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Stuff to Do (07/18/25)

Go to KCC’s KPop Demon Hunters experience

THE Korean Cultural Center (KCC) is now offering a Korean heritage experience based on the hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters. Until Aug. 4, Step Into the World of KPop Demon Hunters, a four-part “experience” that lets audiences explore various Korean cultural elements, will give fans a deeper understanding of the film. All activities are free and open to the public (except for the limited workshop slots). The Korean Cultural Center is at 59 Bayani Road, Taguig City.

Listen to Thai rapper MILLI’s new album

THAI rapper MILLI has released her new full album HEAVYWEIGHT, marking her ascent to “heavyweight” status as an artist. Featuring 13 tracks that channel MILLI’s stories and emotions, the album combines raw emotions, hard-hitting beats, and her signature rap style. While almost all the lyrics are in English, MILLI incorporated Thai words into every track. The album is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Visit the Sang’gre exhibit at Gateway 2

GATEWAY MALL 2 in Cubao, Quezon City is opening The Sang’gre Experience at the Quantum Skyview of the mall’s Upper Ground B. The immersive exhibit will be held on July 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is based on the popular fantasy series Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre and gives fans a glimpse into magical kingdoms through various activities, photo opportunities, and a chance to meet and greet the cast.

Listen to Wolf Alice’s new single

BRITISH band Wolf Alice has dropped a new single, “The Sofa,” which will be part of their fourth studio album, The Clearing, to be released in August. The release follows the band’s festival performances at Primavera, where they unveiled the song for the first time, and at Glastonbury set on home soil. “The Sofa” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Watch a new love story in Magpakailanman

A TALE of forbidden love, heartbreak, and emotional entanglement is premiering on the upcoming episode of Magpakailanman on July 19. Titled “I Love You, Tita,” the episode is headlined by Jean Garcia and Rafael Rosell, together with Mia Pangyarihan and Sharmaine Santiago. The story follows Doc Jane (Ms. Garcia) as she mourns the loss of her husband and finds solace in Jay (Mr. Rosell). It is directed by Gil Tejada, Jr. and written by Jessie Villabrille. Magpakailanman airs every Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on GMA-7.

Listen to IV OF SPADES’ surprise comeback single

THE band IV OF SPADES is back after a five-year hiatus during which time they pursued solo careers and side projects. “Aura,” their first single since 2020, was released as a surprise. Produced by IV OF SPADES and Brian Lotho, the song explores themes of longing and unconditional love. Its music video was directed and produced by Lunchbox. It is also IV OF SPADES’ first official release under their new label, Sony Music Entertainment, and new management, Balcony Music Entertainment.

Explore luxury homes in Laguna

THE travel series EIC On The Move has brought lifestyle editor-host Raul Manzano to Laguna searching for quiet luxury away from busy cities. The new episode premieres on July 20, 8:30 p.m., on Metro Channel. It features his long-time friend Ponce Veridiano, a landscape artist and painter, who showcases his home-turned-gallery in Nagcarlan, Laguna; and Linda Lagdameo, whose Moroccan-inspired home offers picturesque views of nature.

Manny Pacquiao’s poignant perseverance in the boxing ring

FACEBOOK.COM/MANNYPACQUIAO

By Howard Chua-Eoan

I SHOULDN’T be so chagrined that Manny Pacquiao is re-entering a Las Vegas boxing ring this weekend for a professional fight at the age of 46. After all, I recently wrote a meditation on persevering through the ravages of age and physical decline. I’ve admired Pacquiao for years and trailed him around New York City for a Time magazine cover story in 2009. He was the most recognizable Filipino on earth at the time, a distinction that everyone from the islands — where I was born — was proud.

