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There is still gas left in the tank for possibly one last shot at World Chess Olympiad glory for Filipino Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa.

And Philippine chess should notice after the 39-year-old Barbosa finished a strong fourth in the ultra-competitive 14th New York International at the Marshall Chess Club 23 West in 10th Street Wednesday.

Barbosa, who hails from Pasig but is now based in New York, bested countryman GM Mark Paragua in the ninth and final round and ended up with an undefeated score of 6.5 points on four wins and five draws in the tournament that drew 70 participants, including 13 GMs.

One of those GMs was Safal Bora, who edged fellow American GM David Brodsky via tiebreak to rule the meet after the two amassed seven points apiece.

Barbosa actually wound up tied for No. 3 with Indian GM Karthik Venkataraman and Ukrainian GM Oleksii Bilych but the former settled at No. 4 and the latter two at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, after tiebreaks were applied.

Apart from Paragua, Barbosa also caught a GM in fifth seed Praneeth Vuppala of India and split the points with top seed Venkataraman, eighth seed GM Mackenzie Molner of the US and fourth pick GM Labit Babu of India.

The effort could be a statement that he is still capable of suiting up for the Nationals in this September’s Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The last time he did came 14 years ago in Istanbul, Turkey where he manned second board and scored seven out of 11 on five wins and four draws against two defeats.

Paragua, also an Olympiad veteran, did well too and scored 5.5 in the first seven rounds before dropping his last two and ended up 17th overall.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines has two more men’s slots left, with one reportedly going to another US-based player in GM Inno Sadorra, who played top board for the Nationals in Budapest, Hungary two years ago and did well there.

International Master Jem Garcia, GM Darwin Laylo and IM Michael Concio Jr. took the first three slots after finishing in the top three in the Battle of the GMs last month.

The last one could go to anyone.

But there is hope it could land on Barbosa.

Day 6 of the Impeachment Trial of Vice President Sara Duterte was memorable for two events. The first was that the impeachment court decided to subpoena the bank and income tax records of the Vice President after a long debate. The second was that during the trial, the nation has finally witnessed the brilliance and outstanding legal expertise of one of the members of the prosecution panel, Jose Manuel ‘Chel’ Icasiano Diokno.

During the debates, it was clear that Chel was actually tutoring the other members of the court on the legal intricacies that were being contested. At one point, during a debate between Chel and senator-judge Alan Cayetano, in spite of disagreements, the senator-judge openly acknowledged Chel’s brilliance.

However, the public has yet to know the full story of this brilliant lawyer who deserves to be in the Senate more than almost all of the senators serving there now.

Chel Diokno is one of the country’s most respected human rights lawyers, educator and public servants. He is known for his dedication to justice, constitutional law and free legal assistance. He has spent more than three decades defending human rights victims, marginalized communities and teaching future lawyers. He served as the founding dean of the De La Salle College of Law and was former chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group or FLAG.

He is now an elected representative of the Akbayan Party-List in Congress. His father was Jose W. Diokno, one of the country’s most admired senators and widely regarded as the father of human rights in the Philippines. During the Marcos dictatorship, senator Jose Diokno was imprisoned without charges because of his opposition to martial law. After his release, he cofounded the Free Legal Assistance Group or FLAG, the country’s oldest and largest organization of human rights lawyers. Chel has continued this legacy by becoming FLAG’s chairman.

Chel is married and has six children, including famed filmmaker Pepe Diokno. He excelled academically from a young age. He completed his elementary and high school years at La Salle Greenhills, where he served as student council president. Many people are surprised when they find out that in his high school days, he was a member of the varsity basketball team. He also trained in aikido, eventually earning a black belt. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. He then took up law at the Northern Illinois University in the US where he graduated magna cum laude with a juris doctor degree. He passed the Illinois board exam in 1987 and passed the Philippine Bar exam in 1988.

After becoming a lawyer, Chel Diokno dedicated his career to public interest law rather than corporate practice. He became known as a human rights lawyer, constitutional law expert and educator.

