WHEN it comes to what really moves spirits off the shelf and into a glass, taste and design matter. The first showcases the product’s craftsmanship and character, whether it’s worth having over and over again or just once. The latter, meanwhile, contributes to its visual storytelling, helping shape first impressions and inviting customers to discover what lies beyond its brand …
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FOR the second time, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Philippines’ premier tourism transit and transfer hub, has been recognized as one of the world’s best, winning the 2025 ASQ Best Airport Award in Asia-Pacific for the 5-15 Million Passengers Category for outstanding customer experience. The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program is the only global benchmarking initiative that measures passenger satisfaction …
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Local businesses were upbeat in January, the first month of the year, it was disclosed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The BSP based its conclusion on the results of its recent business expectations survey (BES), which showed a positive confidence index (CI) of a little less than one percent. The Bangko Sentral intends to do its surveys on …
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The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Chinese Business Leaders Summit in Metro Manila this October as part of efforts to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) and promote the Philippines as a regional tourism and business hub during its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship. In a statement on Friday, …
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To say that the Philippines has strong potential in harnessing renewable energy (RE) is an understatement. It is widely reported that the RE sector is comprised of geothermal resources (14.6%/1,932 MW), solar/wind energy (1.4%; solar at 1,382 MW; wind at 443 MW), hydropower (4.1%/1,161 MW), and biomass (12.6%/759 MW). The Department of Energy (DOE) has instituted policies that would encourage …
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The Philippines is set to ink 25 official development assistance (ODA) agreements with foreign governments, Finance Secretary Frederick Go said Thursday. Speaking at the Social Security System office, Go said the deals include 10 loans from Japan, 10 pipeline loans from Korea, and five loans from France, totaling USD10.3 billion. Separate Department of Finance data show that 10 pipeline ODAs …
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The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), and UnionBank have signed a memorandum of agreement to integrate UnionBank’s UPay Facility into the national tax collection system, aiming to expand digital payment options for taxpayers. The partnership, signed Tuesday at UnionBank Plaza in Pasig City, seeks to provide convenient web- and mobile-based channels for paying taxes and …
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Land Bank of the Philippines and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have signed an agreement to enable digital disbursement of scholarship grants and training support funds for over 335,000 TESDA scholars. The memorandum of agreement was signed on Feb. 16, 2026 at the TESDA Central Office in Taguig City by LandBank President and CEO Lynette Ortiz and …
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Philippine National Bank (PNB) reported consolidated net income of ₱25.3 billion for full-year 2025, a 20% increase from 2024, boosting return on equity to 11.1%, up 70 basis points from the previous year. The strong performance was fueled by solid core business results, efficient balance sheet management, cost discipline, and operational efficiency. PNB’s loan portfolio expanded 15% year-on-year, led by …
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For Benedicto “Benny” Marra, loyalty isn’t just a value—it’s a way of life. Like millions of overseas Filipinos, Benny left home to provide for his family. While working as a mechanic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he relied on BDO as his financial partner. “Life abroad is demanding, maraming hirap at na-aksidente pa ako. Pero kinaya ko lahat ng sakripisyo,” he …
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The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business