Author: Nouman Ali

Happiness is often shaped not by grand milestones, but by everyday choices to move forward, help others, and create meaning despite life’s challenges. Through Happiest Pinoy, Cebuana Lhuillier continues to spotlight Filipinos whose stories reflect quiet resilience and purposeful optimism-demonstrating that even the simplest moments can inspire hope and positive change across communities. More than a recognition platform, Happiest Pinoy has grown into a nationwide advocacy that highlights how personal strength and service to others can create lasting impact.

Cebuana Lhuillier’s Happiest Pinoy winner continue to inspire through #SimpleJoysPH

As the initiative evolves into the digital space through #SimpleJoysPH, the journeys of past winners continue to resonate-showing how small acts of courage, gratitude, and kindness can influence others in meaningful ways.

One such story is that of Zacarias Mansing, the 2025 Happiest Pinoy awardee, whose life journey reflects how adversity can be transformed into purpose.

In 2012, Zacarias’s life changed dramatically after a car accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. What could have been defined by loss instead became a turning point. Choosing not to be limited by his circumstances, he redirected his experience into service-becoming a socio-civic volunteer, education advocate, and motivational speaker. Guided by his personal mantra, ‘Making a Difference Despite Disability-Inspiring People, Instilling Hope,’ Zacarias has consistently demonstrated how determination and optimism can create impact far beyond one’s own circumstances.

For Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, stories like Zacarias’s reflect the deeper purpose of the initiative. ‘Happiest Pinoy highlights Filipinos who turn life’s challenges into opportunities to uplift others. Zacarias’s journey reminds us that happiness is not about circumstance-it is about choosing purpose, creating impact, and finding meaning in even the simplest moments.’

Since receiving the recognition in 2025, Zacarias has continued to expand his advocacy. His Books for Kids Project, which he launched in 2017, has now reached over 50,000 students across 300 public schools in Negros Oriental, promoting literacy while advancing awareness on disability inclusion. Through partnerships with schools and organizations, he delivers talks on resilience, leadership, and positive self-image-reaching diverse audiences from OWWA scholars to aspiring educators, school leaders, and senior high school students. His work reflects how individual purpose can translate into community impact.

For Zacarias, the recognition marked not an endpoint, but a renewed commitment to serve. He finds fulfillment in moments of gratitude, in supporting learners through education initiatives, and in seeing how encouragement can help others recognize their own potential. His experience reinforces a simple but powerful insight: meaningful impact often begins with small, intentional actions.

As Happiest Pinoy 2026 enters a fully digital chapter through #SimpleJoysPH, Cebuana Lhuillier continues to spotlight how everyday acts of resilience, generosity, and hope can create meaningful impact beyond individual stories. By amplifying journeys like Zacarias’s, the initiative underscores a simple but powerful truth: happiness is not defined by perfect circumstances, but by the choice to move forward with purpose and inspire positive change in others-even through life’s simplest moments.

Arah Panique redeemed herself by leading National University to the No.2 spot ahead of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball stepladder semifinals, anchoring the defending champion’s five-set comeback against University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Last Sunday, Panique’s costly net fault sealed La Salle’s five-set win to complete a 14-game sweep and clinch an outright Finals berth, sending the rest of the field into a stepladder.

The senior opposite spiker admitted she blamed herself for the crucial error.

‘I couldn’t help but blame myself before because it really was my fault,’ said Panique in Filipino. ‘So this game, I just gave my best to make up for the team and to help us secure that No. 2 spot so we won’t have a harder path and can also get some rest.’

‘I think we all know we could’ve won that game. We just fell short in closing it out. It also comes down to how we play together as a team,’ she added.

Against UST on Wednesday, Panique unleashed 24 points off 21 kills, two blocks, and an ace to help save NU from a two-set deficit en route to the 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 15-13 win.

‘For me, the main thing was to bounce back from our last loss. That’s really what motivated us. We’re also happy because you can really see our team effort and teamwork in this game,’ she said.

NU finished the elimination round with a 10-4 record and will have enough time to prepare for the last phase of the stepladder, where the finals berth against unbeaten La Salle is at stake.

