Tag: President Marcos

I Love Israel: Further Israel-Philippines Cybersecurity Partnerships And Agreements Confirmed

I Love Israel: Further Israel-Philippines Cybersecurity Partnerships And Agreements Confirmed

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Cybersecurity in the Philippines will be enhanced as further cybersecurity partnerships and agreements between Israel and the Philippines are underway, according to a news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface.

Israel is seeking to expand its cybersecurity presence in the Philippines, saying the latter is one of the most “attacked” countries in Southeast Asia.

“One of the sectors that we identified there as very relevant and important for relationships was definitely the cybersecurity sector. I think that the cybersecurity sector, when we talk about the Israel-Philippine relationship, enjoys both the demand from the Philippine side, because we are well known for very advanced, proven cybersecurity solutions,” Israeli Economic Counsellor Ofek Venecianer said at an event in Bonifacio Global City on Thursday.

She said further cybersecurity partnerships and agreements are now underway between Israel and the Philippines with the shared goal of improving the Philippines’ cybersecurity.

“I think this is a great momentum that we’re trying, of course, to leverage and bring to the table more players from the Philippines side and from the Israeli side as well,” she added.

Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh said there was a need to improve the country’s knowledge, technologies, and capabilities due to technology’s high involvement in the war.

“Cybersecurity is a huge and grave threat because it can impact us easily… It is something that is relevant to this war and we can learn from it and we can exchange best practices to utilize. We can be either defensive or offensive,” she said.

“Cybersecurity is the next war. It’s the war today… I don’t want cyber security or any other innovative tool to be against someone. I want it to be for something. So, we have to find ways to think together and to prepare for not the next future, but the future is now to see how we protect our citizens, both from ballistic missiles and from hackers that want to make harm for us and for the next generation of us,” she added.

In February, the Philippine government said that it had already been making significant moves to further strengthen the country’s cyber landscape through partnerships with other countries like Japan and Canada.

In December, a group of cybersecurity professionals also made a call to the government to bolster the country’s cybersecurity framework.

They noted there were “long overdue” reforms needed to address vulnerabilities caused by “years of underinvestment, lack of coordination, and misplaced priorities.”

In a message to GMA News Online, the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) said that they continue working on strengthening the Philippines’ cybersecurity, which includes cooperation with countries like Israel.

“DICT and CICC continue to partner with the Israeli Government through their embassy to find better and more advanced tools and methods to combat cyber threats. Most specially after the Middle East crisis. No less than the President directed [the] DICT to ensure that the country has a strong cyber defense posture,” said DICT Secretary Henry Aguda.

To all my readers, I encourage you to pray to the Lord for even closer ties between Israel and the Philippines so that people of both nations can benefit greatly with one another. Israel is a world-leader in technology and cybersecurity, and the Philippines can achieve a lot of greatness with the Israelis as the strategic partner. Without enhanced cybersecurity, the Philippines will be vulnerable to hackers, thieves, scammers and terrorists from around the world.

At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

America Points At Corruption Anew As Barrier To Trade And Investment With The Philippines

America Points At Corruption Anew As Barrier To Trade And Investment With The Philippines

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While the Philippines continues to be active on attracting investments from around the world, it still has yet to wipe out the plague of corruption which remains a persistent challenge in the private and public sectors. That being said, the United States pointed to the corruption as a major barrier to trade and investment with the Philippines, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. This is not the first time America noticed Philippine corruption in relation to economics.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The United States (US) has once again flagged corruption as a major barrier to trade and investment with the Philippines, as recent efforts to clean up regulatory and judicial processes have failed to yield positive results.

In this year’s National Trade Estimate (NTE) report, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said corruption continues to be a “pervasive and longstanding problem” in doing business in the Philippines. The report was released on Tuesday, March 31.

This year, unlike last year’s NTE report, the USTR specifies that corruption remains a persistent challenge in both the private and public sectors.

“National and local government agencies, for example the Bureau of Customs (BOC), are beset with various corruption issues, including allegations of overt bribery,” it said.

The USTR said attempts by the BOC to address customs and corruption concerns continue to fall short, as reports of corruption and irregularities in customs processing remain widespread.

In particular, US businesses are complaining about incidents of undue and costly delays, irregularities in the valuation process, exhaustive inspection and testing of some products, and inconsistent assessment of fees.

The USTR also called out the “lack of transparency in judicial and regulatory processes,” which ultimately undermines efforts to address corruption.

