The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The 2025 Harley-Davison Cruiser 117 lineup – composed of six new models such as the 2025 Low Rider S, Low Rider ST, Breakout, Heritage Classic, Fat Boy, and Street Bob – is now in the Philippines after their unveiling launch dubbed as “Beyond The Ordinary” recently at the Ayala Museum. The refreshed Cruiser lineup pushes the boundaries of Harley-Davidson’s legacy …

If people can’t go to the Philippines during the holidays, we will bring the Pasko spirit to them,” says Fernando “Nanding” Mendez , President and CEO of Fiesta in America. Mendez urges guests to mark their calendars for Pasko in America on  December 6, 2025 at American Dream. The one-day event, now on its third year, serves as a perfect …

by Boy Villasanta Because “Food Delivery Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” which was a selection from the 2025 Cine Panalo Film Festival but was dropped from its roll, cancelled its screening at the last minute, embargoed for years by the organizer itself, the producer, Voyage Films, deemed it right to market and promote it by themselves. The power couple …

Deja vu. These twin rallies in Metro Manila commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. The “Trillion Peso March” at the People Power Monument in EDSA and the “Bahain ang Luneta: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon” at Rizal Park constituted a collective outpouring of anger and disgust of the Filipinos against erring public officials who are supposed to …

After Luneta, I went straight to EDSA. By two o’clock in the afternoon, the stretch from Shaw Boulevard to EDSA Shrine in Ortigas Avenue to Santolan/Boni Serrano Avenue, was filled with people although as early as the break of dawn, there were already marchers on the highway. Varied chants filled the air: “Mga Kurakot, Ikulong na ‘Yan (Corrupt, Jail Them),” “Jinggoy, …

Let me walk you through these mass actions on a Sunday, morning and afternoon, while typhoon Nando threatened to intensify. Literally, walking down T.M. Kalaw, goosebumps slowly creeped my skin as I witnessed the sea of people from all walks of life swelled in defiance of the massive corruption in government. I was teary-eyed at the enthusiasm and passion of …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced it will stop accepting new applications for digital bank licenses starting December 1, 2025, following the Monetary Board’s approval of a fresh moratorium on September 18. Interested firms have until end-November to file complete submissions, which will be assessed on a first-come, first-served basis. The BSP stressed that incomplete or non-compliant applications will …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reaffirmed its support for the Philippines’ economic expansion through policy reforms and infrastructure financing, ADB Country Director Andrew Jerries said Thursday at the Arangkada Philippines Forum in Pasay City. “As a shareholder, our role is to help,” Jerries said, noting ADB’s nearly six decades of partnership with the Philippines. “It doesn’t stop our work, but …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has launched an investigation into unusually large cash movements in the financial system, which may be linked to alleged anomalies in government flood control projects. “This flood control scandal was as much of a shock to us as it was to you. But we’re working hard to fix things,” BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona …

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is rolling out its e-Portal project to modernize services and make them more accessible, the state deposit insurer announced last week. Designed as a one-stop, web-based platform, the initiative will integrate PDIC’s data systems and service processes, while also upgrading its website for improved responsiveness. The platform will feature seamless fund transfers, paperless payments …