Category: Business Mirror

FOR an archipelago like the Philippines, the sea is both lifeblood and barrier-thousands of kilometers of beautiful and majestic coastlines simultaneously connect and divide the nation.

More than two decades ago, that division felt more real than the connection. Interisland travel meant slow cargo lines and unreliable schedules. Back then, the markets were fragmented, and the water between islands often functioned more like borders than highways.

The government, however, attempted something bold: to transform water from obstacle into artery. The Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH), a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) network, fundamentally changed how Filipinos move between islands.

Before the nautical highway, interisland shipping measured delays in days rather than hours. A truck moving goods from Luzon to Mindanao might spend more time waiting at docks than traveling on actual roads.

The RoRo concept changed everything through simplicity. The idea was straightforward: treat the sea like asphalt, let trucks drive onto ferries in Luzon and roll off in Mindanao, and the entire country could function as a single market.

From commerce to infrastructure

THE Philippines has since shifted its view of maritime transport – from commerce to infrastructure. And it worked.

‘It created what we now call a ‘connected archipelago,’ linking Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao through roll-on/roll-off routes,’ Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Sonia Malaluan said. ‘That network helped small and medium shipping operators thrive, cut logistics costs by around 30 percent, and opened new trade and tourism corridors that remain vital today.’

According to a study conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the program transformed domestic logistics and local economies by cutting transport costs between 10 percent and 60 percent and slashing delivery times, thanks to the RoRo system that eliminated costly cargo handling and wharfage fees.

These efficiency gains allowed companies to streamline supply chains-consolidating warehouses and shifting to frequent, direct deliveries that reduced spoilage and made operations more predictable.

The nautical highway, according to the multinational lender, ignited growth in once-isolated areas, making ports economic catalysts by spurring commerce, creating tourism corridors, and democratizing access for farmers to major markets.

‘The SRNH really did what it was meant to do. It connected people and markets. Travel times between islands dropped by as much as 40 percent, tourism flourished, and we saw over a hundred RoRo routes linking a number of provinces since 2019. This is a huge step toward inclusivity in an archipelagic country like ours. It made maritime transport part of everyday life, not just a sector for cargo and commerce,’ Malaluan explained.

For the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the challenge was to match this connectivity with capacity. The agency partnered with the private sector to modernize the South Harbor and the Manila International Container Terminal to handle larger cargo vessels, extending berths, expanding yards, and introducing bigger cranes.

Those changes re-anchored Manila as a logistics hub while complementing the highway’s promise of ‘seamless mobility.’ The rise of expressways such as the South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway further compressed travel time between ports and production zones.

So when the 2014 truck-ban crisis choked the capital, Batangas and Subic- linked by the expressways – absorbed diverted cargo and proved how a decentralized port network could rescue the supply chain.

Rewriting the rules

THE physical transformation of the nautical highway demanded legal and regulatory reworks. Without it, the network would have remained a collection of disconnected routes rather than a national system.

The Domestic Shipping Development Act, passed the same year the highway launched, broke apart the route monopolies that had long stifled competition. Suddenly, smaller operators could enter markets that had been closed to them.

A decade later, another legislative shift consolidated the regulatory framework. The 2014 law that brought all seafarer training and certification under Marina’s umbrella created a single point of accountability for international compliance.

Before that consolidation, standards varied, documentation was scattered, and oversight was inconsistent. After it, the Philippines had one voice speaking to the international maritime community.

That unified voice mattered most when it was tested. Between 2020 and 2023, the European Union (EU) conducted a comprehensive audit of Philippine maritime standards.

The stakes were high: failure could have meant Filipino seafarers losing access to EU-flagged vessels, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers.

In response, Marina rebuilt systems, implementing risk-based audits, while creating modern digital systems to ensure strict compliance to international standards.

The Philippines passed the audit. More significantly, it demonstrated that a developing country could meet first-world maritime governance standards.

‘But beyond compliance, that experience showed us the importance of sustainable leadership and institutional continuity. Marina has faced frequent leadership changes, expanding mandates, and tight budgets. Yet through lean resources, we managed to push through reforms, digitize systems, and strengthen international cooperation. That’s something we’re proud of,’ Malaluan said.

In 2022, the Amended Public Service Act (RA 11659) opened shipping and logistics to greater foreign equity, inviting new capital and technology.

