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Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has formally taken over the titular diocese of Albano.

Tagle formally took possession of the suburbicarian diocese through a Mass at the Albano Cathedral on Saturday, October 11.

The suburbicarian diocese of Albano, one of the seven historic ecclesiastical territories surrounding Rome, has traditionally been reserved for the highest-ranking officials in the Church’s College of Cardinals.

Even when a cardinal is granted this honorary title, the diocese maintains its autonomy, continuing to operate with its own resident bishop and administrative structure.

The diocese was formerly held by Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. He was scheduled to take possession on May 10; however, he was elected pontiff on May 8.

Tagle, who is also the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, was appointed to the position on May 24 by Pope Leo XIV.

In 2020, Pope Francis elevated Cardinal Tagle to the high rank of cardinal bishop, placing him in the Church’s most senior order.

However, Tagle retained his original titular church, San Felice da Cantalice a Centocelle, because there were no suburbicarian dioceses available at that time for assignment.

The suburbicarian diocese of Albano, one of the seven historic ecclesiastical territories surrounding Rome, has traditionally been reserved for the highest-ranking officials in the Church’s College of Cardinals.

The other suburbicarian dioceses are Ostia, Velletri-Segni, Porto-Santa Rufina, Frascati, Palestrina and Sabina-Poggio Mirteto.

Even when a cardinal is granted this honorary title, the diocese maintains its autonomy, continuing to operate with its own resident bishop and administrative structure.

Aboitiz Upgrade Solar Inc. (AUSI) is putting up a 5.65-megawatt-peak (MWp) rooftop solar system for the Philippine unit of Japanese electronics firm TDK Corp.

AUSI, a joint venture between Aboitiz Power Distributed Renewables Inc. and Upgrade Energy Philippines (UGEP), recently secured a deal to power TDK Philippines Corp. (TPC)’s two manufacturing facilities in Laguna.

With over 9,000 solar panels, the project is expected to generate around eight million kilowatt-hours of clean power annually.

‘Through this collaboration with TPC, we are proving that rooftop solar solutions can deliver both environmental responsibility and business performance to critical industries at scale,’ UGEP COO Pieterjan Vanbuggenhout said.

Headquartered in Tokyo, TDK manufactures electronic materials and components, with its Philippine facilities supplying critical parts across industries worldwide.

‘By integrating renewable energy into our operations, we are taking concrete steps to reduce our carbon footprint, enhance energy efficiency and contribute to a cleaner energy future for the Philippines,’ TPC president and CEO Masatoshi Shindoh said.

‘This also drives innovation in materials, processes and software technologies that advance the transition to a sustainable future,’ he said.

Backed by Aboitiz Power Corp., AUSI is engaged in the development and operation of distributed solar solutions for large commercial and industrial consumers.

The company recently partnered with Alphaland Corp. for a 4.1-MWp ground-mounted solar farm equipped with a 5.5-MW-hour battery storage component on Balesin Island.

Upon completion, the facility is poised to supply 60 percent of the island’s total energy demand.

Cement manufacturers are urging the government to impose a safeguard duty of P600 per metric ton on cement imports to help the domestic industry survive amid competition from imports.

Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc. (CeMAP) executive director Renato Baja said the group has requested the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to impose a safeguard measure of P600 per metric ton on cement

being brought in from overseas.

‘In our prayer (to the DTI), the P600 considered the injury (caused by imports) on the industry,’ he said.

He said the amount is what is considered a ‘fair price’ for domestic manufacturers, based on the comparison of the landed cost of imported cement and the factory gate price of locally produced cement.

‘What we want is to have a level playing field in terms of pricing,’ he said.

Earlier, the CeMAP said that cement suppliers from other countries, such as Vietnam, receive subsidies, which enable them to sell at lower prices.

As demand for cement is anticipated to slow down slightly with some government projects being put on hold amid the flood control controversy, Baja said a safeguard measure is now very much needed by the industry.

