Category: Philippine Star

Expressway builder Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is making its return to the bond market to raise up to P20 billion and fund the completion of big-ticket projects.

MPTC yesterday said it is offering to the public P15 billion in fixed-rate bonds, with an oversubscription option of P5 billion, to finance the delivery of ongoing projects.

The bonds will be offered in tenors of three, five and 10 years, providing flexibility for MPTC in paying the interest to investors.

The bonds will be issued at par, with interest calculated on a 30- and 360-day basis and paid quarterly in arrears. The Philippine Rating Services Corp. assigned the offer with the highest score of PRS Aaa with a stable outlook.

The offer will run from Nov. 17 to 21 and will be listed at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on Dec. 2.

MPTC president and CEO Gilbert Santa Maria said proceeds from the issuance would finance the completion of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and Lapu-Lapu Expressway (LLEX).

MPTC expects CALAX to be finished by the first half of 2026 as its final segments have found their contractors in EEI Corp. and CM Pancho Construction Inc.

Moreover, MPTC is co-building another tollway in Cebu, the LLEX, which would bridge Cebu City and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport via the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, another project managed by MPTC.

Further, Santa Maria said part of the proceeds would go for the maintenance of the Manila-Cavite Expressway, as it gears up for additional traffic once CALAX fully opens. The two tollways will be connected to improve connectivity to the south of Mega Manila.

MPTC will also direct some of the proceeds to refinance loans. In August, then-MPTC president and CEO Jose Maria Lim said the company owes lenders around P80 billion, and it eyes to bring this down further before entertaining the idea of going public.

‘This bond issuance aims to bolster MPTC’s fiscal position while ensuring the capital adequacy to support continued infrastructure investment and operational excellence,’ Santa Maria said.

The issuance will be managed jointly by BPI Capital Corp. and First Metro Investment Corp. MPTC tapped BDO Capital and Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp. PNB Capital and Investment Corp. and Security Bank Capital Investment Corp. as joint lead underwriters.

Superstar rookie Bella Belen will make her much-awaited debut as Capital1 clashes with Choco Mucho in today’s opener of the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Ynares Center Montalban.

‘I love the new challenges in whatever league and whoever players I play against,’ said this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, who was a three-time UAAP MVP and champion from National University.

‘But for me I have to prepare for this conference because the level of play in the collegiate and the PVL are different,’ she added.

Nonetheless, Belen eyes nothing less than a finals appearance for the Solar Spikers this conference.

They start their campaign versus the Flying Titans at 6:30 p.m.

‘I have high expectations for the team and have that mentality that we can make the finals, we’re aiming high,’ said the Alas Pilipinas standout.

Interestingly, she will face off against a familiar face, fellow neophyte and national team mainstay Tia Andaya, who will partner with Deanna Wong at the setter position.

‘She’s ready to play,’ said Choco Mucho mentor Dante Alinsunurin of his prized setter from Ellensburg, Washington who suited up for US NCAA Division I school Gonzaga U.

Also taking center stage at 4 p.m. are ZUS Coffee and Akari.

The Thunderbelles parade 5-11 American outside spiker Anna DeBeer from University of Louisville, who along with the return of Thea Gagate from national team duty, should bolster their chances in this compressed and ultra-competitive two-month tournament.

The Chargers, meanwhile, will brandish a veteran American in Annie Mitchem, who had stops in Jakarta, Italy, Turkey and Brazil after a standout effort at University of Hawaii.

She will have around her a strong core in Ivy Lacsina, Grethcel Soltones, Fifi Sharma, Faith Nisperos, Eli Soyud and Ced Domingo.

Amid rising public curiosity and post-quake activity near fault zones in northern Cebu, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has reminded the public to ‘Stay Away from the Fault!’

Fault zones are not landmarks –they are danger zones.

The advisory was echoed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) following the magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake that struck last September 30, triggering fissures, structural damage, and heightened geohazard risks across affected communities.

The PHIVOLCS bulletin warns against approaching or building near fault traces and deformation zones, emphasizing that ground rupture –the fissuring and displacement of land due to fault movement– as this may cause catastrophic damage to homes, roads, and critical infrastructure.

The agency recommends a minimum five-meter avoidance zone from fault traces and deformation edges, saying that even seemingly stable ground may shift violently during aftershocks.

‘Avoid building houses or critical facilities directly on active faults,’ the advisory said.

The OCD has reinforced PHIVOLCS’ recommendations, deploying technical teams to Bogo City to assist in coordinated response efforts and hazard zone monitoring.

In its latest update, the OCD confirmed that its personnel are working alongside the Regional Incident Management Team to assess damage and ensure public safety.

A troubling trend has also been noted –residents and other curious individuals including so-called vloggers entering fault zones and inspecting damaged structures out of curiosity.

While some visits stem from genuine concern, authorities cautioned that such activities may interfere with scientific assessments and expose individuals to life-threatening risks.

To further evaluate geological risks, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) has deployed an eight-member team of geologists to conduct a Post-Disaster Geohazards Assessment across Cebu Province.

The team is focusing on karst terrains –limestone-rich areas prone to sinkholes and subsidence.

Last Friday, the MGB-7 issued a ‘Subsidence Threat advisory’ to the LGUs of Bogo, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, and Daanbantayan concerning the new sinkholes and widening ground cracks in several areas.

Affected areas are expected to enforce access restrictions, safety cordons, and public warnings.

The MGB has also emphasized that human activities such as uncontrolled development and improper drainage can accelerate ground collapse in vulnerable areas.

Concerned citizens have also raised questions about the safety of evacuation sites, particularly those near fault lines or landslide-prone slopes.

The OCD and MGB assured the public that coordination with the National Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and local government units is ongoing to ensure geologically-safe shelter locations.

PHIVOLCS continues to advise residents to prepare for possible strong aftershocks, avoid compromised structures, and rely only on verified information from official sources.

With the country hit regularly by typhoons, torrential floods, killer landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, by now there should be a high level of preparedness and mitigation protocols for disasters.

The scenes in Cebu following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the province on Sept. 30 show that this has not been so.

A week after the earthquake, many of the affected communities continue to lack the most basic needs, particularly safe water and emergency shelters. The earthquake caused heavy damage to water pipes and electrical and telecommunications networks. With no electricity to run pumps, small suppliers of filtered drinking water could not resume operations.

Among the most telling illustrations of weak emergency response were the images of people sleeping inside plastic bags in Medellin town to keep out the rain. Continuing aftershocks made people fear further damage to their homes. They opted to stay outdoors, but it was clear that there was an acute lack of waterproof tents for outdoor emergency shelter.

In San Remigio town, over a dozen sinkholes have appeared including in portions of the town proper, damaging homes and infrastructure and raising fears of further ground collapse. Emergency responders are just starting to set up tent communities amid the possibility of long-term reconstruction.

The Philippine Red Cross was among the first to provide waterproof outdoor tents with roofing to the quake-hit areas. As of yesterday, so-called tent cities had taken shape, but still inadequate for the many families that have either lost their houses or remained fearful of returning to their homes.

In 2013, such tent cities sprung up across Eastern Visayas following the apocalyptic destruction unleashed by Super Typhoon Yolanda. If the tents, mostly donated by the international community, had seriously deteriorated over the years, shouldn’t at least some of them have been replaced for emergencies, especially since Cebu and neighboring provinces have been hit by destructive earthquakes, typhoons and floods in recent years?

Many evacuation centers in the country are woefully inadequate – in space, sanitation and health facilities and other basic creature comforts. The sorry state of evacuation centers is among the reasons why people are reluctant to leave their homes for safer ground even with the approach of powerful typhoons.

This shouldn’t be the case, considering that the country has been ranked at the top of the global disaster risk index and is among the most vulnerable to climate change. The dire situation in the quake-hit areas of Cebu should lead to better disaster preparedness.

As an innovation-first clinic, Belo Nexa stands as the ultimate symbol of Belo’s 35-year legacy and a technologically advanced aesthetic center that’s set to lead Belo into a bold new future.

