Category: Business Mirror

A Catholic congregation is deepening devotion to St. Ezekiel Moreno as a source of hope for cancer patients, as the disease continues to affect an increasing number of Filipinos.

Fr. Bernard Amparado, prior provincial of the Augustinian Recollects’ Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, said the congregation wants the devotion to go beyond private prayer.

‘We are actively ensuring that this devotion serves as an instrument of hope and healing for cancer patients,’ Amparado told Radyo Veritas, adding that pastoral care, anointing and veneration of the saint’s relics should be part of the practice.

About 150,000 new cancer cases are reported annually in the Philippines, with breast and cervical cancers among the most common.

The Augustinian Recollects have promoted the devotion through nationwide pilgrimages of the saint’s relics and feast celebrations.

Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, marked the 120th anniversary of the saint’s death on August 19, saying suffering can deepen faith rather than weaken it.

‘Those sufferings didn’t separate him from Jesus. They actually made him realize that Jesus was close to him,’ Brown said in his homily at the St. Ezekiel Moreno Novitiate House in Antipolo City.

Brown offered the Mass, held on the saint’s feast day, for the sick, especially cancer patients.

St. Ezekiel’s own battle with cancer became central to his spiritual legacy. Born in Spain, he arrived in the Philippines in 1870 and was ordained in Manila the following year.

He served as a missionary in Manila, Palawan and Mindoro for 15 years before continuing his ministry in Colombia and later becoming a bishop in Spain. He died August 19, 1906, at age 58, having continued his work despite his illness.

Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1992, and the Church recognizes him as the patron saint of cancer patients.

More Philippine parishes are now honoring St. Ezekiel as patron, venerating his relics and supporting pastoral care for the sick.

In 2024, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines elevated his feast from an optional to an obligatory memorial nationwide.

Learning science is taking a step beyond textbooks and classrooms with the opening of the Science Discovery Center at Anjo World Theme Park, billed as the first facility of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao that combines interactive science exhibits with the experience of a theme park.

The facility in Minglanilla, Cebu, developed in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), aims to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) more engaging and accessible to young learners by allowing them to see, touch and experience scientific concepts firsthand.

Anjo World Theme Park President Chester Lim said the center was built on the belief that learning and enjoyment can go hand in hand.

‘Science goes beyond books and classrooms,’ Lim said, noting that the facility is designed to spark curiosity, encourage experimentation, and inspire children to think differently.

During the opening of the center on August 14, he said the goal is for students to leave the center not only with memories, but with questions and the confidence to explore and discover new things. ‘Today, we are not just opening an attraction; we are opening a door to curiosity, imagination, discovery, and possibility,’ Lim said.

DOST Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Bien de Guzman said the center is particularly relevant to the education system because its exhibits are deliberately connected to classroom learning, including concepts under the Matatag curriculum.

She pointed out that the facility should not be viewed merely as another entertainment destination but as a learning space where children can discover concepts while enjoying.

‘Sometimes they really need to encounter something that will make them say, ‘This is very good. How did this happen? I would like to learn more about this,” de Guzman said partly in Filipino.

She encouraged parents and teachers to nurture such curiosity, saying a child’s growing questions are signs that their mind is expanding.

De Guzman also encouraged students to consider careers in engineering, science, and research, particularly those that could lead to technologies addressing problems faced by Filipinos.

She also promoted DOST’s Starbooks digital library, which provides STEM and other educational resources.

DOST Region-7 Director Tristan Abando described the opening as an exciting development for Central Visayas, particularly in efforts to raise a generation more inclined toward science, technology, and innovation.

He said the center provides an opportunity for students to experience science rather than simply read about it, consistent with DOST’s ‘Agham na Ramdam’ advocacy.

The facility includes interactive exhibits designed to make scientific concepts more tangible, including displays focused on disaster risk reduction and management.

Abando said the exhibits are especially important for Cebu, which is vulnerable to natural hazards.

Among the concepts that students can explore are earthquakes and other natural phenomena. Thus, an earthquake simulator is among the planned experiences, allowing learners to better understand what happens during disasters.

