Category: Philippine Star

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) of the Jollibee Group has opened its first store in the Maldives, as the Philippine food giant continues to expand its coffee and tea business overseas.

The new store situated on the beachfront of Hulhumalé’s Central Park can seat up to 35 guests and serves CBTL’s signature ice blended drinks, specialty coffees, premium teas and freshly prepared meals.

The store is operated by Waterscape Investments Pvt. Ltd., a franchisee committed to growing CBTL across the Maldives.

‘We value our collaboration with Waterscape Investments, whose deep understanding of the local market and commitment to excellence mirrors our own values,’ CBTL chief executive officer Pepot Miñana said.

He said the opening in Maldives supports the brand’s goal to be among the world’s leading specialty coffee and tea chains. It also strengthens Jollibee Group’s growing global portfolio.

‘The Maldives is a world-renowned destination, and we are excited to bring The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf experience to its shores,’ Miñana said.

CBTL now operates in over 1,200 locations across more than 20 countries.

The brand selects from the top one percent of Arabica beans from the world’s premier coffee-growing regions and partners with family-owned estates across Sri Lanka, China, Thailand and Japan for its tea offerings.

‘This is a significant milestone for us, and we are confident that together, we will create a unique and welcoming space where the people of the Maldives can enjoy our handcrafted beverages and experience the authentic, flavors we’ve perfected over decades,’ Miñana said.

Once again, the ‘outbreak’ averse Secretary of Health Dr. Ted Herbosa has refused to recognize the disturbing cases of ‘flu-like’ ailments as an ‘outbreak’ just like he did during the last wave of dengue cases.

But as the saying goes, ‘use it or lose it’ and that is what happened when DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara was left with no choice but to declare a ‘Wellness Break’ in order to counter the spread of infections in thousands of schools all over the country.

Declaring a ‘Wellness Break’ was a stroke of genius because the message was positive, ‘healthy’ and timely and, more importantly, addressed a serious public health concern in schools.

Unfortunately for Secretary Herbosa, the DepEd declared ‘Wellness Break’ places the DOH in a bad light and under public scrutiny. Health concerns are under the DOH domain and failure to exercise their authority portrays them as indifferent.

Since two weeks ago, people have asked me if there was a flu epidemic or an outbreak of some kind of viral respiratory disease in Metro Manila. Funny that they should ask a media person instead of the DOH, but I guess that is where the level of public confidence in government is.

What I observed from September to early October is that many friends as well as my own family came down with flu-like symptoms that took weeks to get rid of. I was initially worried that COVID was on the rise, but over-the-counter COVID test kits disproved my suspicion.

Fact is, there are a lot of Filipinos getting sick, bad enough to miss work and worse, they seem to share or spread the ‘flu-like’ symptoms to other members of the family at home, at work or in school.

The last two weeks have been particularly bad with friends going from flu-like symptoms to actual pneumonia. As expected, people suggested to revert to COVID precautions such as wearing masks and avoiding crowded areas.

If Secretary Herbosa is truly averse to making ‘outbreak’ declarations, he should have been more focused or hyperactive in informing the public that it’s flu season or explained what bug was making the rounds.

I think this is what creates friction between Herbosa, the public and the media. While Herbosa ‘plays safe,’ more and more people get sick, are worried and feel dismissed or ignored. That’s the biggest emotional trigger among sick people.

Unfortunately, Secretary Herbosa was ill-advised to make the rounds inspecting Ghost Hospital projects. That was not a win-win situation for Herbosa because the media exposure also exposed mismanagement in public health facilities.

I understand Secretary Herbosa’s concerns that declaring an outbreak can create fear, panic or misunderstanding of the matter. Herbosa chooses to ‘err on the side of caution’ but it is a serious gamble that could be career ending.

The last time Secretary Herbosa behaved like this was during the time when cases of dengue were rising. Back then Secretary Herbosa said that there was no outbreak and that the unusual number of dengue cases was a seasonal matter.

Then as now, the pressure or expectation for Secretary Herbosa to declare an ‘outbreak’ was in order for concerned LGUs and government agencies to work together to combat the spread of a spreading disease.

This time around the problem is ‘flu-like’ illness and once again, Secretary Herbosa blames it on the rainy season. Critics would say that the cases of infection will eventually be reduced because the public took it upon themselves to ‘self-care,’ no thanks to the DOH.

The article ‘We are the New Poor’ about the extremely high cost of private health care triggered a lot of reactions from friends and readers. The best one was from a reader who offered to extend financial assistance to the patient mentioned.

While we are grateful for such kind offers, ethical concerns caution us to decline such offers. We resolved the need as best as we could, and I thank the gracious reader.

Other readers shared their personal experience and some, their financial ruin because of cardiac related surgeries, etc. One physician/surgeon revealed that what patients end up paying all depends on the luck of the draw or who you get as a doctor.

Some doctors are kind, fair, even generous. Others are still preoccupied paying car loans on their luxury vehicles or investing in real estate with the money you raised by selling property to pay the doctor. All doctors and hospital fees should be published so patients know what they are getting into ahead of time!

What was constant is if you go to a private hospital, expect to pay for the hospital equipment not just the treatment. Someone even shared her experience in Hong Kong where she received good medical care regardless of her nationality.

The best thing I pray and hope for is for our beloved readers to help change the system by speaking out on the problem, not just lamenting. Yes, private health care is a business, but it should be rationalized, equitable and transparent.

Hospitals and physicians need to be regulated to the extent that setting professional rates is not anybody’s call. Private medical care should not be based on ‘stature’ or ratings like 4- or 5-star hotels!

Hospital stays should also be limited to what is needed, not prolonged!

It is time for Congress and government to better regulate private health care or pump 10 times the money being pumped into public hospitals for all Filipinos!

The agency of Park Bom issued a clarification that the Korean singer did not file fraud and embezzlement lawsuit against former label YG Entertainment, which continues to handle Bom’s girl group 2NE1.

The incident stems from a now-deleted post by Bom about a complaint draft accusing YG co-founder Yang Hyun-suk of failing to pay her activity profits stemming from “music releases, concerts, broadcasts, advertisements, events, lyric writing, and composing.”

The complaint indicated that the unpaid settlements amounted to 642 trillion won, equal to $448.8 billion or P26 trillion.

Bom’s current label D Nation Entertainment released a statement clarifying the artist did not receive any payments from YG nor does the latter agency owe Bom any money.

“All settlements related to Park Bom’s 2NE1 activities have already been completed, and there is no record that the complaint uploaded to social media was ever filed,” D Nation said.

D Nation ended by reiterating Bom is currently not involved in activities as she’s focused on treatment and recovery, and the label will do what it can to assist in Bom’s health.

Last year, 2NE1 – composed of Bom, Sandara Park, CL, and Minzy – reunited for its “Welcome Back” tour in celebration of the group’s 15th anniversary, marking 2NE1’s first headliner tour in a decade.

The tour ran until last April and included a two-night Philippine stop last December, however, last August Bom stepped away from further activities due to medical concerns.

Bom was notably missing for portions of the first “Welcome Back” concert at the Philippine Arena because of wardrobe malfunctions and was unable to finish the second night because of health-related issues.

A Pasig court denied for lack of merit the motion of detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to be placed under ‘hospital arrest.’

In the order made public yesterday, the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 said there was no sufficient basis to allow Quiboloy to remain at the Philippine Heart Center or The Medical City.

‘The records clearly establish that his medical needs are being adequately and consistently attended to while in the custody of the Pasig city jail, and that he continues to receive appropriate, timely and sufficient medical care at the hospital, under the supervision of competent medical professionals,’ the court said.

Defense lawyers earlier claimed that Quiboloy was experiencing shortness of breath, fever, muscle pain and cough – a claim the court said ‘had already been cleared by the hospital in September.’

Last year, the court also denied a similar motion from the Quiboloy camp.

Quiboloy, 75, is facing charges of qualified human trafficking as well as sexual and child abuse.

He is also facing multiple indictments in the United States, including sex trafficking, conspiracy and immigration fraud.

In August, Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said that Washington had asked the Philippines in June to extradite Quiboloy.

Both the Philippines’ Department of Justice and Department of Foreign Affairs, however, have said there has been no such official request.

The Good Governance Advocates and Practitioners of the Philippines (GGAPP) will hold its ninth annual forum on governance, ethics and compliance on Nov. 04, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Westin Manila, Pasig.

Titled ‘Good Governance: What the Private Sector Can Learn from the Public Sector,’ the forum will gather leaders from government and business to highlight key lessons from the public sector – transparency, accountability, innovation and people-centered leadership – and how these can strengthen governance and sustainable practices in private organizations.

Among the confirmed speakers are Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene ‘Kaka’ Javellana Bag-ao.

‘This forum is about bridging lessons between the public and private sectors. Both face challenges in governance and leadership, and by sharing approaches, we can foster stronger institutions and a more resilient future,’ the organizers said.

The program will also feature panel discussions with leaders from government, industry and academia, offering a platform to exchange ideas and reflect on the event’s key insights. By encouraging cross-sector dialogue, the forum seeks to deepen understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities facing institutions today. Public sector perspectives, in particular, can inspire ethical and resilient leadership in business, guiding organizations toward principled decision-making rooted in public interest and social responsibility.

Anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has cleared former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, his aide Gigi Reyes and businesswoman Janet Napoles in a remaining graft case connected to the pork barrel scam.

The three faced charges of siphoning P172 million in congressional Priority Development Assistance Funds when Enrile was a senator between 2004 and 2010 through bogus non-government organizations that Janet Napoles ran.

In the latest decision promulgated Friday, October 24, the Sandiganbayan Special Third Division ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the accusations against the now-101-year-old Enrile “beyond reasonable doubt.”

The reasons for Enrile’s acquittal center on the prosecution’s failure to establish the elements of the offense, particularly evident bad faith or manifest partiality, and the absence of convincing proof that he received kickbacks.

Enrile, Reyes and Napoles were similarly acquitted of plunder complaints in a Third Division ruling in October 2024.

The cases were first filed in 2013, after reports broke out of a scheme that funnelled congressional discretionary funding through implementing organizations from where officials purportedly received kickbacks.

Two of Enrile’s co-accused in plunder cases, former senator Bong Revills and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada had also been acquitted. They ran and returned as senators years after being released from detention. Enrile, meanwhile, was appointed chief presidential counsel under the Duterte administration.

The court lifted hold departure orders and released bonds for Enrile and the other acquitted individuals. Cases against four deceased accused were dismissed.

No proof of bad faith

The ruling hinged on the court’s finding that Enrile’s endorsement letters recommending non-governmental organizations for PDAF projects between 2007 and 2010 were merely recommendatory under the law at the time, before the Supreme Court’s 2013 Belgica v. Ochoa decision that declared such practices unconstitutional.

“The prosecution failed to show that Enrile, Reyes, and Evangelista were motivated by evident bad faith and manifest partiality in issuing those letters,” the decision stated.

The court also found whistleblower testimony about the alleged kickbacks unreliable. Ruby Tuason, a key witness, admitted she never delivered money to Enrile or dealt with him directly. Another whistleblower, Benhur Luy, conceded he never met Enrile and lacked personal knowledge that Enrile’s staff received the funds.

Although Tuason claimed she delivered money to Enrile’s chief of steff, Gigi Reyes, the court found the testimony lacked details, such as the specific amounts, the project, the SARO involved, or the dates and locations of the alleged deliveries.

Citing testimonies, the court said that it “cannot be concluded that Enrile, Reyes, and Evangelista acted with manifest partiality and evident bad faith, or that they gave unwarranted benefits to the NGOs and/or accused private individuals. Nor did they cause undue injury to the government, as the prosecution failed to establish that any of them received kickbacks from Enrile’s PDAF.”

Digital records meant to prove payments – Daily Disbursement Reports from an external hard drive – were unsigned. Luy also could not assure the integrity of the data stored on his external hard drive, as he did not know who had access to it while he was detained, meaning tampering could not be ruled out.

“Overall, the court finds that the evidence for the prosecution does not pass the test of moral certainty and is insufficient to rebut the constitutional presumption of innocence. The prosecution failed to discharge its burden of proving the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” the decision read.

Amidst the ongoing discussions regarding the operation of the Colon Night Market, Barangay Mabolo Captain Daniel Francis Arguedo raised concerns about the apparent “privatization” of the market, a move that he said lacks any supporting provision from the existing ordinance.

In a public post, Arguedo, who is also a lawyer, shared a picture of a letter he sent to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival that raises several questions and concerns regarding the legality of the night market’s operations, particularly on the authority of its current organizer.

In his letter, Arguedo clarified that it was written in response to Archival’s public “open declaration” on social media, which stated that anyone could approach him directly in his office.

“Hopefully, this letter will guide you in your future actions, especially so when you are always under attack by Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. I simply wanted to help you, in case you are not aware of the legal requirements,” an excerpt of the letter reads.

Also attached in the same post was a certification from the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod dated 22 October 2025, citing that there is “no ordinance establishing and regulating a Night Market in Cebu City.”

Without an ordinance for such purpose, Arguedo said any undertaking of a night market is devoid of any legal basis, adding that it must be stopped or corrected immediately.

Arguedo referenced a provision in Section 21 of the Local Government Code, which addresses the opening and closing of roads. According to this provision, a local government unit may, through an ordinance, permanently or temporarily close or open any local road, alley, park, or square within its jurisdiction.

However, it is important to note that for a permanent closure, the ordinance must be approved by at least two-thirds of all members of the Council, he said.

Arguedo stated that the “hasty privatization of the night market’s operations” benefits a private entity. He also noted that the lack of a public hearing is “clearly contrary to the policy direction of the City of Cebu.”

“I hope the foregoing is very clear to you, and I hope also that you will not take this guidance against us,” Arguedo said.

Nearly a month after the reopening of the Cebu City Colon Night Market, questions regarding its legality persist. Officials continue to debate calls for a temporary suspension of the market to allow for an investigation into these concerns.

Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, the chairman of the committee on markets and a vocal critic of the Colon Night Market, has once again criticized its operations. He has raised concerns about what he claims is an expired approval for the road closure necessary to facilitate the market’s activities.

During a recent council session, Alcover delivered a privilege speech addressing an issue he has consistently raised in recent weeks: the ongoing operations of the Colon Night Market, which he continues to label as ‘illegal.’

Recently, the Cebu City Council has been investigating alleged irregularities related to the operations of the night market. Their focus has shifted to past collections, as an executive session was called to examine the operations of the former Colon Night Markets, specifically to understand why the city did not collect any special permit fees.

This inquiry was prompted by Councilor Paul Labra, who presented a privilege speech outlining his concerns about the controversial operations of the Night Market, which have drawn attention in recent days.

Previously, Archival reiterated that a third-party channel had already been established to mediate the Night Market operations amid questions and concerns surrounding its legality in the absence of GASA as convener.

Before this, Alcover first raised issues against the current operation after the mayor refused to convene the GASA sa Gugma Board, the policy-making body reportedly responsible for organizing the Night Market operations.

The Swedish government has granted assistance to the Philippines for the implementation of the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) railway project.

The assistance, which will be coursed through the Swedfund International, will be used to fund a feasibility study on signaling systems and operational models for the SCMB railway.

The project will link the ports of Subic, Manila and Batangas, and will improve freight movement and logistics efficiency across Luzon, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

‘This partnership advances the President’s vision of developing globally competitive logistics infrastructure that will drive investment and inclusive growth,’ Frederick Go, presidential assistant for investment and economic affairs, said during the presentation of the signed agreement at Malacañang.

Swedish Ambassador Anna Ferry described the collaboration as a strong example of an effective public-private cooperation.

‘This agreement with the Department of Transportation is a remarkable example of synergies between public and private efforts,’ Ferry said.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez thanked the Swedish government for supporting the Philippine infrastructure project.

Yuchengco-led PetroWind Energy Inc. (PWEI), in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), recently held a stakeholders’ orientation on conservation of threatened species found within the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NWPPNP).

The event, which gathered representatives of local government units, partner schools, host communities, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) and Protected Area Superintendent’s Office, is the first conservation orientation session rolled out under PWEI’s We Power CARE program.

The orientation explained the program’s four main components of conservation of threatened species, environmental awareness, restoration of degraded ecosystem and ecotourism, with a particular focus on the Visayan Hornbill (Penelopides panini) and Hennis’ Slipper Orchid (Paphiopedilum hennisianum) as conservation targets.

‘This is conservation in action,’ said Vanessa Peralta, PWEI’s VP for corporate communication. ‘It is only the start of a series of sessions that we will conduct across our We Power CARE program sites in the country. Our goal is not only to protect threatened species, but also to cultivate a network of empowered stewards who understand the science, urgency, and value of biodiversity conservation.’

The session featured species identification, habitat and population monitoring, and threat mitigation strategies that can be adopted by community-based conservation advocates.

‘Some of these species, like the Henny’s Slipper Orchid, exist only in the Philippines and Panay is one of their last remaining natural homes. Protecting them safeguards not only biodiversity but also our natural and national heritage,’ noted Prof. Arthur Glenn Umali, a flora conservation expert from UPLB.

Moreover, Dr. Anna Pauline de Guia, fauna conservation expert from UPLB, underscored the importance of supporting research and capacity building among scientists. ‘We cannot advocate for awareness without accurate information,’ Dr. de Guia emphasized. ‘To do that, we need to invest in researchers and trainings and improve research field stations to support science-based conservation efforts.’

Jose Tolinero, head teacher of Tagaroroc Integrated School in Nabas, Aklan, expressed his appreciation of the activity, saying ‘This session provided a rare opportunity to bring together the local government units, students, teachers and scientists in one venue to learn about conservation. As educators, we recognize our vital role in shaping young minds and instilling in them the value of protecting our environment. We hope that more educational materials, such as learning modules and videos, will be developed to help us teach the next generation the importance of biodiversity conservation.’

High-grade marijuana and cannabis-infused products valued at P43.86 million were seized in an anti-narcotics operation in Taytay, Rizal yesterday.

The sting in Barangay Dolores resulted in the arrest of an alleged high-value drug supplier, according to the Taytay police.

The suspect was arrested after he allegedly sold marijuana worth P5,000 to undercover agents who conducted the sting in his property.

Probers said the arresting team found 58 kilos of marijuana, 1,600 vape cartridges containing cannabis oil and 200 boxes of marijuana juice in the house of the suspect.