Category: Business Mirror

Now on it’s 16th staging, The Presidents Cup is a biennial event pitting 12 of the best American golfers against the world’s 12 (except Europeans). The games are very similar in format to the Ryder Cup, with foursome and fourball matches contested during the first two or three days, and a culminating singles day, pitting all 12 team members against the opposing side’s own 12.

The Presidents Cup came a few decades after the Ryder Cup, but filled a much-needed void. While the Ryder Cup has witnessed epic battles between the US and GBandI, initially, and the entire Europe since the 80s, there was no opportunity for non-Europeans golfers to experience the same electric atmosphere of the Ryder Cup.

International legends like Gary Player never had the chance to play in a similar event. But starting in 1994, professionals like South African icon Ernie Els, Australian greats like Greg Norman began to have the chance to face the Americans head to head, just like in the Ryder Cup.

Today, Asian major champions like Hideki Matsuyama, recent major winners like New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, and PGA Tour mainstays like Si Woo Kim, Sungjae I’m, and Min Woo Lee, all of Korean heritage, finally have a chance to test their skills against the Americans.

The inaugural President’s Cup in 1994 came at a time when golf was gaining popularity, but hasn’t experienced the explosive growth brought about by Tiger Woods. The exhibition, created by the PGA Tour and hosted by heads of state of the host country, filled an important void in extending golf’s reach to a worldwide audience. No longer were audiences limited to watching American pros and European pros battle it out in unique formats.

Since the Presidents Cup was established, any golfer from any corner of the globe can, if he gets high enough in the world golf rankings, be part of the team.

As much as the previous editions of the Presidents Cup were a treat to watch, most years weren’t as nail-biting as hoped for. Of the 15 stagings, the US team came out on top 13 times, with one loss and one tie. Unlike in the Ryder Cupwhere the competition is much closer, the International team just hasn’t been able to stand toe to toe with the Americans except for one win in 1998 and a draw in 2003.

Still, seeing the top international players trade swings and putts against the USA’s best makes for great watching. This year’s line-ups seem competitive, maybe more than other years’.

Team USA 2026

Captain: Brandt Snedeker

Automatic Qualifiers: Scottie Sche?er, Wyndham Clark, Russell Henley, Cameron Young, Sam Burns, Collin Morikawa

Captain’s Picks: Chris Gotterup, Xander Schau?ele, Jackson Koivun, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Jacob Bridgeman

Team International 2026

Captain: Geo? Ogilvy

Automatic Qualifiers: Si Woo Kim, Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Hideki Matsuyama, Tom Kim, Adam Scott

Captain’s Picks: Sungjae Im, Casey Conners, Christian Bezuidenhout, Nico Echevarria, Nick Taylor, Ryo Hitatsune

By the time this article comes out, it’ll be Singles Sunday. On the outset, Team USA is up in the major winners’ count 5-3 for the Internationals. Both teams have depth, as well as unknowns. While there won’t be any guarantees, but just looking at the team compositions, it would seem pretty even, if a bit advantageous for the USA, but only slightly. Here’s hoping for an action-packed and close Presidents Cup this week!

UNITED NATIONS-Russia’s top diplomat rejected German calls to ease off its ‘dangerous path of escalation’ toward the country, instead accusing Germany of being Ukraine’s main sponsor and seeking to be a leading military power in Europe.

‘Does Berlin understand what this could lead to?’ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asked in his speech at the UN General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders. ‘Didn’t they not learn the lessons of World War II?’

Lavrov was dismissive after the German and Russian foreign ministers met Saturday on the sidelines of the meeting, holding what’s believed to be the first such tête-à-tête since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

‘He simply reiterated his official public position condemning Russia,’ Lavrov said. ‘You can judge for yourself whether that counts as dialogue or not.’

The meeting, at German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s request, came just before Lavrov addressed world leaders, where he also criticized the militarization of Japan.

He made clear that Russia will veto any attempt by Germany and Japan for permanent seats on the Security Council, the UN’s most powerful body. The two nations fought Russia, Britain and the United States in World War II.

A German delegation official said that during their meeting, Wadephul called on Russia to abandon its ‘dangerous path of escalation’ toward Germany, Europe and the NATO alliance.

Ties between Russia and Germany have soured in recent weeks, following an attempted drone attack last month at Leipzig airport – Germany has blamed the incident on Russia-and tit-for-tat responses that followed it.

Wadephul expressed openness to a better relationship but said it required a genuine willingness from Russia’s leadership to end the war in Ukraine, according to the official.

After his speech, Lavrov brushed off the Germany meeting

Later, Lavrov told a UN news conference that ‘nothing new came from that initiative of the foreign minister.’

He challenged Germany to name one commercial vessel in the Black Sea that was damaged or targeted by Russian strikes, asserting that ‘there are no such cases.’

As for the claimed attempted drone strike at Leipzig Airport, he called it ‘an unclaimed drone’ that Germany immediately said was Russian.

Lavrov denounced the West in his speech and at the press conference, saying it ‘aspires to inflict strategic defeat on Russia-but these aspirations will result in the war mongers being led into a strategic dead end.’

He recalled last year’s 80th anniversary of the Allied victory ‘over German Nazism and Japanese militarism’ in World War II.

And he made a point of blasting the notion of Germany or Japan gaining a permanent seat on the powerful UN Security Council. The United States has long supported permanent seats for those countries and India.

Japan’s deputy UN ambassador Mikanagi Tomohiro responded to Lavrov at the end of the assembly meeting, stressing that his country is ‘peace-loving’ and that ‘freedom, democracy and fundamental human rights remain unshakable foundations of Japan’s every decision and action.’

In his attacks on the West, Lavrov also claimed, ‘the US has destroyed the European security system and created a Russophobic regime in Kyiv.’

Russia believes an agreement on ending the Ukraine war was reached at the August 2025 meeting in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said, ‘and we continue to remain ready to return to it.’

‘A fairer, multipolar world order is emerging before our very eyes,’ said Lavrov, whose country is part of the BRICS group of leading developing nations and other organizations that he portrays as more forward-looking and constructive.

Russia emphasizes that it’s still a strong global player

Moscow has repeatedly sought to stress that it maintains a strong position on the global stage despite its four-and-a-half-year war on Ukraine and isolation from the West.

Writing on her personal Telegram channel, Maria Zakharova, chief spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said that ‘tens of diplomats’ had come to meet Lavrov to ‘shake his hand and thank Russia.’

An overwhelming majority of General Assembly member nations have repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as Wadephul noted in his own address to the assembly Saturday.

‘Russia’s war targets the lives of millions of innocent people, the existence of the Ukrainian state and culture and the European peace order,’ he said, urging Russia to negotiating toward ending the fighting.

Lavrov’s speech came amid an intensifying aerial war. With front-line positions largely unchanged since last year, Russia has hammered Ukraine with cruise and ballistic missiles, powerful glide bombs and jet-powered drones in recent months, while Ukraine’s long-range drones have targeted Russian oil refineries and businesses.

Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed four people Saturday, as Russian authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack killed three.

Since Russia launched the war-which Moscow describes as a ‘special military operation’ intended to ensure Russia’s security and the rights of Russian speakers-Western analysts have estimated that over 500,000 Russian troops have been killed.

Ukraine has recorded more than 500,000 military casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths. Neither country discloses its own casualty totals.

The Ukraine war reverberates globally

The war has had global repercussions for fuel, fertilizer and grain shipments- and for geopolitics, widening divisions between Russia and the West.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his assembly speech Wednesday to press other countries to keep choking Russia’s revenues and impede its war efforts, and he echoed that message on social media Saturday morning.

‘It is essential that our partners not forget: Russia is escalating every single day,’ he wrote, adding that ‘the world must choose stronger responses to keep the war from spreading further.’

US lawmakers passed a powerful sanctions bill aimed at Moscow last month. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law last week but hasn’t enacted the measures yet.

Now back in Ukraine, Zelenskyy told reporters in voicemail messages Friday that Washington is pushing for three-way technical talks involving delegations-but not top leaders-from the US, Ukraine and Russia. He said Ukraine is waiting for the United States to propose a date.

Long before gastronomy tourism became a thing, Singapore was already known for its cavalcade of dining options. Hence, I was not at all surprised when the Lion City earned a whopping 27 selections on Trip.Gourmet’s recently unveiled 2027 Fine Dining List.

It was even less surprising to learn that the multi-awarded, 2-Michelin Star JAAN by Kirk Westaway, a prestigious fine dining restaurant located 70 floors above the iconic Swissôtel The Stamford, was again given the coveted Diamond status in the much-anticipated annual list.

Ng Guo Lun, Head Chef of JAAN by Kirk Westaway, was on hand to receive the citation, only the latest in a long line of numerous accolades, and later talked to BusinessMirror about the restaurant’s storied odyssey and his personal association with it.

Defined by a longtime collaborative partnership, steady culinary evolution and a common passion for contemporary British cuisine. Guo Lun shared that JAAN by Kirk Westaway originally specialized in French cuisine, but when its namesake Executive Chef Kirk Westaway took over in 2015, Guo Lun helped craft a new identity that moved beyond traditional French boundaries toward modern British gastronomy.

With Chef Kirk’s British heritage, Drawing from Chef Kirk’s British heritage, JAAN by Kirk Westaway built a culinary style rooted in comfort, familiarity, and fine ingredients.

‘I wouldn’t say there’s approval, but Kirk and I work together like a partnership. He comes up with ingredients that he might want to incorporate; I try to put them together. It’s a continuous effort to put them together to create dishes,’ Guo Lun shared in describing their creative process.

Through continuous tasting, testing, and tweaking, they constantly evolve the restaurant’s set menu together.

Asked about their popular dishes, Guo Lun says that they’ve got a range of good dishes that are constantly evolving; among the most sought-after, not only with Singapore diners but also with an increasing number of visiting tourists, is the Hen’s Egg.

Often offered in several variants, JAAN by Kirk Westaway’s Hen’s Egg is a runny, slow-cooked organic egg paired with complementary gourmet ingredients such as Kaviari or Oscietra caviar, Cornish Yarg cheese wrapped in nettles, wild mushrooms, onions, or cauliflower base, then served with truffled or parmesan brioche ‘soldiers’ for dipping.

Aside from the Hen’s Egg, other signature dishes in JAAN by Kirk Westaway’s current menu include the Kagoshima Wagyu, described as an exquisitely tender beef glazed in a concentrated, rich jus with chopped black truffle and accompanied by seasonal roasted white asparagus; the Violin Courgette, a lengthy, trumpet-shaped Italian climbing squash prized for its delicate, nutty flavor, fine texture, and tender bite; and its Charred Leek and Potato Soup, a British classic fine-tuned with whipped potato foam, chives, and crispy croutons, and served in a cup specially designed for sipping.

Of course, anyone who has dined at JAAN by Kirk Westaway will attest that while the aforementioned offerings and more contribute to its popularity, the overall ambiance is an equally big part of its appeal. Beyond the food and the floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of Marina Bay Sands and the rest of Singapore’s breathtaking skyline, Guo Lun said he places more emphasis on building a warm, welcoming, and almost home-like atmosphere where guests feel genuinely cared for through thoughtful hospitality.

‘We feel that it’s not just about the view, but also about the whole atmosphere that we create. What we like to do is a lot more welcoming and homely feel so everybody’s being welcomed to the restaurant itself,’ he pointed out.

His philosophy resonates with a wide variety of international patrons, including many Filipino diners who come to JAAN by Kirk Westaway to discover unique takes on British cuisine they can’t and won’t find anywhere else.

‘Our guests enjoy our food, and most of them will admit that they have never encountered British cuisine to be such a unique experience,’ Guo Lun further enthused.

Outside of his 70th-floor kitchen, Guo Lun still manages to find a healthy work-life balance as a dedicated family man and father to two children while still staying active through running and playing tennis.

JAAN by Kirk Westaway, however, remains the heart and soul of his professional life. His passion and dedication to his craft, as well as his collaborative partnership with Kirk Westaway, are key to the numerous accolades the restaurant has been showered with every single year. It’s also why it literally and figuratively towers head and shoulders above just about every other dining option.

‘What if nothing was really missing in the first place? What if I just wasn’t home with myself?’

The words of James Reid struck a chord as he shared the story behind his third studio album, Honey I’m Home, during an intimate listening party with members of the media at Careless Music Studio in Makati.

His words resonated with me as a trentahin who also got caught up in the tiresome cycle of chasing deadlines, only to find myself with a lingering sense that something is still missing. It was only when I began finding peace within myself that realizations started to sink in.

Perhaps that is why the lyrics in his new album feel particularly comforting and relatable, reflecting the quiet clarity that comes with finally learning to be at home with oneself.

James is finally home

After years of being known as a television heartthrob while navigating his ambitions, expectations, controversies, and his own identity, Reid seems to have arrived somewhere quieter. Honey, I’m Home reflects that shift. The 10-track album explores surrender, intimacy, moments of joy, and the people who make him feel at home.

‘As I was finishing the album, it became something different. My idea of home became more about learning to be just comfortable in my own skin. At first I thought home was a person, and then I found that home was myself,’ Reid shares.

Some of the songs were written during a songwriting camp Reid attended in 2024. And just like our thoughts of a ‘home,’ the album feels warm, cozy, and soulful. The sound is honestly a perfect background in the mundane.

Instead of elaborate wordplay or lyrics meant to impress, Reid’s lyricism relied on nuanced simplicity and honest songwriting. He wanted the words to sound conversational, like something he would genuinely say to another person.

Reid adds, ‘It feels warm and easy on the surface, but there’s something deeper underneath if you pay attention.’

Sonically, Honey, I’m Home draws from Reid’s love of RandB and soul while folding in funk, soft rock, yacht rock, and classic pop influences, recorded with an emphasis on warmth and human imperfection over polish.

The album is also his most collaborative project to date, featuring Arthur Nery, Luke April from PLAYERTWO, and Issa Pressman, each lending a distinct voice to different tracks.

On ‘All Night,’ Nery’s wispy RandB vocal style complements the song’s nocturnal atmosphere, adding dimension to its beat switch, while April’s laid-back rap and RandB flow bring an irreverent, carefree energy to ‘Sunny Side.’ Pressman’s sultry, textured vocals create a natural contrast with Reid’s clean and precise singing on ‘On My Way.’ He proudly mentioned that Pressman wrote the song and loved it so much he convinced her to include it in the album.

For what it’s worth, Honey, I’m Home represents a different kind of emotional maturity in Reid’s discography. It shows an artist who is less concerned with proving himself or conforming to a particular sound, and more willing to follow what feels honest.

‘I think this is probably the most comfortable I’ve ever sounded in my music,’ Reid shares. ‘A lot of my older projects were me exploring and figuring out what kind of artist I wanted to be. With this one, I don’t feel like I’m trying to prove anything or chase a certain sound. It just feels more instinctive.’

The album’s exciting arc expands through ‘Sunny Side’ and ‘Blessed,’ both produced by Luke April (who also produced most of the record), which contribute to the album’s warmth and sense of gratitude. Reid shares that ‘Sunny Side’ is a fun track where he experimented a bit with his genre, with a simple message about not letting anyone mess with your peace.

‘The haters can keep on hating, and I’ll just be here on the sunny side,’ Reid quips.

He shares a time when the demands of showbiz and bashing on social media had affected his well-being, but figuring himself out and being surrounded by loved ones had helped him through that phase.

A standout is ‘Indiana,’ one of the album’s most personal songs with a touch of folk and country vibe. The song is co-written with his girlfriend, Issa Pressman, and it’s about their future child.

Reid opens up about their plans on starting a family, which is a topic that gets him vulnerable when sharing it with others. He says the song was meant to convey the love that transcends through generations.

‘It’s a very emotional song for me,’ he admits.

Reid’s tone softens when he talks about Pressman, whom he describes as the album’s main inspiration. ‘She made my music mean something more than myself.’

For Reid, the final track ‘Unbecoming’ completed the whole concept of the album.

‘I feel like this whole journey of self-discovery became less about trying to be more, but actually becoming less. To undo a lot of ideas and roles I had to play in my life. This was kind of undoing everything to realize that nothing is missing in the first place,’ he adds.

His aura just radiates as he explains the song’s message, revealing how deeply personal the album has become. More than a collection of songs, Honey, I’m Home became a therapeutic channel for Reid to return to himself.

Even the album’s launch reflected that intimacy. Instead of a huge press conference, he opened his creative space at Careless Music Studio to select media guests, while the listening party at Open House World brought together people close to his heart.

