EMPOWERING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. Meralco Power Academy (MPA) and National Transmission Corporation
(TransCo) sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen workforce development in the power industry. Seen in the
photo are MPA Executive Director Ian Chester V. Colorina, Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources
Officer Edgardo V. Carasig, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and MPA President Ronnie L.
Aperocho, TransCo President Fortunato C. Leynes, and TransCo Vice President for Resource Management Services Group
Maria Theresa L. Laranang during the signing ceremony held in Pasig City.|
The Meralco Power Academy (MPA), the training arm of electricity provider Meralco, has partnered with the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) to help strengthen the skills and knowledge of workers in the Philippine power industry.
Leaders from both organizations recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on creating and running training programs for energy professionals. These programs will include short courses, skills development initiatives, and talent-building efforts to support continuing education and professional growth in the sector.
TransCo President Fortunato Leynes described the partnership as a major step forward for the industry and thanked MPA for its support. He also praised TransCo’s Human Resource Management and Development Division, led by VP Maria Theresa Laranang, for its work in improving employee skills.
Through this partnership, the two organizations will share knowledge and resources on important topics like power distribution and other key areas in the energy sector.
Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho, who also serves as MPA President, said the collaboration highlights the shared commitment of both companies to innovation and workforce development.
“This partnership brings together TransCo’s nationwide mission and MPA’s expertise in training. It’s a powerful combination that can help improve the country’s energy reliability, resilience, and workforce capabilities,” Aperocho said.| – Balikas.net
Tarlac City, Philippines — In a landmark move that highlights Central Luzon’s emergence as a key manufacturing and logistics hub, Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) breaks ground at TARI Estate, where its new Tarlac manufacturing plant will soon rise.
CCEAP—the official bottling partner and distributor of Coca-Cola products in the Philippines—has signed a definitive agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates for the development of the state-of- the-art 42-hectare facility, which is expected to create hundreds of direct jobs for Tarlac and surrounding provinces.
It will be one of the biggest manufacturing sites and most significant infrastructure investments to date, globally, of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the parent bottling company of CCEAP. The vision is for it to be the largest site of Coca-Cola in the Philippines.
The plant likewise marks one of the largest single-locator commitments to date for TARI Estate— solidifying its position as the next frontier for industrial growth north of Metro Manila. The CCEAP plant is expected to draw in complementary industries and strengthen local supply chains, further positioning Tarlac as a strategic node in the country’s growing industrial corridor.
FOR the second consecutive year, female examinees outnumbered males in the bar examinations.
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, noted that among the 13,193 admitted to take the 2025 bar exams, there are 6,673 women, comprising fifty one percent (51%) compared to 4,764 men.
The statistics highlight the increasing representation of women in legal education and practice within the country.
The Bar Examinations were held on September 7, 10, and 14 , 2025 across 14 local testing centers (LTCs) nationwide, with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) serving as the national headquarters.
There are 5,215 first-time takers, 4,239 repeat takers, and 1,984 refresher examinees.
There are 206 senior citizens, 241 persons with disabilities, 41 pregnant women, and 139 examinees with medical conditions. 11,425 out of 11,437 takers completed this year’s bar, setting a new milestone with the largest number of finishers in Philippine bar history.
The subjects on the first day (September 7) are Political and Public International Law (15%) and Commercial and Taxation (20%). On the second day (September 10), the subjects were Civil (20%) and Labor Law and Social Legislations (10%), while on the third day (September 14) the subjects were Criminal (10%) and Remedial, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises (25%).
With a passing rate of 37.84 percent, a total of 3,962 passed the 2024 Bar exams after the justices decided to lower the passing score from 75 to 74 percent higher than 2023’s tally of 3,812.
Between 1930 to 2024, there were twenty two females who became bar topnotchers.
Thirteen came from my alma mater, University of the Philippines College of Law: Tecla San Andres in 1930 (89.4%); Cecilia Muñoz-Palma in 1937 (92.6); Gregoria Cruz in 1946 (92.25); Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera in 1947 (93.85); Carolina Griño in 1950 (92.05); Janette Susan Peña in 1985 (89.4); Maria Yvette Navarro in 1988 (88.12) Leonor Dicdican in 1995 (91.2); Patricia-Ann Prodigalidad in 1996 (90.6); Ma. Cecilia Fernandez in 1997 (90.025); January Sanchez in 2004 (87.45); Joan De Venecia in 2005 (87.2); and Rachel Angeli Miranda in 2015 (87.4).
Three came from from Ateneo de Manila University: Irene Ragodon-Guevarra in 1981 (90.95); Anna Leah Fidelis Castañeda in 1993 (88.325); and Mercedita Ona in 2007 (83.55);
The following schools had one female topnotcher each: Baguio Colleges Foundation (BCF) with Janet Abuel in 1998 (91.8); San Beda College with Irene Mae Alcobilla in 2014 (85.5); San Sebastian College with Judy Lardizabal in 2008 (85.7); University of San Carlos with Karen Mae Calam in 2016 (89.05); University of Santo Tomas with Arlene Maneja in 2002 (92.9); and University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi with Mae Diane Azores in 2019 (91.049).
Abuel of BCF was our topnotcher of the 1998 bar exams wherein 1,465 examinees passed or 39.63 percent out of the 3,697 examinees. Three UP batchmates landed in the top 10 (2nd, 3rd and, 5th).
Tecla Ravago San Andres Ziga was the first woman topnotcher (1930) who later became a female senator in the Philippines.
Cecilia Muñoz-Palma was the 1937 topnotcher who was also the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court in 1973.
Other female topnotcher who became justices of the Supreme Court include Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera of 1947 and Carolina Griño of 1950.
One of the advice of Joan De Venecia (2005) for examinees is to “Avoid unnecessary comparison to the pace of others. We all have our own rhythm according to the laws of inertia”.
UP has the highest number of bar topnotchers (male and female) with 51, followed by Ateneo de Manila with 23, San Beda with 8, UST with 6, Philippine Law School with 5; Far Eastern University and University of Manila College of Law with 4 each, San Beda College Alabang with 3 And University of the Cordilleras with 2
Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay was my bar buddy who topped the following year’s (1999) bar exam with one of the lowest passing rate of 16.59 percent, with three UP Law again in the top ten.
The LTCs were selected from various parts of the country “to ease the financial burden of applicants hailing from the provinces while helping them remain close to their families, friends, and loved ones.”
The number of examinees per testing center is as follows: MANILA UST—703; San Beda Mendiola—873; (New Era University – 1697; Manila Adventist College — 426; San Beda College Alabang — 762; UP – BGC — 584; Ateneo de Manila University— 512; LUZON: Saint Louis University in Baguio City — 1,252; University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City — 600; VISAYAS: University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City — 1,264; Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation in Tacloban City — 469; Central Philippine University in Iloilo City — 547; MINDANAO: Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City — 1,097; and Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City — 639.
Justice Lazaro-Javier emphasized that the aspiring new lawyers should not be passive observers but active partners in the Judiciary’s efforts toward innovation, accessibility, efficiency, and justice.
(Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-502580)
Butuan City – The 2025 From Insider to Evidence: Leveraging Former Rebels’ Testimony in the Investigation and Prosecution of Terrorism and Terrorism Financing Cases seminar concluded successfully in Butuan City. The two-day event, held at Almont Hotel and Inland Resort, was jointly organized by the Department of Justice – Regional Prosecution Office XIII (RPO XIII) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency 13 (NICA 13), with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
The seminar brought together CRAMLATF members from DOJ NPS Region XIII, law enforcement officers from Regions X and XIII, and experts to explore how the testimonies of former rebels can strengthen investigations into terrorism and terrorism financing. With their insider knowledge of terrorist organizations, these former rebels provide vital information that aids in dismantling terrorist networks. The event focused on leveraging these testimonies to enhance counter-terrorism efforts, featuring training sessions designed to equip participants with the skills needed to build stronger criminal cases.
The event opened with a welcome message from Hon. John S. Magdaraog, Regional Prosecutor of RPO XIII, followed by opening remarks from Hon. Merlynn Barola-Uy, Regional Prosecutor of RPO X. Both emphasized the critical importance of investigating and prosecuting airtight cases of terrorism and terrorism financing, with a primary focus on securing convictions, as well as the need for partnership and collaboration to address challenges that require a collective response. Mr. Alexander Birle, Resident Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, underscored that collaboration between law enforcement and prosecutors enhances the efficiency of the justice system, thereby strengthening public trust. He also highlighted how the voices of those who have renounced violence can become powerful instruments of justice.
Hon. Bonifacio R. Pulgo, OIC Regional Director of NICA 13, also addressed the seminar, providing an in-depth analysis of the terrorism landscape in Caraga. He emphasized the importance of understanding active threat groups, their sources of funding, and how insider information from former rebels can help build stronger cases for prosecution.
One of the seminar’s key sessions, led by PA Emily P. Sala, focused on structuring former rebels’ testimonies to maximize their effectiveness in court. Assoc. PP Genesis E. Efren led a session on affidavit drafting, teaching participants how to link testimonies to specific crime elements, thereby strengthening the foundation of the case.
On the second day, the seminar focused on information drafting and anticipating common defense strategies in terrorism cases. ACP Francis John R. Salva of OCP Cagayan de Oro City, led sessions on crafting effective information and prosecutorial responses, guiding participants in enhancing their skills to address defense challenges related to the credibility and admissibility of former rebel testimonies.
The seminar concluded with a synthesis by Hon. Aisa Bruneiry M. Alonto, Assistant Regional Prosecutor of RPO X, who summarized the key lessons learned over the two days. Participants were asked to reflect on critical questions about the seminar’s discussions, insights gained, and challenges in investigating and prosecuting terrorism financing cases. This reflection underscored the importance of continued learning and inter-agency collaboration to strengthen future counter-terrorism efforts.
Participants left the seminar with renewed commitment and practical tools to improve their roles in the investigation and prosecution of terrorism-related cases. The event marked an important step forward in strengthening legal frameworks and increasing coordination between law enforcement, prosecution, and intelligence agencies in the fight against terrorism.| – Balikas.net
LIPA CITY, Batangas — Mary Mediatrix Medical Center (Mediatrix) officially inaugurated a significant P500 million expansion building today, September 16. This project is poised to transform the health and wellness landscape of the leading tertiary-level hospital and referral center in Southern Luzon. This monumental investment is a clear demonstration of the hospital’s dedication to providing world-class medical services and creating new economic opportunities for the local community.
The new facility is a direct response to a pressing healthcare need in the region, particularly regarding the high incidence of heart attack cases. The expansion includes a newly opened catheterization (cath) lab, making Mediatrix only one of two hospitals in the Philippines to offer this life-saving procedure. In addition, the hospital has partnered with local healthcare units through its Code “Heart of Batangas” (HB) Program to ensure timely and efficient cardiac care delivery.
The P500 million investment covers state-of-the-art medical equipment and a host of new facilities. The expansion building features a modern Emergency Department, 40 new patient rooms, and a new Wellness Center. It also includes a dedicated lounge area and 8-bed Neurological Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU), which is part of the hospital’s new Neuroscience Center or “Brain Institute.” The new facility also allows Mediatrix to serve as a self-contained isolation unit, a proactive measure to enhance public health needs while offering a wide range of advanced services.
According to Mediatrix President and CEO Jose Ronaldo H. De Los Santos, “This investment is a strategic move by Mary Mediatrix Medical Center & Mount Grace Hospitals to increase capacity and reinforce its top standing in healthcare in Southern Luzon.” Mount Grace Hospitals, Inc. (MGHI) is one of the country’s expanding network of 25 trusted hospitals in key urban areas nationwide.
With this expansion, the hospital is on track to become the largest private hospital in Southern Luzon, with plans to increase its capacity from the current 210 beds to 240 by early next year and ultimately reaching 300 beds by 2030. The expansion is also expected to hire 20 to 30 new doctors annually, specializing in cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, pediatrics, gastroenterology, and surgery, as it plans to adopt robotic medical procedures in the near future.
Currently, Mediatrix is actively hiring 120 nurses, offering a crucial boost to local employment. While the numbers are impressive, the real story is not in the physical expansion but in the philosophy behind it. As quoted by Allan Almazar, SVP for Operations: “Our bias for quickaction and response to our patients’ and communities’ needs shows that our patients are always at the center of every decision we make, even if it means a significant increase in resources.”
