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Maya PHilippines Inc. revealed last Thursday that the digital payments and financial services company saw a ‘structural shift’ in how Filipinos are accessing credit, with more than a third of ‘Maya Black’ credit cardholders now entering through a deposit-backed card.

According to Maya, about 37 percent of these cardholders originated from the firm’s other credit card product (‘Maya Black Express’), which uses customer deposits as collateral.

Maya Group President and Maya Bank Inc. Co-founder Shailesh Baidwan said the figure signals growing demand for alternative pathways into formal credit in a market where traditional barriers have kept penetration stubbornly low.

‘When given the right entry point, Filipinos are ready to engage with credit on their own terms,’ Baidwan said. ”Maya Black Express’ provides both dignity and discipline-perks from day one, and a clear path to grow responsibly.’

Credit card penetration in the Philippines remains at approximately 15 percent of the adult population, leaving millions locked out of formal credit systems. The challenge is circular: consumers need credit history to qualify for cards, but need cards to build that history in the first place.

According to Maya, its ‘Black Express’ card attempts to break this cycle by allowing users to secure a credit line with a refundable deposit starting at P12,500. The deposit determines 80 percent of the user’s credit limit and earns 3.5 percent annual interest-above typical savings rates-while serving as collateral.

Unlike traditional secured cards that offer basic features, the ‘Black Express’ users enjoy a numberless card with dynamic CVV for enhanced security, no annual fees for life, complimentary global airport lounge access, and rewards through Maya’s merchant network.

ANZ Research has said that credit card spending is one of the drivers of private consumption in the country. Filipinos swiping their credit cards and obtaining loans against their salaries are helping boost consumption spending in the country but these are deemed ‘unhealthy’ practices, the research unit of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. added.

THE National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on Wednesday night said it welcomes the latest Pulse Asia survey that shows the Filipinos ‘strong confidence’ in the government’s policy of transparency and resolute defense of the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the WPS.

‘We thank the Filipino people for their trust in the NTF-WPS and its member agencies, particularly the Coast Guard [PCG], the Navy [PN], and the Armed Forces [AFP], all whom gained high trust ratings from the public,’ it said in a statement.

The same survey also had 41 percent of respondents identifying the PCG as the most trustworthy government agency for updates and reports concerning the WPS.

‘This strong vote of confidence is not just a reflection of institutional performance; it is a reflection of national unity in the face of continuing challenges to our sovereignty,’ NTF-WPS added.

The survey results send a clear and powerful message: the Filipino people stand for truth, transparency, and the defense of what is rightfully ours.

‘We also draw our strength from the fact that 94 percent of respondents believe that the Philippines should continue its transparency policy and persist in publicly exposing China’s coercive and aggressive behavior,’ it noted.

With this, NTF-WPS pledged to sustain and further strengthen it transparency policy.

‘We will continue to shine light on every illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive (ICAD) activity in our waters. We will not be silenced, we will not be intimidated, and we will never turn away from our duty to defend the Filipino people’s rights and the nation’s dignity,’ NTF-WPS said.

Also, the survey’s findings that 77 percent of respondents identified the United States as the top country the Philippines can rely on reflects the enduring strength of the Philippine-US alliance.

It also said that this partnership is rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a common commitment to peace, stability, and the rule of law.

‘This reinforces the need for the Philippines to strengthen its partnerships with like-minded nations who believe in a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific,’ the agency added.

Freeport Area of Bataan-The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) said on Wednesday it has formed strategic partnerships with two South Korean companies to explore potential industrial and manpower development projects in its quest to expand free port operations in the province of Bataan.

AFAB Administrator and CEO Hussein Pangandaman on Tuesday, October 14, signed separate declaration of commitment and support with MSquare Global and the Global Human Resource Development Institute (GHRDI) of South Korea to broaden AFAB’s collaboration with international partners, the agency said in a statement.

The first agreement, signed with MSquare Global chairman Byungho Choi, intends to identify and evaluate potential projects in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) and expand AFAB collaboration with Korean enterprises exploring business opportunities in the country.

The second, signed with GHRDI president In Sun Choi, pertains to identifying viable opportunities in training, human resource development, and institutional capacity-building under AFAB’s regulatory structure.

Both agreements established frameworks for cooperation that ‘define the intent to begin a structured coordination process, from the exchange of information to the assessment of areas suitable for future development,’ AFAB said.

FAB, which has been named ‘Industrial Zone of the Year-Asia-Pacific’ in the recent fDi Intelligence Global Free Zones Awards 2025, has been gearing for expansion into 17 areas spread across eight towns and one city in the province.

Among these are the Dinalupihan Woodlands Economic Zone, Tipo Valley Innovation Hub, First Abucay Freeport, Bataan New Port City, Lucanin Industrial Estate, Central Top Economic Zone, and GenPower Energy Complex.

Film festival

Meanwhile, 10 original short films, each produced and directed by young film makers in Bataan province, competed in the first FAB Film Festival (FFF) organized by AFAB.

The films, which explored themes in life, identity, and community, were screened and judged at the AFAB Auditorium last Tuesday night, October 14.

Pangandaman, who opened the film premier, said the festival reflects AFAB’s belief that economic zones can be spaces not only for production and enterprise but also for creative expression.

‘The same place that builds and innovates can also tell stories,’ Pangandaman said, underscoring the agency’s goal to build a community where creativity thrives alongside commerce and industry.

The 10 films shown at the FAB festival were: ‘As If We Never Left,’ directed by Marvin Rei Panes and produced by Nostalgia Cartel; ‘Daluyong,’ Erwin Jericho Arceo (Sine Kundiman); ‘Isang Kilo,’ Jeyk Esperanza (Obra Production); ‘Kubli,’ Billy Ray Oyanib (One Man Films); ‘Kwentong Multo,’ Dexter Paul de Jesus (Ciete Cinco Creatives); ‘Maiba Taya,’ Emir Canlas (EC Films); ‘Para sa Paborito Kong Putahe,’ Erika Ann Bautista (Salimpusa Production); ‘Resume,’ Michael Angelo Cervantes (CAMAC Production); ‘Tagahulo,’ Lemmor Miguel Vitug (Cinemmon Films); and ‘Tayo sa Dilim,’ Satoru Ildefonso Corilla (BlueSky Productions).

Acclaimed filmmaker Joel Ferrer (‘Hello World,’ 2013; ‘Elise’, 2019; ‘Kandungan’, 2025), who was among the judges, said he was impressed by the range and energy of the entries.

‘There’s a lot of heart in these films. I hope this festival continues to grow and open more opportunities for young filmmakers,’ he said.

Preparations for the FFF started last August after AFAB partnered with BTN (Bataan Tayo Naman) Association and brainstormed for a platform that would elevate local cinema and promote cultural works that are both entertaining and meaningful.

Pangasinan stunned Nueva Ecija, 86-85, while San Juan subdued Pasay in double overtime, 94-89, on Wednesday in the opener of the North Division quarterfinals at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.

The Heatwaves bunched 12 points bridging the first and second quarters to break free, 25-15, then fended off the Rice Vanguards’ final assault to close in on the semifinals.

The Knights blew a big lead in regulation but gained control with a closing nine-point run to stop the Voyagers.

Trailing, 74-82, with three minutes and 10 seconds to go, the Rice Vanguards bunched seven points to threaten at 81-82.

Veteran Vic Manuel responded with a one-handed turnaround jumper, and after Nueva Ecija’s Jaycee Marcelino and Pangasinan’s Hesed Gabo traded two free throws each, Nueva Ecija’s Will McAloney scored on a follow-up with 5.2 seconds left for the final tally.

Manuel wound up with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists, Gabo added 12 points and five assists, while Ian Melencio scored 11 and made three assists.

McAloney had a double-double for Nueva Ecija, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Christian Manytay added 13 points, and Rob Celiz scored 10.

AC Soberano led San Juan with 24 points, all from rainbow territory, Orlan Wamar tallied 15 points, Arvin Gamboa and Dexter Maiquez had 12 points each, while Raul Soyud contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Pasay drew 20 points from Christian Fajarito, while Darrell Manliguez scored 16.

REYMON JARAULA shot a clutch four-under 68 on Thursday to seize a one-shot lead over Rupert Zaragosa heading into the final round of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Del Monte Championship in Bukidnon.

With a three-day total 14-under 202, Jaraula native catapulted himself from second to first, bringing him within 18 holes of a storybook redemption-and his fourth career victory on the Philippine Golf Tour.

