Category: Philippine Star

Alex Eala arrived in Osaka Friday to plot her mission of entering the Top 50 world rankings for the first time ever in the WTA250 Japan Open next week.

Eala this week climbed to No. 54 in the Women’s Tennis Association despite an early exit in Wuhan, China – making Japan a perfect place to etch more history for Philippine tennis.

No Filipina has ever stepped foot in the elite Top 50 rankings and Eala sports a pretty chance if she goes deep in the $250,000 tourney against a stacked field led by home bet Naomi Osaka, World No. 16.

WTA No. 17 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, Filipina-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, WTA No. 27, and No. 70 Cristina Bucsa of Spain, Eala’s tormentor in the US Open second round, are also in the fray.

The official draw is yet to be released by the WTA Tour pending the completion of the WTA1000 Wuhan Open, where Eala absorbed a 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 defeat against Japanese Moyuka of Japan in Round 1 of the qualifiers.

Eala spent a little break in China after that defeat to recharge for an expected tougher tourney in Japan that will serve her sixth straight tournament in a month on top of the US Open feat, where she became the first Filipina winner in any Grand Slam main draw.

She started the stretch of the loaded WTA Tour by netting her maiden WTA title in the WTA125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico then reached the quarterfinals of the WTA250 Sao Paulo Open in Brazil.

After Japan, Eala will have more chances to crack the Top 50 with stints in the Guangzhou Open from October 20-26 and the Hong Kong Open from October 27 to November 2.

A homecoming is slated after that with her expected national team return for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December and the planned WTA Tour hosting to be branded as Manila or Philippine Open early next year.

Shaina Nitura isn’t called the future of Philippine volleyball for nothing.

The young, athletic and energetic star gave a glimpse of what the future will bring as she helped power Adamson to a 25-19, 25-19, 25-14 victory over Far Eastern University and into the V-League Collegiate Challenge crown at the Filoil EcoOil Arena on Friday.

Nitura teamed up with Nigerian Frances Mordi and fired 17 points against the latter’s 19 as the Lady Falcons dominated the Lady Tams in the deciding Game Three and sealed the series, 2-1.

The 20-year-old dynamo, however, was quick to defer credit to their collective team effort.

‘We stayed with each other and we solidified our relationship as a team,’ said the UAAP Rookie of the Year and former UAAP high school MVP.

The feat was a replication of the school’s feat in the Sports Vision-ran league after it reigned supreme six years ago when it was still called the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference and in 2010 under the banner of Shakey’s V-League.

‘We’re very happy and grateful because we’ve been together since high school,’ said Adamson coach JP Yude.

FEU came into the duel hoping to ride on the crest of its 25-13, 25-22, 15-25, 25-23 win in Game Two at the City of Dasmariñas Arena Wednesday that forced this rubber match.

But Adamson, which took the opener, 25-18, 26-24, 23-25, 25-23, at the same San Juan venue Monday, made sure it won’t make the same mistakes again and utterly decimated FEU on this one.

‘It (Game 2) turned out to be an eye-opener for us, especially for me since it taught me how I can lift up my team,’ said Nitura.

Good thing it did.

If we are only talking of a computer whose program became all messed up, hitting the reset button will normally fix things quickly. But we are a country of 120 million souls so things are more complicated.

Getting all the elected officials to resign and be forbidden to run in a snap election may seem like a reset for the sick man of Asia that the doctor prescribed. But it is not that simple.

To begin with, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who proposed it may have ulterior motives. He may think that having all elected officials resign will wipe out all their sins that have so angered our people. They will insist they don’t have to return their ill-gotten wealth nor go to jail.

That kind of reset doesn’t work. People must go to jail and their ill-gotten wealth confiscated by the state or no one will take us seriously as a nation, not even us. We must restart with a clean slate.

The French Revolution modeled a restart that works. But it was bloody. We will be happy to just send the bastards to jail and confiscate their ill-gotten wealth.

Unfortunately, that seems to be beyond our ability to do as a nation. South Korea routinely sends their presidents to jail. Thailand recently jailed a once very powerful prime minister. In our case, we needed the International Criminal Court to make Duterte accountable for his crimes while in office.

We have a Constitution. But when push comes to shove, we shove it aside and take short cuts. A Cayetano-style reset messes up our reputation as a country that claims to respect the rule of law.

For the moment, the constitutional approach to a reset depends on BBM and his newly appointed Ombudsman, Boying Remulla. If we go by BBM’s established lackadaisical style of leadership, things can go wrong.

However, BBM now looks like he seriously means it when he says there are no sacred cows. To see is to believe.

Those of us from UP know Remulla and Martin Romualdez are fraternity brothers in Upsilon Sigma Phi. And they normally protect each other, right or wrong.

Except Kiko Pangilinan. He had the guts to go against the wishes of his fraternity when Kiko, as student regent, had to cast his vote for the next UP president. Can Remulla do that?

Kiko was expelled from the fraternity for not upholding the brotherhood. But years later, the Upsilonians took him back because his expulsion was silly and Kiko was right.

Still, these Upsilonians aren’t all hopeless. One other Upsilonian, Ninoy Aquino, went against Ferdinand Marcos Sr., another Upsilonian.

Furthermore, I heard that Remulla told his friends he had an ‘awakening’ when he became seriously ill and wasn’t sure he would survive. He now supposedly claims he just wants to do what is right.

Can we depend on Remulla’s spiritual awakening? Undoubtedly, he is an improvement over his predecessor.

Nevertheless, we have no choice but to force ourselves to believe BBM when he said no sacred cows, no relatives, walang ka-alyado, walang kapartido. We must keep the public pressure for him to behave.

Because people are now very angry and skeptical, if BBM and the new Ombudsman are seen protecting anyone, things could get very bad. even a hard reset.

This reset business brings us to an urgent need to revise our 1987 Constitution. Times have drastically changed over the last 38 years. We must update our Constitution to make it relevant to our lives today.

There are some silly provisions that must be removed to save us further international embarrassment. The provision limiting ownership of mass media, even advertising agencies to Filipinos, is plainly irrelevant and stupid.

Even before the digital age came about, satellites made mass media go beyond borders. Whatever reasons the framers of the Constitution might have had for that provision no longer apply. More so now with the internet, unless we want to put up something like The Great Firewall of China.

Since the presidential system has clearly not worked, we should try another one. The parliamentary system would have given us a quick constitutional reset option now. A vote of no confidence is all it takes to start anew. And if that doesn’t work, dissolving parliament and having a snap election is constitutional.

We do not need such a large contingent of congressmen costing the taxpayers more money than should be spent for the purpose of legislation. We also do not need a Senate, at least not the Senate we have now.

A unicameral legislature of about 100-150 members should be more than enough. And no more party list. The party list may have been a good concept but a Supreme Court decision bastardized it. Rich people ended up representing security guards and motorcycle delivery men.

A revised Constitution should also make the provision on political dynasties immediately implementable with no need for enabling legislation from Congress or Parliament.

We should also take the opportunity to make the new Constitution more friendly to open competition in the economy. No more provisions that provide rent-seeking opportunities for our blood-sucking economic elite. Foreign direct investments should be welcomed like what our ASEAN neighbors did.

Yes, a reset is needed to get us out of our mess. We should learn our lessons from history that brought us from being the second-best economy in the region to a basket case in less than 50 years.

For now, let’s first clear the deck of the corruption scandals that have tarnished our reputation.

BBM and the Ombudsman must show we have what it takes to deal with corruption: the corrupt must face the certainty of punishment and be thrown in jail and ill-gotten wealth confiscated. That’s what other civilized countries do.

Joy Aseo took over the scoring task in the absence of Shaina Nitura and propelled Adamson University to the second round with a quick sweep of Arellano University, 25-21, 25-17, 25-19, in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup last night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Aseo whipped up 12 points in the Lady Falcons’ second straight victory in as many games as they joined playoffs-bound and also unbeaten Far Eastern University at the top of Pool B.

Adamson, which rested Nitura, was in full control of the match and booted out the Lady Chiefs in just 77 minutes.

‘Naging patient lang kami sa isa’t isa and nag-team work,’ said Aseo.

United States President Donald Trump has nominated Lee Lipton as the new US ambassador to the Philippines.

Lipton’s nomination was sent to the US Senate for confirmation, the White House said yesterday.

‘Lee Lipton, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of the Philippines,’ according to the announcement.

Lipton, the first non-career American diplomat to be appointed to Manila, is reportedly Trump’s golf buddy.

Once confirmed, Lipton will succeed Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, who began her term on July 22, 2022.

Lipton currently serves as Interim Permanent Representative to the US Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS).

According to his US Department of State profile, Lipton manages staff operations, financial resources and interagency coordination at the OAS to advance US foreign policy priorities in the western hemisphere.

In this role, Lipton supports US engagement on a range of regional challenges, including the deteriorating security situation in Haiti and efforts to counter malign influence – particularly from the Chinese Communist Party – within the Inter-American system.

Before joining the government, Lipton funded and led a successful apparel business in New York City.

He oversaw the design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of licensed collections for globally recognized brands, such as Calvin Klein, St. John Knits and Guess.

After selling his company to a publicly traded firm, he transitioned into the hospitality industry, owning several oceanfront restaurants.

His landmark restaurants remain among the highest-volume establishments in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Lipton holds a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University.

He and his wife of 45 years have two sons.

With an announcement of a live fire drill, a helicopter flying close to Filipino fishing boats and heavy presence of patrol ships, Chinese forces disrupted once again a humanitarian mission carried out by Philippine maritime authorities.

Both the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Philippine Coast Guard deployed vessels to perform the ‘Kadiwa sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda’ humanitarian program at Panatag (Scarborough) and Escoda (Sabina) Shoals on Wednesday, according to a statement from PCG spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues Commodore Jay Tarriela.

PCG patrol ships BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cape San Agustin joined the mission in Panatag Shoal, while the BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Cabra accompanied the BFAR, he noted.

Along with 11 other vessels, the PCG and BFAR were supposed to distribute supplies of fuel and ice as well as grocery packs to ‘nearly 100 vessels, enabling fishermen to extend their fishing expeditions’ at both Panatag and Escoda Shoals, he added.

Amid the mission, ‘a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – Navy vessel 568 issued warnings from a distance regarding a live-fire exercise in the area, raising concerns among Filipino fishermen’ at Panatag, also called Bajo de Masinloc, reported Tarriela.

At Escoda Shoal, ‘a PLA Navy helicopter conducted low-altitude monitoring flights, further attempting to intimidate the fishermen,’ he also said.

Aside from PLA-Navy assets, a total of 15 China Coast Guard vessels and 19 Chinese maritime militia ships were also present during the PCG-BFAR operation. Panatag Shoal was reportedly guarded with seven CCG and 10 Chinese maritime militia vessels, and eight CCG and nine maritime militia ships at Escoda Shoal.

Some CCG personnel onboard speedboats also tried to block some of the Filipino fishing boats while a CCG patrol ship crossed the way of a PCG vessel, according to photos and videos from the PCG.

Despite the new episode of harassment by Chinese forces, the mission delivered a total of 98,000 liters of fuel to the crew of 55 Filipino fishing boats at Panatag Shoal and 45 more at Escoda Shoal, as well as five tons of crushed ice and 345 grocery packs, said Tarriela.

He said the BFAR also bought 35 tons of fish caught by fishermen at Panatag.

It would have been the second time since last month that the PLA-Navy announced a live fire drill at Panatag Shoal, which was not carried out.

‘The Philippine Coast Guard, alongside our partners at BFAR, will never back down in defending the rights and livelihoods of our Filipino fishermen,’ declared PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan.

He added the Kadiwa program ‘exemplifies President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s firm policy: we will neither waver nor surrender a single square inch of our territory to any foreign power.’

Both Panatag and Escoda Shoals lie in the West Philippine Sea, within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone as defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and upheld in the landmark 2016 arbitral award.

A consumer advocacy group has urged policymakers to prioritize legislation that addresses regulatory blocks hindering the country’s digital infrastructure rollout.

In a statement, CitizenWatch Philippines said there is a pressing need to modernize the National Building Code, streamline right-of-way (ROW) acquisition, and clarify rules around homeowners’ association (HOA) restrictions on telco access.

‘We support the national commitment to digital transformation,’ said Orlando Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch. ‘To move forward, we need enabling policies that respond to the realities of the digital age. Connectivity should be treated as a basic utility, not a privilege.’

He noted that several legislative proposals that sought to address these issues were filed in the last Congress such as House Bill 900 on telecommunications readiness of buildings, House Bill 4472 on ICT infrastructure requirements for housing developments and House Bill 6571 on ROW guidelines, but these have yet to be refiled in the current 20th Congress.

‘These are critical measures that warrant prioritization,’ Oxales said. ‘We encourage lawmakers to refile, refine and pass these bills so we can create a legal environment more responsive to connectivity needs.’

The group cited persistent barriers telcos face: outdated building codes, restrictive HOA practices, and lengthy ROW permitting at the local level.

‘Our Building Code dates back to 1977, long before internet connectivity became essential to life,’ Oxales said. ‘As a result, many buildings lack provisions for broadband infrastructure, leaving residents with limited or delayed access.’

CitizenWatch supports proposals to require telco-ready designs in building plans – from in-building fiber pathways to network access points – integrated into the permitting and occupancy process.

‘Proactively designing for digital connectivity ensures that no community is left behind,’ Oxales added. ‘It also lowers the cost and complexity for providers, benefiting consumers.’

Oxales further emphasized that these reforms should also consider how the Magna Carta for Homeowners Associations is applied.

‘If the internet is now considered a basic need, then access to it should not be subject to a ‘social acceptability’ requirement,’ he said. ‘We do not require public consultation to install water pipes or power lines because they are essential utilities. Internet connectivity should be treated with the same level of importance.’

The group also pointed out that allowing more than one telco to access a building or community would foster competition and improve service quality. ‘These reforms should encourage infrastructure designs that accommodate multiple telcos, so residents aren’t forced to rely on just one provider,’ Oxales noted. ‘This avoids a situation where one internet service provider holds a building or community hostage simply because no other operator was given access.’

The group underscored the importance of addressing ROW challenges, which continue to delay the deployment and energization of telco towers and underground fiber. While the 19th Congress ratified the reconciled version of the ‘ARROW’ Act, CitizenWatch believes there is still room to strengthen implementation and coordination among national agencies, LGUs and utility providers.

‘We can further streamline permits and harmonize standards across agencies and LGUs,’ Oxales said. ‘This is essential for infrastructure rollout, especially in underserved areas.’

CitizenWatch called for national policy guidance to prevent HOAs and developers from creating barriers to telco access. The group advocates for rules that ensure fair and reasonable access for telcos and ISPs, especially in high-density residential and commercial developments.

‘Connectivity should be available to all, regardless of whether they live in gated communities, condominiums or urban centers,’ Oxales said. ‘Policy clarity ensures residents aren’t deprived of broadband connectivity due to inconsistent interpretations.’

As the demand for digital services continues to rise across education, healthcare, business and governance, CitizenWatch stressed the urgency of institutionalizing reforms that enable last-mile connectivity.

‘Digital access is no longer optional – it is foundational to inclusive development,’ Oxales said. ‘We urge lawmakers and agencies to remove the barriers limiting our people’s full participation in the digital economy.’

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said that the national government’s revenue collection is expected to decrease significantly should the proposed measure, which removes the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT), be approved and enacted into law.

Noting that a striking portion of the agency’s collection is derived from the tax intake, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the decision ultimately rests with the government’s economic managers.

‘Of course, collections will decrease since a significant portion of the government’s revenue currently comes from the VAT,’ he told The STAR. ‘It is substantial because a large percentage of the BIR’s total collections comes from the said tax program.’

Cavite Rep. Francisco Barzaga filed House Bill 5119, on Monday, proposing the removal of the 12 percent VAT on all goods and services, aiming to ease the tax burden on consumers nationwide.

In his explanatory note, the politician stated that the tax places a burden on consumers, particularly low- and middle-income families, as it is imposed on goods and services regardless of their ability to pay.

Pressed on whether Lumagui is in favor of removing the tax, the BIR chief said it would be difficult to comment since the agency only serves as the implementing body tasked with carrying out government policies.

‘It is difficult to comment on the matter since we are only the implementing agency,’ he said.

‘Also, it is really up to the economic managers at the Department of Finance to make the estimates on the potential impact of the removal of the VAT and their plans for the economy of our country,’ Lumagui added.

Based on the latest Bureau of the Treasury data, the BIR has collected P2.14 trillion from January to August this year. The revenue pile is 11.4 percent higher than what the agency collected in the same period last year at P1.92 trillion.

The VAT on goods, introduced in the Philippines in 1988, increased to 12 percent in 2005.

Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste also recently proposed reducing the VAT by two percentage points to 10 percent.

Actresses Janella Salvador and Klea Pineda sparked anew rumors between the two after photos of them trended online

On her X account, Janella posted sweet photos of her with Klea and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, her co-stars in Cinemalaya entry “Open Endings.”

“Ugh fine I’ll stop gatekeeping these photos,” Janella captioned the post of photos embracing Jasmine as she tagged the actress’ handle.

Klea was quick to respond on Janella’s post, replying with photos of her and Janella also hugging and teasing kisses on the cheek.

“Sige na nga ako din,” Klea wrote in her post. In reposting, Janella simply said “ay sus inunahan ako.”

It can be recalled that several Filipinos believed Janella was the reason for the breakup between Klea and ex-girlfriend Katrice Kierulf, which Janella has outright denied.

“Para lang maging klaro, sabi ko po magsasalita ako at the right time. Ito na yun. Hindi po ako part ng breakup. Hindi po ako third party. I’d like to exclude myself from that,” Janella said on the matter.

When asked what her relationship with Klea is, Janella said: “And ayun lang. Kung ano nakikita niyo ngayon, yun na yun. Nakikita niyo naman kung gaano ako kasaya.”

On World Pharmacists Day, AS Watson, Watsons Philippines’ parent company proudly celebrates the dedication and expertise of its global network of pharmacists and health professionals, who play a pivotal role in helping customers lead healthier lives.

‘On this meaningful day, we extend our deepest gratitude to over 3,000 pharmacists and nearly 10,000 health professionals at AS Watson across the globe,” said Peter Macnab, international commercial director of AS Watson.

“Their commitment goes far beyond in-store services-they also provide online consultations in most of our markets, ensuring customers receive trusted health advice anytime, anywhere. Their expertise is essential in helping our customers navigate their health journeys with confidence,’ he added.

In line with the global celebration of World Pharmacist’s Day, Watsons Philippines joins in the global initiative to empower its pharmacists with expanded health services, aiming to build a healthier future for Filipinos and the wider region.

Meeting the rising demand for health and wellness

AS Watson’s health and wellness business continues to accelerate, fuelled by evolving customer expectations, a growing focus on preventive care, and strong category growth.

In the past 12 months alone, overall health and beauty sales have increased by over 10%, with the vitamins and dietary supplements category also rising more than 10%, and the diet and fitness category seeing an impressive surge of over 20%.

Weight management has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments, with sales of related products and services soaring by 130%. As global obesity rates climb, more customers are turning to trusted pharmacists for safe, expert guidance.

AS Watson’s pharmacists provide access to weight management medicines and supplements, along with personalised advice on nutrition, lifestyle, and sustainable health practices empowering customers to take a holistic approach to their wellbeing.

In response to these trends, AS Watson has significantly expanded its health product portfolio, offering a comprehensive range, from vitamins and supplements to condition-specific solutions. AS Watson is committed to supporting every customer’s unique health journey with both breadth and depth of choice.

Empowering health customers across age groups

AS Watson is witnessing a dynamic shift in customer demographics, with both younger and silver generations increasingly prioritising their health and wellbeing.

There has been remarkable year-on-year growth of 30% in the young customer segment seeking health products. This surge reflects a growing awareness among younger consumers about preventive care, wellness. They are actively seeking expert advice and convenient access to products that support their lifestyle and long-term health goals.

Meanwhile, the silver generation now represents over 30% of AS Watson’s health customers and continues to grow steadily. Spending 1.4 times more than the average health shopper, they reflect increasing engagement and purchasing power, underscoring the importance of personalised health solutions tailored to their needs.

As AS Watson continues to evolve with the changing health landscape, our commitment to innovation, accessibility and customer-centric care remains stronger than ever.

By empowering pharmacists and health professionals with the right tools and platforms, we’re shaping the future of health retail-one that is more personalised, inclusive and digitally connected.

Aligning with its parent company’s mission, Watsons Philippines is committed to making wellness more accessible for all its customers and giving back to the community, transforming every visit into an opportunity to achieve their health goals.

A chance for proactive care and a healthier life

In the Philippines, Watsons is strengthening its commitment to its customers’ health by becoming the go-to destination for health and wellness through key partnerships with Diabetes Philippines Inc. (DPI) and global healthcare leader Novo Nordisk.

DPI doctors will train Watsons pharmacists to expand their roles beyond conventional practice, better equipping them to provide expert advice on managing diabetes and its complications, thereby helping to improve awareness and early detection.

In partnership with Novo Nordisk, Watsons will offer free obesity screenings, providing professional assessments and expert advice directly to customers onsite at selected Watsons stores.

These collaborations reinforce Watsons’ goal of being a trusted health partner and the go-to destination for health and wellness needs of Filipinos. Ultimately, this work delivers on the brand’s promise to help Filipinos “Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great.”