Category: Business Mirror

UNDEFEATED University of Santo Tomas (UST) and College of Saint Benilde (CSB) set up a championship clash after sweeping their respective rivals in the knockout semifinals of the Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Golden Tigresses bagged their sixth straight win in as many games after a quick work of Letran, 25-10, 25-19, 25-12, for a breakthrough finals appearance, while the Lady Blazers crushed Australian guest team Southern Storm Melbourne, 25-19, 25-23, 25-11.

The winner-take-all championship is slated Sunday at the Playtime FilOil Arena in San Juan.

Camila Bartolome paced the Lady Blazers, who also beat the Australians in their elimination round meeting last Thursday in four sets, with 14 points on 12 kills, one ace and one kill block.

‘I think our composure led us to the victory…even though our coaches are mad at us, we still kept out poise,’ Bartolome said.

Fionna Inocentes finished with 11 points while Mhonniecka Soliven and Mary Grace Borromeo added eight and seven points each for CSB.

Team captain Regina Jurado smashed 11 of her 12 points on attacks and added three digs to lead the UST, which hammered the Lady Knights with 32 kills.

‘I don’t give in to the pressure of being the team captain,’ Jurado said. ‘I can play my game freely with the team.’

Marga Altea led UST’s block party as the Golden Tigresses scored 11 kill blocks to frustrate Letran.

Altea had four kill blocks to go with nine kills to finish with 13 points while Poyos scored 10 in the penultimate playdate of the tournament.

The Tigresses uncorked a 9-2 blast to turn a slim 11-8 lead in the third set into a 20-10 advantage with Jurado scoring off a kill to give UST a 22-11 lead.

Leonilyn Padilla answered for Letran before the Tigresses scored the match’s closing three points capped by the Lady Knights’ last of 27 errors.

No Letran player reached double-figure scoring with main gunner Verenicce Colendra limited to only seven points.

Reeza Abayon added five for the Lady Knights, who will try to salvage a podium finish on Sunday erun Colleges swept Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19, to finish fifth.

Jasmine Salvani led Enderun’s assault by pounding 10 kills and landing five aces in a 15-point outing while Althea Botor added 13 points on 13 spikes and two aces.

Fatima Medina scored eight for the Lady Titans, who punished Ho Chi Minh City’s spotty service reception with 10 aces.

Le Thi Diem Phuong was the lone Vietnamese in double figures with 16 points as Ho Chi Minh City dropped all of its six outings.

Lightning rallies are part of a longstanding tradition across the University of the Philippines (UP) System where graduating students and student leaders raise sectoral and national issues during commencement exercises.

They take the stage with unannounced or scheduled protests to spontaneously unfurl banners with inscriptions like ‘Serve the People’ while chanting ‘Iskolar ng Bayan, Ngayon ay Lumalaban,’ wear political messages on their traditional sablay, and deliver speeches on social justice, human rights, and other socio-economic issues.

This tradition aims to collectively raise issues that matter to them and amplify calls as they receive their diplomas-a reminder that the honor and excellence they carry beyond the university are inseparable from service to the people.

Following the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, student activists realized conventional, prolonged protests were easily crushed by the state. The ‘lightning rally’-swift, unexpected, and punchy demonstrations-was adopted as an effective tactic to evade arrests and capture public attention without giving authorities time to disperse them.

UP is known globally as a university system that fosters the ideals of academic excellence, freedom and human rights, nationalism and development, and progressive thinking, hence its campuses, are also famous for being centers of student activism and dissent.

The culture of activism in UP has largely been shaped by the student and people’s movements that challenged the prevailing social order and influenced historical events since UP’s establishment in 1908.

‘The struggle for freedom is the next best thing to actually being free,’ a popular line from the late UP student leader Lean Alejandro who became a key figure in the national anti-dictatorship movement.

Comments on social media videos of lighting rallies during the graduation ceremonies were peppered with familiar lines: ‘Corned beef,’ ‘NPA’ ‘Mamundok na kayo’ often accompanied by laugh reactions or graphic commentary.

The term ‘corned beef’ is used in social media to describe the bodies of suspected rebels killed in the armed encounters.

Two UP students (Alyssa Alano and Maureen Keil Santuyo) were among the 19 civilian casualties during the military operation in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19, 2026.

The term is a form of ‘dark slang’ that refers to the reddish, shredded, or mutilated appearance of severely damaged human remains, which some claim resembles canned corned beef.

Reducing a person to a ‘processed and disposable’ food item, ‘corned beef’ is often used by pro-military or anti-insurgency users on platforms to mock the fallen alleged rebels by stripping away their humanity.

It is not just a descriptor but a tool of psychological warfare used to dehumanize dissenters and desensitize the public by turning violent scenes into internet memes or jokes.

State-prepared scripts of vicious language are propagated, mostly by trolls, to drown out progressive voices and ensure that the public perceives activists as legitimate targets.

Dehumanizing words become normalized through a gradual process in which language that strips individuals or groups of their human qualities is repeated, accepted, and integrated into everyday discourse.

Activists are often framed as

threats to social order-‘trouble-makers,’ ‘anti-development,’ or ‘enemies of peace.’

‘Corned beef’ is also linked with long-running state counterinsurgency disinformation narratives of red-tagging UP as a breeding ground for communists, downplaying UP’s role as a stronghold of academic freedom and independence.

Red-tagging, also known as red-baiting, is a pernicious practice as part of the government’s counterinsurgency efforts that targets individuals or organizations critical or not fully supportive of the actions of a sitting administration by publicly accusing them as either communists or terrorists or both, regardless of their actual political beliefs or affiliations.

The Supreme Court stated in Deduro v. Maj. Gen. Vinoya (G.R. No. 254753, July 4, 2023) that ‘red-tagging is a threat to people’s life, liberty, and security.’

‘Red tagging is used by the military and paramilitary units to silence or cause untold human rights abuses on vocal dissenters,’ said my UP Law professor and SC Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

No UP student is limited to lessons learned within the classroom.

UP said in a statement that the institution ‘stand by the right of all students to lawfully and peacefully exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms, especially in furtherance of raising their social consciousness. The University shall remain a beacon of critical thinking, conscience, and courage.’

Lightning rallies remind graduating students of their transition from students to professionals to still be committed to serving the people.

Every graduating class faces a different political, economic, and social landscape.

As long as these issues persist, the students will continue using commencement ceremonies to express solidarity with different sectors.

Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786.

There was a stretch Sunday morning when New York Nitro looked like a team about to lose its own party. By late afternoon, they’d turned it into the best weekend they’ve had all season.

Palm Beach Passion left Central Park unbeaten, 4-0, the only team to sweep the stop. Austin Aces got one win. San Diego Smash got none. But Nitro’s 3-1 finish, on their own sand, made the day feel like it belonged to somebody.

Saturday didn’t happen. Thunderstorms rolled through, then wind, then flood warnings, and AVP scrapped the entire day and jammed both sessions into Sunday. So instead of a two-day rollout, everybody showed up to a compressed, eight-match sprint that started at 8 a.m. and didn’t let up until late afternoon. For the home team, that reset turned out to matter more than anyone expected.

Nitro’s women were up first, and for one set, it looked like a statement was coming. Toni Rodriguez and Molly Shaw took the opener 15-13 and had the crowd believing. Then Taryn Brasher and Kristen Nuss did what good teams do: they adjusted. A different serve, a tighter block, and suddenly New York couldn’t buy a point. Austin took the next two sets, 15-8 and 15-12, and Nuss – who’s made a career out of reading hitters and keeping her touches clean since her LSU days – closed it out without much drama. It was the only match Austin would win all day, but it landed right on New York’s home floor. (Troi Santos)

An hour later, it was the men’s turn to answer for the morning. Chaim Schalk and James Shaw dropped the first set 10-15 to Austin’s Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox, and for a few minutes it looked like a repeat performance was brewing. It wasn’t. Schalk – a Rio Olympian for Canada – and Shaw started serving into different zones, tightened up at the net, and simply talked more between points. Small stuff. It worked. They won the next two sets 15-11, 15-11, and the whole sequence had the feel of two guys diagnosing a problem mid-match and fixing it before it cost them.

Nobody had a rougher day than San Diego. Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson opened against Megan Rice and Geena Urango and never let them breathe, closing it out 15-4, 15-12. Trevor Crabb and Phil Dalhausser did the same to Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, 15-11, 15-12, with Dalhausser’s block forcing San Diego into lanes they couldn’t hit.

By the afternoon, Palm Beach was just running the table. Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson beat Brasher and Nuss again, 15-13, 15-11. Crabb and Dalhausser beat Field and Wilcox, 15-9, 15-12. Four matches, four wins, with little drama in any of them.

New York finished the way you hope a home date finishes. Rodriguez and Shaw beat Rice and Urango 15-10, 15-8 in the afternoon, clean and unhurried. Schalk and Shaw followed with a tighter match against Budinger and Evans – 15-13 in the first, then 15-9 once their serve and block started stacking points. By the end, Nitro looked like a team that had settled into the day rather than survived it, closing out Central Park 3-1, second only to Palm Beach’s perfect run.

Austin’s win over the Nitro women is worth remembering – it’s proof that group can play at a high level when their first touch is on. The question now is whether they can maintain that level for four matches instead of three. San Diego, for their part, never found anything that changed the shape of their day.

Underneath all of it is a league still figuring out what it wants to be. AVP’s tour goes back to the early 1980s – open draws, long beach weekends, a handful of American names who carried the sport through several Olympic cycles. The League format is the new layer: city teams, men’s and women’s pairs sharing a banner, a schedule that bounces between real beaches and pop-up builds like the one dropped into a former ice rink in the middle of Manhattan.

That’s what Central Park is – sand where skaters usually are, bleachers packed with people who came specifically for this and people who wandered over from the park and stayed. Saturday got washed out and Sunday turned into a marathon. Somehow, that only made New York Nitro’s day feel bigger: an early loss, a same-day answer, and a 3-1 finish in front of the only crowd on the schedule that was theirs.

Palm Beach Passion def. San Diego Smash – 15-4, 15-12

Austin Aces def. New York Nitro – 15-13, 8-15, 12-15 (Austin won 2-1)

Palm Beach Passion def. Austin Aces – 15-13, 15-11

New York Nitro def. San Diego Smash – 15-10, 15-8

Men

Austin Aces vs. New York Nitro – 15-10, 11-15, 11-15 (New York won 2-1)

Palm Beach Passion def. San Diego Smash – 15-11, 15-12

Palm Beach Passion def. Austin Aces – 15-9, 15-12

New York Nitro def. San Diego Smash – 15-13, 15-9

Team Records (Central Park Stop)

Palm Beach Passion: 4-0

New York Nitro: 3-1

Austin Aces: 1-3

San Diego Smash: 0-4

Palm Beach left Central Park as the only untouchable team, with Humana-Paredes, Wilkerson, Crabb, and Dalhausser making it look almost routine. New York Nitro had the messier, more interesting day – an early loss followed by three straight wins built on Shaw’s blocking, Schalk’s in-match adjustments, and Rodriguez refusing to let balls hit the sand. Austin got their one win where it counted least for anyone but them, and San Diego is still chasing its first win at this stop. Squeezing two days into one, plus adding a home crowd that showed up anyway, resulted in one of the stranger, more satisfying weekends on the 2026 AVP League calendar.

To give greater visibility to the quality products and services that are proudly made in the Philippines and sold in different parts of the world, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) brings together more than 200 exporters and export-ready enterprises at the ‘DTI Bagong Pilipinas National Exporters’ Fair 2026.’

The fair is ongoing until July 26, 2026, at Megatrade Halls 1 to 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. Spearheaded by DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque, the five-day fair serves as a platform to connect Filipino enterprises with the partners that exporters need to grow.

The fair, anchored on the theme, ‘Navigating Uncertainties and Seizing Opportunities,’ enjoys the support of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., the DTI Halal Industry Development Program, and the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan.

Though it organized amid disruptions in global trade, which has significantly affected the movement and the cost of many Philippine exports, the fair still attracted more than 200 exhibitors, categorized into export sectors such as Philippine Flavors: Food and Beverage Exports; Philippine Threads: Fashion and Textile Exports; Philippine Living: Home and Lifestyle Exports; Philippine Creativity and Innovation: Technology, Creative, and Emerging Industries Exports; Philippine Wellness: Beauty, Personal Care, and Health Exports; and Philippine Export-Ready Companies.

‘Exports matter because behind every single item shipped overseas is a hardworking Filipino worker, a family, a factory, and a community that we actually help level up. Every shipment that leaves our ports brings vital revenue back to our country and fuels job creation, strengthens our domestic industry, and builds a truly resilient economy,’ Secretary Roque explained in her speech.

‘I would like to report that in 2025, we hit an all-time high for exports, meaning the highest since the beginning of time. This is under the Marcos administration, a 15.4% increase. For January this year, we hit again a high of 8.7%. February, up again by 8.9%. March, and up again of 20.8%. April, up again 7.2%. May, up again 7.6%. What does this mean? Our products are accepted globally,’ Secretary Roque said.

The fair also offers a series of Usapang Exports sessions, consultations, networking activities, and product showcases for exporters and other stakeholders. It has special sections dedicated to Halal products, coconut products, and rising Philippine export stars such as ube, pili, and calamansi.

The DTI vows to keep opening doors, bridging industries to global networks, and backing the exporters’ growth beyond our borders.

‘Together, let us push more Philippine products onto the world stage, and bring the prosperous returns of global trade home to every Filipino family. Let us build stronger industries and genuinely competitive Bagong Pilipina,’ Secretary Roque concluded. ‘As the saying goes, ‘the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.’ Let us prepare today, build for tomorrow, and proudly claim the Philippines’ rightful place of excellence on the world stage.’

For many fur-parents, leaving their furry companions behind is no longer an option when planning a getaway. As more travelers seek destinations where every member of the family is welcome, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel continues to strengthen its commitment to pet-friendly hospitality through a new partnership with Barkhaus, Eastwood City’s premier one-stop pet care destination.

Located just a short walk from the hotel on the fourth floor of Eastwood City Mall, Barkhaus complements Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s Furtastic Pet-cation Package by offering guests exclusive privileges designed to make every stay more rewarding. While guests relax and unwind, their four-legged companions can also enjoy exclusive perks, activities, and wellness services designed especially for them.

Set within Eastwood City, one of Metro Manila’s pioneering pet-friendly townships, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel offers more than just accommodations. Guests and their pets can explore open-air walkways, dine at pet-friendly establishments, shop for pet essentials, and enjoy quality bonding moments without leaving the community. The hotel’s pet-friendly suites and dedicated al fresco dining area at Eastwood Café+Bar further create an environment where pets are genuinely welcomed, not simply accommodated.

Guests who book the Furtastic Pet-cation Package will receive exclusive Barkhaus vouchers with special discounts on grooming services, daycare, playpark access, BarkStudio self-shoot sessions, Barkday celebration packages, and Barkhaus hotel bookings when reserved for the same dates as their stay. These exclusive privileges allow furry guests to enjoy a vacation of their own, giving pet parents the opportunity to create a more complete getaway where every member of the family gets to share in the experience.

‘At Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, we understand that pets are family. Our goal has always been to create a welcoming environment where both our guests and their beloved companions can enjoy a comfortable and memorable stay. Through our partnership with Barkhaus, we are able to provide pet parents with meaningful experiences that make traveling with pets easier and more enjoyable,’ shares Cluster General Manager Mario Justo Jr.

As pet-friendly travel continues to grow, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel remains committed to creating experiences that go beyond simply welcoming pets. Through collaborations like Barkhaus, the hotel continues to find new ways to make every pet-cation more rewarding, convenient, and enjoyable for both pets and their owners.

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday announced the nationwide recruitment of 10,000 School Counselor Associate I (SCA I) positions to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support services in public schools.

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said the recruitment marks a major milestone in the implementation of Republic Act No. 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-being Promotion Act.

The hiring follows the issuance of DepEd Order No. 019, s. 2026, which adopted the Civil Service Commission-approved qualification standards for the new position under CSC Resolution No. 2600920.

Schools Division Offices (SDOs) that have received their Notice of Organization, Staffing and Classification Action (NOSCA) were directed to immediately begin filling the entry-level positions.

To speed up the hiring process, DepEd directed all SDOs to conduct recruitment through the Agile Gateway for Appointments and Placements (AGAP) System, the department’s digital recruitment platform.

The system allows online publication of vacancies, electronic submission of applications, automated processing of documentary requirements and appointment generation to reduce processing time and administrative workload.

Recognizing that some applicants may have limited internet access, DepEd also instructed SDOs to establish assistance kiosks and help desks to assist walk-in applicants with account creation, document submission and other application requirements.

‘Hindi lang ito tungkol sa pagpuno ng mga plantilla positions. Napakahalaga ng pag-hire natin ng mga School Counselor Associates dahil sila ang magiging kaagapay ng ating mga mag-aaral sa pang-araw-araw nilang mental health at psychosocial needs,’ Angara said.

He added that the initiative also supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to make schools centers of care and protection for learners while making government recruitment faster and more accessible through digitalization.

Under the program, School Counselor Associates will provide basic mental health and psychosocial services, learner support, documentation, referrals and other related functions, complementing the work of Registered Guidance Counselors in public schools.

Republic Act No. 12080 also establishes a career progression pathway from School Counselor Associate I to V, with opportunities to advance to School Counselor I to IV and eventually Schools Division Counselor, subject to meeting the required qualifications and professional licensure.

DepEd said recruitment will follow an accelerated timetable once an SDO receives its NOSCA.

Applicants for the School Counselor Associate I position must possess a bachelor’s degree in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology, or a related bachelor’s degree with at least 18 units in Guidance and Counseling, Psychology or Behavioral Science courses, including 200 hours of supervised practicum or internship, preferably in a school or community setting.

No prior work experience or additional training is required, but applicants must have Career Service Professional (Second Level) Eligibility.

DepEd said the initial deployment of 10,000 School Counselor Associates is expected to significantly strengthen the country’s school-based mental health system by providing learners with timely, accessible and professional psychosocial support.

The Oriental Mindoro robotics workshop is the latest milestone in a deepening relationship between Converge and Stairway Foundation.

AS THE PHILIPPINES accelerates toward an increasingly digital future, the gap between the technologically empowered and the marginalized threatens to widen. Recognizing that true digital democracy requires more than just infrastructure, leading technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is stepping in to build a digitally ready generation by inspiring young, underserved Filipinos to embrace STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), innovation, and emerging technologies.

Last month, Converge took a significant step in this advocacy by launching its youth-oriented tech literacy program, ‘TechForGood: Code the Future, Build New Paths.’ The pilot implementation was carried out in Oriental Mindoro, powered by a strategic collaboration with its long-term NGO partner, Stairway Foundation Inc., and the innovative software research and development company, LAYERTech Labs.

From telco to techco: A strategic evolution

For Converge, this corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative supports its broader evolution from an internet service provider into a technology company that aims to lead innovations for the good of the Filipino people and the country.

