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

‘Management has decided Jia is sitting this one out,’ said Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez during yesterday’s PVL presser at the Discovery Suites.

No reason was given but De Guzman is apparently focusing on training for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December with Alas Pilipinas where she is the team captain.

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

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

Helping the High Speed Hitters in chase of glory is Russian import Anastasia Bavykina.

‘She’s a good fit,’ said PLDT manager Bajjie del Rosario of their reinforcement.

The Reinforced Conference kicks off Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Montalban with ZUS Coffee and Akari pitted in the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser followed by the 6:30 p.m. showdown between Capital1 and Choco Mucho.

Interestingly, Petro Gazz, has appointed husband and wife Gary and Lisa Van Sickle as coach and assistant, respectively.

Party-list groups Gabriela and Akbayan want business processing outsourcing (BPO) companies based in Cebu sanctioned for allegedly compelling employees to return to work during the earthquake.

The action of Cebu BPO firms violated the Occupational Safety and Health Law and disregarded the lives of workers, according to Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago.

Gabriela is the principal author of Republic Act 11058 or the Occupational Safety and Health Law.

Elago said the right to refuse unsafe work is enshrined in the law and forcing workers to return to work amid aftershocks and without safety clearance is a form of exploitation.

Reports received by the BPO Industry Employees Network-Cebu revealed that BPO managers and team leaders reportedly failed to follow safety protocols, endangered employees by resuming operations without clearance from authorities, and threatened workers who insisted on their right to go home after the calamity.

The law provides that workers have the right to refuse unsafe work without fear of retaliation from management if their lives or health are at risk. Employers are mandated to suspend operations until competent authorities have declared workplaces safe.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña also urged the Department of Labor and Employment to investigate reports of alleged safety violations committed by BPO firms in Cebu.

Some BPO workers took to social media to complain about alleged labor violations such as having emergency exits blocked during the disaster.

They said some of them were forced to return to work immediately after the temblor subsided. Others were reportedly warned that they would be marked AWOL or absent without official leave if they refused to comply with the order.

Cendaña said companies should not sacrifice the safety of their employees for the sake of profit.

‘They were too insensitive if they forced their employees to return to work after a massive earthquake,’ he said.

I need a break from writing about the most abominable corruption stories these past weeks. It has been depressing.

Instead, let me write about when Filipinos rose to the challenge of an international energy crisis and developed an indigenous energy source from scratch.

It was the mid-70s after the Arabs drastically reduced the amount of oil they sell to Western oil companies to protest Western support of Israel. The oil companies pro-rated the cut in supply among their customers in what they call ‘the equal misery formula.’

Bad for us. Our energy supply was almost totally dependent on Esso, Shell, Caltex and Getty. Only a bit of hydro was local.

We had to start a search for local energy sources in a hurry. The newly organized Ministry of Energy gathered geologists and other scientists from UP and other institutions with a mission to reduce our dependence on imported energy.

There was the predictable search for oil in Palawan and coal from Mindanao. Then there was Dr. Arturo Alcaraz who was toying around with a new energy source, harnessing heat from the earth. On April 12, 1967, an electric bulb was lit up by geothermal energy for the first time in Tiwi, Albay.

Geothermal energy sounded exotic but it wasn’t new. Union Oil of California was using geothermal energy in Sonoma County to produce electricity that was fed to the grid. We heard of their operation and contacted them.

When Fred Hartley, the chairman of Unocal heard about our interest to develop our geothermal resources, the autobiography of the late Energy Minister Ronnie Velasco quoted him saying: ‘Oh, I would like to talk to them. Those guys have fantastic geothermal potential, but they are not doing anything about it. They’re just sitting on it.’

The timing of the meeting couldn’t have been more propitious, Velasco recalled. With the oil supply shock as background, a deal was agreed to let Union Oil check out our geothermal resources. This complemented our independent efforts at PNOC to do the same.

Velasco wrote in his book that the contract between Unocal and Napocor on geothermal development was lopsided in favor of Unocal. That’s because they had the technology we needed in extracting the steam. Unocal worked on the Tiwi and Makiling Banahaw fields.

Eventually, the New Zealand government awarded a NZ$15 million geothermal technical assistance to help advance PNOC’s Tongonan, Leyte development. A NZ company, KRTA, which had extensive experience in geothermal energy, was named to help us.

By this time PNOC had organized an energy development subsidiary, PNOC EDC. With KRTA, we explored and developed the Leyte Tongonan field and the Palimpinon field in Negros Oriental. It was determined that both fields had enough resources to support commercial scale power plants.

For three decades (1980s-2010s), the Philippines was the second largest geothermal power producer worldwide, after the US.

In November 2007, PNOC EDC was privatized in a public bidding won by First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group. EDC moved from the first three MW pilot plant in Tongonan to 1,150 MW by the time EDC was privatized.

As of April 2025, the total installed capacity for geothermal power plants stood at 1,987 megawatts. First Gen’s Energy Development Corp. (EDC) owns and operates 13 integrated geothermal power stations in Leyte, Bicol, Southern Negros and North Cotabato, with an installed capacity of 1,189.34 MW.

The potential geothermal capacity in the Philippines is estimated to be around 4,064 MW. With installed geothermal generating capacity at 1,987 MW, there could be around 2,000 MW more of geothermal potential that may be available for electricity production.

We have probably explored and developed as much of the easy-to-get resource we know we have. As of March 2025, the Philippines only has 122.22 MW of newly committed geothermal power projects.

We went from almost nothing to become the world’s second largest producer because the government prioritized investments in it. There was a special impost on gasoline and diesel retail prices that went into a Special Fund that financed our geothermal exploration and development.

Geothermal development is heavy on the front-end expense because wells must be drilled, the steam piped and the power plants built nearby.

Drilling costs are the single biggest expense in exploration. Drilling a single well can cost around $6 million to $8 million.

Not all wells drilled show the quality and quantity of steam that can be used in a commercial power plant. That risk may not be a problem with a government-owned entity like PNOC but the private sector needs incentives to do more.

The risk in geothermal development is mostly during the exploration stage. That’s why the government is looking at a de-risking mechanism to encourage private developers to invest in geothermal energy.

The DOE is estimating an initial $100 million (out of a total loan of $250 million) for the first tranche of the Geothermal Resource De-Risking Facility from the Asian Development Bank aimed at reducing investment risks in geothermal energy.

Once this financing package is put in place, this move may help spark investor interest for geothermal energy.

While the Philippines has already tapped about half of its geothermal potential, Indonesia still has around 90 percent untapped geothermal resources.

Because we have the technology and trained staff, First Gen established its Indonesian subsidiary, PT FirstGen Geothermal Indonesia, to bring its expertise from decades of geothermal experience to Indonesia.

Given the increasing importance of clean energy, developing more of our geothermal potential is needed. It is also the kind of baseload power source that will help make the RE transition smoother.

Geothermal 2.0 will do our country proud the way the first foray in geothermal did. It will show the world that Filipinos are really a lot better than the international picture of corrupt public officials is currently suggesting.

Artificial intelligence (AI) could worsen the digital divide in the Philippines unless the government acts fast to strengthen data systems, expand digital connectivity and implement safeguards, experts warned.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies president Philip Arnold Tuaño described AI as both a powerful tool and a looming threat.

‘AI is now an enabler of connections, a driver of knowledge creation and a catalyst for adaptation in nearly every field,’ Tuaño said.

He added that without better infrastructure, skills and governance, its benefits will remain concentrated in the hands of a few.

For his part, Christopher Lamont of Tokyo International University said that the government must view AI as a governance challenge, not merely a technical one.

‘The real test of AI is not just whether it spurs growth, but whether it safeguards citizens,’ Lamont said.

World Bank senior digital development specialist Naoto Kanehira noted that fragmented and unreliable datasets hinder the country’s capacity to utilize AI effectively.

‘Data is often inaccurate, incomplete, not sharable or even not machine-readable,’ he said, adding that without reliable data, AI cannot deliver smarter, faster public services.

‘Yet, even if data systems are in place, millions of Filipinos still cannot benefit because they remain offline or lack the skills to navigate digital tools,’ Kanehira said.

Information and communications technology policy analyst Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos emphasized that without urgent investments in broadband and digital literacy, AI will empower those already connected while excluding those still left behind.

The University of the Philippines-Mindanao and its student council are pushing for higher funding for the UP system as they expressed alarm over budgetary cuts in the education sector, particularly in UP-Mindanao.

In a joint statement, UP-Mindanao and the student council noted that for the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), only P25.82 billion was approved for the UP system.

The figure was way below the P46.85 billion proposed by the UP Board of Regents, they said.

‘This P21 billion deficit serves as a major threat to the development of the university and compromises basic student services as well as the welfare of constituents across UP campuses,’ UP-Mindanao and the student council said.

The budget allotted for UP-Mindanao is among the lowest in the UP system, they said, noting a long-standing struggle for adequate resources since the university was established.

For the 2025 budget in infrastructure development, the university was allocated a mere P25.9 million, a sharp drop from P140 million allotted last year.

Based on the 2026 NEP released by the Department of Budget and Management, only P16.18 million was approved for UP-Mindanao.

The state university and the student council said the drastic reduction in the proposed budget would hinder institutional development.

UP-Mindanao said the budget cuts have resulted in inadequate student services, insufficient campus amenities, and lack of personnel, classrooms and organization areas as well as constrained research capabilities.

‘While the university and the system’s Board of Regents remain committed to the ‘Road to 5,000 Students’ project and expanding access to quality education for more Mindanao youth, the sharp decline in funding poses a significant barrier to achieving such goals,’ the state university said. ‘The misprioritization of funding is a clear manifestation of the state’s neglect of the education sector.’

Sen. Chiz Escudero’s troubles continue to mount after being slapped with an ethics complaint over a P30-million campaign donation from government contractor Lawrence Lubiano in 2022.

Marvin Aceron, a private lawyer, filed the case before the Senate Committee on Ethics, which is chaired by Sen. JV Ejercito. In Aceron’s 21-page complaint, he said that Lubiano’s firm, Centerways Construction and Development Inc., had more contracts after Escudero’s win in the 2022 elections.

Aceron said that there were 112 contracts worth P16.67 billion under Sorsogon’s 1st and 2nd Districts from 2021 to 2025. Prior to Lubiano’s donation, the firm only had 12 contracts worth P720 million.

Lubiano’s contracts following his donation to Escudero amounted to around P15.9 billion.

‘The sheer number, aggregate value, and geographic concentration of these projects, coinciding with the P30-million donation, underscore the appearance of impropriety and raise serious doubts about the independence of public procurement from political influence,’ Aceron wrote in the complaint.

Lubiano also has a majority stake in Metroways Health Care and Medical System Inc., which is another firm that won government contracts in Bicol, Aceron said.

The complaint has six grounds:

Conduct unbecoming a member of the Senate (disorderly behavior)

Conflict of interest / improper influence

Election Law public policy and prohibited sources (Omnibus Election Code)

Integrity of public procurement

Financial opacity, serial restatements, and the alter ego doctrine

The full complaint can be read here.

Martin again?

Escudero has slammed the complaint filed against him, again blaming former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

‘This is just part of the harassment from his minions. This isn’t about ethics. This is political retribution. This complaint is still part of their script and a desperate smokescreen. I will expose it for the politically motivated sham that it is,’ Escudero said in a statement to the media, without directly addressing the contents of the complaint.

The former leaders of Congress have already traded verbal barbs. Escudero has accused Romualdez of corruption, while Romualdez said that the former Senate president is following a Diehard Duterte Supporter script.

Both lawmakers have been implicated in the flood control corruption mess, where billions of pesos are suspected to have been lost in kickback schemes.

The country’s exports of electronic products may hit $110 billion by 2030 amid growing demand from new technologies and products, according to the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI).

‘It’s possible (to reach $110 billion). There are a lot of external factors,’ SEIPI president Dan Lachica told reporters yesterday.

Of the $110 billion electronics exports projected by 2030, he said that semiconductors would account for $70 billion, while other electronic products would cover $40 billion.

These are also the 2030 targets set under the roadmap for the country’s semiconductor and electronics industry announced by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs earlier this year.

While the SEIPI’s official projection is a flat growth for the industry for this year, Lachica said electronics exports could post modest growth, citing encouraging developments.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the country’s electronics exports from January to August rose by seven percent to $29.48 billion from $27.45 billion in the same period last year.

‘If we are on track to continue with our pattern that we’re seeing, the year-to-date numbers, we may even reach if not exceed the 2023 numbers,’ Lachica said.

Last year, electronics exports declined by six percent to $42.74 billion from $45.65 billion in 2023.

Lachica said the growth in electronics exports would be driven by demand for electronics components from new technologies like artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0, as well as from vehicles and devices.

‘The overall demand in the world is increasing,’ Lachica said.

He said risks to the outlook include natural disasters, geopolitical uncertainties, as well as the United States’ plan to impose tariffs on its semiconductor imports.

Earlier, US president Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs of up to 300 percent on semiconductor imports, with exemptions for companies that commit to invest in manufacturing in the US.

At present, semiconductor exports are not covered by the 19-percent tariff imposed by the US on Philippine goods.

Despite risks, Lachica said SEIPI members are being advised to operate and produce based on existing demand.

He also said two firms engaged in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing in the country are planning to expand operations.

In line with efforts to promote the country’s semiconductor and electronics industry, the SEIPI is set to hold the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition 2025 from Oct. 28 to 30 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

Amid the driving rain and fierce winds of Typhoon Paolo, Team North stood tall – unyielding and unrelenting – as it powered its way to a wire-to-wire triumph to claim the crown in the ICTSI North vs South Elite Junior PGT Championship here on Friday.

After dominating the Four-ball format with an emphatic 8-4 win and grinding out a hard-fought 6 1/2- 5 1/2 victory in Foursomes, North proved it could also excel when the pressure was squarely on individual shoulders. In the decisive Singles matches, they delivered yet again – claiming 11 of the 24 showdowns while halving two others – to power past the 24.5-point title threshold and seal a convincing 26 1/2-21 1/2 triumph at The Country Club.

North needed just 10 wins in the head-to-head battles to wrap up the title in this inaugural Ryder Cup-style finale, but added an extra for good measure – cementing its dominance and validating the months-long journey that began in the Luzon series, with standout talents emerging from seven grueling legs played across the region’s top championship courses.

South mounted a spirited comeback late, overcoming early setbacks to notch 11 victories and narrow the overall gap to 21-23 with several matches still to be played.

With the championship hanging in the balance, North’s Vito Sarines delivered a moment for the ages.

Locked in a tense, all-square battle with South’s Ralph Batican, Sarines pulled off a stunning 20-yard chip-in on the treacherous 18th hole – an audacious shot that cut through the rain and pressure like a knife. The ball rolled then dropped into the cup with clinical precision for birdie, triggering a thunderous eruption from the North camp and sealing a dramatic 2-up victory in the boys’ 11-14 division.

That electrifying finish handed North a crucial point, bringing their tally to 24 in what had been a nail-biting showdown.

But while the cheers echoed around the 18th green and outside of the TCC Pavilion, the true clincher unfolded quietly at the distant 15th.

There, Jakob Taruc calmly dismantled Eric Jeon with a dominant 4 and 3 victory in the boys’ 15-18 division. His steely composure and relentless play sealed the title for North – delivering the full point that pushed them past the finish line with a 25-point total.

Then came Rafa Anciano, who added flourish to North’s crowning moment. Down early against Precious Zaragosa, Anciano staged a gritty comeback and closed it out with a 3 and 2 win – lifting North’s total to 26. Zach Villaroman capped the effort with an all-square result against Alexis Nailga, nudging the final score to 26 1/2-21 1/2.

What began as a tightly fought, rain-soaked duel between two proud regions ended in celebration for the North. And at its heart was a daring chip, a quiet clincher, and a team that rose when it mattered most.

‘The lead in Day 1 was very, very important,’ said Team North captain’s representative Joey Anciano. ‘It’s like a step inside the door already. Day 2 was to maintain or increase the lead and we also won, leaving us with 10 matches and a draw to win the cup.’

And momentum they had in spades.

After two days of intense action – marked by drama, momentum swings and relentless pressure – Team North came into the final day poised, calm and battle-ready.

Even the threat of Typhoon Paolo couldn’t shake its players’ resolve.

As gray skies darkened and strong winds gusted over the drenched course, the players teed off in drizzle. But Team North was all business. They seized early control in nine of the first 15 pairings, while four matches remained all-square in the hotly contested 7-10 and 11-14 age groups.

The South squad, composed of the Visayas-Mindanao region’s finest junior talents, made a spirited stand. In the boys’ 11-14 division, four of their players surged ahead early. But Team North was quick to respond. Zianbeau Edoc and Sarines clawed back to force all-square results against Jared Saban and Batican, respectively- dampening South’s momentum just as it began to rise.

North’s dominance held strong in the boys’ and girls’ 7-10 and girls’ 11-14 categories, where they displayed unflinching composure amid challenging conditions. That resilience, forged over months of elite competition, shone through when it mattered most.

North even conceded an early match when 15-18 standout Patrick Tambalque was forced to withdraw while leading Armand Copok by two after five holes, citing a severe back injury.

But this hardly mattered for a team that continued to shine across multiple age-group divisions, undeterred by the windy, stormy conditions.

Anciano raised the determination and effort shown by his players throughout the tournament.

‘It was teamwork and team dynamics. And credit goes to the players definitely because they fought their hearts out,’ said Anciano.

‘Every match the players did their best and that’s what’s important. That’s why we have this kind of tournament. Golf is an individual sport, but we are blessed to have this event which is also all about teamwork,’ he added.

He also emphasized the individual talent of the team and how their game plan paid off.

‘All our players are gifted – they’re talented, strong hitters, and strong in their individual games,’ Anciano said.

‘Actually, it can go both ways, but again we had a strategy through all three days and it worked. So we’re happy to win this one,’ he added.

Halo Pangilinan delivered the opening blow for North with a dominant 6 and 5 rout of James Rolida in the boys’ 7-10 division, setting the tone early in the singles matches. Mavis Espedido quickly followed suit with a 5 and 3 triumph over Soleil Molde, answering South’s first win of the day – Kvan Alburo’s 6 and 5 demolition of Asher Abad.

Ronee Dungca continued North’s charge in the youngest division, dismantling Claren Quiño with a commanding 7 and 6 victory. Zach Guico then overpowered Ethan Lago, 6 and 4, while Jacob Casuga cruised to a 6 and 5 win over Ken Guillermo in the boys’ 11-14 bracket. In the girls’ 7-10, Winter Serapio rolled past Francesca Geroy, 4 and 3, and twin sisters Lisa and Mona Sarines delivered back-to-back wins in the girls’ 11-14 – an 8 and 6 rout of Brittany Tamayo and a 3 and 2 decision over Kimberly Baroquillo, respectively.

Despite the rains and North’s early surge, South staged a spirited comeback.

Lucas Revilleza edged Zoji Edoc, 2 and 1, in boys’ 7-10, while Denise Mendoza blasted past Tyra Garingalao, 5 and 3, in girls’ 7-10. In girls’ 11-14, Zuri Bagaloyos downed Alexie Gabi, 3 and 2, and Rafella Batican eked out a 1-up victory over Kendra Garingalao. In the girls’ 15-18 division, Crista Miñoza and Tashanah Balangauan scored emphatic wins – 7 and 5 over Levonne Talion and 5 and 4 against Chloe Rada, respectively.

South’s late rally leveled the singles matches at 8 wins apiece, and it even surged ahead as Marcus Dueñas and Saban outlasted Ryuji Suzuki and Edoc via the same 3 and 1 results in boys’ 11-14, and Mhark Fernando essayed a 4 and 3 victory over Kristoffer Nadales in boys’ 15-18.

But it wasn’t enough to erase North’s five-point cushion from the first two days of team play. In the end, the Luzon aces proved just as tough and dominant in individual matches as they had been in team competition, securing a well-deserved overall victory in the rain-soaked championship.

North’s Tiffany Bernardino earlier blew a four-hole lead late, enabling Mikela Guillermo to salvage an all-square match, stalling the team’s impending march to the championship.

By day’s end, the storm in the skies mirrored the storm unleashed by Team North on the course – calculated, fierce and unstoppable.

The victory capped a season-long, cross-regional showcase of emerging Filipino golf talent – a tournament built not only on skill, but on heart, grit and camaraderie.

And as the North players hoisted the championship trophy, they didn’t just celebrate a tournament win. They celebrated the spirit of a team that weathered every challenge – from championship pressure to the edge of a typhoon – and emerged as the brightest stars of Philippine junior golf.

Emerging as standout performers for Team North were Espedido, Dungca, Casuga, Serapio, and the Sarines twins, who swept all their matches in Fourballs, Foursomes and Singles. On the other hand, Balangauan and Miñoza were the only unbeaten players from Team South, with Balangauan winning all her matches, including the only three tournaments she had participated in during the Vis-Min series.

A. Soriano Corp. (Anscor) is exiting The Bistro Group nearly a year after investing in the operator of full-service restaurants Italianni’s, TGI Fridays and Texas Roadhouse.

Anscor has sold its entire 22 percent stake in TBG Food Holdings Inc. to Inoza Business Holdings Inc. for P1.91 billion.

The listed holding company said the transaction represents value realization of its investment in TBG, getting gross annualized returns greater than 25 percent on its investment through a combination of distributions and capital gains.

Anscor in November last year acquired a minority stake in TBG for P1.61 billion, expanding its portfolio in the consumer sector.

‘Anscor extends its best wishes to the Bistro and Inoza teams. We are confident they will continue delighting Filipino consumers with their quality dining experiences for many years to come, and we look forward to seeing their continued success,’ the company said.

TBG, also known as The Bistro Group, is a premium casual restaurant operator in the Philippines, owning and operating over 200 full-service restaurants across 23 brands, including iconic names such as Italianni’s, TGI Friday’s and Texas Roadhouse.

Inoza recently took a majority stake in TBG, securing the Philippine Competition Commission’s approval in August.

Inoza is a newly formed holding company affiliated with Progeny Global Holdings Inc., which is engaged in agribusiness, food manufacturing and limited-service restaurants.

Progeny operates the Bounty Fresh brand, as well as limited service restaurants Chooks-to-Go and Uling Roasters.

A construction worker from Tondo, Manila died from a gunshot during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests in Mendiola, according to forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun.

Fortun, in a medical certificate issued yesterday, confirmed that Eric Saber died due to a ‘perforating gunshot to the neck.’

The 35-year-old victim also suffered from a spinal cord injury, Fortun said.

Saber was allegedly shot by police during a violent dispersal of protesters, according to militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

However, Philippine National Police public information officer Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said there was no shooting during the unrest.

Tuaño said police recorded one fatality, a 15-year-old student who died from a stab wound.

‘There was no shooting connected to the protest. Based on the report, it was a stabbing incident, not a case of police firing,’ he said.

The KMU vowed justice for Saber, who was buried yesterday at the Manila North Cemetery.