Author: gqSbgCfmna

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has solidified its growth story by booking P9 billion in net income as of September, propelled by industry-leading punctuality and expansion of its frequent flyer program.

Based on its financial report, PAL’s parent PAL Holdings Inc. said its profit grew by more than a third to P9.03 billion in the nine months to September, from P6.76 billion a year ago.

Although expenses went up by four percent to P124.85 billion, PAL mitigated this by increasing its revenue by three percent to P136.01 billion.

PAL’s passenger revenues rose by one percent to P116.56 billion, driven by flight redemptions in August when the airline offered exclusive promos for Mabuhay Miles members. Mabuhay Miles’ active membership has expanded by 15 percent as of September.

Likewise, PAL’s cargo revenues jumped by four percent to P6.71 billion to support the growth in passenger income. Also, the airline booked a 24-percent increase in ancillary revenues to P12.67 billion, buoyed by baggage fees and seat upgrades.

PAL is also delivering a masterclass in bringing passengers to their destinations on time, leading all carriers in Asia-Pacific on punctuality, according to aviation analyst Cirium.

PAL is rated the most on-time carrier in the region by Cirium for three consecutive months now – from August to October – outperforming even some of the finest airlines in the world.

In October, PAL landed the top spot again for punctuality by turning in an on-time score of 86.37 percent, beating Japan Airlines’ 81.1 percent, ANA’s 80.19 percent and IndiGo’s 80.19 percent.

The airline owned by tycoon Lucio Tan has spent $308 million for capital expenditures as of September. It is undertaking a fleet modernization program to improve its aircraft and services, acknowledging the tightening competition in the aviation industry.

PAL is refurbishing its Airbus A321ceos to equip all cabins with in-flight entertainment. It plans to deploy these jets to high-traffic destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, Jakarta, Bali and Guam before the end of the year.

Further, PAL is scheduled to receive the first of nine A350-1000s either by December or January, enhancing its fleet of widebody aircraft for long-range flights.

PAL president Richard Nuttall said these efforts are meant to keep PAL ahead of the game, as it works on delivering the best value for passengers and stakeholders.

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

There’s a little-known story about the NBA’s record-holder for most games coached Lenny Wilkens, the three-time Hall of Famer who passed away in Medina, Washington, last Sunday. In 1971-72, Wilkens was the Seattle SuperSonics’ playing coach and had a chance to top the league’s assist ladder with a game left in the regular season. It was a close contest between Wilkens and Jerry West as only a fraction of a point separated them in the race.

Coincidentally, their last game was against each other. The date was March 26, 1972 and the LA Lakers hosted the Sonics. The night before, Seattle bowed to Phoenix and Wilkens collected 13 points with seven assists in 32 minutes. It was the Sonics’ fifth straight loss, tumbling down with the loss of key players Spencer Haywood, Dick Snyder and Don Smith. Wilkens could’ve salvaged a silver lining to a dismal campaign with the assist crown. But instead of gunning for an individual award, Wilkens sat out the Lakers game to give his players exposure and experience. West picked up 11 assists in the contest and clinched the NBA title with 9.7 dimes a game. Wilkens took second place with a 9.6 average. The gesture of selflessness was a trademark that Wilkens was known for throughout his playing and coaching careers.

When Wilkens was named Seattle playing coach, he said, “I’d no longer just have myself and my own game to worry about; I was responsible for all the players, for the team.” Wilkens never won an NBA title as a player but was a nine-time All-Star, the 1971 All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams. As a coach, he won the NBA title with the Sonics in 1979 and was named Coach of the Year in 1994. Wilkens piloted the US to the Olympic men’s basketball gold medal in 1996.

Two days before the Sonics faced the Lakers in 1972, I met up with Wilkens near the boarding gate of the Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The meeting was arranged by Bob Homans, representing the US Department of State that brought 11 Asian student leaders to the US on a two-month educational tour. The Sonics were 30 minutes away from boarding a flight for Phoenix in their penultimate assignment of the season. I introduced myself to Wilkens who had been told someone from the Philippines would come around. We spoke for about 15 minutes and he talked about the difficult season, the challenges of a playing coach and the struggles of a decimated lineup. He came across as an articulate, educated, humble and gracious gentleman. When I got back home from the trip, I wrote a story about my meeting with Wilkens and submitted it to a sports weekly magazine. It turned out to be my first published piece as a sportswriter so I’ll never forget how Wilkens got me started on my journey in journalism.

Wilkens lost his father when he was five and thought he wouldn’t live a long life. A practicing Catholic, he left his fate up to God. “People want to know how I’ve survived this long in the NBA (playing from 1960 to 1975 and coaching from 1969 to 2005) and I point to my faith and my family,” said Wilkens in his book “Unguarded.” “I love basketball and there is nothing I’d rather do than coach but basketball or beating Red Auerbach’s record isn’t everything to me…the Lord will not judge me based on what kind of record I had with a certain team or if I was ever fired…I know that God has always been with me…I don’t scream about my faith but my faith is strong (as) it is central to who I am.” Wilkens died at 88.

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Typhoon Tino has destroyed P605.4 million worth of infrastructure and agriculture in Negros Occidental, according to initial assessments conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council.

Jose Albert Barrogo, chief of the DA-Negros Island Region, reported an initial amount of P155 million in losses to rice, corn, high-value crops and livestock in Negros Occidental.

Barrogo presented the figure at a briefing attended by Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who visited the province yesterday to assess the impact of Tino.

Frasco and Angara, who visited the towns of Binalbagan, La Castellana and Moises Padilla as well as La Carlota City, said they were sent by President Marcos to inform residents that the government is ready to assist and provide their needs until they recover from the calamity.

At another briefing held at the provincial capitol, disaster officials informed Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson that the amount of damage to infrastructure such as bridges, schools, multipurpose buildings, barangay halls and health centers has reached P427.9 million.

They said the fishery industry reported P22.5 million in damage.

The Office of Civil Defense-NIR said 18 bridges and 11 police facilities sustained damage from Tino.

The Department of Education said the typhoon destroyed at least 320 buildings in 36 schools in Bacolod alone.

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Darryl Sibangan loves fish, especially galunggong.

A deep-fried round scad’s crunchy skin and white meat dipped in fermented fish or shrimp paste with vinegar is irresistible, he said.

Round scad is usually cheaper than other fish. Or so he thought.

“I was lining up at our canteen and saw galunggong on the menu. I got excited – until I saw the price. It was P40 per piece and the fish was barely the size of my index finger!” Sibangan, a leasing officer in Makati, told The STAR.

“I couldn’t help but laugh and say: Seriously? This tiny fish costs that much? It felt absurd,” he added.

Sibangan thought of other consumers who could no longer afford the so-called “poor man’s fish.”

“Galunggong has always been a go-to for many Filipino households because it’s affordable and nutritious. Seeing its price rise so much makes me worry about how it affects families who rely on it as a daily meal,” he said.

In the last week of October, the average price of round scad in Metro Manila hit P335.99 per kilo, at least a fifth higher than last year’s P277.11 per kilo, based on the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s price monitoring reports.

Round scad prices have been higher year-on-year even before the annual closed fishing season for galunggong in northern Palawan began on Nov. 1, DA reports showed.?Industry sources and state officials attributed the surge in round scad prices to lackluster production, coupled with minimal imports to plug the shortfall in local stocks.

Round scad production from January to September fell by 10 percent year-on-year to 130,512 metric tons, the lowest nine-month output since 2002, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Round scad imports plunged by nearly 79 percent, to 3,184 MT from 15,124 MT last year, based on PSA data.

“Last year was a good catch due to El Niño, but this year there is no El Niño, so production was lower,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told The STAR.

Tiu Laurel had approved the importation of 55,000 MT of small pelagic fishes, including round scad, to plug the shortfall in domestic production.

As it started arriving this month, the approved import volume is higher than last year’s 35,000 MT.

Records showed the DA only started observing the sale of imported round scad in wet markets this year, around Nov. 5, almost a month later than last year’s Oct. 15.

Price monitoring reports of the DA showed that as early as mid-October, imported round scad supplies were available in wet markets, fetching an average price of P244.66 per kilo.

As of Monday, imported round scad in wet markets cost P316.25 per kilo, almost 30 percent higher than last year’s prevailing prices.

International conservation group Oceana said the uptick in round scad prices is a result of “compounding” impacts of overfishing, weather disruptions and fuel costs.

Global market fluctuations also affected local round scad prices since it has been dependent on importing stocks to plug shortfall in local supplies, the group noted.

“These factors, together with gaps in infrastructure and policy enforcement, like lack of post-harvest facilities or commercial fishing inside municipal waters, contribute to the increase in retail prices, making galunggong, once considered a ‘poor man’s fish,’ increasingly unaffordable for many Filipino households,” Oceana vice president Von Hernandez told The STAR.

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MALOLOS, Philippines — Residents in low-lying areas in Bulacan have been advised to watch out for the possible rise of floodwaters due to back floods and water discharged from dams.

The provincial disaster risk reduction and management office said floodwaters coming from the nearby Pampanga River Basin and San Jose del Monte City may raise water levels and submerge several areas.

Floodwaters coming from the Pampanga River Basin flow toward Calumpit, Hagonoy and Paombong before draining out to Manila Bay, and may be exacerbated by the high tide.

Floodwaters from San Jose del Monte City flow to river systems in Meycauayan, Marilao, Santa Maria and Bocaue.

Flooding in Meycauayan, Marilao and Bocaue can be aggravated by the high tide, provincial disaster officials said.

Meanwhile, water discharged from Angat, Bustos and Ipo dams flows toward Angat River and passes through several low-lying towns before draining out to Manila Bay.

Maria Teresa Serra, chief of the Angat Dam flood forecasting and warning division at the National Power Corp., said that at 2 p.m. yesterday, the reservoir’s floodgates were opened to release 336 cubic meters per second (cms) of water to Angat’s downstream river system.

Ipo and Bustos dams released 421 and 544 cms of water respectively, Serra said.

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A robbery in Marilao, Bulacan on Monday night ended in an alleged shootout, which resulted in the death of a suspect who was later confirmed to be a police officer, authorities said.

The incident reportedly occurred at around 8:30 p.m. in a convenience store in Barangay Sta. Rosa I, where the suspect reportedly posed as a customer before declaring the robbery at gunpoint.

After taking about P20,000 in cash, the suspect fled on a motorcycle toward Barangay Loma de Gato.

Responding members of the Marilao police cornered the suspect who allegedly drew his gun, triggering a firefight that resuted in his death.

The Central Luzon police said an investigation would be conducted to determine the suspect’s possible link to a robbery group operating in Bulacan and nearby provinces in Central Luzon.

Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr., Central Luzon police director, said that internal cleansing and disciplinary measures are being implemented within the regional police force to ensure integrity and professionalism in law enforcement operations.

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Britain’s King Charles III sent his sympathies to Filipinos affected by Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan.

In a message posted by the British embassy in Manila, King Charles expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by the successive natural disasters.

“My wife and I have been deeply concerned by the news of the typhoons and floods that have affected the Philippines in recent weeks and are profoundly saddened to hear of further loss of life,” he said.

Acknowledging the compounding effects of two major earthquakes in October, the monarch added that his heart goes out to all those “so cruelly affected by these catastrophic natural disasters.”

British Ambassador Sarah Hulton said the United Kingdom is helping deliver support to victims of Super Typhoon Uwan and Typhoon Tino.

Other nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union, also expressed sympathy and condolences.

The US announced $1 million in immediate life-saving assistance for those affected by Typhoon Tino and the Cebu earthquake, while Canada said it is coordinating with partners to help address urgent needs and support recovery efforts.

China likewise pledged $1 million in cash to assist areas ravaged by Tino and Uwan.

Beyond financial aid, the Chinese embassy will also provide 10 million RMB worth of in-kind donations “in the spirit of humanitarianism and out of the friendship between the Chinese and Filipino communities.”

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is pushing for greater regional economic integration through enhanced digital payment connectivity, emphasizing its role in driving financial inclusion, efficiency and resilience across Asian economies.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. highlighted the transformative potential of digital payment systems during the 61st South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) Governors’ Conference held in Bali, Indonesia from Oct. 28 to 29.

“Digital payments connectivity is not merely a technological advancement but a strategic enabler of economic efficiency, financial inclusion and systemic resilience,” Remolona said.

“It lays the foundation for deeper trade, investment, financial and capital market integration across economies,” he said in his remarks at the panel session titled Empowering Economic Integration through Digital Payment Connectivity.

The session, which he chaired, was part of the broader conference theme “Asian Financial Integration to Navigate Geoeconomic Shifts: Unlocking Growth and Innovation.”

Experts from the region discussed the opportunities and challenges of linking payment systems across borders to support economic growth.

The discussion concluded with a joint call to promote interoperability and standardization of payment systems to ensure seamless cross-border transactions across the region.

The discussions came as the Philippine central bank tackled uncertainties amid a wave of monetary easing and a soft domestic growth outlook.

The BSP delivered a 25-basis-point cut in October, bringing the total rate cuts to 175 basis points since it began its easing cycle in August 2024. This was to support the country’s gross domestic product, which was at just four percent in the third quarter while inflation remained below-target at 1.7 percent in October.

Remolona also took part in the 45th SEACEN Board of Governors’ Meeting, where members approved the 2026 work plan and budget, as well as discussed the ongoing formulation of SEACEN’s strategic business plan for 2026 to 2030.

SEACEN is composed of 19 member central banks from across the region, with its research and training initiatives managed by the SEACEN Research and Training Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

November 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Axelum Resources Corp. saw earnings surge from January to September, with the company’s revenue trajectory for the year headed to a record high.

The listed integrated manufacturer and exporter of premium coconut products delivered a net income of P636 million from January to September, an 88-percent spike year-on-year.

The company’s strong profitability was boosted by higher sales, which expanded by 48 percent to P7.6 billion.

Axelum’s sales for the nine-month period, which already eclipsed full year 2024 topline, was fueled by robust volume growth and higher average selling prices across major product categories.

The company saw sales of the white meat segment, mainly comprised of desiccated coconut, sweetened coconut and coconut milk/cream, soar by 122 percent, 20 percent and 78 percent, respectively, as a result of booming consumer demand for natural and plant-based food choices.

Axelum said that coconut water also continued to deliver double-digit volume growth, increasing by 10 percent year-to-date and is on track to achieve record high performance for 2025.

Sustained growth across key export markets was also recorded during the period, led by the United States, Europe and Australia, while domestic sales rose by 58 percent due to a wider distribution footprint, new product innovation and an expanding institutional business.

1“We managed to outperform in spite of formidable headwinds particularly tight local supply and broader tariff-related impacts in our largest export base,” Axelum president and chief operating officer Henry Raperoga said.

Axelum said it implemented strategic pricing adjustments to partially cushion the effects of higher raw material costs and defend margins.

“From a long-term view, we are positive about our growth prospects as we continue to invest in building capacity and upgrading technology to meet rising demand,” Raperoga said.

“For the balance of the year, we are strongly positioned to close 2025 on a high note,” he said.

The company, which is 34.8-percent owned by a subsidiary of Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said it remains focused on its strategic priorities to further strengthen competitiveness amid a challenging operating environment including peaking coconut oil prices, global supply shortfalls and current US tariff policies.