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Junior Mulls Tax Cut For the Middle Class

Ernesto Reyes
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Junior Mulls Tax Cut For the Middle Class

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. alone can not impose tax cuts. But the Philippine Congress could.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos told the members of the 20th Congress to recalibrate the country’s income tax system by raising the minimum annual income subject to tax to P350,000, from the current P250,000.

According to Marcos, Congress should seriously consider passing tax reform legislation that could benefit millions of workers, adding that Filipinos should whatever has been earned through hard work.

He likewise hinted at cutting the income tax of other wage earners. The President however didn’t go further, and instead called on Congress to exempt small enterprises from corporate income tax, and broaden amnesty for unsettled taxes, including income, estate, donor’s, and value-added levies.

“To ensure the continued progress of the middle class amid the lingering effects of the crisis, we will pursue tax relief measures that promote growth, that generate revenue, and advance equity toward socioeconomic sustainability,” the President said in his speech.

APPEASING ANGER

Marcos came out with such a move in what looks more like an effort to appease the frustrations of the middle class representing 41.3 percent of the country’s 114 million population.

For the longest time, the middle class families were not included in the government financial assistance program.

Under its existing policy, the government only exempts annual earnings below P250,000 from 20 percent levy. Worse, the government imposes a graduated levy for families earning more than P250,000 and above as provided for under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act implemented in 2018.

Interestingly, amending the National Internal Revenue Code, specifically to increase the income tax exemption ceiling, was not among the 52 priority bills of the Marcos administration in the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council for the 20th Congress. 

Pilar Pilapil, Isabel Lopez Excelling Beyond Beauty

Boy Villasanta
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Pilar Pilapil, Isabel Lopez Excelling Beyond Beauty

PULCHRITUDE isn’t only their weapon. They are also armed with immense talents.

Pilar Pilapil, Binibining Pilipinas 1967, through her sheer communication prowess to evangelize and to lead an exemplary life of a Bible preacher, was recently conferred an Honoris Causa, a Doctor of Divinity by the General Assembly Church of the First Born in Cebu City Saturday night.

According to the citation given to Pilar during the investiture ceremony, the conferment was bestowed to the actress “for her exemplary work as Christian evangelist for many years now.”

Pilar Pilapil conferred with Honoris Causa

In her acceptance speech, Pilapil confessed that receiving a high educational award out of school in service to others didn’t even enter her mind. “Maybe about six months ago, I wasn’t expecting something so valuable as this and so beautiful,” she said.

“I am so blessed about this particular ceremony. As I was listening to each and everyone of you tonight. Thoughts just came over me and thought about how special this particular event is,” she praised the people who organized the awarding rites.

What struck the attention of the audience, though, was Pilar’s comparing the Honoris Cause to awards in show business.

“Definitely much much more special than receiving those best actress awards. Why? Because I know this is God’s will,” she explained and punctuated her speech with “Amen.”

“The Lord has used you to honor all the things, all the efforts, all the years that I have served. It is only by His grace. Amen. That I am able to continue on and to move towards the direction He wants me to take. Amen. Amen. Amen. And I thank you all for encouraging me, by giving me this honor, by giving me this conferment or best picture. This is a big encouragement to me. For me to be able to continue to work towards excellence, spiritual excellence. You’re talking about divinity. When you’re talking about being divine. We are talking about all of this,” she gushed.

One of the most important persons in La Pilapil’s life who greeted the actress was her friend Isidra Reyes, a socialite and a social entrepreneur.

“Congratulations,” exclaimed Isidra.

Versatility is one quality of stars that make them shine like Pilar and her fellow beauty titlists Maria Isabel Lopez.    

1982 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Isabel Lopez recently won the Exhibition Coordinator Award for the art exhibit “Resist and Persist” held at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts in Sebastopol, California where she also exhibited one of her award-winning and thoughtful mosaic art works titled “Free Miradel Torres and Baby Karl” about the incarceration of freedom fighter artist Miradel Torres in the Philippines.

Although Maria Isabel missed the opening of the visual arts exhibit, she was proud not just to have won the plum but to express her solidarity with the fight for freedom and democracy of artists and their subjects worldwide. “I missed the opening as I was on the plane from Switzerland. But I went to see it today and I’m humbled to win my first art award called Coordinators Choice Award,” beamed the beauty queen-actress who said that the show was a multiracial art exhibition in the US.

Maria Isabel Lopez with two kid fans. 

“Resist and Persist” was a juried exhibition, the Filipino actress qualified.

In her social media posts, Lopez also noted: “During times of unrest, art does not stay silent. This exhibition strives to lift our communities’ voices and seeks to explore the promise and ongoing struggle of liberty, democracy, and justice.”

She emphasized: “Free all political prisoners!”

One of the well-wishers of Maribel was her husband, lawyer Jonathan Melrod. “Congratulations to my wife,” he quipped.

Meanwhile, Maria Isabel is set to hold a solo show billed “Illumination in Glass” from September 8 to October 18, 2026 at the Usher Gallery in Petaluma, California.

Isabel will present in the solo gig her latest creation, “Tree of Life 2” which according to her is “a mixed media of smalti, glass, natural stone and gold leaf.”   

Maximum Tolerance? Cops Clamp 51 SONA Protesters

Lily Reyes
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Maximum Tolerance? Cops Clamp 51 SONA Protesters

AFTER DAYS of bragging over its supposed policy embarking on the so-called maximum tolerance, cops arrested 51 activists who formed part of the protest rally coinciding with the President’s 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City.

In a statement, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) assailed what they aptly referred to as a government effort to silence the poor and the working class.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) for its part claimed that the members of Hiphop United, Vandals United and Anakbayan Pasong Tamo were arrested over vandalism, obstruction of justice, malicious mischief, resistance and disobedience.

Interestingly, PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co admitted that 12 of the 51 arrested activists are minors.

The group also took a swipe at the PNP for its refusal to grant human rights lawyers access to the arrested minors.

“The very public and forceful manner in which the arrests were carried out indicates an effort to stem public support for a protest against government corruption, joblessness, low wages and high prices,” the CTUHR added.

The group further claimed that the arrests violated the constitutional right to peacefully assemble and express grievances.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Mong Palatino meanwhile claimed that the arrests were made in the middle of the protest despite police protocols and existing laws prohibiting such actions.

“They call it vandalism, our youth have every right to express protest through graffiti. The reported graffiti ‘Meralco sindikato’ is a message that reflects public outrage. We demand immediate release of the youth,” Palatino said.

“We condemn the underhanded and repressive actions of the police. They should arrest corrupt contractors and legislators, and not the youth who are merely expressing outrage against abuse of power and greed of big corporations,” he added.

Vandals United meanwhile urged the PNP to use handcuffs and batons to politicians and greedy businessmen.

“It is time for the handcuffs and batons of the police to be turned against politicians and the powerful. They are the real criminals—not Filipinos who are suffering and fighting for their rights.” 

Beyond Breakfast: Putting Blueberries to Test

Cheryl Luis True
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Beyond Breakfast: Putting Blueberries to Test

BLUEBERRIES have spent far too long confined to muffins, smoothies and “healthy” bowls that often taste more responsible than exciting.

