NEWS
POC chief on Obiena: A bountiful career now in peril
Posted on Nov. 23, 7:39 p.m.
THE Philippine Olympic Committee on Tuesday expressed deep regret over the row involving Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and his own federation and vowed to conduct an investigation on the flaming issue.
“We are in deepest regret to realize that one of our Olympians, multi-medalist and great inspiration Ernest John Obiena of athletics, to be involved in this squabble with his home federation,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.
Tolentino said Obiena’s declaration to retire at this stage of his globally budding career would be a great loss for Philippine Sports.
“I am very disappointed. They could have handled the situation internally absent of any misfires from both parties,” Tolentino said. “A bountiful career is now in peril.”
Obiena, together with his legendary Ukranian coach Vitaly Petrov, sought a retraction and public apology from the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association after the federation stated that Obiena falsified liquidation documents on his coach’s salaries.
Obiena, 25, competed in the Tokyo Olympics and holds the Asian record in the sport. He is now ranked No. 5 in the world.
“Needless to say, we, Filipinos, will be deprived of two gold medals in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in 2022 and in Cambodia 2023, not to mention another one in the Asian Games also next year and most importantly, a representation in the Paris Olympics come 2024, due to the fiasco in the leadership of his organization,” Tolentino stressed.
“We could have easily propagated this achievement to the youth by proper guidance and genuine attitude,” he said.
The Obiena-Patafa mess didn’t escape the Senate’s attention. Late Monday evening, senators recalled the 2023 budget of the Philippine Sports Commission after expressing dismay over the agency’s apparent hands-off stance from the controversial rift.
“Since the PSC is the source of funds, it could have easily—under its mandate—intervened and corrected the same from the very beginning,” Tolentino said.
Tolentino added: “But we in the POC will be steadfast and for the sake of Olympism and impartiality, will go into the details and investigate the matter.”
The POC’s Ethics Committee will investigate the controversy.
The POC statement was read in the Senate on Tuesday by Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino.
NEWS
SmarTrade Talks Financial Literacy with Future Business Leaders at National Teachers College
7:28 p.m. July 11, 2025
SmarTrade, a leader in empowering Filipinos with comprehensive financial education, trading insights, and market strategies, continues its university outreach initiatives to help young individuals make informed financial decisions and develop essential skills for their futures.
The company was at the National Teachers College (NTC) in Mendiola for the school’s “The Professional’s Playbook in Action” Leadership Series where Ed Saguibo, SmarTrade’s Head of Learning and Development, was invited as guest speaker for the special segment “LEFT BRAIN FOCUS: Financial Precision”.
Saguibo’s talk, attended by Business Administration students, focused on the timely and relevant topic of “Quantitative Decision Making and Identifying Poor Decisions in Financial Choices,” a critical area of knowledge for future professionals navigating today’s increasingly complex financial landscape. He emphasized how data-backed decisions can positively impact personal and business finances, providing technical insights combined with real-life scenarios and common decision-making pitfalls to offer practical tools that students can immediately apply.
“It’s not just about making smart decisions, it’s about making informed ones. When students learn how to analyze numbers and spot red flags in their financial behavior early on, they are better prepared to lead successful financial lives, whether as entrepreneurs, professionals, or investors,” said Saguibo.
This is SmarTrade’s third campus engagement for the year under its nationwide campaign P.A.R.T.N.E.R. Summit (Profitable Alliances: Reshaping Trading Networks for Endless Rewards), which aims to promote financial literacy and readiness among students and young professionals. The campaign is built around a vision of equipping Filipinos with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate and thrive in the trading and investment world. By incorporating school engagements, SmarTrade continues to lay the groundwork for a financially empowered generation.
“We’re proud to bring this advocacy to institutions like the National Teachers College,” said Joyce Mayo, President and CEO of SmarTrade. “Education is at the core of what we do, and through our P.A.R.T.N.E.R. campaign, we aim to go beyond trading to build a community of financially literate Filipinos. These students are the future, and it’s our role to help shape that future through opportunity and learning.”
To inquire on how your college, university, or student organization can be part of the P.A.R.T.N.E.R. Summit campaign, email events@smartrade.com.ph. To learn more about SmarTrade and its services, including free training sessions and personalized coaching, visit www.smartradeph.com or follow their official Facebook and Instagram pages.
NEWS
Political Pump makes waves at PH Blockchain Week
7:30 a.m. July 10, 2025
In a sea of short-lived hype cycles token launches, Political Pump is emerging as a cultural movement for the next generation of crypto enthusiasts. Showcased at Philippine Blockchain Week 2025, the platform brings a new, safer frontier for meme coin lovers, one where you can buy, hold, and sleep soundly.
Political Pump is not just another meme coin, it’s a decentralized collectible platform where political figures meet blockchain in a unique blend of satire, scarcity, and community governance. Each politician-based micro memecoin has a fixed supply and is launched without presales or insider allocations. True to the spirit of decentralization, 100% of liquidity is burned, ensuring fair, transparent, and tamper-proof tokenomics. It’s not just a token. It’s a conversation. A collectible. A piece of digital history.
(Photo from Philippine Blockchain Week: Jose Manuel Torres, Co-Founder of Political Pump)
“This isn’t just another meme coin. It’s a statement,” said Jose Manuel Torres, Co-Founder of Political Pump. “We launched without presales, private allocations, or team-controlled wallets. Every coin is market-driven, with all liquidity burned, ensuring there’s no room for manipulation. No secret deals, no backroom games—just pure, transparent crypto play. We don’t believe in governance tokens or centralized control. We believe the people should speak through the free market.”
From left to right: Chezka Gonzales, Vice President of Blockchain Council of the Philippines and Co Founder of Philippine Blockchain Week, Donnalyn Bartolome, multi-talented Filipina personality, Jose Manuel Torres, Co-Founder of Political Pump Political Pump piqued interest and stood out alongside other noteworthy innovations and meme coin activations at Philippine Blockchain Week 2025, a true celebration of culture, technology, and community-led finance. If you missed out, learn more by visiting www.politicalpump.com.
NEWS
Makati Business Club believes Customs chief Nepomuceno can reform, modernize agency
5:39 p.m. July 26, 2025
In a strong show of confidence from the country’s premier business group, Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Director Rafael “Apa” Ongpin praised Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno during a recent high-profile interview, calling him a man of “great integrity” and a capable leader poised to reform and modernize the agency.
“We discussed him in Makati Business Club. Quite a few members are familiar with him — apparently, he came from the private sector. He has a good reputation,” Ongpin said, speaking on behalf of the business community’s early impressions of the newly appointed Customs chief.
Ongpin commended Nepomuceno’s intelligence and openness to innovation: “Apparently he’s very bright, he’s very up to date with technology — and he has great integrity. So, we have high hopes for this guy, Mr. Nepomuceno.”
Commissioner Nepomuceno, who previously held key roles in both government and the private sector, has been widely expected to bring a more results-oriented and transparent leadership style to the BOC. The endorsement from the MBC — an influential voice in Philippine economic policy and governance — adds momentum to ongoing reform efforts at Customs, long seen as a critical chokepoint in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations.
Observers note that such public praise from the business sector underscores the importance of trust and modernization in government institutions.
Commissioner Nepomuceno, meanwhile, has previously vowed to lead the BOC with transparency, digitalization, and accountability as top priorities.
SmarTrade Talks Financial Literacy with Future Business Leaders at National Teachers College
Political Pump makes waves at PH Blockchain Week
Shell empowers Filipino SMEs thru award-winning Fleet App
