Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

This is particularly relevant to millions of Filipino families whose finances are connected to overseas work. The Department of Migrant Workers recorded 1.58 million overseas Filipino workers and seafarers deployed as of June 2025, underscoring the scale of Filipinos whose livelihoods extend beyond the country.

For these families, managing money does not end when an OFW earns abroad. The value of that income can also depend on how it is converted into pesos and how much reaches the household. Changes in exchange rates can affect the amount received, making foreign exchange a practical consideration alongside saving, budgeting, and remittances.

Being financially prepared means understanding not only how much money is coming in and going out, but also how its value can change between currencies. For OFWs and their families, knowing how exchange rates work and making informed decisions about when and where to convert currency can help them get more value from money they have worked hard to earn.

‘Financial empowerment means giving Filipinos the knowledge and the right financial solutions to make better decisions at every stage of their financial journey. As more Filipinos earn and transact across borders, foreign exchange should become part of the conversation around managing money because it directly affects the value of their money,’ said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

Making those decisions is not always straightforward. Exchange rates move, currency needs differ, and the right choice can depend on whether money is being sent home, set aside for a trip, or used for an international transaction. This is where a trusted foreign exchange provider can make a difference.

As Xchange Xperts, Cebuana Lhuillier MoneyXchange offers access to foreign currencies, competitive exchange rates, and a nationwide network, making foreign exchange more accessible to Filipinos looking to make informed decisions about their money.

Adding to this convenience is Click and Collect, which allows customers to reserve their preferred foreign currency online and pick it up at a selected Cebuana Lhuillier branch. The service combines digital convenience with in-branch access, helping customers prepare their currency needs in advance.

The need extends beyond remittances. Filipinos traveling overseas also need to consider how much to convert, when to exchange pesos, and how currency movements can affect spending power. With 29.1 million international passengers passing through Philippine airports in 2025, foreign currency is becoming a familiar part of preparing for expenses abroad.

‘Foreign exchange can seem like a simple transaction, but for many Filipinos, it is connected to something much bigger, their livelihood, their family’s financial needs, their business, or their plans abroad. Our role is to make that decision easier to understand and more accessible so Filipinos can approach every currency exchange with greater confidence,’ said Philippe Andre Lhuillier, Senior Executive Vice President of Cebuana Lhuillier.

The bigger shift is in how Filipinos think about financial preparedness. Saving, budgeting, and investing remain essential. But for people whose financial lives increasingly cross borders, understanding the value of money in different currencies belongs in the same conversation.

Ultimately, smarter money management means seeing the full picture and understanding what can influence money’s value. For Filipinos earning overseas, supporting families through remittances, or preparing for a trip abroad, foreign exchange is another financial consideration to navigate wisely, with the right knowledge and an Xchange Xpert by their side.

The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has signed an airport use agreement (AUA) with the Philippine Airlines (PAL), governing the flag carrier’s operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The agreement sets key performance indicators aimed at improving operational efficiency and aligning airline operations with the service levels NNIC itself is required to meet under its concession agreement with the government, the airport operator said in a news release Tuesday.

‘This agreement gives us a clearer framework for setting expectations, measuring performance and working together to maintain consistent service standards,’ NNIC President Ramon Ang said.

The consortium intends to use the AUA with PAL as the template for similar arrangements with other airlines operating at the country’s primary gateway.

By establishing common performance requirements and clearer accountability, the NNIC could better monitor service levels, and identify where operational problems occur and require corrective action when necessary.

The AUA governs PAL’s use of airport facilities and infrastructure and sets out the respective responsibilities of the airline and airport operator.

Its framework was designed to support more consistent performance across airport operations and improve coordination among the different parties involved in moving passengers, baggage and aircraft.

‘This is a positive development for both PAL and NNIC, and ultimately for our passengers. It supports the continuing modernization of NAIA and our collective goal of delivering a better airport experience,’ PAL Holdings President Lucio Tan III was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the NNIC said it is taking similar approach in its agreements with ground handling and other service providers, setting operating requirements for companies performing critical functions on behalf of airlines within the airport.

