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That photograph of hundreds of millions in cash stacked casually on nondescript tables is iconic.

The sight of so much cash gives corruption its ugly face. It is no longer an abstraction. Every Filipino who works very hard to earn a few of those bills to buy the bare necessities is shocked by the callous quantity of it all – the workaday attitude of those who dump the cash in suitcases and cartons.

Volumes of cash such as those in the photo are accumulated in many other places and delivered to designated recipients. Hundreds of millions, possibly billions, in cash brought to mansions and penthouses. Deducting those allowed ‘for the boys,’ much of the cash flows to a few central points: the masterminds and protectors of this enormous racket.

Money, as we know, is fungible. My hundred-peso bill is fully interchangeable with your hundred-peso bill. They buy the same things.

But money is fungible only to an extent. At a certain magnitude, there will be difficulty transacting cash.

Our banking system is fully armed to detect financial fraud and ring alarm bells when odd transactions happen. One cannot leisurely walk over to a bank branch and try to deposit a hundred million in cash. A new law designed to fight money muling allows the bank to capture your cash and hold on to it until some very important questions are adequately answered.

In the midst of the corruption crisis we now endure, bank tellers are probably more precious than senators. They detect suspicious transactions and promptly report to the Anti-Money Laundering Council. If our banks get together, we can yet stop those reported suitcases of cash from reentering circulation.

The BSP last week limited cash withdrawals to P500,000. A former finance secretary proposed lowering the peso denominations in circulation. There will be some inconvenience in this, but criminals must be prevented from enjoying the fruits of their betrayal.

So much cash is likely stranded in the mansions of the masterminds. Enough alerts have been issued in the financial and business communities. Cash in large volumes cannot move without detection.

There are many ways corrupt money may be laundered. One way is to use the casinos to convert cash to checks. Our authorities are now keeping close watch over these establishments to avert the country being downgraded as a money laundering haven.

Another way is to accumulate real estate, using cash transactions when possible. This is reflected in the staggering inflation in the choicest real estate developments.

Such has been the volume of the recent scams that the price spiral in golf shares and country club memberships is attributed to them. Some of the dirty money is used to buy luxury goods such as designer bags, expensive wristwatches and supercars to avert depreciation of dirty money.

Over the last three years, the House of Representatives became a living showcase for designer bags, expensive wristwatches and supercars. This should have alerted us to the scale of corruption going on.

Several times in the past, our government printed new money as a method to flush out the caches of cash of the previously powerful. An easier way is to put out search warrants for those places identified by whistleblowers as drop points for suitcases filled with cash. It is never too easy to dispose of cash above a certain quantity.

The corruption attending our infrastructure projects deeply alarmed our people. Churches, business groups including the normally staid Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and schools administrations have all issued statements denouncing the corruption.

We cannot rely on the usual rallies which have been commandeered by the political factions positioning for the next elections. From hereon, every Filipino citizen should speak out when they see things.

Computers should help our banks identify the large cash withdrawals that happened over the recent past. They could also help us identify those performing as money mules for the powerful. Auditors have a heroic role to play in saving our Republic.

Fill social media with anecdotes about luxurious spending by the powerful. We know now, from these anecdotes, who has been splurging on what. Store clerks should spill the beans.

The small guys – those who carried suitcases of cash for their powerful bosses – can tell us a lot. We need their testimonies and their courage to get to the bottom of all these.

The business community is abuzz with stories about powerful individuals trying to buy big time into large corporations. These are more sophisticated ways of laundering dirty money. At some point, all these attempted buy-ins should be documented.

Over the next few weeks, we can look forward to an unprecedented national festival of truth-telling. This is the sort of national festival that is giving the corrupt sleepless nights.

In every community, there should be a forum on how money for local projects has been squandered. There is one amazing story from Albay, for instance, about how a billion pesos in infra funds was used to build a road to the resort of a politician’s underling – contracted out to that politician’s company of course.

Many of these stories will distress us. But they are stories we all need to tell.

That telling photograph of millions in cash leisurely sitting on tables did not just demean our currency. It demeaned the nation.

For the past 35 years, “Disney On Ice” has always held its Philippine shows in Metro Manila.

But the possibility of Cebu experiencing Disney’s spectacular ice skating concert is becoming more likely.

The Seaside Arena has been in construction across the SM Seaside City mall since the pandemic, and upon completion, the 16,000-seater will be the largest indoor arena in Cebu.

Arnel Gonzales, the vice president and general manager of the Mall of Asia Arena, told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview after the press conference for this year’s “Disney On Ice” show in the Philippines that the Cebu Arena is already 70% complete.

Both the mall and arena will make up the planned Seaside City Complex, which will also include a convention center and two bayfront hotels.

Having another major arena is, according to Gonzales, part of SM’s goal to “deliver the highest quality of live entertainment like no other to every Filipino nationwide.”

Counted among them is “Disney On Ice,” which has been staging shows in the Philippines since 1990. The shows have been handled by Feld Entertainment at the Mall of Asia Arena since 2016.

New characters debut

A question that emerges is once the Seaside Arena is open, would “Disney On Ice” consider heading to Cebu?

Feld Entertainment’s vice president for Asia-Pacific Matthew Garrick explained to Philstar.com that the “Disney On Ice” show that comes to the Philippines is part of a regional tour that also goes to nearby countries like Japan, China, and Australia.

“That tour will continue each year. So, as new markets come on board, whether that’s Cebu or whether that’s another country, they’re going to fit into the tour,” Garrick teased.

Garrick pointed out that “Disney On Ice” was a staple holiday tradition now in the Philippines, so scheduling will be even more concentrated if there are other venues to be considered.

“We’re working together. We’re working together towards achieving that,” Gonzales upon being asked if Cebu could one day host “Disney On Ice.”

The new show debuting this December is “Magic in the Stars,” a concept that has been touring for three years and will feature more than 55 Disney characters, the biggest yet for a Philippine show.

These include fan favorites like Aladdin, Cinderella, Moana, Rapunzel from “Tangled,” Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” the Madrigals of “Encanto,” Anna, Elsa, and Olaf of “Frozen 2,” and, of course, Mickey Mouse.

Also debuting in the upcoming show are Lightning McQueen and Mater from “Cars,” Asha from “Wish,” and the titular character of “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

Actor John Estrada expressed support for his daughter Kaila as rumors continues to go around that she is now seeing her “Incognito” co-star Daniel Padilla.

Speculations about Kaila and Daniel being an item swirled after the two were spotted in public a number of times, and showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz even claimed the actors were now dating but would leave it to them to confirm the news.

While neither Kaila nor Daniel has addressed the rumors, John told entertainment journalist and friend Dolly Anne Carvajal that he trusts Kaila’s judgment and smarts.

“Kaila is an adult… wala s’yang ginagawang masama. I’m very confident that whatever she decides to do in her life, pinag-isipan na n’ya lahat ‘yan,” John said about his daughter with ex-wife Janice de Belen.

John further pointed out that it was not his story to tell, and it would be up to Kaila to answer questions about her being linked to Daniel.

“All I do is to let her know and feel that she will always have my support and that I trust her and I will always be here for her and her siblings,” John ended.

Apart from Kaila, John and Janice are also parents to Inah, Moira and Yuan. He also has a daughter, Samantha, with Priscilla Meireles.

Many have even joked that Kaila’s name was similar to Daniel’s mother, Karla Estrada.

Daniel was previously in an 11-year relationship with former love team partner Kathryn Bernardo, who is now reportedly dating Lucena Mayor Mark Alcala.

In the aftermath of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Northern Cebu on September 30, 2025, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has urged heritage caretakers to safeguard movable cultural assets even as rescue and relief operations continue.

While extending its deepest sympathies to communities affected by the disaster, the NHCP reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Cebu and nearby provinces.

Chairperson Regalado Trota Jose Jr. acknowledged the loss of lives and the widespread damage to historic sites and structures, many of which he said serve as enduring symbols of Cebuano faith, identity, and shared memory.

The Commission expressed full support for the government’s immediate priority of saving lives and delivering aid but stressed that cultural heritage must also be protected during this critical period.

Through its Materials Research Conservation Division, the NHCP issued guidelines for caretakers, advising them not to enter damaged buildings without coordination and assurance that aftershocks have ceased. It also urged them to secure premises against unauthorized access, wear protective gear when assessing structural stability, and carefully document all damaged objects.

Movable heritage items should be retrieved with utmost care, wrapped in clean cloth or Japanese tissue, and stored in sturdy boxes. Fragments should be labeled and grouped for easier identification, while undamaged items may also be retrieved for safekeeping.

The Commission emphasized the urgency of retrieval to prevent further damage from aftershocks, weather, or theft. Recovered objects must be transferred to safe locations designated by heritage site administrators, with a quick inventory noting object names, measurements, materials, and observed damage. Restoration, it added, should be entrusted to professionals and skilled artisans.

The NHCP also cautioned the public against indiscriminate posting of photos of damaged heritage online, warning that such images may be exploited by looters or vandals.

Above all, it reiterated that personal safety is paramount, urging strict coordination with site administrators and experts before entering compromised structures.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has formalized its plan to enforce a mandatory nine-year cap on independent directors, while providing them with security of tenure at the same time.

The SEC has issued a draft memorandum circular, which sets the rules on the duration of term and amends its rules on term limits of independent directors.

The issuance is expected to strengthen the independence of independent directors as well as to align with the international best practices under Republic Act 11232, otherwise known as the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines.

‘Basically, we will be strict on the nine-year limit. We will do away with exemptive reliefs. At the same time, to make the independent directors truly independent, we’re giving them a three-year security of tenure. In other words, once voted, he or she is elected for three years, not one year only,’ SEC chairperson Francis Lim said.

A company’s independent director is currently allowed to serve for a maximum cumulative term of nine years, after which, the independent director shall be perpetually barred from re-election as such in the company, but may continue to qualify as a non-independent director.

However, in the instance that a company wants to retain an independent director who has served for nine years, the firm’s board should provide meritorious justifications and seek shareholders’ approval during the annual shareholders’ meeting.

Under the draft memorandum circular, an independent director shall be elected for a three-year fixed term and subject to the term limit.

An independent director should serve for a maximum cumulative term of nine years, with an independent director who has served the maximum term shall be disqualified to be an independent director in the same company.

Pubcly listed firms and registered issuers are given until Oct. 15 to submit their comments and inputs on the draft memorandum circular on the duration of term and term limit of independent directors.

Creamline will open its title defense without the one player it had hoped would play – Jia de Guzman – while PLDT eyes its third straight title in the forthcoming Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.

‘Management has decided Jia is sitting this one out, she’s not playing this conference,’ said Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez during Thursday’s launch at the Discovery Suites.

No reason was given, but there reports that De Guzman has focused on her training for this December’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand with Alas Pilipinas where she is the team captain.

But De Guzman, who last saw action for the Cool Smashers two years ago, is expected to return to her mother club in next year’s All-Filipino Conference.

For the High Speed Hitters, who have won two titles in a row in the PVL on Tour and Invitational, they are hoping the stars would align anew for a shot at a third crown.

‘She’s a good fit,’ said PLDT manager Bajjie del Rosario, referring to Russian Anastasiia Bavykina.

Opening up hostilities though are ZUS Coffee and Akari, who collide at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Ynares Center Montalban.

It will be followed by the 6:30 p.m. showdown between Capital1 and Choco Mucho.

Interestingly, another contender, Petro Gazz, has made it a family affair when it appointed husband and wife Gary and Lisa Van Sickle as coach and assistant, respectively, for a franchise spearheaded by their daughter, MVP awardee Brooke.

It came a day after it secured the return of Lindsay Vander Weide, a Best Import awardee who led the Angels to the Reinforced crown three seasons ago.

‘I haven’t seen the whole team yet but I will see them tomorrow,’ said Gary, who played for University of Hawaii in the late 80s.

League president Ricky Palou said its going to be a competitive conference.

“It will be one of the toughest conferences in the league, if not the toughest,” said Palou, who was accompanied by commissioner Sherwin Malonzo and Cignal head of sports Mico Halili.

This Oct. 1 to 7, we join the nation in celebrating Elderly Filipino Week, with the theme: ‘Embracing age, living a life of dignity and purpose.’ This annual observance, established through Proclamation 470 (1994), pays tribute to our senior citizens and honors their wisdom, resilience and invaluable contributions to nation-building.

Led by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), the week-long celebration brings together government agencies and local government units to host a vibrant array of activities: caravans, information sessions, photo contests, medical missions, Zumba parties and even a pageant- all spotlighting the strength and spirit of our elderly.

I stand in solidarity with the nation in recognizing the immeasurable contributions of our seniors. But beyond celebration, this week also calls us to reflect deeply on how we care for them, especially in one of the critical issues that come with old age: health care.

I recently sat down with Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ Ordanes to share insights on the services available to the Filipino elderly especially when it comes to health care and he brought up an alarming and sad reality: The Philippines lacks specialized public health care for those aged 60 and up.

Rep. Ordanes underscored this gap as he shared his ongoing efforts to advocate for the establishment of dedicated geriatric wards in public hospitals and the hiring of more geriatric specialists. These initiatives aim to address the unique and complex health needs of older adults that are often overlooked in our current health care system.

Geriatric medicine, which focuses on the special health needs of older adults, remains underdeveloped in the country. Most hospitals lack the infrastructure, personnel and protocols to address the complex interplay of chronic illnesses and mobility issues that many seniors face.

As the lawmaker emphasized, senior citizens are more vulnerable to infections and diseases than the rest of the population and therefore should have access to health care services designed to meet their needs.

As a senior citizen myself, I know firsthand the health challenges that people face in old age. The creation of geriatric wards in public hospitals is not merely a matter of convenience; it is a matter of dignity. Senior citizens deserve health care that recognizes their distinct needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach that treats aging as an inconvenience.

While the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 institutionalizes the access of the elderly to medical services in government facilities, the reality on the ground is far from ideal. Many senior citizens grapple with long queues and lack of facilities and equipment to treat their health conditions, which forces them to either forego treatment or rely on out-of-pocket expenses.

Data from the latest Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAH) – the country’s first nationally representative panel study focused on older individuals, also bring forward issues in this aspect.

Study showed that older Filipinos have an unmet need for health services. About a fifth of older people face difficulties accessing health care services when needed, mostly due to financial reasons. In fact, only 84 percent of those diagnosed with hypertension and 76 percent of those with diabetes are on maintenance medicines. Only 63 percent have health insurance, mostly PhilHealth, indicating a significant gap in coverage despite the universal health care law.

This is not just unfortunate, this is unacceptable. The government must invest in integrating elder care into the broader public health agenda. This involves training and employing more geriatric specialists, equipping public hospitals and barangay health centers with senior-friendly facilities and equipment, and providing priority lanes for senior citizens seeking medical attention.

Mental health should also be part of the conversation when it comes to health care for senior citizens who are at risk of conditions such as depression, anxiety and dementia.

Moreover, a proactive approach to senior health should be institutionalized and embraced not just at the policy level but also in the community. This should go beyond medical treatment for existing illnesses or health conditions but also cover preventive care, wellness programs, information campaigns and community-based support.

I call on our legislators to support and pass House Bill 433 or the Comprehensive Welfare and National Health Program for Senior Citizens Act, which will help ensure wellness programs for the elderly.

Unlike the billions lost to corruption in flood control projects, improving the health care system for the elderly is not a luxury- it is a moral and national imperative. These are basic entitlements that our senior citizens deserve after decades of work and contributing to the nation.

But legislation alone is not enough, ensuring proper implementation is equally important as well. We need a cultural shift in how we perceive aging and elder care. In many Filipino households, caring for elderly parents is seen as a moral duty. Yet this familial care, while noble, cannot substitute for systemic support.

We must ask ourselves: Are we content with a system that sidelines our elders, or are we ready to build one that respects them and their contributions to society?

Let us not wait until aging becomes a crisis. Let us act now, with courage and compassion, to build a system that honors the lives that built this nation. Because how we treat our elderly today is not just a reflection of our values, it is a legacy we leave behind.

Let’s make that choice, not only for their benefit but for the future generations of Filipinos as well.

A business group is urging the government to allocate more funds for the EDSA busway system ‘to complete the badly needed infrastructure component of this long-delayed project.’

‘Congress has the opportunity to provide the budget for vital busway-dedicated stations, which can be completed in 2026 when bid out in batches to large reputable contractors,’ the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said in a letter dated Sept. 24.

New stations should be established along Kamuning, Cubao/Araneta, Santolan, Camp Aguinaldo, Corinthian Gardens, Highway Hills, Estrella street (Rockwell), Ayala/EDSA, Magallanes, Malibay, F.B. Harrison, MOA/J. Diokno, Aseana/Macapagal and PITX, the group proposed.

Busway stations are needed due to overcrowded Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations, they said.

About 100,000 commuters are accessing the busway through MRT-3 stations, they said.

‘In addition to other ancillary facilities, the system must be equipped with overhead bridgeways to the station platforms along the road median beside the MRT-3 trackway, and provided with convenient access for physically challenged commuters,’ the MAP said.

Aside from dedicated bus stations, the group also recommended finalizing a schematic busway system plan that will link Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and other major routes, such as Quezon Avenue, C5, Sucat and Alabang Zapote.

‘To date, there has been no meaningful budget allocation for this infrastructure, except for a few hundred million pesos, while the busway project has been waiting for the long-delayed privatization to happen,’ the group lamented.

‘The EDSA busway is the only mass transport system that can be completed within one year and it should be done as soon as possible,’ the MAP added.

The group acknowledged the government and private sector’s efforts in building EDSA busway stations in Guadalupe, Buendia, Taft Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, North EDSA and Ortigas – the last two provided by the private sector and under construction.

