investment – Author Carlo Carrasco

Sister Port Agreement Between SBMA And Belgium Proposed

March 28, 2026March 26, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) headed by its Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño hosted a delegation from the Embassy of Belgium led by Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova. During the visit, Aliño proposed to them a Sister Port Agreement between the Port of Subic and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, according to the official announcement by the SBMA.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from official announcement by the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…

A sister port agreement between the Port of Subic and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is being considered during the visit of delegates from the Embassy of Belgium to the Philippines here on March 16, 2026.

Belgian Ambassador Her Excellency Vladislava Iordanova paid a visit along with officials from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI), the consultancy and investment subsidiary of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

During their visit, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) team, led by Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, proposed a Sister Port Agreement between the two ports to enhance the traditional friendship between the SBMA and the PoABI.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the largest petrochemical cluster in Europe and the second-largest in the world; it is also the largest car-handling port in Europe, handling more than 3 million cars per year. It has two oil refineries and is a frontrunner in the energy transition.

The port is also a driver of economic growth with 4.5% GDP contribution and a total annual throughput of +370 million tonnes, including +13 million TEUs.

Meanwhile, the Subic Bay Freeport has several locators with European Equity, including Agila NY Naval Inc. and Agila South Inc. from the Netherlands, with a combined investment commitment of US$350 million.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the proposed Sister Port Agreement between the SBMA and Belgium will eventually be approved in the near future? Do you think that better trade will happen between the Port of Subic and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges will be realized?

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

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

SBMA Chairman Aliño Opens New 2-Storey Starbucks Coffee Shop With Drive-Thru In Subic Bay Freeport Zone

March 20, 2026March 16, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño formally led the opening of a new two-storey Starbucks Coffee shop with drive-thru, according to the official announcement of the authority. The newest branch of the coffee giant was made with an investment of over P36 million.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from official announcement by the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño led the opening of the first two-storey Starbucks Coffee Shop with drive-thru facility here on March 6, 2026.

According to Aliño, the opening of the two-storey Starbucks Coffee Shop indicates Subic Bay Freeport’s status as a popular tourist destination, anticipating a year-round influx of customers.

The Starbucks Coffee Shop invested ₱36.75 Million in a 1,700-square-meter area at the portion of Lot 75-A, Rizal Highway, Central Business District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The inauguration was attended by Engr. and Mrs. Rhammeth Paras, Arch. and Mrs. Adonis Co, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Tang, and Engr. Aries Tanglao, owners of Pandabest Realty and Trading, Inc.

The two-storey Starbucks locations usually offer enhanced, often scenic, spaces with increased seating, frequently housed in restored, architecturally unique, or heritage buildings.

Notable examples include the heritage shophouse in Singapore’s Chinatown, the sprawling Reserve Hiraya in Tagaytay, and a colonial-style bungalow in Rochester.

“Now we have one here, with the building designed to be ‘work and study-friendly,’ providing more intimate, quiet spaces on the upper level compared to the busy ground floor,” Aliño said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you visited other Starbucks branches inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone during your recent visit there? Do you think there is still more room for further coffee shops or cafes inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone? How often do you order coffee by drive-thru?

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

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Philippines Attracted Only $7.79 Billion In Foreign Direct Investment In 2025

March 16, 2026March 12, 2026carlocarrasco

It can be said that 2025 is indeed a very disappointing year for the Philippines as it attracted only $7.79 billion in terms of net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI), according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. The said figure is a drop of more than 17% compared with 2024 and it is recalled that the flood control corruption scandal of 2025 negatively affected the nation.

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

Net inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Philippines plunged to their lowest level in a decade—excluding the pandemic slump—as investors stepped on the brakes on injecting funds into the country.

The latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released on Tuesday night, March 10, showed net inflows of FDI stood at $7.79 billion for the full year of 2025, dropping 17.1 percent from the $9.4 billion recorded in 2024.

It bears noting that the 2025 performance marks a significant downturn, as full-year FDI was the lowest since the 2020 pandemic level of $6.82 billion.

Excluding the pandemic period, 2025 net FDI represents the lowest level in a decade since the $5.64 billion recorded in 2015. This contraction was a consistent trend throughout 2025, with cumulative annual growth remaining negative every month since January.

On a positive note, the final figure exceeded the country’s $7-billion full-year target.

According to the BSP, the overall decline in investments was largely driven by net debt instruments, or intercompany borrowings, which shrank by 27 percent to $5.27 billion from $7.22 billion in 2024.

Meanwhile, net equity capital, other than reinvestment of earnings, grew by 31.4 percent to $1.32 billion from $1.01 billion the previous year. Reinvestment of earnings also saw a modest expansion of 2.5 percent, reaching $1.2 billion.

For the full year, equity capital placements were primarily sourced from Japan, the United States (US), Singapore, and South Korea.

Investments were largely channeled into financial and insurance activities, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail trade.

In December 2025 alone, net inflows were recorded at $560 million, marking the lowest in three months since September 2025 at $316 million.

Robert Dan Roces, group economist at SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), said investors delayed their investments, particularly in December. He added that softer inflows likely reflect seasonality.

Looking ahead, Roces believes the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East could add a layer of uncertainty, triggering market volatility. Still, he sees a gradual rebound in 2026 on the back of improving global financial conditions.

“While the Iran conflict adds uncertainty through higher oil prices and market volatility, we still expect FDI to gradually recover in 2026, particularly in manufacturing, renewable energy (RE), and logistics, as global financial conditions ease and supply-chain diversification continues,” Roces said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to rebound strongly this year with foreign investors?

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

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SBMA And Leechiu Property Consultants To Advance Freeport Investments And Tourism

March 14, 2026March 9, 2026carlocarrasco

Having been to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone many times already, the former US Naval base has been a strong engine for tourism, commerce and investments for the Philippines over the decades. Each time I visited, there was also something new to discover and the economic modernization happened gradually.

In a serious bid to enhance investments and accelerate the growth of tourism, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced that it has teamed up with the Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) and their officials had important talks recently.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement of the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials met with executives of Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) to explore collaborative initiatives to accelerate tourism growth and investment promotion here.

Led by SBMA Business and Investment Group’s Senior Deputy Administrator (SDA) Renato Lee III, discussions focused on expanding high-impact tourism segments including cruise ship tourism, wreck diving, forest trails, and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) activities.

David Lee-Chiu, CEO of Leechiu Property Consultants highlighted Subic Bay’s deep-water port and strategic location as key advantages in positioning the Freeport as a competitive cruise ship destination in Luzon.

Lee-Chiu also noted that increased cruise calls would drive growth across hospitality, retail, transport, and local enterprises.

Meanwhile, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Alino also mentioned “wreck diving” as a strong niche market, with Subic Bay’s historic shipwrecks that continue to attract both domestic and international divers.

Also discussed was the development and promotion of forest trails and eco-tourism experiences, recognizing Subic Bay Freeport’s protected forest areas as prime assets for sustainable tourism, nature-based recreation, and eco-adventure activities.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you have visited the Subic Bay Freeport Zone over the past three months, how was your stay and did you find the place worth revisiting? Do you think the SBMA can still achieve so much more in terms of tourism growth and business?

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

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Deals Worth $4.2 Million Signed To Expand Nuclear Cooperation

February 24, 2026February 18, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently the effort to integrate nuclear power into the energy mix of the Philippines moved a few steps forward as deals with American companies worth $4.2 million were formally signed, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

THE PHILIPPINES is gaining more support from the United States in its goal of integrating nuclear power into the national energy mix in the next six years as it sealed $4.2 million worth of deals with US companies.

Government agencies and private companies from the Philippines and the US on Monday entered into memoranda of understanding which are aimed at exploring deployment of nuclear technology and supporting nuclear workforce development in the country.

