Category: Business Mirror

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has defended the term limits it imposed on broker directors of the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE).

SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 17 restricts broker-directors to a maximum cumulative term of 10 years at any exchange.

‘The commission reiterates that MC 17 was promulgated pursuant to the regulatory powers vested upon it under Republic Act [RA] No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code [SRC], as well as Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines,’ the SEC said in a statement.

‘Accordingly, the memorandum circular directly advances the commission’s mandate to uphold corporate governance standards, enhance market transparency, and strengthen integrity and accountability in the corporate sector. These are essential toward building a robust, dynamic and world-class Philippine capital market-capable of attracting global investment and driving sustainable economic growth.’

Former PSE Chair Ma. Vivian Yuchengco and Eddie Gobing, a director petitioned the Court of Appeals to declare the rule unconstitutional.

Yuchengco and Gobing sat on the board for 28 years and 25 years, respectively.

The SEC said it is ‘disappointed’ that after providing a reasonable two-year transition period for the implementation of the reform-following extensive consultations-‘we now find ourselves having to defend it in court.’

‘We see no deprivation of shareholders’ rights. Shareholders remain free to elect the directors of their choice from among those who are qualified under the law and SEC regulations. The law does not recognize an unfettered right to elect any specific individual regardless of applicable regulatory qualifications.’

In their petition which they filed last week, Yuchengco and Gobing said ‘the SEC ironically seeks to exclude those with the most experience and insight in managing and directing the affairs of the Exchange, just so other ‘qualified brokers’ may be given an opportunity to serve on the board’.

‘Reading between the lines, these other ‘qualified brokers’ are those who are unable to get the required number of votes to be elected as members of the board of the Exchange.

‘The only way they can sit on the board is if the SEC disqualifies long-serving Broker Directors who, because of their experience and qualifications, have consistently received the greatest number of votes from the shareholders during the annual elections,’ the petition read.

SEC Chairman Francis E. Lim said the agency is fully prepared to defend this reform.

‘The SEC remains steadfast in strengthening investor confidence, enhancing market integrity, and building a more dynamic, competitive, and trusted Philippine capital market,’ he said.

‘Serving as a director of an exchange is a privilege, not a vested right. It is subject to the qualifications and regulatory standards prescribed by law and the SEC. Good governance requires board renewal, fresh perspectives and a commitment to advancing the long-term interests of our capital market above individual or institutional interests.’

WHEN Spencer Ozo made his solo exhibition debut in 2022 at Conrad Manila’s Gallery C, he was touted as the hotel’s homegrown artistic talent, serving as its assistant front desk manager.

Four years later, Ozo returns for his follow-up showcase at the hotel’s long-running Of Art and Wine series with Intimate Reflections. The 25-piece presentation serves as a visual diary that logs his deepest emotions, personal experiences, and ongoing journey with self-discovery. It also carries the theme of duality beyond Ozo’s titles with a balanced mix of figurative and abstract artworks.

‘Through this collection, I hope to encourage reflection and meaningful conversations about identity, growth, and the shared human experience,’ the multihyphenate said.

Born and raised in Baguio City, Ozo joined Conrad Manila in 2017 and only began painting during the height of the Covid-19 global pandemic. He lost several loved ones during that time, and channeled his emotions on canvas using materials gifted by his cousin.

Ozo proved to be a natural. Given his state of mind then, his earlier pieces centered on darker tones and themes, before expanding in concepts, colors and techniques. The growth takes center stage in Ozo’s ongoing show, which runs until September.

The exhibition features several triptychs that visualize the artist’s psyche and appreciation for natural beauty. Inner Thoughts shows a human subject with its eyes closed and hair shared, as if caught deep into a state of introspection, turning in the series from one side to the next. Then, Whisper of the Wind shows a maya mid-flight, flapping its wings rendered in realistic detail. Meanwhile, Oro del Mundo and Sun Glints serve as series of textured, cosmic-inspired abstractions heavy on gold and its complementary tones of blue and black.

Ozo also presents a creative rendition of Osaka, with some of its culinary and pop-culture iconographies orbiting a heaping bowl of ramen.

Whenever asked how he balances his day job with an art career, Ozo cites those who juggle the same roles as inspirations, including SM Investments executive vice president/feng shui artist Lizanne Uychaco and senior business analyst/environmental artist Lara Latosa, who have both exhibited at

Gallery C as well. Ozo also points to a Japan trip

with his wife, saying it keeps him inspired to create new artworks.

In his speech during the show’s opening reception, Ozo shared that he encountered the Japanese concept of misogi during their most recent trip. It’s about conquering a life-defining challenge as a key to self-discovery and happiness. Ozo said that this stretch of his exhibit feels like the payoff of his misogi, because he also learned the day before it opened that he’s going to be a dad.

From his current post as front desk manager to his expanding role as visual artist and upcoming function as a father, Ozo has learned over the years to blur the boundaries between his many duties. After all, the path toward self-discovery is less about an either-or proposition and more of an amalgamation of all things at once.

‘Art has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of who I am,’ Ozo said. ‘It allows me to navigate personal histories, cultural influences, and emotional truths with honesty and intention.’

Farmers and fisherfolk may soon get timely technical assistance in the use of technologies and climate-smart farming practices with the inclusion of two bills in the priority list of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), according to the chairman of the Senate agriculture committee.

Senator Francis N. Pangilinan said his twin measures-the Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act and the Agricultural Cooperatives Act-were shortlisted at last week’s Ledac meeting among the measures agreed on by the Executive and Legislative branches as deserving of passage in the Second Regular Session of Congress.

Panglinan, who has been pushing for the passage of these two bills since his return to the Senate last year, welcomed their inclusion in the Marcos administration’s priority list.

He underscored the urgent need to provide farmers and fisherfolk with stronger institutional support, better access to technology and knowledge, and more effective cooperative structures.

‘We need to get these bills across the finish line. It’s not enough that the promised support for farmers and fishers remain on paper. They deserve concrete systems and services to ensure such assistance reaches their farms and their fishing grounds,’ Pangilinan said, speaking partly in Filipino.

The proposed Senate Bill (SB) 1991, or the Agricultural and Fisheries Extension Services Act, seeks to establish a stronger, more responsive, and better-coordinated national extension system that will provide farmers and fisherfolk with timely technical assistance, research-based technologies, climate-smart farming practices, and continuous capacity-building.

SB 1990, or the Agricultural Cooperatives Act, will reestablish the Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives. It aims to strengthen farmers’ and fisherfolk’s capacity to organize themselves and compete effectively.

Once capacitated, agricultural cooperatives will have improved access to financing, markets, equipment, and value-adding opportunities.

‘As it is, our farmers and fishers are not just reeling from soaring production costs; they have also been left behind in terms of new technologies, new farming practices, and new knowledge,’ said Pangilinan.

‘The farmers and fishers of a country that is rich in terms of soil and sea should not be left behind. They hold the dreams of their sector, but public servants must provide the support and opportunities to fulfill these.’

The two measures, Pangilinan also said, are closely linked to the country’s long-term food security agenda because a stronger agriculture and fisheries sector will bring down the prices of basic goods and commodities, increasing the buying power of ordinary Filipinos.

He expressed readiness to work with his colleagues in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Executive to ensure the timely passage of the two measures.

Alexandra Eala didn’t dress up what last night cost her. Moments after closing out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 win over American Caty McNally at Sobeys Stadium – a match that ran nearly two hours and forty minutes and pushed deep into the night – she sat courtside with her legs propped up, visibly spent, and let the cameras see it before she spoke.

Asked how much the win had taken out of her, she said plainly that she was as fatigued as she could remember being at this stage of a tournament, but that fatigue was simply part of the job. She added that she was already looking ahead to the next round and intended to rest and reset before it arrived.

It was her seventh consecutive tour-level victory, a run that began with her maiden WTA title at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington – where she beat world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the final – and has carried her to a career-high ranking inside the top 20, a seed at a WTA 1000 event, and now a fourth-round date with a two-time Olympic medalist who has spent a decade beating players exactly like her.

Eala didn’t sugarcoat the difficulty of the match itself, describing McNally as a fierce competitor with real weapons and calling the whole contest tight from start to finish.