On July 22, 2026, a culinary showdown at Enderun Estancia in Pasig challenged that familiar perception. 

Four chefs with distinctly different cooking styles were given one deceptively simple task: make USA blueberries the star of the dish—not merely the colourful garnish placed on top.

The kitchen line-up featured Chef Sau del Rosario of Café Fleur, Chef Sonny Mariano of The Matcha Tokyo and Angrydobo, Chef Wado Siman of Brutal, Atina Café and Wadoughs Cake Studio, and Chef Ivory Yat-Vaksman of Chef Ivory Catering.

That diverse mix alone made the event worth watching.

The Real Challenge

Blueberries are easy to appreciate. They are sweet, slightly tart, photogenic and conveniently bite-sized. But being likeable is not necessarily the same as being versatile.

The real test for the chefs was whether they could push the fruit beyond the usual desserts and breakfast dishes. Could blueberries hold their own in a savoury creation? Could their acidity balance a rich sauce? Could they contribute flavour without making every plate look and taste as though it belonged in a café display?

These questions allowed the event to become more than another beautifully staged media gathering.

With chefs representing restaurants, cafés, catering and pastry businesses, the competition had the potential to reveal several personalities of the same ingredient. One chef could keep things elegant, while another could take a bolder approach. Someone might choose to play it safe, while another might decide that safe was simply too boring.

That was exactly the kind of creativity a culinary showdown needed.

Not Exactly Superfood

Registered Dietitian Jo Sebastian also joined the event to discuss the nutritional and health benefits of blueberries.

That information was important, especially as more consumers became conscious of what went into their food. However, people rarely add an ingredient to their regular meals simply because someone calls it nutrient-dense.

They use it because it tastes good, fits their budget and does not require a culinary degree to prepare.

The most useful part of the discussion was therefore not merely a long list of scientific terms, but the practical demonstration of how blueberries—whether fresh, frozen or dried—could realistically be incorporated into everyday meals, snacks and recipes.

Food becomes part of a household not when it receives a health lecture, but when someone says, “That was good. Let us make it again.”

Blueberries on Filipino Table

The bigger question was not whether the chefs could create impressive dishes for one afternoon. With their experience and creativity, they certainly could.

The more important question was whether their creations could encourage Filipino diners to look at blueberries differently.

Filipino cooking already understands the value of contrast: sweet and salty, rich and sour, familiar and unexpected. Blueberries naturally bring sweetness, acidity and colour. In the right hands, they could work in far more than cakes and shakes.

However, the dishes also needed to feel approachable. A plate could be clever without being confusing. It could be sophisticated without looking as though it required tweezers to eat.

The best creation would not necessarily be the most complicated one. It would be the dish that made people wonder why they had never thought of using blueberries that way before.

Event Worth Watching

There was no need for the dramatic words usually attached to food events—“elite,” “electrifying,” “star-studded” and all the other seasoning commonly sprinkled over press releases.

What mattered was much simpler:

Four capable chefs. One familiar fruit. Several very different ideas.

Blueberries may have been small, but they were asked to carry an entire culinary event. Whether they emerged as the main attraction or remained a colourful supporting ingredient depended on what happened in the kitchen.

Ultimately, the most exciting outcome was the possibility of creating a dish that people would remember long after the cameras, speeches and social-media posts had ended.

Photographs, History and Memories Create Texts and Images of Santo Entierro

Boy Villasanta
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Photographs, History and Memories Create Texts and Images of Santo Entierro

IT ALL STARTED with a memory.

This coffee table book its main title in bold letters “Nang Si Kristo’y Namatay,” roughly translated in English as “When Christ Died,” with a subtitle “Spiritual, Cultural and Visual Narratives of the Santo Entierro Images in Cavite” written by erudite author Jeffrey Lubang and creative photo artist Marboy Sayno.  

“Natatandaan ko, tuwing Biyernes Santo, isinasama ako ng tatay ko sa prusisyon ng Santo Entierro (I remember that every Good Friday, my father would tag me along the procession of the Holy Burial),” recalled Lubang, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduate.

“I was about seven or eight years old when my father, who was an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker), was a clarinetist of the band that was an accompanying dirge behind the carriage of the Santo Entierro. I would hold the arms of my dad tightly during the procession,” said Dr. Lubang.

“Kaya lagi kong inaabangan ang pag-uwi ng tatay ko (I would, therefore, always look forward to the homecoming of my dad),” the author added, chuckling.

He said that he was, at one time, asleep while clasped in his father’s chest in some parts of the religious exercise.

“These are my inspirations in doing the book project,” he smiled.

HOLY RELIC

These memories live in the book however the overpowering and omnipresent images of the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) in its pages hide the fragments and even the fullness of the author’s personal life although his soul and inner sanctum easily manifested in the outward appearances, shades of truths, signifiers, meanings, connotations and other inferences in the multi-layered definitions of the Holy Relic revealed in his mortal self.

Surely, Jeffrey lives in each and every fiber and grain of the artefacts, the semiotics of the divine and the magnanimity of his faith—an exude of his kindness, thoughtfulness, discernment, judgement, idealism etc.

Truly, men are created in the image of God.

These scenes are always etched in Jeffrey’s mind which inspired him to write the book.

Year in, year out, Jeffrey was witness, in his youth and adolescence, and still is in his maturity, to the general mournful religious activities on Good Fridays in his town in General Trias—the cortege of people following their respective saint-images perched on andas (portable or motorized platform, carriage or float).

General Trias is the bedrock and origin of Jeffrey’s spiritual journey in looking at the unique cultural heritage of Santo Entierro, a bequest of history from the four hundred years or so of Spanish colonialism, particularly conversion of the land into Christianity.

He might not be a very religious person (just a presumption or observation) but his authoritativeness and attentiveness in the anthropological materials of the historical significance of the Santo Entierro in the lives not only of his fellow Cavitenos but Catholics or non-Catholic Filipinos in the catholicity of the values which the Holy Burial signifies like sacrifice, wisdom, understanding, love, redemption, compassion etc. cannot be denied.    

At first glance, the image of the Holy Burial was just a sculpted dead body of Jesus Christ lying in the bier but the more Jeff looked closely it is also the social interaction of the quotidian from all walks of life gathered in the patio of St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church, formerly San Francisco de Malabon Parish Church, that he saw and has been seeing until now.

UNIQUE NARRATIVE

Asked what would make the compilation of Santos Entierros in the municipalities and cities of Cavite different from the rest of the religious practices in the entire country, Jeffrey, without batting an eyelash, said that aside from his being a Caviteno, he believes that each Santo Entierro has its own unique narrative.

“I know that there are so many Santo Entierros all over the country but each of them has its own stories worth telling,” he shared.

These artefacts of the Santo Entierros might be similar to one another but there are diverse customs and traditions, inherent or acquired, that make them distinct yet akin to each other.

All towns and cities in the Province of Cavite—from Tanza to Kawit to Dasmarinas to Silang to Tarnate to Imus to Bacoor to Indang etc. are represented in varying looks and designs of their Santo Entierros if only the carving of Christ’s faces identical especially His pious and compassionate countenance in His moments of torture and death.

