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Petron accredited as first LPG training hub in oil sector

PETRON.COM

LISTED oil company Petron Corp. has been certified by the Department of Energy (DoE) as a training institution in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector, the first oil company to receive the accreditation.

The DoE accreditation allows Petron to certify service personnel from its refinery, terminals, haulers, dealers, and retail outlets, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

The accreditation aligns with the LPG Industry Regulation Act, which seeks to raise industry standards and enforce stricter penalties for violations in the LPG sector, according to the company.

Under the law, all individuals engaged in activities or facilities regulated by the DoE within the LPG industry must complete an approved training program conducted by DoE-accredited organizations.

“As more LPG personnel undergo proper training from qualified institutions, consumers can be more confident in the quality and reliability of the LPG products they receive,” DoE-Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino E. Abad said.

All LPG personnel trained by Petron will receive a DoE certificate, which will be submitted to the DoE as part of their licensing requirements.

Petron will begin its LPG training sessions with dealers and retailers in Ormoc, Leyte.

Petron remains the leading oil industry player, with a 24.9% market share as of June 2024, according to DoE data.

The company has a combined refining capacity of nearly 270,000 barrels a day, operates about 50 terminals in the region, and runs roughly 2,700 service stations selling gasoline and diesel. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Transactions done via InstaPay, PESONet grow to P15.4 trillion

STOCK PHOTO | Image Jannoon028 from Freepik

By Katherine K. Chan

THE COMBINED VALUE of transactions made via InstaPay and PESONet increased by nearly 47% year on year to over P15 trillion in the first eight months, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed, reflecting continued growth in online payments in the country.

Transactions coursed through the two automated clearing houses soared to P15.348 trillion in the eight months ended August from P10.441 trillion in the comparable year-ago period.

In terms of volume, InstaPay and PESONet transactions more than doubled (161.6%) to 2.398 billion in the period from 916.582 million a year ago.

Broken down, the total value of InstaPay transactions rose by 9.5% year on year to P6.988 trillion in the period from P6.379 trillion.

The volume of transactions made via the payment gateway ballooned by 172.9% to 2.322 billion from 851.025 million last year.

Meanwhile, the value of transactions done through PESONet doubled (105.8%) year on year to P8.36 trillion at end-August from P4.062 trillion.

The volume of transactions that went through the channel reached 75.833 million, a 15.7% increase from the 65.556 million seen a year earlier.

InstaPay and PESONet are automated clearing houses under the central bank’s National Retail Payment System framework.

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.

Meanwhile, PESONet is mainly used for high-value transactions and may be considered as an electronic alternative to paper-based checks.

The steady growth of InstaPay and PESONet transactions indicates the wider adoption of digital payments in the country, said John Paolo R. Rivera, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

“It reflects stronger adoption of digital payments driven by fintech (financial technology) growth, wider e-commerce usage, and the push for financial inclusion,” he said in a Viber message.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message that more consumers and businesses are using electronic payment channels for convenience and efficiency.

“More people (are) also finding it more convenient, cheaper, faster, and safer to move funds from one bank to another using InstaPay and PESONet any time and from anywhere, instead of over-the-counter transactions,” he said.

Reinielle Matt M. Erece, economist at Oikonomia Advisory & Research, Inc., said the increase in InstaPay and PESONet transactions also reflects strong consumer sentiment.

“Improving consumer confidence for the second half of the year is a signal that households are now willing to spend more towards the latter part of 2025,” he said in a Viber message. “The improving consumer confidence is evident with the growth of transactions done through these channels.”

He said transactions will continue to grow in the coming months due to expectations of increased spending during the holiday season and amid lower borrowing costs.

“Transactions are likely to keep growing as more government, corporate, and MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises) payments go digital, supported by the BSP’s continued efforts toward a cash-lite economy,” Mr. Rivera added.

The central bank wants digital payments to make up 60-70% of the total volume of retail payments by 2028 in line with the Philippine Development Plan.

The share of online payments in monthly retail transactions stood at 57.4% in terms of volume and 59% in value terms in 2024, according to the BSP’s 2024 Status of Digital Payments in the Philippines report. These are up from 52.8% and 55.3%, respectively, in 2023.

NLEX Corp. launches P200-million SCTEX upgrade program

NLEX.COM.PH

NLEX CORP. said it is investing P200 million in technology and infrastructure upgrades for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

“The system enhancement program in SCTEX is essential not only for ensuring faster and smoother travel, but also for enforcing stricter road discipline. These upgrades will significantly improve the safety and reliability of the road network, boosting motorists’ confidence,” NLEX President and General Manager Luis S. Reñon said in a media release on Tuesday.

The technology upgrade includes the installation of additional closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and speed cameras to strengthen expressway monitoring, as well as the modernization of computer systems and equipment for data processing.

NLEX, a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), is the builder-concessionaire and operator of major expressways including North Luzon Expressway, SCTEX, and NLEX Connector.

SCTEX is a 94-kilometer toll road linking Central Luzon’s Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, and the Central Technopark in Tarlac.

Aside from technology upgrades, NLEX said it is also implementing infrastructure improvements and maintenance for the expressway.

The company said its annual pavement repair program for SCTEX began this month, adding that it has also partnered with SCTEX owner Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for the repair and strengthening of the Pasig-Potrero Bridge.

MPTC is the tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), one of the three key Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., along with Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., holds a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Security Bank appoints Singaporean banker as next president and CEO

Victor Lee Meng Teck — SECURITY BANK CORP.

SECURITY BANK Corp. has appointed Victor Lee Meng Teck as its next president and chief executive officer (CEO) starting January.

Mr. Lee will take over the post now held by Sanjiv Vohra by next year following the completion of his work permit, visa, and other regulatory requirements, the bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday.

Mr. Vohra, who was appointed to his post in July 2019 or just months before the coronavirus pandemic, will be a senior advisor to Security Bank’s board once he steps down.

“I’m honored to be entrusted with this responsibility. Security Bank has built a strong reputation for customer-centricity, innovation, and its distinct BetterBanking experience. I look forward to working with Sanjiv, the board, and all employees to continue building on this foundation and delivering sustainable growth for our stakeholders,” Mr. Lee said.

“Our journey over the past six years has been one of total transformation — reimagining Security Bank from front to back. We have strengthened our people, embraced new technology, modernized platforms, and, most importantly, embedded customer-centricity at the heart of everything we do… As I step aside, I am confident the bank is well-positioned to continue its momentum and achieve even greater success in the years ahead,” Mr. Vohra said.

Mr. Lee is from Singapore and has over 30 years of leadership experience across various companies in Asia. He most recently served as CEO of CIMB Singapore and CEO of Growth Markets for CIMB Bank Bhd.

“We’re grateful to Sanjiv for his steady leadership during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. His vision and dedication have left the bank stronger, more resilient, and well-prepared for the future. As we welcome Victor, we’re confident this seamless transition will allow us to sustain momentum and capture new opportunities,” Security Bank Chairman Cirilo P. Noel said.

The bank’s net income grew by 7.85% year on year to P3.04 billion in the second quarter on the back of double-digit revenue growth.

This brought its first-half net profit to P5.86 billion, up by 7.59% year on year.

Security Bank’s shares rose by P1.30 or 1.85% to close at P71.40 apiece on Tuesday. — A.M.C. Sy

Safeguarding heritage a focus as NCCA kicks off Museums and Galleries Month

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS — COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG

TO HIGHLIGHT the importance of art galleries and museums in promoting Filipino culture, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has revealed the lineup of events to be held during Museum and Galleries Month.

Held every October since 1991 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 798, the celebrations focus on the preservation of artistic heritage, the promotion of artistic expression, and the fostering of a deeper understanding of Philippine history and identity.

“Museums and galleries are more than just four-walled spaces that house objects. They are vessels of our nation’s identity,” said Bernan Joseph Cruz, NCCA deputy executive director for operations, at the press launch held on Sept. 24 at the Museo ng Muntinlupa in Muntinlupa City.

“They carry the stories that give voice to the richness of our history, our arts, our culture,” he added.

