Category: Business Mirror

IT was supposed to be the best World Cup ever. Well, maybe it still is. One thing is for sure-the 2026 FIFA World Cup will go down as also one of the most controversial.

I have not seen a pair of countries quickly become the villains of the tournament.

Yes, there were questionable and controversial calls already, but the moment Donald Trump interfered and called up FIFA President Gianni Infantino to look into reversing the red card assessed to US star Faloran Balogun that cleared the way to his taking part of the US-Belgium knockout match, the event became one bloody mess.

The rest of the world sided with Belgium and if Trump had not already made the US a pariah of sorts, this interference in the World Cup certainly did.

And as much as I wanted the US to advance, it was just right that Belgium ousted them convincingly, 4-1.

That is where it got more interesting as calls for Argentina and England turned the tide for those two squads. However, none more so than Argentina who I deemed to be lucky in the group stages.

Let me clarify that. They were good but not sharp. Luckily for the Albiceleste, they faced competition that they should beat even with their eyes closed.

The knockout stages saw Argentina kick up its level of play especially in the final 10 minutes of the match. But the calls went their way against Algeria, Egypt and Spain. It was deemed that FIFA was favoring Argentina to give Lionel Messi a proper send off as the sport’s Greatest of All Time and because the ratings and ticket sales were tops when they took to the pitch.

However, Spain, like Belgium before them, saw the world rooting for them while jeering Argentina (and FIFA). And the way La Furia Roja won and dispatched Argentina with surgical precision, the latter were served a stinging lesson playing football the right way, with no help from FIFA or the game officials, and teamwork.

Incredibly, Argentina’s shocking heel turn did not end there. There was a fight post-match and during the trophy ceremony, they turned their back to the victorious Spanish side. That was the first time we have seen that in a match of this gigantic proportions and really tarnished Argentina’s image.

Man, all the more they were castigated and pilloried on television, online, social media and traditional media as a disgrace to the sport and their country.

Talk about a fall from grace! Not only did Argentina lose in its title defense, but its reputation is shot. And you have to go all the way back to Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ to know they have benefitted from egregious calls.

Argentina isn’t alone here. FIFA should be basking in the success of the World Cup, but it has done nothing to overhaul the perceived corruption at the top.

Norway filed a complaint to FIFA’s Ethics Committee about Trump’s interference. The meeting will be held on August 6. There are the matters of the supposedly biased calls and even Argentina flashing political statements post-semifinals match against England. How devastating were Egypt’s accusations that the match was rigged for Messi and company to win it all.

I saw this comment online post-finals: ‘No World Cup. No Malvinas. No class.’

Ouch.

Messi might be retiring from international football, but the rest of his teammates will still be there. It will be up to them to find their redemption on and off the pitch.

And that brings me to the song ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ that was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for the 1976 musical ‘Evita’ that is about the former Argentine First Lady Eva ‘Evita’ Peron.

The song was supposedly crafted in a way that had a double meaning-it was a confession about Evita’s rapid rise to power from humble beginnings that is ‘disguised as a triumph.’

Except this time, maybe they should really cry because a distasteful, painful and embarrassing defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

NLEX was playing like a well-oiled engine machine for the fourth straight time with guards Robert Bolick, Schonny Winston, and import DeQuan Jones outperforming their San Miguel Beer counterpart the rest of the way.

The Road Warriors, riding on Robert Bolick’s near triple-double performance, blasted the Beermen, 110-96, on Sunday to stay unbeaten after four games under rookie coach Jimmy Alapag in Season 50 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Bolick scattered 14 points, dished out 12 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds for the Road Warriors, who closed out halftime with a comfortable 64-46 lead to control the game even from the start up to the entire second half.

Jones delivered 27 points and collected 10 rebounds plus two blocks, while Schonny Winston delivered 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals, and Anthony Semerad posted 15 points – all from the three-point zone.

‘Our coach really wanted to emphasize to have more energy, and that is our goal today and we did it impressively in the first quarter bringing energy,’ Winston said.

Rob Herndon contributed 13 points also for NLEX.

San Miguel Beer was in striking distance, 92-84, with 7:31 left in the last period, but NLEX responded with a 7-0 run highlighted by Bolick’s four-point shot and Herndon’s trey that gave them a 99-84 advantage down to the last 6:23.

NLEX turned invincible from thereon.

‘Anytime you play San Miguel Beer with their championship experience, it is always a great test for a young team but I though we were very resilient in the second half, and we were able to get stops through our young guys and score when we needed to,’ NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag said.

‘Schonny and Robert’s aggressiveness set the tone early for the team,’ he added.

Import George King Jr. had 31 points and eight rebounds but tallied nine of SMB’s 18 turnovers while Don Trollano and nine-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo made 16 points and 15 points, respectively, for the Beermen who dropped to 3-1 win-loss card.

NLEX, which only had 13 turnovers, shot 13 triples against six of SMB

If a transgender man and transgender woman marry in church, wearing the attire of their original gender, but are to live together as ‘man and wife’ in reversed roles, isn’t that something that could breach Canon Law, or could set a precedent’?

That question arises in light of the recent wedding of a transgender man and a transgender woman in Dapitan City, officiated by a Catholic priest, who reportedly agreed to wed them if they dress up in their original biological gender, i.e., the trans man (originally female) wears the wedding gown, and vice versa.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Canon Law said the reported church wedding of a transgender man and a transgender woman in Dapitan City does not set a precedent, stressing that only a proper canonical process can determine whether a marriage is valid.

The CBCP Commission clarified that it has neither conducted nor been asked to conduct a canonical investigation into the wedding at Saint James the Greater Parish in Dapitan City.

Executive Secretary Rev. Msgr. Raul T. Go, on behalf of Commission Chairman Bishop Nolly C. Buco, said their response was limited to explaining the applicable principles of the Code of Canon Law, the primary legal code of the Catholic Church, rather than judging the validity of the marriage.

‘Such a determination belongs to the competent ecclesiastical authority after a careful examination of the relevant facts and circumstances,’ the Commission told the BusinessMirror.

Tisha Marie Amal, who publicly identifies as a transgender man, and Ronnie Enderez, who publicly identifies as a transgender woman, were married at the parish in what church officials described as the first such wedding in its history.

The Canon Law defines marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman, and requires both parties to possess the canonical capacity to marry and freely exchange valid matrimonial consent.

The Catholic Church does not allow same-sex marriage.

Still, the Commission said publicly identifying as transgender does not, by itself, create a canonical impediment to marriage.

‘The Code of Canon Law does not establish a specific impediment merely because a person publicly identifies as transgender,’ it said.

‘If, in fact, the parties are a biological man and a biological woman, the requirement that marriage be between a man and a woman is, at least, prima facie satisfied,’ it said.

Rather than focusing on a person’s public self-identification, the Commission said the Catholic Church’s law examines whether either party has the legal capacity to contract marriage and assume its essential obligations.

It said questions involving a person’s capacity cannot be settled through media reports alone but requires evidence and, when appropriate, the assistance of qualified psychological or psychiatric experts.

The Commission also rejected the view that the Dapitan City wedding could serve as a precedent for similar marriages.

‘Unlike some civil legal systems, the Canon Law does not treat the celebration of one marriage as creating a binding precedent for future cases,’ the Commission said.

Instead, each proposed marriage is evaluated individually under the universal law of the Church and according to the circumstances of the parties involved.

While the Canon Law already provides the Church’s legal framework on marriage, the Commission said any future pastoral guidance would only help pastors apply existing norms consistently and ‘would not alter the Church’s doctrine on marriage.’

The Marcos administration has expanded housing production and financing since taking office, but economists said the government will need to significantly accelerate housing delivery over the next two years if it hopes to make a meaningful dent in the country’s housing shortage.

Data obtained by the BusinessMirror from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) showed the government had produced or financed 575,693 housing units from July 2022 to June 2026.

The figure represents almost 51 percent of the administration’s recalibrated target of 1.13 million housing units by the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term.

Of the total, 81,295 units were delivered through direct housing provision, 368,731 were assisted through government financing programs, while 125,667 units were produced under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

While the government’s accomplishments point to measurable progress in expanding housing supply and financing, Ateneo de Manila University economist Ser K. Peña-Reyes said the pace remains insufficient to substantially reduce the country’s housing shortage.

‘The housing gap remains very large, and significantly higher annual production, together with faster project completion and stronger private-sector participation, will be needed if the government hopes to substantially reduce the backlog within the next several years,’ Peña-Reyes told this newspaper.

Earlier this year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revised the country’s estimated housing need for 2023 to 2028 to 3.7 million housing units, down from the previous estimate of 6.5 million, following the adoption of a new methodology.

Unlike the earlier estimate, the revised methodology distinguishes the country’s housing backlog from its broader housing need. Aside from the existing shortage of homes, the estimate also accounts for projected household formation, housing damaged by disasters, and homes requiring repairs.

Peña-Reyes said the revised estimate should not be interpreted as evidence that the country’s housing problem has dramatically improved.

‘The housing backlog of 3.7 million units through 2028 is an estimate of unmet housing need after accounting for new household formation and other demographic factors, making it a moving target rather than a fixed stock,’ he said.

Based on the government’s reported accomplishments, Peña-Reyes estimated that housing production and financing have averaged roughly 140,000 to 145,000 units annually since July 2022.

While this represents steady progress, he said substantially higher annual output would be needed if the administration hopes to significantly narrow the country’s housing shortage before the end of its term.

Beyond building homes

Even as the government continues to increase housing supply, newly appointed Congress liaison and economist Jose Ma. Clemente ‘Joey’ Salceda said the next phase of the administration’s housing agenda should focus on making homeownership more attainable for Filipino families.

In an online commentary, Salceda said the government has already laid much of the groundwork through the expanded 4PH Program, which now covers not only vertical housing projects but also horizontal developments, lot-only projects, community mortgage arrangements, and rental housing.

‘The first phase of the housing agenda was about producing houses. The next phase should be about producing homebuyers,’ he said.

Salceda said expanding homeownership would allow more Filipino families to build assets and strengthen their long-term financial security.

Salceda proposed simplifying access to housing finance through a unified application system that will cover Pag-IBIG Fund, the Social Security System (SSS), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), government financial institutions, and accredited private lenders.

He also proposed allowing lenders to consider broader sources of household income, including earnings from spouses, overseas workers, small businesses, and digital work when evaluating borrowers’ repayment capacity.

Other recommendations include allowing qualified first-time homebuyers to temporarily use their Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) savings for down payments, strengthening the secondary mortgage market, expanding financing for pre-owned homes and housing repairs, and providing targeted support to borrowers who can afford monthly amortizations but lack sufficient funds for a down payment.

‘Projects should be measured not only by the number of units completed, but also by occupancy, repayment, travel time, access to services, and the growth of household assets,’ Salceda also said.

Rising risks

However, sustaining or accelerating housing production and financing may become more difficult as developers and the government contend with rising construction costs and global uncertainties.

DHSUD had earlier acknowledged that higher labor costs and geopolitical developments could eventually affect housing prices, although the agency said it is maintaining its housing targets.

Labor accounts for about 30 percent of total housing development costs, meaning wage increases could eventually push up housing prices.

Yap also said tensions in the Middle East could increase transportation and logistics costs, although the extent of the impact would depend on how developers respond to the situation.

Peña-Reyes said the risks extend beyond labor costs. He said higher prices of cement, steel and other construction materials, coupled with rising wages, could increase housing production costs and delay project implementation.

A prolonged conflict in the Middle East could also push global oil prices higher, increasing transportation, logistics and financing costs across the housing sector.

‘The greatest threat to the government’s housing targets is probably not a lack of demand but the interaction of rising costs and implementation bottlenecks,’ Peña-Reyes said.

To help cushion the impact of higher costs on homebuyers, DHSUD said the Pag-IBIG Fund continues to offer subsidized interest rates of 3 percent for socialized housing loans and 4.5 percent for low-cost and economic housing loans.

The state-run fund has also increased the maximum housing loan amount to P10 million.

The agency added that Filipinos affected by the Middle East crisis may also avail themselves of housing loan moratoriums and calamity loan assistance.

Despite these measures, Peña-Reyes said the outlook remains highly dependent on global developments.

‘If another major oil price shock or prolonged geopolitical disruption occurs, the government will likely have to either allocate more resources to housing or accept that fewer units can be delivered within the same budget,’ Peña-Reyes said.

I LEFT off last week’s article with the first round of The Open Championship in the books. Jackson Suber was in the lead, followed by a host of players. Day 2 saw a better round for crowd favourite Rory McIlroy. He followed up his first round +2 with a -3 day two to get to red numbers.

The second day however belonged to two players-Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns. Both proved that great play makes it possible to shoot record scores, with the two scoring -8 62s.

Bryson DeChambeau played another solid round to back-up his opening 67 with another under par round of 66. He finished the second round just shy of the lead…until he was informed of a penalty he was being assessed.

Bryson being Bryson, he wasn’t letting this go without a fight and a whole lot of drama. The penalty stems from his perceived improvement of his lie when his ball went into the deep stuff at hole 5.

While looking at his lie and building a stance, he was deemed to have improved his lie when he trampled on tall grass behind his ball. This improved his swing path, ‘moving’ the tall grass which would have been a hindrance to making a normal backswing. Opinions are mixed but a ruling was made and Bryson really had no choice.

Day 3

ON moving day, it was New Zealand’s Ryan Fox who came out firing. He recorded his own record-tying 62 and shot up the leaderboard. Local darling Tommy Fleetwood plays another solid round and gets near the lead. Sam Burns takes outright lead with steady play, going 4-under in the front nine.

It seems like each day, someone can go low. This shows the depth of the fields in professional golf nowadays. Consistency separates top players from rest but talent-wise, no one is dominating. As a result, everyone knows that with four good rounds, anyone has a chance to win. Gone are the days when top dogs can intimidate whole fields.

Final round

SAM BURNS started at -10, two shots clear of Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim. The chasing pack made moves early, led by Cam Young shooting a 5-under 29 on Royal Birkdale’s opening nine. As in previous rounds, the course played tough but scoreable. There were a number of record 62s, with frontrunners Burns and Fox both recording their own 62s in previous rounds.

In my opinion, links golf is how the game was really meant to be played. Great rounds are rewarded, while sloppy play gets penalized. The course plays difficult but low scores can still be had. Unlike some US Opens where growing the rough and baking out greens ’til they’re rock hard is supposed to be a source of pride for being the ‘toughest test,’ Open Championships are fairer tests where birdies can be made as are doubles and triples.

I also like how the RandA keeps courses looking natural-brown when dry, green when it’s been raining before Open week. While the perfectly manicured surroundings of Augusta National is great on TV, we all know it’s artificial, like an airbrushed, edited, touched-up version of a golf course. Au naturel Open venues are a refreshing break from picture perfect courses.

But going back to the golf, I think the most difficult thing in golf is keeping a lead. The mentality shifts from trying to score low to managing your round. Instead of attacking, leaders often get defensive, playing ‘commercial’ shots, settling for pars. Sam Burns isn’t new to being in the driver’s seat on the final day of a major.

At the 2025 US Open, he was leading until a bad break and and even worse call from officials caused his round to unravel and gave way to JJ Spaun. This time with the lead at Royal Birkdale, he started with a steady par at the first and a tidy birdie at the second. A good start. But just after back-to-back bogeys on 4 and 5, Burns finds himself not only caught, but replaced by Korean Si Woo Kim at the top.

By the home 9, it was Si Woo Kim on top at 10-under. Just a shot back and at the clubhouse was Cam Young after a 64 even with an unfortunate bogey on his 72nd hole. At another major venue, sitting at the clubhouse one shot back would mean the end of the week. But crazier things have happened at majors and bogeys and worse are scattered all over Royal Birkdale.

As it turned out, that was exactly what happened. After Cameron Young completed his round, Si Woo Kim slowly made mistakes one after the other and lost the lead, and then some. Sam Burns’ efforts just wouldn’t get repaid. Burns wasn’t hitting terrible shots. But his body language didn’t convey confidence or willingness to claw back. He looked dejected most of the day. He would have chances but just couldn’t seem to get over losing the lead early.

Ryan Fox, the gritty Kiwi was the only one left to mount a charge. Fox isn’t one to back down and it showed. After narrowly missing the green on the par 3 14th, his ball ended up by the wall of the greenside pot bunker. With no stance and swing, he had to play sideways and back. With nerves of steel, he managed to save bogey and promptly birdied the 16th to get the lost shot back.

On the par five 17th, tied for the lead, he again had a terrible break when his lay-up iron off the tee again trickled into a fairway bunker preventing him to go for the green. But he still had a makeable birdie that just slipped by. Needing a birdie on the last to win or at least a par to force a playoff, Fox threaded his drive down the narrow landing area and had a great chance to stick his approach shot close.

Burns, just one back of clubhouse leader Cam Young, could still catch him with a birdie at the last. He also made a good drive at the last hole and had a chance to join Young at -9.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

RYAN FOX, the 39 year-old New Zealander, is no stranger to gritty wins all over the world. Even though he’s a latecomer to the PGA Tour, he quickly proved that he belongs by winning at the highest level.

He’s won The BMW at Wentworth, Europe’s top tournament, as well as The Alfred Dunhill Links. On the PGA Tour, he won at Myrtle Beach in 2025 and again at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, both in playoffs.

At last week’s Open Championship, needing a birdie at the last hole to win, Fox never looked flustered. He maintained his quick playing style, as if immune to the magnitude of the occasion. He hit his approach right on line, around 12 feet short.

Without any drama, he lined up his putt and hit the winning stroke, as if he was just practicing at his home club. The putt had the perfect line and just enough legs to reach the hole. And just like that, Ryan Fox wins The Open Championship, only the second one for New Zealand.

With Fox’s win, the 2026 golf majors come to a close. In order, 2026 majors were won by Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, Wyndham Clark, and Ryan Fox.

Milkfish fry manual counting in local hatcheries is labor-intensive, inaccurate, inefficient, and consume long hours.

To improve the fry counting process, the M-eye Fry Counter, a technology utilizing machine vision and automation, is being developed through a project being implemented by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-MIRDC).

Although the project is still in the research and development (RandD) phase, the team has designed and developed a working prototype and has already achieved significant accomplishments in providing a non-invasive, highly-accurate, faster, and cost-effective solution for counting milkfish fry.

Every year, the Philippines requires approximately 5 billion milkfish fry.

However, the project noted that existing manual counting methods remain labor-intensive and have limited operational efficiency and technological advancement in hatchery operations.

Imported fry-counting technologies are available, but they are often expensive and lack local technical support.

To address these challenges, DOST-MIRDC is implementing the project, ‘M-Eye Fry Counter: An Innovative Machine Vision-based Precision Fry Counting Solution to Streamline Milkfish Fry Distribution.’

Funded by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), the project aims to design and develop a machine vision-based milkfish fry counter that will help streamline hatchery operations and improve counting accuracy.

The project has reported significant progress in the development and testing of the automated fry counting system. Through different series of testing, the prototype has achieved an accuracy rate of over 95 percent.

However, further refinements are still ongoing to achieve a better level of accuracy.

The project team said that accuracy evaluations were based on comparisons with manual counting methods, which can often result in errors that can affect the baseline reference used in evaluating system performance.

One of the key improvements observed in the updated versions of the system is the significant reduction in counting time, which demonstrates the M-Eye Fry Counter’s potential to enhance efficiency compared with traditional manual counting methods.

To further validate the reliability of the technology, additional stress tests and experimental trials will be conducted for its field testing.

The team is also exploring opportunities to reduce production costs, particularly through local fabrication and bulk manufacturing.

Despite these developments, the project still remains in the RandD stage. Further field validation across various milkfish-producing areas in the country is necessary to ensure the technology’s effectiveness, reliability, and adaptability under different hatchery conditions.

In line with its objective of automating fry counting, the project team emphasized that the technology is not intended to displace laborers.

Instead, it is expected to enhance operational efficiency by allowing farm workers and operators to focus on other essential hatchery and farm management tasks.

Suddenly, the 1990s are in vogue and making a comeback. Music especially. And the Philippines isn’t lagging behind the return of Oasis, Pulp, and Deftones, among others. The Eraserheads, Wolfgang, and Teeth, to name but a few, have made huge splashes in their return.

And there, too, are those bands from the 90s that, after doing their club circuit, have released their debut albums after some 30 years.

In recent years, we saw shoegaze band Sonnet 58 put out their debut album, Crossing Oceans. And early this 2026, New Wavers Crimson Daze have released their album Burning Cold to celebrate the band’s 30thAnniversary.

The original four-piece band – Jon Malamug on vocals and guitar, Ryan Nachura on guitar and vocals, Raymund Marcelo on bass and vocals, and Nikko Go on drums – played the club circuit (Brannigan’s in Greenhills and Asylum along West Avenue among others) with a mixture of original pieces and New Wave covers.