Meanwhile, like in General Trias and other municipalities and cities nationwide, Good Fridays are generally observed as sacred and sublime; it is also an acknowledgement of the way Jesus Christ suffered in the hands of His enemies just to save the world and humankind from sins.

People milled around the various saints (all main supporters in the story of the Santo Entierro, decked with flowers of all colors, varieties and sizes), stationed if not lined up in practically all sides of the churchyard.

To say the least, the observance in the ceremony of Santo Entierro is a melting pot where the community is reduced to a fellowship and worship of all believers coming together to share His agony.

Conversations, in whispers or otherwise, no matter in the middle of the piety and solemnity of the occasion, mark the socialization of the parishioners participating in the preparation and dispatch of the procession.

It must also be the socio-political atmosphere merging religion and spirituality together in the presence of community leaders, followers and subordinates in various fields—business, education, health, arts and culture etc. like local governance or public service mingling with the rest of the townspeople.

While they might shed off their official functions, their faith is an expression of remorse—in silence, especially, if any, as imperfect human beings or an embrace of the God-fearing nature of a person.

Once the parade kicks off, the sea of faithful is an extension of humanity, not necessarily the kind of phalanx of escapists saying hollow prayers but true, committed churchgoers as well.

ST. VERONICA

Mostly, the images being paraded during Good Fridays are Biblical personages during the life and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ or the Passion of Christ and all the characters who navigated around Him like St. Veronica, St. John the Baptist, Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Peter, among others.  

In its graphic formation of a religious street tableaux, a Good Friday procession almost always follows a blocking which is usually guided by a priest and his acolytes bearing tall liturgical torches leading the flock while the images represented in the Passion of Christ alternately parading as muses with group of devotees or family hosts trailing after them.

To be more authentic in the interpretation and representation of the Passion of Christ, though, centurions who are farmed out in the procession, vigorously walking back and forth, pounding their spears intimidatingly among the marchers, to illustrate the antagonists in the narrative.

CAMAREROS, CAMARERAS 

The last to pull off in the train of devout Catholics and the images of saints and martyrs is the Santo Entierro which is the most anticipated finale of the event sent to the church by the camareros and camareras (male and female caretakers) shortly before the start of the religious walk.

It is so because of its rarity and security as it is considered risky not to guard the Santo Entierro from larceny and sacrilege.      

Being the final act, the Santo Entierro is the “star” of the ritual in the religious real-life dramaturgy which goes, literally, around town.

After the procession, each Santo Entierro is sent to their respective camareros and camareras (caretakers) who have designated a special place in their houses or a separate storage for the relic.

Get-togethers privately follow the processions.

In Tanza town, the Bobadilla family still hosts a post-procession gathering of Santo Entierro and serves the famous pancit estacion (roughly translated as noodle station), a native concoction of togue (mongo or bean sprouts), salted egg, tofu and sauce ala-pancit palabok which was whipped up by Nanay (Mother) Heleng Bobadilla in 1934.

Why was it called pancit estacion?

“At the time, that certain menu ran out of noodles so they used “togue” as replacement,” said Ahnnie Sarile, a Cavite cultural historian.

It’s a Good Friday party and most of the food being served during the post-processions which are still within hours of fasting are pork-free as a Catholic tradition but mainly veggies and native delicacies.     

And as obscurantism still dominates many mindsets, the Santo Entierro is believed to be the wellspring of miracles if not superstitious beliefs.

According to Jeffrey, the possessions from head to toe of the Holy Burial connote powerful objects that are subjects of supernatural pursuits like an eternal life or invincibility from bullets or sickness that any part of the artefact can offer.

“May naniniwala na pag nakuha mo ang isang hibla ng buhok ng Santo Entierro, maliligtas ka sa lahat ng panganib (There are those who believe that when you are able to pull out a strand of hair from the Santo Entierro, you are saved from all dangers),” Jeffrey informed.

Or even a remnant ripped off from Santo Entierro’s vestment, he said, is believed to cure diseases.

LIVE THEATER OF LIFE

In this live theater of life, the Santo Entierros, in Cavite and elsewhere, are artistic creations.

Aside from religion, the way the book presented it, the Santo Entierros are works of sculpture to their most meticulous craftsmanship.

Jesus Christ might have hailed the carvers, cutters and designers of His images.

Meanwhile, the sharp, glossy and revealing photographs of Mariano Brosoto Sayno lend the fine artistry and deep religiosity of the people the Santo Entierros espouse.  

The launching of “Nang Si Kristo’y Namatay Spiritual, Cultural and Visual Narratives of the Santo Entierro Images in Cavite” which was recently held at the Casas Hall Bishop House, Imus Cathedral Compound in Imus City was a resounding success with most of Cavite’s who’s who in arts and culture were around, some of them, Rosanni Sarile, also known as Ahnnie Sarile, a professor of Communication Arts at the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas City who multitasked as the director, scriptwriter, floor director, traffic and production manager of the event;  Most Rev. Reynaldo Gonda Evangelista, Bishop of Imus, who delivered the invocation; Dr. Jan Philip David Mallari, Director, Cavite Studies Center, DLSU-Dasmarinas who was proxied by Prof. Jigs Medina who gave the opening remarks; Imus City Librarian Rocena Roman who represented Hon. Alex Lacson Advincula, Mayor of Imus who spoke about the inspiration of writing a book like “Nang Si Kristo’y Namatay”; Hon. Regalado Trota Jose, Chair, National Historical Commission of the Philippines who delivered an inspirational message; Architect Romeo Sayoc Cord Cruz, the publisher of the coffee table book who talked about the labor pains he experienced in publishing the book; Prof. Phillip Norbert Ahmed Lacson Medina, President, Silang Historical Society who talked about the significance of the book; Br. Normandy Co Dujungco, FSC, D. Theol, Director, Museo De La Salle who delivered an inspirational speech; Most Rev. Virgilio Saenz Mendoza, Priest-Animator of the Ministry on the Cultural Heritage of the Church for Diocese of Imus who blessed the unveiling of the book and Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, an independent scholar and a multi-awarded book author who remarked about the book.

The musical numbers were rendered by violinist Roi Aldric Montaos Trawon and pianist Gabriel Allan Ferros Paguirigan from the classic masterpieces of Antonio Vivaldi.

Lacson: Gov’t Paid Infra Projects in Taguig Twice

Lucio Papa
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Lacson: Gov’t Paid Infra Projects in Taguig Twice

AMID a raging word war, Senator Panfilo Lacson assailed what he aptly referred to as “modus” embarking on double collection for a singular infrastructure project in Taguig City, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s bailiwick.

In a social media post, Lacson particularly two supposedly different projects that shared the same photo for billing purposes, while another involved a single slope protection project that received two separate budget appropriations.

“Two different projects, two distinct appropriations, two different technical descriptions and locations, two different contractors, but sharing the same photo for billing purposes. Status: both billed and collected,” reads Lacson post on X (formerly Twitter).