And there was so much to be proud of. Born into extreme poverty on the island of Mindanao, he was — at the height of his career — a whirlwind of prowess and prosperity, with the relentless voracity of the videogame that became his nickname: Pac-Man. One estimate has his net worth at more than $200 million, out of earnings from the sport and endorsements as high as half-a-billion dollars. His 2015 battle with nemesis Floyd Mayweather, Jr. still holds the record for most pay-per-view sales: 4.6 million. He is literally pound-for-pound the greatest pugilist of our time: the only boxer in history to hold championships in eight different weight classes. When I reported on him in 2009, he’d already won six and was preparing to win his seventh — in the welterweight division. That was 40 pounds (640 ounces, or 18.1 kilograms) heavier than the 107-pound flyweight class he began his career with 11 years before. He claimed the eighth — the super welterweight, which has a top limit of 154 pounds — in 2019 when he was 40 years old.

So why should I be vexed by his return to the ring at 46?

It’s not really about age. In 1994, a 45-year-old George Foreman retook the heavyweight championship — which he first won in 1973 — by defeating 26-year-old Michael Moorer. Pacquiao — who had retired at the end of 2021 —will be facing Mexican-American Mario Barrios, who is 30, for a fresh chance at the welterweight crown. If he wins, he’ll be the oldest ever to hold it. And if he does, will he then aim for the overall boxing record set by Bernard Hopkins, Jr., who won a heavyweight title at the age of 49? As a sexagenarian, I’m all for aging underdogs getting the upper hand.

I’m wary because there’s more than a hint of desperation about this — the kind of emotion that shouldn’t cling to such an illustrious career. From 2010 to earlier this year, Pacquiao was also one of the most famous politicians in the Philippines, serving as congressman and then senator. He even ran for president in 2022. He’d been drawn to politics long before then: It was practically a traditional career move for the nation’s successful actors, singers, athletes, and businesspeople. He won a lot of votes, but he wasn’t particularly good at politics, swinging from one alliance to another without any real benefit, pounded by critics from all sides for his unfamiliarity with bureaucracy and backroom machinations, committing avoidable gaffe after gaffe. His celebrity and active boxing career for much of this period also made him an absentee legislator — a record that probably doomed his run for the presidency and certainly his shot for a second senate term in May of this year. A few days after that last campaign, he announced he was coming out of retirement to fight Barrios.

Since then, there’s been enough melodrama to qualify for a Rocky sequel. As he prepared for the Barrios bout, his son Jimuel told him that he too was going to be a pro boxer. That stunned Pacquiao, who slugged his way from destitution to riches to be able to send his kids to the best schools. He didn’t want to see them struggle the way he did. At first, Jimuel’s debut fight was going to be a warmup to his father’s match. But Pacquiao last week said he didn’t want the distraction of seeing his eldest son duke it out before he himself stepped into the ring, postponing his kid’s bout until September or October.

Meanwhile, Freddy Roach — the trainer whose acumen helped establish Pacquiao’s long reign as a lord of the ring — has rejoined the boxer. There’d been a couple of years of estrangement after he was summarily dismissed in the wake of a 2018 defeat. The relationship is particularly poignant. In 2010, Pacquiao’s opponent Antonio Margarito mocked Roach, who has Parkinson’s disease. The punishment the Filipino meted out in revenge is legendary. Margarito lost practically every round and was hospitalized afterward for facial surgery. In 2013, Brandon Rios also made fun of Roach; Pacquiao sent him packing after a unanimous decision.

Ironically, Roach has always been cautious about Pacquiao’s fights. Even in 2009, he was saying the boxer only had two or three more fights left in him. He went on to battle 17 more times. But age was already catching up with Pacquiao. Mayweather may have won his epic match against Pacquiao by playing hard-to-get; by the time they eventually touched gloves, both men were past their primes, but Pacquiao was more past than Mayweather. He lost by unanimous decision. The Filipino seemed even less agile in 2021 when he lost to Yordenis Ugas, the defeat that prompted his retirement.

The likelihood is that Pacquiao — win or lose — will take home about $5 million from this match.* That’s chump change to the boxing legend. Pacquiao told Roach it’s about history, not money. “‘I just have one more time in me,’” the trainer quotes the fighter as saying. “‘I just want to show the world that I was for real and I am for real.’”

Everyone knows that, Manny. I’ll be rooting for you come Saturday in Vegas. But how much history can one person make before becoming history in the wrong way?

BLOOMBERG OPINION

*Barrios’ take home is probably much smaller — $1 million or so — because Pacquiao is the draw.

PLDT, Smart tap MPower to activate 153 sites under retail aggregation program

In photo are (L-R) Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Nethercott, Smart Chief Operating Officer Anastacio R. Martirez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo G. Jimenez, Meralco First Vice-President and MPower Head Redel M. Domingo, MPower Retail Sales Head Eddie John V. Adug, and outgoing ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa Dimalanta.

MPOWER, the local retail electricity supplier of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), is set to activate 144 cell sites and nine facilities of PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm, Smart Communications, Inc., under the government’s Retail Aggregation Program (RAP).

PLDT and Smart aggregated a total demand of over 2,500 kilowatts across the PLDT Group’s integrated network to engage MPower’s energy solutions, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday.

“Our Group has always believed that national progress depends on two essential foundations: reliable power and strong digital connectivity. One cannot function without the other — hand in glove, so to speak — and both are critical to ensuring that our people — especially those on the margins — have access to opportunity,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman and chief executive officer of PLDT, Smart, and Meralco.

“This is why this collaboration is consequential, because it reflects our continued effort to align our resources and capabilities to serve our customers better with reliable and consistent power and connectivity,” he added.

RAP is a customer choice program launched by the Energy Regulatory Commission, which allows loads from multiple end-users within the same franchise area to be aggregated to meet minimum energy demand requirements.

“As we future-proof our network to deliver 5G and AI capabilities to our customers, we are also mindful of the cost of operating the network and our impact on the environment. This partnership with MPower will allow us to operate a smarter and greener network and manage our energy costs, all in a manner that is kinder to the planet,” said PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network Menardo “Butch” G. Jimenez, Jr.

PLDT and Smart’s RAP activation builds on their ongoing shift to renewable energy sources.

Last year, 30 of the group’s sites were switched to full renewables — 24 in Metro Manila and six in Mindanao. In 2023, PLDT and Smart also tapped geothermal energy for five network facilities in the Visayas.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Boss refuses to teach key job details

I have a new boss who has no time to coach me. He told me I should do my job without help and commit “occasional, but honest mistakes,” which he said is great for learning. That made me anxious. Is this the right approach to take for our work relationship? — Brave Heart.

Your situation can be interpreted as both positive and negative. One, he wants you to be empowered in determining the best approach to doing your job. It’s also possible your boss is being negligent if he fails to provide clear standards.

Just the same, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Many managers prefer that you “learn by doing” almost everything, believing that mistakes are essential for career growth. They prefer their workers to take the initiative rather than wait for instructions or the boss’s counsel.

I’d rather take it positively. Your boss is telling you that you’re being trusted. That’s to help you build self-confidence. Usually, they’ll tell you not to be afraid of experimenting.

​It’s a vote of confidence, especially if your job requires that you manage things autonomously while minimizing room for mistakes.

If you’re ambitious and would want to improve your chances of getting a promotion, this is the right time for you to prove your worth.

CALCULATED MEASURES
Generally, your boss is not your enemy, but could be a manager with many tasks on his plate who has no spare time to help you with the nitty-gritty of your job. If you’re ambitious and hungry for growth, explore the following measures:

One, clarify the boss’s intention. Some managers get nervous when a worker expresses interest in learning higher-level skills — especially if they think it’s a threat to their position. That’s not always about ego. Sometimes it’s fear or insecurity.

Defuse the threat and focus on contribution. Say something like: “I admire the way you manage the team and handle strategic issues. I’d love to learn more so I can support you better and grow within the company.”

This signals your interest in being seen as an asset, not a challenge. Position yourself as a future-ready team player who wants to increase your value, without staging a mutiny.

Two, start with calculated risks. Find small ways to step up. Offer to help with reports, prep for meetings, or coordinate team events. These low-risk tasks build trust and give you exposure to higher-level responsibilities.

Step in (without overstepping) when your boss is away or swamped with work.

​But anticipate all possible repercussions. These baby steps give you critical insights into decision-making, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management, without needing formal permission.

Three, look for a friendly mentor somewhere. If your boss isn’t interested in developing your skills, someone else might be. It could be a friendly senior colleague, someone from another team, or a cross-functional leader who’s open to mentoring. Feel your way through.

Better if you can choose an external mentor who’s willing to help you. Here’s a shameless plug. I can give you free consultations, either via e-mail, chat message, or video conference. I would be flattered to assist you with my ideas about your progress.

Four, learn on your own. Not all learning comes from your direct manager, a colleague, or an external consultant. You can build knowledge in many aspects of management through free online platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning.

You can also learn through shadowing opportunities, cross-training, or project-based exposure. Ask your HR department if you can be a part of a management development program that helps people fast-track their learning experience.

Learning by observation, even without permission, can still be powerful.

Five, document your initiative. Aside from arming yourself for performance appraisals, listing down all your milestones will remind your boss of your actual value. In case of an internal job vacancy or similar opportunities, whether in your department or elsewhere, it helps to have references.

Keep a log of the significant projects you volunteered for and the extent of your contribution, skills you’ve developed, courses completed, and specific instances where you contributed beyond your role.

SPEAK WITH ACTION
You have an ambition. That’s great. But handle situations with emotional intelligence. Don’t go over your boss’s head unless it’s an HR issue or a toxic work environment. That burns bridges quickly. More importantly, don’t gossip to peers about your boss’s refusal to mentor you. It creates mistrust.

Actions are louder than words. When you consistently take initiative, solve problems, and add value, people notice — even if your manager doesn’t say so out loud. Other leaders might see your quiet rise and open doors you never expected.

Leadership isn’t always taught. Sometimes, it’s earned by being self-confident.

 

Ask questions and receive Rey Elbo’s insights for free. E-mail elbonomics@gmail.com or DM him on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or via https://reyelbo.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.

Peso drops further on Trump-Powell drama

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO plunged against the dollar for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday and hit a fresh three-week low amid US President Donald J. Trump’s flip-flopping statements on the fate of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell.

The local unit closed at P57.29 per dollar, sinking by 20.5 centavos from its P57.085 finish on Wednesday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

This was its worst finish in more than three weeks or since it closed at P57.58 on June 23.

The peso opened Thursday’s session slightly stronger at P57.05 against the dollar and climbed to its intraday best of P56.95. However, it failed to hold on to its early gains as it ended closer to its intraday low of P57.30 against the greenback.

Dollars traded rose to $1.93 billion on Thursday from $1.58 billion on Wednesday.

“The dollar-peso closed higher after President Trump denied news that he will fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, which revived market confidence in the US central bank’s independence,” a trader said in a phone interview.

The dollar was broadly stronger on Thursday as investors assessed Mr. Trump’s latest comments on Mr. Powell’s future, Reuters reported.

The dollar firmed 0.44% against the euro, bringing it largely back to where it had been before a spike late on Wednesday on investor worries that removing the Fed chief before his term ends in May 2026 would undermine faith in the US financial system.

Mr. Trump said Wednesday he is not planning to fire Mr. Powell, but he kept the door open to the possibility and renewed his criticism of the central bank chief for not lowering interest rates.

Mr. Trump has railed against Mr. Powell for months for not easing rates, which he says should be at 1% or lower. Bloomberg reported that the president is likely to fire Mr. Powell soon, and a source told Reuters that Mr. Trump polled some Republican lawmakers on firing Mr. Powell and received a positive response. Mr. Trump said that the reports were not true.

“I don’t rule out anything, but I think it’s highly unlikely unless he has to leave for fraud,” Mr. Trump said, a reference to recent White House and Republican lawmaker criticism of cost overruns in the $2.5-billion renovation of the Fed’s historic headquarters in Washington.

Lingering concerns over the Trump administration’s tariff policies and its possible effect on the Fed’s easing cycle continued to weigh on global markets, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort added in a Viber message

For Friday, the trader said the peso could move from P57 and P57.50 per dollar “as market players await development on central bank-related news as well as trade-related headlines.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Ricafort said the local unit could trade from P56.15 to P57.40. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters

A Minute With: How To Train Your Dragon star and director on making the live-action movie

Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon (2025) — IMDB

LONDON — How To Train Your Dragon writer and director Dean DeBlois says he feels both relief and pressure embarking on its sequel following the live-action remake’s box office success.

The fantasy adventure, which has grossed $560 million worldwide since its release in June, came out some 15 years after the DreamWorks animation, which DeBlois co-wrote and co-directed. DeBlois also directed the two subsequent animations.

Staying loyal to the original, the live-action follows kind-hearted young Viking Hiccup, played by Mason Thames, who secretly befriends a dragon he names Toothless.

(How to Train Your Dragon is now showing in Philippine cinemas with an MTRCB rating of PG.)

In an interview with Reuters ahead of the film’s release on Tuesday, which includes behind-the-scenes vignettes, DeBlois and Thames spoke about bringing the animation to life.

Below are excerpts edited for length and clarity.

Q: What was it like revisiting this world and bringing it to life?

DeBlois: It was certainly a fun challenge to take a story that I had basically put to bed after spending a decade of my life on it and to sort of dive back into the world but through the live action lens, which meant we could present a… very grounded, a very credible version of this world. And that meant being able to scout locations in Iceland and the Faroe Islands and Scotland to start to design and build actual sets… where we could walk around and touch things.

Q: What was it like stepping into the franchise?

Thames: It was very daunting and slightly terrifying because… so many people care about this world and these characters… I really wanted to do Hiccup as a character justice… and finding my version was a lot of fun.

Q: How did you bring to life some of the animation’s famous scenes, like “Forbidden Friendship” and “Test Flight”?

DeBlois on “Forbidden Friendship”: Our solution was to give Mason a dragon and we did so by creating foam versions of Toothless… that would be puppeteered by Tom Wilton… And so they worked out the choreography, the drawing in the sand, the sort of stepping around lines and coming to touch for the first time in this beautiful way set to John Powell’s music.

Thames on “Test Flight”: It’s just me on… a giant mechanical bull with wind machines in my face… I had the music playing in the background, which was really cool.

Q: Given the film’s success, how do you feel going into the sequel?

DeBlois: I feel relieved that the movie is being embraced, that audiences are showing up and they’re definitely demonstrating that there’s still an appetite for this world and these characters. And I also feel the pressure to deliver at the highest level we can… No installment of How to Train Your Dragon should feel like a disappointment that stains the franchise. So I always feel that pressure, for sure. — Reuters

How population growth compared across regions in 2024

THE COUNTRY’S total population grew to 112.73 million in 2024, higher than the 109.04 million recorded in 2020, Census of Population data showed. Read the full story.

How population growth compared across regions in 2024

How PSEi member stocks performed — July 17, 2025

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Philippines, US conduct 8th joint maritime drills in South China Sea

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporters

THE PHILIPPINES and US conducted joint maritime drills in the contested South China Sea on Wednesday to strengthen naval coordination between the two close allies and improve maritime awareness in the waterway that China claims almost entirely.

The Philippine Navy deployed its newest warship, BRP Miguel Malvar, to participate in naval drills within Manila’s exclusive economic zone alongside the US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur, the Philippine military said in a statement on late Wednesday.

Also participating were Coast Guard vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Suluan, which carried out boarding and search operations to strengthen law enforcement capabilities, it added.

“These maritime engagements demonstrate our commitment to maintaining a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific,” Philippine military chief General Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. said.

Manila and Washington, which are long-time treaty allies, are working together to bolster defense coordination amid increased Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, a key global trade route that is believed to be rich in minerals and oil deposits.

