DigiPlus Interactive Corp. aims to launch as many as 60 new games next year, expanding its lineup as competition heats up in the Philippine online gaming space. The company is also stepping up its focus on original, locally developed titles rather than relying on foreign content, setting it apart from many industry peers.

Manila Electric Co., the country’s largest listed distribution utility better known as Meralco, is proving that powering the good life means powering a workplace where everyone belongs.

SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) has earned dual recognition at the Asia CEO Awards 2026, receiving Circle of Excellence honors in Sustainability Company of the Year and Diversity Company of the Year for its environmental initiatives, inclusive workplace policies and responsible hospitality practices.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has received recognition from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for importing nearly USD370 million worth of American agricultural products in 2026, highlighting the Philippines’ importance as a market for US farm exports.

Consumers and business owners face another week of contrasting fuel prices as global supply tensions continue to ripple through local pumps. Gasoline prices are projected to decrease by up to ₱1.00 per liter, offering mild relief to private motorists, while diesel prices are expected to rise significantly by up to ₱3.00 per liter, according to estimates from Jetti Petroleum.

The Philippines will showcase investment opportunities across the critical-minerals value chain at Australia’s largest mining conference, seeking to attract capital that can transform its mineral resources into higher-value industries and strengthen its position in global supply chains.

Subic EnerZone Corporation, a power distribution utility of Aboitiz Power Corporation, has officially renewed its partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to continue managing and operating the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s electrical distribution system for another 25 years.

Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC) has secured P35.014 billion in syndicated financing from three Philippine banks to bankroll five solar projects in Batangas, expanding its renewable energy footprint as the country seeks to bolster power supply and accelerate the shift to cleaner energy.

Pag-IBIG Fund nearly tripled its financing for socialized housing in the first nine months of 2026, as subsidized interest rates under the government’s Expanded 4PH Program helped expand access to homeownership for low-income Filipino families.

DoubleDragon Corp.’s Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp. is taking its Filipino hotel brand to Africa, signing a countrywide development agreement in Egypt anchored by a planned 750-room property in Cairo worth an estimated USD102.1 million.

Government agencies are emerging as a significant driver of demand for quality office space in Metro Manila’s Bay Area, capitalizing on competitive rental rates and available properties as the district adjusts to the exit of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

Pavia, long known as a simple, quiet town in Iloilo, has steadily evolved into a dynamic agro-industrial center, bringing noticeable changes to its community atmosphere that carry meaningful benefits for local property owners and business operators alike. Where once the area was defined by its slow-paced provincial charm, it now balances that familiar calm with growing vibrancy, serving as home to a rising number of manufacturing firms, commercial hubs, and carefully planned residential communities.

Globe Telecom is calling for quicker action from local government units on telecommunications permits, saying lingering delays remain a key barrier to expanding internet and mobile service—especially to far-flung and underserved communities. While recent reforms have yielded early results, bureaucratic inertia continues to slow down the rollout of critical infrastructure.

The electricity grid is getting busier. Rooftop solar panels are turning homes into power producers, batteries are storing energy for later, and electric vehicles are adding new demands to the system.

The European Union and the Philippines are setting up a joint artificial intelligence (AI) industry laboratory to help businesses adopt emerging technologies, improve productivity and attract investment, with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) among the intended beneficiaries.

Converge ICT CEO Dennis Anthony Uy is calling for stronger transparency and accountability, saying good governance is essential to turn the Philippines’ digital ambitions into real economic progress.

Christmas is coming, and with it, the annual homecoming of thousands of overseas Filipinos eager to reunite with their families, enjoy familiar food, visit favorite destinations, and celebrate the holidays in the Philippines.

There are few things more amusing than watching otherwise sensible adults become unreasonable over a basketball game played by people young enough to be their children. A missed free throw becomes a character flaw. A referee’s call becomes evidence of a conspiracy. A victory is proof that an entire institution is superior, while a defeat is something that requires immediate explanation. The players may be the ones on the court, but the people in the stands often behave as though their own futures are at stake.

Woke up this morning hoping for a reset, with my circadian rhythm hopefully back on track after weeks of near-sleeplessness, due in part to bodily changes occasioned by advancing age and to the ayuda economy, which has gone from bad to worse to overdrive. I cannot believe what has recently been printed in both legacy news outlets and portals like the one where I currently work, or the level of absurdity that has pervaded the country. When I ask any reasonable person what ails the Philippines, with its rich resources and poor economic performance, the retort and the discussion that follow quickly turn absurd. The survey firms Pulse Asia and OCTA have a four-word answer: the cost of living. Two-thirds of the country say the most urgent issue is inflation, and that “public sentiment . . . is being shaped primarily by economic strain and the rising cost of living.”

A Toyota is not a car that makes you want to write poetry. It is a car you get into, press the start button, select Drive, and take wherever you need to go. No drama, no complicated rituals, no need to call the children over to explain how to operate the touchscreen.