Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 840

PLDT Enterprise partners with Newbuy Group to offer smart messaging for SMEs

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/PATRICKROQUE01

PLDT INC., through its corporate arm PLDT Enterprise, has partnered with Hong Kong-based cloud communications platform Newbuy Group to provide a smart messaging suite for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and e-commerce businesses.

Under the agreement, Newbuy, through its aggregator brand TelcoSMS, will power real-time communications for SMEs and e-commerce platforms, including marketing messages, transaction notifications, and secure access and payment services.

The partnership also integrates silent SIM-based authentication as an alternative to traditional one-time passwords, enhancing user security against fraud.

“This collaboration demonstrates how we work alongside industry innovators to deliver communication platforms that are scalable and secure by design,” PLDT Enterprise First Vice-President Mitch Locsin said in a media release on Thursday.

PLDT said the partnership reflects its broader strategy to support the IT and platforms industry with solutions that improve operational efficiency and address cybersecurity and regulatory compliance needs.

At the stock exchange on Thursday, PLDT shares closed at P1,080 each, down P14 or 1.28%.

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

A 2-song collaboration turns into an album

GLOC-9 (left) and Abaddon

Gloc-9, Abaddon team up on fun rap record

IT BEGAN with two songs — “Dating Gawi” and “Bonethugs” — which were a way to explore the creativity that emerges when two rap artists collaborate. Then Gloc-9 suggested to Abaddon that they may be able to come up with enough material for a full album.

Thus Project A was born, the title referencing the A shared by Abaddon’s name and Gloc-9’s real name, Aristotle Pollisco. The album contains 11 tracks, 10 of which are singles and one of which is an acoustic version of their song “Halimaw.”

The album was produced by Cursebox. and many of the tracks feature artists in the rap scene who are their good friends. The most notable are members of the group Shockra, of which Abaddon is a part, namely Astro, Smugglaz, Hero, Arvy T, and Tuglaks.

“Talagang nag-experiment po talaga ako. ’Di po ’to ’yong normal na Abaddon na tulad ng ginagawa ko dating kanta. Gumawa po talaga ako ng pakanta, as in ’di na siya rap. (I really experimented here. It’s not the normal Abaddon like what I did in my previous tracks. I made actual songs that aren’t rap),” said Abaddon, whose real name is Venzon Malubay.

“Nag-challenge talaga ako ng sarili ko kasi pagkakataon ko ito na makasama ko si master (I really challenged myself because it was my chance to work with master),” he added.

As the “master,” Gloc-9 expressed that their collaboration was built on “mutual respect and creative trust.”

“I was at a point where I was also looking for inspiration to write. With the help of artists like Venzon, I slowly found my rhythm again,” he said, adding that he doesn’t write as much as he used to.

Because he is well known in the rap scene, Filipinos already have an idea of what to expect from a Gloc-9 album.

He explained that “because there’s that Abaddon factor, you can get surprised” by the album.

“Para akong nakikinig ng artist na bago ko pa lang narinig (It’s like I’m listening to an artist I’ve never heard before), which is very refreshing for me,” Gloc-9 said.

One of the tracks to look out for is “Ambag,” which features members of the Shockra supergroup and pays tribute to one of their members who recently passed away, Inozent One.

Project A is out now on all digital music streaming platforms. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

The House that never learns

PHILIPPINE STAR /KJ ROSALES

By passing the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, the House of Representatives once again disproved Benjamin Franklin’s timeless insight on learning: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

For despite being told, taught, and fully involved in the unraveling of the flood control scandal that shocked the nation, the lower house still learned nothing. Even as revelations of anomalous flood control projects and grotesque kickbacks obliterated Filipinos’ sense of proportion, lawmakers pushed through with a budget that perpetuates the very scheme that enabled this plunder.

Various House committees may have held hearings to “establish the truth,” but the truth hurt too much to act upon. The 2026 budget was mangled once more to favor vested interests. Funds meant for health and education were shortchanged; allocations for vital social infrastructure were diverted to private gain. Mansions, luxury cars, and designer goods became the unintended beneficiaries of public money.

But they never learn.

UNPROGRAMMED APPROPRIATIONS: THE BLACK BOX OF THE BUDGET
The House’s greatest sin is institutionalizing the abuse of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) — the murky reserve funds that have turned into a parallel budget.

In principle, UA are standby funds released only if there are excess revenues, new loan proceeds, or foreign grants secured after the budget is enacted. They provide flexibility for unforeseen priorities without the need for supplemental appropriations, an understandable fiscal instrument — in theory.

But in practice, UA has become the black box of the national budget. Projects funded under UA are often not specified in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), making them nearly impossible for civil society or oversight bodies to track. This opacity has opened the door to ghost projects, substandard works, and politically driven spending.

Most dangerous of all, it politicizes public expenditure. Politicians can insert projects benefiting their own districts or patrons without the same scrutiny that applies to programmed funds. Strategic planning and performance-based budgeting are cast aside for expediency and personal gain.

THE FLOOD CONTROL TEMPLATE OF CORRUPTION
The flood control scandal offers a masterclass in how UA can be twisted into a personal ATM.

Both chambers of Congress have confirmed, and multiple media investigations have shown, that around P600 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan were financed through UA. Many of these projects were ghost projects — nonexistent, duplicative, or lacking detailed designs and permits.

Between 2023 and 2024, about 3,770 public-works projects worth P214 billion were reportedly approved under UA, including hundreds linked to flood control. Some were inserted at the last minute and awarded to preselected contractors, bypassing competitive public bidding.

This is not an accident; it is a pattern. Only 125 contractors cornered P100 billion or nearly 20% of the entire flood control budget since 2022. Concentration of contracts in a few hands mirrors the old “pork barrel” logic: favor loyalists, punish critics, and share the spoils among friends.

By keeping UA as a convenient pool of discretionary funds, Congress has chosen to institutionalize patronage and deinstitutionalize accountability.

4 WAYS THE 2026 BUDGET ENSURES MORE OF THE SAME
First, insertion by exclusion will persist. Flood control projects omitted from the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) official program can simply reappear under UA. The public sees a “lean” infrastructure plan, but the hidden budget remains intact — only waiting for release once “additional revenues” are declared.

Second, contractor concentration will continue. The Duterte-era pattern of a few politically connected contractors winning hundreds of projects remains entrenched. The Marcos administration’s own disclosures confirm it.

Third, ghost projects will thrive. With minimal oversight and recycled templates, DPWH districts can replicate project papers across localities — same cost, same design, different location. The purpose is not to build but to liquidate.

And fourth, discretionary awarding will expand. Local officials and legislators will keep claiming ownership of projects with giant billboards announcing “Funded through the initiative of Congressman So-and-So.” It is political branding, not public service.

A BUDGET PASSED IN HASTE, AGAINST PROTEST
Despite serious objections, the 2026 budget raced through the House. Rappler reported that progressive blocs like Akbayan and Makabayan protested the inclusion of P243 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, warning that Congress was effectively skirting constitutional limits by transferring programmed funds to UA while inserting pet projects into the main expenditure program.

As Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno noted: “We are simply allowing the Executive to control P243 billion without knowing how or where it will be used.”

The Mamamayang Liberal Party’s Rep. Leila de Lima added that this practice amounts to “undue delegation of legislative power,” echoing a long-pending Supreme Court challenge against UA.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio went further, describing UA as “the new presidential pork barrel.” He noted that similar discretionary pockets of power exist elsewhere in the budget such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) programs where political endorsements suffice for fund release. These, too, perpetuate patronage rather than equitable social protection.

MISPLACED PRIORITIES, MISUSED RESOURCES
Those who opposed the 2026 budget had every reason to vote “no.” The numbers speak for themselves.

While the government boasts of a P1.28-trillion education budget — the “highest ever” — it still falls short. As one lawmaker pointed out, this translates to only P90.50 per student per day. The plan to build 25,000 new classrooms barely dents the 165,000-classroom backlog.

For comparison, the TUPAD program, long criticized for inefficiency and leakages, received P22 billion or more than 13 times the allocation for industry and MSME development (P1.62 billion). This betrays a distorted sense of national priorities: patronage over productivity.

Public health fares no better. Health spending remains only 1% of GDP, far below the World Health Organization’s 5% benchmark. PhilHealth’s P113-billion subsidy is insufficient for an institution “in critical condition,” as one analyst put it. “If PhilHealth were a patient, it would already be in need of life support, yet the 2026 budget offers only a band-aid.”

TOKEN TRANSPARENCY, CONCENTRATED POWER
The House leadership has tried to project reform by livestreaming budget hearings and scrapping small committees in favor of a so-called Budget Amendment Review Sub-Committee (BARSc). But this only created a new bottleneck.

Civil society groups complain that their participation was “nominal,” and that they were denied access to BARSc reports before the second reading. As Representative Paolo Marcoleta observed, the new setup concentrates amendment power in the hands of a few, marginalizing other members of the appropriations committee.

In the end, only 12 representatives voted against the 2026 budget, with two abstaining. Meanwhile, 287 lawmakers voted yes, and 127 either decided not to vote or failed to vote. The numbers tell a story of institutional inertia — of a legislature that refuses to learn from its own scandals.

THE COST OF NEVER LEARNING
Every peso misallocated under UA is a peso denied to a student, a patient, or a small entrepreneur. As we stressed time and again, every ghost project funded is a public school unbuilt, a bridge unmaintained, a flood unmitigated.

If Congress refuses to correct the misuse of unprogrammed appropriations, it will remain the House that never learns — not from the pork barrel scandal, not from the pandemic, and not even from the flood that exposed its own corruption.

As the nation braces for another year of tight budgets and lofty promises, one truth stands out: learning requires involvement, but involvement without accountability is just complicity.

 

Diwa C. Guinigundo is the former deputy governor for the Monetary and Economics Sector, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). He served the BSP for 41 years. In 2001-2003, he was alternate executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. He is the senior pastor of the Fullness of Christ International Ministries in Mandaluyong.

First-time card users to drive growth in PHL credit market

JCOMP-FREEPIK

FIRST-TIME credit card users are seen to drive growth in the country’s credit market as the product can serve as their entry point to other financial services, according to a TransUnion study.

“The study emphasizes that credit cards are more than payment tools — they represent the first step towards financial mobility, offering consumers access to additional liquidity and flexibility when needed,” TransUnion Principal of Research and Consulting for Asia Pacific Weihan Sun said in a statement on Thursday.

“Beyond enabling greater financial inclusion, they also provide an opportunity for lenders to build loyalty and trust through long-term relationships with new-to-card consumers, yielding stronger returns as their confidence and credit needs grow.”

According to TransUnion’s study, even amid the growing use of digital wallets and online financial services in the Philippines, only one in 20 consumers in the country owned a credit card.

“This highlights that while financial inclusion has advanced rapidly with the expansion of digital wallets, many Filipinos might still be credit invisible without access to traditional credit products, including credit cards. Being credit invisible makes it difficult for consumers to successfully build and leverage credit to start businesses, buy vehicles, invest in property — or even to access the liquidity they need for emergencies,” it said. 

It added that 88% of the 1.46 million new-to-card borrowers in 2024 — or those without any credit card prior to opening one — used these as their first credit product. First-time cardholders accounted for about 50% of newly opened card accounts in the Philippines.

“As commerce in the Philippines becomes more digital, along with greater e-commerce adoption, credit cards are likely to become the preferred method of payment, especially for larger-ticket purchases.”

Based on the study, 73% of first-time card users were given credit limits below P50,000, while 5% of them were assigned limits above P300,000.

“Typically, new-to-card borrowers start with lower credit limits than established cardholders. Even when compared by borrower risk levels, they receive lower access to credit due to their limited credit history,” TransUnion said.

“Despite the lower limits, new-to-card consumers used their credit similarly to established cardholders and in a responsible manner, with utilization rates of 28.8% and 27.9%, respectively, after 12 months. This healthy comparison indicates that new-to-card borrowers are not eager to overuse their credit lines, which can lead to overburdened financial situations.”

However, payment behaviors after 12 months differed among new and established cardholders, it said, with nearly 30% of them falling behind on payments versus the industry average of 13.5%.

“Given their higher likelihood of early-stage delinquencies, lenders should invest in proactive engagement and education initiatives to help consumers build responsible credit management habits early in their credit journey, ultimately fostering long-term financial health that benefits not only the consumers but also strengthens the overall credit ecosystem,” Mr. Sun said.

Meanwhile, the study also showed that new-to-card borrowers are likely to tap other credit services to access liquidity, with 9.5% of them getting other products just six months after getting their first card.

“Among the new-to-card consumers who opted for a subsequent product, two thirds (67%) opened a second credit card as their next product, 27% chose a personal loan, 5% opened an auto loan, and 1% opened a mortgage. This indicates that new-to-card borrowers quickly learn how to use credit lines to meet their needs, and may find it easier to open similar credit facility as subsequent products in their credit journeys,” TransUnion said.

Most of them also choose products that are offered by the lenders that gave them their first credit card. Those who got second credit cards also recorded steady growth in balances and credit limit utilization, with delinquency rates also similar to those seen for when they were new card users.

“The performance observations in subsequent products underscore the critical need for enhanced monitoring and predictive risk management approaches by lenders, along with greater efforts to educate consumers on responsible credit use,” it said.

“New-to-card consumers are not just entering the credit market — they are shaping its future. By recognizing their potential and supporting them with the right tools, education and responsible lending practices, we can unlock long-term value for both consumers and lenders, while driving inclusive and sustainable growth across the Philippine credit ecosystem,” Mr. Sun said. — K.K. Chan

DITO taps AdventEnergy to power 1,642 Luzon cell towers

BW FILE PHOTO

DITO TELECOMMUNITY Corp. has partnered with AdventEnergy, the retail electricity supply unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., to provide electricity to 1,642 of its cell towers in Luzon with an aggregated demand of 13.8 megawatts (MW).

Under the government’s retail aggregation program (RAP), AdventEnergy will supply electricity to DITO’s towers in the Greater Manila, South Luzon, and North Luzon areas.

RAP allows enterprises with multiple facilities within a contiguous area to aggregate their electricity demand to meet the 500-kilowatt-hour threshold required to participate in the competitive retail electricity market.

“This partnership goes beyond a conventional energy supply agreement. It is an investment that will help keep millions of Filipinos connected, informed, and empowered,” DITO Telecommunity President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eric R. Alberto said.

Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz said the deal supports the group’s aim to expand its partner network while delivering reliable and sustainable energy.

AdventEnergy currently provides electricity to over 500 commercial and industrial facilities across the Philippines. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Matteo Guidicelli, MediaQuest to produce documentaries

MEDIAQUEST Chair Manuel V. Pangilinan shakes hands with Matteo Guidicelli at the contract signing. — JOSEPH L. GARCIA

FILIPINO-ITALIAN actor, model, entrepreneur, and Philippine Army reservist Matteo Guidicelli signed a contract with MediaQuest Holdings on Oct. 15 at the PLDT Ramon Cojuangco Bldg. in Makati to produce a series of documentaries.

“The family of MediaQuest Artists Agency and MediaQuest in general, it’s been growing. We’ve been churning out more programs whether that’s entertainment, sports, news, or public affairs programs,” said MediaQuest Holdings Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Jane Basas in an interview. “We see Matteo’s brand as quite a good fit to the brand that we’re building for public affairs.”

While Mr. Guidicelli said that he will have three or four documentaries for next year, Ms. Basas said that he already has one documentary show slated for release this year, and that there is a game show lined up.

Mr. Guidicelli described the content of his documentaries in a group interview: “They’re really the stories of the Filipino. From food, soldiers, tradition, culture. It’s very exciting.

“It’s been a mission of mine to tell the Filipino story and to tell stories that haven’t been told yet.”

His training as a military reservist (a journey he began in 2019) will also come into play in the documentaries. “All this military training was incredible for me, because not just did I learn about myself, but also mga sundalo natin (our soldiers),” he said. “I know these soldiers. I want to tell their stories authentically.” — JLG

What are climate tipping points? They sound scary, especially for ice sheets and oceans, but there’s still room for optimism

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Hiroko Yoshii from Unsplash

As the planet warms, it risks crossing catastrophic tipping points: thresholds where Earth systems, such as ice sheets and rain forests, change irreversibly over human lifetimes.

Scientists have long warned that if global temperatures warmed more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7° Fahrenheit) compared with before the Industrial Revolution, and stayed high, they would increase the risk of passing multiple tipping points. For each of these elements, like the Amazon rain forest or the Greenland ice sheet, hotter temperatures lead to melting ice or drier forests that leave the system more vulnerable to further changes.

Worse, these systems can interact. Freshwater melting from the Greenland ice sheet can weaken ocean currents in the North Atlantic, disrupting air and ocean temperature patterns and marine food chains.

With these warnings in mind, 194 countries a decade ago set 1.5°C as a goal they would try not to cross. Yet in 2024, the planet temporarily breached that threshold.

The term “tipping point” is often used to illustrate these problems, but apocalyptic messages can leave people feeling helpless, wondering if it’s pointless to slam the brakes. As a geoscientist who has studied the ocean and climate for over a decade and recently spent a year on Capitol Hill working on bipartisan climate policy, I still see room for optimism.

It helps to understand what a tipping point is — and what’s known about when each might be reached.

TIPPING POINTS ARE NOT PRECISE
A tipping point is a metaphor for runaway change. Small changes can push a system out of balance. Once past a threshold, the changes reinforce themselves, amplifying until the system transforms into something new.

Almost as soon as “tipping points” entered the climate science lexicon — following Malcolm Gladwell’s 2000 book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference — scientists warned the public not to confuse global warming policy benchmarks with precise thresholds.

The scientific reality of tipping points is more complicated than crossing a temperature line. Instead, different elements in the climate system have risks of tipping that increase with each fraction of a degree of warming.

For example, the beginning of a slow collapse of the Greenland ice sheet, which could raise global sea level by about 24 feet (7.4 meters), is one of the most likely tipping elements in a world more than 1.5°C warmer than preindustrial times. Some models place the critical threshold at 1.6°C (2.9°F). More recent simulations estimate runaway conditions at 2.7°C (4.9°F) of warming. Both simulations consider when summer melt will outpace winter snow, but predicting the future is not an exact science.

Forecasts like these are generated using powerful climate models that simulate how air, oceans, land and ice interact. These virtual laboratories allow scientists to run experiments, increasing the temperature bit by bit to see when each element might tip.

Climate scientist Timothy Lenton first identified climate tipping points in 2008. In 2022, he and his team revisited temperature collapse ranges, integrating over a decade of additional data and more sophisticated computer models.

Their nine core tipping elements include large-scale components of Earth’s climate, such as ice sheets, rain forests, and ocean currents. They also simulated thresholds for smaller tipping elements that pack a large punch, including die-offs of coral reefs and widespread thawing of permafrost.

Some tipping elements, such as the East Antarctic ice sheet, aren’t in immediate danger. The ice sheet’s stability is due to its massive size — nearly six times that of the Greenland ice sheet — making it much harder to push out of equilibrium. Model results vary, but they generally place its tipping threshold between 5°C (9°F) and 10°C (18°F) of warming.

Other elements, however, are closer to the edge.

ALARM BELLS SOUNDING IN FORESTS AND OCEANS
In the Amazon, self-perpetuating feedback loops threaten the stability of the Earth’s largest rain forest, an ecosystem that influences global climate. As temperatures rise, drought and wildfire activity increase, killing trees and releasing more carbon into the atmosphere, which in turn makes the forest hotter and drier still.

By 2050, scientists warn, nearly half of the Amazon rain forest could face multiple stressors. That pressure may trigger a tipping point with mass tree die-offs. The once-damp rain forest canopy could shift to a dry savanna for at least several centuries.

Rising temperatures also threaten biodiversity underwater.

The second Global Tipping Points Report, released Oct. 12 by a team of 160 scientists including Lenton, suggests tropical reefs may have passed a tipping point that will wipe out all but isolated patches.

Corals rely on algae called zooxanthellae to thrive. Under heat stress, the algae leave their coral homes, draining reefs of nutrition and color. These mass bleaching events can kill corals, stripping the ecosystem of vital biodiversity that millions of people rely on for food and tourism.

Low-latitude reefs have the highest risk of tipping, with the upper threshold at just 1.5°C, the report found. Above this amount of warming, there is a 99% chance that these coral reefs tip past their breaking point.

Similar alarms are ringing for ocean currents, where freshwater ice melt is slowing down a major marine highway that circulates heat, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC.

The AMOC carries warm water northward from the tropics. In the North Atlantic, as sea ice forms, the surface gets colder and saltier, and this dense water sinks. The sinking action drives the return flow of cold, salty water southward, completing the circulation’s loop. But melting land ice from Greenland threatens the density-driven motor of this ocean conveyor belt by dilution: Fresher water doesn’t sink as easily.

A weaker current could create a feedback loop, slowing the circulation further and leading to a shutdown within a century once it begins, according to one estimate. Like a domino, the climate changes that would accompany an AMOC collapse could worsen drought in the Amazon and accelerate ice loss in the Antarctic.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CLOSENESS OF OTHER TIPPING POINTS
Not all scientists agree that an AMOC or rain forest collapse is close.

In the Amazon, researchers recognize the forest’s changes, but some have questioned whether some of the modeled vegetation data that underpins tipping point concerns is accurate. In the North Atlantic, there are similar concerns about data showing a long-term trend.

Other changes driven by rising global temperatures, like melting permafrost, could be reversed. Permafrost, for example, could refreeze if temperatures drop again.

RISKS ARE TOO HIGH TO IGNORE
Despite the uncertainty, tipping points are too risky to ignore. Rising temperatures put people and economies around the world at greater risk of dangerous conditions.

But there is still room for preventive actions — every fraction of a degree in warming that humans prevent reduces the risk of runaway climate conditions. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions slows warming and tipping point risks.

Tipping points highlight the stakes, but they also underscore the climate choices humanity can still make to stop the damage.

THE CONVERSATION VIA REUTERS CONNECT

 

Alexandra A Phillips is an assistant teaching professor in Environmental Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Peso weakens on concerns over US-China trade spat

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO dropped versus the dollar on Thursday due to concerns over renewed trade tensions between the United States and China.

The local unit weakened by seven centavos to close at P58.125 against the greenback from its P58.055 finish on Wednesday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Thursday’s session stronger at P57.999 versus the dollar. Its intraday best was at P57.98, while its worst showing was at P58.16 against the greenback.

Dollars traded went down to $1.69 billion on Thursday from $1.73 billion on Wednesday.

The peso declined due to market concerns over the trade spat between the world’s two largest economies, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The US dollar headed for a third straight daily loss against the euro while edging up versus the yen on Thursday, as concerns over US-China tensions and dovish remarks from Federal Reserve officials continued to weigh on sentiment, Reuters reported.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six other currencies, was down 0.05% at 98.63, and was on track for a weekly decline of around 0.3%.

Investors were scrutinizing China’s latest expansion of rare earth export controls, a move sharply criticized by senior US officials on Wednesday, who warned that it could disrupt global supply chains.

Amid the tit-for-tat action, US President Donald J. Trump still expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea this month, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

The peso fell on worries that the ongoing corruption scandal could affect the Philippines’ credit rating, a trader said in an e-mail.

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto earlier said that S&P Global Ratings was set to upgrade the country’s credit rating this year if not for the widening scandal involving state infrastructure projects.

The controversy, which involves “ghost” projects and fund misuse in government flood control programs, has triggered investigations by Congress, the Commission on Audit, the Ombudsman, and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

For Friday, the trader said the peso could depreciate further as strong earnings reports from US major banks could boost the greenback.

The trader sees the peso moving between P58 and P58.25 per dollar on Friday, while Mr. Ricafort said it could range from P58.05 to P58.25. — Aaron Michael C. Sy with Reuters

DoLE sends out work-safety notice to employers after Cebu, Davao earthquakes

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said companies need to strengthen their occupational safety and health programs in the wake of two strong earthquakes that hit Cebu and the Davao region.

In an appearance on DZMM on Thursday, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said companies must implement occupational safety and health standards, including mandatory safety drills, hazard assessments and working in coordination with local government units.

“We must ensure no one works in unsafe conditions — workers labor to live, not to be put in danger,” he said.

He also reminded employers that under Labor Advisory No. 17, Series of 2022, workers cannot be forced to report for duty if their safety is at risk during natural disasters or weather disturbances.

Employees who have worked for more than six hours before being sent home must be paid in full, while those who put in less than full hours are entitled to prorated pay.

He also urged companies to establish professional safety programs led by trained safety officers to ensure orderly evacuation and the immediate inspection of structural integrity before workers return to buildings after a quake.

On Sept. 30, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, about 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, at a depth of around five kilometers.

It left 72 people dead, hundreds injured, and thousands of homes damaged. More than 8,000 aftershocks were reported in the days that followed, and caused ground subsidence and sinkholes.

On Oct. 10, a pair of powerful quakes rocked Davao Oriental in southern Mindanao.

The first tremor, initially recorded as magnitude 7.6 and later revised to 7.4, was followed by another quake measuring around 6.7 to 6.8 hours later.

The epicenter was located off Manay, Davao Oriental, at a depth of roughly 23 kilometers. The doublet caused landslides, infrastructure damage, and casualties across the region, with more than 1,100 aftershocks recorded afterwards.

Mr. Laguesma encouraged employers to require face mask use in offices following a rise in flu and pneumonia cases that prompted several schools to suspend classes.

“If it will help reduce infections. We support it. Health and safety should go hand in hand,” he said.

The Department of Health, through Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, has clarified that although reports of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) are rising in public schools in Metro Manila, the increase reflects the normal seasonal flu pattern — not an outbreak.

Mr. Herbosa noted that the number of ILI cases logged from January to September (121,716) was actually 8% lower year on year.

He said the current totals have not surpassed the threshold needed to declare an epidemic. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

ALI allocates P323M to Taguig premium condominium

AYALALAND.COM

AYALA LAND, INC. (ALI) has earmarked P323.36 million from the proceeds of a block sale of AREIT, Inc. shares to fund the expansion of its 364-unit Garden Court Residences in Taguig City.

In a stock exchange disclosure on Thursday, ALI said the funds were used between July and September for the premium mid-rise development under its Ayala Land Premier brand.

The two-hectare project features five towers around a 6,000-square-meter (sq.m.) courtyard, offering units ranging from 68 sq.m. to 261 sq.m., with prices starting at P25.8 million.

Garden Court Residences is designed with high ceilings, expansive windows, and balconies, and includes amenities such as garden lobbies, sky gardens, a sky gym, social hall and deck, and swimming pools. The project is accessible via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and C-5 road.

As of end-September, ALI said P165.27 million from the net proceeds remains available for future projects.

In July, the company raised P489.36 million from a block sale of 12 million AREIT shares.

For the first half of 2025, ALI posted an 8% increase in net income to P14.2 billion, while property development revenue rose 0.77% to P52.3 billion.

On Thursday, ALI shares closed flat at P23.10 each, while AREIT shares gained 1.83% to P44.50 apiece. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Stuff to Do (10/17/25)

Catch the PPO’s cello concert

THE NEXT CONCERT of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will feature cellist Tomasz Strahl as the guest. It will also see the world premiere of Jeffrey Ching’s Creation Fugue and Arctic Chase, along with Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, and Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra. Under the baton of Grzegorz Nowak, the concert will take place on Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. Tickets are available via TicketWorld.

Enjoy the bar takeover at Grand Hyatt Manila

ON OCT. 17 and 18, The Peak at Grand Hyatt Manila will host a special guest behind the bar: Wayan Agus Wiyantara, beverage manager of Alila Seminyak in Bali, Indonesia. Known in the industry as “Mr. Mustacho,” Wiyantara, or “Wi,” is acclaimed for his inventive and sustainable approach to cocktail creation. He has earned recognition for his work at Seasalt, the signature bar of Alila Seminyak. Under his leadership, Seasalt’s cocktail program underwent a bold transformation, introducing a pioneering zero-waste initiative that reimagines ingredients and techniques to minimize environmental impact while delivering exceptional flavor and creativity. During his two-night bar shift at The Peak, he will present a curated menu of cocktails that reflect his commitment to sustainability, innovation, and Balinese heritage. This event is part of his ongoing series of international collaborations, which have included bar takeovers and joint events with luxury properties such as Park Hyatt Jakarta. Guests can enjoy the following featured cocktails, available for P650 and at a special offer of two for P1,018+: Coco Pandan Nectar (Volcan Blanco Tequila with Coconut Malibu, lemon, and coco pandan sodas), Tropical Highland (Glenmorangie 12 Years Scotch paired with homemade tropical land sodas), Emperor’s Sour (Hennessy V.S. with lemon and a homemade emperor cordial), and Luneta Blossom (Belvedere Vodka, calamansi, lemon, betel cordial, and betel oil). Guests can experience his zero-waste cocktails at The Peak, Grand Hyatt Manila on Oct. 17 and 18 from 7 p.m. onwards. Live DJ entertainment courtesy of the venue’s resident acts will complement the drinks. For more information on the hotel, visit www.grandhyattmanila.com.

See some German movies

THE German Film Festival, known as KinoFest, returns this year to the Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza mall. This year’s edition, ongoing until Oct. 19, features eight contemporary German films and five Filipino short films. The program spans a range of genres and styles, exploring themes of memory, belonging, and care — and how cinema connects cultures across perspectives and histories. Tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets may be claimed at the KinoFest booth near the mall’s Cinema 3 starting one hour before each screening.

Watch Anino sa Likod ng Buwan

IDEAFIRST LIVE, the theater arm of IdeaFirst Company, will be presenting filmmaker Jun Robles Lana’s award-winning play, Anino sa Likod ng Buwan, from Oct. 17 to Nov. 9. The play was initially staged 30 years ago and last staged in March this year. This time, it will be performed at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Set in a remote village in the rebel-wracked countryside of the 1990s, it revolves around the relationship of a couple and a soldier. The play is directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio, and stars Martin del Rosario, Elora Españo, and Ross Pesigan. Tickets are available through Ticket2Me.

Watch contemporary dance at Areté

MARI DANCE, in partnership with Areté at the Ateneo de Manila University, is presenting “A Dance in a Day in a Dance,” a contemporary dance production running this weekend until Oct. 19. It features original works by award-winning choreographer JM Cabling that tackle the collective stories of contemporary dance artists. His homegrown students will star, alongside two dancers who are making their return to the Philippine stage: Al Garcia coming from Taiwan, and Katrene San Miguel coming from Hong Kong. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me and this direct link: bit.ly/a_dance_2025.

Shop for pet products, join a pet fashion show

THE Shopwise pet fair titled “Pawp-Up” is taking place this weekend, until Oct. 19 at Gateway Mall 2’s Quantum Skyview on Upper Ground B of the Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City. The three-day event offers affordable deals for a wide array of pet products. On Oct. 19 at 2 p.m., pet parents are invited to join the Shopwise pet fair fashion show, where pets can strut the runway in hip pop culture costumes.

Enjoy the Dedma twin bill again

THEATRE TITAS is bringing back its twin bill Dedma, last staged in April, on Oct. 17 to 26. It is made up of two plays — Let’s Do Lunch (directed by Maribel Legarda) and The Foxtrot (directed by Paul Alexander Morales) — both penned by Theatre Titas Co-founder Chesie Galvez-Cariño. It follows members of Manila’s elite whose beautiful pretenses are mixed with ugly truths. The play runs at the Mirror Studio Theatre 2, with 8 p.m. performances Fridays through Sundays and 3 p.m. matinées on Saturdays and Sundays. Issa Litton, Ash Nicanor, Naths Everett and Mayen Cadd star in Let’s Do Lunch while Royce Cabrera and Jackie Lou Blancostar in Foxtrot. Tickets are available through Ticket2Me.

Enjoy Song of the Fireflies at Ayala Museum

AS PART of the “Pamanang Pilipino” program, Ayala Museum is holding a film screening of Song of the Fireflies, with select shows set to have talkback sessions afterwards. The film tells the origin story of the world-renowned Loboc Children’s Choir, founded by teacher Alma Taldo in the 1980s. It stars Morissette, Rachel Alejandro, Noel Comia, Jr., and Krystal Brimner. The film also features original music by Krina Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raimund Marasigan, Jazz Nicolas, and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab. The screenings take place on Oct. 17, and 18, at 2 and 5 p.m. Tickets range in price from P150 to P300 depending on student, senior, or PWD discounts.

Listen to jazz music at The M

TO RING in the holiday season, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) is holding a jazz concert, The M Concert Hour: Jazz in Time for the Holidays, on Oct. 18. It will feature saxophonist Roxy Modesto, accompanied by guitarist Tim Cada. Their setlist will include soulful tunes as a warm-up for the holidays. The museum’s all-access pass, priced at P550, is good for the concert as well as access to the exhibitions on view. It starts at 4 p.m. at the second floor foyer of The M in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Drink beer at Forbes Town street party

FORBES TOWN in Bonifacio Global City is hosting its first-ever street party titled “Sip & Soirée: Beer Fest Night.” The Oktoberfest kicks off on Oct. 18, from 4 to 11 p.m. along Forbes Town Road. The event is set to have premium brews, live DJ performances, interactive beer games, and lively street activities.

Catch Sandwich at Newport World Resorts

NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS is kicking up the energy at Bar 360, located at the ground floor of the Newport Garden Wing, with the launch of the NITE LIVE concert series. It kicks off on Oct. 18, 10:15 p.m., with a headline performance by Sandwich, one of the most iconic names in Filipino rock, preceded by a set by Sugar High at 8 p.m., and followed by a set by Angelo Miguel at 11:30 p.m. The series will continue with Juris on Nov. 29 and Duncan Ramos on Dec. 13. Guests can catch these live performances for a minimum cover charge of P2,000, fully consumable on Bar 360’s menu of food and drinks.

Catch The Bodyguard The Musical

THE BODYGUARD THE MUSICAL — 9 Works Theatrical’s latest production — runs until Oct. 19. It is an adaptation of the 2012 stage musical with a book by Alexander Dinelaris, which in turn was based on the 1992 film The Bodyguard with songs by Whitney Houston. Directed by Robbie Guevara, and with musical direction by Daniel Bartolome, it will be the first theater production staged at the brand-new Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati City. Telling the story of a musical superstar and her bodyguard as their relationship develops while she is under threat, the musical features West End stars Christine Allado and Matt Blaker as the leads, alongside Sheena Palad, Elian Santos and Giani Sarita, Tim Yap, John Joven-Uy, Vien King, Jasper Jimenez, CJ Navato, Paji Arceo, and Radha. Tickets are available at TicketWorld.

Explore the conflict in Gaza with Japanese performance

THE Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) will present a program titled IKUSAMONOGATARI II: Stories of Battle in Gaza on Oct. 20, 21, 23 and 25 in Manila, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. JFM will present a unique chronicle of the conflict in Gaza as told through traditional Japanese music and storytelling. The performance aims to explore the shared human experiences of grief, hope, and impermanence across cultures and generations. Register via this link: https://bit.ly/storiesofbattle.

Bring the kids to Rep’s Wonderland

REPERTORY THEATER for Young Audiences presents the fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland every weekend until Dec. 14. Based on the book by Lewis Carroll, with music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, it is directed by Joy Virata and Cara Barredo. As Alice follows the rabbit into Wonderland, the production highlights audience participation with kids in attendance. It runs at the REP Eastwood Theater in Quezon City. For ticket inquiries and showbuying opportunities, message REP’s pages @repertoryphilippines, call 0962-691-8540 or 0966-905-4013, or e-mail info@repphil.org or sales@repphil.org.

The creative attitude

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Pikisuperstar from Freepik

Creativity is a quality, an attitude “to cause to come to existence.” One can develop it when he opens his mind to all the possibilities. There is more than one correct answer. There may be a hundred ways to find a solution. We need to appreciate life and see it from different angles.

A photojournalist once wrote, “Creativity is looking at the ordinary and seeing the extraordinary.”

It does not belong exclusively to the realm of artists, musicians, and writers. Scientists, teachers, businessmen, students, parents can develop and possess a creative attitude if only they would take a fresh and profound look at everyday experiences see beyond the ordinary.

A National Geographic veteran freelance photographer Dewitt Jones had a third eye on capturing images of nature. Through his videos and photos, he shared his fresh perspective beyond the ordinary. He explained, “It is passion that gives us the energy to creatively tackle the challenges before us.”

A vision can materialize with passion, solid technique, and craftmanship. This applies to daily life.

A burst of creativity does not always come as a flash of lightning. Creative inspirations may come from persistence, hard work, and the determination to challenge ourselves. Working within certain time constraints and limited resources, we are forced to be creative in our work and our relationships.

Life is satisfying if we strive to tap our potential; to achieve creativity.

The key concepts:

1. The ability to look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary. Our vision comes to life if we open our minds, apply our knowledge and venture beyond what is expected.

2. Focus and balance are always changing. We should remember that change is constant, and we should adjust and be flexible.

3. Every act can be creative. Everyone has this innate ability. Educators make lesson plans. Students write theses. Scientists discover formulae and vaccines. Entrepreneurs plan new businesses. Executives create new strategies. Artists create masterpieces — paintings, musical compositions, poems, films, books, dances and other art forms.

4. Creativity is a matter of perspective. See life from different angles. We should transform the way we look at things. We need to change our old ways of thinking.

5. Reframe problems into opportunities. See the world with a sense of abundance rather than scarcity. Look at the positive. Recognize but downplay the negative.

6. Think outside the box. Take risks. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

7. In the search, go to the edge.

8. Learning never stops. The world’s greatest pioneers and achievers made innumerable mistakes. They did not become successful overnight. We should continually ask, “What can we learn from the mistake? How can we make things work?”

9. Break the pattern. Patterns and systems are important because they provide us with guidelines. But we should remember that patterns can become prisons.

10. Train your technique. Know how to do things properly. Master the craft. Be prepared for opportunities to use your technique.

11. Balance emotions and intellect. Care about the work you do and about the people you work with. Show them that their work contributions are valuable.

The great Renaissance artist Michelangelo was once asked what motivated him to create a sculpture. “I saw an angel in the stone and carved to set it free,” he replied. He saw beyond the marble slab. He had a vision and strove to replicate it in a material sense. We may not have the touch and artistry of the master. We all have the unique talents and the innate sense to see beyond the physical limitations of the mundane. Taking a risk is the first step to creativity.

On another level, here are some thoughts from the book The Fifteen Principles of Deep Creativity by renowned psychologist Dr. Jennifer Leigh Selig.

“We chose the word principles to suggest our fundamental thoughts, the underpinning of the union of depth psychology and creativity.

“These are themes rather than definitions; these are convictions rather than truths; these are perspectives rather than facts. They are the way we see the creative world and our place within it, and we offer that vision to you.”

1. Deep Creativity is idiosyncratic. We are each unique and our creativity is heightened when we express our individual voice and vision.

2. Archetypal.

3. Alchemical. We transform ourselves as we create the world anew and renew the world as we recreate ourselves.

4. Receptive. We breathe in the world, taking everything in, opening ourselves to the grace of inspiration.

5. Responsive.

6. Emotional.

7. Healing. Our creative acts may heal ourselves, when we share our creative products, they may be healing or others.

8. Aesthetic.

9. Autonomous.

10. Attentive.

11. Mysterious.

12. Participatory. Call it God… the gods or goddesses. Call it the Muse, the Force, the Source, the Universe. It creates along with us. We do not create alone.

13. Reciprocal.

14. Embodied. When we come to creativity, we come with our senses, and we come to our senses.

15. Ensouled.

 

Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.

mavrufino@gmail.com

1...839840841...14,244Page 840 of 14,244
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube