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Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong are getting a salary increase, the Department of Migrant Workers reported yesterday.

The DMW said domestic workers, including those who signed their employment contracts yesterday, would receive a 2.22-percent wage hike.

The monthly salary of domestic helpers increased from HK$4,990 to HK$5,100 or $655. The food allowance remains at HK$1,236 for those who are not provided meals by their employers.

Over 190,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong will benefit from the wage adjustment, according to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac.

The DMW reminded recruitment agencies, employers and Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong to ensure that contracts signed from today reflect the updated wage provisions.

Newly-installed Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has directed a structural assessment of all churches and rectories under his archdiocese following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu.

The newly-appointed prelate issued the instruction on Tuesday, September 30, after the earthquake, which damaged several churches in Cebu and left multiple deaths.

He also instructed parishes in the northern part of Cebu that were severely affected by the seismic activity to refrain from using their church buildings.

‘To the parishes in the North that have been gravely affected, you are asked to refrain from using your churches for the celebration of the Holy Mass until the proper experts have carried out the assessment and declared the structures safe for use,’ Uy’s statement read.

‘We continue to pray to our Loving Father for calmness and strength in the midst of these trials. We entrust ourselves, our families, and our communities into His merciful hands. May the Lord shelter us under His wings, protect us from every harm, and guide us to safety and peace,’ he added.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially recorded the earthquake at magnitude 6.7 but later revised it to 6.9.

The quake occurred at 9:59 p.m., with the epicenter located five kilometers deep, 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu.

Damaged churches. One of the damaged churches is the Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Bantayan Island, the oldest church in Visayas and Mindanao. Its top portion had collapsed.

The church was first built in 1580, while the construction of the current structure began in 1839 and was completed in 1863.

St. Martin de Porres Parish in Ilihan, Cebu, also suffered damage to its walls and roof, while San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Remigio, Cebu, sustained a ruined altar following the tremors.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima also sustained substantial structural damage.

Casualties. According to a Facebook post by the Cebu People’s Action Center, 22 people have been confirmed dead after the earthquake.

However, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least 26 people were killed and 147 others injured.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the British embassy in Manila yesterday signed an agreement aimed at enhancing regulatory quality and streamlining government processes in the country.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalized a partnership in which the British embassy will provide technical assistance for ARTA’s regulatory initiatives, including the adoption of innovative frameworks, conducting regulatory impact assessments and participating in relevant capacity-building activities.

‘This MOU serves as a testament to the continuation and the expansion of a mutually beneficial relationship that has already yielded substantial outcomes,’ ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez said in his speech during the signing ceremony yesterday.

‘It represents a shared commitment by the Philippines and the United Kingdom to move forward together in strengthening governance,’ Perez said.

Under the MOU, both parties will also collaborate on knowledge sharing through conferences, workshops and roundtable discussions, while ensuring alignment with national regulatory policies and international best practices.

The partnership also seeks to support regional initiatives such as the United Kingdom-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Integration Program.

This program aims to improve regulatory and standards systems in ASEAN member states, reduce red tape and create a more stable environment for business investment.

The MOU, effective upon notification by both parties that domestic requirements for its effectivity have been met, is set to remain in force until Oct. 31, 2026, with a possible extension of up to two years.

The agreement does not constitute a binding financial commitment but allows both sides to share costs for joint activities following government accounting rules.

Abra Solid North extended its winning streak to a record 26, while Caloocan clinched the last outright playoff berth on Tuesday at the close of the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season round-robin elimination phase at the Robert Estrella Sr. Memorial Gymnasium in Rosales, Pangasinan.

The Weavers battered undermanned Mindoro, 104-82, in the opener to surpass the 25 straight victories it shared with Nueva Ecija and rise to 28-1 – also an all-time league best – in the North Division of the 30-team tournament.

Caloocan banked on Jeff Manday to nip Pangasinan, 77-74, in the second game and improve to 21-8, good for the sixth spot in the North and a best-of-three playoff tussle with No. 3 San Juan.

