The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Imagine this: A mysterious woman is discovered inside a gray duffel bag in New York City’s famous Times Square. She is totally naked, save for hundreds of intricate tattoos. More strangely, she doesn’t remember who she is or how she got there. 

By Alvin I. Dacanay In MasterChef Asia, the pan-Asian edition of the popular cooking-competition program that debuted on the Lifetime cable channel on September 3, 15 home cooks from eight Asian countries submit their dishes for close judgment by three people, all lauded culinary experts: Susur Lee, Bruno Ménard and Audra Morrice.

Anya Resort & Residences, an up-and-coming luxury residential resort in Tagaytay City, Cavite province, has signed on award-winning and Relais & Chateau-recognized chef Emmanuel Stroobant to helm the establishment’s food and beverage department. 

By Riza Lozada  Budget watchdogs and anti-pork advocates have banded together and asked the Supreme Court (SC) to remove parts of the 2015 budget law that allowed President Aquino to have almost unlimited discretionary funds through the juggling of budgetary items. 

By Luis Leoncio  All eyes will be on the Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group (HPG) starting Monday as it carries out its new mandate: to try solving Metro Manila’s monstrous traffic problem. 

If all goes well, the bill lowering individual and corporate income-tax rates is scheduled for plenary deliberations by the House of Representatives this week, following its approval on first reading by the House Committee on Appropriations, Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means and one of the authors of the measure, said. 

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines, despite being critical drivers of growth and employment, have the least access to bank financing among the major economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), according to a joint report of the British financial advisory firm Deloitte and the global credit card firm Visa. 

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) said it has strengthened its technology systems and business continuity processes to prevent a repeat of the glitch that resulted in the disruption of trade on two consecutive days. 

The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in the Port of Manila has started implementing a vehicle appointment system called Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) for selected user groups. 

By Lito U. Gagni  Shandong, China—Liwayway China Co. Ltd , part of the Oishi business empire, has invested $20 million in a new factory here in a bold marketing move that has characterized the company’s presence in China where it has flourished, earning the coveted Shanghai and China Famous brands.