Category: Business Mirror

Marian Rivera has officially joined ZLEEP AI as its newest endorser, putting the spotlight on a growing premium sleep category in the Philippines that combines luxury, wellness and artificial intelligence.

The actress and television personality is now representing ZLEEP AI, which the brand positions as the first and only AI mattress brand in the Philippines. With its flagship models sitting at the premium end of the market, ZLEEP AI has also been described by the brand as the ‘Hermès of beds,’ reflecting its focus on exclusivity, advanced sleep technology and high-end materials.

Rivera’s endorsement comes as more consumers begin searching for products beyond the traditional bed mattress, particularly those looking for a smart bed, luxury mattress, premium mattress or mattress designed to provide better support for back discomfort. ZLEEP AI is positioning itself within this shift by introducing an intelligent sleep system that can respond to the user’s body and sleeping position.

Among the products associated with the campaign is the ZLEEP AI Zenith, the brand’s flagship AI bed mattress. The model features BioAdaptive AI technology, 8-drive body sensing, adaptive spine alignment, real-time health tracking, and a body-sensing smart alarm. Its system is designed to detect changes in pressure and sleeping position, then adjust support across different areas of the body.

The technology behind ZLEEP AI is built around intelligent sleep research involving artificial intelligence, ergonomics and smart sensing. Its underlying sleep technology platform has also developed extensive intellectual property covering intelligent mattresses, software algorithms and related sleep systems.

For consumers searching for a mattress for back pain or better spinal support, ZLEEP AI’s appeal centers on its adaptive design. Instead of maintaining one fixed level of support throughout the night, the mattress is engineered to respond as the body moves, helping create a more personalized sleep environment.

Rivera’s partnership also gives the brand greater visibility among Filipino families as smart home and wellness technologies continue to move into more areas of everyday life. Her endorsement introduces the idea of the AI mattress to a wider audience while strengthening ZLEEP AI’s positioning in the luxury mattress market in the Philippines.

The campaign places ZLEEP AI in a category that goes beyond conventional mattress shopping. With features that combine sleep monitoring, adjustable support, app-based controls and intelligent sensing, the brand is presenting the mattress as part of a broader connected wellness experience.

As searches for terms such as best mattress in the Philippines, AI mattress Philippines, smart bed Philippines, luxury mattress and mattress for back pain continue to reflect growing consumer interest in more specialized sleep solutions, Marian Rivera’s endorsement gives ZLEEP AI a high-profile platform to introduce intelligent sleep technology to the local market.

For ZLEEP AI, the partnership is also a major step in building recognition around a relatively new product category in the country, one where premium sleep is increasingly connected with technology, personalization and everyday wellness.

THE Philippine economy may be running out of room for a comeback this year after growth slowed further to 2.3 percent in the second quarter, economists said.

On Friday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the second quarter growth eased from 2.8 percent in the first quarter and was significantly below the 5.4-percent expansion recorded a year earlier.

The latest reading was the slowest since the first quarter of 2021, when the economy contracted by 3.8 percent. Excluding the pandemic period, it was the weakest growth recorded since the fourth quarter of 2009, when gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 1.8 percent.

This brought economic growth in the first half of 2026 to an average of 2.6 percent, significantly slower than the 5.4 percent recorded in the same period last year.

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas said prospects for a strong recovery in the remaining half of the year appear dim, with both households and firms pulling back on spending.

‘There are no clear signs that these market agents will regain confidence. The year 2026 looks lost economically,’ Canlas told the BusinessMirror.

De La Salle University economist Ma. Ella C. Oplas was similarly downbeat, saying the government may once again miss its recalibrated growth target this year.

‘What is this saying about our state of economy? That we will not hit the targets this year,’ Oplas told the BusinessMirror.

She noted that the latest GDP figures reflect the cumulative impact of the economic challenges faced by households and businesses this year, with uncertainty increasingly weighing on spending decisions.

PSA data showed household consumption grew by just 2.8 percent in the second quarter, the slowest since the first quarter of 2021, when spending contracted by 4.8 percent.

Excluding the pandemic period, household spending growth was the weakest since the third quarter of 2010, when it expanded by 2.6 percent.

Oplas said some households simply do not have enough resources to spend, while others are holding back because they are unsure about future economic conditions.

She added that the slowdown also points to the limited impact of government measures intended to pump-prime the economy.

Cash assistance, she said, may either be insufficient or may not immediately translate into consumption as households stretch the aid to prepare for possible financial shocks.

‘As a result, the assistance does not really translate into consumer spending, which also affects the business sector. Less demand means less supply and less production,’ Oplas added.

Investment remains a drag

Investment likewise remained a major drag on growth, with gross capital formation contracting by 9.2 percent in the second quarter.

This marked another quarter of contraction after gross capital formation shrank by 2 percent in the third quarter, 9.4 percent in the fourth quarter, and 3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2026.

The deterioration was more pronounced in fixed investment. Gross fixed capital formation contracted by 13.7 percent in the second quarter, worsening from a 2.5 percent decline in the first quarter.

Construction was among the biggest drags, contracting by 14.8 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, much steeper than the 4.3 percent decline recorded in the previous quarter.

Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Emerging Asia Economist Miguel Chanco said the continued slump in public infrastructure indicates that it remains constrained even after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) wrapped up its mandate earlier this year.

‘We’ve been arguing for some time that the end of the ICI’s mandate earlier this year would be no silver bullet in reviving public infrastructure projects,’ he said in a commentary.

Rebound in H2?

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan maintained on Friday that the lower end of the government’s recalibrated 3.5-to-4.5-percent growth target remains attainable, but the economy would have to expand by an average of at least 4.4 percent in the second half.

Balisacan is banking partly on a rebound in public infrastructure spending, noting that the Department of Budget and Management had started releasing mobilization funds for 2026 projects toward the end of June, while the Department of Public Works and Highways began awarding contracts in June and July.

He expects this to lift public construction beginning in the third quarter and gain further momentum in the succeeding months.

‘As you know, what was not spent in the previous quarters is still going to be spent, right? And the budget for the second half is already programmed,’ he said during a briefing.

The country’s chief economist also expects the proposed tax relief package under the Progress bill, once enacted, to help stimulate household spending by raising workers’ take-home pay.

Still, Balisacan acknowledged that weak consumption cannot be addressed by fiscal support alone, as elevated inflation and fragile consumer confidence have also prompted households to hold back on spending.

‘The task for us is to build that consumer and business confidence.Confidence that the future is good and that high prices are not likely the permanent thing moving forward,’ he added.

Private sector should come in

Economists, however, said the government may need to look beyond catch-up spending and fiscal pump-priming to generate a more durable recovery.

Canlas said the more promising sources of growth at this point are large-scale private investments planned under the Luzon Economic Corridor, including artificial intelligence hubs and rare-earth mining, provided these projects begin materializing within the year.

Oplas similarly argued that the private sector should play a bigger role if government spending is no longer generating the desired boost to economic activity.

She said this would require the government to intensify efforts to attract investments and support entrepreneurship, while providing businesses with the stability and predictability needed for long-term planning.

‘The government should really take our economic situation seriously and quit the political theatrics because they’re wasting our resources. People can see and feel the effects and it’s a heavy burden,’ she added.

IN an attempt to help parents guide their children away from self-harm, Meta AI rolled out on Instagram a supervision tool for parents to help them become aware of distressing and sensitive conversations made by their children regarding suicide or self-harm.

Announced on Meta newsroom, a new and dedicated AI system, with the help of parents and experts, was developed to identify disturbing conversations that would warrant an alert to parents.

In this new AI system, if the children talked about having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, they would be directed to crisis helplines and would be encouraged to talk to a trusted adult. Moreover, it will send an alert to parents to inform them about these conversations so they can provide guidance to the child.

