Legal 500 named Home Credit Philippines’ CLO as Southeast Asia’s In-house Legal Leader of the Year

Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) achieved a distinguished international recognition as its Chief Legal Officer, Atty. Alicia Juliet ‘Alice’ Salita, got recognized as In-house Legal Leader of the Year at the prestigious Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026.

The annual regional award, organized by international legal research and ranking directory, The Legal 500, honors operational excellence, innovation, and standout achievements across corporate counsel and private practice in the Southeast Asian market. Atty. Salita’s recognition highlights her strategic leadership in transforming HCPH’s legal operations into an agile business engine.

As the head of HCPH’s Legal, Compliance, and External Affairs (LCEA) department, Atty. Salita masterfully oversees the critical pillars of Corporate Legal, Litigation, Compliance, and External Affairs. Under her leadership, the Corporate Legal division has successfully executed major high-value acquisitions, while the Compliance function has safeguarded the organization’s digital integrity amid evolving market dynamics. Her balanced execution of defensive legal structures and proactive regulatory strategies has successfully turned the LCEA team into a key driver of growth for Home Credit.

‘Receiving this regional honor from The Legal 500 is a testament to the high-performance culture we have collectively built at Home Credit Philippines,’ Atty. Salita said. ‘I deeply value the trust placed in me by the company’s leadership and their continuous encouragement to strive for excellence. Home Credit’s dynamic environment has empowered our team to challenge conventional institutional barriers and implement forward-thinking legal strategies that safeguard both the company and millions of consumers.’

Driven by a commitment to corporate modernization, Atty. Salita has successfully spearheaded key digital transformations at HCPH. Her notable achievements include fully digitizing the company’s legal workflow and launching a pioneering Digital Legal Library. This legal library centralizes and indexes over ten years of corporate contracts and regulatory archives for streamlined operations.

Beyond leadership in Home Credit Philippines, in 2025, Atty, Salita was re-elected as President of the Legal Management Council of the Philippines (LMCP), the country’s oldest organization for corporate counsel. In this role, she actively collaborates with the Supreme Court of the Philippines to institutionalize specialized Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) programs tailored specifically to the shifting regulatory demands of modern in-house corporate practices.

For the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph, or follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers may likewise download the Home Credit App to get pre-approved, available on Google Play, the App Store, and HUAWEI AppGallery.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

H1 NG deficit at ?786.8B; fiscal space narrows

THE national government ran a P786.8-billion fiscal deficit in the first half of the year, slightly lower than the target, although fiscal space is becoming ‘increasingly constrained.’

The budget hole widened by 2.79 percent to P786.8 billion from January to June, from P765.5 billion in the same period a year ago, the Bureau of the Treasury reported on Thursday.

Revenue collections reached P2.388 trillion in the first half, while spending on infrastructure, food security and support for local governments pushed expenditures to P3.175 trillion.

Treasury data showed that revenue collections went up by 5.67 percent year-on-year from P2.260 trillion, though 0.01 percent below the P2.389 trillion mid-year target.

Tax revenues rose by 5.38 percent to P2.142 trillion from P2.032 trillion last year. However, this fell short of the P2.158 trillion program by 0.77 percent, or P16.6 billion.

This came after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) missed its P1.654-trillion target, collecting P1.631 trillion in the first half. Still, this represented growth of 4.96 percent from the P1.554 trillion in the same period a year earlier.

The Treasury said the improvement in collections was driven by higher collections from corporate income tax, personal income tax, value-added tax (VAT), other percentage taxes and miscellaneous taxes.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) exceeded its P484.8-billion target by 1.45 percent after collecting P491.9 billion in customs duties and taxes. This was also 7.21 percent higher than the P458.8 billion it collected in the comparable period last year.

Higher oil prices benefited the BOC, as its VAT collections jumped by 10.34 percent, the Treasury said. This offset the 2.73-percent dip in excise tax collections due to lower oil import volumes and the temporary suspension of excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene.

‘Revenue growth continued to be driven by tax collections, although BIR collections reflected the impact of softer domestic economic activity,’ Chinabank Chief Economist Domini S.D. Velasquez said.

‘This was more than offset by stronger BOC collections, supported by higher oil prices, a weaker peso, and the resulting increase in import VAT collections,’ Velasquez added.

Non-tax revenue collections also increased by 8.26 percent year on year to P246.5 billion and surpassed the P230.2-billion midyear target by 7.09 percent on the back of better-than-expected Treasury income. Treasury income registered a 25.79-percent increase in the first half, rising to P182.7 billion from P145.3 billion in the same period last year.

