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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has advised the public against dealing with De Guzman Consumer Goods Trading and an individual named Christabel Arroyo due to their unauthorized solicitation of investments.

The SEC has also warned the public against engaging with individuals or groups who falsely represent themselves as part of COL Financial Group Inc, and use the name and logo of Alpha Securities Corp. without their authority. In an advisory, the SEC said it has found De Guzman Consumer to be inviting the public through Facebook to become an investor or co-partner in its farming and trading business, with a promise of potential returns of 60 percent to 200 percent within 30 to 60 days.

It is not registered as a corporation or partnership and does not have the required license to solicit investments.

Meanwhile, Christabel Arroyo was found offering investment opportunities involving bitcoin mining trading, without the required certificate of registration from the SEC. Through her Facebook account, Arroyo entices the public to invest a minimum capital of P5,000 with a promised earning of P50,000 within 24 hours.

The SEC flagged certain individuals or groups who falsely represented themselves as personnel or representatives of publicly listed stock broker COL Financial Group to scam the public.

Under the scheme, scammers impersonating current or former COL personnel told their victims that money they previously lost in other scams had been reinvested in COL.

To withdraw the supposed investments, victims were required to pay multiple fees, including so-called tax fees. However, the funds were not returned and the scammers kept imposing additional payments until the victims stopped complying.

The SEC also warned that certain individuals are using the name and logo of Alpha Securities Corp. without authority to perpetrate an investment scam.

‘According to reports, certain persons claimed to have invested with Alpha Securities Corporation by sending money, but upon verification, these individuals were never clients of the company and had not opened accounts with it,’ the SEC said.

THE series of aftershocks in Davao Oriental was part of natural ground readjustments following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the province on October 10, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said the tremors originated from the Philippine Trench, one of the country’s active earthquake generators. An aftershock was recorded on Wednesday morning, October 15, offshore Manay town in Davao Oriental.

‘As of 10:00 a.m., we have recorded 1,387 aftershocks, 19 of which were felt by residents,’ Bacolcol said in Filipino during a media forum.

Most of the weaker tremors were felt in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, while stronger ones reached Manay and Mati City in Davao Oriental, as well as nearby areas in Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Digos, Davao del Sur; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro and parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani.

Bacolcol explained that after a major earthquake, stress accumulated underground is not released all at once.

‘When a fault breaks, other surrounding areas remain stressed and unstable, causing smaller movements that produce aftershocks. These will gradually lessen as the rocks settle into a new balance,’ he said.

‘Aftershocks are usually about one magnitude lower than the main earthquake,’ he added.

Phivolcs reminded residents to avoid staying in houses with visible cracks or structural damage unless these have been cleared by engineers as safe.

Those living in coastal areas were also urged to watch out for natural tsunami warnings, such as strong ground shaking, sudden sea level withdrawal, or a roaring sound from the ocean and to move to higher ground immediately if any of these occur.

Volcanic updates

Phivolcs also reported minor volcanic activities in recent days.

Two ash emissions were observed from Kanlaon Volcano on Wednesday morning, lasting a total of over an hour with plume heights reaching up to 150 meters. The volcano remains under Alert Level 2, indicating moderate unrest.

Taal Volcano, meanwhile, continues to exhibit low-level activity following a minor phreatomagmatic eruption on October 13. Three volcanic earthquakes were recorded within 24 hours, consistent with its Alert Level 1 status.

Mayon and Bulusan Volcanoes also remain under Alert Level 1, signifying slight unrest. The rest of the country’s 24 monitored volcanoes are at Alert Level 0.

Phivolcs reminded the public to stay out of the Taal Volcano Island permanent danger zone due to the ongoing risk of sudden steam-driven or phreatomagmatic eruptions.

THE steady stream of cash remittances into the country from overseas Filipinos continues to support households, with inflows expected to rise further as families recover and prepare for more disasters.

According to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), cash remittances grew by 3.2 percent to $2.98 billion in August 2025 from $2.89 billion in the same month a year ago.