Meta, meanwhile, emphasized that chats flagged by the AI will be manually reviewed before the AI sends an alert. Additionally, these alerts will come with a shared resource from experts so parents would also have a guide on how to handle this problem tactfully.

‘While I believe that teens have a right to privacy, I also believe parents need to be informed if their teen may be at risk of hurting themselves. That’s why I advocated for this approach and support Meta’s decision to notify parents when, after careful review, it determines that a conversation with Meta AI contains indications of possible suicide or self-harm that warrant an alert,’ said Larry Magid, CEO and co-founder of ConnectSafely.

‘I appreciate how Meta struck the right balance; protecting teen privacy while ensuring parents have the information they need to support their teen,’ he added.

Experts assisted Meta by reviewing conversational prompts that Meta AI will flag.

‘I was struck by the rigor of Meta’s clinical review process. It examined not only immediate responses to suicide and self-harm concerns, but also the broader conversational context, appropriate follow-up, and the varying levels of risk that can exist even within high-risk situations. This kind of expert-informed, scenario-based refinement is essential to making AI experiences safer for teens,’ said USA-licensed psychologist Dr. Ji-yeon Lee.

This initiative is currently live for parents who use Instagram Parental Supervision in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with the global rollout planned by the end of the year.

THE trend of the Philippines’s dollar reserves level ‘bears watching,’ an analyst warned, after the country’s buffer against external economic shocks plunged to its lowest level in 18 months.

‘The level of reserves remains comfortable, but the trend bears watching,’ Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co. said on Friday.

Ravelas said this after data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) plunged to $103.38 billion as of end-July 2026, the lowest level in 1 year and 6 months or since January 2025.

The latest figure is 1.30 percent lower than the $104.74 billion recorded in end-June 2026. Year-on-year, foreign reserves also declined by 2.47 percent from the $106 billion in end-July 2025.

For his part, Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), attributed the decline in dollar reserves to ‘possible intervention’ in the local foreign exchange market after the US dollar/peso reached a new record low of P61.847 on July 24,2026.

Ricafort said this could also be due to the local currency hovering around the 61.60 to 61.80 levels which he said ‘have been sustained since late April 2026.’

RCBC’s chief economist also noted that the lower dollar reserves as of end-July of this year could be due to the renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran which resumed on July 11,2026.

He said this led to higher US Treasury yields and global bond yields that ‘partly weighed’ on the foreign investments portion of the reserves as well as some payment of foreign debts and other obligations.

According to the central bank, the decrease in reserves was mainly driven by the following: net foreign exchange operations, national government’s (NG) drawdowns on its foreign currency deposits with the BSP for external debt service and NG’s net foreign currency withdrawals from its deposits with the BSP.

These were partly offset, the BSP said, by the following: upward valuation adjustments in the BSP’s gold holdings due to the increase in the price of gold in the international market and the BSP’s net income from its investments abroad.

GIR breakdown

The GIR is made up of these components: eligible foreign assets, including securities, currency and deposits, reserve position in the fund, gold, special drawing rights and other reserve assets, held by the central bank.

On a month on month basis, the components of foreign currency reserves saw the biggest decline compared to other sources of dollar reserves.

BSP data showed currency and deposits plunged to $1.848 billion as of end-July 2026, or 19.20 percent lower than the $2.287 billion recorded as of end-June 2026.

Currency and deposits include time deposits, demand deposits, and cash holdings.

Securities, which BSP said refer to highly liquid and marketable debt securities, declined by 6.63 percent to $67.263 billion, compared to the $72.036 billion as of end-June 2026.

Securities exclude investments under the Asian Bond Fund (ABF) and Bank of International Settlements Investment Pool (BISIP).

In contrast, other reserve assets, SDRs and gold holdings partly offset the decrease in reserves.

Data from the central bank showed gold holdings climbed by 1.72 percent to $17.4895 billion as of end-July 2026 compared to the $17.194 billion as of end-June 2026.

SDRs inched up by 0.54 percent to $3.937 billion as of end-July 2026 from the $3.915 billion as of end-June 2026.

Reserve position in the fund also increased by 0.08 percent to $725.2 million as of end-July 2026, compared to the $724.6 million as of end-June 2026.

Other reserve assets saw a significant 41.08-percent jump to $12.11 billion as of end-July 2026 from the previous month’s $8.59 billion.

Looking ahead, Ravelas emphasized: ‘The key to rebuilding GIR is not intervention or borrowing, but stronger exports, higher investments, more tourism receipts, and sustained remittance growth.’

‘Ultimately, reserve strength follows economic strength,’ added the foreign exchange analyst.

Despite the decline in the country’s foreign reserves, the BSP said these provide ‘sufficient’ foreign currency to meet the country’s import needs, service its external debt obligations and serve as a buffer against external economic shocks.

‘The end-July GIR level can cover up to 6.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It can likewise cover about 3.6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on residual maturity,’ the BSP said in its statement.

THE Home Development Mutual Fund, commonly known as Pag-IBIG Fund, is expanding the perks for its members by partnering with Landers Superstore to offer exclusive discounts and promotions through its Loyalty Card Plus program.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta and Landers Deputy Chief Executive Officer Bill Cummings signed a memorandum of agreement on Friday at Landers Aseana in Parañaque City.

From August 1 to October 31, 2026, Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card and Loyalty Card Plus holders may access exclusive offers and promotions at 16 participating Landers Superstore branches nationwide.

Cardholders may obtain a free Landers Shopping Pass by presenting their cards. They may also receive a free one-year Landers Premium Membership by making a minimum single-receipt purchase of P3,000.

In addition, members may upgrade to a Landers Executive Membership for a discounted rate of P300 and earn cash rebates of up to 2 percent on eligible purchases.

‘For many Filipino families, groceries are one of the biggest monthly household expenses,’ Acosta said during the signing. ‘Every peso saved on everyday essentials can help pay for school, transportation, utilities, or simply add to their MP2 savings.’

Aside from helping Filipino workers own homes and build financial security through savings, Acosta said they must also enjoy the benefits of the Pag-IBIG Fund through the Loyalty Card program.

‘This is the purpose of the Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus-to give our members benefits that will help in their daily expenses through discounts and savings,’ Acosta said.

‘More than just a membership card, it gives our members access to exclusive discounts, special offers and reward points from our growing network of partners,’ Acosta added.

Holders of the Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus can enjoy discounts and rewards from over 500 partner establishments, covering food, retail, health, housing and transportation nationwide.

This initiative has provided more than P1 billion in cumulative discounts across nearly 31 million discounted transactions since the program’s expansion in 2019.

The program was launched in 2014 and was later upgraded to the Loyalty Card Plus in 2019 to add cash card functions through Asia United Bank and UnionBank of the Philippines for members to receive loan proceeds and access basic banking services through a single card.

THE national government’s outstanding debt relative to the size of the gross domestic product (GDP) climbed to a 22-year-high in the second quarter, after the economy grew disappointingly and the debt stock continued to climb.

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

Domestic debt as a share of GDP stood at 44.4 percent, while the proportion of external liabilities settled at 21.6 percent.

‘[This] suggests that the country’s fiscal position has become more constrained, largely reflecting the combination of continued government borrowing and slower-than-expected economic growth,’ said Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion to BusinessMirror.

As of end-June, the debt stock was at an all-time high of P19.065 trillion, while GDP expanded by 2.3 percent in the second quarter.

The latest debt-to-GDP ratio is also higher than the 65.2 percent recorded in the previous quarter and 63.1 percent in the same period in 2025.

It also exceeded the 64.9 percent target for 2026 recently recalibrated by the Development Budget Coordination Committee last June.

‘The economy is not growing fast enough to outgrow the debt,’ Jonathan A. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co., told BusinessMirror. ‘Until growth accelerates meaningfully and the fiscal gap narrows, the debt-to-GDP ratio is likely to remain under pressure.’

Having a high debt-to-GDP ratio could suggest the country is not producing enough to pay its debts, while a low level could mean it produces too much output to make the payments.

‘The economy, which serves as the denominator of the ratio, is expanding more slowly than anticipated, making it more difficult to stabilize debt metrics,’ Asuncion said.

Despite being elevated by historical standards, Asuncion said the debt ratio remains manageable.

‘The key issue is whether economic growth can accelerate in the coming quarters and whether the government can maintain a credible path toward fiscal consolidation,’ Asuncion said.

While the country’s budget deficit will widen in peso terms through 2028, as a share of GDP, it will narrow to 5.4 percent this year and further to 5.1 percent in 2027 and 4.8 percent in 2028.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has pushed for a higher personal income-tax exemption and the removal of corporate income tax for qualified small businesses in his recent State of the Nation Address.

In doing so, this would result in P326.92 billion in foregone revenues if implemented from 2027 until 2030, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

To offset the losses, the DOF proposed expanded excise taxes on e-cigarettes, novel tobacco, sugar-sweetened beverages, alcohol, as well as an automobile tax to generate a total of P518.71 billion over the four-year period.

‘Any tax relief measures will need to be calibrated carefully,’ Asuncion said. ‘The challenge for policymakers is to strike a balance between supporting growth and preserving fiscal sustainability.’

The best way to improve the country’s debt dynamics is to achieve stronger and broader-based economic growth through higher investments, improved productivity and sustained job creation, he added.

‘Investors and rating agencies tend to focus not only on the level of debt but also on the government’s ability to manage it over the medium term,’ Asuncion said.

While a rising debt burden could put upward pressure on government bond yields if investors demand a higher risk premium, Asuncion said market movements would also depend on inflation, monetary policy expectations, fiscal performance and liquidity conditions.

It is also unlikely to prompt an immediate sovereign credit rating action given the latest debt-to-GDP ratio, as rating agencies also consider economic growth prospects, fiscal trends, debt affordability, external accounts and institutional strength, Asuncion said.

‘However, a sustained rise in debt accompanied by below-trend growth could place greater scrutiny on the country’s fiscal outlook over time,’ he warned.

Sleep is one of the pillars of health at every age, yet for many people over 60 it becomes frustratingly elusive. Trouble falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, early morning rising, or non-restorative rest are extremely common. Contrary to popular belief, older adults still need roughly the same amount of sleep as younger adults-typically 7 to 8 or 9 hours per night. What changes is the body’s ability to generate continuous, deep, high-quality sleep. The good news is that many of these difficulties are not inevitable. Experts ranging from geriatricians and sleep researchers to clinical psychologists who specialize in sleep have identified clear biological shifts, medical contributors, and-most importantly-practical, non-drug strategies that can meaningfully improve rest.

How sleep changes after age 60

AS people reach their 60s, several physiological shifts occur. The circadian rhythm-the internal 24-hour clock that governs sleep and wake-tends to advance. Melatonin, the hormone that signals nighttime to the brain, is released earlier in the evening and in smaller amounts. By age 60, many people have lost 70 to 80 percent of their deep non-rapid eye movement (NREM) slow-wave sleep, the most restorative stage. Sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented; awakenings increase and returning to sleep grows harder.

Sleep expert and neuroscientist Matthew Walker has explained that the continuity of sleep decreases with age and that the electrical quality of deep sleep begins declining as early as the mid-to-late 30s, accelerating later. Older adults still need that deep sleep for memory consolidation, immune function, metabolic health, and clearing metabolic waste from the brain via the glymphatic system. The problem is not reduced need but reduced capacity to generate the sleep the brain still requires.

Geriatrician Dr. Melissa Bogin of Mayo Clinic, in the Aging Forward podcast episode ‘Why Sleep Gets Worse With Age (And What Actually Helps),’ notes that older individuals spend less time in deep sleep and somewhat less in REM (dream) sleep. She emphasizes that while some change is expected, persistent poor sleep that leaves a person exhausted, foggy, or functionally impaired is not simply ‘normal aging’ and warrants attention.

Clinical psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus (widely known as the Sleep Doctor) has repeatedly observed in his videos aimed at seniors that sleep architecture changes – reduced efficiency, more awakenings, and shifts in chronotype toward earlier bed and wake times – are common, yet many of the resulting problems respond well to targeted behavioral adjustments.

Primary causes of sleep problems after 60

Causes fall into several overlapping categories:

Biological and circadian factors dominate. Reduced melatonin production and a weakened, advanced circadian rhythm make it harder to stay asleep through the night and easier to wake early. Less daytime physical activity and reduced exposure to natural light further blunt the body’s timekeeping signals.

Medical conditions frequently contribute. Sleep apnea becomes more prevalent with age and is linked to snoring, daytime sleepiness, and cardiovascular strain. Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements of sleep increase. Chronic pain from arthritis or other musculoskeletal issues interrupts sleep. Nocturia (nighttime urination) from prostate enlargement, overactive bladder, or heart failure forces awakenings. Gastrointestinal reflux, heart or lung disease, depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s all disrupt rest. Hormonal changes around and after menopause-hot flashes and night sweats-add another layer for many women.

Medications and substances play a major role. Diuretics taken late in the day increase nighttime bathroom trips. Certain antidepressants, beta-blockers, steroids, and other drugs can interfere with sleep architecture or cause daytime drowsiness that leads to compensatory napping. Caffeine is metabolized more slowly after 65 – roughly 33 percent longer according to some observations – so afternoon coffee can linger. Alcohol may help someone fall asleep initially but fragments later sleep and worsens apnea and awakenings.

Lifestyle and environmental factors compound the biology. Inconsistent schedules, excessive evening light from screens or indoor lighting (which suppresses melatonin), long daytime naps, sedentary habits, loneliness, and an unsupportive bedroom environment (too warm, too bright, too noisy) all erode sleep quality.

Dr. Bogin and other geriatric experts stress the importance of distinguishing primary age-related changes from secondary problems caused by treatable conditions or modifiable habits. A thorough review of medical history, medications, and sleep patterns is often the essential first step.

Natural solutions recommended by experts

The strongest evidence and expert consensus favor non-pharmacological approaches first. Prescription sleep medications carry higher risks of falls, cognitive impairment, dependence, and residual daytime effects in older adults, so they are generally reserved for short-term or carefully supervised use.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is repeatedly cited as the gold-standard first-line treatment. Dr. Bogin highlights it in the Mayo Clinic discussion as highly effective. Components include stimulus control (using the bed only for sleep and intimacy; leaving the bed if unable to sleep after about 20 minutes), sleep restriction (temporarily limiting time in bed to consolidate sleep), cognitive restructuring of unhelpful thoughts about sleep, and relaxation training. Dr. Breus outlines multi-component plans in videos such as ‘6 ADVANCED Techniques to Sleep Through the Night (For Seniors)’ that incorporate sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep restriction, arousal reduction, pain management, and CBT principles adapted for older adults. Online programs and trained therapists make CBT-I accessible.

Strategic light exposure is one of the most powerful tools for resetting the aging circadian clock. Walker recommends morning daylight to anchor the rhythm strongly. For those who wake too early, he suggests limiting intense morning light (for example, wearing sunglasses during early outdoor exercise) and seeking afternoon sunlight without sunglasses to help delay melatonin release and push bedtime later. Consistent wake times every day of the week reinforce the clock more powerfully than bedtime consistency alone.

Sleep hygiene and environment optimization form the foundation. Experts including those at UCHealth, Mayo Clinic, and Breus advise:

A cool (around 60-67°F or 15-19°C), dark, and quiet bedroom. Blackout solutions, eye masks, earplugs, or white-noise machines help.

A consistent schedule-same wake time daily.

Limiting screens and bright light for at least an hour before bed; dimming household lights in the evening.

Avoiding large meals, caffeine (ideally after early afternoon or earlier), nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime.

Short naps only if needed (under 30 minutes, not after mid-afternoon).

Light movement or gentle stretching in the evening (Breus has demonstrated simple in-bed exercises such as marching in place, shoulder and neck rolls, ankle circles, and toe flexes paired with deep breathing to ease stiffness and calm the nervous system).

Physical activity and daytime habits improve sleep drive. Regular moderate exercise, preferably earlier in the day, enhances sleep quality. Morning outdoor activity combines movement with light exposure. Practices such as tai chi or gentle yoga can lower evening arousal and cortisol.

Targeted nutritional and supplemental supports, used thoughtfully and preferably after discussion with a physician, appear in expert recommendations. Low-dose melatonin (often 0.5-1.5 mg, timed 30-90 minutes or sometimes earlier before desired bedtime) can help older adults whose natural production has declined; higher over-the-counter doses are frequently unnecessary and less ideal. Magnesium (forms such as glycinate or citrate in the 200-400 mg range) may support muscle relaxation and melatonin production. Tart cherry juice, studied for its natural melatonin content and effects on sleep efficiency, is frequently mentioned in popular expert videos and research summaries as a helpful evening option for some seniors. Herbal teas (chamomile, or combinations with passionflower or lemon balm) and warm milk are traditional and low-risk wind-down aids. Breus has also discussed certain mushrooms (reishi for cortisol, others for inflammation or mood) as adjuncts in some of his content.

Relaxation and arousal reduction techniques close the gap. Progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing (for example the 4-7-8 pattern), mindfulness meditation, or Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) protocols help quiet racing thoughts. Creating a consistent wind-down routine-reading, light stretching, a warm bath 60-90 minutes before bed (the subsequent cooling helps sleep onset)-signals the brain that sleep is approaching.

Addressing underlying contributors remains essential: optimizing pain management, treating apnea if present, reviewing medications with a clinician or pharmacist, managing fluid intake timing to reduce nocturia, and treating depression or anxiety.

Putting it into practice and knowing when to seek help

Improvement rarely happens overnight. Consistency over weeks matters more than perfection on any single night. Tracking sleep in a simple diary can reveal patterns and progress. Many people notice better sleep efficiency, fewer prolonged awakenings, and improved daytime energy and mood once light exposure, schedule regularity, and CBT-I elements are in place.

Seek professional evaluation if sleep problems are severe, accompanied by loud snoring or gasping, excessive daytime sleepiness that affects safety (for example driving or falls), significant mood changes, or cognitive concerns. A sleep study may be warranted for suspected apnea or other disorders. Primary care physicians, geriatricians, and sleep specialists can coordinate care.

Sleep after 60 does not have to be a source of chronic frustration. The same experts who document the biological challenges-Walker on the science of aging sleep, Bogin on clinical realities in older adults, and Breus on practical daily strategies- also demonstrate that intentional, natural interventions can restore more restorative rest. Treating sleep with the same seriousness given to diet and exercise pays dividends in brain health, physical resilience, emotional balance, and overall quality of life. Small, sustainable changes, guided by evidence-based principles from these voices, offer a realistic path toward better nights and more energized days.

THE International Labour Organization (ILO) said the latest employment figures should be examined beyond the headline unemployment rate after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) linked higher labor force participation to greater confidence among Filipino jobseekers.

DOLE said more Filipinos entered the labor market and found work in June, reflecting the economy’s ability to generate employment while accommodating new jobseekers. Experts warned, however, that not enough jobs were being created for new entrants, posing a challenge that compounds the still-high underemployment rate.

Latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed the number of employed Filipinos increased to 50.66 million in June from 49.63 million in May.

During the same period, the labor force expanded by 1.12 million to 53.25 million, pushing the labor force participation rate to 65.1 percent from 63.8 percent.

Unemployment, however, edged up to 4.9 percent from 4.8 percent as the increase in employment fell slightly below the growth in the labor force.

DOLE attributed the higher unemployment rate largely to the influx of more than one million additional jobseekers during the month.

‘The rise in labor force participation signals greater confidence among Filipinos to seek employment,’ Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said.

Tolentino added that the government must continue pursuing reforms that increase both the quantity and quality of available jobs while preparing workers for higher-value and future-ready employment.

Meanwhile, ILO Country Director Khalid Hassan said the figures tell only part of the country’s labor market story and require deeper analysis.

‘We have to see all these figures again with a deeper understanding,’ Hassan told the BusinessMirror.

He said policymakers should also consider the ‘jobs gap,’ a broader measure covering people without employment who want to work, including those who are not counted as unemployed because they are not actively looking for a job or are not immediately available to work.

‘What they do is that people who apply or are looking for jobs, that data is collected. But the people who are not looking for a job, that data is removed. And that is what we call jobs gap,’ Hassan said.

‘Yes, many people are having jobs. But what about underemployment? What about quality employment? These things have to be seen,’ Hassan added.

Hassan also told this newspaper that the Philippines must invest more in manufacturing and industrial development to generate additional jobs while strengthening education and training systems for employment opportunities expected to emerge from artificial intelligence and the transition to a greener economy.

A delegation composed of representatives from the Government of India, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) India Resident Mission, and ADB Headquarters recently visited Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) to study the company’s non-revenue water (NRW) management and leak detection practices.

Led by Saurabh Singh, Deputy Secretary of India’s Department of Economic Affairs, the delegation participated in technical sessions and field demonstrations facilitated by the Maynilad Water Academy (MWA).

ADB cited Maynilad’s approach to NRW reduction as a useful reference for its capacity-building initiatives, noting how the utility combines field operations, monitoring systems, workforce training, and operational accountability.

During the visit, participants were introduced to Maynilad’s broader approach to NRW management, including field-based acoustic leak detection, centralized monitoring through the company’s Central Control Room, workforce development, and operational accountability systems. The delegation also observed how NRW reduction activities are implemented on the ground within Maynilad’s service area.

According to ADB, the visit can pave the way for efforts to help utilities in South Asia learn from operational models that have been applied in large urban water systems facing persistent water losses and service reliability challenges.

ADB and the Maynilad Water Academy have partnered for several years on capacity-building initiatives, including technical training programs, learning sessions, and study visits for water utilities across the region.

The visit also opened discussions on possible follow-up initiatives, including technical exchanges, peer learning activities, and opportunities to share elements of MWA’s training approach with utilities in India and other ADB member countries.

‘Many utilities face similar challenges with water losses, but sustained NRW reduction requires more than equipment. It requires trained personnel, consistent field execution, and operational systems that support fast detection and response,’ said Edmundo M. Perez II, Officer-in-Charge of the Maynilad Water Academy.

MWA combines classroom instruction with field-based application to train utility personnel on water operations, leak detection, and NRW management practices.

July 28, 2026 – Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC), in partnership with Mizukawa Motors Corporation (MZM), proudly announces the inauguration of Mitsubishi Motors Silang, a new 3S dealership that further strengthens the brand’s presence in one of the country’s fastest-growing economic corridors.

Located along E. Aguinaldo Highway, Lalaan 1st, Silang, Cavite, Mitsubishi Motors Silang is Mizukawa Motors Corporation’s second dealership in Cavite. The dealership occupies a 1,700-square-meter facility on a 4,000-square-meter property, featuring a six-vehicle showroom and six service bays. Built to provide customers with a complete ownership experience, the facility offers Sales, Service, and Spare Parts operations under one roof.

‘The opening of Mitsubishi Motors Silang dealership signifies our commitment to strengthen our network in areas with high growth potential to ensure that our customers have convenient access to Mitsubishi Motors’ latest vehicles and aftersales services,’ said Mr. Ritsu Imaeda, President and CEO of MMPC.

The dealership is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Monday to Saturday) and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Sunday). Customers may contact the dealership through the following channels: