Category: Business Mirror

GOVERNMENT personnel are set to receive a year-end bonus and a P5,000 cash gift this November, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the year-end bonus and P5,000 cash gift will be released with the first agency payroll of November 2025, pursuant to Budget Circular 2024-3.

For fiscal year 2025, the agency noted that a total of P63.69 billion has been allocated for the year-end bonus of civilian and military or uniformed personnel, and P9.24 billion for the cash gift, covering more than 1.85 million government workers.

The year-end bonus, equivalent to one month of basic pay as of October 31, and the P5,000 cash gift, are given annually to reward the hard work and dedication of government workers nationwide, the DBM said.

The agency said it ensures that all funds for the year-end bonus and cash gift have been comprehensively released at the start of the fiscal year, allowing agencies to process and credit the benefits without delay.

‘The DBM is one with the President in ensuring that our public servants feel the warmth of our Bagong Pilipinas. Pinapahalagahan po natin ang sipag at kahusayan ng ating mga lingkod-bayan. Kaya naman, sinisiguro nating maibibigay sa tamang oras ang kanilang mga benepisyo,’Pangandaman said.

‘We know how much government personnel look forward to this time of the year not just because it’s the season of giving, but because it’s a well-deserved recognition of their service and sacrifice,’ she added.

Under DBM rules, employees who have rendered at least four months of service from January 1, and are still in government service as of October 31, are entitled to the year-end bonus and cash gift.

As such, the DBM reminded all agencies to release the bonuses promptly and in accordance with existing budget circulars.

FILIPINO students are shifting their overseas study priorities toward technology, healthcare, and management programs in Europe-a change diplomats say mirrors both the country’s evolving economy and global labor demand.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of the European Higher Education Fair (Ehef) 2025, European diplemats said last week that the growing preference for skills-based and postgraduate programs reflects how Filipino learners are adapting to economic opportunities at home and abroad.

Irish Deputy Head of Mission Erica Duffy said more Filipinos are pursuing fields that connect with the country’s growth engines.

‘These are all areas where the Filipino economy has started to grow more and more,’ she said, adding that the shift in student preferences reflects the broader evolution of the Philippine economy toward services, technology, and management-oriented industries.

Arnulf Gressel, Commercial Counselor of the Austrian Embassy, said hospitality remains the top draw for Filipino students in Austria.

‘There is a lot of interest in anything involving hospitality,’ he said.

Data from IDP Philippines showed that about 53,000 Filipinos were enrolled in universities across the top study destinations-Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the United States, and Ireland-as of 2023.

The number is expected to grow by 8 to 10 percent annually, with most students pursuing post-graduate degrees in business, health services, hospitality, and IT-related disciplines.

Jens Rösler, Deputy Director of the Goethe-Institut Philippinen, noted that more Filipinos are entering healthcare and service-related programs in Germany.

He added that many of these students deliberately learn the language as part of their preparation.

‘It would be a fallacy to think that language is unimportant,’ he said. ‘It’s essential to truly live and work in a country, especially in healthcare and service sectors.’

Deepening cooperation

THE EU Delegation to the Philippines deputy head, Agata Nowicka, said the changing study patterns among Filipino students underscore how education has become a key pillar of cooperation between the Philippines and Europe.

‘The EU is investing heavily in quality education with a lifelong-learning perspective,’ she said, adding that programs such as Erasmus+ are designed not only to promote academic mobility but also to align higher education with the skills needed by partner countries.

Nowicka said this cooperation has expanded beyond scholarships to include joint research and institutional development.

Data from the EU Delegation show that an average of 55 to 65 Filipino scholars each year complete joint master’s degrees in Europe through Erasmus+, while 47 capacity-building projects have linked Philippine and European universities in areas such as innovation, climate studies, and digitalization.

‘The EU has endeavored to become more strategic in reaching out to students, academicians and researchers. We have continued to engage the support of several universities as ‘regional hubs’ from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,’ Nowicka added.

