Street Journal, Author at Street Journal Multimedia Services

By Peter Villa, Jr. LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines – The second edition of the Warzone Cordillera is expected on December 5, Pinoy Boxing Prodigy top man Darwin Miller Dep-ay announced this week. “We are looking at a December 5 schedule,” said Dep-ay and will be slated a new at the Cordillera Career Development College Admirals gym in Buyagan here. Dep-ay, a former CCDC mentor, will have a fully stacked schedule anew as he integrates amateur and professional fights where fighters will mostly come from the region – Baguio, Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugao and Abra – against pugilists from the Ilocos Region, Metro Manila and even the Visayas and Mindanao areas. Dep-ay said that the August 1 spectacle was just the beginning as he eyes a more aggressive campaign to promote both amateur and pro boxing and under one roof from this point forward. It was also his first promotion since the December 2023 regional title fight of number one super bantamweight challenger Carl Jammes Martin before his United States debut. The August 1 promotion saw Osaka native Muguchi Nakagawa dominate Lemuel de Barbo en route to a third-round technical knockout victory. The older and more experienced former regional champion Nakagawa also used his five-inch height advantage to the hilt for the win. Despite de Barbo finding his rhythm at the second canto, the Japanese proved classier as he deflected the rally staged by the Filipino. A flurry of punches at the opening of the third saw de Barbo clinging on Nakagawa before they both stumbled. When they got back on their feet, de Barbo seemed dazed and confused as the Japanese resumed his attacks looking for the kill before the before called for a stop and ended the fight at the 2:10 mark. Nakagawa improved to 33-11-4 (win-loss-draw), his fifth in six fights that include a draw against countryman Yamasaki Kaito last February at home. Nakagawa, who won over the hearts of local boxing fans, won four straight matches that started in December of 2024 after back-to-back defeats to fellow Japanese, the first of which was for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super bantamweight crown. The Japanese fighter, who fed street children in Manila before flying home, said that he might improve to number 15 in the World Boxing Association super lightweight division and may face the exciting Filipino Riel Casimero in his fight. Casimero fights in Japan only.

UnionBank Private and Swiss Private Bank Lombard Odier Unveil Insights on the Evolving Needs of Filipino High-Net-Worth Families

Business

Business / Street Journal

Lombard Odier, a leading Swiss-based global wealth and asset manager, together with UnionBank Private, has released a new research study exploring emerging trends shaping wealth management in the Philippines and across the broader Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Entitled “The Wealth Blueprint: Building Wealth, Sustaining Legacy”, the study discusses the evolving behaviors and concerns of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) on wealth management, succession planning, legacy preservation, and investments. The report provides insights from over 390 HNWIs across the APAC region, including UnionBank Private clients and the collective network of Lombard Odier’s Strategic Alliances. Among the key highlights is that, while affluent families recognize the importance of preserving their wealth for future generations, most have not translated their intentions into action. They have no formal frameworks in place or family discussions to iron out differences in priorities and values. Paradox between family wealth goals and actions taken 80.0% of HNWIs in the Philippines cite preservation of family wealth across generations as their main goal when thinking about passing on or receiving family wealth, the highest across APAC markets surveyed, and compared to a 64.2% APAC average). Maintaining family unity and shared values came in second place at 60.0%. However, the results showed that only 16.7% of respondents in the Philippines have a full succession plan in place, and 10% of HNWIs in the Philippines said their families were fully aligned. These gaps can make critical family decisions more difficult and create challenges in maintaining a unified long-term vision. Need to bridge intergenerational gap Only 14.3% of Philippines respondents are very confident in the ability of Next Gens to manage family wealth, compared to 16.7% of APAC respondents. The study also uncovered that one in two HNWIs in the Philippines highlighted intergeneration challenges, differing visions for the future, and resistance to change from senior family members as primary concerns. This reiterates the need for properly structured frameworks and open conversations to help families stay aligned and prepare for the future, and are imperative for bridging generational differences and easing decision-making. Many HNWIs are still looking for a trusted wealth management partner who can provide guidance beyond investment management. They are increasingly seeking support to align family goals, prepare the next generation through succession strategies, and safeguard their legacy. Receiving wealth advice can play a significant role in alleviating concerns The report shows a clear correlation between receiving advice and having alignment or governance. For example, a significant 87.5% of APAC respondents who receive professional advice consider their family to have some degree of alignment, compared to 57.8% of those who do not receive advice. Additionally, 50.0% of APAC respondents indicated they do not receive advice believe the absence of a formal structure is a significant challenge in managing their family governance, compared to just 17.2% of respondents who are advised. “The insights from this study highlight a growing need among high-net-worth families for guidance that extends beyond investment management. Through our strategic alliance with Lombard Odier, we are able to better understand our clients’ evolving priorities and support them with tailored solutions that address wealth preservation, succession planning, and legacy building. At UnionBank Private, our ultimate goal is to help clients not only grow their wealth but to secure their family’s future and support them as they create a lasting legacy for generations to come,” said Gauraw Srivastava, UnionBank’s Head of Wealth Management. “Leading families and entrepreneurs in the Philippines are demonstrating greater clarity around their priorities, particularly in relation to long-term investment planning and intergenerational wealth transfer. However, as our findings show, there remains a meaningful gap in translating these intentions into structured, actionable frameworks. Through our Strategic Alliances, we work closely with our partners such as UnionBank Private to help HNWIs in the region bridge this gap, combining local proximity with global investment and wealth planning capabilities to support HNWIs and their families in building resilience, strengthening alignment, and navigating change across generations,” said Vincent Magnenat, Limited Partner, Global Head of Strategic Alliances, Lombard Odier.

Down to the Last Centavo: A community volunteer’s account of transparency in Apayao

Lifestyle

Lifestyle / Street Journal

By Yvonne Gracious T. Elegado CONNER, Apayao, Philippines — Inside the barangay hall of Nabuangan, Conner, Apayao, a wall of documents tells its own story. Legal papers, financial records, and sub-project details are pinned to a bulletin board where any resident can walk up and read them. For Eleazar C. Señerez, 29, chairperson of the Barangay Development Council’s Technical Working Group, that board is one of the clearest signs that the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) Program keeps its word to the community it serves. Señerez has volunteered with the program for three years. In that time, he has watched information move from program staff to household doorsteps through barangay assembly meetings, formal letters routed through the Punong Barangay, and group chats managed by fellow volunteers. Among all of this, the audit and inventory meetings stood out most to him. “What stood out to me most was during the audit and inventory meeting is they explain clearly where the funds was used even to the smallest centavo,” Señerez said. Access to information was not limited to those who attended meetings. The barangay hall’s bulletin board displayed budgets, timelines, and decisions on the sub-project for everyone to see, and volunteers walked residents through the details piece by piece during regular gatherings. Señerez said this openness extended to marginalized sectors, who were also part of the audiences the program made a point of reaching. That same openness carried into planning. Señerez said he was involved from the start of the process and felt free to raise questions without hesitation. When disagreements surfaced, he saw how the program handled them. During one planning cycle, residents pushed to prioritize sub-projects in their own puroks and sitios. Rather than dismiss the concern, staff from KALAHI-CIDSS, the Municipal Planning and Development Council, and the Municipal Engineering Office sat down with the community, walked through documents and presentations, and explained how prioritization followed the program’s established implementation process. Not every exchange was smooth. Señerez recalled a period when a language barrier caused a small misunderstanding among some residents. Community volunteers stepped in right away, re-explaining the matter in the barangay’s local dialect so nothing was lost in translation. Señerez said the confusion cleared quickly and the community’s trust in the program never wavered. That trust, he said, grew out of consistent effort to bring people into the process. Barangay assemblies, workshops, trainings, and seminars became venues where elders, youth, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and groups like the farmers’ association could take part and gain a fuller understanding of the program. “Transparency plays a very important role in every process, project progress, funding allocations and other necessary information of any project or program aside from KALAHI-CIDSS, because it helps build trust and prevent rumors and doubts of the community to the program’s processes,” Señerez said. He added that when residents can voice their comments and opinions, they develop a sense of belonging and ownership over the project, and that open information helps catch errors early before they grow into bigger problems. For Señerez, transparency is not complicated. It means telling the community everything, opening every decision to them, and accounting for every centavo spent. —

130 Octogenarian tumanggap ng cash incentives sa La Union

Region 1

Region 1 / Street Journal

BANGAR, La Union — Tumanggap ng pinansyal na insentibo ang 130 octogenarian mula sa 21 barangay ng Bangar, La Union kamakailan sa Bangar Senior Citizen Hall. Nasa kabuuang ₱1.3M ang ipinamahagi ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng La Union sa mga senior citizen edad 85-89 years old, kasabay nito ang cash assistance para naman sa Bangar Senior Citizen Association. Ang distribusyon ay alinsunod sa Provincial Ordinance No. 381-2022 na layuning bigyan ng monetary incentives ang mga Octogenarian, Nonagenarian at Centenarian sa La Union. Pinangunahan ng Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office kasama ang Bangar Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office ang pag-abot ng tulong sa mga recipient.

Nueva Vizcaya honors 39 Senior Citizens with P560k Longevity Awards

Region 2

Region 2 / Street Journal

By Rachel Magday BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The provincial government has awarded a total of P560,000 to 39 elderly residents who have been living in Nueva Vizcaya for their unwavering contributions to their families and communities. The awards were presented in a ceremony at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Function Hall in the Capitol Compound here, led by PSWD Officer Flordelina C. Granada, on August 14. The 36 nonagenarians mark the eighth batch of beneficiaries under the province’s Nonagenarian Ordinance, along with a centenarian and two recipients of the Enduring Devotion Award. Each of the 36 nonagenarians, aged 90 to 99, received a ₱10,000 cash incentive. The centenarian received ₱100,000 under the Centenarian Ordinance, while the two recipients of the Enduring Devotion Award received ₱50,000 each under the Enduring Devotion Ordinance. Vice Governor Eufemia Ang Dacayo and Board Members Eunice Galima Gambol, LC Cuaresma and Emerlene Jane Galanta Martinez attended the ceremony honoring the awardees. Gov. Jose V. Gambito said the cash incentives represent more than just financial assistance, describing them as a tribute to senior citizens whose lives, sacrifices and contributions have helped shape their families and communities. “These awards are more than just financial assistance. They are a tribute to the lives, sacrifices and contributions of our senior citizens, whose wisdom and resilience continue to inspire the people of Nueva Vizcaya,” Gambito said. Gambito added that the provincial government will continue to strengthen programs that promote the well-being, dignity, and active participation of senior citizens, while recognizing their years of sacrifice and service.

BCPO Boost Crime Response via 4-Pillar Network

Baguio City

Baguio City / Street Journal

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) continues to intensify its crime prevention and law enforcement efforts, with recorded declines in several serious offenses. From April 1 to July 22, 2026, crimes of Murder remained at zero incidents, while Rape decreased by 50%, from 14 to seven incidents, and Carnapping of Motor Vehicles declined from three incidents to zero. Robbery and Theft increased during the period. Most incidents occurred in commercial establishments, wherein the private nature of these establishments presents challenges to police presence. Despite the increase, cases were promptly investigated and filed in court. To further strengthen its crime prevention efforts, BCPO implements its Four-Pillar Strategic Framework for Crime Prevention, namely: (1) Law Enforcement Operations; (2) Target Hardening and Technology; (3) Community and Stakeholder Partnerships; and (4) Root-Cause Interventions and Offender Management. The framework also includes data-driven police deployment and anti-crime operations, improved security measures, leveraging technology and monitoring habitual offenders involved in robbery and theft cases for possible intervention under the Panag-aywan Iti Kailyan (PIK) 2.0 Program, in partnership with other agencies that provide skills development and livelihood training opportunities. Further, on July 27, 2026, BCPO convened a meeting with major commercial establishments to strengthen stakeholder coordination, improve security measures and information sharing, to enhance preventive response to property crimes. Col.Ruel D. Tagel, City Director, emphasized that the BCPO remains committed to strengthening data-driven policing, preventive measures, and community partnerships to effectively address emerging crime trends and promote a safer and more secure Baguio City.

Local Fishers Impress US Delegates, Try Alaskan-Style Galunggong

Region 3

Region 3 / Street Journal

By Ruben A. Veloria OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – Visiting delegates from Fish Right Project, an organization affiliated with US Embassy Manila, expressed gladness over the success of the fish processing center it sponsored to establish in 2020. Nygiel Armada, the Chief of Party of the Fish Right Project, said the group was very happy for the successful operation of the fish processing center the Project help established during Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Armada said that while round scad or locally known as galunggong is very abundant in the area, many of the catch were left to spoil after they not sold in the market. To prevent this from happening, the Fish Right Project consulted the 40-member Bangkero at Fisherfolk Association (BFA) for the establishment of a fish processing center in Barangay Barretto here, where surplus catch of poor man’s favorite round scad (galunggong) or milk fish (bangus) were processed into high-value Spanish-style bottled products- like smoked round scadfish or milkfish, mackerel scad in corn oil, or Filipino favorite dish sisig. With the help of the facility, members of BFA have learned the method of fish preparation, cooking, packaging, and marketing of the produced bottled fish in a more competitive price which added to income of the association. According to BFA Vice-Pres. Luz Labong, before the processing center unsold fish were turned into dried fish which they sold for cheaply; today, aside form walk-in buyers, they delivered process fish in many stores in the province and Kadiwa Centers. Meanwhile, fisherfolks in Olongapo got the taste of Alaskan culinary from US-based chefs who showed them how to cook galunggong using herbs and fruits locally available in the Philippine market. Chef Edith Johnson and Sous Chef Jeren Schmidt showed excited expectators how to turn galunggong into deliciously tasty dish using herbs and fruits, such as dragon fruit, coconut milk, lemon juice, olive oil, cilantro, and a lot of green leaves. The cooking activity formed part of the cultural and experience exchange between the American visitors and local fishers which Fish Right Project promotes that strengthen more the Filipino-American friendships.

