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Two years ago today, this writer was discharged from the Philippine Heart Center after a total of 38 days in two hospitals, a heart procedure and great care from the medical staff. After having been clinically dead and subjected to various stresses and even hallucinations from too many drugs in a private hospital, we finally received the attention and expertise we needed. The miracle that we experienced came more from the superhuman support that we received from several government agencies, private corporations, my best friend and partner, my brothers from Ateneo High School batch 1982, and even total strangers. As I say now, I’m happy to be here. I live gratefully, by the grace of God and the kindness of my friends.

Of course, there are changes that one has to live with after such an experience. No more lifting weights, no contact sports (goodbye, basketball), and constantly checking blood pressure. Most importantly, no standing up suddenly. Having 70 percent heart function means taking it slow, warming up more gradually.

But perhaps there is also something significant that has changed, something which may be of service to my fellows, particularly our gallant athletes. Having come out from the other side of death, I have gradually told myself that fear is an illusion. It doesn’t exist. Fear manifests itself in many conscious and subconscious ways. But recent research has shown that a staggering 85 percent of what we fear never happens. Fear lives rent-free in our minds. I try to tell myself: I’ve been dead; what is there to be afraid of?

In the 1980’s, an international survey revealed that the world’s greatest fear was speaking in public. Death was only third. Imagine that. (Today, terror would probably be misplacing your cell phone.) This means that teachers, businessmen, entertainers, broadcast media have all overcome the world’s greatest fear effortlessly. With fear, we panic, we choke, we freeze, all different default ways we wrestle with fear. Our minds go blank. We forget our training. Inevitably, we calm down after the big game, big shot, big opportunity. But many times, we’ve already botched the moment. But what if the worst that can happen is out of the picture?

Obviously, you don’t need to die to become more or less fearless. It’s all in your head. And from what I can tell you, it was peaceful. Regardless of your faith, there is a presence within death that envelops you, assures you, loves you. Take it from me, knowing that can give you courage that you covered up with all the baggage the world passed on to you.

So if you’re taking that big shot, making that huge play, going for the win, attempting that record, or simply doing something for the first time, you have absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Embarrassment was created by humans; there are no failures, only lessons. If you have belief that you are connected to a higher power and have full faith in your capabilities, you will be fearless, and by extension, limitless.

Having been dead, I’ve learned that there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Technologies being developed at Woven City in Japan could eventually find their way to the Philippines, but the rollout will depend on market conditions, according to Woven by Toyota (WbyT).

John Absmeier, chief technology officer and director of WbyT said during the Kakezan 2026, that mobility and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies being developed in Woven City are intended to be applied to markets beyond Japan.

‘These technologies are meant to scale globally and I think generally speaking it’s market dependent,’ he said when asked about the potential deployment in the Philippines.

Organized by Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) and its subsidiary WbyT, Kakezan 2026 was held to showcase technologies being developed in Woven City, which serves as the test course for mobility and AI technologies.

Located at the former Toyota Higashi-Fuji plant in Susono City, Woven City is where inventors and weavers co-create technologies in a real world setting to help solve everyday challenges and enhance lives.

Inventors in Woven City are not limited to the Toyota Group, but include a diverse range of companies, startups and academia.

As inventors develop products and services in Woven City, they are able to receive feedback from weavers or residents and visitors who experience these innovations first-hand.

Daisuke Toyoda, senior vice president at WbyT and son of TMC chairman Akio Toyoda, said weavers are included in the creation process as they can serve as customers in the real world.

‘Through this, we can make improvements before launching to the market,’ he said.

Through Woven City, he said Toyota wants to make people happy and enhance their lives through technology.

As Toyota aims to transform into a mobility company, it aims to help create a safe and secure mobility society and shape a brighter future for the next generations through Woven City.

Even before Toyota became a globally renowned in the automotive industry, the philosophy of working for others has been driving the company’s initiatives.

Toyota’s founder Sakichi Toyoda was determined to ease his mother’s countless hours of working when he worked on his first invention, the wooden hand loom.