“[The second case involves] One slope protection project, one location, one technical description, two separate budget appropriations. Status: both billed and collected,” he added.

“Are these not criminal acts?”

According to Lacson, who served as national police chief prior to his stint as senator, the latest findings in itself is an indication of another graft discovered by no less than his team who he asked to dig deeper into the anomalies in Cayetano’s turf.

“The full details and pieces of evidence will be turned over to the Ombudsman or presented during the Blue-Ribbon committee hearings when called,” Lacson added.

Lacson earlier said that the anomalous infrastructure projects investigation in Taguig City will have a “logical conclusion,” adding that they would continue to uncover the truth, and hold Cayetano accountable.

He however clarified that uncovering anomalies has nothing to do with his personal grudge towards Cayetano, “but by the need to ensure accountability.”

“This is not about friendship or personal fights, this is about accountability. If there is no accountability, why would I push through with the investigation.”

“If it’s a series of acts and then P50 million [is involved], the only way it could go is plunder. There’s no other way to go but to file plunder charges,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Cayetano, for his part, insisted that the allegations of ghost infrastructure projects in Taguig are “too generalized.”

“The allegations are general… I will continue to wait kung ano ang specific allegation, and haharapin ko iyon.”

Good News: IT-BPO Firms Expand to Clark

Marcus Aquino
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Good News: IT-BPO Firms Expand to Clark

(CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW VIDEO VERSION)

Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) firms MicroSourcing and Beepo have officially opened a new Service Delivery Center in Clark, Pampanga.

The new joint facility reinforces both companies’ commitment to invest in expanded capability and growth beyond the national capital and across the country.

MicroSourcing and Beepo’s new site has a total floor area of 747.97 square-meters located at the 6th Floor, Tower 2 of Clark City Front Mall within the Clark Freeport Zone, a robustly growing business and investment hub supported by world-class and ISO-compliant facilities, excellent and uninterrupted connectivity, and a mature business ecosystem.

It seats up to 400 professionals at a time, facilitating services ranging from back-office operations to healthcare, finance, technology, and more.

The newly opened facility marks the continued expansion of MicroSourcing, a pioneer in offshore staffing solutions, beyond Metro Manila.

The Clark site strengthens the company’s delivery network, reinforcing its capability to support clients with greater resilience, scalability, and access to talent across the Philippines.

For Beepo, the other half of the MicroSourcing Group, the new facility represents a move into a larger, purpose-built workspace that supports its continued growth in the region.

Having established its first Clark office in 2010, Beepo was among the first outsourcing companies to recognize the area’s long-term potential.

Since then, it has built dedicated teams serving clients across Australia, further reinforcing Clark’s position as a strategic hub for offshore service delivery and innovation.

IDEAL GROWTH HUB

Clark has established itself as an ideal destination for BPO centers, making it a highly strategic alternative location to the heavily congested Metro Manila.

Aside from the robust infrastructure, the area is also noted for being a flood-free special economic zone and for its highly competitive operating costs, government-backed tax incentives, and an easy access to a diverse pool of skilled talent from Pampanga and the neighboring Tarlac, Bulacan, Pangasinan, and other nearby cities and provinces.

As a key backup destination for Metro Manila-based BPO operations, Clark is home to over 20,000 outsourcing professionals. Aside from IT-BPM firms, companies from other growth industries – including manufacturing, automotive assembly, semiconductors, food processing, and pharmaceuticals – have also built presence in the area.

“As we continue to expand beyond Metro Manila, Clark represents exactly the kind of regional growth we believe in—thoughtful, capability-led, and anchored in long-term partnerships,” said Haidee Enriquez, CEO of MicroSourcing and Beepo.

“We continue to invest in Clark not just because of its infrastructure, but because of its people. The strength of the talent pipeline here allows us to build high-performing teams that help our clients scale with resilience and confidence.”

IT-BPM INDUSTRY GROWTH

In 2025, consolidated revenues from local-based IT-BPM firms were projected to have reached more than $40 billion (around ₱2.48 trillion), based on data from the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

Notably, the estimated figure exceeded the total annual remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which hit about $39.62 billion (around ₱2.46 trillion) in the same year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Marcos Confirms Filing of Charges Against Kin

Fidel Figueroa
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Marcos Confirms Filing of Charges Against Kin

AS EXPECTED, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. again used the flood control controversy as leverage in delivering his fifth State of the Nation Address in Batasan.

In his opening remarks, Marcos confirmed that the government is filing non-bailable charges of plunder, graft and malversation against his own cousin — former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

According to Marcos, filing of cases against Romualdez hurt him but claimed that it was something that had to be done.

Interestingly, Romualdez didn’t show up at the very same plenary hall where the President in 2025 spoke against the corruption of flood control projects and told officials and lawmakers involved to have some shame.

“Dumating na tayo sa puntong ayon sa Ombudsman ay malapit na ang paghahain ng patong-patong na kaso laban sa dating Speaker. Masakit sa akin ito pero kailangan natin itong gawin,” Marcos said.

“Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya,” he added.

PLUNDER FOR MARTIN

A special panel of investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed a supplemental complaint affidavit against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, and others for the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

The investigators said Romualdez and Co conspired to amass ill-gotten wealth amounting to P56 billion from 2022 to 2025 through “transactions involving the diversion and misuse of public funds and the receipt of undue pecuniary benefits in connection with government dealings.”

The complaint alleged plunder, graft, and direct bribery.

ROMUALDEZ RESPONDS

In a statement following the Ombudsman’s announcement, Romualdez’s spokesperson, lawyer Elaine Atienza, reiterated that the lawmaker will face the allegations against him.

“Naniniwala kami na kung magkakaroon ng patas na laban at patas na paghuhusga batay sa ebidensya, mapapatunayan ni Rep. Romualdez ang kanyang panig,” Atienza said.

“Hinihiling lamang namin sa publiko na hayaang manaig ang proseso at ebidensya ang magpasya,” she added.

Previously, a precautionary hold-departure order was issued against the former House Speaker — on the request of the Office of the Ombudsman.

SONA: Marcos Pushes Waste-to-Energy Tech

LOUIE LEGARDA
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SONA: Marcos Pushes Waste-to-Energy Tech

IN WHAT looks more like an effort to hit two birds with one stone, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hinted at a solution that would address two major urban concerns — flooding and energy supply.

During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) Marcos cited the need to adapt to the modern-day technology by amending the 25-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003) to help address the country’s flooding woes.

Marcos finds it rather logical to align RA 9003 with modern waste management practices, such as waste-to-energy and waste treatment technology.

“Katambal ng paglaban sa katiwalian kaugnay ng mga ghost at substandard na flood control projects, naglunsad din tayo ng Oplan Kontra Baha sa buong bansa,” the President averred.

“Sa kabila ng mga ginagawa nating ito, kailangan pa rin natin iwasto ang ating pamamaraan sa pagtapon ng basura,” he added.

Citing efforts of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Marcos called on local government units, non-government organizations, businessmen and the general public to take part in activities like cleaning of esteros and drainage systems.

