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TIME deposits are now among the eligible investment products under the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA), the country’s voluntary retirement savings program, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ruled.

A statement issued by the central bank last Tuesday read that time deposits now join the ‘growing lineup’ of PERA-qualified financial products that include unit investment trust funds, stocks, real estate investment trusts, and government securities.

According to the BSP, the inclusion of time deposits gives Filipinos another option for retirement savings.

‘It may appeal to savers who prefer a familiar savings product with predictable returns and relatively lower investment risk,’ the central bank said.

Under the latest PERA guidelines issued on August 20 by the BSP, banks that meet applicable BSP prudential requirements may offer PERA-eligible time deposits.

The BSP said banks must also obtain accreditation from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and enter an arrangement with an accredited PERA administrator before accepting placements.

Lyn I. Javier, BSP’s Deputy Governor for Financial Supervision Sector, said that by introducing PERA time deposits, the central bank is providing ‘another practical option’ for individuals who want to build their retirement savings through a product they already understand and trust.

‘Retirement planning should be simple, accessible, and within reach of every Filipino,’ Javier emphasized.

Unlike regular time deposits, the central bank said a PERA time deposit forms part of a contributor’s equity and retirement account and may qualify for applicable tax incentives.

According to the BSP, PERA time deposits remain bank deposits and are subject to applicable banking regulations and insurance rules of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

PERA is the country’s voluntary retirement savings program that enables Filipinos to build funds for retirement while enjoying government tax incentives.

‘The BSP encourages Filipinos to make retirement saving a regular part of their financial planning and to choose PERA products that match their financial goals, investment horizon, and risk preferences,’ the central bank said in its statement.

Data obtained by reporters from Javier showed that total contributions under PERA have reached P757.55 million as of June 30. The amount is 45.4-percent higher than the P521.36 million contributions in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, there are now 30,055 contributors as of June 30, compared to the 6,193 contributors in the same period last year.

Roger Federer is actually nervous about his tennis.

The man who won five straight US Open championships during the height of his dominance of the sport is set to play again in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night for the first time since 2019.

And he’s not quite sure how the game that perhaps nobody ever made look more elegant will appear now. ‘I haven’t played a singles set in, I don’t know, [Hubert] Hurkacz at Wimbledon maybe, so it’s been five years,’ Federer said Monday, referring to his 2021 quarterfinal loss in his last Grand Slam match. ‘I don’t know how it’s going to go tomorrow. So there is a lot of uncertainty but a lot of happiness that I can return to Arthur Ashe, a place where I have had so many beautiful moments.’

It’s only one set of singles in an exhibition against Andy Roddick and one set of doubles with John McEnroe against Roddick and Andre Agassi.

The winner of 20 Grand Slam singles titles should be fine for those.

But a return to tennis beyond that, competing in major tennis tournaments in his mid-40s like Venus and Serena Williams?

‘No, no, no, no. No, not at all,’ Federer said during a news conference. ‘Thanks for asking. I wasn’t sure if the question was going to get asked, but I’m happy you did so I can clarify in case anybody thought.’

At 45, Federer still looks fit, and said he enjoys working out in the gym. But he said he goes through long stretches where he is rarely on the court.

His lengthy absence from the US Open has done little to dampen his popularity, based on the amount of people around the grounds who were mentioning his name. The appearance of ‘Roger Federer’ up on the big board for all to see again, ahead of his afternoon practice on Ashe, where Federer collected the trophy every year from 2004-08, was a welcome sight for his fans.

The trip to New York is a stop for Federer on his way to Newport, Rhode Island, where he will be enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Federer never really had the chance to say goodbye to New York as a player, because there was no way to know his loss to Grigor Dimitrov in the 2019 quarterfinals would be his last match. He had reached the French Open semifinals and the Wimbledon final earlier that year, falling to Rafael Nadal in Paris and then Novak Djokovic in a fifth-set tiebreaker at the All England Club.

It was easy to imagine him returning to the US Open the next year and making another deep run. But after falling to Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open to begin 2020, he had knee surgery that February, then another procedure in May.

He returned to play in the French Open in 2021 but had to withdraw before his fourth-round match. After the loss to Hurkacz-where he appeared struggling and lost 6-0 in the third set-Federer had another knee surgery that August and knew there would be no more comebacks.

‘The knee can’t do it anymore. It’s tired,’ he recalled thinking. ‘The mind can’t be patient even more and wait for another couple years and see what happens.’

Federer knows Tuesday night won’t be real tennis, joking that he and Roddick hopefully would be respectful and not try to drop shot each other. But it will be different from when he did return to Ashe a couple of years back to watch.

‘They gave me an ovation because they saw me on the big screen, but I just feel, like, tomorrow and I guess today, as well, and Monday next week, it really gives me a true opportunity to say thank you and goodbye, which I think is important for some,’ Federer said. ‘It’s a nice thing to do, for sure.’

THERE is a particular kind of quiet that follows a major change. The first night in a new apartment after a move, the first Monday after a job ends, or a child leaves for college. The boxes are unpacked or the paperwork is signed, yet something in you has not caught up to the new reality just yet. You keep reaching for a routine that no longer exists, and the space where it used to be feels strange and it becomes hard to describe to anyone who has not felt it.

Major life transitions rarely follow the neat timeline people expect. You might assume that once a decision is made, the hardest part is over. But most of the time, the opposite is true. The decision was simply the beginning of a longer process. One where your daily habits, your sense of identity, and even your body need time to adjust to circumstances that changed faster than your mind could process. A new job title does not immediately feel like your own, or a new city does not immediately feel like home. Giving yourself permission to feel unfamiliar is one of the most overlooked steps in moving through a transition. And it is far more common than the confident stories other people share about their own big changes.

Part of what makes transitions so disorienting is the loss hidden in the changes you actively wanted. Starting a new career you are genuinely excited about can still bring grief for the coworkers you saw daily, the small rituals that structured your week, or simply the version of yourself who existed in that old role. This grief does not mean you made the wrong choice. It means you are human, and humans form attachments to routines and identities that took years to build. Naming this loss out loud, rather than pushing it aside because the change was supposedly a good one, tends to speed up the adjustment rather than slow it down. A short conversation acknowledging what you left behind often does more for your peace of mind than weeks of forcing yourself to feel grateful. Structure becomes especially helpful during periods when everything else feels uncertain. When your surroundings shift dramatically, even small consistent habits can act as an anchor. These could

be new habits like a morning walk at the same time each day or a weekly call with a close friend. These anchors do not need to be significant to matter.

Their value comes from repetition, giving your

mind something familiar to hold onto while everything else changes around you, one ordinary habit at a time.

It also helps to resist the pressure to feel settled before you actually are. Friends and family often ask how the new chapter is going within the first few weeks, expecting a tidy answer. You may feel tempted to respond with bravado, even when you are not quite there yet. Real adjustment often takes months rather than weeks, and there is nothing wrong with telling people honestly that you are still finding your footing. This honesty tends to invite more genuine support than a rehearsed answer ever could. It also gives you permission to move at a pace the transition actually requires, instead of the pace others expect from a distance.

Support during this period matters more than most people admit. Reaching out to someone who has been through a similar change, whether a career shift or a move to an unfamiliar place, can shorten the sense of isolation considerably. They understand the particular exhaustion of learning new ways of working while also grieving old ones, and their presence reminds you that the disorientation you feel is a normal part of the process rather than a sign that something has gone wrong. Even a single conversation with someone who has walked a similar path can quiet the fear that you are somehow adjusting more slowly than you should.

Eventually, without a specific moment marking the shift, the unfamiliar becomes ordinary. The new apartment starts to feel like home rather than a temporary stop. The new role starts to feel like your job rather than a costume you are still wearing. Looking back, you may struggle to pinpoint exactly when the transition ended. And you may realize that you had stopped bracing for the old routine and started living fully inside the new one. You will soon find yourself carrying forward everything you learned along the way, ready for whatever the next chapter eventually asks of you.

