Category: Business Mirror

ARELLANO University put an end to San Sebastian College’s two-game win streak following a 78-71 win in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 101 men’s basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena on Wednesday.

The Chiefs not only halted the Golden Stags’ momentous run, but they also rose to third place in Group A with a 4-6 record.

‘We got No. 2, now getting No. 3 looks achievable,’ Chiefs coach Chico Manabat said.

Arellano University now sits closely behind defending champion Mapua (5-5) while University of Perpetual Help is still alone at the top with an 8-2 card.

The Stags ended their stellar string of wins which included victories over Letran (6-4) and the Altas.

T-Mc Ongotan dominated anew for the Chiefs with 25 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while Renzo Abiera helped the cause with 20 points.

Oneil Castor and Christian Ricio finished with 19 and 14 points, respectively, for San Sebastian and reigning Collegiate Press Corps Player of the Week Jhuniel Dela Rama dropped 11 points and six rebounds.

THE Philippine gaming sector’s revenues slipped to P94.51 billion in the third quarter of 2025, as stricter e-wallet controls and online reforms tempered electronic games’ share of the industry’s earnings.

According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), the country’s gross gaming revenues (GGR) fell 0.10 percent to P94.51 billion from July to September 2025 from the P94.61 billion in the same period last year.

‘The delinking of e-wallets resulted in a short-term decline in activity toward the latter part of the quarter,’ Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said. ‘However, these measures are vital to protect players and ensure secure, transparent transactions.’

Pagcor data showed that licensed casinos accounted for the bulk of gaming revenues, contributing P45.56 billion or 48.20 percent of the total GGR.

However, this dropped by 10.2 percent from P50.72 billion in the third quarter of 2024.

Before, the electronic games (e-games) sector-consisting of e-bingo, e-casino, sports betting and online poker, among others-made up more than half of the total GGR due to its accessibility.

Despite the stricter regulations imposed on the industry, revenues from the e-games still rose by 17.4 percent year-on-year to P41.95 billion from P35.71 billion. E-games now contributed 44.4 percent of the total GGR in the third quarter of 2025.

Tengco said the growth in the sector was mainly due to strong July 2025 figures, as revenues in August and September declined following the mandatory delinking of e-wallets from legitimate gaming platforms.

‘The figures reflect an industry that is adjusting to necessary safeguards,’ Tengco noted.

Meanwhile, Pagcor-operated casinos saw an 11.6-percent decline in revenues, down to P3.22 billion in the third quarter this year from P3.64 billion a year ago. This makes up 3.4 percent of the GGR pie.

Likewise, revenues from bingo operations slipped by 6.2 percent year-on-year to P3.79 billion from P4.52 billion, accounting for 4 percent of the GRR during the quarter in review.

Although some gaming segments posted a downward trend and adjustments in the online digital payment ecosystem take place, Tengco remains optimistic that the industry will regain momentum.

This, as players adapt to new e-wallet protocols and authorities strengthen enforcement measures against illegal gambling portals.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) snapped its four-game skid in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 mens basketball action with a 107-97 victory over cellar-dwelling University of the East (UE) Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

The Growling Tigers, reeling from consecutive narrow defeats to Adamson University and University of the Philippines, leaned on the balanced offensive effort from Nic Cabañero, Gelo Crisostomo and Nigerian center Collins Akowe to secure their first win in over a month.

Their last victory came after a 5-1 start to the season.

UST had last triumphed over Far Eastern University on October 15 but went into a tailspin afterward with its scheduled rematch last Sunday postponed due to Super Typhoon ‘Uwan.’

With this morale-boosting win, the Growling Tigers climbed to solo fourth in the eight-team standings with a 6-5 record, creating separation from fifth-placed Ateneo (5-5) and sixth-placed Adamson University (5-6).

‘Credit to the players for overcoming adversity, they stuck together,’ said UST assistant coach Japs Cuan as head coach Pido Jarencio has yet to appear in a post-game press conference during the team’s six wins this season.

Kent Pastrana, meanwhile, unleashed a career-high 35 points as UST secured a playoff for a twice-to-beat advantage in the women’s tournament with a commanding 125-50 victory also over UE.

Following up on a 25-point performance against UP last November 5, Pastrana raised the bar and hit 13-of-21 from the field while with 12 rebounds, five steals, two assists and one block.

She finished with an efficient plus-50 rating in 18 minutes and 51 seconds of action.

‘I am so happy with my performance today,’ Pastrana said. ‘I give it my best every game and, of course, as a leader.’

The Growling Tigresses remained unbeaten through 11 games and are boasting an average winning margin of 37 points per contest.

LAWMAKERS from the Makabayan bloc on Wednesday challenged the House leadership and the Senate to prove their commitment to pass a genuine anti-political dynasty law, warning against another round of ‘legislative theater’ that has repeatedly killed reform bills over the decades.

The group said it remains skeptical despite Speaker Faustino Dy III’s vow to support the Anti-Political Dynasty Act, stressing that ‘history has shown political dynasties themselves have blocked genuine reform.’

‘We challenge the House leaders to prove their sincerity by supporting and fast-tracking House Bills 209 and 4784-a true anti-political dynasty measure with clear and uncompromising provisions,’ the bloc said in a statement.

The Makabayan lawmakers explained that their measures would prohibit any person from holding or running for national or local office simultaneously with another relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity.

They also ban immediate succession of relatives to an incumbent’s post to prevent the continuous control of political clans over public offices.

The bloc also pointed to the Senate as a major obstacle, noting that ‘the irony is not lost’ that several senators belong to political families. ‘Those who benefit from the system will never voluntarily dismantle it,’ they added, citing the Marcos and Duterte clans as among ‘the worst iterations’ of political dynasties in the country.

A 2025 UNDP report by political scientist Temario Rivera found that 94 percent of Philippine provinces are dominated by political families, with an average of 2.3 dynasties per province.

‘The goal is clear-to return government to the people, not to the few,’ the group said. ‘Nearly four decades have passed since the Constitution prohibited dynasties, yet Congress has failed to pass an enabling law, allowing families to monopolize power and perpetuate inequality.’

In a related move, members of the Akbayan Reform Bloc filed House Bill 5905, another comprehensive Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, seeking to fully implement Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution.

The measure, authored by Akbayan Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Island Kaka Bag-ao, aims to prevent the concentration of political power within families and open leadership opportunities for ordinary citizens.

‘Ordinary Filipinos shouldn’t have to fight political dynasties just to serve their communities. They’re not the real dragons that need slaying,’ Bag-ao said. ‘For me, the real dragons are poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment. This bill ensures that capable leaders from communities can tackle those challenges without being blocked by inherited power.’

The filing comes amid the continued dominance of political dynasties in the Philippines. According to the Ateneo Policy Center, dynasties increased from 19 percent of all elected positions in 1988 to 29 percent in 2017, adding roughly 170 positions per election cycle. By 2019, families holding multiple simultaneous elected offices continued to grow, reflecting entrenched power across local and national levels.

Studies show the impact on governance and development is significant. A 2015 Philippine Institute for Development Studies report found dynasties concentrated in the poorest provinces, often reinforcing weak institutions, persistent poverty, and limited economic opportunities.

The bill defines political dynasties clearly and specifies prohibited familial relationships among candidates and elected officials. Its authors said the measure is designed to broaden leadership, open democratic spaces, and give reform-oriented leaders a fair chance to serve.

Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal, who also filed HB 2131, or the ‘Anti-Political Dynasty Act,’ welcomed Dy’s statement of support for the measure.

However, de Lima urged the House leadership to move beyond promises and press the President to certify both bills as urgent.

The overall transmission rate this month went up by almost 8 percent to P1.5105 per kilowatt hour (kWh) up from the P1.3998/kWh, due to higher charges from ancillary services (AS), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said Tuesday.

Transmission rates make up of ancillary service (AS) and transmission wheeling rates.

Transmission wheeling rates refer to what the NGCP charges for its core service of delivering electricity, while AS rates cover the pass-through costs of services sourced from the Reserve Market (RM) and from providers with bilateral contracts with NGCP to stabilize the grid during power supply-demand imbalances.

For the October supply month, NGCP Assistant Vice President and Regulatory Management Head Julius Ryan Datingaling said power consumers will see a slight increase in transmission rates in their November 2025 bills due to higher AS rates, which rose by P0.0997/kWh, from P0.6546/kWh in September to P0.7542/kWh in October, representing a 15.23-percent increase.

NGCP said it does not earn from AS and does not benefit from any change in AS prices, as these are remitted directly to generation companies with bilateral contracts with NGCP, and to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) for AS sourced from the RM.

Meanwhile, NGCP’s transmission wheeling rate increased by just P0.0034/kWh, from P0.5920/kWh in September to P0.5953/kWh in October, equivalent to a 0.57 percent increase.

NGCP Spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said the increase in transmission wheeling rates has no effect on NGCP’s revenue as its income is cap-limited by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

AN overhaul of the decade-old case rate system of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and adoption of a Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) payment model may provide fairer financial coverage for both hospitals and patients, according to a study.

The recent study by state-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) recommended that PhilHealth shift to a DRG model to align hospital reimbursements with the actual complexity and cost of patient care.

‘Payments based on DRGs are more realistic, offering better financial coverage for both providers and patients,’ the authors said.

The DRG payment model is an evidence-based system that classifies patients by diagnosis, severity and resource use to ensure that reimbursements match the actual complexity of care, according to PIDS.

Under this, hospitals would receive prospective payments based on expected service volume and performance through a Global Budget arrangement, as mandated by the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, PIDS said.

Hospitals would receive frontloaded funding, or their portion of the overall health budget, at the beginning of the fiscal period rather than having to wait months for reimbursements.

Under the current All Case Rates system, hospitals would spend about 49 days preparing and filing claims after a patient’s discharge. It would then take PhilHealth another 31 days to process and pay the healthcare provider.

In 2023, it took a median of 87 days to process claims, while those returned for corrections averaged 221 days, from patient discharge to payment.

‘These delays can strain hospital cash flow, especially for smaller or provincial facilities, and affect their ability to sustain operations and maintain service quality,’ PIDS said.

The ACR system, the study found, has not kept pace with the increasing costs of healthcare in the country.

PhilHealth pays hospitals a fixed amount per illness or procedure, regardless of severity. However, of the 8,869 case rates, 99.9 percent of these have not been updated since 2013.

‘While PhilHealth’s nominal reimbursement has remained the same, its real peso value has declined, and hospital charges have continued to rise,’ the authors said.

For example, the case rate for a normal childbirth remains at P6,500 for years-worth only P3,900 in 2023 after accounting for inflation.

This has made it more challenging for hospitals, particularly public and provincial ones, to pay operating costs while maintaining services affordable for patients, the authors said.

Average hospital charges rose 51 percent between 2018 and 2023-from P23,852 to P36,130-while PhilHealth’s reimbursements remained at about P11,000.

The study found that hospitals are left to absorb the shortfall or pass on some expenses to patients since around 98.8 percent of hospital claims now exceed the case rate.

Even with insurance coverage, Filipinos remain financially vulnerable, as evidenced by out-of-pocket payments still comprising about 44 percent of total health spending.

‘When case rates do not consider clinical complexity, healthcare providers may face financial risk and incur losses while delivering the full range of services needed to treat complicated patient cases,’ the authors added.

The current setup, the authors warned, penalizes hospitals that care for more complex or multiple-condition patients and passes the financial burden to those already struggling with illness.

Yuni Batista plays like a woman on a mission with a tournament-best 41 points as Chery Tiggo Crossovers wears down Capital1, 27-25, 23-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-13, in a two-hour and 25-minute Premiere Volleyball League Reinforced Conference match on Tuesday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Crossovers are now 2-2 won-lost while the Solar Spikers are 3-3.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday proclaimed Jan Franz Norbert Chan as the new second nominee of the Ako Bicol party-list following the resignation of its first nominee, Zaldy Co.

Co stepped down from his post last September, citing ‘imminent threat’ to his and his family’s safety as the government investigate corruption allegations linked to his name.

His resignation took effect after it was formally accepted by the House of Representatives.

To recall, Ako Bicol won two seats in the 2025 midterm elections, giving Co and second nominee Alfred Garbin seats in the House of Representatives.

With Co’s resignation, Garbin now becomes the party-list’s first nominee, while Chan-originally the third nominee-moves up to assume the second seat.

Under the Party-List System Act, any permanent vacancy is automatically filled by the next nominee in the list submitted to the Comelec during the filing of certificates of candidacy and nomination.

To push renewable energy, mental health advocacy

In a chance interview, Chan said that once he assumes office in the 20th Congress, he intends to prioritize measures related to renewable energy and mental health.

‘The one I really want to push is about renewable energy because that has been my advocacy even when I was in law school,’ Chan told reporters.

‘Aside from that, I’m also very interested in pushing for laws on mental health. One of the things I’m thinking about is a bill supporting parents of children who have special needs, children diagnosed with autism or other psychosocial disorders.’

A native of Rapu-Rapu, Albay, Chan added that he will also support bills promoting disaster resilience in provinces that frequently experience calamities.

‘Our priority now is to continue what Ako Bicol has been doing when it comes to public service.As we can see right now.the whole Ako Bicol is very active in continuing our public service efforts, especially after the recent typhoon,’ he also said.

Before his proclamation, Chan served as a senior partner at ChanRobles and Associates Law Firm and consultant for the Philippine National Oil Company.

Ako Bicol said he also previously worked with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and other organizations focused on sustainability and environmental protection.

Chan is set to take his oath before the House of Representatives to officially assume his post as Ako Bicol’s new party-list representative.

From the 24th of October (Friday) to the 26th (Sunday), shoppers and mall patrons at the Greenhills Shopping Center were treated to a display of Autobot Offroad Philippines’ latest highly-modified creations – a red Ford Bronco 5-door full-size SUV and an overlanding-ready dark-metallic gray Ford Ranger 4-door midsize crew cab pickup truck.

But aside from the off-road machines, and the Autobot merchandize, the mall display was organized to showcase the collaboration between Autobot and Luminox, the Swiss watch company.

Randy Lao, the President and CEO of Autobot Offroad Philippines, and Manuel Dacanay, who heads the Philippine distribution of Luminox watches among other luxury brands, personified the youthful, tough and energetic collaboration that became dubbed as ‘Autobot x Luminox’. Lao praised Luminox watches for their robust construction and reliable time-keeping, which complements the robust and reliable Autobot builds. Dacanay, on the other hand, stated that the collaboration perfectly matches the stylish and toughness ethos of both companies. ‘Luminox’s proprietary Carbonox material is a high-performance, carbon-based material that is ultra-light, hypoallergenic, and highly resistant to temperature fluctuations, chemicals, and impacts. It’s perfect for off-road and overlanding adventures with your Autobot Offroad PH-modified vehicle.’

Limited Edition Autobot x Luminox Wristwatch

The limited edition Autobot x Luminox adventure wrist watch is based on the timeless Luminox Sea Turtle, which gets its name from its case design. The classic Luminox case with the protected crown is balanced by an opposite outcropping, which resembles the shape of a turtle. The 44mm case is made of Luminox’s signature Carbonox material and is water resistant up to 100 meters. The dial features a ghost Autobot logo with the number 7 prominently finished in red to signify 2007, the year Autobot was founded. The surrounding ring around the dial is finished like a car’s tachometer, with the redline at the 3 o’clock mark, pointing to the crown.

This limited edition wristwatch is equipped with the Luminox Light Technology (LLT) lighting system, which provides at-a-glance visibility and unmatched self-powered illumination lasting up to 25 years. Unlike other luminosity systems that depend on exterior light sources to charge, the luminosity is built right into Luminox watches, allowing you to see the time, no matter the conditions. LLT and Luminox watches are trusted by heroes, like the US Navy Seals, who understand the advantage of unrivaled luminosity. Limited to just 150 watches, 133 Autobot x Luminox wristwatches have already been sold with only 17 watches left for grabs as of press time.

New Luminox Navy Seal 3500 Series

The Philippine distributor of Luminox wristwatches also had on display two of the latest Navy Seal 3500 Series models. The stealth-inspired Luminox Navy Seal XS 3510 Black and Sand Edition is engineered entirely from the watchmaker’s proprietary Carbonox material. With its Carbonox case, bezel, and bracelet, the XS 3510 is one of the lightest watches in the Luminox catalogue, offering unmatched durability, strength, and comfort. It features a 45mm case, 200-meter water resistance, scratch-resistant hardened mineral crystal, unidirectional rotating bezel, screw-down stainless steel case back, LLT and matte-black finish that enhances tactical aesthetic and minimizes reflections and wear.

On the other hand, the Luminox Navy Seal XS 3507 Arctic Edition features a lightweight white fiberglass 45mm case and bezel that are designed for durability while enhancing stealth in snow and arctic environments. The black dial with white numerals ensures maximum readability in daylight, while LLT provides constant visibility in complete darkness. A white rubber strap offers a secure, comfortable fit, while the unidirectional rotating bezel allows precise tracking of elapsed time, making it an essential tool for military personnel and Arctic explorers alike. While the Arctic Edition is engineered for peak performance in the most demanding conditions, it is can also be a fashion statement for people who love to wear white.

During the display, Randy Lao gave a sneak peek of his new product – the Taze automotive scent. Lao designed the circular case of this car interior freshener, which is made of lightweight aluminum, and it attaches to the aircon vents with the use of rubber tongs. Because of its light weight and non-abrasive attachment, Lao claims that Taze is easy to use and will not interfere with the aircon vents’ operation. Randy plans to retail the case at P190 each and the refill scents at P45 each.

You keep your trusty reusable bottle filled with only clear, delicious water. Do you still need to wash it?

Experts say reusable bottles get grubby no matter what liquid they’re filled with, and it’s important to clean them regularly.

Water bottles pick up germs from our mouths when we take a sip, and from our hands when we touch the straw or lid. They’re covered in tiny, tough-to-reach nooks and crannies which can become breeding grounds for mold, bacteria and other microbes if left un-scrubbed.

‘It seems like something mundane, but it is extremely important,’ said nurse practitioner Michele Knepper, who works at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Unclean water bottles can cause stomach aches and itchy throats and even exacerbate allergies and asthma.

Experts disagree on when and how you should wash them, but they’re all in agreement on one thing: Give your water bottle a tender loving clean, because something is better than nothing at all.

‘Is it that big of a deal? No. But it’s also not difficult to just wash your water bottle,’ said Dr. Mike Ren, a family medicine physician at Baylor College of Medicine.

Some tips for a squeaky clean water bottle

Experts say the gunk doesn’t care what your water bottle is made of. Reusable metal, plastic and glass bottles all grow germy, but plastic bottles are more likely to get scratches or dings on the inside where microbial life can cozy up.

The best cleaning routine is a simple one: Use a sponge or bottle brush to scrub inside and out with warm, soapy water, rinse it out and let it dry so it’s ready for the next refill. A narrow or pipe cleaner-shaped tool can be useful to get into straws and tight crevices.

For a deeper wash, scientists recommend popping the bottle in the dishwasher if it’s safe to do so, or dissolving a denture or retainer-cleaning tablet in the bottle overnight. Scrubbing with a warm water solution of vinegar or baking soda works too.

Many experts recommend doing a simple, soapy water clean every day and a deeper clean once a week. If daily cleaning feels a little extra, Ren said to try to get to it at least every other week or so while maintaining other good habits like rinsing the mouthpiece over the sink during each refill.

But if you fill your reusable bottle with other beverages like protein shakes or exercise drinks, it really is important to clean every day. Sugary drinks leave a residue that bacteria love to snack on.

Do you need to dump the water in your bottle every day?

IS it okay to leave water in a reusable bottle overnight? Experts disagree.

Some say to dump the dregs out every refill, while others recommend emptying every few hours. Ren says it’s likely okay to leave some inside overnight, but to empty old water at least every few days.

‘Guidelines are guidelines,’ Ren said. ‘Everyone’s going to do it a little bit differently.’

If there’s visible mold on the bottle or the liquid inside has a weird smell, don’t drink it. Avoid refilling disposable plastic water bottles since chemicals can leach into the water, and they’re even more full of cracks and crevices that can harbor germs.

Water bottle cleaning routines may not all look the same-but it’s important to keep up the habit, said Ivy Sun, a hospitality expert at Georgia Southern University who has studied water bottle contamination. She washes her and her kids’ bottles with soapy water every day.

‘This is just a very small step that we do, but it can largely help with our health,’ Sun said.