Taal Volcano in Batangas has shown signs of renewed unrest after recording 162 volcanic earthquakes over the past six days, according to data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Taal recorded 34 volcanic earthquakes and one episode of volcanic tremor lasting 256 minutes in its latest bulletin on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The increase in seismic activity followed a series of elevated readings in recent days. Taal recorded 14 volcanic earthquakes on Aug. 20, followed by 46 on Aug. 21, 29 on Aug. 22, 19 on Aug. 23, and 20 on Aug. 24.

Phivolcs also recorded nine episodes of volcanic tremor over the six-day period.

From Aug. 16 to 19, Taal registered only single-digit numbers of volcanic seismic events each day.

Phivolcs explained that volcanic earthquakes are generated by magma-related processes beneath an active volcano, distinguishing them from tectonic earthquakes, which are caused by movements along faults.

Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are continuous seismic signals characterized by low-frequency oscillations that typically last for more than a minute.

In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs also reported sulfur dioxide emissions of 271 metric tons, classified as ‘weak.’

No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the main crater lake on Taal Volcano Island (TVI), which lies in the middle of Taal Lake. No volcanic smog, or ‘vog,’ was detected either.

Despite the continued seismic activity, Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating a low level of unrest.

Authorities reiterated that entry into TVI, designated as the volcano’s Permanent Danger Zone, remains strictly prohibited, particularly in the vicinity of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.

Civil aviation authorities have also been advised to warn pilots against flying over TVI, as ash from a sudden eruption could pose a hazard to aircraft.

In the Philippines, the arrival of the ber months signals the unofficial beginning of the holiday season, and with it comes the excitement of dressing up for gatherings, discovering new beauty rituals, planning thoughtful gifts, and finding little luxuries worth indulging in.

With ‘Start the Ber Months in Style’ as its theme, Lazmall Luxury’s two-day campaign sets the tone for the festivities ahead, inviting shoppers to embrace the season early, indulge in considered discoveries, and find meaningful pieces for themselves and the people who matter most, all on LazMall.

With a curated selection of luxury and premium names, LazMall Luxury offers shoppers an elevated way to kick off the holiday season as it brings together premium names in one trusted destination,

making this the perfect occasion to discover, celebrate, and shop for what’s to come.

Need some ideas? Start your seasonal refresh with the staples and check out the timeless Lacoste Men’s Classic Fit Piqué Polo Shirt and Malbon Bennett Knit Polo Sweater, or add a stylish touch to your golf days with the Malbon Kodiak Performance Golf Bag.

For beauty finds, the right foundation base is a must. Pick up Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base+ primer for a hydrated, glowy, makeup-ready base.

If you prefer your skincare essentials with an extra touch of indulgence, Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Recovery Treatment Essence and Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex, together with the Pure Color Gelee Glow Oil and the Glossy Pout Tinted Lip Oil, provide a regimen for skin that deserves a little more attention and pampering. Meanwhile, La Mer’s Rejuvenating Eye Cream and Refreshing Balance Collection bring an elevated touch to everyday self-care and recovery, perfect for slowing down before the holiday rush begins.

Other brands you can find on LazMall Luxury include Chloe, Songmont, Harman Kardon, Diageo, and Sasa Official Store, among others.

From coveted fashion and beauty pieces to lifestyle essentials and statement gifts, LazMall Luxury makes it easier for discerning shoppers to discover pieces that feel special, while shopping with the confidence that comes from authenticity and LazMall’s trusted brand experience.

Whether refreshing a personal wardrobe ahead of holiday gatherings, finding beauty must-haves for festive occasions, elevating the home for celebrations, or getting an early start on meaningful gifts, head on to LazMal Luxury on August 26 – 27 and welcome the season in style.

For more information, you can visit Lazada Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Pedestrians in Baguio City will soon be required to observe a ‘keep right’ rule when using two-way sidewalks, pedestrian lanes and other walkways.

This directive is under an amended anti-distracted walking ordinance approved by the City Council.

Jordan Habbiling, information officer of the Baguio City Council, said in an interview on Monday that the amended ordinance will take effect upon signing by the mayor and publication.

‘The City Council has approved on third and final reading the ordinance further amending the Anti-Distracted Walking Ordinance that impose a keep-right rule on two-way sidewalks, giving priority to walking pedestrians but with exemptions for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and during emergencies,’ Habbiling said.

Habbiling noted that this policy – Ordinance 77-2026 – also establishes that sidewalks shall primarily be used for pedestrians.

Other activities such as jogging, running and taking photos must give way to walking pedestrians and must not obstruct their movement, he added.

The ordinance also prohibits the use of mobile devices to text, read messages or make calls while crossing a pedestrian lane or street, or while traversing a sidewalk, when such use causes delays in the movement of other people.

A first offense carries a reprimand, while a second offense is punishable by 10 days of community service.

Under the new ‘keep right’ rule, pedestrians using two-way sidewalks, particularly those walking in groups, must stay on the right side and avoid occupying the opposite or incoming lane.

PWDs who require additional space to safely traverse sidewalks are exempted from the keep-right requirement.

The ordinance authorizes the Public Order and Safety Division, Baguio City Police Office, Traffic Management Unit, barangay tanods and other authorized enforcers to monitor and apprehend violators.

It also allows city-installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to be used as evidence of violations.

Habbiling said alleged violations recorded through CCTV may be contested through other video footage.

The measure is the latest amendment to Ordinance 49-2019, which established Baguio’s Anti-Distracted Walking Ordinance. The ordinance was first amended in 2023.

The moment she crashed the top 20 of the WTA world rankings, Alex Eala knew things would only get tougher from that point.

‘The gap [between ranking spots] is much wider,’ she said.

She’ll have to work double time to keep her momentum going, and the US Open will provide her opportunities to do so as she competes in mixed doubles and singles at the Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York.

Eala, who moved two spots up the world ranking at No. 18 on Monday, is paired with Felix Auger-Aliassime in mixed doubles and the two are set for a clash against the husband-and-wife tandem of world No. 9 Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils on Tuesday morning (Manila time).

The Filipino superstar and the Canadian world No. 4 have a lot to fight through if they want to win the $1 million top prize of the event, as they have been drawn in the same bracket as women’s No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, the mixed doubles top seeds.

Valuable time

Sabalenka and Djokovic will open against Canadian-Filipino Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals to face either Eala and Auger-Aliassime or Svitolina and Monfils.

The mixed doubles event will provide Eala valuable court time as she pursues her first Grand Slam singles trophy starting on Sunday in New York.

The draw for the singles will drop three days before the main-draw matches begin. The qualifying round for singles has already started.

‘I think what’s great is [playing in mixed doubles] keeps you in that competitive mindset,’ Auger-Aliassime said in a TV interview. ‘It’s different [from] when you’re kind of relaxed in training, and you’re doing appearances and sponsor stuff.’

‘It’s different when you’re out there on the court and someone’s trying to beat you,’ the Canadian star, who said he is excited to get a taste of the ‘Eala Effect,’ added. ‘To stay in touch with that [competitive mindset] during the week with the mixed doubles, that is also not as much pressure as the singles, I think is a great thing.

‘Everybody’s playing the part, everybody is super competitive. So I think I’m going to love it out there.’

Auger-Aliassime will certainly enjoy the opportunity to play behind a large and supportive crowd that turns up in arenas all over the world every time Eala sees action.

‘It’s kinda funny because she’s younger than me, but I feel like she has the fan base and she’s carrying the crowd,’ he said.

Roger Federer is actually nervous about his tennis.

The man who won five straight US Open championships during the height of his dominance of the sport is set to play again in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night for the first time since 2019. And he’s not quite sure how the game that perhaps nobody ever made look more elegant will appear now.

‘I haven’t played a singles set in, I don’t know, (Hubert) Hurkacz at Wimbledon maybe, so it’s been five years,’ Federer said Monday, referring to his 2021 quarterfinal loss in his last Grand Slam match. ‘I don’t know how it’s going to go tomorrow. So there is a lot of uncertainty but a lot of happiness that I can return to Arthur Ashe, a place where I have had so many beautiful moments.’

It’s only one set of singles in an exhibition against Andy Roddick and one set of doubles with John McEnroe against Roddick and Andre Agassi. The winner of 20 Grand Slam singles titles should be fine for those.

