Category: Philippine Star

You know there’s no stopping the Philippine pickleball craze when the world’s top player is headed to the country to further boost the sport’s popularity.

World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters has included Manila in her four-country Southeast Asian tour this October.

Waters will kick off her landmark multi-nation showcase in the Philippines then will head to Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Her tour, handled by pickleball giant Franklin Sports, will see Waters showcasing her skills before pickleball-crazed fans in a rare opportunity set to further increase the sport’s soaring profile.

Franklin Sports said the Philippines’ selection as Waters’ primary stop is a testament to the country’s ’emergence as a global phenomenon in racket sports.’

According to the company, with a staggering 1,213% year-over-year growth rate, the Philippines currently stands as the fastest-growing pickleball market in the world, topping Franklin Sports’ global expansion priorities.

“We are honored and excited to bring our Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase to the Philippines,” said Jared Franklin, head of international at Franklin Sports.

“The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing pickleball markets in the world, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring the no. 1 player in the world, Anna Leigh Waters, to Manila.’

‘As a world leader in pickleball, Franklin is committed to developing the sport and bringing players the very best products and innovation. It’s even more special to have Anna Leigh, the game’s greatest player, competing with and showcasing Franklin products that she trusts at the highest level. This visit reflects Franklin’s commitment to supporting the growth of pickleball on a global scale. We’re thrilled to connect with the incredible pickleball community in the Philippines and to play a part in the continued growth of this amazing sport.”

Franklin Sports offers premium equipment trusted by elite global professionals who have won 105 medals year to date on the PPA and APP Pro Tours, including Hayden Patriquin, Paris Todd, Will Howells, Jimmy Liong, Sofia Sewing, Casey Diamond, Megan Fudge and Ryler DeHeart among others.

During the Waters’ tour, Filipino fans will get an up-close look at Franklin’s latest innovations. The showcase directly follows ALW’s viral September 2 Instagram post in front of her Times Square LED billboard in New York City, where she posed holding an all-black paddle featuring a bold white “?” graphic.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is targeting a new record for IP filings this year, buoyed by a growing number of young inventors.

‘Many young people are getting into the groove of what to invent, what to create and what to innovate. But naturally, we at IPOPHL desire much, much more,’ IPOPHL director general Teodoro Pascua said in an interview over the weekend.

Pascua said the country has been seeing a steady increase in IP applications, and he is hopeful that filings will be ‘better’ this year.

Filings for patents, trademarks, utility models and industrial designs reached an all-time high of 53,231 in 2025, up by two percent from 52,257 a year earlier.

While declining to provide figures, Pascua said applications have continued to post positive growth nearly nine months into the year.

Beyond increasing the number of IP filings, however, IPOPHL also wants to speed up the registration process to encourage more innovators to formally protect their creations.

‘We can only encourage and persuade (people to file). But the registration, that’s within our fingers. If we can accelerate it, I think it would be much better than just asking others to keep on filing,’ Pascua said.

Last week, the Department of Trade and Industry launched the ASEAN Creative Industries Expo, showcasing various creative industry domains, including audiovisual media, creative services, design, digital interactive media, and publishing and printed media.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the creative industry serves as a form of cultural currency, drawing global audiences and opportunities to the Philippines.

‘This cultural currency is no longer just an expression of identity. The creative industry is a major strength of the Philippines and a primary driver for both trade and tourism,’ Roque said.

Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that the creative economy rose to P2.12 trillion last year, accounting for around 7.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

This included P320.06 billion in creative goods exports and P426.99 billion in creative services exports.

Employment in creative industries, however, declined to 8.71 million in 2025 from the previous year’s 8.74 million.

Roque acknowledged that much work remains to be done to fully realize the sector’s full potential.

The National Bureau of Investigation has summoned the Department of Public Works and Highways’ regional director in Davao through a subpoena as part of its investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects in the city.

The subpoena, issued on September 17 and served on Monday, September 21, ordered DPWH Region XI Director Juby Blancaver Cordon to appear before the NBI and submit documents related to the investigation.

Cordon was directed to appear before the bureau at 1 p.m. on September 24 and turn over records covering 51 flood control projects.

The summons follows NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s disclosure last week that the bureau had obtained documents on nearly 50 projects in Davao City that had been flagged for possible irregularities, including alleged ghost or substandard projects.

Matibag also previously said P1.9 billion worth of flood control projects in the district of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte had been awarded to a contractor whose owner he described as close to the Duterte family.

Duterte, however, has pushed back against Matibag’s claims over the flood control projects.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is pushing for the passage of a Comprehensive School Safety Act after the recent school violence in South Cotabato, which resulted in the deaths of three students and wounding of eight others.

In a statement, EDCOM 2 expressed its sympathy to the families in South Cotabato affected by the shooting incident at the Banga National High School (BNHS) on Friday.

‘We stand in solidarity with the families, teachers and classmates at Banga National High School in South Cotabato following the shooting on campus. We honor the lives of the students lost, stand with the injured as they recover, and acknowledge the trauma this violence has inflicted on the entire community,’ the commission said.

It added that the sorrow brought about by the incident sharpened their resolve to push for action to protect students.

‘As stewards of education and policy, we are bound to turn grief into immediate, actionable safeguards across our education system,’ EDCOM 2 added.

It called for the passage of the Comprehensive School Safety Act. Enacting this legislation will mandate standardized physical security, access control, and inter-agency threat monitoring across all learning spaces.

The commission also asked for the strict monitoring in the enforcement of the Anti-Bullying Act Implementing Rules and Regulations, and empower Learning Formation Officers in order to have proactive child protection, conflict resolution and student support in schools.

Mental health care through school counsel associates should be expanded. The commission believes that by deploying guidance counselors, speeding up the hiring of SCAs, and setting up support systems would be helpful to students.

It advocated for tightening gun control and storage. Strictly enforcing the mandatory safe-storage laws and holding gun owners legally accountable could prevent minors and unauthorized individuals from acquiring firearms.

Lastly, digital safeguards should be strengthened. EDCOM 2 said that advancing bicameral digital protection through legislation and cyber-safety education would help shield students from online risks, violence and predatory exposure.

The Department of Education yesterday said it would be checking on risks and vulnerabilities in every school.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged parents to closely monitor their children’s internet and social media activity.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police would partner with the DepEd and DILG under the initiative of Education Secretary Sonny Angara to conduct comprehensive, site-specific security audits in all public schools.

In Bulacan, the Provincial Peace and Order Council has passed two resolutions to enhance school safety protocols in the province

Skyro, a fast-growing digital finance platform, began rolling out its refreshed visual identity in the Philippines.

The redesigned Skyro Philippines app will be released progressively to customers, alongside updates to customer communications, partner materials, advertising and other brand touchpoints.

The new identity reflects how Skyro has evolved beyond its beginnings in consumer financing, as the company expands the ways it can support customers across different financial needs and moments in their lives.

Launched in the Philippines in 2022, Skyro has grown to more than 7 million registered users, built a credit portfolio exceeding $200 million, and reached operating break-even in the first half of 2026.

The Philippines, Skyro’s most mature market, is the first to introduce the refreshed brand identity before it is rolled out more widely across the company’s markets. Skyro is also building on the experience and capabilities developed in the Philippines as it expands internationally.

In August, the company announced plans to enter Saudi Arabia as part of its broader growth across emerging markets.

According to Skyro Co-founder and Co-CEO Arsen Liametov, the refreshed identity reflects both Skyro’s evolution and its ambitions for its next stage of growth. ‘We want to move beyond one-off lending and become an everyday financial partner, offering a broader set of products that support people and small businesses through different moments in their lives,’ Liametov said.

‘Our ambition is for Skyro to fit more naturally into those moments, building lasting relationships with customers as their needs evolve. The new identity reflects that direction and gives us a platform to build on what we have proven in the Philippines as we enter new markets,’ Liametov added.

At the heart of the refreshed brand is the idea that financial services should fit naturally into people’s lives.

The new design system and tagline, ‘Naturally, yours,’ reflect Skyro’s ambition to support customers as their needs, priorities and plans change over time.

In the Philippines, these financial priorities can range from everyday family expenses and important purchases to celebrations, milestones and future plans.

The central mark of the new visual identity is inspired by the analemma, the figure-eight pattern traced by the Sun’s changing position in the sky over the course of a year.

Echoing the ‘Sky’ in Skyro’s name, the shape represents continuity and flexibility, reflecting the company’s ambition to become part of customers’ everyday financial lives rather than support only individual transactions.

For Skyro Co-founder and Co-CEO Nasim Aliev, the refreshed identity also reflects how the business itself has evolved and the broader role Skyro aims to play in customers’ financial lives.

‘This rebrand gives that evolution a clear identity and a platform for what we are building next. Whether that’s making a purchase, upgrading something at home, getting something you’ve been wanting, or simply making your next move possible, we want Skyro to give people more ways to move forward,’ Aliev shared.

In the Philippines, Skyro works with more than 10,000 partner stores and over 3,000 merchants, with SMEs driving over 60% of volume.

One example of Skyro’s evolution beyond one-off financing is SkyroCredit, a reusable digital credit line that customers can use via QR Ph. Customers can use their available credit, repay what they use, and use it again without having to reapply each time.

Its launch marked a shift from financing one-off purchases toward building an ongoing financial relationship with customers, giving Skyro more ways to support them as their financial needs and priorities evolve over time.

The refreshed identity will be rolled out progressively across Skyro’s other markets as the company continues its international expansion.

After that awesome display of erudition by retired Supreme Court justices last Wednesday, no one seems to dare make a fearless forecast on how senators will vote on the issues for which the justices were invited by the impeachment court.

The retired chief justices told the senators that impeachment trials are solely assigned to the chamber under the constitutional mandate on accountability, so the senators could draw up – and amend – their own rules.

Put simply, if senators want to lower the voting threshold to convict, they should just go ahead and do it. The same goes for lowering the 16-vote threshold because incumbent members are in hiding from arrest, or suspended and detained without bail for plunder, or abroad on extended leave and unable to participate in the trial.

The senators can change their own rules even if, as one ex-CJ pointed out, the SC can still step in if it sees grave abuse of discretion by the impeachment court. Since SC members are impeachable officials, however, I’m betting they will exercise extreme prudence in interceding in an ongoing impeachment trial.

Simply deciding to vote by a simple majority on the lowering of the two-thirds voting threshold is complicated enough. How many will constitute the simple majority? Senators have yet to decide on the status of their colleagues who are unable to participate due to legal problems.

Former SC senior associate justice Antonio Carpio has pointed out that Republic Act 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Act of 1991 automatically and mandatorily suspends the accused public official. This bars a senator, for example, from filing bills and attending sessions while the case is under litigation. Carpio said this excludes them from voting or being counted for a quorum.

The Senate is holding a caucus today on these issues.

For once, the Senate impeachment trial drew public attention last Wednesday, and people didn’t switch channels out of boredom.

Their task, the senators were reminded by the former CJs, was to determine the fitness of Sara Duterte to continue serving as Vice President. She won’t land in prison if convicted, but she can be barred permanently from holding public office – meaning she can’t pursue her presidential bid in 2028.

But even without guidance from the justices, I think most of the senators have already made up their minds on their decision regarding the VP’s impeachment trial.

In those four hours of speeches by the justices and clarificatory QandA, the senators merely cherry-picked the points they needed to reinforce their positions for or against conviction.

One issue is how to interpret the constitutional provision on a two-thirds vote of ALL members of the Senate. Does ‘all’ refer to the number of seats, meaning a fixed 24, or the number of incumbent senators who are alive, capable of carrying out the duties of a senator and physically present at the impeachment trial?

All three former CJs believe that using plain common sense, the 24 is a moveable figure, in case of an incumbent senator’s death, irreversible disability or inability to carry out one’s duties.

Only former SC associate justice Adolf Azcuna maintained that the 24 is fixed, along with 16 as the two-thirds number of votes to convict. He warned that making it a variable number is open to political manipulation.

In the rare event that a large number of senators are unable to participate in a trial and vote – perhaps due to a deadly accident – Azcuna said the impeachment must then be shelved until new senators are elected.

The impeached official can still be held accountable for offenses through regular criminal prosecution, Azcuna pointed out.

Azcuna, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, said impeachment was deliberately designed to be difficult, to prevent its abuse.

Amicus curiae ex-CJ Artemio Panganiban reminded the senators – in a non-insulting way – that they are not lawyers and they shouldn’t cram to be one as they handle a process that is heavily political and unlike a court trial for a criminal offense.

People are inevitably confused, however, because the impeachment trial is still proceeding like a regular court trial.

Presiding officer Francis Escudero has laudably reduced the legal gobbledygook in the process, but there’s still a lot of legalese to turn off people who have better things to watch on TikTok.

Even that session with the amici curiae, while deeply interesting for a certain segment of the population, was all Greek (or Latin) to the majority who can’t grasp heavy concepts delivered in English.

The brilliance displayed by the justices provided stark contrast to the limited capabilities of certain senators. The justices’ arguments about public accountability were also surely lost among certain senator-judges who are expected to vote not on the merits of the case, but on the merits to their personal fortunes of voting one way or the other.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is proposing civil service eligibility as a requirement for all barangay officials. There should also be educational requirements for those tasked to craft the country’s laws.

In several countries, each level of government entails passing a test for eligibility. In our country, the bars for capabilities and integrity are set lowest for those in the highest offices.

And so we shouldn’t be surprised by mediocrity, incompetence and corruption in public service. Those brilliant amici curiae are exceptions in our public service rather than the rule.

We’re also partly to blame for this. As the saying goes, the government we elect is the government we deserve.

Oktoberfest is just a few days away, and in one of the locations known for hosting the highly popular event, it will be a four-day Bavarian feast.

Newport World Resorts stages its edition of Oktoberfest, a four-night affair that will take place at The Ballroom of Hilton Manila from October 28 to 31.

The annual celebration will recreate the atmosphere of a traditional Bavarian beer hall, with long communal tables, steins of beer and live entertainment throughout the evening.

Weihenstephaner will be served on tap, including Weiss, Wheat and Dunkel varieties. The beer comes from the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan in Freising, Germany, which is recognized as the world’s oldest brewery.

The beer will be paired with a Bavarian-inspired feast prepared by the culinary team of Newport World Resorts.

Guests can expect German breads and laugen pretzels, sausages, crispy pork knuckle, schnitzel and other hearty dishes, followed by traditional desserts.

Adding to the festivities is Anton Showband, which will perform throughout all four nights. The band is returning from Bavaria to provide live music as guests dine and celebrate.

The event will also feature traditional Oktoberfest games, including Stein Holding, Beer Chugging and Hammerschlagen.

Now on its fourth year at Newport World Resorts, the celebration aims to bring the communal spirit of the Bavarian festival to Manila.

Early-bird tickets are priced at P5,300 net per person until September 30.

No group has applied for a permit to protest in Metro Manila on the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.

This was confirmed by NCRPO spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo in a message to Philstar.com on Monday, September 21.

This means that progressive groups that wish to stage protests are not allowed to hold them across Metro Manila unless they do so in designated freedom parks.

Some groups have announced anti-corruption protests today, including the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot, which will hold a program at 3 p.m. at Liwasang Bonifacio, a designated freedom park in Manila.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), more than 17,000 police personnel have been deployed across Metro Manila in anticipation of the protests.

This is higher than the 15,000 personnel the PNP initially said would be deployed in Metro Manila.

The PNP said the personnel include 8,553 from the NCRPO, 465 from the Regional Support Unit, 1,000 from the Reactionary Standby Support Force, 1,000 from Police the Regional Office (PRO) CAR, 1,000 from PRO1, 2,000 from PRO3, 2,000 from PRO4A and 1,000 personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard.

Police also barricaded portions of roads in Manila. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso earlier suspended face-to-face classes in the capital in anticipation of the protests.

On the eve of the anniversary, Sunday, September 20, several groups marched to the Supreme Court and the EDSA Shrine to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

Metro Cebu’s air quality index (AQI) remained ‘acutely unhealthy’ on Sunday, Sept. 20, amid continuing transboundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia, prompting at least 10 local government units to suspend face-to-face classes today, Monday, Sept. 21.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, the Environmental Management Bureau Region VII (EMB-7) recorded an AQI of 248 at the Metro Cebu monitoring station.

The reading showed a significant deterioration in air quality compared with improvements recorded in previous days.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival suspended face-to-face classes at all levels in public and private schools today. He directed schools to shift to modular, online or asynchronous learning to ensure educational continuity.

The Cebu City Council also directed the City Health Department and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to monitor respiratory complaints and hospital consultations linked to the haze.

Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas likewise suspended face-to-face classes in public schools on Monday. Private schools and Talisay City College were given discretion on whether to suspend in-person classes.

Minglanilla Mayor Lheslen Enad also suspended face-to-face classes in both public and private schools. The cities of Naga, Madaue and Lapu-Lapu and the towns of Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan and San Fernando also suspended face-to-face classes today.

The mayors urged residents, particularly children, to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and remain indoors as much as possible.

The EMB-7 continues to monitor ambient air quality in the region amid the transboundary haze from fires in Indonesia.

Under the advisory for ‘acutely unhealthy’ air quality, the public is advised to limit strenuous outdoor activities.

People with heart disease or respiratory conditions, including asthma, are advised to stay indoors and rest as much as possible. The public is also advised to postpone unnecessary travel.

The EMB-7 urged the public to regularly check official updates and air quality advisories as the haze continues and air quality fluctuates.

Monitoring data from Sept. 1 to 20 showed significant fluctuations in Cebu’s air quality, from ‘very unhealthy’ on Sept. 1 to ‘acutely unhealthy’ on Sept. 3, improving to ‘fair’ on Sept. 10 and 16 before returning to ‘acutely unhealthy’ on Sept. 19 and 20.

In a resolution authored by Councilor Harry Rosales Eran, the City Council also asked the city disaster office to help monitor respiratory illnesses amid reports of ‘acutely unhealthy’ air quality.

The haze has been traced to transboundary smoke and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) carried by southwest winds from wildfires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is targeting to attract higher quality investments to promote job creation, after the region received its highest level of foreign direct investments (FDIs) last year.

In a press briefing, Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said that attracting higher quality investments and ensuring ASEAN remains competitive and future ready in the green and digital transitions were discussed by economic ministers during the recently concluded ASEAN Investment Area Council meeting.

‘The meeting also highlighted the need to move beyond simply increasing investment volumes toward attracting investments that generate innovation, quality jobs, strengthen industrial capabilities and contribute to sustainable development,’ he said.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and global uncertainty, he said that ASEAN remains an attractive destination for investments.

In particular, ASEAN attracted $243.9 billion in FDI last year, the highest level in the region’s history.

This was also the fifth straight year that the region received more than $200 billion in annual FDI.

‘The message from ASEAN today is clear: ASEAN remains open for business, committed to regional cooperation and determined to compete successfully in the industries of the future,’ he said.

In the Philippines, projects approved are expected to create more than 153,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, projects approved in the first six months of 2026 are expected to add nearly 54,000 jobs.

Under the green lane initiative, which fast-tracks the country’s biggest strategic investments through streamlined permit approvals, the government has certified 239 projects worth P6.32 trillion since it started.

Once operational, these certified projects under the green lane program are expected to employ around 421,000 people.