The President then bragged about cash-for-work programs, which according to him also contributed to the massive cleanup of over 200 esteros and waterways across the country, covering Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Capiz, Iloilo, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon.

“As we recalibrate our solid waste management systems, we can draw inspiration from the solid waste management practices being championed by the MMDA here in Metro Manila, such as waste recovery, processing, and upcycling,” he said.

The President cited the Carmona Sanitary Landfill of the 1990s, which he said is now the MMDA Nature Park.

“More than a multi-purpose green space, it shall soon be the base of its high-level disaster preparedness training and simulation exercises,” Marcos quipped.

Congress Told to Scrap Meralco’s System Loss

Fernan Angeles
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Congress Told to Scrap Meralco’s System Loss

THE administration is expected to work double time in an effort to recover from the rapidly waning public trust and approval rating that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been getting in the last 12 months.

To begin with, Marcos heeded to the call for the government to act on the “excessively high electricity rate.”

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos asked the Philippine Congress to spare households from shouldering the costs stemming from inefficiencies in the power distribution system by coming up with a legislative measure that would effectively scrap electricity system loss charges passed on to consumers.

“Kung pagbawas ng presyo ang usapan, sa aking palagay panahon na para tanggalin na natin ang system loss na pinapasa sa consumer. Pinapasa ito sa consumer at kinakarga sa bill na pinapatungan pa ng value-added tax. Hindi naman kasalanan ng consumer kung bakit nagkaroon ng system loss. Kaya hindi naman tama na kailangan sila pa ang pagbabayarin dito,” Marcos said.

The President also asked Congress to amend Republic Act 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), which allowed distribution utilities to charge a portion of systems loss from consumers through a systems loss charge reflected in monthly electricity bills.

“Therefore, we, the people, request – no, we demand for the immediate amendment of the EPIRA, and to prohibit charging system loss against consumers including the value-added tax thereon.”

System loss is driven by technical inefficiencies and electricity theft.

The President also gave a premium on the need to help the consumers shift to renewable energy via what he referred to as “Sariling Kuryente Act.”

He particularly hinted at the need to streamline process and permit requirements for adopting solar energy — “To make the installation of solar panels and battery storage systems in homes simpler, easier, and more affordable, I am asking Congress to pass the ‘Sariling Kuryente’ Act,” averred.

Pax Silica, Boon Or Bane?

Boni Macaranas
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Pax Silica, Boon Or Bane?

IN DECEMBER 2025, the United States formed the coalition, Pax Silica, to strengthen the supply chain of semiconductors, AI, and other technologies of the US, along with those of 15 other coalition partner countries. This industrial hub was agreed upon by the US and the Philippines last May 18 to be set up at the New Clark City in Tarlac. 

This was strongly opposed by the scientists and professionals of the ICT sector. The scientist group, AGHAM objected to locating Pax Silica in the 1,618 hectares of land, for the processing of minerals needed by the technologies to be set-up, and to provide the space for the data center and the companies of the IT sectors coming from various countries. AGHAM is the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People.

AGHAM stressed that the US can use the industrial hub to expand its production of technology geared to its war adventures. 

OPLAN Epic Fury

The US military confirmed that it utilized AI under its “Operation Epic Fury” in its war against Iran, where it chooses its targets, control drones, missiles, and other arms. It is well-known that the US, with its industrial complex and the Pentagon, has been developing tools for its war machine, rather than concentrating on consumer technologies for a more peaceful world.

The Philippines is among the top ten exporters of chips in the world in 2021, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The country is rich in minerals such as copper, nickel and cobalt, needed to produce electronic products. Understandably, there are about 20 or more companies, among them American companies, interested in setting up shop in the planned Pax Silica in New Clark City. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), incidentally, already met with Israel officials to craft a MOU regarding critical minerals, and met with some Israel companies known to produce technologies used by the Israel Defense Forces and the US military. 

Essential Plunder

AGHAM condemned Pax Silica’s enabling the plunder of the country’s natural resources and destruction of the environment. Congress’ data covering the year 2024 on the country’s export share in its electronic products is only 53.4% of all the products exported. But in the same year, the country’s trade growth was only 0.4%, a clear sign that the country is not profiting from this set-up. 

AGHAM’s Alab Ayroso said quite clearly, “It’s going to essentially be plunder, expansive plunder sa ating mga resources natin, na hindi naman mababalik since these are minerals that were formed for millions of years.” 

President Joshua Bingcang of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority admitted himself that the data center planned to be located in the New Clark City will consume very high volumes of water and supply of electricity, and this will aggravate the energy crisis already being suffered by millions of Filipinos in the provinces of Luzon and the Visayas. 

One big data center can consume water that can satisfy the thirst of 10,000 to 50,000 people, according to the Environmental and Energy Institute. Pax Silica, in other words, will adversely affect not just the immediate communities beside it, but surely many provinces. 

Other concerned groups also raised their objections and branding the plan as a “massive sellout” of the country’s land, minerals and sovereignty. 

So-Called Development

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) issued a statement opposing the US-initiated industrial hub, saying “To be honest, this is war production disguised as ‘so-called development.’ The government is opening our mountains and ancestral lands to more destructive mining and industries that serve foreigners rather than the Filipino people.”

Malacañang said that the project will protect the country’s national interests. Really?! HOW?!        

SONA 2026: BBM Wasted Chance to Redeem Family’s Name

Marcus Aquino
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SONA 2026: BBM Wasted Chance to Redeem Family’s Name

(Click the above to watch the video)

During the May 2022 elections, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won via landslide, giving him the chance to redeem the name of his family.

However, as he marked his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos Jr. has failed so far to redeem the name of family.

And the biggest factor that made him fail so far is the flood control scandal.

LTFRB Acts on Petition Seeking P10 Fare Hike 

Lily Reyes
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LTFRB Acts on Petition Seeking P10 Fare Hike 

THE P60 wage hike for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) would soon be decimated as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) hinted at reviewing adjustments based on petitions seeking for a P10 increase in the minimum fare.

According to the LTFRB, the agency is seriously considering the issuance of a final resolution on the fare hike rather than an “interim adjustment given the price of petroleum products.”

The move comes following hefty increases in the price of petroleum products for the last two weeks — with another adjustment expected to be implemented on Tuesday, July 28.

“The LTFRB, upon instructions of DOTr Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Z. Lopez, will recompute the appropriate fare adjustments based on the call of Manibela and the pending petition of PISTON for a P10 fare hike,” reads parts of the LTFRB statement.

However, the LTFRB clarified that there are factors still being considered, such as commuters’ capacity to adapt to the additional transportation costs, as well as the potential impact of the fare adjustments on the prices of basic goods and services. 

“In the meantime, the fuel discount will continue, and the LTFRB is exploring the possibility of expanding its coverage to reach as many PUVs as possible, as well as increase the amount,” it added.

Transport group Manibela went on a strike for three consecutive days following the double-digit price increase on diesel and kerosene in the local market.

Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena warned of more transport strikes unless the government acts on their petition.