Two years later, Executive Order No. 55 made the Maritime Industry Development Plan 2028 the government’s official roadmap, binding fleet modernization, digital transformation, and environmental stewardship into a single strategic framework.

Digital ports

WHILE laws changed on paper, ports changed on the ground. Mostly under the term of PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, the agency spent two decades evolving from an operator of docks into a manager of logistics systems.

The Port Terminal Management Regulatory Framework, introduced in 2016, established transparent rules for how ports could be privatized and operated.

Follow-up orders in 2022 standardized everything from real-estate management to how private and energy-related facilities would be regulated.

By 2024, at least 29 ports had been modernized and bid out under these frameworks. Many of them were RoRo terminals designed specifically to support the nautical highway that had started the entire transformation two decades earlier.

But hardware alone couldn’t solve port congestion problem. The ports needed to digitalize.

The Terminal Appointment Booking System, pioneered by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) of billionaire Enrique K. Razon, let truckers reserve time slots to enter terminals.

Likewise, the PPA’s Electronic Payment Portal eliminated another source of friction: cash transactions that invited delays and, occasionally, corruption. Everything became trackable, transparent, time-stamped.

Still in development are two even more advanced systems. According to Santiago, the government is currently developing the Port Community System (PCS) and the Maritime Single Window (MSW).

‘The proposed PCS and MSW will enable real-time data sharing among stakeholders-reducing documentation time, standardizing compliance, and facilitating faster vessel turnaround,’ he explained.

Painting the ports green

WHILE ships criss-cross Philippine waters burning diesel, the ports they dock at have begun turning green. The Port Environmental Policy, mandated in 2018, requires all port activities to minimize ecological impact and align with sustainability goals.

Santiago said that the Green Port Awards System encouraged ports to install shore-based power systems – ‘cold ironing’ – that let docked vessels shut down their engines and draw electricity from land instead.

Other changes are simpler but cumulative: solar-powered lighting, LED retrofitting, rainwater harvesting, tree parks inside port grounds.

Marina, for its part, is rolling out the Maritime Energy Demand Information and Analysis Software (Medians), which will establish baseline data for ship emissions, helping the government set targets and incentives for energy-efficient vessels.

For Malaluan, digitalization and decarbonization ‘go hand in hand,’ that’s why Marina is also rolling out the Blockchain Enabled Certification System nationwide, which will unify ship registration, licensing, and safety certification as well as other ship-related issuances.

‘By 2027, we expect Marina to be operating fully as a data-driven regulator, where policy decisions are informed by analytics, and compliance monitoring happens in real time. That’s how we’ll make regulation smarter, cleaner, and more forward-looking,’ she said.

Aging fleet, greening vessels

ALL of this progress – the nautical highway, the regulatory reforms, the port modernization, the digital systems, the environmental initiatives – rests on a foundation that’s quietly crumbling.

According to Malaluan, 60 percent of the domestic fleet is aging rapidly. The average vessel sailing Philippine waters is 24 years old.

‘Fleet renewal has lagged behind, the average vessel age is still around 24 years, and financing options remain limited for smaller players,’ she lamented.

For most operators, building or buying new ships isn’t easy. A new ship costs between $20 million and $80 million.

Many domestic operators are small or medium-sized businesses without that kind of capital. Banks, wary of the maritime sector’s volatility and the industry’s history of disasters, are reluctant to extend the long-term financing that ship purchases require.

The pandemic made everything worse. Trade slowed. Capital flows dried up. Ships that should have been replaced kept sailing because there was no alternative.

Malaluan said the agency is now courting development institutions and pushing for the passage of the Philippine Shipbuilding Development Bill that would revive local shipyards and create technology partnerships.

It has revised its Pioneer Status Circular to offer incentives for operators who buy brand-new, internationally-classed RoRo passenger ships.

‘Ultimately, modernization isn’t just about ships-it’s about enforcement and consistency. We’re phasing out obsolete vessels, rationalizing routes, and rewarding compliance. Fleet renewal takes investment, but it also takes trust in the system. That’s what Marina is trying to rebuild,’ Malaluan assured.

But the aging fleet isn’t just a financial problem – it’s an environmental one. While ports install solar panels and shore power, the ships themselves remain stubbornly carbon-heavy.

Malaluan noted that Marina is piloting hybrid-electric routes between Batangas, Caticlan, and Iloilo under the National Green Ship Program, calling it ‘our first steps toward decarbonized domestic shipping.’

The centennial dream

DESPITE the constraints, the Philippine maritime industry is steering toward an ambitious future.

Malaluan said that by 2045, when the Philippine markets its centennial independence, 80 percent of the domestic fleet should meet international greenhouse gas standards.

‘The Philippines will always be a seafaring powerhouse, but by 2045, I want us to be known not just for our seafarers-but for our innovation. We should be designing our own ships, exporting maritime tech, and running world-class shipyards in places like Subic, Cebu, and Mindanao. That’s the kind of maritime economy we’re building,’ she said.

She also envisions that every major island would be linked by an upgraded ‘Nautical Highway 2.0.’

‘If passengers can sail safely, shipowners can invest confidently, and our seafarers can work with pride, then we’ve done our job,’ Malaluan said.

The last 20 years have proven that an archipelago divided by water can function as a unified nation.

For an archipelago like the Philippines, the sea has proven it can be more lifeblood than barrier. Whether it remains that way depends on solving a problem that no amount of digital dashboards or green port awards can fix: the industry still needs ships it can afford to replace.

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‘SinglifeNextGen builds on our mission to help Filipinos achieve true financial independence,’ said Lester Cruz, CEO of Singlife Philippines. ‘It transforms life insurance into a meaningful act of empowerment-allowing families to protect what they’ve worked hard for and ensure their love and success endure across generations. With just a few clicks and an easy, fully digital guided journey, anyone can get up to ?6 million in coverage-making lasting security accessible, intuitive, and within reach. It’s designed for those who want real protection, not just for themselves, but for the people who matter most.’

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Through SinglifeNextGen, Singlife Philippines reinforces its mission to make financial independence simple, meaningful, and accessible-helping every Filipino turn their love into a legacy that lasts. Singlife continues to push the boundaries of innovation and respond to the ever-changing needs of customers, ensuring its solutions remain relevant and impactful for every generation.

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Failure spares no one. Some struggles bruise the ego; others break the soul. We cope in different ways-through faith, therapy, or travel-but too many turn to vices that only deepen the pain.

None of these were options for British novelist J.K. Rowling when she hit her lowest point. Her life had all the ingredients of an epic failure -one that could’ve driven others to the brink of insanity-but instead, she looked inwards and harnessed all her inner strength to survive and succeed well beyond her wildest dreams.

‘Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life,’ said J.K. Rowling in the 2008 Harvard Commencement Address, a line that has become a mantra for anyone clawing their way out of despair and searching for hope.

In 1993, at 28, J.K. Rowling’s one-year marriage to Portuguese journalist Jorge Arantes collapsed, and she was thrown out of their home in Portugal. The relationship had been marked by control and abuse, forcing her to leave. But it wasn’t that simple-her four-month-old daughter, Jessica, was still with Arantes, and Rowling had to seek police help to get her back.

She left Portugal and moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, with her daughter. At this point, she was a single mother, unemployed, on a dole receiving an equivalent of US$103 a week from Social Security and housed in a flat that she described as ‘mouse-ridden.’

That ordeal would be terrifying for anyone, especially as she grappled with the trauma of abuse. But that was the ‘picnic’ part of her misery-the greater burden was the crushing economic distress she faced. Simply put, J.K. Rowling was broken and broke.

At this point, she saw nothing in her but failure. Every force that could break a person’s sanity weighed on her. Crushed by poverty (perhaps not the kind we see in the Philippines, but it is poverty just the same) and haunted by despair, she sought professional help to keep herself from committing suicide.

Says Rowling: ‘The fears that my parents had had for me and that I had had for myself had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew..That period of my life was a dark one.’

She recovered from depression after months of therapy, was able to move to a better flat, and found a teaching job. It was because of hardship that she was able to focus on a dream: finishing the book she had started several years earlier.

Failure became a weapon rather than a cross she was bearing. She examined it and looked at failure in a different light and began seeing the benefits rather than drawbacks, and used them to full advantage.

‘So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me,’ said Rowling.

In the midst of misery, she saw magic. She was writing any chance she got: in cafes while waiting for her daughter to finish school and in her quiet moments at home. The book series, as we all know, is Harry Potter, in which magic becomes the animating force and inspiration.

