“About all you can do is dream of a white Christmas, for it seems like it always leaves us in the red.” This quote about Christmas from the book "14,000 Quips & Quotes" by E.C. McKenzie aptly describes the position of the Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) and the Rural Bankers Association of...
My Filipino-American friend AR, who has spent most of his adult life on the West Coast and adopted the American way, raised an eyebrow as I explained the reasoning behind the Philippines' early observance of the Yuletide season. While the holiday season starts shortly after Thanksgiving Day in the...
These three names—Abet, Eric, and Edwin—represent just a few bankers who, I believe, have made their mark and left an indelible impression on the banking industry in their own distinct and charming ways. Aside from this, all three have one common denominator: they're Citibankers who reached the...
Optimism is in the air. Yes, Virginia, positivity and enthusiasm radiated at Tuesday's HSBC-sponsored forum, where speakers unanimously declared the country "Asia's Rising Star," a stark departure from its "Tiger economy" label of the 1990s." Sandeep Uppal, president and chief executive...
There is growing uncertainty in the market regarding the direction the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will take in its last two policy meetings of the year, scheduled for Nov. 14 and Dec. 16. Will the BSP implement another rate cut in line with the expectation that the US Federal Reserve will...
My daughter, Kristianne, lives in a house that is widely solar-powered. She is one of the many who subscribe to solar energy, which is described as the most abundant renewable energy (RE) source in the country. Wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal energy are the other forms of RE that the country...
Banking and the financial sectors are in a stage of transformation with the adoption of AI (artificial intelligence). Its use is expected to enhance efficiency, improve security and more importantly, customer experiences. AI is creating a new working environment – makes a whole lot easier...
Reforms in the financial markets play a pivotal role in enhancing the development of the capital market that, in turn could lead to the further strengthen the domestic economy One such reform or enhancement is the introduction of the short-term Peso Interest Rate Swap (Peso IRS) instrument and the...
The first day of October arrived with a big bang, as social media platforms erupted with discussions about the increase in parking fees, particularly the overnight rate at Terminal 3 (T3). In this piece, we won’t delve into the rationale behind the fee increase—something already reported by a...
It's been a while since I last attended meetings and events of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). However, its executive director, Arnold Salvador, has never ceased sending me invites and reminders. The invite for Wednesday's general membership meeting, which coincides with the...
Listening to Maria Isabel “Maribel” Ongpin, the chair of HABI: the Philippine Textile Council, promoting the local fabric like Abaca as a “unique part of our identity as Filipinos” touched me with nostalgia. At the Wednesday launch of the 14th HABI Likhang Market Fair with this...
Almost always, I look forward to attending the anniversary celebration of Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank), one of the country’s largest banks. Though it’s beyond simple, still it’s unpretentious without the usual glitz and glamour that characterizes most celebrations. The reason:...
