Category: Business Mirror

A NEW career in food does not always mean starting from scratch.

For aspiring chefs and bakers, career shifters, entrepreneurs, and home cooks, top culinary school CCA Manila offers two pathways to turn passion into professional skills: the Professional Chef Program (ProChef) and the new Professional Baking Program (ProBaking).

Designed for those who want professional training without committing to a full diploma, both programs combine structured coursework with hands-on learning at CCA’s satellite campus in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). Classes ensure students receive meaningful time in the kitchen or at the baking bench, along with focused mentorship.

The six-month ProChef Program gives aspiring chefs and career shifters a strong culinary foundation, moving from essential kitchen skills to professional application. Students begin with foundations such as kitchen safety, ingredients, knife skills, and essential cooking methods, then progress to culinary techniques and global cooking principles.

The program also focuses on what happens beyond the recipe: timing, workflow, plating, quality standards, and pro kitchen discipline. Career preparation, certification, and optional internship experience round out the training.

Coursework is integrated with Rouxbe online learning, while face-to-face practical sessions at CCA BGC enable students to put those lessons into action.

New path for aspiring bakers

LAUNCHED in September 2026, the seven-month ProBaking program brings the same professional approach to baking, with an added focus on entrepreneurship.

Students build their foundation in ingredients, technique, and food safety before progressing into artisan baking. They then move into production, learning workflow, costing, yield, and quality standards.

The program culminates in a complete bakery business plan: from concept and menu creation to costing and bringing the business to life.

With Rouxbe-integrated coursework and hands-on classes, ProBaking is designed to give aspiring bakers both the technical foundation and practical business thinking needed to take their ambitions further.

Experience as an advantage

FOR two recent ProChef graduates, returning to school wasn’t about starting over: It was about building on years of experience and gaining the professional training to take their passion further.

Entrepreneur Joanna Ledesma had been cooking since Grade 2 before pursuing Business Administration at Saint Louis University in Baguio City. Her entrepreneurial career eventually brought her back to food and hospitality, where she developed and managed several concepts, including Simone’s Original Snacks, The Blue Mikey Bar and Restaurant, Ramenshakku, among others. Despite her extensive experience, Ledesma wanted stronger culinary foundations and professional techniques.

‘I wanted proper culinary training, stronger foundations, and professional techniques that would help me grow as a chef,’ she said. ‘Enrolling in the CCA ProChef Program was my way of investing in myself and finally giving formal education to a passion I had carried with me for so many years.’

At CCA Manila, she discovered that professional cooking involved much more than recipes. The training strengthened her understanding of kitchen discipline, organization, food safety, flavor development, presentation, consistency, and technique.

From learning to building

FELLOW ProChef graduate Jeremaine Sze shared a similar motivation: the desire to keep learning. While completing the program, she started NamJai Thai Noodle House, applying her training to food preparation, sanitation and safety, cooking methods, staff training, and menu standardization.

‘Obtaining a professional culinary certification significantly boosted my confidence as a leader,’ she said.

For her, the program’s blended format also made it possible to pursue formal culinary education while managing a busy schedule.

The ladies’ experiences show that professional culinary education is not limited to young students choosing their first careers. It can help experienced professionals sharpen their skills, entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, and passionate cooks and bakers finally pursue a long-held ambition.

Addressing the impending shortage of care for older adults requires coordinated action across workforce development, financing, support for informal carers, prevention, technology, and system redesign. Drawing on recommendations from the OECD, WHO, national experiences in high-aging countries (Japan, South Korea, Germany, Nordic nations), and expert analyses, the following policies target the core drivers: rising demand, workforce shortages, funding pressures, and over-reliance on unpaid family care.

1. Strengthening the formal care workforce

The most immediate bottleneck is the shortage of paid carers.

OECD analyses emphasize that without better job quality, recruitment and retention will fail even with expanded training.

Raise wages and improve working conditions: Higher pay relative to hospital or other sectors, reduced physical strain, better scheduling, career progression pathways, and stronger occupational health protections. Countries have used sectoral minimum wages (e.g., Scotland and Wales) and public funding increases to support this. Collective bargaining and recognition of care work as skilled employment are key. Evidence shows poor conditions drive high turnover; improving them is essential for retention.

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Expand training and recruitment pipelines: Subsidized or free training for unemployed people, career changers, students, and underrepresented groups (including efforts to attract more men). Japan increased its long-term care (LTC) workforce substantially in earlier years through targeted programs. Accelerated training with work placements (as in Canada) and standardized curricula help scale supply quickly. Long-term workforce planning with better forecasting is needed to align education capacity with demand.

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Ethical international recruitment: Targeted migration pathways with visas, language training, and pathways to longer-term residency, paired with bilateral agreements that support origin countries (to avoid ‘brain drain’). Japan uses multiple schemes (economic partnership agreements, specified skilled worker visas, and student-to-worker pathways). South Korea has launched university-based programs for foreign students to train as caregivers with settlement incentives. Germany and Denmark have similar recruitment measures. Migration is a near-term bridge but is not a complete substitute for improving domestic attractiveness.

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2. Sustainable financing mechanisms

Public spending on long-term care must rise in most countries, but new structures can improve equity, adequacy, and fiscal sustainability.

Mandatory or expanded LTC insurance: Japan’s long-term care insurance (introduced in 2000, with contributions starting at age 40) provides a transparent, universal-risk-sharing model focused on maintaining dignity and independence. Germany and Luxembourg incorporate pre-funding elements. Slovenia introduced LTC insurance in 2023. These systems pool risk better than pure tax-based approaches in some contexts and clarify entitlements.

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Diversify funding and improve targeting: Expand beyond labor taxes (e.g., broader bases or pre-funding), while prioritizing benefits for those with the greatest needs and fewest resources. Caps on out-of-pocket costs scaled by need and income can protect the most vulnerable without universal over-coverage. Some countries explore hybrid public-private models or life/LTC insurance products.

Increase public investment linked to broader goals: Treat LTC as a priority tied to gender equality, labor force participation, and economic growth. Higher spending can create jobs while reducing unmet needs and hospital pressures.

3. Supporting informal and family caregivers

Informal care still provides the majority of support in most places. Policies should reduce burnout and enable workforce participation (especially for women).

Paid or flexible carer leave, cash allowances or benefits, respite care services, and free training/support programs.

Recognition of carers’ contributions and measures to prevent them from exiting the labor market permanently.

OECD and WHO frameworks stress integrating support for unpaid carers into formal systems.

4. Prevention, healthy ageing, and demand management

Reducing the intensity or onset of care needs can ease future pressure.

n Invest in prevention, early diagnosis, rehabilitation (‘reablement’), and healthy ageing programs (e.g., home visits in Denmark and Norway, lifestyle interventions). OECD modeling suggests healthy ageing strategies could lower future LTC expenditures significantly (around 13 percent in some scenarios).

Promote age-friendly environments, home adaptations, and community support so more people can live independently longer.

Research into dementia and age-related conditions, supported by public funding.

5. Technology, productivity, and service redesign

Assistive technology and robotics: Japan has subsidized care robots and digital tools in nursing homes. Studies link adoption to better retention, higher employment of flexible workers, reduced physical strain, and improved care quality indicators (e.g., fewer restraints or pressure ulcers). Productivity gains from technology and task-shifting (e.g., advanced nursing roles) can moderate workforce needs.

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Shift toward home- and community-based care: Most older people prefer ageing in place. Expand home care hours, integrated community services, and ‘hospitals at home’ models while ensuring quality. Nordic countries and others demonstrate stronger community orientation. WHO advocates person-centered, integrated health and social care packages as part of universal health coverage.

System integration and governance: Better coordination between health and social care, clear quality standards, staffing ratios where appropriate, and transparent regulation. Long-term national strategies with monitoring of workforce wellbeing and unmet needs are essential.

Implementation considerations and country examples

No single package fits all contexts. High-income super-ageing societies (Japan, South Korea, parts of Europe) prioritize workforce attractiveness, technology, and insurance expansion. Rapidly ageing middle-income countries (China and others) focus on building basic formal infrastructure, community services, pilot insurance schemes, and training at scale, often with international support (e.g., World Bank projects in China expanding community-based care and workforce training). Lower-income settings emphasize supporting family carers while gradually formalizing services.

Challenges include fiscal constraints, political prioritization, and the time lag between training and workforce impact. Success requires sustained commitment rather than short-term measures. OECD reports repeatedly stress that improving job quality and recognition of care work is foundational-without it, other reforms underperform.

These solutions are mutually reinforcing: better-paid, better-supported workers deliver higher-quality care; prevention and technology moderate demand; robust financing enables expansion; and support for families prevents system overload. Countries that treat elderly care as a strategic investment in social cohesion and economic resilience-rather than a residual cost-are better positioned to manage the demographic transition with dignity for older people and fairness for carers.

The College of the Holy Spirit (CHS) High School Class of 1977, the Golden Jubilarians of the upcoming celebration, proudly announces that preparations are well underway for the CHSM Grand Alumni Homecoming 2027, set to take place on February 7, 2027, at the School of the Holy Spirit of Quezon City.

The batch has already launched a series of successful activities leading up to the grand event. Among these was the highly successful CHS Golden Golf Cup, held last February at South Forbes Golf City in Silang, Cavite, which brought together alumni and supporters in a spirit of fellowship and celebration.

This was followed by the batch’s enthusiastic participation in CHSAF@45: Steps for Hope, a mall walkathon fundraiser organized by the CHS Alumni Foundation for the benefit of the Holy Spirit Aeta Mission in Capas, Tarlac. Held on May 16 at Robinsons Magnolia, the event provided an opportunity for HS-77 to join fellow alumni from various graduating classes in a meaningful cause.

Continuing the momentum, HS-77 presented its concept and vision for the Grand Alumni Homecoming during a gathering of co-celebrating class representatives on June 6. The presentation was warmly received and generated considerable excitement among fellow jubilarians from HS-57, HS-62, HS-67, HS-72, HS-82, and BSC-82.

Meanwhile, the various HS-77 committees have begun working diligently on their respective responsibilities. Efforts are now underway to reconnect with classmates and alumni both in the Philippines and abroad, encouraging them to return home and take part in the historic celebration next year.

The preparations themselves have become a source of renewed camaraderie among batchmates. From coordinating with production suppliers and planning event details to sourcing costumes and scouting venues for post-event gatherings, classmates are finding new opportunities to strengthen old friendships while working toward a common goal.

While the journey to Homecoming 2027 remains a long one, HS-77 is confidently moving forward, addressing challenges with determination and embracing the task with grateful hearts and hopeful spirits. With the support of fellow alumni and the CHS community, all roads are indeed leading to a memorable and meaningful Grand Alumni Homecoming in 2027.

Ayus.ph and PayLoro bring flexible payment options to the auto repair workflow, giving eligible motorists installment options for repair bills while helping participating auto shops access payment flexibility for parts and supplies.

Ayus, the free AI-powered shop-management platform from Bluewood Inc., has partnered with PayLoro to give Filipino auto repair shops and their customers more flexible ways to pay.

The partnership works on both sides of the repair counter. Motorists facing larger repair bills access installment options before authorizing a job. Eligible shops access buy-now-pay-later options for parts and supplies when working capital is short.

Ayus is free at its core, with no setup fee or subscription required. The platform centralizes job orders, customer and service history, estimates, and billing using AI for shops that have traditionally relied on notebooks, paper records, spreadsheets, and messaging apps. Optional upgrades include digital vehicle inspection, HR management, and accounts receivable and payable tracking.

PayLoro is the fintech platform of eMandarin Ventures, Inc. Its ecosystem supports digital payment acceptance, merchant collections, disbursements, QR and point-of-sale solutions, and enterprise integrations. Financing availability, credit approval, rates, fees, and terms remain subject to the applicable authorized financial partner.

‘We see a strong fit between PayLoro and Ayus because the need exists on both sides of the transaction,’ said Michael Tan, Head of Sales at PayLoro. ‘The goal is to make those payment options available inside the same workflow where the service decision is being made.’

‘You cannot build this from a boardroom, and you cannot build this from a garage alone,’ said Mariner Tulang, Director at Bluewood Inc. ‘It took someone with 25 years in auto service working side by side with someone who spent 20 years writing code to get it right.’

Ayus is already being used in operating repair shops in the Philippines, with plans to onboard more independent shops nationwide.

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.

Because looking good should not come at the expense of being ready for what comes next. With the Ertiga GLX AT-Hybrid Sport, Suzuki Philippines gives drivers another way to make every journey feel more like their own, sporty, confident, and ready for wherever life takes them. It reflects Suzuki’s commitment to being ‘By Your Side’ in every chapter, from the everyday school run and work commute to spontaneous weekend escapes and memorable family adventures.

With the Ertiga GLX AT-Hybrid Sport, bring your style wherever life takes you.

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.

FORMER death row convict Mary Jane Veloso, who was detained in Indonesia for nearly 15 years in Indonesia for drug trafficking charges, will soon be free after President Ferdinand Marcos granted her an absolute pardon.

The chief executive made the announcement when asked if he had already issued the pardon after inspecting the Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital in Eastern Samar on Friday.

‘Pinirmahan ko na….Pinirmahan ko na ‘yung pardon (I’ve already signed it…I’ve already signed the pardon),’ Marcos told reporters.

Veloso was arrested by authorities at an Indonesian airport in 2010 after 2.6 kilograms of heroin wwere found in her luggage.

The former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) claimed her employer tricked her to carry the suitcase, without her knowledge that it had a secret compartment hiding the drugs.

She was able to get a last-minute reprieve in her death sentence in 2015 amid frenzied interventions by the Philippine government under President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, with the call to stop execution coming just minutes before midnight.

After the Indonesian government approved the request of the Philippines government to allow Veloso to serve her prison sentence in the Philippines in 2024, she was transferred to the Correction Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Last February, the family of Veloso submitted a letter to the Palace urging Marcos to grant her clemency.

The Office of the Executive Secretary conducted a review of the possible legal impediments on the request.

Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto said Veloso’s pardon was the result of all of the diplomatic efforts of the government in over a decade.

‘Today, those efforts culminate in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s grant of an absolute pardon,’ Recto said in a statement.

He said he hopes the pardon will allow Veloso to spend time with her family.

‘We cannot give Mary Jane back the 16 years she spent away from her family. But today, perhaps, we can give her back the future,’ Recto said.

In a statement, Migrante International welcomed the announced granting of pardon to Veloso, which it said was the result of her family and stakeholder’s relentless campaign to secure her freedom.

‘We celebrate this as a historic victory for the global people’s movement that has long fought for freedom and justice for Mary Jane as a victim of human trafficking,’ Migrante International said in a statement.

However, it noted that the Marcos administration committed injustice for ‘prolonging her detention.’

‘Mary Jane’s freedom is long overdue. While he ultimately heeded the relentless call of the people to free Mary Jane, let us not forget that Marcos has committed a grave injustice by prolonging her detention in Philippine prison for one year and nine months, when no charges have been brought against her in Philippine courts,’ it said.

Carlos Yulo’s dominance – just like two years ago in the Paris Olympics – happened just once again in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games on Friday in Japan.

After a disastrous qualifying round campaign last Monday that almost eliminated him, the three-time world champion proved to be a winner as he bounced back when it mattered most by scoring 14.599 points in the final to win his second gold medal.

Iran’s Mahdi Olfati settled for silver with 14.533 while Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Ki got the bronze with 14.166.

He ended seventh among eight qualified gymnasts in Monday’s vault qualification after a disastrous landing.

But this time, Yulo made sure he would get his second gold medal after winning the men’s floor exercise gold last Thursday.

Yulo is also set to see action at the parallel bars later Friday.

He gave team Philippines its second gold medal so far.

THE National Food Authority (NFA) can only purchase 75 percent of its 790,000 metric tons (MT) palay procurement target in 2026 if El Niño ‘severely’ strikes the local rice sector.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson expressed confidence that the grains agency could purchase 500,000 MT of unmilled rice in the wet season harvest.

On top of the 92,032 MT that the NFA already procured as of September, its paddy rice purchase could reach 592,032 MT.

The projected figure, however, only constitutes 75 percent of the grains agency’s total target of 790,000 MT for 2026.

‘If the El Niño is severe, I cannot hit 790,000 MT,’ Lacson told reporters in a press conference on Friday.

‘As long as everything [farmers] sell [to the NFA] is clean and dry, we can absorb up to 500,000 MT,’ he said.

The NFA currently purchases wet palay at P22 per kilo and dry palay at P27 per kilo.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the NFA will earmark at least P500 million annually from its corporate receipts to bankroll the modernization of its warehouses starting next year.

‘Starting next year, whether the national government provides a subsidy or not, I will allot at least P500 million from our corporate receipts so we can build and modernize [warehouses], even if it’s just a few,’ Lacson said.

He added that the agency will prioritize modernizing NFA warehouses in geographically isolated, disadvantaged areas (Gida), such as Polillo, Lubang, Batanes, and Casiguran, among others.

‘We really need to do something. It’s expensive to transport there, so the stocks should have been there a long time ago.’

Lacson said the NFA will also build the succeeding warehouses that use renewable energy and equip these with air conditioning systems to prevent the quality of rice stocks from deteriorating.

‘From this time on, we will be building warehouses that use renewable energy, plus the [quality] of stocks won’t deteriorate much because we’ll be building air-conditioned or low-temperature warehouses.’