Category: Business Mirror

FOR many Japanese living in the Philippines, BGC (Bonifacio Global City) has become a place that gives them a sense of home. There is the massive Mitsukoshi Mall, which is a place where Filipinos can experience Japan firsthand through food products, seasonal events, shopping promos and cultural activities. And, there’s Muji, the sublime brand of simple, low-cost, good-quality products, which opened its 12th store in the country at SM Aura.

‘July is the season of Tanabata, one of Japan’s most cherished festivals of hopes and wishes. It is also the month in which we celebrate Philippines-Japan Friendship Day on July 23rd. And this year marks the 70th anniversary of the historic milestone,’ said Yokota Naobumi, Minister for Economic Affairs from the Embassy of Japan, during Mitsukoshi’s third anniversary celebration on July 16.

MITSUKOSHI BGC: A Tanabata Celebration of Japaneseand Filipino Friendship

FROM July to August, the mall is bringing together Japanese traditions, Filipino creativity and immersive cultural experiences, as it reaffirms its role as a destination where Japanese retail, dining and culture meet Filipino hospitality in BGC.

‘Three years may be a relatively young age for a mall, but it is also the perfect time to reflect on how far we’ve come-and more importantly, where we’re headed,’ said Masahiko Yoshizawa, the new general manager, in his welcome remarks. ‘For 70 years, our countries have built a relationship founded on mutual respect, trust, innovation, and cultural exchange. At the mall, we are proud to represent that friendship every single day-not only through Japanese products and services, but through experiences that bring our two cultures closer together.’

The past three years have been an important period of growth for the mall. It continues to refine its tenant mix, strengthen its partnerships, and improve every aspect of the customer journey.

Like any meaningful project, Yoshizawa stressed, building a destination isn’t something that ends when the doors open. It continues every day-with every idea, every improvement, and every customer experience.

The double event also unveiled the new outfit of Mitsuko, the mall’s beloved Kokeshi doll, an ensemble inspired by the colors of the Japanese and Philippine flags.

Activities lined up include the ‘Summer Paper Theater Activity’ on August 29 hosted by Co. Collectibles hosts featuring Ensky’s signature Japanese papercraft kits; and Pottery Sessions on August 30 called ‘Ceramic Wishes: A Tanabata Pottery Experience,’ where guests can paint, decorate, and personalize ceramic pieces inspired by Japanese and Filipino motifs.

EDYA1929 will showcase contemporary fashion made from vintage Japanese kimonos and obi belts, while Frankie General Store will offer garments crafted from woven Philippine textiles. What’s more, every qualified participant of the JCB Tama-nage Game Activation will earn an entry to the grand raffle, where lucky winners can take home exciting prizes such as a Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Console, Nintendo Switch 2, and Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Leather Kits.

‘As we move into our fourth year, we’re ready to take an even bigger step forward. We’re bringing in more authentic Japanese experiences, stronger collaborations, and new concepts that we believe will further distinguish Mitsukoshi BGC as the most and only unique Japanese-inspired lifestyle destination in Metro Manila,’ said Yoshizawa.

MUJI MID-YEAR MUST-HAVES

AS per its website: Mujirushi Ryohin, Muji’s name in Japanese, translates as ‘no-brand quality goods.’ The brand mark and the brand name, created in Japan in 1980, are well-recognized by designers, conveying a certain image to people beyond factors such as the functionality, quality or value of about 40 products in the areas of apparel, household items and food-which, as the name indicates, had no brand but were of good quality.

Its store at SM Aura Premier, which opened on June 26, is the third store in BGC, alongside its existing stores at Central Square Mall and Uptown Mall. Muji is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, the Philippines’ largest specialty retailer, with an established brand portfolio that includes some of the world’s most recognized international brands.

‘The Philippines is an important market within Asean because it has a large young population and is experiencing extremely rapid economic development and growth,’ said Takeshi Akiyoshi, president and general manager of Muji Philippines, via an e-mail interview.

Japanese products remain popular in the Philippines, and Muji has learned how to capitalize on this devotion.

‘Japanese products are not only high-quality and well-designed, but also generally safe and reliable. We place great importance on quality, and we have been very particular about our products since our founding,’ Akiyoshi shared.

At the opening, the exclusive new makeup collection was launched with the theme of ‘Natural and Healthy Look.’ The new base makeup items promise to work with the skin’s natural color tone while summer-kissed candy colors were added to lip items, to brighten the overall look.

These beauty must-haves, aiming to bring a natural radiance to your face, are designed to fit in Muji’s Makeup Storage for compactness and for easy carrying. The makeup products contain natural moisturizing ingredients such as jojoba seed oil, shea butter, apricot kernel oil and chamomile flower extract.

‘Muji’s makeup focuses on the quality and value of the product itself, rather than the brand name, resulting in high-quality products that are more affordable than other high-end brands. For every store opening, we intend to make it special; that’s why we exclusively launched the makeup line first at Muji SM Aura. We want customers to experience something exciting with every new store opening,’ explained Akiyoshi.

‘Our product lines are designed to make Filipinos’ everyday life better. Our products are intentionally designed around consumer needs, giving users the freedom to use our products however they wish,’ Akiyoshi concluded. ‘From household items to stationery, to a cotton T-shirt, each line is made with purpose and good quality.’

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Sunday it has energized 621 free WiFi hotspots in 207 public schools in Palawan, widening internet access in one of the country’s most geographically dispersed provinces as the government accelerates its digital inclusion drive.

The activation came alongside the distribution of computers and tablets and the launch of a provincial technology blueprint under the Digital Bayanihan Caravan, an initiative led by the DICT’s regional office in the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) region.

Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Faye Condez-de Sagon said the agency intends to keep expanding its footprint until the country’s most remote communities are connected.

She said that ‘no one should be left offline,’ noting that the ‘DICT has spent more than a year connecting remote islands and won’t stop until the country’s farthest communities feel the benefits of getting online.’

Aside from the WiFi sites, 10 public schools received 100 computer sets under the Gadgets for Good Program, implemented with outsourcing firm Concentrix, while 87 barangay health centers were given tablets preloaded with mWell teleconsultation services and Health Pass access, allowing residents to consult doctors without traveling to town centers.

The caravan also saw the launch of the Palawan ICT Roadmap, which will guide the province’s digital development, and the graduation of 19 scholars from a social media marketing course. Five of the graduates have collectively generated P354,600 in online sales using skills from the training.

ASIA-PACIFIC firms, including Philippine businesses, are beset with a readiness gap as the United States tightens import rules that could impact international trade, according to logistics giant Federal Express Corporation (FedEx).

FedEx said 64 percent of firms surveyed across the region are not yet ready for the mandatory US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) e-filing requirements on July 8, and while 36 percent report some readiness, only 15 percent are fully operational.

The new requirement mandates all importers of CPSC-regulated products to e-file the data elements needed for clearance at the time of entry into the US to improve safety oversight and compliance transparency.

US importers of CPSC-regulated products must include the full CPSC PGA message set for each product imported.

‘Businesses that have yet to address product safety data requirements, electronic documentation standards, and certificate referencing risk clearance delays, penalties, or refusal of entry at US borders. Registration for businesses in the CPSC Product Registry for a reduced message set can take up to six months,’ FedEx said.

The survey showed that identifying products within the CPSC scope and digital tools for prevalidating data emerged as leading needs for firms across the region at 32 percent and 23 percent, respectively.

FedEx said it would help businesses navigate the transition through integrated digital solutions, regulatory guidance, and operational expertise.

The logistics company has integrated CPSC e-filing capabilities directly into its shipping platforms to simplify compliance.

With registration in CPSC’s Product Registry taking up to six months and the July deadline approaching, FedEx said it has launched a proactive customer support program.

This includes direct outreach and step-by-step guides on identifying CPSC-regulated products; access to its trade compliance and customs clearance specialists; and up-to-date guidance on customs policies and required documentation.

‘Changes of this scale can introduce complexity for businesses operating across borders,’ FedEx Asia Pacific President Salil Chari said.

‘Our focus is on making compliance straightforward for customers, so they can continue to move goods seamlessly while meeting new standards with confidence.’

The logistics giant gathered insights from over 5,000 businesses across 12 Asia Pacific markets, including the Philippines, through customer webinars conducted in April and May. More than 500 survey responses were collected from firms of various sizes and industries.

The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, said local authorities dismantled an illegal fertilizer manufacturing facility in Nueva Ecija.

The FPA joined law enforcers in conducting a raid, wherein they seized roughly 500 bags of illegally manufactured fertilizer, 21 granulator machines, and several delivery trucks worth around P900,000.

The agency said the operation was launched following the arrest of an alleged agent of an illegal fertilizer manufacturer, who provided information that led police to the warehouse.

According to FPA, authorities identified the warehouse owner as Daniel Delos Santos, proprietor of Don Fertilizer Manufacturing.

Investigators said Delos Santos failed to present the permits and licenses required to manufacture fertilizer, the agency added.

Verification by the FPA also showed the facility was operating without registration.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the joint operation shields farmers and consumers from the dangers posed by counterfeit farm inputs.

‘Illegal fertilizers rob farmers of their hard-earned income by reducing yields, undermine our food security, and pose potential risks to public health and the environment,’ he said.

‘We will continue working closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure only safe, effective, and properly registered agricultural inputs reach our farmers.’

For his part, FPA Director Glen Estrada said the agency is intensifying its campaign against unscrupulous manufacturers and traders.

‘We will relentlessly pursue illicit manufacturers and traders of unregistered and illegally manufactured fertilizers and pesticides. These illegal products hurt farm productivity, and essentially robs our farmers of their limited funds.’

The confiscated fertilizer, equipment, and trucks are now under FPA custody pending documentation and disposition.

The agency said police are preparing criminal charges against Delos Santos for violating Presidential Decree 1144, to be filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Cabanatuan City.

THE unexplained wealth case will require senator-judges to determine whether Vice President Sara Duterte’s sworn asset declarations, tax returns, corporate records, and financial transactions identified by investigators present a consistent and credible financial narrative.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, one of the House of Representatives prosecutors, emphasized that these documents cannot be evaluated in isolation, as each one contributes a crucial piece to the overall financial picture that the prosecution aims to establish before the Senate Impeachment Court.

Records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) highlight covered and suspicious transactions, while Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) reflect assets and liabilities declared under oath. Meanwhile, income tax returns (ITRs) are expected to show legitimate sources of income.

Under Article II, the prosecution alleges that Duterte’s declared net worth increased despite relatively lower lawful income, citing over P6.7 billion in transactions linked to her and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

To further examine the couple’s financial standing, the prosecution is also seeking corporate filings from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which may reveal income streams, ownership interests, and business activities that can be compared with their sworn declarations.

Chua stressed that income tax returns are critical to the case, as they establish the couple’s legitimate earnings-an essential benchmark in determining whether there is a mismatch between declared wealth and actual financial activity.

Without these records, he noted, it would be impossible to properly assess or challenge the allegations of unexplained wealth.

According to the prosecution’s legal spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr., the request is merely for the production of documents so both sides can examine them. He emphasized that producing these records does not automatically authenticate them or prove the allegations.

Tolosa clarified that the P6.7 billion refers to total financial transactions, not a bank balance. He stressed that the impeachment case hinges on the alleged disparity between declared and actual wealth.

Also, Chua confirmed that the prosecution will begin presenting its case on confidential funds through documentary custodians and bank officials. These witnesses will establish the paper trail before testimonies are presented regarding the alleged recipients and handling of the funds.

The first witnesses will include the House Legislative Archives chief, followed by two branch managers from the Land Bank of the Philippines. This documentary phase aims to identify records from congressional investigations and trace bank transactions related to the release and liquidation of confidential funds.

‘And as to the identity of the first witnesses that we will be presenting in connection with the confidential funds, we’ve already informed the court about this,’ Chua said.

Separately, a prosecution witness is expected to explain discrepancies in the reported use of P125 million in confidential funds. While official records suggest the funds were spent over 11 days, Madriaga previously claimed they were disbursed within 24 hours. His testimony is expected to clarify this issue under cross-examination.

Article I alleges that Duterte misused and improperly liquidated P612.5 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), including P125 million released in December 2022.

The prosecution plans to establish the documentary chain before presenting additional witnesses, including Ramil Madriaga, who is expected to testify on the movement and use of funds. Around 13 to 15 witnesses remain, although prosecutors said not all may be presented if key facts are already established.

Benefits

The House prosecution panel, meanwhile, maintained that obtaining and examining Duterte’s financial records would benefit both the prosecution and the defense.

Adiong said these documents are crucial for senator-judges to arrive at a fair and informed decision. He added that public demand for transparency is growing, as citizens seek the truth behind allegations of unexplained wealth.

He emphasized that access to these records is not about proving guilt but about ensuring that the court and the public have a complete understanding of the facts.

Tolosa echoed this view, saying the process is part of evidence presentation, not judgement. He added that reviewing the documents would allow both sides to clearly explain Duterte’s financial standing.

The prosecution also pointed out that AMLC records indicate transactions amounting to P6.7 billion, while Duterte’s SALN declared a net worth of only P80 million.

Tolosa said the defense should welcome the scrutiny if it supports their claim of innocence, noting that opening the records could definitively settle questions about the actual contents of Duterte’s bank accounts.

He said that transparency would ultimately benefit all parties and help ensure a fair and impartial verdict in the impeachment trial.

Retail stock broker COL Financial Inc. said the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) may still end the year at 7,500 points, higher than the level it reached prior to the start of the Middle East war.

April Lynn Tan, the company’s chief equity strategist, said Monday that at that level, the valuations of the market are still ‘very cheap,’ assuming a 12 times price-to-earnings (PE) ratio.

‘Because one of the things that the analysts do, for example, when we usually come out with a target, we look at the historical average PE, and then multiply it by the EPS [earnings per share],’ she said.

‘At that level, at that multiple, we’re at 7,500, which is the 2024 level. So, I feel like it’s still a bit average. So, even fundamentally, that is the target, if we were to just target the minus 1 standard deviation.’

The initial public offering of GCash parent Mynt Inc. has made COL more optimistic about the prospects for the market this year.

While oil prices are rising again, Tan noted that these are ‘very close’ to pre-war levels, with the Means of Platts higher than the pre-war levels by 44 percent two Fridays ago.

‘Compared to the increase of 160 percent as one point in time, it is significantly below the peak.’

Juanis Barredo, the company’s chief technical analyst, said the main index is ‘just some points away’ from 6,600, the level of the PSEi when the war broke out.

The PSEi closed Monday at 6,415.72 points.

‘It’s the second one that might be more difficult, the one that’s closer to 7,500. Can that work itself? Like I said, that’s possible. But I gave it about a 20 percent to 25 percent chance we’ll go back there.’

A Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Reconciliation of Listings for Enforcement (RELIEF) deficiency tax assessment must be a grant of authority in the form of a Letter of Authority (LOA) before a revenue officer may validly examine or assess a taxpayer. In the absence of such authority, the examination or assessment is invalid.

Practical requirement: For a RELIEF-based assessment to survive, the BIR must show a valid LOA, issued by the BIR, naming the revenue officers who conducted the audit, covering the correct taxpayer, taxable year, and tax types.

The Supreme Court in People v. Gernale emphasized that a Letter Notice cannot substitute for a L0A. It cited the McDonald’s doctrine and explained that an LN merely informs the taxpayer that a discrepancy was found based on RELIEF data, while an LOA authorizes the revenue officer to examine.

Practical requirement: The BIR should not proceed from RELIEF matching directly to Preliminary Assessment /Final Assessment (PAN/FAN) without a valid LOA. The safer enforcement sequence is: RELIEF finding?LN/discrepancy notice?unresolved reconciliation?valid LOA?audit verification?PAN?FLD/FAN.