No Way Out for Marcos Kin Martin Romualdez

LOUIE LEGARDA
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No Way Out for Marcos Kin Martin Romualdez

AFTER months of blabbering, the Office of the Ombudsman has no more reason to delay the filing of plunder complaints against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In its 104-page supplemental complaint dated July 20, the Ombudsman’s special panel of investigators recommended the filing of plunder charges against Romualdez over alleged kickbacks from flood control projects covering the years when he was still the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

According to the panel, Romualdez funneled kickbacks to holding companies owned by one of his close associates.

Aside from plunder, the panel also recommended additional complaints arising from direct bribery, graft and corruption and money laundering against the Leyte congressman.

Other prominent personalities dragged by the panel include former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, lawyer Jose Raulito Paras, two other individuals, a law firm, and a foreign exchange company and five of its board members.

Assistant Ombudsman Eliseo Cruz, the head of the investigation panel, certified the 104-page supplemental complaint-affidavit.

Earlier this week, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano claimed that the criminal complaints against Romualdez is one step away from determining whether or not cases should be filed before the Sandiganbayan.

In its affidavit, the panel disclosed kickbacks ranging from 10 to 25 percent of the contract price, as previously claimed by state witness and former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

“The funds were transported in luggage or suitcases and were typically coursed through aides or drivers to ensure the anonymity of the primary recipients,” reads part of the supplemental complaint-affidavit.

During “congressional investigations in aid of legislation,” Co’s security personnel admitted delivering various sizes of suitcases containing cash — P15 million to 25 million stuffed in small suitcases, P30 million to P40 million for mid-sized “maletas,” and P50 million to P70 million for each of the big suitcases.

The supplemental complaint tagged “several corporate entities appear to have been utilized as conduits for the diversion and disposition of substantial amounts of funds through the abuse of public office and the use of dummies, nominees and closely-held corporations.”

At least five holding companies linked to the former Speaker’s Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity brother Atty. Jose Raulito Paras, were used in the scheme — Golden Pheasant Holdings Corp., Clearspring Holdings Corp., Brightnews Corp., Braavos Holdings OPC, and Valiant Consolidated Resources Inc.

Meanwhile, lawyer Elaine Atienza in her capacity as the former Speaker’s legal counsel, said Romualdez will be proven innocent under an impartial court.

“We believe that if there will be a fair fight and a fair judgment based on evidence, Rep. Romualdez will prove his side. We only ask the public to allow the process and evidence to decide the case,” Atienza noted.

Assets of Romualdez have been ordered frozen in April by the Court of Appeals at the request of the AMLC. 

The Sandiganbayan also issued a precautionary hold departure order against him at the request of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Napoles Gets 350 Years For Malversation, Graft

Lily Reyes
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Napoles Gets 350 Years For Malversation, Graft

DONNING a stoic face, jailbird Janet Napoles cared less during the Sandiganbayan’s promulgation of criminal cases embarking on a similar scheme that sent her to jail 13 years ago.

On Friday, the Sandiganbayan found Napoles guilty of malversation and graft cases involving the misuse of P50 million in public funds supposedly intended for agricultural projects in Luzon.

In its decision, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division sentenced 62-year old Napoles to 20 years for each of the 10 counts of malversation and 15 years for each of the 10 counts of graft — for a cumulative jail time of 350 years.

The Sandiganbayan also found Napoles’ co-accused, former Agriculture Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan, guilty of malversation through falsification of public documents. He was sentenced to a jail time of 19 years for each of the 10 counts.

Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez also ordered Napoles and Pacturan to return P50 million to the national treasury.

Filed by the Ombudsman in 2022, the case involved DAR’s 2011 allotted allocation for farm input assistance to 10 local government units (LGUs) in Luzon.

The funds however were funneled to 10 non-government organizations (NGOs) that were created by Napoles herself — for embezzlement purposes.

The NGOs involved in the case were: Ginintuang Alay sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc., Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc., Gintong Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc., Karangyaan para sa Magbubukid Foundation Inc., Agri and Economic Program for Farmers Foundation Inc., Kaupdanan Para sa Mangunguma Foundation Inc., Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation Inc., People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc., Agrikultura Para sa Magbubukid Foundation Inc. and Masaganang Buhay Foundation Inc.

For Napoles, promulgation has become boring and predictable. She has been convicted multiple times for the same criminal cases involving similar schemes for which she earned the moniker of “Pork Barrel Queen.”

Meanwhile, Pacturan maintained his innocence. He hinted at appealing the case.

“I am innocent of the accusation and conviction of malversation of public funds. I was the one who investigated these cases and reported within the DAR and the National Bureau of Investigation,” reads a message sent to reporters.

“I have not committed corruption as the court’s other decision showed. I have done the necessary due diligence over the documents passed on to my office then,” Pacturan added.

In Sandiganbayan’s 237-page decision, Pacturan was convicted for conspiring with former DAR Director for Finance and Management Service Teresita Panlilio and former DAR Chief Accountant Rowena Agbayani and Napoles, to release the amount of P5 million to each of the 10 NGOs.

Plus P60 Per Day Just For Workers in Metro Manila

Fidel Figueroa
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Plus P60 Per Day Just For Workers in Metro Manila

DAYS before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced the implementation of the first tranche of the P85 salary hike for minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region.

Under the DOLE’s Wage Order NCR-27, minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will receive an additional P60 per day for an eight-hour work. 

The adjustment effectively raises the income of non-agricultural workers from P695 to P755. Workers in the agriculture sector, service and retail shops with 15 or fewer employees, and manufacturing firms with fewer than 10 employees will receive P718  daily (from P658).

SECOND TRANCHE

By January next year, the labor department assured a P25 wage increase representing the second tranche.

By adding 25 daily for a day’s work, Metro Manila non-agricultural workers receive P780, while those in the agriculture sector, service and retail shops with 15 or fewer employees, and manufacturing firms with fewer than 10 employees will be paid P743.

Previously, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino described the adjustment as the “largest in Metro Manila to date.” The agency said that the wage increase will benefit 1.1 million workers in the region.

COMPLY, OR ELSE

In a press release farmed out to the media, Tolentino likewise warned employers to comply or face the consequences.

“In line with the implementation, the labor chief continues to remind employers to follow the wage adjustment, as non-compliance will result in penalties set by law,” reads part of the press release. 

He likewise cautioned employers against wage distortion, or the adjustment of salaries above the minimum wage, through collective bargaining agreements between labor and management.

NOT-SO-FAST

A non-government organization, Foundation for Economic Freedom, earlier urged the government to suspend the implementation of the wage order “until the spirit of tripartism is upheld and a consensus among employers, labor, and government is reached.”

Erik Matti Dares Neil Daza to Debate on Labor Issues

Boy Villasanta
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Erik Matti Dares Neil Daza to Debate on Labor Issues

THE ROW BETWEEN award-winning director Erik Matti and critically acclaimed cinematographer Neil Daza is getting worse to the point of an open discussion if not an immediate debate challenge at the floor of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).

Erik has challenged Neil to end once and for all their animosity that recently sparked when the latter posted on his social media spaces these words: “So much passion for making films, yet no passion to show up when it comes to labor issues.”

