Category: Business Mirror

When it was announced that P-Pop phenom SB19 would play at this year’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, the A’Tin fan community erupted with such ecstatic joy, fueling brave predictions that the song-and-dance fivesome would ‘slay’ the competition. At the time, it appeared like premature conjecture given the fact that the headliners of the four-day event included Charli XCX, Lorde, The xx and The Smashing Pumpkins.

As SB 19 finally got their slot at the Allianz stage on July 30, the first day of the festival, the hoopla about their upcoming Lollapalooza stint seemed to have been filtered out of the daily outpouring on social media of their rise from the sidelines to the mainstream by dint of hard work and, oh, their undoubtedly great songs. Though this corner wouldn’t speculate on how the initial breast-beating got lost in the shambles, let’s rather take a quick look at the four other groups who would also make their first stand at the Allianz stage.

The day’s opening act, Pearly Drops, the duo of Sandra Tervonen and Juuso Mal, will offer a glimpse of the artful, eclectic side of Finland’s underground music scene. Their latest album titled ‘The Voices Are Coming Back’ has critics dropping references to the weirdness of a David Lynch movie, the music of The Cure and Goth, as well as electroclash and indie disco. Live, Pearly Drops graft disco nostalgia to the more experimental edge of tech-driven music.

Next on the bill will be Australia’s five-man riot act Bad Nerves, whose fleet-footed, hook-filled garage punk-pop has Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong endorsing them as ‘the best band in England right now.’ Of their new album titled ‘Still Nervous,’ Kerrang! observes ‘they take lean garage punk riffs, triple the speed, then throw them in a blender with a full complement of roughshod vocal harmonies, hand-claps and simple, catchy choruses.’ In concert, Bad Nerves push their audience to be as disorderly as possible, with the moshpit central to the nerve-wracking experience.

Our very own P-Pop kings SB19 are smack right in the middle of the five-ring spectacle, raring to make history as the first Filipino group to perform at Lollapalooza.

Singer-songwriter Audrey Hobert will follow our P-Pop royalty. Hobert’s exciting debut titled ‘Who’s the Clown? sees her as one of pop’s smartest up-and-coming stars, delivering synth-heavy bangers, glossy hooks, and brooding acoustic numbers about longing and moving on. Performing live, Audrey Hobert dishes out empowering ear-benders packed with wit, energy and style.

UK’s Wet Leg, the duo of Rhian Teasdale and guitarist and co-writer Hester Chamber, will cap the Allianz stage extravaganza. Wet Leg’s eponymous debut went gold in the UK, made the US Top 20 and won two Brits and two of the three Grammys it was nominated for. Musically, their latest album titled ‘moisturizer’ has Pitchfork calling the record ‘as dazzlingly earnest as it is wry, displaying the staying power of a band that will outlast a sense of novelty.’ In live performances, Wet Leg build a ringing wall of sound from their thundering alternative anthems.

Besides Allianz, there are six other stages on Lollapalooza’s Day 1 featuring equally formidable musical acts from Lorde to Empire of the Sun to Blood Orange to the Viagra Boys.

Catch the Lollapalooza 2026 festival LIVE from the comfort of your home, streaming exclusively on Disney+ from July 31 to August 3, 2026, with the stream starting at 3:45 AM daily.

The Ad Sales Manager found himself in a fix. One of the major sponsors was having second thoughts about the amount of support for their upcoming event.

Over the years, clinching corporate sponsorships for literary awards had become more difficult as marketing budgets shifted from prestige-driven, cultural events toward highly popular, large-scale crowd-pleasers that enjoyed the widest possible audience.

It didn’t help that the country was experiencing an economic downturn. Consequently, the annual Nick Joaquin Literary Awards (NJLA), which typically incurs a million-peso expense, might need to be scaled down for 2026.

They may have to eliminate the livestreaming, which costs P50,000. Perhaps they can forgo the Graphic Reader covers exhibit this year and reduce the guest list. However, despite these cutbacks, NJLA 2026 will definitely push through on August 27 at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City.

BEST IN SHORT FICTION, POETRY

Media tycoon and ‘Komiks King’ Don Ramon Roces founded the Graphic in 1927. Ownership passed to industrialist J. Antonio Araneta in 1965 until the magazine’s closure in 1972 during the time of martial law. Its third owner, the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua-a business mogul and philanthropist-revived the Graphic in 1990.

Under three different owners, the Graphic gave space to Philippine poetry and short fiction written in English, while providing coverage of critical issues. The publication also established several awards, including the Graphic Short Story Prizes (1927-1965) and the Graphic Weekly Literary Awards (1965-2004). Today, it continues this legacy with the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards (NJLA).

The NJLA is named in honor of Nick Joaquin, a National Artist for Literature and the first Editor-in-Chief of the Philippines Graphic when it was revived in 1990, who passed away in 2004.

