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The local bourse succumbed to last-minute profit-taking on Monday after trading in the green territory within the day as investors gauged the current political environment and took cover ahead of earnings reports.

By the end of the session, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) shed 0.09 percent, or 5.46 points, to close at 6,084.07.

Likewise, the broader All Shares Index lost 0.09 percent, or 3.16 points, to end at 3,661.92.

A total of 1.86 billion shares worth P3.65 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed.

Traders mostly stayed on the sidelines and remained cautious ‘while weighing bargain opportunities against downside risks to local economic prospects,’ including corruption investigations and global headwinds, said Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc.

Active stocks

International Container Terminal Services Inc. was the most actively traded stock as it lost 0.65 percent to P539. It was followed by BDO Unibank Inc., down 0.79 percent to P138.60; Ayala Land Inc., down 0.44 percent to P22.45; Manila Electric Co., up 2.33 percent to P570; and Manila Water Co. Inc., down 2.16 percent to P34 each.

Others were: Ayala Corp., down 0.46 percent to P475; Puregold Price Club Inc., down 5.06 percent to P37.50; Philex Mining Corp., down 1.25 percent to P9.49; SM Investments Corp., down 0.13 percent to P745; and MRC Allied Inc., down 4.27 percent to P1.12 per share.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 122 to 75, while 50 companies closed flat, stock exchange data also showed. INQ

Meralco coach Luigi Trillo is hoping that sweeping three games in five days would serve as a positive sign as the Bolts now focus on their debut in the East Asia Super League.

The Bolts handed the Magnolia Hotshots their first defeat of the PBA Philippine Cup with a 78-76 thriller in Rodriguez, Rizal on Sunday to survive what the league’s website described as ‘Hell Week.’

Before the Magnolia triumph, Meralco defeated Blackwater and Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

‘This might be a good omen going to Okinawa,’ Trillo said as the Bolts fly to Japan on Monday for their away match against the B.League’s Ryukyu Golden Kings two nights later.

It will be Meralco’s third consecutive EASL appearance, but with some reinforcements in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Justin Brownlee, Ismael Romero, naturalized player Ange Kouame and Iranian guard Sina Vahedi.

They’ll hope to get support from Meralco’s locals in Chris Newome, CJ Cansino and Brandon Bates, who were all crucial in the three wins on the domestic side.

Newsome earned two Player of the Game honors in defeating the Bossing and rivals Gin Kings, while Cansino was huge for the Bolts with career-highs of 22 points and four blocks to beat the Hotshots.

Bates, meanwhile, registered 14 rebounds against Ginebra and 15 against Magnolia.

‘(Meralco active consultant Nenad Vucinic} was kinda worried because we’re at 0-2 and playing against Blackwater, Ginebra and Magnolia,’ Trillo said. ‘But this [streak] is a testament to the team’s character.’

At 3-2, Meralco moved to third place, trailing only Magnolia and TNT with identical 2-1 records for joint lead in the standings.

Just like his double gold haul in last year’s Paris Olympics, Carlos Yulo is eyeing a golden double after making the final of the men’s vault and floor exercise in the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Monday.

Competing in Subdivision 7 at Indonesia Arena and with a small but lively Filipino gallery, Yulo secured the top spot in vault with an impressive average score of 14.750 points. The Filipino dynamo soared and landed solidly on his first vault, scoring 14.90, and, doing a revised routine, did 14.600 on his second try, smiling and waving to the crowd after his stellar display.

Armenian Arthur Davtyan placed a close second (14.566), while Ukraine’s Nathan Chepurnyi was third (14.316).

In his other pet event, Yulo had a clean performance, twirling and tumbling his way to second place with 14.560 points just behind Fil-British pacesetter Jake Jarman (14.700) while Kameron Nelson (14.30) third.

The floor and vault were the same events he garnered gold in a historic performance in the glitzy French capital that highlighted the country’s centennial celebration of its participation in the modern Olympic Games.

Yulo will be well-rested when he competes in the floor final on Friday with the battle for the vault gold happening the next day in the elite gymnastics competition that drew 476 top athletes from 76 countries from all over the world.

‘I am just really grateful that I got to compete, show my performance and come back here in a good state,’ said Yulo, who is still recovering from wrist injuries. ‘While I wasn’t able to do the all-around, I am still proud that I am here and still aiming for the best.’

‘We’re proud that Carlos was able to perform well and make it to the finals of both events. This was our aim so, hopefully, he will duplicate his golden performances in Paris,’ said Philippine gymnastics chief Cynthia Carrion.

