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Samsung Care+ Premium is the perfect addition to make household investments last

Samsung ensures your TVs and appliances stay at their best with extended protection and proactive, expert care

As premium devices become essentials in modern living, Samsung ensures these investments are protected for the long run with Samsung Care+ Premium. It safeguards the reliability and long-lasting performance of your TVs and appliances, giving users more out of their devices over time.

Samsung Care+ Premium is the perfect partner for your long-lasting TVs and appliances. Now available at up to 30% off, this service offers extended protection and expert care, preserving your devices’ peak performance and giving you the peace of mind you deserve.

Expert Setup for Peak Efficiency

Samsung Care+ Premium ensures your TVs, air-conditioners, and other digital appliances start strong with installation services designed to maximize their performance from day one. With certified experts handling setup, every detail is accounted for. From mounting to calibration and connectivity checks, you can be sure your devices function exactly as intended.

This takes away the stress and guesswork of setting up your digital appliances, giving families the confidence that their premium investments are in the hands of experts. Seamless installation ensures that your Samsung TV, like the Neo QLED 8K Vision AI TV, is ready to deliver its full 8K brilliance and cinematic audiovisual experience the moment you turn it on. Meanwhile, air-conditioners, such as the WindFree™ Air Conditioner with SmartThings, are optimized to provide efficient, comfortable cooling without hiccups.

With professional services, Samsung Care+ Premium not only preserves the longevity of your devices but also gives you confidence that your home’s smart devices are set up to perform at their very best.

Extended, Consistent Care for Enhanced Reliability

To make sure your TVs and appliances continue delivering the premium performance you expect, Samsung Care+ Premium offers professional-grade maintenance and preventive care services from trained experts. Through a wide range of services, including onsite diagnostic tests, remote device checks, and regular cleaning, Samsung Care+ Premium puts you ahead of potential issues and prevents disruptions from your daily routine.

Samsung Care+ Premium simplifies caring for your appliances, giving you peace of mind that your valuable devices continue running at their best. With regular maintenance, your Bespoke AI™ Front Load Washer and Dryer Combo can continue making laundry days smarter and lighter, while your Bespoke AI™ Family Hub Side-by-Side Refrigerator maintains the freshness of your ingredients without interruption. This also keeps your Samsung Smart Oven ready to serve up effortless, reliable cooking every day. By proactively caring for your appliances, you not only maximize their performance, but you also get lasting value out of your premium investments.

Beyond keeping every smart device in your home a dependable partner in your everyday routine, Samsung Care+ Premium extends protection for your TVs and appliances with up to 5 years of warranty coverage*. This, along with consistent maintenance care, saves you from spending on costly repairs while also keeping your appliances in prime condition for years and years.

Protect Your Investments and Get Big Savings

Keep your devices in prime condition and give them the protection and care they deserve with Samsung Care+ Premium. Enjoy up to 5 years of warranty coverage and regular maintenance services at up to 30% off until Dec. 31, 2025. Plus, earn Samsung Rewards points and redeem exclusive benefits when you invest in premium care for your devices.

Add the Samsung Care+ Premium to your TV or appliance purchases on the Samsung Online Store or the Shop app to get extended protection and preventive care for as low as P2,199.

To know more about Samsung Care+ Premium, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/offer/samsung-care-plus/appliances/.

* Including a 1-year warranty from purchase

 

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InfiniVAN, Japanese parent IPS partner with BCDA in enhancing connectivity through use of Luzon Bypass Infrastructure

Back: (from left) OIC Conversion & Dev’t Group Engr. Mark Torres, IPS Group Advisor for Strategic Partnerships and Business Development Alex Aquino, SVP of BCDA Investment and Financial Management Group Hedda Rulona, Government Corporate Counsel Solomon Hermosura, Ambassador Mylene De Joya Garcia-Albano, (from right) IPS GM of Business Development Wataru Okura, and IPS Managing Director & CFO Masamitsu Kawabuchi. Seated: InfiniVAN President Shigeki Nakahara, BCDA President & CEO Joshua Bingcang, and IPS Chairman & CEO Koji Miyashita

In an effort to deliver secure, reliable, and future-ready connectivity all over the Philippines, telco provider InfiniVAN, Inc. and its Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE)-listed parent IPS, Inc. officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) pertaining to maximizing the use of BCDA’s Luzon Bypass Infrastructure (LBI) at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Tokyo last Sept. 30.

