Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) is targeting multi‑year domestic expansion focused largely on provincial markets outside Metro Manila, with more than 3,500 Philippine stores as of the first half of 2026 and over 1,500 potential new trade areas identified for development between 2027 and 2030 — about 71 percent of these sites located beyond the capital. The quick‑service giant plans disciplined rollouts tied to site feasibility and sustainable returns, building on its established nationwide footprint to capture untapped consumer demand across the country.

Jollibee Group is banking on the Philippines’ growth beyond Metro Manila, identifying more than 1,500 potential trade areas for expansion between 2027 and 2030 as it looks to turn its nationwide footprint into another engine of growth.

Vivant Corp. has secured three Golden Arrow recognitions for the second consecutive year, extending its corporate governance awards streak to five years as the Philippine energy and water group highlights accountability and long-term business stewardship.

EastWest has been named Best Customer Centric Business Model – Philippines at the Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards. The bank’s hybrid model combines fast digital services for everyday transactions with in‑person advisory support for major financial decisions.

As Filipinos mark All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day this coming November, the Manuel V. Pangilinan‑led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has assured customers of round‑the‑clock crew readiness to address any power issues within its service franchise during the holiday period.

The Senate is preparing reforms to lower electricity and logistics costs, speed up government approvals, and crack down on illicit trade as it seeks to revive Philippine industry and reverse manufacturing’s shrinking contribution to the economy.

Datian Subic Shoes Inc. expects rooftop solar to cut its grid electricity use by more than 40 percent, lowering energy costs and helping meet global footwear brands’ emissions standards without diverting capital from production.

Mingyang Group is weighing investments in Philippine ports, floating platforms and wind turbine manufacturing as it looks to turn the country from an equipment market into a potential offshore wind production base.

Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, has attracted an estimated P8.5 billion in combined investments from its developer and locators, as new cold storage and manufacturing operations are set to expand its industrial footprint this year.

Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has opened Astra Lifestyle Centre along A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City, adding a retail component to its mixed-use Astra Centre development as property developers increasingly combine shopping, dining, residential and workplace offerings in a single destination.

Flexible office spaces are gaining ground in Metro Manila’s subdued property market, with net take-up rising 185 percent in the first nine months of 2026 as companies seek to contain costs and adapt workplaces to changing business needs.

Metro Manila’s condominium market continues to grapple with persistent oversupply as buyers withdraw from purchases when monthly payments jump sharply upon transitioning from developer financing to bank loans.

Globe Telecom has stepped up network preparations in line with the National Telecommunications Commission’s call for stronger readiness and coordination among telcos ahead of the Undas observance this month.

PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications are accelerating roll‑out of the government‑backed Bayanihan SIM program through expanded network coverage and on‑the‑ground activation efforts, strengthening the group’s role as a key private‑sector partner for national digital inclusion. The Bayanihan SIM initiative gives underserved communities access to basic mobile connectivity, with PLDT‑Smart leveraging its extensive fixed‑fiber and mobile network infrastructure to bring the program to more remote locations.

The Philippines and the European Union are advancing an artificial intelligence laboratory designed to bring research closer to market, attract investment and encourage responsible AI adoption across businesses and government.

PLDT Enterprise has expanded its footprint in the Zamboanga Peninsula by bringing tailored connectivity and digital solutions directly to local businesses and government agencies.

The latest vow of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to defend the peso with the country’s foreign exchange reserves and policy tools invites a question: Has his administration forgotten the costly lessons of the 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis?

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.”