James Reid’s new album Honey, I’m Home under Careless Music is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Open AI’s artificial intelligence models accessed publicly available information from US government websites, including those of the Census Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company’s agentic AI systems interacted with SEC.gov and Investor.gov, as well as publicly available data from Census.gov, people familiar with the situation said, asking not to be identified discussing private matters. OpenAI separately confirmed that its models accessed publicly available information from the websites during training and evaluation of the technology.

Earlier Friday, the company said it had notified ‘dozens’ of organizations, including governments and universities, whose websites may have been hampered by visits from its AI models during evaluations of the technology.

OpenAI has said it’s carrying out an in-depth review of incidents of ‘misalignment’ during training and testing, which will take months to complete. The company’s efforts to work out exactly what its AI agents have done underscores one of the biggest concerns among cybersecurity experts about these incidents: The systems have carried out these tasks largely without the companies that created them knowing in real-time.

In an extensive blog post Friday, the company said it had notified a range of groups about cases in which its software may have bypassed an online service’s security controls or hampered its availability, or in situations where a misaligned AI model may have ‘negatively impacted’ a website or service outside of OpenAI. The company discovered these incidents while expanding a probe it began after its AI inadvertently hacked Hugging Face several months ago.

OpenAI said the websites that were affected include ones run by governments, universities, public agencies and other groups.

In a statement, OpenAI spokesperson Liz Bourgeois said, ‘We’re conducting an extensive review of misaligned model activity and notifying organizations when we identify potential impacts to their systems. We expect to make additional notifications as that work continues. Most of the activity we’ve reviewed so far involved routine research tasks, such as accessing public web content to answer questions.’

Only days ago, OpenAI acknowledged that its AI models hacked an Australian government website earlier this year, marking one of the first known AI cyberattacks on a government database. The company said in a statement that the breach occurred while it was evaluating its models.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week that OpenAI’s technology had gained unauthorized access to a government website used for reporting healthcare statistics. The hack, on June 18, didn’t appear to compromise Australians’ personal information, he said.

OpenAI said a post on social network X on Friday that most of the actions it has reviewed involved AI models carrying out ‘mundane research tasks,’ like getting answers to questions from websites. The company said it expects it to take months to finish its review.

In a post on X Friday, OpenAI chief Sam Altman said the company has not worked as fast as it would like, but that it is balancing transparency with the need to find information in huge amounts of data in activity logs and then work with the companies that were impacted.

‘We are prioritizing as best as we can based on severity, and adding resources,’ Altman said.

Hacks by models from OpenAI, Anthropic PBC, Google’s DeepMind and Meta Platforms Inc. have resulted in widespread cybersecurity concerns for major companies. Cyber vendors typically provide products that monitor for known strains of malicious software, or detect and block anomalous behaviors. Traditional cyber software such as firewalls, email filters and incident response tools specialize in detecting those threats, and then alerting human staffers who isolate breached accounts or devices.

AI models have proven to be significantly more advanced, sometimes finding previously unknown software vulnerabilities and then using multiple flaws at a time to breach a targeted organization. Such compromises are harder to stop, and could provide malicious attackers with deep access to infected systems while remaining hidden from cybersecurity staffers.

MADRID-Gelina Lutaro is 50 years old, a single mother of five, and an FIA-certified intervention marshal at this year’s inaugural Spanish Grand Prix. Getting there took 18 years, most of them spent away from the children she was doing it all for.

People call her Ghie. Her kids -Jonard, Jeric, Joven, Jolina, and Jelaine-are the reason she left Tabaco City in the Bicol region of the Philippines for Abu Dhabi in November 2007. She was hired as a domestic worker for an Arab family, and by her own account, the four years that followed were rough. She doesn’t go into detail about it. What she will say is that the experience taught her things, some good, some bad, and that she learned early to keep the good lessons and let go of the rest.

By 2011 she wanted out of that household. The problem was practical: domestic workers rarely get a day off, so there was almost no way to job-hunt through normal channels. She made her own channel instead. Every time her employers sent her to a supermarket or mall, she’d find the Filipino cashiers working the registers and ask, quietly, if they knew of any family looking for help.

One of them did. She handed Ghie an address for an agency that placed nannies with expat families. Ghie called, got interviewed over the phone, and landed a job with an American family tied to NYU Abu Dhabi. She says they treated her with real kindness. That family eventually left the Emirates, but her name stuck around inside that university’s expat network-she kept working as a nanny for one NYU Abu Dhabi family after another for years, sending money home the whole time, watching her children grow up mostly through phone calls.

