Category: Philippine Star

Two executives have left the boardroom of courier giant LBC Express Holdings Inc. in another leadership shakeup for the company that is trying to sustain its return to profit.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, LBC said directors Miguel Camahort and Jason Rosenblatt have resigned effective yesterday.

Camahort served as president and CEO of LBC, until the courier announced in August that it was promoting chief finance officer Enrique Rey Jr. as its new head.

LBC appointed a new president and CEO to make way for Camahort’s retirement. Camahort left LBC at a time when it was just returning to profit on the success of its cost-cutting interventions.

Meanwhile, Rosenblatt is leaving his directorship in LBC to focus on other assignments abroad. LBC said it may be difficult for Rosenblatt to balance responsibilities if he stays in the company.

Currently, Rosenblatt serves as a partner and head of Southeast Asia private equity head for Ares Private Equity Group, which he joined in 2023 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

LBC is facing renewed optimism that it can stay in profit, as it is now led by Rey who has taken care of its financials since 2015 prior to his promotion.

Rey has served the LBC Group for close to two decades now, having been appointed as director of LBC Mundial Inc. from 2005 to 2008 and of LBC Systems Inc. from 2008 to 2010.

LBC posted a profit of P194.79 million in the first half, reversing its net loss of P251.66 million a year ago. Although LBC sustained a five-percent revenue decline to P6.98 billion, it managed to mitigate impact by slashing costs by four percent to P5.34 billion.

The company is undertaking cost-cutting efforts to nurse its finances back to health. This led the courier to reduce branches and personnel across the Philippines.

LBC projects revenue to pick up in the second semester, particularly during the holiday season, when remittance and shipping activities traditionally reach their highest.

Recently, LBC has received a show cause letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission to explain the delay in its submission of its sustainability report for 2022, which the courier said it is now addressing.

As the PBA met the media to launch its 50th season yesterday, the pro league brought in tow the newest member of the family – Pureblends Corp..

Officially on board after the completion of its purchase of NorthPort, Pureblends is carrying the Titan Ultra Giant Risers banner to start its PBA journey.

Their designated representative to the board, Emilio Tiu, attended the team’s first public function with much excitement.

‘We’re very happy we are formally accepted by the PBA,’ Tiu said as he joined his peers in the PBA board and commissioner Willie Marcial in the event that served as curtain raiser for the golden season that starts Sunday.

‘Since last year, we’ve already had the intention of joining the PBA because of the product exposure and the quality of the players. But we waited for this year because we feel this is the right timing, being the 50th year of PBA,’ he added.

He explained Pureblends decided to use Titan Ultra, a male dietary supplement the company is rolling out soon, for it felt it would be ‘an impact product.’

With a squad led by veterans Calvin Abueva, Joshua Munzon, Aljun Melecio, Von Pessumal and young guns Fran Yu, Chris Koon and Mario Barasi and coached by John Cardel, Tiu promised a competitive Giant Risers crew.

‘I have to admit we’re still young but we have a complete lineup and we have four or five veterans who can guide the young ones. We’ll give the strong teams a fight,’ said the Pureblends exec.

Titan’s arrival is one of many exciting changes on tap for the season.

Four new coaches are making their debut in Magnolia’s LA Tenorio, Phoenix’ Willy Wilson, Terrafirma’s Ronald Tubid and Pampanga Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda of Converge while Cardel, formerly with the Dyip, is on a comeback with the Pureblends franchise.

Aside from Tiu, there are two other fresh faces on the board in Jason Webb of Magnolia and former NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio of Terrafirma.

The PBA has lined up a loaded opening weekend.

On Saturday, the 12 teams engage with fans in a meet-and-greet at the Smart Araneta Coliseum then join the stars and personalities of yesteryears in a homecoming event at the Meralco Theater.

On Sunday, the Leo Awards for Season 49 at Novotel Manila precedes the formal opening ceremony at the Big Dome before Manila Clasico rivals Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia, with Tenorio on the other side this time, fire the first salvo in the Philippine Cup.

‘At 50, we are healthy, we are strong and ready to face the next 50 years, for the next generation of players will emerge, where fans can interact with them in a digital and social media space. The PBA remains solid now at 50 and look forward to the next 50 with much enthusiasm,’ PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said in a video message from overseas.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed 70 criminal complaints against former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and several of her relatives over alleged falsification and violations of the Anti-Dummy Law.

The complaints accuse Guo and her family of misrepresenting their citizenship to establish businesses and acquire real estate in Marilao, Bulacan.

In a statement on Thursday, October 2, the NBI said the cases were lodged before the Malolos, Bulacan Prosecutor’s Office by its Bulacan South District Office (BUSDO).

Chinese identity bared. The probe stemmed from a Senate inquiry earlier this year, which revealed that Guo’s true identity is Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national. Investigators also identified her relative Shiela Leal Guo, also known as Mier Zhang, as a Chinese national.

NBI findings showed Alice, Shiela, and Siemen Guo acted as incorporators in six firms-including QJJ Group of Companies Inc., QSeed Genetics Inc., and QJJ Slaughter House Inc.-all registered at a shared corporate address on Maligaya Street, Barangay Patubig, Marilao.

The three allegedly declared themselves as Filipinos in the companies’ incorporation papers to secure majority ownership of shares.

Co-incorporators Guo Jian Zhong and Lin Wen Yi were also implicated.

The address is tied to a 4,636-square-meter property bought by Alice Guo on Oct. 5, 2010, for P2 million-a purchase now under dispute.

Breakdown of charges

The NBI detailed the following cases against Guo and her relatives:

30 counts of falsification of public documents tied to incorporation papers, a secretary’s certificate, and a 2021 general information sheet.

30 counts of simulation of minimum capital stock under Section 2 of the Anti-Dummy Law (Commonwealth Act No. 108).

Four counts of falsification of public documents related to business, occupancy, and building permit applications.

Six additional counts of falsification against Guo Hua Ping for allegedly falsifying the deed of sale and documentary stamps in the Marilao property purchase.

Guo is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail on separate charges, including money laundering, qualified human trafficking, graft, obstruction of justice, falsification, and perjury.

She was previously dismissed as Bamban mayor over her alleged ties to illegal gaming hubs and offshore gaming operations in her town, which investigators said were fronts for online scams and human trafficking.

Inflation likely accelerated in September on the back of rising food and fuel costs, though overall price gains are still expected to remain near the lower end of the government’s target band, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said.

The BSP said September inflation may settle within the 1.5 to 2.3 percent range, faster than August’s 1.5 percent.

If realized at the upper end, it would mark the first time in six months, or since February’s 2.1 percent print, that inflation breaches the two percent level, bringing it back within the BSP’s two to four percent target band.

‘Upward price pressures for the month are likely to arise from higher prices of rice and fish. Elevated domestic fuel costs likewise contributed to the upside price pressures for the month,’ the BSP said in a statement.

These, however, may be partly offset by lower vegetable and meat prices as well as cheaper electricity rates.

‘Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor evolving domestic and international developments affecting the outlook for inflation and growth in line with its data-dependent approach to monetary policy formulation,’ it added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the September inflation data on Oct. 7. This comes ahead of the BSP’s Oct. 9 policy meeting, where investors are watching closely if the Monetary Board will deliver another 25-basis-point rate cut or opt to keep the key rate on hold at five percent.

HSBC ASEAN economist Aris Dacanay said the decision is finely balanced.

‘As the BSP nears the end of its easing cycle, finding the right monetary stance has become an exercise of making small adjustments,’ Dacanay said.

According to Dacanay, food-driven inflation risks should remain a key consideration for policymakers, with supply disruptions from typhoons Nando and Opong expected to exert upward pressure on prices.

He also said that the extension of the government’s 60-day rice import ban by President Marcos could also add to these pressures in the coming months.

At the same time, there is still limited evidence that the economy is losing momentum. The recent depreciation of the peso against the dollar may likewise temper the BSP’s appetite for further easing, as it raises the risk of higher import costs feeding into inflation.

‘That said, we are penciling in a rate hold next week wherein the BSP keeps its policy rate at five percent,’ Dacanay said.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., placed his own September inflation forecast at 2.1 percent.

Despite the uptick, Ricafort said that the benign outlook still leaves space for easing.

‘Inflation could possibly pick up to two-percent levels for the rest of 2025, but would still average 1.8 percent for the year, thereby supporting future policy rate cuts that would match US Fed rate cuts,’ Ricafort said.

He cautioned, however, that risks remain from volatile global oil prices, storm damage to food supply and peso depreciation.

The central bank’s Monetary Board has already cut rates by a cumulative 150 basis points since August 2024, with BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. earlier signaling openness to one more cut before year-end.

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte has filed a disbarment complaint against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, and two other officials from the Department of Justice over their role in the handover of his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The complaint, prepared by lawyer Israelito Torreon, was filed at the Supreme Court on Thursday, October 2.

Torreon, who also represents detained preacher Apollo Quiboloy, said the case was prompted by the officials’ participation in serving the ICC arrest warrant against Duterte when he was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 after arriving from Hong Kong.

Also named in the complaint were Prosecutor General Anthony Fadullon and DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, both of whom were present when the warrant was enforced.

Officials respond. Remulla dismissed the disbarment complaint as unsurprising.

‘It is expected… They can’t hide their displeasure with what we’ve done, or what we have sought to do in the furtherance of justice,’ he told reporters Thursday.

Fadullon said he has yet to receive the complaint.

‘I have not formally received a copy of the disbarment complaint for me to give any comment on the basis thereof. I have to see the allegations first before I can intelligently comment on the same,’ he told Philstar.com.

Earlier complaints. On September 15, Sebastian Duterte, through Torreon, also filed criminal and administrative charges against Remulla and other officials before the Office of the Ombudsman, again citing the former president’s arrest.

The case comes despite Remulla’s recent clearance from the Ombudsman, which allowed his inclusion in the shortlist for the position of Ombudsman.

The agriculture industry in Negros Occidental has incurred up to P6.3 million in damage due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Opong.

Data from the office of the provincial agriculturist showed that as of Tuesday, up to 259 hectares of rice fields in 39 barangays were damaged and 351 farmers were displaced by floodwaters.

Authorities estimated the amounts of damage to crops at P6.12 million, fishery at P182,250 and livestock at P21,261.

Opong affected 12 households in Valladolid town as well as in the cities of Bago and La Carlota.

The office of the provincial veterinarian said that livestock raisers evacuated 36 heads of animals to a rescue center in Moises Padilla before Opong struck.

The Visayas grid was placed under yellow alert for eight hours yesterday after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu and triggered an unplanned shutdown of several power plants.

The alert notice, which was issued when power reserves are low, was raised from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

The NGCP said that power grids in Luzon and Mindanao remained normal.

In the Visayas, the earthquake knocked down 11 plants, adding to the strain caused by 16 other power facilities that have been out of service long before the incident occurred, along with three others that are operating at a reduced capacity.

As a result, 640.6 megawatts of capacity were unavailable to the Visayas grid as of 3 p.m. yesterday, the NGCP said.

Over 800,000 consumer connections across the region experienced blackouts following the earthquake’s impact on 24 power cooperatives, the National Electrification Administration said.

The Department of Energy, meanwhile, has mobilized the entire sector to ensure the immediate restoration of power across affected areas, prioritizing hospitals, water stations and other lifeline facilities.

As Tropical Storm ‘Paolo’ slightly intensifies over Philippine waters, PAGASA has placed parts of Isabela, Quirino and Aurora under Wind Signal No. 2.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, October 2, the state weather bureau last spotted Paolo inching its way towards northern Luzon, about 575 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.

The tropical storm is moving west northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gusts up to 90 kph.

Wind signals

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals No. 1 and 2 now prevail over most of Luzon. No wind signals were raised in Visayas or Mindanao as of 11 a.m.

Signal No. 2 (gale-force winds in 24 hours)

the southeastern portion of Isabela (San Mariano, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Benito Soliven, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Naguilian)

the northern portion of Quirino (Maddela)

the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)

Signal No. 1 (strong winds in 36 hours)

Cagayan

the rest of Isabela

the rest of Quirino

Nueva Vizcaya

Apayao

Abra

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Benguet

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

La Union

Pangasinan

the northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz)

Tarlac

Nueva Ecija

the rest of Aurora

the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael)

the northern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City)

the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands

the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes, Basud)

the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)

and the northern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Caramoran)

Light to moderate damage is expected for high-risk and medium-risk structures under Signal No. 2, while light to no damage is projected for areas under Signal No. 1.

The state weather bureau also predicted heavy rains over some of these provinces starting Friday, October 3.

Sea conditions

PAGASA has warned provinces near coastal waters of rough to very rough seas reaching as high as 3 to 6 meters, mainly in Isabela, Cagayan, Aurora, Babuyan Islands, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Mariners are advised to seek shelter and avoid venturing out to sea under these conditions.

Forecast track

Paolo is anticipated to hit land over southern Isabela or northern Aurora on Friday morning as it continues to move west northwestward.

The tropical storm may intensify further into a severe tropical storm and raise Wind Signal No. 3.

The possibility of it reaching typhoon strength before landfall has not been ruled out, but current forecasts show a high chance of Paolo becoming a typhoon once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea.

Snacking doesn’t have to be about guilt or restriction-it can be part of a balanced diet, so says nutritionist Jo Sebastian.

In an Instagram post, Jo shows how mindful snacking can turn a simple bar of chocolate into a moment of joy and balance-an approach that snacks company Mondelez International also champions worldwide.

Scrolling through Instagram, you might stumble upon a post by nutritionist and content creator Jo Sebastian-this time, in her kitchen, with a bar of chocolate in hand.

Her video is refreshingly real: no lists of ‘forbidden foods,’ no guilt-driven messaging. Instead, Jo invites her audience to share a sweet moment and learn about mindful snacking.

Jo is a registered nutritionist-dietitian gaining quite a following on social media for her practical and relatable advice on food, health and overall well-being.

She graduated BS Community Nutrition from the University of the Philippines Diliman and is the founder of the online nutrition coaching community called HEAL with Jo and host of the Donut Box podcast.

Jo’s goal is to make nutrition fun, easy and accessible with a focus on having a healthy relationship with food and the body!

She admits that she once lived with a long ‘not allowed to eat’ list, which only made her crave and binge those very foods later on. It’s a familiar story for many Filipinos, who-according to the 2024 State of Philippine Snacking report by Mondelez International and The Harris Poll-are among the world’s top snackers, often enjoying small bites up to three times a day.

The difference, Jo explains, is that snacking doesn’t have to be a cycle of guilt and restriction. Instead, it can be balanced, satisfying and even joyful.

Her approach is simple:

Step 1: Tune in to cravings. Rather than asking ‘Should I eat this?’ she reframes it to ‘What can I add to make this feel good for me right now?’ That might mean pairing chocolate with fresh berries or nuts, adding fiber and healthy fats to create a more filling snack.

Step 2: Portion it out. Putting your treat on a plate helps create awareness of how much you’re eating, instead of mindlessly snacking straight from the pack.

Step 3: Enjoy. The key is not restriction but paying attention to fullness and savoring the food.

Her message? Food isn’t just fuel-it’s joy, comfort and part of life. And you always deserve to eat.

This philosophy is one that Mondelez International, the maker of well-loved snacks like Oreo, Eden Cheese and Cadbury Dairy Milk, has been championing through its global initiative on mindful snacking.