The two nations agreed to hold “maritime cooperative activities” (MCA) in the contested waters to help bolster their forces’ interoperability at sea. The exercise on Wednesday was the fourth for the year and eighth overall since the drills began in 2023.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Multinational military cooperation has become the new normal in the South China Sea as the Philippines, the US, and other key allies ramp up joint operations to counter China’s growing presence, which Manila and its partners view as destabilizing to regional security.

“The 8th bilateral MCA reinforces both countries’ shared commitment to upholding international law, freedom of navigation and regional stability,” Mr. Brawner said.

The naval drills saw the Philippine and US navies performing communication drills meant at honing coordination protocols and contact reporting exercises aimed at practicing the identification and reporting of unknown vessels in contested waters.

Sailors also conducted deck operations aboard BRP Miguel Malvar as part of the joint drills, practicing helicopter launch procedures while the warship is at sea.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ mid-year command conference at the Philippine military’s headquarters on Thursday, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The conference served as a platform to discuss key national strategic matters and review the military’s recent achievements, it added.

The Southeast Asian nation adheres to its so-called Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept as it shifts its focus from internal to external defense, a strategic pivot aimed at countering maritime threats and safeguarding its vast territorial waters.

PALACE ORDERS
This also followed President Marcos’ directive for all state agencies to intensify efforts in promoting public understanding of the country’s maritime domain and archipelagic status, as Manila continues to assert its sovereign rights in the South China Sea.

According to Memorandum Circular No. 87, signed on July 11 by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Malacañang ordered agencies to implement education, information dissemination, and public engagement campaigns highlighting the Philippines as a maritime and archipelagic nation.

“To raise and deepen public understanding of the country’s maritime and archipelagic issues and concerns, it is imperative to strengthen public awareness, national consciousness, and intergenerational appreciation of the Philippine national territory and maritime zones,” the memorandum read.

The directive comes as the Philippines on July 12 marked the ninth anniversary of its landmark arbitral victory against China. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis, affirming Manila’s rights within its exclusive economic zone.

The memorandum also urged local government units and the private sector to support the initiative.

The PCO will spearhead the implementation of communication strategies to inform and engage the public, while the National Maritime Council, through the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns, was tasked to lead year-round programs promoting maritime awareness.

The council is also expected to organize activities for Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month every September.

Josue Raphael J. Cortez, who lectures on diplomacy at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said the new mandate from the Palace is another strategy for the Philippines to further embed in the social psyche the sovereign rights the country has over the disputed areas and the resources on them.

“It is also a stark way to remind the public of the very reason why there is a need for us to uphold our territorial integrity, no matter how capable and powerful foreign powers are,” he said via Facebook Messenger chat.

He noted the move is an effective way to demonstrate the public’s commitment to the cause, which can also be carried on to the other areas of governance, specifically the private sector and civil society.

“Maximizing the integral role of these sectors in further raising awareness on the vitality of upholding our rights in these domains will certainly generate a positive repercussion towards our quest for territorial integrity by fueling a whole-of-society approach in defending what is rightfully ours, as given by the Arbitral Award of 2016,” Mr. Cortez added.

The move is also a manifestation of the country’s desire to promote a normative type of showing of its might, echoing that it remains a peace-loving country and conflict resolution through diplomacy.

Meanwhile, a senator filed a bill seeking to institutionalize the Philippine Navy’s plan to establish forward operating bases nationwide that would serve as strategic outposts near the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Under Senate Bill No. 340, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito seeks to provide at least P1 billion in initial funding to the navy in its pursuit to construct bases in provinces like Palawan, Zambales and Surigao del Norte.

“In light of the escalating geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the institutionalization and funding for the Philippine Navy forward operating bases are a fundamental national security imperative,” the senator said in the explanatory note of the bill, shared to reporters on Thursday.

