Category: Business Mirror

The death toll from tropical storms ‘Maymay’ and ‘Luis,’ and the prevailing Southwest Monsoon, locally known as ‘habagat,’ continues to rise as heavy rainfall threatens more areas in Luzon.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported the death toll, including from the monsoon since last week has climbed to 13.

OCD Assistant Secretary Laurence E. Mina said this was on top of the eight initial fatalities from the said weather disturbances, which they received.

He said two of the fatalities came from Benguet, while Rizal and Batangas each have three cases.

Over 1.31 million people were affected by the heavy rains caused by said tropical storm and monsoon in the National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

It also noted that 367 houses were damaged from the latest natural calamities.

As heavy rains brought by the classes in Metro Manila and several provinces, the Baguio Department of Education (DepEd) activated its emergency learning measures, reminding schools and field offices to apply the agency’s Emergencies framework to protect learners, teachers, and school personnel.

Pampanga flooding

Nearly 464,000 people have been affected by flooding in Pampanga as rains from the southwest monsoon continue across the province, the Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Monday, August 10.

PDRRMO reported P34.24 million in damage to agriculture and fisheries including rice, high-value crops, corn and cassava. Of the total, P31.26 million was attributed to fisheries losses.

The PDRRMO reported that 463,946 people from 148,879 families in 232 barangays had been affected. It said 39 barangays evacuated 850 families, or 3,161 people, to local evacuation centers.

The report separately listed 236 flooded barangays in 17 local government units, with flooding reaching as high as 9 feet in parts of Barangay San Agustin in Candaba.

Lubao reported the most flooded barangays at 34, with water reaching 2 to 3 feet in some areas. Macabebe reported 25 flooded barangays, with water reaching 2 to 5 feet because of rainfall and high tide.

Masantol and Guagua each reported 22 flooded barangays. Floodwater reached up to 2 feet in parts of Masantol and up to 3 feet in parts of Guagua.

Other flooded areas were Magalang, 20 barangays; Arayat, 16; Minalin, 15; Mexico, 12; Apalit and Santa Rita, 10 each; the City of San Fernando, nine; San Simon, six; Santo Tomas and Bacolor, five each; Sasmuan, two; and San Luis, one.

Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, in his Facebook post, said emergency sandbagging was carried out along the tail dike in Barangay Sta. Catalina in Minalin as water overflows in the area and threatens the dike leading to Manila Bay.

‘Nag overflow ang tail dike sa Barangay Sta. Catalina sa Minalin,’ Pineda said. ‘Galing po sa Pasig-Potrero bandang Porac at Gugu ang tubig at umaapaw sa San Francisco River.’

Minalin Mayor Philip Naguit and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office monitored the situation after Governor Lilia Pineda ordered emergency sandbagging, according to the local government, Pineda said.

The PDRRMO attributed the flooding to continuous rainfall, high tide, overflowing waterways, upstream water flows, clogged drainage and low-lying areas.

Two individuals were injured after an uprooted tree incident in Barangay Sapalibutad as heavy rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon affected Angeles City, per latest report from the city disaster office.

A landslide was reported at Purok 1 West in Barangay Sapangbato, where one house was also reported damaged. No infrastructure damage or flooded areas were reported.

The city disaster office said all roads and bridges remained passable.

Baguio

Meanwhile, the Baguio Public Information Office reported that a landslide buried three houses at Riverside, Guisad Surong. Rescuers reported that 7 of the third were pulled out from the debris and were rushed to the hospital, but 4 of them were declared dead on arrival.

Those who survived include a 77-year-old pastor, a man, and a woman in their mid-20s.

Rescuers are still hoping to save six people who remained missing and believed buried under tons of rocks and mud, Baguio City Police Director Col. Ruel Tagel said in his report to Baguio City mayor Benjamin Magalong.

The four fatalities include a 17-year-old female student, a boy and a girl who are both 9 years old, and a 56-year-old man.

Meanwhile, those reported missing include children aged three and eight.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that the inclement weather has affected a total of 223,000 families or 752,000 people in Regions I, II, III, V, VI, IX, CAR, MIMAROPA and CALABARZON. According to the NDRRMC, 10,000 families or 34,400 persons are currently being provided care in 412 different evacuation centers.

The flooding, which submerged many areas in Luzon with some reports reaching 4 meters high, damaged 300 houses so far.

The NDRRMC said damage to infrastructure has so far reached P1.12 billion while damage to agriculture has reached P3.53 million.

Government response in the severely affected areas has so far cost P33.94 million.