The signing ceremony was attended by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene De Joya Garcia-Albano, BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang, IPS President and CEO Koji Miyashita, and InfiniVAN President Shigeki Nakahara.

The LBI is a forward-looking project undertaken by the Philippine Government through the BCDA as an alternative corridor for international submarine cables, bypassing the earthquake-prone Luzon Strait. It consists of two strategically situated submarine cable landing stations (CLS) in San Fernando, La Union and Baler, Aurora, as well as a 240-kilomerer (km) multi-duct fiber optic conduit network connecting the two CLSs.

Prior to the said signing, a three-party framework agreement was signed among the BCDA, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Meta (formerly Facebook), wherein BCDA underwrote the building the of the LBI for around P1 billion in exchange for Meta – as the initial user – providing the Philippine Government 2 terabits per second (Tbps) of usable bandwidth between the Philippines and the United States on the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) submarine cable system.

Of the 2 Tbps capacity, 1.5Tbps is allocated to the DICT for its e-Gov, Free Public WiFi and other mandates; while 500 Gbps is allocated for the use of the BCDA and distribution of the same to locators in the different ecozones it manages.

Due to issues surrounding the PLCN, however, the only the CLS in Baler and a portion of the conduit network are currently in use.

Broader connectivity

By partnering with BCDA, InfiniVAN and IPS intend to support the maximization of the use of the LBI and BCDA’s existing infrastructure projects, through lease, sharing, joint use or similar arrangements, as alternative to building similar and capital extensive infrastructure from scratch.

InfiniVAN also plans to leverage its nationwide digital infrastructure—including submarine, aerial, and underground terrestrial fiber—to support this collaboration.

“InfiniVAN will strive to make effective use of this facility to contribute to improving the reliability and resilience of the domestic network and to make the Philippines one of Asia’s major international communication hubs in the future,” Mr. Nakahara said following the signing of the memorandum.

“Aside from our unsolicited proposal for the use of the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure facilities, we are also participating in the ongoing bid for the deployment of passive fiber optic network infrastructure facilities in New Clark City,” he added

IPS’s participation in the recently announced CANDLE submarine cable project, an 8,000-km system of 24-fiber-pair cables connecting six key locations in Asia, and InfiniVAN’s designation to land one of its branches in Baler have opened up possibilities for using portions of the LBI to connect InfiniVAN’s backhaul facilities to telco hubs in the National Capital Region as well as to other submarine cable systems landing in other parts of the country.

IPS’s existing international network also provides much needed redundancy to PLCN capacities that BCDA and DICT depend on.

“The strategic role that a pair of submarine cable landing stations and the interconnecting backbone for terrestrial connectivity aligns perfectly with our vision of expanding networks not only across the Philippines but also internationally,” Mr. Miyashita of IPS said.

“This undertaking reflects our strong commitment to supporting the Philippines’ ongoing digital transformation. We firmly believe that the Philippines is destined to be a major connectivity hub in the Asia-Pacific region—a role it rightly deserves,” he added.

Filling in gaps

Mr. Bingcang of BCDA added that InfiniVAN is also looking to fill the gap for much-needed last-mile connectivity in New Clark City (NCC), which is benchmarked to be equipped with the best ICT infrastructure facilities in the region

“We have benchmarked the vision for New Clark City in terms of ICT connectivity with the best in the region. We want to have the fastest internet connection, as fast as Japan and Singapore, at a much lower cost,” Mr. Bingcang shared.

Mr. Bingcang also noted the partnership with InfiniVAN and IPS heightens NCC’s potential to attract more investments from foreign companies.

“It’s high time that we provide that [last-mile] service in New Clark City. Then, it will be much easier now for us also to attract other foreign companies to do jobs in the Philippines,” he stressed.

“This partnership with InfiniVAN is a testament that we have that vote of confidence for foreign companies to do business in the Philippines, particularly in New Clark City,” he added.

The initiative is also expected to accelerate the rollout of the National Broadband Plan, support government digital services, and open opportunities for economic growth in business centers and economic zones across the country.

Besides InfiniVAN and IPS, BCDA also inked memoranda of understanding in Tokyo with Kanadevia Corp. for the prospect of redeveloping the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill and the Development of Waste-to-Energy Facility in NCC and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for collaborative advancement of energy transition in the Philippines.

