Valentine’s Day in the Philippines is getting a quiet makeover. What used to feel like a public referendum on your love life now looks more like a celebration of personal freedom, with a side of strategic spending.

The European Union is bringing political heft to Manila this week, signaling that long running trade talks with the Philippines are entering a decisive stretch.

Edwin R. Bautista is a distinguished Filipino banking executive with over three decades of leadership experience in the financial services industry. Appointed president and chief executive officer of Philippine National Bank (PNB) effective April 29, 2025, he leads one of the country's largest and most established banking institutions at a pivotal stage of strategic modernization and growth.