CeMAP’s proposed safeguard duty is higher than the provisional safeguard measure imposed by the DTI, amounting to P400 per metric ton, and the Tariff Commission (TC)’s recommended definitive safeguard duty of P349 per metric ton of imported Portland Cement Type 1 and blended cement.

While the CeMAP is proposing a higher safeguard duty, the group welcomes the TC’s recommendation to impose a safeguard measure on cement imports.

‘We’re happy that the TC recognized the injury to the domestic industry. But we will be more than happy if they can grant our prayer,’ he said.

He said a ban on cement imports would also be favorable for the industry.

According to the CeMAP, cement imports have declined by 19 percent following the DTI’s imposition of the provisional safeguard duty.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the DTI is currently reviewing the TC’s recommendation and expects to issue a decision before Oct. 14.

Earlier this year, the DTI imposed a provisional safeguard duty on cement imports after finding a link between increased imports of the building material and injury to the local cement industry.

Under the Safeguard Measures Act, the government can use safeguard measures, such as tariffs, to provide relief to the domestic industry from the harm caused by a surge in imports.

College of St. Benilde survived the absence of reigning MVP Allen Liwag for the second straight game after it repulsed upset-conscious Jose Rizal University, 73-65, to seize the solo Group B lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

Raffy Celis and Justine Sanchez filled in the massive void left by Liwag, who remained out due to flu-like symptoms, in helping propel the Blazers to their third straight victory in four starts and straight to No. 1 in the second bracket.

The Celis-Sanchez pair took turns in scoring their team’s final eight points with three minutes to go that quashed the last hope of the Bombers to turn things around in their favor while sealing the runners up a season ago the win.

Celis ended up firing a game-high 20 points with five rebounds and four steals while Sanchez had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.

‘We weathered the storm,’ said CSB coach Charles Tiu.

JRU, which came into the showdown a few days after shell-shocking San Beda, 67-66, almost pulled off another upset after roaring back from a deficit as high as 11 points at the half and cutting it to just two points, 65-63, on three foul shots by Sean Salvador with 2.52 minutes to go.

But it proved to be the Nani Epondulan-mentored Bombers’ last show of resistance as Celis and Sanchez each scored four points in that decisive 8-2 run.

JRU fell to 2-2 but not without receiving heaps of praise from Tiu.

‘Give credit to JRU. They’re a really good team and they play so hard. Those kids are young but man, they’re legit,’ said Tiu.

The scores:

CSB 73 – Celis 20, Sanchez 17, Morales 7, Ancheta 5, Umali 5, Moore 5, Oli 5, Gaspay 3, Eusebio 2, Cajucom 2, Ynot 1, Galas 1, Jalalon 0.

JRU 65 – Salvador 13, Peñaverde 11, Argente 9, Lozano 9, Benitez 7, Panapanaan 5, Laurenaria 5, Garupil 4, Herrera 2, Duque 0, Castillo 0, Sarmiento 0.

Quartescores: 22-19; 42-34; 55-51; 73-65

Aryna Sabalenka powered into her 11th semifinal of the year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Elena Rybakina at the Wuhan Open Friday as a flawless Jasmine Paolini stunned Iga Swiatek in just 65 minutes 6-1, 6-2.

The world No. 1 Sabalenka remains unbeaten in four tournament appearances at the event and will take a 20-0 record into her showdown with Jessica Pegula on Saturday.

Meanwhile, an ailing Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters semifinals on Saturday by world No. 204 Valentin Vacherot.

Packaging solutions provider Sako Pilipinas has opened a new warehouse and production facility in Cavite.

In a statement, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said that Sako Pilipinas’ 1,000-square-meter facility at the Cavite Economic Zone was inaugurated on Oct. 6.

The expansion is expected to boost the firm’s operations and strengthen the local packaging industry.

The firm produces over 22 million packaging units annually.

‘This new facility underscores our commitment to provide reliable and tailored packaging solutions that support the country’s manufacturing sector,’ Sako Pilipinas CEO Erny Yu said.