From January to August this year, cash remittances rose by 3.1 percent to $22.91 billion from $22.22 billion in the same period last year.

‘Whether there are external threats or not [from pandemics to inflation pressures], expect more foreign currency from Filipinos abroad that addresses family seasonal needs and now due to disasters,’ Institute for Migration and Development Issues (IMDI) Executive Director Jeremaiah M. Opiniano told BusinessMirror.

The growth in remittances is expected to persist, with monthly increases likely to remain stable within 3 percent, Opiniano added.

Nevertheless, Opiniano expressed concern that remittance-receiving households focus mainly on meeting daily needs rather than saving or preparing for rainy days.

Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo A. Lanzona shared Opiniano’s sentiments and told BusinessMirror that remittances sent back home are not intended for investments, but to support families in meeting basic day-to-day needs.

‘We cannot always rely on overseas employment prospects to ensure that money flows from abroad remains high,’ Opiniano told this newspaper. ‘The concern is building more assets in aid of international migration, or else there will still be the itch to rely on dollars from, and jobs found, abroad.’

Meanwhile, Lanzona said Filipinos abroad will send more money back home due to the ongoing flood control fiasco in the country.

‘[Remittances are] bound to increase as the country’s economy weakens because of the flood control scandal,’ he said.

The United States remained the top source of remittances to the Philippines during the eight-month period, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia, BSP data showed.

However, BSP noted that it is a common practice of remittance centers in various cities abroad to course remittances through correspondent banks, most of which are located in the US.

Remittances coursed through money couriers cannot also be disaggregated by actual country source and are lodged under the country where the main offices are located, which, in many cases, are also in the US.

‘Therefore, the US would appear to be the main source of [overseas Filipino] remittances because banks attribute the origin of funds to the most immediate source. The countries are listed in order of their share of cash remittances, i.e., from highest to lowest,’ BSP said.

Although cash remittances dipped by 6.2 percent from $3.18 billion in July 2025, this reflects seasonal normalization after back-to-school spending and a less volatile peso, Unionbank Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said.

‘With year-to-date growth slightly ahead of target and holiday inflows ahead, remittances remain on track to meet BSP’s full-year growth forecast,’ Asuncion told reporters in a message.

SM Investments Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan Roces added that remittance flows in August have some resilience despite global headwinds, and reflect a lower comparative base or mild fluctuations in monthly flows.

‘The ‘ber’ months, when remittances traditionally rise, may buoy the remainder of the year,’ Roces told reporters.

Still, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort warned that global growth could slow down due to Trump’s tariffs, trade wars and protectionist policies.

‘This, thereby, could slow down global trade, investments, and employment, including some OFW jobs in the global supply chains,’ Ricafort said.

A possible US Federal Reserve rate cut could support global economic activities, but may weaken the dollar against major global currencies, Ricafort added.

‘OFW remittances and conversion to pesos seasonally increase in the fourth quarter, especially during the Christmas holiday season towards the end of the year, especially within a week before Christmas to finance the surge, if not the peak, in holiday-related spending,’ Ricafort noted.

Moreover, Ricafort said the proposed 1 percent US tax on OFW remittances could reduce inflows to the Philippines, translating to P8 billion to P9 billion in foregone domestic spending annually.

BSP data further showed that the increase in cash remittances also boosted personal remittances, including money sent through banks and informal channels, along with remittances in kind.

Personal remittances rose by 3.2 percent to $3.31 billion in August from $3.20 billion in the same month last year.

Cumulative personal remittances also increased by 3.1 percent to $25.51 billion in January to August from $24.74 billion recorded in the same period a year ago.

For a country that has been relying on imports to fill shortfalls in domestic output and grappling with high prices, the Philippines can be considered a paradox when it comes to food waste. In a statement on the results of the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) it published on its website on July 3, the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) said food waste remains a significant issue in the Philippines. Based on the results of the NNS, there was a notable increase in plate waste in 2023, with households discarding an average of 53 grams more food per day compared to 2018-2019.