“The Philippine Energy Plan sets clear direction for an energy future — 1,200 megawatts (MW)by 2032. And that is not moving until somebody tells us that it’s impossible,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said in her speech during the signing ceremony in Makati City on Monday.

“These targets demand preparation, anchored in discipline, safety, and capacity. As we pursue energy security and a responsible transition, we must invest in our people as deliberately as we invest in infrastructure,” she added.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the country aims to integrate nuclear energy into the power mix with at least 1,200 MW of capacity by 2032, rising to 2,400 MW by 2045 and to 4,800 MW by 2050.

“We want to work together to get the Philippines to the finish line on nuclear energy,” Ann K. Ganzer, principal deputy assistant secretary at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, said.

“Beyond acquiring the technology and establishing robust regulations, to achieve that 2032 goal, the most vital elements will be assessing sites for commercial reactor and developing the skilled workforce needed to design, construct, operate, regulate and sustain advanced nuclear plants for generations to come,” she added.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest private electric distribution utility, secured a $2.7-million grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency to help the company assess and deploy US-designed small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines.

Meralco will pursue a feasibility study which involves an evaluation of leading US technologies, identification of viable sites, and delivery of a high-level implementation roadmap.

SMRs, each capable of generating up to 300 MW, can be constructed more quickly than traditional nuclear power plants.

Meralco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan described the grant as “the beginning of a long but necessary journey.”

“Meralco is also looking actually at not only SMRs. It depends on the horizon by which we are able to deploy, but also, perhaps a bit sooner, conventional nuclear plants for this country,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

“It simply is right for the country and for Meralco to take nuclear, and we are prepared to act as thought leaders in this regard,” he added.

The US State Department’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Reactor Technology Program involves the installation of a $1.5-million nuclear reactor control room simulator at a technical institution within the planned Luzon Economic Corridor.

The simulator will provide hands-on realistic training for future reactor operators, which is aimed at positioning the Philippines as an SMR regional training hub.

Meanwhile, several private companies and government agencies also contributed $2.5 million to bring US nuclear experts to the Philippines to develop specialized vocational and higher education curricula focused on the civil nuclear industry.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines still has a lot of work to do and many challenges to resolve before it could convince foreign investors to come in? Do you think the national government is doing good enough to make the country attractive to foreign investors again?

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

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I Love Israel: Direct Flights Between Israel And Vietnam To Launch This Year

February 22, 2026February 18, 2026carlocarrasco

In connection with the expansion plans of Israel’s EL AL Airlines, direct flights between the Jewish state and Vietnam will commence this year, according to a news report by VnExpress. Already the national carrier of Israel confirmed it will launch direct flights with the Philippines in the near future.

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

Israel’s national carrier El Al Israel Airlines has announced plans to launch a direct route to Hanoi capital of Vietnam as part of a broader expansion of its global network.

The airline said it is entering a new growth phase after nearly three years of focusing on key destinations in Europe, North America and Asia following the outbreak of conflict in October 2023.

Under its upcoming development strategy, El Al plans to introduce nine new routes.

From October 2026, the carrier will operate a long-haul direct service linking Tel Aviv and Hanoi. The route is expected to run three round-trip flights per week.

It should be recalled that the ties between Israel and Vietnam are indeed strong and really cooperative. That said, it makes perfect sense for the two nations to have direct flights with each other. Israelis looking for new destinations for holiday or business can visit Vietnam which is now a major tourist destination of Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese, meanwhile, can discover the Holy Land in Israel and possibly engage in business with the booming Israeli tech sector. There is a lot that Israel and Vietnam can achieve together.

To those in Vietnam reading this, I encourage you all to read my feature articles about the Pool of Siloam, the Southern Steps in Jerusalem, Nazareth Village, the grave of Oskar Schindler, the Dead Sea Beach, and some nice commercial joints (click here, here, here and here).

