Author: INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, represented by Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo of the Securities and Exchange Commission, chaired the 42nd Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR) that took place in Geneva from Nov. 11 to Nov. 14.

ISAR is an intergovernmental working group dedicated to assisting member states to improve the quality and international comparability of financial reporting and nonfinancial disclosure, such as environmental issues, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

READ: Ensuring your CSR programs have impact

The session focused on the review of developments in the harmonization of sustainability reporting requirements and their practical implementation and also delved into the integration of the topics of biodiversity and human capital considerations into sustainability reporting.

Quevedo moderated all panel sessions and delivered a presentation at the high-level panel of the meeting. His presentation focused on the Philippines’ sustainability reporting roadmap, which prioritizes disclosures on climate-related risks.

He also shared that recent disclosures included policies, commitments and targets in biodiversity protection, as well as disclosures on human rights and labor practices.

READ: Labor rights are human rights

Quevedo previously led the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, the principal legal office for all government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries. He has also been a professor in commercial and civil law at the University of the Philippines College of Law and a supervising lawyer at the latter’s Office of Legal Aid.

The Philippine delegation was composed of representatives from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva and the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Organizations. INQ

MANILA, Philippines —  With specialized distributors facing cutthroat competition from e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer brands, personalization emerges as a service moat that keeps the business afloat.

As growth slows in the professional audio equipment sector, Audiophile Components Inc. is rolling out a personalization strategy aimed at extracting higher value from existing customers rather than chasing volume sales.

The distributor’s “Make It Yours” program offers engraving services on four Shure microphone models, marking a departure from the traditional equipment retail playbook that emphasizes technical specs and competitive pricing.

READ: Pro audio market booms with live event resurgence

Buyers of specific Shure wired and wireless microphones can have their units customized with up to six characters in two etching styles. The service comes bundled with premium accessories—a calculated move to elevate the perceived value proposition beyond the core product itself.

Audiophile is betting that performers and audio professionals will pay a premium for products that signal individuality—even in a category historically defined by reliability and standardization. The Shure models eligible for customization are industry workhorses, meaning brand risk is low even if the personalization angle falls flat.

Navotas-based partner

Audiophile partnered with Color Hue, a Navotas-based art restoration company, for its microphone customization.

“It’s a defensive and offensive strategy—defensive because it protects margin; offensive because it positions them as more than a box-mover,” says a retail consultant.

Personalization, aside from being difficult for online competitors to replicate, is also seen to generate customer data and direct relationships.

READ: Five of The Best Audiophile Headphones Money Can Buy

The strategic question is whether customization can become a sustainable competitive advantage or merely a short-term promotional tactic.

With audio equipment facing longer replacement cycles and intensifying price competition, distributors are under pressure to demonstrate value beyond logistics and availability.

How the market responds to paying extra for engraved microphones is expected to offer clues about whether personalization can meaningfully alter the economics of a maturing distribution business. INQ

MANILA, Philippines — SM Supermalls has long supported the growth and careers of local Filipino artists.

READ: SM at 40: A new era of Supermalls, continuously evolving for you

Among the artists that SM Supermalls proudly features along the hallways of their corporate headquarters at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, as well as their corporate website, is acclaimed visual artist Anna Vergel RS.

A proud ‘Iskolar ng Bayan’ or alumna of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, Vergel RS’ works are cited by SM as exploring “themes of mythology, transformation, and femininity … Her recent works continue her exploration of strength and reinvention—on canvas and in life.”

READ: Mall of Asia Complex: A sterling landmark of disaster resilience

“I am deeply humbled that the SM Group, especially SM Prime Holdings executive committee chair and billionaire Hans Sy, included my works in their website for greater appreciation of the public, ” Vergel RS shares. INQ

Jericho Rosales is aware of the good, bad, and ugly reactions to “Quezon,” where he starred as the titular character, saying it was a film that taught him to be the bigger person.

The film made headlines after Manuel L. Quezon’s grandson Ricky Avanceña called out Rosales and its director Jerrold Tarog for allegedly disrespecting and distorting the former president’s legacy. This led to a swarm of mixed reactions from netizens on social media, with some speaking up in its defense.

“I did Manny Pacquiao, I did [Jesse] Robredo, but for ‘Quezon,’ ang daming lessons. It just really pushed me to become a bigger person,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Esquire Philippines’ Man at his Best award ceremony. “Someone kinder. I picked up wisdom talaga.”

“I learned to be more compassionate, humble, stronger, braver, and [have more] conviction. I never swayed and I learned about myself. It is what it is, we are actors and artists, and we serve the art,” he continued.

After the weeks-long promotion, Rosales has been more chill. Looking back, he admitted that “Quezon” was one of the films where he gave everything he had into sharing it to the public. 

“We had more busy promotion days than shooting days, and I never promoted a film this much. It’s because I believe in the film and I believe what it added to cinema. We welcomed naman everything,” he said. 

“Open kami sa reactions so it was a very interesting year for me. I learned a lot. I became calmer, wiser, more understanding, more accepting, so there were a lot of big lessons. All good ones. I still believe in what we made, I love what we did, and I’m so honored to serve cinema and our audience, and to be a helper of history, “ he further added.

For now, the actor will be taking a short break in December to catch up on his private life and, according to him, “learn more” about himself and his craft. But when asked if there’s anything he wanted to change about what happened this year, he declared that he won’t change a “single thing.”

“Not a single thing. Really. I feel like I’m blessed beyond what I asked for in terms of the good, the heavy, and the light, everything. I learned so much this yea,r and I worked so hard this year. I want more. I want to learn more. I want to be even bigger as a person, he said.

One of the actor’s reported projects is a film with Anne Curtis, marking their reunion in 14 years since the Philippine adaptation of “Green Rose.” He clarified that he doesn’t want to disclose further details but he’s excited about it.

“I’m very excited. I’m nervous, just because it’s another big and bold move for me, and for my team also. But I’m really excited about it now that I’ve learned so much,” he said. /mr

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Christmas carols drifted through Ayala Malls Central Bloc as the students of Sisters of Mary School-Boystown filled the Activity Center with the gentle chime of hand bells, signaling that the holiday season had finally arrived. Their performance set the tone for an evening of joy and togetherness as Ayala Malls Central Bloc marked the start of its “Season’s Giftings” celebration on November 20, 2025. A Celebration Rooted in Community The evening unfolded into Ayala Malls Central Bloc’s tree lighting ceremony, a moment that beyond its ceremonial switch-on reaffirms the mall’s role as a space where people come together to connect […]…

Keep on reading: Ayala Malls Central Bloc welcomes the holidays with heart in “Season’s Giftings”

Karl Eldrew Yulo with Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz in between the action at the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz was on hand to support Karl Eldrew Yulo. during the all-around final of the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships at Newport World Resorts on Saturday

The younger brother of Carlos Yulo did not reach the podium in the all-around, but Diaz still offered advice and encouragement.

READ: Karl Eldrew Yulo still proud of Top 10 finish in all-around final

“I don’t have the judging or the eagle eye that I have with gymnastics like I do with weightlifting but he’s still young,” she told the Inquirer.

“He has a lot of games to be played and with all of those, I know that’s where he’ll improve.”

Diaz has a close connection with Carlos Yulo, having competed alongside him under Team Philippines in numerous international competitions.

READ: Karl Eldrew Yulo eyes full-time focus on gymnastics

Her support for the younger Yulo highlights that bond as Karl Eldrew seeks to make his own mark in gymnastics.

When asked what Karl Eldrew should do with three more Finals on the way, Diaz kept her reminder straightforward: Don’t quit.

“You don’t become a champion overnight; it takes time. There’ll be a lot of failures but the important thing is to keep fighting and you don’t quit. Just keep dreaming, as well.”

Karl Eldrew will compete in the floor exercise finals on Sunday and the vault and horizontal bar on Monday at the same venue.

MANILA, Philippines — Acting Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez inspected facilities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Saturday as the agency prepares for the expected influx of passengers during the holiday season.

In a statement, Lopez said passengers must be comfortable while traveling to their respective destinations.

“That is why we are promoting digitalization at the airport with the NNIC [New Naia Infra Corp.] so that the overall passenger travel experience becomes faster and more convenient, especially as the holiday season approaches,” Lopez said in Filipino in a DOTr-issued statement.

According to the DOTr, baggage check-in at the Naia departure area is currently faster and more convenient due to the availability of self-check-in and bag drop counters.

“It is expected that immigration queues at the arrival area for passengers and OFWs will move faster and become shorter with the new e-gates equipped with facial recognition and passport scanning,” it added.

“Passenger safety will also be ensured, and illegal entry will be prevented because of the added security and verification features,” the DOTr said.

The agency said self-check-in and bag drop counters are already operational, while the PRS e-gates and border control e-gates are expected to be launched in the second week of December.

Lopez, in a separate statement, said the newly constructed Tambayan Food Hall and Food Village in the Naia Terminal 3 departure area will greatly benefit passengers, employees, and other airport users.

“There are many dining options and free WiFi. In addition, the place is airy, bright, and spacious,” he said in Filipino.

According to the DOTr, the Tambayan Food Hall, with a 2,500-seat capacity, hosts various food concessionaires from across the country and includes Halal-certified options. The Departure Food Village, meanwhile, has a 500-seat capacity.

Both facilities will open on December 8, the agency said.

NNIC President and San Miguel Corp. CEO Ramon Ang earlier said the NNIC remitted about P57 billion to the national government in just one year of its privatized operations at the Naia.

Meanwhile, the Naia workers’ group Pagkakaisa ng mga Users, Stakeholders at Obrero ng Naia (PUSO ng Naia) earlier denounced alleged irregularities in the P1.5-trillion public-private partnership between the DOTr and NNIC for the airport’s redevelopment. Both the agency and the private operator denied the allegations. /jpv

MANILA, Philippines—Karl Eldrew Yulo may have missed the podium, but he is still satisfied to have finished in the Top 10 of the all-around final at the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships.

Yulo finished as the eighth placer among 24 participants with 78.731 overall points.

READ: Karl Eldrew Yulo places 8th in all-around at Junior Worlds

“I’m still happy because even if I couldn’t get into the Top 3, I still managed to get to the Top 10,” Yulo told reporters at Newport World Resorts on Saturday.

“I’m still proud because I finished the qualifications at 15 and now I ended up at eight. I will do my very best to get to the top 3 in my Finals.”

It was still an impressive showing for Yulo, especially in floor exercise where he placed second best behind Arsenii Dukhno, who ultimately ended up with the all-around gold.

At one point, Yulo had a spot in the Top 5, but his rings performance weighed him down, scoring just 12.066.

READ: Karl Eldrew Yulo eyes full-time focus on gymnastics

The younger Yulo has no reason to fret too, as he still has a chance to win a medal on home soil with three more apparatus finals on the way.

“I’ll stay calm because if I add more pressure to myself, I might not do well or I might get even more injured so I’ll stay calm,” he said, referring to the hurt ankle he suffered during his vault routine. 

The young dynamo will embark on the floor exercise final on Sunday and the vault and horizontal bar finals on Monday at the same venue.