The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

There had never been more emerging popular protest songs in the history of Philippine music than the anti-corruption hymns coming out profusely during and after the expose on the flood control anomalous projects within the last four months. Because of the inspiration and urgency of the situations, composers, musical scorers, lyricists, record producers etc. and their cohorts have the creative …

Noticeably, after the breakout big news of corruption associated with flood control substandard or ghost projects where a number of politicians and contractors, private and not a few executives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Heart Evangelista’s social media posts were confined mostly to her exclusive activities especially in fashion and private affairs. Only a single compiled …

The Manila Symphony Orchestra’s 100th Anniversary Concert is all set on January 22, 2026 at the Samsung Performance Arts Theater.  The guest artists are as follows: Darrel Ang and Mark Anthony Carpio (conductors), Muyu Liu (pianist), and the Philippine Madrigal Singers, or simply Madz (choral group). The repertoire are as follows: “Leonor Overture No. 3, Op. 72” and “Piano Concerto …

After the success of “Nanay Bangis” and “Mga Anak ng Unos,” Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Dulaang UP) returned to the stage by paying tribute to its founder and National Artist for Theater Antonio ‘Tony’ Mabesa. The tribute, titled “Para kay Tony: Tungo sa Ginintuang Alaala,” was a twin bill that showcased two productions which ended yesterday that capture the spirit …

By Isabella Cuartero Fifteen years into her showbiz career, Sue Ramirez has reached a milestone she never expected to experience. When the news of her being named as Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl came, she cried—“tears of pure joy.” “I honestly didn’t expect to come back or get this chance again. It was something I had prayed for,” Ramirez said …

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest bank, raised $500 million from the sale of five-year fixed-rate senior notes to global investors as demand for the offering soared. A disclosure at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed that the transaction, under BDO’s Medium Term Note (MTN) program, was more than 3.2 times oversubscribed, with orders totaling around $1.6 billion. The senior …

Maya took center stage at Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025 as it showcased how artificial intelligence is powering a new era of smarter, more inclusive digital banking for millions of Filipinos. Speaking before global fintech innovators and banking executives, Maya Group Chief Technology Officer Alfred Lo delivered a clear message: AI is no longer just a tool—it …

Since its establishment in 2014, Coins.ph has remained the leader in crypto exchanges in the country with over 16 million users. Through its mobile apps, users can buy and sell  a variety of cryptocurrencies and access a wide range of financial services such as paying bills and buying groceries. The company is also the first crypto-based firm in Asia to …

The Philippines retains its investment-grade status as S&P Global Ratings affirms its long-term BBB+ and short-term A-2 ratings, while projecting slower growth for the economy this year. On November 27, 2025, S&P (Standard & Poor’s) index made the announcement as the government temporarily halts key infrastructure projects amid probes into suspected misuse of flood-control funds. The agency noted that the …

By Robert Andaya ALL set for Team Philippines. The Philippines is gearing up for its biggest-ever campaign in the Southeast Asian Games as it prepares to send more than 1,600 delegates to the 2025 edition in Thailand. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino confirmed that the Thailand-bound Filipino contingent will eclipse the 1,115-strong lineup the country assembled when …