Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Happy holidays, PesoWeekly fam. As we head into the new year, we’re shaking things up a bit. You’ll still get the news that matters, but we’re also adding more sections that help you actually use information. Expect practical guides, money habits, career signals, and yes, even curated job listings worth your time. The goal is simple: roughly half news, half useful stuff you can apply right away. We’re also bringing in more researchers, which means sharper reporting and better context. Same PesoWeekly, just more value every send.

Stay sharp,
Team PesoWeekly

Big picture: The Bureau of Internal Revenue just raised the ceiling on de minimis benefits, or small perks employees can receive without paying income tax. The update comes through Revenue Regulation No. 29-2025 and applies to both private and government workers.

What changed: More everyday benefits are now tax-free, and at higher limits. These include unused vacation leave converted to cash, rice subsidies up to ₱2,500 a month, uniforms worth up to ₱8,000 a year, medical assistance capped at ₱12,000 annually, and Christmas or anniversary gifts up to ₱6,000. Meal allowances for overtime and night shifts also remain exempt, within set limits.

Why it matters: For employees, this means higher take-home value without higher taxes. For employers, it allows better benefits without extra tax cost. In simple terms, more of what workers receive now actually stays with them.

Diosdado Banatao was one of the quiet architects of modern computing. His semiconductor inventions helped make personal computers faster, cheaper, and accessible to millions. He passed away on December 25, 2025, at 79, but his impact lives inside the devices people use every day.

Born in rural Cagayan, Banatao rose from studying by kerosene lamp to designing core technologies in Silicon Valley. He helped create early Ethernet controllers that made computer networking affordable, system logic chipsets that reduced PC costs, and graphics technologies that improved performance. These were not flashy consumer products, but foundational parts that allowed the PC industry to scale globally.

Banatao was also a builder of companies. He co-founded Chips and Technologies, S3 Graphics, and other firms that became major players in the semiconductor world. Later, he backed future innovators as a venture capitalist, supporting technologies like GPS chips that entered everyday use.

Why it matters: Banatao did not just succeed for himself. Through scholarships, incubators, and research programs, he invested heavily in Filipino talent. His life showed that global innovation can begin in a small barangay, if skill meets opportunity.

The government is putting ₱70 million into training Filipinos for the semiconductor industry, the country’s top export sector. The Department of Trade and Industry said Commission on Higher Education approved the funding to upgrade classrooms and teaching standards. Part of the plan sends local professors to Arizona State University to learn advanced chip manufacturing. The goal is simple: close skills gaps, attract investments, and keep the Philippines competitive in global electronics..

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority expects more investments from South Korea in 2026, boosted by the PH–Korea free trade deal and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines’ ₱51B expansion. PEZA approved ₱261B in projects this year, beating targets. Japan remains the top investor, but officials say big-ticket Korean projects could pull in more suppliers and high-tech investments next year.

Residential property prices grew just 1.9% in Q3 2025, the slowest annual increase in years, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed. That is a sharp drop from 7.5% in the previous quarter. Prices in Metro Manila rose faster than outside the capital, but buyers remain cautious as affordability stays tight, even with improving financing and fewer new projects.

Google may finally allow users to change their @gmail.com addresses. Updated help pages in several languages suggest a slow rollout. If enabled, users can switch to a new Gmail name without losing emails or data. Google has not officially announced it yet. (Read more)

Lawmakers passed a bill that forces telcos to automatically refund users if internet service is down for 24 hours or more in a month. No complaints needed. Prepaid users are included. The National Telecommunications Commission and Department of Information and Communications Technology will enforce it. (Read more)

China plans new rules for AI systems that act like humans. The Cyberspace Administration of China wants users clearly told when they are talking to AI, plus regular reminders. Companies must pass security and ethics checks as China pushes AI growth with tighter control. (Read more)

Scientists from University of Technology Sydney are working on experimental drugs that push mitochondria, the cell’s power plants, to burn more fuel and release it as heat. The idea is simple: make cells work less efficiently so they burn more fat. Old versions of this trick existed before and were dangerous, even deadly. This time, researchers fine tuned the chemistry to create milder effects that cells can handle. Early results suggest these drugs could help with weight loss and metabolic health, without the severe risks of the past.

When you take a drug, scientists usually know which organ it targets, but not which exact cells it hits. Researchers at Scripps Research just changed that. They built a new imaging method that lights up where drugs bind, cell by cell, across the whole body. When they tested common cancer drugs, one showed up in heart and blood vessel cells, a surprise that may explain its side effects. The big deal: drug makers can now spot risky behavior earlier and design safer medicines before patients ever take them.

Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste claimed some lawmakers got ₱2M “Christmas bonuses,” but House leaders denied it, saying funds were audited and meant for district activities, not incentives. (Read more)

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation expects electronics exports to hit $48B this year, driven by strong demand for chips used in AI, electric vehicles, and connected devices. (Read more)

Diesel and kerosene prices will rise ₱0.60 per liter on Dec. 30, Seaoil Philippines said, while gasoline stays flat, adding pressure to transport and household budgets as 2025 ends nationwide. (Watch more here)

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)

The Mindanao Development Authority rejected reports linking Mindanao to the Bondi attack. Chair Leo Tereso A. Magno said the claims are misleading, unsupported, and harmful to peace, tourism, and investment. (Read more)

Big picture: China’s military launched live-fire drills around Taiwan, simulating a blockade of major ports and attacks on sea targets. The exercise, called Justice Mission 2025, involved ships, jets, missiles, and drones from the People’s Liberation Army, surrounding the island from multiple directions. Beijing called it a warning against “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference.

Why now: The drills come after the US approved billions in weapons sales to Taiwan and after regional allies hinted they could step in if conflict breaks out. China also appears to be testing how quickly it can isolate Taiwan and deter outside help, a key part of any future invasion scenario.

So what: Taiwan condemned the move and sent its own forces to respond. Analysts say the drills are closer and larger than before, signaling Beijing’s growing confidence and raising risks in one of Asia’s most dangerous flashpoints.

Tool of the week: Lista -
A free Filipino money app that tracks expenses and utang in one place.

Docu to watch: 101 East – Flood-control corruption -
A 25-minute look at where flood funds go and why Filipinos keep paying the price. (Watch here)

App that saves time: Notion -
One workspace for tasks, notes, and projects instead of juggling multiple apps. Read the review here.