Dr. Eva A. Goyena, Senior Science Research Specialist at DOST-FNRI, explained that common cooking and preparation habits contribute significantly to this issue, making food wastage a persistent problem in many homes. Goyena said the survey focused on plate waste, which refers to food left uneaten that could still have provided nutrients but was thrown away or given to pets. She said the increase in plate waste is concerning as it does not account for total food waste, such as spoiled or rotten food.

The agency found that despite being a staple food, rice, vegetables and fish were among the wasted foods. These items are usually imported by the Philippines, particularly rice, which is bought in huge quantities by traders. Additionally, DOST-FNRI said rural households were found to waste more food than their urban counterparts, particularly rice, corn, and vegetables.

The report of the United Nations Environment Program last year, which indicated that food waste declined compared to the 2021 level, showed that a significant quantity of produce is still being discarded by households. The 2024 edition of UNEP’s food waste index showed that each Filipino household threw away an estimated 26 kilograms of food per year or a total of 2.954 million tons for all households. The figure is lower than its estimate of 86 kilograms per capita or a total of 9.33 million tons in 2021, when UNEP said it had ‘very low confidence’ in the estimate.

The figures for food wasted by retail institutions and by food service companies are higher compared to households in the 2024 edition, at 44 kilograms per capita and 40 kilograms per capita, respectively. UNEP said, however, that it had ‘very low confidence’ in these estimates. ‘Very low confidence’ means that the Philippines had no identified estimates and the UN unit had to extrapolate the figure.

What’s clear in these findings, however, is that the Philippines has a long way to go in terms of reducing food waste. The government and the private sector must step up efforts to raise awareness on this issue, particularly since the country continues to import rice and other food items in huge quantities. The Philippines is paying foreign farmers in dollars for food that eventually ends up in landfills.

Economic pressures remain the most urgent concern that Filipinos want President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize and address, based of the PAHAYAG 2025 Third Quarter (PQ3-2025) survey.

The survey conducted from September 27 to 30, 2025, comprising 1,500 respondents who are registered Filipino voters, also showed that inflation emerges as the most pressing issue at 27 percent, as it continues to impact citizens’ purchasing power.

This is followed by rising government debt with 13 percent, labor market issues such as underemployment (10 percent), disasters and climate risks (10 percent), and higher food costs and supply disruptions (9 percent) caused by adverse weather conditions.

Meanwhile, 9 in ten registered voters express support for initiatives such as higher train fare discounts for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs); lifestyle checks for all government officials; the passage of the Konektadong Pinoy Act in Congress; full implementation of PhilHealth’s ‘No Balance Billing’ policy and an expanded Konsulta package; a total ban on online gambling; and a legislative investigation of both Chambers into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects.

Voters also express strong support for the public release on the list of 15 contractors cornering 20 percent of the P545.65 billion flood control budget.of the the Department of Public Works and Highways with 86 percent, creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (84 percent).

The launch of the ‘Sumbong ng Pangulo’ website got 82 percent support, the President’s State of the Nation Address statement ‘Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kababayan.’ (82 percent), the change of Senate leadership and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairmanship (79 percent).

Meanwhile, joint military drills with Australia and Canada in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea were backed by the Filipino voters with 75 percent , inauguration of the new Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Batanes (75 percent), and House investigation on the alleged insertion of P8 billion for firearms procurement in the 2026 PNP budget (75 percent).

Primewater Infrastructure

About seven in ten Filipinos support recent government and congressional actions such as the House of Representatives’ probe into Villar-owned Primewater Infrastructure Corp., the Energy Regulatory Commission’s revocation of the permit of Villar-owned SIPCOR, and the use of Dalian trains on MRT-3, nearly nine years after they were first procured.

Suspension of rice and sugar importation

Meanwhile, voters supports the Department of Agriculture’s (DA’s) two-month suspension of rice and sugar importation (63 percent), along with the proposal to lower the minimum age requirement for those seeking the positions of President and Vice President (58 percent).

