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Midweek check-in. Today we break down Jollibee’s biggest move yet, revisit how small wins built an empire, and scan where money, risk, and culture are heading in 2026. Thanks to readers who suggested new formats. Got ideas? Email us. Our goal is simple: make PesoWeekly genuinely useful in your day.

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What happened: Jollibee Foods Corp plans to spin off its international business and list it on a US stock exchange by late 2027. The Philippine operations will stay listed locally, while the overseas arm becomes a separate company focused on global growth.

The setup: The split creates two clear stories for investors. One is a stable, cash-heavy PH business. The other is a faster-growing global brand portfolio with over 10,000 stores across 33 countries, including Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan. Existing shareholders will receive shares in the new international unit.

Why it matters: A US listing could unlock higher valuations and bring a homegrown Filipino brand onto Wall Street, changing how global investors see Jollibee.

Henry Sy was left with very little in Manila after World War II destroyed his family’s shoe business. While his father returned to China, Sy stayed, surviving through small trading and retail work, learning discipline and cash flow in a tough postwar economy.

The small win: In 1948, he opened a tiny shoe store in Quiapo, then expanded along Carriedo, a high-traffic district. He focused on fast turnover, tight margins, and reinvesting profits. By 1958, ShoeMart stood out with air-conditioning and better layouts when most shops were cramped.

The quiet edge: Sy chose locations with proven foot traffic and later emphasized long-term control of prime sites through ownership or long leases, allowing steady expansion without rushing.

Why it matters: His empire grew through patient repetition, not shortcuts. Small wins, compounded over decades, did the heavy lifting.

The Department of Transportation will start building new EDSA Busway stations in Cubao, Magallanes, and PITX in early 2026, with a ₱264.86 million budget. The upgrades follow a new commuter-friendly design and are part of preparations to privatize busway operations through a public-private partnership.

The Board of Investments approved ₱1.56 trillion in 322 projects in 2025, down 3.7% from 2024 and short of its ₱1.75-trillion target. Energy led approvals, local investments dominated, and projects are expected to generate 40,175 jobs, reflecting sustained investor confidence despite foreign investment declines.

Bank of the Philippine Islands plans to raise P5 billion through peso-denominated BPI Sigla Bonds due 2028 to fund social projects under Asean Social Bond standards. The bonds, part of a P200-billion program, will be listed in February. 13, supporting sustainable development while BPI’s earnings rose 5.2% to P50.5 billion.

TikTok Shop boosts Filipino MSME sales by up to 200 percent in 2025 through live selling, digital tools, and training programs. Initiatives like the ACE Indicator System and #SarilingAtin helped sellers improve strategies and promote local products, with homegrown goods sales rising over 230 percent, supporting inclusive economic growth nationwide.

Chinese cyberattacks on Taiwan rose 6% in 2025, averaging 2.63 million daily, targeting hospitals, banks, and energy sectors. Many attacks coincided with military drills, aiming to disrupt infrastructure and government functions. (Read More)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled Alpamayo, AI technology for self-driving cars that enables human-like reasoning, helping vehicles navigate complex situations. The Mercedes-Benz CLA will be the first model using this system. (Read more)

Former Meta AI scientist Yann Lecun called new AI boss Alexander Wang “inexperienced” and warned of staff departures, criticizing Meta’s focus on safe projects over innovative research despite aggressive AI talent hiring. (Read more)

Hyundai plans to deploy Atlas humanoid robots in its factories by 2028, assisting human workers, handling dangerous tasks, and gradually taking on more industrial duties across its global operations. (Read more)

A German study shows that time-restricted eating without reducing calories does not improve metabolic or cardiovascular health. However, changing meal timing can shift the body’s internal circadian clock and daily rhythms.

Jellyfish and sea anemones spend about one-third of the day asleep, even without brains. A new study suggests sleep evolved early in animal life to repair neurons, proving rest mattered long before complex nervous systems existed.

An international team suggests South Africa’s “Little Foot” fossil may be a new human relative, challenging its classification as Australopithecus prometheus or A. africanus and reshaping early human evolution understanding.

Researchers identified over 22,000 genetic signatures linked to higher Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) risk, involving 2,300 genes. Many overlap with long COVID, revealing mechanisms like inflammation and neurological dysregulation and suggesting potential targeted treatments.

Business groups warned that ₱150.9 billion in unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 national budget lack transparency, raising risks of patronage, weak oversight, and declining public trust in government spending decisions. (Read more)

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said not all 24,964 classrooms funded in the 2026 budget will be finished this year, citing late releases, but construction will start to address shortages nationwide. (Read more)

Senator Bam Aquino urged a P10,000 monthly salary increase for public school teachers, stressing funds under unprogrammed appropriations must be released to ensure educators benefit from the record 2026 education budget. (Read more)

Former senator Bong Revilla and Senator Joel Villanueva denied involvement in alleged Bulacan construction anomalies, filing counter-affidavits calling the accusations unreliable, while the DOJ investigates separate complaints of corruption and malversation. (Read more)

Rockwell Land Corp. plans to raise up to ₱10 billion through bonds to fund capital spending and its majority stake acquisition in Alabang Town Center, supported by a top PRS Aaa credit rating. (Read more)

A Paris court found 10 people guilty of online harassment targeting Brigitte Macron, including false claims about her gender and sexuality. Sentences included suspended prison terms, six months jail, and a hate speech course, reinforcing accountability for cyberbullying. (Read more)

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing to strengthen ties, signing trade and technology agreements and discussing regional security and cultural exchanges. (Read more)

Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen said any U.S. attack on Greenland, a NATO member territory, would end alliance security, after Trump renewed threats to annex the Arctic island for strategic reasons. (Read more)

The Philippines Hot 100 dropped its 2025 year-end chart.

Cebu’s biggest festival is back this January. Check Daily Schedule?

Japan’s Toilet Problem, Explained.

PHIVOLCS raised Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3 after pyroclastic density currents were recorded

GCash is replacing SMS OTPs with in-app authentication to reduce phishing and fraud, shifting logins to push notifications inside the app.

Video: FEATR: The History of Sisig – Erwan Heussaff’s channel produces Netflix-quality food documentaries that honor our culinary heritage (Watch on youtube)

Tool: Bitwarden – Stop using "Password123" and use this free, secure vault to manage your logins across all devices.(Get it here)

Podcast: The 80/20 Podcast – Practical business and life advice from a Filipino entrepreneur for people who want to optimize their career. (Listen on Spotify)