Category: Philippine Star

Many decades ago, the Central Bank (before BSP) launched a campaign to ‘Respect the centavo.’ The centavo was a coin that people chose to ignore.

The coin was often simply thrown away. Some prefer the hard candies supermarket cashiers give. I remember paying a jeepney driver 10 one-centavo coins for my 10-centavo fare and the driver just threw the coins away.

As a kid just learning about money, I was confused by the driver’s reaction to my coins. Apparently, the Central Bank was also perplexed by this lack of respect. It is costing them more than one centavo to mint the coin.

So, they launched a campaign to urge the public to ‘respect the centavo.’ But they soon gave up and stopped circulating the one-centavo coin. It was beyond respect.

These days, we need a serious campaign to urge our officials to respect the peso. our tax peso. It really hurts deeply to learn that they are calling the hard-earned pesos we pay in taxes as basura.

In any case, those pesos won’t stay pesos for long. Those ill-gotten pesos are quickly exchanged for dollars. They don’t trust the peso to store value. Since they have private jets and high government positions, transporting oodles of cash to Hong Kong shouldn’t be a problem.

The lower-level crooks at the district engineer level also have no desire to keep those bundles of peso bills too long. They quickly gamble away hundreds of millions worth of our tax pesos at casinos. Or splurge on high-end cars from their friendly neighborhood smuggler.

Congressmen are the most disrespectful of our tax pesos. When they have private meetings, wines costing a thousand US dollars and up are said to flow freely.

Catered food must be costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of pesos every day.

The senators, on the other hand, are also quite disrespectful. They sought to tickle their bloated egos with a new building whose costs cannot be justified by a government already saddled with heavy borrowings.

From an initial cost of P8.9 billion, the cost has ballooned to P24 billion or about a billion per senator. But it couldn’t be completed at that cost.

Based on the latest report of the DPWH, the estimated building cost has reached P31.6 billion, excluding the payment for the parcel of land and furniture. This is equivalent to more than P240,000 per square meter.

GMA News noted that if based on the Construction Cost Handbook Philippines 2024 of Arcadis Philippines, the per-square-meter cost of a quality high-rise office could reach P183,000.

What happens if a Constitutional revision abolishes the Senate? Public sentiment today favors such an abolition. The Senate has been a heavy expense that contributes more to corruption than the national good.

Then there is the BSP which under then governor Ben Diokno signed contracts to construct a new building at Clark. There is no reliable estimate for total project cost but Diokno is saying it will be less than P50 billion. Given past experiences with government projects, it will probably exceed that.

Does the BSP need a billion-dollar facility at Clark? And the Governor and Monetary Board members won’t even move there although they will likely be given offices there. As if they need two offices!

So, the Clark office will not contribute to decongesting Metro Manila as Diokno claimed. Is it a legacy monument to remind everyone he was once BSP governor?

Diokno said the new building would not be funded by the National Budget but by BSP reserves set aside from BSP’s net income from past years.

A former NEDA chief who was once a Monetary Board member was unimpressed. He said the project is still a wasteful and extravagant use of funds.

‘Better declare them as dividends to NG for building new classrooms and school feeding. It is a socially irresponsible project.’

The former official has a point. DepEd estimates a current backlog of 165,000 classrooms. But Sen. Bam Aquino thinks this number is understated given a good number of classrooms are dilapidated and unusable.

Is a new luxurious BSP building a national priority compared to these classrooms and yes, hospital buildings to provide badly needed health care to our people?

The money for the BSP building may not be coming from the national budget but it betrays the distorted sense of priorities our high officials have in the light of our third world country’s basic needs. Total lack of respect for the peso in government hands that should be spent properly.

Speaking of the BSP, it was shocking to learn that the scale of corruption and the sheer volume of cash involved in the DPWH ghost projects shocked monetary regulators.

That’s because the country’s most highly paid government employees are content being stuck in their plush offices rather than being curious enough to find out what is going on in the real world.

BSP officials were oblivious to the fact that the banks they are regulating are complicit in this mess. Worse, it is the LandBank that seems the guiltiest of rolling out the red carpet to facilitate the huge cash transfers behind ghost DPWH projects.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which the BSP governor chairs, also only started acting after the mess hit the headlines. Natutulog sila sa pansitan!

The AMLC most likely acted too late in freezing over 700 accounts linked to the DPWH mess. Given the ease of transferring money to overseas banks, the legislators and contractors involved most probably moved their stash before the sleepy AMLC folks took notice.

All these shows lack of respect for the peso by our officials tasked with running our government. Elected, appointed, highly paid or not, they all seem to be the same. Sad for all of us paying our hard-earned pesos in taxes to sustain them.

Skin concerns are getting on you lately? Whether you have a specific skin dilemma or in need of expert advice, Watsons brings back the DermSkin mall activation at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium from October 1 to 5 to help you achieve your healthy skin era.

The most-loved health and beauty retailer in the Philippines is taking its DermSkin category up a notch with a week-long spotlight on skin health awareness and help cater to different types of skin needs, from quenching skin hydration, combating acne and oiliness, or just wanting to simply ensure a tried and tested skincare routine.

In pursuit of making skin health more accessible, Watsons also joined forces with the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), the only specialty society recognized by the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine College of Physicians that specializes in skin, hair and nails, to provide free skin consultations during the event and to share the latest insights on common skincare myths and misconceptions.

Head over to the DermSkin activation and look for the PDS booth to avail of the free consultation services from PDS doctors at the PDS booth in the mall animation. Drop by on October 1 and tune in to the panel discussion featuring skin experts to learn more about proper care for your skin.

The road to healthier skin doesn’t end there-Watsons also began offering free derma consultations every weekend from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in select stores in the metro. Be sure to visit SM MOA 7, Robinsons Place Manila, SM North Edsa Grand, SM Grand Central, SM Megamall or SM City Tanza to get direct and accessible skin consultation with an expert.

The DermSkin Activation will also feature a wide range of derma-approved products from brands such as Cetaphil, Celeteque, Aveeno, Neutrogena, Cerave, Target Pro by Watsons, Avene, Physiogel, Bioderma, Uriage, Suu Balm and Dermaction Plus.

Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong are getting a salary increase, the Department of Migrant Workers reported yesterday.

The DMW said domestic workers, including those who signed their employment contracts yesterday, would receive a 2.22-percent wage hike.

The monthly salary of domestic helpers increased from HK$4,990 to HK$5,100 or $655. The food allowance remains at HK$1,236 for those who are not provided meals by their employers.

Over 190,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong will benefit from the wage adjustment, according to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac.

The DMW reminded recruitment agencies, employers and Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong to ensure that contracts signed from today reflect the updated wage provisions.

Synology Inc., a global leader in network-attached storage (NAS), data protection and hybrid cloud solutions, today announced the appointment of VST-ECS Phils., Inc. as its official distribution partner in the Philippines.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in Synology’s commitment to expanding its local presence and accelerating access to secure, scalable and high-performance data infrastructure across the country.

As digital transformation accelerates across industries in the Philippines, organizations face increasing challenges in securing, managing and scaling their data infrastructure.

Modern organizations require more than just basic storage-they need an end-to-end infrastructure that combines centralized data storage, automated backup, hybrid cloud integration and built-in cybersecurity features.

VST ECS will distribute Synology’s complete portfolio of solutions, including its network-attached storage (NAS), comprehensive data backup and recovery solutions, surveillance systems, as well as business productivity solutions.

These solutions empower organizations to streamline IT operations, enhance data protection and improve overall productivity.

‘We’re excited to strengthen Synology’s footprint in the Philippines through this partnership with VST ECS. With their extensive distribution network and deep local expertise, we expect connections with more organizations, accelerated market growth and increased delivery of enterprise-grade data solutions to the vast market,” Claire Huang, Synology’s country manager for the Philippines, said.

‘Our collaboration with VST ECS reinforces our long-term commitment to supporting the Philippines’ digital growth. Together, we aim to empower organizations of all sizes with reliable, innovative and future-ready IT solutions that strengthen the country’s technological capabilities and accelerate its digital transformation,’ Thachawan Chinchanakarn, ASEAN regional sales manager at Synology, said.

With its extensive nationwide reach and in-depth understanding of local market needs, VST ECS is well-positioned to bring Synology’s solutions to a broad range of business users, helping them build secure, scalable and intelligent IT environments.

‘As the country’s leading ICT distributor, VST ECS plays a pivotal role in empowering organizations with the right technologies to modernize infrastructure and future-proof operations. Our partnership with Synology allows us to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions that simplify data management, enhance protection and support seamless hybrid cloud adoption,’ Jimmy Go, president and CEO of VST ECS Phils., Inc., said.

‘Backed by our nationwide channel network and deep technical expertise, we are committed to expanding Synology’s presence and enabling more organizations to build agile, secure and scalable IT environments’ he added.

This collaboration is part of Synology’s broader initiative to deepen its footprint in Southeast Asia by strengthening its local partner ecosystem and ensuring easier access to enterprise-grade data solutions.

A year after claiming its first championship in more than three decades, Mapua sets its sights on another one as it clashes with Lyceum of the Philippines University in today’s start of the 101st NCAA basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara admitted the road back to the top would be harder this season after losing Chris Hubilla and Laurence Mangubat, vital cogs in their magnificent title run last campaign.

Hubilla and Mangubat have moved over to Jose Rizal U where Nani Epondulan, who was also part of Alcantara’s coaching staff, took over as head coach from Louie Gonzales early this year.

‘It would be tougher this year because we lost some key players,’ said Alcantara. ‘But we’re hoping our new guys will fill those gaps.’

New recruits are Cyrus Nitura from Perpetual Help, Cyril Gonzales from University of the Philippines, and Drex delos Reyes from National U.

Game time is at 2:30 p.m., which will be followed by the duel between last year’s runner-up College of St. Benilde and San Beda at 5 p.m.

The Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 status in the US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the 10th consecutive year, according to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

A country is granted Tier 1 status if it fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking based on the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2002.

The report cited the Philippines’ efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers, enact new legislation to regulate fishing recruitment agencies and protect fishers and the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

The Philippines is one of only 33 countries to have achieved and maintained the top ranking out of the 188 countries assessed globally.

The Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to combat trafficking, which it said is not just a legal mandate but a shared moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable from abuse and exploitation.

‘There is no place for complacency in our justice system. This Tier 1 ranking is a beacon of light, an impetus for our sustained efforts,’ Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who also chairs the IACAT, said.

‘This fight is not only for our fellow Filipino nationals whose vulnerabilities have been taken advantage of, abused and exploited, this fight is for all of humanity,’ he added.

However, despite the Tier 1 ranking, the report flagged some alleged lapses by the Philippine government.

‘Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not identify the vast majority of potential trafficking victims among individuals exploited in online scam operations despite widespread reporting indicating these individuals faced conditions indicative of trafficking,’ it said.

It also noted that the government did not report any foreign victims. Furthermore, the report said the government did not adequately and consistently screen potential trafficking victims of online scam operations.

‘Due to insufficient screening for trafficking, especially among individuals exploited in online scam operations, authorities did not take effective measures to prevent the inappropriate penalization of potential victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked,’ it said.

‘The government identified fewer victims, and some officials did not use trauma-informed practices in victim identification,’ it said.

‘Corruption and official complicity in trafficking remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year,’ it added.

The report cited the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who is being prosecuted for violation of anti-trafficking law, particularly her alleged complicity in human trafficking through an online scam operation in her jurisdiction. Guo also faces money laundering charges.

The report said authorities arrested thousands of Filipino and foreign nationals involved in online scam operations under the guise of POGOs.

Authorities also initiated an administrative investigation of a mayor, vice mayor and seven municipal council members for alleged complicity in human trafficking within an online scam operation in Porac, Pampanga.

‘The mayor reportedly received an administrative sanction and the government did not report updates on any of the other cases,’ the report said.

A group of ship operators is demanding the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to look into possible violations of some vessels on gross tonnage that could be risky for passengers.

In a letter, the Bicol Roro Shipping Operators Association asked MARINA to investigate what it views as a proliferating practice among some shipowners to underreport their tonnage.

The letter, addressed to MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan, detailed how some shipowners are misreporting their tonnage to place their vessels on lower regulation.

The association, represented by legal counsel Lyndon Ancajas Jr., said such a practice allows the shipowners to avoid stricter rules on manning and safety protocols. It also reduces statutory fees that they have to pay to regulators.

Based on the group’s monitoring, several cargo vessels were found to be underreporting tonnage compared to its actual weight on voyage.

Ancajas said MARINA could no longer dismiss this as a clerical error given how many times it has happened.

‘Accurate declaration of vessel size and engine power is fundamental to seaworthiness, correct manning, proper safety equipment and equitable fee assessment,’ Ancajas said.

‘If the allegations are proven, passengers and crew are being placed at unacceptable risks, while compliant operators and the state incur the unfair losses,’ he added.

For the government, Ancajas said tonnage misdeclaration leads to revenue losses, including for MARINA (coastwise charges) and the Philippine Ports Authority (port fees).

As such, the association wants MARINA to audit vessels to correctly identify their tonnage. The group said MARINA should conduct physical inspections to verify if a ship is complying or not.

The association is hoping that MARINA can suspend vessels that are guilty of misdeclaration until their documents are corrected. It also requested MARINA to properly classify these ships.

The group is also seeking to engage the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to relay concerns that some foreign regulators, particularly in China, are involved in the misdeclaration scheme.

The Bicol Roro Shipping Operators Association represents roll-on, roll-off and inter-island ferry operators in the Bicol Region, one of the most crucial regions for sea travel given its proximity to nautical highways.

The TNT Tropang 5G and the PLDT High Speed Hitters, who have recently won titles in the PBA and the PVL, are joining forces to treat fans to a day of celebration.

‘Champions Together’, a fan-focused event to be graced by both champion squads, is slated October 6 at the One Ayala Mall Activity Center in Makati City.

The whole-day event, which is open to everyone, will begin at 12 p.m. and will also feature activity booths, interactive challenges and exciting game zones

Those who complete all the stamps on their ‘Champions Together’ activity passport will also unlock a chance to snag exclusive merch, score autographs, and snap photos with their idol players and coaches from the two powerhouse teams when the program starts at 6 p.m.

For those who can’t attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed for free exclusively on PusoP.Com: Your Game, Your Community.

In a press statement, the PLDT Group said the activity underscores its broader mission to support Philippine sports and connect communities through meaningful and memorable on-ground and online experiences.

‘Sports have the unique power to connect and inspire communities. Through ‘Champions Together,’ we are not just celebrating the teams’ dedication and hard work but also honoring the unwavering support of the fans who fuel their success,’ said Jude Turcuato, first vice president and head of sports at PLDT and Smart.

‘We thank our management for this amazing opportunity to give back to our Ka-Tropas, who have always been our source of strength and inspiration in every game. We can’t wait to see them and thank them personally,’ said TNT team captain Roger Pogoy.

‘The fans are a huge part of our journey, and we can’t wait to share this special day with them. We hope to see everyone join the fun and cheer with us as we get ready for the new season,’ added High Speed Hitters skipper Kath Arado.

For updates, follow the official Puso Pilipinas and Smart Sports accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

Newly-installed Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has directed a structural assessment of all churches and rectories under his archdiocese following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu.

The newly-appointed prelate issued the instruction on Tuesday, September 30, after the earthquake, which damaged several churches in Cebu and left multiple deaths.

He also instructed parishes in the northern part of Cebu that were severely affected by the seismic activity to refrain from using their church buildings.

‘To the parishes in the North that have been gravely affected, you are asked to refrain from using your churches for the celebration of the Holy Mass until the proper experts have carried out the assessment and declared the structures safe for use,’ Uy’s statement read.

‘We continue to pray to our Loving Father for calmness and strength in the midst of these trials. We entrust ourselves, our families, and our communities into His merciful hands. May the Lord shelter us under His wings, protect us from every harm, and guide us to safety and peace,’ he added.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially recorded the earthquake at magnitude 6.7 but later revised it to 6.9.

The quake occurred at 9:59 p.m., with the epicenter located five kilometers deep, 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu.

Damaged churches. One of the damaged churches is the Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Bantayan Island, the oldest church in Visayas and Mindanao. Its top portion had collapsed.

The church was first built in 1580, while the construction of the current structure began in 1839 and was completed in 1863.

St. Martin de Porres Parish in Ilihan, Cebu, also suffered damage to its walls and roof, while San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Remigio, Cebu, sustained a ruined altar following the tremors.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima also sustained substantial structural damage.

Casualties. According to a Facebook post by the Cebu People’s Action Center, 22 people have been confirmed dead after the earthquake.

However, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least 26 people were killed and 147 others injured.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-CEVRO) has begun inspecting billion-peso flood control projects in Cebu’s 7th District amid growing questions over their scope and implementation.

On September 30, NBI agents visited Malabuyoc, particularly Barangays Mindanao, Montañeza, and Sorsogon, to check projects handled by QM Builders, Q Con (Quirante Construction Corp.), and Legacy Construction Corp.

DPWH engineer Jimmy Jacaban, who accompanied the agents, said at least six sections in Malabuyoc were already ‘good as done’ and had helped prevent severe flooding in low-lying areas.

Despite the controversy that triggered the ongoing investigation, local officials strongly defended the flood control initiatives.

Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica said the projects were long overdue for small towns in the district.

‘Ako as Mayor sa Dumanjug and part of the 7th District, I’m very proud nga natagad gayud ang mga problema sa distrito labi na sa among lungsod,’ he said.

He recalled the devastation of Typhoon Odette, which washed out national roads in Alegria and Malabuyoc, as well as earlier disasters such as Typhoon Sinyal in Ronda and Dumanjug, as proof of the need for flood mitigation.

‘Daghan ang nabuhat nga kaayohan sa flood control diri sa among distrito,’ he said, adding that lives have already been saved because of these projects.

Gica dismissed allegations of ghost projects. ‘Wala juy ghost project dinhi unya gitarong jud og trabaho,’ he said, noting that works in Dumanjug are either completed or ongoing.

Malabuyoc Mayor Erlinda ‘Edang’ Piedad also defended the P3.1 billion allocation for her town, the highest in Cebu.

‘Ang Malabuyoc dili mahitsura tungod sa Bagyong Odette,’ she said, recalling fatalities and houses swept away in 2020.

She stressed that the projects were implemented solely by the DPWH, not the local government.

‘Dili ang LGU ang implementing body ana. Si kinsa man sad kong mobabag or dili modawat sa mga proyekto ibubo sa Malabuyoc,’ she said, adding that drainage, seawalls, and flood control systems were badly needed.

‘Gamay tuod ang Malabuyoc nga population pero dako man sad mig sapa,’ she said.

DPWH mum on issue

While local officials were vocal, DPWH 7th District Engineer Edelberto Francisco declined to comment, citing what he described as a ‘gag order’ from Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon.

Reporters were instead given a ‘Media Registration Form’ requiring them to list questions or documents they wanted to access.

A DPWH personnel explained that under the new protocol, all media inquiries must first be endorsed by the district office to the regional office, which will then secure clearance from the central office.

Biggest allocation in Cebu

Government records show that Cebu’s 7th District cornered P12.06 billion worth of flood control works from 2022 to 2025-nearly half of the province’s total allocation.

Of 395 projects in Cebu, 162 were concentrated in the district. Malabuyoc received P3.1 billion for 38 projects, while Dumanjug got P2.18 billion for 29 projects.

The district covers Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, and Ginatilan.