Davao travel agencies reveal major events in 2026

 THE Davao Travel Agencies Association unveiled travel events for 2026 during their year-end gathering dubbed ‘Class of 2025’ on Dec. 6 in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

By Ivy Tejano

Published Dec 8, 2025 10:17 pm

THE Davao Travel Agencies Association unveiled travel events for 2026 during their year-end gathering dubbed ‘Class of 2025’ on Dec. 6 in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

DAVAO CITY – The Davao Travel Agencies Association has unveiled a packed lineup of travel events for 2026, offering Mindanao travelers greater access to international destinations and major airfare and tour discounts.

The first event on the calendar is the Davao Mega Travel Sale, as announced by DTAA President Gian Carlo Caguiat, from Feb. 27 to March 1.

Long known for slashing prices on travel packages, Caguiat said the DMTS is expected to draw strong interest with its selection of high-demand “bucket list” destinations, including Turkey, Africa, Georgia, Brazil, Antarctica, and Morocco.

In June, Davao will host a travel milestone, as the Travel Tour Expo VisMin Edition, jointly organized by the DTAA and the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, will be held in the city for the first time.

Scheduled for June 5 to 7 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang, Caguiat said the expo is expected to gather travel agents, operators, and airlines from across the Visayas and Mindanao.

The DTAA president said the two major events will showcase Mindanao’s position as a fast-growing tourism hub and strengthen Davao City’s role as a premier gateway for both leisure and business travel.

He added that the activities are poised to boost local tourism, stimulate business activity, and draw in thousands of visitors from outside the region.

“These are significant milestones for the industry,” Caguiat said, noting that the travel sale will expand next year with more partners and airlines on board.

“We are expecting 2026 to be a breakthrough year not only for Davao’s travel market but for the entire Mindanao region,” he added.

Caguiat urged DTAA members to give their 100 percent full support, emphasizing that the organization is preparing for its biggest year yet.

He said the TTE VisMin Edition could even rival its Manila counterpart, as it will directly cater to the concentrated market of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The announcements were made during the DTAA’s year-end gathering with the theme “Class of 2025” on Saturday evening, Dec. 6, at Lanang Business Park in Davao City.

Caguiat shared a reflective message for fellow travel agents. He likened their profession to multiple roles rolled into one, from caretakers to memory-makers.

“Travel agents are on-call memory makers,” Caguiat said. “We monitor our passengers around the clock." He emphasized that being a travel agent is more than a job, it’s a calling.

Arnold Vegafria says foreign backers want a Filipino to run Miss Universe

By Annalyn S. Jusay

Published Dec 7, 2025 10:38 pm

Could the next owner of Miss Universe be a Filipino? This question emerged as Arnold Vegafria of ALV Pageant Circle confirmed that he has been approached by several international investors urging him to take over the global pageant brand.

ALV Pageant Circle owner Arnold Vegafria (middle) with his Miss Grand International queens CJ Opiaza (2024) and Emma Mary Tiglao (2025)

"We have the network. We have the capacity. We have the capability. If Thailand can do it, the Philippines can do it even better," Arnold declared in an interview after the contract signing between Beauty&U Philippines and Miss Grand International 2025 Emma Mary Tiglao at Victoria Sports Tower in Quezon City.

"I know I can do it. I have the experience, and marami ring tumatawag sa akin na mga international investors that they're willing to support kung Philippines na lang ang mag-handle, na baka raw mabuti kung Filipino ang mag-handle. Kung ako ang pipiliin eh siguro pwede mo nang tanggapin, di ba? Kung iisipin ko, good opportunity ito sa akin, and good also for the country. (Many international investors have been calling me, saying they’re willing to support if the Philippines takes over, and that it might be better if a Filipino handles it. If I’m the one chosen, then maybe I can accept it, right? If I think about it, this is a good opportunity for me and also good for the country)," Arnold revealed.

MUO is currently co-owned by Raul Rocha Cantu, who is under investigation in Mexico for alleged drug, gun, and fuel trafficking, and Jakkaphong "Anne" Jakrajutatip, who has been served an arrest warrant for a fraud case in Thailand. Their legal entanglements have brought the future of MUO into question, especially after they expressed interest in selling their stakes and faced rigging allegations during the 2025 edition, when Mexico's Fatima Bosch was crowned.

Arnold heads the ALV Pageant Circle, which holds the Philippine franchises for Miss World, Mister World, Miss Grand International, and Miss Asia Pacific International. His organization delivered several major global crowns for the country in 2024 and 2025, including back-to-back victories at MGI and Face of Beauty International.

Arnold said he is interested in acquiring the Miss Universe franchise because it will also promote the Philippines as a global beauty and tourism destination. Pageantry, he noted, is one of the most affordable and far-reaching platforms to promote the country. He cited tourism videos produced by lovely candidates that introduce local places to global audiences.

Arnold Vegafria and Miss Grand International 2025 Emma Mary Tiglao with major sponsor Ralph Lim and Michael Rey Almazan of Hikari Skin Essentials

“Other countries use the pageant industry as their tourism. And here in our country, we have a lot that we can offer and showcase to the world,” he said.

Arnold also expressed hopes that the Philippine government would one day support pageantry the way it supports sports. “These beauty queens are also considered champions in their own field. Give them a little incentive, give them a grant, so that the pageant industry will grow and be respected.”

As for what it would mean to run Miss Universe itself, Arnold acknowledges the responsibility but remains enthusiastic. “Number one, it's a big responsibility. But it's good for our country that we can have one of the biggest, you know, pageant organizations,” he noted.

If he's given the chance to acquire MUO, Arnold acknowledged the complexities of handling another global brand while managing multiple franchises locally. However, he emphasized that he is willing to study the opportunity seriously if the doors open.

“It's a big responsibility, but it's good for our country, once in a lifetime. If we can grab it, we should," he closed.

PSYCHOLOGY FACTS

 

Human Mind (Psychology)

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Hoorab Jahangeer

 

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PSYCHOLOGY FACTS

1. If someone walks fast, they tend to have a strong sense of purpose.

2. Someone who hums or sings often might be feeling nervous or anxious.

3. If someone fakes a smile a lot, they could be battling inner struggles.

4. People who apologize often may value peace over pride.

5. If someone spends a lot of time alone, they either enjoy solitude or feel misunderstood.

6. Someone who finds it hard to say "no" likely craves acceptance.

Thank you for reading 🙂

Übersetzerdienste - Translation Services

 

 Übersetzerdienste - Translation Services

Even after retiring as German Consul, I am still accredited as a German translator and interpreter for the German, Swiss and Austrian Embassy as well as for Regional Trial Court Davao City and all courts nationwide. Please pm for via doringklaus@gmail.com further information. I'll be answering your messages as soon as possible. Please be patient. Auch nach meiner Pensionierung als deutscher Konsul bin ich weiterhin als deutscher Übersetzer und Dolmetscher für die deutsche, schweizerische und österreichische Botschaft sowie für das Regional Trial Court Davao City landesweit akkreditiert. Für weitere Informationen senden Sie bitte eine PN an doringklaus@gmail.com. Ich werde Ihre Nachrichten so schnell wie möglich beantworten.

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Alex Eala, Bryan Bagunas flag-bearers for Team PH in Thailand SEAG

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

Published Dec 2, 2025 03:04 pm

At A Glance

• Alex Eala and Bryan Bagunas, two athletes who have exemplified their talents in their respective sports, have been selected as the country's flag-bearers in the parade of athletes for the opening ceremony of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on Dec. 9.

Alex Eala and Bryan Bagunas, two athletes who have exemplified their talents in their respective sports, have been chosen as the country's flag-bearers in the parade of athletes for the opening ceremony of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on Dec. 9.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino made the announcement on Tuesday, Dec. 2, citing the contribution the two athletes have made in Philippine tennis and men's volleyball, respectively.

“Popularity aside, Alex and Bryan have made impacts in the global sports community and that makes them the best choice to carry the flag in the SEA Games,” said Tolentino.

The country has been assigned a 300-member delegation for the parade around the Rajamangala National Stadium in the opening ceremony, but the number could possibly be trimmed to 200 due to the year-long mourning for Queen Sirikit  and the Songkhla disaster.

Close to 1,700 Filipino athletes are competing in this year's edition that has 574 events in 50 sports and will now be played in two main hubs—Bangkok and Chonburi—after Songkhla was written off because of massive flooding.

Eala has been one of the country's top sports stars after a phenomenal season that saw her rise from No. 148 early this year to No. 50 -- the highest-ranked ever by any Filipina player in history -- that was highlighted by historic victories in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour.

She also became the first Filipina to get past the first round of the US Open.

Bagunas, on the other hand, was the main man of the Alas Pilipinas Men’s Team in the FIVB World Championship last September, spearheading a history victory—over many-time African champion Egypt—in an FIVB competition.

Tolentino said that the choice for flag-bearer or flag-bearers have always been an important task of the POC and the athlete or athletes who have the most impact and inspirational appeal not only to national athletes but to the Filipino youth gain the most premium in the selection.

“It’s about the inspirational appeal, the motivation and hard-work that reaps accomplishment that make an athlete or athletes the best choice for the chore,” Tolentino said.

At the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, volleyball star Alyssa Valdez was the flag-bearer at the opening ceremony.

Coming of age in the Philippines

 

BY CARL LORENZ CERVANTES

NOVEMBER 24, 2025

Photo by Simon Maage/Unsplash

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Iam turning 31 soon, and at this point, people might tell me that I am about to be dropped from the calendar—that is, because a calendar month only goes up to 31! At this age, I feel “more adult” than I was at 21, so whenever I look at a 21-year-old, especially pictures of myself at that age, I cannot help but think: “They are still so childlike!”

In times long past, we used to have rituals that distinguished the threshold between child and adult. This is called a “rite of passage,” because a person transitions from one status to another. This means that they get more benefits as part of the adult world, but it also means that they have more responsibilities. Around the time a person turns 18 to 21, they can now buy alcohol and cigarettes, enter a casino, and watch R-rated movies.

But they are usually also expected to get a job, pay taxes, get married, and eventually, start a family. They are expected to be able to make clear decisions. Yes, there are benefits, but also responsibilities.

Meaningful life transitions

Many Indigenous cultures around the world still have their own rites of passage, but for urbanized and globalized people, these rituals have become superficial performances of meaningful life transitions. If anything, many Indigenous traditions are at risk of extinction precisely because of how Westernized we are becoming—through influences from Hollywood and our social media feeds!

Religions have been very consistent with these rites. In Catholicism, the Rite of Confirmation that children go through at age 12 is meant to be a meaningful transition from growing up in a Catholic household to actually accepting Catholicism as their personal faith.

But not everyone is Catholic, and not everyone finds Confirmation meaningful. I was raised Catholic, and, sorry, I do not even remember my own Confirmation.

Filipino rites of passage

So it got me thinking: What are some rites of passage we still practice today? What rituals do we actually do in our modern-day lives that most Filipinos are expected to celebrate? (Though this does not mean that every Filipino will go through it the same way, as there might be some societal pressures to do it.)

First, I immediately think of a girl’s debut in the Philippines, which happens when she turns 18. It’s supposed to celebrate the blossoming of a woman, but this might also reinforce old ideas of “femininity” (pagkababae). Of course, it is also an avenue for a family to showcase their wealth. Imagine all the magnificent debuts you have been to, and think about how much one of those costs—sometimes it can be just as expensive as a wedding!

After all, the suppliers and locations are usually the same. In a way, blowing candles on birthdays is a rite of passage, but this just marks the completion of a year. A debut is the clear transition from child to adult.

But even when we agree that 18 is technically a legal adult, older adults know that it is still too young to start engaging in “adult things.” I cannot think of an equivalent of a debut for boys, even when they turn 21, but I do think of tuli (circumcision) as a rite of passage.

When I was much younger, there was a stigma attached to the uncircumcised (supot), implying that they are ignorant about the ways of the world because of their rawness. Being supot is like being an unripe fruit that still has its covering (“supot” is also the term for a plastic bag). But if we think about the mental, physical, and social development of children, the age of circumcision is too young to actually call them a “man,” and yet, older men will say, “Lalaki ka na!”

Markers of maturity

Apart from these two, most Filipinos might consider graduating a rite of passage, whether that is from senior high school or from college. This is probably because we still hold the idea that education is the key to a good life, and most jobs (even those that do not need the complexity of a college degree) still expect applicants to have graduated from college.

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After college, the emerging adult begins to navigate the “real world” by joining the workforce and becoming serious tax-paying members of society.

And yet, writing this as a 30-year-old, I still feel like I did not get a true rite of passage. I was too young to find any meaning in tuli or the Rite of Confirmation, and, as a man, I did not get a debut.

Yes, I graduated from university, and I eventually graduated again after completing my master’s degree. But these are just completions of programs, not necessarily markers of maturity. I had to develop in my own way as I navigated the very strange adult world—what we call “adulting,” which sounds like something you are trying to do, not necessarily something you are doing well.

Maybe this is why so many adults are still “isip bata,” and why many men still carry a very childish, “toxic” masculinity. We need serious rituals—events that really mark a level of maturity and allow people to be functioning, responsible members of a larger society.

For now, most of what we have is very kaniya-kaniya. There are barely any more masters to learn from or meaningful guidebooks that can help us survive and thrive. We need better parental figures—or, since we are the new adults, we must take it upon ourselves to be the adults that would have really helped our younger selves.

HOW TO RESPECT YOURSELF

 HOW TO RESPECT YOURSELF

(1) Stop looking for who is not looking for you.

(2) Stop begging.

(3) Stop saying more than is necessary.

(4) When people disrespect you, confront them immediately.

(5) Don't eat other people's food more than they eat yours.

(6) Reduce how you visit some people, especially if they don't reciprocate it.

(7) Invest in yourself. Make yourself happy.

(8) Stop entertaining gossip about other people.

(9) Think before you talk. 80% of how people value you is what comes out of your mouth.

(10) Always look your best. Dress the way you should be addressed.

(11) Be an achiever. Get busy with your goals.

(12) Respect your time.

(13) Don't stay in a relationship where you don't feel respected and valued. Walk away.

(14) Learn to spend money on yourself. That's how people will learn to spend on you.

(15) Be scarce sometimes.

(16) Be a giver more than a receiver.

(17) Don't go where you are not invited. And when invited don't overstay your welcome.

(18) Treat people exactly the way they deserve.

(19) Except they owe you money, two call attempts is enough. If they value you they will call you back immediately .

(20) Be good at what you do. Be the best you can be.

NNIC to roll out immigration-operated e-gates at NAIA next month

 

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Nov 22, 2025 12:33 pm | Updated Nov 22, 2025 01:55 pm

New biometric immigration eGates set for phased activation in December are already installed at NAIA Terminal 3.

New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) is set to begin the phased activation of new biometric immigration e-Gates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) starting in December, as part of the ongoing effort to streamline and improve passenger processing.

In a statement, NNIC said the e-Gates are powered by Amadeus, a global travel-technology provider, and will be operated by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

They form part of an automated border-control system utilizing passport-scanning and facial-recognition technology aimed at reducing wait times and increasing throughput.

NAIA Terminal 3 Arrival

NAIA Terminal 1 Arrival

NAIA Terminal 1 Arrival

The systems will be deployed in Terminals 1 and 3, NAIA’s international terminals where immigration checks are required. The first phase is scheduled to go live starting December 2025, with full deployment anticipated early next year.

The project is funded by NNIC and supplemented by BI-provided operational components, enabling the e-Gates to be introduced alongside NAIA’s existing upgrade program.

Once activated, NNIC said the system will complement the biometric passenger touchpoints that NNIC has been rolling out across check-in, security screening, and boarding.

“Our goal is to make each part of the airport experience more comfortable for passengers,” NNIC President Ramon S. Ang said. “These e-Gates will help reduce bottlenecks at immigration and support the broader improvements we have been introducing across NAIA.”

NAIA processed over 50 million passengers last year, exceeding its original design capacity. The introduction of automated systems is a key step in ensuring efficient passenger flow as travel volumes continue to increase.

National Reading Month: Put a book in a child's hand

By Manila Bulletin

Published Nov 20, 2025 12:01 am | Updated Nov 19, 2025 05:24 pm

Reading is not just a classroom requirement. It is the bedrock of learning, the gateway to knowledge, and the spark that ignites imagination and critical thinking. Every child who learns to read gains the power to understand the world—and the confidence to shape it. Without this skill, everything else in education collapses.

Yet in the Philippines, reading has quietly slipped into the background of daily life. In buses, parks, terminals, or even in the comfort of our homes, it is rare to see someone absorbed in a book or magazine. We scroll endlessly, but seldom read deeply. We absorb fragments of information, but rarely seek understanding. Ask a friend what book they last finished, and the silence that follows is not just awkward—it's alarming.

Because while we look away, a crisis is unfolding.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, 18.9 million Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are classified as functionally illiterate – they can read, write, and compute but struggle with comprehension, regardless of their educational attainment. That is not a statistic—it is a national emergency. Add to that the sobering findings of PISA 2022 and a World Bank study: over 75 percent of Filipino students are low performers in reading, math, science, and creative thinking. And that 91 percent of our 10-year-olds cannot understand age-appropriate text.

These are children sitting in our classrooms, dreaming our dreams for them—yet struggling to read the very words meant to help them succeed.

The government is racing against time. DepEd has rolled out targeted interventions: the Bawat Bata Makababasa program, the nationwide Literacy Remediation Program, and the ARAL initiative. It has called for full and sustained funding to repair the foundations of learning. The Tara, Basa! tutoring program, now benefitting more than 348,000 Filipinos, brings college students into classrooms to rescue struggling readers—while giving the youth a chance to serve and earn. The DSWD is even pushing for legislation to secure the program’s long-term future.

There are bright spots—proof that change is possible. In Norzagaray, Bulacan, a community refused to accept that poor reading outcomes were inevitable. With Project BRIGHT, the town attacked illiteracy head-on. Today, 60.73 percent of their early graders read at grade level, compared to the national average of 47.74 percent. Teachers used play, storytelling, one-on-one tutoring, and consistent monitoring. The local government invested in books, incentives, and materials. They showed what can be achieved when a community believes that every child must—and can—learn to read.

But if we are honest, the problem goes deeper than government programs.

The truth is painful: many Filipino adults do not read either. We cannot expect children to love reading when the adults in their lives do not model that love. A child who never sees a parent pick up a book will grow up thinking books do not matter. And when adults stop reading, they stop growing—intellectually, emotionally, and professionally. We lose our ability to question, to innovate, to dream bigger dreams.

This National Reading Month, we must confront this crisis with courage and conviction. Reading is not the responsibility of teachers alone. It is a collective task—of families, communities, and leaders. Read to your child. Give them books. Bring them to libraries. Ask them what stories they love. And most of all, let them see you reading.

We owe it to our children to build a culture where reading is not a chore but a cherished habit, not an afterthought but a daily act of hope.

If we want a future where Filipino children can dream boldly and achieve fully, we must start with the simplest, most powerful act: Put a book in a child’s hand. And put the love of reading in their heart.