Category: Philippine Star

From abroad comes news that Getty Images, a company that licenses photos, editorial news images, video footage, and even music to businesses, media outlets, and creative professionals, has filed for bankruptcy before a U.S. court.

The company clarified that it is not closing, but currently undergoing financial restructuring.

The company cited the rise in images produced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) as one reason for their recent losses.

While this is a typical run-of-the-mill business story it can be seen as a painful reflection of the times. It can also be seen as cautionary tale or even a warning.

For the longest time Getty Images was a source of genuine images for those in the media industry. By genuine images we mean those that have not been doctored or altered in any way. Yes, some photographers and editors are allowed to make technical adjustments of images, but all these are up to journalistic guidelines. When you look at a Getty image what you see is the real deal.

There is nothing wrong per se with using AI-produced images instead of genuine ones. There is also nothing wrong with trading a paid service for one that is absolutely free. In fact it makes good sense; businesses and individuals can save money.

But one issue with AI-produced images, especially when used by companies or individuals that want to enforce certain ideas or spread fake news, is that these images may not tell the whole truth or even be outright false or fake.

Another issue with an AI-produced image is that many cannot tell anymore if something is real or fake. While this is a plus for those looking for realism or visual fidelity, this does not bode well for those who are easily fooled and don’t know how to search for the truth.

Perhaps now you understand why this is reason to worry. It would seem more and more people are turning to AI-produced images without knowing the real price to be paid; the loss of authenticity and the possibility that they might be being fooled.

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.’s Southstar Drug has partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to let qualified individuals claim approved medicines and health care products without upfront payment.

The partnership, which will initially cover five Southstar Drug branches in Quezon City, could bring DSWD-supported medicine access to more communities through Southstar Drug’s pharmacy network.

Through the collaboration, beneficiaries of DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program may present guarantee letters issued by the department at participating Southstar Drug stores to receive covered medicines and health care products.

Southstar Drug will coordinate directly with DSWD for reimbursement.

The arrangement gives beneficiaries more convenient and accessible pharmacy options within their communities.

Beneficiaries or their authorized representatives may present their DSWD-issued guarantee letter, a valid prescription when applicable and other required supporting documents at the covered branches.

Coverage may include eligible medicines, medical supplies, medical devices and medical equipment, subject to the approved assistance, applicable regulations and product availability.

Southstar Drug general manager Thaddeus Sanchez said that by supporting DSWD’s medical assistance program through its pharmacy network, the drugstore chain reinforces its commitment to improving access to essential health care services for Filipinos.

‘For beneficiaries, this means more places to use their approved assistance and get the medicines they need without having to raise the covered amount themselves,’ Sanchez said.

DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez said the partnership with Southstar Drug marks a significant step toward expanding access to essential medicines for Filipinos in crisis situations.

She said the initiative is designed to bolster the AICS program and deliver more convenient medical assistance.

Southstar Drug became part of Robinsons Retail’s portfolio after it acquired the brand in 2012.

National University mauled the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 79-43, to take a share of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball lead Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

The Bulldogs unleashed a 43-15 run in the middle quarters to ravage Adamson and win their fourth straight game.

NU led by just one, 20-19, at the end of the first quarter.

But a massive 20-5 second frame broke the game wide open, 40-24, which set the tone the rest of the way.

The Bulldogs were just too insatiable, pouring it on on the offensive end while clamping everything down on defense.

NU continued on with its onslaught, leading by 34 points, 68-34, early on in the fourth quarter following a Tebol Garcia jumper.

And while Adamson tried to nip the lead away, the Bulldogs’ 36-point advantage was the biggest the lead they had.

The Sampaloc-based squad rose to a 6-2 win-loss record, tied with the league-leading University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

Adamson dropped to a 4-4 slate, tied with Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, La Salle and Ateneo.

CWC Interiors president and CEO Fred Yuson hosted a convivial birthday celebration for Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philippines leaders Raymond Rufino and Delfin Angelo ‘Buds’ Wenceslao at the elegant penthouse of the CWC Design Center, the 12-story standout destination at Arnaiz Ave. in Makati City, with its Mondrian-inspired façade giving the historic old Pasay Road corridor a contemporary design landmark.

The event brought together more than 100 guests from the worlds of real estate, architecture, design and urban development, including ULI Philippines founding chair and NEO president Charlie Rufino and ULI Philippines National Council chair Eric Manuel. Both celebrants, who have served as ULI Philippines chairs and now sit on its advisory board, were warmly feted for their significant contributions to sustainable real estate and urban development, underscoring the fruitful ties between ULI and CWC Interiors and their shared commitment to creating thoughtful, resilient and vibrant communities.

