Category: Business Mirror

Tennis can be straightforward in how it separates winners from learners-in Osaka recently, two athletes with Filipino blood stood on different ends of the same tournament.

Alex Eala, the 20-year-old from Manila, bowed out early, and Leylah Annie Fernandez, the Canadian-Filipino, finished with the trophy.

One left quietly after the first round, the other ended with applause and a title.

Eala entered the Japan Women’s Open with confidence built from training and previous tournaments, but against Czech teenager Tereza Valentova, she struggled to find her form.

She lost, 6,1, 6,2, in less than an hour as Valentova controlled the match from the first serve and Eala could not settle into her rhythm.

It was not a career-defining loss but a reminder that she still needs match experience at this level-her groundstrokes and movement remain strong, yet her serve and focus wavered and her 2025 season has been uneven.

Osaka? She continued that pattern.

Among those watching Eala closely was Lav Diaz, one of the Philippines’ most respected filmmakers and a longtime tennis enthusiast.

Known for his marathon-length films that examine Filipino history, endurance and faith in process, Diaz understands how patience defines true mastery and his remarks about Eala reflected that same perspective.

‘Alex should just go back to enjoying the game,’ he said. ‘She should be doing the tour circuit alone and just have fun. She’s twenty years old!’

Diaz added that traveling and competing independently could help unleash her full potential, allowing her to rediscover her rhythm without external noise or expectation.

Coming from a filmmaker whose work has earned top honors in Venice and Locarno, the advice carried weight, grounded in the belief that freedom and focus often lead to breakthrough.

On the opposite side of the draw, Leylah Fernandez, born to a Filipino mother and Ecuadorian father, claimed her fifth Women’s Tennis Association title after defeating Valentova, 6,0, 5,7, 6,3 in the final.

Her composure turned a shaky second set into a confident close as she managed her service games, dictated rallies with control and finished with authority.

Since her breakout at the 2021 US Open, Fernandez has worked to strengthen her consistency and endurance.

Osaka confirmed that she has found both.

Eala and Fernandez share Filipino roots that shape their discipline and humility on court-Fernandez now stands as a proven name in global tennis, while Eala continues to learn how to navigate its demands and their contrasting results are not opposites but parts of the same story, the rise of Filipino talent finding its voice on the world stage.

Fernandez left Osaka with a trophy and ranking points. Eala left with lessons and time.

Both walked the same courts, played under the same lights and carried the same heritage.

Different outcomes, same determination-two Filipino stories, one Osaka stage.

FILIPINO golf standout Miguel Tabuena has done the unimaginable-winning the International Series Philippines presented by Bingo Plus in dominant fashion.

Even with major champions and Asia’s best in the field, Tabuena not only held his nerve, he showed the way.

With rounds of 69-65-65-65, the golf phenom played a fairytale week, at his home course, in front of home fans with local golf enthusiasts coming in droves, packing Sta. Elena Golf Club’s fairways from the opening tee shot on day one, until Miguel dropped the final putt on day four.

The Philippines has not hosted an international golf tournament of this magnitude in at least 30 years, with the last big tournament held way back in 1995.

For golf-hungry fans, the sight of the game’s greats like Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and many more is a treat not to be missed.

The cherry on top is our very own Tabuena not just matching the biggest stars shot for shot, but actually beating them convincingly.

Tabuena’s three-shot victory over his closest pursuers was no walk in the park.

Even before the tournament began, pressure was starting to mount for Miguel-he actually just withdrew from last week’s tournament in Macau due to a neck spasm.

To add to the recent physical issue, not only is our country the host, the venue is his home course-which brings with it immense expectations.

For us regular golfers, playing at home can be a double-edged sword. While familiarity can be an advantage, it can also work against you, especially when there is so much expectation to do well. But the champion that Tabuena is, he took the challenge head on.

Playing in the marquee group with Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen in the first two rounds, Tabuena held his nerve shooting a good opening 69 and followed it up with a 65-that brought him close to the lead after the halfway cut.

Another 65 on day three placed Tabuena on top of the leaderboard, alongside Thai Sarit Suwannarut and China’s Sampson Zheng.

While it was pretty close and pressure-packed throughout the final round, Tabuena distanced himself early with birdies on Nos. 2 and 3.

A lone bogey on the seventh temporarily derailed Tabuena before he came back on the very next hole, the par 5 eighth, which he eagled-it was a hole he failed to take advantage of in the previous three rounds.

But on the final day, when it mattered the most, Tabuena holed a delicate chip from off the green for an eagle.

As his closest pursuers began to make mistakes in the back nine, Tabuena kept his foot on the pedal, making birdies on Nos. 11, 13, 15 and 16, virtually sealing the deal with two holes remaining.

