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Arthaland Corp. to hold 2025 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on June 27

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING

NOTICE is hereby given that the 2025 annual stockholders meeting of ARTHALAND CORPORATION will be held on 27 June 2025, Friday, 9:00 A.M. at the Diamond Room, 8/F Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, 5th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634 and will be convened by the Presiding Officer in said address.

The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:

  1. Call to Order
  2. Secretary’s Proof of Due Notice of the Meeting and
    Determination of Quorum
  3. Approval of Minutes of Annual Stockholders Meeting held on 28 June 2024
  4. Notation of Management Report
  5. Ratification of Acts of the Board of Directors and Management
    During the Previous Year
  6. Approval of Proposed Amendment of Article SEVENTH of Articles of
    Incorporation – Decrease in Authorized Capital Stock by P10.0M
  7. Election of Directors (including Independent Directors)
  8. Appointment of External Auditor for 2025
  9. Other Matters
  10. Adjournment

Only stockholders of record on 04 June 2025 will be entitled to further notice of and to vote at this meeting. Electronic copies of the Information Statement, among other relevant documents, will be made available in www.arthaland.com and the Electronic Disclosure Generation Technology of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE EDGE).

WE ARE NOT SOLICITING YOUR PROXY. However, if you cannot personally attend the meeting but would still like to be represented thereat and be considered for quorum purposes, you may inform the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the address indicated below or through investor.relations@arthaland.com not later than 20 June 2025 (Friday).

You will be advised the following business day of any further action on your part, which may include submitting a proxy.

RIVA KHRISTINE V. MAALA (Sgd.)
Corporate Secretary

 

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Driving change: Global Dominion’s COO leads sustainable living with solar and EV

Global Dominion’s Chief Operating Officer Melai Felicidario (left)

Global Dominion’s Chief Operating Officer, Melai Felicidario, is leading by example in the shift toward sustainable living. She has personally invested in two of today’s most impactful green technologies: solar panels and an electric vehicle (EV).

In the face of climate change and increasing energy demands, EVs and solar panels have emerged as powerful tools in creating a more sustainable, low-carbon lifestyle. These technologies not only help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but they also offer long-term cost savings and energy independence.

“Choosing sustainable living through solar panels and electric vehicles is no longer a distant dream — it’s a realistic and achievable step we can take today. These technologies are at the forefront of a cleaner, more resilient future, offering both significant cost savings and meaningful environmental benefits for generations to come,” says Ms. Felicidario.

Installed in August 2024, Ms. Felicidario’s solar panels are already delivering noticeable benefits, most significantly, a dramatic reduction in her monthly electricity bills. “My electricity costs have been reduced by almost half,” she shared, highlighting the immediate impact of switching to solar energy.

The intense summer heat and extended daylight hours have only boosted the system’s efficiency, allowing for greater energy production while minimizing her home’s carbon footprint. “Solar panels require very little maintenance, just occasional cleaning and come with long warranties, making them a smart and efficient investment,” she added.

Ms. Felicidario has also recently acquired an electric vehicle, further reinforcing her commitment to sustainable living. “Investing in an EV isn’t just about buying a car, it’s a long-term commitment to cleaner transportation, reduced fuel and maintenance costs, and embracing innovative technology that paves the way for a greener future,” she noted.

While the initial costs of solar panels and EVs may be high, Ms. Felicidario emphasizes that these investments pay for themselves over time through energy savings, reduced gasoline expenses, and anticipated government incentives.

By taking these steps, Ms. Felicidario is not only making a positive impact on the environment but also setting a powerful example for others to follow in embracing a more sustainable way of life.

 

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Rome’s ‘Hollywood on the Tiber’ plans comeback despite Trump tariff threat

ROME — Europe’s largest film studio Cinecitta is aiming to re-launch Italy as a movie powerhouse, even as US President Donald J. Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign productions cast a shadow over the film industry globally.

Cinecitta, the homonymous company that manages Rome’s historic film studio, approved a five-year plan last week backed by the European Union’s post-COVID Recovery Fund, which includes building new high-tech sound stages and boosting production capacity by 60% by 2026.

“We want to lead the game,” said Chief Executive Officer Manuela Cacciamani. “Cinecitta must be a factory that works at full capacity… with excellence as a minimum standard.”

