages (venues, accommodations, and local services), creating a seamless experience for event organizers.
4. Knowledge sharing. Alliances encourage sharing best practices, data, and trends to imp rove service quality and innovation within the industry.
5. Economic impact. A strong MICE industry boosts local economies by generating jobs, increasing tourism, and encouraging investment.
6. Global competitiveness. Competing with global hubs like Singapore, Dubai, or Las Vegas requires smaller destinations to unite and amplify their presence.
7. Sustainability goals. Many alliances focus on promoting sustainable MICE practices, benefiting from shared resources and expertise to achieve environmental certifications.
These alliances highlight the industry’s recognition of the collective power in positioning themselves as global leaders in the competitive MICE landscape.
In the context of the Philippines, local MICE alliances in Boracay, Iloilo, and Cebu exemplify a strategic approach to destination marketing, where collaboration among local stakeholders enhances the overall appeal and competitiveness of the destinations in the global MICE industry.
While MICE alliances offer significant benefits, their success depends on strong governance, clear agreements, and effective communication among members to mitigate potential drawbacks.
Octavio Peralta is founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” The views he expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.
tion sharing agreement’ shall be used solely to investigate and prosecute criminal cases for violations of a ‘prohibited act’ or, as may be applicable, to adjudicate financial consumer complaints under Section 6(f) of Republic Act (RA) 11765,” the BSP said
The information sharing agreement will cover the terms and conditions for the following: sharing of financial account information; undertaking to use the financial account information for the specific purposes indicated in Sections 12 and 14 of the Afasa; and, name/s and/
or position/s of the officers of the competent authority who are authorized to request and receive financial account information from the BSP.
The information also covers the identification of dedicated email accounts to be used in the electronic transmission of requests, and correspondence between the BSP and the “competent authority,” as well as the official address where physical copies of the correspondences and documents can be delivered.
The agreement will also contain measures to ensure the security and protection of the financial account information obtained from the central bank, including the Competent Authority’s policies on non-disclosure, encryption, retention, and disposal of records as well as the manner by which the agreement will be accessed by the parties.
HEALTH advocates urged the Finance chief and a lawmaker to reject the proposal to reduce tobacco excise taxes.
In a statement on Thursday, Sin Tax Coalition (STC) called on Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto and Senate Ways and Means Chair Sherwin T. Gatchalian to reject House Bill (HB) 11279 and HB 11288.
Recto was told to fulfill his mandate of efficiently managing the government’s financial resources by rejecting the proposal to lower tobacco taxes.
“Secretary Recto, who was called ‘Recto-Morris’ during his time as senator for forwarding
the tobacco industry’s proposals, should expect a full backlash from various sectors, including the medical community, should he once again align with the industry and support this disgrace of a bill,” STC Convenor Maricar B. Limpin was quoted in the statement as saying.
The organization expressed its members are “disturbed” over the equivocations of Gatchalian. The STC noted that the lawmaker has said he will not recommend a policy reducing tobacco excise tax rates to fight the illicit trade of the commodity.
Limpin, also a physician, said Gatchalian did not include in his recommendations the proposal
Marcos eyes increased PHL-ADB ‘engagement’
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
RESIDENT Ferdinand R.
PMarcos Jr. is eyeing more engagements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the coming years as the multilateral lender remains one of the country’s “constructive” partners for its socio-economic development initiatives.
The chief executive made the remark during the farewell call of outgoing ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa in Malacañang on Thursday.
“We fully intend to increase those engagements and continue to make them stronger. Again, thank you for all the help,” Marcos told Asakawa.
Marcos thanked Asakawa for the aid extended by ADB to the country especially in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“Of particular note, it was the support of ADB during the pandemic… that was critical; that was absolutely critical for our recovery. Without your help it would have been a much more difficult situation for us,” he said.
“We are very happy that we can look back on your time here… very, very important and productive, and literally constructive time for us,” he added.
The ADB is the Philippines’s second biggest source of official
The draft circular also stated that this information will also include the type and status of the accounts; transaction records; and sensitive Identifying Information.
“The provisions of RA 1405, as amended; RA 6426, as amended; RA 8367; and, RA 10173 shall not apply in the course of BSP’s inquiry and investigation of financial accounts,” the draft circular stated. The draft circular aims to guard against prohibited acts such as money muling activities; social engineering schemes; and, economic sabotage.
Other offenses such as aiding and abetting as well as committing money muling or social engineering activities; opening financial accounts under a fictitious name or using the identity or identification of another; and, buying or selling financial accounts.
The BSP state that comments on the draft circular will be accepted by the BSP until February 25, 2025.
According to the circular, the financial account information shared includes but is not limited to: account number; account owner’s personal information; registered mobile number and e-mail address of the account owner; and, documents submitted by the account owner for the purpose of opening and/or maintaining the financial account.
Reject move to cut tobacco excise taxes, Recto urged
made by the tobacco industry to suspend the yearly 5 percent increase in tobacco excise tax rates.
The senator also previously said that “enforcement is not enough” and that price mechanisms can solve the problem of declining revenues, Limpin added.
The government already lost P51.3 billion in excise tax on tobacco products in 2024. This is further projected to cost the government P240.3 billion in excise tax leakages over the next three years.
“Enforcement is the key issue to address to mitigate illicit trade. To suggest that enforce-
ment is not enough is to signal an accommodation of the tobacco lobby to lower taxes. We also reiterate to the tobacco industry that the bill is not a moratorium, it is plain and simple destroying the provision on indexation and thus will lower taxes. It is antihealth, anti-revenue and pro-industry,” Limpin said.
Data from the Bureau of Customs showed out of the 62 cases it filed against smugglers of illicit cigarettes from 2018 to 2024, only one has been convicted. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed 29 cases with the Department of Justice. No one has been convicted yet. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
development assistance (ODA) after it provided the country 62 loans and grants worth $11.4 billion as of 2023, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Japan’s ODA, to note, is worth $12.07 billion.
Marcos conferred upon Asakawa the “Order of Sikatuna” with the rank of “Datu (Grand Cross) Gold Distinction” to recognize the ADB’s support to the Philippines in terms of its economic development, health, infrastructure investment, climate resilience, and human capital development.
Asakawa started his term as ADB President on 17 January 2020. Last September, he announced his intention to resign from the position by 23 February 2025.
In his resignation statement, Asakawa said among the achievements of ADB during his term were financing the enhancement of the healthcare system of its developing member-countries during the pandemic and addressing climate change.
The outgoing ADB president will be replaced by Masato Kanda, who is currently the Special Advisor to Japan’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Kanda will complete the unexpired term of Asakawa, which will end on 23 November 2026.
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Insurance Commission (IC) has introduced Micro Takaful to provide low-income and Muslim Filipinos with greater access to affordable risk protection insurance products.
The initiative is contained in Circular Letter 2025-01 issued by Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo A. Regalado and which expands the coverage of microinsurance products to include Micro Takaful. The IC defined Micro Takaful as an insurance operating on the principle of mutual assistance and shared responsibility, providing coverage for health, life, property, education etc. to the low-income and informal sector in accordance with Sharia principles.
“The lC recognizes the need to provide broader insurance coverage and options for all Filipinos, including our Muslim community,” Regalado said.
Minimum contribution, or the lowest amount paid to an insurance company for coverage, must not exceed 7.5 percent of the current daily minimum wage rate for nonagricultural workers in Metro Manila.
This means the minimum contribution for Micro Takaful must not exceed P48.38 per day based on the P645 current minimum wage.
For all microinsurance products, except Micro HMO, the maximum sum of guaranteed benefits must not exceed 1,000 times the current daily minimum wage in Metro Manila. As such, those insured with Micro Takaful can receive a maximum coverage of P645,000. Micro HMO plans can also provide P645,000 in total coverage as the maximum benefit limit.
“There is a continuous and growing demand for affordable inclusive micro products, particularly among the low-income and informal sector, to address crucial needs in healthcare, life coverage, and pre-need service,” Regalado said. To date, Pru Life UK and Etiqa Life and General Assurance Philippines were first granted Takaful operator licenses by the IC in the Philippines.
Takaful follows a cooperative model where participants contribute to a shared pool or mutual fund from which claims are paid out. A contract specifies the risks covered and the length of coverage, similar to an insurance contract. The funds are managed and administered by a Takaful operator that charges fees for sales, marketing, underwriting and claims management.
The rate also applies to all microinsurance products, such as micro pre-need plans for education, life or memorial services and pension; MicroHealth for specific health insurance coverage; and Micro HMO for medical, surgical and hospital services.
Octavio Peralta
Association World
Love and money in the Year of the Wood Snake
LOVE and romance continue to be in the air as we slip into the Year of the Wood Snake on January 29.
But because we are still in Feng Shui Trend 9, a 20-year period which is dominated by the fire element that will last until 2044, people are expected to be more moody and prone to fighting. “It is lucky for marriage but it will also be easy for couples to separate,” says Hong Kong-based master geomancer and feng shui expert Joseph Chau. “So couples must be patient enough [in communicating] to reach an agreement and maintain a good relationship,” he advises.
Master Chau will lead the traditional Lunar New Year blessing at Marco Polo Ortigas at 11 am, January 29, 2025, after which guests can enjoy a sumptous feast at the hotel’s Lung Hin restaurant.
For single people, Chau recommends they put a fresh flower in the Southeast direction of their house and bedroom, together with their updated photo,” to invite romance into their lives. The Southeast is where the Romance Star resides this year.
But what’s love without the money? There are zodiac signs which will be naturally gifted in attracting love or wealth in the year of the Wood Snake:
Those born in the Year of the Rat (1936/1948/1960 /1972/1984/1996/2008/2020) are lucky in money and love this year. Inggit naman. Because they are lucky in finances, they “should keep a low profile” so as not to draw the attention of jealous people. Their “love life is smooth-sailing,” says Chau. “It will be full of variety and enriching.”
Career-wise, Dragons (1940/1952/1964/1976/1988/20 00/2012/2024) will see their career advance smoothly as they will benefit from a lucky person or benefactor. They will earn stable and reasonable profits from their investments, while “romance may flourish into a long-term, harmonious relationship.”
Those born in the Year of the Ox (1937/1949/1961/ 1973/1985/1997/2009/2021) will see “smooth-sailing progress” in their work. Their wealth will “come from the right sources,” says Chau. In the area of romance, “their relationship is excellent and enriching.”
Another sign that is lucky in finances and romance this year is the Rooster (1933/1945/1957/1969/1981/1993/ 2005/2017). “They will achieve fame as well as wealth,” says Chau. The Rooster is also “blessed with two Springs this year. So those in long-term relationships might consider marriage.”
Tigers (1938/1950/1962/1974/1986/1998/2010/20 22), in general, have “prosperous money luck,” but their “love life is not smooth.” They will experience “emotional ups and downs,” says Chau. Their work may be hindered and frequently challenged, so they should avoid talking too much “to prevent unnecessary conflict.”
It will be a “busy and challenging year” in love and finances for Rabbits (1939/1951/1963/1975/1987/1999/2 011/2023). Despite the presence of the Wealth Star in the sign’s area, they have to “invest more effort in their work.” He adds the Rabbit’s “Romance star is weak [so]
couples should strive to be more understanding.”
Because Snakes (1929/1941/1953/1965/1977/1989/20 01/2013) will clash with the Grand Duke of Jupiter this year, they should be “cautious and more conservative in handing their work.” They are also advised to “keep a low profile and stay away from office politics.” Snakes who are in relationships should “be patient to avoid becoming overly emotional with [their partner].”
Those born in the year of the Horse (1930/1942/ 1954/1966/1978/1990/2002/2014) have average luck.
“They should keep a cool head and be patient in handling their work.” While “money luck is good and optimistic,” they should still “be cautious in signing contracts” as misunderstandings can arise. On the upside, their “love life is activated; Horses will enjoy good relationships with others.”
This is a beneficial and busy year for Goats (1931/ 1943/1955/1967/1979/1991/2003/2015). “The more they work, the more they will gain,” says Chau. The Goat’s “love life can be complicated and full of changes. So they need to be patient with their partners to avoid misunderstandings.”
Monkeys (1932/1944/1956/1968/1980/1992/2004/2 016) have “two lucky stars shining bright, so they can change their bad luck into good fortune.” Their money luck is good and they have the opportunity to forge “joint ventures” with others. They have a good love life this year “and they will easily get romantically involved.”
The luck of Dogs (1934/1946/1958/1970/1982/1994/ 2006/2018) has significantly improved so they have the opportunity “to reach the peak of their career and gain power.” But the presence of an unlucky star called “Gradual Drain” makes it difficult for them to accumulate wealth. And yet, the Dog’s love life is “enriching and full of variety. Romance will blossom,” says Chau.
Sadly, the most unfavorable sign this year may be the Pig (1935/1947/1959/1971/1983/ 1995/2007/2019) as it clashes directly with the Snake. Aside from being not so financially fortunate, Pigs are not lucky in love either. Those in relationships are advised to “be patient to avoid quarrels.”
Chau says, for those in business, these signs will make good partnerships or alliances: Dragon with Rooster, Snake with Rooster, Horse with Tiger, Goat
with Horse, Monkey with Rat, Dog with Rabbit, Pig with Rat, Ox with Rooster, and Monkey with Snake. In romance, those compatible with the Snake is the Rooster, Ox, or Monkey. The Rat is compatible with the Dragon, Monkey, or Ox; Tigers with Horse and Dog; Rabbit with the Goat, Pig, or Dog. “Every sign is different, so compatibility is very difficult to do,” says Chau. He stresses that one’s fortunes in the year of the Wood Snake can only be actually determined through a detailed feng shui reading using the person’s exact birth date and time of birth.
Chau encourages everyone to join him in the traditional Chinese New Year blessing at Marco Polo to receive luck, then have a meal at Lung Hin. A set menu for 10 persons, and an ala carte menu, are available for lunch and dinner—which feature lucky dishes like the Signature Roasted Barbecue Pork or Roasted Pork Belly; Wok-Fried Prawn, Black Truffle & Garden Green; Signature Baked Chicken with Himalayan Salt; Fried Rice with Seafood and Parma Ham, or the more traditional Wok -Fried Hong Kong Noodle, Shredded Duck and Assorted Meat. Of course, a Lunar New Year celebration seems incomplete without a Prosperity Toss with Salmon Yu Sheng, which is also available in the set menu. The hotel also has a Chinese New Year menu for afternoon tea. More information is available at 7720-7777 or www. marcopolohotels.com. ■
By Eugenia Last
benefit from your help. Be open regarding your intentions, and commit to someone you love. ★★★
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A change of heart will help you differentiate between what you have and what you want. Be honest, start a dialogue and be precise regarding your expectations. Take advantage of an opportunity to explore new possibilities by getting involved in pastimes that excite you. ★★★★★
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Speak up and enforce positive change. Follow your heart, engage in activities that encourage better relationships or contribute something that helps others and makes you feel good. Emotional spending or giving in to indulgent behavior or temptation won’t help you or those you encounter. ★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Attend a reunion, plan a trip or sign up for something that offers insight or enlightenment. A heart-to-heart talk with an associate will give you a better understanding of what others expect of you and whether you want to oblige them or move along.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep your finances and personal matters to yourself. Someone will be eager to take advantage of you if you are too accommodating. Focus on your health and well-being, and alter your diet, lifestyle and routine to ensure you are heading in a healthy and prosperous direction. ★★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Offer insight and emotional support, but refrain from taking over or paying for someone else’s mistake. Avoid joint ventures that require you to invest money or sign contracts. You’ll do best if you act alone, follow your heart and believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. ★★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Offer insight and emotional support, but refrain from taking over or paying for someone else’s mistake. Avoid joint ventures that require you to invest money or sign contracts. You’ll do best if you act alone, follow your heart and believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. ★★★
AQUARIUS
Show BusinessMirror
FATSHAMED
THE young actress has lost a significant amount of weight. Observers are hoping that it’s because of a lifestyle change that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise and not fat-shaming. The young actress has been fat-shamed by her colleagues and even by executives of her own network. Sadly, she has also experienced fat- shaming at the hands of her own father who sees it as “just letting go of yourself.” According to rumors, the actress lost weight because of Ozempic and not diet and exercise.
IN SHAPE
MONTHS ago, the actor took part in a photo shoot with hunks. He stood out not because of his good looks because everyone was attractive. He stood out because everyone had a toned body and he didn’t. Thus, it comes as a surprise to see him muscled and looking like he spent hours at the gym. One of the actor’s biggest insecurities is that his body is not muscular and although he has tried to go to the gym regularly, it was painful to him as an introvert. The actor finally worked on his body and is looking forward to more juicy assignments.
BITTER ENEMIES
THEY were once friends but now, they are said to be bitter enemies. The wife of a famous personality and a celebrity known for being ferocious have been feuding, according to the grapevine. The rumors allege that the wife of the personality, who is known to be a quiet person who stays out of trouble, lost her patience after discovering that the ferocious celebrity has been introducing her husband to young girls. So she allegedly entrapped him to find the truth and was saddened by her discovery.
FROM FRIENDSHIP TO ROMANCE
THE romance between a lovely actress and a handsome actor allegedly started in friendship. Pretty soon, this friendship turned to love and they’re now officially a couple. So how did this relationship start? The actress and the actor have something in common. They both love to drink. They are not drunkards by any means but they do like indulging in spirits and snacks after work. The romance started on the set where they worked together and continues to be strong as days go by.
MURDOCH’S UK TABLOIDS APOLOGIZE TO PRINCE HARRY, ADMIT INTRUDING ON THE LATE PRINCESS DIANA
LONDON—Prince Harry claimed a “monumental” victory on Wednesday as Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloids made an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life for years, and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his privacy invasion lawsuit.
News Group Newspapers acknowledged its private investigators and journalists targeted Harry with phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information. The company offered him a “full and unequivocal apology” for intrusion by the nowdefunct News of the World and its sister tabloid The Sun The statement, read out at the High Court in London by Harry’s attorney David Sherborne, even went beyond the scope of the case to acknowledge intruding on the life of Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana, and the impact it had on his family.
“We acknowledge and apologize for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages,” the settlement statement said.
News Group has long acknowledged that phones were hacked by staff at the News of the World, the weekly newspaper that Murdoch shut down in 2011 amid a public outcry over tabloid snooping. But this is the first time the company accepted wrongdoing at The Sun, a paper that once sold millions of copies with its formula of sports, celebrities and sex—including topless women on Page 3. Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, had vowed to take his case to trial to publicly expose The Sun’s misdeeds and win a court ruling upholding his claims. He and Tom Watson, a former Labour Party member of Parliament, were the only two remaining claimants out of more than 1,300 others who had settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers.
The trial was due to start on Tuesday, but was postponed amid last-minute negotiations that led to the dramatic settlement announcement.
Although the settlement means Harry will not get his day in court, his lawyer said it delivered the accountability he sought for himself and hundreds of others who were snooped on with intercepted voicemails, tapped phones, bugged cars and various forms of deception. AP
Callas
IWANTED to hate the film Maria, a film within a film within a fantasy, but there is Angelina Jolie. And we cannot ignore her. Whether she is portraying the Maria Callas of history or essaying the imagination of those who remember the soprano, Jolie pulls us into the screen with a face and figure that we will remember more long after the last aria has receded into the past. Which is unlikely.
The past is the only way the filmmakers behind this handsomely photographed cinema have convinced us to access the life of Callas. It is a past that refuses to die. The yesterdays of this fabulous tragedienne are so relentless we forget that the present, in which we can locate our memories of a soprano who, as the press releases put it, is the greatest who ever lived, is really why facts matter more than illusion. But this is a separate crisis.
The truth is Maria Callas is a ghost in her own film. And as she haunts the café, opera houses, parties and other assignations in her life , we wonder if we would ever understand why she was the diva or the diva assoluta at all.
We can look at the structure of the film and consider two things: one is the blasting critique of a life story and the other is the decision to couch a narrative in the manner of an opera. Or an opera constructed as a pastiche of arias, choruses and overtures. For the first approach, there seems to be a concerted effort to remove any grace at all from the personality that once dominated the glorious opera houses of the world—La Scala, Palais Garnier or the Paris Opera, the Covent Garden, and, of course, the Met. At least, thank God, we are spared the time she was fired by Rudolf Bing from the Metropolitan Opera.
From the very absurd and relentless moving of the piano to the endless appointment with the doctor, there was nothing to like at all with Callas. If there is a humanizing element in her life away from the stage, it is the relationship she has with her two servants, the butler Ferrucio and the maid Bruna. Maria Callas, as with any diva, was getting bad press when she was alive, the scenes with the butler and the maid shine through as, perhaps, the golden portrait that we would have loved to keep of her. In a scene at the table,
while playing cards, Maria reaching out to touch the hands of Ferruccio and telling the two to stay together “when I am gone” is one of the more moving moments in the life of this woman who seemed to bask in monumental madness. Maria soars with the might of an ambitious opera when she begins to remember the golden days of her career. Scenes from her victories are presented through a series of arias and performances. The adroit and seamless editing is a triumph in storytelling as the instrumental song of “Ave Maria” is then sung by Callas. Is the choice of this opening aria an intended foreboding; after all, the song is sung by Desdemona, a character from Verdi’s Otello who is killed wrongly for love. Coming next in this parade of arias is “Casta Diva” (literally “Chaste Goddess”) from Bellini’s Norma, a recognizable prayer in bel canto form. The admirers of Callas know that the aria showcased her earlier voice, the same voice that waned and is now being resuscitated by her in the film. This would be the pattern of the film: Maria trying to sing or imagining her singing, only for us to be transported to
enough. Thus, a US president makes a scene and even an unnecessary Marilyn Monroe is given a chance to sing breathlessly.
Outside of the editing and the editing (which provided the form), there is, as I said, Angelina Jolie, staging a blistering reenactment of how the real Maria Callas might have done in those selected scenes from various operas.
In her nightgown, pacing the cavernous apartment, she is La Traviata, as the music from the famous Verdi tragedy suffuses the screen. The present, that of the reclusive soprano, and the past, which is the tale of the Parisienne courtesan, has now blurred into what the title is meant to be—a fallen woman. Is that Callas or are we in the bedroom of Violetta? Jolie would show us that any kind of music naturally transforms into her personal overture as in the scene that follows the death of Onassis. Puccini is the source of the music at the said juncture with “E Lucevan le stelle” (literally, “when the stars were shining”), a tenor’s aria sung on the night before his execution but the lyrics, by the sheer strength of her presence, has been appropriated by Jolie and presently comments on the fate of Callas. What is a Callas bio without her terrifying Medea? The searing gaze of the mother who decided to kill her two sons to spare them from the cruelty of the civilized world is but a prelude to the ending. “Vissi d’Arte,” the punishing aria from Tosca is now sung by Callas as she lives for her art before she dies for the same. With the veins from her forehead about to burst and her arms terribly emaciated, Angelina Jolie is, by an act of faith, Callas as she and the filmmaker want us to immortalize the artist—a phantom of passion who discovers eternity through an art form
AS part of GMA’s commitment to delivering the biggest and most comprehensive election coverage for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, GMA Regional TV and Synergy, in partnership with GMA Integrated News, kicks off its Eleksyon 2025 Dapat Totoo Series its first leg in Mindanao on January 22 to 25. GMA Masterclass: Eleksyon 2025 Dapat Totoo Series Dame of Dadiangas University, General Santos City on January 22; Holy Cross of Davao College, Davao City on January 23; Liceo De Cagayan University, Cagayan de Oro City on January 24; and Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon on January 25. The programs start at 9 am. Leading the discourse are awardwinning speakers led by broadcast journalist Tina Panganiban-Perez, GMA News Online managing editor Lou Albano, GMA Integrated News social media assistant manager Theodore Ortiz, and GMA sportscaster and analyst Martin Antonio. Panganiban-Perez is a multi-awarded senior reporter of GMA Integrated News. She joined
THEODORE ORTIZ TINA PANGANIBAN-PEREZ
MARTIN ANTONIO
LOU ALBANO
Ajinomoto Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship: Springboard to your Dreams
BEFORE the Ajinomoto Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship, Rogie Royce Caradang was a college kid with a dream and global perspective. He knew he wanted to do more after he graduated, to expand his education so he could learn everything he could about science.
It was Carandang’s dearest wish to make a difference in the world of science. And before the Ajinomoto Foundation Scholarship Program he was in search of direction. Once he realized he was a perfect fit, a high achiever looking to broaden his horizons, he applied and pursued his postgraduate studies in Japan.
His experience in Japan was life changing. But Carandang knew that he was only going to get as far as he was willing to work hard. But in studying abroad and gaining a new
springboard towards his dreams, he was able to breakthrough and even make consequential discoveries that may even lead to cures for illnesses like cancer.
Carandang started his Masteral Degree in Aquatic Natural Products Chemistry at the University of Tokyo in April 2013 and finished it in March 2016. He was able to publish his research in an international journal and parlayed his success into a position as a Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Connecticut Health. His journey exemplifies the Ajinomoto
Postgraduate Scholarship’s potential to create global impact while shaping professional and personal growth.
“This scholarship is not just financial support; it is a transformative opportunity to broaden your horizons, advance your career, and make a lasting impact in your field.” says the now world-renowned Research Fellow. Carandang attributes his success to hard work, finding the right focus, and then taking that leap off a springboard into more than he had ever thought he could achieve.
The Ajinomoto Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship program catapulted Carandang onto the international stage. Now it’s up to him to show the world what he is capable of. Nowadays, those goals are so much greater than he could have even imagined as a college kid. His post-graduate studies showed him new dreams, new problems, and new solutions and as a scientist, that’s all he could ask for.
The Ajinomoto Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship is a culturally immersive support
Boogie Bounce Launches in Pasay: The Ultimate Playground Experience Awaits
IN the photo are, from left, Dr. Lawrence Li Tan, President of the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corporation;
Jose Mari Banzon, President of Federal Land; Yzl D. Cruz, President of Happy Bubble Planet Inc.; and Pasay City Councilors Mark and Joey Calixto.
PASAY City marked a major milestone on January 17, 2025, with the grand opening of Boogie Bounce, the world’s largest arcade-themed inflatable playground. Located at The Garden, Blue Bay Walk, the much-anticipated event attracted an enthusiastic crowd eager to dive into a world of fun and adventure.
The event kicked off with an engaging introduction by the lively host and an energetic kid co-host, who gave the audience a glimpse of the exciting experiences Boogie Bounce offers. Their dynamic energy set the stage for a day brimming with thrills and smiles.