The inclement weather, even after storms Luis and Maymay are no longer affecting the country’s weather system, continues due to the prevailing Southwest monsoon, dumping huge volumes of rain over Luzon that trigger flooding and landslides.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said more rains are expected to drench Luzon in the next three days, threatening to cause widespread flooding and life-threatening landslides.

The weather bureau released a Weather Advisory warning of more rains in Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Pangasinan, Kalinga, Mountain province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and Oriental Mindoro tha will last until Wednesday, August 12.

Protocol

DepEd Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said policy to help schools respond to disruptions in a way that protects learners and teachers while keeping learning possible when conditions allow, stressing that the reminder follows Memorandum Circular No. 123 of the Office of the President, which directed alternative learning modes in affected areas today, unless otherwise directed by local chief executives.

DepEd said the current weather situation highlights the need for schools to use the 4H protocol-Hayo, Hinay, Hinga, and Hinto-to guide decisions on learning delivery based on safety, learner readiness, available resources, and local conditions.

‘Kapag malakas ang ulan, baha ang daan, o may risk sa safety ng learners at teachers, hindi puwedeng one-size-fits-all ang decision. Kailangan malinaw ang batayan: ligtas ba, kaya ba, at anong klaseng learning support ang angkop? Iyan ang layunin ng 4H framework-gabayan ang schools kung kailan tutuloy, kailan babagalan, kailan hihinga, at kailan kailangang huminto muna,’ Angara said.

Despite record-breaking heavy rainfall since last week, Metro Manila has managed to avoid severe flooding – thanks to a combination of mitigation efforts, including waterway dredging, operational pumping stations, expanded drainage systems, and the deployment of ‘manananggal’ units across most parts of the region.

Despite record-breaking heavy rainfall since last week, Metro Manila was able to ward off severe flooding with mitigation projects, which included dredging of waterways, operational pumping stations, expanded drainage pipes, and the deployment of ‘manananggal,’ in most parts of the region.

While it sounds like the mythical creature from Philippine folklore of a woman who splits from her torso to feast on fetuses, the Strike Force Manananggal of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) goes after trash blocking drainage and waterways, instead.

Funded by the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), the emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment, the task force, which is named after the Filipino term of ‘to remove’ is deployed in flooded areas to remove trash.

‘So, they are actually wading into the water-working alongside DOLE TUPAD-to declog our drainage systems, which has significantly helped speed up the receding of floodwaters,’ MMDA chairman Romando S. Artes explained in Filipino in a press briefing in Malacañang last Monday.

He said DOLE provided them with 10,000 TUPAD beneficiaries to assist in their declogging operations.

‘This is a big help because preemptively, we were able to clean the drainages that were always blocked. And they also helped us even during the height of the rain when there were areas that we monitored with rising water levels,’ Artes said.

The MMDA chief said the initiative augments the Oplan Kontra Baha initiative of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to keep flood waters at bay after Tropical Storms ‘Maymay’ and ‘Luis,’ as well as the Southwest Monsoon, dumped rainfall equivalent for a month in just a week.

‘Even here in Metro Manila-specifically at the Science Garden in Quezon City-recorded rainfall reached 501.6 millimeters compared to the normal 568; that is almost 90 percent-meaning nearly a full month’s worth of rain poured down here in Quezon City, Metro Manila,’ Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) administrator Nathaniel T. Servando said in Filipino.

He said a similar trend was observed in Zambales, Pangasinan, and Baguio City.

Even with such torrential rain, Artes said many parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), which was previously submerged in volumes of floodwater only had gutter-deep floods, which promptly receded.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said this was in flood-prone areas like Navotas, Valenzuela, Manila, G. Araneta Venue, and E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue.

DPWH Secretary DPWH Secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ B. Dizon attributed the said achievement from their Oplan Kontra Baha initiatives, which includes dredging of waterways, expanding drainage pipes, and making sure pumping stations are operational.

But even with said development, he said they were instructed by President Ferdinand Marcos to continue improving flood control projects, particularly with the implementation of the flood management and flood mitigation project under the 2027 proposed budget.

‘So, we are pressing ahead; with the upcoming submission of the 2027 budget, we will include flood management and flood mitigation projects, and we are focusing on these various interventions,’ Dizon said.

PRESIDENT Marcos has called for stronger unity among Southeast Asian nations as global conflicts and emerging disruptions threaten regional stability.

‘Conflicts beyond our shores, including the situation in the Middle East, remind us that crises affect stability, economies, and communities far beyond where they begin,’ said Marcos, marking the 59th Asean Day on Saturday.

