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Nakakalocal: Where local businesses grow

PhilSTAR Media Group (PMG)’s NakakaLocal initiative has championed Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for the past five years. From workshops to media activities, the program has provided smaller businesses with opportunities to showcase their products to a wider audience.

Three MSMEs share how the NakakaLocal initiative has helped their businesses flourish. Minnie’s cakes and pastries

For Minerva “Minnie” Flores, owner of Minnie’s Cakes and Pastries, baking began as a stress reliever. She wanted to create “Manila-quality cakes and pastries at Calamba prices.”

She eventually launched her business in 2019 after resigning from her job as an accounting supervisor. What started as a home baking venture slowly transformed into a business that participates in mall pop-ups and bazaars.

Flores joined one of NakakaLocal’s bazaars in 2025, hoping to increase her brand’s visibility beyond her hometown.

“It also boosted our confidence as a growing MSME because we saw how people appreciated locally made products,” Flores says. “Beyond sales, the program opened doors to valuable connections, collaborations and learning experiences with fellow entrepreneurs.”

She adds, “NakakaLocal contributed significantly by helping increase our visibility, strengthen our credibility as a proudly Filipino brand, and introduce Minnie’s to communities we may not have reached on our own.”

TBH cosmetics

TBH Cosmetics takes pride in its science-backed and trend-driven products designed specifically for Filipino consumers.

Owner and founder Resty Nuegas was not supposed to enter the beauty industry. Thanks to his wife, who loves lip products, he leveraged his chemical engineering background to experiment with formulations.

What started as personal curiosity eventually grew into a business as they officially launched TBH Cosmetics. Nuegas launched the brand in 2025. He has already joined several NakakaLocal events to showcase TBH Cosmetics to more people.

“Through NakakaLocal, TBH Cosmetics has already showcased our products in various malls and event spaces across Metro Manila,” Nuegas says. “These experiences became very important milestones for our brand because they allowed us to introduce TBH Cosmetics to more Filipinos in a more personal and interactive way.”

NakakaLocal’s strong support for Filipino entrepreneurs and local creativity is what drew Nuegas to join the program.

“As a growing beauty brand, we wanted to be part of a community that genuinely uplifts MSMEs and gives local businesses a platform to grow,” he posits.

“NakakaLocal created opportunities for brands like ours to stand alongside other inspiring Filipino businesses and proudly showcase what we can offer.”

Tsokorado: the champorado station

When Gerome Malijan, founder and co-owner of Tsokorado: The Champorado Station, started the business, his purpose was clear: to give the traditional Filipino champorado a more modern, exciting and premium twist while keeping it affordable.

For Malijan, one of the business’s biggest milestones came when it went viral just three weeks after opening. This happened following a series of posts from content creators such as Bea Borres.

“It was honestly overwhelming, but in the best way possible, because we never expected to receive that much love and support so early in our journey,” Malijan says.

Tsokorado: The Champorado Station’s first NakakaLocal event was the NakakaLocal Food Fest in Marikina; fitting for a Marikina-based business.

They even won the NakakaTamis Award at the event. The recognition gave them a huge confidence boost, especially as a new player in the food business.

“When we discovered that PhilSTAR Media Group had a program that supports MSMEs through NakakaLocal events, we saw it as a great opportunity to introduce Tsokorado to more people,” Malijan says.

“Since joining bazaars can be expensive nowadays, programs like this are really a big help for MSMEs like us,” he adds.

“We also appreciate the mentorship sessions because we get fresh ideas, learn from other entrepreneurs, and hear their real-life struggles and wins, which makes the journey feel more relatable and encouraging.”

Why community matters

NakakaLocal has mounted numerous events and partnered with multiple MSMEs. Throughout the years, the program has promoted one important concept: community.

The three entrepreneurs echo this sentiment as they share how the NakakaLocal community has empowered them.

Flores: “The NakakaLocal community created an environment where MSMEs genuinely support one another instead of competing. During events, entrepreneurs would share tips, encourage each other, and even help promote one another’s booths online.”

Malijan: “We have seen how proactive and supportive the NakakaLocal team is, and as MSME owners, we really felt cared for and appreciated. Programs like this give small businesses like ours another leg to stand on, especially while we continue to face economic challenges.”