Gov’t on high alert as PAGASA expects Crising to intensify

PAGASA continues monitoring tropical depression Crising, which is expected to intensify into a severe tropical atorm by Saturday, July 19. — DOST-PAGASA OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered all government agencies to implement proactive measures as the state weather bureau expects tropical depression Crising to intensify into a severe tropical storm by Saturday.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said concerned agencies are now on high alert as they conduct pre-disaster risk assessments at the President’s directive.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday afternoon declared a red alert status, requiring duty officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police to render duty at its operations center in Quezon City.

Technical staff from other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA), Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, among others, are also called to gather at the operations center.

Crising was spotted at 335 kilometers northeast of Virac in Catanduanes or 545 km east of Baler, Aurora, as of 4 p.m., PAGASA said in a 5 p.m. report.

It was moving west northwestward at 30 km per hour, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 55 km/h, gustiness of up to 70 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa. PAGASA said strong winds extend outwards up to 500 km from the center.

Crising may make landfall over mainland Cagayan by Friday, the weather bureau noted.

Moreover, it is expected to intensify into a tropical storm on Thursday evening or early Friday morning and further intensify into a severe tropical storm by Saturday morning or afternoon.

“Further intensification over the Philippine Sea and the possibility of reaching Severe Tropical Storm before landfall is not ruled out,” it said.

The NDRRMC said in a situation report on Thursday there were already three landslides and 19 flooded areas due to Crising and the southwest monsoon in central Visayas.

PAGASA has raised wind Signal No. 1 in several Luzon areas such as Batanes; Cagayan including Babuyan Islands; Isabela; Quirino; the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi,

Bayombong, Solano, Ambaguio, Villaverde, Dupax del Norte, Bambang, Kayapa), the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler), Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kibungan, Kabayan, Bokod, Atok, Kapangan).

Also under Signal No. 1 were Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union (Bangar, Sudipen, Luna, Balaoan, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan), Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, San Jose, Presentacion, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa), and Catanduanes.

FLOOD CONTROL
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, meanwhile, urged local government units (LGUs) to integrate comprehensive flood risk reduction programs into their design and solid waste management plans.

LGUs should pursue ecosystem restoration by implementing green infrastructure and restoring natural water systems to absorb excess rainwater, it said in a statement.

They should incorporate modern drainage solutions that can handle increased rainfall volumes and ensure that waste management systems prevent blockages in drainage systems, it added.

The Philippines, which is highly vulnerable to climate change, may see 11 to 19 tropical cyclones from July to December, about two to three of which this month, PAGASA said in June.

An average of 19 to 20 storms develop inside the Philippine area of responsibility each year, with about 8 or 9 making landfall.

In January, the Department of Agriculture said calamities including tropical cyclones, the El Niño weather pattern, pests, and volcanic activities, among others, resulted in P57.78 billion in agricultural damage in 2024.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) on Thursday urged rice farmers in Central Luzon and the Bicol Region to step up field surveillance as wet‑season weather is expected to fuel pest and disease outbreaks.

Citing the Bureau of Plant Industry, it flags brown planthopper, bacterial leaf blight, rice blast, rice stemborer, and rodents as the top threats for the July‑to‑September quarter.

“Cloudy, rainy days with temperatures of 25‑30 °C are ideal for brown planthopper outbreaks. We expect heavier infestations and more cases of hopperburn,” PhilRice crop‑protection specialist Leonardo V. Marquez said.

He urged growers to plant pest‑resistant varieties, synchronize sowing dates, keep paddies weed‑free, alternate wetting and drying, and apply fertilizer judiciously to curb pest buildup.

Stemborer pressure could also rise, because plentiful rainfall encourages back‑to‑back cropping and short fallow periods that let the insect persist, he added.

Rodent damage is projected to peak in Mindanao’s Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where continuous rains spur weed growth and reproduction, and to be lowest in the typically drier Ilocos region.

“If the cost of control outweighs the expected gain, it may be wiser to wait and prepare for the next season,” PhilRice said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza with Chloe Mari A. Hufana

PNAC, AIDS group procuring vaccines amid HIV emergency

WHO FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINE National AIDS Council (PNAC) and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Philippines on Thursday said the procurement of the vaccine lenacapavir is underway following the rapid spike of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the country.

