A new debit Mastercard was launched recently by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) which will be available for free for clients who open an account through bank branches and also for existing clients whose existing cards are about to expire or are due for renewal, according to a business news report by GMA Network.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has launched a new debit Mastercard made from 100% recycled PVC-free plastic, as the Ayala-led lender boosts its sustainable banking efforts.
The new card will be available for free for clients who open an account through the bank’s branches and for existing clients with cards nearing expiry or are already due for renewal. Clients who switch to the new card will be charged a P200 replacement fee.
The card—which features a curved notch at the bottom left corner—can be requested through the BPI app or BPI Online, and may be available for pickup at the preferred branch.
“Reimagining the BPI Debit Mastercard to become an eco-friendly card is a testament to BPI’s commitment to its values of sustainability and innovation,” BPI Mass Retail head Jenny Lacerna said in an emailed statement.
“By using sustainable materials for our card, we hope to make sustainable behavior the default option for everyone,” she added.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What is your observation about the new debit card launched by BPI? If you are an existing BPI account holder, do you intend to request for the new card?
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?
Welcome back, readers and fellow believers of the Lord!
It is a long-running tradition that the world we live in remains twisted, divided and chaotic. Apart from the persistent political divisions magnified by the dishonest mainstream news media, people around the world have differences in terms of culture, social classes, lifestyles, identity and geographic norms. Along the way, Satan keeps on influencing people to become his agents of evil, lying and division. The chaos just goes on and on.
Being worldly is unholy. Wordliness – which includes wickedness, corruption, idolatry, homosexuality, immorality, dishonesty, theft and a lot more negative elements – is twisted and it often leads to deterioration, division and destruction. Is it any wonder why are there so many brainwashed and paid political activists causing chaos in societies? Why do you think Islamic terrorism keeps on happening? Why do you think the Islamo-Leftists keep on empowering mass migration, illegal immigration and multiculturalism against nations of the world? Did you notice people are being deceived by the zealots of social justice, identity politics, climate change, diversity and inclusion? Satan is responsible and he has a lot of the sinners, the lost, the anarchists and the terrorists who don’t even realize they are his pawns.
No matter what happens around us and to us, we the faithful should never lose hope and we should keep on moving forward in faith and with the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus is our Savior, our Redeem and the Hope of ALL nations! No matter how much chaos happens to us, we should never lose faith in Him and we can do His will by spreading God’s Word. God is the eternal Creator and we should remember why He redeemed us with His Son Jesus.
We should always keep worshiping the Lord wholeheartedly. Worshiping God protects your heart from going astray. Worshiping and honoring Him puts us in His path and this includes the guiding light of the Holy Spirit which shows us the way to follow. Lord Jesus achieved victory over death as well as victory over evil.
The truth is this…Satan can be defeated by having uncompromising faith in the Lord, in His Word and following the ways and commands of the Lord. Lord Jesus Himself defeated Satan long ago and you can find out how in the bible verse below.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
But He answered and said,
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’
and,
‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus said to him,
“It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him,
“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Matthew 4:1-11 (NKJV)
As seen in the above scripture, the Lord defeated Satan and by following Jesus and God’s Word, we can be protected from whatever attacks or tricks Satan throws at us the faithful. With the Lord, nothing is impossible!
Resisting the devil involves complete submission to God. Learn from the scripture below.
So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 (AMPC)
It is clear that we the faithful should never open doors that lead to evil. We should follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and let it guide us so that we do not make mistakes. Never give any edge nor space to evil. Meanwhile, the lost, the chaotic and the unsaved who spent their lives committing evil under Satan’s influence still have time to turn around and come to Lord Jesus for submission and repentance. Learn from the scriptures below.
Jesus answered him,
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
John 3:3 (AMPC)
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:
“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
And again:
“I will put My trust in Him.”
And again:
“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:10-15 (NKJV)
As seen above, there is indeed hope for the lost and unsaved to come to the Lord. This is why we are reminded to preach God’s Word to others and pray for them to realize the light of hope and salvation from Jesus. There are indeed a lot of people out there who rejected God or did not prioritize Him, but they have time to turn around and come to Him. After surrendering to Him, they will learn to praise, honor and thank Him eternally in His Kingdom. Learn from the scriptures below.
It is a good and delightful thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises [with musical accompaniment] to Your name, O Most High,
To show forth Your loving-kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night,
With an instrument of ten strings and with the lute, with a solemn sound upon the lyre.
For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing.
How great are Your doings, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.
A man in his rude and uncultivated state knows not, neither does a [self-confident] fool understand this:
That though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to be destroyed forever.
But You, Lord, are on high forever.
For behold, Your adversaries, O Lord, for behold, Your enemies shall perish; all the evildoers shall be scattered.
Psalm 92:1-9 (AMPC)
The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible].
Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.
[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].
[They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Psalm 92:12-15 (AMPC)
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights and strength of the hills are His also.
The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker [in reverent praise and supplication].
Psalm 95:1-6 (AMPC)
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless (affectionately praise) His name; show forth His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be reverently feared and worshiped above all [so-called] gods.
For all the gods of the nations are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come [before Him] into His courts.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before and reverently fear Him, all the earth.
Say among the nations that the Lord reigns; the world also is established, so that it cannot be moved; He shall judge and rule the people righteously and with justice.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all the things which fill it;
Let the field be exultant, and all that is in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
Before the Lord, for He comes, for He comes to judge and govern the earth! He shall judge the world with righteousness and justice and the peoples with His faithfulness and truth.
Psalm 96:1-13 (AMPC)
Our Lord is not just all-powerful. He is also a very caring and loving Lord, the most definitive Leader and Authority we can follow with all our hearts. For as long as our faith in Him remains uncompromising, Satan, the idols and his evil influence cannot win and will end up isolated with defeat. Those who are still trapped by Satan can be freed by leading them to Jesus for repentance, submission and hope. The Lord reigns eternally and we the faithful can help the lost and unsaved realize that! Learn from the scripture below.
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles and coastlands be glad!
Clouds and darkness are round about Him [as at Sinai]; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries round about.
His lightnings illumine the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory.
Let all those be put to shame who serve graven images, who boast in idols. Fall prostrate before Him, all you gods.
Psalm 97:1-7 (AMPC)
O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.
The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly shown in the sight of the nations.
He has [earnestly] remembered His mercy and loving-kindness, His truth and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
Psalm 98:1-4 (AMPC)
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!
Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:1-3 (AMPC)
Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—
Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;
Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!
Psalm 103:1-5 (AMPC)
All the praise, all the glory, all the thanks and all the honor to God! We the faithful are eternally secured in Heaven as we are faithful Jesus our Lord and the Hope of all nations! We the faithful can help the lost and unsaved make their way to the Lord for light and hope they need.
From this point on, I would like to reach out to the lost and the unsaved people reading this. Are you frustrated with religion? Have you been living in bondage for too long? Did the atheists and secularists fool and abused you? Were you victimized by a religious fanatic? Have you been living as a homosexual or as a toxic person? Are you fed up with being promiscuous and living with sadness? Have you spent an entire life worshiping statues, statuettes, paintings and relics? Are you addicted to something for so long?
All of that darkness can end! How? You can save yourselves by submitting to the Lord willingly and realize He is the Light! No force and no coercion here. You have time and freedom to decide to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. For those who have decided to get born again now and gain salvation, please read the instructions and follow the prayer that I learned from a pastor.
Are you ready? Firstly, open your heart to the Lord and pray this simple prayer in sincerity from your heart:
Father God,
I thank You. I believe Jesus is Your Son. I believe that He died for me and redeemed me from all of my sins. He took my sins and, Father, thank You for loving me and You demonstrated Your love for me through Your Son Jesus Christ. Forgive me for all of my sins. Jesus, I open my heart to You. I welcome You to enter into my heart. I confess today that You are now my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiveness. I receive forgiveness. Thank You for Your blood that cleansed me from all of my sins. I will follow You, Jesus. Thank You for Your plan. I receive the Holy Spirit. And Holy Spirit, help me to follow the will of God in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Congratulations! You are now a child of God! You have received Holy Spirit in your heart! This is easily your greatest decision ever made and also the greatest miracle of your life. Always praise, thank and honor the Lord. No more darkness in your life caused by politics, radicalism, toxicity, rebellion, religion, unbelief, evil, idolatry, traditions and rituals! Leave behind the darkness of your life and don’t look back to it. Remember that idolatry is evil, Purgatory is a lie, penance is a deception and Satan always used religion and unbelief to prevent people from being saved by the Lord.
With Lord Jesus, you are already moving forward and the best is yet to come! You also have a personal relationship with God, a relationship that is strictly off-limits to others (even to your household members or biological family members).
Now that you are living a new life as a Christian (devoted follower of Lord Jesus), I highly encourage you to visit Israel someday. It is in Israel where the Holy Land is, and you should go there to deepen your faith in the Lord. I myself had been to Israel and I brought the Holy Bible with me to many holy sites there such as Nazareth, Galilee and its sea, the Pool of Siloam, Magdala, Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the Upper Room, the Temple Mount, the Jordan River and the Southern Steps to name some. I did my part deepening my faith in our Lord and praying to Him. I also did my part blessing the Jewish people during my time there, and I assure you all that the ties between Jews and Christians are biblical. Go to Israel with the Holy Bible and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
The Holy Bible is the ultimate authority and nothing else comes close to it for it is the Word of God. Remember always that Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to start religion. He died to redeem us all and showed that we must be led by faith in Him, faith in the Holy Spirit and faith in God the Heavenly Father. He rose from the dead and made His earthly presence felt once more to those who believed in Him. Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven and He promised to return in the future. His return is what we must always remember and keep on living with holiness under the watch of God. Living as a Christian is always about the personal relationship with the Lord, and it is certainly not about religion.
Over two million Filipinos were reported jobless for the month of December 2025 with the unemployment rate landing at 4.4%, according to a business news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the business news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The country’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in December 2025 from the previous month, but underlying labor market data pointed to emerging softness as the number of jobless Filipinos continued to rise.
The latest preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released Friday, Feb. 6, showed that around 2.26 million Filipinos were unemployed in December, up sharply from 1.63 million during the same month in 2024 and slightly higher than the 2.25 million recorded in November.
The increase came alongside a labor force participation rate of 64.4 percent, translating to about 51.69 million Filipinos aged 15 and above who were either employed or actively seeking work.
The employment rate settled at 95.6 percent for the month, down from 96.9 percent in December 2024, while the underemployment rate fell to a single-digit eight percent in December—the lowest on record, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa noted at a press briefing. The last time that underemployment reached a single-digit rate was in May 2024, when it stood at 9.9 percent.
For full-year 2025, the employment rate slipped to 95.8 percent from 96.2 percent in 2024, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent from 3.8 percent. Underemployment held steady at 11.9 percent, the same level recorded in 2024.
Mapa attributed the year-on-year increase in unemployment primarily to the construction sector, which reportedly shed 550,000 jobs.
He noted that weak growth in construction—particularly public construction—was the main driver of the rise in unemployment. The sector further declined in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the third quarter.
Reductions in employment were also observed in transportation and storage (258,000), fishing and aquaculture (258,000), and manufacturing (255,000), but Mapa emphasized that construction accounted for the largest impact.
While employment grew by around 172,000 in 2025 compared with 2024, Mapa said this was the lowest annual increase in the past three years, excluding the pandemic years.
He noted that employment had risen by 1.29 million in 2023 compared with 2022 and by 664,000 in 2024 compared with 2023, highlighting a clear downward trend.
The slowdown was largely due to the construction sector contributing fewer workers compared with previous years, as reduced public construction activity translated into lower employment.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think unemployment all over the Philippines will gradually get worse over the next twelve months? If the economic growth of the Philippines weakens further, do you think job opportunities will be reduced?
Remember Japan’s commitment of investing $550 billion into core industries in the United States? The two great nations had a high-level meeting in Washington and they agreed to speed up the selection of the first round of investment projects under the multi-billion Dollar package before they are sent to US President Donald J. Trump for approval, according to a news report by Kyodo News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Japan and the United States agreed Thursday to speed up selection of the first round of investment projects under a $550 billion package that Tokyo committed to last year following months of tariff negotiations, with a summit of their leaders about a month away.