 

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St. Luke’s Medical Center certified as the Philippine leader in robotic surgery with 2,500+ procedures completed

St. Luke’s Medical Center proudly announces a groundbreaking achievement in Philippine healthcare: the successful completion of over 2,500 robotic surgeries, the highest number of robotic-assisted procedures performed by any hospital in the country.

This achievement is officially certified by Device Technologies (DTG Medical, Inc.), affirming St. Luke’s position as the hospital with the highest number of robotic-assisted surgeries in the Philippines.

As a pioneer in robotic surgery, St. Luke’s has introduced many of the nation’s first robotic-assisted procedures, setting new benchmarks for surgical innovation and patient care. With this milestone, the institution reaffirms its commitment to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge surgical innovation and medical excellence.

On Oct. 2, 2025, St. Luke’s Medical Center held a milestone celebration at the Isla Grand Ballroom, EDSA Shangri-La, Mandaluyong City, honoring its robotic doctors, groundbreaking achievements, and patients whose lives were transformed through robotic-assisted care. The program featured the recognition of pioneering and top-performing robotic surgeons, the presentation of trailblazing and groundbreaking procedures, acknowledgment of rising stars from St. Luke’s-Quezon City, and moving patient testimonials that highlighted the human impact of advanced surgical innovation.

Milestones in Robotic Surgery at St. Luke’s

  • 2010 — First in the Philippines to acquire Da Vinci Si Robotic Surgery System

— First Robotic-Assisted Nissen Fundoplication in the Philippines

  • 2011 — First Robotic-Assisted Thyroidectomy in the Philippines
  • 2013 — First Robotic-Assisted Esophagectomy in the Philippines
  • 2016 — First Robotic-Assisted Tonsillectomy in the Philippines

— First Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in the Philippines

— Reached 500 robotic surgeries, setting a national benchmark

  • 2019 — Crossed the 1,000 robotic surgery mark
  • 2023 — Performed Southeast Asia’s and Philippines’ First Robotic-Assisted Kidney Transplant, a breakthrough in minimally invasive transplant surgery
  • 2024 — First in the Philippines to acquire the latest Da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgery System

— First Robotic-Assisted Cardiac Surgery in the Philippines and Southeast Asia using the latest robotic surgical system

  • 2025 — Completed more than 2,500 robotic surgeries

— First Robotic-Assisted Ureteral Reimplantation in a pediatric patient in the Philippines

To learn more about St. Luke’s Robotic Surgery, schedule a consultation with our experts through our Product Information Hub at 0947-993-0471 / 0939-916-1805 / 0928-520-0239 / 0998-582-2276.

 

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Japan running low on Asahi beer as cyberattack shutdown lingers

FREEPIK

TOKYO – Japanese restaurants, bars and stores are running low on beer and other beverages from industry leader Asahi Group as the impact from a cyberattack entered a fifth day on Friday, with no resolution in sight.

Known for its Super Dry beer, Nikka Whisky as well as non-alcoholic beverages, Asahi suspended operations in Japan on Monday including order processing, shipping and call center functions after a cyberattack caused a system outage.

The company began processing orders for some products on Wednesday by visiting customers in person and handwriting orders, it said. While it continues to take orders for food and soft drinks, it has not taken further orders for alcoholic beverages to prioritize outgoing shipments, which began on Friday for the first batch of manually filled orders, it said.Asahi said it continues to work with investigative authorities on the cyberattack.

On Friday in Tokyo, one eatery that normally only serves Asahi-branded beer said it was on its last keg of Asahi Super Dry, and that its supplier brought beer from rival Sapporo 2501.T a day earlier, citing the shortage.

“It’s a bit of a problem,” said Tomiko Yano, a chef at restaurant Kushiyaki Tosaka. “We specialize in yakitori (skewered chicken) and it pairs really well with Super Dry. A lot of customers say that, so I’m a little worried (about the shortage).”

Convenience store operator Lawson said it was expecting a shortage of Asahi products soon and it was making preparations to sell alternative products. FamilyMart and 7-Eleven also said they were affected.– Reuters

PCC starts inquiry into alleged anti-competitive bidding in DPWH flood control projects

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon (left) formally hands over referrals involving alleged anti-competitive conduct in the procurement of flood control projects to the Philippine Competition Commission, Oct. 3. PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE COMPETITION COMMISSION

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it has started the preliminary inquiry on alleged anti-competitive conduct in the procurement of flood control projects.

This is after the commission received the referrals from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday.

“The referrals pertain to possible violations of Republic Act No. 10667, or the Philippine Competition Act (PCA), involving St. Timothy Construction Corp., Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corp., and SYMS Construction Trading,” the PCC said in a statement.

It also involves officials and employees of the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, Sunwest, Inc., and DPWH Regional Office IV-B.

According to PCC, the DPWH handed over inspection reports, bid documents, and other relevant documents that may support the PCC Competition Enforcement Office’s ongoing preliminary inquiry into possible bid-rigging and collusion among contractors.

For its part, the commission is already gathering evidence, which includes bid submissions and possible communication exchanges, to determine whether violations of the PCA happened.

Under the law, entities found to engage in anti-competitive practices may face administrative fines depending on the offenses they committed.

“For the first offense, a fine of up to P110 million may be imposed. For the second offense, the fine ranges from P110 million to P275 million. For the third and succeeding offenses, the fine increases to a range of P165 million to P275 million,” the PCC said.

Meanwhile, the PCC said that entities who will voluntarily disclose their involvement in cartel conduct such as bid-rigging, price fixing, market allocation, and output restriction may avail of the commission’s leniency program.

This program offers them immunity from suit or reduced administrative fines if they cooperate with the investigation.

“Only one applicant per violation may be granted full immunity, so early disclosure is encouraged,” it added.

Huawei launches new series of smartwatches

Huawei Philippines has revealed its latest smartwatches for different user segments. — ED GERONIA

HUAWEI Philippines has announced its latest lineup of smartwatches during the Huawei Innovative black tie event held on October 10 at The Fifth at Rockwell events hall in Makati City.

The new watches feature premium build quality, the latest smartwatch tech, longer battery life, and advanced health and sports tracking capability. The new smartwatches come in several form factors for a wide variety of users from professional athletes, health and fitness buffs, including fashion-forward and digital watch fans.

The first watch to be introduced was the Huawei Watch GT 6 series. The Watch GT 6 is available in two variants (46mm and 41mm) while the Watch GT 6 Pro is only available in 46mm size. The Watch GT 6 starts at P13,999 and the Watch GT 6 Pro is priced at P18,999.

The GT 6 series watch has a maximum battery life of up to 21 hours and has an IP69 rating and 50-meter water resistance. Professional cyclist Mervin Corpuz went onstage as he told the audience how he used the Watch GT 6 series to measure his cycling performance and support his training.

The next watch that was revealed was the Watch Ultimate 2 which Huawei calls the first 150-meter diving smartwatch with “on-land audio functions”. The Watch Ultimate 2 has a unique sonar-based short messaging system for communicating under water with up to 50 other Watch Ultimate 2 users within a 30-meter radius using pre-set messages. The watch can be used to monitor critical drive data at a glance. The price for the Watch Ultimate 2 will be available later by October 10.

The last watch that was announced was the Watch D2. The health-focused watch features ambulatory blood pressure monitoring which can accurately measure the wearer’s blood pressure using an airbag built into the strap. Apart from standard smartwatch features, the Watch D2 supports more than 80 exercise modes and can monitor blood oxygen levels, stress levels, heart rate, and skin temperature. Price starts at P17,999. — Ed Geronia Jr.

Globe normalizes services in typhoon-affected areas, expands relief support in Cebu communities

Globe has intensified its emergency response following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck near Bogo City, Northern Cebu, on Sept. 30. The company is working closely with local authorities and partner organizations to deliver relief and connectivity support.

“Globe stands with Cebu and Visayas in this difficult time. Our teams are on the ground to restore services, ensuring affected families receive the relief and connectivity they need to recover and reconnect,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

Globe services have been fully restored in Bohol, Iloilo, Leyte, and Negros Occidental, where service was most affected, as well as in Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Capiz, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, and Western Samar. The telco is now nearing completion of its restoration efforts in Masbate and Samar.

Meantime in Bogo City, Daanbantayan, and San Remigio in Cebu, where service disruptions due to the earthquake are most severe, Globe has already restored 72.97% of its local network and is working non-stop to bring full connectivity back online.

Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, and Libreng WiFi (LTLCW) Sites Activated

To support residents in these high-impact communities, Globe activated the following LTLCW sites to provide free calls, device charging, and WiFi access:

  • Don Celestino Martinez Sr. Sports Complex, Bogo City, Cebu
    Oct. 1 to 3, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Dr. Jose Rizal Park, Bogo City, Cebu
    Oct. 1 to 3, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • San Remigio Public Market, San Remigio, Cebu
    Oct. 1 to 3, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • San Remigio Public Market (additional site), San Remigio, Cebu
    Oct. 2 to 4, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Daanbantayan Gymnasium, Poblacion, Daanbantayan, Cebu
    Oct. 2 to 4, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Medellin Proper Municipal Hall, Medellin, Cebu
    Oct. 2 to 4, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

#AlagangGlobe Cebu Earthquake Response

To further ease the burden on affected customers, Globe rolled out mobile and broadband support offers in Cebu and Leyte:

  • Globe Prepaid and TM: Free unlimited calls and texts to all networks, plus 100MB for all apps and 100MB for Facebook and Viber, valid for one day
  • Globe Postpaid and GFiber Postpaid: Extended payment due dates for affected areas
  • Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi: Free 5GB open access data for three days
  • GFiber Prepaid: Three-day promo extension for eligible users

Customers may also donate Globe Rewards points or via GCash to Ayala Foundation through the GlobeOne app to support ongoing relief operations.

Globe urges the public to remain vigilant, prioritize safety amid aftershocks, and follow official advisories from PHIVOLCS and local authorities. The company will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide timely updates as conditions develop.

For updates please visit the GlobeICON social media pages for the latest information.

 

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Chow Fun Run 2025: Celebrating 40 years of Chowking

Key attendees of the Chow Fun Run 2025 launch were Chowking Vice-President & Head of Marketing Jia Du (center), and Hyvesports Executives & Founders Justine Cordero-Em & Julius Jorge Em.

Chowking officially kicked off its 40th anniversary celebration with the launch of the very first Chow Fun Run 2025. The press launch gathered Chowking executives, event partners from Hyvesports, members of the media, ambassadors, and the running community, to reveal details of this milestone event happening on Oct. 11, 2025 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex.

A Run Symbolizing 40 Years of Moving Forward

Jiu Du, vice-president and head of Marketing at Chowking, shared that the Chow Fun Run was chosen as the anniversary event because a run represents Chowking’s 40-year journey of moving forward — celebrating growth, progress, and the joy of creating shared memories along the way.

What Makes Chow Fun Run Different

Hyvesports Executive Justine Cordero-Em emphasized that the Chow Fun Run stands out from other runs because it’s all about FUN, not just competition. While most races focus on records and winning, this run highlights celebration with family and friends, offering inclusive categories that range from the 1K Kiddie Run to 10K, and the special Virtual Run category, where anyone can register and join even if they can’t make it to SM Mall of Asia, Manila!

Race Kits with Flavorful Fun

The race kits were unveiled as a true highlight:

  • Exclusive t-shirt designs inspired by Chowking favorites.
  • The special Chowking plushie — a limited edition, one-of-a-kind keepsake that can only be received through the run.
  • Special race bibs and finisher’s medals to mark the milestone.

Chowking Favorites Await Runners
Participants can look forward to enjoying Chowking classics at the finish line, making the celebration as flavorful as it is memorable.

Special Guests Joining the Run

The excitement continues with the reveal of special celebrity guests who will be running and celebrating with the participants: Paulo Avelino, Kim Chiu, Darren Espanto, and P-pop groups BGYO and KAIA.

With its unique blend of movement, flavor, and fun, the Chow Fun Run 2025 is more than a race — it’s a run to remember. From kids to seasoned runners, everyone has a place in this milestone celebration as Chowking marks 40 years of Sarap Mag-Chow.

Registration is still ongoing at the Hyvesports official website.

 

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Philippines says watching China’s actions on South China Sea nature reserve

AN AERIAL photo of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands. — REUTERS

MANILA (UPDATE) – The Philippines is closely watching Beijing’s plans for a nature reserve at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, its chief of armed forces said on Friday, adding it was important that the shoal does not become militarized.
Manila has called last month’s announcement by China of plans for a reserve at the shoal a “clear pretext for occupation”.

Philippines’ Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner said his country “will not allow” what happened at Mischief Reef to happen to Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines claims Mischief Reef, which is within its Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea, but it was occupied in the 1990s by China, which has since built a military base on it.

“Once they build a structure there, that would be a different story. We have several options that we could do. Diplomatically, we could file protests, but we are watching so that we will not have a repeat of Mischief Reef,” Mr. Brawner told a forum organised by foreign correspondents.

