Category: Business Mirror

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced last Thursday that its personnel intercepted nearly half-a-billion worth of counterfeit branded apparel bearing popular and local brands from Bangladesh.

According to the BOC, members of its Intellectual Property Rights Division seized P482-million worth of counterfeit branded apparel contained in 1,287 boxes of the fake items that were also misdeclared as socks.

The containers, which arrived at the Port of Manila last August, were initially routed through Singapore to evade the bureau’s profiling system, according to the BOC. Each item was estimated to have a market value of P2,500, amounting to a total of P482.625 million, the BOC added.

Following intelligence reports of possible misdeclaration and suspected intellectual property rights infringement, Customs officials conducted a physical inspection on October 9, confirming the contents to be counterfeit items.

The counterfeit apparel carried the trademarks of several international and local brands, including Jag, Bench, Zara, Givenchy, Fubu, Lee, H and M, Lacoste, Burberry, Essentials, Champion, Jordan, Levi’s, Bathing Ape, Oakley, RRJ, Calvin Klein and Off-white.

The BOC has issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention on October 28 for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293).

The goods are now subject to condemnation and, according to the BOC, it will file criminal charges against the importers.

‘The sale and distribution of counterfeit products not only deceive consumers but also harm honest businesses that comply with the law,’ Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla said. ‘This operation reflects our continuing resolve to ensure that only legitimate goods enter the Philippine market.’

The operation follows earlier enforcements by the BOC to curb the growing scale of counterfeit trade in the country.

This adds to the BOC’s seizure of P1.041 billion worth of counterfeit apparel and accessories as of the end of August this year.

The BOC has carried out 653 seizure operations from January to August this year, confiscating P34.725 billion worth of illicit items, such as various goods, natural resources, cigarettes and illegal drugs.

A TOTAL of 27 government contractors contributed to the campaign of several candidates in the 2022 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed on Wednesday.

The confirmation came after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued a certification confirming that the construction companies involved had ongoing government contracts at the time they made the donations.

‘Commissioner [Rey E.] Bulay immediately directed our Political Finance and Affairs Department to begin the process for the 27 firms certified by the DPWH as government contractors,’ Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia told reporters.

‘After we receive their explanations, we will also require the candidates who accepted contributions from these contractors to respond.’

Garcia said the Comelec will also release the full list of candidates-whether they won or lost-who received donations from these contractors.

‘Once we issue the show cause orders, we will also disclose to the public the reason for these orders and the names of the candidates who may have received contributions from the contractors,’ he said.

Garcia clarified, however, that being asked to explain does not automatically mean guilt.

‘We are still giving them the chance to respond. The candidates may have valid defenses.This is being done for purposes of transparency, and they should not be immediately judged as guilty,’ Garcia added.

He also said the Comelec is open to coordinating and sharing documents with the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) and the Office of the Ombudsman, which are conducting separate investigations into alleged anomalies involving flood-control projects.

‘These are public records. If another government agency such as the Ombudsman or even the [Bureau of Internal Revenue] is investigating possible tax violations or undeclared income, we will definitely share these documents with them,’ he said.

The Comelec has, likewise, submitted a list of 31 possible government contractors who donated during the 2025 midtem elections, pending DPWH’s confirmation on which of them currently hold government contracts.

Under Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code, government contractors and suppliers are prohibited from making any contribution-directly or indirectly-to partisan political activities.

The same prohibition applies to financial institutions (except for legitimate loans), utilities, companies with government franchises or contracts, natural resource extractors, recipients of large government loans, publicly funded schools, civil service officials, members of the armed forces, and all foreigners or foreign corporations.

Both donors and recipients found guilty of violating the law face imprisonment of one to six years.

The 27 contractors identified by the DPWH include:

GP and H Construction Incorporated

Yunakim Construction

A.I.P. Construction

Centerways Construction and Development Inc.

11-16 Construction

Prismodial Construction and Development Corporation

Makiling Construction Ventures Corp.

Viking Construction and Supplies

DN’D Construction and Development

Octagon Concrete Solutions Inc.

Jozen Builders and Construction Supply Corporation

Aqualine Construction Corporation

R8 Asphalt Plant and Construction Inc.

EZJONES Construction Inc.

JELM Construction

MWJ Construction

XDR Construction and Supply

Viguz Construction Corporation

Everbuilt Construction

G.O.C. Builders

PAFJ Construction and Supply Inc.

A.L. Salazar Construction, Inc.

E.F. Chua Construction, Inc.

JWU Construction and Supply

D.G. Chico Trading and Construction

Gateway 21-25 Construction Corp.

Tagum Builders Contractors Corp.

Singlife Philippines introduces SinglifeNextGen, a new whole life protection plan that redefines how Filipinos can build a lasting legacy-expanding Singlife’s portfolio of innovative and best-in-class financial solutions. Grounded in the Filipino value of providing as an expression of love, SinglifeNextGen empowers individuals to ensure that their care and commitment to family endure long after their lifetime.

‘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.’

With SinglifeNextGen, customers pay for only 5 or 10 years-yet their coverage extends all the way to age 120 helping customers achieve their financial goals no matter what life-stage they are at. With a coverage amount of up to ?6 million per person, families can use the cash benefit for daily needs, support their children’s education, or pursue future plans such as starting a business. It complements the family’s existing financial resources, helping them sustain their lifestyle, achieve their goals, and continue celebrating milestones with confidence and security.

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.

Download the Singlife Plan and Protect App today to avail SinglifeNextGen.

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.’