Category: Business Mirror

A new generation of travelers is changing the way people experience the Philippines. They are looking beyond simply where to stay and considering how easily they can travel, how welcome they feel, what experiences they can discover, and how their choices affect the places they visit.

At Philippine Travel Mart 2026, Megaworld Global Hotels and Resorts (MGHR) is putting greater focus on these emerging travelers by making Philippine destinations more accessible, inclusive, connected, and meaningful to experience.

Happening from September 4 to 6, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, this year’s Philippine Travel Mart carries the theme ‘Nurturing Nextgen Tourism: Discover the Philippines.’ The event encourages Filipinos to explore more of the country while responding to the changing expectations of the next generation.

‘Philippine Travel Mart gives us an opportunity to bring our destinations and offers closer to Filipino travelers, particularly the next generation who are eager to explore and experience more of the country. With TARA! and our other exciting sales offers, we are making it easier for guests to plan their next getaway with greater value and flexibility. More importantly, we hope these offers inspire more Filipinos to travel locally, discover destinations beyond the usual, and experience the diverse hospitality that the Philippines has to offer,’ Loleth So, Vice President for Commercial, said.

For MGHR, these changing expectations are reflected in four areas increasingly shaping how people travel today: inclusivity, sustainability, digitalization, and health and wellness.

Making More Travelers Feel Welcome

The next generation is growing up in a world that places greater value on inclusivity, and travel is no exception.

MGHR continues to strengthen its Muslim-friendly hospitality initiatives, creating spaces, facilities, and experiences designed to respond to the needs of Muslim travelers.

These initiatives form part of the hotel group’s larger goal of creating a hospitality environment where more guests can travel with confidence and feel comfortable, respected, and welcomed.

By making travel more inclusive, MGHR also opens Philippine destinations to a wider and more diverse community of domestic and international travelers.

Giving Travel Greater Purpose

For many travelers, the value of a trip increasingly extends beyond the destination itself. There is also greater awareness of the communities, culture, and environment encountered along the way.

MGHR brings this philosophy to life through the Sampaguita Project, an expression of the group’s unique brand of Filipino hospitality.

What began as a guest experience inspired by the sampaguita and expressed through the five senses has expanded into initiatives including sampaguita planting and community-based activities involving employees, guests, partners, and local communities.

It gives travelers opportunities to experience Filipino hospitality while becoming part of something that creates value beyond their stay.

Making Hospitality More Connected

Convenience has also become fundamental to the way a new generation plans and experiences travel.

From researching destinations and making reservations to communicating with hotels, travelers increasingly expect journeys that are intuitive, responsive, and connected.

MGHR continues to strengthen its digital capabilities to improve communication, understand its guests better, and make different stages of the travel experience easier to navigate.

Technology, however, is meant to support rather than replace hospitality. For MGHR, digital convenience works alongside the warmth and personal connection that remain at the heart of Filipino service.

Creating Space for More Mindful Travel

Travel is also increasingly becoming an opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and make more conscious choices.

Through MEGreen Mindful Stays, MGHR brings together wellness and sustainability by encouraging guests to enjoy their hotel experience while becoming more aware of their environmental impact.

The initiative responds to travelers who increasingly see personal well-being and responsible choices not as separate considerations, but as complementary parts of a meaningful journey.

Making the Next Trip More Accessible Through TARA!

Encouraging the next generation to travel also means making it easier for them to begin.

MGHR will bring its TARA! (Travel Away and Reignite Adventure) campaign to Philippine Travel Mart 2026, giving Filipinos more reasons to discover destinations around the country through special local travel offers.

Aligned with the Department of Tourism’s ‘Discover More to Love’ campaign, TARA! makes stays across participating MGHR hotels more accessible to travelers planning their next local adventure. Visitors to MGHR’s Booth A01 can enjoy local rates starting at Php 3,800.

Room-only offers are available at Belmont Hotel Manila, Savoy Hotel Manila, Grand Westside Hotel, Kingsford Hotel Manila, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Belmont Hotel Iloilo, and Mercure Mactan Cebu.

Travelers looking for stays with breakfast can also enjoy rates starting at Php 3,800 at Hotel Lucky Chinatown, Chancellor Hotel Boracay, Belmont Hotel Boracay, Savoy Hotel Boracay, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, and Savoy Hotel Mactan. Eastwood Richmonde Hotel and Twin Lakes Hotel offer elevated leisure stays starting at Php 5,800.

The promotional period runs until November 29, 2026, with stay dates valid until November 30, 2026. Guests may book through participating hotel websites using the promo code TARAMHR or contact their preferred hotel directly.

Travelers planning ahead may also purchase discounted room vouchers offering savings of up to 70%, providing greater flexibility in securing future stays.

For MGHR, nurturing next-generation tourism ultimately means giving more people the opportunity-and the reason-to experience the Philippines for themselves.

Through more inclusive hospitality, purposeful experiences, greater digital convenience, mindful stays, and accessible travel offers, the group hopes to help a new generation discover more destinations, travel more consciously, and develop a deeper connection with the Philippines.

Visitors can discover MGHR’s offers and TARA! promotions at Booth A01, SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, from September 4 to 6, 2026.

THE national government’s outstanding debt surged by nearly a third of a trillion pesos in just a month.

Data released by the Bureau of the Treasury on Thursday revealed that the outstanding debt climbed to a new record of P19.39 trillion as of end-July 2026.

This amount grew by 1.70 percent, or P323.53 billion, from P19.07 trillion at end-June 2026.

The Treasury said the increase was ‘primarily driven by the net availment of domestic and external debt, as well as the revaluation of foreign currency-denominated obligations following movements in the peso relative to the US dollar and other foreign currencies.’

The peso weakened against the dollar from P61.290 as of end-June 2026 to P61.327 as of end-July.

The outstanding debt rose by 10.39 percent, or P1.826 trillion, year-on-year from P17.563 trillion.

Domestic debt accounted for the bulk, or 67.61 percent, of the total debt stock while external obligations comprised the remaining 32.39 percent.

Debt owed to local creditors went up by 2.11 percent month-on-month to P13.11 trillion as of end-July from P12.84 trillion.

The increase was driven by the Treasury’s net issuance of government securities worth P271.22 billion, with the remaining movement due to the slight upward revaluation of Onshore Dollar Bonds (ODBs).

Year-on-year, domestic debt climbed by 8.26 percent from P12.108 trillion.

Foreign debt, meanwhile, increased by 0.84 percent to P6.28 trillion as of end-July from P6.23 trillion a month ago. This also went up by 15.12 percent from P5.455 trillion in the same period a year earlier.

The Treasury said the increase was mainly due to P17.10 billion in net external loan availment, complemented by the higher peso value of foreign currency-denominated obligations following the depreciation of the peso against the US dollar and third currencies.

The national government’s outstanding debt relative to the size of the gross domestic product (GDP) climbed to a 22-year-high in the second quarter, after the economy grew by only 2.3 percent in the second quarter while the debt stock was at an all-time high of P19.065 trillion.

The debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 66 percent in the second quarter, the highest since 2004 at 71.6 percent, according to data released by the Bureau of the Treasury last month.

Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), said the outstanding debt swelled due to increased foreign borrowing as well as the weaker dollar-peso exchange rate in recent months.

‘The record high outstanding national government debt also reflected wider budget deficits in recent months/years and increased borrowings in recent years especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, in pesos as well as in US dollars/foreign currencies,’ added Ricafort.

For the month of July 2026, Ricafort said the US dollar-peso exchange rate already weakened by 5 percent year-on-year, ‘thereby bloating foreign debts when converted to pesos and partly contributed to the record high outstanding national government debt in recent months.’

For the coming months, Ricafort said the catch-up spending, especially on infrastructure, is expected to make up for the government underspending since the latter part of 2025 due to the anomalous flood control projects.

However, he said this could partly lead to wider budget deficits and could again require additional government borrowings which he said ‘could still lead to new record high outstanding national government debt.’

The national government’s outstanding debt is projected to swell to P21.479 trillion by the end of 2027, as a persistently weak peso, growing financing requirements and repayment of maturing loans add to the debt burden.

The expected debt is seen to increase by 8.67 percent from the P19.765 trillion projected by the end of this year, based on the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing released after the turnover of the 2027 proposed budget to the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

NutriAsia, proud makers of the Philippines’ best condiments, juices, RTD coffee, sauces, and dips, continues to showcase excellence in marketing as its Team UFC Golden Fiesta Canola Oil brought home two silver trophies from the 2026 Marketing Excellence Awards (MEA).

The brand team, alongside its partner agencies-OMD Philippines, Dentsu Creative Manila, Inc., and SMS Philippines Healthcare Solutions Inc.-secured secondary honors in both the Excellence in Integrated Marketing and Excellence in Consumer Insights/Market Research categories, two of the most competitive fields in the awards program. This milestone marks the first-ever MEA win for both Team UFC and NutriAsia.

Presented by Marketing-Interactive-a Singapore-based regional trade publication with hubs in Malaysia and Hong Kong-the MEA is one of the region’s most prestigious recognition programs for the marketing industry. Originally launched in Singapore in 2012, the awards are now held annually across major Asian markets, including the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

UFC Golden Fiesta Brand Manager Ina Nocheseda expressed the team’s immense pride in the recognition:

‘We are thrilled with this recognition, as this caps months of research, planning, and excellent execution across the brand team and our partner agencies. These awards tell us that we did a fantastic job collating and curating consumer insights, transforming them into concrete brand actions, and successfully achieving our campaign objectives. These accolades-on top of the actual results-speak for themselves. They are proof that we listened and analyzed. We acted and we delivered.’

NutriAsia Category and Consumer Marketing Group Head Gretchen King congratulated Ina and the brand team for the achievement:

‘The entire NutriAsia family is very proud of Team UFC Golden Fiesta, not only for the recognition, but for the built-in advocacy in the campaign that undoubtedly helped many Filipino consumers make the heart-healthy switch. It is always a proud moment for us when any one of our teams is acknowledged for creating Masarap, Masaya moments with our consumers but even more so when the same campaign communicates important messages that can help transform lives.’

The Award-Winning Campaign

Because entries are rigorously evaluated by an independent panel of senior, client-side marketing leaders and industry experts from leading corporations and multinational companies, campaigns must be exceptionally successful and well-developed to even be considered.

The award-winning UFC Golden Fiesta ‘Doctors’ Most Prescribed Campaign’ was built around a critical public health challenge: heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the Philippines, accounting for nearly 20% of total mortality, with one in three Filipino adults living with hypertension.

Despite the urgency for dietary intervention, market research revealed a massive knowledge gap-54.1% of Filipinos do not recognize unhealthy fats as a primary disease risk, largely perceiving heart health as a ‘future problem’ rather than a direct consequence of everyday kitchen choices. By bridging this insight with authoritative medical backing, the campaign successfully drove awareness and the much-needed behavioral change.

In addition to its two Silver wins, the campaign was named a finalist in Excellence in Advertising. Meanwhile, a second NutriAsia entry-the UFC Megabrand Rated World Class Quality Campaign-also eared finalist status in the Excellence in Launch Marketing category.

How quickly can you spot a subject, frame it, and capture it from a distance? At the Philippines’ first-ever NBA House, vivo turned that question into a fast-paced imaging challenge with the vivo X300 Ultra.

Held from August 29 to 30 at SPACE at One Ayala, NBA House Philippines brought basketball fans together for an immersive celebration of the sport and its culture, spanning basketball, fashion, music, and entertainment. The two-day event also featured special appearances from basketball icons Jason Kidd, Lauren Jackson, and Tony Parker.

As one of the event partners, vivo brought the vivo X300 Ultra to the heart of the experience through the vivo Imaging Challenge, giving participants the opportunity to put its telephoto imaging capabilities to the test.

Participants were given specific items to capture based on the host’s instructions, with only a limited amount of time to find their targets and take the shot using the vivo X300 Ultra paired with its 400mm Equivalent vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra.

With a busy event environment around them, participants had to stay alert and react quickly. They had to identify the right subject, adjust their framing, and capture it from where they were standing, all within seconds.

The challenge turned smartphone photography into an experience that felt more like a game. Instead of simply trying out a camera at a display booth, participants had to put the device to use while navigating the excitement and movement of NBA House.

The activity also gave participants a firsthand look at how extended telephoto imaging can be useful in large, crowded spaces.

The vivo X300 Ultra with the telephoto extender kit allows users to frame distant subjects without needing to physically move closer. This can be particularly useful when photographing moments at sporting events, concerts, or other busy venues where space and distance can make it difficult to get the desired composition.

For participants, the experience was about making quick decisions: spotting what they needed to capture, finding the right frame, and trusting the device to help bring their subject closer.

By putting the X300 Ultra into the hands of NBA House attendees, vivo turned its imaging technology into something participants could actively experience rather than simply observe.

Beyond the challenge, vivo also made sure participants had something to remember the experience by. Those who took part received exclusive prizes, including a puffer vag, X80 Bluetooth speaker, and vivo Air Buds.

The activation added another way for fans to engage with NBA House, where basketball culture extended beyond the game itself. With legends, fans, creators, and enthusiasts gathered under one roof, the event became a place to celebrate the sport while creating moments of their own.

For vivo, the experience was a natural extension of its focus on mobile imaging, helping people get closer to the moments they want to capture, even when they are happening from a distance.

The experience at NBA House showed how telephoto imaging can make it easier to capture moments from a distance, giving fans another way to get closer to the action and create memories of their own.

The vivo X300 Ultra is now available for Php 109,999 at vivo concept stores nationwide and the vivo e-store. Follow vivo Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, or visit the official vivo website to stay updated.

Foreign investors looking to set up semiconductor and electronics operations in the Philippines will no longer be left to navigate the country’s bureaucracy alone, as the government will now directly handle their registration, permitting, and facility setup.

This definitive shift in investor treatment is the cornerstone of the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Ferdinand ‘Perry’ Ferrer said.

The direct facilitation will be executed through the newly formed Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC), a joint body of government and private sector leaders.

‘What will happen through the SEIAC, if there are investors in this industry, SEIAC… tutulungan itong mga investors,’ Ferrer said. ‘Registration, permitting, setting up, everything. Hindi yung pumunta dito investor and you’re on your own. No, hindi na. Kasama na yung government’.

The launch of the roadmap on September 2 aims to abandon the fragmented strategies of the past, signaling to the global market that the Philippines is unified under a single blueprint.

‘The Philippines has a roadmap; it is not just ‘kanya-kanya,’ it is both government and private sector,’ Ferrer noted.

Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto, who chairs SEIAC, reinforced this concierge-level approach, stating that the government is actively removing structural obstacles and regulatory bottlenecks to accelerate permitting.

‘A roadmap is only as good as its execution. We have enough good plans in government. What the industry needs from us now are results,’ Recto said in a statement. ‘As Chairperson of SEIAC, you can be assured that our office will not only chair the launch of this Roadmap, but will stay on top of its actual implementation’.

Beyond streamlining the ease of doing business, the roadmap seeks to elevate the country up the technology value chain. Recto emphasized that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants the industry to capture high-value activities such as advanced chip design and engineering.

‘Ang target natin, hindi lang makita ang Made in the Philippines sa mga produkto. Gusto natin: Designed in the Philippines. Engineered in the Philippines. Innovated in the Philippines,’ Recto stated.

To measure its progress, the roadmap has established clear milestones for 2030:

Achieve USD 110 billion in total semiconductor and electronics exports;

Increase the Philippines’ share of global semiconductor assembly, test, and packaging from 4% to 7%;

Capture 4% of global electronics manufacturing services;

Build an integrated circuit (IC) design sector generating USD 2 billion to USD 3 billion in annual exports.

Because the unified strategy targets advanced manufacturing, the incoming wave of foreign direct investment will require a highly specialized workforce.

Ferrer pointed out that educational agencies, including the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), are actively involved in the roadmap to ensure talent availability.

‘The companies that we will be attracting are not technology of yung dati, this is all technology of the future, which we will need to train the people,’ Ferrer explained.

Powerful start for Jordan

Jordan took control right from the start and pulled away in the first quarter, building a 16-point lead! Over the opening 10 minutes, both teams attempted the same number of shots – 14 each. However, the Philippines struggled with its shooting, making just 28,57% of its field goals, compared to 64,29% for its opponent. The first quarter ended with Jordan holding a commanding 28-14 lead.

Practice proved stronger than theory

There’s a proven formula for holding onto a lead over the remaining 30 minutes. The team needs to control possession for as long as possible, shoot at least 50% from the field, and put its opponent under pressure without getting into foul trouble. Mathematically, this approach should lead to victory.

However, Jordan’s strategy of preserving its comfortable advantage only worked in the opening minutes – Tim Cone’s men started fighting back step-by-step. They outshot the Jordanians in both volume and accuracy, heading into the long break trailing by a mere five points (39-44).

Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, combining for just 29 points. However, things changed in the eighth minute when the Philippines finally took the lead (47-45) on a basket by Karl Quiambao, briefly seizing control of the game. Jordan even had to erase a five-point deficit along the way. Ultimately, the Filipinos edged out the quarter 15-14.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Jordan’s lead was down to just four points (58-54), and the game turned into a back-and-forth battle. With just 45 seconds remaining, Jaymar Perez tied it at 72-72. Both teams still had at least two chances to score. Perez could have won the game in regulation, but his shot hit the rim and bounced out. The 72-72 deadlock sent the game to overtime.

How did decisive minutes unfold?

Jordan came out more aggressively, twice building a four-point lead. With 42 seconds left, Kai Sotto scored in the paint to put the Philippines ahead 79-78. Jordan responded with a free throw to tie the game once again at 79-79. Then, with 11.7 seconds left in overtime, Karl Quiambao hit a clutch three-pointer to put the Philippines ahead 82-79. What followed was a textbook scenario – the team ahead took an intentional foul to prevent a three-point attempt. Jordan knocked down both free throws to cut the deficit to one at 82-81. On the final possession, 220-centimeter Kai Sotto blocked Abdullah Olajuwon’s shot, sealing a dramatic victory for the Philippines.

Philippines national team prospects

The Philippines is competing in Group E, where four of the six teams will qualify for the World Cup 2027. Australia and New Zealand are group favorites, leaving Iran, Jordan, and the Philippines to battle for the remaining two spots. Tim Cone’s side currently sits fifth with 12 points. In its four remaining games, the Philippines will face clear underdog Syria twice, as well as Jordan and Iran once each, having a favorable head-to-head record against both teams. Meanwhile, its direct rivals will still have to face Australia and New Zealand. Based on the remaining schedule, the Philippines appears to have the best chance of securing a top-four finish.

Support our team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 qualifying clashes with 1xBet online!

For thousands of Filipinos, finding the right job begins with having the right opportunity within reach. SM Job Fair marked a major milestone while widening access to employment and skills development-from celebrating its 500th nationwide job fair and bringing SM Group employers directly to communities, to working with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to connect technical-vocational training with careers. Together, these initiatives reflect SM Supermalls’ continuing commitment to make the journey from preparing for work to finding meaningful employment more accessible to Filipinos.

500 JOB FAIRS-AND COUNTING!

On August 12, SM City Daet hosted the 500th SM Job Fair, marking an important milestone in SM Supermalls’ nationwide jobs advocacy. As of its 500th Job Fair, the program has connected around 330,000 jobseekers with thousands of employers nationwide, resulting in more than 42,000 applicants hired on the spot (HOTS). Behind those numbers are individual journeys-from fresh graduates looking for their first break and career shifters starting again to breadwinners and experienced professionals taking their next step.

500 JOB FAIRS, THOUSANDS OF NEW BEGINNINGS. At SM City Daet, a nationwide milestone became personal as another jobseeker walked away hired on the spot.

Through partnerships with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), local Public Employment Service Offices (PESO), employers, and industry organizations, SM continues to use its nationwide mall network to bring jobs closer to communities.

FROM OPPORTUNITY TO EMPLOYMENT AT THE SM GROUP JOB FAIRThe momentum continued on August 18 at SM City Fairview, where the SM Group Job Fair connected jobseekers with career opportunities across the SM Group.

Applicants met recruiters face-to-face, explored vacancies, submitted applications, and underwent interviews in one accessible venue-simplifying the hiring journey while helping participating companies meet potential talent from the community.

For fresh graduate May Stephanie, the search for her first job ended with good news when she was hired by Savemore. ‘Masaya po kasi mahirap po maghanap ng work lalo po pag fresh grad ka po.’ Her experience reflects the human impact behind every successful match: a chance to begin a career, earn a livelihood, and build toward a more secure future.

FROM SKILLS TO OPPORTUNITIES WITH TESDA

As industries evolve, Filipinos need both access to jobs and the skills to succeed in them. Last August, SM Supermalls and TESDA brought the World Café of Opportunities (WCO) to SM malls nationwide in celebration of 2026 National Tech-Voc Day, connecting technical-vocational graduates and jobseekers with employers and industry partners.

At the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on August 24, more than 1,000 jobseekers met 54 participating employers offering more than 4,000 job opportunities. Job matching was complemented by skills demonstrations in HVAC, autonomous robotics, driving, animation, and coffee barista-showing how practical training can translate into workplace readiness.

For Jeff Justine Geraga, a BS IT student at the University of Makati who took Computer Systems Servicing through TESDA, gaining additional skills has helped strengthen his confidence in a competitive job market.

‘Definitely tumaas ang value ko dahil may added skills ako from TESDA, more opportunities for me. Requirement na po ang upskilling dahil competitive po ngayon.’

A key highlight was the launch of the TESDA Skills Compass, a career guidance and job-matching platform that helps Filipinos explore career pathways and connect their competencies with in-demand jobs. For some participants, the connection between skills and employment became immediate.

After traveling from Mindoro in search of work, Cristyl Faith Robles was hired on the spot as a barista at French Baker.

‘Masaya po kasi last week pa po kami nag-aapply ng work kasi galing pa po kami sa Mindoro… Para po ito sa magulang ko at sa kapatid ko para matulungan ko po siya sa college.’

Employers also recognize the value of skills-based training. CJ Bajamunde, HR Assistant at SMC Repairs and Maintenance, shared that TESDA training and certifications are among the qualifications the company looks for when recruiting skilled workers.

‘Nakatulong po talaga ang TESDA hindi lang sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho, kundi sa aming mga employers din.’

Through the World Café of Opportunities, SM and TESDA are helping turn skills into employability-connecting training, talent, and industry needs in ways that can lead to meaningful careers.

LEARNING THAT MOVES PEOPLE FORWARD. Free upskilling brings future-ready knowledge closer to learners in SM communities.

MORE JOBS AND SKILLS THIS SEPTEMBER

The momentum continues this September as SM Job Fair brings another nationwide lineup of employment activities to SM malls, complemented by government career opportunities and upskilling sessions with partners.

SEPTEMBER JOB FAIR SCHEDULE

September 1 – SM City Sto. Tomas

September 3 – SM City Manila

September 4 – SM City Sta. Mesa

September 7-8 – SM City Butuan

September 8-9 – SM City Iloilo

September 8-9 – SM City Davao

September 9 – SM City Baguio

September 9-10 – SM City Cebu

September 9-10 – SM CDO Downtown Premier

September 10 – SM City Trece Martires

September 10 – SM Center Muntinlupa

September 10 – SM City Tuguegarao

September 10 – SM City North EDSA

September 10 – SM City Zamboanga

September 10 – SM Center Muntinlupa

September 12 – SM City La Union

September 12 – SM City San Pablo

September 14 – SM Center Antipolo

September 14 – SM CDO Downtown Premier

September 16-17 – SM Seaside City Cebu

September 22-23 – SM Seaside City Cebu

September 23 – SM City Calamba

September 24 – SM City Trece Martires

September 24 – SM Center Pulilan

September 24 – SM City Bacoor

*Schedules, venues, and participating partners may be subject to change.

UPSKILLING SESSIONS

Jobseekers and learners can also take advantage of upskilling activities scheduled throughout the month:

September 10 – SM City Trece Martires

September 12 – SM Center Sangandaan

September 12 – SM City North EDSA

September 24 – SM City Trece Martires

MORE THAN JOBS

SM’s employment advocacy continues beyond recruitment. Through partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions, and industry organizations, SM Supermalls has provided free upskilling opportunities to more than 1,600 learners, covering artificial intelligence, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and other emerging workplace competencies. In select malls, SM Government Service Express (GSE) also brings essential government services closer to communities, with selected locations serving as Upskilling Hubs.

From reaching the 500th SM Job Fair to helping a fresh graduate land a first job, and from gaining a technical skill to finding where it can lead, August demonstrated what can happen when employment, learning, services, and strong partnerships come together.

And as SM Job Fair moves beyond its 500th milestone, the work continues-helping more Filipinos find jobs, build relevant skills, and move toward better futures closer to home. To learn more about upcoming SM Job Fairs and free upskilling opportunities, visit the SM Supermalls website or follow SM Supermalls’ official social media pages.

SM Foundation launched the first two tracks of its Upskill-to-Work Scholarship Program this August, partnering with Highlands Prime Inc. (HPI) and Costa del Hamilo Inc. (CDHI) on August 17 in Tagaytay Highlands and with SM Retail on August 24 at SM Retail Headquarters in Pasay City. The program provides underserved young Filipinos with industry-specific skills training and guaranteed full-time employment within the SM Group upon certification.

The program addresses the persistent gap between education, skills, and industry needs through a demand-driven approach that begins with identifying workforce requirements, followed by targeted skills training and certification, and ultimately deployment to full-time employment. This is anchored on the program’s core principle, ‘Aral ngayon, trabaho bukas.’

Each industry track is built around specific SM business units’ hiring needs, with each business unit committing in advance to employ scholars who complete training.

The first track launched on August 17 at Tagaytay Highlands, where SM Foundation, HPI, and CDHI formalized partnerships with five contractor companies that will provide employment opportunities for scholars pursuing construction and electrical trades: FMJ Marketing and Electrical Services, represented by President Ramel B. Francisco; Jethrock Construction Corporation, represented by VP for Operations Engr. Jeth Anthony M. Ybañez; Megabuilders and Building Care Services Corp., represented by CEO Pablito Constantino; Radja Builders and Enterprise, represented by owner Ricardo Daos Jr.; and Rizhle Construction and Development Corporation, represented by President Emillie V. Ronquillo.

Scholars in this track will undergo training at Don Bosco One TVET Technical-Vocational School, a TESDA-certified institution, before moving into jobs supporting ongoing projects under HPI and CDHI.

‘Ang SM Foundation ay kasalukuyang may 3,500 SM college scholars naka-enroll ngayon sa mahigit na dalawang daan na colleges at universities nationwide; ngunit napansin namin ang isang sektor na hindi pa naaabot, ang sektor ng mga kabataan na hindi nakakapagkolehiyo at walang hanapbuhay,’ said Mrs. Linda Atayde, SMFI Executive Director for Education on the rationale behind the program. ‘Maraming naghahanap ng manggagawa sa iba’t ibang industriya pero hindi sapat ang abilidad ng mga kabataan para matanggap sila sa trabaho. Wala rin silang hawak na katibayan ng kanilang kasanayan kagaya ng NCII level ng TESDA,’ she added.

Ms. Arlene Keh, trustee of SM Foundation and one of the program’s champions, echoed that same spirit in her inspirational address to the scholars.

