Category: Philippine Star

SMX Convention Centers, the conferences and exhibitions arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., saw a double-digit jump in visitor traffic in the first half amid robust demand for business events.

From January to June, SMX venues welcomed 4.3 million visitors, 18 percent more than the 3.6 million recorded in the same period last year.

A total of 807 booked events were hosted by SMX Convention Centers nationwide during the period.

SMX Convention Center Manila recorded the highest visitor traffic, welcoming more than 2.5 million visitors in the first semester.

Regional venues, including SMX Convention Center Davao, SMX Convention Center Bacolod and SMX Convention Center Clark, likewise recorded healthy growth in visitor traffic.

SM Hotel and Conventions Corp. executive vice president Peggy Angeles said locations within SM Prime’s larger mixed-use developments give event organizers and attendees direct access to dining, accommodation and transportation options, making events more convenient and attractive.

‘Our strong first-half performance supports our ongoing expansion. We are excited to add new capacity in Cebu and Metro Manila,’ Angeles said.

SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu is set to become the country’s largest convention center when it opens in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Located beside newly launched SM Arena Seaside Cebu and connected to SM Seaside City Cebu via a link bridge, the venue will form part of an integrated MICE, entertainment and retail destination in the Visayas.

SMXCITE in Pasay, which is slated to open in early 2027, has started booking negotiations with event organizers.

The 18,000-square-meter facility will offer 900 parking spaces and direct access to SM Mall of Asia via an elevated walkway.

Its proximity to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and a broad range of hotels makes it well suited for local and international events.

The new developments will expand SMX’s portfolio to seven convention centers and six trade halls across the Philippines, bringing its combined leasable area to more than 90,000 square meters.

Up to 93,155 dengue cases have been recorded this year, which is lower by 46 percent than the number of infections reported in 2025, according to the Department of Health.

DOH data showed the figure, which was recorded from Jan. 4 to Aug. 1, is lower by 80,922 than the 174,077 cases recorded during the same period last year.

The number of dengue fatalities is also lower with 386, while 699 died from the mosquito-borne disease in 2025.

Among regions, Central Luzon recorded the highest number of cases with 16,057 followed by the National Capital Region with 10,611 and Calabarzon with 10,320.

Davao region and Zamboanga peninsula reported 7,537 and 6,124 cases, respectively.

The DOH reported that from July 5 to Aug. 1, several areas have breached the epidemic threshold including the cities of Mandaluyong, Lapu-Lapu and Zamboanga as well as the provinces of Abra, Agusan del Sur, Albay, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Davao Oriental, La Union, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga Sibugay.

The cities of Cebu and Mandaue as well as the province of Davao de Oro breached the alert threshold.

A dengue alert threshold serves as an early warning for local government units and related agencies to prepare for the disease.

The epidemic threshold indicates an active, widespread outbreak requiring urgent action.

‘Practice taob or flip, taktak or shake, tuyo or dry up and takip or cover all containers to prevent them from becoming breeding sites of mosquitos,’ the DOH said.

Dengue is an acute viral infection transmitted through the bite of aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste left the country for France with his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, before the National Bureau of Investigation served him a subpoena over the alleged honey trap plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said on Thursday.

Matibag said immigration records showed Leviste and Legarda departed the country separately on Aug. 2 via Hong Kong but were both bound for France.

‘The office confirms the departure of Sen. Loren Legarda and Rep. Leandro Leviste in separate flights last Aug. 2. Both had no derogatory records at the time of departure,’ the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

‘He left the country. That has been confirmed. He and Senator Legarda traveled separately through Hong Kong, but their final destination was France,’ Matibag told True FM.

He said the NBI issued Leviste’s subpoena on Aug. 3, a day after his departure, although the bureau had already publicly announced on Aug. 1 that subpoenas would be sent to Leviste and former lawmaker Jacinto Paras.

Matibag said the evidence against Leviste as the alleged brains in the honey trap is ‘as strong as Superman.’

Leviste and Legarda are also under probe by the Office of the Ombudsman over ‘ghost electricity’ involving his solar power franchise.

Matibag noted that despite being abroad, Leviste was able to engage legal counsel, who wrote the NBI requesting copies of the evidence against the lawmaker.

‘Their lawyer essentially asked to see all the evidence so they could prepare their response. But this is still a fact-finding investigation. We are not yet at the stage of filing charges,’ Matibag said.

He said the bureau wanted Leviste and Paras to personally explain the allegations, adding that doing so could also help clear their names if they were not involved.

The NBI has refused to release its evidence, citing Department of Justice rules prohibiting the disclosure of records while an investigation is ongoing.

Matibag also disclosed that investigators have identified four lawyers from a ‘well-known law office’ allegedly linked to the supposed scheme. He said subpoenas for the lawyers were being prepared.

The NBI summoned Leviste and Paras after witnesses in a human trafficking case following a raid at a hotel in Malate, Manila last July 28 claimed they were linked to an alleged plan to recruit women who would falsely accuse Recto of sexual misconduct in exchange for P5 million.

Matibag said Leviste and Paras would be given another opportunity to appear before the bureau on Aug. 11 following the request of the former lawmaker.

The NBI chief added the talent manager arrested during the anti-human trafficking operation remains detained without bail on qualified human trafficking charges despite cooperating with investigators.

Matibag said the talent manager executed another sworn statement on Thursday and provided additional information, including details about the alleged involvement of lawyers in the supposed operation.

Medical leave

Senate officials said yesterday that Legarda had filed a medical leave of absence for the first half of the week, explaining her absence from the Senate’s regular sessions and the impeachment court proceedings from Aug. 3 to 5.

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that Legarda’s chief of staff sent a letter to his office officially notifying them that the senator ‘will be on medical leave from Aug. 3-5, 2026.’

In a statement sent to The STAR, Legarda confirmed that she filed for a formal medical leave.

‘I confirm that I filed a formal medical leave with the Senate covering Aug. 3 to 5, 2026, in accordance with Senate rules,’ Legarda said.

‘I ask the public not to draw unwarranted conclusions from my travel or link it to the recent false and baseless allegations, which undeservedly besmirch a reputation that I have built over decades of public service,’ she added.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian clarified that he had not spoken directly to Legarda regarding any overseas travel, noting that senators are not required to secure a travel authority for unofficial trips.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo reported that Legarda and Leviste had already left the country but defended his colleague’s absence.

Asked if he expects the senator to return next week, Tulfo replied: ‘Hopefully, she will return. Nothing was said about the purpose, just medical need.’

Legarda’s medical leave followed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s announcement last week that he had signed the charge sheet initiating a preliminary investigation against Legarda, Leviste and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Malversation, plunder cases

The three face complaints for non-bailable plunder and multiple violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly securing exclusive solar energy franchises but failing to deliver the promised power supply, costing the government more than P10.44 billion in unpaid financial obligations and hundreds of billions in stunted economic investments.

Instead of building the necessary infrastructure to generate electricity, the ombudsman claimed Leviste merely sold the company assets and rights for massive profit.

Remulla also accused Legarda of using her position as then-chairperson of the Senate finance committee to secure the lucrative solar energy franchise for her son, who was only 21 years old at the time.

I am yet again on another journey, one that took me to a beautiful part of Southern Thailand. It was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by lush greenery and the calming waves of the sea. Khao Lak, part of Phang Nga province, has left me breathless. I thought it would just be another workshop where we would be taught the basics of storytelling for impact. Little did we know that we were about to embark on an unforgettable ride, one that would stay with us long after the sessions had ended.

I found myself alongside explorers who told stories through photographs and videos. Their passion for storytelling transcends beyond words and orality. It is reflected in the images they carefully frame with their eyes and capture through the tools in their hands. Their work is not about creating content for engagement or chasing viral moments. It is about leaving a lasting impression that can influence mindsets, shape policies, and eventually change the world. There is, indeed, a career in changemaking, and it reminded me that journalism has always belonged in that space.

While it may sound like a lofty ambition, many have already given up on this path simply because they believe nothing is happening. Progress is painfully slow, and victories are often invisible. The state of our climate policies and environmental practices continues to worsen. I look back at my latest work on Cebu’s garbage situation, particularly after the landfill collapse, and there really is not much movement to celebrate. The investigation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources seems slower than a sloth-or perhaps we simply are not hearing enough about it. Workers in the area continue to hope for better days despite losing many of their colleagues. The city remains trapped in a labyrinth, searching for ways to deal with the thousands of tons of garbage that still need to leave the transfer station. I do think we are in some sort of trouble.

I commend the many colleagues who continue doing an excellent job reporting on this situation. It may not be the most appealing story to tell, but the updates, however scarce, still matter. Some narratives may already sound repetitive, yet repetition is sometimes necessary because people deserve to know what is happening and what the government is actually prioritizing. Journalism does not stop becoming important simply because the headlines have become familiar. If anything, that is precisely when it becomes even more necessary to keep asking questions.

Apparently, it is not only us struggling with the garbage problem. Much of Southeast Asia, deeply entrenched in a sachet-driven culture, is facing the same crisis. Plastic convenience has become an environmental burden shared by millions. The challenge is regional, but the consequences are painfully local. Perhaps that is why this workshop in Khao Lak resonated with me. Change does not always happen overnight, nor does every story immediately result in new laws or better policies. Sometimes, changemaking begins with refusing to look away.

Rain came pouring down on the Macau Giant Pandas.

The depleted Macau squad got absolutely demolished by the San Miguel Beermen by 52 points, 131-79, in their PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

After about a half an hour rain delay after another leak inside the court, San Miguel caught fire and did not let up to grab the win.

George King paced the winning team with 19 points in just 10 minutes and 53 seconds of play. Don Trollano added 17 markers, six dimes and three boards off the bench.

The Beermen started the game off smoking hot, taking a 35-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.

They kept their foot on the gas pedal, dropping 45 points in the second quarter against just 17 for the Giant Pandas as the former set the new record for the biggest margin at the half after leading by 43 points, 80-37.

From that point on, the Beermen just kept on coming, taking a lead as much as 62 points, 115-53, in the fourth quarter after a layup by JM Calma.

Jericho Cruz added 14 points for San Miguel while Jeron Teng had 13. Calma and Marcio Lassiter chipped in 12 markers for the Beermen.

Kobey Lam and Damian Chong Qui had 24 and 23 points, respectively, for Macau, whose import De’Vondre Perry and sharpshooter Jenning Leung missed the game.

San Miguel rose to 6-2 in the standings, while Macau dropped to 2-6.

Pieces of metal debris believed to have come from a rocket were recovered by personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Calayan, Cagayan on Thursday.

A resident found the debris along the shores of Sitio Naydi in Barangay Babuyan Claro, according to PCG spokesperson Cmdre. Noemie Cayabyab.

The debris bore no markings that can confirm it was part of a rocket, Cayabyab said.

‘We advised fisherfolk and coastal residents to avoid touching unidentified floating objects as these may contain hazardous chemicals, and to immediately report these to authorities,’ she said.

The PCG said it would work with other government agencies to determine the origin and nature of the debris.

There is always this saying in ballgames or in any other sports that the ball is round, or anything can happen.

It did in the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship in the Chilean capital, where the Alas Pilipinas Girls pulled the rug from under the Mexicans, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, Friday and registered their first win in the second edition of the biennial event.

It was also a triumph that bolstered the Filipinas’ hope of crashing into the round-of-16 as it jumped from last to a share of second with Venezuela and Peru on 1-1 records in the six-nation Pool B.

For it to happen, the Nationals would need to finish in the top four in their group.

Leading the bracket was defending champion China, which dealt Alas a straight-set spanking the day before.

Caera Celis spearheaded the attack with 24 points on 22 attacks, a block and an ace, while Xyz Rayco scattered 15 hits, including 12 off kills, and Jhaynna Bulandres chipped in 10 for Alas Girls, who are being supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and ASICS.

But it was the master switch by Alas coach Edwin Leyva of Nadeth Harbon from wing spiker to libero that spelled the biggest difference as it helped solidify the squad’s floor defense after a lethargic effort in the stinging loss to the Chinese.

‘I’m happy because I think I did what was needed on the court. I’m happy my teammates are pleased with the result. I’ll embrace this role all the way to the end,’ said Harbon.

The Philippines was battling Tunisia as of this writing before the 11-day, 24-country meet takes a break Sunday.

Games resume Monday, with Alas tackling Peru and plunging back into action the next day versus Venezuela in its final pool assignment.

Singer Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina leader of global girl group Katseye, will temporarily step away from promotional activities to focus on her mental health.

The music act’s labels Hybe and Geffen Records released a statement on Weverse announcing Sophia’s hiatus, noting the artist’s wellness is of utmost priority.

Both agencies assured fans the singer is being supported and was advised by medical professionals to take time off for extended rest and ongoing care in order to fully recover.

“While Sophia herself is eager to perform alongside her members, the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our artists will always remain our highest priority,” they added.

Hybe and Geffen said they would continue supporting their artist and closely monitor her progress, with plans to reassess Sophia’s condition in a month’s time.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support for Sophia, and we look forward to her being back with Katseye,” the labels ended.

Sophia shared a copy of the agencies’ statement while also sharing her own message to fans, or Eyekons, on Instagram.

“It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot. You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you,” the singer began, noting the difficult choice to prioritize her health or else her mind and body might not keep up.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), employers and labor groups have reached a common position supporting the lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 152 in Pasig City against the implementation of the P85 daily wage increase under NCR Wage Order 27.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the agreement was reached during the meeting of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) yesterday, which brought together representatives from the government, employers and workers to discuss the wage order dispute and other labor concerns.

Tolentino described the development as a ‘breakthrough,’ noting that all three sectors agreed to call on the court to dissolve the TRO to allow the implementation of the wage increase.

‘Employers and employees agreed. All labor groups are there. Employers, including ECOP (Employers Confederation of the Philippines), are there. DOLE is also part of this call to lift the temporary restraining order,’ he said.

Tolentino said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which represents the government in the case, had already filed a motion for reconsideration seeking the lifting of the TRO.

The RTC Pasig Branch 152 earlier issued a TRO following a petition filed by construction companies questioning the validity of the wage order.

Tolentino said the possible impact of the tripartite agreement on the court’s decision would depend on the judiciary, but emphasized that the consensus provided a concrete mechanism toward resolving the issue.

Workers’ sector representative to the NTIPC Sonny Matula said labor groups supported the OSG motion for reconsideration, arguing that the RTC should have no jurisdiction over the case because employers should have first pursued administrative remedies before the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).

We are governed by clowns craving popularity.

This week, all 21 senators present endorsed a wage order raising minimum wages in Metro Manila. The same order was suspended by court order for very good reasons.

First, the order broke the revered tripartite process that, for decades, processed wage adjustments. Representatives for the employers rejected the order. It was issued nonetheless.

We now know the proposed wage adjustment was determined without the benefit of any serious economic study of its repercussions on employment. None of the country’s economic managers were consulted. Some of them oppose the adjustment vehemently.

Going through the tripartite wage board was the due process. That was thoroughly undermined. Investors have lost all confidence that policymaking in this country will be evidence-based rather than politicized.

The Foundation for Economic Freedom issued a strong statement calling for the suspension of the order and warning against its consequences. It was issued while unemployment was rising and small businesses are under great pressure. The order will cause a freeze in hiring, a reduction in paid working hours and possibly business closures.

The same conclusions were reached in separate statements issued by the Congressional Planning and Budget Research Office, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. These are not partisan institutions.

The politically driven wage increase is a foreboding of more policy actions that are not grounded on sound evidence. This is not comforting for investors. The policymaking process has been abused for narrow political ends.

Another instance of such unscientific and ultimately destructive policymaking is the President’s statements regarding systems losses. There is no evidence the matter was thoroughly studied – nor understood by the President himself. Yet it found its way into the SONA.

No energy agency was consulted beforehand. The item was smuggled into the SONA merely as a bait for applause. This is grossly irresponsible.

Immediately after the unenlightened remarks were made, the market capital of a major distribution utility dropped by billions. Electric cooperatives teetering on bankruptcy could not get financing. Horrified investors looking into our energy sector left in fear.

Our energy future just got bleaker because of irresponsible presidential utterance that utterly defied science. We direly need energy investments. We are getting none.

There is a Turkish proverb: When a clown enters a palace, he does not become king. The palace becomes a circus.

Exclusionary

We have become a ghostly country: ghost employees, ghost projects and now ghost electricity.

The ombudsman announced it is looking into the mega franchise awarded Leandro Leviste through the efforts of his influential mother. The son became a billionaire. The investments never materialized. The projected renewable energy was never generated. The damage to the country’s energy future could run into the hundreds of billions.

This mega franchise was questionable from the start. A franchise is normally granted to allocate a scarce resource: bandwidth or road space. Solar energy is free and abundant. A franchise simply gives a business exclusivity over something that is freely available. This, at first glance, defies reason and militates against science.

The franchise that Leviste won at the ripe old age of 21 is an asset many could kill for. It gave him rights and privileges for free. It excludes others from competing on even terms – thereby denying them the opportunity to invest sustainably in supplying the country the energy we need.

A franchise is an asset – especially when it is bundled with accumulated rights, regulatory approvals and undeveloped obligations. It could be used to raise capital from the market to support a business venture. Those excluded from the franchise are denied this asset.

Even as he managed to generate a negligible amount of electricity, Leviste was able to sell a portion of his Solar para sa Bayan franchise for an astonishing P30 billion. This is probably fair market. But the dynamics that led to that deserves the closest scrutiny.

Within the framework of the mega-franchise, Leviste’s companies accumulated numerous solar energy service contracts to such an extent a virtual monopoly over solar energy opportunities was created. He worked quickly to consolidate whatever unreasonable rights the franchise gave.

These contracts gave Leviste’s companies exclusive rights to develop, produce and sell solar energy in designated areas. These contracts shut out other Filipino investors who might have actually built facilities and are trying to supply real electricity to the market.

While he cornered the supply contracts, Leviste failed to deliver the actual power. The Filipino public was left with what Ombudsman Boying Remulla called ‘ghost electricity.’ The ombudsman estimates that financial obligations from the terminated contracts add up to about P10.44 billion.

The franchise handed Leandro Leviste is not a gift. It should not be. It is a solemn obligation to use the privileges granted to produce cheaper and safer electricity for the Filipino people. Apparently, he thought of it as an opportunity to cash in on the privileges.

Today, Filipinos pay the highest cost for power in Southeast Asia. Our energy costs are higher than Singapore’s. This does not only punish the Filipino consumer. It punishes our economy’s ability to attract businesses and build prosperity. The costs are long even as the profits drawn from this questionable franchise is quick.

Kickbacks are for those with crude imagination. The franchise Leviste won has the veneer of legality even as it makes our people’s future a bit darker.