In 1995, two years after her troubles began in Portugal, she finished the first Harry Potter book. In December 1998, it hit The New York Times Best Sellers list. She completed the series and was released within 10 years, from 1997 to 2007, selling over 600 million copies.

With Warner Bros. purchasing the movie rights to her books, she officially became a multimillionaire in 1998 and reached billionaire status in 2004, according to Forbes. Her success is nothing short of magical-just like the lifeblood of the Harry Potter books she wrote.

The magic didn’t end with her escape from poverty. She also met Dr. Neil Murray, whom she married in 2001. She found belonging, purpose, success, and love-all because she refused to give up when everything around her was falling apart.

Let me share with you paragraphs about failure from her Commencement Speech in Harvard from 2008-because nobody else could say it better:

You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you fail by default.

Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected

The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself or the strength of your relationships until both have been tested by adversity.

MELVIN JERUSALEM kept his world title, Marlon Tapales won convincingly and Eumir Felix Marcial, Carl Jammes Martin teetered before coming out smoking in the end in the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ 50th anniversary fights that lasted until dawn on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jerusalem, sporting a mid-afro blond hair, won by unanimous decision over Siyakholwa Kuse to retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight belt and improve to 25-3 won-lost with 12 knockouts.

Jerusalem fought impressively in all 12 rounds to secure scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113 and send the South African, who’s nine years younger at 22, to his third loss as against none victories and one draw.

‘He never wanted to give up, but of course, I won’t too,’ Jerusalem said. ‘He’s no pushover and he can be a world champion someday.’

Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Marcial fought his first 10-rounder since turning pro in 2021, celebrated his 30th birthday Wednesday via a majority decision victory over Venezuelan knockout artist Eddy Colmenares.

Marcial, however, had to survive two knockdowns in each of the third and 10th rounds, to grab the vacant WBC international middleweight title.

‘He [Colmenares] is very durable and he really wanted to go home a winner,’ said Marcial, who sustained a cut above his eyebrow. ‘I must return to training and see what I need to improve on.’

Marcial, now 7-0 as a pro, got the nod of two judges (96-93) with the third judge declaring it a draw (94-94) in scoring the majority draw that saw Colmenares go down to an 11-3-1 record-his 11 wins were all knockouts.

Martin, on the other hand, survived a third round knockdown against Thailand’s Aran Dipaen to win via unanimous decision in a non-title super bantamweight bout-he’s now unbeaten in 27 fights with 20 knockouts.

Former unified super bantamweight champion Tapales knocked out Venezuelan Fernando Toro in the sixth round of their 122-lb non-title bout to hike his record to 41-4 with 22 knockouts.

JAECOO Philippines is serious about pushing the boundaries of the local SUV market. During the recently concluded global brand conference in Wuhu, China, the Philippine media contingent was among the first to see the three upcoming SUV models in their metal form.

Confirmed for 2026 are the arrival and official distribution of the highly advanced iCAUR (locally known in China as iCAR) line under the Jaecoo marquee. The Chinese automaker claims this move integrates an era of intelligent, off-road-capable, electric, and range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) into its portfolio. Moreover, it reinforces the brand’s position as a leader in electrified adventure mobility.

The upcoming models will expand Jaecoo’s current electrified offerings, ushering in a comprehensive lineup of smart, tech-forward, and off-road-capable vehicles.

Available electrified models

Jaecoo currently offers two competitive electrified SUVs in the Philippines. One is the J7 SHS (Super Hybrid System) PHEV. This Plug-in Hybrid model’s electrified powertrain system delivers a combined output of 275 HP and 365 N-m of torque. It achieved an outstanding combined range of 1,488.8 kilometers as verified by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP).

The other existing model in the lineup is the EJ6 EV. Now available in showrooms, the EJ6 (known as the iCAR 03 in China) sets the benchmark for intelligent off-roading. The AWD version achieves 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.5 seconds. Its foundation is the safety-focused, innovative, all-aluminum multi-cavity cage body.

Jaecoo J6 REEV

This compact crossover SUV is a smart, range-extended, electrified vehicle designed for superior off-road capability and uncompromising performance. Available in both AWD and RWD variants, the powerful dual-motor AWD system delivers rapid, all-electric-biased performance.

The vehicle utilizes a Gold Range Extender system, featuring a dedicated engine with a class-leadingding thermal efficiency of 45.79%. It is equipped with an intelligent i-AWD electric four-wheel drive system, featuring 8+X all-terrain drive modes and suspension components derived from Land Rover Defender technology.