In addition, the relationship between the two continues to deepen as CWC International is currently listed among ULI Philippines’ Gold Corporate Partners, while CWC Interiors VP for products Shaun Yuson joined the ULI Philippines Young Leaders Group Board for FY27. As the leading provider of premium contract furniture, workplace solutions, and architectural products and with an international portfolio that includes MillerKnoll, Herman Miller, Vitra, Walter Knoll, Muuto, HAY, and other globally-recognized design houses, CWC has worked with architects, developers, corporations, and designers for more than three decades in creating efficient, elegant and resilient workplace, residential, and commercial environments that will surely withstand the test of time.

The company continues to soar high with its recently concluded 2026 Charity Gala at Fairmont Makati and the opening of the CWC Corporate Center at 830 Arnaiz Ave., Makati City, while ULI looks forward to the upcoming Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific in January 2027.

Timeless moments with Tessie

The well-loved Tessie Amparo welcomed cherished friends to her delightful birthday celebration at her residence, where warmth, laughter and camaraderie made the occasion truly special.

Adding distinction to the event were esteemed guests, lawyers Lorna Kapunan and Virgil Ligutan, who joined in the festivities. Everyone enjoyed delectable food, while Marcy David provided lively musical entertainment that enhanced the festive atmosphere.

Before bidding farewell, everyone received thoughtful giveaways from the gracious celebrant, a lovely gesture that reflected her generosity and appreciation for friendship.

Grace Christian College used a well-balanced attack and demolished St. Peter the Apostle School, 89-52, to move on the threshold of joining an elite club of back-to-back champions in the Fil-Chinese Athletic Association Inc. (FCAAI) Basketball Tournament on Friday, October 23, at the Tanduay Gym in Quiapo, Manila.

With eight of the 16 players fielded by coach Danny Ching scoring eight points or more, the Graceans turned what was expected to be a tight 45-and-above division final series into a rout as they started like a well-oiled machine by racing to an 25-14 lead.

Backed by Metro Asia and Manila Bulletin, SPAS fought valiantly, but GCC refused to give an inch, as it event intensified its onslaught in the next two quarters to post a commanding 70- 39 lead going into the final 10 minutes of play.

That was enough for the Graceans to take fight out of the SPAS cagers in the opener of their best-of-three title series.

Another win on Monday, October 26, will enable GCC to retain its title and join the James Yap-led Hua Siong College of Iloilo as the league’s first back-to-back champion schools.

Meantime, Xavier School, backed by A Prime Corp. and AcroCity, clinched third place by downing St. Jude Catholic School, 49-36.

Allan Anson Tan and Patrick Jason Lim shared the scoring honors for the Mintex and Fullercon-sponsored GCC with 14 points each with Jeffrey Vincent Chua adding 11, while Johannes Kevin Go, Cloyd Anthony Ong, and Alexander Lao combined for 25 points.

Hua Siong earlier kept its 40-and-above title by beating Xavier School, while Hope Christian High School made history by winning the inaugural 35-and-above and 50-and-above division titles.

The Graceans played inspired basketball as they shot well from afar, banging in nine triples, with Go and Ong contributing three apiece. Only Adornado Lim failed to score for GCC, but distinguished himself by making five beautiful assists and grabbing a rebound in nine minutes of play.

Kerby Chua paced SPAS with 14. while Nestor Ng and Adjong Wong finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Clyde Mondilla is back in the winner’s circle, and he intends to make the most of his return.

Fresh from ending a two-year title drought with a hard-earned victory at South Pacific Golf Club, Mondilla heads to the final leg of the Philippine Golf Tour at Apo Golf and Country Club starting Tuesday, October 27, with renewed confidence, a sharper game and ambitions that extend well beyond the local circuit.

His South Pacific triumph was more than just a long-awaited return to the winner’s column. It was a test of nerve against a five-man chase, a demonstration of his ability to deliver under pressure and, perhaps most importantly, a timely reminder that he remains a force to reckon with as he sets his sights on bigger international challenges.

For Mondilla, the victory has already delivered its biggest immediate reward: the confidence to compete and win again.

‘Winning this tournament means a lot to me because I’m back in the winner’s circle, and my confidence has gone up,’ said Mondilla in Filipino, who ended his title drought the hard way, holding off a crowded field of challengers in a gripping final-round battle on Friday.

The 32-year-old Del Monte ace showed precisely why the breakthrough could prove pivotal. With Sean Ramos matching him shot for shot and Angelo Que, Keanu Jahns and Korean Lee Song lurking in the chase, Mondilla kept his composure when the pressure peaked.

He then birdied two of the final four holes to break away from Ramos and seal a two-shot victory, turning a tense, tightly contested finish into a statement win.

It was the kind of closing stretch that could serve him well at Apo, where the Tour’s season-ending test will demand both precision and sound decision-making.

Having survived the pressure cooker at South Pacific, Mondilla believes he is ready for another demanding week.

Reflecting on how he handled the closing stretch, he said he was pleased with his composure and was eager to carry that momentum into the next event.

‘I handled the pressure pretty well, so I think I’m ready for another tournament next week at Apo,’ he said.

Mondilla missed last year’s Apo Golf Classic, where Fidel Concepcion broke through for his maiden PGT victory in a playoff against Korean Jaehyun Jung. But the Apo layout is hardly unfamiliar territory for the former Philippine Open champion, who has played the course several times throughout his career.

His previous campaign there, however, yielded little to celebrate, as he finished tied for 25th in the 2024 edition.

This time, he arrives with a different mindset and a timely boost in form after rediscovering the winning touch that once made him one of the Tour’s most formidable players.

Mondilla dominated four legs of the PGT in 2017 to claim the Order of Merit crown and captured the Philippine Open title in 2019. His latest victory suggests that the seasoned campaigner, long regarded as one of the Tour’s longest hitters, may once again be ready to contend consistently.

The turnaround, he explained, has come through hard work and a renewed commitment to the finer points of his game.

After stepping away from the rigors of competition for a period and spending time tending to farm work at home, Mondilla buckled down to serious practice, making key adjustments to his iron and wedge play. Those refinements have helped him complement his length off the tee with the precision needed to close out tournaments.

But his comeback has not been a solo effort. Behind the renewed focus and improved form is a family that has continued to push him forward, along with a close friend who helped him rediscover his passion for the game.

Mondilla was quick to acknowledge the people who stood by him and encouraged him to work his way back.

‘May has been pushing me to practice and make up for lost ground. My two daughters are my inspiration, as are my mother and father,’ he said, referring to his wife, May, and their children. ‘I also have my friend PJ Dela Torre, with whom I share a deep bond. He was one of the people who helped bring me back to the game.’

The challenge at Apo, however, is unlikely to offer much breathing room. Ramos, Jahns, Que and Song are expected to remain among the leading threats, eager to make amends after coming up short at South Pacific and prevent Mondilla from building further momentum.

The course itself presents another formidable obstacle. Apo’s risk-and-reward character places a premium on disciplined course management, accurate iron play, a dependable short game and steady putting. Power can create opportunities, but poor decisions can quickly erase any advantage.

For Mondilla, the formula for sustaining his resurgence is straightforward: keep practicing, but never lose sight of the enjoyment that makes the game worthwhile.

He stressed that relentless effort alone is not enough if a player loses the pleasure of competing.

‘Just keep practicing, and, most importantly, enjoy the game,’ he said. ‘You can keep trying and working hard, but if you’re not enjoying golf, it won’t do you any good. You have to enjoy being out on the course, enjoy playing and appreciate the game. That’s what matters. When you do that, winning becomes easier.’

And while another title at Apo would be a fitting follow-up to his South Pacific breakthrough, Mondilla is looking beyond the immediate prize. He hopes to use his renewed form as a springboard toward the country’s premier championship and, eventually, a shot at establishing himself on the Asian Tour.

Looking ahead to the bigger tests on his calendar, he said the victory had given his preparations a significant lift.

‘This win is a big boost to my preparations for the Philippine Open in November, and eventually, I want to compete in the Asian Tour Q-School,’ he said.

For now, though, the focus is firmly on Apo.

The three most expensive words at a government counter are ‘still being processed.’

Anyone who has tried to open a small business in this country has heard them. Picture a young owner opening a coffee shop. The lease is signed. The espresso machine is paid for. Every requirement has been submitted. But the permit is still being processed. One week passes, then three. A fixer mentions there is a faster way.

An inspector finds a violation that was not there yesterday and offers to make it go away. A shipment sits at the port until the right envelope moves it.

The country has spent more than a year learning what wholesale corruption looks like: budget insertions, billions vanishing into flood control projects that exist only on paper. It makes headlines, fills Senate hearings and ends up before the Sandiganbayan. Ordinary Filipinos feel it when the water rises.

What happens at the counter is retail corruption. Small amounts, paid quietly, every day, by people who only want to get to work. None of it ever makes the news.

It is easy to treat this as petty. It is not.

Micro, small and medium enterprises make up 99.6 percent of all registered businesses in the Philippines and account for about two-thirds of the jobs those businesses provide. These are the businesses that meet the counter most often, and the ones least able to afford what it charges.

For a conglomerate, a P20,000 ‘facilitation fee’ is a rounding error. For a café that has not sold its first cup, it is a months rent. And every week a permit sits on a desk is a week of rent paid, wages owed and revenue that never comes.

Call it lagay or padulas. It is a tax in everything but name. No one voted for it. No one gets a receipt. Nothing public is ever built with it.

The cost does not stay at the counter. Investors notice.

Last year, a record $244 billion in foreign direct investment flowed into Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations. The Philippines, home to the region’s second-largest population, drew $9 billion of it.

Less than four cents of every dollar.

The region’s total grew. Ours shrank. Vietnam and Indonesia each drew more than twice as much.

Corruption is not the only reason. But investors price risk, and few risks are harder to price than not knowing what a permit will really cost, or how long it will take.

Retail corruption runs on two things: discretion and delay.

Discretion is the power to say yes, no or not yet. Delay is what turns ‘not yet’ into leverage. An official does not need to demand anything out loud. It is enough to sit on a file until someone understands what will move it.

Then there is silence. A business owner asked for a bribe has few good options. Pay, and the problem goes away. This time. Complain, and the complaint may land with the same office, sometimes the same desk, that will process the next permit, and the one after that.

Most people do the math. They pay, or they give up. Some never open the business at all.

Little of it is ever reported. Not because it does not happen, but because reporting it has always cost more than paying it.

The good news is that this is one of the most solvable problems an economy can have. Fixing it does not take a decade, the way a new port or power grid does. Lift that tax off the counter, and the money stays with the people building something.

So why has it lasted? Partly because it hides so well. Wholesale cases are big enough to see and follow. Retail corruption is scattered across thousands of counters, in amounts too small to make a headline.

The Office of the Ombudsman is now setting up something built for retail: an Investment Ombudsman. Anyone with money in a business, from a sari-sari store to a foreign-owned factory, will have one place to report an official who demands a bribe, sits on a permit or abuses regulatory power. And they can expect someone to act.

Acting is the part that matters. Other agencies can shorten a deadline or cut a requirement, and that work is valuable. The ombudsman can go after the official: investigate, prosecute, suspend, dismiss. A complaint that can end a career changes the math at the counter.

Catching people is only half the job. Every bribe needs a point where one person’s say-so decides the outcome: a duplicate requirement, an overlapping clearance, a step that exists mainly so someone can stand in the middle of it. Remove those points, and there is nothing left to sell. A regulatory summit planned for early 2027 is meant to find them.

Regulators will not find them all on their own. The people who know where the counter hurts are the ones standing in front of it. So the Investment Ombudsman will be shaped with the business sector, not just for it. That conversation will reach past the big chambers to the micro and small enterprises rarely invited to these tables. They know where the toll gates are. The job is to build something they trust enough to use.

It can work. South Korea set up an investment ombudsman in 1999, the same year the Philippines first tried, and still runs it today as a model other countries study.

Somewhere today, a coffee shop is still waiting on its permit. The lease is signed. The machine is paid for. The owner has not walked away.

This country has never been short of people willing to build. The work now is to stop charging them for it.

Let’s face it. No matter how hard you try to manage your finances and keep your expenditure well within your regular income, there are times when you need some extra money for a good reason.

Bridge an income gap perhaps, finance a small business you’ve been planning to put up for years, help pay for the medical procedure that your mom needs to undergo, or simply keep your household moving like a well-oiled machine when it has been chugging and stalling for a while now.

With the rise of digital lending in the country, regulated platforms have brought formal credit closer to underserved Filipinos long excluded from traditional finance, yet abusive collection practices by rogue lenders continue to weaken trust in the system.

Some digital lending companies present themselves very impressively and make their terms seem like the easiest to comply with for those who need the extra money fast, so quite a number of people end up dealing with them.

That is to find out later on that there are hidden charges needed to be paid, unreasonably high interest rates, and, should they be remiss with even one payment due.

They are harassed with constant threats, text messages, and calls, even acts of public shaming with no let-up until they pay. There seems to be no way out once you’re trapped in their system. This is why it is important to choose the right digital lending company to partner with and not be lured into a shady deal by sweet promises and attractive terms. If a deal feels like it is too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true and you better beware.

So how do you land with a legitimate digital lending company that will honor the terms of your deal and treat you – and your debt – with dignity and respect?

Do your research. Make sure you look up the company and find out everything you need to know about them.

Find out if it is a legitimate digital lending company, duly registered so that they will be legally bound to fulfill the terms written on the legal document you will sign up for, and check people’s reviews on the company’s performance.

Deal only with a legitimate company that offers good loan packages, has received glowing reviews, and comes highly recommended

Find out all the terms involved in the loan that you are planning to secure. The terms should be clear and upfront, fees and payments should be transparent, and there should be a fair collection scheme. There must be no hidden terms, charges, or collection schedules and practices.

The Department of Transportation said yesterday that 100 local and international companies are eyeing to invest in the Metro Rail Transit 3, following the DOTr confirmation on the privatization of MRT-3.

DOTr said the agency was able to garner potential investors for the government-run MRT-3 after it conducted a year-long market-sounding activity with the Asian Development Bank in Singapore and Japan.

‘Through public-private partnership (PPP), we bring in the expertise and investment this line needs. What we need is an investor that has a long experience of managing railway systems for the benefit of our commuters,’ DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.

While a private firm would be handling the management of MRT-3, Lopez said the DOTr would retain its authority over the train fares. The DOTr would pay the private operator depending on its delivery of train services and compliance with prescribed performance standards.

‘Performance standards will cover train availability and reliability, on-time performance, and the cleanliness and proper maintenance of trains and facilities, ensuring that the private operator is held accountable for the quality of service delivered to commuters,’ Lopez said.

MRT-3 is currently implementing an across-the-board half-price fare discount in all 13 stations along EDSA, serving more than 388,000 passengers daily.

The DOTr said the PPP would support the MRT-3 modernization through fleet replacements and system resignaling to improve its capacity, reliability and operational efficiency.

Lopez said the concessionaire would be chosen by the second quarter of 2027 after the P103.6-billion MRT-3 is opened for bidding this year.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are bracing for a tough matchup with ‘championship-caliber’ Converge FiberXers in the quarterfinals.

Rain or Shine set the best-of-five quarterfinal date with Converge after a dominant 133-103 victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters Friday evening.

After the game, Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao said that the FiberXers is a tough draw in the playoffs.

‘Ito, Converge sa kalaban namin, ang lineup nito pang championship. Ang kulang lang sa kanila siguro yung experience lang at konting gelling pa. Pero napaka-balanse ng lineup nila. May height sila, may speed sila, may shooting sila,’ he said.

‘Tingin ko lately ang ganda ng kinikilos nila. Mukhang nasa-solve nila yung problema nila dati na medyo basag pa yung teamwork nila. Pero ngayon makikita mo buong-buo na yung team na yun,’ he added.

Converge is heading to the quarterfinal round with a five-game winning streak.

‘Mas marami silang experience ngayon e, at naka-gel na yung team nila. Marami na silang natutunan, kasi nung medyo bago-bago pa sila naninibago pa. Pero ngayon, tingin ko, nakakapa na nila yung laro sa PBA,’ Guiao said.

‘Materyales naman, wala kang hahanapin. Ando na lahat yung materialis nila. Kaya mas mabigat sila ngayon.’

Rain or Shine previously faced Converge in the quarterfinals back in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. There, the Elasto Painters came from being down 0-1 in the best-of-three playoff round.

But now, heading to the quarterfinals with a win, Guiao stressed that they aimed for building habits going to the playoffs.

‘Before yung laro, ang bilhin ko lang sa mga players sa team namin. Mas maganda kung mananalo tayo, pasok tayo ng quarterfinals ng playoffs on a winning note. So that would be a good starting point for us,’ he said.

‘Tapos building habits lang. Gusto namin yung mentality namin pang playoff mentality na. Yung effort namin, playoff effort na. So pinu-push ko talaga yung mga bata na isipin nila parang playoff na ito. Parang mental and physical preparation na rin namin para sa playoff.’

Rain or Shine will be taking on Converge in Game 1 on Tuesday, 5:15 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.