Category: Philippine Star

Vibe Hotel Alabang officially celebrated its grand opening through a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by executives of Sun Group of Companies, government officials, corporate partners, and distinguished guests.

Leading the ceremony were Executive Vice President Ma’am Ida Ang, Sun Group of Companies Chief Operating Officer Mr. Simon Tan, Managing Directors Mr. Kevin Richard Lim and Ms. Isabelle Lim, Vibe Hotels General Manager Mr. Tiago Abreu and Chief Finance Officer Ms. Roselle Lagura.

The event was also attended by Sun Group of Companies managers, corporate and business partners, representatives from the Las Piñas Police and Barangay Captain Christine Abas-Ding of Putatan, who joined in celebrating the official launch of the newest hospitality destination in Alabang.

The grand opening marks another milestone for Sun Group of Companies as it continues to strengthen its presence in the hospitality industry.

Vibe Hotel Alabang offers modern accommodations, contemporary amenities, and unique dining concepts designed to provide guests with a vibrant and comfortable stay.

Following the successful launch of Vibe Hotel Alabang, the company is set to continue its expansion with the soft opening of Vibe Hotel Buendia on August 8, further extending the Vibe Hotels brand and bringing its signature hospitality experience to more travelers across Metro Manila.

The celebration concluded with a hotel tour, networking activities, and a gathering of guests and partners in support of the continued growth of the Vibe Hotels brand.

The National Privacy Commission reminded the public on Tuesday, August 11, that using artificial intelligence to generate photos and videos from a real person’s face or likeness and sharing or posting the result, are considered illegal under data privacy laws.

An individual’s face and likeness are personal information under Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, according to the agency.

‘Using AI tools to generate an image or video from a real person’s face and likeness and posting or sharing the resulting image and/or video, are forms of processing of personal data, whatever the nature or purpose of the resulting media,’ the data privacy authority said in a statement.

Among the illegal uses of AI-generated faces or likenesses are false depictions of a person’s actions or statements.

‘AI-generated media that depicts a real person doing something the person never did, saying something the person never said, or being somewhere the person never was, is false information about that person,’ NPC said.

Public officials, although subject to more publicity, are also considered data subjects and thus covered under the Data Privacy Act. Their family members, meanwhile, are considered private individuals fully covered by the law.

In the same statement, the agency explained that while a person’s consent is recognized, the processing of personal data must still have a lawful and legitimate purpose.

Without these lawful grounds, any act of generating and sharing AI-generated photos and videos bearing another person’s face is considered a violation.

The NPC reminded the public that anyone may file complaints before the agency if their face or personal data has been misused without their consent or a lawful purpose.

‘A person whose likeness has been misused in an AI-generated media may demand its removal from the person or entity that posted or circulated it, and may file a complaint with the Commission,’ NPC said.

Data Privacy Act violations constitute criminal, civil and administrative liabilities, such as imprisonment for one to three years and a fine of P500,000 to P2 million.

President Marcos directed newly installed Army chief Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran to ensure his troops’ readiness to respond to disasters and develop a force capable of defending Philippine sovereignty.

During the Army change of command ceremony yesterday in Taguig, Marcos said Gumiran’s years of frontline command, from platoon leader to chief of the Western Mindanao Command and his education at the US Army War College, have prepared him for his new responsibility.

‘Especially now, as many of our communities confront heavy monsoon rains and other calamities, keep the Army ready to support search, rescue and relief operations,’ Marcos said.

‘Be prepared to reach isolated communities, bring families to safety, deliver food and other essential supplies. When disaster strikes, our people must know that the Army is there to help them,’ he added.

Marcos said Gumiran is assuming his post as the Army continues its transition toward external defense.

He called on the new Army chief to build a force capable of securing the land domain, supporting joint operations and contributing fully to defending Philippine sovereignty and asserting its territorial integrity.

Up to 149 barangays in Bulacan remained flooded as of noon yesterday due to high tide in Manila Bay and occasional heavy downpours.

Provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer Manuel Lukban Jr. said that floodwaters in the villages of Meysulao in Calumpit and San Vicente in San Miguel rose to as high as one foot to six feet.

Malolos recorded the highest number of flooded barangays with 32 followed by Calumpit with 28, Hagonoy with 25, San Miguel with 16 and Paombong with 14.

The town of Angat reported nine flooded barangays; Bocaue and Guiguinto, seven each; Pulilan and Balagtas, four each, and Marilao, three.

Floodwaters coming from Pampanga and Nueva Ecija flow toward Bulacan before draining in Manila Bay.

Displaced residents are staying in 162 evacuation centers in the province.

Dams’ elevations improve

Most dams being closely monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration have recorded an increase in their elevations while three released water.

The water level in Angat Dam has significantly improved, rising near its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, Angat’s elevation was 175.6 meters.

Angat supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water and provides irrigation water to palay farms in Central Luzon.

Meanwhile, Ambuklao and Binga dams in Benguet reduced their water levels by four and 18 centimeters, respectively, yesterday morning.

Ipo Dam in Bulacan opened its spillway gate, but its elevation remained higher by four centimeters than its normal high-water level.

Operators of La Mesa Dam discharged water after the elevation rose above the reservoir’s normal high-water level of 80.15 meters, to 80.17.

Meanwhile, elevations in other dams have improved, with San Roque in Pangasinan logging the highest increase with 5.57 meters.

However, San Roque’s elevation at 260.34 meters was still below its normal high-water level of 280 meters.

Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija and Magat in Isabela both reported increased elevations by approximately one and two meters or from 182.22 to 183.11 meters, and from 174.34 to 176.35 meters, respectively.

The water level in Caliraya Dam in Laguna dropped from 287.18 to 286.93 meters.

ACEN Corp. of the Zobel family saw earnings surge more than fivefold in the first half on the back of robust renewable energy output in the Philippines and abroad.

The company delivered an attributable net income of P3.9 billion during the period, marking a 411-percent growth from P763 million a year earlier.

Revenues jumped by 47 percent to P23.13 billion from P15.72 billion, thanks to continued expansion of the retail electricity supply (RES) business and contributions from newly operational assets.

‘ACEN’s performance in the first half of 2026 underscores our recovery from the challenges of the previous year while reflecting the company’s transition into a phase of measured growth,’ ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia said.

‘Amid a continually uncertain environment, our priorities remain clear – protecting our balance sheet, growing our contracted energy sales and expanding our energy storage asset base,’ Francia added.

The company’s attributable renewables portfolio reached 7,517 megawatts following the groundbreaking of 1,660 MW-hours of battery energy storage projects in the Philippines.

From January to June, the Philippine portfolio recorded a 17-percent growth in power generation to 1,091 gigawatt-hours (GWh) as ACEN’s Ilocos Norte wind farms resumed operations.

The country’s largest renewable power retailer also expanded its retail market customer base, with its RES portfolio growing to 587 MW by the end of June.

Higher spot market prices, coupled with stronger electricity demand, further supported ACEN’s first-half performance.

Outside the Philippines, ACEN also delivered strong results across its other core markets, particularly in Australia, where it generated 862 GWh of renewable power.

In India, attributable output remained steady at 476 GWh, supported by contributions from the newly commissioned 153-MW Maharashtra hybrid project.

Renewable power output across ACEN’s other international markets, meanwhile, climbed by 69 percent to 196 GWh.

‘The growing global emphasis on indigenous renewable energy presents significant opportunities for ACEN,’ ACEN CFO and chief strategy officer Jonathan Back said.

‘We intend to benefit from this growth while maintaining a prudent, financially disciplined path forward, including continued focus on cost management across all our businesses,’ he added.

Albert Ian delos Santos is ready for battle in next month’s Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

It showed after the 19-year-old Zamboanga native swept all three gold medals and eclipsed a couple of Asian and world records in the junior men’s 70-kilogram at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Tuesday.

He had 141kg in snatch, 180kg in clean and jerk and 321kg in total to complete a golden trifecta in his class.

That feat hiked Team Philippines’ medal harvest in Tashkent to 16 golds, six silvers and nine bronzes.

Delos Santos, a Southeast Asian Games silver medalist, set new standards in clean and jerk and total after erasing the old Asian and world marks of 179kg and 318kg, respectively.

It came two months after also establishing new world records in clean and jerk (186kg) and total (326kg) in the -71kg class at the IWF World Junior Championships in Ismailia, Egypt where he also copped a pair of mints.

Now Delos Santos set his sights at a bigger and tougher task – a medal in Nagoya.

An individual’s choice on whom to love and when to part ways is a human right, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said.

This was discussed during the oral arguments before the High Court on Tuesday, August 11, when Leonen interpellated Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe, who was representing the state, saying that there should be a more compassionate, constitutional interpretation of family and relationships.

‘Would you agree with me that our capacity to love and our choice of who to love and not love is a human right?’ Leonen asked.

To which Berberabe replied: ‘Yes, your honor. It’s part of one’s autonomy.’

Leonen then continued to press: ‘Is it a fundamental Is it fundamental for a human being?… To love, to choose who to love, and to choose to fall out of love?’

Berberabe also replied in the affirmative.

While Berberabe argued that the state regulates the “external factors” of entering and exiting a marriage, Leonen questioned the very basis of this state intervention.

He asked what fundamental interest the state could have in compelling citizens to remain in troubled relationships where they “cannot stand each other.”

Berberabe replied that its basis lies in the constitutional provision on the inviolability of marriage.

Leonen then asked the Solicitor General if the Constitution can be interpreted as already granting individuals the power to choose when to separate without needing new legislation.

‘What we need legislation for is the effects of that fundamental human right to choose to separate?’ Leonen asked.

The Solicitor General replied: ‘The couples can really separate without, of course, the outcome or the consequences which will be impacted by the present laws.’

Tuesday was the last day of the oral arguments on the foreign recognition of divorce before the High Court.

Since oral arguments opened on Aug. 19, 2025, a total of four sessions have been conducted.

With this, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo ordered the parties and amici curiae to file their respective memoranda within 20 days starting Tuesday.

The oral arguments stemmed from a petition filed by an American dual citizen for the recognition of his foreign divorce.

A mix of incumbent government officials, trial judges and lawyers will contend for the post of deputy ombudsman for Luzon.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has posted on social media that 15 personalities are being considered for the position.

The list includes Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Anna Liza Logan, Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan and Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary for integrated operations Rodolfo John Robert Palattao IV.

Aside from them, the nominees include regional trial court Judges Richard Balucio of Laoag City, Joeven Dellosa of Mandaluyong, Francisco Felizmenio of Malolos in Bulacan, Rafael Hipolito of Quezon City and Dennis Mendoza of Manila.

Judges Paul Beloso of the Batangas municipal circuit trial court and Jason Rodenas of the Albay municipal trial court are also in the JBC list.

DOJ prosecutor Cathy Cardino, Ryan Medrano of the Office of the Ombudsman, and lawyers Ilya Kristine Ravanera and Teofilo Gala Tamolang Jr. are also being considered for the post.

The JBC will interview the candidates on Sept. 1 and 2, and urged the public to scrutinize the nominees by filing sworn documents or filling out an online survey.

The chosen candidate will replace Deputy Ombudsman Cornelio Somido, whose term will end on Aug. 27.

Pre-COVID, I used to enjoy the scenic drive through Circumferential Road 6. From Lower Bicutan in Taguig to the talipapa at the border of Pasig and Taytay, Rizal, there were good views of Laguna de Bay.

C-6 made Angono and Antipolo City plus the sprawling flea markets and penoy-balut wholesalers of Taytay, Rizal easily accessible from southern Metro Manila. Bikers and joggers used the concrete lane constructed by the lake.

As the road winds toward Rizal, it crosses a bridge spanning the Pasig River, at a junction that used to offer a terrific view of the lake. That area would have been a good spot for recreational boat rides; the Thais wouldn’t have missed that opportunity for tourism.

There was a floating restaurant area in Lower Bicutan that was popular even before C-6 was built, serving grilled seafood presumably caught fresh from the lake plus a wide array of barbecued meats. Huts on the lake were rented out for events.

Like most businesses during the pandemic, that ‘dampa’-style dining area became a ghost town, especially after COVID isolation facilities were set up nearby.

Post-COVID, the lake view started being marred by a growing carpet of water lilies. Before someone could alert Cynthia Villar to deploy artisans to turn the water lily into slippers, bags and even gowns, reclamation began beside the already reclaimed area on which C-6 was constructed.

The reclamation expanded without let-up, rapidly, with even unsightly, highly polluting cement batching plants allowed to operate on the newly reclaimed area. The lake view from the road disappeared all the way to Taytay.

Today what you see along C-6 is that ugly reclaimed area, with water lily peeking out at certain spots. At least the wholesalers of my favorite penoy-higop and balut sa puti have not yet been displaced by more reclamation.

Laguna de Bay augments potable water supply in Metro Manila, and supplies much of the bangus or milkfish and tilapia in the metropolis. Pollution from the cement plants alone can be toxic to the lake fish.

One area of the lake is harnessed for hydropower in Laguna. And the lake plays a role in flood control. C-6 itself is supposed to function as a dike against flooding. Isn’t that function compromised by the massive land reclamation?

I’ve always wondered who green-lighted those ugly reclamation projects in one of the country’s most important bodies of water.

In the past years, STAR reporters asked the Laguna Lake Development Authority and its mother agency the Department of Environment and Natural Resources about the reclamation. The reporters were told that the LLDA and DENR did not clear the reclamation projects, and that the agencies had faced strong pushback from those responsible when environment concerns were raised.

Thanks to bitter political warfare, we now have some idea of why those environmental regulatory bodies were disregarded in projects with such heavy impact on the ecosystem of a vital lake.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson has tagged the local government of Taguig in the reclamation activities, which he said were classified as slope protection or seawalls for flood control.

The reclamation was not cleared with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).

Apparently, the Department of Public Works and Highways also played a role in the implementation. A stretch of C-6 was walled off by the DPWH, blocking all view of the lake and the reclamation activities.

All rotten infrastructure projects in this country, it seems, bear the dirty imprint of the DPWH.

The Taguig projects drew the attention of Lacson, former chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, after he was accused by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of having unexplained wealth.

Lacson will probably shrug off accusations against him of gross human rights violations. But when his integrity is questioned, he responds like a wounded pit bull. And when this pit bull bites, he refuses to let go.

The PRA has stressed that it began investigating the Laguna de Bay reclamation project long before the feud erupted between Lacson and Cayetano. But Lacson surely speeded up the probe, possibly with some help from Cayetano’s estranged brother Lino, a former mayor of Taguig who is now general manager of state-run PTV4.

Lacson has flagged 32 reclamation projects in Taguig’s lakeshore area disguised as flood control projects, which he said were allocated over P14 billion in public funds between 2020 and 2025.

Alan Peter Cayetano has defended the reclamation projects in his home turf as necessary for flood control.

The PRA has confirmed initiating forfeiture proceedings involving the illegally reclaimed areas. A cease-and-desist order is also expected to be issued for ongoing reclamation activities.

But the massive area so far reclaimed already sits in the lake. Can it still be destroyed to restore the health of Laguna de Bay?

I’m afraid the damage is irreversible, and that picturesque pre-COVID lake view from C-6 is lost forever.

I just concluded months of preparing for my husband’s milestone birthday. Yes, months. I have this tendency to really put a lot of effort into making milestone events include something that’s not the usual, cookie-cutter approach.

For Marvin’s 65th birthday, I decided to write a book titled “65 Pages,” with the people who love him as my co-authors. So, as early as May, I started gathering their stories and messages. I ‘searched far and wide’ for photos to include in the book. And because no respectable book can be without a theme, I thought of having a masterpiece as the theme. A life well-lived is nothing short of a masterpiece, and his life is a masterpiece that’s not yet done as he continues to live, strive, serve, stumble, get up, and consistently show up for the people he loves.

So, what did I do to capture this? I painted my version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night using oil on canvas, extending the swirls into the number 65.

And because he wanted a celebration where he could actually have real conversations with guests rather than just waving from a stage, a single party wouldn’t do. We had what I call 6.5 events to celebrate the 6.5 decades! 1.) Dinner for our nuclear family; 2.) Dinner with former officemates; 3.) Lunch with COL; 4.) Dinner with friends and colleagues; 5.) Dinner with Fausto and Fres families; 6.) Birthday breakfast with me; 7.) Breakfast with his sister with whom he shares the same birthday. (Note: I computed the two breakfasts as 1.5.)

In as much as I genuinely enjoyed every bit of the creative and logistical work that went into all these, I have to be completely honest with you: right now, I’m quite exhausted. The gloomy weather outside isn’t helping lift my spirits as I try to jumpstart my work week starting August 10, 2026, a short one because the two of us are off to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary out of town.

Sitting here in a state of post-event exhaustion writing my weekly FQ column, a question naturally pops up: Why do I put so much energy, time, and money into celebrating family milestones? Is the return on investment really worth it?

Here are my answers, captured in 6.5 dimensions.

1. A tradition of thanksgiving

I grew up watching my mother celebrate milestones with deep gratitude. She always taught me that gathering people to mark an occasion is, at its core, an act of thanksgiving. My parents were big believers in honoring the journey. They renewed their wedding vows on their Silver (25th), Ruby (40th), Golden (50th), and Diamond (60th) anniversaries!

I inherited that same penchant from her. When we celebrate, we pause to acknowledge that surviving and thriving through decades of life, marriage, and career isn’t something to take for granted. It is a gift worth acknowledging publicly with the people who helped us get there.

2. Life clarity and intention

Beyond thanksgiving, marking milestones helps us live a more intentional life.

Think of a milestone as a financial or life audit. In finance, you can’t build a sound wealth strategy for the future without knowing your current balance sheet. The same principle applies to our personal lives. When we mark a milestone, we create a clear pin on our life map: This is where we are.

It forces us to pause, look back at the journey, appreciate the trials we survived, and count our blessings. That clear view of the past gives us a good vision and momentum for where we want to steer the next chapter of our lives.

3. The wealth of relationships

Milestone celebrations are not just about the celebrator; they are also tributes to the community that nurtured, supported, and cheered for him over 6.5 decades. Inviting guests to share their stories and co-author the book was a way of saying that his life is richer because they are in it. Marvin was also able to thank them all during the 6.5 gatherings when he gave his message after blowing out his birthday candles.

As the world’s longest-running longitudinal study on human happiness titled “Harvard Study of Adult Development” (spanning over 85 years now) reveals: The strength and quality of our relationships are the single most significant predictor of physical health, mental well-being, and overall life satisfaction.

4. Family teamwork and involvement

I feel extremely blessed and lucky that we’ve raised our children to take active, hands-on roles in these family milestones. Seeing them step up as adults to honor their father is perhaps the most fulfilling part of the entire experience.

For this milestone, as always, every single family member played an essential role. Martin took charge of the restaurant matters, hosting our two major events at his new restaurant, Sansho at Greenbelt 3. Anton, who is also a fantastic DJ, took care of all the music and beats. Enrique and his wife Sam stepped in to help manage some details behind the scenes. And, of course, our 2.5-year-old granddaughter provided entertainment with her adorable dance moves.

When your children don’t just attend as passive guests but actively co-create the celebration, you realize that the culture of honoring family has successfully taken root in the next generation.

5. The FQ of experiential wealth

From a Financial Quotient (FQ) perspective, people often ask if spending significant resources on celebrations is “wise.” My answer has always been: Money is a tool to live a full life.

True financial quotient isn’t just about accumulation; it’s about high-value allocation. High-FQ individuals know that the true purpose of money is to fulfill your core values. Deploying funds to spend on shared core memories definitely fulfills this.

When you involve your family in planning, contributing, and executing a major celebration, you model healthy financial intent. You show them that the money you work hard to earn and invest over decades has a purpose-to celebrate love, honor legacy, and deepen family ties. The physical exhaustion eventually fades, but the emotional return on investment (ROI) pays dividends for generations.

6. Managing both financial and energy budgets

Every major event requires both a financial budget and an energy budget. Planning the funds may be obvious, but planning the energy budget may not be. Pace your bandwidth by building in mandatory rest days. If you’re doing multiple celebrations, space them out if possible. It will help you manage your social, physical, mental, and emotional batteries. It also helps you relish each of them even more.

(Important Reminder: If there’s not enough funds for basic needs, milestone-marking can be done without the expensive party expenses. Curate personalized messages for the celebrator, maybe a DIY digital book, gathering of loved ones over a simple meal, homemade art pieces from the kids, etc. Your creativity is your limit.)

6.5 The bonus half-dimension: Imperfect is fine

No celebration is 100% perfect. You will underestimate some things and overestimate others. You will forget some details and overexpect in certain aspects. Sometimes, even when everyone else thinks everything was great, you will see the details where you could have done better, which can unnecessarily burden your exhausted self.

Give yourself grace. Allow yourself to feel tired, slow down, recharge without a shred of guilt, and embrace the slip-ups. After all, those moments are what make your milestone marking more authentic and sustainable.

As this article comes out today on August 12, the exact day Marvin and I celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary, I may not be fully recovered yet, but my heart is overflowing. Marvin felt deeply loved, our family gained another set of unforgettable memories, and our children and grandchild witnessed once again what it looks like to honor a life well-lived.

To me, that is the highest yield on investment any family can ask for.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rest, recharge, and celebrate 37 wonderful years of marriage with my 65-year-old lover boy!

ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Just as taking stock of life’s milestones helps us live with intention, knowing where you stand financially is key to building a meaningful future. Pause, reflect on your money habits, and take the FQ test today to discover how well your financial allocation aligns with your true-life goals!

2. True financial quotient isn’t just about accumulating money-it’s about intentionally using it as a tool to celebrate love, create unforgettable core memories and honor a life well-lived.

Master the art of high-value allocation and build true experiential wealth by grabbing your copy of the “FQ Trilogy” today!