Moreover, the vehicle features a proprietary, full-aluminum, multi-chamber cage body that provides exceptional torsional stiffness.

V23 EV

While the local nameplate is currently under deliberation, this upcoming subcompact SUV targets younger customers, focusing on versatility, high-tech features, and ultimate safety. Also available in both AWD and RWD configurations, despite its compact size (4,220mm length), it offers superior off-road geometry, featuring an impressive 43° approach angle and 41° departure angle.

The electric SUV features a 3.3kW external discharge function, making it suitable for use as an ample entertainment space for camping and gaming.

Safety-wise, the V23 is built with high-strength steel, comprising over 70% of the body structure. Its battery safety is secured by an industry-leading low failure rate of just one in a billion at the cell level.

The Flagship V27 REEV

Likewise, the local model name is yet to be determined. Positioned as a large, flagship model, the V27 blends retro off-road aesthetics with powerful Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV) technology.

Available in both RWD and AWD variants, it boasts a bold, nearly five-meter body length and an angular silhouette. It blends retro classic aesthetics with modern technology, including halo headlights and a technology island.

The vehicle features an industry-first dual elongated moonroof and a side-swing tailgate that can be optionally equipped with a spare tire or a ‘storage bag’. The design, which features a vertical front end windshield and an industry-leading approach angle, further enhances its rugged appearance.

This strategic expansion confirms Jaecoo’s commitment to providing Filipino consumers with a comprehensive and exciting lineup that successfully combines rugged design, long-range capabilities, and intelligent safety features.

The warnings sounded by two of our most respected economic minds-Solita Monsod and Jesus Estanislao-at the recent Fiscal Policy Conference demand substantive action, not just bureaucratic acknowledgment. Their urgent call for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to champion genuine fiscal integrity, transparency, and accountability cuts to the core of why our economic potential remains frustratingly unfulfilled.

Despite government pronouncements on fiscal discipline, Monsod’s analysis is characteristically incisive and deeply troubling. She paints a picture of ‘wasteful and misallocated projects,’ specifically highlighting the DBM’s apparent failure in its fundamental oversight role. Her pointed question-‘If the DBM didn’t see that flood control projects were being conducted in unnecessary places, who would?’-resonates with the justified cynicism of taxpayers weary of seeing their hard-earned pesos squandered.

Perhaps most alarming is Monsod’s spotlight on the explosive growth of ‘Unprogrammed Appropriations.’ Her characterization of it as potentially ‘a modern and deadlier version’ of the disgraced PDAF should send shivers down the spine of every citizen. The sheer escalation-from below P200 million pre-2023 to hundreds of billions in recent budgets-is staggering and inherently suspicious. Her piercing questions about whether release conditions are truly enforced, and whether lowballed revenue targets create a ‘moral hazard’ enabling uncontrolled spending, expose a potential loophole large enough to drive a truckload of public funds through. This demands immediate, rigorous investigation and transparent justification.

Both Monsod and Estanislao transcend the purely technical. Monsod rightly asserts that fiscal integrity is not just about balanced spreadsheets; it hinges on ‘governance, honesty, and a moral sense of responsibility.’ Estanislao elevates the national budget beyond a financial tool to ‘a moral document’ reflecting the government’s true values and priorities. This is the crucial point. Technical competence within the DBM is necessary but utterly insufficient without an unwavering ethical backbone.

Estanislao’s call to establish systems that enhance transparency and accountability in all agencies is essential. His declaration that ‘Our fiscal future depends on restoring trust in public institutions’ strikes at the heart of the matter. Citizens cannot and will not support a government they perceive as fiscally reckless or corrupt. Trust is the bedrock of sustainable development, and it is crumbling under the weight of questionable spending and opaque processes.

The economists’ consensus is clear: confronting the fiscal challenges requires moral courage. The problems Monsod and Estanislao highlight-misallocation, potential slush funds disguised as appropriations, weak oversight-are symptoms of a deeper malaise: a deficit of ethical governance and accountability.

The DBM is at a crucial point where it must decide its future role. It can either continue as a simple processor of funds, which would lead to a loss of public trust and limit economic growth, or it can fully embrace its responsibilities in ‘Management’ as well as ‘Budget.’ This involves several key actions:

First, the DBM should adopt radical transparency by allowing real-time tracking of all expenses, especially for Unprogrammed Appropriations, accompanied by clear justifications. Second, it needs to enhance oversight by ensuring thorough checks before funds are released, rather than just auditing them afterward.

Additionally, the DBM should enforce conditions so that Unprogrammed Appropriations are only available when there is actual revenue overperformance, which would help prevent misuse of funds. Implementing performance-based budgeting is also essential to ensure that every peso spent achieves measurable results. Lastly, the DBM should encourage citizen engagement by making its processes and records open for public scrutiny, allowing citizens to act as watchdogs.

The insights from Monsod and Estanislao highlight the vital role of moral courage in tackling systemic corruption. For the Philippines to progress, it must confront the root issues that hinder good governance. The country’s fiscal health hinges on trust, which can be restored by the DBM living up to its name, not just in budgeting but in comprehensive and ethical management of public resources.

Sixty years after Myrna Panlilio was crowned the first Binibining Pilipinas in 1964, a namesake took the title at the heritage pageant’s diamond anniversary- Myrna Toribio Esguerra.

A dusky beauty from Abra, Myrna was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2024 in front of hundreds of past Binibini winners, including Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa.

At the City College of Angeles in Pampanga, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in tourism and management with specialization on MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) events, business administration and management.

A seasoned contesera, Myrna was part of the Miss Teen Philippines 2019 pageant. Unfortunately, she didn’t place in the Top 5, but this batch has now produced three national winners: top winner was Fil-Brazilian Nikki de Moura, who was crowned Miss Grand Philippines in 2023; the second runner-up was Nicole Borromeo, who emerged third runner-up at Miss International 2023; and Myrna.

At the Binibining Pilipinas 2024 finals, Myrna won Best in Swimsuit, Best in Evening Gown, Urban Smiles Dental Clinic Award, Binibining Philippine Airlines, and was among the Top 5 Best in National Costume.

Crusader Against Corruption

Myrna, 24, became a working student at the age of 17, helping ease the burden of her parents who also had to raise her 16 siblings. She knows how it is to work hard and reap the fruits of her labor, and how frustrating it is that Filipino taxpayers are being robbed by our own politicians.

So, this writer had to ask Myrna during her send-off on October 28: ‘It’s a sad reality that our corruption scandals have gained international attention. When you’re with your fellow candidates, how will you defend the Philippines?’

This is the impassioned response of the beauty from Abra:

‘You know, despite all the things that’s happening in our country, especially the things regarding corruption, one thing that is never going to change is the Filipino heart.

‘We Filipinos are very hopeful, and until there’s hope in our hearts, there will always be change. And I will tell that to my co-candidates when I get to Japan, that I hope that they will support the Philippines in every way they can to fight corruption. And I think to fight corruption, it will really have to start with ourselves.

‘Greed should not be our god, but love, kindness, and compassion should be the one who’s leading our nation. And if we can teach this to all the children that we have here in the Philippines, then we can rebuild our system, and hopefully corruption will no longer be in our country. In everything that we do, corruption will no longer be allowed.

‘And the way we think, we should always set it that we are here to serve the people, not just for our own needs, but because the people need a service that is true and from the heart.’

Seventh-Crown Itch

More than any other pageant, it is at the Miss International that Filipinas have performed exceptionally well. Gemma Cruz-Araneta was Miss International 1964, the first Filipina and Asian winner. Aurora Pijuan won in 1970, the first Binibini to achieve the feat; Melanie Marquez in 1979; Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005; Bea Rose Santiago in 2013; and Kylie Verzosa in 2016.

Myrna aims to clinch the elusive seventh crown.

At Myrna’s send-off at World Kitchens at Gateway Mall, Araneta City in Cubao, fellow 2024 queens Jasmin Bungay, Christal Jean de la Cruz and Trisha Martinez; and 2025 Binibinis Katrina Anne Johnson, Dalia Khattab and Kathleen Enid Espenido; and Miss Grand International 2016 First Runner-up Nicole Cordoves were among her excited well-wishers.

A determined Myrna, teary-eyed but with a steely resolve, gave a heartwarming message:

‘You know, I’ve been imagining this day for over a hundred times. But nothing really beats the real thing. Seeing all your faces here, grabe. You know, I’m not gonna say that it’s a waiting time of more than one year. But it’s a preparation for more than one year. Along the way, I saw the beauty in waiting.