Pangasinan skidded to 20-9 and the seventh spot, relegating the Heatwaves to a play-in encounter with No. 8 Ilagan Isabela at the same venue on Thursday.

Manday scored six of Caloocan’s last 8 points as the Batang Kankaloo overturned a 69-71 deficit following a triple by Pangasinan’s JP Maguliano.

The Batang Kankaloo got 12 points plus three rebounds from Rommel Calahat; 11 points, six rebounds and three assists from Cris Bitoon; and 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals from Manday.

The Pangasinan Heatwaves drew 11 points from Allyn Bulanadi, whose buzzer-beating triple attempt went short, and 10 points plus eight rebounds from Maguliano.

Encho Serrano, John Uduba and Dave Ildefonso delivered the most as the Weavers gifted their head coach, Yong Garcia, with another easy victory.

Serrano posted 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists; Uduba 21 points and 10 rebounds; and Ildefonso 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Weavers, who clustered 15 points to seal the outcome, 96-71.

The Tamaraws fell to 15-14, but kept the eighth spot in the South Division.

Mindoro got 17 points from RJ Ramirez; 15 from Ethan Galang; 14 from Marion Magat; and 12 from homegrown Hanz Philip Maycong.

Opting to conserve its strength for the play-in against Zamboanga Sikat on October 4., Mindoro did not field starters Ino Comboy, Bam Gamalinda and Joseph Sedurifa, role player Jeco Bancale and veteran Ken Bono.

The league returns to the Estrella Gymnasium on Thursday, October 2, with play-in games pitting Pasig against Bataan at 4 p.m. and Pangasinan against Ilagan, Isabela, at 6 p.m.

Home Credit Philippines proudly marked a new milestone ahead of its 12th anniversary: 12 million customers served with accessible financial solutions in August 2025.

Since entering the Philippine market in 2013, Home Credit has become a trusted leader in consumer finance-helping millions of Filipinos access essential goods and services through affordable installment plans, cash loans and digital solutions. This milestone reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to making its credit solutions more accessible, especially for everyday needs.

‘Reaching 12 million customers is more than just a number-it’s a reflection of the trust Filipinos have placed in us,’ said David Minol, CEO of Home Credit Philippines.

‘We’ve seen a significant increase in new customers compared to last year, driven by the growing demand for inclusive financing and the relevance and attractiveness of our oFers.

As of this writing, Home Credit has disbursed close to P500 billion in total sales across its different credit offerings. This reinforces its position as a leading player in the consumer finance industry and highlights the growing demand for inclusive and accessible financial solutions.

Now available in over 18,000 retail stores nationwide and a mobile app available on both Android and iOS, Home Credit oHers a seamless experience-from loan application to account management and payments. Its #ReadytoHelp sales force has grown to 9,000 strong, and its portfolio now includes motorcyles, expanding its reach into mobility financing.

Financing what matters

As it approaches its 12th year, Home Credit is focused on expanding its digital capabilities, launching customer-first products and deepening partnerships across industries. But beyond innovation, its mission remains clear: to finance what matters most to Filipinos-whether it’s a first phone, a new appliance for their home or business or a way to get to move around the metro.

Because for Home Credit, progress isn’t measured in pesos or percentages-it’s measured in the everyday wins of the people it serves.

Malrondu means Malabuyoc, Ronda, and Dumanjug. They belong to the blessed second congressional district of Cebu, which has been favored by the gods of rains and floods with a bountiful load of flood-control projects and budgetary allocations. This is also the district where San Pedro Calungsod was born.

The members of Congress, the Calderons, husband and wife, who led this district for the longest time, must have been very blessed too, for bringing home to this district billions of bacon for the favored people. For this is the district of San Pedro Calungsod, the only saint from the whole province of Cebu, who was from the town of Ginatilan. But the blessings of billions worth of flood control projects were not poured by heaven into the town of the saint. They were determined by the gods perhaps by holy geographic coordinates into unknown sites in Malrondu.

These favored towns could appropriately exclaim then: When the blessing rains, it really floods. Malabuyoc, got no less than ?3.3 billion with supposed 38 projects. Ronda, my dear town of gentle people, the beautiful Rondahanons, got a whopping gift from Mount Olympus, an unprecedented amount perhaps ten times its annual budget, or even much more. Ronda got ?2.6 billion for alleged 34 projects. Thirty-four is a bounty because Ronda has only 14 barangays and a population of about 21,000. I do not know where in Ronda these flood control projects are being worked at. But what a blessing from Our Lady of Sorrows.

Dumanjug, the historic land of my late father’s birth, the town that prides itself as the home of the governors, also got an impressive ?2.18 billion. This is the only time when Dumanjug, with 37 barangays, was beaten by Ronda with only 14. But ?2.18 billion is not bad for the home of QM Builders, which, by accident of destiny, is also the very lucky contractor that won in an honest-to-goodness bidding and procurement process. It was also circumstantial that Dumanjug is likewise the home of the Quirante Construction Corp., another lucky start-up. Now Dumanjug is not only home to governors but also to heaven-sent contractors.

It was just a mere coincidence also that the former congressman, who was vice chairman of Zaldy Co’s appropriation committee, was one of the wedding sponsors of QM Builders owner’s son. The question is: who benefitted from such a bountiful load of blessings? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. And it blows my mind. That is what our good friend, the new DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, should look into. Perhaps he should know that the regional director used to be assigned in this district. That director was also allegedly another wedding sponsor in the same wedding. Too many strange coincidences, indeed. The stars are all aligning in the seventh heaven.

It is now of common knowledge that the whole province of Cebu, next only to the number one flood capital of the Philippines, Bulacan, has been favored by the gods in Congress, specifically Zaldy Co’s appropriation committee whose vice chair happened to be the honorable former congressman representing the 7th District of Cebu. Our province, which has admittedly some true and authentic flood problems in Cebu City, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay, and some other cities and towns (but not in Malrondu), got ?25.521 billion for flood control. But why was one-half of the entire budget for flood control diverted to Malrondu? ?12.06 billion out of ?25.521 billion.

And is it true that most of the Malrondu and other Cebu flood control projects fell into the lap of QM Builders, a single proprietorship based in Dumanjug? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. I saw a movie once entitled: “The Gods Must Be Crazy” But since I am from Malrondu, I can say that, with such a large bounty, the gods have made some people and their families very, very happy.

Who are these lucky guys? That is for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to determine and say.

Beyond its massive aquariums and immersive tunnels, the newly opened Singapore Oceanarium carries a deeper purpose: to amplify the often-drowned-out voice of the ocean.

Located on Sentosa Island, this marine destination – formerly known as the S.E.A. Aquarium – opened to the public on July 24, 2025.

It now spans 22 immersive zones, making it three times larger than its predecessor, and takes visitors through the ocean’s past, present and future.

Highlights include digitally magnified plankton and sea jellies representing the ocean’s ancient past, as well as sharks, manta rays, and other marine life showcasing its present.

The journey ends with an interactive pledge, inviting guests to take part in protecting the ocean and shaping its future.

Tycoons Jaime Augusto and Fernando Zobel de Ayala recently had a chance encounter with Vice President Sara Duterte in Davao.

A video of the Ayala Corp. chairman and the vice president exchanging pleasantries has since circulated on social media.

Duterte led the ribbon-cutting event for the opening of Matcha Tokyo’s first branch in Mindanao at the Azuela High Street, which is located at the 25-hectare Azuela Estate, a joint venture development of Ayala Land Inc. and the Alcantara Group.

Azuela High Street last Friday marked a milestone with a ceremonial opening and Christmas lighting, gathering valued merchants alongside key members of the Zobel, Alcantara and Floirendo families.

The event welcomed new shops that add to Davao’s lifestyle scene, which included Matcha Tokyo.

‘Azuela High Street represents our commitment to creating vibrant community destinations in Davao, where commerce, culture and everyday living come together. With every new shop and experience, we bring people closer to the vision of Azuela Cove as Davao’s premier seaside lifestyle estate,’ Ayala Land head for Central Luzon and Vismin estates Yeng Tupaz said.