Technologies showcased at the Woven City include the automated driving technology Arene, which enables vehicles to interpret complex driving environments, anticipate the behavior of other road users and respond by providing smooth, natural and human-inspired driving.

Also featured at the event was Akio Toyoda’s AI live demo, which was accepting questions and providing answers.

Asked if there is a chance these new technologies in Woven City would be deployed in a market like the Philippines, Akio Toyoda’s AI said there is potential as Woven City was created not just for Japan alone, but to welcome partners from all over the world.

‘I think there’s plenty of room for connection in markets like the Philippines, as long as the technology can be adapted to benefit the people living there,’ Akio Toyoda’s AI said.

As the aim is for Woven City’s technologies to be used globally, Absmeier said the company is also looking to work with inventors, weavers and even governments from other countries.

‘Some of the work that we’re doing is already starting to be used in other parts of the world…We will work with municipalities, governments, regions around the world in deploying these technologies,’ he said.

Escudero and Ngu are linked to plunder, graft and indirect bribery complaints of the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the multibillion-peso flood control scam.

Escudero was ousted as Senate president amid allegations of involvement in the corruption controversy in September 2025. Ngu, listed as a private citizen in the report, was a donor to Escudero’s campaign and a government contractor.

A precautionary hold departure order is typically issued to ensure that respondents remain within the jurisdiction of the court while proceedings are ongoing.

Allegations

The Office of the Ombudsman previously announced that plunder charges against Escudero and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez are slated for filing next month.

In December 2025, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla identified both Escudero and Romualdez as individuals who should be liable for their roles in enabling irregularities within flood control and various infrastructure initiatives over recent years.

At a Senate Blue Ribbon committee inquiry in September 2025, former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo provided testimony linking Escudero, along with former senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay, to the scandal.

Bernardo alleged that due to his proximity to Ngu, he was requested to provide a project list for the General Appropriations Act in exchange for a 20% commission.

Following the approval of these projects, Bernardo said he handed over P160 million, representing 20% of an estimated P800 million purportedly intended for Escudero.

Escudero, however, denied all these claims.

Past PHDOs. Escudero is not the first lawmaker to be issued a precautionary travel ban by the Sandiganbayan.

On April 22, the anti-graft court also issued the travel order against Romualdez, also due to his alleged involvement in the flood control scandal.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan have also been barred from overseas travel amid allegations they are part of the broader flood control scheme.

Business sentiment in the Philippines turned pessimistic in March as firms braced for the impact of rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions, even as consumer confidence showed signs of improvement, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Results of the BSP’s Business Expectations Survey (BES) showed that the overall business confidence index for the current month dropped sharply to -24.3 percent in March from 8.2 percent in February, indicating that more firms were pessimistic than optimistic.

‘Firms attributed their pessimism in March to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which had led to a sharp increase in domestic pump prices. Businesses consequently expect consumer spending to slow, as higher fuel costs are seen to feed into the prices of other basic goods and services,’ the BSP said.

The outlook for the near term also deteriorated, with the three-month-ahead confidence index falling to -17.3 percent from 37.4 percent, while the 12-month outlook weakened to 11.7 percent from 51.1 percent.

Businesses likewise reported tighter financial conditions and reduced access to credit. The financial condition index declined to -24.9 percent from -15.2 percent, while the credit access index slipped further to -7.1 percent from -4.0 percent.

Despite the gloom, some firms indicated plans to proceed with expansion projects already in the pipeline, even as hiring intentions turned less favorable for both the next quarter and the year ahead.

Inflation expectations among firms also trended higher, with respondents anticipating faster price increases in the coming months, alongside a weaker peso and higher borrowing costs.

In contrast, the BSP’s Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) showed that household sentiment improved in the first quarter, before the escalation of the Middle East conflict.

The overall consumer confidence index for the current quarter rose to -15.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from -22.2 percent in the previous quarter, reflecting a smaller share of pessimistic households.

‘Respondents were less pessimistic in the first quarter of 2026 as they expect: higher earnings, stable jobs, new income sources and more family members joining the workforce,’ the BSP said.

However, consumers turned less optimistic about the months ahead. The confidence index for the next quarter eased to 1.8 percent from 3.6 percent, while the year-ahead outlook slipped to 9.6 percent from 11.8 percent.

The BSP said the weaker outlook was driven by concerns over ‘higher inflation,’ alongside governance issues and perceived ineffective policies.

Households also expected inflation to pick up in the near term, although expectations moderated compared with the previous survey round. The average year-ahead inflation forecast edged up to 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent but remained within the central bank’s target range.

‘The BSP continues to closely monitor the impact of the Middle East conflict on domestic prices and the broader economy, and stands ready to take appropriate monetary policy action should rising oil prices lead to more persistent inflationary pressures,’ the central bank said.

‘To provide targeted relief, the BSP has also issued regulatory measures to enable banks to assist affected clients,’ it added.

The BES was carried out from March 5 to 31, covering 515 firms nationwide. Meanwhile, the CES was conducted from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5, prior to the onset of the Middle East conflict, with a total of 5,440 households surveyed across the country.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s threat to have President Marcos assassinated was neither a ‘metaphor nor a hyperbole,’ as she indeed hired an assassin for that purpose, the chief of the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed over the weekend.

Melvin Matibag, NBI director, told journalists covering the weekly news forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City that while they have established this during their investigation, they are now in the process of identifying the assassin tasked to carry this out.

‘So, we know that she really talked to someone, but we want to find out who is that person,’ Matibag said.

‘What we know – and this is based on our own findings – that (kill threat in November 2024) was something (they would like to appear) … as a spur of the moment, that it was just metaphor or hyperbole. But that was planned, actually,’ the NBI chief said.

Matibag said the NBI is working to establish the identity of the person Duterte allegedly spoke with and to determine whether the threat progressed beyond words.

At a press conference in November 2024, in the wee hours of the morning, Duterte said she had spoken to someone to kill the President, First Lady Liza Marcos, and former speaker Martin Romualdez if anything happened to her.

She said it was not a joke, repeating it twice, when her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez was jailed.

The incident has since become one of the most serious charges cited in the two impeachment complaints filed against her, alongside allegations involving her unexplained wealth and misuse of confidential funds.

The House justice committee has found the complaints sufficient in form, substance and grounds, and is now conducting hearings to determine whether probable cause exists to elevate the case to the Senate.

The panel is set to take up the alleged threat in its next hearing on April 29, where Matibag and other NBI officials are expected to testify as resource persons.

Most parts of Metro Manila are back to ‘good’ air quality levels, based on the monitoring of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday.

Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Quezon City, San Juan and Taguig are back at ‘good’ levels based on the DENR’s monitoring for fine particulate matter.

Caloocan and Malabon are at ‘fair’ levels while the air quality in Valenzuela is still ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups.’

Since the fire broke out at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, the air quality has been affected in Metro Manila and many parts of Luzon.

Japan earlier dispatched its Disaster Relief team to help assess the fire at the landfill as well as give technical advice on firefighting operations, air pollution measurement and assessment and waste management.

The Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team consists of seven members from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, National Institute for Environmental Studies and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

‘Japan hopes that the dispatch of the JDR will contribute to the rapid extinguishment of fires and the restoration of the living environment in the Philippines,’ the Japanese government said.

Along with its explosive growth and meteoric rise in popularity, there is no denying that pickleball has become an effective catalyst for community building.

First introduced to the Philippines through a clinic in the Queen City of the South way back in 2016, it enjoys a rapid ascent in participation and a steadily expanding grassroots and competitive base.

That is mainly because pickleball, it can be argued, is a sport for all, fostering meaningful connections and expanding reach across age groups and skill levels. Its inclusive nature creates a welcoming environment, enabling everyone to quickly adopt the sport whatever their stature in life is.