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

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

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

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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2025 Foreign Investments Fall Down 50.1%

February 19, 2026February 13, 2026carlocarrasco

With the final economic numbers of 2025 counted, it has been confirmed that approved foreign investments in the Philippines fell down by more than 50%, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

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

APPROVED foreign investments in the Philippines plunged by 50.1% year on year to P272.38 billion in 2025, its sharpest fall in five years, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

Preliminary data from the PSA showed that the value of foreign commitments approved by the country’s investment promotion agencies (IPA) in 2025 was lower than P546.19 billion in 2024.

This was the steepest drop in foreign investments since the 71.3% drop recorded during the pandemic in 2020. By value, this was the lowest amount of approved foreign investments since the P241.89 billion recorded in 2022.

Singapore was the top source of investment pledges for 2025 after committing P92.78 billion, or 34.1% of the total. It was followed by the Netherlands with P35.98 billion (13.2% share) and Japan with P34.03 billion (12.5%).

Analysts attributed the sharp drop in foreign investment pledges to the sluggish investor confidence in the Philippines arising from global trade uncertainties, natural disasters and the flood control corruption scandal.

“In a nutshell, the decline in approved foreign investment pledges in 2025 was driven by a mix of weaker investor confidence due to governance and corruption issues, global economic uncertainties, cautious corporate behavior, and an unusually high base of comparison from the previous year,” said Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes, director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.

Marco Antonio C. Agonia, an economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said uncertainty over the US tariffs may have also dissuaded foreign investors from setting up operations in the Philippines.

The United States imposed a 19% tariff on most Philippine goods beginning Aug. 7, 2025.

“Similarly, weaker growth prospects from repeated natural disasters and the flood control scandal may have encouraged foreign companies to scrap or defer their investment plans in the country,” Mr. Agonia said in an e-mail.

The Board of Investments (BoI) approved P150.34 billion worth of investment pledges in 2025, accounting for 55.2% of the total. It was followed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) with investment pledges worth P107.06 billion (39.3% share), and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) with P7.01 billion (2.6%).

For 2025, about 45% or P122.48 billion of the total approved foreign investments will go to the energy sector, followed by manufacturing with P81.41 billion (29.9% share) and real-estate activities with P26.31 billion (9.7%).

In 2025, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) cornered around P100.43 billion worth of these investment pledges. Central Luzon will get P70.74 billion while the Bicol Region got P50.76 billion.

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

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Trump Reveals First Set Of Projects Under US-Japan Trade Deal

February 19, 2026February 18, 2026carlocarrasco

The ambitious trade deal between America and Japan is beginning to take shape as the administration of US President Donald J. Trump unveiled the first set of multi-billion Dollar projects, 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…

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that Japan will finance the production of synthetic diamonds and two energy projects worth about $36 billion as the initial tranche of investments under a deal reached last year following months of tariff negotiations.

Trump’s announcement that the three projects had been selected, as part of a $550 billion package that Japan committed to in exchange for his administration reducing tariffs on Japanese cars and other goods, was confirmed hours later by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

“These projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “America is building again. America is producing again. And America is WINNING again.”

Calling it a historic time for the United States and Japan, he said a critical minerals project will be carried out in Georgia, along with plans for an oil facility in Texas and power generation infrastructure in Ohio.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the United States and Japan will build the largest-ever natural gas infrastructure in Ohio, expected to produce 9.2 gigawatts of power, a deepwater crude oil export facility in the Gulf of Mexico and establish synthetic industrial diamond manufacturing capacity in the United States.

Lutnick said the deepwater facility is likely to generate $20 billion to $30 billion in U.S. crude oil exports annually.

Takaichi said on social media that the gas infrastructure will power artificial intelligence data centers, and the production of synthetic diamonds used in the semiconductor, auto and aviation industries is aimed at reducing the two countries’ overreliance on a specific country, without naming China.

“Going forward, Japan and the United States will continue working closely to further coordinate the details for implementing each project, ensuring their early and smooth execution,” Takaichi said in an X post.

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.

Japan’s commitment comprises investments, loans and loan guarantees from Japanese government-backed financial institutions.

Japan’s industry minister Ryosei Akazawa told reporters in Tokyo that about $33.3 billion will be invested in the gas infrastructure, with Japanese companies such as Hitachi Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Toshiba Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp. interested in participating in the project.

The project to increase U.S. crude oil exports is valued at $2.1 billion and the production of synthetic diamonds is worth $600 million, according to Akazawa, who mentioned Japanese firms such as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Steel Corp. and Asahi Diamond Industrial Co. in connection with these initiatives.

Last week, Akazawa and Lutnick agreed in Washington to speed up the selection process for the first round of investments, as the two countries prepare for Takaichi’s visit to the United States next month.

Japan and the United States have said that the investments will focus on strategic sectors, such as critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and energy, to advance their national security interests and economic objectives.

The memorandum of understanding between Japan and the United States, signed by Akazawa and Lutnick in September last year, stipulates that Trump will ultimately choose projects recommended by an “investment committee” chaired by the commerce secretary and composed solely of U.S. officials.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the first projects of the US-Japan trade deal will create huge economic impact over the next few years? What other ambitious projects do you think Japan and America will focus on next?

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

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Japan And Trump’s America To Speed Up Investment Plans Under $550 Billion Package

February 14, 2026February 13, 2026carlocarrasco

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?

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

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I Love Israel: Direct Flights Between Israel And The Philippines In 2027 Planned

February 11, 2026February 11, 2026carlocarrasco

Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Holy Land in Israel as well as the many other nice places which welcome tourists from around the world? EL AL Airlines, the national airline of Israel, announced its plans to introduce direct flights between Israel and the Philippines starting some time in 2027, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The plans are subject to regulatory approvals as of this writing. The Israel-Philippines route is just one of several new routes EL AL is pushing for.

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

Israel’s national carrier, EL AL Airlines, announced plans to introduce nonstop flights between Israel and the Philippines, following a series of talks.

In a social media post on Monday, EL AL said it is rolling out the broadest route network in its history, with nine new destinations set to launch in 2027.

The expansion includes new long-haul nonstop flights to Hanoi in Vietnam, Seoul in South Korea and Manila, with three weekly flights to each destination to be operated using the airline’s Dreamliner aircraft, offering economy, premium and business classes.

The planned nonstop flight between Israel and Manila comes after discussions on the feasibility of a direct air link, seen as a boost to tourism, business travel and people-to-people exchanges.

EL AL said ticket sales for Hanoi flights are now open, while sales for Seoul will begin in May.

Further details on the Manila route, including the start of sales and flight schedules, will be announced at a later date.

For its part, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the Philippines supports the plan citing President Bongbong Marcos’ directive to expand international air connectivity and the strengthening the bilateral ties between nations. High-level talks happened between the DOTr and the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippine Dana Kursh.

Having been to Israel myself, I am delighted with the planned Israel-Philippine direct flights planned by EL AL. Direct flights will help not only Filipinos but also foreign travelers to visit Israel for business, pilgrimage and leisure.

When I first traveled to Israel in 2023, it was on an EL AL flight using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Then our Israel pilgrimage tour took place afterwards and I personally witnessed God’s Word come to life whenever we visited the many sites of the Holy Land. I encourage you all to read my feature articles about the Pool of Siloam, the Southern Steps in Jerusalem, Nazareth Village, the grave of Oskar Schindler, the Dead Sea Beach, and some nice commercial joints (click here, here, here and here).

Having direct flights between the Jewish state and the Philippines will also help my native country attract more foreign tourists as well as Israeli investors and technology developers. The Philippines right now is experiencing slower economic growth, having trouble attracting foreign investors and it remains a weak compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors when it comes to attracting foreign tourists.

As such, I encourage all of you to pray to God for the planned Israel-Philippines direct flights of EL AL Airlines to be fulfilled, and for improvements in the ties between Israel and the Philippines. As I mentioned many times online, Israel-Philippines ties are essential!

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

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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