BY ALEX ALAGON
MANILA, Philippines – Bangkok is a city brimming with experiences made for the adventurous, the artsy, and the curious. It’s long been a favorite among Filipino travelers because of its dynamic mix of traditional and modern. With summer coming soon, holiday trips and getaway plans are already taking shape for many barkadas and families.
If Bangkok is on your list this year, having an easy way to pay and keep track of spending in a fast-paced city like it just makes the whole trip feel lighter. Thankfully, now you can Scan-Swipe-Tap with GCash abroad, and payments quickly become one less thing to worry about. Because you get lower forex rates and real-time spend tracking, you can focus on enjoying your time in these stops:
1. Dine above the city at Akara Sky Hanuman
Bangkok is already a food lover’s paradise, but dining at Akara Sky elevates the experience even further. It’s the country’s highest sky dining experience – a rooftop space where you can enjoy Thai street food favorites and other authentic dishes while taking in 360-degree views of the city. During dinner, guests are also treated to Thai cultural performances, including Muay Thai boxing and traditional dances, inviting everyone to appreciate the country’s heritage. The restaurant also has 10 zones of immersive exhibitions to visit for photos!
2. Sign up for a private cooking class
Speaking of food, if your barkada bonds best over food, booking a Thai cooking class is a must-try activity. White Lotus offers hands-on sessions where you’ll learn how to make classics like Tom Yum and Pad Thai, with a local culinary expert walking you through ingredients and techniques. Classes run for about three hours, and if you’re a big group singing up, you can book the whole class. You can pre-book slots on their website and pay using the GCash Visa Card, so there’s no stress over steep credit card forex fees.
3. Experience the world’s noisiest massage
At Bradbury, known as the noisiest massage in the world, you and your friends are in for a treat. Their four-hand massage, done by two therapists at the same time, happens in a space filled with LED visuals, music, projection mapping, and surprise performances throughout your session.
4. Explore one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods at Songwat Road
Perhaps Thailand’s most popular neighborhood online right now is Songwat Road – in fact, it’s listed among the 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world. Song Wat is best explored while taking your time, ordering from matcha cafés, picking up pastries at bakeries, and browsing vintage stores, ceramic shops, record stores, and souvenir spots filled with handcrafted Thai items. There are also perfume and home scent stores, plus endless street food options.
Even if you’re not planning to shop, you’ll probably head back home to your hotel with something. And with many merchants now accepting GCash via Alipay+, paying as you go is easy and effortless. To use GCash abroad, just look for the Alipay+ logo at the counter, select “pay abroad,” generate your QR code, and let the merchant scan it – and you’re done!
5. Shop a wide selection of local Thai brands at Emsphere
Emsphere is the newest lifestyle hub in Bangkok’s EM District, just a few minutes from the city center. Emsphere features six floors filled with a wide variety of shops, from local brands to high-end luxury favorites. It’s the perfect place to find unique, quality goods, whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for pasalubong to take home.
The main lifestyle hub on the first floor is the best place to find trendy lifestyle and streetwear brands, including homegrown brands such as FRANK and Daddy Muscle. For all your shopping moments, you can enjoy easy, convenient payments with GCash Tap to Pay abroad so there’s no need to worry about scrambling for cash. Available for all NFC-enabled Android smartphones, it lets you pay with just one tap on the payment terminal.
Scan-Swipe-Tap Your Way to an Unforgettable Bangkok Experience
Bangkok is a no-fail destination. No matter what you do, or where you go, it will always feel better when payments are seamless and stress-free. Paying with GCash abroad means you can keep track of your spending in real time, enjoy lower forex rates updated in-app, and move through each stop without the stress of cash conversions or surprise charges when you get home. Some merchants even offer special promos and discounts – just tap “Travel” on the GCash app and check out the Travel Treats section!
Wherever your Bangkok adventure takes you this year, remember to Scan-Swipe-Tap, and download the GCash app so you’re all set.
- Former Davao journo nixes ICC prosecution over CCTV evidence
A FORMER journalist executed a notarized affidavit accusing the prosecution team of using “tampered” and “unauthorized” video footage during the opening statements in the current confirmation of charges for former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I.
Ben Jason Tesiorna formally filed an Affidavit of Denial in Davao City on Feb. 26, 2026, directly disputing the integrity of evidence presented by ICC Prosecutor Julian Nicholls.
In the sworn statement, Tesiorna asserted that he was the original owner and copyright holder of the video, which he recorded on his personal mobile phone on December 19, 2013, during a media showcase of Davao City’s Central 911.
Tesiorna said he never authorized the ICC to broadcast his footage. He claimed the video shown in court contained “unauthorized and illegal” English subtitles added to “ascribe voices” to certain individuals, including the former president, which were not in the original recording.
He also clarified that the “killing” shown in the CCTV footage was not happening in real-time during the 2013 showcase, as the prosecution allegedly implied.
Instead, it was a playback of a past, already-investigated incident used to demonstrate the system’s high-definition zoom capabilities.
‘Misleading the court’
The affidavit further claimed that Nicholls misrepresented the facts by making it appear that then-mayor Duterte failed to respond to a crime in progress.
“The ICC Prosecutor twisted the facts… it was just a showing of the capability of the CCTV,” Tesiorna’s affidavit read.
He added that his original, unedited video actually showed Duterte lamenting that he would likely be blamed for such killings.
Demand for apology and redress
Tesiorna demanded a public apology from the ICC Prosecution by Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Failure to do so, he warned, would lead him to seek legal redress for cyberlibel, damages, and copyright infringement.
“Mr. Nicholls’ showing and broadcasting worldwide of my video has tainted my reputation and put me and my family in danger,” Tesiorna stated in the document.
On Monday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) began its hearing to confirm charges against Duterte. The hearing aims to determine if “substantial grounds” exist to try the 80-year-old former leader for crimes against humanity.
Central to the prosecution’s opening was a 2013 video involving the killing of three alleged thieves at the Agdao Public Market in Davao City. ICC prosecutors alleged that the footage showed Duterte “gloating” over the killings, suggesting the perpetrators—purported members of the “Davao Death Squad” (DDS)—acted with impunity under his orders.
However, veteran Davao journalist Ben Tesiorna, posting under his Facebook name Aeson Anroiset, contested this narrative.
Tesiorna, who was present at the time of the original recording, clarified that the context of the video had nothing to do with endorsing extrajudicial killings.
“I took that video myself and nowhere in the video was FPRRD [Duterte] gloating about the killing,” Tesiorna stated in a comment on a national media outlet’s report. “He was very proud of the high-tech CCTVs installed that can zoom into several meters—that was more than a decade ago.”
Tesiorna’s claim suggests that Duterte’s recorded reaction was directed at the city’s technological capabilities rather than the violence itself.
DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) operatives seized over P400,000 worth of suspected illegal drugs from a high-value target in a raid at around 2 a.m. in Purok Uma, Minterbo, Barangay Ilang on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Acting city director Col Mannan Caracas Muarip said the police executed a search warrant on the house of a 39-year-old suspect known by the alias Lab, classified as a high-value individual in the city’s drug watch list.
The Bunawan Police Station, led by Cpt Ramil Anthony Maxey and supervised by station commander Maj Janus Lumbaya Macli-ing, recovered several sachets of suspected shabu during the operation.
“The DCPO remains resolute in protecting families and ensuring Davao City remains safe and drug-free,” Muarip said in a statement, reiterating the office’s commitment to dismantling drug networks while upholding human rights and due process.
The suspect is now in custody and faces a charge for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
WHEN WE walked into the Newport Performing Arts Theater last weekend to watch Bagets: The Musical, we didn’t just walk into a theater—we felt like we walked into a time machine.
More than 40 years since the original film defined a generation, this powerhouse collaboration between Newport World Resorts, Viva Entertainment, PETA, and The Philippine Star has successfully breathed new life into the 1984 classic. As a proud member of the “Bagets Generation” (hello, fellow Gen Xers!), I found myself wearing a permanent grin from the opening number to the final bow.
The musical stays true to its roots, following the iconic quintet—Topee, Tonton, Adie, Gilbert, and Arnel—as they navigate the messy, neon-soaked transition into adulthood. Set against the backdrop of a mid-80s Philippines teetering on the edge of political and economic shifts, the story aptly captures the emotional tone of the era.
While the boys deal with the usual barkada drama and romantic high-wire acts, the musical adds a beautiful layer of depth by spotlighting their mothers: Ana, Delia, Virgie, Luz, and Ditas. Watching these women struggle with selfhood and survival while raising sons in a world where “macho” tropes were beginning to crumble gave the show an emotional weight the original film only hinted at.
What is Bagets without the music? A slew of reimagined ’80s anthems was cleverly turned into musical dialogues. The production expertly blends original hits from the movie soundtrack (Growing Up, So It’s You, Farewell, Telephone, Our House) with ’80s pop anthems (Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Buttercup, Take on Me, State of the Nation, Just Got Lucky), almost instantly triggering muscle memory (stop waving your right arm, boy!).
While nostalgia is a massive draw for us Gen Xers, Bagets: The Musical isn’t just a trip down memory lane; it is a bridge between generations. It contrasts a time when family bonding meant crowding around a single TV set with a rabbit antenna with today’s world of mobile gaming and instant downloads.
It reminds the younger audience—the Gen Zs and Alphas—that while technology changes (from having pen pals from the International Youth Service to getting followers on TikTok), the core of being a “Bagets” remains the same: the thrill of friendship, the sting of first love, and the realization that growing older doesn’t always mean growing up. It reminded us that when we’re young, we didn’t think about making memories; we just knew we were having fun.
The Verdict: Whether you lived through the ’80s or just want to understand the hype, this musical is a fun, melodramatic, heart-swelling, and sing-along worthy celebration of Filipino youth – props to the entire production, from the talented cast to the creative production team. Bagets: The Musical is just like the Big Boy or Bazooka Joe bubble gum you never want to stop chewing. You just want to keep on blowing and popping those damn sweet bubbles.
Bagets The Musical stars Nico Hendrix Chua/Andres Muhlach as Adie; Ethan David Santos/KD Estrada as Ariel; Tomas Rodriguez/Noel Comia, Jr. as Gilbert; Milo Cruz/Migo Valid as Tonton; and Sam Shoaf/Jeff Moses as Topee. The production is directed by Maribel Legarda with a script by playwright J-mee Katanyag.
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THE DAVAO City Business Bureau has registered 45,621 new and renewed establishments from January to February 2026.
Business Bureau head Maribel Paguican said business applications increased by 1,211 against the same period last year (44,410), and these were mostly from retail, trade, and services.
Davao City’s revenue also grew by 8% in terms of business taxes.
Last year, the Business Bureau registered 50,961 applications and 313,667 employees.
Paguican hopes to surpass the numbers by the end of 2026.
She added that there were 5,139 retired businesses that transferred or could not cope with the regulations, while 5,996 failed to secure permits.
Last Jan 2, 2025, the Davao City Business Bureau extended its hours to accommodate an influx of clients renewing their permits, opening on Saturdays throughout the month of January.
The bureau also launched a one-stop shop from Jan. 5 to 31, 2026, for business permit renewals from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday.
A LAWMAKER here lobbied for the creation of an ordinance establishing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the traffic management system of the city.
Councilor Bonz Andrei Militar proposed the ordinance in his privilege speech during Tuesday’s regular session.
Militar noted the current traffic lights are outdated and follow a fixed timer, regardless of the number of cars on the road, which wastes fuel and time of commuters.
“I am formally introducing an ordinance for the Installation of AI- Generated Traffic Light Systems in our city. This ordinance is a core part of our city’s key point agenda where the goal is to digitalize government services and transform our city into a true Smart City,” Militar said.
Instead of a simple clock, the lights use cameras to see and analyze the traffic in real-time, prioritizing the traffic zone areas.
Traffic zone areas include the critical intersections and main roads where congestion is at its worst.
The proposed system will perform real-time analysis of every lane and generate the proper time to change lights based on actual volume.
“Travel will be faster as it reduces ‘stop-and-go’ driving with its real-time analysis of traffic and will generate a proper countdown helping people get to work, school, or home faster,” Militar said.
He added that the system will immediately detect accidents or stalled vehicles. The AI will instantly generate a proper countdown and adjust to divert flow and prevent a massive traffic jam from forming, rather than waiting for a manual report.
“Emergency also is a priority as the system will give green lights where they are needed most and clear the way for ambulances and emergency and disaster response vehicles instantly,” he added.
The AI will also detect the city buses under the Davao City Bus System to ensure the buses arrive on time at designated spots.
“We cannot solve 2026s traffic problems with 1990s technology. Digitalization must be felt on the streets, not just on a computer screen,” he stressed.
The proposed measure was passed on first reading and referred to the committee on information and technology for appropriate actions.
THE DAVAO Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light) assured stability and continuity as it officially took over the power line operation in the Island Garden City of Samal starting on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
In his statement in a press briefing on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026, Davao Light President and COO Enriczar Tia confirmed it has been granted a provisional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to operate in the area.
The company has already established a 24/7 dedicated hotline (0919 057 3572) and a Customer Service Center at the IGaCoS Commercial Center to assist residents during the transition.
Davao Light president and COO Enriczar Tia clarified that while Nordeco had claimed “co-existing” or parallel operations, the court-mandated turnover establishes Davao Light’s lawful authority to possess and operate the infrastructure.
The company stated it remains open to “constructive dialogue” with Nordeco to ensure an orderly transition and a stable, dependable electric service for the community.
The transition was finalized after the Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court – Panabo Branch 4 lawfully turned over the assets—formerly operated by the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco)—to Davao Light. The move follows a January 23, 2026, trial court ruling and the Supreme Court’s recent dismissal of Nordeco’s legal challenges.
A hard-won victory
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib hailed the takeover as a victory for consumers who have long suffered from high rates and frequent outages.
“This is the justice we have fought for,” Jubahib stated. “Business owners and residents have long endured unstable services and high charges that could not meet the island’s demands. Our petitions to Congress and the Senate led to Republic Act 12144, and now that the Supreme Court has dismissed the TRO, Davao Light’s entry is official and legal.”
‘Buy your appliances now’
Mayor Lemuel Reyes echoed the sentiment, noting that the poor power quality had previously deterred investors and caused frequent damage to household electronics.
“This is what the people of Samal have been waiting for. For so long, people were afraid to buy appliances because they would just get damaged,” Reyes said. “To my brothers in Samal: now is the time to buy those appliances. To investors: come to Samal now, because we finally have good service.”
Power transmission system provider NGCP successfully energized the Unidos-Caticlan 69-kiloVolt (kV) Line at 1:31PM, 13 February 2026—completing restoration works ahead of its March 2026 target and fully normalizing power transmission services in parts of Aklan Province.
Transmission services for AKELCO’s Caticlan and Boracay Substations have returned to their regular configuration following the successful connection and energization of the new Caticlan 69kV XLPE Underground Cable and the completed rehabilitation and reconducturing of the entire Unidos-Caticlan 69kV Line.
The temporary bypass line installed to maintain services during rehabilitation has now been safely disconnected.
NGCP deployed 24 line gangs from other parts of the Visayas and South Luzon to fast-track the project. The work was particularly challenging, as the Unidos-Caticlan line runs through mountainous terrain, with structures spanning ridge to ridge. Unfavorable weather conditions brought about by Tropical Storm Basyang and limited working hours in compliance with safety regulations posed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) further added to the difficulty. Despite these constraints, the project was completed safely and efficiently, ahead of the scheduled ASEAN Summit activities this March and the summer peak season in Boracay.
“We are proud to have restored the Unidos-Caticlan 69kV Line ahead of schedule despite various challenges and limitations. This is testament to the dedication of NGCP to ensure the reliability of transmission services in Aklan, particularly in the areas of Caticlan and Boracay, a vital tourist hub for the country”, NGCP said.
Prior to NGCP’s assumption of operations, the Unidos-Caticlan 69kV Line was under the operation and maintenance of Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO). In September 2025, the 69kV cable sustained significant damage. AKELCO subsequently acknowledged its inability to finance the required repairs, which prompted the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to issue a resolution in October 2025 transferring the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the line to NGCP. Upon formal turnover, NGCP immediately conducted a comprehensive assessment of the facility and found that approximately 88% of the identified defects were corrosion-related, largely due to prolonged exposure to harsh marine conditions. NGCP promptly initiated corrective measures and implemented a rehabilitation program to address structural weaknesses and restore the integrity of the line.
As part of its action plan, NGCP committed to rehabilitating and strengthening the line, with full reconductoring originally targeted for completion by March 2026. Through intensified coordination, additional manpower, and round-the-clock work, NGCP was able to complete the necessary upgrades and energize the line nearly a month ahead of schedule.
The restoration works were initially projected to require six shutdowns. Through careful planning, these were reduced to four scheduled outages conducted on January 27, February 3, February 12, and February 13, helping minimize inconvenience to affected consumers.
While the 69kV line is now fully restored, NGCP continues to advance the long-term solution for the area, the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138kV Interconnection Project, targeted for completion by August 2026. Once completed, the project will provide stronger capacity and enhanced reliability of power for Aklan and surrounding communities.
“We understand how vital stable electricity is to homes, businesses, and the tourism industry in Aklan,” the company said. “We sincerely thank the public for their patience and cooperation. With the 69kV line now fully operational and the 138kV interconnection moving forward, NGCP remains committed to delivering a more reliable and resilient transmission system for the province.”
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