It’s Tuesday, Dec 9.

Good morning PW readers! If yesterday felt heavy, consider this your small push to reset and start fresh. You showed up today and that already puts you ahead of most people. In today’s edition, we look at why Philippine investments are slowing even as big energy projects line up in the pipeline. We check the latest movements in governance from COA flags to new SEC tools. We cover key world stories from Japan’s quake to border tensions abroad. On the tech front, we dive into SpaceX’s record valuation plans and the rise of AI made talent shaking up Hollywood.

Got ideas or feedback? Email us anytime at [email protected].

Stay sharp,
Team PesoWeekly

Join nearly 20,000 smart, curious Filipinos who stay sharp with the news that matters.
📩 Sign up here.

What happened
Government approved investments reached only ₱816.81 billion from January to November 2025 down 48% from last year’s ₱1.58 trillion. The BOI cleared 261 projects expected to generate 32,864 jobs. Energy led the pack with nearly ₱480 billion in commitments, followed by airports and seaports, manufacturing, mass housing, and ICT. Calabarzon drew the largest inflows.

What is coming next
DTI says momentum remains strong. Ten “big ticket” projects worth over ₱1 trillion are being evaluated including:
• 3 hydroelectric plants (2.4 GW total capacity)
• 4 offshore wind projects (3.7 GW combined)
• 2 air transport service projects
• 1 major transport infrastructure build

The BOI’s Green Lane initiative also certified ₱1.92 trillion in priority projects across renewable energy, infrastructure, digital systems, manufacturing, food security, and pharma.

Why it matters
Despite this year’s drop the investment pipeline shows rising confidence in future facing industries renewable energy, semiconductors, data centers, smart manufacturing, and EV supply chains. These sectors are expected to drive the Philippines’ next wave of industrial growth.

PSEi: 5,949.22
BSP Rates: 4.75% (borrowing) | 4.25% (deposit) | 5.25% (lending)
🌐 Global Markets
Bitcoin: $91,288.90
Gold: $4,193.13

💱 Exchange Rates (PHP per 1 unit)

🇺🇸 USD: ₱59.20
🇬🇧 GBP: ₱78.29
🇸🇦 SAR: ₱15.79
🇯🇵 JPY: ₱0.3801
🇪🇺 EUR: ₱69.19
Note: Exchange rates may vary slightly depending on provider.

The Philippines has banned pork and live pig imports from Spain and Taiwan after new African swine fever cases were confirmed in both places. The freeze covers everything from pork cuts to breeding semen and takes effect immediately, with all import clearances revoked. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the move is meant to protect local jobs and investments. Only frozen Spanish pork produced on or before November 11 and shipped by December 4 will still be allowed in.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has upgraded its iMessage platform giving the public a real-time way to file and track complaints, inquiries, and service requests. The web based system now covers all SEC services and centralizes every ticket for faster handling. Users can log in through their eSECURE account, submit a request, and monitor progress directly with the assigned department. Chairperson Francis Lim said the upgrade boosts efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business across all SEC offices nationwide.

The Philippines just cut its export targets for 2025 to 2028 by huge margins after weak global demand, political tensions and shipping disruptions dragged performance. The new plan sees exports growing only about 3.5% next year far below the earlier 14% goal. Electronics are still the main bright spot but the country is falling behind neighbors like Vietnam and Indonesia. Officials warn the Philippines relies too much on a handful of markets and must diversify to stay competitive.

Wilcon Depot posted a strong second quarter with net profit jumping 56% to P1.01 billion as sales climbed and margins improved. Fewer pandemic disruptions and steady demand for home improvement products helped push net sales up 22.8% to P8.29 billion. The company kept expanding too, adding new depots in Luzon and bringing its total stores to 76. First half net income hit P1.86 billion, up nearly 49%, lifting Wilcon’s stock 6.95% for the day.

Investment approvals from the Board of Investments fell 48% from January to November, reaching only ₱816.8 billion compared with ₱1.58 trillion last year. That makes the government’s ₱1.75 trillion target for 2025 unlikely. Energy projects dominated the haul while Calabarzon led all regions in approved capital. Singapore remained the top foreign source. BOI Chair Cristina Roque is counting on over ₱1 trillion in pending big ticket projects but admits they may not all be approved before year end.

A practical Filipino guide to finally keeping money in your pocket

Your brain is wired for short term rewards. That is why scrolling Shopee feels fantastic and setting aside ₱500 feels like punishment. Psychologists call it “present bias” the instinct to prioritize pleasure now and ignore future benefits. The result is familiar: you promise to save next cutoff then wonder where your money went.

Here is the formula that actually works for Filipinos: Automate, Anchor, and Reward.

1. Automate
If savings depend on willpower you will lose. Set an auto transfer every payday even if it is just ₱200. Small is fine. Consistency beats intensity.

2. Anchor
Your brain saves better when it knows the purpose. Rename your savings account to something emotional: “Mama’s Emergency Fund,” “Japan 2026,” or “My Freedom Money.”

3. Reward
Your brain loves dopamine so give it some. Every time you hit a milestone treat yourself with something tiny and guilt free a coffee, a day off social media, a cheap meal you enjoy.

Why it works
You hijack your brain’s reward system and turn saving into something that feels good instead of painful. The trick is not to fight your wiring but to design around it.

What happened
Deadly clashes broke out again along the Thai Cambodia border on December 8, sending thousands fleeing from villages on both sides. At least five people were killed and both governments insist the other side fired first. Thai forces reported responding with air strikes in Ubon Ratchathani while Cambodia said the attacks actually began in Preah Vihear.

How it is hitting civilians
Children are bearing the worst of it. Nearly 650 Thai schools were ordered to close and Cambodian parents rushed to pull students from classrooms as gunfire echoed near border towns. Many kids already lost class time during earlier flare ups and teachers warn they are falling far behind classmates in safer regions.

The deeper tension
This latest violence stems from a century long territorial dispute that briefly cooled after a ceasefire signed in October. But Thailand suspended the deal after a landmine injured two soldiers. With trust collapsing again both sides risk sliding into a cycle of retaliation that punishes civilians more than it protects sovereignty.

On December 8 at 11:15 p.m. local time, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori in northern Japan. Tsunami waves up to 40 centimeters reached towns in Aomori and Hokkaido, and officials warned some areas could see waves as high as 10 feet. Injuries were reported at a hotel in Hachinohe and nuclear plants began safety checks. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi activated an emergency task force. No wider Pacific tsunami threat was issued.

India’s travel chaos began when IndiGo cancelled more than 3,400 flights after failing to adjust to new rules on pilot rest and duty hours. The guidelines raised weekly rest to 48 hours and capped long overnight flying, bringing India closer to global fatigue standards. Pilot unions say airlines ignored warnings for years and kept pay stagnant. Compared with pilots in Europe, Australia and the US, India’s pilots work tougher schedules for far less pay which fuels the growing frustration.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said arrest warrants for senators linked to alleged flood control anomalies could come as early as next week. This follows the warrant issued for former lawmaker Zaldy Co. Remulla called former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. a “low hanging fruit” but did not confirm if he is next. The Independent Commission on Infrastructure earlier recommended possible charges, though the officials named including Revilla, Francis Escudero, and Nancy Binay have denied the allegations and say they were not given a chance to respond.

The Commission on Audit issued a qualified opinion on Mandaue City’s 2024 financial statements after finding unrecorded assets, outdated payables, and weak accounting controls. Auditors said more than ₱106 million in completed infrastructure projects were not transferred to proper asset accounts and that damaged assets worth ₱636 million were never written down. COA also flagged nearly ₱21 million in unliquidated cash advances and a puzzling purchase of 150,000 securitized letterheads, of which only 669 were used. The city was urged to tighten financial controls and fix recurring lapses.