‘Sako Pilipinas combines global expertise with a local, sustainable approach to ensure that our packaging solutions meet what the local market needs,’ he said.

PEZA director general Tereso Panga said Sako Pilipinas is an essential partner, as it supports domestic industries while promoting sustainable manufacturing practices.

Sako Pilipinas, a subsidiary of Hong Kong SSG Limited, is engaged in the manufacture of woven polypropylene and paper sacks.

The firm is recognized as a leading provider of quality and sustainable packaging solutions, with its products used for a range of products, including rice, fertilizers, feeds, as well as sand, gravel, detergents, and other industrial products.

As part of its commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing, the company uses raw materials from recycled sacks and packaging.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is scrambling to get additional budget to boost local vegetable production amid accelerating inflation of the commodity group.

The surge in vegetable inflation has been flagged as one of the contributors to faster overall headline inflation in the country. Officials attributed the uptick in vegetable prices to weather disturbances that caused supply disruptions.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), inflation of the commodity group vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses in September accelerated to 19.4 percent from 10 percent in August.

In particular, inflation of leafy or stem vegetables, where broccoli belongs to, remain elevated at 16.8 percent despite being slower than the 24.5 percent recorded in August.

Inflation of other vegetables, which include carrots and onions, accelerated to 25.6 percent, its fastest rate in two years, based on PSA data. The commodity group of other vegetables do not include fruit-bearing vegetables and green leguminous vegetables that have their own specific price growth indexes.

Inflation of the three commodities in the National Capital Region were even faster compared to the national average.

In NCR, inflation of the entire group of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses hit 20.5 percent. Meanwhile, leafy or stem vegetables had an inflation of 22.8 percent, while other vegetables hit 26.9 percent.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas noted that higher vegetable prices caused by recent weather disturbances drove food inflation in September to accelerate faster. Food inflation last month inched up to 0.8 percent from 0.6 percent in August.

The DA reported that the combined effects of southwest monsoon and Typhoons Mirasol, Nando and Opong damaged at least P5 billion worth of agricultural products nationwide. Based on its latest report, at least 60 percent of damage and losses were recorded in the rice sector, followed by high value crops at nearly 24-percent share.

In particular, the weather disturbances damaged 45,339 metric tons (MT) of lowland and upland vegetables, commercial crops, root crops, spices, legumes and fruits resulting in a value loss of P1.2 billion, according to the DA.

Agriculture officials have pointed out that the supply shocks experienced by vegetables are temporary given the series of weather disturbances that hit the country.

To immediately address the supply woes and temper price increases, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he approved the importation of certain vegetables — carrots, broccoli and onions — without announcing it publicly.

In September, some 51 MT of fresh carrots from Australia worth P2.16 million entered the country, based on Bureau of Customs data.

BOC data also showed that almost 16,000 MT of fresh yellow onions were imported from August to September with an average landed cost of about P35 per kilo.

Meanwhile, fresh red onions started to enter the country last month, with some 598 MT imported, based on BOC figures. The landed cost of imported fresh red onions, which includes tariffs, was around P33.6 per kilo.

From August to September, 513 MT of broccoli arrived in the country with an average landed cost of almost P76 per kilo, BOC data showed.

DA price monitoring reports indicated that the price of carrots as of Oct. 8 remain elevated as it cost as much as P300 per kilo with a prevailing tag of P250 per kilo. Meanwhile, broccoli prices range from P150 to P450 per kilo from last month’s P270 to P410 per kilo price range, based on DA reports.

Red onions meanwhile continue to see an upward pressure in prices as it now costs as much as P200 per kilo compared to the upper limit recorded last month of P170 per kilo, DA data showed.

However, DA’s medium-term solution for the country’s vegetables sector hit a roadblock as the budget for its high value crops program, which includes vegetables, is seen to go down next year.

The Department of State (DOS)’s monthly Visa Bulletin informs applicants of their ‘place in line’ for an immigrant visa based on the person’s priority date. For family-based petitions, the priority date is established upon the date the petition is filed with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For most employment-based cases, the priority date is established when the case is filed with the Department of Labor.

The monthly Visa Bulletin has two different charts for priority dates, which leads to a lot of confusion and misunderstanding:

Dates For Filing chart (Chart B)

Immigrant visa applicants who have a priority date earlier than (or before) the dates listed in Chart B may already begin assembling and submitting required documents and fees to the National Visa Center (NVC) following receipt of notification from the NVC containing detailed instructions. This gives the petitioner and applicant(s) enough time to prepare the case and get it ‘documentarily qualified’ in preparation for when their priority date will eventually become current on the ‘Final Action Dates’ chart (Chart A). Just because your priority date appears on the Dates for Filing chart does not mean you are eligible to be queued up for an interview or issued a visa.

A comparison might be with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where taxes are typically due April 15 of each year. As a courtesy, the IRS might send out the Form 1040 tax return in December of the previous year. It does not mean the taxes are due in December. Instead, you’re given several months to gather your documentation, receipts, etc. to enable you to prepare your forms by the filing due date. The Visa Bulletin’s Dates for Filing chart gives you time to gather documents and prepare your paperwork to enable you to be queued up for an interview once your priority date is current in the Final Action Dates chart.

If a person is in the US and eligible to file for adjustment of status, USCIS may allow them to file for adjustment of status and obtain work authorization if their priority date is earlier than the date listed in the Dates for Filing chart. Also, if a child is in the US and is applying for adjustment of status, the USCIS may also allow computation of the child’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) based on the priority dates listed in the Dates for Filing chart. The USCIS advises each month if it will rely on the Dates for Filing chart for that month.

Final Action Dates chart (Chart A)

I personally refer to this chart as the ‘Visa Issuance Date’ chart because a person will not be eligible to be scheduled for an immigrant visa interview, issued a visa or adjust status (be issued a green card) until his or her priority date is earlier than the dates listed in Chart A. This is true even if their priority date is current in the Dates for Filing Chart.

For a child who is aging out and applying for a visa at the embassy, they must compute their age under the CSPA based on visa availability in the Final Action Dates chart. This is unlike a child adjusting status in the US, where the USCIS will sometimes let them compute their age based on the more generous Dates for Filing chart.

Many people whose priority date is ‘current’ in the Dates for Filing chart complain or wonder why they have not been scheduled for a visa interview or their adjustment has not been approved. As stated, you will not be scheduled for an interview at the embassy, nor will your adjustment of status application be approved, unless and until your priority date is current in the Final Action Dates chart.

Also, and this is critical: if your priority date is current in the Final Action Dates chart and the NVC has notified you of visa availability, there is a one-year deadline for you to apply for your visa or notify NVC of your interest in pursuing your visa. If you failed to do so, your case could be terminated and your priority date lost. You would have to file a new petition and start at the back of the line.

When you think of what employees want most from their leaders, the usual suspects come to mind: trust, competence, decisiveness, maybe the occasional pizza, and a working coffee machine.

But according to a global Gallup survey spanning 52 countries, the No. 1 quality that employees say they need most is hope.

Yes. Hope. That four-letter word we usually reserve for lotto tickets, last-second buzzer-beaters, or praying the Zoom link works. But in the modern workplace? Hope is not only relevant – it’s essential.

When I read Gwen Moran’s article in Fast Company, I wasn’t surprised at all. Why? Because in my Level Up Leadership seminars and workshops, I’ve often said: ‘Leaders are merchants of hope.’

At the time, it sounded like a lovely phrase; a leadership soundbite with just enough poetic weight. But today, in an age where instability and chronic uncertainty are the default settings of our world, that statement has become a lifeline.

Hope isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership necessity.

Gallup’s chief workplace scientist Jim Harter explains it well: ‘It’s hard to have stability if you can’t see the future.’

The study revealed that 56 percent of respondents wanted hope from their leaders – more than trust (33 percent), compassion (seven percent), or even stability (four percent). That means your team would rather hear where we’re going than just be told we’re okay.

People are not asking you to solve everything. They’re asking you to help them believe that everything can be solved. That’s the hope gap, and great leaders bridge it.

Hope is not fluffy. It’s a framework.

Psychologist Rick Snyder’s Hope Theory breaks it down like this:

Goals: What we want to achieve

Agency: Our belief that we can get there

Pathways: The routes we take (even when we’re rerouted by life)

Leadership coach Lindsay Recknell says, ‘Hope isn’t passive. It’s action-oriented.’

It’s not about saying, ‘We’ve got this,’ with a forced grin. It’s about saying: ‘It’s tough. But here’s what we can do next. Together.’

You don’t need to host a weekend retreat in Tagaytay to inspire hope. (Though a view of Taal does help.)

Here are some everyday leadership moves that deliver hope:

1. Set clear, tangible goals.

Not ‘Let’s change the world.’ Try: ‘Let’s improve customer satisfaction by 10 percent this quarter.’ Hope loves clarity.

2. Connect work to purpose.

When people see that their spreadsheet, lesson plan, or client call connects to something meaningful, they work differently. Hope thrives in the ‘why.’

3. Stay present, especially when things are messy.

Don’t cancel one-on-ones when the numbers dip. That’s when people need you most. Be the calm in their chaos.

Now, let’s be clear: there is a world of difference between hope and optimism, and it’s a distinction every leader must understand.

Optimism is passive. It’s a sunny forecast with no umbrella in sight. The message states ‘Everything will work out,’ but fails to provide any guidance about what actions to take or when to expect results.

Hope functions as an active force. The message states, ‘It will be difficult, but we will navigate this challenge together.’

Your team needs direct assistance, rather than meaningless motivational statements or repetitive encouragement, when they face burnout, anxiety, or feel overwhelmed. They need something to walk toward: a vision they can grasp, a goal they can own, and a leader they can trust.

So ask yourself honestly:

Do my people see a future when they talk to me?

Do they leave our conversations feeling lighter or heavier?

Are they energized by what’s possible or slowly drained by my silence?

Do they hear clichés, or do they hear clarity and conviction?

Because here’s the truth:

You can hire the most dynamic motivational speaker money can buy. They’ll light up the stage with high-energy buzzwords and toss inspirational quotes like confetti at a New Year’s Eve party.

Your employees might clap. They might even post a selfie with the quote of the day.

But the day after the town hall? If your leadership hasn’t changed, nothing else will.

Because hope doesn’t come from a stage.

Hope doesn’t arrive with a wireless mic and a three-point PowerPoint.

Hope comes from you – your consistency, your belief that better is possible even when it’s hard. From the daily choice to show up not just with answers, but with empathy, clarity, and courage.

So, what kind of leader are you?

The good one, of course.

The person who paints over cracks with feel-good phrases is not the one, but the one who walks into the storm with a flashlight in one hand and a steady voice in the other, saying, ‘We’re going to figure this out together.’

That’s the difference. That’s hope. And that’s the kind of leadership we need now more than ever.

University of Perpetual Help continued its magical run aimed at a breakthrough NCAA senior basketball crown as it outlasted Arellano U, 72-67, yesterday to remain the lone unbeaten team in Season 101 at the MOA Arena.

Patrick Sleat, a transferee from Far Eastern U, was the man of the hour, finishing with 12 points, three rebounds, three blocks, an assist and a steal to help the Altas climb to 4-0.

‘Patrick has so much experience. He knows when to control the game and ask for the ball but at the same time he’s very unselfish,’ said UPHSD coach Olsen Racela of his burly wingman who happened to be his former player when he was then coaching the Tams in the UAAP.

‘That’s the reason we brought him here, to help us, help the guards,’ he added.

It was the Las Piñas-based school’s best start in 10 years or the time of Scottie Thompson, Bright Akhutie and Princ Eze.

It also sent warning signals to the opposition that UPHSD is all focused on finally ending its painful title drought and winning a first crown after joining the grand old league in 1984.