One of his most significant contributions to the field of law was becoming the founding dean of the De La Salle College of Law, where he emphasized ethics, public service and social justice in legal education. He also taught constitutional law and lectured extensively on human rights and legal ethics.

As chairman of FLAG, he expanded access to free legal services for poor and marganizalized Filipinos through initiatives such as the Free Legal Help Desk, wherein thousands of Filipinos have received legal advice at no cost.

He has been involved in several major legal cases and one of his best known legal victories involved the

MV Doña Paz tragedy, considered one of the world’s deadliest peace time maritime disasters. The ferry collided with an oil tanker in 1987, resulting in the death of more than 4,300 people. He represented many of the victims’ families in their fight for justice and compensation.

His legal work helped secure damages for surviving family members after years of litigation. He has also represented numerous victims of unlawful arrest, torture, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations. His work has contributed to strengthening legal protection for civil liberties and reinforcing the rule of law in the Philippines.

Chel Diokno also served as a private prosecutor during the impeachment trial of president Joseph Estrada and worked as legal counsel in investigations involving government accountability. He entered politics to advocate for legal reform, education, legal rights and anti-corruption measures. Although he was unsuccessful in his initial campaigns for the Senate, he remained active in public service. In 2022, he was elected as the representative of the AKBAYAN party-list in Congress.

In 2022, the De La Salle College of Law where he served as founding dean was renamed the Tañada-Diokno School of Law to honor two of La Salle’s prominent alumni, Lorenzo Tañada and Jose Diokno.

I cannot help but compare the brilliance and selfless demeanor of Chel Diokno with some of the senators who humiliate themselves every time they try to make a speech on the Senate floor. Whether as a lawyer, educator or public official, Chel Diokno will continue to advocate for human rights, accountability, rule of justice and equal access to justice for all Filipinos.

U23 World Cup Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 Men capped off a remarkable campaign in the 2026 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Asia 2 competitions by securing a berth in the 2026 FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup after a dominant run in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Up against fellow Under-21 teams from Japan, New Zealand, Belarus, Singapore, and Malaysia, the Philippines reached the finals in five of the six stops, winning three en route to the first-place finish.

Gilas started its campaign with back-to-back wins, but suffered a tight loss to Belarus in the Stop 1 Finals. After missing out on a podium finish for Stop 2, Gilas bounced back by beating Japan to win Stop 3. The young Filipino ballers made sure there was no doubt about who the best team was as they defeated New Zealand and Japan to win Stops 4 and 5 via game-winning two-point baskets.

The Philippines finished with 520 points in the tournament, 50 points clear of second-place Japan, to earn a spot in the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup, marking another significant milestone for the SBP’s rapidly growing 3×3 program.

Listed fuel retailer Top Line Business Development Corp. is expanding its retail fuel business in Cebu after its subsidiary, Light Fuels Corp., entered into a strategic partnership with motorcycle ride-hailing platform Angkas to provide fuel discounts and other incentives to the platform’s partner riders.

The partnership gives Light Fuels access to about one-third of Cebu’s motorcycle taxi market, where Angkas operates under the 9,000-rider allocation set by the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group among the country’s three accredited operators.

Top Line Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Eugene Erik Lim said the agreement could generate as much as 42,000 liters of fuel sales a day while strengthening the company’s presence among high-frequency road users.

‘Fuel is one of the largest operating costs for motorcycle taxi riders. By offering fuel savings and value-added services, we are supporting their daily operations while positioning Light Fuels as a preferred fuel provider,’ Lim said.

The partnership also reflects Top Line’s strategy to grow recurring fuel sales by targeting commercial and transport users as demand for mobility services continues to rise in Cebu.

Under the agreement, Angkas riders will be enrolled in the Light Rewards Suki Program, giving them a P2-per-liter discount on gasoline and a P1-per-liter discount on diesel. They will also receive a free automatic motorcycle wash every quarter and gain access to Light Fuels’ promotional raffle campaigns.

Angkas Head of Operations David Brian Medrana said the partnership helps reduce operating costs for riders while strengthening the company’s support for its driver-partners.

