US Grants Tariff Exemption on Majority of Philippine Agricultural Exports in 2024

The United States has extended zero-tariff access to the majority of Philippine agricultural exports, marking a significant boost for the country’s trade in 2024. This exemption, announced following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, applies to goods valued at more than $1 billion. Secretary Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, clarified that the tariff relief targets agricultural items "not grown or produced" domestically in the US, removing the previously imposed reciprocal tariff. He hailed the development as "good news... good for the country, it’s good for the farmers." The tariff waiver covers a variety of Filipino agricultural products, allowing them duty-free entry into the US market. Notable commodities benefiting from the exemption include coconut copra oil, coconut water, desiccated coconut, fruit juices, processed pineapples, confectionery products, fresh and processed bananas, tuna fillets, and dried fruits. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque emphasized the importance of this exemption in supporting the agriculture sector. "The exemption helps protect livelihoods, preserve jobs across our agricultural value chain, and creates opportunities for communities that rely heavily on exports," Roque stated. She further noted that the tariff relief is expected to increase demand and stabilize prices for the affected products. Under the new order, 46 percent of the Philippines' total exports to the US are now free from the reciprocal tariff. The semiconductor industry had earlier secured a similar exemption. However, other exports outside these categories remain subject to a 19 percent tariff. Officials confirmed ongoing efforts to expand tariff exemptions to additional products, particularly focusing on enhancing competitiveness in the country’s largest agricultural export to the US—the coconut sector. While acknowledging that a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States is not forthcoming in the near term, Philippine trade authorities are actively negotiating FTAs with other key partners such as the European Union, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.

QCShorts International 2 Highlights Stories of Resistance and Resilience in 2025 Film Program

The 2025 edition of the QCINEMA International Film Festival presents an expanded shorts program with 26 films across five sections. The QCShorts International 2 segment, titled \"The Center Cannot Hold,\" draws inspiration from Elyn Saks’ memoir and W.B. Yeats’ poetry, focusing on stories that explore the fractures and acts of resistance within families, communities, and wider societies. This program showcases five distinctive films that offer a mixture of poetic, personal, and socially charged narratives, many set in Southeast Asia, illuminating underrepresented voices and landscapes. The lineup opens with Don Eblahan’s \"VOX HUMANA,\" a contemplative piece blending natural imagery with evocative sounds, highlighting the relationship between humans and their environment through the lens of indigenous presence and scientific observation. Eblahan’s work, fresh from the Toronto International Film Festival, invites viewers to engage deeply with the tension between authority and indigenous power. Beny Kristia’s \"WHEN THE BLUES GOES MARCHING IN\" is a personal documentary rooted in Indonesia’s history of activism. Featuring a son’s dream conveyed to his father and illustrated with cyanotype photographs, the film captures the enduring spirit of protest and the complex emotions tied to national memory. Kristia’s straightforward approach makes this work a heartfelt tribute to resistance and hope. Lin Htet Aung’s \"A METAMORPHOSIS\" adopts a lo-fi aesthetic mimicking Myanmar’s state TV propaganda to expose subtle yet potent forms of dissent amid dictatorship. Combining unsettling digital distortions with a traditional lullaby, the film reveals the uneasy spaces forged by repression, innovatively pushing back against nationalist media narratives. Norvin de los Santos’ \"HOY, HOY, INGAT!\," supported by a QCShorts 2025 grant, offers a warmly human narrative about two siblings navigating life’s hardships in Manila’s urban poor communities. Through a playful and empathetic lens, it chronicles their escape aboard a battered family jeepney, highlighting stories that are rarely told with such tenderness amid the city’s relentless development pressures. Rounding out the program, \"SI KARA: ANG BABAYE NGA NAG DABA-DABA\" by Dale, another grant recipient, blends absurdist comedy with social commentary set in Bacolod. The film satirizes escalating environmental and societal crises through surreal imagery and humor, portraying toxic pollution and rising temperatures as metaphors for contemporary challenges faced by Filipinos. QCShorts International 2 will be screened on November 21 at Fisher Mall at 3:45 p.m. and Gateway 2 at 9:20 p.m., promising audiences an immersive exploration of resilience and resistance across diverse cultural contexts.

Former Bamban Mayor Seeks to Stay at Pasig Female Dormitory Following Human Trafficking Conviction

Former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo has filed a petition requesting to remain at the Pasig City Female Dormitory after her recent conviction on qualified human trafficking charges. According to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio, this motion has delayed her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. \"This means her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong will be postponed,\" Casio explained. Guo and seven other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday by a Pasig court for their involvement in qualified human trafficking. The charges arose from a crackdown on illegal activities discovered within a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban. In 2024, authorities conducted a raid on Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated (ZYTI), a known POGO facility, where 800 employees were detained, including approximately 500 foreign nationals. Of these, 427 were identified as Chinese citizens. The raid triggered an investigation into Guo’s role, as the illicit operations took place alarmingly close to Bamban’s municipal hall. Authorities scrutinized her alleged negligence in failing to detect the illegal POGO activities. Subsequent inquiries led the National Bureau of Investigation to verify Guo’s identity through fingerprint analysis, confirming that she is the same individual as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping. Additionally, the court ruled that the property where the raid occurred would be forfeited to the government. This case has spotlighted persistent challenges in regulating illegal offshore gaming operations and associated human trafficking issues.

Bureau of Working Conditions Urges BPO Sector to Strengthen Worker Safety Protocols Amid Disasters

The Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) has urged the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector to adopt comprehensive best practices aimed at safeguarding employee health and safety during emergencies. This call comes in light of employee concerns voiced following recent natural calamities. In a televised interview, BWC Director Alvin Curada emphasized the need for the BPO industry, coordinating through the Industry Tripartite Council, to develop standardized protocols for operation amidst severe weather disturbances. He stated, \"They should talk about those challenges so they can get recommendations, ways forward, and best practices and, thus, prevent it from happening again.\" Curada further highlighted the importance of preparing robust business continuity plans. \"They must have a business continuity plan so that, if there are similar scenarios, they'll know what to do,\" he explained. Addressing the issue of companies pressuring staff to work during dangerous conditions due to high client demand, Curada remarked, \"Using high client demand as a reason to force employees to work during bad weather is not acceptable. Our workers have the right to refuse work if they feel there is imminent danger when they report to work.\" These statements follow reports from the BPO Industry Employees' Network (Bien) Philippines, which revealed that 21 BPO companies maintained a \"business-as-usual\" stance during the impact of Super Typhoon Uwan. Bien noted that employees were largely left to manage the hazardous situation without adequate company support amid the severe flooding. In response, the Department of Labor and Employment has initiated an investigation into the practices of these 21 BPO firms to ensure compliance with worker safety standards.

Aboitiz Foods Tops AmCham CSI Awards with Transformative Community Programs

MAKATI, Philippines – Aboitiz Foods has been recognized for its exceptional community engagement efforts, securing major accolades at the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines’ (AmCham) 2nd Corporate Social Impact (CSI) Awards. The company’s subsidiary, Pilmico Foods Corporation, was awarded the prestigious Impact Excellence Award for its transformative Project Silk, distinguishing it as the leading CSR initiative among the 2025 Gold Award recipients. Project Silk also received the Gold Award in the Economic Empowerment and Livelihood Development category, while the Adopt-A-City Program was honored with a Silver Award for Community Impact and Civic Engagement. Pamela Lynne Liwag, Assistant Vice President for Brand & Reputation Management at Aboitiz Foods, remarked, \"These accolades reinforce our foundational belief that creating sustainable value extends beyond business—to nurture the communities we serve. Our CSR programs are commitments to meaningful transformation and long-lasting impact, fostering a sustainable future for generations ahead.\" Held on November 19 at the Makati Diamond Residences and co-supported by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, this year’s AmCham CSI Awards highlighted initiatives promoting empowerment, sustainability, and inclusive progress under the theme \"Stronger Together for People, Planet, and Progress.\" Project Silk emphasizes collaboration with over 2,800 yellow corn farmers across Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Tarlac. Since its 2017 inception, the program has empowered farmers with capacity-building, consistent market access, and entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to thrive in the agribusiness landscape. A significant achievement within Project Silk is the establishment of a Post-Harvest Facility in partnership with Iligan City’s local government, which reduces crop losses and enhances grain quality, contributing to higher income and resilience against climate challenges. To date, the program has facilitated more than PHP49 million in corn sales and boosted farmer revenues by over 1,500%, underscoring the power of sustained partnerships. The Adopt-A-City Program, a public-private-community initiative led by Pilmico and partners including Iligan City government, the National Resilience Council Foundation, and Mindanao State University, focuses on disaster preparedness and climate adaptation. Since launching in 2022, the program has elevated Iligan City’s resilience score from near zero to 84.38% and earned the prestigious Gawad KALASAG Fully Compliant Award, the highest recognition for disaster readiness in the Philippines. Katrina Angelie Bayog-Mercado, CSR Manager of Aboitiz Foods, emphasized the collaborative nature of these efforts, stating, \"These programs are co-created with farmers, cooperatives, governments, NGOs, and community partners. Their trust and dedication are as integral to this recognition as our own commitment.\" Anchored by its mission to \"Sustainably Feed Asia’s Growth from Mill to Meal,\" Aboitiz Foods integrates its values of integrity, teamwork, innovation, and responsibility into actionable community development. Its initiatives highlight how agribusiness can drive inclusive economic growth and foster resilient, empowered communities. About Aboitiz Foods Aboitiz Foods is a leading regional food and agribusiness company operating in eight Asian countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, China, and Vietnam. Owned by the Aboitiz Group, it encompasses subsidiaries such as Pilmico and Gold Coin, spanning the value chain from trading and feeds to specialty nutrition and food production. The company commits to sustainable growth and advancing communities in tandem with its business goals. For more information, visit https://www.aboitizfoods.com/

Two Former Chinese POGO Workers Arrested for Extortion in Parañaque

Authorities successfully apprehended two former Chinese employees of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Parañaque City for extortion during a carefully orchestrated entrapment operation. The incident came to light after a Chinese complainant reported receiving a photo showing his friend restrained outside the Parañaque Police Station, accompanied by demands for money from the suspects. The complainant disclosed that he had already paid approximately ₱50,000 in two separate transactions to secure his friend’s release. However, suspicion arose when the suspects requested a third payment. Concerned, he reached out through his friend to the Parañaque Police Station to verify the arrest of any Chinese nationals. The police confirmed that no individual fitting that description had been detained. Southern Police District Director Police Brigadier General Randy Arceo explained, \"Upon the third demand from the suspects, the complainant became suspicious and contacted the police station, discovering that no Chinese national had been apprehended.\" The detained individuals now face charges of robbery-extortion, as their monetary demands were coupled with threatening behavior. Further investigation revealed that one of the suspects is reportedly a fugitive in China, linked to a credit card fraud case. Authorities continue to probe the matter as the suspects have yet to make an official statement.

Philippine Firms Achieve Strong Export Sales at CAEXPO 2025, Garner Awards

The Philippines underscored its growing market presence in China during the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) 2025, held from September 17 to 21, with 12 local enterprises participating in the event and generating more than USD 18 million in export sales. Representing both food and non-food sectors, Philippine companies showcased a diverse array of products at the Commodity Pavilion. Highlights included durian and banana chips on the food side, alongside natural health products, banking services, jewelry, and handicrafts. Fresh durian remained the top-selling item, reflecting sustained demand from Chinese consumers attracted to its distinctive flavor and texture. The Philippine delegation was coordinated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Guangzhou and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), in collaboration with the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII). Since its inception in 2004, CAEXPO has been a major platform for fostering trade and investment between China and ASEAN countries, also emphasizing cooperation in areas like technology transfer and communications. The Philippines received notable recognition during the event. At the CAEXPO Senior Officials’ Meeting on September 19, CITEM was awarded the Best Organizer of Trade Visitors. Additionally, two Filipino companies earned accolades for excellence in design: Puyo Handicrafts from Cagayan de Oro and Raya Fiber Imperia from Marinduque. These honors were awarded for outstanding innovation, cultural significance, environmental sustainability, and commercial potential in the regional market. Leah Pulido Ocampo, Executive Director of CITEM, commented on the country's performance, stating, \"This success highlights the capabilities of Filipino enterprises and affirms our rightful place in these competitive markets. We are committed to leveraging this momentum to further advance Filipino businesses internationally.\" The Philippine contingent included Raya Fiber Imperia, BDO Unibank, Raspina Tropical Fruits Inc., Oneasia Trader, Maylong Enterprise Corp., Eng Seng Food Products, KitSilver Jewellery, I. Ralph Jevan, Puyo Handicrafts, Trendy Merch Novelty Shop, Bebebalm Inc., and Jegen Swe Enterprise. CAEXPO 2025 showcased over 3,200 exhibitors from 60 countries, attracting upwards of 220,000 buyers. The 22nd edition embraced the theme \"Promoting AI Empowerment and Innovation for a Shared Future – Leveraging China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 New Opportunities for an Even Closer China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future.\" Looking ahead, Filipino businesses can anticipate heightened opportunities as the Philippines is set to be the Country of Honor at next year’s CAEXPO, a distinction that promises enhanced visibility and expanded avenues for cultural and economic exchange. The nation previously held this title in 2013.

BPI Introduces Affordable Insurance Covering Cancer, Stroke, and Heart Attack

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), in collaboration with BPI/MS Insurance Corporation, has launched a new insurance plan named "BPI Kaya Care," which provides coverage for three major health conditions: cancer, stroke, and heart attack. \n\nThis insurance offering starts with an annual premium of PHP 859 for basic coverage and is available to Filipino individuals aged 18 and above. The policy ensures that clients diagnosed at an early stage receive 50 percent of the total benefit, while those with advanced or critical diagnoses are entitled to the full benefit amount.\n\nMaria Cristina Go, BPI's head of consumer banking, emphasized that the product intends to make critical illness insurance more attainable. She stated, \"For too long, critical illness insurance has felt complex and out of reach. We wanted to change that.\" She further explained that the funds provided by the coverage are intended to assist clients with medical expenses such as medications and therapies, allowing families to concentrate on recovery instead of financial burdens.\n\nGo also highlighted a significant shift in the insurance approach. Unlike other policies where critical illness coverage is offered only as optional add-ons or \"riders,\" BPI Kaya Care places these conditions at the core of the insurance plan. By focusing solely on critical illnesses, the bank aims to streamline protection and make coverage more straightforward for serious health concerns.

Ellen Adarna Shares Practical Advice on Handling Toxic Relationships Amid Personal Revelations

Former actress and model Ellen Adarna recently opened up about her personal experiences with a toxic relationship and responded to a follower seeking guidance on the matter by sharing ten practical tips. The advice came amid recent headlines involving allegations against her husband, actor Derek Ramsay, whom she accused of infidelity early in their marriage and refuted claims that he never cursed at her. Since speaking out, Ellen has received numerous messages from individuals relating to similar situations. One follower expressed gratitude for Ellen\'s courage in setting boundaries and confronting manipulation, stating, "But seeing you, seeing the bold things you decide for yourself. Stopping all the manipulation and taking each woman\'s boundaries to the next level. Thank you." In an Instagram story where she posted a screenshot of the message (omitting the sender\'s name), Ellen compiled a list of practical recommendations based on her experience: - Screenshot conversations before they can be deleted - Record interactions as if documenting them - Verify the actual events by reviewing information - Recognize attempts to rewrite history and rely on evidence - Be aware of gaslighting tactics that distort reality - Keep all communications in writing - Understand that manipulators often portray themselves as victims but detest documented proof - Backup important files diligently - Create a timeline to track inconsistencies and falsehoods - Maintain composure during confrontations - Secure personal devices and update passwords regularly - Discreetly collect evidence without provoking the other party - Gather witnesses to corroborate claims - Engage legal counsel to protect oneself "Collect the truth — and let them choke on it," Ellen declared in a follow-up story, adding, "See a therapist and build a strong support system. Healing is power." Ellen and Derek marked their fourth wedding anniversary on November 11. Their union has produced a daughter named Lili, and both partners have children from previous relationships.

Michael Porter Jr. Leads Nets to 113-105 Win Over Celtics with Claxton’s First Triple-Double

Michael Porter Jr. delivered a stellar 33-point performance and Nic Claxton recorded his inaugural triple-double, propelling the Brooklyn Nets to a 113-105 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday. This victory allowed Brooklyn to even their season series after losing at home earlier in the week. Porter was highly efficient, connecting on 13 of 21 field goal attempts, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. This extended his personal best streak to eight consecutive games with at least 20 points. He was particularly impactful in the fourth quarter, contributing 16 points. The Nets bounced back from their 113-99 home defeat on Tuesday to improve to 1-2 in NBA Cup Group B play, while the Celtics dropped to the same record. Claxton supported the effort by logging 18 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. Rookie Egor Demin also provided a solid contribution with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds despite facing foul challenges, and Anfernee Simons came off the bench to add 23 points. Boston made a strong push in the fourth quarter, cutting a 15-point deficit to just four points at 96-94 following a 17-4 run. However, Demin’s decisive 3-pointer with just over five minutes remaining quelled the Celtics’ momentum. Porter then extended Brooklyn’s lead to 106-97 with a mix of inside baskets and a three-pointer. Throughout the game, the Celtics had moments of resilience. Neemias Queta’s tip-in brought them within three points in the third quarter before the Nets responded with a 19-4 run highlighted by a Ziaire Williams dunk in transition. Brooklyn’s dominant second quarter included a 40-point output and an 11-2 run to close the period. During this sequence, Demin scored four points and executed a crucial steal, setting up Clowney for a layup in the final seconds to secure a 62-53 halftime lead. Early in the game, Porter’s 3-pointer gave Brooklyn a 19-12 advantage midway through the first quarter, but Boston rallied with a 16-3 surge, including three three-pointers by Payton Pritchard and a trey from Luka Garza, allowing the Celtics to lead 28-22 after 12 minutes. Statistically, the Nets shot 52.4% from the field (43 of 82), edging the Celtics who converted 46.7% (42 of 90) despite attempting more shots. Brooklyn’s victory underscores their road success this season, having won all three games away from home to date.