‘Wag kayong matakot mangarap kung anong gusto niyong maging sa kinabukasan. Magtiyaga at magsipag dahil itong unang trabaho natin, umpisa pa lamang ito,’ said Keh. ‘Sa loob ng dalawang linggo, sa tulong ng ating partner school na Don Bosco, magkakaroon kayo ng skills na maari niyong gamitin para magkaroon kayo ng [maayos na] trabaho,’ she added.

‘Dream boldly, commit to the work’ is an important value the program seeks to instill in its scholars. Hence, in each class, scholars elect their own class beadle, a peer chosen to lead discussions and help keep the group on track.

It is a small but deliberate structure integrated into the program, giving scholars an early, hands-on opportunity to practice leadership, collaboration, and teamwork among themselves, well before their first day on the job.

On August 24, SM Foundation and SM Retail launched the second track at SM Retail’s headquarters, welcoming the company’s first batch of 19 scholars into an intensive two-month training program leading to a TESDA-accredited NC II Retail Customer Service Certification. Training will be conducted directly by SM Retail’s HR and Training team. Upon completion, scholars will be offered jobs and deployed to SM Retail stores across Metro Manila.

Sa programang ito, matutunan niyo ang value of drive, enthusiasm, and grit. Hindi madali ang trabaho, pero kailangan mahalin ang trabaho,’ Leny Hernandez, SM Sr. Vice President for Human Resources SM Retail, shared in her speech.

‘Magdagdag ng kaalaman, mag upskill, at [matutunang] mahalin ang trabaho,’ she added, referring to what the scholars will gain from the program.

Both launches fall under the program’s first nationwide batch, which offers more than 260 scholarship slots in partnership with SM business units: SM Retail (SMRI), SM Development Corporation (SMDC), HPI, CDHI, Goldilocks, and Brownies.

The program is designed to give underserved Filipino youth a secure path from training to full-time employment, while preparing them not only for the jobs of tomorrow, but also to become confident, capable, and purpose-driven members of the workforce long after their training ends.

THE Regional Trial Court of Quezon on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with the three counts of grave threats charges filed against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez told reporters that the arrest order was issued after the QC RTC Branch 98 denied Duterte’s motion to defer or recall the warrant of arrest against her in the criminal case.

‘In the same Resolution, the Court found probable cause to hold the accused for trial on all three counts of Grave Threats and ordered the issuance of a warrant of arrest,’ Martinez said.

With the denial of Duterte’s motion, Martinez said the case will now proceed to trial.

Meanwhile, Duterte’s lawyer Paul Lawrence Lim gave assurances that the Vice President would face the case while availing herself of other legal remedies against the trial court’s order.

‘Today, the Quezon City RTC has issued a warrant of arrest against the Vice President. Regardless of the question on jurisdiction, she has no intention of evading the law and will continue to exercise all her legal remedies,’ Lim said.

Last August 25, the trial court held an oral argument on Duterte’ motion to quash information and recall or defer issuance of arrest warrant upon her camp’s request.

She argued that an oral argument was necessary, considering that the issues presented before the court will have ‘serious, far-reaching and dangerous consequences in our country’s legal system and the stability of the Philippine government considering that it involves the criminal prosecution of a sitting Vice President – an impeachable officer under Section 3, Article VII and Section 2, Article IX of the 1987 Constitution.’

She also warned that if a sitting Vice President is indicted and prosecuted, this could open the floodgates for the criminal prosecution of other impeachable officers such as the Ombudsman, members of the Constitutional Commissions, Supreme Court Justices.

The case stemmed from Duterte’s statement made during an online press briefing in November 2024 claiming that she had hired someone to assassinate President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., First Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if a purported plot against her life succeeds.

When asked about the supposed immunity from suit of the Vice President, Martinez said: ‘The DOJ’s position is that presidential immunity is lodged solely in the President as chief executive, which is why the DOJ filed the case against the accused.’

The late Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile served as my trusted partner for 26 years in our television program, ‘Dito sa Bayan ni Juan.’ In every discussion on taxation, I benefited from his extensive knowledge as a tax specialist. His insights enriched every discussion on the topic. Yet the counsel I will always cherish is his reminder: ‘Taxes can build or destroy. Always remember that, Jess.’ Although my television partner has now passed, his perspective continues to guide me in every conversation about tax matters.

In a recent column, I wrote about the danger of good intentions. Last August 25, I represented FPI during the House Committee on Ways Means hearing, where the discussion turned to proposals to increase taxes on smoke-free alternatives such as heated tobacco products (HTPs) and vapes. Again, the intention is understandable as the government needs revenue and it also wants to protect public health.

But will higher taxes actually achieve these objectives?

As an industry advocate, I have always believed that taxes should be reasonable, predictable and fair. They should raise revenues without destroying legitimate businesses or creating opportunities for smugglers.

Unfortunately, we already know that consumers look for cheaper alternatives when the price difference between a legal product and an illegal one becomes too wide.

When a legal manufacturer produces goods in the Philippines, it pays taxes, employs our workers, follows our laws and regulations, and buys goods and services from other local businesses.

The smuggler does none of these things.

We should learn from what has already happened with cigarettes. As taxes and prices increased over the years, illicit cigarettes became increasingly attractive to price-sensitive consumers. The result is a large illegal market that deprives the government of revenue, takes sales away from legitimate businesses, and ultimately threatens Filipino jobs and livelihoods. We should be careful not to repeat the same mistake with smoke-free products.

This is why I believe we should be very careful about proposals to sharply increase taxes on smoke-free products.

Government revenues from the HTP category are reportedly growing by around 36 percent year on year, which should tell us something important. Instead of taxing these alternatives so aggressively that consumers are pushed back toward cigarettes or into the illicit market, policy should allow legitimate smoke-free alternatives to develop responsibly.

This is an opportunity for the Philippines to participate in the transition toward newer smoke-free technologies, and not simply as a consumer market, but eventually through investment, skills, and economic activity. Investments in innovative technologies have a multiplier effect as it leads to sourcing of local inputs, logistics, and back-end services that generate employment. The country will have a competitive advantage and open up market opportunities beyond our shores. Government policy should encourage legitimate businesses to invest in better technologies rather than make that transition more difficult.

There is an old saying: Do not kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

In this case, the question is not simply whether government can collect more tax from a new category. It is whether tax policy can encourage adult smokers to move toward better alternatives, while keeping these products within the regulated and tax-paying market.

If we tax too aggressively, we risk doing exactly that. We may project more revenue per pack on paper but end up slowing the growth of the legal market from which those taxes are supposed to come.

There is also a public health question that policymakers should not ignore. Not all nicotine products carry the same risk. Cigarettes burn tobacco, smoke-free products do not. The burning process produces the thousands of chemicals that cause smoking-related diseases. This difference is precisely why the principle of risk-proportionate taxation deserves serious consideration.

Taxation can be used not only to collect money but also to encourage better choices. If an adult smoker has the option of switching to a less harmful alternative, government policy should not remove the economic incentive to make that switch.

This brings us to vapor products, where the situation is even more alarming. In FPI’s position paper on House Bills 1316 and 5364, we pointed to regional data estimating that 84.5 percent of vapor products sold in the Philippines are illicit. The same data estimated foregone government revenues at around US$188.4 million in 2024.

What will happen if we make legal vapor products even more expensive? We should not expect the illicit traders to disappear. We may simply give them more customers.

And if legal vapes eventually become as expensive as, or more expensive than, cigarettes because of taxation, we also have to ask why a smoker would have a financial reason to switch away from cigarettes. That would defeat the purpose of risk-proportionate taxation.

I support the proposal to unify the tax rates on vapor products. Our present system, which imposes different rates on nicotine salt and freebase products, is unnecessarily complicated and creates opportunities for misdeclaration and tax leakage.

But a unified tax should also be a reasonable tax. The objective should be simple: make the legal market competitive enough to defeat the illegal market, while preserving a meaningful tax differential between cigarettes and smoke-free alternatives that reflects their different risk profiles.

The same caution applies to proposals to further increase taxes on sugary drinks. There are legitimate public health concerns surrounding excessive sugar consumption, but Congress itself is examining whether the present volume-based tax is the best way to influence consumer behavior.

We should also recognize that the government already uses policy to encourage consumers and industries to adopt newer and better technologies. Electric vehicles are a good example. Through tax incentives and other measures, the government has encouraged the shift to EVs. The principle is straightforward: when technology offers the potential for a better outcome, policy can help consumers move in that direction rather than treat new and old technologies exactly the same.

Before increasing another tax that will ultimately appear in the price paid by ordinary consumers, government should first ask whether the tax is properly designed to achieve its health objective.

The FPI strongly supports tougher action against illicit trade, including better tracking and tracing, tighter control of manufacturing equipment, stronger accountability for online marketplaces and greater coordination among government agencies. But enforcement and taxation must work together.

A tax rate cannot be considered successful merely because it looks high on paper. We must look at how much government actually collects, how many jobs and investments are created, and how much of the market is being surrendered to smugglers.

Good tax policy is not about finding the highest rate government can impose but finding the rate that actually works.

Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs-feed her instead. This is the best way to get more golden eggs.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the Chairman Emeritus of the Federation of Philippine Industries and concurrent Chairman of the Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Illicit Trade Committee.