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SEC enhances financial reporting rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is enhancing the overall quality and integrity of financial reporting by mandating the conduct of audits for government contractors and elevating qualification standards for external auditors and auditing firms.

The commission has issued Memorandum Circular 26, Series of 2026, amending pertinent provisions on the accreditation of independent auditors of SEC-regulated entities under Revised Rule 68 of the Securities Regulation Code.

The SEC said the revised guidelines seek to strengthen the accreditation framework and protect the public’s interest by expanding oversight for government contractors, elevating qualification and track record standards, as well as providing a more rigorous evaluation process.

‘High-quality audits serve as a foundation of transparency in capital markets, fostering public trust in the financial system,’ SEC chairperson Francis Lim said.

‘By tightening our accreditation standards and extending oversight to auditors of major government contractors, we are reinforcing accountability, ensuring that public funds and investors’ hard-earned money are protected by rigorous and independent financial reporting,’ Lim said.

The circular expands the coverage of Group A and B auditors to government contractors, or those with contracts for the procurement or acquisition of goods and consulting services and the contracting for infrastructure projects by the national government and its instrumentalities.

Under the new guidelines, all corporate general contractors are required to engage Group A independent auditors if they have a single government contract of more than P750 million, or cumulative government contracts amounting to more than P1 billion.

Contractors with single government contracts worth P400 million to P750 million, as well as those with cumulative government contracts worth P500 million to P1 billion, meanwhile, should tap Group B independent auditors.

The duly accredited external auditor shall be engaged until the projects have been fully completed or delivered.

These corporations will be required to submit a notarized schedule disclosing project descriptions, costs and status, which must be covered by an auditor’s report.

Overall, the SEC accredits auditing firms and independent auditors for quality assurance review based on three categories: Groups A, B and C.

To ensure that only auditors with sufficient experience handle regulated entities, the commission also increased the track record threshold for all accreditation groups.

For Group A, applicants are now required to have at least five corporate clients with total assets of at least P100 million each, up from P50 million in the previous rules.

The requirement for Group B has been set to five corporate clients with assets of at least P50 million each, up from three corporate clients with total assets of at least P20 million.

Applicants for Group C accreditation, meanwhile, must have at least five corporate clients, up from the previous rule of three corporate clients, with assets of at least P5 million each.

The circular also introduced more rigorous evaluation standards by providing more grounds for the outright denial of applications for accreditation.

2027: Attacks on opposition must stop, Dickson warns

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has called for an immediate end to attacks and violence against opposition political parties across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dickson made the call while receiving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, into the NDC, saying political violence must not be allowed to undermine the democratic process.

He condemned reported attacks on opposition parties in several states, including Benue and Enugu, and urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.

‘Let me, on that note, call for the cessation of violence and attacks meted out to opposition parties in so many states. We have condemned this several times. I want to use this opportunity to condemn it,’ Dickson said.

The NDC leader said President Bola Tinubu’s reported call for an end to political violence should be followed by concrete action and consequences for those who perpetrate or encourage violence.

‘I think we should follow it up with action. There have to be consequences for that misbehaviour and encouragement of violence and criminality and brigandage,’ he said.

His comments come amid recent incidents involving opposition political activities in different parts of the country.

In Enugu State, police authorities ordered investigations after reported attacks disrupted separate meetings of the NDC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nkanu West Local Government Area on 12 September.

Police said gunmen disrupted an NDC ward meeting at Ndiuno-Obuoffia, with two people reportedly injured, while a separate PDP gathering in Agbani was also disrupted and property destroyed.

The NDC subsequently petitioned security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, seeking an investigation into the alleged attack.

The party accused unnamed political actors of attempting to undermine opposition activities, while the APC in Enugu denied allegations that it or the state government sponsored the violence.

There was also a reported confrontation involving the convoy of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi in Benue earlier this month. Police subsequently announced the arrest of 46 suspects in connection with the incident and said investigations were continuing.

Against this backdrop, Dickson said the reported creation of a special squad by the Inspector-General of Police was a step that required additional support.

‘I have seen a report by the Inspector-General of Police setting up a squad. There has to be more support for that so that those who are trying to introduce needless violence and brigandage, whether in Benue, whether in Enugu, whether in other parts of the country, in Lagos, everywhere, they need to be stopped, they need to be identified, they need to be punished,’ he said.

Dickson also suggested that attacks on the NDC and other opposition actors were linked to the party’s growing political presence, although he did not identify specific individuals or organisations as responsible for the alleged attacks.

‘And the reason they are attacking people is because they know the strength of the NDC,’ he said.

He stressed that Nigerians, rather than political actors, would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.

‘Even when campaigns have not formally begun, they know because this election will be voted for by Nigerians; all Nigerians know what we are feeling,’ he said.

Dickson therefore appealed to political parties and their supporters to adhere to democratic rules and allow citizens to participate freely in the electoral process.

‘I condemn it again and call on all to play by the books,’ he said.

CBN slashes rate in record cut as benchmark catches up with market

Nigeria’s central bank surprisingly delivered its biggest single interest-rate cut on record, slashing the benchmark by 350 basis points to 23 percent as money-market rates had already fallen well below the previous policy rate.

The decision follows a three-month continuous cooling of inflation to 15.39 percent in August, down from 15.43 percent the previous month. And a subsequent decline in food prices to 19.57 percent, the first slowdown in about six months.

The move by Governor Olayemi Cardoso and the Monetary Policy Committee on Tuesday marks a sharp recalibration of the CBN’s policy framework, bringing the Monetary Policy Rate closer to prevailing Treasury bill, OMO and interbank rates rather than signalling a broad shift toward cheap money.

The MPC also narrowed its asymmetric corridor to plus 50 basis points and minus 300 basis points, while cutting the Standing Deposit Facility to 20 percent and the Standing Lending Facility to 23.5 percent.

Analysts said the MPR ‘reset’ reflects the significant disconnect that had emerged between the 26.5 percent benchmark rate and prevailing market rates, particularly Treasury bills and Open Market Operations (OMO) yields, which had already traded below 20 percent.

Razia Khan, managing director and chief economist, Africa and Middle East Global Research at Standard Chartered Bank, said the 350-basis-point cut came as a surprise, although the changes to the corridor blunt its overall impact.

‘Against expectations, the Central Bank of Nigeria cut its policy rate by 350bps, to 23.0 percent, from 26.5 percent. Changes were also made to the asymmetric corridor around the policy rate, to +50bps/-300 bps, from a previous +50bps/-450bps,’ Khan said.

She noted that the new SLF rate is now 23.5 percent, compared with 27 percent previously, while the theoretical floor on interest rates, represented by the SDF, has fallen to 20 percent from 22 percent.

Khan said the CBN, while highlighting the downtrend in inflation as a consequence of earlier monetary tightening, was presenting the decision less as conventional monetary easing and more as a recalibration aimed at strengthening the transmission mechanism.

‘Policy will remain ‘restrictive’ going forward, and geopolitical risks could slow the ‘normalisation’ of policy,’ she said.

According to her, OMO yields were already around the level implied by the new floor on rates and had since moved lower, although modestly.

She added that some commentators had linked the move to the new memorandum of understanding establishing cooperation between the fiscal and monetary authorities, arguing that it could boost demand for longer-duration securities and ultimately lower Nigeria’s debt-service costs.

Others, she said, had raised concerns over Nigeria’s reliance on portfolio inflows and whether the CBN could ease meaningfully when the United States Federal Reserve is expected to tighten.

Khan said she believes the CBN can ease despite these external considerations, although petroleum product prices could put pressure on inflation beyond the harvest months.

She said there remains scope for further monetary easing next year after the elections.

Ayodele Ebo, chief executive officer of MDU Capital, said the governor’s description of the decision as a ‘recalibration’ suggests that the CBN is bringing the MPR closer to prevailing money-market and fixed-income rates.

He said the MPR had previously been significantly above market rates, creating a disconnect and reducing its effectiveness as a policy signal.

‘The immediate impact on fixed-income yields may be limited because market rates had already adjusted, but the decision should support lower borrowing costs over time and improve sentiment in the equities market,’ Ebo said.

He added that the adjustment was positive for the market but did not signal a return to cheap money.

Adebowale Funmi, head of Research at Parthian Securities, said the CBN governor’s description of the decision as a recalibration rather than conventional easing reflected the significant disconnect between the 26.5 percent MPR and prevailing market rates.

