Good morning, it’s Saturday—time to stretch, sip, and scroll. You survived another workweek. Now do yourself a favor: don’t open your GCash app just yet. Before you spend on anything today, read this issue first—we’ve got a fun challenge to boost your savings, news that’s too good to miss, and some spicy stories.

Got tips, tsismis, or feedback? We’re all ears → [email protected]

The Department of Health says all mpox cases in the country so far are of the Clade II variety—a milder strain that typically clears up on its own. The more severe Clade Ib, which raised global alarms, hasn’t shown up in the Philippines yet. Fatalities linked to mpox were caused by underlying conditions (mostly advanced HIV), not the virus itself, according to the DOH. Mpox spreads mostly close contact through skin-to-skin such as touching or sex—not like airborne viruses such as COVID-19. Cases have popped up in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Health officials are calling for vigilance, hygiene, and early checkups for symptoms like rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes.

But the virus isn’t the only thing spreading. In Cagayan de Oro, a memo from the City Health Office triggered a shopping spree for face masks and alcohol, despite no confirmed local cases. The memo mandated mask-wearing in government health offices, prompting panic buying reminiscent of early COVID. Councilor George Goking urged agencies to monitor supplies and prevent price spikes as anxiety simmered.

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Here’s why your salary feels like it vanishes on Day 1:

1. Cost of living > average salary
Most Filipinos earn ₱25K–₱30K/month.
But in Metro Manila, the monthly cost of living (excluding rent) is ₱31K–₱37K.
You’re already in the negative — and rent hasn't even entered the chat.

2. Rent can eat half your income
One-bedroom units in the city average ₱15K–₱25K/month.
Add food, transport, and bills — and suddenly you need ₱50K–₱60K/month just to live “okay.” And we haven’t even mentioned savings, padala, or emergencies.

3. Lifestyle inflation hits fast
Get a raise, and what happens?
You switch from rice meals to ramen dates, maybe upgrade your phone or book more Grab rides.
That’s lifestyle creep — and it kills your savings without you noticing.

4. Hidden expenses = quiet killers
• Commuting costs = up to 20% of income
• Healthcare? Mostly out-of-pocket
• Family support + random bills = zero buffer
One hospital trip or busted appliance? Reset to zero.

5. The system keeps you barely afloat
Only 25–33% of Pinoys have savings.
Around 29% are in debt.
And over half of families still call themselves “poor.”
Even those earning ₱40K–₱60K aren’t immune — the middle class is struggling too.

📊 Source: PSA, Numbeo (2025)

It’s not your fault.
The system was built to keep you surviving, not thriving.
Breaking out of it? That takes awareness, habits — and serious policy reform.

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PH investments jump 71%, powered by renewables. Approved investments in the Philippines hit ₱3.54T under Marcos Jr., up 71% since July 2022, thanks largely to renewable energy. While 2025 shows a slight dip, big-ticket projects like offshore wind are moving into build mode. DTI says it’s part of the natural cycle. Green Lane-certified projects alone now total ₱5.2T.

FDA chief urges pause on fee hike amid backlash. New FDA head Paolo Teston asked the DOH to suspend a controversial order that hiked regulatory fees for health products, citing industry complaints and a House probe. The 60-day pause would allow time to review fairness and efficiency. Critics say fees rose without consultation—yet over 10,000 applications still face delays.

BSP expected to cut rates further as inflation cools.The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is likely to slash rates by up to 75 bps more this year, say ING and BofA, as inflation eases and GDP underperforms. With growth stuck below target and global risks still in play, analysts see the policy rate dipping to 4.75% by year-end.

BOC turns over nearly 3,000 lost balikbayan boxes. After months of coordination, the Bureau of Customs handed over 2,954 mishandled balikbayan boxes to the Department of Migrant Workers for delivery to OFW families. Abandoned by shady forwarders, the boxes were officially forfeited, then donated. The DMW, now backed by a logistics partner, is tasked with finally getting them home.

BCDA eyes JV partner for ₱2.5B New Clark City tech push. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority is seeking a joint venture partner to expand and commercialize New Clark City’s ICT infrastructure—a ₱2.5B project seen as key to building a “smart city.” Backed by the ADB, the project aims to future-proof the 9,450-hectare site with fast, affordable internet. Pre-bid talks kick off June 4 at ADB HQ.

New capital markets law slashes taxes, opens doors for small investors.
The Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (RA 12214) just became law, cutting taxes on stock trades and passive income to boost local investing. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto says the law makes investing clearer, cheaper, and more inclusive—especially for small players. Bonus: estimated ₱25B in added revenue by 2030.

Elon Musk is officially out of DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) and back to full-time CEO mode at Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI—sleeping in conference rooms, obsessing over rockets, and eyeing robotaxis. After months in Washington chasing $2T in cuts (and getting nowhere fast), Musk is back where investors want him. Tesla stock soared past $1T again on news of his return.

Tesla’s robotaxi launch in Austin is weeks away, SpaceX is prepping Starship for Mars (with mixed results), and xAI is racing to out-AI OpenAI. But his political baggage lingers—Tesla sales are slumping in the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, SpaceX is trying to hit NASA deadlines while solving heat-shield issues, and Neuralink is quietly testing brain chips in the Middle East. Musk says he’s “super focused.” 

iOS 26 is coming—but will the iPhone 17 still make sense?
Apple’s jumping from iOS 18 to iOS 26 this fall, matching software names to the release year. Logical. But will the ‌iPhone‌ stick with 17, 18, 19… while running iOS 26? That could confuse buyers. Year-based naming could fix that—an iPhone 26 in 2026 is crystal clear. But knowing Apple? Expect elegant chaos, not naming harmony.

AI CEO warns: 20% unemployment could be coming fast.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says AI’s white-collar job takeover isn’t a sci-fi future—it’s a five-year forecast. In interviews with CNN and Axios, he warned AI could wipe out half of all entry-level office roles, pushing U.S. unemployment to 20%. While Amodei still believes AI can do good (think curing disease), he says lawmakers should act now—possibly even taxing AI companies to fund the transition.

Meanwhile, Mark Cuban clapped back at Anthropic CEO’s warning, saying AI won’t kill jobs—it’ll create new industries. Citing past tech shifts like PCs, Cuban argued on BlueSky that AI will birth companies and careers we can’t yet imagine.

Speaking in Singapore, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that both Europe and Asia risk becoming collateral damage in the escalating U.S.-China tensions. Citing Trump’s tariff war and unraveling global alliances, Macron pushed for a new Europe-Asia pact to preserve peace and sovereignty. His message: stay united, protect rules-based trade, and don’t let superpowers write everyone else’s fate.

e.l.f. buys Hailey Bieber’s rhode for $1B, despite tariff headache

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand rhode just got snapped up by e.l.f. Beauty for a cool $1 billion—its biggest deal yet. Bieber stays on as chief creative officer while e.l.f. plans to scale rhode globally, Sephora-style. But there’s a twist: 75% of e.l.f.’s products are China-made and now face 55% tariffs. Price hikes are coming.

Taylor Swift buys back her masters, cements music royalty status

Taylor Swift now officially owns her first six albums after buying back the master recordings from investment firm Shamrock Capital. The deal—undisclosed but likely north of $300 million—puts her catalog value alongside Dylan, Springsteen, and MJ. With streaming royalties surging, and Swift owning everything from Fearless to Reputation, her music empire just hit peak power.

Why Timor-Leste Finally Sent Arnie Teves Packing. After nearly two years hiding out in Timor-Leste, ex-congressman Arnie Teves is back in the Philippines—by force, not choice. Despite winning a court battle against extradition, the Timorese executive branch stepped in, canceled his passport, and declared him persona non grata. The move was partly diplomatic: Timor-Leste wants full ASEAN membership this year and didn’t want the optics of sheltering a fugitive. With Manila’s pressure and ASEAN politics aligning, Teves boarded a PAF plane straight to trial for murder, terrorism, and more.

Mayor Benitez hit with abuse claims from wife in viral affidavit. Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez faces a storm after wife Nikki Lopez-Benitez accused him of emotional, psychological, and financial abuse in a 25-page complaint that went viral. Filed in April, the document includes claims of infidelity and revoked support. Benitez’s camp called it a retaliatory move tied to annulment proceedings, while Ivana Alawi—named in the drama—denied any affair. As Facebook timelines light up, lawyers warn: the real trial may be happening in the comments section.

New PNP chief Torre gets full DILG backing. Major General Nicolas Torre III has been appointed as the new chief of the Philippine National Police, replacing General Rommel Marbil whose term ends June 7. The DILG hailed the move, calling Torre’s credentials “exemplary” and pledging full support for reforms. Torre, a PNPA 1993 grad, is the academy’s first alum to lead the PNP. Marbil urged officers to back Torre, highlighting unity and professionalism during the transition.

VP Sara Duterte visits jailed father at The Hague. She flew to The Hague with her mother and Sen. Imee Marcos to visit former president Rodrigo Duterte, now detained by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity. It’s her second visit since his March arrest over drug war-related killings. Sen. Marcos vowed support, meeting with Duterte’s British counsel, Nicholas Kaufman. Other Duterte allies, including Robin Padilla and Harry Roque, were also present. VP Sara is set to return to Manila on June 4.

From sewer to sari-sari: DSWD helps viral street dweller rebuild. The DSWD is giving ₱80,000 to "Rose," the woman seen emerging from a Makati sewer, to start her own sari-sari store. After going viral, Rose became the face of a new outreach drive for street dwellers. Social workers assessed her business potential, while her partner may receive a welding machine to boost their income.

Kumusta, ka-Peso
Ready to flex your financial muscles? Welcome to our very first Peso Power Challenge—quick wins, small tweaks, big impact. And we’re starting with a classic:

The No Spend Weekend Challenge!

Your mission: spend zero pesos, pounds, dollars or dirham on non-essentials for two days. No spontaneous Shopee scrolls. No milk tea cravings. No Grab rides kung pwedeng lakarin.

Essentials only:
✅ Pre-planned groceries
✅ Transport for essential errands
✅ Emergencies (fingers crossed, none!)

Why try it?
Surprise savings
Less impulse, more intention
Creative, chill weekend fun
Financial habit glow-up

Your Ka-Peso Diskarte Tips:
🧑‍🍳 Meal prep Friday night
🛒 Grocery run bago mag-weekend
🎲 Fun doesn’t need a budget—movies, books, tambay sa park
📴 Hide those shopping apps

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