Deeply committed to promoting Philippine Literature in English, the magazine lent brilliance to the then budding writing careers of soon-to-be literary greats like National Artists for Literature Jose Garcia Villa, NVM Gonzales, and Bienvenido Lumbera; Bienvenido N. Santos, Estrella Alfon, Sinai C. Hamada, Edilberto K. Tiempo, Gregorio Brillantes, and many more.

Except for a two-year lull during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NJLA continues to give awards of recognition and cash prizes to the best short stories published in the magazine.

The annual awards added the Poet of the Year in 2013 to honor the wordsmith with the best poem featured in the Graphic. Its first winner was the late Bicolano poet Marne Kilates.

In 2022, the Graphic released the Philippines Graphic Reader. Edited and curated by trilingual multi-awarded poet and essayist Marra PL. Lanot, the Graphic Reader is the only monthly magazine in the country today that is completely devoted to publishing short stories and poems written in English by budding and veteran Filipino writers and poets.

Every month, it features in its pages four short stories and four poems selected from literary submissions to the magazine-matched by the colorful illustrations of visual artists that grace its covers, with support from Graphic Reader Creative Director Ed Davad and Creative Design Consultant Ces Cabangon.

In 2024, this marriage of creative word and visual artistry was celebrated with an exhibit of all 12 Graphic Reader covers, rendered by talented illustrators Randy Constantino and Ardie Aquino. Noted visual artist Jimbo Albano executed the companion magazine’s inside illustrations.

GRAPHIC SALUTE, OUTREACH

In 2023, the NJLA launched the Graphic Salute tradition. An essential part of the NJLA program, the Graphic Salute formally introduced to the public the poets and short fictionists featured in the Graphic Reader.’

T. Anthony C. Cabangon, publisher of the Philippines Graphic and the Philippines Graphic Reader explained it best. ‘Publication is the first hurdle of a writer who wants the public to read his or her work. Publication is the first level of the competition for public awareness. To breeze past the line-up of a hundred or more writers who submitted their works; to have your work chosen for publication-that is no mean feat. That deserves a Graphic Salute.’

The following year, in April 2024, the Graphic launched its provincial outreach by way of the NJLA-Local Government Unit (LGU) Advocacy for English and Literature project.

The project aims to improve English proficiency and foster a love for reading among public high school students through the Philippines Graphic Reader.

Among its early LGU partners: Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Mayor Angelo ‘Gel’ Alonte, Biñan City in Laguna; and Mayor Art Joseph Francis Mercado in San Pedro, Laguna.

NJLA 2026

This year, the NJLA will fete 75 Graphic Salute Awardees, translating to 47 short stories and 46 poems.

It will give plaques and cash awards to the Poet of the Year (P15,000) and to the authors of the top short stories of the year: 1st prize (P50,000), 2nd prize (P30,000), and 3rd prize (P20,000). NJLA 2026 entries will be judged by award-winning literary writers Susan S. Lara (panel chair), Jose Wendell Capili (guest judge), and Marra PL. Lanot (judge and Graphic Reader Editor).

Pope Leo XIV has appointed another Chinese bishop under the agreement on episcopal appointments reached between the Holy See and authorities in Beijing during the pontificate of Pope Francis.

Father Joseph Chang Yanfeng was ordained Wednesday as the new bishop of Chifeng in China’s Inner Mongolia region, the Vatican announced. Pope Leo approved the appointment June 15.

The Holy See said the appointment was made within the framework of the provisional agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, under which the pope approved the candidate presented for the diocese.

Chang had overseen the local Church since October 2021, when he was appointed diocesan administrator.

Formation in China and South Korea

The new bishop was born April 4, 1984, in Beizhen in China’s Liaoning province. He studied at the Shenyang Theological Seminary from 2000 to 2006.

After a period of pastoral work at Lindong Parish, he continued his academic formation at the Catholic University of Daejeon in South Korea, where he earned a degree in biblical theology.

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Chifeng on November 18, 2010.

During the early years of his ministry, he held several positions in the diocesan curia and served in a number of parishes. He was pastor of Chifeng Cathedral from 2013 to 2019 and later served at Lindong Parish from 2019 to 2021.

He was appointed diocesan administrator of Chifeng on Oct. 15, 2021, a responsibility he held until his episcopal appointment.

Dialogue between Rome and Beijing

The appointment was made through the continuing dialogue over the implementation of the Holy See-China agreement, signed in 2018 to establish a mutually accepted process for selecting bishops.

The appointment of bishops belongs to the pope, while Beijing had for decades regarded papal appointments as interference in China’s internal affairs.

The Holy See and China have not maintained diplomatic relations since 1951, following the establishment of Mao Zedong’s communist government.

Chinese Catholics subsequently became divided between communities registered with the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association and underground communities that remained loyal to Rome.