Nuegas: “NakakaLocal creates spaces where Filipino entrepreneurs can thrive together instead of feeling isolated. It bridges businesses, consumers, creatives, media and communities into one ecosystem that uplifts local talent.”

Teachers in Zamboanga Peninsula press Marcos for salary hike during Sona

As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in Region 9 staged symbolic protests across public schools in Zamboanga del Sur, demanding urgent reforms in the education sector.

Liza Idiang , ACT Teachers Region 9 president, said members hung tarpaulins in various campuses to amplify their calls for a P50,000 basic monthly salary for teachers, improved benefits, and stronger protection of their rights.

Teachers are overworked, underpaid, under supported and under attack, she said.

The group also denounced what they described as persistent red-tagging and profiling harassment against educators.

Among the demands emblazoned on the tarpaulins were salary upgrading to reflect the scope of teachers’ responsibilities; increased education budget to fund classrooms, chairs, and learning facilities; accountability for corruption in the education sector; and end to red-tagging and harassment of teachers

Idiang stressed that the current pay scale no longer matches the workload and responsibilities shouldered by educators. ‘Our action today is meant to show the President and the government the real situation of teachers – that our salaries are insufficient and our rights are under threat,’ she said.

The group reiterated its appeal for the administration to prioritize salary increase, adequate benefits, and systemic reforms that would strengthen the teaching profession and uplift the education sector nationwide.

Police vow justice over murder of River ex-security chief

Former Chief Security Officer of Khana Local Government Area, Mr Letam Kine, has been shot dead by suspected gunmen in Bori, Rivers State.

The attack occurred at about 6 p.m. on Sunday along Polytechnic Road in Bori, the headquarters of Khana Local Government Area.

Confirming the incident on Monday in Port Harcourt, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the attackers escaped before security personnel reached the scene.

She disclosed that Kine’s remains had been deposited in a mortuary and would be preserved pending an autopsy as detectives begin efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

‘The Rivers State Police Command has launched a full investigation to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice,’ Agabe said.

The police spokesperson appealed to the deceased’s family to officially report the incident to the command, saying this would support ongoing investigations and the judicial process.

‘Reporting the matter to the police will aid ongoing investigations and facilitate the prompt administration of justice,’ she added.

Agabe reiterated the command’s determination to track down everyone connected with the killing and ensure they face prosecution.

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Chief Thomas Bariere, described the murder as a shocking and needless act of violence.

He lamented that the incident came only weeks after the killing of Mr Clement Deegbara of Kpong Community, warning that the pattern of attacks was becoming increasingly disturbing.

‘The repeated attacks suggest the activities of armed criminal gangs determined to undermine peace and security in Khana LGA,’ Bariere said.

The council chairman urged security agencies to step up operations across the area and swiftly arrest those behind the attacks.

He also called for the prosecution of anyone found culpable, sympathised with Kine’s family over the loss, and prayed for the strength to bear their bereavement.

Bariere further appealed to residents to remain calm, stay alert and support security agencies by providing credible and timely information.

He reaffirmed that safeguarding the lives and property of residents remained a key priority of his administration.

2 dead, 1 missing as flash floods hit Sarangani, nearby areas

Heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon triggered flash floods that left two people dead and another missing in Kiamba, Sarangani, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-12 (RDRRMC-12) reported on Sunday.

The RDRRMC-12, chaired by the Office of Civil Defense-12 (OCD-12), said the region remains under red alert status as the southwest monsoon continues to bring heavy rainfall.

According to the council, overflowing rivers and creeks caused the fatalities and the reported disappearance in Kiamba.

The flooding affected 106 villages across the Soccsksargen region, covering the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan.

A total of 19,423 families, or 92,851 individuals, were affected by the floods, while 1,999 families, comprising 8,699 individuals, sought shelter in 30 evacuation centers.

Affected areas

In Sarangani, flash floods inundated the municipalities of Kiamba, Maitum, Maasim, Malapatan and Glan.

The flooding also hit the Sultan Kudarat towns of Lebak, Palimbang, Lambayong, Bagumbayan, Esperanza and Isulan.