‘This year, we’re very happy to level up our collaboration with the Stairway Foundation, especially as we move from being a telco to a techco. We want to use technology for the good of all, so we endeavored to reach the students of Oriental Mindoro to help them become familiar with new technology,’ shared Jay-Anne Encarnado, Converge VP and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations.

Encarnado emphasized that bringing in LAYERTech Labs was a deliberate move to provide young minds with basic knowledge in software programming and robotics-the essential building blocks for more expansive innovation.

Democratizing tech with open-source solutions

LAYERTech Labs, an Albay-based software and RandD company, shares Converge’s strong advocacy for digital democracy. They view early introduction to advanced technology as a critical equalizer for disadvantaged youth in the digital age.

To ensure sustainable learning, the program utilized bipedal robot kits software-engineered using an open-source programming language. This strategic choice removes the financial ‘barrier to entry,’ allowing students to continue exploring and innovating long after the initial training concludes.

The workshops were tailored to reach specific groups, prioritizing the boys of the Stairway Foundation and Puerto Galera Academy, followed by a dedicated session for the girls of Baclayan Mangyan School and the Foundation.

‘Our goal is to bring technology to where it is needed the most,’ noted Frei Sangil, President and Founder of LAYERTech Labs. ‘We strive to make solutions that do not aggravate existing social inequalities.’

Hands-on empowerment in the community

The success of the #TechForGood program lies in its grassroots approach, ensuring that local leaders are equipped to sustain the education.

The workshop is broken down to three parts:

Train the Trainers. The program kicked off with a facilitators’ training for Stairway officers and coordinators from the Baclayan community. By assembling and coding the robots themselves, these community leaders were empowered to guide the students in the future.

Building from Scratch. On the second and third days, students engaged in rigorous, hands-on teamwork. They spent several hours physically assembling the robots from the ground up.

Bringing it to Life. Following assembly, students connected their robot circuits to computers, applying simple coding models to bring their creations to life.

‘Ang partnership po na ito ay under sa ICT Program ng Stairway kung saan ako at mga ICT volunteers dito sa Baclayan community ay nagtuturo sa mga bata ng basic na paggamit ng computer,’ explained Jonalyn Onde, Baclayan Development Officer at Stairway Foundation. She noted that these efforts are crucial for preparing students for high school and making them competitive alongside peers from more privileged schools.

A deepening alliance for child advocacy

The Oriental Mindoro robotics workshop is the latest milestone in a deepening relationship between Converge and Stairway Foundation.

Collaborators since 2023, their partnership initially focused on providing connectivity and digital enablement-through donated tablets and computers-while actively protecting children against the Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). Over the years, this alliance has matured to encompass a wider umbrella of digital advocacies, including data privacy protection, defense against online fraud, and now, bridging the educational digital divide through robotics.

By investing in the minds of the youth today, Converge is proving that building a digital nation is as much about coding a brighter future for the next generation as it is about laying down fiber-optic cables.

ERNEST JOHN ‘EJ’ OBIENA has kept his continental men’s pole vault record intact making him a strong potential to win gold at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games.

He’s gotten past one of the lowest performances of his career and is back leaping in the 5.80s, a positive sign that the Philippines would contend in the Asiad set September 19 to October 4.

Of late, Obiena’s been crediting his resurgence to his new coaches in a new training camp in Athens.

‘It’s good to see my improvements, but I must keep on going, keep on training and focusing on what I do,’ Obiena told the BusinessMirror on Friday. ‘There are still some details that need to be done.’

Obiena cleared 5.85 meters at the Meeting de Madrid in Spain last July 17, the first time since the Paris Olympic in August 2024 that he achieved that height.

Helping him out at the Athens Olympic Training Center in Greece is Marcin Sczeczepanski, a 35-year-old from Poland whose athlete career-best 5.20 meters doesn’t reflect what he’s accomplished as a coach-he coached Poland’s best pole vaulter in history to 6.02m and 10 medals in major championships and technical coach of Greek Emmanouil Karalis, bronze medalist in Paris and a member of the 6.00 club.

