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Retailers and consumers in Bulacan, Pampanga and Zambales have been reminded that a price freeze on basic necessities remains in effect in areas under a state of calamity.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Luzon said the price freeze covers the entire province of Pampanga and parts of Bulacan and Zambales that were severely affected by flooding.

In a text message, Nerson Ray Romero, information officer of DTI-Central Luzon, told The STAR that so far, no one has been caught violating Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act.

Section 6 of RA 7581 mandates that prices of basic necessities in areas placed under a state of calamity are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices prior to the declaration.

The automatic price control remains effective for 60 days, unless sooner lifted by the President.

Among necessities covered by the price freeze are canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, salt, bottled water and locally manufactured instant noodles.

Filipinos are becoming more comfortable with credit even as confidence in their near-term finances weakens amid concerns over inflation and rising living costs, according to a new TransUnion study.

The 2026 Credit Perception Index (CPI) for the general population rose by two points to 75 out of 100 from 73 last year, the highest since TransUnion launched the annual study in 2023. The increase was supported by better credit favorability, product trust and product knowledge.

However, the improvement in attitudes toward credit came as expectations for personal finances fell to their weakest levels since the survey began.

Only 64 percent of Filipinos expect their financial situation to improve over the next three months, down three percentage points from 2025.

Likewise, 73 percent expect an improvement over the next year, also three points lower. Inflation, rising living costs and energy prices emerged as the leading concerns weighing on consumers.

‘A record-high CPI score and a softer personal outlook may appear contradictory, but they are two sides of the same story. Filipinos are more confident in credit as a tool, even while they feel the squeeze of higher prices,’ TransUnion Philippines president and CEO Peter Faulhaber said during a press briefing.

Despite the weaker outlook, consumers appear more willing to use credit. About 43 percent said they intend to borrow or use credit for purchases, five percentage points higher than last year.

Meanwhile, 86 percent plan to save more, 73 percent intend to access more educational materials and 70 percent plan to explore new digital products and financial technology services.

The survey showed that borrowing is largely being used to meet everyday needs. Emergency expenses were the most common reason for taking out credit at 59 percent, followed by personal expenses at 50 percent and family expenses at 45 percent.

Faulhaber said TransUnion viewed the results as an indication of a more mature perception of credit, with consumers using borrowing for specific financial needs rather than largely discretionary spending.

About 93 percent of respondents said they use at least one fintech product, up from 91 percent in 2025. E-wallets remained the most widely used at 81 percent, followed by digital banks at 52 percent and digital payment apps at 49 percent.

Traditional banks nevertheless remained the financial service perceived as safest by consumers at 88 percent. Digital banks followed closely at 84 percent.

Across population groups, transparency or the absence of hidden fees was the biggest factor that could strengthen trust in financial products at 56 percent, followed by low or fair interest rates at 53 percent and strong security and fraud protection at 52 percent.

Still, gaps remain particularly among Filipinos outside the banking system. The CPI score of the unbanked population fell by two points to 65, while general credit knowledge declined to 48 percent from 56 percent.

Financial education also remains a challenge. One in four Filipinos said they had difficulty finding educational materials on credit and financial products. Among these respondents, 60 percent said it was difficult to determine which sources to trust, while 44 percent found available information too complex or confusing.

The 2026 CPI survey was conducted by TransUnion and Dynata from May 6 to May 26 and covered 1,000 consumers.

North proved once again that in team golf, chemistry can travel farther than home-course familiarity.

And showing that they can dominate both head-to-head duels and coordinated team play with equal intensity, the Northerners shrugged off the unfamiliar surroundings, punishing heat and a fired-up home side to retain their crown in the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior PGT Championship with an emphatic 29-19 victory Thursday at South’s home turf at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club here.

North dominated the Singles, 14 1/2-9 1/2.

North, needing just 10 points from the 24 head-to-head matches to retain the crown, won six of the first seven duels – ignited by Jaicee Cervantes’ 7and5 romp over Blake Aguilar in girls’ 7-10 – and halved the other, further underscoring the visiting side’s class, resolve and poise, which have defined its imposing performance all week.

The last 3 1/2 points took longer than expected, but North eventually completed the inevitable in thrilling fashion, with Zoji Edoc turning a losing stand into a clutch victory. Edoc won the final five holes in a dramatic comeback, rallying from three down to snatch a 2-up triumph over Ethan Lago and match Cervantes’ unbeaten run.

Cervantes’ partner, Andrea Dee, also rallied to eke out a hard-fought 1-up victory over Soleil Molde, while boys’ 15-18 standout Shin Suzuki remained unbeaten for three days, capping his campaign with a 3and2 triumph over Roman Tiongko. The four players thus completed a dominant three-day run, sweeping all their matches in both team play and individual competition and showcasing impressive consistency and form throughout.

South had earlier stalled North’s march to the title by claiming five victories across various age divisions. But Rafa Anciano delivered an emphatic 5and4 win over Apple Gotiong in the girls’ 15-18 division, before Jehanne Mendoza finally sealed the championship for North with a gritty 1-up escape over Akeisha Yocte.

Mendoza appeared firmly in control, taking a 2-up lead with two holes to play. But Yocte fought back by winning No. 8, forcing Mendoza to dig deep on the final hole. She regained her composure, matched Yocte’s par, and then erupted in jubilation as her five-foot putt disappeared into the cup.

The clutch finish secured the championship-clinching 10th point for Team North, although the celebration was far from over. North went on to win four of the final eight matches, putting the finishing touches on another commanding performance in the regional showdown put up by ICTSI showcasing the country’s most promising young golfers.

Team North captain Joey Anciano credited the squad’s composure, discipline and willingness to embrace their individual roles for their victory over a strong South team.

‘We started slow, but we talked to the guys and the kids and told them, ‘Just take it one hole at a time.’ By the turn, with God’s grace, we had the lead. Basically, it was unexpected. The South team was very strong, and their lineup was individually very strong, so we weren’t expecting anything. We just had to come here, play our game and take it one hole at a time,’ said Anciano.

On the team’s winning formula, he added:

‘The key was knowing your role. In match play, obviously, there are players who lose and players who win. But knowing your role as a team is very, very important. You win as a team, you lose as a team. That’s what we did, and we were happy to get the result.’

He also stressed the importance of course management and avoiding unnecessary risks:

‘One of the keys was respecting the course and respecting the green speeds. There really isn’t a lot of room for risky shots, so we just had to play smart and stay disciplined.’

‘This victory means so much. It really proves that it’s not just our familiarity with The Country Club or a home-course advantage. We were able to prove ourselves no matter where we were placed, and it really comes down to our talent and skill,’ he said.

South appeared to have the momentum early, but the match swung dramatically on the back nine, according to captain Boyet Zaragosa.

‘It was very exciting at the start because we seized the early lead. But they took control on the back nine, and the momentum seemed to completely shift. We were leading after the first nine holes, but things turned around on the back nine, especially in the boys’ and girls’ 7-10 matches. That’s where we felt the momentum slipping away,’ said Zaragosa.

While Cervantes sparked the team’s final-day charge and Mendoza sealed it, Santi Asuncion capped North’s domination by forcing an all-square result against Sebastian Sajuela in boys’ 15-18, bringing the singles matches to a close.

So outclassed were the hosts that their first point came in the form of a draw, with Lucas Revilleza blowing a late lead to allow Kenzo Tan to fight back.

After Cervantes’ win, Winter Serapio followed suit, bouncing back from a draw and a loss with a dominant 6and4 victory over Vanya Go, also in the youngest division. The win gave North the first two points, leaving its other 22 teammates to secure the eight points needed to clinch the crown.

While South showed flashes of resistance in the boys’ division, controlling nine of the 12 matches midway through the final day, North repeatedly found a way to salvage all-square matches or snatch victories in dramatic reversals. Those comebacks further underscored the team’s tremendous poise and composure in pressure-packed situations.

The result was more than another triumph for North. It was a statement that teamwork, camaraderie and the ability to quickly adapt can neutralize even the most imposing home-course advantage.

Despite North’s commanding lead, so intense were the deciding singles matches that roars could be heard across the greens of the demanding yet well-kept par-72 layout, where every chip shot or putt either provided an added cushion for Team North or sparked a rally for the South side.

Zach Guico battled back from two-hole deficits with a blistering rally, squeaking out a 2and1 victory over Darren Ong in boys’ 7-10 for North’s third point, while Jacob Casuga defeated Mico Woo, 3and2, and Javie Bautista routed Ken Guillermo, 5and3, in boys’ 11-14.

Stephen Clementer halved the match with Kingston Ching in boys’ 7-10 for the other half-point start for Team South.

South won the other boys’ 15-18 faceoffs as Alexis Nailga trounced Nathan Belandres, 5and4; and Clement Ordeneza dominated Jakob Taruc, 5and3, while South’s Jared Saban and Ralph Batican halted Chan Ahn and Vito Sarines, 2-up, and 3and1, respectively, in boys’ 11-14.

South’s Rafella Batican and Brittany Tamayo also hurdled their matches, defeating Georgina Handog, 4and2; and Quincy Pilac, 2and1, respectively, but North’s Mavis Espedido edged Marqaela Dy, 2and1; and Cailey Gonzales nipped Zuri Bagaloyos, 1-up, to even things up in girls’ 11-14 category.

In other girls’ 15-18 results, South’s Tashanah Balangauan routed Kendra Garingalao, 7and6; and Precious Zaragosa defeated Mona Sarines, 3and2; but North’s Lisa Sarines held off Lois Lane Go, 2and1.

The 10-point romp gave North back-to-back championships in the event, following its 26 1/2-21 1/2 victory over South at The Country Club in Laguna last year. This time, however, the Northerners had to do it away from home.

North imposed its class in the Four-ball (best-ball) matches, posting a 7 1/2-4 1/2 victory. South answered in the Foursomes (alternate-shot) format, where the demands of precision, rhythm and partnership brought the home team closer, but North held its nerve and escaped with a 7-5 win.

Actors Janella Salvador and Gian Magdangal will lend their singing voices for upcoming film concerts of Disney’s animated “Moana” in the Philippines.

Film Concerts PH previously announced it would be staging a live-to-film concert of the popular movie, its score to be performed by the Filharmonika Orchestra led by maestro Gerard Salonga.

Magdangal was first unveiled as the guest vocalist for the character Maui originated by Dwayne Johnson, whose song, “You’re Welcome,” remains a hit among viewers.

Janella was revealed a week later as the vocalist for the titular character whose songs include “How Far I’ll Go,” “I Am Moana,” “Know Who You Are,” and “Where You Are.”

It’s a full-circle moment for Janella as she performed the localized version of “How Far I’ll Go” when the song and movie initially came out in 2016.

The “Moana Live-To-Film” concerts will be on October 3 and 4, 2026 at The Theatre at Solaire.

Some planned future shows by Film Concerts PH include “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” “Jujutsu Kaisen in Concert,” and “Undertale: The Determination Symphony.”

Media giant ABS-CBN Corp. is putting out more content with public recall, including the return of ‘Gandang Gabi Vice’ (GGV), to improve revenue, pressured by the task of becoming profitable again.

During the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting, ABS-CBN chief operating officer Cory Vidanes confirmed that popular evening talk show GGV is returning on free TV in September via GMA-7.

The show, hosted by Jose Marie Viceral, popularly known as Vice Ganda, ended its run in March 2020, weeks before ABS-CBN went off air after Congress denied its bid for a fresh franchise.

At its height, GGV pulled double-digit ratings for ABS-CBN and had beaten rival shows with comfortable leads. GGV also landed Vice Ganda hosting awards from the PMPC Star Awards.

Vidanes also said ABS-CBN is partnering again with GMA Network Inc. in developing another edition of ‘Pinoy Big Brother.’ The show, however, will be moved to a new home after its original site at the ABS-CBN compound was closed in preparation for a property sale.

‘We are launching ‘Pinoy Big Brother Collab 3.0′ in October in partnership with GMA, and yes we are moving to a new PBB house that will be more cost efficient for us,’ Vidanes said.

Outside of content production, ABS-CBN is also completing the P6.24-billion sale of most of its properties in Quezon City, with turnover slated for mid-2027.

Once the properties are handed over, ABS-CBN will be consolidating all of its operations in the ELJ Communications Center and Gina Lopez Building.

In 2025, the Lopez and Zobel families agreed on the sale of 30,000 square meters of ABS-CBN’s 44,027.3-sqm property in Quezon City to Ayala Land Inc. The transaction includes ABS-CBN’s landmark headquarters in Mother Ignacia Avenue, towered by an iconic transmitter used then to air on free TV.

ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak said the company is paring down debts and losses. ABS-CBN’s recurring net loss before one-time writeoffs, excluding Sky Cable Corp., went down to P2.5 billion in 2025, from P8.3 billion in 2020.

On top of this, ABS-CBN is spending 54 percent lower for general expenditures and manpower costs to P6.9 billion compared to pre-franchise era’s P15 billion in 2019.

As a whole, ABS-CBN’s outstanding debts, excluding Sky, have decreased by 59 percent to P8.5 billion as of 2025, from P20.5 billion six years ago.

The local stock market tumbled yesterday as peso weakness dampened investor sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) plummeted by 1.7 percent or 106.36 points to finish the session at 6,158.34.

The broader All Shares index likewise tumbled by 1.29 percent or 44.47 points, settling at 3,396.35.

Luis Limlingan of Regina Capital said the weaker currency weighed on market sentiment, while broad-based selling reflected continued investor caution.

‘The local bourse ended lower as investors reacted to the peso’s depreciation, which nearly touched the 62-level against the greenback, raising concerns over inflation and borrowing costs,’ Limlingan said.

The peso flirted with the 62 to $1 level after hitting an intraday low of 61.995 yesterday, beating the previous record closing of 61.846 on July 24.

‘Global market weakness also weighed on sentiment, adding to the pressure on local equities,’ Limlingan added.

All sectors were in the red, with the services index taking the biggest hit with a 2.68-percent plunge, followed by mining and oil which lost 2.6 percent.

Market breadth was negative as decliners squashed advancers, 119 to 74, while 54 issues did not change hands.

Total turnover value reached P5.78 billion, almost similar to the previous day’s value.

AB Capital Securities said net foreign selling accelerated to P232 million, but gross foreign buying remained healthy and was in-line with its 30-day median, suggesting foreign demand has not disappeared despite the correction.

‘For the PSEi to stabilize, the peso would need to recover and the other heavyweights would need to pick up the slack,’ AB Capital said.

ICTSI was the most actively traded stock, dropping by 3.38 percent to P930 per share, followed by SM Investments and BDO Unibank, which fell by 2.07 percent and 1.93 percent, respectively, to P568 and P122.10.

TV host and Miss Earth Philippines 2025 Joy Barcoma has officially closed the door on her pageant career, saying she has no plans to compete in another beauty pageant in the Philippines.

Joy, who currently hosts a segment on ‘Unang Hirit,’ was asked about her role as a host of Reina Filipinas 2026 and whether she would consider joining the competition to represent the Philippines if the organization wins the Miss Grand International or Miss Grand International All Stars crown.

Joy, however, made it clear that her pageant journey ended with her Miss Earth Philippines 2025 title.

‘Wala na, tapos na ako sa pageantry. Ayoko na. Kasi, di ba, laging sinasabi kapag magdyo-join ka ng pageant, ‘I want to use my platform, I want to use my voice.’ E, feeling ko nagagawa ko naman na siya kahit outside pageantry. Tsaka, okay na ako doon sa Miss Earth Philippines crown ko,’ she said.

Rather than returning to the competition scene, Joy said she is content with the opportunities that came her way after winning the crown and is now focusing on her hosting career.

‘Very grateful na ako for all the opportunities. The doors that opened for me, even the windows, kung mayroon mang nagbukas. Sobrang happy na ako doon. And I feel like I’m living the best life ngayon. Thankful na ako, kaya ayoko nang bumalik sa pageantry. Mag-host na lang ako,’ she added.

Joy said she remains deeply grateful for the blessings and opportunities that followed her pageant stint, describing many of them as unexpected.

‘Lahat ng nangyayari ngayon is very unexpected for me. Kaya nga wala akong ibang masabi kada interview ko kundi very, very grateful ako. Kasi hindi naman lahat ng tao, e, nabibigyan ng opportunity, parang kailangan talaga ng perfect timing, charisma as well,’ she said.

She also acknowledged the importance of talent, skills and the people who believed in her potential as she ventured further into the entertainment industry.

‘Also, skills and talents para ma-penetrate niya yung ganitong klase ng industriya. Sobrang grateful ako sa mga taong nakakita ng talent and skills ko. Sobrang grateful ako sa mga taong binigyan ako ng opportunities.

‘And sobrang grateful din ako sa mga taong sumuporta sa akin, kasi kung hindi sa suporta nila, wala talaga ako sa kung nasaan ako ngayon.’

For Joy, the Miss Earth Philippines 2025 crown was not just a title but a milestone that opened doors to opportunities beyond the pageant stage.

Now, she appears ready to embrace the next chapter of her career – this time, with a microphone in hand rather than a pageant sash.