Category: Philippine Star

Fresh hopes for a US-Iran deal could bring relief to motorists next week, with pump prices expected to go down by as much as P5 per liter.

After four trading days in the Mean of Platts Singapore, industry estimates point to a rollback of P4.50 to P5 per liter for gasoline and diesel prices on Aug. 11.

With one trading day remaining, the final adjustment could still change.

Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas told reporters yesterday that oil prices pulled back this week as renewed optimism over a possible breakthrough in US-Iran talks helped ease market concerns.

The development brought down the risk premium in the oil market, although concerns over ongoing uncertainty and Red Sea shipping disruptions remain.

‘The stronger peso this week against the US dollar helped put more downward pressure on domestic prices,’ Bellas said.

Still, oil prices remain supported by strong demand and tighter supply, with ongoing disruptions to Middle East exports limiting crude availability for Asian refiners.

‘Continued supply disruptions and conflicting political statements from the US and Iran are keeping prices volatile, with increasing upside risk,’ Bellas said.

The Philippines primarily imports refined petroleum products from other Asian countries. However, refineries in these markets also rely on crude oil supplies from various producing countries, including those in the Middle East.

This week, the Department of Energy announced minimum price cuts of P0.60, P0.73 and P2.09 per liter for diesel, gasoline and kerosene, respectively.

While the rollback was modest compared with previous price hikes, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the positive takeaway was that fuel prices were still moving downward.

‘Until we see a more permanent agreement among the parties concerned, specifically the US, Iran and Israel, we cannot be complacent yet, and we still have to remain vigilant,’ Garin said.

The Philippine Navy clarified yesterday that the sailor being investigated for alleged drug use ‘is not and was not’ assigned to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal at the time the offense was reported.

‘At this stage, the Philippine Navy is conducting a thorough and impartial investigation to establish all relevant facts and circumstances,’ Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez told reporters yesterday.

Martinez said the sailor cited in a report by the South China Morning Post ‘was, in fact, assigned to a different unit during that period.’

‘We are committed to ensuring that the process is completed in accordance with existing laws, military regulations and due process. We are still establishing the facts and it would be inappropriate to confirm the allegations while the investigation is ongoing,’ she added.

If the investigation would show that the sailor committed a violation, the Navy would file the proper administrative and legal actions, Martinez said.

‘The Navy maintains a zero-tolerance policy against the use, possession and distribution of illegal drugs, in adherence with our national laws. It is a grave violation of military discipline,’ Martinez said.

From protecting forests and waterways to preserving languages, traditions, and systems of governance, Indigenous Peoples have been shaping societies and building communities for as long as history can remember.’ Observed every year on 9 August, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is a timely moment to recognize these contributions and renew a broader commitment to recognizing, respecting, and empowering Indigenous Peoples as full partners in nation-building.

Globally, Indigenous Peoples make up less than 6 percent of the world’s population, yet account for at least 15 percent of the world’s poorest people. This imbalance reflects a long history of exclusion, discrimination, and dispossession, with many Indigenous communities continuing to face barriers to education, healthcare, decent work, sustainable livelihoods, and meaningful participation in public life.

At the same time, Indigenous Peoples safeguard cultural and linguistic diversity and remain important stewards of the natural resources that our societies depend on. Safeguarding nature has become more important than ever, and more challenging, as climate change accelerates and pressure grows on ancestral domains and natural resources. Indigenous Peoples have contributed least to the climate crisis, but many are among those most exposed to its consequences.

The Philippines is home to approximately 110 Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples, each with distinct languages, traditions, governance systems, and relationships with their ancestral domains. Long before the establishment of the modern Philippine state, these communities had developed ways of governing territories, managing natural resources, resolving conflicts, and sustaining livelihoods. Their knowledge and institutions remain deeply relevant to the country’s development today.

The Philippines has taken important steps to recognize the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples. The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 affirms their rights to ancestral domains, cultural integrity, self-governance, social justice, and full participation in services and decisions that affect their communities. It also created the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to protect and promote their rights and well-being.

