Category: Business Mirror

As Hongqi continues to dazzle the Philippine automobile market, the luxury marque remains committed to the highest standards of vehicle safety, with its newest flagship electric models – the E-H7 and E-HS7 – scoring 5-Star Ratings in the Euro NCAP standardized safety test. These models add to Hongqi’s already stellar record for safety, with the E-HS9 also having previously received a 5-Star Rating from the Euro NCAP.

For the models to secure the 5-Star Rating, sample vehicles must undergo and pass several extreme testing challenges. To name a few, vehicles are subjected to a water submersion test to determine how well they can resist flood damage as well as leakages, smoke, explosion, and fire tests, which were all passed without dire incident. The testing regime included simulated front and rear collisions at speeds of up to 100 km/h, followed by dedicated side-impact assessments, which were once again hurdled with no significant deformation of the car’s pillars and with airbags deploying as designed.

Finally, a compression test to simulate a massive object falling onto the vehicle, equivalent to nearly 7.8 tons on the panoramic glass roof, is performed. This final test left minimal deformation, leaving ample survival space for occupants.

Through the 5-star rating achieved during rigorous Euro NCAP testing, Hongqi proves its commitment to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to keeping its passengers not only stylish and comfortable, but safe and protected.

‘As faithful Hongqi owners know, the moment you step into a Hongqi vehicle, you immediately enter a world of luxury both inside and out. But feeling comfortable and looking great on the road mean nothing when a vehicle isn’t safe,’ says Rashid Delgado, Hongqi PH and EVOxTerra President and TDG Co-CEO. ‘That’s why our ultimate priority has always been the protection of all passengers, drivers, and even pedestrians, whenever someone takes the wheel of an E-H7 or E-HS7.’

The 5-star Euro NCAP rating attributed to Hongqi’s flagship models attests to designs and build quality that address the most common causes of road accidents, along with floods, dangerous road conditions, and unfortunate collisions.

On top of paramount safety considerations, the Hongqi E-HS7 and E-H7 feature stunning visuals and incredible performance. The E-H7 sedan, starting at P2,280,000, provides an incredible single-charge driving range of 650 km; while the EHS7, starting at P2,580,000, offers a single-charge driving range of 540 km. Car enthusiasts interested in test-driving the models are encouraged to visit Hongqi’s physical showrooms in BGC, Alabang, Manila Bay, and Quezon City. You may also visit Hongqi’s official website at www.hongqi.ph, or to follow Hongqi Philippines on Facebook (hongqi.philippines) and Instagram (@hongqi_ph) for more updates and information

October 22, 2025 | Tower One and Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle Gardens. Bang Pineda has always been a disruptor in the Philippine fashion scene – a designer unafraid to push boundaries, blur lines, and question the very rules of style. This October 22, 2025, he returns with his much-anticipated fashion show, State of Bang, staged at the iconic Tower One and Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle Gardens.

This new collection is not just about clothes. It’s a trilogy of thought, movement, and rebellion. Three narratives – White Noise, In the Gray, and Off Grid – each capturing a state of being, a question of identity, and a challenge to convention.

White Noise: The Shape of Curiosity

Pineda opens with purity – but not the fragile kind. His all-white series asks: what does it mean to wonder?

The silhouettes sculpt armor out of innocence, while draped fabrics become visual metaphors for questions taking shape. White becomes less about absence and more about potential – a blank canvas for discovery. Sheer layers expose the bravery of vulnerability, while cutouts symbolize gaps in knowledge waiting to be filled.

It’s not silence, and it’s not chaos. It’s curiosity, raw and awake.

In the Gray: The Art of Becoming

The second act is a meditation on limbo – that uncomfortable, unresolved middle ground between what was and what will be.

Here, shades of gray dominate: from soft ash to deep charcoal. The garments are intentionally imperfect, with raw seams, asymmetry, and unfinished drapes. These choices reflect the beauty of transition, the strength of uncertainty, and the elegance of being ‘in progress.’