Even if there is an LOA, the assessment may still fail if the actual audit was performed by officers not named in it. In McDonald’s, the Court rejected the practice of replacing or reassigning revenue officers through internal memoranda without a new or amended LOA. The Court held that substitution without proper authority violates due process and usurps the statutory power to authorize tax examinations.

The BIR must prove that the specific officers who examined the taxpayer and recommended the assessment were the same officers authorized in the LOA, or that a valid new/amended LOA was issued.

In CIR v. Lancaster Philippines, Inc., the Court held that an assessment outside the taxable period covered by the LOA is void. The case is also frequently cited for the principle that the presumption of correctness does not apply to a ‘naked assessment’ that is arbitrary or without factual foundation.

Practical requirement: A RELIEF tax assessment for a particular year or quarter must be supported by an LOA covering that same taxable year or period. RELIEF data from one year cannot justify an assessment for another year unless the audit authority properly covers it.

In CIR v. Hantex Trading Co., Inc., the Supreme Court ruled that the presumption of correctness of a tax assessment does not apply where the assessment is without factual foundation-a ‘naked assessment.’ This doctrine is especially relevant to RELIEF cases because RELIEF relies on third-party matching and can produce discrepancies due to timing differences, encoding errors, wrong TINs, branch reporting, accounting classifications, or supplier mistakes.

The BIR must go beyond the RELIEF mismatch. It should verify the supplier/customer records, invoices, official receipts, VAT returns, books of accounts, SLSP data, and reconciliation explanations. The RELIEF discrepancy should be supported by competent evidence, not merely system-generated variance.

In CIR v. Avon Products Manufacturing, Inc., the Supreme Court held that due process requires the BIR to consider the taxpayer’s defenses, documents, and explanations. The Court invalidated assessments in which the BIR merely repeated the findings in the PAN, FAN, and collection letters without demonstrating that it had evaluated the taxpayer’s submissions.

This is crucial in RELIEF cases because the taxpayer may be able to explain discrepancies through timing differences, cancellation of invoices, returns and allowances, inter-branch reporting, wrong tagging by suppliers, or expenses recorded in accounts other than purchases.

The BIR must document why it accepted or rejected the taxpayer’s reconciliation. A RELIEF-based PAN or FAN that merely restates the LN or PAN figures, without addressing the taxpayer’s explanation, is vulnerable.

Section 228 due process doctrine requires that the taxpayer be informed of the factual and legal bases of the assessment. In Liquigaz Philippines Corp. v. CIR, the Supreme Court explained that taxpayers must know how the CIR appreciated their defenses; otherwise, they cannot make an intelligent appeal. The Court warned that failure to show the factual and legal bases raises the possibility that the amounts were arbitrary.

A RELIEF-based assessment should not simply say ‘per RELIEF matching, undeclared sales/purchases were found.’ It should identify the counterparties, invoices or transactions, taxable period, tax type, computation, legal basis, and reason why the taxpayer’s reconciliation was rejected.

In CIR v. Villanueva, Jr., a case involving a Letter Notice and Tax Reconciliation System follow-up, the Supreme Court reiterated that if the taxpayer denies receipt of assessment notices, the BIR bears the burden of proving actual receipt by the taxpayer or authorized The BIR must keep strong proof of service of the LN, LOA, PAN, FLD/FAN, FDDA, and collection notices. Improper service can defeat the assessment even if the RELIEF discrepancy is substantial.

In CIR v. Maxicare Healthcare Corp., the Supreme Court voided the assessment because the BIR issued the FDDA before the taxpayer’s full 60-day period to submit supporting documents had expired.

Practical requirement: In RELIEF assessments, where reconciliation documents are often voluminous, the BIR must observe the full protest and document-submission periods. Premature issuance of the FDDA can void the process.

In summary, the controlling principle for tax assessments arising from the RELIEF is that this may trigger an inquiry. Still, it cannot dispense with an LOA that legitimizes the authorized examination. Furthermore, the taxpayer, which is being subjected to a BIR audit that is mainly focused on the RELEF’s mismatches of transactions, is not expected to assume the burden of responsibility to disapprove the BIR’s tax findings, but rather it is the BIR which is expected to document and explain its findings or undeclared transactions with another third party.

This is a clear case that the judiciary has sided with the taxpayers when it declared that the rights of taxpayers to due process in the course of a BIR tax audit and assessments should strictly be observed, and that BIR’s tax assessments should be based on facts and the law, and not merely on RELIEF determined mismatches of transactions, even though the BIR would tend to justify the assessments as being valid because these were generated by technology tools that the BIR has developed over time.

To be continued

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and a partner of Reyes Tacandong and Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo and Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax practice with his firm, JL2T Consulting. He can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com.

Just a few days after beating Commissioner’s Cup champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Phoenix Super LPG shoots for continuous rise on Tuesday in Season 50 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup as it takes on a struggling Rain or Shine squad at the Ynares Sports Center.

Import BJ Johnson and the Fuel Masters, who are unbeaten in three straight games, are hoping to make a follow up of their 81-78 win over the Gin Kings when they take on the Elastopainters at 7:30pm in Antipolo City.

‘We are happy we are racking up wins,’ Phoenix coach Charles Tiu said. ‘We hope to sustain the run and sneak into the playoffs. But of course, we cannot take anyone lightly especially Rain or Shine which is looking for first win.’

Phoenix has beaten Magnolia, 98-86, Meralco, 98-97, and the Ginebra with Johnson averaging 27.6 points and 9.6 rebounds while Ricci Rivero posting an average of 14.0 points and Jason Perkins also showing 15.0 points average after three games.

It is contrasting to Rain or Shine’s 0-2 start.

Interestingly, Gian Mamuyac is suiting up in his second game with new team Phoenix against his former coach and team the Elastopainters since he was traded last week.

Meanwhile, Blackwater has taken care of the business for the past two games, winning those and having fun in the ongoing Governors’ Cup elimination round.

The undefeated Bossing are gunning for win No. 3 when they square off with Meralco at 5:15 pm.

Bossing head coach Patrick Aquino said it was so positive to see that his players were having fun in those two last games where they scored giant-sized upsets against Rain or Shine, 131-106, and Magnolia, 89-81, for a 2-0 start in Group B.

‘My players are having fun. Let us have fun and play as hard as we can,’ Aquino said, adding that it is about time to prove to anybody that they really belong in this league for 12 years. ‘I think it is about time that we look at Blackwater. We try to compete with all of them.’

Kentrell Barkley, a lefty reinforcement, provided Blackwater with a huge triple-double of 29 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Rain or Shine before following it up with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks in a win against Magnolia.

Playmaker RK Ilagan is also a steady performer averaging 21.5 points in last two games with Sedrick Barefield and rookie Dalph Panopio averaging 24 points and 14.5 points also in both games, making the Bossing a good team so far.

After Meralco, the real test of their round robin set of games will also come against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum, and against Phoenix Super LPG on July 28 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Meralco is holding a 1-1 win-loss slate after losing to Phoenix, 98-97, before bouncing back with 122-114 win over Rain or Shine last week.

Our youth are not indifferent; they care. Recently, young Filipino health advocates wrote and sent letters to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ahead of his State of the Nation Address on July 27. Roughly 20 letters, handwritten and earnest, carried a single refrain: nutrition is an investment, and the health of the young cannot wait for another administration.

A youth leader, speaking about the human cost of alcohol-related harm, said that the pain caused by drinking is never just a number. It has a face, a name, and a family that will mourn for the rest of its life. He was referring, in part, to a 27-year-old public school teacher killed in Marikina last month by a drunk driver. Somewhere in Marikina, a classroom will have an empty desk in front, and no government spreadsheet will be able to explain that absence to a young student.

We tend to discuss sin taxes as fiscal instruments, line items that fatten the national budget, or measures that our legislators reach for when they need money for their programs. That framing isn’t wrong, but it’s incomplete.

The coalition behind this year’s appeal is asking for something already sitting on Congress’s docket. Albay Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman and Bataan Rep. Antonino Roman III have filed bills raising excise taxes on alcohol by up to 25 percent annually through 2030, projected to generate roughly P41 billion a year, most of it earmarked for public health. Companion measures would push levies on sweetened beverages from six pesos to P20 per liter, and on high-fructose corn syrup from P12 to P40, closing exemptions currently enjoyed by flavored milk and sweetened coffee. Former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno, who has watched these debates from inside the Department of Finance for years, calls this the lowest-hanging fruit available to the President, a rare policy that helps the budget, the health system, and a generation at once.

Their argument makes a lot of sense because sin taxes are administratively cheap, they are progressive in effect because they target discretionary vice consumption rather than food staples, and unlike most revenue measures, they change behavior even before the peso is collected. Every year we delay indexing these rates to inflation, industry recovers the ground we gained. Magno makes this point bluntly: smoking and drinking rates rising again is itself proof that the current rates have gone stale.

There is also a slower, less visible cost that rarely makes it into budget hearings: stunting. Youth advocates flagged this for anyone who thinks child nutrition is not an economic issue. Children who experience stunting fall behind in school, show underdeveloped cognitive capacity, and face elevated risk of turning to smoking, drinking, or vaping later. It is a closed loop of disadvantage, and revenue from this can, if we are honest and disciplined, fund the intervention programs.

Health taxes will draw fierce industry lobbying, as they always have, dressed up as concern for jobs and small sari-sari stores. Those concerns deserve honest engagement, but the President has, in Magno’s phrase, a chance to claim a policy with multiple wins attached to his name before his term draws to a close. Whether that appears in his SONA on the 27th will tell us a great deal about whose letters this administration actually reads.

WHILE this column could talk about ‘how I became a model for a beauty campaign at my age,’ I would rather review the products that Filipino brand GRWM Cosmetics launched for its fifth anniversary.

When Angelo Gambayan, GRWM Cosmetics’ public relations and communications manager, got in touch with me to ask if I would be okay to be a model for their 5th anniversary campaign, I was really surprised. But when I got to see Lip Couture, GRWM Cosmetics’ first-ever refillable lipstick, I understood that I was the market for it. I’m not the only market but I’m probably one of the most loyal users of bullet lipstick in the world.

Lip Couture has a comfortable velvet matte formula and applies with a silky smooth glide. It’s not a colored balm or lip oil. It’s a lipstick that delivers high pigment color, just the way I like it. I do wear glosses, balms, and lip oils but my preference will always be lipsticks because I have pigmented lips. I also like how you can wear just lipstick and nothing else on your face. There is something very powerful about wearing lipstick.

Some people will say lipstick is too drying but I wore Lip Couture for the 5th anniversary shoot from around 8:30 am to 8pm and my lips were fine. The shade I wore was Jame. Lip Couture, I would say, is a comfortable satin lipstick.

Lip Couture is available in 20 inclusive shades and four refillable cases: Luster, Rosé Metal, Noir Metal, and Bronze Umber. The lipstick is formulated with ingredients like Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E, Grapeseed Oil, and Sodium Hyaluronate.

For its 5th anniversary, GRWM Cosmetics partnered once again with Pawssion Project for a limited-edition collection that includes a palette and a lip gloss, with 100 percent of net proceeds donated to the animal rescue and rehabilitation organization toward building a dedicated shelter for rescues.

‘This partnership is deeply personal to us. It reflects what GRWM Cosmetics has always stood for, not just creating products people love, but creating impact that truly matters,’ said Mae Layug, CEO and founder of GRWM Cosmetics.

The hero product of this collaboration is the Palette of Pawssibilities, a special edition of Face Card 6-Pan Palette Case. Featuring intricate patterns inspired by rescued furbabies and the Pawssion Project logo, the design celebrates care, compassion and creativity.

Finally, there is Power Gloss in limited-edition shade, Cleo, named in honor of a recent cat rescue of

Mae, created to honor the partnership.

GRWM Cosmetics is a staunch advocate for sustainability and is PETA-certified cruelty-free beauty.