Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The country’s leading business and labor groups on Sunday issued a candid ‘open letter’ to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which recommended substantial reforms to show his administration’s determination in stamping out corruption in government.

Calling themselves ‘Business and Labor Leaders United Against Corruption,’ the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines and Philippine Exporters Confederation, together with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, urged Marcos to ‘firmly and fearlessly lead from the front in confronting the largest and most brazen corruption scandal in our nation’s history.’

They appealed to the president to take five ‘bold concrete actions now to restore faith in government before the people’s patience finally runs out.’

Foremost among these recommendations is convening a regular sectoral dialogue with both workers and employers, who know firsthand the cost of corruption on jobs, investments, and everyday Filipinos.

This is to rebuild confidence by discussing the road map of the anti-corruption drive, including the challenges in prosecution and recovery, they said.

Marcos should also certify as urgent the proposed legislation granting the Independent Commission for Infrastructure full subpoena and contempt powers and direct it to conduct public hearings and publicly disclose all submissions, position papers, and supporting documents presented to the probe body to uncover the truth in full view of the people.

The groups recommended the creation of a special division in the Sandiganbayan dedicated exclusively to infrastructure corruption cases to ensure that investigations swiftly and surely lead to prosecution and convictions, ‘regardless if the guilty is foe, friend, or family, no matter how high in power.’ Stolen wealth

The President, they added, must ensure the recovery of the stolen wealth through immediate asset freezing, insurance recovery, and restitution of misused public funds and reallocating a good portion to genuine social reform that supports the Filipino people, especially workers.

Finally, they called for reforming the entire national budget process, not only by opening the congressional hearings and bicameral conference committee to the public, but by institutionalizing meaningful multisectoral participation from the very start of the preparation of the National Expenditure Program.

They lamented that nothing much has happened since Marcos’ State of the Nation Address last July, when he first raised the issue of corruption in flood control projects.

‘Instead of hold-departure orders, we are told to be content with immigration lookout bulletins for now. Instead of criminal charges, we are fed daily promises of cases ‘soon to be filed.’ Instead of open, transparent hearings, we get closed-door investigations whose direction remains unknown. Instead of going after the most guilty, we are led on political detours, chasing the less guilty, depending on who sits where and who stands with whom,’ the groups noted.

‘Political detours’

The groups dared the President to prove his anticorruption drive is the start of national renewal for true justice.

‘For when justice is delayed and, [worse], denied, the reckless will tempt the restless to take dangerous extraconstitutional shortcuts,’ they said. ‘A credible and vigorous anticorruption campaign within the bounds of the rule of law and the Constitution will strengthen democratic institutions and safeguard our nation from further instability and disillusionment. The Filipino people are no longer just watching.’

Within National University, everyone and his Bulldog was worried about how the team’s two losses came from just one team.

On Sunday, the defending champions gave them reason to remain wary.

As the Bulldogs continued biting down on the No. 1 position in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament, University of the Philippines continued nipping at their tails, rising to solo second after a pair of key doubleheaders at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday.

‘Credit goes to my team-it’s not about me anymore. They figured it out and made it happen,’ NU coach Jeff Napa said after his team’s 65-50 rout of slumping Ateneo in the early men’s match.

NU chopped down an eight-point Ateneo lead midway in the third with a 25-4 run bridging the final two periods, where Jake Figueroa scored 11 of his 13 points.

PJ Palacielo added all seven of his points there to push NU ahead for good.

‘They showed their leadership,’ Napa said, praising Figueroa, Kean Enriquez and Janjan Jumamoy. ‘I need someone to really step up as a leader, and they delivered.’

In the earlier game, UP extended its winning run to six in its last seven games to rise to 6-3 after manhandling Far Eastern U, 89-75.

After starting the season on back-to-back losses, the reigning kings are now in solo second-just a game behind NU.

The Bulldogs are at 7-2, with their losses both coming against the Maroons.

And UP showed why with another dominating performance against the Tamaraws.

‘We really prepared for FEU,’ said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. ‘One thing we did well in this game was moving the ball better as a team. Everyone is slowly understanding their role, and I’m really happy to see that we’re improving and growing together.’

UP’s offense was humming from the start, and though FEU opened the second half with a 10-3 run to close the gap, the Maroons responded and extinguished any hope of a Tamaraws reversal.

Let’s be real – when most Pinoys hear ‘VUL,’ reactions tend to go from ‘Ano ‘yan, parang stocks?’ to ‘Di ko gets, mukhang risky’ to the classic ‘Baka lugi ako diyan?’

And honestly? It’s no one’s fault. Over the years, there’s just been a lot of confusion about what VUL really is. Some people treat it like a get-rich-quick investment, while others avoid it altogether.

But here’s the thing: VUL, or Variable Unit-Linked insurance, isn’t as complicated or intimidating as it seems. In fact, when you really understand it, VUL can be one of the most flexible and empowering ways to protect your future and build toward your goals. Reputable providers like Sun Life offer VUL plans designed to meet the needs of different life stages and financial goals.

Myths, debunked (for your peace of mind)

MYTH 1: ‘VUL is just an investment product.’TRUTH: VUL is protection-first, investment-second.

At its core, a VUL is life insurance. That means whether the market is up, down, or somewhere in between, your protection is in place. The investment component is there to give your money a chance to grow, but its primary role is to provide a safety net for your loved ones if anything happens to you.

The protection comes first, and the edge of VUL is potential growth. Think of it like a sturdy umbrella that not only shields you from the storm, but also turns rain into something useful, like drinking water. Who wouldn’t want that kind of extra value?

MYTH 2: ‘VUL is risky.’TRUTH: VUL offers guaranteed protection no matter what.

Yes, the investment part of a VUL is tied to market performance – but let’s not forget the part that’s guaranteed: your life insurance coverage. That doesn’t go away even when the market dips.

And guess what? With the right advisor guiding you, you can manage your risk depending on your goals and risk appetite. Want a more conservative fund? That’s doable with fund switching. Want to spread your risk? Also possible with fund diversification.

MYTH 3: ‘You’ll lose money when the market is down.’TRUTH: Your coverage stays, and the investment portion can recover.

Markets rise and fall – that’s the nature of investing. But the beauty of VUL is that your insurance doesn’t disappear just because your fund value dips. You’re still protected.

Plus, investments are long-term. What goes down today might go up tomorrow. And with regular top-ups and smart fund switching, you can ride the waves and grow your wealth in the background.

MYTH 4: ‘Lugi ako sa VUL.’TRUTH: Protection value is intact – and that’s what you’re really paying for.

Consider a mindset shift: You don’t say lugi when you don’t get into an accident despite paying car insurance, right? Because what you’re really paying for is peace of mind – knowing that if something happens, someone’s got your back.

Same with VUL. The insurance coverage alone makes it valuable. The potential for fund growth is just the cherry on top of an already delicious ice cream sundae.

MYTH 5: ‘VUL can’t help me reach my financial goals.’TRUTH: VUL combines security and potential growth – helping you protect and plan.

Want to prepare for your kid’s college tuition? Planning for retirement? Dreaming of owning property someday? VUL can help – with consistent protection and the opportunity to grow your money alongside your goals.

Unlike traditional life insurance, VUL offers flexibility. You can adjust your premiums, switch funds, and even do partial withdrawals (with proper guidance, of course). Sun Life offers VUL plans that allow this kind of customization, so your policy evolves with your needs.

So.who is VUL really for?

Not everyone – and that’s okay. Some people might prefer the simplicity of traditional life insurance. Others might want the flexibility and long-term growth potential of VUL.

That’s why it’s important to talk to a licensed advisor who can match you with a product that fits your life stage, budget, and goals.

Because let’s be honest – there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to protecting your future. But when used right, VUL can be a powerful partner in building a brighter life for you and your family.

Protection is the point

If you take away one thing from this article, let it be this: VUL is not solely an investment product – it’s a protection product with investment benefits.

It’s not about chasing quick gains or ‘winning’ the market. It’s about securing your life, your dreams, and the people you love – while giving your money the chance to do more over time.

So, the next time someone says, ‘Eh VUL? Lugi ‘yan,’ you can smile, nod, and say: ‘Actually, it’s one of the smartest ways to protect what matters most.’