‘The CBN governor’s description of the decision as a recalibration, rather than conventional easing, reflects the significant disconnect between the 26.5 percent MPR and prevailing market rates, with Treasury bills and OMO yields trading below 20 percent,’ Funmi said.

She said the adjustment was therefore aimed at bringing the policy rate closer to actual market conditions and improving the transmission of monetary policy to the broader economy.

‘For the market, the recalibration should strengthen the signalling role of the MPR and provide greater alignment between the policy rate and funding conditions. It could also support credit growth and economic activity at the margin,’ she said.

However, Funmi said the adjustment should not be interpreted as the beginning of an aggressive easing cycle, as the CBN is likely to remain guided by the inflation trajectory, liquidity conditions and the extent to which market rates respond to the adjustment.

Ayodele Akinwunmi, chief economist at United Capital Plc, said the CBN was seeking to align the MPR with interbank rates and other market rates.

‘What the CBN governor is trying to communicate is that the decision to reduce the MPR to 23 percent with the asymmetric corridor of +0.5%/-3.0 percent around the MPR is to align the MPR to where the interbank rates and other market rates are,’ Akinwunmi said.

He, however, noted that the adjustment still represented a form of policy easing because banks would now place excess funds with the CBN at 20 percent, compared with 22 percent previously, while borrowing from the central bank as lender of last resort would cost 23.5 percent, compared with 27 percent previously.

The CBN retained the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 45 percent for Deposit Money Banks, 16 percent for Merchant Banks and 75 percent on non-Treasury Single Account public-sector deposits.

The unchanged reserve requirements indicate that while the CBN has adjusted the price of money and narrowed the policy corridor, it has not simultaneously relaxed the existing liquidity controls on banks.

Ubah Jeremiah, chief investment officer of VNL Capital Asset Management, described the 350-basis-point reduction as a significant surprise, saying the scale of the move indicated that the CBN was responding to changes in inflation, naira stability and external reserves.

He said the stronger naira and healthier external reserves had provided the CBN with room to reduce the cost of credit without necessarily loosening liquidity conditions indiscriminately.

For the real economy, Jeremiah said a lower MPR should begin to filter through to lending rates, potentially reducing working-capital costs, improving access to consumer credit and easing debt-servicing costs.

He said the magnitude of the reduction suggested that the CBN was seeking to move the benchmark rate closer to the prevailing economic and market conditions rather than adjusting it incrementally.

The next MPC meeting is scheduled for November 24, 2026.

Eala an overwhelming favorite in WTA’s ‘Star of the Swing’ poll

Alex Eala is on track for another recognition before she plunges back to action closer to home at the start of her Asian swing Thursday in Singapore and the Asian Games next week in Japan.

Eala, as one of the tour leg winners in the just-concluded North American hardcourt swing, headlines the race in the ‘Star of the Swing’ poll by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as the season shifts to Asia.

The 21-year-old Filipina, ranked No. 18 in the world, has a whopping 78%of over 5,000 votes as of writing time for a runaway lead over seven other candidates.

Eala qualified in the ‘Star of the Swing’ on the grand hard courts of North America after winning her maiden WTA Tour title in the WTA500 Mubadala Citi D.C. Open in Washington last month with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 comeback victory over home bet Jessica Pegula.

She also netted her biggest career seeding at No. 29 in the US Open, where she made it to the third round.

Newly minted US Open champion and world No.1. Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan follows suit at 16% while Canada Open winner Iga Swiatek of Poland (WTA No. 9) is at 3%.

Other candidates include US Open runner-up Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (No. 2), Cincinnati winner Coco Gauff of USA (No.4), Monterey winner Diane Parry of France (No. 30) and Guadalajara winner Iva Jovic of USA (No. 13).

Completing the list is the World No. 1 pair of Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of USA, who ruled the US Open to complete a career Grand Slam after previously winning the 2024 Wimbledon, 2025 Australian Open and 2026 French Open.

Last July, Eala also earned the ‘Star of the Swing’ for the grass-court season in Europe after a WTA125 title in Birmingham and a Round of 16-finish in Wimbledon with 89% of the total votes. She bested Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova (7%) and runner-up Karolina Muchova (3%), both from Czechia.