Both China and the Philippines claim the Scarborough Shoal, but sovereignty remains unresolved. China took control in 2012 after a standoff and has since stationed its coast guard and fishing vessels there.

A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s sweeping claims and declared its blockade illegal, affirming the shoal as a traditional fishing ground for countries like the Philippines and Vietnam. China rejected the ruling.

The Chinese foreign ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

China said a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal was important to preserve the atoll’s ecosystem.

Mischief Reef, located west of the Philippines’ Palawan Island, is now one of seven artificial islands that China has built in the South China Sea. It is equipped with a runway, radar systems and surface-to-air missiles. — Reuters

DoTr wants commuting public, underrepresented sectors involved in crafting solutions to transport system woes

Department of Transportation’s Supervising Transportation Development Officer Lucas Mangulabnan answers questions from participants of the first-ever Philippine Mobility Summit 2025 in Makati City on Sept. 15, 2025. The Philippine Mobility Summit is the culmination of the “Philippine Mobility Series,” which discussed road safety, inclusive urban public spaces, low-cost mass transit, and transport transformation. The Philippine Mobility Summit was presented by AltMobility PH and co-presented by the Department of Transportation, supported by the Move As One Coalition, and sponsored and co-sponsored by Grab, Ayala, and GIZ, and The Asia Foundation and Ayala Land, respectively.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is readying a directive that will allow the co-designing of a public transport system framework involving various sectors and underrepresented end-users to address the challenges in public commuting and mobility.

At the Philippine Mobility Summit 2025, DoTr’s Supervising Transportation Development Officer Lucas Mangulabnan said the department’s order hoped to engage more people in the crafting of the framework for effective solutions to the country’s public transport system woes.

“So, we’re pushing for this to be enacted as a Department Order to transform the way we work in the department. We hope that other implementing agencies can catch on as well and that we’re currently refining the legal aspect of the department order, and hopefully this will be rolled out soon,” Mr. Mangulabhan told the forum recently.

According to Mr. Mangulabnan, the DoTr hopes to include persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, women, expectant mothers, small children, people with children, LGBTQ folk, people carrying heavy or bulky luggage, and other underrepresented end-users, or what he called the accessibility or inclusion reference group (AIRG), in the formulation of the framework.

The AIRG, he said, will function as an independent consultative group that will be “regularly and intimately involved” in co-designing “with the technical consultants and experts in conducting the feasibility study and preparing detailed engineering designs for passenger facilities and conveyances while providing direct feedback and alternative solutions for the implementing agency to consider.”

Grab, which sponsored the Philippine Mobility Summit 2025, said people’s involvement in the crafting and designing of the government’s transportation and mobility plans was a step in the right direction.

“To hear civilian voices, to enable the exchange of ideas, to co-create solutions to make mobility in the Philippines better is the appropriate approach because they are the ones who experience first-hand the problems or shortcomings during their daily commute. They are the ones who can identify issues and what can be done to address these effectively,” said Grab Philippines’ Booey Bonifacio.

Mr. Mangulabnan admitted that experts and consultants usually involved in the planning and implementation of transport infrastructure projects were not regular riders of jeepneys, buses, nor motorcycle taxis — a situation wherein accessibility and inclusion in the public transport framework “tend to get lost.”

The co-design framework that the transportation department is developing hopes to make interactions happen between the AIRG, “people with lived experience,” and technical experts and implementing agencies.

“The government cannot do it alone and when it’s in place, we’re very much looking forward to seeing more involvement and active participation from the public in the delivery of our transport projects. It is public money, after all,” Mr. Mangulabnan said.

The Philippine Mobility Summit held recently at One Ayala in Makati City is the culmination of the “Philippine Mobility Series,” which discussed road safety, inclusive urban public spaces, low-cost mass transit, and transport transformation from April to August.

The first-ever such summit in the country was presented by AltMobility PH and co-presented by the DoTr, supported by the Move As One Coalition, and sponsored and co-sponsored by Grab, Ayala, and GIZ, and The Asia Foundation and Ayala Land, respectively.

 

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Taiwan tracking China activity but cannot say if there will be more drills post-national day

REUTERS

TAIPEI – Taiwan is tracking Chinese activities for any early warning signs but cannot answer hypothetical questions about whether there will be a repeat of last year’s war games following Taiwan’s national day, the defense minister said on Friday.

Taiwan, formally called the Republic of China, celebrates its national day next Friday with a keynote speech by President Lai Ching-te. China, which views the island as its own, staged a day of war games around the island last year shortly after that same event in what it said was a warning to “separatist acts”.

Asked about the possibility of a repeat of that this year, Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo told reporters at parliament that the armed forces are keeping a watch.

“We will continue to monitor relevant developments in China and gather any early warning intelligence. We will closely track and respond accordingly,” he said. “Regarding hypothetical scenarios, I am unable to provide answers at this time.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China is in the middle of its own week-long national day holiday.

Koo on Thursday visited military bases on the Penghu Islands, which sit strategically in the Taiwan Strait though closer to the main island of Taiwan than China’s coast.

His ministry published a picture of him in front of a Sky Bow III missile battery, a Taiwan-developed surface-to-air missile with a similar mission scope to the U.S.-made Patriots which Taiwan also operates.

“Facing severe enemy threats, Penghu serves as a critical defense zone for our combat operations,” the ministry cited him as telling the troops.

Koo declined to comment when asked by reporters about whether the Sky Bow III has now been fully deployed to Taiwan’s offshore islands, saying only that the system has entered service.

Penghu is home to one of Taiwan’s most important air bases.

Apart from war games, the last of which China staged around Taiwan in April, Chinese fighter jets and warships operate almost daily in the Taiwan Strait and waters and skies off the island’s north, south and east coasts.

China says Taiwan’s president is a “separatist”. He rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future. — Reuters

Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ launches with global promotion

STORE.TAYLORSWIFT.COM

LOS ANGELES – Superstar Taylor Swift’s latest studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” arrives Friday with a promotional blitz that includes midnight sales at Target stores, a release party at movie theaters around the globe and pop-up experiences in New York and Los Angeles.

The release follows “The Tortured Poets Department,” Swift’s 11th studio album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and sold the equivalent of 8 million albums in the United States, according to Luminate, a firm that tracks music sales.

“She occupies a very rare position in today’s fragmented music landscape: she is an active superstar with a massive and loyal fan base,” said Tatiana Cirisano, vice president of music strategy for MIDiA Research.

These passionate followers, who self-identify as “Swifties,” help the artist break through the fragmented music landscape, and rise to the top of the charts, said Cirisano.

“So few can get such a massive number of people listening to the same thing at once. So, it would surprise me a lot if the new release did not reach her usual level of success,” she said.

Swift has been building anticipation for the new album since August 11, when she posted a countdown on her website that kept fans waiting until 12:12 a.m. ET on August 12, when she revealed the name of her 12th album “The Life of a Showgirl.”

The next day, Swift appeared on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and his brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles lineman Jason Kelce. The Top-10 rated sports and pop-culture podcast provided a friendly platform for Swift to talk about her forthcoming album, which she said had been inspired by the joy she felt while performing around the world on her record-setting Eras Tour. The August 13 episode has surpassed 23.4 million views on YouTube.

Swift has emerged as a cultural and economic force. Her globe-trotting Eras Tour was the highest-grossing tour of all time, surpassing $2 billion in ticket sales by the time it concluded in December 2024, according to Pollstar, a trade publication that tracks the concert industry. That figure does not include the boost to hotel and Airbnb rentals, restaurant tabs and merchandise sales.

Academics have said Swift rivals other pop icons, like Elvis or Michael Jackson, in terms of her cultural impact — whether it’s driving tune-in to NFL games or leading voter registration drives.

Business partners have been eager totap into the phenomenon that’s been dubbed “Swiftonomics.”

AMC Theatres announced plans to distribute “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” an 89-minute film that features the first music video from the album, “The Fate of Ophelia,” behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the music video, and Swift’s reflections on songs from the album. The film will be in limited release, from Friday through Sunday, in more than 50 markets.

Retailer Target plans to open some stores at midnight Friday to sell a limited-edition vinyl pressing of the album with a “gold shimmer,” and three CDs featuring exclusive album and poster art.

Music streaming service Spotify opened a three-day pop-up in New York City on Tuesday, to let Swift fans step into the world of the album, with song lyrics hidden among displays that included a dressing room and other trappings of a concert tour. On Friday, TikTok opened its own “Life of a Showgirl” installation in Los Angeles.

Taylor Nation, the artist’s promotional team, released a schedule of promotional appearances to tout the new album, including stops on “The Graham Norton Show” on Friday, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Wednesday. — Reuters

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