SM Prime Holdings Inc., the Philippines’ largest integrated property developer, is signaling a more cautious approach to its expansion plans as geopolitical volatility in the Middle East threatens to disrupt the domestic economy. In a briefing, Jeffrey C. Lim, SM Prime president and chief...
Sy-led top lender BDO Unibank Inc. said the escalating Middle East war is weighing on its outlook, though its chief maintained that the Philippine economy would remain relatively resilient compared with past global crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. BDO President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)...
AVANT GARDENER I just attended the Dumaguete Literary Festival, where I sat in the panels for fiction and horror writing. I also read an excerpt from Edilberto Tiempo’s short story “Mr. McLure” as part of a literary tour of the city and did a small book signing with a few other authors. I...
Known as “The City of Gentle People,” the City of Dumaguete is recognized for its tourist attractions, lively music scene, and as the home of Silliman University. It also has a deep and longstanding literary history, which came to the fore this April 17-20, 2026. Not only was it the third...
Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the investment vehicle of billionaire Andrew Tan, reported a record net income last year, as gains from its real estate and leisure units helped offset the decline in consolidated revenue following the deconsolidation of its McDonald’s local franchise. In a...
AVANT GARDENER A few weeks ago, I wrote about Republic Act (RA) 12215, also known as the Philippine Agriculturists Act, which, in very simple terms, requires anyone engaged in agriculture to be a licensed agriculturist. One of my interviewees was Samantha Geraldine De los Santos, an assistant...
Four companies under the SM Group were recognized for corporate excellence and governance in the FinanceAsia Asia’s Best Companies 2026 poll. SM Investments Corp., the holding company for the Sy family’s business empire, secured the Gold award for Best Large Cap Company and was named Most...
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Japan friendship, remembering the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951 and the Philippines-Japan Reparations Agreement in 1956. This year, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the largest implementing agency of official...
Top township developer Megaworld Corp. is kicking off the ₱12-billion development of San Benito Private Estate in the next few months with the construction of roads, key infrastructure, and vital township components. The project, a 25-hectare (ha) integrated active wellness township located in...
The Lucio Tan Group’s (LTG) spirits subsidiary, Tanduay Distillers Inc., is looking to further expand its international footprint by increasing its product availability in more countries, including both Eastern and Western Europe. The firm said it aims to capitalize on the growing global demand...
This week, stock market investors will continue to take cues from developments in the Middle East, particularly whether the temporary ceasefire will hold and if there will be progress in United States (US)-Iran negotiations. “Investors are expected to monitor developments among the countries...
AVANT GARDENER A blessed Good Friday to those that celebrate! Whether or not you believe in the Christian God, you’re (hopefully) benefiting from the religious holiday that is Holy Week, which commemorates Jesus ' Passion, Death, and Resurrection. For Catholics, this is preceded by the...
