Filipinos are among Asia’s most optimistic about aging but remain structurally unprepared for longer lifespans, a disconnect that underscores how lifestyle aspirations are changing faster than the country’s savings habits. A new Manulife study shows retirement planning in the Philippines is being shaped less by longevity fears and more by the desire for dignity, independence, […]

As 2025 comes to a close, Google’s latest Year in Search offers a sharp look at the questions, obsessions, and cultural shifts that shaped how Filipinos navigated an unpredictable year. Rather than tallying the most common searches, Google tracks the queries that rose the fastest—those sudden spikes that reveal what captured the country’s attention in […]

HSBC’s first steps in the Philippines began in 1875, a decade after its founding in Hong Kong. What followed was a partnership that helped shape the country’s early industries and continues to influence its modern financial landscape. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) arrived in Binondo at a time when Manila was emerging […]

As Hungary observes Revolution Memorial Day today, October 23, the nation recalls the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence — a defining moment in its struggle for freedom. In Manila, that same spirit of remembrance was felt last week when the Embassy of Hungary in the Philippines hosted a reception celebrating the revolution’s legacy […]

On a typical day in Manila, a young professional might sip a cappuccino while scrolling through YouTube, catch up on Instagram stories during the commute, and check Facebook Messenger between meetings. This seamless blend of work, play, and connection is no anomaly—it reflects a national rhythm. According to the Digital 2026 Global Overview Report by […]

Balancing immediate urban needs with long-term climate and social resilience is proving difficult for city leaders in the Philippines, new findings from an Expo City Dubai global survey reveal. The 2025 Urban Readiness Report, developed with YouGov and based on a survey of more than 1,000 city leaders worldwide, found that 81% of Filipino officials […]

The Philippine economy is expected to remain among Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing over the next two years, supported by resilient domestic demand, easing inflation, and sustained government investment, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in its latest report. Gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to expand 5.6% in 2025 and 5.7% in 2026, broadly unchanged from […]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s three-day state visit to Cambodia, the first by a Philippine leader in nearly a decade, is being cast as “highly important” by Manila’s diplomats. But its real weight lies not in protocol or photo opportunities. The Philippines must prove it can protect its people from cross-border trafficking while also seizing trade […]

Thailand and the Philippines—both maritime nations deeply intertwined with ocean resources—are embarking on contrasting journeys toward blue economic development. While both face mounting pressures from climate change, coastal erosion, and overexploitation of marine assets, Thailand is actively deploying innovative financing and governance tools, whereas the Philippines is still laying the legislative and institutional backbone needed […]

In the South China Sea, diplomacy is often as turbulent as the waters themselves. Now, the Philippines wants to calm the storm with a legally binding Code of Conduct. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to make this his regional legacy, pushing for rules that would prevent collisions at sea, halt island-building, and draw a […]