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When Roda Shayne Magat arrived in Singapore with her seven-year-old son, Ieuan, last August, she was tired but hopeful.

After years of hospital visits and waiting lines in Manila, she finally felt that their prayers were being answered. From the moment they landed, everything was ready-the hotel, the transfers, the schedules.

‘God is so good,’ Magat said with a smile. ‘Lahat plantsado na.’

It was the first time in a long while that things felt certain. For a mother who had spent years worrying about her son’s fragile health, being in Singapore for treatment felt like stepping into a new chapter-one filled with calm, structure and hope.

The long road from diagnosis to treatment

Ieuan’s story began when he was just four years old.

What first seemed like minor vision issues led to a devastating diagnosis: a rare brain tumor called craniopharyngioma. By then, he had already lost sight in his right eye.

‘Pero nakakakita pa siya sa left,’ Magat said softly. She clung to that one remaining light while searching endlessly online for possible cures.

In 2024, she read about Proton Beam Therapy, an advanced type of radiation treatment that could target tumors precisely without harming healthy tissues. It was a breakthrough that sounded like an answered prayer-but there was one problem.

‘Wala pong Proton Beam Therapy sa Philippines,’ Magat said. ‘Kaya nag-email ako sa lahat ng hospital na meron.’

Only one replied-Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore. That single response set everything in motion.

A doctor’s expertise, a family’s trust

At Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore, Ieuan came under the care of Dr. Lee Kuo Ann, a radiation oncologist who has treated many children with complex brain and head tumors using Proton Beam Therapy.

In a separate interview, Dr. Lee recalled Ieuan’s case vividly. ‘For children like Ieuan, precision is key,’ he explained. ‘Their organs are still developing, and traditional radiation can affect healthy tissue around the tumor.’

‘Proton Beam Therapy allows us to deliver the dose exactly where it’s needed, sparing the critical areas nearby.’

According to Dr. Lee, the goal was to control the tumor without affecting Ieuan’s brain and hormonal function.

‘He tolerated treatment very well,’ Dr. Lee said. ‘He was brave, cheerful and full of curiosity-even when facing something so difficult at such a young age.’

He added that Proton Beam Therapy is especially valuable for pediatric patients because it minimizes long-term side effects.

‘When we treat a child, we’re not just thinking of today’s cure-we’re protecting their tomorrow,’ Dr. Lee emphasized.

Healing with heart at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore

The Proton Therapy Centre, which opened in May 2023, is Singapore’s first. Singapore is one of only two countries in Southeast Asia offering Proton Beam Therapy.

Since opening, the centre has treated patients from 29 countries, aged 1.5 to 87 years old. The top cancers treated are head and neck, brain and prostate cancers-conditions where precision truly matters.

For Roda and Ieuan Magat, it wasn’t only the technology that made a difference-it was the people. Among them was Riza Dupo, senior principal radiation therapist, who guided Ieuan through his Proton Beam Therapy sessions with steady compassion.

A fellow Filipino, Dupo became a source of comfort for both mother and son.

She explained every step, calmed Ieuan’s nerves, and offered quiet reassurance through every session. For Magat, her presence was proof that the Filipino spirit of care remains strong-even far from home.

‘Hindi namin naramdaman na mag-isa kami dito,’ Magat said. ‘Parang pamilya na rin talaga.’

Dreams beyond darkness

Every morning, Ieuan would ask, ‘Mommy, magpo-Proton po ba ako bukas?’ until one day, he smiled wide and said, ‘Mommy, last na ngayon ha? Makakauwi na tayo sa La Union!’

Now that his treatment is done, he looks forward to returning home, seeing his younger siblings, and-more than anything-going back to school. Even after losing his sight, his dream has never changed.

‘Gagawa ako ng images ni Lord Jesus at ni Mama Mary,’ he once told his mother. Ieuan wants to become a sculptor, inspired by his deep faith and love for religious figures.

For Magat, that dream is more than art. It is proof that even in darkness, her son continues to see-not with his eyes, but with faith.

Care, compassion and a new beginning

As they prepared to return to the Philippines (at the time of this interview), Magat felt nothing but gratitude-for the doctors, nurses and staff who treated them with such kindness; for the Filipino community in Singapore who sent home-cooked meals; and for the hospital that gave her son a chance at life beyond illness.

At Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore, care goes beyond medicine. It is compassion in action-a reflection of the belief that every patient deserves not only healing, but hope.

For families like the Magats, that is truly Care. For Good.

The Cebu City Government has earned over P3.1 million in just one month from the Colon Night Market, marking a record-setting revenue surge, and triggering renewed scrutiny over past operations and legal compliance.

According to the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), the City collected P3,119,950 between September and October 2025.

The amount includes P516,000 in arkabala or daily vending fees, and P2,603,950 in special permit fees-collected for the first time under Mayor Nestor Archival’s administration. The special permit fees cover garbage collection, certification, organizer’s fees, and business taxes, now remitted directly to the city.

The Colon Night Market, held annually along the historic Colon Street-the oldest street in the Philippines-transforms the downtown stretch into a vibrant open-air bazaar. It provides affordable stalls to small vendors and draws crowds during the ‘ber’ months, serving as both a cultural fixture and a livelihood lifeline.

City Councilor Paul Labra, in a privilege speech last week, highlighted the sharp contrast in collections compared to previous years.

In 2023, the City earned P417,200, and in 2024, P523,590-both over three-month periods and without special permit fees.

Labra questioned why vendors reportedly paid similar rental amounts in past years, yet the city failed to collect the corresponding permit fees.

Labra also called for an executive session and the creation of an ad hoc committee to investigate the operations of the 2023 and 2024 Colon Night Markets.

Meanwhile, Councilor Pastor ‘Jun’ Alcover Jr., chairman of the committee on markets, has repeatedly raised concerns about the legality of the current night market set-up.

In his own privilege speech earlier, Alcover assailed that the Colon Night Market was operating on an expired road closure permit, which lapsed on 5 October 2025. He claimed that without a renewed approval from the Council, the continued operation was ‘illegal’ and ‘unauthorized.’

Alcover also questioned the role of third-party organizers and the absence of oversight from the Gasa Board, the City’s official body for regulating vendor operations.

He warned that the lack of clear guidelines and expired permits undermines the legitimacy of the market’s operations.

Mayor Archival defended the current setup with a private group, under an arrangement authorized by his office and the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).

As the Colon Night Market continues to thrive, its financial success has become a catalyst for deeper scrutiny.

Coal Asia [COAL 0.02 unch; 27% avgVol] [link] said it has no plans to delist from the Philippine Stock Exchange despite launching a P99.7-million tender offer to buy out the remaining shares held by minority investors. In a disclosure on 22 October 2025, COAL said that ‘current shareholders will sell the shares necessary to comply with the MPO (minimum public ownership)’ should the transaction result in a breach of the threshold. Last September, COAL announced that a group of major shareholders-Dexter Tiu, Eric Peter Roxas, Gertim Chuahiong, Alexander Tiu, and John Capinpin-had entered into a share purchase agreement with Pure Energy Holdings Corp., its subsidiary Pure Water Corp., and Quadwater Corp. for the sale of 28.67 billion common shares, representing 71.68% of the company’s outstanding capital. The transaction triggered a mandatory tender offer to buy out the remaining 11.33 billion public shares at P0.0088 apiece-more than 60% below market price. Market observers have said Pure Energy, which shares several directors with COAL, may be positioning for a backdoor listing.