The agency is urging the Philippine government to deal with corruption once and for all, warning that it may impact trade and investment flows between the two longtime allies.

“If left unchecked, bribery and corruption can negate market access gained through trade negotiations, frustrate broader reforms and economic stabilization programs, and undermine the foundations of the international trading system,” the USTR said.

Despite the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement, the USTR said the US remains dissatisfied with “inconsistent enforcement activities.”

“Stakeholders report issues with online piracy and sales of counterfeit goods, including apparel, shoes, watches, jewelry, perfume, and electronics,” it said.

Issues involving counterfeiting and piracy led to the continued inclusion of Greenhills Shopping Center in the 2025 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy, or the USTR’s Notorious Markets List, released last month.

The government’s efforts to combat issues involving IP rights are weakened by the slow prosecution and conviction of cases, the USTR said.

Further, the USTR said that the US has concerns about the Philippines’ laws regarding the protection of internationally recognized labor rights, as well as the enforcement of labor laws.

The USTR noted that the Philippines currently does not have a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced or compulsory labor, which earlier prompted the agency to investigate the country along with 59 other economies.

Meanwhile, the agency also raised its objections to the country’s persistent problem with wildlife trafficking, which undercuts regulated trade in wildlife products and may lead to the contamination of global supply chains that would ultimately reach US consumers.

Without sufficient measures in place, the USTR said these market-distorting practices may weaken the trading relationship between the US and the Philippines.

“The Philippines has not entered into an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the US that includes commitments to address these distortions,” it said.

Philippine imports to the US, minus some exemptions, are subject to a 10-percent global tariff. This is lower than the 19-percent tariff imposed on such goods during the second half of last year.

Unlike countries that have negotiated tariff deals with the US, the Philippines remains at the whim of US President Donald Trump and his ever-unpredictable global trade agenda.

With the 2025 NTE report essentially shaping Trump’s tariff scheme last year, the USTR said the new 2026 report is no different, as it seeks to outline the US’ aim to rectify what it considers unfair trade practices of its trading partners.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the government of the Philippines consistently fell short on wiping out corruption and improving the many processes? Is the Philippines the least transparent nation in Southeast Asia when it comes to international trade and foreign investments? Do you think the deep corruption of the Philippines will become a major campaign issue in the 2028 Presidential, National and Local elections? Do you think the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit will make Filipinos complete forget about corruption?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

World Bank Sees Philippine Economy Growing 4.6% This Year And 5.3% In 2027

World Bank Sees Philippine Economy Growing 4.6% This Year And 5.3% In 2027

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With the ongoing war in the Middle East, the hiked prices of fuel and other problems happening already, the World Bank (WB) sees the economy of the Philippines achieving gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.6% this year and 5.3% next year, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Philippine economic growth would likely remain below its potential of at least six percent until the end of the Marcos Jr. administration, according to the latest forecasts by the World Bank.

Documents on the latest $800-million Philippines Growth and Jobs Development Policy Loan (DPL) 1, approved by the Washington-based multilateral lender last week, showed a projected 4.6- percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the country in 2026, inching up from the post-pandemic-low of 4.4 percent in 2025. This forecast is below the government’s downgraded five- to six-percent growth target for the year.

For 2027, the World Bank expects the Philippine economy to grow by 5.3 percent, which would also be lower than next year’s downscaled 5.5- to 6.5-percent goal.

By the time President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. steps down and turns over to a new administration in 2028, World Bank projections showed 5.5-percent GDP growth, still below the six- to seven-percent target.

“The growth outlook remains moderate over the near term, with activity expected to remain subdued in 2026 before gradually strengthening… The impact of the government’s anti-corruption efforts and a significantly lower infrastructure budget in 2026 is expected to weigh on public investment,” the World Bank said.

The lender added that a smaller statistical carry-over into 2026 signals weaker initial momentum, with growth projected to average 5.2 percent in 2026 to 2028, driven by recovering private domestic demand amid easing inflation and financing conditions.

“Private consumption is expected to benefit from stable labor income and improved confidence, while private investment gradually strengthens alongside improved credit conditions and a normalization of public capital spending. External demand, particularly for electronics and artificial intelligence (AI)-related exports, is projected to remain supportive, although global trade uncertainty presents downside risks,” the document said.

This World Bank report was prepared in mid-February before it was disclosed last week, which means that the impact of the war in the Middle East was not yet taken into consideration by the lender in its GDP growth forecasts.

At that time, the World Bank projected headline inflation to stay within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) two- to four-percent target range, averaging about 2.8 percent in 2026 to 2028.

Before the domestic price pressures wrought by the Middle East conflict that sent global oil prices soaring, the World Bank believed that the BSP would likely keep a neutral-to-supportive policy stance while balancing the still-negative output gap against risks from exchange-rate volatility and food inflation. A negative output gap refers to the economy expanding below its potential, which, for the Philippines, is estimated at about six percent annually.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economic growth predictions of the World Bank for the Philippines will turn out to be true in the near future? Do you think there is any hope left for the economy of the Philippines to achieve annual GDP growth of 6%? Do you think more foreign investors will be convinced to invest in the Philippines this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Malacañang Declares March 27 A Special Non-Working Day In Las Piñas City In Celebration Of Cityhood And Founding Anniversaries

Malacañang Declares March 27 A Special Non-Working Day In Las Piñas City In Celebration Of Cityhood And Founding Anniversaries

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The City Government of Las Piñas recently announced via social media that Malacañang formally declared March 27, 2026, a special non-working day in the city in celebration of the cityhood anniversary as well as the founding anniversary.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire announcement by the City Government. Some parts in boldface…

Malacañang declared Las Piñas Day on March 27, 2026 as a Special Non-Working Holiday. This is in conjunction with the celebration of the 119th Founding Anniversary, and 29th Cityhood Anniversary of Las Piñas. Let’s celebrate our beloved City together!

The City Government’s social media post includes an image of the official signed document from Malacañang.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? How do you plan to spend the special non-working day of March 27? Are many people in your local community aware of the history of the city’s founding and cityhood?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Philippines To Use ASEAN Influence To Lead Southeast Asian Front Against Trump’s New Global Tariff On Imports

Philippines To Use ASEAN Influence To Lead Southeast Asian Front Against Trump’s New Global Tariff On Imports

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Months ago, it was announced that the Philippines will temporarily lead the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as its Chair for 2026. In light of US President Donald Trump’s implementation of a new tariff on imports as a result of the United States Supreme Court’s decision, the Philippines – through its Trade Secretary – announced that it will lead the Southeast Asian front against the said tariff, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

Manila is preparing to lead a unified Southeast Asian push for a preferential trade agreement with the United States (US) following Washington’s decision to impose a 15 percent global tariff on imports.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the government intends to leverage its 2026 chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to safeguard the region’s export competitiveness and navigate the sudden shift in American trade policy.

Roque added that the government will also raise this matter during the upcoming ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat in the coming month.

“Definitely that will be one of the topics that we will be talking about,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum.

She, however, said the government has yet to formally discuss the region’s position, given that the US’ new sweeping tariffs were just announced over the weekend.

Finance Secretary Frederick Go, on the other hand, said this is an issue that all ASEAN members “love to talk about when we’re together.”

“What it made clear to us is that we have to open new markets,” said Go.

The US Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 20 that President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unconstitutional.

In the aftermath of the ruling, Trump immediately slapped a 10 percent surcharge on imports to the US, later raising it to 15 percent.

The new global tariff brings another wave of uncertainty that may undermine the exports of ASEAN members and ultimately their respective economic growth.

The Philippines is taking an active role in calling for deeper regional integration to accelerate investment flows and future-proof the region.

As ASEAN chair, Roque said a major priority is to oversee the passage and entry into force of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).

DEFA aims to set the region’s common rules on e-commerce, digital trade, cybersecurity, digital payments, emerging technologies, and cross-border data flows.

The agreement is seen doubling the value of ASEAN’s digital economy, which is already on track to reach about $1 trillion by 2030.

“We recognize the complexity of today’s global environment—geopolitical tensions, technological disruption, supply chain shifts, and climate risks. Yet we remain confident in ASEAN’s collective strength. ASEAN bonded together is a force that cannot be ignored,” said Roque.

For the year, Roque said priorities of the ASEAN chairship also include cross-border mobility of digital talent and industrial development of semiconductors and critical minerals.