He stressed that even after conflicts subside, their impact lingers across societies and economies, underscoring the need for collective action among Asean member states.

‘On this 59th Asean Day, we celebrate not only the founding of our association, we celebrate a promise that has endured for nearly six decades, that in our shared region, dialogue must prevail over division, cooperation over conflict, and solidarity over uncertainty,’ he said.

The President highlighted that the group’s founding principle of unity remains crucial as the region faces challenges such as climate change, economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.

‘Asean was built on a simple but powerful truth. Our peoples are safer, stronger, and more prosperous when our nations face the future together,’ Marcos said.

He noted that Asean has consistently upheld this vision by preserving peace and strengthening economic ties.

‘Today, we can say with pride that Asean has honored that promise. Together, we have helped preserve peace in our region. We have deepened economic cooperation, expanded opportunities, and strengthened partnerships,’ he said.

As chairman of the Asean, Marcos said the Philippines has guided the region with ‘clarity, resolve, and purpose’ under the theme ‘Navigating Our Future Together.’

‘At the 48th Asean Summit in Cebu, and in the preparatory work leading up to it, Asean acted swiftly, and with resolve. We focused our collective response on three urgent priorities. Energy security, food security, and the safety of Asean nationals amid the situation in the Middle East,’ he said.

‘These priorities reflect Asean’s commitment to cooperation that protects lives, improves livelihoods, and upholds peace, prosperity, and people empowerment,’ he added.

Marcos emphasized the importance of Asean centrality in maintaining dialogue and stability in the region.

‘This is why Asean centrality matters. It is how we chart our present and our future. Through Asean-led mechanisms, we provide vital spaces for dialogue, confidence building, and peaceful engagement,’ he said.

He also pointed to Asean’s growing global significance, noting its economic strength and demographic advantage.

‘Home to nearly 700 million people and already the world’s fifth largest economy, Asean remains a compelling destination for trade, investment, innovation, and long-term partnership,’ Marcos said.

The President cited key milestones, including the first year of implementing the Asean Community Vision 2045 and the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

‘We mark the first year of implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2045, our long-term guide toward a more resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered Asean,’ he said.

‘We also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a cornerstone of peace, regional stability, trust, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence in our region and beyond,’ he added.

Marcos also welcomed Timor-Leste’s participation as Asean’s 11th member state, calling it a ‘historic step’ in strengthening regional cooperation.

‘This year, we also proudly welcome Timor-Leste’s full and active participation as Asean’s 11th member state. Today, this historic step strengthens our shared journey and reaffirms our collective commitment to Asean community building,’ he said.

Looking ahead, Marcos expressed confidence in Asean’s continued unity and progress.

‘As we look ahead to the 49th Asean Summit and related summits, and to the transition to Singapore as the next chair, we do so with full confidence in Asean’s collective will, in the strength of our valued partnerships, and in our shared commitment to sustained progress and continuity,’ he said.

He urged member states to renew their commitment to regional cooperation.

‘On this Asean Day, let us honor how far we have come. More importantly, let us renew our responsibility for what comes next. Let us continue to navigate our future together,’ Marcos said.

THE Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG) is winding down 21 state-run firms that no longer effectively fulfill their mandates.

GCG Chairman Marius P. Corpus told the BusinessMirror via a messaging app that the central oversight body is expediting the abolition process for these GOCCs.

Of the GOCCs that will close shop, seven are in the agricultural sector, including CDCP Farms Corp., National Agri-Business Corp., Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp., Philippine Sugar Corp., Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp., Zamboanga National Agricultural College-Rubber Estate Corp. and Northern Foods Corp.

There are also five involved in area development and real estate, such as the Alabang-Santo Tomas Development Inc., Human Settlements Development Corp., PNOC Development and Management Corp., First Cavite Industrial Estate Inc. and Partido Development Administration.

The utilities group includes the following: Panay Railways Inc.; North Luzon Railways Corp.; PNOC Shipping and Transport Corp.; and, Disc Contractors, Builders and General Services Inc.

The energy and materials sector accounts for two firms: PNOC Alternative Fuel Corp. and Philippine Forest Corp.

The list also includes Technology Resources Center in the education sector, as well as the AFP-Retirement and Separation Benefits System and Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corp. in the financial sector.

While there is no specific number of state-run corporations targeted for closure this year, Corpus told the BusinessMirror that the GCG deactivates these entities first as the abolition process takes time.