MB BOTTOM-LINE: Sorry for the capslock screaming in the headline, just thought it would be fun to give you a taste of how COAL decided to deliver the entirety of its response to the exchange. That’s funny. I’m interested to see where this process goes, but like the ABG backdoor play (where ABG requested a self-imposed suspension), the main issue here is the lack of clarity for investors and speculators. We know who will be buying the shares through the tender offer, but we don’t know who will exercise control. I mean, we have an idea, but we don’t know. We know the companies that could use this translation as a backdoor play for listing on the PSE, but we don’t know which (if any) of Pure Energy or Pure Water or Quatwater will own a majority of COAL’s shares post-backdoor, should that backdoor happen. Beyond that, even if we did know, we don’t have any idea about the potential owner/s’ intentions. The tender offer was at a massive discount to market, and the best clue we have as to what this is that COAL code-named this valuation exercise ‘Project Neptune’. Of course, Neptune is the Roman god of freshwater and the sea, so that makes me think of water. Perhaps this is a bulk water play. But Neptune was also the Roman god of horses. Oh, but the file was also confusingly titled ‘Project Poseidon’, who was the Greek god of the sea! What does this mean? Was Project Poseidon an earlier name that was scrapped because it doesn’t reflect the freshwater narrative? Hard to say. Poseidon was also a god of horses, so maybe we’re being hit with a double-barrel of misdirection to take our eyes off the real play, which is some massive consolidation of, like, horses. It’s at this point in my morning that I realized I have had too much coffee and not enough food.

Coolaire Consolidated Inc., the country’s leading refrigerated truck supplier, has officially launched its charitable arm, the JRT Foundation Inc. at Celebrity Sports Plaza recently.

The event marked a significant milestone for the Coolaire family as it formalized its long-standing commitment to community building, quality education and environmental sustainability through a foundation that embodies the legacy of the late Jerry Tugade, Coolaire’s visionary president.

Named after Tugade’s initials, the JRT Foundation Inc. was formally established in 2024 to serve as Coolaire’s platform for social responsibility and common shared value-advancing programs aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A highlight of the event was the Partners Signing Ceremony between the JRT Foundation and like-minded organizations that share its vision, marking the beginning of a collective effort to create meaningful and lasting change.

The foundation acknowledged its partners Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (through its Iskolar ni Juan Tech Voc Program) and Akioshi Insurance Services and Consultancy whose generous support and common advocacy for education, empowerment and sustainability will help in driving the JRT Foundation’s programs nationwide-particularly its flagship initiative, the Tikyo Scholarship Program, which continues to support students and families across the country.

‘This foundation is a reflection of Mr. Tugade’s heart-a man whose leadership went beyond business and extended into genuine care for others,’ said JRT Foundation VP Patrick Joseph Tugade. ‘Through the JRT Foundation, we continue his mission to preserve dreams and build communities for generations to come.’

A legacy of leadership and service

Jerry Tugade was known not only as an engineer and entrepreneur but also as a civic leader deeply rooted in faith and service. A University of the Philippines Mechanical Engineering graduate, he transformed Coolaire Consolidated Inc. into a major player in the fields of fire protection and refrigeration.

His passion for innovation and community empowerment earned him recognition among the Letran Quadricentennial Grandes Figuras Awardees, a testament to his lifelong pursuit of excellence, service and faith-driven leadership. He was involved in various church, business and civic organizations where he actively participated in programs and projects that reflected his dedication to uplifting communities and safeguarding the welfare of the least, the last and the lost.

The Tikyo Scholarship

Among its first initiatives is the Tibay ng Isip bunga ng Karunungang Yaman at Oportunidad (Tikyo) Scholarship Program, launched in 2021 under Coolaire’s Caring Campaign Initiatives (CCI). The program was named in memory of a fallen Coolaire employee whose child became its first scholar.

Starting with 19 beneficiaries, it has now expanded to 66 students nationwide, covering Metro Manila, Bulacan, Visayas and Mindanao with the goal of expanding further to at least 100 in the next three months.

Through monthly educational subsidies, the Tikyo Scholarship supports students in both basic and tertiary education-empowering families and communities to rise above economic barriers.

‘Each scholar represents a dream preserved, a family sustained and a future strengthened,’ shared JRT Foundation vice chairman Joel Ryan Tugade ‘This is just the beginning of the JRT Foundation’s mission to reach more lives and communities so that we leave no one behind.’

A living legacy

The launch concluded with the debut of the JRT Foundation Official Video, which highlighted the life and vision of Jerry Tugade and featured stories of Tikyo Scholars whose lives have been transformed through the foundation’s initiatives.