MAP president Alfredo Panlilio and transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Eduardo Yap signed the letter addressed to acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez.

If it were up to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, the 4-point line would stay in the league ‘forever.’

Marcial said that the 4-point line will be staying in the league for the PBA Season 50, and possibly for more seasons moving forward.

‘Siguro forever na yan, as ako [ang] commissioner,’ Marcial told reporters during the PBA preseason press conference Wednesday at the Shangri-La The Fort Manila in Taguig City.

”Di ko alam kung ibang commissioner na. Pero as ako commissioner, stay ang 4-point line,’ he added.

The PBA, last season, introduced the 4-point line, which had been set 27 feet away from the ring.

This added a new dimension to the game, as teams could go for the win despite being down three points.

“Pag gumagawa tayo ng bagong innovation, meron talagang di nasisiyahan, may nasisiyahan. Pero kumukuha na ang FIBA ng datos sa atin. So ‘di ko alam kung masisiyahan sila sa datos,’ Marcial said.

Other leagues, including those abroad, have also inquired about the 4-point shot, the executive bared.

‘So, nagtatanong sila, nagi-inquire. Tinatanong ko din sa kanila, ano ba sa palagay niyo? Yung iba okay, yung iba, hindi. Hindi mo masasabi,’ he added.

Before its implementation during last season, the PBA tested out the 4-point line in All-Star games.

Meralco guard Chris Banchero was the first player to sink a 4-pointer in an official game, during the season opener in August last year.

Rule changes

In the same press conference Wednesday, Marcial said that there will be nine rule changes for Season 50.

One of the rule changes is referees will now explain the ruling, live, whether a coach’s challenge is successful or unsuccessful.

During challenges, players can also form huddles with their coaches.

Teams reaching two fouls in the last two minutes of every quarter will also put them in penalty.

The referee may also review a made basket if it is a 2-, 3- or a 4-pointer, but if there will be no immediate review, the shot will no longer be reviewable. The same process will also be applied regarding basket interference in the last two minutes.

Other rule changes to be implemented this season are: throwing the ball at a player’s head with clear vision to save the ball from going out of bounds will lead to a flagrant foul penalty one infraction; a player who air-balled a legitimate shot may pick up the ball without being whistled for a travel violation; an excessive elbow from left to right will result in a technical foul; no extra time out will be allowed; and an offensive foul will count as a team foul.

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao confirmed he is in talks with the camp of World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Rolly Romero for a possible fight, the eight-division world champion bared.

Pacquiao revealed the news during the Thrilla in Manila 2 press conference Wednesday in Quezon City.

‘[We are] still negotiating, pero we’re just finalizing it,’ the 46-year-old boxer said.

Questions have been raised regarding the next opponent of the boxer-turned-politician after his comeback fight earlier this year.

MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons earlier named Romero as one of the possible opponents for Pacquiao after his the Filipino southpaw’s duel with World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

Pacquiao returned to the boxing ring last July and forced a majority draw against Barrios.

It was an impressive comeback fight, with several boxing fans seeing ‘Pacman’ actually winning over the 30-year-old ‘El Azteca’.

Pacquiao was later installed as the No. 1 contender for the same title.

He retired from boxing back in 2021 after a loss against Yordenis Ugas.

Speaking about the 50th anniversary of Thrilla in Manila, Pacquiao voiced excitement and joy in bringing the celebration to life.

‘I’m so excited and happy. Kasi dati, lumaban na ako dito sa Araneta at ngayon nagpo-promote na tayo ng big fight dito. This is not a small fight but a big fight,’ he said.

‘A world championship fight and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Thrilla in Manila. It’s an honor kaya happy tayo na kahit di pa tayo pinanganak nung time na yun, tayo ang kumbaga nagdala dito ng promotion,’ he added.

On October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier slugged it out in what was known as ‘Thrilla in Manila.’ There, Ali won over Frazier, who retired from his corner in Round 14.

‘Like Ali’

And if you were to ask Pacquiao which of the two he sees more of as a boxer?

‘Sting like a bee,’ he said, citing Ali’s famous quote.

‘Puncher din ako, marami akong sumuntok at hindi ako flat-footed,’ he said.

The anniversary card will be headlined by a WBC strawweight championship bout between Melvin Jerusalem and Siyakholwa Kuse.

Eumir Marcial, Marlon Tapales and Carl Jammes Martin will also see action, while Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of ‘The Greatest’, will also battle it out in a middleweight bout against Thailand’s Patumpong Saengarun.