Obiena, ranked 14th in the world, is expected to face the same usual suspects who’ll be after his reign as Asian Games and Asian champion and record holder.

They are world No. 20 Seifeldin Abdelsalam of Qatar and Nos. 23 Huang Bokai, No. 24 Li Chenyang and No. 59 Lao Jie all from China as well as No. 68 Patsapong Amsam-ang of Thailand and even No. 83 Tomoya Karasawa of Japan.

Obiena, 30, is the best Asian pole vaulter at 6.0m, a height that Abdelsalam (personal best 5.75), Huang (5.85), Li (5.85), Yao (5.82), Amsam-ang (5.72) and Karasawa (5.66) are still aiming for.

He set an Asian Games record at 5.90m in Hangzhou 2023, beating Huang (5.65) and Saudi Arabia’s Hussain Al-Hizam (5.65) to the top of the podium-Amsam-ang could only do 5.55m for fourth place.

But Obiena got a scare from Amsam-ang at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok with the local bet yielding the gold medal via the countback after matching the Filipino star’s 5.65m effort.

The world championship silver medalist behind pole vault wonder Armand Duplantis in 2023 will be back leaping in Germany in the coming week-Halberstadter Hohenflug Internationales Stabhochsprung Meeting auf dem Domplatz on July 31 in Altstadt Hof and Internationale Stabhochsprungmon on August 5 at the Stadion in Jockrim.

The Philippines won five gold, two silver and 12 bronze medals at the Hangzho Games.

The Philippines and Japan will activate their landmark Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) on Aug. 22, further strengthening defense cooperation as both countries seek closer security coordination amid growing regional tensions.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi formalized the agreement’s entry into force by exchanging diplomatic notes during their meeting in Manila on July 23.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ACSA will officially take effect on Aug. 22, 2026.

The agreement will allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Japan Self-Defense Forces to exchange logistics support and services-including food, fuel, water and other essential supplies-making it easier for the two militaries to operate together during joint exercises and humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.

The activation of the ACSA marks another milestone in the two countries’ expanding security partnership as they prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.

During their meeting, Lazaro and Motegi reaffirmed their commitment to the Philippines-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to further strengthen defense and diplomatic cooperation.

The ACSA complements other bilateral security arrangements, including the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which provides the legal framework for the deployment of military personnel for joint training and other activities, and Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, under which Tokyo provides defense equipment such as coastal radar systems to the Philippines.

The two ministers also exchanged views on regional security issues, particularly developments in the South China Sea, and reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination on regional and international concerns.

‘They also exchanged views on future cooperation between Japan and ASEAN as well as regional and international affairs such as issues concerning the South China Sea, and confirmed that they would continue coordinating closely,’ Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The ministers said the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to serve as the framework for expanding bilateral cooperation in defense, diplomacy and other areas of mutual interest.

Japan also reaffirmed its continued support for the Philippines through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) program.

Mention Greenhills and the buzz phrases shopping haven and foodie mecca come to mind. But for the past nine years, this mixed-use property in Ortigas has been emerging as an art and culture hub, thanks to its annual gathering of creative talents and stakeholders in the scene.

From July 17 to July 30 this year, the ninth edition of the Ortigas Art Festival continues its multidisciplinary celebration at the spacious GH Mall.

With the theme ‘Elevate,’ the festival steps up with the launch of the 1st Ortigas Art Competition, where the winner gets the opportunity to have an all-expenses-paid exposure to the prestigious Art Basel Hong Kong in 2027.

Under its ‘Art For All’ mission, the festival continues its efforts to democratize art by making it accessible to both artists and the public.

‘This is an advocacy festival in the sense that admission is free and even the space for the exhibition is free for the participating galleries. artists, and regional art collectives,’ said Lead Curator and noted painter Renato ‘Ato’ Habulan.

Looking back, Habulan takes pride in the roster of participating artists whose early art careers started through the Ortigas Art Festival.

‘We started with young artists who were fresh graduates. Now they are considered ‘rockstars’ who have won awards along the way and have been exhibiting abroad. Our connections with them carried on and they continue to participate in the festival,’ Habulan added.

Diverse art showcase

Participating spaces and artist collectives include Agos Studio, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of Kaisahan, a pioneering collective of progressive Filipino visual artists who founded the Social Realism art movement in 1976. Among its founders are Renato Habulan, Pablo Baens Santos, Edgar Talusan Fernandez, Neil Doloricon, and Antipas Delotavo.

Also participating are Eskinita Art Gallery, Linangan Art Residency, Thombayan Art Space, Art Circle Gallery, Historia Art Gallery, Nami Art Gallery, the Collective Artists of Angono, the Mindoro Artists Group, Pasig Art Club, the Ortigas Foundation, and several artist-run initiatives.

This year’s festival likewise honors two National Artists through a special presentation of their works. On display are the prized books of National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) Press, while the timeless costumes of National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal are presented with the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The festival also puts the spotlight on environmental sculptor and the ‘Father of Philippine Installation Art’ Junyee, this year’s featured artist.

Hands-on workshops let visitors discover various art processes such as acrylic pouring and block printing.

Film and photography

A photography exhibit by Born in Film showcases nostalgic and modern shots from around the Philippines. A copyright masterclass will also be conducted by Born In Film.

Film enthusiasts can watch full-length features and acclaimed short films from emerging and established Filipino filmmakers like National Artist for Film, Kidlat Tahimik (‘I Am Furious Yellow’), Sari Dalena (‘Cinemartyrs’), and JL Burgos (‘Alipato at Muog’). The free screenings are in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and CCP,

Premiering at the Ortigas Art Festival is ‘That We May See,’ a documentary film directed by Paul Morales that revisits the story of Kaisahan on its 50th anniversary.

First Ortigas Art Grant

Gearing up for its decade celebration next year, the Ortigas Art Festival also launched the inaugural Ortigas Art Grant, an artist development initiative supporting young talents. Through the 1st Ortigas Art Competition, a total of 24 artists were named finalists during the festival’s opening ceremony.

The shortlisted artists will present new works in 2027, with the selected grantee receiving the award at the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration. The winning artist will get the chance to visit the prestigious Art Basel Hong Kong 2027.

Art Basel Hong Kong is the Asian edition of the world’s premier international contemporary and modern art fair, also held in Basel, Miami Beach, and Paris. More than 240 galleries from more than 40 countries attend the yearly gathering in Hong Kong

Airfare, accommodation, and a pass to the international art fair will be sponsored by the Ortigas Art Festival.

According to Monique Castañeda, Ortigas Malls AVP and Head of Marketing, the art grant is a response to the theme, ‘Elevate,’ where the organizers were challenged to offer something new to the proverbial table.

‘Besides the recognition, we want to give our artists the chance to be exposed to international art by bringing them to Art Basel Hong Kong. We are talking about young artists from places like Mindoro who have never left the country. Winning the art grant will allow them to see the bigger art landscape abroad.’

Ortigas as cultural hub

‘At Ortigas Malls, we believe our spaces are more than just for shopping and dining. We also want to offer community spaces where culture flourishes, creativity is celebrated, and meaningful experiences are created,’ explained Castaneda.

The enduring slogan, ‘Art for All,’ is indeed lived at the 9th Ortigas Art Festival, which has evolved into a community, offering new ways of seeing the world, providing economic opportunities for artists, and serving as a meaningful hub for asserting identity and self-expression.

For more information, follow the Ortigas Art Festival Facebook page. For more updates on Ortigas Malls events, join Ortigas Malls’ Viber Community and follow GH Mall on Facebook.