Category: Philippine Star

A total of 162 green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings emerged from a protected nesting site along Alona Beach in Barangay Tawala, Panglao, Bohol, on July 16, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 reported.

The hatchlings came from a nest of 192 eggs, first reported to the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Tagbilaran on May 28, 2026.

The site was monitored under the Panglao Island Restoration and Rehabilitation Program (PIRRP) to ensure the eggs remained undisturbed during their 49-day incubation.

DENR personnel, with the Philippine Coast Guard, LGU Panglao, Barangay Tawala, Alona by JPark Island Resort, Bantay Dagat, and the Panglao Municipal Tourism Office, secured the nesting area to minimize disturbance.

Responders initially released 15 hatchlings to assess beach suitability, while the remaining 147 were held for release under safer conditions with reduced human activity and lighting. Resort management dimmed surrounding lights, and flash photography was discouraged to prevent disorientation.

The DENR said the activity supports conservation efforts under PIRRP, the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP), and the Panglao Island Protected Seascape (PIPS).

These include beach patrols, habitat protection, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement.

Bohol PENRO Wilson Henson said the success reflects ‘weeks of vigilance, commitment, and collaboration among conservation partners.’

‘Every successful hatchling represents countless hours of monitoring, protection, coordination, and community support. Conservation succeeds when government agencies, local governments, private establishments, people’s organizations, volunteers, and coastal communities work together toward a common goal of protecting our marine biodiversity,’ Henson said.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Laudemir Salac also thanked partner agencies and volunteers for their assistance.

Monitoring of the nesting site will continue until all eggs are accounted for, with a post-emergence assessment to determine hatching success.

The Philippines and the United States may sign the framework deal for the Pax Silica artificial intelligence (AI) hub by November, according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

In an interview with ANC, BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said the framework to govern the AI hub being developed in New Clark City in Tarlac is now being finalized.

‘Should US President Donald Trump come here as part of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit in November, it’s one of the big announcements that they will make as part of the 80th year of the Philippines-US relationship,’ he said.

‘We are under pressure to make sure that we deliver that,’ he said.

The BCDA expects the framework to be finalized in two to three months.

The Philippines and the US are developing a 4,000-acre AI industrial hub in New Clark City under the Pax Silica initiative.

Led by the US, the Pax Silica seeks to build a secure and resilient AI supply chain.

The Philippines joined the Pax Silica initiative in April.

The proposed AI hub is expected to be a game-changer for the Philippines as the country aims to become a significant player in new and emerging technologies and create quality jobs.

Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said at the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) general membership meeting that the private sector is now mapping out how it can contribute to the Pax Silica and Luzon Economic Corridor initiatives.

‘We’ve agreed at least as first steps, that we’ll work between the Makati Business Club and the American Chamber to…rather than wait and give instructions, we move forward and start to map a path that will allow us to harness a rare opportunity where there is US emphasis on the Philippines,’ he said.

He said the private sector would define sectors where it can work together in relation to the two initiatives that are bringing attention to the Philippines.

‘If we can all build around that, build some momentum around it through our friendships and the relationships we have and the institutions that we’re tied up to, then I think we have a unique opportunity to bring momentum to an important area in the country and I’m excited to participate in that in any way I can,’ he said.

AmCham executive director Ebb Hinchliffe said that the groups have agreed to start working together in the next coming weeks and not wait for the government.

‘From the private sector, let’s start focusing on what’s needed, how do we do it, who’s going to do it from the private sector and let the government join us as is possible,’ he said.

The IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu on August 9 promises another world-class showcase of endurance. But what truly sets the event apart is the extraordinary support from thousands of schoolchildren and local residents whose energy transforms the race into one of the most memorable stops on the global triathlon calendar.

As the world’s top professionals, seasoned age-groupers and rising local stars prepare to tackle the iconic 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run course at Mactan Newtown in Cebu, they can once again expect an atmosphere unlike any other – one created by enthusiastic youngsters waving flags, holding handmade placards and cheering every athlete from start to finish.

The deafening cheers from the sidelines have become as much a part of the race as the swim, bike and run, inspiring competitors to push beyond their limits while showcasing the warmth and hospitality that have made Lapu-Lapu City a favorite destination among triathletes.

Last year, Australia’s Josh Ferris and New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson not only conquered the grueling course but also left with lasting memories of the community that embraced every participant.

Ferris captured the men’s professional title in 3:49:10, defeating New Zealand’s Mike Phillips, who finished in 3:52:40, while Watkinson dominated the women’s professional division in 4:14:22 to reclaim the crown eight years after her first victory in 2017.

Yet both champions agreed that what they remembered most wasn’t simply standing atop the podium – it was racing amid an overwhelming wave of encouragement from the people lining the course.

“I was screaming along without knowing,” said Ferris. “My ears were about to burst, they were so loud. All the school kids out there, all the people were cheering, and it was awesome.”

Watkinson shared the same sentiment.

“It’s different – it’s not just racing, it’s racing with emotion,” she said.

Whether Ferris and Watkinson return this year remains uncertain pending the release of the professional start list, but one thing is almost guaranteed – every athlete will once again experience the unique atmosphere that has become synonymous with IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu.

From the first swimmers entering the water to the final finishers crossing the line, young students are expected to once again line the streets, creating a sea of color, noise and encouragement. Many may not know the athletes personally, but their unwavering enthusiasm gives every competitor – from professionals chasing podium finishes to first-time participants pursuing personal milestones – the extra motivation to keep going.

That spirit of community has helped elevate the Sunrise Events, Inc.-organized race beyond a premier sporting event. It has become a celebration of sportsmanship, volunteerism and local pride, with residents embracing the opportunity to welcome athletes from around the world while inspiring the next generation through the values of perseverance, discipline and excellence.

The national government has committed an additional P20 million in financial assistance for the rehabilitation of earthquake damaged communities in this province.

The commitment was announced Saturday, July 18, by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President during the 60th founding anniversary celebration of this province which coincided with the closing day of the 27th T’nalak Festival.

Undersecretary Athalia Leong, who represented Sec. Anton Lagdameo in the T’nalak closing ceremony, said it was South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, House Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez, and the OSAP, that successfully secured the additional funding for earthquake relief through their efforts with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Leong stressed that the additional assistance reflects Malacanang’s continuing support for local governments and communities dealing with the impact of natural calamities.

‘Magdadagdag po ng P20 million na karagdagang tulong ang pamahalaan nasyunal para sa mga nasalanta ng lindol sa probinsya,’ Leong said.

Leong said the OSAP considers South Cotabato an important partner in strengthening communities and improving the delivery of government services, prompting the office to help extend additional assistance to residents affected by the disasters.

She also commended the provincial government for its unity and cooperation, saying its commitment to public service could serve as an example for other local government units.

The announcement came as South Cotabato marked its 60th Foundation Anniversary alongside the annual T’nalak Festival, a celebration that highlights the province’s cultural heritage and identity.

Also attending the celebration was Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who underscored the importance of unity and partnership among communities across Mindanao.

Macacua said the T’nalak cloth symbolizes the unity and diversity of South Cotabato, with its interwoven threads representing the collective strength that the Bangsamoro also seeks to build across Mindanao.

‘This is also the story of South Cotabato, the story we aspire to write across Mindanao,’ Macacua said.

He expressed hope that South Cotabato and the Bangsamoro would continue to strengthen their ties and build partnerships that could be carried forward by future generations.

Fragmented data has long plagued the country’s agriculture sector, leaving farmers, policymakers and traders to navigate scattered figures that blur the true state of the country’s farm sector.

In an effort to provide more accurate farming data, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is strengthening its collaboration with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said better data collaboration between the DA and the PSA could allow policymakers to make more precise decisions on production, logistics and food supply.

‘Accurate and timely data will ensure that our food security objectives are met. It tells us where production is strong, where it is weak, and where government intervention is needed,’ Tiu Laurel said in a statement, following a meeting between DA and PSA officials.

‘It should help us anticipate what comes next so the DA can be proactive, not reactive, in protecting the country’s food supply,’ he added.

Tiu Laurel also ordered the deployment of more DA personnel across municipalities to allow the agency to gather better field data in real time, improve forecasting and respond more quickly to emerging issues affecting farmers and fisherfolk.

The agencies also agreed to incorporate better use of technologies in gathered farm statistics.

National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the PSA is also piloting the use of satellite imagery and AI to estimate crop production.

He added that the initiative would complement the DA’s expanding field presence to validate satellite-generated information on the ground.

Mapa noted that closer collaboration is essential as the agriculture and fisheries sector remain a vital driver of economic growth, employment and national food supply.

‘We want to assure the DA that we are generating reliable and accurate statistics,’ he added, noting that the meeting also tackled strengthening the capacity of local government units and DA-attached agencies to improve the quality of agricultural data.

Tiu Laurel noted that updating population and consumption data would allow the agencies to project future food requirements, improve production targets and prepare more precise budgets.

The agriculture chief also welcomed the conduct of a new national census this year, nearly a decade after the last one, saying updated population and consumption data would allow the government to better estimate future food requirements, fine-tune production targets and prepare more precise budgets.

Data via satellite

To provide better farm and fisheries management the DA is also looking to tap satellite data, through PhilSA, to expand agricultural productivity, improve climate resilience, boost irrigation planning and speed up disaster assistance for farmers and fisherfolk.

This will allow better validation of farming information by combining satellite technology with on the ground information.

During a meeting with DA and PhilSA officials, Tiu Laurel has requested the space agency to chart where floodwaters naturally pool during heavy rains, which could be used to tune flooding into water supply.

He said that by pinpointing catchment areas, excess water could be harvested and stored for irrigation, rather than simply draining away into rivers and the sea.

He said that better satellite data can allow the government to fund canal systems that will allow rainwater to be stored and redirected to farms during the dry season, where water supply drops.

‘Every drop of water we save is another opportunity to increase production and reduce our dependence on imported food. If we understand where floodwaters naturally go, we can turn a recurring problem into a valuable resource for irrigation,’ Tiu Laurel said.

The agriculture department is also looking to expand satellite beyond rice and corn, towards other vegetables like carrots and cabbages to anticipate any potential oversupply in harvests.

For municipal fisherfolk, both government agencies are looking to create a satellite-based fishing map that would provide fishers with free information on productive fishing areas, wind conditions and ocean currents.

The collaboration could also reshape how farmers and fisherfolk are protected against potential losses.

PhilSA said satellite-derived flood, drought and crop health indicators can support parametric crop insurance. This will allow a faster and more objective assessment on damages and provide farmers with quicker insurance payouts.

Tiu Laurel said the DA would deploy about 1,000 personnel nationwide for field validation by the end of the year.

Charges of robbery and homicide have been filed against two of four suspects in the killing of American marine biologist Kent Edward Carpenter, police reported yesterday.

The charges against Mark Bucog, 26, and Jal Filipinas, 40, were filed on Friday by the Special Investigation Task Group ‘Carpenter’ before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Dumaguete City.

The filing of the complaint came five days after the fatal shooting of Carpenter at his home in Barangay Ajong in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

Carpenter’s Filipina partner, who was earlier tagged as a person of interest in the case along with her sibling, has been named key witness in the case.

Bucog allegedly shot dead Carpenter while Filipinas reportedly sexually assaulted the victim’s partner. They were arrested in Barangay Ajong on July 15.

Two other suspects, Ciem Deputado and Eric Lenihan, surrendered to authorities on Thursday and Friday, respectively. They reportedly acted as lookouts for the group.

The Negros Island Region (NIR) police commended the members of the task group for their extensive investigative efforts including reconstructing the crime scene, analyzing video footage and interviewing potential witnesses.

The NIR police said these efforts led to the identification, arrest and surrender of the suspects.

‘While we have made significant progress, our work does not end here. We will ensure that everyone involved is held accountable before the law,’ Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, NIR police director, said.

The word parable comes from the Greek pará (alongside) and báll? (throw). When you pitch a comparison or analogy, you don’t end with two ideas simply landing side by side. Your understanding gets catapulted forward, propelled into new insight. Last week, we started exploring parables. Let’s see where just one verse for this week’s Gospel (Matthew 13:24-43) takes us.

He spoke to them another parable. ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened’ (Matthew 13:33).

How can a parable take us farther?

First, take note of details. The main character in this parable is a woman. There are many times when God is presented as male in the Bible, but every now and then, Scripture gives us a glimpse of the female facet of the Divine. The Psalmist longs to experience the gentleness of God: ‘Like the eyes of a maid on the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the Lord our God’ (Psalm 123:2). Jesus himself laments, ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling’ (Luke 13:34). And Isaiah in consecutive verses goes from masculine to feminine imagery:

The Lord goes forth like a warrior,

like a man of war he stirs up his fury;

He shouts out his battle cry,

against his enemies he shows his might:

For a long time I have kept silent,

I have said nothing, holding myself back;

Now I cry out like a woman in labor,

gasping and panting (v. 13-14).