U.S. tariff policy, BSKE Postponement

The least supported measures include the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to next year and the extension of term lengths to four years (44 percent) as well as the unilateral imposition of reciprocal tariffs on Philippine exports to the United States while certain U.S. goods remain tariff-free (31 percent).

Two high-profile issues

On the other hand, public opinion remains evenly divided on two high-profile issues: the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte-declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (51 percent) and later archived by the Senate (46 percent)-and the removal of PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, followed by the appointment of Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as Officer-in-Charge by President Marcos (49 percent).

AN estimated P160 billion in receivables from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is being eyed to fund PhilHealth’s benefit expansion, particularly for the development of primary care services.

Under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is entitled to 8 percent of the 50 percent share of the revenues of the two revenue-generating agencies. PhilHealth President and CEO Edwin M. Mercado said the accumulated receivables from 2019 to 2025 can serve as a substantial source for expanding benefit coverage.

‘May report na binibigay; ‘di lang top of mind ko ‘yung total figure, [but] substantial in a way na ‘yun ‘yung dapat pagkunan for benefit expansion lalo na ng primary care,’ Mercado said.

The PhilHealth official added they already appealed to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and has also approached Pagcor officials for the release of the funds.

Mercado also added that PhilHealth is also awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on whether the allocation will be considered a hard earmark.

He explained that the ‘benefit expansion thrust’ includes the ‘Yaman ng Kalusugan’ program, or ‘Yakap,’ an improved version of the PhilHealth’s ‘Konsulta’ package that promotes ‘preventive and primary healthcare.’ The state health insurer has allocated P15.3 billion for the implementation of the program.

According to Mercado, who is also a general surgeon, Yakap seeks to shift the country’s health system from ‘reactive to proactive,’ providing members with access to cancer screening, medical consultations, and maintenance medications through accredited clinics.

‘Primary care is our nearest effort for universality. When we say universality, all Filipinos are covered,’ he said.

PhilHealth Vice President Walter R. Bacareza noted that under the UHC Law, all Filipinos are considered members, making them automatically eligible for Yakap. According to Yakap Point Person Arrel Peter P. Pascual, more than 36 million Filipinos have already registered and selected their accredited clinics nationwide.

PhilHealth pays P1,700 per member to accredited clinics for Yakap services; those opting for private clinics will only need to pay a P900 annual co-payment.

Pascual added that 4Ps beneficiaries, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities may register for Yakap through the eGov app or at any clinic or hospital accredited by the PhilHealth.

SCHOOL breaks used to be bursting with energy. The bell would ring, and suddenly the hallways echoed with laughter as kids rushed to finish their snacks so they could play with friends, and occasionally tumble from a too-energetic game of tag. Breaktime wasn’t just a break from class; it was the most anticipated part of the day.

But somewhere along the way, that excitement started to fade. For many kids today, breaktime has lost its spark. It’s become a cycle of the same baon, the same spot, and the same routine-repeated day after day. What was once a moment of discovery, play and connection now feels predictable and far from the fun-filled pause it used to be.

And for moms, it’s easy to wonder: ‘Whatever happened to those simple, delightful moments?’ Those pockets of fun that left kids energized, connected, and beaming when they got home from school?

Because breaktime isn’t just about rest. It’s when kids recharge, reset and relate to the world beyond the blackboard. Experts agree that even short breaks play a crucial role in helping kids focus better, feel more confident, and develop essential social skills. But if those breaks become dull, repetitive, or lonely. that opportunity slips away.

That’s where the idea of a ‘Breakciting Moment’ comes in.

With Alaska Fruitti Yo! Yoghurt-Flavored Milk Drink, a delicious and fruity baon favorite especially for kids, a breakciting moment begins when an ordinary break turns into a joy-filled adventure. It’s when kids don’t just sip their drink, they giggle, move, invent games, share laughs with classmates, or even start a new routine with their moms at home.

