A late-November Social Weather Survey (SWS) commissioned by Stratbase Consultancy shows a sharp regional divide in public trust between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Philippine export sales at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) cooled to USD269 million, reflecting softer headline numbers but steady underlying demand from Chinese buyers for Filipino food and agricultural products.

Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI) said Joseph Sy has resigned as director, effective immediately, citing personal reasons and the “best interests” of the company.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a unit of BlackRock, have sealed definitive agreements formalizing their strategic partnership in Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC), marking one of the largest recent foreign investments in Philippine infrastructure.

 The Philippines has taken a major step toward attracting long-term foreign investment with the official signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act No. 12252, the Investors’ Lease Act. 

Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission Chairman Frederick D. Go praised the Social Security System (SSS) for launching its Emergency Loan Program (ELP), saying it will help members get faster and easier access to financial support during disasters.

Ischaemic heart diseases, cancer, and strokes are still the deadliest threats in the Philippines. From January to June 2025, 53,985 deaths—nearly one in five—were due to heart disease alone, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The Philippine baby boom has hit the snooze button. Parenthood, once almost automatic, is now treated like a major purchase—priced, budgeted, and often postponed. Diapers and infant formula increasingly feel less like essentials and more like luxury items with designer tags. Timing, finances, and ambition are all carefully calculated before committing to the ultimate life investment.

The Philippines’ tourism rebound is still stuck in economy class, slowed by the weak return of China and South Korea—once the twin engines of foreign arrivals. Latest Department of Tourism (DOT) data show 5.606 million international visitors as of December 20, with arrivals from January to November slipping 2.16 percent year on year to 5.35 million.