‘I have the advantage, this is my home couese,’ said Jaraula, who turned adversity into opportunity after a bogey start and a costly double on the par-4 13th.

He clawed back with a steady front nine capped by an eagle on the par-five No. 9, then scorched the closing stretch with three straight birdies from No. 14 to seal a resilient 34-34 round.

‘First six holes, it wasn’t pretty, ‘good thing I recovered in the back nine,’ he said. ‘I just thought there were just enough holes remaining.’

Now standing on the brink of another triumph, Jaraula is determined not just to win, but to rewrite the ending of last year’s heartbreak at Del Monte, where he fell just one shot short of Clyde Mondilla.

This time, he has the crowd behind him, course familiarity and a steely focus to match.

‘I really want to win here, that feeling would be great,’ he said.

But chasing closely is the in-form Zaragosa, who carded a steady 71 for a 203 total and remained well within striking distance of back-to-back PGT titles following his dominant victory in Negros Occidental last month.

Though his red-hot 64 in the second round briefly vaulted him into the lead, Zaragosa grappled with inconsistency off the tee on Moving Day.

‘I struggled with my long game kaya konti lang ang chances na maka-birdie,’ he said.

But a dependable short game-particularly his pitch-and-putt precision-kept him in contention for the top P623,000 purse out of the P3.5 million total prize.

‘Most of the time, short game works,’ he said.

Fueling Zaragosa’s charge is something deeper than the leaderboard. He is playing with a heavy heart following the recent passing of his grandfather-a man he considered one of his biggest supporters.

As the two top guns battle it out, veteran Tony Lascuña quietly surged into contention with another vintage 68, his second straight, for a 10-under 206 total-just four shots off the lead.

At 54, the five-time PGT Order of Merit winner continues to defy expectations, but not without acknowledging the toll time has taken on his game.

The chasing pack also remained formidable. Japan’s Atsushi Ueda (68), Russell Bautista (69), Keanu Jahns (70) and Kuresh Samanodi (70) are all tied at 207, five shots off the pace. Korean Jaehyun Jung also made a move with a second straight 69 to join Dino Villanueva (70), Guido van der Valk (70), Mondilla (72) and Michael Bibat (73) at 209.

Mondilla, the defending champion, briefly flashed his title-retaining form with back-to-back birdies bridging the nines, but a costly double bogey on the par-5 18th-the same hole he eagled the previous round-derailed his round and dropped him to joint eighth.

Still, the stage is set for a dramatic finish. For Jaraula, a victory would mean redemption at home. For Zaragosa, it would be an emotional tribute and for Lascuña-it would be proof that age is just a number.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has launched a platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to centralize the agency’s legal, budget and administrative documents.

On Thursday, the DBM kicked off the Managed Intelligent Network for Advanced Insights (MINAI) as part of its push for digital transformation.

Undersecretary Maria Francesca Del Rosario, head of the Information and Communications Technology Group, said MINAI represents a ‘strategic leap forward’ in managing, accessing and protecting knowledge in public financial management.

Del Rosario said the systems aims to store institutional knowledge and outdated and fragmented documents in an interactive, AI-enabled central knowledge system accessible anytime and anywhere.

It features intelligent search capabilities, a chatbot interface and robust security controls to allow DBM employees to quickly retrieve verified and up-to-date information.

Del Rosario said DBM employees themselves will train the AI, contribute to its knowledge pool and validate the information it learns,’ Del Rosario said. ‘This ensures that our institutional knowledge remains accurate and reliable even as leadership and personnel evolve.’

MINAI also runs on NVIDIA GPUs, advanced computing chips that enable artificial intelligence to perform complex processing.

Del Rosario said the DBM is among the first government institutions globally to use these chips for large-language model applications similar to ChatGPT, though MINAI remains entirely secure and self-contained.

‘We have to also anticipate that AI is here already and we have to upskill and capacitate our DBM employees to become an AI-enabled workforce,’ Del Rosario said, adding that employees must know how to do from engineering to train and validate AI models.

Meanwhile, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said MINAI is not just another system or tool-it makes the daily work in DBM easier, faster and more reliable.

Pangandaman said documents in the DBM are often scattered across different systems and folders, and finding them has resulted in wasted time, repeated work and confusion about which documents remain valid.