Yulo felt he ‘could do better’ after seeing a replay of his performance in floor but added he was satisfied with how he fared in vault.

The 25-year-old Yulo is the last Filipino gymnast standing after his teammates failed to hurdle their respective qualifying stints.

All making their debuts at the worlds, Juancho Miguel Besana wound up in 39th place in the all-around with 68.645 points.

Ivan Cruz finished 66th overall in the vault (12.000) while Justine Ace de Leon 45th in the rings (12.200) where only the top eight in each individual event advanced to the finals.

Search and retrieval operations continued on Sunday for a missing couple who were swept into a deep ravine when a massive landslide led to a collapse of a section of the Bukidnon-Davao road in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao here.

The area is popularly known to tourists and travelers as ‘Overview’ for the viewing decks established along the stretch of zigzag turns.

Authorities identified the missing couple as Ely and Thelma Ubatay, residents of Purok 9, Barangay Kahusayan, Kitaotao town, Bukidnon.

They were reportedly on their way home aboard their tricycle, locally known as ‘bao-bao,’ when the road gave way at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, sending their vehicle plunging into the ravine.

Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III, who personally inspected the site on Sunday, said search operations were temporarily halted on Saturday night due to darkness and safety concerns but resumed early on Sunday morning.

Reinforcements from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and responders from Valencia City, Maramag, and nearby towns joined the retrieval and clearing efforts.

Heavy disruption

Lorenzo expressed deep concern over the landslide’s significant impact on mobility and commerce.

‘The economy is going to be affected, especially the movement of people and goods,’ he said.

‘The highway is cut off, and although there are temporary adjustments, the supply chain-especially goods bound for Davao and vice versa-is heavily disrupted,’ he added.

He said that the local government is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for possible solutions, including the construction of a temporary access road.

‘Unless DPWH can find a way through here, maybe a temporary road can be made. Until then, we’re left waiting. There’s actually a possible diversion road, but that’s up to DPWH to decide,’ Lorenzo pointed out.

According to the mayor, the affected section had previously undergone costly repairs. ‘You can see how big the damage is. The slope gave way, apparently due to water seepage underneath. (But) we’ll wait for the engineers’ full assessment,’ he noted.

Lorenzo also confirmed that several other barangays in Quezon reported smaller landslides following heavy rainfall the night before.

‘Probably the water accumulated in certain areas, causing soil movement. This one, however, is the most serious so far,’ he said.

Lengthy alternatives

The landslide has rendered the national highway, known as the Buda (for Bukidnon-Davao) road, impassable to all types of vehicles, forcing motorists to take lengthy alternate routes.

The road is a vital link between the Northern Mindanao and Davao regions. Goods from the Davao region intended for export to Southeast Asia and China pass through here and on to the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, or the Cagayan de Oro port.

In a travel advisory, the DPWH said those bound for Davao City coming from Cagayan de Oro City or Bukidnon may take the highway from Valencia City to Tagum City and on to Davao City, passing through the towns of San Fernando (Bukidnon) and Talaingod and Kapalong (Davao del Norte), although this adds some 60 kilometers to the travel length.

Instead of entering Quezon town, another route is the highway from the junction of Camp 1 in Maramag, Bukidnon, to Kabacan, Cotabato, and on to Davao City. This adds some 90 km to the length of travel.

The route to Tagum City is advised for light vehicles, while trucks are advised to take the route via Cotabato province

Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday released a copy of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for the year 2024.

She has earlier called for greater public access to SALNs of government officials to help improve transparency and accountability in public service.

Based on her SALN as of Dec. 31, 2024, Hontiveros declared total assets of P19.88 million, liabilities of P897,840, and a net worth of P18.99 million.

Her declared assets include three residential properties and personal items such as cash deposits, two vehicles, furniture, jewelry, and equity in installment purchases.

Hontiveros listed a car loan of P897,890,000 under her liabilities.

She also disclosed being a stockholder in dive resort Planet Dive Inc., a member of Nueva Ecija-based New Rural Bank of San Leonardo Inc., and a director of La Lina Corp.

Hontiveros previously said she strongly supports and welcomes the removal of the ‘unjust, unconstitutional, and anti-people restrictions’ on access to public officials’ SALNs.

She was referring to rules imposed by former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, which required notarized consent from officials, a court order for the release of a SALN in connection with a pending case, or if statements were needed by the Ombudsman’s field investigators for a fact-finding probe.

She added that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s decision to lift restrictions on SALNs is a positive step toward strengthening transparency and accountability in government.

