Category: Philippine Star

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla has assured Cebu business leaders that the anti-graft office will help address governance problems, reduce red tape, and improve government processes to create a fair and more accessible environment for businesses and investors.

Remulla made the commitment during a town hall dialogue with Cebu business leaders on Thursday, October 22, to discuss corruption risks, regulatory bottlenecks, and other challenges encountered by businesses in dealing with government agencies.

The event provided an opportunity for the government and private sector to identify concrete areas where they could work together to improve public services and strengthen investor confidence.

Remulla said the country should not simply blame circumstances for its problems but should learn from past failures and prepare better for future challenges.

He cited an example involving a solar energy company, saying some entities had obtained exclusive rights through franchises to establish power plants but allegedly transferred or flipped these rights for profit instead of developing the projects.

Such practices, he said, undermine government systems and should be addressed through prosecution when warranted.

‘We follow the law, but when we follow and obey the law, we should also be conscious of our civic duty to be good citizens of this country,’ Remulla said.

He stressed the need to keep the country’s investment environment open and fair while preventing the exploitation of regulatory and legal systems.

‘The investment window of our country has to be fully open, and it has to be fair,’ he said.

Remulla said identifying problems in government processes would allow authorities to determine how to make the system work more effectively for the public and the business sector.

He cited efforts to improve services at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), including the use of the Land Transportation Management System, which was acquired by the government in 2015.

The system was intended to reduce opportunities for fixers by allowing transactions, including renewals, to be processed online and limiting face-to-face interactions.

‘We have started doing it. So that’s one example of what we want to do for the country,’ Remulla said.

He emphasized that the Ombudsman’s mandate should go beyond investigating and prosecuting government officials, saying the office should also help improve government systems.

‘It’s not all catching people and putting them in jail. No, it’s not that. It’s really making government work better,’ he said.

Remulla also welcomed stronger engagement with the business sector, citing his experience in Cavite where, during his tenure as governor, he said efforts to attract investments helped generate jobs.

He said Cavite attracted 15 foreign direct investments, which created employment opportunities for residents. The experience, he said, reinforced the importance of maintaining an investment-friendly environment and addressing government processes that could discourage businesses.

Remulla also cited regulatory capture and other deep-rooted governance concerns that require concrete government action. He said the Ombudsman plans to hold a regulatory summit in 2027 that would bring together regulatory agencies to promote transparency and encourage the delivery of government services online.

The town hall meeting also included the presentation of highlights from a baseline survey conducted among business participants, an interactive dialogue, and the identification of priority concerns and possible collaborative actions.

The activity forms part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the business community and government in promoting transparent, accountable, and efficient public service.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Regan King welcomed the engagement between the business community and the Office of the Ombudsman, saying the initiative could help restore business confidence in government and address long-standing problems in securing permits.

King told The Freeman that the Ombudsman’s decision to directly engage business leaders was ‘very inspiring,’ particularly as it demonstrated the government’s seriousness in addressing corruption and improving the ease of doing business.

He said the initiative could complement the ongoing efforts of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the CCCI to identify and address stumbling blocks encountered by businesses, particularly delays in securing permits.

‘Small steps now become gain trust and confidence,’ King said.

He said many members of the business community have been hesitant to engage government because of fears that raising concerns could result in repercussions, even when they have complied with existing requirements.

With the Ombudsman now engaging directly with the business sector, King said entrepreneurs could have greater confidence that complaints involving government transactions would be heard and acted upon.

One of the primary concerns raised by the business sector was the lengthy processing of permits.

‘Simple lang as kuha og permits gyud. Kana ang basic gyud,’ King said, citing business permits, building permits and fire safety requirements among the concerns.

He said delays in obtaining permits could affect business operations because establishments cannot legally operate without the necessary clearances.

King said the business community could now bring complaints about unreasonable delays in government transactions to the Ombudsman, including those involving barangay officials and other local government personnel.

He said the engagement could provide businesses with a venue to seek assistance when they encounter problems in government offices.

King also said the business sector would raise other concerns in succeeding engagements, including the need for greater transparency and predictability in government policies and taxation.

He said foreign investors, in particular, look for clear and predictable rules before deciding where to invest.

King said government policies should be applied consistently and clearly, without additional interpretations that could create uncertainty for businesses. He also welcomed the possibility of holding regular engagements with the Ombudsman, saying the initial town hall meeting was only a starting point.

King said the CCCI would also work to involve other chambers and business organizations in future discussions so that the Ombudsman could hear concerns from a broader segment of the business community.

He clarified that the initiative to reach out to the business sector came from the Ombudsman’s office, rather than from the chamber. He said the business community was initially skeptical about the purpose of the engagement but eventually welcomed the Ombudsman’s proactive approach.

‘We are happy with that because proactive approach ni, dili sila reactive,’ King said.-

A friend asked me if I knew an LGU that has a wish list or pending project where all the studies and paperwork have been done and simply needed a funding source.

I said I didn’t know of any, but I knew something that he and his friends can get into – help thousands of Filipinos per area and eventually give a guaranteed ROI or return on investment.

As an example, I pointed out the thousands of dialysis centers that have popped up like mushrooms all over the Philippines. There was a time when dialysis outside a hospital was illegal, if not unimaginable.

Then there are all the small two-room clinics and laboratory centers in busy residential areas. In Barrio Kapitolyo, there are four medical laboratory services within 50 to 500 meters of each other, while seven pharmacies and drug stores are within walking distance of each other.

Why not invest in small or medium size hospital facilities that can provide affordable rooms and care for paying clients instead of their having to pay ‘ransom’ in a big private hospital in order to be released when they get well.

Many middle-class Filipinos want to, or need to, migrate to public hospitals, but the Philippines has a severe shortage of mid-price hospitals that have available rooms. Government hospitals have enough modern equipment in order to run tests but not enough rooms.

The doctors in public hospitals are generally on the same level of expertise and often are the same doctors you see in private hospitals, but public hospitals simply do not have enough beds or rooms.

Getting hospitalized in the Philippines is like booking a trip on a commercial airline. Airlines have categorized passenger accommodation or sections as First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy.

The same can now be said about hospitals and health care in the Philippines. The people who go to private hospitals are generally the rich or AandB class or the unfortunate folks who were rushed to the nearest but most expensive private hospital.

From what I’ve learned, the separation between First Class and Business Class hospitalization is if you get the presidential suite, the executive suite versus a regular suite or a private room.

But the decision is not entirely yours to make. I know of several instances when hospitals will size you up, who your attending physicians are or what your family name and address is.

From there they sell you the lame claim, ‘We currently don’t have any regular rooms available, but we could put you in a suite or even the executive suite.’

Between desperation and ego, I know of people who agreed, thinking they’re only spending more on the room but not realizing that those rooms come with a different set of charges or higher costs. They call it ‘socialized.’

The problem is many patients have no idea about rates, charges and doctors’ fees. All of this should be made known to patients at the Admitting section before admission.

Between prices in the sky and purgatory in the wards, there are only four known GOCC or government-owned and -controlled corporation hospitals: Heart Center, National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), Lung Center of the Philippines and Philippine Children’s Medical Center or PCMC.

There was a time when people opted to go to the Heart Center rather than the well known private hospitals because PHC was affordable. But it seems those days are long gone. If a patient can’t produce the hundreds of thousands, even a couple million, of pesos, they have to go elsewhere.

But where? What some doctors in private hospitals have reportedly been doing is conducting expensive procedures or surgery at a public hospital where they are ‘consulting.’ In other words, two hospitals for one disease!

Even for medicines, why do patients have to buy the medicines at pharmacies outside of the hospital? The Philippine government has purchasing power by buying in bulk and dictating volume prices.

What is sick (no pun intended) is that everybody – beginning from the President, VP, the executive secretary, all senators and every member of Congress – is well aware of the shortage that has existed since the day they were born, and the problem is getting worse.

There are even a couple of promising senators who made promises to allocate funds to government hospitals but never came back after the photo ops!

People may get medical attention in private hospitals, but they go home with a financial disaster. The government and the legislative branch have not investigated, much less regulated, the uncontrolled pricing of private hospitals.

Patients get stuck in hospitals because the billing section still have to find out how much every attending physician is charging for professional fees, depending on how charitable or desperate the doctor is.

If government can regulate airlines, bus and jeepney fares, pork and beef, why can’t they regulate and require transparency of professional fees? Why can’t professional fees for consultations be visibly listed in doctors’ offices so the patient does not face bill shock?

The BIR should revive the policy of allowing taxpayers to claim a small percentage of their surgery or hospital bill as tax deductions. That way, BIR can use receipts to follow the money.

Let’s pray together for more hospitals and make it an election issue. God bless.

The city treasurer of Dagupan in Pangasinan has been dismissed from her post in connection with the non-delivery of two motorized boats procured by the city government.

Romelita Alcantara was found liable for grave misconduct for releasing P999,750 in public funds as payment for the undelivered boats, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Aside from dismissal, the ombudsman canceled the civil service eligibility of Alcantara, forfeited her retirement benefits, disqualified her from holding public office and barred her from taking civil service examinations

The Philippine National Police (PNP) recognized Unilab, Inc. (Unilab) anew for its contributions to the health and well-being of uniformed personnel during the PNP Health Service’s Araw ng Pasasalamat.

The award acknowledged the company’s steadfast support for the PNP’s health initiatives, including wellness activities, access to medical services, and discounted Unilab products. Robert Eugenio, Unilab’s External Affairs Head, received the award on behalf of the company.

This year, Unilab’s Bayanihan sa Kalusugan program has supported health and wellness activities for around 1,000 PNP personnel from its Southern, Northern and Central offices.

The company is also scheduled to support a health activity for PNP Region 4A this October, with around 700 employees expected to benefit. Planned services include free medical consultations, laboratory tests that include cholesterol, hemoglobin, and uric acid testing, and bone scans.

These initiatives support the PNP’s efforts to provide preventive health care and complementary assistance to personnel with existing medical conditions, including chronic illnesses that can affect their ability to perform their duties.

Access to Unilab products also forms part of the company’s support, enabling comprehensive health care to be more affordable for beneficiaries.

Bayanihan sa Kalusugan is a program under Alagang Unilab that aims to make health care more accessible and ensure its benefits are felt across various sectors.

Unilab, the country’s leading and most-trusted pharmaceutical company, has served Filipino families for more than eight decades.

The coordinates for a P23-million farm-to-market road in Nueva Ecija for funding in the 2027 budget pointed to a spot in the ocean near the Philippine Rise, according to a budget watchdog.

As tallied by the People’s Budget Coalition, 7,054 agricultural infrastructure projects including farm-to-market roads amounting to nearly P190 billion were inserted by members of the House of Representatives, a.k.a. HOR, into the P7.2-trillion outlay proposed for 2027 by Malacañang.

The watchdog warned that farm-to-market roads (and multipurpose buildings) appear to be the new flood control projects for HOR members.

Nueva Ecija happens to be the home turf of the current chair of the House committee on appropriations, Mikaela Suansing, who broke into tears after the HOR passed its insertion-packed 2027 budget bill.

Hearing all the horror stories emerging from the House budget deliberations, as narrated by budget watchdogs, you have to wonder if legislators are beyond shame and are incorrigibly evil.

The farm-to-market roads aren’t even entirely new. They are the latest incarnation of the farm-to-resort roads unknowingly bankrolled by taxpayers for the family businesses of thieving lawmakers in previous years.

We also had the fertilizer fund scam – remember that scandal? – wherein P728 million was distributed supposedly for fertilizers even in crowded cities where the only spaces for gardens were on porches and in small backyards.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was accused of using the fertilizer funds for her presidential bid in 2004. Most of the officials convicted and imprisoned for the scam are unknowns. GMA herself was cleared, along with her agriculture secretary at the time, Luis ‘Cito’ Lorenzo Jr. and undersecretary Jocelyn ‘Joc-joc’ Bolante.

GMA’s political durability should be heartening to President Marcos. Being the final approving authority for the annual national budget, BBM should share the blame for the systematic pillage of public funds through creative budgeting.

For 2027, Marcos’ son Sandro’s district in Ilocos Norte has been awarded an impressively high P4 billion for public works projects including multipurpose buildings. Will BBM go along with this?

The Supreme Court has just struck down as unconstitutional the General Appropriations Acts for 2024 and 2025, when BBM’s cousin Martin Romualdez was the speaker, along with portions of the current GAA.

This unprecedented slap on Congress and Malacañang by the Supreme Court is related to the latest incarnation of the pork barrel, the unprogrammed appropriations.

UAs have been increasing exponentially for several budget seasons now, reaching unconscionable proportions in 2024 and 2025. This, the SC noted in its ruling, bloated the GAAs for those years beyond the total spending program proposed by the executive, which is unconstitutional.

In 2025, we saw the budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways set higher than the budget for the entire education sector. The sector was itself artificially bloated by the inclusion of learning institutions that should be under other executive departments, such as the academies for the military and police.

The 2025 outlay has been described by budget watchdogs as the most corrupt GAA ever. The one in 2024 was a runner-up. This GAA had a rider that effectively amended the charters of all government corporations, allowing the impounding of supposed excess funds of the state firms and rechanneling to the UA.

But again, who signed those GAAs, with only token vetoes?

For 2027, the HOR cut P130 billion from the funds allotted for big-ticket foreign-assisted infrastructure projects including the subway, North-South Commuter Railway and Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. We pay billions in commitment fees and penalties when foreign-funded projects are suspended and delayed.

The thieves slashed funds proposed by the executive for education, health and agriculture and instead increased the budgets for the HOR, for a slew of politicized ayuda or dole-outs and for smaller infrastructure projects for their districts.

Will BBM go along with it?

Recent indictments before the Sandiganbayan and ongoing probes confirm our worst suspicions about the political class: they have mastered the exploitation of the system for personal gain.

Among lawmakers, a common MO is for a political clan to set up construction-related businesses. Many clans now have a member at every level of government, from the barangay to the national positions. So a family member endorses an infrastructure project to the executive, pushes congressional approval for funding, and maneuvers to ensure that the contract for implementation plus the provision of supplies and services are awarded to the family’s businesses.

National government approval is needed typically for big-ticket projects, and the endorser will need to be allied with the administration.

But local governments have wide discretion over smaller projects, which can be further split to avoid the P50-million threshold for a plunder indictment, just in case some nasty busybody plans to file a complaint.

The pork barrel, like those farm-to-market roads and flood control projects, keeps rising back up like a zombie. Our country is facing a zombie apocalypse.

Worse, there’s no certainty that anyone will be punished. Even those who might face punishment will still get to keep a large chunk of their loot, as we are seeing in the case of several looters-turned-state witnesses.

Zaldy Co, who should know where all the bodies are buried, will continue to enjoy life in Paris precisely because of what he knows.

There’s a strong buzz that like administration ally Bong Revilla, Martin Romualdez himself will be granted bail before Christmas, shortly after Vice President Sara Duterte is ousted from her post by the Senate impeachment court. Romualdez’s bail supposedly will be a prelude to his eventual acquittal.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who is said to be on legacy mode as he contemplates his mortality, seems to be sincerely trying to pin down the big fish. Seeing the extent of corruption, however, from the barangay all the way to the top levels of government, it will be understandable if his office is overwhelmed.

If the ombudsman can’t nail down thieves for plunder because of that bizarre main plunderer doctrine of the Supreme Court (which cleared GMA), can’t they be charged instead with qualified theft? Economic sabotage? Anything that will allow taxpayers to toss thieves in jail and throw away the key?

The shamelessness in creative budgeting is stupefying. People are also moved to tears – of rage.

Beyond getting mad, that rage must be channeled into action that will kick out the looters.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains in effect over Batanes and the northeastern portion of the Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi) maintained its strength while moving northwestward over the sea east-northeast of Batanes, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Friday, October 23, PAGASA said Rosal was packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph.

The typhoon was last spotted 275 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northwestward at 15 kph.

Strong to typhoon-force winds extend up to 900 kilometers from the center.

Warning signals

PAGASA raised the following tropical cyclone wind signals:

Signal No. 2

Luzon

Batanes

Northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan, Panuitan, Calayan and Camiguin islands)

Residents in these areas may experience gale-force winds ranging from 62 to 88 kph within the next 24 hours, posing minor to moderate threats to life and property.

Signal No. 1

Luzon

Rest of the Babuyan Islands

Mainland Cagayan

Northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo and Palanan)

Ilocos Norte

Apayao

Residents in these areas may experience strong winds ranging from 39 to 61 kph within the next 36 hours, posing minimal to minor threats to life and property.

The northeast monsoon and Rosal’s outer circulation will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

Friday, October 23: Most of Luzon and the Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental.

Saturday, October 24: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Polillo Islands, Bicol Region, Romblon, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Sunday, October 25: Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Sea conditions

A gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

Very rough to very high seas, with waves reaching up to 12 meters, are expected along the northern and eastern seaboards of Batanes.

Waves may reach up to 9 meters along the remaining seaboards of Batanes and up to 8 meters along the northern and eastern seaboards of the Babuyan Islands and the northeastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan.

Seas may reach up to 6 meters along the remaining seaboards of the Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, the seaboard of northern Isabela and the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte. Waves may reach up to 5.5 meters along the remaining seaboard of Isabela and up to 5 meters along the remaining seaboard of Ilocos Norte.

Waves may reach up to 4.5 meters along the seaboards of northern Ilocos Sur and northern Aurora, the northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, and the northern and eastern seaboards of the Polillo Islands and Catanduanes.

PAGASA warned that sea travel is risky for all types of vessels in areas where very rough to very high seas are expected. Mariners were advised to remain in port or seek shelter in a safe harbor until winds and waves subside.

Operators of small vessels, including motorbancas, were also advised against venturing out to sea under rough conditions, especially if their vessels are ill-equipped or they lack experience.

Track, intensity

Rosal is expected to continue moving generally northwestward until Saturday, October 24, before moving northward and then north-northeastward between Saturday and Sunday, October 25.

On its forecast track, the typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by early Saturday.

PAGASA said Rosal is forecast to weaken gradually within the next 24 hours before weakening rapidly. It may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm by Saturday morning and further weaken into a tropical storm by Saturday evening.

The Philippines needs roughly P5 trillion in investments to fully harness its vast hydropower potential, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

Ariel Fronda, chief of the DOE’s Hydropower and Ocean Management Division, told reporters yesterday that the country is sitting on around 25 gigawatts of untapped hydro resources.

Unlocking each megawatt (MW) of capacity is estimated to cost around P200 million, he noted.

‘The Philippines stands at an important point in its energy transition. Our renewable energy ambitions are clear. Our need for reliable and affordable electricity remains urgent,’ Fronda said.

He particularly highlighted pumped-storage hydro (PSH) facilities, which function like giant rechargeable batteries. They use electricity to pump water into storage during periods of low demand, then release it to generate power when demand rises.

The municipality of Kalayaan is home to a 734.36-MW facility, the country’s first and only PSH plant and the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The facility is a key component of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric complex, which is now owned by the Aboitiz-led Thunder Consortium.

‘As the country’s established operating pumped-storage facility, Kalayaan provides a practical example of how this technology can support the power system through peaking capacity, energy storage and ancillary services,’ Fronda said.

The Kalayaan plant can ramp up to deliver power within just 10 minutes, helping meet the grid’s needs when electricity demand surges.

Aside from the Kalayaan unit, CBK also includes the 39.3-MW Caliraya plant in Lumban and the 22.96-MW Botocan run-of-river facility.

The Caliraya plant consists of two generating units that draw water from the upstream Caliraya reservoir, while the Botocan facility is the country’s oldest hydro plant.

The Thunder Consortium, comprising Aboitiz Renewables Inc., Sumitomo Corp. and Electric Power Development Co. Ltd., bagged CBK for around P36.3 billion.

Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin Aboitiz has vowed to continue investing in CBK to improve its operations and maximize its potential.

Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup plans to invest $500 million in a flagship electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in the Philippines.

In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Vingroup is expanding its regional footprint into the Philippines with a $500-million investment in an EV manufacturing facility that will serve as a strategic springboard for the group’s broader multi-industry expansion across the country.

Vingroup is the conglomerate behind EV manufacturer VinFast.

The planned EV manufacturing plant was discussed during a meeting between DTI Secretary Cristina Roque and Vingroup officials yesterday.

Vingroup’s manufacturing plant is designed to initially produce 200,000 vehicles per year.

The DTI said the plant would serve both the domestic market and exports.

Aside from four-wheeled EVs, Vingroup also aims to introduce its line of e-scooters to the Philippine market, expanding sustainable transport options for consumers.

The target is to start construction of the plant in the first quarter of next year, with development expected to be completed within one and a half years.

During the discussion with Nguyen Quoc Tuan, vice chairman of Vingroup and chairman of GSM Global, the DTI outlined the support mechanisms and incentives available for the manufacturing project.

In particular, the government offers tax incentives under the CREATE MORE Act and expedited regulatory processing through Green Lanes under Executive Order 18.

The government also has the EV Incentive Strategy, which seeks to incentivize local EV manufacturing.

‘Vingroup’s $500 million investment underscores the Philippines’ rising status as Southeast Asia’s destination of choice for advanced manufacturing and green technology,’ Roque said.

She said the DTI would provide end-to-end facilitation and ensure a competitive ecosystem for global innovators to expand their manufacturing footprint in the Philippines.

Apart from EV manufacturing, Roque said Vingroup is also interested in investing in hospitals and entertainment or theme parks in the country.

Valorant’s newest agent is set to arrive on October 27, introducing a telekinetic Duelist that Riot Games hopes will give players new ways to approach fights just as anticipation builds around an exciting year ahead for the Philippine Valorant scene.

The Chinese operative Hush becomes the latest addition to Valorant’s growing roster, bringing a kit centered on manipulating utility after it has been deployed. Her release also marks the first agent launch since Riot introduced the game’s new Agent Mastery system.

For Riot, Hush represents an effort to push Duelist gameplay beyond traditional entry fragging by giving players greater control over how engagements unfold.

“With Hush, we wanted to explore what a Duelist could look like with precision and control at the center of her gameplay,” said Nicholas Smith, game designer for Agents and Weapons at Riot Games.

Rather than simply throwing utility, Hush can redirect several of her abilities while they are already in motion. Her signature ability, Displacement, pulls enemies toward its center before potentially concussing them, while Flashbulb allows players to alter the path of a flash mid-flight.

“We kept coming back to the idea that Hush shouldn’t just throw utility, she should be able to manipulate it. That led us to abilities like Displacement and Flashbulb, where you can redirect them in midair, as well as Flow, which turns that same telekinetic control inward and lets Hush manipulate her own movement,’ said Smith.

The design creates a different kind of Duelist experience, one where decisions continue even after an ability has been used.

“With Hush, throwing a piece of utility isn’t necessarily the end of the decision. You can redirect it and adjust based on what’s happening around you.” explained Smith.

That philosophy could make Hush one of the more expressive agents in Valorant’s roster, rewarding players who can adapt on the fly rather than rely solely on pre-planned utility usage.

“We’re really excited to see what players do once they get comfortable redirecting her utility. We have the uses we designed and tested for, but Valorant players are very good at finding angles and interactions we never expected,” said Smith.

The launch also comes as Riot looks toward a major year for Philippine Valorant. During Hush’s local unveiling, Riot Games Philippines Valorant Community Lead Jason Roberto hinted at bigger developments on the horizon as the country prepares for a landmark 2027 season.

“There’s no better time to be a Valorant fan than it is now. Hope you guys tune in with us with all the exciting things we have especially for next year.” said Roberto during the event.

Mika “Mikafabs” Fabella, a VCT Pacific broadcast host and analyst who has been part of the talent lineup for the franchise era as well as Valorant Masters and Champions events, echoed the sentiment.

“There is no better time to be a Valorant fan, especially here in the Philippines as things get very exciting heading into 2027,” said Fabella.

The Philippines is set to host its first major Valorant esports event next year through the inaugural VCT Pacific Cup, part of the overhauled Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). The tournament replaces the VCT Pacific Stages that were largely held in Seoul during the franchise era.

Also known as Agent 31, Hush is set to be released in-game on October 27 as part of Patch 13.09 and the launch of Season 2026 Act 6.

Asus Philippines introduced last October 7 the latest Asus Zenbook 14, an ultraportable laptop designed to complement users’ lifestyles and ambitions.

Available with Intel (UX3480AA), AMD (UX3480KA) and Snapdragon (UX3480QA) processors, the new lineup combines Zenbook-exclusive Ceraluminum craftsmanship in eye-catching new colors with AI-powered performance and a sleek, lightweight design.

‘The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is to help the laptop age better over time,’ said Rachelle Lozares, Consumer Notebook Product Marketing lead at ASUS Philippines. ‘At the heart of the new Zenbook 14 is a simple philosophy: great design is not about adding more-it’s about refining what matters.

The art of mobility without compromise

Designed for modern Filipinos who work, learn and connect from anywhere, Asus Zenbook 14 balances premium craftsmanship with effortless mobility.

Weighing as light as 1.1kg and housed in a durable all-metal chassis, the laptop is built to move seamlessly between classrooms, offices, cafés and travel destinations.

The lid is crafted from Asus-exclusive Ceraluminum, a high-tech material that delivers exceptional durability while creating a distinctive ceramic-like tactile experience.

The new generation of Zenbook 14 introduces three nature-inspired colorways-Arctic Blue, Komodo Coral and Zabriskie Beige-bringing personality and self-expression to premium computing.

Engineered to resist scratches, smudges and everyday wear, Ceraluminum transforms the laptop from a productivity tool into an object users will genuinely enjoy carrying and using every day.

Combined with up to 33 hours of battery life, fast charging capabilities, and a compact USB-C charger that can also power other everyday devices, Zenbook 14 is designed to keep pace with life on the move. Intelligence in every interaction

Asus offers the Zenbook 14 across three distinct processor platforms, each certified as a Copilot+ PC featuring dedicated NPUs delivering up to 50 TOPS AI performance:

Zenbook 14 UX3480AA: up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3 processors with up to a 50 TOPS NPU

Zenbook 14 UX3480KA: up to an AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 processor with a 50 TOPS NPU

Zenbook 14 UX3480QA: Snapdragon X processor with a 45 TOPS NPU

Each model is designed to support AI-enhanced experiences, helping users browse, create, collaborate and multitask more efficiently.

From AI-assisted productivity tools to intelligent search, content creation, and Copilot+ PC experiences, Zenbook 14 brings powerful AI capabilities into everyday workflows.

Designed for smooth, sustained performance, the improved thermal system uses a larger fan and refined airflow to move heat away more efficiently, maintaining quiet and comfortable operation throughout the day.

Added dust protection helps maintain consistent operation, and the system supports up to a 35W TDP, a 25% increase over the previous generation.

See more, connect all

ASUS Zenbook 14 is designed around the belief that the best technology should feel effortless.

It features a vibrant ASUS OLED display with a spacious 16:10 aspect ratio and up to 89% screen-to-body ratio, giving users more room to focus, create, and consume content. Local configurations offer stunning ASUS OLED display for exceptional visual clarity and smoothness.

Dual speakers enhanced with Dolby Atmos deliver immersive audio, while a larger smart-gesture touchpad and comfortable backlit keyboard create a more intuitive interaction experience.

For enhanced on-the-go connectivity, every Zenbook 14 includes a comprehensive set of I/O ports, including USB-C, USB Type-A, HDMI, and an audio combo jack. This effectively eliminates the need for dongles in everyday use, making it easy to connect to any peripheral.

Starting October 7, the latest AsusZenbook 14 (UX3480) series will be available in the Philippines in three CPU configurations: Intel and AMD in Arctic Blue and Snapdragon in Komodo Coral. The Snapdragon in Zabriskie Beige will follow later this Q4 2026.

The Intel configuration starts at an introductory price of P106,995, while the AMD configuration starts at P86,995. The Snapdragon configuration is introduced at P76,995.

The new lineup will be available nationwide at official Asus Exclusive Stores.

Every unit comes bundled with the Asus No. 1 Quality and Service Package, an ASUS laptop sleeve, a lifetime license of Office 2024 Home, a free 1-year Microsoft 365 Basic subscription with 100GB of cloud storage, up to 700GB of Asus Cloud Storage, and 3 months of Google AI Pro.