‘Through MINAI, we are making DBM a leader in serving the Filipino people with greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency,’ Pangandaman said.

‘Digitalization is our best way forward. It is the key to improving bureaucratic efficiency and ensuring sound fiscal management,’ she added.

The DBM’s ongoing digitalization efforts include the Budget and Treasury Management System, the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), Project DIME, and public dashboards that track budget details from the National Expenditure Program to the General Appropriations Act.

For this year, the DBM allotted P72.08 billion to support the ICT-related programs and projects of government agencies. This is higher by 11.6 percent than the P64.6 billion in the 2024 national budget.

The agency also earmarked P1.36 billion for cybersecurity for 2025, a whopping 315- percent increase from P330 million in 2024, to ensure the ‘safe and seamless implementation of government’s digitalization efforts.’

FOR countless indigent families all over the country, the loss of a loved one often comes with another painful reality-the inability to afford a decent burial.

That burden, long carried in silence, may finally be lifted with the enactment of Republic Act 12309, or the Free Funeral Services Act.

The new law, which lapsed into effect on September 28, 2025, ensures that funeral services are provided free of charge to poor and indigent Filipinos, as well as to individuals affected by calamities, disasters, or other emergencies who cannot afford the cost of a dignified farewell.

Authored by Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco through House Bill 102 and supported by its Senate counterpart, Senate Bill 2965, the measure represents a milestone in social welfare-one that speaks directly to the government’s role in protecting the dignity of every Filipino, even in death.

Frasco first introduced the measure on June 30, 2022, with the initial goal of regulating funeral costs and preventing the exploitation of grieving families. But what began as a consumer protection bill evolved into a broader social justice initiative-a vision to ensure that no Filipino is denied dignity simply because of poverty.

‘Death comes to all, but dignity should not be reserved for the few,’ Frasco said. ‘Every Filipino, regardless of income or circumstance, deserves a dignified farewell. This law ensures that compassion, and not cost, defines how we treat the dead.’

Under the new law, local governments, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and accredited funeral service providers, will handle the implementation of free funeral services for qualified beneficiaries.

For Frasco, the Free Funeral Services Act is more than just a piece of legislation-it is a statement of values. ‘This law is not only about free funeral services; it is about lifting a heavy burden from families who are already suffering and reaffirming our shared humanity, especially in the most difficult moments,’ he explained.

The passage of this law reinforces Frasco’s long-standing advocacy for inclusive and compassionate governance, a philosophy that has guided his work in Congress. It extends the reach of social welfare programs beyond the living, ensuring that every Filipino, rich or poor, is afforded dignity in their final journey.

As Frasco described it, ‘This is a victory for the Filipino people-a victory that honors life by dignifying death.’

In the end, the Free Funeral Services Act is not just about providing free services. It is a testament to empathy in public policy-a reminder that true governance is measured not only by how it serves the living but also by how it honors those who have passed.

THE countdown has begun to one of the most anticipated events in Southeast Asia’s running calendar-the inaugural Asics META: Time: Trials (MTT) Philippines set Sunday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

With 3,500 runners expected to participate, the event not only marks a major milestone for Asics in the region but also signals the Philippines’ growing importance as a hub for high-performance athletic events.

‘This is more than just a race-it’s about pushing your own boundaries,’ said Ishina Buxani, Marketing Director of Sonak Retail Group, the official ASICS distributor in the Philippines. ‘Whether you’re aiming to break into elite times or finish your first sub-hour 10K, the META: Time: Trials is a platform to chase your personal best.’

As the global running boom continues, the MTT series, which debuted in Málaga, Spain in 2022 and has since expanded to Thailand and Malaysia, lands in the Philippines at a moment when local interest in running is surging.

On center stage is the new Metaspeed collection, featuring breakthrough models like the Metaspeed Ray, Sky Tokyo and Edge Tokyo, each designed to help runners optimize performance according to their unique stride and cadence styles.

A GROUP of lawmakers is pushing for a comprehensive regulatory framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support the newly approved National AI Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS Ph), which seeks to ensure the ‘safe, responsible, and ethical’ integration of AI into public services in the government, technology, data, and infrastructure sectors.

Spearheading the effort is Camarines Sur Rep. Migz Villafuerte, chairman of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), who filed House Bill 2827, also known as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development and Regulation Act. The measure introduces a ‘Bill of Rights on AI,’ setting guiding principles to make AI systems accessible, ethical, and responsive in serving the Filipino public.