As the JRT Foundation embarks on its journey, it carries with it a promise-to turn compassion into action, and to continue preserving dreams and building communities for generations to come.

After last week’s rollback ended the two-month fuel price hike, motorists have to brace for a big-time increase bordering P2 per liter starting Tuesday, October 28.

Oil firms are set to raise gasoline prices by P1.20 per liter, diesel by P2 per liter and kerosene by P1.70 per liter, higher than the industry estimates last week.

Shell Pilipinas, Seaoil, CleanFuel and PetroGazz announced the upward price adjustments on Monday, October 27.

According to the Department of Energy’s Oil Industry Management Bureau, the latest price hike stemmed from new US sanctions on Russia’s largest oil firms, imposed as part of efforts to push for a peace deal with Ukraine.

The sanctions have further tightened the supply of Russian oil, a key global source, driving up prices despite projections of higher production from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Tensions in the Middle East have also unsettled the market, with the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas showing signs of strain as both sides continue to exchange strikes.

Last week, gasoline prices climbed by P0.10 per liter, while diesel and kerosene prices dropped by P0.70 per liter and P0.60 per liter, respectively.

This was largely due to the expected oversupply from OPEC and its allies, coupled with increasing US output.

In Metro Manila, prevailing retail fuel prices stood at the following levels from October 21 to October 27:

Gasoline (RON97/100): P68.37

Gasoline (RON95): P59.95

Gasoline (RON91): P55.40

Diesel: P54.75

Diesel Plus: P67.39

Kerosene: P75.82

With this week’s price hike, year-to-date increases will bring gasoline up by P16.50 per liter, diesel by P19.15, and kerosene by P6.55.

Today is the 300th day of 2025 (82% complete). It’s been a minute since I’ve paid close attention to the markets, so I’m not going to pretend like I have enough of a feel for what happened to make a quippy remark, except to say that it’s more than a little disheartening to see the PSEi back to trading with a 5-handle on my first day back at my desk. Spin it however you want (people selling down to buy the MYNLD IPO?), this is not a sign that things are going well for the market.

> PH: We start the week with the Maynilad [MYNLD 15.00] IPO offer period already underway. The offer closes on Wednesday, which is the same day that 8990 Holdings [HOUSE suspended] delists. Lightning crashes, a new mother cries (that’s a musical reference for all my early 90s comrades out there).

> International: Fed rate decision on Friday!

MB BOTTOM-LINE: Feels like the MYNLD IPO is taking up all the oxygen in the room right now. What little ‘market’ I followed while I was on leave basically reduced down to socmed speculation that significant downward moves in some blue chip stocks and recent darlings were really just traders gathering dry powder (freeing up capital) to invest in the MYNLD IPO. Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen. Brokers want us (retail buyers) to think that the smart money (the institutional buyers) can’t get enough of this trade, but my anecdotal experience says that retail traders just aren’t all that rabid for the deal. Is the smart money right? Is the retail interest actually more intense than my personal experience would suggest? We’re about to find out. One thing to remember about smart money is that it doesn’t always share the same incentives as we do. And it makes bad bets, too. Just remember all the cash that GSIS and SSS threw into those disastrous ALLDY and HOME IPOs. You just do what is right for you.

A nine-year-old ethnic Blaan girl died instantly after she was struck by lightning in their yard in Barangay Upper Suyan in Malapatan, Sarangani on Thursday.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office told reporters yesterday that the girl was rushing to their house when lightning struck.

The girl lost consciousness and stopped breathing, officials added.

Malapatan town officials said they would help facilitate her burial.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) has approved the delisting of 8990 Holdings Inc., setting the stage for the affordable housing developer’s exit from the local bourse this month.

The PSE approved the petition for voluntary delisting filed by 8990, with the company’s shares to be delisted from the official registry of the exchange effective Oct. 31, 2025.

8990 earlier submitted to the PSE a petition for voluntary delisting of its common shares that are listed on the main board of the PSE, with the hope that the delisting will be effective on or around Oct. 29, 2025.