Author’s Note: This marks my final article for this column. Writing to you these past years has been a genuine privilege, and I hope every piece has offered even a small measure of comfort or guidance along the way. As I step back, my hope for each of you is simple: Keep finding small ways to grow a little every day, however modest the step. Thank you for reading, and take care of yourselves

More than one in six construction establishments and projects monitored in Metro Manila were initially found non-compliant with occupational safety and health standards (OSHS), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported.

The regional office recorded an initial OSHS compliance rate of 83.09 percent following this year’s High-Impact, High-Visibility Inspection (HIHVI) among construction establishments and projects in the National Capital Region.

DOLE-NCR conducted 52 inspections, 698 monitoring activities and eight joint monitoring inspections covering 15,692 construction workers.

Of the establishments and projects monitored, 580 were found compliant with OSHS while 118 were initially identified as non-compliant.

The findings prompted the regional office to stress the need for sustained inspection, corrective action, technical assistance and monitoring in the construction sector.

‘The accomplishment particularly highlights the continuing importance of occupational safety and health enforcement in the construction industry,’ DOLE-NCR said in its report.

The 118 establishments and projects initially found non-compliant will undergo corrective measures through formal examination by an authorized labor inspector.

DOLE-NCR said compliance cannot be treated as a ‘one-time’ accomplishment because construction activities, working conditions, equipment, work locations and hazards may change as projects progress.

The joint monitoring and inspection activities were conducted with the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Public Works and Highways.

DOLE-NCR reminded employers and contractors to establish occupational safety and health systems, including construction safety and health programs, designation of OSH personnel and provision of personal protective equipment.

Employers were also reminded to install safety signs, barricades and safe scaffolding and observe electrical safety, lockout/tagout procedures and safe lifting and crane operations.

Other requirements include emergency preparedness, first-aid and medical facilities, sanitary and welfare facilities, safe access and egress, and other site-specific hazard controls.

On general labor standards, DOLE-NCR reminded employers to provide applicable wages, including overtime, holiday and premium pay, as well as rest periods and statutory benefits.

Construction workers should also be covered by the Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG, while employers must maintain proper employment records and comply with other applicable employment conditions.

As a follow-through to the inspection, DOLE-NCR held a forum where construction workers were briefed on social protection programs and benefits from Pag-IBIG Fund, the Employees’ Compensation Commission, SSS and PhilHealth.

AUTOMOTIVE giant Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) accounted for P23.66 billion in customs duties and taxes collected by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Batangas (BOC-POB) from January to July, making it the district’s largest import revenue contributor during the period.

The remittances represented 16.4 percent of the port’s total revenue collection for the first seven months of the year, according to BOC-POB data.

TMP’s contribution came as the company reported weaker financial results, with net income falling to P8.4 billion as revenues declined 15 percent to P115.4 billion.

‘While TMP’s remittances for the period eased compared to the same period last year, it reflects broader macroeconomic headwinds and demand softening stemming from the energy crisis experienced during the first seven months of 2026,’ the company said in a statement.

The vehicle manufacturer said it remained the primary revenue contributor to the Port of Batangas despite ‘market adjustments.’

Its import and trade operations are supported by the Batangas Vehicle Center, located near the port, as well as its status as an Authorized Economic Operator Level 2-certified company. The Port of Batangas recorded the highest collection among the BOC’s 17 collection districts from January to July, according to BOC-POB District Collector Carmelita Talusan.

The port’s performance formed part of a broader increase in customs collections during the period. In July alone, the BOC collected P95.848 billion, 12.5 percent higher than the P85.180 billion recorded a year earlier and 5.2 percent above its P91.070-billion target.

The Port of Batangas collected P23.290 billion in July, the highest among the BOC’s 17 districts and the largest single-month collection in its 69-year history.

TMP’s remittance for the first seven months of the year was equivalent to roughly one-sixth of the port’s total collections during the period.

National University (NU)-led by Johann Estacio and Gold laner Kirk Herrero and head coach Ernest Del Rosario-share the early lead with University of the Philippines (UP) in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Mobile Legends: Bang Bang opening-day action on Monday at the MVP Studios in Mandaluyong City. NU leads Group A with 3 points (1-0-0) while UP paces Group B with 4 points (1-1-0).

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted a police officer whose issued firearms was used by her 14-year-old nephew during a shooting rampage inside the San Jose National High School (SJNHS) in Tacloban City which killed three students and injured several others.

DOJ Spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed that the Tacloban City Prosecutor’s Office recommended the filing of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries against Police Ssgt. Arla Ray Paciencia.

The case will be filed with the Family Court at the Regional Trial Court in Tacloban City.

Martinez said the city prosecutor made the recommendation following the conduct of a preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by parents and students of SJNHS, in connection with the shooting incident involving a child in conflict with the law.

‘The DOJ trusts that the criminal process will proceed in accordance with the rules on due process for all parties concerned,’ Martinez stressed.

A child in conflict with the law refers to a person below 18 years who is alleged as having violated the provisions of the Revised Penal Code.

It may be recalled that on June 22, Pacencia’s nephew together with another minor, a 15-year-old student, were arrested by authorities after they opened fire inside the school, killing three students.

Pacencia later told the Senate during its investigation that her nephew managed to get her gun by breaking into her house and forcibly opening her locker.

Recognizing the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday life and the importance of making digital learning accessible to all generations, SM Supermalls, through SM City Baguio, partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology – Cordillera Administrative Region (DICT-CAR) to conduct a learning session on Artificial Intelligence for senior citizens and children at SM City Baguio.

The learning session brought together participants from different generations, providing them with an opportunity to discover how AI works, explore its practical applications, and better understand how emerging technologies can be used responsibly in their everyday lives.

Participants were introduced to the basics of Artificial Intelligence through interactive discussions and demonstrations designed to make the technology easier to understand and more accessible. The session also highlighted practical ways AI can support learning, creativity, information access, and other everyday activities while emphasizing the importance of using technology safely and responsibly. For the children, the session served as an opportunity to explore AI as a learning and creative tool, encouraging curiosity and digital awareness at an early age. Meanwhile, senior citizens were given the opportunity to become more familiar with emerging technologies and discover how AI can be integrated into their daily digital experiences.

More than simply introducing a new technology, the initiative reflects the importance of lifelong digital learning. As technology continues to evolve, SM City Baguio and DICT-CAR aim to help communities of all ages become more confident, informed, and responsible digital users.

Throughout the session, participants actively engaged with DICT-CAR resource speakers, explored the capabilities of AI, and learned practical ways to navigate emerging digital technologies. The interactive discussions also encouraged participants to ask questions and share their experiences, creating a learning environment where both young and older participants could discover technology together.

For mothers and their children, the session provided an opportunity to learn about AI together and better understand how emerging technology can be used at home and in school.

Joan Jimenez, who attended the session with her 10-year-old son, Jacob Jimenez, a Grade 5 student, shared how the activity gave children an opportunity to become more familiar with a technology that is increasingly becoming part of their everyday lives.

‘Yung age ng mga bata ngayon, very common na yung AI. I think magandang opportunity sa kanila ito para ma-broaden yung knowledge nila at ma-experience din kung paano nagwo-work ang AI. I am very thankful kasi ino-open ng SM City Baguio ang mga ganitong opportunities para sa mga kids. I hope na mas marami pang ganitong programs,’ Joan shared.

She also appreciated having a safe and accessible venue where children could continue learning despite challenges such as class suspensions and unfavorable weather conditions.

‘For us, despite the weather and the suspension of classes, we feel safe here at SM City Baguio while the kids are learning and participating in activities like this,’ she added.

Her son, Jacob, was particularly interested in discovering how AI can be used beyond simple conversations and searches, sharing how his curiosity about the technology has already inspired him to experiment with it.

‘I want to know more about AI because it is futuristic technology. I tried a game where you have to use AI, and I also made an app,’ Jacob shared.

The session also encouraged senior citizens to embrace new technologies and discover that digital learning is not limited by age.

Cheryl Alquiza, one of the senior participants, said the session provided valuable information that could help senior citizens become more aware of the risks they may encounter in the digital space.

‘We learned so much information, and the experiences shared by someone who was scammed were a big help to us, especially us seniors. Sometimes, we are very vulnerable to scams. Hindi namin alam na puwede ka pala maloko through text and messages lang,’ Cheryl shared.

She also emphasized the importance of staying alert when using digital and financial services.

‘Dapat aware din tayo, especially when using ATMs, because we learned that there are also things we need to be careful about when using them,’ she added.

The inclusive nature of the activity was also highlighted by Engineer Katherine Aguilar of DICT-CAR, who discussed Artificial Intelligence during the learning session. She noted how the participation of both children and senior citizens demonstrated that technology can serve as a bridge across generations.

‘Maganda yung ginawa natin kasi from kids to seniors, it only goes to show na yung technology ay walang pinipiling edad. Very inclusive siya,’ Engineer Aguilar shared. ‘SM City Baguio is not just for shopping or entertainment, but it is also a venue for learning. So we’re very happy that we have the venue provided by SM.’

The stories of the participants highlight the value of creating learning opportunities that bring generations together. From children discovering new possibilities through technology to senior citizens gaining greater awareness of digital tools and online safety, the session demonstrated that digital literacy can be a shared learning experience for the entire community.

The initiative reinforces SM City Baguio’s commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities for the community. By bringing digital literacy programs closer to different generations, SM continues to support a more digitally inclusive community where everyone can participate, learn, and benefit from the opportunities brought by technology.

ALEX Eala has practically hit the big time, indeed. Proof of that once more is the fact that she’s been included in the mixed doubles event of the 2026 US Open now underway with the qualifying matches being completed in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York.

Seemingly, only the tennis elite are highlighted in mixed-doubles play, making Eala a certified world superstar this early in her career.

That is really something to crow about as Eala is not even a Grand Slam winner yet. And she has yet to crash into the Top 10 world rankings.

But she’s slowly inching her way up. Only last Monday, August 24, she was upgraded to No. 18 from No. 20, another huge hop that should auger well for the 21-year-old Filipino superstar, morale-wise.

With her new ranking, Eala officially becomes the first Southeast Asian to achieve that plateau-another feather to her cap going into the last Grand Slam of the season.

It’s a shame that Eala’s mixed-doubles debut was scheduled at 10 p.m. last night, August 25 Philippine time-or hours away before I had to finish this piece in time for deadline.

But whatever the result is, Eala deserves our absolute applause in her team-up with Felix Augur-Aliassime, the world No. 4 from Canada.

We can only pray and hope that they did well against the husband-and-wife team of Ukraine’s world No. 9 Elina Svitolina and France’s Gael Monfils.

Svitolina is the same player that Eala beat earlier this year during the Filipina’s winning streak against several of the Top 10 campaigners in the world.

It was that streak, fashioned across the globe before wildly cheering Filipino crowds, that helped carve Eala’s glory-rich niche now sweeping the global tennis landscape.

Should Eala-Aliassime get past Svitolina-Monfils in the Round of 16 of the Top Draw, they’d meet the winner of the match between Aryna Sabalenka-Novak Djokovic and Leylah Fernandez-Frances Tiafoe.

Sabalenka, of course, is the world No. 1 from Belarus while Serbia’s Djokovic holds the all-time record of 24 Grand Slams in a tie with Virginia Wade.

The duo are heavily favored over the Fil-Canadian Fernandez and American journeyman Tiafoe.

The 23-time major winner Serena Williams is paired with four-time Slam champ Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish star who is returning from a four-month hiatus after hurting his right wrist.

Their opponents will be qualifiers, and should they pull through, they will face the winners of the match between Belinda Bencic-Flavio Cobolli and Taylor Townsend-Alexander Zverev.

Eala’s first singles foe this year will be known possibly on Friday, August 28 Philippine time.

