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MANILA -Tycoon Lucio Tan stepped down as a director of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) after serving the role for over 20 years as one of the country's biggest private universal banks moves ahead with its succession planning. But the billionaire will still be involved in the listed company as its chair emeritus. His wife, Carmen Tan, also left her post as director as she transitioned to board advisory duty. "The relinquishment by Dr. Lucio C. Tan and Ms. Carmen K. Tan of their directorships in PNB is part of succession planning and their commitment to good governance and promotes diversity in the board composition," PNB said. The board of directors and management of the bank ...

Keep on reading: Lucio Tan, wife Carmen yield PNB directorships

  It was difficult not to notice the buildup for the docuseries, "The Super Models," that was uploaded on the streaming platform Apple TV+ on Wednesday. The four-part series focuses on the rise of the top fashion models of the '90s, namely Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford. Aside from video clips and teasers posted online by the four who also serve as executive producers, they were also photographed for the September issue covers of both American and British Vogue. Traditionally, the fashion magazine's September issue is the heaviest and most fashion- and advertisement-packed issue. Last week, they closed the annual Vogue World eve...

Keep on reading: Docu-series explores origin stories of supermodels

  "Art is a universal expression, not bound by race," said US-based actress KC Concepcion as a reminder to homegrown Filipino artists who are aspiring for a career abroad to not lose hope. KC is the star of the Hollywood indie movie, "Asian Persuasion," alongside Filipino-American actors Dante Basco and Paolo Montalban, under the direction of Tony and Grammy winner Jhett Tolentino. The romantic comedy premiered at the recently concluded 2023 Soho International Film Festival in New York. Filipino actors are steadily making a mark abroad, with the success of Dolly de Leon being the most celebrated, after she made history as the first Filipino actress to get a Golden Globe no...

Keep on reading: KC Concepcion happy to act again, even though show biz can be ‘very invasive’

MANILA, Philippines --- No information has been "compromised or leaked" in a "security incident" that hit the online systems of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) early on Friday, the state insurer said in a statement posted on its Facebook account on Saturday night. PhilHealth assured its members that "the incident is under control." It also aims to get its systems --- website, healthcare institution, member, and e-claims sites --- back online by Monday after completing "containment measures." Meanwhile, PhilHealth said it was coordinating its probe of the incident with the National Privacy Commission, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Department...

Keep on reading: No info leaked in online ‘security incident’ – PhilHealth

HANGZHOU, China---Should luck and the judges' admiration come to their aid, poomsae aces Jocel Lyn Ninobla and King Patrick Perez might well be the first Filipinos on the medal stand of the 19th Asian Games. Both of them Southeast Asian Games champions early this year, Perez is No. 4 in the rankings of the men's individual poomsae while Ninobla, a former world champion, could easily get past the initial round when competitions begin Sunday. There's a tall hurdle coming their way though after taekwondo organizers merged the two poomsae disciplines---recognized and freestyle---into one event. "We will be competing in both recognized and freestyle. It's a big challenge since I'...

Keep on reading: Asian Games: PH taekwondo eyes medal windfall like in Doha 2006

MANILA, Philippines --- National University coach Norman Miguel said Sheena Toring's hard work paid off as she returned to action for the Lady Bulldogs four months after suffering a partial ACL tear in her left knee. The young middle blocker wasn't able to finish the fifth set of their Finals Game 1 loss to La Salle last May after a bad fall that took her out of the series. The Lady Bulldogs got dethroned by the Angel Canino-led Lady Spikers in Game 2 to rule the UAAP Season 85. As NU started its road to redemption in the Shakey's Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2, a fit-again Toring showed up and made the most of her limited playing time in a 25-15...

Keep on reading: Sheena Toring returns, helps NU to victory in SSL

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR --- With funds now available, the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) of the Bangsamoro government will be repairing over 100 daycare centers in the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur that were damaged by Tropical Storm Paeng in November last year. According to Engr. Yusoph Pilas of the MSSD's Engineering Section, the damaged facilities have hampered the conduct of early childhood care and development lessons in the affected communities. Pilas said their personnel are making the rounds in the communities to assess the extent of repair that needs to be done and estimate the corresponding costs, as he hopes t...

