Hey, good morning! It’s Thursday, June 19 — today we’ve got updates on ayuda, a win for PH universities, Iran throwing shade at the US, and Zuck trying to steal OpenAI’s top talent with $100M offers. Plus: some solid money tools and reads you might like.
Join nearly 20,000 smart, curious Filipinos who stay sharp with the news that matters.
📩 Sign up here.
Got tips, tsismis, or feedback? We’re all ears → [email protected]
PESO EXPLAINS
We Always Hear About Ayuda… But Do We Really Know What It Is?
Whether it’s a disaster, a pandemic, or election season—you’ve probably heard the word “ayuda” thrown around in every news cycle. Most Filipinos understand it as “government help,” but the truth is… ayuda is more complex than just cash or food packs. And understanding it better could help you ask smarter questions—especially when it comes to politics, budgets, and your rights as a citizen.
Here’s a breakdown:
What is Ayuda?
Ayuda is a catch-all term for government assistance programs—ranging from emergency relief (like during typhoons) to long-term support (like Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps). It can be cash, food, medical aid, or employment programs. LGUs and national agencies like DSWD and DOLE handle distribution.
Why It Matters
For many Filipinos, ayuda is a lifeline—especially during times of crisis.
For politicians, it’s power. Ayuda can be used to build loyalty, sway votes, or reward allies.
For the economy, it’s tricky. While ayuda supports the poor, critics worry about overdependence and unsustainable spending.
Popular Programs
4Ps – Conditional cash for health & education.
SAP – Emergency pandemic aid.
AICS – Crisis-specific medical & funeral assistance.
TUPAD – Temporary jobs for displaced workers.
The Problem?
Leakages, favoritism, and weak targeting. Many deserving families get missed, while some ghost or duplicate recipients sneak in.
Bottom line: Ayuda is necessary. But for it to truly help, it must be transparent, fair, and future-ready. Because real help isn’t just about giving—it’s about building.
MARKETS
Market at a glance
PSEi: 6,395.59
BSP Rates: 5.50% (borrowing) | 5.00% (deposit) | 6.00% (lending)
🌐 Global Markets
Bitcoin: $103,951.51 - $104,683.4
Gold: $3,388.04 - $3,389.56
💱 Exchange Rates (PHP per 1 unit)
🇺🇸 USD: ₱57
🇬🇧 GBP: ₱76.96
🇸🇦 SAR: ₱15.23
🇯🇵 JPY: ₱0.39
🇪🇺 EUR: ₱65.81
🇦🇪 AED: ₱15.58
Note: Exchange rates may vary slightly depending on provider.
MAIN HEADLINES
PH Universities Smash Record in Global Sustainability Rankings
India Magazine
The Philippines just made academic history. A whopping 121 universities from the country landed on the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings—more than double last year’s count of 56, and the highest in Southeast Asia.The rankings measure how universities contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ateneo de Manila led the local pack, climbing into the global 101–200 tier.
Globally, only India and Pakistan had more schools on the list. It’s a big win for PH education—and a signal that sustainability is no longer extra credit.
CA Orders Gov’t to Pay Hacienda Luisita ₱28.5B in Land Dispute Win
The Court of Appeals just sided with Hacienda Luisita Inc., ordering the Department of Agrarian Reform and Land Bank to cough up ₱28.5 billion in “just compensation” over land redistributed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The CA overturned earlier rulings that lowballed the estate’s value, saying prior assessments ignored the land’s actual productivity and failed to meet fair compensation standards. The land in question spans over 4,500 hectares in Tarlac. It’s a big win for HLI—and an expensive one for the government, with interest still running until full payment is made. This one’s not over just yet.
Comelec Cancels Duterte Youth’s Registration (But It’s Not Over Yet)
The Duterte Youth party-list just got the boot—sort of. The Comelec Second Division voted 2–1 to cancel the group’s registration, citing procedural lapses dating back to 2019, including skipping public hearings and required publication. In short: the party-list was never properly registered to begin with.
But hold the confetti. The decision isn’t final yet. Duterte Youth can file a motion for reconsideration within five days, and even appeal to the Supreme Court. So for now, the group’s fate—and its seat in Congress—is still in limbo.
Marcos Slams K-12: “No Advantage, Just Extra Burden”
President Marcos didn’t hold back—he admitted the K-12 program hasn’t delivered on its promises. Instead of boosting job readiness, it added two costly years that many families can barely afford.“There was no advantage,” he said, echoing lawmakers calling for its repeal. But the President tossed the ball to Congress to decide K-12’s fate.
In the meantime, he’s pushing reforms: fixing the skills mismatch with private sector help, addressing classroom shortages via PPPs, and prioritizing teacher support and retraining.Philippine education’s makeover is overdue. The question is—can it happen fast enough?
WORLD STORIES
Iran's Supreme Leader Rejects U.S. Demand to Surrender
Blas Bulnes Beniscelli
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei publicly rejected Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender, calling it “absurd” and warning that U.S. military action would cause “irreparable damage.” The defiant statement comes as Israeli airstrikes continue to pound Tehran, killing hundreds. Despite the escalating conflict, Iran vowed to keep enriching uranium and dismissed claims of setbacks. Internet blackouts, fuel shortages, and panic now grip the capital, while the U.S. signals deeper involvement. One thing’s clear: Tehran isn’t backing down anytime soon.
Indonesia’s Volcano Wakes Up—Again
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted Tuesday, launching a 32,800-foot ash cloud and triggering the highest alert (w/ video in the link) level. With 50 seismic bursts in just two hours, authorities expanded the danger zone to 8 kilometers. No casualties so far, but locals were warned about potential lava flows during rain. It’s the volcano’s third blow-up since November—reminding everyone that Indonesia, home to 120 active volcanoes, sits squarely on the earthquake-prone “Ring of Fire.”
Corporate America's New Motto: Fewer People, More Profit
Big U.S. companies are getting leaner by design. Over the past three years, white-collar workforces shrank by 3.5%, not because of crisis—but because of strategy. From Amazon to Bank of America, the new belief is: smaller teams = faster growth. AI is fueling this shift, helping businesses do more with less. The result? Managers are leading bigger teams, burnout is rising, and job security is shaky. But for executives, revenue-per-employee is the metric that matters most now.
SCOTUS Backs States on Trans Youth Care Restrictions
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that states like Tennessee can restrict gender-transition treatments for minors, rejecting arguments that such laws are discriminatory. Chief Justice Roberts said debates on safety and ethics should be left to lawmakers, not judges. In dissent, Justice Sotomayor warned the ruling abandons trans youth to political whims. The decision reflects a growing legal divide: GOP-led states are restricting care, while blue states move to protect it. The battle over trans rights now shifts to state legislatures.
TECHNOLOGY & AI
Meta Offers $10M+ Packages to AI Stars as Zuck Leads Superintelligence Talent Hunt
India Magazine
Key Points
Meta offered at least $10M/year to one AI researcher—directly from Zuckerberg.
Company is targeting 50–100 top researchers amid growing talent war.
Scale AI’s CEO joins Meta after $15B investment.
Meta offers $100M AI bonuses
Meta’s going all-in on AI—literally. In a bid to dominate the race to build superintelligence, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has personally emailed offers to elite AI researchers, one of whom told The Register they were offered over $10 million annually. “I was really shocked,” the researcher said.
Meta’s hiring spree follows its $15B move to partner with Scale AI and recruit its CEO, Alexandr Wang. Sources say the company is building a dream team of 50–100 AI minds, many with deep experience in foundation models.
Despite spending billions, Meta has struggled to retain top AI talent—losing 4.3% last year, per SignalFire. But with Llama models underwhelming, and rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic surging ahead, Meta is doubling down.
Zuckerberg’s cheeky strategy? According to OpenAI boss, Sam Altman, Zuck is offering OpenAI staff $100M bonuses in a bold talent raid, but none bit—yet. He slammed the strategy as all comp, no mission. With Meta spending $15B on superintelligence bets like Scale AI, the AI talent wars are heating up fast—and getting crazier by the week.
Canva Just Bought Its Way Into Ad Analytics
Canva, the $32B design giant with 240M users, is now stepping into ad analytics by acquiring MagicBrief—a Sydney startup that tracks ad performance and competitor spend. The deal marks Canva’s 12th acquisition as it gears up to offer marketers AI-powered insights on what works. With $1B in the bank and $3B in annualized revenue, Canva’s in no rush to IPO. “We’re building for the next 10 years,” says COO Cliff Obrecht. Translation: steady wins the design race.
Pentagon Taps OpenAI for $200M AI Contract
OpenAI just landed a $200 million, one-year contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop frontier AI for national security. Most of the work will happen in the D.C. area and is part of OpenAI’s new “OpenAI for Government” push. The deal follows its partnership with defense tech startup Anduril and includes AI tools for everything from cyber defense to health care access for military families. It’s OpenAI’s first official Pentagon contract—but probably not its last.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT
Water Deals Extended: Maynilad, Manila Water Get 10 More Years
President Marcos just greenlit a 10-year contract extension for Maynilad and Manila Water, pushing their deals to 2047. The move, approved by the newly formed Economy and Development Council, aims to secure long-term water supply in Metro Manila and nearby provinces—while syncing with each firm’s legislative franchise.
The extension is expected to boost investments, stabilize tariffs, and generate ₱50.3B in government revenue. It’s also perfect timing for Maynilad, which is eyeing a ₱37B IPO next month.
PH to Launch Crypto Tax Framework by 2028
Crypto bros, take note: the Philippine government is stepping up its game.By 2028, the Philippines will roll out the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), aligning with 67 other countries to crack down on tax evasion and shady crypto flows. The plan? Automatic info-sharing between tax authorities to ensure crypto users pay what they owe.
With over $40B in crypto transactions recorded last year alone, regulators are tightening the screws. Finance Sec. Ralph Recto says it’s about fairness and catching financial ghosts in the blockchain. Crypto’s not going away—but tax-free days might be.
DOE to Oil Players: Go Easy on Price Hikes
With tensions flaring between Israel and Iran, the Department of Energy is asking oil companies to stagger fuel price hikes to avoid shocking consumers.The DOE also inspected fuel depots this week and reminded firms to keep at least 15 days’ worth of supply. Fuel subsidies for transport and agriculture are being prepped to help blunt the impact on basic goods.
Oil prices are rising fast—gasoline is now up ₱6.90/L for the year. But as DOE puts it, energy security and economic stability are top priorities.
OFW CORNER
Curated Finds for Savvy Filipinos
💬 Tita Witty (FB/IG): Humorous, hugot-filled takes on Filipino money struggles and everyday spending. Link of the site: Click here
🎥 Nicole Alba (YouTube): Fun, beginner-friendly financial videos for Gen Z and Filipino students. Link of the site: Click here
📊 Moneymax ph: Practical money tips and product comparisons tailored for Pinoy consumers. Link of the site: Click here
🎓 TESDA Financial Literacy (Free Course): Government-backed modules on budgeting, saving, and debt—free and online. Link of the site: Click here
📚 RichestPH: Simple, Pinoy-style articles on investing, saving, and wealth-building in the Philippines. Link of the site: Click here
Historybook:The Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule culminated in the declaration of independence in 1898, though this was short-lived as the country soon came under American control. Decades later, the peaceful People Power Revolution of 1986 restored democracy, overthrowing the Marcos dictatorship. These events highlight the enduring Filipino spirit in the pursuit of freedom and self-determination.
📲 Tap an icon below to connect with us: