There was a time early in the Marcos administration when the Philippine economy appeared to have recovered its stride. Coming out of the pandemic, growth was vigorous. But the trajectory since then tells a much less reassuring story. By the second quarter of 2026, gross domestic product (GDP)...
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) has urged the Marcos administration to implement well-targeted public spending to stimulate the economy, warning that “weak governance” further undermines investor confidence in the country. FINEX, the country’s leading group of...
People often ask me what the next stage of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption will look like. My answer is that we are no longer talking about AI literacy—we are beginning to see AI dependency. AI literacy is a good thing. It means knowing what AI can and cannot do: how to write effective...
When your brain is no longer able to retain your calendar inside your head, there are a number of things you can do to keep track of your to-do list, appointments, and other important activities. You need to go to W.A.R.—which stands for Write, Alarm, Routine! Face the reality that you do need...
At the recent World Food Expo (WOFEX) Manila 2026, I expected to see new products, better packaging, and the latest kitchen technology. True to form, those were all present at the event’s two venues in Pasay City: the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of...
The Philippines is rightly trying to attract data centers, cloud platforms, and artificial intelligence investments. These projects can create jobs, deepen the country’s digital capabilities, and position us more strongly in the regional technology economy. But a data center cannot be built...
Many people believe that risk management is only for publicly listed companies or large corporations. Ironically, the opposite is true. Risk management may be even more important for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which typically have fewer financial resources to absorb unexpected...
Great legal controversies often reveal deeper truths about the institutions that govern us. The ongoing impeachment proceedings against the Vice President are no exception. Beyond the personalities and politics lies a more enduring constitutional question: Can the pursuit of justice become too...
A sustainability session focused on climate-related financial disclosures was organized recently by Philippine National Bank’s (PNB) Corporate Sustainability Division, headed by Jean Baruelo, and attended by PNB’s Board and management. Geocel Olanday is the Chairman of PNB’s Sustainability...
Banish the thought that the World Bank 's classification of the Philippines as an “upper-middle-income” economy is the silver bullet to slay the dragon of widespread poverty. It is a myth—not reality. Find out why. From 1987 to 2025—spanning almost four decades—the Republic of the...
Three of the country’s largest business groups have backed the expansion of benefits provided by state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), but stressed that timely and complete premium payments are crucial to sustain the national health insurer’s finances and further widen...
It is bad enough not to have any savings, but to be in consumer debt is much worse. What is consumer debt? It is when you borrow money for personal, family, or household consumption—such as eating out, shopping, auto and appliance loans, holidays, travel, vacation, entertainment, and all kinds of...
