ALI raises P3.7 billion from sale of AREIT sharesIn a stock exchange filing, ALI said it sold a total of 88 million common shares of AREIT Inc. at a transaction price of P42 apiece pursuant to a placement agreement with UBS AG Singapore Branch and BPI Capital Corp.MANILA, Philippines — Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has raised P3.7 billion from the block sale of a new batch of shares in its listed real estate investment trust. The company intends to submit the required reinvestment plan detailing the use of proceeds obtained from the block sale in due course. For this year, ALI is earmarking P70 billion to P80 billion in capital expenditures, about 38 percent of which will be used for its leasing projects. Its assets under management grew to P139.3 billion, spanning a diversified portfolio of offices, retail, hotels and industrial land. To accelerate portfolio growth, AREIT secured stockholder approval in December last year for a property-for-share swap transaction with ALI and Summerhill Commercial Ventures Corp., involving Ayala Center Cebu and Ayala Malls Feliz, valued at P19.5 billion in exchange for 441.13 million AREIT shares.

SM Investments profit climbs 10% to P90.5 billionThe holding company of the SM group reported a 10 percent jump in its net income to P90.5 billion in 2025 from P82.6 billion a year ago. MANILA, Philippines — The Sy family’s SM Investments Corp. delivered a double-digit profit increase last year, driven by sustained growth across its business segments. The holding company of the SM group reported a 10 percent jump in its net income to P90.5 billion in 2025 from P82.6 billion a year ago. This reflected resilient consumer spending, improved operational e?ciencies and prudent financial management across our core businesses,” SM Investments president and chief executive officer Frederic DyBuncio said. SM Retail, for its part, saw a one percent improvement in net income to P21.1 billion, with retail revenues rising by five percent year-on-year to P458.1 billion.

Pru Life UK exec named education head of PLIAIn a statement, the company said the appointment highlights Katindoy’s role in advancing professional development within the life insurance sector, particularly through learning programs designed to improve the skills and competencies of insurance practitioners. MANILA, Philippines — Pru Life UK said Elaine Katindoy, vice president for PRUAcademy, has been appointed as education committee head of the Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA), a move that places her at the forefront of industry efforts to strengthen training standards and financial literacy initiatives. Pru Life UK said she brings extensive experience in training, curriculum development and strategic partnerships, having led various programs under PRUAcademy. “The role of the life insurance sector is in equipping Filipinos with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions,” Katindoy said. Established in 1996, Pru Life UK operates more than 200 branches and general agency offices nationwide and has close to 38,000 licensed agents.

The March 2026 priority datesEach month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off dates listed below in the Visa Issuance or Final Action Date column. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the US), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. Caution: if your Final Action/Visa Issuance date has been current for more than a year and you were notified by the NVC but did not respond, you could risk your case being canceled or terminated. The priority dates for the Philippines for March 2026 are:* * *WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.comFollow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw, YouTube: US Immigration TV and Instagram.com/gurfinkellawFour offices to serve you: Los Angeles; San Francisco; New York: Toll free number: 1-866-GURFINKEL (1-866-487-3465); Philippines: +632 88940258 or +632 88940239

Duterte will likely go on trial – ExpertJulian Nicholls and Mame Mandiaye Niang of the prosecution during the confirmation of charges hearing against former president Rodrigo Duterte, Feb. 23, 2026 at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. MANILA, Philippines — Based on what transpired during the hearings on the confirmation of charges against him, former president Rodrigo Duterte is likely to go on trial for crimes against humanity, according to a constitutional expert. “In my view, the case will proceed to trial because the level of evidence, the quantum of evidence, is substantial evidence only. The ICC has 60 days to decide whether to proceed with a trial after the confirmation of charges hearing ended on Friday. Also included in the defense’s tactic, Cayosa stressed, was an attempt to distance Duterte from the nexus or link to the extrajudicial killings.

Charges eyed over harassment of EJK victims, familiesRelatives of EJK victims call for justice during a candle lighting activity in UP Diliman on the last day of confirmation of charges hearings against former president Rodrigo Duterte on Friday. MANILA, Philippines — Rabid supporters and trolls defending former president Rodrigo Duterte may soon find themselves in legal trouble over their alleged harassment and trolling of extrajudicial killing victims and their families. In a statement, support group Duterte Panagutin Europe said it intends to file the charges in The Hague and in the Philippines after several victims and lawyers, including those who attended Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing in person, were subjected to harassment. The footage was then “used as a means to facilitate derogatory remarks from troll armies,” said the network. We are already consulting with Dutch lawyers on this matter,” the Duterte Panagutin Europe said.

Ridon: VP Sara’s 2028 presidential bid ‘irrelevant’ to HouseVice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 to announce her presidential bid in the upcoming 2028 elections. MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s declaration that she intends to run for president in 2028 is “irrelevant” to the House of Representatives’ handling of the four impeachment complaints against her, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said yesterday. Ridon, chairman of the House committee on public accounts, dismissed speculation that Duterte’s political plans could influence lawmakers in tackling the complaints. He said the House is “laser-focused” on determining the sufficiency in form and substance of the complaints, not on forward-looking political moves tied to the 2028 elections. “In my view, Vice President Sara Duterte’s declaration for president is irrelevant in the disposition of the House committee on justice and the House in general, specifically in her impeachment,” Ridon said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Not dead, but it was never realBefore COVID, I declined invitations to speak on “work-life balance,” telling clients:1. COVID erased home-work boundaries, renewing interest in “work-life balance,” especially among younger employees. In her column titled “Work-Life Balance Isn’t Dead — It Was Never Real,” Angela presented her observations, and I find it plausible and noteworthy. “Work-life balance” rose in the 1980s as longer work hours and dual-income households drove organizations to address family needs. In the end, Gennari’s core message is both sobering and hopeful: the old version of work-life balance was never realistic.

Students displaced by Kanlaon’s unrest now 233,428Kanlaon Volcano emits ash for a second day in a row, according to Phivolcs. MANILA, Philippines — The ongoing activity of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island has disrupted classes, affecting up to 233,428 students in 465 public schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday. Up to 465 schools in Negros Island Region have suspended in-person classes and shifted to alternative mode of learning to ensure continuity of education. DepEd said that so far, no school is being used as an evacuation center. “DepEd is closely monitoring families for possible evacuation and assessing schools that may be used as evacuation centers to ensure readiness and safety,” the agency said.

FIBA clash on neutral groundsMANILA, Philippines — The MOA Arena will be the neutral setting of an explosive clash between China and Chinese-Taipei at 4 p.m. today with the FIBA World Cup Asia qualifier not just a battle of political powers but also a fight to survive elimination. But opening the second window last Thursday, Chinese-Taipei upended South Korea, 77-65 and China beat Japan, 87-80. China has posted impressive numbers in the qualifiers, averaging 40.7 bench points, 15.3 second chance points, 36.7 paint points and 79.7 overall points. Chinese-Taipei is averaging a modest 10 bench points, 9.7 second chance points, 32.7 paint points and 71.3 overall points. The only Chinese-Taipei win came in a 96-78 decision during the FIBA Asia Cup at the MOA Arena in 2013.

Medvedev reaches finalDaniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates winning the men's singles final against Brandon Nakashima of the US at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia on January 11, 2026. DUBAI — Daniil Medvedev is one victory away from repeating a title run for the first time in his career after he punched his ticket to the Dubai final with a 6-4, 6-2 success over top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday. Medvedev, a former world No. 1, boasts 22 career titles but has bizarrely never won the same tournament twice. 25 Tallon Griekspoor in the final on Saturday in Dubai.

President Marcos welcomes 3 new envoysPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received the credentials of three newly appointed ambassadors from Papua New Guinea, Slovakia, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic at Malacañang Palace in Manila on February 28, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos welcomed on Friday the new ambassadors of Slovak Republic, Papua New Guinea and Lao, stressing the strong potential for expanded cooperation with the three nations. Ambassadors Stephen Pokanis of Papua New Guinea, Miloš Koterec of the Slovak Republic and Thiphasone Sengsourinha of Lao presented their credentials to the President during a ceremony at Malacañang. The President said there is a wide range of activities and areas for the Philippines and the Slovak Republic to explore and discuss during the envoy’s tenure in the country. Meanwhile, Marcos expressed hope that the country’s relations with Papua New Guinea would continue to grow and deepen in the future.

ICC judges urged: Keep Duterte in detentionThe International Criminal Court (ICC) has convened the second day for the confirmation of charges hearing for former president Rodrigo Duterte on February 24, 2026. Joel Butuyan, one of the two Filipino lawyers appointed as common legal representative of the victims, also urged the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I to keep Duterte in detention. “If Mr. Duterte cannot even hide his contempt for this honorable court while he is already under detention, imagine how Mr. Duterte will use this contempt for the court if he is released,” he said. Duterte has telegraphed his intention to escape from this honorable court’s jurisdiction if he is released from detention. Consequently, your honors, he remains a flight risk if he is released from detention,” he added.

Lessons from Tall BlacksThere were several positive takeaways from Gilas’ 69-66 loss to New Zealand in the second FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window at the MOA Arena last Thursday. The most impactful was the way coach Tim Cone’s squad played defense, holding the Tall Blacks to nine points below their average this window, 35.8 percent from the field and forcing 18 turnovers. The Tall Blacks didn’t just switch off ball-screens, they blitzed. When Gilas beat the Tall Blacks in 2024, he fired 26. Despite Gilas’ poor shooting from the field (33 percent) and line, the Tall Blacks won by only three.

Duterte, his lawyer said, appeared resigned to his fate at the international tribunal. I no longer remember much at all, and I can’t comment on people who I do not know and on statistics that mean nothing to me,’” the defense lawyer told the court. I have now accepted my fate, and I realized that I could die in prison,’” Kaufman added. “If Rodrigo Duterte is to be faulted for anything, it is for his inappropriate choice of language. But he murdered no one,” Kaufman told the judges.