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?
Recently in the City of Pasig, law enforcers raided an online lending firm and arrested one hundred and sixty-eight employees over alleged harassment of several borrowers, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. It should be noted that one of the victims committed suicide due to harassment over money borrowed from the raided firm.
For the newcomers reading this, this is the latest development about local companies that lend money to clients who later get harassed or threatened as ways to compel them to pay back. There were similar developments that happened over the past few years which you can see by clicking here, here, here and here.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Tuesday said an inter-agency operation in Pasig City has resulted in the arrest of 168 employees of an online lending company allegedly harassing borrowers.
In a statement, the PAOCC said the operation was conducted at the 22nd floor of Robinsons Equitable Tower in Pasig City, the main operating hub of Creditable Lending Corporation, the company behind the online lending application Easy Peso.
The operation was led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), and the PNP-CIDG, with support from the PAOCC, the National Privacy Commission (NPC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by virtue of a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 46 in Manila.
Authorities seized hundreds of computers and several company-issued mobile phones allegedly used for harassment during debt collection, along with hundreds of pre-registered SIM cards, text blasters, and harassment scripts.
The raid followed months of surveillance and investigation, aided by the testimony of a former employee who came forward to expose how the company misled and harassed borrowers.
According to the PAOCC, some victims were directed to send payments to personal GCash or bank accounts under the guise of clearing their loans, only to be contacted again by collectors despite having paid.
This operation comes just days after a man from Valenzuela City took his own life after suffering harassment from individuals connected with Easy Peso.
“May isang buhay na nawala dahil sa pang-aabuso ng isang lending app. Hindi utang ang pumatay sa kanya kundi ‘yung walang-awang pangha-harass (A life was gone due to the abuses of a lending app. The victim did not die due to his debt, but due to cruel harassment),” PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said.
“Sa bawat biktima, huwag kayong matakot. Hindi kayo nag-iisa. Nandito ang gobyerno na handa kayong tulungan (To each victim, don’t be scared. You are not alone. The government is here ready to help you) ,” he said
Meanwhile, the SEC is reviewing the company’s legal and regulatory compliance, as its operations appear to have exploited the system while falsely claiming legitimacy.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are still a lot of online lending firms that planned to harass or threaten its borrowers? Do you know anyone who borrowed money from such firms only to get threated to pay back? Did you notice the presence of online lending firms 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, local police officers apprehended two persons (both previously worked for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs) for selling fake money online, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of the PNA Some parts in boldface…
Two former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers were arrested for allegedly selling fake money online in Las Piñas City, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) said on Friday.
In a press conference held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP ACG Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said suspects alias “Usa,” 18, a resident of Cotabato City; and “Agila,” 30, of Zamboanga Del Sur were arrested by the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in an entrapment operation in Barangay Manuyo Dos on Wednesday.
“’Yung dalawang nahuli natin, we can confirm that they are former employees of POGO. Ito ay mga driver ng ating POGO companies. They started selling these fake money nung nag-stop na sila sa POGO (These two we caught, we can confirm that they are former POGO employees … They were drivers of POGO companies. They started selling this fake money when POGOs were shut down),” Yang said.
He said the suspects mainly operated in Metro Manila, according to reports.
In November last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 74, ordering the immediate ban of the Philippine offshore gaming, internet gaming and other offshore gaming operations.
The entrapment operation stemmed from a report by the BSP regarding the rampant online sale of fake currency.
In response, the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team intensified its cyber patrolling efforts until they came across a social media post by one of the suspects offering a counterfeit PHP1,000 bill for sale at PHP150.
A total of 150 counterfeit thousand-peso bills were confiscated from the suspects, who sold them for PHP22,500 during the operation.
“May online group talaga na nagbebenta. Several groups ito. So, sinumbong namin ito sa ACG (There really are online groups where they sell these. There are several groups. So, we reported this to the ACG),” BPS Payments and Currency Investigation Group officer Mark Fajardo said at the press conference.