In General Santos City, at least 250 families were affected by flooding, while in North Cotabato, flash floods struck the municipality of Midsayap.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-12, which heads the disaster response cluster of the RDRRMC-12, continues to provide humanitarian assistance to affected families.

PNP mobilizes personnel for relief ops amid Kiyapo, habagat

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized personnel and resources to support relief operations in communities affected by Tropical Storm Kiyapo (international name: Noul) and the southwest monsoon (habagat).

In a statement on Monday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police units are assisting local government units in rescue operations, coordinating with local disaster risk reduction and management councils, and validating casualty reports.

‘Our personnel and resources were mobilized and strategically deployed to assist in the relief operations for affected communities,’ Nartatez said.

‘We assure all our affected kababayan of the PNP’s presence to ensure your safety,’ he added.

Nartatez further said he ordered the police units in the affected regions to conduct a damage assessment on their respective stations and facilities to guarantee uninterrupted services and response.

Flooding caused by the combined effects of Kiyapo and the monsoon affected around 59,000 families in the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region and Soccsksargen, according to the PNP.

Kiyapo left the Philippine area of responsibility last Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Thunderstorms forecast in Metro Manila on Sona Day

Metro Manila is forecast to experience scattered rains and thunderstorms during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 27, the state weather bureau reported.

In its morning update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms would affect the following areas due to the continuing effect of the southwest monsoon:

Metro Manila

Ilocos Region

Cagayan Valley

Cordillera Administrative Region

Mimaropa

Zambales

Bataan

Bulacan

Cavite

Laguna

Batangas

The southwest monsoon is also expected to bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the rest of Luzon.

Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the rain would ‘not be as heavy compared to the previous days, when tropical cyclone Kiyapo was still affecting the country.’

He also said the habagat is forecast to further weaken in the coming days.

‘Tomorrow, this southwest monsoon will affect the western part of Northern and Central Luzon. On Wednesday, the southwest monsoon is expected to move away from our country,’ Aurelio said in Filipino.

He added that the easterlies, or the warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, would then affect the country until Friday.

No gale warning is currently in effect for any seaboard of the country, but fishermen are advised to remain vigilant for possible thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon and evening.

As for Tropical Depression Noul (formerly Kiyapo), Aurelio said it was last located 1,015 kilometers west-northwest of Extreme Northern Luzon, outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

It carries maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 90 kph, moving north-northwestward at 20 kph.

Sanwo-Olu, Wahab urge residents to embrace clean-up for environment sustenance

Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State governor, has advised residents of Lagos to fully embrace the monthly sanitation exercise, saying it one of the ways of preserving the environment.

in the July edition of the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stressing the need for sustained environmental responsibility.

Sanwo-Olu spoke while monitoring the July edition of the exercise at Eputu London in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of the state, where she lauded growing environmental consciousness of the locals.

She said: ‘We are very proud of our people. When we arrived in Eputu London, we discovered that residents had already started cleaning their environment three days before the exercise.

‘They did not wait until the last Saturday of the month. That shows that people are becoming more conscious of their environment and are taking ownership of it.’

The wife of the governor noted the impressive turnout of both adults and children despite challenges posed by the rainy season and flooding in parts of Lagos. She hailed schoolchildren for participating in the exercise, noting that they joined council ‘s exercise as early as 6:30 a.m.

She stressed the importance of involving young people in environmental management even as she called for a daily culture of environmental cleanliness.

‘We are catching them young. These children have been here very early this morning because whatever values we pass on to them today, they will continue in the future.

‘By the grace of God, from next month, students of tertiary institutions will also participate. This is a collective responsibility,’ she said.

Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, who also spoke during the exercise, said the state government was intensifying efforts to improve waste management infrastructure.

He mentioned the ongoing work at the Olusosun waste management facility, where a waste transfer loading station and material recovery facility are being developed to improve waste processing and disposal.

‘The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, and Private Sector Participants, PSP, operators are strengthening waste collection services, while the government continues advocacy and public enlightenment.

‘The ultimate goal is to ensure efficient waste management across the state. LAWMA and PSP operators are putting in significant effort, but residents must also take ownership of the process.

‘People should not dump refuse on road medians, drainage channels or public spaces because those facilities belong to all of us,’ Wahab said.

He, however, acknowledged that changing long-established habits would take time but expressed confidence that sustained campaigns, consistency and enforcement would produce results.