UST and Far Eastern University will fight for the last semis berth on Saturday, with the winner taking on Adamson next on April 29.

Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) can expect a bigger rebate as regulators ordered the swift implementation of P14.17-billion remaining refunds beginning May, as Filipinos reel from rising prices due to the Middle East war.

Based on a document posted on its website, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) directed the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led firm to hasten the rollout of the remaining refunds out of the original amount of P19.96 billion.

This is part of an earlier order that declared July 2022 to December 2024 as a lapsed period.

The true-up calculation shows the gap between Meralco’s actual weighted average tariff and the regulator-approved rate for the period under review.

The refund program started a year ago, initially covering P5.8 billion at a rate of P0.1189 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

Now, the ERC has mandated a higher average refund rate of P0.2511 per kWh.

Residential customers, in particular, will see a reduction of P0.4278 per kWh.

Immediate relief

‘By expediting the refund, we are providing more immediate relief to Meralco consumers, particularly in the face of rising electricity costs driven by global and domestic factors,’ ERC chair and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan said in a statement on Wednesday.

‘The true-up mechanism is a safeguard embedded in our regulatory framework, ensuring that tariffs remain cost-reflective and reasonable at all times,’ he added.

The ERC said the remaining amount would be refunded over a shorter period of 12 months instead of the original 36 months.

According to the ERC, the refund will be under a separate line item in their power bills, allowing consumers to check the amount being returned to them.

In February, Meralco sought regulatory approval for a capital spending of P272 billion for a five-year period, or until 2030.

Rate reset

Under a rate reset process, a regulated entity such as Meralco must submit to the ERC its spending and proposed projects over a certain period, usually five years, unless extended by the regulator. This will then be the basis of the rate that will be passed on to consumers.

Meralco is the country’s biggest power distributor, delivering electricity to over 8.2 million consumers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Batangas City and San Pascual.

The results of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (Upcat) are out. It isn’t just students who were anxious, but their families also waited with bated breath. Yesterday, families finally woke up to the news of whether their child can consider UP their new academic home. Out of 147,437 Upcat applicants, 18,350 or 12.44 percent were accepted or waitlisted, making it one of the most competitive universities in the country. After all, getting into UP means the opportunity to get quality education for zero tuition, a rare combination. With rising inflation and more economic uncertainty on the horizon, few families can opt to ignore a school’s price tag.

College admissions are already a stressful rite of passage for senior high students. Our uncertainty about our future, brought about by political and economic instability and a fast-evolving job market, has only served to increase the stakes of such milestone decisions as to which college to go to. Moreover, preparing for college is no longer just the student’s challenge; it has become the family’s cross to bear.

The day the results come out is the culmination of the years it took to get there. The student, of course, does the main work. They go through their schoolwork with the added pressure of knowing that their academic transcript can make or break their college application. This is also the student who went through the pandemic disruptions and the back-and-forth pivots to remote learning. They sacrifice social and recreation time to attend review classes to gain a competitive edge, just at the time when they should be relishing their friendships before they go their separate ways.

Parents do their parallel responsibility. They also sacrifice time and effort, best exemplified by the daily morning routine: getting kids ready for school. In the Philippines, this could mean as early as 5 a.m., depending on traffic and commuting conditions. The school drop-off is also a fast-becoming exercise in patience. Parents sacrifice on the big things as well. They save up money for years, perhaps decades, so that their child can afford as many quality choices for schools as they can get into. I know of parents who have strategized their career paths, such as working for an academic institution and gaining employee benefits or choosing a job that allows them the time to tutor their kids personally, based on what will help their children get into their school of choice.

All this emotional investment is based on a firm belief that college is a guarantee for a better life. Currently, however, a college degree has never felt more useless and at the same time more essential than now. A college degree alone no longer provides the financial security it once did. Even a diploma from the ‘big four’ universities no longer gets you in front of the line. Latin honors do not make a dent in hiring. And yet, gosh, go try looking for a job without a college degree. It is practically impossible to get one, even for jobs that do not seem to require college-level skills, such as being a server or a salesperson.