‘The community, accessibility across so many different players, income levels, backgrounds. I can play pickleball with anyone from my mother to the archbishop of Cebu (who has been known to play the sport). There are so many people playing whether they’re students, working professionals, seniors and retirees. That’s one of the strengths of pickleball being adaptive by so many people,’ said Jmi Gullas, who recently opened The Courts of Cebu. Located in Barangay Kasambagan, it is shaping up to be one of the most exciting pickleball venues in the city with a purpose to blend community and sport under one roof.

Gullas pointed out that although Cebu still has a lot to catch up when it comes to the pickleball scene compared to other countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, it is quickly gaining ground.

‘We’re starting to see people from different income levels, demographics and backgrounds start to play the sport. I think that’s one of the strengths Cebu has – the community here is very unified, whether it’s the different venue operators or different club owners, everybody is very friendly and very supportive of each other,’ said Gullas. ‘So far, we have not seen too much negativity in the community. And when there’s a new place that pops up, everybody’s excited about it, and beyond that, everybody’s talking to each other regularly. So, we’re sharing insights, best practices between each other. I hope that is what’s going to keep the sport from becoming a trend and sustain it long-term,’ he continued.

Atty. Philip Uy, a partner at Kitchenline Pickleball, which can be credited for bringing the first tournament-grade courts to the city, said the beauty of pickleball is that you do not need an expensive paddle or play in a fancy court in order to enjoy the sport.

‘On the issue of cost, premium facilities had to pour in millions of pesos in order to provide the best possible courts and the best possible player experience for their patrons. Higher capital expenditure and maintenance costs really behooves court operators to charge certain rates in order to recoup their investments but never to take advantage of the players. Rental rates (a key factor in determining rates) are also very high if you want to operate in a prime area in Metro Cebu,’ Uy explained.

‘Is the slightly higher price for premium facilities worth it? Our short answer is yes. Because we have USAPA (USA Pickleball Association) standard courts now, we are able to attract global brands and better talent to play in Cebu and tournaments organized by Cebu facilities.’

For Uy, exclusivity – as perceived by some quarters – is not an issue at all because accessibility and inclusivity are something that those in the pickleball community strive to achieve altogether.

Katrina Cui Go of ThirdShotCrew Cebu Pickleball Club and PQLab co-founder and coach Rnell Arsenal share the same sentiment.

‘The community grows like that, it encourages people to join. It’s infectious man gud, abi nila ug pangdato lang na. It doesn’t have to be expensive, you can even play at home,’ said Go.

Arsenal said he had the privilege of seeing how pickleball started with people using wooden paddles on lined basketball courts and on empty parking lots.

‘For sure, pickleball has grown so much in Cebu. We now have dedicated facilities that are full on a nightly basis,’ said Arsenal. ‘Pickleball has always been at its core an inclusive sport. Thus, making it accessible should not be an issue.’

Looking forward, Gullas firmly believes that its strong sense of community will make pickleball a sustainable sport that will last for many years to come.

‘I think the community is going to keep people coming back here for more. Pickleball at its core is very fun and very addicting in itself. The reason people are gonna stay is because people will find a community, a sense to be here,’ said Gullas.

‘You don’t have to have the most expensive gear, you don’t have to have the nicest court. You can go anywhere, the sport will stay true to its form. And who knows? With all the talent migrating to the sport, maybe we can find the Alex Eala equivalent of pickleball right here in our own backyard,’ Gullas ended.

Air quality in Metro Cebu and parts of Central Visayas has significantly improved, with monitoring stations in Cebu recording safer levels as of Sunday morning, April 26, 2026, according to the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7).

Data from EMB-7 show that as of 8 a.m., air quality in Talisay City had returned to the ‘fair’ category based on PM2.5 levels and ‘good’ in terms of PM10 measurements, a marked improvement from previous days when pollution levels were elevated.

Officials attributed the better air conditions to recent rainfall and localized winds, which helped disperse pollutants and reduce the concentration of particulate matter in the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, readings from the Toledo City monitoring station remained at ‘good’ levels, indicating that western areas of Cebu have not been affected by emissions from Mount Kanlaon.

EMB-7 said prevailing winds blowing from northeast to southwest are currently driving volcanic emissions away from Cebu Province, further contributing to the improved air quality.

Despite the positive development, authorities urged the public to remain cautious, particularly individuals with respiratory conditions, as air quality may still fluctuate depending on weather patterns.

Residents are also encouraged to help reduce pollution by avoiding backyard burning and practicing fuel-efficient driving to minimize local emissions.

The bureau assured the public that it will continue to closely monitor air quality conditions and issue timely advisories as the region works to maintain safe and stable air conditions.

Young tycoon Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala beamed with his charming smile when asked how many BYD vehicles he owns.

Despite rushing to his next appointment, the 35-year-old chief executive officer of ACMobility stopped and told The STAR: ‘I respectfully decline (to answer) that one, but it could be growing over the coming years. I have a growing fondness for it.’

BYD has indeed been putting a big smile on Jaime Alfonso’s face, and perhaps those of Ayala Corp.’s top executives as well, given how the brand has been revving up sales of the conglomerate’s mobility arm.

It is also amassing a rapidly growing customer base in the Philippines. No less than tycoon Isidro Consunji is a self-confessed fan – a proud owner of not one, but a number of BYD vehicles. The chairman of the DMCI Group has been sharing how satisfied he is with the brand.

A former cabinet official is also raving about his BYD.

ACMobility has been riding high on its BYD partnership, which started in August 2023 and was renewed earlier this year.

Jaime Alfonso called BYD as ‘the primary engine’ in the acceleration of ACMobility’s unit sales by 82 percent to nearly 43,000 vehicles, and revenues by 84 percent to almost P55 billion in 2025. BYD also contributed more unit sales last year at 25,094 than the company’s entire portfolio in 2024, which stood at 23,483.

He said ACMobility’s successful partnership with the Chinese automotive giant is a reflection of Ayala’s DNA in using what it knows about the local market and teaming up with the best world-class partners.

‘BYD and Ayala’s partnership, it’s a reflection of the spirit of what Ayala likes to do. We like to address key national pain points, find the best partners in the world who have either the technology or the research and development capabilities to solve this problem best,’ he said.

For the only son of tycoon Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, BYD’s main advantage is that it is a vertically integrated manufacturer which has access to a lot of the raw materials that are needed to make the battery technology.

‘We also have to keep in mind, BYD was originally one of the largest battery manufacturers in the world, and that vertical integration provides a significant cost advantage, particularly for emerging markets like ourselves,’ he said.

Last year’s strong performance signals only the beginning of what could be ACMobility’s more high-speed growth in the coming years, specially as the company looks toward becoming profitable this 2026.

In 2025, ACMobility reported that the total industry already crossed a very important threshold, with 12 percent of all vehicles sold being in the electrified segment.

‘In particular, new energy vehicles sales grew more, from 23,000 in 2024 to just under 60,000 in 2025. Battery electric vehicles volume tripled, while hybrids more than doubled. Again, these were trends prior to the Middle East crisis, and since then, we believe that this demand will be even more pronounced at this point,’ Jaime Alfonso said.

ACMobility has made a deliberate effort to expand its mix of electrified models to become the most comprehensive portfolio of electrified vehicles in the country.

The company’s diverse portfolio currently includes two mainly distribution businesses in BYD and Kia and two exclusively retail businesses in Isuzu and Denza.

Nearly 60 percent of its retail sales last year were from electrified models, either plug-in hybrids or battery electrics, the models that require charging – a significant jump from the previous year’s mix, which stood at just 23 percent of total unit sales in the ACMobility portfolio.

From just five electrified models in 2023, ACMobility also now offers a total of 21 models across the battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid technologies.

In leading the electric vehicle charge for the Ayala Group, Jaime Alfonso, the man in the driver’s seat, has no intention of hitting the brakes as far investments when it comes to enhancing the ecosystem, reinforcing partnerships and introducing new models.