More fun and memorable time with the family. Are you one of those Dads or Moms who are looking forward to creating new fun moments with your family and friends this New Normal? 

If you are, well, don’t worry. Mang Inasal got you, fam!

With the easing of pandemic restrictions and now mindful of the safety precautions, diners of all ages are excited to do everything that they’ve missed, including get-togethers over their Ihaw-Sarap favorites – whether at home or at their favorite Mang Inasal stores.

And to make family bonding moments extra special, Mang Inasal has recently introduced another innovation in its menu. Foodies of all ages can now enjoy Mang Inasal's tender-grilled Pork BBQ with rich peanut sauce and flavorful Java rice. The meal is expected to be added to the growing list of Mang Inasal must-haves always shared with family members and friends.

Are you one of those people who wonder how SM was able to address the problem in Marikina? Read  more and find out. 

Floods and rising water levels brought about by typhoons are perennial problems in Marikina city, which is considered as one of the low-lying areas of Metro Manila. During typhoons, Marikina River’s water can rise up to 23 meters compared to its normal average level of 13 meters. While this causes the communities surrounding the Marikina Watershed to be underwater, SM Marikina stands tall, serving as a safe haven to its neighboring communities.

The secret? It is sitting on 246 stilts.

SM City Marikina is uniquely designed. The 6-hectare mall property which is located within the Marikina River Watershed is an elevated mall built on top of 246 stilts.

“A critical part of building climate resilient structures is to understand weather patterns and how it affects the environment where your city or building will be,” explained Architect Fides Garcia-Hsu, Vice President of SM Engineering Design and Development (SM EDD). “During the design phase of SM City Marikina, we considered the long-term flood cycles of the Marikina Watershed, which was identified to be a high-risk area by the World Bank in 1977.”

Building on stilts traces back to ancient civilization from different parts of the world. The answer lies in its powerful functionality. Elevated construction had been the way earliest people groups would protect themselves from flooding, moisture and surface organisms. It also gives them provision for open space storage or cultural activities. Lastly, it reduces cost in modifying natural terrain. While building on stilts have been adopted by modern architects through the years, people had lost interest in it during the rise of urbanization.

SM revisited the functionality of ‘building on stilts’ and reinvented the concept as a climate resilient feature. This design was complemented with other disaster preparedness considerations to help reduce the risk of damages during extreme flooding. As such, SM City Marikina was built an additional 20 meters farther than the suggested 90-meter distance from the Marikina River centerline. Moreover, the ground floor parking was purposely laid out as an open-design, without walls to allow water to flow, while the second floor was elevated at 20.5 meters, which is higher than the maximum recorded flood levels.

 

Payday is just around the corner and that’s just about the right time to give yourself a much-needed pat on the back for a job well done. There’s nothing like de-stressing with some retail therapy too! Treat yourself this mid-March payday with deals and promos on those OPPO gadgets you’ve been eyeing at the upcoming OPPO Payday Sale, happening from March 15-17!

Giving you a midweek pick-me-up, global smart device brand OPPO will offer can’t-miss deals such as freebies, vouchers and discounts when you shop best selling gadgets like OPPO Reno5 4G, or power-packed smartphones A94 and A16 on Shopee or Lazada.

Celebrate payday on Shopee to get up to 56% off participating OPPO gadgets, and Php50 off free shipping vouchers for a minimum spend of Php500. Meanwhile, Lazada loyalists can avail up to Php2000 off their OPPO purchases, plus a Php55 free shipping voucher for a minimum spend of Php500.

Wherever you choose to check out, you can take home Php200 vouchers for every minimum spend of Php9999, free DITO sim cards for mobile phone purchases, and free G25 earphones for Reno6 buyers.

Give yourself the gift of gadgets this payday - add to cart now and kick off your shopping with OPPO!

For more updates and detailed promotion mechanics about the sale, visit the OPPO Philippines’ Facebook page and official stores on Shopee and Lazada.

One of the Pandemic Beauties of Viva, Ayanna Misola, is booming and blooming in Vivamax with a list of movie projects. Yes, this young and sexy actress' career is booming as she starred in several movie projects under Viva. Some of the movies that she stars are "Pornstar 2: Pangalawang Putok", "Siklo", and "Kinsenas, Katapusan."

