Asia – Page 6 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Russian Live Streamer Deported

January 19, 2026January 18, 2026carlocarrasco

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, the Russian vlogger and live streamer who caused disturbances here in the Philippines, was deported to Russia by the local authorities, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For my previous blog posts about Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, click here, here, here and here.

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

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday confirmed that Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy had been deported to Russia.

In a statement, the BI said Zdorovetskiy boarded an IrAero flight bound directly for Irkutsk on Saturday.

The BI’s Board of Commissioners ordered his deportation on Dec. 17 after declaring him an undesirable alien.

The deportation order stemmed from various complaints against the 33-year-old Zdorovetskiy, who had harassed and disrespected several Filipinos. He also disrupted public peace and safety and committed acts deemed contrary to morals, good customs and public policy.

He was first arrested in April last year.

Known for posting prank videos on social media, the Russian vlogger was seen in recordings harassing a security guard, shouting expletives at a Filipino woman wearing face mask, stealing a heavy-duty electric fan, and taking a tricycle that later crashed into a parked jeepney.

During inquest proceedings, he admitted to the acts of harassment and was subsequently detained at the BI Warden’s Facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

He applied for bail but was denied by the bureau.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to personally witness Vitaly Zdorovetskiy’s pranks and disturbing acts here in the Philippines? Do you think the deportation will send a strong message to IRL streamers and other liver streamers overseas that the Philippines will not tolerate their acts of disrespect and public nuisance?

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

Solar Philippines Faces P24 Billion In Penalties Over Failure To Fulfill Renewable Energy Commitments

January 18, 2026January 17, 2026carlocarrasco

Remember back in 2024 when the government canceled multiple contracts it previously awarded to Solar Philippines as a result of its failure to fulfill the energy commitments? Solar Philippines is back in the spotlight and it is facing P24 billion in penalties over terminated contracts and the Department of Energy (DOE) revealed a lot about the company, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

The government terminated more than 160 renewable energy service contracts which represent a combined potential capacity of 17,904.02 megawatts (MW). Of that amount, Solar Philippines accounted for about 64% of the terminated solar projects as announced by the DOE Secretary Sharon Garin.

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

SOLAR PHILIPPINES Power Project Holdings, Inc. is facing P24 billion in fines for its failure to deliver nearly 12,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (RE) over the last two years, according to the Department of Energy (DoE).

“Out of the 17,904 MW of terminated contracts for 2025 and 2024… Solar Philippines would be 11,427 MW. That’s more or less equivalent to 64% of the terminated contracts,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said in a press chat on Tuesday.

Ms. Garin said the DoE terminated 33 service contracts held by Solar Philippines, a company founded by businessman-turned-politician Rep. Leandro L. Leviste, due to project delays. These service contracts could have supplied 11,427.83 MW of capacity to the grid.

The DoE said it seeks to collect around P24 billion in penalties from Solar Philippines which covers contractual obligations, performance bonds and financial obligations arising from the revoked contracts.

“We have consistently sent notices even show-cause orders request for them to renew their bonds. We have not received any response from the company,” she said.

Sought for comment, Mr. Leviste has yet to respond as of press time.

The DoE said it has recorded nearly 18,000 MW worth of potential capacity from 163 terminated and relinquished service contracts Ms. Garin said that 70 contracts were terminated and relinquished in 2024 and 93 contacts in 2025.

These terminated and relinquished contracts were composed of hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass that were awarded after application and green energy auctions (GEAs).

“This could have covered actually the annual increase of our electricity demand in the country. Unfortunately, we had to cancel these contracts. They’re not complying with the requirements and in accordance with their GEA contract. This is why we had to cancel them because they really wouldn’t move,” Ms. Garin said.

Under the revised omnibus guidelines governing the award and administration of RE contracts issued in 2024, the Renewable Energy Management Bureau can recommend termination of the contract if the RE developer failed to secure and submit needed requirements.

The RE developer has 30 calendar days to explain in writing why its contract should not be terminated. The developer whose RE contract was terminated may request for reconsideration.

Ms. Garin said that the revoked contracts will be open to other developers who are interested to apply or through the open and competitive selection process (OCSP).

OCSP allows the DoE to award RE contracts in pre-determined areas through competitive bidding. These are locations identified as having high potential for RE development, including hydro, geothermal, and wind resources.

Ms. Garin said that terminating contracts is not to “scare off investors” but to make sure “we have the right investors” in the Philippines.