The Ehef will be held on November 21 and 22 at the Midtown Atrium of Robinsons Manila, while online sessions will be conducted on November 24.

This year’s edition will feature 97 participating universities and institutions from across the EU, including new entrants Romania, Latvia, and Slovakia, alongside long-time partners such as Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Sweden.

MORE banks expect no change in lending standards for both business and household loans in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the latest survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

According to the BSP’s third quarter 2025 Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS), 86 percent of 58 bank respondents expect to maintain their lending standards for businesses, while 87.5 percent expect to keep standards for household loans unchanged.

For business loans, this was up from 78.9 percent in the third quarter, while the rest are split between easing at 3.5 percent and tightening at 10.5 percent.

Similarly, for household loans, this is higher than 77.5 percent in the previous quarter, with around 10.0 percent expecting tighter standards and 2.5 percent possibly easing.

The BSP defined lending standards as the rules banks use when giving loans, such as interest rates, loan size, collateral, loan conditions and repayment terms.

Based on the SLOS, a net 7.0 percent expect to tighten, rather than loosen, standards for business loans, and a net 7.5 percent for household loans in the fourth quarter.

‘This indicates that any future change in credit standards is more likely to reflect tightening than easing,’ the BSP said.

Compared to the third quarter, net tightening is higher at 17.5 percent for business loans and 7.5 percent for household loans.

In terms of demand for business loans, 73.7 percent of banks anticipate that demand will remain steady, slightly lower than 75.4 percent.

Only 1.8 percent of banks anticipate a decline in loan demand, while 24.6 percent see an increase, up from 19.3 percent in the third quarter.

Household loans also showed a similar pattern, with 65 percent of banks expecting demand to stay the same, down from 75 percent in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, 25 percent of banks anticipate a rise in household loan demand, up from 17.5 percent previously, while 10 percent foresee a decline, slightly higher than the 7.5 percent in the third quarter.

The SLOS consists of questions on loan officers’ perceptions relating to the overall credit standards of their respective banks, as well as to factors affecting the supply of and demand for loans to both enterprises and households.

The analysis of the results of the SLOS focuses on the quarter-on-quarter changes in the perception of respondent banks.

The responses for the third quarter 2025 SLOS were gathered from September 11, 2025 to October 21, 2025, with a total of 58 respondent banks out of 60 surveyed banks or a 96.7 percent response rate.

Twenty years ago, I found myself in a negotiation room half a world away, representing the Philippines in talks that would change the course of public health. It was the early 2000s, long before the word ‘vape’ entered our vocabulary. It felt almost strange to be there. I wasn’t a doctor or scientist, but a lawyer serving as an Undersecretary of Health, navigating an unfamiliar but deeply consequential space where law and health converged.

We were negotiating the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), or what would become the world’s first public health treaty devoted to protecting people from tobacco. It was not a typical diplomatic exercise. It was a fight to save lives, especially those of the young.

My generation grew up seeing tobacco everywhere, on television, in movies, on billboards, and on buses. The cowboy in cigarette ads, strong, rugged, free, became the image of aspiration for young men. Cycling fans remember athletes in red jerseys racing through towns around the country, cheered on by locals with banners carrying a cigarette brand. It was clever marketing with a very simple message: if you wanted to be adventurous, to be cool, to belong, you had to smoke.

Back then we didn’t yet know that behind every ‘cool’ image was disease, addiction, and death. By the time the FCTC came along, the toll was clear. Tobacco was not just a health issue; it was a governance issue, a development issue.

The FCTC called for measures that, at the time, felt revolutionary: ban on tobacco advertising, raise taxes on tobacco products, make public places smoke-free, warn consumers with graphic health warnings. These were not mere policies, but shields for future generations.

I still remember the sense of pride when the Philippines ratified the FCTC in 2005. We became part of a global movement that declared: health must come first.