Abando said making disaster-related concepts easier to understand can help children remember lessons and become more prepared when actual emergencies occur.

‘If a disaster is our enemy, we need to keep them closer. We need to understand them better,’ he said.

He said the partnership with Anjo World is also significant because it represents a new model for DOST’s Science Central Project, with a private-sector partner providing a venue where science education can be integrated with recreation.

According to Abando, the partnership took about a year of meetings, coordination and discussions before it was launched. It had a soft launching on July 13 during the 2026 Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week.

For Anjo World, the Science Discovery Center expands the theme park’s role from a weekend family destination into a venue where visitors can learn, experiment and explore.

The center is expected to welcome thousands of students. It is already receiving confirmed group bookings.

Lim urged students visiting the facility to remain curious, ask questions, experiment, fail and try again.

‘Ask ‘what if,’ because every discovery begets a question,’ he said.

For DOST and Anjo World, the ultimate goal is to make science less intimidating and more relatable to children-and potentially inspire the next generation of Filipino scientists, engineers, researchers, inventors and technology innovators.

‘Don’t forget to ask ‘why,’ and ‘what.’ Don’t be shy to ask questions,’ de Guzman reminded the students.

Amid its continued investments in expanding and enhancing its 5G network nationwide, mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) has been recognized by Ookla®, a global leader in network intelligence and connectivity insights, for delivering the Best Mobile Video Experience in the Philippines for the second consecutive year.

The recognition underscores Smart’s leadership in providing high-quality mobile streaming experiences for Filipinos.

Based on Ookla’s analysis of Speedtest Intelligence® data for the first half of 2026, Smart earned the Best Mobile Video Experience award after posting a Video Score of 72.82-the highest among mobile operators in the country.

The recognition measures customers’ real-world Quality of Experience (QoE) while streaming videos over mobile networks. The Video Experience award is based on three equally weighted components: acceptable video start time, uninterrupted playback, and full HD resolution.

According to Ookla’s methodology, the Video Score reflects the percentage of users who experience video start times of less than two seconds, uninterrupted playback without rebuffering events, and 1080p or higher resolution in the majority of their video sessions.

For millions of Smart and TNT customers, this translates to a differentiated experience with faster-loading videos, smoother playback, and clearer high-definition streaming across today’s most popular streaming platforms. Whether watching livestreams, catching up on the latest series during a commute, enjoying short-form videos, or tuning in to live sporting events, subscribers benefit from a consistently seamless mobile viewing experience.

Sustaining network excellence

‘This back-to-back recognition reflects the work of our network teams to continuously strengthen and improve our infrastructure. From expanding coverage in underserved communities to increasing capacity in high-demand areas, every enhancement is driven by our commitment to delivering the best possible mobile experience for our customers,’ said Debbie M. Hu, First Vice President and Head of Wireless Networks at Smart.

The award further reinforces Smart’s commitment to delivering world-class digital experiences as video continues to dominate how Filipinos communicate, learn, work, and entertain themselves online.

‘Video has become an essential part of everyday digital life for Filipinos, and our customers expect their mobile network to perform consistently wherever they go. This latest recognition from Ookla affirms that our network investments are translating into meaningful improvements in customer experience, and I encourage everyone to see the difference by streaming with Smart,’ said Lloyd R. Manaloto, First Vice President and Officer-in-Charge for Smart.

Smart 5G growth

Smart continues to invest in its nationwide network to support the growing demand for video streaming and other data-intensive digital experiences. These sustained investments in network optimization, targeted rollouts, and wider adoption of 5G-enabled devices continue to drive Smart’s 5G growth.

As of end-June 2026, the number of 5G-capable individual devices on the Smart network increased by 30% ? to 12.5 million. This represents 21% of individual devices on the network, reflecting continued migration toward 5G and higher data usage

Smart’s continued network investments reinforce the PLDT Group’s commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality digital services to Filipinos. These efforts also support the country’s digitalization agenda and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Jie Angela Mikaela Talosig bagged bronze at the close of the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission off the Boracay Newcoast.