But a return to tennis beyond that, competing in major tennis tournaments in his mid-40s like Venus and Serena Williams?

‘No, no, no, no. No, not at all,’ Federer said during a news conference. ‘Thanks for asking. I wasn’t sure if the question was going to get asked, but I’m happy you did so I can clarify in case anybody thought.’

At 45, Federer still looks fit, and said he enjoys working out in the gym. But he said he goes through long stretches where he is rarely on the court.

His lengthy absence from the U.S. Open has done little to dampen his popularity, based on the amount of people around the grounds who were mentioning his name. The appearance of ‘Roger Federer’ up on the big board for all to see again, ahead of his afternoon practice on Ashe, where Federer collected the trophy every year from 2004-08, was a welcome sight for his fans.

The trip to New York is a stop for Federer on his way to Newport, Rhode Island, where he will be enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Federer never really had the chance to say goodbye to New York as a player, because there was no way to know his loss to Grigor Dimitrov in the 2019 quarterfinals would be his last match. He had reached the French Open semifinals and the Wimbledon final earlier that year, falling to Rafael Nadal in Paris and then Novak Djokovic in a fifth-set tiebreaker at the All England Club.

It was easy to imagine him returning to the U.S. Open the next year and making another deep run. But after falling to Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open to begin 2020, he had knee surgery that February, then another procedure in May.

He returned to play in the French Open in 2021 but had to withdraw before his fourth-round match. After the loss to Hurkacz – where he appeared struggling and lost 6-0 in the third set – Federer had another knee surgery that August and knew there would be no more comebacks.

‘The knee can’t do it anymore. It’s tired,’ he recalled thinking. ‘The mind can’t be patient even more and wait for another couple years and see what happens.’

Federer knows Tuesday night won’t be real tennis, joking that he and Roddick hopefully would be respectful and not try to drop shot each other. But it will be different from when he did return to Ashe a couple of years back to watch.

‘They gave me an ovation because they saw me on the big screen, but I just feel, like, tomorrow and I guess today, as well, and Monday next week, it really gives me a true opportunity to say thank you and goodbye, which I think is important for some,’ Federer said. ‘It’s a nice thing to do, for sure.’

Asia Rose Simpson, the Philippines’ delegate to the 2026 Miss World pageant, has officially entered the contest’s Top 40 more than a week ahead of the final competition.

The 18-year-old contestant topped the ‘Head-to-Head’ challenge for the Asia and Oceania group at the preliminary event held in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on Monday, Aug. 24.

Three other delegates also earned guaranteed slots in the Top 40 for dominating their respective groups-South Africa’s Romanda Hombir for Africa, Georgia-Lee Gill from Trinidad and Tobago for the Americas and Caribbean, and Germany’s Julia Kuhnle for Europe.

During the first round of the competition, Simpson discussed her SED (Sports and Dance) Initiatives, a program that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health among the youth through sports and dance.

Her initial performance merited her entry into the Top 5 of the Asia and Oceania group, together with host delegate B?o Ng?c Lê Nguy?n from Vietnam, Tiare Henry-Anguna from the Cook Islands, Min-seo Cha from South Korea, and Mariyam Eema Mohamed, Maldives’ first-ever Miss World participant.

For the second round with the continental Top 5, the finalists were asked to speak as though they were tourism ambassadors of Vietnam using their experience in the pageant.

Simpson shared about and her first trip last year for her advocacy work, and her visit to different places in Vietnam as a candidate this year. ‘Miss World has shown me that I have barely scratched the diversity that this country holds. I never realized how big Vietnam was until me and my sister queens were traveling city to city to city,’ she said.

‘Whether you want to come to Vietnam to learn about its history, or to have a relaxing vacation, or to have a good adrenaline-inducing time, Vietnam has a timeless charm, and Vietnam is waiting for you, cam on (thank you),’ she continued.

She sealed her placement in the Top 40 with an impressive response to the final question: ‘Asia and Oceania includes some of the world’s oldest traditions and some of its fastest-changing societies. How can a new generation embrace progress without losing what makes its culture unique?’

Simpson opened her answer with the quotation, ‘A people who do not know their history, origin, or culture is like a tree without roots,’ and said the best way to preserve cultural heritage is by passing it down to the next generation.

She also delved into the Filipino concepts of ‘kapwa’ which she framed as interconnectedness, and the ‘bayanihan’ spirit, which she explained as neighbors helping one another.

‘In a fast-paced, modernized digital world, things like ‘kapwa’ or the ‘bayanihan’ spirit will not be lost. In fact, they will be the things that ground us fully, because that is what roots are for. And every generation learns from the last and the next,’ Simpson said.

She had earlier advanced to the Top 24 of the Sports Challenge. She had also moved on to the final round of both the Top Model and Talent Challenges.

The Philippines’ first, and so far only, Miss World victory was courtesy of Megan Young, who won the title at the pageant’s 63rd edition held in Indonesia in 2013.

Filipinos can still help Simpson get closer to the crown even after she has already earned a guaranteed entry into the Top 40. An automatic spot in the final round with the Top 6 is reserved for the delegate who will top the ‘People’s Choice’ poll. To vote for Simpson, visit the missworld.1voting.com site. Voting will close on Sept. 4 at 11 p.m.

The Miss World pageant is holding its 73rd edition this year, which marks its 75th anniversary. Reigning queen Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand will crown her successor on Sept. 5.

The Senate joint panels on local government and finance on Tuesday sought the schedule of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to be moved from the first Monday of November 2026 to the second week of November 2028.

Members of the panels jointly submitted on Tuesday Committee Report no. 77 also recommending the approval of the bill fixing the term of office of barangay and SK officials to five years.

They also took into consideration the measure seeking to postpone the 2026 BSKE polls.

The committees, through their joint report, proposed that the date of the BSKE be postponed to the second Monday of November 2028, instead of the first Monday of 2026.

It also amended that the elections be held every five years thereafter, and not every four years.

Should the proposed measure be approved, the incumbent barangay and SK officials will, thereby, extend their term by another two years.

Moreover, incumbent officials already serving their third consecutive term will be ineligible for vying for the same position in the 2028 BSKE polls.

Head of the committee on local government Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero sponsored the measure at the plenary, urging the Senate to expedite the passing of the bill or otherwise.

‘I ask that the body act on this bill with urgency, for or against it, given that the barangay elections are scheduled to be conducted this November, and where the filing of certificates of candidacy are slated already in the coming month,’ Escudero said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is strengthening an early-warning system that would track upcoming harvests, weather disturbances and market conditions in hopes of preventing vegetable gluts from leaving farmers with spoiled or unsold produce.

In a statement on Monday, the DA said it plans to use regular harvest projections and farm-gate price monitoring to identify potential supply disruptions and connect farmers with buyers before markets become saturated.

‘We want to move from reacting to problems to anticipating them,’ Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said.

‘The monitoring system will give us alerts on upcoming harvests, weather disturbances and other developments that could affect the supply chain to help us trigger assistance earlier,’ Guevarra added.

According to the DA, the system could trigger logistics and other government assistance when potential disruptions are detected, while complementing regional help desks that respond to farmers facing difficulties moving their produce.

It also plans to strengthen coordination with other government agencies that could serve as institutional buyers.

This renewed early-warning initiative would build on emergency procurement measures used during the Middle East conflict, when a surge in logistics costs threatened the movement of agricultural products to markets.

It also comes after about 5.8 metric tons of Chinese cabbage and carrots were dumped in Benguet earlier this month after continuous rains, congested trading centers and poor road conditions prevented farmers from selling the produce before it deteriorated.

In one case, a truck carrying 2.5 tons of Chinese cabbage spent two days and two nights waiting to enter a La Trinidad trading center. Another farmer sold only 700 kilograms of a four-ton carrot harvest, eventually dumping about 3.1 tons along a road.

The DA said better monitoring could also help address recurring oversupply, which can drive farm-gate prices low enough that farmers opt to discard vegetables rather than incur additional transport costs.

But the agency stressed that the early-warning system is only an interim measure that will remain in place while the government pursues longer-term infrastructure to absorb excess harvests.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA is seeking funding in 2027 for mega cold storage and vegetable processing facilities beside the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center.

‘Our long-term solution is mega cold storage and vegetable processing facilities,’ Tiu Laurel said.