An errant drive on the 72nd hole didn’t matter as Miguel played out to the fairway and stuck his approach to around four feet.

In front of adoring home fans, and with the hopes of an entire golfing nation on his shoulders, Tabuena holed his final putt for the win.

In the end, Tabuena finished three clear of Kasuki Higa and Yosuke Asaji of Japan and four ahead of his co-leaders Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand and Sampson Zheng of China.

With the Filipino golf community raring for big tournaments, the International Series Philippines couldn’t have ended any better-huge crowds, happy sponsors and a successful tournament won by our own golfing hero.

Just perfection.

Vaccine against stomach ulcers? You read it right. Painful stomach ulcers may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to Ateneo de Manila University scientists who are doing a research to prevent the disease.

Since ancient times, it was thought that painful stomach ulcers were caused by eating spicy foods or having an unhealthy diet.

However, researchers have found that Helicobacter pylori-a common bacterium found in over 60 percent of the world’s population-was the real culprit behind most stomach ulcers and a high risk for stomach cancer.

Scientists from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Science and Engineering’s Department of Biology are on the way to finding a vaccine to fight off the bacterium, possibly preventing stomach ulcers and lowering the risk for stomach cancer, Ateneo said.

Ateneo biologists Demy Valerie Chacon, Kiana Alika Co, Daphne Noreen Enriquez, Aubrey Love Labarda, Reanne Eden Manongsong, and Edward Kevin Bragais used a cutting-edge approach called ‘immunoinformatics’ that combines computer science with immunology to scan the genetic makeup of pathogens and predict which parts of them can trigger a strong immune response.

By running thousands of gene sequences through these computational tools, researchers can narrow down the most promising vaccine targets much faster and at lower cost than through trial-and-error lab work alone.

The Ateneo biologists have identified key proteins produced by H. pylori that help it survive stomach acid, stick to the stomach lining, and evade the body’s natural immune system.

Their analysis also identified parts of these proteins that are most likely to be safe, non-allergenic, and capable of activating protective immune cells.

While their research findings are still preliminary and based on computer simulations, the next steps include laboratory testing to validate these predictions.

There are currently no approved vaccines against H. pylori despite ongoing tentative research in other laboratories around the world.

If successful, the Ateneo research could pave the way for the first-ever H. pylori vaccine that could help guard against stomach ulcers and cancer.

The Ateneo biologists’ study ‘In Silico Prediction of Cytotoxic T-Cell Epitopes From Helicobacter pylori Virulence Factors Using an Immunoinformatics Approach’ is published in Archium Ateneo.

Finance bros have broken out their Barbour jackets this fall in New York City.

A Northeastern preppy tradition that stretches back, like so many do, to Britain, Barbour apparel can trace its heritage to 1894, when Scotsman John Barbour launched a business selling oilskins to sailors and fishermen who worked in the rugged weather of northeastern England. Nowadays, it’s a very specific signifier of belonging to a certain class-worn by folks for whom work almost never involves exposure to bad weather.

A Barbour jacket doesn’t look attractive, exactly. It looks like it does a job, and well. At around $400, it’s not much pricier than, say, a Patagonia-but if you have one, there’s a strong chance your mother bought it for you, and you have been wearing it for decades.

‘One of the unique things about our brand is that we always hear the stories that come with the garments,’ says Paul Stephan, Barbour’s vice president of marketing for North America. ”This was bought for me by my parents or handed down for me by my grandparents.’ We’ve heard stories of a jacket that’s lasted 40, 50 years.’

Here’s the secret: People can keep their Barbours for decades because you can get them rewaxed-which, like waxing your car or polishing your shoe, boosts its water resistance, nurtures the underlying material and protects its surface from wear and tear.

You used to only be able to mail your coat in for service, or bring it to a Barbour or Orvis store. But now you can drop it off at a wide array of retail locations, including Nordstrom, and get it shipped back to you in about four weeks-a faster turnaround time than a few years ago. You can also take it to the Barbour boutique located in Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood or on New York’s Upper East Side and watch it be waxed before your eyes. (The store clerk will put it on a heating table and spread hot wax on it with a sponge. It takes about 15 minutes total and is uncannily soothing to witness, like watching that old Mister Rogers video of how crayons are made.)

Every year in late September, I try to remind people through a post on Instagram to rewax their coats. Many followers respond with, ‘What are you talking about?’ But a select few will say, ‘Thank you, I usually remember when it’s too late.’

This little secret is becoming more widely known as shoppers become more attracted to items with real patina-the signs of use and love. Over the summer, GQ published an article about how Gen Z shoppers are snatching up weathered LL Bean Boat and Totes for hundreds of dollars. Original Boat and Totes cost all of $40, and beating them up is free, so this was a surprise to me. Who knew my mudroom closet contained thousands of dollar’s worth of merchandise?

