Good morning. It’s Tuesday, August 5.

Welcome back, PesoWeekly crew! New week, new headlines, same mission: help you outsmart the chaos. Whether your calendar is packed or you’re just hustling to make ends meet, we’ve lined up what matters.

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This issue: Marcos sets out to reboot PH-India ties (and flex a little at sea), Apple Pay and Google Pay finally get the green light for the PH, and Meralco bets big on clean energy. We break down the latest on job scams, PSBank’s bond play, and why old coconut trees could threaten a billion-peso industry. Plus: the world’s “oldest baby,” crypto profits, and why robot surgeons are suddenly trending. Let’s get to it.

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Big Picture:
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. just kicked off a five-day state visit to India, a move that’s about much more than just a friendly handshake. The trip caps 75 years of PH-India ties and comes right after both countries made waves by holding their first joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea, a clear signal to China and the region that the Philippines is ready to play with new partners.

Why It Matters:
Marcos’s India visit and the recent naval drills mark a clear pivot for Philippine foreign policy. As Manila faces pressure in the West Philippine Sea, it’s building alliances not just with the US and Japan, but also with rising powers like India. This is about economic survival and regional security. For Filipinos, it could mean new jobs, cheaper meds, and—maybe stronger defense. For Beijing? It’s a wake-up call: the Philippines isn’t standing alone anymore.

PSEi: 6,348.65
BSP Rates: 5.25% (borrowing) | 4.75% (deposit) | 5.75% (lending)
🌐 Global Markets
Bitcoin: $114,000
Gold: $3,368.25

💱 Exchange Rates (PHP per 1 unit)

🇺🇸 USD: ₱58.18 (around these values, with slight variations)
🇬🇧 GBP: ₱76.63
🇸🇦 SAR: ₱15.39
🇯🇵 JPY: ₱0.39
🇪🇺 EUR: ₱66.32
Note: Exchange rates may vary slightly depending on provider.

Big news for cashless payments: Apple Pay and Google Pay may finally launch in the Philippines soon. Thanks to a new policy from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), both global apps can now enter the local market without extra regulatory hurdles. This could speed up the country’s move to a “cash-lite” economy, with more digital payments across malls, shops, and even train stations. Both apps let you pay using your phone, storing your card details securely. With nearly 74% of Pinoys now using smartphones, expect more tap-and-go options at checkouts soon.

Meralco, led by Manny Pangilinan, has signed a deal to buy electricity from First Quezon Biogas Corp. for 20 years, starting June 2026. The biogas plant in Quezon turns farm waste into clean energy using advanced technology. Meralco says this move helps both the environment and local farmers, while also meeting government rules to use more renewable energy. The company already gets over 1,500 megawatts of clean power from different suppliers and plans to reach 26% renewable energy by 2030. This biogas deal also helps cut greenhouse gas pollution in Quezon.

PSBank, the savings bank of Metrobank, is back in the local bond market after five years. It hopes to raise at least P2 billion by selling two-year bonds, with a fixed rate of 5.875% per year. The offer runs until August 8, with a minimum investment of P100,000. Money raised will help fund PSBank’s growth plans and give the bank more ways to get funding. PSBank’s parent, Metrobank, also saw higher profits this year. If you’re looking for safe investment options, these bonds might be worth checking out..

The Philippines is the world’s second-largest coconut producer, with three million farmers relying on it. But many coconut trees are now old and less productive, hurting farmer incomes and exports. Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel and President Marcos both want to update the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act to focus on replanting younger trees and helping farmers. The government planted over 8 million new seedlings last year, but millions more are needed. If the law changes, the P80-billion fund can be used for replanting, better irrigation, and farmer support—key to saving this vital industry.

Sen. Mark Villar wants the Senate to act fast on the growing wave of online job scams targeting Filipinos. With fake job offers flooding inboxes and chat apps, Villar is pushing for a full investigation. Scammers lure victims with small “easy money” jobs, then ask for bigger payments for “better” work, leaving many broke and betrayed. The SEC has warned about these tactics, calling them a real threat to privacy and hard-earned savings. Villar says it’s time for stronger laws and more digital safeguards, so hardworking Pinoys don’t get fooled by “opportunities” that are really just scams.

Coinbase, the biggest US crypto exchange, earned a huge $1.4 billion profit in the second quarter of 2025, much higher than last year. The boost came from gains in investments like Circle Internet Group. But revenue was lower than Wall Street expected, and Coinbase’s stock price dropped after hours. Trading activity also slowed down, but total trading volume still rose to $237 billion. Coinbase wants to grow by letting users trade more assets on its platform and has started working with big US banks. Even with strong profits, the company faces new rivals as crypto becomes more popular.

The Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA), freshly signed into law, is the Philippine government’s bold attempt to drag our investment landscape into the 21st century. For years, Filipino investors navigated a maze of taxes think 0.6% just to buy or sell stocks, plus a confusing menu of rates on savings and investments. CMEPA bulldozes the old system and builds something simpler, faster, and—finally—fairer.

CMEPA’s “one rule for all” approach means most regular Filipinos will barely notice any change in tax on their bank deposits—because 99% already paid 20% on their short-term savings. The big shift? There’s no more tax reward for locking your money away for years. In the old world, long-term depositors (think: big banks and wealthy clients) enjoyed 0–5% tax rates, while everyone else paid 20%. That’s now gone. For everyday savers, the game is finally level: you can access your money when you need it, without worrying about hidden penalties or missed tax breaks. It’s simpler, and for most, fairer.

If you’re investing in mutual funds or unit investment trust funds, the changes are all upside: no more documentary stamp tax means higher take-home gains, making it more attractive to pool your money and grow it over time even if you’re not starting with a fortune.

Why it matters:
CMEPA isn’t just a tax tweak, it’s a shot at real financial inclusion. By lowering costs, harmonizing rules, and slashing complexity, the law unlocks the capital market for millions of Filipinos who’ve been stuck on the sidelines. Will this mean an investing boom? If early data on trading volumes is a clue, the answer might finally be yes.

Big picture:
US President Donald Trump just fired a tariff warning shot at India over its growing oil ties with Russia. He’s threatening to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods, blaming Delhi for helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine. India isn’t shaking. Officials call the threat “unjustified and unreasonable,” especially when the US and Europe keep trading with Russia themselves.

Why it matters:
This clash is more than a trade spat. It’s a test of how much global muscle India can flex as it climbs the power ladder. Trump’s tariff threats may play well in DC, but Delhi’s not backing down especially with cheaper oil at stake. For Filipinos watching from the sidelines, it’s a reminder: in global politics, national interest always comes first, and even the biggest friendships can get messy when big money and power are on the table.

Hong Kong just made life harder for 16 activists living abroad. The government banned sending them money, cancelled most of their Hong Kong passports, and blocked them from renting property or doing business back home. These activists now based in countries like the UK, US, Australia, and Taiwan are accused of threatening national security and “smearing” China’s government. Anyone caught helping them could face up to 7 years in jail. Hong Kong’s tough rules started after Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020, making protests and public criticism nearly impossible in the city.

Vietnam’s VinFast just fired up its first Indian factory in Tamil Nadu, betting $500 million (with plans for $2 billion more) that it can ride Asia’s EV wave. The plant aims to churn out 50,000 electric cars a year, targeting both India’s giant market and future exports across Asia. Why India? Cheaper land, strong supply chains, and a government desperate for more local manufacturing—plus, Chinese rivals can’t build factories here. VinFast faces local giants like Tata and Mahindra, but hopes its affordable SUVs and premium branding can win Indian hearts. Welcome to Asia’s new electric car arms race.

An Ohio couple just welcomed the world’s “oldest baby” born from an embryo frozen in 1994. Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born to Lindsey and Tim Pierce after they adopted an embryo created more than 30 years ago by Linda Archerd. Back then, four embryos were created through IVF, with one used immediately and the others stored. Now, decades later, science and a bit of luck gave this embryo a chance at life. The new parents are thrilled, and the story shows how modern fertility treatments can truly change lives, even for embryos frozen before Gen Z was born.

Robot surgeons, trained by AI, just removed pig gall bladders on their own with no help from humans. The Johns Hopkins team behind the tech says this could mean fully automated surgery on humans within ten years. The robots learned by watching human surgeons on video, then practiced on pig organs, scoring a 100% success rate. They were slower than real doctors, but made fewer mistakes. Experts say this could lead to faster, safer surgeries—though real-life human trials are still years away. For now, human doctors are still in charge, but robots are catching up fast.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, is dreaming of a world beyond the smartphone—and yes, he’s taking aim at Apple. His big idea: super-smart AI built into everyday glasses that can see, hear, and help you all day, making phones less important. Meta is spending big to hire the best AI talent and racing to build smartglasses that could finally challenge the iPhone’s dominance. Even Apple’s rivals like Amazon and OpenAI are betting on new AI devices. For now, Meta’s glasses need a phone but Zuckerberg wants them to be your next must-have gadget.

For the first time ever, India has become the top exporter of smartphones to the US, beating China. In just one year, India’s share of US smartphone imports jumped from 13% to 44%, while China’s dropped to 25%. The reason? Tech giants like Apple are moving more production to India to avoid US-China trade problems and high tariffs. Even Samsung and Motorola are following. But experts say India still faces challenges like slower production and less experience than China. Still, this shift could mean more jobs and opportunities for India and cheaper phones for everyone.

Rare earths 17 special metals used in gadgets, electric cars, and military gear are China’s secret weapon in the trade war. China controls about 70% of the mining and 90% of the refining, leaving the US and other countries very dependent. When China limited exports, it hit car and tech companies hard. Now, the US is investing in local mines and factories, but experts say America is still a long way from being independent. For now, if you want to build a phone or an EV, you still need China’s rare earths whether Washington likes it or not.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
A mind-bending tour through human history—how we evolved, why we believe what we do, and what it all means for society today.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Science made simple (and hilarious). Bryson explains the universe, earth, and life itself—minus the headache.

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Ever wonder why some societies got rich while others didn’t? Diamond traces the roots of global inequality to geography, biology, and pure luck.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Unlock the science behind why we do what we do—and how small changes can transform your life and career.

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
Timeless money lessons, told through ancient parables. Learn how to save, invest, and build wealth—no jargon, just stories.

Find these at your favorite bookstore or online. Happy reading, Peso People!