Recognition in law is essential, and it gains its fullest meaning when reflected in empowerment in everyday life. Empowerment helps Indigenous communities expand livelihood opportunities, improve access to services, and contribute to decisions that shape their lands and communities. Indigenous women and girls often face additional barriers, while also serving as leaders, knowledge holders, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and agents of change within their families and communities.

This is why recognition goes hand in hand with investment, empowerment, and participation.

It is in this spirit that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, New Zealand, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are working together through the Indigenous Women and Girls-Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains (I-LEAD) project. With New Zealand’s financial contribution of nearly US$4.6 million, I-LEAD is New Zealand’s largest project in the Philippines and a flagship partnership supporting Indigenous women and girls in Mindanao. The partnership reflects a shared understanding that sustainable development is inclusive, rights-based, and shaped by the people and communities whose lives and futures it affects.

I-LEAD will work in four Indigenous communities in Regions 11 and 12 in Mindanao, strengthening the leadership and economic capacity of at least 1,600 Indigenous women and girls by 2030 and supporting wider benefits in their ancestral domains. The project focuses on three areas: inclusive ancestral domain governance; culturally grounded, sustainable, market-linked livelihoods; and stronger institutional capacity to deliver culturally appropriate, rights-based services aligned with community priorities.

A distinctive feature of I-LEAD is the Indigenous-to-Indigenous exchange it seeks to foster between Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines and M?ori communities in New Zealand. This can create space for practical learning on leadership, enterprise development, cultural revitalization, and stewardship of ancestral lands and resources. For UNDP, it reflects a broader commitment to work alongside Indigenous Peoples and ethnic minorities across Asia and the Pacific to support self-determined development, local governance, sustainable livelihoods, and ecosystem protection.

The M?ori experience in New Zealand offers one example of how Indigenous leadership, institutions, and economic participation can drive progress. Between 2018 and 2023, the M?ori economic contribution to New Zealand grew from $17 billion to $32 billion, while the M?ori asset base grew from $69 billion to $126 billion.

Every Indigenous community has its own history, identity, and aspirations. But it does show that recognition and empowerment are not only matters of justice. They are also foundations for stronger social cohesion, more resilient institutions, and more inclusive economic growth.

Across the Philippines, Indigenous communities show that ancestral knowledge and modern development are not opposing forces, but complementary. Traditional ecological knowledge supports the care of lands, ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources. Customary governance can strengthen participation and accountability. Indigenous entrepreneurship can support sustainable livelihoods, broaden economic participation, and protect cultural identity. Indigenous women and girls are central to these efforts, helping sustain families, lead communities, and shape local economies. Together, these contributions form a practical development agenda: one that strengthens local governance, improves access to services, and helps ensure that decisions reflect the knowledge and priorities of the communities most directly concerned.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is therefore not only a day of commemoration. It is a reminder that sustainable development is strongest when Indigenous Peoples are fully included and recognized as leaders, partners, innovators, and custodians of knowledge.

The Philippines is strongest when every community contributes its knowledge, leadership, and aspirations to the national story. By recognizing and empowering Indigenous Peoples-especially women and girls-we help build a future that is more just, more inclusive, more prosperous, and more resilient for generations to come.

Sa dili pa motiyabaw si Bise Presidente Sara Duterte nga politikanhong pagpanggukod ang ilang nahiagoman, angay niyang ilhon nga-lahi sa gipasangil nga pagpapatay, pagpapriso ug pagbinastos sa ilang pamilya sa ilang mga kaatbang sa nangaging katuigan-dunay abundang mga sukaranan ang nagpadayon nga mga pagpaningil batok nila:

Mahimong naka-benepisyo ang administrasyon ni Presidente Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa pagkapriso ni kanhi Presidente Rodrigo Duterte sa The Hague (kay naibanan ang mga nagsige og awhag sa mga sundawo ug mga polis sa pagbakwi sa ilang suporta sa commander in chief), pero angay siyang patubagon sa kapin sa 35,000 ka laktod nga pinatyanay sa binuang niyang drug war;