The ‘Re-Loved’ program

In my house, we have a surfeit of Bean Bags, but our inner Northeastern cheapskates won’t let us throw any away. Once, as a housewarming gift a decade ago, someone gave my husband and I a tote with our street address stitched into the side-but with the wrong building number. Obviously we still use it. And now I’m glad, because its coffee and baby formula stains, which I initially sighed over and then eventually learned to ignore, apparently make it even more valuable.

But if you’ve decided your Barbour coat has gotten too tattered for even your preppiest predilections, the company will buy it back from you for an $80 store credit. Company artisans will stitch, mend and wax it back together and then sell it again as part of the ‘Re-Loved’ program that launched in 2019. Sometimes they’ll employ contrast-color patches and tartan on the exterior to give the garments even more personality. Thousands of jackets, which start at $325, have been sold through the program, the company says.

‘We’ll take in that jacket, clean, repair it to make it feel like new again. But it comes with the character that it was preowned, and there is such a big market for that nowadays,’ Stephan says. ‘Shoppers will come straight to Re-Loved sometimes, in part because it’s a more approachable price point. Talk about a younger, let’s say, a college consumer: They’re shopping secondhand anyway. This lets us be part of the conversation.’

In a partnership that began this year, designer Paul Smith made his own line of Re-Loved Barbours as part of his ‘Paul Smith loves Barbour’ collection, featuring purple patches, jaunty oversize cuts, and, of course, stripes.

This glorification of the well-worn reminds me of when I was a kid, and I thought nothing was cooler than going in the back of my dad’s closet and wearing his butter-soft, beat-up jeans from college. I have squirreled away some of my own worn-in denim for my daughter for exactly this reason-she and her friends are going to look at the rectangular iPhone outlines etched into the left thigh of each pair and screech with laughter to one another through their brain computers. I can’t wait.

‘A younger generation has gotten hip to things that look old’

Of course, denim purveyors have been trying to replicate the knee tears and the lap creases of long-term use for decades. But when patina is applied in a factory, it rarely looks real. That’s part of the appeal of Levi Strauss and Co.’s Secondhand program, which the brand introduced in 2020. Leadership wanted to boost the life of its rugged denim by buying some back and offering it at lower prices-character, at a discount.

There are similar Re-loved programs from American companies including Coach, Carhartt, Patagonia, Arc’teryx and Filson. They’re aimed squarely at Gen Z and millennial consumers who say they shop based on sustainability and durability.

Indeed, with the rise of resale sites in recent years, and Gen Z’s love of them, a younger generation has gotten hip to things that look old. Even in handbag and watch collecting, where for many years finding something in mint condition-which promised the best resale value-reigned supreme, now serious collectors scour eBay and other vintage sights for watches that have unique signs of wear.

‘I think younger people are so tired of all the digital stuff. Everything around them is digital. Obviously this is why they feel nostalgic for a pretechnology time. And preowned and vintage anything hearkens back to that,’ says Tony Traina, the author of a popular Substack called ‘Unpolished.’ The name refers to the current trend in watch collecting that favors timepieces in their original configuration, even if that means it’s slightly scuffed, and not polished or updated to look perfect. ‘Collectors appreciate the wear that comes naturally with these types of watches and-and are loving that and putting a value on that-instead of things looking all artificial and minty.’

I recently got an old 1956 Girard-Perregaux watch fixed up at WatchCheck and wrote on the instruction sheet ‘DO NOT POLISH.’ Its uneven Speidel bracelet, once gold-toned but now rubbed over the course of decades to a shiny hay color, is my favorite thing about the watch. And last week, I got my Barbour rewaxed at the Madison Avenue store in Manhattan-where I learned that throughout the fall there are customization pop-ups at Bloomingdale’s stores in New York, Chicago and Norwalk, Connecticut where Re-Loved items will be sold. The designs are very cute.

I recommend you go and check out one of the pop-ups. That way, when your friends compliment you on your distinctive new jacket, you can say, ‘What, this old thing?’

Filipino golf standout Miguel Tabuena has done the unimaginable – winning the International Series Philippines presented by Bingo Plus in dominant fashion.

Even with major champions and Asia’s best in the field, Tabuena not only held his nerve, but he also showed the way. With rounds of 69-65-65-65, the golf phenom played a fairytale week at his home course in front of home fans. Local golf enthusiasts came in droves, packing Sta. Elena Golf Club’s fairways from the opening tee shot on day one, until Miguel dropped the final putt on day four.

