Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

EXECUTIVES of the BPI Asset Management and Trust Corp. (DBA BPI Wealth) are reviewing the company’s targets for 2030 after ending the second quarter with P1.63 trillion in assets under management.

‘[But] That’s just for BPI wealth,’ BPI Wealth President and CEO Maria Theresa D. Marcial said last Thursday. ‘So if we look at the total asset and wealth management business of the whole BPI group, that’s P1.9 trillion.’

Marcial earlier said that the asset and wealth management arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is targeting assets under management of P3 trillion.

The whole asset and wealth management segment of BPI which includes other legal entities with assets under management that it has in Hong Kong, Singapore and private banking clients whose assets are maintained with a parent bank.

Marcial said the bank would like to grow its share of between 20 percent and 21 percent of the entire trust industry.

‘Well, as in any business, we always want to grow our market share and take a bigger share of what we call bigger capture of the market. And we just want to continue to add each year, gain more market share. And also, the market is growing so all the other players will also continue to grow,’ she added.

BPI Wealth has about 1.3 million customers, compared with BPI’s entire customers of about 18 million.

‘The 50 million customers, I think that continues to be the goal. So we’ve run many aggressive campaigns across all segments. We want to grow to 50 million; the bigger share would be the core mass, the mass retail customers,’ Marcial told reporters in a forum on October 2.

For the entire October, the company will celebrate its Wealth Wellness Month, a call for Filipinos to rethink and reshape their relationship with money.

Wealth Wellness Month has become BPI Wealth’s flagship program to raise awareness and guide Filipinos through every stage of their financial journey. This year, it evolves under the theme ‘Own Your Future,’ a call to action for every Filipino to secure their tomorrow.

‘Financial wellness should not be a privilege reserved for a few-it must be accessible, practical, and transformative for all. We want to remind Filipinos that they have the power to take charge of their finances through informed, consistent, and confident decisions,’ Marcial said.

To bring the theme to life, Wealth Wellness Month 2025 will be anchored on four key events, each designed to influence a distinct audience segment to take charge of their financial journey: graduating students, young professionals, entrepreneurs and corporations.

By tailoring the conversation to the unique needs of these groups, Wealth Wellness Month creates a holistic platform where every Filipino can see themselves reflected in the call to own their futures.

The month culminates on October 25 with the Wealth Summit, a gathering designed for emerging professionals, with a special focus on Gen Z and Millennials.

THE Move As One Coalition on Thursday criticized what it called the ‘crumbs’ allocated for active transport and public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization in the 2026 National Expenditure Program, warning that Filipinos who rely on walking and public transport continue to be treated as ‘second-class citizens.’

In a statement, the group said that despite repeated pronouncements from Malacañang identifying walking and public transport as priorities, active transport was given just P700 million and service contracting P1.3 billion under the spending plan.

‘These are crumbs compared to the billions poured into car-centric infrastructure,’ the coalition said. ‘This budget signals that pedestrians, commuters, and cyclists are still treated as second-class citizens.’

The coalition’s own proposal calls for far larger allocations: more than P101 billion for service contracting, P17.6 billion for public transport modernization, and P20.2 billion for active transport programs such as bike share systems and safe pathways.

In contrast, the National Expenditure Program for 2026 earmarked just P1.3 billion for service contracting, P1.2 billion for modernization, and P69 million for active transport.

Move As One argued that underfunding has left pedestrians vulnerable on roads that remain unsafe and undignified. It cited examples such as the towering ‘Mt. Kamuning’ footbridge in Quezon City, cracked or missing sidewalks, and intersections designed to move vehicles faster rather than prioritize people crossing.

‘This is unacceptable. Laws and policies already recognize walking as a priority-from the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, to the National Transport Policy, to Batas Pambansa 344 on accessibility. But without strong political will, sufficient and strategic funding, and updated standards, they remain empty promises, and pedestrians will suffer daily miseries and indignities,’ the group said.

A 2020 Social Weather Stations survey showed that 77.5 percent of Metro Manila residents walk during their regular travels, with 44 percent walking to work.