Mayor Marasigan bares accomplishment in city address

Region 4

Region 4 / Street Journal

By Danny Estacio STO. TOMAS CITY, Batangas, Philippines – Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan highlighted the city’s accomplishments over the past year and cited future development plans during his 5th State of the City Address (SOCA) on Monday, Aug. 10. Marasigan emphasized the remarkable achievements the city has accomplished over the past 12-month period serving as local chief executive – aligned with the core development points his administration promised to achieve. Providing high-quality healthcare services, the mayor mentions that in year 2025 the city has conducted 145,000 medical and dental consultations including those assisted thru the “Aksyon Bilis Caravan” and “Aksyon Bilis Mobile Clinic”, delivered 29,000 sanitation and food services, 56,000 preventive health services such immunization, deworming and newborn screening, he bared. In Education, 10,000 senior high school and college students had been given scholarship grants in two semesters for School Year 2025-2026 amounting to P47 million, a significant increase of 66.67 percent from the previous school year figure of 6,000. Educational assistance for abused children, Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL), children of solo parents and out-of-school youth taking up technical-vocational training are also provided. Marasigan said that the city employment program has recorded 15,474 job placements through initiated school-based job fairs, local and overseas recruitment, barangay recruitment and location-based job fairs while the city’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) program helped 93 students earn while off school. He initiated the SULONG program with 200 qualified farmer-beneficiaries receiving P15,000 worth of farm inputs to augment deficient amounts to sustain crop production. Strategically as the home of the open frontier that serves as gateway to the south, the promise of opportunity for trade and commerce to magnify is very evident. “Realization of our local government frameworks most beneficial to Tomasinos is a challenge that requires heart and hard work combined”, Marasigan said. According to Marasigan, this time, the city has 5,600 registered businesses which is 12% higher compared to 5,000 in 2025. For locally sourced income, the city is expecting 7.3 percent increase in revenue collection for 2026 amounting to P968 Million. Marasigan announced that the city has maintained a 10.5 percent yearly average economic growth since he assumed office from the year 2022 to present date. Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data this growth rate is almost double than the Calabarzon record of 5.6 percent and much higher than the province of Batangas with 6.7 percent growth rate. Marasigan said. He announced several priority projects for 2027, such as the construction of a child-minding station for solo parents, Wellness Hub to address mental health concern, expanding social hygiene clinic, digitalization of government services, and additional livelihood programs for small businesses. “Our goal is to make the healthier, safer, progressive and vibrant community where comfort living and ease of doing business is not temporary but a way of life”, Marasigan said. Sto. Tomas City Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan delivers his state of the city address, on Aug. 10. (photo via Danny Estacio)

SSS continues support to the local market as part of nation building while exploring international investments to balance portfolio

NCR

NCR / Street Journal

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Social Security System (SSS) announced today its plan to expand its investment portfolio in foreign markets while continuing to actively participate in the domestic capital markets, as part of its strategy to diversify assets, enhance returns, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the pension fund. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph M. de Claro said the SSS’ improved financial position provides greater capacity to pursue investment opportunities while continuing to contribute to nation-building through investments in the domestic market. “We are very conservative, but at the same time, we are also in a very good position now because of our surplus, that for the first time, we have an opportunity to help in nation-building,” de Claro said. As of 30 June 2026, SSS had ₱1.27 trillion in consolidated investments, distributed across various asset classes in the domestic market. These include ₱629.05 billion in government securities, ₱179.44 billion in equities, ₱154.56 billion in property, ₱151.90 billion in member loans, and ₱96.34 billion in corporate notes and bonds, among others. The diversified portfolio generated ₱27.16 billion in actual investment income as of 30 June 2026, equivalent to an annualized return on investment of 4.53 percent. The figures exclude realized gains from the sale of equity securities classified as fair value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI). SSS remains an active institutional investor in the Philippine capital market through investments in equities, government securities, and other financial instruments allowed under its investment policies. Its exploration of international investments is intended to complement, not replace, its existing domestic investments, providing greater diversification across markets and asset classes. The planned overseas expansion will allow SSS to explore additional investment opportunities while maintaining its role in supporting the local capital market. He emphasized that exploring overseas investments does not mean reducing SSS’ participation in the Philippine market. Rather, the initiative is intended to complement its existing domestic investments by providing greater diversification across markets and asset classes. SSS aims to grow its reserve fund to ₱2 trillion by 2030, supporting its capacity to provide meaningful and sustainable social security protection to current and future generations of members and pensioners.

Author name: Street Journal

Boxing promoter Dep-ay wants Warzone 2 on December 5