The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez The Philippines’ hosting of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu was not only a showcase of regional diplomacy but also a reflection of the country’s ability to present itself with confidence, culture, and hospitality. At the center of this effort was First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, whose active participation throughout the summit preparations revealed a modern …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) proudly announced its target: more than 394,000 senior high school graduates are expected to enroll in college for Academic Year 2026–2027. Chairperson Shirley Agrupis highlighted that 20,000 scholarship slots will be available for the first semester, alongside the Presidential Merit Scholarship for the top five percent of graduating classes. Students may …

Bannered by Philippine football legend Stephan Schröck, the Azkals Development Club survived a gritty, never-say-die Enderun Colleges side, 5-4, to capture the PFF Futsaliga Men’s Division title presented by the Philippine Sports Commission at the Philsports Arena. “I’m just a crazy old man who loves football so much and wants to play everything there is, and that keeps me going,” …

Manolo Fortich’s own Rolando Bregente Jr. carved his name into collegiate golf history on Wednesday, rising from the pine-lined fairways of Del Monte Golf and Country Club to rule the inaugural NCAA Season 101 Golf Tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission. The 24-year-old Lyceum of the Philippines University standout, who first swung a club at age eight while his …

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the City of Manila have expressed strong support for the proposed redevelopment of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC), aligning on a shared vision to transform the historic site into a world-class hub for sports, heritage, and public engagement ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of the 2027 Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games. PSC Chairman …

The Palawan Group of Companies and JCI Manila recently held a contract signing and media briefing for the JCI Manila Colorfest Carnival Run 2026, set to take place on May 31 at the Mall of Asia Grounds. The partnership brings both organizations together to stage a large-scale community run that combines fitness, entertainment, and advocacy, with a strong focus on …

While admitting that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may already be “behind the curve,” Governor Eli Remolona Jr. and the Monetary Board, these overpaid officials who control our monetary system, are thinking of acting now or waiting until their next regular meeting. They are still considering an off-cycle hike in interest rate, Remolona said. Meanwhile, the Filipinos are reeling …

The Marcos administration has no plans to suspend the collection of the feed-in tariff allowance (FIT-All), a charge imposed on consumers to support renewable energy (RE) projects. The policy was affirmed despite the rising cost of electricity, and the ongoing oil shock that started with the West Asia war in Iran that was started by the United States and Israel. …

Soon, there will be a 10-year cumulative term limit for broker-directors of bourses. This, as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally rolled out this term limit policy, despite the opposition from leaders of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). “By setting reasonable term limits for broker directors, the SEC seeks to strengthen market governance, mitigate potential conflicts of interest, level …

THE Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will lend USD300 million to International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) to support the expansion and upgrade of three container terminals across the Philippines. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has signed a USD300 million senior unsecured corporate loan with International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) to fund the expansion and upgrade of three …