The playoff stats already tell a narrative of what makes the matchup of playmakers Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC and Haliburton of Indiana quite interesting. 

Shai is not just a scoring point guard, he is THE scoring point guard, having been hailed as the 2025 NBA Scoring Champion after averaging 32.7 points in the regular season, and bagging the highly coveted 2025 Kia NBA MVP award. His postseason performance: 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 16 games. He is also the scoring leader in the postseason in a minimum of six games played. 

Tyrese, the current assist leader in the playoffs, is averaging 18.8 points, 9.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 16 games this postseason. He is a pass-first point guard—quite a rarity these days due to the abundance of scoring PGs like Steph Curry, Luka Dončić, Jalen Brunson, Ja Morant, and, of course, Gilgeous-Alexander. 

Although one’s a bucket maniac and the other’s a pass-first guard, Shai and Tyrese are the key pieces in their respective squads’ offense. 

Haliburton is the main orchestrator of the Pacers’ relentless offense with his ability to quickly find open passing lanes and wide-open teammates but also taking advantage of the space for himself with his scoring prowess. With him at the helm, the Pacers are second in offensive rating this postseason with 118.1, only behind the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers which they eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-1.

As for 26-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander, he simply leads the Thunder’s offence by being the humongous scoring threat that he is. What sets SGA apart from average guards in the current NBA is his willingness to drive into the lane and get a 2. He is league leader in drives per game by a huge margin with 20.6, followed by Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, 17.8. 

But how is this driving game by SGA leading the Thunder’s offense? Simple. The Canadian star has a lot of variations in his bag when it comes to piercing the lane. There is the quick bucket at the paint with his impressive first step, his mid-range pullup shots, his quick dip inside followed by a step-back three, and the kickout pass to an open teammate as defenders are sucked by his offensive gravity. 

Another salient factor in Shai’s driving game is his infamous ability to get into the foul line. This postseason alone, the MVP has averaged 7.9 points per game with his free throws—much to the frustration of the defenders. 

As for their on-court matchup, it appears that the two star guards won’t be guarding each other. In their two games this season, Andrew Nembhard got the SGA assignment while it was All-Defensive First Team Luguentz Dort who was tasked to guard Haliburton. 

Clash of chaotic systems

Another exciting matchup to look out for in this series would be the clash of the Pacers’ offense and the Thunders’ defense. Indiana is one of the top offensive teams in the league while Oklahoma City leads in the defensive rating department in both the regular season and playoffs. 

In his podcast “Mind the Game,” Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James called the Pacers offense “controlled constant chaos.” The Pacers have built an offense system that takes full advantage of chaos and confusion on the court, courtesy of their constant off-ball movements and maneuvers which leaves the defense second-guessing their role. 

Due to the constant chaos and confusion on the side of their defenders, most of the Pacers’ job revolves around getting the ball to that wide-open person—which they consistently did. Indiana is leading the postseason in most assists by a team with 449, and in three-point percentage at 40.1%, way ahead of the other teams (the Milwaukee Bucks were second with 37.9%). 

As for the top team in the West, Oklahoma City’s defense has been a nightmare for all the teams who had the displeasure of experiencing it firsthand. After being eliminated by the Thunders in the West Conference Finals, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards described OKC’s defense as “15 puppets in one string.” This means that every person on that monster roster is playing in a cohesive and connected manner that it barely even makes a difference when substitutions take place. 

The Thunders capitalize on their individual defensive players who are more than capable in forcing turnovers. In their starting five lineup, they have an NBA All-Defensive first team in Lu Dort and a second team awardee in Jaylen Williams. Then there’s the standout defensive bench players in Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace who are more than ready to keep the defensive pressure on the second unit. 

Oklahoma City’s ability to force turnovers put them at the top of the league in steals in both regular season and postseason with 10.3 and 10.8 SPG respectively. What makes these stats scarier for such a team as OKC is their ability to effectively convert steals into transition buckets. The Thunder have scored 235 points on their 172 possessions following a steal, which comes to a rate of 136.6 points per 100 possessions—by far the best in the league. 

Looking at the two play styles of each team, a key area to focus on in the finals is the Pacers’ ability to keep the ball in their hands and not turn it over to the Thunder’s defensive swarm. Indiana cannot execute their chaotic offense if they are not able to move the ball well around the court, something that Oklahoma City will definitely be working on. 

As for the Thunder defense, as long as they keep on executing their defensive system the same way they’ve been doing all season long and working as one unit, they are by far the favorites to take home the title. 

The first game of the much-awaited NBA Finals takes place on June 6, Friday, 8:30 a.m. (8:30 p.m. in Manila) with the Pacers taking on the Thunder on their homecourt at Paycom Center.

The post Pacers vs Thunder: a matchup of contrasting point guards, clashing play styles appeared first on CoverStory.

It emerged amid growing criticism of Senate President Francis Escudero’s announced deferment of the reading of the articles from June 2 to June 11 so that, he said, the approval of 12 pending bills would be prioritized before Congress adjourns sine die on June 14.

Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson told dzMM on Wednesday that he himself had received a copy of the resolution from a Senate “insider.” He predicted that it could be questioned in the high court if approved in plenary.

“It is making the rounds in the Senate so that if it gets enough signatures, it can be debated upon and possibly adopted if it has the support of the majority,’’ Lacson said. “If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the petitioner, it can compel the Senate to continue with the impeachment trial.’’

Like any other resolution, Dela Rosa’s resolution has to go through the legislative mill, Lacson explained. First, it has to be authored by at least one senator to be referred to a committee. In turn, the committee will report it out after it is approved by a majority of the members for final adoption in plenary.

Lacson has yet to respond to CoverStory.ph’s request for an interview at this writing.

Future senator-judge

According to Colmenares, what makes the resolution “more absurd” is the fact that Dela Rosa, a future senator-judge, initiated it even before the Vice President moves to dismiss the complaint in the yet to be convened impeachment court.

“The senator-judge himself is making the motion to dismiss,” Colmenares said.

The human rights lawyer also said Dela Rosa was indicting the Senate itself when he claimed that the chamber had not acted on the articles of impeachment since Feb. 5 when these were transmitted by the House.

“Sara’s rights were violated? Tell that to a poor guy who has been in jail for five years,” Colmenares said. “What about the rights of the complainants?”

Colmenares also wondered why Dela Rosa was opposed to the impeachment trial when Duterte herself had declared agreement with the view of an overwhelming majority of Filipinos that she should address the charges and clear her name.

“The complainants and the respondent want it, but the senator who is supposed to be a judge is opposed to it. How absurd is that?” Colmenares said.

He expressed hope that the Senate would convene into an impeachment court this week, send the summons to the Vice President, and conduct the trial every day, morning to afternoon, from June 16 to June 30, when the 19th Congress ends.
He said wrapping up the trial by the end of the month is doable if the impeachment court focuses only on Duterte’s alleged misuse of more than P612 million in confidential funds.

“The evidence for the P612 million is already authenticated and can be submitted in three days,” Colmenares said, noting that the documents from the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management are readily available. “This is an open-and-shut case that can be resolved easily before June 30.”

Colmenares had earlier said Duterte may be convicted for her unexplained 11-day spending of P125 million of the secret funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President in December 2022 alone. That amount is twice the minimum threshold of P50 million for the crime of plunder.

Duterte is accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust for, among others, her alleged misuse of more than P612 million in confidential funds and for her alleged threat to assassinate President Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Forum for truth-telling

In an open letter, faculty members of the University of the Philippines College of Law expressed concerns over moves to “preemptively dismiss” the impeachment case.

“We do so because we wish to see the evidence, hear the Vice President’s defense, and, with our fellow Filipinos, judge for ourselves her fitness to continue in public service,” the signatories said.

“In these difficult moments, the people look to their Senate to be the forum for the country’s most important truth-telling procedure because of its seniority, independence and reputation for statesmanship,” they said, adding that a dismissal without a hearing will “permanently alter our system of checks and balances” and “undermine the people’s trust in the Senate as an independent and impartial institution.”

Among the signatories are Paolo Tamase, Raul Pangalangan, Dante Gatmaytan, Theodore Te, Antonio La Viña, and Jay Batongbacal.

Read more: If Escudero does not convene the Senate into an impeachment court, the high court can make him–Drilon

The post Bato’s draft resolution seeking junking of impeachment case is ‘unconstitutional, absurd, ridiculous’ appeared first on CoverStory.

Alston “Sanji” Pabico bagged the Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player) award, leading the Cavalry in crucial wins with his Luo Yi and Selena for their second title in three seasons. His team took the MPL PH Season 13 crown over Falcons AP.Bren.

MPL PH, or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines, is the official professional mobile games competition in the country held by the game company Moonton. It is among the most-watched MLBB esports events worldwide. (See sidebar on how the game is played.)

Season 15 offered a prize stake of $150,000 (₱8.3 million) with the champion bringing home $46,560 (₱2.6 million) and the runner-up, $30,660 (₱1.7 million). As finalists, Team Liquid and ONIC also become the official representative of the Philippines to the Mid Season Cup (MSC) in the Esports World Cup 2025 scheduled in July in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Eight franchise teams battled for the Immortal Cup: Team Liquid, ONIC, Team Falcons PH, Aurora Gaming, TNC Pro Team, Twisted Minds, Omega Esports, and AP.Bren. Per tournament rules, the top six teams advanced to the playoffs after a double round-robin format for the regular season. 

The playoffs used a hybrid elimination format in which the third to sixth seeded teams compete in a single elimination while the first and second seeded teams receive a round bye and clash in a double elimination. All matches are in a best-of-five series, except for the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final, which are in a best-of-seven series. 

Cavalry’s Revenge

After their insane reverse-sweep win over Team Falcons on Day 2 of the playoffs to advance to the upper bracket finals, Team Liquid was a win away from securing the first grand finals spot. ONIC, however, stopped Team Liquid’s stampede with a 3-0 sweep to send the stallions down to the loser’s bracket to face Team Falcons again. 

Eager for revenge, Team Liquid bested Team Falcons, 4-2, to book a grudge match against the ONIC Super Fam in the grand finals.

Looking like a different team already, the Cavalry finally hit their stride against the reigning champs as they sealed the grand finals opener win in 23 minutes, courtesy of Jaypee “Jaypee” Dela Cruz’s Mathilda tallying 2 kills, 12 assists, and zero deaths.

The Mathilda proved to be the perfect pick for TLPH as it denied the threat of Jann “Kirk” Gutierrez’s Gloo while also enabling Kiel “Oheb” Soriano’s Granger who erupted with 8 kills, 3 assists, and 2 deaths.

Riding high on their opener win, TLPH looked unstoppable in the early game of Game 2—securing all three Turtles while maintaining a comfortable 3K gold lead.

As Team Liquid took the first Lord of the game, ONIC PH then punished the Cavalry for overstaying their welcome in the pit as King Cyric “K1NGKONG” Perez performed a masterful maneuver towards the enemy backline for a Triple Kill with his signature Ling. Now taking hold of both the turret and gold lead, the Super Fam outplayed their opponents in the 22nd minute Lord fight for a 4-0 trade and the map win, 1-1.

In Game 3, Team Liquid again took the early gold. After a successful Lord take on the 16th minute, they were on pace to widen the gold and turret lead margin, but a couple of misplays from Jaypee’s Chip allowed ONIC to punch back, 1-2. 

Chef steps up to the plate

Looking to equalize the series, Alston “Sanji” Pabico took matters into his own hands with a surgical Selena performance in Game 4—dishing Abyssal Arrows left and right for the win and the match MVP honors, 2-2. 

In the pivotal Game 5, Team Liquid dominated both the early and mid-game with 3 Turtles and 2 Lords while keeping a 4.5K lead well into the 14th minute, courtesy of a monster start from Oheb’s Granger with 9 kills and zero deaths. 

As the Lord continued to wreak havoc inside ONIC’s base, Kirk pulled off a massive 5-man Flicker-plus-Penalty Zone combo for a 3-0 trade plus momentum. With the stallions on the backfoot after ONIC secured the third Lord, a brilliant Diversion play from Sanji’s Luo Yi flipped what seemed to be a losing team fight at the top lane into a Hail Mary base push in the midlane for a championship point, 3-2. 

Their backs to the wall, the reigning world champs dominated Team Liquid in 14 minutes. Duane “Kelra” Pillas’ Granger scored 10 kills, 2 assists, and 2 deaths to even the series, 3-3.

In the deciding Game 7, Oheb picked up the Granger for himself, denying Kelra of his previous Hero who settled for the Harith pick. This proved to be to the detriment of ONIC’s hopes as Kelra struggled in the early game with 2 deaths and zero kills to his name. 

The Cavalry continued to stampede through the game. With three Lords to their belt and a rampaging Granger from the Filipino Sniper, Kelra’s massive blunder of going for a solo kill on Sanji’s Luo Yi led to the stallions trampling their throne and achieving immortality, 4-3. 

Sanji received the MPL PH Season 15 Finals MVP award and the Infinix My Greatest Teammate award for his crucial performances throughout the epic finale of a series.

With the MPL PH Season 15 out of the way, Team Liquid and ONIC are now set to compete in the July Esports World Cup 2025 MSC in Riyadh for a prize pool of $3 million.

SIDEBAR

How Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is played

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is a mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game between two teams with five players each battling to take the other team’s base tower. 

Each player can use a character called a “Hero” with unique skills and abilities. There are also six roles—Tank, Marksman, Assassin, Fighter, Mage, and Support—that determine the responsibilities of players for their teams. 

Taking down the enemy’s base is the main goal to win the game. There are three lanes in the game: gold (top), exp (bottom), and mid (middle). Between each lane is the jungle where different creeps and monsters give buffs, experience, and gold to those that kill them.

A player cannot attack the enemy base directly without first taking down its turrets in at least one lane. Each lane has three turrets that deal damage to heroes if they step within tower range. To destroy the turrets without taking damage, a player needs help from the team’s minions, which constantly spawn at the teams’ bases and travel along each lane. 

The teams can also choose to kill the neutral objective called Lord which, with the lethal blow, grants the group a huge advantage in destroying the turrets during its march down the lane.

The post Team Liquid PH, ONIC PH to play in World Esports Cup tournament in Riyadh appeared first on CoverStory.

Escudero’s postponement of the June 2 presentation of the articles of impeachment to June 11 has triggered speculation that the Senate would scuttle Duterte’s impeachment trial altogether.

“That can’t be discounted,” Drilon told CoverStory.ph in a phone interview.

“But the Supreme Court can exercise its jurisdiction to correct abuse of discretion,” he said. “It can order the Senate President to convene [the Senate into an impeachment court] and proceed with the trial.”

A petition for certiorari “to correct abuse of discretion” may be filed at the high court, according to Drilon, himself a former Senate president and also a former justice secretary.

Escudero informed House Speaker Martin Romualdez of the postponement on May 29, when a Malacañang-Congress liaison body identified certain priority measures ostensibly to be passed before the lawmakers adjourn sine die on June 14.

The postponement drew more rebuke from lawmakers including Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who said in a statement: “These delays are no longer procedural. They are obstructions dressed up as protocol.”

“It’s my first time to see a ball being dribbled for four months. Even in basketball, there is such a thing called shot clock,” she said.

Hontiveros described the impeachment process as “a crucial means of demanding accountability exclusively entrusted by the people to the Senate.”

“I have no plans of turning my back on that,” she said. “It’s time to follow the rules and start the process ‘forthwith.’ Enough games. Time to move.”

‘Evasive definitions’

Outgoing Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. told CoverStory.ph on Tuesday that by dragging its feet on the trial, the Senate has been abetting “the erosion of democracy” in the country.

“They are expected to act [on the impeachment complaint] forthwith, but they are trying to come up with evasive definitions,” he said.

In a privilege speech at the House of Representatives on Monday night, Bordado slammed Escudero’s postponement of the presentation of the articles of impeachment by the chamber’s prosecutors. “Is this delay not, in effect, a compromise of our solemn duty as public servants sworn to uphold the Constitution?” he said.

Bordado, who was elected vice mayor of Naga City in the May 12 midterm polls, said he feared that the delay would lead to the scuttling of the trial in the face of legal arguments that the charges against Duterte may become moot if the Senate fails to act on these by the end of the 19th Congress on June 30.

“They are not just delaying it; they are doing away with the impeachment trial. That’s what I fear most,” he told CoverStory.ph.

Escudero has repeatedly said that senators in the 20th Congress—whose first regular session will open on July 28—will have the final say on whether the trial would proceed or not.

Bordado is among the 215 House members who impeached Duterte over allegations of bribery, corruption, and culpable violation of the Constitution in connection with the alleged misuse of some P612 million in confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which she headed from 2022 to 2024.

Collegial body

Drilon said the Senate, even with a new composition following the election of 12 senators in the midterm elections, can still try Duterte in the 20th Congress.

“The premise is that the senator-judges in the 19th Congress—or at least half of them—will no longer sit in the impeachment court in the 20th Congress. I don’t subscribe to that,” Drilon said.

He added: “An impeachment court is collegial in nature, like the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. In the Supreme Court, justices retire. It doesn’t mean that the new court with newly appointed justices is deprived of jurisdiction to decide on the cases pending at the time of retirement.

“It’s the same doctrine here. You don’t lose jurisdiction simply because by force of law there’s a change in membership. It’s a collegial body, and the collegial body continues. It’s the principal entity. Composition can change, but the court itself remains.”

In February, Drilon called on President Marcos Jr. to call a special session of Congress to allow the Senate to try Duterte and reach a decision before the midterm elections.

The President has distanced himself from the impeachment of Duterte, who was his close ally until their UniTeam collapsed. His cousin, Speaker Romualdez, and his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, were the first signatories of the impeachment complaint.

Jurisdiction

On Monday, Sen. Francis Tolentino raised the issue of jurisdiction. He argued that the power to try Duterte is vested in the Senate in the 19th Congress and is not transferable to the Senate in the 20th Congress.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Hontiveros disagreed with him.

Pimentel pointed out that the 1987 Constitution does not prohibit the Senate from resuming an impeachment process begun in the previous Congress.

Hontiveros said the Supreme Court has made it clear that impeachment is a non-legislative function of the Senate. She cited the case of Chavez v. Judicial and Bar Council.

Likewise, she said, the high court ruled that non-legislative functions of the Senate are not affected by the shift from the 19th to the 20th Congress. She cited the cases of Pimentel Jr. v. Joint Committee of Congress.

“It is true that the 19th Congress cannot bind the 20th Congress—and all unfinished business will be terminated. But this is only true for any work done by us in the exercise of our legislative functions,” Hontiveros further said in response to Tolentino.

Drilon said that in the face of delays, the senator-judges have the primary responsibility to decide on the articles of impeachment, and the “burden to fulfill their constitutional duty.”

“Unfortunately, the remedy for [the non-fulfillment of such duty] is political,’’ he said, referring to the mass protests mounted against the senator-judges’ vote against the opening of a key piece of evidence at the trial of then impeached President Joseph Estrada in January 2001.

The protests—commonly referred to as “Edsa Dos”—led to Estrada’s resignation from the presidency.

Drilon declined to speculate if delays in the current proceedings would trigger street protests.

Bordado, for his part, expressed doubt that protests would materialize given Duterte’s high approval ratings in the surveys.

Asked how Escudero would redeem himself or the impeachment process, he said: “I can’t see the redemption. [The Senate] should have tackled the impeachment trial first.”

The Senate’s priorities

In his speech at the House on Monday night, Bordado questioned the sense of the Senate in prioritizing the passage of 12 measures over the “pursuit of justice and accountability.”

“Are we to tell the Filipino people that impeachable offenses committed by the second highest official of the land are less urgent than our legislative targets?” he said.

Bordado said he signed the articles of impeachment “with the full weight of my responsibility as assistant minority leader and as a representative of the people of Camarines Sur.”

“We cannot allow this delay to erode public trust. We cannot allow political expediency to blunt the sword of accountability. We must not forget that our allegiance is not to any political party or personality—it is to the people, to the Constitution, and to the truth,” he said, adding:

“As legislators, we are often measured not by what we pass, but by what we permit. If we permit delay in the face of alleged abuses of power, then we, too, become complicit in the erosion of our democracy.”

Read more: Vice President Sara Duterte is impeached

The post If Escudero does not convene the Senate into an impeachment court, the high court can make him–Drilon appeared first on CoverStory.

Despite these setbacks, total international arrivals reached 1.2 million in Q1 2025, reflecting a modest improvement from 1.16 million in the same period last year. This growth has been largely driven by travellers from Australia, Canada, and Singapore—markets that may hold the key to the Philippines’ tourism future.

These figures highlight the fragility of a model reliant on volume-driven tourism, especially from countries vulnerable to geopolitical and economic volatility. The trend should be a wake-up call to the Philippine tourism sector to shift toward attracting quality over quantity, or travellers who seek immersive experiences, stay longer, spend more, and tread lightly.

This suggested pivot aligns with the latest insights from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, which emphasizes that modern global travellers are prioritizing sustainability, personalization, cultural connection, and wellness. Destinations that embrace these values are seeing stronger and more resilient tourism growth. The Philippines, rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, is ideally positioned to benefit—but still underdelivers in infrastructure and accessibility.

Market voices

American retiree Bryan Hatchell, 54, speaks to this country’s unique appeal: “The Philippines has a special charm all of its own. Yes, Vietnam and Thailand are great, but the natural beauty of the islands in the Philippines has to be seen in person to be believed. However, it’s really the Filipino people and culture that make the country truly unique and beautiful.”

Hatchell notes the difficulty of travelling between islands. Still, his overall experience has been positive, especially with the special resident retiree’s visa (SRRV) that the Philippines offers. “Getting a retirement visa in most Asian countries can be very difficult, but in the Philippines [the process] is easier and much less expensive,” he says. “I applied for and received my lifetime SRRV in about two months. The Philippine Retirement Agency made the entire process simple and straightforward. If you’re considering retirement in Southeast Asia, then the Philippines is definitely a great choice.”

Younger tourists, too, are discovering the country’s raw appeal. Jasmine De Maid, a solo traveller from England, declares: “The Philippines is the most beautiful country I’ve been to. I love it; I will be back for sure.” 

On a seven-month backpacking trip across Asia, the 24-year-old chose to stay in the Philippines for an entire month, enticed by glowing recommendations from her aunt and the country’s famed snorkelling sites.

These testimonies—from the retirement and youth travel sectors—highlight the kind of travellers the Philippines should be targeting: those who explore deeper, stay longer, and travel with a sense of curiosity and purpose, but who also expect convenience, clarity, and comfort in return.

Unfortunately, that value proposition is still incomplete. International gateways remain limited. Reaching key destinations often requires multiple transfers—from international flights to domestic hops and ferry rides. This complexity, coupled with unexpected terminal and environmental fees, confusing pricing, and inconsistent standards, creates friction in what should be a seamless experience.

High-performing destinations 

Nevertheless, some destinations continue to thrive despite these challenges. Palawan—with its breathtaking seascapes in El Nido and Coron—remains a bucket-list destination for nature lovers. Cebu draws a wide spectrum of visitors because of its blend of heritage sites, diving spots, and urban amenities. Post-rehabilitation Boracay has reemerged as a cleaner, more organized beach escape, retaining the allure of its powdery white sand and vibrant nightlife. Siargao attracts eco-conscious adventurers with its surf culture and natural lagoons. And Bohol remains a favorite among heritage and nature seekers with its Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuaries, and riverside experiences.

These thriving destinations exemplify the country’s potential—but also expose the unevenness in access, service standards, and long-term planning.

The DOT under Secretary Christina Frasco has made notable strides in designating regional priority areas and coordinating with local government units. However, systemic issues remain. Clean, safe roadside facilities (or REST areas), well-maintained jetty ports, PWD-friendly and accredited transport systems, and user-friendly digital platforms must become the rule rather than the exception.

The Philippines must also move past the “cheap alternative” narrative. Competing on price with Thailand or Vietnam is a losing strategy. The country’s strength lies in its extraordinary natural beauty, warm hospitality, and vibrant living heritage, but these must be backed by quality infrastructure, professional training, and strong regulation.

The road ahead

The success of homegrown festivals constantly provides lessons. Sinulog, MassKara, and Dinagyang became international draws not by chance but through sustained investment and savvy promotion. A similar commitment to excellence can elevate entire regions; it can transform cultural authenticity and environmental stewardship into strong assets.

Tourism, after all, does not operate in isolation. It overlaps with transport policy, environmental conservation, digital innovation, public health, and peace and order. A whole-of-government approach is essential.

The path forward is clear: Target travellers who care about culture, conservation, and comfort. Build experiences that are memorable not just for their beauty but also for their ease and integrity. And invest in systems, not mere slogans. In the eyes of today’s traveller, the Philippines cannot just be fun. It must be functional, fulfilling, and—above all—worth the journey.

The post With Philippine tourism at a crossroads, it’s time to reset for resilience and relevance appeared first on CoverStory.

I almost lost mine to Covid-19. 

For two days I had fever approaching 40°C. After getting a routine swab test just because I wanted to get lab tests done at a nearby hospital, I tested positive for Covid. My parents reported my case to officials of our barangay, who decided that, so as not to endanger my senior folks, I had to be admitted to the Manila Covid-19 facility, a structure made up of shipping container vans converted into wards for patients.

That was in 2021. None of us in the family had been vaccinated yet. I, for one, was not part of any priority group, and the first batch of vaccines was just about to be administered in the Philippines. 

By then, my fever had subsided. As I packed my bag for a 2-week stay, as advised by the health officer, my feelings oscillated between psyching myself that it was just like any other trip I would take and wondering if it was the last time I would be packing my bag—or seeing my parents.

An ambulance arrived at my house. As I stepped inside, I found at least four other persons present. We sat side by side, as though in a school bus, as the ambulance zoomed onward to collect three other persons before we headed to the facility. 

Admission

When we got there, I could barely lift my bag. I needed help getting down from the ambulance and up the few steps into the facility. As I waited to get my X-ray done, as well as all the preliminaries required for admission, I had difficulty breathing. 

It was a new feeling, unlike having to catch my breath after intense aerobic exercise. I did everything I usually would when I needed to breathe in, but I did not feel air entering my lungs. 

Once admitted, I was assigned a bed in Ward 10 that was more than 10 meters away from the toilets. I found that I had to get up and start walking long before I actually needed to use the toilet because the time and effort required to lift myself from the bed and walk the distance were so great. I had to regulate my breathing to keep myself upright and moving forward. I thought: When was the last time I paid any attention to how I walked? It must have been when I was a child and learning to walk.

That night and many successive nights, I lay in bed, tears streaming down the sides of my face, and telling God that I was ready to go. I had the gall to tell the Creator that He could take me, just please make sure my parents were spared.

Since the pandemic started, I had formed the habit of attending daily Mass online. The Covid facility had a good wifi signal, so I was able to continue that habit. They also played the Divine Mercy Prayer every 3 p.m. on the TV sets that dotted the ward. 

Singing praises to Nature 

All around us, I could see the greenery of Luneta through big windows. From my bed, if I craned my head a certain way, I could see a statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz, one of my patron saints, standing under a huge tree. I had not known there was one there.

I spent much time during the first days just looking out the window as the colors changed at dawn, at the tree branches that swayed with the breeze, at the birds and dragonflies and butterflies that flew past, and as the sun sank low, signaling the end of each day—another day that I had survived.

I did not lose my sense of taste or smell, thank God. We had regular meals brought to us and sometimes, a friend would have food delivered for me. The package would undergo screening and disinfection before arriving at my bedside.

The doctors, nurses, and support staff at the facility were all very compassionate and helpful; they encouraged each of us to get healthy. 

Almost daily, there would be someone released from confinement. But there was one woman who stayed in bed in all the three days that she was there—and then she was gone. According to the murmurs, she was transferred to a hospital.

There were many senior patients in my ward. But once, there were a mother and her son, all of three years old. He even celebrated a birthday there. The nurses brought balloons, gave him a cake and a small gift. We all sang The Birthday Song.

Recovery and release

On the fifth day of my confinement, I could feel sure signs of recovery. I no longer had fever, I could breathe better, and I could walk around more easily. I resumed performing some basic yoga breathing and stretching techniques on my bed. Soon, I was able to move along to the daily Zumba classes they flashed onscreen.

Patients were informed of their release only the night before, after which they had to accomplish the paperwork.

I did not know when I would be cleared to go home. I prayed to St. Pio of Pietrelcina, to whom I started a devotion as the pandemic started, that I would be released on his feast day, but it did not happen. I thought my discharge might occur on the feast day of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, but I was still in the facility when it came around. 

But one fateful night, I received the paper that we were all awaiting. I filled out the form and discovered that I had recovered from pneumonia in my lower right lung.

I left the facility on the feast of the Archangels with a piece of paper stamped with a dry seal and issued by the City of Manila health services office. stating: “Certification: Covid-19 Survivor.

Since then, I have been pondering why I am still on this earth. I have tried to live life more simply and to do more good things. I try to live from day to day and to make sure that the people I meet will feel God’s love through me. I am not always successful: There are times when I am grumpy and impatient. But I try. Many times, I manage to make random strangers smile at my greeting.

I was certified as a “Laudato Si Animator” on the 10th anniversary of the Laudato Si encyclical issued by Pope Francis. It is an endeavor very close to my heart because I have always felt a close affinity with nature. I hope that through my volunteer activity of providing ecological education to children, I can contribute to caring for our common home in the places that I stay. 

My first activity was with 21 children, aged 7 to 13, from low-income families in Manila. My interaction with them in the course of an afternoon left me thinking that as long as they carry their strong concern, their malasakit, for the environment, there is hope for the world.

Read more: A poetic documentation of the Philippine Covid-19 experience

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The second iteration of “Streamlined: The Art of National Artist Arturo Luz” is curated by artist-critic Cid Reyes. A limited-edition monograph designed and laid out by Dopy Doplon and photography by Wig Tysmans accompany the exhibit.

In 1951, the writer and art critic Ricaredo Demetillo drew attention to Luz’s works, saying: “His forms are alive and distinguished; he understands abstraction and austerity, the sense of space and balance. He distorts with intuitive rightness and grace. In other words, he is a real artist.” 

Luz (1926–2021) was declared National Artist in 1997. He began exploring painting when he was 17, drawn to form’s simplicity and essential nature. His first work was a portrait of his mother, the renowned interior designer Rosario Dimayuga Luz. 

As a figurative painter, Luz was inspired by the Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo, who was known for spare and elongated forms. This influence led Luz to develop his own vocabulary of shapes using plastic lines. He also drew much from the Swiss artist Paul Klee, who famously described line as “taking a dot for a walk.” This inspiration culminated in Luz’s linear depictions of cyclists, musicians, and carnival performers including acrobats and jugglers, as well as still life featuring boxes, Oriental ceramics, jars, bowls and shells. 

By limiting his choice of subjects, Luz managed to delve into the elegance of visual simplicity, precision and spatial balance. He favored nontraditional materials such as burlap and laminated plywood, and at one point used broken tiles to create a mosaic for a church altar floor. 

Eventually, he transitioned to pure abstraction through collage, creating compositions without representational subjects, focusing on the planar qualities of form and surface and the visual tension that arises from a perfectly balanced composition. 

Luz traveled throughout Asia and India in the early 1980s. His experiences during this pilgrimage inspired many works featuring imaginary landscapes filled with temples, palaces, fortifications, and battlements—all transformed into linear symphonies of monochromatic tones accented by earthy colors: chrome yellow, dark mustard, cardinal red, burnt sienna, bronze and brown. 

The artist also demonstrated his administrative skills in the 1980s by managing his eponymous Luz Gallery, the Museum of Philippine Art, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Design Center of the Philippines. 

Of paramount significance is his transformation of the native artistic sensibility from festive and flamboyant to restrained and dispassionate. 

Luz’s “Streamlined II” runs until June 16.

For details, please check the website renaissanceartph.com, @renaissanceartph on Instagram, and Renaissance Art Gallery on Facebook.

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This milestone, Allianz said, underlines its dedication to equipping its agency force with advanced skills and insights to navigate the evolving financial landscape, while also supporting the broader Pinnacle 2030 strategy for sustainable growth and enhanced client engagement. 

Among the 200 agents and leaders are nine LifeChangers from Allianz PNB Life: Artemio Wapanio, Carla Joyce Garcia, Sharon Joy Ang, Dan Angelo Mamerto, Hayde Zamora, Maricris Comendador, Mariel Mendoza, John Michael Licas, and Alfredo Emmanuel Butalid. 

Allianz said the graduates of this first cohort demonstrated over 40% growth in productivity, and nearly 40% qualified for the Million-Dollar Round Table, a global standard of excellence in financial advisory. These accomplishments contributed to Allianz’s robust 9M 2024 agency performance, marked by a 19% increase in new business value and 8% growth in annualized premiums (ANP). 

Notably, Allianz said, ANP per active agent climbed by 11%, reflecting a strategic emphasis on developing a high-performing, client-focused agency network.

PEP was developed through extensive collaboration with leading industry practitioners, including Allianz’s top-performing agents and leaders across the Asia Pacific.  

Unlike conventional insurance training programs, PEP integrates academic rigor and practical application through:

• Blended learning delivery (combining theoretical case studies, action-based projects, and role-playing exercises).
• Focused skill modules (spanning customer psychology, leadership, communication, and entrepreneurial strategies.
• Real-world application (equipping participants to translate classroom learnings into tangible results, from client engagement to team leadership).