‘For the Alcantara Group, Azuela is about building on our family’s legacy in Davao while looking ahead to the city’s bright future. This milestone is not just about new shops or festivities, but about creating spaces where families and communities thrive,’ Alsons Land president and CEO Edith Alcantara said.

Filipinos abroad are encouraged to invest in the Philippine capital markets, with real estate investment trusts (REITs) seen as a compelling entry point for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking stable and long-term investments.

Systembrand Group, a multidisciplinary agency that delivers integrated solutions across branding, design, communications and investor relations to clients across various industries globally, stated that among the REITs gaining traction are Ayala Land REIT (AREIT), RL Commercial REIT, Megaworld REIT, Citicore Energy REIT and Filinvest REIT.

It said the market capitalizations and dividend yields of these REITs indicate solid valuations to prospective OFW investors.

In particular, the group said that AREIT, the first REIT registered with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) in 2006, is expected to sustain its strong financial trajectory under the new leadership of former Ayala Corp. chief finance officer Alberto de Larrazabal.

Its planned P21 billion asset infusion will expand its leasable area to 4.3 million square meters and boost its assets under management to P138 billion, with cash dividends up by 44 percent to P1.17 per share.

With their simplified investment process and mandated dividend payouts, REITs present a practical way for small-scale investors to participate in the growth of income-generating real estate assets, Juan Martin Buñag, Systembrand Group’s representative in Madrid, said.

Buñag, who is also managing director of Investor Relations Global (IRG), said that REITs allow retail investors, especially OFWs, to earn regular income through dividends while gaining exposure to a diversified portfolio of assets.

These range from residential condominiums and high-rise office buildings to hotels, malls, warehouses and export processing zones.

Investors become part owners of these properties without needing to purchase them outright, benefiting from the income they generate, Buñag said.

Buñag said that OFW participation in REITs aligns with the PSE’s broader push to democratize access to the stock market.

PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon earlier cited the need to attract overseas Filipinos to invest in domestic securities, saying that only a small percentage of them hold stock market accounts.

Systembrand Group is pushing to engage overseas markets and empower OFWs as long-term participants in the Philippine capital market through the group’s Europe-based initiative for engaging overseas markets called Conectando Filipinas.

Conectando Filipinas estimates that if just 14,000 of the 182,191 OFWs in Europe invested 20 percent, or $60, of their monthly $300 remittances, the resulting trade value could reach $840,000, or approximately P42 million, from new investors.

Such potential underscores the importance of sustained engagement, according to the Systembrand Group.

Buñag said that discussions, events and roadshows with overseas Filipinos would help increase global interest in Philippine capital markets and attract more foreign capital.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has appointed seasoned banker Alexander Patricio as independent director strengthening the Yuchengco-led lender’s governance and compliance framework.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, RCBC said its board approved Patricio’s election during its meeting on Sept. 29.

His appointment took effect at the close of business on the same day, subject to regulatory approvals from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other agencies for his interlocking positions.

Patricio is filling the vacancy left by Vaughn Montes, who recently concluded his term as independent director. Aside from leading the risk oversight committee, he will also serve as a member of the anti-money laundering committee as well as the audit and compliance committee.

‘Patricio has over 41 years of banking experience,’ RCBC said, citing his extensive background in risk management and regulatory compliance.

According to RCBC, Patricio spent 13 years with Citibank and 18 years with ING Bank Philippines before joining the government sector as executive vice president and chief risk officer of the Development Bank of the Philippines from May 2013 to March 2017.

Publicly available professional records show that Patricio’s career spans senior leadership roles across local and international banks. He served as vice president in various positions at Citibank Philippines from 1976 to 1989, senior risk manager at Citibank Australia from 1989 to 1991 and senior credit officer at Citytrust Banking Corp. from 1991 to 1995.

He then became country risk manager at ING Bank Philippines from 1995 to 2013 before moving to DBP.

Beyond banking, Patricio has been an independent director of CTBC Bank Philippines since 2018 and of the Intellicare Group of Companies since the same year, roles that further deepened his expertise in corporate governance and oversight.