Founded in 1937 under Benito Mussolini’s fascist rule, Cinecitta became known as the “Hollywood on the Tiber.” It has hosted over 3,000 films, attracting world-renowned directors such as Martin Scorsese, Federico Fellini, and Francis Ford Coppola.

The company is targeting revenue of €51.9 million ($58.8 million) in 2029, almost double the 2024 figure, and aims to turn a €4.3-million net profit after a loss of €11.6 million last year.

Mr. Trump has said he will impose a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States to save Hollywood from “a very fast death,” but has issued few details on how the levy would work.

The tariff plan threatens to disrupt the current industry set-up, in which big US productions rely on the services of studios around the world that can provide expertise, cheaper costs, and striking location scenery.

Mr. Trump’s sweeping tariffs were temporarily reinstated by a federal appeals court on Thursday, a day after a US trade court blocked them, ruling Mr. Trump had exceeded his authority.

Ms. Cacciamani told Reuters Cinecitta was monitoring “with the utmost care” developments regarding the tariff threat.

“The hope is that two historic powers of cinema worldwide, (Italy and the US) which owe so much to each other, will continue to cooperate,” she said.

Italy’s tax credit of up to 40% for film production is “among the most competitive worldwide,” Cinecitta said, helping attract some of last year’s international successes such as Emilia Perez and the papal thriller Conclave.

Among projects slotted for filming in Cinecitta this year is Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of The Christ, a sequel to his 2004 The Passion of The Christ.

Mr. Gibson is one of Mr. Trump’s “Special Ambassadors” in Hollywood, tasked with rescuing the US film industry alongside actors Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone. His next film, being shot in Italy, would be exposed to the tariff. — Reuters

Emperador says new sustainability measures adopted across operations

EMPERADORBRANDY.COM

ANDREW L. TAN-LED global spirits producer Emperador Inc. said it is expanding sustainability initiatives across its operations in the Philippines, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Grupo Emperador Spain is implementing environment-friendly processes and technologies in its vineyard operations, including intelligent irrigation systems and humidity and salinity sensors designed to optimize grape growth while reducing water consumption, Emperador said in an e-mail statement on Monday.

The company said it is also using drones to monitor vineyard usage and employing falconry as natural pest control to reduce chemical applications.

Emperador also said it has replaced combustion forklifts with electric forklifts, increased the recovery of essential biogases during wastewater treatment, and installed solar panels to support its transition to renewable energy.

In the United Kingdom, Emperador’s subsidiary Whyte & Mackay replaced the traditional boiler at the Jura Distillery with a biomass boiler, reducing carbon emissions by about 5,000 tons annually, it noted, adding that it also shifted to a 100% carbon-neutral energy supply powered by renewable wood pellet energy at the Invergordon distillery in Scotland.

The company is utilizing a bioenergy center to process distillery co-products and produce biomethane gas, which it said will offset about 20,900 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2026.

In the Philippines, Emperador plans to install a 640-kilowatt peak solar facility at one of its manufacturing plants, projected to generate over 800,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy annually, reducing its carbon footprint by 593.12 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

In 2023, the company installed a two-megawatt peak solar photovoltaic system at its glass plant, generating approximately 2.5 million kWh of renewable energy yearly and reducing its carbon footprint by about 1,929 metric tons of CO2e annually.

“These initiatives reinforce our strong commitment to integrating sustainability and environmental stewardship across our entire value chain,” Emperador President and Chief Executive Officer Winston S. Co said.

The initiatives align with the sustainability program of Emperador’s parent company, Alliance Global Group, Inc., under its SustainAGIlity program, which focuses on long-term value creation, responsible innovation, and sustainable business growth while addressing environmental, social, and governance goals.

Emperador shares closed up 0.72%, or ten centavos, to P14 per share on Monday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Correcting disinformation about the Philippines’ ‘bad’ economy

Several articles came out recently arguing that the defeat of the Administration’s candidates in the last elections — only half of its Senatorial candidates won — was due to its bad economic performance, especially high prices. And that the current Administration is into economic protectionism while the previous Duterte administration was into economic liberalization.

I consider these points to be disinformation, and I will show why by the numbers.