The new building’s design meets rigorous international standards, ensuring patients receive the highest level of care they deserve. This is never just corporate-speak in a region where access to specialized care can be a matter of life and death. The investment is a testament to the idea that a hospital’s value is measured not just in its size but in its unwavering commitment to serving its people. | Sheenalei Briana G. Rayos
Power system operator and transmission service provider NGCP has implemented the necessary preparations and precautions to minimize the impact of Tropical Depression Mirasol on transmission operations and facilities.
Preparations include ensuring the reliability of communications equipment, availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damage to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas to facilitate immediate restoration work.
NGCP’s Integrated Disaster Action Plan (IDAP) prescribes these and other procedures to ensure the readiness of all power transmission facilities expected to be affected by the passage of the weather disturbances.| PR
LtGen Cordura, BGen Zamudio PAF (Ret), along PhilSCA officials and PAF Key Officers, during a Courtesy Call on June 9, 2025, at the PAF Headquarters, Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.|
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday welcomed the enactment of the law establishing the National Aviation Academy of the Philippines (NAAP), saying it will help the country seize opportunities in the fast-growing aviation industry both commercially and in the Air Force.
The measure was signed by the President on September 5 after being approved by both chambers of Congress last June. Cayetano sponsored the bill in the Senate as then-chair of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education.
“We have an aviation academy that is a state college but has been doing so well for our country. It’s time we elevate it to a national aviation academy,” the senator said.
The law designates the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), the country’s lone state-run aviation school, as the national institution for aviation education.
Under the new charter, NAAP is mandated to focus all its programs and enrollment on aviation and related fields.
Its governing board will be expanded to include the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force and the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
The academy is also now authorized to partner with government agencies, local government units, and private entities to secure resources, modernize its facilities, and align its training programs with global demands.
A Skills Training Council will likewise be created to guide its training programs to meet international standards.
Cayetano said that as an archipelago, the Philippines needs a strong commercial aviation sector backed by a competent workforce.
He added that the military’s effort to modernize its equipment and facilities must also be matched with well-trained personnel.
“Kapag naayos natin ang naval at aviation academies, I think the impact in the next 25 to 50 years will be tremendous,” he said.
The senator also pointed to international demand for aviation workers, citing projections that 674,000 new pilots, 700,000 new maintenance technicians, and around 980,000 cabin crew will be needed in the coming decades.
In his visit to its Fernando Air Base campus last June, Cayetano stressed that PhilSCA has “done so much with so little” over the years, and its conversion into NAAP will give it the tools to achieve more for the country.
PhilSCA has consistently posted strong results in the Aeronautical Engineering Board Examination, recording an 87.97 percent passing rate in 2024 and producing several topnotchers in past years.|
IN today’s extremely competitive business landscape, speed of service for hybrid businesses (mix of goods and services) is truly imperative. I call these businesses ‘hybrids’ since for example, a restaurant serves food (the tangible aspect) and makes sure of a good dining experience for customers through speedy table service and good ambience (the intangible aspect).
Speedy service is a business promise nowadays, more especially among restaurants and other food businesses and this constitute to one of their competitive advantages that adds value to their offerings. The “if it’s late, it’s free” approach embodies this promise of quick service delivery. This for me is a high-risk, high reward tactic of businesses since it not just about delivering products on time but delivering TRUST to their patrons.
I can still recall that this strategy was used by Pizza Hut decades ago when TV programswere proliferated with its adverts guaranteeing that if the customer does not receive the delivery on time, they can have their pizza for free. This bold move of Pizza Hut set a bar higher for faster delivery of foods.
Currently, there are other companies reviving this tactic setting them apart from other industry players (but in a noticeable revised format). McDonalds, for one, has an ongoing promo named “2 Minute Drive Thru Challenge” wherein drive thru customers can get a free coffee if their order takes longer than two minutes to serve.
“Late equals free” promotional model is a tool for trust building flipping the script: instead of customers wondering whether they are wasting time or money, they are guaranteed that businesses are willing to compensate for their miss.
