Category: Business Mirror

SAN FELIPE, Chile-As Alas Pilipinas takes a step closer to the Round of 16 in the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship, the coaching staff is taking measures to prepare the squad for bigger battles ahead.

Edwin Leyva and his staff made another calculated gamble, bringing in the second unit as early as the second set and letting them finish it off even after they squandered a huge chunk of the lead built by the starters.

Jello Andrea Mauricio came through with the finishing hit to close the set, and Alas Pilipinas went on to beat Tunisia, 27-25, 25-19, 25-16, for its second straight victory on Sunday at Liceo Particular Mixto San Felipe.

The Philippines-supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and Asics-improved to 2-1, climbing to second behind only China as the tournament takes a breather on Sunday.

Equally important, Leyva said, was getting Megan Hernandez, Taj Teves and Jhenica Sadia time on the floor to get their competitive juices flowing.

‘We’ve got players who, once you pull them out, start thinking clearly and get fired up even more,’ Leyva said. ‘And the second unit, meanwhile, tries to prove they belong on the floor and work harder to extend their minutes. In a way, you’re hitting two targets with one stroke.’

Team manager and assistant coach Karl Chan said seeing a big lead get whittled away was indeed stressful, but the second unit needed to learn how to fight its way out of the hole.

‘We could have simply sent back one or two starting wing spikers, but we didn’t doubt that they can get it done. It just took them a little more time,’ Chan said.

Leyva also said the staff is not surprised the Philippines is now closing in on the next round, with matches against Peru and Venezuela still on schedule.

‘We really knew this team can make waves here. We can win matches. The only challenge is adjusting. It’s cold, we’re in a different crowd, and some of our girls are new to international competition.

‘We’ve also reminded them about the fear of underperforming, the self-doubt that creeps in. That’s part of the growth process.’

Rayco, Olaguir find groove

ALAS Pilipinas is finding its rhythm just as Xyz Rayco and Resty Olaguir are rediscovering their groove.

Key players in the Alas Pilipinas Girls squad that earned the berth in this world meet through the Asian Women’s U16 Championship last year in Jordan, Rayco and OIaguir revived their old connection and pushed the Philippine team to a 2-1 win-loss record.

After an opening loss to defending champion China, world No. 25 Alas Pilipinas has taken down higher-ranked foes in succession, downing No. 8 Mexico before sweeping No. 20 Tunisia at Liceo Particular Mixto San Felipe.

That put Alas Pilipinas in second spot in Pool B, behind only defending champion China, with two playdates left in the preliminaries. The top four advance to the Round of 16.

With Olaguir running the offense, Rayco found the openings that had eluded her in the first two matches.

‘It feels different when she sets ne the ball, it feels like I can really kill it,’ Rayco said. ‘Of course, I’ll work hard to be able to play my best whoever I share the court with.’

The 16-year-old Rayco, top offensive threat in the Asian U16 meet in Jordan, finished with 13 points on 12 attacks and a block, including two of Alas Pilipinas’ final three points to seal the nerve-racking first set.

‘I’m happy because everyone contributed. I’m also happy with my game because I was able to show how I really play. I’m satisfied even though I made mistakes because I was able to bounce back and show who I am as a player,’ Rayco said.

‘The past two days, I didn’t feel like I was playing the right way. I felt like I played poorly. My teammates said it was fine, but I wasn’t satisfied, so today I really wanted to bounce back. I’ll keep this going.’

Olaguir said she didn’t expect to be fielded with Irish Mahinay running the offense, but the Ateneo setter settled in when Alas hit a shaky stretch in the opening set.

‘I’m happy I got in and contributed. I think I’m slowly getting back to the way I really play,’ Olaguir said.

‘There are still a lot of things I need to work on. I hope this continues and that I don’t let my emotions get the better of me.’

Caera Celis continued her stellar play and wound up as Alas Pilipinas top scorer for the third straight match, delivering 15 points on 13 attacks and two blocks.

Sharina Rhyza Lleses came up with 10 points, all from attacks, for the Philippines, which returns to action after the tournament break on Sunday as it battles world No. 6 Peru on Monday and end up pool play against No. 12 Venezuela on Tuesday.

Alexandra Eala has been winning matches in different ways this week. That may be the most encouraging part of her Toronto run.

She beat Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in 2 hours and 39 minutes, despite receiving treatment after rolling her right ankle in the second set. The win extended Eala’s winning streak to seven and sent her into the fourth round, where she will face No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarterfinals.

It is Eala’s first meeting with Bencic, and it is a serious step up in opponent. Bencic is a former Canadian Open champion and one of the smartest players on the women’s tour. She does not need to blast opponents off the court. She takes the ball early, redirects pace, and makes players uncomfortable by giving them less time to set up.

That will be the main issue for Eala.

Eala’s left-handed forehand has been a major weapon in this run. She can pull opponents wide, especially from the ad court, then use the open space to take control of the point. Against Bencic, though, hitting a few big forehands and waiting for a mistake will not be enough. Bencic is good at getting those balls back early and sending them somewhere different.

The match could come down to whether Eala can keep Bencic moving and reacting. If Bencic gets comfortable near the baseline and starts taking returns early, Eala could spend much of the match under pressure on serve. Eala needs a strong first-serve percentage, especially on the ad side, to open the court and give herself the first look at attack.

The ankle is another factor, even if Eala has indicated it is manageable. Bencic’s game is not built around pure power, but it demands quick movement. She changes direction well, hits early and makes players cover the court. Eala cannot afford to be stuck defending from the corners for long stretches.

The best way for Eala to protect herself is to play on her own terms. She should look for the forehand early, use the wide serve, and mix in changes of pace. She cannot fall into a predictable crosscourt pattern because Bencic will read it quickly. Eala has to keep the Swiss player guessing – heavy forehands crosscourt, an occasional drive down the line and selective trips to the net when the opening is there.

Bencic is coming off a three-hour, 24-minute win over Taylor Townsend, so Eala also has a reason to make this physical. The more long rallies and tight service games, the more Bencic will have to draw on after a demanding previous round.

But Eala should not expect the Swiss veteran to fade. Bencic has won big matches for years and knows how to manage pressure when a match gets tight.

Eala’s win over McNally showed the maturity behind this run. After losing the second set, she broke early in the decider and protected the advantage to close out the match. That kind of resilience will matter against Bencic.

Eala can expect strong Filipino support again in Toronto, particularly if the match becomes tight. But her biggest task is to keep the match simple. She does not need to make a statement on every ball. She needs to serve well, use her forehand intelligently and stay patient when Bencic sends back shots that would finish points against most players.

Bencic will try to take away time, test Eala’s serve and force the Filipina to hit one more ball. If Eala can stay patient through those exchanges and stop Bencic from dictating inside the baseline, she has a real chance to add another important win to a breakthrough summer.

Toronto’s draw has already been shaken by major exits, with top seed Aryna Sabalenka falling to Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets and No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula losing 6-3, 6-3 to Diana Shnaider, who snapped an 0-4 record against the American. Iga Swiatek avoided a similar fate after dropping the opening set to Marta Kostyuk before rallying emphatically, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, while Elina Svitolina beat Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4. The results underline the volatility of the Toronto draw and add context to Eala’s night-session meeting with Belinda Bencic: the path remains difficult, but the departures of Sabalenka and Pegula show that seedings have offered little protection this week.

This is not just another match in a winning streak. It is the kind of matchup that shows whether a run has legs.

THE Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO) conducted the inaugural rollout of its Regional Anti-Doping Education Program (ADEP) in Cebu City, marking a significant milestone in expanding anti-doping education across the country and reinforcing the Philippines’s commitment to promoting clean sport at the grassroots level.

As a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code 2021, PHI-NADO continues to strengthen its nationwide anti-doping education initiatives by bringing World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-compliant education closer to athletes and sporting communities beyond Metro Manila.

The Regional ADEP aims to to equip athletes, athlete support personnel and key stakeholders with the knowledge, values and practical tools needed to make informed and ethical decisions in sport.

Recognizing Cebu as one of the country’s premier sporting hubs, the program supports PHI-NADO’s goal of establishing a sustainable and culturally grounded anti-doping education system at the local government unit (LGU) level.

Through the collective efforts of athletes, coaches, educators, healthcare professionals, parents, and local officials, the initiative seeks to cultivate a shared responsibility in protecting the integrity of sport and building clean sport communities across the region.

The two-day program-held July 31 to August 1-brought together 200 participants each day, representing athletes, coaches, athlete support personnel, medical professionals, teachers, school administrators, parents and LGU officials under the theme’Building Clean Sport Communities.’

Participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on the fundamentals of anti-doping, athletes’ rights and responsibilities, the doping control process, the Prohibited List, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), supplement risks, food-first approach and the importance of values-based education in fostering ethical decision-making.

Cebu City Sports Commission (CPSC) chair Dr. Rhoel Dejaño underscored the importance of strengthening anti-doping education at the local level to safeguard the future of Philippine sports.

Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Edward Hayco, meanwhile, highlighted the profound influence of sports in shaping the character and values of children and young athletes.