‘Fuel is one of the biggest recurring expenses for motorcycle taxi riders. This partnership gives our Cebu partner riders practical savings and additional benefits that directly support their work while allowing us to continue providing safe, reliable and affordable transport services,’ Medrana said.

Top Line expects the agreement to increase customer traffic across its retail stations by encouraging Angkas riders to become repeat customers under its loyalty program.

The company said the partnership is part of its broader strategy to build a stronger retail fuel network by serving transport operators, businesses and consumers as Cebu’s economy and mobility demand continue to expand.

A fitting ending to a magical Cinderella run is up for Jose Rizal U’s taking.

Underdog and all, the Heavy Bombers shoot for the kill against reigning NCAA champion San Beda Red Lions in Game 2 of the 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup today at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.

If ever, that would be a landmark win for a squad long mired in mediocrity.

JRU last won an NCAA title in 1972 and a Fr. Martin’s Cup pre-season crown in 2015, making this 5 p.m. tussle with the Red Lions a perfect stage to show its readiness to contend for the crown in the coming NCAA 102nd season.

‘Alam naman natin kung gaano na katagal pero binubuhay namin ulit ‘yung winning culture ng school,’ said mentor Nani Epondulan as JRU shoots for glory in the collegiate preseason tourney.

Epondulan and his troops are out to get the job done after a 70-59 win over San Beda, a fellow NCAA team which trumped UAAP powerhouse squads La Salle and UP in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

‘Mahirap, pero pag nagawa naman namin at tinrabaho namin, hindi sila makakalimutan ng tao,’ said Epondulan, banking on blue-chip recruits Lawrence Mangubat and Chris Hubilla, who combined for 41 points and 18 rebounds in Game 1. ‘Sabi ko naman sa kanila, paghirapan na natin ngayon and then saka na tayo mag-happy-happy kapag nakuha na natin.

We know trust is earned. But, being too late in the day to earn, could it also be bought?

Against the backdrop of very dismal opinion poll numbers, the administration is trying to shore up its political position by flooding the field with subsidies, distributing free rice and wildly raising wage rates. All these threaten to widen the deficit, bring us closer to a debt crisis and actually force poverty and unemployment rates to rise.

Regime survival is, of course, a valid concern. But a frantic regime is always forced into short-sighted policies. Such policies could bring down the entire political order like a house of cards.

The Marcos II administration has never been accused of excellence in governance. Under its watch, the worst corruption scandal exploded. It has not only failed to build the homes and classrooms it promised, it allowed an agricultural crisis to fester. It not only failed to sustain the infrastructure program necessary to improve the economy’s efficiency, its inability to properly control national spending means it will exit without a legacy project of any scale.

By the time this administration ends, it would have borrowed more than any preceding presidency – and without a pandemic to justify the reckless spending. The national debt will be the monument it leaves behind.

Everything else – the agricultural sector, the educational system, the housing program – will be worse off than when this administration found them. The country, once contending to be a global growth leader, is now at the bottom of the ASEAN Six. Investments are leaving the economy. We are again derided as the Sick Man of Asia.

There is a price for accessing power without a vision for what the country could become. We are paying that price now.

In its rush to win popularity points, the administration even politicized wage-setting. In the process, it set off an economic storm that could set us back many more years.

Last July 9, the DOLE-NCR issued Wage Order 27 that raises the mandated daily minimum wage by P85. The wage order was issued over strong dissenting opinions from private sector representatives in the tripartite wage council.

Even the normally discrete BSP Governor expressed surprise at the magnitude of the wage increase. He warned that inflation could push beyond our control.

The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), an influential policy-advocacy group composed of independent economists, was so alarmed it quickly issued a public statement calling for the suspension of the wage order pending review. For a while, policymakers seemed inclined to suspend the wage order.

This week, however, the Palace spokesperson announced that the wage order will push through as is. It seems the Marcos presidency is more alarmed of angry trade unionists showing up on the day of the State of the Nation Address than they are concerned with the profoundly adverse economic implications of this badly conceived wage order.