‘The process usually takes a longer period of time because of legal requirements and the tedious liquidation process,’ he explained. ‘What the GCG initially does for a non-performing GOCC is to deactivate its operations to prevent further losses and preserve assets.’

GCG data showed that as of end-June, 30 non-operational, inactive or deactivated GOCCs are slated for closure, merger or privatization.

Corpus said the GCG can recommend the merger of GOCCs that have redundant functions or the privatization of those whose activities can be best served by the private sector.

As of end-June, 11 firms had been dissolved, one had been privatized, three had been merged and one had been disposed of by the Privatization and Management Office.

In an interview over radio last Saturday, Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said that about 10 percent of the more than 100 GOCCs should be closed to free up public resources for the government’s programs and services.

According to Go, the government has provided as of end-June a total of P114.576 billion in subsidies to state-run firms to help them perform their mandated government functions and cover operating expenses. The latter includes salaries and maintenance and other operating expenses.

He said that most of the country’s GOCCs remain in good condition, citing their record dividend remittances to the national government.

The government expects to collect P147.15 billion in dividends from GOCCs this year, strengthening public finances and helping expand investments in infrastructure, education and healthcare, among others.

GOCCs are required to declare and remit at least 50 percent of their annual net earnings as dividends to the national government under Republic Act No. 7656 or the Dividend Law.

You could almost taste the wit: TOAST – The Best of BREAD is the name of a tribute band that’s performing Aug. 12 at Smart Araneta Coliseum and Aug. 15 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, courtesy of Ovation Productions.

Growing up in 1970s Manila, there was no escaping Bread, whose songs would usually play on the radio during slow, sleepy afternoons.

The songs were ballads that caught one’s ear because the lyrics were easy to relate to. They were not exactly folk music like the early stuff of James Taylor, but closer to the slower tunes of the Eagles – still mellow but with soft rock beats and electric guitars.

At age 9 in ’72, I first heard ‘Everything I Own,’ whose vocals by David Gates fluttered smoothly from falsetto to tenor, singing about someone who ‘sheltered me from harm, kept me warm…’ and doing everything ‘just to have you back again.’

Year after year, radio kept playing more Bread songs which, to an adolescent, sounded like love letters and personal confessions:

‘Make It with You’ (‘And if you’re wondering where this song is leading to…’);

‘If’ (‘If a picture paints a thousand words/Then why can’t I paint you?’);

‘Baby, I’m-a Want You’ (‘Used to be my life was just emotions passing by/Then you came along and made me laugh and made me cry…’);

‘Diary’ (‘I found her diary underneath a tree/And started reading about me…’);

‘Aubrey’ (But how I miss the girl/And I’d go a million times around the world just to say/She had been mine for a day…’);

‘Lost Without Your Love’ (‘Lost and all alone/

I always thought that I could make it on my own…’).

But just when it seemed Bread was all about mushy stuff, there was ‘Guitar Man’ and its trippy wah-wah pedal guitar adlibs.

The band broke up in ’73, reunited twice – in ’76-’78 and ’96-’97. In between those years, each member did solo work, with Gates recording ‘Goodbye Girl’ from the movie soundtrack.

The Griffin/Royer tandem wrote the lyrics to the song ‘For All We Know,’ which The Carpenters famously covered.

Tracing the history of Bread revealed interesting and intriguing details.

Gates had known Royer, having worked as producer and arranger in the latter’s previous band, the Pleasure Fair. When Royer introduced his songwriting partner, Griffin, to Gates, they formed Bread as a trio, adding a session drummer, Jim Gordon (who had played with Eric Clapton in Derek and the Dominos). Mike Botts would later replace Gordon.

Bread’s members were a talented bunch. On its self-titled debut album in 1969, Gates sang lead vocals and played guitars, bass, organ, piano, RMI electric piano, Moog synthesizer, violin, viola, and percussion.

Griffin also sang lead vocals as well as played guitars and percussion.

Royer sang backing vocals, played guitar, bass, RMI electric piano, piano, flute, recorder, and percussion.

In all its albums, Bread had two sets of composers: Gates, who wrote most of the ballads, and Griffin/Royer, who contributed the upbeat tracks.

Larry Knechtel performed the exciting wah-wah solos in ‘Guitar Man.’ He had previously been a member of the famous Los Angeles session musicians, the Wrecking Crew and played piano and harpsichord on the Beach Boys ‘ ‘Pet Sounds’ album and on Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ single.