This is fashion that doesn’t demand answers – it simply honors the tension of becoming.

Off Grid: Rules Rewritten in Denim

The finale is loud, rebellious, and unapologetic. Streetwear at its most evolved, Off Grid reimagines denim not as tradition, but as a manifesto. Distressed, patched, oversized, and splashed with unexpected colors, denim here becomes the uniform of refusal – a refusal to be boxed in or defined.

Silhouettes are broken and rebuilt. Jackets move like questions. Pants twist with perspective. Hoodies carry unexpected structures. The language is clear: freedom, disruption, and unapologetic individuality.

It’s streetwear not as nostalgia, but as mindset: unboxed, unbothered, and unapologetic.

The State of Bang

Together, the three narratives form a conversation: the spark of curiosity, the tension of transition, and the rebellion of self-definition. State of Bang is less a fashion collection and more an exploration of the human condition – how we ask, how we change, and how we claim space.

On October 22, Pineda isn’t just showing clothes. He’s showing states of being. And true to his form, he’s showing us that fashion is not just about what we wear – it’s about how we move through the world.

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has asked the public to stay away from certain tourist destinations as these were temporarily closed due to a series of earthquakes that rocked the Davao Region on October 10.

In particular, climbing and hiking Mt. Apo in Digos City are prohibited, said the DOT in a statement. Also closed are Davao Oriental Welcome Park, Aliwagwag Falls Eco Park, Mt. Hamiguitan Museum, Cape San Agustin, Subangan Museum, Pusan Point, and the National Museum in Davao City as part of overall precautionary measures at these specific sites.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said 655 tourism workers were affected by the recent earthquake, among them, boatmen, resort staff, and related service workers.

She added that the DOT ‘continues to monitor developments’ in the region, even as she assured that ‘no casualties or stranded tourists have been recorded’ as of Sunday.

Partially damaged resorts

However, DOT-Region 11 reported that several tourist sites or establishments in Davao Oriental ‘sustained partial damage, [as such] tourist activities in some sites remain temporarily suspended as assessments and inspections continue.’

Among the sites and accommodation establishments that have suffered ‘partial structural damage’ in Baganga, Davao Oriental are: Langoyon Beach Resort, GCNM Sunrise Boulevard, Ayana’s Siling Kinamayo, Sun and Waves Beach Resort, Playa del Rosario Resort, and Villa D’Mar Dragon Hot Spring Resort.

Also, reported damaged was the Sanipaan Staging Area in the Island Garden City of Samal, which is also being further assessed as the other properties above.

The DOT noted that while flights at the Davao International Airport were initially delayed on Friday, these have since returned to normal scheduled operations.

Cruise pax aid N. Cebu

A series of earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.4 and 6.8 jolted Davao Oriental on October, which the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) determined as a ‘doublet quake,’ as the tremors occurred in or within the same area.

On September 29, the province of Cebu was also rocked by an earthquake measured at magnitude 6.9, affecting several heritage churches and tourist sites.

Frasco noted in a separate news statement that passengers on the Villa Vie Odyssey were among those who gave financial aid to the earthquake victims in Cebu. The ship, which carried 650 residential cruisers, docked at the Cebu International Port on October 5.

She said some of the passengers were from the United States, India, South Africa, Greece, and Romania. ‘They informed me that when they learned of the earthquake in Cebu, they voluntarily came together to gather funds. And I think their last count reached around $16,000.to contribute to the relief efforts in Northern Cebu,’ said the DOT chief.

‘Stay updated’

Meanwhile, Frasco advised tourists to ‘remain vigilant and observe all safety advisories issued by Phivolcs, local government units, and disaster response authorities,’ as aftershocks may occur in the next few days. Visitors to the Davao Region should avoid entering damaged or restricted areas until cleared by authorities, she added.

Tourists are encouraged to check official information sources for updates and accurate reports. They are also urged to coordinate with their hotels and other accommodation providers, along with local tourism offices, for the status of their bookings, tours, and status of destinations they are visiting.

Former broadcaster and Cainta Mayor Ramon ‘Mon’ Ilagan will join the Marcos administration as the new undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

PCO Acting Secretary Dave M. Gomez made the confirmation in an announcement last Monday.

However, he clarified that Ilagan will not replace PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro as Palace Press Officer.

‘He will not replace undersecretary Claire. Claire is still spokesperson and Press Office,’ Gomez said in Filipino.

He said Ilagan will focus on the operations of PCO.

Aside from being a local chief executive in Cainta from 2004 to 2013, Ilagan also served as assistant secretary and spokesperson of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

He previously worked as a broadcast journalist for ABS-CBN. (Samuel Medenilla)

THE House Committee on Ethics and Privileges has created a reconciliation subcommittee that will mediate all cases filed before it, but House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno made it clear on Monday that reconciliation is not an option in the ethics complaint against Cavite Rep. Francisco Barzaga.

In an interview, Puno said the complaint he and 28 other members of the National Unity Party (NUP) filed against Barzaga was not a personal grievance but a matter that strikes at the integrity of the House of Representatives as an institution.

‘We filed this complaint because we want standards of behavior to be established in Congress,’ he said. ‘Is it acceptable to post obscene photos on our website? To insult women? To tell young people to become congressmen to get rich? If that’s considered acceptable, then the Ethics committee should say so. But I believe such behavior must be prohibited.’

Puno added that Barzaga’s conduct has caused ‘significant damage’ to the image of the House and that members of Congress should be held to higher ethical standards, particularly during plenary sessions.

Barzaga, for his part, welcomed the opportunity for a hearing before the Ethics panel, saying it would allow both sides to express their views.

He acknowledged the possible outcomes of the case-including suspension, removal, or even imprisonment-but maintained that he had done nothing wrong.

Puno, however, insisted that Barzaga’s statements and behavior reflected lower standards than the average person, adding that the Ethics Committee must take decisive action to set a clear precedent for acceptable conduct among legislators.

The Ethics committee, which held a closed-door hearing on Monday morning, is expected to deliberate on whether the case will proceed to formal hearings following the creation of its new reconciliation subcommittee.

CLYDE MONDILLA and Reymon Jaraula know it will take far more than familiarity with the course for either of them to again dominate the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Del Monte Championship.

The homegrown aces finished 1-2 the last time the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) visited the mountain-top layout in Bukidnon in 2023 and heading into the P3.5 million event, which fires off Tuesday, both are tempering expectations with a blend of caution, confidence and competitive hunger.

‘I’m comfortable with the course which I play often, but you can’t underestimate Del Monte,’ said Mondilla, who made a thrilling comeback two years ago with a pair of eagles on Day 1 and three closing birdies in the final round to edge Jaraula by one.

Now gunning to defend his crown, the former Philippine Open champion knows that course knowledge is only part of the equation.

‘Each round would be different, you get to learn everyday,’ he said. ‘So I make sure I’m focused each time and respect the course.’

If Mondilla is taking it methodically, Jaraula enters with quiet confidence to flip the script.

‘I’m familiar with this course and hopefully use this to my advantage,’ said the three-time PGT winner whose local roots remain a strong motivational anchor.

They are eager to put on a show at home especially after contrasting finishes in the previous leg at Marapara-Mondilla rallying late to tie for second and Jaraula settling for a share of 18th place.

But even with their intimate knowledge of Del Monte, the field is anything but predictable.

Veteran Frankie Miñoza, a living legend and Del Monte icon, returns to action after a long layoff.

Although well-versed in every inch of the course, Miñoza, too, understands that success hinges as much on form and mental fortitude as it does on familiarity.

