Gold from the Philippines is mostly mined by hand—but rarely traded above board. With about 500,000 artisanal and small-scale gold miners (ASGM) producing 70% of the country’s gold, formalizing this fragmented sector remains a political, legal, and environmental quagmire. Research conducted by the World Gold Council in early 2025 highlights how underregulated gold processing plants […]

In the stifling heat of a Manila afternoon, where giant fans stirred the incense-laced air, parishioners packed into the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine to bid farewell not just to a pope, but to “Lolo Kiko.” The screens above the altar broadcast the funeral of Pope Francis from Rome, but in this corner of Asia’s Catholic […]

In a country where the Lenten season signals fasting and the sizzle of meat falls silent, Bantayan Island in Cebu quietly breaks the rule — a tradition rooted not in rebellion, but in a rare Vatican exemption granted more than two centuries ago. The origin of this curious custom stretches back to 1824, long before […]

Come Sunday, the glass-and-steel austerity of Hong Kong loosens its collar. Along the city’s sidewalks and plazas, a quiet transformation takes place: folding chairs appear where bankers stood; the scent of adobo and pancit mingles with the sea breeze; and voices — bright, unhurried, unbossed — rise above the drone of traffic. This is “Little […]

Hong Kong’s century-old tram system remains a beloved, affordable way to traverse the city, while Manila’s once-thriving tranvía exists only in history books.  More than 160 double-decker trams operate along a 13-kilometer (8-mile) track on Hong Kong Island, stretching from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan. Rides cost just HK$3 (P22.15) for adults, with six […]

Global central banks recorded net gold purchases of 60 tons in October, the highest monthly total in 2024, according to the latest data from the World Gold Council (WGC). The surge in buying was led by India, Turkey, and Poland. In contrast, the Philippines emerged as a significant seller during the period, offloading approximately 5 […]