By pointing to a variety of factors, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently announced that the economy of the Philippines will grow by 5.6% this year, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The ADB recently released its latest economy report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the first PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines is expected to post the second highest economic growth in Southeast Asia this year despite the downgrade in growth outlook due to external headwinds, a report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) showed.
In its Asian Development Outlook July 2025 report released on Wednesday, the ADB said Philippine economic growth is expected to settle at 5.6 percent this year.
The growth outlook for the Philippines is the second highest in Southeast Asia, next to Vietnam’s 6.3 percent. Indonesia is projected to grow by 5 percent, Malaysia by 4.3 percent, Singapore by 1.6 percent, and Thailand by 1.8 percent.
For 2026, growth is expected to slightly pick up to 5.8 percent.
The ADB’s latest projection, however, was lower than its 6 percent for 2024 and 6.1 percent for 2025 economic growth forecast amid external headwinds. The Philippine economy grew by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of the year.
“Domestic demand grew 6.7 percent, supported by easing inflation and monetary policy. However, net exports dragged on growth as brisk imports outpaced exports,” the ADB said. It added that manufacturing index (PMI) recovered slightly to 50.7 in June from 50.1 in May.
“Consumer sentiment was positive in the near term. Unemployment was low at 3.9 percent in May, and remittance growth of 3.0 percent helped sustain household spending,” it said.
The ADB, however, said that business confidence softened amid heightened global policy uncertainties.
According to the ADB, economic forecasts for most countries in Southeast Asia have been downgraded for 2025 and 2026 due to the continuing global growth slowdown and increased trade uncertainty.
“Weaker external conditions have hurt business and consumer sentiment and threaten to disrupt investment in the subregion,” it said.
“Except for Indonesia, the largest economy in the subregion, all Southeast Asian economies are expected to post weaker growth in the next two years.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it is still possible for the economy of the Philippines reach 6% GDP growth by the end of 2025?
The uncertainty about this year’s economic growth for the Philippines has gotten stronger as the Department of Finance (DOF) admitted that achieving 6% growth is quite difficult, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The DOF pointed to external shocks that are affecting the national economy.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
While the Philippine economy has already been recovering from its deep recession during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, hitting its growth potential of six percent would be challenging given the global uncertainties spilling over domestically, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
“We do think that the potential of the Philippines is at the minimum six-percent growth. But of course, it’s quite difficult, especially knowing some of the challenges that we’re seeing,” DOF Undersecretary and Chief Economist Domini Velasquez told reporters during the Philippine thrift banks’ annual convention on Tuesday, July 15.
Just before the initial three-month pause on reciprocal tariffs ended on July 9, United States (US) President Donald Trump had stretched it to Aug. 1, but hiked the rates for Philippine exports to 20 percent from 17 percent previously, repeatedly citing the “significant and persistent trade deficit” that the trade giant has with its former colony.
Velasquez noted that the tariff hike was among the uncertainties that the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had considered in downscaling its growth target for the year, through 2028.
Last month, the economic team slashed its 2025 GDP growth target to between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent from six- to 6.5-percent previously. Cited as factors were heightened external uncertainties, especially the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the imposition of US tariffs.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto told reporters during an informal press chat on Wednesday, July 16, that he expects the economy to accelerate “significantly” in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter.
“In effect, the target is still six percent for the year,” Recto noted, taking off from the recently revised growth goal. “Realistically, it’s probably around 5.7 percent or 5.8 percent for the year. It depends, because there’s a lot of uncertainty—uncertainty with trade policy.”
“But I think the second quarter will definitely be better than the first,” Recto said, noting that the improvement will be driven by both government and household consumption.
The DBCC had also narrowed the growth target range for 2026 to 2028 to six to seven percent, from the previously more ambitious six to eight percent.
“We did recognize those [tariffs]. When we dialed down on our growth target in 2025, it’s really because of the external factors that we were seeing,” Velasquez said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national economy is not strong enough to achieve 6% GDP growth by the end of this year? What do you think the national government should do to strengthen economic growth and make the Philippines more attractive to foreign investors? Do you think the Philippines still has a chance to convince America to lower its planned tariff on Philippine-made goods?
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming fans and other gamers!
If you are disappointed with modern console gaming and if you don’t like what the console makers are doing, retro gaming will restore the fun and help you forget about the disappointment.