It its statement, the FEF warned the P85 daily wage increase will fuel an inflationary wage-price spiral. The wage order creates sharp distortions between wages and actual economic output. It adds further upward pressure on an already elevated inflation.

The FEF describes the wage order as a ‘cruel penalty’ on the poor and unemployed. At its prescribed wage levels, the order will swiftly erode the purchasing power of consumers, canceling out any nominal wage gains for the employed. As businesses cut back on hiring, the wage order will penalize unemployed and underemployed Filipinos the most. The wage order presents a higher barrier to entry that locks out more Filipinos from economic mobility.

Already facing many difficulties, the wage order will worsen the situation for micro-, small- and medium enterprises. With significantly increased operating and logistics costs, the wage order could push many enterprises over the edge. Many of the country’s businesses are already operating on very thin margins.

Furthermore, the wage order is an investment deterrent. It adds to the unpredictability in our regulatory environment that is already a bane for investors.

Finally, the FEF argues that the wage order constitutes a threat to our macroeconomic stability. Employers will pass on the 12 percent wage hike to consumers in order to survive. In the expected inflationary shock, monetary authorities will have to impose higher interest rates. This will further worsen an already inhospitable business environment. Our economic expansion can only slow even more, resulting in higher poverty incidence.

Oil prices may fluctuate. But wage rates are sticky phenomena. No one in this country will accept wage-reduction as a tool for faster economic growth.

The FEF calls for an ‘immediate return to evidence-based, tripartite wage-setting that aligns wage growth with productivity gains and macroeconomic realities.’ The wage order breaks the balance between protecting workers and keeping a healthy environment for enterprises to grow.

In a word, the wage order shoots our economy in the foot. It will condemn our economy to stagnation. It will produce even worse disinvestments.

But who will review this wage order?

Certainly not the labor secretary who has little background for the job and a disposition to submit to political dictate. He has said nothing about this issue which riles the entire business community.

Certainly, not the President. This was the man who claimed to have read every line in the 2025 national budget. This is the man who dreads angry unionists marching against his forthcoming speech.

What makes a place feel like home when home is thousands of miles away?

For thousands of retirees from around the globe, the answer is the Philippines, a country where warm smiles come as naturally as the sunshine, where neighbors become friends, and where retirement is not simply about slowing down, but about discovering a new way of living.

For 41 years, the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) has quietly nurtured that vision, helping foreign nationals begin a second chapter in a country they now proudly call home.

That vision became even more meaningful as PRA celebrated its 41st anniversary on July 4, and held its Media Thanksgiving on July 7 at Diamond Hotel Manila. The celebration came at a defining moment for both the agency and the country, following the Philippines’ recognition as the World’s No. 1 Retirement Destination in the Retirement Abroad Index 2026 by the Expatriate Group. The distinction builds on the country’s 2025 recognition as Asia’s Best Retirement Destination, marking an extraordinary journey from regional excellence to global leadership.

But beyond the awards are the stories that truly define the milestone. During the Media Thanksgiving, foreign retirees shared why they chose to settle in the Philippines. It was not simply because of its affordability or its English-speaking communities, but because they found something far more difficult to measure: genuine human connection. They spoke of communities that welcomed them with open arms, friendships that transcended cultures, and a lifestyle that transformed the unfamiliar into something deeply familiar.

For PRA, these stories are the true measure of success. Through the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV), enhanced frontline services, and onsite service caravans that bring assistance closer to retirees across the country, PRA continues to make retirement not only more convenient but also more meaningful.

The event also introduced PRA’s official jingle, a lighthearted yet heartfelt reminder that retirement is about more than finding a destination. It is about finding a sense of belonging, creating new memories, and embracing opportunities that make life’s next chapter just as exciting as the last.

As PRA enters its 42nd year, its recognition as the world’s top retirement destination is more than an accolade. It reflects countless lives changed, friendships formed, and dreams fulfilled. It is proof that the Philippines offers something no ranking alone can capture: a place where people from different corners of the world are welcomed not merely as visitors, but as part of the family.