The remarks didn’t point at Matti directly but he categorically identified himself as the one being referred to by Neil.

“Alam kong ako yan dahil galing ka lang sa FAP mediation at hinahanap mo kami ni (I know I am the one you are referring to because you have just come from FAP mediation and you were looking for me and) Dondon,” noted Erik on his Facebook wall.

The Dondon Matti mentioned in his posts was purportedly Dondon Monteverde, Executive Producer of Reality MM Studios which Erik co-founded, co-manages and leads its creative directorship with the former.

“Tapusin na natin ito sa (Let’s end this at) FAP. ‘Wag mo dalhin sa (Please don’t bring it on to) social media,” Erik dared Neil.

“May reklamo ka na nga sa FAP, may patutsada ka pa sa (You already have a complaint with the Academy, you still have insinuations in) FB,” Matti emphasized.        

“Dun na natin sa FAP tapusin. Kung manalo ka sa isyu mo, e di gud. Kung manalo kami, e di (Let’s get through this at the Academy. If your issue wins, good. If we win over you), sorry,” he added.

“Diretsuhin mo ako. Diretso akong tao. Eto diretsuhin kita. Di ko gusto ilaw mo. Medyo tv. Dati maganda. Ngayon di na. Yan. Diretso. Sinasabi ko opinyon ko sa ilaw mo. I’m sure di mo rin gusto mga pelikula ko. Ayos lang (Talk to me directly. I am a straightforward person. This one, I’ll get straight to the point. I don’t like your lighting. It’s something like tv. It used to be good. Now it’s not. That’s talking directly. I am being frank with my opinion on your lighting. Surely, you also don’t like my movies. That’s okay),” quipped Erik.

“Nagreklamo ka. Nagkaroon ng meeting sa Film Academy. Mabuti. Karapatan mo ‘yan. At ginagalang ko yan (You filed a complaint. There was a meeting at the Academy. That’s fine. That’s your rights. And I respect them).

“Nakadalawang meeting na nga kayo. Tatlo dapat pero sa isa di naman kayo sumipot (You had already two meetings. It must have been three but you didn’t appear in one of them),” he said.

The director of the movies “On the Job” and “On the Job: The Missing 8” took a swipe at Neil’s true feelings for him. “‘Wag mo na daanin sa general statement. Alam naman ng lahat sa industriya na gigil ka sa akin. Di naman ito yung una mong hanash (Just don’t make use of a general statement. Everyone in the industry knows you have some kind of a ‘pent-up emotion’ on me. This isn’t the first time that you hash tagged me),” he clarified.

Matti also quantified the meaning of taking the cudgels for the film industry.

“Ikaw na ang tagapaglaban ng industriya (You are indeed the guardian of the industry), Neil Daza. Ikaw na ang sukatan kung sino ang may malasakit sa pelikula at sa (You are the model of a compassionate person for the industry and) labor,” the director said.

According to Erik, attendance in the meeting isn’t mandatory. “Andiyan producer namin (Our producer was around),” he defended.  

“Hindi ako pumunta. Marami akong ginagawa (I didn’t go. I had so many things to do),” he added.

“Hindi ibig sabihin noon wala na akong pakialam sa industriya. Ang nakakatawa, parang gusto mong sukatin ang pagmamahal ng tao sa pelikula base sa attendance sa meeting. Ganun na ba ngayon (That  doesn’t mean that I don’t care about the industry. What really is funny, you seemed to gauge the compassion and care of a person toward the industry based on attendance in the meetings. Really now?)”

“Klaruhin ko lang powz. Hindi attendance ang sukatan ng malasakit sa industriya. At lalong hindi ikaw ang magbibigay ng grades kung sino ang may passion at sino ang wala. Bawat isa sa atin may kanya-kanyang paraan ng pagtulong sa industriyang ito. Hindi lang ‘yung paraang gusto mo. At kung ang batayan mo ng pagmamahal sa pelikula ay kung sino ang present sa meeting, napakababaw naman ng standard na ‘yan. May respeto ako sa’yo dahil sa trabaho mo. Kaya binaitan ko ang post na ito. Sana may respeto ka din sa akin (I just want to make it clear. Attendance isn’t the gauge of compassion for the industry. And you’re not the one to assess who has and who hasn’t compassion. Each of us has our ways of helping this industry. Yours isn’t the only way. And if your basis for the concern for the industry is one’s presence during meetings, that standard is so shallow. I respect you because of your work. That’s why I am kinder with this post. I hope you also respect me),” gushed Erik.

Meanwhile, in a story that appeared in radar.ph where the respective, side-by-side photos of Matti and Daza are slashed, Neil has commented: “I seldom like my own photos, but this one made the cut. Thank you.”

Ivana Alawi: From Digital Queen to Broadcast Icon

Domingo P. Herras
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Ivana Alawi: From Digital Queen to Broadcast Icon

THE FLASHING cameras of the historic Manila Hotel illuminated a historic shift in Philippine media. 

Amidst a sea of seasoned journalists and veteran actors, internet superstar Ivana Alawi walked the red carpet with her signature dazzling smile, unknowingly on the verge of bridging the gap between social media virality and mainstream critical acclaim. 

For years, cynics dismissed digital creators as fleeting trends. However, the inaugural 1st FAMAS Broadcast Awards definitively shattered that glass ceiling. 

In an emotional, jaw-dropping climax, Alawi did not just secure a seat at the table—she walked away with two of the grandest honors of the night.

CINEMATIC GLAMOUR

The atmosphere turned electric when the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) announced a spectacular, unprecedented tie for Best Host for Public Service. 

Ivana Alawi stood shoulder-to-shoulder with none other than Kara David, a legendary, Peabody Award-winning broadcast journalist. 

The juxtaposition was breathtaking: a vanguard of traditional investigative journalism and a pioneer of modern digital storytelling, united by a singular mission to serve. 

Adding to her historic evening, Alawi’s deeply moving program, “Ivana for All,” officially took home the trophy for Best Public Service Show, cementing her transition from an online entertainer into an elite television broadcaster.

“We started vlogging nearly seven years ago just as a fun family activity,” Alawi shared in her deeply emotional acceptance speech, fighting back tears as she looked out at the star-studded local and international press. 

“But over time, it became a purposeful platform to help, inspire, and give back to communities across the Philippines. True public service comes from helping others with a sincere heart, expecting absolutely nothing in return.”

UNPRECEDENTED REACH

Her historic triumph sent shockwaves across global social media feeds. 

The viral victory perfectly coincided with another astronomical milestone: Alawi officially hitting 50 million followers on Facebook, crowning her as the most-followed Filipino celebrity on the platform. 

To celebrate this unprecedented global reach, Alawi bypassed typical Hollywood-style parties. Instead, she immediately mounted a massive P4.28 million viral giveaway of 100 brand-new iPhone 17 units to her loyal fans. 

She also personally spearheaded the distribution of over 8,000 relief food packs packaged with direct cash assistance to everyday citizens.

GRASSROOTS PHILANTROPHY

This unique blend of cinematic glamour and grassroots philanthropy is precisely why her FAMAS distinction marks a massive turning point for her professional career. 

