BY ALEX ALAGON
MAKATI CITY, Philippines — In a bold move to prioritize mental health and emotional resilience in the workplace, PNB Holdings Corporation (PHC) has launched the Points-of-You® – Journey to Mindfulness, a pioneering wellness initiative under its PHC Academy, the company’s flagship learning and development platform. The program was officially rolled out on June 27, 2025, at Sol Y Viento Hotels and Resorts, Calamba, Laguna, with employees from various departments participating in the immersive, mindfulness-based experience.
Developed by the Training and Organizational Development Department, the program is part of PHC Academy’s Solicitude Pillar, which focuses on holistic employee well-being. It is anchored on the Gestalt Psychology principle of the “Here and Now,” and is designed to help employees manage stress and anxiety by cultivating present-moment awareness, emotional authenticity, and personal integration.
“We recognize that the future of work is not just about performance, it’s about people,” said Gladys K. Uy, PHC’s vice president for human resources and administration. “The Journey to Mindfulness program is a reflection of our commitment to creating a workplace where mental health is valued, and where our people are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally.”
The program unfolds in three modules—Awareness, Authenticity, and Integration—each designed to guide employee participants through a process of self-reflection, emotional processing, and creative exploration using the internationally recognized Points-of-You® methodology. Participants engaged in guided mindfulness activities, shared personal insights, and built authentic connections with peers in a safe and supportive environment.
“This initiative was born out of a deep desire to support our colleagues in navigating the emotional demands of modern work life,” said Neven Rivera, training and OD manager and the program’s proponent. “Through this journey, we’re teaching mindfulness and creating a culture of presence, empathy, and self-awareness.”
The launch of the Journey to Mindfulness program comes at a time when organizations across the globe are rethinking their approach to employee engagement and mental health. PHC’s proactive stance positions it as a forward-thinking employer that understands the value of emotional intelligence and psychological safety in driving long-term success.
“PHC Academy was created to tailor-fit learning experiences to the evolving needs of our people,” Uy added. “This program is just one of many ways we’re investing in our employees’ growth—not just as professionals, but as whole individuals.”
As the program continues to roll out across the organization, PHC hopes to inspire other companies to take similar steps in embedding mindfulness and well-being into the heart of their corporate culture.
A 2022 study found that 2 in 10, or around 2 million Filipino internet users aged 12 to 17, had experienced online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). Less than three percent reported the abuse. But encouraging signs of progress have emerged, with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reporting a drop in cyber tip reports from the Philippines from over 2.7 million in 2023 to just over 1.7 million in 2024.
This was achieved by the multisectoral consortium SaferKidsPH, funded by the Australian Government and implemented by UNICEF, Save the Children Philippines, and the Asia Foundation. But for these organizations, the fight does not end here. As the program concludes this year, they are calling on the Philippine government to continue strengthening child protection.
“We are incredibly proud of the progress SaferkidsPH has made in strengthening the child protection system in the Philippines, showing how collaboration, commitment and tenacity of government, civil society, international partners, and the children and their families can address the complex challenge of OSAEC,” said Behzad Noubary, UNICEF Philippines Representative Ad Interim. “Let us build on this momentum to fight against a hidden, largely invisible crime that threatens our children’s safety. UNICEF remains committed to supporting the government in strengthening the child protection system.”
The SaferKidsPH program supported key laws and policies, including the Anti-OSAEC and the Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (Republic Act 11930), and policies that help law enforcers in handling OSAEC cases. Local service providers and community members were trained to prevent and respond to OSAEC, while millions were reached through social media campaigns about positive behaviors online. SaferKidsPH actively involved children and youth and partnered with the private sector to establish child protection initiatives.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo described SaferKidsPH as a “beacon of hope” in protecting children from OSAEC. He reiterated the Supreme Court’s commitment to continuing the work by enhancing judicial processes for children and vowed to sustain and expand the impact of the consortium’s initiatives to ensure that “every Filipino child grows up in a world where their safety, dignity, and potential are protected.”
The SaferKidsPH consortium is confident that the initiatives turned over to the Philippine government will be sustained and expanded to ensure a lasting impact for Filipino children.
- Navy, police seize P8-M in smuggled cigarettes
AN ANTI-SMUGGLING operation led to the recovery of 431 master cases of cigarettes valued at approximately ₱8.6 million in Purok 19, Cabanes Road, Barangay Ilang, Bunawan District, around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
The joint effort also yielded suspected illegal drugs and a firearm, though the primary suspect managed to evade arrest.
The operating team was composed of personnel of Police Station 4 (Sasa), led by PCPT Arnieto R. Ico and under the direct supervision of station commander PMAJ Marcille M. Manzano, and the Naval Intelligence and Security Group-Eastern Mindanao (NISG-EM), led by LCDR Melwin L. Goles, and personnel from the Bunawan Police Station.
The team acted on an intelligence report from NISG-EM regarding abandoned boxes of smuggled cigarettes. Upon arrival, authorities discovered large quantities of illicit tobacco products in front of a warehouse believed to be associated with the suspect.
The identified suspect, 26-year-old Jumar, a resident of Purok 19, Cabanes Road, Barangay Ilang, managed to flee the scene upon sensing the authorities.
However, he left behind a black sling bag containing a .45 caliber Armscor pistol (serial number 1247913) with a magazine loaded with seven pieces of live ammunition.
Authorities also found two rectangular heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, with an estimated standard drug price of ₱5,000.
The confiscated smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the Bureau of Customs-Port of Davao for proper disposition and the filing of appropriate cases.
Meanwhile, the seized firearm and suspected illegal drugs will be subjected to forensic examination at RFU XI.
The Police Station 4-Sasa is currently preparing to file a charge against the fleeing suspect.
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, strongly denied claims that the ex-chief executive destroyed or ordered the destruction of evidence related to the controversial “drug war.”
Speaking in an interview at The Hague on July 3, 2025, Kaufman stated, “What I do know is that my client, Mr. Duterte, had nothing to do with destroying any evidence.”
This statement comes after Justice Secretary Boying Remulla indicated that the Philippine government would allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take over drug war cases, citing the absence or destruction of evidence.
Kaufman, however, maintained that destroying evidence is a criminal offense and asserted that such actions were neither requested by nor carried out on behalf of the former president.
He further expressed his disbelief that any evidence had actually been destroyed.
Despite the ongoing legal complexities, Kaufman also noted that the former president is in good spirits.
MARINE insurer The Swedish Club was proud to be invited to the Philippines Embassy in Sweden yesterday. The Club was represented by Lorraine Hager, Loss Prevention & Marketing Advisor, who is herself Filipino.
The visit was both a formal handover of the Club’s children’s book, Our Family and the Sea, and a courtesy call to His Excellency Patrick A. Chuasoto, newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Sweden. The Club congratulated Ambassador Chuasoto on his new post and shared its continued commitment to supporting Filipino seafarers and their families.
The children’s book itself was the brainchild of Lorraine, who worked on its development with Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS) as part of The Swedish Club’s Check Your Pulse initiative. The story was designed to support the children and families of seafarers as they navigate the emotional impact of extended separation due to work at sea.
“The inspiration behind Our Family and the Sea is rooted in my Filipino heritage,” Lorraine shared. “It’s a personal tribute to the contribution of Filipino seafarers to the maritime industry and a gesture of appreciation to the global seafaring community.”
The visit to the Embassy is one of several initiatives led by The Swedish Ctub to promote mental health and wellbeing in the maritime sector. During the Club’s recent Annual General Meeting, Members’ Day was dedicated entirely to seafarer wellbeing, featuring insights from a wide range of maritime stakeholders.
THE 2023–2024 El Niño resulted in record-high sea surface temperatures (SST) in the Philippines, with daily SST peaking at 30.45°C in June 2024. These temperatures surpassed previous El Niño events, including the 2015–2016 El Niño.
A new study by UP MSI has found that these elevated SSTs persisted for 3 months even after the official end of the El Niño in May 2024, especially through June to August 2024.
Rachel Francisco, Dr. Charina Lyn Amedo-Repollo, and Chloie Ann Libatog of the Physical Oceanography and Observation Laboratory worked with Dr. Maria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez of the Interactions of Marine Bionts and Benthic Ecosystems Laboratory to investigate marine heatwaves in the Philippines. The study, Evolution of Marine Heatwave in the Philippines During and After the 2023/24 El Niño, was recently published in the journal IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.
Data from the Global OSTIA NRT dataset was used to examine the spatiotemporal evolution of sea surface temperatures from March 2023 to August 2024.
Two groups of marine heatwaves were identified. The first group of marine heatwaves occurred from November 2023 to January 2024 in northwest Philippines. Although cooler waters are normally expected from the cold winds brought by the northeast monsoon (amihan), these were not enough to overcome the heat of El Niño.
The second, more intense group of marine heatwaves occurred from April-August 2024 in both northwest and northeast Philippines. As El Niño was ending, warm winds brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat) intensified the heat. This led to prolonged marine heatwaves in the Philippines that persisted even after the El Niño event was over.
In both groups, the marine heatwaves first appeared in the north and progressed southward over time.
With marine ecosystems already under stress, understanding how these extreme events evolve in a warming world is crucial.
A POLICE officer was injured after he was sideswiped by a motorcycle driver during a checkpoint operation late Thursday night, July 3, 2025, in Barangay Poblacion, Sulop, Davao del Sur.
The arrested suspect also failed to present a driver’s license.
According to the report, Police Officer Francis Alain O. Maceda, 28, was conducting a checkpoint operation near the Sulop Municipal Police Station along the national highway in Purok 9 at approximately 10:25 p.m. when he was sideswiped by a passing motorcycle.
The motorcycle, a Skygo with plate number L142JT, was driven by alias Bengie, 36, a resident of Purok 4, Barangay Waterfall, Sulop.
Initial investigation by Sulop MPS, led by OIC PCPT Ronald D. Ditan, revealed that Bengie was also injured when he crashed his motorcycle. The police officer and the suspect were transported to the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital by the Sulop Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) ambulance for medical treatment.
Authorities suspect that the driver might have been under the influence of alcohol during the incident. The motorcycle was impounded as evidence as the police investigation continues.
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) arrested 397 individuals from various anti-operations for the month of June.
Col Mariano C. Rodriguez, the DCPO acting chief, attributed the success of their operations to the strong support from the community, barangay officials, and the Local Government Unit.
For instance, they arrested 114 suspects in 115 anti-illegal drug operations, leading to the seizure of over 1.1 kilograms of shabu and 6.2 kilograms of marijuana, with an estimated street value of ₱8.8 million.
Meanwhile, 61 operations led to the apprehension of 73 gamblers and the confiscation of ₱26,869 in bet money. They also filed 61 cases for illegal gambling.
For wanted persons, police caught 171 wanted individuals across 171 operations, including 57 who were classified as “most wanted” persons.
On loose firearms, 18 operations resulted in nine arrests and the confiscation of 18 firearms.
Additionally, two firearms were surrendered, one was recovered, and seven were turned in for safekeeping under “Oplan Katok.” Ten cases were filed related to these operations.
A JOB order employee of the Davao del Sur provincial office was arrested in a buy-bust operation on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, for allegedly selling illegal drugs at 12:27 p.m. in Purok 7-A, Barangay Aplaya, Digos City.
The suspect, identified only by his alias Kuya, 58, was caught after selling one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu, valued at ₱8,000, to an undercover agent.
Joint forces from the Davao del Sur Provincial Office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI and the Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office-Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the operation.
Authorities seized an additional heat-sealed transparent sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect, bringing the total estimated weight to three grams with a street value of approximately ₱24,000. The marked buy-bust money was also confiscated.
The suspect faces a charge for violating Republic Act No. 9165 ( Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Photo courtesy of PDEA XI