Whether it’s pairing Alaska Fruitti Yo! with their usual baon and giving it a silly name, or turning their sip into a playful freeze pose, breakciting moments invite kids to interact, explore and express themselves in fun, easy ways that spark joy and creativity.

Because while moms can’t always be there during break time, Alaska Fruitti Yo! helps make those moments more special. Prepping baon isn’t just about nutrition anymore-it’s about giving kids something to look forward to. A drink that doesn’t just fill the tummy but creates fond memories.

HAVE you ever found yourself guilty for taking a break? Perhaps you have spent a Sunday afternoon scrolling through your phone, only to feel uneasy because you were not making the most of your time. You tell yourself you should be reading, learning, cleaning, or doing something useful. The world today glorifies productivity so much that rest often feels like failure. We live in an age where being busy has become a badge of honor and doing less is seen as laziness. But here is a secret many people forget: you do not have to be productive all the time to live a meaningful and successful life.

Staying away from the pressure to always be productive begins with recognizing that we are not machines. Our energy, creativity and focus have limits. Imagine a phone that is used nonstop without being charged. It might last a while, but sooner or later it will just turn off.

The same happens to us when we constantly push ourselves to do more without allowing time to recharge. It is important to understand that productivity is not a measure of self-worth. You are valuable even when you are not achieving or producing something visible.

One way to start recovering from this mindset is by redefining what productivity means to you. Instead of measuring your day by how much you accomplish, try asking yourself what truly matters. Did you have a meaningful conversation? Did you take care of yourself? Did you rest well? Sometimes, taking a nap, spending time with loved ones, or simply sitting in silence can be more productive for your well-being than ticking off 10 tasks from a to-do list. Productivity should serve your life, not the other way around.

It also helps to be mindful of what you consume online. Social media can make it seem like everyone is constantly doing something amazing like running marathons, launching businesses, or waking up at 5 am to meditate and journal. What we often forget is that people only share the highlights, not the ordinary or messy parts of their day. Comparing your daily reality to someone else’s curated moments is unfair and exhausting. The next time you feel that pressure, remind yourself that rest, quiet moments, and even boredom have a place in a balanced life.

Another helpful practice is to schedule rest as deliberately as you schedule work. Many people fill their calendars with meetings and deadlines but rarely block out time to do nothing. Try adding slow time to your day which could be a short walk without your phone, a few minutes of deep breathing, or simply sitting by the window with a cup of coffee. These small pauses help you reset and think clearly. Over time, you may notice that your creativity returns more naturally when you give your mind space to breathe.

Learning to say no is another powerful skill. You do not have to accept every invitation, project, or opportunity that comes your way. It can feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you are used to saying yes out of habit or fear of missing out. But protecting your time and energy allows you to focus on what truly aligns with your goals and values. A full schedule does not always mean a fulfilling life.

If you struggle to slow down, try practicing mindfulness. Pay attention to what you are doing at the moment, whether it is eating lunch, walking, or washing dishes. Notice the sounds, textures and smells around you. This simple act of being present trains your brain to stop rushing ahead to the next task. It reminds you that life happens in moments, not checklists.

Finally, give yourself permission to rest without guilt. Rest is not a reward for productivity but a basic human need. Think of athletes and how they train hard, but they also rest intentionally because recovery is part of performance. You deserve the same kind of care. Rest is what allows you to show up as your best self in the long run.

So the next time you find yourself feeling restless for not doing enough, remember that your worth is not tied to your output. The laundry can wait. The email can wait. What cannot wait forever is your peace of mind. Doing nothing from time to time is not a waste but wisdom. When you allow yourself to rest, you are not falling behind, but rather you are catching up with yourself. In a world that constantly tells you to go faster, choosing to pause is an act of care. So breathe, slow down, and remember this truth. Sometimes, doing nothing is exactly what you need to move forward.