Hours after his meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Japanese industry minister Ryosei Akazawa told reporters a “significant gap” remained and more coordination was required to serve the mutual interests of the two countries.
“In conducting negotiations, we are naturally keeping in mind the goal of making Prime Minister (Sanae) Takaichi’s visit to the United States a fruitful one,” he said.
Akazawa’s meeting with Lutnick was believed to be part of last-ditch efforts to sort out the first batch of Japanese investment projects to be carried out in the United States, before they are sent to President Donald Trump for final approval.
Although Akazawa, who serves as economy, trade and industry minister, said there was some progress, neither side could unveil any specifics. While refusing to elaborate, he suggested differences remained over interest rates and business risk assessments.
“In a nutshell, as far as we are concerned, high-risk, high-return (investments), given that they also involve taxpayers’ money, are not something we are interested in,” he said.
The meeting with Lutnick took place a week after Trump said he would welcome Takaichi to the White House on March 19.
Under a trade deal struck in July last year, Japan has committed to investing $550 billion in the United States by the end of Trump’s second term in January 2029, in exchange for his administration reducing tariffs on Japanese cars and other goods.
The massive figure represents a combination of investments, loans and loan guarantees from Japanese government-backed financial institutions.
Japan and the United States have agreed that the forthcoming investments will focus on strategic sectors, such as critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and energy, to support their national security interests and economic objectives.
For the initial tranche of investments, the construction of gas-fired power generation facilities for data centers, the production of synthetic diamonds used in the semiconductor industry and the development of a port are among the leading candidates, according to Japanese officials.
The memorandum of understanding between Japan and the United States, signed by Akazawa and Lutnick in September last year, stipulates that Trump will ultimately select projects recommended by an “investment committee” chaired by the commerce secretary and composed solely of U.S. officials.
Earlier in the process, the so-called consultation committee — comprising officials from both countries — is tasked with identifying potential investment projects.
The United States will forward investment projects that gain Trump’s endorsement to Japan for review, with Tokyo given 45 days to respond and transfer the necessary funds to Washington.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the two nations will reach an agreement over the first round of investment projects under the $550 billion package? Do you think the remaining challenges will be resolved in due time? Are you looking forward to Prime Minister Takaichi’s Washington visit and meeting with President Trump this March?
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?
In its latest economic analysis, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says that the economy of the Philippines could grow by about 6% in 2027 provided that investments – both public and private – would regain strength, according to a BusinessWorld news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY could return to around 6% growth by 2027 if public and private investments rebound, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries.
“I think (the drivers are a) kind of a little of everything, but return to high investment, public and private, I think would be, to me, the key driver,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Jan. 23.
Last December, the ADB slashed its Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 5% for 2025, from 5.6% previously. For 2026, the ADB trimmed its GDP projection to 5.3% from 5.7% previously.
This comes after a corruption scandal dampened government spending, household consumption, investor confidence and economic activity last year.
The ADB will release its updated economic outlook in April, which will include a 2027 growth forecast.
Mr. Jeffries warned that the cut in Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget this year, could trigger a “big slowdown” in locally funded projects.
“I guess the main variable for 2026 was how fast does the public investment recover? We were thinking maybe two quarters, so it’ll start reviving,” he said.
In a meeting with Public Works Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon in December, Mr. Jeffries said they raised concerns about “paralysis,” where key projects risked getting stuck.
“What we’ve heard is they’re trying to make sure the priority projects are not stuck and keep moving forward quickly. I think it’s a twofold exercise,” he said. “It’s cleaning up the problem while full steam ahead on some of the other projects that weren’t a problem.”
Mr. Dizon earlier said the DPWH aims to boost spending while ensuring funds are used wisely and focus on prioritizing the “basics” such as road and bridge maintenance and unfinished projects. The agency’s target spend is set between P200 billion and P250 billion for the first quarter, he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jeffries said the Philippines must raise the share of exports in the economy to support long-term growth, as well as diversify its base, and boost resilience.
“It’s not something that happens overnight. It’ll be a combination of policies and attracting investment and improving the business environment and all of those things combined,” Mr. Jeffries said. “But neighbors have done it and the Philippines can do that.”
He noted the Philippines was shielded from external shocks, largely because exports remain a relatively small part of the economy.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the ADB’s analysis for the Philippines is correct? Do you think the economy of the Philippines has enough strength to grow by at least 6% in 2027?
While the Philippines continues to endure difficulties on attracting foreign tourists (click here and here), statistics of the global travel platform Agoda revealed that a lot more Filipinos searched online for accommodations in Vietnam, according to a travel article by VnExpress.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the travel article of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
Travelers from the Philippines showed the strongest interest in visiting Vietnam in 2025, with accommodation searches rising 86% year-on-year, according to travel platform Agoda.
The trend was consistent with official tourism data. The number of Filipino visitors to Vietnam reached 482,173 in 2025, up 81.3% from 2024, according to the General Statistics Office.
Air connectivity between the two countries has also improved, with several carriers launching new direct routes.
In July last year, Philippine Airlines began operating a Manila-Da Nang service with three flights a week. A month later, Vietjet opened the Ho Chi Minh City-Manila route, offering five round-trip flights per week.
“Growing international interest suggests Vietnam is consolidating its position as a leading regional destination, benefiting from improved connectivity, visa policies and diversified travel experiences,” said Vu Ngoc Lam, country director at Agoda Vietnam.
Vietnam welcomed a record 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, up 20.4% from the previous year and the highest total on record.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think a lot more Filipinos will visit Vietnam this year as the direct flights continue? What is it about Vietnam that captures the interests of foreign travelers? If you have been to Vietnam as a tourist, how much did you spend per day there?
At long last, US President Donald Trump picked Kevin Warsh as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve replacing Jerome Powell, and already a lot of public officials and high-ranking members of the private sector support the choice, according to the Kyodo News report plus the White House press statement respectively.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he will nominate Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, with the choice of a Wall Street veteran who was a governor of the central bank over a decade ago seen as intended to avoid roiling financial markets.
Trump’s pick to replace Jerome Powell as the Fed chair caps a process that formally began last summer. While screening candidates in private, he has subjected Powell to relentless public criticism for not cutting interest rates more aggressively and challenged the independence of the world’s most influential central bank.
Trump announced the nomination in a post on social media, saying, “I have known Kevin for a long period of time, and have no doubt that he will go down as one of the GREAT Fed Chairmen, maybe the best.“
“On top of everything else, he is ‘central casting,’ and he will never let you down,” Trump added. The lengthy post, though it included information on Warsh’s professional experience, did not clearly explain the reason for his selection.
Powell’s term as Fed chief ends in May. The role requires Senate confirmation, which may not be smooth sailing for Warsh due to bipartisan concern over the Fed’s independence under Trump, most recently evidenced by the Department of Justice launching a criminal probe into Powell over a renovation of the central bank’s headquarters.
Trump told reporters later Friday in the Oval Office that he was not worried about the confirmation process, calling Warsh the “most qualified” person to take the helm of the Fed, based on his background and experience.
He also said he did not urge Warsh to cut interest rates, but admitted discussing the topic with him.
“I don’t want to ask him that question. I think it’s inappropriate, probably,” Trump said. “I want to keep it nice and pure. But he certainly wants to cut rates. I’ve been watching him for a long time.”
Warsh was previously appointed to the Fed in 2006 at the age of 35, making him the youngest person ever to serve on its board at that time. He was a board member until 2011.
During the 2008 financial crisis, he served as the Fed’s main liaison with Wall Street and earned a good reputation for stabilizing the situation.
Before that, he was a special assistant to President George W. Bush for economic policy and executive secretary of the White House National Economic Council.
After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1995, Warsh joined Morgan Stanley’s mergers and acquisitions division, where he worked for seven years and became vice president and executive director.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the screening of candidates for the next Fed chief had narrowed to four finalists.
The four were said to be Warsh, Kevin Hassett, Trump’s top economic adviser, Christopher Waller, a Fed governor, and Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s chief bond investment manager.
Calling Warsh and Hassett “the two Kevins,” Trump had repeatedly said they were “great” in the weeks leading up to his official announcement.
Warsh was a finalist in the 2017 Fed chair race during Trump’s first term and was reportedly a candidate for Treasury secretary in his second presidency.
During his time on the Fed’s board, Warsh was considered a monetary hawk, meaning he was typically supportive of higher interest rates to curb inflation, even in the middle of the financial crisis.
Compared with Hassett, a close ally of Trump’s who has openly advocated lower borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, Warsh is seen by financial markets as someone who could protect the Fed’s independence from the White House.
However, Warsh, 55, an outspoken critic of the central bank, has increasingly aligned with Trump’s views in recent months. The forthcoming Senate process is likely to test his ability to withstand pressure from the president while also reassuring nervous investors.
In a November opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, Warsh disapproved of the Fed’s current monetary policy and praised the Trump administration for advancing what he called “pro-growth” economic programs, focusing on deregulation and tax reforms.
Meanwhile, the White House press statement revealed a long list of public officials and financial market figures who responded positively to Warsh’s nomination to lead the Federal Reserve. Posted below are selected excerpts from the statement. Some parts in boldface.
The nomination has drawn widespread praise from lawmakers, business leaders, financial experts, and industry voices across the spectrum:
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Chairman Tim Scott: “The Federal Reserve’s decisions touch every American household, from mortgage rates to retirement savings, and President Trump has been clear that bringing accountability and credibility to the Federal Reserve is a priority, and his nomination of Kevin Warsh reflects that focus. As a former Federal Reserve Governor, Kevin has deep knowledge of markets and monetary policy that will be essential in this role. Federal Reserve independence remains paramount, and I am confident Kevin will work to instill confidence and credibility in the Fed’s monetary policy. As Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, I look forward to leading a thoughtful, timely confirmation process that carefully examines his vision for focusing the Federal Reserve on its core mission.”
Sen. Jim Banks: “Kevin Warsh is a brilliant pick by President Trump for Fed Chair. Clear from what he wrote in 2021 he understands scale of China’s ambitions. As member of Banking Committee I look forward to working with him to maintain American financial supremacy.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn: “Kevin Warsh is exceptionally qualified to lead the Federal Reserve as Chairman. I look forward to supporting this nomination in the Senate, and I am confident Kevin will help foster economic growth and create more opportunity for hardworking Americans.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: “Kevin Warsh is a fantastic choice to lead the world’s most important central bank at this crucial time.”
Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO Bob Broeksmit: “MBA congratulates Kevin Warsh on his nomination to serve as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. His prior service on the Federal Reserve Board, where he developed a reputation as a prudent, thoughtful voice on monetary policy, paired with his private sector experience, will be invaluable as he leads the Federal Reserve in what has become an increasingly challenging and complicated mission.”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark: “Kevin is well known to the business community. We appreciate his years of focus on how we grow the American economy and maintain stable prices for America’s families, and look forward to his confirmation process.”
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon: “Kevin Warsh is a highly respected and experienced leader — across government, business and education — who I have seen act with integrity and a dedication to making our country better.”
Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz: “Kevin Warsh is the perfect choice to lead the Federal Reserve. He has repeatedly demonstrated understanding of the true driver of inflation: excessive government money printing, not economic growth. Under his leadership, the Fed can finally reach its target inflation rate, something Chairman Powell has continually failed to do, while also expanding access to credit for small businesses. By protecting the value of the dollar, supporting economic growth, and boosting capital access, a Warsh chairmanship can backstop a booming small business economy. The Senate should quickly confirm him.”
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering the wide-reaching positive reactions to Trump’s pick for the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve, do you feel confident that Warsh is the right choice? Do you hope to see Warsh make positive changes once he takes over as the head of the Federal Reserve? Have you been frustrated with the way Jerome Powell led the Federal Reserve and executed financial policies over the past several years?
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?
Author Carlo Carrasco 