First, the Philippines’ inflation rate in March and April, or two months before the elections, was low, only 1.8% and 1.4%. The average for January to April was only 2.1%, much lower than that during the same period in 2024 of 3.3%. Four big Asian economies have higher inflation rates this year than the Philippines — India, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Many European nations plus the US and Mexico have had higher inflation than us this year.

Second, the Philippines’ unemployment rate has been on the decline — 3.8% in 2024 which is lower than that of China, India, and Indonesia. It is also lower than that of the US, Canada, and many European countries. More Filipinos now have jobs than in previous years.

Third, the Philippines under the Duterte administration had among the worst dictatorial economic policies in the whole world during the lockdown years of 2020-2021. Our economic contraction of -9.5% in 2020 was the worst in Asia, and it was the worst in Philippine economic history since WWII.

Fourth, the Philippines’ public debt jumped big time during the lockdown dictatorship of the previous administration. The public Debt/GDP ratio jumped from 37% in 2019 to 51.6% in 2020 and 57% in 2021. Many tax-paying shops were shut down, tax-paying individuals were prohibited from working, revenues plummeted while borrowings rose to the roof. Compared to many countries in the world, the Philippines’ scale of increase in Debt/GDP ratio from 2019 to 2021 was significantly higher (see Table 1).

The government’s economic team is doing good, they are pivoting the Philippines away from the trend of low growth in many countries, and even degrowth in Europe.

Others are blaming our supposed economic ills on our exchange rate policy, noting that the Peso is strong relative to the US Dollar and other currencies, so the solution is to depreciate and undervalue the Peso.

I consider this economic digression. The main concern of most Filipinos, not most exporters and traders, is price stability and the availability of more jobs. Our big economic problem is high government spending — that requires high taxation, high regulatory fees and penalties, and increased borrowings.

In 2024, our interest payment alone for our public debt was P763 billion or an average of P2.1 billion a day. In the first four months of 2025, our interest payment was P287 billion or an average of P2.4 billion a day.

Revenues are rising, both tax and non-tax. Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto is improving tax administration and raising non-tax revenues via larger remittances by government corporations and banks.

But the bigger problem is expenditures, both those of the National Government (NG) and local government units (LGUs) spending — they rise much faster than the rise in revenues. For instance, for the first four months of 2025 vs same months of 2024, revenues increased by 11.5% but expenditures increased by 13.6%, led by NG’s 15.9% and LGUs’ 12.8%. Results are predictable: the budget deficit expanded big time, and financing or borrowings also expanded multiple times (see Table 2).

Since LGUs have a rising share of national taxes and they are taking on more functions, NG disbursements and spending should have stepped back, but this is not happening.

I want to mention special spending on the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension. MUPs (military, police, coast guard, firemen, etc.) have never contributed for their own retirement pension — they make no salary deductions for this unlike government doctors and nurses, government teachers and educators, government engineers and agriculturists, and so on.

So, taxpayers were burdened with having to fund an average of P120 billion/year from 2021-2024 for MUP pensions alone, on top of the annual budget for salaries, allowances, and operations of active MUP. This freebie pension should stop, but many legislators, NGOs, and professional and business organizations are perhaps scared to speak up about this fiscal burden. The President and several honest MUPs who understand the burden to taxpayers should speak up about this.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. Research Consultancy Services, and Minimal Government Thinkers. He is an international fellow of the Tholos Foundation.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Metro Davao in sync: Advancing growth through regional alignment

The Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) was established in 2022 under Republic Act No. 11708 to coordinate development, infrastructure, and public services across 15 local government units (LGUs) in the Davao Region. Modeled after the MMDA but operating at a broader, multi-province scale, the MDDA formalizes what was once a loosely coordinated urban cluster into a single metropolitan region focused on harmonizing planning, investment, and service delivery.

With jurisdiction over six cities and nine municipalities, the MDDA brings coherence to a rapidly expanding regional cluster

To appreciate the scale of this task, the MDDA spans six cities and nine municipalities — including Davao City, Tagum, Panabo, Samal, Digos, and Mati — covering 6,492 square kilometers and serving over 3.3 million people. Its mandate includes land use integration, transport management, disaster response, zoning, and environmental coordination. Governed by a council of provincial governors, city mayors, and national agency representatives, the MDDA is positioned as a unifying force rather than a loose coalition of LGUs.

P3.4 billion in 2024 investments underscore economic confidence in Metro Davao

This governance framework becomes even more essential amid rising investor confidence. In 2024, Davao City attracted P3.4 billion in new investments, with P237 million recorded in early 2025. These inflows target sectors like logistics, digital services, manufacturing, and agribusiness — industries that depend on reliable infrastructure and coordinated regional policies. Without a central body like the MDDA, such momentum risks being undermined by fragmented planning.

Davao City faces exceedingly high demand for both warehousing and office spaces

This investment momentum is mirrored in Davao’s blossoming warehouse and office sectors. In 2024 alone, over 100,000 square meters worth of warehousing space were sought, with occupancy rates trending upward — driven by sustained demand from e-commerce, logistics providers, and light manufacturing. This surge in requirements is now being met with a growing pipeline of projects, particularly concentrated in the northern districts of Davao City such as Tibungco, Panacan, and Mahayag.

In contrast to Metro Manila, Metro Clark, and Metro Cebu, Davao City also sustained a strong office occupancy rate of 92% in 2024. Both expanding local firms and new market entrants are actively competing for limited space — particularly prioritizing Grade A, PEZA-accredited offices — underscoring tightening conditions in the city’s commercial real estate market.

Davao Region completed more than 740 infrastructure projects from 2021 to 2024

Metro Davao made strides in infrastructure even before MDDA’s full activation. Between 2021 and 2024, over 740 projects — roads, bridges, public facilities, irrigation, and waste systems — were completed through partnerships among LGUs, national agencies, and development partners. These accomplishments provide a strong foundation for the kind of institutionalized, multi-sector coordination that the MDDA is built to scale.

More transformative infrastructure advancements are underway for Davao

Now, Metro Davao is entering a new phase of growth marked by ongoing high-impact infrastructure. The Davao City Bypass Road Project — a 45.5-kilometer corridor featuring the country’s first long-distance twin-tube mountain tunnel — is set to reduce travel time between Toril, Davao City (Davao del Sur) and Panabo (Davao del Norte) from 1 hour and 44 minutes to just 49 minutes. Meanwhile, the 4.76-kilometer Samal Island–Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge — designed to accommodate over 25,000 vehicles daily — will establish the first permanent land link between Davao City and Samal Island, enhancing connectivity for both tourism and commerce.

Metro Davao’s 2045 master plan will crystallize a unified pipeline of development initiatives

These projects are part of a broader long-term vision. The Metropolitan Davao Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan (2025–2045), developed by NEDA Region XI and JICA, is structured for MDDA-led implementation. It integrates land use, housing, environmental safeguards, and infrastructure into a coherent strategy. Projects such as the Mindanao Railway, Davao Mega Harbor Reclamation, and Sasa Port Modernization support trade and economic clustering. Metro Davao’s location along the Davao Gulf — linking it to the BIMP-EAGA corridor — makes alignment even more critical.

To realize its geographic advantage, Metro Davao must prioritize upgrades alongside new infrastructure

However, seizing this strategic position also requires addressing longstanding infrastructure gaps. Sasa Port, Davao International Airport, and Mati Airport still operate with outdated systems, constraining efficiency. The MDDA can provide the coordination needed to prioritize and sequence these upgrades, ensuring that improvements are timely, aligned, and regionally beneficial.

Momentum is building — execution will be the turning point

In this context, the MDDA represents more than a bureaucratic step — it is a strategic shift toward regionally aligned governance. Yet nearly three years since its creation, key appointments, funding, and operational structures remain pending. Despite this, the groundwork — through infrastructure projects, investment flows, and a unified master plan — is firmly in place. The opportunity now lies in execution: for the MDDA to become the authority that ensures Metro Davao’s growth is not only accelerating, but also cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable.

 

Jet Yu is the founder and chief executive officer of PRIME Philippines, a commercial real estate advisory firm.

SSS to partner with UnionDigital Bank to develop micro-lending program

THE SOCIAL Security System (SSS) is set to partner with UnionDigital Bank, Inc. to develop a micro-lending program for its members and for technical assistance for the agency’s ongoing digitalization.

The state pension fund said its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Robert Joseph M. De Claro and UnionDigital Bank President and CEO Danilo “Bong” J. Mojica II discussed partnership opportunities during a courtesy visit by the latter to the SSS office on May 30.

“SSS has agreed in principle to coordinate and work with UnionDigital Bank in developing and implementing a micro-lending program for SSS members with a 15- to 90-day tenor, making matters easier for overseas Filipinos to transact with SSS, and transferring of technology as SSS goes through digitalization,” it said in a statement on Monday.

The two parties are set to sign a memorandum of agreement for the partnership, it added.

“Through our partnership with UnionDigital Bank, we look forward to further enhancing service delivery to all Filipino workers — service being our main thrust under this administration,” Mr. De Claro said.

“UnionDigital Bank fully supports SSS in its digitalization and service delivery efforts and commits to cooperate in any way to achieve these goals,” Mr. Mojica said.

UnionDigital is one of the six Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-licensed digital banks in the country. It secured its license in July 2021 and began operations in July 2022.

Its total assets stood at P19.45 billion as of end-2024, latest data from the BSP showed.

UnionDigital’s listed parent Union Bank of the Philippines, Inc. saw its attributable net income decline by 28.93% year on year to P1.43 billion in the first quarter due to one-time write-offs from a subsidiary and front-loaded non-recurring costs.

UnionBank’s shares closed at P33.15 apiece on Monday, up by 10 centavos or 0.3% from Friday’s finish. — A.M.C. Sy

ABS-CBN Corp. to conduct 2025 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders via remote communication on June 26

 

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Entertainment News (06/03/25)

Superman filmmakers, stars to visit Philippines in June

THE first stop of the blockbuster film Superman world tour is Manila this month. Filmmakers James Gunn and Peter Safran and stars David Corenswet (who plays Clark Kent/Superman) and Rachel Brosnahan (who plays Lois Lane) will be traveling all over the world. Scheduled for June 19, the Manila stop includes a fan event to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. The movie itself opens in cinemas and IMAX on July 9, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Araneta City launches Araneta Rewards

ARANETA REWARDS, a new loyalty program, is now available through the updated Araneta City mobile app. It will notify members of mall sales and events. Members can also book Gateway Cineplex 18 tickets in advance and check real-time parking availability across over 10,000 slots. The app will also send updates on upcoming shows at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and New Frontier Theater. The Araneta City mobile app is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and points can now be earned with Araneta Rewards.

Miley Cyrus releases new album

MILEY CYRUS’ 9th studio album, Something Beautiful, is out now via Columbia Records and available on all streaming platforms. The 13-track album blends emotional clarity with expansive, cinematic production. It features the new song “Easy Lover.” A full-length visual companion to the album will premiere on June 6 at the Tribeca Festival, directed by Ms. Cyrus, Brendan Walter, Jacob Bixenman, and filmmaker Panos Cosmatos. It will have a one-night theatrical release in the US and Canada on June 12, with international screenings beginning June 27.

Jessica Soho marks 40 years with digital archive

TO MARK her 40th year in journalism in 2025, GMA Public Affairs has launched “Jessica Soho @40: Telling the Story of Filipinos.” This digital archive is available on GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube channel. It takes viewers through the journalist’s four-decade legacy of public service and storytelling excellence in her news show. It features curated exclusives, landmark reports, and deeply human stories that shaped national conversations and gave voice to the unheard. New content will be uploaded weekly.

Offshore Music drops Eraserheads tribute album

INDIE LABEL Offshore Music has honored the iconic OPM band The Eraserheads with a tribute record focusing on their album Cutterpillow. Featuring emerging acts, the tribute album marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark alternative rock album and offers a fresh take on the classic tracks. These include Diego’s Scenes and Ligaya Escueta’s emo-charged take on “Back2Me,” Elton Clark’s synth-pop spin on “Torpedo,” Carousel Casualties’ fun rendition of “Walang Nagbago,” Pinkmen’s harmony-rich version of “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” Pixie Labrador’s Lilith Fair-flavored style “Fill Her,” ALYSON’s slick city pop render of “Huwag Mo Nang Itanong,” ena mori’s theatrical reworking of the title track, and Amateurish and Stef Aranas’ dynamic redo of “Superproxy.” Offshore Music is set to premiere a companion online docuseries on June 6, with new episodes dropping every Friday through August.

HOKA to push Global Running Day campaign

ON JUNE 4, HOKA is inviting everyone to celebrate movement in all its forms through the Global Running Day campaign “One Day. All Ways.” The products it is promoting include the Clifton 10 or Bondi 9 for daily miles, the Cielo X1 2.0 or Rocket X2 on race day, trail-friendly kicks Mafate X or Speedgoat, or comfortable hiking buddies Hopara or Anacapa. To run with HOKA, visit any of its stores in One Ayala Mall, GH Mall, SM Aura, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay, as well as Planet Sports Asia TriNoma, Planet Sports Galleria Cebu, Planet Sports Clark City Front Mall, Runnr BGC, Planet Sports Ayala Center Cebu, and online at HOKA.com.

Sponge Cola releases new singles

FILIPINO rock band Sponge Cola has dropped their newest single, “Liwanag,” accompanied by an official music video. The upbeat, feel-good anthem captures Sponge Cola’s signature pop-rock energy, with bright guitars, driving drums, and Yael Yuzon’s unmistakable vocals. It is inspired by the spirit of Filipino summer road trips and spontaneous barkada adventures. Its music video mirrors that vibrant mood, following the band on a summer escapade with friends. It is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Thai horror movie Don’t Sleep in Ayala Malls Cinemas

AYALA Malls Cinemas is exclusively bringing to Philippine theaters another Asian horror film this month. The Thai horror-thriller Don’t Sleep, starring Atiwat Saengtien and Pantipa Arunwattanachai, opens on June 4. It is rated R-16. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Thailand, it blends ancient Thai folklore with contemporary themes of guilt, grief, and redemption. The film follows a group of friends who inadvertently awaken dark spirits while playing with a mystical version of a ouija board which plunges them into a harrowing battle for survival.

Thai rapper Milli showcases new single

RISING Thai rapper MILLI has just released a peek at her upcoming album with the single “MENACE,” a suave crossover track with introspective lyrics. The music video is directed by Rose-Ruangsroi Aksornsawang, an award-winning film director, who brought cinematic visuals to an intense storyline that reflects the themes of the upcoming album HEAVYWEIGHT. “MENACE” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Italian Film Festival 2025 returns this June

THE Philippines’ iteration of the Italian Film Festival is back. Happening on June 6 and 7 at Cinema 2, SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, this two-day celebration of contemporary Italian cinema is presented by the Embassy of Italy in Manila and the Philippine-Italian Association. Check out the lineup at SM Aura and Italian Film Festival 2025’s social media pages.

New films on HBO Max this June

THE HBO Original film Mountainhead will premiere this month. Created by seven-time Emmy winner Jesse Armstrong, it stars Steve Carell, Cory Michael Smith, Ramy Youssef, and Jason Schwartzman as four rich tech leaders who gather for a poker weekend in a mountain mansion. Mountainhead premieres on June 1. Meanwhile, Award-winning movies such as The Brutalist (June 21) and Nosferatu (June 28) will also arrive on the platform this month.

Morissette returns to the concert stage with Ember

FILIPINO singer Morissette is set to headline a solo concert, Ember, on Oct. 28, 8 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It will celebrate 15 years of music, milestones, and global impact, charting her early days as a powerhouse teen vocalist on The Voice of the Philippines, to performing alongside icons like Michael Bolton and Alan Menken, to her award-winning performance in the musical film Song of the Fireflies which premieres in cinemas on June 25. Ticket details for Ember will be released soon.

Prime Video releases June slate of TV shows, movies

PRIME VIDEO is turning up the heat this June with a lineup of new titles, including the sci-fi adventure Borderlands (June 9), the action-comedy Deep Cover (June 12), and the haunting mystery series We Were Liars (June 18), based on the best-selling novel. Fans of supernatural romance can look forward to Head Over Heels (June 23), while crime drama enthusiasts can expect Countdown (June 25), led by Jensen Ackles.

Puregold to hold OPM Con in July

THE music event OPM Con 2025, hosted by supermarket chain Puregold, is coming up on July 5. It will bring together some of the biggest names in Filipino music: SB19, BINI, Flow G, Skusta Clee, KAIA, G22, and SunKissed Lola, among others. Over 50 Puregold branches will be giving free tickets to the event, with a minimum single receipt purchase of groceries that corresponds to their ticket type: P1,500 worth of purchases for general admission, P2,500 worth for Upper Box, P3,500 worth for Lower Box Regular, P4,500 worth for Lower Box Premium, P5,000 worth for Regular Patron, P6,000 worth for Premium Patron, and P7,500 worth for VIP Standing with Sound Check. For more information, visit Puregold and Ticketnet.

