Category: Philippine Star

For three decades, Francorp Philippines has done more than witness the evolution of the local business landscape; it has helped shape it.

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary Gala under the theme ’30 Years of Transforming the Philippine Franchise Landscape,’ the country’s premier franchise consultancy firm gathered the region’s foremost business leaders, visionaries and enterprise builders to honor the brands reshaping the Filipino entrepreneurial dream.

What began three decades ago as a nascent, small-scale industry has since grown into the world’s seventh-largest franchise market, a remarkable milestone driven by Francorp’s pioneering frameworks and innovative business scaling strategies.

Reflecting on this remarkable journey, Francorp vice chairman Bing Sibal-Limjoco emphasized the enduring strength of the franchising model in her welcome remarks.

‘These past 30 years have proven that our franchising business model isn’t just a fad or a temporary trend. It has stood for consistent financial stability, long-term value to stakeholders, and a track record of employment and community impact,’ she said.

The landmark gathering served as an elite masterclass in global enterprise, headlined by two of the international franchise world’s most influential figures. Joseph Tanbuntiong, CEO of Jollibee Group Philippines and chairman of the Philippine Franchise Association, delivered a profoundly inspiring address centered on exceptional stewardship and the strategic blueprint required to transform homegrown concepts into dominant global empires.

Joining him on the stage was one of the world’s top business coaches – Brad Sugars, founder and CEO of ActionCOACH, who detailed the aggressive hyper-growth frameworks he utilized to expand his own enterprise into over 85 countries, challenging Filipino entrepreneurs to possess the leading-edge thinking necessary to capture international market share.

To open the evening’s festivities, Francorp hosted a vibrant Franchise Fiesta, showcasing the dynamic market innovation and enterprise energy of its contemporary brand partners. Guests were treated to a diverse sensory experience of next-generation concepts and established favorites, exploring curated showcases and giveaways from ActionCOACH Philippines, Avocadoria, Bakers PH, BigBrew, But First Coffee, BW Superbakeshop, Chick Chicken, Cupcake Royale Bakeshop, Enlins Bakeshop, Jaam House of Sushi, Mango Royal Milkshake, Mommy Vacion Crispy Pata, Powerhouse Tools, Prince Baker, RedBox Pizza, Remilly’s Yema Cakes, Ronli Wonton Siomai, Shawarma Shack, The Hungry Pita, Toby’s Estate, and Yoogatta. The celebration was further enhanced by the generous support of DITO BizBayan and Media Blitz Group, whose contributions helped create a memorable and engaging experience for all attendees.

A central highlight of the gala was the induction of 23 new brands into the Francorp Franchise Excellence Club, a prestigious distinction honoring homegrown brands that have successfully scaled through franchising.

In his chairman’s message, Francorp chairman Samie Lim celebrated the achievements of the club’s honorees and their collective impact on the country’s economic growth.

‘Today, as I look around this room and see all of our club honorees, I can confidently say that together, we have not only built businesses, we have fundamentally transformed the economic landscape of our nation,’ he said.

The celebration of aggressive growth peaked with the titans of massive economic footprints and global reach. Industry giants BigBrew and Goldilocks took center stage as the latest elite 1000 Club Honorees. Driving Francorp’s mission to build global Filipino brands, the International Club inducted visionaries capturing competitive overseas shores: Avocadoria (Thailand, Singapore, and UAE), Shawarma Shack and Andok’s (Singapore), and Turks, which is currently driving regional expansion in Hong Kong under the international brand name T. Co.

The gala anchored its modern success in its rich heritage with a Founders’ Recognition segment led by Francorp managing director Noel Siggaoat.

‘True leadership is not just about building a company; it is about creating an industry where others can thrive. Thirty years ago, three extraordinary business leaders and visionary minds came together with a singular, aligned vision: to build the ultimate framework for Filipino entrepreneurship,’ he said.

We stand at the threshold of a new era. For decades, we have been called the ‘back office of the world,’ providing the labor that powers the dreams of others while our own industrial potential lay dormant. But the wind is shifting. Today, I champion a future where we are no longer just the hands of the global economy, but its very thinking mind. That future begins with the Pax Silica Initiative.

Launched by the United States Department of State in December 2025, the Pax Silica is a strategic coalition designed to secure the ‘silicon stack,’ from the mines that produce critical minerals to the frontier artificial intelligence models that will define this century. As US Undersecretary of State Jacob Helberg observed, ‘If the 20th century ran on oil and steel, the 21st century runs on compute and the minerals that feed it.’ This is not a traditional military alliance. It is an alliance built on economic security, technological resilience and industrial leadership. By joining as the 13th signatory in April 2026, the Philippines secured a seat at the table where the future of the global digital economy is being shaped.

Our participation is more than symbolic. New Clark City will host the world’s first AI-native industrial acceleration hub, a 4,000-acre ‘Golden Node,’ expected to attract between $40 billion and $70 billion in investments and generate between 180,000 to 500,000 high-quality jobs. This is an opportunity to reverse decades of brain drain by giving Filipino engineers, scientists and innovators reasons to build their futures here instead of abroad. To jumpstart this, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority is offering a two-year grace period on lease payments for pioneers who come to build this ecosystem on Filipino soil.

Yet investment alone does not guarantee national transformation. Electronics already account for more than 50 percent of our total merchandise exports, reaching $39.1 billion in 2024. Yet nearly 73 percent of our semiconductor industry remains concentrated in assembly, testing and packaging, capturing only a fraction of the industry’s value. Pax Silica is the ladder we need to climb higher, not only to manufacture, but also to design, improve and ultimately own it.

To climb this ladder, we must first protect our mineral wealth. We are the fifth most mineralized country in the world, with an estimated $1 trillion in untapped reserves of copper, gold, nickel, zinc and silver. Yet only around five percent has been explored and for decades, we have exported raw ore while others made the profit. Historically, foreign partners like the US primarily sought to extract these critical minerals to feed their own supply chains without processing them on our soil. Pax Silica gives us a rare opportunity to rewrite those rules. Instead of exporting raw minerals, we should require domestic processing and refining before export. We should build local battery industries, semiconductor component manufacturing and advanced materials research. Meaningful participation by Filipino communities must become a non-negotiable condition. A country blessed with strategic minerals should not merely supply the future, it should help manufacture it.

This is a direct call to action for DepEd and TESDA. DepEd must strengthen STEM education, coding and AI literacy from basic education onward, while TESDA expands specialized training in semiconductor manufacturing, precision engineering, robotics and AI system operations. Partnerships with universities and companies locating in New Clark City should create apprenticeship and technology transfer programs. The projected 150,000 direct high-value engineering jobs must go to Filipinos.

We are not alone in this journey. South Korea anchors the world’s production of High Bandwidth Memory through Samsung and SK Hynix. The Netherlands is home to ASML, the sole producer of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines needed to manufacture advanced chips. Japan dominates the specialty chemicals that make semiconductor production possible, while UAE and Qatar are investing billions in AI-ready data center infrastructure. India and Italy, our newest partners, demonstrate that Pax Silica has become one of the world’s most consequential technology partnerships.

I hear the concerns of our farmers and indigenous brothers. The identified areas in New Clark remain within long-established industrial zones and employment projections must distinguish between temporary construction work and permanent technical careers. Workers deserve competitive wages, continuous upskilling and opportunities for advancement.

There are also understandable concerns about water. The BCDA proposed a surface-water harvesting system capable of supplying 120 million liters daily, exceeding the hub’s projected requirement of 65 to 90 million liters while allowing surplus capacity to benefit surrounding communities. According to industry data, a typical AI query uses only about five drops of water. By comparison, producing a single hamburger requires thousands of liters across the agricultural supply chain. The challenge is not whether AI uses water, it for a fact does, but whether we manage that water responsibility.

My fellow Filipinos, for too long our economy has depended on remittances, low-value manufacturing and the export of our most talented people. Our neighbors have steadily climbed the technological ladder while we remained on its lower rungs. Pax Silica offers us an opportunity to change that trajectory, but only if we negotiate wisely, educate more boldly and build deliberately. Our objective is not simply to host the infrastructure through which other nations secure their future. It is to transform our growing geopolitical importance into sustainable, inclusive and sovereign national development.

That is the true meaning of Pax Filipina. A nation that no longer exports only labor and raw materials, but exports innovation, technology and ideas. A nation that does not merely participate in the future but helps shape it. The future is Pax Silica. If we seize the moment with wisdom and resolve, that future will belong not to foreign investors, but to every Filipino.

Continuous heavy rain from the enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ flooded riverine and coastal areas across Zambales, forcing residents from low-lying villages to flee their homes and cutting off access to some areas near lahar-filled waterways.

As of Sunday afternoon, August 9, a total of 962 families composed of 2,876 individuals evacuated due to rising floodwaters in 12 of the 13 municipalities in the province, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

Communities in coastal and riverine areas recorded the highest number of evacuees, PDRRMO data showed: 729 in Cabangan, 704 in Sta. Cruz, 355 in the capital town of Iba, 354 in Candelaria, and 285 in Botolan.

A total of 2,625 residents still stay in evacuation centers as of late Sunday afternoon, while 76 have sought shelter with relatives, the PDRRMO added.

Heavy rainfall also triggered massive lahar flows in major rivers draining from Mount Pinatubo, causing damage to nearby homes and infrastructure.

In Barangay Sta. Fe, San Marcelino town, strong lahar flow from the swollen St. Tomas River breached a portion of the dike at Purok 2, washing out the bridge connecting the village, causing widespread flooding in residential areas, and stranding residents in the community, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) also said in a situation report Sunday afternoon.

Residents tried to shore up the bridge approach with sandbags on Saturday, but the river filled with debris proved to be too powerful to contain, PDRRMO head Rolex Estella told Philstar on Sunday.

Sta. Fe, about 20 kilometers from the town proper, lies alongside the wide Sto. Tomas River lahar field.

The town’s MDRRMO also said power outages in the area resulted in intermittent signal loss, making communication with the isolated barangay difficult.

The San Felipe Police Station, meanwhile, reported the preemptive evacuation of residents in Barangays Rosete and Apostol starting Saturday night. The villages lie on a floodplain alongside Barangay Sindol, where flooding temporarily rendered the national highway impassable to light vehicles Sunday morning.

The number of evacuees across the province climbed from 59 families and 172 individuals on Wednesday, August 5, to 159 families and 534 persons on Saturday, August 8, to the current total of 962 families and 2,876 individuals on August 9, as the province reeled from the effects of typhoons ‘Luis’ and ‘Maymay,’ which entered the country one after the other this week.

State weather bureau PAGASA placed Zambales under a red heavy rainfall warning at 5:00 pm on Saturday, along with Bataan, Metro Manila, and portions of Batangas, Cavite, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

According to PAGASA, Zambales received the highest amount of rainfall accumulated in a span of 24 hours on August 6 to 7, with 158.6 millimeters of rainfall recorded at its monitoring station in Iba. The Zambales record eclipsed the 158 millimeters record in Baguio City and 154.4 millimeters in La Trinidad, Benguet in the same period

What began as a routine seaborne patrol on Friday morning ended in tragedy after a police officer died saving two of his companions from drowning.

Master Sgt. Fernando Marfa Jr., 40, a traffic investigator of the Cadiz Component City Police Station and a deputized member of the Bantay Dagat, was swept away by strong river currents during a rescue attempt in Sitio Bisan, Barangay Luna, Cadiz City.

Marfa, a resident of Barangay Tinampa-an, was conducting a seaborne patrol together with three civilian companions when the incident took place, initial police investigations showed.

They were aboard a motorized banca when water suddenly entered the vessel while they were crossing the river, Cadiz police said.

All four passengers disembarked from the banca. However, two of the civilians, identified as Alnaven Rull and Elmer Terencio Jr., were carried away by the strong currents.

Marfa, who rescued his two companions, was swept downstream and disappeared.

For nearly an hour, personnel from the Cadiz Component City Police Station and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office conducted an intensive search and retrieval operation.

When rescuers finally recovered Marfa, he was immediately brought to the Cadiz District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Medical findings later confirmed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning.

In a statement, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said Marfa’s selfless act of courage and unwavering commitment to protect and save others, even at the cost of his own life, embody the highest ideals of public service and the noblest traditions of the Philippine National Police.

‘PMSg Fernando Marfa exemplified the true meaning of service above self. His final act was one of extraordinary courage, choosing to risk his own life to save others. We mourn the loss of a dedicated police officer, a brave public servant, and a hero,’ PRO-NIR Director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said.

Everything will be weighed’ as the Department of Justice (DOJ) studies the United States government’s request to extradite detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that the DOJ has received the ‘formal transmittal from the Department of Foreign Affairs.’

‘We look at the whole habitat of the Philippine legal system in evaluating this. Not only the existing treaty, not only the particular rules relevant to the case and also decided cases of the Supreme Court, which will always guide all actions of the Philippine government. So everything will be weighed,’ Vida said on the sidelines of the Manila Overseas Press Club Judiciary Night on Friday.

According to earlier reports, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez disclosed that the US government sent its extradition request to the Philippine counterpart in July, with the goal of making Quiboloy face charges issued by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California in November 2021.

Some of the charges were conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling.

However, Quiboloy is also facing cases for qualified human trafficking and child sexual abuses before regional trial courts in Pasig City and Quezon City.

His lawyer Ferdinand Topacio earlier argued that plans to bring Quiboloy to the US court would be ‘extremely unfeasible’ as principles recognized by the international community dictate that the person facing prosecution before a local court should complete the proceedings before being surrendered to another jurisdiction.

When asked for his comment, Vida said ‘that’s the opinion of Atty. Topacio and as a fellow member of the Bar we will hear him out.’

Hidden from public view for more than a century, two swords believed to have belonged to Katipunan leader Col. Pablo Astilla have been turned over by his descendants to local officials here in time for the revival by the municipal government of the commemoration of Infanta’s independence from Spain.

The swords – with wavy blades – were of the ‘kris’ type considered the bladed weapon of choice for centuries in Muslim Mindanao.

The surfacing of the swords has renewed interest in the town’s revolutionary past and the legacy of Astilla, who was also the first and only governor of the former Province of Infanta under the Revolutionary Government and the First Philippine Republic.

On Friday, Infanta Mayor L.A. Ruanto turned emotional as held the swords that he said represented not only the courage of Astilla but also the struggles and sacrifices of the people of Infanta during the fight for Philippine independence from Spain.

Astilla’s descendants, the Miras family, turned over the swords to the municipal government in response to Ruanto’s call last July 20 for the townsfolk to search for or bring out historical relics in their possession, as the town prepares to revive – after more than 80 years – the commemoration of its independence.

‘The swords are more than just weapons. They are reminders of the bravery, leadership and sacrifices of those who fought for freedom,’ the mayor said, as he expressed gratitude to the Miras family for safeguarding historical relics that reconnect the people of Infanta to a significant chapter in history.

Ruanto also commended other families whose ancestors contributed to the history and identity of Infanta, including the Huertazuela, Mercado, Nakar, Peñaverde, Mortiz, Peñamante and Villaflor families.

Ruanto encouraged residents who may have old documents, artifacts or family stories related to Infanta’s past to coordinate with the Infanta Culture, Heritage, Arts and Tourism Section to help strengthen efforts to preserve the town’s historical memory.

The 10 alleged former security aides and bagmen of fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co were released from police custody yesterday after posting bail.

Las Piñas RTC Branch 200 went on overtime to issue the release orders for the 10 bagmen – also called ‘maleta boys’ – after they paid P74,040 each for four counts of perjury or P18,510 per count.

The perjury cases were filed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former national security adviser Eduardo Año and Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr.

The bagmen’s lawyer, Levi Baligod, accused the Las Piñas RTC of conducting an ‘irregular and unusual’ process in settling his clients’ bail.

‘They sat on the bail application (on Friday),’ Baligod told reporters after the bagmen were released.

Las Piñas police arrested the 10 late Friday afternoon after they failed to pay the bail before the court closed.

Placed under police custody overnight were Reyneboy Julian, Christopher Esquivel, George Villalon Jr., Gil Navidad Jr., Anselmo Taberdo, Joely Cadiao, Rommel Galapon, Bernard Gumban, Fidel Corpuz and Walter Manalansan.

He said the court required a certificate of detention and an affidavit of non-detention, even though the suspects voluntarily surrendered.

Baligod added that three notaries public refused to notarize documents after learning that they were dealing with the bagmen, supposedly citing fear of being called to the Senate in the future if ever problems with the documents arise.

Food assistance came not simply as handouts for 2,032 residents of Isabela, but as a reward for helping rebuild and improve their communities.

Residents from this city as well as the towns of Delfin Albano and Echague participated in the food for work component of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Project Lawa at Binhi, by joining community rehabilitation and development efforts.

Each participant brought home two family food packs after working for five days, according to Lucia Alan, chief of the DSWD office in Cagayan Valley.

A total of 4,064 food packs were distributed to the beneficiaries after completing the five-day food for work program, which encouraged residents to help improve community facilities and resources.

For the participants, the program presented not just food on the table, but an opportunity to contribute to projects that directly benefit their own communities while receiving much-needed support for their families.

Lamb is healthy, easy to cook and easily melds into Filipino cuisine. Unfortunately, at the moment, lamb is still considered as premium meat and not as readily accessible as pork or beef. Likewise, the general public, who did not grow up eating lamb, still has some misconceptions and biases against it.

But things are going to change now that renowned Filipino chef J Gamboa has been officially named as the Philippines’ new ‘Lambassador,’ a role that is dedicated to championing the quality, versatility and growing appeal of Australian lamb among Filipino chefs and culinary connoisseurs and, soon, regular consumers.

Filipino food lovers usually get introduced to lamb during their travels abroad and, once back in the Philippines, get a good taste of it when dining in mostly chef-driven restaurants. After all, professional chefs are most knowledgeable about the meat, and they know how to choose good quality meat and how to cook it properly. In the ‘new’ lamb category, Australian lamb reigns supreme and is the top choice among professional chefs.

‘I’ve been a big fan of Australian Lamb since we opened Cirkulo in 1995. Through the years, Australian lamb has always been guest favorites on our menu: Garlic and Pepper Crusted Slow Roasted Australian Lamb Ribs, Cordero Lechal Asado (Roasted Australian Suckling Lamb with Chimichurri Sauce), to name a couple,’ said Chef J, who has been enjoying lamb since he was a child.

‘I remember that when I was a child, my mom, Julie Gamboa, would buy ‘Glen-Joe T-bone lamb chops at the Cash and Carry PX and serve them for Sunday dinners – crispy, golden brown, and smothered in garlic and her favorite Maggi seasoning. We all enjoyed this special treat growing up,” he recalled.

The chef is honored to be a “Lambassador,” whose other credits include working under the Michelin Select Spanish restaurant of the family-owned Milky Way group of restaurants that includes Milky Way Café, AzuThai, and Tsukiji Japanese restaurant. The latter he runs with his sister Malu Gamboa Lindo.

‘Australian lamb is versatile, lends to a lot of cooking styles and cuisines, and, I think, is under-utilized. It’s fun to discover new ingredients and rediscover classic dishes using lamb instead of chicken, pork, or beef,” he addedIt was via an intimate lunch attended by key media and industry partners that Chef J was officially named Lambassador by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), a service provider to the Australian red meat industry that supports producers through marketing, research and development initiatives. In international markets such as the Philippines, MLA works closely with industry partners to promote the quality, safety, and enjoyment of Australian beef and lamb.

As the new Lambassador, therefore, Chef J will lead initiatives focused on inspiring menu innovation, strengthening chef engagement and making lamb more accessible in the local market. This is because the Lambassador program forms part of ongoing efforts to build greater awareness and appreciation for Australian lamb in the Philippines through chef-led advocacy and consumer engagement.

During the press lunch, Chef J showcased how lamb fits the Filipino palate and how good and versatile it is by presenting a curated menu with Australian lamb as the main meat, complemented by premium Australian beef.

Guests got to taste Slow Roasted Australian Lamb Shortribs (with garlic, pepper, sea salt, olive oil, fresh lemon); Cordero Lechal Asado (oven roasted Australian suckling lamb with rosemary, garlic, Chimichurri Sauce); and Lamb Shank Osso Bucco (red wine braised Australian lamb shanks, lemon gremolata).

The supporting menu of Australian beef dishes included Tartar de Buey (Australian beef tenderloin, capers, shallots, roasted bone marrow, toasted brioche); and Chuleta de Lomo Alto con Hueso (charcoal grilled bone-in Stanbroke Farms Australian ribeye, roasted vegetables, thyme salt, cooked in Cirkulo’s custom Josper oven).

In the coming weeks, Chef J will lead a series of engagements, including chef collaborations, menu development initiatives, and consumer-facing activities designed to make lamb more accessible and relevant in the local market.

Baked Cheesecake and No-bake Cheesecake are both delicious cream cheese-based desserts, but they are totally different in form, taste and mouthfeel.

Baked Cheesecake, which makes use of eggs, is dense, rich and custard-like in texture, which is the result of it getting baked in the oven for a good amount of time. No-bake Cheesecake, on the other hand, is light, airy and mousse-like in consistency, as it owes its structure and form to gelatin and whipped cream and gets molded and set in the refrigerator.

Everyone’s favorite New York Cheesecake is a baked cheesecake, which is what pastry chefs usually sweat it out when doing some serious baking because it requires long hours not just of baking but of cooling down and chilling.

A No-bake Cheesecake, which most baking hobbyists indulge in, especially when still in the experimental stage, does not use eggs. It relies on gelatin, whipped cream and chilled cream cheese for its form and needs to be chilled in the refrigerator to set.

For his Caramel-Langka Cheesecake, Chef Eugene Raymundo, who is a food stylist and recipe developer for several food manufacturing companies and restaurants in the country, turns to the no-bake type of cheesecake, as he takes advantage of the season’s bountiful harvest of Langka (jackfruit).

He shares how he turns a simple no-bake cheesecake recipe (You can use your favorite chilled or no-bake cheesecake recipe), into a delightful Caramel Langka Cheesecake.

Caramel Langka Cheesecake

Procedure:

1. For the crust, use butter cookie crumbs instead of the usual Graham crackers. Pound it finely. Mix with melted butter until of coarse cornmeal consistency. Use to layer the bottom of round cake pan evenly. Tap down so it forms a solid crust.

2. Caramelize some sugar in a pan over low to medium heat. Allow the sugar to melt on its own and turn bubbly and golden. Then stir.

3. Add butter and cream. Toss in chopped langka. Cook for just a few minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to let cool.

4. Prepare your favorite chilled or no-bake cheesecake recipe. Fold into the caramelized langka mixture.

5. Pour cheesecake mixture over the crust in the round cake pan.

6. Chill in the refrigerator until fully set.

7. When ready to serve, top with more caramelized langka and chopped toasted cashew nuts if desired. Slice and serve. Enjoy!