Mahimong makabentaha ang administrasyon sa 2028 kon makonbikto si VP Sara sa impeachment trial (nga mo-disqualify niya sa pagka presidente), pero angay siyang patubagon sa mga pasangil sa pagbolsa sa confidential funds ug pagtago og binilyon ka pesos nga ilegal nga katigayonan;

Nasakmit sa mga alyado sa administrasyon ang liderato sa Senado tungod sa mga kaso sa pipila ka senador, pero angayng paatubangon si Senador Bato dela Rosa sa kasong crimes against humanity sa International Criminal Court ug angayng prisuhon silang Senador Jinggoy Estrada ug Senador Rodante Marcoleta kay dili kapiyansahan ang ilang mga kasong plunder;

Mahimong mosamot paghiyos ang mga alyado ni VP Sara sa Senado kon madayon ang mga kasong plunder batok nilang Senador Alan Peter Cayetano ug Senador Loren Legarda, pero kinahanglang patubagon si Cayetano sa pasangil sa mga anomaliya sa binilyon ka pesos nga gasto sa Southeast Asian Games sa 2019 ug sa minilyon ka pesos nga mga proyekto sa Taguig City ug paatubangon si Legarda ug iyang anak sa pasangil sa pagpa-ginansiya, hinikalimtan ang pagserbisyo sa publiko, sa prangkisa ug balor og binilyon ka pesos nga mga kontrata sa solar power; ug

Mahimong maapektohan ang lehitimong kampanya batok sa flood control scandal, apil nang kaso batok ni kanhi House Speaker Martin Romualdez, pero angayng susihon ang pangangkon sa pipila sa 18 ka kanhi-marines nga gipugos sila pagpirma og affidavit ug pag-apil sa kampanya sa pagkuha sa simpatiya sa kasundalohan aron mapalagpot si Marcos Jr. ug makapuli dayon si VP Sara sa Malakanyang.

Where did the name Pateros come from? It may have come from being the land of pato (duck) or sapatero for being shoe and slipper makers. Atto Bade, our tour guide cum artist and museum curator, told us both accounts are said to be true. Pateros, the area, was known as a place for shoe and slipper making. The alfombra, slippers made from carpet material, is another iconic symbol of Pateros. I saw these footwear being used by my aunt decades ago and for the first time saw its provenance. I just knew it was called corcho. We saw these Pateros icons on display at the Museo de Pateros, a modest three-story tribute to this tiny town just four kilometers from Makati’s center.

The easiest clue to Pateros’ fame is the balut, a fertilized duck egg with a developing embryo that is boiled and eaten right from the shell. Yes, it is an item for extreme cuisine or exotic food, which is a challenge given to tourists unfamiliar with this delicacy. Some Filipinos do not care to eat it while those who do have their minute preferences: 18 days or younger. More than 18 days will give you a different texture and more features some do not agree with. The cut off is 18 days. If you get the chance to try this egg, check out the various options. Balut sa puti (younger and more white than yolk and small bird), penoy (undeveloped embryo and is all yolk) and abnoy, better taken in a rice cake or bibingka-like baked product.

Telling one from the other while still fresh or not yet boiled is a skill that is learned only in Pateros. In the days when electric incubators were not yet in fashion, thousands of eggs were ‘seen’ manually by experts who could even put as many as five eggs in their hand at a time. With a proper twist and turn in front of a light box, they could separate the balut from the penoy – which had an embryo growing, which had none. Maninilaw is the term used to identify these expert light show selectors. The process is captured at the museum with displays of the panyo or net bag used for a bundle of eggs. I guess they were paid by the volume each panyo held. I would say one bundle could contain about 30 eggs or what would now go into a square egg tray which we commonly use in transport of these delicate products.

Another product from duck eggs without embryos is the salted egg or sometimes called itlog na pula or itlog na maalat. These red-colored (painted with food coloring which we hope is food safe) eggs are preserved in salt and is a popular accompaniment to tomato and other local salads. Today, Pateros duck farms have decreased in number but what they have kept alive is the traditional process of salting, boiling and baking (the abnoy). Even if duck eggs come from farther south of Luzon, this process is still done in Pateros. The duck farms in Pateros have given way to urbanization, but the tradition of balut making has stayed.

We paid a courtesy call to the young mayor, Mayor Gerald German, who told us of their efforts to promote local tourism through street food fairs. Our very own Department of Tourism in the National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) headed by regional director Cathie Agustin accompanied us (from Slow Food Manila) to discuss possible tourist products like food crawls and food discovery events. Pateros is so accessible from our airports and can be a day trip for tourists in transit for a few hours. Just like in Singapore or Dubai, if you have a layover of 12 hours, a local tour is offered and shuttles from the airport can be available. All you bring is your carry on bag and a curious appetite.

For those of us who can drive, you can head to the Museo de Pateros and traverse the cross streets, each with its own balutan or balut producer and seller. Right in front of the museum, sellers of their famous products, balut and slippers (alfombra), are given two weeks each to sell their wares with no rent at all. Small producers take turns occupying the prime space, giving many the chance to sell at this prime retail spot.

I saw the many stages of balut – raw, boiled, salted egg, penoy and the unique bibingka abnoy at this stall. On the opposite side of the entrance, displayed were many designs and styles of the alfombra selling for less than P500, depending on how intricate or simple the footwear is. Apparently the entrada or instep portion is made by embroiderers elsewhere and just assembled in Pateros. These prized footwear are also standard for those who attend cockfights (sabungeros) and were today’s sneakers.

Along with DOT-NCR we at Slow Food Manila are going around the towns close to the metro to discover possible local tours in support of our new secretary of the Dept. of Tourism (DOT)’s mandate to promote domestic tourism. Truly, just a stone’s throw away from the Makati business district is this gem of a destination. Pateros is an interesting place to learn more about our history, and the history of its shoe and duck egg industries.

For an interesting morning or a layover idea for transit tourists, Pateros can be your destination. Even if you do not eat the exotic boiled duck egg, you may find interest in the collection curated by Atto Bade at the Museo de Pateros. You may even find photos of people you know, who originally hailed from this town. I saw the photo of Cora dela Paz Bernardo, formerly SSS president and a most sought after independent board director, along with the famous lawyer, Rene ‘Compañero’ Cayetano as just two of the more famous Pateros natives.

Do you know the difference between an 16-day and an 18-day old balut? Come to Pateros and find out. I personally like it 16 days one. So next time you are served balut, do ask its age and be an expert – or at least act like one.

Two people were injured in a fire that struck a warehouse in Marilao town in this province before dawn yesterday.

The victims, identified as John Que and Jiar Carmona, suffered burns in the arms, according to Manuel Lukban Jr., chief of the Bulacan disaster risk reduction and management office.

Reports said the fire broke out at around 12:30 a.m. in Barangay Loma de Gato, destroying the 700-square-meter warehouse.

Firefighters declared the fire under control at 2:38 a.m. Fire out was declared at 4:30 a.m.

Probers have yet to determine the cause of the blaze.

Damage to property was placed at P24.5 million.

Host-actress Kris Aquino made a brief comeback in front of the camera but had to brave through a bout of rheumatoid arthritis, according to showbiz creator “Mama” Loi Villarama.

Mama Loi, a good friend of the “Queen of All Media,” was present for Kris’ promotional shoot for the Philippine arm of streaming platform Netflix.

The streamer tapped the host-actress for a new campaign where she would serve as its “Chief Head of Insights and Kontent Analysis” or C.H.I.K.A. for short, reviewing scenes from local titles and offering her signature critique on how they can be improved.

On their Instagram account, Mama Loi shared behind-the-scenes clips of Kris’ shoot where all crew members had to wear face masks as Kris is still recovering from several autoimmune diseases.

At the end of the shoot, Kris’ youngest son Bimby had to help lift his mother from a chair, indicating that Kris fought off fatigue and weariness.

Mama Loi themselves shared in their post’s caption encouragement to see Kris in front of the cameras again, noting how she was battling rheumatoid arthritis, causing her bones and legs to swell.

“I felt ‘yung pag-usli nung mismong buto on her knees na namamaga,” they continued. “Earlier during the shoot it was okay, pero ganun pala talaga ang autoimmune, nakakagulat ‘pag nakaramdam ng pagod, nag re-rebelde na.”

Kris never complained; however, according to Mama Loi, and always in high spirits amid the difficulties and tiredness. Mama Loi called Kris “a true professional” whose first takes always made the cut, never showing she was in pain.

They added that Kris continued shooting until 1:30 a.m. even though her cut-off was set at midnight.

“Sobrang saya namin na mapanood kang muli, KCA,” Mama Loi ended. “Praying your continued healing and we are eanestly looking forward to see more of you, Our Queen.”

The host-actress has not participated in a long-term project since the pandemic, her last movies being “I Love You, Hater” and a cameo in “Crazy Rich Asians,” both in 2018.

Aside from brief guest appearances on variety shows, Kris’ last stint on television was her short-lived 2017 travel lifestyle show “Trip ni Kris.”

The country’s dollar reserves fell to their lowest level in 18 months as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s foreign exchange operations and government withdrawals outweighed gains from higher gold valuations.

Preliminary data from the BSP showed that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) declined by 1.3 percent to $103.38 billion as of end-July from $104.74 billion in June. The latest level was also down by 1.9 percent from $105.42 billion in July last year.

This brought the reserves to their lowest level since January 2025, when GIR stood at $103.27 billion.

GIR consists of foreign assets held by the central bank, including securities, foreign currency and deposits, gold, special drawing rights and other reserve assets.

The stockpile serves as the economy’s first line of defense against external shocks by providing foreign currency for imports and external debt payments.

The BSP attributed the July decline mainly to its net foreign exchange operations, the national government’s drawdowns on its foreign currency deposits for external debt payments and the government’s net foreign currency withdrawals from deposits with the central bank.

BSP data showed foreign securities, which remained the largest component of the country’s reserves, declined by 6.6 percent month-on-month to $67.26 billion in July. Currency and deposits likewise fell by 9.2 percent to $1.85 billion.

These outflows were partly cushioned by upward valuation adjustments on the BSP’s gold holdings as international gold prices increased, as well as income earned by the central bank from its investments abroad.

Gold holdings increased by 1.7 percent to $17.49 billion in July from $17.19 billion in June as higher global prices lifted the value of the central bank’s bullion reserves. Compared with July last year, the value of gold holdings jumped by almost 27 percent from $13.78 billion

Despite the decline, the BSP said reserves remained adequate. The end-July GIR level was equivalent to 6.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It was also equivalent to about 3.6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on residual maturity.

Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co., said the reserves remain sufficient to cushion the economy against external shocks, although their recent decline should be closely monitored.

Filipino dance crews were triumphant yet again at this year’s World Hip Hop Dance Championship as five groups finished on the podium, including two gold medalists.

All-queer dance group Femme MNL topped the Megacrew Division ahead of fellow Filipino group The Crew, who in 2012 won the Adult Division.

HQ added a second Adult Division championship to its 2023 win and were joined on the podium by bronze medalists Folk Jumpers. The Junior Division meanwhile saw Sayawatha Jr. claiming third.

This took the Philippines’ medal count at the annual tournament to 35, two ahead of the United States and within striking distance of third-ranked New Zealand with 42.

Jacob Jaurigue led the HQ to another gold medal finish with the help of co-director Zion Wuxinyi. The two had danced in the 2023 championship run but this year guided a new batch of nine dancers to the gold.