He advised residents experiencing challenges with waste collection to report to LAWMA instead of dumping refuse indiscriminately, especially in drainage systems.

‘If residents are paying for waste collection services, service providers must deliver. Where there are lapses, people should contact LAWMA so that appropriate action can be taken.’

He added that the government would continue to combine advocacy, public sensitisation and sanctions where necessary to sustain environmental compliance across the state.

‘Advocacy remains our first approach, but sanctions will be applied where necessary,’ he stated.

On his part, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser to Governor on Environment and Water Resources, who led other officials to Badagry for the sanitation exercise, assured residents that the state government would not relent in its campaign against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other environmental violations.

Akodu lauded Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs) in Badagry for their participation in the exercise, noting that the inclusion of students in the monthly sanitation programme was aimed at raising future environmental advocates.

The exercise is observed betweeen 6:30 am and 8:30 am on the last Saturday of every month.

How Ayala Land helped bring The STAR’s stories to the screen

The partnership with Ayala Land gave The Philippine STAR the confidence to expand from print into television, paving the way for its multimedia future.

Every breakthrough begins with a first step.

For decades, The Philippine STAR built its reputation through the written word, earning the trust of readers with journalism that informed, inspired, and sparked conversation.

But as audiences began consuming stories in new ways, the publication recognized an opportunity to extend that same editorial expertise beyond the printed page.

The next challenge was learning how to tell stories through sound, visuals, and movement. YouTube became one of the first platforms where The STAR experimented with video. Without a blueprint to follow, the team learned through trial and error, gradually discovering how its editorial strengths could translate into a more dynamic medium.

“It is so much easier today, going from print to digital. Nowadays, there’s no content that is not mirrored online,” says PhilSTAR Media Group Vice President Lucien Dy Tioco.

“Back then, moving into YouTube was a first for the print industry. Everything had to be built through trial and error, with no blueprint to guide the process.”

Those early experiments laid the foundation for something much bigger.

The first leap to televisionAmong the first companies to believe in that vision was Ayala Land.

The company partnered with The STAR on what would become its first television venture, ‘Modern Living TV,’ a 30-minute lifestyle program inspired by the newspaper’s long-running Saturday ‘Modern Living’ section.

Airing on ANC, the program showcased luxury residences, innovative architecture, interior design, and the people shaping contemporary Filipino living.

Ayala developments naturally became part of those stories, while hosts Bianca Gonzales-Intal and Stephanie Zubiri Crespi translated the publication’s editorial voice into a compelling television format.

“It paved the way for us to embrace digitalization because we learned how to tell stories visually,” Dy Tioco says.

The project proved to be a defining milestone.

What began as a single television program soon expanded into a growing portfolio of niche productions inspired by The STAR’s established editorial properties.

‘Wheels’ evolved into automotive programming, while the lifestyle sections inspired shows such as ‘Trippies,’ a travel program, and ‘Let’s Eat,’ a restaurant feature hosted by foodie Spanky Enriquez and Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi, demonstrating that trusted journalism could thrive across multiple platforms.

Before the cameras

The partnership, however, had begun years before television entered the picture.

“It all came from print,” Dy Tioco recalls. “During Ayala’s 25th anniversary, they approached us for a campaign called ‘Eat’.”

Rather than relying on traditional advertising, ‘Eat’ transformed the newspaper into a platform for real-world experiences.

Restaurants across Ayala Malls created signature “STAR dishes,” giving tenants editorial exposure while encouraging diners to discover new culinary destinations.

Readers didn’t simply encounter the campaign on the page: they experienced it firsthand.

“It became a month-long experience that generated excitement among diners,” Dy Tioco says.

Long before experiential marketing became common practice, the campaign demonstrated how editorial storytelling could extend beyond the newspaper and into everyday life.

Curating culture

That collaboration opened the door to another long-running initiative: Ayala Malls’ annual ‘Style Origin’ campaign.

The partnership positioned The STAR not only as a chronicler of fashion and lifestyle trends, but also as an active participant in the conversations shaping them.

Through coverage of runway shows, retail activations and lifestyle events at destinations such as Greenbelt, Glorietta and Alabang Town Center, the publication became part of the cultural moments it documented.

“They understood that placing their stories on our banner meant actively shaping narratives and encouraging people to, if not act, at least try new things,” Dy Tioco explains.

“Influence was not something that could simply be created. It was built over years of consistently showing up for Filipinos, presenting the facts, and allowing them to decide for themselves.”

Building towards something bigger

As projects like these continued to succeed, pursuing bigger ideas became less daunting.

“We always have to try harder than anyone,” Dy Tioco says.

“And I think that’s why these brands continue to work with us over the years. They see the quality, effort, and thought we put into every project we propose.”

STAR Account Executive Jing Tiu echoes that sentiment.

“It’s really not a question of whether The STAR can bring a vision to life, because clients know we can,” she says.

“The question is: how can you not be part of this kind of ecosystem?”

Each collaboration became another step in The STAR’s multimedia journey, building the confidence to experiment, innovate, and reach audiences in new ways.

Those early television and experiential projects would eventually lead to even bigger storytelling platforms, including the acclaimed Filipino romantic comedy television series ‘Single/Single’ and the publication’s growing portfolio of branded multimedia content.

Looking back, Ayala Land’s role extended beyond supporting individual campaigns.

By embracing new formats at a time when they were still untested, the company became one of the partners that helped The Philippine STAR transform from a print newspaper into the multimedia organization it is today.

BIR clarifies one-time abatement program for micro taxpayers

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued a memorandum clarifying the guidelines and procedures for implementing the one-time abatement of taxes or penalties for micro taxpayers.

Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 84-2026, which clarifies Revenue Regulations No. 4-2026, adopts a question-and-answer format to address common concerns regarding taxpayer qualification, documentary requirements, filing procedures, payment of the one-time abatement fee, covered tax liabilities and penalties, application timelines, and other implementation issues.

It also gives examples to guide taxpayers in determining their eligibility under the program.

Among the clarifications, the circular explains that taxpayers may verify their classification as a micro taxpayer through the BIR Online Registration and Update System (ORUS) or by coordinating with their respective revenue district offices.

It likewise clarifies that only qualified cases existing as of Dec. 31, 2025, and meeting the requirements under RR No. 4-2026, are covered by the program.

The circular further explains the treatment of pending compromise and abatement applications, one-time transactions, open case penalties, multiple taxable years, partial payments, and other situations that may arise in the implementation of the one-time abatement program.

It also outlines the grounds for denial of applications and clarifies the significance of the certificate of availment issued to qualified applicants.

Taxpayers are encouraged to read the full circular to better understand the requirements and procedures for availing of the One-Time Abatement Program for Micro Taxpayers: RMC No. 84-2026.

Kiyapo rains briefly curb dwindling Angat Dam water

Two weeks of rain brought by tropical storm Kiyapo and the monsoon managed to delay the steady reduction of water in the Angat Dam reservoir, which has gradually been depleted during the summer months and is vulnerable to a prolonged dry spell because of this year’s El Niño.

The Angat reservoir was measured at 151.03 meters above sea level (masl) at 11:00 am on Monday, which was 61 meters below the dam’s 212.00 masl normal high-water elevation or the maximum level for normal operations.

It was a slight increase from the 150. 50 masl measurer on Saturday (July 25).

The reservoir’s volume has plummeted for the past three weeks when it recorded a critical 10-meter decrease with 160 masl on July 3 from a high of 210.29 on Jan. 19. Angat was still at full volume with 200.14 masl on March 22 but the reservoir volume fell to 190.17 masl on April 17.

On May 8, the dam levels dropped again to 180.59 masl, and slid further to 170.23 masl on June 8, which delayed irrigation supply for more than 22,000 farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga.

These farmers rely on the Angat Maasim River System (AMRIS) for irrigating 27,000 hectares of rice farms.

The low reservoir level may also affect tap water provided by the Bulacan Bulk Water System Project

The Bulakan Water Company Inc., which supplies water to residents in the town and other neighboring areas had already issued advisories regarding the worsening condition of Angat dam and has reminded residents to conserve water.

Supplying potable water to Bulacan residents is only the third function of Angat Dam. The facility’s chief purpose is to supply Metro Manila’s domestic water requirements, and to generate hydro electricity. Irrigation is a last priority.