Eala is hoping to carry on that momentum into the Asian swing, beginning with a Round 2 duel against No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova in the WTA500 Singapore Open Thursday at the OCBC Arena.

Court designation and game time are still to be announced, with the lefty ace gaining a first-round bye and extra days off as the No. 3 seed.

Eala is looking to settle some unfinished business in Singapore after a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Simona Waltert of Switzerland in the qualifying round last year when she was still outside the Top 100.

It’s also part of her preparation for the Asiad from September 27 to October 2 in Nagoya, with hopes of improving on her two bronze medals in women’s and mixed doubles events in the 2023 Hangzhou Games.

Listed in the women’s singles and women’s doubles, Eala is the Asiad title favorite as the highest-ranked WTA player and especially with the absence of reigning gold medalist Zheng Qinwen of China.

Manila Doctors Hospital urologist Dr. Eduardo Gatchalian honored by Urological Association of Asia

Manila Doctors Hospital’s (MDH) renowned urologist Dr. Eduardo R. Gatchalian has been conferred Honorary Membership in the Urological Association of Asia (UAA) at the 23rd UAA Congress held on September 4, 2026, in recognition of his excellence in Reconstructive Urologic Surgery and distinguished contributions to the field of Urology.

Widely regarded as the “Father of Modern Philippine Reconstructive Urology,” Dr. Gatchalian’s prestigious recognition goes beyond the distinction itself, honoring his decades-long of service, expertise, and excellence in advancing urologic medicine in the Philippines and across Asia through clinical practice, research, education, leadership and mentorship.

Dr. Gatchalian’s influence extends across some of the country’s most respected medical institutions and professional organizations. He has previously served as President of the Philippine Urological Association and President of the Philippine College of Surgeons, as well as Chairman of the Philippine Board of Urology. He was also the founding member of the Asian Society of Female Urology, Philippine Erectile Dysfunction Research Organization, Asia-Pacific Continence Advisory Board, Philippine Multicenter Urologic Research Foundation, and the Philippine Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons.

Urological Association of Asia is a premier international body dedicated to advancing urology and enhancing patient care in Asia. With 25 national member societies, the Association represents a growing community of more than 25,000 practicing urologists across the region.

As Manila Doctors Hospital strengthens its mission to provide excellent, patient-centered healthcare, the recognition bestowed upon Dr. Gatchalian serves as a meaningful reminder of the institution’s commitment to excellence.

It is also a strong testament to MDH’s pride in having accomplished physicians whose expertise contributes not only to its patients but also to the continued growth and reputation of Philippine medicine.

Duterte trial: Presiding officer’s decision can be overturned – Escudero

Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said Wednesday that while he opposes lowering the number of votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, the other senator-judges can overturn his decision.

The court had decided to restrict some of its members from voting on Duterte’s fate, effectively lowering the threshold for conviction. Escudero said he disagreed with the move but respected the court’s decision.

The impeachment court will exclude senator-judges who are detained or suspended, in hiding, medically incapacitated, or beyond its coercive powers when determining the denominator for the two-thirds vote needed for a conviction.

‘For the record, while the Chair takes exception to this decision, the Chair nonetheless accepts it as a judgment of this court and is bound to give it effect. The presiding officer, after all, is not the court. He is merely the custodian of the process, not the proprietor of its outcome,’ Escudero explained.

At the start of the trial last July 6, Escudero said that 16 votes are required for a conviction, based on the complete 24-member Senate.

According to Escudero, the 1987 Constitution already provides that no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate, or at least 16 of 24 elected senators.

He cited the Supreme Court ruling on Bayan v. Zamora, which concerned the Senate’s compliance with the two-thirds vote required to concur in a treaty.

Escudero’s statement has been cited by senator-judges in insisting that the threshold must not be changed.

Senate’s legitimacy

According to Escudero, having a presiding officer’s decisions overturned is part of ‘the essence of democracy.’

‘This is the tradition that gives the strength and legitimacy to the Senate, whether we sit as a legislative body or as an impeachment court,’ he added. ‘We allow the fullest ventilation of views, even if those views differ sharply from our own. But at the end of the day, we vote. We abide by the judgment of the majority, even if we disagree with it.’

Before Escudero’s clarification, the court approved a motion to revise the 16-vote threshold needed to convict Duterte. Thirteen senator-judges voted in favor of the amendment.

He then laid down specific conditions on who would be barred from voting when the court decides the case and how the two-thirds vote would be counted.

Escudero further clarified that the number of votes required to convict Duterte would still be two-thirds of the members present. But if the computation of two-thirds results in a decimal point, such as when only 20 senator-judges remain, which would mean 13.33, Escudero said they would round up even if the decimal point is less than 0.5.

This means that instead of needing 16 votes to convict Duterte, 14 senator-judges would be needed to remove Duterte from office.

Under Article XI, Section 3(5) of the 1987 Constitution, the Senate is given the ‘sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment.’ The same provision states that an impeached official will only be convicted upon the ‘concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.’

Ordinarily, two-thirds of 24 members of the Senate is 16, but the absence of several senator-judges has raised questions from different sides. Some individuals supportive of the vice president have insisted that all members of the Senate refer even to senators who are beyond the coercive powers of the chamber, since their titles as senators were not removed from them.

However, others have asked how judges can make a sound decision if they have not observed the proceedings and failed to study documents and witnesses’ testimonies.

This was the same point raised by public prosecutor and Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, who led the oral arguments for the prosecution panel.

Currently, four senators have missed a huge part of the trial: Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Rodante Marcoleta, and Ronald dela Rosa have not attended a single trial day, while Senator Loren Legarda left the country in early August.

RUN applauds Atiku’s scholarship for teen mining worker, knocks Tinubu govt

The Rise Up Naija (RUN) movement has commended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his intervention in the life of Yusuf Aliyu, an articulate teenager who was recently discovered working at a mining site in Niger State.

The group said Atiku’s decision to offer Yusuf a full scholarship demonstrated his commitment to education and reflected the qualities it believes are needed in Nigeria’s next president.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Usman Okai Austin, RUN, a civic support organisation within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), praised Atiku for responding to Yusuf’s situation.

Okai said Atiku did not merely announce the scholarship from afar but invited Yusuf and his parents to his residence in Abuja, describing the gesture as evidence of a ‘fatherly figure’ and a commitment to due diligence.

He added that Atiku is also scheduled to pay a condolence visit to the people and government of Niger State over the incident.

The statement also highlighted Atiku’s call for measures to protect Yusuf and his family, particularly to ensure that the assistance offered to the teenager does not expose them to intimidation or retaliation.

‘Atiku’s call for the protection of Yusuf’s life and that of his family shows he cares not just for education, but for the safety of the vulnerable,’ the statement quoted Okai as saying.

However, RUN criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over what it described as the government’s failure to identify and prosecute the owners of mining sites where children are allegedly employed.

The group also criticised the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, describing his performance as a failure.

‘The government is hiding the identity of the mining site owners. We are witnessing atrocities in the mining sector that require a government truly ready to govern,’ Okai said.

He urged the committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate the matter to ensure that its work does not become a ‘mere damage control mechanism’ for the administration.

The group further alleged that illegal miners are exploiting poverty and unemployment in the country, which it attributed to what it described as failures of the current APC-led administration.

Okai called on Nigerians to demand a change in leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying an Atiku presidency would prioritise equal opportunities for Nigerians regardless of their social status.

‘A lot of atrocities are happening in the mining sector that need a government that is ready for governance to end them,’ the statement quoted him as saying.

RUN also urged the investigative committee to remain accountable to Nigerians and ensure that its findings and recommendations address concerns surrounding child labour and activities in the mining sector.

Grit is not enough: Lessons from Angela Duckworth’s ‘Situated’

A decade ago, we, especially parents, were all captivated by the concept of grit. Angela Duckworth, in her bestselling book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” and her TED Talk watched tens of millions of times, taught us that talent is overrated and that sustained effort over time is the real secret to long-term success. Today, exactly 10 years after Grit’s release, she is offering an evolution to that idea: Grit is not enough. It is not only tiring to just count on it but the truth is, even the grittiest among us cannot consistently beat a poorly designed environment.

And boy! Did I want to give her a huge high-five! Her book “Situated (Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best)” just came out this month and I lost no time in finishing it. You know that feeling when what you’ve been saying is being validated by experts? That’s how I felt while listening to the audiobook, which is also narrated by her. The message so resonates with my own mantra: Design! Design! Design! This is my battle cry in “FQ Book 3: High FQ By Design (Shape Your Environment For A Financially Healthy You)”.

True mastery isn’t about fighting through resistance-it’s about shaping your surroundings so that doing the right thing becomes the default choice.

The humility of accepting our weaknesses

In the many years of my work advocating for FQ (Financial Quotient) instead of Financial Literacy, I have observed a recurring human flaw. It’s either behavioral ignorance or behavioral arrogance. We love to believe that we possess ironclad self-control. We tell ourselves, ‘I can resist spending money on that sale.’ or ‘I will stick to my diet starting tomorrow.’ or ‘I will just have coffee with that cute married guy, nothing will happen.’

I am reminded of a story about someone who struggled with a weight problem for years. Whenever the topic of health came up, she would defensively claim, ‘I know I can lose weight anytime I want to.’ Years later, in a moment of vulnerability, she admitted the truth: she had been hating her overweight self for decades, trapped in a cycle of shame and frustration because she couldn’t rely on sheer willpower.

And who really can? Her story is a painful reminder of what happens when we rely on willpower alone. It’s the same with overspending at a sale or having an affair with a married man. Success on these matters begins with humility-accepting that we are both Makatwirang Mak and most of the time, very Emotional Emong. As extensively discussed in “FQ Book 2: Why Financial Education Alone Does Not Work,” we are fundamentally wired to yield to immediate temptations when they are within easy reach. (Check your MakEmong Score in the book so you know how to protect yourself from yourself.)

The willpower myth

The common perception is that high performers have immense willpower because they accomplish so much without giving in to distractions. In 2012, researchers led by Hofmann and Baumeister tracked the daily desires, temptations, and self-control efforts of hundreds of participants in real time throughout their everyday lives. What they uncovered was the opposite of the common perception.

High performers actually use willpower less than everyone else! Why? Because they design systems that make willpower unnecessary! They remove the friction for good habits and add them for bad ones.

The 3 boxes model

In her latest book, Angela thoroughly discussed the 3 Boxes Model by James Gross.

Box 1 represents a given situation, box 2 is how you think about it, and box 3 is your response, your actual behavior.

Let’s say you were not happy about your behavior (box 3) during the last time you received your salary because you did a lot of online shopping to de-stress yourself. You probably automatically blamed your lack of willpower and beat yourself up saying that on your next payday, you will exercise more self-control. You will think of your retirement savings account (alter box 2) so that your box 3 response will be favorable.

But who knows what’s going to happen on your next payday? You’re not sure what the level of your finite and often fluctuating willpower will be. So, what’s the solution? Change your box 1, your situation. How do you do that?

If you change your situation by doing these two things prior to payday, you will be protected:

1. Remove the shopping app

2. Automate your saving and investing

I promise, automatic saving and investing (with savings rate approximately equal to your age until you reach 50% at 50 years old) will really make growing old more enjoyable.

Designing my own surroundings for healthy aging

As I focus on healthy aging and well-being, I have been putting this framework into practice in my life through environmental designs. In the book, Angela calls it Situational Agency.

1. The nudge bag for digital detox

Our smartphones are engineered to hijack our temporal and physical ‘boxes’ the moment we wake up and right before we sleep if we keep them by our bedside. To combat this, I created a Nudge Bag-a simple pouch designed to carry my workout clothes and phone placed outside our bedroom. By adding physical friction between my hands and the screen at the start and end of the day, I protect my sleep and peace of mind without needing to test my willpower every night.

2. Renaming spaces in our home

To make healthy habits easier and more fun for me and my husband, I recently undertook a home project focused on explicitly naming some rooms and areas in our house. It gives us a resort vibe while doing our needed regular exercise and at the same time, it nudges us to use them as intended.

Design over discipline

Angela Duckworth’s “Situated” isn’t a contradiction to Grit-it’s a completion of the puzzle. Grit gives you the drive to set high goals and pursue them, but situational design creates the architecture that allows you to achieve them more easily and joyfully. (In the new book, aside from space, she also discusses peers, mentors, and culture.)

Stop counting just on your finite and fluctuating willpower. Know your Emotional Emong well, your human vulnerabilities, and embrace the humility to Design! Design! Design! for your dream life.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

1. Willpower alone isn’t enough-your financial habits are shaped by your behavior and the environment you create. Take the FQ Test today to discover your Financial Quotient and see how well your money knowledge and behavior are working for you.

2. Knowing what to do with your money is only the beginning-lasting financial well-being comes from understanding your behavior and designing better habits. Get the FQ Trilogy and learn how to Know, Do, and Design your way toward a financially healthy life.

Pasay, Caloocan prevail as MPBL elims end

The Pasay Voyagers and Caloocan Batang Kankaloo bared their readiness for the playoffs with victories over different opponents on Tuesday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season elimination phase at the Pasay Astrodome.

Pasay thwarted Pasig City, 78-69, in the nightcap while Caloocan bested Zamboanga Sikat, 82-78, in the opener of the double-header, ending the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.

The Voyagers improved to 14-11, similar to the Meycauayan Marilao Gems, but settled for fifth place as they lost to the Gems, 82-77, in their encounter.

Pasay also qualified for the playoffs outright, along with sixth-ranked Ilagan Isabela (13-12).

Pasay’s Lennard Santiago posted 18 points, four rebounds and two steals, but Cyril Gonzales was chosen Best Player with 17 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists. Christian Fajarito supported with 14 points, including two triples, four assists and three rebounds.

Sinking 9-of-18 triple attempts, the Voyagers led by as many as 58-39 before the Pasiguenos rallied to 72-67 midway through the fourth quarter.

Pasig finished at 11-14 and eighth place in the North Division.

Jeff Manday scored seven points in the last 1:41 to lift Caloocan’s record to 20-5 and third place in the North Division playoff race.

Zamboanga finished 11-14 and ninth place in the South Division.

Zamboanga led 76-73 after a drive by Paeng Are, but Manday, the MPBL’s new 3-point king, came through in the clutch, drilling in a 3-pointer to knot the count, after which Eric Camson pushed Caloocan ahead with two charities.

The 6-foot Manday finished off the demolition job with four more free throws against a breakaway layup by Zamboanga’s Forthsky Padrigao.

Manday tallied 15 points, six rebounds and three assists to earn Best Player honors over Kean Baclaan, with 13 points and four rebounds; Chris Bitoon, with 13 points and four assists; and Dom Escobar, with 10 points and five rebounds.

Zamboanga drew 15 points, three assists and two rebounds from Are; 11 points, 13 rebounds and two steals from Joseph Gabayni; and 11 points and five rebounds from Brandon Wilson.

The tournament resumes with the play-in stage at the Camaya Coast Events Center on Friday, featuring Valenzuela and Quezon City at 5 p.m., and host Bataan against Pasig at 7 p.m.

’Review cases filed vs Rhian Ramos, Michelle Dee’

The Makati City prosecutor’s office has been asked to reconsider its dismissal of the complaints filed by a driver against actress Rhian Ramos as well as beauty queens Michelle Dee and Samantha Panlilio.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), through lawyer Argel Joseph Cabatbat, also sought the inhibition of the prosecutors who handled the case.

The group asked the Department of Justice to designate an independent panel to review the complaints.

The VACC questioned the Sept. 1 joint resolution dismissing the complaints for slight illegal detention, slight physical injuries, maltreatment and unlawful arrest filed by Bonifacio Baro, alias Totoy.

Among the evidence cited by the VACC is a barangay blotter containing a statement attributed to Dee that Baro ‘made an attempt on his escape’ and was later ‘caught and brought back to my condo unit.’

The VACC said the statement should be reviewed alongside National Bureau of Investigation-authenticated closed-circuit television footage and a condominium security officer’s statement, which it said could corroborate Baro’s account of being intercepted and returned to the condominium.

Baro, a former driver and personal assistant of Ramos, filed the complaints after an alleged incident at a Makati condominium in January.

The dispute involved a red envelope said to contain sensitive photographs.

Baro alleged that he was detained and physically assaulted – allegations that Dee, Ramos and Panlilio denied.