The reminder is clear: God cannot be confined exclusively to our categories of maleness or femaleness.

Without scrolling up to the parable again, do you remember how much wheat flour the woman used? Again, details matter, and here, the amount is crucial to the message of the parable: Three measures. How much is three biblical measures of wheat flour? Today, this would be approximately 60 pounds of flour!

Sixty pounds of flour can make 60 loaves of bread. If the average loaf has 16 slices, then each loaf can make 8 sandwiches. Multiply 60 by 8 and you have 480 sandwiches. This woman is feeding the whole community!

What is this telling us? The Kingdom of God is not a private meal for your family or a snack for the neighbors on your block. It’s abundant, overflowing, and meant to nourish everyone-even those you don’t know, even those you don’t like.

This woman took yeast and worked it into a heaping mass of flour. Yeast, in Jesus’ time, didn’t come neatly packaged as granules in a packet. Yeast then was a living, fermented lump of dough saved from a previous baking. And that starter had to be kneaded patiently and thoroughly until it permeated the immense mound of dough.

How can a parable take us farther? We must use our imagination.

Now picture the scene: A woman is wrestling with a mountain of dough without the aid of an industrial mixer. Her arms strain; her muscles burn. She is strong, determined, and tireless. This is also our God-someone who isn’t just lounging idly on a cushy throne but laboring passionately in a sweltering kitchen to sustain us.

From breadmaking, let’s jump to sorbetes churning. My elders used to tease me about what makes ‘dirty ice cream’ delicious: Ang pawis ng sorbetero. This warning never deterred me. If anything, it made the cool treat more special.

From ice cream, we make a leap to chicken pandan. I don’t know whether my palate is just not refined enough or whether I just never had it properly prepared, but I have often asked, ‘Does wrapping chicken in pandan leaves really change the flavor?’ One dining companion had a brilliant answer: ‘You taste the effort.’

And so we return to the parable. God’s work is infused with sweat, effort, and love.

The philosopher Paul Ricoeur once wrote, ‘The symbol gives rise to thought.’ This is another way a parable can take us farther: When we let one image trigger another and when we connect them all together, we are carried deeper into the mystery of God.

But wait… there’s more…

‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.’

What is translated as ‘mixed’ is the Greek word enekrypsen, which more literally means ‘hid.’ The vital ingredient God kneads into the dough is often hidden, imperceptible, tucked away where no one sees. But it is there, silently working, lifting and raising us even when we fail to notice or acknowledge it because we did not exert the effort.

Your prayer assignment this week: (Will you get an ‘F’ for ef-fort or an ‘A’ for ay-fort?)

Watch this science lesson on yeast:

Once we mix yeast with flour and water, the dough actually becomes ‘alive.’ But once you bake the dough, the yeast dies. Is dying always part of the Kingdom of God?

Ancient civilizations used yeast without ever knowing how it worked. They thought it was sorcery. The Egyptians even attributed the magic to one of their many gods. And we, too, move through life unaware of what truly makes things rise and flourish. We credit our success to our own efforts alone or to luck, forgetting to praise the God hidden in the ordinary, quietly at work in the everyday.

Yeast doesn’t just make the dough rise, it also flavors it. But the subtle notes emerge best through slow fermentation. Similarly, the Kingdom of God needs time for its unique character to unfold and for its silent strength to be tasted.

And still, there’s more. What from the video invites you to think more deeply, to consider the Divine in a new way, and to desire to know God more intimately?

Alas Pilipinas men’s coach Angiolino Frigoni is determined to stick with the young players who answered the call in the SEA V Cup in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

‘They have a future,’ said the battle-scarred Italian mentor, referring to young guns who held the fort as the Filipinos beat Myanmar, 25-21, 28-26, 25-22 to finish fifth yesterday at the Candon City Arena.

Alas, which missed the services of key players like World Championship vets Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo and Leo Odiales, wound up with its worst finish in the tournament.

But Frigoni liked what he saw.

‘We made mistakes. But we play every point and I am proud of them,’ he said.

Josh Ybañez, Louie Ramirez, Vince Lorenzo and Lloyd Josafat were the only players who were from that historic team when the country hosted the Worlds last year along with Southeast Asian Games veteran Al-Bukharie Sali.

Jude Garcia jumped from beach volley to indoor for Candon.

A male motorist threw a grenade at a roadside Army detachment in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Saturday night, barely 12 hours after a similar attack in another Bangsamoro town that injured two soldiers and three civilians.

Local executives in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao told reporters on Sunday, July 19, that the bombings targeting soldiers appeared to be acts of by remnants of the now-defunct Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters following the death earlier this month of their leader, Esmael Tingan Abubakar, in a shootout with joint police and Army operatives in Sitio Tambak, Barangay Calsada, Sultan Kudarat.

Combined personnel from different units of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division were to serve Abubakar with warrants for his arrest at his hideout in Barangay Calsada, Sultan Kudarat, from different courts where multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, arson, narcotics trafficking and extortion cases against him were pending, but he resisted and pulled out a gun, provoking a gunfight that caused his death.

No one was hurt in Saturday night’s grenade attack at the detachment of the Charlie Company of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion along a stretch of the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Barangay Macaguiling in Sultan Kudarat, but the explosion that reverberated through the area caused panic among villagers in nearby houses.

Police Capt. Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of PRO-BAR, told reporters on Sunday that the motorcycle-riding bomber immediately motored south of Sultan Kudarat town after he throwing a grenade inside the fenced Army detachment, setting off an explosion.

Security camera recordings obtained by investigators from the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station, led by their chief, Lt. Col. Basher Lindo, showed the motorcycle-riding bomber pulling over along the highway and, from there, hurling the grenade toward the 7th IB detachment before escaping while four-wheeled vehicles were passing through.

Two soldiers, Cpl. Jessie Jay Bulanay and Cpl. Arnel Calapan, both from the 4th Scout Ranger Company under the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion and the civilians John Dave Usman Santiago, Bassir Amban Batong and Pamiya Upam Bulingkig sustained shrapnel wounds in a grenade explosion that ripped through a busy stretch of highway in Barangay Mother Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, on Saturday morning, July 18.

Two men riding a motorcycle together perpetrated the bombing, which also recorded by security cameras at nearby business establishments.

One of them threw a grenade at the KM 450 vehicle carrying the soldiers, who were seated at the rear cargo deck, but missed. The grenade landed and exploded on one side of the highway. The two bombers immediately fled and are now subject of a joint police-Army manhunt.

Army Rangers Bulanay and Calapan, along with the three Moro villagers wounded in the incident, were immediately transported by emergency responders to the Bangsamoro Regional Medical Center in Shariff Aguak tor treatment.

Army Major Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, and his immediate-superior, Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, who heads the Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City, separately condemned the two grenade attacks that occurred within 12 hours.

Cagara, who also oversees the anti-terror Joint Task Force Central, said military officials based in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur are helping units of PRO-BAR identify the perpetrators of the two grenade attacks.

Salanguit said local executives and traditional Moro leaders in Shariff Aguak and Sultan Kudarat municipalities are cooperating with police investigators in validating residents’ tips that the two bombings were retaliatory attacks carried out by remaining members of the now-defunct BIFF.

More than 20,000 policemen will be deployed across Metro Manila for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), National Capital Region Police Office Spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo said.

In an interview with DZBB on Sunday, July 19, Asilo said the police are ‘100%’ prepared for the SONA, which will be held at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. She added that 20,229 personnel will be deployed.

She added that the NCRPO is currently under heightened alert status, with all leaves and days off suspended for police personnel.

Several groups are expected to hold protests along Commonwealth Avenue during the president’s address.

However, no permits for the protests have been issued yet, according to Asilo.

‘Sa huli po naming pagko coordinate sa Quezon City Police District (QCPD), nagkaroon initially ng pag-uusap sa mga grupo at meron po silang venue na gusto. ‘Yun nga lamang po, ‘yun lamang po ang mismong LGU ang hindi pumayag, hindi po ang NCRPO,’ Asilo said.

(During our latest coordination with the Quezon City Police District [QCPD], there were initial discussions with the groups, and they had a specific venue in mind. However, it was the LGU [Local Government Unit] itself that did not approve it, not the NCRPO.)

‘Siyempre hindi lang po sila ang kailangan nating isaalang-alang, ganun din po ang ating mga motorista at mga commuters na posible pong maabala, kung sakaling doon po sila magsagawa ng pag-titipon,’ she added.

(Of course, they aren’t the only ones we need to consider; we also have to think about the motorists and commuters who could be inconvenienced if they were to hold their gathering there.)

The upcoming SONA will be Marcos’ fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address since he assumed office in 2022. His term as president ends in 2028.