“Hindi maganda. Medyo apurahan ang pagkakagawa kasi hindi sila sanay (It’s not good. How it was done seems sloppy because they were not experienced),” Fajardo told reporters when asked about the quality of the counterfeit money confiscated
He said they are able to tell the fake banknotes apart because the watermark on them was more apparent and the security thread was only printed.
When asked whether the police have already determined who had supplied the fake banknotes, Yang said they are looking into a bigger figure.
The suspects are detained at the ACG custodial facility and will be facing charges for violation of Article 168 (Illegal Possession and Use of False Treasury or Bank Notes and Other Instruments of Credit) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Yang said the operation aligns with the directive of PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to intensify cyber patrolling and implement immediate action to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting social media platforms.
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 you concerned that the selling of fake money could grow into a serious problem within the city?
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
Parañaque City’s 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan has a new proposal to create public offices at the local government level to assist senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in their search for better job opportunities, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Parañaque 2nd district Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan is batting for the creation of public offices at the local government level that will help persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens land jobs.
Such offices–to be known as Local Centers for Inclusive Employment (LCIEs)–will partner with the private sector to assist PWDs and seniors for this purpose. According to Yamsuan’s proposal, they will also provide access to upskilling opportunities.
“Disabled persons and seniors who are fit to work can become productive members of our economy if given the chance. However, many PWDs and elderly citizens remain poor because they find it difficult to get hired for jobs that suit them,” Yamsuan said iin a statement Tuesday, July 8.
“Sayang ang kanilang galing, dedikasyon at sipag na madadala sa kanilang trabaho kung sila ay mananatiling jobless. Sa halip na kaawaan o hindi bigyang pansin, dapat ay kinikilala natin ang kanilang mga kakayahang makapag-ambag sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya,” added Yamsuan.
(Their talent, dedication and diligence that they will bring to the workplace will go to waste if they remain jobless. Instead of pitying or ignoring them, we should recognize their capabilities to contribute to our economic growth.)
Yamsuan said he will soon re-file in the 20th Congress a bill which aims to mandate the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to set up, operate and maintain job facilitation offices called LCIEs for PWDs and seniors.
These LCIEs will be established upon the request of the LGUs in capital towns, key cities and other strategic areas.
The proposed legislation was filed earlier by Yamsuan in the previous 19th Congress following extensive consultations conducted with seniors and PWDs in his home city of Parañaque.
Among the complaints aired by PWDs and senior citizens during these meetings were the perceived lack of government support in helping them find jobs that match their skills and qualifications.
Yamsuan said that despite the enactment of laws that aim to encourage the hiring of PWDs and seniors, government data show low labor participation rates in these sectors.
Figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveal that only 353,000 PWDs were gainfully employed out of the 1.9 million who were within working age in 2022.
In the same year, the elderly sector faced a similar predicament where only 38.2 percent or about 965,200 of 2.54 million qualified senior citizens were employed.
A study made by the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) found that most PWDs were unaware that they can seek assistance in finding jobs through existing Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) in LGUs.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think Congressman Yamsuan’s proposal makes a lot of sense and has the potential to help senior citizens and PWDs find better job opportunities someday? Do you think the City Government of Parañaque has been neglectful towards senior citizens and PWDs on job opportunities?
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
There is no denying that consumers here in the Philippines prefer to use digital methods of paying over cash as more than 57% of retail transactions by volume are digital, according to a business news report by Malay Business Insight. The details were revealed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Malaya Business Insight’s news report. Some parts in boldface…
More Filipinos are going cashless and transacting in e-money or digital cash as the most preferred payment for retail accounts, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a report on Monday.
Based on the latest BSP status report, digital payments now account for 57.4 percent of retail transactions by volume as of end-2024, up from 52.8 percent in 2023. In terms of value, e-money’s share also increased to 59 percent from 55.3 percent.
The figures surpassed the government’s target range of between 52 and 54 percent as set under the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said the steady year-on-year growth “reinforces the momentum built after surpassing the 2023 digitalization target of 50 percent for volume.”
He also said the upward trajectory “reflects the long-term impact of market developments, policy initiatives, and the growing trust and familiarity of Filipinos with digital payment options.”
Remolona said the BSP will continue to harness technology and finance to connect markets and ensure that “every Filipino becomes part of the formal financial system.”
They will do this by empowering banks, non-banks and the fintech sector to leverage innovation in designing financial products that are not only accessible but also more responsive to the needs of consumers.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? When it comes to retail transactions, do you prefer to pay with cash or with a digital payment method? Do you have any e-wallets (electronic wallets) right now?
Recently in the city of Parañaque, NBI agents arrested two people and seized illegal vape products that have been estimated to be worth almost P4 million, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). This development is the result of a successful entrapment operation by the NBI.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested two individuals and seized PHP3.9 million worth of illegal vape products in an operation in Parañaque City.
In a press briefing, NBI Director Jaime Santiago identified the suspects as Ace Garcia and Reginald Llanto, who were arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Cavite North District Office (NBI-CAVIDO-North) on Wednesday.
According to the NBI, the CAVIDO-North received information on the sale and distribution of illegal vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products.
After presenting a sample, the NBI received a certification from the Department of Trade and Industry – Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products (DTI-OSMV) that the vape products submitted were considered “unregulated and substandard.”
Operatives conducted an entrapment against the two suspects, resulting in the seizure of 49 master cases which contain 8,200 pieces of vape pods and 1,600 pieces of vape devices, among others, with an estimated value of PHP3.92 million.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think the sale and distribution of illegal vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products in the city will only get worse over the next six months?
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
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Headline inflation continued to remain below the lower end of the government’s target range in June, despite a slight uptick due to a faster increase in non-food prices.
In a briefing on Friday, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said headline inflation settled at 1.4 percent in June from 1.3 percent in May.
This brings the year-to-date average inflation to 1.8 percent, well within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.
Mapa said the slight uptick in headline inflation was driven by higher non-food inflation (1.9 percent from 1.5 percent), with faster price increases observed in electricity (7.4 percent from 2.8 percent) and education (5.4 percent from 4.2 percent). Food inflation, however, eased to 0.1 percent during the month from 0.7 percent in May.
Mapa said the deceleration of food inflation in June was mainly due to the annual decrease in the prices of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses at 2.8 percent from an annual increase of 3.4 percent in the previous month. Rice deflation also hit a record low of 14.3 percent in June.
Mapa said the rollout of the government’s PHP20 per kg. rice program also contributed to the decline, especially in regular-milled rice prices.
In a separate statement, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said government measures to stabilize food supply, boost agriculture, and improve logistics helped ease food inflation during the month.
“The sharp decline in food inflation over the past year underscores the continued progress in our coordinated efforts to boost local production, improve logistics, and implement calibrated trade and biosecurity measures,” DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
“We will sustain these interventions and complement them with targeted initiatives to ensure a continuous, stable supply and shield consumers from future price pressures.”
To further strengthen food supply chains, DEPDev said the Department of Agriculture (DA) would intensify the implementation of industry recovery and expansion programs, such as the Swine Industry Recovery Project and Livestock Economic Enterprise Development, to accelerate the rehabilitation of the hog industry and restore the pre-African Swine Fever hog population levels.
The DA will also establish the country’s first Onion Research and Extension Center in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija for the development of effective methods to combat pests and diseases, enhance seed quality, and increase farm yields.
The Department of Energy, meanwhile, has partnered with private oil companies to offer fuel discounts to motorists affected by oil price fluctuations amid geopolitical uncertainties.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think inflation rate of the Philippines will be able to settle below 2% per month until the end of the year? If you are managing a local business, how much of an impact did inflation have on your business?
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
Based on the latest international tourism statistics and analysis for 2025, the Philippines is clearly failing to attract foreign tourists when compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors, according to a news article by VnExpress.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the VnExpress news article. Some parts in boldface…
An online debate has erupted on social media as users wonder why the Philippines, with its rich nature, culture, and cuisine, is being overlooked by foreign tourists in favor of destinations like Vietnam and Thailand.
Thea Tan, a Filipino, posted on her X account in May expressing frustration over the Philippines’ underwhelming tourism numbers despite offering what other countries dream of: breathtaking beaches, vibrant culture, incredible food, and the warmest locals.
“So, why are tourists still choosing Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali over us?” she asked.
The post quickly went viral, accumulating over 9,000 likes and hundreds of comments.
In the first quarter of the year, Malaysia topped the list of most-visited Southeast Asian countries, with 10.1 million arrivals, followed by Thailand (9.55 million), Vietnam (6 million), and Singapore (4.3 million). By April, the Philippines had only welcomed 2.1 million visitors.
In 2024, the country saw 5.9 million foreign tourists, falling short of the government’s target of 7.7 million and far behind its regional neighbors including Cambodia, which had 6.7 million visitors.
Many online users, like Tan, argue that the Philippines is not considered a top priority destination in ASEAN.
“We are tiring out tourists with poor infrastructure and complicated transportation,” Tan noted.
Even locals find domestic travel expensive and difficult, let alone for foreign visitors, according to comments on the post.
“The Philippines has beautiful beaches, delicious food, and friendly people, but it lacks roads, reliable airports, and public transportation. Most importantly, the prices here are too high,” one local shared.
Another netizen pointed out, “In all the countries you’ve mentioned, their capitals are also tourist destinations. Manila, on the other hand, is boring for tourists. We don’t have decent museums or historical tours, and moving around in Manila is not easy either.”
A netizen added, “The government isn’t investing in quality tourist facilities and infrastructure like our neighboring countries. That’s where we’re lagging behind.“
Recently, the Philippines was ranked as the most dangerous destination by U.K. financial comparison site HelloSafe in a survey dismissed by the Philippines’ tourism experts as biased and misleading.
Victor Lim, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that the Philippines must improve its infrastructure and enhance safety measures to establish itself as a leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia, Philstar reported.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Department of Tourism and its strategic partners should get together and come up with hard adjustments to make the Philippines more attractive to foreigners? What do you think are the five biggest problems of the tourism industry of the country? Do you consider tourism-related awards crucial to the Philippines’ ability to attract visitors from around the world?
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 fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!
When it comes to watching movies – both old and new – the best place for me is still the movie theater. The very large screen, high-tech sound systems and comfortable seats of the cinema all make the theater viewing experience very immersive which streaming apps and the home theater setup could never match. The cinema experience is always better than streaming.
That being said, it is disappointing for me – as a resident of Muntinlupa City here in the Philippines – that local theaters in Alabang had to close down. The original cinemas of Festival Mall, which first opened in 1998 and grew from six to ten screens, are no more. Before they were all closed down, those cinemas had deteriorated over time and I still remember how bad the projection in one of their premium cinemas was when I saw Star Trek Into Darkness in 2013. It was like I was watching a VHS copy of the movie on their screen. It was that bad!
This year, the 4-screen cinemas of Commercenter in Filinvest City had closed down (refer to my past blog posts by clicking here and here) and it is very unfortunate not just for me but also for others who enjoyed watching movies at that mall. In my experience, Commercenter was my favorite local place to watch movies at and the cinema operators were consistent with maintaining each screen, the comfortable chairs and the sound systems. At the same time, it was pretty convenient for me to park the car in the basement parking (really spacious), climb up to the cinemas at the 2nd floor (ticket counter and snacks counter were beside each other), enjoy a movie, and visit a local store or a restaurant within the mall after leaving the cinema.
With the closure of Festival Mall’s original cinemas and Commercenter cinemas, that is a combined loss of ten screens along with the many seats and equipment combined. Along the way, many people who worked directly in those lost cinemas either became unemployed or got re-assigned to a new task within the local establishment. Sadly, not too many people here in the Philippines are talking about the jobs lost with the closure of cinemas.
Cinemas of Commercenter have been closed down since March 15, 2025.
This brings me to my next point – BusinessWorld published an article exploring the current struggle of Philippine cinemas in what is now the post-pandemic era. For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines economy has been growing strongly year-by-year after the COVID-19 period ended but the nation’s cinema industry is still struggling in terms of sales and attracting paying customers. The Filipinos’ love for streaming is huge factor but there are also other reasons why not enough moviegoers are supporting cinemas.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld article. Some parts in boldface…
KAREN LUSTAÑAS, 30, tries to watch a movie in the Philippine capital at least once a month, if the budget allows it.
“I try to save time and money for films that I really want to see,” she told BusinessWorld in a Facebook Messenger chat. “I can barely afford it, but if I’m a fan of the director or actors, I really have to watch it.”
“Otherwise, I’ll just watch it on a streaming platform,” she added.
As good as the movie industry is in imagining alternate realities, it didn’t see this one coming. Five years after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) decimated the box office here and all over the world, movies are still struggling to come back.
Philippine gross movie ticket sales fell 3.7% year on year to $45.5 million (P2.5 billion) last year, a far cry from the $144.5 million posted in 2019, before the pandemic hit, according to US-based box office revenue tracker Box Office Mojo. In 2020, gross sales plunged 95% to $7.7 million.
Global cinema ticket sales fell 8.8% last year to €28 billion (P1.8 trillion) from 2023, the first annual drop since COVID-19, the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) said last month.
Regular movie ticket prices cost P300 to P400 in Metro Manila, or about half the daily minimum wage. On the other hand, the basic monthly subscription to streaming platforms like Netflix, Max (HBO) and Disney+ costs P150 to P250, and the titles are virtually endless.
“If you think about it, it’s really worth it and more practical to go with Netflix,” Ms. Lustañas, a freelancer, said.
The annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) grossed P800 million last year, hitting the target but failing to top 2023’s record P1 billion despite a week-long extension.
The pandemic forced people to watch movies at home, aiding streaming services like Netflix, whose revenue grew 14% annually to more than $39 billion last year from 2019, according to computations by BusinessWorld using data from the company’s website. Netflix subscribers also doubled to about 300 million over the five-year period.
Since 2020, local box office hits have been few and far between. The latest was Star Cinema’s My Love Will Make You Disappear starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, grossing P12 million on its opening day in March.
“Today, going to the cinema is a more intentional experience, rooted not just in the movie being shown but in the overall ambiance that brings the film to life,” Hamm E. Katipunan, Ayala Malls’ Asset Management head, said in an e-mailed reply to questions.
“It’s not just about waiting for blockbusters to hit streaming sites; Filipinos appreciate the good feeling of watching movies that are truly worth experiencing on the big screen,” he added.
While cinemas run by Ayala Malls, SM Supermalls and other mall chains have diversified their offerings, a pattern has emerged in the top-grossing Filipino films that have drawn people to cinemas.
GMA Pictures and Star Cinema’s co-production Hello, Love, Again starring Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo set the record for the highest opening day gross for a local film with P85 million in November, surpassing the P75-million gross from The Super Parental Guardians in 2016.
‘FORMULAIC STORIES’ – It shows that Filipinos watch a movie mainly because of its main cast, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairman Jose Javier Reyes told a news briefing in March, citing a council-funded study involving 800 respondents.
“They can’t afford to go regularly to the movies anymore,” he said. “The biggest blow is that people don’t repeat screenings. They just wait for it to go on streaming platforms.”
The study, done in 2024 in collaboration with De La Salle University to explore the evolving habits, preferences and challenges shaping the local film industry, found that Filipinos from the A, B, and a small part of the C socioeconomic classes regularly watch movies.
The study, which will be released in July as part of the launch of FDCP’s Philippine Film Industry Roadmap, also found that streaming services have become the primary platform for 67% of Filipinos.
Only 21% still frequent cinemas, with many complaining about repetitive movie themes and high ticket prices.
Though stars are still the main movie drawer, the study also found that Filipinos are “sick of formulaic stories,” Mr. Reyes said. He added that the roadmap, mandated by the government, would shed light on how to better support the industry.
In October last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. placed the Film Academy of the Philippines under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to boost Filipino film development.
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque earlier said the budget for the film industry would increase next year as part of the roadmap. She noted that other countries have been using movies and the creative industry to boost tourism and trade.
Mr. Reyes said movie outfits should improve the quality of their films to boost their success overseas. “In the Philippines, star power is important, but the moment you cross borders, there’s a market for people who are more interested in the material itself,” he pointed out.
Rico V. Gonzales, head of distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines, said the company supports the local industry by distributing two to three Filipino movies yearly, along with the usual foreign releases from Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures.
“It’s part of the goodwill of the company to help local producers who don’t have a distribution arm, compared with the likes of Star Cinema and GMA Pictures, which have the power to do it themselves,” he said.
The current state of the cinema industry of the Philippines is disappointing and the future looks uncertain as of this writing. While a lot of my fellow Filipinos chose streaming to watch movies in the comfort of their home, I prefer watching movies on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray disc format. The most phenomenal 4K Blu-ray experiences I had was Top Gun: Maverick and that movie never failed to amaze me each time I saw it using my 4K Blu-ray disc player. I also enjoyed watching my 4K Blu-ray copies of Casablanca, Interstellar, Total Recall (1990), and Star Trek: First Contact.
Going back to the state of cinema here in the Philippines, I did not watch a single movie in the cinema in 2024. In fact, the last time I saw a movie on the big screen locally was Sound of Freedom in 2023 (read my review by clicking here). This is because the new movies that were released in 2024 did not interest me at all and the fact that a lot of new Hollywood movies had woke garbage in them turned me off. Not only that, there were times when news movies from overseas were not even released in Philippine cinemas at all such as Jesus Revolution (note: I had to buy the movie on Blu-ray just to watch it).
I saw The Batman at Commercenter’s cinema on March 2022.
As of this writing, the direction of the entire cinema industry of the Philippines remains uncertain and so far there were no real breakthroughs that happened. That being said, I still remember when in 2015, there were long lines of moviegoers at Commercenter waiting to enter the cinemas to watch Jurassic World. Such a memory won’t be repeated here in Alabang and without its cinemas, Commercenter’s value as a place for fun has gone way down.
Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers apprehended twelve people – taxi and transport drivers – over their engagement in illegal online gambling, 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…
Operatives from the Southern Police District (SPD) arrested taxi and transport drivers engaged in illegal online gambling inside a transportation hub in Paranaque City on July 3.
SPD Director Brig. Gen. Randy Arceo identified the suspects as taxi drivers Mark, 35; Reynante, 43; Gilleard, 52; Jimmy, 54; Ely, 38; Rodel, 48; Ronaldo, 63; Sunny, 51; and Joeuie, 50; Conrado, 41, a ride-hailing driver; John Robert, 50, a modern jeep conductor; and Domingo, 43.
Arceo said members of the SPD- Special Operation Unit (DSOU), with support from the District Intelligence Division (DID) and the Paranaque City Police Substation 3, arrested the suspects at the PITX Taxi Lane in Barangay Tambo, Paranaque City, at around 10:30 p.m.
He said police operatives acted on complaint from a concerned citizen that a group of taxi drivers were engaged in online cockfighting or “E-sabong” while waiting for passengers.
The SPD chief said the arrested taxi drivers engaged in guerrilla-style gambling, causing them to overcharge their passengers for their fares to recover from their losses.
Police recovered two mobile phones used in placing bets and betting money amounting to ₱3,545.
The suspects were brought to the DSOU-SPD Office and were charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 on illegal gambling.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that illegal online gambling will get worse over the next six months? Is online gambling happening in your local community right now?
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Author Carlo Carrasco 