Philstar.com spoke to Jaurigue before the group flew back to the Philippines, still floating on the dance crew’s monumental win.

The coach said the emotions from the 2023 win were just about the same from three years ago though he pointed out, “Once you get there the first time, it feels like a longer climb the second time around but the experience that we’ve had kind of balances it out for us.”

Jaurigue went on to call this latest run the smoothest of HQ’s three competitive tries to date – the group competed in the Minicrew Division back in 2024 – and credited the preparation each member took.

“We knew what we had to do, we knew the struggles, we knew the challenges, and we were already prepared before we even came across them,” he explained.

Another factor Jaurigue described as “a huge blessing in disguise” was that HQ finished second behind the NDDU Generals during the Philippine leg.

The NDDU Generals and A-Gyalz, another Filipino group in the Adult Division, just missed the final round by mere decimal points while A-Boiz finished fifth.

“We knew not to settle, that we had so much work to do to even have a chance against the four other Philippine teams competing, even more so against the over 60 other teams competing from the other countries,” Jaurigue added.

Speaking about this year’s HQ batch, the coach shared that half the team only started training with the group earlier this year.

That meant the new team didn’t have the connection as the 2023 batch which Jaurigue said was essential when competing in high-level contests.

“It was something that we had to figure out how to build along the way,” he continued. “The strengths of these nine dancers also weren’t the same as our old nine’s strengths so with creating a routine worthy of a world championship, we couldn’t just rely to the same things we’ve been doing in the past.”

Jaurigue acknowledged the many adjustment he, Wuxinyi, and their fellow directors and coaches had to do, figuring out how to bring the best out of the new group but maintain the same identity.

“Bringing in people from different walks of life and trying to create an environment where they could easily perform and execute; through brotherhood, camaraderie, and a lot of good vibes,” the coach said, expressing gratitude for “Key and Peele” sketches.

As for Team Philippines at World Hip Hop Dance Championship 2026, the country’s amazing performance is no longer surprising for Jaurigue and the rest of HQ.

The coach stressed the local hip-hop community’s been exceeding expectations year after year and have the medals to show for it.

“With pioneer teams leading the way, newer generations stepping up, and that’s all through hard work, dedication, creativity, and abundance of talent that the Philippine community has,” he continued. “This community that we have has been under appreciated for far too long and I only hope that soon it gets the spotlight it truly deserves.”

All of HQ are back in the Philippines and Jaurigue joked he wouldn’t be sure what laid ahead for the group for another couple weeks.

He does believe though the dance crew will carry as it’s been operating the past few years, that is, “take any opportunities that come our way, pave our own way, and focus on what’s best for our dancers.”

“Hopefully [we] try for bigger things in the competition scene but after a challenging season we’re just excited to take a break and re-align our goals,” Jaurigue ended

Law-enforcement operatives and soldiers together took custody of five Chinese nationals, working in a business establishment in Trento town in Agusan del Sur without proper permits, in an operation last Monday, August 3, radio reports on Saturday stated.

The five Chinese men were reportedly apprehended right in the Mayoka Enterprises compound in Purok 4 in Barangay Pulang Lupa in Trento by combined officials of the Bureau of Immigration, personnel of different units under the Police Regional Office 13 and soldiers from the Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion, a unit under the 10th Infantry Division.

Major Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 10th ID, was quoted in radio reports on Saturday as saying that officials of the Bureau of Immigration immediately took custody of the five male foreigners for procedural questioning on their lack of essential documents to legalize their employment in a business outfit in Trento.

Luzon had clarified to reporters that the role of the 67th IB in the operation that led to the detention of the five Chinese nationals was only security support to the civilian Bureau of Immigration agents who enforced their detention based on state laws.

Officials of the 67th IB were also instrumental in the prior verification and confirmation, on the behest of Bureau of Immigration officials, of the reported employment of the five Chinese nationals in a business entity in Trento, the basis of the operation that resulted in their apprehension.