‘The new rules should be applied equally to all public officials-from the highest to the lowest, past or present-even with reasonable limitations for personal or sensitive information and security,’ she said./mcm

Arrogance doesn’t arrive with a warning label. It creeps in on the back of success, silencing dissent, shrinking curiosity and replacing facts with certainty. The result is predictable: blind spots widen, teams go quiet, risk climbs and strategy drifts.

Your job as a CEO or owner is not to be right; it’s to see reality as clearly as possible and then make the best strategic decisions. That requires building mechanisms that surface truth fast, even when it stings.

Principle 1: Clarity beats certainty

Decisions improve when reality is seen as it is, not as we wish it to be. Leaders who confuse confidence with correctness filter out inconvenient data.

Humble leaders design for clarity: they ask better questions, run small tests and make reversible moves first. They treat beliefs as hypotheses, not facts. This mindset keeps optionality high and error costs low.

Principle 2: No one sees the whole board

To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Expertise narrows vision; success tightens the tunnel. Great leaders expand their field of view by surrounding themselves with independent thinkers who see what they can’t.

Outside advisors, dissenting voices and front-line operators provide angles you will never generate alone. If your calendar and culture don’t create these inputs by design, you’re flying with instruments off.

Principle 3: Humility is a performance multiplier

Humility is not the absence of will. It is willpower pointed at learning. It invites challenge, credits others and focuses recognition on results, not rank.

Teams do their best work when the boss listens first and speaks last. Psychological safety is not softness; it’s the operating system for speed, accountability and innovation.

Arrogance kills performance

One of our past clients, a next-gen hotshot who inherited the business and had grown up with five nannies and staff surrounding his every move, felt he was entitled to bully everyone and cut corners. Hubris and arrogance.

The price he had to pay? Missed opportunities, competitors seizing market share while he was busy portraying himself as a ‘master of all trades.’ Finally the patriarch, his father, got me and my team on board to course correct, professionalize and put the conglomerate on the path of profitability.

Arrogance taxes every part of the business. Then leaders double down on bad bets to defend ego, not outcomes. Micromanagement throttles execution; decisions queue behind the corner office. A-players exit when ideas outrank evidence. Boards get performance theater instead of performance truth. Capital is misallocated to pet projects because ‘the boss knows.’ The most dangerous moment in an enterprise is often right after a win; that’s when overconfidence peaks and vigilance drops.

Arrogance is the silent killer of performance because it hides in the stories success tells about itself. Humility is the system that keeps those stories from becoming strategy.

Build mechanisms that surface truth, invite dissent and reward adaptation. See reality clearly; decide cleanly; move quickly; learn relentlessly. That is how great companies stay great. Choose clarity over certainty. Every day. Now.

Here are warning signs that you’re slipping into the trap. If any of these ring true, press pause. You’re rewarding certainty over truth:

Meetings go quiet after you speak; no one challenges your view.

Bad news travels slowly-or not at all-until it’s a crisis.

‘We’ve always done it this way’ wins more than fresh evidence.

You defend a plan harder after contrary data appears.

Solution: Design for reality

Humble leaders move faster because they argue with data, not with people. They create short feedback loops, celebrate course correction and separate status from decision rights.

In practice, this looks like: premortems to stress-test plans; red-team reviews to attack assumptions; decision briefs that make trade-offs explicit; and after-action reviews that convert mistakes into systems. Humility compounds because learning compounds.

You cannot rely on personality to stay humble; you must design systems that keep you honest:

Information plumbing: Direct, unfiltered channels from customers and the front line. No sugarcoating.

Decision hygiene: Define who decides, based on what evidence, by when. Write the one-page decision memo before you debate.

Contrarian input: Assign a rotating ‘devil’s advocate’ for major bets. Shoot holes in every plan. Fund small experiments to test contrarian theses.

Metrics that bite: Track lead indicators, not vanity metrics. Agree in advance on kill-criteria for projects.

Board calibration: Recruit directors who challenge you and reward candor over comfort.

Authority grows when humility shows

When context shifts, ego kills: Markets pivot faster than egos. Artificial intelligence, regulation, supply chains, consumer behavior-any one can flip the game board.

Humility keeps organizations adaptable-you notice weak signals, pivot early and scale what works. Arrogance waits for perfect proof, then arrives late with maximal exposure.

Speak last: There is a reason why Richard Branson always speaks last in team meetings. The humble discipline is to set intent, then listen. Ask: ‘What would make this plan fail?’ ‘What data changed your mind?’ ‘What are we not seeing?’