In 2015, almost by accident, the second half of her life started. Her roommate, a Filipino named Ryan Doloroso, asked if she wanted to volunteer as a race marshal. No pay involved. She said yes before he finished the sentence.

To understand why, go back further-She grew up watching car races on television in the Philippines, in the years when Michael Schumacher’s name was inescapable. She used to wonder if she’d ever watch a real race in person, whether she’d ever get the chance at all. That question followed her through her move to Abu Dhabi, through four hard years with her first employer, through the long, patient search for better families to work for. Ryan’s offer-unglamorous-was the first real opening she’d had to answer it herself.

She trained as a flag marshal, then intervention marshal, then fire marshal, then digital panel operator-each one a separate certification, earned on her own time, at posts along the track where the job is to respond fast when something goes wrong: a car on fire, a driver trapped in a wrecked cockpit, debris that has to clear before the next wave of traffic comes through. None of it pays. She did it anyway, race after race, working her way up to Post Chief, the marshal responsible for an entire station on the circuit.

By the end of 2015 she was marshaling national races in the UAE alongside international fixtures-the Lamborghini and Ferrari Challenge, the Fun Cup, the Gulf 12 Hours, the Le Mans 24 Hours, car drifting events. Then, in 2018, she worked her first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. She calls it the happiest day of her life to that point-adrenaline, and the answer to a question she’d been carrying since she was ten. She went back every year after that, 2018 through 2021, each one adding another patch to her tabard collection.

It didn’t last. In 2023 the NYU Abu Dhabi families she worked for started heading back to the United States, and Ghie moved to Spain. What followed were two years without legal status-she doesn’t dress that period up. It would have been reason enough for most people to drop an unpaid hobby in a country they weren’t cleared to stay in. Ghie did the opposite. She spent those two years running the same play she’d run in the supermarkets years before: reaching out to every marshal she’d ever crossed paths with, especially the international ones, keeping those relationships alive so she could get back on a track once her papers came through. She’d already decided, long before she had any legal right to act on it, that she was going to marshal in Spain.

This month, at the first-ever Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, that decision finally paid off. She worked the race wearing an Intervention Marshal, Course Access tabard. She calls Madrid just the beginning.

I should explain how I ended up hearing any of this. I got to Madrid by way of the Monza Grand Prix and the Venice Film Festival, landing the evening of September 9. I’d missed an early-morning track tour I’d come a day ahead of schedule to catch, so rather than waste the morning, I walked the circuit a different way, from the photographers’ wall along the fence. Somewhere along that walk, past a stage where drivers were being interviewed in front of a growing crowd, I noticed a woman whose face I recognized before I could say why. ‘Are you Filipino, ate?’ I asked. She said yes. That’s how it started.

Hearing her full story afterward hit me harder than I expected, and the part that has stayed with me the longest isn’t the marshal training or the bib or even Madrid. It’s this: Ghie hasn’t seen her five children in three years. Jonard, Jeric, Joven, Jolina and Jelaine have grown up mostly on video calls, raised at a distance by a mother trying to give them a better shot than she got. Her hope, she told me, is to see her youngest graduate next year-one more milestone she’s missed in person, and one she’s now counting down to.

That is what perseverance actually costs. Ghie’s version ran for eighteen years, through a bad employer, through unpaid weekends spent training to fight fires and pull people out of wrecked cars, through two years without legal papers in a country not her own, through birthdays and report cards and ordinary Tuesdays she wasn’t there for. The dream she’d been chasing since she was ten years old finally caught up with her in Madrid this September. But it caught up with her without her kids beside her, because keeping them fed and in school was the whole reason the dream had to wait as long as it did.

She got the marshal’s tabard in the end. She earned every patch the same way-piece by piece, year by year, on her own time, thousands of miles from home. What she is still waiting on is the one she wants most: to be in the stands, not on a circuit, when her youngest walks across a stage next year.

Best Industrial Developer and Best Masterplanned Development recognitions underscore Aboitiz’s approach to building places that support long-term economic and community growth.

Aboitiz earned top accolades at the 2026 Philippines Real Estate Awards, with Aboitiz Economic Estates named Best Industrial Developer and Ajoya Cabanatuan recognized as Best Masterplanned Development.

