SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) has appointed Kits Pinga as the new club general manager of Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club, signaling a renewed commitment to operational excellence and enriched member experiences across its leisure portfolio.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has canceled the registration of Mount Peak Securities Inc. as a broker-dealer due to serious violations of securities laws, including fake financial reports, use of dummy accounts, and forged client documents. This development helps protect investors and upholds integrity in the local capital market.

The Philippines successfully hosted the first quarter of the 2026 ASEAN-related events backed by a massive digital infrastructure push from telecom giant Globe, marking a significant milestone in public-private collaboration for national development. Working in tight coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the ASEAN National Organizing Council, Globe proactively deployed free mobile signal enhancements, optimized network capacities, and rolled out targeted 5G coverage across key venues in Metro Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, and Boracay. This nationwide initiative ensured that international delegates, organizers, and media experienced seamless, high-speed communication throughout the high-profile regional summits.

Emperador Inc., the liquor manufacturing arm of billionaire Andrew Tan, delivered a strong start to 2026, posting a net profit of P1.9 billion, up 4.5 percent year-on-year, despite a turbulent global economy. 

The Visayas grid remained under yellow alert from 4 to 8 p.m. today, marking the eighth day this month the alert has been raised, with red alerts also triggered earlier in May. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported low power reserves: available capacity stood at 2,692 MW against a peak demand of 2,503 MW. The strain stems from multiple long-term plant shutdowns—some inactive since as early as 2021—and 15 plants running below full capacity. Major facilities out of service include two units of Therma Visayas Inc. and a plant owned by Meralco Power Gen Corp., together making up over half of the unavailable supply.

ACEN-Silverwolf Pte Ltd, a joint venture of ACEN Renewables International and Silverwolf Capital, has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Ocean Sun AS to explore rolling out floating solar technology across key Asian markets. Disclosed recently, the agreement sets the stage for a potential formal partnership focused on building large-scale solar installations on freshwater reservoirs and inland water bodies, pending necessary approvals and final contracts. This collaboration combines ACEN-Silverwolf’s strong regional renewable energy experience with Ocean Sun’s patented, specialized technology designed for efficiency and durability in freshwater settings. The deal is significant as it supports ACEN’s broader goal of reaching 20,000 MW of renewable capacity by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, while advancing cost-effective clean energy solutions across the region.

Alsons Power has announced a major shift toward green energy by converting its 55-megawatt (MW) diesel power plant in Alabel, Sarangani, into a 98.7-megawatt solar power facility.

Central Luzon is gaining momentum as the country’s next major manufacturing hub, with industrial investors increasingly drawn to locations backed by reliable power infrastructure and integrated utilities.

SM Offices, the commercial leasing arm of SM Prime Holdings, has achieved full occupancy across its 10-tower, 100,000 square meter Clark Tech Hub in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Real estate investments in the Philippines are expected to increasingly move to the Visayas and Mindanao in the coming years as businesses expand outside Metro Manila, according to Prime Philippines Inc.

Century Properties Group reported a 6-percent decline in net income in the first quarter of the year, as higher interest expenses and taxes offset gains from its core operations.

Filinvest Land Inc., the listed property development arm of the Gotianun Group, completed the payment of its 5.5-year fixed-rate bonds worth P1.76 billion on May 18, 2026, fulfilling its obligations on the securities’ maturity date.

Telecom giant PLDT Inc. has officially secured the backing of the Tagbanua Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) for its new undersea fiber-optic project, clearing a major path to boost internet reliability across Palawan.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has ranked first in the Philippines’ SpeedGeo Broadband Internet Speed Ranking for the first quarter of the year, based on hundreds of thousands of user tests nationwide.

TikTok Shop is ramping up efforts to support more micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the Philippines, with plans to strengthen partnerships with local government units (LGUs) and expand its “Unlad Lokal” initiative deeper into the Visayas and Mindanao by 2026.

The Consumer Lending Association of the Philippines (CLAP) has pushed for tougher enforcement of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and a shift from a largely defensive stance to a more aggressive, coordinated campaign against financial fraud as digital transactions and online scams continue to rise nationwide.

The sudden leadership shake-up in the Senate ahead of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Dutertel may yet prove a poisoned chalice—a glittering prize that offers control today but threatens political liability tomorrow.

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every house divided against itself will not stand.” In the Lopez corporate universe, the verse now reads less like scripture and more like a live governance case file—complete with injunctions, contested boardrooms, and competing versions of who nearly switched off the lights.

Several things have changed over the past month. The global economy is now poised to face another severe slowdown and rising inflation as a result of the Middle East conflict. While the impact on countries may differ in magnitude, the oil supply shock will squeeze economic activity and raise prices significantly.

Airline executives were caught off guard when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that Philippine carriers may be forced to cut flights—or even ground planes—due to a possible jet fuel shortage tied to the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.