The company’s delisting will end its 15-year run as a publicly listed firm.

The company was incorporated and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as IP Converge Data Center Inc. on July 8, 2005 and was principally engaged in the information technology and telecommunications business at that time.

Following a corporate reorganization in 2012, the company ceased operating as a data services provider and began operating as a holding company, with its shares initially listed on the PSE on Oct. 20, 2010.

The SEC approved the application for the change of corporate name of the company to its current name, 8990 Holdings, in 2013.

8990 is the second listed company to voluntarily delist this year, with the PSE earlier approving the petition filed by Keppel Philippines Holdings Inc.

The PSE ordered the delisting of the Keppel Philippines’ shares from the official registry of the exchange effective July 8, 2025, officially ending its almost four decades of being a publicly listed firm.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines welcomed the inaugural flight of the Russia-based Iraero Airlines to Kalibo, which the CAAP said marks a new chapter in air connectivity between the Philippines and Russia.

The first Iraero Airlines flight from Irkutsk, Russia landed at Kalibo International Airport on Oct. 25, carrying Russian tourists.

Iraero Airlines will begin its regular flights every Tuesday and Saturday between Kalibo and Russian cities Irkutsk and Khabarovsk starting tomorrow.

The new flights are expected to attract more Russian visitors to Boracay and other tourist destinations in the region, further supporting the government’s goal of inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.

CAAP chief Raul del Rosario said the new service is a milestone for regional connectivity, noting that the direct link will not only boost tourism in Western Visayas but also promote cultural and economic exchanges between the two nations.

‘The CAAP is taking proactive steps to future-proof the country’s aviation sector by investing in modern airport infrastructure, sustainable air transport systems and expanded international partnerships,’ Del Rosario said.

Meanwhile, CAAP also welcomed Philippine Airlines’ inaugural flight from Cebu to Calbayog in Samar yesterday, with PAL plying the route every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

In Nueva Vizcaya, CAAP allotted P12.5 million from its 2026 budget for the rehabilitation of Bagabag Airport.

The amount will cover the construction of a new fire station and purchase of a firetruck – requirements for the airport’s reopening.

Gov. Jose Gambito said restoring the airport remains a top priority, noting that limited access to and from Metro Manila hampers growth.

He said the Nueva Vizcaya government would shell out a counterpart fund for additional improvements, including the perimeter fence.

World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem and a bevy of top Filipino fighters could not help but rave about eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao’s move to stage the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila.

‘The moment I learned about Senator Manny Pacquiao’s wish to celebrate the Thrilla and have me as its main event, I felt overjoyed,’ said Jerusalem, who makes the third defense of the WBC 105-pound crown against South African Siyakholwa Kuse on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

‘I am so excited to be a part of this landmark moment in Philippine sports,’ Jerusalem said.

Like Jerusalem, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and unbeaten pro Eumir Marcial swears that his inclusion in the slambang show being put up by Pacquiao’s Blow-By-Blow team is a dream come true.

‘I have always wanted to be associated with my longtime idol Manny Pacquiao and getting the opportunity to fight under his promotional banner is something I am very proud of,’ said Marcial, who clashes with Venezuelan knockout artist Eddy Colmenares in a middleweight special attraction.

Jerusalem is fighting for the second time under Blow-By-Blow and he remains thrilled to be showcasing his ring savvy anew before a worldwide audience.

Also expressing their 100 percent support behind the Thrilla are top super-bantams Carl Jammes Martin and Marlon Tapales, also scheduled to appear in the undercard against separate foreign foes.

Pacquiao is leading the celebration of the Thrilla’s golden anniversary as a homage to the epic 14-round war between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on 1 October 1975.

‘Until now, half a century later, when you ask fight fans about the Thrilla in Manila, their eyes light up and they tell you about the action and the drama of that momentous event,’ Pacquiao said.

‘I believe that 50 years from now, the Thrilla would still be up there among the greatest and most unforgettable moments in sports history.’