We have come far since then. Cities like Baguio, Balanga, Iloilo, and Davao have pioneered smoke-free ordinances. The Sin Tax reforms helped fund universal health care. Cigarette packs now carry graphic warnings that tell the truth about the harms they cause.

But victories in public health are never permanent.

In recent years, new forms of nicotine addiction have emerged, vapes, e-cigarettes, pouches, and other novel tobacco products, are aggressively promoted as ‘safer’ or ‘cleaner.’ Once again, the target market is the young.

These products come in flavors that entice the youth, sold with barely any restrictions online and in stores near schools. The same playbook is being used, only this time, the cowboy has been replaced by influencers.

The passage of Republic Act No. 11900, which transferred the regulation of vapes from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and lowered the minimum age of access from 21 to 18 years old, felt like déjà vu. Once again, health was being traded for commerce.

Our youth deserve better. Lawmakers must act decisively to halt the alarming rise in smoking and vaping among the young. They must restore the regulation of vapes and all nicotine products to the FDA, where it rightfully belongs, because public health cannot be dictated by trade priorities. The age of access should be raised back to 21, or even higher, given the scientific evidence that nicotine interferes with brain development well into early adulthood. Flavors that appeal to children and youth must be banned.

This November, the Eleventh Conference of Parties (COP11) to the WHO FCTC will convene to assess global progress and reaffirm commitments. It is critical that the Department of Health lead the COP11 Philippine delegation, not the trade or agriculture sector, not the diplomats, because the FCTC is a health treaty.

These are not radical demands, but logical next steps for a nation that once stood proud as an early champion of tobacco control.

The FCTC was not just a treaty. It was, and remains, a promise. A promise that we, as a nation, will protect our people from harm. A promise that the next generation will be freer than the last.

Health policies are not monuments but rather living commitments that must be renewed by every generation, lest they crumble under the weight of profit and neglect. Every time I see a young person puffing on a vape, I am reminded that the work we began more than 20 years ago is far from over. Our promise to protect them lives on and so must our resolve.

Two decades ago, I helped negotiate that promise. Today, alongside countless advocates, we must continue to honor the commitment we made to defend the health of the Filipino people, so that each of us may live fully, breathe freely, and grow old in good health. And when the next 20 years have passed, I hope we can proudly say we stood our ground and kept our word.

BUILDING the country’s roads and railways proved to be the biggest source of jobs in the construction industry in 2022, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The agency’s latest Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry showed that the construction of roads and railways hired 98,198 workers that year, accounting for over a third of all workers in the sector.

The broader construction industry employed a total of 286,849 people in 2022, up 6.1 percent from the previous year’s 270,311. Almost all of them, or 99.8 percent, were paid employees.

Demolition and site preparation had the leanest workforce with only 3,063 people on record.

Metro Manila continued to be the country’s construction hub, accounting for 56 percent or 160,781 workers. It was followed by Calabarzon with 34,964 workers and Central Visayas with 19,747.

Firms in the construction sector employed an average of 128 workers each in 2022, up from 118 the year before.

Meanwhile, companies engaged in road and railway construction had the largest workforce per establishment, averaging 282 workers, followed by demolition and site preparation firms with 236.

Caraga recorded the highest average employment at 197 workers per establishment, while the National Capital Region followed closely with 188.

The PSA counted 2,239 construction firms nationwide in 2022, slightly fewer than the 2,293 tallied in 2021. The biggest slice came from companies engaged in building construction, which made up 44 percent of the total.

They were followed by firms handling electrical, plumbing, and other installation works, and then by road and railway builders. Only 13 companies were involved in demolition and site preparation.

Metro Manila also topped the count of establishments, hosting 856 or nearly two in every five construction firms in the country.

Workers in the sector received a combined P69.79 billion in compensation in 2022, equivalent to an average annual pay of P243,800 per worker. This was a 6 percent increase from 2021.