Hayco emphasized that because sport serves as a powerful platform for developing discipline, integrity, and respect, it is the shared responsibility of families, educators, coaches, sports organizations and local communities ‘to protect young athletes from threats that undermine the spirit of sport and to foster environments where they can thrive with honesty and fair play.’

The participants actively took part in interactive learning sessions, discussions and practical activities designed to reinforce the core values of clean sport.

The Cebu ADEP marked the beginning of PHI-NADO’s efforts to institutionalize regional anti-doping education throughout the Philippines.

By empowering local stakeholders through accessible, values-based and WADA-compliant education, the PHI-NADO-headed by Dr. Alejandro Pineda, continues to strengthen the nation’s commitment to protecting athletes and ensuring that every Filipino athlete has the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

FOR much of the past two decades, Miguel Mendoza has been more familiar to listeners through other people’s voices than his own.

His songs have been performed by some of the country’s biggest artists-Sarah Geronimo, Regine Velasquez, Erik Santos, Jed Madela and Katrina Velarde among them-while Miguel quietly built a career behind the scenes as a songwriter, producer and creative collaborator.

Now, he is stepping back into the spotlight, not with a new composition, but with one that has already become part of Filipino pop culture.

For the first time, Miguel has recorded ‘Isa Pang Araw’ himself, nearly eight years after writing the song for the 2018 film Miss Granny.

Originally recorded by Sarah Geronimo as the movie’s official theme, the ballad went on to win the 2019 Awit Award for Best Song Written and Performed for a Movie, TV or Stage Play and earned a nomination for Best Original Song at the 67th FAMAS Awards.

The new recording is not intended to replace the version audiences already know. Instead, it allows the songwriter to return to words that were born from one of the most difficult chapters of his own life and finally tell the story in his own voice.

The ‘quiet architect’

LONG before he became known as a songwriter, Miguel was always a singer.

He first entered the national spotlight as a finalist in the inaugural season of Philippine Idol, before later becoming the third Star Dreamer of Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2. Yet, despite those early breaks, opportunities as a recording artist became increasingly difficult to find.

‘To answer you honestly, yes,’ Miguel said when asked whether there was a time people struggled to accept him as a singer. ‘That’s why I embraced the back end-songwriting. I thought maybe this was really where God wanted me.’

‘For years, you question yourself. You question your talent. But you just have to fight through it and believe in yourself.’

That willingness to keep going eventually opened doors beyond songwriting.

Away from television, he worked in production, handled teleprompters, directed live events and even took on jobs far removed from the entertainment industry, including working overseas as a seafarer, performing as a singer aboard a cruise ship, and, at one point, as a mascot.

Rather than seeing those experiences as detours, he now considers them part of the education that shaped him.

Returning to ‘Isa Pang Araw’

THE story behind Isa Pang Araw has long been known among music fans.

Miguel wrote the song after his first submission for Miss Granny was rejected. Drawing from grief following his father’s passing, he wrote another piece-one that eventually became the film’s theme song.

But writing the lyrics and singing them turned out to be two very different experiences. ‘When I was writing the song, I acknowledged the feelings, but I wasn’t really allowing myself to feel them,’ he explained.

At the time, he was focused on dealing with practical responsibilities left behind after his father’s death. The emotions existed, but they remained buried beneath everything that needed to be done.

Recording the song years later changed that. Throughout the sessions, Miguel said he finally allowed himself to become vulnerable, guided by his collaborators at FlipMusic.

‘I cried during the recording sessions,’ he recalled. ‘For nine years, I had kept all of that inside. It felt good to finally let it out.’

Even the lyric that resonates with him most has changed over time. When he first wrote the song, the bridge carried the greatest emotional weight. Today, it is the opening verse (Sa libong-libong taong nangangarap, binigyan mo ako ng pagkakataon) that affects him most

‘FlipMusic gave me another chance,’ he said. ‘I don’t even know anymore if this is my third, fourth, or fifth chance.’

A new beginning

MIGUEL has officially signed with FlipMusic Records as a recording artist, while his compositions will now be published under FlipMusic Publishing, making him part of the label’s roster both as a performer and songwriter.

He describes it not as a one-off project, but as the beginning of a new chapter. Plans are already underway for a full-length album next year, one that will allow him to write and record music intended for his own voice.

‘I’m excited because this time I get to write for myself,’ he said.

He also hopes to collaborate with fellow FlipMusic artists and songwriters as he develops new material.

Also, interestingly, after years of becoming known for emotional ballads, Miguel said he is ready to explore a lighter side of songwriting. Among the projects lined up this year is a Christmas song, one he promises will be far more joyful than listeners might expect.

Born into privilege and wealth, but later chose to thread a camino (path) of sacrifices, simplicity, and prayer, Javier Sartorius Milans del Bosch found his purpose and offered his life back to God.

The biographical documentary ‘Just Javier’ (also known as ‘Solo Javier’), which opens at select cinemas in the Philippines on August 12, explores the extraordinary life of mission, ‘brutal’ conversion, and contemplation of the Spanish aristocrat.

Produced by Adauge for Bosco Films, the 91-minute film tackles what drove Javier to search for a deeper meaning to one’s existence not externally but from within.

‘He tried everything and lived everything. He had relationships with women and with some men. He experienced it all. He used to say, ”From the menu of life, I’ve tried everything, but nothing fills the heart. Nothing truly fills my heart,” said Jordi Bosch Codina, president of the Javier Sartorius Association working toward opening his cause for canonization, in an interview with EWTN Vatican.

The film presents a complete canvas of Javier’s inspiring journey-from his early wild and restless life in Madrid to a promising paddle tennis and sales career in Los Angeles that he abandoned to pursue missionary work with abandoned and sick children in Cuzco, Peru, to his priestly formation in Toledo, then a life of poverty, silence, and solitude at the mountaintop Sanctuary of Lord in the Pyrenees, down to his last breath at the Cistercian monastery of San Miguel de Dueñas in León, Spain.

While he suffered from ‘a bleeding ulcer in his intestine,’ according to a report by EWTN’s ACI Prensa, Javier spoke nothing about his pain and suffering even during his last phone conversation with Rosa Muguiro, his first cousin, a day before he passed. She said he left everything all up to God.

Javier died in on June 21, 2006 at age 44, before he was to be ordained a Catholic priest.

The film’s director, Josepmaria Anglès said in the same report that Javier’s story that he portrayed in the film ‘is not simply something to remember-it is something meant to awaken the heart.’

‘Javier’s life is a relentless search for a life of fulfillment, a life of meaning-a life that isn’t just about accumulating pleasures and experiences, but about truly experiencing love and encountering God,’ Anglès said.

Tomás Farrell, who played Javier Sartorius in the film, considers the film ‘very thought-provoking’ for young people.

‘I feel it’s a very beautiful project because, in the end, Javier Sartorius can be someone who, when he becomes known, when people, especially young people, start to get to know him, I think, can ultimately help us see a life example that says, ‘Hey, go for it.’ That is, if you have a calling in your heart, something good, go for it,’ Farrel shared in a statement given to the Archdiocese of Granada.

‘A tree is more than a biological organism,’ Federico R. Lopez reflected at the launch of Philippine Native Trees 404. It is ‘a repository of memory’ that teaches belonging, resilience, and continuity. In an age of ecological uncertainty, he added, ‘remembering what is native is itself a form of resilience.’

That conviction lies at the heart of the newly released fourth edition of the country’s most comprehensive reference on indigenous trees. Published by Green Convergence with the continuing support of First Philippine Holdings and the Lopez family, the 924-page volume combines scientific taxonomy with essays by botanists, foresters, conservationists, and nature writers, making it as much a cultural chronicle as a botanical handbook. Organized by plant families, it documents 455 native tree species, incorporates six newly described species, and reflects the latest advances in botanical classification.

For Lopez, the project is also a tribute to memory. He recalled the late botanist Leonard L. Co, whose passion transformed every forest walk into ‘a community of living and breathing individuals,’ where every tree possessed ‘a name, a story, and a purpose.’ Lopez fondly remembered accompanying Co through the forests of Palanan, Isabela, where the botanist excitedly discovered a previously unknown Vaccinium species that he later named Vaccinium oscarlopezianum in honor of Lopez’s father, Oscar M. Lopez. He likewise paid tribute to his father, whose lifelong commitment to reforestation and conservation shaped the family’s environmental vision.

Editor Victoria M. Segovia describes the new edition as both an update of botanical knowledge and a tribute to Co’s enduring legacy, while co-editor Jayson A. Mansibang reminds readers that taxonomy remains an evolving science, with Philippine forests still yielding species awaiting discovery.

What distinguishes ‘404’ is that it treats trees not merely as specimens but as companions in everyday life. Forester Bonifacio Pasion introduces Coffea mabesae, a rare Philippine coffee whose leaves are traditionally brewed into tea in Biak-na-Bato. Carmen Odulio celebrates the remarkable Gardenia mutabilis, whose blossoms change from white to gold and orange as they mature, while Dr. Edwin Tadiosa calls attention to the critically endangered Greeniopsis megalantha, threatened by habitat loss and indiscriminate cutting. Equally engaging are essays that illuminate the intimate relationship between people and plants. Roxanne Carano-o recounts how kabogao flavors Bantayanon’s kinilaw, protects expectant mothers from the mythical aswang, and accompanies local mourning rituals. Nellie Go Chiu writes about biasong as both a prized citrus and a haven for butterflies, while Geronima Amazona recalls finding relief from insomnia beneath the shade of a native coffee relative.

The volume reaches an emotional crescendo in Kenneth Haw’s essay, written while he was battling terminal illness. Walking beneath the ipil and tindalo trees of Mount Makiling, he envisioned a Philippines where healthy forests nurture healthier lives. Haw passed away in 2025, leaving behind a poignant meditation on nature’s restorative power.

Environmentalist Angelina Galang closes the volume with a call to reject the persistent belief that ‘imported is better’ and to value the country’s own botanical inheritance. Her appeal echoes the book’s central message: conserving native trees is not only an ecological imperative but also an act of preserving memory, identity, and the nation’s living heritage.

In a busy neighborhood in Sandakan, Borneo, I saw a group of men huddled outside a restaurant. Curious but cautious in an alien land, I walked slowly and saw no altercation, only a group of men watching a movie on a small television in a restaurant.

It wasn’t just another movie but an FPJ movie! I would presume they were Filipinos, probably Muslims from Southern Mindanao, trying their luck in a foreign land. A few days earlier, I was in Zamboanga City, gingerly walking through a village with houses on stilts that, surprisingly, had electricity. When I peered into one of the houses, I saw people watching a movie, maybe a VHS tape. You guessed it right. It was an FPJ movie.

The fascination for Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) movies is well entrenched in this part of the country. In 1971, when FPJ died at the end of the movie Asedillo, the moviegoers at a Zamboanga cinema went berserk, destroying cinema seats and equipment. After he died in 2004, his legacy continued with Coco Martin’s adaptation of the movie, Ang Probinsiyano, into a long-running television series.

FPJ Studios

At FPJ Studios along Del Monte Avenue, this former recording studio is now responsible for the digital restoration of FPJ movies, going through the process of scanning, cleaning, and color restoration. Inside the studio are rooms with movie posters and a Legacy Room, which stores his awards, including a National Artist for Film declaration. I particularly like a room with all the movie props, especially the sword he used in Ang Panday.

The FPJ Studios was our first stop in ‘SeeKyusi Byaheng Pelikula’ in line with the celebration of recent National Heritage Month and to commemorate Quezon City’s designation as UNESCO’s Creative City of Film. Quezon City used to be home of LVN and Sampaguita Studios, major networks, and production companies. This endeavor is a project of the Quezon City local government through the Quezon City Screen Commission and the QCinema International Film Festival in partnership with the Film Academy of the Philippines.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (Quezon City)

Our second destination was Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in FPJ Avenue (former Roosevelt Ave.) in Quezon City, located beside the residence of Da King himself. This is a smaller version of Las Casas in Bagac, Bataan, which has been used as a location by many historical films such as Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral. Las Casas Q.C. has a restaurant, seminar rooms, chapel, and several transplanted heritage houses.

CMB Film Services

After a hearty lunch, we proceeded to CMB Film Services. It is basically a technical services provider that rents cameras, lighting equipment, grip and rigging support, and crew support for camera and lighting. It is one of the major equipment suppliers in the Philippines, servicing almost 80% of the network, movie outfits, and advertising companies. Tour participants were allowed to use the camera and watched how the other equipment, like the techno-crane, was operated. They also have an operation in Myanmar.

Quezon Heritage House

Our last stop was the Quezon Heritage House in Quezon Circle. This is a historic house museum dedicated to Manuel L. Quezon, the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. It recreates the family home from the original in New Manila. Around 60% of the structures and furnishings are from the Quezon family home. This is one of several museums inside Quezon Circle.

This tour made me aware of the behind-the-scenes in a production. Let’s support Philippine Cinema and patronize the QCinema International Film Festival scheduled from November 13 to 22. All photos courtesy of Jing Ordoña

George ‘Jing’ Ordon¨a is a travel writer, tour organizer, and DOT-accredited tour guide who’s passionate about sharing Manila’s rich history and culture. He’s the operator of ManiLakad, a one-man company that conducts walking tours of historic neighborhoods in Metro Manila, including Intramuros, Binondo, and Quiapo. He can be reached on Viber at 09606975930 or FB messenger, Jing Ordon¨a.

Back when I was working in Manila’s San Miguel district, I would often pass by Quiapo Muslim Town but never stopped to explore it. Like many people, I had allowed stereotypes and stories to shape my perception of the community.

One experience was enough to change that.

Just before the pandemic, I joined a cultural immersion in the neighborhood, and it left such an impression that I found myself returning to Quiapo Muslim Town several times with friends, mostly to enjoy the food again.

So when I was invited back, this time by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) as part of its LakBayanihan Manila Series, I happily accepted. After all, who turns down the chance to eat their way through Quiapo?

The program showcases experiences that tour operators can eventually offer their clients while promoting Muslim-friendly tourism.

We began at Quezon Boulevard, the dividing line between two of Quiapo’s most recognizable communities.

On one side of Quezon Boulevard stands the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, home of the Black Nazarene and the site of the Traslación, one of the largest Catholic religious gatherings in the world. Around the church, a bustling mix of eateries, religious shops, herbal medicine stores, amulet vendors, market stalls, and street vendors has long welcomed pilgrims and shoppers.

On the other side of Quezon Boulevard, a short walk leads to the Golden Mosque and Cultural Center, the largest mosque in Metro Manila. Surrounding it is a vibrant community of halal eateries, spice shops, textile stores, and businesses selling traditional Islamic clothing and goods.

From Quezon Boulevard, we walked to Elizondo Street to go to Wakilah, one of the best-known halal restaurants in Quiapo Muslim Town.

Over breakfast of roti banana, roti cheese, roti telur served with curry dip, Wakilah’s signature Giant Roti Tissue Tower, and hot teh tarik, organizers talked about the community’s history, culture, and traditions.

It was led by researcher and broadcast journalist Nords Maguindanao together with Ann Marie Cunanan, founder of Meaningful Travels PH. It was nice seeing them again, as they were also my guides during my first visit before the pandemic. We also met Imam Mohammad Alawi, who shared insights into the local Muslim community and Islamic practices.

Before leaving Wakilah, we watched one of the restaurant’s biggest attractions. Chef Gey stretched, spun, and flipped paper-thin dough with graceful, dance-like movements. It’s easy to see why his performance has become a favorite on social media.

Our next stop offered a glimpse into Muslim culture through traditional clothing and everyday customs. They showed us items commonly used by Muslim women, including oil-based perfumes, henna, miswak, a natural toothbrush, and bakhoor, a fragrant incense used to perfume clothing and homes.

The highlight, however, was getting to wear a hijab. I chose a blue one to add a splash of color to my black skirt and the brown shirt provided by the Department of Tourism NCR. We also learned about the importance of modest clothing and proper etiquette when entering places of worship.

Then we made our way to the Golden Mosque, officially known as Masjid Al-Dahab, built in 1976. It is a symbol of the country’s Muslim heritage. Although time has left its mark, its soaring golden dome still commands attention and makes it easy to imagine the landmark in its former glory.

Inside the mosque, Nords explained the Five Pillars of Islam, helping us better understand the beliefs and practices followed by Muslims around the world.

We were supposed to visit a nearby madrasa, or Islamic school, but the children came to meet us instead. PHILTOA had prepared small gifts for them, and what followed was one of the most heartwarming moments of the day, filled with smiles and laughter.

Our walk continued to the neighborhood padian, the traditional community market. Here, Nords showed us the sakurab, a native wild leek that gives the famous Maranao condiment palapa its distinctive flavor. We also sampled dodol, a rich, sticky delicacy made from glutinous rice and coconut milk.

Then came the part I had been looking forward to the most-lunch.

We headed to Arab Asian Little Resto, where we were treated to a sample of a traditional Pagana Maranao, the highest expression of Maranao hospitality. The feast featured a generous spread of Maranao and Tausug dishes.

Joining us was former Department of Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, one of the key figures behind the country’s Muslim-friendly tourism program. Before lunch, she spoke about the importance of Muslim-friendly tourism and the country’s efforts to become a more welcoming destination for Muslim travelers. Her leadership helped the Philippines rank among the Top 5 Muslim-Friendly Destinations among non-OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) countries in the Global Muslim Travel Index.

Lunch reminded me why I kept coming back to Quiapo Muslim Town after my first visit in 2020. The food was as memorable as I remembered, and the warmth of the community and the stories behind every dish made the experience even more meaningful.

And after a morning of walking around the neighborhood, enjoying the feast in the comfort of an air-conditioned restaurant certainly didn’t hurt.

I USED to sleep like a baby. The moment my back hit the bed, I’d be off to dreamland in less than five minutes.

That changed when I started living alone.

Some nights, falling asleep became surprisingly difficult. I’d stare at the ceiling replaying conversations with Lou, thinking about deadlines, or mentally writing tomorrow’s to-do list before tomorrow had even arrived. I tried watching television to clear my mind, but that only kept me awake longer. Even the aquarium channel eventually lost its magic.

So I went back to an old habit: reading.

I switched from novels to classic comic books, but instead of stacking graphic novels beside the bed, I loaded them onto my 11-inch tablet. It worked beautifully-hundreds of comics in one slim device.

Until one night.

Somewhere between Absolute Batman and one o’clock in the morning, I fell asleep. A split second later, something heavy landed squarely on my face. Half asleep and completely disoriented, I honestly thought someone had slapped me.

Turns out it was just my tablet reminding me that gravity always wins.

After checking if my nose was still pointing in the right direction, I officially retired my 11-inch tablet from bedtime reading. Falling asleep while reading was still a good idea. Waking up with a tablet-shaped imprint on my face wasn’t. A few weeks later, TechLife sent over its new Pad Mini.

The first thing I noticed wasn’t the processor, the cameras, or even the battery. It was the size. For the first time in years, I was holding a tablet that felt closer to a paperback book than a traditional slate. The 8-inch display was just large enough to enjoy reading without constantly zooming in, yet compact enough to hold comfortably with one hand. Even with the TechLife Pad Handle Case attached, it slipped easily into my sling bag without forcing me to rearrange everything else I was carrying.

It reminded me of something we don’t talk about enough in tech reviews. We spend a lot of time comparing processors, refresh rates, and benchmark scores, but very little time asking a much simpler question: ‘Will I actually bring this with me?’

That’s where mini tablets start making sense again.

Looking at the specs alone, I wasn’t convinced an 8-inch tablet still had a place in 2026. Smartphones have grown so large that some are only an inch or two smaller. Foldable phones are trying to blur that line even further, although their premium price still puts them out of reach for many.

You could say the TechLife Pad Mini is about the size of a foldable but won’t make your savings fold.

So comparing it with a smartphone or a laptop is a mistake

Because after living with it for a while, I realized I wasn’t reaching for it instead of those devices.

I was reaching for it when neither one felt right.

There were plenty of moments when my phone felt too small but bringing my laptop would’ve been overkill. Reviewing a presentation while waiting for a meeting, looking over spreadsheets without endless pinching, reading long PDFs, or watching WWE reels while waiting for a Grab ride-those are the situations where a compact tablet quietly earns its place.

Another unexpected benefit was preserving my phone’s battery. Our phones have become our cameras, wallets, boarding passes, banking devices, and emergency lifelines. I’d much rather let a tablet handle two hours of streaming or reading than arrive somewhere with my phone sitting at 18 percent.

The TechLife Pad Mini never pretends to be a flagship tablet, and I actually appreciate that honesty. Powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 processor, paired with 4GB of physical RAM and up to 4GB of Dynamic RAM Expansion, it’s designed for everyday light tasks rather than demanding workloads. The virtual memory won’t turn it into a high-end workhorse, but Chrome with several tabs open, Gmail, Messenger, Google Docs, YouTube, social media, and casual games all ran comfortably during my testing.

The 8-inch HD IPS display follows the same pragmatic philosophy. Sharpness-wise, there are certainly higher-resolution displays available today, but the lower resolution is far less noticeable on a compact screen of this size. It’s HD Streaming Ready for Netflix and YouTube, and since bedtime reading started this whole journey, I was glad to see both Reading Mode and Eye Comfort Mode included to reduce glare in dim lighting.

Beyond reading and entertainment, the TechLife Pad Mini covers everyday utility well. The 8MP rear camera works fine for scanning documents or whiteboard notes, while the 5MP front camera handles casual video calls. Running Android 16 with Google Gemini built-in, it doubles as a light productivity tool for quick text summaries or brainstorming ideas without bogging down the system. If you hand it off to younger family members, the included Interactive Kids Space provides a safe environment with parental controls.

I also appreciated the flexibility. While the TechLife Pad Mini only comes with 64GB of built-in storage, it supports microSD cards up to 1TB, giving me plenty of room for my comic book collection, downloaded movies, presentations, and travel documents. And if I need to transfer large files, I simply remove the card and plug it into my computer. The built-in LTE connectivity is another feature I ended up using more than expected. Instead of looking for public Wi-Fi or turning my phone into a hotspot, I just inserted a SIM card and stayed connected wherever I was.

The 6,300mAh battery comfortably powered through a full day of mixed use. While the 10W USB-C charging isn’t particularly fast, it suits the tablet’s casual role, and the 5W reverse charging came in handy for topping up wireless earbuds in a pinch. Another favorite? It still has a headphone jack!

At its suggested retail price of ?9,999-and promo pricing dropping as low as ?7,699 on TikTok Shop, ?8,399 on Shopee, and ?8,999 on Lazada until August 20 (including a free Pad Handle Case worth ?999)-the value proposition becomes much stronger. Yes, there are alternatives with faster processors or higher-res screens, but they aren’t always the devices you’ll actually carry.

I originally picked up the TechLife Pad Mini simply to avoid another late-night face-to-screen collision with a heavy display. I kept using it because it solved a much broader problem-filling the functional gap between a pocket-sized phone and a heavy laptop.

The best gadget isn’t always the fastest or the most expensive; more often than not, it’s simply the one practical enough that you actually bring it with you.

DESPITE tougher English-language requirements imposed by overseas employers, Filipino workers continue to enjoy strong demand abroad, with industry experts citing their work ethic and communication skills as key advantages.

British Council Philippines (BCP) Senior Marketing Manager Danica Tuliao told the BusinessMirror that global competition for foreign talent has intensified, prompting employers to raise English-language standards to secure the best candidates.

Some recruitment firms, she said, have begun exploring alternative English-speaking talent pools, including South Africa, should the Philippines be unable to meet hiring demand.

Even so, many employers continue to prioritize Filipino workers, according to BCP’s Head of Market, English and Exams Mike Cabigon: ‘Our partners still come to us because Filipinos are different in terms of how they work. They ask how we can help applicants meet the English-language requirements because they would rather recruit from the Philippines than from other countries.’

While employers have become more stringent about English proficiency, Cabigon said the communication skills they expect have remained largely the same, although the required level still varies by occupation and destination country.

Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, face some of the strictest language requirements in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, where effective communication is critical to patient safety and coordination with doctors and other healthcare personnel.

Meeting global standards

SKILLED workers generally face lower language thresholds, with conversational English often sufficient to help them navigate daily life and communicate effectively in their host countries.

Cabigon said English tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are not intended solely to assess workplace communication. Instead, they help ensure migrant workers can understand employment contracts, seek clarification from supervisors, access healthcare services, report incidents to authorities when necessary, and ask for help in emergencies.

‘People may ask why welders, dairy farmers or butchers need to take an IELTS test when they don’t usually speak to machines or livestock,’ Cabigon said. ‘It’s really about protecting them. They need enough English to understand their rights, communicate with their managers, access services, and seek assistance when needed.’

Some 25,000 Filipinos take the test yearly to meet English-language requirements for overseas employment, migration, higher education and professional registration.

In recent years, a significant share of these test takers has come from the healthcare and skilled sectors seeking opportunities abroad, according to Tuliao, who noted that the UK has also seen increasing numbers of Filipino workers.

However, changing visa policies and evolving English-language requirements in traditional destination countries have begun reshaping where Filipinos choose to work and study overseas.

While the UK, the US, Canada and Australia remain among the top destinations, Tuliao said more Filipinos are now exploring opportunities across Asia, particularly Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong, especially for higher education.

She added that interest has also expanded to Europe and the Middle East. Although some destination countries do not require English-language tests for immigration, applicants to English-taught academic programs are often still required to submit IELTS results.

According to Tuliao, the shift reflects changing mobility patterns among Filipinos, with a growing number exploring a wider range of destinations for work and education beyond the traditional English-speaking countries.

Expanding opportunities

DATA from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reached an estimated 2.19 million in 2024-up 1.5 percent from 2.16 million the previous year.

Overseas contract workers (OCWs), or those with existing employment contracts, accounted for 97.9 percent of OFWs. The remaining 2.1 percent consisted of those working abroad through other arrangements, including workers without work visas or permits and those using non-immigrant visas such as tourists, visitors, students and medical personnel.

Asia remained the top destination for OFWs in 2024, accounting for 74.5 percent of the total, followed by Europe at 10.6 percent, North and South America at 9.2 percent, Australia at 4.4 percent, and Africa at 1.3 percent.

Saudi Arabia remained the leading destination for Filipino laborers, accounting for 21.9 percent of the total OFW population, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 12.4 percent.

Cabigon said demand for Filipino workers has also expanded across new sectors and destinations. He cited opportunities in Australia and New Zealand for educators and school workers, while countries such as Hungary and Slovakia have begun recruiting Filipino talent for trades including welding and butchery.

Meanwhile, BCP also introduced new English assessment tools during its annual Exams Partner Gathering in Bonifacio Global City to support English teaching, learning and assessment beyond IELTS.

Among the tools introduced were Aptis-a computer-delivered assessment aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFR, and EnglishCore, a mobile-based test that evaluates listening and writing skills. Both are designed to help schools, government agencies and employers assess English proficiency using internationally recognized standards.

The initiatives complement the BCP’s broader partnerships with educational institutions and government agencies to boost English readiness among Filipino learners and workers as demand for globally competitive talent continues to grow.