It proves that her massive online influence is backed by genuine, measurable societal impact. 

By commanding an empire of over 15 million YouTube subscribers and 50 million Facebook supporters, her unique brand of public service now enjoys a reach that rivals traditional multinational television networks.

BEACON OF CREATORS

As the curtains closed on this historic night, the global readership was left with a powerful testament to the evolution of modern stardom. 

Ivana Alawi has successfully rewritten the rulebook of the entertainment industry. 

She has beautifully demonstrated that true prestige is no longer measured solely by the grandeur of a studio, but by the depth of one’s compassion and the number of lives changed out in the real world. 

Holding her golden FAMAS trophies high, Alawi stands as a shining beacon for a new generation of creators—proving that when digital influence is fueled by a genuine heart, it can conquer the grandest traditional stages in the world.

Visa-Free Countries OFWs May Explore

Domingo P. Herras
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Visa-Free Countries OFWs May Explore

FOR THE overseas Filipino workers (OFW), travel is never just travel. It is a declaration of freedom.

We spend years navigating work permits, contracts, and entry stamps. We know the weight of a visa application better than anyone. That is why visa-free travel hits differently for us. It isn’t just convenience. It is dignity. It is the world saying: come as you are, Filipino.

And if there is one truth about us Filipinos, it is this: we are beauty lovers and freedom lovers. We do not just take a photo. We document. We do not just visit a temple or a souk or a beach. We compare it to home, we learn its story, we bring it back in our kwento. That makes us the best kind of traveler.

As of early 2026, the Philippine passport gives us access to 78 countries without a prior visa, including 35 fully visa-free destinations. That is 39% of the world open to us. For an OFW on limited leave, with limited budget and unlimited longing for the world, this is our window. Here are the countries we should prioritize, not just for leisure, but for cultural literacy. 

ASEAN HEALING LOOP

Every OFW needs this reset. If you work in the Gulf, in Europe, in Canada, you need to remember who we are in Asia.

Thailand now gives Filipinos up to 60 days visa-free, Malaysia and Indonesia 30 days, Vietnam 21 days. These are not just cheap tickets from Manila, Cebu or Clark. They are masterclasses. 

In Bangkok, you see how heritage coexists with skyscrapers. In Hoi An, you see a town that preserved its lanterns while we sometimes forget ours. 

In Penang, you taste what our own street food could be if we archived it like they did. For the OFW who misses the tropics, this loop is therapy. 

HISTORY-RICH PICKS

If you want to understand colonial history, you must see its other children.

Morocco offers 90 days visa-free. Walk the blue alleys of Chefchaouen and the medina of Fez and you will understand trade, Islam, and craftsmanship in a way no textbook taught us. 

Brazil and Peru, both 90 to 180 days visa-free, are mirrors. 

Brazil shows us what a former colony does with music and mixed heritage. Peru, home of Machu Picchu, shows us what it means to fiercely protect an indigenous past. 

For the OFWs who love to document culture, these three should be on your life list. You will come home a better Filipino because you saw how others kept their identity. 

THE OFW REWARD 

We work so hard, we forget that some destinations are simply meant to reward us.

Fiji grants Filipinos up to 120 days, the longest visa-free stay on our list. For four months, you can breathe. It is the Pacific that raised us, but in its most pristine form. 

Taiwan is now offering a 14-day visa-free trial until July 31, 2026. Do not miss it. It is the most organized, respectful, food-obsessed society near us — proof that progress and manners can coexist. 

And Singapore, 30 days visa-free, remains our classroom for what is possible: a small nation with no resources that chooses discipline. 

My point is this: Free visa travel is not an escape from being Filipino. It is the deepest way to practice it.

We OFWs are not tourists. We are global Filipinos. We have already learned how to live between cultures. 

Now let us learn how to celebrate them. Use your day off. Use that layover. Use your annual leave wisely. You do not need to show bank certificates to these countries. You just need to show up — with your passport, your curiosity, and your instinct to document.

The world is already 39% open to us. Let’s not waste it.

Travel Note: Visa rules change quickly due to bilateral agreements. OFWs should always confirm with the DFA or the destination embassy before booking, especially for onward travel from host countries.

Cayetano’s Dilemma: The New Clark City Sports Complex

Tracy Cabrera
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Cayetano’s Dilemma: The New Clark City Sports Complex

“The accomplice to the crime of corruption is frequently our own indifference” — Jewish-American television actress and politician Bess Myerson

THE OFFICE OF the Ombudsman seemed to be grinding its axe on Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as it hinted at reopening the files on the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games sports facilities project to review possible violations.

The Ombudsman finds no double jeopardy because no charges were ever filed. To some extent, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla could be right — or otherwise.

But regardless of where he’s coming from, Remulla has already instructed his staff to get the whole file from 2021 in order for him to “review” the records before he decides on the next course of action.

Asked to comment on Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who served as chairperson of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) in 2019, Remulla simply said: “There’s a time for everything.”

Pushed against the wall, Cayetano who leads the senate minority bloc hinted at resuming its investigation into the anomalous flood control projects while the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probes into the alleged irregularities in the bidding and funding of the 2019 SEA Games projects.

Remulla knew for a fact that complaints filed against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Vince Dizon and three others over the construction of sports facilities for the 2019 SEA Games had already been dismissed as early as December 2021 due to insufficient evidence. Dizon then was the BCDA chair.

Aside from Dizon, the other respondents were BCDA senior vice president for legal services Elvira Estanislao, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) lawyer Elpidio Vega, and Isaac David, director and representative of Malaysian construction firm MTD Capital Berhad for the SEA Games facilities at New Clark City in Tarlac.

The complaint filed against them alleged that the three public officials conspired in awarding MTD Capital Berhad a P8.51-billion joint venture agreement (JVA) for the construction of the sports facilities despite irregularities — lack of public bidding, absence of budget appropriation, and unauthorized “insertions and modifications” to the original contract.

Amid probe on the New Clark City Sports Complex, several athletes find the facility useful. The place enabled them to train and qualify for several competitions, including the Palarong Pambansa.

Accordingly, even as controversy surrounding the Sports Complex is reignited, student athletes the facility has given them the opportunity to take advantage of its world-class venue and training equipment, despite the Commission on Audit (CoA)’s flagging its operations years back for financial losses.

Based on official records, the complex cost a hefty P10 billion to make, with construction lasting a mere 18 months. It was built for the Philippines’ hosting stint of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2019, but several controversies hounded the events.

State auditors told the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which manages the complex, that the annual maintenance of the facilities was greater than what it was profiting. In 2022, the BCDA spent more than P51 million on the operations and maintenance of the complex. 

The venue only made P39.8 million in adjusted rent income, resulting in a P11.39 million loss.

The following year, the BCDA lost P5.77 million on the sports complex.

Requests for the BCDA’s comment on the matter have proven to be futile.

* * *

FOR your comments or suggestions, complaints or requests, just send a message through my email at cipcab2006@yahoo.com or text me at cellphone numbers 09171656792 or 09171592256 during office hours from Monday to Friday. Thank you and Mabuhay! 

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