Total revenue reached P636.24 billion, up nearly 14 percent from the previous year. Expenses rose at the same pace to P554.87 billion, keeping the industry’s revenue-to-expense ratio steady at P1.15 for every peso spent.

The Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry is one of the PSA’s flagship data programs, designed to capture performance and employment trends across key sectors of the formal economy.

The Philippines is grappling with a severe housing crisis, marked by a national backlog that reached 8.25 million units as of March 2025. Projections indicate this figure could swell to an overwhelming 22.6 million by 2040 if the current system remains unchanged.

In fact, it is a gargantuan challenge as 70 percent of Filipinos can only afford homes priced below P1.5 million, yet only 14 percent of available housing falls within this socialized range.

Property technology company Lhoopa argues that this is not just a crisis of supply, but a ‘Crisis of Access.’ The existing housing ecosystem was designed for a narrow demographic-stable, formally employed, middle-income earners-which fails to serve the majority of today’s service sector-driven and largely informal workforce. Lhoopa is actively addressing this mismatch by integrating technology, adaptive financing, and a localized network to redefine access and accelerate affordable homeownership.

Lhoopa’s core strategy involves leveraging technology, particularly AI and mobile applications, to inject efficiency and precision into the housing delivery process, dramatically reducing timelines and costs.

Accelerated development and turnover

Katie Chatto, head of communications of Lhoopa, told the BusinessMirror in an interview the industry standard for housing development can span two to three years. ‘Lhoopa cuts this down to an impressive 10-12 months using a data-driven approach,’ she said.

Chatto said Lhoopa’s technology analyzes thousands of data points-including land conditions, market demand, infrastructure proximity, and climate/disaster risk-to precisely identify land that is viable, safe, and socially impactful for affordable housing. She said technology-driven systems minimize risk and allow for development at scale.

According to Chatto, Lhoopa’s business model focuses on acquiring and refurbishing properties on idle or underserved land, including non-performing assets (NPAs). Once acquired, she said local contractors are mobilized for refurbishment, preparing the homes for occupancy quickly and efficiently.

Mobile technology connects local brokers and contractors (Lhoopa’s ‘real estate frontliners’) directly to the supply chain, facilitating real-time coordination.

Brokers use mobile apps to view and sell active property inventories in their locality, while contractors access projects and track progress digitally.6 This decentralized, community-based delivery model minimizes centralized coordination costs and speeds up the entire construction and sales cycle.

The use of these digital tools drives efficiency, transparency, and trust across the system, ensuring smoother sale closings and project management, which ultimately accelerates the path to homeownership for families.

Chatto said Lhoopa primarily caters to Filipino families who can afford homes priced at P1.5 million or less. Lhoopa’s internal data highlights the affordability gap: 96 percent of its buyers, with an average monthly income of P20,000, can only finance homes below P1 million. Lhoopa’s offerings are priced accordingly, with houses averaging around P650,000 and a maximum price point of P2.5 million.

While the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) is a vital partner, Lhoopa focuses its efforts on assisting the large demographic of fund members. 99 percent of Lhoopa’s clients are active Pag-IBIG members, making the government institution the primary enabler of financing for these low-to-middle-income earners. Lhoopa actively seeks to integrate further with Pag-IBIG to make the process more accessible, potentially through shared technology and community outreach.

Bridging the information gap

A lack of knowledge is a significant barrier to making an informerd decision in buying a home. Lhoopa’s data shows that 75 percent of its homebuyers had no prior knowledge of the available affordable housing pathways. By providing clearer access to information and simplifying the complex homeownership journey, Lhoopa effectively serves households that are currently underserved by the fragmented system.

Lhoopa’s strategy is currently focused on high-growth corridors and emerging cities like Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Naga, where land is more accessible. The success of this model is evident in its rapid growth: the company sold 2.5 times more houses in the first half of the current year compared to the same period in the previous year.