‘In truth, every Filipino walks at some point of their day. Yet our streets remain hostile to pedestrians,’ the coalition said.

The group added that persons with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, children, and workers carrying heavy packages are disproportionately exposed to risks due to poor road design and lack of universal accessibility.

Move As One urged lawmakers to substantially realign the 2026 budget to better reflect national transport priorities. It also pressed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to update its outdated Road and Bridge Design Manuals so streets can finally meet accessibility standards set by existing laws, including Batas Pambansa 344.

‘Congress must fund active transport and public transport properly. DPWH must modernize its road manuals. And we call on every Filipino to join us in walking and working together until our streets put people, not cars, first,’ the group said.

The Makabayan Bloc on Thursday strongly condemned the Senate’s recent resolution urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest, calling it a political maneuver that undermines justice for thousands of victims of the government’s anti-drug campaign.

‘The Senate resolution is not about mercy or rights, but a clear cover-up of Duterte’s crimes. It is an affront to justice for the families of the victims of his drug war,’ said ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio.

Kabataan Rep. Renee Louise Co underscored the political nature of the resolution. ‘This is nothing more than a political maneuver designed to protect Duterte and his cohorts from facing the full weight of international justice. The Senate is more concerned with protecting a former president than delivering justice to thousands of victims of state-sponsored killings.’

Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago echoed the criticism, calling the resolution ‘an insult to the families who lost loved ones in Duterte’s ruthless drug war. It is not about compassion but about perpetuating impunity.’

The bloc highlighted the irony that one of the resolution’s sponsors, Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, was named as a potential co-perpetrator in the ICC document detailing three counts of murder against Duterte.

‘How can someone implicated in these crimes pass a resolution that benefits him and his former boss? This just proves that the Dutertes remain highly influential in the Philippines, and justice cannot be achieved if trials are conducted here,’ Tinio added.

The Makabayan Bloc also rejected the Senate’s humanitarian claims, noting the double standard.

‘There are numerous elderly and sick political prisoners today, yet none have been granted any Senate resolution because they lack wealth or influence. This shows a glaring imbalance and hypocrisy,’ said Elago.

‘Justice demands that Duterte face trial for his crimes. House arrest is nothing but a mockery of the legal process and an insult to the families who continue to seek accountability,’ Co stressed.

The bloc urged the ICC to proceed with prosecution without compromise, reaffirming its solidarity with families of drug war victims and commitment to genuine justice.

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte on Thursday filed before the Supreme Court a disbarment case against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and three other ranking government officials who were involved in the not connection with the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and subsequent turn-over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands last March.

Aside from Remulla, Duterte, through his lawyer Israelito Torreon, sought the disbarment of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.

Torreon, however, did not provide more details citing the confidentiality nature of disbarment proceedings.

He, however, admitted that the case was filed in relation to the arrest of the former president.

‘As to the content and the specifics, I think you know that I could not expound on the same but this is related to the kidnapping and expulsion of former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands,’ Torreon told reporters.

Last September 15, the younger Duterte filed a criminal complaint against Remulla and several other government officials also in connection with his father’s arrest.

The disbarment complaint alleges the officials’ alleged role in the handover of the former president to the ICC, where Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his bloody anti-drug campaign.

Voting 15 affirmative with 3 negative and 2 abstentions, the Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider allowing former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to be placed on house arrest for humanitarian reasons.

Senate Resolution 144, initiated by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano-Duterte’s vice presidential running mate in the 2016 elections-came days after Duterte’s daughter Sara claimed that he was ‘found unconscious’ in his detention cell in The Hague.

All nine minority senators voted in the affirmative for SR 144.

The negative votes were cast by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Raffy Tulfo abstained.

Explaining his vote, Sotto said, ‘I am faced with two difficult’ choices that both align with his principles: affording the former president a comfortable surroundings, while taking into consideration the plight of families seeking justice for crimes against humanity-the charge in the ICC against Duterte, for his dirty war on drugs that reportedly killed thousands without due process.

While he described himself as ‘supportive’ of any efforts to afford the former president – whom his family and lawyer claims suffers a host of medical issues, Sotto worried that ‘my choice’ in the vote on SR 144 might even further divide the nation. Hence, his abstention.

Explaining her negative vote, Hontiveros said that while the senators push for an interim release has been couched in humanitarian terms, its flipside is that it further signals the selective justice system in the country, where other suspects who have not been adjudged guilty are detained for years, despite health issues.

Hontiveros added that the resolution was premature because it was not based on facts, as there is no showing that the ICC has been remiss in caring for Duterte in detention.

Despite Vice President Sara Duterte’s claims about the ‘found unconscious’ and related circumstances, other video reports had other family members who visited the former President as saying ‘he is well, even jolly,’ at kaya pa ngang makipag-usap tungkol sa maraming topic kasama ang politika, flood control at love life [and can even discuss many topics including politics, flood control and love life],’ Hontiveros added.

Besides Alan Cayetano, those who voted for the resolution are Senators Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, Christopher Lawrence Go, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Erwin Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, Mark Villar, Panfilo Lacson and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.

In a significant step toward enhancing accountability in public infrastructure spending, Senator Mark Villar has filed Senate Bill No. 1438, titled the ‘Government Construction Project Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025.’ This pioneering legislation mandates comprehensive drone monitoring for all government construction projects as a mandatory requirement before any payments are processed.

The bill represents a comprehensive approach to oversight, applying to all national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations involved in construction. This includes key infrastructure bodies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority, ensuring widespread coverage across the government’s infrastructure portfolio.

Sen. Villar emphasized the critical need for this reform, stating, ‘Persistent challenges including project delays, quality issues, and financial irregularities in public works demand innovative solutions. This legislation harnesses modern technology to establish an unwavering standard of accountability for every peso of public funds invested in infrastructure.’

The proposed measure requires systematic aerial documentation through unmanned aerial vehicles, to be conducted by independent accredited third-party entities. It establishes a framework for capturing detailed project progress through high-resolution geotagged imagery, comprehensive video footage, and orthomosaic mapping. All collected data will be made accessible to citizens through a centralized public transparency portal, creating unprecedented visibility into government project execution.

The legislation includes strong enforcement mechanisms, specifically prohibiting any payment processing without the required drone verification documentation. It also stipulates serious penalties for both contractors and government personnel involved in submitting or approving falsified monitoring data, with violations being prosecuted under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

‘This initiative transforms how we monitor and manage public infrastructure projects,’ the Senator added. ‘It empowers citizens with tangible evidence of project progress while ensuring that government expenditures correspond directly to actual, verified accomplishments. We are committed to restoring public confidence in how infrastructure projects are implemented and delivered.’

The bill provides for a coordinated implementation timeline, with relevant agencies required to establish accreditation standards for monitoring entities within sixty days of enactment. The Department of Science and Technology and Department of Information and Communications Technology will provide technical support in developing the implementing rules and regulations.

President Ferdinand Marcos said he will ask Congress to replenish the fast dwindling Quick Response Fund (QRF) of some government agencies.

During a situation briefing in Bogo City in Cebu after it was hit by a magnitude-6.9 quake earlier this week, the chief executive said the additional QRF will ensure the government will be ready for disasters this year.

He said the quake, which struck Cebu, as well as tropical cyclones Nando and Opong(international name: Bualoi) has led to government agencies to use a considerable portion of their QRFs.

Aside from Cebu, the President also visited Masbate, which also suffered heavy damage from Opong to also lead in government relief operations in the island province.

‘I will be going to Congress because after the – coming from Masbate, coming from Cebu, I will be going to the Congress, the House and the Senate, I will ask-so they can give more emergency funds,’ Marcos said in Filipino.

He said he already instructed Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman to make the necessary preparations for the fund request to Congress.

‘I spoke to Sec. Menah already yesterday and this morning and she’s making all of those arrangements,’ the President said.

He has yet to disclose how much funding DBM will request from Congress for the QRF replenishment.

Under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the government has allocated P7.73 billion for the QRF, which is included in the National Risk Reduction and Management Fund or also known as Calamity Fund.

The QRF was distributed to the following agencies: Department of Agriculture (P1 billion); Department of Education (P3 billion); Department of Health (P500 million); Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bureau of Fire Protection (P50 million); DILG-Philippine National Police (P50 million); Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense (P500 million); Department of Public Works and Highways (P1 billion); Department of Social Welfare and Development (P1.25 billion); and Department of Transportation (P75 million).

The QRF for Budgetary Support for Government Corporations was pegged at P300 million.

Last week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the country is expected to be hit by 5 to 9 more tropical cyclones before the end of the year.

THE Sandiganbayan’s Special Fifth Division has affirmed its decision, denying Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s motion to immediately dismiss the 11 graft charges filed against him in connection with alleged irregularities in the disbursement of his P231.5 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2008 to 2010.

In a 22-page resolution, signed by Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac and Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, the Sandiganbayan held that Estrada failed to raise arguments that would warrant the reversal of its ruling issued last March 26, 2025 denying the senator’s demurrer to evidence.

A demurrer to evidence is a motion filed by an accused after the prosecution rests its case, asserting that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a conviction.

If the demurrer to evidence is granted, the accused is acquitted.

‘After a careful perusal of the arguments raised by accused Estrada in his motion for reconsideration, the Court finds no cogent reason to disturb its findings in the assailed resolution denying his demurrer to evidence,’ the anti-graft court declared.

With the denial of his demurrer to evidence, the Sandiganbayan said Estrada’s lawyers may present their evidence during the continuation of the trial on October 2, 2025.

The Sandiganbayan did not give credence to Estrada’s claim that the graft cases should be dismissed as the acts alleged in these cases were the same acts cited in the plunder case filed against him which had already been dismissed.

‘The Court must stress that even granting hypothetically that the present charges for violation of Section 3 [ e ] of R.A. 3019 are indeed the same predicate acts for which accused was charged in the plunder case, the same does not, by itself, warrant the dismissal of the present cases,’ the Sandiganbayan said.

It added that the Rules of Court or jurisprudence does not mandate the dismissal of a separate graft case on account of the charge being a predicate act in a prior case for plunder.

‘The only reason to sustain such an argument would be if the same places the accused in double jeopardy, which is not the case herein.,’ it added. But, the Sandiganbayan said the double jeopardy rule does not apply to Estrada’s graft case, noting the difference in the elements of graft and plunder.

It noted that in the plunder case, Estrada was accused of ‘unjust enrichment’ and amassing ‘ill-gotten wealth’ while the graft cases rest on the issue of ‘causing undue injury to the government’ and ‘giving unwarranted benefits and advantage to private persons.’

Furthermore, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Estrada to support a verdict of guilt in the graft cases, thus, warranting the defense presentation of evidence.

‘With the denial of his demurrer to evidence and the instant motion for reconsideration, accused Estrada is now given the chance to rebut the pieces of evidence and the prima facie case built by the prosecution against him,’ the anti-graft court stressed.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor of the Office of the Ombudsman accusing Estrada of receiving kickbacks by endorsing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) owned and controlled by pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to the appropriate government agencies as partners-implementers of his PDAF-funded projects which turned out to be fictitious.

It can be recalled that last year the Sandiganbayan acquitted Estrada of plunder in the P183 million PDAF but was convicted of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery.

He was sentenced to eight to nine years imprisonment for direct bribery and meted out a special temporary disqualification from holding public office and perpetual disqualification to vote.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of P3 million.

However, the anti-graft court eventually reversed its decision and cleared Estrada of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery due to lack of evidence.

THE Department of Finance (DOF) announced last Thursday of having maintained its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for its compliance with global standards.

A statement issued by the DOF read that the department sustained its ISO 9001:2015 certification for eight years, following a third surveillance audit conducted in September 2025.

By securing an ISO certification, an organization’s management system, process, service, or documentation procedure has met all the global requirements for standardization and quality assurance set by the International Organization for Standardization.

According to the non-governmental body, ISO 9001 is a standard ‘that sets out the requirements for a quality management system. It helps businesses and organizations to be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction.’

‘This stamp of approval from the ISO is evidence of the kind of public service that we at the DOF are committed to delivering. At the DOF, there is no room for ‘just good enough.’ Everything must be aligned with global standards,’ Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto was quoted as saying in the statement.

The ISO 9001:2015 Certification for its Quality Management System is the most widely recognized quality management standard in the world.

An external team regularly conducts surveillance audits to verify continuous adherence to ISO standards. The third Surveillance Audit on the DOF was carried out on September 17 and 18, 2025.

The audit covered the DOF’s core processes, such as the granting of tax exemptions on importations by the Revenue Office (RO), the support services provided by the Policy Development and Management Services Group, and the functions of the Legal Affairs Office.

The DOF received a feedback score of 99.55 percent in the service quality dimension during the second quarter of 2025.

In 2017, the DOF secured its first ISO 9001 certification (2008 version), covering the core processes of the RO and the Municipal Development Fund Office, and the updated 2015 version later that same year.

Since then, the DOF has maintained its certification through successful recertification audits conducted in 2021 and 2024, alongside annual surveillance audits.

THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has summoned Senator Mark Villar to ‘discuss and shed light’ in relation to its ongoing probe into the anomalous flood control and other infrastructure of the government.

The invitation, dated October 2 and signed by ICI Chair Andres Reyes, was sent to Villar’s office in the Senate.

Villar was asked to testify under oath about the planning, budgeting, supervisions and monitoring of flood control and other infrastructure projects undertaken during his tenure as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

He served as DPWH chief under the administration of former President Duterte from 2016 to 2021.

The ICI has scheduled Villar’s appearance before the commission on October 7 at its headquarters inside the Department of Energy Compound, in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The ICI issued the summon a day after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the justice department will will be looking into the alleged ‘prohibited interest’ of the Villar family in the estimated P18.5 billion infrastructure projects in Las Piñas City.

Remulla said the investigation is necessary following a news report that a close relative of the Villars owns a construction firm that undertook several infrastructure projects, including flood-control projects, in the city.

Aside from Villar, Remulla said the agency will also investigate Senator Camille Villar, who also served as congresswoman of the lone district of Las Piñas in the 19th Congress and former businesswoman Cynthia VIllar, who served as a senator from 2013 to 2025 and congresswoman for the city’s lone district from 2001 to 2010.

At a press briefing yesterday, Remulla disclosed that the camp of Villars has sought a meeting with him but he has yet to respond to the request.

‘There was an effort to set a meeting. But, I have not given my response because I would rather it be done officially,’ he said.

TOURISTS, hotels and resorts, and several heritage sites have been affected by the recent earthquake that shook the province and Cebu on Monday.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said on late Wednesday that 80 tourism establishments, 21 tourist sites, 36 accommodation establishments, and 23 other tourism infrastructure were damaged by the quake, which registered a magnitude of 6.9. The quake struck at 9:59 pm on Tuesday, with its epicenter located 11 kilometers off the eastern coast of Daanbantayan.

‘A total of 711 tourism workers in the Central Visayas region were also impacted by the quake, including employees of hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, transport services, and related enterprises,’ said the agency in a news statement.

Fifteen tourists were initially reported stranded-one foreign guest in Bogo City, eight in San Remigio, and six in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island. Eight of these 15 tourists already checked out of their hotels and were expected to arrive in Cebu City on Wednesday night.

The six tourists on Bantayan Island decided to extend their stay on Bantayan Island and wait for the ferry operations to Hagnaya Port to resume. DOT-Central Visayas was expected to facilitate the transfer of the foreign tourist in Bogo City to another hotel in the vicinity.

Tieza assesses damage

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who joined other Cabinet officials in assessing the impact of the earthquake on Cebu province, said she instructed the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) to assess the extent of the earthquake damage to historical structures and key tourism establishments. ‘These assessments will guide the next steps to ensure safety and provide appropriate support,’ she said.

