Author: gqSbgCfmna

When Creamline flushed Cignal with a heavy dose of championship experience to take Game 1 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference finals, the Cool Smashers did so in such an authoritative manner that even their foes couldn’t help but notice.

‘It’s about how they (Creamline) stay composed and enjoy every situation. For us, it felt different,’ said Super Spikers coach Shaq Delos Santos. ‘The biggest lesson for us, especially since it’s our first time [in the All-Filipino finals], is to embrace the moment.’

Cignal, which owns runner-up finishes in the 2022 Reinforced and 2024 Invitational, has one shot to embrace the moment.

Creamline guns for the crown on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, intent on reclaiming its crown but very much aware of how much its gritty foe has to offer as it fights for survival.

‘Cignal is the type of team that doesn’t stick to just one lineup. They make a lot of changes. So we need to stay patient and be ready for whatever adjustments they make in Game 2,’ said Jema Galanza, who had 17 points in Game 1, aside from collecting 13 excellent receptions from 18 tries.

The Cool Smashers looked untouchable in that 25-22, 25-18, 25-16 victory two days ago, but even coach Sherwin Meneses admitted that his squad can’t expect to run through their rivals in the same easy manner.

‘The series isn’t over,’ Meneses said, adding there is much to clean up heading into the 5:30 p.m. Game 2 tussle. ‘We’ll continue to work on our lapses in practice and go back to square one. Cignal won’t back down. That’s why they’re in the finals. So we can’t relax.’

Jia de Guzman, who returned to the finals for the first time in three years, is optimistic heading to Game 2, but said her teammates will have to be careful against a team that beat them twice in three previous meetings this conference.

No surrender

‘We have to do our best to close out as much as possible because we know Cignal is a good team. They gave us a hard time the whole conference,’ said De Guzman, who had 22 excellent sets and scored four points.

‘We’re optimistic. We’re thankful that the team is slowly coming together. We’re peaking at the right time. But Game 2 will be a different kind of fight,’ she added.

It is a fight that Cignal hasn’t surrendered just yet.

‘There’s still a Game 2. The championship isn’t decided in Game 1. We still have the opportunity to bounce back, reset, and perform better in the next game. We’ll fight until the end,’ said Delos Santos in Filipino.

‘It’s tougher for us since we didn’t get Game 1. Personally, I need to trust the team and our system more. We just have to play our game. I told them not to pressure themselves too much. I want us to show what we’ve built and prepared for, because that’s why we got here. We just need to bring out our real game, and that’s it, no regrets,’ he added.

The Super Spikers will again rely on Vanie Gandler, who finished with 17 points and 10 receptions in Game 1, and will hope that Erika Santos can rebound from a 9-of-39 attacking clip that netted 10 points. Gel Cayuna was limited to 14 excellent sets but scored six points-the third-best scorer of the team.

PLDT, meanwhile, looks to clinch bronze in Game 2 against Farm Fresh at 3 p.m.

The Bangsamoro government extended its gratitude to former presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. for his dedicated public service.

‘The Bangsamoro Government extends its sincere gratitude to Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. for his dedicated service and commitment as Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity,’ Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abuldraof Macacua said in a statement.

Galvez bowed out of public service on Tuesday, ending a 46-year career in government, starting as a soldier. He said he would focus on his family.

Galvez was replaced by former Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento.

Macacua also welcomed the appointment of Sarmiento, who took his oath of office before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday.

Macacua said he is looking forward to working closely together with Sarmiento.

‘I hope to build a strong partnership based on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to sustaining the gains of the peace process, especially in the Bangsamoro region,’ Macacua said.

‘I am hopeful that, under the new leadership, we can sustain the momentum and complete the remaining priorities of the transition, so that the benefits of peace can be felt by all Bangsamoro people,’ he added.

Concreat Holdings Philippines Inc., formerly Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., said one of its key subsidiaries has secured fresh funding to support capital spending and operations.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, the company said Solid Cement Corp. entered into a term loan facility agreement with BDO Unibank Inc. for up to P5 billion.

Proceeds from the loan will be used to fund capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, the Concreat said.

To support the transaction, Concreat and another subsidiary, Apo Cement Corp., signed a surety agreement to secure Solid Cement’s obligations under the facility.

The move comes as cement producers continue to invest in capacity and operational improvements amid steady demand tied to infrastructure and construction activities.

This fresh funding is expected to help sustain Solid Cements’s operations and support ongoing projects.

The disclosure did not provide further details on the loan’s tenor or pricing.

Profile

Concreat is engaged in the production and distribution of cement products through its subsidiaries. Its operations are anchored on key cement plants serving Luzon and other growth areas.

BDO, one of the country’s largest banks, continues to play a key role in financing large corporations, particularly in sectors tied to infrastructure and construction.

The parent firm, DMCI Holdings Inc., posted a 20-percent drop in consolidated net income for 2025, weighed down by softer earnings from its energy business and losses linked to the integration of its cement unit.

DMCI said the decline was largely due to ‘normalizing’ results from its integrated energy operations, along with losses incurred by its cement arm, Concreat.

Since being appointed as Blackwater’s interim coach, Pat Aquino has given Sedrick Barefield all the green light he needed to shine.

On Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, that trust finally paid off with a 126-120 win over San Miguel Beer in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Barefield led all locals in the scoring column with 29 points to help the Bossing improve to a 2-6 card and more importantly, give Aquino his first dub as Blackwater’s tactician.

‘Coach Pat gives me the ultimate confidence but at the same time, he tells me how to be smart or when I need to be doing something better,’ said Barefield, who also had eight assists, seven rebounds and a steal.

‘I wasn’t necessarily shooting the ball well so it means a lot to me that he believed in me.’

Barefield struggled a bit, going 11-for-23 from the field, but import Robert Upshaw III was present to make up for it with a double-double of 35 points and 17 rebounds.

In three games under Aquino’s tutelage, Barefield wreaked havoc on offense with averages of 22.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds per outing.

‘His message was to believe, be confident and we kept fighting,’ Barefield said.

Aquino looks to see Barefield flourish even more under his system on Friday when the Bossing take on Barangay Ginebra at Araneta Coliseum.

The United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran have now embroiled the entire Middle East in a war characterized by the use of large quantities of missiles and drones.

Like Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the United States and Israel are using naked force to push ahead with their own political agendas. The law-of-the-jungle aphorism of ‘might makes right’ seems to be sweeping across the world. Does this mean that the world has entered an era in which military power alone holds sway?

I don’t think so. When observing the two wars, doubts arise about whether military power is actually helping to achieve the goals. Both wars were launched to attain political objectives in a short period of time, but things are not going as desired by those countries.

The US and Israel seem to have established air superiority over Iran just a few days into their offensive. Nonetheless, Iran has not surrendered and is instead continuously staging counterattacks on other Middle Eastern countries that host US military bases.

Moreover, Iran has declared a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, taking bold steps to choke off supplies from the Gulf area to the rest of the world, and the United States has been unable to take any effective countermeasures against this.

In other words, these two wars show that no matter how overwhelming the difference in military power between the two sides is, it is not so easy to force an opposing country that resolutely resists to accept political demands in a short period of time, let alone force it to ‘unconditionally surrender.’

There are several factors that make it difficult to accomplish political objectives through destructive physical force or threats.

The first factor is the opposing country’s firm resolve not to yield. Ukraine, for instance, has maintained its resolute stance not to capitulate to Russia’s unjustifiable demands, in spite of the US’ calls for a ceasefire. In Iran, the Israeli intelligence agency apparently expected to see moves to topple its leadership from within emerge right after the beginning of the US-Israeli attacks, but no such thing has happened, even after the killing of many leaders.

Second, international norms regarding military action during conflicts are still in effect to a certain degree, although they have been weakened. Nevertheless, no countries have publicly declared their intention to kill civilians in large numbers, and situations like the indiscriminate air raids in World War II have been avoided so far.

Third, the asymmetry of the weapons and tactics used in modern warfare is also significant. Even if a country cannot defeat an attacker using the same types of weapons or tactics, it may still be able to counter them by employing different types of weapons or tactics. If Iran says it will lay inexpensive mines to block the Strait of Hormuz, ship operators will inevitably hesitate to travel through the waterway even if there are not a large number of mines.

