HEADLINES

Sa gitna ng pagtalakay ng 2026 budget ng Office of the Vice President (OVP), nagkaroon ng palitan ng salita sa pagitan ng mga mambabatas matapos ang mga tanong ni ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio kay Vice President Sara Duterte hinggil sa update sa notice of disallowance na hinihingi ng Commission on Audit (COA) at kung magkano ang ginastos ng OVP sa mga naging biyahe ni VP Sara sa ibang bansa.

Sa huling tanong ni Tinio, humirit pa ito ng follow-up question ngunit hindi na ito pinayagan ni Committee Vice Chairperson Jose Alvarez dahil sa limang minuto lamang ang nakatakdang oras para sa interpelasyon ng bawat kongresista.

Para kay SAGIP Partylist Rep. Henry Marcoletta, hindi dapat binabanatan ang Bise Presidente sa gitna ng budget deliberation ng OVP. Sinegundahan din ni Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab ang pahayag ni Marcoletta. Ngunit giit ni Tinio, wala silang binabanatan at pawang legal na pagtatanong lamang ang kanilang ginagawa.

Agad ring na-terminate ang budget deliberation ng OVP matapos magbalik ang sesyon ng komite.

Para kay VP Sara, malinaw na binabanatan siya ng ilang miyembro ng minorya sa Kamara sa deliberasyon ng OVP budget. Nilinaw din niya kung bakit siya lang ang dumalo sa budget hearing, at sinabi na na-trauma ang ilan sa kaniyang mga tauhan habang ang iba naman ay hindi maganda ang pakiramdam.

Kung ang iba ay nais na matyempuhan ang pagdaan ng Google Street View car para makuhanan sila ng camera nito, ibahin niyo ang lalaking ito sa argentina na namataan sa google street view nang nakahubad. Dahil sa labis na kahihiyan, inireklamo nito ang Google.

Kung sino nga ba talaga ang may kasalanan sa pagitan ng dalawang panig, eto.

Naninirahan sa maliit na bayan sa Argentina ang isang hindi pinangalanang lalaki at nasaktuhan pa na nasa labas ito ng kaniyang bahay nang dumaan sa kanilang lugar ang Google Street View car.

Sa halip na ma-excite para sa isang possible exposure, nagresulta ito sa matinding kahihiyan sa lalaki dahil nakuhanan ito ng camera ng sasakyan na nakahubad sa kaniyang bakuran.

Matapos ang hindi inaasahang exposure ng lalaki at ng kaniyang puwitan, naging tampulan ito ng katatawanan, hindi lang sa kanilang lugar kundi pati na rin hanggang sa kaniyang trabaho. Ang lalaki, isa pa man ding pulis.

Dahil dito ay nagsampa ng reklamo ang lalaki laban sa Google sa kadahilanang na-violate nito ang kaniyang privacy, lalo na at malinaw sa litrato ang address ng kaniyang bahay.

Pagdating sa lower court, na-dismiss ang kaso at kinwestyon ang paglalakad ng lalaki nang nakahubad sa kaniyang bakuran. Pero ayon sa korte, tila nanghimasok ang Google sa private property ng lalaki at nagdulot ng labis na kahihiyan dito.

Nabsaura ang argumento ng Google na mababa umano ang gate ng bahay ng lalaki dahil nadiskubre na umaabot talaga ito ng 6 feet.

Samantala, matapos nito ay pinagbayad ang Google Argentina at Google Inc. ng 16 million pesos na danyos sa kahihiyang natanggap ng lalaki.

Ikaw, sino ba sa palagay mo ang may kasalanan sa kasong ito?

Future changemakers. The SM Foundation welcomed 900 new SM Scholars in a ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on July 20, 2025. (seated SM Foundation Vice President for Education Programs Scholarship Ling Lansang, Shereen Sy, SM Engineering Design & Development Corp. (SMEDD) President Hans “Chico” Sy Jr., SM Investments Executive Director Harley Sy, SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy, Matthew Sy, Mara Coson, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Programs Carmen Linda Atayde, and SM Foundation Trustee Engr. Ramon Gil Macapagal)

SM Foundation, the social good arm of the SM Group, awarded 900 new college scholarships during a ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on July 20, 2025.

The scholarship provides full tuition coverage, monthly allowances, and access to various activities and opportunities designed to support academic and professional development. These include assemblies, part-time work during school breaks, on-the-job training, and employment opportunities within the SM Group after graduation.

During the ceremony, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Programs Carmen Linda Atayde told the scholars that the scholarship is a recognition and a response to the efforts they have already poured in.

“Apart from support, the scholarship is also a vote of confidence in your ability, your direction, and your grit. Because you’ve already shown us that you believe in your future. Now, so do we,” Atayde said.

The Scholarship Program, established in 1993 by SM Group Founder Henry Sy Sr., aims to make education accessible and to support the development of future professionals through structured support and long-term opportunities, enabling scholars to uplift their families and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Since its inception, the program has supported over 6,000 scholars across the country.

Passing wisdom to the next generation of SM Scholars. SM Retail SVP for HR Leny Hernandez

SM Scholar Alumna and SM Investments (SMIC) AVP-IT Jennilyn Mendoza, SMIC Executive Director Harley Sy, SMEDD President Hans “Chico” Sy Jr. leads a panel discussion, answering questions from the SM Scholars.

Maricel (center), a former barangay health worker with no prior farming experience, always dreamed of starting her own business. Through the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farming Program, she turned that dream into reality. She is now thriving as a business owner, actively selling her harvests at the Weekend Market of SM City Urdaneta.

For years, many Filipino farmers have been unable to break the cycle of debt and dependency that often accompanies farming. But through SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Farming Program, the beneficiaries are now finding ways to generate a reliable income from agriculture.

Among those whose lives have changed is Connie Flores, a mother of six and a 2023 graduate of the KSK’s urban gardening program. Although she had no formal background in agriculture, Connie adapted to the lifestyle of her husband’s family, who primarily grew vegetables for their own use.

“Mahirap po ang magsaka. Dahil wala po kaming puhunan noon, lagi kaming umuutang. Kaya kapag umani,  ipangbabayad lang po ulit namin,” she recalled.

After joining the KSK program, she realized that vegetable farming could be a viable livelihood. She began practicing integrated farming, growing vegetables in their backyard and beside the family’s rice fields, maximizing land use and generating additional income. With guidance from KSK, she learned to grow high-value crops such as sponge gourd (patola), okra, and string beans, which are Filipino household staples and command reasonable prices.

“Kung hindi dahil sa KSK, hindi ko matututunang magtanim at magbenta ng iba’t ibang gulay. Dito ko napatunayan na kaya ko palang kumita at tumayo sa sarili kong paa. Pinalitan ko na ang dating mentalidad na pangkaraniwang housewife lang ako, may kakayahan din akong kumita para sa pamilya,” Connie shared. KSK also aims to equip farmers like Connie with market access. After completing the training, graduates are given the opportunity to join the SM Weekend Market, where they can sell their harvest directly to consumers.

Connie Flores (left) and Imelda Lagmay (right) from Pangasinan have created an additional revenue stream for their families after graduating from SM Foundation’s KSK Farming Program in 2023. Apart from their backyard garden, they have also turned portions of their rice fields into profitable vegetable gardens.

For Maricel Badua, KSK turned her life around. A mother of four and former barangay health worker, with no prior farming experience, Maricel joined the program in 2023.

“Marami na po akong natutunan na ina-apply ko na po ngayon sa aking araw-araw na pamumuhay,” she said. From a small backyard garden, she was able to harvest enough produce to begin selling at SM City Urdaneta Weekend Market, similar to Connie.

“Binigyan po kami ng SM ng pagkakataon na magtinda sa harapan mismo ng SM City Urdaneta. Ang laki ng naitulong sa aking buhay at sa aking pamilya,” she said. “Sa unang sabak ko po sa pagtitinda doon, hindi ko po akalain na ganoon karami ang bibili–na mababawi ko po ang puhunan ko at magkakaroon din po ng tubo,” she said.

Maricel sells her homegrown vegetables at the SM Weekend Market, where demand is so high that her products always sell out. Seeing this as an opportunity, she now also purchases harvests from her fellow KSK Urban Gardening graduates, creating a thriving network that benefits the entire community by providing them with a reliable market for their produce.

Applying her KSK knowledge of careful budgeting and reinvesting earnings, Maricel increased her income. From a combined household income of P4,000 per month, she now earns around P15,000 every weekend. She and her husband, a tricycle driver, now run the stall together.

“Matagal ko na rin pong pangarap maging negosyante. Sa tulong ng SM Foundation, ito po ay natupad,” she smiled.

Now that she is able to finance her children’s education, she can enjoy simple joys with her family, such as occasionally dining out.

“Mas natututukan ko na po ‘yung pamilya ko. Nabibili ko na po ‘yung mga gusto kong bilhin para sa mga anak ko. May naitatabi na rin po ako. Nakakakain na po kami sa labas, noon hindi po. Dati, hindi po ako nakakabayad sa school, ngayon nakakabayad na ako. Nakakabili na rin po ako ng bigas bigas, hindi ko na ito inuutang,” she said, wiping away tears.

Now, Maricel is working toward bigger goals. She dreams of opening another stall in a new location and, ultimately, own a house and lot: “Ngayon, hindi na po imposible ang mga pangarap ko, unti-unti ko na po silang natutupad.”

As more KSK graduates like Connie and Maricel continue to turn agriculture into a viable livelihood, the SM Foundation advances Henry Sy, Sr.’s vision that farming can empower lives.