Tag: Philippines

Philippines Among The Weakest In ASEAN In Credit Card Penetration

Philippines Among The Weakest In ASEAN In Credit Card Penetration

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When it comes to credit card penetration within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines is still among the weakest as the number of adult Filipinos who own credit cards remains very low, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

Be reminded that the Philippines is experiencing weak economic growth, high inflation, and has been weak when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment.

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

Only three percent of adult Filipinos own credit cards, placing the country among the laggards in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the gap most pronounced compared to advanced Asia-Pacific economies.

In Asian emerging markets (EMs), the Philippines trails only Cambodia’s one percent and Bangladesh’s two percent, Visa Business and Economic Insights noted in a report last Tuesday, July 14, citing the 2024 update of the World Bank’s Global Findex Survey.

Meanwhile, the country was outpaced by seven other Asian EMs, including India (five percent), Indonesia and Vietnam (both six percent), Sri Lanka and Thailand (both eight percent), Malaysia (13 percent), and China (46 percent).

This low penetration drives Filipinos to rely heavily on informal and unregulated lending alternatives, which do not help build formal credit histories.

“Across markets such as India, the Philippines, and Indonesia, borrowing from family, moneylenders, or gold-backed loans is widespread due to ease of access and familiarity,” read the report authored by Visa principal Asia-Pacific economist Simon Baptist and Asia-Pacific economist Minakshi Barman.

Meanwhile, advanced Asia-Pacific economies have mature financial systems, with credit card penetration rates reaching nearly three-fourths of adults aged 15 and above. Hong Kong had the highest penetration rate at 72 percent, followed by Japan at 70 percent, South Korea at 68 percent, Taiwan at 64 percent, New Zealand at 57 percent, Australia at 51 percent, and Singapore at 42 percent.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you know anyone in your local community who successfully secured credit cards over the past six months? Do you have friends who already applied for credit cards? What do you think Filipinos are most afraid of when it comes to using credit cards? Do you think the weakening economic growth of the Philippines will discourage Filipinos from applying for credit cards?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Police Arrest Suspect And Seize Illegal Substance Worth Over P1 Million In Parañaque City

Police Arrest Suspect And Seize Illegal Substance Worth Over P1 Million In Parañaque City

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Recently in the City of Parañaque, local police officers apprehended a high-value individual and seized illegal substances worth over P1 million, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

A high-value individual (HVI) was arrested and more than P1 million worth of suspected shabu was seized during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Parañaque City Police early Monday, July 14.

Parañaque City Police Chief Col. Nicolas Pinon identified the suspect only by his alias “Jojie,” 27, who was apprehended at around 12:20 a.m. along Los Angeles Street in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City.

Pinon said operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) launched the operation after receiving information that the suspect was allegedly engaged in the illegal drug trade and had been classified by the police as a high-value individual operating in the city.

During the operation, an undercover police officer successfully purchased suspected shabu from the suspect.

After the transaction was completed, the arresting team immediately converged on the area and arrested “Jojie.”

Confiscated from the suspect were several heat-sealed sachets and knot-tied plastic bags containing about 150 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P1,020,000, a black pouch, the marked buy-bust money, and other pieces of evidence.

The seized items were turned over to the Parañaque City Police Station for proper documentation and laboratory examination, while the suspect was placed under police custody pending the filing of charges.

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 consider the city a hot spot for illegal drug trading and smuggling?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Housemaid Arrested In Muntinlupa City For Qualified Theft

Housemaid Arrested In Muntinlupa City For Qualified Theft

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Recently in the city of Muntinlupa, a housemaid was apprehended by the local police for stealing and pawning the jewelry of her employer, 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…

Police arrested a 43-year-old housemaid in Muntinlupa after she allegedly stole jewelry worth more than P180,000 from her employer’s home in an exclusive subdivision.

The suspect, identified only as alias Janice, a resident of Balayan, Batangas, worked for a jewelry shop owner at her residence in Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang.

Authorities said Janice is facing seven counts of qualified theft under Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code after her employer, alias Maricor, traced missing jewelry items to a pawnshop.

During an inspection of the suspect’s belongings, Maricor found a pawnshop receipt for a gold necklace valued at P12,571, which she identified as hers.

Police later verified that seven jewelry items worth P90,315 — including necklaces, rings, earrings, and pendants — had been pawned under Janice’s name.

The stolen items were recovered, but other valuables amounting to P94,145 –including a diamond ring, a necklace with a diamond and emerald pendant, a wristwatch, and a bracelet — remain missing.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you concerned that house helpers could steal your valuables? Do you think the victim will be able to find and recover the missing jewelry worth over P94,000?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

Philippines Remains Vulnerable To Effects Of US-Iran War And Is One Of The Least Resilient In The Asia Pacific Region

Philippines Remains Vulnerable To Effects Of US-Iran War And Is One Of The Least Resilient In The Asia Pacific Region

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When it comes to resilience to the effects of the war between the United States and the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, the Philippines remains not only vulnerable but also one of the laggards of the Asia Pacific region as a whole, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

Be reminded that the Philippines is experiencing weak economic growth, high inflation, and has been weak when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment. Already S&P Global slashed GDP growth forecast for the Philippines.

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

Asia-Pacific’s (APAC) relative insulation from the Middle East conflict has singled out the Philippines and Indonesia as laggards as external headwinds are exacerbated by domestic turmoil, according to Allianz Research.

Allianz Research said in its half-time outlook report published last week that despite emerging as one of the regions most exposed to the United States (US)-Iran conflict, APAC is still seen as relatively resilient, with average growth of 4.3 percent this year.

This resilience is attributed to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, which is “doing the heavy lifting that geopolitics and fiscal policy cannot.”

“However, gains are far from evenly shared, with a group of winners emerging, including countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, while countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia lag as domestic turmoil compounds exposure to the conflict,” Allianz said.

Apart from the technology surge, the report also pointed to Asia’s role as a global engine of commerce. “In 2026, 80 percent of global trade volume growth in goods and services is driven by Asia and the US,” the report said.

However, this dominance faces fresh challenges from shifting American trade policies. Allianz warned that the shift in US policies “is expected to negatively affect Asian countries in particular,” as the US effective tariff rate is projected to rise from eight percent to 13 percent.

According to Allianz, the region’s resilience hinges on the booming technology sector. It said the AI boom, which has been driving nearly two-thirds of Asia’s export growth, is helping “cushion” the global economy from the impact of the Middle East crisis.

This AI boom is broadening Asia’s recovery beyond traditional manufacturing, with major semiconductor firms in Taiwan and South Korea leading regional market gains.

By contrast, the Philippines and Indonesia are struggling with the lingering consequences of energy shocks.

“Despite recent developments toward normalization in the Gulf, we expect inflation to remain elevated in the near term as second-round effects from elevated fuel, energy and fertilizer prices keep weighing on the region,” Allianz said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What do you think the Philippines should do in order to become more resilient to the effects of the war between America and the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran? Do you think the national government has been working to improve oil storage capacity, attract more foreign investors and rely less on the Middle East for importing oil? Do you think the Philippines will reach out to the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran to make an economic deal?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Illegal Gun Seller Arrested In Parañaque City

Illegal Gun Seller Arrested In Parañaque City

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Recently in the City of Parañaque, local police officers successfully pulled off an entrapment operation that resulted in the apprehension of an illegal gun seller, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

A 26-year-old man was arrested in an entrapment operation by the Parañaque City Police Station against the illegal sale of firearms on Saturday, July 11.

Parañaque CPS chief Col. Nicolas Pinon identified the arrested suspect only as “Joeveiynio,” 26, a resident of Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City. He was apprehended at about 11:50 p.m. along Meliton Street in Barangay San Antonio.

During the operation, the suspect allegedly presented an undocumented caliber .38 revolver for sale to a poseur-buyer, prompting the backup team to move in and arrest him. However, his alleged accomplice, identified only as “Jason,” escaped and is now the subject of a follow-up operation.

