Category: Philippine Star

Another exciting event will unfold in the historic town of Alcoy featuring hobby anglers from Cebu and its neighboring provinces in the 2nd Black Shama Fishing Tournament next month.

Set for May 16-17, the two-day competition is supported by Alcoy LGU and local businesses to replicate their success last year, which drew more than 100 participants not only from Cebu but also from Bohol, Negros, Siquijor, and Mindanao.

Among the categories to be contested are jigging and trolling, and casting for anglers to choose.

In the jigging/trolling category, anglers will use boats to catch their trophy fish with light or heavy tackles.

Anglers joining the jigging and trolling category will use rented boats from local fisherfolks, which will help them earn extra income.

Participants for the casting or shore casting category will scour the municipal shoreline to cast their lines to catch fish.

Protected marine species such as rays, sharks, skates and sea turtles do not count as entry and must be released immediately.

Judging for the winning entry is based on the heaviest weight for both categories.

The champion will take home P30,000 in the jigging and P10,000 in the casting.

Special and minor awards will also be given by the organizers. Prizes also await local boatmen if his passenger jigger wins.

The event will not just showcase Alcoy’s beautiful white powdery sand beaches and the town’s hospitality, but will also promote sport fishing and sustainable fishing methods.

Those interested to join have only until May 8 to register. For inquiries, visit the Black Shama Facebook page.

The continued growth of cruise tourism in the Philippines is being shaped by closer coordination across the travel ecosystem bringing together cruise lines, tour operators, and travel agencies to expand access and strengthen product offerings.

This momentum is highlighted by the forthcoming Manila homeport deployment of the Adora Mediterranea, scheduled to begin sailings to Japan in December 2026. The development marks a shift in regional cruise access, allowing Filipino travelers to embark directly from Manila and eliminating the need for pre-departure international flights.

A key player in this distribution network is UOS Travel Corp. which operates as a wholesale supplier to travel agencies. It provides packaged cruise products, including bundled itineraries, charter arrangements and multi-destination programs tailored to different market segments. According to Jerry See, CEO of UOS Travel Corp., this model enables agencies to maintain direct client relationships while broadening their product offerings. He noted that continued growth in cruise travel depends on reaching a more diverse outbound market as Filipino traveler preferences continue to evolve.

‘We develop a range of packages-from premium to more accessible options-so that more Filipinos can participate in cruise travel,’ he said.

This approach reflects a broader shift toward more flexible travel planning, where cruise products are shaped through closer coordination across suppliers, operators and distribution partners.

Building a more competitive cruise ecosystemCruise growth in the Philippines is increasingly driven by integrated planning across multiple sectors, enabling more cohesive and competitive travel offerings. Coordination between cruise operators, hotels and transport providers allows agencies to assemble packages that respond to varying customer needs.

On board the Adora Mediterranea, these standards are reflected in a product designed for an international audience. The vessel features Mediterranean-inspired interiors, multiple dining venues and structured entertainment programming, supported by a multinational crew operating under established safety and service protocols.

Industry stakeholders remain optimistic about the Philippines’ position in Asia’s expanding cruise market, supported by strong outbound travel demand and growing interest in experiential travel. The introduction of Manila as an embarkation point enhances convenience for travelers while expanding opportunities for agencies and distributors. As the sector develops, the arrival of the Adora Mediterranea signals a more structured phase of cruise tourism in the country-defined by stronger industry coordination and broader travel accessibility. With Manila emerging as a cruise gateway, the development points to a more competitive and diversified outbound travel landscape.

The vessel is expected to commence Manila-based operations in December 2026, with Japan itineraries available through accredited travel agencies.

Globe Telecom Inc. announced that its long-time chairman, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, stepped down as chairman of the board.

In a disclosure on Tuesday, April 21, Globe said that Ayala Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cezar Consing is the new chairman of the board of directors.

‘Globe would not be the institution it is today without JAZA’s (Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala) vision and belief in what Globe could achieve,’ Globe’s disclosure read.

‘With JAZA stepping down as our beloved Chairman, JAZA will continue to support Globe in his capacity as Chairman of Asiacom Philippines, Inc., the joint venture company of Ayala Corp and Singtel, the major shareholders of Globe,’ it added.

Also elected as vice chairpersons are Tan Mee Ling Aileen and Jaime Alfonso Antonio Zobel de Ayala.

Carl Cruz remained as the president and CEO of Globe Telecom.

Ayala has served as the firm’s chairman since December 1996. He has also served as a director since March 1989.

Globe, in its disclosure, described Ayala as a ‘principal architect’ of Globe’s transformation from a traditional cable company into the nation’s leading digital telecommunications provider.

‘Under his guidance, Globe became an instrumental contributor to democratizing access to connectivity,’ Globe’s disclosure read.

‘From mobile services as a privilege available only to small percentage of the population, technology and distribution investments allowed a large majority of Filipinos to enjoy the benefits that access to communications and information can bring,’ it added.

The Philippine government is cautioned against lawmakers’ proposals for a supplemental budget intended to cushion the impact of the Middle East conflict, citing limited fiscal space and the risk of widening the deficit and debt.

In its report, the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) said a multi-billion-peso stimulus package will likely pose ‘significant ramifications’ for the country’s fiscal position.

‘The study argues that the country likely does not have the fiscal slack necessary for a supplemental budget. Insisting upon either could potentially aggravate the existing crisis,’ CPBRD said.

This would also likely inflate debt and risk a sovereign debt crisis.

Apart from the identified P238 billion government funds to support programs for the oil crisis, lawmakers are considering several funding proposals, including the bill filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros seeking an emergency supplemental budget amounting to P52.8 billion.

Separately, Sen. Win Gatchalian earlier said the government may need to pass a P400-billion ‘Bayanihan 3’ supplemental budget to keep the economy afloat amid fuel price shock.

However, the Congressional think tank warned that the enactment of the nearly half-trillion-peso stimulus package would sharply increase the estimated budget deficit from P1.65 trillion to P2.15 trillion.

Assuming that the 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) progresses as forecasted last year, the deficit-to-GDP ratio would rise to 6.9 percent from 5.3 percent.

Economic managers pegged the GDP to expand by five to six percent and the debt-to-GDP ratio to fall by 5.3 percent or P1.61 trillion in 2026.

‘Prevailing macroeconomic conditions both here and abroad, however, would suggest that GDP growth will, at best, be slower than anticipated. This, in turn, implies that a stimulus package, in excess of the current budgetary allocations of the government, will force the deficit-to-GDP ratio past seven percent,’ CPBRD said.

Economy Secretary Arsenio Balisacan also cautioned that a supplemental budget being eyed by Congress could further strain the country’s fiscal position and would likely push the deficit higher.

Fellow economic manager Budget Secretary Toledo said the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund can be an option as a source of funds for the proposed supplemental budget.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the budget deficit shrank by 94.35 percent to P5.8 billion as of February from P103.1 billion in the same period in 2025.

Revenue collections went up by 15.5 percent to P830.2 billion, while government expenditures inched up by 1.7 percent to P836 billion.

While the CPBRD has expressed caution about stimulus packages, it noted that subsidies and transfer programs could still be deployed, provided the government remains firmly within the parameters of the 2026 budget.

The trust and performance ratings of President Marcos have recovered in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest survey conducted by OCTA Research.

Conducted from March 19 to 25, the survey found that 54 percent of respondents trust the President. This is up six points from the 48 percent recorded in a similar survey in December 2025.

Those who distrusted Marcos hardly changed, from 31 percent to 30 percent, while undecided respondents dropped from 22 percent to 16 percent.

Filipinos who were satisfied with Marcos’ performance also increased from 51 percent to 54 percent, while dissatisfied respondents slightly decreased from 27 percent to 26 percent.

Undecided respondents dropped from 22 percent to 19 percent.

Sara’s ratings

Vice President Sara Duterte also continues to enjoy the trust and satisfaction of the majority of Filipinos.

Although her trust ratings barely changed, OCTA noted a slight decrease in her performance rating.

Up from 53 percent, 55 percent said they trust Duterte, while 26 percent said they distrust her (similar to the previous poll). The remaining 19 percent were undecided, down from 21 percent.

In terms of performance, 50 percent said they were satisfied with the Vice President, a four-point decrease from the December 2025 survey.

Those who were dissatisfied remained at 28 percent, while undecided respondents increased from 18 percent to 22 percent.

According to OCTA, Marcos’ improved trust and performance ratings suggest ‘a consolidation and clearer alignment in public perceptions of his leadership,’ while the decrease in Duterte’s performance ratings ‘may indicate a softening in public evaluation and more varied perceptions across different groups.’

‘Taken together, these findings point to a widening perception gap: while public assessments of the President appear to be becoming more defined and favorable, views of the Vice President are becoming more mixed and differentiated,’ OCTA said.