By observing the attitude of the current administration and its diplomats, the Philippines is acting as if it is a major player on international affairs and world economics. Its chairmanship of the ASEAN is the latest example of this. Clearly the Philippines is afraid of the new global tariff implemented by Trump. Filipino exporters have endured the previous 19% tariff by America. When it comes to economic growth, the Philippines has weakened achieving only 4.4% growth in 2025 and the fallout of the flood control corruption scandal is still being felt socially and economically.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Philippines will be a very effective leader of the ASEAN this year? Do you think the Philippines is truly standing up for the economic interests of each and every Southeast Asian nation when dealing with Trump tariffs? Is the Philippines leading ASEAN to a potential embarrassment on international affairs and economics?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Department of Education And Local Government Units To Expedite Construction Of Classrooms

Department of Education And Local Government Units To Expedite Construction Of Classrooms

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In what could be the most serious attempt to solve the nation’s constant lack of classrooms, the Department of Education (DepEd) formally partnered with the local government units (LGUs) to expedite the construction of classrooms, according to a news article of the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the business news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday partnered with local government units (LGUs) to expedite classroom construction.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA), backed by 90 percent of provinces nationwide, formalized a nationwide framework to accelerate the delivery of school infrastructure, marking a decisive shift toward coordinated action to address the classroom backlog.

The signatories include representatives of local government leagues, including the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), as well as the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP).

“These signatures mark the end of working in silos. They mark the beginning of shared responsibility,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

The education chief said the partnership with LGUs will hasten direct actions to address the classroom shortage in the country, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The country has a backlog of 165,000 classrooms to date.

“Ang kasunduang ito ang malinaw naming pangako na wala nang classroom na maaantala dahil sa pag-aalinlangan, at wala nang edukasyong mapuputol dahil sa kakulangan ng ugnayan (This partnership is our clear promise that no more classroom construction will be delayed due to uncertainty, and no education will be hampered due to the lack of coordination),” Angara added.

Under the MOA, LGUs are tasked to lead the construction, replacement, rehabilitation, and improvement of classrooms within their jurisdictions, including the conduct of procurement, supervision of contractors, and day-to-day project implementation, in accordance with national procurement and building regulations.

For its part, the DepEd will identify priority schools, provide standard classroom designs and technical specifications, and exercise oversight by reviewing plans, validating completed works, and ensuring that projects meet national safety, accessibility, and quality standards.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the partnership between the DepEd and LGUs will effectively solve the nation’s constant lack of classrooms? If the partnership succeeds, do you think the quality of education as well as the comfort of the students will improve over time? Do you think LGUs are capable of doing its part on the construction of new classrooms?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines January 2026 Inflation Rate Lands At 2%

Philippines January 2026 Inflation Rate Lands At 2%

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The inflation rate of the Philippines for the month of January 2026 landed at 2% which is the highest in almost a year’s time, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

PHILIPPINE INFLATION accelerated to its fastest pace in nearly a year in January amid a faster rise in rents and electricity rates, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

Headline inflation picked up to 2% from 1.8% in December but slowed from 2.9% in the same month last year. This was the fastest pace seen in 11 months or since 2.1% in February 2025.

It also marked the first time in almost a year that the consumer price index (CPI) hit the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2%-4% target.

The January clip was likewise above the 1.8% median forecast in a BusinessWorld poll of 18 economists but was within the central bank’s 1.4%-2.2% estimate for the month.

“The main reason for the higher inflation rate in January 2026 compared with December 2025 is the faster price increase in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which recorded a 3.3% inflation rate,” National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said at a news briefing on Thursday.

Inflation for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels quickened to 3.3%, the fastest since 3.8% in August 2024.

According to the PSA, this commodity group had a 45.9% share in the overall inflation uptick in January.

Broken down, inflation for electricity rose to 6.5% year on year in January from the revised 4% in December, while rental prices picked up by 2.9% during the month from 2.4% in December.

This comes even after Manila Electric. Co. trimmed electricity rates by 16.37 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to P12.9508 per kWh last month from P13.1145 per kWh in December, which meant households consuming an average of 200 kWh paid P33 less in their monthly electricity bill.

In January 2025, Meralco charged P11.7428 per kWh.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the government is enforcing programs to manage price pressures emerging from the energy sector. It includes improving the Department of Energy’s Net Metering Program by enforcing time-bound local permitting, simplifying utility documentary requirements and expanding consumer incentives.  

“The program allows consumers to install eligible renewable energy systems and export surplus electricity to the grid, helping lower electricity costs and support the energy transition,” the DEPDev said in a statement.

Mr. Mapa also noted that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) added price pressures, as inflation settled at -2.8% in January from -5.1% in December.

In January, Petron Corp. hiked LPG prices by P2.18 per kilogram (kg), while Solane imposed a P2.18-per-kg increase.

This means that the price of a household-standard 11-kg LPG tank ranged from P820 to P1,120 last month, based on data from the Department of Energy.  

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the inflation rate of the Philippines could rise to as much as 3% this year? What do you think will be the factors – both internal and external – that will cause the inflation rate to spike?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Malacañang Declares February 13 A Special Non-Working Day In Parañaque City For Cityhood Anniversary

Malacañang Declares February 13 A Special Non-Working Day In Parañaque City For Cityhood Anniversary

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This year will mark the 28th anniversary of Parañaque’s status as a city and recently a Malacañang declared February 13, 2026 a special non-working day in connection with it. Check out the copy of the official document below sourced from the Facebook page of Congressman Brian Yamsuan.

Proclamation Number 1158 declared February 13, 2026 a special non-working day in Parañaque City.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you believe the city is truly progressive or is still in need of vast improvements in terms of infrastructure, public services and flood control? Do you often attend the so-called special events held during the week of the cityhood in Parañaque? Do you consider Parañaque a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Japanese Embassy In Manila Confirms Unprecedented Surge Of Filipinos Who Applied For Visas

Japanese Embassy In Manila Confirms Unprecedented Surge Of Filipinos Who Applied For Visas

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For Filipinos who want to visit Japan, a visa is often required which is something I can relate with. In recent times, there has been this lack of available slots for visa appointments and the Japanese embassy in Manila confirmed that there is an unprecedented surge of Filipino visa applicants, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s embassy in Manila is aware of the lack of available slots for visa appointments at its application centers and issued its response on the matter.

In a statement sent to the Manila Bulletin, the embassy cited the surge of Filipinos expressing interest in going to Japan.

Except during the surge of Covid-19 pandemic, the embassy said, Filipino visa applicants reached ​”unprecedented levels.​”

​”The number of short-stay visas issued surged more than sixfold (6.15 times) over the decade from 2013 (73,143) to 2023 (450,087), and increased further to 490,907 in 2024,​” it said.

​According to the embassy, this prompted them to make significant changes in their visa processing system.

​”In response to the increasing demand, the visa processing system underwent a fundamental overhaul starting April 2025 to maintain proper screening quality and streamline the process, transitioning to a Visa Application Center system,” it said.

​”Furthermore, the introduction of the e-VISA began last December for visas issued to tourists in package tours organized by designated travel agencies,” it added.

The embassy acknowledged that people-to-people exchanges form the foundation of Philippines-Japan relations, and the embassy “welcomes our Filipino friends’ growing interest in visiting Japan, with the number of Filipino visitors reaching a record high of 880,000 in 2025.​”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you already applied for a visa to visit Japan over the past twelve months? How many people do you personally know want to visit Japan? If you intend to visit Japan soon, have you started finding out what the requirements are for application?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines 2025 GDP Growth Lands At 4.4%

Philippines 2025 GDP Growth Lands At 4.4%

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After much anticipation, the full gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the Philippines registered final pace of 4.4% for the whole year of 2025, according to a Manila Standard business news report.

For insight, the 4.4% 2025 GDP growth is even lower than what others anticipated (click here and here). It should be recalled that GDP growth in the 3rd and 4th quarters of last year showed clear signs of economic weakness. The said weakness is connected with the flood control corruption scandal that rocked the nation.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Standard. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine economy expanded 4.4 percent in 2025 as a sharp slowdown in the final three months of the year dragged down the annual performance, government data showed on Thursday.

The gross domestic product grew 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter, marking the weakest quarterly expansion in five years. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the industrial sector contracted by 0.9 percent during the period, while gross capital formation, a measure of investment, tumbled 10.9 percent.

Wholesale and retail trade, financial activities and public administration remained the primary drivers of growth during the October to December period.

Public administration and defense led the gains with a 7.9 percent increase, followed by financial and insurance activities at 5.6 percent and trade at 4.6 percent.

For the full year, the services sector led the economy with a 5.9-percent expansion, while agriculture, forestry and fishing grew 3.1 percent. The industrial sector recorded a modest 1.5 percent increase for all of 2025.

Consumer spending, which traditionally anchors the Philippine economy, rose 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter and 4.6 percent for the full year. Government spending saw a significant annual jump of 9.1 percent despite the year-end cooling.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will be able to bounce back strongly this year and achieve 5% growth later? Do you think the reforms being implemented by the national government will create positive economic results soon? Are you convinced that the flood control corruption scandal turned off a lot of foreign investors?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco