The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) recently congratulated Liloan, Cebu Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco on her appointment as incoming Tourism Secretary.  TCP President Jose Clemente III said they are eager to fully collaborate with Frasco and the Department of Tourism (DOT).  The country’s tourism stakeholders continue to pledge a collaborative relationship with the government, as it has proven to be …

The Archdiocese of Caceres recently launched its two-year preparation for the centenary celebration of the pontifical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.  A Mass presided by Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City marked the launch of the centenary preparation.  Pope Benedict XV authorized the …

Domestic tourists demonstrate revenge travel as they return in full force to Boracay after more than two years of travel restrictions.  Number of local visitors to Boracay last May reached 193,298, around 96% of the total arrivals of 201,368 for the month, according to records from the municipal tourism office.  This was the highest recorded number of visitors in a …

The rush to book travel vacations – dubbed “revenge travel” – became clearly evident during the recent summer months with the easing of travel restrictions after months of local and national lockdown.  This unfulfilled desire to travel may be quenched by the upcoming grand travel and tour expo, happening on June 24 to 26, 2022, with the Philippine Travel Agencies …

Everyone was excited if not more than proud of Nora Aunor to have finally received this season her prestigious plum from the Order of National Artists Award which was denied to her not once but thrice. The recognition is for her enormous contributions to film and broadcast arts in the Philippines.  Not only her fellow artists from the film community but …

The visual arts community in the country is raising hoots about the conspicuous absence of the Order of National Artists for Visual Arts in 2022. Generally, there are painters, installation artists, artisans, etc. who are disappointed with the non-nomination and non-proclamation of any visual artist in the honor roll. Will their gripes just be relegated to the dustbin and backseat …

Transman actor Ice Seguerra didn’t mince words when she spoke about the delay of the signing into law of same-sex marriage which is languishing in the four walls of the Philippine Senate. “At least in the House of Representatives, the bill is already passed. I don’t know about the senators. It seems that there are people who lobby against it,” …

Award-winning filmmaker Jose Javier Reyes’ latest screen work “Secrets,” a Viva Films’ project that has been streaming in Vivamax isn’t only a daring and thoughtful narrative about unleashing fantasies and criminal minds, it is also a series of feel-good visuals of beautiful sceneries shot in vibrant, lively imagery like picture postcards or paintings except they’re in motion. Director of Photography …

By Jonathan P. Gesmundo  Doris E. Maniquiz – known to the more than 67,000 residents of Botolan, Zambales as Nanay Bing – originally did not belong to a political family.  In 1987, she left her low-paying job as an Engineering Instructor at MAPUA Institute of Technology (earning P2,500 a month) to devote her time at the hardware owned by her …

Arwind Santos remains as one of the top defensive players in the PBA even at age 41.  The evergreen big man is hailed by the PBA Press Corps as its Defensive Player of the Year and will be recognized with the prestigious honor during its 2022 Awards Night tomorrow at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center in Quezon City.  Santos will …