“Just an update on the lenacapavir — under the Global Fund project, which we still have, we will procure and start FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval for this year,” AHF Philippines Program Officer Neoman Roxas said during a forum on the national HIV emergency.

“So, hopefully next year we will already have supplies to test here in the Philippines,” he added.

Mr. Roxas said the procurement is part of the three-year Global Fund project for the Philippines, which is set to end next year. The project includes operational and financial support for programs for HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis, and malaria.

The Council and the Department of Health (DoH) are also planning to push for higher funding in 2026 to fund the procurement and support other initiatives to address the country’s growing HIV problem, PNAC Executive Director Joselito R. Feliciano said.

“The medicine we have now is being taken orally by patients. They take it daily. Lenacapavir, it’s more of an injection and will require them to return only every six months,” Mr. Feliciano said in mixed English and Filipino. “The problem is it’s very expensive. But the results from the studies are very promising.”

Lenacapavir is a preventive shot for HIV administered twice a year. It costs $40 or at least P2,000 per person, significantly lower than the $28,218 reported last year, according to a recent study cited by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

The World Health Organization said the Philippines has the fastest-growing number of HIV cases in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 5,101 Filipinos, or at least 57 individuals every day, were identified as HIV-positive, data from the DoH showed. This is 49.6% higher than the 3,409 cases logged in the same period last year.

A third of the total patients are between the ages of 15 to 24, with the majority, or 95%, being men.

DoH also reported that the number of HIV cases in 2024 spiked by 550% to 29,600 from 4,400 in 2010.

The health agency estimated that around 252,800 Filipinos would be living with HIV this year.

Last month, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said in a statement that addressing this issue demands a multifaceted approach, involving enacting new laws, boosting government funding, and launching an “aggressive” information campaign through the media.

MARCOS, CONGRESS AID
Amid this, Mr. Feliciano said they have been coordinating with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. regarding an executive order (EO) that would declare a public health emergency on HIV.

“The request for an EO is for an intensified HIV awareness policy,” he said.

“One of these is regarding condoms — we don’t want to distribute condoms one by one to every youth. What we want is for Filipinos to have access and power to decide for themselves whether to use condoms or not,” he added.

Mr. Feliciano noted that access should mean condoms are readily available “in motels, red district areas, and even in spas, where we know sexual things occur.”

He said that they are pushing for an EO to encourage local governments and National Government agencies to invest and allocate funds for HIV programs, in compliance with Republic Act No. 11166.

RA 11166, the HIV and AIDS Policy Act, promotes prevention, treatment, care, and support for people living with HIV and AIDS through a multi-sectoral approach, ensuring access to services while protecting patients from discrimination.

However, Mr. Feliciano said the law has unclear guidelines regarding treatment, which he said they have raised to Congress as part of their legislative agenda.

HIV is a viral disease that can spread via unprotected sex, oral sex, shared needles, blood transfusion, or from a mother to her child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

It weakens a person’s immune system by attacking the cells that help the body fight infection. — Katherine K. Chan

PAGASA issues storm surge warning

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

BAGUIO CITY — State-run weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued on Thursday morning a storm surge warning for coastal areas in Cagayan and Isabela provinces as Typhoon Crising approaches.

PAGASA urged residents to take precautions, warning a storm surge of one to two meters is possible.

Affected areas in Cagayan include Abulug, Aparri, Baggao, Ballesteros, Buguey, Calayan, Claveria, Gattaran, Gonzaga, Lal-lo, Pamplona, Peñablanca, Sanchez-Mira, Sta. Ana, and Sta. Teresita. In Isabela, Dinapigue, Divilacan, Maconacon, and Palanan.

PAGASA urges the public to avoid shorelines and cancel all sea activities due to potential danger. The agency also advises continuous monitoring of advisories for possible expanded warnings. — Artemio A. Dumlao

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