The increased stakes of our children’s education no longer begin at college. As I began looking into preschool for my child, I am disheartened to see exorbitant tuition, limited slots, and rigorous admissions testing, eerily similar to the college process. The stakes aren’t just higher; they have come for us earlier.

With such a stacked scenario, we have no choice but to follow where the pressure leads us. Every decision regarding our child’s education feels high-stakes. There is no room for error or mistakes. We need to optimize every decision and enroll them in the ‘best’ schools, even if it breaks the bank, ironically worsening our financial stability.

Unfortunately, we can pass this anxiety onto our children. They get anxious about their grades and their chances for college. They have a low tolerance for mistakes. They feel the need to be perfect to compensate for the extremely competitive environment. This can lead to them burning out and increasing their discomfort with the new and unfamiliar, making them less able to succeed in college, becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Increased uncertainty about our future can push us into an all-or-nothing mindset. For example, some families abide by ‘UP or bust.’ When the stakes feel overwhelmingly high, it is good to remember that not all decisions are as final as they feel. There are multiple routes to a desired outcome. It can be through the Upcat, via transferring, via another school, or via another path entirely. And all those choices can lead to good things.

As parents, we can share in this moment with our children and help them decide how much weight they should put into the results, whether accepted or not. We can be with them as they go through uncertainty and help them feel confident in their choices, even when no guarantees are offered. There is so much more to gain in college admissions letters than just the results.

Globe Telecom Inc. bought back $426.42 million worth of its dollar-denominated perpetual capital securities following its tender offer, which formed part of its liability management program.

In a disclosure on Thursday, the Ayala-backed telco said the accepted tenders represented majority of the $600 million senior perpetual capital securities issued in 2021.

After the offer expired on April 22, about $173.58 million in principal amount of the securities would remain outstanding, Globe said.

Settlement of the accepted securities is expected by April 24.

This buyback comes as the company moves closer to redeeming the remaining balance of equity instruments, which carry an initial distribution rate of 4.2 percent.

Suspected drugs worth a total of P3.4 million were confiscated, and four individuals were arrested in buy-bust operations in Quezon City and Pasay City on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

In a statement on Thursday, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said it entrapped two suspects in front of a restaurant at the corner of Tomas Morato Avenue and Scout Limbaga Street on Wednesday night.

‘A police officer acted as poseur buyer and bought P451,000 worth of shabu from suspect Ronnie, and at the given pre-arranged signal, he was arrested along with his cohort, [John],’ the police explained.

Operatives recovered an additional P913,538 worth of suspected shabu from the two suspects, according to the QCPD.

Police said the suspect, identified by the alias Ronnie, has a previous case for violating Presidential Decree No. 1602, which prescribes stiffer penalties for illegal gambling.

Meanwhile, the Southern Police District (SPD) said it had apprehended two more suspects in front of a fast-food restaurant at the corner of Libertad Avenue and Taft Avenue in Barangay 92 early Thursday morning.

The SPD identified the suspects by the aliases ‘Chong,’ 33; and ‘John,’ 26, noting that they were both ‘high-value’ individuals.

‘Seized during the operation were approximately 300 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price value of P2,040,000, along with buy-bust money, a mobile phone and other drug paraphernalia,’ the police explained.

All four suspects were taken into their respective police’s custody, awaiting charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Angelica Panganiban has warned the public against an online scam using the name and photos of her business resort.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, April 22, Panganiban informed her followers about a fake Facebook page posing as her business, Mangrove Resort Subic.

‘SCAM ALERT – PLEASE READ and SHARE. We have been informed of a fake Facebook page pretending to be Mangrove Resort Subic and illegally using our name and photos to scam guests,’ she wrote.

The actress stressed that her resort does not process transactions through unofficial channels.

‘We DO NOT accept payments through unofficial pages. We ONLY have ONE official Facebook page. Any similar pages are FAKE and NOT affiliated with us!’ she added.

Panganiban urged the public to remain cautious when dealing with suspicious online transactions.

‘DO NOT send payments, personal details, or booking information to any suspicious page. DO NOT click unknown links or entertain offers that seem too good to be true. Always verify by contacting us through our official page or direct contact details,’ she said.