Keep on reading: BARMM to rehab 108 daycare centers damaged by Tropical Storm Paeng

MANILA, Philippines---Defending champion Letran fires off its title defense against host Jose Rizal University to open the NCAA Season 99 on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. Letran, which is parading a new coach in Rensy Bajar, is aiming to capture a fourth consecutive men's basketball championship this season. "For Sunday, expect JRU and Letran to set the tone for Season 99, it's going to be competitive and exciting," said JRU coach Louie Gonzales. The Knights remain the favorites despite losing the core of their championship run last season. "We all know JRU is a tough team, last time we barely won. Every time we play against JRU, we expect competitiveness," said Baj...

Keep on reading: Letran expects tough game vs JRU in NCAA Season 99 opener

HANGZHOU, China---Postponed for a year chiefly due to the pandemic, the delay that hit the 19th Asian Games was worth the wait and made incredibly stunning by the lavish and space-age opening ceremony on Saturday night. Shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, a festival of lights immediately took over and a dazzling visual show featuring splendid cultural attractions and the best China could offer. This is the third time the biggest nation on the continent has staged the 45-nation quadrennial sports spectacle where the Philippine team of 395 athletes from 40 sports aims to leave an indelible mark and another lasting lega...

Keep on reading: Obiena, Didal lead PH parade as Asian Games officially open

MANILA, Philippines--President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. spearheaded the Grand Launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in four provinces, offering more than 60 services from various government agencies with a fund of at least P1 billion. The initiative aims to provide easier access to government services, particularly in remote areas, benefitting over 400,000 Filipinos initially. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, a key organizer of the BPSF, emphasized the importance of proactive government agencies in serving citizens. He highlighted the success of the dry run in Biliran last month and expressed confidence that Marcos's involvement in the Gr...

Keep on reading: Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair launched, aims to serve 400,000 Filipinos

HANGZHOU, China---Tennis prodigy Alex Eala secured an opening-round bye in women's singles during the draw on Saturday before the 19th Asian Games officially got off the ground. The 18-year-old Eala clinched the fourth seeding in the tournament after a series of impressive performances in high-profile meets overseas. Eala's medal drive begins Monday before pairing with Ruben Gonzales at the start of the mixed doubles event at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Tennis Centre come Tuesday. She has installed herself as one of Asia's rising stars after Eala netted her fourth International Tennis Federation crown in Great Britain last month. On her maiden stint at the continental spo...

Keep on reading: Alex Eala faces tough road to Asian Games podium

Bodybuilders are often the target of memes and stereotypes, frequently depicted as arrogant and unintelligent individuals. They are commonly portrayed as villains in films and often endure beatings from Fernando Poe Jr. When my interest in bodybuilding emerged, the first Filipino bodybuilder I connected with was Alexislee Aznar Abule, a former teacher in Bangkok and an experienced bodybuilder. Lee participated in the annual Thailand Muscle and Physique Championships, organized by the Thailand Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Association (TBPA) in Bangkok from September 16-17. The competition primarily featured local bodybuilders who might later join the national team, and it wa...

Keep on reading: Flexing muscles with a Pinoy bodybuilder

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Tourism (DOT) said that one of its goals is to become the "tourism powerhouse" in Asia in the near future. According to a statement by tourism secretary Christina Frasco at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao on Friday, the country's tourism industry foresees employing over 34 million Filipinos by 2028. "The Philippines envisions itself becoming the tourism powerhouse in Asia. A few years down the road, by 2028, we foresee that tourism would have been able to employ a total of over 34 million Filipinos in the country," Frasco said. She added that the department's current priorities are sustainability and infrastructure development ...

Keep on reading: DOT sees tourism sector employing 34 million Filipinos by 2028

MANILA, Philippines --- A geopolitical and geo-economics expert has warned against relying on Chinese Official Development Assistance (ODA) as it could lead to substantial debt, and instead encouraged the government to strengthen Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). According to the Stratbase ADR Institute (ADRi) on Saturday, its president Dindo Manhit said that safeguard mechanisms against corrosive capital are needed. "Lacking transparency and accountability, these have the potential to incite debt dependencies," he stated during their think tank's Revitalizing the Philippines' Infrastructure Development through Public-Private Partnerships Forum on Friday. "Without proper oversi...

Keep on reading: Gov’t warned vs relying on Chinese ODA, urged to strengthen PPPs instead

HANGZHOU, China---Kayla Noelle Sanchez is out to demonstrate a sprinkling of her billing in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay on Sunday at the kick-off of aquatic events in the 19th Asian Games. Though joining two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Tiea Isabella Salvino and Miranda Renner in the quartet swim comes as an aperitif, Sanchez cutting through water at high speed will quantify if she's really good as advertised. "My preparation I'd say is good. I'm obviously trying my best to place the highest for Team Philippines," said the 22-year-old transferee from the Canadian national squad. Sanchez, born to Filipino parents Noel and Susan wh...

Keep on reading: Kayla Sanchez eager to make most of her maiden Asian Games stint

MANILA, Philippines --- National University jumpstarted its title-retention bid with a dominant 25-15, 25-19, 25-15 win over new-look University of the East in the Shakey's Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 on Saturday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. The Lady Bulldogs were too much for the Lady Red Warriors from the starters, bannered by Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Vangie Alinsug, to their second unit led by rookie Arah Panique and returning Sheena Toring, who had a partial ACL tear in her left knee during the UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball finals but didn't need surgery. Buoyed by their experience of representing the Philippine women's...

Keep on reading: Defending champion NU overpowers UE, FEU whips EAC in SSL

HANGZHOU, China---Agatha Wong has adapted to juggling her time between training and medical school. Although both are demanding, Wong prefers not to return home without a medal from the 19th Asian Games. The country's premier taolu performer will turn the mat at the Xiaoshan Guali Sports Centre here into her playground on Sunday when hostilities in wushu take flight. "Training while studying has been tough. You have to balance everything," said Wong, the freshman at the UERM Memorial Medical Center who is out to better her bronze medal in 2018 Jakarta. The 25-year-old looker is entered in the women's taijiquan and taijijian (sword play) all-around, disciplines she used to...

Keep on reading: Asian Games: Agatha Wong eyes another podium finish

MANILA, Philippines --- A faint explosion was reported in the open parking of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Saturday morning. According to the initial information, people who were near the parking area facing Terminal 3 at that time heard a noise that was like a weak explosion. Reports also indicated a glass bottle containing a flammable liquid and wrapped with a cloth that shattered and hit three vehicles. Small flames were seen from the bottom of the vehicles that were hit. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that it will launch a joint investigation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) - Aviation Security Unit. The Pasay C...

Keep on reading: Weak explosion reported at NAIA T3 parking area; MIAA, PNP launches probes

MANILA, Philippines---The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration and the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide competition will hold their respective competitions back to back at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Oct. 24. The male contest will start at 5 p.m. and will run for an hour. The Miss Philippines will commence after a 30-minute interval, and is expected to start at 6:30 p.m. The candidates of the two searches were presented to members of the media at Empire Studios at Estancia Mall in Pasig City on Sept. 23. Twenty-one ladies from across the country and Filipino communities in the United States will compete in The Miss Philippines, while 17 men will take part in ...

Keep on reading: The Miss Philippines, Mister Pilipinas Worldwide set back-to-back finals on Oct. 24

MANILA, Philippines--The Philippines kept its hopes of making the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Women's Asian Cup after a 3-1 win over Bangladesh in the second round of the qualification phase held Friday in Hanoi, Vietnam. Nina Mathelus continued her goalscoring ways before a late score from Jelena Soon sealed the Filipinas U-17's victory that turned their final group match against host Vietnam on Sunday into a virtual knockout for the final Asian Cup slot. Both teams have three points apiece going into their 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Manila time) duel at Vietnam Youth Football Training Center. Coached by senior team assistant Sinisha Cohadzic, the Filipinas U-17 ...

Keep on reading: Filipinas U-17 stay in hunt for Asian Cup slot