The Philippines has not hosted an international golf tournament of this magnitude in at least thirty years, with the last big tournament held way back in 1995. For golf-hungry fans, the sight of the game’s greats like Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, and many more is a treat not to be missed. The cherry on top is our very own Miguel Tabuena, not just matching the biggest stars shot for shot, but actually beating them convincingly.

Tabuena’s three-shot victory over his closest pursuers was no walk in the park. Even before the tournament began, pressure was starting to mount for Miguel. He actually just withdrew from last week’s tournament in Macau due to a neck spasm. To add to the recent physical issue, not only is our country the host, the venue is his home course – which brings with it immense expectations. For us regular golfers, playing at home can be a double-edged sword. While familiarity can be an advantage, it can also work against you, especially when there is so much expectation to do well. But the champion that Miguel Tabuena is, he took the challenge head-on. Playing in the marquee group with Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen in the first two rounds, Tabuena held his nerve, shooting a good opening 69 and followed it up with a 65. That brought him close to the lead after the halfway cut. Another 65 on day three placed Tabuena on top of the leaderboard, alongside Thai Sarit Suwannarut and China’s Sampson Zheng.

While it was pretty close and pressure-packed throughout the final round, Miguel distanced himself early with birdies on holes 2 and 3. A lone bogey on the 7th temporarily derailed Tabuena, before he came back on the very next hole, the par 5 8th, which he eagled. It was a hole he failed to take advantage of in the previous three rounds. But on the final day, when it mattered the most, Tabuena holed a delicate chip from off the green for an eagle.

As his closest pursuers began to make mistakes in the back nine, Tabuena kept his foot on the pedal, making birdies on 11, 13, 15, and 16, virtually sealing the deal with two holes remaining. An errant drive on the 72nd hole didn’t matter as Miguel played out to the fairway and stuck his approach to around 4 feet. In front of adoring home fans, and with the hopes of an entire golfing nation on his shoulders, Miguel Tabuena holed his final putt for the win. In the end, Tabuena finished three clear of Kasuki Higa and Yosuke Asaji of Japan, and four ahead of his co-leaders, Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand and Sampson Zheng of China.

With the Filipino golf community raring for big tournaments, the International Series Philippines couldn’t have ended any better. Huge crowds, happy sponsors, and a successful tournament won by our own golfing hero. Just perfection.

According to Google’s AI tool, Gemini, the term ‘i-Morissette mo yan’ is ‘a Tagalog expression that alludes to the impressive vocal talent of Filipino singer Morissette Amon, which means to perform something with exceptional skill, power, and high-level execution, particularly when it comes to singing.’

That, in a nutshell, is what pretty much defines the 15-year musical odyssey of one of the most powerful voices of her generation. Named after her father’s favorite singer, Alanis Morissette, the singer-songwriter, now dubbed as Asia’s Phoenix, said it’s a big honor to be seen as someone many aspiring singers now look up to.

‘I’m very grateful I got to this level because I remember being in that same position when I was starting, back when people were saying, ‘i-Regine mo yan,’ she said in reference to Regine Velasquez, one of her biggest influences.

In a recent exclusive interview with SoundStrip, Morissette recalled her humble beginnings as a 14-year old contestant in TV5’s reality talent show, Star Factor where she won 2nd Brightest Star overall and later as a semi-finalist in ABS-CBN’s The Voice of the Philippines, Morissette has certainly come a long way with career highlights that included numerous accolades, a self-titled debut album that was certified platinum, represented the Philippines twice at the Asia Song Festival in South Korea and worked on two international reality talent shows, Bolt of Talent and Asian Dream with no less than fellow powerhouse singer, Michael Bolton.

So, it comes as no surprise that this coming October 28, Morissette will be celebrating 15 years in music with Ember, a concert designed not only to showcase her vocal brilliance but also to reflect on a journey that has inspired her legion of fans.

During a recent exclusive interview with SoundStrip, I asked Morissette why she chose the word ’ember’ as the title of her concert.

‘It’s called Ember because, first of all, I took inspiration from Asia’s Phoenix, the title given to me by the fans. Using the symbolism of fire, an ember is that small spark that comes from a big fire. Looking back in my journey, there was a moment in my career that felt like a small spark, then became a small flame until it peaked as a wildfire,’ she explained.

‘The Tagalog term for ember is alipato, which also means sparks that are flying. I feel like I’m in that stage of my life and my career where even if what I do is not always equivalent to a wildfire pero anytime na gusto ko magpasabog, kaya ko naman.’

So what can fans look forward to in Ember? Morissette is excited about what she’s cooking for her milestone concert.

‘This concert has been a dream concept of mine for a long time. I’m inspired by many artists who perform all their original songs during their concerts. I’ve always wanted to do a show that celebrates the original songs that I’ve recorded through the years,’ she enthused.

‘While I do understand that I have fans who want me to do certain covers, I also want to shine the spotlight on originals that are very personal to me, that I feel are very beautiful songs.’

Of course, Morissette being a power belter with a reported five-octave range, there will always be fans who will clamor for her to sing more challenging numbers, including songs she does not always include in her set list.

‘I do have many songs na mahirap kantahin. Hindi ko maiwasan pero gusto ko din nahihirapan ang sarili ko. But I’m very, very proud of those songs. I just don’t always get the opportunity to put them in one show.’

Like most performers, Morissette has had her fair share of peaks and valleys. One low point in her career came around the time of her 2018 sellout concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

‘People thought that I was peaking at the time. What they don’t know is that I kept losing my voice around the time of that Araneta concert,’ she revealed.

‘So during the pandemic, I thought I needed to do something because music is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I needed to prioritize taking care of my voice. That took a lot of sacrifice and understanding that I don’t always need to push myself. Of course, there will always be highlights in every performance. Pero hindi na laging bigay-todo kasi mauubos at mauubos ako. Which is what happened.’

The lengthy lockdown periods during the pandemic were actually very helpful in preserving Morissette’s voice. She was not only able to rest, but she was also able to grow as an artist.

‘I needed to recalibrate, decide what my next goals are for myself. 10 years into my career, I never wrote a song. I wanted to put out my own music. I was very inspired by the music that was coming out from almost out of nowhere from so many, especially indie artists. So I started writing and producing songs.’

Today, Morissette can now be considered a complete artist. With multifaceted dimensions to her artistry, the catch phrase, ‘i-Morissette mo yan,’ is poised to take on a deeper and extensive meaning in, say, the next 15 years. And one is more excited about what the future brings than Morissette herself.

Even after 15 years, a lot of people still want to watch me sing, want to watch me perform. It warms my heart that there’s still so much love for me. I don’t take that for granted. And so, I also want to make the most of that. The goal is sustainability,’ she concluded.

Philippines affirms regional leadership in responsible gaming, innovation

The Philippines has once again taken the spotlight in the regional lottery and gaming industry as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) hosts the Asia Pacific Lottery Association (APLA) Conference 2025 in Manila from October 28 to 31, gathering key lottery leaders and experts to discuss the future of gaming under the theme ‘The Future of Lotteries: Thriving in an Era of Uncertainty.’

The high-level conference brings together delegates, policymakers, and innovators from across the Asia Pacific to examine the evolving role of lotteries amid rapid technological change, market uncertainties, and the growing call for responsible gaming.

PCSO General Manager Melquiades A. Robles said the country’s hosting of APLA 2025 highlights renewed international confidence in the integrity, transparency, and leadership of the Philippine lottery system.

‘The Philippines’ hosting of APLA 2025 is a testament to the global trust placed in the PCSO and in the integrity of our lottery operations,’ Robles said.

‘This event allows us to share our experiences, learn from our regional partners, and work together to ensure the lottery sector thrives responsibly in an era of uncertainty,’ he added.

Under Robles’ leadership, the PCSO continues to strengthen its standing as a trusted gaming institution. The agency’s Responsible Gaming Level 2 certification, along with its pursuit of Level 3 accreditation, reflects its adherence to global standards of ethical play and accountability. Robles’ recent election to the APLA Executive Committee also affirms the growing international trust in Philippine leadership within the global lottery community.

The conference features an impressive lineup of international speakers, including Australian author and innovation coach Nils Vesk, who will open the event with ‘Thriving in Uncertain Environments.’ Other sessions include ‘The Lottery Organization of the Next Decade’ by Stéphane Pallez, CEO of FDJ United; ‘The Illegal Betting Ecosystem: Insight and Understanding’ by Robert Chvátal, CEO of Allwyn Group; and ‘New Tech, AI, and Cybersecurity’ by a leading European industry expert.

Beyond responsible gaming, APLA 2025 delves into digital transformation, sustainability, and collaborative governance-issues defining the future of the global lottery sector.

By hosting APLA 2025, the Philippines positions itself as a regional hub for responsible gaming and innovation, reaffirming its growing role in shaping the industry’s future across the Asia Pacific.

On the occasion of the 99th World Mission Day, celebrated on October 19, with the theme ‘Missionaries of Hope among all Peoples,’ the Vatican news agency ‘Fides’ presented some statistics that offer a general overview of the Catholic Church worldwide.

The study is based on numbers from 2023, in which the world population rose to 7,914,582,000, with a positive trend on all continents, including Europe. The increase in Catholics was 15,881,000 over the previous year.

