It opened with familiar rhetoric — and ended with a war on vice. But the most consequential line in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) wasn’t about inflation, infrastructure, or…
A Silk Road revival in a cup of…
In the oasis city of Kashgar, once a vital crossroads of the ancient Silk Road, history is not confined to ruins—it breathes through alleyways, fragrances, and stories of new encounters. Located at the edge of…
Philippines wants to lead in blockchain—but few Filipinos…
In a country where 96% of people say they know what cryptocurrency is, only 28% understand Web3. That tension—between headline-grabbing adoption and limited understanding—sits at the heart of the Philippine Blockchain Industry Report 2025, a…
The tax that levels the field—so why are…
For once, the tax system favors the many over the few. The flat 20% levy on interest income, introduced under the Capital Market Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA), doesn’t punish savers—it puts an end to years…
Trading blows: The tariff war that’s hitting the…
For years, global trade was the default engine of growth. But as we pass the midpoint of 2025, it’s sputtering badly—and not because of any natural cooling. This slowdown is man-made, self-inflicted, and increasingly perilous.…
China unveils playbook for a greener world
As the global community searches for ways to accelerate climate action while balancing economic demands, China is offering its own blueprint: a detailed, case-driven report that blends policy insight, on-the-ground practices, and a vision for…
Spot market defaults driving up electricity costs, PCCI…
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, is calling for stricter enforcement of rules in the country’s electricity spot market and greater billing transparency by power retailers. The group…
Phl credit card debt soars to 4 times…
A new report from Singapore-based fintech firm ROSHI has raised alarms about the growing credit card debt crisis in the Philippines, with consumer debt reaching levels described as "critical." According to the findings, Filipino cardholders…
How a 337-day siege gave birth to Philippine–Spanish…
Today, June 30, the country marks Philippine–Spanish Friendship Day, a commemoration of compassion, mutual respect, and an extraordinary chapter in shared history. The law behind this annual event—Republic Act No. 9187, authored by the late…
The Philippines had its K-Culture moment. It let…
While South Korea turned long-term cultural investment into global soft power, the Philippines failed to match vision with infrastructure. In the late 1980s, as French cinema sparked late-night conversations among young artists in Seoul, a…