‘This divergence may reflect evolving public expectations shaped by both domestic political developments and external pressures, including global geopolitical tensions and their potential economic impacts, and may influence how Filipinos assess leadership responsiveness and governance in the coming period,’ it added.

In 2017, motorcycle taxis were a question mark. A gray zone. A whispered workaround for a broken commute. Riders took risks not just on the road, but with the law itself. Passengers rode with equal parts relief and uncertainty. It was not an industry. It was a gamble.

Almost 10 years later, that gamble has been carved into something real. Not perfect, not finished, but real. Behind it is a decade of hearings, pilot programs, shutdowns, court battles, regulatory drafts and countless negotiations with agencies that did not even have a category for what motorcycle taxis were supposed to be. Behind it are riders who endured income instability just to prove that this model could be safe, organized and legitimate. Behind it is a simple idea that refused to die: that mobility can be both efficient and lawful.

That decade was not just about survival. It was about discipline.

Rules were written slowly, often painfully. Caps on rider numbers. Safety training. Accreditation. Data sharing. Insurance. Accountability systems. Every legitimate platform that chose to stay in the game accepted something difficult: growth would be constrained by compliance. You could not just flood the streets with riders. You had to earn your expansion. You had to prove safety. You had to respect the system being built.

That is the social contract that allowed this industry to exist.

And now, that contract is being tested.

Recent developments surrounding DSWD ayuda distribution have exposed something deeply troubling. Rider lists submitted for social support have ballooned to levels that defy logic, in some cases surpassing sectors that have existed for generations such as farmers and fishermen.

Let that sink in. A relatively young sector, still under pilot regulation, suddenly appearing larger than entire traditional industries that feed the nation.

This is not a clerical error. This is not a rounding difference. This is a structural distortion. And when numbers are distorted, two things are compromised immediately: public trust and policy integrity.

Because ayuda is not just money. It is recognition. It is the government saying, ‘We see you. You are part of the system we are trying to protect.’ When lists are artificially expanded, that recognition is diluted. The rider who went through proper accreditation, who followed the process, who waited his turn within regulatory limits, now shares the same lane with ghost entries, duplicate identities or unqualified inclusions.

The result is quiet but devastating. Resources meant for legitimate workers get spread thin. Data used for policymaking becomes unreliable. And worst of all, compliance begins to feel like a disadvantage rather than a duty.

This is where the issue stops being about competition and starts becoming about fairness.

Because the reality on the ground is simple. There are platforms that have chosen the harder road. They have stayed within caps. They have invested in training systems. They have absorbed losses during shutdowns. They have aligned with regulators even when the rules were evolving and imperfect. They have taken the long view, believing that legitimacy would eventually create a stronger, more sustainable industry.

Then there are those who operate differently. Expanding beyond allowed limits. Submitting bloated numbers. Moving faster than regulation can keep up, not by innovating within the system, but by ignoring it.

This is not disruption. This is distortion.

And distortion has consequences that go far beyond market share.

First, it puts rider welfare at risk. When a platform over-enrolls beyond what the system can sustainably support, earnings per rider drop. Supply overwhelms demand. The very people being promised opportunity end up competing in a crowded field where take-home income becomes unpredictable. It creates a cycle where more riders are recruited to compensate for declining utilization, further worsening the situation. It looks like growth on paper, but on the ground it feels like scarcity.

Second, it undermines safety. Regulatory caps are not arbitrary. They are tied to training capacity, monitoring systems and enforcement capability. When numbers exceed what can be properly trained and supervised, the entire safety framework weakens. The road does not care about ambition. It only respects discipline.

Third, it erodes the credibility of the entire industry. Policymakers rely on data to make decisions. If the data is inflated, policies will be misaligned. Future regulations may become stricter, not because the model failed, but because the inputs were corrupted. The actions of one actor can reshape the rules for everyone.

This is why the response cannot be soft. This is not about removing jobs. It is about protecting real jobs.

It is not about limiting opportunity. It is about ensuring that opportunity is sustainable. It is not about favoring one platform over another.

It is about insisting that every platform plays by the same rules. The call is simple, but it must be firm.

All platforms must comply with the same regulatory framework. No exceptions. No creative interpretations. No parallel systems. If there are caps, respect them. If there are accreditation requirements, follow them. If there are data reporting standards, adhere to them truthfully.

And for regulators, the moment calls for clarity and enforcement. Audits must be conducted. Lists must be validated. Discrepancies must be addressed decisively. Because every delay sends a message, and the wrong message right now is dangerous.

Almost 10 years ago, motorcycle taxis fought to exist within the law.

Today, it is a fight to ensure that the law still means something.

Because if a decade of blood, sweat and sacrifice can be undone by unchecked expansion and impunity, then we are not just failing an industry.

We are teaching an entire generation of workers that the fastest way forward is not to build within the system, but to outrun it.

And that is a road we cannot afford to take.

The Philippines is pulling in arrivals from more cruise lines this year, driven by infrastructure upgrade in dedicated terminals like Ilocos, Manila, Palawan and Siargao.

Based on data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), cruise passenger traffic grew to 76,188 in the two months to February, covering 26 calls from international shipping lines.

At this rate, the cruise passenger volume up to February has already reached more than a third of last year’s 226,247, putting the industry in a position to record a new high.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago said the country is no longer considered as just a stopover for cruise lines, noting that cruise trips are now marketing the Philippines either as the beginning or end destination to build up the country’s profile to high-spending travelers.

As of April, the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal on Pier 15 at the Port of Manila has recorded six calls from cruise voyages, already beating a year ago’s two. The terminal served both embarking and disembarking passengers.

The terminal can dock medium to large-sized vessels, some of which can carry as many as 3,000 passengers of various nationalities from Europe and North America.

Santiago said the PPA has invested in enhancement projects on the terminal, particularly covered walkways, expanded gangways and sanitation services.

‘We are actively upgrading ports and expanding our capabilities to support the growing demand of cruise tourism,’ he said.

Elsewhere, the PPA also handles cruise terminals in the provinces, such as the Ports of Currimao (Ilocos Norte), Salomague (Ilocos Sur) and Coron and Puerto Princesa (both in Palawan). Right now, the agency is also building dedicated ports for cruise ships in other provinces.

Ongoing infrastructure works include the Ports of Coron (Palawan), Alegria (Aklan), Catagbacan (Bohol) and Balbagon (Camiguin). The PPA also developed a dedicated port for cruise vessels in the Port of Jubang in surfing haven Siargao.

Cruise passenger traffic has been growing since the pandemic, hitting 88,080 in 2023, increasing to 150,903 in 2024 and ballooning to 226,247 in 2025.

It has yet to be seen, however, if oil price shocks – which only began in March – would affect the growing frequency of cruise arrivals into the country.

From the tennis court to the red carpet.

Clad in beige Filipiniana gown, Alex Eala dazzled as a guest in the distinguished 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid before strutting her stuff in the Mutua Madrid Open this week.

Eala graced the red carpet of what is considered the ‘Oscars of Sports’ as Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were crowned as Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively.

Legendary players Novak Djokovic of Serbia (tennis) and Eileen Gu of China (freestyle skiing) hosted the momentous occasion, feting the world’s best athletes today.

And Eala took the most out of the golden moment with a rare selfie with the sporting greats at the historic Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid.

‘Sandwiched between greatness,’ beamed Eala on her photo with 22-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic and three-time Olympic gold medalist Gu.

Eala, a graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy also in Spain, wore an iconic Filipino dress designed by her own uncle, Rhett Eala, who’s a renowned fashion designer abroad.

Her appearance in the world’s most prestigious awarding ceremony should serve handy in an expected killer stretch starting with the WTA1000 Madrid Open that runs Wednesday until May 3.

Eala, who slightly improved to No 44 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, will go up against a qualifier at a still-to-be-determined schedule.

After Madrid, Eala is also listed in the WTA1000 Rome Open and the WTA125 Parma Ladies Open both in Italy for the continuation of her clay campaign.

Eala started her clay season with second-round and first-round stints in the Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open in Austria and the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, both WTA-500 level tours, in Stuttgart, Germany, respectively.

All of these serve as Eala’s build-up for the queen of clay that’s the French Open from May 24 to July 7 in Paris.

The Roland Garros tourney will be Eala’s second Grand Slam this season after debuting in the main draw of the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier this year.

Then there’s Wimbledon in London and the US Open in New York later this season.

“Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0″ Kapuso Big Winner Caprice Cayetano revealed that she wants to spend more time with her familly this summer to make up for the time spent inside the famous TV house.

Caprice said that she is hoping to go out of the country with her family this summer.

‘Summer plans ko po ay gusto ko po gumala with my family, reconnect and catch up po kasi matagal-tagal din po akong nawala,” Caprice told PUSH.

“Sana po kahit saan po, out of town or out of country po sana. Sana po sa Bangkok po,’ she added.

The young actress continues her now successful showbiz career by bagging an endorsement with an American fast food chain.

Caprice recently led the grand opening of Wendy’s Philippines’ 100th store in Angeles City, Pampanga.

During the event, Caprice said that she is honored to be the new ambassador of the fast food chain.

“I’m so excited for the 100th branch,” she said.

Sometimes, the cure seems more painful than the disease.

Most business analysts are betting the Monetary Board (MB) will raise policy rates this week, reversing a two-year trend. The trend was caused by more benign inflation – until Trump turned our world upside down.

Since the US-Israeli attack on Iran Feb. 28, oil prices spiked. This translated into higher transport cost across the board. Inevitably, more expensive fuel will have second round effects on every commodity in the market, creating a surge in the inflation rate. March inflation was tracked at over four percent – much higher than projected before war broke out in the Middle East.

The expectation is that the MB will raise interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point. This will bring up the benchmark rate to 4.5 percent.

The increased rate might seem vastly less dramatic than all the events holding world attention for the past six weeks. It will certainly not suffice to hold back the inflation surge we are experiencing. But it is definitely a clear signal to the market.

By tightening spending, the MB hopes to discourage discretionary spending. This includes, unfortunately, not only household expenditure but also capital outlay. Higher interest rates have the effect of slowing down economic expansion.

A higher policy rate, albeit marginal, will help reinforce the peso’s exchange rate. All the havoc caused by the war on Iran forced the peso lower. A cheaper peso magnifies the cost of imported energy, which is denominated in hard currencies.

Since the war began, the peso slid to below $1:P60 – an exchange rate of great psychological significance. Although the peso’s depreciation was expected, given our weak fiscal management and propensity to incur public debt, the fallout from war in the Middle East hastened the weakening.

All things considered, the weaker peso is the new normal. We are not about to see our currency’s resurgence. Not with our debt pile. Not with the prospect of diminished remittance flows. Not with our dependence on imports.

Economists love to remind us that a softer peso will be good for families dependent on remittances – except that many of our workers in the Gulf states are facing disemployment. Dubai, in the course of this war, has become a ghost town. Its business model as a low-tax and peaceful investment sanctuary has been blasted by Iranian drones.

Economists love to remind us that a softer peso encourages our exports – except that we have virtually no exports to speak of. We have become a net importer of food. This means a lower peso exchange rate immediately feeds into the inflation surge.

But we have to raise our interest rates nonetheless. The first mandate of the MB is to keep prices as stable as possible – even as that might seem like trying to roll a rock up a hill. The first enemy of the MB is an escalating inflation rate – even as this is mainly due to cost-push from imported commodities.

The MB has the same affliction as the mythical King Canute. Like the exasperated king, it orders the tides to be still.

In the present case, the tides are global and the ripples are overpowering.

There is little indication that the elevated oil price regime we are all suffering from will abate anytime soon. A frantic Donald Trump is trying to exit the nightmare he walked all of us into. He keeps imagining a negotiated end to the war is at hand. In reality, he is still negotiating to negotiate.

The diplomatic standoff will take a lot more time. Trump never imagined he would be waging war against a proud nation that values its honor so much. A man governed by his baser instincts and unbounded narcissism cannot comprehend honor.

The blockade at the Strait of Hormuz is not going away anytime soon. Iran has learned the power of its ability to constrict movement in this narrow waterway. Tehran will use its grip on Hormuz, combined with its ability to devastate the Gulf states, as means to protect itself from murderous US-Israeli attacks.

Even if some ships could eventually traverse the strait, we are facing a huge shipping backlog. About a thousand ships have been trapped at the Persian Gulf for over six weeks now. It takes about 10 days to fill up a supertanker. It is a slow moving vessel that takes weeks to complete its journey and even more time to unload at its destination.

The most effective blockade of the Gulf, it turns out, is the refusal of insurers to absorb the risk of covering shipments through Hormuz. Trump’s dimwitted blockade at the Gulf of Oman simply magnifies the paralysis.

It will take many months to normalize the shipping issue hounding global oil supply. After that, we will have to wait for the damaged facilities to be repaired at no mean cost. The LNG production facilities damaged in Qatar will take at least five years to restore.

The last time global oil supplies were disrupted, it took the global economy a decade to return to pre-disruption levels. The disruption we see today is unprecedented. Which means restoration will require more than a decade. This is the final measure of Trump and Netanyahu’s folly.

Meanwhile, the MB will try to rein in the scourge of inflation with the puny means it has.