“Our vision at Allianz is to build a world-class agency force that delivers exceptional service and trusted financial solutions,” Allianz Asia Pacific CEO Anusha Thavarajah said, adding:

“PEP is a key pillar of our Pinnacle 2030 strategy, designed to elevate our agency force, enhance client engagement, and drive long-term growth. Through this program, we are not just transferring knowledge—we’re shaping the future of financial advisory by equipping our agents with the skills, tools, and mindset needed for sustainable success.”

Filipino LifeChanger Art Wapanio expressed gratitude for the experience: “I am deeply thankful to Allianz for giving me the opportunity to participate in PEP. Learning from a world-renowned business school broadened my perspective on both business and life. The opportunity to collaborate with passionate colleagues from different regional offices allowed us to exchange valuable ideas relevant to our work. I am eager to apply all the knowledge gained to helping my clients achieve their financial goals and move closer to realizing their life aspirations.”

Allianz said that in an environment of evolving customer expectations, PEP graduates emerge as highly skilled advisors and leaders committed to safeguarding their clients’ financial well-being. It said that by emphasizing lifelong learning, advanced financial planning expertise, and leadership development, it aims to raise the bar for quality advisory services in the region.

Insead said it is committed to its partnership with Allianz.

“At Insead, we believe in developing responsible leaders who can navigate complexity and drive meaningful impact,” said Sameer Hasija, dean of executive education and of Insead’s Asia campus. “Our collaboration with Allianz in the Pinnacle Excellence Program exemplifies this mission—combining world-class business education with real-world application to empower agents with the knowledge, skills, and strategic mindset needed to lead and create positive change in today’s financial landscape.” 

The 200 graduates are a mix of new agents, aspiring leaders, and experienced professionals, each benefiting from PEP’s structured, hands-on approach. 

Allianz said it will expand the program to allow more agents to: access innovative learning methods tailored to an ever-changing market; develop leadership capabilities that drive team performance and client trust; and contribute to sustainable growth in Asia’s dynamic financial services industry.

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It’s the same number as before the May 12 elections, based on PCIJ’s map, but the names are not always the same.

About 58 ruling clans retained control of provincial leadership, while eight defeated members of rival political clans. Four other governors-elect will replace sitting dynastic governors who either allied with them or did not field a family member to keep their post.

In one instance, a dynastic governor will replace a non-dynastic one. This is the case in Batangas where Vilma Santos-Recto will assume the post to be vacated by Hermilindo Mandanas who is sliding down as vice governor.

Despite the outcomes, the clans did not always win gubernatorial races with ease. A deeper study of the electoral contests revealed continuing resistance to dynastic rule, with some successes even if few.

Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Bulacan and Agusan del Sur remained the rare oases where dynasties do not rule the Capitol, even if clans prevail in the cities and the towns.

But four provinces shone in this year’s elections—Cebu, Catanduanes, Laguna, and Marinduque—where voters rejected the gubernatorial bid of ruling clans and chose candidates not known to be from dynasties.

4 provinces in the spotlight

Among non-dynast victors is political newcomer Pamela Baricuatro who pulled off an upset against incumbent Gov. Gwen Garcia. She believed her win was a sign that Cebuanos “have had enough” and “want change,” she said in an interview.

Baricuatro vowed to prioritize healthcare programs and do away with costly tourism programs started by Garcia.

The Garcias first captured Cebu’s Capitol in 1995 through Pablo Garcia. In 2004, Gwen succeeded her term-limited father and held the post until 2013. Before sitting again as governor in 2019, Gwen served two terms as Cebu’s third district representative.

A similar case transpired in Catanduanes where educator and independent candidate Patrick Azanza bested incumbent Vice Gov. Peter Cua, the brother of current Gov. Joseph Cua. In his campaign, Azanza pushed for better disaster preparedness and anti-corruption policies. He was also critical of the Cuas’ governance.

“We’re very happy na malaya na ang Catanduanes. Malaya na sa monopolyo, sa dinastiya, malaya na sa mga tios na pigkakaharap (We’re very happy that Catanduanes is finally free. Free from monopoly, from dynasties, free from suffering),” he said in an interview after his proclamation.

The win of former journalist and Sol Aragones as Laguna governor also held off an extension of the Hernandezes’ hold in the Capitol. She beat Rep. Ruth Hernandez, the wife of term-limited Gov. Ramil Hernandez.

In Marinduque, long-time politician Mel Go defeated Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco, the son of incumbent Gov. Presbitero Velasco. Both Go and Baricuatro ran under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban.

Former elections commissioner Luie Tito Guia and political science professor Julio Teehankee told PCIJ that some dynasties’ fall from power in this year’s elections could have been caused by a growing anti-dynasty sentiment among voters.

Returning, emerging dynasties

Rival dynasties took down ruling clans in at least eight provinces.

In Abra in northern Luzon, the Bersamin political clan returns to power. The brother of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was elected governor in a landslide victory that marked the clan’s political comeback after a nine-year absence.

Former governor Eustaquio “Takit” Bersamin defeated Bangued Vice Mayor Kiko Bernos in the gubernatorial race. Anne Bersamin, niece of Eustaquio, won as vice governor over Vice Gov. Joy Bernos. Anne is the daughter of Rep. Luis Bersamin who was slain in 2006.

The Bersamin dynasty had been dormant since 2016 when it last held power.

In Palawan, the Alvarezes are coming back to the provincial Capitol after Amy Alvarez, the daughter of Rep. Jose Alvarez, won as governor. She got more votes than incumbent Gov. Dennis Socrates.

In Maguindanao, there will be no Mangudadatu governor for the first time in 15 years.

In the first elections since the province was split in September 2022, a Mangudadatu husband-and-wife attempted—but failed—to win control of both Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

In Maguindanao del Norte, Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu was defeated by Tucao Mastura. Mastura belongs to another powerful political clan in the province. In Maguindanao del Sur, Ali Midtimbang also defeated Mariam Mangudadatu, who was appointed governor of Maguindanao del Sur after the split. The Midtimbangs are a known political family from Datu Anggal Midtimbang town.

The two new governors are allies of the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and were backed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Sure wins, double posts

For other dynasties, electoral success was easier. A total of six winning governors-elect ran unopposed. They only needed at least one vote to secure their seats.

Infighting between two factions of the same political clan also resulted in bitter campaigns but certain wins for the clans. This happened in La Union where Mario Eduardo Ortega beat his grandniece incumbent Gov. Raphaelle Ortega-David.

In Basilan, Rep. Mujiv Hataman edged out his nephew Board Member Jay Hataman Salliman by more than 3,000 votes. Hataman will serve his term with his brother and political rival, Gov. Jim Hataman Salliman, as vice governor. Salliman is Jay’s father.

The Hatamans’ case, however, is not unique to Basilan. About one in five governors-elect will have a relative join them in the Capitol as vice governor.

Electoral reform advocates have opposed political dynasties, arguing that when top local executive positions are captured, checks and balances are at risk of being eroded.

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, reform advocates see opportunities for change as two regional anti-dynasty laws are set to take effect—one later this year and another in 2028.

At the national level, at least two petitions have been filed with the Supreme Court to compel Congress to enact the political dynasty ban.

A number of lawmakers vowed to finally pass an antidynasty law, following strong advocacy during the campaign.

Read more: The ‘obese’ dynasties of the Philippines are back, but reform hopes rise for 2028

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Through the initiative of the local chapter of the Anxiety and Depression Support Group (ADSG) led by Ricky Ducas Jr., a team of emergency service, social work, and health service personnel conducted the compassionate rescue.  

It was the time of the pandemic. Nanay Calteya was taken to a transient house where she was cleaned up and cared for while awaiting the result of her Covid-19 test to return negative before she was admitted to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC). She stayed there for a month of treatment. 

Meanwhile, the team was able to locate Nanay Calteya’s family members in Baguio. She was reintegrated with them upon her release from hospital. Today, she keeps busy by growing herbs and vegetables for sale.  

In March 2021, Julian, who regularly stationed himself outside a Catholic church and the nearby school, was observed acting aggressively. Again, an ADSG-led team conducted a compassionate rescue and he was taken through the process of preliminary treatment and medication. 

But efforts to find any of Julian’s relatives yielded nothing. After a few weeks he was back outside the same church; within months, with no one monitoring his medication, he was again exhibiting aggressive behavior. 

In April 2022, he was rescued by a team again, and he was admitted to the BGHMC. After more than a month, with still no family member found, he returned to the church. But by then he had been taking his medicines religiously. He was employed there as a marshal. 

Julian has since died but, as Ducas says, he passed away fully aware of reality. He was accepted by the people around him, even if not by his own family. Everyone deserves such dignity.

Ongoing efforts

Since 2020, supported by financial contributions from private persons and groups, the ADSG has led efforts to rescue 63 vagrants with mental health challenges. The team conducting the rescues is composed of members of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, Baguio City Police Office, BGHMC Department of Psychiatry, Baguio City Health Services Office, and Baguio City Emergency Medical Service. 

The ADSG received the Bronze Award from the Department of Health’s Healthy Pilipinas Awards 2023. Ducas, a registered nurse in the field of mental health and a PhD holder, established the group motivated by a desire to link people with psychosocial needs to mental health professionals, especially those in the remote areas of Benguet and Mountain Province.

In 2023, Ducas joined Baguio’s Health Services Office as its mental health and wellness unit coordinator. The office has since adapted the compassionate community approach so that the street people commonly referred to as “taong grasa” can have a chance at living a life with dignity.

“Our mantra is: We don’t judge the past. Otherwise, we cannot help them. We focus on what we can do now,” Ducas says. 

No medication or restraint

What Ducas calls the compassionate rescue of vagrants in Baguio entails no medication or restraint. A number of those rescued by the team have been reintegrated with their families in provinces as far as Cavite.

The rescue of each person is the result of a collaborative and concerted effort. Each team is composed of a representative of the barangay, a member of the Baguio City Emergency Medical Service, a social worker, Ducas, and police officers.

The team members initially observe the persons potentially to be rescued. After the rescue, the persons’ hygiene is prioritized, and then they are referred to the social welfare office. They undergo assessment and medical checkup. Efforts are made to find their relatives. Appropriate treatment and medication are given for free, as mandated by law. 

Then, if the persons’ relatives are found, steps are taken to prepare them to be reintegrated. This includes case conferences to orient family members on how to manage their loved one’s care. Follow-up consultations and medicines are available for free at the city’s health services clinic.

Long-term facility

Not all cases end in successful recovery and reintegration. This is why Ducas hopes for the establishment of a long-term facility in the city or region where people who have nowhere to go can stay. At present, the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City is the only long-term facility accessible to the public. Other facilities are privately owned and, thus, are expensive to get into.

Compassionate rescue addresses people’s psychosocial needs with empathy, solidarity, and proactive engagement using nontraumatic practices.

The local government of Baguio has adopted the project. Ducas says it is proof that “with proper treatment and social support, plus good governance, people with mental health challenges can be nurtured back to health, can live with dignity, and can be reintegrated into the community.”

Those needing help may call 911 for emergencies (Smart City Command Center) or the Mental Health Helpline at 0919 069 6361.

National Center for Mental Health Hotlines: 0917 899 8727, 0966 351 4518, or 0919 057 1553.

If you know someone in need, the Philippine Mental Health Association is offering free online psychosocial services Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Aug. 15, 2025. Visit https://www.facebook.com/PMHARMHPSS2025.

Read more: Tackling mental health at the community level

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