Category: Philippine Star

The British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) paid a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy in London and met with Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. to discuss the growing investment opportunities for British companies across various sectors, including renewable energy, agriculture, cybersecurity and manufacturing.

In an interview, BCCP Executive Vice Chair Chris Nelson noted that, ‘The current government has put trade and investment at the forefront, which I think is very good – particularly for the UK and the Philippines.Let me just remind everyone, next year will be the 80th year of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and we continue to see growth in trade between the two areas.’

The meeting was also joined by Consul Emilio Lopue and Philippine Trade and Investment Center Counselor Celynne Layug to discuss other areas of cooperation. In the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025, the total trade in goods and services between the UK and Philippines reached £3.0 billion, marking a 6.0% increase from the same period of 2024.

The Philippines has remained as the UK’s 59th largest trading partner, to which Nelson expressed optimism in moving further towards noting the recent trade developments between the two countries such as the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) and the Philippines’ interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty has previously noted that, ‘Actually, with the entry of the UK, it gave us more reason to join CPTPP because the UK is one of our biggest trading partners.’

Meanwhile, economic reforms in the Philippines also remain a key driver in advancing the UK-Philippine trade, particularly the CREATE MORE Act and recently signed laws such as the 99-year land lease law, E-Governance, and Konektadong Pinoy.

The country’s economic zones, according to Nelson, are also gaining momentum following an increasing presence of the British business community.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has recognized the UK as the leading investor in January 2025 and has been identified as one of the top ecozone locator investments with British companies contributing to 6.89%, contributing a cumulative investments valued at P34.036 billion since 1994-2024.

Nelson also announced the upcoming meat trade mission with the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) on November 18 to 20, signaling a continuous partnership since 2021 and the UK’s role in ensuring food security and managing inflation.

He further added that, “The UK has been a strong investor in the Philippines and most recently we have seen a lot of activities in renewable energy and other sectors. What we want to see is more opening of the economy, further discussion and focus on that, and to make sure priority legislation like cybersecurity gets passed.’

OREO, the world’s beloved cookie brand, has dropped yet another jaw-dropping collab. Strap on your dancing shoes because OREO x Babymonster is here to hit you up with a taste so good, it makes you dance. The launch is a bold fandom-first collaboration designed to turn the taste of an OREO into a dance party.

This latest drop marks a continuation of OREO’s legacy of culture-defining partnerships, following high-profile collaborations that have captivated fans around the globe. With Babymonster’s signature charisma and OREO’s crave-worthy taste, the OREO x Babymonster collab is set to take over snack aisles and social feeds across Southeast Asia.

A global first twist: The playful #TwistLickDance revolution

Consumers across the world are familiar with OREO’s beloved Twist, Lick, Dunk ritual. But OREO is switching up the track for this latest collaboration.

In a first for the brand, OREO x Babymonster grooves to a new beat, putting a playful twist to the classic dunk ritual: Introducing the #TwistLickDance moment. With a bespoke song released by OREO and original choreography performed by Babymonster, the #TwistLickDance challenge invites Monstiez across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia to rediscover their sense of rhythm with a bite of the all-new OREO taste.

Earlier in the month, K-Pop fandoms were buzzing with speculation after a leaked clip showed the band moving without their usual monster energy. In an official reveal on OREO’s brand pages on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok, fans found out that all Babymonster needed to regain their signature electric moves was a bite of an OREO.

‘This collaboration puts us right on the pulse of culture,’ said Lucas Levy, Mondelez senior director of marketing, Southeast Asia.

‘By bringing together the playful spirit of OREO and the global energy of the new generation K-pop icons Babymonster, we’re creating a shared moment where music, movement and taste collide. With Babymonster, we’re reimagining OREO’s iconic ritual into a #TwistLickDance revolution that resonates with a new generation of fans.’

Taste the drop: New taste, bold colors and fan-favorite collectibles

For the first time in Southeast Asia, OREO has partnered with a global artist to co-create the cookie experience from the inside out.

Inspired by one of Korea’s hottest dessert trends, OREO reveals the limited-edition OREO Babymonster Marshmallow Flavored Crème, in celebration of Babymonster bold identity.

Each OREO x Babymonster multipack comes with exclusive collectible photocards of the band members. Available in-stores in fan-favorite core flavors of Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and the limited-edition Red Sandwich Cookies, MONSTIEZ can get ahold of these photocards with purchase of an OREO x Babymonster multipack. Collect all seven to complete the set and certify your place as a Babymonster superfan!

Stay playful with local activations

To celebrate the launch, OREO will roll out activities across Southeast Asia, starting with local activations and experiences curated specially for each market. In the Philippines, the grand launch event will happen on October 18 at Market! Market! in Taguig City.

Ice cream maker Carmen’s Best has expanded its dairy operations beyond Luzon through new facilities and farm partnerships in Visayas and Mindanao, aiming to make its products more widely available.

The company said that it recently acquired a facility in Maramag, Bukidnon, where 220 milking cows supply fresh milk to the southern part of the country.

The firm now operates two dairy facilities and an ice cream plant in Laguna along with the new Mindanao facility, giving it one of the largest herds in the Philippines.

‘From the very beginning, the goal of Carmen’s Best has been simple: give Filipinos access to dairy products that are made fresh, with no substitutes and with no shortcuts taken,’ Metro Pacific Agro Ventures Inc. and Carmen’s Best president and CEO Jovy Hernandez.

‘Now that we’ve expanded to Visayas and Mindanao, we’re excited to offer more customers not just our ice cream but also our new milk and cheese products, all proudly made with 100 percent fresh cow’s milk,’ Hernandez said.

Earlier this year, Carmen’s Best participated in the 2025 Agri Konek Food Summit in Cebu, where Hernandez met with leaders of the agriculture sector and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce.

The company said the engagement was a sign of its commitment to working with local partners to strengthen the dairy industry in Visayas and Mindanao.

Carmen’s Best started expanding nationwide in March through key retail partnerships with SM Hypermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, Metro Paisano, Puregold and The Marketplace.

The company said its products would soon be available in restaurants, hotels, resorts, events and festivals, with scooping stations planned for Cebu.

The expanded distribution covers Carmen’s Best ice cream, milk and soon, cheese products.

Its ice cream products include flavors such as salted caramel, dark chocolate and vanilla, while milk products now include whole milk, low-fat milk, low-fat chocolate milk, barista fresh milk and the new salted caramel milk.

The company said it also plans to launch kesong puti as part of its cheese lineup.

Carmen’s Best said the expansion reflects its ongoing commitment to quality and its promise of ‘Bringing Our Best’ to more areas of the Philippines.

Filipinos see the media and civil society organizations (CSOs) as more trustworthy than government institutions in addressing the problem of corruption in flood control projects, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 27 to 30, found that a majority of respondents have much trust in the media and civil society.

Fifty-one percent said they have big trust in the media, while 18 percent said they had small or no trust at all. The remaining 30 percent were undecided.

CSOs obtained a trust rating of 50 percent, with only 11 percent saying they had small or no trust in them. Forty percent cannot say if they have big or small trust in civil society to address corruption in flood projects.

Most respondents are still ambivalent toward the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) created by President Marcos, with 56 percent saying they are not sure if they have big or small trust in it.

Only 23 percent said they had big trust in the ICI, while 17 percent had small or no trust at all.

Some figures do not add up to 100 percent because there were respondents who refused answer or said they don’t know.

Marcos, other gov’t agencies

More respondents have small or no trust in Marcos in addressing the problem of corruption in flood control projects, the survey showed.

Forty-five percent said they had small or no trust in the President, compared to 32 percent who said they had big trust in him. Some 23 percent were undecided.

The ombudsman received slightly higher trust from the public, although these are still lower than those received by the media and CSOs.

Some 39 percent said they had big trust in the ombudsman, while 17 percent had little trust. Forty-three percent were ambivalent.

The survey was conducted prior to the appointment of Jesus Crispin Remulla, former justice secretary, as the next ombudsman.

For the legislature, which is also doing its own investigation, the Senate (37 percent big trust, 27 percent small or no trust) received slightly higher trust ratings than the House of Representatives (25 percent big trust, 36 percent small or no trust).

The Department of Public Works and Highways garnered the lowest trust rating among the entities included in the survey, with only seven percent saying they trust that it would be able to address issues of corruption in flood control projects. Eighty-one percent said they had small or little trust in the agency.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects at least four groups to compete for the P229-billion concession to run the country’s largest railway, signaling that investor confidence is unwavering despite the corruption scandals.

The DOTr will issue the bidding documents for the public-private partnership (PPP) contract for the operation and maintenance of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) by the last week of October at the earliest.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said he has consulted with transaction adviser Asian Development Bank (ADB) in finalizing the schedule.

Lopez said the DOTr is expecting at least four consortiums to bid for the concession. He noted that these groups are mostly made up of Filipino and foreign investors, following the DOTr’s efforts to market the project in roadshows in Singapore, Paris, Manila and Tokyo.

However, he said the number can still change depending on investor appetite. Although the government is riddled with corruption issues, Lopez is optimistic that the DOTr can still secure enough offers to make the bidding competitive.

Moreover, Lopez said the DOTr is far from suffering the same fate as the Department of Public Works and Highways, which funds most of its projects locally from the national budget.

The DOTr undertakes big-ticket projects, such as the NSCR, through loans from partners like the ADB. Lenders observe procurement controls to protect projects from manipulative practices.

‘I always say that DOTr projects are quite unique and peculiar in itself because all the big-ticket projects are funded by ODA (official development assistance),’ Lopez said.

‘The internal controls are different, the process is different, the checks and balances are different. So I can say, it is 100 percent free of corruption,’ he added.

As such, Lopez believes the DOTr can keep its reputation free from funding anomalies and sees no reason for investor appetite to decline in its big-ticket and PPP projects.

The NSCR, costing P873.6 billion and co-financed by Japan, will span 147 kilometers across 35 stations between the Clark International Airport and Calamba, Laguna.

It is expected to ferry 800,000 passengers daily once finished.

The future operator of the NSCR will manage its trains, stations and depot, including its interline with the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Ordinary people wait in long lines even in emergency wards to get medical care in government hospitals. Whether in crowded urban centers or in rural areas, there is a clear need for more health facilities all over the country.

So it is dismaying to see images of what is supposed to be a ‘super health center’ in what looks like a state of deterioration while awaiting completion. The multimillion-peso concrete structure is falling into disrepair even before its completion while the grounds have become overgrown.

The city government of Marikina and the Department of Health are pointing fingers at each other as the entity at fault. The DOH had previously included the four-story health center in Barangay Concepcion Dos in Marikina in a list of 297 super health centers that have yet to become operational.

Marikina Mayor Marjorie Ann Teodoro described the DOH report as misleading, saying the department released funds only for the first phase of the project, which was finished in April last year. Construction was halted after the DOH ignored requests for P180 million more to complete the health center, the city government said.

Teodoro’s husband Marcelino, who was Marikina mayor when the project got underway in November 2023, said the city could not fully provide the funds needed to finish the project because of issues such as the suspension of several city officials as well as the transition following the local elections.

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa had flagged the health center as one of several across the country that were unfinished, substandard or non-existent or ghost projects.

Marikina officials have said they will tap funding from their local resources to finish the super health center.

The issue raises concerns on how many other public health facilities across the country are in the same situation, in limbo after millions of pesos in public funds have been spent for the construction. Other health centers have remained unused for lack of health professionals, the DOH has said.

Public health care remains woefully inadequate, and every centavo allocated for providing health facilities and services must be spent judiciously. Failure to do so, whether through negligence or inefficiency, or deliberately for corruption, must be dealt with decisively.

The Meralco Bolts stormed from 16 points down to zap Barangay Ginebra, 89-75, in their PBA Philippine Cup matchup Friday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City

Meralco broke the game wide open in the fourth, allowing Ginebra to score just 14 points in the final frame to grab their second win in a row after a 0-2 start to the conference.

Chris Newsome spearheaded the Bolts with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while CJ Cansino provided the spark with 18 markers.

The Gin Kings were in full control through the third quarter, taking a 16-point advantage, 54-38, after a triple by Norbert Torres.

But an 18-7 run to end the frame kept the game close, 56-61, heading into the fourth quarter.

While an and-one play by RJ Abarrientos at the start of the fourth kept Meralco at bay, 64-56, an 11-2 run by the Bolts following back-to-back 3-pointers by Aaron Black and Newsome pushed them ahead, 67-66.

This gave the Bolts the needed momentum boost, as they continued to pounce on their opponents with a backbreaking 16-3 blitz that gave the winning team the largest lead of the night at 14, 83-69.

Bong Quinto added 11 points, while Black and Cliff Hodge had eight apiece for Meralco.

RJ Abarrientos paced the Gin Kings with 14 points, while Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt had 13 and 12, respectively.

Meralco will return to action on Sunday as they face the Magnolia Hotshots at the Ynares Montalban, while Ginebra, who dropped to 1-2 in the conference, will face the San Miguel Beermen on October 26 in Dubai.

San Beda leaned on a huge first half cushion in offsetting Mapua’s furious third quarter fightback to fashion out a 79-70 victory that snared it the solo Group B lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Up by 13 points at halftime, the Lions suddenly turned meek in the third period as the Cardinals rallied their way back to within a single-digit deficit, 64-58, going into the final canto.

But San Beda woke up from that momentary stupor by making the stops when needed and hitting the shots that mattered to preserve the victory, its fourth in five outings.

San Beda coach Yuri Escueta was quick to point out the loss of concentration of his wards in the third period.

‘I’m not really satisfied,’ said Escueta. ‘We allowed them 24 points in the third quarter. Good thing in the fourth quarter we were able to make stops and get baskets.’

He also pointed at their surprisingly lack of rebounding.

‘This is the first game we got outrebounded,’ said Escueta referring to Mapua’s 36 boards to his squad’s 35.

Earlier, Emilio Aguinaldo College dumped Arellano University, 84-73, to improve to 2-3.

The Chiefs dropped to 2-3.

The scores:

First Game

EAC 84 – Oftana 19, Angeles 15, Bagay 12, Shanoda 11, Bacud 7, Castillo 7, Ochavo 3, Quinal 3, Lucero 2, Postanes 2, Devara 2, Villarente 1, Omandac 0, Loristo 0, Tolentino 0.

AU 73 – Abiera 24, Ongotan 13, Libang 7, Cabotaje 7, Geronimo 6, Valencia 4, Camay 4, Hernal 2, Vinoya 2, Langit 2, Borromeo 1, Acop 1, Buenaventura 0, Anama 0.

Quarterscores: 25-23; 49-37; 66-52; 84-73

Second Game

San Beda 79 – Miller 20, N. Gonzales 11, Puno 9, Andrada 8, Lina 8, Calimag 7, Estacio 7, Reyes 4, Etulle 2, Sajonia 2, Celzo 1, Culdora 0.

Mapua 70 – Cuenco 13, Sapasap 11, C. Gonzales 10, Delos Reyes 8, Concepcion 7, Nitura 7, Recto 6, Igliane 4, Escamis 2, Lazarte 2, Gulapa 0.

Quarterscores: 26-16; 49-34; 64-58; 79-70

President Marcos is expecting the hunger rate among beneficiaries of a government’s assistance program to decline further with the expansion of an initiative intended to address food insecurity and undernutrition.

About 200 beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program met with Marcos during the launch of the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers or REFUEL project in Manila yesterday.

The project aims to expand the coverage of the Walang Gutom Program, which provides P3,000 in monthly electronic food credits to each of the 300,000 beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries of the program can use their monthly credits to buy food in accredited partner retailers.

Under REFUEL, the number of food-poor households that are receiving aid will be increased to 600,000 next year.

Citing a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations and commissioned by Globe and Monde Nissin, Marcos said the hunger rate among household-beneficiaries decreased from 48.7 percent in October last year to 41.5 percent in March due to the Walang Gutom Program.

‘By 2027, we can increase (the number of beneficiaries) to 750,000 families. Our aim is to reach one million,’ Marcos said. ‘We will ensure that all our needy countrymen will be covered by the program.’

Marcos thanked the Asian Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement and the OPEC Fund for supporting the REFUEL project.

He vowed to continue working to achieve the administration’s goal of raising the quality of life of the poor.

Rising local hip-hop artist Costa Cashman is back with a new single that speaks the narrative of “what it truly means to be a gangsta.”

His new track, aptly named “Gangsta,” featuring Fern and produced by dot.jaime celebrates transformation, discipline, and success earned through grind and growth.

On “Gangsta,” Costa Cashman continues to expand his distinct Cheke sound, a sonic signature that fuses grit with cinematic ambition.

The track builds on the success of his previous hit “HUSS,” marking a refreshing pivot in Cashman’s storytelling: one that reflects his past struggles while embracing the victories of his present.

“Para sakin kasi, hindi na ‘gangsta’ yung pagiging agresibo o pagiging mapusok,” Cashman said in a statement. “Para sa akin, ang ‘gangsta’ na is yung nakakapag-provide ka, nagagawa mo yung gusto mo, nag-eenjoy ka at nagagawa mo yun ng sarili mo lang. Nagawa mo siya ng pinaghirapan mo.”

“Gangsta” delivers a hard-hitting yet expansive soundscape, anchored by a bass-heavy beat that mirrors Cashman’s confidence and creative clarity.

Recording during a writing session in Bali with Fern, the track came together organically, combining effortless lyricism with raw, tender honesty.

“Natural lang siyang lumabas sa akin,” Cashman continued. “Lumabas siya sa utak ko, tapos sinulat ko na siya. Sobrang saya ko kasi parang yun yung pinaka-legit na nasulat ko. I mean, legit naman lahat ng sinusulat ko, pero ayun ung mas dama ko at mas personal siya.”

Lyrically, “Gangsta” serves as both reflection and declaration. Cashman contrasts the grind of his early days, recording music in cramped spaces and dodging daily hardships. Thinking about it, the relative newcomer takes pride in the fulfillment of having built something real and meaningful from nothing.

In tandem with the single release, Cashman will debut a limited-edition capsule collection in collaboration with UNDRAFTED (UND) – a partnership aligning with the UND Anniversary celebration.

“This collaboration represents not just a fashion statement but a manifestation of Cashman’s evolution, from the streets of Malate to the forefront of Philippine hip-hop culture,” Justin Wieneke, CEO of Cheke, said.