‘The Department of Finance remains confident in the abilities of the revenue-generating agencies to meet their targets in the second half of the year,’ Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said.

Govt spending

Treasury income registered a 25.79-percent increase in the first half, rising to P182.7 billion from P145.3 billion in the same period last year.

‘The Department of Finance remains confident in the abilities of the revenue-generating agencies to meet their targets in the second half of the year,’ Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said.

Govt spending

Year-to-date expenditures grew by 4.94 percent to P3.175 trillion from P3.026 trillion in the comparable period last year and were slightly below the P3.177-trillion spending program.

Interest payments climbed by 16.60 percent year on year to P483.7 billion in the first half from P414.8 billion. This was also 1.58 percent below the P491.5-billion program.

Primary expenditures, meanwhile, rose by 3.09 percent to P2.691 trillion from P2.611 trillion last year and exceeded the P2.685-trillion program.

‘The government still has room to continue pump-priming the economy in the second half of the year while remaining within its fiscal targets,’ Velasquez said.

‘That said, fiscal space is becoming increasingly constrained. As such, we expect public spending to be focused on high-multiplier investments, particularly infrastructure and labor-generating projects, which are likely to provide the greatest boost to growth while preserving fiscal sustainability,’ she added.

’Economic recovery not likely for rest of the year’

DESPITE the government’s expectation of stronger growth in the second half, a University of Asia and the Pacific (UAandP) economist said the Philippine economy is unlikely to stage a meaningful recovery in the remaining months of 2026.

‘We’re naturally optimistic at the university, but over the next five and a half months, there won’t be any recovery. If the economy grows by 3 percent, we’d already be very happy with that,’ UAandP economist Ronilo M. Balbieran said in an interview on Thursday.

Should the economy grow by around 3 percent, it would fall below the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC)’s recalibrated gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 3.5 to 4.5 percent this year.

It would likewise mark the fourth consecutive year that the Marcos administration has failed to meet its growth target.

According to Balbieran, one of the biggest risks to growth is the government’s continued underspending on infrastructure, which has limited the public sector’s ability to generate jobs and incomes at a time when households and businesses are grappling with rising costs.

Citing official data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), he pointed out that the government’s infrastructure spending has contracted more sharply than during the pandemic.

He noted that infrastructure spending fell by over 40 in the first four months of 2026, steeper than the 26 percent contraction recorded during the pandemic.

DBM data showed infrastructure and other capital outlays declined to P189.3 billion in January to April from P347.6 billion in the same period last year.

Balbieran said that increasing public investment remains the government’s most effective tool to support growth because infrastructure projects create employment, particularly in the construction sector, while generating demand for goods and services across the broader economy.

As workers earn more from these projects, they spend more on food, transportation, housing and other daily needs, helping stimulate demand and support businesses across other sectors, he explained.

‘When that particular portion of our labor force will have money, then that will actually have the demand pool for everything else, for all the sectors,’ Balbieran also said.

Aside from weak infrastructure spending, Balbieran said inflation has continued to weigh on household consumption-the country’s biggest driver of economic growth.

Based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, household consumption grew by just 3 percent in the first quarter of 2026, slowing from 5.3 percent a year earlier.

The PSA said this was the weakest growth in household spending since the pandemic-era contraction in the first quarter of 2021. Excluding the pandemic years, it was the slowest pace since the third quarter of 2010.

Balbieran said consumers’ purchasing power has been squeezed by rising prices, a situation aggravated by the peso’s depreciation.

On Wednesday, the peso weakened to P61.75 against the US dollar, matching the record low it reached on May 18.

The weaker currency, Balbieran said, has also raised the cost of imported raw materials and goods, prompting businesses to pass on higher costs to consumers already grappling with more expensive fuel, electricity and transportation.

‘Double whammy on all the way to the final consumer because products and services will be higher aside from on top of our consumers already facing higher prices…everything gets messed up because you have higher prices, imported prices being multiplied by a higher exchange rate,’ he said.

The Philippine economy grew by 2.8 percent in the first quarter, marking its weakest expansion since 2021.

The PSA is scheduled to release second quarter GDP data on August 7.

Wang Yi: PHL-China ties at crossroads; protests traded

CHINESE Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro exchanged protests over the July 20 maritime clash at Ayungin Shoal, underscoring the deepening strain in bilateral ties.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Wang lodged a ‘strong protest against the reckless act’ of Philippine Navy sailors, accusing them of ramming inflatable boats into a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel. Beijing insisted the Philippine side provoked the incident-a claim the Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied.