Five weather systems are expected to trigger rain showers in many parts of the country on Tuesday, according to the state weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its Monday afternoon update, said that in Luzon alone, several areas are expected to experience rain brought by four different weather systems, including a low-pressure area (LPA) last spotted over the coastal waters of Dumaran, Palawan.

While the LPA has a ‘low’ chance of strengthening into a typhoon, Pagasa said it is expected to continue bringing cloudy skies and rain over Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, as well as Palawan.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon is forecast to bring cloudy skies and scattered rain showers to Batanes, while the shear line is likewise expected to bring the same over Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.

‘The rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers, thunderstorms and lightning at night brought by easterlies,’ Pagasa weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said.

The intertropical convergence zone or ITCZ, on the other hand, is forecast to cause overcast skies and trigger rains over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly, Western Visayas, Negros Island region, Zamboanga Peninsula and Barmm.

Scattered rain showers in the afternoon and evening are expected over the rest of Mindanao and Visayas due to the effects of the easterlies.

Forecast temperature range in key cities/areas on Tuesday

Metro Manila: 25 to 30 degrees Celsius

Baguio City: 17 to 26 degrees Celsius

Laoag City: 25 to 31 degrees Celsius

Tuguegarao: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Legazpi City: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius

Puerto Princesa City: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Tagaytay: 23 to 29 degrees Celsius

Kalayaan Islands: 25 to 29 degrees Celsius

Iloilo City: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius

Cebu: 27 to 31 degrees Celsius

Tacloban City: 26 to 31 degrees Celsius

Cagayan De Oro City: 24 to 31 degrees Celsius

Zamboanga City: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Davao City: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Manila Water has further strengthened its infrastructure in the East Zone and Rizal, expanding its water service network to a total of 5,622.22 kilometers as of August 2025.

This reflects a 58.58-kilometer increase from January’s 5,563.64 kilometers, underscoring the company’s sustained efforts to improve water accessibility and reliability across its service areas.

The expansion also enhances Manila Water’s capacity to distribute water sourced from its new treatment facilities, including the East Bay Water Supply System Phase 1 with a capacity of 50 million liters per day (MLD), the Calawis Water Treatment Plant at 80 MLD, and the Cardona Treatment Plant at 110 MLD.

The growing network supports Manila Water’s expanding customer base, which now includes 1,209,303 water service connections, comprising 1,149,889 domestic and 59,414 commercial and industrial accounts.

‘This steady growth in our network coverage is a testament to Manila Water’s commitment to delivering safe and reliable water to more communities. As we expand our reach, we also ensure that our service quality remains high, with 24/7 reliable water supply,’ said Dittie Galang, Manila Water’s Corporate Communications Department Head.

This infrastructure expansion aligns with Manila Water’s broader goals of enhancing operational efficiency and service continuity, especially in densely populated and rapidly developing areas.

The company’s water quality compliance also remains exemplary, with 100 percent compliance at plant outlets and 97.53 percent compliance in distribution, exceeding regulatory targets.

Taal Volcano in Batangas recorded 33 volcanic earthquakes on Sunday, Oct. 26, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Monday morning.

Of these, 10 were volcanic tremors lasting between two and 298 minutes, Phivolcs said.

The agency also logged one minor phreatic eruption and two minor phreatomagmatic eruptions at Taal on Sunday, each lasting one to four minutes.

Both eruptions are caused by magma vaporizing water into steam. Phreatomagmatic explosions involve fresh magma, while phreatic eruptions originate from pre-existing magma or magma-heated materials.

The first phreatomagmatic eruption produced plumes reaching 1,200 meters above the volcano’s main crater, while the second generated plumes rising 2,100 meters.

Phivolcs reported that the plumes moved southwest.

Since Saturday, Taal Volcano has been releasing an estimated 436 tons of sulfur dioxide per day, according to Phivolcs.

Despite the activity, Taal remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low levels of unrest.

For every empire that has fallen, there is always an underlying problem: Whom to pass the torch to?

We all see it in history. Thrones passed from one generation to another but upended when the successor was weaker than the predecessor. Wealth gets accumulated just to be disbursed by leaders who aren’t ready to take the helm.

In recent history, we will be experiencing the greatest wealth transfer. A report by Merrill Lynch, a subsidiary of Bank of America, estimated that there will be roughly $106 trillion of assets that will be transferred to their heirs. Majority of the wealth will be given to the Millennial generation (born from 1981 to 1996).

In the same report, a question is raised: Will the heirs gravitate to the same portfolio mix as their predecessors? In the survey that Merrill conducted, the heirs are more confident in doing alternative, sustainable and impactful investments-but less confident in traditional investment portfolios. What does this mean?

The younger investors are highly likely to invest in companies that are compliant with environment, social and governance (ESG) ideals. When they make decisions, they believe sustainable investing can identify investment opportunities and mitigate risks. Their risk profiles as well as their criteria of investing differ from their predecessors, which in turn create a different investing process for banks and fund managers alike.

Next gen in action

In the Philippines, we already started to see the succession happening. To name a few, JG Summit, the Aboitiz Group and San Miguel Corp have started to transfer responsibilities to the younger generation.

These next-generation leaders have in them the culture of the Filipino, where family values are at their core. Values like sipag or resilience, tiyaga or tenacity and respect for elders are a few of what they bring to the table in their respective board rooms.

This is the mindset that goes into the companies that these next-gen family members lead. This is how they will take care of the generational wealth.

JG Summit has already been taken over by Lance, the son of the famous John Gokongwei, Jr. He has instituted changes in the way they do business and invest. They sold Sun Cellular to Smart Communications and Robinsons Bank to BPI.

In each instance, JG Summit had received cash and shares, in turn, reinvested. It bought Rustan’s grocery chain and created a new high-end shopping center, Opus Mall. These are instances where you see how Lance is changing the way JG Summit does its business.

It’s the same way we see in the succession of the Sy family, in how the children are shaping the SM Group. They are slowly adapting to community-based strategies in their malls and expansion. They are investing in the vertical and horizontal industries of their subsidiaries, growing their portfolio.

Similarly, the Aboitiz Group has been leaning toward ESG investments and technology-driven solutions to their investments-like Union Bank with its mobile banking and expansion in wealth management through the acquisition of Citibank operations in the Philippines.

Each time, we see that the heirs of the founders have steered not just profit but embraced seemingly more value-driven investments. We see that their portfolios include strategies that involve ESG and a community mindset, where they develop not just their core business but elevate their supply chain and stakeholders to a higher standard.

If this continues, the next-gen leaders will create more impact than the founders envisioned their portfolios to have.

Let us see what transformational change can be brought about with the leadership style they have slowly imposed on their respective organizations.

Learn from them

At the Management Association of the Philippines NextGen committee, we will hold a conference called ‘Passing the Torch to NextGen Leaders’ on Nov. 7 at Shangri-La The Fort.

The audience will learn from the next-gen leaders of the conglomerates in the country, as well as how the parents and the children interact in their respective boardrooms.

The audience will get a glimpse of how successful families manage the transition and the transfer of not just wealth but the responsibilities that come with it.

They will learn through the actual experiences of these younger leaders on how to maintain the vision of their founders or elders, and own it themselves by adding their own perspective and vision for the companies they manage.

Basically, they are the future-but with the history of their family at their core.

The conference brings another aspect to transformational and generational shift. The audience will hear the experiences of the next gen on their ways of navigating the established, and shifting to how and where they see their organizations should be.

We will see their point of view on the kind of transformations that will sweep not just this generation, but also the generations that will come after.

We will hear how cultures are being continued, yet evolving and adapting to the new norms of being a millennial, or managing the behavior of a Gen Z employee.

To paraphrase, this conference will let you see the start of societal evolution that will take a few generations to profoundly understand and comprehend.

We will use the symbol of fire, not just the spark, for that fundamental cultural evolution. We will also use the torch as a symbol of continuity, like the Greeks and the Olympics.

Imagine an orchestra playing songs by Taylor Swift. It will not just blow your mind but give you a new perspective-that the old can adapt to the new.

We all have to navigate this new world, thinking where demand will be changing. As a professional, we will need to contend with different criteria and mindset that will translate into not just investments but policy and risk management.

We will create new business models that deliver value rather than just profit. We have to contend with the new threats like cybersecurity, trade wars and global shifts.

IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran wants nothing less than a unification fight, even if that means figuring in an all-Filipino scrap with Melvin Jerusalem.

Taduran said he’s willing to face WBC titleholder Jerusalem if the plan to fight Puerto Rico’s two-belt champion Oscar Collazo doesn’t push through. ‘Now I’m looking forward to Oscar Collazo. I hope a deal gets done for us to fight,’ Taduran told reporters in Filipino.

‘If not, I’ll fight Jerusalem if that’s possible. I’m okay with that. I’ll fight him anywhere, anytime. I’m ready to fight anyone in a unification.’

There has never been a time when two Filipinos faced each other in a unification fight.

Taduran (19-4-1, 13KOs) set his sights on unifying the 105-pound belts after beating compatriot Christian Balunan on points to retain his crown Monday night before a raucous crowd at San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

‘Next, we call Eric Gomez of Golden Boy and tell him Pedro’s ready. What are we waiting for?’ MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons said, referring to Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez, who handles Collazo.

‘They called before about the fight, so unification. Pedro deserves it. It’s gonna be a hell of a fight. Any fight with Pedro is a hell of a fight,’ he added.

A potential showdown with the unbeaten Collazo, who holds the WBA and WBO titles, is being eyed early next year.

‘Hopefully, beginning of the new year. January or February,’ Gibbons said.

GCash is under investigation for the alleged breach of data on estimated 8 million users, which the leading e-wallet platform has strongly denied.

Amid a probe launched by the National Privacy Commission (NPC), Gcash refuted allegations of data breach even as it said it would work with regulators to clear up the issue.

In a dark web forum on Oct 25, 2025, a post under the user handle ‘Oversleep8351’ caught the attention of Deepweb Konek, a Philippine-based cybersecurity advocacy organization. The forum ‘G-Xchange/GCash (GXCHPHM2XXX) User Infos by ???????’ alleged that GCash user data were up for sale.

The dark web post claimed that the data set included:

Merchant and basic GCash user accounts

G-Xchange/GCash account numbers

Linked accounts, including virtual cards and bank connections

Know Your Customer (KYC) records such as names, addresses and employment details

According to the post, information was being sold in bundles covering estimated 7 to 8 million user data, coming from transactions and account registration from 2019 to October 2025. It also alleged that the mandatory KYC submitted by the users during account verification had contained valid Philippine identification documents.

NPC takes action

In a statement, NPC immediately started an investigation, ordering a Notice to Explain to the e-wallet platform operator G-Xchange Inc. It has also scheduled an online clarificatory conference.

The NPC assured that it would take regulatory and enforcement action upon confirmation of the alleged personal Gcash user data breach under the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

For its part, Gcash, in an advisory posted on Facebook, said there was ‘no evidence of any breach in Gcash systems.’

‘Upon swift investigation of our cybersecurity experts, the alleged dataset does not match data from GCash systems. Additionally, many entries are incomplete, invalid, or do not belong to GCash users,’ said Gcash.

To ensure cooperation, Gcash said it is working closely with the government agencies.

Alex Eala achieved a new career-high in her Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking, rising to World No. 51.

Despite a pair of first-round exits in the Japan Women’s Open and Guangzhou Open, the Filipino tennis ace moved up two spots from her previous high of No. 53.

Eala, though, bombed out of her Hong Kong Open doubles campaign after she and Hao-Ching Chan of Chinese Taipei fell to Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia and Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, 6-3, 1-6, 7-10.

After a convincing first set win, Eala and Chan had no answer to Sasnovich and Rakhimova, who took full control of the last two sets.

Eala reached the Guangzhou Open semifinal with the Ukrainian Nadiia Kichenok only to fall to Katarzyna Piter and Janice Tjen on Saturday, 7-6(4), 3-6, 5-10.

The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate shifts her focus to the singles division of the Hong Kong Open against Katie Boulter of Great Britain on Tuesday morning.

The WTA250 tournament in Hong Kong will be Eala’s final tournament of the season.