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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Brent Manalo speaks out against proposed Pax Silica AI hub

Brent Manalo speaks out against proposed Pax Silica AI hub

Published Jul 29, 2026 12:01 pm

Fresh off his victory as the "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition" Big Winner, Brent Manalo is using his platform to speak out on an issue close to home.

The actor, model and "It's Showtime" host publicly opposed the proposed Pax Silica project, a planned 1,600-hectare artificial intelligence and semiconductor industrial hub in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.

A native of Tarlac, Manalo expressed concern over the project's potential impact on farmers and agricultural communities there, this, despite government projections that it could generate thousands of jobs and position the Philippines as a regional AI and technology hub.

"NO TO PAX SILICA. Tarlac heavily relies on agriculture for its sustenance and marami sa magsasaka namin ang posibleng marelocate at mawalan ng kabuhayan dahil dito," Manalo wrote on X.

"And this is just one of the many risks it poses. The 1.6k-hectare AI hub promises to be innovative, but at what cost?" he added.

Manalo also raised the issue during a recent episode of "It's Showtime," telling host Vice Ganda that many Filipinos remain unaware of the scale of the proposed development.

"Marami pong hindi nakakaalam niyan, Meme. 'Yung nangyayari ngayon, 'yung Pax Silica, 1,600 hectares of land ang makakamkam if ever man na matuloy 'yung proyekto," he said.

Before entering show business, Manalo built a following as a model and content creator. He later gained wider recognition after joining "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition," where his calm personality and sincerity helped him emerge as the season's Big Winner. He has since become one of ABS-CBN's rising young talents and now serves as one of the hosts of "It's Showtime."

The proposed Pax Silica hub forms part of the Philippine-American Pax Silica Initiative, a project under the Luzon Economic Corridor that aims to establish an advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, and AI ecosystem in Central Luzon.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently cited the development during his fifth State of the Nation Address as one of the administration's priority infrastructure projects.

However, the proposal has also drawn criticism from farmers' groups, Indigenous Peoples' organizations, and environmental advocates, who fear it could displace communities, reduce agricultural land, and place additional strain on water, power, and other natural resources.

As of writing, discussions on the project continue, with supporters highlighting its economic potential while critics, including Manalo, continue to call attention to its possible social and environmental costs.

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