The most notable growth in Catholics is in Africa, with an increase of 8,309,000; and the Americas with 5,668,000; followed by Asia with 954,000; Europe with 740,000; and Oceania with 210,000.

The percentage of Catholics in the world’s population increased by 0.1 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 17.8 percent.

The total number of bishops worldwide increased by 77 compared to the previous year’s survey, reaching 5,430.

Diocesan bishops also increased by 84, while religious order bishops decreased by seven. In total, there are 4,258 diocesan bishops and 1,172 bishops belonging to religious orders.

Falling number of priests

The number of priests worldwide continues to decline. According to data from Fides, in 2023 it decreased by 734 compared to the previous year, leaving a total of 406,996 priests.

The most significant decrease was again recorded in Europe, with 2,486 fewer priests, followed by the Americas, where the number fell by 800, and Oceania, with 44 fewer.

However, the number of priests increased in Africa, with 1,451 more, and in Asia, which added 1,145 new priests.

The number of diocesan priests decreased by 429, leaving a total of 278,742. Religious order priests also registered a decline-reversing the previous year’s trend-and now total 128,254, or 305 fewer than in the last survey.

Meanwhile, the number of permanent deacons continues to increase, reaching a total of 51,433. Growth is mainly concentrated in the Americas (1,257) and Oceania (57), while slight declines are recorded in Asia (1), Africa (3), and Europe (27).

The number of men in religious orders who are not priests also decreased, with 736 fewer than the previous year, standing at 48,748.

The decreases are in Europe (308), the Americas (293), Asia (196), and Oceania (46), although Africa shows a slight increase (107).

Likewise, the number of women in religious orders continued its years-long decline. Currently, there are 589,423, which means 9,805 fewer than in the previous report.

They have increased in Africa (1,804) and Asia (46), but continue to decline in Europe (7,338), the Americas (4,066), and Oceania (251).

Declining number of seminarians

The number of major seminarians, both diocesan and religious, also decreased, totaling 106,495 (the previous year was 108,481). Africa alone recorded an increase of 383.

Minor seminarians, both diocesan and religious, also decreased, reaching 95,021, a decrease of 140.

Furthermore, Africa went from an increase in the 2022 survey to a slight decrease of 90.

Education and charitable works

Fides also reported that the Catholic Church operates a total of 74,550 kindergartens worldwide with 7,639,051 students; 102,455 primary schools with 36,199,844 students; 52,085 secondary schools with 20,724,361 students; 2,688,625 students in higher education institutions; and 4,468,875 students in Catholic universities.

In addition, in the field of health care and charitable works, there are 103,951 institutions affiliated with the Catholic Church, including 5,377 hospitals and 13,895 dispensaries; and 504 leper colonies.

There are 15,566 homes for the elderly, chronically ill, or disabled; 10,858 day-care centers; 10,827 marriage counseling centers; 3,147 education or social reintegration centers, and 5,184 other types of institutions.

Data on the total world population and the number of baptized Catholics are updated as of June 30, 2023, while other data are updated as of December 31, 2023.

The current global realities and swift technological innovations present the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) with a unique opportunity to define our future and elevate our commitment to the Filipino people.

Along with these developments, the ways Filipinos play, pay, and participate in lottery games are transforming rapidly-driven by technology, shifting regulations, and evolving consumer habits.

Our challenge at PCSO is clear: preserve the integrity and tradition of the Philippine lottery while embracing innovation to ensure sustainable growth.

The past years tested our mettle. We navigated pandemic lockdowns and rapid technological shifts, but PCSO did not just survive; we emerged stronger.

Our financial performance is not merely is a reflection of the public’s enduring trust and our unwavering commitment to serve through our health and charity programs.

In 2023, we reached over ?61.4 billion, and in 2024, ?62.3 billion-surpassing pre-pandemic levels and reaffirming public confidence in our games. This strength comes from the dedication of our employees, agents, and partners who translate every peso played into tangible help for those in need.

It is worth noting that innovation sits at the heart of our transformation.

In 2023, we launched the Philippine Lottery System (PLS)-a centralized, state-of-the-art platform that replaced decades-old technology and unified all lotto operations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This modernization has strengthened efficiency, transparency, and security in every draw and transaction, a major stride toward the digital future of Philippine gaming.

Around the same time, we introduced the E-Lotto pilot project, enabling Filipinos to play online safely and conveniently. While refinements are ongoing, its success shows that the Filipino public is ready for digital lottery. We will continue to study, improve, and relaunch the platform to uphold the highest standards of fairness, data security, and compliance with our country’s laws.

Modernization brings challenges, and rightly so. The transition to digital systems invites scrutiny-but public trust is, and will always be, the lifeblood of PCSO.

Every challenge has been an opportunity to improve. We have fortified our systems, tightened protocols, and made operations more transparent. Integrity remains our most valuable currency.

Beyond numbers and systems, our mission remains rooted in service. PCSO exists not for profit, but for purpose.

Under the leadership of Chairman Judge Felix P. Reyes (Ret.) and myself, we have accelerated our service programs nationwide. To date, we have distributed 1,540 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to local government units, moving closer to our goal of providing one PTV for every LGU in the country. It is projected that all 1,724 LGUs will receive their PTVs before the end of the year, highlighted by the record-breaking delivery of 387 units in a single day on July 9, 2025.

Since 2022, through our Medical Assistance Program (MAP), we have provided over ?14.56 billion in assistance to more than 1.36 million patients nationwide. We also distributed ?125 million worth of modern medical equipment to public hospitals and health facilities-ensuring that our funds reach those who need them most.

Beyond hospitals, we have provided ?74.88 million in assistance to institutional partners, distributed 233,250 Charitimba food packs to families and communities in need, and delivered over 10,000 assistive devices such as wheelchairs and nebulizers under our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program.

In the past three years, we have remitted ?18.7 billion in mandatory contributions to various government agencies, a proof that in every ticket, there is hope; in every bet, there is charity.

In 2024 alone, we allocated ?4.2 billion to our Charity Fund.

At the core of all these efforts is a steadfast commitment to nation-building through compassion.

‘Sa Bawat Taya, May Kawanggawa’ is more than a slogan-it is a daily reminder that every bet contributes to someone’s healing, hope, and future.

In facing every challenge, we remain true to our promise: ‘Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong.’ These words embody the PCSO spirit: resolute, compassionate, and unwavering in our duty to serve the Filipino people.

In management and governance, we have made remarkable progress. In 2023, the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) recognized PCSO as the Most Improved GOCC, with our performance rating rising from 56% in 2021 to 92.03%, allowing employees to receive the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for the first time in nine years.

In 2024, our commitment to excellence was reaffirmed through multiple distinctions: the ARTA Silver Award, GCG Stakeholders Relationship Award, and continued ISO 9001:2015 Certification. We were also named among the Top-Ranking GOCCs with a 98.01% Performance Scorecard rating, and once again received the Freedom of Information (FOI) Award for transparency and our high closure rate of FOI requests.

Among our notable milestones is earning the World Lottery Association (WLA) Level II Certification for Responsible Gaming, which recognizes our integrity and credibility in promoting responsible play.

That same year, we led the National Day of Charity celebration under Proclamation No. 598, encouraging unity and participation in charitable causes and acts of compassion across the nation.

On the international stage, I am deeply honored to have been elected as the first Filipino member of the Executive Committee of the Asia-Pacific Lottery Association (APLA) in September 2024-an achievement that brings pride not only to PCSO but to the entire nation.

And this year, the Philippines holds a place of distinction in the global lottery community as we host the prestigious APLA Regional Conference. This is more than an event; it is a powerful recognition of the trust and confidence that fellow lottery agencies across Asia-Pacific have placed in the Philippine Lottery System.

Being chosen to host this conference affirms that PCSO has become a respected voice in international discussions on integrity, responsible gaming, and digital transformation. It is proof that the world recognizes the strength of our systems, the credibility of our governance, and the compassion behind our mission.

At times, PCSO has also taken on an evolving role as a first responder during disaster relief operations-proving that our compassion extends beyond gaming and into the heart of humanitarian service.

As we host and participate in the APLA Conference, we recommit to being an active, forward-thinking member of the international lottery community, carrying the Filipino spirit of resilience, generosity, and integrity.

The future of PCSO lies in our ability to adapt without ever losing sight of who we are.

We will continue to balance tradition with transformation, expanding access while safeguarding the integrity of our games. We will invest in technology that drives efficiency, promotes responsible gaming, and ensures that every ticket purchased remains a powerful symbol of hope and charity.

Uncertainty will always be part of our environment, but it does not have to be our limitation.

Indeed, the PCSO of the future is digitally capable, financially strong, and socially responsible.

Our goal is to thrive not by chance, but by choice-anchored in integrity, driven by innovation, and guided by our mission to bring hope to every Filipino through the simple act of giving and playing for a cause.

Come October, monks and nuns are busy harvesting olives at the Mount of Olives and the Gethsemane garden-where, according to the Gospel, Jesus spent the last night before being taken up the other side of the valley into Jerusalem to be crucified.

For two years, the Israel-Hamas war has cast a pall on the Holy Land. The hundreds of centuries-old olive trees here have shaken periodically in missile attacks targeting Israel.

But this year’s harvest happened as a ceasefire agreement was reached, spreading a tenuous hope for peace-peace that olive branches have symbolized since the biblical story of the dove that brought one back to Noah’s Ark to signify the end of the flood.

‘The land is a gift and the sign of a divine presence,’ said the Rev. Diego Dalla Gassa, a Franciscan in charge of the harvest in the hermitage next to Gethsemane. The word Gethsemane is derived from the ancient Aramaic’s and Hebrew’s ‘oil press.’

For Dalla Gassa and the other mostly Catholic congregations on the hill, harvesting olives to make preserves and oil is not a business or even primarily a source of sustenance for their communities. Rather, it’s a form of prayer and reverence.

‘To be the custodian of holy sites doesn’t mean only to guard them, but to live them, physically but also spiritually,’ he added. ‘It’s really the holy sites that guard us.’

Harvesting olives by hand on the Mount of Olives

Early on a recent morning, Dalla Gassa traded his habit for a T-shirt and shorts-albeit with an olive wood cross around his neck-and headed to the terraces facing Jerusalem’s Old City.

The bright sun shone off the golden dome of Al-Aqsa Mosque, visible above the walls encircling the Temple Mount-the holiest site in Judaism-alongside the bell towers of Christian churches.

Dalla Gassa and some volunteers, ranging from Israeli Jews to visiting Italian law enforcement officers, picked the black and green olives by hand and with tiny rakes, dropping them onto nets under the trees.

Once they filled a wheelbarrow, Dalla Gassa put on ear covers and got the loud, modern press humming. Soon, the fragrance of freshly pressed green oil filled the air. It takes up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of olives to make one liter (34 ounces) of extra-virgin oil.

Harvesting as a form of prayer

Up the hill from the Franciscan convent, Sister Marie Benedicte walked among more olive trees cradling the adopted kitty she has named ‘Petit Chat,’ little cat in French.

‘It’s easy to pray while picking and nature is so beautiful,’ she said later while starting her harvest. ‘It’s like a retreat time.’

For more than two decades, the French nun has been in the Benedictine monastery founded at the end of the 19th century atop the Mount of Olives. Only half a dozen sisters live there now, their day flowing in a 16-hour rhythm of work, contemplative walks in the garden, and prayer.

‘It’s very quiet here, very simple,’ said Sister Colomba, who is from the Philippines and is in charge of ensuring there’s always enough olive oil in the church lamps to keep them burning by the tabernacle.

Olive trees are an essential crop in this desert region where they’ve grown for millennia. For decades they’ve been at the heart of sometimes-violent land disputes between Palestinians and some Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

Israel occupied it in the 1967 war along with east Jerusalem, where the Mount of Olives is.

The congregations on the hill do not have commercial productions, dedicating the vast majority of the oil to their own use, both in the kitchen and for sacraments.

Many Christians use oil, blessed by clergy during an annual Chrism Mass, for rituals ranging from anointing the sick to blessing the baptized and new altars.

‘Only good when pressed’: Olives and religious symbolism

For the religious brothers and sisters living among these trees, the harvest itself is spiritual and full of symbolism.

‘In picking the olives, we learn how we are picked. We go looking for that last olive-that’s what God does with us, even those who are a bit hard to reach,’ said Dalla Gassa.

Squeezing a plump green olive between his fingers, he also spoke of the sacrifice that comes with fulfilling one’s vocation of love for God and neighbor.

‘The olive is only good when pressed. It’s the same for us,’ said Dalla Gassa.

The volunteers who’ve been harvesting this year share in the transcendent experience as much as in the dusty, hot working days.

‘The garden is very special. It’s full of spirituality and holiness,’ said Ilana Peer-Goldin, who on a recent morning was helping Dalla Gassa with the harvest. An Israeli raised in Jerusalem, she draws from Jewish, Catholic and Buddhist practices.

Teresa Penta, who is from Puglia, Italy-one of the Mediterranean area’s top olive-producing regions-has spent 13 years in the hermitage next to Gethsemane.

‘This place has an eternal charm,’ she said.

The modern olive press has been in place only a few years. She said it added special meaning, returning Gethsemane to its original function.

This year’s harvest has been meager because of drought and fierce springtime winds that damaged the blossoms. Still, other congregations have been sending their olives to be processed by the monastery of Latrun, about halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Latrun’s Trappist monks also have olive trees and vines, though thousands of them were destroyed by a devastating fire this spring.

Walking to the olive press outside the abbey church in his black-and-white habit, Brother Athanase said the oil and wine production helps the friars earn their living. But the end goal is different for the contemplative religious.

‘To create the empty space while working with repetitive gesture, to be completely available to our Lord, Jesus Christ,’ he said. ‘It’s a life to be received completely.’