Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The AFP Cavaliers officially punched their ticket to the UNTV Cup Season 12 semifinals after grinding out a 62–55 victory over the Judiciary Magis on August 16, 2026, at the Paco Arena in Manila. 

In a high-stakes quarterfinal battle defined by physical defense and tactical execution, the armed forces squad held their composure down the stretch to eliminate their rivals and keep their championship pursuit alive.

Playing-assistant coach Eugene Tan orchestrated the win for the Cavaliers, earning Best Player of the Game honors with an all-around performance of 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. 

Tan’s steady hand on the floor proved vital during key possessions, providing defensive stability and offensive direction whenever the Magis attempted to mount a late-game rally.

Attributing the victory to disciplined execution and team cohesion, Tan emphasized sticking to the game plan under pressure. 

"Focus lang sa laro, enjoy the game, and makinig sa instructions ng coach—napaka-importante kasi nung mga detalye lalo na sa depensa tsaka tulong-tulong kami," Tan stated post-game, praising the entire unit's effort in weathering the intense contest.

With the quarterfinal hurdle cleared, the AFP Cavaliers turn their focus toward the semifinal round as they look to build on their momentum and capture another UNTV Cup title. 

The defeat ends the campaign for the Judiciary Magis, while AFP moves one step closer to the grand finals of the league dedicated to public servants and charity.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate of the Philippines pushed for major reforms on August 12 to protect public welfare and strengthen democracy. Lawmakers moved forward with Senate Bill No. 1511 to stop hospitals from holding patients who cannot pay their bills. 

They also debated Senate Bill No. 2090 to reform the party-list system, while marking National Youth Day by focusing on the future of the nation's 31.6 million young citizens.

Senators focused heavily on expanding the country's feeding program through Senate Bill No. 2272. Sen. Bam Aquino defended the bill and promised to secure funding for learners with special needs. 

"Isa po sa nais naming tutukan, ’yong pagpondo ng SPED," Aquino said, stressing that leaders must give enough financial support to children with disabilities and their families.

Adding to the nutrition debate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urged the government to buy food directly from local farmers and fisherfolk to supply the school meals. Pangilinan explained that guaranteed sales would give farmers the confidence to grow more food without fear. 

"Their fear, in many cases, is that they may plant but no one will buy. With guaranteed local procurement, they can invest and produce without that uncertainty," Pangilinan said.

Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva highlighted the economic struggles facing young workers, including falling employment rates. He called on the government to create better job opportunities and guide the next generation. 

"Ang kinabukasan po ng ating bayan ay nakasalalay sa kung paano natin pinahahalagahan, ginagabayan, at binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating kabataan ngayon. And so, on this National Youth Day, let us send a clear message to every young Filipino: Nakikita namin kayo. Naririnig namin kayo. Naniniwala kami sa kakayahan ninyong magtagumpay sa buhay," he said.

Lastly, Senate President Win Gatchalian raised concerns about weak political parties during debates on the proposed Party-List Reform Act. 

He warned that political groups in the country still rely too much on famous personalities rather than clear ideas. 

"In short, hindi pa tayo umaabot sa ideal political party system," SP Gatchalian said, cautioning that giving weak parties more power could pose democratic risks.

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Filipino families and businesses may soon get relief from skyrocketing electricity bills as the Senate Committee on Energy gathered government agencies, industry leaders, and consumer advocacy groups to address unfair power fees on August 13. 

The panel focused on fixing gaps in outdated energy rules and reducing system loss charges to make power prices fairer across the country.

The committee wants to lower monthly bills while keeping the energy sector stable and running. 

System loss charges refer to electricity lost during transmission, through technical failures, or via power theft. 

Current policies allow companies to pass these extra costs directly to everyday consumers, causing monthly electric bills to jump significantly.

Presiding over the hearing, Sen. Erwin Tulfo pushed hard for quick policy reforms to safeguard consumers from high rates. 

He noted that members of the Senate share the belief that electricity “has become too heavy a burden for many Filipino families and businesses.” 

His statement highlighted the urgent need to update industry regulations that currently leave customers paying for wasted power.

While Tulfo recognized the technical limits of electricity delivery, he insisted that the financial weight must shift away from the public. 

“It is not that easy to do away with system loss… We understand that some degree of system loss are inherent to the delivery of electricity… But the fact that the loss occurs does not automatically mean the consumers should pay it,” Tulfo said. 

The committee will continue working on new legislation to shield households from unreasonable charges.

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PASAY CITY—The Philippine Senate officially received the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 on August 12. Senate President Win Gatchalian and Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon led the turnover ceremony at the Senate. 

Top Senate leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Finance Committee Chair JV Ejercito, attended the event to mark the start of the budget review.

This record budget is six percent higher than the previous year's funds and makes up nearly 22 percent of the country's total economic output. 

Government officials plan to direct most of the money into key public programs. 

The top focus areas include better public schools, stronger healthcare, food security, direct help for poor families, and new infrastructure projects to boost the economy.

Senate leaders promised to check every detail of the proposed spending plan to avoid waste. Public hearings will officially begin on August 27 at the Philippine International Convention Center. 

Lawmakers aim to finish their review on time so the government can fund its major projects without delay.

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PASAY CITY—Senators strongly defended their power to change the national budget during their session on August 12. The lawmakers reacted to claims by former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan that senators received individual infrastructure allocations. 

Upper chamber members insisted that adding funds to agency projects is legal, transparent, and built directly into their constitutional duties.

Senate President Win Gatchalian stated that these budget changes reflect real needs from local governments and public offices. 

He emphasized that lawmakers work openly by posting support documents, agency requests, and complete lists online for everyone to see. 

SP Gatchalian said that "it is part of their job to ensure these needs are addressed transparently" and noted that the Senate will keep uploading all amendments to its website for public viewing.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri clarified that he never handled any project lists during his time as Senate President. However, he stressed that funding key local infrastructure projects is clean and lawful when done without personal gain. 

Zubiri said, “That is part of our responsibility as legislators: to help bring much-needed development to communities that have long been left behind.”

Meanwhile, Senator Pia Cayetano thanked Zubiri for speaking out and defended the Senate's authority to support urgent local projects. She stressed that lawmakers strictly follow the law while helping communities get essential government funding. 

Cayetano said, “We have zero tolerance for evil and corruption. We are just doing our jobs.”

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