For families like Mario and Yhang, visually impaired massage therapists who bought their first home in Laguna, and Jennifer, a church caretaker who now owns a home in Cabanatuan, Lhoopa transforms the abstract aspiration of homeownership into an achievable reality.

By tackling the problem as a crisis of access, Chatto said Lhoopa provides a viable blueprint for expanding secure, quality, and affordable homeownership for millions of Filipino families, offering a clear path from chronic backlog to a definitive breakthrough.

IN the coming weeks, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to implement an unprecedented ‘major reform measure’ that could save the government around P60 billion in the 2026 national budget, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said.

In a press conference on Monday, Dizon presented what he called ‘the biggest single piece of reform,’ following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to suppress corruption in the agency.

‘Today, I’m going to announce the major reform measure that, in my opinion, will be the biggest, or one of the biggest if not, the single biggest piece of reform that we will do in the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways],’ Dizon said, referring to the massive discrepancy in the cost of materials in government infrastructure projects against market prices.

The directive to peg DPWH costings to market prices was a firm order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who began the sweeping reforms in his last State of the Nation Address (Sona) by calling attention to overpriced, substandard and even nonexistent infrastructure projects, mostly in flood control.

The message of the President, Dizon said, was clear: There should be real change, lasting change.

‘Baguhin ang DPWH. At yun ang gagawin natin.Ngayon lang ginawa ito sa DPWH. Dekada na malalaki ang diperensya ng presyo pero kailangan na nating gawin ito. Kapag naibaba na natin ito, mami-minimize na natin ang corruption. Saan napupunta ang pera? Obviously, in all likelihood, napupunta sa pagnanakaw. Gagawin natin ang masinsinan at tunay na pagbabago,’ he said.

[Let’s overhaul the DPWH. That’s what we will do. It’s only being done now. For decades, there have been wide gaps in pricing, and that must change now. If we can bring this down, we can minimize corruption. Where does the money go? Obviously, in all likelihood, to thieves. We will carry out genuine and thorough reforms]

Their initial initial move, he said, is to bring down the cost of construction materials used in government projects, like cement, asphalt, steel, reinforced steel bars, sheet piles, gravel and sand, which are priced higher by as much as 75 percent.

‘I know it’s been decades; I said so in Senate hearings, many DPWH Secretaries have come and gone. So much DPWH budget has come and gone, but the overpriced materials are still there,’ Dizon said, speaking partly in Filipino.

He lamented that no matter the government’s efforts to put those accountable behind bars and return the stolen funds, all these will still be put to waste if the DPWH will not undergo major reform.

‘We won’t stop until those liable are charged. While we are running after the liable parties, and seeking to jail them, we will also run after their assets,’ he repeatedly vowed.

Meanwhile, even if there is a change in administration, the setup started by President Marcos won’t change. ‘I signed this last Thursday, before the [Undas] holiday. Now, this just needs to adjust to market level,’ he said.

To future DPWH secretaries, Dizon has this to say: ‘That can no longer be changed. Shame on those who try to reverse it. If the private sector can build roads with those prices, why can’t the government? What could be the reason? Corruption. We will not sacrifice the quality, but we will curb corruption.’

Dizon also revealed that they are studying thoroughly the potential liabilities of those behind the overpricing.

The country’s leading digital entertainment platform, BingoPlus, has made a historic impact on the Philippine sports and golf scene with its all-out support for the recently concluded International Series Philippines.

Marking a milestone debut in the country, the International Series made its Philippine stop with a month-long celebration led by BingoPlus-delivering world-class golf and premier sports entertainment that brought global and local fans together in one unforgettable experience.

Forging Golf Excellence

The prestigious golf tournament was formalized in late 2024 through a partnership between International Series Head Rahul Singh and AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE) President Rafael Jasper Vicencio. After a year of preparation, the much-anticipated International Series Philippines (ISP) unfolded in a four-day tournament from October 23 to 26 at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Estate in Laguna.

