Happy first Monday of 2026. We’re excited for what’s ahead. This year, PesoWeekly goes deeper, clearer, and more useful. Today’s issue covers rising mental health strain, where money and business are heading, lessons from a Filipino tycoon, plus tech, science, and global power moves you should understand early.

Stay sharp,
Team PesoWeekly

Big picture:
Nearly 1,000 people called the Department of Health mental health hotline during the holidays, with anxiety, depression, and relationship stress topping concerns. Data from the National Center for Mental Health showed a sharp spike just before New Year, highlighting how emotionally heavy the season can be.

Policy response:
At the same time, the 2026 national budget sets aside ₱2.9 billion for school-based mental health programs, backed by a law authored by Sherwin Gatchalian. The funding aims to build mental health offices in schools, prevent suicide, and support students early.

Why it matters:
The hotline surge shows the problem is real. The budget signals the government is starting to treat mental health as essential, not optional.

Who he was:
John Gokongwei Jr. started with almost nothing. After his father died, his family lost their wealth. He rebuilt from scratch, selling roasted peanuts on a bicycle in Cebu.

The first big bet:
He traded whatever people needed, then borrowed ₱500,000 to build a small cornstarch plant. That gamble survived a brutal price war and became Universal Robina Corporation, the backbone of JG Summit Holdings.

Turning losses into leverage:
Not all bets worked at first. Petrochemicals and telecoms burned cash. But he later fixed the petrochemical unit and exited Digitel via a share swap that erased debt and unlocked billions.

Legacy move:
He launched Cebu Pacific, proving a budget airline could help “every Juan” fly.

Founder takeaway:
Setbacks are not failures if you learn, restructure, and stay patient.

Read more about his story

Flexible workspaces in the Philippines are expected to grow in 2026 as multinationals and global capability centers expand amid cost pressures. Coworking firm GreatWork Global Workspaces plans to double its sites, with tenants split between 60% foreign firms, including BPOs and Fortune 500 companies, and 40%

The Philippines’ foreign reserves hit an all-time high in 2025, driven by record $18 billion gold holdings, data from the International Monetary Fund and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed. However, IMF forecasts point to a gradual decline through 2028 as debt payments and trade gaps offset remittances, BPO income, and tourism earnings.

Philippine factory activity returned to expansion in December as the PMI rose to 50.2 from 47.4 in November, S&P Global said in Manila. New domestic orders improved after months of decline, but exports and production stayed weak. Economists warned the rebound may be temporary and driven by holiday demand.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center warned Filipinos about malicious charging cables used in public stations or sold online that can infect phones. The agency is also monitoring RFID and text scam tools. CICC received over 16,000 cybercrime complaints last year, reflecting rising awareness and reporting nationwide this year alone. (Read More)

The House of Representatives plans to adopt a paperless, blockchain-based system by 2026, Speaker Faustino Dy said. He announced the reform in a video message after lawmakers ratified the ₱6.793-trillion 2026 budget, saying digital reforms aim to earn public trust through concrete action and strengthen transparency. (Read More)

Dan Richards was paralysed in 2023 after a wave snapped his neck during a New Year’s Eve swim in Swansea, Wales. Doctors said he would be bed-bound, but two years later he can move his arms and walk with AI-assisted robotic and stimulation therapy, highlighting how emerging technology is reshaping spinal injury recovery. (Read More)

A new antibiotic pill called zoliflodacin could change how gonorrhea is treated. In a large Phase 3 trial, a single oral dose worked as well as today’s injection-based treatment, curing over 90% of cases. That matters as gonorrhea grows more resistant to antibiotics. If approved, the pill could make treatment easier, cheaper, and more accessible worldwide, especially in places without clinics or trained staff.

Scientists Develop Plastics That Can Break Down on Demand

A Rutgers chemist may have cracked plastic’s biggest flaw: it never goes away. By copying how DNA and proteins naturally fall apart, Yuwei Gu helped design plastics that stay strong, then break down on cue. The chemistry lets decay happen in days or years, triggered by light or simple signals. Published in Nature Chemistry, the idea could reshape packaging, medicine, and how long plastics exist at all.

Why Women Get Less CPR in Public Emergencies

Women are less likely than men to receive CPR during cardiac arrest. A US survey found three main reasons: fear of inappropriate touching or sexual accusations, beliefs that women are weak and easily injured, and misreading women’s symptoms as non-emergencies. Researchers say clearer education and protections could help save more lives.

Senator Erwin Tulfo filed a bill to cut VAT to 10 percent from 12 percent, saying it would ease inflation pressures, boost household spending, and improve Philippine competitiveness, with safeguards to restore rates if deficits rise. (Read More)

✝️ DOH to deploy 200 Health Responders for Nazareno 2026

The Department of Health will deploy 200 emergency responders for the January 9 Black Nazarene procession and place Metro Manila hospitals under Code White Alert, advising vulnerable groups to avoid the event and devotees to bring water, IDs, and medicines. (Read More)

🎇 Fireworks Injuries Drop But Cases Turn More Severe According to DOH

Fireworks-related injuries in 2025 may fall to around 500, lower than 803 last year, but the Department of Health said injuries were more severe, with many victims minors and cases involving burns, amputations, and eye damage. (Read More)

🔥 Fire Destroys Firecracker Stalls in Cebu Town

A fire razed eight firecracker stalls in Barili, Cebu after a buyer tested a firework that hit a bundle of explosives. The Bureau of Fire Protection said the blaze was put out in minutes. (Read more)

A single ticket holder won the ₱288.62 million Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot in the January 3 draw, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said, after matching all six winning numbers. (Read More)

Big picture:After months of planning, the United States launched a high-risk operation to seize Nicolás Maduro. Around 150 aircraft took off from 20 airbases, Venezuela’s air defenses were knocked out, and US forces landed in Caracas just after 2 a.m. Within hours, Maduro and his wife were in US custody. Donald Trump called it one of the most dramatic military operations in recent US history.

Venezuelan officials now say at least 40 people were killed, including civilians and military personnel. In Catia La Mar, near Caracas airport, a U.S. airstrike hit a residential building, killing an 80-year-old woman and leaving families homeless. Washington says no US troops died, though several were injured during the raid.

Now the twist:
With Maduro gone, Delcy Rodríguez stepped in as acting leader. Trump says she is willing to work with the US. Rodríguez publicly condemned the attack and demanded Maduro’s return.

Why it matters:
Maduro has been removed, but power remains with his allies. With Rodríguez now acting president, Venezuela’s direction will depend on whether she confronts the U.S. or cooperates with Washington to keep the current leadership in place.

My Chemical Romance reschedules its Manila concert. Emo fans, check the new date.

A 15-year-old Filipino boxer goes from local gym to the international ring, chasing gold. (Watch)

Hassan (@ssanwhere) goes viral for his “girl best friend vs boy best friend” skits on Gen Z dating.

Recmar Vlogs delivers light, funny Bisaya content when you need good vibes.

Video: Rec • Create – A local YouTube channel known for "usapang lasing" style deep conversations that are funny and relatable to Pinoy Gen Z/Millennials. (Watch on YouTube)

App: Clue – A privacy-focused health tracker that is highly recommended for women to track cycles without selling data. (Get Clue)

Book: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl – A short but powerful read about finding purpose even in the worst suffering, highly relevant for tough times. (Check it out)