The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown highlighted the strong demand for Filipino workers in Australia during a courtesy visit with Senator Raffy Tulfo at the Senate. Tulfo, chair of the Senate committees on migrant workers and public services, noted that around 400,000 Filipinos are currently living or working in Australia, many as nurses, skilled workers, and other healthcare professionals. The ambassador “commended …

Canada will continue helping the Philippines strengthen its defenses against emerging cybersecurity threats as the 2028 presidential election approaches. David Hartman, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, said Ottawa is committed to assisting Manila in achieving “democratic resiliency” under its Indo-Pacific Strategy. “We’re living in unprecedented times in terms of the threats to our respective democracies. So, now is the time …

Lawyer Melvin Matibag has been named the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation, Malacañang announced Thursday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. exercised his prerogative in making the appointment. “Unang-una, prerogative po ng Pangulo. Masasabi natin, bakit niya in-appoint? Nandoon po ang tiwala. Nakitaan po niya si Atty. Melvin Matibag na maaaring pagtiwalaan, …

In Philippines politics, timing is never accidental. Seasoned operators understand that early declarations of presidential ambition are rarely about transparency; they are about strategy. A premature announcement can flush out rivals, test alliances, and measure the depth of the political field.  Thus, when Sara Duterte signaled her intentions well ahead of the 2028 race, it was less a spontaneous expression of public service than …

Now that my virgin column was finally delivered by Caesarean section, so to speak, last week through the relentless proddings of our usual suspect, Ms. Nelly L., here I am once again typing on my Underwood portable manual typewriter for my second attempt in my journalistic journey. I have had no formal instruction in this kind of profession except for …

As artificial intelligence becomes more accessible, so too do the tools of deception. Cybercriminals are now harnessing AI to produce fraudulent schemes so polished and persuasive that even digitally savvy consumers can be fooled. In the Philippines, where online transactions and mobile payments are rapidly becoming the norm, this evolution in cybercrime poses a serious threat to consumer trust—particularly in the …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez When President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.  took office, he made a clear commitment: to uplift the country’s teachers not merely through rhetoric, but through tangible reforms. In a nation where educators have long been praised yet often under-supported, that promise carried significant weight. Today, the results of that commitment are beginning to take shape in …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s renewed commitment to educational reform, underscored by the submission of the EDCOM II Final Report, projects both continuity and ambition. The administration’s push to align reforms with expert recommendations and to launch the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan 2026–2035) suggests a desire to institutionalize long‑term strategies rather than rely on …

Volvo, considered as one of the safest vehicles in the world, unveiled its newest and next-generation of flagship vehicles — the Volvo ES90 Ultra BEV and the Volvol EX90 Ultra Bev — both engineered with next-level advanced safety innovations, modernized digital features, and passenger comfort. ​And they were introduced by no less than Maria Fe Perez-Agudo, the vice chair, president, and CEO of Hariphil Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), the official distributor …

WHEN the invite comes from Willy Tee-Ten, the top honcho of the Autohub Group of Companies, to go on a business trip in one of his vehicle products abroad, you should be ready to say yes. All the 14-man delegation of Autohub had a great experience in that recent whirlwind trip to Chongqing, China to participate in the  5-day Philippine Core Media Changan Tour. ​The trip came on the heels …