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The Philippines will begin its chairship of the ASEAN in January 2026. For this, the Philippines has chosen the theme ‘Navigating Our Future Together.’ In his acceptance speech at the recently concluded 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. likened ASEAN to a ship setting full sail toward a shared horizon – anchored in peace, strengthened by prosperity and guided by the empowerment of its people. He further remarked that as the Philippines takes the helm, it will work to ensure that ASEAN’s integration agenda translates to real opportunities for businesses to grow, for communities to thrive and for progress to be inclusive, sustainable and shared by all.

As in the Philippines, peace, prosperity and people’s empowerment are crucial to advancing the regional economy. Being an avid sailing fan myself, it resonates with me that the Philippines has chosen a nautical metaphor for its theme. For a ship to arrive at the intended port, it needs its crew to work together toward an agreed direction. All members of the crew are important in the task because not one person alone can bring a ship to harbor, let alone navigate towards its goal.

Beyond the teamwork implied in the theme, one can also reflect upon its significance. Great civilizations have thrived around shared bodies of water. They used these not just for transport but also for trade and cultural exchange. The Mediterranean Sea saw the thriving of the Greeks, the Roman Empire and even until the Ottoman Empire. Seabound merchants and travelers in the Indian Ocean connected the Middle East to East Africa, India and Southeast Asia. And in Southeast Asia, you have the West Philippine Sea, where, for centuries, our ancestors from what we now know as the Philippines, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam traveled and traded freely with each other. The seas represent the collective future of peoples, not just of nations. We can only truly grow if we work together and with each other.

Southeast Asia, especially, boasts of remarkable diversity, making it one of the most varied regions in the world. We must encourage an environment that celebrates this richness and elevates emerging perspectives. In today’s digital landscape, more crucially, true inclusion involves recognizing and appreciating the multitude of experiences we possess. When all individuals are empowered to participate and flourish, our communities and economies grow stronger and more dynamic.

ASEAN has proven that collaboration is more than just diplomatic rhetoric. Substantial economic advantages have been made possible because we successfully maintain that important balance between sovereignty and solidarity. See how our countries managed to bounce back and thrive after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the Global Financial Crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and even the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. ASEAN’s GDP and its per capita growth are still in positive territory despite the challenges that came one after the other, the most recent ones in less than half a decade, too.

In my years of serving as the chair of the ASEAN-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines, I have always believed that ASEAN-BAC is a powerful platform to bring about change because it harnesses the power of the private sector and works with governments to bring about inclusive and sustainable prosperity.

Meeting my peers from the ASEAN-BAC and connecting with partners from the private and public sectors during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS), which was held alongside the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, reinforced this conviction.

We had key meetings and a lively exchange of ideas on shared growth during the ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit, where I spoke at a panel on how digital transformation can empower MSMEs and eventually bring us closer to a more inclusive and sustainable growth. I delivered the closing remarks at the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum, and had productive meetings with the ASEAN-BAC Singapore, the Business Council of Canada (where I was joined by DTI’s Sec. Cris Roque), the UK-ASEAN Business Council and with Mastercard, TikTok and AirAsia Move.

One of the highlights was the ASEAN Business Awards, where ASEAN-BAC honored outstanding enterprises and entrepreneurs. The Awards highlighted the vital role of the private sector in driving inclusive and sustainable development across ASEAN.

A proud moment for ASEAN-BAC Philippines was the ceremonial sendoff of durian seedlings from Malaysia to the Philippines. I’m proud to see how collaboration across ASEAN is bearing fruit, literally. The shipment of Malaysian Musang King (MSK) durian seedlings to the Philippines marks a milestone partnership between Malaysia’s Bornion Green and the Philippines’ Yovel East Research and Development, Inc. MSK durian is considered premium and can cost three times as much as most durian sold in Asia today.

This is the first project under the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) to move from paper to plantation. Beyond the seedlings, this effort empowers farmers, creates jobs and strengthens our region’s food security and agripreneurship.

The grand finale, however, was the closing of the ABIS, where we held the Handover Ceremonies and I accepted the 2026 chairship of ASEAN-BAC from the 2025 chair, ASEAN-BAC Malaysia’s Tan Sri Nazir Razak. ASEAN-BAC Malaysia presided over the year with such purpose and proficiency, making them a truly tough act to follow.

In my remarks upon acceptance of the chairship, I again shared the private sector concept of big-brother companies helping out the less fortunate, and how this can also apply to the ASEAN region, where the wealthy countries help out their neighbors. It comes especially at a critical moment when our newest ASEAN member, Timor-Leste, tips the scales between the haves and have-nots among the countries of ASEAN.

It will be an exciting year ahead.

For allegedly failing to remit proceeds from illegal drugs, a 26-year-old farmer was shot dead in Argao town in southern Cebu.

It was previously reported that a certain Renan Jake Templa Bermejo from Barangay Cantularoy, Sibonga town, was killed by an unknown assailant along the National Highway in Barangay Apo, Argao, on Thursday evening, October 30.

According to the Argao Municipal Police Station, Bermejo was found lying on the side of the road, covered in blood and with no signs of life.

In less than 48 hours, authorities arrested the suspect, identified as Lope Renante Carreon Sr., a resident of Barangay Apo, Argao, on November 1.

Through a hot pursuit operation, Carreon was apprehended after police received information from a witness who positively identified him.

The motive for the murder is reportedly related to illegal drugs because the victim was allegedly unable to remit money.

During the operation, the suspect was found with several pieces of evidence, including a revolver believed to have been used in the crime.

Carreon is currently in police custody, pending the filing of murder charges against him.

A country with nearly a fifth of its population considered functionally illiterate, with another five percent suffering from basic illiteracy is headed for disaster.

The problem should be causing as much alarm as the possibility of a magnitude 7.2 ‘Big One’ earthquake devastating Metro Manila if the West Valley Fault wakes up from half a millennium of slumber.

Last week, the Second Congressional Commission on Education warned that the number of functionally illiterate Filipinos had nearly doubled in the past 30 years, from 14.5 million in 1993 during EDCOM 1 to 24.8 million in 2024.

EDCOM 2 raised the issue as it expressed concern that one of the reasons was the involvement of the Department of Education in at least 261 interagency bodies, which has diverted DepEd from its principal mandate of providing basic education.

Public school teachers themselves have lamented the many roles tacked on to their basic mandate as educators. They are plucked from classrooms to assist in social welfare activities, health and sanitation campaigns, sporting events, election-related tasks, disaster relief, patronage gimmickry of politicians and even assistance after fires.

In May this year, the Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media study conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that 18.9 million students who graduated from senior high school between 2019 and 2024 were functionally literate – meaning while they could read, write and compute, they had poor reading comprehension and could not apply school lessons to practical uses in everyday life.

Another 5.86 million Filipinos aged 10 to 64 belonged to the ‘basic illiterate’ group of people who are unable to read, write or compute.

That’s a lot of illiterate Filipinos, many of them youths who will soon be inheriting the country. As of last July, the national population stood at 112.73 million, as officially declared by Malacañang.

Not surprisingly, the problem is worst in the poorest parts of the country, with the highest functional illiteracy recorded in Tawi-Tawi and Davao Occidental. It is no coincidence that poverty is lowest in places where functional illiteracy is also low.

Apart from teachers being distracted by too many roles outside education, the current corruption scandal has shown that kickbacks trump Filipinos’ education when it comes to the funding priorities of government.

Those behind the kickbacks find it useful to maintain high illiteracy and poverty rates, which make it easy to fool the people and keep the masses dependent on political patronage and tax-funded ayuda for survival.

Philippine education is in a state of emergency, calling for urgent and decisive action. A nation whose future is left in the hands of illiterates and a ruling elite cabal of greedy crooks is doomed.

No Filipina has ever come close to stepping foot into the world’s Top 50 – until Alex Eala.

Eala on Monday blazed another trail for Philippine tennis, placing No. 50 in the Women’s Tennis Association for a fitting finish to the WTA Season.

The 20-year-old Filipina collected 1143 points to enter the sport’s crème of the crop after a productive campaign capped by a multi-city Asian swing leading to her national team return for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games next month in Thailand.

Eala’s last tournament of the WTA Tour was in Hong Kong Open last week, reaching the Round of 16 to add 12 more points to her tally and propel herself to a new career-best.

Her historic season included winning her first WTA title in the Guadalajara Open in Mexico in September.

‘I enjoyed every minute I spent on court. Everything from the fight to the fans was something to remember, and will hold a special place in my memories,’ said Eala, also No. 165 in doubles, on Instagram.

Eala started the year at No. 158 but entered the Top 100 midway through the season to also qualify in the main draws of all but one Grand Slams – a first for Philippine tennis as well – highlighted by a historic win in the US Open.

Then No. 75, Eala pulled off a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(11) comeback win over World No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark to become the first Filipina winner in any Slam main draw.

Setting the stage for that was her breakthrough semifinal finish in the Miami Open last summer to enter the Top 100 marked by gigantic victories over three former Grand Slam champions and Top-25 players.

Eala, then No. 140, slain five-time major winner Iga Swiatek (world No.2) of Poland, 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko (No. 25) of Latvia and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys (No. 5) of the United States.