The celebration officially kicked off with a press conference on October 21 in Pasay City, attended by company executives and professional golf players. Joining Vicencio and Singh were Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant, alongside golfers John Catlin, Marc Leishman, Taichi Kho, and Peter Uihlein.

Following the press event was a Filipino-themed gala night, featuring a welcome toast led by key executives – Singh, Thant, DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco, DigiPlus CEO Tommy Hu, Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, PSC Chairman Patrick C. Gregorio, and PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco.

In his opening remarks, Tanco emphasized the historic collaboration between the International Series Philippines and BingoPlus. ‘We are bringing exquisite, high-quality, and world-class golf experiences closer to Filipinos.’, he said.

The evening also showcased Filipino artistry through a cultural fashion show and kundiman performances by Jed Madela, adding a distinct local flair to the international event.

Earlier, on September 24, media partners were treated to a one-day golf experience at Sta. Elena Golf, symbolically opening the season-long media partnership for the tournament’s coverage.

To further highlight the partnership, a symbolic handover of a golf club took place on October 26 between Singh, Hu, and Tengco, marking the conclusion of the tournament. During the ceremony, ISP expressed its gratitude to BingoPlus and Filipino fans for their unwavering support throughout the historic Philippine leg.

Win for Filipino

There’s no better way to start this historic sports event than to bring golf closer and relatable to the Filipinos. This is what’s behind the announcement of the Filipino golf ambassador of the number one sportsbook in the country, ArenaPlus, the three-time Asian Tour winner Miguel Tabuena, launched on October 21.

Tabuena is among the pool of Filipinos competing in the Philippine leg of IS. Playing on his home course at Sta. Elena Golf Club, the 31-year-old golfer delivered a stellar performance with rounds of 69, 65, 65, and 65 – highlighted by five eagles and a hole-in-one – to claim his 22nd professional title.

Cheered on by a passionate home crowd, Tabuena triumphed over top contenders Sarit Suwannarut and Sampson Zheng, dedicating the win to his family, fans, and ArenaPlus. Beyond victory, he reaffirmed his commitment to grow golf in the Philippines and inspire the next generation of Filipino athletes.

‘It means a lot to be able to play on home soil and a dream come true to be coming into the tournament and get the win,’ he said. ‘At the end of the day it’s always nice to see a Filipino flag at the top.’

Meanwhile, as talented Filipino golfers grew in number, the brand created the Future Ace program. This aimed to further strengthen the path of aspiring Filipino golfers closer to their dream. BingoPlus selected 20 people who registered for the program, of whom the final three were given a ?200,000 training fund, ?100,000 worth of golf equipment, and an opportunity to play with international players during the professional-amatuer (Pro-Am) tournament on October 22.

Joined by professional golfers and champions such as Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed, the Pro-Am tournament brought together executives and partners for an enjoyable round on the 18-hole course. The event was designed to boost the growing golf scene in the Philippines, providing participants with an opportunity to engage in friendly competition and practice ahead of the four-day tournament.

A Celebration Beyond the Fairway

The Filipino sports celebration broke new ground by blending golf with top-tier entertainment, creating a one-of-a-kind sporting experience.

In the lead-up to the International Series Philippines (ISP) week, ISP and BingoPlus brought the golf experience closer to communities through a four-leg caravan held from October 12 to 22, filled with fun activities, excitement, and live performances by top Filipino artists. Among the featured performers were actors Tony Labrusca, Teejay Marquez, Derek Monasterio, Klea Pineda, Lance Carr, and the boyband YML, along with Jelai Andres, Dustine Mayores, Bont Bryan, Baninay, and Elyson De Dios.

The excitement continued with a three-day mall show from October 21 to 23, which showcased dynamic performances from boy groups 1621 and VXON, along with Claire Ruiz, Fana, and OPM bands Lily, Soapdish, and Hale.

The celebration culminated on October 25 at the Aseana City Concert Grounds, where ISP and BingoPlus successfully staged the International Series Music Festival presented by BingoPlus, a grand spectacle that fused music, sports, and charity in one unforgettable night.

Held under the theme ‘Swing for Filipino Sports Dream’, the festival gathered global and local icons, including EDM superstar Alan Walker, Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, and OPM favorites Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Urbandub, Sandwich, and Lily. The event also featured electrifying sets from DJs Arthur Tan, Hoest, and DJ Kiara, alongside high-energy performances by world champion dance crews A-Team and UPeepz.

‘What I hope everyone would go home with is a sense of joy from their time at the festival – not just from my performance, but from everyone in the lineup,’ shared Alan Walker in an interview. ‘The most important thing for me is that they go home feeling good.’

Meanwhile, the excitement continued at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Estate, where BingoPlus amped up the tournament atmosphere with pocket concerts featuring top DJs, a VIP lounge, and interactive booths that entertained guests throughout the tournament week.

These jam-packed golf entertainment experiences built up to a countrywide celebration that seamlessly blended sports, music, and Filipino pride, marking another milestone for BingoPlus in championing both sports and entertainment in the Philippines.

Swinging Through Communities

To mark the festivities, the International Series Philippines (ISP) and BingoPlus brought the spirit of celebration to various communities, ensuring an engaging and entertaining golf experience for fans across the country.

four-leg caravan toured around Luzon, with stops in San Ildefonso, Bulacan (October 12), Porac, Pampanga (October 19), Caloocan City (October 21), and Calamba, Laguna (October 22). Alongside exciting activities and live performances, attendees enjoyed interactive games and raffle draws, winning prizes such as mobile phones, tablets, smart TVs, and home appliances.

Adding to the excitement, fun-filled mall shows were held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall (October 21-23) and SM City Sta. Rosa (October 21-26). Mallgoers participated in golf-inspired games and daily raffles for a chance to win premium prizes, including a 55-inch TV, gift certificates, an iPad 11th Gen, and a Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro.

The celebration reached its peak during the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus Music Festival, where attendees were treated to exclusive merchandise, interactive booths from BingoPlus, the BingoPlus Foundation, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, as well as complimentary snacks. The night’s highlight was an exciting raffle with a ?5 million prize pool, where 100 winners took home ?10,000 each, and four lucky participants became instant millionaires, winning ?1 million apiece.

Empowering Sports Dreams

Beyond the tournament’s excitement, the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus underscored its commitment to advancing local sports development through meaningful donations.

On October 21, a ceremonial check turnover was held, led by the International Series Philippines, BingoPlus, and the BingoPlus Foundation, to support aspiring Filipino golfers. BingoPlus Foundation Executive Director Angela Camins-Wieneke turned over USD 100,000 to Anthony Kang, Board Member of the Asian Development Tour, and USD 50,000 to Myka Romulo, Executive Director of the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Continuing the momentum, another highlight on October 25 during the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus Music Festival was the turnover of ?8 million to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

‘Beyond the beats and lights, BingoPlus is turning the celebration into a meaningful cause. The proceeds will go toward supporting Filipino sports development programs, reinforcing the organizations’ (ISP, BingoPlus, and BingoPlus Foundation) shared advocacy to uplift Filipino athletes, promote grassroots development, and elevate local talent to global recognition.’ said ABLE President Vicencio.

International Series Philippines 2026 with BingoPlus

ABLE President Vicencio also announced the continuation of BingoPlus’ commitment for next year’s tournament, solidifying its role as a key driver in promoting world-class golf in the country.

‘We are thrilled to announce that we will continue our partnership with the International Series Philippines in 2026! Truly, we’ve set the standard this year, and we aim to elevate the experience even further next year,’ said Vicencio.

On Marathon Monday, New York didn’t come down from its high, it climbed even higher. A day after more than 59,000 runners thundered through five boroughs, the largest marathon in world history rose into the clouds.

