With one playing for a redemption win and the other for a dearly departed grandfather, Reymon Jaraula and Rupert Zaragosa are up for a battle royale in the final round of the P3.5 million ICTSI Del Monte Championship on Friday in Bukidnon, where just a handful are left with a chance to crash the party. […]... Keep on reading: Jaraula, Zaragosa up for battle royale at Del Monte
With the world’s best young gymnasts set to converge in Manila, they will shoot for gold hoping to live by the slogan of nect month’s event: “Leap High, Flip Strong!” The official motto of the 3rd Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships reflects both the physical demands and the aspirational spirit of the sport. The tournament […]... Keep on reading: PH braces for world gymnastics tilt
They may be idiots in the eyes of University of the East coach Chris Gavina. To the UAAP, though, they made the right call. The league backed its referees, who were roundly criticized in the aftermath of a controversial match between UE and La Salle, suspending Warriors standout Wello Lingolingo for three games for his […]... Keep on reading: UAAP backs refs after Gavina rant; Baclaan out for season
Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Friday, October 17, 2025. Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines’ leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner. READ: ICI chairman Reyes: "Justice Is not enough, we need restitution" in flood control scandal THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) said Thursday it is determined to recover assets from those involved in anomalous flood control projects, even as it has gathered enough evidence to file cases against contractor couple Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II. In a meeting with various government agencies at the ICI headquarters on Thursday, ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said funds “that should have been utilized to better the lives of Filipinos were instead used by corrupt individuals to buy exotic cars, enjoy luxury vacations and gamble in casinos.” READ: Gov't investigates CLTG Builders, Bong Go's father's firm, over flood control links THE government is investigating CLTG Builders, a company owned by the father of Sen. Bong Go, for its links to the contractors at the center of a flood control bribery scandal, Cezarah Rowena “Sara” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said Thursday. Based on that, Dizon said, he and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla have agreed to conduct the investigation. Go denied knowing the Discaya couple and said he would fully cooperate in all proceedings to “get to the truth.” READ: Zaldy Co budget insertion returned: PNP gives back P500M LOCAL Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said the Philippine National Police (PNP) returned P500 million of its P1.3-billion intelligence fund for 2025 to the Office of the President after finding that the amount, allegedly inserted by former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, was unnecessary. Remulla told lawmakers that the P500-million insertion was not part of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and had no identified purpose in the PNP’s operational plans. READ: P3.39B released for police bonuses THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday approved the release of P3.39 billion as payment for the performance-based bonus (PBB) of 225,545 qualified officials and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The release of the PBB for police personnel is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen the morale and welfare of government workers, especially law enforcement front-liners. It also underscores the administration’s broader thrust to build a professional, motivated and well-supported bureaucracy that delivers with integrity and excellence. READ: Philippines takes center stage at Frankfurt Book Fair THE Philippines is taking center stage at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, which started on Wednesday, as the country is this year’s guest of honor. Sen. Loren Legarda, who is the driving force of the country’s guest of honor responsibilities, honored the legacy of the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. She talked about Rizal’s adventures in Germany, where he encountered German literature and drama. BUSINESS: Recto: VAT cut could force govt to borrow THE government could be forced to borrow more if the value-added tax (VAT) is lowered to 10 percent from 12 percent, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said in a statement on Tuesday. The projected P1.39-trillion VAT collections this year, he added, “can only fund nine months’ worth of payroll, premium and pension of active and retired government workers.” Development Budget Coordination Committee data show that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has collected P288.4 billion in VAT as of the first half of 2025, 5.1 percent higher than the year-earlier P274.2 billion. SPORTS: Cone says trade part of business in PBA PLAYER movement is a big part of business in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). This was the answer of Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone when asked to comment on the Gin Kings’ decision to trade veterans Maverick Ahanmisi and Aljon Mariano in exchange for Terrafirma’s PBA Season 51 first round draft pick. The trade was approved by the PBA just a few hours before the Ginebra-TNT game on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. READ: Opinion and editorial Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today’s front page columnists, where both of them weigh in on the current investigations by the ICI over the flood control controversy. Today’s editorial says diplomatic protests are not an exercise against futility. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times. For more news and information, read The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn; and be part of our communities on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon.
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s three largest publicly listed banks are all set for a banner year, with the impact of lower interest rates expected to take effect only in 2026. Alfred Benjamin Garcia, research head at AP Securities Inc., told the Inquirer on Thursday the “Big Three” banks—BDO Unibank Inc., Bank of the Philippine […]... Keep on reading: ‘Big 3’ banks primed for banner year
MANILA, Philippines — They say Filipinos know the way to everyone’s heart through food. Perhaps Jollibee Foods Corp. is the most concrete example of this, with its popular Chickenjoy meals already reaching other continents. And so, it’s no surprise that it’s emerging as a crowd favorite beyond Manila. Earlier this week, Jollibee Singapore was hailed […]... Keep on reading: BIZ BUZZ: Bee-da in Singapore
MANILA, Philippines — Across Manila, Jakarta and Kathmandu, one force is reshaping markets: public outrage, not just at corrupt politicians, but also at ‘nepo baby’ influencers, entrenched institutions and once-untouchable brands. In today’s hyperconnected world, trust isn’t given, it’s earned. Lose it, and you lose customers. Scandals involving misused funds, political favoritism and influencer complicity […]... Keep on reading: Why trust is the new currency in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has deferred the mandatory registration for the e-Commerce Philippine ‘Trustmark’ after weighing concerns raised by digital entrepreneurs who considered it another expense and an unnecessary burden. “Taking their feedback into account means we can improve the trustmark system to be more useful, fair and helpful […]... Keep on reading: E-commerce trustmark registration deferred
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy is expected to see “stronger growth ahead” as the government takes steps to address the loss of taxpayer money to questionable infrastructure projects, according to Finance Secretary Ralph Recto. Recto said in a statement that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) could expand faster than the average growth of […]... Keep on reading: Recto forecasts faster Philippine growth in next 3 years
MANILA, Philippines — Canned food maker Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) is acquiring a $45-million processing facility in South Cotabato. This is meant to expand CNPF’s rapidly growing coconut business. The Po family-led company on Thursday disclosed that it had signed a deal with Roxas Sigma Agriventures Inc. (RSAI). This is for Coco Harvest Inc.’s buyout of RSAI’s third coconut processing facility. “By expanding our capacity in coconuts, we not only enhance our competitiveness in the global coconut industry but also create meaningful economic opportunities for local communities in Mindanao,” said CNPF vice president Noel Tempongko Jr. READ: New hope […]... Keep on reading: Century Pacific buys coconut facility for $45M
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked P3.3 billion to improve rice yield and reduce postharvest losses over the next three years. In a statement on Thursday, the DA said the budget allocation will be used to set up 300 drying systems across the archipelago. The DA is targeting the completion of 145 rice processing […]... Keep on reading: Agri dep’t earmarks P3.3B for rice facilities
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