Between 1969 and ’73, Bread had 11 singles that landed on the charts, including, in order of release: ‘It Don’t Matter to Me’ from the debut album which went to no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 7 on the Cash Box Top 100; ‘Make It with You’ from 1970’s ‘On the Waters,’ no. 1 on Billboard and no. 5 in the UK; ‘If’ from 1971’s ‘Manna,’ no. 4 in the US and no. 6 in Canada; ‘Everything I Own’ from 1972’s ‘Baby I’m-a Want You,’ no. 5 in the US and Canada, and no. 12 in Australia; and also from 1972’s ‘Guitar Man,’ the title track was no. 11, ‘Sweet Surrender’ and ‘Aubrey’ both no. 15, in the US.

All those hits were by Gates, which was the reason for the intriguing part. Griffin resented that Elektra – Bread’s record label at the time – released the singles with Gates’ songs on the A-sides. Obviously, Griffin didn’t like that Gates became the voice of Bread – which strained their relationship.

Professional jealousy aside, it was simply apparent that Bread achieved fame through Gates’ contributions.

Griffin and Botts died in 2005, followed by Knechtel in 2009, leaving Gates and Royer as the only surviving members. But Bread lives on in its classic albums, continuous airplay, and through tribute performances by the likes of TOAST, which is said to be the next best thing to the original.

THE Sandiganbayan Third Division has compelled former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan to appear before it and testify in the trial of the malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents case filed against former senator Ramon Revilla Jr.

The subpoena addressed to the National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) was issued by the Sandiganbayan on Friday upon the request in open court by the prosecution team.

Bonoan has been placed under hospital arrests owing to his medical condition.

The summon specifically requires Bonoan to bring documents, records or evidence and to testify in court in relation to the case.

‘You are hereby commanded to appear and testify before the Sandiganbayan, Third Division,’ the subpoena stated.

The anti-graft court also directed Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad, PNP Health Service director, ‘to produce the body’ of Bonoan before it on August 12 at 8:30 a.m.

Bonoan has been charged as co-accused in the plunder and graft case filed against opposition Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the flood control scandal.

The Ombudsman has filed motions seeking to drop Bonoan as co-accused of Sen. Jose Pimentel Ejercito alias Jinggoy Estrada in order to use him as prosecution’s state witness in the plunder and other criminal being prepared against former speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division, which is handling the graft case of Estrada and Bonoan, has already denied the Ombudsman’s motion to withdraw the case against the latter.

On the other hand, Revilla has been temporarily released from detention after his bail application was granted by the Third Division on July 31.

Revilla has been charged with malversation and graft before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly conspiring to facilitate the release of approximately P92.8 million for the supposed construction of a flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan, which was never implemented based on official inspection and witness accounts.

The information accused Revilla of obtaining a list of DPWH projects for funding from former DPWH Undersecretary-turned state witness Roberto Bernardo, facilitated and caused the inclusion of these listed projects , and received advance kickbacks in the funds allotted for the said projects.

Bernardo had claimed that he delivered P125 million to Revilla’s residence in 2024, and another P250 million delivered by his staff before the 2025 elections in exchange for facilitating or endorsing flood control projects.

A CONSTRUCTION workers’ union has called for an urgent safety audit of the South Commuter Railway Project after a Filipino worker died at its Santa Rosa, Laguna segment.

The National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW) said the worker was killed in an accident at the construction site on the morning of Aug. 6, while a Chinese worker was also injured and hospitalized.

Initial reports raised questions over the condition, inspection and maintenance of the equipment involved, as well as worker training, supervision and safe access at the site, according to the union.

‘These circumstances demand an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation,’ NUBCW said in a joint statement with the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI).

The groups urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other concerned agencies to investigate the incident and conduct an urgent review of safety conditions at the project.

NUBCW also sought accountability beyond those directly involved in the accident, saying authorities should determine responsibility ‘throughout the chain of responsibility.’

The union, however, did not specify the equipment involved or the circumstances that led to the worker’s death, and no official finding on the cause of the accident has been made public.

NUBCW said the worker’s family should immediately receive compensation, assistance and all benefits due, while the injured worker should be provided proper medical care and support.

‘A worker should never have to die just to earn a living,’ the group said.

The Santa Rosa segment forms part of the South Commuter Railway Project, the Alabang-Calamba section of the larger North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).

The P73.25-billion South Commuter Railway covers three civil works contract packages involving railway viaducts and elevated stations in Alabang, Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Pacita, Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, Banlic and Calamba.

Once completed, the section will form part of the 147-kilometer NSCR system connecting Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, one of the government’s flagship transportation projects.

The Aug. 6 incident places renewed attention on occupational safety at the project as construction continues across several sites in southern Metro Manila and Laguna.

THE defense’s refusal to immediately compare thousands of documents with the House prosecution panel is slowing the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, whether the delay is intentional or not, a prosecution lawyer said.

House prosecution counsel and spokesperson Benjamin ‘Jay’ Tolosa Jr. said the prosecution had repeatedly sought to arrange the comparison of documents before state auditor Celine May Del Campo returns to the witness stand.

‘I do not want to judge their intentions or speculate on whether they are deliberately trying to derail or delay the proceedings,’ Tolosa said. ‘But whether it is intentional or not, I think it is clear that this is the result.’

Tolosa said the same issue arose during the pretrial conference in June, when more than 4,000 documents related to Article I had to be marked. At the time, he said, the defense rejected the prosecution’s proposal to jointly mark exhibits common to both sides.

The prosecution maintains that comparing and authenticating the documents outside the formal hearings would save trial time and prevent lengthy disputes when the records are presented as evidence.

Tolosa said the Senate impeachment court had already given both parties another opportunity to compare their respective documents outside the courtroom.

‘The message we received from them was that they wanted to do it on the 14th,’ he said.

According to Tolosa, however, the proposed date would fall after the hearing in which the prosecution intends to use the documents during Del Campo’s testimony.

He said the prosecution would inform the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court about the situation to make clear that it was not responsible for delaying the proceedings.

‘We will have to inform the presiding officer so that it will be clear that we are not causing the delay,’ Tolosa said. ‘We are genuinely trying to find ways to expedite the proceedings, but this is what is happening.’

Disputes over the records have already forced the impeachment court to call recesses so the two sides could compare and authenticate documents during the hearings.

‘We have seen that the senator-judges were beginning to lose patience because trial time was being wasted,’ Tolosa said.

The prosecution said it was prepared to present and authenticate each document individually if the parties failed to reach an agreement. It acknowledged, however, that doing so would consume significantly more trial time.

The defense has yet to respond to Tolosa’s latest allegations.

Meanwhile, House prosecution spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers rejected Duterte’s assertion that ‘law bending’ was taking place during the impeachment trial.

Barbers said he was surprised and puzzled by the vice president’s statement and denied that the prosecution had manipulated or disregarded the law in presenting its case.

‘On behalf of the prosecution team, we vehemently deny that we are engaged in so-called ‘law bending’ in the conduct of the impeachment trial. If we are not engaged in such, then perhaps the Impeachment Court can clarify if it is engaged in such law bending. Maybe it is the court that the VP is referring to,’ Barbers said.

Barbers maintained that the evidence presented during the trial had not been manufactured by the prosecution.

He cited a video related to the grave-threat allegations against Duterte, saying both the prosecution and defense had used the recording and accepted it as evidence.

‘The video connected to the grave-threat charge is authentic. It was used by both the prosecution and the defense and was accepted as evidence,’ Barbers said.

‘Who made the threats and is now denying or attempting to justify them? Is that justification among the circumstances recognized under the Revised Penal Code?’ he asked.

Barbers also said the documents being presented in connection with the confidential and intelligence funds were the same records that the Office of the Vice President had submitted to the Commission on Audit as part of its liquidation.

‘The documents submitted by the OVP to COA for the liquidation of its confidential and intelligence funds are the same documents being presented by the prosecution. Nothing was fabricated,’ he said.

The prosecution has used the documents to support allegations of irregularities in the disbursement and liquidation of the confidential funds of the OVP and the Department of Education.

Duterte previously served concurrently as vice president and education secretary.

Barbers said the defense should instead explain why the OVP and DepEd allegedly failed to submit the proper liquidation documents despite having several lawyers in their employ.

‘If there was any law bending, perhaps the defense should explain why no proper liquidation was undertaken to prove that the confidential funds had been spent in the manner permitted by law, despite the employment of several lawyers in the OVP and DepEd,’ he said.

Globe Telecom Inc. is putting data centers at the core of its infrastructure strategy, positioning its investment in ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC Philippines) to capture a domestic market that analysts expect to more than triple within six years.

Research and Markets valued the Philippine data center market at $633 million in 2024 and projects it will reach $1.97 billion by 2030, an increase of about 211 percent over the period, or a compound annual growth rate of more than 20 percent.

The forecast tracks a population that ranks among the world’s most digitally engaged, with roughly 97.5 million internet users driving demand for cloud services, streaming, gaming, enterprise applications and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.

For Globe, the investment sits alongside its submarine cable builds as part of the same capital program: physical infrastructure the company argues is now as fundamental to commerce as roads or power plants.

‘Digital infrastructure works hand in hand with today’s advanced technologies,’ Globe President Carl Cruz said. ‘It enables businesses to operate, governments to deliver services, and people to stay connected. As demand continues to grow, it’s equally important that we build this infrastructure responsibly so it creates lasting value for businesses, communities, and the country.’

Enterprise customers are increasingly buying on reliability metrics rather than raw capacity, according to STT GDC Philippines President and CEO Carlo Malana, pushing operators to invest in redundant power systems, physical and network security, and business continuity provisions on top of compute.

‘Customers today expect more than capacity,’ Malana said. ‘They want infrastructure that is reliable, energy efficient, resilient, and designed to support their long-term growth. Those considerations influence every decision we make, from how we design our facilities, to how we operate them every day.’

At its Fairview campus, STT GDC Philippines has deployed a closed-loop cooling system that recycles water on site, cutting the facility’s draw on municipal supply while supporting denser computing loads. The company also used recycled steel and other lower-carbon materials in construction where specifications allowed.

The operator said its expanding footprint has generated high-value engineering and technical jobs and supported local economic activity, with community programs covering education, livelihood training and shared public spaces.

Cruz said Globe expects data centers to take on a larger role as cloud adoption and AI deployment accelerate.

‘We make sure that we create infrastructure that is resilient, responsible, and ready to support the Philippines for many years to come,’ he said.

Globe’s net income after tax fell 11 percent to P11 billion in January to June from P12.4 billion a year earlier, the listed telecommunications firm said in its recent disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The company attributed the decline mainly to a smaller net gain from the dilution of its stake in Mynt Inc., the parent company of the group behind mobile wallet GCash, compared with the prior year, as well as higher non-operating charges.

Core net income, which strips out foreign exchange movements and mark-to-market adjustments, stood at P10.2 billion, down 2 percent year-on-year-a far narrower decline that the company said reflects the underlying health of its operations.

IN her attempt to expedite the presentation of documentary evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan jokingly remarked that she had yet to watch Odyssey in theaters. She nevertheless offered to rely on the defense’s marked documents, reasoning that, theoretically, both sides were working from the same records.

That amusing exchange led me to think about something more serious. Friends have been talking about how the movie Odyssey has brought Homer’s ancient epic into our national consciousness. Beyond the spectacle and personalities, the story speaks of loyalty, justice, deception, perseverance, and the longing for home.

And then there is Penelope. I had almost forgotten her. When I first read Homer’s Odyssey in high school, Odysseus naturally occupied center stage. But Penelope’s story may actually be more relevant to Filipinos today.

While Odysseus was away and presumed dead, Penelope was left behind in Ithaca. A group of persistent and opportunistic suitors descended upon her, each seeking to marry her and ultimately gain the power and privileges attached to her household. They pressured her relentlessly, consumed her resources, and behaved as though the throne was theirs for the taking.

Penelope refused to surrender. She devised a strategy. She promised to choose a husband after completing a burial shroud for Odysseus’ father. She would weave during the day and secretly undo her work at night. She bought time. More importantly, she refused to be manipulated into making a decision simply because everyone around her demanded one.

Perhaps that is precisely what Filipinos need to learn today. We have become a nation perpetually waiting for a political savior. Every election, another candidate appears promising to restore the country, crush corruption, punish the enemies of the people, or make the Philippines great again. We are repeatedly encouraged to believe that one person, with the right surname, political machinery, money, social-media army, or populist rhetoric can solve problems that generations of leaders have failed to address. And many Filipinos fall for it.

Our political suitors have become increasingly sophisticated. They no longer need to knock on every door. Their messages can be delivered directly into our phones. Troll farms and paid influencers can manufacture outrage, popularity, enemies, and even consensus disguised as public opinion. Political commentators can conveniently become campaign surrogates while maintaining the appearance of objectivity. And because the electorate is increasingly polarized, facts have become secondary to loyalty.

This is where the Penelope analogy becomes disturbingly relevant. Penelope was surrounded by suitors who wanted something from her. So are we, especially during election season. Our political suitors want our votes, loyalty, attention, and sometimes unquestioning obedience. They promise change but often preserve the very system that keeps them in power. Some reinvent themselves every election season. Still others rely on political machinery, family names, money, patronage, or carefully constructed online personas.

Yet the voter is not powerless. Penelope did not defeat her suitors by matching their deceit with greater deceit. She did not surrender her judgment simply because she was pressured. She waited, planned, and strategized. And when the time came, the suitors were removed.

