The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The unveiling of the Pax Silica project has placed the Philippines at the crossroads of economic ambition and public skepticism. Marketed as a cornerstone of a US-led initiative to strengthen global supply chains for semiconductors, artificial intelligence infrastructure and critical minerals, the proposed 1,620-hectare economic security zone in New Clark City promises jobs, investments and a larger role for the …
Points of View & Perspectives
July, 2026
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26 July
US force-labor tariff unfair
EBITDABy DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN While US State Department chief Marco Rubio is in Manila for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and while US President Donald Trump himself assured that the iron-clad security promises are still iron-clad, here comes the news that Philippine exports to the United States are now subject to a higher 12.5-percent tariff. For the uninitiated and for …
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19 July
TALE OF TWO SETS OF EMPLOYEES
Though one side of the Impeachment Court has the word Honorable prefixed before their names, being members of the august specimens of Senatus Populus Que Pilipinensis, and across them is the Witness Chair occupied by ordinary members of our Pambansang Mananaliksik (NBI), it is easy to conclude that shorn of their titles, garments and auras, both sets are employees of the Filipino people who pay them their salaries – the Honorables whoget a basic salary …
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19 July
When justice meets politics
The succession of criminal cases leading to imprisonment involving prominent senators has become impossible to ignore. First came Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who went into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This was followed by the high-profile arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada over allegations related to anomalous flood control projects. More recently, Senator Rodante …
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12 July
IMPEACHMENT WEEK # 1
This impeachment of the sitting Philippine Vice-President that unfolded last July 6 is remarkable for being the first such political exercise under the glare of social media – for anybody interested and to the world. With a high unemployment rate, with 120 million souls this side of the globe, it can be assumed that most with free time on their hands would go watch the …
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12 July
Prosperity on paper
A recent PUBLiCUS Asia survey presents a striking contradiction. While most Filipinos remain hopeful that their own households can improve financially, they continue to express deep skepticism about the country’s overall direction. It is a reminder that official economic milestones do not automatically translate into public confidence. According to the second quarter 2026 survey of 1,509 registered voters, 72% remain pessimistic about …
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12 July
Results That Matter More Than Rhetoric
LOVE FOR ALLBy: Virginia Rodriguez Public approval is rarely sustained by promises alone. It is earned through programs that people experience in their daily lives. Recent governance surveys have shown improved public perception of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and several members of his Cabinet, with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian consistently emerging as one of the country’s top-performing Cabinet officials. …
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12 July
Navigating Russia, Sanctions, and Strategic Diversification
REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent visit to Russia is more than a diplomatic courtesy call; it is a calculated move in the Philippines’ ongoing search for strategic diversification. As Prof. Froilan Calilung, political analyst and geopolitics expert, aptly warned: “Dependence on a single country or bloc exposes the Philippines to geopolitical shocks, including wars and unforeseen conflicts.” …
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12 July
Hidden numbers, hidden agendas
EBITDABy Diego C. Cagahastian In the corporate world, EBITDA is short for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. The number serves as a measure of the company’s operating performance by excluding financing costs, taxes, and certain non-cash expenses. Of what use is EBITDA? This item is excluded from the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and its main utility is …
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5 July
ALEXANDRA THE GREAT
Though just 21 summers old, our very own Alexandra Eala, in my estimation, is already great. At 13, she embarked for Spain to insulate herself for a sport she loves, as others are struggling withtheir identities, gender, career and a future . There, Alexandra parks herself at the Rafa Nadal Academy for years of gruellingpreparation for a future in professional tennis. To be able to discern that …