Good morning. It’s Monday, Nov 17.

Here’s your smart Monday rundown. The past week delivered a wave of high-stakes stories across the Philippines from massive anti-corruption rallies and explosive political accusations to big business shakeups, infrastructure disputes, and updates on quake recovery. We also tracked key economic signals, enforcement actions, and shifts in the country’s fast-moving digital economy.

If you missed anything, this issue brings you the clearest, no-nonsense snapshot of what mattered most. Got ideas or feedback? Email us anytime at [email protected].

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Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has released a new video statement accusing former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of threatening him over the alleged flood control kickback scheme. Based on Co’s account, Romualdez supposedly warned him in March 2025 that he would be “shot” if he talked about the issue or returned to the Philippines. These statements have not been independently verified, and Romualdez’s camp has been asked for comment.

What Co is alleging
Co now claims kickbacks from infrastructure projects totaled ₱56 billion rather than the ₱21 billion earlier reported by DPWH engineers. He alleges the money was passed through him to President Marcos Jr. and Romualdez, accusations the two have repeatedly denied in past corruption discussions. Co says he is releasing details in parts and apologized for his role, saying he “only followed orders.”

Why it matters
These are serious allegations involving top officials, and analysts note they require careful investigation. For now, Co’s claims remain unproven, and authorities have not confirmed any wrongdoing by those he named.

PSEi: 5,584.35 BSP Rates: 4.75% (borrowing) | 4.25% (deposit) | 5.25% (lending)
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Colliers says Metro Manila mall vacancy fell to 11.4% in Q3, the lowest since early 2020. The firm expects vacancy to return to pre pandemic levels by end 2026 and ease to 8.2% by early 2027 as experiential retail lifts traffic. Developers doubling down: Ayala set aside ₱17.5B for renovations, while SM earmarked ₱150B for upgrades and new sites. Easing inflation, holidays, and remittances should support demand as GDP growth cooled to 4%.

The Court of Tax Appeals has thrown out the BIR’s ₱1.65 billion tax deficiency assessments against the City of Manila, ruling that the agency issued them beyond the three year deadline set by law. The BIR claimed the case involved fraud, which would allow a 10 year window, but the court said fraud must be proven with clear evidence and cannot be assumed. With no such proof, the assessments were ruled void, ending a dispute that began in 2009.

MPIC chair Manny Pangilinan’s warning that he was ready to exit Light Rail Manila Corp. after a decade of losses forced the government to open urgent talks on long delayed obligations. LRMC says DOTr and the finance department have now acknowledged their unpaid dues and are preparing to settle a significant amount in the coming months. The company is also negotiating an 18 year extension of its 32 year concession to restore the project’s financial viability

Triconti Windkraft, a Filipino Swiss joint venture, secured slots in the DOE’s latest Green Energy Auction for two wind projects in Quezon and Bohol. The sites will add 120 to 150 MW of capacity between 2027 and 2028, enough to power up to 192,000 homes. The company says the projects will support local jobs and cut reliance on imported fuel. The GEA program awards fixed rates to bidders offering prices at or below government set caps.

Megawide is close to beating its full year 2024 profit after posting ₱501 million in net income for the first nine months, driven by strong construction activity and faster real estate gains. Revenue hit ₱12.3 billion, with construction contributing 85 percent. The company also cut ₱3.5 billion in short term debt, improving leverage and boosting liquidity. Management says it plans to trim another ₱10 billion over the next year as it prepares for steadier long term growth.

1. Build a Financial Safety Net
Before anything else, make sure your family has protection back home.

2. Turn Remittances Into Long-Term Income
Your goal is to help your family earn even when you’re miles away.

3. Protect the Family and Plan Your Return
Your OFW journey won’t last forever. Prepare early.

Remittances are more than monthly support, they are the foundation of your family’s future. Use them wisely so your years abroad build stability, independence, and opportunities that last long after you come home.

The US and South Korea have agreed to move forward on one of their most significant military projects yet: building nuclear powered submarines. The announcement came alongside a sweeping trade deal that includes a $150 billion Korean investment in US shipbuilding and another $200 billion for other US industries. In return, Washington lowered tariffs on Korean goods and gave formal approval for Seoul to develop nuclear powered vessels.

How it works
South Korea’s plan aims for at least four nuclear powered, conventionally armed submarines by the mid 2030s. The deal also expands Seoul’s authority to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, both key capabilities for supporting a nuclear powered fleet. A new shipbuilding working group will coordinate production, although Seoul insists the submarines will be built in South Korea despite recent claims from President Trump suggesting otherwise.

Why it matters
For Seoul, nuclear powered submarines would dramatically improve surveillance and deterrence against North Korea. They also elevate South Korea into a select group of nations with advanced naval technology. But the move is already drawing pushback. China warned the partnership could undermine nonproliferation efforts and destabilize the region. North Korea is expected to issue its own response soon.

The deal signals a major shift in US–ROK defense cooperation and could reshape naval power in East Asia.

A public feud has broken out between Donald Trump and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, with Trump calling her “wacky” and a “traitor” in social media posts. Reports say Greene has questioned whether Trump is still putting America First and has criticized his stance on the Epstein files. The House is expected to vote this week on a bill that would require the release of unclassified Epstein records. Analysts say Trump is pressuring Republicans, though he denies any wrongdoing linked to Epstein.

Samsung and Hyundai announced major new spending in South Korea after a US South Korea trade deal raised concerns about too much investment shifting abroad. Samsung will add a new chip line in Pyeongtaek as part of a $310 billion domestic plan and says it will create more local jobs. Hyundai committed about $86 billion from 2026 to 2030. The goal is to balance rising US commitments with strong manufacturing at home.

Indian authorities have arrested a man linked to last week’s car bomb attack in Delhi that killed eight people and injured 20. Investigators say the car used in the blast was registered in his name, and he allegedly conspired with the suspected suicide bomber. The explosion occurred near a metro station by the Red Fort, marking the city’s first major bombing since 2011. Police are probing possible ties to recent arrests in Kashmir and a large explosives seizure near Delhi.

South Korean actor and singer Nana and her mother managed to overpower an armed intruder who broke into their home in Guri, according to local reports. Police say the man, in his 30s, entered with a weapon and demanded money. Nana’s mother briefly lost consciousness, and both women were taken to the hospital for treatment. The suspect was detained on charges of aggravated robbery. Nana, known from After School and recent hit dramas, is recovering.

Two leading OB GYN specialists warn that the standard way doctors close the uterus after a C section may cause long term issues. Studies show higher risks of placenta problems, uterine rupture, prematurity, pelvic pain and endometriosis later on. The current method is fast but does not restore the uterus well. They recommend a slower technique that stitches similar tissues together and avoids damaging the uterine lining. It takes a few extra minutes but could protect women’s future health.

A new study warns that tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, a chemical used in dry cleaning and some household products, may sharply raise the risk of liver fibrosis. Researchers found that adults with detectable PCE in their blood were three times more likely to show significant scarring in the liver. Even small increases in exposure pushed the risk higher. The finding suggests that everyday chemicals, not just alcohol or diet, may play a bigger role in rising liver disease rates.

A new study from Scripps Research shows that childbirth is guided not only by hormones but also by pressure sensing proteins that help the uterus time its contractions. The team found that two proteins, PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, act like tiny sensors. One responds to pressure in the uterine muscle and the other responds to stretch in the cervix. When either sensor is removed, contractions weaken. When both are removed, labor slows dramatically. The discovery may help doctors better manage stalled or preterm labor in the future.

University of Michigan researchers found that a tiny worm gene called fmo-2 controls how dietary restriction boosts lifespan. But the catch is wild. When worms felt bead-like textures that mimicked food, the longevity effect disappeared because their bodies thought food was back. Boosting the gene also changed their behavior, making them less responsive to danger or food. The takeaway is big. If scientists can safely activate this pathway, humans might get longevity benefits without strict dieting.

A team of physicists from UBC Okanagan just pulled the plug on the idea that we are living inside a giant cosmic computer. Using Gödel’s incompleteness theorem, they showed that the universe runs on truths that no algorithm can ever compute. In simple terms, reality works in ways no simulation can copy. The laws that shape space and time come from something deeper than code, which means we are not digital characters in a programmed world after all.