The company defines mindful snacking as being present and intentional about what and why you’re eating. It’s about finding the right snack, for the right moment and made the right way.

Mindful snacking goes beyond portioning or pairing foods-it’s also about making space for enjoyment.

Research from Mondelez International’s annual State of Philippine Snacking report shows that consumers aren’t just snacking for hunger; they snack for comfort, connection and self-care.

For Filipinos, snacking is woven into daily life-whether it’s merienda with friends, a sweet treat after a long day, or a quick bite between tasks.

What Jo highlights in her post is exactly what Mondelez International hopes more snackers will embrace: that choosing a chocolate bar or a cookie or any type of snack doesn’t have to mean guilt. It can mean balance-adding something nutritious, savoring every bite and knowing when you’re satisfied.

Because at the end of the day, snacks are not just about filling a stomach. They’re about filling a moment. And mindful snacking ensures that every moment is intentional and delicious.

Catholic schools cannot limit themselves to staging protests when corrupt scandals erupt, but must commit to the slower, harder work of forming students who will reject corruption as “normal,” a senior Church leader told the country’s largest Catholic education gathering on Wednesday, October 1.

Bishop Charlie Inzon of Jolo, who chairs the Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), warned that dishonesty has become so normalized that the youth may grow up believing “there is no way out” of it.

‘Systemic dishonesty has become normalized. Our young people. may grow up believing that it simply is the way things are, and worse, that there is no way out, no escape to this reality,’ Inzon told an audience of some 3,500 students, educators and school officials at the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) national convention on Wednesday, October 1.

Inzon delivered the “message of hope” during the first day of CEAP’s national convention yesterday. He chairs the CBCP commission that supports all Catholic educational institutions in the country and was recently appointed as the next Cotabato archbishop.

Resignation as the enemy

Inzon sees corruption not only as a governance issue but as a ‘cultural sickness and spiritual malady’ that erodes truth and conscience. When citizens start to believe no one will ever be held accountable, he said, society slips into what psychologists call ‘learned helplessness.’

‘If corruption is the disease, despair is the poison, and resignation is the enemy,’ the prelate stressed. ‘When this enters our mind. indeed, there is no way out, no escape.”

He warned that corrupt leaders exploit this despair, insulating themselves with ‘systems of immunity and mutual protection’ while convincing themselves that ordinary people are ‘easily manipulated, bought, and silenced.’

While mass protests and movements against corruption have erupted in the past, Inzon noted that they often ‘wane’ and dissolve once anger subsides. Catholic institutions, he argued, cannot solely rely on these actions to fight corruption.

‘Our intervention should not be only dramatic and episodic through protests, but also sustained, consistent, courageous, and persistent,’ the CBCP official said. ‘We must be vigilant not only in the streets, but in our classrooms, ensuring that we do not fall into the cycle of despair and helplessness.’

CEAP operates around 1,500 member schools nationwide and yesterday highlighted the timing of the convention, which coincided with ongoing probes into anomalous public works projects and nationwide calls for accountability.

During a press conference on Tuesday, September 30, CEAP President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ called on Catholic school alumni implicated in the current corruption scandal to return to the values of ‘truth, decency, social justice, and social transformation.”

Inzon’s message on Wednesday was for Catholic schools to actively shape students not just into competent professionals, but also into citizens who have a strong moral conscience.

‘If our institutions succeed only in producing graduates with technical skills and with beautiful board exam performances but lacking in conscience and social responsibility, then we have failed,’ Inzon said.

Seeds of hope

The bishop also pointed to different signs of resistance to corruption: civic campaigns for accountability, communities rallying to support each other after calamities and youth leading online efforts against corruption.

For Inzon, the mission of Catholic education is inseparable from the country’s political problems. ‘To be a Catholic academic community in this time of national crisis is to live out solidarity,’ he said, urging schools to stand with marginalized communities and ensure education remains accessible to the poor.

‘Hope is saying and telling us that corruption is not our destiny, that dishonesty is not our identity, and that resignation is not the way to go,’ he said.