More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Cebu has suffered a decline.
More specifically, South Koreans.
The number of South Korean visitors in Cebu has dipped by 18 percent during the first half this year, said Lawyer Joseph Felix Mari ‘Ace’ Durano, the provincial administrator.
“I’ve never seen anything like that. And then ang drastic drop. So, there really has to be something happening in the market that we need to address as soon as possible,” Durano told media in a press briefing.
The former Philippine Tourism secretary also expressed concerns over the ‘drastic drop’, adding that they need to prioritize addressing the decline urgently.
“The tourist arrivals, in total, in the Philippines is really a decrease from last year. Pero ang reason lang nganong atong gitutukan ang (But the reason why we are focusing on) Korea [is] because Korea is the number one market of the world,” explained Durano.
South Korean tourists have also been Cebu’s top market for foreign arrivals.
Preference to Vietnam over the Philippines has been cited as one of the possible reasons behind the drop in South Korean visitors here, said Durano.
Aside from offering competitive tourism packages, Vietnam had been aggressive in pushing its destinations to tourists around the world.
“Based on market intelligence, Vietnam is our biggest competitor now,” Durano added.
They also pointed to changes in market behavior among South Korean travellers.
“We should adopt to make us more attractive. Like for example, Koreans when they travel abroad, don’t carry cash anymore. They use their own payment system and they get a 20 percent discount,” said Durano.
Among the solutions the Capitol is mulling to entice more South Korean tourists is to introduce or implement more cashless payment systems.
In addition, they are looking at enhancing cultural activities, improve tourism facilities, conduct more training for tourism frontliners, as well as overhauling the entire tourism strategy of Cebu.
The provincial government also plans to revive the Provincial Tourism Council which will convene this July 30 to get more insights on the tourism situation in the province.
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| https://asgam.com/2025/07/23/philippines-online-gaming-industry-warns-50000-jobs-at-risk-if-total-ban-imposed/ |
The operators of online gambling platforms in the Philippines claim that more than 50,000 jobs could be lost if the government imposes a total ban on the industry, according to information published by local media outlet Philippine Star.
Industry representatives have also reiterated concerns that a ban on legal operations would do little more than spark a surge in black market gaming sites.
Data cited by the Philippine Star points to more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs being supported by the Philippines’ domestic online gaming, or eGames, sector, which has shown massive growth since regulator PAGCOR implemented a legal framework during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced fees for licensed operators. Those jobs, the report, states, cover everything from IT, customer service, compliance, game development and marketing.
PAGCOR reported total revenues of Php28.1 billion (US$504 million) in 1Q25, up 11.2% year-on-year, of which Php25.5 billion (US$457 million) came from gaming operations. Of this, 56% was contributed by the eGames and eBingo segment, which generated Php14.32 billion (US$257 million).
In a recent paper outlining the potential impact of an online gaming ban, Tonet Quiogue, CEO of Arden Consult, wrote, “The real enemy is illegal, unregulated gambling, not the licensed platforms that follow strict safeguards and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Legal operators in the Philippines are already aligned with global best practices. They implement robust KYC, age verification, self-exclusion tools, and real-time monitoring. You ban those, and what you get is a black-market surge.
“A total ban will not stop online gaming. It will only shift activity to unregulated sites, at the cost of jobs, public funds and player protection.”
The online gaming issue has become a major discussion point in recent weeks after renowned anti-gambling campaigner, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, filed a bill seeking to impose significant restrictions on the industry, including stricter know-your-customer rules, greater regulation of gambling advertising, the imposition of a minimum top-up threshold of Php10,000 (US$177) and a ban on payment platforms like GCash and Maya from working with online betting operators.
However, his bill has prompted others to call for a total ban on all online gaming nationwide.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco has since outlined his stance that strict regulation rather than prohibition is the more reasonable path to follow. The regulator has in recent weeks ordered all -out-of-home online gaming advertising to be removed and imposed restrictions on the hours in which related television ads can be aired.
The recent increase in Latin honor graduates at the University of the Philippines is partly attributed to the so-called “Pandemic Effect,” as UP implemented grading adjustments and academic leniency during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the 3,876 bachelor’s degrees holders for Batch 2025 in Diliman alone, 2,369 (or 61 percent) finished with Latin honors, wherein 241 are summa cum laude (SCL), 1,143 are magna cum laude (MCL), and 985 are cum laude (CL).
The “Latin honor” system usually has three levels of honor (listed in order of increasing merit): wherein SCL is the university’s highest academic distinction for graduates with a weighted average grade of 1.20 or higher, followed by MCL (1.21-1.45) then CL (1.46-1.75). In UP, the highest grade is 1.0, the lowest passing grade is 3.0, and the failing grade is 5.0.
For the past seven years (including pre-pandemic 2019 to 2020), there are 54 in 2019 there are 28 SCL in 2020; 29 in 2021; 150 in 2022; 305 in 2023; 286 in 2024; then 241 in 2025. The highest number of SCLs were in 2023 with 305.
For MCL, there are 437 in 2019; 302 in 2020; 199 in 2021; 661 in 2022; 1,196 in 2023; 1,109 in 2024; then 985 in 2025.
For CL, there are 1,173 in 2019; 683 in 2020; 456 in 2021; 644 in 2022; 742 in 2023; 788 in 2024; then 985 in 2025.
Aside from 241 SCLs in UP Diliman this year, other UP units had 2 in UP Cebu, 2 in UP Visayas, 2 in UP Baguio, 2 in UP Mindanao, and 27 in UP Los Baños.
The increase in Latin honors graduates raises concerns about the perceived value and exclusivity of these distinctions.
Some question whether the current system reflects genuine academic excellence or is merely a result of inflated grades. Grade inflation is typically understood as the overall rise of grades students receive for the same level or quality of effort.
In a statement, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Leo Cubillan said that it is important to consider that most students from this year’s graduating batch started their first year in UP during the pandemic in AY 2021-2022.
In May 2020, the UP OVPAA issued a series of memoranda wherein UP adjusted its mode of course delivery, academic rules and grading system during remote learning, guided by three imperatives: “Protect the UP community from the pandemic; Sustain the continuity of instruction and learning; and Consider equity concerns in policy decisions”.
Under one of the earlier policies, no grades of 4.0 or 5.0 were given, and students with failing standing or whose class performance was unsatisfactory were assigned a DRP (Dropped) grade annotated with “due to Covid-19 pandemic.”
“At the same time, however, we cannot discount the fact that these graduates are the products of the K-12 system and are two years older than previous UP students: they may be more prepared because of K-12 and are more mature,” Cubillan said.
The K–12 educational system—one year of Kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school education, and two years of senior high school education—became effective on April 24, 2012; the K–12 also included a new curriculum for all schools nationwide.
Cubillan added that the recent implementation of more student support services and efforts may have also played a part in this increase of Latin honor graduates.
Cubillan noted that they are nevertheless already seeing a trend of some course grades across the constituent units of the UP System bouncing back from this trend since two academic years ago.
In response to concerns regarding the recent surge, Cubillan said that a proposal was introduced to refine the criteria for Latin honors by incorporating percentile-based thresholds—similar to the approach taken by other universities.
A percentile-based grading system in college compares a student’s performance to the rest of the class, rather than using a fixed percentage or point scale. It essentially “curves” grades, meaning a certain percentage of students will fall into each grade category, regardless of the overall class average
A Technical Working Group (TWG) was established to study the potential impact of this approach. The TWG deferred its decision on this proposal and instead suggested awaiting data from AYs 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.
Most of the students who will graduate in these academic years commenced their studies in AY 2022-2023 without pandemic-related grading adjustments and are products of the K-12 system. Their dataset can provide valuable and more accurate insights into the impact of this proposal.
“UP continues to affirm its deep commitment to its mandate of providing Filipinos with quality education that embodies not only the highest standards of honor and excellence, but also genuine service to the people,” Cubillan said.
Ikebana International Davao Chapter 133 recently held an Ikebana Sogetsu workshop for individuals who are curious about the art form and for its members. Held at the Siamesa Hall of Hotel Tropica, the three-day workshop introduced Davawenyos to the ancient Japanese art of floral arrangement and the many nuances and techniques to achieve a balance of beauty.“We normally hold Ikebana workshops at least once or twice a year to recruit new members, and also for our regular members to learn new Ikebana techniques and ideas. This was paused for the past five years because of the pandemic,” said Ikebana International Davao Chapter 133 president Leticia Averon. “After an absence of more than five years, we are glad to welcome back certified Ikebana Sogetsu teachers Evangeline Cheng and Margot Perez who are more than enthusiastic when it comes to sharing their knowledge.”
In her opening remarks, Margot Perez shared her love for the art form that cherishes the use of organic materials such as branches, leaves, grasses and flowers to craft stunning compositions reflecting nature and human expression.
“If you come to my house, I don’t have a big garden, so instead of the usual flowers, my arrangements are all made up of leaves,” Margot shared. “Sogetsu is more free-form than the other schools of Ikebana, and you can really have fun with your arrangements. I have been teaching Ikebana for the past 35 years because I like it, and we should all like what you do.”
Founded by Doña Carmen Marfori Soriano to highlight Davao City’s flower industry, Ikebana International Davao Chapter 133 has deep roots going back over 55 years and is one of the oldest Ikebana groups in the Philippines, with some active members coming from three family generations.
More than just a gathering of hobbyists, Ikebana International Davao Chapter 133 is a source of fascination and joy among its members. “Our monthly meetings allow us to share insights with each other and learn techniques and tricks to achieve the arrangements we have pictured in our minds,” beamed past president Mel Valle. “We also have annual exhibits where our members can really shine and share their creations for the community to enjoy.”
A growing number of Filipino-Americans are turning to creative storytelling to rediscover their heritage—and one initiative is capturing hearts through animation.Filmmaker Joel Nathan “Bani” Logroño recently appeared on The Chairman’s Report, hosted by Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II, to share the story behind The Filipino Story—a nonprofit series aiming to reconnect the diaspora with Filipino culture and identity.
Described by Logroño as “a friend telling you what being Filipino is,” the animated project offers a fresh, relatable way for overseas Filipinos and their children to engage with their roots—without relying on dense academic language.
The initiative began during the pandemic as an offshoot of The Filipino School in San Diego, which had provided cultural and language classes for Fil-Am families. When the school was forced to close, founder Tony Olaes sought to keep its mission alive—drawing inspiration from The Bible Project to launch a digital series rooted in historical storytelling.
Produced by a team of 10 creatives—comprising animators, composers, and historians—the series brings to life key episodes from Philippine history, including a tribute to World War II’s Hunters ROTC guerrillas. Logroño noted that these stories revealed the deeper spirit of heroism—or bayani—embedded in Filipino identity.
“Bayani is someone who fights for others by serving others… not necessarily through fighting an enemy, but through serving the people that they love, expecting nothing in return,” he said, drawing a powerful parallel with overseas Filipino workers. “That’s why we call them the modern bayani.”
The CFO echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of cultural preparedness among Filipinos leaving the country. “We try to do our due diligence to ensure that people are not just prepared economically, but also socially and culturally,” said Ang, reinforcing the agency’s support for platforms like The Filipino Story.
The animated series tackles historical figures such as Jose Rizal and Jose Abad Santos, while also exploring universal themes of identity, migration, and belonging. Logroño’s call to Filipinos—both abroad and at home—is simple yet moving: “Rediscover what it means to be Filipino.”
Future plans include releasing the final episodes of the six-part series and expanding into more stories from the global Filipino community. “We’re going to continue producing more videos and interviews from the diaspora,” Logroño said.
The CFO, for its part, continues to push digital cultural outreach through projects like Virtual Sentro Rizal, an online portal for Filipino literature, art, and heritage content—part of the broader Bagong Pilipinas agenda to nurture globally connected Filipinos grounded in shared values.
