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Sean Dave Ildefonso and reigning Maharlika Pilipinas Basketbol ng Pilipinas (MPBL) champion Abra Weavers want to bring their massive winning attitude to the East Asia Super League (EASL) here at the newly-built 16,000 seater SM Arena Seaside Cebu.

They debut at 7:30pm against Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions, and hoping that they prove themselves as worthy replacement to the original Philippine Basketball Association teams that begged off to participate this time.

‘We are hoping to make a statement that we are not just here as a replacement, but we are here as a winner. You know me, I am a winner, and so hopefully we will have a memorable debut,’ Ildefonso told reporters after the team’s practice. Ildefonso, the youngest son of PBA great Danny Ildefonso, who won last year’s Most Valuable Player trophy averaging 17.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists plus 1.6 steals in the MPBL’s last season, is expected to bring his international experience to the game.

The Weavers tapped ex-Rain or Shine Commissioner’s Cup import Jaylen Johnson, 6-foot-11 Michael Eric, Asian import Jordanian point guard Freddy Ibrahim, and newly-naturalized player 6-foot-11 Malick Diouf who will be playing as local due to his naturalization.

Coach Yong Garcia also expressed excitement to represent MPBL in the international stage.

‘I am absolutely thrilled and excited about our debut. Hong Kong Eastern is also a champion at their league, and we are the MPBL champion, so it is going to be exciting,’ Garcia said.

Abra has already topped the MPBL north division with 24-2 record behind local players Ildefonso brothers Shaun and Dave, Encho Serrano, Drex delos Reyes, and DJ Fenner, who are all expected to showcase their wares at the global stage.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Eastern will bring familiar faces Ramon Cao and Jenning Leung who both playing for Macau Giant Pandas in the PBA’s 50 Governors’ Cup. They will reinforce by Sulaiman Sheikh and Anthony Groot Baltink.

Prior to Abra-Hong Kong game, Macau Hou Chon battles Taipei Fubon Braves in the first game at 4:00pm to open the EASL’s 2026 season.

For restaurateurs Andrew and Aiko Amante, moving to SMDC Cheerful Homes wasn’t just a relocation-it was a strategic return to family life.

For Cheerful Homes owners Andrew and Aiko Amante, moving to Mabalacat opened the door to a more manageable and balanced life they never imagined possible.

Before that move, they were dreading Monday mornings. Not because of the work ahead, but because of the goodbye that came with it.

For the past year, Sunday nights meant packing bags, loading the car, and making the long, exhausting drive back to Baguio, leaving their restaurants and a piece of their peace of mind behind.

‘Every week, ganun na lang,’ Andrew recalls, his voice carrying the weight of those memories. ‘Andito kami sa Pampanga for the weekend, tapos uuwi kami sa Baguio Sunday night. Tapos Monday morning, nag-aalala ka na agad kung okay ba ‘yung restaurant.’

Betting on Mabalacat, Pampanga

The Amantes had built something they were proud of: Amante’s Ribs and Steak and Chiisai Izakaya, two restaurants in Mabalacat, Pampanga. It was a deliberate choice. As Baguio residents, they saw what was happening in Pampanga: Clark Freeport expanding, a new airport rising, and businesses pouring in.

‘Nakita namin ‘yung potential ng Mabalacat,’ Andrew explains. ‘Clark is booming. Maraming opportunities. Pero more than that, it’s a city na may room para lumago ang negosyo namin.’

But their plan to manage the business from 250 kilometers away quickly fell apart. They thought they could survive as ‘weekend managers,’ driving down on Fridays and rushing back to the mountains on Sundays. Reality set in quickly.

The breaking point was the emotional cost. ”Yung weekends namin, supposedly para sa pamilya pero we spend time sa daan, sa traffic, sa pagod. Wala kaming pahinga,’ Andrew says.

The decision became clear: they had to move to Mabalacat. It wasn’t easy leaving Baguio, their hometown, where their families lived. But the restaurants were their future, and they needed a home that allowed them to be hands-on daily, not just on weekends. They found it at Cheerful Homes by SMDC.

The 10-Minute Difference

The restaurants are a ten-minute drive from their front door. Ten minutes. Not five hours. Not a weekend trip.

‘Before, kailangan naming planuhin ang buong linggo para lang makapunta sa restaurant. Ngayon, araw-araw kaming nandun,’ Aiko says, relief evident in her voice. ”Pag may issue sa umaga, nandoon ako. Then, in ten minutes, nasa bahay na ako.’

But the real magic happens after closing. When the dinner rush ends, they simply get in the car, and ten minutes later, they’re home.

Cheerful Homes didn’t just solve their commuting problem; it gave them a complete ecosystem for their family’s daily needs. When the pantry runs low, SM Clark is a quick drive away. When Andrew needs to fly in supplies, Clark International Airport is practically in their backyard. When their son needs to go to school, it’s a stress-free trip.

”Yung location ng Cheerful Homes, pinag-isipan talaga,’ Andrew explains. ‘Grocery, airport, school, business district, lahat nandito.’

The project is gated and secure, which matters when you’re running a business late at night. ”Yung peace of mind, hindi mo mababayaran ‘yon,’ he says. ‘Alam mong kahit nasa trabaho ka, safe sila.’

On rest days, you’ll find the Amantes at the clubhouse. Andrew grills something experimental from the menu while Aiko catches up on reading and their son splashes in the pool with the neighbor kids. For a family that moved away from everything they knew, that gated community became their new home.

A Price That Makes Sense, A Life That Finally Does Too

For a young couple building a business and planning for the future, the affordability of Cheerful Homes wasn’t just a pleasant surprise; it was a strategic advantage.

‘Hindi mo kailangang ubusin ang savings mo para magkaroon ng bahay,’ Andrew explains. ‘May natira pa para sa negosyo at para sa pangarap naming mag-invest ulit.’

That investment dream isn’t hypothetical. The Amantes are already looking at purchasing at least one more unit in the same development, this time as a passive income property.

But for the Amantes, the real return on investment isn’t just in property value. It’s in the time they’ve reclaimed. Andrew still works long hours, but now, when the dinner rush ends, he doesn’t have to brace himself for a long drive back to Baguio. He doesn’t have to miss bedtime stories or morning hugs.

”Yung oras na naibigay sa amin ng Cheerful Homes, hindi lang convenience ‘yun,’ Aiko says, smiling. ‘Family time ‘yun for us.’

Sometimes, all it takes is finding the right house in the right location-a place that gives back time for your family and a home that makes room for creating more memories. And for a young family trying to build a life, that’s not just a short drive. That’s everything.

To learn more about SMDC Cheerful Homes, explore available communities, or inquire about Pag-IBIG financing options, visit the official SMDC Symphony Homes website or call +63 917 555 7632 or +63 917 777 7632.

He is currently in the thick of rehearsals for About Us But Not About Us, the much talked-about play that opens this weekend at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Makati City. He is also part of the high-rating GMA afternoon drama series Born to Shine, which I heard has been extended indefinitely.

About Us But Not About Us, written by Jun Lana and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio, is a psychological drama that pivots on a highly-charged conversation between a university professor and his student that starts off as a casual lunch but quickly shifts into the untangling and unravelling of deep lies and even darker secrets.

Brown takes on the role of Lancelot, a complicated literature student who gets caught up in a dark confrontation with his rumored lover-professor. ‘I auditioned for the role for this run and I will be alternating with Elijah Canlas, who originated the role [in the 2022 film of the same name that was also directed by Jun Lana]. I was so happy when I learned that I passed the auditions.’

‘I am so excited about being part of this play, and I’m feeling a lot of raw emotions inside me-I’m excited, eager, ecstatic, nervous,’ Brown admitted when I spoke to him recently.

‘The rehearsal halls have become my new happy place, and I look forward to each rehearsal knowing that I am with the best there is and I am in good hands with our director and production team, and my amazing co-actors whose support for me is just simply overwhelming!’

The 22-year-old gorgeous mestizo admitted that during his first year in the entertainment scene, it was quite a challenge for him to warm up and settle in. ‘You can say that I was a reluctant actor because it was totally an alien environment for me, and I had no clue or idea what Philippine show business is all about.’

At the height of the worldwide Covid pandemic, Brown was prodded to submit an audition video to the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) reality show, and he never expected that it would be the beginning of a career that he never wished for nor imagined himself to be part of. ‘All I knew was that I was just in the Philippines temporarily, and I’d be headed back to Manchester [in the UK] to continue my schooling and play football. Life certainly is full of surprises and I had to make a detour when I got into PBB.’ Brown was the third placer in his batch and he found himself cast into a world so different from what he knew.

He slowly adjusted to this new life with every gig, every workshop and every show he was tossed into. ‘I was like a sponge that simply absorbed everything that came my way. I mean, not everything came easy or was good, pleasurable and satisfactory, but I guess it ignited the spark little by little until I got used to doing what I did. Until that time, in the middle of my very first musical Tabing Ilog a few years ago, when suddenly that spark turned into a blaze and I started to take this start-up career very seriously and passionately-always wanting to learn more, understand more, do more.’

Brown is aware that the success of an actor is based on hard work, talent, passion and integrity. For one who is just starting to make a name in this already crowded business, he needs to be consistent in his unwavering commitment and the relentless pursuit of this passion.

‘This early, I realize that success is hard work. I have to be passionate about what I do. It is important that I stay focused, stay healthy, and be easy and pleasant to work with. Being disciplined will take me far. I have to come to the set on time and come prepared. I have to make time to study the script even if the script normally gets to me the night before the actual shoot day, and that’s quite a challenge for a newcomer like me since I have to always be on my toes. But there is such a thing as getting used to situations and common practices, and when my system has adjusted, then things become lighter.’

Acting as a career is a profound, personal investment and Brown knows that he needs to stay healthy, keep fit, look fresh in order to keep up with the exacting expectations of the industry. ‘It is a very visual industry. What the public sees is what it perceives you to be. I have to admit that lately, because of shuttling between working on the TV series, and the rigid rehearsals of the play, I have not been regularly working out. I know it’s not an excuse but sometimes I get so tired that I just choose to reward myself with enough sleep hours to get me going the following day,’ he admitted.

Good thing that Brown has always been into sports. ‘Football is something that I was introduced to by my family when I was growing up in Manchester, and something that has stayed with me to this day. Football keeps my adrenaline in check, gives me the cardio and mental exercises I need. It gets me excited, toughens me, and from time to time it also serves as my outlet if I have pent-up energy and unreleased emotions. The football field has always been a happy place for me.’

Up close and personal, this very promising actor strikes me as a very warm, grounded and happy young man. He tells it like it is and does not sugarcoat the truth. I sense that he is seriously working on becoming a better version of himself with every undertaking he commits to, and he knows that the more he puts into it, the more he will get out of it.

There is no doubt that Kobie Brown is definitely headed for the big time.

Media practitioners get hands-on experience in environmental storytelling to help drive solutions-oriented reporting on the Philippines’ waste management crisis

Save Philippine Seas (SPS) and Mondelez International in the Philippines today held the first-ever Marine Litter Learning Workshop for Media. This was an exclusive, hands-on session designed to equip journalists and media practitioners with a deeper understanding of the country’s waste management challenge and the science-backed solutions being developed to address it.

Held at Catering Trio in Pasig City, the three-hour workshop brought together members of the press to experience the same interactive learning modules that have trained community leaders, educators, and youth advocates across the Philippines. Participants went through two key activities: ‘Understanding Recycling,’ which teaches the science behind resin codes and which plastics are actually recyclable in the Philippine context, and ‘Sink or Swim?’ an immersive experience that traces how a single piece of improperly disposed waste travels from a street corner, through esteros and drainage systems, and into Philippine seas.

A special session on environmental reporting, facilitated by FYT Media, provided journalists with tools and frameworks for more effective and accurate environmental storytelling.

Why Media Matters in the Waste Conversation

The workshop was born out of a recognition that media plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of environmental issues, and that the waste management conversation in the Philippines needs greater nuance.

‘The stories we tell about waste shape how Filipinos understand and respond to the problem. When media gets the science right – when they go beyond the surface and explain why waste ends up in our seas – they don’t just inform. They empower millions of consumers to act. This workshop is our way of partnering with the press to make that happen. Because the more accurately we tell the story, the faster we can change the culture of waste management,’ Anna Oposa, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Save Philippine Seas.

Save Philippine Seas (SPS), co-founded by Oposa in 2011, has grown from a social media campaign into one of the Philippines’ leading marine conservation organizations. SPS bridges the gap between scientists and the public, mobilizing communities toward collective action and behavior change for ocean conservation. The organization developed the Marine Litter Learning Kit – a suite of hands-on educational modules now being deployed in communities nationwide.

Building on Momentum

The workshop aims to help consumers – through the media, to be more informed about the issue of plastic waste management. Often pointed to as the reason for flooding and is the subject of proposed taxation by the government, the protective role of plastic is also explored in the workshop. Known for providing protection, especially for items such as food, plastic is only one material in the total chain of packaging in the Philippines. What is made evident in conversations such as the workshop is that waste, regardless of its composition, will end up in oceans and esteros if not properly managed.

The proposal to impose taxes on plastic products, including sachets was also explored during the workshop. Mondelez International provided science-based scenarios which show which environmental initiatives, other than taxation, can help the Philippines manage its waste management problem.

Mondelez International: From Policy to Practice

The workshop is the latest in a series of initiatives in partnership with snacks company Mondelez International to help address waste management in the Philippines through a combination of policy support, community education, and on-the-ground collection efforts.

Mondelez International actively supports the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act and was recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2026 for its efforts in collecting and diverting the plastic packaging used across its products. Through its ‘Trash Right’ program, the company invests in information and education campaigns including the Miming and Friends animated YouTube series and partnerships with SPS on hands-on learning workshops. The aim of these initiatives is to help Filipino communities manage waste responsibly. These efforts are complemented by the company’s community-based plastic collection initiatives.

‘At Mondelez International, we believe that tackling the waste management challenge requires action on every front, from supporting legislation like the EPR Act, to collecting plastics in communities, to making sure Filipino consumers have the right information to make better choices. Bringing this workshop to media is a natural next step. Journalists are among the most powerful multipliers we have. When they understand the full picture – the science, the systems, the solutions – they can help us reach and empower millions more,’ Caitlin Punzalan, Corporate and Government Affairs Lead, Mondelez International in the Philippines.

Cebu is becoming a destination where there is always another reason to stay a little longer. From major concerts and sporting events to shopping, dining, leisure, and new experiences, visitors can now max out their Cebu experience by turning a trip to a show or tournament into a full day-or even a weekend-of discovering what the Queen City of the South has to offer. For SM Supermalls, this growing mix of experiences at SM Seaside City Cebu and across the complex adds another dimension to Cebu’s tourism story, giving both locals and visitors more reasons to come, stay, and explore.

The arrival of major concerts at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena has already helped bring this idea to life. The venue welcomed BINI for its sold-out Signals World Tour followed by IV of Spades’ Andalucia Tour. The entertainment lineup continued with TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan’s ‘In Between’ concert, Hillsong Worship’s Asia Tour, and Yeng Constantino’s Biyaheng Bente 20th Anniversary Concert. Together, these events have brought different audiences to Cebu, creating more opportunities for music fans from neighboring provinces and other parts of the country to make a trip out of their concert experience.

The calendar now extends beyond music, with basketball and volleyball tournaments bringing another audience to Cebu. The East Asia Super League (EASL) will open its 2026-27 season with a double-header at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena on October 3. These events add sports tourism to the destination mix, giving fans another reason to travel to Cebu while creating opportunities to combine games with shopping, dining, sightseeing, and overnight stays. Other much-anticipated events expected to draw visitors from other regions to Cebu are Disney On Ice, the highly anticipated LANY concert this November, and the upcoming SexBomb concert in December.

For SM Supermalls, these events also complement the unique mix of experiences at SM Seaside City Cebu, with the mall offering shopping, dining, entertainment, and leisure activities that visitors can enjoy before or after a game or show. Together, these experiences add to the range of things visitors can see, do, and enjoy while in Cebu.

The wider Seaside complex is also expanding its sports and wellness offering with the AIA Stadium, which provides a venue for football and community sports activities. Together, these experiences help create a destination where entertainment, sports, retail, dining, leisure, and hospitality come together.

As Cebu continues to attract major entertainment and sporting events, the benefits can extend beyond event venues and into the wider tourism ecosystem. Visitors create activity for hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, retailers, and other local businesses, while also generating employment opportunities for Cebuanos and supporting jobs across the tourism and service sectors. At the same time, local audiences gain access to experiences that previously required travel to other cities.

For SM Supermalls, being part of Cebu’s continuing growth means creating spaces where people can gather, connect, and experience more of the city. At your most-loved SM Seaside City Cebu, visitors can enjoy a diverse mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation, and community experiences, while also exploring the attractions and destinations around the South Road Properties area. By contributing to a vibrant environment where locals and visitors can spend time, discover new experiences, and connect with the community, your most loved mall SM plays its part in Cebu’s evolving tourism, lifestyle, business, and entertainment landscape.

Zamboanga, Quezon City complete playoff cast

ZAMBOANGA and Quezon City won in runaway fashion at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province on

Wednesday to complete the quarterfinals cast of the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

2026 Season.

The Zamboanguenos trounced the Basilan Steel, 83-59, after the Black Bulls’ 95-81 win over Pasig City.

Zamboanga became the South Division’s eighth and final playoff qualifier, while Quezon City booked the

North Division’s last slot.

Brandon Wilson had 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Reggz Gabat tallied 16 points for Zamboanga.

Zamboanga will face the South’s No. 1 team Quezon Province in a best-of-three series. Quezon City will

tackle North No. 1 Abra Solid North.

Byron Villarias scored 12 and Marc Sangco added 11 for Basilan.

Quezon City was led by Ryan Costelo, who had 22 points, while MJ Joson added 17 points and nine

rebounds.

Jessie Sumoda and Kobe Monje scored 11 each.

Warlo Batac led Pasig with 20 points, Jacob Galicia chipped in with 19 and Jerome Garcia added 15.

The quarterfinals start Friday at the Caloocan Sports Complex, with Gensan and Rizal XentroMall facing

off at 5 p.m., as Mindoro clashes with Binan at 7 p.m.

NAGOYA-Kaila Napolis saved the day at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall on Friday to help soften the impact of Annie Ramirez’s failed attempt to defend her jiu-jitsu gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games.

Napolis climbed from the repechage and defeated Mongolia’s Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0, for the country’s only medal on Day 2 of jiu-jitsu competitions.

‘A bronze medal, it’s still an honor to win a bronze medal in a big competition,’ said Napolis, who contributed the women’s -52 kgs medal after Ramirez got the boot after absorbing a shocking round of 16 loss to Thailand’s Nuchanat Singchalad in the women’s -57 kgs division.

‘I’m happy I was able to pull the two points for this bronze medal,’ Napolis said.

Napolis’s teammates fell one after the other-Luigi Dy lost to Mongolia’s Davaadorj Munkhtur, 0-3, and Mark Constance Vergel bowed to Mongolia’s Shinezorig Bulgankhuu, 0-2, in the men’s-77 kgs round of 32 and Romeo John Alfred Raphael Arellano fell to United Arab Emirates’ Amaar Alhosani, 0-2, in the repachage of the -94 kgs category.

‘I was disappointed after my second match,’ said Napolis, who fell to Mongolia’s Mongoljin Gabaatar in the quarterfinals, 2-3. ‘So I told myself to fight back strong and go for the bronze.’

‘Thankfully I pulled it off and this gives me a great feeling, these are the Asian Games,’ she said.

Four more Filipinos-Vito Luisa Luzuriaga (men -85kg), Andrea Lois Lao (women -63kg), David Miranda (-85) and Alenxandria Luz Enriquez (-63kg) are competing in the last day of jiu-jitsu action Saturday.

At SM Supermalls, efficiency begins at the drawing board. From maximizing natural daylight and airflow to incorporating energy- and water-saving technologies, every mall is thoughtfully designed to enhance the customer experience while reducing environmental impact. This holistic approach allows SM Supermalls to deliver modern, comfortable spaces while supporting the communities it serves – benefiting both people and the planet.

‘Sustainability and efficiency are at the heart of how SM Supermalls are built, designed, and managed. SM has gone above and beyond to incorporate energy-saving spaces and practices that support both our own and national efficiency goals,’ said Engr. Junias M. Eusebio, SM Supermalls Vice President for Operations.

Passive design elements maximize the use of natural energy. SM integrates natural daylight into its mall designs to improve energy efficiency, reduce electricity use, and create more inviting spaces for customers with its expansive skylights and high-ceiling atriums. LED lighting further conserves energy, producing more brightness, and using significantly less power.

Only 10% of exterior surfaces are fronted with glass. The rest is made from Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS), a fire-resistant material that improves customers’ indoor and al fresco experiences.

Moreover, windows and entrances are angled accordingly to improve airflow throughout the mall interiors. Windows on the west side use low-emissivity glass to protect customers from harmful ultraviolet rays while maintaining comfortable temperatures for customers as they go through their mall routines.

Behind the scenes, SM Supermalls also uses a state-of-the-art Building Management Systems (BMS) that allows the mall operator to manage its properties fluctuating energy demands throughout the day. This innovative system has empowered SM Supermalls to save up to 50M kilowatt hours annually.

These initiatives are driven by the SM Green Movement, an SM sustainability campaign that integrates environmentally responsible practices across the SM group, to scale simple, everyday acts into systemic impact, thereby protecting the planet’s resources for present and future generations.

Former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, who also served as Finance chief of the Philippines for 16 years, passed away on October 2 at the age of 95, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) announced on Friday.

‘It is with deep sorrow that the Bank announces the passing of Mr. Cesar E.A. Virata, our Corporate Vice Chairperson/Director, today, October 2,2026,’ RCBC said in a statement on Friday.

‘Mr. Virata was a valuable part of the organization being a Director of the Bank since 1995 and has been the Board’s Corporate Vice Chairperson for 26 years,’ the bank said.

Virata was also a member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-coinciding with his term as Minister of Finance from 1970 to 1986 under the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

During his term as Finance chief, Virata also represented the Philippines as governor to both international financial institutions World Bank and Asian Development (ADB).

Virata also served as the dean of Business Administration at the University of the Philippines in 1960.

‘During his term, the Master of Business Administration was instituted, and the MBA (part time program) was first offered in UP Diliman,’ the website of UP Virata School of Business noted.

In a statement, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said it will always remember Virata as ‘a paragon of statesmanship and management excellence for nation-building, and as a Filipino whose deep love of country was reflected in a lifetime of service.’ It recalled conferring upon PM Virata the ‘MAP Management Person of the Year’ award in 1981, in recognition of his distinguished management career in both the private and the public sectors.

‘Throughout his long and distinguished career, PM Virata exemplified the highest ideals of professional management and public service. As Minister of Finance and later as Prime Minister, he demonstrated exceptional stewardship of the Philippine economy, guided by managerial competence, professionalism, and an unwavering sense of responsibility to the nation.

‘His leadership stands as an enduring example of how integrity, competence, and principled leadership can be placed in the service of the greater good. His life and career remind us that true leadership is not measured merely by position or authority, but by the trust we earn, the responsibilities we faithfully carry, and the lasting contributions we make to our country,’ MAP concluded.

The Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) joins the nation and the financial community in mourning the passing of former Prime Minister, Finance Minister, former BAP President, and distinguished banking leader Cesar E.A. Virata, at the age of 95. We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to his wife, Phylita Joy, his children, grandchildren, and the entire Virata family.

Mr. Virata devoted much of his life to public service and to strengthening the country’s financial and economic institutions. As the Philippines’ longest-serving finance chief, he played an important role in shaping fiscal policy, strengthening institutional frameworks, and advancing the development of the country’s banking and capital markets. His work helped lay foundations that would influence the Philippine financial system for generations.

As President of the Bankers Association of the Philippines from March 2002 to March 2006, Mr. Virata played an important role in strengthening the country’s banking and financial infrastructure. During his tenure, the BAP advanced the development of the Fixed Income Exchange and organized BAP Consulting, Inc. in April 2002, which became the precursor to the Philippine Dealing System Group. He also oversaw the reorganization of key BAP committees and contributed to initiatives supporting the country’s payment and settlement system.

His leadership also extended to the regional banking community. Mr. Virata served as Chairman of the ASEAN Bankers Association from November 2003 to November 2005. During his BAP presidency, the Association hosted the 15th ASEAN Banking Conference and 34th ASEAN Banking Council Meeting from September 16 to 18, 2004, at Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. These initiatives reflected his commitment to stronger financial institutions, closer regional cooperation, and the continuing modernization of the banking sector.

His service extended well beyond government and the Association. Through his engagements with international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and through his decades of leadership in the private banking sector, Mr. Virata brought with him the same discipline, professionalism, and commitment to sound financial stewardship. His nearly three decades of service as Corporate Vice Chairman of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation reflected the steady leadership and strong sense of institutional responsibility that defined his career.

More than the positions he held, Mr. Virata will be remembered for a lifetime devoted to institution-building and public service. His passing is a profound loss to the Philippine banking and financial community, but the institutions he helped strengthen and the principles of professionalism and stewardship he upheld remain part of his enduring legacy.

THE proposal to raise duties levied on frozen pork jowl through a reclassification was bucked by the United States, one of the Philippines’s top suppliers of the key ‘sisig’ ingredient.

In a position paper submitted to the Tariff Commission (TC) dated September 28, the US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) maintained that pork jowl should be classified as edible offal under HS code 0206.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture (DA) filed a petition to slap higher tariffs on imported pork jowl by reclassifying it a swine meat under HS code 0203.

‘A pork jowl is obtained from the cheek/head area of the pig. Removing the jowl from the head does not change its anatomical origin,’ the NPPC said, citing the World Customs Organisation (WCO).

‘Treating the intact swine head as offal while treating a portion cut from that same head as conventional muscle meat would create a distinction based principally on where the product was separated, rather than what the product is,’ it added.

Furthermore, the NPCC pointed out the December 2025 US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ruling, which revoked a 1991 ruling that classified fresh and frozen pork jowls as swine meat based on its anatomical origin.

The industry group said the ruling relied on the WCO Harmonized System Explanatory Notes, which specifically include ‘heads and cuts thereof’ within edible offal under HS 0206, thus ‘directly relevant to any proposal to classify pork jowls under HS 0203.’

Also, the NPPC cited the recent European Union (EU) customs wherein German customs classified frozen beef cheeks derived from the head or cheek area as edible offal and parts of heads.

While the Binding Tariff Information (BTI) concerns cattle, the NPCC stressed that ‘it demonstrates the application of the same HS distinction to a comparable head-derived product.’

‘The EU interpretation did not treat removal of the cheek from the head as transforming it into conventional muscle meat,’ it added.

Under the DA’s petition lodged with the TC, frozen pork jowl should be classified as swine meat and levied 25 percent tariffs, from the current 10 percent rate.

If this materializes, duties imposed on the commodity will be further raised to 40 percent for out-quota shipments when Executive Order (EO) 62 lapses in 2029.