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The Philippines is counting on the resumption of a eVisa program for Chinese tourists in November to help close a widening gap in tourist arrivals, as neighbouring Southeast Asian countries pull further ahead.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Tuesday, October 21 that the government expects Chinese visitor numbers to rise once the eVisa is back in place.

“With the eVisa being resumed only in November, it’s really a lot of market preparation to rebuild what has been lost,” she said at an event in Makati City, as quoted by the Philippine News Agency.

Frasco added: “The market penetration, I anticipate, will only be next year. As we can see in the results of any marketing campaign, it’s a work of at least six months before you can see actual conversion.”

The online system aims to make it easier for travelers from mainland China and its Special Administrative Regions to obtain visas for stays of up to 14 days for business or tourism.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said it will also work with Chinese industry partners to increase the number of charter flights into the country and will step up marketing for both leisure and business travelers.

“Even when the eVisa was suspended… our marketing efforts in China did not stop,” Frasco said in Filipino.

The DOT reported 203,923 Chinese arrivals in January-September 2025. While that is an improvement in trend compared to 2024’s 300,000 tourists, the Philippines was banking on a 2-million visitor target from China.

Lagging behind peers

The effort, however, is an uphill task. The country, after all, is lagging behind peers in Southeast Asia in overall tourism numbers.

Between January and April 2025, the Philippines drew just 2.1 million foreign visitors-a drop of 3.2 % compared to the same period in 2024. Its neighbors such as Malaysia (13.4 million) and Thailand (12.1 million) posted far higher volumes.

Number of international tourists January-April 2025 in Southeast Asia

Thailand

12.1

Malaysia

8.4

Vietnam

7.7

Indonesia

4.3

Singapore

4.2

Cambodia

2.4

Philippines

2.1

In millions. | Source: ASEAN governments | Philstar.com chart

The weak performance stems from multiple factors: weaker high-volume feeder markets like South Korea and China, and the Philippines’ less-mature public and private tourism infrastructure.

Reintroducing the China eVisa may prove crucial. Before the pandemic, China was the Philippines’ second-largest source market after South Korea, delivering 1.7 million visitors in 2019.

The DOT said it is ramping up joint promotions with the Tourism Promotions Board and private-sector partners to align efforts.

“We hope that it (e-Visa) can lead to higher arrivals from the Chinese market next year,” Frasco said.

Competitive race. Tourism analysts, however, say that inbound tourism has not kept up with outbound tourism, that is, Filipinos visiting countries overseas, particularly Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

One report described inbound arrivals as “a bit slower, at less than three-quarters (72 %) recovered to 2019 levels.”

“The regional market is very competitive, and we need to keep adding more focus, resources, and funding to our tourism sector to ensure we stay relevant,” Mastercard Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific David Mann said in a May report.

‘If you’re afraid of the public, then quit politics.’ That’s what then-Comelec chairman Christian Monsod told Election 1992 candidates who pestered him for permits to have bodyguards.

In the same vein they should be told, ‘If you’re afraid of transparency, then quit government.’

Politicos have a common lame excuse to hide their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. Publicizing SALNs supposedly exposes them to harassment by opponents.

Phooey! Harassment is a crime, so sue that opponent.

The Constitution is clear. Article XI, Accountability of Public Officers, Section 17 states:

‘A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities and net worth. In the case of the President, Vice President, Members of the Cabinet, Congress, Supreme Court, Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional offices, and officers of the Armed Forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law.’

The enabling law is RA 6713, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Section 8, Statements and Disclosure, says:

‘Public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.

‘(A) Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Financial Disclosure.

‘All public officials and employees, except those who serve in an honorary capacity, laborers and casual or temporary workers, shall file under oath their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and a Disclosure of Business Interests and Financial Connections and those of their spouses and unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.

‘The two documents shall contain information on the following: (a) real property, its improvements, acquisition costs, assessed value and current fair market value; (b) personal property and acquisition cost; (c) all other assets such as investments, cash on hand or in banks, stocks, bonds and the like; (d) liabilities and (e) all business interests and financial connections.

‘The documents must be filed: (a) within thirty (30) days after assumption of office; (b) on or before April 30, of every year thereafter; and (c) within thirty (30) days after separation from the service.

‘All public officials and employees required under this section to file the aforestated documents shall also execute, within thirty (30) days from the date of their assumption of office, the necessary authority in favor of the ombudsman to obtain from all appropriate government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, such documents as may show their assets, liabilities, net worth and also their business interests and financial connections in previous years, including, if possible, the year when they first assumed any office in the Government.

‘Husband and wife who are both public officials or employees may file the required statements jointly or separately.

‘The Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and the Disclosure of Business Interests and Financial Connections shall be filed by:

‘(1) Constitutional and national elective officials, with the national Office of the Ombudsman;

‘(2) Senators and Congressmen, with the Secretaries of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively; Justices, with the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court; Judges, with the Court Administrator and all national executive officials with the Office of the President;

‘(3) Regional and local officials and employees, with the Deputy Ombudsman in their respective regions;

‘(4) Officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, with the Office of the President, and those below said ranks, with the Deputy Ombudsman in their respective regions; and

‘(5) All other public officials and employees, defined in Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, with the Civil Service Commission.

‘(B) Identification and disclosure of relatives.

‘It shall be the duty of every public official or employee to identify and disclose, to the best of his knowledge and information, his relatives in the Government in the form, manner and frequency prescribed by the Civil Service Commission.

‘(C) Accessibility of documents.

‘(1) Any and all statements filed under this Act, shall be made available for inspection at reasonable hours.

‘(2) Such statements shall be made available for copying or reproduction after ten (10) working days from the time they are filed as required by law.

‘(3) Any person requesting a copy of a statement shall be required to pay a reasonable fee to cover the cost of reproduction and mailing of such statement, as well as the cost of certification.

‘(4) Any statement filed under this Act shall be available to the public for a period of ten (10) years after receipt of the statement. After such period, the statement may be destroyed unless needed in an ongoing investigation.

‘(D) Prohibited acts.

‘It shall be unlawful for any person to obtain or use any statement filed under this Act for: (a) any purpose contrary to morals or public policy; or (b) any commercial purpose other than by news and communications media for dissemination to the general public.’

For six years as president, Rody Duterte hid his SALN. He appointed ombudsman Samuel Martires to a seven-year term, 2018-2025. Martires’s first act was to hide SALNs of other high officials.

Constitutionalists complained. The Supreme Court in 2021 affirmed Martires.

Meantime, politicos, DPWH officials and contractors plundered P1.7 trillion in flood control funds.

Time to undo opacity and disclose SALNs.

Actress-singer Jessa Zaragoza returns with a gripping new single “Ang Sakit Sakit.”

With a legacy anchored by timeless classics like “Bakit Pa?,” “Di Ba’t Ikaw,” and “Paano Kaya,” Jessa has long been the voice behind the heartbreak anthems of generations of Filipino music lovers.

Her songs have become staples in Filipino households and karaoke nights, solidifying her status as one of OPM’s most beloved and enduring artists.

Now, with “Ang Sakit Sakit,” Jessa once again delivers an emotionally charged performance that harks back to her signature style – heartfelt, raw, and unmistakably hers.

The track is a powerful lament of love lost to betrayal – a painful realization of being strung along, only to discover that someone else had already taken your place in your lover’s heart.

Composed and produced by Vehnee Saturno, who also penned Jessa’s 2012 hit “Nasaan,” this new single revives a creative partnership that defined a generation of OPM ballads.

“‘Ang Sakit Sakit’ is classic OPM heartbreak, brought to life with today’s sonic depth and emotional maturity,” Jessa said in a statement. “It reminds me of the pain in ‘Bakit Pa?’ – but this time, the hurt cuts from a deeper place.”

Adding a layer of generational magic is Jessa’s daughter, Jayda Avanzado, whose involvement as vocal producer and backing vocalist brings a fresh yet familiar tone to the track – a true family affair predicated by great music.

“Reuniting with Tito Vehnee felt like picking up a powerful conversation after years of silence. This song is for everyone who’s ever loved too hard – and been hurt even harder,” Jessa ended.

Jan Cadee Dagoon and Krelz Gecolasa emerged as the biggest revelations of the Gentry National Juniors Tennis Championships at the Colegio San Agustin courts in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, each capturing twin titles.

Dagoon lived up to her billing as the second seed in the girls’ 16-and-under division, exacting revenge for top-seed and fellow Olongapo City rising star Ayl Gonzaga’s earlier loss to Izabelle Camcam in the semifinals. In a display of dominance, she blanked Camcam, 6-0, 6-0, to claim the crown.

In the 18-and-U semis, she survived a tight battle with Gonzaga, 6-3, 7-6(3), before dismantling Dania Bulanadi, 6-1, 6-2, to complete her two-title romp.

Her impressive campaign didn’t end there. Dagoon went on to claim a third crown, teaming up with Gonzaga to clinch the 18-and-U doubles title with a commanding 8-2 win over Bulanadi and Athena Liwag.

Gecolasa, hailing from Midsayap, North Cotabato, also completed a golden double with gritty performances in the boys’ side, claiming the 16-under and 14-under diadems.

Filipino fans of ‘The Witcher’ are in for a magical musical journey as CD Projekt Red officially brings ‘The Witcher in Concert’ to Manila in 2026.

Set to take place at the Solaire Theatre on March 28 and 29, the immersive concert experience celebrates a decade of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with a live performance of its iconic soundtrack. The show features a 14-member ensemble, including select members of the Polish folk-metal band, Percival Schuttenbach, who is behind many of the game’s most memorable tracks.

The Manila stop is part of a larger Asia tour, which will begin in Singapore in November of this year with stops in South Korea and China next year before heading to the Philippines. Tickets for the Manila leg go on sale November 26, with a pre-sale starting November 14.

“Our community in Asia has always been an important part of CD Projeckt Red’s journey with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Whether it’s in the form of fanart, cosplay, music, modding, handwritten letters, or so many other creative outlets, we are always amazed by the passion and excitement that they bring to the game. With The Witcher in Concert, it was important for us to create a fitting tribute for so many shared memories – and the opportunity for one more adventure with Geralt,” said Community International Lead Carolin Wendt.

The concert blends music from The Witcher 3 and its expansions with cinematic visuals and gameplay footage, offering fans a chance to relive Geralt of Rivia’s journey in a whole new way. It’s a tribute not just to the game, but to the community that helped shape its legacy.

“The Witcher community across Asia expressed incredible excitement when we first announced The Witcher in Concert. To finally take the music to them is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. I’m already looking forward to 2026 and I hope our community is also looking forward to experiencing Geralt’s journey with us,’ said The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt co-composer Marcin Przybylowicz.

Produced in collaboration with GEA Live and RoadCo Entertainment, The Witcher in Concert is part of a global celebration of the game’s 10th anniversary.

The Special Stockholders’ Meeting of ETON PROPERTIES PHILIPPINES INC. (the “Company”) which will be held virtually via the web conferencing application Zoom on Nov. 14, 2025, Friday, at 10 a.m.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has announced the appointment of three new members of its board of trustees following the resignation of some board members who called for the departure of the state pension fund’s president and general manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso.

The state pension fund said the new appointments would enable its leadership to function as a unified and cohesive team, committed to delivering responsive public service.

The new appointees are Gilbert Tan Sadsad, the president of the Philippine Public School Teachers Association and Enrico Gregorio Molina Trinidad and Cenon Cruz Audencial Jr., representing the banking, finance, investment and insurance sectors.

The GSIS expressed confidence in the newly appointed trustees, saying their extensive experience would be invaluable in sustaining and building upon the pension fund’s previous achievements.

‘This development allows the GSIS leadership to work as a solid and cohesive team. Our focus remains squarely on enhancing our ginhawa services and ensuring the financial security of government workers and pensioners,’ GSIS said.

The appointment of the new trustees follows the resignation of Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, Emmanuel Samson and Rita Riddle.

The three members who resigned, together with other members of the board of trustees namely Evelina Escudero, Jocelyn Cabreza and Alan Luga called for the resignation of Veloso, citing ‘poor investment decisions’ that allegedly resulted in an P8.8-billion loss.

They said that Veloso’s actions and endorsement of risky transactions compelled them to act, asserting that such initiatives were not only questionable but also constituted a direct violation of the GSIS’s fiduciary duties.

The group cited several transactions involving companies such as Monde Nissin Corp., Nickel Asia Corp., Bloomberry Resorts Corp., DigiPlus Interactive Corp., Alternergy Holdings Corp. and Figaro Culinary Group Inc., among others.

In an interview with dzMM on Monday, Veloso clarified that all GSIS investments were made with the full knowledge and collective approval of both the board and management, emphasizing that such decisions reflected the actions of the entire GSIS leadership rather than a single individual.

‘If the board feels that they would like to do management roles, that is going to be a totally different story. That is why we would like as much as possible to be able to make sure that all of those things are addressed,’ he said.

Veloso earlier maintained that the pension fund’s performance ‘speaks for itself,’ noting that GSIS’s total assets have risen to P1.92 trillion, with a net income of P100.02 billion and total income of P231.06 billion.

The former members of the GSIS board of trustees, however, said that the ‘reported growth in the fund’s assets was largely inflated by non-cash, unrealized gains from the annual revaluation of its property portfolio.’

‘The very purpose of a board review is to provide a crucial layer of scrutiny, risk assessment and collective judgment. It was precisely by evading this mandatory review process that Veloso was able to proceed with the high-risk, underperforming ventures that have now resulted in substantial losses,’ the resigned trustees said in another letter.

They added that their review showed that the new investments introduced and endorsed by Veloso had largely underperformed, with most reportedly incurring significant losses.

Veloso and other executives of the GSIS were suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman last July in connection with the state-run fund’s P1.45-billion investment deal with Alternergy.

The suspension was lifted last month as case records and submitted pleadings already contain the necessary documents and evidence for the proper resolution of the case, rendering the suspension unnecessary and warranting its lifting.

Politicians accused of receiving campaign contributions from public works contractors maintain that they have done nothing illegal.

Several of them have issued explanations similar to that of former Senate president Francis Escudero: the donations were made in a private capacity, and the declaration of the contributions in the candidate’s statement of contributions and expenditures reflected the belief that the donations were aboveboard.

Perhaps the candidates, who now face probes by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and may be slapped with criminal cases for poll-related offenses, can be forgiven for believing that they did nothing wrong.

After all, as far as Comelec Chairman George Garcia can tell, no one has ever faced a complaint, much less gone to jail, for receiving campaign contributions from ‘natural and juridical persons’ supplying goods or services to the government, or who have been awarded government franchises.

Politicians, among them Escudero, have said owners of contractor firms donated campaign funds in their personal or private capacity, being long-time friends or supporters of the candidates.

But Garcia has pointed out that the law prohibiting such contributions make no distinction between contractor companies and their owners and executives.

This belief of politicians regarding the nature of personal contributions could have been reinforced by the fact that no one has ever been indicted for it as an electoral offense, much less gone to prison for it.

Complaints for electoral violations are usually filed by rival candidates. I asked Garcia, a former election lawyer, why no one has ever filed such a complaint.

Maybe they were all doing it – ‘baka lahat sila guilty,’ he told us, tongue in cheek, on One News’ ‘Storycon’ last Monday. He did not take back or qualify his statement.

We have so many laws that have never been enforced, so this situation is hardly surprising.

In the ongoing landmark probe by the Comelec, how fast can a case be resolved, and what penalties await?

‘Prohibited contributions’ under Section 95 of the Omnibus Elections Code, Batas Pambansa 881, list campaign donations from ‘natural and juridical persons’ who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply the government with goods or services, or ‘to perform construction or other works, or who have been granted franchises, incentives, exemptions, allocations or similar privileges or concessions’ from any government agency including government corporations.

The Marcos 1.0-era BP 881 makes no distinction between campaign donations of contractor firms and ‘private funds’ contributed in a personal capacity by executives of the companies. No exemption is provided for the covered natural and juridical persons who contribute to the campaigns of their parents or children.

Also, the covered ‘goods and services’ do not refer only to flood control projects.

If Section 95 would be strictly applied, the majority of elective officials could be found guilty.

Fortunately for a number of them, the statute of limitations for such offenses, according to Garcia, is only five years – the reason why the Comelec probe is giving priority to candidates in the 2022 general elections, although the probe has now expanded to the 2025 race.

There are two key concerns here: how long will it take before guilt is established, and more importantly, can punishment be carried out?

Garcia told Storycon that the Comelec can establish guilt in a matter of months, but ousting the violator from the elective post based on Comelec findings will be up to other agencies.

For ethical or administrative breaches, sanctions are imposed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for local executives. For lawmakers, politics rather than laws or rules largely govern the actions of the ethics panels of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In 2016, the Senate ignored an order from then ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to kick out Joel Villanueva and perpetually bar him from public office for misuse of his P10-million pork barrel in 2008 when he was a CIBAC party-list congressman. Villanueva still has pending graft cases.

Villanueva has again been implicated in the current flood control scandal, lampooned together with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and their former colleague Bong Revilla as the ‘Men of Steal.’

As tough as putting wealthy and influential thieves behind bars (the hampaslupa are tossed in jail simply for playing cara y cruz) is the enactment of campaign finance reforms.

BP 881 was passed way back in December 1985, when the elder Ferdinand Marcos was the president. Since then, additional election-related laws have been passed, such as those providing for poll automation and the bastardization of the party-list.

But to this day under Ferdinand Marcos Jr., there is still no law on campaign finance reforms, even with the Comelec itself pushing for the legislation. And even if proponents have tried to appeal to the self-interest of lawmakers, by arguing that the reforms are meant to make election campaigns much cheaper.

Considering the details emerging in the Comelec probe, which tend to confirm public perceptions about rotten election campaigns, such reforms could stunt wealth accumulation among political families.

Many corrupt deals and illegal wealth spring from election campaigns – one of the most efficient mega money laundering mechanisms in this country.

Now the Comelec is trying to shine the light into this dirty money black hole. Not all the violators can be covered; the Comelec will inevitably face accusations of being selective and politically motivated.

But change must start somewhere.

Garcia said the criminal aspects of the cases are up to the prosecution arms and the courts.

Maybe with a new ombudsman who knows the mandate of the office and is gung-ho about the anti-corruption campaign, the nation can look forward to seeing the big fish land behind bars. Sooner than later.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has updated its regulations to allow more overseas Filipinos to invest in central bank securities through retirement funds, expanding their access to diversified and secure investment options.

In a recent issuance, the BSP exempted Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) unit investment trust funds (UITFs) from the 10-percent non-resident ownership limit that previously restricted their ability to invest in BSP securities.

Non-residents are generally barred from owning BSP securities or debt instruments issued by the central bank to manage liquidity in the financial system.

Previously, UITFs could invest in these securities only if non-resident participation in the fund did not exceed 10 percent.

With the new rule, UITFs accredited by the BSP as PERA-UITFs are no longer subject to this restriction, allowing more overseas Filipinos to participate.

‘At present, nine out of 13 PERA-UITFs exceed the 10 percent non-resident ownership limit, barring them from investing in BSP securities,’ the central bank said. ‘The change would allow them to diversify their portfolio.’

UITFs, which are managed by banks and trust companies under BSP supervision, pool funds from multiple investors to create diversified portfolios accessible even to small investors. UITFs also function similarly to mutual funds, which are managed by investment companies and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The BSP said the regulatory amendment aligns with its ongoing efforts to strengthen financial inclusion and promote long-term financial security for Filipinos, both at home and abroad.

‘The move reflects the BSP’s continued effort to promote financial health. It helps Filipinos, both at home or abroad, build secure and sustainable retirement savings. It also helps develop the country’s private pension system and strengthens domestic capital markets,’ the BSP added.

Based on central bank data, voluntary retirement contributions rose by 24 percent to P491.39 million in 2024 from P396.31 million in 2023.

The number of PERA contributors stood at 5,912 as of December 2024, 6.4 percent higher than the 5,555 a year ago.

Broken down, 4,211 employed people contributed P341.75 million to the fund as of end-2024, followed by 789 overseas Filipino workers with P82.25 million and 912 self-employed people with P67.39 million.

Leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the Bangsamoro region are mourning the passing of former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, who served as their ‘bridge’ to the government during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Minister Muslimin Sema, chairman of the MNLF’s central committee, said that Ermita was approachable and always listened to issues and concerns besetting the MNLF.

Ermita was executive secretary during the Arroyo administration. He had also served as presidential peace adviser and acting chief of the Department of National Defense.

Sema was mayor of Cotabato City when Ermita was Malacañang’s executive secretary.

‘To us, he was always a smiling person who immediately acted on our concerns, particularly on issues pertaining to the peace and development agenda in the MNLF’s peace agreement with the government,’ Sema said.

He was referring to the MNLF’s September 1996 peace agreement brokered by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, an organization of more than 60 Muslim states.

Hatimil Hassan, MNLF representative to the Bangsamoro parliament, said Ermita always reached out to the MNLF whenever he needed help to push forward Malacañang’s peace and security programs in Mindanao.

‘He was a non-Muslim who actively supported, in his various capacities, the government’s peace overtures with the Moro National Liberation Front,’ Hassan said.