Good morning. It’s Friday, Nov. 14

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The latest data from the PSA shows a sharp 49 percent drop in approved foreign investment pledges for the third quarter, signaling that confidence in the Philippines has taken a hit. Economists point to the corruption scandal in infrastructure projects, climate disruptions, and global trade uncertainty as key factors behind the slump. At the same time, the economy posted only 4 percent GDP growth, the peso hit record lows, and the stock market fell to pandemic levels. The message from investors is clear. They are uneasy.

What the numbers show
Foreign pledges fell to 73.68 billion pesos, nearly half of last year’s level. Singapore, Japan, and the Cayman Islands topped the list of sources, with manufacturing taking the biggest slice of future investment. PEZA captured the bulk of commitments, while several other investment zones approved none. Total pledges from both foreign and Filipino investors also dropped over 36 percent. If these projects push through, they are expected to create just over 27,600 jobs.

The government response
President Marcos acknowledged the slowdown and said the government will ramp up public spending to recover lost momentum. He blamed typhoons, climate related work stoppages, and global headwinds for weaker activity but insisted the downturn mirrors worldwide trends. The administration plans to fast track Build Better More infrastructure projects and boost support for agriculture and climate resilience.

Why it matters
Private investment is cooling while the government prepares to spend more. Whether this fiscal push can restore confidence and stabilize growth will shape the country’s economic path in 2025.

PSEi: 5,726.99
BSP Rates: 4.75% (borrowing) | 4.25% (deposit) | 5.25% (lending)
🌐 Global Markets
Bitcoin: $98,392
Gold: $4,158.83

💱 Exchange Rates (PHP per 1 unit)

🇺🇸 USD: ₱59
🇬🇧 GBP: ₱73.55
🇸🇦 SAR: ₱15.74
🇯🇵 JPY: ₱0.3792
🇪🇺 EUR: ₱63.80
Note: Exchange rates may vary slightly depending on provider.

San Miguel Corp. is issuing up to 10 billion pesos in fixed rate notes to refinance its US dollar obligations and support general corporate needs. The three year notes, set for December 2025 issuance, will be sold only to qualified institutional buyers and listed on the Philippine Dealing Exchange. SMC says the move helps reduce currency risk as it shifts some debt back to pesos. The company posted 66.8 billion pesos in net income in the first half, boosted by one time valuation gains, even as revenues slipped due to softer energy prices.

Amazon has rolled out its new Amazon Bazaar app in the Philippines, offering hundreds of thousands of low cost fashion, home, and lifestyle items priced mostly between 120 and 600 pesos. The app is now available in 14 countries and mirrors the “Amazon Haul” experience seen in markets like the US and UK. New users get 50 percent off their first order and free delivery starts at 280 pesos. Orders arrive in about two weeks and Amazon says all products pass strict compliance checks with free returns within 15 days.

Lazada kicked off its 11.11 sale with LazMall sales jumping more than ten times in the first 24 hours. Global brands grew over 400 percent, while affiliate sales rose 50 percent. Shoppers rushed for smartphones, groceries, baby products, appliances, and beauty bundles, with several categories posting huge spikes. Lazada’s AI assistant Lazzie also boosted discovery and helped raise order values. The company says the strong start shows its growing role as a trusted platform for brands and buyers ahead of the holiday rush.

Mastercard plans to remove passwords and manual card entry from online shopping across Asia Pacific by 2030, pushing banks and merchants to adopt biometric and tokenized payments. The plan builds on its passkey rollout in India and targets full tokenization in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam by 2027. With digital payments expected to make up 94 percent of Southeast Asia’s online transactions by 2028, Mastercard says the goal is simple. Faster and safer checkouts driven by biometrics, higher approval rates and lower fraud.

President Marcos has named Charlito Martin “Charlie” Mendoza as the new BIR Commissioner, replacing Romeo Lumagui Jr. Mendoza is a lawyer and licensed geodetic engineer who previously served as DOF Undersecretary overseeing both the BIR and Customs. Before that, he led the Port of Cebu to record revenue gains and earned ISO certifications across all subports. A top Bar Exam passer from San Beda and a UP-trained engineer, Mendoza now takes on the job of boosting tax collection and tightening enforcement.

Career success rarely comes from one big break. It comes from cumulative advantage, the steady build up of small wins that widen over time. Recent research published in The Gerontologist shows that early career advantages grow stronger, not weaker, as the years go on. People who gain skills, better roles, or more supportive environments early tend to accelerate far ahead of peers, because every advantage unlocks the next one.

What actually compounds

Why it matters for Filipinos
Filipino professionals often underestimate their built in strengths. Cross cultural work, multilingual skills, OFW networks, and remote work experience are powerful sources of cumulative advantage if used intentionally.

So what
Career compounding starts with one small move today. A new skill, a new connection, or a new opportunity that pays off for years.

Crypto Made Simple for Every Filipino

Crypto is becoming part of everyday finance in the Philippines, with more than 10 million Filipinos now owning digital assets. The rise of platforms like GCash has made access even easier. Today, 2.7 million GCash users already use GCrypto which is more than double the number of stock traders in the entire country.

For beginners, the biggest barrier is often confusion. That is why GCrypto created its Learning Hub, guided by crypto pioneer Luis Buenaventura, to teach the basics in short, simple chapters. It helps Filipinos understand how crypto works before putting in any money.

You can start with as little as ₱50. Small steps matter because Filipinos now hold over ₱6 trillion in crypto investments. But it is important to remember that crypto comes with risk. Always research, take time to learn, and only invest what you can afford to lose.

If you want to explore responsibly, you can find GCrypto inside your GCash app and learn at your own pace.

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Anthropic revealed that Chinese state-backed hackers used its AI system, Claude, to automate large parts of a September cyberattack campaign against major companies and foreign governments. Investigators say up to 90 percent of the operation ran on autopilot. Humans stepped in only to approve key moments. The hackers sidestepped safeguards by posing as legitimate security testers and used Claude to scan systems, plan attacks, and even extract data.

What happened
Anthropic found roughly 30 targets, with four intrusions succeeding before the company shut down the accounts. In one case Claude was directed to explore internal databases on its own. This marks a dangerous evolution. Hackers are no longer using AI only for phishing or scanning but stitching tasks into near-autonomous attack chains. Other firms have seen similar activity. Volexity reported China-linked groups automating target selection and malware writing, while Google flagged Russian-linked hackers using AI to generate custom malware instructions.

Why it matters
AI is multiplying the speed and scale of attacks. Even with glitches and hallucinations, the systems give threat actors a huge boost. Anthropic says it has tightened safeguards, but experts warn that attackers will continue testing limits. The race now is to make sure defenders get stronger tools faster than hackers do.

A newly released 2011 email from Jeffrey Epstein appears to say that Virginia Giuffre was on his plane and had her photo taken with Prince Andrew. This seems to conflict with Andrew’s claim that he never met her and that the photo may have been altered. The documents, published by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, also show that Epstein forwarded media questions to Andrew months after Andrew said their ties had ended. Andrew has denied all allegations and previously settled with Giuffre without admitting wrongdoing. Lawmakers say he has not responded to their request to testify.

Thailand has extradited She Zhijiang, a Chinese national accused of building a vast online gambling and scam empire across Southeast Asia, including Myanmar’s notorious Shwe Kokko city. He was arrested in 2022 after China issued an Interpol request, and a Thai court upheld the order this week. She, who denies wrongdoing, built his fortune after moving to the Philippines in his early 20s and later expanded operations to Cambodia and Myanmar. Authorities say his projects are tied to scam hubs that trap workers with fake job offers and force them to commit fraud. China has been cracking down hard as many victims are Chinese nationals.

A new study has doctors raising their eyebrows. Heart attack survivors who took a high, personalized daily dose of vitamin D cut their risk of a second heart attack by more than half. The catch is that the dose was tailored for each person and monitored through regular blood tests. Experts say the results look promising but need bigger trials. If you are thinking about supplements, talk to your doctor first.

A new study on roundworms suggests that long life could be inherited through the epigenome, not just genes. Scientists found that when a worm’s lysosomes change to help it deal with stress, those changes get sent to its reproductive cells through histones. This shifts the chemical tags that control which genes turn on or off, and the next generation inherits the benefits. The research offers a fresh look at how longevity and stress responses might be passed from parents to children.

Scientists are turning to bats to unlock big questions about memory, navigation, and relationships. Their ability to fly, cooperate, and live in tight social groups makes them powerful models for studying how brains learn and behave in the real world. Researchers have found that bats replay memories during flight, map social connections, and even show friendship-like behavior when sharing food. The work helps us understand how rhythm, community, and environment shape the brain not just in bats, but in humans too.

Meta is rolling out a major refresh for Facebook Marketplace, adding new social tools, easier shopping, and Meta AI features. Users can now build shared collections of listings and even team up with friends when chatting with sellers. Meta AI will suggest smart questions to ask and generate quick insights for car listings. Marketplace is also adding comments, reactions, and clearer checkout details. With eBay and Poshmark inventory now mixed in, Meta is pushing Marketplace closer to a full social shopping hub.

Six major data center firms have formed a new alliance called the Data Center Operators of the Philippines. Their goal is simple. Build stronger digital infrastructure and push policies that make the country a top tech hub in the region. The group represents 473 megawatts of IT power and wants government data hosted locally to boost security and attract hyperscale and AI investments. With cloud use rising fast, the alliance aims to tackle high energy costs, renewable power needs, and workforce gaps so the Philippines can compete as a real regional digital player.

The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan is promoting itself as a tourist spot built on healing and hope. Known as the country’s only open penal facility, Iwahig operates with minimal barriers and serves as a community for minimum security inmates. Officials say tourism helps break the stigma against people who have served time while supporting their rehabilitation. Visitors can meet PDLs, see daily life inside the open farm, and buy products they make. Iwahig’s team says the goal is simple. Give people dignity, opportunity, and a real path to start again.

Juan Ponce Enrile, who died at 101, was one of the Philippines’ longest-serving and most controversial political figures. His daughter, Katrina Ponce Enrile, said he passed away at 4:21 p.m. on Thursday. Born in Cagayan in 1924, Enrile studied at Ateneo, UP Law, and Harvard before rising under Ferdinand Marcos Sr., serving as justice secretary and later defense chief during martial law. He later broke with Marcos and became a key player in the 1986 Edsa Revolution. Enrile went on to a long Senate career, served briefly as Senate President, and faced pork barrel charges before being acquitted in 2025.

Cebu City is preparing financial relief for businesses damaged by Typhoon Tino after the City Council approved a measure waiving penalties and surcharges for permit renewals in affected areas. The proposal directs the City Treasurer’s Office to roll out a waiver program once approved by Mayor Nestor Archival. Councilor Jun Alcover Jr., who authored the resolution, said many firms suffered property damage, lost inventory, and halted operations after the Nov. 4 storm. The move, backed by the Local Government Code, aims to speed up recovery and revive local commerce as the city continues broader post-disaster rehabilitation efforts.