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ZACH VILLAROMAN and Jakob Taruc salvaged an all-square result in the final pairing to help Team North escape with a nerve-wracking 6 1/2-5 1/2 victory over Team South in Thursday’s Foursomes of the International Container Terminal Servicers Inc. Elite Junior Finals in the City of Santa Rosa.

The tightly contested match-up capped a rollercoaster Day 2 in this Ryder Cup-style event, showcasing the country’s finest junior golfers at The Country Club.

With the team standings at 14-9 heading into the final match, South’s Eric Jeon and Mhark Fernando III looked poised to deliver a crucial point, taking a 1-up lead to the 18th.

But on the challenging par-four finishing hole, Fernando’s 3-iron approach into a stiff headwind found the pond, opening the door for Villaroman and Taruc to steal a half-point with a steady par.

They delivered, reaching the green in two and two-putting to snatch the tie and hike Team North’s lead, 14 1/2-9 1/2.

While Team North built on its 8-4 Four-ball win from Tuesday to take early control, Team South mounted a fiery comeback, winning key matches late in the day.

Earlier in the day, North captured six of the first 11 matches, threatening to pull away, but South clawed back in the boys’ 7-10 division with a clean sweep, while also notching pivotal wins in the 11-14 and 15-18 categories.

Ralph Batican and Marcus Dueñas exacted revenge on Vito Sarines and Ryuji Suzuki, 2-up, in boys’ 11-14, while Lucas Revilleza and James Rolida stormed back from behind to edge Halo Pangilinan and Asher Abad, 1-up.

Ethan Lago and Kvan Alburo also repeated their dominance with a 2 and 1 victory over Zach Guico and Zoji Edoc in the youngest age category.

On the girls’ side, South’s 15-18 pairs flexed their experience and chemistry once more. Crista Miñoza and Precious Zaragosa cruised to a 3 and 2 victory, while Tashanah Balangauan and Mikela Guillermo secured a 4 and 3 rout .

Despite South’s late charge, Team North found strength in its younger divisions.

The girls’ 7-10 duo of Winter Serapio and Ronee Dungca remained untouchable, dispatching Soleil Molde and Denise Mendoza in just two and a half hours with a commanding 7 and 6 victory. Minutes later, Mavis Espedido and Tyra Garingalao matched the feat against Claren Quiño and Francesca Geroy.

The back-to-back sweeps from Serapio-Dungca and Espedido-Garingalao-who also won convincingly on Day 1-agave North critical breathing room heading into Friday’s singles.

‘While we considered the players’ personalities when drawing up pairings for team formats, I think we’ll now be focusing on confidence heading into the singles-specifically, who has the mental toughness to go up against the South,’ said North captain Francis Talion, who acknowledged that the singles matches present an entirely different battlefield.

North also benefited from new pairings in the girls’ 11-14 division, where Mona Sarines and Alexie Gabi edged out Brittany Tamayo and Kimberly Baroquillo, 1-up, and Lisa Sarines and Kendra Garingalao cruised to a 5 and 4 win over Rafella Batican and Zuri Bagaloyos.

In other boys’ matches, Zianbeau Edoc and Jacob Casuga held off Jared Saban and Ken Guillermo, 2-up, in 11-14 division, while Patrick Tambalque and Kristoffer Nadales outclassed Alexis Nailga and Armand Copok, 4 and 3, in the premier category.

THE five-year action plan for the Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry will focus on developing a skilled Filipino workforce to boost the local industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement, the department’s Special Task Force Office said the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (Seiac), chaired by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (Osapiea), has laid out its Technical Working Group’s five-year action plan during the second meeting of the Seiac.

DTI said the main topic of the discussions was the development of a strong school-to-industry pipeline through closer collaboration among the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and industry partners.

‘The Council proposed flexible learning pathways-including ladderized programs and micro-credentials-aimed at equipping Filipinos with high-value technical skills that meet global industry standards,’ DTI said.

Chairing the meeting on behalf of Secretary Frederick D. Go was Osapiea Undersecretary Angel Ignacio who emphasized that strong human capital is the foundation of the industry’s long-term growth.

‘Investing in our people is the most critical component of building a resilient and globally competitive semiconductor industry,’ Ignacio said.

The DTI statement added that Osapiea highlighted that the council’s long-term goal is to nurture homegrown talent and encourage Filipinos to pursue careers in the country, strengthening both the industry and national development.

Beyond talent development, the council also discussed initiatives to enhance the country’s investment climate.

These include the development of world-class Strategic Economic Zones, supported by an ongoing infrastructure audit to identify gaps in power, water, and logistics.

In addition, the DTI said, the Seiac reviewed efforts to streamline regulations, promote ease of doing business, and showcase the Philippines semiconductor industry in the global market.

Further, the Trade department underscored that ‘The Council is looking to spearhead the country’s participation in Semicon Europa 2025, the premier European platform that brings together key players across the entire design and manufacturing value chain of the semiconductor and electronics industry.’

DTI said the Philippines’ participation in Semicon Europa is a ‘strategic’ move to diversify the country’s electronics export destinations, reducing reliance on traditional markets and aligning with Europe’s growing demand for alternative suppliers amid geopolitical shifts.

The council also noted that it will continue to ‘refine’ these action plans of their final adoption, according to DTI.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has disbursed P48.1 million in emergency employment and livelihood assistance to workers in the Bicol Region following the devastation of Severe Tropical Storm Opong.

According to DOLE Region V, the bulk of the funds-P40.3 million-was allotted under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

The allocation covers short-term cash-for-work for 6,455 beneficiaries in 11 municipalities identified as among the hardest hit.

Another P5 million was allocated for profiling under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), while P2.7 million went to the Government Internship Program (GIP).

The agency said families of the four reported casualties will also be granted livelihood packages through DILP, while affected small businesses may avail of aid under the Adjustment Measures Program (AMP)

Based on DOLE Region V’s situational report, Opong affected 183,926 families, or 693,290 individuals, across Bicol.

Masbate was the most heavily impacted, with over 8,000 families still staying in evacuation centers as of October 1.

Opong entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on September 23 as a tropical depression and quickly strengthened into a severe tropical storm the next day.

By September 25, all provinces in Bicol were under Signal No. 2, before warnings in Sorsogon and parts of Masbate were raised to Signal No. 4 at the height of the storm on September 26.

The labor department said coordination with local governments is ongoing to ensure the full delivery of assistance and the monitoring of long-term livelihood recovery in affected areas.

‘DOLE’s rapid response underscores its strong commitment to restoring livelihoods in storm-hit communities, with the Department ready to scale up support and ensure no affected worker is left behind,’ it added.

‘Opong’ deaths

Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Wednesday called on police units to help speed up the validation of casualties related to Opong.

‘The PNP is involved in documenting recoveries on the ground and immediately relaying validated information to local disaster response councils. We coordinate with the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to ensure that casualty reports are verified and cross-checked against missing persons records before they are made official,’ he said.

Nartatez said his order is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos and under the guidance of Department of the Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla to ensure accuracy in disaster response operations.

Such a move also emphasized coordination among government agencies to provide verified information to the public and to deliver timely support to affected families.

Nartatez also underscored that strict documentation processes are followed to prevent duplication and misinformation.

He also maintained that there are challenges in accessing remote and heavily impacted areas due to damaged infrastructure, as well as in the identification of remains in advanced stages of decomposition.

‘Our operations are still ongoing in the hardest-hit areas, particularly where there are still reports of missing individuals. These will continue until all measures are exhausted to assist all our kababayan,’ Nartatez said.

The police assistance, he said, also extends to continue securing evacuation centers in rebuilding communities damaged by the typhoon, especially in hardest hit areas.

Earlier, the Office of Civil Defense disclosed that 15 more fatalities were being validated in Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

As of September 30, the death toll was placed at 27 while 14 persons were reported missing in Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

ASIAN Eye Institute (AEI) recently hosted world-renowned ophthalmologist Ike Ahmed for a research collaboration with Robert Ang, head of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services and chief of Asian Eye’s Research and Training Center.

Recognized as the ‘most influential ophthalmologist’ worldwide in 2024 by The Ophthalmologist magazine, Ahmed is globally known for pioneering Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS). This is a new class of safe, minimally invasive procedures designed to lower intraocular pressure and slow the progression of glaucoma.

‘Doctor Ang and I have been studying glaucoma over the years, and we have a whole movement called interventional glaucoma,’ Ahmed explains. ‘It provides earlier treatments through safe, minimally invasive intervention to address the unmet needs in glaucoma, which are the problems of progression and eye drops.’

Global leader meets local innovation

Asian Eye has long been at the forefront of glaucoma management in the Philippines. Under Ang’s leadership, the institute has conducted pioneering clinical trials to expand access to next-generation treatments. This collaboration with Ahmed strengthens AEI’s role as a regional hub for innovation in eye care research, bringing global expertise to benefit local patients.

‘I’m a believer in interventional glaucoma because I believe that glaucoma should be addressed earlier,’ said Ang. ‘Over the past 20 years, we’ve been applying eye drops. What are we waiting for-for the patients to get worse? We don’t want to do it that way anymore. More than us, it benefits the patients.’

Together, the two experts are advancing novel, non-invasive laser applications that target the eye’s natural drainage system. ‘Dr. Ang and I have been researching a very novel laser application to non-invasively treat the drainage area of the eye by applying a laser in a very safe way,’ says Dr. Ahmed. ‘Dr. Ang has been an important collaborator. I love that he brings the latest technology to Southeast Asia.’

Earlier, safer, better for patients

FOR Ahmed, the future of glaucoma care lies in acting early with safer interventions. ‘Every step of the way, we become less and less invasive because the whole point of going early is establishing high safety,’ he says. ‘Interventional glaucoma and MIGS allow us to address glaucoma earlier. We need technology and the skills-and that’s what we have in our collaboration with Asian Eye.’

Both experts stress that Filipino patients stand to benefit significantly from adopting such approaches. With many paying out-of-pocket for care, solutions that preserve vision earlier can reduce the greater economic and personal cost of blindness.

Ayala Corp. on Thursday said it will transfer its dealership of Honda cars in the Philippines to a new entity in January 2026, effectively ending its 35-year partnership with Honda Car Philippines Inc. (HCPI).

HCPI and Ayala said the development reflects the ‘evolving strategies’ of their companies in their pursuit of growth and innovation.

The transition involves dealerships currently under the operation of ACMobility. These are Honda Cars Makati, Honda Cars Pasig, Honda Cars Shaw, Honda Cars Bacoor, Honda Cars Cebu, Honda Cars Mandaue, Honda Cars Iloilo, Honda Cars Negros, and Honda Cars Cagayan de Oro.

The alliance dates back to 1990 with the opening of Honda Cars Makati. Over the years, the network grew steadily nationwide, with Ayala ultimately becoming the largest Honda dealer group in the Philippines.

The ACMobility-operated Honda dealerships, through Iconic Dealership Inc., have sold over 220,000 vehicles as of August 2025.

ACMobility will begin turning over management and operations of these dealerships to new dealer principals towards the end of this year. It declined to name the new owner of its Honda dealership.

‘We thank Ayala for their invaluable contribution over the past 35 years, which played a key role in establishing Honda as a trusted brand in the Philippines. As we work closely with our new dealer principals, we are fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition while upholding Honda’s legacy of excellence, innovation, and outstanding customer service,’ Rie Miyake, Honda Philippines president, said.

‘HCPI will continue to provide the best products and services including an expanding range of electrified vehicles and solutions. We remain firmly committed to Honda’s long-term goals of zero collision and carbon neutrality, advancing safety for everyone and a cleaner environment in the Philippines,’ Miyake said.

‘We are grateful, and indeed proud, to have been part of Honda’s journey in the Philippines for the past three and a half decades. This transition reflects our ongoing effort to optimize our portfolio and focus on new growth areas. Among these are our initiatives in advancing sustainable mobility and electrification, where we continue to build solutions that benefit communities, businesses and the environment,’ Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, CEO of ACMobility, said.

ACMobility said it will refocus its investments in new and high-growth businesses in automotive distribution and charging infrastructure, in light of its ambition to lead the transition towards sustainable and electrified mobility in the Philippines.

This also follows ACMobility’s recent exits from the Volkswagen and Maxus distribution businesses, as the company moves towards streamlining its portfolio, aligned with the broader initiative of Ayala to sharpen its business lines.

Upon turnover of the dealership operations, ACMobility’s portfolio will be composed of the BYD and Kia distribution businesses; dealership operations of Isuzu, BYD, and Kia; electric vehicle charging infrastructure business; and the Bosch Car Service business.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday urged churches to lead the country’s ‘revival’ amid a deepening corruption crisis, and wants faith leaders included in the Independent Committee on Infrastructure (ICI).

In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano called on churches to take a more active role in shaping the nation’s future, saying they should ‘penetrate all spheres of influence’ and help lead the Philippines toward moral revival amid massive corruption.