The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon didn’t just break records, it broke altitude.

The four champions, Hellen Obiri, Benson Kipruto, Marcel Hug, and Susannah Scaroni, met the city they conquered 1,100 feet above it all, on the 92nd floor of Summit One Vanderbilt. Floor-to-ceiling glass, skyline endless, reflection upon reflection of four people who outlasted the world’s toughest city.

This year’s race was biblical in scale. 59,662 starters, 59,226 finishers. More than 132 countries. All 50 states, plus D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Men, women, and nonbinary runners, all on the same course, the same day, the same story of pain turned to motion. 31,927 men, 27,156 women, and 143 nonbinary finishers, each a record in its own right. It was the second straight year New York Road Runners rewrote the global record books.

Hellen Obiri stood near the window, the skyline mirrored in her eyes. Her 2:19:51 wasn’t just a win, it was a resurrection of speed. A 22-year-old course record was erased. The Kenyan became only the eighth woman to repeat as New York champion. She didn’t shout. She didn’t flex. ‘New York rewards patience,’ she said quietly, as if speaking to the ghosts of Okayo and Grete Waitz.

Benson Kipruto leaned against the mirrored wall, calm after chaos. His 2:08:09 victory came by three hundredths of a second, the closest finish in the history of the men’s race. His New York debut, his fourth Abbott World Marathon Majors title after Boston, Chicago, and Tokyo.

Marcel Hug rolled in with the cool efficiency of someone who’s turned physics into religion. 1:30:16, seven wins. The Swiss star became an official NYRR ‘Streaker,’ having finished at least fifteen New York marathons. Across from him, Susannah Scaroni, her third New York title, second in a row, finished in 1:42:10, slicing nearly six minutes off her 2024 time. She beamed like she’d just rewritten her own story.

Somewhere below, the last stragglers were still celebrating. Among them, Koichi Kitabatake, 91, from Japan, who crossed in 7:25:13, Judith Sorn, 83, the oldest woman finisher, and Lio Connelly-Mendez, 21, the youngest nonbinary runner. The marathon, as ever, refused to discriminate by age, speed, or style. It only asks, can you keep moving?

By the time the cameras clicked at 11:05 a.m., the light hit right, gold spilling across the glass. The champions looked suspended in mid-air. Obiri adjusted her medal. Hug rested his gloved hands on his rims. Kipruto squinted at Park Avenue below, tracing the path he’d just conquered.

From this height, the 26.2 miles looked like a thread tying the city together. Staten Island to Central Park, pain to triumph, anonymity to glory. Every borough stitched into the same fabric of human motion.

For a few minutes, the marathon didn’t end, it just changed elevation. The city, exhausted and proud, stared back at its champions floating in light.

They didn’t need to run anymore. They’d already arrived.

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Monday met with retired US Army Gen. David Petraeus to exchange views on the evolving nature of modern warfare.

The DND, in a statement on Tuesday, said both leaders highlighted the growing need for ‘tomorrow’s technology for today’s war.’

The two also noted that innovation is often driven by current challenges and cited the example of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

The two also said this initiative plays a critical role in shaping outcomes on the battlefield.

‘Secretary Teodoro emphasized the development of low-cost, asymmetrically and algorithmically designed technologies to enhance operational survivability,’ the DND statement added.

Teodoro also underscored the importance of highly mobile production systems to minimize disruptions in defense materiel manufacturing, ensuring readiness and resilience in critical defense operations.

For his part, Petraeus said ‘adaptive military strategies prevail over bigger adversaries.’

He also stressed that flexibility and technological innovation are essential to strengthening the country’s defense capabilities in an increasingly complex security environment.

Petraeus is a member of Class of 1974 of the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, and commanded troops in combat during his military service. As a four-star general, he led the US Central Command and later coalition forces in Alghanistan. He was served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency after retirement from the military.