She fell short against World No. 4 Jessica Pegula of the US in was one of the history’s greatest Cinderella runs for a foiled shot at World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

The proud scholar of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain also stamped her brilliance all year long in China, Japan, Brazil, England, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Singapore, India and Australia.

Up next for Eala is a homecoming to prepare for her comeback to the Philippine tennis team after winning three bronze medals in the 2023 SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

After that, Eala is slated to play in her first-ever WTA home game as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) finalize the hosting of a WTA Tour leg to be branded as the Philippine or Manila Open early next year.

Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island emitted grayish ash plumes that rose 400 meters above its summit crater yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

Citing its time-lapse footage, Phivolcs said the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in Canlaon City recorded the ash emission starting at 1:48 p.m., with its plumes drifting southwest.

Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, indicating increased unrest that could lead to sudden phreatic or steam-driven eruptions, Phivolcs said.

In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded eight volcanic earthquakes and measured an average sulfur dioxide emission of 2,313 tons per day.

The volcano’s edifice remains inflated, suggesting ongoing magma movement beneath the surface.

Authorities reiterated the strict prohibition of entry within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone due to possible sudden eruptions.

Aircraft are also advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit.

Kanlaon Volcano straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

Phivolcs continues to monitor the volcano closely and urges local communities to remain vigilant for potential ashfall and related hazards.

In a game headlined by the titanic matchup of super big men, it’s one of the smallest guys who stood tall in the windup.

San Miguel Beer guard Juami Tiongson erupted for all of his 14 points in the fourth period to spark the Beermen to a 96-90 victory over Converge in the PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

Out of his output, the 5-foot-10 Tiongson produced a critical 12-point cluster in a four-minute stretch that lifted SMB to a 91-80 separation and cleared the way to its third straight win after an awful 0-2 start.

The defending champions ended the FiberXers’ two-game streak and tied the latter at 3-2.

‘I’m so happy for Juami because for first time out of many games, bigla siyang pumutok, sunod-sunod,’ said coach Leo Austria of Tiongson, who knocked down two triples, a pair of jump shots and four free throws in greasing the team’s breakaway from a tight contest.

‘That’s what I’m expecting from him and he did it at the right time and right place because this game was important for us,’ Austria added.

Tiongson, who backed up June Mar Fajardo’s 24-point, 16-rebound double-double effort, deflected credit, giving props to his backcourt partners.

‘Actually, kumuha ako ng inspiration kina Kris Rosales and Chris Miller, and seeing ‘yung binibigay nila na quality minutes, I knew I had to step up also in order for us to win,’ he said.

The Beermen’s defensive work was topnotch in this All Souls’ Day W.

Though Deschon Winston (20) and Converge’s Twin Towers Justin Arana (19-10) and Justine Baltazar (14-19) still got their points, the Beermen held the FiberXers to their lowest score of the conference after averaging 121.25.

The shackles were felt most by Alec Stockton and Juan Gomez de Liaño, who managed only six and eight markers, respectively.

San Miguel pulled this streak-extender off with Don Trollano sitting out due to back tightness.

Later, Barangay Ginebra arrested a two-game skid with a 104-74 romp over NLEX.

The Gin Kings improved to 2-3 while stopping the three-match streak of the Road Warriors, who dropped out of the lead at 4-2.

The Philippine economy likely posted a slightly slower growth rate in the third quarter from the previous quarter, according to economists, who cited weather disruptions and flood control corruption issues as factors that may have tempered economic activity.

The median forecast of six economists placed third quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 5.45 percent, slightly below the 5.5 percent expansion posted in the second quarter.

While the median forecast is 5.45 percent, Pantheon Macroeconomics chief emerging Asia economist Miguel Chanco said in an email that he expects a sharper slowdown in third quarter GDP growth to 4.8 percent.

‘The headline rate will be attacked on multiple fronts – weaker private consumption growth, a continued moderation in government spending growth and a small drag from net exports,’ he said.

If the below-consensus third quarter forecast proves to be accurate, he said Pantheon Macroeconomics’ full-year 2025 growth forecast of 5.3 percent may be revised downward.

For Oikonomia Advisory and Research Inc. economist Reinielle Matt Erece, the economy likely grew by 5.3 percent in the third quarter.

‘The pessimistic forecast is brought by corruption scandals, causing slowdowns in government spending and potential investment outflows,’ he said in an email.

He said that the series of typhoons during the third quarter may have also caused a decline in agricultural output and slower economic activity.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said in an email that he also expects the economy to have posted a 5.3 percent growth in the third quarter, citing the impact of US President Donald Trump’s imposition of higher tariffs on goods and other protectionist measures.

‘Other sectors of the economy slowed down recently, largely due to Trump’s higher tariffs or trade war or other protectionist policies and other geopolitical risks especially in the Middle East that slowed down global trade especially exports from many countries worldwide, investments (new and expansion projects), jobs and overall world GDP or economic growth that, in turn, slowed down local economic or GDP growth,’ he said.

He said the series of storms and earthquakes that hit the country and the reduced government infrastructure spending amid anti-corruption measures may have also affected growth.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University assistant professor Ser Percival Peña-Reyes said they are forecasting third quarter economic growth at 5.6 percent, slightly faster than the second quarter growth of 5.5 percent.

For University of Santo Tomas professorial lecturer Emmanuel Lopez, the economy likely posted 5.7 percent growth in the third quarter, citing rising inflation, higher petroleum and utility costs and currency depreciation.

The government’s P49-billion medical assistance fund for indigent patients may be realigned to strengthen the zero-balance billing program, under a proposal by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who said health care access should not depend on politicians’ discretion.

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, proposed that part of the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) be redirected to expand the zero-balance billing program to make hospital care more equitable.

‘It pains me to see some people, our constituents, queuing in the offices of politicians. We are putting the decision-making power on life and death in the hands of the politicians, which is not the right thing to do because the system should help our constituents,’ Gatchalian said.

‘We should put the MAIFIP in the zero-balance billing program. We should reform our Universal Healthcare to ensure access to quality health services for all Filipinos without financial hardship,’ he added.

The Senate finance panel chair maintained that the zero-balance billing program and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. should be enough to assist patients in public hospitals.

Gatchalian, however, emphasized the need to expand public hospitals’ bed capacity.

He warned that occupancy rates could rise further once the zero-balance billing program is fully implemented.

Power giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) expects its energy sales to finish the year largely flat, as the government’s crackdown on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) has tempered demand.

‘So technically, it’s still flattish,’ Meralco chief revenue officer Ferdinand Geluz said in an interview, pointing to milder heat and POGO vacancies that have partially offset gains from new customer connections.

He noted, however, that the effect of the POGO exit, including in condo units, should gradually ease as these spaces are repurposed for other uses.

‘Its occupancy is like a repurposing. I think, if you heard, Island Cove was bought by EEI (Corp.), and the plan is to repurpose it into some sort of township (development),’ Geluz said.

Island Cove, dubbed the country’s largest POGO facility, ceased operations in November 2024, months after President Marcos announced an immediate ban on POGOs.

Marcos recently signed Republic Act 12312, which institutionalizes the ban on POGOs due to their involvement in money laundering, human trafficking and other illegal activities.

The office market recorded 647,000 square meters of vacated space as of September, with POGOs alone accounting for over 150 square meters, according to a report by consultancy firm Leechiu Property Consultants Inc.

Amid these headwinds, Geluz is counting on Meralco’s ongoing ‘aggressive’ energization to heat up power sales next year.

‘Some of the occupancy left by POGOs will be occupied by office spaces. With the energization that we’re having now plus some sort of normalization, we’re still confident that next year we will see an increase of around 1,700 megawatt-hours, or more than three percent,’ he said.

Year-to-date, the country’s largest power utility has energized an additional 194,000 connections, bringing its total customer count to around 8.18 million.

From January to September, Meralco’s distribution business posted total energy sales of 40,719 gigawatt-hours, slightly down compared to the 40,872 GWh logged a year ago.

The marginal decrease was attributed to an extended period of inclement weather that softened demand in the residential and commercial segments.

The road to the 74th Miss Universe officially kicked off as Miss Universe Philippines Ahtisa Manalo arrived in Bangkok on November 2, joining more than 100 contestants from around the world for this year’s global pageant.

Ahtisa, representing the Philippines on the international stage, was warmly welcomed in the Thai capital, where delegates are spending the next few days attending arrival activities, registration, photoshoots, fittings, and rehearsals.

On her first day, the Philippines’ bet and fellow contestants donned traditional Thai dresses for registration and fittings, a vibrant showcase of Thailand’s intricate designs and rich heritage.

‘Delegates brought extra flair by wearing beautiful traditional Thai dresses, showcasing intricate designs and vibrant colors. Representatives from over 100 countries and territories met, shared their stories, and formed connections that transcend borders,’ the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) said in a statement. ‘They bring to life the Miss Universe spirit – celebrating diversity, friendship, respect, and shared ambition.’

MUO also expressed its gratitude to the Thai people for their hospitality in hosting this year’s competition, which promises to highlight not only talent and beauty, but also cultural exchange and advocacy.

Ahtisa’s arrival is a major highlight, continuing the country’s tradition of strong representation at Miss Universe and sparking excitement ahead of the coronation night among Filipino pageant aficionados.

The 74th Miss Universe pageant will conclude with the coronation on November 21, celebrating the stories, dreams and ambitions of women from around the world.