A boundary-pushing concept imagined by Dr. Vicki Belo more than three decades ago, Nexa has become synonymous with beauty, technology, and unparalleled patient care.

Thirty-five years ago, the idea of the Philippines as a hub for internationally acclaimed beauty treatments seemed far-fetched. Today, the Belo name has become shorthand for transformative beauty, combining luxury with expert medical excellence.

Where beauty artistry and medical expertise meetAs Belo’s flagship clinic, Belo Nexa redefines beauty through its world-class innovations. Inside its walls are some of the industry’s most forward-looking technologies and treatments, delivered with Belo’s trademark standard of care.

Leading the lineup is XERF Medical Technology (eXperience Exponential RF), a next-generation, non-invasive skin-tightening and rejuvenation treatment powered by advanced radiofrequency energy.

This is complemented by Belo’s trusted skincare solutions, including the ZO Retinol and Blemish Solutions, which remain a gold standard in bottled beauty salves in the market.

Most notably, Belo Nexa is home to maxillofacial surgeries performed by Dr. Dax Pascasio, one of only two trained and certified surgeons in the Philippines.

Under his care, groundbreaking jaw and chin surgeries (orthognathic, genioplasty, mandibular angle reduction, jaw contouring) position Belo to be a frontrunner along with the world’s highly trusted cosmetic surgery centers.

Cosmetic surgery that stands outAlongside these innovations, Belo’s expert medical team continues to offer its signature surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, tummy tucks, and 360° liposuction, a signature method of fat removal that, unlike most liposuction techniques in the Philippines, is not limited to the target area alone.

With the lipo 360 approach, adjacent areas surrounding the problem area are also targeted and addressed for a more streamlined look. This ensures that patients receive a comprehensive range of artistry, precision, and care under one roof.

‘When I started Belo, my first dream was to make Filipinos feel more confident in their own skin. My second dream was to make the Philippines a global destination for aesthetics and research. With Nexa, I feel like we’re closer than ever to achieving that,’ says founder and chairwoman Dr. Vicki Belo.

The innovation promise

Belo’s legacy has always been about staying ahead of the curve. Belo Nexa is the clearest proof that the brand is setting the pace. What lies ahead? More firsts, more science-backed innovations, and the same uncompromising commitment to patient care.

As Belo continues its journey, Nexa will remain its crown jewel: a place where the art of beauty meets the future of medicine, proudly shaping what’s next for Filipinos-and the world.

It’s October once again, and between National Mental Health Month and Halloween festivities, fear is on my mind.

The last time I wrote about fear was almost four years ago, with much of the world still in the midst of anti-COVID-19 measures. I can think of no other time in recent history that was so dominated by fear, in every facet of our lives, than the throes of the pandemic. But even now, when the virus has been relegated to background noise in the minds of those fortunate enough not to live with its after-effects, fear remains prevalent.

I do not necessarily say this as an indictment of the present day. The fact is that fear is simply a fact of human life. It is one of the earliest emotions we experience and, for many, one of the last as well. It is one of the clearest of emotions – we may be confused as to whether what we feel is love or not, but we are almost always certain if we are afraid. Fear is like a gas that expands to fill its vessel, something that we cannot look beyond. We are taught to look at fear as a negative emotion, taught to be brave and fearless and to not succumb to its pull.

But for all that, fear is still something that many of us – as individuals and as a culture – actively seek out or use. Fear is the instrument that many parents use to keep their children in line, to keep them safe. Fear of the law is what states use to maintain order when it comes to those who would otherwise act against (what is defined as) the public good. Fear is something many seek out, thrilling to scenes of carnage and tragedy in film or literature. A catharsis through play, the ability to experience our fears in a safe space.

That is not the kind of fear that we need to be careful of. As I wrote before, fear is something that has a place in our lives – it is the price we pay for being able to imagine our future, and an essential shortcut that protects us from immediate threats. But the danger of fear lies with that very nature – it allows us to act quickly precisely because it is a shortcut, specifically cutting out reasoning in favor of reaction. In the world we live in today, however, reason can and must play a role in filtering what we fear.

Fear is not only biological – it is learned, transmitted and expressed through culture. And what can be learned can be unlearned, or learned in a different way. If we fear the wrong things, the results can be catastrophic: we see that with children whose parents were more afraid of vaccines than of the diseases they inoculated against. If we fear the right things, but to a disproportionate degree – the so-called ‘probability neglect’ where a potential risk produces such an intense emotional response that we confuse the possible with the probable – then we not only risk making similarly bad decisions but also damaging our mental health.

In the modern times we live in, where the internet is a click away – a repository of unverified information and algorithms meant to affirm our biases – if mere statements and anecdotes are enough to inspire great fear, or even anger or hate, then we will rapidly overwhelm our mind’s capacity to deal with these fears and emotions. Fear serves a role, yes, but as an engine of action, whether it be fight or flight. A fear of too many things will paralyze us, prevent us from taking action and keep us from taking the steps we need to in order to protect ourselves and those we love from real and immediate dangers. What good is such fear then?

It is this kind of unreasoning fear that we must guard against, this kind of fear that we must unlearn. Information is not the same as education, and in these times of AI-enabled mistakes and misinformation, it is all the more important that we teach Filipinos to think critically and to cultivate an attitude that values investigation and verification. To take our time before arriving at conclusions, to examine evidence, biases and contradictions. To arrive at our decisions in ways that are transparent and accountable, not just based on tradition, gossip, speculative theories or gut feelings.

There is no shame in feeling fear. Fear is a natural function of being human, of living within a culture. Fear tells us a lot about ourselves, because what we are most afraid of will usually point to what we most desire to protect. We can use our own fear to keep us safe, to change our environment, to better our world.

But this is only possible for so long as we have a fear that acts as a motivating force, not as a shackle. A fear that approximates what historian and diplomat Alexis De Tocqueville called the ‘salutary fear,’ which ‘makes men keep watch and ward for freedom, not with that faint and idle terror which depresses and enervates the heart.’

And if so much unreasonable fear is caused by the unknown, then the cure for it then is to know – to learn, to discover, to educate and empower ourselves with the truth. As the scientist Marie Curie said: ‘Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.’

May we all understand more, and fear less, in the coming days.

The center cannot hold.

Over the weekend, Senator Panfilo Lacson announced he was quitting as head of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. In the days preceding, he found himself at the center of controversy over how the corruption hearings were going.

In the last hearing, we were treated to explosive testimony from a former Marine who served as security detail for Zaldy Co. He described how tens of millions in cash stashed in suitcases were delivered to the former congressman and to the homes of former speaker Martin Romualdez.

This was followed by a massive effort to douse that testimony mainly on the technicality of faulty notarization. But that was testimony made in person, under oath and on the Senate floor. And the story linked all the other parts of the building narrative that plunder was undertaken with the connivance of the most powerful politicians.

Lacson was constrained to announce that Romualdez and Co, the emerging Batman and Robin in this story of massive corruption, were to be summoned to the hearing. The next thing we heard was that the Senate hearings will be suspended indefinitely supposedly to give way to budget deliberations.

That was like a stick of dynamite with a lighted fuse was submerged in water – enough to douse the fire and avert an explosion. For every action, there was an equal reaction: powerful forces were in motion to kill an explosive story.

After this episode, Lacson shifted the conversation rather abruptly. He began talking about budget insertions made by the senators. That, in turn, prompted an unexpected reaction: five senators threatened to quit the majority bloc. That threat might blow up the precarious Senate presidency of Tito Sotto.

Lacson had to eat his own blunder. He quit the Blue Ribbon chairmanship in a desperate bid to save the Sotto leadership.

That may or may not suffice. We will see what happens in the forthcoming plenary sessions.

There were more revelations about humongous insertions made by the senators themselves. Those revelations have brought the chamber to the brink of implosion. The investigators, it appears, now need to be themselves investigated. But by whom?

Over the last several days, the implicated senators began playing sophomoric word games with the public. ‘Amendments’ were not ‘insertions’ we are told. The objective here is not clarity but obfuscation.

We are told that amendments resulting in billions of pesos earmarked according to the whim of politicians is completely legal. But this is exactly the anomaly that brought about the massive corruption on infrastructure projects: legislators playing gods, directing where public investments should go.

By earmarking public funds for their identified projects, legislators become ‘funders’ in the language of those involved in the actual looting. As ‘funders,’ they are entitled to as much as 25 percent in commissions – considered as ‘obligations’ of those stealing public funds. This is at the very heart of the scandal now razing our institutions and causing public trust to evaporate.

No doubt, the Senate is well on its way to imploding. The blades are out. The veneer of civility is wearing thin.

So desperate have things become that one senator has called for ‘snap’ elections that excludes all incumbents. Senate President-at-the-moment Tito Sotto says this will be an invitation to chaos.

But, Mr. Senator, the country is already in chaos. There are people calling for the early establishment of a ‘revolutionary government’ to enable the nation to slip out of a bankrupt constitutional order designed to plunder.

When a horse breaks a leg, it is considered an act of mercy to put it out of its misery with a bullet to the head. All the legs of our badly designed constitutional order are broken.

What is happening in the Senate is merely the most imminent breaking point in a long fault line. After this chamber implodes, other meltdowns could happen.

What is unfolding before our eyes is the whole system of patronage, where institutions shelter their members and the powerful protect their underlings, is cracking up. Public vigilance is unmasking the hypocrisy of the ruling elite. Scandal is paralyzing the ability of the powerful to shelter their corrupt underlings.

It is simply that the system of patronage that masqueraded as a democracy has now become unsustainable. The system of corrupt politics bled our nation dry. The nation now has no more blood to give.

We are in a classic revolutionary situation. But, as the theoretician Antonio Gramsci put it, the old order is dying; and the new one could not yet be born.

Therefore, we find ourselves in a historic purgatory. The ruling elites, including the most pretentious ‘reformers,’ have lost all credence. They struggle to remain afloat by putting the others down. In the end, the whole nation drowns: the failed government complements the failed economy.

All the corruption that has happened takes a toll on all of us far more profound than what conventional accountants can measure. We suffer the daily grind in the most brutal circumstances in a society founded on meanness. We have difficulty envisioning a hopeful future for our people.

The first sentence above comes from that poem by William Butler Yeats called ‘The Second Coming.’ A fuller quote reads: ‘Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.’

Newcomer Simon Enriquez and veteran Maricar Camacho showed the way in the PUMA Manila Half Marathon 2025 last Sunday at SM Mall of Asia Complex.

Enriquez came out of nowhere and snared the pole position in the men’s division, finishing the course in one hour, 23 minutes and five seconds, while Camacho was magnificent as always, crossing the tape in one hour, 30 minutes, and 54 seconds.

Following suit in the men’s side are Joram Lava (1:24:23) and Moiselle Angelo Alforque (1:25:22) while Jennelyn Isibido (1:37:11) and Danica Shasha Tan (1:48:34) made the podium in the women’s category.

Their victories were a rousing kickoff to the PUMA Philippine Half Series 2025, celebrating speed, endurance, and style under the iconic PUMA brand.

‘The PUMA Manila Half Marathon marks the start of an exciting journey for Filipino runners,’ said RUNRIO general manager Andrew Neri. ‘This is more than just a race – it’s about performance, passion, and pushing boundaries, all in the spirit of PUMA.’

The energy was electric from start to finish as participants raced through Manila’s scenic routes showcasing both grit and community spirit in this race supported by the Department of Tourism and has Gatorade as official sports drink.

Rico Jay Patanao (32:44) topped the men’s 10K with Cymon Richard De Jesus (38:15) and Roilan Develasco (38:47) chasing him. Meanwhile, Christine Hallasgo (38:32) was head and shoulders in front of the field as she was followed by Maria Jonna Lina Abutas (42:54) and Brizeth Deriquito (45:18).

Junel Gabotia (17:21) was the first in the men’s 5K, with Michael Dave Bognadon (18:57) and Manuel Tayoto (21:05) making the top three, while Jolly Ann Ballester (24:01) got the win in the women’s category in front of Thea Marie Ba-ay (27:07) and Geraldine Rose Anonas (27:09).

The PUMA Manila Half Marathon 2025 also has Cristalino Spring, Lanson Place, Mall Of Asia, Citadines Bay City Manila, Devant, Salonpas, Rev* Shokz powered by Digital Walker, Century Tuna, San Mig Light, Monde Nissin, Ciele Athletics, Milcu, Singlife, Unilab, Hey! Salad, Leslie’s, Universal Robina Corporation, Gu Energy PH, Dailyfix and Galinco as sponsors.

Following Manila, the PUMA Philippine Half Series 2025 continues its run across the country with stops in Davao (October 19), Cebu (October 26), Cagayan de Oro (November 23), Iloilo (November 30) and the Grand Finale in Clark (December 14).

A portion of the P160 million in taxes collected from flood control projects in Manila will be given to public school teachers in the city, Mayor Isko Moreno announced yesterday.

Moreno said public school teachers and non-teaching personnel would start receiving today their long-delayed allowances.

A payout of P25 million will be allotted to around 11,000 teachers and non-teaching staff under the Schools Division Office of Manila. Another P58 million will be paid to the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Moreno said the taxes collected from contractors of flood control projects in the city would help ‘cover the city’s arrears to educators since April.’

OREO, the world’s beloved cookie brand, has dropped yet another jaw-dropping collab. Strap on your dancing shoes because OREO x Babymonster is here to hit you up with a taste so good, it makes you dance. The launch is a bold fandom-first collaboration designed to turn the taste of an OREO into a dance party.

This latest drop marks a continuation of OREO’s legacy of culture-defining partnerships, following high-profile collaborations that have captivated fans around the globe. With Babymonster’s signature charisma and OREO’s crave-worthy taste, the OREO x Babymonster collab is set to take over snack aisles and social feeds across Southeast Asia.

A global first twist: The playful #TwistLickDance revolution

Consumers across the world are familiar with OREO’s beloved Twist, Lick, Dunk ritual. But OREO is switching up the track for this latest collaboration.

In a first for the brand, OREO x Babymonster grooves to a new beat, putting a playful twist to the classic dunk ritual: Introducing the #TwistLickDance moment. With a bespoke song released by OREO and original choreography performed by Babymonster, the #TwistLickDance challenge invites Monstiez across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia to rediscover their sense of rhythm with a bite of the all-new OREO taste.

Earlier in the month, K-Pop fandoms were buzzing with speculation after a leaked clip showed the band moving without their usual monster energy. In an official reveal on OREO’s brand pages on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok, fans found out that all Babymonster needed to regain their signature electric moves was a bite of an OREO.

‘This collaboration puts us right on the pulse of culture,’ said Lucas Levy, Mondelez senior director of marketing, Southeast Asia.

‘By bringing together the playful spirit of OREO and the global energy of the new generation K-pop icons Babymonster, we’re creating a shared moment where music, movement and taste collide. With Babymonster, we’re reimagining OREO’s iconic ritual into a #TwistLickDance revolution that resonates with a new generation of fans.’

Taste the drop: New taste, bold colors and fan-favorite collectibles

For the first time in Southeast Asia, OREO has partnered with a global artist to co-create the cookie experience from the inside out.

Inspired by one of Korea’s hottest dessert trends, OREO reveals the limited-edition OREO Babymonster Marshmallow Flavored Crème, in celebration of Babymonster bold identity.

OREO will also debut custom cookies personally designed by Babymonster members.

Each OREO x Babymonster multipack comes with exclusive collectible photocards of the band members. Available in-stores in fan-favorite core flavors of Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and the limited-edition Red Sandwich Cookies, MONSTIEZ can get ahold of these photocards with purchase of an OREO x Babymonster multipack. Collect all seven to complete the set and certify your place as a Babymonster superfan!

Stay playful with local activations

To celebrate the launch, OREO will roll out activities across Southeast Asia, starting with local activations and experiences curated specially for each market. In the Philippines, the grand launch event will happen on October 18 at Market! Market! in Taguig City.