“What we want are really legitimate investors that have the financial, technical, and legal capacity to embark on a contract and an energy project in the Philippines. This is why we are cleaning it up,” Ms. Garin said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the renewable energy sector of the Philippines really lacks legitimate investors who actually have the financial, technical, and legal capacity to embark on contracts of energy projects? Are you surprised that Solar Philippines failed to fulfill the energy commitments? If you are an investor, do you trust Solar Philippines?

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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17 Men Arrested For Stealing 150-Meter Copper Cable In Las Piñas City

January 17, 2026January 12, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, seventeen men were apprehended for the theft of an underground copper cable along Alabang-Zapote Road which affected more than a thousand Internet service customers, according to a GMA Network news report. Now in custody, the suspects claimed they were hired by someone who promised to pay them.

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

A group of men was arrested after allegedly stealing an underground copper cable belonging to an internet service provider along Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Piñas City.

According to Jamie Santos’ exclusive report on 24 Oras Weekend on Sunday, an investigation by the Las Piñas Police found that the 17 suspects are from Manila.

The suspects claimed they were recruited by an unidentified individual who promised to pay them P1,200 each in exchange for carrying a cargo.

They also claimed they were loaded into a closed van and brought to Las Piñas City, where they later discovered that the cargo contained internet cables, the report added.

Roving guards of the internet service provider allegedly caught the suspects loading the cables into the van, triggering a chase.

“Nagkaroon sila ng habulan. Paakyat ng Skyway ang van hanggang sa tumigil ito sa toll gate. Binangga ang barriers ng toll gate kaya hinold sila ng mga guwardiya.

(A chase ensued. The van was heading up the Skyway until it stopped at the toll gate.)

“Pagkatapos, tumawag ang toll gate security personnel sa HPG-Bicutan,” said Police Major Bobbe Imbo, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Section of Las Piñas Police Station.

(After it crashed into the toll gate barriers, the guards held them, then the toll gate security personnel called the HPG-Bicutan.)

“Possible po na hindi nila alam ang bubuhatin. May isang tao lang na nag-recruit sa kanila at sinabi na may bubuhatin sila. Hindi nila nire-reveal ang pangalan,” he added.

(It is possible they did not know what they were carrying. They said there was only one person who recruited them and told them they had something to carry, but they are not revealing the name.)

Authorities seized a 150-meter cable valued at more than P500 million, as well as a bolt cutter. An estimated 1,400 subscribers lost internet connection due to the incident, the report said.

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? Were you one of the many Internet service subscribers who lost connection due to the theft committed by the suspects? Who do you think hired them?

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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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

Japan And Italy Agree On Strategic Cooperation

January 17, 2026January 16, 2026carlocarrasco

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and they agreed to cooperate with each other on enhancing economic security, according to a report by Kyodo News. Meloni is on her first official visit to Japan since taking office in 2022.

For the newcomers reading this, Japan is currently dealing with the aggression of Communist China not only diplomatically but also economically. Prime Minister Takaichi will soon meet US President Donald Trump in America.

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

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni agreed Friday to cooperate in strengthening economic security including supply chains of critical minerals as they aligned their nations more closely in the face of China’s growing clout.

The two countries upgraded their “strategic partnership” to a “special strategic partnership” to boost ties in “all sectors” including security and culture, Takaichi and Meloni said in a joint statement released after their meeting in Tokyo.

The leaders “shared grave concern for all forms of economic coercion and for use of nonmarket policies and practices and use of export restrictions which disrupt global supply chains for key goods and components,” they said, in an apparent reference to China.

Japan and Italy will also establish a consultative body to promote cooperation in space technology and will advance collaboration in areas such as artificial-intelligence robotics and semiconductors, the statement said.

“As the international community faces a complex crisis and the strategic environment surrounding the Indo-Pacific region has become severe, close collaboration between like-minded countries has become more important than ever,” Takaichi told a joint press appearance with Meloni after the talks.

Japan and Italy, both Group of Seven members, will also work together on securing liquefied natural gas in case of emergencies, among other infrastructure and energy issues, Takaichi said.

Meloni said that the alliance between Japan and Italy has “high potential” and that she discussed with Takaichi diversifying critical mineral providers and reinforcing the resilience of their supply chains.

Japan and Italy share concerns over China, a dominant producer of rare earths essential for cutting-edge products whose trade practices are often criticized as coercive.

Beijing imposed stricter controls on exports to Japan of dual-use items last week, escalating a bilateral spat sparked by Takaichi’s remarks in November suggesting an attack on Taiwan could trigger a response by her nation’s defense forces. The targeted goods may include rare earths.

Japan and Italy are heavily dependent on imports from China for their rare earth supplies.

Finance ministers from the G7 nations and some other countries agreed Monday to accelerate the reduction of their overreliance on China for critical minerals during their gathering in Washington.

Tokyo and Rome have also been ramping up defense collaboration against the background of China’s growing military reach in the Indo-Pacific region and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, taking the view that security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic is inseparable.

The two countries have a joint trilateral project with Britain to develop a next-generation fighter jet they aim to deploy by 2035.

For added insight, watch the Nippon TV videos below.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think big developments will happen once Japan and Italy start a new series of cooperation tackling economics and military matters? Do you think Italy and Japan will be able to find alternative sources of rare earth supplies and heavily cut their dependence on China? Do you think China will react angrily at Japan and Italy?

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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Business Group Proposes New Blueprint To Solve Bottlenecks of Tourism In The Philippines

January 16, 2026January 11, 2026carlocarrasco

Things are clearly not looking good for the Philippines economically and also on international tourism. The Philippines was left behind by many of its Southeast Asian neighbors even as the region attracted more foreign tourists in 2025. Vietnam attracted more than 21 million foreign tourists last year and they are clearly benefiting from the ongoing tourism boom. That said, it is not surprising to see a local business group or federation make noise and urge the government to implement comprehensive reforms to solve the many problems of the tourism industry of the Philippines which the Manila Bulletin recently reported.

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

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) is sounding the alarm on the Philippines’ lagging tourism sector, urging the government to enact sweeping reforms as international arrival figures fall behind regional competitors.

In a statement on Sunday, Jan. 11, FFCCCII President Victor Lim described the current state of the industry as a “pivotal” moment, arguing that structural changes are now an urgent economic necessity.

While neighboring nations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are reporting a robust post-pandemic recovery, the Philippines is struggling to regain its footing.

“We, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), urge immediate decisive and comprehensive tourism reforms,” Lim said.

Data from the first 11 months of 2025 showed that the Philippines recorded 5.24 million international arrivals, a 2.2 percent decrease from the same period a year earlier.

The end-November figure also remained 37 percent below the benchmark levels seen in 2019, before the pandemic disrupted global travel.

Lim said the decline posed a direct threat to the broader economy, noting that tourism is a critical engine of inclusive growth. The sector is a primary employer and a lifeline for micro, small, and medium enterprises across the archipelago.

The federation identified three systemic hurdles: a “hassle factor” caused by congested airports and poor digital connectivity, uncompetitive visa policies that act as a deterrent compared to the streamlined entry points of regional peers, and a fragmented marketing strategy that fails to capitalize on the country’s cultural heritage.

To reverse the trend, the FFCCCII proposed a “Blueprint for Immediate Reform.” The plan calls for an “ASEAN-competitive” visa regime and a “connectivity revolution” to modernize primary gateways and facilitate easier travel between islands.

Lim also cited the need to pivot promotional efforts toward “The Philippine Experience,” moving beyond traditional sightseeing to highlight the nation’s history and hospitality.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the FFCCCII is correct about the current state of Philippine tourism? Do you find the FFCCCII’s proposal sensible and believable? Do you think the Department of Tourism (DOT) should take the FFCCCII’s proposal very seriously? Do you thinking it is inevitable that other business chambers from around the Philippines will push for tourism industry reforms?

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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Nomura Says Philippine Economic Growth May Fall Below 4% In The Near Term

January 15, 2026January 9, 2026carlocarrasco

By pointing to the effects of the flood control corruption scandal as well as other factors, Nomura Global Markets Research stated that the economic growth of the Philippines may fall below 4% in the near term, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

PHILIPPINE economic growth may fall below 4% in the near term as the billion‑peso flood control scandal drags on, affecting government spending and dampening consumption and sentiment, Nomura Global Markets Research said.

“I think going forward, these spillover effects (from the graft scandal) will also expand,” Nomura Chief Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economist Euben Paracuelles told Money Talks with Cathy Yang on One News on Thursday.

The scandal, which curbed state spending last year, is expected to dampen household consumption and business investment amid weaker sentiment, he added.

“If the drag is now sort of becoming more broad-based, not just the drop in government spending, you’ll see growth coming potentially below 4%, at least in the near term,” he said.

Nomura now expects the gross domestic product (GDP) to expand by 5.3% in 2026 from 5.6% previously. This is still within the government’s recently revised 5-6% target this year.

Economy Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan earlier said growth targets were lowered through 2027, after GDP growth likely slowed to 4.8-5% in 2025 amid the flood control controversy.

The government cut its 2026 projection to 5-6% and to 5.5-6.5% for 2027 from the earlier 6-7% range. The 2028 target was retained at 6-7%.

Mr. Paracuelles anticipates that the government will roll out catch-up spending plans, possibly in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, the Philippines may earn a credit rating upgrade if the government manages to resolve the flood control corruption issue within a year, Mr. Paracuelles said.

“The key for me is 12 months from here, when they need to decide on whether they need to upgrade the Philippines, I think it’s still quite uncertain,” he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economic growth of the Philippines is indeed slowing down right now? Would you be surprised to see the nation’s economic growth reach less than 4%? Do you think the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is working sufficiently to restore its credibility?

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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83 Illegal Aliens Arrested In Parañaque City

January 15, 2026January 11, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a raid happened at a certain shopping mall which resulted in the apprehension of more than eighty illegal aliens, according to a news release by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). A great majority of the suspects were from Bangladesh.

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

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday reported the arrest of 83 foreign nationals during a large-scale operation at a shopping mall in Baclaran, Parañaque City.

The operation, which stemmed from intelligence reports, was carried out on Jan. 7, following weeks of surveillance and verification, according to a belated news release.

The apprehended foreigners were 68 Bangladeshi nationals, 14 Chinese and one Indian. There were 2 females in the group.

Initial records check showed that while some held valid visas, they were engaged in retail trade activities prohibited under Philippine law. The report added that 18 of the foreigners are holding tourist visas, while the identities of six are under verification.

The foreign nationals are facing charges of immigration violations including undocumented stay, misrepresentation and violation of Republic Act 8762 or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, which prohibits foreigners from engaging in retail trade without proper authority, regardless of visa status.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado explained that the possession of a visa does not grant blanket authority to work or do business in the country.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be foreigners secretly working illegally at the nearest commercial center?

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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Health And Nutrition Program For Children Of Las Piñas

January 14, 2026January 8, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government’s nutrition committee announced the local health program for younglings which aims to emphasize better health and proper nutrition, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The (Las) Piñas City government, through its City Nutrition Committee, is set to conduct the annual Operation Timbang Plus (OPT) to promote the health and proper nutrition of young Las Piñeros.

Mayor April Aguilar said the program will cover infants and children up to four years old, ensuring early monitoring of their growth and nutritional status.

Aguilar said Operation Timbang Plus plays a vital role in assessing the weight, height, and overall health condition of children, serving as an important basis for the city in crafting and strengthening health and nutrition programs for the youth.

She encouraged parents and guardians to participate in the activity, noting that the data gathered from OPT will help guide the local government in addressing malnutrition and promoting healthier lifestyles among Las Piñero children.

The City Nutrition Committee assured the public that the schedules and additional details of the activity will be announced soon through official channels.

Residents are advised to stay updated by following announcements from the city government and the official Facebook page of the City Nutrition Committee.

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? Are parents in your local community bringing their children to the announced health and nutrition program?

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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I Love Israel: Israel And Japan Ties Emphasized As Top Officials Meet

January 13, 2026January 12, 2026carlocarrasco

Israel and Japan formally engaged with each other diplomatically as Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and their Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar separately in Jerusalem, according to reports by The Jerusalem Post and NHK World.

The meetings are significant not just because it marks the first time a delegation representing Japan under the administration of new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in Israel for diplomacy and cooperation, but also because Japan supports the American-led Gaza peace plan of US President Donald J. Trump (click here and here) and will be proactive in recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. The Japanese, however, expressed disagreement over Israel’s West Bank (biblical Judea and Samaria) settlement activities and insisted on a two-state solution. On the bright side, Japan will still NOT recognize a Palestinian state.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Jerusalem on Sunday to discuss continued cooperation between Israel and Japan, the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

Netanyahu congratulated Motegi and the delegation members on their visit to Israel and thanked them for their support, the PMO noted. During the meeting, Netanyahu and Motegi also discussed different ways to address regional challenges.

Earlier, Motegi met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

This is Motegi’s first bilateral diplomatic visit since taking office.

Motegi is also expected to meet with President Isaac Herzog on Monday morning during his visit to Israel, the PMO added.

Japan won’t recognize a Palestinian state given US ties – Israel and Japan align on some regional issues critical to the Jewish State.

The Asahi newspaper, citing unidentified government sources, reported in September 2025 that Japan will not recognize a Palestinian state for now, probably to maintain relations with the United States and to avoid a hardening of Israel’s attitude.

With regards to the meeting with Israel’s Foreign Minister, posted below is an excerpt from NHK World. Some parts in boldface…

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has visited Israel and held talks with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar. Motegi called for the steady implementation of a US-led peace plan for the Gaza Strip, while pledging a proactive role by Japan in the strip’s reconstruction.

At the opening of their meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Motegi said that to improve the situations surrounding Israel and the Palestinians it is important to steadily implement the peace plan.

He also said both sides should take concrete action toward the elimination of mutual distrust that has persisted over many years in order to ease regional tension and bring peace to the area.

Motegi also urged Israel to take appropriate responses to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian assistance in Gaza offered by international organizations, NGOs and others. He added that Japan will play a proactive role in engaging in the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.

Motegi told Sa’ar that Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank are in violation of international law, and that Japan is concerned that the increase in settler violence may further destabilize the situation in the region.

Motegi urged Israel to immediately cease what he described as any unilateral actions that run counter to a two-state solution.

Motegi later met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first face-to-face meeting with him by a Japanese senior government figure since then-Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in 2018.

There are indeed imperfections as revealed by the two news reports regarding the latest Israel-Japan meetings. In my opinion, Japan has yet to realize that the two-state solution is both pointless and worthless. They have yet to realize the truth that the Palestinians have a tradition of violence against the Jewish people, and they often followed terrorist leaders (fact: Palestinians expressed support for Hamas terrorists with regards to the October 7 attacks against Israel in 2023). Japan should realize that the West Bank is not rightfully owned by the global community and international law covering the said region is just an illusion. As such, we who support Israel should pray to the Lord that the Japan’s diplomats will get enlightened as they cooperate more with Israel in the years to come.

Praise and thank the Lord for the high-level meetings between the governments of Israel and Japan. Pray to Him to bless Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and the people of Japan. Pray also for the potential future visit of Prime Minister Takaichi to Israel.

To all my readers, I encourage you to accept 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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Philippines Overall 2025 Inflation Rate Lands At 1.7%

January 13, 2026January 6, 2026carlocarrasco

Following the 1.8% inflation rate for December 2025, the Philippines’ overall inflation rate for the entire year landed at 1.7%, according to a business news report by GMA Network.

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

The Philippines ended 2025 with a year-to-date average inflation settling well within the government’s target, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.

At a press conference, National Statistician and PSA chief Claire Dennis Mapa said the overall inflation —which measures the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services— clocked in at 1.8% in December 2025

This was faster than the 1.5% rate posted in November 2025.

December’s inflation print brought the 12-month 2025 national average to 1.7%, which stood well within the administration’s comfortable ceiling of 2% to 4%.

The 2025 average inflation was slower than 2024’s average rate of 3.2%. This was also the slowest annual average inflation rate since 2016 when the overall year-to-date inflation rate stood at 1.3%.

‘Resilient’ – In a statement, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said, “Despite global headwinds and domestic challenges, the Philippine economy has remained resilient against inflationary pressures due to the government’s timely and targeted interventions.”

“Building on this momentum, the government will continue to pursue prudent fiscal and monetary coordination and advance structural reforms to sustain the downward inflation trend and support inclusive growth in 2026 and beyond,” said Balisacan.

The PSA reported that the downtrend seen in 2025’s annual average inflation rate was primarily due to the lower increase in the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index, with a rate of 1.2% from 4.4% in 2024.

Meanwhile, the uptick in December alone was attributed to the impact of Typhoon Uwan, which disrupted food production as food inflation—which tracks the price movements of food items in a “basket” commonly purchased by households—accelerated to 1.2% from -0.3% in November.

This was due to the faster increase in vegetable inflation to 11.6% from 4% to 11.6 percent on the back of increases in onions at 79% from 48.2%, eggplants at 29.4% from –6.5%, and pumpkins at 20.1% from 8.8%.

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 will remain below 2% per month over the next six months?

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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