JUSTIN BROWNLEE’S Gilas Pilipinas stint in the forthcoming FIBA Asia Cup might be in peril.
For the second time around, the Gilas naturalized player is facing an alleged anti-doping violation that could keep him out for the Asian tournament slated on August 5 to 17 in Saudi Arabia.
No less than the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Monday confirmed that Mr. Brownlee “has received notice of an adverse analytical finding (AAF)” on one of his random tests.
“Mr. Brownlee is currently dealing with the situation aided by his US-based lawyers,” the local federation said.
As per the US Anti-Doping Agency, “an AAF is a report from a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory that identifies the presence of a prohibited substance and/or its metabolites or markers in a sample. This is commonly referred to as a positive test.”
Reports surfaced on Mr. Brownlee’s test result on Monday night, days after yet another loss of Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup against the TNT Tropang Giga, before SBP released a statement just Monday.
It remains unclear what substance it was, in which tournament Mr. Brownlee got the AAF notice or if he would be handed out another suspension given the multiple games he’s been into with Gilas in the entire FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and the PBA with Barangay Ginebra as its resident import.
Mr. Brownlee played in all three windows of the Asia Cup Qualifiers that started in February 2024 until February this year as Gilas advanced to the Asia Cup by finishing second with a 4-2 slate in Group B behind New Zealand.
He also saw action in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, putting in yet another heroic performance as Gilas had a stellar semifinal run marked by a stunning upset of world No. 6 Latvia.
Before that, the 35-year-old American-Filipino came off a three-month provisionary suspension he opted to serve instead of requesting for a B-sample after testing positive during the 19th Asian Games in China — where Gilas won a gold medal after 61 years — for Carboxy-THC, a compound linked with cannabis.
It’s not a performance-enhancing drug but still falls under one of the banned substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Still, the SBP cleared that nothing is certain as of now with regards to Mr. Brownlee’s status pending an official verdict from FIBA, whether as a pro in the PBA or as a national team player for Gilas.
“The SBP wishes to clarify that FIBA has not issued any official ruling as of date,” said the SBP. — John Bryan Ulanday
DONOVAN MITCHELL and Jarrett Allen each recorded double-doubles and the Cleveland Cavaliers led the visiting Los Angeles Clippers nearly wire-to-wire en route to a 127-122 win on Sunday.
Mitchell finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Cavaliers. Allen scored a team-high 25 points, grabbed 12 boards and made a pair of steals. Evan Mobley added 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.
Norman Powell of Los Angeles led all scorers with 34 points. James Harden added 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the loss, the Clippers’ first three games into a four-game road swing.
Cleveland (60-15) secured just the third 60-plus-win regular season in franchise history behind big runs in both halves versus Los Angeles. The Cavaliers went on a 16-0 burst in the first quarter, spanning almost four minutes, to open up a 17-point lead.
The Clippers (42-32) chipped away at the deficit, pulling within early in the third quarter. Cleveland responded with a 16-2 run.
Another Cavaliers answer to a Los Angeles threat came in the fourth quarter when the Clippers pulled to within eight points before Mitchell and Isaac Okoro connected on back-to-back 3-pointers.
Garland scored 19 pts and shot 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, with his work at the charity stripe helping the Cavaliers keep the Clippers at arm’s length. — Reuters
Commuters drive past a building that collapsed, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. — REUTERS
BANGKOK — Rescuers freed a woman from the ruins of a hotel in Myanmar, officials said on Monday, a glimmer of hope three days after a massive earthquake that killed around 2,000 as searchers in Myanmar and Thailand raced against time to find more survivors.
The woman was pulled from the rubble after 60 hours trapped under the collapsed Great Wall Hotel in the city of Mandalay after a 5-hour operation by Chinese, Russian and local teams, according to a Chinese embassy Facebook post. It said she was in stable condition early on Monday.
Mandalay is near the epicenter of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday that wreaked mass devastation in Myanmar and damage in neighboring Thailand.
In Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, emergency crews using cranes and dog sniffers on Monday continued a desperate search for 76 people believed buried under the rubble of an under-construction skyscraper that collapsed.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said rescuers are not giving up despite the conventional-wisdom window for finding people alive fast approaching.
“The search will continue even after 72 hours because in Turkey, people who have been trapped for a week have survived. The search has not been canceled,” Mr. Chadchart said.
He said machine scans of the rubble indicated there may still be people alive underneath, and dog sniffers are being dispatched to try to pinpoint their locations.
“We’ve detected weak life signs and there are many spots,” he said.
Thailand’s official death toll was at 18 on Sunday, but could shoot up without more rescues at the collapsed building site.
In Myanmar, state media said at least 1,700 people have been confirmed dead. The Wall Street Journal, citing the ruling military junta, reported the death toll had reached 2,028 in Myanmar. Reuters could not immediately confirm the new death toll. The United Nations said it was rushing relief supplies to estimated 23,000 quake-hit survivors in central Myanmar.
“Our teams in Mandalay are joining efforts to scale up the humanitarian response despite going through the trauma themselves,” said Noriko Takagi, the UN refugee agency’s representative in Myanmar. “Time is of the essence as Myanmar needs global solidarity and support through this immense devastation.”
India, China and Thailand are among Myanmar’s neighbors that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia.
The United States pledged $2 million in aid “through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations.” It said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID, which is undergoing massive cuts under the Trump administration, is deploying to Myanmar.
The quake devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from a civil war that grew out of a nationwide uprising after a 2021 military coup ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
One rebel group said Myanmar’s ruling military was still conducting airstrikes on villages in the aftermath of the quake, and Singapore’s foreign minister called for an immediate ceasefire to help relief efforts.
Critical infrastructure — including bridges, highways, airports and railways — across the country of 55 million lie damaged, slowing humanitarian efforts while the conflict that has battered the economy, displaced over 3.5 million people and debilitated the health system rages on. — Reuters
WASHINGTON — Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, which is barred by the US Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so.
Mr. Trump, who took office on Jan. 20 for his second, non-consecutive White House term, has made allusions to seeking a third one but addressed it directly in a telephone interview with NBC News.
“No, I’m not joking. I’m not joking,” Mr. Trump said, but “it is far too early to think about it.”
“There are methods which you could do it, as you know,” he said, declining to elaborate on specific methods.
US presidents are limited to two four-year terms, consecutive or not, according to the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution.
A proposal to overturn a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and ratification by the legislatures of three-fourths of the 50 US states.
Some Trump allies have floated the idea of keeping Trump in the White House beyond 2028, and the president has also brought up the idea on a number of occasions in a manner that seemed to poke at his political opponents.
Mr. Trump, who at 78 was the oldest US president at the time of his inauguration, would be 82 if he took on another four-year term following the November 2028 election.
George Washington in 1796 set the precedent for a two-term presidency, a self-imposed limit that was observed by most US presidents for more than 140 years until Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.
Mr. Roosevelt, a Democrat who was president during the Great Depression and World War 2, broke tradition and served a third term, then died months into his fourth term in 1945. This paved the way for the amendment on term limits in 1951.
Longtime Mr. Trump adviser Steve Bannon said in a March 19 interview with NewsNation that he believes Mr. Trump will run again in 2028. Mr. Bannon said he and others are looking into ways to make that happen, including examining the definition of a term limit.
GREENLAND’s flag flutters on a tourist boat as it sails past icebergs near Ilulissat, Greenland, Sept. 13, 2017. — REUTERS
COPENHAGEN — The United States will not get Greenland, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday in a post on Facebook in response to Donald Trump’s statements he wants to take control of the vast Arctic country.
“President Trump says that the United States is getting Greenland. Let me be clear: The United States won’t get that. We do not belong to anyone else. We determine our own future,” Mr. Nielsen said in the social media post.
Mr. Trump on Saturday told NBC News he “absolutely” had real conversations about annexing the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
“We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,” Mr. Trump said, according to NBC.
During a visit to a US military base in the north of Greenland on Friday, US Vice-President JD Vance accused Denmark of not doing a good job of keeping the island safe and suggested the United States would better protect the strategically located island. — Reuters
A 3D-printed miniature model of Donald Trump and the US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken Jan. 15, 2025. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION/FILE PHOTO
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.
In Mr. Trump’s first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, he told NBC News that US and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate.
“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Mr. Trump said in a telephone interview. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
“There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,” he added.
Iran sent a response through Oman to a letter from Mr. Trump urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the United States while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehran’s foreign minister was quoted as saying on Thursday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated the policy on Sunday. “Direct negotiations (with the US) have been rejected, but Iran has always been involved in indirect negotiations, and now too, the Supreme Leader has emphasized that indirect negotiations can still continue,” he said, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the NBC interview, Mr. Trump also threatened so-called secondary tariffs, which affect buyers of a country’s goods, on both Russia and Iran. He signed an executive order last week authorizing such tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil.
Speaking to reporters later on Sunday on Air Force One, Trump said he is going to make a decision on the secondary tariffs based on whether Tehran makes a deal.
“We’ll probably give it a couple of weeks and if we don’t see any progress, we’re going to put them on. We’re not putting them on right now. But if you remember, I did that six years ago, and it worked very well,” he said.
In his first 2017-21 term, Mr. Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran’s disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Mr. Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions. Since then, the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment.
Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump’s warning to make a deal or face military consequences.
Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program.
Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes. — Reuters
A drone view shows shipping containers from China at the Port of Los Angeles in Wilmington, California, Feb. 4, 2025. — REUTERS
SHANGHAI — Orders have evaporated for Richard Chen, who manufactures Christmas decorations in southern China for US retailers, including Walmart and Costco, facing crippling US tariffs.
“The orders are half of what they were last year,” said Mr. Chen, who is based in the manufacturing hub of Dongguan.
He is now in survival mode.
“There’s no more scope to cut prices. But to get orders we sometimes have to take a price cut … we have no choice,” Mr. Chen said, declining to elaborate on cuts he had agreed to.
“We’re losing money.”
On Feb. 4, US President Donald Trump applied a new 10% tariff to the $400 billion worth of Chinese goods exported annually to the United States, with an additional 10% tariff announced on March 4 and further reciprocal tariffs expected on April 2.
Chinese suppliers and their American clients are now coming to grips with the grim reality that this trade war will hit harder than in Mr. Trump’s first term in 2018.
This time is different because low-end manufacturers are already struggling with razor-thin margins, so they cannot cut prices to help their US customers, and local Chinese governments that might have provided support to protect jobs are mostly too cash-strapped to give new subsidies.
THIN MARGINS Suppliers estimate wages have grown by 2-5% since the first US-China trade war of 2018, while raw material costs have climbed for some sectors and overseas competition has intensified, making Trump’s latest tariffs the final straw for many low-end manufacturers.
Liz Picarazzi, the Brooklyn-based founder and CEO of trash box company Citibin, said her goods produced in China are now subject to 52.5% tariffs and she can no longer afford to manufacture there.
“My whole business has been based on a long-term rate of 7.5%. It’s been a real shock,” she said, referring to two rounds of 10% tariff increases on Chinese goods in addition to a global 25% aluminum tariff.
“We knew this was coming but there’s no way any company can mitigate an additional 45% in tariffs.”
US customers are pressing for 10% price cuts, according to interviews with 10 Chinese manufacturers and exporters and two US-based retail executives with Chinese supply chain exposure.
Ongoing negotiations are yielding average discounts of 3%-7% from suppliers, they said.
“You have companies in the US who have hundreds of factories that work for them sending out a mass letter asking for a blanket 10% reduction from all suppliers on all products,” said Jonathan Chitayat, the Asia boss of Genimex Group, a contract manufacturer for a range of products that derives 70% of its revenue from US customers.
“Most people don’t have 10% to give to be honest. Maybe they can do it for one or two orders, but 7% seems to be the ceiling for most people.”
Walmart and Costco did not reply to requests for comment on this story. When previously asked by Reuters about their negotiations with suppliers since the imposition of new tariffs, Walmart supplied a statement that said “we will continue to work closely with them to find the best way forward during these uncertain times.”
On the Chinese side, suppliers who got burnt in 2018 when some US customers refused to pay for container-loads of goods subjected to higher tariffs are now asking for payments upfront rather than waiting 30-90 days after sending an invoice.
“We told our US clients as soon as Trump got elected that the payment terms were 100% upfront with purchase order because we anticipated this tariff nightmare,” said Dominic Desmarais, chief solutions officer at Liya Solutions, which connects small and medium-sized companies with suppliers in China making everything from toys to furniture and titanium products.
JOB CUTS LOOM The tariffs have rattled China’s industrial heartland and could lead to substantial layoffs as factories shutter or downsize, analysts and manufacturers say.
He-Ling Shi, an economics professor at Monash University in Melbourne, said Chinese manufacturers are succumbing to a wide range of pressures.
“I have noticed that quite a lot of enterprises have already decided to close their doors,” Mr. Shi said.
Academic research from Stanford University following 2018 showed that each 1% tariff rise impacted Chinese supplier margins by 0.35%.
That trade war also resulted in the loss of around 3.5 million Chinese manufacturing jobs, according to Reuters calculations based on Dartmouth estimates of the percentage of manufacturing jobs China lost.
Analysts say it’s too early to estimate what the toll will be this time round.
Some US customers believe Chinese authorities will step in to support their local manufacturing industries with additional tax rebates, rent and utilities subsidies or other support as they have done in the past — including in 2018.
“I have been on hundreds, maybe thousands of Chinese factory visits, and understanding how important these factories are to a local government, there will absolutely be support when push comes to shove,” said one US-based retail executive who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak with the media.
Several suppliers interviewed by Reuters said, so far, new support had not been forthcoming.
Economics professor Shi said the heavy debt loads of local governments, many weighed down by an ongoing property crisis, will prevent them from being as generous with subsidies as they have been in the past.
“If there’s no money in their pocket, how can they provide any subsidies?” he said, adding that any move that put them deeper in debt would not be welcomed by China’s central government.
The message from Beijing is that exporters can pivot to other markets and China’s own 1.4 billion customers, but that too is a difficult strategy in a time of overcapacity and depressed domestic demand.
While one of the stated aims of Mr. Trump’s tariff regime is to draw manufacturing back to the US, Citibin’s Ms. Picarazzi says she has looked into the possibility at least half a dozen times and it remains unfeasible from a cost and quality perspective.
For now, as she prepares to move 100% of her manufacturing to Vietnam, she says she has already advised her customers to expect higher prices.
“This is just a really unfair thing for the American government to do to American companies and American consumers,” she said. “There is no patriotism in ruining American companies.” — Reuters
Customers shop at a supermarket in Tokyo. — SHINO FUKADA/BLOOMBERG
Japanese food and beverage companies will raise prices on more than 4,000 products starting Tuesday to offset higher costs for everything from raw materials to labor, according to a survey by Teikoku Databank.
A total of 4,225 products will get price hikes, the most since October 2023, Teikoku said Monday based on a survey of 195 food and beverage firms. Among products to see price increases are processed foods such as sausage, seasonings and beverages including canned beer.
While the main factors behind the increase stemmed from rising costs of raw materials, the number of companies citing higher services costs that include labor and logistics also increased.
While the yen has recovered from its multi-decade low of 161.95 to the dollar set in July, at roughly 149 it’s still considerably weaker than its 10-year average of 121. That’s keeping upward pressure on import prices.
The figures come a few weeks before national consumer price data for March are expected to show that inflation excluding fresh food has stayed at or above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for three years. The BOJ’s board next sets policy on May 1. While most economists expect authorities to wait until June or July to raise the benchmark interest rate, many see May 1 as a possible timing for the move in their risk scenarios. — Bloomberg
In an exciting turn of events, the prominent Angkasangga Partylist has shown its support for mayoralty candidate Isko Moreno, marking a historic collaboration aimed at driving advancements in local governance, transportation, and social initiatives. Isko Moreno, whose mayoralty campaign kicked off in a grand manner today with an extensive motorcade, is joined by Angkasangga, demonstrating a powerful collaboration that underlines their shared vision for the city’s future.
Angkasangga Partylist, known for its commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of motorcycle riders and promoting sustainable urban mobility, has taken a lead role in today’s campaign festivities. In a strong show of support, hundreds of volunteer bikers from Angkasangga led the campaign motorcade through the streets of Manila, captivating onlookers and cheering citizens alike with a message of unity and progress.
Adding a vibrant spark to the motorcade, Angkasangga unveiled its float that featured life-sized figures of Vice Ganda, George Royeca, and Isko Moreno itself. This symbolizes the merging of entertainment, social advocacy, and political will, illustrating the partylist’s innovative approach to engaging the public and rallying support for shared causes.
George Royeca, first nominee of Angkasangga Partylist and its advocacy efforts, remarked, “Our decision to support Yorme Isko Moreno stems from our belief in his vision and capability to transform Manila into a more vibrant, inclusive, and progressive city. We are proud to lead the motorcade today with our volunteer bikers, showcasing the power of collaborative effort and community spirit.”
This alliance between Angkasangga Partylist and Isko Moreno marks a turning point in the political landscape of Manila, promising a future where innovation, inclusivity, and development are at the forefront of governance. As the campaign progresses, both parties look forward to engaging with the citizens of Manila, listening to their concerns, and working together to realize a shared dream for a better city for all.
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Pag-IBIG Fund will maintain its low interest rates on housing loans until June 2025, marking the second consecutive year of offering affordable home financing and defying the upward trend in market lending rates, top officials announced Thursday (March 27).
Pag-IBIG Fund continues to offer significantly lower rates as the agency has held its three-year repricing period steady at 6.25% per annum and maintains an even lower rate of 5.75% per annum for its one-year repricing period. This, despite the rise in home lending rates based on market reports, with indicative rates ranging from 6.82% to 7.94%, and effective rates between 7.18% and 8.78% as of the week ending Jan. 29, 2025.
Pag-IBIG’s Affordable Housing Program, meanwhile, also continues to provide a special 3% interest rate per annum for minimum-wage earners, remaining the lowest available rate in the market today.
“We recognize the importance of affordable home financing for Filipino workers. Thanks to Pag-IBIG Fund’s robust fiscal management, we can consistently provide our members with rates that are within their means and therefore open doors to homeownership for more members. This effort aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to address the housing needs of our countrymen,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and chair of the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.
Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said that the agency’s ability to retain its low interest rates is the result of the efficiencies in its operations, the surge in its performing loans ratio, and robust collections of loan payments.
“We posted a record-high performing loans ratio of 93.72% to end last year, which means most of our members are diligently paying their home loans. This, combined with the quality of our investment portfolio, allows us to finance housing loans without the need to borrow externally, which in turn insulates our members from rising market interest rates. That is why I urge our borrowers to keep with their obligations because doing so will keep Pag-IBIG Fund – their fund – healthy. And when their fund is healthy, they can continue to enjoy low interest rates,” Acosta said.
Acosta further emphasized that Pag-IBIG housing loans offer members significant financial benefits, as interest rates remain lower than the dividends earned on their savings, allowing them to grow their funds even while financing their homes. “As administrators of the workers’ fund, we remain deeply committed to providing affordable home loans and competitive dividends, empowering our members to achieve homeownership and a better life. This exemplifies our Lingkod Pag-IBIG Brand of Service – Tapat na Serbisyo, Mula sa Puso,” she added.
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Filinvest has long recognized the potential of Clark as a thriving economic center and has been a key player in its transformation. Through strategic partnerships with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and its subsidiary, Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Filinvest has spearheaded large-scale developments that drive job creation and economic growth.
Since securing the contract in 2016 to develop and manage the former Mimosa Leisure Estate, Filinvest has steadily expanded its investments in the region in partnership with the BCDA and its subsidiary, CDC. In the same year, Filinvest also became the first mover in New Clark City through a joint venture with BCDA, leading to the creation of Filinvest New Clark City, anchored by its flagship development, Filinvest Innovation Park.
Clark’s location provides strategic access to air and sea travel, with a travel time of 1.5 to 4 hours to major Asian destinations. In 2023, Central Luzon recorded a 136% increase in visitor arrivals compared to the previous year, with Clark serving as a major entry point.
201-hectare Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City
The location benefits from well-developed infrastructure and easy access to major transport networks. Just 80 kilometers from Metro Manila, it connects directly to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). Clark International Airport, which serves flights to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and Korea, is just five kilometers away. Meanwhile, Subic Freeport Zone, one of Southeast Asia’s competitive international logistics ports, is 80 kilometers from the estate.
Several infrastructure projects are also expected to boost accessibility further. The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), for instance, will shorten travel time between Clark and Metro Manila, while the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway and Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) aim to improve logistics and regional access.
Filinvest Townships Head Don Ubaldo said the company is committed to developing its Clark projects as a destination for business, leisure, and industrial expansion.
“We are the first developer to partner with the government for large-format townships in the Clark Freeport Zone and in New Clark City. We are committed to helping unlock further growth in Clark with our investments,” he explained.
Mr. Ubaldo highlighted that Filinvest’s developments in the region generate jobs and attract investments that drive continued growth.
“Filinvest’s projects affirm our confidence in Clark’s strength and future-readiness,” he said. “These developments not only create employment opportunities but also bring in investments that support long-term expansion, contributing significantly to the area’s economic progress.”
Developing a sustainable mixed-use destination
The 50-year lease agreement for the 201-hectare Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City marked a key step in Filinvest’s plan to turn the estate into a major hub for business, leisure, and tourism. Filinvest has redeveloped the estate with modern facilities while preserving its historical character and natural surroundings.
The 36-hole Mimosa Plus Golf Course, a main attraction at the Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City
The area houses the first GEO-certified Mimosa Plus Golf Course in the Philippines, recognized internationally for its commitment to sustainable golf course management. This 36-hole course attracts both local and international players, further positioning Clark as a premier destination for tourism and leisure.
Beyond the main course, the Mimosa Golf Clubhouse also features a Golf Academy and Driving Range, offering professional training and practice facilities open to all—whether seasoned golfers or beginners looking to refine their game.
Beyond leisure, Filinvest Mimosa Plus caters to upscale and mid-range markets with premium residential developments. The Crib offers affordable living spaces catering to urban professionals, while Golf Ridge Private Estate, under the Filigree brand, introduces luxury country club living beside the golf course. These projects contribute to Clark’s growing real estate market and drive property values.
Four-hectare Workplus office campus at Filinvest Mimosa Plus
Workplus, a premium office campus spanning four hectares, is another major development of Filinvest. It currently has three office buildings, 1Workplus, 2Workplus, and the newly completed 4Workplus. Filinvest aims to expand the area with two more office buildings in the future.
Retail and entertainment options are also in the pipeline. Filinvest Malls Mimosa is set to open towards the end of 2025, while Filinvest Shoppes Mimosa is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of the same year.
For corporate events and special gatherings, The Hilltop offers function spaces suited for conferences, meetings, and gatherings. The estate also serves the growing MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) sector, providing an alternative to Metro Manila’s event venues.
Aside from these infrastructures, Filinvest Mimosa Plus promotes community engagement through events such as bike clinics, marathons, and Eats by the Park, an outdoor food market.
“Filinvest Mimosa offers year-round business and leisure amenities where you can experience country-club living amidst nature,” Mr. Ubaldo noted. “This project perfectly aligns with CDC’s mission to elevate Clark into a premier business and tourism hub and a catalyst for growth in the country.”
Hub for innovation and development
Filinvest is developing a 288-hectare mixed-use district within New Clark City, designed to be a modern and sustainable urban center in Central Luzon. This expansive development, known as Filinvest New Clark City, integrates residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional zones to foster a dynamic and well-balanced community.
At the heart of its industrial component is Filinvest Innovation Park, a dedicated hub for light and specialized industries. Positioned to meet the evolving demands of the new economy, the park serves as a strategic base for companies in e-commerce, data centers, and emerging technologies.
At the heart of Filinvest New Clark City is Filinvest Innovation Park, a dedicated hub for light and specialized industries.
One of its key developments is the StB Giga Factory, set to become the first lithium iron phosphate battery manufacturing plant in the Philippines. Located within Phase 1 of Filinvest Innovation Park, this facility is expected to play a significant role in the renewable energy sector by producing advanced battery technology for various applications.
“Central Luzon remains a viable and competitive manufacturing and industrial hub outside the CALABA (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas) area,” said Mr. Ubaldo. “This provides an opportunity for Filinvest to expand its locator portfolio within Filinvest Innovation Park while also activating the mixed-use component of Filinvest New Clark City to support its growing community and the NGAC (National Government Administrative Center).”
Filinvest’s vision for New Clark City reflects its commitment to creating an integrated urban landscape. As part of this development, the company aims to secure Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, reinforcing its dedication to sustainable and energy-efficient building practices.
Aligned with the BCDA’s priorities, Filinvest incorporates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles through its sustainability framework, ensuring that its developments are not only progressive but also environmentally responsible.
Valuing significant partnerships
Beyond property development and hospitality, Filinvest has expanded its presence in the region through strategic infrastructure investments. One of its key ventures is its participation in the North Luzon Airport Consortium, which secured the bid to operate and maintain Clark International Airport.
Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) plays a leading role in the consortium under Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), a joint venture with JG Summit, Changi Airports Philippines, and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions. As the managing entity of Clark International Airport, LIPAD enhances the airport’s operations and services, strengthening its role as a major gateway in Central Luzon.
With its expanding footprint in Clark and New Clark City, Filinvest is playing a vital role in transforming the region into a premier destination for business, industry, and tourism. Through strategic partnerships with BCDA and CDC, the company continues to develop world-class townships, sustainable industrial parks, and integrated communities that enhance economic opportunities and improve quality of life.
As Filinvest Mimosa Plus and Filinvest New Clark City take shape, investors, businesses, and residents can look forward to a future driven by innovation, connectivity, and sustainability. Stay updated on the latest developments by following their official Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/FilinvestMimosaPlus/ and https://www.facebook.com/FilinvestNCCOfficial/.
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From L-R: Security Bank EVP Wholesale Banking Segment Mr. John Cary Ong, Security Bank Director Maria Cristina Tingson, Security Bank President and CEO Mr. Sanjiv Vohra, Security Bank Chairman Atty. Cirilo Noel, ICCP Group Chairman Mr. Guillermo Luchangco, Science Park of the Philippines President & CEO Richard Osmond, ICCP Chairman & CEO Mr. Valentino Bagatsing, Science Park of the Philippines Treasurer Ms. Bethilda Castillo
Security Bank Corp. granted a P2.560-billion credit support for the industrial park developer — Science Park of the Philippines, Inc. (SPPI), and P960-million for the residential and mixed-use property developer — Pueblo de Oro Development Corp. (PDO). The loan proceeds will be used to fund the new and expansion projects of SPPI and PDO — both member companies of the ICCP Group. The Loan Agreement signifies the start of a strong partnership between Security Bank Corp. and the ICCP Group of Companies built upon common values and goals.
The credit facilities were arranged by Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP), one of the country’s leading independent investment houses.
SPPI is highly regarded as one of the pioneers and leaders in private industrial estate development in the country, with nearly 1,500 hectares of industrial estates developed and under development.
SPPI’s industrial parks are strategically located in Laguna (Cabuyao and Calamba), Batangas (Santo Tomas and Malvar), Lapu-Lapu City and Hermosa, Bataan. Upcoming industrial estate locations are San Jose, Batangas and Tarlac City. SPPI is also partnering with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to develop a 100-hectare industrial park in New Clark City, Tarlac.
From L-R: Security Bank EVP Wholesale Banking Segment John Cary Ong, Security Bank Director Maria Cristina Tingson, Security Bank President and CEO Sanjiv Vohra, Security Bank Chairman Atty. Cirilo Noel, ICCP Group Chairman Guillermo Luchangco, Pueblo de Oro President & COO Prim Nolido, ICCP Chairman & CEO Valentino Bagatsing, and Pueblo de Oro Treasurer Rhodora Lao.
Pueblo de Oro Development Corp., among the promising and fast-growing real estate developers in the country, continues to develop and offer master-planned and best-in-class residential and mixed-use projects in urbanized locations and emerging growth hubs such as Batangas, Pampanga and Lapu-Lapu City. PDO’s 400-ha flagship township in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) remains committed to developing award-winning sustainable projects with two major developments set to launch in the next two years. Among PDO’s new project locations are Lipa City; Ibaan in Batangas; and Carcar in Cebu.
“ICCP is proud to support Pueblo de Oro and SPPI in furthering their respective missions of responsible, climate-adapted township & industrial estate developments,” said Valentino S. Bagatsing, Chairman and CEO of ICCP.
“I take this opportunity to thank both the ICCP Group and Security Bank in making this partnership a reality,” highlighted Security Bank Chairman Atty. Cirilo Noel. “The Bank wanted to be associated with an institution that has the credibility, integrity, and excellence. I wish this partnership would be a long-standing partnership that will be for both our success and benefit, and also really to create economic value to our shareholders, to our community, and also to the country.”
Security Bank’s loans to Science Park of the Philippines and Pueblo de Oro Development Corp. align with the Bank’s mission to enrich lives, empower businesses, and build communities sustainably. The Bank is looking to build on the partnership with a multi-faceted approach across all financial services, including loans, deposits, and cash management solutions.
For his part, ICCP Group Chairman Guillermo Luchangco expressed his gratitude for the Security Bank support as SPPI and PDO embark on their expansion in the industrial estate and residential and mixed-use property development businesses. “In our Group, we emphasize integrity, ethics, and quality. These are the three pillars that we are known for, and Security Bank is a perfect banking partner for us.”
Other Security Bank officials, including Commercial Banking Group Head Jorge Lindley Ong, NCR3 Central Business District Region Head Erika Sykat and NCR 3 Central Business District Team Head Mary Ann Salazar witnessed the signing ceremony held last Feb. 10.
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