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As more Suzuki scooters take on the Philippine roads, the growing number of riders reflects the brand’s place in the everyday journeys of Filipinos. Whether navigating city streets or heading out for weekend rides, Suzuki scooter owners are finding more opportunities to connect with fellow riders and become part of a growing riding community. Through a series of club rides and meet-and-greet activities, Suzuki Philippines continues to bring motorcycle owners together, turning their shared passion for riding into meaningful experiences on and off the road.

The Burgman 15 Breakfast Ride with the Burgman 15 Elite Riders Club PH set the tone for these experiences as Team BM15 Elite gathered for its first Meet and Greet. Starting early at Shell Pugon, the riders made their way to KM 90, a popular scenic route along the Marilaque highway in Infanta, Quezon, enjoying the journey aboard their Burgman 15 scooters. The ride offered an opportunity to experience the scooter’s comfort and confident road performance while getting to know fellow riders who share the same enthusiasm. More than a morning ride, the gathering marked the beginning of new friendships and more miles to explore together.

That same spirit carried over to the Pinoy Suzuki Access Club Members (PSAC) as the group held its first official Members Ride and Tambike, also serving as its inaugural Meet and Greet. From the meeting point to Lebajo Art Cafe in Alfonso, Cavite, members enjoyed picturesque roads before settling in for coffee and conversations. The colorful lineup of Suzuki Access scooters brought its own energy to the ride, reflecting the model’s stylish character and the individuality of its owners. For the members, it was a chance to put faces to names, exchange stories, and begin building a community that extends beyond their daily rides.

The camaraderie continued on when Suzuki Philippines joined the Burgman 15 Riders Elite for the Burgman 15 Elite Riders Club PH Kaybiang Ride. Fourteen riders came together for the outing, sharing the road and the experience with fellow Burgman enthusiasts. Alongside the breakfast rides and club meet-ups, the activity highlighted how every ride can offer something more: a new route to discover, a shared memory to take home, or another connection with someone who understands the joy of being on two wheels.

Suzuki motorcycle riders who want to be part of these experiences are encouraged to reach out to their official Facebook pages or groups. Burgman enthusiast and riders may reach out to the Suzuki Burgman 15 Elite Riders Club Philippines (BM15 Elite Riders Club PH) Facebook group, while Access riders can reach out to the Pinoy Suzuki Access Club Facebook page.

Wherever the road leads and whatever adventure comes next, you are always welcome to do it with Suzuki, By Your Side.

Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) held the 4th MBZ Cup Golf Tournament on October 23, 2026, at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City. The tournament honors the legacy of its founder Manuel B. Zamora Jr.

Martin Antonio G. Zamora, NAC President and Chief Executive Officer, led the ceremonial tee-off, officially opening the tournament.

Participants competed on the 18-hole golf course, with Maddie Ibuna emerging as the Overall Champion. Ace Barbers, Ryan Jornada, and Martin Despi topped Classes A, B, and C, respectively, in the Men’s Division, while Carla Pena and Kimberly Mondejar won Classes A and B, respectively, in the Women’s Division.

Atty. Ryan Rene C. Jornada, NAC Vice President for External Affairs, Regulatory, and Community Relations, said the tourney’s purpose is to gather partners and stakeholders for a day of camaraderie beyond the boardroom.

‘Now in its fourth edition, the MBZ Cup carries the name of our founder, Manuel B. Zamora Jr. His vision and leadership helped build the foundation of the company we are today. This tournament is one way we honor his legacy and the importance he placed on building lasting relationships,’ Jornada said.

He likened building a successful company to playing golf, noting that both require sound judgment, patience, strategy, and the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges.

The company’s founder was also recognized at the recently held Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards in Malaysia, where the elder Zamora received the Industry Pioneer Award for his foundational leadership and pioneering contributions to natural resource development, mineral processing, and progressive rehabilitation in Southeast Asia.

Rep. Ysabel Maria ‘Bel’ Zamora-Jornada of San Juan City also attended the gathering, sharing what the tournament means to her personally.

‘To many in this room, MBZ is the visionary founder who helped build Nickel Asia into an industry leader in natural resources development. But to our family, Tito Manny has always been a constant reminder of what it means to lead with foresight, resilience, and genuine respect for people,’ she said.

The congresswoman compared golf to public service, emphasizing the importance of discipline, patience, and long-term partnerships.

‘In business, as in public service, no one succeeds in isolation. Real impact and sustainable development are built on the back of genuine partnerships; the kind of enduring relationships represented by everyone gathered in this room today,’ she said.

The MBZ Cup is a celebration of sportsmanship, and it provided an opportunity to strengthen the connections and reaffirm the value of collaboration between NAC officers and stakeholders.

REMEMBERING those who have suffered from years of conflict, which finally ended with the formation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim in Mindanao (BARMM), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for unity, statesmanship, and cooperation, at the first ever session of the Bangsamoro Parliament on Friday, with hopes to sustain peace and progress in the region.

In his speech, the chief executive recognized leaders from the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who paved the way for peace in the conflict-torn region with the forging of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

He expressed hope that peace and progress will continue once the BARMM government starts its operation with the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Parliament.

Prior to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Mindanao was plagued by several separatist wars, including one waged by the MILF.

At their first session, the 80 members of Parliament elected their Chief Minister and Speaker to lead the executive branch, and the Cabinet alongside two Deputy Chief Ministers.

After the election, the BARMM government can start enacting regional laws, approving public spending, and overseeing government programs.

‘Today’s session also launches a new phase of parliamentary governance, working within our broader presidential system,’ Marcos said.

‘The new coalition must uphold unity, statesmanship, and cooperation to build a more peaceful and progressive BARMM,’ he added.

The groups that secured seats from the Bangsamoro Parliament allocated for political parties: Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) with 16 seats; United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of MILF with 15 seats; the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) with eight seats; and the Raayat Democratic Party with one seat.

Of the 32 district representative seats, the BFP won 15. The rest of the seats were secured by UBJP (nine seats), Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo (six seats), Progresibong Bangsamoro Party (one seat) and Al Ittihad-UKB (one seat).

The six sector representatives were Yul Adelfo Olaya and Mary Ann Arnado as representatives of the settler communities; Aida Silongan as representative for women; Sulffy Abbas as representative for youth; Muhammad Nadzir Ebil as representative for the ulama; and Marjanie Mimbantas-Macasalong as representative for traditional leaders.

The elected lawmakers will replace the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, which governed BARMM since 2019.

Earlier this month, Marcos had congratulated BFP president Abdulraof Macacua after their political party was able to form a 46 majority bloc, which exceeded the 41-seat threshold for forming a parliamentary majority.

Marcos reiterated that the national government will provide support, including economic opportunities, in Mindanao and BARMM.

‘I reaffirm the National Government’s support for Bangsamoro autonomy and democratic institutions. We stand ready to work with the government formally constituted by this newly elected Parliament,’ Marcos said.

‘To the people of the Bangsamoro: the National Government stands with you. Your success is the success of the country,’ he added.

Created in collaboration with GameZone, the October 30 worldwide release draws from everyday Filipino moments of friendship, play, and the spirit of samahan. Gloc-9 and GameZone bring the familiar Filipino invitation ‘Tara G!’ into music in a new worldwide release.

On October 30, 2026, OPM rap icon Gloc-9 gives that familiar Filipino invitation a new sound with the worldwide release of ‘Tara G!’, a collaboration with GameZone inspired by friendship, shared experiences, and the Filipino spirit of samahan.

Known for turning everyday Filipino realities into music, Gloc-9 brings his distinctive storytelling to a phrase heard everywhere – from spontaneous plans with friends to moments shared with family and community.

Gloc-9 Turns an Everyday Filipino Expression Into Music

Throughout his career, Gloc-9 has built a reputation for transforming distinctly Filipino stories and everyday experiences into music. That makes ‘Tara G!’ a natural creative space for the artist: the phrase is instantly familiar, but broad enough to carry many kinds of Filipino moments.

At the center of the song is an invitation that rarely needs explaining. ‘Tara G!’ can signal the start of an impromptu gathering, a shared activity, a game, a meal, or simply an opportunity to reconnect. Through Gloc-9’s storytelling, the expression takes on a musical identity rooted in friendship, community, and participation.

‘Tara G!’ connects Gloc-9’s distinctly Filipino storytelling with GameZone’s ‘Tara G! Sama Tayo.’ campaign platform.