Other authors of the bill include Deputy Majority Leader Luigi Villafuerte, Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, who both represent Camarines Sur, and Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro.

Under House Bill 2827, four key institutions will be established to implement and oversee the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) policies. These include the Philippine Council on Artificial Intelligence (PCAI), a policy-making and advisory body under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); the Artificial Intelligence Board (AIB), chaired by the DICT Secretary and co-chaired by the DOST Secretary, which will regulate and supervise AI systems, investigate violations, and impose penalties; the National Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (NCAIR), an agency attached to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) responsible for AI research, program coordination, and workforce upskilling to prevent job displacement; and the AI Subgroup under the National Innovation Council (NIC), which will foster collaboration among the government, private sector, and academic institutions.

The proposed AI Bill of Rights ensures every Filipino’s protection from unsafe AI systems, algorithmic discrimination, privacy breaches, lack of transparency, and the absence of remedies for AI-related harm. Workers displaced by AI automation would also be entitled to separation pay and assistance through a Job Displacement Program from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

Violators of the measure face imprisonment of six months to six years and permanent disqualification from public office if the offender is a government official.

Migz Villafuerte emphasized that while AI offers ‘significant advancements in human life,’ it also carries risks such as misinformation, job loss, and privacy violations.

‘The 20th Congress needs to establish safeguards against deepfakes and AI fakery that threaten public trust and democratic processes,’ he said.

Villafuerte also reaffirmed the ICT committee’s support for President Marcos’s digital infrastructure agenda, saying it will ‘future-proof’ the nation by enhancing defenses against AI-driven cyber fraud and scams.

‘We are working to align the Philippines with global AI standards like the EU AI Act and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] guidelines,’ he added.

‘The time to act is now,’ Villafuerte stressed. ‘We must create a clear AI framework that ensures transparency, fairness, and accountability-so that this powerful technology uplifts lives, not endangers them.’

For his part, Deputy Majority Leader Luigi Villafuerte said the new AI strategy ‘will strengthen the country’s readiness for emerging technologies,’ noting that the Philippines improved its global ranking in the Government AI Readiness Index from 65th in 2023 to 56th in 2024.

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Mandaluyong City has ordered the cancellation of the passports of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma and four others who were charged with murder and frustrated murder charges in connection with the killing of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.

The order issued by the Mandaluyong RTC also covers the passports of Garma’s co-accused namely former National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and police officials Jeremy Causapin, Santie Mendoza, and Nelson Mariano.

The court also issued a hold departure order (HDO) against all the accused.

The cancellation of the passports and the issuance of an HDO against the accused came following the court’s issuance of arrest warrants against them.

The trial court agreed with state prosecutors that ‘there exists serious risk that they will flee from the jurisdiction of the court to evade trial and punishment.’

‘Considering that all the accused, except Santie Mendoza y Fuentes and Nelson Mariano y Enriquez, are fugitives from justice having not appeared in court, not surrendered nor submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, and the nature of the charges against all the accused, the urgent ex-parte motion for issuance of hold departure order and motion to cancel passport are granted,’ the trial court said.

Mendoza and Mariano, who surrendered to authorities after arrest warrants were issued against them, are currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation-Security Management Division.

The trial court allowed them to remain at the NBI custody due to ‘serious, imminent, and credible’ threats to their safety.

The court also proceeded with their scheduled arraignment yesterday where the two pleaded pleas of ‘not guilty.’

However, the court denied the motion of Garma and Aguinaldo to suspend proceedings pending the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) action on their motion for reconsideration.

It held that the filing of motion for reconsideration before the DOJ was not a valid ground to suspend court proceedings.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has asked the International Police to issue a red notice against Garma who left the country last September 7 for Malaysia a day after returning to the country from Los Angeles, California, last September 6 following the denial of her application for political asylum.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier disclosed that Garma has agreed to testify for the prosecution in connection with the crimes against humanity filed in the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for his bloody anti-illegal drug war.

Interpol notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.

A red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

Barayuga was gunned down by a motorcycle-riding man shortly while on his way home from the PCSO central office in Mandaluyong City on July 30, 2020.

His driver survived the incident, thus filing of frustrated murder complaint against the respondents.