AXEAN Festival goes to Bali this September

FROM Sept. 13 to 14, the AXEAN Festival will light up the Jimbaran Hub in Bali, Indonesia, as musicians from all over Southeast Asia prepare to perform onstage. The intra-regional music event will showcase over 40 emerging and established acts. For the first time, the AXEAN Festival will be shining a spotlight on Southeast Asia’s burgeoning rave, dance, and electronic culture with the launch of its SEA Club Showcase, a live music platform dedicated to regional electronic subcultures — Indonesian funkot or dangdut, Vietnamese vinahouse, Singaporean/Malaysian manyao, and Filipino budots. 

The Fray’s 20th anniversary tour comes to Manila

AMERICAN pop-rock band The Fray is set to bring its How to Save a Life: 20th Anniversary Tour to the Philippines on Dec. 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Celebrating two decades since the release of their legendary debut album, this special tour will feature original member Joe King, the band’s guitarist, vocalist, and main songwriter, taking on lead vocals. He’ll be joined by longtime guitarist Dave Welsh and drummer Ben Wysocki.

CAB: Some foreign carriers eye to charge terminal enhancement fees

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

SOME FOREIGN CARRIERS are also seeking approval to collect terminal enhancement fees to offset rising costs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

“There are also foreign carriers, just a few of them. They are dealing with this as a group… They are in the wings, just waiting to see what will happen with the locals. They indicated that they are going to file,” CAB Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla said during a press briefing on Monday.

These foreign carriers have not formally submitted proposals to collect the fees but have expressed their intention to do so, Mr. Arcilla added. He declined to identify the carriers involved.

Last year, local airlines including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines requested CAB approval to impose a terminal enhancement fee amid increased charges at NAIA.

Since taking over NAIA operations, private operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has raised landing, takeoff, and other fees.

The airlines proposed a terminal enhancement fee of P150 for domestic roundtrip flights and up to P300 each way for international flights.

The fee would be charged separately from the base fare and itemized distinctly on passenger receipts, similar to fuel surcharges and value-added tax.

CAB is still reviewing the proposals and has not set a timeline for a decision.

“We have not set a timeline [to come up with a decision] because the proposal is significant; we are not in a hurry. This will take time,” Mr. Arcilla said.

The Department of Transportation earlier said airlines could opt to include the terminal enhancement fee in the base fare.

“That is the prerogative of the airlines. If they perceive that is the cost, the cost will be factored in the overall price. That is the call of the airlines,” he said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

More than manicures

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

Last term, I took up the subject Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance, which focuses on social responsibility, sustainable development, and corporate governance. A huge part of the subject is “service learning,” which is a “course-based, credit-bearing, educational experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs, and reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and, an enhanced sense of civic responsibility.”

Our class was assigned to an organization that aims to provide basic and quality education to children from marginalized communities to give them opportunities for a life beyond poverty. It also helps the parents of these children. The organization has been operating for over 50 years, serving eight communities since its establishment. Its representatives were from the Tondo community.

During the orientation, we heard about lives, woven through stories of struggle, resilience, and quiet strength. We learned about nanays (mothers) who wake up every day to fight against circumstances that refuse to yield. In the Tondo community, education is a privilege, not a guarantee; stability is something hoped for, but rarely held.

We heard stories of families holding together by sheer will; of dreams being quietly set aside for the sake of survival. The representatives spoke of a community where opportunities, especially for our target beneficiaries, the nanays, were scarce, where jobs that allowed women to provide for their children while staying present in their lives felt like a distant hope. It was not just poverty; it was the slow erosion of choices, the weight of uncertainty pressing on them every day. We asked questions, not just about the nanays’ needs, but also about their dreams. We sought to understand not just what they lacked, but also what they longed for. We imagined their days: waking before the sun, stretching every peso and every meal, making impossible choices between paying the rent and buying food, between working and being present for their children.

And we realized that the nanays needed something they could carry forward: a skill, a small way to regain control over their lives. So, our group, ably headed by Carlos Valencia and Steven Dimaculangan, created a project that would give them something small but real: a chance to reclaim something for themselves.

Nailvana La Salle is not just about nail care, but about agency, about self-worth, about turning skill into opportunity. We wanted to give the nanays something that could last, something that could be theirs. Because poverty does not take away just money. It takes away dignity. It takes away confidence. It takes away the belief that things can get better. And if we could give the nanays even a small piece of that back, then that would be worth everything.

Our project directly supported two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): gender equality (SDG 5) and no poverty (SDG 1). By equipping women with manicure and pedicure skills, the project empowered them to increase their participation in economic activities and gain financial independence. Through this initiative, the nanays were given the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, boost their self-confidence, and secure employment, whether by working in salons or establishing their own small businesses. This financial independence not only strengthens their personal growth but also reduces economic dependence and enhances their ability to support their families.

Additionally, the project addresses SDG 1: No Poverty, which focuses on ensuring equal access to economic resources for marginalized populations. By providing a practical and income-generating skill, Nailvana could help participants build sustainable livelihoods and qualify for microfinance opportunities. More than just a workshop, Nailvana served as a pathway to stability and self-sufficiency, proving that small, community-driven efforts can create lasting impacts on both individual lives and broader social change.

I walked into the room thinking poverty was just about money. I thought that if we could just donate enough, then maybe things would start to shift. But as the organization representatives spoke, I felt that assumption unravel. Poverty wasn’t just a lack of resources; it was the weight of doors never opened, of choices never given. It was nanays who had dreams, but no means; who carried love, but not opportunities. Nailvana took shape not just as a skill-building workshop, but also as a quiet rebellion against helplessness. It was not just about manicures or pedicures. It was about hands that had spent years in service of others finally learning to care for themselves, too. My expectations were not entirely wrong; yes, financial struggle was real. But the deeper truth is that people do not need just money. They also need reasons to believe in themselves again. They need reminders that they are still capable of building something new. And maybe, in giving them that, my group mates and I learned the same thing about ourselves.

Moving forward, I want to be more conscious of how my education is not just for me, but also for the communities I can serve, for the spaces where my voice and efforts can make a difference. It is easy to chase success and forget why we wanted it in the first place. But I want my work, whatever it may be, to be tied to something bigger than myself. I want to be in rooms where decisions that are made consider the people who are too often left out. Because if this project has taught me anything, it is that real change begins when we stop waiting for someone else to fix things, and instead start asking: What can I do, here and now, with what I have?

 

CJ Anthony L. Requerme is a Legal Management student at De La Salle University. This reflection paper was a course requirement.

cj_requerme@dlsu.edu.ph

BPI keeps InstaPay fee at P10

BPI FACEBOOK PAGE

BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has made permanent its reduced P10 transaction fee for interbank fund transfers done via InstaPay on its mobile application and online banking platform.

“We are committed to making banking more affordable to more Filipinos. The response to our promotion reducing InstaPay fee to P10 last March was very positive, as we experienced increased transactions through our online and mobile banking channels,” BPI Head of Consumer Banking and Executive Vice-President Maria Cristina “Ginbee” L. Go said in a statement on Monday.

“Making the P10 InstaPay fee permanent is part of our broader commitment to deliver convenient, secure, and cost-efficient digital services that empower Filipinos to manage their finances more effectively,” Ms. Go added.

The bank lowered the transfer fee as a promotional rate to encourage its clients to use its digital platforms for their transactions.

The move to make the reduced charge permanent “reflects BPI’s commitment to making digital financial services more affordable for its customers — offering one of the lowest transfer fees in the industry,” it said.

“By making the rate permanent, BPI supports greater financial inclusion and helps customers keep more of their money where it matters — especially when making frequent interbank fund transfers.”

InstaPay is a real-time, low-value electronic fund transfer facility for transactions up to P50,000 and is mostly used for remittances and e-commerce.

The total value of InstaPay transactions rose by 49% year on year to P3.13 trillion in the first four months of 2025, based on latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The volume of transactions that went through the payment gateway more than doubled to 799.97 million in the period from 388.5 million a year prior.

BPI’s net income increased by 9% year on year to P16.6 billion in the first quarter.

Its shares rose by 70 centavos or 0.5% to close at P139.80 apiece on Monday. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

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