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EXTENDING due process to fugitive Sen. Ronald dela Rosa does not mean granting him immunity or shielding him from the International Criminal Court (ICC)-it means ensuring he faces trial without sparking bloodshed.

That was the stern reminder issued on Tuesday by Sen. Panfilo Lacson as the high-stakes manhunt for the fugitive lawmaker takes an increasingly perilous turn, complete with a multi-million peso bounty and warnings of potential violence.

Lacson clarified his position regarding his fellow Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumnus, stressing that basic human rights apply to everyone-even those facing international tribunal warrants. However, he rejected the notion that due process should allow Dela Rosa to permanently evade accountability.

‘To me, due process means allowing Senator dela Rosa to face trial before the ICC rather than risk violence and worse, tragedy,’ Lacson said on Tuesday.

The statement comes amid heightened tension following the government’s announcement of a P50-million bounty for information leading to dela Rosa’s arrest. The high price tag on the former top cop was accompanied by a grim warning from the Interior Secretary, who previously hinted that arresting the senator could turn into a high-risk operation resulting in multiple casualties.

Dela Rosa, who served under Lacson during their years in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (Paoctf), has deep ties to law enforcement and security forces across the country.

Speculation over dela Rosa’s whereabouts reached a fever pitch following reports that armed groups in Mindanao might be harboring him. However, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) issued a formal statement earlier Tuesday flatly denying allegations that it was coddling the fugitive senator.

Dela Rosa, a long-time loyalist of former President Rodrigo Duterte, possesses an extensive network of active and retired uniformed personnel as well as armed supporters in the southern Philippines.

The former police chief went into hiding late last year after learning that the ICC had issued a warrant for his arrest. The charges stem from his role as the chief architect and executor of the Duterte administration’s controversial ‘war on drugs’ from 2016 to 2018, during which thousands of operational killings were recorded.

Dela Rosa’s months in hiding were briefly interrupted by a dramatic, unexpected appearance at the Senate on May 11, where he cast his vote for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano during the Senate presidency race.

His brief return to public life ended abruptly two days later on May 13, when a chaotic shooting incident erupted inside the Senate premises-prompting dela Rosa to slip away under the cover of confusion and vanish back into hiding.

As authorities intensify their efforts and the P50-million reward hangs in the air, Lacson urged all parties to prioritize a peaceful surrender over a bloody confrontation, maintaining that dela Rosa must ultimately answer the charges in The Hague.

Aplayful image of three nuns leaping with joy and cleverly titled ‘Holy Jump Shot’ is this year’s grand prize at the prestigious SinagLarawan photo contest.

Alexii Alipio, a liturgical photographer and member of the Alpha Camera Club, shot the Sisters Oblates of the Holy Spirit in their Quezon City convent during a break from a photo session for a coffee table book.

For his winning photo, Alipio received a P150,000 cash prize and a trophy, and the photo club got a P30,000 cash prize and a certificate.

Now in its fourth year, the SinagLarawan Photo Contest is a Community Investment initiative of JTI Philippines. The contest recognizes Filipino photographers’ talent and creativity in documenting history and preserving the richness and diversity of the country’s culture.

This year’s theme, ‘Pagbubunyi,’ honors the everyday victories of Filipinos, capturing the small and meaningful triumphs that bring joy and inspire celebration in their lives.

The winning entries of its 2026 edition were revealed on October 23 with an awarding ceremony and exhibition at SM Aura in Taguig City.

‘We invited photographers to find celebration in everyday life, and, boy, did they celebrate. The quiet achievements, small victories, and heartfelt moments and milestones. I have to say that I am impressed with the insights and poignant stories that were captured and told from the different regions,’ said Alan Jackson, general manager of JTI Philippines, in his speech at the awarding ceremony.

From 450 entries from across the country, judges from JTI and notable personalities in the arts and photography community selected 24 winning photographs.

This year’s judges were Veejay Villafranca, Sandra Palomar, Niña Sandejas, and Martin San Diego. They were joined by JTI Philippines General Manager Alan Jackson and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director Richard Arboleda, who also served as judges.

Uplifting photography

As this year’s winning images have shown, SinagLarawan asserts the enduring power of the artist’s eye and visual empathy. Through the years, it has moved the photography community to continue capturing fleeting moments and everyday realities through their lenses.

‘In today’s landscape, photography competitions in different forms and in different themes provide support for photographers who continue to engage in the creative practice. The contest helps maintain the integrity of the photographic practice,’ noted co-judge Veejay Villafranca.

For Alipio, 54, the award was unexpected, ‘They were calling the winners earlier; I thought that I’d be happy if I’m in the top 24. This is a surprise!’

‘Photography is more relevant now in the age of AI. I mean, it’s so refreshing to see something that’s really organic and raw and imperfect, like the Japanese wabi-sabi. You find beauty in imperfection,’ Alipio commented.

According to SinagLarawan co-judge Sandra Palomar, ‘What makes Sinaglarawan stand out from other photo contests is that there is a theme. It’s not so much about the technical proficiency of the photographer, but because there’s a theme, it’s the emotion being evoked that resonates with me as a viewer.’

‘The competition itself focuses on the strength of the narrative, the storytelling. The judges diligently double-checked if the entries were AI-enhanced. In the end, the selected 24 entries came through with the authenticity of the

photograph.’

Interestingly, Palomar noted that the entries underwent blind judging, yet the contest also recognized the contributions and perspectives of persons with disabilities (PWDs). The second-place winner, First runner-up Seth Nuñez, for instance, highlighted the strength and contributions of a PWD forest steward, while one of the regional awardees was a deaf photographer.

Kim Homer Salvoro of BaStaBay Camera Club was recognized in the regional division for his whimsical photo, ‘Chasing The Moment.’

A deaf photographer based in Dumaguete City, Salvoro replied to this interview through an interpreter:

‘I didn’t expect the recognition. I thought this was an opportunity for me to collaborate and meet other people. That was my only intention. I didn’t expect that I would be recognized for my photograph,’ he told BusinessMirror.

‘For me, photography is where you can see the creativity of a person without the help of technology or AI,’ Salvoro noted. ‘So, don’t be afraid to do creative work no matter what your situation is. Just see with your heart. If I can do it, so can anyone,’ he advised.

Best of the best: 24 Sinaglarawan 2026 Winners

Seth Nuñez of Putowalkers won First Runner-Up for ‘Mga Bukton sa Baybayon (Arms of the Coast),’ highlighting the inspiring story of Titing Sibala, an amputee who protects the mangroves of Barili, Cebu. Nuñez received a P120,000 cash prize and a trophy, and the club got a P25,000 cash prize and a certificate.

Gregorio Dantes Jr. of Tropang Artistiko Camera Club won third prize for the photo ‘Jeepney Driver’s Legacy,’ showcasing the graduation photos of the children of a jeepney driver. Dantes won a P100,000 cash prize and a trophy, and the club received a P20,000 cash prize and a certificate.

The main winners of SinagLarawan 2026 included eight Circle of Excellence awardees. They were Kyle Cezanne Francisco, Silverio Alano III, Vaugn Axel Crisostomo, and Gabriel Jade Castillo of Raw and Untitled PH; Liemuel Pantuhan and Klien Cyril Trasmonte from Photographers Club of Cebu Inc.; Gale David Davad of Pitik South Cotabato; and Jhazmin Audrey Miguel from Philippine Society for Photography. Each received a cash prize of P80,000 and a trophy, while their respective clubs got P10,000 and a certificate each.

The nationwide photo competition bestowed 13 Special Awards, with each winner receiving P50,000 and a certificate.

SinagLarawan also recognized the top three photographers from the different regions of the Philippines with the Rehiyon Awards.

