Why the Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a mecca of Philippine diving

Exploring the beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Sep 4, 2025 09:31 pm

At A Glance

• The Philippine reef system is gorgeous. I am lucky and spoiled as a Filipino diver to access it at my convenience.    

By Jenna Sy

Underwater images by Anthony Ober

GUARDIANS OF THE REEF The author with the Tubbataha rangers, and her dive buddies

If there is one thing to be proud of about the Philippines, it is definitely the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, our rainforest of the sea. It was declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1993. No wonder that the Philippines' highest denomination of banknotes, the ₱1,000 polymer banknote, shows an image of the Tubbataha and the most lovable pawikan (sea turtle). For local divers, Tubbataha is a mecca of Philippine diving. Foreign divers have it on their bucket list as well. But what, a Filipino non-diver may ask, is all the fuss about diving in Tubbataha? I had no idea until I experienced it myself.

HOME ON THE RANGE Tubbataha Ranger Station

After some meticulous planning, I found myself at the port in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, one morning, poised to embark on my Tubbataha trip. Along with other divers, I boarded a boat on a trip that took six hours before we reached the nearest Tubbataha atoll, the Jessie Beazley. Having rested on the boat and waking up in the Sulu Sea, we started the series of dives for the week, which took place all around the three atolls of Tubbataha… Jessie Beazley, the South Atoll, and the North Atoll.

BEAUTIES OF THE SEA Corals spotted within the Tubbataha Reef

Beautiful corals spanned the atolls. The Philippine reef system is gorgeous. I am lucky and spoiled as a Filipino diver to access it at my convenience. I was surprised at the number of reef fish we encountered in the days we were diving. It did not occur to me that the Philippines is part of the coral triangle, and Tubbataha is a marine protected area. Schools of sweetlips, snappers, groupers, barracuda, jackfish, and batfish are only a few of the fish species I can remember. We even had the privilege of witnessing a huge school of bumphead parrotfish (numbering by the hundreds!) feeding.

CLASS IS IN SESSION A school of yellowfin barracuda

UNBOTHERED KING An undisturbed sea turtle taking a quick snooze

MIND THE TEETH Clown triggerfish are notorious for being territorial and aggressive in nature

SMOOCHES, ANYONE? Sweetlip fish get their name from their thick lips

I shouldn’t forget to mention the rays and the sharks. Oh, how lovely it was to witness the manta ray, eagle ray, and the limitless number of juvenile reef sharks gliding around the deep ocean. It was a party underwater! I would have loved to have sighted huge pelagic sharks, but seeing the abundance of juvenile reef sharks was also special. It only meant that Tubbataha is a safe place for the common whitetip and blacktip reef sharks to reproduce.

While the beautiful reefs of the Tubbataha are without a doubt a natural Philippine national treasure, I do feel we haven't acknowledged the personnel tirelessly protecting and maintaining our UNESCO World Heritage Site enough. Though the diving window in Tubbataha is only between March and June, dedicated rangers, coast guards, researchers, and staff stay in the middle of the ocean throughout the year, away from their families, and risk their lives in the brutal typhoons and the habagat (southwest monsoon) just to safeguard the area from illegal fishing and poaching. They deserve respect and recognition; they are heroes.

INTENSE STARE A whitetip reef shark lazing at the bottom of the reef

SPREAD YOUR WINGS Manta rays' wings allow them to maneuver with ease underwater

A week of diving in Tubbataha went by quickly. Settling down on my flight back to Manila, it was only then that I was able to catch my breath and get the chance to reflect and appreciate the marine protected area. I couldn’t be any prouder to be Filipino. We are lucky to be endowed with an unspoiled marine sanctuary. Tubbataha may be far from home, but I hope we can help protect our ocean in all the small ways we can. We only have one Tubbataha after all.

Tips for Tubbataha diving:

• Gain experience. Tubbataha may have strong underwater currents–come armed with a minimum of 50 diving experience.

• Prepare essentials. The marine national park is far from land. One must stay on the boat for a week. Just so you know, there is zero mobile phone signal, and Starlink internet connection may not be available or consistent. Keep in mind that there are no establishments for supplies, either, so it’s best to bring everything that you think you will need. I suggest throwing in a medicine kit (including seasick pills) as well.

• Book early. A diving season in Tubbataha is only four months long, as it ends when the habagat season begins. Divers from all over the world book the trip one to two years in advance.

• Get insurance. The trip is weather-dependent. It is wise to get travel insurance for any trip cancellations.

 

Alex Eala wins her first WTA title. (File Photo/AP)

Alex Eala captures first WTA title in Guadalajara

Alex Eala etched her name into the history books once again, capturing her maiden Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title with a stirring 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 comeback victory over Hungary’s Panna Udvardy at the Guadalajara 125 Open on Sunday, Sept. 7 (Philippine time). Read more

Never explain yourself

 Never explain yourself

to anyone. Because the person who likes you doesn't need it. And the person who dislikes you won't believe it. It's a waste of time and energy to justify your actions or feelings to those who don't truly understand or care. Focus your efforts on building relationships with people who appreciate you for who you are, without needing explanations. Remember, your worth isn't determined by the opinions of others. Trust your instincts and live authentically, without feeling the pressure to explain every decision or action. Your energy is valuable; don't squander it on those who don't deserve it.

Zoll: Postversand in die USA um 81 Prozent eingebrochen

Stand:06.09.2025, 16:39 Uhr

Auch DHL hat seinen Paketdienst in die USA deutlich eingeschränkt. (Archivbild) © Sven Hoppe/dpa

Seit Ende August gelten neue Regeln für den Warenversand in die USA. Das hat weltweite Folgen. Eine UN-Organisation arbeitet an Lösungen.

Genf - Der internationale Postverkehr in die Vereinigten Staaten ist nach der Einführung von neuen US-Zollvorschriften um 81 Prozent zurückgegangen. Das berichtete der Weltpostverein in Bern. Die UN-Organisation verglich die Daten vom 29. August, als die Zollfreiheit für Warenimporte mit einem Wert unter 800 Dollar abgeschafft wurde, mit dem Wert von einer Woche zuvor. Bei dem Weltpostverein gehe man davon aus, dass der Einbruch bis jetzt anhalte, sagte eine Sprecherin.Als Reaktion auf die neuen Zollregeln haben nach Angaben des Weltpostvereins weltweit 88 Postdienstleister den Versand in die USA zumindest teilweise eingestellt. Unter anderem hat der Bonner Konzern DHL, der auch unter der Marke Deutsche Post auftritt, seinen Paketdienst deutlich eingeschränkt.   

Trump führte unter anderem Drogenschmuggel als Grund an

US-Präsident Donald Trump hatte den Zoll-Schritt unter anderem damit begründet, dass in zollfreien Paketen in großem Stil gefährliche Drogen in die USA geschmuggelt worden seien. In den vergangenen Jahren waren zollfreie Paketlieferungen unter anderem dank chinesischen Plattformen wie Temu und Shein stark gestiegen.   

Der Weltpostverein arbeitet nach eigenen Angaben an technischen Lösungen, um den Postverkehr mit den USA wieder in Gang zu bringen. Seit Freitag stehe Dienstleistern ein Programm zur Verfügung, mit dem die notwendigen Zölle berechnet und bezahlt werden könnten, hieß es. dpa 

Josh Ybañez ready for FIVB mission

By Manila Bulletin Sports

Published Sep 4, 2025 03:24 pm

At A Glance

• Fueled by his love for the game and a relentless drive to improve, Josh Ybañez sets aside the pressure as he pursues the golden opportunity to represent the Philippines in Alas Pilipinas' historic campaign at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.

Josh Ybañez

Fueled by his love for the game and a relentless drive to improve, Josh Ybañez sets aside the pressure as he pursues the golden opportunity to represent the Philippines in Alas Pilipinas’ historic campaign at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

As a 5-foot-7 outside hitter at the collegiate level, pressure has always followed Ybañez like a shadow every time he steps on the court.

“Pressure is constant,” said the two-time UAAP MVP from University of Santo Tomas, who has been embracing a defensive role under Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni.

“It’s always there, even if it’s not the World Championship. There’s always pressure. So I just embrace it and focus on loving what I do.”

But for the SEA V.League Best Libero, the chance to represent the Philippines — on one of volleyball’s grandest stages and before a roaring home crowd — is too exhilarating to be weighed down by it.

Returning to his natural role as a libero, the 22-year-old pride of General Santos embraces every moment with focus and determination, letting his passion for the sport guide him through every challenge as Alas Pilipinas prepares for the world meet.

“It’s an honor for us to represent the Philippines for the first time at the World Championship, and as they say, this is history. I’m happy, and for sure, I’m going to learn so much from our opponents and from the tournament itself,” said Ybañez.

Ybañez is among 21 players in the Alas Pilipinas pool, all competing for a spot in the Final 14 for the 32-nation World Championship set from September 12 to 28 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and Araneta Coliseum.

The Philippines will kick off the tournament against Tunisia—match tine moved to 4:30 pm from the original 6pm—at the MOA Arena, following a festive opening ceremony headlined by K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR and Cebuana singer-songwriter-actress Karencitta.

Fans can secure their seats for the historic event, which will see Alas Pilipinas face Egypt on September 16 and Iran on September 18, by purchasing tickets online at the official website: https://www.philippineswch2025.com.

For Ybañez, the World Championship is more than just a chance to play — it is an opportunity to test himself against the world’s best, learning from every experience to grow and sharpen his game.

“I will just focus on doing my best in every game and learning from each match. That’s the only way I can grow,” he said.

“I hope all Filipinos will support us, because of course, there are teams like the USA and others that are also favorites among Filipinos. So I hope they cheer for us too.”

'Walang Gutom Program' and the decline in hunger incidence

By Manila Bulletin

Published Sep 6, 2025 12:05 am | Updated Sep 5, 2025 05:10 pm   

In recent months, the Philippines has seen a welcome and measurable decline in hunger incidence among the country’s poorest families.

The government has attributed this to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) “Walang Gutom Program” (WGP). As of March 2025, surveys show that hunger prevalence among WGP beneficiaries dropped by 7.2 percentage points—a significant and encouraging development for a country with the longtime problem of food insecurity.

The latest data from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) reveals that the most dramatic improvement occurred in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)–Plus cluster, which includes Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. In these areas, hunger incidence among WGP beneficiaries dropped by 17.4 percentage points—from 55.1 percent to 37.7 percent. These provinces historically report the highest rates of hunger in the nation, and this reduction signals that government intervention is finally making inroads where it matters most.

The credit for this progress is being directed toward the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program,” commonly known as the Walang Gutom Program. Launched in July 2023 under Executive Order 44, the initiative aims to uplift 750,000 food-poor families by 2027 through targeted support, nutritional education, and behavior-change interventions.

The WGP is a key component of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program, which links community organizations to markets. In October last year, President Marcos renewed the commitment to Zero Hunger by directing agencies and LGUs to support EPAHP, focusing on improving farm productivity, ensuring nutritious food access, and enhancing food security.

The WGP is more than a temporary aid program—it’s a long-term investment in human capital. Unlike traditional "ayuda" or unconditional cash transfers, the program requires beneficiaries to attend monthly nutrition education sessions. These sessions teach families how to prepare affordable, nutritious, and tasty meals, instilling healthy eating habits and promoting self-sufficiency.

The program gives each household ₱3,000 worth of monthly food credits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which can only be used at accredited partner retailers, including over 1,000 establishments nationwide.

Many initiatives have also come from the private sector where many foundations and non-government organizations have devoted much resources and time to reduce the incidence of hunger through other means. These organizations conduct programs to fight hunger from many fronts – cultivating home gardens, connecting producers of crafts and vegetables to regular buyers, giving livelihood to heads of families, conducting feeding programs to the malnourished, and training programs to upgrade skills.

The government's decision to expand the WGP program comes at a critical time. As of August 2025, the WGP supports 300,000 families, but the DSWD has announced plans to double this number to 600,000 by the end of the year, and eventually to 750,000 by mid-2026. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian stated that the expansion is backed by evidence from both internal assessments and independent surveys, which confirm the WGP's effectiveness.

From October 2024 to March 2025, the hunger incidence among WGP families fell from 48.7 percent to 41.5 percent—a steady decline over two consecutive quarters. The broader SWS survey also mirrored this positive trend, showing a national decrease in involuntary hunger from 20 percent in April to 16.1 percent in June 2025.

This success proves that the fight against hunger cannot rely solely on food distribution or one-time financial aid. It requires a multi-faceted strategy that addresses both immediate needs and the root causes of food insecurity.

A great reason to rejoice

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

YES, indeed, we have great reason to rejoice as we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s on this day that we are somehow assured that God and man share the same life and nature! That God can become man and that a woman can be the mother of God simply prove that.

With the Virgin’s birth, we are given a preview of the greatest work on earth—the salvation of mankind—accomplished by the Son of God made man and with the full cooperation of a woman, the Blessed Virgin. Mary paved the way for the salvation of mankind by giving birth to the Redeemer who would ultimately conquer sin and death through his sacrifice.

The Virgin Mary is the “new Eve” who with her full obedience of faith to God’s will “cured” the disobedience of the original Eve. She is the best example for all of us in terms of how we have to trust in God and follow his will.

While only Christ is the mediator of salvation, Mary somehow is the closest person who cooperated in human redemption. She continues to play this role with her ever-powerful intercession, presenting our needs and prayers to God. She is regarded as our spiritual mother, guiding and protecting us and the Church.

She is truly a mother to us too, ever solicitous of our needs and most interested in our own salvation. This she does with her invincible fidelity to the will and ways of God, showing us also how to be faithful even if there are things that we do not understand or are contradictory to our liking.

She faithfully mirrors the life and mission of Christ. She is the ideal model of a true disciple of Christ. She followed Christ with thoughtfulness, reflection, obedience and faith, and now inspires us to follow Christ also with similar devotion and dedication.

We should not hesitate to go to her, asking for her intercession, whenever we are faced with challenges and trials that are difficult or even impossible to tackle and resolve. Like her, we may be subjected also to the most painful of suffering, but let’s never forget that there is glorification assured as long as we are faithful to Christ through Mary.

With Mary, we are brought closer to Christ. As one saint would put it, she is the “shortest, safest and surest way to Christ.” She is the one who knows Christ best and how to deal with him properly. She certainly helps us to understand Christ’s teachings and to live them out in our daily lives.

With her, too, precisely because of her full identification with the will of God, we would find ourselves drawn with love to everybody else. She would put our love and concern for the others in synch with Christ’s love for all of us.

It, indeed, is highly recommendable that we develop a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin. We would have nothing to lose. On the contrary, we would have everything to gain. With her we can face all kinds of conditions in life and yet manage to have faith, hope and charity burning in our hearts.

To be sure, with her we can manage to become more patient, kind and forgiving, contributing to stronger and more loving relationships with those around us. Let us be truly Marian to be truly Christian!

Nepo babies, Philippine culture and money values

 

  The term “nepo babies” has been all over social media lately. Short for “nepotism babies,” it describes children who rise to positions of power or influence largely because of their family name. The current rage against them in the country is not just because of their undue access to opportunities and luxuries but because the source of all these is blatant corruption that ransacks public coffers, hijacking the delivery of basic services to the Filipino people, majority of whom wallow in poverty, drowning in floods despite the billions of public funds regularly spent on flood control projects!

FQ (Financial Quotient) - Rose Fres Fausto - Philstar.com

September 5, 2025 | 7:00am

Unpacking the psyche of nepo babies

Imagine yourself being born into wealth and political power. Opportunities and luxuries come to you almost by default. This may breed an entitlement mindset—the assumption that everything that you’re enjoying are your birthright. You post your luxury buys and vacations and you get hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of likes and followers. And because your parents shield you from ordinary struggles and the true source of your family wealth, they may have skipped teaching you important FQ lessons such as budgeting your allowance, delaying gratification by not buying that toy right away but saving up for it yourself, and other life lessons. 

Pause for a moment to feel how it is to be in their shoes. You see your parents giving dole outs to their constituents and probably you equate that for generosity and service and you say, “I have the best daddy in the world! He gives me what I want and also helps the people.” And so, you post and post and you begin to feel happy and accomplished about something.

So, are the nepo babies blameless? Of course not! The above narrative can only give them an excuse in their early years when their pre-frontal cortex (the rational part of the brain) is not yet fully-developed. But most of them are now at least 25 years old. I consider this the age where blaming your parents expires. They also do not have any excuse to be stupid because they are sent to the best schools money can buy. They know how to add and subtract, and if they know how to research on the best restaurants, vacation and shopping places, they should know how to figure out more basic things like, “Can my parents afford all that we have given their legitimate earnings?” 

Just a note on this. It is difficult for a child to reconcile how her doting parents can be crooks. I know someone who literally vomited when she finally realized how her daddy had been funding their lifestyle.

What now?

I like to use the saying, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” when describing how parental efforts can be judged. I balance this off with “Twenty-five years old is the expiry date of blaming your parents and childhood for your life’s failures.” so parents don’t unnecessarily carry parental guilt forever. With the nepo babies now in the limelight, maybe we can also say:

“Ang nakatagong kalokohan ng magulang ay nahuhuli sa social media posts ng anak!”

And this is one of the blessings of social media. Their children are the ones providing the “resibo!” Let’s continue to talk about them, some have called for public shaming so that we put an end to normalizing their behavior. 

But this is so much more than policing nepo babies. It goes deeper into the Philippine culture and structures. It calls for the end of political dynasties, feudal relationships, padrino system that promotes the vicious cycle of poverty and mendicancy.

My general disposition in life is optimism. Easier on some days and harder on some, but I know that I’m always better off with hope than without. I want to be hopeful in our fight against corruption in our country so we can all have that Philippines we deserve. 

How about you, are you hopeful that this outcry against nepo babies will start the ball rolling in our fight against corruption? But here’s the catch: Can we really get rid of corruption now when our leader himself was a nepo baby? 

If you watch the senate proceedings questioning Discaya, DPWH, etc., you see that the ones questioning them in rough and pa-sindak manner don’t necessarily have the moral authority to do so. One was convicted with bribery in the Napoles pork barrel scam, another one was involved in the anomalous multi-billion procurement contracts with Pharmally. Argh!

But as I just said, we are better off with hope than without. So, if we want a Philippines that breaks free from the cycle of nepotism and corruption, we cannot not do anything. We can start with what we can control—our home—how we raise our children, how we steward our blessings how we demand accountability and how we vote. 

Take note, even if you are not a politician earning dirty money or a contractor in cahoots with corrupt government officials, but just an honest citizen working hard, you can still end up raising a nepo baby. How? Remember, nepo baby means a child who rises to positions of power or influence largely because of family name. So, make sure that you don’t skip raising them with high FQ, imparting in them your positive values about money, work, and life in general. There are nepo babies not just in politics but in showbiz (the sons and daughters of showbiz royalties get the first breaks) and also in business (definitely children of company owners or even top executives are considered for good positions). If you’re a parent, you would definitely want your children to enjoy that opportunity available to them because of your own hard work. But once they get one foot in the door, they should be on their own. They should work as hard, if not harder, to deserve that privilege.

Here’s my question for you. For parents, what values are you passing down to your children? For citizens without children, what values are you living out right now and passing on to the people within your circle of influence? Are they values that make not just your family but our entire nation stronger? Are they values that help us get rid of the systemic and brazen corruption in our country?

Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

By Manila Bulletin

Published Sep 5, 2025 12:05 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Fasting is an important spiritual discipline observed by the Jews and shared by people of other faith or beliefs. It is done to express sorrow for sins, to implore God’s intervention during times of public calamity, and, for many in Israel, to hasten the coming of the Messiah.

On a personal level, fasting helps one to curb one’s physical and material appetite so as to sharpen one’s awareness and desire for spiritual realities. The scribes and the Pharisees practice fasting conscientiously. So do the followers of John the Baptist.

Jesus’ disciples, who drink and eat freely, scandalize these groups. Jesus replies by speaking about a wedding feast and the bridegroom. Jesus obliquely refers to himself as the bridegroom who has come to inaugurate the wedding feast. Fasting has to be set aside during the grand feast of salvation.

Jesus opens the eyes of the blind, forgives sinners, heals the sick, and proclaims the Good News to the poor. He uses the images of wine and a new piece of cloth to illustrate the newness of the wedding he has come to inaugurate. This union between God and his creatures would require a new mind and a new heart, and will not thrive in an old conventional way of thinking and doing things that resists God’s spirit. Fasting may be done only when Jesus undergoes his passion, in solidarity with him, the suffering Savior.

Gospel • Luke 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”

And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Giorgio Armani, master of Italian style and global fashion icon, dies at 91

 

Giorgio Armani (center) poses with models at the end of his women's 2019 spring-summer collection. (Photo from AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

By Associated Press

Published Sep 4, 2025 09:48 pm

Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer who turned the concept of understated elegance into a multibillion-dollar fashion empire, has died, his fashion house confirmed. He was 91.

Armani died at home, the fashion house said. Armani, one of the most recognizable names and faces in the global fashion industry, missed Milan Fashion Week in June 2025 for the first time during the previews of spring-summer 2026 menswear to recover from an undisclosed condition. He was planning a major event to celebrate 50 years of his signature Giorgio Armani fashion house during Milan Fashion Week this month.

Starting with an unlined jacket, a simple pair of pants, and an urban palette, Armani put Italian ready-to-wear style on the international fashion map in the late 1970s, creating an instantly recognizable relaxed silhouette that has propelled the fashion house for half a century.

From the executive office to the Hollywood screen, Armani dressed the rich and famous in classic tailored styles, fashioned in super-soft fabrics and muted tones. His handsome black tie outfits and glittering evening gowns often stole the show on award season red carpets.

At the time of his death, Armani had put together an empire worth over $10 billion, which along with clothing included accessories, home furnishings, perfumes, cosmetics, books, flowers, and even chocolates, ranking him in the world's top 200 billionaires, according to Forbes.

The designer also owned several bars, clubs, restaurants and his own basketball team EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, better known as Olympia Milano. Armani opened more than than 20 restaurants from Milan to Tokyo since 1998, and two hotels, one in Dubai in 2009 and another in Milan, in 2010.

Armani himself was the foundation of his style

Armani style began with Giorgio Armani himself, from the penetrating blue eyes framed in a permanent tan and early-age shock of silver hair, to the trademark jeans and t-shirt work clothes and the minimalist decoration of his private homes.

Armani's fashion vision was that of easygoing elegance where attention to detail made the difference.

"I design for real people. There is no virtue whatsoever in creating clothes and accessories that are not practical," he liked to say when asked to identify his clientele.

In conversation, the designer's disarming smile and exquisitely mild manners belied the tough businessman underneath, who was able to turn creative talent into a fashion empire worth over $10 billion. Never a merger nor a sale, Re Giorgio (King George) as the Italians call him, was always his own boss.

Born July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, a small town south of Milan, Armani dreamed of becoming a doctor before a part-time job as a window decorator in a Milan department store opened his eyes to the world of fashion.

In 1975, Armani and his partner Sergio Galeotti sold their Volkswagen for $10,000 to start up their own menswear ready-to-wear label. Womenswear followed a year later.

The symbol of his new style was the liningless sports jacket, which was launched in the late 1970s and became an instant success from Hollywood to Wall Street. The designer paired the jacket with a simple t-shirt, an item of clothing he termed "the alpha and omega of the fashion alphabet."

The Armani suit soon became a must in the closet of the well-heeled man. And for women, the introduction of the pantsuit in the executive workroom was all but revolutionary. Dubbed the "power suit" with its shoulder-padded jacket and man-tailored trousers, it became the trademark of the rising class of businesswomen in the 1980s.

Over the years Armani would soften the look with delicate detailing, luxurious fabrics, and brighter shades for his basic beige and gray palette. His insistence on pants and jackets led some critics to label his fashion "androgynous."

Armani hits Hollywood

The 1980 film classic "American Gigolo" launched both Armani and actor Richard Gere on their Hollywood careers. Dressed in Armani, Gere became America's new favorite heartthrob, and "Geeorgeeo" as they called him, the glam set's most popular designer.

The Hollywood connection earned him wardrobe film credits in over 200 films, and in 2003 a place on Rodeo Drive's "Walk of Fame."

Oscar night always sparkled, with smart suiting for the men, and glittering gowns for the ladies. The 2009 Best Actor winner Sean Penn picked up his statue in a black-on-black Armani outfit, while best actress nominee Anne Hathaway walked the red carpet in a shimmering white strapless evening gown from Armani's latest Prive couture collection.

Other longtime devotees included Jodie Foster, George Clooney, Sofia Loren, and Brad Pitt. David and Victoria Beckham were the "face" of his 2009 underwear ad campaign.

So significant was the impact of Armani style, not only on how people dressed but how they approached fashion, that in 2000 New York's Guggenheim museum presented a retrospective of Armani's first 25 years in fashion.

"I love things that age well, things that don't date and become living examples of the absolute best," Armani said of his efforts.

Armani has gone well beyond fashion

Today, the Armani empire has an army of more than 9,000 employees, with women comprising half of the executive suite, along with seven industrial hubs and over 600 stores worldwide, according to figures released in 2023. Along with clothes and accessories, the company produces perfumes, cosmetics, and home furnishings, as well as selling its own candy, flowers, and even books. The designer opened his fifth multi-brand store on New York's fashionable Fifth Avenue in February 2009.

In the realm of fashion hobbies, Armani owned several bars, restaurants, and clubs, as well as the basketball team. Recreation time was spent in getaways in Broni in the countryside near Milan, the isle of Pantelleria off Sicily and St. Tropez on the French Riviera. Each home bore the trademark of Armani design: bare walls, important pieces, few knickknacks.

Like many of his colleagues, Armani tried to give back some of the fame and fortune he amassed during the heyday of the "moda Milanese" which put Italian ready-to-wear at the center of the world's fashion map at the turn of the millennium. Personally involved in several charity organizations devoted to children and a staunch supporter of the battle against AIDS, in 2002 Armani was named a U.N. goodwill ambassador for refugees.

Galeotti died in 1985. Armani had no children but was very close to his niece Roberta, daughter of his late brother Sergio. She abandoned a budding film career to become his director of public relations, and often represented her uncle, who wasn't much of a party-goer, at social events. In later years she was a key go-between with the celebrity world.

In 2006, she orchestrated the top-billed wedding of actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in a medieval castle outside Rome, while Uncle Giorgio designed the attire for both bride and groom.

Armani had indicated that as he considered succession he was looking toward his longtime head of menswear Leo Dell'Orco and his niece Silvana Armani, who fills the same role for womenswear.