Category: Philippine Star

No matter how you fight it, you sometimes feel blue.

The whole month of August found the country, mostly the Western side, dripping wet and devastated from all the heavy rains and flooding brought about by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) reacting to weather disturbances like Low Pressure Areas (LPAs), Tropical Depressions (TDs), and Tropical Storms around the country. Now the weather system is shifting to Amihan, and this does not guarantee better days, because there is also the El Niño phenomenon to adjust to.

When your world is a little topsy-turvy and you’re feeling blue, it is always nice to turn to a good book, as words have a way of uplifting your spirit, making you feel less alone, offering hope, and feeding your soul with positivity and joy.

To help beat the blues, Fully Booked has come up with a list of eight Hopecore books to indulge in for when the world is a little harsh, a bit too tough and rough, and you need a certain kind of magic that only words can give to make you walk on sunshine once again.

1. ‘Devotions: Selected Poems’ by Mary Oliver

“Devotions” is a collection of poetry by the late Mary Oliver. It contains her works from her early years as a young poet to her reflections as a senior citizen, and culminates in her final collection published in 2015 before her passing.

From poems about the hatching of bird eggs to her love for her dog to her relationship with poetry, Oliver invites readers to look beyond everyday life. This is the kind of book that fills you with wonder about the world – no matter which page you open. Oliver, who writes poignant verses about nature and the full spectrum of human emotions, reminds readers to pause, pay attention, and not take anything for granted.

2. ‘We Burned So Bright’ by TJ Klune

“We Burned So Bright” follows husbands Don and Rodney on a cross-country road trip as the Earth is about to be annihilated by a black hole. With just three weeks left before the end of the world, they head for Washington to settle an unfinished business. Their journey brings them into the lives of a variety of strangers, each coping with the impending doom in a different way.

As the world around them slips away, they reflect on their lives and their love: Was it enough? Did they live fully? Would they choose differently if given another chance?

Heartbreaking yet tender, this book shows us that life is fragile and poses a haunting question: ‘Amidst the inevitable doom, is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?’

3. ‘I Eat the Stars’ by Sarah Wilson

It’s hard to ignore the feeling that something is deeply wrong with the world today. If you feel this way, award-winning journalist and author Sarah Wilson says you’re not alone. For years, Wilson herself grappled with disillusionment and hopelessness. In her search for answers, she wrote this book.

Drawing on years of research and conversations with philosophers, poets, energy futurists, climate scientists, leaders, and spiritualists, she takes readers on an intimate and enlightening journey.

This is far from an easy read, as Wilson confronts her readers with harsh truths, but she also offers a way to find light amid these dark and troubled times: ‘a way to live a meaningful, human life with agency amid what is going on. And one that can best carry us forward into our new era.”

4. ‘The Correspondent’ by Virginia Evans

Meet Sybil Van Antwerp. She’s a saucy septuagenarian, a retired lawyer, a mom, a sister. Living alone, she spends her time quietly, reading and writing letters to various people. She writes to her brother, sister-in-law, children, former workmates, famous people, and one person whom she writes to often yet never sends the letter.

Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has. But when a letter from the past resurfaces, she’s compelled to revisit one of the most painful periods of her life. Moving, funny, and uplifting, “The Correspondent” reminds us that it’s never too late to make peace with the past, embrace change, and discover that life can still hold unexpected surprises.

5. ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ by Cheryl Strayed

Prepare your highlighter and sticky notes because you will need them when you read this book, which is brimming with quotes that strike a deep chord.

“Tiny Beautiful Things” is a collection of The Rumpus’ Dear Sugar advice columns. Anonymous letters reveal the writers’ deepest pains, and Sugar (later revealed as Cheryl Strayed) offers raw, unfiltered advice.

But this isn’t your typical advice column. Strayed pours herself into each letter with fierce empathy, as though ‘pulling out her heart with her bare hands.’ She approaches each problem from every angle, pulling out truths from deep within her soul to offer wisdom that is at once devastating, moving, powerful, and brutally honest.

6. ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett

“The Secret Garden” is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its heartfelt story of transformation and renewal. It follows the life of Mary Lennox, a young orphan sent to live with her distant and reclusive uncle in a sprawling, gloomy manor. Spoiled, lonely, and ill-tempered, Mary has never truly known love – or how to give it.

Everything changes when she discovers a hidden garden that has been locked away for years. As she tends the neglected garden and watches it come back to life, something within her begins to blossom as well. Her newfound wonder and joy soon spread to those around her, proving that even the most wounded hearts can heal.

Filled with friendship, hope, and the restorative power of nature, “The Secret Garden” remains a beloved story for readers of all ages.

7. ‘A Walk in the Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh’ by Joseph Parent

When life gets too noisy and overwhelming, pick up a book that serves as a peaceful retreat and invites you to stay present. This book allows you to take a walk in the woods with Winnie the Pooh, your gentle guide to the transformative practice of mindfulness.

Whether you’re seeking peace of mind, a way to manage stress, or simply a moment of calm on a busy day, Pooh offers a simple yet profound answer: ‘Just two things to do to truly be Pooh – just be present and be kind.’

Released just in time for the long-beloved bear’s 100th anniversary, this sweet and charming book encourages you to slow down, pay attention, and fully embrace the world around you, one step at a time.

8. ‘The Anthropocene Reviewed’ by John Green

‘To fall in love with the world is to look up at the night sky and feel your mind swim before the beauty and the distance of the stars.’

In “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” bestselling author John Green turns his attention to the strange, beautiful, and heartbreaking experiences of being human. Based on his popular podcast of the same name, this collection of essays examines different aspects of life in the Anthropocene – the current geological age defined by humanity’s impact on the planet – and rates them on a five-star scale.

From the wonder of sunsets and the joy of laughter to the complexities of the internet, human connection, and our relationship with the natural world, Green finds meaning in the everyday and the extraordinary.

These essays explore grief, hope, love, and the fragile beauty of existence. When the world feels dreary, this book might help you wade through the darkness and see it in a little brighter, a little more hopeful way.

As of July this year, the government has been billed up to P1.76 billion in commitment fees by its lenders for delays in the implementation of big-ticket projects, Department of Transportation data showed.

That P1.76 billion is in the rail transport sector alone, where delays in implementation have been caused by factors particularly right-of-way issues.

Commitment fees are slapped by foreign lenders when unused portions of a loan remain untapped. This is to encourage the completion of projects on time. The longer the delay in project completion and the longer the loan sits unused, the bigger the fees.

And yet public officials seem unmindful of the cost of withdrawing counterpart funding for foreign-assisted big-ticket projects and delaying their implementation.

In previous General Appropriations Acts, foreign-assisted projects were placed in unprogrammed appropriations – meaning the FAPs are on hold unless new or excess sources of funding are found for the UA in the course of the budget year. During budget deliberations, UA amounts proposed by the executive have also been slashed by Congress.

For 2027, the House of Representatives has done it again, slashing P130 billion for FAPs in the P7.2-trillion national budget proposed by the executive.

Senators and budget watchdogs count a total of up to P206 billion realigned by the House across its version of the budget bill. Congressmen realigned the critical funding to their pet local infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads and dole-out programs such as the health pork barrel, the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients or MAIFIP and the all-purpose ayuda AICS or the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations.

Senators and budget watchdogs have warned that apart from incurring stiff commitment fees, cutting counterpart funding and delaying FAPs could harm the country’s credit standing and ability to secure future official development assistance.

Department of Transportation officials noted that commitment fees for stalled railway projects have been piling up yearly. Rail officials have been ordered to wrap up pre-construction works.

Among the delayed projects is the Metro Manila Subway Project, which is affected by the P130 billion slashed from the 2027 funding for FAPs.

Congressmen, most of whom tool around in convoys of luxury vehicles, probably see no urgency in finishing the country’s first subway system, as they focus on creative budgeting that will make taxpayers bankroll their campaigns for 2028.

Senators – with the help of public transparency initiatives of civil society watchdogs – should put an end to skewed congressional priorities and systematic mismanagement of public funds.

Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano was unanimously elected as chairman of the League of Provinces of the Philippines during a special LPP meeting on Oct. 22.

Albano has vowed to give the country’s 82 provinces a stronger voice in national policymaking and press for solutions to the challenges governors face in delivering basic services and responding to their constituents’ needs.

He succeeds the late Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua, whose service to the league was honored during its fifth general assembly.

Established under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, LPP serves as the collective voice of provincial governments, providing governors a platform to raise shared concerns and seek national-level action on local issues.

Also elected in the LPP were Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Jose Gambito as regional chairman for Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Norte Gov. Cecilia Marcos as senior vice president for Northern Luzon.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Marlo Iringan inducted the new officers.

Maricar Camacho carried the torch for women as she emerged the fastest in the 2026 Lactacyd Women’s Run PH on Sunday at Ayala Triangle Gardens.

Camacho ruled the 10K race in 41:27, almost a full two minutes ahead of fellow podium finishers Mea Gey Adialiaan Ninura (43:23) and Jennelyn Isibido (43:24) to shine the brightest in the biggest turnout for the racing series.

About 12,500 runners joined in the event, which was meant to be a celebration of women’s empowerment, fitness and community, with Lactacyd serving as the title sponsor.

Jo Punay also claimed the top spot in the 5K race with her time of 21:18, followed by Pauline Kaye Escuro (22:53) and Maria Jonna Liza Abutas (23:54).

Jema Marcelyn Funtanar topped the 1K category in 5:46, with Amaria Rondilla (6:26) finishing second, and London Mendoza (6:58) placing third.

Beyond the competition, the Lactacyd Women’s Run PH continued to provide a platform for women of different ages and fitness levels to embrace active lifestyles and celebrate their strength through sport as it had HydroAid as official electrolyte drink partner, Refresh as official hydration partner, and the PGH Cancer Survivors Organization as official advocacy partner.

The huge turnout for the Makati leg was just the perfect springboard for the race series which will have two more legs in Davao in January and Iloilo in July next year.

The Makati leg, which was also in partnership with Marie France, Let’s Face It, and Solaire, is also sponsored by Rakuten Viber, Viber Dating, Sofy, PCOSEVE, Cosmetique Asia with Juicy Cologne, Protect and Silka, Mosbeau Philippines, Jeunesse, Simplus, The Oracle, BestShape, Her Beauty, Elis, Birch Tree Adult Boost with Collagen, S Brands with AlcoPlus, DeoPlus and Keratin Plus, NutriFam, Dove Deo, Himalaya Sports Candy, Quaker Oats, Lavoj oy, Katinko Sports Spray, Pascual Labs (C-Lium Fibre), Future Glow Philippines with Dr. O Skin Lab, Sola, VitaNature+, Snake Brand and Pastel, Snickers, Pond’s, Bite Block, Wellspring, Universal Robina Corporation with C2, Dynamite, GoodDay Friz, GoodDay Probiotic Drink, Lush and Maxx, Hello Glow, Healthmax Care, Milo, Ceelin Gummies, Flotera, IKYK, Skin Manila, Iyasu Life, Reyes and Son Trading Inc., Bib Snap, Dentiste and Hotel Sogo.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has opened an investigation into allegations that Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, duchess of Sussex, possessed images of child sexual abuse reportedly found among his belongings at his former residence in Cebu.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Sunday that the police would coordinate with law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States to investigate the allegations, including possible digital evidence and cross-border links.

‘The safety of our children remains a priority,’ Nartatez said, stressing the need for international cooperation in investigating suspected child exploitation.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said that Markle was being investigated over allegations involving images of child sexual abuse. Markle reportedly denied the allegations.

Nartatez said investigators would conduct digital forensic examinations and gather evidence to determine whether a crime had been committed.

‘The PNP will pursue the appropriate cases if evidence establishes involvement in the online exploitation of minors,’ he said.

Nartatez said that the PNP maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child exploitation, including abuse facilitated by digital platforms and cross-border networks.

Green, as they say, is the color of money and nature.

That is why for SM Investments Corp., the parent company of the SM Group, going green makes business sense.

SM Investments believes that the most meaningful sustainability investments are those that make a company stronger. It is simply part of how the group, led by the Sy family, runs its businesses, which span retail, banking, property and other high-growth sectors.

SM Investments is a perfect example of what happens when a company treats sustainability spending as an investment rather than an expense. It proves that going green is about more than meeting environmental goals; it is about making business stronger and more resilient.

So, where does sustainability actually improve the business?

In SM’s case, the benefits are felt across the board – from reducing costs and enhancing reliability to improving operational efficiency. Through investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable financing, the company is demonstrating how sustainability can be integrated into business operations and investment decisions.

‘We see sustainability as part of good governance, guiding our decisions, strengthening accountability and supporting our long-term growth while creating value for our stakeholders,’ Frederic DyBuncio, SM Investments president and CEO said.

Built on years of investment in efficiency and renewable energy across the group, SM Investments is targeting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2040, and is on track to do so.

In 2025, the group raised its renewable energy sourcing to 31 percent of total electricity consumption from 27 percent in the previous year, with the expansion of cleaner energy use pursued across its businesses.

As part of its broader energy efficiency initiatives, the group has installed more than 200,000 solar panels across its properties, helping generate electricity and reduce dependence on grid power.

SM Supermalls, which operates the largest network of shopping centers in the Philippines, has been ramping up its sustainability initiatives with rooftop solar photovoltaic systems and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations being installed in more malls nationwide. A total of 76 out of SM’s 90 malls across the country have been equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Alfamart likewise recently installed solar panels at its Saraiya Distribution Center in Quezon Province with a solar peak capacity of 120.28 kilowatt-peak, helping improve operational efficiency within its supply chain network.

SM Investments has also expanded its renewable energy investments through wholly owned subsidiary Philippine Geothermal Production Co. (PGPC), which operates the Mak-Ban and Tiwi steam fields in the Provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Albay. PGPC supplies geothermal steam that can generate up to 400 megawatts of clean renewable energy to power households, offices and industrial facilities around the clock. The Mak-Ban and Tiwi steam fields in Laguna and Albay alone can generate enough geothermal steam to power up to hundreds of thousands of households annually.

New geothermal steam fields in five areas in Luzon have the potential to provide up to 400 additional megawatts of clean, renewable geothermal power for the country are also currently being developed by PGPC.

Beyond its own operations, the group is helping support the country’s energy transition through BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest bank. BDO has deployed around P1.2 trillion in sustainable financing, including support for 71 renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 6,165 MW. China Banking Corp., for its part, provided P72 billion in financing for energy access, renewables and energy efficiency projects in 2025.

The group, from its retail business to banks and logistics companies, has likewise been reducing its plastic footprints in its packaging and influencing consumer behavior to use less plastic. Integrated property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc., for its part, has teamed up with Japanese waste processing firm GUUN CO., LTD to convert waste back into new materials at their first waste processing factory in Consolacion, Cebu. SM has likewise installed RDC-labeled (recyclable, disposable, compostable) bins across various properties nationwide to further enhance the development of waste conversion.

SM Markets, the group’s umbrella brand for SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore, has ushered in greener retail practices in encouraging the use of eco-bags over single-use plastics since 2007.

With the SM Group continuing to thrive amid evolving market conditions and economic cycles, its decision to treat sustainability spending as an investment rather than an expense demonstrates that going green, indeed, makes business sense.

Mixed fuel price adjustments will take effect Tuesday, October 27, with diesel and kerosene becoming more expensive while gasoline prices decline.

The Department of Energy announced the following changes Monday:

Diesel – up P1.20 per liter

Gasoline – down P0.30 per liter

Kerosene – up P0.50 per liter

The adjustments will remain in effect until Monday, November 2.

Last week, diesel prices rose by P2.60 per liter, while gasoline and kerosene prices fell by P4.30 and P1 per liter, respectively.

Industry forecasts late last week had pointed to larger adjustments for both diesel and gasoline.

Global supply pressures

The DOE said this week’s price movements were mainly influenced by global oil prices amid supply pressures linked to conflict in the Middle East.

At the Singapore International Energy Week, Saudi Arabia announced an arrangement to store crude oil at Singapore’s Jurong Rock Caverns beginning in mid-2027.

“This arrangement enhances the resilience of the Saudi crude oil supply chain in Southeast Asia, as well as contributes to Singapore’s energy security and resilience in the event of supply disruptions,” Singapore Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman Al Saud also reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to maintaining reliable energy supplies despite tensions in the region.

“Bringing supply closer to key Asian markets would strengthen the flexibility of our supply network and support Singapore’s security of supply and preparedness,” Al Saud said in a video recording.

The Singapore International Energy Week runs from October 26 to 30.

LemFi, the financial platform for people building lives across borders announced the launch of its new global brand platform, ‘Ambition has no passport,’ alongside a completely rebuilt app, launching the largest product expansion in its history.

More than 2 million customers use LemFi to move money to more than 30 countries, with over $2 billion in monthly transaction volume, and the company plans to add more countries next year. The expanded platform now includes savings and credit in the UK, eSIMs in more than 100 destinations, alongside LemFi’s existing international payments service.

People who move countries arrive with a career, a qualification and a savings record, only to find that almost none of it counts. A credit history rarely survives a border crossing. Around 304 million people now live outside the country where they were born, sending some $905 billion home each year.

Yet many financial services remain designed around individual products or customers living their financial lives in a single country. LemFi is building its platform around that gap, extending from the international transfers on which the company was founded into a wider range of financial services designed for people whose lives span borders.

‘We started LemFi because sending money home was broken. What we learned is that the harder problem starts after the transfer,’ said Ridwan Olalere, co-founder and CEO of LemFi.

‘Our customers are building careers and businesses in one country while supporting people in another, and the financial system treats them as if they can only exist in one place at a time. That is the wrong answer for people this ambitious, so we have rebuilt LemFi to work the way their lives do. Ambition travels. The infrastructure behind it should travel too,” Olalere continued.

Inside LemFi’s expanded platform

Transfers, still at the heart of it. Send money to more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and beyond, from the same account that now saves, borrows and connects.

Savings that stay within reach in the UK. The LemFi Instant Access Savings Account currently pays a boosted 5% AER for the first six months from account opening; it then reverts to 3.04% AER (tracker), tracking the Bank of England base rate. Accounts open from £1, with no penalty for withdrawals. Deposits are held by ClearBank and protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per eligible depositor.

A credit history that travels in the UK. A revolving credit line, available subject to availability, is issued by Lemfi Credit through Pillar, the FCA-regulated credit provider LemFi acquired in 2025. It is available as a virtual card through Apple Pay and Google Pay and can be used for both spending and sending. Eligible customers can also see their Equifax credit score in the app for free.

eSIM in more than 100 destinations, in every market. Buy mobile data before arriving, with no SIM swap and no roaming bill.

A brand and an app rebuilt together

The app has been re-architected from the ground up to hold several products across several countries in a single account, rather than bolting them onto a transfer app. The redesign also brings LemFi’s products to the forefront of the experience, making them easier to discover and creating an architecture that lets the company add new services as it expands.

The company has also introduced its new global brand platform, ‘Ambition has no passport,’ reflecting its focus on customers building careers, businesses, families and financial lives across borders. The new identity spans LemFi’s product interface, website, marketing and social channels and will roll out across its global markets.

‘LemFi started as a way to send money home. Our customers turned it into a way to build a life across borders,’ said Isabel Ron-Pedrique, VP of Design and Brand at LemFi.

‘They are not defined by the country they left. They are defined by what they are building. Ambition has no passport is not a line we placed on top of the product. It is the idea the whole system is built from, from the app you open in the morning to the poster you walk past on the way to work. We have built this brand to keep up with them,” Ron-Pedrique added.

The Senate will seek an explanation from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority during plenary debates on TESDA’s proposed 2027 budget after Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s allegation of a P5-million ‘allocation fund’ offer.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian supported the move to scrutinize TESDA, emphasizing that public funds must be allocated based on genuine necessity rather than being used to curry favor with lawmakers.

‘It’s not right, that in hopes of getting favored by a senator, or being close with a politician, that you will resort to bribing them with public funds,’ Gatchalian told radio dzBB.

‘That’s not your money. This is the people’s money and it should go to those who need it most,’ he added.

Gatchalian pointed out that offering government programs in exchange for political influence is unacceptable.

While admitting that he does not yet have the full details of the incident, the Senate President noted that in his 11 years in the chamber, he has never been offered such ‘leadership funds’ or allocable funds by TESDA.

The Senate leader suspects an errant staff member might be behind the unauthorized offer.

He vouched for TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez, his former colleague in the Second Congressional Commission on Education, describing him as highly capable and proper.

‘We need to get the info on what happened, it could be just the staff, because the staff might be trying to get favor from the politician,’ Gatchalian noted.

The controversy erupted on Saturday when Lacson revealed that a certain ‘Stephanie,’ claiming to be Benitez’s staff, reached out to his office to offer a P5-million allocation fund.

Lacson said he unequivocally declined the offer, noting that the specific figure made it highly unlikely to be a standard scholarship provision.

Benitez ordered an immediate internal investigation, categorically denying that he authorized anyone to make such an offer to the senator.

Despite not being selected by Asian Games local organizers to participate in the games in Aichi-Nagoya, four Filipino table tennis players are headed to the world stage.

The men’s pair of John Russel Misal and Jann Nayre and the women’s duo of Kheith Cruz and Angel Laude have qualified for the 2027 World Table Tennis Championships following their respective campaigns last week in the ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships Tashkent 2026.

The World Championships are scheduled for May 22-30 at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Misal and Nayre reached the quarterfinals after sweeping Kuwait, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7, in the Round of 32 before defeating Iran, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7.

However, their run ended against Hong Kong’s Wong Chunting and Baldwin Chan, who prevailed in five games, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8.

Nayre and Misal also won the men’s doubles title at the WTT Feeder Puerto Princesa last September.

Meanwhile, Cruz and Laude battled past Malaysia, 11-4, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6, in the round of 32 before suffering an 11-2, 11-1, 11-5 defeat to China.

Despite the loss, Cruz and Laude secured 10th place after earning walkover victories in the placement matches. They eventually fell to South Korea’s Lee Daeun and Park Gahyeon, 14-16, 11-1, 11-8, in the battle for ninth place.

Philippine Table Tennis Federation president Ting Ledesma expressed pride in the two duos’ performances and pledged the federation’s full support as they prepare for the World Championships.

‘We are very proud of both teams and what they have accomplished. We will give them our full support in their buildup to the World Championships by sending them to more international tournaments to gain valuable experience and prepare them for the competition,’ Ledesma said.

Ledesma also expressed gratitude to the Huaching Foundation, led by Mr. William Yap, for supporting all the Filipino players who qualified for the World Championships. He likewise acknowledged the support of Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Pato Gregorio and Commissioner Edward Hayco for their continued backing of Philippine table tennis.

‘We are grateful to Mr. William Yap and the Huaching Foundation for supporting our qualified athletes and helping provide them with opportunities to compete on the international stage. We also thank PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio and Commissioner Edward Hayco for their support of our athletes and our efforts to further develop Philippine table tennis,’ Ledesma said.

The results highlight the progress of the PTTF development program, with Misal, Nayre, and Cruz competing in the professional ranks in Germany, while Laude continues her studies and table tennis career at De La Salle University.