Capture opposing views in writing. Only then decide-explicitly stating assumptions, risks and the trigger points that will force a course change. You protect the decision by protecting the learning.

Strength without swagger: Stakeholders don’t need theater; they need stewardship. The strongest signal a leader can send is intellectual honesty. Say ‘I don’t know’ when you don’t. Say ‘I was wrong’ when you were. Then fix it fast.

Personal operating system

for humility

Daily: Journal one assumption you changed and one decision you delayed to get a fact.

Weekly: Invite a contrarian brief from someone two levels down; reward the sharpest critique.

Monthly: Hold a ‘truth summit’ with external advisors; ask them to rate your blind spots.

Quarterly: Audit the portfolio for pet projects; exit or resize ruthlessly.

Annually: Reset the strategy using zero-based thinking: if we started today, would we still do this?

Five to thrive

1. Ask better questions: Start with ‘What am I missing?’ and ‘What would prove us wrong?’

2. Speak last: Let independent views surface before you weigh in.

3. Stress-test decisions: Premortems, red teams and small experiments before big bets.

4. Codify learning: Run after-action reviews; update playbooks; retire failed plays.

5. Separate ego from mission: Celebrate truth over rank; kill pet projects fast. INQ

Etiqa Philippines joined industry leaders and policymakers at the Halal Economy Forum organized by the World Trade Center Metro Manila under its Business Broadcast Series. With the theme ‘From Farm to Finance: Empowering Global Communities through Halal Innovation and Purpose Growth,’ the forum gathered experts from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Maybank Philippines, and Etiqa Philippines to discuss opportunities within the Halal economy and its role in fostering inclusive, ethical and sustainable development.

His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines, set the tone for the afternoon session on ‘Mainstreaming Islamic Finance.’ His keynote opened the discussions on the growing potential of Islamic finance in the Philippines. The session delved into key topics such as Islamic Banking Legislation and Emerging Opportunities in Islamic Banking and Financing; and Key Differences from Conventional Banking.

As part of the program, Gladys Pascual, Head of Strategy and OIC Chief Operating Officer of Etiqa Philippines, participated in a high-level panel discussion alongside representatives from DTI, BSP and Maybank Philippines. The panel explored how Halal innovation can empower communities, promote financial inclusion, and strengthen purpose-driven economies.

‘This forum reflects the shared belief that ethical finance and inclusive innovation can build stronger, more resilient communities,’ said Gladys Pascual. ‘At Etiqa, we see our role not just as a provider of protection, but as a partner in advancing financial inclusion guided by integrity, cooperation, and shared growth.’.

This advocacy aligns closely with Etiqa Philippines’ Takaful Personal Accident Insurance, a Shari’ah-compliant and ethical way of protecting families through trust, mutual support, and shared responsibility. For as low as ?1,400 per year, the Etiqa Takaful Personal Accident Plan offers affordable protection against life’s uncertainties, including accidental death, disability, and medical expenses resulting from accidents. A cashback benefit may also be granted when no claims are filed, no cancellations occur before expiry, and all contributions are paid in full during the certificate term.

‘Through Etiqa Takaful Personal Accident Insurance, we aim to make financial protection accessible to every Filipino-guided by the values of fairness, compassion, and collective well-being,’ said Don Divinagracia, Head of Takaful at Etiqa Philippines. ‘It’s a meaningful way to help families stay secure while staying true to their faith and principles.’

By supporting platforms like the Halal Economy Forum, Etiqa Philippines reinforces its vision of creating a more inclusive and purpose-driven financial ecosystem-one that empowers individuals and strengthens communities across the country. Through this advocacy, the company continues to champion ethical innovation, shared prosperity, and community empowerment, reflecting Etiqa’s unwavering mission to make the world a better place, one community at a time. To learn more or purchase the Takaful Personal Accident Plan, visit shop.etiqa.com.ph/takaful-personal-accident.

I write this to express my warmest congratulations to our stunningly beautiful Miss Grand International 2025, Emma Tiglao, who recently delivered a historic back-to-back win for the Philippines. She came well prepared, proving her pageant veteran status, and was an early favorite among many international pageant fans, exuding radiant energy that captivated audiences worldwide from the moment she arrived in the host country, Thailand. Tiglao’s victory follows our very own CJ Opiaza’s assumption of the Miss Grand International 2024 crown, after Rachel Gupta of India rescinded her contract and resigned from her title months after the crowning.

Tiglao’s win is not only an idiosyncratic triumph but also a success for Philippine pageantry as well as a launchpad for future Filipino queens to showcase the full gamut of their talents, elegance, and intelligence in the global arena-backed by a strong and unwavering support system that continually uplifts and empowers them throughout their pageant journey.

As a Filipino pageant fan, I am thrilled to witness Filipinas ‘reigning’ and ‘winning’ on the international stage, especially in Miss Grand International, where competition is fiercely anticipated. I am convinced that the level of preparation, poise, and execution our queens bring to the stage is unmatched. Tiglao’s superb performance was a testament to the dedication, resilience, and excellence that define the modern Filipino beauty queen.

Who would have thought that after more than a decade of this Thailand-based pageant’s existence, the Philippines would be the first-ever country to achieve a back-to-back victory? This astounding feat simply proves, I believe, that Filipino strength, grace, and wit stand among the best in the world.

Roselle Marisol Andaya, Chief Executive Officer of MR.DIY Philippines, earned top recognition as Grand Winner for Woman Leader of the Year during the 2025 Asia CEO Awards at the Manila Marriott Hotel.

This marks the leading home improvement retailer’s first participation in the renowned recognition program for the country’s most exceptional business leaders and organizations. The recognition celebrates Ms. Andaya’s visionary leadership, transformative impact, and advocacy for inclusion in the retail sector.

As the first female country CEO in the MR.DIY Group’s history, she has guided the company through remarkable growth-expanding to over 800 stores nationwide while ensuring that MR.DIY remains a people-first organization grounded in purpose, innovation, and compassion.

Under her leadership, MR.DIY implemented several groundbreaking initiatives in Philippine retail, including:

Gender-neutral hiring in warehouse operations, breaking traditional gender norms;

The Store Internship for Special Learners, providing retail training for individuals on the autism spectrum; and

The transition to 100% renewable energy in its distribution centers, cutting emissions by 34% annually.

‘These achievements are built on the strength of our people,’ said Roselle Marisol Andaya, CEO of MR.DIY Philippines. ‘This recognition is a reflection of our shared mission to make everyday living simple, joyful, and complete. Leadership, to me, is about lifting others and creating spaces where everyone can thrive.’

In addition to Ms. Andaya’s individual recognition, MR.DIY Philippines was also recognized with the Circle of Excellence Awards for Woman Leader of the Year and Diversity Company of the Year, underscoring the company’s continued dedication to empowering women leaders and promoting inclusivity in the workplace. At the forefront of this recognition is MR.DIY’s Store Internship for Neurodiverse Learners, launched in partnership with Candent Learning Haus and later expanded with Marvelous Minds Tutorial Center. The program provides workplace exposure and training for individuals on the autism spectrum while preparing MR.DIY employees to foster empathy and inclusion within their teams.

‘We see inclusion not as a destination but as a continuous commitment to responsible growth-one that ensures every individual, regardless of ability or background, has the chance to learn, contribute, and belong,’ shared Atty. Suzie Cu, Head of Legal, Compliance, and Sustainability, MR.DIY Philippines.

Each awardee was chosen from among hundreds of nominations for their outstanding contributions to national progress, innovation, and corporate leadership.

Malacañang on Monday said that the abolition of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is not being considered at this time, noting that many officials in the department continue to perform their duties properly.

Palace press officer Claire Castro made the statement in response to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian’s suggestion to dissolve the agency and create a new one amid the serious corruption issues that have plagued the agency.

‘First of all, in the department, not all administrators or government employees in the DPWH can be said to have made mistakes. There are still public servants and public officials who fulfill their duties,’ Castro said in Filipino.

She also said, ‘At present, there are no plans to abolish it because what should be removed are those who are doing wrong. It’s easy to identify who they are, and with the help of Secretary Vince, those who need to be removed from the agency will be removed.’

Gatchalian floated the idea of abolishing the DPWH during a forum last Thursday, saying that if something can no longer be fixed, then it might be better to build a new one.

‘If you’re going to ask me. Because I think it will take years and years for Secretary Vince to clean up. We need to do many things-digitalization, of course, file cases to everyone involved, and we also need to check the others if they are doing what is right,’ he said during a Kapihan sa Senado forum.

On Sept. 21, tens of thousands of people staged protests in various parts of Metro Manila-coinciding with the anniversary of the declaration of martial law under then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in Sept. 1972.

The demonstrations focused on condemning the irregularities in flood-control projects and called for accountability for the personalities involved in the developing controversies.