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As I reflect on the 20 years since founding Go Negosyo, I am reminded of the journey that has empowered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to rise to their role of becoming a cornerstone of the Philippine economy. Since 2005 and until now, it is clear that to champion entrepreneurship, I needed to build essential partnerships with the government and rally support from the private sector.

The success of Go Negosyo has always hinged on collaboration. From its inception, the partnership between government and the private sector has been pivotal. When I was appointed as the Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the same year I founded Go Negosyo, it marked the beginning of a harmonious alliance aimed at creating an enabling environment for MSMEs. This partnership inspired the launch of nationwide entrepreneurship caravans and sectoral dialogues that have empowered countless entrepreneurs throughout the Philippines.

Through these initiatives, I saw how effective collaboration can lead to significant results. For instance, the entrepreneurship mentoring caravans not only provided access to resources but also facilitated networking opportunities among the entrepreneurs themselves. This exchange of ideas and experiences has proven invaluable for the MSMEs that participated in our activities.

Moreover, the role of the government in this partnership cannot be overstated. Policies that support entrepreneurship, such as access to funding and training, have been critical in helping MSMEs thrive. The government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment has encouraged many aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap and start their own ventures. This collaboration has not only provided the necessary resources and support for MSMEs but has also fostered a culture of entrepreneurship that is vital for economic growth and resilience. The lessons learned from our experiences with past administrations underscore the need for continued cooperation and innovation.

During the tenure of former president Rodrigo Duterte, our advocacy evolved in response to emerging challenges. The introduction of the KMME (Kapatid Mentor Me Program) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry proved that collaborating with government agencies can amplify the efforts of private sector. And when we scaled up KMME into the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network, it showed how a Filipino original can transform our neighboring countries’ MSMEs.

Furthermore, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, our A Dose of Hope initiative exemplified the power of private-public partnerships in crisis management. Recognizing the devastating impact of the pandemic on businesses, Go Negosyo mobilized resources and collaborated with various stakeholders to support MSMEs. Initiatives included providing access to vaccines for employees and launching digital platforms to help businesses pivot to online operations.

Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Go Negosyo broadened its reach, focusing on untapped entrepreneur groups such as women, youth and overseas Filipinos. The First Lady’s LAB for All social and medical services caravan enabled us to take our entrepreneurship to more communities. The President’s prioritization of agriculture and food security dovetailed and fueled our drive to create agripreneurs of our farmers and expand what we began with Kapatid Agri Mentor ME Program, and allowed us to evolve it to Kapatid Angat Lahat sa Agri Program and to the region-wide ASEAN Food Security Alliance.

Our experience affirms that we need to rally even more support from the private sector to ensure that our initiatives are sustainable and impactful. The private sector has a vital role to play in this ongoing narrative. By investing in MSMEs and providing mentorship, resources and market access, big-brother corporations can help cultivate a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. This partnership is an investment in the future of our economy. When large corporations invest in MSMEs, they create a ripple effect that benefits the entire community, leading to job creation and competitiveness in the region.

An essential aspect of supporting MSMEs is providing access to education and training, most especially the future generation of entrepreneurs. We set up programs dedicated to working with the education sector and introduced public school students to the entrepreneurial mindset and financial literacy. There is so much potential in this collaboration between the private sector, government and educational institutions to create the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The success of Go Negosyo is a collective achievement. It is a reminder of what can be accomplished when we unite for our hardworking small entrepreneurs. We must continue to advocate for them and ensure that they have access to financing, training and markets.

Moving forward beyond our second decade, several key actions must be prioritized. We must continue to strengthen public-private partnerships and collaborations with the government. We must invest in education and training programs to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to adapt to a changing business environment. The private sector must continue to actively support MSMEs through mentorship, funding and access to markets to build a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. Inclusivity is also crucial; empowering groups such as women and the youth with the right tools and resources is vital for their success. Finally, embracing innovation by encouraging MSMEs to adopt digital tools will enhance their competitiveness in an evolving market.

Even as I look back at the milestone that is the 20th year of Go Negosyo, I never fail to remind myself that there is much more work to be done. The difference between now and 2005 is that I am reassured that there are so many Filipinos in the private sector who are willing to help our entrepreneurs, and that our business and government leaders appreciate the role of MSMEs in achieving a more inclusive and prosperous economy for generations of Filipinos to come.

Later this year, the Philippine qualifiers for the Pickleball Champions League (PCL) Asia will kick off.

There, eight teams will compete in the PCL Philippines qualifiers on November 15 to 16, with the champion earning a $5,000 travel grant for the Asia Finals in China.

In the PCL Asia Final, a prize pool of $256,000 (about P14.8 million) is at stake, with the Grand Champion bringing home a $30,000, or more than P1.7 million.

In Season 1 of PCL Asia, a team from the Philippines – made up of Ken dela Cruz, Nik Isagan, Fatima Amirul and Meds Saraza – won the gold after a commanding 3-0 victory over Vietnam.

Now, the Philippines will try to win the title anew, but this time, the field will be tougher.

So, what is pickleball, one of the fastest-rising sports not only in the Philippines, but in the world?

‘Like tennis, but more addicting’

Conceptualized in 1965 when a lazy Saturday afternoon prompted Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell found their families sitting around with nothing to do, the sport was created to ‘provide a game that the whole family could play together.’

Decades later, in 2016, the first known pickleball clinic in the Philippines was held in Cebu, according to the Philippine Pickleball Federation.

Pickleball, from the outside looking in, looks like when badminton, tennis and table tennis had a baby.

According to USA Pickleball, the sport could be played in singles or doubles, with a racket and a ball, in a 20×44 court. The net height is at 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center.

Points could only be won by the serving team, and games are normally played to 11 points, and won by two points. Tournament games, though, may be up to 15 or 21.

There is also a two-bounce rule, where, after the serve (that must be underhand), each side must let the ball bounce once on the floor before a volley could be done.

In an interview with Philstar.com, Amirul said there is ‘not much difference’ between pickleball and tennis.

Amirul, who won a gold medal in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games for soft tennis, bared the footwork and form of tennis is similar to pickleball.

‘The difference lang is the court, which is more similar to badminton. And then yung paddles, which is similar to table tennis. Scoring is similar to, I think, volleyball and badminton as well. So yun lang po yung difference na,’ she said.

‘And the ball, the ball is more of a plastic, a hard plastic kind of thing,’ she added.

The similarities and differences were echoed by her teammate, Isagan.

The 23-year-old Isagan, who started playing tennis back when he was seven, said the fundamentals of tennis is very similar to pickleball.

‘Yung foundation talaga, yung footwork, how you hit the ball, paano yung stroke sa tennis, it’s also the same sa pickleball,’ he stated in a separate interview with reporters.

‘Like chess’

But another thing both pickleball players find different is the way the sport is played.

‘Well, honestly, growing up playing tennis, it was very competitive. So yung environment, it was all about competition. You have to compete with other players on a serious level,’ Amirul emphasized.

‘So when I started playing pickleball, I noticed how the community was all about having fun. Everyone was friends with each other. What matters is you go home smiling and laughing, which was totally different from the lawn tennis scene,’ she added.

This was agreed upon by Isagan.

‘Yung difference lang is mas dapat relaxed ka kasi once manggigil ka, that’s the time na mag-make ka ng more errors,’ he said.

‘Sa tennis kasi before, we were always aggressive. Hinahataw namin each ball na nahahawakan namin. Here, it’s more like chess, dapat, planado, you’re four, five steps ahead bago mo gagawin,’ he added.

Tennis and padel

Still, though, Amirul underscored that her background as a tennis player made the switch to the new sport much smoother.

‘No, actually having a tennis background or any racket sports background made transitioning to pickleball easier. I was blessed to have a tennis background.’

Isagan, for his part, said that while the actual transition to pickleball was easier, he had a harder time justifying the shift to his family, especially since his family was almost all tennis players.

‘Yung family ng dad ko are all tennis players so I felt obligated na dapat ako tennis player din ako. So at a young age, I really tried na tennis. And then it helped a lot transitioning to pickleball,’ he said.

‘Actually nagsimula, ayaw ng parents ko. Kasi like sabi nila, ‘Paano yung tennis mo? Sayang naman si tennis.’ Sabi ko, parang outlet ko lang to have fun naman once in a while. And then, hindi naman expect na darating yung ganitong blessings na nakapanalo ng mga big events sa pickleball,’ he added.

Now, he has been playing pickleball for two years.

‘And then after those ilang arguments namin ng parents ko, they tried pickleball and now they’re super addicts na they play until 2 a.m. Nagpagawa na sila ng sarili nilang court sa province namin. So they’re that addicted na mas addict pa sila kesa sakin.’

Philippine pride

Filipinos have now shown they have what it takes to win overseas pickleball tourneys.

So what are the advantages of Filipinos in the sport?

Isagan said the heart and resiliency of bets from the Philippines.

‘For me, as a Pinoy, I think the biggest advantage is tayo yung pinaka-resilient. Hindi lang sa mga calamities, pati din sa sports. Yung tibay ng puso natin,’ the former said.

‘Even though we’re behind na for ilang points, we still manage to pull up a win sa tiwala lang at sa tigas ng puso,’ he added.

He also acknowledged that while Filipinos are not the tallest and the strongest, they have what it takes to conquer the stage.

Amirul, for her part, said one advantage of Filipinos is being able to start early in the sport.

‘yung ibang countries po, they’re just starting. Like they just discovered pickleball, so wala pa sila yung parang solid na players,’ she underscored.

‘I think that’s one of the advantages. Kasi early pa lang, we already know who’s solid and how we can gauge ourselves kung saan tayo sa international level.’

The Department of Health (DOH) has started a case buildup against those involved in the alleged irregularities in the agency.

‘Actually, the DOH has been investigating these anomalies way before the media picked it up,’ Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a post on social media, in reaction to reports of corruption in the department.

‘Several actions have been taken already, and we continue to do case buildup,’ he added.

Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo previously said the DOH welcomes any investigation into so-called ghost health centers reportedly built under the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program but later turned out to be unfinished or unusable.

Global tourism leaders and policymakers convened in Melaka, Malaysia, from September 27 to 29 for the 7th World Tourism Conference, establishing a new agenda on ‘Sustainable Transformation’ to address growing environmental and social pressures in the tourism industry.

The conference, held in tandem with the official World Tourism Day celebrations, brought together more than 700 delegates to tackle the challenges of overtourism, climate change and economic inequality facing the sector.

The event took place as the industry marked a strong post-pandemic recovery, with 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded in 2024.

In his opening address, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, H.E. Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, set a tone of urgency, urging delegates to ensure the conference was not “merely ceremonial” and to “avoid producing statements that remain unresolved.”

Focus on ‘sustainable,’ ‘people-centered’ tourism

Global tourism leaders and policymakers convened in Melaka, Malaysia, from September 27 to 29 for the 7th World Tourism Conference, establishing a new agenda on ‘Sustainable Transformation’ to address growing environmental and social pressures in the tourism industry.

The conference, held in tandem with the official World Tourism Day celebrations, brought together more than 700 delegates to tackle the challenges of overtourism, climate change and economic inequality facing the sector.

The event took place as the industry marked a strong post-pandemic recovery, with 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded in 2024.

In his opening address, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, H.E. Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, set a tone of urgency, urging delegates to ensure the conference was not “merely ceremonial” and to “avoid producing statements that remain unresolved.”

Focus on ‘sustainable,’ ‘people-centered’ tourism

Melaka’s selection as host of the World Tourism Conference positioned the Unesco World Heritage city as a ‘living laboratory’ for sustainable tourism.

Inscribed in 2008 for its entire historic urban landscape, Melaka was presented as a case study in balancing heritage conservation with modern economic pressures and rising visitor flows.

Conference sessions and curated tours highlighted the city’s inclusive approach, from women’s empowerment and community-based initiatives to eco-friendly practices.

Delegates joined experiences such as the Sungai Linggi Eco Cruise and the Dutch and Heritage Trail, illustrating how cultural assets can fuel the visitor economy without compromising integrity.

Organizers noted that Melaka’s layered history-shaped by Malay, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences-mirrors the global tourism industry’s dynamics of cultural exchange and power imbalances.

By convening in Melaka, UN Tourism and the Malaysian government underscored Melaka’s role as both model and metaphor for a more inclusive, resilient and culturally grounded tourism future.

Visit Malaysia 2026 launched

Another major highlight of the week was the official launch of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), the nation’s tourism push, officiated by Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister stressed that the campaign’s success would be measured not just by visitor numbers but by its contribution to “cultural vitality and shared prosperity.”

The principles discussed were also demonstrated through a series of public events. The Melaka Entrepreneurs’ Carnival 2025 provided a platform for over 60 local business owners, with business matching sessions projected to generate RM10 million in transactions

Other festivities included an International Kite Festival, a 3,000-strong traditional zapin dance and a special exhibition honoring Enrique de Malacca, the 16th-century Melakan sailor who was part of Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet.

The conference concluded with Malaysia officially handing over hosting duties for World Tourism Day 2026 to El Salvador.

The theme for the 2026 event was announced as the ‘Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,’ signaling the future of the industry.

Superstar rookie Bella Belen will make her much-awaited debut as Capital1 clashes with Choco Mucho in Tuesday’s start of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rodriguez, Rizal.

‘I love the new challenges in whatever league and whose players I play against,’ said this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, a three-time UAAP MVP and champion from National University.

‘But for me I have to prepare for this conference because the level of play in the collegiate and the PVL are different,’ she added.

Belen also said she’s expecting nothing less than a finals appearance for the Solar Spikers, who tackle the Flying Titans at 6:30 p.m., this conference.

‘I have high expectations for the team and have that mentality that we can make the finals, we’re aiming high,’ said the Alas Pilipinas standout.

Interestingly, she will face off against a familiar face, fellow neophyte and national team mainstay Tia Andaya, who will partner with Deanna Wong at the setter position.

‘She’s ready to play,’ said Choco Mucho mentor Dante Alinsunurin of his prized setter from Ellensburg, Washington who suited up for US NCAA Division I Gonzaga University.

Also taking center stage at 4 p.m. are ZUS Coffee and Akari.

The Thunderbelles parade 5-11 American outside spiker Anna DeBeer from University of Louisville, who along with the return of Thea Gagate from national team duty, should bolster their chances in this compressed and ultra-competitive two-month tournament.

For the Chargers, they will brandish a veteran American in Annie Mitchem, who had stops in Jakarta, Italy, Turkey and Brazil after a standout effort at University of Hawaii.

She will have at her disposal a strong core in Ivy Lacsina, Grethcel Soltones, Fifi Sharma, Faith Nisperos, Eli Soyud and Ced Domingo.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed seminary rector Fr. Edwin Panergo as the new bishop of the Diocese of Boac in Marinduque.

According to the CBCPNews, the Diocese of Boac has not had a bishop since November last year. During the vacancy, Fr. Elino Esplana administered the diocese.

Panergo, 57, is the rector of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary in Sariaya, Quezon and Commission on Vocation director of the Diocese of Lucena.

He will succeed Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr., who led Boac for nine years before he was transferred to the Diocese of San Pablo in Laguna last year.

Malacañang dismissed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s call for snap elections as ‘wishful thinking,’ saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is focused on governance, not politics.

Cayetano earlier suggested that all elected officials – from the president to lawmakers – should resign to pave the way for a snap election. He later walked back his remarks after criticism who questioned both the legality and sincerity of his proposal.

While some senators have remarked that Cayetano’s call can be dangerous, the Palace downright called it politicking. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, for one, said the administration sees no value in entertaining Cayetano’s idea.

‘It is just his wishful thinking. We do not have time to talk about one’s personal desires,’ Castro told reporters.

She added that Marcos is preoccupied with response efforts following a string of natural disasters, including recent cyclones and the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu.

‘Wala po siyang oras sa mga ganitong klaseng pamumulitika. Mag-focus po tayong lahat sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan, hindi sa mga pansariling interes lang,’ Castro said.

(He has no time for this kind of politicking. We should all focus on the needs of the people, not personal interests.)

Accountability over resignation. Cayetano’s proposal stemmed from the ongoing corruption investigations into flood control projects – a controversy first spotlighted by Marcos during his State of the Nation Address in July.

The president has repeatedly said the probes must continue even at the cost of his own allies, stressing that resignation alone cannot substitute for accountability.

In a pre-recorded interview aired before Cayetano’s statements, Marcos said resignation is not enough, since people still need to be held accountable for any anomalies.

Following the backlash, Cayetano softened his position.

‘It’s not my job nor my intention to tell anyone what to do, to tell anyone to resign,’ he wrote on Facebook.

The Philippine economy may have matched or expanded in the third quarter at a slightly faster pace than the previous quarter amid lower inflation, according to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

‘Overall, I think we should see, if not at the same pace, it’s slightly better,’ DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told The STAR when asked how the economy likely performed in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter.

The economy grew by 5.5 percent in the second quarter, slightly faster than the 5.4 percent expansion in the first quarter, but slower than the 6.5 percent growth in the second quarter last year.

This brought average growth in the first half to 5.4 percent, lower than the government’s growth target of 5.5 to 6.5 percent for this year.

‘On the positive side, you have inflation coming down,’ Balisacan said.

While headline inflation quickened to 1.5 percent in August from 0.9 percent in July, it was slower than the 3.3 percent print in the same month last year.

Average inflation from January to August was also at 1.7 percent, below the government’s two to four percent target range for the year.

Despite the storms that hit the country, Balisacan said the agricultural damage is not extensive, except for some crops, such as vegetables.

He is also optimistic about seeing improvements in the labor market data in August.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country’s unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in July from 3.7 percent in June and 4.7 percent in the same month last year.

This also marked the highest jobless rate since it hit the same level in August 2022.

‘I believe the numbers for August should be better,’ Balisacan said.

He said the growth in the country’s exports, as exporters frontloaded shipments to the United States to avoid the 19 percent tariff that took effect on Aug. 7, should also be a positive factor.

Philippine export sales rose by 13 percent to $55.7 billion from January to August, compared to $49.45 billion in the same period last year.

‘I think the fourth quarter is what we need to work on harder,’ Balisacan said, noting that recently exposed flood control corruption issues are expected to have an impact on growth.

He said infrastructure spending, in particular, might be affected by the scandal.

‘We have to manage that from our end and ensure that those infrastructure projects and programs that are not tainted with corruption should be able to move,’ he said.

Given domestic challenges and risks from external developments, Balisacan said he ‘would be happy if we get 5.6, 5.7 (percent growth) for the whole year.’

The PSA is scheduled to report on the country’s third quarter economic performance on Nov. 7.

A highly motivated Cebu Greats hope to hurdle one final obstacle in their playoffs bid in the Manny Pacquiao presents Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season.

Again, the Greats will face a daunting challenge as they lock horns with host Mindoro Tamaraws in a knockout play-in match today (Monday, October 6) at the Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro.

Both sides brace for a dogfight as eighth and last spot in the South Division playoffs is at stake in their 6 p.m. encounter.

Cebu gained one more lifeline after booting out the Davao Occidental Tigers in its first play-in assignment last Saturday, October 4.

Now, they are aiming for another season-extending against the Tamaraws.

The winner of their sudden-death duel will next tackle the top seeded Quezon Huskers in a best-of-three series.-EBV

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has warned public officials against using the Senate’s current leadership turmoil to weaken or redirect investigations into corruption in flood control projects, saying such a move would ‘heighten public suspicion of a cover-up.’

In a statement on Monday, October 6, CBCP President Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David said the public is watching closely amid several unanswered questions into the alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects despite weeks of hearings.

‘After the revelations of massive anomalies in flood control projects, any move to change Senate leadership or redirect investigations now would only heighten public suspicion of a cover-up,’ the CBCP statement read.

The CBCP also called on all public officials to uphold the integrity of the ongoing inquiries and allow the newly formed Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to ‘investigate fully and freely, without political interference from any branch of government.’

Lacson’s resignation

The CBCP statement comes after Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said over the weekend that he would submit today his resignation as chair of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which has been conducting an inquiry into irregularities in flood control allocations.

Lacson, in stepping down from his chairmanship, cited the ‘disappointment’ of several colleagues over his handling of the hearings.

His exit has fueled talks of another leadership shake-up, barely a month after Sen. Chiz Escudero was replaced by Senate President Tito Sotto III.

Sen. JV Ejercito earlier told reporters he and four other senators had considered leaving the majority bloc after the Lacson-led Blue Ribbon committee started to turn its focus on senators involved in the anomalies in flood control projects.

Lacson had earlier revealed that nearly all senators had inserted at least P100 billion worth of items in the 2025 budget, much of it for DPWH projects. That disclosure, according to some senators, risked damaging the Senate’s collective reputation.

Budget insertions themselves are not anomalous. However, the practice of doing so has drawn controversy as it has been abused to allegedly funnel billions of pesos into projects that are either non-existent (ghost projects) or subject to kickbacks.

Lacson’s resignation is now widely seen as an attempt to prevent instability in the upper chamber, appease the majority and, in effect, keep Sotto at the top.

Speculation over another leadership change has been growing as reports alleged some senators were considering backing Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano for the top post.

Within the Senate, however, senators have denied that Cayetano was poised to take over. Lacson has also dismissed the rumors as ‘rehashed psywar tactics intended to sow intrigue among members of the majority.’

‘Let the truth flow freely’

In its statement, the CBCP called on both Congress and Malacañang to demonstrate that they ‘serve the common good, not partisan power.’

‘We strongly oppose any attempt to pre-empt or derail the investigation through backroom deals, leadership takeovers, or selective justice,’ the statement added. ‘A nation cannot heal when its moral arteries are clogged by corruption and self-interest.’

They warned that attempts to sidestep the inquiry or silence investigators would only deepen public cynicism about corruption and erode confidence in the government’s anti-graft efforts.

The bishops also called for protection of whistleblowers and technical personnel ‘who come forward in good faith,’ noting that many such workers had been exposed to harassment or political pressure in past investigations.

‘No to a whitewash. Yes to full accountability,’ the statement declared. ‘Only through truth can our nation begin to rebuild trust and ensure that flood control no longer becomes another flood of corruption.’

The CBCP also expressed support for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure – the body the president created last month to investigate corruption in public works – but emphasized that its hearings must be open to the public.

The ICI was created precisely to restore public trust, the CBCP said, and its work must proceed ‘thoroughly, transparently, and without fear or favor.’

The CBCP earlier called for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance to be held tomorrow, October 7.