The more striking moment of her postmatch remarks came when she was asked about sitting quietly after the final point, visibly working through something. Rather than deflect, she acknowledged that the last two weeks had been emotionally demanding, layered on top of what was already a taxing individual match. She described trying to stay professional and lean on her fundamentals under that pressure, while admitting that the weight of recent weeks had left her feeling things more intensely than usual – something she framed as a byproduct of caring deeply about the moment rather than a burden, even as she conceded she was still learning how to balance that intensity. She closed the thought by saying she was proud of how she’d handled herself, both emotionally and on the court.

It’s a rare bit of candor from a 21-year-old mid-breakthrough – an acknowledgment that the emotional weight of a life-changing few weeks doesn’t simply switch off because there’s another match on the schedule.

Tactically, Eala credited a specific mental discipline for surviving McNally’s flatter, quicker style through the deficits she faced during the match. She explained that she tried to tune out the external noise and focus on what she could actually control – recognizing when her opponent was playing well, being honest with herself about the shots she was missing, and simply trying to win each point a little better than the one before it.

She also touched on the growing role of the slice in her game, a shot that’s become increasingly visible across her recent tournaments. She said it comes down to knowing how to change rhythm, and that it’s proven to be an effective tool for her lately – one weapon among several she now carries into matches.

There was a scare in the second set. Eala said she rolled her ankle after landing awkwardly out of a forehand, and the sudden, unclear nature of the injury was enough to call the physio out. She was relieved to report afterward that nothing serious had come of it.

She was careful, though, not to understate the cumulative physical cost of the fortnight, noting that the match had pushed her hard physically and that she now has a heavy stack of matches behind her – something she framed as both an asset and a strain. She called it part of the learning process of being a professional athlete, where the physical toll is simply built into the job, and expressed confidence in her team’s ability to help her recover in time to keep her hopes alive for the rest of the tournament.

Toronto’s crowd has produced its own subplot over the tournament: a fan in a blue dinosaur costume who has become an unlikely fixture at Eala’s matches. Asked about him after the win, Eala admitted she hadn’t spotted him in the stands last night, though she’d been told he was there. She called him a legend, recalling how funny it was the first time she noticed him, and said his presence captured something she loves about the way fans support her – that it shows up in wonderfully unexpected forms.

She was equally direct about how much she leaned on the crowd’s energy in the third set, after asking spectators to raise the volume following a big point. She said she’d been riding a wave of adrenaline in that moment and wanted to share it with the crowd while drawing on their energy in return – though, tellingly, she admitted she couldn’t quite recall the specifics of the point itself, only that she badly wanted to win it. The match ended, as many of Eala’s this fortnight have, with a warm exchange at the net. Eala described a deep mutual respect passing between the two players after such a hard-fought contest, recalling that McNally congratulated her and thanked her for being part of the match – a gesture Eala called remarkably kind and gracious, one that left her with real admiration for her opponent.

Eala’s reward for surviving last night is a fourth-round match against Belinda Bencic, the Swiss veteran and Olympic gold medalist – an opponent Eala has never faced before at any level.

She spoke of the matchup with clear enthusiasm, noting that it will be her first time ever facing Bencic and pointing to the Swiss player’s substantial career achievements, including a vivid memory of watching her win her Olympic medal. She said she was genuinely excited to get back on court for it.

Bencic, a former top-five player who has rebuilt her career more than once and has no shortage of answers for opponents who try to dictate with pace. For Eala, fresh off admitting how much the accumulated matches have taken out of her physically, the challenge is as much about recovery and freshness as it is about tactics. But her own words made clear where her head is heading into it: energized rather than daunted, and treating a first-time opponent with the same competitive curiosity that has carried her through six previous rounds and a maiden title in the past three weeks.

Eala leaves last night’s court having been honest about the price of the run so far – tired, emotional, still finding her balance – and having still found a way to win.

Sisi Rondina-Rosales, Bernadeth Pons and Bryan Bagunas shared center stage with the continent’s best and brightest in the first-ever Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Gala at the Seesarin Studio here on Saturday night.

The three Philippine stars lifted the Fans’ Choice Beach Volleyball and Men’s Volleyball Player trophies in the Gala organized by AVC president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara.

‘This recognition has driven us to excel more and see what else we can do more for our country,’ said Bagunas, a nine-year national team member who was captain of the Alas Pilipinas squad that posted a historic victory at the FIVB men’s world championship the country hosted last year.

‘We are incredibly happy and proud,’ said Bagunas, who was dapper in an Avel Bacudio creation. ‘This is a great boost to our next competition-the Asian Games. I believe we can win,’ said Bagunas, who is presently playing for the Japanese SV League club Osaka Bluteon.

‘We are thrilled to be here along with Asia’s best,’ said Rondina-Rosales, wearing a Filipiniana by Ryan Ablaza, who also designed her gown during her wedding with fellow beach volleyball national Ronniel Rosales.

Pons was as grateful for the award.

‘Grateful for the opportunity and it’s a great feeling when you’re with the best of the best of the sport you love,’ Pons said. ‘Thankful to the AVC, FIVB and sir Tats [Ramon Suzara] for organizing this kind of event and for the fans who recognized us.’

Asked about her gown which, like Rondina-Rosales’s, was special mentioned by the hosts: ‘Secret,’ she said with a laugh.

‘This is a testament of how far we have come after 74 years of the AVC. I am incredibly grateful that we hosted our first ever AVC Gala as we showed respect with one another despite the different cultures, different languages, but we are one family under the AVC banner,’ Suzara said.

FIVB president Fabio Azevedo was all praises about the Gala.

‘It was fantastic as we were all here together and overjoyed. This is the first night, but I am quite sure this will become a tradition because it is important to honor our athletes that inspire the next generation,’ Azevedo said.

‘Great event by the AVC for the volleyball fans,’ he added. Arabelle Dela Cruz was a star of the night herself as the Sparkle GMA Artist Center artist known as the ‘Laguna Diva’ impressed top officials and athletes from all 65 members of the AVC.

Among the presentors of the awards were Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Her Excellency Millicent Cruz Paredes, Candon City Councilor Eric Owen Singson Jr. representing Mayor Eric Singson, Rebisco Rolly Delfino and Premier Volleyball League competition director Sherwin Malonzo.

THE Philippines opens defense of the Asian Games gold medal against Bahrain but has a tough customer in waiting, China, in Group C of men’s 5×5 basketball action in Aichi.

The match is set for September 11-eight days before the Games’ opening ceremony-and on the next day, the Filipinos battle Kazakhstan at the Aichi International Arena.

After a day’s rest, the Philippines will contend with China, an arch enemy that has a big score to settle-Gilas Pilipinas eliminated the Chinese right in front of former National Basketball Association star Yao Ming in Hangzhou three years ago.

‘China will be tough as usual,’ national team head coach Tim Cone told BusinessMirror on Sunday. ‘And the key will be getting to the second round.’

Gilas broke the hearts of the Chinese in that 77-76 thriller of a semifinals, a victory that gave the team momentum in beating Jordan, 70-60, that ended the country’s Asian Games gold medal drought since 1962 in Jakarta.

Cone called Group C as ‘tough’ and is cautious about Bahrain and Kazakhstan.

‘We do not know much about Kazakhstan, nut Bahrain has improved through the years,’ he said. ‘It will be a tough group.’

Group A is composed of host Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia while Group B has Iran, Jordan, Chinese-Taipei and Qatar.

The top two teams in each group and the two best third-placed squads in pool play will advance to the knockout quarterfinals.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas already has a 12-man team-Juan Gomez de Liaño, RJ Abarrientos, Justin Brownlee, Calvin Oftana, Carl Tamayo, Troy Rosario, Ange Kouame, Scottie Thompson, Quentin Milloria-Brown, June Mar Fajardo, Kevin Quiambao and Mike Philips-which the Philippine Olympic Committee already submitted to the Asian Games organizers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) advises the public that landing and take-off operations at Butuan Airport were temporarily suspended on Sunday, August 9, 2026, due to a disabled aircraft on the runway.

The suspension resulted in the cancellation of the following flights:

CEBU PACIFIC

5J 786: Butuan-Manila

5J 794: Butuan-Manila

5J 792: Butuan-Manila

5J 788: Butuan-Manila

5J 790: Butuan-Manila

CEBGO

DG 6930: Butuan-Cebu

DG 6926: Butuan-Cebu

DG 6924: Butuan-CebuPHILIPPINE AIRLINES

PR 2334: Butuan-Cebu

PR 2942: Butuan-Manila

PR 2939: Butuan-Manila

Affected passengers were provided with available options by their respective airlines, including rebooking, refund, or travel fund.

CAAP continues to closely monitor weather developments and airport operations in coordination with government agencies and airline operators, reiterating that the safety of passengers remain its top priority.

At Area 12 in Butuan Airport

Cebpac 5J786 was disabled at Rwy 12 at 7:38 am while taxiing for departure. Landing gear was stuck at the grassy portion when turning.

Passengers were assisted in disembarking at end of Rwy 12

Landing and takeoff suspended at 7:48 am

Last time, we shared about the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.

Why are the prophetic books so difficult to understand? Through the Scriptures, we confirmed that prophetic books are written in parables (Hosea 12:10), and that they were written in parables to hide the secrets of the kingdom of heaven from the enemy, the devil.

However, when the prophecy is fulfilled, the hidden parables of prophecy are no longer parables; their true meaning and reality are revealed through the true pastor. We call this the revealed word (Amos 3:7; Isaiah 29:9-13,18; Matthew 13:13-17).

This was precisely how God’s revelation (the word testifying to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies) was testified through Jesus at his first coming (John 3:31-33; John 8:44-45).

We call this revelation from heaven, truth, or the gospel.

There is a season when this revealed word falls like rain from heaven (Deuteronomy 32:2). It is when the words of prophecy are fulfilled. That season was Jesus’ first coming, and although he gave them words of life like refreshing rain, they neither listened to nor saw those words, acting like the deaf and the blind.

Bound to their own denominations, they abandoned Jesus’ words and remained tied to human teachings and traditions (Matthew 13:13-17; Mark 7:6-9). This, too, was prophesied and came to pass according to the prophecy.

Furthermore, because they had never heard this new teaching of Jesus before (Mark 1:27; Acts 17:19), they ultimately persecuted and killed Jesus and his disciples (John 15:18-16:4).

Though both claimed to be believers of God, the difference between Jesus and his disciples versus those who persecuted and killed them comes down to the SEED.

That seed is the beginning of all creation, the source of life, and the word of God (John 1:1-4; Luke 8:11). Depending on this seed, one can become either a child of God or a child of Satan.

While both children possess the exact same Bible, the children of God are those who receive the revealed word (truth) given from heaven, whereas the children of Satan are those who receive the seed of lies-interpreting the same Bible in their own way (Proverbs 30:6; John 8:44-45).

God’s children hunger and thirst for the truth and search for God’s word through the Bible. Then, at the appointed time to receive the truth (Habakkuk 2:3), they do not harden their hearts, but hear the word with a good and noble heart.

They engrave that word on their hearts and overcome with endurance, no matter what persecution, difficulty, or suffering comes their way. They testify to God’s word engraved on their hearts-the fruit of their lips-and put into practice love-the fruit of their actions (evangelism that saves lives).

In the Bible, this is expressed as being born again of an imperishable seed to love sincerely (1 Peter 1:22-23), those given birth through the word of truth to become the first fruits (James 1:18), or being born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-6).

Only these people are God’s true children who can call God their Father.

However, the children of the devil take the exact same Bible and receive the seed of lies from false pastors who sit in their respective denominations and churches like kings, interpreting the Scriptures as if they are the masters (Matthew 23:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

These people are already full; they have no hunger or thirst for the truth of God’s word (John 8:37). They do not understand the parables of prophecy and have no interest in the reality of how prophecy is fulfilled.

Therefore, their faith consists of mere words. Though they say with their lips that they believe in the Lord, but inside them, there is neither faith nor love (John 14:29).

Outwardly, they look holy and clean, but inside, they are like tombs for dead souls (Matthew 23:27). The fruit of their mouth is packaged with love, forgiveness, and blessing to sound sweet, but inside, like the venom of a serpent, it puts souls to sleep and brings them to death (Matthew 23:33).

Though they call God their Father, their father is the devil, the father of lies, and they are the devil’s children who have received the devil’s seed-lies, human teachings, and traditions (John 8:44).

We call today the end times, and many believers speak of Jesus’ second coming.

If this is the end times, the time of the Second Coming (Daniel 12:4), do I possess the knowledge of the true meaning and reality of the prophecies (the truth)? Or am I practicing a sleeping, blind faith built on lies that add to or subtract from the prophecy (Revelation 22:18-19)? Do I have a faith acknowledged by the Lord (John 14:29; Luke 18:8)? Or am I living out a faith centered on my own desires? We must truly reflect on this before the word of God. Now is the time to choose between life and death (Deuteronomy 30:19).

May the Lord be with you as you meditate on the topic today (Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43). Next month, we will share about the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil based on the Bible.

Soo Oh is with the Zion Christian Mission Center, the theology arm of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and it offers a full theology course for free. You can sign up here to download the ZCMC SPS (Self-Paced Study) app and start your journey today.

MAJOR Philippine business organizations have expressed alarm over the recent use of caskets as instruments of intimidation and hatred, fearing that it may signal high economic and reputational risk.

In a joint statement, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop), Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport), backed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) move to condemn the said actions, stressing that it is irresponsible and disrespectful.

They claimed that these abandoned caskets found across Manila, Makati, Caloocan, and Quezon City on August 7, and believed to be targeting Chinese entities, ‘violate the standards of decency, civility, and respect expected in a democratic society.’

The groups added: ‘Such actions seek to sow fear, inflame divisions, unfairly tarnish the Philippines’ reputation as a nation committed to democracy and the peaceful expression of differing views, and undermine confidence in our country as a safe, stable, and welcoming destination for investments, trade, and tourism.’ The statement was signed by Ecop Chairman, Eduardo G. Lacson, FFCCCII President Victor T. Lim, FPI Chairman Elizabeth Lee, MAP President Dr. Donald L. Lim, PCCI President Ferdinand Ferrer, and Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr.

They noted that at a time when the Philippine economy continues to face serious challenges-including subdued economic growth, weak foreign investment inflows, and the need to further revitalize tourism-the nation cannot allow ‘reckless’ acts that damage our international image or seek to undermine the country’s diplomatic and economic relations with its largest trading partner.

‘Such irresponsible actions risk undermining investor confidence, discouraging tourists, disrupting trade, and ultimately affecting the livelihoods and future opportunities of millions of Filipinos.’

They reiterated that differences must never be expressed through threats, intimidation, or acts that incite hatred.

‘Our democracy is strengthened not by fear or provocation, but by reasoned dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful engagement,’ they said.

These business organizations also called on the Philippine National Police and other concerned authorities to swiftly investigate these incidents.

‘Identify the perpetrators and all those responsible, and hold them fully accountable to the full extent of the law. Decisive action is essential to uphold public order and reinforce confidence in the Philippines as a safe, stable, and welcoming destination for investments, trade, and tourism.’

Likewise, they urged all Filipinos to ‘reject hatred and intimidation; uphold civility and mutual respect; preserve peace and national unity; safeguard the Philippines’ international reputation; strengthen our economic partnerships with all nations; and work together toward sustainable and inclusive Philippine economic recovery, greater investments, more jobs, and shared prosperity for all.’

ROMEO VICTOR ENRIQUEZ topped the under-10 male kumite category and Wifredo Apelledo retained his under-14 male kata title in the recent Third Asian Karate Youth Open Championships and Training Camp in Hangzhou, China.

A fourth-grader at Ateneo de Manila, Enriquez, 9 and fighting out of Fight Alliance Sports Team (FAST)-International Shutokan Federation (ISKF) also finished in the top five of the under-10 male kata (+40 kgs) event.

Apelledo, 11 of AAKR Karatedo, also claimed the silver medal in the under-12 male kumite (-45 kgs) in the tournament that also saw 13-year-old Raphael Mariano Herrera, a Grade 7 student at Abba’s Orchard, winning a second straight under-14 male kata bronze medal.

Ten-year-old Ripley Borromeo of Keys School Manila, meanwhile, was in the top five of the under-12 female kata and seventh in the female kumite.

‘We are extremely proud of what these young athletes,’ said the team’s coach, Engene Dagohoy, a Southeast Asian Games medalist. ‘Their medals are the result of countless hours of disciplined training, sacrifice and unwavering determination.’

The tournament drew athletes from China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Macau, China, Kazakhstan, Singapore and Uzbekistan.

‘The future of Philippine karate is in good hands. These children have shown they can compete-and win-against the best young karatekas in Asia,’ Dagohoy said.

Ellis Cañoza, 11, and Colin Paolo, 10, also joined the team, as well as Ysabella Arwen Varias of AAKR.