News & Stories

BAGUIO CITY — Three cadets from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) have successfully completed their academic and military training at the Australian Defense Force Academy (ADFA), marking another milestone in the growing defense cooperation between the Philippines and Australia. Ca

det First Class Charles Wandag Cayangao, Cadet First Class Nathanjan Barcelon Llasos, and Cadet First Class Kyle Rondobio Lanza, who all belong to the PMA Siklab-Laya Class of 2025, graduated on Dec. 11, highlighting PMA’s continuing efforts to develop globally competent officers for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). They

were deployed to Australia on Jan. 13, 2023, to undergo a three-year education and training program under the Philippines-Australia defense cooperation framework. Mr.

Llas

os is set to return to Australia for an additional eight months of officer training at the Royal Military College-Duntroon. Mr.

Caya

ngao, 23, from Tanudan, Kalinga, earned a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Physics and Aviation. He w

as recognized as the Best Performing ADFA International Trainee Officer in Fitness and received a Commanding Officer Military Commendation, reflecting his strong performance in both physical and military training. He c

hose to join the Philippine Navy, citing his desire to challenge himself beyond his familiar environment. Mr.

Llas

CBEV Transport Technology, Inc.

(CarBEV), a key player in the Philippines’ electric fleet and sustainable mobility sector, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast at VinFast’s headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam. The

agreement formalizes the framework for a 2026 partnership aimed at accelerating the development of a fully integrated electric mobility ecosystem across the Philippines. The

collaboration marks one of the most significant cross-border partnerships in the region’s evolving EV landscape, bringing together CarBEV’s local market expertise and fleet solutions with VinFast’s global manufacturing and technology capabilities. Through th

is partnership, both parties seek to support the country’s transition to sustainable transportation while strengthening the foundation for nationwide EV adoption. The MoU sign

ing was witnessed by members of the Philippine delegation, including Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Winston “Winnie” Castelo, Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Pharma Procurement, Inc. (PPPI); Atty. Zo

j Usita, forme

r Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) spokesperson; and retired Lt. Gen. Greg Almero

l, un

derscoring the partnership’s national and strategic importance. Beyond its mobilit

The Philippine economy is losing about P68.9 billion annually as poor mental health continues to weigh on workforce productivity, according to findings presented at the National Mental Health Summit 2025.

The estimate was presented by workplace mental health service provider Mind You, which said untreated mental health conditions have become a persistent economic burden, largely driven by absenteeism, presenteeism, and reduced productivity across industries.

The findings were shared during the company’s annual summit held in October. Da

ta presented at the summit showed that 77% of Filipino employees screened reported symptoms of depression, with nearly 49.7% experiencing moderate to severe levels that may require professional intervention. Mo

re than 4% were identified as high risk, showing signs of severe depression or suicidal ideation, equivalent to over 6,000 individuals in the workplace struggling with serious mental health conditions. “M

ental health is the silent profit leak,” Dr. Fabi C

ariño, said in a statement, noting that the impact goes beyond absenteeism to include reduced creativity, weakened morale, and stalled innovation within organizations. The fin

dings were drawn from mental health screenings and support data collected by Mind You from employees across multiple organizations. The stu

dy aimed to provide a clearer measurement of distress, burnout, and fatigue in the workplace, translating what companies often observe anecdotally into quantifiable indicators. Among t

he other notable findings was the prevalence of fatigue, with 77.5% of respondents saying they feel tired often or always. The sum

A.

O.

Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a 150-year-old American brand and a global leader in water heating and water treatment solutions, continues to expand its presence in the Philippines, a market it has served for 26 years since 1999.

Founded in 1874, A.

O.

Smith began as a small machine shop in Milwaukee and has since evolved into one of the world’s most respected names in water heating technology. It

s long-standing heritage is built on engineering innovation, reliability, and superior product performance. To

day, A. O.

Sm

ith employs more than 12,700 individuals across operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, India, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, with a broad product portfolio that includes water heating products, water treatment products, and air purifiers. A.

<p>By <strong><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Katherine K. C

han</span></strong>, <em>reporter</em></p> <p

>Money sent home by Filipinos abroad grew by 3% year on year in October, the slowest pace in five months, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Monday.</p> <p

>Cash remittances coursed through banks climbed by 3% to $3.171 billion in October from $3.009 billion in the same month last year, data from the central bank showed.</p> <p

>This was the slowest growth posted since May when remittances rose by 2.9%.</p> <p

>However, October still marked the highest monthly remittance level in three months or since the $3.179 billion posted in July.</p> <p

>“Cash remittances from overseas Filipinos (OF) totaled $3.17 billion in October 2025 and $29.20 billion in January-October 2025,” the central bank said in a statement.</p> <p>The

United States remained the top source of remittances to the Philippines in the January October period, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia.</p> <p>Mon

th on month, remittances grew by 1.6% from $3.121 billion previously.</p> <p>In

the ten-month period, cash remittances reached $29.202 billion, up 3.2% from $28.304 billion seen a year ago.</p> <p>Mea

Brittany, the luxury leisure and residential arm of the Villar Group, was named Best Lifestyle Developer at the recently held Dot Property Southeast Asia Awards 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.

This prestigious regional award firmly places Brittany alongside Southeast Asia’s leading developers that are known for defining modern, sophisticated lifestyle-driven communities. It

comes as no surprise that Brittany bagged this recognition. Kn

own for building master-planned communities that were inspired by some of the world’s most admired destinations, Brittany has always put a premium on elegance, greenery, and elevated living. For

decades now, Brittany has rightfully established itself as a significant force in the Philippines’ high-end residential market. This f

oundation makes the company’s latest accolade both fitting and well-earned. The Best

Lifestyle Developer award is given to companies that excel in designing communities where daily life is enhanced through well-planned spaces, strong amenities, and environments that support both personal and family well-being. Brittany

distinguished itself through developments that consistently bring together thoughtful design, accessible open spaces, and architecture that blends naturally with their surroundings. In a reg

ion known for intense competition in lifestyle-led residential development, this win marks a meaningful step forward for the Philippines. It shows

that Filipino developers can now excel in categories where user experience, community planning, and overall livability — not just building quality — are rigorously assessed. It should be

The Victor is a victor.

The 55-meter public landmark by Robinsons Land (RLC) has just received the award for Best Landmark Design at The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, besting other landmarks in the region.

“The Victor embodies the Filipino spirit — resilient, ambitious, and unwavering in its pursuit of greatness. Gett

ing the Best Landmark Design award is a triumph we share with every Filipino. We a

re grateful to The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards for this recognition, which celebrates our vision and the excellence of our people,” said Mybelle Aragon-GoBio, President and CEO of RLC. It’s j

ust one of multiple accolades RLC received at the awarding ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 12. RLC

was

declared Best Luxury Developer. Robinson

s Hotels & Resorts was awarded Best Hospitality Developer. The Mall

| NUSTAR was given the award for Best Lifestyle Retail Development. work.able GBF Center 1 won Best Co-Working Space. The Resi

From Gen Z’s side hustles to Boomers’ legacy plans, money means different things to every generation. For

some, it’s freedom, while for others, it’s security, comfort, or survival. And over

the last decade, with the pandemic period having a major impact, the Filipino relationship with money has transformed in different ways. Since 20

15, Acumen has tracked how Filipino generations think, spend, save, and invest. What we’

re now seeing in 2025 through Project Alphabet is not just a change in financial behavior, it’s a complete shift in meaning. Filipinos to

day think about money with far more intentionality, discipline, and long-term focus than ever before. If finances

in 2015 was a source of aspiration and stress for Filipinos, finances in 2025 has come to be defined by something new: Intentionality toward financial stability. Before the p

andemic, many Filipinos, especially the younger generations, viewed money through a day-to-day lens. Budgets were

flexible, purchases were spontaneous, and “future planning” felt like something only older generations worried about. But the pandemic

created a collective awakening. It reminded ever

RATES of the Treasury bills (T-bills) on offer this week could end slightly lower after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) lowered borrowing costs again and with the US Federal Reserve’s policy path still uncertain. Th

e Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) will auction off P20 billion in T-bills on Monday, or P6 billion in 91-day securities and P7 billion each in 182- and 364-day papers. T-

bill rates could be little changed or slightly lower to track the marginal decline seen in most short-term yields at the secondary market last week after the BSP’s latest easing move, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chie

f Economist Michael L. Rica

fort said in a Viber message. He s

aid the BSP chief’s “unexpected” hawkish signals immediately after Thursday’s policy decision initially caused local bond yields to rise, but his “more dovish” comments on Friday caused rates to close the week mostly sideways. On Friday, the r

ates of the 91- and 182-day T-bills declined by 0.49 basis point (bp) and 0.01 bp week on week to 4.863% and 4.9989%, respectively, at the secondary market, based on PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates data as of Dec. 12 published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website. Meanwhile, the 364

-day T-bill inched up by 0.63 bp to yield 5.0583%. The Monetary Board

last week cut benchmark interest rates by 25 bps for a fifth consecutive meeting to bring the policy rate to 4.5%, the lowest level in more than three years, as expected by 17 out of 18 analysts in a BusinessWorld poll. The central bank h

as now lowered borrowing costs by 200 bps since it began its easing cycle in August 2024. BSP Governor Eli M

ON THE SIDELINES of The Asian Banker’s Finance Philippines 2025 forum in August, Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) President Jose Teodoro K. Li

mcaoco told reporters that mandatory credit lending rules and strict bank secrecy laws “have become constraints in today’s labor-driven financial marketplace.” “By mode

rnizing these laws, we create a fertile ground for tech-driven analytics, smart risk management, better credit assessment, and a more competitive and transparent banking sector,” added Mr. Limcaoco, wh

o also serves as the president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Philippine Islands. These calls

for reform continue to echo throughout the banking industry. Last October

, six major business groups in the Philippines, including the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), signed a joint statement calling to amend the country’s bank secrecy laws. Likewise, mand

atory credit lending policies continue to be dragged into practice. The Asian Deve

lopment Bank said that credit for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remained limited in the Philippines during 2024. “The continued

enforcement of the Magna Carta’s remaining provisions, alongside central bank oversight, underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to MSME development,” it said regarding the Philippines in its Asia Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Monitor 2025 report. “However, the stalled

legislative amendments highlight the need for renewed policy attention to ensure the law remains responsive and effective in addressing current MSME challenges.” With players, policy group

SM RETAIL, INC. plans to open at least 200 Alfamart branches in 2026 as it boosts its footprint in communities and deepens its reach among value-seeking shoppers.

SM Retail President Jonathan H.

Ng said the company is preparing for another year of expansion as demand for convenience formats remains firm nationwide.

“For Alfamart, we’re expanding somewhere between 200 to 250 stores next year,” he told reporters last week. He sai

d the minimart chain has room to grow in both urban and underserved areas, where its small-box format is positioned to attract daily shoppers. Alfama

rt Philippines, a joint venture between SM and Indonesia’s PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk, offers a mix of basic groceries, SM Bonus items, fresh and frozen goods, snacks and personal care staples. The chai

n ended September with about 2,337 stores across the country, making it one of the fastest-growing minimart operators in the Philippines. Minimart

s have become an important complement to bigger grocery stores as consumers buy food and household items in smaller, more frequent trips. This has

helped chains like Alfamart expand rapidly even in markets where traditional supermarkets are already present. For Alfa

mart, the push to add as many as 250 stores next year signals confidence that demand in the community retail space will endure despite economic uncertainties. The chai

PHILIPPINE SHARES may sustain their momentum and continue to climb this week following the bellwether’s return to the 6,000 level on Friday after both the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the US Federal Reserve delivered rate cuts to provide economic support. On

Friday, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed by 0.78% or 46.72 points to end at 6,036.72, while the broader all shares index declined 0.53% or 18.49 points to close at 3,434.94. Th

is was the first time that the main index closed at the 6,000 level in two weeks or since it ended at 6,022.24 on Nov. 28

. We

ek on week, the PSEi increased by 87.5 points from its 5,949.22 close on Dec. 5.

“T

he local bourse reclaimed the crucial 6,000 level as investors cheered the ‘double rate cut’ catalyst from both the BSP and the US Fed,” 2TradeAsia.com said in a market note. “The local

market is back above the 6,000 level again, attributed to the rebound driven by the Fed and the BSP’s monetary policy easing. Sustaining pos

ition above the said level remains questionable, however amid lingering concerns and challenges over our economic growth outlook,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Manager

Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said