With the theme “Resilient Museums and Galleries: Educating for Preparedness and Recovery,” the NCCA and the National Museum take on the challenge of safeguarding heritage amid unexpected crises.

“This theme emphasizes the vital role of these institutions in protecting our heritage while also serving as centers of learning and education that prepare communities for disruptions, such as natural disasters, health crises, and social unrest,” said Mr. Corpuz

EVENTS
Arts Month will kick off on Oct. 7, 9 a.m., at the Museo Kordilyera of the University of the Philippines Baguio. It will feature an art fair and workshops.

Throughout the month, private and public museums nationwide will participate in the celebration through exhibits, fairs, workshops, and events that aim to reach students and communities.

The Mindanao Art Fair started even before the official Museum Month started, wrapping up its exhibit at SM Lanang in Davao City today.

There will be an NCCA Gallery Opening on Oct. 7 and 8 in Intramuros, Manila.

Over in Tarlac City, the Luzon Art Fair will be held from Oct. 9 to 12 at the Bulwagang Kanlahi, with the goal to revitalize Central Luzon’s art and culture scene. Meanwhile, artworks inspired by the social, cultural, and community environments of the Northern Luzon region will be on view at the Tam-Awan International Arts Festival in Tam-Awan Village, Baguio, from Oct. 10 to 12.

Finally, the ManilART fair will take place at the SMX Aura Convention Center in Taguig City, from Oct. 15 to 19.

The NCCA will launch the MGM 2025 Microsite Calendar on Oct. 2. It will offer a comprehensive list of activities slated to be held around the country for the entire month.

There will also be a summit in Baguio City where museums and galleries will be able to discuss heritage preservation.

A closing event will be held on Oct. 25 at the Museo ng Muntinlupa.

Renee C. Talavera, NCCA chief of the program management division said that museums are “spaces that nurture strength, inspire recovery, and remind us that resilience is deeply cultural, rooted in identity.

“They teach us not only to appreciate culture, but also to prepare for challenges,” she said. “They provide comfort and emotional strength during times of uncertainty, and they design programs that help rebuild and empower communities — showing us that resilience is not just survival, but a way of living with hope, purpose, and solidarity.” — Brontë H. Lacsamana

The Papal guidelines on artificial intelligence: Looking at the dangers

STOCK PHOTO | Image by DC Studio from Freepik

(Part 2)

It should be no surprise that despite all the numerous benefits to society we enumerated, there are also numerous social costs that Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings with it. It was no different during the First Industrial Revolution that brought with it many serious harms to society (e.g., inhuman treatment of workers, monopoly practices, cutthroat competition, environmental pollution, moral decadence, etc.). Different political systems tried to address the social harms brought about by the First Industrial Revolution and the subsequent ones through appropriate controls and regulations.

A good number of political leaders turned for moral guidelines to the social teachings found in the papal encyclicals that were addressed, not only to Catholics or Christians, but to all “men and women of goodwill.” We can assume that the same learning process can be expected as the world confronts the possible harms that AI and other technologies associated with Industrial Revolution 4.0 will bring with them.

Again, we turned to ChatGPT for a summary of AI’s potential harms to society:

1. Job Displacement and Economic Inequality. Automation replaces human labor, especially in repetitive or low-skill jobs (e.g., factory work, data entry, call centers); widening inequality as high-tech industries grow while others shrink; and skills gaps develop as many workers are unprepared for the more knowledge-intensive jobs that AI creates. Specific example: Self-checkout machines and delivery drones reduce the need for cashiers and drivers.

2. Bias and Discrimination. AI models trained on biased data can produce racist, sexist, or unfair outcomes; there can be discrimination in hiring, lending, policing, and healthcare. Specific example: Facial recognition systems have been shown at times to misidentify black and Asian faces more often than white faces.

3. Loss of Privacy and Mass Surveillance. AI enables real-time facial recognition, location tracking, and data profiling; governments (as in China) and corporations can use AI to monitor behavior without consent. Specific example: China’s social credit system uses AI to track citizens’ activities and behavior.

4. Autonomous Weapons and Warfare. AI is being integrated into lethal autonomous weapons (drones, robots) without human oversight; this raises concerns about war crimes, escalation, and lack of accountability. Specific example: “Killer robots” could make life-and-death decisions without human intervention.

5. Misinformation and Manipulation. AI can generate deepfakes, fake news, and propaganda at scale; it can be used to manipulate public opinion during elections or social movements (this was already rampant during the last Philippine elections). Specific example: AI-generated political videos or fake voices can mislead the public.

6. Loss of Human Agency and Autonomy. An over-reliance on AI can erode critical thinking, decision-making, and freedom of choice; people may defer to algorithms even when they are wrong or harmful. Specific example: Social media algorithms influence what you see, think, and believe — without your realizing it.

7. Legal and Ethical Uncertainty. AI decisions (e.g., in hiring, insurance, or criminal justice) are often non-transparent. Who is responsible when an AI system makes a harmful mistake? Specific example: An AI-driven car crashes — who is liable: the company, the programmer, or the user?

8. Environmental Impact. Training large AI models consumes huge amounts of energy. It contributes to carbon emissions and environmental degradation. Specific example: Training GPT-3 was estimated to emit as much CO2 as five cars over their lifetime.

9. Social Fragmentation and Polarization. AI-curated content (e.g., on TikTok or Facebook) can amplify echo chambers, hate speech, and extremism; it can make societies more divided and distrustful. Specific example: Social media algorithms prioritize content that triggers strong emotional responses — often outrage.

To summarize, societal harms of AI can include jobs losses, economic equality, and skills gap for the economy; unfair treatment biased on race, gender, or class; loss of privacy through surveillance, data misuse, and loss of consent; autonomous weapons, AI in military applications; deepfakes, fake news, and election interferences; reduced critical thinking as a result of overdependence on algorithms; unclear personal responsibility or lack of legal accountability; high energy use and carbon emissions from AI training; breakdown of social cohesion because of echo chambers, polarization, and extremism.

These social harms that can be inflicted by AI are not inevitable if the appropriate controls and regulations are in force. It will be necessary to have general moral and ethical guidelines that will be the bases for such controls and regulations coming from the State and from private initiatives of industry and business organizations themselves.

As was the case with the First Industrial Revolution, a good number of the laws, controls, and regulations that prevented or at least minimized the social costs were inspired by the moral guidelines that were contained in Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII, such as those related to the setting of minimum wages, the role of labor unions, the prevention of child labor, etc.

It is, therefore, providential that from the very beginning of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has already announced that the Magisterium of the Catholic Church under his care will be pro-active in giving moral and ethical guidelines related to the new technologies introduced by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

True to his promise on the day of his election, Pope Leo XIV wasted no time in coming out with clear ethical guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence. The following is a summary of his key guidelines issued between May and July this year:

1. AI as a tool, not a substitute for humanity. He emphasizes that despite AI being a “exceptional product of human genius,” it must always remain a tool and never replace or diminish human dignity or fundamental freedoms (from Vatican News). Notably, he told world leaders: “Artificial Intelligence functions as a tool for the good of human beings — not to diminish them, not to replace them (Catholic News Agency).

2. Protecting youth and nurturing true wisdom. In a message to the AI and Ethics conference in Rome (held last June), he warned about AI’s possible negative effects on the intellectual, neurological, and spiritual development of children and young people (Catholic News Agency). He asserted that access to extensive data should not be mistaken for intelligence, which is grounded on openness to life’s deeper questions and commitment to truth and goodness. (Catholic News). He urged that “Our youth must be helped, and not hindered, in their journey toward maturity and true responsibility.”

3. Fostering ethical governance and the common good. Addressing a summit in Geneva (last July), he pointed out that ethical responsibility lies both with developers and users: “Although responsibility for the ethical use of AI begins with those who develop, manage, and oversee them, those who use them also share in this responsibility.” He underlined the need for regulatory frameworks and ethical management centered on the human person, beyond mere efficiency or utility. (Vatican News)

4. Advancing peace, dialogue, and integral human development. In a message tied to the World Summit on AI (Geneva), he conveyed that AI must help build “more human order of social relations,” “peaceful and just societies,” integral human development, and fraternity rather than fostering conflict. He warned that AI lacks moral discernment and cannot form genuine relationships, so its development must be accompanied by discernment, respect for human values, and conscience-based judgment.

5. Evaluating AI via a “Superior Ethical Criterion.” He insisted that the benefits or risks of AI should be assessed by how well it supports the integral development of the human person and society, including material, intellectual, and spiritual well-being. He further warned of a societal “loss — or at least an eclipse — of the sense of what is human,” urging deeper reflection on our shared human dignity.

(To be continued.)

 

Bernardo M. Villegas has a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard, is professor emeritus at the University of Asia and the Pacific, and a visiting professor at the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He was a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission.

bernardo.villegas@uap.asia

Lorenzo Shipping seeks SEC nod to raise capital stock

LORENZOSHIPPING.COM

LISTED Lorenzo Shipping Corp. (LSC) has filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to increase its authorized capital stock, after securing approval from its board of directors and stockholders.

In a disclosure to the exchange, the company said shareholders approved amendments to its articles of incorporation to raise its capital stock to P2 billion from P991.2 million, with a par value of P1 apiece.

“Out of the increase of P1.01 billion, the amount of P252.2 million has been subscribed,” the company said.

It added that National Marine Corp. paid P151.5 million, which is part of the subscribed amount.

LSC, established in 1972 to handle domestic inter-island cargo, has shifted from break-bulk to containerized shipping.

It operates a fleet of vessels serving major ports in the Philippines and manages equipment, container yards, and warehouses. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno

Peso continues to depreciate vs dollar

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE PESO continued to depreciate against the dollar on Tuesday to log a new two-month low, with market sentiment remaining negative due to concerns over corruption involving state infrastructure projects and a potential US government shutdown.

The local unit dropped by 5.1 centavos to close at P58.196 versus the greenback from its P58.145 finish on Monday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

This was its weakest close in two months or since its P58.32-per-dollar finish on July 31.

The peso opened Tuesday’s session stronger at P58.05 versus the dollar. It climbed to a high of P58.03, while its worst showing was at P58.37 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged increased to $1.69 billion on Tuesday from $1.47 billion on Monday.

“The dollar-peso remained relatively weak due to the ongoing investigation on alleged corruption in the Philippine government,” the first trader said in a phone interview.

The government is currently investigating alleged corruption in state infrastructure projects, with some lawmakers and Public Works department officials being accused of receiving payoffs.

“The peso continued to weaken on market concerns from the looming US government shutdown as Republican and Democrat congressmen still failed to reach a budget bill,” the second trader said in an e-mail.

For Wednesday, the first trader expects the peso to move between P57.90 and P58.30 per dollar, while the second trader said it could range P58.10 to P58.35.

The US dollar held steady on Tuesday ahead of a possible US government shutdown that could disrupt the release of the monthly jobs report this week, Reuters reported.

Government funding was set to expire at midnight on Tuesday (0400 GMT) unless Republicans and Democrats agree to a last-minute temporary spending deal.

The dollar index, which has already fallen nearly 10% this year, was last down 0.1% on the day at 97.785. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters

Limited run of filmed version of Hamilton starts today

THE FILMED version of the original Broadway production of the Tony, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Hamilton opens in select Philippine cinemas for one week only starting today, Oct. 1.

The theatrical release of Hamilton expands upon the version available on Disney+ with the inclusion of Reuniting the Revolution, an exclusive special prologue to the film featuring new interviews with the original cast and creators as they reflect on the impact the show has had on their lives.

The film will be shown at the following Ayala Malls — Glorietta 4, Manila Bay, and TriNoma; at Bonifacio High Street; Century City Hall; Cinema ’76; Festival Mall; Fisher Mall QC; Gateway Cineplex; Newport; Power Plant Mall; the following Robinsons Malls — Antipolo, Galleria, Magnolia, Manila, and Opus; S Maison; Shangri-La Red Carpet Cinema; the following SM malls — Aura Premiere, Bacoor, BF Parañaque, Bicutan, Centerpoint, Clark, Dasmariñas, East Ortigas, Fairview, Grand Central, Laoag, Mall of Asia, Marikina, Megamall, North EDSA, Pampanga, Puerto Princessa, and Southmall; The Podium; Uptown Mall Taguig; and Vista Evia.

Hamilton was released in cinemas in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico on Sept. 5, the UK and Ireland on Sept. 26, and will be released in Australia and New Zealand on Nov. 13.

Hamilton, with a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, revolves around the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and direction by Thomas Kail, Hamilton was inspired by the book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

It was filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in June of 2016, and stars Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Jonathan Groff as King George; Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton; and Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton.

Kindred spirits: The extraordinary parallels between the Philippines and Ukraine

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met on June 3, 2024 in Malacañang. — PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

In Tiananmen Square earlier this month, a spectacle of three world leaders standing side by side greeted an estimated crowd of 50,000: Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, North Korea Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin were smiling and projecting confidence, affirming their friendship and common motivations. The last time that the leaders of these three countries were seen together in a similar public display of solidarity was decades before, at the height of the Cold War.

Those present may have applauded, but the message that such a scene sent the rest of the world was chilling. They remind us of the daunting forces that destabilize the global order, threaten peace, and undermine the rules-based system. The events now happening in the world — China’s hegemonic aspirations in the Indo-Pacific, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s nuclear threat, as well as Iran’s proxy wars and the continuing conflict in the Middle East — are a reminder that those threats are alive and real.

Amid all these, what can the rest of the world do?

The only recourse is for countries who share the same concerns and values to band together to protect peace, sovereignty, and the rules-based order.

This is where the Philippines is with Ukraine, a country embattled by its three-and-a-half-year struggle to resist Russia’s invasion. Our partnership with Ukraine is deepening, fueled by our parallel circumstances and shared values and commitments.

Ukraine is courageously defending its territory against outright armed aggression, while the Philippines asserts its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea in the face of coercion and incursions. Both of our peoples endure gray-zone tactics, hybrid warfare, and disinformation campaigns deliberately designed to weaken national resolve and undermine sovereignty, waged across multiple domains — from maritime and land to air and cyberspace.

These challenges notwithstanding, our nations also share the resolve that aggression has no place and that sovereignty cannot be defended in isolation. Both countries recognize that forging partnerships with like-minded states is indispensable to resisting unilateral actions that seek to redraw boundaries through intimidation and force.

The opportunities for cooperation between the Philippines and Ukraine are broad, particularly in defense and security. As the Philippines pursues defense modernization and strives for greater self-reliance through stronger local industries, Ukraine’s advances in drones, cyber defense, and counter-disinformation provide valuable models. These are particularly relevant for the Philippines, which has emerged as a hotspot for cyberattacks in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Stratbase Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in the Philippines, organized a high-level forum held on Sept. 23, part of the first-ever official visit to the Philippines of a Ukrainian delegation composed of Members of Parliament and representatives from leading analytical institutions.

The forum had two parts: the first panel examined the evolving security challenges confronting both the Philippines and Ukraine across multiple domains, given complex geopolitical pressures and external aggression. The second panel explored the evolving relationship between the Philippines and Ukraine amid a rapidly shifting global landscape. It highlighted opportunities for deepening cooperation across key areas such as diplomacy, development, security, and people-to-people exchange.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv, spoke of the “strategic realignment that is taking place between Ukraine and the Philippines” and expressed her country’s commitment “to continue building this partnership in a way that is inclusive, multidimensional, and oriented toward the future.”

For their part, some members of Ukraine’s Parliament echoed this call for convergence. Member of Parliament Lesia Vasylenko urged the need to “build together an alliance against the axis of evil,” warning that authoritarian regimes are consolidating power and posing risks across both Europe and Asia.

Another MP, Tamila Tasheva, drew parallels between Ukraine’s defense of its sovereignty and the Philippines’ challenges in defending maritime rights against “powerful neighbors who test the limits of international law.” She pledged that “Ukraine stands ready to share its experience and to work with partners like the Philippines to ensure that aggression and illegal occupation never become acceptable in our world.”

Vadym Halaichuk, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, underscored that Kyiv’s foreign and security policy is now closely aligned with the European Union. He stressed that this alignment makes it easier to identify shared priorities with partners like the Philippines — from trade to security cooperation.

Through all these, the Philippines’ biggest lesson from Ukraine is that aggression must be acted upon immediately, as hesitation merely emboldens aggressors. Ukraine’s leaders said that every pause or concession allows further violations and greater risks. Building credible deterrence, therefore, is not just a strategic choice but a necessity for safeguarding sovereignty.

Defense and economic/food security are two areas for cooperation between the Philippines and Ukraine. Many such opportunities will be explored, as these are vital to building resilience.

The deepening of the cooperation between the Philippines and Ukraine is both urgent and strategic. The momentum is already here — the challenge is sustaining it. Our two countries are not simply reacting to today’s crises but shaping a future where smaller nations stand united, where aggression is deterred and where a rules-based international order can endure.

 

Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the president of the Stratbase ADR Institute.

Leslie Odom, Jr. on marking 10 years of Hamilton

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA (R) and Leslie Odom, Jr. in Hamilton.

IT’S BEEN a milestone year for the musical about the $10 founding father without a father. Hamilton, the hit show based on US founding father Alexander Hamilton, turned 10 this summer — marking a decade since it stormed Broadway, rewrote the rules of musical theater, and became that rare cultural phenomenon everyone from high school students to US presidents had an opinion about.

In that time, Hamilton has cemented itself as a cultural colossus. It joined the billion-dollar club in January, becoming only the fourth production in Broadway history to do so. It earned its creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, a Pulitzer Prize, spawned a streaming juggernaut on Disney+, and turned many of its original cast into household names.

For Leslie Odom, Jr., the timing was uncanny: The show opened on his 34th birthday, Aug. 6, 2015. This year, just shy of his 44th, he announced he’d be returning for a limited run to play Aaron Burr — the role that won him a Tony and cemented his place in Broadway history.

Speaking to Reuters from New York City on the first Friday of his return, Mr. Odom reflects on how 10 years away have given him a new perspective — on Burr, on the show’s place in our culture, and on why Hamilton still resonates in 2025.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Q: What made you decide to step back into the role of Aaron Burr?

A: I mean, what an opportunity. I’ve spent my career collecting experiences. So the opportunity to return to a place that had this profound impact on me — the idea that I could go back again. The show is still in the same theater. My dressing room is the same.

And yet it’s wildly different. My life is different. It’s a different company of people. It’s a different time in the nation, in the world. How could I not go back and see what that feels like?

Q: Was it like riding a bike?

A: People keep talking about this bike. Where is this bike? I am waiting for this phantom bike to show up.

Q: No muscle memory?

A: Oh my God, no. I had to learn a new show, and trust people when they told me “You did this the first time. You created this.” There are things about it that feel impossible.

There’s some symbolism in that, in that it’s about the American experiment, which is something that often feels impossible, still. Even though it’s worked for a few hundred years, it is a tightrope. It’s a thing that we all have to agree to, every election cycle, ideally, right? To hold this thing together. So it should be hard. Hamilton is hard and it should be hard because it’s about something that is.

Q: You’ve been intimately familiar with Aaron Burr, the man, for a very long time. Has becoming a father and growing older shifted how you connect with him?

A: Oh, sure. I feel closer to Act Two Burr than I do Act One Burr. So the acting challenge this time around is remembering the young scrappy and hungry kid. Remembering Princeton College, remembering that college-boy version of him.

The whole evening is a conjuring of Burrs. It’s full of humanity and regret, and pain, and joy, and rage, and admiration, and love. Love requires acceptance, and acceptance is a tall order.

Q: When you think about Broadway before Hamilton and after Hamilton, what do you think changed the most?

A: We are living in Lin-Manuel’s vision of Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and beyond. We have [Hamilton director] Tommy Kail to thank as well, of course. At the actual 10-year anniversary of the opening I looked around that stage and there were just dozens and dozens of actors that had done this show. Men and women and everything in between. So many shades and sizes and races. All historically marginalized folks, but because of this show, a light has been placed on them. Lin opened the door. He thought we should’ve had a shot too.

Q: The show did open a lot of doors for inclusive casting, for new forms of storytelling. When you look around, where do you see that influence the most?

A: I see it everywhere. There are little cousins of this show everywhere. I look at the Bridgerton universe that Shondaland has created. Even shows my kids watch, like Descendants. Lin and the creators of this show reminded everybody that we didn’t have to be literal in our storytelling and that stories are made more interesting when you hand the mic to somebody else. 

Q: When you were in the show the last time, you led a fight to ensure that actors’ contracts included profit sharing. Has that had an impact on other productions and has it evolved over the last 10 years?

A: It has, and it’s evolved positively. We knew that if one of the biggest shows of all time couldn’t find its way to include a fair piece for the original performers and stage managers who helped make it, then it would be that much more difficult for anybody behind us.

We were at the table asking for ourselves, but it was not just for ourselves. There were other voices in the room already. We were there as representatives for scores of people behind us.

There have been companies that have come along since then that have let us know that we inspired them or that we let them know it was possible.

Q: Burr and Hamilton were friends through a lot of the story, even though they had very different viewpoints and politics. What do you think audiences can take away from watching the evolution of this friendship?

A: It’s changed the way that I parent, the way that I partner, the way that I husband, and the way that I friend, because things can get out of control. Tempers can run hot and if you’re not careful you can make choices that you will live to regret. I love that about this show: While it feels so fresh and contemporary and exciting, there is something ancient about the story.

What audiences should take away is just be careful of your temper. Learn to breathe in those moments when you think you only have one option and that option is destructive. That is your cue to keep thinking. That is your cue to search. You haven’t found it yet, because that is not the only option.

Q: To that point, do you think there are any parallels between the story of Hamilton and the political violence we’re seeing right now in this country?

A: We’ve always had political violence in this country. When I think of what it must have been like to raise children, when every time you turned on the TV for a decade [it was] one leader after another being murdered when it comes to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., John Kennedy … We have a history of political violence in this country, and that is always a warning to us. There’s a shadow to everything, right? There’s a shadow that lurks for all of our experiences.

Q: What’s next for you?

A: I pivoted to music. That was my dream, leaving the Hamilton stage 10 years ago. A concert career was my shot at the moon, so the fact that I’m leaving the show the day before Thanksgiving to embark on a Christmas tour around the country is just as special to me as this moment. After Hamilton, what I hear the most about, if you can believe it, are these Christmas albums that we’ve made. People have really made these albums a part of their yearly traditions. They put these albums on while they’re decorating the tree. I’m deeply touched by that. I’m excited to hit the road. — Reuters

LBC Express says it is addressing SEC show-cause order on report delay

BW FILE PHOTO

LBC EXPRESS Holdings, Inc. said it is addressing a show-cause order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the alleged late submission of its 2021 sustainability report.

The order was issued by the SEC’s Corporate Governance and Finance Department, which directed the company to explain its alleged delay in submitting the report.

LBC said it received the show-cause order on Sept. 29.

The SEC order, dated Aug. 5, required the company to explain within 10 days from receipt its alleged one-day delay in filing the 2021 sustainability report, which was due on May 16, 2022.

LBC said it is compiling its records of submission to the regulator, noting that it is also clarifying with the SEC the basis for the order and the possible imposition of a penalty.

“Furthermore, the corporation intends to file its response to the show cause letter within the allotted period. The Corporation will provide further developments on this matter as soon as practicable,” it said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

The company said the SEC noted that the late attachment of its sustainability report to its annual report is subject to penalties ranging from a reprimand or warning for the first offense; P30,000 and P500 per day of delay for the second offense; and P60,000 plus P1,000 per day of delay in filing the amended report for the third offense.

LBC Express is a listed holding company with two main business segments: logistics and money transfer services. The logistics segment serves retail and corporate customers, while the money transfer segment covers domestic and international remittance services.

At the stock exchange on Tuesday, shares in LBC fell 79 centavos or 10.22% to P6.94 apiece. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

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