The celebration reached new heights with a spectacular performance by the AU PEP Squad, whose vibrant routines electrified the atmosphere and got the crowd on their feet, building excitement for what was to come.
Yzl Cruz, President of Happy Bubble Planet Inc. and
the visionary behind Boogie Bounce, shared her heartfelt enthusiasm during her opening remarks. She described Boogie Bounce as more than just a recreational venue— it’s a space designed to bring people together. “Boogie Bounce is a destination for shared laughter, unforgettable moments, and meaningful connections,” Cruz explained.
She expressed her pride in creating a vibrant and welcoming environment where families and friends can celebrate life, build strong bonds, and create lasting stories to treasure.
Representing Pasay City Rep. Antonino Calixto, Pasay City Councilor Mark Calixto delivered a warm and heartfelt message of support. He praised Boogie Bounce as a valuable addition to Pasay’s recreational landscape, commending its potential to boost the city’s vibrancy and draw visitors of all ages. Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano also
expressed her gratitude, highlighting Boogie Bounce’s role in strengthening Pasay City’s reputation as a prime destination for tourism and leisure. She lauded the initiative to enrich the city’s recreational offerings and providing families and visitors with a new way to enjoy their time in the city.
Jose Mari Banzon joined the lineup of speakers, emphasizing the remarkable transformation of the park into a lively and dynamic space. He commended Boogie Bounce for bringing a fresh and exciting dimension to the city while enhancing the property’s appeal. He celebrated its innovative approach, calling it a standout attraction that has elevated Pasay’s entertainment scene.
The highlight of the event was the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official opening of Boogie Bounce. The ceremony was led by notable figures, including the President of Happy Bubble Planet Inc., Yzl D. Cruz; Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano; Pasay City Councilors Mark Calixto and Joey Calixto; President of the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corporation, Dr. Lawrence Li Tan; Director of Happy Bubble Planet Inc., Ann Francis Tan; President of Federal Land, Jose Mari Banzon; AVP and Commercial Business Group Head of Federal Land, Charmaine N. Bauzon; and Assistant Regional Director (NCR) of the Department of Tourism, Catherine Agustin.
The event wrapped up with a retro-themed party, featuring a delightful array of food and refreshing drinks, live music from a band, captivating poi dancers, and an atmosphere brimming with fun and nostalgia—an ideal celebration for this exciting new addition to Pasay City.
Boogie Bounce is now officially open to the public, ready to welcome everyone to jump, bounce, and groove in the world’s largest inflatable playground. Make sure to visit this one-of-a-kind destination at Blue Bay Walk, Pasay City, and let the fun begin!
Fazzio Club Philippines conducts collab ride for unity, camaraderie
THE South Riders and East Riders groups of the Fazzio Club Philippines, Inc. (FCPI), collaborated for a ride to advocate unity and camaraderie among owners of this classic motorcycle.
Held last January 18, 2025, the ride attracted some 70 Fazzio owners and riders that covered 208 km starting from Anabu in Imus, Cavite and ending at Sta. Rosa, Laguna with stops at Kaybiang Tunnel connecting Ternate, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas. On the same day, the group also celebrated with the bigwigs of Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH) with the opening of the Yamaha Revzone Bikeworld store in Sta. Rosa, by leading the motorcade to showcase the new store, which will cater to the growing needs of standard and automatic small displacement motorcycles and scooters as well as bikes and scooters 400cc and above in this side of Laguna.
The South Riders group is composed of Fazzio owners and riders south of Manila like Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Pasay as well as the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas while the East Riders group is composed of riders from Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pateros, and Taguig.
Widely recognized by YMPH, FCPI is
the umbrella organization of the different Fazzio groups spanning the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The group has an exciting line-up of group rides and collabs with several players
of the riding community this year as well as partnerships with different Yamaha motorcycle stores nationwide to foster unity and camaraderie among motorcycle enthusiasts.
program to encourage postgraduate studies in top universities in Japan. This grant supports deserving Filipino students looking to pursue master’s degree in Food Science and Technology, Human Nutrition, Chemistry, and
CONRAD Manila appoints Chef Nicolas De Visch as its new Executive Chef, marking an exciting new chapter in the luxury hotel’s culinary journey. With a career spanning over 30 years in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East, Chef Nicolas now returns to the Philippines to elevate Conrad Manila’s dining offerings with his innovative approach to sustainability, local sourcing, and refined culinary techniques.
“We are excited to welcome Chef Nicolas to our team,” said Fabio Berto, General Manager of Conrad Manila.
“His impressive background in Michelin-starred kitchens and his innovative approach to sustainable dining align perfectly with our vision for exceptional culinary experiences. We cannot wait for our guests to taste and experience the remarkable dishes that Chef Nicolas will create, showcasing the finest local ingredients and the rich flavors of the Philippines.”
Chef Nicolas began his culinary journey when he was 17 years old, where he developed deep-seated appreciation for the discipline and artistry of fine dining through various stints in Michelin-starred kitchens. Mentored by some of the industry’s most celebrated chefs, including a formative experience at the renowned twoMichelin-starred Ecailler du Palais Royal in Brussels, he refined his skills and developed a keen respect for premium ingredients and meticulous craftsmanship. Throughout his career, Chef Nicolas cultivated his signature approach of seamlessly blending timeless techniques with bold, innovative flavors.
At Conrad Manila. Chef Nicolas will champion the use of fresh locally sourced ingredients, working closely with local farmers to ensure that every dish is not only a reflection of his global expertise, but also a celebration of the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage.
“I am thrilled to join Conrad Manila and collaborate with a talented team that shares my passion for crafting
Engineering. The Program is seeking applicants now for the 2026 cycle of awards. Visit https://www.ajinomoto.com. ph/whats-new-archive/2026-ajinomotofoundation-postgraduate-scholarshipgrant/ to know more.
as Executive Chef
Chef Nicolas De Visch is the new Executive Chef of Conrad Manila exceptional dining experiences,” said Chef Nicolas. “By prioritizing local produce and supporting our local community, we not only elevate the flavors on the plate but also contribute to the sustainability of the region. The Philippines has always held a special place in my heart, and returning here feels like coming back to a second family. I look forward to bringing my culinary philosophy of sustainable fine dining to Conrad Manila” Guests can anticipate menus that reflect Chef Nicolas’ global expertise, thoughtfully curated using the finest local ingredients and offers a dining experience that is both innovative and deeply rooted in the country’s rich culinary heritage. For more information, please call +632 8833 9999, visit www.conradmanila.com or email conradmanila@ conradhotels.com.
Voge Philippines Unveils the DS900X, CU525 in Spectacular Launch Event
VOGE Philippines proudly unveiled its latest motorcycle models, the DS900X Adventure Bike and the CU525 Cruiser, during an exclusive launch event held on January 11, 2025, at Kickstand Brew in Alabang. The event showcased the brand’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge performance, style, and reliability to Filipino motorcycle enthusiasts. The launch brought together an enthusiastic crowd of riders, dealers, and media representatives who were treated to an unforgettable experience. From the dramatic unveiling of the motorcycles to exciting test rides, the event highlighted the versatility and innovation that Voge motorcycles bring to the table. Guests were introduced to the bold designs and advanced features of the DS900X and CU525 models, setting a new benchmark for adventure and cruising motorcycles. Attendees had the opportunity to experience the performance, comfort, and handling of the
and CU525 firsthand. The event
Charmaine N. Bauzon, AVP / Commercial Business Group Head of Federal Land; Ann Francis Tan, Director of Happy Bubble Planet Inc.; Catherine Agustin, Assistant Regional Director (NCR) of the Department of Tourism; Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano;
Conrad Manila Welcomes Chef Nicolas De Visch
AStory by Randy S. Peregrino
CMOBILITY is set to expand its charging network across Makati by the first quarter of 2025, aiming for 74 fully operational charging points across 18 locations, including malls, condominiums, and corporate offices. According to the Ayala Group mobility arm, this expansion aims to provide residents and visitors easy access to state-ofthe-art charging stations as Makati solidifies its role as a central hub for electric mobility.
“ACMobility is excited to enhance Makati’s mobility infrastructure with a comprehensive charging network, ensuring convenient and efficient solutions for residents and visitors,” said Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, Chief Executive Officer of ACMobility. “As a key city for our EV ecosystem expansion, Makati exemplifies the potential of electric mobility in urban centers, and we are dedicated to meeting its evolving needs toward a greener future.”
Makati City has long been recognized as one of Metro Manila’s most sustainable urban centers. It sets benchmarks for eco-friendly initiatives and responsible governance. From strictly enforced waste regulations
to innovative programs such as barangay-level recycling centers, the city has cultivated a culture of environmental stewardship among its residents.
This commitment, combined with its strategic location and progressive policies, positions Makati as an ideal hub for sustainable mobility, making it a natural partner for ACMobility’s expansion of electrified transportation solutions.
“As one of the country’s most sustainable cities, Makati continues to lead by example in building a future-ready urban environment,” said Abigail “Abby” Binay, Makati City Mayor. “By boosting our EV infrastructure through ACMobility, we commit to the integration of cleaner technologies into the daily
IT isn’t even one year yet since San Miguel Corporation (SMC) took over operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) but already, major improvements at the nation’s main gateway have been recorded in astonishing speed.
Many passengers interviewed are one in saying that gone are the days when merely entering each of the three terminals entails a great deal of courage just to get inside
hassle-free. Not even the dash of humanity during the holidays for our province-bound compatriots could derail what appears now as an almost seamless system of airport operations.
Who said it can’t be done?
AS the saying goes, if there’s a will, there’s a way. And while we are at it, the NAIA has also been undergoing serviceoriented thrusts never before seen in its decades-long existence.
Let’s hear it from SMC’s Vanessa
Jean R. Flores:
“Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), operated by New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), has introduced a new fleet of vehicles to support its ground operations,
life of Makatizens. As such, we look forward to the expansion of ACMobility’s EV charging stations not only within the business district but also outside of it, making it possible for the entire Makati community to experience the benefits of electric vehicles.”
With 47 operational charging points strategically located across the city, the network serves a variety of locations, such as offices, transport terminals, residential areas, and commercial spaces. It includes carparks at notable sites like Valero 2, Dela Rosa 1 and key areas such as the Makati Stock Exchange and Solaris One—reflecting a thoughtfully distributed network designed to integrate seamlessly into Makati’s urban landscape.
In collaboration with Ayala Land and the Makati Central Estate Association (MACEA), ACMobility will expand the network in Q1 2025 with 27 additional charge points, including 19 DC fast charge points that provide significantly reduced charging times. Among the key additions are ultra-fast chargers at the Corinthian and Legaspi car parks, designed to enhance
convenience for EV users across the city. To support Makati’s dynamic and fast-paced lifestyle, ACMobility also ensures that several charging stations operate 24/7, providing reliable options for late-night and early-morning commuters.
ACMobility’s continued expansion across Makati and the rest of the country is a key part of its mission to drive the Philippines’ transition to electrified transportation. By providing accessible, state-of-the-art charging solutions, ACMobility is helping accelerate the shift towards a cleaner and more efficient mode of transport, ensuring that electric vehicle infrastructure keeps pace with the growing demand.
“We are proud to support Makati’s transformation into a benchmark for sustainable urban mobility,” said Carla Buencamino, Head of Mobility Infrastructure at ACMobility. “This is just the beginning, and we look forward to bringing the same level of commitment and innovation to other cities across the country, ensuring that the EV infrastructure keeps pace with the growing adoption of electric vehicles and
sets the stage for a cleaner, more connected future for all.”
For those interested in establishing an ACMobility EV Charging Hub or exploring partnership opportunities, visit https://acmobility.ph/ to know more.
Implementation of a paid charging model
MEANWHILE , ACMobility recently implemented a new fee structure to support infrastructure improvements, ensuring reliable, high-quality charging services for EV users nationwide. In line with the commitment of putting up over 250 charging points in over 100 locations nationwide by the end of 2024, the mobility company introduced a new pricing structure to ensure a high standard of service as demand for EV charging continues to increase.
As of December 12, 2024, ACMobility implemented a nominal fee of PHP 28.50 per kWh for AC charging and PHP 35 per kWh for DC charging across its EV stations in the NCR. This initiative, approved by the Department of Energy (DOE), aims to create a more sustainable and dependable
and comfort.
“This initiative is part of NNIC’s broader efforts to modernize NAIA and deliver world-class service.
“For
improve passenger convenience, and ensure the safe and efficient flow of movements at the airport.
“The new additions include two new ambulances equipped with advanced medical tools and staffed by trained paramedics to provide swift medical assistance when needed.
“Three ‘follow-me’ vehicles have also been added to guide aircraft to their designated parking positions more efficiently, helping minimize taxi times and contributing to smoother operations.
“Four inter-terminal coasters have also been deployed to facilitate seamless airside transfers, providing passengers with a more comfortable and efficient way to move between terminals, particularly those with connecting
flights or mobility challenges.
“‘These vehicles are essential to support efficient operations and improve the overall passenger experience at NAIA. They complement NAIA’s existing fleet and reflect our commitment to providing a seamless and reliable airport experience,’ NNIC president Ramon S. Ang said.
“The deployment of these new vehicles comes as NAIA continues to experience rapid growth. For the whole of 2024, NAIA welcomed a record-breaking 50.1 million passengers—a 10.43% increase from 2023.
“Having additional vehicles ensures smooth operations during peak periods, maintenance schedules, and emergencies. It also allows NAIA to maintain high
charging network that EV owners can rely on.
“Introducing charging fees enables ACMobility to reinvest in our network, allowing us to maintain and expand our infrastructure while delivering a consistently high-quality service,” said Zobel de Ayala. “True to our commitment to providing the best value to our customers, we aim to make every charging experience accessible, reliable, and convenient, enabling worry-free journeys across NCR and beyond.”
Each ACMobility EV Charging Station has state-of-the-art technology for fast, efficient, and secure charging and an intuitive interface that minimizes downtime. Through the EVRO app, users can locate available and compatible stations, monitor their charging session, and make cashless payments seamlessly. The introduction of fees also encourages timely sessions, allowing more users the opportunity to charge. By providing reliable customer support during operating hours, ACMobility ensures drivers receive dependable assistance whenever needed.
(From Left) MACEA Board Member Robert Lao, Ayala Land Estates Group Head Christopher Maglanoc, Makati City Administrator Atty. Claro Certeza, Makati 1st District Representative Kid Peña, Makati 2nd District Representative Luis Campos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, ACMobility Head of Mobility Infrastructure Carla Buencamino, Ayala Land Inc. Vice President and Head of External Affairs Dindo Fernando, Makati Parking Authority Vice President of the Board of
THROUGH the EVRO app, users can locate available and compatible stations, monitor their charging session, and make cashless payments seamlessly. ACMOBILITY
Chan, Ramos trail Thai Sadom by 3
PHILIPPINE Basketball Association
(PBA) stars Scottie Thompson and Jayson Castro and Paris Olympics fencer Filipino-Ivorian Maxine Esteban eat, drink and sleep sports—even outside of the field of play.
“They’re into sports,” said Barangay Ginebra San Miguel all-around go-to guy Thompson of Milka Romero. “Philippine sports need all the support it needs—not just basketball, not just Gilas Pilipinas, but all sports for us to progress.”
“ We all know that in this generation, if someone comes in to help the right way with sincere intentions, sports will blessed,” added the former PBA Most Valuable Player Thompsom.
For Castro, supporting young athletes is an advocacy very close to his heart.
“From the onset, I’ve seen the sincerity and the will to help sports,” said the veteran TNT Tropang Giga ace Castro, referring to Romero, whose dad, Mikee Romero, started it all as incumbent representative to the House of 1Pacman Partylist.
“Boss Mikee helped me a lot during my PBL [Philippine Basketball League] days, and I feel it’s my turn to give back,” Castro added.
By Aldrin Quinto
ARMONA, Cavite—Aidric
CChan converted on a scoring opportunity on a hole touted as a danger zone, while Sean Ramos also managed his round well to fly the flag for the home bets with solid 68s even as Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana put up a bogey-free 65 for the early lead in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open on Thursday at the Manila Southwoods.
A former world junior champion, Chan birdied No. 15—one of two par-5s reconfigured to par 4s to make the daunting Masters Course even more challenging for the Asian Tour’s season-opening event. He was also pleased to make par on No. 4, the other converted hole.
“I played them pretty good today,” Chan said, referring to the reconfigured holes. “I’ve been hearing feedback from the some of the international players that either way as a par-4 or as par-5 they’re still not easy holes.”
T he 24-year-old Chan hit two other birdies on his outward nine after an opening bogey on No. 10 then traded a birdie for a bogey on his second nine for a share of ninth with a big group with Ramos.
“The key usually is birdieing early on in the round after a bogey, that was the key to getting my momentum back,” said Chan on scoring opportunities on 11 and 12, converting birdie on the latter.
R amos, who recently earned his Asian Tour card, fired three birdies against a bogey for a solid start in the
144-player event.
I t was on the tricky No. 15 where Kaewkanjana made his lone miss off the tee but it was a minor bump as he found the green on his approach and two-putted for par.
“The course is tough and long, the greens are small and tricky so it’s a challenge for us,” Kaewkanjana said.
“I missed only one green, that’s why I finished bogey-free today.”
D anthai Boonma and Pavit
Tangkamolprasert of Thailand and Aaron Wilkin of Australia shot 66s to share second.
Albin Engino fired a hole-in-one on No. 17 and wound up with an even-par 70, which was matched by Japan-based Justin de los Santos and Carl Corpus.
Tough start for Tabuena MIGUEL TABUENA faced some distance issues on a course where premium is on length and accuracy.
P laying only his second round with a new driver after replacing a cracked head, the two-time Philippine Open champion wound up overshooting several fairways and submitting a 74 marred by a double-bogey on No. 6.
The 30-year-old Tabuena hit three birdies but also had five bogeys.
“Just one of those days, not as sharp as an in-season Miguel,” Tabuena said. “I didn’t feel as comfy today for some reason but it’s part of it, you can’t always feel 100 percent when you play.”
“If I can get back under par, I think that’s okay and I think I’m capable of doing that around this course,” he added.
Balti mettle tested as Converge battles teetering June Mar, SMB
TBy Josef Ramos
OP rookie pick Justine Baltazar gets to test his mettle against eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo when Converge plays San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Baltazar has been showing significant signs of improvement after playing eight games in the league and his first-time matchup against Fajardo serves as a major side event in the game that tips off at 7:30 p.m.
But Converge coach Franco Atienza has his priorities.
“It’s going to be a different matchup—one-on-one against June Mar Fajardo, the best player in the league— but basketball is a team sports—five players are playing against five, and Balti [Baltazar] knows that,” Atienza told BusinessMirror on Thursday.
“ Winning is every team’s priority and not individual [schemes],” Atienza said. “If he [Baltazar] won’t score even a single point, as long as we win, that’s absolutely good for us.”
ERIC JED OLIVAREZ and Johnny Arcilla leaned on their experience and determination to overpower their respective doubles partners and semifinal rivals and forge another headto-head showdown in the Governor’s Cup National Open Tennis Championships at the Iloilo Sports Complex courts. The nation’s top two players, who have contested multiple open titles the past few years, marched into the finals with dominant semifinal performances.
The 27-year-old Baltazar— who stands only half an inch shorter than the 6-foot-10 Fajardo, an 11-year veteran of the league—is averaging 10.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals with a career high 20 points and 10 rebounds in their 127-109 victory over Blackwater last week.
The FiberXers, tied on top with NorthPort with an 8-3 winloss record, are targeting one of the twice-to-beat bonuses in their game against the Beermen.
Scottie, Jayson, Maxine support sports advocacy Hamilton
Castro said he’s hopeful 1Pacman— Mikee Romero’s now passing the torch to daughter Milka, co-owner with sister Mandy of the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the Premiere Volleyball League—would continue its grassroots support for sports in far-flung barangays and provinces.