Structures impacted include: Fort San Pedro, Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima, Daanbantayan (heavily damaged coral stone church), Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Bantayan (partial damage to heritage structure), San Isidro Labrador Church in Tabogon (collapsed facade and roof), Capelinha de Fatima Replica in San Remigio (severe structural damage), and San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Remigio (reported damage under inspection).

The provincial government on Facebook assured that Bohol is ‘safe and remains open to visitors. Our major roads are passable, and we have confirmed that there are no major damage and no casualties reported across the province.’

In Iloilo City, DOT Regional Director for Western Visayas Crisanta Rodriguez told the BusinessMirror, ‘Per report of our tourism officers from the local government units and tourism establishments, [there were] damage and affected tourists for Region 6.’

The provinces of Cebu and Bohol, along with Cebu City amd Iloilo City are among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. DOT data showed that last year, these destinations attracted a total of 5.63 million in foreign and domestic travelers, with Bohol topping the list at 1.37 million.

HSMA members, tourists safe

As this developed, Loleth So, president of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association, shared in a Viber message, ‘All is well with our hotels and members in Cebu. No untoward incidents have been reported to the HSMA as of this writing.’

For her part, Agnes Caparas Pacis, Vice President-Commercial of the SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. said, ‘Radisson Blu Cebu, Park Inn Iloilo, and Park Inn Bacolod all felt the recent earthquake and have successfully and smoothly evacuated all in-house guests.’ More than 500 guests were safely evacuated including function guests and checked-in guests at Radisson Blu, where an event was being held, she added.

On Facebook, Cris Evert Lato-Ruffolo, who describes herself as a teacher and journalist, posted that she was attending the Miss Asia-Pacific International benefit gala at Radisson Blu Cebu when the earthquake struck. She said she remained calm with other guests until she was reunited with her family.

‘Nothing beats a hotel with people who know what to do when emergency situations like this happen. Radisson Blu Cebu immediately led guests to the parking lot and. distributed bottled water and chairs. No shouting from during the evacuation procedures. [They were] truly calm and it was obvious that they were prepared,’ she said in a mix of English and Cebuano.

In Bohol, Amorita Resort general manager Leeds Trompeta said, ‘All our guests and associates are safe, after a thorough inspection all our buildings and equipment did not sustain any damage. Currently, we are coordinating with relief workers to send help to those affected by the earthquake.’

ALEXANDRA EALA aims to move a step closer to a second career title as she goes for a spot in the semifinals of the Suzhou Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 on Friday at the Sungent International Tennis Center in China.

The world No. 58 and fourth seed in the tournament, Eala takes on world No. 70 and tournament sixth seed Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

Germany’s Tatjana Maria, 38, second seed and world No. 44, was first into the semifinals with a walkover against fifth seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

Eala had a one-day break after making it to the round of eight with a 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 7-5 victory over world No. 106 Greet Minnen of Belgium. In the Round of 32, Eala beat world No. 124 Katarzyna Kawa of Poland, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Golubic, 32, defeated 20-year-old world No. 140 Linda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-0.

Eala topped the Guadalajara 125 Open last month to become the first Filipina to win a WTA event.

The 20-year-old Filipina then bowed out at the quarterfinal stage of the SP Open, a WTA 250 event in Sao Paulo, and made it to the semifinals of the Jingshan Open, a WTA 125 event in China.

The top half of the draw has 20-year-old Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, the world No. 109 from Andorra, taking on Kyoka Okamura, the world No. 196 from Japan.

Kasintseva beat Jingshan Open winner Lulu Sun of New Zealand, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, while Okamura defeated 39-year-old Varvara Lepchenko of the US, 6-1, 7-6(2).

Katie Volynets of the US, 23 years old and the world No. 107, faces 27-year-old Caroline Dolehide, also of the US, for a place in the semifinals.

Volynets defeated third seed and world No. 57 Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands, 7-5, 6-1, while Dolehide beat world No. 243 Joanna Garland of Taiwan, 6-4, 6-4.