I recently purchased a copy of Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute for my Xbox Series X because I wanted to play Elevator Action Returns again but in the comfort of home. For the newcomers reading this, Elevator Action Returns (also titled as Elevation Action II in some markets overseas) was first released in Japanese arcades in 1994.
The Japanese arcade flyer of Elevator Action Returns.
In my experience here in the Philippines, I played the original Elevator Action on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in 1986 and I played its sequel for the first time at the arcade of X-Site Amusement Center inside Festival Mall in Alabang in 1998. Upon playing Elevator Action Returns arcade version, I was instantly hooked as it was pretty playable, exciting and fun to play. To the best of my memory, I replayed Elevator Action Returns a number of times at X-Site Amusement Center until early 2001. Today, the game is no longer available in X-Site’s arcade selection which is a bummer.
In recent times, I’ve been replaying Elevator Action Returns and the original Elevator Action on my Xbox Series X thanks to the Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute digital copy I purchased. What I am writing here is not a game review but more of an observation about the mid-1990s game in general and how it played using the Xbox controller.
Game design and gameplay
Developed by Taito, Elevator Action Returns was built up on the foundation it inherited from its 1980s predecessor. The game has a 2D visual design and with more detailed sprites and artistic elements of the time. The game was designed with a joystick and two action buttons (one for shooting and the other for jumping) arcade control set up in mind.
The first level is a creative remake of what was presented in the original Elevator Action game. Only this time, the action is more intense, faster and more explosive.
Players will have to make their way through the floors in each level (six in total), shooting the enemies (the in-game terrorist group), entering all the red-colored door to retrieve something essential, survive and then making your way to the exit point of the level. As the game has a designated health meter or life bar for the player, this allows players to keep enduring the challenges without worrying about any one-hit deaths.
As players make their way through each level, they can pick up new weapons like machine guns or launchers. Players can also enter doors to pick up not only new weapons but also health boosters or points.
The 2D sprite work and animation are fantastic to look at. The artistic details in the background and foreground added visual dept.
You can pick one of three characters to play as.
When compared to the original Elevator Action, the sequel comes with good variety per level prepared. The first level was traditional in design like the previous game as players have to move down a tall building by floors, accomplish with the red door and conclude the level at the ground floor. The other levels are more horizontal in design and players will definitely be moving more sideward fighting the terrorists while avoiding environmental hazards. There also will be times when players will have to climb up one floor to the next by escalator or by elevator depending on the level designed.
When it comes to the constant opposition, the terrorists are many and players should be aware of them appearing when they are least expected. What it noticeable is that the terrorists become more aggressive and relentless the longer players take to finish a level. I promise you readers, you will do a lot of shooting, jumping, and even melee attacks when fighting the bad guys.
Levels like this one allowed for more sideway movement as well as opportunities to climb up or down a floor in order to accomplish your objective.
With a health meter implemented, you can endure more damage as you fight the bad guys and make your way through. Beware of environmental hazards along the way.
As for the controls, the arcade control set-up of a single joystick and two buttons remains the best way to play it. Elevator Action Returns is playable enough with the Xbox controller. While the left analog stick of the Xbox controller works well in moving the character, I ended up using the directional pad (D-pad) a lot more because it works much better and allows me to make more precise moves. This game can be played in single-player or in 2-player co-op.
A sequel released at the right time
I like the artwork the game developers prepared highlighting your mission accomplishment and survival. A lot of effort was invested on making the artwork displayed here.
Being a mid-1990s game made with more advanced visual elements, better hardware and a modern approach to gameplay, the action in Elevator Action Returnsis unsurprisingly faster, more action-packed and more explosive than its predecessor. Indeed, this is a high-quality sequel and a true evolution of the classic Elevator Action formula. As Islamic terrorism became a major problem in global affairs in the 1990s, the terrorism theme of the game’s story was timely and fitting as the fictional terrorist group is obsessed with causing destruction and death worldwide. As such, the game allows players to pick one of three character of a counter-terrorism unit, and each character has differences with regards to speed, armor, firing speed, health and sub-weapons. The levels are plentiful and the same can be said about the varied action which makes the game worth replaying from start to finish. I should state that the 2D sprite work is great and timeless to look at.
Elevator Action Returns is a classic and it ensures a lot of fun for anyone who loves retro gaming and the Elevator Action series in general. This is one of the best arcade games of the 1990s now available for playing on modern consoles.
Recently in the province of Cavite, elements of the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) fugitive search unit arrested three Chinese over varied violations and rescued two women who were held against their will, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A Chinese national, who is allegedly linked to illegal drugs activities and human trafficking, has been arrested in Cavite by agents of the Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit (BIFSU).
BIFSU Chief Rendel Ryan Sy identified the suspect as Jin Tian, 26, who was arrested in his residence in General Trias City last July 15.
During the operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine Navy, two women allegedly held against their will were rescued, Sy said.
At the same time, Sy said that two other male Chinese nationals were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Sun Yong, 36, and Liu Zhiwei, 33. Sun was found by PDEA operatives to be in possession of a substance believed to be shabu and drug paraphernalia.
Sy also said that the three Chinese nationals were found to be overstaying aliens for failure to present any valid immigration documentation. Also, Jin was found to have two derogatory records for overstaying.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be more Chinese fugitives as well as overstaying fugitives hiding in your local community?
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
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Superboy star John Newton featured in Minty Comedic Arts’ video – It has been almost forty years since the Superboy TV series first launched with John Newton (formerly John Haymes Newton) as the titular role. It was an entertaining TV show and it easily attracted a lot of Superman fans, DC Comics readers and those who read the Superboy comic books. Recently, John Newton was featured in a special video by Minty Comedic Arts which was the result of information mentioned in Minty’s standalone Superboy trivia video. Newton saw the Superboy video and reached out to Minty Comedic Arts. Minty – who admitted he has a weakness on interviewing/communicating with people – agreed to feature Newton in a documentary style video instead of an online interview. That being said, Newton recorded his minutes-long part and said a lot of intriguing and interesting information about his one-season work as Superboy. That being said, I urge you all to watch Minty’s special video below.
#2 Barack Obama exposed over Russia collusion hoax – It took more than eight years but Tulsi Gabbard did her patriotic duty by declassifying high-level files and messages exposing Barack Obama for treason over his responsibility behind the Russia collusion hoax (designed to undermine Donald Trump who defeated Hillary Clinton for US President in 2016) and he involved America’s intelligence community. What Obama did was not just a corrupted act as US President but a clear violation against the will of the American people who chose Trump over Clinton. This tragedy only showed how corrupted, wicked and arrogant Democrats really are. To understand all the details, what happened behind the scenes back in late-2016 and what the documents showed, watch the selected videos below.
#3 Jeff Daniels and Kamala Harris are the modern Dumb and Dumber – Do you still remember actor Jeff Daniels? He appeared in 1990s films like Arachnophobia, Speed and Dumb and Dumber. In an interview, he expressed his feelings for the defeated and incompetent Commie Democrat Kamala Harris and he still could not get over the results of the 2024 US Presidential Election won by Donald Trump! Daniels foolishly compared Harris to Abraham Lincoln. Watch the video below and observe who is dumb and dumber.
#4 A look at an Osaka diner – It has been almost thirty years since my one and only visit to Osaka in Japan. As I was browsing YouTube videos to watch, I spotted a video about a certain Osaka diner which has great looking visuals, a strong presentation, and the Japanese dialogue translated into English presented in subtitles. More importantly, the video will give viewers an in-depth look as to how diner is operated and how the food gets prepared before opening. It could be helpful for those inspiring to open a new restaurant. Watch it now!
#5 Reaction videos of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) – Have you been watching any 1950s movies as of late? If you did, was there any particular film from that decade that scared you or made you feel stressed while watching? The 1956 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one such film and people who discovered it and saw it recently often state they found it suspenseful and even scary. I found three reaction videos about the film on YouTube and they are entertaining to watch.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the newest evacuation facility located in Barangay Talon Uno was formally inaugurated with the presence of Mayor April Aguilar, Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar and other local officials, the City Government announced via social media.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas City Government inaugurated a newly constructed two-storey evacuation facility in Golden Acres Subdivision, Talon Uno on Thursday, July 17, as part of its continuing efforts to strengthen local disaster preparedness and public safety.
Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar led the inauguration ceremony, which included the blessing of the facility. Funded through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), the project is located along Marcos Alvarez Avenue, near the Las Piñas High School Annex.
With a total floor area of 73.343 square meters, the facility features basic amenities to accommodate residents during emergencies. The ground floor includes male and PWD-friendly comfort rooms with shower areas, a kitchen, a vacant space, and a stage. The second floor houses female comfort rooms with shower areas and a wash area.
