Category: Philippine Star

The combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay brought more than a week of persistent rains across Metro Manila and several parts of the country, causing widespread flooding in low-lying communities. Familiar scenes once again filled our screens and social media feeds: families carrying belongings to safety, residents seeking shelter in evacuation centers, commuters stranded by impassable roads and motorists navigating streets submerged by floodwaters.

Then, as often happens, life will slowly return to normal. But I sincerely hope this time, we do more than just that.

PAGASA reported that parts of Luzon received nearly a month’s worth of rainfall in just nine days. In Benguet, rainfall even exceeded the province’s normal August average within that short period. Climate change is not just a concern discussed in conferences and policy papers. We see it unfolding in our communities, schools, roads and homes. But not everything should be blamed on nature.

As of Aug. 12, the Office of Civil Defense reported that around 385,000 families or 1.31 million people had been affected across 10 regions. Infrastructure damage reached P1.12 billion. Hundreds of homes were damaged while thousands sought temporary shelter in evacuation centers. The Department of Education reported that 3,924 classrooms sustained damage, including 751 that were totally destroyed. These are not mere figures in a report – they are disrupted lives, lost income, interrupted education and shattered peace of mind.

The situation brings us to a question that many Filipinos have been repeatedly asking for: what happened to the billions spent on flood control? This is not an unfair question. It is a necessary one.

The Filipino taxpayer fulfills his obligation every day. Taxes are deducted from salaries. Businesses pay their dues. Consumers pay taxes whenever they buy goods and services. In return, government is expected to protect communities and build infrastructure that works.

When the same areas continue to flood despite years of flood control projects, studies and improvement programs, questions naturally arise about what has worked, what has not and what still needs to be done.

The frustration today is deeper because this is not a new problem. This had been the same conversation for decades. Flood control projects have received funding under different administrations. Yet many Filipinos continue to suffer the same situation every rainy season.

Calls for a full accounting of flood control funds deserve our support. People have every right to know where projects were built, how much was spent and whether they delivered what was promised. Every peso comes from taxpayers. Every project should stand up to public scrutiny.

Accountability should not begin and end with hearings or press briefings. If mistakes were made, they should be corrected. If funds were misused, those responsible should answer for them. That is how public trust is built.

I also find myself thinking about how often we return to the phrase ‘Filipino resilience.’

For years, we wore it as a badge of honor. It reflected our ability to endure, adapt and help one another through difficult times. Those qualities remain among our greatest strengths and are worth celebrating. But resilience, by itself, is not a flood control plan.

Every flood reminds us of the quiet heroism of ordinary Filipinos. Parents do whatever they can to keep their children safe. Neighbors look after one another. Linemen, service crews, local officials and volunteers work long hours so communities can get back on their feet. These stories, while they inspire us, should also challenge us.

We cannot be satisfied with simply getting through one flood after another. The real goal is to make sure fewer families have to go through the same hardship the next time the rain comes. That is what progress should look like.

As a senior citizen, I have witnessed many storms – both literal and political. I have also seen how quickly public attention shifts once the skies clear and daily life resumes. Yet flooding remains a recurring challenge for many communities. That is why the conversation should continue long after the waters have receded.

Flood management cannot be limited to rescue operations, relief goods and evacuation centers. These are essential and often lifesaving, but they are only part of the response. Equal attention must be given to long-term solutions that strengthen infrastructure, protect the environment and reduce future risks.

What we need is a sustained national commitment that extends beyond election cycles and focuses on lasting results for the generations that will inherit the communities we build today.

We do not have to look far for examples of what can work. Singapore has spent years investing in drainage and water management. Japan has built systems that help protect communities from even the worst storms while making sure those systems are maintained. South Korea showed that restoring rivers and waterways can reduce flooding while making cities more livable.

The lesson is not that these countries are wealthier or luckier. The lesson is that they stayed focused. They planned for the long term and stuck with it. We can do the same.

The priorities are not difficult to identify. Flood control projects must be transparent. Rivers and drainage systems must be maintained regularly, not only after they overflow. Watersheds and forests must be protected. National agencies and local governments must work from the same plan instead of pursuing separate solutions.

None of this will make headlines overnight. Good maintenance rarely does. But some of the most important public works are the ones people barely notice because they quietly do their job.

That, after all, is the goal. Success should not be measured by the number of rescue boats deployed after a storm. It should be measured by the number of families who never need rescuing in the first place.

As the waters recede once again, we owe it to affected families, displaced workers, students returning to damaged classrooms and taxpayers who continue to do their part to keep this conversation going.

Resilience will always be part of who we are. But for the sake of our children and grandchildren, we should aim for something more: communities that are safer, better prepared and less vulnerable each time the rain comes. That will require accountability, competence and the discipline to stay the course long after the floodwaters are gone.

Filipino boxer Mark Magsayo is out to put a mark in the unbeaten record of Andres Cortes.

Magsayo will be battling the American Cortes next month in a 10-round lightweight bout in the undercard of the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn showdown on September 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Magsayo is currently riding a five-match win streak. Most recently, he defeated Feargal McCrory via technical knockout back in April of this year.

In his previous five wins, the former featherweight champion has knocked out Bryan Mercado, Isaac Avelar and McCrory.

But Cortes is no pushover.

He is coming off a unanimous decision win over Eridson Garcia in the main event of the April card.

Magsayo is currently holding a 29-2 win-loss record, with 19 knockouts. Cortes, on the other hand, is undefeated through 25 matches, with 13 knockouts.

A recent national championship showdown gets a compelling sequel when the ICTSI Elite Junior PGT Finals blasts off Tuesday, August 18, with North’s Lisa Sarines and Team South’s Tashanah Balangauan and Precious Zaragosa renewing their rivalry in the girls’ 15-18 division at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club.

Sarines comes into the Ryder Cup-style showdown with bragging rights firmly in hand after dominating Balangauan and Zaragosa in the National Stroke Play Championship at Pradera Verde. But while the North ace proved her mettle in a pressure-packed individual battle, Zaragosa has since shown signs of a strong bounce-back, particularly in head-to-head competition.

Zaragosa emerged as the top performer among the three in the National Match Play Championship, advancing all the way to the final before settling for runner-up honors to champion Grace Quintanilla. Sarines, meanwhile, placed third, while Balangauan also saw action in the tournament. The three, however, did not cross paths, leaving Zaragosa without a chance to face Sarines directly.

Still, Zaragosa’s deep run in match play provides a timely boost heading into the team showdown, where she and Balangauan will look to turn the tables on Sarines and the North squad. And with the South players boasting greater familiarity with Pueblo de Oro, the rematch could take on a much different complexion from their previous encounter.

Balangauan and Zaragosa will be driven not only by the desire to avenge their recent setbacks but also by the confidence that comes with playing on familiar turf. Pueblo de Oro’s rolling terrain, deep natural ravines and five interconnected lakes provide a demanding test, but one that the local players know perhaps better than anyone in the field.

That familiarity could prove especially valuable in a format where teamwork, strategy and momentum can be just as decisive as individual shot-making.

Sarines, teaming up with twin sister Mona, Rafa Anciano and Kendra Garingalao, will likewise have ample opportunity to get acquainted with the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed layout before the matches begin. But Balangauan and Zaragosa will have the added advantage of rediscovering the lines, breaks and nuances of a course they call home.

Cebuanas Apple Gotiong and Lois Lane Go will provide further depth to Team South, joining Balangauan and Zaragosa in anchoring the region’s bid to wrest the championship from the North in the three match-play formats – Fourball (Best-Ball), Foursomes (alternate shot) and singles.

And there is unfinished business to settle.

Team South is out to avenge its loss at The Country Club last year, when the Northerners fashioned out a commanding 26 1/2-21 1/2 victory in the inaugural staging. This time, the venue has been switched to Pueblo de Oro as part of organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.’s commitment to fair play and sportsmanship, giving the South not only home-course familiarity but also a fresh setting in which to turn the tables.

The change of scenery, however, hardly guarantees a change in fortunes.

And while the girls’ 15-18 division may provide the headline attraction, it will hardly be the only one worth watching.

The Finals will also feature the 7-10 and 11-14 boys’ and girls’ divisions, as well as the boys’ 15-18 category, bringing together a deep pool of the country’s most promising young players in a format designed to showcase both individual talent and team spirit

With up to 400 tons of garbage to be cleared from the Redemptorist water channel in Baclaran, Parañaque, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority dispatched yesterday the MMDA’s trash skimmer to fast-track the waste collection efforts.

The trash skimmer, a mechanical device that scoops up floating waste to deposit into a collection bin or container, is used along with the manual cleanup operations in the creek, MMDA said.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the MMDA had used 96 trucks for the garbage collection.

This is equivalent to 418.4 metric tons of waste and debris collected from the area since Monday.

‘We will not stop until we clear the Redemptorist Channel and other water channels that have garbage problems,’ MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III said.

He stressed that discipline and cooperation from citizens are needed to manage the situation, as the government continues to make waste disposal systems efficient.

‘We are appealing to our fellow citizens to cooperate by not adding to the stress on the system as the government carries out these efforts. Properly disposing of even small pieces of trash will help speed up the rehabilitation and improvement of our surroundings,’ Torre added.

MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the Metro Manila Council has approved a resolution to increase the fines for the anti-littering law to P5,000 in Metro Manila cities and P2,500 in Pateros.

‘We are awaiting the individual ordinances of each city. We will follow it up in the next MMC meeting,’ said Artes.

Bernardo Amurao, Parañaque City environment and natural resources office chief, said the cleanup would be completed in two to three days.

‘We should not be blaming each other anymore. We should just be helping one another,’ Amurao told dzMM yesterday.

He noted that that the cleanup is slowed down because of heavy traffic, noting that the collected trash is brought to San Mateo in Rizal.

To help speed things up, the MMDA and the Department of Public Works and Highways have designated Tripa de Galina in Pasay as a point where the collected trash can be dumped before a contractor collects it.

‘I hope we learn waste segregation and not throw garbage in creeks and rivers. If you dump garbage the wrong way, whenever there’s rain and wind, that will return to Manila Bay and for sure, the trash that you throw will return to you,’ Amurao said.

The garbage emerged this week as Metro Manila was battered by monsoon rains.

A resolution seeking an investigation into EDSA’s rehabilitation and repair was filed on Thursday, August 13, after potholes emerged following more than a week of heavy rains in Metro Manila.

Senate Resolution No. 594, filed by Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, asked the Senate Committee on Public Works to assess the EDSA Rehabilitation Project and review its design and engineering standards.

Lacson cited the P6 billion budget allocated for the rehabilitation and repair of EDSA in the resolution, adding that the investigation is intended to ensure accountability.

On August 10, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspected the EDSA Busway along Estrella Street in Makati City after potholes appeared in the area. He said the damage was caused by rainwater.

The affected roads are part of Phase 1 of the EDSA Rehabilitation Project.

‘For nearly a week, persistent southwest monsoon (habagat) rains have drenched parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila; damaging several main thoroughfares, including recently rehabilitated sections of EDSA. The presence of fresh potholes means the newly repaired avenue will already require another round of maintenance,’ the resolution reads.

The project was launched by the Department of Public Works and Highways in June 2025, with Phase 1 covering the repair of Roxas Boulevard to Orense Street and Phase 2 covering Orense Street to Monumento.

Both rehabilitation and repair projects were awarded to Readycon Trading and Construction Corp., with the second phase a joint venture with Dumduma Construction and Trading Corp.

The project’s Phase 1, completed in April 2026, was worth P1,183,374,622.61. Meanwhile, the Phase 2 contract, worth P4,009,473,018.88, was signed on June 4, with the Notice to Proceed issued on June 8, 2026.

‘Rapid deterioration of recently rehabilitated roads, most notably EDSA, just months after completion exposes deep-seated flaws in the planning, design, construction and management of high-cost public infrastructure projects,’ Lacson added.

