The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. is boosting its new portfolio of businesses in power generation and transport infrastructure as it targets ramping up profit to P20 billion at least in the next two years.

The San Fernando Regional Trial Court in La Union sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison the manager of a security agency for failing to pay the Social Security (SS) contributions of his security guards.

The disbursement of Official Development Assistance (ODA), or low-cost bilateral funds for government projects and programs, tripled in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the same period the year before, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) figures showed.

Globe Telecom, through its premier postpaid brand Globe Platinum, became the first Philippine telecommunications company to bring the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to Filipino customers when it gave its Platinum members an exclusive sneak peak of the latest smartphones of one of the world’s leading device manufacturers.

California-based business-assurance technology company Blue Coat Systems Inc. recently unveiled in Manila its new Blue Coat Advanced Threat Protection solution, which is purpose-built to bridge the gap in security organizations between day-to-day operations, incident containment and resolution.

Thirty-five young men will vie for the four major titles at stake in the inaugural edition of the Mister United Continents Philippines pageant, which will be held at Tanghalang Pasigueño in Pasig City on April 14.

Story and photos by Alvin I. Dacanay If there’s a word that best describes Icings Bakery and Café, it’s probably “surprising.” The surprises this cozy informal restaurant springs on its first-time customers—pleasant, by all means—are not the dazzling, flashy kind; it’s actually the opposite, which may partly explain why this low-key establishment is not as well-known as it should be.

By Alvin I. Dacanay For many workaholics, Holy Week is a terrific time to reacquaint themselves with their religion or reconnect with their spiritual side, bond with their loved ones, go on a well-earned vacation, pursue long-delayed personal projects, or catch up on their reading.

Luis Leoncio Notwithstanding its investment grade from the three chief rating agencies, the Aquino administration failed to deliver on its promise to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country, which many blame for the prevailing paradox of strong growth but widespread poverty, especially in the countryside.

“Horribly expensive.” This was how a former official of the World Bank whom the multilateral agency tapped for development projects in the Philippines described the cost—in both human and material terms—of giving up on the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front by rejecting the Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL