The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

A professional surfer from Siargao Island captured the crown of the March 2-5 international Qualifying Series 3000 (QS3000) in Japan, an official said Monday. “Congratulations John Mark Tokong. You did it again. Thank you for bringing honor to our country and for making our home island, Siargao, known to the world,” Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Jose Matugas …

Manila Water Foundation, the social development arm of the Manila Water enterprise, concludes its month-long series of events to mark its 18th anniversary with a Partners Recognition Event. The Filipiniana-themed celebration was hosted by Manila Water Foundation to express gratitude to its generous partners as it turned 18 in animating the mission of bringing environmental programs and water access, sanitation, …

The six major digital banking channels of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) posted an unprecedented P5.6 trillion in terms of value in 2022—equivalent to a 126% growth year-on-year—as the Bank continues to ramp-up efforts toward digital and inclusive banking. The state-owned Bank facilitated a total of 155.8 million digital transactions for a 14% increase over the previous year, …

The February 2023 inflation outturn of 8.6 percent is within the BSP’s forecast range of 8.5 to 9.3 percent. Inflation is projected to remain above the target until early Q4 2023 before decelerating close to the low end of the target range by January 2024 due mainly to negative base effects and the likely decline in global oil and non-oil …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) turned over a total of P4.1 million in cash incentives to the 82 members of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent to Turkey.  Each member of the contingent will receive a P50,000 cash incentive from PAGCOR. The contingent consists of volunteers from different agencies including the  Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Army (PA), Philippine …

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) continues to go above and beyond its concession obligations with the Philippine Ports Authority, adding another berth at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) – the Philippines’ premiere gateway for international trade.  Currently under phase two development, MICT’s berth 8 has a design depth of 15 meters that will enable the terminal to handle …

Enrique K. Razon, Jr., ICTSI Chairman and President said: “ICTSI delivered a strong performance in 2022 with revenues up 20 percent to US$2.24 billion and EBITDA of US$1.41 billion, an increase of 24 percent against the previous year driven by tight operational controls and volume growth of nine percent to 12,216,190 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).   “In a year marked by …

The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) has appealed to senior citizens to stay calm but cautious over the proliferation of ‘distorted news’ and ‘misinformation drive’ spreading like wildfire over social media that has caused confusion and unnecessary alarm. NCSC Chairman Atty. Franklin Quijano issued the public advisory to warn the elderly about rumors and disinformation issues ranging from distribution …

Much has been said about Liza Soberano’s vlog and the contents like revelations of her past that make people, particularly her colleagues, react to the diverse issues and facts in more ways than one. There are pros and cons on the case in point. Critics say she doesn’t observe and exercise the value of “utang na loob (debt of gratitude),” …

It has been more than a month after the launch of “SekSinema (Gender Images in Philippine Sex Cinema Enfolding Pandemia)” authored by this writer at the Philippine Expressions Bookshop in 479 W. 6th Street, San Pedro, California 90731 and it has still resonated not only abroad but in the local shores as well. Even if it was raining the proverbial …