The local stock market rose for the second straight session as investors continued to capitalize on bargain stocks.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index rose by 0.63 percent or 39.75 points to end the session at 6,366.64.

The broader All Shares index also advanced by 0.76 percent or 26.07 points to 3,463.99.

Philstocks Financial said the local market’s rise was attributed to bargain hunting together with appreciation of second quarter and first half corporate results of selected stocks.

However, it said trading was still tepid with net value turnover at P6.2 billion as many investors stayed on the sidelines amid uncertainties in the Middle East and downside risks to the country’s economic outlook.

‘The local bourse pulled off an impressive late-afternoon surge to finish on a high note. Shrugging off a sluggish morning session, buyers moved into heavyweights BPI, SM and SM Prime, more than absorbing profit taking in ICTSI, Ayala Land and Emperador,’ First Metro Securities said.

‘The rally appeared largely anchored by robust domestic appetite ahead of the crucial US CPI (consumer price index) print,’ it said.

RCBC chief economist Michael Ricafort said the PSEi went up mostly on better corporate earnings among the biggest listed local companies.

Ricafort also cite the latest rollback in local fuel pump pries by at least P4 per liter that could help ease inflationary pressures.

All sectors were in the green, except for services, which fell by 1.36 percent. Holding firms led the charge with a 2.32-percent jump, followed by financials with a 1.87-percent gain.

Market breadth was positive as advancers crushed decliners, 111 to 84, while 49 issues were unchanged.

ICTSI was the session’s top traded stock, plummeting by 1.61 percent to P980 per share. It was followed by First Gen, which skyrocketed by 28.4 percent to P27.35 and BPI, which climbed by 4.37 percent to P107.50.

It would have required at least a dozen large maletas, bodyguards to carry the suitcases and SUVs with armed escorts to transport the cash but this was not that kind of deal.

Instead, tycoons Eugenio ‘Gabby’ Lopez III and Ramon ‘RSA’ Ang sealed their historic deal last Friday as businessmen do – using checks as payment – in a transaction valued at roughly P11 billion to P12 billion, as I said, or to be exact, P11.56 billion, representing the 25.7 percent stake of Gabby’s family in Lopez Inc., which is valued at P45 billion.

The deal, in which RSA acquired the 25.7 percent stake, was finalized in a prized Forbes house not far from the Manila Polo Club and a famed embassy.

Prior to Friday’s transaction, RSA also issued checks last month as a downpayment or was it a lock-in payment? I hinted about this in my July 22 column, ‘White knight makes down payment on Lopez empire.’

The deal did not happen overnight but had been brewing for months now. Sources said RSA was willing to help the Lopez family, who he said are all his friends, but only if he would be asked to, which Gabby did.

Now the question on everyone’s mind is what will Gabby Lopez do with this manna from his good friend, RSA?

Back to ABS-CBN

The amount is not entirely Gabby’s money, of course, but it belongs to his branch of the Don Eugenio Lopez heirs.

Gabby, as I hinted in my column last Tuesday, would use part of the proceeds to save ABS-CBN, the family’s media crown jewel that has been beset with financial problems since losing its franchise in 2020.

Last I heard, ABS-CBN has a P5-billion loan with BPI whose maturity was extended on April 30, 2026. A P4.75-billion loan with Union Bank was likewise extended to June 30, 2026, according to a July 31 disclosure.

I am not sure if these loans have been settled. No other disclosures on that have been made yet.

In any case, Gabby can provide that P2-billion cash infusion for ABS-CBN, which his cousin Piki earlier refused to do, among the reasons cited for the family feud.

ABS-CBN can issue new shares and pave the way for Gabby’s reinvestment and eventual comeback.

He earlier hinted at this in his statement when he explained why he sold his shares:

‘The first is my family,’ he said.

‘This dispute has not been good for any of us, or for the people who work in our companies. This allows us to take a step toward the restoration of family peace.

‘The second is that it allows me to channel our family’s resources into businesses aligned with our personal mission. We will announce more on this in due time.’