The exchange took place during Wang and Lazaro’s bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asean-related ministerial meetings in Manila, their first Foreign Minister-level engagement in two years.

The DFA earlier said Lazaro protested the ‘violent’ incident that injured a Filipino soldier, while also raising Manila’s objections to the July 10 AI-generated China Daily video portraying Filipinos as ‘stupid monkeys’ and as lackeys of the US and Japan.

On Thursday, a third incident tested the Asian neighbors’ relations: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported being harassed by the CCG as it, along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), conducted fuel subsidy missions for Filipino fishermen at Bajo de Masinloc (BdM). The CCG side used its water cannon and at one point, executed a dangerous maneuver, crossing approximately 500 meters ahead of the bow of BRP Datu Paiburong (MMOV-3018).

Relations at a crossroads

Amid this chain of incidents, Guo quoted Foreign Minister Wang as saying. ‘China-Philippines relations now stand at a crossroads, and it falls on the Philippines to make a right and rational choice about the way forward.’

Wang questioned the timing of the Ayungin clash, noting it occurred a day before his scheduled visit to Manila. He alleged that ‘some forces in the military and police’ deliberately create incidents to derail dialogue, acting on the ‘bidding of external forces’ rather than the well-being of Filipinos.

Wang warned that attempts to ‘provoke trouble with the help of external forces’ would only cause the Philippines to ‘reap what it sows.’

He urged Manila to stop provocative maritime actions, honor commitments made to China, and take steps to stabilize relations.

Teodoro: China has no right to enter

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday said Chinese maritime forces, especially its Coast Guard, have no right to enter Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and interfere with Filipino troops there going about their lawful mandate.

He issued this comment after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan, attempted to justify the actions of the CCG who clashed with Philippine Navy personnel manning the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal on July 20.

The Chinese envoy claimed that CCG personnel went to Ayungin Shoal after receiving reports that Filipino troops are engaging in construction activities aboard the Sierra Madre, which he said is in violation of a provisional agreement entered into by the two nations.

And while not confirming construction activities, Teodoro said, in a mix of Filipino and English, ‘They have no right to interfere, secondly, they have no right to be there.’

Asked if China’s actions are escalatory in nature in the WPS, Teodoro said, ‘it’s not an escalation. It is part of a design to control the Pacific Ocean.’

The DFA said both ministers nevertheless highlighted progress in negotiations on the Asean-China Code of Conduct and reaffirmed their willingness to conclude talks this year.

They also discussed broader cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to pursue dialogue and diplomacy while remaining assertive in protecting Philippine interests.

Asked if China’s actions are escalatory in nature in the WPS, Teodoro said, ‘it’s not an escalation. It is part of a design to control the Pacific Ocean.’

The DFA said both ministers nevertheless highlighted progress in negotiations on the Asean-China Code of Conduct and reaffirmed their willingness to conclude talks this year.

They also discussed broader cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to pursue dialogue and diplomacy while remaining assertive in protecting Philippine interests.

Cebu City govt urges residents to help reduce waterway clogging and prevent flooding

The Cebu City Government has called on residents to help reduce the clogging of major waterways by practicing proper waste disposal, stressing that indiscriminate throwing of garbage continues to worsen flooding in many parts of the city during heavy rains.

The appeal came after heavy downpours affected several areas of Cebu City on Wednesday, prompting post-rain inspections that revealed drainage systems, canals, and waterways clogged with plastic bottles, household waste, and other debris.

City officials said the accumulated garbage obstructed the flow of water, contributing to flooding in several communities.

In response, the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) immediately conducted declogging operations, clearing blocked waterways and removing tons of waste from the city’s drainage system to restore the normal flow of water.

The city government said similar operations will continue in flood-prone areas as part of its ongoing flood mitigation efforts.

While Cebu City continues to implement drainage improvement projects and regular cleaning activities, officials emphasized that government interventions alone are not enough to address flooding.

They pointed out that improper waste disposal remains one of the leading causes of clogged waterways and overflowing drainage systems during periods of heavy rainfall.

The city government urged residents to properly segregate and dispose of their garbage and to refrain from throwing waste into canals, esteros, rivers, and other waterways.

Barangays, businesses, schools, and community organizations were likewise encouraged to participate in regular clean-up drives and promote responsible solid waste management within their respective communities.

As the rainy season continues, the Cebu City Government called on every Cebuano to do their part in reducing flood risks.