However, in one of life’s many twists and turns, Marcelo migrated to the United States while Nachura went to Canada, and the band was no more. At least they thought so until 2025, when Marcelo and Jane Vega founded Common Denominator, Inc. (CDI), which was built around the idea of supporting music, culture, and creative communities.

‘Our initial project was Record Rampage, a vinyl and live performance event that we held in Megamall last year,’ related Marcelo.

Among the bands that performed were the Republicats, Karilyo, Sonorik Order, and, in what was supposed to be a one-off reunion, Crimson Daze.

‘But the reunion sparked something in the band as we were well-received,’ shared Marcelo. ‘It is because of that reception and us seeing the growth of vinyl once more in the Philippines that we decided to put out our old songs.’

CDI provided the platform, support, resources, and production to fully realize the old songs and finish old unused ones into an album.’

The old tracks, recorded at Shinji Tanaka’s Sound Creation Studios back in 2005, were pulled out. With the Republicats’ Renmin Nadela producing, the old songs were polished and the new tracks finished at Polysonic Studio last year.

Burning Cold, with its nine tracks under the CDI label, was pressed in the US and released this past January. Despite a limited run of 200 copies, the album has almost sold out.

‘I think that further gave us belief that Crimson Daze has a second life,’ pointed out Marcelo.

The current line-up seems familiar and yet different. The original quartet remain but have added two new members in Melvin Sotto on keyboards and Allan Figueroa on guitars.

And there are plans for more new material and new shows.

‘Sometimes, songs take years to be completed with opportunities arriving later than expected,’ summed up Marcelo. ‘And sometimes, all it takes is one person or a company like CDI to believe in us and bring those songs to life.’

Copies of Crimson Daze’s Burning Cold can be purchased through the Facebook pages of Raymund Marcelo and Jane Vega.

DEFENDING champion Team North heads into the 2026 International Container Terminal Services Inc. Elite Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Finals expects a far tougher challenge from a South squad playing on its home course when the Ryder Cup-style championship unfolds August 17 to 20 at Pueblo Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City.

The event, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and which serves as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) counting tournament, brings together the top 48 junior golfers from the six-leg Luzon (North) and Visayas-Mindanao (South) series in a battle for regional supremacy.

North claimed a convincing 26 1/2-21 1/2 victory in last year’s inaugural edition at The Country Club in Canlubang after dominating the opening two team formats before finishing the job in singles.

That reinforced the importance of making a fast start, particularly in the Four-ball and Foursomes sessions where momentum can quickly swing an entire match.

This year, however, Team South hopes a familiar Pueblo layout and a roster of talented local standouts will help reverse last year’s result and make the title race considerably tighter.

The youngest competitors are expected to ignite the tournament as North’s Winter Serapio, Jaicee Cervantes, Andrea Dee and Jehanne Mendoza square off against South’s Soleil Molde, Ana Marie Aguilar, Vanya Go and Akeisha Yocte in the girls’ 7-10 category.

The boys’ division promises just as much excitement with South’s Ethan Lago, Stephen Clementer, Lucas Revilleza and Darren Ong taking on North’s Zach Guicio, Zoji Edoc, Kenzo Tan and Kingston Ching.

Another closely contested battle looms in the girls’ 11-14 category, where North’s Cailey Gonzales, Georgina Handog, Mavis Espedido and Quincy Pilac face South’s Marqaela Dy, Brittany Tamayo, Rafella Batican and Zuri Bagaloyos.

The boys’ 11-14 class likewise features some of the country’s brightest young prospects, with North banking on Chan Ahn, Vito Sarines, Javie Bautista and Jacob Casuga against South’s Ken Guillermo, Jared Saban, Ralph Batican and Mico Woo.

Focus will also center on the premier girls’ 15-18 division, where South’s Tashanah Balangauan, Precious Zaragosa, Apple Gotiong and Lois Lane Go seek to outplay North’s Lisa Sarines, Rafa Anciano, Mona Sarines and Kendra Garingalao.

The marquee boys’ division is expected to produce some of the tournament’s most compelling matches as North’s Shinichi Suzuki, Jakob Taruc, Nathan Belandres and Santi Asuncion battle South’s Alexis Nailga, Sebastian Sajuelas, Clement Ordeneza and Roman Tiongko.