The post included an official statement from Uy Coronel and Villamor Law Offices, which was hired by the actress as they plan to coordinate with authorities to address the issue.

‘If you have been contacted or victimized, please report immediately and inform us. We are currently working with authorities regarding this matter. Stay alert and help us protect others by sharing this post,’ Panginiban noted.

According to the law firm, the fraudulent page has been actively responding to inquiries and accepting payments without the resort’s knowledge or consent, with reports that several individuals have already been scammed.

Meanwhile, Panginiban has been generating online buzz following her daring role opposite Mylene Dizon, in which they play lesbian lovers in the Prime Video’s new series ‘The Silent Noise.’

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.

appleone group

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

appleone group

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.’

appleone group

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.

appleone group

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.

appleone group

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.

Five alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were arrested during a warrant service operation in Talisay, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, following a recent deadly clash in the province.

The military operation was conducted along the Circumferential Road, Barangay Matab-ang of Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said on Thursday.

Operatives were serving an arrest warrant for attempted murder against a suspect identified as alias ‘Glem’ when four additional individuals were apprehended after being found in possession of firearms and explosives, it said.

The arrested individuals were identified as alias ‘Glem,’ 48, of Zamboanga Sibugay and squad leader of the North Negros Front (NNF); alias ‘Dan,’ 25, of Himamaylan City, squad leader of Central Negros 2 (CN2); alias ‘Jud,’ 34, of San Carlos City; alias ‘Ju,’ 26, of Murcia; and alias ‘Je,’ 57, of Bacolod City.

Both ‘Glem’ and ‘Dan’ are listed on the Periodic Status Report (PSR) of wanted personalities, the police said.

Authorities said some of the suspects reportedly had visible body wounds, which led them to believe the group was previously involved in an armed encounter with troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.

Authorities recovered four short firearms, live ammunition, and explosive devices from the suspects, the PRO NIR said.

The operation was led by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of PRO-NIR in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit (CIDG-RFU), the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU), the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), the 6th Special Action Battalion of the PNP Special Action Force (6th SAB, PNP SAF), the Talisay City Component Police Station (Talisay CCPS), and the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) of the Philippine Army.

The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) has activated a Special Investigation Task Group to establish the identities of bodies recovered following a series of ‘encounters’ in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.

Through forensic examination, documentation, and coordination with local government units and relatives, the task group aims to provide a formal accounting of the deceased, said the PRO NIR statement.

The Philippine Army earlier said that 19 alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed during a series of encounters with soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, on April 19.

On Wednesday, PRO NIR confirmed that six of the 19 fatalities have been positively identified and claimed by their respective families. They were Rene Villarin Sr., alias Kumader Pikot, 58, of Sitio Huwebisan, Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava; Roger Fabillar Tapang, alias Jhong or Arnel, 36, of Sitio Malig-on, Barangay Bandila, Toboso; Ruel Sabillo, 19, of Sitio Singiton, Barangay Tabun-ak, Toboso; Sonny Boy Manayon Caramihan, 28, of Sitio Batbataw, Barangay Bagonbon, San Carlos City; Pedro Agustin Bonghanoy, 32, of Barangay Libertad, Escalante City; and Arnel Mahilum Javoc, 32, of Sitio Labay-ao, Barangay Lalong, Calatrava.

Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, PRO NIR Director, said that the successful identification and release of the remains reflect their commitment to professionalism and humanitarian considerations.

He noted that while the police are carrying out lawful duties, they remain dedicated to showing compassion to the families involved.

Meanwhile, Altermidya Network had said its NIR coordinator. RJ Nichole Ledesma was among those killed, while the UP Diliman University Student Council confirmed the death of Alyssa Alano in Sunday’s incident.

Continuing efforts are now focused on identifying the other fatalities, the PRO NIR said.

Police authorities are currently validating submitted information, reviewing available records, and conducting further medico-legal and forensic documentation, it added.

The PRO NIR said they are facilitating the orderly release of all confirmed cadavers once the necessary documentary and legal requirements are fully completed.