Abbey M.

MANILA — From looking up to Maria Sharapova as a young tennis player to sitting across from her for an hour-long conversation, Alex Eala has shared a full-circle moment with one of her biggest childhood idols.

The 21-year-old Filipina tennis star appeared on Sharapova’s podcast, “Pretty Tough,” in an episode released October 7 titled “Alex Eala Was Raised to Be a Champion.” 

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Eala has previously described the five-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 as her “super idol,” admiring Sharapova from an early age for both her competitive style and presence beyond the tennis court.

A teaser shared ahead of the episode showed an excited Eala greeting the retired Russian tennis great. 

Sharapova, meanwhile, introduced the Filipina as a highly requested guest and described her as “the girl of the moment.” 

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The encounter carried an added personal connection.

During their conversation, Eala showed Sharapova an old photograph of the two taken when Eala was still a child and Sharapova was competing professionally — turning the podcast appearance into a meeting between an athlete Eala once watched from afar and the player she has since become herself. 

Their conversation went beyond Eala’s breakthrough results.

On the podcast, Eala discussed the physical and mental demands of professional tennis, carrying the expectations that come with representing the Philippines, and the sacrifices behind her rise through the sport.

She also recalled early-morning training sessions with her grandfather and moving away from home at age 13 to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain. 

The conversation comes during a landmark season for Eala.

She became the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour singles title after capturing the Washington crown in August, a victory that propelled her into the world’s Top 20 for the first time. The WTA later listed her at world No. 18. 

Eala also made Philippine tennis history at Wimbledon by becoming the first player representing the country to reach the second week of a Grand Slam singles event in the Open Era. She defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek before reaching the fourth round. 

More recently, she earned a bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, her second consecutive Asian Games bronze in the event. 

Years after posing for a childhood photo with one of the players who inspired her, Eala returned to Sharapova’s company no longer simply as a young fan — but as one of the rising names on the international tennis tour.

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QUEZON CITY — The Social Security System is encouraging qualified members to use its new digital microloan facility, SSS LoanLite, which offers short-term loans from ₱1,000 to ₱20,000.

The program is open to eligible employed, self-employed, voluntary and overseas Filipino worker members with at least 12 posted monthly contributions, according to the SSS.

Loan amounts depend on a member’s contribution record and the average of their 12 latest Monthly Salary Credits.

Members with at least 12 posted contributions may borrow an amount equivalent to 11 percent of their average Monthly Salary Credit over the past 12 months.

Those with at least 36 total contributions, including at least six contributions posted within the 12 months before applying, may qualify for higher amounts of up to the ₱20,000 maximum, depending on their average salary credit.

SSS LoanLite carries an 8 percent annual interest rate, or about 0.67 percent per month, with repayment options of 15, 30, 60 or 90 days.

To qualify, members must also have no past-due short-term member loan, no active SSS Micro Loan, and no pending or settled final benefit claim such as retirement or permanent total disability, subject to applicable exceptions.

Applicants must also have an account enrolled with a participating financial institution and must have no record of fraud against the SSS.

Members who still have an existing salary, calamity or emergency loan may apply for LoanLite as long as those loans are not past due and they do not have an active SSS Micro Loan.

At present, applications are available through the UnionDigital Bank mobile app, the first participating financial institution to roll out the service.

The SSS said it is also working with RCBC, Land Bank of the Philippines and UnionBank to make LoanLite available through their respective digital platforms.

Loan proceeds are credited directly to the borrower’s account with the participating financial institution, while repayments are primarily collected through an automatic debit arrangement based on the agreed schedule.

The SSS said LoanLite was designed to give members a more accessible short-term borrowing option for immediate personal needs and provide an alternative to higher-cost informal lending.

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MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will promote Philippine investment opportunities and explore possible cooperation in nuclear energy during a five-day working visit to Singapore from October 7 to 11.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the visit will focus on expanding economic engagement with Singapore and strengthening cooperation in sectors that could support Philippine development.

A major part of Marcos’ schedule is the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference, where he is expected to present the Philippines’ investment priorities to business executives, investors and entrepreneurs from Singapore and other countries. The DFA said more than 470 business leaders are expected to participate.

Forbes earlier announced that the October 7–8 conference in Singapore would gather hundreds of global CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders under the theme “Speed of Change.” Discussions will cover areas including artificial intelligence, innovation, investment, energy and the changing global economy.

Marcos is expected to highlight opportunities in artificial intelligence and digital technology, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and healthcare, according to the DFA.

The President will also visit the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) as the Philippines explores how nuclear energy could become part of its future power mix.

The visit is expected to give the Philippine delegation a closer look at Singapore’s experience in nuclear research, safety and regulation, as well as possible areas for cooperation in nuclear science and capacity-building.

Singapore established its nuclear research program to build expertise in nuclear safety, science and engineering. The SNRSI has since expanded its work in areas including reactor safety analysis, radiochemistry and radiation monitoring.

The institute has also previously hosted specialists from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute for training in advanced radionuclide analysis, reflecting existing technical exchanges between the two countries.

Marcos is also scheduled to meet Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments during the working visit.

The trip comes as the Philippines approaches the end of its ASEAN chairship in 2026, with Singapore set to assume the regional bloc’s chairmanship in 2027.

The visit runs from October 7 to 11.

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MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed concerned government agencies to speed up the processing of the 2024 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for qualified teachers and education personnel while continuing reforms aimed at reducing teachers’ administrative workload.

Speaking during the 2026 National Teachers’ Day celebration at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Monday, Marcos said processing of the bonus is ongoing and ordered agencies involved to ensure that it proceeds properly and more quickly.

The President did not announce a specific release date for the 2024 PBB.

Alongside the bonus, Marcos highlighted measures intended to give teachers more time for classroom instruction by cutting paperwork, strengthening the non-teaching workforce and reducing the number of required classroom observations.

For School Year 2025–2026, classroom observations were reduced from four to one, while succeeding school years will have two observations.

DepEd earlier said classroom observations would remain part of teacher development but should be conducted as a supportive and collaborative process rather than treated as a punitive or high-stakes exercise.

The administration is also continuing efforts to improve teachers’ benefits and incentives, including teaching and medical allowances and the World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit.

Marcos also cited expanded career opportunities for educators. As of September, 82,105 teachers and school heads had been promoted under the Expanded Career Progression System, including 4,125 education personnel in Cagayan Valley who recently took their oaths of office.

The President said the government would continue looking for ways to improve teachers’ benefits, working conditions and career advancement opportunities.

The measures form part of broader education reforms aimed at allowing teachers to spend more time on instruction while providing additional support for their professional growth.

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MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the National Food Authority to step up palay procurement and expand storage capacity as the government strengthens food reserves ahead of potentially harsher El Niño conditions.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the NFA has been instructed to maximize purchases during the remaining harvest period and fill available warehouse space with locally procured palay.

The directive forms part of a broader government effort to protect food production and maintain sufficient supply as El Niño brings a higher risk of below-normal rainfall and drought. PAGASA has warned that the current strong El Niño could intensify into a very strong event before the end of 2026 and persist through the first half of 2027.

The NFA has already been expanding its storage capacity to accommodate more local harvests. In September, the agency leased additional warehouse space in Tarlac with capacity for about 100,000 bags of palay.

The Department of Agriculture is also preparing measures to sustain production in areas where water remains available.

Laurel said these include additional seeds and fertilizer, solar-powered irrigation systems and pumps, and targeted cloud-seeding operations over agricultural areas.

The government is also looking at temporary work opportunities for farmers and fisherfolk who may be unable to plant or produce during the height of El Niño.

Laurel said Marcos directed the DA to develop a work plan that could include slots under the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD emergency employment program.

Under the proposed arrangement, affected agricultural workers could be tapped for activities such as canal construction and land preparation while waiting for the next planting season.

DOLE recently expanded TUPAD guidelines to provide temporary employment together with pathways toward skills, livelihood and longer-term work opportunities.

The government is also maintaining food supply buffers.

Laurel said current supply levels are estimated at about 75 days for rice, 125 days for chicken, 170 days for pork and 90 days for corn.

The DA has previously said that NFA procurement is intended both to strengthen the government’s rice buffer and provide farmers with a reliable buyer during harvest season. The agency has also increased warehouse capacity and procurement funding to allow the NFA to absorb more locally produced palay.

PAGASA said El Niño increases the likelihood of reduced rainfall, dry spells and drought in parts of the country, prompting government agencies to prepare food, water and agricultural interventions before conditions worsen.

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