For many Filipinos, Switzerland is synonymous with the Alps, luxury watches and world-famous chocolates. But for the Swiss, few dishes capture the country’s spirit quite like cheese fondue, a simple meal that brings people together around a shared pot of melted cheese.

That tradition took center stage at the 1st SwissCham Fondue and Quiz Night, held at Chesa Bianca Swiss Restaurant in Makati, where guests enjoyed an evening that celebrated one of Switzerland’s most beloved culinary customs through authentic food, shared dining, and warm hospitality.

The evening opened with a taste of classic Swiss hors d’oeuvres. Guests were served Chäschechli, a savory cheese quiche, and Schinkengipfeli, buttery ham croissants that are staples at cocktail gatherings in Swiss homes, alongside smoked salmon crostini.

Introduction to Swiss heritage

The meal continued with the Chesa Bianca platter featuring traditional air-dried beef, ham, dried sausage, Swiss marinated salad and wurzel bread-a hearty introduction to the country’s rich culinary heritage.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the Fondue Moitié-Moitié, the iconic Swiss cheese fondue made from equal parts Gruyère and Vacherin cheeses.

‘The name means ‘half-half’ in French,’ explained Hans-Christian Baumann, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland. ‘It’s half Gruyère and half Vacherin cheese. The Vacherin gives the fondue its creamy texture, and together they create what is probably the most popular fondue in Switzerland.’

Communal meal

WHILE fondue has become one of Switzerland’s best-known culinary exports, its appeal extends beyond its rich, velvety flavor. It is, above all, a communal meal.

A pot of gently heated cheese is placed at the center of the table, where diners gather with long forks to dip cubes of bread or baby potatoes into the bubbling mixture. Unlike courses that are plated individually, fondue encourages conversation, lingering over dinner and enjoying the company around the table.

‘It’s really a great moment of sharing,’ Baumann said. ‘People gather around the table, continue eating even after they’re full, and simply enjoy each other’s company.’

His wife, Livia Meisser, who also serves as Deputy Head of Mission in a job-sharing arrangement, echoed the sentiment.

‘Sharing a meal, especially a fondue, is an experience that bonds people together,’ she said.

Hearty fare

Swiss cooking is known for its hearty fare, artisanal cheeses, cured meats and freshly baked breads. Cheese, in particular, occupies a special place in Swiss gastronomy. Switzerland produces hundreds of varieties, many of them protected by tradition and regional identity. Among the most celebrated are Gruyère, Appenzeller, Emmental and Vacherin, each prized for its unique flavor and craftsmanship.

According to Baumann, authentic Swiss cheese begins with quality ingredients.

‘The milk comes from local farmers in the Swiss Alps,’ he said. ‘It’s only considered proper Swiss cheese when it’s made from local Swiss produce.’

The evening concluded on a sweet note with a Swiss dessert sampler featuring Grand Cru Maracaibo chocolate mousse and apple fritters with vanilla sauce. Baumann noted that a chocolate dessert really is the perfect finishing touch to a Swiss meal, while Meisser shared that apple fritters are a traditional and still popular comfort food in Switzerland.

For Felix Fiechter, chairman of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, fondue was the natural choice for the gathering because it is the Swiss dish that people around the world recognize most readily.

‘Fondue is really the one that everybody knows,’ he said. ‘It’s the perfect place to start.’

He added that Switzerland has many other traditional dishes that deserve to be discovered, but fondue remains the perfect introduction-not only to Swiss cuisine but also to the country’s culture of sharing meals and enjoying good company.

Filipino comfort food often draws its appeal from familiarity. At Rekdi in Poblacion, Makati, those well-loved flavors remain at the heart of the menu, but they are reworked using live-fire cooking and unexpected pairings that bring new dimensions to classic dishes.

That balance between tradition and reinvention is reflected in the restaurant itself.

My two friends and I took our seats on Rekdi’s third floor, where the izakaya-style dining room is built around an open grill. Throughout the evening, the chef worked over glowing coals within view of the diners, making the preparation as much a part of the experience as the food itself.

The aroma of charcoal and meat slowly caramelizing over the grill lingered in the dining room. It mingled with the hum of conversation and a mellow playlist, setting the tone for an evening centered on Filipino comfort food with subtle yet thoughtful reinterpretations.