Members of the Parañaque City Police Intelligence Section launched the entrapment operation after receiving information from a confidential informant that the suspects were allegedly involved in the illegal sale of firearms. Police seized the recovered firearm as evidence.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that the city itself has many loose firearms? Do you think there could be more illegal sellers of guns in the city?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

Philippines Distances Itself From US Campaign Against ICC

Philippines Distances Itself From US Campaign Against ICC

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Recently the United States launched a campaign against the disruptive International Criminal Court (ICC) and it made clear that nations partnered with America are called upon to reject the ICC. In response to this, the Philippines chose to distance itself from America’s campaign stating that the policy of the US is not within the scope of its government, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

For insight, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute during the time of then President Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines made it clear that it has a functioning judiciary and that the there is no need for the ICC to meddle. Strangely, Filipino authorities enforced the ICC arrest warrant which resulted in the arrest of former President Duterte and his transfer to The Hague for trial.  

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

THE Philippines on Tuesday distanced itself from a campaign by the administration of US President Donald J. Trump urging countries to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying Washington’s latest position on the Hague-based tribunal is a matter of American policy and that Manila would continue to follow its own laws.

“The policy of the US is not within the scope of our government,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told reporters in a Viber group chat in Filipino.

Ms. Castro was asked to comment on a statement by US Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio, who said on Monday that “nations that refuse to reject the ICC’s false authority while relying on US assistance are likely to come under scrutiny.”

“This is a policy of the United States, and we respect their position,” Ms. Castro separately told GMA News. “At this point, we have no comment, as we are simply acting in accordance with our own laws.”

The Marcos administration has repeatedly said the Philippines has no plans to rejoin the ICC, while maintaining that its position on the tribunal is based on Philippine policy rather than that of any foreign government.

The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, in 2019 under former President Rodrigo R. Duterte after the tribunal opened a preliminary examination into his anti-illegal drug campaign.

Although Manila is no longer a state party, the ICC maintains that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.

Former presidential legal counsel Salvador S. Panelo welcomed the Trump administration’s campaign against the ICC, saying the tribunal should stop what he described as interference in the affairs of sovereign states.

“The Trump administration’s launching of a government-wide campaign against the International Criminal Court, vowing to pressure countries to withdraw from the tribunal and accusing it of threatening US sovereignty, as well as other countries’ sovereignties like the Philippines, Russia and Israel is long in coming,” he said in a statement.

“The illegal and unforgivable incarceration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, intruding into our country’s sovereignty with the cooperation of the Marcos administration, is a classic example of ICC’s unlawful intrusion to countries that are not members,” he added.

Mr. Duterte, 81, was arrested in March 2025 after Philippine authorities enforced an ICC arrest warrant and transferred him to The Hague, where he remains in the tribunal’s custody while facing allegations of crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.

He has denied wrongdoing, while his supporters continue to challenge the court’s jurisdiction following the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Philippines is in a very awkward position between the United States and the ICC? Do you think the Philippines will lose American assistance in the near future as a result of its decision to distance itself from the US campaign against the ICC? Do you support campaigns opposing the ICC?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines’ Net FDI Inflows Fall Down Sharply In April 2026

Philippines’ Net FDI Inflows Fall Down Sharply In April 2026

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This past April, the net inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Philippines reached only $250 million which counts as a 10-year low and a 59% fall compared with March 2026, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

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

Net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the Philippines plunged to a near 10-year low of $250 million in April, as heightened global uncertainty dented investor sentiment, preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

Based on central bank data released on Friday, FDI net inflows declined by 58.8% to $250 million in April from $607 million in the same month last year.

April saw the lowest monthly level seen since the $244 million in June 2016, and the steepest year on year drop since the 76.1% in December 2022.

Month on month, FDI net inflows slumped by 59.1% from the $611 million in March.

“The sharp decline in FDI net inflows to $250 million in April likely reflects a combination of weaker intercompany borrowings, slower reinvestment activity, and continued investor caution amid an uncertain global environment,” Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said via Viber.

The latest FDI level was dragged by the 91.7% drop in net investments in debt instruments to $44 million in April from $522 million a year ago.

Reinvestment of earnings likewise slipped by 1.9% to $80 million from $81 million in April 2025.

Meanwhile, investments in equity and investment fund shares more than doubled (143.5%) to P207 million in April from $85 million the prior year.

Foreign net investments in equity capital other than reinvestment of earnings also ballooned (3,041%) annually to $127 million from $4 million previously.

Equity placements jumped by 21.4% to $136 million from $112 million a year earlier, while withdrawals plunged by 91.7% to $9 million from $108 million.

For Mr. Asuncion, the softer FDI inflows in April likely came as firms and investors deferred investments amid highly uncertain global conditions compounded by weak domestic growth.

“At the same time, heightened global uncertainty stemming from trade tensions, lingering geopolitical risks, and episodes of financial market volatility may have prompted multinational firms to defer expansion plans and adopt a more conservative stance toward capital deployment,” he said.

“Domestically, relatively subdued economic growth in the early part of the year may have also tempered investment decisions,” he added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you convinced that foreign investors have weak trust in the Philippines no matter what the current administration is doing? Do you think weak economic growth in the Philippines will continue until the end of 2028?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Troublesome Chinese National Arrested In Parañaque City Food Hub

Troublesome Chinese National Arrested In Parañaque City Food Hub

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Recently in the City of Parañaque, a Chinese national who caused trouble and damaged several items inside a food hub was arrested by local police officers, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

A Chinese national was arrested after allegedly causing a disturbance at a food hub in Parañaque City while searching for a person he intended to confront, causing panic among customers on Saturday, July 11.

The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the suspect as “Guo,” 34, a resident of Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City. He was arrested at around 9:41 p.m. inside a Pares Hub along Quirino Avenue in Barangay Tambo.

Authorities said Guo entered the establishment shouting and behaving aggressively while looking for a person he wanted to confront, alarming customers and employees.

They added that the suspect’s unruly behavior damaged several items inside the food hub, prompting the management to temporarily stop operations and close the establishment early. Police officers patrolling the area noticed the commotion and arrested the suspect to restore order.

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 there could be several more Chinese nationals living in local communities? When was the last time you witnessed an incident involving Chinese nationals?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 146

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 146

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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 Varied Scary Movie 3 Reaction Videos – After enjoying Scary Movie (2000), I eventually saw Scary Movie 2 in a California cinema and it was disappointing due to its rushed and uninspired presentation. More than two years later, I saw Scary Movie 3 in a packed cinema here in the Philippines. Directed by David Zucker – part of the famous Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker (ZAZ) – Scary Movie 3 does not quite match the fun and quality of the original film of 2000 but it was still a huge improvement over Scary Movie 2. Not only that, the 2003 film had Anna Faris back as Cindy Campbell while the legendary comedian Leslie Nielsen was a notable addition. To see how much of an impact Scary Movie 3 has with YouTubers, watch and selected video reactions below.

#2 A Korean Comic Café – If you are visiting South Korea and if you want to spend time in a place that allows privacy, access to digital entertainment, comic books and a variety of food and drinks during the day, try visiting a comic café. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Ranting For Vengeance Looks At Great Comics That Actually Suck – What do you think makes a comic book great? Could it be because of the creators’ work, the storytelling style, real-world events that inspired the creative process, or the reputation of the creators who made it? In his video from 2025, Ranting for Vengeance examines that comics that were perceived to be great but sucked. Watch his video and pay close attention to the details and his explanations.

#4 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Weird Science – If you have read comic books of Weird Science, could you see their connection with the 1985 science fiction teen comedy film Weird Science? Directed by the late John Hughes, Weird Science follows two nerdy social outcast high school students who have had enough of being humiliated by others and enduring disappointing lives. Together, the two plan to make the perfect dream woman come true using a computer while hacking a government computer system. As it is loosely based on the Weird Science series of EC Comics, the film was a notable product of its time and it remains a memorable part of 1980s Hollywood cinema. To see if it has any entertainment impact, watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video now.

#5 Sega’s F355 Challenge Revisited – During a visit to Gameworx inside Festival Mall in 1999, I saw the arcade game F355 Challenge from Sega. After marveling at its graphics during the first several minutes, I bought arcade tokens to play it. To my surprise, F355 Challenge was a racing simulation as it was designed with in-depth driving realism in mind. Yu Suzuki (Virtua Fighter) was the man who produced and directed the game, and in my opinion F355 Challenge has to be played in its original arcade form while the Sega Dreamcast port is the alternative. To see what F355 Challenge has to offer gamers, watch the video below.

#6 Penalties On Littering At Shibuya – Shibuya is one of the most lively urban spots in Japan. Located in Tokyo, is a special ward where visitors can enjoy the immense commercial joints and it is now the premiere hub for youth culture. Sadly, as Japan is attracting tens of millions of foreign tourists each year, littering at Shibuya has gone up tremendously. Fortunately, the local authorities are taking action again littering and those who littered will be penalized when they are caught. Learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#7 GoodBadFlicks Reviews The Bees – Way back in the late-1980s, the 1978 horror movie The Bees was shown on local TV and it drew a large audience. I cannot forget the time when a classmate of mine got so scared watching it. The Bees is a Mexican production that had the late John Saxon in a major role. To see the quality and production details of The Bees, watch the video of GoodBadFlicks below.

#8 Steakhouse In Tokyo – If you are touring Tokyo right now, there is this particular place that serves customers with really delicious and satisfying steaks. This video shows very enticing meals and I would love to visit once I return to Japan someday. Enjoy the video!

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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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

IMF Reduces Philippine Growth Outlook Until 2027

IMF Reduces Philippine Growth Outlook Until 2027

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While the government of the Philippines is delighted over the nation’s new status as an upper-middle income economy (click here and here) believing that a bright economic future is approaching, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees the national economy growing at a weaker pace until 2027, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY could post its weakest growth this year since the pandemic, as the Middle East war drives up prices and dampens economic activity, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said.

In its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) released on Wednesday, the IMF trimmed its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.9% from 4.1% previously. This is still within the government’s 3.5%-4.5% target.

“This reflects a weaker-than-expected outturn in the first quarter of 2026 (2.8%) alongside a larger-than-expected effect of the war in the Middle East on prices and activity in the Philippines,” an IMF spokesperson said in an e-mail.

Oil price shocks and the lingering impact of the flood control fallout dragged first-quarter Philippine GDP growth below market and government expectations at 2.8%.

Since the United States and Israel first launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, spiraling oil prices fed into the costs of other key commodities and squeezed consumers’ pockets.

If the IMF’s projection holds true, the country’s full-year expansion will be weaker than the 4.4% recorded in 2025, when a massive flood control corruption scandal dampened public spending, investments, and sentiment.

It would also mark the economy’s worst performance since the 9.5% contraction during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.  

Excluding the pandemic, it would match the 3.9% expansion in 2011 and would be the worst in 17 years or since the 1.4% in 2009.

The multilateral lender’s Philippine growth estimate is below its projection for ASEAN-5, which it kept at 4.1% for this year. ASEAN-5 is composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

The Philippines is expected to lag Indonesia (5%) and Malaysia (4.7%) but outpace Thailand (1.9%) this year.

At the same time, the IMF trimmed the Philippine growth projection for 2027 to 5.5% from 5.8% previously, on the back of base effects and a potential improvement in sentiment.

This is within the government’s 5%-6% target for the year. It is also above the IMF’s 2027 growth projection of 4.3% for ASEAN-5.

“The rebound in 2027 is driven mainly by favorable base effects, alongside a gradual pickup in investment as confidence improves and supply-side effects related to the war ease,” the IMF spokesperson said.

According to the multilateral lender, risks to domestic growth may come from extreme weather disturbances, as well as a slower-than-projected normalization of public investments and reform momentum.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you find the IMF’s analysis for the Philippines believable? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will grow below 5% per year until the end of 2028?

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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