Together, the awards recognize an approach to real estate development that considers how places can support economic activity, respond to the needs of their end-users, and create lasting impact for the communities and regions around them.

For Aboitiz Economic Estates, the Best Industrial Developer title reflects its track record in building investment-ready environments that help businesses establish, expand, and grow their operations in the country. With a 2,000-hectare portfolio across Southern Luzon and Central Visayas, it has generated approximately 100,000 jobs while supporting around 260 industrial locators.

Building economic platforms for long-term growth

‘Aboitiz’s economic estates bring together industrial land, infrastructure, utilities, connectivity, services, and long-term estate management solutions to create an environment that allows companies to thrive.’

This approach is established at LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas. Over three decades, the 1,100-hectare flagship estate has evolved from an industrial park into a fully integrated development with commercial, residential, and institutional components, demonstrating how sustained industrial investment can create demand for a broader range of businesses and community uses.

In Central Luzon, Aboitiz is applying the same masterplan discipline at TARI Estate. The 384-hectare development is slated to be a new industrial platform for the region projected to support around 60,000 jobs at full build-out.

‘Our strength has long been industrial development, grounded in a simple belief: start with investment, infrastructure and jobs, and more complete communities can follow,’ said Farrah Nina Mayol, Aboitiz Economic Estates’ Senior Assistant Vice President of Corporate Communications and Branding. ‘From economic estates that enable businesses and regions to grow, to residential communities designed around how families live, our aim is to build places that support both economic progress and a better everyday experience.’

The recognition comes as the Philippines continues to compete for industrial investment and strengthen regional centers of economic activity. For Aboitiz Economic Estates, the awards affirm the relevance of development models that can translate investment into operating businesses, employment, and sustained regional growth.

Masterplanning for a better everyday living experience

The recognition of Ajoya Cabanatuan as Best Masterplanned Development emphasizes how thoughtful planning can shape the everyday experience of a residential community.

The 19-hectare masterplanned development was designed to give families more than a home within a guarded and gated community. Its plan integrates generous open spaces, greenbelts, pocket parks, amenities, and homes designed to respond to different household needs.

Walkability is central to the community plan. A network of walkways places the Town Plaza and key amenities within a comfortable walk, helping make shared spaces more accessible while encouraging residents to move around the community on foot.

The homes draw from Filipino architectural traditions, interpreted for contemporary use in collaboration with Buensalido+Architects, incorporating elements of the Bahay na Bato into a modern residential form.

Features such as ventanillas and extended rooflines support ventilation and thermal comfort, responding to local climatic conditions while reducing reliance on mechanical cooling, resulting in an architectural approach that balances familiarity with present-day functionality.

These planning choices reflect a broader approach to residential development in which the quality of the community matters as much as the homes within it. By bringing homes, amenities, open spaces, and pedestrian connections, together with a coherent plan, Ajoya Cabanatuan creates a living environment designed around convenience, connection, and everyday quality of life.

The two awards highlight different expressions of the same development discipline: economic estates designed to support industries and regional growth, and residential communities planned around how people live and move through them every day.

Across both, the emphasis is on creating places that can generate value over time, whether through economic activity, employment, stronger communities, or a better everyday living experience.

Family life does not have to mean settling for an ordinary look. For those who want practicality with a touch of personality, Suzuki Philippines brings a sportier expression to its trusted family vehicle with the Ertiga GLX AT-Hybrid Sport.

Designed for families, young professionals, and active individuals who are always on the move, the Ertiga GLX AT-Hybrid Sport brings together everyday versatility and a more dynamic exterior that matches the lifestyle of drivers who want their vehicle to look as ready for adventure as they are.

The upgraded look comes through a set of sporty exterior accessories, including the Front Under Spoiler, Side Under Spoiler, Rear Under Spoiler, Rear Upper Spoiler, and Suzuki Sport Emblem. Together, these enhancements give the Ertiga a bolder and more athletic presence, turning a practical family vehicle into one that makes a statement wherever it goes.

Available in Magma Gray Metallic for a bold, sophisticated look and Snow White Pearl for a clean, timeless appeal, the Ertiga GLX AT-Hybrid Sport lets drivers choose a style that matches their personality.

