Category: Business Mirror

Global banks are flocking to India’s newest finance hub to take advantage of the nation’s surging demand for US-dollar denominated debt, taking a key business away from Asia’s more established centers such as Hong Kong and Singapore.

Banks in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City disbursed nearly $20 billion in dollar loans to Indian corporates in the fiscal year ended March, more than a third of the total issued for local companies globally. That’s up from two years ago, when banks at the hub disbursed only 16%, according to data from the International Financial Services Centers Authority, or IFSCA, the hub’s regulator.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., which set up operations in GIFT City in 2022, now issues most of its debt to Indian companies from the hub, where the lender’s book accounts for two-thirds of its $20 billion India balance sheet, according to people familiar with the matter. An MUFG spokesperson declined to comment on the growth of the bank’s GIFT City loan book.

Another top lender, HSBC Holdings Plc, is building its international trade finance portfolio from the hub and expanding into areas including wealth and cross-border markets products, according to the bank’s India chief executive Hitendra Dave.

Their growth marks an early win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pro-business pet project in western India nearly two decades in the making. The hub seeks to facilitate more Indian trading and lending – capturing market share from more established financial centers like Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai.

The lure is a slew of tax incentives, including a 10-year tax holiday on business income. For loans, the absence of any so-called withholding tax – the levy charged on a loan or bond’s interest income – is a major draw. That allows bankers in GIFT City to offer cheaper financing than those in more established hubs, where the withholding tax ranges from 10% to 15%, according to lenders such as Standard Chartered Plc and MUFG.

‘GIFT City is taking a larger share of the offshore borrowing market for Indian companies,’ said Vivek Ramji Iyer, a partner at Grant Thornton Bharat LLP. That growth is ‘a warning call for more established centers like Hong Kong and Singapore.’

It’s clear why India is so keen to capture a piece of the lending business. Robust economic growth and more accommodative government policies are ushering Indian companies into a new phase of investment following a bad loan cycle that peaked with the collapse of shadow bank Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd. in 2018.

SandP Global Ratings expects top businesses in India to boost spending and capital expenditure over the next five years. They expect capex of about $800 billion between fiscal 2026 and 2030, and a further $1 trillion by fiscal 2035.

Lenders ranging from banks to private credit firms are rushing to finance that growth, especially as a lingering property crisis in China is hurting growth prospects for the region’s dominant source of corporate debt. The pace of issuance may increase further after India’s central bank in October proposed regulatory changes that would make it easier for firms to access foreign funds.

‘Borrowers are increasingly preferring to borrow from GIFT City than global centers such as London, Singapore, Mauritius and Hong Kong,’ said Sachin Shah, managing director and head of strategy at Standard Chartered in India. The all-inclusive borrowing cost is around 50 to 70 basis points lower depending on the company’s international ratings and nature of the loan, he said.

Banks are rolling out new products there, too. Shashank Joshi, deputy chief executive at MUFG Bank India, said the bank’s GIFT unit offers products including foreign currency loans, structured products and trade financing to Indian corporates. The lender sees future growth coming from offering its global treasury products.

Businesses other than lending are growing too. Banks in GIFT City manage $94 billion as of June, nearly triple the amount three years prior. HSBC holds about $10 billion there.

The British bank offers nearly 50 international products at GIFT City and is also planning to provide insurance products for resident and non-resident clients.

Already, some domestic banks have scaled back business in foreign hubs. Axis Bank Ltd., one of the nation’s largest private lenders, consolidated its foreign business to GIFT City during fiscal 2020 by shutting branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Colombo and London, according to Vivek Srivastava, chief executive for the GIFT City branch. It also shifted its own debt fundraising operations to GIFT City from Dubai.

As chairman of the IFSCA, K. Rajaraman walks a line between regulating the financial hub and singing its praises to prospective tenants. In the office, there’s a framed excerpt from Modi’s speech at the hub in 2017, where he made a goal of setting prices for some of the largest traded instruments in the world – commodities, currencies or equities – within the next decade.

‘If you ask me the big picture, it is to provide Indian corporates global capital at the most competitive rates,’ said Rajaraman.

The way he sees it, the shift of the earlier SGX Nifty contract, the main equity derivative contract for Indian stocks, was a success. Previously traded in Singapore, the shift in July 2023 helped boost the derivatives business in GIFT City, with annual equity derivatives turnover on the NSE International Exchange crossing $1 trillion in the fiscal year ended March, up from $255 billion in fiscal 2023.

Rajaraman points to the nearly 200 fund entities that have set up in the hub, mainly bringing in non-resident Indian funds, as well as an increase in aircraft leasing financing, a business traditionally dominated by Dublin and Singapore.

Early stages

Still, a lot of this is in early stages. The push for Indian corporates to raise foreign equity capital from the hub is off to a modest start, with no immediate plans for large Mumbai-listed companies to tap the market.

The central bank’s attempt to lure back some of the rupee trading by starting a non-deliverable forward market has been met with a lukewarm response by banks, who still prefer hubs like Singapore where there’s more liquidity. The Indian government’s push to spur green bond trading in the hub has been a non-starter.

Companies have struggled to attract talent to the hub, which still can’t compete with more established cities in the way of perks, infrastructure and socializing. A survey of senior executives found 63% were unwilling to move due to limited professional and personal networks, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

‘Despite its progress, GIFT City has considerable ground to cover before it can outpace established global hubs and emerge as a leading international financial center,’ wrote Gayathri Parthasarathy and Amitabh Mukherjee, who authored the report.

Broadening scale

For the time being, Rajaraman, the IFSCA chairman, has his sights set on getting more corporate treasuries to set up operations, growing the fintech ecosystem, developing the bullion exchange and facilitating more commodity derivatives traded out of GIFT City.

Yashraj Erande, who leads the financial institutions practice for India at Boston Consulting Group, applauded the speed of development happening in GIFT City, but said the hub now needs to develop relative global scale.

‘Ecosystems like DIFC and Hong Kong become very powerful when you have deep markets across multiple products and a set of services to go along with these products,’ said Erande. ‘That is important for GIFT City to get to.’

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been playing each other nearly all year for the biggest titles in tennis.

Add one more important trophy that they will vie for on Sunday: the ATP Finals.

The top-ranked Alcaraz beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4 and No. 2 Sinner defeated Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2 before his Italian home crowd in the semifinals on Saturday to set up another meeting between the two players who have distanced themselves from the rest of the field.

‘I expect at least three to four people in the crowd cheering for me,’ Alcaraz said with a smile. ‘It’s going to be really difficult. I’m just really happy to see Jannik in another final. Every time we face each other in a final we raise our level to the top.’

Alcaraz already secured the year-ending No. 1 ranking but will be contesting his first final at the event for the year’s top eight players.

‘The No. 1 means that I’ve been playing really good during the whole season, (on all) surfaces,’ Alcaraz said. ‘He’s playing the best on indoor courts. We’re playing in front of his home crowd. I would say he’s the favorite.’

Sinner will be playing in his third consecutive final in Turin and aiming for his second consecutive trophy. The Italian hasn’t dropped a set at the Finals since getting beaten by Novak Djokovic in the 2023 championship match – a run of 18 consecutive sets.

‘These are matches I look forward to,’ Sinner said. ‘Also to see for me where my level really is but at the same time it’s great before the off-season to have this matchup . of course, I feel comfortable on an indoor hard court.’

Sinner and Alcaraz have met in the last three Grand Slam finals: Alcaraz beat Sinner in a fifth-set tiebreaker to win the French Open; Sinner gained a measure of revenge by beating Alcaraz for the Wimbledon trophy; then Alcaraz again came out on top at the U.S. Open.

‘Every matchup is different. We saw it in Rome and Paris. Even if it’s the same surface, it can change,’ Sinner said.

Sinner also won the Australian Open – beating Alexander Zverev in the final – so he and Alcaraz each won two majors this year.

In all, it will be the sixth time that Alcaraz and Sinner meet this year. They also clashed in the Italian Open final (won by Alcaraz) and the Cincinnati Open final (won by Alcaraz when Sinner retired due to illness).

Alcaraz leads Sinner 10-5 in their career head-to-heads.

‘The ranking doesn’t lie. They’re the two best players,’ said Auger-Aliassime, who lost to both Sinner and Alcaraz this week. ‘Different game styles but both put extreme pressure on their opponent in different ways . they keep showing up and playing good, so credit to them.’

Alcaraz 4-0 this week

CARLOS ALCARAZ applied pressure to Auger-Aliassime from the start and, like Sinner, improved to 4-0 this week.

Alcaraz led Auger-Aliassime 25-15 in winners and committed half as many unforced errors as his Canadian opponent, 10-20. The Spaniard called it his best performance of the tournament.

‘I’m really happy with the level today,’ Alcaraz said. ‘I played really solid, really aggressively.’

It’s Alcaraz’s third time at the Finals, although he withdrew from his first appearance in 2022 due to injury. Last year, he was eliminated in the group phase following losses to Casper Ruud and Zverev, beating only Andrey Rublev.

Auger-Aliassime beat Ben Shelton and Zverev in the group stage after losing to Sinner, and will finish the year at a career-high No. 5 after a strong indoor season.

Sinner 13-0 vs. De Minaur

JANNICK SINNER improved to 13-0 against De Minaur in his career.

Sinner saved three break points in his opening service game after falling behind 0-40 and then finally managed to break De Minaur for a 6-5 advantage before serving the set out.

The second set was never really in question, as Sinner jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

‘I was happy with how I served and with how I reacted in the important moments,’ Sinner said.

Sinner extended his winning streak on indoor hard courts to 31 matches – also stretching back to that 2023 final against Djokovic. He hasn’t dropped his serve this week.

Sinner’s first pro victory over De Minaur came in 2019 in the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals. Sinner has won 29 of the 31 sets they’ve played.

‘I know how to beat him. It’s just not that easy to do,’ De Minaur said. ‘You’ve got to hit the ball very hard, very flat, very deep and very close to the lines. It is something that I try to do, but it’s obviously not the easiest thing to do . I need to serve well throughout the whole match. My serve dropped a little bit and could have been better.’

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will collaborate with BusinessMirror to promote the activities and locally developed technologies that will be featured during the 2025 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW), from November 18 to 21 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

The DOST, through its information and marketing arm, the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BusinessMirror at a ceremony November 4 in Makati City.

Under the MoU, DOST-STII, which also leads the publicity and promotion of the 2025 NSTW celebration, will provide materials, necessary information, and assistance to BusinessMirror in developing content that will encourage the public-particularly the local residents of Ilocos Norte and nearby provinces-to participate in the four-day S and T celebration.

The collaboration also aims to give the public greater access to knowledge and information on research and development (R and D) in various scientific fields-such as disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, health and nutrition, environmental conservation, and enterprise technology, among others.

Meanwhile, BusinessMirror, the two-decade-old media company known for its print publication and digital platforms, will allocate space for DOST to promote NSTW-related content through its broadsheet, online news sites, and social media channels.

‘BusinessMirror has been a reliable partner of DOST for two decades. They have consistently provided us with their network and resources to reach a wider audience, helping the public appreciate and understand how science-based research and innovative solutions developed by our local scientists and engineers improve the lives of every Filipino by enabling different sectors to generate more jobs and livelihood opportunities,’ said Rodolfo P. de Guzman, chief of DOST-STII’s Communication Resources and Production Division.

‘Partnering with the Department of Science and Technology, especially for a significant event like the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week, is truly an honor for BusinessMirror. In these times, it is vital to help every Filipino gain access to timely and relevant science-based information and knowledge that can guide them in making informed decisions and ensuring the safety and well-being of their families and communities,’ said Business Mirror Editor-in-Chief Lourdes ‘Chuchay’ M. Fernandez.

This year’s 2025 NSTW celebration will feature activities, forums, and interactive exhibits anchored on the sub-theme ‘Building Smart and Sustainable Communities’ which aims to showcase several R and D-based and scientific services that would offer long-term solutions to different communities’ pressing challenges and existing limitations.

LAST week’s DP World Tour Playoffs got underway with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and like the FedEx Cup Playoffs, this is the DP World Tour’s version of a season-long race-The Race to Dubai.

At stake is a share of $6 million for the top finishers, with the champion receiving a $2 million bonus. For the better part of the last two decades, the European Tour has evolved into a tour that includes stops in Asia, culminating in the Middle East, known now as the DP World Tour.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship featured the very best players from Europe and Asia, and some Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour regulars who ply both major tours in search of the biggest tournaments.

The final round saw Rory McIlroy shoot an unconscious 10-under par 62 to miss the playoff by a single stroke. After 72 holes of battling Yas Links though, it was down to Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai, both finishing at 25-under par.

World No, 4 Tommy Fleetwood was a clear crowd favorite, especially after his breakthrough win at The Tour Championship and his Ryder Cup success this year. Journeyman Aaron Rai, more known for his quirkiness, denied Fleetwood the win on the first playoff hole with a birdie. It was actually Rai’s second win over Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff, the first being at the 2020 Scottish Open. As exciting as the finish to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship was, the focus shifted to Aaron Rai’s unique set-up.

Two-glove Aaron

AFTER Aaron Rai’s win, social media was abuzz not with his stellar play, but with Rai’s distinct choices on the course. First was Rai’s signature two-gloved set-up. With 99.99 percent of golfers wearing just one glove (one the less dominant hand), it is quite rare to see players wearing gloves on both hands, moreso in the professional tours.

Tommy Gainey, a former PGA Tour player now on the Champions Tour, was the only other notable pro who wears two gloves. On why Aaron Rai wears gloves on both hands, he says it was a habit from when he was a junior. He just got used to the comfort and added grip that two gloves provides and he’s played with it since.

Old driver in the bag

BESIDES wearing two gloves, the spotlight was also put on Aaron Rai’s use of a 2019 Taylormade M6 driver. This has been a little controversial, as equipment manufacturers claim distance and forgiveness gains every time they come out with a new model. So for a professional player like Aaron Rai to be using a six-year-old driver, and to win with it, runs counter to what marketing teams claim-or does it?

Confidence and comfort will always trump minor gains in distance for professionals. That’s why it is quite common to see players using beat-up clubs that work for them. Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau famously still use their old Nike Vapor 2 iron. Henrik Stenson won the Open Championship with old Japan-only Callaway irons and an old Callaway 3 wood. Jon Rahm famously uses an old model Aldila shaft on his driver. And the list goes on.

It is quite common for professionals to opt for the tried and tested. Rory famously ditched his new Taylormade Qi35 for his older Qi10 early this year. Newer isn’t always better for those who play golf for a living. That may also apply to us mere mortals.

Personally, the longest I’ve used the same driver is 8 years and from 2017 until early this year, I’ve used the same TaylorMade M1 440cc.

It worked just fine and the only reason I replaced it was for the added forgiveness of my current gamer, a Ping G430 10k Max.

Despite new models coming out every year, tempting golfers with promises of more yards, I think driver technology really only changes significantly every 5 years or so.

Much-maligned iron covers

OF all the ‘uncool’ things in golf, iron covers seem to receive the most flak. To those who hate them, the reasons range from added time taking them off and putting them back on to the idea of covering something you hit the ground with being pointless.

For those who swear by them, it’s a case of protecting something expensive from unnecessary wear, or to stop clubs rattling. The most common argument though is that people shouldn’t care how others treat their own equipment.

The debate online on iron covers usually becomes quite heated. And as someone who uses iron covers, I really don’t understand the issue. I like my clubs looking new for as long as possible, that’s it. Aaron Rai provides a much more sentimental reason for using covers on irons he gets for free as a professional.

According to Aaron, his parents gave him expensive clubs as a junior, a Titleist 690MB set. He knew they were expensive and took some sacrifice from his parents to be able to give him the best equipment. To remind him of those times, and to show appreciation to his parents, he keeps his irons covered to this day.

As world leaders and thousands of researchers, activists and lobbyists meet in Brazil at the 30th annual United Nations climate conference, there is plenty of frustration that the world isn’t making progress on climate change fast enough.

Globally, greenhouse gas emissions and global temperatures continue to rise. In the U.S., the Trump administration, which didn’t send an official delegation to the climate talks, is rolling back environmental and energy regulations and pressuring other countries to boost their use of fossil fuels – the leading driver of climate change.

Coal use is also rising, particularly in India and China. And debates rage about justice and the future for coal-dependent communities as coal burning and coal mining end.

But underneath the bad news is a set of complex, contradictory and sometimes hopeful developments.

The problem with coal

Coal is the dirtiest source of fossil fuel energy and a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, making it bad not just for the climate but also for human health. That makes coal a good target for cutting global emissions.

A swift drop in coal use is the main reason U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell in recent years as natural gas and renewable energy became cheaper.

Today, nearly a third of all countries worldwide have pledged to phase out their unabated coal-burning power plants in the coming years, including several countries you might not expect. Germany, Spain, Malaysia, the Czech Republic – all have substantial coal reserves and coal use today, yet they are among the more than 60 countries that have joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance and set phase-out deadlines between 2025 and 2040.

Several governments in the European Union and Latin America are now coal phase-out leaders, and EU greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall.

Progress, and challenges ahead

So, where do things stand for phasing out coal burning globally? The picture is mixed. For example:

The accelerating deployment of renewable energy, energy storage, electric vehicles and energy efficiency globally offer hope that global emissions are on their way to peaking. More than 90% of the new electricity capacity installed worldwide in 2024 came from clean energy sources. However, energy demand is also growing quickly, so new renewable power does not always replace older fossil fuel plants or prevent new ones, including coal.

China now burns more coal than the rest of the world combined, and it continues to build new coal plants. But China is also a driving force in the dramatic growth in solar and wind energy investments and electricity generation inside China and around the world. As the industry leader in renewable energy technology, it has a strong economic interest in solar and wind power’s success around the world.

While climate policies that can reduce coal use are being subject to backlash politics and policy rollbacks in the U.S. and several European democracies, many other governments around the world continue to enact and implement cleaner energy and emissions reduction policies.

Phasing out coal isn’t easy, or happening as quickly as studies show is needed to slow climate change.

To meet the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goals of limiting global warming to well under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) compared to pre-industrial times, and aiming to keep warming under 1.5 C (2.7 F), research shows that the world will need to rapidly reduce nearly all fossil fuel burning and associated emissions. It is not close to being on track.

Ensuring a just transition for coal communities

Many countries with coal mining operations worry about the transition for coal-dependent communities as mines shut down and jobs disappear.

No one wants a repeat of then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s destruction of British coal communities in the 1980s in her effort to break the mineworkers union. Mines rapidly closed, and many coal communities and regions were left languishing in economic and social decline for decades.

But as more countries phase out coal, they offer examples of how to ensure coal-dependent workers, communities, regions and entire countries benefit from a just transition to a coal-free system.

At local and national levels, research shows that careful planning, grid updates and reliable financing schemes, worker retraining, small-business development and public funding of coal worker pensions and community and infrastructure investments can help set coal communities on a path for prosperity.

A fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty?

At the global climate talks, several groups, including the Powering Past Coal Alliance and an affiliated Coal Transition Commission, have been pushing for a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty. It would legally bind governments to a ban on new fossil fuel expansion and eventually eliminate fossil fuel use.

The world has affordable renewable energy technologies with which to replace coal-fired electricity generation – solar and wind are cheaper than fossil fuels in most places. There are still challenges with the transition, but also clear ways forward. Removing political and regulatory obstacles to building renewable energy generation and transmission lines, boosting production of renewable energy equipment, and helping low-income countries manage the upfront cost with more affordable financing can help expand those technologies more widely around the world.

Shifting to renewable energy also has added benefits: It’s much less harmful to the health of those who live and work nearby than mining and burning coal is.

So can the world quit coal? Yes, I believe we can. Or, as Brazilians say, ‘Sim, nós podemos.’

The beloved green ogre has officially taken over the stage at the Newport Performing Arts Theater as Shrek the Musical makes its grand run from October to November. Based on DreamWorks’ 2001 animated hit, the production brings to life the charm, humor, and heart of the original film, now with an all-Filipino cast that truly does justice to the global favorite.

Shrek has long been a classic, known for its wit and humor, particularly for how it cleverly pokes fun at the fairy tales we grew up with. As a fan of both the franchise and the musical, watching it live was nothing short of thrilling, and it felt even more special because of the impressive local production.

My biggest question before the show began was how the execution would compare to the international version. Having watched Shrek the Musical online, I knew it was a massive production, and I tried to keep my expectations realistic, knowing how challenging it could be to recreate that kind of spectacle locally. But from the very first scene, I was utterly blown away.

From the makeup and costumes to the detailed stage setups and lighting design, everything was done with great care and creativity. The moment Shrek’s swamp house appeared, I immediately thought, ‘hindi tinipid.’ Every element reflected hard work, passion, and commitment, the kind of high-quality Filipino audiences truly deserve.

Jamie Wilson as Shrek was a natural fit for the role. He embodied the lovable ogre perfectly, from the voice to the walk and even the smallest mannerisms. His accent was spot-on, which made the performance feel like an international production staged right here in Manila.

Krystal Kane shone as Princess Fiona. Her performance of ‘I Know It’s Today’ with the young Fionas was heartfelt and mesmerizing. It felt as if the character was made for confident, quirky, and strong-willed, all while keeping Fiona’s charm intact.

Meanwhile, Topper Fabregas as Donkey brought boundless energy and comedic timing that kept the audience laughing from start to finish. His delivery captured the sass and humor of Eddie Murphy’s original portrayal while adding a fresh, local flair that made the character even more endearing.

Another standout was Alfredo Reyes as Lord Farquaad, one of the most iconic and meme-worthy characters in pop culture. His entrance alone drew cheers, and his performance-singing and dancing on his knees for most of the show-was nothing short of impressive. He handled the physical comedy of the role with such flair and dedication that it was impossible not to applaud his efforts.

The ensemble cast also deserves high praise. From Gingy and Pinocchio to the Three Little Pigs, the Fairy Godmother, the Witch, the Big Bad Wolf, the Ugly Duckling, and Humpty Dumpty, each performer brought their own spark to the stage. Together, they filled every scene with color, energy, and personality.

And then there was the Dragon, a true show-stopper. Her grand entrance, combined with Julia Serad’s powerful vocals, brought the house down. The moment she appeared, the crowd erupted in awe. Serad’s charisma and commanding stage presence made her performance unforgettable.

One aspect that made this production stand out was its high level of interactivity and immersion. Seeing Shrek and Donkey walk around and engage with the audience brought the story closer to everyone, especially the kids, who couldn’t help but squeal in delight every time a character came near.

The choreography was another highlight. Numbers like ‘Story of My Life’ showcased the ensemble’s impressive synchronization and strong vocals. It felt like hearing the Broadway soundtrack come to life, vibrant and full of energy.

A Must-Watch Production

Overall, Shrek the Musical at Newport Theater is a triumph. It stays faithful to the international version while adding its own albeit subtle Filipino twist, a fresh and exciting flavor that makes it uniquely ours. Every aspect of the show, from the set design to the performances, demonstrates how far local theater has come and how it continues to reach world-class standards.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Shrek or seeing the story for the first time, this production has something for everyone. It’s nostalgic yet new, hilarious yet heartfelt, and reminds us of the importance of friendship, acceptance, and embracing who we truly are.

Shrek the Musical runs at the Newport Performing Arts Theater from October to December 2025, and it’s definitely a must-see for families, theater lovers, and fans of the beloved ogre. Get your tickets now and prepare to laugh, sing, and fall in love all over again with Shrek and his swamp friends.

STANDOUTS from the Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) will stake their mettle against the country’s top touring pros in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Valley Golf Challenge set Tuesday at the Valley Golf Club’s South course in Antipolo City.

Patrick Tambalque, Jakob Taruc, Kristoffer Nadales, Alexis Nailga and Armand Copok-who dominated the North vs South Ryder Cup-style Finals-now find themselves stepping onto a stage many young golfers only dream of.

Angelo Que headlines the P2-million event as the three-time Asian Tour winner targets not only a third leg victory in the season-ending leg of the 10-stage circuit but also his first-ever Order of Merit crown.

He’ll have his hands full against fellow leg winners Fidel Concepcion, Guido Van der Valk, Reymon Jaraula and Rupert Zaragosa, as well as the battle-tested Clyde Mondilla, Tony Lascuña, Jhonnel Ababa, Zanieboy Gialon and Michael Bibat.

For Tambalque, Taruc, Nadales, Nailga and Copok, sharing the fairways with elite competitors is less on chasing trophies but more on soaking up lessons they can’t get anywhere else-how the pros manage pressure, attack courses, recover from mistakes and maintain discipline across four grueling rounds.

The 72-hole championship organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. is further strengthened by the entry of young stars Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus.

Sean Ramos and veteran Justin Quiban are also coming into the tournament fresh from a stint in Taiwan, with the final round being played Sunday.

For Filipino K-pop fans, the upcoming Mnet Asian Music Awards 2025 (MAMA 2025) is a full-blown fiesta of fandom.

When November 28-29 rolls around, living rooms all over the Philippines will transform into vibrant concert arenas as fans rally behind their idols in Hong Kong. The buzz is almost electric: group watch parties are in the works, Twitter feeds are alive, and ‘MAMA night’ is marked on calendars. Fans see their values reflected in these artists, so when a beloved group takes home a big win, it feels incredibly personal.

Global Awards, Local Excitement

MAMA 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded editions yet, and Filipino fans are riding the wave of announcements with unmatched enthusiasm.

Nominations were unveiled in mid-October, with K-pop powerhouses like BLACKPINK leading the charge. In fact, the group has emerged as the most-nominated act this year, racking up an impressive 23 nods. Hashtags like #BlackpinkMAMA2025 have been trending as fans rallied their voting teams.

From PH EXO-Ls to BABYMONSTER’s growing fanbase, everyone is buzzing to see their idols get recognition. The nominees represent a wide range of K-pop generations, and Filipinos have favorites in every category, whether it’s Seventeen and TXT for Best Male Group or aespa and TWICE for Best Female Group. Each nomination feels like a victory for the fandom.

In 2021, the Philippines was recognized as the second-highest country for K-pop Twitter activity globally. Fandom names have become part of everyday conversation: ARMYs, BLINKs, NCTzens, ONCEs, and more. That incredible fan energy is now focused on MAMA, every tweet, vote, and cheer contributing to the chorus of support.

Voting Fever and Fan Power

The countdown to MAMA 2025 turned into an election season for K-pop fans. Fan voting is a vital part of MAMA, especially for the Worldwide Fans’ Choice awards. Voting began in October on Mnet’s global app and through Twitter/X hashtags, and Filipino fan communities sprang into action. They’ve organized daily voting reminders, tutorial threads, and even vote-swap systems. Voting ended November 10, 10:59 PM Philippine time.

To keep the energy up, fanbases engage in friendly competitions. On a local fan platform called FanFlare, the August idol rankings saw TXT, TWICE’s Chaeyoung, and NMIXX snag the top spots, thanks to enthusiastic support from Filipino fans. Fans joke about becoming nocturnal during voting season, adjusting their schedules to Korean Standard Time and checking server clocks on navyism, a server time checking portal.

Fandom Without Borders

The success of UNIS, the first K-pop group made up of Filipinas to win at last year’s MAMA, sparked joy across the nation. ‘Finally, after 25 years, Filipino K-Pop idols have won a MAMA award!’ This milestone inspires more young talents and encourages fans to support Asian artists across the board. The Philippines has had a long-standing connection with MAMA, from Sarah Geronimo’s Best Asian Artist (Philippines) in 2012 to SB19 shining on the global stage, and Sandara ‘Dara’ Park cherished as an adopted Filipina star. These ties make Filipino fans feel personally invested.

With Hong Kong a short flight away, some die-hard fans are pooling resources to attend. For those at home, streaming platforms ensure no one misses a moment. The Filipino fandom experience is interactive and communal, with trending topics, fan art, live updates, and multilingual congratulations whenever a beloved artist wins.

Bringing K-culture Closer to Home

Amid global excitement, fan culture in the Philippines is becoming localized. A major player is FanFlare, a homegrown fan platform revolutionizing how projects are organized. While MAMA focuses on global recognition, FanFlare makes local impact. FanFlare encourages shining the spotlight at home. It’s now easier to rent an LED billboard along EDSA or host a themed café event. NMIXX’s Philippine fanbase used FanFlare to aim for a billboard in Cubao. TXT fans in the Philippines used it to snag an ad in Seoul’s famous Hongdae district. HORI7ON’s Anchors use it to promote their boys on radio, as well as run ads in Hongdae for months at a time.

With MAMA 2025 just around the corner, its influence on Filipino fan culture is deep and varied. It’s the swell of pride when Asian artists shine. When the lights at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium illuminate the night on November 28 and 29, a million lights in the Philippines will shine right along with them.

NATIONAL University (NU) allayed fears of diminished competitiveness from key departures and a sudden coaching shakeup with a dominating conquest of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup.

Seasoned holdovers Vange Alinsug, Chams Maaya, playmaker Lams Lamina and defense specialist Shaira Jardio displayed solid leadership in proving that the rebuilding Lady Bulldogs pack the same powerful bite to complete a four-peat.

NU overcame the challenge of a strong field, punctuated by a nail-biting 22-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10, escape over gritty University of Santo Tomas in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals on Saturday for an impressive 10-game sweep of the league’s centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

The Lady Bulldogs also completed a season sweep for the second straight year after ruling the National Invitationals Davao Leg last August-a clear proof that they remain as one of the country’s top college women’s volleyball programs, if not the best.

NU passed the preseason test with flying colors, ushering in the dawn of a new breed of Lady Bulldogs following the exit of three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan after winning back-to-back titles early this year.

‘Because we’ve lost key players to graduation, I told the girls that we have to do this together, we have to work as a team,’ said Regine Diego after winning a title in her first run as head coach since replacing Sherwin Meneses last September.

NU went 13-0 this season, including a three-game domination of the National Invitationals, where prized rookie Sam Cantada emerged as Best Player, introducing herself as the team’s newest weapon.

Cantada connived with Alinsug, Kaye Bombita and Maaya on offense in the championship series clincher, finishing with 24 points as NU replicated a come-from-behind Game 1 win that also went the full five sets.

‘We were pressured because our seniors are no longer around,’ said Lamina, who was named tournament MVP and Best Setter. ‘And I’m very happy we all stepped up and our coaches gave us their trust and confidence.’

Long-time SSL partner Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI), through its Shakey’s Pizza SSL Bundle initiative, has donated a total of P11,845,100 to all 16 participating teams.

‘We hope that those amounts will help the school programs and make their teams even stronger,’ SPAVI president and CEO Vic Gregorio said.