Indeed, she's one of the sought sexy actresses in Viva today, with her charming beauty, acting, and sexiness, who'll not fall for that.

Ayanna will be mesmerizing the viewers again with her latest film entitled "L" for the Larawan episode. The film is directed by Topel Lee and joined by the other cast namely, Vince Rillon, Stephanie Raz, Karl Aquino, Acey Aguilar, and many more.

Here are some of the lines Ayanna Misola answered from the querries of the entertainment media.

“ Maganda ang role ko rito, kasi kakaiba ito sa mga previous movies na nagawa ko. Dito ako naging prim and proper.” [My role in this film is interesting, it is different from my previous films. In this film I became prim and proper.] According to Ayanna.

 

Languishing in prison for five years for a crime she did not commit was probably the most difficult part of former PBB kumunity housemate Karen Bordador’s life. With faith in God, Karen never gave up and is now ready to tell her story a two-part International Women’s month special with Kaila Estrada portraying her on "MMK" this March 12 (Saturday) and 19 (Saturday).

Karen said that sharing her life story in "MMK" was a dream come true. She said, "I can't believe that my story would be shared finally. I'm a big fan of ‘MMK.’ Inside the cell, we watched it every Saturday and we would talk about how we would dream to be part of it.”

"This sharing is not to set me free, but it is to set a lot of people free and make them realize that life is great. People out there, their minds are imprisoned even if they are not in prison. I just want to let them know what happened to me five years ago and look where you're at, you are in a more privileged situation. Let's set each other free," she added.

For Kaila who is portraying Karen's life, she admired Karen's strength and positivity amidst the trials she faced.

"She is an epitome of a strong woman for me. I cannot imagine going through what she went through. The fact that she is positive and her fighting spirit to fight regardless of what was thrown at her. It was so inspiring My main takeaway is there is always light at the end of the tunnel. She found a purpose and she was of service to other people and to herself given what she was facing," she said.

Karen, who was a contestant of ABS-CBN’s reality contest “I Do,” was living a wonderful life as a DJ and model, but her life took a 360˚turn after visiting her boyfriend one morning after doing her radio show. Just within seconds of her arrival, police swooped down the place and arrested them in connection with an illegal drugs buy-bust operation.

Her life went downhill since then. Her reputation was tarnished. Proving her innocence was a long and arduous battle. See how her unwavering faith in God opened her eyes through the small blessings she got inside the cell and how she was determined to bounce back following the court’s acquittal.

Directed by Raz dela Torre, joining Kaila in this episode is Karen, Lou Yanong, and Shamaine Buencamino.

Watch "MMK" on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube, ABS-CBN Entertainment Facebook page, and iWantTFC. Outside the Philippines, it is available on cable and IPTV via The Filipino Channel.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram, orvisitwww.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

In every calamity, problem, or event happening, Filipinos find ways to turn it into opportunities. If the pandemic has made us lose a lot of things, the pandemic has also taught us to be more resilient and adaptive.

The pandemic brought the best in everyone, for the entertainment industry, from the artists to production companies, they all strive through and find ways to work out things. Their creative juices were squeezed into a glass jar and brought new concepts in film making.

Viva is one of the film companies that expanded its horizon and adapted today's technology as their main platform in bringing the entertainment of movies from cinema to viewers' comfort, whether in houses or outdoor. Thus, the creation of Vivamax!

Vivamax became the platform where Viva Films can showcase their creative and entertaining films in the movie industry. In this pandemic, Vivamax became the cinema houses of every mobile phone owner or work-from-home individual.

Comedy, drama, action, thriller, or sexy movies, Vivamax has it. What's more interesting is that the film company created more movies during the pandemic for its patron viewers.

Sexy stars were given more attention. Remember the Viva hot babes? Well, Viva brought in more into their lineup of hot babes. Not sure if they have coined it already, but let's probably call them the Pandemic Beauties. These beauties that I know are Sunshine Giumary, AJ Raval, Rhen Escano, Cindy Miranda, and their latest star Ayanna Misola.

From one film to another, Viva Films gave and are still giving their actors and actresses the break they need, from the pandemic and in their careers.

From pandemic to opportunities, that's resiliency in the movie industry.

More women in e-commerce continue to excel in the industry and are stepping out of their comfort zone to pursue their dreams and transform their lives. On March 8, the world will celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and this year’s campaign theme, #BreakTheBias, promotes gender equality and a community that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusivity. In celebration of IWD, three local female Shopee sellers share how they overcame the challenges they faced and how they’re breaking barriers. They hope that their stories may serve as an inspiration to other aspiring women entrepreneurs venturing into the world of e-commerce.

Embracing the Shift to Online Selling
Setting up an online business requires a lot of focus and can be intimidating. Shine de Luna was pregnant when she started selling online, and eventually decided to focus on her online business when she gave birth so that she can spend more time taking care of her child. She knew it was risky and faced many difficulties when she first set up her online shop. “I had zero orders in the beginning, but I persevered, pushed forward, and didn’t give up. I made sure I boosted my posts every four hours and replied to inquiries fast. It took months before my business picked up the pace, and now, I’m getting a hundred orders daily.” In addition to traveling to Divisoria to source products to sell, she also had to tend to her child and bring them along.

The same goes for Anjelica Tullao, who started with zero ratings and zero items sold. “Establishing the customer’s trust was my main obstacle. For them to consider buying from my shop, they need to trust me and that my products are of high quality,” she said.

Emerald Sin, on the other hand, was already selling her pre-loved clothes in college to finance her studies. She invested in a brick-and-mortar store located around the University Belt and shifted online to cater to her clients who were going home to their provinces.

Rising Above the Challenges One Step at a Time
Despite the hardships faced, Shine, Emerald, and Anjelica rose above the challenges, determined to succeed no matter what. For Shine, not only was she able to provide for her family, but she also became a channel of blessing to the few workers she employed to get her business running. “I am grateful to my team for helping me through it all. It was risky, but it was worth it because I can also help others during this difficult time.” It was also through online selling that she was able to help achieve her parent’s lifetime dream of owning their own house.

Both Emerald and Anjelica focused on how to market their products effectively. Emerald branched out and became a direct manufacturer, hiring local seamstresses to produce high-quality fashion products, while Anjelica maximized the in-app features of Shopee to improve customer trust and retention. “Whenever I encounter issues, Live Chat is always available to answer all my queries. I am also grateful to the Shopee team who helped me become a ‘Preferred Seller’ and recommended me to join big campaigns.” With her shop’s good performances, she went from being a one-man team to having seven additional team members. “With our shop’s growth, we were able to expand our office, rent a warehouse, and purchase two vehicles for personal and professional use.”

Supporting Women in E-commerce
This International Women’s Day, Shine, Emerald, and Anjelica encourage other women to step up, break stereotypes, and reach for their dreams. “I’m encouraging those who are hesitant, to take a leap of faith. I believe that we can do so much more. Don’t let the circumstances stop you from being successful and from helping others. A successful journey always starts with someone determined to overcome anything life throws at us,” said Emerald.

Shine, on the other hand, is proud to be both a mother and a successful entrepreneur. “Sobrang saya ko kasi natupad ko ang pangarap ng aking mga magulang na magkaroon ng sariling bahay sa tulong ng pagiging online seller ko.” (I’m very happy because I was able to fulfill my parent’s dream of having our own house, and this was made possible by being an online seller). She also adds that women should pursue their dreams and work hard towards it. “Huwag kang aasa sa magulang or partner mo. Naging makahulugan ang pagiging anak at ina ko dahil nabigay ko sa kanila ang pangangailangan nila mula sa negosyo ko.” (Don’t just expect things from your partner or parents. I feel fulfilled as a mother and daughter since I can provide my family what they need thanks to my online business.)

Anjelica also pushes aspiring female entrepreneurs to grab the opportunity. “Find your own purpose, challenge yourself, and pursue your goals. Being a successful woman in business means being your authentic self and showing up, day after day, to get to work your dreams.”

Celebrate and support local sellers like Anjelica, Emerald, and Shine at the 3.15 International Women’s Day Sale this coming March 8. Here, users can look forward to 90% off on select categories like Lifestyle, Fashion, and many more. For those who are considering online selling and want to explore the evolving digital space, they can Get Started on Shopee right now.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

 

Online shopping helps a lot of Filipinos de-stress and unwind. Aside from the retail therapy shoppers can enjoy, Shopee is set to make users’ in-app experience even more entertaining and engaging with the launch of Shopee Pets. Inspired by a popular mobile game during the 90s, Shopee Pets allows players to redeem exciting rewards by nurturing their virtual pets. Aside from big discounts and exclusive brand offers, Shopee Pets is one of the many exciting things to look forward to during this 3.15 Consumer Day Sale.

