Category: Business Mirror

EMINENT local and international artists support the fundraising initiative of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Dubbed ‘Funding the Future,’ the event celebrates the institution’s commitment to engage with contemporary art and culture, its practice and production, as well as its presentation and interpretation.

As a non-profit museum, MCAD relies on the generosity of patrons, supporters, and its closest advocates to ensure its curatorial and learning programs remain free and accessible to all. Proceeds of the affair will go toward sustaining the museum’s various cultural and art-inspired undertakings.

The projects include Curatorial Conversations, the annual mentorship program for young practicing curators; MCAD Commons, a collaborative exhibition platform with regional institutions and art spaces that allows for creative development, ideas exchange, and curatorial discourse; and MCAD Publications, which promotes the generation and propagation of new ideas in contemporary art and design through exhibition-related catalogues and artist monographs.

Art patron and planning committee member Pam Gonzales Lopez shared: ‘I support MCAD because I truly believe in what it stands for: a free, inclusive space for dialogue and discovery through art.’

‘I love that MCAD is a non-collecting museum, which means it stays fresh and experimental, bringing world-class exhibitions to Manila while supporting living artists,’ she added.

Central to the success of this fundraiser is the generosity of artists, individuals, and galleries, who donated artworks and experiences to the exhibition and auction.

The exhibit will showcase pieces from the collection of artist-supporters, including Pacita Abad, Pio Abad, Poklong Anading, Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Martha Atienza, Victor Balanon, Nice Buenaventura, Lesley-Anne Cao, Mariano Ching, Jonathan Ching, Charlie Co, Lena Cobangbang, Kiri Dalena, Corinne De San Jose, Lourd de Veyra, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Dex Fernandez, Michelle Lopez, and Tona Lopez.

Completing the roster are Zoraya Lua, Dominic Mangila, Lui Medina, Manny Montelibano, Wawi Navarroza, Manuel Ocampo, Kaloy Olavides, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Paul Pfeiffer, Goldie Poblador, Issay Rodriguez, Luis Antonio Santos, Elisa Tan, Maria Taniguchi, Derek Tumala, Miguel Lorenzo Uy, Veejay Villafranca, Liv Vinluan, and Costantino Zicarelli.

The artwork donations, which range from drawings and paintings, to objects, photographs, and video art will be on view to the public beginning November 9, 2025 at the MCAD. It is open from Tuesdays through Sundays, and will run until November 16, 2025.

An online catalogue will likewise be available on the website of Leon Gallery, the official auction partner of the event. The benefit dinner and auction will be held on November 15, 2025 at MCAD. Attendees will receive a limited-edition work by artists Lani Maestro and Neo Maestro.

MCAD is at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) along Dominga Street, Malate, Manila.

THE Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference closes the first of its two preliminary phases Tuesday with a pair of rematches between ZUS Coffee and Akari and Capital1 and Choco Mucho.

The mathes were actually played on opening day of the conference but sans the imports who sat it out in the absence of their ITC, or International Transfer Certificates.

Among the four, the Thunderbelles emerged as the revelation of the conference with powerhouse import Anna DeBeer not only delivering on firepower but also providing inspiration and composure that have elevated the play of the local crew.

The result’s an immaculate 4-0 record in Pool B, making them the only unbeaten squad in both groups.

They’ll look to preserve the streak when they face the Chargers at 4 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

But while ZUS Coffee is brimming with confidence, Akari has quietly built momentum of its own, winning three of its first four outings to nearly secure the No. 3 slot behind the Thunderbelles and the Creamline Cool Smashers (3-2).

In the middle, Akari’s Ced Domingo and Fifi Sharma will have their hands full against Riza Nogales, AC Miner and Thea Gagate, while on the wings, Annie Mitchem, Eli Soyud, Grethcel Soltones and Chenie Tagaod will try to counter the balanced assault of Fiola Ceballos, Kate Santiago, and Jovelyn Gonzaga.

The 6:30 p.m. clash between Choco Mucho and Capital1 is also shaping up to be another thriller-both teams tote 2-2 records and the winner will secure the No. 3 spot in Pool A and advance alongside PLDT and Farm Fresh (both at 4-1) to the next stage.

ALEXANDRA EALA has officially entered the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Top 50, becoming the first Filipina to reach this elite ranking.

The 20-year-old tennis star was No. 51 before this week’s ranking was released.

Eala’s rise was fueled by standout performances, including a semifinal finish at the WTA 1000 Miami Open, a first-round win at the US Open, and a title run at the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open.

The win in Mexico was the first by a Filipina in the WTA.

The results helped her climb steadily through the rankings and earn recognition as one of the sport’s rising talents.

Eala’s top 50 breakthrough is a major milestone not just for her career, but for Philippine tennis.

As a Philippine team member, Eala earned bronze medals in the singles and doubles events in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022.

The left-handed Eala, who is eyeing deeper Grand Slam runs and Olympic qualification, had three bronze medals in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

A product of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, Eala won the girls US Open title in New York in 2022.

She reached the second round of the US Open this year.

Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero wants to institutionalize budget transparency and accountability safeguards for all infrastructure projects introduced in the national budget as a way of preventing irregularities and the abuse and misuse of government funds.

To ensure that only government infrastructure projects that are technically and financially viable are included in the national budget, Escudero has filed Senate Bill Number 1461 or the proposed Infrastructure Appropriations Integrity Act.

Under the measure, all infrastructure projects will have to incorporate mechanisms such as station numbers, geotagging, geodetic coordinates, and other technology-based methodologies that will allow anyone to locate these at any time.

‘Ang geotagging ay isa sa pinakamahalagang mekanismo para makita natin kung ano ang estado ng isang proyekto-kung may ginagawa ba talaga o naka tengga lang ito habang tuloy-tuloy na nagpapalabas ng pondo ang gobyerno,’ Escudero said.

The bill also states that no government infrastructure project should be included in the national budget and implemented unless it has gone through a thorough feasibility study.

The technical and financial bases for the projects, including the detailed unit price analyses, standard cost of materials, and quantity estimates should be properly and accurately documented for the perusal of all, particularly the public.

‘This documentation is a requirement and condition sine qua non for inclusion of any infrastructure project in the National Expenditure Program [NEP] and the General Appropriations Act [GAA]. All proposed projects must be vetted otherwise it should not receive a single centavo in public funds,’ Escudero said.

Budget splitting or the division of the appropriations for infrastructure projects in phases will also be prohibited for whatever reason.

‘Splitting of government contracts has long been prohibited under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Law. This is to prevent the schemes that are intended to circumvent the law and budget policies in order to facilitate corruption,’ the former Senate President said.

In the ongoing reviews and investigations being conducted on the government’s flood control programs, several problems were discovered including substandard construction and materials, overpriced procurement, and in some instances the non-existence of projects or what is more commonly referred to as ghost projects.

Escudero recently wrote to Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to adopt the transparency and accountability safeguards contained in SBN 1461 as a general provision in the 2026 national budget or as a special provision under specific agency appropriations.

FROM the top of the competition, collecting gold medals across continents, Meggie Ochoa finds herself in unfamiliar territory.

She is still immersed in the world of jiu-jitsu, but now it’s less about chasing medals and more about shaping futures.

It’s much tougher being a coach, Ochoa admits, but she is loving it.

‘It’s much harder than I imagined,’ she admitted. ‘As an athlete, you focus on your own game. As a coach, you think about the whole team. You can’t control everything, and sometimes you just want to jump in and fight the match yourself.’

‘You need to manage your emotions because you have to be on top of things and you also need to be more composed for the athletes, so they won’t be rattled,’ said Ochoa.

Ochoa worked with coach Chris Gallego in guiding the 18-member Philippine youth jiu-jitsu team at the recentThird Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.

The Philippines wound up fifth in the jiu-jitsu medal table with one gold and one bronze medal-the United Arab Emirates topped the list with two gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

‘I used to think I’d just be an athlete forever,’ she said. ‘But when I started coaching in 2024, I found fulfillment I didn’t expect. I realized I was more willing to let go of competing than I was to give up coaching.’

Ochoa made history as the first Filipino to win gold at the JJIF World Championships in 2018.

The 35-year-old Ochoa now helps oversee the development of around 50 grapplers, but she said the Philippine team has identified many more promising talents.

Ochoa was on the corner for 15-year-old Mara Alexandria Sarinas, who claimed the bronze medal in the girls’ -57kg division with a submission win over Thailand’s Prasita Rumakom.

Asian Youth Games gold medalist Isabella Butler is also one of the younger stars-from Art of Jiu-jitsu in California-that Ochoa believes will be an inspiration to their wards.

Butler’s dominating performance-Gallego was on the corner having previously trained at Butler’s jiujitsu academy-has been an eye-opener for the Philippine team, Ochoa said.

‘Bella is a huge inspiration and a valuable lesson for us,’ Ochoa said. ‘We want to learn from the system that’s helping her grow. We need to study how they build champions so we can elevate our own system in the Philippines. Because right now, it’s clear-we’re not yet where we should be.’

‘We’re still far from where we need to be to reach our vision,’ Ochoa added.

‘But I’m excited because we’ve started identifying what needs to be done. Jiu-jitsu already delivers medals in the adult division. Now we need to bridge the gap in youth development.’

Ochoa likens herself to a white belt again-this time in coaching.

She’s attending clinics, learning from fellow mentors.

She’s not done competing entirely-she’ll still fight outside the national team, just to satisfy that competitive urge-but her heart is now with the kids.

‘I’m challenged every day,’ she said. ‘And when I’m challenged, that’s when I’m most driven to grow.’

AS Thomas Frank led Tottenham players to pay respects to fans in spite of a 1-nil loss to Chelsea at home this past Saturday evening, the fans at White Hart Lane rained down boos.

This despite Tottenham currently at fourth place in the Premier League with a 5-2-3 record.

In this thrilling and exciting World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays (won by the Dodgers Sunday despite the Blue Jays’ home field advantage), there is no love lost for fans of the former for George Springer who is playing for the Toronto.

The Dodgers and their fans finally got one back against Springer.

Springer was part of that Houston Astros team that was called out for cheating during the 2017 season when they met in the World Series. The New York Yankees also called out Houston for sign stealing, a camera that was illegally installed in a spot where it should, and banging on a trash bin to relay signals.

And this past week, Mexican Formula 1 fans lustily booed McLaren’s driver Lando Norris who won the race and took over teammate Oscar Piastri who he leads by a slim point, 357-356, in the Driver’s Championship standings.

Fans feel that Piastri is being shafted by McLaren so Norris will win. And there’s Mexican fans not taking to Norris’ comments about Sergio Perez in the previous season when he said that the latter wasn’t good enough to push teammate Max Verstappen.

With four races left-Sao Paolo, Las Vegas, Qatar and the season-ending Abu Dhabi-the title is still up for grabs-third running Max Verstappen can still win it.

And a couple of weeks ago, when the Oklahoma City Thunder received their championship rings, Kevin Durant’s Houston Rockets were in town. The OKC crowd cheered for their former center Steven Adams who now wears a Rockets uniform. Yet, when Durant was announced immediately after, a rain of boos cascaded down the Paycom Center.

Fans feel that Durant was supposed to lead them to a title but departed for Golden State where he won with Steph Curry.

The funny thing is-Durant booed the fans right back.

Of course, it is nothing new especially in sports as booing is a sign of displeasure whether because of a loss, unsportsmanlike behavior, players leaving their team in a lurch especially for a rival, lethargic performances by their own team, and others.

Booing of course can be an efficient weapon by the huge home field ally, the fans. It backfires when the foe takes the victory.

There’s the case of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun who after being suspended for the use of performance enhancing drugs for 65 games without pay. When he returned, in spite of being on the receiving end of a fusillade of boos, he would smack home runs-game winning ones-on home fields of opposing teams. He performed even better on the road.

In a National Hockey League match, Montreal Canadiens fans booed the playing of Star Spangled Banner against the New York Islanders in protest of the war in Iraq. It pumped up the Islanders who dealt the Canadiens a 6-3 defeat.

When Real Madrid ventured to the Etihad Stadium, to play Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, fans booed Vinicius Jr after his team’s insisting he should have won the Ballon d’Or over the home side’s Rodri who took home world football’s biggest individual award.

‘Where’s your Ballon d’Or’ fans mocked Vinicius.

Madrid knocked out Man City, 3-2.

So booing can be a weapon or a great motivator. It really is how one responds to adversity whether they have the mental fortitude or not to deal with it.

Having said that, people should take consolation from that Alex Rodriguez quote, ‘Nobody never booed a nobody.’

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) advisory about increased cyber risks on November 5 underscores the need for vigilance and technological awareness in the Philippine digital sphere. Research reveals that this is connected with the global symbolism of Guy Fawkes Night and past hacktivist incidents targeting this day.

Historically, November 5 commemorates Guy Fawkes Night in the United Kingdom-marking the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Fawkes and his co-conspirators tried to overthrow the government.

Over centuries, this date evolved and entered Internet culture as a rallying symbol for digital protest. The Guy Fawkes mask, popularized by the film ‘V for Vendetta,’ became a signature icon for hacktivist groups like Anonymous. For years, Anonymous and similar movements have coordinated digital attacks and protest campaigns on November 5, often targeting government websites and institutions worldwide as acts of ‘resistance.’ The date, once rooted in England’s turbulent history, now serves as a global emblem of cyber-activism and digital disruption.

With this context in mind, the recent DICT warning is both timely and relevant. The advisory cites the risk of a ‘possible Internet traffic flood,’ specifically referencing the likelihood of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack-where web servers are bombarded with overwhelming traffic, rendering online services inaccessible. Such attacks not only disrupt businesses and government operations but also threaten critical infrastructure, especially as digitalization deepens across the country.

The DICT’s proactive stance links directly to previous incidents: November 5 has seen cyberattacks orchestrated by local and international hacktivist circles. In past years, Anonymous Philippines pledged and coordinated strikes on the date, defacing websites and drawing public attention to perceived failures in governance, digital rights, and privacy. The continuity of these attacks illustrates a pattern that reflects real vulnerabilities in cybersecurity.

In light of these warnings and our past experiences, vigilance must transcend mere awareness: Philippine organizations, public agencies, and individuals are called to fortify their digital practices. Technological precautions-such as robust firewalls, regular security audits, and incident response planning-are essential, and so is a culture of cyber hygiene. The Guy Fawkes mythos serves as a metaphor into the age of information: a reminder that our interconnectedness is both strength and risk.

Digital literacy must become a civic priority, matched by reforms in infrastructure and responsive leadership. Each November 5 has become a recurring test: are we alert or complacent, prepared or exposed? The lesson from Guy Fawkes, the hacktivist movements, and the latest DICT advisory is clear. The real ‘plot’ to foil is internal-thwarting inertia and creating a nation of vigilant individuals empowered by technological awareness.

We all have to move towards proactive readiness and ensure that the digital space remains safe, reliable, and resilient in the uncertain landscape of cyber threats.

Last week, the peso hit its weakest level in 10 months, closing at P59.13 to the US dollar. On paper, a soft currency might sound like a bonanza for exporters. In reality, it exposes something grimmer: a nation’s fractured soul, where corruption has seeped so deeply into governance that even the exchange rate now tells a moral story.

The peso’s slide coincides with the ghost of P1.7 trillion in so-called flood-control projects-roughly a fourth of the proposed P6.7-trillion national budget for 2026. When Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials are seen parading stacks of cash allegedly bound for legislators and phantom projects, what collapses is not just the peso, but the country’s confidence.

What truly weakened was not our currency’s worth but our collective faith-faith that budgets are spent wisely, that public office remains public trust. As one revelation follows another-defunded ODA projects, shrunken allocations for health and education, trillions siphoned by greedy contractors, greedier bureaucrats, and the greediest lawmakers-it becomes clear that the peso is simply translating our moral deficit into monetary terms.

Currencies are not just exchange instruments; they are reflections of trust. When corruption becomes the quiet denominator of governance, the market senses the fracture before the charts do. No wonder the stock market has been limping below 6,000 points, far from the 9,000-point euphoria of earlier years, while other Asian bourses continue to flourish.

Corruption doesn’t merely stain morality; it cripples markets. It breeds the expectation effect-that eerie pre-recession behavior when households begin tightening their belts long before a downturn officially arrives. People sense that the economy is headed south, and they spend less. Stores sell less. Factories slow down. Jobs dry up. The prophecy fulfills itself.

The dampening force, in our case, is not inflation alone but disbelief-disbelief that public funds serve public good. Every scandal, every ghost project, becomes more than outrage; it becomes a monetary signal. Investors sell, foreign funds flee, and the peso trembles under the weight of moral exhaustion.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which has just announced a 25 basis point cut in interest rates, insists the peso’s weakness stems from market forces. ‘We continue to maintain robust reserves,’ the BSP said, ‘and when we do participate in the market, it is to smooth volatility rather than defend the rate.’ But markets trade not just in reserves-they trade in reputation.

In a healthy economy, every peso spent by the government multiplies demand. In ours, the corruption multiplier works in reverse. Every peso lost to graft subtracts two from growth: one from the project left undone, another from the trust destroyed. Investors read it as risk, lenders as premium, consumers as despair.

When bridges collapse after ribbon-cuttings or dikes crumble with the first rain, people withdraw-not only their money but their belief. That invisible withdrawal drains the economy faster than any capital flight.

And as the state borrows more to spend, each loan grows costlier when credibility is low. The irony bites: the more the government borrows to build, the less the public believes the buildings will stand.

No interest-rate cut can reverse that psychology. Recovery rests not on liquidity, but on legitimacy. Confidence-once lost-cannot be conjured by fiscal tricks.

What this economy truly needs is transparency, not transactions. The most powerful stimulus is a moral audit. A peso spent honestly ripples farther than billions disbursed under suspicion. Accountability is not mere virtue; it is an economic asset that steadies the peso, lowers borrowing costs, and restores that priceless capital called trust.

Growth, after all, is not purely arithmetic. It is ethics quantified-the sum of honesty, efficiency, and faith in rule of law. Until those numbers rise, the peso will continue to reflect not just trade imbalances but trust deficits.

The true exchange rate to watch, then, is not peso versus dollar, but faith versus corruption. The peso’s depreciation is a metaphor for moral devaluation. And until governance itself appreciates – until those who plunder are punished and those who serve are honored-no central bank can stabilize the exchange rate of hope.

Because confidence is the currency of progress. When it deflates, the economy follows. When it is restored, even a weak peso can purchase something stronger than money-belief that tomorrow will still be worth investing in today.

THE country’s shipments of cut flowers jumped to over $690,000 trade surplus in 2024, maintaining its position as a net exporter of the commodity, according to a unit of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA and P).

In its latest briefer, UA and P Center for Food and Agribusiness (CFA) Research Assistant Cy P. Reyes said the Philippines exported cut flowers worth $705,000 last year, while imports stood at $12,000, resulting in a trade surplus of $693,000.

Cut flowers are blooms or buds that were severed from plants for decorative purposes.

‘This positive trade balance indicates that the country remains a net exporter of cut flowers,’ Reyes said.

‘Exports reflect robust local production, while imports reveal supply gaps due to seasonal or unavailable flower varieties, indicating the industry’s competitiveness and potential.’

Reyes said the country’s cut flower output rose to 9,730 metric tons (MT) in 2024 from about 8,960 MT in 2020.

However, he noted that data showed a slight dip in production in the last two years owing to weather-related shocks.

While the commodity’s shipments in terms of volume steadily declined year-on-year from 2020 to 2024 at an average rate of 9.1 percent, Reyes noted that the value of exports posted an average annual growth rate of 93.2 percent in the same period.

Thailand was the Philippines’ largest export market for cut flowers last year in terms of value, accounting for 39.2 percent of total shipments, he said.

In terms of volume, he noted that Japan and the United States were the country’s top export destinations, with each accounting for 36.9 percent of the total export volume.

‘These figures highlight the Philippines’ strong regional trade linkages in Asia and its expanding presence in established global markets in Europe and North America, demonstrating both the scale and value of the country’s cut flower exports and the growing international competitiveness of the industry,’ Reyes said.

Meanwhile, he noted that exports peaked in 2021 when it reached $1.89 million, before declining by 71.7 percent to $536,000 in 2022.

He added that the downtrend trend persisted in subsequent years, with export volume slipping further to $705,000 by 2024.

‘This continued decline after 2021 indicates a slowdown in export activity, which can be attributed in part to the supply limitations previously identified as one of the challenges for the industry,’ Reyes said.

Despite the uptrend in production, Reyes said the industry continues to face high costs of infrastructure, such as greenhouses, irrigation systems, and post-harvest facilities.

He added that the industry also deals with increasing vulnerability to the unpredictable effects of climate change.

‘Extreme weather events such as storms and floods disrupt production cycles, leading to irregular supply and fluctuating prices,’ Reyes said.

However, he noted that there remains growth opportunities amid these challenges.

‘Cut flower exports have been growing, which indicates that the industry has the capacity to improve production, quality, and competitiveness in the global market,’ Reyes said.

‘Aside from this, the overall production trend suggests that domestic demand remains stable and that producers continue to respond to market opportunities both locally and abroad.’

INVESTOR appetite remains intact in the energy sector amid corruption issues, energy officials said over the weekend.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin said she is ‘very bullish’ on energy investments as the administration demands transparency, fairness, and accountability.

‘That’s shown by our GEA [green energy auction] over-subscription. It’s also shown during these past two days, the many meetings we’ve had of many investors from all over the world wanting to invest in the Philippines. So I think it’s still a very positive, and I don’t think it’s anything to worry about as far as energy is concerned,’ Garin, who attended the Singapore International Energy Week last week, said.

In fact, Garin said Abu Dhabi has expressed keen interest to invest in the country’s energy sector. ‘We were talking to Abu Dhabi, a Middle Eastern country, and they wanted to check if they can also invest in upstream in the Philippines. So I think they are aware it’s private-driven, and it’s not about corruption per se. So it’s more like we’re just establishing ourselves as a good policy makers as far as energy is concerned,’ said the energy chief.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the DOE’s recent endorsement for three more petroleum service contracts (PSCs) to the Office of the President reflects the strong investor interest in the country’s oil and gas sector.

‘There’s also an interest upstream, especially after the signing of the eight service contracts. And there are three more additional that the DOE worked on. There’s another three more in the works,’ he said. ‘And as far as policies are concerned, they also told us that the policies in the Philippines, the fundamentals are in place. So it’s very predictable,’ he added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier signed eight new PSCs covering exploration areas across the Sulu Sea, Cagayan, Cebu, Northwest Palawan, East Palawan and Central Luzon. The eight awarded PSCs represent a potential investment commitment of around $207 million over a seven-year exploration period.

Last week, Garin stressed the importance of aligned policies within neighboring countries to unlock the full potential of a regional power grid interconnection.

The Asean Power Grid interconnected system will drive the transition toward a cleaner, resilient, and sustainable energy future, where progress and prosperity are shared equitably across the member-states. To achieve this, Garin said cooperation must go beyond building physical links. ‘We must align our national policies to ensure systems can operate seamlessly across borders. Harmonized technical standards, compatible market mechanisms, clear investment frameworks, and stable cross-border governance from the foundation of our collective progress,’ she said.

Garin also said the Philippines continues to explore a bilateral power interconnection with Malaysia-its first potential link to the regional grid. ‘We would like to explore the possibly of connecting the Philippines to Malysia, and in doing so, the rest of the region. This will take technical, financial, legal, and policy groundwork, but the building blocks are already being laid.’