Category: Philippine Star

This Oct. 1 to 7, we join the nation in celebrating Elderly Filipino Week, with the theme: ‘Embracing age, living a life of dignity and purpose.’ This annual observance, established through Proclamation 470 (1994), pays tribute to our senior citizens and honors their wisdom, resilience and invaluable contributions to nation-building.

Led by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), the week-long celebration brings together government agencies and local government units to host a vibrant array of activities: caravans, information sessions, photo contests, medical missions, Zumba parties and even a pageant- all spotlighting the strength and spirit of our elderly.

I stand in solidarity with the nation in recognizing the immeasurable contributions of our seniors. But beyond celebration, this week also calls us to reflect deeply on how we care for them, especially in one of the critical issues that come with old age: health care.

I recently sat down with Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ Ordanes to share insights on the services available to the Filipino elderly especially when it comes to health care and he brought up an alarming and sad reality: The Philippines lacks specialized public health care for those aged 60 and up.

Rep. Ordanes underscored this gap as he shared his ongoing efforts to advocate for the establishment of dedicated geriatric wards in public hospitals and the hiring of more geriatric specialists. These initiatives aim to address the unique and complex health needs of older adults that are often overlooked in our current health care system.

Geriatric medicine, which focuses on the special health needs of older adults, remains underdeveloped in the country. Most hospitals lack the infrastructure, personnel and protocols to address the complex interplay of chronic illnesses and mobility issues that many seniors face.

As the lawmaker emphasized, senior citizens are more vulnerable to infections and diseases than the rest of the population and therefore should have access to health care services designed to meet their needs.

As a senior citizen myself, I know firsthand the health challenges that people face in old age. The creation of geriatric wards in public hospitals is not merely a matter of convenience; it is a matter of dignity. Senior citizens deserve health care that recognizes their distinct needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach that treats aging as an inconvenience.

While the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 institutionalizes the access of the elderly to medical services in government facilities, the reality on the ground is far from ideal. Many senior citizens grapple with long queues and lack of facilities and equipment to treat their health conditions, which forces them to either forego treatment or rely on out-of-pocket expenses.

Data from the latest Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAH) – the country’s first nationally representative panel study focused on older individuals, also bring forward issues in this aspect.

Study showed that older Filipinos have an unmet need for health services. About a fifth of older people face difficulties accessing health care services when needed, mostly due to financial reasons. In fact, only 84 percent of those diagnosed with hypertension and 76 percent of those with diabetes are on maintenance medicines. Only 63 percent have health insurance, mostly PhilHealth, indicating a significant gap in coverage despite the universal health care law.

This is not just unfortunate, this is unacceptable. The government must invest in integrating elder care into the broader public health agenda. This involves training and employing more geriatric specialists, equipping public hospitals and barangay health centers with senior-friendly facilities and equipment, and providing priority lanes for senior citizens seeking medical attention.

Mental health should also be part of the conversation when it comes to health care for senior citizens who are at risk of conditions such as depression, anxiety and dementia.

Moreover, a proactive approach to senior health should be institutionalized and embraced not just at the policy level but also in the community. This should go beyond medical treatment for existing illnesses or health conditions but also cover preventive care, wellness programs, information campaigns and community-based support.

I call on our legislators to support and pass House Bill 433 or the Comprehensive Welfare and National Health Program for Senior Citizens Act, which will help ensure wellness programs for the elderly.

Unlike the billions lost to corruption in flood control projects, improving the health care system for the elderly is not a luxury- it is a moral and national imperative. These are basic entitlements that our senior citizens deserve after decades of work and contributing to the nation.

But legislation alone is not enough, ensuring proper implementation is equally important as well. We need a cultural shift in how we perceive aging and elder care. In many Filipino households, caring for elderly parents is seen as a moral duty. Yet this familial care, while noble, cannot substitute for systemic support.

We must ask ourselves: Are we content with a system that sidelines our elders, or are we ready to build one that respects them and their contributions to society?

Let us not wait until aging becomes a crisis. Let us act now, with courage and compassion, to build a system that honors the lives that built this nation. Because how we treat our elderly today is not just a reflection of our values, it is a legacy we leave behind.

Let’s make that choice, not only for their benefit but for the future generations of Filipinos as well.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said there is no arrest warrant yet from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa, who served as police chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

‘Wala ‘yan, until we see the arrest warrant and then there’s none,’ Remulla told reporters Thursday, October 2. (It’s nothing; until we see the arrest warrant, and then there’s none.)

‘I don’t think they want to leave the country. We will cross the bridge when we get there,’ he added.

Trillanes’ claim. On October 1, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who first filed the ICC complaint in 2017, said warrants are expected next year against Dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go, both Duterte allies.

‘Yung warrant, ang ine-expect na lang natin ay dalawa. Isa kay Bato [Dela Rosa], isa para kay Bong Go.Ang estimate ko diyan, baka mga early next year pa,’ Trillanes said in a GMA News interview. (We’re expecting just two warrants now-one for Bato, one for Bong Go. My estimate is early next year.)

Tokhang architect. Dela Rosa, as PNP chief, was the chief implementer of ‘Oplan Tokhang,’ the operational name of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. He said he is prepared should the ICC issue a warrant against him.

The government reports around 6,000 deaths under the drug war. Human rights groups say the toll could be as high as 30,000, most of them small-time users and pushers.

Members of the promising P-pop boy group AJAA wear their hearts on their sleeves with the release of their latest single, ‘Ako Na,’ which topped on iTunes Philippines. It is now available on all streaming platforms.

The song marks their first single under ABS-CBN’s record label StarPop. Its catchy and upbeat melodies blend with hopeful lyrics that paint a picture of being down bad for love and unafraid to express vulnerability and desire to be chosen by the one they long for.

VXON member Franz Chua co-wrote and produced ‘Ako Na’ with Jhon Carl Maniacop and Theo Martel.

AJAA consists of members Ash, JC, Axl, and Alex who made their debut in 2023. The group dubbed as ‘the new generation of P-pop’ released their first extended play (EP) ‘4 Ü,’ which has amassed nearly three million streams on Spotify. It features the tracks ‘Hany,’ ‘Best Day Ever,’ ‘Cuppy Cake,’ and ‘Torpe.’

In 2024, they released ‘BES I LUV U,’ which was featured in Spotify’s P-pop On The Rise playlist. Early this year, they launched the dance-pop single ‘Dedma,’ which has earned over 300,000 streams on Spotify.

Malaysia has officially launched its Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, a major bid to capture the global tourism market by showcasing the nation’s rich cultural diversity and promising unique experiences.

The campaign, themed “Malaysia Truly Asia’ and ‘Surreal Experiences’ was unveiled with a grand ceremony at Encore Melaka on Saturday, September 27.

Officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the high-profile launch signals the nation’s ambitious tourism goals.

The campaign targets attracting 35.6 million international visitors and generating RM147.1 billion in revenue by 2026.

In his address to thousands of locals and over 150 United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN WTO) delegates, the Prime Minister emphasized the campaign’s role in elevating Malaysia’s global standing as a premier and sustainable tourist destination.

The strategy will focus on elevating Malaysia’s global standing by emphasizing sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, immersive cultural and heritage experiences, sustainable nature and adventure tourism and leveraging digital innovation.

Moreover, Anwar emphasized Malaysia’s diversity as an asset that should be showcased to the world.

“Malaysia is a multiracial and multi-religious country, with Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans and others,” he said. “I, as a Malaysian, am very proud to show that this country is unique; even though Islam is the federal religion, it still celebrates the diversity of other cultures and religions,” he added.

Spotlight on Melaka

The historic city of Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was chosen as the key venue for the launch festivities. The selection aligns with Malaysia’s role as the host for the 2025 World Tourism Day and World Tourism Conference, both of which emphasize the theme of ‘sustainable tourism and transformation.’

Historically, Melaka was a major maritime crossroads, shaped by influences from the Malay Sultanate, Chinese traders and later, European colonial powers. This multicultural past is still evident today in the city’s distinct architecture and heritage.

Leveraging this unique identity, the state has set its own ambitious target of drawing 16.5 million tourists with a projected revenue of RM23.48 billion as part of the nationwide VM2026 campaign.

The VM2026 launch in Melaka saw a massive artistic showcase, highlighted by a series of cultural performances and a record-breaking performance where over 3,000 youths in traditional attire performed the Zapin dance, earning a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The celebration’s centerpiece was a spectacular 1,000-drone light show that lit up the Klebang sky over the Straits of Malacca, complemented by an International Kite Festival and a festival celebrating the traditional game of Konda Kondi.

Adding historical depth to the event, an exclusive exhibition on Enrique de Malacca, the local interpreter in Magellan’s fleet, featured rare 16th-century documents that underscore the region’s deep connection to world history.

This focus on a local historical figure directly ang spotlighting Melaka are both aligned with Prime Minister Anwar’s message on the importance of re-examining the nation’s past.

In a post on the social media platform X, he stated that the VM2026 campaign was more than just about tourism.

‘Visit Malaysia Year 2026 is a celebration of tourism attractions, and also an effort to revive the grand pages of history, by re-etching the history of nationhood that was not pointed at and determined through the lens of fierce imperialism. ‘

Alex Eala shoots for her second straight semifinal appearance against Swtizerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the battle between top-10 seeds in the WTA125 Suzhou Open Friday at Sungent International Tennis Center in China.

Eala, the No. 4 seed, and No. 6 Golubic came off contrasting paths from the Round of 16 heading into their gigantic duel for a shot at No. 2 seed Tatjana Maria of Germany in the Final Four. WTA No. 44 Maria, the No. 2 seed, had a walkover over WTA No. 63 and No. 5 seed Yulia Putintseva due to still undisclosed reasons.

But first things first for the WTA No. 58 Eala, who has to recover quickly from a gruelling duel against WTA No. 106 Greet Minnen in three hours and 18 minutes as one of the longest battles in her skyrocketing career.

The 20-year-old Filipina pride hacked out a 7-6(5), (3)6-7, 7-5 win over Minnen to notch her fourth straight quarterfinal stint in the WTA Tour and bagged a guaranteeed $3,450 (over P200,000) purse.

She now has a chance to jack it up to $5,300 or approximately P308,000 with a win against the 32-year-old Golubic in a still-to-be determined game time Friday, pending the completion of other Round-of-16 duels. Her match against Golubic is scheduled third in four quarterfinal pairing at centercourt.

More than that, Eala could move two steps away from capturing her second WTA title in a month after a breakthrough crown in the WTA125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico.

She also made the quarterfinals of the WTA250 Sao Paulo Open in Brazil and the the semifinals of the WTA125 Jingshan nearby, shoring up her stature as one of the most consistent players in the WTA Tour that will also include stops in the Wuhan Open from October 6-12 and the Hong Kong Open from October 27 to November 2.

That bid, however, will be a tough one against the Golubic, who hardly broke a sweat against WTA No. 140 Linda Fruhvirtova with a 6-2, 6-0 win in 61 minutes in their own Round-of-16 duel.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. is finalizing this week details for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO), with the maximum offer price of the company’s maiden issuance expected to be reduced.

The IPO’s maximum offer price is now seen at P15 per share, lower than the previous P20 per share.

As a result, Maynilad could raise up to P34.3 billion from its IPO eyed next month.

‘The progress is promising and we will file the final prospectus by Friday,’ Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said.

‘The market is bad. But we are putting in a very successful and incredible story,’ he said.

Fernandez also indicated that there may be additional cornerstone investors that could come in to join the IPO.

Maynilad’s latest prospectus as of Sept. 26 showed that multilateral lending institutions International Finance Corp. (IFC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are looking to invest up to $245 million in Maynilad as cornerstone investors for its upcoming IPO.

IFC has agreed to participate as a cornerstone investor in the offer for an investment size of up to $100 million in peso equivalent at a subscription price of up to P15 per offer share, subject to certain closing conditions and customary requirements.

ADB, meanwhile, is currently contemplating participating as a cornerstone investor in the offer for a potential investment size of up to $145 million in peso equivalent, also at a subscription price of up to P15 per offer share.

The offer period for the IPO is scheduled from Oct. 23 to 29, with Maynilad targeting a listing date of Nov. 7.

Creamline will open its title defense without the one player it had hoped would play – Jia de Guzman – while PLDT eyes its third straight title in the forthcoming Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.

‘Management has decided Jia is sitting this one out, she’s not playing this conference,’ said Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez during Thursday’s launch at the Discovery Suites.

No reason was given, but there reports that De Guzman has focused on her training for this December’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand with Alas Pilipinas where she is the team captain.

But De Guzman, who last saw action for the Cool Smashers two years ago, is expected to return to her mother club in next year’s All-Filipino Conference.

For the High Speed Hitters, who have won two titles in a row in the PVL on Tour and Invitational, they are hoping the stars would align anew for a shot at a third crown.

‘She’s a good fit,’ said PLDT manager Bajjie del Rosario, referring to Russian Anastasiia Bavykina.

Opening up hostilities though are ZUS Coffee and Akari, who collide at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Ynares Center Montalban.

It will be followed by the 6:30 p.m. showdown between Capital1 and Choco Mucho.

Interestingly, another contender, Petro Gazz, has made it a family affair when it appointed husband and wife Gary and Lisa Van Sickle as coach and assistant, respectively, for a franchise spearheaded by their daughter, MVP awardee Brooke.

It came a day after it secured the return of Lindsay Vander Weide, a Best Import awardee who led the Angels to the Reinforced crown three seasons ago.

‘I haven’t seen the whole team yet but I will see them tomorrow,’ said Gary, who played for University of Hawaii in the late 80s.

League president Ricky Palou said its going to be a competitive conference.

“It will be one of the toughest conferences in the league, if not the toughest,” said Palou, who was accompanied by commissioner Sherwin Malonzo and Cignal head of sports Mico Halili.

Bank lending slowed to 11.2% year-on-year in August, easing from 11.8% in July, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Thursday, October 2.

Despite the marginal slowdown, lending activity remained firm, rising 0.4% month-on-month after seasonal adjustments.

Business loans. Lending for business activities expanded by 9.9% in August, down from 10.8% the previous month.

Growth was supported by financing for the electricity, gas and steam supply sector, which surged 28.1%, and real estate activities, which grew 11.0%.

Consumer loans. Loans to residents for household use-including credit cards, motor vehicles and general-purpose salary loans-accelerated by 23.9%, up from 23.6% in July.

Resident vs. non-resident lending. Total loans to Philippine residents rose 11.6% in August, slower than July’s 12.4%.

Outstanding loans to non-residents contracted 5.9%, an improvement from the 8.1% decline a month earlier.

The BSP said consumer lending remained a key driver of growth, even as lending for business activity expanded at a slower pace.

Mapua delivered a fitting tribute to the golden anniversary of the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ via a 90-89 double-overtime cliffhanger over Lyceum of the Philippines University yesterday at the start of the 101st NCAA basketball season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was a victory that set in motion the Cardinals’ title defense, on the very same day and venue where one of the best, if not the best, sporting moments in history – the heavyweight world title fight between greats Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier – was staged exactly 50 years ago.

JC Recto paced his team with 16 points on top of nine rebounds, three assists and a game-high five steals while Marc Cuenco scattered 14 points including one FT with 12 seconds remaining that eventually turned out the dagger.

It launched Mapua’s campaign for back-to-back crowns – a year after ending a long championship wait that spanned 33 years.

Yam Concepcion likewise came through with a double-double effort of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Clint Escamis, the 2023 MVP who decided to skip turning pro to suit up one final time for his alma mater, had an opening-day mishap where he missed all his five three-point attempts and finished with only eight points after fouling out late in regulation.

Despite the dangers posed by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake, some BPO companies in Cebu allegedly forced employees to return to work, even threatening them with dismissal if they refused.

The BPO Industry Employees’ Network (BIEN) in Cebu said on Thursday, October 2, that hundreds of agents from at least 10 business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu reported labor rights and occupational safety and health violations.

‘Agents were also being forced to report to work, despite their pleas to focus on their safety and their families during this crisis,’ the organization said in a statement.

Other cases reported to BIEN Cebu include BPO agents receiving notices to explain (NTEs) or unpaid days after prioritizing urgent personal needs in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Workers also raised concerns over retaliatory actions, including the removal of attendance incentives, loss of benefits, and other punitive measures such as sanctions and suspensions.

With no regard for employees safety, some BPO firms allegedly blocked their offices’ emergency exits when their agents returned to the production floor after the earthquake, despite warnings of aftershocks.

When they were required to evacuate, a pregnant woman was reportedly not even given any assistance going down flights of stairs.

No safety clearance

Some BPOs also purportedly failed to provide any memorandum or clearance ensuring the safety of its employees when ordered back to work.

While some reportedly offered double pay to agents who returned to work, BIEN Cebu stressed that such incentives failed to address critical safety concerns.

Workers also pointed to the absence of support measures such as transportation assistance, psychological debriefing, or medical aid for those affected by the quake.

In some cases, BPO agents were required to sign memos prohibiting them from discussing their working conditions on social media.

Criticism of government oversight

BIEN Cebu said the mounting complaints and labor violations reflects the government’s lack of oversight over BPO companies and issues of deregulation.

‘The government as well showed its prioritization of corporate interest over employee well-being in their decision to not declare imminent danger, instead passing the decision of how to handle the emergency situation to private companies,’ the organization said.

The group added that if the government can suspend classes to keep students safe after possible school damage, private companies like BPOs should also be required to get building inspections before workers return.

‘The only recourse of BPO workers is to engage in ‘BPO Hopping’ jumping from one company to another in search of ‘better compensated’ and ‘less toxic work cultures,’ only to find out that these issues are industry-wide,’ BIEN Cebu said.

Planned complaints. BIEN Cebu plans to file labor violation complaints before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Tommy Osmeña also offered personal assistance by sharing his contact number, encouraging people to send in detailed complaints.

He said the city would not only file formal reports but also inform BPO clients about the conduct of the companies they’ve hired.

The deadly earthquake already claimed 72 lives and left hundreds injured as multiple buildings collapsed. According to Phivolcs, more than 2,000 aftershocks have been recorded, with additional tremors expected in the coming weeks.