Shopee Pets is a life simulation game where players can help their pets evolve through daily activities. Players can level up their pet’s XP (experience points) and unlock diamond points throughout the game by feeding, cleaning, and playing with them. Accumulated points can be used to redeem rewards at the Points Redemption Store. Players can take care of their pets all day, and once their pet reaches level 50, they can choose another pet and repeat the life cycle. To level up your pet and gain diamond points, players can do the following:

• Social Interactions: Sharing is caring! With social interactions between players, they can receive shared items that can increase their pet’s happiness bar.

• Schooling: You can let your pet attend school once it reaches level 4, so they can join class games, and engage in other activities like quizzes and races to achieve diamond points.

• Grooming: Keep pets squeaky clean by dragging the soap bar on top of the pet. All cleaning supplies help increase XP and its happiness and cleanliness levels.

• Feeding: Make sure your pet is well-fed to maintain its happiness levels. There are three types of pet food and paid food gives your pet higher XP growth and fullness points.

• Playing: Keep your pets happy by playing with them on a regular basis. There are three ways to play with your pet:

• Dance to the Music: Follow the beat to increase your pet’s happiness bar. Each song consists of three rounds and will speed up at the end of each round.
• Jump on a Trampoline: Drag the trampoline left and right to make sure your pet stays on it and earns more points.
• Score a Goal in Soccer: Score a goal and increase your pet’s happiness and XP level. Each goal has a corresponding amount of XP.

Remember that you can choose your pet at the start of each cycle and also look forward to dressing them up in adorable clothes—from head to toe! You can also start doing improvements on your pet’s home by level 25, unlocking new themes, and gaining access to upgrades.

During the launch of Shopee Pets on March 3, players can look forward to amazing prizes which include Shopee coins, coins cashback vouchers, and other products such as a Xiaomi Air Purifier, an O'Healthy Electric Juicer Blender, an Acer Aspire 3 laptop, and many more. One lucky player also stands a chance to win ₱100,000 via ShopeePay from March 12 to 16.

Shopee Pets joins a list of other fun in-app games such as Pera Panalo, Shopee Candy, Shopee Farm, Shopee Bubble, and Shopee Claw that have become the favorites of shoppers on the platform. To further enhance the overall online shopping experience, ShopeePay, Shopee's mobile wallet, offers exclusive perks and savings such as daily free shipping and cashback vouchers. Users can enjoy 20% cashback when they scan to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Puregold, National Bookstore, The Generics Pharmacy, and more until the end of March. Users can also checkout ShopeePay ₱1 Deals and redeem discounts in stores.

On 3.15 Consumer Day, users can take advantage of 50% off on load across all networks and up to 100% cashback on bills payment. With ShopeePay’s Free transfers feature, users won't have to worry about transfer fees when they send money to any bank or to any Shopee user. They can get a chance to win ₱100,000, and new users can get free ₱100 on their first-ever transfer (promo from Mar 8-17).

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

 

"ASAP Natin 'To" returns live with another world-class concert experience from your favorite Kapamilya stars, featuring an anniversary treat from BGYO, a scintillating birthday act from KZ, and much more this Sunday (March 6) on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5.

Get on your feet as one of the country's most trending P-Pop acts today BGYO returns on the ASAP stage for their first-anniversary celebration together with Darren and Gary Valenciano. The P-Pop fever ensues with an upbeat tandem number from BINI and ASAP's dance royalty Kim Chiu.

The celebration continues with a showstopping birthday treat from Asia's Soul Supreme KZ with Gigi de Lana. Groove along to your favorite dance hits together with your "ASAP Natin 'To" family, which includes Andrea Brillantes, Krystal Brimner, Karina Bautista, and more. Also belting out your favorite trending hits is vocal trio iDolls.

One of the Ejercito's, "The Good One" is making his way back to the Senate by running as one of the candidates for the Senatorial seat this coming May 2022 Election.

After losing in the last election, JV Ejercito, planned to focus more on something else other than politics, but when the pandemic came, and he believed that he should continue what he started. Especially this pandemic, the Universal Health Care program wasn't fully implemented and utilized by the people.

During the pocket size interview with the Sen JV, he laid down what he had observed during the pandemic and what had happened regarding the activation and fully implementation of the Universal Health Care Act. He was a bit disappointed on the outcome of his landmark legislation that would benefit the whole Filipino people.

Now, in this coming election, he believes that he will have a tough battle to win one of the senatorial seats. Aside from his priority plan to continue and see through the full implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, he's also prioritizing the housing and settlement development and the infrastructure development. These three programs, according to him will give progress to all Filipino people.

Like what JV Ejercito mentioned during the informal pocket interview, his run for the senate is tough battle for a re-electionist, but he believes that his accomplishments speaks for him.

The election is coming, let us pray for a peaceful and fair election.

“To me, home is comfort and where everything fits perfectly,” Pia says. “That’s why whenever I’m in my Avon intimate apparel, I feel at home. I feel supported in whatever I do and most comfortable being myself.”

Just like Pia, you too can feel right at home wearing the no.1 Intimate Apparel brand in the country. Avon introduces new nude shades for its bras and panties, designed to enhance your curves and fit your body not just flawlessly, but comfortably. A standard across all of Avon’s intimate apparel offerings, the new nude undies are created with high-quality fabrics that are made to last, so you can trust that your Avon undergarments will give you exceptional all-day comfort and support for many years to come.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, introduces 3.15 Consumer Day, the first mega sale of the year. 3.15 Consumer Day will bring the excitement of Shopee’s year-end festivals to all users, giving them more reasons to celebrate and reward themselves as they gear up for the year ahead.

Shopee is pioneering 3.15 Consumer Day to bring more value and joy to all shoppers, who are now using e-commerce to fulfill their needs all year round. Everyone can be a part of 3.15 Consumer Day which features the widest variety of products, made better with Free Shipping with ₱0 min. spend, ₱1 Deals, and 10% off daily starting March 3, kicking off the celebration with the 3.3 Consumer Day. Shopee will also launch its #ShopeeCelebratesYou campaign to bring more cheer to users across the 3.15 period. Throughout the campaign, Shopee will surprise and delight its biggest fans on social media, while users stand a chance to win big prizes by taking part in various activities and contests across Shopee’s official platforms.

Adding to the 3.15 celebrations, Shopee welcomes Filipino superstar and Primetime Queen Marian Rivera as its newest brand ambassador. Marian will star in a brand new Shopee commercial for 3.15 Consumer Day which you can watch here. She will also appear in the 3.15 TV Special happening at 5pm on Tuesday, March 15.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines said, “At Shopee, our users are at the heart of all that we do. This drives us to keep innovating, so that we can create new features, services, and campaigns that bring joy to their lives. As more people shop online and enjoy our year-end festivals, we are introducing 3.15 Consumer Day to bring the same excitement and fun to the first half of the year. We are thrilled for our first 3.15 Consumer Day and we hope to deliver even more joy to everyone.”

1. Celebrate You with bigger prizes, better deals

3.15 Consumer Day gives every shopper a reason to celebrate. Users can find everything they need with amazing deals on the Shopee app, and unlock bigger surprises on social media.

In the Philippines, users can win big at the new #ShopeeCelebratesYou campaign across Shopee’s official platforms. Shopee users stand a chance to check out their items for free when they share their shopping carts on social media, while Shopee will also surprise its biggest fans on social media. Stay tuned to Shopee’s official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages for more information and activities.

Till March 15, users can find and save more on all they need on Shopee. Highlights include:

• Special treats for Filipino shoppers: 3.15 Consumer Day will bring a smile to every user, with Free Shipping vouchers with ₱0 min. spend, ₱1 Deals, and 10% off daily till March 15. New users can enjoy a 100% off discount voucher with ₱90 min. spend at ₱90 max. discount, Free Shipping voucher with ₱0 min. spend, exclusive ₱1 Deals, or free welcome gifts from Shopee and brand partners, so they can smile even more with their first purchases on Shopee.

• Exciting deals with ShopeePay: This March, users can enjoy 20% cashback when they scan to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Puregold, National Bookstore, The Generics Pharmacy, and more. Users can also checkout ShopeePay ₱1 Deals and redeem discounts in stores. On 3.15 Consumer Day, users can take advantage of 50% off on load across all networks and up to 100% cashback on bills payment. Users can get a chance to win ₱100,000 when they send money to any bank or to any Shopee user. With ShopeePay’s free transfers feature, users won't have to worry about any additional fees.

• More entertaining experience with new in-app game, Shopee Pets: Starting March 3, users can play the life simulation game where they can care for and raise their pets through daily activities for a chance to win Shopee Coins, ShopeePay Credits, and more!

2. Discover new brands for You on Shopee Mall

3.15 Consumer Day is the perfect time for users to discover new brands and indulge their wishlist without having to wait till the end of the year. With thousands of brands offering exclusive deals, there will be something for everyone at Shopee’s Mega Brands Sale from March 3 to 15.

 

SVIP tickets to the live premiere of BINI and BGYO's docufilm, "Dubai Adventures," which premieres on April 1 (Friday), got sold out after a day of ticket sales on KTX.PH on February 27 (Sunday).

The lucky fans who purchased the SVIP tickets are in for a treat as they will see BGYO and BINI face to face for the first time in two years as well as witness some exciting surprises from their idols.

As of now, VIP tickets priced at P1,000 which includes red carpet access and access to the replays on April 2 and 3, and the general admission tickets priced at P399 are both available.

The docufilm will feature never-before-seen footage from the sibling groups’ first international trip to Dubai, including their food trips, side adventures, and their experience to perform on their first international concert at 1MX Dubai held in December last year.

Meanwhile, BGYO and BINI recently made history as the first and only Filipino artists to grace the cover of XPEDITION's first-ever NFT magazine in the Metaverse.

The Metaverse is a simulated digital environment comprised of 3D virtual worlds designed to foster social connection and interaction.

To book tickets for the "BINI & BGYO Dubai Adventures" and get more information on it, visit www.ktx.ph. For updates, follow @ABSCBNPR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok or visitwww.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” has once again proven he is truly the corruption-buster “Mr. Clean” he is touted to be. In recent articles, the presidential candidate known for his strong anti-corruption stance, was recently vindicated for previous crimes he was unjustly accused of during the Arroyo administration. No less than former President Sen. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in her recently launched memoir entitled “Deus Ex Machina,” admitted that the accusations against Sen Lacson were fake.

“The information that was made public could not be substantiated,” GMA wrote in her memoir.

Years later, Marquez recanted accusations against Sen Lacson and apologized. Corpus also issued a publicly televised apology to Lacson for falsely accusing the senator.

True to form, the magnanimous Lacson did not hurl vindictive comments against his accusers. Instead, he tweeted a forgiving message to his former detractor. “Late is always better than never. To ex-PGMA’s credit, she has the decency and courage to admit that she publicly and unjustly accused me of various crimes based of false information. Whatever, I have already forgiven her a long time ago.”

Even in the thick of the present presidential election, Lacson maintains his nonbelligerent stance, preferring not to say anything about the other candidates wanting to be President of the Philippines because he is also running for the position.

In his recent interview session with Boy Abunda for the television personality’s series 2022 Presidential One-on-One Interviews, Lacson, one of five presidential candidates who were invited to the show, chose to talk instead about what made him best suited for the highest position in the Philippines.

“I am the most qualified, the most competent, the most experienced (candidate),” he told Abunda matter-of-factly without mentioning any of his rivals.

The candidate said it was time for voters to be discerning, to realize that politics was not entertainment and they should not be influenced by dole-outs.

In his campaign sorties, a singing and dancing Lacson would certainly not be on the program. “I won’t sacrifice authenticity,” he said, and would not do anything that had nothing to do with the country’s problems.

“The number one problem is the government, so the solution is the government- good, honest governance,” he said.

Lacson stressed, “Tough problems need tough solutions from the country’s top leaders.” His goal, if elected president, was to leave the country better off than when he started and see a greater respect for government officials.

Although he acknowledged that the qualifications for presidential candidates were so much simpler than those required of job applicants, the senator also pointed out that college degrees do not guarantee outstanding public service.

“Maraming may PhD na mas magaling magnakaw kaysa magsilbi sa bayan (there are many people with doctoral degrees who are very skilled in stealing public funds than in serving the country),” he said.

He would not oppose though some changes in the qualifications, although it would require a constitutional amendment. The job was demanding, he pointed out, and it called for skills in handling crises like the still ongoing corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.