‘And ever since I started my career in pageantry, I always appreciate kung gaano kaganda ‘yung waiting time. Because it’s really all about perspective. And the way I see it, it’s an advantage for us.

‘Because I was able to do everything and prepare everything in one year. And right now, if there’s gonna be a mistake, Actually, there will not be a mistake. Because sobrang prepared po tayo.

‘From everything, planchado lahat. And I am so proud that in one year, me and my team were able to visit the three major islands of the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

‘And we saw the beauty of the Philippines. The culture of the Tineg in South Cotabato. And the beauty of Santa Fe, Bantayan Island.

‘And the children from World Vision Philippines to SOS Pilipinas and from around the Philippines. And there I saw children who reflect the same stories that I have when I was a kid.

‘And it was just, my journey, it became even more special. Because I have a reason, a strong reason for why I’m doing this. Kaya maraming maraming salamat po for trusting me.

‘That I have the capability to win the Miss International crown this year. And I’m not gonna make any promises. But the thing that I’m gonna say is, I’m going to Japan with my most authentic self.

‘And my genuine heart and intentions. Thank you so much!’

Thai actress Freen Sarocha lit up Instagram with her post featuring the new vivo V60 Lite in Pop Pink, perfectly matching her chic OOTD. The actress couldn’t help but gush over the phone’s stylish design and powerful performance, calling it ‘a total dream.’

‘It’s pretty and powerful! With its 6500mAh BlueVolt Battery + 90W FlashCharge, I’m powered for all-day, nonstop fun,’ Freen wrote in her caption, sending love to her Filipino GirlFreens, the actress’ loyal fanbase in the Philippines.

The vivo V60 Lite Pop Pink isn’t just a beauty statement; it’s also built for gaming and nonstop entertainment. Inside its sleek design is the MediaTek Dimensity 7360-Turbo processor, backed by 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, ensuring smooth gameplay and seamless multitasking. Players can also enjoy stereo speakers with up to 400% volume, Bypass Charging for cooler, longer play sessions, and Ultra Game Mode for a fully immersive experience.

With its 6500mAh BlueVolt Battery and 90W FlashCharge, the vivo V60 Lite keeps gamers powered all day, making it the ideal companion for those who love nonstop fun and stylish tech, just like Freen.

Win vivo V60 Lite

Girlfreen PH, Freen’s official fan club in the country, is hosting a vivo V60 Lite giveaway for Filipino fans. Two lucky winners will take home their very own vivo V60 Lite.

Here’s how to join:

Get 10 people to follow Freen on Instagram via @srchafreen.

Each of them must like Freen’s vivo post and share it as a public Instagram story, tagging @srchafreen and @vivo_philippines.

Submit the official entry form here to complete your participation.

Entries will be accepted until November 8, 2025, and winners will be announced on November 11, 2025.

Freen’s fans across the Philippines are already sharing her post and showing love for the Pop Pink smartphone that combines beauty, power, and fun in one stunning device.

Aside from Pop Pink, the vivo V60 Lite is also available in Titanium Blue and Elegant Black. The smartphone is now available for purchase nationwide in vivo concept stores, kiosks, and authorized dealers for as low as Php 14,999. You can also shop online via the vivo website.

Figures of cherubim or ‘little angels’ in cemeteries are often used to signify the graves of infants or children.

A cherubim, often depicted as childlike winged angel, symbolizes the soul’s journey to heaven or represents a child who has died. A cherubim can also represent a soul in spiritual transition and innocence.

The cherubs’ childlike faces symbolize a shift in the perception of death, transforming it from a biological endpoint (represented by skulls) to a step in the journey toward another life.

Some cemeteries, such as the Manila South Cemetery, have designated sections for the remains of unborn children lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion.

Abortion is the willful killing of the fetus in the uterus, or the violent expulsion thereof from the maternal womb, which results in the death of the fetus.

Abortion is illegal in the Philippines. The 1987 Philippine Constitution (Art II, Sec 12) states that the state ‘shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.’ This provision is interpreted as a constitutional ban on abortion.

Under Article 256 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), there are three ways by which abortion is committed: (1) by using violence upon the person of the pregnant woman; (2) by acting, but without using violence, without the consent of the woman (e.g., by administering drugs or beverages upon her without her consent); and (3) by acting (by administering drugs or beverages) with the consent of the pregnant woman.

The Supreme Court has not decriminalized abortion and has consistently upheld its illegality under Philippine law.

In the 1961 case of Geluz v. Court of Appeals (GR L-16439 July 20, 1961), the Supreme Court ruled that a husband could not recover damages for his wife’s abortion because the unborn fetus lacks legal personality and therefore has no right to claim damages.

Three years ago, the US Supreme Court issued a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (No. 19-1392, June 24, 2022) reversing the doctrine in the 1973 landmark case Roe v. Wade (410 US 113).

I first encountered Roe vs Wade in my constitutional and criminal law classes at the UP College of Law in the early 1990s.

The US Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that the US constitution generally protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion.

The case noted that the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment protects against state action the right to privacy, and a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion falls within that right to privacy. A state law that broadly prohibits abortion without respect to the stage of pregnancy or other interests violates that right.

The case discussed abortion rights in three periods of the pregnancy.

In the first trimester, the state may not regulate the abortion decision; only the pregnant woman and her attending physician can make that decision.

In the second trimester, the state may impose regulations on abortion that are reasonably related to maternal health.

In the third trimester, once the fetus reaches the point of ‘viability,’ a state may regulate abortions or prohibit them entirely, so long as the laws contain exceptions for cases when abortion is necessary to save the life or health of the mother.

In the consolidated case of Imbong v. Ochoa (GR 204819, April 8, 2014), the Supreme Court ruled that the Reproductive Health Act of 2012/RA 10354 (RH Law) actually proscribes abortion, that it recognizes that the fertilized ovum already has life and that the State has a bounden duty to protect it.

The Court said that life begins at fertilization, not at implantation.

When a fertilized ovum is implanted in the uterine wall, its viability is sustained but that instance of implantation is not the point of beginning of life. It started earlier.

The Court found that the RH Law itself clearly mandates that protection be afforded from the moment of fertilization. It is replete with provisions to protect the fertilized ovum and that it should be afforded safe travel to the uterus for implantation.

Women’s rights advocates fought for the decriminalization of abortion arguing that women in the Philippines are forced to undergo clandestine and unsafe conditions to get an abortion, putting themselves at serious risk.

Some 1.1 million induced abortions occur in the country annually, while some 1,000 Filipino women die each year from post-abortion complications.

SC Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said in the Imbong case that unwanted pregnancies may be the result of lack of knowledge of the consequences of the sexual act, or it could be due to the lack of information and access to safe and effective reproductive technologies.

Leonen said: ‘A law that mandates informed choice and proper access for reproductive health technologies should not be presumed to be a threat to the right to life. It is an affirmative guarantee to assure the protection of human rights.’

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. joined the leaders and representatives of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and its other international guests and partners at the Hwabaek International Convention Center with much anticipation for the start of the 32nd summit of the international business forum.

The summit comes just a day after United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Gyeongju and negotiated in rolling back some trade restrictions between Washington and Beijing, a development expected to ease the trade war between the two countries, both economic giants.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met the participants of the event on Friday morning before the start of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting session, with the theme: Towards a More Connected, Resilient Region and Beyond.

Upon Marcos’s arrival at the Convention Center, he shook the hands of Lee before posing for a picture.

South Korea described the Philippines as its oldest partner from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Other notable state officials who attended the event were US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Chinese President Xi. Trump skipped the summit after his bilateral meeting with Xi and Lee.

Xi is currently on a three-day state visit in South Korea-his first in 11 years.

Last Thursday, Marcos said the meeting between Trump and Xi will send ripple effects during the APEC Summit as well as his bilateral meetings at the sidelines of the event.

‘Critical turning point’

In his opening speech at the opening of the APEC Summit, Lee called for unity among the summit participants to foster global economic growth amid ‘sweeping changes and global economic uncertainty.’

‘We all stand at a critical turning point as the international order undergoes rapid transformation,’ Lee said in Korean.

‘The free trade order is facing sweeping changes and global economic uncertainty is intensifying, and the momentum for trade and investment is weakening,’ he added.

Marcos said he will push for ‘practical’ outcomes from his participation at the 32nd APEC Summit that will help uplift the lives of Filipinos this week, including providing support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), digital trade opportunities, food and energy security, and climate change.