To develop an efficient and seamless system towards providing truly universal health care for the Filipinos, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies-Health Economics and Finance Program (PIDS-HEFP) was recently joined by the Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, and the Commission on Audit (COA) in a bilateral dialogue and workshop with Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) in Bangkok.

According to the government think tank, the Philippine government aims to beef up its hospital information systems, global budgets, and an improved inpatient classification system.

The PIDS said it wants to observe and learn from the Thai experience with global budgets, electronic transfers, and layered audits. These helped provide a solid technical foundation for provider-payment systems that the Philippines could adapt and improve on to reduce Filipino impatiens’ out-of-pocket costs.

Co-organized with the World Bank, the activity is a practical step toward the design and implementation of an evidence-based Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) inpatient classification system mandated by the Philippine Healthcare Act.

Interaction with Thai experts

The Philippine delegation engaged Thai experts on diagnosis-related group (DRG) governance, budgeting, auditing, and hospital operations, key areas of concern in the Philippines’ transition to a DRG-based payment mechanism.

Moreover, the Filipinos were able to look at how Thailand pairs DRGs with a regionally allocated global budget; uses the Smart Money Transfer system to manage electronic healthcare claims data; and enforces strict claim timeliness and audit rules to protect budgets and improve data quality. These mechanisms were discussed with the aim of adapting these to the Philippine context.

The PIDS-HEFP team also presented updates on data collection for DRG reform and outlined its technical assistance on data analytics, complementing PhilHealth’s updates on policy and IT system development.

The program also included a visit to the Thai Case-Mix Center, a neutral agency that develops and regularly updates the Thai DRG grouper and relative weights through routine research studies and costing activities, and field exposure at Bang Pa-In Hospital, showcasing how the DRG system is applied along the patient’s journey. The team also examined no-balance-billing enforcement, no-fault patient compensation, and penalties for late claims-controls that balance provider sustainability with patient protection.

Building the foundation

The observation tour will enhance the 2023 PhilHealth-PIDS study tour and underscores an integrated approach to DRG adoption. By grounding design choices in Thailand’s mature systems, from budgeting and payments to AI-assisted claim review and audit, the delegation has gathered technical guidance to support the Philippines’ transition planning to the DRG system, engaging stakeholders from hospitals and professional societies.

PIDS-HEFP’s analytics work ties directly to key decisions on the design and calculation of global budgets, base rates, relative weights, and DRG grouper revision cycles; PhilHealth’s policy and IT tracks inform e-claims automation and fund flows; the DOH’s vantage point ensures alignment with hospital information systems and national practice guidelines for service delivery; and the COA ensures that the government’s auditing rules and regulations accommodate payment reforms.

A total of 14 delegates joined the study program: PIDS-HEFP’s Senior Research Specialist Lyle Daryll Casas, Senior Technical Specialist Sarah Reem Hesham Mohamed Hagag, Research Specialist Therese Jules Tomas, and Technical Specialist Louie Iyar Dagoy; as well as five delegates from PhilHealth, three from the DOH, and one each from the COA and the World Bank.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has approved the transaction between Singapore-based Metanoia South Pte. Ltd. (Metanoia) and Copper Smelting Investments, Ltd. (Copper Smelting), saying the transaction is unlikely to harm competition.

PCC said Metanoia is a newly incorporated entity registered in Singapore, while Copper Smelting is organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. After a Phase 1 review which is an initial 30-day evaluation to determine whether a merger or acquisition may substantially lessen competition, the PCC Mergers and Acquisitions Office assessed the transaction’s impact on the global supply of doré, a semi-pure alloy of gold and silver used in refining.

The country’s antitrust body said it found that the transaction is unlikely to harm competition, citing customers’ strong buying power, strict quality standards, and the limited production capacity of the parties involved. According to PCC, its decision reflects the competitive dynamics of the global doré market.

‘With no significant change in market power resulting from the transaction, the PCC’s clearance enables the parties to move forward while maintaining a level playing field for industry participants,’ it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The review included consultations with the Notifying Parties, stakeholders, trade associations, and relevant sector regulators, PCC noted.