The city will continue to experience heavy rains and thunderstorms until Friday, July 23, 2026, based on the two-day Special Localized Weather Forecast and Outlook of state weather bureau Pagasa. The southwest monsoon continues to affect several parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Emergency response operations were conducted on Wednesday evening to help out stranded passengers from floodwaters in the downtown area. The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) deployed its rescue truck where it helped ferry stranded passengers to safety.

City officials reiterated that simple actions such as disposing of waste properly, keeping drainage systems free from obstructions, and encouraging others to do the same can significantly help protect lives and properties from flooding.

The city government underscored that flood prevention is a shared responsibility, adding that collective action and environmental stewardship are essential in building a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Cebu City in line with its vision of becoming a Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive City.

Hontiveros subject of online threats

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now conducting a case build-up against hundreds of Facebook users who have allegedly posted remarks threatening to kill majority senator and possible 2028 presidential contender Anna Theresia ‘Risa’ Hontiveros.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Third Weekly Membership Meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila, Matibag told reporters that Hontiveros’ camp has already communicated its request for investigation on the ‘wave of threats’ and ‘pro-killing’ remarks online that erupted online following the killing of pro-administration vlogger Alicia Lipata, known as Mima Alicia.

Hontiveros said her office has submitted to the NBI the names and screenshots of hundreds of Facebook users who have threatened to kill her.

Matibag said the identified Facebook accounts would be referred to the NBI forensic laboratory, as well as, its Cybercrime Division for proper disposition.

‘Like any other case that was referred to us for investigation, we will do a case build-up on this matter and after the case build-up, if we feel that it is enough for us to file a case before the DOJ [Department of Justice], then we will file it,’ Matibag added.

Matibag also expressed alarm that uttering or posting death threats online has become a norm even for some government officials.

The NBI, however, assured that the agency would pursue those behind the death threats against Hontiveros.

‘As a law enforcement agency, we will do our mandate as to the law and order. If we need to run after them, we will run after them.

But make no mistake that this will be political or personal. We will base our actions on evidence and according to the process and to the law,’ Matibag stressed.

Hontiveros said her camp is taking these threats seriously.

Pampanga LGUs told: Strengthen waste management, measures

An environmental advocacy group urged local governments in Pampanga to strengthen solid waste management and preventive health programs during the rainy season, citing continued cases of illegal dumping and concerns over suspended septage management programs.

Sonny Dobles, vice president of the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. (Araw-ACI), called on mayors and barangay chairpersons in the province to strictly enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003) and the Clean Water Act (Republic Act 9275).

Dobles said the laws are intended to protect public health and prevent the contamination of land and water resources through proper waste and wastewater management.

‘These laws have to be enforced to protect every citizen from the danger caused by mismanaged waste, either solid or in liquid form, dumped on land or in water bodies,’

‘It is saddening to think that our officials seem to have grown numb and no longer give a damn about the lives and safety of our people, especially the poor,’ Dobles said.

He said the group continues to observe illegal dumping in open areas, as well as the disposal of garbage into waterways including the Abacan River, Balibago Creek, and Dau Creek.

Dobles warned that local officials could face administrative or legal liability if they fail to enforce environmental laws. He also said poor communities are often the most affected by flooding, pollution and diseases linked to improperly managed waste.

He said illnesses such as leptospirosis, severe diarrhea, typhoid and wound infections become more prevalent during the rainy season.

‘Marami pa rin tayong nakikitang basura na nakatambak sa mga open spaces na kalaunan ay nagiging open dump na,’ Dobles said. ‘At ang mas grabe ay ang pagtatapon ng basura sa mga ilog at sapa kagaya sa Abacan River, Balibago Creek, at Dau Creek.’

The group’s appeal comes after an illegal open dump in barangay Calumpang, Mabalacat City was closed following a fire that sent heavy smoke into nearby communities. Reports of illegal dumping have also surfaced this year in the towns of Sta. Ana and Arayat.

Dobles also expressed concern over the suspension of septage or environmental fee collection in several Pampanga local governments including Angeles City, Magalang, Apalit, San Simon and Arayat. He said the suspensions have disrupted septage management programs required under the Clean Water Act, although some local governments have said they are reviewing the fee structure.

He urged local governments to complete their reviews promptly to avoid prolonged interruptions in septage services, warning that delays could increase the risk of groundwater contamination. Dobles also backed an earlier call by Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to investigate the compliance of local government units and private operators with laws governing the treatment and disposal of septic waste.

UE names new marketing, university relations director

THE University of the East (UE) has announced the appointment of seasoned marketing professional Danica Magat-Celario as director of its Marketing and University Relations Department.

Celario brings more than 16 years of experience in higher education marketing, strategic communications and institutional engagement to the university.

Celario officially assumed office in June 2026, succeeding former UE Marketing and University Relations Director Edilberto Sulat Jr., who retired after serving the university for 24 years.

Welcoming Celario to the University, UE President and Chief Academic Officer Zosimo Battad expressed confidence that her vast experience and collaborative leadership will fortify the University’s communications and engagement with stakeholders as UE prepares to mark its 80th founding anniversary in September.

‘We are pleased to welcome Ms. Danica Magat-Celario to the University of the East. Her extensive experience in higher education marketing and communications, together with her collaborative approach to leadership, will strengthen our engagement with our community and partners. We look forward to her contributions in advancing initiatives that support our mission and uphold the values that have guided UE for eight decades,’ Battad said.

Celario spent much of her career leading institutional marketing communications, digital engagement, and strategic planning initiatives in the higher education sector. Prior to joining UE, she served as Marketing Manager of the Center for Strategic Marketing and Communications of Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila.

‘I am honored to join UE at such an important milestone in its rich history. I look forward to collaborating with the entire university community to deepen connections, engage our stakeholders and champion the core mission that has defined UE for 80 years,’ Celario said.

Celario’s multifaceted experience spans strategic communications, multimedia and digital platforms, market research, event management and quality management systems. She is a trained ISO Internal Auditor and has also served as a faculty member under the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, teaching courses in marketing management, strategic marketing, e-commerce, and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions or MICE.

As Director of the Marketing and University Relations Department, Celario will lead the university’s stakeholder engagement and strategic communications initiatives, working with academic and administrative units to enhance institutional presence and ensure that the University’s communications remain proactive, collaborative and aligned with its core values that include excellence, integrity and social responsibility.

Celario holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management.

Her appointment underscores UE’s continuing commitment to delivering socially relevant and nation-building education spanning eight decades.

Elreen, Kyla, Eumir: Bright hopes in Asiad

ELREEN ANN ANDO leads a weightlifting team without Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and the swimming association hopes for a bounce back by Kayla Sanchez in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games in September.

Boxing association honorary chairman Ricky Vargas also boldly declared Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial should be in Nagoya all the way to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The Asian Games are set September 19 to October 4.

Diaz Naranjo begs off

THE country’s first Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo, begged off from competing in the Asian Games, according to Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) national coach Patrick Lee.

‘She [Diaz-Naranjo] informed us that she’ll skip the Asian Games because of personal reasons,’ lee said. ‘And I’m sure she’ll announce it herself one of these days.’

Diaz placed fourth place in the women’s 59 kgs class where Ando clinched a bronze medal in the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.

In Diaz Naranjo’s place as leader of the weightlifting squad is citing two-time Olympian Elreen Ann Ando (women 61 kgs), who will be joined by Rosegie Ramos (women 53 kgs), Kristel Macrohon (women 69 kgs) Ian Delos Santos (men 70 kgs) and Eleaphraime Limmomg (men 60 kgs).

‘They are on our short list and we believe they could provide us the best results in the Asian Games,’ Lee said.

Ando is a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, while De los Santos ruled his division in the world junior championships last May in Egypt.

Ramos also won a gold medal in the Asia youth championships in Uzbekistan and Macrohon won gold at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Kayla magic in Nagoya

PHILIPPINE Aquatic Inc. (PAI) secretary-general Eric Buhain said they are hoping for Kayla Sanchez to flash the same magic that made her one of the most successful Filipinos at the Bangkok Southeast Asian Games October.

‘We are hoping for Kayla, and the rest to sustain, to sustain their charge in the Asian Games,’ said Buhain who, however, threw caution that the Asian Games are an Olympic-level competition with swimmers from China, Japan and South Korea seeing action.

Sanchez had a forgettable swim in her Asian Games debut in Hangzhou but recovered in Bangkok with three gold medals in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and and 4×100 freestyle relay.

She also had five silver medals in the 200m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and two women’s relays.

Joining Sanchez, according to Buhain, are Xiandi Chua, Teia Salvino, Heather White, Logan Noguchi and Gian Santos.

‘We are not coming home empty handed again, hopefully,’ Buhain said.

There wasn’t any medal from the pool in Hangzhou with Ryan Papa winning the country’s last Asian Games gold medal in men’s 200 backstroke at the 1998 Bangkok edition.

Vargas: We need Eumir

RICKY VARGAS believes Eumir Felix Marcial is a staple not only in the Asian Games but also in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

‘We really need Eumir [Marcial] to compete for our country in the Asian Games all the way to LA,’ Vargas told BusinessMirror on Thursday.

Marcial missed the men’s 80 kgs gold in Hangzhou after he lost to China’s Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke via split decision in a controversy-marred final. Josef Ramos

‘His only formidable opponent is himself,’ Vargas said. ‘If he overcomes that, there is an absolute chance that he will win.’

Marcial-currently based in Tokyo sparring with boxers his size and weight which are a scarcity in the country-is also on stand by for his eight pro fight since his successful stint at the ‘Thrilla in Manila 2’ in Cubao last October.

Smart launches Samsung’s latest foldable innovations with exclusive pre-order offers

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is empowering more Filipinos to widen their Galaxy and experience Samsung’s newest foldable innovations as it opens pre-orders for the latest Samsung Galaxy Z8 Series from July 22 to August 13, 2026.

Fresh from Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy Unpacked event, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 takes center stage as Samsung’s newest foldable design, leading the lineup alongside the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip8.

Slimmer, lighter, and more powerful than ever, Samsung’s latest foldables combine advanced Galaxy AI features, enhanced cameras, and seamless connectivity across the Galaxy ecosystem.

Get bigger storage and more value with easy and flexible payment options

By pre-ordering with Smart Postpaid or Smart Infinity, customers can experience these mobile innovations with exclusive storage upgrades, trade-in savings, flexible payment options, and competitive pricing.

Smart subscribers who successfully pre-order a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, or Galaxy Z Flip8 can enjoy up to P14,000 in savings when they upgrade their device storage from 256GB to 512GB. Plus, they can also get three months of complimentary Samsung Care+, subject to applicable terms and availability.

Customers can maximize their devices with Smart’s All-New Postpaid Plans+, which come with UNLI App Bundles, UNLI 5G for 12 months (in select areas), Open-Access Data, and high priority on the Smart network, empowering customers to play, create, and connect wherever they go on Smart’s fast and reliable network.

With Smart Postpaid Plans+ 1999, subscribers can get the following devices through straight payment or 24-month, zero-interest installment using participating credit cards (Metrobank, Security Bank, BPI, UnionBank, HSBC, and RCBC):

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (512GB) for P101,600 or P5,021/month

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 (512GB) for P65,100 or P3,217/monthTruly premium lifestyle with Smart Infinity

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Series is also available through Infinity Plan 5000 and Infinity Plan 8000, which come with unlimited data, calls, and texts, roaming-ready connectivity, and exclusive Infinity privileges.

Smart Infinity members also enjoy a curated suite of privileges designed around convenience, access, and personalized service, including Worldwide Concierge Services, complimentary airport lounge access, exclusive access to the Infinity Collection, Smart Infinity’s carefully curated portfolio of privileges and experiences from distinguished luxury and premium partner brands, dedicated Relationship Manager support, and 24/7 priority assistance with personalized service at Smart Stores nationwide.

Upgrade easier with Smart and Samsung Trade-In

Smart also makes upgrading to Samsung’s newest foldables easier and more rewarding with the Smart and Samsung Trade-In Program. Customers can reserve their preferred Galaxy Z8 Series device during the pre-order period and complete their trade-in at participating Smart Stores once the devices officially launch. Eligible smartphones can be traded in for instant discounts that can be applied toward the purchase of a new Galaxy device.

Complete the Galaxy ecosystem with Samsung’s newest smartwatches

Smart Postpaid and Infinity are also offering the new Samsung Galaxy Watch9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2, enabling subscribers to enjoy a more intelligent, connected, and personalized Galaxy experience alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z8 Series.

Compatible smartwatch users can also add on Smart Device Link, which enables their smartwatch and phone to share one mobile number and plan inclusions for a more seamless connected experience. First-time subscribers can enjoy the service free for six months, when they activate until September 30, 2026, making it even easier to stay connected across devices.

With the Smart Postpaid Plans, subscribers can save up to 20% compared with the suggested retail price when they bundle a Samsung Galaxy Watch with their new Samsung Galaxy Z8 Series device. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 LTE starts at P1,525 per month, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch9 starts at P867 per month. These devices are also available to Infinity members.

Backed by Smart’s fast and reliable 5G network, subscribers can truly make the most of the latest Samsung Galaxy Z8 Series and Samsung Galaxy Watch devices for streaming, creating, collaborating, and staying connected wherever they go.