Modern karinderya

REKDI is filmmaker Erik Matti’s take on the modern karinderya. The restaurant’s name is a play on ‘direk,’ the Filipino nickname for a director, spelled backward. Opened in February this year, the three-story restaurant houses a bar on the ground floor, a dining area on the second, and the open grilling kitchen on the third floor.

The menu follows the same philosophy.

Grilled dishes take center stage, built on butter, chicken oil, lard, and tallow instead of olive oil. Paired with rice, noodles, or bread, they are designed for sharing, encouraging diners to order across the menu and build the meal together.

We started with the Rekdi BBQ, the restaurant’s signature dish.

Two hefty skewers of pork and beef belly arrived with lightly charred edges, glazed in a sweet-and-savory barbecue sauce. The meat was tender, carrying just enough smokiness from the grill without overpowering its richness.

THE accompaniments gave the dish its distinct character. An anchovy, mushroom, and caper crumble added bursts of saltiness and earthy umami, while the kansi onion broth underneath brought a gentle tang that reminded me of my mom’s sinigang. Torched fontal cheese tied everything together with a creamy finish.

The dish stayed true to the essence of Filipino barbecue, yet each component subtly reshaped what I expected from a classic skewer.

Lighter contrast

NEXT came the Honey Ginger Miso Blue Marlin, which offered a lighter contrast to the richness of the barbecue.

The fish remained moist beneath a glaze in which honey softened the fermented depth of the miso, while ginger added warmth without taking over the dish. Rather than masking the blue marlin, the glaze complemented its clean, meaty flavor.

A crisp carrot, squash, and kamote rosti okoy accompanied the fish, resting over a curried carrot-squash purée. The gentle sweetness of the vegetables balanced the savory notes of the fish.

We paired both mains with the Butter Fried Rice.

Savory richness

COOKED generously in butter and topped with salted fish, mushrooms, and crumbled uga, the fried rice carried the kind of savory richness that made it satisfying even on its own. The mushrooms contributed earthy notes, while the salted fish and dried uga added bursts of salinity and crunch. More than a side dish, it connected the smoky barbecue and the blue marlin, absorbing their sauces and bringing the meal together.

The same balance of nostalgia and experimentation carried into dessert.

The Grilled Brown Butter Cake was warmed over charcoal before being served with a kesong puti cream sauce and batwan-raspberry jam. The slight smokiness complemented the nutty flavor of the browned butter, while the tartness of the jam kept the dessert from becoming overly rich.

But the Rekdissert lingered with me the longest.

Made with toasted mung beans using the French riz au lait technique, the dessert immediately reminded me of champorado because of its bittersweet chocolate mousse.

BUT after a few spoonfuls, another memory surfaced. It brought to mind my grandmother’s comforting ginataang monggo-not because it tasted exactly the same, but because the toasted mung beans carried the same warmth I associated with childhood meals. The candied dilis crisp sounded unconventional on paper, yet its sweet-and-salty crunch added another layer of texture that unexpectedly worked.

To end the evening, we shared the Coconut Ice Cream, served with pineapple, lemongrass and ginger compote, coconut macaroon, torched Swiss meringue, and Parmesan crumble. Light and refreshing, it provided a welcome contrast after dishes shaped by smoke, butter, and deep umami.

What stayed with me, however, was not just the food but the way Rekdi approached it. The open grill is more than a visual centerpiece; it shapes the flavor of nearly every dish that leaves the kitchen. Smoke is present throughout the menu, but never to the point of masking the ingredients. Instead, it quietly ties together Filipino classics while introducing thoughtful, sometimes unexpected, elements.

As my friends and I made our way downstairs, the faint scent of charcoal lingered on our clothes. It felt like a fitting reminder of the evening. Rekdi doesn’t reinvent Filipino comfort food as much as it invites diners to see it from a different perspective.

Through careful grilling, thoughtful pairings, and a clear respect for tradition, the evening became less about discovering something entirely new than seeing well-loved Filipino dishes in a new light.

Rekdi is located at 5713 Pagulayan, Poblacion, Makati City, 1210 Metro Manila. Opens Tues to Sun: 6PM – 1AM (Closed Mondays). For events and reservations, DM their Instagram page.