The full text of the 2018 agreement has never been made public. It was renewed every two years until 2024, when the two sides extended it for another four years, through 2028.

Under the terms that have become publicly known, the pope retains final authority over episcopal appointments in China and can reject candidates proposed by Beijing. The Holy See, for its part, has agreed not to make episcopal appointments without first obtaining the Chinese government’s approval.

Tensions during the papal interregnum

During the interregnum between the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, Chinese authorities proceeded unilaterally with the selection of two bishops, including one for a jurisdiction already led by a prelate recognized by the Vatican.

On April 28, 2025, Father Ignatius Wu Jianlin was elected auxiliary bishop of Shanghai by state-controlled Church bodies. The following day, Father Francis Li Jianlin was selected to lead Xinxiang in Henan province.

The latter decision caused controversy because the Holy See already recognized Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu as the legitimate bishop of that local Church.

Although the selections may have been planned before Francis’ death, their timing attracted attention. AsiaNews reported that the decisions conveyed the Chinese Communist Party’s position that a vacancy in the Apostolic See would not interrupt the operation of the Catholic Church in China.

With Chang’s appointment and episcopal ordination, 15 Catholic bishops have now been ordained under the provisional agreement signed by China and the Holy See during the pontificate of Francis.

Chinese appointments under Pope Leo XIV

The process leading to Chang’s appointment and ordination took place entirely during the pontificate of Leo XIV, providing another indication that the pope intends to continue the path of dialogue between Rome and Beijing.

Since the beginning of his pontificate, Leo has made several episcopal appointments in China and assigned new responsibilities to bishops who had already been ordained.

On June 11, 2025, the Vatican announced the civil recognition and installation of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou in Fujian province. Leo had appointed him June 5.

On July 8, 2025, the pope suppressed the dioceses of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi, which Pope Pius XII had established in 1946, and created the new Diocese of Zhangjiakou as a suffragan see of Beijing.

Two months later, on September 10, Father Joseph Wang Zhengui, whom the pope had appointed to lead the new diocese, was ordained a bishop.

Father Ignatius Wu Jianlin was ordained auxiliary bishop of Shanghai on October 15, 2025, after Leo appointed him on August 11.

Father Francis Li Jianlin was ordained to lead the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang on December 5, 2025, following his appointment by the pope on August 11.

In the heart of Quiapo, Manila stands the historic Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, a living witness to the nation’s struggle for independence, cultural identity, and collective memory.

Located at 432 A. Bautista Street (formerly Barbosa Street), its wooden floors, stone foundations, antique furnishings, and family heirlooms tell stories that cannot be found in textbooks alone.

Yet beyond its architectural beauty, the house serves as a reminder of a growing challenge facing the Philippines today: how to balance development with the preservation of heritage and the environment.

For Maria Paz ‘Bobbi’ Nakpil Santos-Viola, administrator and descendant of the Nakpil family, conservation is more than simply keeping an old structure standing.

‘Conservation is like an umbrella,’ she explained during an interview. ‘Preservation is taking care of something. Conservation is a higher level. It ensures that all aspects are maintained and sustained for the long term.’

Her distinction is significant. Preservation focuses on protecting an existing structure from deterioration. Conservation, meanwhile, encompasses a broader commitment to maintaining a property’s historical, cultural, educational, and social value for future generations.

‘It applies to buildings, parks, and even intangible heritage,’ Santos-Viola said. ‘You preserve in order to conserve.’

Maintaining a century-old heritage house is not an easy task. It requires constant repairs, technical expertise, and, perhaps most importantly, financial resources.

Yet Santos-Viola or simply Bobbi, believes that money alone is not enough.

‘You need financing, yes,’ she said. ‘But you also need love. If it’s only for money, it is different. Love makes you respect what you’re doing, and people will respect what you have done.’

That philosophy has guided the stewardship of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista for years. Once used as a restaurant, dormitory, and office space, the house was eventually restored as a heritage site under the care of Santos-Viola after her retirement from a career in New York.

Today, the house serves as an educational venue where visitors learn about revolutionary figures such as Julio Nakpil, Gregoria de Jesus, and Juan Nakpil.

The house itself tells a larger story about nationhood.

‘Our mission is to keep the spirit of the house alive,’ Santos-Viola said. ‘It is tied to education, culture, and social value.’

She emphasized that demolishing or neglecting heritage structures is akin to discarding the sacrifices and memories of previous generations.

‘If we take it away, demolish it, or sell it to someone who will not continue its purpose, it is like throwing our ancestors into the trash,’ she said.

EVERY OLD HOUSE HAS A STORY

During guided tours, visitors encounter physical remnants of Philippine history-from centuries-old piedra china stones used as balance in Spanish galleon ships to architectural elements that survived war, reconstruction, and modernization. Machuca tiles can be seen just after the garage or zaguan and before the stairs to the entresuelo or mezzanine.

Volunteer guides often remind guests that every heritage structure carries a unique narrative.

‘When you walk through old districts, you see many old houses,’ one guide explained.

‘Each one has its own story and its own importance.’

That observation highlights a reality often overlooked in urban planning discussions. Heritage structures are not merely aging buildings occupying valuable land. They are repositories of collective memory that connect present generations to the country’s past.

When such structures disappear, entire chapters of local history can vanish with them.

DEVELOPMENT VERSUS CONSERVATION

The conversation becomes particularly relevant amid ongoing debates surrounding infrastructure projects and reports of tree-cutting activities linked to major road developments, including the proposed Southern Luzon Access Link Expressway.

Across the country, environmental advocates and heritage conservationists have raised concerns that development projects sometimes prioritize speed and economic gain over long-term cultural and ecological sustainability.

The challenge is not whether development should proceed. Roads, bridges, and transportation networks remain essential to national progress. The question is whether development can coexist with conservation. Bobbi believes it can.

She pointed to the growing awareness among Filipinos regarding the importance of protecting heritage sites and acknowledged the role of government institutions such as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in safeguarding cultural properties through legal protections and conservation guidelines.

‘There are rules, resolutions, and legal backing,’ she said. ‘People are now more aware that there is value.’

With its stamp mark, the developers know there will be legal obstacles.

The same principle can be applied beyond heritage houses and toward the country’s natural heritage.

Just as old trees cannot be replaced overnight, neither can historic structures be recreated once lost. A newly planted sapling may take decades to become a mature forest canopy. Likewise, a reconstructed building can never fully replicate the authenticity of a structure that has witnessed history firsthand.

CONSERVATION AS NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

The debate surrounding heritage conservation and environmental protection ultimately revolves around one question: what kind of legacy will today’s generation leave behind?

For conservation advocates, the answer lies in sustainability.

A nation that values conservation recognizes that progress should not come at the cost of erasing its roots. Economic growth and infrastructure development must be balanced with the preservation of cultural landmarks, historic communities, and natural ecosystems.

The lesson from Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is simple but profound: preservation is about caring for what exists today; conservation is about ensuring it remains meaningful tomorrow.

As the Philippines continues to modernize, that distinction may become increasingly important. For when a heritage house is demolished, or an old-growth tree is cut down, something more than wood, stone, or land is lost.

A piece of memory disappears. And once memory is gone, no amount of development can bring it back. It’s lost and never coming back.

For office workers, lunchtime can be surprisingly complicated. One colleague craves Japanese food. Another wants Filipino comfort food. Someone settles for coffee while another insists on sushi after work.

At The Split in Bonifacio Global City, nobody has to compromise.

That everyday dilemma inspired one of the newest concepts from Raintree Hospitality Group-a dining destination where four distinct brands share one roof, allowing diners to satisfy different cravings without leaving the same table.

For Martin Wisniewski, Vice President of Raintree Hospitality Group, The Split is more than an innovative restaurant. It is his answer to a much bigger question: How do restaurants remain relevant when the way people work, socialize and dine has fundamentally changed?

‘We really had to rethink everything,’ Wisniewski says.

From two to one

THE restaurant occupies what was once home to two Japanese dining concepts. Before the pandemic, the formula worked. Then Covid-19 reshaped not only the hospitality industry but also the rhythm of office life. Hybrid work replaced the predictable lunch and dinner crowds that restaurants once depended on.

‘The building changed,’ he explains. ‘People aren’t here every day anymore. We had to create something that reflected how people actually live and work today.’

The response was a restaurant designed around flexibility. Mornings welcome coffee drinkers and pastry lovers. Lunchtime caters to office workers looking for quality meals at reasonable prices. Evenings transform the space into a lively destination for cocktails, sushi, trivia nights and community events.

‘The Split,’ Wisniewski says, ‘is split concepts, split personalities and split dayparts.’

That philosophy becomes evident the moment the food arrives.

Four brands

RATHER than limiting diners to one cuisine, The Split brings together four Raintree brands-Providore Bakery and Café, Friends and Family Upside Down, Saboten Express and Chotto Matte-allowing guests to mix and match according to their mood.

Our table quickly became proof of the concept. The refreshing It’s Giving Violet, made with strawberry purée, hibiscus syrup, lime juice and blue pea gulaman, opened the meal alongside the unexpectedly smooth Dirty Earl, a blend of Earl Grey tea and espresso.

Japanese favorites soon followed, from Chotto Matte’s Sizzling Salmon Aburi Cheezu to Saboten Express’ Tenderloin Katsu Set and Truffled US Steak Don. Across the table, Friends and Family Upside Down offered playful Filipino creations like the Crispy Salt and Vinegar Bagnet and Pansplit US Beef Spicy Mala, proving that familiar comfort food can still surprise.

Dessert was equally memorable. The Famous Buko Polvoron Pie delivered a nostalgic finish, while the creamy Thai Milk Tres Leches Cake rounded out a meal that celebrated variety without sacrificing quality.

Freedom of choice

More than the dishes themselves, what stood out was the freedom they represented.

No one had to negotiate where to eat. Japanese specialties comfortably shared the table with Filipino comfort food, while coffee naturally gave way to cocktails and dessert.

While the food impresses, Wisniewski remains more fascinated by people than by recipes.

Throughout the conversation, he speaks less about ingredients than about changing behavior. Office workers now rotate schedules instead of reporting daily. Younger diners discover restaurants through TikTok trends that can disappear as quickly as they emerge. Many now prefer one well-crafted cocktail or artisanal beer over a night of excess.

‘The trends move so much faster now,’ he says. ‘Before, you could have a trend that lasted six months or even a year. Today it feels like something changes every week.’

For restaurant operators, staying relevant means constantly adapting. Menus evolve more frequently, limited-time offerings appear and disappear, and customer preferences shift almost overnight.

Yet Wisniewski believes growth should never come at the expense of identity.

No to overexpansion

HE points to Raintree’s acclaimed Farmer’s Table in Tagaytay as an example. Guests have long asked why it has never been replicated elsewhere. His answer is simple: much of its charm comes from its surroundings-the cool Tagaytay air, lush gardens and relaxed atmosphere. Remove those elements and the experience becomes something entirely different.

‘If you overly expand,’ he says, ‘you can ruin your own brand.’

That same philosophy explains why The Split has yet to be duplicated despite growing interest from prospective partners. Designed specifically for one of Metro Manila’s busiest business districts, it reflects the changing rhythms of urban life.

More importantly, Wisniewski hopes it becomes what many cities increasingly lack-a ‘third place,’ somewhere people can gather outside home and work. Trivia nights, vintage markets, sip-and-paint sessions, swing dancing and other community activities are all part of that vision.

‘I also believe that when things become too systemized, you lose the soul,’ he says.

It is perhaps the most revealing insight of the afternoon.

In an era of automation and QR-code ordering, Wisniewski believes diners still seek authenticity. They want stories behind the food, genuine hospitality and experiences worth returning for.

Despite rising costs and constantly changing consumer habits, he remains optimistic. Raintree Hospitality Group continues to expand its portfolio while remaining committed to creating restaurants with distinct personalities rather than simply multiplying locations.

THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF), with support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), has launched the country’s first Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Diploma Coaching Course.

The year-long program was launched last week at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila with 18 participants, including 13 Filipinos, from professional clubs, regional football associations, universities, and the PFF’s own technical departments.

The AFC Pro Diploma, the highest coaching qualification offered by the AFC, is open only to coaches who already possess an AFC ‘ A’ Diploma and are actively coaching at the professional or elite level.

The participants are John Carmona (Negros Occidental RFA), Albert Ryan Lim (PFF Mindanao Technical Director/Davao), Aris Bocalan (PFF Coaching Education Coordinator/Cordillera), Bob Salvacion (PFF Grassroots Development Head), Randolfo Paolo Clarino (UP Fighting Maroons), Dan Padernal (NCRFA), David Javellana (NCRFA), Erniest Nieras (Stallion Laguna), Tomasito Glenn Ramos (Cebu FC/CRFA), John Martin Ferrer (Cebu RFA), Kim Versales (Manila Digger/Masbate), Marjo Allado (UST Growling Tigers), Mark Anthony Francisco (Central Luzon FA), Moon Hong (South Korea/Maharlika FC), Bobae Park (South Korea/Kaya FC), Stuart Kelly (Football Australia), Taketomo Suzuki (Japan/Tuloy FC), Tetsuya Tsuchida (PFF Youth Development Head/Japan).

Former PFF technical director Stewart Hall is the lead instructor.

The course, which covers tactical analysis, club management and sports science, among others, is spread across multiple residential modules over nearly a year.

PSC Chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio said investing in coaching is essential to raising the standard of sports.

‘I believe Filipinos can excel in football,’ Gregorio said. ‘But we have to invest. We have to become more serious and continue building partnerships with FIFA and the PFF. Once we have football fields all over the country, we also need good coaches, good referees and technical officials. Everything starts with the coach.’

THE Philippines has finally climbed into the World Bank’s upper middle-income club. But for millions of Filipinos still grappling with high prices and the search for better-paying jobs, one question remains: What’s actually different?

After nearly four decades, the country crossed the World Bank’s income threshold after posting a gross national income (GNI) per capita of $4,850 in 2025, surpassing the lender’s benchmark for upper middle-income economies.

The upgrade ends the Philippines’ 39-year stay as a lower middle-income country and places it alongside neighbors such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam in the World Bank’s income classification.

For now, not much. The country’s new status does not automatically raise incomes or ease the cost of living.

Rather, it recognizes that the Philippine economy has reached a higher stage of development-and that the government’s challenge has become even bigger: creating better jobs, making growth more inclusive, and sustaining reforms needed to remain in the category.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said Filipinos should treat the World Bank’s decision as ‘a milestone’ rather than the country’s destination.

‘It is a milestone,’ Balisacan said in a recent interview. ‘The intention is to sustain the momentum, get growth going, recovering the higher growth path that existed even before the Covid.’

Getting there, however, will require addressing longstanding constraints-from governance and policy reforms to infrastructure, energy security, and climate resilience-while ensuring more Filipinos benefit from economic growth.

Growth that people can feel

For many Filipinos, the country’s new income classification appears difficult to reconcile with everyday realities.

An Octa Research survey found that about 35 percent, or an estimated 9.2 million households, considered themselves poor in the first quarter of 2026.

The findings come as the Philippine economy slowed to 2.8 percent in the first quarter, while inflation remained elevated at 6.4 percent in June, squeezing household budgets despite the country’s upgraded status.

Balisacan said the disconnect stems from how the World Bank measures income.

‘The growth and the level of income that we are talking about is an average. It doesn’t tell you how that economic pie is distributed across members of society,’ he explained.

He noted that while the Philippines has made progress in reducing poverty, unemployment, and inequality over the past 15 years, those gains have not erased the need to create more productive and better-paying jobs.

‘The big challenge for us really is improving the quality of jobs that are available so that our earnings will be much higher and our people will not have to migrate outside the country to have a decent job,’ he said.

Ultimately, he said, Filipinos should judge the country’s progress not by its World Bank classification but by whether they experience better healthcare, education, transport, connectivity, and other opportunities that improve their quality of life.

Economists largely share that view. Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) conomist Leonardo A. Lanzona said the country’s new classification does not immediately translate into higher purchasing power.

‘Nothing changes in their wallets today,’ he said.

Instead, he said, the designation signals stronger macroeconomic performance and could improve investor confidence if accompanied by reforms that generate quality employment.

Economist Maria Ella C. Oplas of De La Salle University (DLSU) likewise said the country’s success should not be measured solely by faster economic growth but by whether development becomes more inclusive.

‘Economic growth is good, but the more important thing is economic development-how income is distributed to the population and felt by the people,’ she said.

Higher stakes

If the new classification brings prestige, it also raises expectations.

Graduating into the UMIC category means the Philippines will gradually rely less on concessional financing from multilateral institutions and more on commercial borrowing, private investments, and domestic sources of funding.

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas said that shift places greater importance on maintaining sound fiscal management.

Private lenders, he said, will continue to evaluate the country’s budget deficit and debt position regardless of its new income classification.

‘The National Government must endeavor to strengthen its fiscal position, starting with a responsible deficit-reduction program,’ Canlas said.

Oplas also cautioned against viewing broader financing options as an excuse to accumulate more debt.

‘If accompanied by weak governance and poor fiscal discipline, this could indeed increase debt risks,’ she said.

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the national government’s outstanding debt climbed to a record P18.55 trillion as of end-May.

Domestic borrowings accounted for 67.37 percent of the total debt stock, while external obligations made up the remaining 32.63 percent.

Better governance needed

Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said preserving the country’s new status ultimately depends on maintaining investor confidence through sound institutions, credible policies, and continued fiscal reforms.

‘Unless we do that, it is very difficult to restore public and business confidence in our capacity to grow and our capacity to sustain this reclassification,’ he said.

Balisacan echoed that assessment. Asked what could derail the country’s progress, he pointed not to external shocks but to domestic weaknesses.

‘The threat to us, if there is any, that could slow down our progression is more internal to the country. It’s the institutions and the governance not quickly adjusting to the challenges of the times,’ he said.

He argued that strengthening accountability and improving policy implementation are essential if the Philippines hopes to sustain growth and eventually move toward high-income status.

‘We need to continue the momentum and even be more ambitious and speed up,’ he said.

Greenpeace Philippines and the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Victims of Disasters and Calamities (NAPC-VDC) jointly launched ‘Here Comes the Sun: Climate Justice-based Recommendations for Protecting Communities from Extreme Heat’ on Tuesday.

The new report identifies critical policy and governance gaps hindering the country’s response to extreme heat, and proposes pathways toward climate accountability, including but not limited to the immediate passage of House Bill 4420, or the Climate Accountability Bill (CLIMA Bill).1

The report’s findings, gathered through seven focus group discussions conducted in Navotas, Bataan, Laguna, Siargao, Eastern Samar, Tacloban City, and Cadiz City, were presented during a media forum in Quezon City.

It features a case study of 71 fisherfolk across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Fisherfolk consistently rank among the poorest of the 14 basic sectors, with a poverty incidence of around 27.4 percent to 30.6 percent, nearly double than the national baseline of 15.1 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The analysis highlights how worsening extreme heat is increasingly threatening the health, livelihoods, and overall wellbeing of fishing communities.

While the Philippine government has existing policies and programs that include heat as one of their triggers, the report finds that it lacks an overarching policy that addresses heat stress as a holistic phenomenon.

The report also notes that the country’s disaster response and climate financing policy architecture related to heat stress remains fragmented across sectors, limiting the government’s ability to respond effectively.

Critical gaps likewise persist in treating heat stress as a climate justice issue that requires coordinated, adequately funded responses.

The report also raises the important question of who should pay for the rising costs of heat-related loss and damage.

Currently, much of the financial burden still falls on the public and the Philippine government through growing, increasing the risk of worsening public debt, while allowing the world’s biggest climate polluters to evade accountability.

As the Philippines faces increasingly frequent and intense extreme heat driven by climate change, along with the effects of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, the report calls on the government to urgently:

Fulfill its obligations under the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the responsibility of states in respect of climate change. This includes the national government to urgently head the recently filed House Resolution 1074, developing a scientifically defined criteria for declaring a state of imminent disaster, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent a climate-lensed Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy Bill and CLIMA Bill to protect vulnerable sectors, with the latter aiming to make climate polluters pay.

Revamp sectoral integration mechanisms beyond ‘mainstreaming,’ toward integrated governance mechanisms for addressing extreme heat.

Recenter human rights and human wellbeing as the primary organizing principles in sectoral responses to heat stress.

Pursue climate finance grounded in justice and reparations to address heat stress, ensuring that those most responsible for the climate crisis bear the costs of climate impacts.

Comfort food has a funny way of crossing borders. Usually, it comes in the form of a dish you’ve grown up eating. Other times, it’s a familiar flavor tucked inside something entirely new. Thai and Filipino cuisines may have their own signatures, but both understand that the best meals are built on bold flavors, balanced tastes, and dishes meant to be shared around the table.

That shared love for comforting food is exactly what Greyhound Café Philippines explores with its new menu now available in all branches this July 2026. A Bangkok-born brand known for bringing a creative spin to traditional Thai fare, Greyhound reignites that spirit with their new menu featuring Thai flavors with a Filipino twist. Led by Executive Chef Aniwat Vadhanachai, better known as Chef Chay, the latest offerings reveal just how naturally the two cuisines complement each other.

‘Thai and Filipino cuisine share many similarities, from our love for bold flavors to dishes that bring people together,’ says Chef Chay. ‘With this menu, we wanted to celebrate those connections while staying true to the authenticity of Thai cooking.’

Familiar flavors

THE idea comes across best when the dishes lean into flavors that already feel familiar. Greyhound Cafe’s Beef Pares, for instance, draws inspiration from Thailand’s own Kai Palo, a slow-braised pork dish, but swaps in beef that’s braised for hours. You also have fried tofu and a hard-boiled egg, all simmered in a sweet-savory broth infused with Thai five-spice. It’s less sweet than the pares many Filipinos are used to, but fresh cilantro added a fragrant lift. When we had this, it was paired with their Bagoong Fried Rice, where crispy pork, bagoong, and a gentle kick of spice came together in every spoonful, and it’s the kind of combination that quietly convinces you to reach for another serving of rice.

That same familiar-but-different approach continues across the menu. The Ground Pork Omelette with Salted Egg is inspired by the Filipino Torta. Chef mentioned that it is fried in a pot instead of a pan, giving it an airy, almost soufflé-like texture before it’s finished with salted egg, crispy Thai basil, and served with Sriracha on the side. It almost feels like bibingka and torta had a Thai cousin. Meanwhile, the Fried Rice with Dried Beef took cues from tapsilog but replaced the usual beef with house-made dried beef that’s cured, dried like jerky, then fried for an addictive crunch. Instead of vinegar, it’s served with Thai fish sauce and chilies for a brighter finish.

Among my favorites was the Greyhound Café Seafood Spring Rolls. Filled with shrimp, squid, scallops, and asparagus, each roll is light and crisp, while the homemade Thai sweet chili sauce adds just enough sweetness, spice, and tang to let the seafood shine. And with each bite, the flavor evolves from a light seafood spring roll to something that feels like you can also easily hear the ocean waves if you close your eyes while eating. It was one of those appetizers that’s surprisingly easy to keep reaching for.

Reinterpretation of dishes

VEGETABLE dishes receive just as much attention. Chef Chay introduced his dish, Morning Glory, with Shrimp Paste, which reinterpreted ginisang kangkong sa bagoong using flash-fried morning glory with garlic and chili. It is reminiscent of Pak Bung Fai Daeng, a popular stir-fried morning glory dish in southern Thailand. The Sautéed Eggplant with Ground Pork follows a similar idea, pairing flash-fried eggplant with fragrant Thai basil, garlic, chili, and ground pork for a homey dish that echoes ginisang talong while carrying the unmistakable aroma of Thai basil.

Filipino celebrations wouldn’t quite be complete without crispy pata, and Greyhound’s version gives the classic a distinctly Thai personality. Marinated in Thai herbs before being broiled, the pork knuckle is dried for 24 hours and deep-fried for beautifully crisp skin and tender meat. Paired with rice, pickled vegetables, jaew sauce, and tamarind chili paste, every bite starts sweet before giving way to a lingering spicy kick, while the pickled vegetables keep the richness in check.

To end the meal, Greyhound’s Bua Loy offers a Thai take on the Filipino favorite ginataang bilo-bilo. Soft, chewy rice balls are filled with sweet potato and ube in others. It is served in mellow coconut milk with young coconut meat and sesame, creating a dessert that’s familiar and quietly nostalgic without trying too hard to imitate the local favorite. Easily another standout from the menu.

Perhaps that’s what makes Greyhound Café’s newest offerings feel less like fusion and more like familiarity. Instead of forcing two cuisines together, the menu simply reminds diners that Thai and Filipino cooking have always shared a love for bold flavors, generous portions, and meals meant to be enjoyed together. Available across Greyhound Café Philippines branches starting this July 2026, the new menu invites diners to rediscover familiar Filipino favorites through a distinctly Thai lens. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective to realize they were speaking the same language all along.

Medicinal plants have long been a cornerstone of Philippine traditional medicine, dating back generations.

‘Tawa-tawa,’ a low-growing herb that thrives in open grasslands, is a valued supplementary treatment for dengue; the gel of the succulent aloe vera can help soothe a scraped knee; boiled guava leaves help disinfect wounds; tea from the ‘yerba buena’ helps relieve minor aches and pains; and ‘ampalaya’ (bitter gourd) helps with managing diabetes.

These and many other medicinal plants have long been a part of the ‘albularyo’ (Filipino folk healer’s) toolkit, their value and use passed down through oral traditions. Rooted as they are in word of mouth, it’s a surprise to many that Filipino folk medicine is grounded in hard science.

The remedies are familiar. The chemistry behind them, less so.

Researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Chemistry and Health Sciences Program are ingeniously addressing this gap by bringing Filipino medical herbal traditions into the science classroom via the educational card game, ‘Herbularyo.’

Folk traditions backed by science

Inspired by Filipino albularyo traditions, the game incorporates familiar Filipino cultural concepts into its gameplay. Each player takes on the role of a traditional healer racing to cure illnesses using cards featuring medicinal herbs and their active compounds.

Special cards inspired by ‘binat’ (relapse), ‘sumpa’ (curse), and ‘himala’ (miracle) add strategy and reflect beliefs that are deeply embedded in Philippine folk healing traditions.

As the game progresses, players match herbs with illnesses and identify the organic compounds found in each plant.

In the process, the gameplay reinforces organic chemistry concepts through interaction rather than mere rote memorization.

All the plants featured in the game were drawn from the ‘Encyclopedia of Common Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Volume 3,’ a reference published through a project funded by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC).

The book documents medicinal plants commonly used in the Philippines, along with scientific evidence supporting their therapeutic properties. Ateneo chemists Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit and Dr. Rene Angelo Macahig served as editors of the volume, helping bridge traditional knowledge and modern scientific research.

Rethinking science education

In classroom testing with high school and college students, Herbularyo proved to be an effective learning tool. Kids who played the game showed significantly greater learning gains, and also described the experience as engaging and enjoyable.

Herbularyo makes chemistry feel less distant and more connected to everyday life. This was a deliberate choice by its makers.

‘We wanted to make a game that not only teaches organic chemistry and Filipino traditions, but also how these areas of knowledge can inform each other,’ said Herbularyo co-developer Maryjane Magsino.

‘We wanted to underscore the value of traditional Filipino medicine that has stood up to scientific testing yet is within easy reach practically in our own back yards,’ she added.

Indeed, herbal medicine continues to play an important role in traditional and alternative healthcare for many Filipinos, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where traditional remedies continue to complement conventional medicine.

Through Herbularyo, the researchers demonstrate that meaningful science education can begin with what students already know. Sometimes it begins with the plants growing in our backyards and the remedies in our spice rack.

By uncovering the chemistry behind familiar medicinal plants, the game not only makes organic chemistry more accessible but also encourages a new generation to see the value of the medicinal knowledge that has long been part of Filipino life, and hopefully makes supplementary and complementary medical remedies more accessible to all.

Maryjane T. Magsino, Inah Marie Q. Rivera, Armando M. Guidote Jr., and Genejane M. Adarlo published their research, ‘Herbularyo: A Card Game for Learning Organic Compounds of Medicinal Herbs and Their Therapeutic Benefits,’ in the May 2026 issue of the ‘Journal of Chemical Education.’