Good morning. It’s Tuesday, July 1.

It’s been a wild few days for the PesoWeekly team. Our Instagram page exploded—from 3,000 to nearly 20,000 followers in just five days. No paid ads. Just organic growth, real engagement, and content that clearly hit the mark.What clicked? A mix of smart strategy, consistent execution, and high-quality info people actually care about. The result? Engagement skyrocketed (5M). Big names—from A-list Celebrities and creators to two Philippine senators (yes, really)—started following us. Not by accident. The messaging works, and PesoWeekly is being seen as a mover. But the best part? The DMs. Hundreds of them. Real people thanking us, learning from the content, and calling it some of the best on IG right now. This is just the beginning.Wanna see why? Scroll through the feed and decide for yourself.
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You learned how to compute for percentages in math class… but no one taught you how to spot VAT on your Shopee checkout or why your Netflix subscription suddenly costs more. Welcome to adult life in the Philippines, where a 12% tax quietly sneaks into almost everything—from your lunch to your cloud storage bill.

Value-Added Tax (VAT) is a 12% tax charged on most goods and services. If a business earns more than ₱3 million a year, it’s legally required to register and pass that VAT onto customers.Translation: If you’re buying shampoo, eating out, or subscribing to Spotify—VAT is already baked into your bill.

As of June 2, 2025, the government expanded VAT to cover digital services.That means platforms like Netflix, Canva, Facebook Ads, Amazon Web Services, and even your cloud backup app now come with 12% VAT if you’re using them in the Philippines.

This applies to both local and foreign providers.
And if you’re a business using foreign digital tools? You might be the one responsible for reporting and paying the VAT yourself. The BIR calls this a “reverse charge” rule.

But if you’re just a regular consumer, prepare to see higher bills or more itemized receipts going forward.

Why This Matters
VAT is now everywhere. And most Filipinos don’t even notice it—until it hits their wallets. A ₱1,000 price tag? That’s actually ₱1,120 with VAT. And as the digital economy grows, more services will fall under this rule. That ₱249 monthly subscription? It might go up, or at least show a 12% tax line soon.

The Bigger Picture
VAT is a major revenue stream for the government. Extending it to digital services levels the playing field between local sellers and big global platforms.
But for Filipino consumers, it’s just another lesson we weren’t taught in school—but have no choice but to learn now.

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To fix the sluggish pace of infrastructure rollouts, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda wants to introduce a Project Readiness Index—a scoring system that evaluates how ready a government project really is. Think of it as a pre-flight checklist for big-ticket builds.

The Marcos admin’s “Build Better More” vision is being slowed down by basic execution issues. Salceda says the Readiness Index can sort which projects to fast-track and which need more prep before burning through budgets.

But... will anyone listen?
This isn’t Salceda’s first time pushing for technocratic fixes. The big question is whether agencies will adopt it before the 2026 budget cycle—or leave more money idling.

Quick take: The Readiness Index is less about red tape and more about red flags. It won’t build roads—but it might help clear them.

In true Capitol Hill drama, Senate Republicans launched a legislative marathon to push President Trump’s massive tax-and-spending bill past the finish line before July 4. The bill is a kitchen sink of Trump-era priorities—from permanent tax cuts to deep Medicaid changes—and it’s sparking chaos across GOP factions.

Here’s what made the cut:

Zoom out: Why now?
Republicans want to beat the budget clock and deliver Trump a political win before Independence Day. But with razor-thin margins, party leaders are balancing between fiscal hawks and moderates—and barely holding it together.

But… will it survive the House?
Even if the Senate passes it, the bill faces turbulence back in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson warned senators not to tweak too much, fearing rebellion from populist members.

Quick take:
This bill is Trump’s legislative legacy in a blender—tax cuts, border walls, and budget brawls. But with a $3.3T projected deficit and only three GOP votes to spare, it’s one amendment away from collapse.

Let’s be honest: most budgeting advice doesn’t work for Filipinos. “Just stop spending”? Not helpful when your take-home pay barely covers rent, load, and pancit canton. In the real world, budgeting isn’t about wealth growth—it’s about staying afloat with dignity. But here's the good news: you don’t need a perfect budget. You need a real one. One that fits your income, lifestyle, and monthly battles with inflation.

Forget 50-30-20 rules from Western finance books. Most Pinoys don’t have the luxury of setting aside 30% for “wants.” Instead, build your budget based on how you actually live.

Track your expenses for one month, then assign realistic percentages to each category based on what’s true—not ideal.

Most overspending happens around the 2nd or 3rd week of the month, when the money feels like it’s still flowing. Break the cycle by thinking in weeks.

It gives you more control, smaller goals, and more chances to reset if you slip.

The truth? You’re not bad with money. You’re surrounded by one-click dopamine triggers.

Withdraw physical cash for your “temptation zones,” like:

When the envelope’s empty, it’s done. No guilt-tripping. Just boundaries.

Track What Breaks You — Not Every Peso

You don’t need to log every fishball purchase. Focus your attention where the damage happens:

Your 3 biggest recurring gastos
Your 3 most frequent surprise gastos

That’s where money slips away the fastest—and where you can actually regain control. You're Not the Problem. The System Is. Low wages, high costs, no safety nets—this isn’t your fault. But learning to manage your budget, even imperfectly, gives you a sliver of power in a rigged system.

The Philippines and Lithuania just inked a security pact focused on cyber defense, weapons production, and maritime cooperation—fueled by shared concerns over rising aggression from authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, and North Korea.

Signed in Manila by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Lithuanian counterpart Dovilė Šakalienė, the deal signals a pushback against what Šakalienė calls a “new authoritarian axis.” She pointed to Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and actions toward Taiwan as red flags.

The move aligns with Marcos’ broader strategy to build global defense ties beyond the U.S.

Starting July 18, workers in NCR will see a ₱50 daily wage hike, raising minimum pay to ₱695 for non-agriculture workers and ₱658 for others like small retail and farm laborers. The move, approved unanimously via Wage Order No. 26, will benefit 1.2 million workers and follows exactly one year after the last increase.

Monthly take-home pay for minimum wage earners is now estimated at ₱15,247 to ₱18,216, including benefits. Some small businesses may apply for exemptions—but barangay micro enterprises remain excluded by law.

Vice President Sara Duterte denied reports that Australia rejected a request to host former president Rodrigo Duterte if granted interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“There was never a request, never an intent,” she said in Davao, dismissing rumors after Australia's DFAT reportedly said it wouldn’t accept Duterte. She clarified Australia wasn't even among the two unnamed countries open to hosting him.

Nike’s stock surged 17% Friday after it told investors the biggest financial hit from its turnaround plan is now behind them. Despite a rough quarter—sales down 12%, net income plunging 86%—CEO Elliott Hill said things are stabilizing, and improvements are underway.

Wall Street liked the tone: HSBC upgraded Nike to “buy,” noting signs of progress. But Nike remains cautious, still expecting sales to dip this quarter. Translation: recovery is real, but slow—like running in old Jordans.

Warren Buffett is donating nearly $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock to five foundations, continuing his long-standing pledge to give away most of his fortune. The biggest chunk—9.4 million shares—goes to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, while the rest will benefit the foundations tied to his family.

This latest donation brings Buffett’s lifetime philanthropic giving to around $60 billion. He’s stepping down as CEO by year-end but keeping his shares.

In just four days, one-third of Tuvalu’s population applied for a new Australian visa offering 280 permanent spots annually—no job offer required. While the visa doesn’t name climate change directly, it stems from a treaty acknowledging Tuvalu’s threat from rising seas. For many, it’s a chance for safety, education, and opportunity. For Tuvalu, it’s also economic survival, with remittances playing a key role. The challenge ahead: ensuring new arrivals in Australia are supported, not sidelined, as they start over far from home.

The Philippine government is pushing for lower tariffs and new free trade agreements to attract automotive investors and strengthen the country’s car parts supply base, PEZA said. Talks are underway with automakers from India, Taiwan, and China, while FTA negotiations with the EU, India, and Canada continue. PEZA noted P100 billion in car-related investments across ecozones, generating 50,000 jobs. Industry leaders say the Philippines must improve ease of doing business, lower costs, and offer better incentives to compete with Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam for auto sector investments.

TESDA Financial Literacy Course – Free online modules on budgeting, saving, investing, and scam prevention. Click here

Moneymax.ph – Compare credit cards, loans, and insurance with practical money tips for Filipinos. Link of the site: Click here

Philippine Spirits by Jean Karl Gaverza – A digital archive of 2,000+ mythical creatures and deities from Filipino folklore. Find it on: Philippine Spirits

Trese (Graphic Novel & Netflix Series) – A supernatural crime series set in a myth-infused version of Manila. Find it on: Graphic novels in bookstores, series on Netflix

Si Janus Sílang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon – A YA novel blending adventure and Philippine mythology. Find it on: Bookstores nationwide or online at Fully Booked

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