Category: Philippine Star

Disney On Ice is bringing the party to hometowns across the country, and the guest list is jam-packed with audience’s favorite Disney characters! Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy have become DJ’s, remixing Disney tunes into colorful stories at this all-new state-of-the-art ice show.

Get ready to turn up the fun when Disney On Ice presents Let’s Dance! visits for the very first time-SM Seaside Cebu Arena from November 28 to December 6 and at the SM Mall of Asia Arena from December 18 to January 3.

This production invites guests to belt out Disney’s chart-topping tunes, as their favorite stories are brought to life on and above the ice. Fans are sure to be wowed by the cutting-edge figure skating, high-flying acrobatics, unexpected stunts, thrilling special effects, eye-catching costumes, and stunning set designs.

Audiences will experience a nonstop party that encourages them to journey to unforgettable places, laugh, sing, dance, and make magical memories together. Through the magic of music, what started as a party transforms into a fantastic adventure!

This all-new and thrilling Disney On Ice production features fan-favorite stories including:

Wish

Now, the entire Kingdom of Rosas will magically come to life, featuring even more characters from Wish. Asha, Valentino, Star, and King Magnifico come together to bring to life ‘This Wish,’ ‘I’m a Star,’ and ‘This Is The Thanks I Get?!’ Frozen 2

Journey to Arendelle and the Enchanted Forest in Frozen 2 with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf as they are reminded that ‘Some Things Never Change.’ Visit the river full of memory, Ahtohallan, as Elsa asks memories of the past to ‘Show Yourself,’ and Olaf thinks this will all make sense ‘When I’m Older.’

The Lion King

Escaping to the Pride Lands with Simba and Nala from The Lion King, audiences should ‘Be Prepared’ as Scar and the hyenas plot to take over the throne. Timon and Pumbaa remind us it’s best just to say ‘Hakuna Matata’ as everyone celebrates the ‘Circle of Life.’

The Little Mermaid

Skilled maestro, Sebastian, strikes a chord ‘Under the Sea’ when he conducts Ariel, her seven sisters, and a colorful orchestra of sea creatures from The Little Mermaid. Guests will be singing along as Ariel serenades Prince Eric with a wish to become ‘Part of Your World,’ and a symphony of lagoon insects perform ‘Kiss the Girl.’

Moana

The audience will immediately ‘Know The Way’ when Moana shows them ‘How Far I’ll Go,’ as she journeys from the island of Motunui to save her home from Te K?. Along the way she meets Maui who reminds everyone ‘You’re Welcome.’ The duo comes face to face with Tamatoa who hasn’t always been this ‘Shiny.’

SM Seaside Cebu Arena

Your preferred venue for world-class shows and sporting events is now in Cebu. SM Seaside Cebu Arena brings to the Visayas and Mindanao the same best-in-class facilities, seamless service, and game-changing experiences that elevate live entertainment.

SM Mall of Asia Arena

SM Mall of Asia Arena is the preferred venue for world-class shows and premier sporting events, delivering best-in-class facilities, seamless service, and game-changing experiences that elevate the live entertainment industry.

Score your tickets at www.ticketmaster.ph

It’s easier than ever to experience the Disney magic. With a variety of ticket options, choose what fits best for an enchanted experience.

As the official bank partner of Disney On Ice presents Let’s Dance!, Metrobank, together with Mastercard, gives Metrobank Mastercard credit, debit and prepaid cardholders exclusive first access to tickets through a special presale from August 7 at 10 a.m. until August 10 at 10 a.m.

Cardholders can secure the best available seats before tickets are released to the general public.

Following the exclusive Metrobank Mastercard presale, tickets will be available to the general public beginning August 10 at 12 p.m..

Tickets may be purchased online via www.ticketmaster.ph.

To purchase tickets online, simply log in to www.ticketmaster.ph and create an account. If you are already a registered member, proceed to the Disney On Ice event page and select either Manila or Cebu to view available seats and choose from the full range of ticket prices.

This spectacular ice-skating show is made possible through the support of its Official Bank Partner, Metrobank, together with Mastercard.

The Commission on Audit (COA) deems Vice President Sara Duterte herself to be liable along with two others for P73.287 million in disallowed disbursements over just 11 days using the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

COA supervising auditor Xylene Mae del Campo, testifying as a prosecution witness, told the Senate impeachment court yesterday that the agency head bears responsibility for the utilization of confidential funds.

The defense has sought to distance Duterte from the questioned disbursements, instead pointing to the special disbursing officer (SDO) of the OVP as the one ultimately responsible.

Del Campo said the COA is also holding liable former SDO Gina Acosta and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey of the OVP.

The COA issued the first Notice of Disallowance in November 2024, covering P73.287 million in confidential fund disbursements from Dec. 21 to 31, 2022 or just 11 days, Del Campo testified.

Of the amount, P69.787 million represented alleged reward payments that lacked sufficient documents showing successful information-gathering or surveillance activities.

Another P3.5 million was spent on tables and chairs, desktop computers and printers without proof that they were intended for confidential operations.

Del Campo said the OVP also failed to submit sales invoices or official receipts for the purchases.

The OVP had previously been ordered to return to the government P448.2 million in disallowed confidential funds.

‘If we issue a Notice of Disallowance, we demand that the funds be returned to the government,’ Del Campo said upon direct examination by private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan.

The COA-Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office officer said Duterte was among those to be held accountable for the disallowed funds as head of the OVP.

The P448.287 million represents the P73.287 million that were disallowed from the OVP’s P125-million confidential fund in December 2022 and P375 million in cash advances released during the first three quarters of 2023.

The OVP funds form part of the P612.5 million in confidential funds at the center of Article I of the impeachment case against Duterte.

House prosecutors have accused Duterte of misusing P500 million released to the OVP from December 2022 to September 2023 and another P112.5 million released to the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2023 when she was education secretary.

The COA Commission Proper affirmed the disallowance on April 10, 2026. The OVP filed a motion for reconsideration in May, which remains pending.

COA issued another Notice of Disallowance on March 31, 2026, covering the entire P375 million in confidential funds released to the OVP during the first three quarters of 2023.

Smorgasbord

Payments made by the OVP to purported informants using aliases were not limited to junk food but extended to a food bowl of names that included prominent ones in public service.

Upon direct examination from Kapunan, Del Campo showed the court recipients’ names in the OVP’s confidential fund liquidation.

Culled documents, in the form of acknowledgment receipts (ARs) submitted by the OVP to COA, have on various occasions showed that Duterte’s office paid P50,000 to ‘Miggy Mango,’ P200,000 for ‘Jay Kamote’ (sweet potato) and P250,000 under ‘Matthew Keso’ (cheese).

Even the family names of the impeachment court’s presiding officer, Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, and his celebrity-spouse Heart Evangelista, were not spared, along with former human rights lawyer and now opposition congressman Jose Manuel ‘Chel’ Diokno of House Party-list Akbayan.

Political clans or dynasties like those of action-star-turned-politician Sen. Lito Lapid, as well now detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and the Revillas of Cavite, led by former senator Bong Revilla, were signatories to among the thousands of ARs.

A ‘Denise Tanya Escudero’ received a P120,000 reward, as well as personalities under the names ‘Anne Ongpauco and Heart Santiago’ – the legal surname of Escudero’s wife nicknamed ‘Heart,’ respectively.

Other names included ‘Jose Diokno Jr.,’ ‘Kristine Applegate Estrada’ and ‘Clarisse Hontiveros,’ ‘Beth Revilla’ and ‘Diane Maple Lapid and John A. Lapid Jr.’

The alias ‘Mary Grace Piattos’ stretched to ‘Pia Piattos-Lim,’ who received P140,000, and ‘Renan Piatos’ aside from ‘Nova Santos and Xiaome Ocho.’

Tipster ‘Ralph Josh Bacon’s’ AR bore P150,000 in cash reward, which also included ‘Beverly Claire Pampano’ (fish)’ and ‘Salah Casim’ (pork) in the food or kitchen department.

A separate list for alleged ‘medical and food aid’ was paid to ‘Feonna Villegas’ who received P500,000 and P250,000 for a certain Santiago.

These were all ARs allegedly for purchase of information or supplies and reward payments.

Ghosted

The prosecution served notice before the court yesterday that Duterte’s lawyers stood them up last week when they were supposed to meet and agree on common documents.

On Day 13 of the impeachment trial, private prosecutor Kapunan informed the senators about the ‘bad faith’ of their counterparts who did not respond to their messages until the very last minute.

‘Na-indian po kami,’ said Kapunan in a local colloquial term that means being stood up on their request for an Aug. 6 or 7 meeting that was sanctioned by presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero.

Escudero, smiling, offered a more contemporary description: ‘You were not stood up, Lorna. Perhaps ghosted because there was no reply.’

New schedule?

To expedite the proceedings, the Senate court may move the trials to the afternoon to allow marathon hearings that will not be interrupted by the chamber’s regular legislative duties.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri made the proposal before the trial was adjourned yesterday, pointing out that morning schedules are halted to make way for afternoon legislative sessions.

Veteran actress Julie Andrews will not be reprising her iconic role of Clarisse Renaldi, former queen of Genovia, in a planned third “The Princess Diaries” movie.

Franchise star and Oscar winner Anne Hathaway previously announced that a third film was in development with her involvement. The last movie came out back in 2004.

Andrews, however, confirmed her non-participation in any future projects to several media outlets while promoting “Shy,” a children’s book she wrote with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, inspired by her own poodle.

The award-winning thespian told The Hollywood Reporter she doesn’t think there is a chance she’d return for another entry, especially given she’s retired from live-action projects.

“I think the absolute truth is that I think I’m really past all that now,” Andrews said. “I’m not completely retired, but it’s a different kind of work that I do these days – [writing] books, and I do a lot of recording of podcasts and voiceovers. But truly, I don’t think I should be a part of it.”

Hamilton chipped in that her mother was thankful not to be doing hair and makeup anymore, though Andrews added it was “still lovely to be working on things… but not necessarily on camera.”

Andrews doesn’t have any idea what a third “Princess Diaries” movie will dive into but expressed hope in Hathaway and author Meg Cabot, who wrote the books the franchise is based on. The actress said something similar to Today, believing the franchise has to continue with Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis, who is now queen of Genovia.

“I’m not quite sure how they’re dealing with that. But it’s too late for me to do it,” Andrews added. “It’s [Mia’s] story. It’s not really mine.”

She admitted to InStyle that the creative team for the third movie approached her several times last year, asking if she would play Clarisse again but she made the difficult decision to decline.

“It was very very hard to say ‘no,’ but I did because I thought I had a wonderful ride,” Andrews ended. “This one I felt would flourish very well and wouldn’t need Granny going in there at my age.”

The third “Princess Diaries” film will be the sophomore directorial outing of “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” writer Adele Lim, who has extensive small-screen experience.

Her producing partner Naia Cucukov joins Melissa Stack as an executive producer while original franchise producer Debra Martin Chase is also on board.

DIFFERENCES and conflicts are woven into the fabric of human life. Yet we are called to live in communion with one another, urging us to build bridges across every divide through the light of truth and the warmth of love.

This is the lesson we draw from the Gospel where Christ teaches how conflicts among believers should be handled, always with the noble aim of redemption and reconciliation. (cfr. Mt. 18:15-20)

There, too, we hear the assurance that God upholds the disciplinary and reconciliatory decisions of the Church community. Christ promises to remain spiritually present whenever believers gather in his name to restore unity and seek the Father’s will.

In this Gospel passage, Christ gently urges us to practice fraternal correction. It is a beautiful duty that deserves to become more common, since none of us is free from faults and offenses against both God and neighbor.

May we pray that this Christian practice becomes part of our daily culture instead of remaining a neglected virtue or an uncomfortable taboo. Love grows brighter whenever truth is spoken with kindness.

We simply need to overcome the usual obstacles-fear, shame, laziness, and cowardice-that keep us from fulfilling this Christian responsibility. More importantly, we must deepen and strengthen the spirit of fraternity and charity that binds us together.

To nourish that spirit of fraternity and charity, we should strive to remain friendly toward everyone despite inevitable differences and disagreements. Genuine friendship is richly human, adorned with thoughtful affection, patient understanding, and compassionate hearts.

Yet such friendship must rest upon something higher than human feelings alone. It must spring from the supernatural love of God, sustained by the grace we should faithfully seek through constant prayer.

When this spirit truly fills our hearts, it becomes easier to welcome everyone, even those who have wandered into serious error or grave sin. Such was the way of Christ, though it unsettled those who imagined themselves already righteous.

He chose Matthew, a tax collector and public sinner in the eyes of many, to become one of his apostles. He also entered the home of Zaccheus, another wealthy man widely regarded as sinful in his own day.

Learning to walk beside sinners is something every Christian must cultivate. We are called to reflect Christ’s own attitude toward them, remembering that all of us, in one measure or another, stand in need of mercy.

Like the Good Shepherd searching for the lost sheep and the woman seeking the missing coin, we should tirelessly open every possible path that leads hearts back to God and restores broken lives.

This ability to befriend sinners is first and foremost a gift from God, one that must be cherished and allowed to mature. Through it we become collaborators in Christ’s unending work of redemption and renewal.

Such friendship, however, never weakens the teachings of Christ nor blurs the beauty of genuine goodness and holiness. True charity never compromises the truth; instead, it allows truth to blossom with mercy.

Our encounters with others should always guide them toward what is right. This calls for wisdom, patience, and delicate skill, knowing what to say, when to speak, and how to let every correction become an act of genuine love.

Above all, we must take the first step in loving everyone, whether they appear deserving or not. Like Christ, we should seek those who seem farthest from God-the atheists, agnostics, heretics, and all who have drifted away.

These are often the deepest poor and the truly marginalized, the least among our brothers and sisters, even when worldly standards crown them with wealth, influence, or fame. Love sees beyond appearances and never tires of inviting every soul home.

Strong sales boosted earnings of home improvement and finishing construction supply retailer Wilcon Depot Inc. by 3.5 percent to P1.2 billion in the first half.

Net sales during the period reached P18.98 billion, up by 10.9 percent year-on-year as all regions, including project sales, recorded positive comparable sales growth rates.

Depots accounted for 96.3 percent of total net sales, while Do It Wilcon (DIW) contributed 3.2 percent.

In the second quarter alone, Wilcon’s net income improved by 2.4 percent to P641 million, as net sales expanded by 12.7 percent to P9.81 billion.

‘Our second-quarter results showed solid demand, with total sales up by 12.7 percent and same-store sales rising by 8.4 percent. Every region delivered positive same-store sales growth,’ Wilcon president and CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan said.

According to Belo-Cincochan, the mix shifted toward lower-margin non-exclusive products, which brought down the company’s blended gross profit margin.

‘Operating expenses also increased in the quarter, driven largely by factors outside our control, though the cost measures we have in place are already helping to ease the impact,’ Belo-Cincochan said.

‘We are encouraged by the gains in customer count and sales volume. These show we are reaching more customers and give us room to improve the product mix and manage costs in the second half,’ she said.

Wilcon opened five new stores in the first half, with three more targeted to be opened for the rest of the year.

The company has so far spent P1.2 billion in capital expenditures, with the bulk spent on the construction of new stores and warehouses.

As part of its broader commitment to advancing education in the Philippines, ING Hubs Philippines has spent the past three years proving that meaningful support for a public school goes far beyond a single donation drive-it means staying long enough to understand what a school truly needs and adapting as those needs evolve. That commitment gave rise to Orange Learning Hubs, the organization’s long-term partnership with public schools, first built through its work with Dr. Artemio E. Natividad Elementary School (DANES) in Taguig City.

Now, ING Hubs Philippines is bringing that same commitment to F. Benitez Elementary School (FBES) in Makati City, marking the next chapter of the initiative-demonstrating how a partnership model built on listening and collaboration can be replicated to create impact across more communities.

“We believe education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in a community’s future. Through Orange Learning Hubs, we are helping create opportunities for students to learn, grow, and realize their full potential. As we expand this initiative, we hope to empower more young Filipinos with the tools and support they need to thrive and shape the future of their communities,” said Hazel Zaide Delos Santos, Country Manager of ING Hubs Philippines.

Built initiative by initiative

At DANES, ING Hubs Philippines has invested in a series of programs, each designed to meet a different need as it surfaced.

Better facilities, better health. ING Hubs Philippines supported the construction of two roof-covered washing areas and facility improvements at DANES, helping the school improve its rating from two stars to three stars under the Department of Education’s Comprehensive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program.

More books, more access. The organization also set up an Orange Corner, a dedicated reading and learning space that now serves close to 1,500 students.

Support where it’s needed most. Through an employee-led Adopt-a-Student Donation Drive, ING Hubs Philippines employees provided school supplies and hygiene kits to close to 1,800 students across DANES and nearby partner schools. A new chapter with FBES

FBES presents a different starting point. Early conversations with school leaders surfaced many of the same gaps ING Hubs Philippines first encountered at DANES: limited access to reading materials, outdated school supplies, and campus facilities in need of basic upkeep before additional programs could take hold. Rather than replicating DANES, the organization is shaping FBES’s partnership around these needs, starting with an Orange Corner, Brigada Eskwela participation, and employee volunteering, with infrastructure and readiness support to follow.

Beyond 2 schoolsING Hubs Philippines’ commitment to education extends well beyond DANES and FBES. The organization donated laptops to the Department of Education through the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), helping strengthen learning opportunities for students and teachers in public schools. Through its partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation’s AuroraPH program, it also brought solar power, connectivity, and learning support to four last-mile public schools in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan. These efforts were recognized at the Department of Education’s Partners’ Appreciation Night in May 2026. ING Hubs Philippines was also recently named Global Capability Center of the Year at the 2026 IBPAP SOLAIA Awards.

For ING Hubs Philippines, these initiatives reflect a long-term commitment to helping improve learning environments and create opportunities for young Filipinos to thrive. The organization believes that meaningful change in education is achieved through sustained partnerships that grow alongside the needs of schools and communities. As it continues to support education initiatives across the country, ING Hubs Philippines looks forward to working with more partners, volunteers, and future talents to help shape brighter futures through education.

Double whammy for the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.

Titan not only saw its quarterfinal aspirations get bleaker after absorbing a massive defeat against the San Miguel Beermen, but it may have lost one of its main gunners to injury.

The Beermen blasted the Giant Risers by 30 points, 143-113, Wednesday evening at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The defeat not only forced Titan to the bottom of Group A standings with a 2-7 win-loss record, but during the game, guard Bryan Sajonia also exited the game due to an apparent non-contact knee injury.

With Titan trailing by 19, 55-74, in the third, Sajonia received the ball from Aris Dionisio as he went full steam ahead in the transition.

And as he drove to the basket, he seemed to step his left foot awkwardly, and he dropped to the ground, clutching his knee.

A few minutes later, he was stretchered off the court and did not return to the game.

This will be a big blow to the Giant Risers, as Sajonia was averaging 12.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this conference.

But on Wednesday, San Miguel simply showcased its mastery over its freefalling opponent.

George King paced the Beermen with 39 points, to go with 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Don Trollano added 21 markers off the bench.

Titan led by one, 27-26, in the first quarter, before the Beermen broke the game wide open with a 38-23 second quarter to take a 64-50 advantage heading to the half.

The barrage continued on for the Beermen, as the 30 point spread at the end of the game was their biggest lead of the contest.

Marcio Lassiter and 15 markers for the winning team, while Rodney Brondial and Jerrick Ahanmisi had 13 and 11, respectively.

Tirrell Brown II spearheaded Titan with 34 points, to go with 13 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block. Fran Yu and John Amores added 11 points apiece, while Jerrick Balanza had 10.

San Miguel rose to 7-2 in the standings, just behind the NLEX Road Warriors, for the top spot of the group play.

Mobile services provider Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) recently showcased the country’s first cloud gaming platform to its subscribers at the Philippine GameDev Expo (PGDX) 2026, where it served as the main presenter.

Held last July 24-26 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, the country’s premier game development and gaming event brought together developers, publishers, creators and gaming enthusiasts. As the event’s main presenter, Smart highlighted how its partnership with Blacknut, value-packed Power All offers and world-class mobile network are enabling the next generation of digital entertainment.

Through its partnership with Blacknut, Smart and TNT subscribers can conveniently access Blacknut Cloud Gaming at blacknut.com/p/smart and instantly play more than 1,000 premium console- and PC-quality games on their smartphones – without the need for expensive gaming hardware or lengthy downloads. Weekly subscriptions start at just Php145 and can be conveniently charged to prepaid load following a simple OTP verification process.

“Gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing passions among Filipinos, and Smart is committed to enabling richer digital experiences through reliable connectivity and meaningful partnerships like Blacknut,” said Lloyd Manaloto, FVP and OIC of Smart.

“Our participation at PGDX reflects our commitment to supporting the local gaming community while making innovative gaming experiences more accessible to more Filipinos,” he added.

Throughout the three-day expo, visitors experienced Blacknut Cloud Gaming firsthand at the Smart booth, instantly playing premium console- and PC-quality games on their smartphones. The booth also featured interactive activities where attendees had the chance to win exclusive prizes, including gaming skin codes.

During the event, Smart also highlighted its value-packed Power All offers, which provide generous open-access data for today’s digital lifestyles – from cloud and mobile gaming to streaming, content sharing, and staying productive for work or school.

The company said it participation in PGDX strengthens its thrust to build a more complete gaming ecosystem by combining reliable connectivity with innovative entertainment services that bring premium gaming experiences within reach of more Filipinos.

Up to 21 students fainted one after another during an event on Tuesday night, August 11, at the campus of Sunshine College Inc. in Barangay Tamontaka 2 in the south of this city.

All were immediately brought to medical dispensaries by emergency responders for treatment

School officials and local executives told reporters on Wednesday that the incident disrupted the merry-making by students and their teachers, then part of their celebration of the founding anniversary of their school, which they started three days before.

Superstitious villagers in houses around the campus were quick to assert that the students were ‘possessed’ by evil spirits disturbed by their noisy activities and the fireworks that capped off their three-day event, something that emergency responders and local executives brushed aside as pure superstition, virtually unbelievable.

Barangay officials and rescuers in the Cotabato City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said it could be hunger, stress, or food poisoning, or dehydration that weakened the 21 students and made them dizzy.

All of them were returned to their houses by emergency responders under the office of Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao after having been provided with ample medical intervention,

Matabalao has ordered his subordinate-officials in the City Health Office and their CDRRMO and barangay officials in Tamontaka 2 to collaborate in trying to determine why the students fainted one after another amid their activities on their campus.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Filipinos, with numbers still rising over the last decade. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, recorded deaths specifically from ischemic heart diseases rose from 74,134 in 2016 to 122,339 in 2025.

An ischemic heart disease, also called coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease, is a condition wherein coronary arteries narrow or become blocked, restricting the critical supply of blood to the heart muscle. When the blood flow is completely cut off, heart muscle cells die, causing a heart attack.

Dr. Jessore Isidro, a cardiologist of 18 years, understands this alarming mortality rate from ischemic heart diseases in the country. Nonetheless, he firmly believes in the power of prevention and clinical precision to help address cardiovascular care challenges.

For him, the future of cardiovascular care lies in innovation, excellence, and compassionate, evidence-based care-core values he has championed and practiced at Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) since joining in 2009.

Understanding precision and cardiac catheterizationDr. Isidro first joined Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) in in 2009 shortly after completing my training in Interventional Cardiology at the UP Philippine General Hospital. Then, his goal was simple: “. . . to provide the best care I could to every patient, use the skills I had been given responsibly, and, make a meaningful difference in their lives,’ he told Philstar.com in an interview.

Little did he know that the very same year would turn pivotal not just for his career, but for the hospital as a whole, with the establishment of its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

‘One of our greatest achievements has been building a cardiovascular center that consistently delivers safe, timely and high-quality care through teamwork, innovation and continuous improvement,’ Dr. Isidro said.

Cardiac catheterization itself is a minimally invasive procedure used to identify blockages within the coronary arteries. It allows cardiologists to deliver a highly accurate diagnosis and, ultimately, provide targeted options for treatment.

A process, in which precision is a requirement. Dr. Isidro shared, ‘To me, precision is more than a technical accuracy; it is making the right clinical decision for the right patient at the right time, with every detail focused on achieving the best possible outcome.’

Today, the interventional cardiologist chairs what has become one of the country’s busiest cath labs, capable of imaging high-volume complex and challenging interventions with excellent outcomes.

He elaborated, ‘The MDH Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory has steadily evolved from a growing interventional facility into one of the country’s leading cardiovascular centers. We have expanded our services, embraced advanced technologies, managed increasingly complex cases and built a highly skilled multidisciplinary team.’

Such growth is crucial for a country with only 33 cardiac catheterization laboratory facilities issued with a Certificate of Compliance, according to data from the Freedom of Information website.