Category: Philippine Star

As SM Supermalls celebrates its 40th anniversary, it clinches four major honors at the prestigious HR Asia Awards 2025, reaffirming its legacy of people-first leadership and transformative workplace culture.

For the third consecutive year, SM Supermalls was named one of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work For, alongside three standout category wins: the Sustainable Workplace Award, the Most Caring Company Award and the Tech Empowerment Award.

‘These awards are more than milestones-they reflect our enduring culture at SM, where people are at the heart of everything we do,’ said SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan. ‘We are proud of our teams whose passion and dedication make SM not only one of the best companies to work for, but a place where we create meaningful impact for our employees, communities, and the country.’

Award highlights Best Companies to Work For in Asia (3rd consecutive year)

SM’s workplace culture is anchored on the key messaging pillars of the SM LIFE framework-Purpose, Passion and Performance.

Initiatives such as Leadership Town Halls, Candid Coffee with Leaders, Feedback Fridays and the Culture Caravan foster authenticity, inclusion, and growth across all levels.

Most Caring Company Award (2nd consecutive year)

SM’s 360 Wellness Programs include unlimited online mental health counseling, wellness learning series and Celebrate YOU events such as PRIDE Month and Women Empowerment.

Championing safe and brave spaces for all, programs such as Ethics Beat and Safe Spaces promote transparency, accountability, and DEIB across the organization. Employee engagement programs have a 100% employee reach.

Sustainable Workplace Award

Sustainability is embedded in SM’s DNA. From the Trash to Cash recycling program and Coastal Clean-Up drives to its bold commitment to Net Zero by 2040, SM empowers employees to lead environmental and community efforts through its partnership with SM Cares.

Employee volunteerism rises strongly with a 100% increase compared to the previous year.

Tech Empowerment Award

Innovation drives SM’s HR transformation. Tools like the SMILE HCM platform, SAM AI chatbot, DigiU eLearning and the SM Life app deliver seamless employee experiences. With 90% utilization for the SM Life app and 80% for DigiU learning, digital adoption is high and impactful.

A Legacy of Leadership

Cheryll Ruth L. Agsaoay, senior vice president for human resources, shared:

‘These recognitions affirm our belief that when we design positive employee experiences-caring for people’s wellbeing, embracing innovation and championing sustainability-we create a workplace that inspires purpose and growth. We see our culture efforts as continuous work-in-progress because at SM, we never stop learning and aiming to be better every day.’

As SM Supermalls enters a new era beyond its 40th year, these accolades underscore a powerful truth: its greatest asset has always been its people-and its future will be shaped by the culture it continuously nurtures.

After Rep. Elizaldy Co resigned, the House lost its jurisdiction over the ethics complaint filed against him, House Speaker Bojie Dy confirmed on Monday, September 29.

‘Since nag-resign na si Congressman Zaldy Co, wala nang ika nga karapatan ang Kongreso para maimbitahan siya at maanyayahan para umattend sa committee on ethics,’ Dy said in a press conference on September 29.

(Since Congressman Zaldy Co has already resigned, Congress no longer has the authority, so to speak, to summon or invite him to attend the committee on ethics.)

Rep. Toby Tiangco, who filed the ethics complaint, alleged that Co manipulated the 2025 budget as appropriations chair, flaunted his wealth and violated conflict-of-interest rules through ties to top contractor Sunwest Inc.

Dy and ethics committee chair Rep. JC Abalos (4Ps Party-list) explained that the House could only hold accountable its own members in ethics complaints filed.

With the ethics complaint against Co now moot, Dy said it is up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to pursue any cases that could hold him accountable.

‘Ang tingin namin dito, bahala na ang Department of Justice, at ganu’n din ang ICI kung anong pwede nilang ipataw,’ he said. (Our view is that it’s up to the Department of Justice, as well as the ICI, to decide what they can impose.)

Abalos, on the other hand, explained that the committee’s internal rules limit its jurisdiction to matters concerning the duties, conduct, rights, immunities, reputation and integrity of the House and its members.

He, however, stressed that the ethics committee still urges Co to face the cases he may be up against, given the charges already recommended by the ICI and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

According to Dy, the House was prepared to wait until midnight before taking its next steps – suspending Co if he failed to return to the Philippines by the deadline set after his travel clearance was revoked.

The House speaker also pointed out that Co requested clearance for a personal leave instead of medical leave, but with no medical certificate provided, the application lacked sufficient basis.

Co managed to preempt the suspension by submitting his resignation, which was received at around 2:35 p.m.

Despite his resignation, Dy said Co must still be brought back to the country by all means possible to face accountability for corruption allegations, including claims he received kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

Co, however, has since expressed his dismay over the House’s decision to revoke his travel clearance and the ethics complaint filed, calling all the allegations baseless.

In the ICI’s first report, Co was named among the high-profile personalities who should face criminal charges over irregularities found in a P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

The independent body found that Sunwest was the contractor, a firm Co co-founded but divested from in 2019.

Meanwhile, the NBI recommended bribery and malversation charges against Co and several other lawmakers for the alleged kickback scheme uncovered from its case build-up.

The Department of Public Works and Highways and the DOJ have already requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze Co’s assets amid ongoing investigations. To track his movements, authorities have requested a blue notice from Interpol and placed him under an immigration lookout bulletin order.

When the Women’s China Open first teed off in 2006, the occasion was quietly significant. At the time, women’s golf in the Middle Kingdom was still taking fledgling steps in the global game. The domestic circuit was modest, the talent pool limited, and the pathway to elite professional circuits like the LPGA Tour seemed distant, if not daunting.

Yet that first swing in Xiamen coincided with the dawn of a new era, one in which the nation’s most talented women would soon find their footing at home before spreading their wings abroad to challenge the best of the best and eventually write Chinese golf into the pages of sporting history.

Nearly two decades after the inaugural event, the transformation has been profound in China. From Feng Shanshan’s trailblazing major victory in 2012, to the steady rise of top players such as Janet Lin Xiyu, Yin Ruoning and Miranda Wang on the LPGA Tour, and milestone Olympic Games moments in Rio de Janeiro and Paris where Feng and Lin earned bronze medals, women’s golf in China has certainly propelled to the forefront with great force.

Such has been the impact and growth in China that golfers from across Southeast Asia, including Mafy Singson of the Philippines, are now looking at the CLPG Tour as the potential springboard for their careers as they dream for the stars.

At the heart of this rise has been the national championship. It is not just another stop on the calendar, it is the flagship event on the CLPG Tour, where every aspiring golfer aspire to join their idols and attain world-class stature.

For Feng, the country’s first major champion and its most iconic player, the Women’s China Open was an early inspiration especially when she saw first hand how Korean superstars Jiyai Shin, Kim Hyo-joo and Park Sung-hyun dominated on Chinese soil by winning the Open five times amongst them. Shin is a former World No. 1, Kim and Park are major champions and the trio holds a staggering 109 professional victories combined.

‘Growing up as a young golfer, the Women’s China Open was a tournament that held special meaning for me. The experiences I gained over the years played a pivotal role in shaping my career,’ said Feng, who has 22 career wins including 10 on the LPGA Tour.

‘In the early days, competing against strong Korean players (in the Open) showed us just how high the standard was, and it motivated me to work harder, stay resilient, and keep striving for success in the game,’ added the 36-year-old, whose best finishes include 2nd/2011, T3/2012, 4th/2016 and 3rd/2019.

Feng’s victory at the Women’s PGA Championship in 2012, one of golf’s majors, broke barriers for Chinese golf, but she has never overlooked the foundation that events like the Women’s China Open and the CLPG Tour provided. ‘I am proud to see Chinese golfers achieving success on the LPGA Tour, and I believe the future of women’s golf in China is exceptionally bright. Today, we have a growing pool of talented amateurs excelling on the CLPG Tour and winning tournaments, which bodes well for the years ahead. I am confident the next decade will be a remarkable era for women’s golf in China.’

For Janet Lin Xiyu, who has taken a temporary leave of absence from the LPGA Tour for the arrival of her first child, the Women’s China Open was both a launching pad and a personal milestone. She became the first Chinese golfer to lift the trophy in 2019, an achievement she cherishes as much as her achievements abroad which include a podium finish at the Paris Olympic Games last summer.

‘That achievement will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth of our country’s golfing history,’ said the 29-year-old Lin, who owns seven CLPG Tour victories. ‘From the time I began competing, the Women’s China Open stood out as one of the most important tournaments on the calendar. It inspired me to push harder and strive for excellence. Like all great national Opens, it has played a pivotal role in developing women’s golf, providing a stage for Chinese players to challenge themselves.’

That sense of higher standards and bigger dreams has carried into the new generation. The 23-year-old Yin Ruoning, who has already captured a major championship and the World No. 1 ranking, treasures her formative experiences at the Women’s China Open where she finished tied fourth in 2018.

‘Competing in the Women’s China Open was always special to me,’ said Yin, who is now ranked World No. 7 and holder of five LPGA victories. ‘The tournament has a different feel about it and there is extra motivation and pressure to perform well. As a junior golfer then, I understood what the event meant to us and looking back, those experiences have been meaningful in my journey as a golfer.’

From the inaugural edition in Xiamen to this year’s groundbreaking move to Shanghai where the tournament, which is promoted by Sportfive, will be played at Enhance Anting Golf Club from October 17-19, all eyes will be on the next wave of Chinese and regional aspiring stars. The local starlets include a group of amateurs such as 18-year-old Wang Zixuan, Xu Ying, 16, and 15-year-old Zhou Shiyuan – all of whom have won on the CLPG Tour this season.

Wang, who has won once and posted three top-10s, said: ‘The leading Chinese players are a tremendous source of inspiration. truly admire their mental strength under pressure and their resilience. Witnessing the success of top players reminds me that behind every achievement lies countless hours of tedious, gruelling practice. This motivates me to devote myself even more wholeheartedly to the sport.’

The China LPG Tour has also provided opportunities for regional and aspiring golfers from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to sharpen their professional teeth, with the likes Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (Tha), Onkanok Soisuwan (Tha), Kan Bunnabodee (Tha), Jocelyn Chee (Mas), Ng Jing Xuen (May), Amanda Tan (Sin) and Patricia Sinolungan (Ina) benefitting immensely. With Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul rising to World No. 1 recently, the importance of women’s golf growth across Asia-Pacific is not lost on many.

The upswing in fortunes is certainly testament the Women’s China Open is proving to be just the origin of greatness for women’s golf in the country and regionwide.

As relief efforts for victims of Severe Tropical Storm Opong are ongoing, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its operations against fraudulent donation drives on social media.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartateasz Jr. directed the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to monitor suspicious donation requests on social media platforms to ensure that relief operations are protected from exploitation.

Nartatez said the ACG should also check websites and e-wallet transactions to identify and apprehend scammers taking advantage of people who are donating to typhoon victims.

‘We advise the public to verify first before donating. Legitimate donation drives are usually organized by well-known charity groups,’ he said.

Nartatez reminded people to check official announcements, verified social media pages and official bank accounts. Personal accounts soliciting donations, especially if the details are vague or unverifiable, must be avoided, he said.

The PNP is rolling out an awareness campaign to help citizens distinguish between legitimate and fake donation drives.

Nartatez urged those who have been victimized to report to the ACG or to the nearest police stations.

Beware of fake donation drives – PNP

TUPAS

MANILA, Philippines – As relief efforts for victims of Severe Tropical Storm Opong are ongoing, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its operations against fraudulent donation drives on social media.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartateasz Jr. directed the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to monitor suspicious donation requests on social media platforms to ensure that relief operations are protected from exploitation.

Nartatez said the ACG should also check websites and e-wallet transactions to identify and apprehend scammers taking advantage of people who are donating to typhoon victims.

‘We advise the public to verify first before donating. Legitimate donation drives are usually organized by well-known charity groups,’ he said.

Nartatez reminded people to check official announcements, verified social media pages and official bank accounts. Personal accounts soliciting donations, especially if the details are vague or unverifiable, must be avoided, he said.

The PNP is rolling out an awareness campaign to help citizens distinguish between legitimate and fake donation drives.

Nartatez urged those who have been victimized to report to the ACG or to the nearest police stations.

Hollywood celebrity couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are ending their relationship after being married for nearly two decades.

A number of sources confirmed the split to several entertainment outlets, including TMZ, People and Variety, with the former being told Nicole and Keith had been living apart for some time now.

The same source told TMZ that Nicole has been looking after the couple’s two children and was “holding the family together through this difficult time since Keith has been gone.”

People’s source, meanwhile, said Nicole’s family, particularly her sister Antonia, have been supportive of the Oscar and Emmy winner.

“She didn’t want this. She has been fighting to save the marriage,” the source added.

Nicole just finished production on a “Practical Magic” sequel with Sandra Bullock, while Keith is in the middle of his “High and Alive” world tour to promote his 11th album “High”.

The Australian-American couple married in June 2006 a year after dating and have two teenage daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret.

Nicole was previously married to fellow Hollywood star Tom Cruise, with whom she adopted two children, for 11 years.

Keith, a four-time Grammy winner, has gone on record crediting Nicole as being a pivotal part to his rehabilitation for alcohol abuse.

The Dasmariñas Monarchs netted their second straight win to seize league leadership while the reigning champions Quezon Tangerines bounced back against separate foes in Week 2 of the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) over the weekend at the Arellano Gym in Manila.

On the heels of a big debut win over the Tangerines, the Monarchs swept the Pasay squad, 25-13, 26-24, 25-20, for a 2-0 slate in the eight-team tourney founded by former Senator Manny Pacquiao, also the man behind the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Vange Alinsug scored 12 points while Alexa Nichole Mata and Myrtle Escanlar had nine points each for the powerhouse Dasma squad backed by two-time UAAP and three-time SSL champion National U Lady Bulldogs.

Dasma needed only 81 minutes to dispatch Pasay after an earlier sweep of Quezon, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23, to emerge as the early title favorite in the second staging of the MPVA.

Pasay slid to 1-1, failing to follow up its 25-23, 13-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-8 win over the Negros ICC Blue Hawks.

In the other game, Camilla Amor Bartolome rifled in 19 points as Quezon poured its wrath on the Caloocan AM Spikers, 25-12, 25-14, 25-21, for a 1-1 slate.