There’s also such thing as ‘gamification’ in the world of business which is applicable to this tactic. This gimmick of giving free products in case of failed promises gives customer a ‘sense of thrill’ in a way. This could be one of the consumer behaviours that this tactic is banking into. That is, there are consumers who would be curious to know the outcome of the transaction: will it be late, or will they get the item they ordered for free? Or they might also wonder “will they be true to their promise of giving away a free product if the delivery man comes late?”
This gimmick, or shall we say marketing campaign, has been very effective at least to pizza parlors like Pizza Hut (and even Shakeys and Greenwich copied this tactic few years back). Pizaa Hut, perhaps, banked on its capacity to fulfil the promise through various strategies that they have studied before the implementation of this gimmick. Pizza Hut won’t be bringing this back for a couple of times already if they weren’t successful.
But some of us may be wondering if this tactic can still be applied at this current time that the traffic congestion problems are everywhere.
As a marketing professional and college professor, these are my few cents about ‘time-guarantee’ marketing. Before adopting time-based promotional strategies like “If it’s late, it’s free,” businesses should be taking in consideration important things to ensure the success of this very risky promotional undertaking.
Thorough market research should be done to assess whether such a gimmick aligns not just with customer expectations and preferences, but also with the operational capacity of the business. The competitive dynamics should also be a factor. Businesses should ask themselves: “Is there really a need to implement this gimmick in conderation of my competitive environment?”
Businesses shall also take note that while these promotions can boost brand equity and sales, it comes with significant risks particularly in logistics-heavy environments like food delivery. In high-traffic areas such as Metro Manila, pressuring riders to meet strict delivery times can compromise their safety, leading to accidents or burnout. Therefore, companies should not only ensure they have the infrastructure to fulfil such promises but must also prioritize the well-being of their delivery personnel to avoid ethical and reputational pitfalls.| – Balikas.net
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has given contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, along with the importers of 29 luxury vehicles, until the end of September to prove the cars were legally brought into the country.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said during a press conference on Wednesday that the car owners must submit official import documents, including import entries and Certificates of Payment (COP), to avoid further legal action.
“As part of due process, we’re giving them 15 days or until the end of the month to provide the required paperwork,” Nepomuceno said.
The BOC noted that 15 of the 29 vehicles are missing some or all of the necessary documents. Eight cars—including a Rolls Royce Cullinan, a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG, a Bentley Bentayga, and a Toyota Sequoia—have neither import entries nor payment certificates. These are at risk of being seized permanently by the government.
Seven other vehicles, such as a Cadillac Escalade and Maserati Levante, have import entries but no proof of payment. Only 14 vehicles were found to have complete and proper documentation and were imported by authorized dealers.
The vehicles entered the Philippines through ports in Batangas, Cebu, Manila, and the Manila International Container Port. The BOC is also looking into the possible involvement of Customs personnel, identifying over 10 individuals as persons of interest.
In addition, the agency is conducting lifestyle checks on vehicles linked to four former officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who are being investigated for questionable flood control projects.| – Balikas.net
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2025 (Courtesy: US Embassy in the Philippines)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday reaffirmed Washington’s support for the Philippines in rejecting China’s recent move to designate Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) as the “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve.”
“The United States stands with our Philippine ally in opposing China’s destabilizing attempt to declare a ‘national nature reserve’ at Scarborough Reef,” Rubio said in an official statement.
He criticized the move as part of Beijing’s broader efforts to assert expansive territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, often at the expense of neighboring countries.
“China’s declaration is a coercive tactic meant to reinforce its sweeping claims,” Rubio stated. “By doing so, it continues to deny Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing grounds.”
Rubio also reiterated the United States’ call for China to comply with the July 12, 2016, ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The tribunal had invalidated China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claim and found that it had unlawfully restricted Filipino fishing activities at Scarborough Shoal.
“The 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling is final and legally binding on both parties,” Rubio emphasized. “China must honor that decision and cease unlawful interference in the region.”
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has also announced plans to file a formal diplomatic protest against China’s move, which is widely viewed as an effort to legitimize its presence and claims in the disputed waters.| – Balikas.net / BNN Integrated News