This will be Eala’s second US Open appearance, advancing to the second round last year with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 win over Denmark’s Clara Tauson before losing to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-3.

The US Open dangles the biggest winner’s purse of $5.5 million (roughly P116 million) in both the men’s and women’s divisions among all four majors.

Yes, Virginia, we are in the wrong racket.

THAT’S IT By just showing up and playing her first match in the US Open, Alex Eala will earn $190,000-win or lose. If she reaches the Round of 16, she gets $480,000; a quarterfinal stint is worth $780,000, semifinal $1.450 million and runner-up $2.8 million. If Eala remains healthy and active in the next 10 years, she’d be a billionaire by age 31-easily. Tennis is where the money is. Like golf.

The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. III (DOST-III / DOST-CL) and WPH Digital, a Singapore-based AI and digital innovation company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate regional digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across Central Luzon.

The collaboration brings the Philippines’ National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS-PH) closer to regional implementation by combining DOST-III’s public-sector mandate with WPH Digital’s expertise in AI, digital transformation, and practical technology implementation.

The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Julius Ceasar V. Sicat, Regional Director of DOST Central Luzon, and Mr. Vincent Leoh, Managing Director of WPH Digital, on 19 August 2026. Held at the opening of the joint program, the ceremony was witnessed by over 50 key delegates and industry leaders representing diverse business, technology, and public sectors from across Central Luzon. ‘We believe AI adoption is not a technology challenge – it is a capability challenge,’ said Mr. Vincent Leoh, Managing Director of WPH Digital. ‘Through WPH Academy, we help people build AI capabilities, and through WPH Digital, we help organisations apply those capabilities using practical AI solutions. When capability building and practical implementation come together, organisations start seeing real value from AI.’

Democratizing Generative AI Across Central Luzon

By bringing enterprise-grade digital expertise directly to Region III, the collaboration demonstrates how government and private-sector organisations can work together to democratize access to advanced Generative AI and cloud computing technologies beyond Metro Manila. The initiative positions Central Luzon as a key regional innovation hub, driving competitiveness across local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), industries, and public sector operations.

Human Capital and Workforce Readiness First

At the heart of the partnership is a strong emphasis on talent reskilling, practical capability-building, and workforce development. Rather than viewing technology solely as a displacement risk, the collaboration equips local professionals and civil servants to use Generative AI as a productivity multiplier-fostering a resilient, highly competitive regional talent pool equipped for modern, future-ready workflows.

As an immediate step toward putting the partnership into action, DOST-III and WPH Digital conducted the Generative AI for Modern Business Operations workshop. The practical capacity-building session provided business leaders, IT professionals, and regional stakeholders with hands-on exposure to practical AI solutions, cloud-native platforms, and execution strategies designed to deliver practical business value.

Beyond training and capability-building, the collaboration is intended to help organisations translate these capabilities into actual implementation, enabling them to identify practical AI opportunities and develop solutions that can be applied within their operating environments.

International Cross-Border Tech Collaboration

The MOU highlights cross-border technology transfer between Singapore’s private sector and the Philippine government. By bringing Singaporean tech consulting expertise to Central Luzon, WPH Digital showcases how international private-sector solutions can actively contribute to regional development goals in organisations and communities across Southeast Asia.

Trusted AI with Certified Governance

The partnership also underscores the importance of responsible and governed AI adoption as organisations move from experimentation to implementation. WPH Digital brings AI governance expertise backed by the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 42001 standard, which provides a structured framework for responsible, secure, ethical, and governed AI adoption.

A Replicable Blueprint for Regional Action

The alliance establishes a repeatable model for regional government-industry partnerships throughout the Philippines. Moving beyond high-level strategy, DOST-III and WPH Digital provide a structured model for continuous technical implementation, capacity building, and enterprise enablement across provincial economies.

The longer-term ambition is for this model to extend from national government agencies to provincial and local government units (LGUs), and eventually across other regions of the Philippines. By connecting national AI priorities with regional capability-building and practical

implementation, the collaboration has the potential to provide a scalable model for AI capability-building and implementation beyond Central Luzon.