Category: Business Mirror

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law a measure fixing the term of office of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years, allowing incumbent officers to continue serving the public and working for their communities.

Republic Act No. 12326, or an ‘Act Fixing the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan to Five (5) years, amends RA No. 12232, which set the term at four years.

Under the new law, no elective barangay official shall serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same position and no elective SK official shall serve for more than one term in the same position.

R.A. No. 12326 also set the next regular barangay and SK elections to be held on the second Monday of November 2028 and every five years thereafter.

With term extension, ‘incumbent elective barangay officials shall be regarded as having completed one term in their respective positions.’

This makes incumbent officials serving their last term in the same position ineligible to run for the same position in the November 2028 Barangay and SK elections.

As to the limitation during the transition period, the new law states that incumbent officials are not exempted from pending and future investigations concerning administrative, civil, or criminal cases or liabilities against them, and their consequences during such incumbency.

Vacancies in the SK membership occuring prior to the election shall be filled through the appointment by the city or municipal mayor with jurisdiction over the barangay of the concerned SK. Appointees must meet the qualifications sey forth under Section 10 of the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.

The measure also added a new Section 4-B, to institutionalize continuing training and capacity-building programs for barangay officials and SK members to strengthen their capacity to perform their duties and responsibilities.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will spearhead the trainings, in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and other appropriate government agencies.

R.A. No. 12326 takes effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

NATIONWIDE residential property prices in the second quarter of 2026 saw the slowest growth pace since the start of the Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) series in the first quarter of 2019, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

Based on the central bank’s RPPI report for Second Quarter of 2026, prices of residential property grew by only 0.4 percent in the April to June 2026 period.

Sustained price growth in the National Capital Region (NCR) was largely offset by the first year-on-year decline in Areas Outside the NCR (AONCR), the report noted.

Data showed that while residential property prices in NCR grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, prices in areas outside NCR contracted by 2.7 percent.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, price growth was also ‘subdued,’ as residential property prices in NCR dipped by 2 percent compared to the prices in the first quarter of this year.

Prices in AONCR in the second quarter, meanwhile, inched up by 1.6 percent compared to the previous quarter.

THE lawyer-spokesperson of Senator Loren Legarda has rejected allegations that the senator and her son, Batangas First District Representative Leandro Leviste, profited unjustly from the mega solar franchise his company secured years ago, and called the case pending against them with the Ombudsman as baseless and ridiculous.

Atty. Antonio ‘Tony’ La Viña maintained that the accusations are contradicted by the documentary and financial records.

Speaking before members of the media on Wednesday, La Viña challenged the Department of Energy (DOE) to review its own correspondence, distinguish the companies involved, and correct what he described as fundamental errors underlying the complaint against Legarda and Leviste. He also questioned the Office of the Ombudsman’s basis for pursuing the allegations of plunder and graft, urging it to examine the documentary evidence.

‘Una sa lahat, walang pera galing sa gobyerno na kinuha at binulsa ni Senator Loren o ni Representative Leandro. Walang plunder, walang government funds na kinuha in any of the projects. Dapat very clear sa atin yan [Firstly, no government money was pocketed by Senator Loren or Representative Leandro. There was no plunder, no government funds taken in any of the projects. That should be clear to us all] ,’ La Viña said.

The renewable energy projects under scrutiny were privately funded and the failure of a project to proceed does not, by itself, constitute plunder or graft, he asserted.

Addressing the multibillion-peso financial obligations publicly attributed to Leviste, La Viña clarified that the amounts involved different corporate entities. He maintained that the financial obligations legitimately assessed against Leviste’s companies had already been fully settled.

La Viña identified a DOE demand letter addressed to Mr. Emmanuel Rubio of SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC), which has been majority-owned and controlled by Meralco’s generation company, MGen, since 2024. He urged the DOE to distinguish SPNEC from Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation and the other Solar Philippines companies, emphasizing that the financial obligations of one corporate entity cannot simply be attributed to another.

‘It is clear that their letter asking for twenty-four billion to be paid, which was later changed to 10 billion, is for Mr. Emmanuel Rubio and not Leandro Leviste, and not the latter’s companies,’ La Viña said, partly in Filipino.

He also clarified that the Solar Para sa Bayan franchise was non-exclusive and had ceased to exist under the law’s automatic revocation provision after it failed to become operational. He attributed its non-implementation to the DOE’s failure to issue the necessary implementing rules and identify the areas where the franchise could operate.

‘It wasn’t implemented because the government, the Department of Energy, failed to issue the rules and regulations to implement the solar franchise. The government, or DOE, also did not release a list of the places where it can be implemented,’ La Viña said.

He rejected allegations that Leviste had monopolized renewable energy service contracts, explaining that the 42 solar contracts awarded to him represented only a portion of the 518 solar service contracts nationwide.

A Senate Energy committee hearing in 2024 had elicited from the DOE a report that nearly half of the companies issued show-cause orders for failure to have operational projects longer after the usual period of 1-3 years belonged to Leviste.

La Viña emphasized that a renewable energy service contract involves exploration and pre-development and that projects may not proceed because of land availability, grid connectivity, and other feasibility concerns. Investors bear the financial risks and must settle applicable obligations when projects do not proceed.

He questioned whether the failure of a privately funded renewable energy project to proceed could constitute plunder or graft, stressing that the nature of service contracts must be properly understood in evaluating the allegations before the Ombudsman.

La Viña separately rejected allegations linking Legarda to her son’s renewable energy ventures, maintaining that the senator neither participated in the management of Leviste’s companies nor used her public office to advance their business interests.

He stressed that Legarda’s relationship with her son does not establish her participation in the transactions or contractual obligations of his companies.

‘There’s nothing in the charges of the Ombudsman that involves Senator Loren Legarda. So, why was she dragged into it?’ La Viña said.

He questioned the basis for including Legarda in the complaint and challenged the authorities to identify evidence establishing her personal participation in any alleged wrongdoing.

He said both had submitted their counter-affidavits within the prescribed period, disputing claims that their submissions had been delayed.

Filinvest Land and Pag-IBIG Fund have teamed up to make homeownership more accessible to Filipino families by combining Pag-IBIG’s home-financing programs with Filinvest Land’s nationwide housing portfolio.

Under the partnership, qualified homebuyers can access preferential financing rates, special discounts, home furniture packages, and other incentives on select Filinvest Land units, subject to applicable terms and program guidelines.

The collaboration supports the government’s Expanded 4PH Program while giving qualified Pag-IBIG Fund members more options to own quality and affordable homes across participating Filinvest Land developments.

Filinvest Land President and CEO Tristan D. Las Marias said the partnership could help more Filipino families move closer to owning their own homes.

‘Our partnership with Pag-IBIG Fund allows us to help more Filipino families move closer to owning a home by giving qualified buyers access to financing options and incentives across select Filinvest Land developments,’ Las Marias said.

‘By supporting the Expanded 4PH Program, we hope to contribute to the government’s efforts to widen access to quality and affordable housing while giving more Filipinos an opportunity to build a home of their own,’ he added.

Through the partnership, Pag-IBIG Fund’s financing programs will complement Filinvest Land’s nationwide housing platform, allowing qualified buyers to explore participating developments based on applicable program requirements.

The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene C. Acosta and Las Marias at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Central Office in Quezon City.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, who also chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, witnessed the signing and welcomed Filinvest Land’s participation in the government’s Expanded 4PH Program.

‘Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded 4PH Program, we have already made significant gains in bringing more affordable housing opportunities within reach of Filipino families, and we are building on this momentum. By working more closely with the private sector and bringing more of the country’s leading developers into this shared effort, we can open even more opportunities for our people. With more reputable companies now partnering with Pag-IBIG Fund, Filipino workers will have more housing choices supported by affordable financing and better opportunities to own a home,’ Aliling said.

Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene C. Acosta said the partnership brings together Pag-IBIG Fund’s affordable financing programs and Filinvest Land’s housing developments to provide members with more accessible homeownership options.

‘With Filinvest Land as our partner, we can bring together affordable Pag-IBIG financing and quality homes at better prices for our members. Pag-IBIG Fund has raised its housing loan limit to ?10 million and introduced lower promotional rates, and we hope to complement these with preferential prices and meaningful offers from Filinvest. By working together, we can give our members more choices and more practical means to take that next step toward owning a home,’ Acosta said.

For Filinvest Land, the agreement provides another avenue to bring its residential developments within reach of more Filipino families, particularly qualified Pag-IBIG Fund members looking for accessible homeownership options.

The collaboration also strengthens Filinvest Land’s efforts to broaden access to its residential developments by providing Filipino homebuyers with more financing options and incentives designed to help bring homeownership closer within reach.

