NEWS
Tabuena quashes Mondilla in playoff to capture ICTSI Luisita golf crown
March 25, 2022 8:19 p.m.
TARLAC – Miguel Tabuena showed firm resolve in the clutch and staying power in debilitating heat, foiling Clyde Mondilla’s scorching rally with a six-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole to capture the ICTSI Luisita Championship here yesterday.
Both birdied the tough closing par-4 hole in regulation in separate flights with Mondilla doing the feat first off a superb 56-degree wedge shot from 96 yards to within five feet to spike a closing 65 highlighted by four straight bogeys from No. 4.
Tabuena, on the other hand, bounced back from a disastrous bogey on the 17th with a birdie putt from close range off a near-perfect drive to save a 70 and tie Mondilla at nine-under 279.
But after both matched pars on the first playoff hole, also on No. 18, Tabuena proved steadier in the end, drilling a delicate putt back on the 18th after Mondilla flubbed his own bid from 10 feet and ending up on top in the P2 million championship that kicked off the new Philippine Golf Tour season after a year-long break due to global health crisis.
The victory, worth P360,000, likewise extended the ace shotmaker’s winning run at the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed layout to four, including the Philippine Open in 2015.
“I struck the ball better compared to the first three days but I didn’t putt as well that’s why I didn’t have as many birdies,” said Tabuena, who had five birdies against three bogeys in his closing pair of 35s.
“But I’m pretty happy with the outcome, obviously. But a win is a win and it’s my first win as a married man, so thank you Lord,” added Tabuena, who married his long-time Lauren Nocum in the US last month.
Despite his big lead following Michael Bibat’s early meltdown, Tabuena knew someone very familiar with the tight, challenging course would step up and mount a charge.
“Congrats to Clyde, he played the best round, but I wasn’t so shocked (of his comeback),” he said of Mondilla. “I was expecting someone to chase me and I had very good feeling it would be Clyde, who basically practiced and lived here for few months before the pandemic so he really knew the course.”
Mondilla missed duplicating his feat at Pradera Verde two years ago but admitted he yielded to a better player.
“Getting to the playoff was something, considering that I was down by five. My putting just clicked and I was in the hunt,” said Mondilla, who actually fell by as many as seven with a bogey on No. 2 which Tabuena birdied in a flight behind.
“But I misread my line of putt (on the second playoff hole). But that’s okay, me mas magaling pa kesa sa akin (there’s someone better than me),” said Mondilla, who had hoped to match his feat at ICTSI Pradera Verde where he also rallied from five down in the final round and best four others in the playoff in the most crowded playoff cast in PGT history in Jan. 2020 before the circuit took a long break due to global health crisis. He received P236,000.
Earlier, Tabuena pounced on Bibat’s early stumble to build up a big cushion, only to find himself faced with a tougher task of stopping a hot-finishing Mondilla on his tracks.
As the Del Monte native strung up four straight birdies from No. 4 to launch his fightback and sustained it with four more birdies in the last 10 holes, Tabuena went on a roller-coaster ride, mixing two birdies with two bogeys from No. 4 to the 14th, enabling Mondilla to force a tie at eight-under overall.
He birdied the 16th to regain the lead but stumbled with a bogey on the 17th and needed to produce a birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff.
Amateur Perry Bucay also proved to be a revelation, finishing a strong joint third with third round joint leader Michael Bibat at four-under 284 total after a 70 in sweltering heat.
His confidence boosted by a fiery 66 Thursday that lifted him from joint 15th to joint fourth, Bucay snapped a one-birdie, one-bogey game with three birdies in a four-hole stretch from No. 12 and could’ve claimed solo third if not for a bogey on No. 17.
Still, it was impressive stint for the rising amateur star, who turned in a pair of so-so 74s in the first two rounds but went on a birdie-spree in the third day before closing out with another under-par card.
He nearly upstaged Bibat, who sparked hopes of ending a long title spell after forging ahead with Tabuena with a second 68 in three days Thursday. But the 2013 ICTSI Pueblo de Oro champion failed to recover from a bogey and double bogey stumble on Nos. 1 and 3, respectively, and yielded two more strokes on the first two holes at the back.
But he birdied two of the next three, missed a chance on the 16th and parred the rest for a 75. He took home P136,000 with Bucay claiming the low amateur trophy in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Reymon Jaraula carded a 70 and Lascuña shot a 71 as they shared fifth at 286 worth P96,000 each while Zanieboy Gialon matched par 72 for seventh at 287 worth P76,000, and rookie pro Sean Ramos fumbled with a 75 and tumbled to eighth at 288 for his first paycheck of P66,000.
Next up for the PGT is the ICTSI Splendido Challenge on April 18-22 to be held with the 54-hole Ladies PGT at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay.
NEWS
COA named WTO External Auditor, begins six-year term
7:11 p.m. April 6, 2026
The Commission on Audit (COA) has been appointed as the new External Auditor of the World Trade Organization, reflecting its credibility and strong reputation in international auditing and growing influence in advancing good governance around the world.
The Philippines’ audit body, an independent constitutional commission, succeeds France’s supreme audit institution, the Cour des Comptes, and will serve a non-renewable term of six years.
In its role, COA will oversee the audit of the WTO’s financial statements, pension plan, and operations in line with the Organization’s financial regulations.
The audit body was selected by the WTO General Council on the recommendation of its Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration (CBFA). The committee cited how COA’s proven track record in auditing international organizations will help strengthen financial accountability and reinforce trust in the WTO’s governance framework.
“COA’s appointment as the WTO’s new external auditor demonstrates how the world views our capabilities as an independent audit body– reliable, trustworthy, and world-class. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of independence and professionalism in our work with the WTO, continuing our mission to promote transparency and accountability in international institutions,” said COA Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba.
He said the WTO appointment represents a significant milestone for COA, illustrating its expanding influence and growing force in advancing transparency, accountability, and good governance not just in the Philippines, but around the world.
COA earlier served as External Auditor for several major specialized United Nations agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In these assignments, COA was commended for its rigorous standards and contribution to strengthening transparency and accountability in global governance. #
NEWS
MTerra Solar powers up 250 MW, boosting energy supply amid global volatility
7:45 p.m. April 1, 2026
Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), through its affiliate Terra Solar Philippines Inc. (MTerra Solar), has successfully energized the first 250-megawatts (MW) of its solar capacity – now operating as a generator and marking the start of its contribution to the country’s growing demand for reliable and clean energy.
This milestone represents a critical step in the project’s phased development and comes at a pivotal time for the Philippines, as global fuel market volatility driven in part by the current situation in the Middle East, continues to highlight the urgency of strengthening domestic and renewable energy sources. The early delivery of capacity from MTerra Solar reinforces efforts to enhance the country’s energy self-sufficiency and reduce exposure to imported fuel risks.
“Reaching this milestone reflects the strong execution, collaboration, and dedication of our teams and partners. More importantly, it underscores the role of projects like MTerra Solar in helping secure the country’s energy future at a time when reliability and
affordability are under increasing pressure,” said MGEN Renewables and MTerra Solar President and CEO Dennis B. Jordan.
MTerra Solar was initially authorized to export up to 85 MW of firm power to the grid as part of testing and commissioning activities. With the continued support from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the facility is now exporting up to 250MW — providing additional capacity to help stabilize supply during a period of heightened system demand.
During a previous MTerra Solar event, DOE Secretary Sharon Garin emphasized the project’s significance in strengthening the country’s renewable energy pipeline and addressing immediate supply challenges.
“The initial grid synchronization of MTerra Solar – led by MGEN and Actis – represents a meaningful step towards our transition to a cleaner and more energy-resilient Philippines. Developments of this scale are critical as we navigate current global uncertainties while ensuring long-term energy security,” Secretary Garin said.
“Beyond its contribution to the renewable energy transition, MTerra Solar plays an important role in supporting the country’s near-term energy requirements. The project’s phased energization enables earlier delivery of capacity to the grid, helping ease supply constraints and supporting efforts to maintain stable electricity prices amid evolving global conditions,” MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio shared.
In addition, MTerra Solar has also energized the first tranche of its battery energy storage system (BESS). Through energy generated from its solar output, the plant has been able to deliver up to 450 MWh of energy to the grid at night. This tranche now represents the largest operational BESS available in the Philippines.
Following these milestones, the facility will still undergo a series of comprehensive activities in the coming weeks to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable integration of battery storage with the solar facility. Once fully operational, the integrated BESS will enhance grid stability and enable the dispatch of renewable energy beyond daylight hours, strengthening system reliability while maximizing the value of solar power generation.
MTerra Solar underscores MGEN’s commitment to advancing a diverse energy portfolio that addresses the energy trilemma – ensuring that supply remains sustainable, reliable, and affordable. At full capacity, the project is expected to generate up to 3,500 MWp of solar power, supported by a 4,500 MWh battery energy storage system – delivering clean energy to approximately 2.4 million households.
The project will also avoid an estimated 4.3 million tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing more than 3 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the road. With
Phase 1 on track for completion this year and Phase 2 already under construction, MTerra Solar will continue to scale up its capacity, contributing meaningfully to the Philippines’ renewable energy targets of 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
NEWS
Food delivery rider smashes PH cycling record using bike with P2,500 frame
2:25 a.m. March 30. 2026
TAGAYTAY City— Patrick Gerard Lee put the Philippines on the medals board with his bronze medal in men C5 scratch race of para cycling in the Asian Cycling Confederation Track and Para Track Cycling championships on Sunday at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome.
It was the first medal for the Philippines in the annual championships hosted this year by the PhilCycling and Tagaytay City—and the first continental exposure of the national para cycling team.
As importantly, Lee earned points for qualification to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
But before Lee turned the crowd inside the Tagaytay CT Velodrome into a frenzy, a Panda Food delivery bike rider—Zedrick Ivan Honorica—set a new Philippine record in men elite sprint using the same bike he uses in plying his trade.
Honorica’s bike? A Brain frame that costs P2,500 and a wheel set worth P12,000 which he raised from delivering food—a bicycle that astronomically pales to the equipment used by the elite countries’ riders, some breaching P7 million.
“I pushed and pushed myself, it’s a very tough race,” said Lee, 21, who lost his right forearm from under the elbow in a meat grinder at his aunt’s stall at Marilao Market when he was five years old.
“I’m really very happy because it’s for our country,” added Lee, who’s set to race again on the last day Wednesday of the championships supported by Tagaytay City Mayor Brent Tolentino and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MVP Sports Foundation, Sports Plus PH, Toyota and Peak.
Uzbekistan’s Azimbek Abdullaev won the gold medal and Japan’s Ruito Kameda secured the silver but with a tough challenge from Lee—the result went down to the photo finish.
Another Filipino, Joel Inn Tacutaco, finished fifth in the 14-rider race.
Honorica? He’s not your ordinary elite cyclist—literally, he came out of nowhere.
“I race in ‘bente-bente, nothing more,” said the 21-year-old who broke the national record his fellow Marikeño and many-time tour champion Jan Paul Morales set in the Doha 2006 Asian Games.”
“I wasn’t aware of the national record, but I know Kuya JPM [Morales], him being a champion … he doesn’t know me, though,” he added.
Honorica said he’s an accidental member of the national team in the Asian championships.
“I saw a post on Facebook by national coach Gil [Virgilio Espirutu) on an invitation for a power test [informal tryouts], and I was second best … that was only last January,” he said.
Honorica clocked 10.865 seconds, beating Morales’s 20-year-old record of 11.42 seconds.
The effort landed him in 21st out of 22 riders in the event won by Japan’s Kaiya Ota in 9.348 seconds, also shaving a fraction from his previous best of 9.350.
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