Ateneo de Manila University received the lion’s share of P1,201,925 in financial support, followed by Adamson (P1,163,275), Arellano University (P1,147,175), University of the Philippines (P862,725), Jose Rizal University (P850,375), NU (P692,925), Lyceum of the Philippines University (P689,575) and UST (P682,825).

University of Perpetual Help System Dalta got P666,725 followed by Far Eastern University (P636,125), Emilio Aguinaldo College (P597,625), San Sebastian College (P584,975), Mapua University (P576,675), Letran ((P519,425), College of Saint Benilde (P487,175) and San Beda University (P485,575).

In 1994, I was handed a compact disc sampler that a colleague of mine at Universal Records compiled and was to be given to rock and pop radio, and those willing to play alternative rock that had become very popular.

Titled Dislocated 2, the sampler featured among others, Deadeye Dick’s ‘New Age Girl’ that was being given a significant push, Tanya Donnelly’s band Belly, dream pop band Lush, and. a song from the Pixies (‘Here Comes Your Man,’ now a powerpop classic) and the solo work from the latter’s vocalist Frank Black (‘Headache’ from the solo album, Teenager of the Year).

I first heard the Pixies in 1989 while crate digging in the Stanley area of Hong Kong. That song was ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven’. I wasn’t paying much attention until the chorus, when the singer went, ‘Rock me, Joe.’

After the guitar solo reeled me in, the singer went: ‘If man is five, if man is five, if man is five. then the devil is six, then the devil is six, then the devil is six, then the devil is six. And if the devil is si,x then God is seven!’

Now he was raving.

‘What is this?’ I thought to myself as the song went crazy.

‘Like a Paul McCartney song,’ was my thought about rave-ups such as ‘Oh, Darling’, ‘Hey, Jude’, and ‘I Saw Her Standing There,’ among others. It was McCartney’s style – start soft, then end with a rock and roll bang.

Impressed, I bought the record of the Pixies titled Doolittle that contained ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven’ among others. Apparently, it was their second after Surfer Rosa; their first release was a mini album titled ‘Come on Pilgrim’.

Watching the music video of ‘Here Comes the Man’ on MTV, I was like, ‘This band is weird, which seemed par for the course for 4 A.D. Records. And they do have a sense of humor.’

But that seemed to be the norm in the 1990s as it seemed like rock music was one big fraternity party from Unrest to Reel Big Fish to Weezer to the Breeders to Pearl Jam and many others.

The infatuation with the Pixies was short-lived as I began working in 1989. Working at an advertising agency meant long hours, and that meant losing touch with what was new on the airwaves and record racks. I wasn’t into compact discs yet, and I didn’t have the time to check out new music.

It wasn’t until I joined Universal Records in 1993 that I dove back into music and fortuitously encountered the Pixies again, since my company secured the licensing for 4 A.D. Records.

My job allowed me to focus on music; this changed everything for me.

With the alternative rock scene taking off and, in many ways, becoming part of the mainstream, I had a better appreciation for the Pixies.

The weirdness, bizarre lyrics, odd song structures, and the soft and loud dynamics wrapped around these manic boy and sweet girl harmonies. And how about the title to their first-ever ‘greatest hits’ compilation – Death to the Pixies. It’s brilliant!

Imagine learning that the Pixies (along with the Melvins, the Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, and others) had a huge influence on the music of the 90s – that was amazing. And best of all, guitarist Joey Santiago is Filipino!

When the band reunited in the late 1990s, I got to see them perform, scratching that out from my Bucket List. But lo and behold – 25 years later, as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary, the Pixies are coming to Manila in 2026.

Aside from Santiago’s homecoming, it isn’t every day that one of the bands that had a massive influence on the alternative rock scene of the 1990s hits these shores. Furthermore, it isn’t like they are rehashing old hits and living off legacy.

The Pixies put out five albums post-Trompe le Monde, the band’s final studio album before the supposed breakup and the last with Kim Deal on bass – Indie Cindy, Head Carrier, Beneath the Eyrie, Doggerel (their best since Doolittle), and The Night the Zombies Came.

While Kim Deal or even Paz Lenchantin will not be around to handle bass duties, three out of the four original members in Black Francis, Dave Lovering, and Santiago, are better than nothing. It’s like Smashing Pumpkins, who were here recently with three of their OG line-up present, along with new bassist Emma Richardson (formerly of Band of Skulls). Boy, she can sing.

Joey Santiago will be feted like a returning hero. The crowd will be crazy (well, who doesn’t get crazy to their songs). And I. I cannot wait to yell back a vociferous ‘Ho Ho Ho Ho’ and shout back, ‘Chien.’