True enough, the Gabby Lopez-led majority said late yesterday that they would invest P2.2 billion in ABS-CBN. The funds would come from their personal resources.

‘ABS-CBN has been part of this family for generations. The mission my father set out to pursue remains the heartbeat of this family – to be in the service of the Filipino. We are putting our own money behind this conviction,’ Gabby said on behalf of the Lopez majority.

‘RSA bought economics’

As for RSA, a 25.7 percent stake in Lopez Inc. is large enough to make him an important shareholder.

In practical terms, RSA has a seat at the table though he does not hold the steering wheel, says fund manager Eric Jurado.

In a research note, Jurado also points out:

That the most interesting part of the transaction is unarguably ABS-CBN.

Lopez Holdings has a substantial economic exposure to ABS-CBN, but that exposure is structured through Philippine Depositary Receipts, or PDRs. PDRs can provide the economic benefits associated with an underlying share without transferring the voting rights attached to that share.

That distinction is particularly important for a Philippine mass media company because the Constitution imposes strict Filipino ownership requirements.

Under the existing structure, the economic interest and voting rights are therefore separated. RSA’s investment at the Lopez Inc. level can give him an indirect economic interest in the ABS-CBN exposure without giving him voting control over ABS-CBN’s media operations.

Lopez Inc., together with ABS-CBN Holdings Corp., continues to control approximately 78.5 percent of ABS-CBN’s total voting power.

The important point for investors is simple: RSA’s arrival does not fundamentally change who controls ABS-CBN.

As for the listed value of RSA’s investment, Jurado said:

Using the Aug. 7, 2026, market capitalizations supplied for the listed companies, applying RSA’s indirect economic percentages produces approximately P12.02 billion of apparent indirect economic exposure:

Lopez Holdings Corp. (LPZ): P3.21 billion

First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH): P3.26 billion

First Gen Corp. (FGEN): P4.02 billion

Rockwell Land Corp. (ROCK): P1.31 billion

ABS-CBN: P0.23 billion

Total: approximately P12.02 billion

But Jurado also noted that this is a corporate pyramid.

For example, FPH owns an interest in FGEN and ROCK. FPH’s own market capitalization therefore already incorporates the value of those underlying investments. Likewise, LPZ’s valuation reflects its interests further down the structure.

Adding LPZ, FPH, FGEN and ROCK together therefore creates double counting.

‘The P12.02-billion figure is therefore best understood as a look-through illustration of his economic exposure, not as the amount of listed equity he independently owns,’ Jurado said.

In any case, RSA, he said, brings financial strength and significant strategic relationships to a group with major interests in energy, infrastructure and property.

As for me, I find it really interesting that tycoon Enrique Razon and RSA now find themselves increasingly part of the story surrounding the Lopez Group.

Ballet Manila (BM) closes its Prima Season with Marius Petipa’s “La Bayadere,” a three-act ballet set in Royal India about a temple dancer (bayadere) who is embroiled in a deadly love triangle.

”La Bayadere’ is the epitome of classical ballet as it holds a special place in Ballet Manila. We last performed it 13 years ago, with me playing the lead character, Nikiya. This is a great classical piece and audiences would find what they seek in a ballet production,” said Ballet Manila’s CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.

‘This was also the last ballet I watched before leaving Russia. This is very sentimental to me. It makes me feel nostalgic seeing dancers from where i started,’ she added.

The Philippines’ prima ballerina describes “La Bayadere” as a production that has the most demanding roles in the entire ballet repertoire. It is the last ballet that she performed in the “Swan Song” series that included “Swan Lake,” “Carmen,” and “Romeo and Juliet.”

Meet the cast

Mariinsky Ballet’s principal dancers Renata Shakirova (playing Nikiya) and Kimin Kim (playing Solor) lead the principal cast.

‘La Bayadere is not an easy ballet as it requires technique. I’ve danced as Solor since I was 17 in Korea, and it is one of my favorite ballets. When the overture begins, I start crying. The music of Ludwig Minkus says everything. But you’ll see a different performance on opening night,’ said Kim, who confessed he went straight to the technical dress rehearsal from arriving on a 3 a.m. flight to Manila.

The Korean ballet dancer was on vacation when he got a call from Ballet Manila to play Solor. He admitted that though he is on vacation, he does not take a rest for more than two weeks. He conscientiously takes a class every day leading to the days to his return to ballet.

Kim gave his praises to the Manila company. He also talked about working with Renata.

‘Without love, we can’t dance! There’s positive energy with Ballet Manila that I like. I’ve danced with Renata for 15 years now since she did her premiere in Mariinsky. Dancing with her is easy. I just focus on her eyes and everything else follows. Love triangles are hurting. I know coz I’ve experienced it when I was younger,’ said the Korean principal dancer.

After Manila, Kimin will fly home to Korea where he will perform and direct a “Don Quixote” production in the university where he graduated from.

Renata, like Kim, was also on vacation when she was offered the lead role. The Russian dancer has been exposed to the world of ballet since she was a little girl. Like her Korean counterpart, she did not relax and still did gymnastic and Pilates to keep herself in shape.

As she takes the Manila stage, Renata is looking forward to playing her role.

‘You feel several emotions in just one moment in this production. Every year, Ballent Manila’s love for dancing just blossoms. ‘La Bayadere’ is a drama of two women fighting over a guy. Dancing with Kimin makes us move like one body!’ said the Russian prima ballerina.

After a short professional gig, Renata and Kimin will fly back to the Philippines for a scheduled trip to Boracay.

“La Bayadere” opens on August 14, 8 p.m. at the Aliw Theatre in Pasay City. Two more afternoon shows follow the evening gala on August 15 and 16.

Telco-to-tech giant Globe Telecom Inc. is expanding the reach of its satellite-to-device service by working with the world’s largest phone makers to equip handsets with upgraded capabilities.

Globe is teaming up with handset makers Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, Tecno, Realme, Infinix and Honor to support device-level readiness for satellite internet.

The telco is reaching out to these phone brands as their devices operate within the Android ecosystem, which make up the majority of handset connections to Globe.

Likewise, Globe is collaborating with tech platforms to expand digital access for its subscribers. The telco said popular apps such as Google Maps, Messenger and WhatsApp are already optimized for space-based connectivity, allowing users to open them with satellite-to-device subscriptions.

Globe also enabled its own platforms like GlobeOne and Globe Benta on satellite-linked access. These efforts are aimed at raising the compatibility and reliability of the telco’s newest service.

Recently, Globe partnered with Elon Musk’s Starlink to become Southeast Asia’s first telco to offer satellite-to-device capability.

The service, launched in June, provides mobile connectivity to Globe subscribers wherever they go by linking them to a Starlink low earth orbit satellite flying in space. Globe’s satellite-to-device service can be purchased for as low as P99 for 30 days and just P299 for 90 days with 10 GB of data and 500 satellite texts.

Globe chief commercial officer Darius Delgado said the innovation allows the provider to reach communities where it is challenging to set up cellular sites. Globe wants to maximize the service in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

‘We are happy to be among the first in Asia to offer satellite-to-mobile connectivity because this suits our geography well. This service brings digital inclusion to many Filipinos and households in GIDAs and islands as well,’ Delgado said.

In July, Globe fired up mobile internet in 52 GIDAs as part of its commitment to the Department of Information and Communications Technology to connect 180 locations.

Globe turned to satellite-to-device connectivity to reach the remaining four percent of Filipinos it has yet to serve because of network difficulties.

PAGASA is monitoring a low-pressure area far east of Luzon that has a “high chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours.

The low pressure area was last seen some 1,740 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon as of 2 p.m. Thursday, August 13, PAGASA said in an update issued at 4 p.m.

It is currently outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

A low pressure area becomes a tropical depression once it forms a closed circulation with winds of up to 61 kilometers per hour.

It would only get a local name if it crossed into PAR.

Rains have been soaking Luzon the whole week due to the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat).

At least 21 people have died due to the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis and Mamay, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s latest count, shared Thursday morning, August 13,