The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Recognizing the significance of the United Kingdom in pursuit of the country’s socioeconomic agenda, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual attended two roundtable meetings on June 22, 2023 in London, which forms part of his three-week Europe Investment Roadshow.  During the roundtable meeting with the UK-ASEAN Business Council, an organization focused on facilitating trade and investment between …

The First Lady of the Philippines, Louise Araneta-Marcos, led the ceremonies inaugurating the UPL-Carnival Team Member Center, a two-level facility established by Florida-based international cruise company Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival) and its local crewing partner United Philippine Lines (UPL). The event also drew the support of other top government officials including Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Commission on Higher …

BiFan is the acronym of Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in Bucheon City, South Korea. In the early 2010s, it used to be called Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival or PiFan, Puchon being another name for Bucheon in the Korean historical, geographical and territorial layout. I first heard of PiFan from my Korean mentor Cho Pock-rey, arts ambassador, film professor, …

ACE Hardware Philippines bagged two category wins at the recently held Retail Asia Awards for the success of its “We Can Help” campaign and its sustainability initiatives. In recognition of its commitment to fulfilling its mission of being helpful, ACE Hardware was awarded Hardware Retailer of the Year – Philippines. ACE first won the Hardware Retailer of the Year in …

The country’s 840-strong contingent to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia made it a bountiful month of May for Philippine sports. The SEAG bets collared 58 golds, 85 silvers and 117 bronzes – with meet records to boot – in the 12-day joust in Phnom Penh to earn the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s nod as the top achievers for the fifth …

By Robert Andaya Far Eastern University will defend its title in the Mayor Kirk Asis Open basketball scheduled June 26-29 in Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur. Venue of the four-day competition sponsored by Bayugan Mayor Kirk Asis and Vice Mayor Kim Lope Asis and organized by Van Halen Parmis is the Lope Asis Memorial gymnasium. Also competing are UAAP …

In line with its commitment of bringing convenient and reliable banking services closer to more Filipinos, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has ramped up expansion efforts in this island province with the installation of two new automated teller machines (ATMs) in the far-flung towns of Sibunag and San Lorenzo.  The new LANDBANK touchpoints are strategically located at the …

Through a recent collaboration for social good, the SM group activated the Operation Tulong Express (OPTE) to provide assistance to over 70 families affected by a fire that engulfed 65 houses in Tzu Chi Village, Barangay Lake Danao, Ormoc City on June 14, 2023. Joining SM Foundation in distributing Kalinga packs are SM Supermalls, SM Cares, and the Department of …

Manila Harbor Center (MHC), the largest international bulk and breakbulk handling operation at the Port of Manila and subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), facilitated the safe and efficient handling of 20,000 metric tons of urea fertilizers from China last 7 June 2023.  The fertilizers were donated by the Chinese government as part of the Agreement on Economic and Technical …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) joined hands with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in delivering relief assistance to more communities in the island of Mindoro that are not only suffering from the devastating effects of the recent oil spill but also from several insurgency activities perpetrated by communist terrorist groups. PAGCOR participated in two community-based humanitarian missions spearheaded …