Challenging the homegrown talents is a loaded field that includes red-hot contenders, decorated champions, rising stars and a wave of foreign threats.

Leading the charge is Keanu Jahns, who has strung together an impressive PGT run-winning twice and placing runner-up twice in six starts.

Although his three-peat hopes were derailed by Rupert Zaragosa at Marapara, the big-hitting Filipino-German remains a prime threat.

‘Same as always, take it one shot at a time and stick to my routine,’ said Jahns of his game plan. ‘Del Monte’s tighter layout may favor accuracy more than length, so I’ll adapt accordingly during the practice round.’

Zaragosa, the crafty and confident shotmaker who thrives on tree-lined courses, is another player to watch-he’s fresh off a dominant win at Marapara he sees similarities in Del Monte’s setup, a scenario he hopes to exploit.

‘My game thrives in tree-lined courses,’ Zaragosa said. ‘To win again, I need to stay committed to my process, trust my instincts and the results will follow.’

Veteran campaigners Tony Lascuña and Jhonnel Ababa, both eager to hit their stride before the final two legs of the P10.5 million Mindanao swing in Davao, are poised to strike.

Forest Hills winner Guido van der Valk, Zanieboy Gialon, Michael Bibat, Ira Alido and Nilo Salahog round out a formidable local cast.

Young guns Ryan Monsalve, Russell Bautista, Kristoffer Arevalo, Elee Bisera and John Michael Uy are also looking to make a breakthrough.

The foreign challenge is equally potent-American Collin Wheeler and a formidable Korean contingent composed of Jisung Cheon, Tae Soo Kim, Jaehyun Jung and Taewon Ha and along with Japanese standout Atsushi Ueda are all primed to spoil the locals’ homecoming.

World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10, arrives this year with the theme ‘Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Disasters’-a timely call, as the Philippines continues to cope with regional crises following recent calamities such as flooding and earthquakes. It’s a reminder that caring for mental well-being is now just as essential as meeting business targets or project deadlines.

But despite the growing recognition of mental health in the workplace, recent events following the earthquake in Bogo, Cebu, reveal the need for more compassionate policies. Several BPO companies reportedly reprimanded employees who chose to stop working after the quake due to safety concerns, with some workers facing administrative sanctions, loss of benefits, or even notices-to-explain when they prioritized their well-being and their families’ over immediate job tasks.

Complaints have surfaced that staff were ordered to return to work while aftershocks continued, and in certain cases, those who evacuated were called back before thorough safety inspections were completed. These incidents have sparked a broader call for change, urging businesses to value psychological safety and disaster response protocols as much as business continuity-especially in times of crisis.

There is still, however, a quiet shift that is occurring in many small businesses and large corporations: mental health is no longer an optional concern but a pillar of workplace resiliency and productivity.

Inspired by the annual global advocacy, more Filipino companies are now dedicating time and resources to implement workplace wellness events, from mindfulness breaks to wellness fairs. These initiatives respond not only to the stress from unpredictable events but also to day-to-day pressures that affect focus, morale, and team dynamics.

Among the most effective additions to corporate wellness programs are mindful practices like tai chi and qigong. These gentle, movement-based disciplines blend breathing, mental focus, and slow, deliberate motion to help reduce stress, quiet racing thoughts, and support overall well-being. Employees often report less anxiety, improved clarity, and greater resilience after participating, echoing findings from research across Asia and beyond.

Yet there’s so much more that companies can do. Many workplaces now offer group yoga sessions-suitable for all fitness levels-that help loosen muscles, calm nerves, and enhance flexibility. Guided mindfulness and meditation workshops teach employees strategies for self-soothing and focus, while dance or Zumba classes offer a joyful, energizing way to break up the workday.

Forward-thinking HR teams have also experimented with:

Quiet hours or designated break rooms for reflection, coloring, or enjoying soothing herbal teas.

‘Walk and Talk’ sessions, encouraging meetings on foot for natural stress relief

Trivia games and educational seminars to break stigma and promote mental health literacy.

Wellness challenges based on steps taken, healthy eating, or hydration.

Acts of kindness days, journaling workshops, and peer support circles.

Some organizations even bring in wellness therapists for on-site massages, host awareness talks with psychologists, or offer training so managers and staff know how to spot and respond to emotional distress among colleagues.

Incorporating these varied approaches makes mental health support accessible and engaging for all, helping to build resilience not just for individuals but for the organization as a whole.

This World Mental Health Day, Philippine business leaders can set a powerful example. By making space for wellness activities and inviting partners like the Peace Blossoms Internal Arts Society (09178456856) to lead qigong, tai chi, or wellness sessions, companies can nurture a culture where success and psychological health go hand in hand. For organizations hoping to create a mentally stronger, more harmonious workplace, now is the time to act-and to show that investing in people’s inner well-being is a winning strategy for everyone.

And going back to the events in Bogo, there is a pressing need for clear, compassionate disaster response policies across all sectors. Companies must ensure that no employee is penalized for prioritizing their own safety or that of their family during emergencies, and robust protocols must be in place to provide support-psychologically and logistically-before requiring anyone to return to work. Formal guidance from labor authorities, ongoing mental health education for management, and stronger industry accountability are essential steps to prevent similar incidents.

Ultimately, the lesson from Bogo is clear: true workplace wellness is measured not only by the programs on offer, but by how organizations respond, lead with empathy, and uphold dignity when their people need it most.

FOLLOWING the awarding of eight petroleum service contracts (PSCs) in Malacañang last week, three more are being evaluated by the Palace for approval.

A Department of Energy (DOE) official said there are another three contracts that are being evaluated by the Office of the President. Moreover, DOE Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said, the agency itself is also reviewing similar applications. ‘There are another three that are under application and evaluation in the department,’ he said.

The eight PSCs worth around $207 million covers exploration areas at the Sulu Sea, Cagayan, Cebu, Northwest Palawan, East Palawan, and Central Luzon. The service contractors are expected to discover native hydrogen reservoirs and new petroleum fields during the seven-year exploration period.

The eight PSCs that were unveiled by President Marcos are:

PSC 80 and 81 were awarded to a consortium composed of Triangle Energy (Global) Limited, an Australian company; Sunda Energy Plc, registered in the United Kingdom; and the Philippine-based firms PXP Energy Corp. and the Philodrill Corp.

These are co-managed by the DOE and the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM-MENRE). SC80 covers approximately 780,000 hectares while SC 81 spans about 532,000 hectares.

PSC 82, located in Cagayan Basin and has an area of 480,000 hectares, was awarded to Triangle Energy (Global) Limited.

PSC 83 and 84, both for native hydrogen exploration in Central Luzon, were awarded to US-based Koloma, Inc.. SC 83 covers 126,645 hectares while SC 84 covers 85,082 hectares.

PSC 85, covering 127,475 hectares in onshore Cebu, was awarded to Gas 2 Grid Pte. Ltd.

PSC 86, awarded to consortium of Filipino companies composed of The Philodrill, Anglo Philippine Holdings Corp., PXP Energy Corporation, and Forum Energy Philippines Corp., covers 132,000 hectares in the Northwest Palawan Basin.

PSC 87, located in the East Palawan Basin, was awarded to Ratio Petroleum Ltd. of Israel. This marks the company’s second PSC, following PSC 78, also situated in the East Palawan Basin, where Ratio successfully conducted a 3D seismic survey last year.

The next steps to be undertaken by the service contractors include permitting with local governments and other government agencies, information campaign, geological and geophysical studies, seismic survey, sand drilling activities, among others.

These work programs are designed to assess the petroleum and hydrogen potential of the contract areas while ensuring strict adherence to environmental and safety standards.

Beyond exploration, service contractors will fund and undertake educational scholarships, capacity building, and community development programs even during the early exploration phase. Once production begins, host communities will further benefit through infrastructure development, social programs, and local employment opportunities generated by these projects.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE), the operator of the local equities and fixed-income markets, on Sunday said the market has not lost P5 trillion in less than one year, calling the claim as ‘dishonest, if not malicious.’

In a statement, the PSE said the comparing domestic market capitalization (MCAP) of the bourse as against total market capitalization, which included those also listed overseas, is like apples and oranges.

It said the claim ‘is clearly meant to provoke investors to lose confidence in the Philippine capital market and destabilize the economy.’

The PSE said it tracks two types of MCAP-the domestic and total market capitalization.

Domestic MCAP are those from Philippine companies that are primarily listed on the PSE.

Total MCAP, meanwhile, includes the domestic MCAP and also those listed overseas. These are Manulife Financial Corp., whose shares are also traded on the Toronto, Hong Kong, and New York stock exchanges; Sun Life Financial Inc., which is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges; and Campos-led Del Monte Pacific Ltd., which is also traded at the Singapore stock exchanges.

‘Since only less than 1 percent of the outstanding shares of MFC and SLF and less than 5 percent of DELM are lodged for trading in PSE, [the] PSE uses domestic MCAP data as the MCAP reference number since it more accurately captures the performance of the Philippine stock market,’ the PSE said.

Domestic MCAP is down by P273.26 billion or 1.88 percent as of October 10, to P14.29 trillion from end of last year’s P14.56 trillion, the PSE said.

Foreign MCAP, which only includes the three firms, fell 11 percent for the period to P4.82 trillion from P5.44 trillion.

Total MCAP, meanwhile, fell by 4 percent or P886.84 billion to P19.12 trillion from the end of last year’s trading.

A post last October 10 on social media by a ‘pseudo-expert’ on the stock market advanced the claim that the PSE has lost up to P5 trillion in market capitalization since December 2024.

‘Unfortunately, this fake news was irresponsibly published on the same day and reposted the following day in an online tabloid that is known for prioritizing sensationalism that will generate clicks and engagements over providing news that have been fact-checked or verified, a minimum prerequisite required of legitimate journalists in this era where fake news is readily accepted as gospel truth,’ the PSE said.

Last week, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Francis E. Lim apologized for making a mistake when he said the corruption issue on flood control projects have wiped out about P1.7 trillion in market value of publicly listed companies.

Lim said the information was ‘based on what I believed at the time to be a credible industry report. I have since learned that the report was fictitious. I deeply regret any confusion or concern that my statement may have caused.’

‘My sole intent was to underscore the vital importance of integrity in our markets and the devastating impact corruption can have on investor confidence.’

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) announced that its C-130 and NC-212i transport aircraft on Sunday airlifted relief items for communities still reeling from the effects of two powerful earthquakes in Davao Oriental last Oct. 10.

In a statement Monday, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Castillo said this airlift mission is in support of the government’s ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations for quake-affected communities in Davao Oriental.

She added that these military aircraft took off from Benito N. Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and landed with their cargo in Mati Airport, Davao Oriental.

Basco said the relief goods, carried by the PAF aircraft, were provided by the Philippine Red Cross and consists of 147 portable tents, 10 family tents, and assorted relief items including mosquito nets, blankets, plastic mats, and kitchen sets.

Personnel from the Tactical Operations Group 11, 701st Brigade of the Philippine Army, 11th Aviation Security Unit of the Philippine National Police, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Davao, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Davao Oriental, Bureau of Fire Protection-Region 11, and Philippine Red Cross- Davao Oriental Chapter assisted in the unloading and transport of goods.

‘These sustained efforts highlight the PAF’s steadfast commitment to provide rapid airlift support and ensure the timely delivery of life-saving aid to disaster-stricken communities, in close coordination with partner agencies and humanitarian organizations,’ Basco said.