From Play to Filipino Culture

Filipino card games have long been part of social gatherings where the people, conversations, laughter, and shared moments can matter just as much as the game itself. That familiar social ritual provides the link between GameZone’s ‘Tara G! Sama Tayo.’ campaign and the song.

Through ‘Tara G!’, GameZone takes the campaign beyond online play and into music, using a culturally familiar expression to connect the brand with wider conversations around Filipino entertainment, friendship, and community.

For Pinoys, the card table has always been a place to play, talk, tease, and belong. This serves as the emotional foundation of GameZone’s brand story and establishes the connection between traditional Filipino card games and the modern online gaming experience.

The collaboration with Gloc-9 brings GameZone’s slogan, ‘Tara, G! Sama Tayo – Where Pinoys Play Card Games Online,’ to life by celebrating the Filipino spirit of togetherness. Through Gloc-9’s signature storytelling rooted in Filipino culture and everyday experiences, the partnership translates the spirit of samahan into music, strengthening GameZone’s cultural relevance and connection with Filipino audiences. It also reinforces GameZone’s commitment to celebrating what brings Filipinos together, both online and beyond the game.

Ava Castillo, GameZone spokesperson, said the collaboration was designed to give the brand’s ‘Tara G! Sama Tayo.’ platform a more meaningful cultural expression through music.

‘We wanted ‘Tara G! Sama Tayo.’ to be more than a campaign line. Music gives us a way to bring that invitation into Filipino culture in a form people can hear, share, and make their own. Gloc-9 was a natural collaborator because his storytelling has always been rooted in real Filipino experiences.’

Listen to ‘Tara G!’

‘Tara G!’ by Gloc-9 in collaboration with GameZone is available worldwide beginning October 30, 2026, on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Deezer.

Listen to ‘Tara G!’

The 4th Youth Olympic Games unfurl on Saturday night under a heartwarming ‘Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates’ theme and with a handful nine-member Team Philippines hoping for the best in the two-week, 25-sport competition among the world’s best athletes aged 15 to 17 years old.

Unlike in the Summer Games where the Filipino athletes’ stock now belong to the world’s elite, the YOG has yet to produce the country’s best and brightest potentials who would someday become another Hidiyln Diaz-Naranjo or a Carlos Yulo.

It will be tough, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, who has done the rounds with his secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan, since arriving in this West African country last Wednesday.

‘They’re big and they look strong,’ said Tolentino of the American and European athletes who’re already in town ahead of Saturday’s two-hour Opening Ceremony set at the 55,000-seat Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, a new city about 30 kms from Dakar.

‘It will be very difficult,’ added Tolentino who welcomed on Thursday night here the first batch of Filipinos exhausted from their 30-hour flight from Manila via Istanbul at the Blaise Diagne International Airport also located in Diamniadio.

‘So it’s good luck to our athletes, although I’m sure they prepared hard for this once-in-a-lifetime experience,’ Tolentino added.

Already checked in at the Athletes’ Village were swimmers Riannah Chantelle Coleman and Jamesray Michael Ajido and wushu’s Angel Polo and their coaches Ramil Ilustre and Jensen Halili (swimming) and Chinese Li Jianfang (wushu).

Coleman and Ajido will bear the Philippine flag in the parade of nations during the opening ceremony and they will be joined by Polo, Chef de Mission Rocky Samson, Illustre and Li.

Flying to Dakar also via Istanbul on Saturday are gymnastics athletes Hillarion Palles III and Tchelcy Mei Maayo and coaches Reyland Capellan and Kazutaka Hakamada, and on November 4, it will be the turn of cycling’s Maritanya Krog and coaches Mark John Lexer Galedo and Marita Lucas and athletics’ Pi Wangkay and Naomi Cesar and coach Jasper Tanhueco.

Celebrations are already taking over Senegal’s capital, according to local reports, as the city prepares to welcome the rest of the world-primarily the more than 2,700 athletes-to the first Olympic event on African soil.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the first Olympic sporting event on African ‘soil offers the continent a chance to challenge low expectations and show the world what it can achieve.’

‘It feels like a long time coming,’ Coventry, a two-time Olympic swimming champion, told a press conference at the Main Press Center on Thursday. ‘The excitement of having the first-ever Olympic event here is a little bit surreal.’

A visit to the Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio also caught the IOC chief’s enthusiasm.

‘It felt like you were walking in the village in Paris or in Milan,’ she said. ‘And I think that is something to be incredibly proud of.’

Senegal was awarded in 2018 to host the YOG originally scheduled in 2022, but was canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic and moved to 2026.

Dakar YOG Ceremonies Director Khady Niang said the Opening Ceremony will allow Africa to ‘tell the world who we are, where we come from and where we want to go.’

The production aims to showcase Senegalese identity and Africa’s cultural diversity, featuring around 11,000 performers, including 700 dancers.

Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye will join Coventry in the ceremony.

Parols light up homes, familiar holiday treats fill the table, and gatherings call for something special to wear. Across these traditions lies a shared appreciation for things that make Christmas undeniably Filipino, from the family traditions passed down through generations to the artistry woven into what we wear. In line with this spirit, Kultura kicked off Paskong Kumukutikutitap with the launch of Kultura Atelier, the new Filipino Luxury, in SM Makati. Amidst cascading parols, the new expanded store carries collections in collaboration with local designers, in a space where artisanal craft meets elevated design.

Last October 22, Kultura celebrated Kultura Atelier at SM Makati through Designers’ Conversations hosted by Issa Litton where emerging and established creatives shared their personal philosophies and creative processes as models walked the aisles featuring their new collections.

The runway pieces were anchored in tradition through classic materials like pina silk and silhouettes like the barong and mestiza tops, but also showed on the many ways they evolved for today’s modern Filipina and Gentleman. The show culminated in a final tableau, with models and designers gathering together for a defining snapshot of Kultura Atelier, reminding us that true luxury lies in the devotion to craft: the precision of an embroidered detail, the skill behind intricate beadwork, the choice of fabric or embellishment, and the imagination that turns these into the designer’s personal vision.

The festivities extended beyond the runway with a perfume bar by Tadhana Fragrance, and personalization booths by Bags in the City and jewelry customization by Nazrea Pearls. Guests enjoyed traditional treats and kakanin, including bibingka and puto bumbong from Manam, alongside beverages from Sarsa Cafe, and cocktails crafted with local ingredients by Destileria Limtuaco with music provided by DJ Noemi Kanomi.

Featured Designers

Daryl Maat

FAM PH

Goodluck Humans

Harold and Harry

Isla by Filippo

Jor-el Espina

Ken Samudio

Martin Uy

Rodolfo

Sari Lazaro

Tim Tam Ong

Wear Your Culture

Zarah Juan

Featured Food and Beverage Brands

Auro Chocolate

Bancharon

Chef Tony’s

Christian’s

Destileria Barako

Destileria Limtuaco and Co., Inc.

Kangkong King

Salbahe

Sarsa Cafe

Theo and Philo

Villa Socorro Farm Davana Chips

Discover the new Filipino Luxury at Kultura Atelier Level 2, Kultura, SM Makati.

THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has earmarked P30 million for cloud seeding operations in the Visayas to mitigate the impact of El Niño on sugarcane plantations.

Manuel Lamata, President of the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed), confirmed this after receiving a letter from SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona dated October 26.

The letter stipulated that SRA has already allocated the budget for cloud seeding operations particularly in Negros Island and Panay, which accounts for the majority of the country’s raw sugar output.

‘We are thankful to Administrator Azcona for proactively addressing our concerns and we are hoping that the budget is more than enough to get us through the super El Niño,’ Lamata said.

The cloud seeding operations will start in November.

Lamata also thanked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for funding cloud seeding operations last month and pronouncements that the DA will also allocate additional budget for cloud seeding by next year.

‘These actions from Azcona and Laurel, especially during these dire times when we are faced with drought, pest infestation, rising cost of fuel and farm inputs, show their concern for the sugar industry and we are very grateful that we have proactive leaders like them’ he added.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is seeking more than P270 million to ramp up its cloud seeding operations to enhance rainfall and minimize the impact of El Niño on crop production.

Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro said the agency has also requested the Department of National Defense (DND) to restore its clouding seeding team.

He said the DA has started cloud seeding operations through the P44 million earmarked under the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), but the implementation ‘is taking a long time, because we don’t have the technical people.’

Should the agency receive the additional funding, Navarro said this would augment its coffers to continue the cloud seeding operations until next year.

While the operations would span across regions with high production areas, he said these would not be targeted over specific crops.

State weather bureau Pagasa described cloud seeding as putting particles like salt into the cloud, so that the vapor will condense into water droplets.

IT is taught in any basic macroeconomics course that monetary policy is not the best tool for a supply-side problem because it is a demand-side tool that influences spending, borrowing costs, and aggregate demand rather than the actual capacity or physical production of goods and services. To put it more sharply, lower interest rates do not directly create physical commodities like oil or rice.

Although it is true that monetary policy cannot fix supply-side issues directly, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has tightened due to severe risks that have cascaded beyond the initial supply shocks-Middle East tensions driving up global oil prices and El Niño hitting agriculture. Its surprise 50-basis-point rate hike, which came amid accelerating inflation, a weak peso, elevated global energy prices, and the risk of weather-related food shortages, is justified primarily as an attempt to prevent an inflation shock from becoming entrenched, rather than as a way to bring inflation down immediately. The key question is not simply whether inflation is high. It is whether the expected cost of allowing inflation to spread will outweigh the damage that tighter monetary policy could inflict on a weakening economy. Three critical reasons are worth considering.

One, the BSP is deeply concerned about second-round effects-when high costs mutate into broader, demand-driven inflation. Higher food and fuel prices could lead to demands for higher wages and increased transport fares. Once businesses raise prices generally to cover these wages and transport costs, inflation becomes structural and persistent. The BSP hikes rates to cool down aggregate demand so that it becomes harder for businesses to pass on costs to consumers.

Two, the Philippine peso has faced severe downward pressure. It has recently plummeted to record lows. Because the Philippines imports vital commodities like crude oil and rice, a weak currency makes those items significantly more expensive in local terms. Thus, higher Philippine interest rates may support the peso by improving the relative attractiveness of peso-denominated assets, although exchange rates also depend on global risk appetite,

capital flows, and expectations. The BSP, therefore, has a legitimate reason to consider currency depreciation in its inflation outlook.

Three, when headline inflation jumps sharply, the public begins to expect high inflation as the new permanent normal. September headline inflation rose to 7.2 percent, from 6.1 percent in August, while core inflation climbed to 4.7 percent. The increase in core inflation matters because it suggests that price pressures may be spreading beyond volatile food and energy prices. If consumers expect things to cost 7 percent more next year, they demand higher pay and buy goods immediately. Again, this creates a self-fulfilling inflationary spiral.

Indeed, monetary policy is a game of brutal trade-offs. True to its mandate of maintaining price stability, the BSP has made the right structural decision to fight inflation, but it comes with severe economic consequences. For households, higher borrowing costs on loans and mortgages, alongside already elevated food and transport expenses, could squeeze disposable income. For businesses, more expensive credit discourages investment, expansion, and hiring, especially among smaller firms. For broader economic growth, weaker consumption and investment could deepen the slowdown and reduce employment opportunities. For government finances, higher interest rates can increase the cost of new borrowing and refinancing, depending on debt maturity and market conditions. For inflation itself, monetary tightening works with a lag. It will not immediately reverse higher oil prices or repair weather-damaged food supplies.

One can argue that it is easier to recover lost growth momentum. In other words, a stalled economy can be stimulated back to growth relatively quickly with standard monetary tools. However, once inflation expectations run wild, it will be an agonizing multi-year process to tame them.

A high-inflation environment will not be conducive to growth for several reasons. One, when prices fluctuate wildly, businesses cannot forecast costs, calculate margins, or safely plan long-term capital investments. They pull back and go into survival mode. Two, high inflation acts as a hidden tax on savings. Domestic and foreign investors pull their money out of the financial system and move it to stable foreign currencies. This would starve the domestic economy of investment capital. Three, instead of investing in productive, growth-inducing enterprises, capital flees into speculative hedges, such as gold, real estate, or foreign cash, just to survive.

So, the BSP has drawn a line in the sand. It signals to the entire economy that it will stand as the anchor of stability, even if it means a temporary contraction. The goal is to protect the structural foundations of the economy so that when growth does recover, it will be built on solid bedrock, not shifting sand.

Dr. Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes teaches economics at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.