“Many athletes in the provinces don’t get much privilege to prosper, they don’t get enough opportunities to showcase their talents,” Castro said. “But 1Pacman is there to help them fulfill their dreams.” Esteban, meanwhile, is grateful to the Romeros in helping athletes from Olongapo City in their campaign last year in the Batang Pinoy Nationals in Puerto Princesa City.
“It’s really my advocacy,” said Esteban on helping kids get to practice sports at the highest level. “I
O livarez, who recently defeated Arcilla in their title match in Parañaque, routed Vicente Anasta
Rianne Malixi did fine off the tee and on the greens, but encountered some trouble in between on the way to a 75.
The women’s amateur world No. 3 hit 10 of 14 fairways on the longest course she has played—needing to hit hybrids on approach shots—although she did not hit a birdie, Malixi was not too disappointed with her play.
“It’s just so long and it’s hard for me to get it close because the greens were not quite receptive as well, I think that’s the challenge,” Malixi, turning 18 in March, said.
The rough is really brutal, because it’s long and I’m small and don’t have the speed to get out of it, so I had to play safety,” added the 5-foot-4 lass, who holds both the US Girls Junior and US Women’s Amateur titles.
Still, it was a fine performance on a course that frustrated several pros, with 2008 Philippine Open Angelo Que also firing 5-over as well Spain’s Eduard Rousaud, Japan’s Taiki Yoshida, Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung and Chinese Taipei’s Chang Wei-Lun.
The tailenders were at 11-over, with the halfway cut projected at top-65 plus ties.
“Playing against San Miguel Beer with great talents are very usual to us, but most of the time we lose. I hope we can give them good game this time,” Franco said, adding that another starting big man Justin Araña is currently day-today due to a hyper extended knee.
Jordan Heading and import Cheick Diallo are expected to step up to put San Miguel Beer in a very delicate situation.
Shelton entertains, wins Down Under; Sinner advances
6-0, 6-1, while , Arcilla, a veteran Davis Cupper and 10-time Philippine Columbian Association Open champion, clinical beat Ronard Joven, 6-2, 6-4.
T he event offers a champion’s purse of P100,000.
Olivarez cruised past John Benedict Santiago (6-3, 6-0), Austin delos Santos (62, 6-1) and Eric Jay Tangub (6-2, 7-5) before dismantling Anasta in the semifinals, dropping just one game in an emphatic victory in the week-long event sponsored by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. A rcilla, defying father time at 44 years old, dispatched Claran Alipo-on
LEWIS HAMILTON drove a Ferrari Formula 1 car for the first time Wednesday and described it as “one of
(6-1, 6-1), Luke Flores (6-1, 6-1) and John Kendrick Bona (6-2, 6-2) before outlasting Joven in the semifinals. In d oubles action, the two finalists are also on a collision course—Olivarez and Anasta defeated Allen Manlangit and Tangub, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to the finals against Arcilla and Joven, who survived a grueling semifinal match against Rolly Saga and Fritz Verdad, prevailing 6-3, 6-7(11), 10-5.
T he Governor’s Cup marks the kickoff leg of the new tennis season and is held in conjunction with the Kasadyaan and Dinagyang
San Miguel Beer, not on its usual place, absorbed frustrating back-to-back beatings to fall to 4-6 record that tied them with NLEX and Magnolia with similar records for the No. 8 spot.
“It’s a must win for us,” SMB coach Leo Austria said. “To avoid any complications. I’m not a fan of any individual showdown. What important is how to win games.”
The Beermen, not fortunate to their last three reinforcement, found their fourth import Malik Pope on the same situation just like the others after finishing only with four points and eight rebounds in a disappointing 104-105 defeat to NorthPort.
Fajardo is leading SMB with 18 points, 17.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.
A seventh loss will make the Beermen’s playoff hopes dimmer.
Meanwhile, TNT Tropang Giga tries to bounce back from a horrible nightmare last time after losing to an alreadyeliminated Terrafirma, 108-117, when it faces Phoenix Super LPG in the 5pm game.
T he Tropang Giga fell to 6-3 record while the Fuel Masters are holding a 3-8 slate.
“It’s been too many times playing him and seeing the same thing. So I’m not even surprised anymore when I face him,” said de Minaur, who is now 0-10 against Sinner over their careers. “Matches like these happen.” Sinner looked and played much better than he did—hand trembling, head dizzy—during a four-set struggle against Holger Rune in the fourth round. After giving himself a bit of a break on Tuesday, sleeping in and only hitting on court for about 30 or 40 minutes, Sinner said his body was much better.
Festival celebrations.
T he event also highlights the juniors’ category, showcasing the next generation of Philippine tennis talent with nine age-group titles at stake.
The juniors tournament includes boys’ and girls’ doubles, the Legends men’s doubles for the 50s and 60s age groups, and the Classified men’s doubles in Classes B and C in the long-running talent search is organized by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.
“For sure, was [my] best match of the tournament so far,” said Sinner, who stretched his unbeaten winning streak to 19 matches dating back to last season. Shelton, who is seeded 21st, closed the first set against Sonego with a 144 mph (232 kph) ace, tied for the fastest serve over the past 1 1/2 weeks, and flexed his left arm after smacking a powerful forehand to close a 22-stroke point and earn a break in the second. His father Bryan, a former tour pro who is Ben’s coach, grinned, too, while patting his own right biceps. A few points from the end, Shelton sprinted to get his racket on a seemingly unreachable ball, and fell into a courtside advertising board as Sonego hit an easy winner to take the point. Shelton stayed on the ground for a bit, then earned applause for his effort—and post-fall calisthenics. When Shelton closed things with a 26th forehand winner—he had zero via backhands—he flexed again and sneered until his expression morphed into a smile. At his news conference, Shelton offered some unprompted comments critical of some of the people handling on-court post-match interviews. The other semifinal will be Djokovic vs. No. 2 Alexander Zverev. Djokovic continued his pursuit of an 11th Australian Open title, and unprecedented 25th major trophy, by overcoming a leg injury and Carlos Alcaraz, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, in a quarterfinal that began Tuesday night and ended at nearly 1 a.m. on Wednesday. The women’s semifinals Thursday night are No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the tournament winner in each of the last two years, against No. 11 Paula Badosa, and No. 2 Iga Swiatek against No. 19 Madison Keys. As good as Shelton is with his serves and forehands, his improving return game is a significant part of what carried him to the final four at the Australian Open for the first time. He did just enough in that department, accumulating 11 break points and converting three, against Sonego, an Italian ranked 55th. Shelton entered the match coming through on 52 percent of his break chances, the highest rate among the eight men’s quarterfinalists. AP