The Department of Agrarian Reform distributed 775 electronic land titles to 677 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the Ilocos Region, covering more than 717 hectares. The titles were issued under the World Bank funded SPLIT program, which aims to parcel out 1.38 million hectares of collective land awards nationwide. DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella urged beneficiaries to keep their farms productive and encouraged younger Filipinos to take part in agriculture. Farmers welcomed the titles after years of waiting and asked for continued support.

The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas is deploying its first mobile soil laboratory in Iloilo’s 1st district from December 9 to 12. The lab will test soil for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and acidity, giving farmers quick fertilizer recommendations within three days. Officials say the project will also update soil health maps and train farmers on nutrient management, crop protection, and climate adaptation. After Iloilo, the DA plans to bring the mobile lab to other provinces across Western Visayas.

More than 2,000 police, military, fire, and coast guard personnel have been deployed across Aklan as the province prepares to host the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting Retreat from December 10 to 13. PRO 6 chief BGen. Josefino Ligan said the goal is maximum security coverage for foreign delegates, with units equipped for round the clock operations. Local police are on full alert and agencies have run simulations to sharpen response. Officials say the world will be watching Boracay’s capability to host safely and professionally.

Big picture
Paramount Skydance just launched a hostile bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after losing a months long battle with Netflix for the company’s crown jewels the Warner Bros. studio and HBO Max. Instead of walking away, CEO David Ellison is taking the fight straight to WBD shareholders with an all cash $30 per share offer valued at $108.4 billion. That is far richer than Netflix’s $27.75 per share mix of cash and stock.

So what
Paramount says cash talks. Ellison argues his offer gives shareholders $17.6 billion more cash up front and comes with faster regulatory approval because Paramount is smaller than Netflix. He is also signaling he is willing to go higher since the $30 bid “wasn’t the best and final.” The offer is backed by Ellison family money, RedBird Capital, and $54 billion in bank financing a sign this is a real attempt to grab everything including WBD’s cable networks.

Context check
Netflix only wants the studio and streaming business and has no plans to keep linear networks like CNN and TNT Sports. Ellison says those networks are worth about $1 per share while WBD argues they are closer to $3. The Trump administration has already shown skepticism toward Netflix’s bid raising antitrust concerns about letting the top streaming platform absorb the number three.

Why it matters
Shareholders now face a classic Hollywood showdown. Netflix offers strategic scale. Paramount offers more cash and a promise to keep WBD whole. The decision will shape who controls one of the world’s most valuable entertainment libraries and who gets to challenge Netflix in the next era of streaming.

SpaceX is kicking off a new share sale that could value the company at $800 billion making it the most valuable private firm in the U.S. CFO Bret Johnsen also told investors the company is eyeing a 2026 IPO. The jump in valuation comes from booming demand for rocket launches and the rapid growth of Starlink which now has more than eight million users. Employees can cash out in this tender offer while investors bet on Musk’s strongest business.

Producer Eline Van der Velden spent six months and 2,000 iterations building Tilly Norwood the world’s first AI actress. She looks human, talks with a sharp British attitude and already has studios lining up to use her. Hollywood is not thrilled. Directors like James Cameron call her “horrifying” and actors worry she will take real jobs. Van der Velden insists Tilly is a creative tool not a replacement and has dozens of deals in the works anyway.

Impostor syndrome isn’t a lack of ability. Studies show it hits high achievers hardest because the smarter you are, the more your brain notices what you still don’t know. Your standards rise faster than your confidence so real wins feel like luck. For Filipinos, hiya and pakikisama make us downplay ourselves even more, feeding the cycle.

Here is the practical, science backed fix:

1. Track evidence, not feelings
List your wins and positive feedback. Evidence rewires self assessment.

2. Reframe fear as learning
Shift “I’m not good enough” to “I’m still learning this part.”

3. Say yes, then figure it out
Action shrinks impostor thoughts faster than overthinking.

4. Borrow confidence
Surround yourself with mentors and peers who reflect your strengths.

Why it matters
Impostor syndrome fades not when you achieve more but when you interpret your achievements correctly. Outsmart your brain, not your résumé.