ZUS Coffee
BACOOR, CAVITE – Coffee enthusiasts in Cavite have a new destination for high-quality brews as ZUS Coffee officially opens its doors on the 3rd Level of SM City Bacoor near the cinema. The branch invites mall-goers to experience a menu crafted with passion, featuring bold flavors designed for those who want to “go all out” with every cup. This latest addition to the mall’s food scene provides a premium haven where local coffee lovers can “max out” on their favorite signature drinks.
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As part of its continuing efforts to strengthen the startup ecosystem across the country, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched the activity “Strengthening the Regional Startup Ecosystem: Establishment of Provincial and Regional Innovation Hubs (iHubs)” on February 24, 2026 at Watergate Hotel in Butuan City.
The activity gathered regional directors, provincial science and technology directors, innovation champions, and key stakeholders from across Mindanao to align strategies in building stronger, more inclusive startup communities. Representing DOST SOCCSKSARGEN were Regional Director Engr. Sammy P. Malawan and Provincial Director Dr. Michael T. Mayo of PSTO Cotabato.
The event featured a ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing, signifying the commitment of participating DOST offices and partners to establish and strengthen Provincial and Regional Innovation Hubs (iHubs). Moreover, collaborative workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions were conducted such as discussions on AI Harmonization and the Smart Office System for Government Excellence.
By establishing Provincial and Regional Innovation Hubs (iHubs), DOST aims to provide shared spaces for ideation, incubation, mentoring, prototyping, and access to funding and technical support. In SOCCSKSARGEN, one Innovation Hub has recently been established at the University of Southern Mindanao in Cotabato Province, serving as a collaborative space for students, faculty researchers, and local innovators.
The participation of DOST SOCCSKSARGEN in this national initiative opens greater opportunities to cultivate more technology-based startups in the region. Moving forward, the agency aims to establish additional innovation hubs across the region and strengthen partnerships with higher education institutions, local government units, and private sector stakeholders to further nurture a vibrant and sustainable startup ecosystem in SOCCSKSARGEN.
The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office IV-A (CALABARZON) in celebration of the Civil Registration Month, joined the Local Government Unit of Malvar, Batangas in the conduct of a meaningful Kasalang Bayan on February 27, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the Malvar Sports Arena, where 30 couples were officially united in marriage. The wedding ceremony was officiated by Municipal Mayor Hon. Admiral Artemio “Art” M. Abu (Ret.), with the support of Local Civil Registrar as part of the LGU’s continuing programs aimed at promoting legal marriage registration and strengthening family values in the community.
Representing PSA RSSO IV-A were Raul Maximo S. Tolentino, Provincial Head of PSA Batangas, and Aleli-Jane A. Reaño, Accountant III of PSA RSSO IV-A, who emphasized the importance of civil registration in ensuring legal identity, access to social services, and protection of individual rights. In line with the objectives of Civil Registration Month, they encouraged couples who remain unregistered to avail of civil registration services and formalize their marital unions and likewise promoted the legitimation of children born before marriage, emphasizing that proper documentation ensures their legal status, protects their rights, and provides better access to essential services and benefits.
PSA RSSO IV-A reiterates its commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen the civil registration system and promote public awareness on the importance of registering vital events, such as marriage, as a fundamental pillar of inclusive governance and national development
In collaboration with the Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Statistical Services Office (PSA RSSO IV-A), the Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) Batangas and the Local Civil Registry Office of Tanauan, the Civil Registry System (CRS) Mobile Outlet Service was successfully conducted alongside with the distribution of IEC Materials held at Tanauan City Hall on February 26, 2026.
This initiative was part of the celebration of the 36th Civil Registration Month (CRM) with the theme, “Navigating the Future Together: Advancing CRVS in Shaping the Global and Regional Data Ecosystem.”
The activity aimed to bring PSA civil registry services closer to the residents of Tanauan, Batangas and nearby communities, providing them convenient access to important vital documents such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, and Certificates of No Marriage (CENOMAR).
In addition to the mobile outlet services, the PSA distributed Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on RA No. 9048 and RA No. 10172, RA No. 9255, the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) National ID, and the requirements for legitimation, adoption, and annulment of marriage. IEC materials on Gender and Development (GAD) principles were also disseminated. A total of forty (40) individuals were given IEC materials, consisting of thirty-three (33) females and eleven (7) males.
Overall, the conduct of CRS Mobile Outlet Service was successful and well-received by the community. The activity demonstrated the continued commitment of the PSA to provide accessible, efficient, and reliable civil registration services to the public.
A powerful convergence of advocates, trailblazers, and changemakers took place during the Philippine National Federations of Persons with Disabilities (PNFPWD) National General Assembly and Summit from February 24–27 at One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites, Tagaytay City.
The five-day gathering united the nation’s strongest voices in the disability sector—leaders and champions committed to shaping a more inclusive and accessible future for all Filipinos. Anchored on solidarity and shared purpose, the summit became a dynamic platform for collaboration, policy discussion, and empowerment.
The program formally opened with welcome remarks from Philippine National Federation Chair Bonifacio Castigador, who underscored the importance of unity and collective action in advancing the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs) nationwide.
Delivering the keynote message was Glenda D. Relova, Director of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), who highlighted the government’s continued commitment to mainstreaming disability-inclusive policies and strengthening partnerships with federations and local government units. She emphasized that inclusion must go beyond compliance—it must be embedded in governance, development planning, and everyday community life.
Representing the host region, REGION IV-A Federation President Danilo Emelo expressed gratitude for the overwhelming participation and reaffirmed CALABARZON’s support for national initiatives that uplift the PWD community.
Ms. Marie Shiela Haloc, Provincial Disability Affairs Officer, attended the event on behalf of Governor Francisco Gabriel “Abeng” Remulla, conveying the Provincial Government of Cavite’s full support for programs that champion inclusivity and accessibility.
On Day 1 (February 24), participants engaged in an eye-opening learning session entitled “Katawa-tawa lang ba ang PWD?” facilitated by Mr. Crisaldo Pablo of PWDigitables Channel. The discussion tackled persistent stereotypes, discrimination, and the importance of respectful representation of persons with disabilities in media and society. The session sparked meaningful dialogue among delegates, reinforcing the need to challenge harmful narratives and promote dignity and empowerment.
Meanwhile, the Tagaytay City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) shared the city’s best practices in implementing disability-friendly initiatives, showcasing local efforts that can serve as models for other LGUs.
In the succeeding days, the summit will delve into critical thematic discussions including Inclusive Tourism, Inclusive Agriculture, and Inclusive Services Industry. These sessions will explore innovative strategies and practical approaches to ensure that PWDs are not merely beneficiaries but active contributors to economic development across various sectors. — OPIO
Marking Women’s Month, Malacañang on Wednesday called for an end to the culture of objectifying women, stressing that women deserve respect and dignity, not to be reduced to subjects of vulgar remarks or sexualized fantasies disguised as compliments.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that women should be guided, uplifted, and honored— never treated as objects of public display or crude imagination that some even expect them to be grateful for.
“Hindi kami babae lang — babae kami…This is empowering women to empower all women,” Castro said.
During a proceeding in the House of Representatives on March 3, a lawmaker made remarks referencing an actress and claimed he could not be held liable for thoughts he formed in his imagination about her.
In response to the incident, Castro underscored the administration’s position on upholding respect and dignity for women, particularly in public discourse.
“Kababaihan, hindi dapat ginagawang paksa ng bastos na pananalita. Let us end the culture of objectifying women. Ang kababaihan ay ginagabayan, inaangat, ginagalang at hindi ginagawang paksa ng malaswang pagpapantasya na ipagmamalaki pa sa publiko,” the Palace Press Officer noted.
Castro, a lawyer, decried the persistent mindset that normalizes verbal harassment and sexual objectification, warning that such attitudes continue to undermine efforts to build a culture of respect and equality.
“Na dapat pa raw na ituring na compliment kapag ginawan ng kalaswaan sa isip ng isang lalaki… at dapat pang ipagpasalamat ito ng isang babae,” she pointed out. “Nabubuhay tayo sa lipunang kumikilala, gumagalang, nag-aangat at nagbibigay ng lakas sa kababaihan.” | PND
CARD MRI Rizal Bank Inc. (CARD RBI) marks another milestone as it opened its 41st branch located in Bago City on January 26, 2026, to meet the growing needs of the micro-entrepreneurs in the area.
“This expansion is an opportunity to widen the bank’s reach and extend our services to more clients. By opening new branches, we can serve a greater number of clients and help more Filipinos improve their businesses and uplift the quality of their lives,” said CARD RBI President and CEO Lyneth Derequito.
CARD RBI management strategically positioned its new branch location near neighboring provinces where the bank already operates branches and branch-lite units (BLUs). Its location near the center of Negros allows the bank to tap into existing market opportunities while strengthening its presence nationwide. Establishing another branch in Visayas will allow the bank to manage the corresponding risk of geographical diversification.
The Bago branch is expected to serve more than 3,500 clients in the cities of Bago, Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, and Victoria and the municipalities of Murcia and Valladolid in Negros Occidental, further strengthening the bank’s commitment to making financial services more accessible to the people it serves.
CARD RBI is one of the financial institutions of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), established to widen financial services for underserved communities. Founded in 1996, the bank has remained committed to empowering women and improving the well-being of their families while actively promoting the values of hard work and discipline. CARD RBI offers a wide range of services, including loans, savings, and remittances tailored to clients’ needs.
The newest branch is located at Gen. Luna St., Brgy. Poblacion, Bago City, District 1.
As of December 31, 2025, CARD RBI has served a total of 907,259 clients. For more information about CARD RBI, visit its official Facebook page @CMRBofficial or its website at https://www.cardmri.com/rbi. (Josephine M. Ramos, Junior Writer)
Bumisita at nakipagpulong ang Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) sa Eulogio ‘Amang’ Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) noong 18 Pebrero 2026 upang ihain ang mithiin at panukalang magtatag ng Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (SWK) sa pamantasan at upang higit pang pagtibayin ang ugnayan ng KWF at EARIST sa pagtataguyod ng wikang pambansa at kulturang Pilipino.
Pinangunahan ni KWF Tagapangulo Atty. Marites A. Barrios-Taran, kasama si Komisyoner Benjamin M. Mendillo Jr, ang opisyal na pagbisita at pakikipagpulong kay EARIST Pangulo Rogelio T. Mamaraldo.
Personal ding nilibot nina Barrios-Taran at Mendillo ang mga silid-aralan upang makahalubilo ang mga mag-aaral na nagpapakadalubhasa sa Filipino. Ipinakilala ng dalawa ang mga programa ng komisyon na naglalayong mas mapalapit ang wikang pambansa sa mga kabataan.
Layunin ng pagtatayo ng SWK na maging magkatuwang ang KWF at EARIST sa pagpapatupad ng mga programang pangwika, pananaliksik, at proyekto na magpapayaman sa kultura at identidad ng bansa.
Pinalalakas ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at Bukidnon State University (BukSU) ang pundasyon ng mga katutubong wika sa Mindanao at Filipino Sign Language (FSL) sa idinadaos na programa para sa pagbuo ng ortograpiya noong Pebrero 23-24, 2026 sa Audio-Visual Center ng unibersidad.
Ang mahalagang pagtitipong ito ang nagbibigay-daan sa estandardisasyon ng pagsulat para sa mga wika ng mga tribu sa rehiyon at sa pormal na pagkilala sa visual na sistema ng FSL. Layon ng inisyatibong ito na tiyakin ang inklusibong pag-unlad na kumikilala sa kultural na identidad ng mga katutubo at ng komunidad ng mga Bingi.
Ipinaliliwanag ni Atty. Marites A. Barrios-Taran, Tagapangulo ng KWF, ang mga probisyon ng Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ng KWF at BukSU sa kaniyang espesyal na mensahe. Binibigyang-diin niya na ang alyansang ito ang nagsisilbing legal na balangkas para sa mas masigasig na pagpapayabong ng mga diyalekto sa Mindanao.
Nagpapahayag naman ng kaniyang buong suporta sa mga adhikain ng KWF ang Pangulo ng BukSU na si Dr. Joy M. Mirasol. Samantala, mainit namang tinatanggap ni Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso, Ikalawang Pangulo para sa Research, Extension, and Innovations (VPREI) ang KWF sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang pambungad na mensahe.
Nagbabahagi rin ng mahahalagang kaisipan si Kom. Carmelita C. Abdurahman, Fultaym Komisyoner ng KWF, tungkol sa gampanin ng bawat sektor sa pagtataguyod ng karapatang pangwika ng bawat Pilipino.
Bilang bahagi ng pagpapalalim sa konteksto ng programa, isinasagawa ang isang Lakbay-aral sa Dalwangan National High School sa Lungsod Malaybalay. Ang pagbisitang ito ang nagpapakita ng aktuwal na kalagayan ng wika sa antas ng batayang edukasyon at ang inter-aksiyon ng mga mag-aaral sa kanilang sariling wika.
HINDI nakaporma ang isang umano’y robbery suspect matapos maaresto sa matagumpay na hot pursuit operation na isinagawa ng kapulisan kamakailan sa Bacoor City, Cavite.
Ang suspek na si alyas Obama, residente ng Bacoor City, ay positibong kinilala ng biktima at ng mga testigo makaraang maaresto sa naturang operasyon dakong ala-1:00 ng madaling araw nitong Marso 3.
Sinusulat ito ay patuloy ang hot pursuit operations para sa pagkakakilanlan at pag-aresto sa iba pang mga suspek na sangkot sa nasabing robbery (hold-up) incident.
NASWAK ng mga awtoridad ang tatlong umano’y ‘tulak’ matapos ang matagumpay na ikinasang joint buy-bust operation na nagresulta sa pagkakakumpiska sa mahigit kalahating milyong pisong halaga ng hinihinalang shabu kamakailan sa Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
Kinilala ang tatlong suspek sa mga alyas Amo, Kim; kapwa High-Value Individual; at Isaac, Street-Level Individual, na pawang residente ng Dasmariñas City.
Nakumpiska sa operasyon ang apat na piraso ng heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet na naglalaman ng puting crystalline substance na hinihinalang shabu na may kabuuang timbang na mahigit o mas mababa sa 75 gramo at may standard price price na P510,000.00 at isang piraso ng limang daang pisong bill na ginamit bilang buy-bust money.
Ang naturang operasyon ay ikinasa dakong alas-6:40 ng gabi nitong Marso 4 ng Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Cavite Police Provincial Office, sa pakikipagkoordina sa Dasmariñas Component City Police Station gamit ang Alternative Recording Device.
TIMBOG ang isang Street-Level Individual (SLI) sa matagumpay na buy-bust operation ng pulisya kamakailan sa Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
Ang suspek na si alyas Kuntil, residente ng Dasmariñas City, ay naaresto dakong alas-7:40 ng gabi nitong Marso 4.
Nabatid na ang suspek ay nagbenta ng heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet na naglalaman ng hinihinalang shabu sa pulis na umaktong poseur buyer kapalit ng isa sa limang daang pisong bill (P500.00) na ginamit bilang marked money.
Kasunod nito ay nakuha mula sa pag-iingat ng suspek ang dalawang heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet na naglalaman ng puting crystalline substance na hinihinalang shabu na may timbang na MOL 25.40 gramo na may karaniwang presyo ng gamot na P172,720.00, isang kahon ng sigarilyo at isang P500.00 na ginamit bilang buy-bust money.
Isinagawa ng Drug Enforcement Unit ng Dasmariñas Component City Police Station ang operasyon na may koordinasyon sa PDEA gamit ang alternative recording device.
NAKALAWIT sa matagumpay na joint operation ng kapulisan ang isang provincial Level Most Wanted Person kamakailan sa Kawit, Cavite.
Kinilala ang akusado na si alyas Nemson, residente ng Calauan, Laguna, at siya ay naaresto dakong alas-2:00 ng hapon nitong Marso 3.
Ang matagumpay na operasyon ay nagresulta sa serbisyo ng limang warrants of arrest laban sa akusado para sa kaso ng paglabag sa New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 (R.A. 10883), na inisyu ng presiding judge, RTC Branch 131, Trece Martires City, Cavite, na may petsang Oktubre 20, 2025, na may inirekomendang bail na P300,000.00; paglabag sa R.A. 10883, na inisyu ng namumunong hukom, RTC Branch 101, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, na may petsang Pebrero 3, 2026, na may inirekomendang piyansa na P300,000.00; paglabag sa R.A. 10883, na inisyu ng namumunong hukom, RTC Branch 101, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, na may petsang Pebrero 19, 2026, na may inirekomendang piyansa na P300,000.00; Estafa sa ilalim ng Article 315, Paragraph 2(a) ng Revised Penal Code, na inisyu ng presiding judge, MTC Calauan, Laguna, na may petsang Nobyembre 6, 2025, na may inirekomendang piyansa na P18,000.00; at Estafa sa ilalim ng Article 315, Paragraph 2(a) ng Revised Penal Code, na inisyu ng presiding judge, MTC Calauan, Laguna, na may petsang Nobyembre 6, 2025, na may inirekomendang piyansa na P18,000.00.
Ang pag-aresto ay isinagawa ng warrant personnel ng Kawit Municipal Police Station sa koordinasyon ng Regional Intelligence Unit 4A, Provincial Iintelligence Team- Cavite at Provincial Highway Patrol Team-Cavite, gamit ang Alternative Recording Device.