Also present during the signing were Pag-IBIG Fund Deputy CEO for Marketing, Product Development, and Sales Cluster Alexander G. Aguilar and Avon D. Valderrama, head of Filinvest Land’s Residential Business Unit.

ONE of the most talked-about weddings this year was that of actor Bea Alonzo and Puregold scion Vincent Co.

Even I, who doesn’t really follow local entertainment goings-on and intrigues, got belatedly caught up in the seeming ‘will they’ or ‘won’t they [get married]’ quandary of the relationship gripping showbiz fans.

To wit, there were apparent relationship troubles earlier on, some of which had been attributed to other people close to the two main characters, then a supposed wedding in Spain finally set in May, thereafter an announcement of the wedding’s cancelation just days before the wedding date.

When almost everyone had believed that Bea and Vincent’s relationship was ultimately over, and the public re-engaged with the more pressing issue in the land-the Impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte-news broke out in July that the couple had gotten married in a civil ceremony presided by our favorite Makati Mayor Nancy Binay.

Unsurprisingly, controversy still hounded the now-married couple, which eventually culminated in the resignation of Bea’s long-time manager. A new manager for the actor was immediately announced, someone close to Vincent’s supermarket empire.

After that mala-teleserye season of intrigue, hopefully, Bea and Vincent can now live in peace and make rich, beautiful babies!

For sure, Bea and Vincent’s marriage is one of distinction, not because of who they are, but for the important step they had taken in the evolution of their partnership. Because according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), fewer Filipinos are getting married these days.

Its latest data showed that in the first two months of 2025, only 51,030 marriages were registered, down by a dramatic 53 percent from the same period in 2024. Even then, on an annual basis, there were 371,825 registered marriages in 2024, 10.23 percent less than in 2023. And prior to that, registered marriages were down by 7.84 percent to 414,213 in 2023 vis-a-vis in 2022.

The development is even more glaring over a 10-year period: registered marriages dropped by a sizeable 13.5 percent from 429,723 in 2014.

Why is this so? I can probably hazard a guess or two. Many young Filipino adults are putting off marriage as they invest more in their careers.

Consider our earlier mentioned couple: Bea is 38 and Vincent is 46. This is both their first marriage. Their formal coupling is a reflection of the later-marriage trend.

Data from the PSA indicated that the average age women married in 2024 was 27 years old, while men were in their 30s. In comparison, the average age of brides in the 1980s was 23-24 years old, while for grooms it was 26-27.

The kids have it easier these days. There are less societal pressures for them to get hitched.

When I was in my early 20s-a million years ago-the question I would get asked most by nosey relatives is, ‘When are you getting married?’

But by the time I turned 30, older new acquaintances, upon finding out I was still single, would then comment, ‘Good for you! Focus on your career first!’ Basically, ‘Go do you’ was their message.

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These days, parents aren’t even that pushy and eager to get their children hitched, even if the latter are already in the so-called marrying age.

I listen to the conversation of my friends and family members, and most of them are interested in the single younger person’s career. ‘What’s your daughter doing these days?’ Or, ‘Where is your son working?’

Besides, life is generally difficult, so, frankly, how can anyone take care and be responsible for another person, or for each other?

So parents would rather their kids push their careers more so they can earn enough to buy a car, a house, then get married. This is especially true for daughters.

Society no longer expects women to go the traditional route of graduating from college, working some, then getting married and raising a family. Many parents realize they didn’t spend so much money to send their daughters to college just for them to look for a husband.

So as more women pursue higher studies and look at their careers as a strategy to achieve financial independence, they are getting less interested in tying the knot while they are young.

Of course, the downside of this is that as young Filipinos put off marriage, the chances of older couples getting pregnant is lower.

No judgement here: Science suggests that the biological peak for women’s fertility is between the ages 20 and 29. By the time women hit 30, fertility slows, and they may need medical help to become pregnant.

Outside of the medical route, which can be very, very expensive, later-married couples also have the option to adopt. God knows how many unwanted children are in orphanages just waiting to be adopted by kind couples.

At the end of the day, marriage is a deeply personal choice-and there should be no timetable for it. Some find their partners in their 20s, others in their 30s or 40s, and some decide that marriage simply isn’t for them.

What matters is that the decision is made freely, and not because Auntie Linda has been super kulit and nagging about your single status at every family reunion.

So, best wishes to Bea and congratulations to Vincent! After all the twists, turns and plot developments worthy of a drama anthology, they finally got their happy ending.

And perhaps that is the real lesson here: Marriage may be happening later for Filipinos, but it certainly hasn’t gone out of fashion. People are simply taking their sweet time getting there-hopefully, with a little more financial security, a lot more maturity, and, if they’re lucky, the right person beside them.

As for the babies? Well, that’s another story. Let’s leave that one to Bea and Vincent-and to God, science, or whichever works first.

AL-AMANAH Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines (AAIIBP) will extend financing to local government units (LGUs) next year beyond its traditional borrowers to close the gap in basic public services.

AAIIBP Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Amenah F. Pangandaman announced in a forum that the state-owned Islamic bank will initially focus on Mindanao and eventually expand the program nationwide, according to a news release.

‘We all know that Mindanao’s LGUs have long faced underfunding and infrastructure deficits compared to the rest of the nation,’ Pangandaman said. ‘By providing the support and investment these communities deserve, we can close the gap in basic public services and pave the way for a sustainable climate-resilient future.’

AAIIBP plans to bankroll revenue-generating projects such as hospitals and health facilities, water systems, public markets and slaughterhouses, cold storage facilities, transport terminals and solar and power generation facilities.

It will also support service-enhancing projects including heavy equipment, farm-to-market roads and bridges, municipal halls and capitol buildings, school buildings and convention centers, solid waste management facilities and real property tax collection systems.

All provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays may apply provided that they have balanced or surplus actual income for the last three years and have maintained efficient collection of real property and other local taxes with steady growth over the same period.

Priority will also be given to LGUs that designate AAIIBP as their national tax allotment depository.

‘Every time we make one LGU financially sustainable, we are getting one step closer to a country that is economically-resilient and truly self-reliant,’ Pangandaman said.

While LGU development plans are ready with annual budgets funding them one year at a time, Pangandaman said providing financing can expedite projects with payment matched to the revenue the project itself generates.

The bank plans to structure financing around the revenue cycle of an LGU or the project being financed, rather than requiring repayment on a fixed calendar, Pangandaman added.

‘At Al-Amanah, we do not lend money and charge for its use. Instead, we build, buy, or lease the actual asset the LGU needs, then is paid for that asset at a price fixed in advance,’ she said.

‘We have no riba (unjustified excess), as all transactions are structured to be free of interest in any form. There is no floating rate as the profit or rental rate is fixed for the entire term and does not change. Lastly, the total cost will be agreed upon and disclosed to the LGU before signing,’ she added.

The bank currently provides Shariah-compliant financing to individuals, agricultural workers, cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises.

SM Foundation’s Operation Tulong Express (OPTE) reached about 5,600 families across Pampanga and Dagupan City, distributing Kalinga Packs to communities still recovering from weeks of flooding brought on by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

The relief operations followed state of calamity declarations as enhanced Habagat rains submerged communities in both areas for weeks.

This September, OPTE, activated through SM City Pampanga and SM City San Fernando Downtown, distributed approximately 4,700 Kalinga Packs to families in the City of San Fernando and the Municipality of Mexico, Pampanga.

San Fernando and Mexico were among the province’s hardest-hit areas, with severe flooding reported in several communities. The relief operations were conducted in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Meanwhile, SM Center Dagupan launched its OPTE last August in Brgy. Mamalingling, distributing Kalinga Packs to 600 families.

A month later, the program resumed at Barangay Herrero-Perez, Dagupan City, providing packs to another 300 families still recovering from floods that triggered a state of calamity weeks earlier.

Since its activation, OPTE has served as the SM Group’s frontline disaster response, with SM Foundation, SM Supermalls, and SM Markets working together to provide assistance to affected communities across the country.

MOST ladies of the new generation look at beauty very differently, and easy access to social media has reshaped the way they define beauty since it is usually wrapped in filters, fillers and, oftentimes, fierce ambition. Especially in the world of entertainment where outward appearance is the basis of the masses why they adore a celebrity, that’s why many in this industry are encouraged to sculpt their bodies, augment their look, lean in and dress to kill.

I’d like to reiterate that there is nothing wrong with taking care of one’s appearance or striving to be successful, but somewhere along the way, many of our female celebrities have traded in their ‘softness,’ not aware that it can be their most powerful form of beauty.

Not Barbie Forteza though. She has remained soft but firm, at times vulnerable but always vivid and bright. Forteza possesses the kind of soothing beauty that makes people exhale deeply, not because she is overpowering but because her energy allows them to put their guards down.

Forteza, now at the threshold of being 30, practically grew up in show business, first facing the cameras at a tender age of 10, and she has never stopped working since. ‘Almost my entire life has been in this big bubble where I learned about life and people, about a world that is so different from all that we are. My work has become my safe space, and the many characters I’ve played over the years have somehow contributed to the person that I have become.’

One of the biggest misconceptions about a ‘soft’ lady like Forteza is that she is fragile and easily broken. But in reality, softness is not fragility, it is flexibility. Like Forteza who has learned to speak more to herself with kindness when she made the realization that self-love is not extravagance, it is and should be an affirmation.

‘I guess I’ve transformed into a woman that I like. I was molded by my experiences in this business, the highs and lows and everything in between, into this woman I have become. My softness has allowed me to always feel deeply without being overwhelmed, to remain open even after setbacks and disappointments, and to love deeply without losing myself,’ she said.

She added, ‘I don’t demand perfection, especially from myself and the people around me; I value sincerity and progress instead. I always allow some space for mistakes.’ In a world that often pushes for self-improvement at all costs, choosing self-compassion has indeed become Forteza’s act of quiet rebellion.

Forteza’s softness has allowed her to understand her emotions in a much beneficial way, without needing to shut these down just to escape from anything which she did not prepare her self for. She had her share of painful heartbreaks and career letdowns, but she has always learned to acknowledge her emotions and steer these to transform into a stronger, smarter and a more assertive woman. This emotional awareness allows Forteza to experience life fully, without numbing or hiding what she feels, and it has become a form of strength that is more stable than hardness. Hardness oftentimes resists pressure, but softness adapts to it.

Over the years, I’ve seen Forteza grew into a formidable actor in projects like Mariquina, Half Sisters, Maria Clara at Ibarra, Kontrabida Academy, Pulang Araw, Beauty Empire and, most recently, in the movie Saving Cherry and the ongoing limited Prime Video series Honor Thy Mother.

‘I am very proud of the output for my recent projects, especially for Honor Thy Mother. Working with this amazing ensemble cast of actors, especially my dearest Mama Sharon [Cuneta], has allowed me to combine love, joy, and passion in what I do, and I cannot be more blessed and grateful.’

Confidence is often portrayed as loud and dominant, but there is a more valuable form that is quieter and more grounded. Barbie Forteza does not chase attention, she attracts it effortlessly. She does not compete, she captivates. Her kind of confidence is one that does not demand attention, it naturally earns respect. And when it comes to her flourishing career, she continues to be a gentle woman who leaves her mark in everything she takes on.

ArenaPlus has built strong brand recognition in the Philippine market, evidenced by the Best Sportsbook Operator awards it took home at the 2024 and 2026 SiGMA Asia Awards.

That, however, is only the starting point for newly appointed Head of ArenaPlus Ethan William, known professionally as Layson, who said the challenge now is to turn brand recognition into an experience players can genuinely trust.

‘ArenaPlus has built real brand equity in the Philippine market – people know who we are. But brand awareness alone doesn’t win in this industry anymore,’ said Layson of the company, which was also hailed Best Sportsbook in the 2025 SiGMA Asia Awards.

‘The biggest opportunity I see is closing the gap between how well-known we are and how well we actually perform on product, operations, and the day-to-day player journey.’

For Layson, it all starts with the fundamentals: a smoother platform experience, sharper digital acquisition and conversion, and a brand promise that is consistently reflected in the player experience.

It also means bringing teams closer together.

ArenaPlus, a PAGCOR-licensed online sportsbook launched in February 2023, has been simplifying its organizational structure to help product, operations, and marketing work toward shared priorities rather than operating in silos.

Such alignment is essential to building an organization capable of moving quickly while remaining focused on what ultimately matters – the player.

Moving fast, but with discipline

As player expectations and technology continue to evolve, Layson sees three major shifts shaping the sports betting industry: the demand for seamless, mobile-first experiences; the growing convergence of content and conversion through live streaming, real-time data, and community features; and the increasing importance of responsible, well-regulated operations.

The third, in particular, is something Layson believes should be viewed as more than a regulatory obligation at ArenaPlus, DigiPlus’ flagship sportsbook platform.

‘Technology will keep evolving, but the operators who combine sharp execution with real discipline around player protection are the ones who’ll still be standing in five years,’ said Layson.

Layson took the reins after former Head of ArenaPlus Erick Su assumed DigiPlus’ Chief Global Growth Officer position on July 3.

That same principle guides his approach to innovation. Layson encourages teams to test and iterate quickly on initiatives that can be reversed, while taking a more deliberate approach to decisions that affect player trust or regulatory standing.

‘Speed and discipline aren’t actually opposites,’ he said.

‘We operate in a regulated market, and that’s not a constraint I resent; it’s part of what makes the industry sustainable. So the team is encouraged to test boldly and fail cheaply on the things that are reversible, and to be far more careful and consultative on the things that aren’t.’

He added: ‘That distinction – knowing what’s a fast experiment versus what’s a considered decision – is something I try to model explicitly rather than leave to instinct.’

Leading by listening

A seasoned gaming and digital entertainment executive with more than a decade of experience across marketing, brand management, and C-suite leadership in Southeast Asia, Layson has learned that good leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating clarity and listening before making decisions.

One personnel decision he made earlier in his career taught him the value of hearing multiple perspectives before acting. The experience led him to embrace a principle he continues to apply today: ‘slow is sometimes faster.’

‘I once made a personnel decision I regret: I let myself be swayed by one-sided input and personal frustration, and let go of someone who was actually a core part of the operation,’ said Layson, who served as CEO of Zen Estrategia BV Limited prior to joining DigiPlus.

‘That experience taught me that slow is sometimes faster – that hearing multiple perspectives before deciding almost always leads to a better outcome than moving on gut instinct alone. When you’re leading people through real organizational change, that discipline matters even more, because the cost of a rushed, poorly informed call compounds fast.’

That philosophy now shapes how he builds teams.

”????,????’ – listening to only one side leaves you in the dark, listening broadly brings clarity – is a principle I try to apply concretely now, not just as an idea I agree with,’ he said.

(Translation: ”Hear different voices. See the bigger picture’ – listening to only one side leaves you in the dark, listening broadly brings clarity – is a principle I try to apply concretely now, not just as an idea I agree with.’)

‘It’s changed how I build teams too: I want people around me who will tell me when they see something differently, not just people who agree quickly.’

For Layson, an honest feedback culture is essential, particularly as ArenaPlus navigates change and growth.

Defining success

Ultimately, Layson wants ArenaPlus to be known not only as a recognizable brand but as a sportsbook operator that players genuinely trust to deliver a great, reliable experience every time.

That means having product, operations, and marketing move in lockstep, making decisions based on data and iteration, and creating an organization where people can challenge ideas openly.

‘If we get that right, growth becomes a natural outcome rather than something we have to force – and that’s the kind of organization I want to build,’ said Layson, who began his career at China Mobile Communications Group, where he led brand strategy for one of the Fortune 500 company’s flagship operations.

For ArenaPlus, that is the vision behind its next chapter: not simply becoming more visible, but becoming better at the fundamentals and more consistent in delivering on the promise it makes to its players.

The country’s brightest hope in weightlifting, Elreen Ann Ando, wound up fifth in the women’s 61kgs while Sonny Wagdos won’t start in marathon start because he fell sick on Friday in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games.

In boxing, Riza Pasuit bowed to Thailand’s Natnicha Chongprongklang, 0-5, in women’s 54-kg class, while Junmilardo Ogayre made up for her loss on Friday by eliminating Nepal’s Khagendra Roka Magar, 5-0, in men’s 60 kgs class.

Ogayre joined Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam as the last boxers standing in the games where the Filipino athletes’ participation is supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.

Ando lifted 101kgs in the snatch and 123 kgs in the clean and jerk and fell short by 13 kgs for the bronze, which Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Hsing-Chun took with 237 kgs total lift behind gold medalist Yang Liuyue (251 kgs) of China and silver medalist Pak Jin Hae (248 kgs) of North Korea.

Wagdos, meanwhile, was withdrawn from Saturday’s marathon because of high fever on Friday.

‘I’m backing out of the marathon category due to high fever. I don’t know why, maybe it’s hard to adapt to the weather from hot to cold,’ Wagdos said in social media.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary-general Jasper Tanhueco said that Wagdos had already been dealing with illness and taking medication even before arriving in Nagoya.

‘He’s feeling better now, but we consulted with the coaches but the priority if the well-being ng athlete,’ Tanhueco said. ‘It’s the marathon, it’s a tough race.’

With the 32-year-old Philippine Air Force sergeant out, Richard Salano will be running as the lone Philippine representative in the race.

Athletics officials are hoping Wagdos will be well in time for the men’s 5,000 meters on September 29.