Category: Philippine Star

With a bulk of Filipinos lacking elite height to make it to the league, former NBA player Rodney Stuckey stressed that height is not always might.

Stuckey, a former Detroit Piston and Indiana Pacer, cited the case of 5-foot-9 Nate Robinson as one of the undersized basketball players that made it to the NBA.

‘I know a lot of people probably know who Nate Robinson is. He was kind of a smaller guard to us as well. He had that heart,’ Stuckey told reporters Thursday.

‘He’s always been saying, heart over height. I’m a big believer in that. If you’ve got heart, if you’re a scrappy player, you’re going to be fine,’ he added.

For now, no homegrown Filipino is in the NBA.

However, there are a number of NBA players with Filipino descent, such as NBA champion Jordan Clarkson, No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, Jared McCain and Jalen Green.

Stuckey is in the Philippines as an ambassador of Shoot 360, a technology-powered basketball training facility that opened at Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas.

Here, hoopers could work on their skills and in real-time, through the use of technology, could fix what is wrong with their jumpers.

And with the basketball-crazy nation of the Philippines, Stuckey said it is going to be ‘awesome.’

‘Absolutely, it’s super big. This is like a fundamental basketball so if you want to work on your fundamental skills, this is the perfect gym for you. From ball handling to shooting, it starts from the beginning all the way to the end,’ he said.

‘So I think the gym has its capabilities of helping each and every athlete out there, from starters to the most advanced kids. So super excited for the people in the Philippines to get the experience of Shoot 360, it’s going to be a lot of fun.’

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines is targeting completion of six power transmission projects totaling P23.5 billion this year, NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said.

While the projects are expected to bolster the reliability of the transmission network, Alabanza clarified that these alone would not resolve the persistent power supply constraints.

‘The transmission system is only able to deliver power that exists and has been generated. So it will help as long as we have enough supply,’ Alabanza told a media briefing yesterday.

In Luzon, she said the grid operator is gearing up to activate the P4.5-billion North Luzon substation upgrading project 1 and the P3.5-billion Tuguegarao-Lal-lo (Magapit) 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line.

The P7.4-billion Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay transmission line and the P3.6-billion Panay-Guimaras 138-kV interconnection project are the remaining Visayas projects slated for completion this year.

As for Mindanao, the P3.7-billion Mindanao substation expansion 4 project and the P872.5-million Nasipit substation bus-in project are underway.

Alabanza said that NGCP’s grid investments are ongoing, with new projects entering the development pipeline to further improve the transmission network.

‘Every year, there are new projects that we begin. There are projects in the pre-construction stage, and there are projects under construction,’ she added.

So far this year, the NGCP has completed five transmission projects valued at roughly P7.2 billion.

The NGCP holds a 25-year concession agreement and a 50-year franchise to operate, manage and maintain the country’s state-owned power grid.

The company recovers its investments in the grid through transmission charges collected from consumers every month.

For September, consumers can expect lower transmission rates due to a decline in ancillary service charges, which cover the cost of power reserves procured by the NGCP to support grid reliability.

NGCP revenue management head Julius Ryan Datingaling reported yesterday that the overall rate fell by 13.3 percent to P1.52 per kilowatt-hour in August from the previous month’s P1.76 per kWh. This resulted from a 22.4-percent drop in ancillary service charges to P0.81 per kWh from P1.04 per kWh on a monthly basis.

The brewing feud between the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and one of its executives Nawat Itsaragrisil sparked a new chapter, potentially affecting the eligibility of six contestants to the upcoming 75th Miss Universe pageant.

MUO and Nawat have been sparring in a war of words regarding statements by the latter in public supposedly undermining the organization’s directive on what can be announced publicly.

The organization resorted to issuing a statement clarifying the position and authoritative powers of Nawat, who last month was appointed chief executive officer of Miss Universe Eastern (MU East) following his tenure as vice president of Miss Universe Asiana.

It was announced then that Nawat would “lead the MU East team, represent 95 countries, and guide the organization’s continued growth, regional development and international collaboration.”

However, it later affirmed that the Thai businessman “holds no employment, corporate, executive, operational, or legal position” within MUO and does not have the “mandate or authority” for representation.

MUO also clarified that MU East has “no recognized legal, contractual, or commercial relationship” that gives it or any executive within it any authority over MUO, nor does it “recognize any position he may claim by virtue of any appointment, resolution, mandate, or authoritization.”

Escalation

The organization issued a new statement on its social media accounts reiterating that MU East has no license to “grant or confer operational rights over the MU brand in any country,” as that power only belongs to the current owners JKN Universe LLC.

It went as far as to say that any agreements MU East may have executed will be considered void ab initio or from the very start.

MUO slammed Nawat for disclosing publicly internal financial information that is unverified, unsubstantiated, and presented under demonstrably false pretenses, flagging such data as unauthentic.

The organization reiterated the limitations of Nawat’s tasks as it doesn’t include access to MUO’s legitimate directives or officers.

“The selective and misleading circulation of such purported information – designed to generate confusion and reputational harm – constitutes a direct material interfence with MUO’s operations, franchise network, sponsors, and global community,” it continued.

JKN Universe LLC denounced statements made by Nawat regarding the company’s financial affairs and floated the possibility of civil or criminal remedies against persons who willingly or unknowingly defame MUO and affiliated parties.

The owners also labelled any franchise and license agreements executed by Nawat as “fundamentally illegitimate contractual agreement” as they were not done with the overarching legal holders.

As such it will not recognize any national franchise agreement done without a legal licensing framework, for they are unauthorized and void.

The nations affected by this are the franchises in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore. Candidates representing these countries will not be deemed eligible for the diamond edition of Miss Universe taking place in Puerto Rico this November.

So far of the six only Thailand has selected a delegate in pageant veteran Tharina Botes; Malaysia and Vietnam were due to select their delegates next month.

MUO ended its statement reiterating its owners solely carries intellectual property rights and will pursue legal remedies if necessary.

Response

MU East also released a statement, posted on the Miss Universe website, acknowledging what was said by MUO and clarified never claiming ownership of the Miss Universe brand.

It pointed out that JKN Universe LLC owns Miss Universe through an “equal 50:50 structure between MU East and MU West through JKN Legacy Inc” and does not approve of MUO’s statement.

MU East claimed that under a Hemisphere Agreement “neither side may issue a global public statement or use the MUP letterhead to present a one-sided view as the official position of the organization without the prior written consent of both sides.”

Though reiterating JKN Universe LLC’s ownership, MU East pointed again to the Hemisphere Agreement which gives it ” the exclusive right to operate, promote and develop the brand within 95 Eastern Territories” as well as “the right to appoint and manage franchise partners within those territories.”

It backed the contractual right to send the “duly selected and eligible delegates” of Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore to the main Miss Universe pageant and “participation should nto be blocked, delayed, or affected” by disagreements between parties.

“MU East does not accept that valid agreements made under its territorial rights can be cancelled through a one-sided public statement,” it continued. “Any disagreement must be handled through the proper contractual and legal processes.”

MU East closed its statement vowing not to respond with personal attacks, to protect the rights of National Directors, delegates, and partners through proper legal forms, and to ensure Miss Unverse 2026 is successful.

Amid all this, Bea Millan-Windorski will represent the Philippines at the November competition as she vies to suceed Mexico’s Fatima Bosch and bring home the country’s fifth Miss Universe title.

Documentary and testimonial evidence against impeached Vice President Sara Duterte are enough to convict her regardless of whether the conviction threshold is maintained or not, according to the prosecution team of the House of Representatives.

‘As far as we are concerned, we stick to the principle that we will sink or swim with the evidence that we will be presenting before the Senate impeachment court,’ Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon) – a member of the 11-member prosecution team – declared.

‘Whether it’s 16, 14, or 13, we’re really just focused on presenting the evidence,’ Flores said.

Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno has repeatedly stressed that the prosecution’s focus is on the presentation of evidence and not on the voting threshold.

Flores said prosecutors have not yet finalized their collective position on the threshold issue tackled by a group of retired Supreme Court justice tapped as amici curiae or friends of the court.

‘If there’s one thing that we don’t disagree on, it’s that the threshold is still two-thirds,’ Flores said.

Rep. Joel Chua (Manila third district) also said they hope to secure a conviction for Duterte based on the strength of evidence.

‘Whether it is 16, 15 or 14, we are preparing to show the extent of evidence that may hopefully convince the senator-judges that we have an overwhelming evidence that would warrant the conviction of the respondent,’ he told reporters.

‘At the end of the day, the audience here is not just limited to senator-judges, but to the entire Filipino population as well,’ Chua, chairman of the House committee on good government and public accountability, emphasized.

The Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members for conviction.

With a 24-member Senate, presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero initially set the threshold at 16 votes, a decision that has sparked controversy because of non-participation of several senator-judges in trial proceedings – for various reasons.

The prosecution and defense are scheduled to argue their respective positions on the threshold on Sept. 23.

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, currently detained for plunder, said he does not intend to seek furlough just so he could vote on the proposed change in 16-vote threshold.

‘I will not move for a furlough just to vote for a threshold. I don’t think the threshold is a subject of a vote. It’s already in the Constitution. Nobody has a right to change the Constitution,’ he said after the bail hearing on his plunder case. Also in detention for plunder is Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Two other senators, Loren Legarda and Ronald dela Rosa, are absent from the proceedings. Dela Rosa has been in hiding since May following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court. Meanwhile, Legarda has been on an extended medical leave.

‘Indelible mark’

Reflecting on the appearance of former Supreme Court chief justices before the impeachment court last Wednesday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said their expert testimonies have left an ‘indelible mark’ on him and would guide him in the vote to resolve the conviction threshold.

Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III told reporters that senators would first hold a caucus before putting the threshold matter to a vote.

Malacañang, meanwhile, said it is keeping its hands off the issue.

The number of missing passengers from a ferry that caught fire while sailing in the waters off Coron, Palawan over a week ago has been lowered from 12 to eight.

This developed after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that there were four passengers listed in the ticket manifest who did not board the M/V June Aster in Manila on Sept. 8.

PCG spokesperson Cmdre. Noemie Cayabyab said that on Wednesday, the PCG located and talked to the four ‘missing’ passengers.

Cayabyab said three of the four passengers said they were supposed to board the June Aster, but they mistakenly booked the wrong trip, which was Manila to Coron instead of Coron to Manila.

‘The fourth passenger booked another ticket for a different vessel, which departed Manila for Coron on Sept. 5,’ Cayabyab said.

Following verification and reconciliation of the ticket manifest, the PCG revised the total number of passengers of June Aster from 132 to 128.

As of Wednesday, the PCG’s details showed 77 fatalities, 43 survivors and eight missing.

The PCG said it has collected 58 drums of oily water mixture from the engine room of the vessel during dewatering operations.

An aerial survey covering northeast of Barangay Turda in Coron toward southwest of Occidental Mindoro is being conducted as part of the ongoing search efforts, the PCG said.

Roro vessel runs aground

Meanwile, 114 people were rescued from a roll-on roll-off vessel that ran aground in the waters off Occidental Mindoro shortly after midnight yesterday.

The M/V RoRo Master 5 was sailing from Batangas to Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro when it hit shallow waters at around 12:45 a.m.

‘Four life rafts and a lifeline secured toward the shoreline were used to rescue the passengers,’ Cayabyab said.

By 6 a.m., all passengers had been transported to the port of Abra de Ilog with the help of members of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, and the Orange Navigation Inc., operator of the RoRo Master 5.

‘Initial assessment indicated the vessel hit a rocky seabed with no marine protected area. No oil spill was detected in the surrounding waters,’ Cayabyab said.

Reports said the navigational equipment of the RoRo Master 5 malfunctioned, causing the vessel to deviate from its original course.

Given the endless flooding and garbage problems everywhere, it is good to see that quite a number of companies and government organizations have responded to the call for sustainability in terms of changing their business model to address natural resource consumption, raw material selection, product packaging design, we certainly want more companies and organization to join the sustainability movement and help the country win the war against plastics.

At the same time, it is encouraging to see the central und local government offices are focusing on the war on plastics and the need to address the garbage management as well.

Today I would like to highlight companies and organizations that have recently taken the plastic issue seriously, and site recommendations to address the garbage issue:

The DENR urged local government units to replace the solid waste management framework at Bayawan City in Negros Oriental. Bayawan has a pay-as-you-throw ordinance wherein sacks of residuals require designated stickers for collection, leaving unregistered trash uncollected and violators face penalties.

President Marcos urged cities and municipalities across the country to to replicate the solid waste management system of Marikina City. During his inspection of the Marikina River Linear Park and the city’s centralized materials recovery facility (MRF) in Barangay Sto. Nino. Marikina’s MRF processes biodegradable waste into compost and converts plastic bags , bricks as well as other useful materials, including components for school desks.

The DOE has attracted 11 bidders, including firms backed by infrastructure giants, for its special auction for waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities. Under the DOE guidelines, only projects using municipal soldi waste as fuel, without mixing it with other fuel sources may join the auction.

The DOE is seeking bids for a new round of green power auction focused on biomass technology, offering 180 megawatts of capacity. Biomass is a renewable energy source from plants and animals that can be burned directly for heat or converted to liquid aad gaseous fuels.

Sixty hectares of land will be restored into forest beginning in December as farmers, government environmental officials and a renewable energy company join forces to revive a watershed and strengthen bio-diversity protection in Leyte, under the Forest for Life project.

Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investment Foundation (MFIF), is putting coastal restoration and livelihood support under one roof with Project Reshore in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The program will help to rehabilitate a 2.19-hectare damaged portion of the Bued Mangrove Ecopark.

The future of sustainability should not be driven by regulation alone. It should be driven by activism, investor pressure, or corporate commitments also. The real catalyst may be something much simpler. Sustainability gains momentum when companies discover that doing the right thing also happens to be good for business. In contrast, if companies do not focus on sustainability, they will fall behind!

Allow me to quote some Best Practices views expressed by Brian Poe Llamanzares in his column Less waste, fewer floods, more energy which appeared in the the Philippine Star on August 23:

Rainfall alone does not explain why streets become rivers so quickly. The other part of the equation is what happens to the thousands of tons of waste we produce every day.

When the rain comes, the garbage moves with it. And that is where a waste problem becomes a flooding problem.

A drainage canal does not care whether the obstruction is a plastic bag, a sachet or a discarded bottle. A pump does not distinguish between household waste and other debris. Every piece of garbage occupying space in a waterway reduces the capacity of that system to move water. Add clogged waterways and drainage systems, and an already difficult situation becomes even worse.

This is why the conversation about flooding must include waste management from the beginning, not as an environmental footnote after flood control projects have been designed, but as a central component of flood prevention itself.

As I said at the beginning, I selected only some excellent arguments of Mr. Llamanzares’ column, which is extensive and justifies the topic Less waste, fewer floods, more energy.

As I mentioned in a previous column: make sustainability a purpose of business and society. And politics, please create and implement attractive policies that will strengthen these initiatives.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will go on full alert starting today in anticipation of protests in Metro Manila for the 54th commemoration of the declaration of martial law on Sept. 21.

NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo said police would be placed on full alert starting at 12:01 a.m. today. Deployment will begin at 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Police will focus on key areas, including the Commission on Human Rights and EDSA Shrine in Quezon City, Mendiola, the US embassy and Rizal Park in Manila, as well as identified rally sites, major roads, transport terminals and other vital installations.

Philippine National Police spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said 15,746 PNP personnel are part of the security contingent.

Asilo said the NCRPO has yet to identify any security threats, but continues to validate information on possible attempts to bring weapons into rally areas, the entry of people who may cause disturbances, changes in routes or venues and other activities that could lead to violence.

The NCRPO is also coordinating with organizers and marshals on rally sites, routes, schedules and expected attendance while urging them to maintain peaceful assemblies and coordinate with police liaison officers in case of problems or provocations.

The security preparations are based partly on the violence that marred the Sept. 21, 2025 rallies, when clashes broke out at Ayala Bridge and Mendiola.

Police reported arrests and injuries after protesters threw rocks and burned tires and a trailer truck.

Asilo said the NCRPO has since strengthened its ground assessments, crowd management measures and contingency plans, with potential flashpoints identified ahead of the demonstrations.

Police will observe maximum tolerance and follow operational procedures and human rights standards. Intervention will be undertaken only in cases of actual violence, assault, property damage or an immediate threat to safety, she said.

The NCRPO also reminded protesters to comply with local ordinances and avoid bringing weapons, large bags and items that could be used to harm others.

Authorities particularly cautioned protesters against wearing balaclavas or other masks that conceal identity.

Palace not imposing

Malacañang clarified that its call to make the Sept. 21 protests peaceful is not an imposition.

‘We are not dictating. Do they want to be violent? Do they want to hold violent rallies? That is not allowed under the law, ‘ Palace press officer Claire Castro said.

Militant groups, led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), announced they would stage a rally in Liwasang Bonifacio on Monday before proceeding to Mendiola.

The group criticized President Marcos for resorting to fearmongering instead of addressing the issues they are raising.

Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino chided Castro for ‘gaslighting’ activists by telling them to hold their rallies peacefully.

Roads closed

The Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday announced road closures for Sept. 21 rallies.

Mendiola, Liwasang Bonifacio and Ayala Bridge will be closed starting at 12:01 a.m. of Sept. 21, the MPD said in an advisory.

Motorists intending to pass Mendiola can take alternative routes through Nicanor Reyes, Figueras and San Rafael streets.

Jones Bridge and P. Burgos Avenue southbound lane can be used as alternative roads for motorists traversing Liwasang Bonifacio.

Vehicles passing through Ayala Bridge can instead take Ayala Boulevard and San Marcelino.

Rising Filipino endurance stars James Earl Ting, Edgie Arances and Anisha Eunice Caluya take center stage in a frenetic battle for the Filipino Elite crowns as the Damosa Land 5150 unwraps Sunday, September 20, in Samal Island, Davao del Norte.

Ting and Arances are expected to engage in a fierce men’s duel, while Caluya headlines the women’s side as the country’s emerging elite triathletes vie for top honors on the Olympic-distance course featuring a 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run.

Beyond the medals, however, the Filipino Elite Category provides a vital platform for the country’s next generation of endurance racing stars. The specialized division gives top-tier local athletes and national team members an opportunity to test themselves in championship conditions while sharpening the speed, race strategy and competitive experience needed for bigger domestic and international battles.

The Elite Category, featured in major Philippine triathlon events such as the 5150 Triathlon and IRONMAN 70.3 series, is designed for qualified high-performance athletes, including past and current national team members. Its emphasis on high-level racing provides a bridge between emerging local talent and the demands of international competition.

Ting of BE Tritans comes into the race with considerable momentum after winning the Subic International Triathlon and placing third in the Bohol 5150 last July. Arances, meanwhile, has built valuable experience through campaigns in various local and international endurance events, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown between two of the country’s rising male triathletes.

Caluya likewise brings strong credentials to the women’s Elite field. She is a gold medalist in the Sprint Junior Elite Women’s category of the 2026 national age group aquathlon and will look to translate that success into a strong showing over the longer Olympic-distance format.

The Filipino Elite Category is part of the Philippine Sports Commission’s continuing effort to strengthen the country’s high-performance sports program while using major competitions to promote national pride and sports tourism.

The Damosa Land 5150 is also the final stop of the four-leg 5150 Triathlon Islands of the Philippines Series, which puts elite-level competition against some of the country’s most scenic sporting venues.

Organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., the second staging features another strong field from across the Philippines, providing an even bigger test for the country’s emerging elite athletes and established race contenders.

The inaugural Damosa Land 5150 established the event as a significant fixture on the Philippine triathlon calendar, combining scenic surroundings with demanding racing and breakthrough performances. This year’s edition promises another showcase of elite endurance talent – and another opportunity for the Philippines’ rising stars to prove they are ready for the next level.

The series highlights the Philippines’ potential as a destination for world-class endurance events, with courses that showcase pristine coastlines, rolling hills and scenic highways while giving Filipino athletes a demanding stage on which to compete against strong domestic and international fields.

Meanwhile, defending overall champions Eryk Omandam and Natasha Doromal-Lim return, seeking back-to-back titles after ruling the inaugural Damosa Land 5150 last year.

Omandam and Doromal-Lim conquered the challenging Olympic-distance course through determined and strategic racing, emerging on top against a strong international field. With both athletes having continued to sharpen their skills through regular training, they are expected to face a stiffer challenge this year while chasing another overall championship.

State-run lender Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) yesterday said about P4.1 billion in debts remain unpaid by jeepney operators who availed themselves of modern units under the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

Based on DBP data, up to P4.1 billion in loans have yet to be paid to the bank by public utility vehicle (PUV) cooperatives even when they are already past the deadline.

The DBP said the bad loans make up 55 percent of the P7.5 billion in loans issued by the bank to jeepney operators who shifted to e-jeepney units.

The loans covered the purchase of at least 3,249 units deployed for road transport. From this, the DBP said the past-due loans affect up to 2,753 units.

The Land Bank of the Philippines also declared P2 billion in past-due loans to PUV cooperatives. The loans cover 51 borrowers, indicating how difficult it is for some jeepney operators to pay monthly amortization.

Recently, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued a notice of cash allocation worth P1.5 billion to help PUV cooperatives pay outstanding amortization.

The DOTr is shifting to equity subsidies under PTMP to prevent jeepney operators from foreclosing their modern units.

However, it could become tougher for the DOTr to issue subsidies and halt foreclosures, having been granted just P177 million for the PTMP in the proposed budget for 2027.

Originally, the DOTr proposed a budget of P2.17 billion for the PTMP to cover subsidies for the program. However, the Department of Budget and Management approved only P177 million.

The PTMP, originally the PUV Modernization Program, aims to replace old jeepneys with newer ones for environmental and safety purposes. However, jeepney operators and drivers struggle to adapt because of the cost of shifting to modern units.

Currently, it could cost as much as P3 million to purchase a single unit of modern jeepney, so the government stepped in by opening a loan program with its state-run banks.

As a whole, the DOTr is at risk of entering 2027 with reduced, if not zeroed, budget in several of its priority projects, including the EDSA busway, allocated with no funds.

The Rural Bank of Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur has been renamed Billease Bank Inc., marking another step in consumer finance platform Billease’s expansion into banking following its acquisition of the lender.

In a circular letter signed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Lyn Javier, the BSP informed supervised financial institutions that it authorized the change in corporate name on May 13.

The Securities and Exchange Commission subsequently approved the bank’s amended articles of incorporation on Sept. 1.

The lender’s full corporate name is now Billease Bank Inc. (A Rural Bank), retaining its rural bank classification as it adopts the consumer finance platform’s name.

The development follows Billease’s announcement in November 2025 that it was acquiring the then 56-year-old Rural Bank of Santa Maria to support its expansion beyond consumer lending.

Billease operates a buy-now-pay-later service, which allows customers to spread the cost of purchases over installments. The company has been working to broaden its business to include deposit services, daily payments and future savings products through its banking arm.

The name change also comes as Billease commits additional capital to the lender.

In June, the company said it had injected P500 million into the bank and committed another P500 million by the end of 2026. This would bring the bank’s capitalization to more than P1 billion.

Billease reported a net profit of P840 million in 2025, its third consecutive year of profitability, as audited consolidated revenue increased by more than 80 percent to P9.3 billion.

Its consumer loan portfolio grew by more than 75 percent to about P11.9 billion during the year, supporting the revenue increase.

The company also said it was adding more than 100,000 new customers each month and had disbursed a cumulative P130 billion in loans.