Category: Philippine Star

Authorities have pegged the damage caused by the recent typhoons and floods in the agriculture sector in Central Luzon and Negros Occidental at more than P87 million.

In a report, the Central Luzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported more than P30 million worth of rice crops destroyed in Nueva Ecija and nearly P21 million in Bulacan.

The council also reported P5.7 million worth of rice crops destroyed in Bataan, P16 million in Tarlac and P8.5 million in Zambales. Pampanga registered a loss of P652,863 in rice crops.

In Negros Occidental, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported an initial P2,530,481 in losses to agricultural crops and fisheries due to heavy rains and flooding brought by the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Tropical Storms Mirasol, Nando and Opong.

Provincial agriculturist Dina Genzola said in her report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson that 116.4 hectares of agricultural crops in 18 barangays of San Carlos City and the towns of Moises Padilla, Isabela and Don Salvador Benedicto were damaged by flooding.

Genzola said at least 159 farmers were affected, as of yesterday’s count.

Sen. Francis Escudero took to the Senate floor yesterday to accuse former speaker Martin Romualdez of orchestrating a ‘scripted farce’ to divert to the Senate public outrage over the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.

‘Lalabanan ko siya (I will fight him),’ Escudero said.

His diatribe was hurled days after the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of charges against him and several senators, based on a sworn affidavit presented at a Blue Ribbon committee hearing.

Escudero said senators were being used as ‘fall guys’ while members of the House of Representatives linked to anomalous projects were being shielded.

Reacting to Escudero’s speech, Romualdez said it was a ‘script’ prepared by the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte, specifically by the so-called DDS or Duterte diehard supporters of their family.

Earlier, the DOJ listed Escudero, Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla as among those facing criminal complaints in relation to the flood control scandal.

While former Rep. Zaldy Co was also recommended by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for indictment and prosecution, Romualdez was not among those facing charges.

‘In the past weeks, it’s been very clear that public outrage over ghost and substandard projects is being diverted from those guilty to the Senate and to some of its members,’ Escudero said in Filipino. ‘Senators are being made fall guys.’

‘There’s only one person behind this script and zarzuela – Martin Romualdez,’ he said.

He cited testimonies from former marine M/Sgt. Jay Guteza, who told senators that he had personally delivered suitcases of cash to Romualdez’s residence, as well as earlier disclosures by Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.

Escudero recalled Guteza’s testimony about having delivered 35 suitcases containing cash to Romualdez’s residence.

‘Despite this, isn’t it perplexing that Romualdez has never been included in any investigation by the DOJ, NBI or AMLC,’ referring to the Department of Justice and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

The senator alleged Romualdez had also weaponized the release of ‘for later release’ (FLR) funds and even used the impeachment complaint against the Vice President to pressure lawmakers.

The Vice President, who attended a budget hearing and conducted a press conference with reporters at the Senate in the morning, was present during the session after visiting allies in the chamber in the afternoon.

Escudero, who insisted he has ‘never been accused nor charged with corruption’ in his 27 years in public service, vowed to defend himself and the institution.

‘I will not allow justice to be weaponized against the innocent to protect the guilty. Let’s not follow the script of Martin Romualdez. Let everyone be held accountable and investigated – and this should include Martin Romualdez,’ he said.

Disbarment case

Escurdero, meanwhile, filed a disbarment case against lawyer Jesus Nicardo Madarang Falcis III over his ‘demeaning’ and ‘hateful’ social media posts.

In seeking Falcis disbarment, Escudero cited the lawyer’s several Facebook posts allegedly containing accusatory, defamatory, demeaning, speculative, hateful and/or malicious statements and remarks against him.

These, he said, are ‘all unbecoming of a member of the Philippine Bar and quite unfortunately, against a fellow member of the Philippine Bar.’

He also said Falcis’ ‘unwarranted and professionally irresponsible statements and remarks’ were made in connection with the issue on the government flood control programs, including the 2025 national budget deliberations.

‘Unfortunately, marked by ill-tempered and hateful language, respondent’s tirades in social media betray not only a lack of restraint and virtue expected of a lawyer, but also an inexplicable contempt for complainant,’ Escudero’s complaint read.

‘Clearly at stake is not only the complainant’s good name and reputation, but also the integrity and honor of the legal profession,’ Escudero said.

In a statement, Falcis said Escudero should be the one disbarred for violating Rule 139-B, Section 18 of the Rules of Court, which provides for the confidentiality of proceedings against a lawyer.

DDS script

Romualdez, meanwhile, shrugged off Escudero’s accusations. ‘With respect, what we heard was not an exposé but a DDS script – the same recycled accusations we have long seen on troll pages and social media posts. Nothing new, no iota of truth as well,’ the former speaker said.

‘It was a performance designed to profess loyalty and service to VP Duterte, and to position himself as her ally for 2028. The only service he is trying to render is not the truth, but of self-interest and political plans in the future,’ Romualdez, a first cousin of President Marcos, added.

‘Instead of answering the serious questions he himself must face, Escudero chose to deflect. He did not deny the allegations against him. He did not explain his own role in flood-control kickbacks. Instead of explaining himself, he took the blame game route,’ he said.

‘The truth is staring at us very clearly: the speech of Escudero is not about accountability, but only in the pursuance of his personal ambition,’ the congressman from the first district of Leyte province said.

‘For my part, I will continue to cooperate with every impartial investigation. My record can withstand scrutiny. I have nothing to hide. As for Sen. Escudero, kung tunay na pananagutan ang hanap, sa presinto na siya magpaliwanag,’ Romualdez said.

For its 2025 edition, The Miss Globe organization shared the pageant’s new process of elimination.

The delegates will all appear in three different segments during the final show.

They will first appear wearing Albanian traditional outfits, with a modern twist, custom-made for the delegates by Lilo Fashion Design.

Next, they’ll reappear wearing custom-made swimwear, still by Lilo Fashion Design, during the Bikini Segment.

Finally, the girls will wear gowns of their choice, made by designers from all over the world.

The field will be narrowed down to a Top 21, with one spot allotted for the People’s Choice awardee – the winner of the online poll. In this round, all semifinalists will be wearing gowns designed by Louis Pangilinan.

The Top 21 will be further trimmed down to a Top 11. The eleven lucky ladies will be wearing another set of designs by Louis Pangilinan.

From the Top 11, only five delegates will advance to the final round, where the winner and her court will be formed. Outgoing queen Diana Moreno of Colombia will crown her successor.

The 2025 Miss Globe coronation night will be hosted by Miss Globe 2021 Maureen Montagne and Miss Earth 2023 Drita Ziri.

It can be recalled that Drita hosted the show when Maureen competed for the Philippines, before winning as Miss Earth the following year.

The final show will unfold on Oct 15 (Oct 16, Manila time) and will be beamed live to a global audience from Deliart Association’s channel on YouTube.

The Philippines will be represented by Annabelle Mae McDonnell, who represented Iligan at Binibining Pilipinas this year. Stay tuned!

A potential low pressure area (LPA) east of the country may intensify into a tropical cyclone by Thursday, the state weather bureau warned.

In its advisory yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that if the LPA develops into a tropical depression, it will be named Paolo and could traverse Luzon.

Despite the forecast, PAGASA clarified that as of now, there are no existing LPAs or southwest monsoon systems directly affecting the country.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, easterly winds are forecast to remain the prevailing weather system.

PAGASA said the entire country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies.

Easterly winds will be light to moderate and may bring hot and humid conditions during the day and could result in localized thunderstorms by late afternoon or evening.

Coastal waters, meanwhile, will have slight to moderate conditions, with wave heights reaching up to 2.1 meters. ?Based on PAGASA’s extended weather outlook, generally fair weather with isolated thunderstorms is expected in most parts of the country until Oct. 3.

Areas such as Metro Manila, Laoag City, Baguio City, the Clark Zone, Olongapo, Tagaytay City, Lipa City, Legazpi City, Puerto Princesa City, the Kalayaan Group of Islands, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Metro Cebu, Tacloban City, Cagayan de Oro City, Valencia City, Metro Davao and Zamboanga City may experience this pattern.

Tuguegarao City, on the other hand, is forecast to see cloudy skies with rainshowers and/or thunderstorms on Oct. 2 and 3, possibly influenced by the developing weather disturbance off the country’s eastern seaboard.

Fireworks are expected as the Four-Ball format in the ICTSI Elite Junior Finals kicks off tomorrow at The Country Club in Laguna.

With two high-stakes matches scheduled in each of the three age categories (7-10, 11-14 and 15-18), the stage is set in this Ryder Cup-style showdown.

The Junior Philippine Golf Tour season finale gathers the elite 48 players – culled from two seven-leg elimination series – who will represent North and South squads.

And now, they face perhaps their sternest test yet: A fearsome, championship-level course in TCC. Action begins with the boys’ 7-10 division, followed by the 11-14 and the marquee 15-18 age groups. Simultaneously, girls’ divisions tee off on the 10th, ensuring non-stop action across both nines.

On Day 2, the pressure mounts with the Foursomes (Alternate Shot) format with the grand finale – Friday’s singles duels – featuring 24 matches staged in a winner-takes-all format. With one point at stake per match, the race to reach 24.5 points becomes a pressure cooker of nerves, skill and willpower.

In the event of a 24-24 tie, the stakes rise even higher: one age group will be drawn at random, and each captain must nominate a player to engage in a sudden-death playoff.

Bannering Team North are boys’ 15-18 standouts Patrick Tambalque and Zachary Villaroman; boys’ 11-14 contenders Zianbeau Edoc and Ryuji Suzuki; and 7-10 aces Zoji Edoc and Zach Guico. The South squad will lean on the likes of Alexis Nailga and Luciano Copok (15-18); Ralph Batican and Ken Guillermo (11-14); and Ethan Lago and Kvan Alburo (7-10).

For many Filipinos, the dream of earning a global education often comes at a cost-literally and figuratively.

It’s a dream that often feels out of reach. The idea of studying abroad entails high tuition fees, long distance and being far from home and loved ones. But what if you could earn an international degree without ever leaving the country?

The collaboration between Mapúa University’s E.T. Yuchengco School of Business, School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, and Arizona State University® (ASU) is making the dream of earning a global degree at home possible. Students in the Philippines can now access innovative, world-class, and internationally recognized education without the hefty price tag or the need to move overseas.

‘Through the collaboration, we are able to strengthen our efforts to providing future-ready and globally competitive learning that responds to changing demands of the evolving market. We are preparing our students to be global citizens and this collaboration allows them to work with international peers, adopt global perspectives, and understand how to thrive in diverse environments,’ said Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, president and CEO of Mapúa University.

The modern path to global learning

The collaboration delivers transnational education, a modern approach to learning that involves cross-border ties between two educational institutions. It allows students to take programs and degrees from another university without relocating. By bridging higher education institutions across different countries, transnational education makes global education more accessible to students worldwide. It brings the world’s top universities and their expertise into local campuses and translates their learnings into the context of a student’s home country.

In the Philippines, global education is gaining traction with the government passing the Transnational Higher Education Law in 2019 to expand ‘access to educational services.’ It aims to ‘modernize the Philippine higher education sector and bring international quality standards and expertise into the country.’ This is now redefining what it means to earn a global degree in the Philippines.

The collaboration between Mapúa University E.T. Yuchengco School of Business, School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, and ASU® provides students with access to ASU®’s world-class programs and curriculum in the country. Also, the faculty has access to ASU®’s content repository to enhance their teaching materials and practices. This has eliminated economic, geographic and cultural constraints, making global learning accessible to students in the Philippines.

For students aspiring to study abroad, this model presents a compelling alternative: the prestige and intellectual challenge of an international degree, at a fraction of the price. It helps Filipino families achieve global ambitions without uprooting their lives. Beyond cost savings, it also promotes cross-border engagement, improves cultural competence, and prepares students for work in multicultural environments.

Innovation-driven learning

In addition to the integration of global curricula, what makes the collaboration stand out and innovative is the cultural and knowledge exchange between two recognized educational institutions. Mapúa University, and its subsidiaries Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, were all equipped and designed with respective Global Classrooms, enabling students to attend cross-boundary classes in real-time virtually.

Through the Global Classroom, Mapúa students engage with faculty from ASU® and the ASU®-Cintana Alliance network and peers, helping broaden their international perspective and culturally immerse themselves in an international learning environment. This prepares them to tackle real-world challenges while developing cross-border skills that are highly sought by multinational and international employers.

The collaboration also uses cutting-edge technology to enrich learning experiences. Mapúa’s virtual learning environment, augmented by ASU®’s new and relevant practices, allows for highly interactive and immersive learning.

As technology evolves, with remote working and global mobility changing the face of industries across the board, innovative transnational education becomes necessary for graduates to thrive in the workplace of tomorrow. The collaboration positions students at the forefront, imparting the technical and adaptive skills they need.

A global future that starts at home

Students today increasingly seek advanced programs that offer flexibility, local and international relevance, and global competence. Mapúa University addresses this head-on, inviting Filipino students and their families to invest in a future with endless global opportunities.

As Mapúa University’s transnational education continues to evolve, it sets the benchmark for how other universities around the region, and beyond, would deliver global learning. Technology is continuing to blur national borders, and transnational education is now becoming a way forward into accessible, innovative, and future-ready global education for Filipinos.

The naval forces seized P18.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in two separate anti-smuggling operations in Basilan and Sulu, the Western Mindanao Naval Command reported yesterday.

WMNC commander Rear Adm. Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr. said Naval Task Force 61 personnel intercepted a motorized boat loaded with smuggled cigarettes off Pandukan Island yesterday dawn.

On Sunday, Navy men aboard the BRP Herminigildo Yurong also intercepted P2.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes off Hadji Muhtamad town.

Reyes said the two operations yielded a total of 440 master cases of smuggled cigarettes, valued at P18.7 million.

He said the cigarettes were turned over to the Bureau of Customs here for forfeiture and destruction.

‘The Western Mindanao Naval Command continues to strengthen maritime patrols, inter-agency collaboration and enforcement of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept to safeguard the seas of Western Mindanao,’ Reyes said.

In business, numbers usually show up in boardrooms as balance sheets, profit margins and quarterly earnings. They tell us whether the organization is winning or losing, thriving or barely keeping the lights on. But numbers aren’t just dry statistics. They carry culture, symbolism and – if you’re superstitious – a fair bit of drama.

Numbers are never just numbers. If you step into an elevator anywhere in Japan, don’t be surprised if you can’t find the fourth or ninth floors. Developers replace ‘4’ with ‘3A’ and ‘9’ with ‘8A,’ because in Japanese, number four (shi) sounds like ‘death’ and nine (ku) means ‘suffering.’

In Metro Manila, I discovered a newly-refurbished hospital with the same superstitious practice. They have no fourth and ninth floor. Not even ‘3A’ or ‘8A’ floors.

Now, a Westerner might smirk: ‘Really? Skipping floors because of delusion?’ Look. Imagine being in a hospital bed and being wheeled into Room Suffering on the ninth Floor. That’s not superstition – that’s a horror movie. Smart businesses, including modern hospitals know perception is everything, and if avoiding certain digits keeps customers calm, then by all means, skip the fourth and ninth floors.

In truth, the Western world is also superstitious. They panic over number 13. Skyscrapers often jump from floor 12 to 14, airlines avoid row 13 and some hotels don’t have room 13 at all. Try convincing a nervous guest that sleeping in ‘Lucky 13’ is safe – you’ll need more than a soft pillow.

Bright side

Numbers don’t just mark superstition. They also define achievement. Malcolm Gladwell popularized the 10,000-hour rule as one key to becoming world-class at something – whether it’s violin, coding or running a business. It requires at least 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. That’s 20 hours a week for 10 years.

If you’ve been binge-watching Netflix that long, congratulations – you’re now a master of couch endurance. The rule reminds us of something powerful: numbers measure commitment. Ten thousand hours isn’t just math; it’s a story of grit, patience and effort stacking up over time.

Last week, I wrote about how to measure one’s mastery in Kaizen problem-solving. It’s similar to Japan’s tradition of folding 1,000 origami cranes. Legend has it that if you fold them, your wish will come true. Families often send bundles of colored origami pieces to hospitals, hoping for the recovery of a loved one.

Those cranes aren’t just paper – they’re hope, folded a thousand times. I’m telling my clients the same thing: complete 1,000 problem-solving projects, big or small, and you’re not just doing Kaizen. You’ll become an origami champion in continuous improvement.

That’s 10 hours per project. When multiplied to a successful 1,000 Kaizen projects, it becomes the equivalent of Gladwell’s ‘tipping point’ of 10,000 hours. See the contrast? Ten thousand hours represents discipline to master a craft. One thousand origami pieces represent faith in healing. Both are numbers, but each carries a different emotional meaning.

In business, numbers build credibility. Investors don’t buy stocks using ‘gut feelings.’ They want revenue, ratios and forecasts. In today’s digital world, companies often fall into ‘vanity metrics.’ Boasting about a million social media followers is an impressive tack – until you realize none of them ever buy anything.

It’s like bragging you have 5,000 Tinder connections but never went on a single date.

The human side of numbers

Despite their precision, numbers carry emotional weight. A worker doesn’t think of her salary as ‘P40,000/month.’ She thinks: ‘Rent, tuition, groceries and maybe pizza on a Friday night.’ Dynamic managers don’t see ’15 percent attrition.’ It sees skilled people walking out, knowledge leaking and morale dropping.

Some managers forget this. They talk about ‘cutting five percent of staff’ as if they’re trimming fat from a budget. But behind every percentage point are human lives and livelihoods. Business leaders who understand this don’t just see numbers – they see stories.

So, what can managers take from all this numerical wisdom?

Respect cultural numbers. If skipping a floor builds trust, do it. Math purists may cringe, but most people are fine as long as the elevator is operational.

Pick the right metrics. Focus on numbers that matter. Customer retention and employee motivation rates beat any social media ‘likes.’

Tell stories with data. Don’t just say sales rose by 15 percent. Say, ‘sales rose by 15 percent – enough to fund merit pay increases.’ Numbers persuade when they mean something.

Balance head and heart. Some numbers measure profit, others measure patience, others measure prayer. Intelligent managers know how to balance all three.

Numbers run the world – on spreadsheets, in superstitions and in stories of struggle and hope. Number four means death in Japan, eight means prosperity in China, ten thousand hours mean mastery and one thousand folded papers mean hope for healing.

It’s not just math – it’s tradition with a calculator. Ignore the power of numbers, and you risk losing people’s trust. Respect them – and you’ll see that behind every digit lies not just data, but people, culture and countless possibilities. In the end, numbers don’t just count; they narrate.

In business, the story told by numbers is the one customers and employees believe in – because behind every figure is the figure of trust.

Rey Elbo is a quality and productivity improvement enthusiast. DM your story on Facebook, LinkedIn, or X or email elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.com. Anonymity is guaranteed even if you skipped your math and statistics classes in college.

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines has rejected allegations of irregular activity following reports of unusually large cash withdrawals by contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) involved in flood control projects.

In a statement, LandBank said ‘all transactions were carried out strictly within the bounds of Philippine banking laws and regulations, under full compliance with government mandates and oversight requirements.’

‘The funds deposited in the accounts of DPWH contractors originated from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), released pursuant to the General Appropriations Act as passed by Congress and disbursed by the DPWH,’ the bank said.

‘These funds are legitimate government allocations, not private or unverified sources. LandBank, or any other financial institution, has no legal authority to block or question duly appropriated government disbursements,’ it added.

The lender explained that under DBM Circular 2018-14 and Bureau of the Treasury Circular 3-2018, government contractors are required to open and maintain deposit accounts with banks such as LandBank to facilitate the release of payments for public projects.

The bank said it has fully observed Know Your Client protocols, risk management procedures and documentation requirements in opening these accounts.

LandBank also underscored its strict adherence to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, noting that all cash withdrawals exceeding P500,000 are automatically reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

‘Any transaction deemed ‘suspicious’ at the time of execution is immediately flagged to AMLC via a suspicious transaction report,’ the bank said.

‘In this case, the legitimacy of the source of funds – government releases through DPWH, the lawful purpose of the payments and the KYC account opening documentation of the contractors – have all been properly established and recorded. There was, therefore, no basis under the law to withhold the release of funds,’ it added.

The bank maintained that its primary role is to execute banking transactions in accordance with regulations, not to assume investigatory functions.

While distancing itself from the controversy, LandBank assured the public that it remains committed to ‘the highest standards of integrity, regulatory compliance and public trust’ and is ready to cooperate with any inquiry.

The controversy stems from a Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigation that flagged massive cash withdrawals by DPWH contractors for flood control projects.

Investigators are looking into whether the transactions are linked to alleged anomalies involving public funds.

For the third consecutive time, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) bagged the highly coveted School of the Year title at the 11th Philippine Student Quill Awards.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) finished first runner-up, while CIIT College of Arts and Technology was the second runner-up.

The Philippine Student Quill Awards is the junior counterpart of the prestigious Philippine Quill Awards, which lauds organizations that embody the high global standards in the field of business communication.

Themed ‘Advancing Intelligence with Business Communication,’ the event was spearheaded by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines. It recognized exceptional research, programs, creativity and skills among industry practitioners and students.

The 66 accolades – 25 excellence and 41 merit awards – copped by Benilde came from various categories such as writing, audio/visual, social media, publications, advertising, brand communication, marketing and special and experiential events.

‘On behalf of the entire Benildean community, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all our students, faculty, and administrators who have worked tirelessly to make this possible. Your passion, collaboration and perseverance have once again brought honor to our College,’ Benilde president Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC shared.

Winning entries included works primarily from two groups from the Student Publications Unit: the Benildean Press Corps (BPC), the college’s official student-journalists’ organization and Ad Astra, Benilde’s official yearbook organization and some from the Culture and Arts Unit.

BPC received the Student Top Award for Communication Skills for ‘Setting the bar high: Cloanne Mondoñedo got it when she least expected it’ by Pio Perez. Also nominated for the same award were other entries from the student publication, namely, ‘Shades of Gray: Crossroads’ by Jorel Magistrado and ‘Self-care or self-sabotage? Diving into the perpetual loop of sudden purchases’ by Renee Aguila.

The Benilde Book, which chronicled the 35th anniversary of the school, also took home the Professional Merit Award in Publication in the 21st Philippine Quill Awards.

DLS-CSB has since garnered a total of 479 awards from the IABC since 2015.