Moreover, Cayetano made the call as he co-sponsored a Senate resolution congratulating the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church Worldwide on its 47th founding anniversary, highlighting the crucial role of churches in guiding society beyond the spiritual sphere.

‘Where the church is, there the country will go,’ Cayetano, who is also a devout Christian, emphasized.

‘We ask them to intercede for our nation and penetrate all spheres of influence-business, schools, hospitals-because the country needs prayers, hope, but also leadership,’ he added.

The senator said faith-based institutions should go beyond offering prayers and actively participate in national reform efforts, including the fight against corruption.

‘We are encouraging all churches to be part of the disruption that is happening in our country. Not the disruption that is now full of confusion, anger, and fear, but hopefully the disruption that will lead us to a true revival,’ he said.

The minority leader also suggested that religious leaders be included in the ICI to strengthen the body’s credibility and moral foundation.

‘I think that’s what is lacking in the Independent Commission [for Infrastructure]. Why were religious leaders not designated there?’ he asked, partly in Filipino.

‘Truly, our country needs not only the prayers, the hope, but also the leadership,’ he added.

At the start of the plenary session, Cayetano prayed for a ‘revival’ in the hearts of Filipinos and in all sectors of society, from government to business institutions, plagued by dishonesty and corruption.

‘What we ask you, Lord, for is a revival. First, the revival of the heart of every Filipino, that he will look at you for hope. Second is the revival of communities, revival of faith in government, revival of integrity and honesty. May we look at the devil and tell him to get behind us because these are all lies,’ he prayed.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently announced that based on the report of its Legazpi branch, all banks in Masbate have resumed operations following the devastation caused by Typhoon Opong.

However, according to the Masbate Bankers Association (MBA), some automated teller machines (ATMs) are still offline due to connectivity issues.

Nonetheless, over-the-counter withdrawals and other transactions may already be done at all banks in the province, the BSP said.

‘The BSP will continue to monitor banking operations in Masbate as the province recovers from the typhoon, in line with the central bank’s commitment to efficient delivery of financial services,’ read a statement issued by the central bank.

Initailly, the BSP said it can accommodate emergency withdrawals, should local banks from the island province of Masbate need it.

The BSP said that its Legazpi branch has been servicing the cash requirement of banks in Masbate.

‘The branch has also been closely coordinating with supervised financial institutions to sustain the availability of banking services in the province,’ the BSP said

‘These actions support communities hit by Typhoon Opong and keep essential financial transactions flowing during recovery. The BSP will continue to closely monitor the situation to meet the cash and banking services needs of the people,’ the BSP said.

Earlier, the President said among the pressing concerns in the province was poor access to cash due to the lack of power in many of its banks in the aftermath of Typhoon Opong.

He said two operational branches of Land Bank of the Philippines will try to provide for the cash withdrawal needs in Masbate.

Financial literacy

MEANWHILE, the BSP said it recently conducted an Economic and Financial Learning Program (EFLP) in Cotabato City to help farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-entrepreneurs in the area make smarter financial decisions.

The sessions covered agri-business development, financing and insurance options, and digital financial tools.

These also included strategies for emergency preparedness and long-term financial planning as well as Islamic banking and financial services for Muslim communities.

According to the BSP’s 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey, 73 percent of farmers and fisherfolk remain outside the formal financial system.

Barriers include limited access to banks, high transaction costs, lack of documentation, and low financial awareness.

Through the EFLP, the BSP continues to advance financial education and inclusion, especially in underserved sectors like agriculture.

The Cotabato session was the fourth EFLP rollout this year, following earlier sessions for students and educators, MSMEs, and BSP employees.

Ayala Land Inc. on Thursday said it will spend some P10.3 billion to develop Ascenda, a 204-hectare, master-planned, nature-inspired development in Davao.

The said development will be done through a joint venture with the Floirendo family’s ANFLO Management and Investment Corp. (Anflocor), the company said.

‘Davao is truly a city on the rise, with its economic growth outpacing the national average. Major infrastructure projects-the Samal-Davao Bridge, the Coastal Road and the Davao Bypass Road – are unlocking new connectivity and opportunities.

Ascenda is well positioned to benefit from Davao’s momentum, providing Davaoeños new space to grow and an environment attuned to their modern, upgraded lifestyles,’ Anna Ma. Margarita B. Dy, Ayala Land president and CEO, said.

Ascenda marks a series of firsts for Ayala Land in the region. It is the first Ayala horizontal estate in Mindanao.

It will have the only Ayala Land Premier residential village, Virendo, in Davao. The estate is also the first major development that will benefit from the new Davao by-pass road, complementing the newly completed Coastal Road and Maharlika Highway system, cutting travel time from Davao City proper from 45 mins to 25 mins, and from Matina from 25 minutes to 15 minutes.

Ascenda is located in Davao’s Toril District, 16 kilometers from the city center. The estate is close enough for residents and businesses to connect with the busier side of Davao life but far enough to enjoy and commune with the peace and beauty of nature, which are front and center of Ascenda’s development philosophy.

‘Davao has been in Ayala’s radar since the 1970s,’ Dy said. ‘We were the first major property developer to invest in Davao City when we launched Insular Village in 1976. Then, in 2007, we developed Abreeza, and then Azuela Cove in 2017. Now the time has come for us to go full blast here in Davao with our largest estate development ever in the VisMin region.’

Ayala Land said it worked with acclaimed design firm Henning Larsen to shape the estate’s land use. Inspired by Singapore’s Bishan Park, which Henning Larsen redeveloped, the estate’s design preserves green corridors and waterways, integrates open spaces, and seamlessly weaves nature into the urban landscape. This thoughtful design not only enhances livability but also positions Ascenda as a model for sustainable and future-ready communities in the region.

It will have a 65-hectare Town Center, which features commercial district, an eco-park, among others.

‘We refer to Ascenda as ‘Davao’s Nature-Inspired Southern Gateway’ because it draws from Ayala Land’s experience in masterplanning large-scale suburban estates that place nature at the top of their value proposition,’ Dy said.

SAN BEDA University shoots for a second straight win and a hold of the solo top spot in Pool A against debuting Lyceum of the Philippines University in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup on Friday at the Paco Arena.

Game time is set at 2 p.m. with the Lady Red Spikers and the Lady Pirates clashing in a match-up that was postponed last week due to Typhoon Opong.

Facing off in the curtain-raiser at 12 p.m. are College of Saint Benilde and San Sebastian College-Recoletos in Pool D while Mapua and Letran collide in Pool C at 4 p.m. to cap the triple-header playdate of the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

San Beda is tied with four-peat-seeking National University in the standings following a five-set escape over Emilio Aguinaldo College, 25-19, 19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10, on September 20.

Lady Red Spikers head coach Kungfu Reyes will again pin his hopes on his main gunners Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar to bring the squad a step closer to securing a seat to the next round.

The Lady Pirates are out for redemption after falling a win short of advancing into the second round last year.

Meanwhile, the Lady Blazers are looking for a strong start in their breakthrough title campaign following a runner-up finish in the National Invitationals Batangas Leg two months ago.

Veteran Zam Nolasco, Fioana Inocentes, Shahanna Lleses, Clydel Catarig and Camila Bartolome lead the four-time NCAA champion’s charge against the Lady Stags bannered by Katherine Santos, Princess Ramos, Juna May Gonzales and Joy Deposoy.

SSC-R seeks to bounce back from a stinging 32-30, 16-25, 16-25, 18-25, defeat at the hands of University of Perpetual Help two weeks ago.

FRESH from its extensive humanitarian operations for Super Typhoon Nando, while currently responding to Typhoon Opong and the Taal Volcano unrest, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Gordon, once again swung into action following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu on the night of September 30.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the earthquake struck at 9:55 p.m. with its epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu. The tremor was initially recorded at magnitude 6.7 before being upgraded to 6.9.

After ensuring the safety of PRC staff and volunteers in the area, the PRC swiftly deployed its assets to support emergency response efforts.

‘We already have our staff and volunteers on the ground, assessing the needs of affected communities. We remain in constant communication with our team and RC143 volunteers to ensure that reports reach our Operations Center immediately and we can deliver timely humanitarian assistance,’ said Gordon.

As of 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the PRC has mobilized two ambulances, a food truck, two Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (Rdana) teams, and two Emergency Response Unit (ERU) teams. At least 62 persons have also been treated for injuries. The PRC remains committed in ensuring aid comes to the affected communities, Gordon added.

The PRC urged the public to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety. In case of emergencies, call the Red Cross Hotline #143.