Talosig, a member of the La Salle swimming team, finished the race for women 20-year-old and above in one hour, 18 minutes and 57 seconds.

Indonesia’s Nadya Saraswati won the event in 1:07.23, while Thailand’s Musikul Hirunhas claimed the silver medal in 1:09.15.

Julia Jewels Pobleto also bagged a bronze medal, clocking 50:40 behind Thais Kanchana Konsub (47:16) and Aliyah Sawangmun (49.48) in the girls 12-13-year-old 3K race.

Alfonso Joaquin de Mesa placed fourth in the boys 14-15-year-old class in 1:04.57. Vietnam’s Vin Thai Bao Nguyen won the race in 57.44, followed by Thailand’s Sakdichot Talawong in 59.42 and Kantapong Polyiem in 1:02.55 in the competition organized by the Philippine Aquatics Inc and sanctioned by Southeast Asian Federation.

Switzerland will soon go to the polls on the issue of food, in yet another test of voters’ appetites to answer big questions at the ballot box.

The popular initiative up for consideration on September 27, alongside another one on neutrality, will be the 28th of its kind since 2020. It will ask citizens if more of their food supply should be domestically produced.

That question posed under the unique system of Swiss direct democracy, where individuals can gather enough signatures to trigger a vote, adds to a list of topics put to the national electorate in 2026 on matters ranging from immigration to cash, to restrictions on fireworks.

The number of plebiscites has increased markedly over the years, with yet more taking place in Switzerland’s regions and towns. While backers of the status quo say it shows a vibrant democracy, others ask if it isn’t time for change in a country where often more than half of voters don’t bother casting ballots.

‘That the number of initiatives is growing is, in principle, a good thing-the Swiss public is well informed and has a high level of trust in politics,’ said Patricia Schafer, a senior fellow at Zurich-based think tank Avenir Suisse. ‘But the public’s attention span is limited.’

The ‘Initiative for Food Safety’ presented to citizens next month seeks to raise the proportion of groceries consumed in Switzerland that get produced there to 70 percent within a decade, up from less than 50 percent now. Implicitly, that would mean eating less meat.

‘We would produce more plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods so that we would have more calories available here and could better provide for ourselves in the event of a crisis,’ said Franziska Herren, a 59-year-old entrepreneur who is leading the campaign.

Opponents argue that the Swiss would need to go vegan or radically change their consumption behavior in order to reach the goals.

‘Instead of bratwurst, we’d have to eat mostly carrots, or follow a plant-based diet,’ said Martin Ritter, head of the Swiss Farmers’ Union.

The initiative stands out in making it to the ballot box despite opposition from across the political spectrum. Switzerland’s government, every member of parliament and all major parties are against it. As with all initiatives, Herren had to collect 100,000 signatures from eligible voters within 18 months, a number that has stayed the same since 1977. The electorate has since increased by half to 5.7 million, making it easier in relative terms to cross the hurdle.

Fabio Regazzi, a politician from the Center party, said the result is a risk of fatigue at the ballot box. He would favor a higher bar for signatures.

‘We hold votes on initiatives that have virtually no chance of passing, but we have to vote on them because the required number of signatures has been reached,’ he said.

There’s not much chance of change for now, with both of Switzerland’s biggest parties, the right-wing SVP and left-wing SP, opposing the idea.

Each tends to use such initiatives to pursue their own policy goals. But the parties also argue that initiatives are a sign of a lively democracy, and that the 100,000 bar is still hard to reach within 18 months. Marc Buehlmann, a political scientist at the University of Bern, agrees on that point. He said that physically collecting signatures has become harder, and highlights the situation at one popular spot, the Bundesplatz in front of Parliament in Bern.

‘If you go there today, everyone walks past you with headphones on,’ he said. ‘Very few stop to listen to your cause.’

The landscape could soon change after an initiative passed last September that will give people a digital version of their identity card for use on the internet. The government plans for the so called e-ID to eventually be used to sign initiatives online. ‘By then at the latest, an increase of the amount of signatures needed would be appropriate,’ said Schafer. ‘It would make more sense if the threshold were not an absolute number but a percentage of the voting population.’

That would of course make it harder for activists such as Herren. Her success so far is notable for defying political gravity, showcasing a system where grassroots campaigns can influence the national agenda.

What is all the more controversial about her effort is that this is a second attempt. The ‘Initiative for Food Safety’ includes a clause that aims to tackle farmers’ use of pesticides.

That’s reminiscent of the ‘Drinking Water Initiative’ Herren brought to the electorate in 2021 which also targeted that practice. Voters rejected it, with more than 60% opposed.

Herren said this will be her last try at a popular initiative because it involves ‘so much work,’ and a big struggle against political apathy.

Polls ahead of the vote aren’t revealing a clear trend: While one survey published this week showed that rejection looked likely, another suggested either side could still win.

Still, Ritter, who leads the campaign against the food security initiative, is confident of his chances.

‘Anything other than a clear no would be a huge surprise,’ he said.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has turned over new weightlifting equipment to the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Gym in Zamboanga City as part of its support for grassroots athletes.

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo said she is glad the gym, which she established in 2017 after earning the silver medal in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, is getting an upgrade.

‘I’m happy to see so many young people trying out weightlifting and dreaming of becoming medalists,’ Diaz-Naranjo said.

Asian Youth Games medalists Alexsandra Ann Diaz and Jhodie Peralta headed 21 young weightlifters present at the turnover ceremony which was also attended by coaches Allen Jayfrus Diaz and Emelita Diaz, and representatives from PSC Commissioner Matthew Gaston’s office, Assistance and Coordination Division OIC Anna Ruiz and Engineer LJ Bujawe.

‘This is about building dreams,’ PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio said. ‘By equipping the home of our local weightlifting community, we are laying the foundation for the next generation of Olympic icons.’

The project is a joint effort of the PSC and the Department of Education as part of the government’s push to expand sports development programs across the country.

FUNaloMAX, a product of Solaire, has officially launched its next-generation mobile app alongside the highly anticipated MAX REWARDS VIP program. Engineered to conquer the realities of Philippine internet connectivity, the new platform delivers world-class gaming prestige with lightning-fast accessibility.

A Technological Game Changer

FUNaloMAX abandoned heavy third-party frameworks to build a custom, in-house architecture engineered for speed – faster load times, optimized screens for slower connections, and frictionless Face ID login.

‘FUNaloMAX is purpose-built for a broader, more dynamic audience – players who want a faster, bolder experience on their own terms,’ said Gregory Francis Hawkins, Bloomberry Resorts Corporation President and COO. ‘We are no longer dependent on third-party platforms to execute our vision.’

The Fast-Track to Elite VIP Status

The app introduces MAX REWARDS, a disruptive six-tier loyalty system built around instant gratification, featuring a first-of-its-kind ‘Daily Shortcut’ that lets players jump from entry-level Spade Rookie to elite Joker tier in a single day of focused play.

Frictionless Cashouts and Real-World Luxury

Every real-money wager on premium slots, live casino tables, and nostalgic Bingo and Perya games instantly generates MAX Points (MP), immediately convertible into e-vouchers, with seamless deposits and cashouts powered by Maya and DragonPay. In its next phase, the MAX Rewards Shop will unlock premium physical items and exclusive luxury hospitality experiences powered by Solaire.

Experience the new standard of mobile play. Download the FUNaloMAX app today for free on the Apple iOS App Store or via Android APK.

As a high school student in the early 1980s, I would go to the Ateneo High School library and pull out the latest issue of Sports Illustrated that I read from cover to cover. I loved reading as a kid because not only did it enrich my vocabulary, but it also took me to places I have never been to. It also whetted my imagination. Introduced me to athletes from all over the world. And to writers who subconsciously influenced me to write-Frank Deford, Gary Smith, Rick Telander, William Nack, Jack McCallum, Leigh Montville, and Rick Reilly.

Then I got into local sports pages of the newspaper as well as the magazines. I loved going to the wet market with my mom on Saturdays because I got to buy the magazines of the day-Sports Flash, Atlas Sports Weekly, and later, Champ.

I would cut out the newspaper columns of Rech Trinidad, Al Mendoza, Quinito Henson, Tessa Jazmines, Ronnie Nathanielsz, Henry Liao, and others.

Then in 1988, I got to write for my aunt’s newspaper-News Today with Gus Villanueva as my sports editor. I covered the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association. Then I began contributing to the Lifestyle and Entertainment section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer where I wrote about music, comic book artists, food, foreign ambassadors, and even ghost wrote some consumer tips.

The latter two, I did while I was still in college. You can say that even before finishing school, I got to work and get paid for it.

I only stopped writing for PDI when I found myself increasingly working long hours with the advertising agencies I was employed. Copy writing is miles different from journalism copy so I thought that my young writing career was over. I never gave it much thought until many years later while trying to eke out a new life in New York, I began writing.

Writing letters to my parents, grandmother, family, friends, and classmates about my adventures and misadventures in the Empire State. What I didn’t know was my family was circulating my letters (wrong as it was). An old editor reached out and asked if we could serialize the letters in the pages of a newspaper. ‘It was fascinating and riveting,’ was how my old editor described my letters.

I was mollified. They were too personal to share. It was just your typical ‘Dear Mom and Dad,’ but I really wrote the heck out of everything. You could feel the exhilaration, the wonder, the sadness, and loneliness in every word. Maybe that was what drew people in.

I turned my old editor down and never once thought of it again.

When I came back home, I was working for Solar Sports as the Marketing Manager when one day, BusinessMirror’s Ricky Alegre and Jun Lomibao came over to meet me to discuss a possible ex-deal.

BM had been out for a few months, and they felt that their four-page colored sports section was one of the local scene’s best, if not the best. In exchange for plugs on our two sports channels-Solar Sports and Sports Plus-they would give us advertising space and a weekly column where I could write about our local programs and just about anything sports.

Since there was no cash out, it was an easy agreement.

I am currently celebrating my 20th year as a columnist for BusinessMirror. That is over 1,200 columns plus an equal number of reports, long form pieces, and a lot of exposes. I have made friends and also enemies.

Of the latter, I met the late British investigative journalist Andrew Jennings who was famously banned by FIFA after his allegations of corruption in world football. He was famously vindicated following the FBI’s arrests of world football leaders in 2015.

I met Mr. Jennings sometime in 2012 in Jakarta and heard of my exposes and fight with the Philippine Football Federation about its corrupt practices. You cannot believe my elation when he said he heard and read my pieces-‘You know you are on the right track when you strike fear in the faces and hearts of the crooked officials.’

‘Getting banned-as painful as it was by FIFA-is like a badge of courage.

After hearing that from Mr. Jennings, I tread my craft with no fear.

BusinessMirror and my newspaper column, Bleachers Brew, which is also the name of my blog that I populated with content for over a decade until I stopped, have been instrumental in my professional career. Many of the sports writers and media people I admired back in the day, have become friends and colleagues.

In this time, I have also written for ABS-CBN, philstar.com, Rappler, Philippines Free Press, FHM and Men’s Health, and a lot of other magazines and web sites. I have been media officer for the Azkals and Gilas, and a whole lot of other teams and sports events. I have also parlayed this into doing reports for Aksyon TV, ABS-CBN, and Al Jazeera. During this time, I have also written 10 best-selling sports books. But the one constant has been BM.

There have been a couple of instances where I wanted to turn in my BM press ID, but it never pushed though. I guess I couldn’t. Wouldn’t. When I went past my first decade, that is when I made the decision to stay and try to reach 20 years with the newspaper.

And now, I have. Outside Sir Jun, I am the longest serving writer of the sports department not to mention the newspaper.

You cannot believe how proud I am to have reached this milestone and to have a career that has been very rewarding in so many ways.

I am grateful, thankful, humbled, and appreciative. And much love to BM and Boss Jun, Sir Ricky, Mam Chuchay for giving me this wonderful platform to write.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on Wednesday urged parents and grandparents to nurture their children with compassion, saying families must strengthen human connection in the wake of a deadly school shooting in southern Philippines.

Speaking during Mass at the Parish Church of the Holy Sacrifice at the University of the Philippines Diliman, he asked what could drive a child to commit such violence and called on families to reflect on how values are formed at home.

‘For grandparents and parents, please show children a heart that is humane,’ Tagle said in his homily to mark the feast of St. John Eudes.

His appeal came a day after a high-school student at Ateneo de Zamboanga University shot and killed a fellow student before killing himself, authorities said.

It was the second fatal school shooting in the Philippines in about two months, following a June attack in Tacloban City that also killed students.

Tagle warned that families can be physically together but emotionally distant when attention is fixed on phones instead of each other.

‘But if at your dinner table, all of you-husband and wife and children-are looking at your cellphones instead of at one another, then nothing,’ he said.

He also cautioned against letting video games and artificial intelligence (AI) shape children’s thinking and behavior, saying technology cannot replace human guidance.

‘AI has no heart, games have no heart. Only human beings have hearts,’ he added.

Tagle did not directly blame technology for the Zamboanga shooting but used the tragedy to raise broader questions about how children are raised.

The pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization called on families to examine what ‘heart’ guides their words and actions, and urged Catholics to stay close to the heart of Jesus so Christ’s love reaches the poor and struggling.

‘Before we speak, before we act, let us ask: What kind of heart is urging me to do this?’ he said. CBCP News

OpenAI and Thinking Machines recently formed a partnership to help Philippine enterprises, growing businesses, and educational institutions to achieve a more secure, practical and organization-wide AI adoption.

In a recent media briefing in Makati City, the two companies also highlighted that OpenAI’s Partner Network is designed to help organizations translate AI ambitions into measurable impact by connecting them with partners that bring industry expertise, technical capabilities, deployment experience and strong customer relationships.

For Thinking Machines, the Advanced Partner recognition underscores its technical capabilities and delivery track record while highlighting the potential for Filipino talent to develop and deploy world-class AI solutions for businesses and broader societal challenges.

‘Being recognized as an OpenAI Advanced Partner is an important validation of the capability our team has built over the last decade,’ said Niek van Veen, vice president for commercial at Thinking Machines.

‘What excites me even more is what comes next. Expanding our work together through ChatGPT Business and ChatGPT Edu enables us to support more organizations, from growing businesses to educational institutions, while continuing to help enterprises deploy AI at scale and developing Filipino talent,’ he added.

Thinking Machines is one of only 30 companies worldwide to be named an OpenAI Advanced Partner.

AI is already becoming a vital part of how Filipinos work.

According to the companies, about 40 percent of ChatGPT messages in the Philippines are work-related, highlighting the opportunity for organizations to move from individual use of AI toward coordinated, organization-wide capabilities.

They said the evolution of AI is also pushing organizations beyond simple productivity assistance toward more sophisticated, agentic workflows that can change how teams make decisions, serve customers and accomplish tasks.

For Philippine companies, however, they said the next challenge is making AI adoption repeatable and sustainable across the organization. Thinking Machines works with enterprises across industries to identify high-value workflows, build AI fluency, redesign processes and deploy AI within existing data, governance and operating environments.

‘AI is easy to experiment with; transforming an organization with it is harder,’ van Veen said.

‘The opportunity now is to turn familiarity with AI into organizational capability-embedding it into the way businesses operate, make decisions, and create value.’

They said preparing employees to work effectively alongside AI is equally important.

The expanded collaboration also places emphasis on making AI accessible beyond large enterprises.

Through ChatGPT Business, Thinking Machines said it can support growing businesses seeking to incorporate AI into their operations, while ChatGPT Edu provides an avenue for educational institutions to explore AI-enabled teaching, learning and institutional workflows. The broader approach reflects the changing nature of AI adoption in the Philippines, where businesses of different sizes and educational institutions are increasingly looking for practical applications rather than simply experimenting with generative AI.

For the country’s technology ecosystem, the partnership also reinforces the potential of Filipino professionals and technical teams to participate in the development and deployment of advanced AI capabilities.