I am certainly not suggesting that we literally eliminate corrupt politicians in the manner in which Odysseus dealt with the suitors. The democratic equivalent is much simpler: Do not vote for them. One priest once told his congregation: ‘Take the money, but vote your conscience.’ Whether one agrees with that advice or not, the larger principle is that we should never surrender our judgment simply because a politician gives us something. An ayuda lasts for a day or a week. The consequences of electing the wrong leader can last for years. This is where our collective hypocrisy becomes uncomfortable.

We complain about corruption while allowing politicians to cultivate dependence. We condemn political dynasties while repeatedly electing the same families. We criticize incompetence but reward politicians who entertain us.

We cannot have it both ways. The politician who buys a vote and the voter who sells it participate in the same transaction. The difference is that the politician keeps the office for several years while the voter is left with the consequences. That is why Penelope’s patience may be more instructive than Odysseus’ heroism.

We should stop looking for saviors and start looking for servants. We should stop asking who is popular and start asking who is trustworthy. Most of all, we should stop confusing loyalty to a politician with loyalty to the country. The political class has mastered the art of keeping us distracted. While we argue about which politician is more corrupt, institutions remain weak. While social-media armies battle over who is ‘DDS,’ ‘Dilawan,’ ‘Marcos loyalist,’ ‘anti-Marcos,’ or whatever label is fashionable, politicians continue negotiating positions, alliances, contracts, appointments, and political futures.

The most dangerous political weapon today is the ability to convince ordinary citizens that their fellow citizens are the enemy. Once we are divided, we become easier to manipulate. Once we are angry, we become easier to control. Once we become obsessed with personalities, we stop examining institutions. Perhaps it is time we learned to say no, just as Penelope did. Waiting is not the same as doing nothing. We need the patience to build institutions, educate voters, hold officials accountable, and defend the truth even when it is inconvenient to our political camp. National transformation does not happen in one election cycle.

As a follower of Jesus, I have also learned another kind of patience that comes from knowing that I am not ultimately in control. Whenever I become anxious about the Philippines and its political future, I return to Philippians 4:4-8. Believers often remember verse 6: ‘Do not be anxious about anything…’ But Paul did not begin there. He began with: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!’

Paul was writing from prison. He was not rejoicing because everything was going well. He was rejoicing because his confidence did not depend on his circumstances. Believers do not rejoice because corruption is acceptable or injustice is tolerable. We rejoice because our ultimate hope is not in a politician, political party, or particular vision of the Philippines. Our hope is in God.

Paul continues: ‘Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.’ That is difficult advice amid political warfare. When politicians lie, cheat, and steal, we want revenge. But Christian faith calls us to remain faithful without becoming consumed by hatred. Gentleness does not mean weakness or silence. It means refusing to believe that the fate of the country rests entirely on our ability to control every political outcome. Jesus said: ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33).

That may be the greatest antidote to political anxiety. The Philippines will have another political crisis, another scandal, another political dynasty, another army of trolls telling us whom to hate, and another survey telling us who is supposedly unbeatable. As the 2028 elections approach, another politician will appear promising salvation, prosperity, revenge, or some combination of all three. Another generation of Filipinos will be tempted to believe them.

Perhaps it is time we became more like Penelope, not passive or naive, but patient, discerning, strategic, and faithful. Penelope waited for Odysseus because she believed he would return. Christians wait for something far greater. We wait for Christ.

That perspective changes everything. We can work for our country without pretending that we can save it ourselves. We can fight corruption without becoming corrupt. We can defend truth without surrendering compassion. We can oppose political abuse without allowing anger to consume us.

The Philippines does not need another political messiah. It needs citizens who understand that politicians are servants, not saviors. The suitors will keep coming, with money, machinery, slogans, surveys, influencers, trolls, promises, enemies, and manufactured narratives.

Let us listen carefully and examine their records. Let us test their promises and refuse to be rushed. And when the time comes, let us exercise the one power no political suitor should ever take from us: our vote. The suitors will keep coming in droves. Let us simply become wise enough not to marry them.

Siegfred has a diversified set of education and experiences which has made him a game changer and a servant leader in organizations. His professional degrees came from the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. His corporate experiences include stints as general counsel for the country’s flag carrier, a food exporter with manufacturing plants in Davao and in Laguna, and a sports distributor company. Siegfred is a former soldier and a lawyer by profession, a teacher and inspirational speaker by passion, and a book author and a writer with a mission.