Fourth, global economic interdependence reduces the use of destructive force and mitigates the impact of intimidation. The interdependence of the global economy is complex. Even if there are no deep economic ties with a hostile nation, a country that takes military action will face various economic repercussions.

The US itself is hardly dependent on Middle Eastern crude oil, but Iran’s counterattacks on other Gulf nations and the Islamic Republic’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent Middle Eastern crude oil prices soaring.

A spike in energy prices leads to spiraling prices for other products and supply constraints. Stock markets react to concerns about these situations, fluctuating wildly as people get excited or discouraged regarding the course of the war. If the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is prolonged, the situation could bring about a crisis far more serious for the global economy than the oil crises of the 1970s.

The outbreak of the war in Ukraine and that in the Middle East has worsened the circumstances of all the countries involved. In short, military power doesn’t help achieve political objectives.

Needless to say, it isn’t easy to end a war once it starts, since nations, too, don’t always act rationally. However, the continuation of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East will bring nothing but harm to not only the countries directly involved but also the entire world.

The most rational choice in both wars is first and foremost to achieve a ceasefire. It is crucial to persuade the countries directly involved of this. The Japan News/Asia News Network

Akihiko Tanaka is president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a post he took up in April 2022 for the second time after his first stint from 2012 to 2015. He also served as vice president of the University of Tokyo from 2009 to 2012. He was president of the Tokyo-based National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies from 2017 to March 2022.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a member of the Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 media titles in the region.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is proposing to significantly ease listing rules for preferred shares offerings, aiming to draw more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into the capital market.

In a consultation paper, the PSE said it plans to slash the minimum public offering size for preferred shares offerings to P100 million from P1 billion, a tenfold reduction meant to ‘democratize access’ to the market.

The exchange said the move would align the requirement with small-cap initial public offering (IPO) thresholds and provide an alternative to crowdfunding, which SMEs often tap for funding.

Alongside this, the PSE is proposing to lower the minimum number of stockholders upon listing to 100 from 1,000, reflecting the smaller offer size.

The exchange also plans to revise public float rules, shifting from a fixed 20 percent minimum to a range of 15 percent to 20 percent, in line with SEC Memorandum Circular No. 11-2026.

In some cases, the PSE may allow a lower public float, but not below 12 percent, based on a company’s market capitalization at listing.

Easier disclosure requirements

To further encourage listings, the PSE is seeking to streamline disclosure requirements for ‘preferred shares-only’ issuers, focusing on information that affects dividend payments.

This will reduce the number of reportable events requiring prompt disclosure to 29 from 42, removing items not tied to an issuer’s ability to pay dividends.

Certain disclosures-such as reports on top shareholders and some corporate changes-will no longer be required, while sector-specific certifications will be added for mining and energy firms.

The PSE is also proposing a modified penalty framework, retaining fines for structured disclosures but simplifying penalties for unstructured violations to a single level.

Higher penalties will apply to violations affecting preferred shareholders’ rights, including dividend declarations, redemption terms and changes in shareholdings of key officers.

The exchange is inviting comments from market participants until May 5, 2026, after which the final rules may be refined from the draft.

Proponents

Investment banker Eduardo Francisco, president of BDO Capital and Investment Corp., earlier urged the PSE to lower the minimum offering size to P500 million, saying listing-even via preferred shares-could help smaller firms build credibility and attract investors.

‘If they are not yet listed, preferred [shares offering] is a safer way to introduce them,’ Francisco said.

He added that once listed, companies would also have an easier path to conduct follow-on offerings, whether of common or preferred shares.

‘At least, they have a seal of good housekeeping,’ he said.

A 40-year-old truck driver and three others were arrested by the police on Tuesday for the rape-slay of his 16-year-old daughter almost two weeks ago.

Col. Jay Baybayan, Bulacan police director, identified the arrested father of the victim as Daniel Gallano, of Purok 5, Poblacion, this town.

He and his cohorts, identified as Jeffrey Beluar, 27; brothers Ronel Laurio, 29, and Joel Laurio, 31, all from Poblacion, were arrested in police hot-pursuit operations in their respective houses.

Gallano on Saturday reported to the Bustos police station that he found the body of his missing daughter in a grassy area near Bustos River in the boundary of Poblacion and Barangay San Pedro.

Police Capt. Heherson Zambale, Bustos police chief, said Gallano told them that the victim left their house around 11 p.m. on April 11, after he and his wife scolded her when they caught her kissing her boyfriend near their house.

Authorities found the victim’s body already in the decomposing stage.

The police’s backtracking of closed-circuit television footage and a witness led them to Beluar, who was hiding inside a shanty in a community in Poblacion known as ‘Banana Island’.

According to the witness, the last person he saw with the victim was Beluar. Beluar then pointed to Gallano and the Laurio brothers as his cohorts.

About two hours earlier, Beluar escaped the police who went after him in a piggery farm where he was working.

Zambale told the Inquirer that Gallano bears scratches on his body, which indicate that the victim struggled and resisted.

The chief of police said all four suspects face rape and homicide charges before the Bulacan Prosecutors’ Office.

Cebu’s island of Mactan has welcomed a new hotel development with the opening of Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan, located within the newly launched Mahi Center in Lapu-Lapu City.

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The property expands Marriott International’s presence on the island, complementing existing developments such as Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, also developed by AppleOne Group. Positioned a short drive from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the hotel offers convenient access for both business and leisure travelers visiting the Visayas.

Positioned within Mactan’s economic zone

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Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan is located in Barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City, within the Mactan Economic Zone, placing it near key commercial and industrial hubs.

The hotel forms part of Mahi Center, a mixed-use development by AppleOne Group that integrates retail spaces, offices, and the nine-storey hotel. This setup allows guests access to dining, workspaces, and services within a single complex.

‘With Mahi Center taking shape, we knew the success of this ecosystem would be driven by the strength of our partnerships. The question was who we could trust to welcome the world to it-and the answer was Marriott International,’ said Samantha Manigsaca, Director and Vice President for Hospitality at AppleOne Group.

‘What drew AppleOne to Marriott was the recognition that we share the same values-a strong commitment to people, quality, and building something that earns trust over time. The partnership is grounded in that shared foundation,’ she added.

‘As Lapu-Lapu City continues to welcome more travelers, investors, and events, there is a growing need for hospitality experiences that reflect the ambition of the destination.’

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The development is also positioned as a PEZA-accredited mixed-use hub, integrating business, retail, and hospitality components within one site, as outlined in the launch of Mahi Center as a PEZA-accredited lifestyle and business hub.

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Its location also provides proximity to the Mactan Export Processing Zone, while remaining accessible to leisure destinations such as beaches, dive sites, and cultural landmarks across the island.

Guest rooms designed for work and rest

The hotel features 196 guest rooms across three categories: Standard Twin, Standard Queen, and Deluxe Queen.

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Room layouts are designed to accommodate both business and leisure stays, with designated areas for work, rest, and storage. The interiors draw from Fairfield’s brand concept, which emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and comfort.

‘The Fairfield brand is widely recognized around the world and is rooted in Marriott International’s history, which will mark its 100th year in 2027. It reflects values of simplicity, balance, and comfort-qualities we believe are well suited for both business and leisure travelers in Mactan, Cebu,’ said Bruce Winton, Area General Manager, Philippines at Marriott International.

Facilities for meetings and events

Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan includes more than 250 square meters of meeting and event space, which can be configured into smaller venues for different group sizes.

These spaces are equipped with audiovisual capabilities and supported by on-site coordination teams for corporate meetings, training sessions, and social events. Catering services are available, with customizable menu options depending on event requirements.

Dining concept inspired by local flavors

The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, DAVOS, is set to open this month. The restaurant’s name draws from the Cebuano word ‘dabos,’ referring to abundance.

Led by Executive Chef Marcel Ramos, the menu follows a ‘Coastal Filipino’ approach, incorporating regional ingredients and flavors into contemporary dishes. The restaurant highlights seafood and locally sourced produce, reflecting Mactan’s coastal setting.

Supporting tourism and local employment

The development reflects continued investment in Cebu’s tourism and business sectors, particularly in Lapu-Lapu City.

Through its operations, the hotel contributes to local employment across hospitality and support services, while also engaging suppliers within the region. Developments such as Mahi Center highlight how integrated spaces are being positioned to support both tourism and business activity.

As Cebu continues to expand its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, additional accommodation and event infrastructure help support demand from both local and international markets.

A new addition to Mactan’s hospitality landscape

Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan adds to the range of accommodations available on the island, offering a location that connects business districts, transport access, and leisure destinations.

Integrated within Mahi Center, the property provides a centralized base for travelers visiting Cebu for work or leisure.

More information is available through the Marriott Bonvoy website and mobile app.

Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) is venturing into Kazakhstan by acquiring a 20-percent stake in a company with interest in a copper mine, seeking to expand its footprint across Asia.

The listed mining company signed an agreement with Silk Road Resources Ltd., a private entity incorporated under the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a financial hub in Astana and East Copper Production LLP.

NAC did not disclose the acquisition cost when asked for additional information, but only said the deal involved acquiring a 20-percent stake in East Copper, the sole legal and beneficial owner of GRK MLD LLP.

GRK, in turn, holds subsoil use rights for the Karchiga copper mine in Kazakhstan. The copper deposit is situated within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, a globally recognized highly mineralized metallogenic domain.

GRK has an annual production capacity of 8,500 tons of copper sulfide concentrate and 2,000 tons of copper cathode.

Robust industry

Data from the AIFC showed that Kazakhstan’s mining sector contributed more than 12 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, amounting to 16.1 million Kazakhstani Tenge. It accounted for one-third of exports.

AIFC also noted that Kazakhstan is one of the world’s top 10 copper producers, holding a market share of 3.2 percent.

NAC said the transaction supports a broader goal of diversifying its business and growing its presence across the region.

‘This investment supports the company’s strategy to expand market capitalization and earnings by evolving beyond nickel into a diversified natural resources development platform with a growing presence across Asia,’ the firm said in a disclosure on Wednesday.

Due diligence

The sale is subject to the completion of the due diligence on East Copper and GRK, along with other closing conditions and the necessary regulatory approvals.

NAC reported an attributable net income of P6.27 billion in 2025, a 312 percent surge from a year ago, due to strong export prices and higher sales.

Revenues from saprolite and limonite ore rose by 39 percent to P27.25 billion.

Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has expanded its hospitality footprint with the opening of Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue, marking the brand’s debut in the Philippines.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, CLI said the P1.99-billion development, operated through CLI Hotels and Resorts, introduces a lifestyle-focused hotel concept to Cebu while strengthening the company’s push to grow its recurring income base.

‘Bringing Radisson RED to Cebu marks the entry of a globally recognized brand into a market with strong and growing demand,’ said Mathias Bergundthal, first vice president for CLI Hotels and Resorts.

‘This reflects our focus on well located, thoughtfully designed developments that respond to evolving and diverse travel and lifestyle needs,’ Bergundthal said.

The 144-key hotel is located within Astra Centre, CLI’s mixed-use development along AS Fortuna Street in Mandaue City. It offers direct access to key business hubs such as Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park as well as Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Cebuano-inspired

CLI said the project caters to both business and leisure travelers, with rooms featuring Cebuano-inspired contemporary design and practical amenities like high-speed connectivity and streaming-enabled TVs.

The hotel also features a range of lifestyle amenities, including OUIBAR+KTCHN, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, RED Deli for Asian takeaway and The RED Deck, a poolside bar.

Other facilities include a 24-hour fitness center, spa, swimming pool and flexible event spaces such as The Studio, The Loft and the RED Room.

Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue is CLI’s fifth operational hotel, joining Citadines Cebu City, lyf Cebu City, The Pad Co-Living and Citadines Bacolod City.

The launch supports CLI’s strategy to diversify beyond residential projects by expanding its hospitality portfolio.

The company currently has 10 hotel projects with 1,719 keys, of which 827 rooms are operational.

CLI said it continues to see opportunities in Visayas and Mindanao, with upcoming developments including Mercure Cebu Downtown and Citadines Paragon Davao.