For Metro Manila, the winning works were from Sharlene Tamayo, Charles Edward Ma. Cansino and Rhon Velarde.

Rehiyon Awards-Luzon recipients were Kobi Janairo, Marvin Grimaldo, and Angelito Yaon. Visayas awardees were Kim Homer Salvoro, Reginald de Guia, and Rem Gio Tresvalles. Finally, Mindanao winners were Kevin Teves, Jessie Eno, and Teofilo Jose.

Rounding up the special prize category was Gaea Lei Osilao, who received the JTI Employee Choice Award.

MINIMUM wage compliance among establishments inspected nationwide reached 91.61 percent in the first half of 2026, data from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) showed.

Region IX recorded the lowest compliance rate among regions outside Metro Manila at 64.64 percent.

The compliance rate covered 20,572 establishments inspected from January to June.

In Metro Manila, compliance reached 95.72 percent, with 6,470 of the 6,759 establishments inspected meeting the mandated minimum wage rates.

Outside the National Capital Region, Region VII posted the highest compliance rate at 96.89 percent among 1,897 establishments inspected, followed by the Negros Island Region at 94.07 percent.

As of July 9, the highest daily minimum wage for non-agricultural workers was P755 in Metro Manila, while the lowest was P455 in Mimaropa and Region V.

For agricultural workers, the highest daily rate was P718 in Metro Manila, compared with the lowest rate of P440 in Region VIII.

The regional wage boards have issued a total of 380 Wage Orders since 1990, with 240 issued on their own initiative and 140 following petitions for wage increases.

For domestic workers, the regional boards issued 91 Wage Orders from 2015 to July 9, 2026, all of which were issued on their own initiative.

The monthly minimum wage for domestic workers ranged from P7,800 in Metro Manila to P5,500 in Region IX, while the highest rates outside the capital reached P7,000 in Mimaropa and Region VII.

Iattended Watsons’ Skin Solutions event, which was held in partnership with the Philippine Dermatological Society at the SM Mall of Asia from October 20 to 25. Events like these allow me the privilege of hearing what board-certified dermatologists have to say about skin care and what kind of ingredients and practices could be beneficial or potentially irritating to my skin.

For three consecutive years, Watsons has made accessible derma-backed skincare more accessible through its Derm Skin campaign. This time, Watsons is marking the second year of its partnership with the Philippine Dermatological Society.

During the event, Dr. Kristine Josephine Busa talked about TikTok trends and which ones are fact or fiction. Medicated pimple patches, for instance, can get rid of pimples overnight but they only protect those with a head or have already been extracted. Busa also talked about slugging, a trend wherein people sleep with their faces slathered in petroleum jelly. She said this could work on people with extremely dry faces but slugging could also potentially clog pores, especially those with acne-prone skin. She advised that a thin layer of petroleum jelly can be applied over the dry areas of the skin only. Another trend that Busa talked about is the 10-step Korean skincare routine.

‘Your skin is not a 10-course set menu. While hydration will give you the dewy look you want, more products could also irritate your skin. A regimen that includes a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher is the best way to go,’ said Busa. It-burns-so-it-works is also another skincare trend fiction, she said, as it signals that the skin is irritated. She also advises skipping sunscreen when makeup already has SPF. This is because we don’t apply enough makeup to protect our skin.

Dr. Isabel Belizario tackled the subject of skin damage sustained from the sun and even indoor lights. ‘Majority of those who get melasma are females but even males can get it,’ she said. Melasma manifests on the skin with dark brown, tan, or grayish patches of hyperpigmentation. It mostly affects women as they get older.

Hydroquinone, said Belizario, is considered the gold standard in treating melasma. It’s effective because it inhibits melanin or pigment production. Meanwhile, she said the ‘friendlier’ topicals we can use are retinoids, ascorbic acid or vitamin C, glycolic acid, and tranexamic acid.

‘However, when using lightening agents, always use them with caution. Make sure you get the proper medical advice on how to use these products,’ said Belizario. ‘The treatment for melasma is a marathon; it’s not a race.’

Dr. Kirk Llew Quijote discussed practical skincare tips such as what product combinations are right and wrong.

‘The cornerstone of skincare is the combination of cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. But we might need some actives or even products that require prescription by board-certified dermatologists,’ he said.

‘Our skin needs a strategy, not a shopping spree. We don’t want to spend a lot to achieve glowing skin,’ he added.

Before buying anything, Quijote said the most important thing is to determine one’s skin type. He advised using a blue blotting sheet on the T-zone (forehead, nose, and skin). If it becomes saturated with oil, your skin is oily. If it doesn’t your skin is dry. Dry skin types need a non-foaming cleanser, preferably fragrance-free. For moisturizers, check out those that contain ceramides, dimethicone, and urea. For combination skin types, he said you can use different products for different areas. Quijote’s practical tip is to apply moisturizer to skin that’s still damp.

‘Always check the active ingredients before buying anything. For example, brightening products will always include niacinamide, alpha arbutin, vitamin C, or an exfoliating acid like glycolic acid. But some of these have the same mechanisms of action so they may be redundant,’ he said.

Another tip that Quijote shared is that ingredients of skincare products above 1 percent are listed in decreasing order so those with higher concentrations are listed first.

‘Don’t mistake claims for clinical evidence. Some products might say they are dermatologically-tested but testing does not mean recommendation. You need to ask a board-certified dermatologist for evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and adverse effects of these products,’ he said.

DAVAO CITY – The post-transition Bangsamoro Parliament elected interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua to the regional government’s top post, expecting him and his soon-to-be-formed Cabinet to eliminate the vestiges of revolutionary struggle toward cementing the Bangsamoro’s own transition to self-governance.

On October 30, Macacua got a vote of 51 from the 80 members of Parliament during its first session as an elected body. Under Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Chief Minister must secure the majority vote of all MPs, or at least 41 votes to assume the position.

As Chief Minister, Macacua will head the executive administration and appoint the heads of the Bangsamoro ministries, offices, and agencies (BMOAs). He is also responsible for presenting a platform of government for Parliament’s approval.

He will form a Cabinet, the majority of whose members must come from Parliament, and nominate two Deputy Chief Ministers for election by the lawmakers.

Together, the Chief Minister and Cabinet will constitute the Government of the Day, responsible for implementing laws, delivering public services, and carrying out the administration’s priorities.

The position gives Macacua considerable responsibility over the direction of the regional government, the Bangsamoro Information Office said.

‘Today is not merely about the assumption of leadership. It is about the continuing fulfillment of a promise,’ Macacua said in his inaugural address on Friday in the first session of the Parliament as a duly elected and constituted body.

He said that accepting the mandate was neither a personal victory nor a claim to political entitlement, ‘but a sacred amanah (trust) that carries the hopes, expectations, and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people’.

‘I shall endeavor to be a leader for everyone at every time-not only for those who have placed their confidence in me, but equally for those who have expressed their reservations or chosen a different path,’ he said.

Macacua was a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) panel negotiating a peace settlement with the national government and later became a commissioner of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that drafted the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

When BARMM was established in 2019, Macacua became a member of the BTA, the interim law-making body. He was picked to serve as head of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) from 2019 to 2022, overseeing concerns involving natural resource management, environmental protection, and energy development.

He later served as Senior Minister, taking part in coordinating the policies and development priorities of the interim government.

In 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him officer in charge of Maguindanao del Norte, a province created following the division of Maguindanao. Among his efforts were improving road connectivity in rural communities and strengthening coordination among the province’s 12 municipalities through a memorandum of agreement aimed at promoting cooperation and more equitable resource allocation.

On February last year, Marcos appointed Macacua as Interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro government, succeeding former Chief Minister and MILF Chairman Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, who had led the region since its establishment in 2019.

During the Parliamentary election this year, Macacua sought an electoral mandate, winning a seat as district representative of Maguindanao del Norte’s Third District under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), which he chaired.

Also In his speech, Macacua pledged to continue the Moral Governance Agenda championed by former Chief Minister Ebrahim, who also won seat in Parliament.

‘To our Amerul Mujahideen, the Honorable Chairman Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ Ebrahim, Sir: I want to personally assure you that the Moral Governance Agenda you have started and steadfastly championed will remain at the very heart of my leadership,’ he said.

‘You have my word, Sir, that I will remain faithful to this vision, not only in words but in every decision and action of this administration, until the very last day of my mandate. This is my commitment to you, and an amanah I intend to honor,’ CM Macacua added.

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the decision issued by the Regional Trial Court in Taguig City acquitting 22 alleged members of Abu Sayyaf terrorist group of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom involving six members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Patikul, Sulu, on August 20, 2002.

In a 16-page decision written by Associate Justice Eleuterio Bathan, the CA’s Fourth Division held that while it recognized that the kidnapping took place, the trial court was correct when it ruled that prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the 22 individuals were the actual perpetrators.

‘Since there is no full certainty as to their identification, the constitutional presumption of innocence must prevail, and their acquittal must stand,’ the CA said in denying the appeal filed by the government through the Office of the Solicitor General.

The CA agreed with the trial court that the prosecution’s main witness Amily Mantec failed to provide detailed physical descriptions of their kidnappers following her escape in 2003.

It held that there was a significant delay in the identification of the accused, which took more than a decade after the abductions.

The CA said when Amily escaped from captivity on April 18, 2023, she did not immediately execute an affidavit as the earliest affidavit formally offered by the prosecution was dated June 30, 2023.

‘This meant she could not immediately provide a prior description of her captors. She made the description only after the private respondents were already arrested, which took place over the span of several years from 2004 to 2015, and during her testimony,’ the CA pointed out.

‘Because she could not provide a proper prior description of the private respondents, her identification was dubious,’ the ruling added.

The unreliability of Mantec’s identification, according to the CA, was bolstered by the fact that her attention was divided by the numerous men who were present guarding them, aside from the traumatizing order she went through, including the beheading of her husband and being forced to change religion and marry into the group.

‘Consequently, the petitioner failed to prove that the private respondents were properly identified as the authors of the crime,’ the CA said.

EDUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara warned fraudsters that the Department of Education (DepEd) is bolstering its anti-fraud measures and legal prosecution to eliminate non-existent beneficiaries and ensure public funds reach deserving learners.

Angara said that the department has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent subsidy claims while rolling out major reforms under DepEd Order 11, series of 2026, which updated the Enhanced Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-Gastpe) framework.

‘We are closing the systemic loopholes that unscrupulous individuals have taken advantage of in the past,’ Angara said. ‘Intentional fraud against our voucher program is a crime against Filipino families. To anyone trying to cheat the system, DepEd will not hesitate to prosecute you.’

The crackdown has already produced legal results. In July, a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Metro Manila convicted a scammer and sentenced the perpetrator to over 14 years in prison along with a P100,000 fine for submitting fake billing statements. DepEd affirmed that it continues to pursue criminal cases and formal complaints against erring private school administrators and former personnel involved in fraudulent claims.

Under the newly ratified Basic Education Voucher Assistance measure, filing false voucher claims will be criminally prosecuted as estafa under the Revised Penal Code, carrying mandatory fund restitution and fines of up to P500,000.

To catch non-existent beneficiaries and invalid billings before funds are released, DepEd is enforcing a rigorous five-layer billing validation process. DepEd Order 11, s. 2026, fortified operational safeguards across the Senior High School Voucher Program to prevent, detect, and address invalid claims throughout the entire program cycle.

Through these tightened controls, DepEd successfully withheld over P238 million in suspicious billings during School Year 2025-2026 and recovered P79.1 million in refunds from non-compliant schools.

Angara emphasized that these structural reforms directly fulfill President Marcos’ directive to ease financial burdens on Filipino families while broadening access to quality education.

‘Our mandate from President Marcos is to ensure every peso of government assistance delivers real value to our people,’ Angara added. ‘By cleaning up our registries and strengthening our validation, we are protecting the integrity of the voucher program so that support reaches the learners and families who rely on it.’

Once enacted, the Basic Education Voucher Assistance bill will extend tuition assistance beyond lower-income brackets to include middle-middle-income families. The program will also expand coverage to elementary learners (Kindergarten to Grade 6) starting in School Year 2027-2028. This initial expansion targets over 292,000 elementary learners and nearly 18,000 private school teachers, backed by an initial proposed allocation of P4.34 billion across 2,632 participating private schools.

To maintain strong long-term oversight over participating private educational institutions, the expanded voucher framework also establishes a dedicated Bureau of Private Education within DepEd.

LEGISLATORS have expressed optimism for lasting peace and economic growth in southern Philippines following the historic convening of the first elected Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament and the election of its regular leadership.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Francis Escudero, and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia-ur Rahman Alonto Adiong separately congratulated newly elected Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua and Speaker Amer Zaakaria A. Rakim, along with the deputy chief ministers, deputy speakers, majority floor leader, and members of the 80-seat assembly.

The inaugural session, held on October 30, marked the formal transition from over seven years of interim governance under the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to a fully elected Parliament following the region’s historic parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026. The term of the first regular Parliament will run through June 30, 2031.

Call for unity, support

GATCHALIAN highlighted the region’s path toward long-overdue economic development and good governance under the new leadership.

‘We congratulate our countrymen in BARMM, as well as Abdulraof Macacua for his election as chief minister of the whole region. We have trust in the new leadership’s ability to push good governance and, with the help of stakeholders, to push economic progress and welfare of everyone in the region,’ Gatchalian said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Gatchalian urged political blocs, civil society organizations, and local governments to unite behind the new BARMM administration to guarantee stability and inclusive development.

‘For so long, everyone has dreamed of long-term peace and development in BARMM and the entire Mindanao. We are confident we can attain the dream of progress for the communities of our Muslim brothers and the whole of Mindanao,’ he added.

Milestone

ESCUDERO lauded the assembly as a major victory resulting from years of peace negotiations between the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

‘The inaugural session is a testament to the progress we have made in transforming decades of conflict into meaningful opportunities for peace, stability and self-governance,’ Escudero said, wishing the leaders success in pushing the region toward greater prosperity.

‘This is a victory not only for the Bangsamoro people but for the entire country. It is proof that peace, when nurtured through dialogue, patience and cooperation, can lead to stronger institutions and more empowered communities,’ the Bicolano legislator added.

Escudero expressed confidence that the assembly will build upon transition-period gains to improve public services and uplift daily life for ordinary Bangsamoro families.

National-regional partnership

ADIONG, a former Bangsamoro Parliament member (2019-2022), called the moment a fulfillment of a long-standing dream for genuine self-governance.

Last week

Share prices declined, with the main index returning to the 5,600-point level, as the Philippine peso continued to weaken against the dollar due to the volatile geopolitical environment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) shed 48.28 points to close at 5,680.35 points.

Trading was volatile during the entire week even after the United States Federal Reserve kept its rates steady, which was expected by the market.

Trading volume was high, reaching an average value of P7.33 billion. Foreign investors, who cornered 42 percent of the trades, were net sellers at P323.93 million.

Sub-indices were down, except for the Industrial index that gained 24.96 points to close at 7,318.17 points.

The broader All Shares index fell 14.87 to 3,178.42, the Financials index declined 12.69 to 1,786.89, the Holding Firms index retreated 22.32 to 4,237.23, the Property index was down 1.20 to 1,795.80, the Services index shed 55.52 to 2,960.63 and the Mining and Oil index plunged 369.29 to 18,191.43.

For the week, decliners edged losers 127 to 75 and 39 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers were Pacifica Holdings Inc., Waterfront Philippines Inc., Alliance Select Foods International Inc., Premiere Horizon Alliance Corp., PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc., Paxys Inc. and Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp.

Top losers, meanwhile, were Jolliville Holdings Corp., Supercity Realty Development Corp., Anglo Philippine Holdings Corp., NiHAO Mineral Resources International Inc., DMCI Holdings Inc., ENEX Energy Corp. and Rockwell Land Corp.

This week

Share prices may still decline this week, still on the dual risk of rising oil prices and the weakening peso.

It will be a four-day trading week as Monday, November 2 was declared an additional special non-working day for All Souls’ Day.

‘We stay in sit-out mode, continuing our preference towards dollar earners and well-capitalized names, and to avoid rate-sensitive and budget-exposed plays,’ broker 2TradeAsia said.

It added that the decision of the US Fed to keep its rate steady gives the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) a little breathing room, with the spread not further widening, although the relief may be brief.

The Fed again declined to give clear guidance, and nothing in the statement takes a December hike off the table, the broker noted.

‘We still expect the Fed to tighten on December 9, which keeps the double-tightening scenario in play; recall that the BSP is expected to have its last 2026 hike on December 17, which should limit any rally in rate-sensitive names before year-end.’

Outlook on oil prices is getting worse heading into the holidays with US President Trump recently warning against possible strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections.

billboards do the job socmed

‘The strikes themselves may never happen, but the market does not need them to as the talk alone is enough to keep a risk premium in crude; we thus expect oil to stay elevated through the holidays,’ it said.

That is bad timing for Philippine consumer confidence in fourth quarter which usually supports retail, food and transport, it added.

‘Watch the guidance beats. With most of the market reporting over the next two weeks, we caution that the forward commentary will matter more than the third quarter prints,’ the broker said.

‘We would treat a break below 5,600 (points of the PSEi) as a signal to cut exposure further and would add only on a close above 5,800 that holds after the Fed decision is out.’

Stock picks

Broker Regina Capital Development Corp. gave a trade-the-range rating on the stock of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) as price of the stock remained in consolidation mode.

‘The stock held its floor, with buyers stepping in early and keeping control through the close,’ it said,

‘Momentum indicators have turned slightly positive, with a small green histogram suggesting selling pressure is easing. Directional indicators still favor sellers, and ADX at 28.30 points to a moderate trend rather than a decisive one, consistent with a stock that is consolidating.’

ICTSI shares closed last week at P839 apiece.

Meanwhile, the broker gave the same advise on the stock of Bank of the Philippine Islands after it share price staged a modest bounce off support while remaining below key moving averages.

‘Although price action continues to trade below key moving averages, the support level appears to be holding, making range-trading strategies viable near current levels,’ it said.

Support price on the stock is seen at P96.50 and resistance at P97.

BPI shares closed last week at P94 apiece.

Amother and her two young children share a tender moment in a swimming pool; above them, the faint yellow sun of the Philippine flag.

The poignant image from a painting by 22-year-old Filipino-American artist Chels Munger-an homage to her Filipina mother who passed on two years ago-is part of the collection of visual and personal narratives the artist shares in her recent homecoming exhibition.

In ‘Glass Houses,’ held at the Big Gallery at Shangri-La Mall, Munger presents a collection of abstract expressionist works that explore the delicate intersections of vulnerability and strength, grief and memory, and her search for identity.

Deeply moving and emotionally resonant, the collection offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s inner landscape while marking a promising debut in the Philippine art scene.

‘Glass Houses’ describes the transparency Munger seeks to establish with her audience, offering an intimate window into her world. Each work reveals fragments of the artist’s life, feelings, and experiences. Through every piece, she invites viewers to look beyond the surface and glimpse the stories behind the art.

‘It’s the way I felt in that moment, or those weeks at a time that I was creating the piece. I felt like ‘Glass Houses’ was the perfect way to describe the way viewers can look at these pieces of myself while allowing them to look into themselves as well,’ Munger told BusinessMirror.

Personal narratives

In ‘Where/Begin,’ a 48″ x 36″ acrylic on canvas, Munger revisits a tender fragment of her childhood, bringing an almost-forgotten photograph back to life. The painting reconstructs a cherished moment of her late mother, younger brother, and her younger self enjoying an afternoon in a swimming pool.

The Philippine sun turns the image into a meaningful tribute to her mother’s Filipino heritage, adding another layer of personal and cultural significance to the composition.

‘When my mother died, somehow that cord was cut. I was afraid I may not visit the Philippines as much, or I wouldn’t be as connected anymore because I kind of lost that piece of myself. I felt it was really important to put that flag there because I’m very proud of my mother and very proud of my Filipino roots,’ she said.

In the midst of loss, art became her solace, offering comfort and a means to process her grief.

‘I wasn’t painting nearly as much as I do now. I think her passing on pushed me to paint way more than I was doing originally. I started off doing a lot of digital and traditional illustrations. I was supposed to go into animation and entertainment design, but I discovered I couldn’t convey the level of grief I was experiencing through digital media.

‘And when I started painting, I realized, this is it. This is where I can really express myself,’ revealed Munger.

Mirror for self-expression

A self-taught painter in her younger years, Munger is currently studying Studio Art at the Pasadena City College in Los Angeles and plans to do more shows in the Philippines and the US.

Working with oil and acrylic paints, Munger doesn’t exactly believe in labelling her artistic style, saying it’s for viewers to say.

Munger says she rarely begins with preliminary sketches or studies, preferring to approach the canvas with an open mind. She lets her brush touch the canvas with spontaneous gestures, intuitively interplaying colors with forms.

‘I really like the looseness of gestural painting. I don’t think too much, honestly, about the outcome. It’s really more of an expression of how I’m feeling. So, sometimes certain areas will be thicker with paint, and some will be thinner because I also like the contrast in textures,’ the artist explained.

Working with a palette of rich, solid hues, including Phthalo Blue, Naples Yellow, green, pink, and red, she builds her compositions through layers of paint and overpainting images on existing figures. Layers of color and figures give the work a translucent and tactile quality, creating a dynamic surface with depth, texture, and visual dimension.

The tension between belonging and displacement resonates in ‘Life on the Picket Fence,’ a 30″ x 30″ acrylic on canvas. A semi-transparent image of a house stems from the artist’s practice of layering paint, scraping, and adding and peeling off tape. The ghostly imagery evokes the feeling of being an outsider that Munger feels in the suburban community where her family lives.

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‘American suburbs are very cookie-cutter, very conservative, and everyone is trying to maintain an image. Even if most people are living paycheck to paycheck, they want the new car, the new RV, or the new motorcycle just to keep that image; I always really felt like an outsider there. So, I wanted to portray that,’ she stated.

In ‘Disruption,’ smeared strokes and scratches capture the emotional flutter of a young woman facing the unexpected news that her crush is now in a relationship. The expressive marks translate her ambivalent emotions into a playful yet poignant visual language.

Peeking through her proverbial ‘glass house,’ the artist hopes viewers will also find reflections of their own innermost feelings within her works.

‘I hope my paintings allow a space for people to go inwards. I think that’s really important, especially nowadays everything moves so fast. I’m a big advocate for mental health, so I hope there’ll be some self-discovery in seeing my paintings as well.’

In Munger’s ‘Glass Houses,’ art emerges as a space for healing, self-expression, and the search of identity, while inviting viewers to confront and process unsaid thoughts and feelings.

For more information about Munger’s art, check out Gallery Big on Facebook and Instagram.