More than its refreshed appearance, the Ertiga GLX AT-Hybrid Sport is made for life beyond the daily routine. From bringing the family to weekend destinations and carrying everything needed for a getaway, to making a confident impression when arriving at work or meeting friends, it fits seamlessly into different sides of modern life.

For young professionals, its sportier styling complements a lifestyle that values individuality and style without compromising practicality. For families, it offers the flexibility needed for everyday errands, family outings, and road trips. And for travelers who are always packing for the next destination, it delivers the space and versatility to bring along the essentials and then some.

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Long lines, packed lobbies, and sold-out cinemas are greeting moviegoers at this year’s Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, as its biggest edition yet opens to a strong first-week turnout.

Crowds have been pouring into participating cinemas to catch the latest batch of original Filipino films produced for Puregold CinePanalo, with multiple screenings selling out within the festival’s first few days.

And at a time when the state of Philippine cinema has been the subject of intense discussion, the sight of audiences lining up for locally made films is sending a clear message: Filipino moviegoers are still willing to show up for Filipino stories.

‘This year, Pinoy cinema has been the subject of much debate and discourse,’ said Puregold CinePanalo Festival Director Chris Cahilig. ‘However, the success of our first day of screenings makes things incredibly clear: there remains a strong appetite for Filipino stories told by Filipino voices. Puregold CinePanalo has always been proud to uplift the stories of our local artists.’

The excitement was already visible even before the first film rolled.

Long lines were reported at cinemas a full day before screenings began, as fans headed to their cinemas of choice to secure tickets in advance. Cinephiles also rushed to Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma to claim festival passes giving them access to the lineup of full-length films and student short-film sets.

By opening day, several screenings were already sold out.

Among the films drawing packed houses were the coming-of-age story ‘Apol of My Ai’; the supernatural queer films ‘Patay Gutom’ and ‘Multwoh (Patay na Patay sa ‘Yo)’; and the romantic comedy ‘Stuck on You,’ which puts a deadly twist on the genre.

The rush has spilled onto social media, where moviegoers have begun posting updates about sold-out screenings to help fellow festivalgoers plan and find available schedules.

And the demand is not slowing down.

Multiple screenings for the coming weekend have already sold out, with seats for all seven Puregold CinePanalo full-length films particularly in demand during late-afternoon and evening schedules.

Beyond the movies themselves, festivalgoers have also been walking away with souvenirs and giveaways, including grocery bags, custom totes, pins, and personalized souvenir receipts.

‘Puregold CinePanalo is our treat to both artists and fans of cinema,’ said Cahilig. ‘While we continue to uplift the stories of local filmmakers, we also strive to create memorable experiences for those who come to support these films. Attendees will leave with great stories in their hearts and minds, along with giveaways to serve as mementos of the experience.’

All seven full-length films and 19 original student shorts of the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival will screen until October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Market! Market!

Regular tickets are priced at ?250, while discounted tickets cost ?200. PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Aling Puring and Puregold Perks cardholders qualify for the discounted rate.

A ?2,000 festival pass is also available for moviegoers who want to take on the festival lineup. Festival passes may be purchased only at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma but can be used across participating festival venues.

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is sponsored by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Cream Silk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack ‘N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins and Zonrox.

‘Our kids.’

That was the simple reply of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Navotas chapter president Paul Santos when asked who chose the bands performing at the Navotas Music Fest 2026 tonight, Sept. 26, at the Navotas Convention Center.

The lineup makes the answer easy to understand. Cup of Joe, Maki, Mayonnaise, KAIA, and Room Sessions are expected to draw thousands of young music fans for an evening tailored to their generation.

For PCCI-Navotas, however, the concert is about more than giving young people a night out. The business group sees it as an opportunity to introduce Navotas as an emerging destination for tourism, culture and commerce.

The Navotas Convention Center, which Santos said can accommodate 4,000 people, will serve as a test of the city’s potential to host large concerts, cultural activities and business gatherings.

The event will also raise funds for the chamber’s programs for nano, micro and small enterprises. Proceeds will support business development and skills training, networking and livelihood projects, as well as youth and community activities.

Santos and his group hope the music fest will encourage more people from neighboring cities to visit Navotas-and perhaps see the city in a new light. Established event destinations, after all, often begin with a single successful gathering that proves people are willing to make the trip.

For one night, PCCI-Navotas is betting that the city’s young people-and the music they love-can help put Navotas on the map.