City officials said the evacuation center will serve as a safe and accessible refuge for families in times of calamity.
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? Do you think there is a possibility that another evacuation center will be built by the City Government in your local community.
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
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the vaccination drive held at SM Center Las Piñas saw almost seven hundred fifty senior citizens getting free vaccinations for pneumonia, the City Government announced via social media. Mayor April Aguilar personally attended the vaccination drive and met with the locals.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
A total of 743 senior citizens received free pneumonia vaccines during the health drive organized by the City Health Office on Wednesday, July 16, at SM Center Las Piñas. The event, led by Mayor April Aguilar, is part of the city’s continuing effort to protect the elderly from respiratory illnesses.
Mayor Aguilar visited the venue and personally engaged with residents, expressing her gratitude for their participation and reiterating the city’s commitment to ensuring accessible and preventive healthcare for all. Also present was Dr. Juliana Gonzalez, head of the City Health Office, who addressed the attendees and highlighted the importance of pneumonia vaccination in preventing complications among older adults, especially those with pre-existing health conditions.
To ensure a smooth and safe process, participants were asked to bring their Senior Citizens ID, Vaccination Card (if previously vaccinated for pneumonia), and a Screening Form from their respective health centers. The City Health Office also reminded residents to be in good health on the day of vaccination, to maintain a five-year interval from their last pneumonia shot, and to eat beforehand and bring drinking water to help prevent post-vaccination reactions.
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? Do you wish the City Government will soon organize a vaccination drive in your barangay?
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
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 The tragic story of singer Phyllis Hyman – More than thirty years ago, the world lost a very talented singer when Phyllis Hyman died and investigators determined that she took her own life by overdosing on sleeping pills and vodka. Beyond the pieces of evidence found, there were a lot of factors in real life that led to death such as Phyllis Hyman’s struggles with bipolar disorder, depression, music industry complexities and more. For the newcomers reading this Hyman recorded several albums from 1970s to the early 1990s. She was the artist behind the songs Somewhere in My Lifetime, You Know How to Love Me, Old Friend and even the rejected song for the 1983 unofficial James Bond movie Never Say Never Again. If you are interested to learn more about the late Phyllis Hyman and discover her contributions in music and how her life was, watch the video below.
#2 How frozen pizzas are made in great numbers – Do you enjoy eating pizza that was previously frozen? I personally don’t like frozen pizzas because their texture and taste are not as good as those of pizza baked in the oven. Even so, frozen pizza still has a huge industry overseas and millions of them are being made and distributed to groceries and other retailers. In case you are wondering how is the frozen pizza prepared, automation is the answer and you can learn about it from the video below.
#3 Movie with strong summer vibes – If you were watching a new movie during the summer season or if you saw a movie with a summer setting, does it deliver to you the summer vibe at all? Certain movies from long ago did exactly that and you can see what movies are those by watching the video below.
#4 John Carpenter’s The Thing revisited – The first time I ever saw John Carpenter’s 1982 film The Thing was on cable TV in the mid-1990s. Then in 2011, a prequel film with the same title was released but it only made me interested in the original. While John Carpenter’s film did not have much of an impact on me (note: I admire Kurt Russell’s performance and the impressive practical effects), it did with YouTubers through their respective reaction videos. Watch the selected videos below (note: I added Minty Comedic Arts’ video for those who enjoy trivia).
#5 Michael Jordan’s 1997 flu game heroics remembered – Remember way back in the 1997 NBA Final when Michael Jordan played in Game 5 at Utah feeling sick? Before the game started, something terrible happened to him the previous night and the Chicago Bulls badly needed him as the series was tied at 2-2. Worse, the fifth game was held at the Delta Center and it was always filled with the very loud fans of the Utah Jazz. How did Jordan overcome his sickness to pull off basketball heroics? Watch the retrospective video below.
If you were not able to receive the news about the recent chaos, then I’m not surprised because the Islamo-Leftist mainstream news media outlets (the ones who favored illegal immigrants and open borders) refused to report the chaos in Spain when it first happened. The more conservative news outlets like Sky News Australia managed to report about it early and I encourage you to watch their news video below.
Now that you have seen the above news video, I encourage you to think very deeply about the many forms of danger that come with mass migration, multiculturalism, humanism and having a government that does not seem to prioritize its citizens when foreigners overwhelm the nation. Wherever you are located in, I encourage you to imagine what would happen to your country and your local community if ever a massive amount of foreigners entered your country as immigrants or as refugees.
Each and every nation has its own sovereignty, its own people, its own heritage and its own culture and sub-cultures to protect. If you are living with a government that does not care about citizens like yourselves, then you are in potential trouble already. Mass migration and violent foreigners could spark a riot and harm you and your family when you least expect it. You need to be careful, be vigilant and observe how your government deals with foreign migrants and the so-called refugees.
I myself never visited Spain but when I was in Italy and France more than twenty years ago, I personally discovered the culture and heritage of the Italians and the French in each visit. There were foreign tourists and some foreign workers here and there, but there were no violent migrant gangs back then. That being said, I enjoyed the peace of Italy and France and touring around was both enlightening and enjoyable. I also admired the way the Italians and the French local authorities managed their local societies.
Going back to what happened in Spain, I encourage you to watch Asmongold TV’s reaction video to Sky News Australia’s news video of the same topic. Watch and listen closely.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Is your government soft towards foreigners who are trying to trespass into your country? Is your government even making efforts to prevent foreign terrorists and foreign criminals from entering the country? How many applications for immigration and asylum does your government receive from foreigners each year? Is there anyone in your local community who blindly supports people to migrate into any country they want and later commit crime without being held accountable? Is your government doing enough to prioritize legal immigration over illegal immigration?
Months after initial communications were made (click here and here), Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. finally met with US President Donald Trump in the White House and this ultimately resulted in a 19% tariff on Philippine goods by America, according to two related news articles (click here and here) by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
For the newcomers reading this, America initially announced a 17% tariff on products from the Philippines last April and it was recently revised to 20% which surprised many here in the Philippines. Now that the American tariff for Philippine goods has been settled at 19%, President Marcos called the reduction significant. It should be noted that America generated more than $100 billion in new revenue from tariffs under Trump this year.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the first PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Philippine exports to the United States (US) will now be subject to a 19 percent tariff, down from the 20 percent Washington initially planned to impose, US President Donald Trump announced following what he called a “beautiful visit” by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the White House.
Part of the new deal includes granting zero tariffs for American products bound for the Philippines.
Philippine President Marcos with US President Trump at the White House. (photo source – the White House)
“It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account early Wednesday (Manila time).
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweet of President Trump’s TRUTH Social post about the meeting with President Marcos and new trade deal.
He also described Marcos as a “very good and tough negotiator.”
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the US comprised the highest export value amounting to USD1.115 billion, or 15.3 percent of the country’s total exports in May this year.
Posted below is an excerpt from the other PNA news article related to Marcos’ description of the 1% reduction of tariff by America as well as his clarification about Philippines’ zero tariff approach on certain American products coming to the country. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. defended the Philippines’ new trade arrangement with the United States (US), saying the reduced 19 percent tariff on Philippine exports—down from the proposed 20 percent—is a “significant achievement,” amid questions over its fairness.
“One percent might seem like a very small concession. However, when you put it in real terms, it is a significant achievement,” Marcos said in a press briefing following his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday (Manila time).
The President acknowledged that the new deal also opens key Philippine markets to American products—particularly vehicles, agricultural goods, and pharmaceuticals—but said the arrangement will benefit Filipinos through lower prices and stronger bilateral trade.
“We will open that market and no longer charge tariffs on that… para makamura naman ‘yung mga – maging mas mura ‘yung gamot natin (so we can lower the cost of medicines),” he said.
Marcos said while the 19 percent tariff on Philippine goods is still substantial, it reflects a step forward in trade engagement with Washington D.C. and lays the groundwork for future negotiations.
For transparency, posted below is the official video from the White House YouTube channel.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you realize that there is a lot more about US and Philippines relations that go beyond the newly agreed trade agreement? Do you think America’s 19% tariff on exports from the Philippines will add challenged to the Philippine economy? What do you think about the Trump-Marcos meeting? Did you pay attention to the planned Subic Bay ammunition manufacturing plant that was mentioned? If you are based in the Philippines, do you look forward to importing American-made vehicles, agricultural products and pharmaceutical products once they enter the country without any tariffs imposed on them? Do you think the newest exchange between Trump and Marcos will make Communist China concerned or worried?