Category: Philippine Star

Three children drowned while swimming in a lake in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna on Thursday night.

The victims – two girls and a boy aged three, seven and 12 – were playing in the rain when they decided to go to the lake in Barangay Sinalhan.

Citing accounts of the victims’ grandmother, probers said the minors initially played along the shoreline, but later walked toward a deeper part of the lake.

The grandmother sought help after seeing the children drowning.

The victims were declared dead on arrival at the Sta. Rosa Community Hospital.

The Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines (CCIP) reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing consumer safety, regulatory compliance and responsible beauty.

The national organization represents the cosmetics industry in the Philippines, with members hailing from manufacturers, traders, distributors, brand owners, allied service providers, and raw material and packaging suppliers.

The CCIP promotes regulatory compliance, ethical business practices, innovation, consumer safety, and sustainable growth within the industry through advocacy, education, collaboration, and industry development initiatives

Its latest venture is an official declaration of support of the “Elimination of Mercury-Added Skin Lightening Products (SLPs) in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean,” a project of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Organization president Janina Gutierrez-Tan pointed out in a statement that the focal point of a responsible cosmetics industry is consumer safety.

“CCIP believes that beauty products should enhance well-being, never compromise it,” she continued. “We are proud to support global efforts to eliminate mercury-added SLPs and to help lead the conversation on safer skincare in the Philippines.”

Regulation issue

The use of mercury in cosmetics has long been prohibited through regulations and yet mercury-added SLPs remain present in the market.

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration warned Filipinos against several imported SLPs with high mercury levels, reiterating the prohibition of mercury in cosmetic formulations because of its damaging effects on one’s health.

Among those imported products were creams with concentrations from 3,784 parts per million (ppm) to as high as 44,450 ppm – way beyond the 1ppm regional Cosmetic Directive limit.

Regulatory action as well as monitoring by both government agencies and civil society groups show that the persistent challenge mercury-laden cosmetics posit, the latter organizations repeatedly documenting their presence despite enforcement efforts.

Initiatives

A forum and panel discussion on mercury in SLPs’ harmful effects, mercury-free cosmetic formulations, regulatory compliance, and responsible manufacturing practices

Lectures for students and future professionals on mercury exposure and Minamata Disease

Ongoing regulatory updates and compliance education for stakeholders

Sustained information campaigns via multiple platforms

The CCIP aims to engage manufacturers, raw material suppliers, distributors, brand owners, retailers, students, consumers, and policymakers in advancing a safer and more sustainable cosmetics industry.

The group made it clear that an overwhelming majority of legitimate local cosmetic manufacturers abide by strict regulatory requirements and significantly invest in product safety, quality assurance, and responsible sourcing.

The organization will continue working with regulators, industry stakeholders, and regional partners to strengthen compliance, promote best practices, and make sure consumers can access safe, high-quality, and internationally compliant products.

“Consumer trust is the foundation of our industry,” ended Gutierrez-Tan. “By supporting the elimination of mercury-added products and championing science-based, responsible skincare, we are helping build a stronger, safer, and more globally competitive Philippine cosmetics industry.”

Biscuit manufacturer Monde M.Y. San Corp. is spending over P5 billion for a new plant in Pampanga that is slated to open next year, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

In a statement yesterday, the agency said that PEZA director general Tereso Panga and Monde M.Y. San general manager Keng Sun signed the registration agreement for the new manufacturing project on June 23.

Located at the TECO Industrial Park-Special Economic Zone in Mabalacat, the project will involve the manufacture of SkyFlakes crackers and sandwich products.

The facility is expected to commence commercial operations next year and create jobs.

It will also contribute to domestic manufacturing output and boost Central Luzon’s food manufacturing value chain.

For PEZA, Monde M.Y. San’s decision to build a new manufacturing facility within the TECO Industrial Park reflects the Philippine ecozones’ competitiveness in supporting large-scale, high-value manufacturing investments.

Monde M.Y. San’s project registration also shows that the country’s economic zones are viewed as strategic locations for both local and foreign investors that plan to expand their operations.

Monde M.Y. San has been in the business of baking crackers and biscuits since 1935.

Apart from SkyFlakes, its other iconic brands include Fita and M.Y. San Grahams.

PEZA continues to step up efforts to attract quality investments to help create employment opportunities and promote sustainable industrial development even outside Metro Manila.

Zhalyn Mateo scored 12 points, leading Team Philippines’ tough stand in a 20-18, 12-10 conquest of the United States in the 2026 Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia Saturday (Manila time).

Raina Airul Verginio and Aurora Adriano had their solid contributions with six points each as the Philippine handballers fashioned out a second win in the blue-ribbon event and stayed on course towards improving on their 12th-place showing the previous edition.

Coach Joanna Franquelli also banked on the support of Daphne Jane Payadon, Josephine Ong and Shanina Mae Tapawan as they progressed to the fight for ninth to 12th places.

‘Going here, the target was to do better from our previous finish. Our girls are fighting, and they’re on track to achieving the goal,’ said national federation president Ernesto Jay Adalem.

With their straight-sets disposal of the Americans, Franquelli and her team advanced to the next round versus Uruguay, also straight-sets winner over Cook Islands.

The Philippines had its previous win over former three-time champion Brazil – a 7-6 shootout victory in the main round. However, succeeding losses to Greece and Norway relegated the Filipinas to the ninth to 16th place quarterfinals.

In our Gospel today (Matthew 10:37-42), Jesus tells us, ‘Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.’

How demanding! How can we love God more than father, mother, son, or daughter?

Let me try to make inroads into this passage in a roundabout way.

The readings for a Sunday Mass during Ordinary Time follow a certain logic. There is always a link between the Gospel and the First Reading, and the Psalm is always a response to the First Reading. The Second Reading, however, stands apart: it is not chosen to connect thematically with the other texts. Instead, its purpose is to immerse us in as many of the New Testament letters as the season of Ordinary Time allows. An attentive listener may still hear a spiritual resonance among the readings, but this flows from the hearer’s own prayer and experience rather than from any deliberate design.

So what can be the connection between the Gospel and the First Reading? Before scrolling down, try to figure it out for yourself… (The readings can be found here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062826.cfm)

A surface link that can easily be made is between what Jesus says, ‘Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward’ and what the woman from Shunem receives as a reward because of her hospitality to the prophet Elisha. But of course, there are more connections when we start digging deeper.

A seemingly barren couple is blessed with a child. This is a story that appears several times in our Christian lore. It happened to Sarah and Abraham, who met the promise with laughter in Genesis 17:17, saying, ‘Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at ninety?’ Sarah herself laughed in Genesis 18:12 and thought, ‘Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?’ To this laughing husband and wife was given Isaac, whose name means ‘He will laugh.’

It happened to Hannah and Elkanah. While Hannah may have prayed quietly, her lips moving but her voice silent (see 1 Samuel 1:13), God still listened and gave her Samuel, which can mean, ‘God has heard.’

It happened to Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus according to the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James. Joachim had gone to the Temple in Jerusalem with offerings, but he was rebuked and humiliated by the High Priest because he was childless. He withdrew to the wilderness in bitterness, where he fasted and prayed, even as his wife lamented and wailed in her garden. But an angel of the Lord was sent to both, announcing that they would conceive. They would name this child Mary, which, from its Hebrew roots, can either mean ‘bitterness,’ echoing the parents’ sorrow, or ‘wished-for child,’ reflecting their longing.

How can we love God more than father, mother, son, or daughter? By seeing that father, mother, son, and daughter are all gifts, and they come from the one Giver, God.

But wait, we can dig deeper still…

What did Abraham, Hannah, and Anne and Joachim do with their most cherished gifts? When God asked Abraham to offer his son, Abraham did not withhold Isaac from God. After weaning Samuel, Hannah brought her son to the house of the Lord in Shiloh and dedicated him to God. And when Mary was three years old, Anne and Joachim presented their daughter at the Temple, where she grew up.

How could Abraham, Hannah, and Anne and Joachim do this? We can get a clue from another meaning of the name Samuel: ‘I have borrowed him from God.’ We can also say that this is a sign that they loved God more than their children. But I think we should also say that they trusted the Lord so much they could entrust their children to God. You can love the Lord more than father, mother, son, and daughter when you believe that God has the best plans for your loved ones-better than any plan you could have.

Because Abraham did not withhold Isaac from God, Isaac became the son who was the first of Abraham’s many descendants, as many the stars in the sky and the sands of the seashore. Because Hannah dedicated her son to the service of God, Samuel became one of Israel’s greatest prophets. And we all know the role Mary played in our salvation.

Jesus tells us, ‘Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.’ But he also says, ‘Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.’ The ‘follow after me’ is important. It tells us that whatever the Lord asks us to do, God has already done first. He is always walking ahead of us.

The Greek word translated as ‘worthy’ is axios, from which we get the word ‘axis,’ the fulcrum or hinge that allows a balance scale to tilt up or down. ‘Axis’ connotes a balance, how one side is equal to-maybe even worthy of-the other side. But if you think about it, there is a great imbalance between what we can offer God and what God has already done for us. Just one case in point: While God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac, the Lord was willing to die on the cross for us.

‘Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.’ There are two possible Greek words for the verb ‘love.’ Phileo and agapao. There are instances in the Bible when the two are synonyms. But there are also instances when agapao connotes something deeper, a self-sacrificing love. For example, in John 13:34 when Jesus commands us to love one another as he loves us, the verb is agapao. In John 3:16, when we are told that God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son, the verb is also agapao. In the passage, ‘Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me,’ what do you think is the Greek word that is used? Phileo or agapao?

The answer: Phileo. I think we can say that the deepest love we can have for father, mother, son, and daughter is not only to love them ourselves, but to entrust them to God’s love.

Your prayer assignment this week:

Last week’s reflection (https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-family/2026/06/21/2536783/have-you-ever-felt-you-were-losing-your-religion) got me watching the music videos of R.E.M. again. This week, I suggest two R.E.M. songs for you to contemplate.

The first is ‘Shiny Happy People’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOKMUTTDdA). In the video, R.E.M. and guest singer Kate Pierson dance in front of a rotating backdrop of shiny happy scenes. The backdrop is propelled by an old man pedaling on a stationary bicycle behind the scenes. Behind the scenes. For me, this is a reminder of how God is behind all that which makes us happy and makes us shine. He is the Giver behind all the gifts. He is the reason we have father, mother, son, daughter, friend, and lover. How can we not love God more than these?

Watch the video thinking of all the people you love. Whatever their names, call them ‘Samuel’-borrowed from God. Can you lift them up to God as Abraham, Hannah, and Anne and Joachim did?

Continue watching the video until the end. The old man will slow down, but a young girl comes… How can you be like the young girl to God?

‘Shiny Happy People’ is a strange song for R.E.M. because it is unabashedly… well… happy and shiny, not at all brooding like their other songs that tapped into the angst of my generation. But if you ask me, there is another R.E.M. song that is actually more positive and buoyant. This is the second song I suggest you pray with: ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).’

The last part of the long title is important: ‘I Feel Fine.’ R.E.M. sings of earthquakes, hurricanes, wire in a fire, and a government for hire, and other things that seem out of our control. The world is changing. But ‘I feel fine.’ Some have interpreted this as a sarcastic remark. For others, it is about indifference. But for people of faith, it can mean that despite all the trouble that we are in, we can feel fine. We are fine. We can trust in the One behind the scenes, pedaling and keeping the world rotating. He has plans for us that are better than what we can ever dream of.

The Philippines is projected to import 5.7 million metric tons (MT) of rice this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said, as local production is expected to decline.

In its latest Grain and Feed Update, the USDA raised its rice import forecast for the Philippines by 100,000 MT from an earlier estimate of 5.6 million MT, citing output pressures from rising input costs, lower planting intentions and reduced dam levels.

‘Rice imports are projected to increase to supplement lower domestic supply, while ending stocks are forecast to decline due to lower production,’ the US agency said.

USDA estimates are higher than the 4.8 million MT in rice imports that the Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier projected.

The country has so far imported 2.42 million MT of rice from January to June, according to government data as of June 11.

The country’s total milled rice production is forecast to reach 12.3 million MT this year, a 0.8-percent downgrade from the earlier 12.4 million MT production outlook, as rising input costs weigh on farmers’ planting intentions.

Fertilizer prices have surged since March, with global urea prices sharply increasing by more than 55 percent, the USDA noted, reducing farmers’ income and limiting their incentives to expand rice-planting areas.

The USDA said despite the DA providing fuel subsidies and partial seed and fertilizer support to farmers, industry sources noted that these measures only partially offset the burden of elevated input costs.

Compounding rising input costs and lower farming intentions, significantly lower water levels in key dams could pose additional risk to local rice production in lowland areas, the USDA said.

‘Lack of sufficient rainfall substantially reduced water levels in major dam reservoirs critical to irrigating rice and corn-producing regions,’ the report stated.

The DA said earlier that rice production could decline by 700,000 MT in the event of a severe El Niño.

The state weather bureau reported that the country may experience a moderate to strong El Niño by the latter part of the year until early-2027. The weather phenomenon was last recorded in 2024, when a significant portion of farm production was affected due to prolonged dry spells.

Federal Land NRE Global Inc. (FNG) and Fast Retailing Philippines Inc. (FRPH) opened the Uniqlo Logistics Facility at Riverpark North, General Trias City, celebrating a milestone for both companies while reinforcing Cavite’s role in regional logistics and investment activity.

The opening of this logistics facility marks a crucial step in strengthening the operational backbone of the Japanese retail brand in the Philippines. It supports not only business growth, but also efficiency, reliability, and the ability to serve customers better.

‘More notably, it signals confidence. Confidence in the Philippines as a market, in its hard-working and determined people, and in the role that thoughtful infrastructure plays in enabling long-term progress. This facility also reflects how our developments are evolving,’ said FNG president Thomas Mirasol in his welcome speech. ‘While we continue to build residential and commercial spaces, we are also attempting to create integrated environments where businesses can operate, communities can grow, and opportunities can expand.’

FNG is a joint venture between Federal Land Inc. and Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd, two real-estate giants in the Philippines and Japan. FNG is dedicated to building developments that combine Japanese ingenuity with Filipino sensibilities.

The massive, state-of-the-art facility is located at Riverpark, which continues to expand its ecosystem of developments across logistics, retail, residential, and institutional uses, reflecting its gradual build-out as a fully integrated township.

This new logistics hub will hopefully enrich the lives of many Filipinos through Japanese concepts, design, and quality. This year holds special significance because it is the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines under the theme, ‘Weaving the Future Together, Peace, Prosperity, Possibilities.’

‘This theme beautifully encapsulates the spirit of partnership and shared vision that has grown over decades. In this context, the establishment of the logistics facility stands as a testament to the deep trust and strong relationship the [retail] company has cultivated with the Philippines over many years. It is this trust built through dedicated collaboration and mutual respect that has now culminated in the creation of a local presence, further weaving together a future in peace and prosperity. From the perspective of the Japanese government, logistics is a cornerstone of fostering economic growth, disaster resilience, and social equity,’ said Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi in his speech.

In response, Geraldine Sia, the retail brand’s chief operating officer, said: ‘When we say Fast Retailing’s corporate statement, ‘Changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom, change the world,’ it’s not just a statement. It’s a responsibility we carry in how we grow, how we operate, and how we contribute to society. The [facility’s] opening represents just exactly that.’

The facility, added Sia, will play a critical role in supporting the company’s growth, allowing it to strengthen its supply chain, support the rapid expansion of its e-commerce business, and ensure a more stable and consistent availability of Lifewear for its customers across the Philippines. This would mean a better, more seamless experience, whether customers are shopping in-store or online.

In line with the brand’s sustainability commitments, it is also taking steps to reduce its environmental impact, including the introduction of solar power. For the brand, it is about challenging the perception of what a logistics facility can be – that it can be modern, responsible, and people-centered.

‘As we look ahead, our goal is simple, to continue growing in a way that creates value, not only for our business, but for our customers, our partners, and the communities we serve,’ Sia shared. ‘We hope this facility becomes a meaningful contributor to the local community, in time, a benchmark for excellent supply chain management in the Philippines.’

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it has deployed over 9,600 policemen in Metro Manila in anticipation of the White Ribbon Movement rally.

In a statement on Saturday, June 27, the NCRPO said it deployed 9,602 personnel across Metro Manila.

Reports said policemen and firefighters were already seen on duty as early as 5 a.m.

Eastern Police District Acting Director Police Brigadier General Melecio Buslig Jr. said standby support units from local police stations in the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina,and San Juan are ready for rapid deployment to the EDSA area if needed, according to a GMA News report.

The White Ribbon Rally is a faith-based, nonpartisan public demonstration organized by inter-religious leaders and civil society groups to call for accountability, anti-corruption reforms and measures against political dynasties.

The main event will happen at the EDSA People Power Monument, alongside simultaneous nationwide demonstrations.

The schedule begins with a noon Mass at the EDSA Shrine, followed by a 2:30 p.m. march to the monument at the corner of EDSA and White Plains Avenue, where the formal program will start at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, in Cebu, Roman Catholic Archbishop Alberto Uy urged the faithful to wear white in solidarity with the White Ribbon Movement protest.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) has started the sale of the Land Cruiser hybrid variant in the country, expanding its offering in the growing electrified vehicle segment.

In a statement, TMP said the Land Cruiser hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is now available in the market as part of the firm’s continuous expansion of its vehicle lineup to cater to customers’ changing needs and help reduce carbon emissions.

This follows the preview of the Land Cruiser HEV during the 10th Philippine International Motor Show held earlier this month.

The Land Cruiser sports utility vehicle has a strong following in the Philippine market because of its reliability and performance.

Even Land Cruiser variants from different generations can still be seen on Philippine roads today.

The hybrid variant features a new engine that will now run on gasoline instead of diesel.

It also comes with electric power steering, which provides a lighter driving experience.

‘The Land Cruiser HEV is part of Toyota’s efforts in offering different powertrains that address our customers’ needs and lifestyles,’ Elijah Marcial, first vice president for vehicle sales operations at TMP, said.

Rising fuel prices are pushing consumers to go for electrified vehicles as driving traditional cars becomes more expensive.

‘We hope the addition of the Land Cruiser HEV to Toyota’s wide lineup of cars gives our customers the power of choice when it comes to their mobility needs,’ Marcial said.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) eked out a marginal increase to end the week in the positive territory despite the lack of fresh catalysts.

The PSEi inched up by 0.02 percent or 1.18 points to stay above the 6,000 level, ending at 6.072.24.

The broader All Shares index, however, inched down by 0.02 percent or 0.74 points to close at 3,330.35.

Luis Limlingan of Regina Capital said the PSEi ended nearly unchanged for the week as investors waited for fresh catalysts to provide market direction.

‘Trading remained cautious and thin as participants assessing the global AI sector sell-off alongside domestic economic developments. Market sentiment stayed mixed as investors tracked corporate updates and key macroeconomic indicators,’ Limlingan said.

RCBC chief economist Michael Ricafort said the PSEi corrected higher for the second straight trading session yesterday but ended the week lower by one percent or 63.11 points.

Sectoral gauges were a mixed bag, with financials posting the highest jump at 1.06 percent, while mining and oil lost the most with a 2.78-percent plunge.

Market breadth was positive as advancers edged out decliners, 97 to 80, while 66 issues were unchanged.

Total value turnover stood at P8.52 billion, slightly higher from the previous day’s P8.30 billion.

ICTSI was the most actively traded, declining by 1.12 percent to P885 per share, followed by BDO Unibank, which slipped by 0.82 percent to P121 and Ayala, which climbed by 1.49 percent to P422.20.